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Friday Preview: Murray, #NextGenATP Stars Brooksby, Musetti Play In Indian Wells

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

Following 48 hours of stress and worry for Andy Murray, it’s down to business for the former World No. 1 at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday, with #NextGenATP stars Lorenzo Musetti, Jenson Brooksby, Brandon Nakashima and Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune also in first-round action.

Reunited with his wedding ring, which he tied to his sweaty shoes and left under his car overnight to air Wednesday, Murray has wriggled out of the bad books with his wife Kim and now has his sights set on beating France’s Adrian Mannarino in the last match on Stadium 1.

In their two previous hard-court meetings, contested in 2015, the same year as Murray married his wife, Kim, and first tied his wedding ring in his shoelaces, the Briton recorded victories at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati prior to a five-set tussle at the US Open.

“He is a very tricky player, quite unorthodox and plays differently to most of the guys on Tour,” said wild card Murray, who reached the 2009 final (l. to Nadal) and has a 25-12 match record in Indian Wells. “The majority of players play with heavy topspin and have big, long swings to generate power and spin. He hits very flat off both sides and on the forehand he has probably the shortest swing on Tour. He plays a lot with his timing. His quick lefty serve is difficult as well. It won’t be an easy match.”

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Four #NextGenATP players, who are battling to qualify for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, the 21-and-under event in Milan from 9-13 November, also feature on day two in Indian Wells. Brooksby (877 points), Musetti (876), Nakashima (661) and Rune (615) are separated by just 262 points in the ATP Race To Milan.

American Brooksby, 20, the next in line to clinch his spot, plays in his first tournament since reaching the US Open fourth round (l. to Djokovic in four sets), and challenges Turkish qualifier Cem Ilkel third on Stadium 1. After two ATP Tour semi-finals in Acapulco and Lyon, Italian Musetti is hoping to rediscover his best form against Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas, aiming to improve upon two wins in his past nine matches.

American Nakashima, who reached his first ATP Tour final in Los Cabos (l. to Norrie) in July and soon cracked the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time, plays Bastad finalist Federico Coria of Argentina not before 6pm on Stadium 3. While Danish wild card Rune, a winner of three ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2021, faces American qualifier Ernesto Escobedo second on Stadium 4.

Elsewhere, three-time Indian Wells quarter-finalist Kevin Anderson looks to extend his perfect 2-0 ATP Head2Head record against Jordan Thompson of Australia second on Stadium 2. American wild card Jack Sock, the 2017 semi-finalist (l. to Federer), plays another Australian, John Millman, not before 6pm on Stadium 2.

A number of ATP Tour stars feature in doubles action, notably Italians Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner taking on fifth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau, and Russians Aslan Karatsev and Andrey Rublev challenging Alex de Minaur and Reilly Opelka. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz also play Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov.

VIEW SCHEDULE — FRIDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2021

STADIUM 1 starts at 11:00 AM
WTA – P. Martic (CRO) vs [2] I. Swiatek (POL)
WTA – M. Kostyuk (UKR) vs [11] S. Halep (ROU)
ATP – [Q] C. Ilkel (TUR) vs J. Brooksby (USA)
WTA – Not Before 6:00 PM – [WC] [17] E. Raducanu (GBR) vs A. Sasnovich (BLR)
ATP – [WC] A. Murray (GBR) vs A. Mannarino (FRA)

STADIUM 2 starts at 11:00 AM
ATP – D. Kudla (USA) vs [Q] A. Tabilo (CHI)
ATP – K. Anderson (RSA) vs J. Thompson (AUS)
WTA – Not Before 3:00 PM – M. Keys (USA) vs [9] A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
ATP – Not Before 6:00 PM – [WC] J. Sock (USA) vs J. Millman (AUS)
WTA – Not Before 8:00 PM – [23] L. Fernandez (CAN) vs A. Cornet (FRA)

STADIUM 3 starts at 11:00 AM
ATP – F. Delbonis (ARG) vs Y. Nishioka (JPN)
WTA – M. Linette (POL) vs [27] V. Azarenka (BLR)
WTA – [8] B. Bencic (SUI) vs S. Rogers (USA)
ATP – Not Before 6:00 PM – F. Coria (ARG) vs B. Nakashima (USA)
ATP – M. Fucsovics (HUN) vs G. Mager (ITA)

STADIUM 4 starts at 11:00 AM
WTA – T. Martincova (CZE) vs [4] E. Svitolina (UKR)
ATP – [WC] H. V. N. Rune (DEN) vs [Q] E. Escobedo (USA)
ATP – A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs L. Musetti (ITA)
WTA – Not Before 6:00 PM – [7] P. Kvitova (CZE) vs A. Rus (NED)
WTA – S. Stephens (USA) vs [19] J. Pegula (USA)

STADIUM 5 starts at 11:00 AM
ATP – R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Shapovalov (CAN) vs F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) / H. Hurkacz (POL)
ATP – [5] K. Krawietz (GER) / H. Tecau (ROU) vs M. Berrettini (ITA) / J. Sinner (ITA)
ATP – L. Harris (RSA) / D. Schwartzman (ARG) vs [WC] S. Johnson (USA) / S. Querrey (USA)
ATP – Not Before 6:00 PM – [Q] A. Vukic (AUS) vs P. Andujar (ESP)
ATP – E. Gerasimov (BLR) vs [Q] C. Eubanks (USA)

STADIUM 6 starts at 11:00 AM
WTA – [25] V. Kudermetova (RUS) vs L. Samsonova (RUS)
WTA – S. Hsieh (TPE) vs [24] J. Ostapenko (LAT)
WTA – I. Begu (ROU) vs [31] J. Teichmann (SUI)
WTA – Not Before 6:00 PM – [13] E. Rybakina (KAZ) vs Y. Putintseva (KAZ)
WTA – [4] A. Guarachi (CHI) / D. Krawczyk (USA) vs [SR] H. Watson (GBR) / S. Zheng (CHN)

STADIUM 7 starts at 11:00 AM
ATP] A. Karatsev (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS) vs A. De Minaur (AUS) / R. Opelka (USA)
ATP] C. Norrie (GBR) / L. Saville (AUS) vs [2] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR)
ATP] F. Bagnis (ARG) vs [Q] E. Gomez (ECU)
ATP] NB 6:00 PM P. Martinez (ESP) vs [Q] R. Marcora (ITA)

STADIUM 8 starts at 11:00 AM
WTA – [32] S. Cirstea (ROU) vs M. Doi (JPN)
WTA – [14] E. Mertens (BEL) vs [LL] J. Paolini (ITA)
WTA – M. Ninomiya (JPN) / S. Santamaria (USA) vs K. Flipkens (BEL) / S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP)
WTA – Not Before 6:00 PM – [WC] A. Anisimova (USA) / D. Yastremska (UKR) vs [2] S. Hsieh (TPE) / E. Mertens (BEL)
WTA – [1] B. Krejcikova (CZE) / K. Siniakova (CZE) vs V. Golubic (SUI) / J. Teichmann (SUI)

STADIUM 9 starts at 11:00 AM
ATP – D. Koepfer (GER) vs E. Ruusuvuori (FIN)
ATP – J. Struff (GER) vs D. E. Galan (COL)
ATP – R. Bautista Agut (ESP) / A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL)

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2021 US Open Champions Donate Artifact To The International Tennis Hall Of Fame

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

The historic 2021 US Open that saw two new first-time Grand Slam champions etch their names into tennis’ history books will be an inspiring story of tennis history forever preserved at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Champions Daniil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu each gifted items from their major victories to the permanent collection in the Hall of Fame’s Museum.

Moments after Medvedev’s win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the first-time grand slam champion handed a racquet from the championship match over to ITHF President Stan Smith. Raducanu gifted the Hall of Fame the Nike kit that she wore in her magical two weeks in New York.

The racquet and outfit are now displayed in the Museum for tennis fans to enjoy. As part of the permanent collection, the pieces will also be photographed for use in future digital exhibits and educational content produced by the Museum.

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame preserves tennis history so that future generations can learn from and be inspired by the sport’s most notable moments and remarkable people. Emma and Daniil certainly showed that they are those remarkable people during their spectacular US Open title runs. We are grateful to Emma and Daniil for recognizing the importance of the Hall of Fame’s mission to preserve tennis history for future generations and for providing this special piece of tennis history to the museum,” said Stan Smith, ITHF President.

With a straight sets win, Medvedev captured his first major title with an victory over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, denying Djokovic’s quest for the calendar-year Grand Slam. Medvedev became the first man since Rafael Nadal in 2010 and the second since Ivan Lendl in 1987 to drop just one set en route to the US Open title. In lifting the trophy, Medvedev became the third man in Russian tennis to win a major title, joining the ranks of Hall of Famers Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Raducanu, 18, became the first qualifier to win a major. She did so without dropping a set the entire tournament, winning 20 sets en route to the final.

She clinched the trophy with a straight sets win over fellow teen sensation, Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Raducanu became the first Britain to win a major title since Hall of Famer Virginia Wade in 1977. Her historic victory elicited enthusiastic support from around the world, topped off with a personal note from Queen Elizabeth.

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Felix Targeting Further Success In Indian Wells

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

Having advanced to his first major semi-final at the US Open last month, #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime is determined to continue his rise up the FedEx ATP Rankings and compete for the biggest titles, starting this week at the BNP Paribas Open.

The 21-year-old is part of a young and competitive field in Indian Wells, with US Open champion Daniil Medvedev the top seed in California. However, with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all missing, seventh seed Auger-Aliassime will believe he can go deep at the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.

On this and the change at the top of the game, Auger-Aliassime said: “It was going to come eventually. A change in generation. Novak is still No. 1, and Roger and Rafa we will see how they come back. But they have done it so many times in the past in their careers. They are going to be tough to beat for as long as they play.

“Having tournaments like this where the average age of the top eight seeded players is 23, you know that it is going to be highly competitive but as a young player, you try and establish yourself with those five to eight to 10 top players who will dominate or win the big titles in the year to come.

“For me, the challenge is big, but at the same time the motivation is big as well to try to play well to end the season and put myself with those best players in the world.”

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During Thursday’s pre-tournament media conference, Auger-Aliassime was asked about Canada’s breakthrough WTA star Leylah Fernandez, who reached the US Open final last month and her opponent Emma Raducanu, who lifted the title at Flushing Meadows.

On the impact the two teenagers have made for the sport and whether it has provided him with extra motivation, Auger-Aliassime said: “It is tough to compare. We are just different Tours. We have the women competing with each other and the men competing each other hard. What they have done with Leyla making the final and Emma winning is just as impressive as Daniil [Medvedev] winning.

“It was great to see new faces and young players and likeable players like them make it that far. I think it was a great story for the two of them and the sport in general. Any new fans we can get into the sport is great. I have been inspired to do better things for a long time now, but this always helps.”

Auger-Aliassime is making his third appearance in Indian Wells and will begin his campaign against either #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti or Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. The World No. 11 is part of a strong contingent of Canadian players in both the men’s and women’s draw and is excited by the prospect of this.

“In more and more tournaments now, we have a great field of Canadian players in both the men’s and women’s draw, which is great to see,” Auger-Aliassime said. “Apart from Milos [Raonic] who is sidelined with injury, everyone is here. We sometimes have good results and bad results, but all of us are playing great tennis. Hopefully it is a good tournament for all of us here.”

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Medvedev's Motivation High Ahead Of Indian Wells

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

Daniil Medvedev insists his motivation for success remains as high as ever ahead of his opening match at the BNP Paribas Open as he returns to court in a singles event for the first time since he captured his maiden major title at the US Open last month.

When asked if he is struggling for motivation, Medvedev said: “Not at all. I am still young. It was a big goal for me and a dream come true, but I am still here in Indian Wells. I haven’t left the United States since the US Open because I had the Laver Cup and now Indian Wells, so if I wanted to feel good physically, going back to Europe was not a good choice since I went far at the US Open.

“I have motivation, I came here prepared. We can’t know before the tournament what the result is going to be but even if I lose [in the] second round here, it is nothing to do with the motivation. It is because of the opponent or that I was not playing that well. I am going to play a few tournaments for the rest of the year and I am going to try my best and win them.”

The Russian, who helped guide Team Europe to victory over Team World at the Laver Cup in September, is the top seed in Indian Wells at the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.

In preparation for Indian Wells, the 25-year-old took a different approach and decided to train at UCLA for the past week in preparation for the event to avoid a ‘burnout’ mentally.

“I was in Los Angeles for a week to try and bring my tennis up as that is what I am trying to do all the time with my coach,” Medvedev said. “It was my coach and agent who thought it was best to practise in UCLA and not to come too early, because if you come one and a half weeks before the tournament you can be burnt out. Before the tournament, you will be like ‘I cannot stay here anymore’.

“They decided that was the best place because they always have players there. There were like 10 different students practising with me. They all know how to play good tennis. You see it that people from college become Top 100, Top 300 and it is a very good level.”

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Medvedev will be targeting his first Indian Wells title and fifth Masters 1000 trophy overall over the next week, beginning against American Mackenzie McDonald.

Following his US Open triumph, the World No. 2 revealed he has had huge amounts of support off the court, including some acts of kindness at restaurants.

“There was a lot [of excitement] but more like the first week after winning,” Medvedev added. “That is when the first buzz is because everyone talks all about you. All the media and newspapers, especially in Russia. Some people I am a fan of text me, that was pretty fun. A lot of people tried to pay for me in the restaurants and I try to refuse it. Sometimes the waiter comes and says you can’t pay anymore because it has already been paid.”

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Tiafoe Tops Paire In Indian Wells

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

The BNP Paribas Open has not always been Frances Tiafoe’s best event, but the American made a good start this year with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Frenchman Benoit Paire on Thursday evening in the first round.

Tiafoe was previously 1-4 at the ATP Masters 1000 event, but he looked comfortable and focussed on Stadium 1, where he triumphed in his first match since the US Open in 62 minutes.

“I definitely took a long time off after the Open, the longest time I’ve taken in the middle of the season in a while, so [I was] a little rusty in the beginning and in the days leading up I wasn’t feeling great,” Tiafoe said in his on-court interview. “Happy to just get a first round under my belt. Obviously tonight was up and down, Benoit wasn’t having the best of days, but you take that.”

The 23-year-old broke serve four times and won 46 per cent of his return points against Paire, who showed his frustration after failing to find much rhythm. After the match, Tiafoe immediately returned to the practice court for 2-on-1 drills with coach Wayne Ferreira, brother Franklin Tiafoe and hitting partner Jordi Arconada.

“You just focus on your side. This isn’t my first rodeo, I’ve been on Tour for a little bit now, so I know how to handle situations. But it’s never easy, because he’s so talented,” Tiafoe said of Paire. “[You] just focus on what you can do, holding serve, trying to minimise your mistakes and making it super tough for him.”

Tiafoe will next challenge 32nd seed Sebastian Korda, a #NextGenATP American. Their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting came at the 2018 New York Open, where Tiafoe emerged victorious in three sets. Korda was a 17-year-old wild card who had just won the Australian Open boys’ singles title.

Another young America, 24-year-old Tommy Paul, overcame record-breaking 40-year-old Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6(3) to level their ATP Head2Head at 1-1.

Paul, who was on a three-match losing run heading into the match, utilised his dominant first serve and returning prowess to pull through in straight sets. The American won 81 per cent (26/32) of his first-serve points, and also managed to break the lefty’s serve on three occasions.

By taking the court today Lopez broke the ATP Masters 1000 appearance record, playing in his 139th event, passing Roger Federer. Lopez also holds the record for the most consecutive Grand Slam appearances with 78.

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Nishikori Rallies For Opening Win In Indian Wells

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

Kei Nishikori appeared in danger of suffering an opening loss on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open, but the former World No. 4 rallied past Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 22 minutes to reach the second round in Indian Wells.

“[It was] very tough,” Nishikori said in his on-court interview. “He took the first set and I was a break down in the second set, so I tried to be a little bit more aggressive. He was very steady.”

Nishikori was struggling for answers when he immediately fell behind a break in the second set. The Japanese star had never previously lost a completed set against Sousa. But instead of capitulating, Nishikori took the action to his opponent and won his opening main draw match at this ATP Masters 1000 event for the seventh time.

“[I am] very, very excited to play this week [in Indian Wells] and [I am] happy to pull through a tough one,” Nishikori said.

The 31-year-old is in a tricky part of the draw, and will next play 18th seed Daniel Evans, against whom he holds a 3-1 ATP Head2Head advantage. Nishikori beat Evans in a five-set marathon at Roland Garros last year that took nearly four hours.

In the same part of the draw, American qualifier Maxime Cressy clawed past Serbian Laslo Djere 6-7(3), 6-1, 7-5 in two hours and 23 minutes. Cressy, who attended college in California at UCLA, will try to upset 11th seed Diego Schwartzman in the second round. The winner will play Evans or Nishikori.

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Andy Murray: Wedding Ring Is Back, Shoes Still Stink!

  • Posted: Oct 08, 2021

Andy Murray is a winner even before playing his first match at the BNP Paribas Open.

Less than 24 hours after appealing to fans to use social media to spread news of his stolen wedding ring, the Scot has joyfully reported the successful recovery of the ring and the tennis shoes to which it was tied.

“I want to send a quick thanks for all the messages and for people sharing the story about the shoes and wedding ring,” Murray said in a selfie video posted to his Instagram account. “I had to make a few calls today and chat to security at the hotel and I have a little update for everyone…

“Would you believe it… they still absolutely stink but the shoes are back, the wedding ring is back and I’m back in the good books. Let’s go!”

Murray first reported in a video that he left his tennis shoes to defunkify overnight under a car in his hotel’s parking lot. They were stolen during the night and it wasn’t until he was preparing for practice that he realised that his wedding ring was looped through a shoelace.

That prompted his appeal on Instagram, which played in a role in today’s happy final chapter.

 

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Tennis United: Hurkacz, Swiatek Not Poles Apart

  • Posted: Oct 07, 2021

Top-ranked Polish stars Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek share a lot in common, not least a high regard for 36-time ATP Masters 1000 champion Rafael Nadal.

Sitting down for an episode of Tennis United: Crosscourt, the ATP and WTA stars found common ground when it came to discussing Nadal, with whom Swiatek practised at Roland Garros this year.

“Of course I love his topspin and just how he plays on clay,” Swiatek said. “Clay is also my favourite surface. So when I was younger I wanted to be like him but I knew it’s kind of impossible because he’s so much stronger.

“I also like his attitude and how he behaves off-court. He’s trying to be a good example for other people.”

“Your topspin is pretty heavy as well,” Hurkacz replied. “It worked at the French Open I think even better than his! I think he is an amazing example, the way he works hard and his attitude on the match and also how he behaves. He always says hi to everyone, he’s super nice, a real inspiration.”

Hurkacz and Swiatek also discuss their diets, match-day routines, team structure and more.

The complete episode list:
• Episode 1: Relationships (Gael Monfils & Elina Svitolina)
• Episode 2: Coaching (Felix Auger-Aliassime & Jennifer Brady)
• Episode 3: Doubles (Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Jamie Murray)
• Episode 4: Parenthood (Fabio Fognini & Elena Vesnina)

• Episode 5: Travel (Grigor Dimitrov & Belinda Bencic )

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