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FedEx Performance Zone: Best By Surface 2017

  • Posted: Dec 21, 2017

FedEx Performance Zone: Best By Surface 2017

Look at how players fared by surface using the FedEx ATP Win/Loss Index

The ability to quickly adjust to different surfaces and conditions is a necessity on the 64-tournament circuit. Here’s a look at some of the best performers in 2017 by surface this year:

Hard Courts (minimum 10 matches)
Roger Federer won five of his seven titles on hard courts in 2017, including his fifth Australian Open and three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns. David Goffin, who recorded the most hard-court match wins this season, contested five hard-court title matches (2-3 record) for a .717 winning percentage.

Player
W-L Record
Winning %
David Goffin
43-17
.717
Roger Federer
40-4
.909
Rafael Nadal
40-9
.816
Grigor Dimitrov
39-11
.780
Damir Dzumhur
33-16
.673
Jack Sock
33-16
.673

Clay Courts (minimum 10 matches)
‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal recorded historic 10th titles at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and at Roland Garros. He also won a fifth Mutua Madrid Open trophy and now has a record 53 red dirt crowns. Dominic Thiem also excelled, compiling a 24-5 (.828) mark on the surface (1-2 record in finals).

Player
W-L Record
Winning %
Rafael Nadal
24-1
.960
Dominic Thiem
24-5
.828
Albert Ramos-Vinolas
22-13
.629
Pablo Carreno Busta
20-9
.690
Diego Schwartzman
17-12
.586

Grass Courts (minimum 5 matches)
Federer reigned supreme on the grass, lifting his ninth Gerry Weber Open title and a record eighth Wimbledon crown. His lone loss on mown lawns came to Tommy Haas at the Mercedes Cup, following a two-month absence from competitive play. Marin Cilic, who fell to Federer in the Wimbledon final, also finished as runner-up in his third Queen’s Club Championships final (l. to Lopez).

Player
W-L Record
Winning %
Roger Federer
12-1
.923
Marin Cilic
12-3
.800
Gilles Muller
11-2
.846
Feliciano Lopez
9-2
.818
Alexander Zverev
9-3
.750

Indoors (minimum 10 matches)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won three indoor crowns at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, the Open 13 Marseille and the European Open from four finals (Erste Bank Open 500). The Frenchman has an 11-8 mark in indoor finals (16-12 overall). Goffin and Grigor Dimitrov, who contested the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals, also performed strongly.

Player
W-L Record
Winning %
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
21-5
.808
David Goffin
20-8
.733
Grigor Dimitrov
15-3
.833
Damir Dzumhur
15-4
.789
Nikoloz Basilashvili
12-4
.750

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Andy Murray: Double Wimbledon champion to delay departure to Australia

  • Posted: Dec 21, 2017

Andy Murray has delayed his departure to Australia but still hopes to begin his season in Brisbane in January.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has not played a competitive match since Wimbledon because of a hip condition.

The Scot is due to play in the Brisbane International, which starts on New Year’s Day, before the Australian Open in Melbourne from 16-29 January.

Murray, 30, had originally planned to go to Australia before 25 December.

The double Wimbledon champion, who suffered a hip problem after the French Open in May, remains on the entry list for Brisbane.

Murray, who has slipped to 16th in the world rankings, was beaten by America’s Sam Querrey in the Wimbledon quarter-finals before travelling to New York in late August for the US Open, but he pulled out two days before the tournament began having failed to recover sufficiently.

His last public appearance was at a charity match against Roger Federer in Glasgow in early November, where he took a set from this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.

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Bartoli keen to follow 'perfect example' on return

  • Posted: Dec 21, 2017

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli says she can “still compete with the best in the world” as she prepares to return to the WTA tour.

Bartoli, who retired from tennis in 2013, announced on Tuesday that she would be making a comeback.

The Frenchwoman says she will not play events until she is “fully ready” but “can’t wait” to return.

“I think at 33 you can still perform on the tennis court for quite some time,” Bartoli told BBC World Service Sport.

“I think Serena and Venus Williams are the perfect example.

“Venus has been able to play two Grand Slam finals this year, Serena is coming back next year and I think they both say they want to play up until the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 so I think I’m definitely not too old for that.”

Venus, the older of the Williams sisters at 37, is currently ranked fifth in the world, 15 years after she reached a career-high of number one. She played in this year’s WTA Finals for the first time since 2010, losing in the final to Caroline Wozniacki, and topped the prize money list for the year.

Serena won this year’s Australian Open – her 23rd Grand Slam singles title – at the age of 36, while pregnant, and has entered the 2018 tournament, after giving birth to a daughter in September.

‘I can’t compare myself to Clijsters’

Bartoli, who defeated Germany’s Sabine Lisicki to win her sole Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2013, said she had spoken to former world number one Kim Clijsters before announcing her comeback.

Clijsters retired from tennis in 2007 but won two US Opens (2009 and 2010) and an Australian Open (2011) after returning to the sport.

“I spoke to Kim quite a bit about it because obviously when she came back she was able to win Grand Slams,” said Bartoli.

“I obviously can’t compare myself to Kim, she has been a much better player than myself and she was physically a lot more gifted.

“She explained to me that the process is very important and I very much feel that way as well.

“I love also spending time in the gym every day to get fitter, stronger and faster. I know I have a long way to go but I’m very excited about it.

“Of course I won’t play the same schedule when I was 18 or 20 years of age when I used to play 25-30 events a year.”

Bartoli also confirmed that she would continue to work on other projects alongside her tennis career.

“I will still do some commentary work even though I’ll be playing and of course I’ll do my fashion.

“I’ll be able to play with my own tennis line when back on the court which I’m very excited about and proud of.”

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Venus Williams to face no charges after fatal crash

  • Posted: Dec 21, 2017

American tennis player Venus Williams will not be charged over her involvement in a car crash in June that led to the death of a 78-year-old man.

Jerome Barson’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Williams.

Palm Beach Gardens police initially said the 37-year-old was at fault, but footage emerged in July that they said showed her driving lawfully.

They said on Wednesday: “Based on this investigation and relevant Florida statutes, no charges will be filed.”

Barson, 78, was a passenger in a car – being driven by his wife Linda – that collided with the SUV Williams was driving. He died 13 days after the accident.

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Miami Open Presnted By Itau To Move In 2019

  • Posted: Dec 20, 2017

Miami Open Presnted By Itau To Move In 2019

2018 will be the tournament’s final year at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.

The Miami Open presented by Itau will move to a new home in 2019.

IMG, an Endeavor company, announced on Wednesday that the tournament will be relocating to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019, aiming to bring an unparalleled fan experience, improved player amenities, ample parking, as well as an extended fan base to the tournament. Construction on the new tennis facilities will begin in 2018.

The Miami Open presented by Itau’s last event at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, where it has enjoyed a successful 32-year run, will begin in March. Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez will work closely to develop this reimagined event.

“The Miami Open belongs in Miami,” said WME and IMG Co-President Mark Shapiro. “We’re grateful to have amazing partners in Stephen, the Miami Dolphins organisation, Mayor Gimenez and above all the people of Miami who have been supporting the Miami Open for decades. While we’re looking forward to creating the new Miami Open experience at Hard Rock Stadium, our priority is to make the last edition of the Key Biscayne event the best it’s ever been.”

Ross is also happy to keep the tournament in South Florida.

“We are extremely excited that the Miami Open, a global entertainment event, will remain in our community,” Ross said. “We are committed to bringing a best-in-class experience alongside IMG to all of the players, fans and partners that will take part in this global affair. The opportunity to showcase the best tennis in the world in Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that brings together the best of culture, art and entertainment, will be an amazing experience for everyone involved.”

The move to Hard Rock Stadium will allow the Miami Open presented by Itau the freedom and flexibility to grow and innovate the event with improved infrastructure, upgraded amenities, expanded space and parking. The event will have 30 show and practice courts; a tennis oasis with the largest video screen of any tennis event; a sponsorship village with expanded and upgraded entertainment spaces; permanent retail facilities; improved Wi-Fi, media facilities, locker rooms and fitness space for players and tennis staff. The tournament’s sponsors will enjoy state-of-the-art hospitality options, improved activation areas, additional opportunities for brand exposure and access to new markets north of Miami-Dade County.

The centerpiece of the move will be a new Centre Court, which will showcase a 14,000-seat stadium within Hard Rock Stadium. Ross has invested more than $500 million into Hard Rock Stadium over the years, which boasts a state-of-the-art shade canopy, four giant high-definition video boards, new seats closer to the action, concourses, restrooms and retail outlets throughout the entire facility, and new premium spaces that raise the caliber for luxury within a sports facility.

The 2018 Miami Open presented by Itau, the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season, will be played from 19 March-1 April. Roger Federer is the defending champion.

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Less Basketball & More Tennis For Kyrgios In 2018

  • Posted: Dec 20, 2017

Less Basketball & More Tennis For Kyrgios In 2018

Kyrgios begins his season at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp

There has never been a question about Nick Kyrgios’ talent. But now the Australian is more determined than ever to make the most of it and continue his rise up the ATP World Tour. He will debut in the main draw of the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, which will take place from 31 December through 7 January.

“I’m training much harder in the gym, so hopefully my body gets stronger and I can go deeper into tournaments on a more consistent basis,” Kyrgios said. “I’m taking much better care of my body now, and I feel like I’m giving myself the best possible chance of winning tennis matches. My hip isn’t troubling me and I’m being more disciplined with my rehab, so hopefully the hard work starts to pay off.”

The right-hander was hampered by a hip injury toward the end of the 2017 season, losing in the first round of three of his final four tournaments before ultimately cutting his campaign short after the European Open in Antwerp. The three-time ATP World Tour champion has been open about spending time on the basketball court for fun despite having some niggles.

“Playing lots of basketball wasn’t great for my body, people have told me that and I’m now starting to listen,” Kyrgios said. “So I’m feeling fit, healthy and as motivated as I have for a while. I feel much more ready to go and play good tennis than I did this time last year. I’ve also improved my diet, all the things you need to do to be at your best.”

Kyrgios got a practice session in on Wednesday at Queensland Tennis Centre, the home of the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp. He last appeared in Brisbane five years ago, losing in the first round of qualifying against compatriot James Duckworth.

The 22-year-old is plenty familiar with the facility ahead of his first main draw appearance at the tournament.

“I’ve also trained here in the off-season in the past, so I feel very comfortable out here,” Kyrgios said. “It’s a great tournament with a very strong field again this year, so I’m very excited. It’s great preparation for the Australian Open, but I’m not thinking about the A.O. or any other tournament at the minute. I’m just focused on getting my year off to a good start here in Brisbane.”

Other players competing in the event include Rafael Nadal, the No. 1 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Andy Murray and Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, who won in Brisbane last season.

Kyrgios’s most recent appearance was at a charity exhibition against Juan Martin del Potro on 15 December in Argentina. The Australian donated $100,000 of his appearance fee straight to his NK Foundation, which strives to both increase access to and provide sport to underprivileged & disadvantaged youth.

ATP ACES For Charity: Nick Kyrgios

While Kyrgios has not set any goals or completed his full schedule for 2018 just yet, he is excited about doing two things in particular.

“My main goals are just to stay healthy and play as much tennis as I can,” Kyrgios said.

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The Numbers Game: 2017 ATP Challenger Tour

  • Posted: Dec 20, 2017

The Numbers Game: 2017 ATP Challenger Tour

ATPWorldTour.com examines the ATP Challenger Tour storylines behind the numbers in 2017

Match Win-Loss Leaders
Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic was the lone player to claim 50 match wins this year, but it was Yen-Hsun Lu earning the highest win percentage (min. 25 matches played). Kavcic is one of just five players to achieve the feat in ATP Challenger Tour history.

Player

W-L

Pct.

Yen-Hsun Lu

26-6

.813

Yuichi Sugita

21-5

.808

Rogerio Dutra Silva

24-7

.774

Egor Gerasimov

20-6

.769

Federico Delbonis

20-6

.769

Dudi Sela

19-6

.760

Filip Krajinovic

47-15

.758

Thomas Fabbiano

31-10

.756

Cameron Norrie

32-11

.744

Cedrik-Marcel Stebe  29-10  .744 

Singles Title Leaders
Serbians Filip Krajinovic (5) and Janko Tipsarevic (4) lifted the most trophies this year. Krajinovic’s five victories made him the biggest mover to the Top 50 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, soaring 203 spots to a year-end No. 34. Tipsarevic completed a perfect 20-0 campaign, claiming a pair of titles on the hard courts of Bankgok and two more on the Chinese clay of Qingdao and Anning.

Player

Total

Clay

Grass

Hard

Filip Krajinovic

5

5

 

  

Janko Tipsarevic

4

2

   

2

10 Tied

3

 

 

 

You May Also Like: Best Of 2017: Youth Movement Tops Challenger Storylines


Teen Titlists (15)
Twelve different teenagers accounted for a total of 15 Challenger titles this year, with Denis Shapovalov, Frances Tiafoe and Felix Auger-Aliassime winning multiple crowns. At 16 years, 10 months, Auger-Aliassime became the eighth-youngest winner in history with his triumph in Lyon, France. 

At 17, Nicola Kuhn became the youngest from Spain to win a title since Rafael Nadal in 2003, while 18-year-old Miomir Kecmanovic became the youngest from Serbia to do so since Novak Djokovic in 2005. China’s Wu Yibing is the first teen titlist from his country, prevailing on home soil in Shanghai.

Player

Title

Age

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Lyon, FRA

16 yrs, 10 mos.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Sevilla, ESP

17 yrs, 1 mo.

Nicola Kuhn

Braunschweig, GER

17 yrs, 3 mos.

Wu Yibing

Shanghai, CHN

17 yrs, 11 mos.

Denis Shapovalov

Drummondville, CAN

17 yrs, 11 mos.

Miomir Kecmanovic

Suzhou, CHN

18 yrs, 1 mo.

Denis Shapovalov

Gatineau, CAN

18 yrs, 3 mos.

Corentin Moutet

Brest, FRA

18 yrs, 6 mos.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Genova, ITA

19 yrs, 1 mo.

Frances Tiafoe Sarasota, USA 19 yrs, 3 mos.
Frances Tiafoe Aix-en-Provence, FRA 19 yrs, 3 mos.
Michael Mmoh Lexington, USA 19 yrs, 6 mos.
Stefan Kozlov Las Vegas, USA 19 yrs, 8 mos.
Alexander Bublik Morelos, MEX 19 yrs, 8 mos.
Omar Jasika Burnie, AUS 19 yrs, 8 mos.

Title Leaders By Country
Players from 41 countries won titles this year, with Marcelo Arevalo becoming the first from El Salvador to lift a trophy. Serbia and the United States boasted a tour-leading 12 winners apiece, with nine different players from the U.S. emerging victorious. Meanwhile, Belarus completed a perfect 6-0 campaign in Challenger finals, with Egor Gerasimov winning three titles, Uladzimir Ignatik two and Ilya Ivashka one.

Country

Finals W-L

Winners

Serbia

12-8

Krajinovic-5, Tipsarevic-4, Djere-1, Lajovic-1, Kecmanovic-1

United States

12-9

Tiafoe-2, Sandgren-2, Smyczek-2, Harrison-1, Rubin-1, Mmoh-1, K King-1, McDonald-1, Kozlov-1

Germany

10-11

Stebe-3, Marterer-3, Otte-1, Gojowczyk-1, Bachinger-1, Hanfmann-1

Spain

9-11

Menendez Maceiras-2, Carballes Baena-2, Garcia Lopez-2, Kuhn-1, Munar-1, Ojeda Lara-1

Italy

8-12

Fabbiano-3, Travaglia-1, Cecchinato-1, Lorenzi-1, Berrettini-1, Sonego-1

France

7-10

Mannarino-2, Bourgue-1, Hemery-1, Gasquet-1, Moutet-1, Robert-1

Outside Top 400 Winners (7)
The slipper fit for seven Cinderella stories, with a bevy of players ranked outside the Top 400 tasting success. At No. 615, Jason Kubler was the highest-ranked of the group, winning on home soil in Traralgon in his first Challenger event in more than two years due to injury.

Player

Tournament

Emirates ATP Ranking

Jason Kubler

Traralgon, AUS

No. 615

Nicola Kuhn

Braunschweig, GER

No. 501

Wu Yibing

Shanghai, CHN

No. 496

Viktor Galovic

Recanati, ITA

No. 491

Kevin King Cary, USA No. 434
Ante Pavic Columbus, USA  No. 425 
Egor Gerasimov Saint-Brieuc, FRA  No. 404 

ATP World Tour & ATP Challenger Tour Winners (6)
Six players lifted trophies on both the ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour this year. Ryan Harrison became the first to win a Challenger title and then a tour-level crown in consecutive tournaments since David Goffin in 2014.

Player

ATP World Tour

ATP Challenger Tour

Ryan Harrison

Memphis

Dallas, USA

Yuichi Sugita

Antalya

Yokohama, JPN; Shenzhen, CHN; Surbiton, GBR

Victor Estrella Burgos

Quito

Santo Domingo, DOM

Damir Dzumhur

St. Petersburg; Moscow

Blois, FRA

Peter Gojowczyk Metz  Happy Valley, AUS 
Pablo Cuevas Sao Paulo  Montevideo, URU 

Match Points Saved In Finals (5)
Alexey Vatutin saved the most match points in an ATP Challenger Tour final this year, turning aside six in beating Guido Andreozzi 2-6, 7-6(10), 6-3 for the crown in Poznan, Poland.

Player

M.P. Saved

Tournament

Alexey Vatutin (d. Andreozzi)

6

Poznan, POL

Nicolas Kicker (d. Zeballos)

2

Buenos Aires, ARG

Marton Fucsovics (d. Djere)

2

Vicenza, ITA

Yuichi Sugita (d. Kwon)

2

Yokohama, JPN

Jason Kubler (d. Bolt) 1 Traralgon, AUS

Fast Facts

  • The lone all-teen final came in Brest, France, with home hope Corentin Moutet (18) defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas (19) for his maiden Challenger title.
  • Teenagers reached a total of 24 finals, winning 15 titles. Denis Shapovalov led all teens with three final appearances, hoisting trophies on home soil in Drummondville and Gatineau. 
  • At 37 years, 5 months, Stephane Robert became the third-oldest winner in Challenger history with his title in Kobe, Japan. Fellow 37-year-old Victor Estrella Burgos became the fourth-oldest champion with his victory in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
  • Yuichi Sugita became the only player to win ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour titles on grass in a single season, prevailing in Surbiton, Great Britain and at the 250 event in Antalya.
  • Six unseeded wild cards won titles: Jerzy Janowicz (Bergamo, ITA), Felix Auger-Aliassime (Lyon, FRA), Stefanos Tsitsipas (Genova, ITA), Wu Yibing (Shanghai, CHN), Lorenzo Sonego (Ortisei, ITA) and Corentin Moutet (Brest, FRA)
  • Qualifiers won 10 titles, with Adrian Menendez-Maceiras and Roberto Quiroz contesting the first all-qualifier final since 2010. Uladzimir Ignatik was the lone lucky loser champ, in Rennes, France.
  • Four players successfully defended titles: Adrian Mannarino (Noumea), Janko Tipsarevic (Qingdao, CHN), Paolo Lorenzi (Caltanissetta, ITA) and Malek Jaziri (Istanbul, TUR)
  • There were a total of 33 first-time winners this year, with 16-year-old Auger-Aliassime the youngest and 28-year-old Pedro Sousa the oldest.
  • Longest final: The longest final registered at two hours, 51 minutes, with Radu Albot beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(6), 6-7(3), 6-4 in Shenzhen, China.
  • Shortest completed final: At 46 minutes, Lukas Lacko downed Laurynas Grigelis 6-1, 6-2 in Brescia, Italy, in the shortest final of the year.

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