Nishioka Rides Roller Coaster To Thrilling Victory

Mar122019

Japan’s Nishioka to face Serbian lucky loser Kecmanovic for quarter-final spot

If you like roller coasters, you certainly would have enjoyed Yoshihito Nishioka’s 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(5) victory against #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime on Monday evening in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.

The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime, who led by a set and a break, made a spirited comeback, saving three match points to recover from 1-5 down in the decider and take a 5/3 lead in the third-set tie-break. But Nishioka’s steadiness proved too much for the teenager, and the 23-year-old from Japan triumphed after two hours and 56 minutes.

“It’s very tough to play in that situation,” Nishioka said. “[I was] feeling very mad when he came back because I had a chance to win already, three match points. But he saved them with really good shots… I just tried my best and I found a way, finally.”

The battle was a classic clash between offence and defence. Auger-Aliassime took the lead by stepping into the court and striking powerful groundstrokes, especially off the forehand wing. But the Canadian increasingly made unforced errors late in the second set, and appeared to be losing steam before his impressive comeback in the decider.

“He just started playing high on my backhand. I wasn’t hitting as many forehands. I was struggling to dictate the points, struggling to move, the serve, as well. From there, it was tough,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It was tough to believe [I was coming back], because I wasn’t playing good at all. He was really dominating. Okay, I’m down match points. I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m going to try to win this one.’

“I eventually broke back 5-2, and then I saw a little bit of an opening… I was only one break down after that. I thought I might have a chance, maybe he’s going to get tight serving for the match. I gave myself a chance. I can be happy with myself for that.”

While Auger-Aliassime saved one match point at 1-5 and another two at 2-5, it was not enough. This is Nishioka’s second trip to the fourth round at the year’s first ATP Masters 1000 event. He also reached the last 16 in the desert two years ago to climb to a career-high No. 58 in the ATP Rankings. But just days after that breakthrough, Nishioka tore his ACL in Miami, a major setback.

“I’m very happy to come back [to the] Round of 16. I think I’m very fit on this surface and in this weather [and with] the balls, everything,” Nishioka said. “Two years ago I couldn’t take my chances to [make the] quarter-final, so hopefully I can take them this time.”

The left-hander captured his maiden ATP Tour title last September in Shenzhen to return to the world’s Top 100. But perhaps it’s fitting that Nishioka, who had won only one Masters 1000 match since that injury, is back into the fourth round here again.

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Nishioka will next face Serbian lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic, who upset Rio Open presented by Claro champion Laslo Djere 6-2, 7-6(3).

“It’s crazy from lucky loser to get to the fourth round,” Kecmanovic said. “I’m obviously really happy right now. It was a tough one to lose, in qualies [to Marcos Giron]. We both played really well, and Marcos made the third round and almost beat [Milos] Raonic today. So it was a tough matchup. But thankfully I got in, and I managed to use it pretty well.

“I’m relaxed. I’m enjoying myself because I’m not supposed to be here so I’m just going out on court and enjoying, swinging for it and it’s working well so far.”

This will be the first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between Nishioka and Kecmanovic. Regardless of the result, there will be a first-time Masters 1000 quarter-finalist in Indian Wells.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/miomir-kecmanovic/ki95/overview'>Miomir Kecmanovic</a> hits a volley in the third round of the <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/indian-wells/404/overview'>BNP Paribas Open</a>.

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Rojer/Tecau Set Indian Wells QF With Djokovic/Fognini

Mar122019

Top seeds Herbert/Mahut upset

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, 2017 quarter-finalists, upset eighth seeds Henri Kontinen/John Peers 6-3, 7-6(1) on Monday to return to the last eight at the BNP Paribas Open. Rojer/Tecau saved six of seven break points and will next meet Novak Djokovic/Fabio Fognini at the ATP Masters 1000.

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Fifth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah dismissed Lucas Pouille/Stan Wawrinka in only 50 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-2 against the French-Swiss combo. The Colombians didn’t face a break point en route to the quarter-finals, where they will meet Nikola Mektic/Horacio Zeballos, who knocked out top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut 2-6, 7-6(7), 13-11.

The Frenchmen had two match points, at 9/8 and 11/10, in the Match Tie-break but the Croatian/Argentine pairing saved them both.

Fed Cup: Revamped tournament could be held as soon as April 2020

Posted: Mar 11, 2019

A revamped Fed Cup Finals – featuring 12 teams – could be up and running as early as next April.

BBC Sport understands venues in Europe, the Middle East and on the east coast of the United States are currently being sought.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has asked for ‘expressions of interest’ by the end of this week.

The Davis Cup – the men’s equivalent team competition – has already undergone significant reform.

A $3bn (£2.29bn), 25-year partnership has been agreed with Kosmos, the investment group founded by the Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

This November, 18 teams will compete for the title and $20m (£15.24m) of prize money in the inaugural finals in Madrid.

The pace of Fed Cup reform has been far slower, with Martina Navratilova telling the BBC the competition has become an “after-thought.”

Two separate World Groups of eight teams, and the difficulty of winning promotion from zonal competitions, has long frustrated players and captains.

The ITF has, though, doubled the prize money at World Group level this year, and is now pursuing a week-long Finals featuring 12 teams. It is hoped prize money will equal that of the Davis Cup.

Eight home and away qualification ties are expected to be staged in February, which means 20 teams will have the chance to be involved each year.

In an interview with BBC Sport last month, Pique suggested the Davis Cup and Fed Cup could become a combined event in the “close future”. It is not yet known whether Kosmos wish to be involved in the ITF’s plans for 2020.

The Fed Cup, which was founded in 1963, is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport

Under the current rules, Great Britain are one win away from a return to the World Group for the first time since 1993. Promotion to World Group 2 would be the prize for victory against Kazakhstan at London’s Copper Box Arena in April.

However, if the competition is reformed in time for next year, then a win against Kazakhstan would almost certainly guarantee the involvement of Anne Keothavong’s team.

“The ITF is committed to enhancing the Fed Cup women’s team tennis competition,” the organisation said in a statement.

“Nothing has been decided, but the ITF has been discussing formats with nations and players to increase the size of the Fed Cup World Group to 16 nations.

“Following the 2018 AGM, the ITF announced a 100% increase in Fed Cup prize money compensation from 2019, and stated that it was looking at making changes to Fed Cup for 2020.”

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