Tennis News

What is the Laver Cup schedule?

The 2024 Laver Cup gets underway on Friday 20 September in Berlin, Germany, where John McEnroe’s Team World will begin its Laver Cup defence against Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe.

There are plenty of interesting matches from the start. The first match begins at 1 p.m. with World No. 9 Casper Ruud facing Francisco Cerundolo.

Fans will be able to watch four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz compete alongside Alexander Zverev in the doubles action. The two will face the American duo of Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, concluding Friday’s order of play.

ORDER OF PLAY – Friday

UBER ARENA

Matches start at 1 p.m.
Casper Ruud (Team Europe) vs Francisco Cerundolo (Team World)

followed by
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Team Europe) vs Thanasi Kokkinakis (Team World)

7 p.m.
Grigor Dimitrov (Team Europe) vs Alejandro Tabilo (Team World)

followed by
Carlos Alcaraz (Team Europe), Alexander Zverev (Team Europe) vs Taylor Fritz (Team World), Ben Shelton (Team World)

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Why Federer says this week at Laver Cup is 'bittersweet'

For the seventh and final time, legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will face off as captains of Team Europe and Team World, respectively, at the Laver Cup in Berlin. The event, which begins Friday, marks the end of an era.

The Laver Cup, founded in 2017 by former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Roger Federer, has seen Borg lead Team Europe and McEnroe Team World since the event’s inception.

“For me it’s very much a bittersweet week with Bjorn and John because I would love them to be captains forever,” Federer said. “At the same time, we’ve got to move with the times, I guess.”

Despite the end of their captaincies, Federer expressed deep gratitude for their contributions to the tournament.

“It was supposed to be three years, four or two, and it ended up being seven,” Federer said. “It’s been seven great years. Couldn’t have had better captains, to be honest.”

The two will be replaced by Yannick Noah, who will captain Team Europe, and Andre Agassi, who will step in for Team World.

“Of course, in the future I hope that Bjorn and John will return and pass on the torch… to Yannick and Andre, that they will always be friends and guests as captains of the inaugural event,” Federer said.

Team Europe won the first four editions of the Laver Cup, and Team World has triumphed in back-to-back years. John McEnroe and Team World will aim for its third straight victory over the three-day competition.

“The weather is supposed to be really beautiful,” Federer said. “Okay we’re playing indoors, but still when you go out, it’s nice. So yeah, I think coming to Berlin for the Laver Cup is very fun. Looking forward to a great week.”

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Wimbledon expansion given planning boost

The All England Club has received a support to its plans to build 39 new tennis courts on Wimbledon Park.

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McEnroe: Spirit key for Team World three-peat at Laver Cup

What role can personality and emotion play in forging success on the tennis court? Perhaps no one is better placed to comment on the topic than John McEnroe.

The American tennis icon is banking on team spirit to lay the foundation for Team World’s 2024 Laver Cup campaign this weekend in Berlin. Up against a Team Europe lineup featuring five of the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, McEnroe nonetheless believes his Team World has what it takes to seal its third consecutive crown at the teams event.

“I believe that every Laver Cup we have played, nine of the Top 10 have been Europeans,” said McEnroe, when asked about his team’s off-court cohesion during a pre-event press conference. “So I think that team spirit that’s something that has helped carry us eventually to victory and kept us really close in others. It’s an excellent point.”

Not that McEnroe doesn’t have some top ATP Tour talent to send out on court at Uber Arena. His roster is led by World No. 7 Taylor Fritz, who will be competing for the first time since reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open earlier this month. Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis complete the Team World lineup.

Fritz shied away from suggestions that he was going to be something of a ‘leader’ within his team in Berlin, but instead said each member of Team World is ready to take individual responsibility in their bid to retain the Laver Cup.

“In this competition, it’s just up to each of us to do our part to get the points,” said the American. “One person can’t win it. Everybody’s got a job to do. [After the US Open] I had a couple of days off to relax, to just enjoy some time off after a long two weeks. Then I started to get back into it a couple days before and I have had some good practices here, getting myself ready to go for this weekend.”

𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐯𝐬 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 ✨@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/bLc6xxIOhf

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 18, 2024

One man who is aiming to maintain his perfect Laver Cup record is Shelton, who made his debut in Team World’s comprehensive victory in Vancouver a year ago. The 21-year-old is used to operating in a team format, having played college tennis at the University of Florida in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s a lot of fun for me,” said Shelton, when asked about returning to a team format. “Pro tennis is a lot different from college tennis. Usually everything is on your own shoulders, so it’s nice to be able to rely on your teammates sometimes. Team World, we’ve a lot of guys that are reliable, especially Taylor Fritz. That guy is solid as a rock. Crazy. I think it’s a special event for me to be a part of.

“I’m just grateful that two years straight I got to come out here and compete, because I love the team atmosphere and I love cheering on my guys and competing when I’ve got guys cheering for me on the sidelines.”

Some South American flair will be injected into the 2024 version of Team World by Chilean Tabilo and Argentine Cerundolo.

It will be a Laver Cup debut for Tabilo, who rose to a career-high No. 19 in the PIF ATP Rankings in July after a series of high-quality showings across the first half of 2024. The 27-year-old was outside the Top 100 as recently as last November, but will now line up for Team World in ATP legend McEnroe’s final outing as captain.

“It’s pretty surreal. I mean, when a legend in the sport like [McEnroe] is giving us tips and everything, it’s nice,” said Tabilo. “Obviously I’m going to try and use that for the rest of my career. Just definitely going to help this week and hopefully for the whole year.”

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Home favourite Zhang advances in Hangzhou, Nishioka wins

China’s No. 1 Zhang Zhizhen is up and running on home soil at the Hangzhou Open. The sixth seed moved past Kazakhstan qualifier Denis Yevseyev 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the second round at the ATP 250.

The 27-year-old was competing on home soil for the first time since he advanced to the fourth round at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai last October.

In a hard-fought first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the two, Zhang overcame an erratic display, in which he committed 42 unforced errors en route to advancing after two hours and four minutes. The No. 48 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will meet Mattia Bellucci in the second round.

satisfying win 😊

On home soil Zhang defeats Yevseyev 6-2 1-6 6-4 to move into R2 at #HangzhouOpen @HangzhouOpen pic.twitter.com/xy9pVoDSnK

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 19, 2024

Yoshihito Nishioka improved his perfect record against Top 100 opponents since the start of 2023 to 15-0 on Thursday at the Hangzhou Open, where the Japanese lefty overcame Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-2.

The eighth seed was in control throughout the 77-minute clash, not facing a break point to earn victory in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

The No. 54 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, who reached the title match in Zhuhai last year, will next meet Croatian wild card and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in the second round.

Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete earned his first ATP Tour win of the season, moving past Frenchman Hugo Gaston 7-5, 6-3. Bu won two ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2024 and qualified for the US Open last month, losing to Casper Ruud in the first round.

The 22-year-old faces a tough test in the second round, meeting second seed Karen Khachanov.

#NextGenATP star Coleman Wong advanced after Wu Yibing was forced to retire after the first set. Wu, who became the first Chinese man to win an ATP Tour title last year in Dallas, has struggled with injury issues in the past year and was forced to stop after losing the first set 3-6.

Wong, who is the first man from Hong Kong to win an ATP Tour match since 1972, is up one spot to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The 20-year-old is aiming to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. He faces former Next Gen champ Brandon Nakashima in round two.

In other action at the ATP 250 hard-court event, Bellucci defeated Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 6-0, while Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena overcame Corentin Moutet 7-6(6), 6-1 despite a moment of magic from the Frenchman. Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama defeated Australian James McCabe 6-4, 6-4 and will take on top seed Holger Rune in the second round.

Australian Rinky Hijikata moved past Damir Dzumhur 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-2. Hijikata rallied from 2-5 down in the second set to eventually turn the match around after two hours and 31 minutes. He plays seventh seed Fabian Marozsan in the second round. Alexander Shevchenko downed Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti 6-1, 6-1 to reach round two.

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Alcaraz on ‘privilege’ of spending time with legends Borg, McEnroe, Laver in Berlin

Team Europe is not messing around when it comes to its latest bid for Laver Cup glory.

Five of the Top 10 players in the PIF ATP Rankings will this year don the blue colours under Bjorn Borg’s leadership at the teams event. Swedish legend Borg, who will captain Team Europe for the seventh and final time, was in a confident mood Thursday in Berlin, where his team aims to reclaim the Laver Cup trophy for the first time since 2021.

“The last two years I was very disappointed, but this year, look at this team,” said Borg at Europe’s pre-tournament press conference. “I don’t think we’re going to lose this year. This is going to be one of the good years.

“I’m happy to see these guys. Some of the guys have been playing in Laver Cup many times. We have a good atmosphere always, and to be here with all these guys, it’s going to be great. It’s going to be good tennis, as always, good matches. Team World, it’s a tough team, they play really good, they played really good in the US Open. But I think we have a good chance.”

𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐯𝐬 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 ✨@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/bLc6xxIOhf

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 18, 2024

For the first time, Borg will be able to call upon the abilities of Carlos Alcaraz at the Laver Cup. The Spaniard will make his event debut on Friday night in Berlin, where he teams with home favourite Alexander Zverev in the opening doubles clash of the weekend. Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also on Team Europe’s roster.

Having increased his tally of Grand Slam titles to four by triumphing at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season, Alcaraz is fast establishing himself as a modern great of the game. The 21-year-old is nonetheless ready to absorb any knowledge he can while in the presence of tennis legends such as Borg, Team World captain John McEnroe, and Rod Laver himself.

“For me it’s a privilege to be surrounded by Bjorn, by McEnroe, Rod Laver, the legends from our sport who [reached] the top of the sport,” said Alcaraz. “So for me, to just try to learn from them so closely, and obviously here in the Laver Cup, I think it’s a really beautiful tournament that I’m going to try to enjoy as much as I can.

“With my partners, we used to fight against each other during the whole tournament. Now in this tournament we’re going to cheer on each other. It’s going to be a beautiful thing that I’m going to try to enjoy, but I’m going to try to learn from them as well as much as can.”

Alcaraz could turn to his opening doubles partner Zverev for any tips on how to handle the Laver Cup pressure. The German, who has won a Tour-leading 56 matches in 2024, is this year set to compete in his fifth edition of the event appearance, a Team Europe record.

“It is a very special tournament,” said Zverev. “It is very different to maybe the regular tournaments that we play, but I think we should enjoy each other. I think we should enjoy having the best on our team. Normally we see each other at later stages of tournaments, and we want to beat each other, we want to do everything I can to win, and now we are here as a team and we have one goal, and that’s to win the Laver Cup.

“It doesn’t matter who is on the court. I think we, as a team, we all have full trust in that person. I’m just happy to be part of it.”

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The Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships is one of 13 ATP 500 events that will host tennis’ elite for a week in the 2024 season. Among those in action are Top 15 stars Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the Japan tournament:

When is the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

The ATP 500 event will be held from 25 September to 1 October. The hard-court tournament, established in 1972, is played at the Ariake Tennis Forest Park. The tournament director is Shigefusa Kanroji.

Who is playing at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

Fritz, Hurkacz, Ruud, Tsitsipas, Rune, Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime are all set to compete in Tokyo.

When is the draw for the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

The Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships draw will be made on Monday, 23 September at 2:00 p.m.

What is the schedule for the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

Qualifying: Monday, 23 September – Tuesday, 24 October at 11:00 a.m.
Main Draw: Wednesday, 25 September – Saturday, 28 September at 11 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 29 September at 1:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m., Monday, 30 September from 4:00 p.m.
Doubles Final: Tuesday, 1 October at 4:30 p.m.
Singles Final: Tuesday, 1 October NB 7:00 p.m.
View On Official Website

What is the prize money and points for the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

The prize money for the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships is $1,818,380 and the Total Financial Commitment is $1,989,865.

SINGLES
Winner: $340,010/ 500 points
Finalist: $182,950 / 330 points
Semi-finalist: $97,510/ 200 points
Quarter-finalist: $49,820 / 100 points
Round of 16: $26,595 / 50 points
Round of 32: $14,185 / 0 points
Qualifying: — / 25 points
Qualifying 2: $7,270 / 13 points
Qualifying 1: $4,080 / 0 points

DOUBLES ($ per team)

Winner: $111,690 / 500 points
Finalist: $59,570 / 300 points
Semi-finalist: $30,140 / 180 points
Quarter-finalist: $15,070 / 90 points
Round of 16: $7,800 / 0 points
Qualifying: — / 45 points
Qualifying 2: —/ 25 points
Qualifying 1: —/ — points

How can I watch the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

Watch Live On TennisTV

TV Schedule

How can I follow the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?

Hashtag: #kinoshitajotennis
Facebook: Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships
Twitter: @japanopentennis
Instagram: kinoshitagroupjapanopen

Who won the last edition of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in 2023?

Shelton defeated Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-1 in the men’s singles final last year to claim his maiden ATP Tour title. In the doubles final, all-Australian duo Rinky Hijikata and Max Purcell took the crown in Tokyo, overcoming Jamie Murray and Michael Venus 6-4, 6-1.

Who holds the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Stefan Edberg (4)
Most Titles, Doubles: Ken Flach (3), Rick Leach (3)
Oldest Champion: Ken Rosewall, 38, in 1973
Youngest Champion: Jimmy Arias, 18, in 1982
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Stefan Edberg in 1991, No. 1 Pete Sampras in 1994, 1996, No. 1 Roger Federer in 2006, No. 1 Rafael Nadal in 2010, No. 1 Novak Djokovic in 2019
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 121 Kenneth Carlsen in 2002
Last Home Champion: Kei Nishikori in 2014
Most Match Wins: Stefan Edberg (27)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

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China Open: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The China Open is one of 13 ATP 500 events that host an elite roster of men’s players. Among those in action this year in Beijing are No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the Chinese tournament:

When is the China Open?

The ATP 500 event will be held from 26 September to 2 October. The hard-court tournament, established in 1993, will take place at the National Tennis Centre. The tournament directors are Lars Graff and Alfred Zhang Junhui.

Who is playing at the China Open?

Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Grigor Dimitrov, Lorenzo Musetti and Zhizhen Zhang are among the field in China.

When is the draw for China Open?

The China Open draw will be made on Tuesday, 24 September at 2:30 p.m.

What is the schedule for the China Open?

Qualifying: Tuesday, 24 – Wednesday, 25 September at 11:00 a.m.
Main Draw: Thursday, 26 September – Wednesday, 2 October
Start time: Thursday – Sunday at 11:00 a.m., Monday and Tuesday from 12 noon
Night sessions from 7:00 p.m. and NB 8:30 p.m.
Doubles Final: Wednesday, 2 October NB 2:00 p.m.
Singles Final: Wednesday, 2 October NB 5:00 p.m.
View On Official Website

What is the prize money and points for the China Open?

The prize money for the China Open is $3,720,165 and the Total Financial Commitment is $3,891,650.

SINGLES
Winner: $695,750 / 500 points
Finalist: $374,340 / 330 points
Semi-finalist: $199,495 / 200 points
Quarter-finalist: $101,925 / 100 points
Round of 16: $54,405 / 50 points
Round of 32: $29,015 / 0 points
Qualifying: — / 25 points
Qualifying 2: $14,870 / 13 points
Qualifying 1: $8,340 / 0 points

DOUBLES ($ per team)

Winner: $228,510 / 500 points
Finalist: $121,870 / 300 points
Semi-finalist: $61,660 / 180 points
Quarter-finalist: $30,830 / 90 points
Round of 16: $15,960 / 0 points
Qualifying: — / 45 points
Qualifying 2: —/ 25 points
Qualifying 1: —/ — points

How can I watch the China Open?

Watch Live On Tennis TV

TV Schedule

How can I follow the China Open?

Hashtag: #ChinaOpen
Facebook: China Open
Twitter: @ChinaOpen
Instagram: @chinaopen

Who won the last edition of the China Open in 2023?
Sinner defeated Medvedev 7-6(2), 7-6(2) to claim the 2023 title and notch up his first win against Medvedev in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek won the doubles title as top seeds, overcoming Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof 6-7(12), 6-3, 10-6 in the final.

Who holds the China Open record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Novak Djokovic (6)
Most Titles, Doubles: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (3)
Oldest Champion: Rafael Nadal, 31, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Rafael Nadal, 19, in 2005
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Novak Djokovic in 2013-15, No. 1 Rafael Nadal in 2017
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 34 Nikoloz Basilashvili in 2018
Last Home Champion: None
Most Match Wins: Novak Djokovic (29)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

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Raducanu reaches Korea Open quarter-finals

Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu reaches the quarter-finals at the Korea Open after beating China’s Yue Yuan in straight sets in Seoul.

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How 6'8" Damm is putting his heel to the ground

American Martin Damm walked onto the practice court for his final training session before this year’s grass-court swing. The 20-year-old was eagerly waiting to compete professionally on grass, the surface on which he beat Carlos Alcaraz at the Wimbledon junior event in 2019.

But in an instant, Damm suffered a freak injury that kept him out of the game for three months. He tore two ligaments in his left ankle before the training session even began.

“I just stepped and next thing I know, I’m on the ground in crazy pain. It was brutal,” Damm told ATPTour.com at the Saint-Tropez Open, an ATP Challenger Tour 125 event. “I just stepped, I didn’t necessarily roll it or fall.

“I think something must have been bad in the ankle. It must have been getting close to it and it was just a matter of what day it was going to happen. I don’t think these things just happen out of nowhere. I couldn’t even put my heel down to the ground the first two weeks.”

Before the injury, Damm was enjoying some of the best results of his career. He reached his first ATP Challenger Tour final in January and made a third-round run at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami two months later.

Now Damm is “getting used to trusting my ankle a little more” and aiming to find the level he was producing in the first half of the year.

The son of 40-time tour-level doubles titlist Martin Damm, the Florida native has unique attributes that make him a tricky opponent. Turning 21 at the end of September, Damm stands tall at 6’8” and is left-handed.

“Not many players were or are like that. It definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. I think the great thing is that I’m lefty and the size. Hopefully my serve can get to a point where it’s one of the best in the world,” Damm said.

“At the same time, the game has progressed so much the last few years, everyone is so good at hitting a tennis ball. So unfortunately it’s not only about the serve and how you hit the ball. The majority of it is the physical side, fitness, and the mental side of it as well.  

“I think it’s time to look past forehands, backhand and serves. Obviously it’s great to have that in the toolbox, but you have to be an absolute beast mentally and physically as well to compete with those guys. I think that’s something I need to improve the most in.”

Damm has learned the importance of mental fortitude from his father, whose biggest career doubles title came at the 2006 US Open alongside Leander Paes. The American has also been working with USTA mental performance coach Larry Lauer for seven years.

“[My dad] told me no matter how bad it gets, just keep working,” Damm said. “At the time, it might feel like career-ending losses but at the end of the day, it’s just one match and the season is so long. Keep your head down, keep working and know that the tough times will pass at some point.

“My dad and Larry say, ‘Just accept it, move on, keep working and tomorrow is a new day’.”

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