Tennis News

Rublev: ‘It’s All About The Mental Side’ Against Zverev

Andrey Rublev is a firm believer streaks are meant to be broken. But having snapped one against compatriot Daniil Medvedev in the Western & Southern Open semi-finals on Saturday, a repeat of the feat against Alexander Zverev proved a bridge too far on Sunday.

Zverev captured his fifth ATP Masters 1000 title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory and took his ATP Head2Head record to 5-0 against the Russian. Rublev was attempting to win his first match in five ATP Head2Head meetings for the second day running, after he had done so against top seed Medvedev.

The 23-year-old had lost all 10 sets against Medvedev and all nine against Zverev coming into Cincinnati. While he managed to turn the tide in the semi-finals, he admitted there was still a hurdle to figure out the Zverev puzzle at tour level.

“Maybe you need to win at least once… to find this key,” Rublev said. “Sometimes when you’re losing match by match, in the end it’s not easy. And you can see that the way I lost a couple of times to him [did not feel] real, because it’s a bit too easy, the score is much easier, and the match is much easier than it should be.

“We play in practices, and it’s always… tough sets. You can see that we play a similar level. And then when you go [into the] match and you’re losing like today, 2 and 3, it’s more mental. It’s not about game.

“It’s all about [the] mental [side] that you need to find the key how to behave inside of yourself in these matches. Because the game is there, so it’s not about the game.”

In the second ATP Masters 1000 final of his career, following a runner-up showing to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in May, Rublev made a nervous start as he lost his opening two service games. It was the only opening Zverev required to extend his winning streak to 11 matches, following his Tokyo Olympics gold medal run.

“In the end that was the key to the beginning that I couldn’t save my serve. I said then you feel a bit more down that he’s serving so good, and it’s going to be super tough to break him,” Rublev said. “Even if he [makes] some mistakes, he still has [the] advantage. Plus he’s now on super confidence after the Olympic Games, winning some great matches here.

“… When you start a break down – even I know by myself when I break someone in the first game – it’s double easier to play after. So that was, in the end, the key.”

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Kyrgios Withdraws Ahead Of Murray Showdown In Winston-Salem

Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Winston-Salem Open on Sunday evening due to a left knee injury before a scheduled first-round showdown against former World No. 1 Andy Murray. Murray will now play lucky loser Noah Rubin.

“I was in Florida, in Bradenton rehabbing and training and came here obviously excited to play here. I love the facility, it’s really great,” Kyrgios said. “To play Andy Murray, one of my good friends and a tennis icon would have been amazing, but obviously I have to look after my body.

“I just didn’t feel as if the risk was worth [playing] today. I’ve got to be more cautious with it, keep rehabbing, keep training.”

OUT.

Kyrgios withdraws from the 2021 Winston-Salem Open.
Details to follow.

Tune in to our Twitter feed or download our mobile app for a live stream of his press conference. pic.twitter.com/5ZsrZ6MNxD

— Winston-Salem Open (@WSOpen) August 22, 2021

Kyrgios and Murray were set to clash for the seventh time in their ATP Head2Head series (Murray leads 5-1) and for the first time since the Aussie triumphed at The Queen’s Club in 2018.

“I feel when I play it’s a bit of a rarity these days and and to have someone like Andy going through what he’s gone through and to be back on Tour as well, I think this match was very hyped up,” Kyrgios said. “I was obviously excited to play him.”

Kyrgios, who said he has felt the left knee pain for about two weeks, was at IMG Academy in Florida to try to improve it. The 26-year-old most recently competed in Toronto, where he lost a three-setter in the first round against eventual finalist Reilly Opelka. The Aussie plans to play the US Open.

“I just need a bit more time,” Kyrgios said. “As a professional athlete playing on Tour for this long I want to look after my body, I want to do it right.”

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Cincinnati Open: Ashleigh Barty and Alexander Zverev claim dominant final wins

Ashleigh Barty warms up for the US Open by winning the Cincinnati Open with a straight-sets victory over Jil Teichmann in the final as Alexander Zverev takes the men’s title.

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Zverev Races Past Rublev, Captures Cincinnati Crown

Alexander Zverev completed his dominant week at the Western & Southern Open Sunday by cruising past Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-3 to lift his fifth ATP Masters 1000 title and become the first German champion in Cincinnati since Boris Becker in 1985.

The World No. 5 had never won a match in six previous appearances at the tournament, but produced high-quality tennis all week to back up his Olympic singles gold medal in Tokyo and capture his fourth tour-level trophy of the season.

“The first win I ever had on these courts was on Wednesday, four days ago, and now I have my first title here,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “It has been an incredible week, a lot of great matches. It is an incredible feeling going into the US Open.”

Zverev, who the night before rallied from a double break down in the third set against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals, extended his winning streak to 11 matches. He also stretched his ATP Head2Head Series against Rublev to 5-0. The third seed was aggressive throughout against Rublev, firing six aces and winning 93 per cent (26/28) of points behind his first delivery to record victory in 59 minutes.

“I was playing pretty good tennis,” Zverev added. “I did not do a big celebration because I know how Andrey feels as well because we have been best friends since we were 11 years old and I know he is seeking his first Masters 1000 win, but it is going to come very soon I think.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself yet. I won the gold medal and just won a Masters, which I am very happy about and am looking forward to New York.”

Earlier this year, the 24-year-old captured the Mutua Madrid Open crown in May to end a three-year Masters 1000 title drought, while he also won the trophy in Acapulco on hard in March.

Zverev is now tied in ninth position for the most Masters 1000 titles won since the series started in 1990 and is the first player to win the Western & Southern Open crown and the Olympic singles gold medal in the same year since Andre Agassi in 1996.

MOST ATP MASTERS 1000 TITLES (since 1990)

In a lively start, Zverev flew out of the blocks as he played consistently and aggressively. The German hit with great depth and power on his groundstrokes to dictate from the baseline as he raced 3-0 ahead. Zverev was strong on serve throughout the first set, dropping just three points on it as he closed out the opener in 27 minutes with a forehand volley.

The second set started in a similar manner as Zverev soaked up Rublev’s heavy-hitting to force the Russian into errors as he broke again in the first game. Zverev then kept Rublev pinned behind the baseline as he produced heavy forehands and closed the net well to manouver the 23-year-old around the court. The 17-time tour-level champion continued to return well and broke for the fifth time to secure his impressive victory.

Fourth seed Rublev was competing in his second Masters 1000 final, having enjoyed a run to the championship match in Monte-Carlo in April. The Russian, who triumphed in Rotterdam in March to capture his fourth ATP 500 title, earned his first win over countryman Daniil Medvedev en route to the final in Cincinnati.

The World No. 7 was aiming to become the sixth different Russian to win a Masters 1000 title since the series began in 1990 and sixth different champion at this level this season.

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Emma Raducanu: British teenager misses out on first WTA title in Chicago

Emma Raducanu misses out on claiming her maiden WTA title as she falls to a 6-1 2-6 6-4 defeat by Clara Tauson in the WTA Chicago Challenger final.

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Emma Raducanu: British teenager misses out on first WTA title in Chicago

Emma Raducanu misses out on claiming her maiden WTA title as she falls to a 6-1 2-6 6-4 defeat by Clara Tauson in the WTA Chicago Challenger final.

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Cincinnati Open: Ashleigh Barty beats Jil Teichmann in final to clinch fifth title of the season

World number one Ashleigh Barty warms up for the US Open by winning the Cincinnati Open with a straight-sets victory over Jil Teichmann in the final.

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Granollers/Zeballos Clinch Cincinnati Doubles Title

Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos earned their first Western & Southern Open title Sunday when they defeated Steve Johnson and Austin Krajicek 7-6(5), 7-6(5) to lift their fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy as a team.

The second seeds were made to battle against the Americans, saving a set point at 5-6 in the opener and rallying from 1/4 in the first-set tie-break as they secured their victory in one hour and 54 minutes.

“We are really happy,” Granollers said in his on-court interview. “To win two Masters 1000 titles this year is amazing and shows we are playing really well. I lost one final here, so to win with Zeballos is really nice. I think we are improving as a team every day.”

The Spanish-Argentine tandem, who won 77 per cent (54/64) of their first-serve points on Sunday, captured the Mutua Madrid Open crown in May and now hold a 4-0 record in Masters 1000 finals, also triumphing in Montreal in 2019 and Rome in 2020. Granollers and Zeballos are the first team since Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in 2003 to win the Cincinnati title without dropping a set.

”We played good matches all week against really good doubles players and good singles players, so it is an amazing feeling right now,” Zeballos added. “We said before the final, even if we didn’t win, we would still feel great because we are playing the best.”

This year, Granollers and Zeballos have also reached finals at Acapulco in March and Wimbledon in July. They have now claimed six tour-level titles since first teaming in 2019.

In a high-quality first set, both teams were strong on serve with Granollers and Zeballos saving the three break points they faced, while Johnson and Krajicek fended off one themselves as they moved to a tie-break. After falling 1/4 behind in the tie-break, the second seeds raised their level and sealed the set when Johnson pushed a forehand long.

Fuelled by momentum, Granollers and Zeballos then raced into a 2-0 lead in the second set, only to be pegged back immediately at 2-2. Johnson and Krajicek struck the ball with great power from the baseline, while Granollers and Zeballos closed the net well throughout as both teams continued to hold to force another tie-break. Granollers and Zeballos once again stepped up in the crucial moments to secure their victory on their second championship point.

Wild cards Johnson and Krajicek upset third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the semi-finals and were teaming for the first time this year. The Americans, who were competing in their first Masters 1000 doubles final, last played together in 2020 at the Western & Southern Open when it was held in New York, reaching the semi-finals.

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My Motivation Alexander Zverev

For Alexander Zverev, nothing beats winning the biggest tournaments in the world. Reaching a final is great, but the German is not satisfied unless he lists the trophy.

“I love the feeling of lifting that trophy. That’s the hunger that you want. That’s the thing that you miss when you’re sitting at home on the couch,” said Zverev, who plays Andrey Rublev on Sunday in the Western & Southern Open final. “That’s when I get the most satisfaction, after winning a big match or winning a big title. That’s something that you play for and that’s something that right now, you get the biggest motivation out of it.”

Zverev has already earned important titles, including victories at the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals, four ATP Masters 1000 triumphs and his recent gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. But his journey has not come without setbacks. Earlier this year, he lost a devastating five-set semi-final at Roland Garros against Stefanos Tsitsipas. In the German’s first Grand Slam final at last year’s US Open, Zverev fell short in a final-set tie-break against Dominic Thiem.

“You actually learn much more from losses than from wins. Losses motivate you in the way that you want to do better next time. It’s always been in our sport this way,” Zverev said. “Tennis is a very short-term memory sport. You need to have success, put it in your pocket and put it in the back of the brain and know you can do it, but then go out there and do it again.”

Zverev has been around tennis his whole life. His father, Alexander Zverev Sr., is his coach. Mischa Zverev, who has climbed as high as No. 25 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, is his brother.

“I didn’t want to be just like Mischa. I wanted to beat Mischa,” Zverev said. “It didn’t really matter what we were doing, whether we were playing Monopoly, whether we were playing cards. I always wanted to be better than him, so that was definitely one part. But then when you grow up, you want the best for your brother. I want him to win basically every match that he plays.”

Regardless of competitive instincts, family is everything to Zverev.

“For me, the home makes the people. When your people and your loved ones are around you, you feel like part of your home is traveling with you,” Zverev said. “I think it really helps to have an older brother on Tour who still plays, to have your parents there with you. It’s a great thing to have all around.”

Zverev has enjoyed another good season and is on pace to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year. But the 24-year-old is not satisfied.

“For me, it’s now about making the next step,” Zverev said. “And winning the big titles.”

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Scouting Report: Murray & Alcaraz Lead Winston-Salem Field

In a stacked field, some of tennis’ most exciting talents are set to compete this week at the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina. Great Britain’s Andy Murray leads the way with #NextGenATP stars Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti also in action at the ATP 250 hard-court event.

Other players competing include Nick Kyrgios, Daniel Evans, David Goffin and Pablo Carreno Busta as well as former World No. 3 Marin Cilic.

Before play begins, ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch in Winston-Salem.

View Draws: Singles | Doubles

1) Murray Looking For Momentum: The former World No. 1 will compete in his sixth tour-level singles tournament of the season at the Winston-Salem Open. It is the second time that Murray is competing in North Carolina, having made his tournament debut in 2019. The Scot defeated Richard Gasquet in Cincinnati before falling to Pole Hubert Hurkacz in the second round earlier this week. After accepting a wild card into the ATP 250 event, Murray will face Kyrgios in a blockbuster first-round match.

2) #NextGenATP Stars In Action: #NextGenATP’s Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti will aim to continue their breakthrough seasons on their Winston-Salem debuts at the tournament. The 18-year-old Alcaraz, No. 55 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, captured his first tour-level title in Umag last month and will begin against either American Steve Johnson or a qualifier. Musetti will be aiming to snap a five-match losing streak in his opening round clash against Federico Coria.

Watch Highlights Of Alcaraz’s First Title In Umag

3) Wild Cards: Alongside Murray, Pablo Carreno Busta, David Goffin and Daniel Evans have accepted wild cards into the Winston-Salem Open. Top seed Carreno Busta lifted the title here in 2016, and will be pursuing his third ATP Tour trophy of the season. The Spaniard will open against Moldovan Radu Albot or South Korean Soonwoo Kwon. Belgium’s Goffin, who reached the quarter-finals in North Carolina in 2012 and 2014, is the second seed. Goffin could face 13th seed Frances Tiafoe in third round.

Evans is making his third appearance at the ATP 250 event and will be aiming to win his second tour-level trophy, having captured the Murray River Open crown in Melbourne this February. The third seed will open his campaign against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez or a qualifier.

4) Can Kyrgios and Cilic Find Form? Australian Kyrgios and Croatian Cilic will be making their debuts at the Winston-Salem Open. Kyrgios will be competing in his seventh tour-level event of the season, most recently playing in Toronto. The World No. 81 will meet Tiafoe in the second round if he overcomes Murray.

Sixth seed Cilic will be aiming to clinch his second tour-level title of the season. The 32-year-old, who triumphed in Stuttgart, reached the second round in both Toronto and Cincinnati and could face Carreno Busta in the quarter-finals. He notably pushed Daniil Medvedev to five sets at Wimbledon.

5) Kubot/Melo In Doubles Action: After reuniting in June, Polish-Brazilian tandem Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo will compete together in their fifth tour-level tournament of the season this week in Winston-Salem. The top seeds, who have captured 15 tour-level trophies as a team, including four ATP Masters 1000s, won the title in North Carolina in 2019.

French pair Nicholas Mahut and Fabrice Martin are the second seeds, South African Raven Klaasen and Japan’s Ben McLachlan are seeded third and Italian Simone Bolelli and Argentine Maximo Gonzalez are the fourth seeds.

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