17 | September | 2015 | Tennis Courts Map Directory

Murray Leads Britain In Davis Cup Semi-finals

Posted: Sep 17, 2015

GREAT BRITAIN vs. AUSTRALIA
Glasgow, Scotland – Hard (Indoors)

Nine-time champion Great Britain, close to being relegated to Zone Group III five years ago, will be bidding to reach the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978 (l. to United States). Australia, in its first semi-final since 2006, is a 28-time champion.

World No. 3 Andy Murray leads the British team with a 23-2 record in singles rubbers. He will open the tie Friday against Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, currently No. 72 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, and playing in his fourth tie.

“It’ll be a tough match against Kokkinakis,” said Murray. “I’ve practised with him and watched him a lot, so I know his game better than I do a lot of the younger guys. He’s a pretty explosive player, but it’ll be a tough one for him as well. The atmosphere would be challenging for them. That’s something they have to deal with and hopefully something that will give us a boost.”

World No. 300 Dan Evans, who has won three ITF Futures titles in recent months, competes in his first tie for two years. His lone win in a live rubber came over Slovak Lukas Lacko in the 2011 Zone Group I. He’ll take on World No. 23 Bernard Tomic, who beat Jiri Vesely and Lukas Rosol in a 3-2 victory against the Czech Republic in March.

Dominic Inglot and Jamie Murray are scheduled to meet Australians Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt in the doubles rubber.

BELGIUM vs. ARGENTINA
Brussels, Belgium – Hard (Indoors)

Belgium first competed in the Davis Cup in 1904, when it finished runner-up. It’s been a long wait for another shot at the prestigious title. World No. 15 David Goffin headlines for Belgium, competing in its first semi-final since 1999 (l. to France). Goffin takes on Federico Delbonis, a winner of six hard-court matches in his career, in the opening rubber.

Argentina, contesting its 10th semi-final since 2002, is a four-time former finalist. The South Americans lost in the 1981 (l. to United States), 2006 (l. to Russia), 2008 and 2011 (l. to Spain) finals.

Leonardo Mayer, who beat Joao Souza of Brazil in a record-breaking six-hour and 43-minute rubber in the first round, is riding a seven-match winning streak and is set to face Belgium’s Steve Darcis in the second rubber.

Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans and Kimmer Coppejans are slated to face Carlos Berlocq and Diego Schwartzman in Saturday’s doubles rubber.

World Group Play-Off Ties

Sixteen other nations will be competing in eight other play-off ties for a place in the 2016 World Group. Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland), and Kei Nishikori (Japan) are among Top 10 stars in action.

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Muster, Thiem Unveil Strong Vienna Field

Posted: Sep 17, 2015

Dominic Thiem and Thomas Muster came together at the Vienna State Opera tea rooms Tuesday in support of the Erste Bank Open 500, which will be contested as an ATP World Tour 500 tournament for the first time this year. Seven of the Top 20 in the Emirates ATP Rankings are set to compete at the Stadhalle from 17 October.

Former World No. 1 Muster, who is now an ambassador for the tournament, was never able to get his hands on the coveted title, finishing runner-up in 1988 (l. to Skoff), 1993 (l. to Ivanisevic) and 1995 (l. to Dewulf). But current Austrian No. 1 Thiem is looking forward to the event’s new status.

“In Austria, you always want to play particularly well,” said Thiem. “With this player field you have to be right there from the first rally onwards. The strong field was no surprise, due to the upgrade to an ATP World Tour 500 tournament. Vienna has always been very popular amongst the players and the Stadthalle is a great venue – the new 500-status is obviously an additional incentive. When players inside the Top 30 aren’t seeded, it says all about the quality of the tournament.”

Thiem will line-up alongside David Ferrer, Milos Raonic and four other members of the Top 20, including Kevin Anderson, John Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ivo Karlovic.

World No. 8 Ferrer, who lost to Andy Murray in last year’s final, said, “Unfortunately, last year it just wasn’t enough for the win, but I still have great memories of the tournament. To win the tournament in Vienna is a definite goal of mine.” Ferrer has three titles to his name this year at Doha, Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco.

Tsonga, the 2011 champion, is also set to return. “I like the city just as much as the perfectly organised tournament,” the Frenchman said. “The fact that the tournament is an [ATP World Tour] 500 event makes it even more attractive.” Gael Monfils is also features in the field.

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Murray To Help Unicef With Ace Donations

Posted: Sep 17, 2015

Andy Murray will donate £50 for every ace he hits between now and the end of 2015.

The World No. 3 will donate £50 for every ace he hits between now and the end of 2015

Andy Murray has announced that for every ace he hits until the end of the year, he will donate £50 to Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation. Each ace Andy hits will support Unicef’s work to help children whose worlds have been turned upside down by conflict or disaster, such as those caught up in the current refugee and migrant crisis.

Speaking ahead of Britain’s Davis Cup by BNP Paris semi-final against Australia, Unicef UK Supporter Murray explained: “Having seen the images broadcast on the news in recent weeks I felt I had to do something to help the millions of children and their families who have been forced to flee their homes and had their lives turned upside down. I’ll get that little bit more satisfaction from each ace I hit knowing that it will be helping Unicef keep children safe. I’m also asking my fans across the world to join with me to and support Unicef’s vital work. Together we can help make a safer world for every child.”

Tennis fans across the world can join Andy in supporting Unicef’s work by donating online. Those in the UK can donate £5 by texting ACE to 70800.

Unicef UK Executive Director David Bull said: “The conflict in Syria continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of children, both in the region and beyond. The fear, the lack of opportunity and loss of hope has forced thousands of families to make the dangerous journey to Europe. The support of Andy, and his fans and the wider tennis community can help us continue to provide support for children whenever and however disaster strikes.”

Standard Life, one of Murray’s partners, along with the ATP and LTA have all announced that they will match Andy’s donations pound for pound. That means every ace will result in a donation of £200 for Unicef’s life-saving work with children affected by conflict and disaster.

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