24 | November | 2017 | Tennis Courts Map Directory

Doctor Federer Ready To Serve

Nov242017

The University of Basel award Federer the honourary doctorate

Roger Federer has earned many honourifics over the years, from maestro to magician. Now, he can add doctor to that list.

The University of Basel awarded seven honourary doctorates on Friday, and Federer was one of the recipients.

Federer’s recognition came from the Faculty of Medicine, which bestowed the honour on the 36-year-old for his efforts to boost his home city and nation’s reputation. The Swiss was also lauded for his charitable efforts.

The Roger Federer Foundation is spreading sustainability in Southern Africa, where it helps children through support for a variety of educational projects for the disadvantaged. The foundation has reached more than 850,000 children in nearly 14 years.

A University of Basel press release states that Federer “claimed that the honourary doctorate makes him just as happy as a Grand Slam title”.

The doctorate adds yet another honour to the recognition Federer has received this month, as the No. 2-ranked player in the Emirates ATP Rankings received three awards in the 2017 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon (ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite, Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award and Comeback Player of the Year).

Tsonga draws France level with Belgium in Davis Cup final

Posted: Nov 24, 2017

Davis Cup Final: France v Belgium
Venue: Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille, France Dates: 24-26 November
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Sport website and Connected TV, 13:00-20:00 (Sat) & 12:30-20:30 (Sun)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Steve Darcis in the second singles rubber to draw France level with Belgium on the first day of the Davis Cup final in Lille.

World number 15 Tsonga, 32, was too powerful for 76th-ranked Darcis, winning in straight sets 6-3 6-2 6-1.

David Goffin swept aside Lucas Pouille 7-5 6-3 6-1 earlier in the day to give Belgium the opening point.

Nine-time winners France are looking to claim their first Davis Cup since 2001 while Belgium have never won it.

The hosts have lost three finals since their win 16 years ago while the closest Belgium have come to success was when they were beaten in the 2015 final by Great Britain.

Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are expected to play Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans and Joris de Loore in Saturday’s doubles.

Team captains have until one hour before the start of the match to change their line-up.

Live scores and results

In front of over 25,000 fans inside the Stade Pierre Mauroy, Goffin sealed the first point of the final by recording his first win over 18th-ranked Pouille.

The 26-year-old – the runner-up at the ATP Finals last weekend – made the telling break in the 11th game then served out to love to take the opening set.

He then made an early break in the second when the Frenchman double faulted to put him on the way to a two-set lead.

Another quick break put Goffin in the driving seat in the third set and the Belgian raced to victory on his first match point.

French number one Tsonga wasted several early chances to break before finding his stride on the indoor hardcourt to see off Darcis and bring his country level in the tie.

France		Belgium
17 (W9-L8)	Previous finals	Two (W0-L2)
Yannick Noah	Captain	Johan Van Herck
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (15)	Players (world ranking)	David Goffin (7)
Lucas Pouille (18)		Steve Darcis (76)
Richard Gasquet (31)		Ruben Bemelmans (118)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert (81)		Joris de Loore (276)

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Goffin Gives Belgium Lead

Nov242017

Nitto ATP Finals runner-up defeats Pouille

BELGIUM 1, FRANCE 0
Lille, France (Hard Indoor)

David Goffin, who advanced to the championship match at last week’s Nitto ATP Finals, continued his run of good form to give Belgium the lead in the Davis Cup final against France, defeating Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 on Friday. The 2015 finalists are now up 1-0, and within two points of clinching Belgium’s first Davis Cup title.

The top-ranked Belgian, who is up to a career-high No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, had trailed Pouille 0-3 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but all of those losses came last year. The 26-year-old was even with Pouille at 5-5 in the first set, but Goffin took over from there. He is now 5-0 this season in Davis Cup singles action.

The French squad, under captain Yannick Noah, is attempting to claim a 10th title at the event. France is in the final for the first time since 2014. Its top player, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, will try to even the tie against ATP World Tour veteran Steve Darcis in the second rubber of the day.

France will now need to win three of the tie’s final four rubbers to earn its first championship since 2001, which came against Australia.