Tennis News

From around the world

Miami Open: Roger Federer will limit clay season after beating Rafael Nadal

  • Posted: Apr 02, 2017

Roger Federer expects to take nearly two months off after winning the Miami Open with his only 2017 clay-court tournament being the French Open.

The 35-year-old beat Rafael Nadal in Miami on Sunday, to win his third title since January.

Federer, who sat out the second half of 2016 to recover from a knee injury, says rest will help him prepare for the French Open, which starts on 28 May.

“When I am healthy and feeling good, I can produce tennis like this,” he said.

“When I am not feeling this good there is no chance I will be in the finals competing with Rafa,” added the 18-time Grand Slam winner after his hard court win.

“That is why this break is coming in the clay court season, focusing everything on the French, the grass and then the hard courts after that.

“I’m not 24 anymore so things have changed in a big way and I probably won’t play any clay court event except the French.”

  • Relive Federer’s Miami win

Rafa to ‘tear it into pieces’

Federer has won the Roland Garros tournament once in 2009. If he sticks to his plan, he would sit out clay events such as the Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, Hungarian Open, Madrid Open and Istanbul Open – the last clay tournament he won in 2015.

The break in Federer’s season arrives during his best start to a campaign since 2006. Back then he won 33 of his first 34 matches of the year, compared to his current run of 19 wins and one defeat.

Victory over Nadal sealed a third Miami Open title and added to wins at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this term.

“The dream continues,” Federer said after the win. “It’s been a fabulous couple of weeks. What a start to the year, thank you to my team and all who have supported me, especially in my more difficult challenging times last year.”

In his on-court interview, Federer backed Nadal, who has himself been hampered by injury, for clay success.

“I know everybody is working very hard on your team to get you back in shape, and keep going,” said Federer. “The clay-courts are around, so I’m sure you are going to tear it into pieces over there.”

Source link

Miami Open: Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal to continue fine season start

  • Posted: Apr 02, 2017

Roger Federer overcame long-term rival Rafael Nadal to win the Miami Open for the third time and continue his remarkable start to the season.

The 35-year-old built on January’s Australian Open win and his March Indian Wells success with a convincing 6-3 6-4 win over the Spaniard.

The pair shared 10 break points in the opening set, with Federer the only man to take one to crucially move 5-3 up.

He exuded control throughout, breaking at 4-4 in the second and serving out.

  • Relive Federer’s win in the 2017 Miami Open final

A sweeping backhand down the line in the final game summed up the confidence which poured from the champion from start to finish as he moved to an 11-match winning streak and improved his record to 19 wins and just one defeat in 2017.

‘The dream continues’

A fourth straight win over Nadal – his longest winning streak in their 13-year professional rivalry – also makes Federer the oldest winner of the Miami Open.

He looked cool and calm throughout and his dominance this year is perhaps all the more remarkable given he took six months off through the second half of the 2016 season to recover from a knee injury.

“The dream continues,” he said after the win. “It’s been a fabulous couple of weeks. What a start to the year, thank you to my team and all who have supported me, especially in my more difficult challenging times last year.”

Federer triumphed in his first tournament after the lay-off, beating Nadal in five sets at the Australian Open, but this time around, the Spaniard rarely looked like he would land a first Miami title in what was his fifth final.

When the pair shared their first ever meeting here in 2004, only Federer held a Grand Slam title. They have now amassed 32 in total and like so often in the past, they contested each point with ferocity, making the two breaks of serve Federer secured critical.

“It’s disappointing that every time in my career I have stood here I get the smaller trophy,” said Nadal. “It’s been a very good two weeks for me. Even if I lost for the third time this year to Roger it’s a good start, playing three finals.”

Key breaks at key times

Nadal – who also lost to American Sam Querrey in the Mexican Open final this year – failed to take two break points in the opening game of the match at Crandon Park Tennis Center and defended two successfully to level at 2-2.

Though the first six games of the second set went with serve, Federer always held more comfortably. He forced a first break point at 3-3, only for Nadal to expertly read a cross-court effort with the pair exposed at the net.

Nadal’s consequent fist pump evoked memories of see-saw exchanges they have shared over the years and he punched the air after defending a second break point to take the game – showcasing belief he could yet disturb Federer’s seemingly unflappable rhythm.

But at 4-4, a Federer backhand barely crossed the net after hitting the tape, forcing Nadal to race forward and desperately flick the ball back, leaving his end of the court exposed for the 18-time Grand Slam winner to deliver a telling lob.

It gave him the chance to serve out the win and Nadal went long moments later, ensuring Federer’s stellar start to the year continued.

Analysis

BBC Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

It is 11 years since Roger Federer last completed the Indian Wells and Miami double, so add ‘staggering stamina’ to his rapidly increasing list of attributes for 2017.

At 35, though, Federer is also proving he is a realist and a pragmatist. Who is to say he would not have been able to piece together a very handy clay court season to increase his chances of becoming world number one once more?

But Federer knows even he can’t keep up this relentless success – on all surfaces – over an 11-month season. Thus this eight-week break from tour to be followed by an appearance at the French Open where, even as a long shot for the title, he will remain the tournament’s star turn.

And in his mind – with Wimbledon and the US Open still to come – it is at Roland Garros that the season really begins.

Source link

Teenager Moutet Continues Thriving In French Challengers

  • Posted: Apr 02, 2017

Teenager Moutet Continues Thriving In French Challengers

Frenchman reaches final four in St. Brieuc

Some players feel pressure competing in front of a local crowd, but French teenager Corentin Moutet is continuing to thrive on home soil.

The 17 year old reached his first ATP Challenger Tour semi-final this week at the $50,000 event in St. Brieuc, France. Moutet took full advantage of his wild card, upsetting third seed Norbert Gombos of Slovakia in the opening round on his way to the final four, where he fell in three sets to qualifier Egor Gerasimov of Belarus.

“This is the best result of my career. It’s been a great beginning to my season and the result of a lot of good work,” said Moutet. “I want to stay realistic, just trying to be patient and keep up this level of tennis.”

You May Also Like: Moutet Announces Arrival In Cherbourg

The Frenchman reached his maiden Challenger quarter-final last month at the $50,000 event in Cherbourg, France. Although his sporadic forays into junior tournaments have yielded outstanding results, including a semi-final finish in boys’ singles at this year’s Australian Open, Moutet is focusing mainly on pro events for greater exposure to “the professionalism in training, rigour, demands and maturity of the game.”

Moutet hopes to eventually have a long career on the ATP World Tour and looks to his favourite player, Gael Monfils, as an inspiration.

“He’s funny and takes a lot of pleasure on the court when he plays,” said Moutet. “This is the most enjoyable to way to watch a match.”

Moutet was ranked No. 778 in the Emirates ATP Rankings just 12 months ago, but is projected to move inside the Top 400 on Monday after his latest result. He aims to become a regular fixture on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2017 and is already planning a return visit to St. Brieuc next year.

“When you come from Futures events, it’s easy to feel good in Challengers because of the nice hotels, food and stadiums,” he said. “The organisation here is very professional, so I felt comfortable and played well.”

Source link

Melo/Kubot Capture First Masters 1000 Team Title

  • Posted: Apr 02, 2017

Melo/Kubot Capture First Masters 1000 Team Title

Team wins third overall ATP World Tour team crown

Two-time team titilists Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo added their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown to their trophy haul on Saturday afternoon. The Polish/Brazilian combination dismissed Americans Nicholas Monroe and Jack Sock 7-5, 6-3 to win the Miami Open presented by Itau doubles title.

Kubot/Melo had won back-to-back Erste Bank Open 500 championships in Vienna in 2015 and 2016, but the two had never won a Masters 1000 crown. They came close last month, falling to Raven Klaasen/Rajeev Ram in the BNP Paribas Open final in Indian Wells. But on Saturday, Kubot/Melo were clutch and came through on one of the game’s biggest stages.

The titlists saved eight of nine break points and broke the Americans three times in the 82-minute final. Their first break came at exactly the right time: set point in the opener. Kubot slapped a backhand return at Monroe, who sliced his volley just wide.

You May Also Like: Roger on Rafa: ‘We Can't Get Enough of Each Other’

Two games later, Kubot/Melo had broken again for 2-0 lead in the second set. But Monroe, with Kubot/Melo serving at 2-0, 15/40, ripped a forehand up the line and jogged to the chair as they were back on serve.

The even play wouldn’t last, though. Kubot/Melo reeled off four consecutive points to hold for a 3-2 lead and broke the next game when Sock double faulted. Three games later, Kubot/Melo served out the match for the championship.

The Miami champions will receive 1,000 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $385,170. Monroe/Sock, who were going for their second ATP World Tour team doubles title, will receive 600 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $187,970.

Watch Live

Source link

Roger on Rafa: ‘We Can't Get Enough of Each Other’

  • Posted: Apr 02, 2017

Roger on Rafa: ‘We Can't Get Enough of Each Other’

Two will meet for the 37th time on Sunday

Once again, Roger Federer set too low expectations for himself heading into a big tournament this year. And once again, tennis fans around the world will be the beneficiaries.

After his BNP Paribas Open title two weeks ago, Federer thought a semi-final showing at the Miami Open presented by Itau would be an “unbelievable run”. On Sunday, the 35 year old will play Rafael Nadal for the Miami crown. It will be their 37th FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting and the 23rd time they’ve met in a final.

“Feels like old times. We’re playing each other every week now. We can’t get enough of each other,” Federer said.

The Miami final will mark the third time they’ve played this season. Federer has won both of their earlier meetings – the Australian Open final in January and their third-round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last month. (Before Australia, Federer also low-balled his chances, saying before the tournament that a quarter-final run would be great.)

You May Also Like: Roger & Rafa: Every Match Ever Played

Sunday’s final will also be the fourth time Federer and Nadal have met at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in South Florida. Nadal won their first meeting, which started their rivalry, 6-3, 6-3 in 2004. Federer beat him in the Miami final the next year, coming back from two sets down to win 6-1 in the fifth set. In 2011, Nadal returned the favour, knocking Federer out in the Miami semi-finals, 6-3, 6-2.

“Should be really exciting because we had this epic match in 2005. The final was unbelievable. It was a turning point in my career, to be quite honest. For me to be able to focus for, I don’t know how long we played, maybe four hours, smashing forehand after forehand down the line. I remember I felt like I had to learn how to fight in matches, and there I showed it to myself and my team that I could do it,” Federer said. “It was against somebody who ended up being my biggest rival. It’s definitely going to be very special playing Rafa here again. Of course I’m thrilled for him as well that he came back as well as he did after the comeback, the struggles that he had last year.”

Federer brings an 18-1 record this season into the title match. But despite his incredible beginning, the Swiss right-hander knows beating Nadal for the fourth consecutive time will be a massive challenge. Nadal will be playing in his fifth Miami Open presented by Itau final, but he has never won the Masters 1000 crown.

“I feel like there is a mountain to climb in Rafa. He’s not won it yet before. He’s definitely feeling fresher than I feel right now. That’s not a problem – I’ll be ready on Sunday,” Federer said. “Hopefully it’s not our last match.”

Nadal also knows he’ll have to bring some of his best tennis to capture the title. “He’s playing so good… He’s playing great,” Nadal said of Federer. “When top player like him is playing that well, then it’s always a big challenge for every player.”

Watch Live

Source link