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Improving with the journey, Rune cuts path to Cincy SFs

  • Posted: Aug 18, 2024

Former World No. 4 Holger Rune is within reach of his first ATP Tour final since the first week of the season after blunting the big-serving game of Jack Draper in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals Saturday night.

Rune converted all three break point chances he earned and refused to surrender his own serve despite coming under sustained attack in the second set before closing out a 6-4, 6-2 victory in one hour, 15 minutes in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Draper.

“I said after the first round that I would need to get better to go deep and here I am playing some very, very good tennis,” Rune beamed. “It’s just about the process and I’ve been working hard from the first match.

“The scoreboard was not really how it felt out there,” added Rune, who had not won a match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center before this week. “I had to play some very aggressive tennis because Jack was going after it, especially in the second set. But I managed to stay tough and raise my level as well, so it was a great match from my side.”

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The 21-year-old moved up to No. 15 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings with the win as he reached his fourth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final (first on an outdoor hard court).

Rune has won just one title (Munich 2023) in the 20 months since defeating five Top 10 opponents en route to claiming the Rolex Paris Masters in November 2022.

Now coached by fellow Dane Kenneth Carlsen, Rune rallied from a set down to beat both Matteo Berrettini in the opening round and Gael Monfils in the third round.

Rune started well, dropping just six points on serve and winning seven of eight net approaches in the first set. Draper paid the price for making just 48 per cent of first serves in.

He then broke open the match in the first game of the second when he broke Draper after the Briton had held a 40/0 lead.

Draper also was made to pay for missed opportunities on Rune’s serve. He got to deuce in the second and fourth games of the set and then had 0/40 in the sixth game only to see Rune roll off five consecutive points.

Rune hit 11winners for the match and won 10 of 12 net approaches, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Draper, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round after the Greek served for the match, has risen to a career-high No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week.

 

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Tiafoe claims 200th win as Hurkacz retires

  • Posted: Aug 18, 2024

Frances Tiafoe is through to the Cincinnati Open semi-finals after Hubert Hurkacz retired with a calf injury when the American took the first set 6-3.

Playing just his second tournament since undergoing surgery on 15 July on his meniscus, Hurkacz never looked comfortable in his movement on Grandstand and made an unusual 11 unforced errors to Tiafoe’s two.

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On Sunday Tiafoe will play the winner of tonight’s clash between Holger Rune and Jack Draper.

Tiafoe registered his 200th career win according to Infosys ATP Match Stats.

“After 2-all I felt he was a little off,” Tiafoe said. “He came back pretty quick [from the surgery] and to make two quarter-finals [in Montreal and Cincinnati] shows what a great player he is. I hope he’ll be right for the Open.

Tiafoe seemed surprised when told he had reached 200 wins, but said, “That’s big. I had no idea, but that’s a big milestone. Hopefully it won’t take too long to get my next 200.”

Asked how many wins he believed he could achieve in his career, Tiafoe said, “Guys who get to 500 wins have had a really good career. I’m not trying to be like those guys with 700. I’m definitely not getting there. But if I could get to 500 that would be pretty cool.”

Tiafoe has moved up four places this week to No. 23 in the PIF ATP Rankings and will move inside the Top 20 for the first time since March should he reach Monday’s final.

 

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Shelton, Zverev locked in decider in Cincinnati, where rain has suspended play

  • Posted: Aug 18, 2024

7:25 p.m. Update: Play has resumed.

Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev’s Cincinnati Open quarter-final clash has been suspended deep in the third set due to rain. The 21-year-old American led the German Zverev 6-3, 7-6(3), 4-3 when play was suspended at 7:05 p.m. local time.

In a heavy-hitting clash, Shelton has struck 22 winners to 20 from Zverev, with Shelton gaining the only break of the match in the first set.

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Shelton is aiming to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final and become the youngest American to reach the Cincinnati semi-finals since Andy Roddick, aged 20, in 2003.

Zverev has earned a Tour-leading 52 wins this season, highlighted by his title run at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome. The World No. 4 is aiming to reach 19th semi-final at this level. The winner will meet the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

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Sinner avenges Rublev defeat, reaches Cincinnati SFs

  • Posted: Aug 17, 2024

Jannik Sinner overcame brutally windy conditions and Andrey Rublev on Saturday at the Cincinnati Open, where he earned a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 win to reach the semi-finals and gain revenge against the sixth seed.

The Italian fell to Rublev in three sets in the quarter-finals in Montreal last week and for large periods in Ohio, the World No. 1 looked in trouble again. In windy conditions, Sinner was pushed to the floor by the wind at times but dug deep and improved as the match went on to earn a tough victory. He crucially saved two break points on serve at 3-4 in the second set before he fended off a mini revival from Rublev in the decider to improve to 6-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“It took a lot of mental strength today,” said Sinner, who committed 44 unforced errors, largely due to the wind. “It was very tough conditions, very windy. In the first set he started very well and I didn’t play my best tennis but in the second set, I felt I had a lot of chances. I waited for my chance. I am very happy to make the semis.”

Sinner is chasing his third ATP Masters 1000 title and first trophy since winning the ATP 500 in Halle on grass in June. Now 46-5 on the season, the top seed will next face Alexander Zverev or Ben Shelton in his ninth Masters 1000 semi-final and first in Cincinnati.

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In a tight clash, Rublev was the more consistent in the first set, breaking Sinner’s serve twice to lead. However, the 23-year-old turned the tables in the second set, striking 17 winners compared to just two from Rublev, who also committed 20 unforced errors in the set, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Sinner also produced one moment of brilliance at 4-4 in the second set, when he fell to the floor, rolled over, rose to his feet and won a brutal 26-rally point. The top seed then gained an early break in the third set and served out the match at the second time of asking to advance after two hours and 25 minutes.

Last week, Sinner became the first player to qualify for November’s Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. He lost in the championship match to Novak Djokovic at the year-end event in 2023.

Rublev, who reached the final in Montreal last week, is sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and is aiming to make his fifth consecutive appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 26-year-old captured his second Masters 1000 trophy in Madrid earlier this season.

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Granollers/Zeballos continue charge to Cincinnati-Canada double

  • Posted: Aug 17, 2024

Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos continued their quest to complete the Canada-Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 double on Saturday at the Cincinnati Open when they moved past Neal Skupski and Michael Venus 6-4. 6-4.

The top seeds triumphed in Montreal last week and have now won their past seven matches. The Spanish-Argentine team clinched 77 per cent (30/39) of their first-serve points to advance after 79 minutes and set a semi-final meeting with Americans Mackenzie McDonald and Alex Michelsen.

Granollers and Zeballos are chasing their second title in Ohio, having won at the hard-court event in 2021.

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In other action, Ivan Dodig and Jamie Murray clawed past Arthur Fils and Nicolas Jarry 2-6, 7-6(5), 10-6. Dodig and Murray are teaming for just the second time and first time since 2021. They have won 56 titles between them.

The Croatian-Briton team will meet Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in the last four. Arevalo and Pavic eliminated Wimbledon champions Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten 6-2, 6-4. Arevalo and Pavic are currently second in the PIF ATP Doubles Teams Rankings and in a good position to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.

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Scouting Report: Defending champ Baez joined by Draper, Mannarino in Winston-Salem

  • Posted: Aug 17, 2024

The North American hard-court swing continues this week at the Winston-Salem Open, where Sebastian Baez will be the top seed for his title defence. The Argentine will face stiff competition from the likes of 22-year-old Briton Jack Draper and 2022 champion Adrian Mannarino.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch in Winston-Salem.

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1) Defending champ Baez: The 23-year-old Argentine won his first tour-level title on hard courts last year in Winston-Salem, winning four three-setters on his run. Baez has backed that up with clay trophies in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago this year, with five of his six ATP Tour crowns coming on that surface. He will bid to improve upon his 4-6 hard-court record this season after a second-round exit at the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000.

Baez will be joined in Winston-Salem by fellow Argentines Francisco Cerundolo, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Mariano Navone and Federico Coria, with Cerundolo receiving a wild card into the singles draw.

2) Draper finding footing: Draper played three consecutive events on three different surfaces across Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics and Montreal. As he began adjusting to the North American hard courts, he teamed with Jannik Sinner to form a fan-favourite doubles duo in Montreal, picking up two wins. His focus narrowed to singles in Cincinnati, where he won a third-set tie-break against Jaume Munar before coming from behind to upset Stefanos Tsitsipas. He then beat Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the quarters and is still alive in Ohio.

3) Former champ Mannarino: After rising to a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 17 at the start of 2024, Mannarino has struggled to an 8-22 record this season. The 36-year-old Frenchman will hope memories of his 2022 title run in Winston-Salem — when he won 11 consecutive sets — can spark a resurgence of form. 

4) Michelsen, Opelka carry home hopes: Alex Michelsen, a #NextGenATP star at 19, thrilled home fans in Cincinnati by giving Jannik Sinner all he could handle in a tight second-round defeat that will leave him eager to return to the match court. The No. 57 in the PIF ATP Rankings will be the top-ranked American in the draw, where Reilly Opelka was given a late wild card as he continues his injury comeback.

5) Lammons/Withrow defend doubles crown: Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow are back after winning their fourth tour-level doubles title as a team last year in Winston-Salem. The pair has doubled its trophy tally since then, most recently triumphing in back-to-back weeks on home soil in Atlanta and Washington. Other title challengers include Neal Skupski and Michael Venus, Austin Krajicek and Jean-Julien Rojer, and Nikola Mektic and Wesley Koolhof.

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Alcaraz issues apology after Cincinnati outburst

  • Posted: Aug 17, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz has issued a public apology for his rare show of frustration during his opening-round loss at the Cincinnati Open Friday.

The World No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings broke his racquet after repeatedly smashing it into the court early in the third set of his surprise loss to French veteran Gael Monfils.

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The 21-year-old took to social media on Saturday to reflect on his behaviour.

“I apologise because my attitude yesterday was not correct and it is something that should not be done on the track,” Alcaraz wrote on X. “I am human, I had a lot of nerves inside and sometimes it is very difficult to control yourself when your heart rate is so high. I will work so that it does not happen again. Time to think about NYC!”

Alcaraz is 38-8 on the season, having won three titles including majors at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The Spaniard will next head to New York, where he competes at the US Open. He is looking for a big result to boost his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals (10-17 November) in Turin.

Alcaraz leads Monfils 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

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Tiafoe converts sixth match point, survives late-night scare

  • Posted: Aug 17, 2024

Frances Tiafoe survived a late-night scare from Jiri Lehecka at the Cincinnati Open, where the American prevailed 6-4, 6-7(10), 7-6(5) after converting his sixth match point on Friday.

The home favourite let slip three match points in the second-set tie-break and then held a 5-2 lead in the final set. But Lehecka, who was competing this week for the first time since retiring in the Madrid semi-finals due to a back injury, won three consecutive games and eventually forced a deciding-set tie-break.

Tiafoe, who trailed by a mini-break at 2/4 in the third-set tie-break, let out a sigh of relief after clinching the match and wrote, ‘Whatever it takes’ on the camera lens. He advanced to the quarter-finals after two hours, 52 minutes.

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The 26-year-old found an advantage in forehand-to-forehand rallies to remain the more consistent from the baseline. Tiafoe committed 34 unforced errors to Lehecka’s 59, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The three-time tour-level titlist overcame the Czech’s 24 aces and will next meet another big server, Hubert Hurkacz, in the last eight.

Lehecka, 22, was aiming to build upon his second-round upset against fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.

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