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Sinner wins Halle title in first tournament as World No. 1

  • Posted: Jun 23, 2024

It was far from an easy week, but Jannik Sinner won his first tournament as the World No. 1 in Halle.

The Italian star lost a set in each of his first three matches, but battled through on each occasion and ultimately defeated Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(8), 7-6(2) on Sunday to lift the ATP 500 trophy.

”It means a lot. It was a tough match against Hubi,” Sinner said. “I knew I had to serve really well and you play only a couple of really important points throughout the whole set. So I was happy and I tried to produce in the best possible way in the important moments. I’m very happy about this tournament because [winning for] the first time on grass court, it’s a good feeling.”

By winning his first grass-court title, Sinner became the eighth player in PIF ATP Rankings history (since 1973) to claim a trophy in his first tournament as World No. 1.

Players to win title in first event as World No. 1

 Player  Tournament
 Jannik Sinner  2024 Halle
 Andy Murray  2016 Nitto ATP Finals
 Novak Djokovic  2011 Montreal
 Pete Sampras  1993 Hong Kong
 Stefan Edberg  1990 Long Island
 Mats Wilander  1988 Palermo
 Bjorn Borg  1979 Monte-Carlo
 Jimmy Connors  1974 Indianapolis

The doubles partners — Sinner and Hurkacz reached the second round in Halle — walked on court Sunday tied at 2-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. In their first grass-court clash, there was very little between the two players. But Sinner was better in the critical moments to triumph after one hour and 50 minutes.

”In the important moments, he served a couple of second serves in the tie-break, which then could make the difference,” Sinner said. “I guess that was the key today.”

There were no service breaks in the match. However, Sinner won 85 per cent of his service points compared to 69 per cent for Hurkacz, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

In the first-set tie-break, Sinner earned a mini-break when Hurkacz missed a short forehand wide and the top seed appeared in control. But after letting slip his first set point at 6/5, Hurkacz had a chance to win the opener at 7/6. Sinner put pressure on his opponent by moving forward, and Hurkacz missed a tough forehand passing shot from well behind the baseline.

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After missing another opportunity, Sinner claimed his third set point with baseline depth, forcing Hurkacz to miss a backhand into the net.

Although there were no service breaks, there was plenty of entertainment. In the second set, Hurkacz hit one of the shots of the week when Sinner lobbed him, and the Pole hit an over-the-shoulder forehand flick passing shot for a winner. Sinner immediately clapped his racquet in recognition of the incredible effort and the crowd roared its approval.

 

Sinner even tried to hit the same shot later in the set. Despite missing it in the net, the Italian shared a good laugh with his team.

In the second-set tie-break, the 22-year-old again took the early lead. This time, he did not relinquish his advantage, and he claimed his fourth title of the season when Hurkacz missed a final backhand slice long.

Now Sinner will turn his attention to Wimbledon, where he will try to claim his second major title of the season (he won the Australian Open).

”I’m just looking forward to it. Last year I made [the]semis, I played some good tennis. So let’s see what’s coming this year,” Sinner said. “I’m more confident for sure. And on this surface, obviously the grass it might be a bit different from here and Wimbledon. But I have one week now to prepare it so hopefully it’s going to be a good tournament.”

Did You Know?
Sinner became the 17th active male player to win a tour-level title on grass, hard and clay. He has claimed 12 of his 14 tour-level trophies on hard courts.

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Bolelli & Vavassori triumph in Halle

  • Posted: Jun 23, 2024

A big week for Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori became even bigger on Sunday in Halle.

After becoming the first-placed team in the PIF ATP Doubles Teams Rankings earlier in the tournament — they began the week in fourth — the Italians lifted the Terra Wortmann Open trophy. Bolelli and Vavassori defeated home favourites Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 7-6(3), 7-6(5) on Sunday in the final.

”It’s a dream come true to win this tournament, a great environment. Today was an amazing atmosphere, also to play against Germans in Germany, so really looking forward for the grass season,” Vavassori said. “We started really good. Hope to come back next year and defend the title.”

Last year, Bolelli and Vavassori lost the Halle final in a Match Tie-break. This edition, the top seeds did not lose a set in four matches.

Entering the championship clash, Bolelli and Vavassori held a 1-4 record as a team in tour-level finals. They found their best in the critical moments, saving all three break points they faced according to Infosys ATP Stats and winning both tie-breaks.

”Very good. Feel amazing and really, really happy because last year we had the chance in the final and we lost there,” Bolelli said. “But this year, our fourth final, we brought it home and really, really happy.”

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The champions took a 2-0 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Krawietz and Puetz by winning 84 per cent of their first-serve points inside Owl Arena.

Bolelli and Vavassori have enjoyed a breakthrough season as a team, reaching the final at the year’s first two majors: the Australian Open and Roland Garros. The Italians are in good position to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals together for the first time.

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First-time partners Fritz/Khachanov advance to Queen's Club doubles final

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2024

After knocking out top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden on Friday at the cinch Championships, Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov took out third seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic on Saturday to reach the final in their first event as a pair.

They followed a 7-6(1), 7-6(3) win against Bopanna/Ebden with a 4-6, 6-3, 12-10 victory in the semi-finals, saving a match point at 8/9 in the Match Tie-break. Despite being broken for the first time in the tournament in the opening set against Arevalo/Pavic, the fan-favourite duo responded quickly before capping their comeback in dramatic fashion.

Fritz is through to the Queen’s Club final for the second straight year after a runner-up finish with Jiri Lehecka in 2023. He will seek his first tour-level doubles crown in his fourth final. Khachanov has also reached three previous tour-level doubles finals, all at the ATP Masters 1000 level. He won Madrid in 2023 with Andrey Rublev.

The eighth seeds will meet either fourth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek or seventh seeds Neal Skupski and Michael Venus in Sunday’s final.

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Puetz/Krawietz reach Halle final on home soil

Germans Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz also won a Match Tie-break to advance to the final at the Terra Wortmann Open. The home hopes beat Frenchmen Fabien Reboul and Sadio Doumbia 6-1, 4-6, 10-5 on Saturday to set up a final showdown against top-seeded Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/06/22/16/38/puetz-krawietz-halle-2024-sf.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Tim Puetz, Kevin Krawietz” />
Photo credit: Terra Wortmann Open/Mathias Schulz.

Puetz/Krawietz converted on three of four break points in the semi-finals, according to Infosys ATP Stats. They have lost just one set in three matches en route to the final.

Brisbane finalists in January, the Germans are seeking their first title together in 2024. Their lone trophy triumph as a duo came last year on home soil in Hamburg.

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Musetti, Paul seal Queen's final spot

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2024

Lorenzo Musetti became just the fifth Italian man to reach a grass-court tour-level final on Saturday at the cinch Championships, where he moved past Australian Jordan Thompson 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in London.

The 22-year-old opened his shoulders to hit through his groundstrokes in the fast conditions, producing an impressive display in the third set to advance to his third ATP Tour final. Musetti struck 14 winners and hit just four unforced errors in the decider according to ATP Infosys Stats, roaring in delight after sealing victory on his first match point.

“It was one of the toughest matches of the week,” Musetti said. “Jordan was playing amazing, especially in the second and third sets. It was a really tough match. I am really proud of my achievement. I love this sport.”

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Musetti, who is up five spots to No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, holds a perfect two-from-two record in tour-level finals and will hope to improve that record when he meets Tommy Paul in the title match on Sunday.

Musetti has battled hard all week at The Queen’s Club, where he has also defeated Alex de Minaur and Brandon Nakashima in three sets. He holds a 7-1 record on grass this year, having advanced to the semi-finals in Stuttgart last week.

Thompson was aiming to reach his fourth tour-level final on grass. The 30-year-old enjoyed runs to the championship match in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2019 and 2023.

Paul defeated countryman Sebastian Korda 6-4, 7-6(1) to advance to his sixth tour-level final and third of the season.

“I am happy and I feel every time I step on grass I learn something and play a little better,” Paul said. “I felt like I did a pretty good job today.”

The fifth seed, who triumphed in Dallas earlier this year, recovered from squandering a 5-2 lead in the second set to eventually seal his win in the second-set tie-break. With his victory, Paul avenged his quarter-final defeat to Korda in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last week, improving to 2-4 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

The 27-year-old will surpass Taylor Fritz and become the new American No. 1 if he captures his third ATP Tour trophy against Musetti.

Korda also lost in the semi-finals at Queen’s last year. The 23-year-old is 7-2 on grass in 2024, having fallen in the title match in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

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