Andy Murray has reached the highest highs that tennis has to offer, climbing to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, winning 45 tour-level titles and plenty more. But now, eight months on from hip surgery, the 32-year-old is World No. 413, and he knows he has a long way to go to regain his best form.

“Physically I need to improve if I want to compete consistently at this level whereas, before, I was competing and I was uncomfortable, but I was still playing at quite a high level,” Murray said. “I don’t know how far I’m going to be able to get now on my comeback. I don’t know how much improving I still have to do or if I’m going to be able to. But I’m in no pain just now, so I might as well give it a shot and see how far I will go with the recovery.”

Murray starts a busy month at the inaugural Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships, the first of four tournaments he will play in four weeks. After this event, the Scot will travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Antwerp to get in as many matches as he can just more than one month after Cincinnati, where he played his first singles match since his hip surgery.

“I think before two or three years ago, I wouldn’t have entered four tournaments in a row because I would have expected to do well in tournaments. Over here in China I’ve always played pretty well, so I wouldn’t have done that in the past. But the position I’m in now is different. I’m not playing at the same level as I was three years ago, and physically I still need to improve,” Murray said. “So between now and the end of the year, I need to play matches and I’m not guaranteed to win matches every single week and I could draw the top seeds in the first round.

“When I’m at the events I get good practice with top players, so my body is getting used to playing at this pace again and this level again… I’d like to try to get 12 to 15 matches between now and the end of the year so my body gets used to competing and playing matches consistently again. I hadn’t done that for two years. It’s been a really long time, so it takes time for your body to build up.”

Results have not come easily for Murray since his singles return at the Western & Southern Open. Frenchman Richard Gasquet defeated him there in two sets before American Tennys Sandgren, his first-round opponent in Zhuhai, ousted him in straight sets at the Winston-Salem Open.

Murray then competed at an ATP Challenger Tour event for the first time since 2005, reaching the third round of the Rafa Nadal Open by Sotheby’s, held in Mallorca. The Scot showed his grit against Italian Matteo Viola — who went on to make the final — but ultimately fell in a final-set tie-break.

“The second match I played there was quite good. I beat a player ranked 120 in the world in two sets, which was a pretty good win. Then the third match, physically I struggled a lot in that match,” Murray said. “I felt like I was hitting the ball better in the matches [in Spain] than I did over in the States. In terms of that, that was positive.

“I think physically I still have a lot of improving to do if I want to get back to competing on the Tour at the highest level because it showed there that I wasn’t quite ready to play many matches in a row.”

Although this is the first edition of this ATP 250 event, Murray has long enjoyed success in China, where he has won five titles. Four of the Top 15 players in the ATP Rankings are in the draw in Zhuhai, a tournament Murray has taken a liking to before the first ball has even been struck.

“I really, really like it… it’s a really nice facility for the players. I think the centre court is a nice stadium, the gym, the food on site is really good. It’s very close to the courts. The hotel is obviously a very nice hotel that we get to stay at,” Murray said. “Here everything is very convenient. It’s nice. I’ve liked it so far.”

Feliciano Lopez gave himself an unforgettable birthday present on Friday, tying the knot with Sandra Gago on the same day he turned 38.

Lopez shared the happy news in an Instagram post on Saturday. Several of his peers on Tour, including Milos Raonic and Jaume Munar, commented to congratulate him on the big moment.

”I have read many definitions about what happiness means, but none of them comes close to what we lived yesterday with all of you,” Lopez wrote. “They say [having] that shared is double. That’s why yesterday was so special, a shot of love and good vibes in an environment we will never forget. Thanks again to everyone who joined us yesterday. I want more birthdays like that.”

Lopez is scheduled to compete again next month at the European Open in Antwerp.

Rafael Nadal avoided a post-US Open letdown at the Laver Cup in Geneva, weathering an aggressive performance from Milos Raonic to prevail 6-3, 7-6(1) and give Team Europe a commanding 7-3 lead over Team World on Saturday.

Nadal improved to 8-2 against Raonic in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry and boosted his Laver Cup singles record to 2-1. Raonic was making his debut at this event. The Spaniard also increased his winning streak to 11 matches.

“Being here for me is a very positive energy. I like being around such a great team and the crowd is amazing,” Nadal said. “I feel very lucky [to win] the first set. I started to play better later in the match and I think I played a very good tie-break in the end.”

The Canadian was left to rue eight missed break point opportunities in Nadal’s first three service games of the match. Sensing his opponent’s frustration, Nadal applied further pressure at 3-3 and laced a backhand passing shot to earn the first break of the night. A backhand volley sent wide from Raonic two games later wrapped up the opening set.

Raonic earned his first break of the match at 2-2 in the second set and it appeared the momentum had shifted, but sound advice from Federer at the changeover allowed Nadal to refocus.

Roger’s turn ?@rogerfederer | @RafaelNadal | @LaverCup pic.twitter.com/b0x3761kxB

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) September 21, 2019

“When you see a chance to come to the net, challenge him for a passing shot. You’re so good at the net,” Federer said. “Use spin, slice… you know, like in the old days!”

Nadal broke back in the next game with a delicate drop shot and backhand volley winner, throwing his fist in the air in approval. The set eventually moved to a tie-break and Nadal unleashed a barrage of forehand winners to take the first six points. A final winner from the Spaniard wrapped up play after two hours and seven minutes.

Read: Federer Uses Nadal Coaching To Defeat Kyrgios At Laver Cup

Top seeds and defending champions Nicolas Mahut/Edouard Roger-Vasselin delighted the home crowd by reaching the Moselle Open doubles final on Saturday in Metz, powering past Dutch duo Sander Arends/David Pel 6-3, 6-1.

This year’s Wimbledon finalists (l. to Cabal/Farah) have dropped an average of five games in their three matches this week. Mahut seeks his first tour-level doubles title since winning this year’s Australian Open with Pierre-Hugues Herbert (d. Kontinen/Peers). Roger-Vasselin looks to complete a hat trick of titles in France after teaming with Ivan Dodig to prevail this season in Montpellier (d. Bonzi/Hoang) and Lyon (d. Skupski/Skupski).

Mahut/Roger-Vasselin also won this event in 2012 (d. Brunstrom/Nielsen) and Roger-Vasselin earned additional Metz crowns in 2015 (w/Kubot) and 2017 (w/Benneteau). The defending champions will play Robert Lindstedt/Jan-Lennard Struff in the championship match.

At the St. Petersburg Open, Divij Sharan/Igor Zelenay moved into the final by upsetting top seeds Nikola Mektic/Franko Skugor 7-5, 6-1. The Indian-Slovakian pair won the last five games of the match to advance in 58 minutes. Sharan opened his year by prevailing on home soil in Pune with Rohan Bopanna (d. Bambridge/O’Mara), while Zelenay seeks his first ATP Tour doubles title at age 36.

Awaiting Sharan/Zelenay in the final are Italian duo Matteo Berrettini/Simone Bolelli.

What a difference a year makes.

At last year’s Moselle Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fell in three sets against defending champion Peter Gojowczyk in his first match in seven months following left knee surgery. On Saturday, the 34-year-old Frenchman advanced to his fifth final at the ATP 250 event with a 7-6(6), 7-6(4) victory against Lucas Pouille.

The 6’2” Frenchman extended his unbeaten record in Metz semi-finals (5-0) after one hour and 50 minutes, dropping just three points behind his first serve (23/26). Tsonga improves to 22-4 at the event and is now one win away from becoming the first player to capture four Metz trophies. The 17-time tour-level titlist shares the tournament record with fellow three-time winner Gilles Simon.

Tsonga will face Aljaz Bedene for the trophy on Sunday. The Frenchman owns a 1-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Bedene, having triumphed in their only previous meeting at Roland Garros in 2013.

“I know Aljaz has improved a lot since we last played,” said Tsonga. “He is playing very confidently now. He has been playing amazing all week, serving really well. I am looking forward to a big battle, a difficult match, but I am going to do everything to try and lift the trophy for a fourth time.”

If Tsonga claims his 18th ATP Tour trophy, he will become the ninth French winner in the past 11 editions of the tournament. Only David Goffin (2014) and Gojowczyk (2017) have broken the French dominance of the event since Gael Monfils’ title run in 2009.

The semi-final encounter was decided by a pair of tie-breaks, with neither player able to break serve. In fact, there was only one break point throughout the pair’s fifth FedEx ATP Head2Head encounter (Tsonga leads 3-2), with Pouille failing to capitalise at 3-3 in the first set.

In the opening tie-break, Tsonga was forced to save set point at 5/6. The World No. 61 served well under pressure before bringing his forehand into play and charging the net to take a one-set advantage.

After failing to create any break-point opportunities in the second set, Tsonga moved up the court well and showed great touch around the net in the tie-break. After gaining a mini-break at 4/4, the three-time champion closed out the match with dominant serving to reach his fifth Metz final.

“I am extremely happy with the way I played,” said Tsonga. “I was very solid. I served very well, especially on the key points. The match was played over a few points and I was extremely solid.”

Did You Know?
Tsonga has lifted nine of his 17 ATP Tour titles in France. The Frenchman owns three titles in both Metz (2011-’12, ’15) and Marseille (2009, ’13, ’17), as well as triumphs at the 2008 Rolex Paris Masters, 2017 Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon and this year’s Open Sud de France.

Daniil Medvedev had the home crowd roaring on Saturday, and they will be raising the decibel levels once again if the Russian can make history at the St. Petersburg Open.

The 23-year-old made his fifth consecutive final at the ATP 250, beating Belarusian qualifier Egor Gerasimov 7-5, 7-5. Medvedev broke in the 11^th game of the opener, and, after the two exchanged breaks midway through the second set, the Russian broke again in the 11^th game of the second before closing out the match in 91 minutes.

The World No. 4, who’s into his first final in Russia, became the fifth active player to reach five consecutive finals, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, who accomplished the feat last year (Cincinnati, US Open, Shanghai, Paris, Nitto ATP Finals). Medvedev will now try to win his third ATP Tour title of the season (Sofia, Cincinnati) on Sunday against Croatian Borna Coric, who beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 to make his first ATP Tour final of 2019.

“I’m extremely happy to be in my first final in my home country,” Medvedev said. “I came here to try to win the tournament, that’s what I’m doing… I’m looking forward to [the final]. Tough opponent, and hopefully a great fight tomorrow.”

Coric leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 4-1, including their past three meetings and has won their past seven sets. The players also met at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in 2017, a matchup Coric won in four sets.

Read More: Why Medvedev’s Momentum Looks Set To Continue Indoors

Medvedev has now won 23 of his past 26 matches, a stretch that includes the four consecutive finals he made during the North American hard-court swing in Washington, Montreal, Cincinnati and at the US Open. Less than two weeks ago, on 8 September, Medvedev pushed World No. 2 Rafael Nadal to a classic five-set final in Flushing Meadows.

On Sunday, he’ll be back in another final, trying to become the first Russian to win the St. Petersburg Open title since Mikhail Youzhny in 2004.

Roger Federer utilised sound advice from his longest rival on Tour to prevail over a more recent rival on Saturday at Laver Cup. With Rafael Nadal providing sound strategy from the bench, the Swiss rallied to defeat Nick Kyrgios 6-7(5), 7-5, 10-7 and gave Team Europe a 5-3 lead over Team World.

All of Saturday’s matches are worth two points, compared to Friday’s matches that were worth one point. Federer is 3-0 against Kyrgios in Laver Cup play and now leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 6-1.

“I was hoping it was going to be like this. It was amazing,” Federer said. “It was tough to lose that first set. I needed to get some energy, so I was just trying to stay with Nick because if you can turn it around, you can get the crowd behind you. I need some earplugs for the next match!”

Both men traded early service breaks in the first set and eventually forced a tie-break. Federer sprinted to a 4/0 lead, but began to tight and leak unforced errors. Kyrgios responded by going on a four-point run and won the last three points of the tie-break to take a commanding lead.

Although the Swiss continued to hold serve comfortably, he was unable to make inroads in most of the baseline rallies. His teammates had been silent throughout the match, but Nadal took the reigns and offered statistics with Federer serving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the second set.

”After five shots [in the rally], you are winning more [points],” Nadal said. “I know it’s tough because he reads the ball so well… Wait for the right one and then attack because he’s not missing.”

The plan worked to perfection as Kyrgios coughed off a pair of unforced errors to hand Federer a break at 5-5. At the next changeover, Nadal urged Kyrgios to add more spin to his serve and hit higher balls to disrupt the Aussie’s rhythm. The strategy produced a comfortable service hold to force a Match Tie-break. 

Federer saved his best tennis for when it mattered most. A leaping backhand volley winner gave him a 3/2 mini-break advantage as Kyrgios began to tighten up on his backhand, leading him to take short swings at the ball that allowed the Swiss to pounce. Federer took a 9/4 lead in the Match Tie-break and a forehand sent wide from Kyrgios three points later wrapped up play after one hour and 51 minutes.

John Isner started the day session with a strong finish against Alexander Zverev to prevail 6-7(2), 6-4, 10-1, which tied the score 3-3 between Team World and Team Europe.

Isner scored the lone break of the match 4-4 in the second set, then won the first seven points in the Match Tie-break to prevail in one hour and 34 minutes. The American handed Zverev his first singles loss in Laver Cup (4-1), while Isner moved to 2-3 in singles at this event. Isner improved to 2-6 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Zverev and gained revenge for last year’s Laver Cup defeat to the German.

“I wasn’t making any inroads on his serve and he was the better for 85 per cent of the match. Once I got up 5-4, I had a lot of momentum and that showed in the Match Tie-break,” Isner said. “Maybe we’re turning the tables. Team World is in this and we’re here to win it.”