Raonic Fights His Way Back Into Familiar Territory
Mar162018
Canadian will next meet Del Potro or Germany’s Kohlschreiber
Milos Raonic might not feel as if he’s playing 100 per cent like his old self, but, early into his comeback season, the Canadian has already returned to familiar territory on the ATP World Tour.
The 2016 Indian Wells finalist (l. to Djokovic) reached his third BNP Paribas Open semi-final (2015) on Friday, beating Sam Querrey of the U.S. for the third consecutive time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. The 6’5” right-hander is into his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final in 17 months (2016 Paris). Raonic will next meet the winner of Friday’s second quarter-final, sixth seed and 2013 finalist Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina or 31st seed Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.
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Raonic came through the old-school way, too – serving and volleying and attacking the net against Querrey, who was playing in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final. The 32nd seed rushed the net 43 times, winning about half of those attempts (21). He also slapped 43 winners to only 25 unforced errors.
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But it was Querrey who was rolling early in their semi-final. When he stepped up to the line to serve at 5-4, the American had lost only three points on serve. But nerves struck Querrey, who had played in a Wimbledon semi-final but never a Masters 1000 quarter-final, and he lost his way. Raonic won 17 of the set’s final 21 points, including two breaks of serve, to take the opener.
The home favourite Querrey, however, came back quickly, breaking twice in the second set and ridding himself of any first-set flashbacks by winning the set with a love service game. The decider came down to the wire, mirroring their tight FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Raonic broke in the eighth game but, as he tried to serve out the match, Querrey had three opportunities to break, all of which were saved by the Canadian.
The American star looks back on some of his best Masters 1000 memories
Sam Querrey often visited the BNP Paribas Open with his family growing up, so it comes as no surprise that the Californian favours the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in March.
After three Masters 1000 quarter-final appearances – 2007 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, 2008 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and 2012 Rolex Paris Masters – the American could reach his first semi-final, should he beat Milos Raonic on Friday in Indian Wells.
This week, he reflected on his Masters 1000 journey, which includes teaming up with John Isner for the 2011 Internazionali BNL d’Italia doubles crown.
What is your favourite Masters 1000 tournament and why? I love all of the Masters 1000 tournaments, but Indian Wells is probably my favourite as I grew up in California and all of my friends and family can come down here and watch. It’s a great venue and an amazing atmosphere. I do enjoy the golf when I’m here, but I haven’t played as much in the past couple of years. I definitely want to get back into it and this is the place to do so.
Which Masters 1000 would you most like to win? The Masters 1000 I’d most like to win is Indian Wells.
Which is your favourite Masters 1000 centre court to play on? It has to be Indian Wells!
What is your favourite Masters 1000 memory? One time at the Miami tournament I got to do batting practice with the Marlins and at Cincinnati I got to do batting practice with the Reds. I’m a big baseball fan, so the opportunity to do that was really fun.
Do you recall when and where you made your Masters 1000 debut? Yes, it was in Indian Wells! I played Bobby Reynolds in the first round and won, then I lost then No. 6-ranked James Blake in the second round. I won the first set 6-1, then in my head I thought, ‘I’ll be ranked No. 1 in no time.’ He then came back and won easily.
What has been your best Masters 1000 win? It has to be against Novak Djokovic in Paris [the 2012 Rolex Paris Masters, 0-6 7-6(5), 6-4] a few years ago. It was my first victory over him and to do it at a Masters 1000 was pretty special.
What has been your toughest match at a Masters 1000? I played Dominic Thiem in Rome last year [one of the ATP World Tour best matches of 2017] and I had a couple of match points in the third set [3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7)]. It was tough, because it was so close against a great clay-court opponent. It would have been a great win, but he snuck by me. He is an incredible player.
What is the toughest part about Masters 1000 tournaments? You can play against a player in the Top 40 in the first match. That’s tough. You have to win six matches, if you’re not seeded, against Top 50 players and against guys in the Top 10 eventually. That’s why they are so difficult to win!
Bolt’s Back: Aussie Making Strides In Return To Tour
Mar162018
After a brief stint in construction, 25-year-old makes successful return to ATP Challenger Tour
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Alex Bolt knows this all too well.
For those competing on the ATP Challenger Tour, the early 20s is a time for growth and development, as players look to build their games and fight to climb the ATP Rankings. They seek to embrace the on-the-road lifestyle, bouncing from tournament to tournament with dreams of ascending to the ATP World Tour.
But, for some, the pursuit of the Top 100 and beyond can take its toll. Two years ago, citing waning motivation and passion, Bolt hung up his racquets at the age of 23. Having competed on the circuit for many years, the Aussie – a former World No. 160 – grappled with the rigours of the tour and struggled to find consistent success.
“At the start of 2016, I was battling mentally,” Bolt told ATPWorldTour.com. “I was losing the love of the game and when I was on court I didn’t like competing. When that happened, I stopped playing. I didn’t touch a racquet for nine months. But I saw all the other guys doing well and that made me want to come back. Here I am now.”
An unwavering commitment and passion is a prerequisite to life on tour. As Bolt saw his devotion to the game wane, he left his racquet for a hammer. In his time away from the court, he pursued a career in construction, building fences at home in Australia. But his venture away from tennis only made his love of the game stronger. The Aussie may have left the sport, but it never left him.
Following a year hiatus, Bolt was back, returning at the start of the 2017 season. And it did not take long for him to rediscover his rhythm. An ATP Ranking outside the Top 600 soon vaulted inside the Top 400 with a final on the grass of Ilkley. Next stop: the Top 250 with a final in Traralgon in October.
On Sunday, the 25-year-old would make his Top 200 return, notching his second Challenger crown and first since claiming his maiden title in 2014. Having come through qualifying, Bolt did not drop a set in breezing to the final, where he rallied past Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-2.
“The comeback is real and I have a Challenger title to my name. This is definitely special. A year ago, I didn’t think I was going to pick up a racquet again. It’s just amazing. I never thought I’d be back in this situation.
“As the year went on, I was finding more confidence in my game. That was the big thing that was holding me back. That is, the belief that I could win these kinds of tournaments. Now the results are starting to show and I’m gradually getting the confidence back.
“It’s pretty amazing right now. It’s been quite a while since I last held up a trophy. It was in China as well. I didn’t expect too much from myself coming into the week from qualifying. But getting through qualifying and winning the title, it’s been an unbelievable week. I just competed for every point. I took every point as it came and that’s why I had such a good result.”
Bolt is an integral part of a larger Challenger movement in his native Australia. He is one of five different Aussies to lift a trophy already this year, joining Jason Kubler (Playford), Marc Polmans (Launceston), Jordan Thompson (Chennai) and John Millman (Kyoto). With Kubler and Millman finding immediate success in returns from injury, Bolt has found inspiration in their comebacks.
“It’s very inspiring. I’m mates with all those guys. It’s great to see that they are fit and healthy and back on court. They’re great players and it’s so good that Australia has all these quality guys and we’re pushing each other. Hopefu we’re all in the Top 100 one day.”
The Murray Bridge native had risen to World No. 160 in March 2015, less than a year after claiming his maiden Challenger crown on the clay of Anning, China. Now, three years later, Bolt is on course to eclipse his career-high ATP Ranking. But the left-hander says he’s not taking anything for granted. After returning to the winners’ circle, he admits it’s time to reassess his goals.
“My goal at the start of the year was to reach the Top 200 and get into French Open qualifying. It looks like I’m there already. I’m going to have to go back with my coaches and re-think where I’m at.”
ATPWorldTour.com pays tribute to the German star who ends his playing career
The competitive fire still burns in Tommy Haas, but the spirit and, importantly, the willingness to train for quick-fire 60-minute or physically demanding encounters has fizzled out. Beginning his career when new string and racquet technology were both dramatically changing the sport, the former World No. 2 called time on his 21-year professional career Thursday night for a new chapter — time with his family, chauffeuring around his two daughters and completing his learning curve as Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open.
“I consider myself extremely fortunate that I was able play professional tennis for a living for more than two decades,” said Haas, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Thursday. “The sport gave me cherished friendships, an ability to travel the world, and opportunities to create incredible memories. It also taught me a lot about what it means to face challenges, battle back, and overcome them. To my parents, family, wife and children, thank you for all the love and support that you gave me over the years. And, to the fans, thank you for cheering me on throughout my career.”
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15: Career titles ? 2: Highest ranking ⬆️ 4: Major semifinals ?️
Haas in full flow was aesthetically pleasing, harnessing a complete game on all surfaces to become one of the world’s premier stars. He always competed with his heart on his sleeve as was a natural athlete of great intensity, who could often be heard chatting to himself or his camp. There was never a dull moment in watching Haas, who could beat an opponent in so many ways, centred on his technically sound and exceptional backhand, slice and great defence. From his very first tournament at Indianapolis in August 1996 (l. to Sampras in QFs), Haas appeared to be blessed in game, temperament and looks. The sport appeared to come easily and he soon became tennis’ new poster boy, a part of the ATP’s ‘New Ball Please’ campaign. But when setbacks and injuries started to take a greater toll in 2002, when he appeared to be a major force, it was his character and approach to the sport that became his greatest strengths.
For a four-year period between 1999 and the end of the 2002 season, Haas compiled a 252-90 match record, including two Australian Open semi-finals (1999, 2002), a 5-9 record in tour-level finals — the 1999 Grand Slam Cup final (l. to Rusedski), the 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medal (l. to Kafelnikov in five sets) and the 2001 Stuttgart title (d. Mirnyi), in its final year as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 indoor hard-court tournament. He first broke into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings on 13 September 1999 and rose to a career-high No. 2 in the ATP Rankings on 13 May 2002, after reaching the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final (l. to Agassi). One month later, his parents were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Sarasota, Florida, which left his father, Peter, in a coma. Haas, who was already feeling the effects of a shoulder injury, took time out to look after them and in December 2002, when he heard a pop during a practice serve, he was forced into one of his nine surgeries as a professional player.
Haas underwent operations on his right shoulder (2002-03, ‘07, ‘14, 16), right elbow (2010-11), right hip (2010-11), right foot (2016), but there was always a defiance. In adversity, Haas rehabilitated and trained harder, returning each time just as passionate about the sport he loved, and, importantly, with the same feeling of invincibility. Haas spent a total of 82 weeks in the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings from his initial breakthrough in September 1999 to five of his eight total stints among the elite in 2007 (a total of 26 weeks), when he advanced to his third Australian Open semi-final. There were also three periods when he dropped off the sport’s ladder due to injuries in 2003, 2011 and 2016-17. On two occasions, in 2004 and 2012, he was deservedly named the ATP Comeback Player of the Year.
Haas’ journey to life as a professional tennis player started in 1989, when, with his sister Sabine, both German junior champions. They briefly visited Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy, but unable to speak English, Haas decided to return home. Two years later at the age of 13, he started to develop physically and mentally in school and on the Bradenton, Florida, tennis and basketball courts with fellow young prospect Gregg Hill. Brutal, energy sapping sparring sessions with Boris Becker, Bollettieri’s star pupil, at the academy and in Europe, forced Haas to learn and to improve. But, just as Nicolas Kiefer experienced, comparisions to their idol and the title of heir apparent were unkind and unattainable. Haas won junior titles, such as the 1995 Orange Bowl, German and Austrian championships, but in December 1995 he broke his right ankle playing basketball and, one year later, did the same to his left ankle, both requiring surgery. It was a first jolt to a fledgling, but promising career, showing Haas how easily he would lose everything that he had worked so hard for.
Haas always competed with great passion, finishing eight seasons in the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings, highlighted by a year-end best No. 8 in 2001. He recorded 48 victories over members of the Top 10, his 569 match wins is second-most among German players in the Open Era (Becker, 713) and his 15-28 finals record spanned 18 seasons (1997-2014). In 2009, Haas also advanced to the Wimbledon semi-finals (l. to Federer) and he reached three US Open quarter-finals (2004, 2006-07) and at 2013 Roland Garros.
In June 2016, when Haas was diligently recovering from a torn ligament in his right foot, Larry Ellison, the owner of the BNP Paribas Open, CTO and co-founder of Oracle, approached him to become the Tournament Director of the prestigious ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. With dual German-American citizenship since 2010 and living in Los Angeles with his wife, the actress Sara Foster, and two young daughters, Haas agreed on the proviso that he’d like to return to the ATP World Tour as a player. In what turned out to be the final victory of his career (569-338) in June 2017, Haas beat his good friend Roger Federer on home soil in the Mercedes Cup second round.
On Thursday night, just two weeks shy of his 40th birthday, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, venue of the BNP Paribas Open, Federer was on hand as Haas stepped into sporting retirement. “I was happy to be there and to share the moment with him, because it was his moment and it was great to be there,” said Federer. Almost 20 years earlier, Haas had been due to play Federer in the Swiss star’s first ATP World Tour match at 1998 Gstaad, but fell ill due to food poisoning and had to withdraw. As the 2018 Indian Wells tournament gets to the business end, Haas will soon begin to solely focus on his life as a tennis administrator and a stay-at-home father in Los Angeles with his two young daughters, Valentina and Josephine.
World number one Roger Federer equalled his best start to a season when he beat South Korea’s Chung Hyeon to reach the Indian Wells Masters semi-final.
The defending champion claimed his 16th victory of 2018 with a 7-5 6-1 win over the world number 26 in California.
The Swiss has matched the start he made to the 2006 season, where he went on to win 33 of his first 34 matches.
He faces Borna Coric in the last four after the Croat beat South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3).
Federer, searching for a record sixth title, broke Chung’s serve four times as he won in one hour 23 minutes.
He won 70% of points on his first serve and hit 12 aces to beat Chung for the second time this season.
The win ensures that Federer will remain number one after the tournament is finished, while Chung will surpass Kei Nishikori as the highest-ranked Asian player.
Federer reached the final of all four Grand Slams in 2006, winning three and only losing the French Open to Rafael Nadal in four sets.
He also won four ATP Masters titles and ended the year with a win loss record of 92-5.
Following the match, Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas announced his retirement from the ATP Tour.
The German, who won 15 singles titles, finished eight seasons ranked in the top 20.
“The sport gave me cherished friendships, an ability to travel the world, and opportunities to create incredible memories,” the 39-year-old said.
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Unlike their Australian Open semi-final, from which Chung was forced to retire with a nasty blister, this was a proper contest – but only for the first hour.
Federer took the first set on a cool and blustery desert night, and then had to save four break points in the opening game of the second. After that, it was much more straightforward for the champion.
He is now guaranteed to hold on to the world number one ranking until at least the end of the Miami Open, which finishes on 1 April.
Pete Sampras, winner of 14 Grand Slam titles between 1990-2002, is rarely seen at tennis events these days, but made an exception for Federer as he made the journey from his Los Angeles home.
Pablo Cuevas and Horacio Zeballos nullified the serving threat of Gilles Muller and Sam Querrey for a 6-4, 6-4 win in 73 minutes on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open. The Uruguayan-Argentinean duo will next face two-time former champions and seventh seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in the semi-finals. Cuevas has won two Masters 1000 doubles titles at the 2015 Internazionali BNL d’Italia (w/Marrero) and last year’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (w/Bopanna).
Elsewhere, Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic moved one step away from reaching their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. The in-form third seeds saved all six break points they faced to knock out Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-4, 6-4 in 74 minutes. The Austrian-Croatian team broke serve in the third game of each set.
Off to a 21-2 start on the year – including a 17-match winning streak that included three titles from four finals, Marach and Pavic will next challenge Americans John Isner and Jack Sock in Friday’s semi-finals. Sock won the 2015 crown with Canada’s Vasek Pospisil.
Marach and Pavic won three straight trophies at start of the 2018 season – at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (d. Murray/Soares), the ASB Classic (d. Mirnyi/Oswald) and the Australian Open (d. Cabal-Farah). Their 17-match winning streak ended in the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament final (l. to Herbert-Mahut).
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