Del Potro Flies High In Acapulco
Del Potro Flies High In Acapulco
Mar012017
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Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Roger Federer and Andy Murray kicked off the 25th edition of the tournament with a beach tennis game, the famous Burj Al Arab as their backdrop.
After his first-round win, Federer joined ATP Executive Chairman and President Chris Kermode for an anniversary celebration on court. The ATP recognised the 25th anniversary of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with the presentation of a crystal plate and cake to mark the celebration.
Stan Wawrinka hopped in a Skydive Dubai gyrocopter for a flight over the Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeriah and Dubai Marina before making his way back to Skydive Dubai. Watch
“It was really great fun, I really enjoyed it,” said Wawrinka. “It’s nice to fly in a small plane and see things from above.”
Over 1,000 school children from across the United Arab Emirates took to the courts for kids’ day activities with John Peers and Horia Tecau, while Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Daniel Nestor enjoyed an exciting morning with over 80 children at the Dubai Duty Free Special Needs Clinic.
Abierto Mexicano Telcel – Acapulco, Mexico
Rafael Nadal’s first stop when arriving to Acapulco? A photo op on the beach in front of the giant #AMT2017!
Nadal, Marin Cilic, Feliciano Lopez, Mexican doubles star Santiago Gonzalez and more enjoyed the annual white party to celebrate the tournament.
Juan Martin del Potro joined WTA star Genie Bouchard for mini tennis on the beach under the gorgeous Mexican sunshine.
Lopez travelled by helicopter to check out Acapulco cliff diving, while Cilic took a turn on a jet ski.
John Isner and #NextGenATP star Ernesto Escobedo learned how to make the perfect guacamole.
Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal tried out football golf at the nearby course.
#NextGenATP’s Frances Tiafoe and Borna Coric were among those to meet local fans for photos and autographs.
Brasil Open – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Fabio Fognini, Joao Sousa, Andre Sa, Pablo Carreno Busta, Diego Schwartzman, Federico Delbonis, Guillermo Duran, Gastao Elias, Artem Sitak and Nicholas Monroe were among those to enjoy the official players’ party at the tournament hotel bar as well as a delicious meal at the tournament dinner, held at NB Steak.
Marcelo Demoliner and Joao Souza met their hometown fans at meet-and-greets, while Orlando Luz was on hand for kids’ day activities.
Best of ATP Stars 2017
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Left-hander prevails in all-Spanish clash
Former World No. 7 Fernando Verdasco battled to a confidence-boosting win on Wednesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, edging fellow Spaniard and sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals.
Since reaching the semi-finals in the first week of the season at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (l. to Djokovic after holding five match points), the left-hander had won just one match in three tournaments. But he toughed out victory over Bautista Agut in two hours and 26 minutes, breaking in the final game to seal the win.
“With him, until the last point you have to have unbelievable focus and fight every point,” said Verdasco. “That’s what I did, and I’m very happy that I went through and I’m in the quarter-finals for the first time here.
“Always beating these kind of players gives me confidence. They give you unbelievable rhythm, and it’s always good for your game.”
The 33-year-old Verdasco goes on to face Gael Monfils or Daniel Evans.
Seventh seed Lucas Pouille kept up his good run of form, defeating qualifier Marius Copil 6-1, 6-4 in 59 minutes. The Frenchman is coming off a runner-up showing at the Open 13 Marseille (l. to Tsonga). He could next face seven-time Dubai champion Roger Federer, should the Swiss beat Evgeny Donskoy.
Philipp Kohlschreiber set a potential quarter-final clash with top seed Andy Murray as he defeated #NextGenATP Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4. Murray faces Guillermo Garcia-Lopez this evening.
British number two Dan Evans bowed out in round two of the Dubai Championships with a 6-4 3-6 6-1 defeat against fourth seed Gael Monfils of France.
The 26-year-old, enjoying a career-high ranking of 43, lost the opening set but levelled as Monfils held serve only once in the second set.
But Monfils raced through the decider to complete victory in 95 minutes.
World number one Andy Murray plays Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain, ranked 97, later on Wednesday.
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Wildcards should not be given to players returning from doping bans, says world number one Andy Murray.
Russia’s Maria Sharapova has been given wildcards for tournaments in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome after her 15-month suspension ends next month.
“I think you should really have to work your way back,” Murray told the Times.
“But most tournaments will do what they think is best for their event. If they think big names will sell more seats, they’re going to do that.”
Five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova was banned for two years after testing positive for meldonium in January last year, but that suspension was reduced in October to 15 months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Wimbledon organisers face the potential dilemma of whether to hand the 2004 champion, who no longer has a world ranking, a place in this year’s tournament in July.
“She has an opportunity to try to improve her ranking up until that point and potentially not need a wildcard,” Murray said of Sharapova, who he played alongside at the International Premier Tennis League.
“But then if she doesn’t, that becomes Wimbledon’s decision and how they want to play that. I’m sure they’ll think long and hard about it and how they feel people will view it and then make the right decision for them.”
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