Murray Dominates Federer In 2010 Shanghai Classic Moment
Murray Dominates Federer In 2010 Shanghai Classic Moment
Oct082016
#NextGen star makes deep run in $100,000 Challenger
Some players discuss an injury layoff as a blessing in disguise, a chance to spend time at home with friends and family while working to become stronger than ever. #NextGen star Noah Rubin doesn’t quite have those same views.
“It was a pain,” he laughed. “I hurt my ankle training in Florida, flew to Florida for the grass-court season thinking it would be okay and then it wasn’t. Two-and-a-half months later, I played a Challenger and couldn’t really move, so I had to take another few weeks off. I’ve played a couple of tournaments now, so this is basically my start back and trying to get my [Emirates] ATP Ranking up to where it was.”
After a largely frustrating summer, Rubin is healthy again and showing the form that has seen him jump nearly 150 spots this year in the Emirates ATP Rankings to his current standing of No. 192. Competing at this week’s $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Stockton, California, the 20-year-old American showed his ankle has fully healed by weathering three consecutive three-set matches to reach his first Challenger semi-final since Maui in January.
“This is probably my first tournament back where I’m feeling myself and my game again. If I continue this and keep focused, I can break into the Top 100,” said Rubin. “That said, the thought of the Top 100 probably ruined my game for a couple of months, so I’m trying not to think about it too much or have any specific goals. I’m just trying to enjoy myself.”
Rubin made headlines at the end of last year by winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Charlottesville, Virginia, earning him the USTA Pro Circuit wild card into the Australian Open. Arriving in Melbourne ranked No. 328, he took full advantage of the opportunity with a straight-sets win over No. 17 seed Benoit Paire.
Although Rubin acknowledged that his ankle injury came at a bad time since he was on a run of form, he refused to feel sorry for himself.
“There are people with way worse luck than me, people who have surgery after surgery and can’t seem to get healthy,” said Rubin. “This was luckily just a sprained ankle, so hopefully it doesn’t come back if I do everything to stay healthy.”
The American will compete in four more Challengers after Stockton before wrapping up his season. He’s making the most of a long stretch on the road by staying with host families that USTA Pro Circuit tournaments often offer to players as a way to truly experience the communities they’re in.
“I’m staying with a local family and they’ve treated me incredibly well. I couldn’t ask for anybody better, so it makes the tournament a lot easier and more fun,” said Rubin. “They’ve come to all my matches, so it’s really nice to have that support.”
World number two Andy Murray cruised into the final of the China Open after a 6-2 6-3 victory over Spain’s David Ferrer in Beijing.
Murray, 29, secured victory over fifth seed Ferrer in one hour, 30 minutes.
The British number one seed was dominant throughout and will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday’s final.
Earlier, British number one Johanna Konta reached the women’s final and broke into the world top 10.
Murray has reached nine finals in 2016, but it is the first time he has made it through to the China Open final.
The Scot was a break down in the opening set before coming back to win the next five games.
Ferrer had lost his previous six encounters with Murray and there was no coming back after the Scot went 4-2 up.
The double Olympic champion then took a 3-1 lead in the second set, and despite losing his serve he came back to clinch a place in the final.
Dimitrov took the other final spot after his semi-final opponent, Milos Raonic, was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury.
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British number one Johanna Konta moved into the world top 10 after reaching the final of the China Open by beating Madison Keys 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 6-4.
The 25-year-old took the first set after a tie-break before American eighth seed Keys fought back in a semi-final lasting two hours, 35 minutes.
The 11th seed will now face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina or Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in the final.
The last British woman to make the world’s top 10 was Jo Durie in 1984.
“It’s really special, I feel very blessed to be coming back for the final,” said Konta after a hard-earned victory in Beijing on Saturday.
Britain also has a finalist in the men’s event, after world number two Andy Murray beat Spain’s David Ferrer in straight sets.
Konta was ranked 146th in the world as recently as June 2015.
She is only the fourth British woman to make the top 10 since the WTA rankings began in 1975 – after Durie, Virginia Wade and Sue Barker.
Konta led 4-2 in the first set before losing three games in a row. She rallied to take the opening set on a tie-break before unravelling in the second as Keys took the tie into a third set.
Keys broke in the first game but Konta immediately responded before going on to secure a place in Sunday’s final.
Former British number one Jo Durie speaking to BBC Radio 5 live
It really is a terrific accomplishment. To get into the top 10 you need to be consistent week after week on the tour.
It will give Konta better seeding at Grand Slams and other players will be very wary of her. She has been proving she can beat those in the top 10, that she belongs there and she is a player to watch out for.
You have a greater aura and take it onto the court. The only thing, which can sometimes be a negative, is the lower-ranked players are now gunning for you and seem to play their best against you.
It has all happened in last 15 months for Jo Konta. She has gone from 150 to the top 10. It is amazing. Next year she goes straight into the Australian Open where she got to the semi-final. She is very good at keeping in the moment, focussing on herself and it is literally point by point with her.