Tennis News

A Year After Memorable Title Run, Opelka Ready For 'Incredible Field' In Delray Beach

Winning a three-setter to claim an ATP Tour title is an impressive accomplishment. Earning two three-set victories in a day to capture a crown is on another level, and that’s exactly what Reilly Opelka did at last year’s Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com to win his second ATP Tour trophy.

The American will compete in Delray Beach again starting on 7 January as he attempts to retain a tour-level title for the first time. He carries plenty of good memories into the first week of the season at the ATP 250.

“It was great [last year]. It’s a home tournament. I’ve been going to the event [since I was] a little kid, since I think [I was] 11, 12 years old. It was cool to win an event that I used to go watch,” Opelka said. “I beat some really good players, and especially the last day was a really unique scenario that doesn’t happen too often.”

Opelka started Championship Sunday last year by saving a match point in the semi-finals against former World No. 3 Milos Raonic, one of the biggest servers on the ATP Tour. Then the American battled past speedy lefty Yoshihito Nishioka for the title.

“I was tested a lot physically and I beat some really good players. It was just a bizarre scenario,” Opelka said. “[It is] definitely one that I won’t forget, since I obviously won the title, but also just because [I won] two matches in one day and the conditions of it were pretty crazy.”

The 23-year-old is certainly comfortable in Delray Beach. In fact, he resides in the city. At 16, Opelka watched countryman Steve Johnson upset top-seeded Tommy Haas. The next year, he recalls seeing American lefty Donald Young advance to the final. In 2018, Opelka made his tournament debut.

The home favourite believes the 2021 Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com field is an impressive one. It includes Raonic, former World No. 1 Andy Murray, American No. 1 John Isner and more.

“The field’s incredible. They have a lot of really great players,” Opelka said. “You’ve got probably one of the most high-level entry fields that they’ve seen. Isner, [Sam] Querrey, Frances [Tiafoe] has won it. There [are three] past champions, so a lot of guys that like playing there.”

Standing 6’11”, one of Opelka’s biggest priorities is taking care of his body. The right-hander came out of this year’s COVID-19 tournament suspension firing at the Western & Southern Open, defeating Diego Schwartzman and Matteo Berrettini to make his first Masters 1000 quarter-final. But a right knee injury hindered him the rest of the year. 

That’s why since his final tournament of the year in Antwerp, Opelka has focussed on improving physically.

“I really think my body will be great there [in Delray Beach] because I’ve put in a lot of work and I’ve emphasised my body a lot this off-season,” Opelka said. “I want to really prioritise going into the year 100 per cent healthy.”

As far as his knee goes, the American is confident in the work he has put into getting healthy.

“My knee is doing great. We had to take a lot of time off and spend a lot of time working on it, but it was stubborn and I really needed the three months that I had off, which was nice,” Opelka said. “I’m pretty confident in it moving forward. I really hope it holds up. That is the million-dollar question for me, ‘How [is it] going to hold up?’ I’m confident that it will, but you never know.”

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Star Teams Old & New Headline Australian Open Doubles Field

A slew of veteran teams and a group of new high-profile duos highlight the doubles field for the 2021 Australian Open.

Many of the pairs are familiar, with the likes of 2019 year-end No. 1 team Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah, defending champions Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury and 2019 titlists Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut among the top seeds.

But there have been shake-ups among the world’s best teams that will see new duos trying to make their mark in Melbourne next February.

Croatian Mate Pavic, part of the year-end No. 1 team in 2020 with Bruno Soares, will partner countryman Nikola Mektic, who won the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals trophy alongside Wesley Koolhof. Looking for a new partner, Soares found one in a familiar face: Jamie Murray. The duo finished atop the FedEx ATP Doubles Team Rankings in 2016 and won the Australian Open title that year.

Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo amicably split after a successful partnership that lasted more than four years. Kubot will partner Koolhof. Melo will play the Australian Open with Romanian Horia Tecau. But in the longterm, the Brazilian will compete alongside Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer, Tecau’s former longtime partner.

Other new teams to keep an eye on in Australia include Henri Kontinen/Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Raven Klaasen/Ben McLachlan. Kontinen is a two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion (w/John Peers) and Roger-Vasselin made the final at the season finale this year with Jurgen Melzer, who is retiring.

There are plenty of singles stars competing in the Australian Open doubles draw, too. Leading the way is World No. 9 Diego Schwartzman, who will play with fellow Argentine Federico Coria. Canadian Denis Shapovalov will compete at the season’s first major with countryman Vasek Pospisil, who was named Comeback Player of the Year in the 2020 ATP Awards.

The top-ranked Aussie singles player, Alex de Minaur, will play with countryman Matt Reid, and Rolex Paris Masters champions Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz will try to translate their French success to Melbourne Park.

Other pairs to watch for include two-time Roland Garros champions Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies, 2020 Nitto ATP Finals competitors Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and 2019 Western & Southern Open winners Ivan Dodig/Filip Polasek.

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ATP Concludes Querrey Investigation

The ATP has concluded its investigation regarding Sam Querrey, initiated following a breach of COVID-19 protocol at the 2020 St. Petersburg Open.

The investigation reviewed the full circumstances surrounding the incident and concluded Mr. Querrey’s conduct to be contrary to the integrity of the game under the Player Major Offense provision in the ATP Code of Conduct. As a result, the ATP has issued a fine of US$20,000.

Taking into consideration Mr. Querrey’s many years of otherwise good standing with the ATP and other mitigating factors, the fine is suspended and will be lifted subject to Mr. Querrey committing no further breaches of health and safety protocols related to COVID-19 within a probationary six-month period. The player has five days to appeal the decision, should he choose to do so.

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Australian Open: Ashleigh Barty to partner Jennifer Brady as Jamie Murray reunites with Bruno Soares

World number one Ashley Barty will partner American Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open doubles competition.

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Rublev: 'We're Going To Try To Improve & Do Better Next Year'

Russian Andrey Rublev was voted the Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2020 ATP Awards by his fellow players following an impressive season in which he cracked the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time.

“Thank you so much for all the votes,” Rublev said. “This trophy goes to you for all your support and we’re going to try to improve and do better next year.”

The cherry on top of an incredible season ?@AndreyRublev97 is the Most Improved Player of the Year ?#ATPAwards pic.twitter.com/NeXo2D5Zuz

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 21, 2020

The 23-year-old rose from No. 23 to a career-high No. 8 this year thanks to a scorching-hot campaign in which he led the ATP Tour with five titles. Entering the season, the Russian owned two tour-level trophies.

Rublev exploded onto the courts at the start of the year by winning back-to-back titles at the Adelaide International and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, becoming the first player since Dominik Hrbaty in 2004 to begin the year with titles in the first two weeks of the season. He continued to impress in the second half of the season by reaching quarter-finals at the US Open and Roland Garros. The two-time Next Gen ATP Finals competitor claimed three ATP 500 trophies with victories at the Hamburg European Open, St. Petersburg Open and Erste Bank Open (Vienna).

The big-hitting righty capped off his best season to date with his debut appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. He finished with a 41-10 win-loss record on the year, equalling Novak Djokovic (41-5) with the most match wins on Tour in 2020. Ugo Humbert, Diego Schwartzman and Jannik Sinner were also nominated in this category. Rublev’s coach, Fernando Vicente, was named Coach of the Year in the 2020 ATP Awards.

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“Andrey Has Made Me A Better Coach”: Vicente Named 2020 Coach Of The Year

Former Spanish player Fernando Vicente has been voted Coach of the Year in the 2020 ATP Awards after guiding 23-year-old Andrey Rublev to a career-best breakthrough season.

The Spaniard has been working with Rublev for four years, with a front-row view to the Russian’s highs and lows: from ‘the toughest moment’ following the player’s 2018 spinal stress fracture, to his comeback and meteoric rise in 2020. Their hard work was rewarded as Rublev tore through the competition this year, winning a Tour-leading five titles and lifting his FedEx ATP Ranking to a career-high No. 8.

And for Vicente, it felt like a double victory as Rublev was also recognised with the 2020 Most Improved Player of the Year award by his ATP peers.

“These awards, both mine and Andrey’s, are just a consequence of the years of hard work and countless hours dedicated to a sport that gives us so many emotions – for better or for worse,” Vicente said, speaking exclusively to ATPTour.com. “We’ve gone through some difficult times during these last almost five years together.

“Having the recognition from his peers is something that makes him feel so happy and appreciated. They also see Andrey day to day, how hard he works and tries each day to become a better player.”

The first Spanish coach to win Coach of the Year since the award’s inception in 2016, Vicente retired from professional tennis in 2011 after a career that took him as high as World No. 29. He also won three ATP Tour singles titles and two doubles crowns. His partnership with Rublev began in 2016 when the Russian arrived at the 4Slamtennis Academy, which Vicente co-founded with fellow players Galo Blanco and Jairo Velasco, near Barcelona.

“I would say Andrey has made me a better coach,” Vicente reflected. “I’ve learned and continue to learn a lot with him. I think that on my end, he understands what I’m trying to impart on him and there’s a very good personal connection, too. If not, it would be impossible to stay together so long.”

“This trophy goes to you for all your support.”@AndreyRublev97 | @Vinsecte_Fer | #ATPAwards pic.twitter.com/vnsX132hvj

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 21, 2020

One of the qualities that Vicente highlights in his player is Rublev’s strong motivation and desire to continually improve as a player – something the Spaniard says makes his job “a pleasure”. It was this same quality that drove Rublev to new heights in 2020, despite the tough circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tour’s resulting five-month stoppage.

The result was five titles from five finals for Rublev – including his first three at the ATP 500-level – a breakthrough into the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, and a debut at the Nitto ATP Finals. In addition to being the 23-year-old’s best season to date, it was also Vicente’s most successful year as a coach.

“At the end of the day, I’m the person who accompanies him and works in the best way possible to make sure that the dream he has and loves so much comes true in some way!” he said. “For me, it’s a pleasure to work with a player who is motivated all the time and works with such passion, always with the desire to keep improving.”

For Vicente, beyond the titles and accolades that Rublev achieved, the proudest moment of the season came away from the courts in the buildup to the Tour’s season-finale. Rublev was one of the last players to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in a battle that came down to the wire, and the Spaniard applauded the way his player handled himself through those pressure-filled moments.

“What I’ve been most pleased to see was Andrey’s steady mentality during the weeks where our objective was to reach the Nitto ATP Finals. Those were weeks with so much tension, and he managed to compete at a very high level.

“Of course, I’m pleased with almost everything. It was his best year in terms of [FedEx ATP] Ranking, he won the five finals he played and in general his entire game improved a lot. I would give him an ‘outstanding’ on the season.”

With a rollercoaster 2020 season in the books and a new award to adorn his trophy cabinet, Vicente made it clear that he refuses to rest on their laurels in the season to come. That same desire for continuous improvement that makes Rublev such a force on the Tour was evident as Vicente outlined his vision for 2021: to keep rising to new heights.

“We’ve been through very tough moments and now we’ve had a great year. The key is to keep working with passion and the work will bear fruit. So we have to keep going and not be satisfied, there is a lot to improve if we want to stay at this level!”

Fernando Vicente was selected as ATP Coach of the Year by fellow coaches from a shortlist that included Gilles Cervara (Daniil Medvedev), Juan Ignacio Chela (Diego Schwartzman), Nicolas Massu (Dominic Thiem), and Riccardo Piatti (Jannik Sinner).

“I don’t want to forget to give thanks to all the coaches and players who have voted for us. I know that there are many players and coaches who work equally hard or harder than us, but well, in this case Andrey had a year to remember! I wish them all the best in the upcoming season.

“I also don’t want to forget to give thanks to my wife and son for understanding what it means to be a professional tennis coach. It happens to all coaches, having to leave your wife and kids behind at home – they are the real champions! And to close, I want to thank and acknowledge all of the coaches that have been with Andrey from the start: Marina Marenko, Andrey’s mom, as well as the 4Slamtennis Academy: Galo Blanco, Abraham González, Marcos Pizzorno, Phillip Wessely and Marc Boada.” – Fernando Vicente

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Indian Wells tournament postponed over coronavirus concerns

The Indian Wells tournament, scheduled to take place in California in March 2021, is postponed due to coronavirus concerns, the ATP says.

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ATP Announces Updated Q1 Calendar

The ATP has today announced a revised schedule for weeks 8-13 of the 2021 ATP Tour season, as tennis continues its return during the COVID-19 pandemic following the announcement of a reconfigured schedule for the first seven weeks earlier this month.

Several early-season events are scheduled to follow the conclusion of the Australian Open, including the European Indoor, Latin American and Middle East swings, which lead into the Miami Open presented by Itau in the final two weeks of March.

View 2021 Calendar

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells will not be held in its customary dates in March. Alternative dates are being assessed for the tournament to potentially take place later in the year.

All subsequent sections of the 2021 calendar, beginning with the Spring clay-court season from week 14, remain unchanged at this time, with all tournaments planned to take place as originally scheduled.

The ATP continues to assess opportunities for additional single-year licences to be scheduled in 2021 and will communicate any additions once confirmed.

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Felix Sets Sights On Top 10, Turin Spot In 2021

Felix Auger-Aliassime has shared his ambition to crack the Top 10 in the FedEx ATP Rankings and qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in 2021.

The #NextGenATP Canadian is currently ranked No. 21 after a stellar 2020 campaign, which included three runner-up finishes (Rotterdam, Marseille, Cologne 1). To take his game to the next level in the new year, Auger-Aliassime spent more than a week training at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca this month.

“I want to obviously keep on improving. I came here to train hard and reach another level. I would love to be in the Top 10 and be part of the Nitto ATP Finals next year,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I think I have what it takes in me and now I need to do well, do work and play good matches.”

To climb higher in the FedEx ATP Rankings, Auger-Aliassime will need to improve his consistency in 2021. Alongside his three final appearances, the Montreal-born star lost his opening match at six events in 2020.

“I have to improve and play good tennis week after week with good engagement and good intensity every week,” said Auger-Aliassime. “If I can do that, I will give myself chances to attain my objective.”

Seeking to improve his consistency and intensity, the 6’4” right-hander could not have chosen a better location for his pre-season training block. During his time at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, the Canadian was able to learn from the man who instilled those two attributes into the heart of Nadal’s game: Toni Nadal.

“It is great. I didn’t have the chance to talk to Toni as much as Rafa at the tournaments. To have Toni on the court, to share tennis with him and have him give his feedback on court has been great,” said Auger-Aliassime. “That is one of the biggest reasons I came here, to share some experience and to have some knowledge from Toni and it has been amazing. He has helped me a lot so far and he gives me great tips. I like his ethic and mentality.”

After spending more than a week at the academy, Auger-Aliassime shared a positive review of the facility and its staff. The Manacor-based tennis centre is currently expanding its facilities, which will include the addition of three indoor hard courts and seven covered clay courts.

“It was my first time, but I have been happily surprised by everything. It is as good as I imagined, even better. I feel like everybody has a very good energy here, a lot of respect, a lot of engagement and passion for the game. For me, as a professional athlete, a tennis player, there is everything I need to train, recover and have a good time.”

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ATP Announces 2021-2022 Player Council

The ATP has announced the 2021-2022 ATP Player Council, as voted by ATP player members.

A number of existing player members were re-elected for an additional term on the Council, including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Roger Federer, John Millman, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Andy Murray and Bruno Soares.

In addition, Gilles Simon returns to the Council having served previous terms, while newcomers Pablo Andujar and Marcus Daniell will serve their first term.

Members elected to serve on the ATP Player Council through June 2022 are:

• 1-50 Singles: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Roger Federer, John Millman, Rafael Nadal
• 51-100 Singles: Pablo Andujar, Gilles Simon
• 1-100 Doubles: Marcus Daniell, Bruno Soares
• At-Large: Kevin Anderson, Andy Murray
• Alumni Representative: Colin Dowdeswell
• Coach Representative: Daniel Vallverdu

The new ATP Player Council will have its first meeting in the new year, where the President and Vice President will be elected.

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