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Del Potro Challenged By Frenchman In Lyon

  • Posted: May 23, 2017

Del Potro Challenged By Frenchman In Lyon

May232017

Edmund, Khachanov also advance on Tuesday

Sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro remained perfect against opponents ranked outside the Top 6 of the Emirates ATP Rankings on Tuesday at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Lyon.

The Argentine broke lucky loser Quentin Halys of France four times to advance 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 36 minutes. Del Potro was aced 12 times but won 80 per cent of his first-serve points (35/44) and saved three of four break points against the 20-year-old #NextGenATP Frenchman during their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

“He surprised me with his level but I survived, and I am looking forward to playing tomorrow,” said del Potro, who will next face Portuguese qualifier Gastao Elias. “[Lyon] is a magnificent city. I had the chance to walk around and it is really beautiful. I hope to stay many more days here.”

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The 6’6″ del Potro improves to 5-1 on clay this season, following his quarter-final run last week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome (l. to Djokovic). Overall, del Potro, No. 30 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is 11-5 on the year, with his handful of losses coming against Top 6 opponents – Federer, Raonic and three defeats against Djokovic.

Brit Kyle Edmund will face fifth seed Gilles Simon after coming back from a set down to advance past Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Edmund and Simon have split their two FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, with the 22-year-old Edmund taking their most recent contest last June at The Queen’s Club in London.

#NextGenATP Russian Karen Khachanov won nearly 70 per cent of his second-serve return points to advance past Argentina’s Renzo Olivo 6-2, 6-4. Khachanov will next meet Aussie Jordan Thompson.

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Kyrgios Envious Of Zverev's Discipline

  • Posted: May 23, 2017

Kyrgios Envious Of Zverev's Discipline

May232017

Australian respects his friend and rival

Nick Kyrgios expressed his envy at his friend Alexander Zverev’s discipline after the #NextGenATP star’s stunning win at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Kyrgios beat Zverev in back-to-back weeks as he made the quarter-finals in Indian Wells and the semi-finals in Miami earlier in the year. But while he holds the edge in their budding FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry (2-0), the Australian has high hopes for his 20-year-old friend, who clinched his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown in Rome.

“He’s been playing great tennis,” said Kyrgios. “He has a massive future ahead. I actually envy him in a way. He does all the right things. He’s very professional. That’s obviously something I don’t quite tick the box for. He’s done all the right things. He’s going to have a great career. He’s younger than me as well. It’s going to be exciting to watch him play. I’m sure I’ll play him a lot more times.”

After being forced to miss Rome, Kyrgios returns to action this week at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Lyon, where he is set to play his opening match against qualifier Nicolas Kicker later on Tuesday.

Talking to ATPWorldTour.com, the Australian said while he draws confidence from his wins over Novak Djokovic earlier in the season, as well as his three-set epic with Roger Federer in the Miami semi-finals, his primary focus for the coming weeks is to stay healthy.

“I think the one thing I just need to improve on is my health and my body,” said Kyrgios. “I’ve got to get it physically right and stay healthy to play events. I think my game at the moment is in the right frame of mind. I can play some really good tennis. My level is there, I just need to stay healthy.”

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French Open: Briton Naomi Broady beaten in qualifying first round

  • Posted: May 23, 2017

British number three Naomi Broady lost in straight sets in the first round of qualifying for the French Open.

The world number 121 was beaten 6-4 6-2 by Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, ranked 32 places below the 27-year-old.

British number two Heather Watson faces Russian Anastasiya Komardina in Paris later on Tuesday, while Tara Moore, the British number four, plays Chang Kai-chen on Wednesday.

The first round proper at Roland Garros gets under way next week.

Elsewhere, British number two Kyle Edmund battled through the first round of the Lyon Open with a 2-6 6-4 6-1 victory over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.

He faces home favourite and world number 32 Gilles Simon in the second round.

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Wozniacki withdraws during Strasbourg opener

  • Posted: May 23, 2017

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki has withdrawn from the Internationaux de Strasbourg, less than a week before the French Open starts.

The 26-year-old Dane, the number one seed, was a set down in her first-round match against American Shelby Rogers when she retired citing back trouble.

“I felt it kind of in the middle of the first set,” said the world number 12.

“At this point, I think it’s important for me to try and get ready for the French Open and be 100% for that.”

World number 55 Rogers, who won the opening set on a tie-break in just over an hour, will play China’s Qiang Wang in the second round.

Defending champion and home favourite Caroline Garcia advanced to the second round by beating Jennifer Brady 6-3 6-4.

Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard has withdrawn from the Nuernberger Cup after injuring an ankle in training last week.

The 2014 champion said: “It’s a great tournament for me with lots of great memories. I’m sorry I cannot see the fans this year and hope to be back next year.”

The French Open starts on Sunday.

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Kvitova 'on track' for Wimbledon – and could play at French Open

  • Posted: May 23, 2017

Petra Kvitova is “on track” to play at Wimbledon less than seven months after suffering a career-threatening hand injury in a knife attack at her home.

The 26-year-old, a two-time Wimbledon champion, was stabbed on 20 December by an intruder in her apartment in Prostejov in the Czech Republic.

She could return at the French Open, which starts next week.

A spokeswoman for Kvitova said the player would make a “last-minute decision” about competing in Paris.

Following the attack in December, surgeons spent almost four hours repairing tendons and nerves in Kvitova’s left hand – her playing hand.

The Czech, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, will be included on the official entry list for this year’s Championships, which will be released on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, she posted a photograph on social media of her returning to full training in Monaco.

“I hope this picture makes you as happy as it makes me,” wrote Kvitova, who has fallen to 16th in the world rankings having been 11th at the time of the attack.

Wimbledon – the third Grand Slam of the season – starts on Monday, 3 July.

Kvitova career stats

  • Turned professional in 2006, aged 16
  • First Wimbledon appearance as a junior in 2007, reaching the last 16
  • First career title in 2009 – the Hobart International, Australia
  • Now has 19 titles with career prize money totalling more than £18.4m
  • Reached a career-high of world number two in October 2011, behind Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki
  • Won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, losing her semi-final to eventual gold medallist Monica Puig

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#NextGenATP Ruud, Opelka Advance At Roland Garros Qualifying

  • Posted: May 23, 2017

#NextGenATP Ruud, Opelka Advance At Roland Garros Qualifying

May222017

Rublev, Bublik also move on

More than a handful of #NextGenATP players advanced a step closer to the Roland Garros main draw on Monday during day one of qualifying in Paris.

Norwegian Casper Ruud, a semi-finalist in Rio earlier this year, made quick work of Belgian Yannik Reuter, advancing 6-3, 6-2 in 67 minutes. The 18-year-old Ruud is trying to make his Grand Slam debut.

American Reilly Opelka, seeking to qualify at Roland Garros for the first time, hit 14 aces to beat Spain’s Daniel Munoz de la Nava 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Opelka made his Grand Slam debut earlier this year by qualifying at the Australian Open.

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Opelka’s countryman 19-year-old Stefan Kozlov also advanced, prevailing against France’s Corentin Moutet 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas came back from a set down to down sixth seed Thomas Fabbiano of Italy 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Russian Andrey Rublev won 81 per cent of his first-serve points to dismiss Argentina’s Agustin Velotti 6-1, 6-3. Alexander Bublik battled past Egypt’s Mohamed Safwat 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1 in just under two hours.

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