Tennis News

Tennis On The Adriatic: Scenic Zadar Launches Croatian Challenger Swing

Croatian tennis has embarked on a new era. This week, the ATP Challenger Tour arrives in Zadar for the first time, marking the debut of professional tennis in the historic and scenic seaside city. The tournament is the first of a record four Challengers on Croatian soil in 2021, along with two events confirmed for Split in April and another in the capital city of Zagreb in May.

The European nation has boasted a history of tennis excellence, with legendary players and longtime ATP Tour events. And now, Croatian tennis is taking a critical step forward with the return of the Challenger circuit. Players from the region will have even more opportunities to grow and develop, as they rise the FedEx ATP Rankings.

In 2020, the ATP Challenger Tour returned to Croatia for the first time in a decade, with the inaugural Split Open. This week, the debut of the Zadar Open has surged into the spotlight. The oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city, Zadar traces its origin to ninth-century BC. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, its storied history and rich culture are matched only by its beauty. Situated along the Dalmatian Coast, picturesque views of the Adriatic Sea can be seen throughout the city.

Its no wonder players have flocked to Zadar for this week’s Challenger 80 event. The city is not new to high-level tennis, having previously hosted a pair of Davis Cup semi-finals in 2016 and 2018. This time, the tournament is being held at the recently built Falkensteiner Resort Punta Skala, home to seven clay courts and situated just steps from the stunning Iadera Hotel. Iadera is the former name of Zadar given in ancient Roman times.

Gianluca Mager and Sumit Nagal led the charge this week at the Falkensteiner Resort, but both were upset in Friday’s quarter-finals. The last four will feature third seed Nikola Milojevic of Serbia facing Slovakia’s Lukas Klein and Bulgaria’s Dimitar Kuzmanov battling Nerman Fatic of Bosnia & Herzegovina, in an all-Eastern European semi-final slate. Fatic, a qualifier, is into the semis in just his fourth ATP Challenger Tour appearance.

Off the court, the tournament organised an activity to give back to the local community, with its staff and a group of players engaging in a tree planting project. Alongside tournament director Toni Dujmenovic and Croatian Tennis Association executive director Vladimir Jovanoski, players Nino Serdarusic, Skander Mansouri, Matija Pecotic, Frane Nincevic and Luka Nincevic took part in planting 50 olive trees. Under the motto, ‘Plant a tree, don’t be a stump’, the nation-wide effort has been going on for many years. So far, more than 60,000 trees have been planted in total. Participants will forever have their own tree at the resort and received a planting certificate.

“This will surely be a lasting memory for me,” said 24-year-old Serdarusic, of Zagreb. “I admit that so far I have not encountered the planting of olives, but this time we had the opportunity to learn a lot of valuable information about this plant, which has always been home to Croatia. I will be happy to return to Falkensteiner Resort Punta Skala and see how the olive tree I personally planted is progressing.”

Meanwhile, in the doubles draw, it has been a family affair for Slovenian pair Blaz Kavcic and Blaz Rola. The close friends and countrymen have brought their own special fan club to enjoy the sun, scenery and tennis in Zadar. Kavcic and Rola are accompanied by their wives and children, traveling as a full team this week. The relaxed atmosphere has certainly helped, with the duo surging into the final without dropping a set.

The tour of Croatia continues in April, with the Split Open returning for a second edition and to be followed by another Challenger 80 event at the same venue. For the first time since 2011, the circuit is back in the capital of Zagreb the week of 10 May.

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Medvedev Makes Miami Statement

Daniil Medvedev made the perfect start to his Miami Open presented by Itau title bid on Friday, as he charged past Yen-Hsun Lu 6-2, 6-2.

The Russian struck 24 winners and dropped just four points behind his first serve (22/26) to advance in 56 minutes. Medvedev, who is competing as the top seed at an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time, is the second player to reach 15 wins this season (15-2). Medvedev’s countryman, Andrey Rublev, leads the ATP Tour with 16 victories this year (16-3).

“It was not easy to play today with the windy conditions,” Medvedev said in an on-court interview. “I am happy that I managed to keep my nerve, play solid and not make so many mistakes… Everything worked well and I am looking forward to the next round.”

The World No. 2 is aiming to add more silverware to his 2021 trophy collection in Miami. Medvedev has already led Russia to the ATP Cup title (d. Italy) and captured his 10th ATP Tour crown in Marseille (d. Herbert) this season.

Medvedev refused to make errors in the opening stages of the match. The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion showcased his defensive skills in several extended baseline rallies and ripped a backhand winner up the line to lead by a double break after just seven minutes. Medvedev repeated the same pattern in the second set with increased forehand aggression and closed the second-round encounter with his ninth ace of the match.

Medvedev will face Singapore champion Alexei Popyrin in the third round. The Aussie advanced to the third round at a Masters 1000 event for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2 win against 30th seed Reilly Opelka.

“All of the hard work I’ve put in the pre-season is paying off, 11 wins in 14 matches,” Popyrin told ATPTour.com. “I really thought I was consistent during the match. Putting in lots of returns is difficult when Reilly is firing down 230 km/h bombs.”

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Sinner Shines In All-#NextGenATP Battle In Miami

It’s rare Jannik Sinner has the experience advantage. But the 21st seed showed one on Friday as he dismantled fellow #NextGenATP player Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of the Miami Open presented by Itau.

“He’s a very difficult player for me because firstly he’s left-handed. He’s changing the ball a lot,” Sinner said. “We played outdoors with a little bit of wind, so it was not easy I think for both of us. I started well, I put pressure immediately, which I think he felt a little bit.

“For the [opening] round, it was a good match from my side, but he’s a very difficult player to play against.”

The 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion needed just 63 minutes to defeat Gaston, last year’s breakthrough Roland Garros star. Sinner overpowered the French lefty, saving all three break points he faced to set a clash against 14th seed Karen Khachanov.

The last time the Miami Open presented by Itau was played, in March 2019, Sinner was outside the Top 300 of the FedEx ATP Rankings and still competing in Futures events. Now, the 19-year-old is World No. 31 and still on the rise. He had an answer for everything Gaston tried to do on Court 4, preventing the 20-year-old from controlling the pace of play with his trademark drop shot. 

Sinner now leads their ATP Head2Head series 2-0. Earlier this month, the Italian teen beat Gaston 6-4, 6-1 in Marseille.

The 19-year-old’s next opponent, Khachanov, also looked dominant in a 6-3, 6-2 victory against German Yannick Hanfmann, setting a big-hitting showdown in the third round. Both of Khachanov and Sinner’s previous meetings, which have come in the past six months, have gone to a final-set tie-break. The Russian triumphed in five bruising sets at last year’s US Open, and Sinner got his revenge earlier this year at the Great Ocean Road Open.

“I practise for having tough matches. I practise for staying in difficult situations. I practise especially for these kind of matches,” Sinner said. “It’s going to be a tough match for sure for both of us. I know him quite well, he knows me quite well… it’s not going to be easy for us.”

Khachanov began the day with a 1-4 record in Miami, but he looked plenty confident against the World No. 108. The Russian earned five service breaks in his 71-minute triumph.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed success at ATP Masters 1000 events before. Khachanov won the biggest title of his career at the 2018 Rolex Paris Masters.

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Felix Handles Herbert, Eyes Isner Revenge In Miami

No. 11 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is up and running at the Miami Open presented by Itau after a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Friday.

The Canadian looked right at home at Hard Rock Stadium, the same venue where he reached the semi-finals in 2019 as an 18-year-old on his tournament debut. That year, Auger-Aliassime won seven straight matches from qualifying before falling to eventual finalist John Isner. 

He will get another shot against Isner, the 2018 champion, in the third round. Isner fought past qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the last match of the day on Grandstand.

Auger-Aliassime took control of the rallies with his forehand against Herbert, firing 19 of his 24 winners off that wing. The victory improves Auger-Aliassime’s ATP Head2Head record against Herbert to 2-1, after splitting last year’s encounters on the Frenchman’s home turf in Montpellier and Marseille. 

“I thought it was a tricky first match, because I have lost to him before,” Auger-Aliassime said. “So I guess being ready for his best, being ready for kind of the worst-case scenario really got me prepared mentally, and I think I stayed focused throughout the match. So that was a good thing.”

The 20-year-old arrived at the year’s first ATP Masters 1000 event full of confidence after strong results to start the season, including a run to the final at the Great Ocean Road Open and last week’s Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC quarter-finals.

Auger-Aliassime took an early lead in both sets and matched the Frenchman’s net-rushing with some of his own, winning five of nine points at the net. But in both sets, he lost the early advantage as Herbert fought back to 4-4. A late break at 5-4 in each set made the difference for the Canadian, who served out the victory to love after an hour and 33 minutes.

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Miami Open: Katie Boulter loses to Elise Mertens in second round

Britain’s Katie Boulter fades after a fast start as she loses 6-4 6-1 to Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens in the Miami Open.

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Friday Preview: Medvedev Headlines Loaded Friday In Miami

Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, 2018 champion John Isner and two #NextGenATP stars – Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jannik Sinner – play their first matches at the 2021 Miami Open presented by Itau on Friday, which features 16 singles and four doubles matches.

If Medvedev is feeling the pressure of being the top seed at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time, he isn’t showing it. The Russian, who meets Chinese Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu in the third match on Grandstand, said earlier this week, “I’m enjoying the moment. I don’t feel the pressure, except for the pressure that I like to win matches and I want to win every tournament I play.”

The 25-year-old has gotten off to an excellent start to the 2021 season, becoming the first player outside of the Big Four to rank No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings since Lleyton Hewitt on 18 July 2005. With a 14-2 record this year, Medvedev has already led Russia to the ATP Cup crown in Melbourne, followed it up with a runner-up showing at the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic) and captured his 10th ATP Tour title at the Open 13 Provence (d. Herbert). “I just want to play better and better to prove to myself I deserve this and hopefully I can show some great tennis in Miami,” said Medvedev, who reached the 2019 fourth round.

Auger-Aliassime, who challenges France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the third match on Court 1, is back at the venue of his breakthrough run. Having lost the first set in his first qualifying match in 2019, the then 18-year-old Canadian won seven straight matches to reach the semi-finals. “It was special. And I think I’m more impressed with myself today than I was two years ago, because I now know how difficult it is to make the semi-finals of a Masters [1000],” said Auger-Aliassime, earlier this week.

Photo: Peter Staples/Miami Open

Jannik Sinner, the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion, who is close to breaking into the Top 30 for the first time, takes on French wild card Hugo Gaston for the second time in three weeks. The 19-year-old Italian is contesting only his third ATP Masters 1000 tournament (2019-’20 Rome) and will be attempting to draw upon the form that helped him to capture the Great Ocean Road Open title (d. Travaglia) last month. Sinner beat Gaston 6-4, 6-1 in the Marseille second round two weeks ago.

Read Features: The Last Time With Sinner | Gaston Ready For Takeoff In Miami

Third seed Alexander Zverev, who lost to Isner 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 in the 2018 final, will play 21-year-old Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland on Court 1, just six days after the German captured his 14th ATP Tour crown over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco. Elsewhere, Spanish seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut meets Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships finalist Lloyd Harris of South Africa, Belgium’s 2016 semi-finalist and eighth seed David Goffin plays James Duckworth of Australia and Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov faces Cameron Norrie of Great Britain.

Seven Americans are also in action at the Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, led by 2018 champion and 2019 runner-up Isner, who plays the night match on Grandstand against compatriot and qualifier Mackenzie McDonald. Taylor Fritz, the No. 22 seed, kicks off proceedings on the main show court against Marcos Giron, while No. 30 seed Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe and Ernesto Escobedo are also on Friday’s schedule.

Additionally, there are four doubles matches, including second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, who have already won three ATP Tour titles and compiled a 20-3 record in 2021. The Croatian team takes on American wild cards Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey on Court 6.

Watch Live | View TV Schedule

SCHEDULE – FRIDAY, 26 MARCH 2021

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
M. Giron (USA) vs [22] T. Fritz (USA)

Not Before 1:00 pm
WTA MATCH
[1] D. Medvedev (RUS) vs [PR] Y. Lu (TPE)

Not Before 7:00 pm
WTA MATCH

Not Before 8:30 pm
[Q] M. McDonald (USA) vs [18] J. Isner (USA)

COURT 1 start 11:00 am
A. Popyrin (AUS) vs [30] R. Opelka (USA)
[9] G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs C. Norrie (GBR)
[11] F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs P. Herbert (FRA)
[3] A. Zverev (GER) vs E. Ruusuvuori (FIN)

Not Before 7:00 pm
[19] D. Evans (GBR) vs F. Tiafoe (USA)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
J. Duckworth (AUS) vs [8] D. Goffin (BEL)
M. Ymer (SWE) vs [27] N. Basilashvili (GEO)
Y. Hanfmann (GER) vs [14] K. Khachanov (RUS)
L. Harris (RSA) vs [7] R. Bautista Agut (ESP)
[32] A. Bublik (KAZ) vs L. Djere (SRB)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
[Q] E. Escobedo (USA) vs [16] D. Lajovic (SRB)
[31] J. Struff (GER) vs R. Berankis (LTU)
[21] J. Sinner (ITA) vs [WC] H. Gaston (FRA)
M. Melo (BRA) / J. Rojer (NED) vs M. Kecmanovic (SRB) / A. Qureshi (PAK)
[4] I. Dodig (CRO) / F. Polasek (SVK) vs J. Chardy (FRA) / F. Martin (FRA)

COURT 6 start 11:00 am
WTA MATCH
WTA MATCH
[WC] S. Korda (USA) / M. Mmoh (USA) vs F. Fognini (ITA) / M. Gonzalez (ARG)
WTA MATCH
WTA MATCH
[WC] S. Johnson (USA) / S. Querrey (USA) vs [2] N. Mektic (CRO) / M. Pavic (CRO)

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Coach Gigounon On Goffin: 'We Don't Need To Talk, I Just Get It'

David Goffin has a smile on his face again and its in no small part down to his coach and childhood friend, Germain Gigounon, who has helped the Belgian get back to basics.

The World No. 13 overcame COVID-19 and suffered five straight losses to end the 2020 season before appointing Gigounon, a former pro, whom he had known for more than 25 years, in November 2020.

“We first met when we were six or seven, in one of the first tournaments we played around 25 years ago,” Gigounon told ATPTour.com. “We trained a lot together in the past with the [Belgian Tennis] Federation and were room-mates, even though we have different personalities. I was really happy to join the team as I was always watching and following him. Always in touch together. When he asked me in November to join his team full-time, I was delighted.”

It’s a good fit for Goffin, who is bidding to return to the kind of form that helped him to four ATP titles and the Nitto ATP Finals in a five-year partnership with fellow Belgian Thierry van Cleemput, whom he had known since a young age.

As a familiar face, Gugounon has already helped Goffin reap dividends in 2021, steering his charge to a first title since the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in October 2017. Goffin overcame Roberto Bautista Agut 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 on 28 February for the Open Sud de France crown in Montpellier.

“I’m feeling more confident and I’m happier on the court,” Goffin told ATPTour.com. “We’ve put in a lot of work together and refined a few strokes, developing a plan of how I want to play in the future. I feel more relaxed, confident in my choices and with my serve and on return. I do feel sharper in my movement too.”

Gigounon, who previously coached Belgian WTA players Yanina Wickmayer and Ysaline Bonaventure, immediately set about getting Goffin focused on what he does well: his ball-striking and his movement in their practice sessions in Belgium and Monaco.

“He wanted to return to basics, so, having known him for 25 years now, it was natural and simple to help him,” said Gigounon. “I know how he reacts, his personality and game, so we can talk easily together. I think that’s the best thing about our partnership.

“Last year was a tough year for him, with the conditions, and he was a bit down. Because he was a little lost with his game, he wanted to be more solid and aggressive. We worked a lot on these aspects of the game, hitting a lot of balls in the pre-season and looked at his serve. We attempted to work on hitting the ball earlier, to go back to the way he used to play his tennis.”

Photo: Peter Staples/Miami Open

Although Goffin has experienced a few tough losses this season, the 30-year-old is fighting for every point once again and having fun on the court. “I’m happy with the way I am feeling, moving and playing on the court now,” said Goffin. “It means I can go for more shots, cut the angles on my groundstrokes. I try to play inside the court and think my opponents feel more pressure.”

Gigounon, who lost to Goffin in a 2008 ITF Futures final in Greece during his own playing career that peaked at No. 185 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in August 2015, added, “David is fighting, which is the most important thing,” said Gigounon. “We talked about it during the pre-season and is he fighting for every point. He’s played some good matches this year and has taken some steps forward.

“Even though I didn’t play big tournaments like David, I know what it feels to be up and down in matches, to fight in matches,” said Gigounon. “I have known him for a long time. I have followed all his matches. Sometimes we don’t need to talk, I just get it.”

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Felix Reflects On 'Special' Breakthrough Run In Miami

Felix Auger-Aliassime has been all smiles this week at the Miami Open presented by Itau, and for good reason. The last time the Canadian visited Hard Rock Stadium, in 2019, he enjoyed the best ATP Masters 1000 run of his career.

Then an 18-year-old, Auger-Aliassime lost the first set in his first-round qualifying match. From there, the teen won seven consecutive matches to reach the last four at the prestigious event.

“It was special. And I think I’m more impressed with myself today than I was two years ago, because I now know how difficult it is to make the semi-finals of a Masters [1000],” Auger-Aliassime said. “At the time I thought, ‘Okay, I made the first one and maybe I’ll do a couple [more] in the next two, three years.’ And you realise, ‘Okay, it’s not that easy.’

“You need to have a high level and circumstances happened two years ago that I just played a great level and I was able to beat the opponents I played. But honestly, it was quite an impressive week when I look back at what I’ve done. I’m happy to be back here because obviously when you’re in a tournament where you’ve had good memories and you feel good about the tournament, it just feels better.”

For a short time, Felix looked back on his run with some disappointment, despite beating Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Nikoloz Basilashvili and Borna Coric. In the semi-finals against defending champion John Isner, the Canadian served for both sets they played. But the big-serving American pulled through two tie-breaks to reach the final. Soon after the match, Auger-Aliassime was seen back on the practice court hitting serves.

“It was frustrating at the time, and I think for a couple months after it was a tough memory because I did have a chance serving for both sets and I remember clearly how the match happened,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It was a tough loss in the end. But still, such a good memory of this great run and the great tournament I had.”

Auger-Aliassime is off to a strong 9-4 start to 2021, which includes a run to his seventh ATP Tour final at the Murray River Open in Melbourne. The 11th seed will try to maintain his momentum on Friday when he plays aggressive Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round in Miami.

“I’m feeling good. First things first, I’m feeling healthy in my body, in my mind. Feeling fresh,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I think I’ve been able to put a good setup around me this year and just prepare well for the tournaments and be ready. I’ve worked to be in this position.

“Of course, there were a few tight matches that I would have liked to win in Australia or last week in Acapulco. But for the start of the year, honestly, it’s a good one and hopefully I can keep on improving.”

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The Last Time With… Jannik Sinner

In the latest installment of our popular series, #NextGenATP Italian and two-time ATP Tour titlist Jannik Sinner reveals the last time…

I lost something important?
When I was a skier, I lost my skis once. I went to eat something and, when I want back, the skis were not there anymore. That was tough for me. I don’t know where they are. I still don’t know that and, honestly, I don’t want to know that because it is a shame. It was in Italy at an important race. I came to the start and the skis were not there anymore. Normally, you have two pairs of skis and I went with the other one. It was tough to accept that.

I paid money to hire a court or buy tennis balls?
I would say in Juniors. I had to pay for tennis balls and the court, but it was not much. It was okay. I think it was somewhere in Bosnia. Fortunately, I had money with me.

Being famous helped me?
I don’t like going to restaurants and not paying, because I don’t consider myself to be famous. For them, I was famous. It was in my [area], where I come from. We went to the restaurant and they said, ‘No, no, it is good.’ I always like to pay, because for me it is [a sign of] respect to other people. I wanted to pay and said, ‘Come on, let me pay’. I had a normal lunch, but they didn’t let me.

I strung a tennis racquet?
Not long ago, because normally when I am in Monaco sometimes I string my racquets by myself. When was I last in Monaco? Two weeks ago, before Dubai I was in Monaco. [It takes me] 20 minutes. I am quite fast.

I cooked for myself or others?
Sometimes I cook. If I am in Monaco and someone comes to me, my friends, my girlfriend, it is okay for me to cook. [I would cook] a simple meal. I am not a chef. [Last time], I cooked chicken with vegetables. Before, [I have cooked] pasta with tomato sauce.

I met a childhood idol?
Rafa, definitely. Always when I see him, I am quite nervous. It is the same with Roger. It is always special to meet them.

I attended a live sporting event other than tennis?
At the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals, we went to see AC Milan v Lazio. I think we lost 2-1. I am an AC Milan fan. It was strange because we were the whole group together, with all the Next Gen players. It was 1-1 until the 80th minute and then we went away because after the match, there are a bunch of people going around. After two minutes, we were 2-1 down. It was a bad, bad day.

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Gaston Ready For Takeoff In Miami

For Hugo Gaston, life is quite a bit different after his breakout run at last year’s Roland Garros, but in many ways it’s stayed the same.

The Frenchman was the last player from his country left standing by the third round, and he made sure that Parisians remembered his name. Ranked No. 239 in the world, Gaston stunned former champion Stan Wawrinka in thriller 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 to announce his arrival.

His run propelled him into the Top 200, and he achieved career-high No. 157 in FedEx ATP Rankings in October. It also won the 20-year-old plenty of new fans and supporters.

“Sometimes a lot of people want to take pictures with me now,” Gaston told ATPTour.com. “[Even] when I was in my home city, some people wanted to take photos with me. Of course, it’s nice for me. 

“Of course, the people know me a little bit more [now], but I’ve stayed the same. I try to stay focussed on my tennis game.”

 

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Off the court, the 20-year-old still lives with his parents in Fonsorbes, a suburb of Toulouse, France – and a place where tennis-playing Gaston stands out for more than his signature drop shots. 

“In Toulouse, it’s like 80 per cent of the population that works in [the aeronautics industry]. It’s really big there,” Gaston told ATPTour.com. 

His hometown lies at the centre of European aeronautics, with over 500 companies clustered around France’s “Aerospace Valley”. In fact, both of Gaston’s parents as well as his older brother work for airline manufacturer Airbus ensuring quality control and making sure the aircrafts are ready for takeoff. 

“It’s really nice, sometimes we just talk about airplanes,” Gaston explained. “It’s good to talk not about tennis. For me it’s important to learn what I can from my family about airplanes as well, not only tennis.”

But Gaston always knew he was destined for tennis, another passion he inherited from his family. His father was the president of the Fonsorbes Tennis Club and he grew up accompanying him to the courts. 

He always had a racquet in his hands since he began playing at the age of two, and grew up idolising fellow lefty Rafael Nadal. 

“He’s a lefty and I like his mentality. For me, it’s really nice to watch [him play] and I try to take something from him [as an example],” Gaston said. “[I met Rafa for the first time] during the juniors, maybe in Australian Open. For me I was a young player and to see Rafa just behind me was amazing.”

Like Nadal, Gaston found the best tennis of his career on the courts of Roland Garros. The conditions in the French capital don’t exactly suit his game, but Gaston found joy on his signature shot time and again on his way to the fourth round.

“I always play a lot of drop shots, not only in Roland Garros but even back in juniors it was the same,” he said. “Of course, the conditions at the French Open are really difficult so for me it’s really good to do this shot. I do a lot, a lot of drop shots. For me it’s [been] a good shot, and I try to hit a drop shot when I can.” 

The Gaston drop shot was on display at the Miami Open presented Itau, where the Frenchman won his first match at the ATP Masters 1000 level. Up against Dominik Koepfer, Gaston recorded a 6-1, 6-4 victory to book a second-round clash with No. 21 seed Jannik Sinner. He’ll be out for revenge, as Sinner won 6-4, 6-1 in their most recent meeting in Marseille. 

“My dream is to be the No. 1 and in the Top 10 and to take a lot of Grand Slams. I know it’s really difficult, we have a lot of really good players. So I will try to do my best and we’ll practise, and we will see.”

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