Tennis News

Sinner survives Struff's clutch serving to snatch three-set win

In the face of a brilliant serving display from Jan-Lennard Struff, Jannik Sinner held firm Friday to advance to the Terra Wortmann Open semi-finals. Struff hit 18 aces and saved 16 of 18 break points — including all 11 in the second and third sets — but could not pull off the upset against the new No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

The Italian’s 6-2, 6-7(1), 7-6(3) result was his third consecutive three-set win in Halle, after earlier victories against Tallon Griekspoor and Fabian Marozsan. Sinner lost a tie-break in each of the three matches.

“It was a very tough match,” Sinner said. “I had chances in the second, had chances in the third, but couldn’t use them. It was 0/40 [in the first game of the third set]. I just try to accept these kind of challenges. Obviously it has been very tough, also mentally. I’m very pleased to be in the next round, I played a lot yesterday, I played a lot also today — two and a half hours on grass, it’s a long time. I’ll try to recover for tomorrow and hopefully show some good tennis.”

Playing in his first event as World No. 1, Sinner has yet to meet a seeded opponent. That trend will continue in Saturday’s semis, when he takes on Zhang Zhizhen or Christopher Eubanks.

Sinner is bidding to become the eighth man in PIF ATP Rankings history to win the title in his first event as No. 1, and the first to do it since Andy Murray at the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals.

No dive today 😅🦊@janniksin with ANOTHER sliding success in Halle@ATPHalle | #TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/Ao9wfWKeJi

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 21, 2024

Against Struff, the Italian found early success by attacking his opponent’s backhand, breaking twice in the opening set. But Struff lifted his aggression in the second, particularly on his forehand, and stepped in on Sinner’s second serve to fight back. Sinner won 67 per cent of his second-serve points in the first set followed by just 36 per cent in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Two Sinner double faults at 2-2 in the third set helped Struff create his first break point as the match clock struck two hours, but the Italian fought it off and the set moved quickly toward a tie-break. The third-set tie-break was Struff’s 10th decisive tie-break of 2024 (5-5, including his Halle opener) and Sinner’s first.

The victory improved Sinner to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head against Struff, whom he beat earlier this season in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo. The Italian is through to his second tour-level semi-final on grass (Wimbledon 2023). He is on a 34-match winning streak vs. players ranked outside Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

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Paul ends Draper's run, reaches Queen's SFs

Tommy Paul reached his second tour-level grass-court semi-final on Friday at the cinch Championships, where he snapped Jack Draper’s seven-match winning streak.

The American played aggressively throughout the two-hour, five-minute encounter in west London, attacking the Briton’s second serve at every opportunity to earn a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory. Paul hit his flat groundstrokes through the fast conditions and won 51 per cent (18/35) of points on Draper’s second delivery to improve to 2-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I played good tennis and I like the grass. I knew today was going to be a battle,” Paul said. “It is never easy against Jack, he has been playing such good tennis, so I am really happy to get through that one.”

Flying the flag 🇺🇸🔢@TommyPaul1 hits the semi-finals 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 past Draper@QueensTennis | #cinchChampionships pic.twitter.com/ljHnC1oqLy

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 21, 2024

The home favourite Draper lifted his maiden tour-level title in Stuttgart last week and then upset World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round at Queen’s for the biggest win of his career by PIF ATP Rankings. However, he could not battle to an eighth consecutive victory, with Paul fresher in the third set.

The fifth seed is now 25-10 on the season and will meet countryman Sebastian Korda. Paul’s previous best result on grass came in Eastbourne last year when he lost to Francisco Cerundolo in the final.

Korda, with a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 result against Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, became the first American to reach consecutive Queen’s Club semi-finals since Andy Roddick advanced that stage each year from 2003-09. He is up three places this week to No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting himself up for a new career high.

Earlier, Lorenzo Musetti continued his impressive grass-court season by ending Billy Harris’ run. The Italian moved past the British wild card 6-3, 7-5 to reach his second consecutive semi-final on the surface.

Musetti, who advanced to the last four in Stuttgart last week, fired 20 winners and committed just six unforced errors according to ATP Infosys stats to triumph after one hour and 41 minutes in London.

Harris was competing in his first tour-level quarter-final, having upset Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard earlier this week. The 29-year-old is up 23 spots to No. 139 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Musetti is chasing his third tour-level title and will next play Jordan Thompson after the Australian defeated fourth seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3.

Thompson, who did not face a break point against Fritz to improve to 1-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, arrived in London on a five-match losing streak. However, the 30-year-old has looked back to his best at the ATP 500, also defeating Holger Rune and record five-time champion Andy Murray.

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Murray to undergo back procedure before Wimbledon

Britain’s Andy Murray will undergo a procedure on his back after being forced to retire from his second-round match at Queen’s with injury.

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Fritz/Khachanov upset top seeds Bopanna/Ebden at Queen's

Singles stars Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov continued their run at the cinch Championships on Friday when they upset top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden 7-6(1), 7-6(3) to reach the semi-finals in London.

Fritz and Khachanov saved one set point in the first set and were impressive in the crucial moments in the second set, saving all five break points they faced to advance after 80 minutes.

The eighth seeds are teaming for the first time this week, having beaten Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry in their opening match. They will meet third seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic or fifth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic in the last four.

In other action, Neal Skupski and Michael Venus clawed past second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 7-6(5), 7-6(6).

“I think we played very well and deserved it in the end,” Skupski said. “We can take confidence in beating a very good team in Joe and Rajeev. They have won Grand Slams together and are a very dangerous team on the grass.”

The seventh seeds won 85 per cent (39/46) of their first-serve points according to ATP Infosys Stats and embraced the reduction in time between points (as part of the doubles trial) to ride momentum and race through service games.

Competing in just their second tour-level event of the season together, Skupski and Venus will play Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the last four after the Croatian-American team overcame Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Defending champions Dodig and Krajicek saved three match points in the Match tie-break to seal a 6-7(5), 6-3, 13-11 victory after one hour and 37 minutes at the Queen’s Club.

Top seeds Bolelli/Vavassori reach Halle final
Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori moved past Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer 6-3, 7-6(6) at the Terra Wortmann Open to reach their fourth tour-level final of the season as a team.

The top seeds, who lost in the title match at the ATP 500 event last season, saved nine set points in the second set, before eventually triumphing on their first match point after 84 minutes. Bolelli and Vavassori are chasing their second trophy of the year.

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GB's Harris misses out on first ATP semi-final

Britain’s Billy Harris misses out on a maiden ATP semi-final as he loses to Lorenzo Musetti at Queen’s.

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Angella Okutoyi: Tennis 'took us away from the struggles at home'

Kenya’s tennis star on breaking stereotypes and inspiring a nation

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Lexus ATP Head2Head Challenge: Is Etcheverry or Tabilo the better cricketer?

Who is better at cricket: Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Alejandro Tabilo?

That question was answered in the newest Lexus ATP Head2Head Challenge, which took place in London.

We’re swapping rackets for wickets 🏏

It’s time for the players to try their hand at some cricket in the latest #LexusChallenge 👊@LexusUK | #Partner pic.twitter.com/RFsIzxibtr

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 20, 2024

The South American players joined England cricket stars Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Natalie Sciver-Brunt for a special tutorial and competition. Although they might not be the next Sachin Tendulkar, the tennis standouts picked up the sport quickly.

“It’s a tough sport. When I [made] the first swing, I didn’t hit any balls,” Etcheverry said. “I enjoyed it a lot, of course. I think I’m going to be a huge fan of this sport, cricket.”

Which player was victorious and who was left to pick up the balls? Watch the full video above to find out.

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Kuerten, Djokovic, Medvedev & more rally to benefit Brazil flood victims

Doubles player Marcelo Demoliner is organising a live auction that will benefit three charities and assist those affected by unprecedented flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, his home region. The highlight of the auction, which takes place Tuesday, 25 June at 6:30 p.m. EDT, is an exclusive experience with Gustavo Kuerten. Equipment from Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud will also be up for auction.

In the past month-and-a-half, Brazil has received torrential rain, displacing hundreds of thousands and tragically killing nearly 200 people. The 35-year-old Demoliner is lending a hand in a time of desperate need for his home country. A native of Caxias do Sul, who has been as high as No. 34 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, Demoliner is teaming with his hometown club Recreio da Juventude and auctioneer Cristiano Escola Leilões to organise the event.

Three-time Roland Garros champion Kuerten, one of 29 men to reach World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is offering a private tour of his Florianopolis museum and personal collection, which is filled with trophies. The highest bidder will meet Kuerten to hear stories and receive behind-the-scenes details of his successful career.

“Guga, our biggest idol, gave us an experience to have an afternoon with him and he will show his museum, his trophies to the person who will buy this experience,” Demoliner told ATPTour.com in excitement. “For me, it’s one of the greatest items we have. Imagine having an afternoon with your idol. For me, this is insane.”

Fans can log on to the Cristiano Escola Leilões website to view the catalog of items and begin bidding. The auction broadcast will be livestreamed on the Recreio da Juventude YouTube channel, Tuesday 25 June at 6:30 p.m. EDT. 

Click Here to Watch Charity Auction, Live on 25 June

Select items from Top 10 stars Djokovic, Medvedev, Rublev and Ruud will be auctioned, with racquets, shoes and used kits scheduled to hit the bidding table. WTA star Aryna Sabalenka will have equipment from the 2023 US Open final auctioned. Other items will be from Brazilians including Demoliner, Thomaz Bellucci, Joao Fonseca, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Rafael Matos, Fernando Meligeni, Marcelo Melo and Thiago Monteiro.

“I was competing and following all the news with a heavy heart,” said Demoliner, a five-time ATP Tour doubles champion. “I really wanted to help my state and use my platform as a professional athlete to make a difference. We started mobilising a network within the tennis and sports world, and many athletes embraced the cause. We are very committed to making this charity auction a success to help rebuild the lives of families affected by the floods.”

Athletes and teams from other sports will also contribute items. World surfing champion Felipe Toledo donated an autographed uniform. Football teams Corinthians, Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, and São Paulo sent jerseys signed by their players for the auction.

The three institutions that will benefit from the auction are Operação de Volta Para Casa (Operation Back to My Home), Rotary Brazil and WimBelenDon. All proceeds will be directed towards the reconstruction of Rio Grande do Sul.

About the Charities:
Operação de Volta Para Casa registers families directly affected by the floods and verifies the accuracy of the provided information. The organisation then supplies essential items to ensure safety and functionality in the reconstruction of homes.

Rotary Brazil has provided humanitarian aid for over 110 years. Rotary’s activities include combatting diseases, providing clean water and sanitation and protecting the environment. A group of volunteers combine to take action and create lasting change in themselves, their communities and the world.

WimBelenDon is a social project aimed at promoting the inclusion of children and adolescents in situations of risk or social vulnerability, fostering their holistic development, and stimulating their agency. Tennis serves as the main attraction to engage and retain the students, but it is interconnected with a much richer and more comprehensive work, consisting of socio-emotional, pedagogical and cultural workshops, which promote individual and social transformations.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Doumbia/Reboul down Sinner/Hurkacz in Halle; Ram/Salisbury oust De Minaur/Korda

Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul spoiled the Halle partnership between Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday with a 7-6(3), 4-6, 10-8 victory at the Terra Wortmann Open.

The Frenchmen continued the trend of doubles players beating singles stars at this week’s ATP 500s.

From 5/5 in the Match Tie-break, Doumbia and Reboul won five of the next eight points to reach their eighth tour-level semi-final of the season. Champions in Montpellier and Bucharest, they will meet second seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the last four after the Germans downed countrymen Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens 7-6(3), 6-4.

Sinner and Hurkacz were teaming for the first time since last year in Halle.

Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori also reached the semi-finals, defeating Alexander Bublik and Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-3. The Italians, 2023 finalists in Halle, next face wild cards Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer.

Ram/Salisbury, Arevalo/Pavic Advance In London
Second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury ousted Top 25 singles players Alex de Minaur and Sebastian Korda 7-6(6), 7-5 in the cinch Championships first round.

The ATP Doubles trial featured at The Queen’s Club this week puts singles teams against doubles teams in the first round whenever possible and on Thursday, Ram and Salisbury stepped up in key moments to advance. The American-British duo saved a set point in the first-set tie-break and earned a decisive break at 6-5 in the second.

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/06/20/19/48/ram-salisbury-queens-2024-thursday.jpg” style=”width:100%” alt=”Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury at the cinch Championships.” />
^{Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury at the cinch Championships. Credit: Luke Walker/Getty Images for LTA}

Roland Garros champions Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, competing for the first time since the clay-court major, overcame Julian Cash and Robert Galloway 6-4, 6-4.

Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, defending titlists in London, were 6-3, 7-6(2) winners against Australians John Peers and Jordan Thompson. Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov won 6-4, 6-4 against Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Fritz last year partnered Jiri Lehecka to make the ATP 500 final.

Wednesday, 19 June
Neal Skupski and Michael Venus got their cinch Championships campaign underway on Wednesday in London when they defeated singles stars Ugo Humbert and Ben Shelton 6-4, 6-3.

The seventh seeds were aggressive throughout the 69-minute clash on the lawns in west London, striking deep returns and closing the net sharply to reach the second round. Skupski and Venus are teaming for the second time this season and next play Alex de Minaur and Sebastian Korda or second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury. 

Other singles teams to fall in London included Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie and Sebastian Baez and Adrian Mannarino. Sixth seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat Draper and Norrie 6-4, 6-4, while fifth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic downed Baez and Mannarino 4-6, 6-3, 10-3.

Mektic and Koolhof arrive in London in good form, having advanced to the final on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden also advanced to the second round, defeating Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler 6-4, 6-4. Ebden and Bopanna have won tour-level titles together at the Australian Open and in Miami this season.

The ATP Doubles trial, which was first held at the Mutua Madrid Open, is taking place at the Queen’s Club. Some of the changes include less time between points, adjustments to time allowances during changeovers and the use of “time extensions”.

Hurkacz/Sinner advance in Halle
Singles stars Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner earned victory in their first match of the season together at the Terra Wortmann Open, where they beat third seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 6-4, 5-7, 11-9.

The Pole-Italian team saved two match points in the Match Tie-break to seal victory after 82 minutes. Sinner is the top seed in the singles draw and is competing as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time.

Top seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori beat Pedro Martinez and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-3, 6-3. Bolelli and Vavassori reached the final at the ATP 500 grass-court event last season.

Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul defeated Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 7-6(4), 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals, while Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens eliminated Yuki Bhambri and Albano Olivetti 5-7, 7-6(12), 10-7. The Germans saved two match points in the second set.

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Struff upsets Tsitsipas in Halle, sets Sinner clash

Jan-Lennard Struff is playing some of his best tennis on home soil this week at the Terra Wortmann Open.

The German downed sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday, setting a quarter-final clash against Jannik Sinner, World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The 34-year-old dropped just five points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and drew errors from Tsitsipas’ backhand to advance after 67 minutes.

“It’s very special. The crowd was supporting me like hell and it was just an amazing feeling, amazing atmosphere,” said Struff, who did not face a break point. “It means really a lot to finally take this step.”

One day after saving a match point to defeat Luciano Darderi, Struff struck 22 winners to just five unforced errors to overhaul the Greek and avenge last month’s Rome loss to Tsitsipas. Their Lexus ATP Head2Head series is now tied at 4-4. Struff is 0-2 against Sinner with both meetings coming this season (Indian Wells, Monte-Carlo).

“I was very happy. Yesterday was a tough match. I was sick before and today in the morning, I felt good,” Struff said. “I had good connection with the ball straight away and came in very well. I was serving pretty good, playing aggressive style. Very, very pleased with the way I played.”

In 11 appearances at the grass ATP 500, Struff is into the last eight for the first time. The World No. 34 won his maiden tour-level crown this year in Munich, becoming the third-oldest (33) first-time ATP Tour titlist since the inception of the Tour in 1990.

Quarter-FINALLY! 👏

At the 11th time of asking @Struffitennis hits his maiden QF in Halle@ATPHalle | #TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/h4rlQf6TeB

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 20, 2024

Tsitsipas holds a 29-11 season record, with his best result being a title run in Monte-Carlo. The 25-year-old was aiming for his first grass quarter-final since winning the ATP 250 in Mallorca two years ago.

Earlier in Halle, Marcos Giron overcame Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, becoming the first player ranked outside the Top 50 to defeat the Italian on grass since No. 53 Gilles Simon at 2018 Wimbledon.

“He is unbelievable on grass, with every tournament he plays on grass he practically makes the final or wins it,” Giron said of Berrettini, who is now 41-10 on grass. “I knew it was going to be a challenge and I knew I had to take care of my serve and hopefully I get an opportunity. I stayed with extreme urgency and full focus.”

The American is into the Halle quarter-finals for the second time (2021). Giron ousted last year’s finalist Andrey Rublev in the opening round before improving to 2-0 against Berrettini.

Up to No. 46 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, two spots shy of his career-high, the 30-year-old next faces fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz, who ousted Australian James Duckworth 7-6(3), 6-4. The Pole, who won the ATP 500 in 2022, fired 17 aces and dropped just three points behind his first delivery Thursday.

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