Steve Johnson Uncovered
Steve Johnson Uncovered
Sep152016
| Davis Cup semi-final, Great Britain v Argentina |
|---|
| Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow Dates: 16-18 September |
| Coverage: Live on BBC TV, radio, online and social media. |
Spaniard returning from six-month lay-off
After six months on the sidelines with a right elbow injury, Tommy Robredo is set to make his comeback on the ATP World Tour next week at the Moselle Open in Metz.
The 34-year-old Robredo last competed on the ATP World Tour in February at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where he fell to Novak Djokovic in the first round. Since then, the Spaniard has endured a tough spell away from the court after having surgery.
“It’s been hard,” Robredo told ATPWorldTour.com. “Firstly having to make the decision to have surgery, because after Dubai I had a tear in the tendon and I tried to avoid the operating theatre. I spent some time doing rehabilitation, but after a month and a half, we saw that it hadn’t mended at all so we opted for the surgery.”
After first detecting the injury in Dubai, Robredo initially hoped to return in April at the Barcelona Open BancSabadell. But the doctors confirmed that surgery would be the best way to get back on the court. As such, there followed a lengthy stretch of recuperation and rehabilitation.
“Technically it’s been four months of recuperation,” said Robredo. “The first two months were hard because you have to come to terms with not training or competing. The third and fourth months, when you know you’re getting close, are when you put your foot down a bit. You’re excited to get back.”
Robredo’s 19 years of experience as a professional, the team he has around him and the people closest to him have been an important an important part of his recuperation. “The dream of coming back has always been there, working day after day with my team, with the physio, with my coach. It all helps,” said Robredo. “It’s all gone well. Also being at home with my family, with my friends, with my girlfriend has meant my return has been faster and more enjoyable.
The Spaniard, who has received a wild card into the Moselle Open, where he lifted the trophy in 2007 (d. Murray), made a tentative comeback on the ATP Challenger Tour last week in Genova. “I was really looking forward to playing again. Now in Metz, I think I will play better.”
After playing just six matches so far in 2016, Robredo is keen for as much court time as he can get as the season draws to a close in the coming weeks. “The goal is to play as many matches as possible so that my arm improves and I can start 2017 in top form,” said the Spaniard.
“There are going to be some difficult months ahead because having to start playing with pain is annoying and it isn’t easy. The goal is to get back to 100 per cent next year and give my all to see if we can have another great run, another great comeback and get back to where I really want to be on the ATP World Tour.”
| Davis Cup semi-final, Great Britain v Argentina |
|---|
| Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow Dates: 16-18 September |
| Coverage: Live on BBC TV, radio, online and social media. |
Andy Murray will take on former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the opening match of defending champions Great Britain’s Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina in Glasgow on Friday.
Murray, the world number two, will play Del Potro at 13:00 BST, followed by Kyle Edmund against Guido Pella.
Del Potro, ranked 64th in the world as he makes his way back from injury, lost to Murray in August’s Olympic final.
Andy and Jamie Murray will play together in Saturday’s doubles match.
Andy Murray will miss his paternal grandfather’s funeral on Friday to play on the opening day, with his brother Jamie expected to attend the funeral.
| Great Britain v Argentina (best-of-five tie) |
|---|
| Friday: Andy Murray v Juan Martin del Potro |
| Friday: Kyle Edmund v Guido Pella |
| Saturday: Andy Murray & Jamie Murray v Federico Delbonis & Leonardo Mayer |
| Sunday: Andy Murray v Guido Pella |
| Sunday: Kyle Edmund v Juan Martin del Potro |
The brothers are set to take on Federico Delbonis and Leonardo Mayer on Saturday, although team captains can change their nominations up to one hour before the start of play.
GB captain Leon Smith left doubles specialist Dom Inglot out of his final four to give himself another singles option for Sunday’s final matches in Dan Evans.
“It’s a difficult choice because both Dan and Kyle are playing great tennis,” Smith said of selecting Edmund over Evans for the second singles match.
“They’re pretty much neck and neck in the rankings, they both have really good Davis Cup experience now.”
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Britain are attempting to retain the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936, having won the tournament for the first time in 79 years in 2015.
Croatia host France in Zadar in the other semi-final.
Murray and Del Potro are the headline names in the Glasgow tie but meet on day one because the Argentine is the second-ranked singles player in their team following three wrist surgeries.
Del Potro, 27, who won the 2009 US Open, beat Novak Djokovic at the Olympic Games in Rio before losing a four-hour final to Murray, and then reached the last eight in this year’s US Open.
“I will be fresh tomorrow and I know how my level is at this moment,” said Del Potro. “I will try to play aggressive all the time. We’ll see if I can give the first point to my team.”
Edmund, 21, was selected ahead of Evans as Britain’s second singles player after rising to 55th in the world and reaching the fourth round at the US Open.
He has played Pella, the world number 49, once before, with the 26-year-old Argentine winning in three sets at Indian Wells this year.
Defending champions Great Britain face Argentina in the Davis Cup semi-final in Glasgow starting on Friday.
The hosts won 4-1 the last time the countries met – on the clay of Buenos Aires in 2008 – Britain’s 23rd consecutive defeat in World Group matches.
BBC Sport looks at how things have changed since.
Watch live coverage of Great Britain’s Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina across TV, radio, online and social media.
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“Can you be Number 1?” Charlie Rose asked US Open champion Stan Wawrinka during a sit-down interview on Monday.
“No,” laughed Wawrinka, his shiny new trophy on the table next to him. “I won three Grand Slams, but I’m not consistent enough during the year. If you look, Novak [Djokovic] is making a final or winning every tournament that he’s playing. I can play amazing, I can win a Grand Slam, but I’m not playing well enough in the year.”
The buzz of his third major title had yet to lift as the 31-year-old Swiss chatted with the American talk show host about his friendship with compatriot Roger Federer, how he deals with stress, coach Magnus Norman’s influence and what practice is like with World No. 1 Djokovic.
“We push each other in practice… try to improve most of the time,” said Wawrinka. “It’s good fun also because we like each other.”
Wawrinka’s appearance on Charlie Rose was part of a media tour in New York City, which also saw him visit “Live With Kelly” and play Wii Tennis with Jimmy Fallon. Watch
NextGen star out since Roland Garros due to injury
NextGen star Hyeon Chung is back after four months out due to injury, but he’s picking up right where he left off.
Competing in the first tournament of his comeback at the $50,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Nanchang, China, the 20 year old from Korea has moved into the quarterfinals without dropping a set. Although he admitted that the rehab process took longer than expected, he’s now fully healthy and ready to make another climb up the Emirates ATP Rankings.
“After Roland Garros, I found out after I lost my [first-round] match that I had injured my abs,” said Chung. “I did nothing for two weeks and then slowly began training. I want to see now if I’m able to do everything that I could before.”
During his time away from the court, Chung said he was motivated by the success of other young Korean players on the ATP Challenger Tour, including Duckhee Lee and Soon Woo Kwon.
“We’re all friends,” said Chung. “Duckhee is playing Davis Cup now, but we all played the same tournaments growing up. We’re all pushing each other to get better.”
Chung made headlines last year for his rapid rise up the Emirates ATP Rankings, climbing from No. 169 to No. 51 in 12 months. He won four ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2015 and finished as runner-up in two other Challenger events. Chung also reached his first ATP World Tour quarterfinal that October at the Shenzhen Open.
Having added new weapons to his game during his time away from the court, he’s optimistic about cracking the Top 50 of the Emirates ATP Rankings next year.
“I made a few changes to my serve and my balance on my forehand,” said Chung. “This week was my first match in four months, so it’s not great yet, but I’m going to keep trying. I just want to keep going and play more Challengers.”
Nadal to lead Spain in Davis Cup playoff tie
Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic and Lucas Pouille headline the nominations for the Davis Cup World Group semi-finals kicking off on 16 September. Defending champion Great Britain will face Argentina in Glasgow, while the Croatians will host the French in Zadar. Both semi-final ties will be played on indoor hard courts.
The Brits will be represented by World No. 2 Andy Murray, #NextGen star Kyle Edmund and in-form Daniel Evans, who held a match point in the third round of the US Open against eventual champion Stan Wawrinka. Jamie Murray, No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings and the US Open doubles champion, rounds out the team.
Del Potro, who fell to Wawrinka in the US Open quarter-finals, started the year outside the Top 1000, but is back into the Top 65 on the strength of a 22-10 record since his comeback from left wrist surgery. He is joined by countrymen Federico Delbonis, Guido Pella and Leonardo Mayer on the Argentinian side.
Croatia is looking for its first Davis Cup final since winning the title in 2005 and has named Cilic, #NextGen star Borna Coric, doubles World No. 8 Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja to its team. They will face a French team composed of Pouille, Richard Gasquet, Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Mahut/Herbert are the top players in the Emirates ATP Doubles Race To London.
On the same weekend, there will be eight World Group playoff ties to determine which teams will be promoted and relegated next year.
Uzbekistan will attempt to reach the World Group for the first time against a Swiss squad playing without Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
David Goffin and the Belgians will host top singles player Thomaz Bellucci and the Brazilian team in Ostend.
Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic, Sam Groth and John Peers will represent Australia on home soil against Slovakia.
Young Canadian Denis Shapovalov will make his Davis Cup debut against Chile on an indoor hard court in Halifax.
Russia aims to return to the World Group after a four-year absence against Kazakhstan in Moscow.
Rafael Nadal will lead the Spanish contingent against India in New Delhi. The home team’s top singles player, Saketh Myneni, recently qualified for his first Grand Slam event at the US Open.
Germany will attempt to retain its place in the 16-team World Group against Poland in Berlin.
Kei Nishikori will lead the Japanese against an in-form Illya Marchenko and his Ukrainian teammates.
In Case You Missed It
Gael Monfils ups the ante as the Race To London heats up. Read
Andreas Seppi and Paul-Henri Mathieu marry long-time girlfriends in their home countries. Read
US Open champion Stan Wawrinka takes New York City by storm. Read
What’s it like to hit with Roger Federer? Rising star Zhang Zhizhen explains. Read
How did players and celebrities react to Wawrinka’s big win? Read
Ranking Movers
+78 Juan Martin del Potro (64)
+29 Kyle Edmund (55)
+29 Ryan Harrison (94)
+25 Jared Donaldson (97)
+14 Karen Khachanov (81)
Birthdays
17 September – Tomas Berdych (31)
BBC Scotland’s Kheredine Idessane speaks to Andy and Jamie Murray as well as Great Britain captain Leon Smith and some fans ahead of the Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina (16-18 September).
BBC Sport has live coverage of the tie across TV, radio, online and social media.
Saturday, 10 September was doubly special for ATP World Tour stars as two former Top 20 players walked down the aisle.
Three-time ATP World Tour titlist Andreas Seppi married Michela Bernardi in Oreisei, Italy. The Italian wrote on Instagram, “Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favourite. Best friends for life… Husband and wife. Mr. & Mrs. Seppi”.
Fellow Italian Simone Bolelli was also in attendance at the memorable affair. View Photo
Paul-Henri Mathieu wed his longtime girlfriend, Quiterie Camus, in Bourron-Marlotte, France. The mother of the now Mrs. Mathieu performed the ceremony as Deputy Mayor of the city. The couple’s son Gabriel was also on hand for the beautiful day.
Happy Wedding!
Beaucoup d’émotions ✨ Merci mon ange pour cette magnifique journée!
❤️?☀️ #Mr&MrsM pic.twitter.com/H1JIW6ooiV— Paul Henri Mathieu (@PHMofficiel) September 11, 2016