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The Last Time With… Jannik Sinner

In the latest installment of our popular series, #NextGenATP Italian and two-time ATP Tour titlist Jannik Sinner reveals the last time…

I lost something important?
When I was a skier, I lost my skis once. I went to eat something and, when I want back, the skis were not there anymore. That was tough for me. I don’t know where they are. I still don’t know that and, honestly, I don’t want to know that because it is a shame. It was in Italy at an important race. I came to the start and the skis were not there anymore. Normally, you have two pairs of skis and I went with the other one. It was tough to accept that.

I paid money to hire a court or buy tennis balls?
I would say in Juniors. I had to pay for tennis balls and the court, but it was not much. It was okay. I think it was somewhere in Bosnia. Fortunately, I had money with me.

Being famous helped me?
I don’t like going to restaurants and not paying, because I don’t consider myself to be famous. For them, I was famous. It was in my [area], where I come from. We went to the restaurant and they said, ‘No, no, it is good.’ I always like to pay, because for me it is [a sign of] respect to other people. I wanted to pay and said, ‘Come on, let me pay’. I had a normal lunch, but they didn’t let me.

I strung a tennis racquet?
Not long ago, because normally when I am in Monaco sometimes I string my racquets by myself. When was I last in Monaco? Two weeks ago, before Dubai I was in Monaco. [It takes me] 20 minutes. I am quite fast.

I cooked for myself or others?
Sometimes I cook. If I am in Monaco and someone comes to me, my friends, my girlfriend, it is okay for me to cook. [I would cook] a simple meal. I am not a chef. [Last time], I cooked chicken with vegetables. Before, [I have cooked] pasta with tomato sauce.

I met a childhood idol?
Rafa, definitely. Always when I see him, I am quite nervous. It is the same with Roger. It is always special to meet them.

I attended a live sporting event other than tennis?
At the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals, we went to see AC Milan v Lazio. I think we lost 2-1. I am an AC Milan fan. It was strange because we were the whole group together, with all the Next Gen players. It was 1-1 until the 80th minute and then we went away because after the match, there are a bunch of people going around. After two minutes, we were 2-1 down. It was a bad, bad day.

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Gaston Ready For Takeoff In Miami

For Hugo Gaston, life is quite a bit different after his breakout run at last year’s Roland Garros, but in many ways it’s stayed the same.

The Frenchman was the last player from his country left standing by the third round, and he made sure that Parisians remembered his name. Ranked No. 239 in the world, Gaston stunned former champion Stan Wawrinka in thriller 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 to announce his arrival.

His run propelled him into the Top 200, and he achieved career-high No. 157 in FedEx ATP Rankings in October. It also won the 20-year-old plenty of new fans and supporters.

“Sometimes a lot of people want to take pictures with me now,” Gaston told ATPTour.com. “[Even] when I was in my home city, some people wanted to take photos with me. Of course, it’s nice for me. 

“Of course, the people know me a little bit more [now], but I’ve stayed the same. I try to stay focussed on my tennis game.”

 

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A post shared by Hugo Gaston (@gastonhugo)

Off the court, the 20-year-old still lives with his parents in Fonsorbes, a suburb of Toulouse, France – and a place where tennis-playing Gaston stands out for more than his signature drop shots. 

“In Toulouse, it’s like 80 per cent of the population that works in [the aeronautics industry]. It’s really big there,” Gaston told ATPTour.com. 

His hometown lies at the centre of European aeronautics, with over 500 companies clustered around France’s “Aerospace Valley”. In fact, both of Gaston’s parents as well as his older brother work for airline manufacturer Airbus ensuring quality control and making sure the aircrafts are ready for takeoff. 

“It’s really nice, sometimes we just talk about airplanes,” Gaston explained. “It’s good to talk not about tennis. For me it’s important to learn what I can from my family about airplanes as well, not only tennis.”

But Gaston always knew he was destined for tennis, another passion he inherited from his family. His father was the president of the Fonsorbes Tennis Club and he grew up accompanying him to the courts. 

He always had a racquet in his hands since he began playing at the age of two, and grew up idolising fellow lefty Rafael Nadal. 

“He’s a lefty and I like his mentality. For me, it’s really nice to watch [him play] and I try to take something from him [as an example],” Gaston said. “[I met Rafa for the first time] during the juniors, maybe in Australian Open. For me I was a young player and to see Rafa just behind me was amazing.”

Like Nadal, Gaston found the best tennis of his career on the courts of Roland Garros. The conditions in the French capital don’t exactly suit his game, but Gaston found joy on his signature shot time and again on his way to the fourth round.

“I always play a lot of drop shots, not only in Roland Garros but even back in juniors it was the same,” he said. “Of course, the conditions at the French Open are really difficult so for me it’s really good to do this shot. I do a lot, a lot of drop shots. For me it’s [been] a good shot, and I try to hit a drop shot when I can.” 

The Gaston drop shot was on display at the Miami Open presented Itau, where the Frenchman won his first match at the ATP Masters 1000 level. Up against Dominik Koepfer, Gaston recorded a 6-1, 6-4 victory to book a second-round clash with No. 21 seed Jannik Sinner. He’ll be out for revenge, as Sinner won 6-4, 6-1 in their most recent meeting in Marseille. 

“My dream is to be the No. 1 and in the Top 10 and to take a lot of Grand Slams. I know it’s really difficult, we have a lot of really good players. So I will try to do my best and we’ll practise, and we will see.”

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Musetti's Magic Moves #NextGenATP Italian Into Miami Second Round

Lorenzo Musetti is flying higher than ever, and based on his performance on Thursday evening, the #NextGenATP Italian has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Musetti battled past gritty American wild card Michael Mmoh 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round of the Miami Open presented by Itau. This was the teen’s Miami debut and his first ATP Masters 1000 match on hard courts.

“It’s really nice. It’s my first time here [in Miami]. Last week was a fantastic run in Acapulco,” Musetti said in his on-court interview. “Michael, I knew he was a great opponent. I played a really good match, it was a tough match. [It was] really intense and I really enjoyed [playing] here. I’m really happy.”

The 19-year-old enjoyed the best run of his young career last week in Acapulco, where he qualified and reached the semi-finals of an ATP 500 event for the first time. Musetti earned his first Top 10 win against Diego Schwartzman in Mexico, and later ousted Grigor Dimitrov in what he believes was the best match of his young career.

Musetti, who became the youngest player in the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings this week, maintained his high level against Mmoh. Although the American battled hard in his home state, the Italian was too solid and came up with too many hot shots under pressure to advance after one hour and 38 minutes. The World No. 94 rallied from 0/40 down as he served out the match, saving his third break point in the game with a backhand laser down the line for a winner.

“I think my lethal weapon is the backhand down the line,” Musetti said. “It was a really tough moment [and] I came out with a fantastic backhand down the line. I think it’s one of my keys [to] improving my game.”

Musetti will next play 23rd seed Benoit Paire, who was in the stands watching the teen’s victory. 

“He’s a really nice guy and is a fantastic player,” Musetti said. “He has had a lot of ups and downs in his career, but I think he plays incredible tennis. It will be really tough, but for sure it will be fun and a great experience.”

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Korda Makes Winning Miami Debut Against Albot

Sebastian Korda only dropped three games against Radu Albot on Thursday to win his debut match at the Miami Open presented by Itau in emphatic style.

After fighting through a tight opening set, Korda was nearly untouchable in the second against the Moldovan, who is ranked 10 spots higher at No. 77 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Korda broke the Albot serve four times and fired 24 winners on his way to a 6-3, 6-0 victory.

“I love playing at night,” Korda told ATPTour.com. “I’ve only played two day matches this whole year. I love playing at night, and I love playing in South Florida. I’m super pleased with how I played today.”

Korda started the season by reaching his first ATP Tour final at the Delray Beach Open by Vitacost.com, notching wins over the likes of Tommy Paul and John Isner. He’s been on the rise since and won an ATP Challenger Tour title in Quimper.

The in-form American had the momentum on his side against Albot in Miami. Korda kept him under pressure from the start, and Albot had to save five break points in his very first service game. It didn’t get any easier from there, with Korda taking control at 4-2 and closing out the opening set. 

Sixteen of Korda’s 24 winners came off the forehand wing, and it was the shot that dictated play for the American during the one-sided second set. He reeled off the last seven games in a row to seal his first ATP Masters 1000 victory in an hour and 16 minutes. 

“[I’m] just putting in the hard work, and so far it’s paying off,” Korda said. “Hopefully I can take the next step and go a little deeper now.”

Korda will face 10th seed Fabio Fognini in his next match – and the pair will be seeing a lot of each other as they’re set to play in the first round of doubles as well. Korda will partner with countryman Michael Mmoh to face Fognini and Maximo Gonzalez on Friday.

Confidently crushing ?@SebiKorda claims his first Masters 1000 victory with a commanding 6-3 6-0 triumph over Radu Albot. #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/2vrtG9MJhg

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2021

“I’ve been watching him since I was a kid, so it’s going to be a fun match,” Korda said. “I’ll play him in doubles, and hopefully I get a little feel for his game and hopefully get ready for Saturday.”

Elsewhere, Denis Kudla rallied from a set down to defeat in-form Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The American, who was seeking his first tour-level victory since the 2019 US Open, converted two of his three break points to advance after one hour and 54 minutes. Kudla will face Delray Beach champion Hubert Hurkacz in the second round.

Jordan Thompson needed two hours and 12 minutes to earn a 7-6(6), 6-4 victory against Federico Delbonis. The Aussie, who reached last month’s Great Ocean Road Open quarter-finals, saved a set point at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break to reach the second round. Thompson will meet three-time quarter-finalist Milos Raonic in his next match.

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How This Lifelong Fan Won A VIP Trip To 2022 ATP Cup

With nine Australian Open titles to Novak Djokovic’s name, few tennis fans would bet against the World No. 1 winning at Melbourne Park. But that’s exactly what one American tennis fan did during the ATP Cup Bracket Challenge, and it’s earned him the VIP trip of a lifetime. 

Jon Spencer Stewart from Arlington, Texas, correctly chose Russia, Italy, Spain and Germany as his four group leaders, picked both semi-final winners and named Team Russia as the ultimate ATP Cup champion.

Now, Stewart will be packing his bags to see the 2022 ATP Cup in person as the Bracket Challenge grand prize winner. In addition to a VIP trip for two to Australia to watch the semi-finals and final of next year’s tournament, Stewart has won a backstage tour and a meet-and-greet with an ATP Tour player. 

“It’s unbelievable. I remember filling that out and almost forgetting about it, but I thought, ‘You know, I probably did really good on that.’ And then suddenly I got the email!” Stewart told ATPTour.com. “I don’t watch tennis all the time taking detailed notes, I pretty much went with my gut. I can’t explain it… I just thought the Russians would be the better team instead of Serbia. I had a premonition.”

Stewart’s ‘premonition’ was backed by a bit of scouting as he followed the abbreviated 2020 season. He kept a particularly keen eye on Italians like Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini, and enjoyed the back-court play of the Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev-led Russians. 

He even got an early look at Aslan Karatsev long before he made waves at this year’s Australian Open as a qualifier. In fact, seeing the 27-year-old’s name alongside Medvedev and Rublev’s sealed Stewart’s winning pick for Team Russia. 

“I think I was watching [Prague] where I first saw Aslan Karatsev,” he recalled. “I don’t think they played him in the ATP Cup, but I saw him in [Team Russia’s] line-up. I was very impressed with him. I thought, ‘This guy’s great, but he can never win.’ And then he blew everybody away at the Australian Open.”

But only one friend or family member will be coming along with him, meaning Stewart has one last important pick to make as the ATP Cup Bracket Challenge winner.

“I’ve never been to Australia, and I’ve always dreamed of going there… Deciding who to bring with me, that’s the tough part,” Stewart joked. 

* All photographs courtesy of Jon Spencer Stewart. Photo credit: James Lavine

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Cilic Strikes Unique 'Overhead Drop Shot' In Coria Win

Across his 11 previous appearances at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Marin Cilic has played many memorable matches and struck countless winners. But in his first-round match on Thursday, the Croatian added a new shot to his repertoire in his 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory against Federico Coria.

The former World No. 3 claimed three service breaks to improve to 12-11 at the event after two hours and three minutes. The first of those breaks came in extraordinary fashion, as he mishit an attempted overhead for a drop shot winner.

Cilic, who reached the 2013 Miami semi-finals, won 100 per cent of his first-serve points in the decider (16/16) to book a second-round meeting against 13th seed Cristian Garin. In his only previous ATP Head2Head match against Garin, the Croatian earned a 6-1, 7-6(5) win at the 2019 Cinch Championships.

“Federico played solid,” said Cilic. “He is retrieving a lot of balls back and [he is] a good grinder behind the court. It was important for me to keep my head down, keep the focus and just try to get the best level I could today.”

Another former top five player was unable to advance Thursday. Lucky loser Damir Dzumhur eliminated Kevin Anderson 7-6(6), 7-5 after one hour and 57 minutes.

“I know that my game can be much better than what I’m showing right now and my position in the [FedEx] ATP Rankings can be much better,” Dzumhur said. “This win means a lot to me and I hope that this is going to give me enough confidence to continue playing good and to make some good results in the next tournaments.”

The World No. 126, who lost in the final round of qualifying against Alejandro Tabilo, will take a 3-1 ATP Head2Head series lead into his clash against second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“I’m going to try to keep going that way. Stefanos is improving his game so much every week,” Dzumhur said. “He’s one of the best players in the world right now and he’s definitely one of the young generation who can come to No. 1.”

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Khachanov/Rublev Down Koolhof/Kubot In Miami

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev made a strong start to their Miami Open presented by Itau campaign on Thursday when they eliminated sixth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-2.

The unseeded pair saved seven of the eight break points they faced to record a 69-minute victory on Court 6. Khachanov and Rublev are chasing their maiden team title in Miami, following two runner-up finishes at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. The Russians advanced to the championship match at this event in 2018 (l. to Bryan/Bryan) and also reached the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters final (l. to Herbert/Mahut).

Last year’s Rolex Paris Masters champions Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz opened their Miami title bid with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. The Canadian-Polish pair will face fourth seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek or Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin for a quarter-final spot.

Tim Puetz and Alexander Zverev also eliminated seeded opposition on Thursday. The Germans converted four of their seven break points to beat third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-2, 6-4.

Taylor Fritz and John Isner marked their team debut with a 7-5, 6-3 win against Alexander Bublik and Adrian Mannarino. The Americans will meet second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic or countrymen Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey in the second round.

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Miami Open: Jack Draper retires on ATP Tour debut

British teenager Jack Draper is forced to retire from his debut on the ATP Tour after struggling with the heat and collapsing on court in the Miami Open.

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Kokkinakis Strikes Past 17-year-old Mochizuki In Miami

Thanasi Kokkinakis continued his return from a right shoulder injury on Thursday, by winning his first ATP Masters 1000 match for three years, after booking a place in the Miami Open presented by Itau second round.

The Australian, who is currently at No. 243 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, overcame fellow qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan 6-3, 6-3 in 84 minutes to set up a clash against Hungarian No. 29 seed Marton Fucsovics.

Kokkinakis, who beat then-World No. 1 Roger Federer as a No. 176-ranked qualifier in the 2018 Miami second round, returned to the ATP Tour last month at the Murray River Open in Melbourne. The 24-year-old, who did not compete for 16 months, took Stefanos Tsitsipas to five sets at the Australian Open.

Kokkinakis recovered from 0/40 in the first game, then broke 17-year-old Mochizuki courtesy of a double fault for a 3-1 lead. The first set, which lasted 38 minutes, ended with Mochizuki hitting a forehand long.

Kokkinakis seized the momentum after three straight service breaks at the start of the second set, but Mochizuki continued to fight and broke back with a backhand return winner at 2-5. Kokkinakis completed his second tour-level win of 2021 after Mochizuki struck a backhand into the net.

Former junior World No. 1 Mochizuki, who won the 2019 Wimbledon junior title, was making his Masters 1000 debut this week in Miami. The World No. 630 has a 1-2 record in ATP Challenger Tour finals.

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Wawrinka Sidelined Due To Left Foot Surgery

Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka has undergone minor surgery on a left foot injury.

The Swiss star, who announced the news on Twitter, said, “After having some problems in my left foot for a while, I have decided to do a small procedure on it. Everything went well. I will be out for a few weeks, but can’t wait to start practising again soon.”

Hey guys, just wanted to update you . After having some problems in my left foot for a while, I have decided to do a small procedure ???? on it. Everything went well ??. I will be out for a few weeks but can’t wait to start practicing again soon ???? ?? pic.twitter.com/5PZre7kluA

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 25, 2021

Wawrinka has compiled a 3-3 record in the 2021 season and last played at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on 9 March. The 35-year-old, who is currently No. 21 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, underwent two left knee surgeries in August 2017.

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