Tennis News

Zverev: Djokovic 'No. 1 In The World For A Reason’

Alexander Zverev covered his face with his hands and threw his head back momentarily as he began the walk back down the corridor from Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night. It was the realisation he had gone the distance with Novak Djokovic and ultimately came up short in his bid to halt the World No. 1’s pursuit of history after three hours and 38 minutes.

A year ago, he came within two points of capturing his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows only for Dominic Thiem to prevail in five sets. On Friday night, while he did not come quite so close, the mountain again proved too big to climb as Djokovic pulled clear 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

“It was a great battle. Kind of a little bit disappointed with the start of the fifth set. To be honest, apart from that, it was a good match. I think we both left it all out there,” Zverev said. “The second break in the fifth set was so ridiculously unlucky that it sometimes happen. But he’s No. 1 in the world for a reason and he showed that tonight.”

Having foiled the Serbian’s bid for the Golden Slam in 2021 with his victory from a set and a break down in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final, the German was confident he could repeat the feat at Flushing Meadows. Following his run to the gold medal and victory in Cincinnati, Zverev was on a 16-match winning streak to the semi-finals.

He had dropped only one set en route this campaign – in the third round against Jack Sock – and came within a set of becoming the first man since Djokovic in 2015-16 to reach consecutive US Open finals. Zverev admitted the edge his opponent held on Friday night came down to his mental toughness on the biggest points.

“He comes up with the best tennis when he needs to. We play 55-shot rallies. The only way for me to win that rally is to hit a forehand winner. That says it all, on a set point [down],” Zverev said.

“There is a reason why he’s won 20 Grand Slams. There’s a reason why he’s spent the most weeks at World No. 1. There’s a lot of reasons for that.

“I think mentally he’s the best player to ever play the game. Mentally in the most important moments I would rather play against anybody else but him.”

The 24-year-old expected his conqueror to complete the Grand Slam in Sunday’s final against second seed Daniil Medvedev. “Nobody thought anybody will do it again, what Rod Laver did. To see him have the chance on Sunday – I do believe that he will do it – is great. He’s breaking every single record that there is,” Zverev said.

“If you look at the stats, if you look at the pure game of tennis action, he’s the greatest of all time. Nobody is there with him, because most weeks World No. 1, most ATP Masters 1000 titles, most likely going to be the most Grand Slams at the end of the day. And he has the chance of winning all four in the same year. How do you compete with that?”

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US Open: Record-chasing Novak Djokovic sets up final with Daniil Medvedev

Novak Djokovic keeps alive his hopes of a calendar Grand Slam by reaching the US Open final, where he will face Daniil Medvedev.

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Djokovic Downs Zverev In Five, One Win From Completing Grand Slam

Alexander Zverev spoiled Novak Djokovic’s dreams of a Golden Slam at the Tokyo Olympics, but the Serbian would not let the German halt his pursuit of the Grand Slam at the US Open.

World No. 1 Djokovic battled past fourth-seeded Zverev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Friday evening to reach the final at Flushing Meadows and move within one win of becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete a Grand Slam by claiming all four major trophies in a single season.

“I would like to say thank you, because the atmosphere was amazing, the best atmosphere of the tournament so far,” Djokovic told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. “These are the moments we live for. These are the kind of unique opportunities that we dream of every day when we wake up and are trying to find motivation to go out there and do the same things over and over again.

“It pays off when you are playing in this incredible stadium with this atmosphere. Thank you so much for making it special.”

For most of the intense clash, Djokovic was stoic. But after securing a double-break lead in the decider, the top seed unleashed a cathartic roar towards his team and stepped on the gas from there to triumph after three hours and 33 minutes.

Djokovic, who will play second seed Daniil Medvedev for history on Sunday, has already won the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year. A victory against the Russian would give him 21 major crowns, breaking a tie for the all-time record with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“I’m going to treat the next match like it’s the last match of my career,” Djokovic said.

Zverev was by far Djokovic’s toughest test yet. For the 10th time this year at a major, the Serbian lost the opening set. But this occasion felt more dangerous, as the German had not only beaten him six weeks ago, but he entered the match on a career-best 16-match winning streak.

“Alexander is a big champion. He’s someone that I admire on and off the court. We get along very well, he’s definitely one of my best friends. We train a lot, we see each other a lot in Monaco, [which] he uses as a base,” Djokovic said. “He’s a great guy and an even better player. I knew coming onto the court today that it was going to be a great battle.”

^{Photo Credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA}
Neither man was at his absolute best, with both showing apprehension at points. But in an intense match during which the air could have been sliced with a butter knife, Djokovic remained calmer in the key moments and served impressively under pressure to emerge victorious.

Djokovic is now 36-10 in five-setters and Zverev is 16-10. This year, the World No. 1 is 4-0 and the recent Cincinnati champion is 1-3. Djokovic leads the pair’s ATP Head2Head series 7-3 following their third clash that went to a deciding set.

Zverev’s booming serve gave Djokovic — one of the best returners in history — trouble early on, allowing him to sprint to the lead. But after taking the first set, the German got off to a slow start in the second. 

Serving at 0-1 30/30, the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion missed a short forehand to give the World No. 1 his first break point, and then hit a double fault to relinquish his serve. From there, Zverev began to play more defensively and sit behind the baseline, while Djokovic used a more conservative strategy and baited his opponent with backhand slices.

The 85-time tour-level titlist took advantage of a significant dip in the German’s level to level the match. Zverev got into trouble on serve at 4-5 15/40 in the third set, but saved the first set point he faced by crushing an inside-out forehand winner to cap an incredible 53-shot rally, the longest point of the tournament. The 24-year-old had to bend over after the point to catch his breath.

But it was not enough, as Djokovic hit an overhead winner on the next point before windmilling his arms to get the crowd involved, the most emotion he had shown until that point.

It seemed Djokovic would run away with the momentum, but Zverev had none of it. The fourth seed increased his aggression in the fourth set and used his big serve to get through his service games and force a decider.

Would Zverev, who reached his first major final at the US Open last year, somehow come back like he did in Tokyo and send Djokovic home disappointed?

The World No. 1 simply refused to lose, even if he was not in peak form. Djokovic broke for a 2-0 lead in the fifth set after hitting a daring crosscourt backhand drop shot and following it up with a curling crosscourt forehand pass.

Even then, the 34-year-old did not let loose his emotions. But after securing another break, Djokovic sensed the finish line and let the raucous crowd know. Zverev recovered one of the breaks, but the deficit was too wide to overcome.

Did You Know?
Djokovic will take a 5-3 ATP Head2Head series lead into the final against Medvedev. The last time they played, in this year’s Australian Open final, the Serbian triumphed in straight sets.

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US Open 2021: Emma Raducanu faces fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in final

Emma Raducanu seeks to become the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in 44 years when she takes on fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez in the US Open final.

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Felix: 'I Need To Keep Pushing'

Felix Auger-Aliassime is feeling positive about where his game is, despite his semi-final defeat on Friday at the US Open to World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev.

The 21-year-old fell in straight sets to the Russian, but is pleased with his performance in recent weeks. He reached his second ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final in Cincinnati, and made the last four at a major for the first time in New York, giving him a platform to build on.

“I’m happy with the level I’ve been playing at times, with the results I’ve had,” Auger-Aliassime said in his post-match press conference. “It’s a positive week. As much as I would have wanted to win today, I didn’t. Now I need to accept the reality, which is I lost. I can do better, and for sure I will. In the end, things are moving in the right direction.

“The whole season I feel like I was playing well. [I was] not always getting quite the results I wanted to, but kept believing that I was playing good tennis, kept pushing. Now I feel like I’m in the position that I wanted to be at the start of the year. I need to keep pushing in the right direction, so I go a little bit higher.

Auger-Aliassime was the first Canadian male to reach the last four at the US Open in the tournament’s history (since 1881) and was the youngest men’s singles semi-finalist in New York since 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro won the title in 2009.

On his performance against Medvedev, while he was disappointed he was unable to convert two set points during the second set, he admitted that the Russian was just too good at times and it was a beneficial experience to learn from.

“I think Daniil was the better player today on the court for sure,” Auger-Aliassime added. “I had to play my best level and even better if I wanted to get a chance to win today. I didn’t do it long enough. He didn’t give me many openings. I felt like up 5-2, I was playing as good as I could play, coming in when I needed to, mixing up with serve and volleys. It’s just unfortunate I couldn’t close out the second set.

“Against a player like that, you don’t really have room for mistakes, room for losing your focus, which I did at the end of the second [set]. He took advantage of it, and I didn’t get another chance after that. I thought he served amazing. Until the end of the second, I think I played okay. But he was just playing a bit too well.

Auger-Aliassime is now targeting a strong end to the season as he aims to qualify for the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 14-21 November.

“It’s important for sure [to qualify],” Auger-Aliassime added. “I think now making the semi-finals here, I’ve put myself in a good position to attain this goal. Now I’m going to try to push and keep my focus on my game, trying to play better, trying to play good matches every tournament. We will see what I can do. But definitely, it’s a very good and healthy motivation.”

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Alcaraz Reveals Injury Suffered At US Open

Carlos Alcaraz informed his fans on Instagram Friday that he suffered an upper leg injury during his run at the US Open.

The #NextGenATP Spaniard visited Dr. Juanjo López after retiring during his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime. That visit revealed a fibrillar tear in his vastus medialis and lateral quadriceps as well as an elongation in his adductor.

 

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“I have to rest for a few weeks and recover in order to reach Indian Wells with the best level,” Alcaraz wrote. “Thank you very much for the support!”

The 18-year-old made history in New York, where he became the youngest player in the Open Era to reach the US Open quarter-finals. The highlight of his run came in the third round, in which he stunned third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set thriller.

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Medvedev Marches Into US Open Final

Daniil Medvedev is a US Open finalist again after he produced a dominant performance on Friday to overcome 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in New York.

The second seed, who has dropped just one set en route to the final, is now one match away from capturing his first major title at Flushing Meadows. The Russian soaked up pressure from Auger-Aliassime’s powerful groundstrokes and rallied from 2-5 in the second set, saving two set points at 4-5, before advancing after two hours and three minutes.

“It was a strange match a little bit in the second set,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “I think everyone felt like it was going to be one set all and then you never know where the match would go. I managed to save the set points and the match turned around completely.”

The 25-year-old, who hit 37 winners and committed 25 unforced errors, struck the ball with great depth as he forced the Canadian to overhit, extending his ATP Head2Head Series lead against Auger-Aliassime to 2-0.

“I don’t think I played my best today, but I am really happy to be in the final on Sunday,” Medvedev said. “When he had two set points, the only thing I was thinking was, don’t hit an ace on the line and I am going to make you play.

“At 5-4, I knew it was an important point in the match where I needed to do everything at my best because that was the moment I could break him mentally and that is what happened.”

Medvedev has fond memories at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, having enjoyed a run to his maiden Slam final in New York in 2019. The 25-year-old rallied from two sets down to force a fifth set against Rafael Nadal, before the Spaniard prevailed 6-4 in the decider.

The Russian, who also advanced to the semi-finals last year, will face either World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev in his second US Open championship match.

Of the 25-year-old’s possible final opponents, Medvedev trails Djokovic 3-5 in their ATP Head2Head Series, losing to the top seed in his second major final at the Australian Open this year. The World No. 2 also trails Zverev 4-5, but has won their three most recent encounters at the ATP Cup, Nitto ATP Finals and at the Rolex Paris Masters.

“If it is going to be the same match on Sunday [as the 2019 US Open final], I just hope I can win this time,” Medvdev added. “First of all, I am going to enjoy the next semi-final because it is going to be a great match.”

Medvedev has enjoyed a strong North American hard-court swing, having captured his fourth ATP Masters 1000 crown in Toronto, before advancing to the semi-finals in Cincinnati. The second seed has now compiled a 17-2 record since Wimbledon.

Earlier this season, the 12-time tour-level champion helped guide Russia to the ATP Cup title and also lifted trophies on hard in Marseille and grass in Mallorca. Medvedev now holds a 46-10 record on the season.

Medvedev was aggressive and consistent throughout against Auger-Aliassime, causing the Canadian problems with his flat groundstrokes. The Russian also sat deep behind the baseline and covered the court well as the 21-year-old struggled to hit through the 25-year-old.

After Medvedev, closed out the opener, Auger-Aliassime begun to find more success on return in the second set as he demonstrated impressive footwork to run around second serves to the ad court and force Medvedev back with his aggressive forehand.

However, Medvedev’s ability to chase down ball after ball put pressure on Auger-Alissiame, who from 5-2 lost five straight games and squandered two sets points when serving at 5-4, as Medvedev took control.

The 25-year-old continued to dominate the longer rallies in the third set, moving up the court as the points progressed as he looked to get the first heavy strike in during the rally. With his victory, the Russian has still never lost a hard-court Slam match after winning the first set (31-0). Medvedev converted all five break point opportunities he created in the match as he raised his level in the key moment.

History for Russia!

Daniil Medvedev becomes the first ?? man to reach multiple #USOpen singles finals. pic.twitter.com/aYjIPy3qs7

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2021

Felix Auger-Aliassime was competing in his maiden major semi-final and was the first Canadian male to reach the last four at the US Open in the tournament’s history (since 1881).

The 21-year-old, who was the youngest men’s singles semi-finalist in New York since 20-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro won the title in 2009, has enjoyed a strong North American hard-court swing.

The 12th seed advanced to his second ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final in Cincinnati, before defeating Roberto Bautista Agut and Frances Tiafoe en route to the last four at Flushing Meadows.

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US Open: Britain's Alfie Hewett reaches men's wheelchair final

Britain’s Alfie Hewett reaches the men’s wheelchair singles final at the US Open, but compatriot Gordon Reid is out.

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Ram/Salisbury Capture First US Open Title

Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury battled back to overcome Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Friday at the US Open to lift their second major trophy as a team.

The fourth seeds saved four match points in their quarter-final victory and rallied from a set down against Murray and Soares, winning 78 per cent (36/46) of their first-serve points to secure victory after one hour and 44 minutes.

The American-British tandem triumphed at the Australian Open in 2020 and arrived in New York in strong form, after clinching their first ATP Masters 1000 crown as a team in Toronto. They now hold an 11-1 record since Wimbledon, where they reached the semi-finals.

Earlier this year, Ram and Salisbury defeated Murray and Soares in the last four at the Australian Open, before falling to Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek in the championship match. They now lead Murray and Soares 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head Series and hold a 2-1 record as a team in major finals.

After a tight start, Murray and Soares started to find their rhythm on return as they hit with great depth to force Ram and Salisbury into errors. They broke in the seventh game of the first set to lead and sealed the opener when Ram pushed a forehand wide.

However, Ram and Salisbury raised their intensity in the second set, closing the net effectively as they raced 4-0 ahead. The American-British team won 88 per cent (14/16) of their first-serve points in the set to level, before breaking in the opening game of the third set to seize control. Ram and Salisbury did not face a break point in the decider as they clinched the title.

Murray and Soares were aiming to lift their second US Open trophy, having been victorious at Flushing Meadows in 2016. The British-Brazilian team were teaming for the first time since Wimbledon, after Soares underwent surgery to remove his appendix upon arriving at the Tokyo Olympics.

The seventh seeds won the Australian Open title in 2016 and joined forces again at the start of the year, triumphing at the Great Ocean Road Open trophy in February in their first tournament together since competing at Roland Garros in 2019.

It was the first time in the Open Era that two Britons met in a major men’s doubles final and the first time in 12 years that the US Open men’s doubles final went to a deciding set.

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Sevilla Celebrates 30 Years On ATP Challenger Tour

It is the bullring of the ATP Challenger Tour.

Travel to Sevilla, Spain, in early September and there is one destination you simply cannot miss. Sure, the famous Catedral and the Real Alcazar palace are can’t-miss tourist sites, but for an immersive experience that weaves tennis with the local culture, look no further than the Copa Sevilla.

Home to one of the premier tournaments on the ATP Challenger Tour since 1991, the historic Real Club de Tenis Betis remains a bucket list site for fans seeking a truly unique tennis experience. All Challenger events leave their own distinct footprint on the circuit and the Copa Sevilla is certainly no exception. From its iconic yellow clay to the vibrant atmosphere that engulfs the historic 92-year-old club during the tournament, it provides a stunning setting to experience world-class tennis.

At the Copa Sevilla, that palpable energy that permeates throughout the grounds is a reflection of the city itself and the entire region of Andalucia. The yellow clay has been a staple of the event for decades and has set the stage for many unforgettable moments, including Rafael Nadal’s Challenger debut in 2001 and 17-year-olds Casper Ruud and Felix Auger-Aliassime going back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.

This week, we pay tribute to the Copa Sevilla, as the tournament celebrates its 30th anniversary on the ATP Challenger Tour. That is, 30 years of nearly unparalleled excellence on the circuit, earning its place as the standard for all events to aspire to.

“The fondest memory I have is that it was my first semi-final of a Challenger and for me it was super important,” said former World No. 2 Alex Corretja, who reached the semis in the tournament’s inaugural edition in 1991. “It was the beginning of believing that I could compete against high-level players, because that season I was very young, I think I was 17 years old, and I had only played Futures. So, they gave me a wild card and I made the semi-finals. I always remember the warmth of the people and the club, which is very beautiful. The people are very affectionate, very close, very fond of tennis and passionate.”

A 17-year-old Casper Ruud celebrates his maiden Challenger title in Sevilla in 2016.

The colour yellow is an integral part of the fabric of Spanish culture, reflected in both the country’s flag and the many bullrings that permeate the landscape. The iconic ‘albero’ at the Real Club de Tenis Betis dates back to the club’s origins in the 1920s and drew its inspiration from that unmistakable yellow dirt that fills bullrings throughout Spain.

The club has carried that legacy through the years on the ATP Challenger Tour, becoming the home to many memorable clashes. It has become the bullring of the circuit for the Spanish armada, with future World No. 1s Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya launching their careers at the Real Club de Tenis Betis, in addition to fellow Top 10 stars Corretja, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Nicolas Almagro, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta. And most recently, current and recent #NextGenATP stars Casper Ruud (2016), Felix Auger-Aliassime (2017) and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (2019) lifted trophies en route to the Top 40 of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

In fact, Nadal’s debut in 2001 remains a historic moment on the Challenger circuit. His first-round victory over Israel Matos Gil makes him the third-youngest player to win a match in the tour’s history, at the age of 15 years, 3 months. Meanwhile, Ruud’s maiden title at the age of 17 years, 8 months, makes him the fourth-youngest player to win in his Challenger debut.

“The tournament management and the members of the Real Club de Tenis Betis are very proud of this achievement, which is only been achieved by a few tournaments,” said director Santiago Perez. “This tournament is part of the history of Spanish tennis, one of the oldest on the circuit. It is an especially beloved tournament in the international calendar, which makes us proud and gives us the strength to continue improving.

“It is the only tournament in the world that is played on ‘albero’, or yellow clay. There are still players who are surprised when they see the albero for the first time and always leave here fond of its people and the homely, family atmosphere. We are dedicated to making the player feel special during their stay in Sevilla.”

Felix Auger-Aliassime is the youngest champion at the Copa Sevilla, winning in 2017 at the age of 17 years, 1 month.

The players understand the impact of the tournament and appreciate the atmosphere and passion that local Sevillanos bring. When Davidovich Fokina battled Jaume Munar in an all-Spanish final two years ago, it was standing room only at the Real Club de Tenis Betis. A capacity crowd was on hand to witness their two native sons battle for the trophy, with 400 people waiting outside, in search of a coveted seat inside the historic venue. The atmosphere was electric.

“We are proud of our partners, who, despite the difficulties presented by the Covid pandemic, are especially resilient,” added Perez. “They carry the Copa Sevilla brand in their DNA and that is the legacy they leave to future generations in charge of continuing to make the tournament great. It is a tournament for everyone.”

The Copa Sevilla is the sixth tournament to reach the 30-year milestone on the ATP Challenger Tour, most recently joining the Open Castilla y Leon in Segovia, Spain, which celebrated their 30th anniversary in July.

Longest-Running Tournaments On ATP Challenger Tour

*Istanbul will celebrate their 34th edition the week of 13 September

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