Latest News | Tennis Courts Map Directory | Every Tennis Court in the World

Kyrgios went jet skiing before beating Zverev in Mexican Open final

Posted: Mar 03, 2019

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios says he prepared for his Mexican Open final victory over world number three Alexander Zverev by going jet skiing.

The 23-year-old beat Zverev 6-3 6-4 to win his fifth ATP Tour title.

Kyrgios started the week 72nd in the world – his lowest ranking in five years, but is expected to return to the world’s top 30 after this win.

“I need to be way more disciplined, way better professionally and do the right things,” he said.

“I don’t even have a coach, so maybe I start there.”

Kyrgios, who reached a career high ranking of 13 in 2016, added: “I went jet skiing at 5:30pm [before playing Zverev], so I don’t think that’s what a top 10 player would do.”

Zverev was the third top-10 player Kyrgios beat to reach the final, after victories over Rafael Nadal and John Isner and a win against three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

“I knew I was the underdog going in,” said Kyrgios, who was handed a silver pear trophy and a black sombrero after his win. “I didn’t expect much.”

Weird trophies

He added: “It’s an amazing feeling. He’s an incredible player and doesn’t have many weaknesses, so I knew I had to play my style of tennis. I’m really happy with the performance.”

During the week Kyrgios has battled hostile crowds, illness, injury, cramps and after beating Nadal, was criticised by the Spaniard for “lacking respect”.

“It’s hopefully an example for people who are struggling and getting in some places you don’t think you can get out of,” said Kyrgios. “If I can do it, you can do it.

“I was really down and out and didn’t know what I was going to do, but you have a week like this and things can change.”

It was a straightforward victory for Kyrgios against German Zverev, after spending more than nine hours on court in his four previous matches.

Zverev said: “If you beat four players like that in an [ATP] 500 tournament, you deserve to win it. He’s the real champion of this week.”

The tour now moves to the US for tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.

Live scores, schedule and results
Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Source link

Kyrgios: ‘I Need To Be More Disciplined’

Mar032019

Aussie hints at big changes ahead after Acapulco title

The potential of Nick Kyrgios has long been undeniable. After defeating three Top 10 players and a three-time Grand Slam champion in Stan Wawrinka to win the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, it’s even more apparent Kyrgios has the game to crack the Top 10 — and beyond — of the ATP Rankings.

But does the Aussie see himself as a Top 10 player?

“I went jet skiing at 5:30 p.m. (before playing Alexander Zverev in the final), so I don’t think that’s what a Top 10 player would do,” said Kyrgios.

Although his pre-match preparation wasn’t conventional, clinching the title in Acapulco appeared to spark a shift in thinking. If he can beat two Top 3 players in the same week, while going jet skiing hours before a championship match, what could he do if he fully applied himself?

“I’m very lucky to be in this position. I need to be way more disciplined, way better professionally and do the right things,” said Kyrgios. “I don’t even have a coach, so maybe I start there.”

You May Also Like: Kyrgios Completes Dream Week With Acapulco Title

Even before his latest realisation, Kyrgios’ mental shift throughout the week wasn’t lost on fans in Acapulco. At times, they weren’t shy to voice their displeasure. But in Saturday’s final against Zverev, the Centre Court crowd chanted his name and loudly applauded his eye-raising winners.

It was an experience that Kyrgios won’t forget anytime soon.

“The crowd created the atmosphere every day. It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in. They were booing me and I still enjoyed playing and being here,” said Kyrgios. “They created the emotions, the memories, the event. It was amazing.”

Kyrgios feeds off the energy around him more than most players and his success in Acapulco will only create positive vibes as he heads to the BNP Paribas Open. With minimal ATP Rankings points to defend for the next three months, he’s in a prime position to continue his feel-good comeback of 2019.

“It’s hopefully an example for people who are struggling and getting in some places you don’t think you can get out of. If I can do it, you can do it,” said Kyrgios. “I was really down and out and didn’t know what I was going to do, but you have a week like this and things can change.”

Rublev, Edmund Set Blockbuster Indian Wells Final

Mar032019

Andrey Rublev and Kyle Edmund set championship clash at the Indian Wells Challenger

They have both lifted trophies on the ATP Tour, but on Sunday, Kyle Edmund and Andrey Rublev will duel for a piece of Challenger silverware. The stage is set for a highly entertaining clash as the British No. 1 squares off against the 21-year-old Russian star.

Edmund, who celebrated his maiden ATP Tour title in Antwerp last year, will meet 2017 Umag champ Rublev for just the second time in their budding careers. Their lone previous encounter came in qualifying of the 2015 Irving Challenger, which Edmund clinched 6-1, 6-4.

Both the Brit and the Russian are hoping their respective runs to final in Indian Wells will propel them to ATP Masters 1000 success in the coming weeks. In search of match play and confidence, Edmund is returning from a knee injury while Rublev is battling back from a persistent back ailment. Their strong performances in the desert are encouraging signs as they look to return to form and continue their ATP Rankings assaults.

Edmund, who sits at No. 27, advanced to the final with a three-set victory over Lloyd Harris. Rublev, meanwhile, will return to the Top 100 with a victory on Sunday. The former World No. 31 lifted his lone Challenger trophy three years ago in Quimper, France.

You May Also Like: Edmund On The Mend: British No. 1 Eyeing Return To Form

Delbonis/Gonzalez Retain Sao Paulo Crown

Mar022019

Argentines fly to the title without dropping a set

Argentines Federico Delbonis and Maximo Gonzalez retained the Brasil Open crown on Saturday, defeating Brits Luke Bambridge and Jonny O’Mara 6-4, 6-3 in 62 minutes to win their second title as a team.

It is Delbonis’ third Sao Paulo triumph, as he also was victorious in singles five years ago. Gonzalez reached the doubles final in all four ‘Golden Swing’ events — at Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo — this year, lifting the trophy in three straight events (finalist in Cordoba) with three different partners.

Delbonis and Gonzalez did not drop a set in this ATP 250 event, winning six of their eight sets by a margin of 6-4 or greater. The compatriots are now 9-2 as a tandem. The Argentines leave Brazil with 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points and a share of $31,300.

Watch Live

The battle was won on first serves. Delbonis and Gonzalez lost just two points (23/25) on their first deliveries, while Bambridge and O’Mara were able to win only 69 per cent (23/32) of their first-serve points. The Argentines broke four times in the match, while they were broken just once.

It was still a strong week for Bambridge and O’Mara, who also reached the final of the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune to start the season. The Brits captured titles in Eastbourne and Stockholm last year. They add 150 points to their tallies and split $15,940 in prize money.

Did You Know?
Since the Brasil Open started in 2001, the Delbonis/Gonzalez pairing is the only all-Argentine team to lift the doubles trophy.

Roger Federer wins 100th ATP title in Dubai with victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas

Posted: Mar 02, 2019

Roger Federer has won his 100th ATP Tour title at the Dubai Tennis Championships – 6,600 days after winning his first in Milan.

The 37-year-old Swiss – a 20-time Grand Slam champion – beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4.

Federer’s first ATP title came at the Milan Indoors on 4 February, 2001, when he beat Frenchman Julien Boutter.

“It is an absolute dream come true right now,” said Federer, who will become world number four on Monday.

He is just the second man, after American Jimmy Connors in 1983, to reach the landmark.

“I’m delighted. It’s great to win my eighth here in Dubai and in combination with my 100th singles title,” he added.

“To win in Marseille and then come here was difficult for Stefanos.

“I don’t know if Stefanos was born when I won my first title (he was, in August 1998). It’s a privilege [to play against possible future champions] because I’ll be watching them on the TV. It was a treat to play Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. I’m sure Stefanos will have a wonderful career.

“Tennis is in good hands regardless if I’m there or not.”

Roger Federer’s 100 titles in numbers
Can you name the 20 players to have beaten Federer in a final?

Federer broke Tsitsipas, 20, in the first game of the match before saving two break points at 5-4 to see out the first set.

The Greek – who will break into the world top 10 for the first time on Monday – held his nerve in the second set until 4-4, before Federer broke his serve once again to wrap up the final in 69 minutes.

World number 11 Tsitsipas was Federer’s 50th different final opponent and the 25th different nationality.

It was only the second time the pair had met, with Tsitsipas beating Federer in four sets in the Australian Open last 16 in January.

Federer will have to win 10 more titles to beat Connors’ men’s record of 109, while Martina Navratilova holds the all-time record having won 167 women’s singles crowns during her career.

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Jimmy Connors’ record remains a remarkable one.

He won his 109th and final tournament in Tel Aviv in the month after turning 37, and that was over six years before he finally called it a day.

Connors won 15 titles – including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – in his standout season of 1974. Nothing that Federer achieves should remotely diminish Connors’ feat, although the Swiss is playing in what the Grand Slam roll of honour shows to be the finest era in men’s tennis.

Is there any way Federer can catch Connors? Probably not, given his age, as he would need to maintain his recent strike rate for another couple of seasons.

If overtaking Connors’ record was paramount, Federer could target the smaller, less competitive, events. But this would come at the expense of the Grand Slams, which remain Federer’s overriding motivation.

Live scores, schedule and results
Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Source link