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Sinner, Berrettini send Italy back to Davis Cup final

  • Posted: Nov 23, 2024

With victory in a rematch of last year’s Davis Cup final against Australia, defending champions Italy are back in the title round thanks to contrasting singles wins for Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini on Saturday in Malaga. The Italians advanced behind a 2-0 semi-final scoreline, with Sinner beating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 after Berrettini edged Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5.

Berrettini needed two hours, 39 minutes to dispatch Kokkinakis, who won a third-set tie-break against Ben Shelton of the United States in his previous outing. The Aussie struck first after saving two set points from 4/6 in the opening tie-break, having stopped his opponent from serving out the opening set at 6-5. But Berrettini would not surrender another break in the match as he powered Italy into a 1-0 lead.

“After I lost the first set, it wasn’t easy to digest that,” said the Italian. “But I’m fighting for my country with this crowd, so I’m happy.”

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At 5-5 in the third set, Berrettini conjured a forehand squash shot from deep behind the baseline that angled sharply for a stunning winner. The majestic, driven slice left a stunned Kokkinakis stranded and sparked a run of six straight points from 15/0 to put Berrettini on the brink of victory.

“Some points sometimes are just changing the match, the momentum,” he said of his moment of magic. “I guess it’s coming from years and years of playing on clay, we use a lot of our hands. And maybe a little bit of genetics from my parents — I’m going to give them the credit.

“It’s all about the energy, how you face the tough moments. But I got the break and I [was able to] finish.”

That set up World No. 1 Jannik Sinner to close out the victory, and the man who earned Year-End ATP No. 1 presented by PIF honours this season delivered with a dominant display against De Minaur. The 6-3, 6-4 scoreline was identical to the result in the pair’s Nitto ATP Finals meeting earlier this month. Sinner will now hope he can lift the title in Malaga, just as he did in Turin.

“It means a lot. It was a tough encounter, playing Alex. We know each other quite well now so I have to be very careful every time,” Sinner said after improving to 9-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “It’s a very tough challenge for me, so I was looking forward to this one.

“Obviously it helped a lot that Matteo won the singles today. He played amazing tennis, it was very high quality. Hopefully this can give us some confidence for tomorrow. It’s going to be a very difficult and tough day for us and also the Netherlands.”

Sinner picked up where Berrettini left off by winning the first two games against De Minaur, but the Aussie responded to level the opening set at 2-2. But after converting on his first break point, the Aussie would not create another one in the one-hour, 28-minute match.

Sinner snatched back the advantage to lead 5-2, battling through deuce to consolidate his second break. There were no break points on offer in set two until Sinner carved out three in the ninth game. He made good on the third, then coolly served out the victory to continue Italy’s title defence.

The Netherlands also advanced to Sunday’s final with a 2-0 win, with the Dutch victory coming via a pair of three-set singles results Friday against Germany. If the lineups for both finalists remain the same, Berrettini will face Botic van de Zandschulp and Sinner will meet Tallon Griekspoor in the final. Italy nominated Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori for the unplayed doubles rubber, while the Germans listed Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.

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Novak Djokovic hires Andy Murray as new coach

  • Posted: Nov 23, 2024

Novak Djokovic announced on social media Saturday that longtime friend and rival Andy Murray will be his new coach.

Born one week apart in May 1987, both climbed to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings and battled on the world’s biggest stages. Djokovic and Murray clashed in 36 Lexus ATP Head2Head showdowns, with the former winning 25 of them.

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The stars met in 19 finals, including the championship match at seven majors and the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals. They most recently played in the 2017 Doha final.

Murray retired from professional tennis earlier this year at the Paris Olympics.

Djokovic in March announced he had split with his coach of six years, Goran Ivanisevic. Djokovic and Murray will work together in the off season and during the Australian Open and will re-evaluate the partnership after the year’s first major in Melbourne.

Narrating a video on his social media channels to announce the partnership, Djokovic said, “We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers. I thought our story may be over. It turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.”

“I’m excited to have one of my greatest rivals in my team, on the same side of the net, this time as my coach,” Djokovic said per his official website. I’m looking forward to starting the season together with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared many extraordinary moments throughout our careers.”

“I’ll be joining Novak’s team during the preparation period, helping him get in the best possible shape for the Australian Open,” Murray said. “I’m very excited about it and I am looking forward to being on the same side of the net for a change. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to assist him in achieving his goals for the coming year.”

In 2024 Djokovic recorded a 37-9 match record according to Infosys ATP Stats. In January he will attempt to win an 11th Australian Open title to reach 100 career titles.

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Botic converts 10th MP to give Netherlands advantage over Germany in Davis Cup SF

  • Posted: Nov 22, 2024

Botic van de Zandschulp was forced to take the scenic route, but did so in dramatic fashion to put the Netherlands on the cusp of history at the Davis Cup Final 8.

The 29-year-old outlasted Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-7(12), 6-3 Friday to give Netherlands a 1-0 advantage over Germany in their semi-final tie in Malaga. If the Dutchmen can prevail, they will reach the title showdown for the first time in their 104-year history in the competition.

“I’m not sure actually [how I did it], I didn’t know what to do anymore on those match points,” said Van de Zandschulp, who improved to 2-0 in singles this week after his quarter-final win over Rafael Nadal on Tuesday. “In the second set, I had 4-2 15-40, I felt like if I had made the double break there, it would be game, set and match. In the tie-break, he handled some of the match points quite well, actually.

“I had the toughest match of my life on Tuesday, so everything that comes next is a little bit easier.”

Leading a set and 4-2 in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, Van de Zandschulp appeared to be cruising to victory but Altmaier, the No. 88 in the PIF ATP Rankings, found a late burst of energy to ignite hopes of a comeback. Assisted by some inspired tennis, the German saved five match points a thrilling second-set tie-break before forcing a decider.

Despite the shift in momentum, Van de Zandschulp steadied himself to earn the opportunity to serve out the match at 5-3. Keeping with the theme of the match, however, the Dutchman let slip four further match points before eventually sealing victory after two hours, 42 minutes on his 10th attempt. 

 

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Tallon Griekspoor will look to confirm the Netherlands’ spot in the final when he takes on Jan-Lennard Struff. If the German can force a deciding doubles rubber, Wesley Koolhof, who is retiring at the end of the tournament, will partner Van de Zandschulp against Nitto ATP Finals champions Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.

The winner of the tie will await either reigning Davis Cup champions Italy or Australia, who face off in the other semi-final on Saturday.

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Antiques & coffee connoisseur Quinn collects first Challenger Tour title

  • Posted: Nov 22, 2024

Ethan Quinn has thoroughly enjoyed his first full season as a professional, whether it was winning his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in his final tournament of the year or indulging in two off-court passions: visiting coffee shops and antique stores.

The #NextGenATP American turned pro in June 2023 shortly after winning the NCAA singles title while competing for the University of Georgia. While in Athens for a memorable 16 months, Quinn became a coffee-shop enthusiast in part thanks to Georgia’s assistant coach Will Reynolds.

“When we were on the road, at like 6 a.m. he would go and find a local coffee shop wherever we were at. Often times I’d just ask him, ‘Hey, can I join?’” Quinn told ATPTour.com. “By doing that, I just started to enjoy going to these local places. I felt like it was just better than buying this corporate coffee. The quality was better, the people really cared about conversing with you rather than just being a factory giving out coffee.”

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It was also in college when Quinn began exploring antique stores — a hobby he has since brought with him while travelling across the world.

“My mom got a house in Athens during my college time and the way she furnished the house was by going to antique stores, so I would go with her and I thought it was really cool going to all these different markets and little stores,” Quinn said.

“Being able to furnish everything, whether it was a cheaper price, that was also nice, but also those unique pieces you would find. I thought it was really cool just having your own character, your own identity in these pieces you’d find.”

Quinn’s latest collector’s item is a shiny piece of hardware, which he won after a dominant run at last week’s Champaign Challenger. The Fresno, California native downed Nishesh Basavareddy 6-3, 6-1 in the all-American #NextGenATP final.

“It means a lot to finally be able to get that reward for the hard work and the struggles I’ve gone through this year,” Quinn told commentator Mike Cation. “Now going into the offseason, it gives me a little pep in my step. I can go into my offseason knowing that what I’m doing is working.”

<img alt=”Ethan Quinn is crowned champion at the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Champaign, Illinois.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/19/16/39/quinn-champaginch-2024.jpg” />
Ethan Quinn is crowned champion at the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Champaign, Illinois. Credit: Paine Schwartz Partners Challenger

At a career-high No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Quinn has quickly soaked in lessons learned in his first full season on the road. He has already been introduced to the travel hurdles that come with the job, including one which turned into an unforgettable bit of fortune.

“After Newport, I was flying to Atlanta and my flight got delayed 12 hours in one hour increments,” Quinn said. “There was a man that I met in the lounge who was talking to his brother and he was like, ‘I’m chartering a jet.’ And I asked him, ‘Hey, do you have any extra seats for me and my coach to get on the plane with you. I play a tournament that starts tomorrow. Is there any way you can help me get onto the flight? I would really appreciate it.’

“He ended up charging us a much cheaper fee than what it would’ve been. I was really fortunate to meet this man and get into this tournament. If I hadn’t made it, it would’ve been a really unfortunate week.”

It may have been a lesson in adapting to your circumstances, something that Quinn has also developed on court this year as he no longer competes for the Georgia Bulldogs.

“One thing my coach was able to put into a term that I understood was now that I’m not competing for Georgia, I’m competing for a different team and I guess that team would be the ‘E.Q.’ team,” Quinn said, referring to his initials. “It took me a little bit to recognise that. I was leaving Georgia, I was leaving that team there. Now I’m playing for my own team.

“Not just compete for yourself, but for everyone else you have been working so hard with in the shadows. I know at the start of my career, I thought it was very lonely out on the tour because everyone is not really your friend, you are competing against each other. But once I was able to realise that everyone wants the best for you, especially within your team, I was able to enjoy the whole process a little bit more.”

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Sinner sends Italy into doubles decider, will next team Berrettini

  • Posted: Nov 21, 2024

Jannik Sinner kept alive Italy’s hopes of defending its Davis Cup title on Thursday. The World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings delivered a commanding performance under pressure, downing Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-1 to level the Final 8 tie with Argentina at 1-1.

“It was a must-win match,” Sinner said. “Very different conditions. The court is very, very fast and tough to play. I haven’t had so much time to adapt to the conditions, but I’m happy about today. The most important thing was to keep Italy alive. Now, doubles, anything can happen.”

Fresh off claiming the Nitto ATP Finals trophy, Sinner relied on a hefty serving performance and stayed aggressive early in rallies to dictate baseline exchanges. The 23-year-old did not face a break point until 4-0 in the second set, erasing all four of Baez’s chances that game to maintain his double-break lead.

Sinner, who has won 27 of his past 28 matches, claimed 71 per cent of his first-serve points, compared to Baez’s 46 per cent.

Boasting a 71-6 season record, Sinner will next team Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match against Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.

Earlier, Argentine Francisco Cerundolo downed Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 in the opening rubber. The 26-year-old Cerundolo seamlessly transitioned from defence to offence and pinned Musetti deep beyond the baseline en route to a 90-minute victory.

Cerundolo, who beat Musetti in the Umag final earlier this year, converted six of his 13 break point chances, according to Infosys ATP Stats. “I played one of the best matches of the year for sure,” said Cerundolo. “I did it for my team because now we have a chance to win.”

The winner between Italy and Argentina will face Australia in the semi-finals Saturday. Last year, Sinner clinched Italy’s first Davis Cup title since 1976 with a victory against Australia’s Alex de Minaur. Sinner, an 18-time tour-level titlist, saved three match points against Novak Djokovic to send Italy to the championship round.

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A private masterclass with Nadal, Sinner and Alcaraz

  • Posted: Nov 21, 2024

“How old are you?”
“17.”

“What are you playing in at the moment?”
“Junior tournaments, I was planning to be in the USA this week.”

“What about next year?”
“I’d like to get a good result at the Junior Grand Slams, to improve as a player and make the jump to real tennis, with adults.”

“Stick at it, it’s a long road, but the most important thing is that you enjoy it.”

The words of advice came from Rafael Nadal, he was talking to Andres Santamarta. The 17-year-old enjoyed the experience of a lifetime this week at the Davis Cup Finals, where he had the privilege of forming part of the Spanish team as a sparring partner.

<img alt=”Rafael Nadal with 17-year-old Andres Santamarta at the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8. ” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/21/16/29/nadal-santamarta-davis-cup-2024.jpg?w=100%25″ />
Photo Credit: Andres Santamarta

During the days leading up to the competition, he practised with the 22-time Grand Slam champion. “To me Rafa is a role model. I’ve watched him for so many years, at the top for as long as I can remember. I’m very lucky and I hope I can learn something from him and apply it to my tennis, to my game,” he told ATPTour.com.

For Santamarta, the current No. 1308 in the PIF ATP Rankings, it was a masterclass. As well as sharing a locker room with Nadal at his farewell tournament, he did the same with the very player who is destined to continue his legacy, Carlos Alcaraz, along with Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martínez.

“I feel very lucky to have been able to share this moment with those five and with the whole team in general,” added Santamarta, who tried to be a sponge and absorb as many lessons as possible throughout the week.

The young player was unable to share any time on court with Alcaraz, who arrived in Malaga from the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and did not have as long to prepare. However, it was not the first time the two had met.

Coincidentally, at last year’s Mutua Madrid Open they were champions in the event’s two men’s singles categories: ATP Masters 1000 (Alcaraz) and Under-16 (Santamarta). “Yes, we had our photo taken at the Mutua Madrid Open when he won. He congratulated me and, now that I think of it, he told me practically the same as Rafa, to keep going, that it’s a very long road.”

<img alt=”Andres Santamarta practises with Jannik Sinner at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/11/21/16/35/santamarta-sinner-davis-cup-2024-practice.jpg” />
Photo Credit: Andres Santamarta

Despite the fact that Spain’s journey at the Davis Cup came to an abrupt end in the quarter-finals, Santamarta’s adventure in Malaga continued into Wednesday. The Spaniard, who has five points in his PIF ATP Rankings account, was the man on the other side of the net as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner hit his first balls upon arrival at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.

“But I was also happy because he’s the world No. 1 and I really wanted to share a practice session with him. I really loved it. I admire him.”

 

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Once on court, Santamarta forgot his nerves and, just as Nadal had advised a few days before, he enjoyed the opportunity. “I felt very comfortable,” he says. “The thing that really struck me was the intensity, the same as with Rafa. He’s a very relaxed guy, he doesn’t get annoyed, and he plays with such intensity. He misses and he’s already prepared for the next ball. The thing I like about Sinner is how he moves and his backhand.”

As a player at the GTennis Academy in his native Valencia, he had already practised with some elite players, but never of ‘this calibre’, as he put it.

“I’ve learned so much and I really like it, because it’s a good experience to hit balls and train with top players. I’m going to try and take the positives, what I’ve learned from them on and off the court.”

He has a wish: “I would like to start with real tennis, the ATP and all the tournaments with adults, where you can really see the experience. I hope I can adapt, because it’s a really big change, the tennis is very different, the way they play and think.”

Now, with so many memories, hope, desire and some priceless advice, he will return home to continue to make his way along that long road that lies ahead.

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