Tennis News

From around the world

Nadal criticises delay in banning Fognini for outburst

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept
BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

Rafael Nadal has criticised US Open organisers after they waited three days before suspending Italian Fabio Fognini for verbally abusing a female umpire.

Fognini, 30, used insulting language to Louise Engzell during his first-round defeat by compatriot Stefano Travaglia.

But the world number 26 played twice in the doubles before the Grand Slam board defaulted him on Saturday, saying they had to wait for a translation.

“Three days for that? I don’t think so,” world number one Nadal said.

“He has been out winning two matches since then. It is not the ideal situation. It would be much better to do it immediately, not three days later.”

Fognini apologised for his behaviour in a post on Twitter, saying: “I would apologise to you fans, [and] to the referee for what happened.

“It was just a very bad day, but it did not forgive my behaviour in the match. Although I’m a hot-head (and though I’ve been right in most circumstances) I was wrong. But in the end, it’s only a tennis game.”

  • Federer ‘excited’ by form after beating Lopez
  • Nadal recovers from first-set loss to advance
  • Live scores and results

A US Open tournament statement said he was provisionally suspended “pending a final determination whether a major offence has been committed”.

It confirmed Nicholas Monroe and John-Patrick Smith, who lost to Fognini and compatriot Simone Bolelli in the third round of the doubles, would take their place in the quarter-finals.

Fognini had already been fined a total of $24,000 (£18,500), which will be deducted from his $50,000 prize money for losing in the first round of the singles.

If he is found to have committed a major offence, Fognini could be fined up to $250,000 (£190,000) and potentially suspended from future grand slams.

At Wimbledon in 2014, the Italian was given the biggest penalty in the tournament’s history when he was fined $27,500 for throwing his racquet and arguing with an umpire and another official.

Alerts, Live Guide & MySport
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news

Source link

Federer 'excited' by form after efficient win

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept
BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

Roger Federer was in clinical mood as he saw off Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in straight sets to join Rafael Nadal in the US Open fourth round.

The third seed, who came through five-set matches in the first two rounds, beat 35-year-old Lopez 6-3 6-3 7-5.

Five-time champion Federer, 36, goes on to face Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last 16.

“I’m really excited how I feel after two five-setters,” the 19-time Grand Slam champion said.

“It was clearly nice to go up two sets to love for a change. Feels different from there.”

Top seed Nadal earlier beat Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-1 6-4 in three hours and 16 minutes.

With heavy rain halting play on the outside courts in the early evening, the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium stretched to almost 15 hours across the day.

Federer and Lopez did not get under way in the night session until 21:40 local time (02:40 BST) – almost three hours later than scheduled – and Madison Keys’ 2-6 6-4 6-1 win over Elena Vesnina ended at 01:46 local time.

  • Nadal recovers from first-set loss to advance
  • Thiem, Del Potro and Dolgopolov reach fourth round
  • Live scores, schedule and results

‘I can finally focus on playing tennis’

Saturday’s night session began with the oldest match-up at the US Open since 40-year-old Jimmy Connors played 32-year-old Ivan Lendl in 1992.

Federer looked sharp, showing no sign of the back issue that disrupted his build-up to the tournament, and had been in his thoughts during his first-round match in New York.

The timing that was still absent in round two had returned for the most part – with just four backhand errors – and, one poor service game in the third set apart, he dispatched 13th seed Lopez efficiently.

“I needed to get over the fear of the back issue, especially in that first match, the first set,” said Federer. “Then I think the wobble I had in the second round was due to my preparation.

“I think now I’m just trusting my movement better. My serve is there. My mind is there. I can finally focus on playing tennis and not so much about the past.”

Early pressure told with a break in game six and the first set followed after just 25 minutes.

With almost 80% of the points played in under four strokes, it suited the attacking, first-strike intent that has marked Federer’s game during this stellar year.

A wayward Lopez volley saw the Swiss move ahead in the second and with 59 minutes on the clock he was two sets up.

The third was more testing as Lopez, trying for a first win over Federer in 13 attempts, took advantage of a loose service game to recover an early deficit.

He could not extend the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion into a fourth set, however, with Federer breaking serve in game 12 to clinch victory after one hour and 46 minutes.

Follow tennis with the BBC
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news

Source link

Shapovalov Sets Sights On Maiden Slam QF

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017

Shapovalov Sets Sights On Maiden Slam QF

Canadian teenager to face Spanish 12th seed in US Open fourth round

An opportunity awaits for the eight players remaining in the bottom half of the draw. For the first time since 2014 at the US Open a first-time Grand Slam finalist is guaranteed. 

Three years ago first-time finalists met in the championship as Marin Cilic defeated Kei Nishikori. In the fourth round of the bottom half of the draw, the highest-seeded players are No. 12 Pablo Carreno Busta, No. 16 Lucas Pouille, No. 17 Sam Querrey, No. 23 Mischa Zverev, No. 28 Kevin Anderson, and No. 29 Diego Schwartzman. 

Only Anderson (2015) and Pouille (last year) have reached the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows. UnseededPaolo Lorenzi and #NextGenATP qualifier Denis Shapovalov are also left.

In the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Shapovalov takes on Carreno Busta for the first time.  The 18-year-old Shapovalov is the youngest player to reach the fourth round at the US Open since Michael Chang (17) in 1989. He is trying to become the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Andre Agassi in 1988 and youngest in a Grand Slam quarter-final since Chang at 1990 Roland Garros.

With Russian teenager Andrey Rublev in the fourth round in the top half of the draw, this is the first time two teenagers have progressed as far at the US Open since Juan Martin del Potro and Kei Nishikori in 2008. Shapovalov is the first qualifier to reach the last 16 in Flushing Meadows since Gilles Muller (quarter-final) in 2008. 

Carreno Busta, who is the first player to face four qualifiers in a row in a Grand Slam event, is trying to reach his second Grand Slam quarter-final. He was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros in June. His previous-best US Open result was the third round in 2014 and last year.

In the evening session, Zverev and Querrey battle it out for the first time. Zverev survived two five-set matches before beating top American John Isner in the third round. The 30-year-old German is trying to reach his second Grand Slam quarter-final of the season (Australian Open).  

Zverev and Philipp Kohlschreiber are the first German duo to reach the fourth round at the US Open since Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer in 2004. Haas is the last German quarter-finalist in 2007. 

Querrey, who is the only player remaining in the bottom half of the draw to reach a Grand Slam semi-final (Wimbledon in July), is attempting to become the first American to advance to the US Open quarter-finals since Mardy Fish in 2012. Querrey is 15-3 since the beginning of Wimbledon and he’s in the fourth round at the US Open for the first time since 2010 (also 2008).

On Louis Armstrong, Lorenzi looks for his first win (0-3) against Anderson, who is the only player remaining yet to drop serve. The 31-year-old South African has held all 43 service games, saving 14 break points. 

The 35-year-old Italian is the oldest player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time. He is looking to become the first Italian to reach the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows. 

Corrado Barazzutti advanced to the semi-finals at Forest Hills on clay in 1977 (l. to Connors). Anderson is 1-9 lifetime in Grand Slam fourth round matches and two years ago he beat No. 3 Andy Murray in the fourth round in New York before losing to Stan Wawrinka in his first Slam quarter-final.

On Grandstand, Pouille and Schwartzman meet for the first time in the main draw. In their only other meeting, the Argentine won in a qualifying match in 2013 Bastad. 

Pouille is trying to reach the quarter-finals for the second straight year and third overall in a Grand Slam tournament (2016 Wimbledon). Schwartzman is coming off his second career Top 10 win (2-13) over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.

He is appearing in his first career Grand Slam fourth round match. With Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round in the top half, this is the first time since 2007 there are two Argentines in this round at the US Open. That year, Juan Ignacio Chela reached the QFs and Juan Monaco the fourth round.

Source link

Federer Roars Back Into Form

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017

Federer Roars Back Into Form

Five-time champion to carry 11-0 record into fourth-round clash with Kohlschreiber

Sharper, more confident and more consistent. It’s the report card that comes as music to Roger Federer’s ears after finding his range to cruise past Feliciano Lopez into the fourth round at this year’s US Open on Saturday.

In a worrying sign for his second-week opponents, the rust from the five-time champion’s opening two matches was rarely seen in a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 dismissal of the Spaniard. His showdown with the 35- year old was the oldest match-up at the US Open since Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl squared off in 1992.

The Swiss was 15-1 in third-round US Open matches coming in, with his lone defeat coming at the hands of Lopez’s countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero on debut in 2000. But the result rarely looked in doubt as the 36 year old improved his unbeaten FedEx ATP Head2Head record against the serve-volleying Spanish lefty to 13-0. 

“It was clearly nice to go up two sets to love for a change. Feels different from there,” Federer grinned in reference to his opening two five-set struggles. “Overall I have felt better, too. I was happy I had good energy because I think that was my biggest worry, that somehow after the two five-setters that I had, I was going to feel a little slow, hard to throw the engine on, that I would have to force myself so much, I would get tired from that.

“It didn’t happen. I think I really got off to a good start. The first set was fast. Then the second set was close. Maybe I was struggling with my serve for a little bit to keep the level up … It was also good to get through those tougher moments.

“A little bit of a wobble in the third maybe. But it’s all good. I’m really pleased with the performance.”

DID YOU KNOW?
Federer moved into second place in the all-time aces list during his win over Lopez. The Swiss came into the match four aces behind Goran Ivanisevic. He hit 13 aces on Saturday night for a career total of 10,140. 

Career Ace Leaders

Ivo Karlovic 12,242
Roger Federer 10,140
Goran Ivanisevic 10,131

Note: ATP began tracking ace totals in 1991. Federer’s career aces total does not include results from Davis Cup, the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, and the 1999 Basel second round.

You May Also Like: Federer Hits 10,000th Ace In Wimbledon Opener

A lunging flicked backhand pass from Federer brought up set point on the Spaniard’s serve at 5-2 in the opening set. Lopez survived that but relinquished the set a game later when Federer sent down his fifth ace at the 24-minute mark.

Even out of position, the Swiss was at his improvising best. Crammed into a short backswing on the forehand wing, he guided a forehand down the line past Lopez to bring up two set points at 5-3 in the second set and surged to a two-set lead when his opponent misqueued a backhand wide.

When Lopez rolled down his first double fault of the match to concede the break for 1-3 in the third set, the contest looked all but over. But an error-ridden lapse cost the Swiss his serve in the ensuing game – the first time the Spaniard had broken him in their past four matches. The No.3 seed stepped it up a level to pounce on the Lopez serve at 5-6, working his way to an off-forehand winner to bring up a match point.

His fourth-round meeting with No. 33 seed Philipp Kohlchreiber was complete when the Spaniard netted one final forehand at the one-hour, 48-minute mark. Federer will carry an equally imposing 11-0 FedEx Head2Head record into his match with the 33-year-old German.

“I guess I maybe needed just a few hours here on this court,” Federer said. “I needed to get over the fear of the back issue, especially in that first match, the first set. Then I think the wobble I had in the second round was due to my preparation. 

“I think now I’m just trusting my movement better. My serve is there. My mind is there. I can finally focus on playing tennis and not so much, you know, about the past. So it’s nice to be in the present in my mind, looking ahead, thinking tactics.”

Kohlschreiber earlier booked his fourth-round berth with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Australia’s John Millman. Kohlschreiber joked in his on-court interview that he would prefer a contest with Lopez on Monday.

He will look to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in five years, since making the last eight at Wimbledon in 2012 (l. to Tsonga). The German has rebounded strongly at the US Open, having missed the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. He is playing his first tournament since winning the eighth title of his career in Kitzbuhel (d. Sousa). 

“I had a good preparation, even though I didn’t play the previous tournaments on hard courts,” Kohlschreiber told ATPWorldTour.com. “I worked on my fitness and had great focus for the tournament. The draw is also a crucial thing and I’ve had pretty good opponents for my game style. But overall, I’m feeling pretty great.

“For me, winning is the major thing to build the confidence. Everybody can play great tennis, but it’s about how much you believe. The last two tournaments on clay I played pretty good, [SF in Hamburg, title in Kitzbuhel]. I found my rhythm and my level again and took it from the clay-court season to New York.”

 

Source link

Rafa Rallies To Dispatch Mayer In New York

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017

Rafa Rallies To Dispatch Mayer In New York

Spaniard sets Dolgopolov date in fourth round

It took four sets, but Rafael Nadal secured his place in the Round of 16 at the US Open. Nadal defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 with the roof closed on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday.

For the second straight match, the World No. 1 was forced to rebound after dropping the opening set. On Thursday, he rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Taro Daniel and on Saturday, it was Mayer who sent an early message under the lights on Ashe.

Mayer imposed himself from the baseline during the 63-minute opener, sending Nadal scrambling from side to side. The Argentine incredibly saved the first 13 break points faced, consistently coming up clutch in the critical moments. But Nadal found his range as the second set commenced, eventually scoring his first break of the match on his 14th opportunity and drawing level with a rifled forehand pass.

The top seed would drop just five games in the third and fourth sets, eventually prevailing after three hours and 15 minutes. He struck 39 winners and claimed 51 of 75 rallies over four shots.

“It was a slow start of converting break points and when you have that many break points, you created the opportunities, more than usual,” said Nadal. “So if you are able to convert one, two of them, probably we will talk about another story because that’s the real thing. In the tie-break, I made a mistake, he played well and had some good serves.

“When you see that you lost a set that you had triple more opportunities than your opponent, then of course you are in trouble. At the beginning of the second, I had break points again. After that, finally I converted one at the 14th opportunity. After that, the match was completely different.

“You need matches like this. Then now I have the opportunity to compete again, to try to do it well. I am in the second week. That’s the important thing. I already won three matches in a row. That’s important news for me.”

Mayer was bidding to reach the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam for the second time (Wimbledon 2014). He saw his win streak as a lucky loser snapped at seven, having won the ATP World Tour 500 title in Hamburg coming into the US Open.

Nadal, who owns a tour-leading 52 match wins this year, will look to reach the quarter-finals in New York for the first time since 2013 when he faces Alexandr Dolgopolov on Monday. He leads the FedEx ATP Head2Head 6-2, with their lone 2017 battle resulting in a straight sets win for the Spaniard in Brisbane.

Dolgopolov is enjoying his most successful Grand Slam campaign since 2011, when he also advanced to the fourth round in New York (l. to Djokovic). The Ukrainian was ruthless is downing Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 in just one hour and 22 minutes, firing 24 winners and converting seven of 10 break chances.

“It’s unbelievable, really,” said Dolgopolov. “It’s one of my best matches lately. I’m really happy that I’m healthy again. I’m playing five-set matches, winning, not just one but quite a few. Now I’m in the second week, so it’s unbelievable.”

Source link

Nadal fights back to reach US Open fourth round

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept
BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

Top seed Rafael Nadal overcame stubborn resistance from Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer to reach the fourth round at the US Open in New York.

The Spaniard, 31, lost the first set but fought back to win 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-1 6-4 after three hours and 16 minutes.

Nadal saw 13 break points go begging before finally breaking the world number 59 after nearly two hours.

He dropped just five more games on his way to a last-16 meeting with Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.

  • Thiem, Del Potro and Dolgopolov reach fourth round
  • World number one Pliskova saves match point to beat Zhang
  • Live scores, schedule and results

“All the matches have been very tight – I am very happy,” said Nadal.

“I don’t know how many break points I had before I got the first one. Mentally, I fought a lot until that moment, then I think I played better.”

Swiss third seed Roger Federer takes on Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, the 31st seed, in the night session at Flushing Meadows.

The start of their match on Arthur Ashe Stadium was delayed by over two hours after the day session overran, culminating with Nadal’s hard-fought victory.

Nadal could not land a telling return as the break points came and went against Mayer, and the Argentine took advantage by playing a fine tie-break to take the first set.

I am in the fourth round now. I don’t think much about that.

Nadal speaking about the possibility of facing Federer in the last four

When Nadal finally made the breakthrough at the 14th attempt, at 3-3 in the second set, he screamed “Vamos!” and his family and team celebrated in the stands.

The Spaniard had won all three previous matches against Mayer and went on to dominate after finally breaking.

There was a late flash of resistance when Mayer broke serve with Nadal trying to close out the match, but two games later the world number one sealed victory at 8.40pm local time.

Asked about a potential first-ever meeting with Federer at the US Open in the semi-finals next week, he said: “I am in the fourth round now. I don’t think much about that.

“It’s a long way away. All the matches have been very tough.

“The only thing I am looking for is the practice tomorrow to keep working hard and focus on the match against Dolgopolov.”

Alerts & MySport
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news

Source link

Muguruza faces Kvitova on day seven at US Open

  • Posted: Sep 03, 2017
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept
BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

Garbine Muguruza will take on Petra Kvitova on day seven of the US Open, while Maria Sharapova continues her return to Grand Slam action.

Spanish third seed Muguruza faces two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova in the fourth round at 00:00 BST on Monday.

Sharapova, in her first Slam for 19 months following a ban, faces Anastasia Sevastova at about 19:00 on Sunday.

They follow 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov against Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta at 16:00.

  • Order of play, scores and results
  • I would play in the parking lot – Sharapova

Venus Williams and Carla Suarez Navarro will conclude the day session at approximately 21:00 on Saturday, and Sam Querrey plays the second night-session match against Mischa Zverev at around 02:00 on Sunday.

Muguruza, who won her second major title at Wimbledon in July, is on course to take the world number one ranking and potentially the third leg of a career Gran Slam in New York.

It’s nice to play someone who won a Grand Slam this year.

Petra Kvitova

The Spaniard, 23, has lost her last two matches against Kvitova but is full of confidence after backing up her Wimbledon win with a best-ever run at Flushing Meadows.

“I’m taking every match as a final here,” said Muguruza. “I think she’s an incredible player. It’s going to be interesting. It’s a good fourth round to play.”

Kvitova has been in sparkling form in New York, her best since returning to action in May following a knife attack at her home last December.

“It’s nice to play someone who won a Grand Slam this year,” said the Czech 13th seed. “I’m really looking forward for the big stage and for that match.”

Wildcard Sharapova returns to the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the fourth time as she takes on Latvia’s Sevastova, the world number 17 and a quarter-finalist 12 months ago.

Shapovalov relishing new experiences

Shapovalov has become the star attraction in the bottom half of the men’s draw, which has been decimated in terms of leading names.

Carreno Busta is the highest seed left in that half, while the Canadian is the youngest man to reach the fourth round in 28 years.

“It’s huge,” said Shapovalov. “There is a lot of new experiences, everything kind of happens too quickly. My team kind of makes me focus one match at a time.

“I don’t really have time to take in everything that I have done, but I’m sure at the end of the year, when I look back, I’ll really have time to see how far I have come in one year.”

Alerts & MySport
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news

Source link

World number one Pliskova saves match point to beat Zhang

  • Posted: Sep 02, 2017
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept
BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

World number one Karolina Pliskova played down an arm injury after fighting back to beat China’s Shaui Zhang in the US Open third round.

World number 26 Zhang had match point at 5-4 in the second set, but Pliskova turned it around to win 3-6 7-5 6-4.

The result means she stays in the race with Elina Svitolina and Garbine Muguruza to end the tournament as number one.

“I feel much better,” said the Czech, who had treatment after the second set.

“I did some recovery and just saw the physios and some ice bath and those stuff. Hopefully it will be fine, it just felt a little bit tight during the match.”

  • Nadal fights back to beat Mayer
  • Thiem & Del Potro reach last 16
  • Live scores, schedule and results

Latvia’s French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, seeded 12th, went down 6-3 6-2 to Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, the world number 38.

“Before the tournament I had some problems like with the throat,” said Ostapenko.

“I had to take some antibiotics, but I somehow tried to avoid it and try to get ready for the tournament, but today I felt quite bad. I couldn’t give my 100%.”

I feel pressure. I just want to win. I know all the opponents are behind me, so I should win every match, which is tough

Karolina Pliskova

Meanwhile, American Coco Vandeweghe won 7-5 4-6 6-4 against 10th seedAgnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

Pliskova, 25, will next face Jennifer Brady in the last 16, after the American beat Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-3).

She must repeat her run to the final of 12 months ago, at the least, if she is to remain at the top of the rankings.

Ukrainian fourth seed Svitolina beat American Shelby Rogers 6-4 7-5 on Saturday to progress, while Spanish third seed Muguruza plays Petra Kvitova on Sunday.

“I feel pressure,” said Pliskova. “I just want to win. I know all the opponents are behind me, so I should win every match, which is tough.”

The Czech had to call for the trainer before the start of the third set and received lengthy treatment on her right forearm.

She returned to court and was immediately broken by Zhang, but the 28-year-old was unable to get past Pliskova in the decider.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic beat Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-3 6-2.

More from tennis
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news

Source link

US Open: Dominic Thiem and Alexandr Dolgopolov reach fourth round

  • Posted: Sep 02, 2017
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept
BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

Sixth seed Dominic Thiem registered a straight-set win over Adrian Mannarino to reach the US Open fourth round.

The Austrian, ranked eighth in the world, beat the French world number 34 7-5 6-3 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Mannarino served for the first set but sent a volley wide, allowing Thiem to break, and then lost seven games in a row as he struggled for rhythm.

Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov also reached the fourth round with a speedy win over Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.

Thiem, who has reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows three times in the past four years, will play Juan Martin del Potro in the next round.

The Argentine beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 6-3 6-4 to set up the meeting with Thiem.

  • Fognini thrown out of US Open for outburst
  • World number one Pliskova saves match point to beat Zhang
  • Live scores and results

Dolgopolov beat Troicki 6-1 6-0 6-4, hitting 24 winners and dominating with his first serve to win in just one hour and 21 minutes.

This is the 28-year-old’s best run at a Grand Slam since he reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2011.

He will face either Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal or Argentine Leonardo Mayer in the last 16 on Monday.

Dolgopolov, whose defeat by Thiago Monteiro at the Winston-Salem Open is being investigated by the Tennis Integrity Unit, said the scrutiny was not affecting his performance.

“If people want to write something, they write something. You can’t stop them from doing it. It’s just not under my control,” he said.

“You can see I’m playing. I’m fit. I’m doing well.”

Also in the third round, Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber advanced with a 7-5 6-2 6-4 win over Australian John Millman.

Alerts, Live Guide & MySport
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news

Source link

Del Potro Sets Thiem Showdown

  • Posted: Sep 02, 2017

Del Potro Sets Thiem Showdown

Argentine powers past Bautista Agut

Juan Martin del Potro continued his flawless progress through the top half of the US Open draw, claiming his third straight-sets win of the tournament on Saturday as he defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round.

The Argentine will look to keep his run going when he faces sixth seed Dominic Thiem in the fourth round on Monday. Del Potro leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 2-0, including victory over the Austrian at this stage in New York last year, when Thiem was forced to retire. 

Looking ahead to the clash with Thiem, del Potro said, “He has everything to win the match. He’s having a great season already. He’s the favourite for the match. But I like to play him. I like to play him in this tournament. Hopefully I can do a good match.”

Del Potro won his lone major crown at Flushing Meadows in 2009 (d. Federer) and made quarter-final appearances in 2012 (l. to Djokovic) and 2016 (l. to Wawrinka), making it his most successful Grand Slam championship.

Against the 11th-seeded Bautista Agut, del Potro fired 14 aces, hitting 38 winners to 32 unforced errors. The right-hander converted five of his 13 break points and won 78 per cent of his first service points. 

“I think I played the best match of the tournament,” said del Potro. “I hit so well my forehand. I served well during the whole match. I played very smart with my slice. I came to the net very often, tried to be aggressive all the time, and I think I played well.”

Source link