Tennis News

After news that a Tunisian player had suspiciously withdrawn from a tournament ahead of a potential match-up against an Israeli in the following round, the ATP World Tour has officially cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The Associated Press revealed that the ATP was satisfied with Malek Jaziri’s withdrawal, and added that he had a legitimate injury.

Jaziri, took the first set off Denis Istomin in Round 1 of the Open Sud de France. He later retired from the match after he suffered an elbow injury and called for the trainer on two occasions.

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This incident immediately took center stage, as in 2013, the Tunisian Tennis federation forced Jaziri to withdraw from am ATP Challenger match against Israeli opponent Amir Weintraub in Uzbekistan. This led to the International Tennis Federation placing a ban on Tunisia from the 2014 Davis Cup.

Here is Jaziri’s reasoning as quoted by Fédéric Bernès in l’Équipe (via @markalannixon)

“My phone is off, it’s not working. I haven’t received any orders or pressure. I’m playing Denis, he’s no piece of cake. I hadn’t looked at my next match, and even if I’d known … I got a golfer’s elbow at the Australian Open (reached the 3rd round). The travelling after, the time differences, that didn’t help. I’ve only hit the ball once in the last eight days. I took pain killers but I’m still hurting. Not so much when I hit the ball, but just after bringing the racquet back. It’s like a tendinitis in the forearm. You have to be smart in cases like this – I’ve got some big tournaments ahead in Memphis, Indian Wells, Miami and I didn’t want to run the risk of aggravating the problem. My cervical vertebrae really hurt this morning.”

Following their investigation, the ATP announced that they were fully satisfied with the Jaziri’s story, as well as that of the medical staff on duty at the time in Montpellier.

”The ATP is fully satisfied as to the legitimacy of the player’s reasons for retiring from his match due to an elbow injury,” it said. ”Accordingly, this matter is considered closed.”

On Sunday afternoon, tennis fans were lucky to witness a little bit of history; 34-year-old Victor Estrella Burgos became the oldest man to win his maiden title on the ATP World Tour.

The Dominican upset Thomaz Bellucci in the semi-final and then got through an even bigger challenge in Feliciano Lopez to lit the crown. While it was a turbulent effort, he eventually dispatched his Spanish adversary 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(5).

“The truth is that Quito has become a very special city for me,” Estrella Burgos said. “It actually already was, as I’ve won Challengers here. Today has been a very tough day for me where I was a set up, and later I lost the tie-break. In the third set I was up a break, and I didn’t manage the nerves well.

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Burgos also hit 19 aces in the final – nine over the number he needed to pass 7,000 aces in his career.

“I got a little bit nervous, but thanks to God, I relaxed a bit in the tie-break, and I was able to win the mini-break and win the match.”

The entire contest lasted two hours and 17 minutes, but Lopez believes his opponent dominated most of the encounter.

“He practically dominated the whole match,” admitted Lopez. “In the tie-break I was ahead, and then I had a very easy backhand shot that I missed and that killed me. It would have put me at 5-4 with two serves. That would have been a good opportunity, but tennis is like this.”

Following strong showings throughout the week, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Andreas Seppi will meet in the final of the Zagreb Open to crown a new champion in the Croatian tournament. While the crowd would have rather cheered on their hometown hero Marin Cilic, they will get to witness the sixth meeting between these two talented competitors. Seppi leads the head-to-head series 5-0 and will look to remain undefeated en route to his first title since 2012.

Watch the final match here: Garcia-Lopez v Seppi Live Stream

Few expected to see Marcos Baghdatis in the semi-final stage of an ATP World Tour event again, and his run came to an end at the hands of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The Spaniard defeated his Cypriot opponent 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the final in Zagreb.

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“I am really happy to be in the final,” said the World No. 33. “I didn’t start well. I was a bit nervous. Then I started to play much better with good rallies from the baseline. He made a few mistakes with his forehand which is not his best shot. I was able to break him twice at 4-4 (in both sets). I look forward to being in the final tomorrow.”

World No. 41 Andreas Seppi needed 90 minutes to conclude the second semi-final in Zagreb and defeat Marcel Granollers in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-1.

“It was not an easy match,” Seppi said. “I was a break down in the first set. We were both tight but then I managed to play much better in the second set.

“It is never easy to play a tie-break but I served really well. I was able to break immediately at the beginning of the second set and I tried to be more aggressive with my forehand. Winning in two sets is good for my confidence.”

This marks the sixth time that Seppi and Garcia-Lopez will meet on the professional tour and could turn out to be as lopsided as the head-to-head record shows. However, Garcia-Lopez has looked phenomenal this season and could swing that momentum in his favour if he continues this sort of form.

Prediction: Andreas Seppi in Three Sets

34-year-old Victor Estrella Burgos is looking to become the oldest first-time title winner on the ATP World Tour in the Open Era when he clashes with Feliciano Lopez in the final of the Ecuador Open in Quito. This marks the second time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Burgos leading the head to head series 1-0.

Watch the final match here: Lopez v Estrella Burgos Live Stream

Talented Spaniard Feliciano Lopez took part in a surprisingly long match – not because of the competitiveness of the encounter, but because the lights went out due to a power outage that led to a three-hour delay. However, he eventually got past Fernando Verdasco 7-6(5), 7-6(1) to reach the final.

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“It was a crazy match,” Lopez said. “In the first set tie-break, he made a few unforced errors with his serve, and I won the set. He was dominating the second set, I thought he had it… I had already made up my mind that I was going to play a third set, but later there were a few errors, a few good balls, and the match got balanced again. “I think that it will be a very complicated match,” Lopez added regarding the final.

Up against No. 72 ranked Thomaz Bellucci, Victor Estrella Burgos earned a 7-6(5), 7-5 victory to advance to the final of the Quito tournament.

“I think that I’ve been able to manage my emotions well,” Estrella Burgos said. “I hope that tomorrow I’ll be good physically so that I can play my game and try to win the match. I know that I have a lot of chances to win the tournament, and I’m very positive about it.”

This is undoubtedly the most intriguing final on Sunday – at least from a storyline perspective. Victor Estrella Burgos has the opportunity to win his first ever career title on the ATP World Tour, and could do so against an opponent he has already defeated previously last season. It will be interesting to see if he can get past the final obstacle this week.

“[Estrella Burgos] has been playing great. He plays very well in this conditions, and he’s been performing really well all week.”

Prediction: Feliciano Lopez in Three Sets

Following a week of entertaining action, the final of the Montpellier Open is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon, and will feature two players who last met in the semi-final stage of this very event last year: Richard Gasuqet and Jerzy Janowicz. This marks the fourth time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Gasquet leading the head to head series 2-1.

Watch the final match here: Janowicz v Gasquet Live Stream

In a battle between two of the top Frenchman on the tour, Gasquet managed to avenge his earlier loss to Gael Monfils by defeating him in straight sets to advance to the final. Gasquet won the match 6-4, 6-3, which means he will arrive in the final without conceding a set at any point during the week.

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“It was a good match,” the Beziers native said. “I knew I had to be solid. I managed to save some break points at 3-3 in the first set. I also played a good second set. I was able to play well when I served for the match and I handled the pressure really well.”

In a tough contest that lasted three sets, Janowicz managed to get past Joao Sousa 7-6(9), 3-6, 6-1. The contest lasted 1 hour and 53 minutes and saw the Polish no. 1 fire 14 aces en route to the victory.

“I’m happy I won this match. I didn’t play my best tennis today,” said Janowicz. “I knew he would be a dangerous opponent. He played very well.

“I was so close to go home during the first match; I saved six match points. So I’m extremely happy to play the final tomorrow.”

This marks the fourth time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Gasquet leading the series 2-1. Their last encounter took place in the semi-final stage of this tournament last year, which Gasquet won with a pair of tiebreaks. Given that the Pole’s sole victory over the Frenchman took place on clay, there is little doubt that Gasquet will hold the advantage on Sunday.

Prediction: Richard Gasquet in Three Sets

An all-French match-up is set to take place in the semi-final stage of the Open Sud de France on Saturday evening, as defending champion Gael Monfils and two-time finalist Richard Gasquet clash for the twelfth time on the professional tour. Monfils leads the Head-to-Head series 7-4 and will look to extend that lead further with another win over his fellow countryman.

Watch the semi-final match here: Monfils v Gasquet Live Stream

Seeded fourth at the tournament, Richard Gasquet barely broke a sweat in his straightforward encounter against Denis Istomin on Friday. The Frenchman defeated the sixth seed 6-2, 6-4 in 61 minutes to ease his way into the semi-final stage in Montpellier.

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A two-time consecutive finalist at the tournament, Gasquet is pleased with his performance and anticipates an exciting clash against the defending champion.

“It was a good match for me,” said Gasquet. “I’m happy I won in two sets and that I’m now into the semis. I need to play a lot of matches to be confident again; I feel better and better.”

Unlike his fellow countryman, Gael Monfils had a somewhat difficult time on court against qualifier Steve Darcis, whom he defeated 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The contest lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes and saw the Frenchman scramble to save three break point and advance to the semi-final.

“He had a great start of the match and he imposed his rhythm,” said Monfils. “It took me some time to get used to it.

“I still feel sick; I’m physically weak. I hope it will stop soon, and I hope I can have a good night of sleep.”

This marks the twelfth time these two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Monfils leading the head-to-head series 7-4. Monfils has not looked his best this week but seems to get the better of his countryman in their recent tussles. It will be interesting to see if Gasquet can take advantage of Monfils’ weakened state.

Prediction: Gael Monfils in Three Sets

Following impressive showings on Friday afternoon, Jerzy Janowicz and Joao Sousa are scheduled to take part in a berth that will determine who will advance to the Open Sud de France final. This marks the third time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Janowicz leading the series 2-0.

Watch the SF here: Janowicz vs Sousa Live Stream

Seeded fifth at the tournament, Jerzy Janowicz worked his way past local star Gilles Simon to advance to the final four in Montpellier. He defeated Simon 6-2, 7-5 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes, and marked his first semi-final appearance since last August.

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“Definitely I played my best match of the season,” said Janowicz. “Today, I knew I had to play my best tennis because Gilles moves incredibly well on the court. He also reads the game so well and he’s one of the best returners in the world. I knew I had to be focused on my serve all the time. I did that and I was playing aggressive throughout.”

Janowicz’s semi-final opponent will be Joao Sousa, who defeated German third seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(5), 6-4 to set up the encounter. The 49th ranked Sousa saved 10-break point attempts to upset Philipp. The seventh seed has now put on his best performance at a tournament since last September in Metz.

“Philipp is a very good player and we played a very good match,” said Sousa. “I didn’t serve well, but I played really well and I had very good defence. This is my best match in the tournament so far.”

This is set to be the third time that Janowicz and Sousa meet on the tour, with the Polish no. 1 leading the series 2-0. Janowicz beat Sousa in Valencia two years back and in three sets at Winston-Salem in 2014. Given his performances so far this week in Montpellier, he will remain the favourite in their third encounter.

Prediction: Jerzy Janowicz in Three Sets