Tennis News

Thompson vs. Nishioka Atlanta final delayed due to rain

Rain has delayed the Atlanta Open final for a second time Sunday.

Jordan Thompson and Yoshihito Nishioka were initially delayed with the Australian leading 6-4, 4-5 and just three points into the resumption of play, heavy rain began to fall at the ATP 250, requiring the players to leave the court. Play is scheduled to resume not before 8 p.m. local time.

Thompson, who leads 6-4, 4-5, 30/15, will continue serving when play resumes. The 30-year-old is aiming for his second tour-level title of the season, having also won Los Cabos.

Should Thompson win, it would mark his first victory against Japan’s Nishioka, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-0. The Australian would also ascend to a new career-high No. 29 in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings.

Nishioka, 28, is searching for his third tour-level title and first since 2022 Seoul.

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When will Djokovic & Nadal play at the Paris Olympics?

Novak Djokovic will play Rafael Nadal in the most highly anticipated match of the Paris Olympics on Monday afternoon.

The record-extending 60th Lexus ATP Head2Head clash between Djokovic and Nadal will take place second on Court Philippe-Chatrier not before 1:30 p.m. local time, following the women’s singles match between top seed Iga Swiatek and Diane Parry.

This will be Djokovic and Nadal’s first meeting since the 2022 Roland Garros quarter-finals on the same court, where Nadal emerged victorious in four sets. Djokovic leads their legendary rivalry 30-29.

The pair faced off in the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics, where Nadal triumphed in three sets and ultimately claimed the gold medal. Djokovic won the bronze medal.

In other action Monday, second seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor on Court Philippe-Chatrier starting at 7 p.m. local time. Alcaraz leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 2-0.

Sixth seed Casper Ruud of Norway will play Italian Andrea Vavassori, eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece will take on Briton Daniel Evans and 10th seed Ugo Humbert of home country France will face Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.

The men’s doubles action will continue and mixed doubles will begin. Laura Siegemund and Alexander Zverev, who clinched the United Cup title for Germany this year, will play Czechs Tomas Machac and Katerina Siniakova in a first-round match. Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev will take on Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

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Watch: Murray & Evans save five match points in incredible comeback

Watch GB’s Andy Murray and Dan Evans save five match points in a tie-break decider to beat Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori of Japan in the first round of the men’s doubles at Paris 2024.

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Retirement can wait: Murray, Evans save 5 M.P.s to advance at Olympics

Andy Murray’s career was as close to being over as possible Sunday evening, but then came one of the early moments of magic of the Paris Olympics.

The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings and Daniel Evans of Great Britain saved five consecutive match points from 4/9 in the Match Tie-break before defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori 2-6, 7-6(5), 11-9. 

“We just tried to play every point at the end. I thought we were done,” Murray said. “Evo came out with some good returns. I had a couple good serves at 6/9 to get us to 8/9. Just unbelievable. I’ve never played a doubles match like that where I’ve saved that many consecutive match points. A special place to do it obviously.”

WHAT A FIGHT 🔥@andy_murray and Dan Evans save 5 match points to win their first round battle in #Paris2024 💢#Olympics #tennis pic.twitter.com/h8PwdRfpgP

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 28, 2024

Daniel and Nishikori were in control for most of the match, leading 6-2, 4-2. But Evans and Murray continued to battle on and ultimately overcame a seemingly insurmountable deficit in the momentum-filled Match Tie-break.

“It’s amazing. I guess at 4/9 I just didn’t want to miss the shot to end his career,” Evans said with a laugh. “It sums him up. It’s amazing. Honestly the best feeling for me to be a part of that. To hit a forehand down-the-line, which he was probably not that happy that he’d gone cross on the last one. Just couldn’t believe it when I saw it.”

Evans and Murray, who lost in the first round at Roland Garros earlier this year, will next play eighth seeds Arthur Fils/Ugo Humbert or Belgians Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen. Evans had won a three-set singles match earlier in the day.

The Britons also competed together last year in Washington (l. in the quarter-finals) and in the 2017 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells (l. in the Round of 16).

“I think both of us have loved competing for our country over the years. We’ve been a part of the same Davis Cup team for many years. Dan has a huge passion when he’s competing as part of a team. Both of us wanted to do this together for my last tournament,” Murray said. “I’ve loved being part of the Olympics, it’s an amazing event. It’s meant a lot to me over the years and to get to finish playing here one last time in the Olympics is extra special.

”Just glad we live to fight another day because it would’ve been obviously disappointing to lose today. But we keep going, let’s see where we get to.”

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Murray & Evans win thrilling tie-break decider

Watch the moment GB’s Andy Murray and Dan Evans beat Daniel Taro and Kei Nishikori of Japan in the first round of the men’s doubles at Paris 2024.

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Murray delays retirement with extraordinary Olympics win

Andy Murray’s retirement remains on hold after an escape act saw the British icon and Dan Evans fight off five match points to win their Olympics men’s doubles match.

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Best shots as Nadal beats Fucsovics to set up Djokovic match

Watch the best shots from Rafael Nadal’s 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, as the Spaniard sets up a meeting with Novak Djokovic in the second round.

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My Olympics: Alexander Zverev

Reigning gold medallist Alexander Zverev has a chance to add his name to the record books of the Olympic Tennis Event as seeks to successfully defend his Tokyo title. Only Andy Murray has achieved this feat (2012, 2016).

Ahead of his quest for history, ATPTour.com caught up with the 27-year-old to learn where he keeps his prized Tokyo medal, who his favourite Olympic athlete is and how that ties in with his earliest memory from the event.

What other Olympic sport do you think you would be good at?
We had this discussion [with my team], a funny question, ‘Which Olympic sport do you think you can compete in and not get last?’ I think I would get last in every single sport, I honestly do. I think if it’s a team competition like hockey or field hockey or basketball or something, I could hide behind some players. Maybe I could sit on the bench doing quite well. I think there’s no chance at all. I mean, I enjoy basketball. I enjoy field hockey. I enjoy a lot of sports, but I would be atrocious in all of them I think.

I’m actually quite okay at middle distances like 400m running. So I think I will be okay at it, but I will still be dead last. But I guess I’m okay for a tennis player, let’s put it that way.

For which Olympic sports would you be not well suited?
The obvious ones are maybe skateboarding. I think swimming, I’m not a great swimmer, something like that. Skateboarding would not be great.

Who are your favourite Olympic athletes?
Usain Bolt comes to mind. Fastest man alive, right? So you love watching that. Matthias Steiner for me as a German and also a diabetic, so that has something close to my heart.

Which Olympic sport is Germany best at?
Equestrian. I think we win 85 gold medals every year there, so I think that one.

What is your earliest Olympic memory?
For me the earliest one is Bolt in 2008 in Beijing, setting the new world record.

What did it mean to you to win gold in 2021?
For me, the Olympics are still the biggest sporting event in the world. So there’s nothing bigger than winning a gold medal I think for your country, for yourself and for everybody back at home. I think it’s an experience that you can’t feel anywhere else.

How much fun was the Olympic village?
It was awesome. It was great fun just being out with your athletes, just seeing other athletes that you watch on TV just walking around having food at the same restaurant as you and just mingling, just being around everybody.

Where do you keep the gold medal?
In my apartment in Monaco. It’s in the living room area.

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Nadal sets up Djokovic clash in Paris

Rafael Nadal sets up a tantalising second-round contest with Novak Djokovic at Paris 2024 after coming through his opening Olympics singles match.

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My Olympics: Cameron Norrie

British No. 1 Cameron Norrie is making his Olympics debut in Paris. The 28-year-old, who grew up in New Zealand and began representing Great Britain in 2013, has won five ATP Tour titles and been as high as No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings..

Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Norrie sat down with ATPTour.com to discuss his earliest memories of the prestigious event, the athletes he considers his favourites and much more.

What other sport do you think you would be good at?
I think there could be a few, but I would like to play rugby sevens. I love rugby and I love watching the sevens. It’s recent, but I always enjoy watching track and field. I’m a pretty good runner, so I think I could enter the 5k or 10k, but I’d get smoked.

What sport do you think you would not be well suited?
It’s probably a lot of them. I think javelin or one of those ones like that could be all right, but it’s difficult. Fencing or something like that.

Who are your favourite Olympic athletes?
I like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt.

What sport is Great Britain best known for?
Tennis, with Andy. They’re good at everything. Swimming, athletics, they always have good athletes throughout. But I remember actually as a kid growing up in New Zealand watching a lot of rowing, because New Zealand is always really good at rowing. I also enjoy watching the swimming. I know the Aussies are good at swimming.

What are your earliest memories of the Olympics?
It was in New Zealand. I can’t remember watching which one specifically, but every time, I was watching all day, everything. I love sports in general. I don’t know where or what it was, but I was watching everything.

What do you think will be the best part about the Olympic Village?
I’ve never been so it’s going to be my first one. I’m looking forward to just seeing the other athletes, how they do things given the chance to ask some of the other British team members some questions about some of their routines and and just getting to know some of the other athletes and getting to see how nervous they are for the for the Olympic sports because for tennis we have a lot of other big tournaments and I think for a lot of other sports, it’s the biggest thing and they’re going to be so nervous for it.

So I think it’s good insight and good to support some of the other sports. I’m looking forward to it and I think Paris should do a good job.

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