Tennis News

Preview: Schwartzman v Karatsev; Medvedev Returns

In second-round Mutua Madrid Open action on Wednesday, seventh seed Diego Schwartzman will have his hands full when he faces Aslan Karatsev.

Karatsev upset the World No. 9 in the third round of the Australian Open in straight sets on his road to the semi-finals. The Russian has since won his biggest ATP Tour title in Dubai and notched an upset over World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Belgrade. He enters the ATP Masters 1000 at a career-high FedEx ATP ranking of World No. 27. 

Schwartzman, a winner in Buenos Aires earlier this season, reached the quarter-finals in Barcelona and took a week off before arriving in Madrid. They’ll be the first match on at 11:00 am inside Stadium 3.

In other early Wednesday action, fifth seed Alexander Zverev will take on Kei Nishikori in a battle between two previous US Open finalists. The two haven’t faced off since 2018, and Nishikori, a former World No. 4, has been coming back from a right elbow injury. He outlasted Karen Khachanov in three sets on Tuesday, improving to 9-8 this season.

Second seed Daniil Medvedev will start play inside Manolo Santana Stadium against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. After testing positive for COVID-19 in Monte-Carlo, this will be Medvedev’s 2021 clay-court debut.

“Coming back was not easy the first four, five days especially after laying ten days in your bed at home,” Medvedev said. “ Of course, looking forward to playing here.”

In other second-round matches, Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete under the lights against Benoit Paire. Paire topped Munich champion Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday. 

“I feel much better now after the holidays,” Paire said. “Mentally, I’m very fresh, so it will be a tough match, for sure, but I think I have some chances to win this match.”

Wednesday will also see the highly anticipated showdown between top seed Rafael Nadal and 17-year-old Spanish wild card Carlos Alcaraz.

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, MAY 05, 2021

MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM start 11:00 am
A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs [2] D. Medvedev (RUS)
WTA MATCH – [1] Ashleigh Barty (AUS) vs [9] Petra Kvitova (CZE)

Not Before 3:00 pm
[1] R. Nadal (ESP) vs [WC] C. Alcaraz (ESP)

Not Before 7:00 pm

WTA MATCH – [5] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs [13] Elise Mertens (BEL)

Not Before 8:00 pm

B. Paire (FRA) vs [4] S. Tsitsipas (GRE)

ARANTXA SANCHEZ STADIUM start 11:00 am

WTA MATCH – [WC] Paula Badosa (ESP) vs [8] Belinda Bencic (SUI)
K. Nishikori (JPN) vs [5] A. Zverev (GER)

WTA MATCH – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs TBD
[9] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) vs J. Isner (USA)

C. Ruud (NOR) vs [LL] Y. Nishioka (JPN)

STADIUM 3 start 11:00 am

[7] D. Schwartzman (ARG) vs A. Karatsev (RUS)

J. Millman (AUS) vs D. Evans (GBR)
[Q] A. Popyrin (AUS) vs [14] J. Sinner (ITA)

[1] J. Cabal (COL) / R. Farah (COL) vs R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Shapovalov (CAN)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am 
[16] C. Garin (CHI) vs D. Koepfer (GER)
[3] M. Granollers (ESP) / H. Zeballos (ARG) vs K. Khachanov (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS)
A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs [Q] F. Delbonis (ARG)

TBA [7] W. Koolhof (NED) / L. Kubot (POL) vs M. Demoliner (BRA) / D. Medvedev (RUS)

COURT 6 start 11:00 am

J. Chardy (FRA) / F. Martin (FRA) vs [6] P. Herbert (FRA) / N. Mahut (FRA)

After Suitable Rest – [WC] A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) / F. Verdasco (ESP) vs T. Fritz (USA) / O. Marach (AUT)

After Suitable Rest – ATP – [5] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR) vs A. Bublik (KAZ) / C. Garin (CHI)
After Suitable Rest – ATP – T. Puetz (GER) / A. Zverev (GER) vs M. Melo (BRA) / J. Rojer (NED)

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Medvedev's Chase For World No. 1

Daniil Medvedev is making his clay-court season debut at the Mutua Madrid Open. And over the next two weeks, the Russian star will be battling for more than just titles in Madrid and Rome.

With strong efforts at the Caja Magica and the Foro Italico, Medvedev will turn up the heat on Novak Djokovic in the battle for World No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Medvedev has a chance to ascend to No. 1 by the end of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. If the Russian wins his first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid or Rome and advances to at least the semi-finals at the other tournament, and Djokovic does not make the Rome final, Medvedev will become the first player outside the Big Four to hold World No. 1 since Andy Roddick was there the week of 26 January 2004.

This will be a tough task for Medvedev, who has never won a match in Madrid, Rome or at Roland Garros. But nevertheless it is a big opportunity.

“As soon as you reach No. 2, of course you want to stay [there] as much time as possible. But at the same time the next goal, if you want to improve, is to get to No. 1,” Medvedev said. “It’s not like you need to just go to your house and for one month run around your flat 10 times every day and you’re going to become No. 1. It’s all about playing good, winning big titles, so It’s not a goal that you can achieve logically. You just need to play very good and win huge titles and that’s what I will be trying to do.” 

Medvedev currently sits at World No. 3, having been passed by Rafael Nadal for No. 2 following the Spaniard’s Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell victory. The Russian is 2,263 points behind Djokovic. But that gap is not as wide as it appears. 

Points Dropping In Madrid, Rome & Paris

Medvedev has relatively few points to defend in the coming weeks. The Russian will drop a combined 15 points in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros compared to 1,600 for Djokovic and 2,090 for Nadal.

Djokovic is not in action this week in Madrid, but he will keep 500 points (50% of the points from his 2019 title) due to the current “best of” FedEx ATP Ranking formula, which has been recalibrated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Serbian is guaranteed to keep at least 500 points in Rome, where he won the title last year. He is still plenty motivated to keep his top spot, which he has held for a record 319 weeks.

“In order to stay at the top ranking spot, you have to keep playing and not just keep playing, but keep making successful runs at most of your events in order to have a chance,” Djokovic said. “Being at No. 1 is also a huge responsibility, but you feel that rear window pressure from Daniil at this point or Rafa or whoever it is. There’s always somebody. The challengers want to get there. They want to challenge you, they want to push you.

“I think the more they push me, the more I have motivation to work even harder to stay there.”

Nadal at a minimum will hold onto 180 points in Madrid (50% of the points from his 2019 semi-final) and 90 points in Rome (50% of his 2020 quarter-final). Since Medvedev has not won a match at those events, he will only drop five points from each (50% from opening-match exits).

Medvedev has not played since Miami because of a positive COVID-19 test ahead of Monte-Carlo. But the Russian has enjoyed success on clay before. In 2019, Medvedev made the Monte-Carlo semi-finals and the Barcelona final. The Russian admits it would feel “amazing” if he’s able to battle his way to World No. 1.

“It’s one of the goals of the career. When you go from the juniors to professionals, you want to get in the Top 1,000, then you want to get in the Top 500 and [those are] small goals. Now I’ve reached almost every place except the No. 1 [spot], so it’s going to definitely mean a lot [if I get there],” Medvedev said. “But I’m sure especially if you ask people [who have been there] that as soon as you reach, it you’re going to start thinking, ‘Okay, how do I stay here? How do I win more titles?'”

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Ferrero & Moya Preview Nadal-Alcaraz Showdown In Madrid

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will play a special match on Wednesday at the Mutua Madrid Open. On the Caja Mágica clay, the most intimidating court in the country, two generations of Spanish tennis will cross paths in what promises to be an unforgettable battle. On Alcaraz’s 18th birthday, the great hope of the next generation will experience a unique moment before the fans inside Manolo Santana Stadium.

Two Spanish former World No. 1s will be watching from the player boxes: Carlos Moyà, the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s coach, and Juan Carlos Ferrero, whose understudy is one of the biggest young talents on the ATP Tour, will oversee the highly anticipated match.

“It’s going to be a special match,” Moya admitted. “It is an encounter between the present, because Rafa is still the present and has been for many years, and the immediate future. I think that Alcaraz is going to be a great player. He’s already very good, although he’s still lacking that experience and he’s in the process of improving. It’s a natural generational succession.”

“To me it’s a generational clash” Ferrero said. “Rafa is very much alive, he’s playing at a very high standard, fighting for Grand Slams. I wouldn’t dare talk about a succession. It’s true that Carlos is the guy coming up the rear, not to replace anyone, but to try and do great things and play great matches. I don’t think any talk of Carlos succeeding Rafa is good for him. It’s added pressure for him. It’s of little use.

“I like to think that we have another very promising player. With his game and the way he handles things from match to match, his head-to-head with players, gives me confidence that he will be very good. But we have to take it step by step.”

How do you approach a match like that? How do you tackle the challenge? What preparations do you make for the difficulties a young man whose hunger knows no bounds may face?

“You go out on full alert,” Ferrero said. “Rafa already knows Carlos because we trained together in Australia. He had the chance to play a set and a half. He knows that Carlos is dangerous, he knows that he has to give it his all.

“Any active player is already familiar with a promising player when they come along, they study them. You know that he’s dangerous, but you also trust yourself. Rafa has the extra experience, which is more than enough to know how to play. Obviously he will think that Carlos is dangerous, but it is just another match for him.”

Moyà witnessed the arrival of the future king firsthand on the clay of Umag in 2003, when Nadal upset him at just 17 years old. Although the Mallorcan points out several differences between the two situations, there is certainly an interesting comparison to be made.

“I wasn’t Rafa in the sense that I didn’t have 20 Grand Slams. I didn’t have his ambition, his quality or his game. And Rafa was even younger than Alcaraz is. There was a significant difference; I knew Rafa well, we’d trained a lot together,” Moya said. “The respect that Alcaraz perhaps has for Rafa, since they haven’t shared many moments together — he hasn’t had contact with him — Rafa didn’t have that respect for me. We shared a lot of things and in that regard, I think that it is lost a little bit, spending time with someone, knowing them so well. But they are special matches for everyone. They are special matches in that there is extra pressure on both of them, and the one that handles it best will take the match.”

The fans have always supported Nadal at the Caja Mágica as if he were family and the Madrid faithful are now ready to show Alcaraz the same affection. It will be an opportunity to enjoy a special moment, the significance of which will only become apparent as the years pass.

“Rafa will not last forever, that’s life, unfortunately,” Moya said. “In a few years, I think Carlos will be one of the players in the fight for Grand Slams. Maybe they will meet in the final of a big tournament. Rafa has been at an extremely high level for many years and Carlos in one or two years may be perfectly ready to fight for those tournaments. But we’re in 2021, and at the moment, Rafa still has that experience and the game that we believe is good enough to fight for any tournament.”

“We know that Rafa is practically invincible on clay, but the biggest challenge will be trying to be stable mentally all the time,” Ferrero said of his pupil. “I think he has to make that his greatest strength tomorrow. We know that Rafa puts everything into every point. That’s what young players find the hardest, being 100 per cent focussed all the time. To him it’s a big motivation doing it here at home. His family is here and they haven’t seen him play for a long time. He’s very excited.”

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Chang: The Hate Against Asian-Americans Has To Stop

In commemoration of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, American legend Michael Chang penned a poignant essay urging unity and calling for the end of racially motivated hate crimes.

Chang, who was born in Hoboken to parents from Chinese Taipei, also wrote about the way mistrust and misinformation surrounding COVID-19 has fueled the recent wave of violent crime and discrimination against the AAPI community in the US.

It’s a subject that Chang knows all too well, as he recalled being on the receiving end of racially motivated discrimination during a recent outing with his wife Amber Liu Chang.

Chang is best known for his 1989 run to the French Open title at 17 years old, and his International Tennis Hall of Fame career includes 34 tour-level singles titles. The former World No. 2 has also been the long-time coach of Kei Nishikori.

Read this excerpt below from Chang’s essay penned for USTA.com.

These hate crimes are incredibly disturbing to me, an Asian-American born and raised in the United States. My parents are in their late seventies and, just like everyone else in this COVID-19 pandemic, have taken many precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community from contracting the virus. But now, even with vaccinations being made more available and COVID-19 infection numbers falling, they have a new fear and concern: racial hate crime.

I understand that this pandemic has not been easy for anyone. Many of us have lost someone that matters or been sick ourselves. And we have all had to make changes and sacrifices in our lives which we never envisioned in order to do our part to stop the spread of this terrible virus. But unfortunately, some individuals have targeted their frustration and anger, choosing to place blame for this pandemic on my fellow Asian-Americans. I’ve experienced this type of discrimination firsthand. Recently, when walking into my local Walmart with my wife (thankfully without our kids), a man told me to, “Go back to China—you brought the coronavirus here!”

My wife and I were shocked and immediately replied, “Excuse me?” He made another similar comment and walked away. My first thought was, “Wait, I was born and raised in the United States just like you.” But even if I had been born and raised in China, would that make me worthy of harassment? As I have come to realize, ignorance doesn’t always recognize what is true, and the truth often remains unseen—particularly when there is so much misinformation being shared around us.

While I know that people sometimes make comments without thinking or out of ignorance, we are seeing that kind of ignorance taken to another level entirely—that of violence upon completely innocent people—and this is unacceptable. Every day, we all see the disturbing images and video clips of these hate crimes all around the U.S. It HAS to stop because it only results in shattered lives.

Visit USTA.com to read Chang’s full essay.

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Rust For Domi? Thiem Shows None In Madrid

If you thought Dominic Thiem would be rusty in his first match in nearly two months, you thought wrong.

The Austrian star was in full flight on Tuesday evening when he defeated American qualifier Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open. The third seed is off to a good start at the Caja Magica, where he made the final in 2017 and 2018.

“I was uncertain how things will be going. The game worked out very well in the past days of practice, but I was always practising on the outside courts which are faster, which are smaller, so I was just not sure how it was going to be in the match,” Thiem said. “But there were some things which I think made [the match] a little bit easier after such a long time, especially the conditions in Madrid, which are great for me.

“Then [I have] amazing memories on this court, where I already played probably some of the best matches of my career. I think that’s why things worked out quite well tonight.”

Thiem had not competed since 16 March, when he lost against Lloyd Harris in his opening match in Dubai. But the 27-year-old looked refreshed in the Spanish capital, playing an aggressive, but tidy match to triumph inside Stadium Manolo Santana after 58 minutes. 

“For my game, I need 100 per cent intensity and 100 per cent energy. I’m not the guy who can serve through a match or who can play with a little bit of intensity and still win. I’m just not that type of guy,” Thiem said. “I need 100 per cent in every aspect of my game.
I was just not able to put that on court in Doha, Dubai, or towards the end of the Australian Open, so that’s why it was better to take a break.

“[It was] better to come back when it’s possible again to play with that 100 per cent in every aspect of my game.”

Giron is a physical baseliner who had already played two matches lasting more than three hours in Madrid this year, defeating Thiago Monteiro in the first round of qualifying and Pablo Andujar in the first round of the main draw on Monday. But the American couldn’t find the energy to match Thiem’s greater physicality. 

The two-time Roland Garros finalist and reigning US Open champion hit bigger than Giron and with more spin, pinning the qualifier deep in the court. Thiem broke the World No. 91’s serve four times and did not face a break point.

In the next round, Thiem will face Australian Alex de Minaur, who led Lloyd Harris 6-2, 3-0 when the South African retired.

De Minaur has only won one of 10 sets he has played against Thiem, who leads their ATP Head2Head series 3-0. Two of those matches came at the US Open, in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

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Berrettini Battles Past Fognini In Italian Generational Clash

Matteo Berrettini won a generational all-Italian battle on Tuesday, beating Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open.

The first time these two Italian stars met was four years ago at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Berrettini was 21 years old and No. 249 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, and he managed just four games. Berrettini is now the No. 1 Italian and he reenforced his status with an 82-minute victory at the Caja Magica. He has now won five consecutive matches including his title run in Belgrade.

“I’m pretty happy for my physical shape, for my mental performance so far, and the way I came back after a big injury. I think I’m playing good. I’m really feeling confident,” Berrettini said. “These conditions I think are good for my tennis. It’s tough to build the momentum in these conditions and it was tougher for me because I got injured, but I’m trying really hard. The results so far are pretty good.”

The eighth seed will next play Estoril champion Albert Ramos-Vinolas or Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis. Earlier in the day, Ramos-Vinolas beat Taylor Fritz7-5, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the second round.

Fognini hit one more winner than Berrettini in the match, 17-16. But the World No. 10 dominated with his serve, winning 85 per cent of his first-serve points to avoid facing a break point in the match. Berrettini closed out the match without difficulty, holding to love in his final service game with a forehand drop shot.

“I really put a lot of effort and energy, I really try to focus a lot in order to serve like this. It’s not something that is coming really easily,” Berrettini said. “When it’s working like it was working today, I feel confident, but at the same time I ask myself to not get [drop my attention], because just one game can change the whole match.
That’s what I try to do, but I guess today [it] worked pretty well.” 

Did You Know?
Berrettini and Fognini helped lead Team Italy to the final of the ATP Cup earlier this year. At that event, Berrettini earned Top 15 victories against Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils and Roberto Bautista Agut.

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Zverev Picks Up Doubles Win In Madrid

Singles stars were all over the doubles court on Tuesday at the Mutua Madrid Open. In first-round action, Alexander Zverev teamed with compatriot Tim Puetz to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4.

Zverev will play his opening singles match against Kei Nishikori on Wednesday while Auger-Aliassime and Hurkacz were knocked out of the draw earlier on Tuesday. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas and his younger brother Petros Tsitsipas challenged seventh seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot but ultimately fell 6-4, 5-7, 10-6. The Tsitsipas brothers have teamed up five times in 2021, winning two matches.

Germans Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen eased past the tandem of Marton Fucsovics and Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-4. Gille and Vliegen are fresh off a final appearance in Munich and won in Singapore earlier this season for their fifth ATP Tour crown together.

In the only match that didn’t feature a prominent singles star, Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau topped Henri Kontinen and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-4. Last week in Munich, Krawietz teamed up with Koolhof to win the title.

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My Pandemic: Sinner Raises Mental Health Awareness

As the world still deals with the impact of COVID-19, Jannik Sinner is doing his part to raise mental health awareness. The 19-year-old Italian recently spoke about the pandemic, mental health and the launch of his Instagram series, “What’s Kept You Moving”.

“Mental health is important,” Sinner said. “Many people don’t speak about that, so I would like to speak a little bit more about that.”

The World No. 18 spent the lockdown trying to stay in shape from the confines of his Monaco apartment with the help of a fitness trainer from the Piatti Tennis Center.

“I have to say it was tough,” Sinner said. “What I missed the most was touching the ball, feeling the ball especially hearing the ball.”

The #NextGenATP star’s family members contracted COVID-19, making tennis a second priority to health.

“For me, the most important thing was my family,” the teenager said. “Everyone had COVID in my family, but everyone is safe now so I’m very glad and happy that everyone survived that.”

Sinner would rejoin the tour in August and finish the 2020 season on a high note by winning his first ATP Tour title in Sofia. He’d start 2021 with a second title, at the Great Ocean Road Open. After reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami and appearing in the semi-finals in Barcelona, Sinner made his Top 20 debut.

As his star rises on court, Sinner wants to use his growing platform to increase mental health awareness, especially in young people.

“I think many young people don’t talk much about tough situations in their lives. It doesn’t have to be only COVID, but all the rest together,” Sinner said. “I think if you have a great family behind you, don’t be scared about talking with them about everything. You have to be honest with yourself, even if it hurts trying to speak about that. I think it’s not only in normal life, but even if you play sports, the mental part is maybe the most important thing you have in your life.”

His Instagram series has seen him speak with sports figures about how their life has changed because of the pandemic.

“I think it’s very interesting to see other people’s opinions,” Sinner said. “I’m looking forward to speaking with normal people with normal jobs. Just trying to mix it up as much as possible.”

This week in Madrid, he’s into the second round after Guido Pella retired while Sinner was leading 6-2, 4-4. Sinner will next take on Alexei Popyrin Wednesday.

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Billie Jean King Cup Finals no longer to be held in Budapest

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals must find a new host city after the International Tennis Federation terminates its contract with Budapest.

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Bublik Bounces Shapovalov In Madrid

The best season of Alexander Bublik’s career continues to get better.

The Kazakhstani battled past 11th seed Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 after two hours and 20 minutes on Tuesday to reach the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open. The 23-year-old will next play seventh seed Diego Schwartzman or 2021 breakthrough star Aslan Karatsev for a spot in the quarter-finals in his tournament debut.

Bublik now has a career-high 18 wins in 2021 just more than four months into the season. The 23-year-old was the more consistent player inside Stadium 3, taking advantage of Shapovalov’s 40 unforced errors to take a 2-0 ATP Head2Head series lead against the Canadian, who hit 14 double faults.

“I started on the same level as the other day, so it’s not so much of my game not working. It’s more mental,” Shapovalov said. “Throwing in five doubles in one game, it’s not like I don’t know how to serve. It’s completely mental.”

Bublik Second-Serve Return Placement

^{Graphic courtesy of Hawk-Eye Innovations/ATP Media}
Bublik had never previously won an ATP Masters 1000 match outside of Miami. But now he has two impressive wins under his belt against in-form Hungarian Marton Fucsovics and Shapovalov.

In other action, Albert Ramos-Vinolas maintained his high level with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory against Taylor Fritz. Just two days ago, the Spaniard lifted his third ATP Tour trophy in Estoril, but he managed to quickly adjust to the Madrid altitude to move on after two hours and 29 minutes.

Ramos-Vinolas will next play Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, who eliminated 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in Monday’s final match of the evening. Delbonis leads their ATP Head2Head series 4-2.

The 33-year-old Ramos-Vinolas leads the ATP Tour with 17 tour-level wins on clay this year, and Delbonis is second with 10.

Did You Know?
With his win against Shapovalov, Bublik is now 9-0 against left-handers.

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