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Eastbourne: Johanna Konta loses to Ons Jabeur in third round

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2019

British number one Johanna Konta’s final tournament before Wimbledon ended in defeat by world number 62 Ons Jabeur in the third round at Eastbourne.

Konta had led by a break in the first set before the Tunisian fought back to win 6-3 6-2.

French Open semi-finalist Konta has failed to transfer this season’s clay-court success on to grass, losing in the Birmingham second round last week.

Konta is the 19th seed for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

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Konta lets match slip away on greasy court

The start of the match had been delayed by around half an hour because of rain at Eastbourne and, when they came back on, the players had a brief discussion at the net about whether the surface was playable.

Konta wiped her hand on the grass and asked Jabeur what she thought, with the Tunisian shrugging but raising no objection.

The Briton got off to a good start, holding to love in her first service game before breaking for 3-2. But Jabeur broke back in the next game and grew in confidence.

Konta seemed tentative on the surface – as if not quite trusting that the court was dry enough – and she was punished for it by the Tunisian.

The Briton’s serving, which powered her through a clay-court season where she reached two WTA finals and the last four at Roland Garros, was below par – she won 60% of first-serve points and just 29% of second-serve points. That first figure had been well over 80% in recent weeks.

“I think the rain brought me luck and the win,” said Jabeur, who will face Alize Cornet for a place in the semi-finals. Frenchwoman Cornet beat China’s Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-2.

“I like the way I played. I like to make crazy shots. The crowd are very fair. Konta is a great player and has inspired me in the past. I hope the crowd can come with me now.”

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LTA to spend £125m on 96 new indoor centres within 10 years

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2019

The Lawn Tennis Association will spend £125m on 96 new UK indoor centres, which are expected to be built within 10 years, to take its total to 396.

England will get 72 new centres with 12 each in Scotland and Wales.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray has previously criticised the LTA for failing to build on his legacy.

LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said: “The goal is for 95% of the population in England and Wales to have an indoor centre within a 30-minute drive.”

Lloyd added: “We can’t quite guarantee that for Scotland because of its geography but we have already started the planning process for seven projects there which will provide 28 new indoor courts over the next 12-18 months, so we are filling the gaps.

“We want to break the perception that tennis is just a summer sport, or it’s only for people in the south.

“With our climate, indoor facilities are crucial. We have lagged behind other European countries in terms of absolute numbers but we are blessed with the resources to do this and we want to inject pace into the process.”

The LTA will use its reserves of around £160m to provide £125m to the initiative.

The national governing body hopes partners in the public and private sector will match its funding, taking the potential investment up to £250m.

In January, Murray said he could not understand why participation in the sport was dropping.

Scott added: “We have a great relationship with Andy, Jamie and Judy Murray. Our views are completely aligned and we have an open dialogue about how to build on their successes.”

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World number two Nadal seeded third for Wimbledon

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2019

World number two Rafael Nadal has been seeded third for Wimbledon this year behind top-ranked Novak Djokovic and world number three Roger Federer.

It means the Spaniard, rather than eight-time winner Federer, is likely to be in the same half of the draw as Djokovic and thus in line to face the defending champion in the semi-finals.

The women’s seedings reflect the world rankings, so Serena Williams is 11th and Britain’s Johanna Konta 19th.

The 2019 championships begin on Monday.

  • Nadal says Wimbledon seeding ‘doesn’t seem right’

Wimbledon seeding is different from the other Grand Slams in that it does not always follow world rankings and is affected by grass-court performances.

Nadal said it “doesn’t seem right” when asked about his likely seeding behind Federer.

Last year’s finalist and world number eight Kevin Anderson is seeded fourth, and John Isner moves up to ninth after his run to the 2018 semi-finals.

Anderson’s elevation to fourth seed means Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas all drop down one position in the seedings compared to their world ranking.

Britain’s Kyle Edmund, the world number 31, is the 30th seed while British duo Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski are 10th seeded 10th in the men’s doubles.

French Open champion Ashleigh Barty tops the ladies’ seedings for the first time at a grand slam, with Naomi Osaka second and defending champion Angelique Kerber fifth.

The women’s seedings follow the WTA ranking list but changes can be made for a ‘balanced draw’, which is the reason seven-time champion Serena Williams – ranked 183rd before last year’s championship – was seeded 25th in 2018.

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Wimbledon 2019 Seeds Announced

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2019

Wimbledon 2019 Seeds Announced

Jun262019

Seeds announced for the grass-court major

The All England Lawn Tennis Club committee has announced the 32 singles seeds and 16 doubles seeds for The Championships at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday, 1 July.

Eight-time former champion Roger Federer, currently No. 3 in the ATP Rankings, has been promoted to second seed ahead of 2008 and 2010 titlist Rafael Nadal, the World No. 2. Novak Djokovic, who came into last year’s tournament as the World No. 21, is top seed and will be attempting to add to his 2011, 2014-15 and 2018 Wimbledon crowns. Last year’s runner-up and No. 8-ranked Kevin Anderson is among the top four singles seeds, while 2017 finalist and World No. 18 Marin Cilic is 13th seed.

You May Also Like: Djokovic Returns To Grand Slam Winners’ Circle At Wimbledon

Since 2002, The Championships has employed a unique seeding system, where they take into account previous results over a two-year period on grass courts.

• Take the ATP Ranking points on 24 June 2019
• Add 100 per cent of the points earned for all grass court tournaments in the past 12 months
• Add 75 per cent of the points earned for the best grass court tournament in the 12 months before that

The singles main draw ceremony takes place on Friday.

Singles Seeds [ATP Ranking]1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] 2. Roger Federer (SUI) [3] 3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2] 4. Kevin Anderson (RSA) [8] 5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) [4] 6. Alexander Zverev (GER) [5] 7. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [6] 8. Kei Nishikori (JPN) [7] 9. John Isner (USA) [12] 10. Karen Khachanov (RUS) [9] 11. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) [13] 12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) [10] 13. Marin Cilic (CRO) [18] 14. Borna Coric (CRO) [14] 15. Milos Raonic (CAN) [17] 16. Gael Monfils (FRA) [15] 17. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) [20] 18. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) [16] 19. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) [21]
20. Gilles Simon (FRA) [25] 21. David Goffin (BEL) [23] 22. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [19] 23. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) [22] 24. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) [24] 25. Alex de Minaur (AUS) [29] 26. Guido Pella (ARG) [26] 27. Lucas Pouille (FRA) [28] 28. Benoit Paire (FRA) [32] 29. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) [27] 30. Kyle Edmund (GBR) [31] 31. Laslo Djere (SRB) [30] 32. Dusan Lajovic (SRB) [33]

Doubles Seeds
1. Lukasz Kubot (POL) / Marcelo Melo (BRA)
2. Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL)  / Robert Farah (COL)
3. Raven Klaasen (RSA) / Michael Venus (NZL)
4. Mate Pavic (CRO) / Bruno Soares (BRA)
5. Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) / Horia Tecau (ROU)
6. Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Franko Skugor (CRO)
7. Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA)
8. Henri Kontinen (FIN) / John Peers (AUS)
9. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
10. Jamie Murray (GBR) / Neal Skupski (GBR)
11. Nicolas Mahut (FRA) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA)
12. Rajeev Ram (USA) / Joe Salisbury (GBR)
13. Kevin Krawietz (GER) / Andreas Mies (GER)
14. Oliver Marach (AUT) / Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
15. Dominic Inglot (GBR) / Austin Krajicek (USA)
16. Robin Haase (NED) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN)

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ATP Teams Up With AXS To Provide Capped Resale Prices For Nitto ATP Finals In London

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2019

ATP Teams Up With AXS To Provide Capped Resale Prices For Nitto ATP Finals In London

Jun262019

Resale tickets for the ATP’s year-end showpiece at The O2 to be sold through AXS Official Resale

ATP has today announced that the resale of tickets for the 2019 and 2020 Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London will be through an exclusive partnership with AXS and its platform AXS Official Resale, strengthening the two companies’ long-standing relationship in the primary market.

AXS Official Resale is a new platform that incorporates state-of-the-art ticketing technology. Already launched in the UK and expanding to European markets, AXS Official Resale will provide tennis fans with the option to resell tickets at face value with a cap of no more than 10% above the price paid.

The ticketing solution allows fans to buy and then resell through the same platform. For the first time ever, all Nitto ATP Finals tickets for sale through AXS, including primary and secondary, will be visible to consumers at the point of purchase in real time.

Buy Your London Tickets

The move by the ATP to partner with AXS for resale at The O2 – one of Europe’s biggest and busiest entertainment venues – underlines a commitment to a fairer and more transparent experience for fans.

The method of delivery for AXS Official Resale – ‘Flash Mobile Delivery’ – is a mobile-friendly, identity-based system. Tickets are assigned directly to fans attending, replacing the standard PDF attached to an email. The fact the tickets are sold through AXS, The O2’s Official Ticketing Partner, will eliminate any purchase confusion and remove anxiety fans may have about whether their resale ticket is valid.

To alleviate the problems surrounding counterfeiting, all tickets are assigned to individuals via Flash Mobile Delivery’s unique digital ID technology. This includes a changing barcode system, which ensures that tickets cannot be copied or shared illegally – emphasising AXS’ ongoing commitment to combatting fraud.

By eliminating paper tickets, fans will have quicker and simpler access to the venue by simply scanning the app.

Commenting on the partnership, Adam Hogg, Event Director of the Nitto ATP Finals, said: “We have a great relationship with AXS as the Official Ticketing Partner of the Nitto ATP Finals and we’re looking forward to carrying this relationship over to the resale market. Our partnership with AXS and their resale platform enables tennis fans to buy and sell tickets at a fair price in a safe and secure environment. Our aim is for the Nitto ATP Finals to be accessible to everyone and this partnership helps deliver that.”

Robert Byrne, Managing Director of AXS Europe said: “AXS is proud to provide the iconic Nitto ATP Finals with a fully integrated platform across both the primary and resale markets – selling 100% of the ticket only allocation and giving everyone the opportunity to purchase and sell tickets at a capped, fair price. AXS Official Resale is already in place for events at The O2 and The SSE Arena, Wembley and the system is already exceeding expectations. We can’t wait to go live for the Nitto ATP Finals and give fans the opportunity to use it.”

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Wimbledon: When Is The Draw & More

  • Posted: Jun 25, 2019

Wimbledon: When Is The Draw & More

Jun252019

All about the grass-court Grand Slam tennis tournament

Since 2003, only four players — Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray — have won the Wimbledon singles title. All eyes will be on the quartet again at The Championships in 2019, with Djokovic, Nadal and Federer leading the chase for the singles title and Murray continuing his comeback by playing doubles.  

Djokovic made an emotional run to his fourth Wimbledon title last year at The All England Club, a triumph that lifted the Serbian back into the Top 10 and helped him propel to an year-end No. 1 finish in the ATP Rankings. “It took me many tournaments, but I couldn’t pick the better place, to be honest, in the tennis world to peak and to make a comeback,” he said. 

Two-time champion Nadal will come to Wimbledon on a 12-match winning streak after celebrating his first two titles of the season at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and at Roland Garros. Eight-time champion Federer will also enter the grass-court major with momentum after clinching his 10th title at last week’s NOVENTI OPEN in Halle.

Murray, who in 2013 became the first British male singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936, will focus his efforts on doubles as he teams up with Pierre-Hugues Herbert. In his first tournament back from hip surgery, Murray capped off a dream week with Feliciano Lopez at The Queen’s Club by winning the Fever-Tree Championships title.

You May Also Like…
* Djokovic: ‘I Had To Learn Lessons The Hard Way’
* Nadal: ‘The Path Doesn’t End Here. There’s Still Work To Be Done’
* Federer After Halle Win: ‘I Feel Young Again’
* Metal Hip, More Enjoyment For Murray

Here’s all you need to know about Wimbledon: when is the draw, what is the schedule, where to watch, who won and more.  

Established: 1877

Tournament Dates: 1-14 July 2019

Chief Executive: Richard Lewis

Draw Ceremony: Friday, 28 June at 10:00am, at The All England Club

Are You In? Subscribe Now!

Schedule (View On Official Website)
* Qualifying: Monday, 24 June – Thursday, 27 June
* Main draw: Daily play begins at 11:00am on outside courts, 1:00pm on Centre & No. 1 Courts from Monday, 1 July
* Doubles final: Saturday, 13 July
* Mixed doubles final: Sunday, 14 July
* Singles final: Sunday, 14 July at 2:00pm

How To Watch
View TV Schedule

Venue: The All England Lawn Tennis Club
Main Court Seating: 15,000

Prize Money: £17,769,000   

Tickets On Sale: About The Queue

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Archived Draws

Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (8)
Most Titles, Doubles: Todd Woodbridge (9)
Oldest Champion: Roger Federer, 35, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Boris Becker, 17, in 1985
Lowest-Ranked Champion (since 1979): No. 125 Goran Ivanisevic in 2001
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (95)

You May Also Like: Agony & Ecstasy: Federer’s 10 Most Dramatic Wimbledon Five Setters

2018 Finals
Singles: [12] Novak Djokovic (SRB) d [8] Kevin Anderson (RSA) 62 62 76(3)  Read & Watch
Doubles: [7] Mike Bryan (USA) / Jack Sock (USA) d [13] Raven Klaasen (RSA) / Michael Venus (NZL) 63 67(7) 63 57 75  Read & Watch

Social
Hashtag: #Wimbledon
Facebook: @wimbledon
Twitter: @Wimbledon
Instagram: @wimbledon

Did You Know… Since the first Championships in 1877, Wimbledon has grown from its roots as a garden-party tournament to a Grand Slam tournament with a following of millions around the world. The only Slam contested on grass continues to honour many long-standing traditions, including a strict dress code for competitors, the eating of strawberries and cream and royal patronage.

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Wimbledon qualifying 2019: Naomi Broady out, but Samantha Murray and Gabriella Taylor through

  • Posted: Jun 25, 2019
Wimbledon qualifying
Venue: Bank of England Sports Centre, London Dates: 24-27 June
Coverage: Live streaming on the BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website and app. Full details.

Britain’s Naomi Broady lost in Wimbledon qualifying, but compatriots Samantha Murray and Gabriella Taylor advanced to the second round.

American Kristie Ahn beat wildcard Broady, 29, 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4), while Taylor won 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 against France’s Chloe Paquet.

Murray, 31, faltered in the second set but eventually claimed a 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 victory against China’s Peng Shuai.

Former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki beat Timea Babos 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Broady, now ranked 352 in singles, was not the only Briton to fall on the first day of women’s qualifying, with Eden Silva, Emma Raducanu, Naiktha Bains, Maia Lumsden and Francesca Jones all defeated in the opening round.

World number 362 Murray will face Cristina Bucsa in the second round and Taylor will play 12th seed Ysaline Bonaventure.

Lisicki, who reached the final at the All England Club in 2013, will take on Ankita Raina in the next round.

The 16 players who make it through three rounds of qualifying will earn a place in the Wimbledon main draw.

  • Wimbledon 2019: BBC TV, radio and online coverage times and channels
  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

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Andy Murray & Marcelo Melo beaten in doubles at Eastbourne International

  • Posted: Jun 25, 2019

Andy Murray fell to a first defeat since starting his comeback in doubles in the first round of the Nature Valley International at Eastbourne.

Murray and Brazilian Marcelo Melo lost 6-2 6-4 to Colombian top seeds Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal.

The Briton struggled on serve at Eastbourne, being broken three times out of four.

Murray had won the doubles alongside Feliciano Lopez at Queen’s last week in his first tournament since hip surgery.

They defeated Farah and Cabal in the first round of that tournament but the Colombian pairing were always in control at Devonshire Park.

Murray ‘most likely’ to play mixed at Wimbledon

Murray will now head to Wimbledon, where he will partner Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the men’s doubles.

After Tuesday’s defeat, he told BBC Sport that he was “most likely” to also play mixed doubles at SW19 but is a little concerned about the wear and tear on his body.

The Scot, 32, had thought he might not play again before hip resurfacing in January left him “pain free”.

“I spoke to some of the doubles players the last few days about why they don’t always play mixed and they just said they had some situations where the weather has not always been so good,” he said.

“And because doubles is best of five [sets], and you play with the advantage scoring, you can get backed up and end up playing four matches in two days. I just need to be certain that my body’s ready for that. So I’ll chat to my team a bit about that and decide probably by the end of tomorrow, I would imagine.”

Murray is yet to finalise a potential partner for the mixed, having been turned down by singles world number one Ashleigh Barty and Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic.

He added: “I’ve spoken to a few of the players the last few days about it, so there’s a few kind of lined up and I said I would let them know in the next couple of days.”

  • Konta into third round at Eastbourne
  • GB’s Evans & Norrie win in men’s singles
  • Eastbourne tennis: How to follow the women’s tournament live on the BBC
  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

First setback since return

Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Murray surpassed his own expectations by winning the men’s doubles title at Queen’s alongside Lopez, but his partnership with Melo did not gel so well.

Murray was broken in the opening game and although he and Melo immediately brought up four break points on Farah’s serve, the British-Brazilian pairing could not convert any of them. They would be their only break points of the match.

A Murray volley into the net gave up another break and the Colombians comfortably wrapped up the set.

The Briton was broken to love in the third game of the second set and although he held serve at the fourth attempt, there was to be no comeback.

“They just played a lot better than us today. They got off to a quick start and deserved to win,” said Murray.

Farah and Cabal will play British pairing Dan Evans and Lloyd Glasspool in the quarter-finals.

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