Tennis News

From around the world

Bopanna/Dodig Save 2 M.P. In Montreal

  • Posted: Aug 12, 2017

Bopanna/Dodig Save 2 M.P. In Montreal

Indian/Croatian pairing reach Masters 1000 title match

Rohan Bopanna and Ivan Dodig saved two match points on Saturday at the Coupe Rogers in Montreal to reach their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final as a team. The Indian/Croatian pairing hit 10 aces to advance 4-6, 7-6(8), 11-9 against South African Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram of the U.S.

Klaasen/Ram, who were looking to make their second Masters 1000 title match (Indian Wells), held match points at 7/6 and 8/7 in the second-set tie-break, but Bopanna/Dodig won the final three points to force the Match Tie-break.

You May Also Like: The Dream Continues: Shapovalov Makes Montreal SFs

Bopanna/Dodig are playing together for only the second time. They reached the semi-finals of the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club in June. Dodig, partnering with Marcelo Melo, won the Montreal doubles title last year.

Fifth seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut face eighth seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic in the second doubles semi-final.

Source link

Zverev Sets Shapovalov SF In Montreal

  • Posted: Aug 12, 2017

Zverev Sets Shapovalov SF In Montreal

German will look to win ninth consecutive match

The #NextGenATP leader v. the #NextGenATP rookie? Saturday’s Coupe Rogers semi-final in Montreal between 20 year old Alexander Zverev and 18 year old Denis Shapovalov will be a historic meeting between #NextGenATP players.

Zverev set the semi-final date late on Friday evening, beating Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-5, 6-4 to reach his second Masters 1000 semi-final. The #NextGenATP German recorded his 44th match win of the season and has now strung together eight consecutive victories, including two over Anderson. Zverev beat Anderson on Sunday to win the Citi Open title in Washington, D.C.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much. I’m trying to play every match the same way,” Zverev said of his recent run. 

You May Also Like: The Dream Continues: Shapovalov Makes Montreal SFs

Shapovalov continued his dream tournament in Canada with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. The #NextGenATP Canadian became the youngest ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-finalist. He and Zverev have never played.

“He’s doing an amazing job of getting to the semis here. He’s so young. He’s playing amazing tennis,” Zverev said. “I’m going to try play the best tennis that I can, to make it difficult for him. It’s going to be, hopefully, a great match.”

With Shapovalov rightfully hogging the spotlight in Montreal, Zverev is quietly enjoying another deep run at a big tournament. The 6’6″ German saved three match points against Frenchman Richard Gasquet to win his opener, and he advanced in straight sets against Nick Kyrgios to gain his first victory against the Aussie in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

Against Anderson, Zverev improved to 4-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. He hit nine aces and overcame seven double faults in the 92-minute victory. Anderson did well to break Zverev and get back on serve in the first set, but the German broke Anderson once more to take the opener.

Zverev would gain another break in the second set to advance to another semi-final. He also reached a Masters 1000 semi-final in Rome en route to celebrating his maiden Masters 1000 title (d. Djokovic).

 Watch Live On TennisTV

 Watch Full Match Replays

Source link

The Dream Continues: Shapovalov Makes Montreal SFs

  • Posted: Aug 12, 2017

The Dream Continues: Shapovalov Makes Montreal SFs

#NextGenATP Canadian through to Masters 1000 SF

The dream lives. #NextGenATP Denis Shapovalov continued the run of his life on Friday night, overcoming a slow and nervy start to advance to the semi-finals of the Coupe Rogers in Montreal.

The 18-year-old Canadian beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Court Central, where Shapovalov has earned legions of supporters this week at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.

He first knocked off Juan Martin del Potro, then World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the third round, and Mannarino was the latest established ATP veteran to go down against the spirited left-hander, who’s fiery play has created an electric atmosphere on the main court.

Shapovalov, at No. 143 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, was already projected to break the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 100. But he’s now expected to jump to No. 67.

His semi-final run will also help him surge to third place in the Emirates ATP Race to Milan, which will determine seven of the eight 21-and-under players who compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. The eighth player will be determined by wild card.

You May Also Like: Federer Keeps Sights On Montreal Crown

Shapovalov continues to make Masters 1000 history as well. He became the youngest player to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final (since 1990), and he’ll try to do the unthinkable before this week and advance to the Coupe Rogers final. He’ll face either South African Kevin Anderson or #NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

Zverev owns a 3-0 record against Anderson in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including a straight-set win in the Citi Open final last week.

Perhaps it was the late finish from his riveting upset against Nadal or nerves from his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, but either way, Shapovalov started slowly against Mannarino, who was also looking to make his first Masters 1000 semi-final.

The Canadian struggled to stay in rallies against the Frenchman, and Mannarino took advantage, breaking the Canadian twice and cruising to a one-set lead. Shapovalov won just 55 per cent of his first-serve points in the first set.

He settled in during the second set, though. After a brief rain delay, the Canadian broke immediately for 4-2, helped by a Mannarino double fault. He sealed the set on serve and encouraged the crowd, as he’s done all this week, lifting his arms to elicit their praise.

In the third set, Mannarino recovered from an early break, but the Canadian showed fearlessness in the big moments. He broke Mannarino for a 5-4 advantage when the Frenchman netted a forehand. The 18 year old clinched the quarter-final with a body serve that Mannarino struck wide.

Roger Federer remains on course to lift his 27th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and put pressure on Rafael Nadal in the two-man battle to replace Andy Murray at No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Bidding to capture his first trophy in Montreal – and his third overall in Canada – Federer produced a spellbinding blend of power and finesse to outclass No. 12 seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 in 68 minutes on Friday afternoon at the Coupe Rogers. It was his seventh straight win over the Spaniard and Federer is now 34-2 on the season, which includes an ATP World Tour-high five titles.

 Watch Live On TennisTV

 Watch Full Match Replays

Source link

Ball Boys On A Rescue Mission For Gretzky

  • Posted: Aug 12, 2017

Ball Boys On A Rescue Mission For Gretzky

Ice hockey great drops phone under stands on Court Central

There is no denying ‘The Great One’ Wayne Gretzky’s control of the puck on a hockey rink in his heyday. Not so great it would seem when it comes to controlling his phone. 

The retired four-time Stanley Cup champion was taking in Thursday night’s Coupe Rogers match between Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Rafael Nadal when he managed to drop his phone under the stands in the front row of Court Central. Fortunately, a trio of ball boys came to the rescue and after a considerable search the wayward phone was located.

Source link

Rogers Cup: Caroline Wozniacki upsets number one Karolina Pliskova in Toronto

  • Posted: Aug 12, 2017

Sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki beat Karolina Pliskova 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 in a rain-hit match at the Rogers Cup for her first win over a world number one.

Wozniacki was 5-1 down in the first set and 4-2 down in the third but recovered to beat the Czech after three hours.

The Dane, 27, will play either American Sloane Stephens or Czech Lucie Safarova in the semi-finals in Toronto.

Simona Halep faces Caroline Garcia and Garbine Muguruza plays Elina Svitolina in the remaining quarter-final matches.

“Almost every tournament I’ve played this year there has been a rain delay, so at this point I just have to laugh because I feel like it is following me,” said Wozniacki.

“Every time this year when it has been raining I’ve had a great tournament, so I thought this must be luck.”

Source link