ATP Challenger Tour celebrated at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
The ATP Challenger Tour’s finest had their moment in the spotlight during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
Throughout the 2015 season, nine tournaments on the circuit were honoured with 25-year commitment awards and the celebration culminated with a group dinner in London. These events have exemplified a steadfast dedication to growing the game and creating a strong foundation for players to develop their skills at the Challenger level.
“The ATP Challenger Tour is the bedrock of men’s professional tennis,” said ATP Executive Chairman and President Chris Kermode. “We’re delighted to be able to welcome and show our appreciation to these tournament organisers that have done so much for our sport over the years. The success of the ATP Challenger Tour is critical to the overall health of men’s professional tennis.”
Tournament directors and guests from Cherbourg (France), Furth (Germany), Istanbul (Turkey), San Luis Potosi (Mexico), Segovia (Spain), Sevilla (Spain), Tampere (Finland) and a USTA representative for Aptos and Winnetka were on hand. Many current and former ATP World Tour stars have started their journeys at these tournaments, including Rafael Nadal lifting the Segovia trophy in 2003, Patrick Rafter in Aptos 1993, Robin Soderling in Istanbul 2003 and Grigor Dimitrov in Cherbourg 2011. The tournament in San Luis Potosi is the oldest of the group, having first opened its doors in 1980.
In addition, tournament directors and guests from Braunschweig (Germany) and Genova (Italy) were honoured as co-ATP Challenger of the Year in 2014.
Former World No. 4 James Blake came from behind to beat Younes El Aynaoui 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in an absorbing Champions Tennis contest at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday evening.
While El Aynaoui, 44, was the steadier of the two players for much of the match, Blake eventually found his rhythm. Some crunching returns and trademark forehands helped turn the tide in his favour and he edged a nail-biting Champions Tie-break on his third match point.
WATCH: Point of the Day
Victory for the American means he keeps his qualification hopes alive. The outcome of Group A will be determined on Saturday afternoon when El Aynaoui meets Tim Henman.
The winner of the Group will play defending champion Fernando Gonzalez in Sunday’s final.
Elsewhere on Friday, Xavier Malisse overcame Magnus Larsson 7-6, 7-5 in Group B. Larsson was replacing the injured Sebastien Grosjean.
In the Tie Break Tens qualifiers, Xavier Malisse and Younes El Aynaoui set up a qualification showdown. Malisse beat Blake 10-3 and El Aynaoui overcame Gonzalez 10-7. The pair will face off on Saturday afternoon in a bid to join World No. 2 Andy Murray, Tim Henman, David Ferrer, John McEnroe and Kyle Edmund on Saturday evening.
Tie Break Tens, which starts at 6pm, will feature a six-man field split into two round-robin groups. The top two players in each group will go through to the semi-finals, with the winner taking away a cheque for $250,000. Each of the ten matches at Tie Break Tens will be contested over a first-to-ten-point tie-break.
Bratwurst and soccer are a winning combination in Germany, but it’s not every day that one of Germany’s top tennis players is the one to serve the food.
It all started when SV Darmstadt 98, Andrea Petkovic’s hometown team, was promoted to the Bundesliga, Germany’s top soccer league. Petkovic bet Darmstadt manager Dirk Schuster that the team would lose their opening match.
Thankfully for the team, her prediction didn’t come true and instead they got a draw against Hanover.
Schuster hasn’t forgotten the bet – made way back in September – and now with Petkovic back in town for the offseason, it was time for her to pay up. Petkovic braved chilly temperatures to serve food for the hungry Darmstadt fans.
“I would have rather done it when it was warmer,” Petkovic said. “But standing here next to the grill I guess I’m warm enough!”
Watch the video at Bundesliga TV to see how Pektovic fared grilling up some sausages for lucky sports fans!
Casey Dellacqua pulls out of the Australian Open: The Aussie is still dealing with the ongoing effects of a concussion she sustained at the China Open and has been forced to withdraw from the entire Australian summer.
Thanks for everyone's kind messages ❤ pic.twitter.com/oezWkvJhGq
— caseydellacqua(@caseydellacqua) December 4, 2015
Andrea Petkovic on Helmut Schmidt: Petkovic considers the German politician a hero for marching to the beat of his own drum.
Mary Carillo on the SI Tennis podcast: A must-listen.
Relive some of the best matches of the season: WTA Backspin has their picks here.
“I guess I’ll see you next lifetime”: Want to see more of Maria Sharapova in mixed doubles? Based on this quick answer during her IPTL duties, don’t hold your breath:
Continuing our Season In Review Series, ATPWorldTour.com revisits the best ATP World Tour matches of 2015. In today’s countdown we feature Nos. 5-3:
Milos Raonic d. Rafael Nadal 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5/QF/Indian Wells
Asked what makes Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal stand out from the rest of the pack, Milos Raonic asserted, “You have a complete range of emotions that everybody and anybody can face. It’s just how you deal with them that really makes a difference, that separates the three guys that are at the top from everybody else.”
The Canadian handled his emotions quite well during his quarter-final match-up with Nadal at the BNP Paribas Open, where he saved three match points to claim his first win over the Spaniard, 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5.
“At the moments when I was playing those match points, it didn’t really feel like match points,” said Raonic. “It was just like another point that I was trying to get through. [I was] just sort of going through the paces at that moment of what do I need to do now, not really signifying it as a match point.”
In reaching his fifth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final, Raonic ended Nadal’s perfect record against Canadians.
The World No. 6 was broken for the first time in the tournament as the three-time champion Nadal took a 2-1 lead in the opening set, which he went on to win in 36 minutes. Raonic saved three match points in the second-set tie-break to force a third set.
Raonic finally earned a crucial break in the third set to go up 6-5 and a chance to serve out the match. He fired 19 aces and saved six of his seven break points faced in the two-hour, 58-minute victory.
“I feel all sorts of good,” said Raonic. “There was a lot of up and down through that match, and all I could ask of myself was just keep competing and hope to find a way. I got fortunate a few times and it worked out.”
“I think I did well,” said Nadal. “I enjoyed the fact that I felt good on court again. I felt competitive. I felt strong, with the right energy. I lost that match thinking much more positively than negatively.”
Gael Monfils d. Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6(5), 7-6(6)/R32/Monte-Carlo
It looked as if Alexandr Dolgopolov was on his way to run-of-the-mill victory. After all, the 26-year-old Ukrainian had broken Gael Monfils to take a 5-4 lead in the opening-set of their Round of 32 match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
But Monfils had a few tricks up his sleeve. The 28-year-old Frenchman quickly returned the favor with a break of his own, and managed to steal the stanza in a tense tie-break. A tie-break would be needed to decide the second set, too, after both players lost their service games twice, Monfils booking his place in the third round against Roger Federer with a one-hour, 51-minute 7-6(5) 7-6(6) nail-biter.
There was no lack of flair between these gifted shotmakers, a must-see match that featured highlight after highlight.
Serving at 7-6(5), 1-2, Monfils completely faked out his opponent (and the crowd) when, following a forehand into the net, he pulled off a half-hearted backhand volley. But here’s where he fooled us: he turned his back, shaking his head as if to concede the point. Dolgopolov, picking up on the Frenchman’s indifference, promptly chased down the volley and smacked what he surely believed was an uncontested forehand winner. But Monfils came to life, spun around and swatted a crosscourt forehand pass of his own, a sly grin and a wink at his coach telling us that he was in control all along.
“He was very creative,” said Monfils, who improved to 3-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head. “He does things differently. Sometimes he makes two or three mistakes, so you think you’re all right. Suddenly, he plays three wonderful returns. That’s annoying. But I tried to play each point being positive. It was good tennis.”
Fabio Fognini d. Federico Delbonis 6-4, 6-7(10), 7-6(9)/QF/Rio
It was the kind of match that needed to be seen to be believed; a surreal quarter-final that had a little something for everybody. Fabio Fognini would need nine match points to defeat Argentine baseliner Federico Delbonis 6-4, 6-7(10), 7-6(9) in a three-hour, 12-minute Friday night thriller at the Rio Open.
In a match that featured more than its fair share of momentum shifts and mood swings, the Italian trailed 1-5 in the second set before forcing a tie-break, where he would squander his first of three match points. Somehow, Delbonis managed to force a third set. The real drama came in the final-set tie-break, where Fognini failed to capitalise on five more match points. But after three hours and 12 minutes, he finally closed out the emotionally- and physically-draining match.
“It was really difficult, really tough,” said Fognini. “It was long. Before I closed the match, I had eight match points. But I’m really happy.”
Garbiñe Muguruza had a full circle moment in 2015; just over a year after announcing herself to the tennis world by beating World No.1 Serena Williams in the second round of the French Open, she found herself across the net from the American in her first major final.
“I think in tennis everything is so fast,” the Spaniard said after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in the Wimbledon semifinals. “It’s actually true that two years ago I was not in the Top 100. It’s like, wow! In so short a time, I’m here.
“But it happens so many times. People, suddenly you see them on top, you don’t see them, then you see them again. I think sports is like this. You have to try to be more consistent, you know.”
Muguruza showed that consistency at the majors this season, reaching the second week of three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, twice losing to Williams, who gave a glowing review of her young rival after their match at the All-England Club.
“Oh, my gosh. I think she’s such a great player. She’s beaten me before. I think she really stepped up to the plate today. She was determined to do well and to win. She came out there to win. She wasn’t out there just to play a final. I think that says a lot about her and her future.
“She never gave up, literally ever.”
One who typically saved her best tennis for the biggest stages, Muguruza made great strides to show she could compete for titles week in, week out during the Asia Swing. The new World No.3 fought fatigue and niggling injuries to reach back-to-back finals at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and the China Open, defeating Radwanska and Timea Bacsinszky to win the latter for the biggest tournament of her career.
The strong fall saw her rise to new career-highs and and earn a debut spot at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“It’s great to be here, actually,” she said before the WTA Finals began. “I think it’s a very good position to be here playing singles and doubles [with Carla Suárez Navarro]. I’m very excited. I’m kind of a rookie.
“I’m nervous, actually, to start and see what happens. I mean, it’s perfect to be able to be here competing with the best eight players of the year. So good that I’m one of them.”
Muguruza showed that she belonged in singles and doubles, winning all three of her round robin singles matches before falling to eventual champion Radwanska in three sets, and making the doubles final with Suárez Navarro. A year that brought much experience, she believes, will be one that helps propel her to even higher heights in 2016.
“I learned that in bad situations, I’m able to calm down, clear my mind and start from zero. I learned that I’m stronger than I thought in these moments. This year has been a great experience for me. Hopefully it can help me next year, especially in the tough moments like the ones that I’ve lived this year, to go through.”
Murray & Wawrinka Star In 2015 Hot Shots Roundup Part 2
Relive the best points from the second half of the season
Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Benoit Paire lead the way in part two of the 2015 Hot Shots Roundup, featuring the most spectacular points from ATP World Tour events from across the globe.
Which was your favourite shot of the year? Let us know in the comment section below!
Gustavo Kuerten, former No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, celebrated the 15th anniversary of his Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian triumphed in Lisbon over Andre Agassi and kicked off a 43-week run at the top of the rankings.
To mark the occasion, Guga traveled to Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, the traditional site of the Rio Carnival, and invited 200 underprivileged children to join him for mini-tennis and some cake. Each child received a medal as a gift for taking part in the activity.
The Brazilian Tennis Federation announced that, in honour of Kuerten’s title, every December 3rd will now be “National Tennis Day” in Brazil. In addition to winning the year-end championships in 2000 and posting a 358-195 tour-level record, Kuerten also captured three Grand Slam titles, all of them at Roland Garros.
My all-time favorite line is adidas adizero and looking back at the year behind us, the spring/summer clothes beat all the rest. The statement item from the collection is this purple three-piece dress, most famously worn by Ana Ivanovic, which features flash orange coordinating sports bra and compression shorts, neatly visible through sheer mesh insert on back. If you like to absolutely match everything, there is this orange tieband equipped with moisture-wicking technology and these graphic-print wristbands that offer maximum absorbency.
In the summer, adidas additionally blew us away with the neon pink and light flash green version of the wonderful style of clothes. As you can see, there are also separates, whose most prominent endorser is Simona Halep, and again a cute set of wristbands that flawlessly complete the look.
When it comes to Stella McCartney’s work for adidas, the designer created a whole range of breathtaking clothes that most notably ensured utmost stylishness of world number three Garbiñe Muguruza during her spectacular 2015 rise. From the early season’s divine match of athletic adidas Spring Stella McCartney Barricade Tank and ultra feminine pleated peach floral skirt to the late season’s grey colorblock tank and its coordinating skirt, the 2015 was a big fashion success for Stella’s players.
If you’re looking for tennis whites with a special twist, the above shown Wimbledon separates are a great option, with nice touches of amber yellow accompanying functional half-zip in the adidas Fall Stella McCartney Tank and the innovative skirt with circular laser cuts. For footwear I’m picking these adidas Stella Barricade 8 shoes, while to break up the whites, I’m suggesting the yellow long-sleeve top with textured mesh at underarms.
The EleVen Ndebele Print Ready To Play Tank has it all: a lively colorful zig-zag print and super stylish back featuring triangular cutout and a nice fold that make the top stand out. There is a wide variety of bottoms you can pair it with and I’m picking this EleVen Ndebele Flutter Skirt.
For those days when you feel like being elegant in black, there’s the sophisticated Denise Cronwall Jewel Cap-Sleeve Top with mesh raglan sleeves and print trim, matched with this ruffle skirt and long-sleeve shirt for warm-ups.
Fila’s Fall Platinum Dress endorsed by Jelena Jankovic proved to be one of the best fitting dresses of the season in all its simplicity and this printed zip top is a perfect match for the solid dress. The collection’s visor and wristbands with Fila’s F-Box logo take this look up a notch.
If you like to look like a Grand Slam champion, go for Maria Sharapova’s US Open dress or Serena Williams’ US Open dress, while if you’re on a more low-key side for everyday practice, this light blue kit from Nike’s latest collection is just right for you. Even though the clothes are from the winter collection, all the items provide lightweight feel: from the copa blue tank with adjustable white spaghetti straps and the skirt with perforated sections, to the featherlight visor and Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour shoes that deliver quick and responsive ride in a light package.
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