Raducanu beats Shibahara in Nottingham opener
Emma Raducanu defies a late wobble to get her grass-court season off to a winning start with a straight sets victory over Japan’s Ena Shibahara.
Emma Raducanu defies a late wobble to get her grass-court season off to a winning start with a straight sets victory over Japan’s Ena Shibahara.
Two-time BOSS OPEN champion Matteo Berrettini improved his impressive record in Stuttgart on Tuesday when he clawed past eighth seed Roman Safiullin 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-5 in a first-round thriller.
The Italian, playing for the first time since Monte-Carlo in April, saved one set point in the first set and raised his level in the decider. The former World No. 6 fired 13 aces in the third set and fended off all four break points he faced, according to ATP Infosys Stats, to advance after two hours and 57 minutes.
Berrettini clinched the crown in Stuttgart in 2019 and 2022 and will next meet Denis Shapovalov or Matteo Martineau at the grass-court ATP 250. Berrettini has often found his best level on grass. The 28-year-old won the Queen’s Club trophy in 2021 and 2022 and advanced to the Wimbledon final in 2021.
“First match after a few months and I was hoping for something easier,” Berrettini joked. “I think I am really happy with the way I fought on court. After not playing for months it is not easy to comeback and play well and that is what I told myself, just to fight. Just to try to enjoy because I missed it and I am really happy to be back here.”
[ATP APP]Marcos Giron earned his first win against a current or former World No. 1 when he defeated Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4 in Stuttgart. The American won 80 per cent (33/41) of his first-serve points to set a second-round clash with Jack Draper.
Murray reached the final in Stuttgart in 2022 but will drop out of the Top 100 for the first time since Janaury 2022 next Monday following his 11th tour-level loss of the year.
The Scot has won seven of his 46 tour-level titles on grass.
Berrettini’s countryman Lorenzo Musetti also advanced to the second round in Germany. The fifth seed defeated French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(9), 7-6(11). The No. 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings saved two set points in the first set and one set point in the second set.
“It was a really tough, challenging match, particularly returning his serve,” Musetti said. “I am really happy on getting my first win on grass. It is always nice to play here and I have good sensations and feelings and looking forward to the next days.”
Musetti, who reached the quarter-finals in Stuttgart last year, plays Germany’s Dominik Koepfer in the second round.
In other action, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech beat #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-5, while Australian James Duckworth eliminated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(2). Duckworth next faces second seed Ben Shelton.
Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who reached the final last year, beat Flavio Cobolli 7-6(7), 6-3.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Jannik Sinner joined one of the most prestigious groups in tennis on Monday when he became the 29th player to rise to No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings.
The 22-year-old is the first Italian to rise to top spot. A host of former World No. 1’s, including Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, shared words of praise to celebrate the Italian’s achievement.
“Hey Jannik, Andre here. Let me be one of the many to congratulate you on being the No. 1 tennis player in the world. That is one heck of an achievement and I can’t think of anybody that deserves it more than you,” Agassi said. “Here’s kind of a cool way to look at it. If the universe had a tennis tournament, Earth would pick you. How cool is that? Enjoy.”
Federer spent a record 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 from 2004 to 2008.
“Hey Jannik. Many congratulations also from my side to become World No. 1,” Federer said. “I think this for me personally maybe the ultimate achievement and I am sure you are incredibly happy and you should be so proud. I’m sure also Italy is loving you right now as they should being the first Italian player ever to be World No. 1. It is incredible. I couldn’t be happier for you. You are a great person, great player and I wish you only the best for the future Jannik. Take care, I’ll see you soon.”
The No.1 club called, and the former No.1’s are so glad you answered, Jannik ❤️
Hard work and perseverance got him here, and now the legends of the game unite to welcome their newest member🥇#S1NNER | #PIF | #ATPRankings | #partner pic.twitter.com/Ko1nd6Ij8t
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 10, 2024
Roddick was the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF in 2003 after he won his only major at that year’s US Open. The American shared words of encouragement to Sinner.
“Jannik Sinner, congratulations,” Roddick said. “I just wanted to give a huge shoutout on this monumental accomplishment. I know that it takes a lifetime of work and I also know that the Tour never stops. I hope you find a little bit of time to sit back and take in what you’ve accomplished, getting to No. 1 in the World. Wow, I promise you no one can ever take it away from you.
“From where I sit, it has been an absolute pleasure to watch the way that you act, the way that you’ve improved, the way that you strive for greatness already at such a young age. I hope to see many, many, many more years of it and please give our best to your team because we also know that no one can do it alone, but congrats and I hope you take some time and really soak it in.”
Bjorn Borg was the fourth man to climb to No. 1 when he reached the pinnacle of the sport in 1977. The legendary Swede won 11 major titles and was ranked in the world’s year-end Top 10 across eight straight seasons between 1973 and 1981.
“In 1973 when the ATP Rankings came out the big thing was to be the No. 1 player in the world,” Borg said. “That’s one of the most important things. And I have to say, Jannik, you are the No. 1 player in the world and congratulations to you because I know how difficult it is to be the best player in the world and I hope you’re going to stay for a long time. I know you have a new generation coming after you, but you made a point and hope you’re going to stay for many weeks to come.”
Yevgeny Kafelnikov overtook Pete Sampras to become No. 1 in May 1999. The 26-time tour-level titlist remained in top spot for six weeks.
“I would like to congratulate you with one of the greatest achievements in men’s tennis, reaching the World No. 1 ranking,” Kafelnikov said. “It is a pinnacle that most tennis players only dream about. And I know that all the hard work that you’ve put in paid off. Personally, I want you to continue to bring excitement to all the Italian fans and the fans all over the world with your game. So enjoy your day. Well done and welcome to the club.”
Andy Murray spent 41 weeks at No. 1, climbing to top spot for the first time in November 2016. The Scot fell to Sinner in their most recent Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting in Dubai in 2022.
“Hi Jannik. I just wanted to send a message to say congrats on getting to World No. 1 for the first time,” Murray said. “It is very well deserved. You have had an incredible year. I know how difficult it is to get there, but you fully deserve it. Well done and all the best.”
Icons Guga Kuerten, John McEnroe, Daniil Medvedev, Lleyton Hewitt, Patrick Rafter, Jim Courier, Mats Wilander, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg also sent tributes to 13-time tour-level champion Sinner.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic improved to 15-1 in first-round matches on grass since 2014 on Tuesday at the Libema Open. The former World No. 3 dispatched eighth seed Jordan Thompson 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round at the ATP 250 event.
Competing for the first time since Indian Wells in March, Raonic thundered 14 aces according to ATP Infosys Stats to earn just his fourth tour-level win of the season after 90 minutes.
Raonic will next meet Roberto Bautista Agut or Marc-Andrea Huesler.
[ATP APP]#NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils won his first tour-level grass-court match in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where he moved past countryman Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4.
The 19-year-old, who was competing in his third tour-level match on the surface, did not face a break point en route to his one-hour, 33-minute win in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Cazaux.
Fils, currently first in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, will next play third-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the Netherlands.
The 2019 champion Adrian Mannarino made a winning start to his campaign in the Netherlands, where he clawed past Stefano Napolitano 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2. The 35-year-old next plays Gijs Brouwer after the Dutch qualifier defeated #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
In other action, Australian Aleksandar Vukic beat countryman Max Purcell 6-3, 7-6(5), while Mackenzie McDonald downed Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Roger Federer shares the lessons he learned from a legendary tennis career at a graduation ceremony in the United States.
Lloyd Harris returned to the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings Monday for the first time in 21 months following his triumph at the Lexus Surbiton Trophy, the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event that kickstarts the grass-court season.
The South African, who underwent right wrist surgery in June 2022, downed Swiss Leandro Riedi 7-6(8), 7-5 in Sunday’s final, during which Harris won 85 per cent of his first-serve points and fended off all six break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
The 27-year-old has won 16 of his past 17 Challenger-level matches including title runs in Shenzhen and Gwangju. Harris is one of four players to win a trio of ATP Challenger Tour titles this season. The former World No. 31 is the first South African to claim a grass-court Challenger title since Wesley Moodie in 2003.
[ATP APP]“Super stoked. Honestly, it’s like a sigh of relief in a way,” said Harris, No. 98 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “When I won the first match, I was saying to the team that I’ve never started the grass season by winning the first match. It was a huge sign for me. I feel much more confident and comfortable on the grass.
“I think it’s the biggest Challenger title that I’ve won in my career. The fact that it’s on a new surface shows that my game is progressing and evolving as I’m progressing back to where I want to be. It’s still one small stepping stone in a long way to go.”
In other ATP Challenger Tour action, Sumit Nagal claimed his sixth trophy at that level by winning the NECKARCUP in Heilbronn, Germany, where the Indian overcame Swiss Alexander Ritschard 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the final. The 26-year-old is now at a career-high No. 77 following his second Challenger title of the season.
“Elated to win the title in Heilbronn this week. It was an important week for me, and I’m proud to have produced my best tennis when it mattered the most,” Nagal wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/06/11/19/32/nagal-heilbronnch-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Sumit Nagal wins the ATP Challenger Tour 100 event in Heilbronn, Germany.” />
Sumit Nagal wins the ATP Challenger Tour 100 event in Heilbronn, Germany. Credit: Philipp Foell
While Swiss players Riedi and Ritschard finished runner-up, their countryman Jerome Kym went one step further to claim his maiden ATP Challenger Tour crown. The 21-year-old advanced through qualifying en route to winning the Unicredit Czech Open in Prostejov, ending Chun-Hsin Tseng’s nine-match winning streak in the final with 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Kym is up to No. 281 in the PIF ATP Rankings, marking his Top 300 debut.
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/06/11/19/33/kym-prostejovch-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jerome Kym in action at the Prostejov Challenger.” />
Jerome Kym in action at the Prostejov Challenger. Credit: Unicredit Czech Open
Damir Dzumhur collected his third ATP Challenger Tour trophy of the season and 11th overall with a title run at the Zagreb Open. The 32-year-old, who hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina, needed a deciding set in three of his five matches to triumph in Croatia, but cruised past wild card Luka Mikrut 7-5, 6-0 in the final.
At No. 111 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Dzumhur is inching closer towards returning to the Top 100 for the first time since February 2020.
Japan’s James Trotter dropped just one set all week at the Tyler Tennis Championships, where he defeated American Brandon Holt 6-2, 7-6(3) in the championship match. The former Ohio State University standout, who partnered Hans Huch Verdugo to also win the doubles title in Texas, saved four match points in the singles semi-final against #NextGenATP Coleman Wong.
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/06/11/19/37/trotter-tylerch-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”James Trotter at the Tyler Tennis Championships, where he won his first ATP Challenger Tour title.” />
James Trotter at the Tyler Tennis Championships, where he won his first ATP Challenger Tour title. Credit: Tyler Tennis Championships
Andrea Collarini won the all-Argentine final on home soil, downing Facundo Mena 6-2, 6-3 to triumph the AAT Challenger Santander Edicion Santa Fe. The 32-year-old lefty is a four-time ATP Challenger champion, with half of his title runs coming in 2024.
Did You Know?
The six ATP Challenger Tour events held during the first week of June marks the only week on the calendar with tournaments at that level on all three surfaces.
✨ Doubles delight ✨
Congratulations, champs! #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/as3nsFzGun
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 9, 2024
It was a calm day at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, the training base for some of the world’s biggest tennis stars and home of the season’s first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event. The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final was played nearly two months ago and the sounds of cheers were replaced by the excitement of juniors training on the same famous courts.
There was one big difference from a typical day at the club, though. Jannik Sinner, who practises at the facility, was presented the ATP World No. 1 presented by PIF trophy by ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.
“For sure, it means a lot to me. Being World No. 1, it means you had a great year — actually, an incredible year with a lot of success, and obviously [I am] very happy about this,” Sinner told the ATP in Monte-Carlo. “On the other hand, you always have tournaments. You have to play the biggest tournaments. So that’s a huge privilege to be part of, and I’m just looking forward for the next challenges.
“I’m very happy to share this with all my team and the people who are close to me. And I think on the other hand I’m very sure that I can still improve some things and I’m looking forward to it.”
Read ATPTour.com’s Number Ones Series
Sinner explained that while he fielded questions about his pending ascent to World No. 1 during Roland Garros, at the time he was fully focused on preparing for his semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz and did not dwell much on the achievement.
“I had still in my mind the last match. So for sure, I was happy. And it’s kind of a relief. This is a dream. [It is] what I have dreamed of when I was a little kid. It was only a dream that day. And now that I can say that I’m World No. 1, it means a lot to me. So it took some time, that’s for sure. And it was a very nice feeling,” Sinner said. “Now saying that I’m World No. 1, it’s just amazing. We were talking together and seeing [my family] a little bit emotional and also from my side, it’s amazing.
“World No. 1 is the achievement I was looking for, and obviously now I have to see how much I can stay there.”
Your new ATP World No. 1 presented by PIF 🏆
ATP Tour Chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi, presented Jannik Sinner with the trophy at the Monte-Carlo Country Club 🙌#S1NNER | #PIF | #ATPRankings | #partner pic.twitter.com/OjQQec3kmm
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 10, 2024
Sinner on Monday became the first Italian singles player, man or woman, to reach the pinnacle of the tennis world since the start of computerised rankings in 1973. He is only the 29th man to climb to World No. 1.
The magnitude of the accomplishment has not escaped the 22-year-old.
“I think it’s the biggest meaning we have in our sport. It’s the best number you can have. This is everyone’s dream, to be in the position,” Sinner said. “Being No. 1 in the world is an achievement that you build in one year’s time. And now obviously, we’ll see how much I can stay there, and then that’s a different challenge.”
[ATP APP]The Italian has a good mindset for that. Since his earliest days on the ATP Tour in 2019, Sinner made clear he is driven by the process of trying to improve. He explained that will not change even though he is the No. 1 player in the world.
“I wake up with a goal and then my biggest goal is to get better as a player and as a person. And in my mind, I always was looking forward to working hard, and [I thought] with my work ethic, and then with my mentality, something positive was going to happen,” Sinner said. “It was only a dream to become No. 1 in the world and then if my maximum was No. 3, it was No. 3. But after my career, I want to say that I gave 100 per cent every day. And I think that’s my mentality, which I had until now and which I’m going to have until the end of my career.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Dressed in an elegant black suit, Carlos Alcaraz was back at Roland Garros on Monday to have his photo taken with the Coupe des Mousquetaires before leaving for a three-day holiday to disconnect after claiming his third major title in Paris.
Before boarding a plane to forget about tennis, for 72 hours at least, the Spaniard spent almost half an hour with all the Spanish journalists who accompanied him throughout the historic tournament, speaking to them about his achievement, the ghosts of his forearm injury and the process of maturity he is currently going through.
“Yesterday, I celebrated with my family, with the people that came from Murcia, with my friends,” said the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings of his Sunday night. “We went out to dinner and obviously I did everything I haven’t been doing during the tournament and ate what I hadn’t been eating. I’m normally careful with gluten, but I took my foot off the pedal and let myself go a little bit. Also, we had to celebrate with champagne, the time was right.
“Then I left early and that was it. Today I’m on cloud nine.”
The Murcia native emphasised the importance of enjoying these moments.
“After all the work, all the sacrifice to win a trophy like that, you have to enjoy it a bit. It’s something I’m learning, even though I’m still 21 and I’m still getting to know myself: what I need, what I don’t need, how to do it, how not to do it,” he explained. “I’m realising that you have to balance the days of working hard and suffering with days of rest and the freedom to do what you want, to not feel like a tennis player, just a normal guy. That helps you isolate yourself and wake up with a clear head to go out onto court and give 100 per cent.”
To get to that ‘cloud’, to enjoy the moment by celebrating with his loved ones, Alcaraz had to endure some extremely difficult months that were replete with pitfalls and mishaps.
At the start of the European clay season, when he was in Monte-Carlo preparing for his opener at the tournament, the Spaniard announced his withdrawal from the third ATP Masters 1000 event of the season as the result of a problem with his right forearm, which meant he was unable to defend his title in Barcelona, too. Despite playing in Madrid, where he was also the defending champion, he bowed out to Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals and the pain came back, forcing him to miss Rome and putting his preparations for Roland Garros in jeopardy.
“I’m someone who’s more likely to cry from frustration than from happiness,” admitted the 21-year-old. “I don’t cry much, but I did with the injury a couple of times when I had to miss certain tournaments I was really excited about.
“Mentally it was distressing. You use your right arm for everything. I use a lot of speed and power in every shot and my forearm really suffers. I was worried, thinking that I might not recover 100 per cent. In Madrid I played four matches and it bothered me in the fourth. I couldn’t go to Rome. We did tests and everything necessary to arrive here in the best shape, but my head kept asking questions.”
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/06/09/18/40/alcaraz-roland-garros-2024-trophy.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Carlos Alcaraz” />
Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
After pulling out of Rome, he didn’t pick up a racquet for a few days. Alcaraz then embarked on a training plan with his team to try and get ready for the first day of Roland Garros. Given Sunday’s result, it is fair to say the plan worked.
“I was a little uncertain about how my arm would react at a Grand Slam, the best of five sets,” he said. “It was tough, but as the rounds went by I was feeling good, no pain, even though I was cautious.
“The day of the semi-finals was when I decided to throw caution to the wind when hitting my forehand. I said, ‘If I hurt myself, if it’s painful, then let it be here.’ It wasn’t the time to be scared and I had to trust all the work we’d done and forget about that.”
It was all that work, carried out before and during the Roland Garros fortnight, that allowed the player from Murcia to achieve another dream and experience something special and inimitable.
“I also watch the videos of when I was little and I was in Paris under the Eiffel Tower, following Roland Garros,” revealed Alcaraz. “Lifting this cup some time afterwards… they’re amazing moments. I’m living a dream. Roland Garros is very special for me because it was the tournament I followed when I was little. I couldn’t wait for it to arrive so that I could sit in front of the TV and watch all the matches, and now…”
[ATP APP]Becoming the youngest player to win three majors on the three surfaces (hard, grass and clay) has led to more comparisons with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, the three players who tore up the record books for almost two decades.
“I’ve seen videos, but with a few highlights I can’t compare myself to what they were like at my age,” reasoned Alcaraz. “In the end, as I’ve always said, it doesn’t matter what I’ve achieved at this age if I now stand still. I want to continue my career, I want to keep growing and get to where Djokovic, Rafa and Federer are… the greats, the geniuses, they kept improving until they were 37 or 38.
“Staying at the very top for 16 or 17 years, fighting for big titles season after season, dealing with the pressure, with injuries, with everything, that’s extraordinary and very few can do it… So I think it’s mental strength and my head that will allow me to belong to that conversation in the future.”
Mental strength without a doubt, is one of Alcaraz’s greatest victories at this Roland Garros. While in 2023 he bowed out in the semis after losing to Djokovic, suffering from cramps mid-match due to the pressure, this year he has learned to handle that pressure, as evidenced by his wins over Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals and final, seeing off both opponents in five sets.
“Last year I clearly failed that exam, but this time we’d done our homework,” declared the Spaniard. “This year I managed to do much better. I think I passed the exam, but not with flying colours. It’s something I have to keep improving and as the years go by, I’ll feel even better.”
After returning from his mini-break, which starts this afternoon, Alcaraz will start to practise on grass for Queen’s Club and Wimbledon (he is the defending champion at both) and then he will be back on the clay with his sights set on the Olympic Games in Paris, where as well as playing in the singles, he will form a duo with Nadal in the doubles. The question, then, is obvious: would he prefer to successfully defend his Wimbledon title or claim an Olympic gold in Paris?
“The Olympic Games are every four years and it’s a special tournament where you’re not only playing for yourself, but for a country, representing every Spaniard,” came Alcaraz’s reply. “I think this year I’d choose Olympic gold.”
The newly crowned Roland Garros champion is already thinking about his return to the scene of Sunday’s triumph.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Defending champion Katie Boulter edges out Harriet Dart in a marathon all-British tie to reach the second round of the Nottingham Open.
All eyes were on Roland Garros Sunday for the final of the clay-court major between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. But on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Roger Federer was serving aces of his own.
The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings delivered a memorable commencement speech to 11,000 people in person and thousands more virtually. The Swiss icon was awarded with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
“Really, you have no idea how excited I am. Keep in mind, this is literally the second time I have ever set foot on a college campus. Second time ever.
But for some reason, you are giving me a doctorate degree,” Federer said, cracking a laugh. “I just came here to give a speech, but I get to go home as ‘Dr. Roger’. That’s a pretty nice bonus.
“‘Dr. Roger’. This has to be my most unexpected victory ever!”
Federer spoke about his friendship with agent and business partner Tony Godsick, a Dartmouth alumnus, who was in attendance to watch his daughter, Isabella Godsick, graduate. The 103-time tour-level titlist shared three key lessons:
– “Effortless” is a myth.
– It’s only a point.
– Life is bigger than the court.
[ATP APP]Federer also addressed the idea of retirement, a word he is not too fond of. He viewed his retirement as graduation from tennis.
“So what do I do with my time? I’m a dad first, so, I guess, I drive my kids to school? Play chess online against strangers? Vacuum the house?” Federer said. “No, in truth, I’m loving the life of a tennis graduate.”
The 42-year-old discussed his philanthropic work and much more, even taking time to briefly provide technical advice.
“President Beilock, can I have my racquet real quick? Okay, so, for your forehand, you’ll want to use an eastern grip. Keep your knuckles apart a little bit. Obviously, you don’t want to squeeze the grip too hard,” Federer said. “Switching from forehand to backhand should be easy… Also, remember it all starts with the footwork, and the take-back is as important as the follow-through. No, this is not a metaphor! It’s just good technique.”
Federer embraced the opportunity and made clear how important it was to him.
“If you are ever in Switzerland, or anywhere else in the world, and you see me on the street… even 20 or 30 years from now… whether I have gray hair or no hair… I want you to stop me and say… ‘I was there that day on the Green. I’m a member of your class… the Class of 2024’,” Federer said. “I will never forget this day, and I know you won’t either.”
In closing, the former World No. 1 said: “Whatever game you choose, give it your best. Go for your shots. Play free. Try everything. And most of all, be kind to one another… and have fun out there.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]