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Servebot & comedy: Korda & Michelsen mic'd up in Washington

  • Posted: Aug 01, 2024

The 2024 ATP Tour Doubles Trial’s first week of mic’ing up players for live action is already producing unforgettable moments.

On Wednesday evening, singles stars Sebastian Korda and Alex Michelsen wore microphones during their first-round victory against Julian Cash and Robert Galloway at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, and they certainly made it fun for the fans watching — and listening — to the match.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous for a doubles match,” Korda joked when they walked on court.

“I’m a little tight, I won’t lie. I’m a little tight,” Michelsen said.

A few seconds later when the players stepped to the net for the coin toss, Michelsen told his opponents, Julian Cash and Robert Galloway, “I’ve got the mic on, so don’t say anything you shouldn’t say!”

There was plenty of lighthearted commentary from the players as the match wore on. Korda had a great serving match, leading to his partner calling him “Servebot” and “John”, in reference to John Isner, the career aces leader according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The players discussed tactics, where they felt they could play against their opponents, and also complimented different parts of their game. But a lot of their chatter during the match was on the more lighthearted side.

“Let’s go baby,” Korda said.

“Whenever I hit two hands on the backhand [volley], I just don’t miss it,” Michelsen said.

“Always got to go two hands,” Korda replied.

After the first set, Korda and Michelsen enjoyed a fun back-and-forth discussion about their aim for the second set.

“First game break again here or what?” Michelsen asked.

“I mean, I’m not against it,” Korda replied, cracking a laugh.

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Part of this week’s ATP Tour Doubles Trial is that there are a maximum of 21 seconds between all points and 60-second changeovers, with time called after 40 seconds. The set breaks are slightly longer, so when Korda and Michelsen were quickly ready to go and their opponents were still resting, comedy ensued.

“Is there a time violation in their future or is it different?” Michelsen asked the chair umpire, who replied that set breaks are longer.

“Oh okay I didn’t know that,” Michelsen said.

“So we could have recovered like an extra 20 seconds!” Korda added.

“We needed the extra 20 seconds,” Michelsen said. “I needed it, I played singles. I needed 20 seconds!”

Korda and Michelsen will play second seeds Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson on Thursday in the quarter-finals.

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Korda/Michelsen cruise in Washington doubles debut

  • Posted: Aug 01, 2024

Sebastian Korda and Alex Michelsen made a hot start to their team debut Wednesday at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The American wild cards defeated Julian Cash and Robert Galloway 6-4, 6-2 in just 47 minutes to reach the quarter-finals.

Korda and Michelsen won 57 per cent of their second-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, compared to Cash and Galloway’s 41 per cent.

Up next for the duo is second seeds Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson. Korda partnered Thompson to win this year’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.

Michelsen won his singles opener earlier in the day against Mattia Bellucci. The 19-year-old and fourth seed Korda are both in the Round of 16.

Atlanta champions Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow extended their winning streak to five matches by defeating Alexander Erler and Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 2-6, 10-7. The fourth-seeded Americans next meet fifth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Santiago Gonzalez, who downed Evan King and Vasil Kirkov 6-3, 6-4.

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Rublev's game of aces assists rain-delay turnaround in Washington

  • Posted: Aug 01, 2024

Top seed Andrey Rublev raised his level after a two-and-a-half hour rain delay Wednesday at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, rallying past #NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Round of 16.

”I was playing much better after I came back from the rain. Before the rain, I could not put more than two balls [in]. I was missing all over the place,” Rublev said in his on-court interview. “I was even laughing inside of myself because it was something unreal. I never remember myself missing that much. Literally I could not put two balls inside the court. I was a bit shocked.

“Somehow, because of this pause because of the rain, I was able to calm down, to think a bit. ‘Okay, let’s try maybe different thinking.’ And in the end, it worked.”

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The World No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings committed 18 unforced errors in the opening set and trailed 4-6, 3-2 when play was interrupted due to rain. Rublev quickly rebounded following the suspension, breaking Van Assche in his second service game after the resumption and rocketing four aces in a row to send the match into a decider.

A two-time Washington semi-finalist, Rublev dug out of a 0/40 hole at 4-3 in the final set, tallying five consecutive points. He closed the match after one hour, 42 minutes.

Rublev next faces 16th seed Arthur Rinderknech. The 16-time tour-level titlist won their lone Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting in four sets at last year’s US Open. Rinderknech advanced Wednesday following Shang Juncheng’s retirement due to lower back pain after five games.

#NextGenATP Alex Michelsen began his Washington campaign with a 6-3, 7-6(1) win against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci. Following his win, the 19-year-old Michelsen is up one place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, only behind Frenchman Arthur Fils, who has more than double the American’s points.

Up next for Michelsen is South Korean Seongchan Hong, who upset third seed Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-4 for just his fifth tour-level win.

Seventh seed Jordan Thompson, a finalist last week in Atlanta, defeated Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-3. Thompson neutralised the 6’11” American’s serve, winning 75 per cent of his second-serve return points and converting four of his seven break chances.

The Australian next meets another hefty server in ninth seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Frenchman crushed 25 aces en route to a 7-6(6), 7-6(6) victory against Emil Ruusuvuori. Eighth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ousted Mitchell Krueger 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.

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Krajicek/Ram end Alcaraz/Nadal's hopes at Paris Olympics

  • Posted: Jul 31, 2024

Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram ended the Paris Olympics run of Spanish stars Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal with a 6-2, 6-4 victory Wednesday.

Seeded fourth, Krajicek and Ram controlled rallies with high-percentage shots while Alcaraz and Nadal made uncharacteristic errors in the early stages. The Americans remained the more consistent team as the match wore on, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to love at 3-3 in the second set.

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Krajicek served out the match at 5-4, beginning that game with a nervy double fault. With a packed crowd vocally supporting the fans’ favourites Alcaraz and Nadal, the American duo kept its cool, fending off three break points to avoid any late drama.

Krajicek aced Alcaraz on match point, painting the sideline with a hefty ad-side slice, which the chair umpire confirmed grazed the line. Alcaraz and Nadal shared a hug before all four players embraced each other at net. Krajicek and Ram will continue their quest for a medal with a semi-final meeting Czechs Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek.

Nadal was later asked in the mixed zone if Wednesday was his final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the court on which he has won 14 Roland Garros trophies.

“I’m happy with the love and support I receive here every time I step out on court,” the 92-time tour-level titlist said in Spanish. “I don’t know if this was the last time. Possibly, yes. One stage has ended for me. My objective was to focus on the Olympic Games and afterwards I’d have to decide, and that’s what I will do. Now I go home and rest and disconnect a bit. When I have [a clear mind], I will take the decision of what the next stage will be for me.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/07/31/19/11/nadal-alcaraz-paris-2024-wednesday.jpg?w=100%25&hash=A027320BCCA2E970302E9ADD5A30838A” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz embrace after their quarter-final loss.” />
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz embrace after their quarter-final loss. Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images

The 21-year-old Alcaraz wrote in Spanish on X: “Thank you very much Rafa for this week and for sharing the court with me playing for Spain! It wasn’t possible today, but I’m taking a lot of things with me for the future! It has been very special! ❤️”

Alcaraz, making his Olympics debut this fortnight, advanced to the singles quarter-finals earlier in the day with a straight-sets win against Roman Safiullin. Nadal fell in the second round to longtime rival Novak Djokovic.

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