French Open 2020: Britain's Alfie Hewett completes double by winning singles title
Britain’s Alfie Hewett wins his second title of the 2020 French Open by beating Belgium’s Joachim Gerard in the wheelchair singles final.
Britain’s Alfie Hewett wins his second title of the 2020 French Open by beating Belgium’s Joachim Gerard in the wheelchair singles final.
Britain’s Andy Lapthorne says he will take a break from tennis because of mental health issues after finishing runner-up in the French Open men’s quad singles.
Following in the footsteps of Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka is a tall task for the next generation of Swiss stars, but tennis fans were given a glimpse into the future on Saturday at Roland Garros.
In the first all-Swiss Grand Slam junior singles final, Dominic Stephan Stricker overcame countryman Leandro Riedi 6-2, 6-4 to capture his first junior major crown. The seventh seed converted five of 10 break points to lift the trophy in just over an hour.
“[Roger] actually said I should improve my serve. That’s what I did actually,” said Stricker. “I think my serve is pretty good now. It helped me a lot here.”
Stricker is just the second Swiss player to lift the boys’ singles trophy in Paris. Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 men’s singles titlist, claimed the boys’ singles title in 2003.
“I want to congratulate Leandro, he played a pretty good week,” said Stricker on court. “You guys are doing a great job, I hope we will be playing in some more finals soon.”
View this post on InstagramAmazing days here???. Thanks to @rogerfederer @severinluthi for the opportunity to practice with you.??❤️ Now looking forward to Australian open juniors with these two guys ?@leandro_00014 @jeromekyym ??❤️ ??
Stricker entered the contest seeking his first victory against Riedi. The junior No. 10 had lost each of his past three contests against his countryman across the junior and professional levels without claiming a set.
“He was too good for me today, basically. All the best for the future, I hope we will soon have big battles again in the final,” said Riedi.
Stricker’s triumph was just the beginning of a memorable day for the Swiss. Later on, the 18-year-old claimed the junior boys’ doubles title alongside partner Flavio Cobelli.
Stricker and Cobelli needed just 59 minutes to defeat Bruno Oliveira and Natan Rodrigues 6-2, 6-4. Stricker is the first player to claim the boys’ singles and doubles trophies in the same year since Fernando Gonzalez in 1998.
“Winning singles and winning doubles, it’s just amazing,” said Stricker. “I really enjoyed this day. I will enjoy every minute of this evening for sure… It was a great tournament for me, for sure. It’s perfect.”
After the US Open Final saw none of the Big Four compete in it for the first slam final since US Open 2014, things are back to…
Casper Ruud looks to finish his 2020 clay campaign on a high note at the Forte Village Sardegna Open, an ATP 250 tournament in Sardinia, Italy. The 21-year-old Norwegian leads the ATP Tour with a 17-5 mark on clay this season, highlighted by his first title in February at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires (d. Pedro Sousa).
Ruud, who was also a runner-up in Santiago during the Golden Swing, continued his clay success upon the ATP Tour’s return from suspension. He reached the semi-finals last month at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and the Hamburg European Open, respectively losing to eventual champions Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev.
In addition to Ruud, the Sardinia field includes Dusan Lajovic, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Lorenzo Sonego, Pablo Andujar, Tommy Paul, Pablo Cuevas and Frances Tiafoe.
Here’s all you need to know about the Sardinia tennis tournament: what is the schedule, where to watch and more.
Established: 2020
Tournament Dates: 12-18 October 2020
Tournament Director: Giorgio Di Palermo
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Schedule
* Qualifying: Saturday – Sunday
* Main Draw: Monday – Sunday at 10:00am
* Doubles Final: Saturday, 17 October
* Singles Final: Sunday, 18 October at 12:00pm
How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV
TV Schedule
Venue: Forte Village Resort
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €271,345 (Total Financial Commitment: €271,345)
View Who Is Playing, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown
Did You Know… The ATP has announced the addition of four new ATP 250 events to the 2020 provisional schedule. In addition to Sardinia, the calendar also features back-to-back tournaments in Cologne, Germany, and the Astana Open in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
Save the date: from October 12th to 18th, Forte Village will host one of the most prestigious national and international events, organised by the FIT – the #ATP250 tournament.
Are you ready? Let’s start the countdown to Forte Village Sardegna Open together.#ForteVillage pic.twitter.com/iXGZTqWAY8— Forte Village Resort (@Forte_Village) September 11, 2020
Alexander Zverev leads the way at the bett1HULKS Indoors, the first of two back-to-back ATP 250 indoor hard-court tournaments in Cologne added to the updated 2020 calendar. The 23-year-old German, runner-up to Dominic Thiem last month at the US Open, is looking to win his first title of 2020.
Andy Murray, who upset Zverev at the Western & Southern Open upon the ATP Tour’s return in August, has received a wild card to play in Cologne. The former World No. 1 enjoyed a memorable run on indoor hard courts last October at the European Open in Antwerp, where he claimed his first title since coming back from career-threatening hip surgery.
Roberto Bautista Agut, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Marin Cilic and Kyle Edmund will also compete for the ATP 250 title in Cologne. Bautista Agut and Auger-Aliassime both played in Germany at the Hamburg European Open ahead of Roland Garros, with Bautista Agut reaching the quarter-finals (l. to eventual champion Andrey Rublev) and Auger-Aliassime the second round.
Here’s all you need to know about the Cologne tennis tournament: what is the schedule, where to watch, when is the draw and more.
Established: 2020
Tournament Dates: 12-18 October 2020
Tournament Director: Barbara Rittner
Draw Ceremony: Saturday, 10 October
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Schedule
* Qualifying: Saturday and Sunday, starting 11:00am
* Main Draw: Monday – Sunday at 2:00pm.
How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV
TV Schedule
Venue: Lanxess Arena
Surface: Indoor Hard
Prize Money: €325,610 (Total Financial Commitment: €325,610)
View Who Is Playing, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown
Social
Hashtag: #bett1hulks
Twitter: @bett1hulks
Did You Know… The ATP has announced the addition of four new ATP 250 events to the 2020 provisional schedule. In addition to the back-to-back Cologne tournaments, the calendar also features the Forte Village Sardegna Open in Sardinia, Italy, and the Astana Open in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
Welcome @andy_murray ! Looking forward to the @bett1hulks ATP Tournaments in Cologne. @atptour @bett1de pic.twitter.com/hSmS0MkQj5
— bett1_HULKS (@bett1hulks) September 12, 2020
A trio of Russians — Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov — will each look to win their second title on home soil next week at the St. Petersburg Open, which has been upgraded to an ATP 500 tournament in the revised 2020 calendar. Medvedev is the defending champion in St. Petersburg, while Rublev triumphed in Moscow in 2019 and Khachanov the year before.
Rublev has already won three titles this season, including the ATP 500 title last month at the Hamburg European Open (d. Tsitsipas). The 22-year-old also reached the quarter-finals at the US Open (l. to Medvedev) and Roland Garros (l. to Tsitsipas).
Medvedev and Khachanov will each be attempting to reach their first final of 2020. Following a semi-final run at the US Open, Medvedev fell in his opening matches in Hamburg and at Roland Garros. Khachanov is coming off a fourth-round showing in Paris (l. to Djokovic).
The St. Petersburg Open field will also feature Stan Wawrinka, Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic, and reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner.
Here’s all you need to know about the St. Petersburg tennis tournament: what is the schedule, where to watch, who has won and more.
Established: 1995
Tournament Dates: 12-18 October 2020
Tournament Director: Olesya Gankevich
Draw Ceremony: Saturday, 10 October at 1:00pm
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Schedule (View On Official Website)
* Qualifying: Saturday 11:00am; Sunday 1:00 pm
* Main draw: Monday – Friday at 1:00pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm
How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV
TV Schedule
Venue: Sibur Arena
Surface: Indoor Hard
Prize Money: USD $1,243,790 (Total Financial Commitment: USD $1,399,370)
Tickets On Sale: Buy Now
View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown
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Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles, Singles: Thomas Johansson, Andy Murray, Marat Safin (2)
Most Titles, Doubles: Nenad Zimonjic (3)
Oldest Champion: Thomas Johansson, 30, in 2005
Youngest Champion: Alexander Zverev, 19, in 2016
Last Home Champion: Daniil Medvedev in 2019
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 3 Marat Safin in 2000
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 93 Sergiy Stakhovsky in 2009
Most Match Wins: Mikhail Youzhny (35)
2019 Finals
Singles: [1] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) d [4] Borna Coric (CRO) 63 61 Read More
Doubles: Divij Sharan (IND) / Igor Zelenay (SVK) d Matteo Berrettini (ITA) / Simone Bolelli (ITA) 63 36 10-8 Read More
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Did You Know… Last year, Daniil Medvedev became the first Russian to claim the St. Petersburg Open title since Mikhail Youzhny in 2004. Yevgeny Kafelnikov won the inaugural edition in 1995 and Marat Safin clinched back-to-back titles in 2000-01.
Novak Djokovic had a close call on Friday evening against Stefanos Tsitsipas, needing five sets to reach his fifth Roland Garros final. Now the Serbian is on the verge of history, three sets from becoming the first player in the Open Era to complete two Career Grand Slams. A triumph against Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s championship match would also give the Serbian his 18th major trophy.
“That would be [the] icing on the cake,” Djokovic said. “I hopefully will be able to play my best tennis, because that’s what’s going to be needed in order to have a shot at the trophy. But look, I am in position to be close to the trophy. I’m in the last match of the tournament, playing against the biggest rival, the biggest obstacle and challenge that you can have. This is what it comes down to. I’ve been there. I’ve done it. I understand what needs to be done and how I need to prepare myself. I’m looking forward to it.”
Djokovic understands defeating the 12-time champion will be the ultimate challenge. He will play Nadal for the 56th time in their record ATP Head2Head rivalry. They have split eight previous Grand Slam finals.
“He’s definitely my greatest rival,” Nadal said. “Playing him in so many great matches, of course the past will have some effect in terms of respect towards each other, [the] motivation to get out on the court and play your best, knowing that we both have to be at our best in order to win against each other.”
For the first two sets against Tsitsipas, Djokovic was at his exceptional best. But as the Greek raised his level, Djokovic was unable to close the match. Sometimes when the World No. 1 is put into difficulty, he’ll vocally pump himself up to try to kick into another gear. He did so in the quarter-finals against Pablo Carreno Busta. But against the Greek, Djokovic didn’t do so as visibly.
“I was definitely not pleased with the way I played the finishing stages of the third and fourth sets, but I was very pleased with the way I kept my composure mentally throughout the entire match,” Djokovic said. “I did feel that even though I lost the third and fourth, I still felt like I was the better player on the court. I had more control. I just felt comfortable playing.”
Djokovic was highly complimentary of Tsitsipas, who had never previously advanced past the fourth round on the Parisian terre battue.
“Credit to him for fighting back. He just played terrific tennis, especially in the fourth set when he was facing break points. I had many opportunities to break his serve in the fourth and finish the match earlier. He’s a fighter. He’s one of the best players in the world. Deservedly so,” Djokovic said.
“Obviously he was also fighting for his first Grand Slam final. Of course, there was a lot at stake for him. He was motivated to try to turn the match around, which he did very well. But in the end I think he ran out of gas. That’s when I stepped it up, used my opportunities when they were presented in the fifth, and closed out the match in a great fashion.”
Djokovic’s Titles By Grand Slam
| Australian Open | 8 |
| Roland Garros | 1 |
| Wimbledon | 5 |
| US Open | 3 |
Some might wonder if not closing out the Greek in straight sets will have an impact on Sunday’s final. Nadal defeated Diego Schwartzman in straight sets. But Djokovic only spent 45 more minutes on court on Friday than the Spaniard.
“I’m not feeling exhausted physically so much after tonight’s match, obviously almost four hours. It was a great battle,” Djokovic said. “But I feel fine. I think a day-and-a-half will be plenty of time for me to recover. I’m really looking forward to a great battle with Rafa.”
This tournament holds special meaning for the Serbian. The Coupe des Mousquetaires was his white whale until 2016, when he finally completed his Career Grand Slam in Paris. Now, Djokovic can achieve the feat again.
“Every French Open final that I played was the match of my life before I actually won it,” Djokovic said. “It does have a certain significance and difference when I play a French Open final [compared] to any other Slam final. This is the one that I’ve won the least, so of course I am extremely motivated to try to get my hands on another trophy.”
Iga Swiatek can cap off a dream French Open run on Saturday when she takes on Sofia Kenin in the final. The Pole has been the…
Novak Djokovic withstands a gutsy fightback from fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to set up a French Open final against Rafael Nadal.
