Tennis News

Ruud Marches Into Gstaad Final

Third seed Casper Ruud’s dominant clay-court run continued on Saturday at the Swiss Open Gstaad as he defeated Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-0 to reach his second ATP Tour final in as many weeks.

The Norwegian, who lifted the Nordea Open trophy last week, was made to battle against Kopriva in the first set. Both struck the ball well from the baseline, but Ruud was more consistent as he raced away in the second set to advance in 74 minutes.

“I have been having high motivation and a good mentality these past few weeks,” Ruud said. “It is the last chance I get to play on clay before the clay season is done for me. I am playing good tennis with good intensity. The ball is bouncing really high, and with the high altitude. It suites me well.

“I am excited. It is not always you are playing in finals, so it is a special feeling. I need to think what I did well the last time in Switzerland in Geneva, which was also against a lefty and a young player. It will be a tough match, Gaston is young and I will have to be on the top of my game to have a chance.”

The 22-year-old has now claimed 23 clay-court wins this year and will move up to ninth place in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin on Monday. Ruud won the Gonet Geneva Open title (d. Shapovalov) in May, and all 14 of his ATP Tour semi-finals have come on clay.

Ruud will be aiming to capture a fourth ATP Tour title of his career against Frenchman Hugo Gaston on Sunday, after the World No. 155 advanced to his first tour-level final with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Laslo Djere.

Both Kopriva and Ruud broke in a lively start, in which Kopriva matched the third seed from the baseline. The Czech stepped inside the baseline throughout the first set as he tried to force Ruud back. However, the World No. 14 started to find his range as the set went on and broke in the eighth game when Kopriva hit a forehand long. Ruud then dictated in the second set. He hit his forehand with great depth and pace as he forced Kopriva into more errors to advance.

The World No. 249 Kopriva was making his ATP Tour debut this week. He shocked top-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the second round to become the lowest-ranked player to beat a Top 10 opponent since then World No. 698 Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated World No. 6 Milos Raonic at The Queen’s Club in 2017.

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Tokyo Olympics: Novak Djokovic & Daniil Medvedev want matches moved because of heat

Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev want Olympic organisers to change the tennis schedule because of sweltering conditions – the “toughest” they have experienced.

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Gaston Battles Into First ATP Final In Gstaad

Frenchman Hugo Gaston’s dream run continued on Saturday at the Swiss Open Gstaad as he battled back to defeat seventh seed Laslo Djere 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reach his first ATP Tour final.

The 20-year-old, who had never advanced past the second round at an ATP Tour event before this week, played with great variety throughout, using the drop shot to good effect to advance in one hour and 50 minutes.

“I tried to take more time with my game,” Gaston said. “I made a lot of mistakes in the first set, so I tried to change my game. My serve was better in the second and third set. I am really happy to be in the final. It is going to be a good match, but I will try and enjoy [this] moment.”

It is the third match in a row where Gaston has won the deciding set, having saved four match points in the final set tie-break against fourth-seeded Chilean Cristian Garin in the quarter-finals.

Gaston has now claimed 18 clay-court wins at all levels this season, reaching ATP Challenger Tour finals at the Concord Iasi Open and the Roma Garden Open I. The World No. 155 will face third seed Casper Ruud in the championship match after he defeated Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-0.

After breaks were exchanged at the start of the first set, Djere took control. He returned with great depth as Gaston struggled on serve, winning just 44 per cent (8/18) of his first-service points. Djere broke three times in the set to move ahead. The match changed in the second set, though. Gaston did not drop a point behind his first serve (12/12) in the set as he started to disrupt Djere’s rhythm with his variety of shots, forcing a decider.

Gaston continued to defend well in the third set, chasing down every ball as the lefty frustrated Djere. He broke twice in the final set to seal victory. Gaston becomes the youngest Gstaad finalist since 2006, when 20-year-old Richard Gasquet lifted the title.

Djere has claimed 20 tour-level victories this season. The Serbian was aiming to reach his second ATP Tour final of the season on Saturday, having advanced to the championship match at the Sardegna Open (l. to Sonego) in April.

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Cameron Norrie beats Taylor Fritz to reach final of Los Cabos Open

British number two Cameron Norrie targets first ATP title after beating Taylor Fritz to reach final of the Los Cabos Open in Mexico.

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Andy Murray & Joe Salisbury: Team GB duo win first round doubles match at Tokyo Olympics

Olympic champion Andy Murray and partner Joe Salisbury beat number two seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut to reach the men’s doubles second round at the Tokyo Olympics.

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Medvedev Battles Past Bublik In Tokyo Opener

Daniil Medvedev had to work hard on Saturday, but he advanced to the second round of the Tokyo Olympics with a 6-4, 7-6(8) victory against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.

The second seed saved three of the four break points he faced to triumph after one hour and 38 minutes. The ROC’s Medvedev now leads the pair’s ATP Head2Head series 3-0, and he has won all seven of their sets.

The World No. 2 will next play Indian Sumit Nagal, who outlasted Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4. This is Medvedev’s first appearance in the Olympics.

Big-hitting German Jan-Lennard Struff advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, and he could next face World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The Serbian superstar will need to defeat Bolivian Hugo Dellien to set that clash.

Also in that section of the draw, 16th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ousted Portugal’s Pedro Sousa 6-3, 6-0. The Spaniard will try to maintain his level against Aussie John Millman, who eliminated #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4.

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Murray/Salisbury Upset Herbert/Mahut In Tokyo

Great Britain’s Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury earned the first upset of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday when they ousted Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, the second seeds, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 15 minutes.

This is the unseeded duo’s first time competing together, and they did not face a break point against Herbert and Mahut, who as a team have lifted the trophy at all four majors. Murray and Salisbury won 42 per cent of their receiving points en route to the second round.

Murray is a two-time singles gold medalist in the Olympics (London, Rio de Janeiro), and he also won the silver medal in mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson in London in 2012.

The eighth-seeded Dutchmen Wesley Koolhof and Jean-Julien Rojer also advanced as they eliminated Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-3, 7-6(5), while Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz began their campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Argentines Facundo Bagnis and Diego Schwartzman.

British pair Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski saved one match point as they battled back to defeat Argentine duo Andres Molteni and Horacio Zeballos 6-7(3), 6-4, 13-11.

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Tokyo Olympics: Great Britain's Heather Watson loses in first round

Great Britain’s Heather Watson loses in the first round of the women’s singles to Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam.

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Five Things To Know About Vit Kopriva, Who Idolised Federer

Vit Kopriva has had a dream week at the Swiss Open Gstaad. Entering the tournament, the 24-year-old had never competed in an ATP Tour main draw.

Now, the World No. 249 is the second player to reach the semi-finals on his ATP Tour debut since May 2012, joining this year’s Cordoba campion, Juan Manuel Cerundolo. By defeating top seed Denis Shapovalov in the second round, Kopriva became the lowest-ranked player to oust a Top 10 opponent since World No. 698 Thanasi Kokkinakis beat World No. 6 Milos Raonic at The Queen’s Club in 2017.

“This week is amazing. Thursday last week I didn’t even know that I would play qualies. I went here just to try [to get into qualifying], because I was an alternate. I’m enjoying this week and it’s an amazing feeling,” Kopriva told ATPTour.com. “I can’t believe that I’m playing the semi-finals tomorrow and that I’ve beaten such good players this week. This is just something incredible for me.”

Kopriva had high praise for the Swiss ATP 250, where he is enjoying the scenic views of the local mountains. Before playing Casper Ruud in the semi-finals, Kopriva spoke to ATPTour.com. Here are five things to know about the Czech player…

THIS is how you make your ATP Tour debut! ?

?? Vit Kopriva, No. 249 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, stuns World No. 10 Shapovalov 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Gstaad.

?: @TennisTV | @SwissOpenGstaad pic.twitter.com/nLZUgAd9Ku

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 22, 2021

He Grew Up Under The Tutelage Of Petra Kvitova’s Father
When people think of Czech tennis, WTA superstar Petra Kvitova quickly comes to mind. Kopriva has a special connection with the lefty, as he trained under her father, Jiri Kvita.

Kopriva’s father enjoyed playing the sport in their town of Fulnek, where Kvitova is from. And that is where Kopriva began training aged six with Kvita. The young Czech played two or three times per week from an early age. He played piano for less than three years, and tennis was the only sport he competed in.

Federer Is His Idol
Czech tennis has a rich history. On the men’s side, Kopriva grew up watching Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek among others. But one player stood above all for the 24-year-old: Roger Federer.

It is fitting that he is enjoying his breakthrough run this week in Gstaad. Not only is it in the 39-year-old’s home country, but Federer lifted the trophy in 2004. Kopriva’s former coach, Jiri Novak, beat Federer in the 2003 Gstaad final, and they have been in touch this week to joke about that moment. Kopriva’s current coach is another Czech, Jaroslav Pospisil.

Rafa’s Book Made A Difference
Although Kopriva idolised Federer, he also holds great respect for Rafael Nadal, another 20-time Grand Slam champion. When the Czech was 15, he read the Spanish legend’s memoir “Rafa”.

“I realised I had to work hard like he did amazingly [well],” Kopriva said. “He spent so many hours on court, so many hours on fitness, and I didn’t at that time. I just started to play more, enjoy more tennis and get more power from that moment.”

Kopriva Nearly Did Not Travel To Gstaad
The 24-year-old lost in the first round of an ATP Challenger Tour event in Amersfoort last week, and nearly did not travel to Gstaad. Kopriva was not sure whether he would go to this ATP 250 or another one in Umag. He ended up arriving in Switzerland as an alternate.

“I was hoping I would get in here and I did. I played so well in the first round of qualies,” Kopriva said. “In the final round of qualies, I was a set and a break down, 5-6 in the second. I [came back] somehow and from that moment I’ve just been trying to enjoy it.”

He Loves Ice Hockey & Football
Although Kopriva did not play sports outside of tennis competitively as a kid, he considers himself a “huge sports fan”.

“From a young age, I’ve watched ice hockey and football. I really like those because in our country, they’re very popular. This is how I spend my free time outside of tennis,” Kopriva said. “I have some fantasy football and fantasy hockey leagues with my friends. I really like those sports, I’m a big fan.

“My favourite football team in the Czech Republic is FC Baník Ostrava and my global club is FC Chelsea. Once I was in London to watch their game at Stamford Bridge. I’m also watching NHL hockey. In the Czech Republic, my favourite team is HC Vítkovice Ridera.”

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Gasquet Marches Into Umag SF

Fourth seed Richard Gasquet reached his first ATP Tour semi-final of the season on Friday at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag as he moved past Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 7-6(7).

The 35-year-old struck the ball well from the baseline throughout as he broke five times. He failed to serve the match out at 5-4 in the second set, but took his third match point in the tie-break to advance in one hour and 51 minutes.

“I started well,” Gasquet said. “I could not manage to break him at 4-2 in the second set and then I struggled a little bit on my serve. It was tough, but I fought a lot to finish the match in the second set. It was a great tie-break and important to win. I need to be physically ready to go further as I try and reach the final.”

Gasquet is the second-oldest semi-finalist in the tournament’s 31-year history, behind only 35-year-old Paolo Lorenzi, who reached the 2017 final (l. to Rublev). The Frenchman is now 2-0 in his ATP Head2Head Series against Dzumhur and will next face either second seed Dusan Lajovic or German qualifier Daniel Altmaier.

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