Tennis News

Harris: ‘I Have Really Found My Game’

Lloyd Harris will play the biggest match of his career at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday, when he faces Aslan Karatsev for the title.

The South African earned his seventh win in as many days on Friday, outlasting third seed Denis Shapovalov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach his maiden ATP 500 final. His victory against the World No. 12 was the second biggest of his career by FedEx ATP Rankings. Harris’ greatest career win came on Tuesday, when he stunned World No. 4 Dominic Thiem in the second round.

With seven wins under his belt already in Dubai, the World No. 81 has reached peak form at The Aviation Club. In fact, Harris believes he has discovered his game during his time at the ATP 500.

“This week, I have really found my game. I have found the way I want to be playing,” said Harris. “There are still some tweaks I want to [make] and a lot of things to improve still, so I am looking forward to the work that lies ahead after a tournament like this. That is really exciting for me. I still want to improve on so many things and do it better, even though I am playing exceptional tennis.”

One of the keys to Harris’ success this week has been how well his game has matched the fast court conditions in Dubai. The qualifier has hit 71 aces across his seven matches at the tournament and he won 80 per cent of his first-serve points against Shapovalov (57/71) to reach his second tour-level final (0-1).

“[Due to the court speed], I get a lot of extra pop on my serve. I don’t feel like I have to force it too much,” said Harris. “Extra free points definitely help you out. In the third set, it was something that was very beneficial to me. I had very quick service games… The faster courts are always good for me.”

For the past decade, Kevin Anderson has led the way for South African tennis. Harris joined Anderson to represent his nation at the 2020 ATP Cup and has been inspired by the two-time Grand Slam runner-up’s mentality.

“The thing with Kevin is, he has such an amazing big-match temperament,” said Harris. “If you watch him play against the top guys, he is always playing at a very good level. He is such a professional. He always brings a good intensity to the court, so there are definitely so many things that I have seen from him that you can apply to your game.”

Harris will not only need mental strength to get past Karatsev in the final, he will also need physical strength to overcome one of the most dangerous players on the ATP Tour. Harris has already spent 11 hours and five minutes on the court in Dubai, but he knows he will have all the energy he needs when he steps onto the court on Saturday.

“It has been a lot of matches [but] if you are playing a final, you find some energy,” said Harris. “Obviously I am going to give it every bit of energy I have in the tank tomorrow. I am looking forward to that and hopefully I can come out and play even better tennis tomorrow.”

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Karatsev Ends Rublev’s ATP 500 Streak In Style

Aslan Karatsev ended Andrey Rublev’s 23-match ATP 500 winning streak on Friday, when he overpowered the second seed 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final.

The Australian Open semi-finalist beat Rublev at his own game, striking early in rallies to keep his countryman behind the baseline. Karatsev landed 41 winners and created 16 break points in the two-hour, 12-minute clash to become the first wild card to reach the Dubai final since Thomas Muster in 1997.

“It was a really tight match [against a] tough opponent,” Karatsev said in an on-court interview. “It was an unbelievable performance [from Andrey]. He didn’t lose a match at an ATP 500 in [one year]. Everything was decided in one or two points, I feel happy.”

Karatsev, who owns an 11-2 record this year, will meet another first-time ATP 500 finalist in the championship match: Lloyd Harris. The South African qualifier won his seventh match in as many days on Friday to defeat Denis Shapovalov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(6).

“I will prepare myself mentally and physically, and then we will see what happens tomorrow,” said Karatsev. “I know [Lloyd] is a good player with experience.”

Karatsev or Harris will become the fourth first-time winner on the ATP Tour this season. Daniel Evans (Murray River Open), Alexei Popyrin (Singapore) and Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Cordoba) have already completed maiden title runs this year.

Karatsev played with consistent aggression and struck 11 winners in the first set, but the wild card was punished for his failure to convert five break points in the second set. Rublev earned his first break point of the match at 5-4 and pounced to force a decider.

Karatsev played with all-out aggression behind his first and second-serve returns to earn six break points at 1-1 in the third set. The pressure eventually affected Rublev, who committed a double fault to drop serve. Karatsev converted his second match point with a powerful ace down the T to reach his maiden ATP Tour final.

“In the second set, I got tight a bit. He took the opportunity, he broke me and took the set,” said Karatsev. “In the third set, I broke him back. I was leading with two breaks and then again, at 5-4 [it was a] tight game.”

From last year’s Hamburg European Open to this event, Rublev’s 23-match winning streak at ATP 500 events was the second-longest in the history of the tournament level (since 2009). Roger Federer is the only man to have recorded more consecutive victories in the category (28).

Did You Know?
At last week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, Rublev and Karatsev claimed their first doubles trophy as a team. The pair owns a 4-1 team record, with its only loss coming on its team debut against Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos at the ATP Cup.

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Harris Downs Shapovalov To Make History In Dubai

Lloyd Harris became the first qualifier to reach the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final on Friday, when he rallied to defeat Denis Shapovalov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(6).

The South African, who trailed 2-4 in the second set, saved three of the four break points he faced to reach his maiden ATP 500 final. Harris has won seven matches in as many days to make history at the ATP 500. En route to the final, the World No. 81 has won the two biggest matches of his career against World No. 4 Dominic Thiem and World No. 12 Shapovalov.

“I don’t have many words right now. I am super happy with that win,” Harris said in an on-court interview. “Being a set and 2-4 down is mentally and physically a little bit troublesome for me, but I found my best tennis from there. I am just extremely happy with the result right now.”

Harris will face Andrey Rublev or Aslan Karatsev in the championship match. In his only previous tour-level final in Adelaide last year, Harris fell in straight sets to Rublev.

“This is what I am working for. This is what I have been putting in the hard yards for,” said Harris. “I have been waiting for some results like this. To have so many of them in one week is a fantastic feeling. I have got one more match to go.”

Shapovalov appeared to be closing in on victory when he broke his opponent at 2-2 in the second set and extended his perfect record in service games throughout the week (37/37) to reach 4-2. But the 21-year-old committed a series of unforced errors to drop back-to-back service games and the second set.

In the final-set tie-break, Harris served well under pressure to keep pace with his opponent. Shapovalov used his forehand to dictate rallies, but Harris earned his place in the final when the Canadian narrowly missed an attempted backhand down the line.

Shapovalov was also aiming to reach his first ATP 500 final and emulate his coach, two-time Dubai finalist Mikhail Youzhny. The Canadian did not drop a set en route to the semi-finals, with wins against Jan-Lennard Struff, Hubert Hurkacz and Jeremy Chardy.

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Cabal/Farah Outlast Krawietz/Struff To Reach Dubai Final

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah advanced to their second final of the season on Friday, when they defeated Kevin Krawietz and Jen-Lennard Struff 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semi-finals.

The Great Ocean Road Open finalists (l. to Murray/Soares) won five of their seven second-serve return points in the Match Tie-break to overcome the German pair in 70 minutes. Cabal and Farah have survived back-to-back Match Tie-breaks to reach the Dubai championship match. The top seeds saved a match point on Thursday to defeat Italian qualifiers Lorenzo Sonego and Andrea Vavassori 6-4, 6-7(7), 11-9.

“It was a close match,” said Farah. “I think they were very aggressive in their strategy. They were going all-out out there… In the Match Tie-break, they gave us a couple of double faults and we were right there, playing well on our serves. At the end, I think we made the difference.”

Cabal and Farah, who are making their first appearance at the ATP 500, are attempting to capture their first title since the 2019 US Open. The Colombians own a 16-20 team record in tour-level championship matches.

In the second semi-final, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic will face Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek for the third time this season (1-1). Mektic and Pavic claimed victory against their rivals in the Antalya Open final in January, before Dodig and Polasek snapped Mektic and Pavic’s 12-0 start to the season with victory in last month’s Australian Open semi-finals.

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Musetti On Acapulco Run: 'The Best Week Of My Life'

Lorenzo Musetti described his run to his first ATP 500 semi-final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC as “the best week of my life” on Thursday night.

The 19-year-old, who has played just 11 tour-level matches, beat former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 7-6(3), converting his seventh match point for a memorable victory that helps him break into the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time on Monday.

“It is really tough to describe how I feel right now,” said Musetti. “One word is tired, almost exhausted, but I’m really, really happy. I am in a [500-level] semi-final, finally, and I will be in the Top 100 next week. A lot of my goals came true tonight. I performed really well and I am proud of myself.

“[It’s] the best of week of my life, simple. I came here to playing qualifying and of course I wanted to get through it and gain some points and experience. But I didn’t expect to reach the semi-finals, for sure. I am really excited about this and I am excited about how I am playing.”

The #NextGenATP Italian star has already beaten third-seeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the first round and American Frances Tiafoe in the second round.

“I think this week I can do everything… I don’t want to lose,” said Musetti. “Even tonight, I had a lot of match points to win. I was a break up and then lost it, but tennis is a mental game and the key is to stay focused. I stayed in the match.”

Musetti will now prepare to challenge top-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Acapulco semi-finals on Friday night.

“Tsitsipas will be really tough, he is playing well,” said Musetti, who reached his first ATP Tour semi-final in October 2020 in Sardinia (l. to Djere). “But I am playing well too. Every day is a different day. I will face one of the biggest guys on Tour and I will try to do my best. Let’s see what happens.

“I will try to sleep as soon as I can. I will relax tomorrow and chill, then from 8pm I will warm up. I will try to give my best. I don’t feel tired in my head, or [have] cramps physically, so I think I will be fine for tomorrow.”

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Cameron Norrie loses to Dominik Koepfer at Mexican Open

British number two Cameron Norrie is beaten 7-5 6-4 by Dominik Koepfer in the quarter-finals of the Mexican Open.

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Musetti Denies Dimitrov To Reach Acapulco SF

Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti will contest his maiden ATP Tour 500 semi-final, following a straight-sets upset of former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov in Acapulco on Thursday night. The #NextGenATP contender needed seven match points to end the former Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC champion’s charge, 6-4 7-6(3).

Playing in only 11th tour-level main draw match, Musetti booked a clash against top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in his first tour final. After three qualifying matches and back-to-back three-setters to reach the quarter-finals, the 19-year-old showed remarkable stamina and poise to stay with the Bulgarian fifth seed.

“It’s incredible really. I didn’t expect this,” Musetti said in his on-court interview. “Today I think I played the best match in my life. Grigor is incredible opponent, a great fighter. Even today I had a lot of match points and was really difficult for my coach.”[WATCH LIVE 2]

Having reeled in his younger opponent from 1-4 down to level, Dimitrov was unable to carry momentum as he conceded the opening set two games later. Serving to stay alive at 4-5 in the second set, a string of three straight errors from the Bulgarian gifted the teenager triple match point.

Dimitrov drew on all his experience under pressure as he saved all three and a fourth before a crucial hold for 5-all. After Musetti landed the first ace from either player to hold for 6-5, an untimely fifth double fault from Dimitrov handed his opponent a fifth match point.

But an aggressive forehand into the corner again kept him alive and as the pair headed for a tie-break, it was Musetti who cast aside his earlier misses to steal the initiative, as he jumped to a commanding 6/2 lead.

Match point No. 6 came and went before he sealed the result after two hours and nine minutes. Victory, too, assured him of a Top 100 debut in the ATP Rankings on Monday.

“I feel that I really like winning and don’t like losing so I try to stay focused even on hard moments and I think this is the key and the improvement that I did in this month,” he said. “[Tsitsipas] is one of the biggest guys on tour. It’s really an honour to play with him… I think this week every day it’s something more special so let’s see tomorrow what happens.”

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Stefanos 'Growing An Important Rivalry With Felix'

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime agree their tension-filled quarter-final under the lights in Acapulco could be the match that has raised the bar in a burgeoning rivalry. The top-seeded Greek claimed the honours in a high-quality two-hour, five-minute clash at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC on Thursday night.

But the #NextGenATP Canadian showed more than enough to suggest this showdown would become a more frequent tour-level mainstay. Tsitsipas advanced to the semi-finals 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, a result he would look back upon fondly in years to come.

“It was a high-intensity match from both sides. We both played incredible tennis,” Tsitsipas said. “Generally I think I learnt from it. It’s a good match to have on my portfolio. It’s a good match to have in my ATP Tour history and growing an important rivalry with Felix with many more to come like this.”

Auger-Aliassime could do little against an opponent who played clutch under pressure at 3-all, 0/30 in the deciding set, but he was left to rue back-to-back double faults, which conceded his serve in the proceeding game. It allowed the Greek to serve out the contest as he took the third straight victory from their five ATP Head2Head encounters.

“I think it’s one of the best matches we’ve played,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I think the last four times it was straightforward my way or his way. 

“This time around we played three sets and honestly there was everything in the match… Yeah it’s always a big challenge to play him. I try to bring my best tennis against Stefanos, the intensity is always really high. 

“I feel like I’m at a similar level as him. Some days it goes on his side, some days on mine, so hopefully next time I get my chance and take it.”

Despite being two years his opponent’s senior, the 22-year-old Tsitsipas said this was a rivalry, which began well back in the pair’s junior days. He was adamant it would extend well into both player’s futures given both were in the early stages of their careers.

“Yes I think it would [become a great rivalry],” Tsitsipas said. “I think there is plenty of [time for] both of us left on tour, which means we’re definitely going to face each many more times and it’s important for our sport. 

“It’s important we both share our own personalities and our own style of game, which adds so much to this game. I also think it’s important to have players like him that are very disciplined and very good at what they do, very calm on court.”

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Tsitsipas Outhits Auger-Aliassime In Acapulco Thriller

Top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas found his best tennis under pressure to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 thriller on Thursday and reach the semi-finals at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

Tsitsipas arrived in Acapulco looking to build on a streak of solid results, including a semi-final run at the Australian Open and the AMRO ABN World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Now the Greek player awaits the winner of Lorenzo Musetti and fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov for a shot at his first championship match of 2021. 

The top seed was up against familiar rival Auger-Aliassime in their fifth tour-level clash. The pair have known each other since their junior days, when the Canadian owned the rivalry over Tsitsipas. But Tsitsipas has been increasingly dominating their matchup at the tour level; he has now won three matches in a row to take a 3-2 lead in their ATP Head2Head record. 

Seventh seed Auger-Aliassime made the perfect start and broke Tsitsipas’ serve in the opening game. But the Greek player needed a few games to heat up, and once he did he fired a stinging passing shot to claim the break back at 3-3. That would set the tone for the high-quality encounter, with Tsitsipas winning the last six points of the set with highlight-reel worthy winners.

Both players were deadlocked after splitting sets, and the first seven games of the final set went the way of the server. But under pressure, it was Auger-Aliassime who blinked first and back-to-back double faults handed Tsitsipas the crucial break, giving him a 5-3 lead. 

Earlier in the day, Dominik Koepfer earned a spot into his first ATP Tour semi-final after edging past Cameron Norrie in straight sets. There was not much to separate the players across a tightly-contested hour and 48 minutes, and the German needed five match points to seal the 7-5, 6-4 victory.

“I had four match points on his serve, but I couldn’t get it done,” Koepfer said. “I got a bit tight, I’m not going to lie. I was nervous and I knew I would have to make a lot of first serves. It was a huge relief after such a good week so far. I’m really excited to play again tomorrow.”

Koepfer will take on countryman Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. The second seed received a walkover from Casper Ruud on Thursday, with the Norwegian citing a right wrist injury. Zverev is seeking his 14th ATP Tour title and his first in Acapulco after reaching the final in 2019.

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Harris Takes His Chance, Beats Nishikori On 'Home Court' In Dubai

South African Lloyd Harris continued his dream week on Thursday by becoming the first qualifier to reach the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semi-finals.

World No. 81 Harris advanced to his first ATP 500 semi-final with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori in one hour and 37 minutes.

Having saved two break points in the deciding set, the match turned in the eighth game when Nishikori overhit a forehand to hand Harris a chance to serve for a place in the semi-finals.

“I have a few matches under my best now,” said Harris. “It’s starting to feel like my home court. I am really enjoying it out here and played really well on the break points [in the third set].”

Nishikori admitted, “He took the chance at the end and served well for sure. I have a couple of chances, but he hit his forehand and backhand well.”

The 24-year-old hit 22 of his 34 winners off his serve for his fourth win of the week. He will now play third seed Denis Shapovalov on Friday at the Aviation Club.

When asked about what he put his good form down to, and his next opponent, Harris said: “I think I’ve spent more time on the Tour now and built confidence. Denis has played some fantastic, dynamic tennis and it will be a tough challenge.”

Harris, who earned the biggest win of his career over top seed Dominic Thiem in the Dubai second round, won the first five games of the match, but it was a different story in the second set when Nishikori took a 4-0 lead. He is projected to break into the Top 70 of the FedEx ATP Rankings on Monday.

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