Tennis News: December 2017

Sunday 31 December 2017

Konta claims early Brisbane blockbuster against Keys

No.5 seed Johanna Konta needed three grueling sets to put away US Open finalist Madison Keys in her first match of 2018 at the Brisbane International.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CtgBrv

Halep hurries through 2018 opener in Shenzhen

WTA World No.1 Simona Halep blitzed American Nicole Gibbs to begin her 2018 campaign at the Shenzhen Open.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2qbFKSw

Viral illness causes Kvitova to withdraw from Brisbane

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will postpone her 2018 debut after having to withdraw from the Brisbane International due to a viral illness.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2DGclSi

Svitolina seals first win of 2018 over Suárez Navarro

No.3 seed Elina Svitolina passed a tough opening round test from Spanish veteran Carla Suárez Navarro to advance at the Brisbane International.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2zVi5VV

Social Buzz: WTA stars ring in the New Year!

WTA stars are ringing in the New Year all over the globe - see all the best tweets and snaps right here!

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2DI9RD1

Best of ATP Stars 2018

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2DGR0rT

Doha 2018

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2En8I4F

Brisbane 2018

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2lzmdWm

Rafael Nadal (knee) will make return at Tie Break Tens event in Melbourne on Jan. 10 (ESPN)

from ESPN http://ift.tt/RLzvXs

Five things we learned from the 2018 Scouting Report

Look back at all of the 2018 Scouting Reports highlighting players to watch in the upcoming season - from 17-year-old Dayana Yastremska to 35-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CuzTdh

Sharapova, Zhang & Pliskova make Shenzhen Kids Day a hit

Maria Sharapova, Zhang Shuai and Kristyna Pliskova treated kids to a special tennis clinic a the Shenzhen Open’s annual Champions Kids Day.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2DFeihS

Thiem, Berdych Launch 2018 Season In Doha

Dominic Thiem and Tomas Berdych had a career-first experience to kick off the 2018 Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

Thiem and Berdych hit a few balls at the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development on Sunday night. The foundation is a private, non-profit organization that “strives to nurture the future leaders of Qatar”.

“[It was a] very good welcome to Doha... very nice special effects and a good atmosphere to play in,” Thiem said.

[ALSO LIKE]

The Austrian, who finished his 2017 season by making his second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals in London, is also making his second showing in Doha. In 2013, Thiem qualified but fell in the first round to Belgian Peter Gojowczyk.

Thiem, the World No. 5 and top seed, opens against Russian Evgeny Donskoy at 5:30 p.m. local time on Monday. It will be their first FedEx ATP Head2Head encounter.

Donskoy famously upset Roger Federer at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships last season. The stunner was one of the upsets of the year.

Thiem and Berdych

Thiem is going for his second ATP World Tour hard-court title and his ninth overall. On hard courts, he also won 2016 Acapulco title. His seven other crowns have come on clay courts.

Berdych also enjoyed visiting the foundation. “It was really nice. It was good to be a part of that,” he said.

The 32-year-old is beginning his 17^th year on the ATP World Tour. He ended his 2017 season in October after suffering a back injury at the China Open in Beijing. But Berdych, No. 19, still finished inside the Top 20 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the 12^th consecutive season (2006-2017).

“It feels that it's been very fast. Time flies so quickly but I still find myself enjoying it and that's the most important thing. So let's go again and let's make it another good year,” Berdych said.

The third seed opens against German Jan-Lennard Struff. Berdych won their lone FedEx ATP Head2Head encounter at 2017 Roland Garros.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2CgnEEq

Andy Murray: British tennis star optimistic about hip recovery

ANDY MURRAY is cautiously optimistic about the state of his hip as he returns to the tour in Brisbane this week after six months out of the game.

from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://ift.tt/2zUkEYr

Why Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will NOT crush my dream - Tomas Berdych

ROGER FEDERER and Rafael Nadal’s form has not stopped Tomas Berdych from harbouring his Grand Slam dream.

from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://ift.tt/2lrEvtC

ATP Stars Federer, Thiem Wish Everyone Happy New Year 2018

ATP World Tour stars, including Roger Federer, John Isner and Dominic Thiem, wish everyone Happy 2018.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2CjsYXu

Murray Eager To Test Hip During Brisbane Match Play

Andy Murray wants to enjoy playing again as he returns to competitive tennis this week at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp for the first time since Wimbledon.

The 2016 year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings was forced to shut down his 2017 ATP World Tour season after Wimbledon due to a hip injury. The Scot has seen his ranking drop to No. 16, his lowest position since May 2008.

Still recovering from the hip troubles that forced him to miss the second half of the 2017 season, Murray expressed his desire to get back to playing matches on the ATP World Tour.

“I want to enjoy playing again. I've really missed it the last six months or so.

“I just want to be able to play tennis. I don't mind if it's No. 30 in the world level. I would love it to be No. 1 in the world level, but I just want to play. When that's taken away from you, you realise how important it is,” he said.

[ALSO LIKE]

Murray, a two-time champion in Brisbane (2012-13), has a perfect 9-0 record at the Queensland event. And both triumphs led to appearances in the latter stages of the Australian Open. In 2012, Murray reached the semi-final in Melbourne before falling to Novak Djokovic, and in 2013, the Scot made the Australian Open final before again coming up short against Djokovic.

Despite concerns surrounding Murray’s troublesome hip, the second seed in Brisbane expressed confidence about his ability to take to the court against the winner of Monday’s first-round match between Ryan Harrison and Leonardo Mayer.

“Unless something happens the next couple of days that goes wrong, I don't see myself not playing because of my hip right now,” Murray said. “What I feel is that I need to play matches to see exactly where it's at. Kind of practising and stuff and doing everything in the gym is great but playing matches is what I need.”

The 45-time tour-level champion finds himself in a similar position to where he was four years ago, when he started his 2014 season. Murray was looking to regain form and fitness after back surgery brought his 2013 campaign to an early conclusion.

Now, at the age of 30, Murray revealed he may take a new approach to his 2018 schedule and beyond to preserve his health and increase longevity.

“At the end of the day, health is the most important thing… giving yourself breaks, especially as you start to get older, I think, is very important and something that I'll certainly be looking to do for however long I keep playing.

“I'll probably make some changes to my schedule this year. I'll certainly play less than I have in the past to give my body time to rest and recover, which maybe I haven't done.

“I wouldn't say I necessarily played loads of tournaments or overplayed, but just the way the schedule is there's not lots of breaks in the year. So I'll probably change my schedule a bit this year.”

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2zSMjc1

Video : ATP Stars Federer, Thiem Wish Everyone Happy New Year 2018

ATP Stars Federer, Thiem Wish Everyone Happy New Year 2018
ATP World Tour stars, including Roger Federer, John Isner and Dominic Thiem, wish everyone Happy 2018.

View on YouTube

Video : Djokovic vs Murray is BORING?? This Video will Surely Change your Mind. The Tennis News

Djokovic vs Murray is BORING?? This Video will Surely Change your Mind.
Insane points from the Djokovic vs Murray rivalry, 2 giants of tennis.

View on YouTube

Belinda Bencic jokes about Roger Federer after Hopman Cup doubles victory

ROGER FEDERER has already improved from his 2017 form, Belinda Bencic has joked.

from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://ift.tt/2DBXus8

Auckland Day 1: Order of Play

Everything you need to know ahead of the opening day of the WTA Auckland Open, with Kirsten Flipkens, Donna Vekic and Nao Hibino among those in action in New Zealand.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2q1utnO

Home Favourite Thrills On Season's Opening Day

It did not take long for the thrills to begin in the 2018 ATP World Tour season.

Australian #NextGenATP contender Alex de Minaur put on a show for his home crowd on the final day of 2017, earning the best win of his young career by ranking, defeating World No. 44 Steve Johnson at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp 7-6(7), 6-4 on Sunday.

The 18-year-old wild card saved five set points — two while serving at 5-6 and three more in the ensuing tie-break — in the opening set before riding the momentum to his third ATP World Tour victory.

“It was the best way to finish off the year. I couldn't ask for more. I beat a high quality opponent and I'm stoked,” de Minaur said on the last day of 2017. “I think I showed how I can play today and it's all about maintaining that level. So next up I've got a very quality opponent, so I'm going to look forward to battling with him and see what I can do there.”

Despite falling behind a break, 3-4, in the second set, the World No. 208 bounced back to break the American veteran twice in a row to close out the match. He will face fourth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic in the second round.

But the home favourite’s triumph was not the only interesting result on the first day of the 2018 campaign. Alexandr Dolgopolov upset sixth-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 7-6(3).

The Ukrainian avenged a 2016 loss (Buenos Aires) against the Argentine, winning the first main draw ATP World Tour match of the new campaign.

Dolgopolov did not face a break point in the opening set and looked in control when he broke and held for a 3-0 lead in the second set. Despite faltering at the finish line — he failed to serve out the battle at 5-3 — Dolgopolov recovered to advance to a second-round encounter against the winner of Horacio Zeballos and qualifier Ernesto Escobedo in one hour, 34 minutes.

Nitto ATP Finals champions Henri Kontinen and John Peers kicked off the new doubles season with a 7-6(3), 6-4 triumph over Canadians Raonic and Denis Shapovalov in 73 minutes, saving all six break points they faced.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2EnZWDM

Shenzhen Day 2: Order of Play

Simona Halep, Maria Sharapova and Shuai Zhang headline the second day of the Shenzhen Open.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2ElhEaK

Video : Roger Federer Funny Moment in Interview : "I was Young Last Year" 2018 Hopman Cup The Tennis News

Roger Federer Funny Moment in Interview : "I was Young Last Year" 2018 Hopman Cup
Funny Roger Federer moment in his Interview at the 2018 Hopman Cup.

View on YouTube

Brisbane Day 2: Order of Play

All you need to know about the second day&’;s action at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, with Johanna Konta, Elina Svitolina and Ashleigh Barty among those in action.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CspleX

Shenzhen kids day featuring Maria Sharapova

from Videos, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2Cspgb9

Brisbane Shot of the Day: Lucic-Baroni's fierce forehand

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni is our pick for Shot of the Day on day 1 at the Brisbane International.

from Videos, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CvraI7

Sharapova signing session shuts down Shenzhen

from Videos, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CtO8PM

2018 Brisbane Pre-Tournament Interview: Muguruza on tough opening to 2018 season

from Videos, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2DBtcpl

2018 Brisbane Pre-Tournament Interview: Pliskova hoping to win more titles in 2018

from Videos, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2DEVrDl

SAP Stat of the Day: Lucic-Baroni's 400th win

from Videos, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2DDC8ut

All Access Hour: Muguruza's travel woes, Svitolina's tough talk in Brisbane

From Garbiñe Muguruza&’;s strange trip to Ashleigh Barty&’;s Top 10 ambitions, WTA Insider rounds up the best quotes from All Access Hour at the Brisbane International.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2lpZBsg

Hyeon Chung Looks To Carry Milan Momentum Into 2018

Inaugural Next Gen ATP Champion Hyeon Chung is looking to build on his Milan victory to kickstart his 2018 season, which begins this week in Brisbane.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2ls5JA8

Video : Hyeon Chung Looks To Carry Milan Momentum Into 2018

Hyeon Chung Looks To Carry Milan Momentum Into 2018
Inaugural Next Gen ATP Champion Hyeon Chung is looking to build on his Milan victory to kickstart his 2018 season, which begins this week in Brisbane.

View on YouTube

Raonic Seeks The Right Formula In Return From Injury

Milos Raonic is the first to admit that 2017 did not go as planned.

The injury-plagued Canadian shut down his season prematurely, after suffering a calf ailment in Tokyo in early October. Having also endured a partially torn hamstring and wrist surgery, Raonic was forced to withdraw from five events during the year.

Now fully healthy and with a new team surrounding him, the 27-year-old is taking it one match at a time as the calendar flips to 2018. Raonic, who saw his position in the ATP Rankings fall to No. 24, has pressed the refresh button on his career as he targets a healthy campaign. His first stop: the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp.

"I've also had some time to really figure things out and hopefully find some answers to the big question of how to stay healthy," Raonic told the assembled media in Brisbane. "I feel good. I feel like I'm taking all the right steps forward. Obviously, time can only tell if I have come up with the right approaches, the right methods and the things that are going work for me.

"I won't know that for quite a long period of time, but I have confidence in the things I'm doing and the approach I'm taking. And the things I'm hoping to do differently that can give me that possibility to be out on court a lot more than I have been over the last 18 or so months.

"It's just about being there, healthy, to play as many matches and tournaments as possible as close to 100 per cent, where I'm not really being hindered by anything serious. Obviously, it's impossible to play tennis without any kind of nagging discomfort, but there's a difference between an injury and a discomfort."

[ALSO LIKE]

Raonic, who reached a pair of finals on the ATP World Tour in 2017 - on the hard courts of Delray Beach and clay of Istanbul - is looking to return to his top form that saw him ascend to a career-high No. 3 in 2016.

The Canadian will turn to new coach Javier Piles and a revamped fitness team to guide him into the new season. Piles, who worked with David Ferrer for more than 15 years, was hired by Raonic in October. The Canadian recently parted ways with longtime coach Riccardo Piatti.

"For now I'm just with Javier Piles at the moment, and he's helped me out on the coaching front," Raonic added. "Pretty much everybody on my team is new at this moment. Avi is managing the fitness side of things and then I'm using different guys here and there for physios. That's still sort of up in the air.

"I think it's more that to lower the intensity of the days that I'm training and to actually take less days off. So I'm doing more things throughout the year where my body is not really having many days where it completely stops. So it's continuously moving and doing something that could be productive to progress."

View Brisbane Draw

Right now, Raonic is hoping to play as many matches as possible in the early stages of the season, as he looks to build his stamina and rediscover his confidence. Raonic returns to Brisbane as the fourth seed, having lifted the trophy in 2016. He opens against American Steve Johnson or Aussie teen Alex de Minaur, with second seed Andy Murray looming in his half of the draw.

"Playing lots of matches means you're winning and staying healthy. I think those are really the big questions I'm trying to answer and see and take from, because I don't have a lot of data to survey from the last few months on the progress and the things I've been trying to do.

"I think if you win a lot of matches, you get closer. I think at this moment I'm just taking one step at a time and trying to deal with it as each challenge comes."

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2CmBNix

Defending champion Siniakova downs Jabeur in Shenzhen

Defending champion Katerina Siniakova cruised past Ons Jabeur in her first round match of the season, dropping just two games in a victory in Shenzhen.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2zS5L8L

Saturday 30 December 2017

30 Things To Watch In Brisbane, Doha & Pune

The 2018 ATP World Tour season gets underway with a trio of tournaments, as today's stars descend on Brisbane, Doha and Pune. Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov is the top seed and defending champion at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, while Dominic Thiem leads the field at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open and Marin Cilic leads the pack at the Tata Open Maharashtra.

View Draws: Brisbane | Doha | Pune

10 THINGS TO WATCH IN BRISBANE
(1) 2018 Begins in Brisbane: The 2018 ATP World Tour kicks off with the 10th Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, where main draw play begins on New Year’s Eve. World No. 3 and Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, two-time Brisbane winner and 2016 year-end World No. 1 Andy Murray and top Aussie Nick Kyrgios are the Top 3 seeds.

(2) From Australia to The O2: Dimitrov started and ended 2017 as a champion, defeating three Top 10 players en route to the Brisbane title and five Top 10 players to earn his most prestigious trophy at the Nitto ATP Finals. The Bulgarian is back in Brisbane at a career-high No. 3.

(3) Pair Of Returns: Not only is Murray making a comeback on the ATP World Tour, but the Scot returns to Brisbane for the first time since defeating Dimitrov to defend his title in 2013. Murray is No. 16 in the ATP Rankings -- the same spot that Federer started 2017 from before ending the year at No. 2. Murray has not played on tour since the Wimbledon quarter-finals on 12 July due to a hip injury.

(4) Comeback Kids: Other seeded players returning from injury are Kyrgios (left hip), Milos Raonic (right calf) and Gilles Muller (left elbow). Raonic was the 2016 Brisbane champion.

(5) Size of the Heart: No. 6 seed Diego Schwartzman entered 2017 with 31 tour-level victories. He ended it with 39 more, breaking into the Top 50 and the Top 25. Schwartzman defeated then-No. 7 Marin Cilic at the US Open, where he became the shortest Grand Slam quarter-finalist in 23 years.

(6) Out with a Bang: In his last tournament as a #NextGenATP player, 21-year-old Hyeon Chung went 5-0 at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals. Chung earned a career-high $390,000 for his efforts, which began with a come-from-behind win over fellow Brisbane entrant Denis Shapovalov.

(7) Sophomore Shapo: Shapovalov followed in Chung’s footsteps when he was named the Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2017 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon, an award that the South Korean won in 2015. Shapovalov’s rookie season included a win over Nadal in Montreal, where the 18-year-old Canadian became the youngest ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-finalist and semi-finalist in the 28-year history of the series.

(8) #NextGenATP Watch: Shapovalov is the youngest player (18) in the main draw and he is joined by fellow teenagers American Frances Tiafoe (19) and Aussie wild card Alex de Minaur (18).

(9) Homecoming King: Brisbane native John Millman returns home as a wild card this week. Millman made his ATP World Tour debut (2010) and earned his first win (2013) in Brisbane, also pushing Murray and Federer to three sets through the years. He ended 2017 with an ATP Challenger Tour title at Hua Hin, Thailand.

(10) Where It All Began: Fellow Aussie John Peers and Henri Kontinen are back where their budding partnership began. Kontinen and Peers won the 2016 Brisbane title in their team debut and are 10-1 overall in finals, including titles at the 2017 Australian Open and 2016 & 2017 Nitto ATP Finals. Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is a doubles wild card with Jordan Thompson.

Read Brisbane Draw Preview

10 THINGS TO WATCH IN DOHA
(1) 250 of the Year: The ATP rings in the new year Monday with the award-winning Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Selected by players as the 2017 ATP World Tour 250 Tournament of the Year, Doha is the only of 40 events at the 250-level won by the Big Four of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

(2) Rising Stars: Dominic Thiem and Pablo Carreno Busta ended 2017 at No. 5 and No. 10 respectively in the ATP Rankings. They are the Top 2 seeds in Doha, where both are seeking their first tournament win in their second appearance respectively. Thiem’s lone hard court title came at 2016 Acapulco while Carreno Busta won hard court titles in 2016 Winston-Salem and Moscow.

(3) Thiem’s Travails: Much of Thiem’s success in 2017 came on clay, where he went 24-5 with two semi-final finishes, two finals and one title. The Austrian was 25-22 overall and 0-6 in quarter-finals not on clay. Thiem is 3-12 lifetime in Asia with a first-round loss to Peter Gojowczyk at 2014 Doha.

(4) Along Those Lines: After falling to Thiem in the Rio de Janeiro final, Carreno Busta reached his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final at Indian Wells and Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open. But the Spaniard struggled down the stretch, ending the year with eight losses in his last nine matches.

(5) Back to the Grind: Few players had as short of an offseason as 2013 Doha champion Richard Gasquet, who helped France claim the Davis Cup crown over Belgium. Gasquet is 8-3 lifetime in Doha and in his last appearance in 2015 he reached the QFs.

(6) Gael Makes Return: Three-time Doha finalist (2006, 2012, 2014) Gael Monfils, a wild card entry, is making his eighth appearance (19-7 record) in Qatar, his first since 2014. This will be his first tournament since retiring with a season-ending right knee injury in the 3R at the US Open.

(7) Berdych Five in a Row: This is the fifth straight Doha appearance for the No. 3 seed. He lost in the 1R in his 2014 debut, reached the final in 2015 (l. to Ferrer) and the SFs the last two years.

(8) Suddenly Seeded: No. 6 seed Filip Krajinovic begins the 2018 season at No. 34 in the ATP Rankings -- 201 spots higher than when he started 2017 at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Koblenz, Germany. Krajinovic ended 2017 at Paris as the first qualifier to reach an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final in five years.

(9) Rise of Rublev: #NextGenATP player Andrey Rublev achieved a career-high ranking 12 times in 2017, breaking into the Top 150, Top 100 and Top 50. Rublev, then 19, defeated Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov and runner-up David Goffin en route to the US Open quarter-finals.

(10) Doubles Draw: Top seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares begin their third full season as a team in Doha and the past two years they reached the SFs. Daniel Nestor, a winner of 91 career doubles titles, makes his 10th Doha appearance, first since 2010. He won titles in 1996 and 2001 and reached finals in 2003 and 2009. The 45-year-old Canadian plans to retire in 2018.

Read Doha Draw Preview

10 THINGS TO WATCH IN PUNE
(1) ATP Comes to Pune: The ATP World Tour rings in the new year in a new city Monday at the Tata Open Maharashtra. From Chennai to Pune, India’s only ATP event welcomes Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic, US Open finalist Kevin Anderson and defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut.

(2) Consistent Croat: Cilic returns to India after winning the Chennai championship in 2009 and 2010. The Croat has captured an ATP World Tour title in 10 straight seasons, highlighted by the 2014 US Open. Cilic qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals and posted Top 10 finishes in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

(3) Tall Order: The 6-foot-8 Anderson became the tallest Grand Slam finalist in the Open Era when he met World No. 1 Rafael Nadal for the US Open title on 10 September. Ranked 32nd at the time, Anderson also emerged as the lowest-ranked US Open finalist since the inception of ATP Rankings in 1973 and the first South African US Open finalist in the Open Era. He has never played in India.

(4) Unique Streaks: Bautista Agut has finished four straight seasons with both a Top-25 ranking and 40+ wins. The Spaniard has also spent 103 consecutive weeks ranked between No. 13 and No. 23. Now ranked 20th, Bautista Agut is defending 250 points this week as the 2017 Chennai champion.

(5) Starting Over: Another player eager to start a new season in Pune is former World No. 6 Gilles Simon. The Frenchman went 16-25 in 2017 for his first losing season since 2004 (0-1). Now ranked 89th, Simon is making his first appearance in India and seeking his first final since 2015.

(6) Paire Successful in India: No. 4 seed and wild card entry Benoit Paire is making his sixth Indian appearance in seven years (except 2015). The Frenchman has a 10-5 record in Chennai, reaching the semi-finals in 2013 and the last two years.

(7) Leaving Clay is Hard: Nicolas Kicker ended 2017 in the Top 100 after reaching his first quarter-finals at Rio de Janeiro, Lyon and Hamburg. The 25-year-old Argentine has yet to win a pro match at any level off of clay courts. Kicker is 11-15 on the ATP World Tour (11-10 on clay), 78-53 on the ATP Challenger Tour (78-53 on clay) and 128-74 on the ITF Futures Circuit (128-73 on clay).

(8) Tennys Time: American Tennys Sandgren finished in the Top 100 for the first time at No. 96 last season, highlighted by a 46-22 record and two ATP Challenger Tour titles. He went 2-6 in tour play.

(9) Local Title Hopes: There are three Indian players in the singles main draw, led by the country’s top two duo of No. 116 Yuki Bhambri and wild card No. 148 Ramkumar Ramanathan, who reached the quarter-finals in 2016. Pune native and wild card Arjun Kadhe, plays Bhambri in the first round.

(10) Strong Indian Doubles Showing: There are nine Indian players in the doubles draw, led by No. 4 seeds and defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan. They take on countrymen Leander Paes and Purav Raja. Paes won Chennai titles in 1997-99, 2002, 2011-12.

Read Pune Draw Preview

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2CpkNbs

Sevastova strolls past Stosur to start week in Brisbane

No.7 seed Anastasija Sevastova never lost serve in a straight sets victory over Australian No.3 Samantha Stosur in the first round at the Brisbane International.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CtPf1X

Begu routs Liu to start Shenzhen Open campaign

No.4 seed Irina-Camelia Begu dropped just three games against a Chinese wildcard to make a winning start at the Shenzhen Open.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CtgQjG

Cornet advances following Garcia injury in Brisbane

2017 Brisbane International finalist Alizé Cornet survived an all-French encounter with Wuhan and Beijing champion Caroline Garcia when her countrywoman retired with a lower back injury.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2luAwf5

Lucic-Baroni clinches first match of 2018 season in Brisbane

2017 Australian Open semifinalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni dropped a 6-0 final set to capture the opening match of the 2018 season at the Brisbane International against Tatjana Maria.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CsOEgF

Thiem, Carreno Busta Set For 2018 Debut In Doha

The 26th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open commences this week and with legendary former champions such as Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (the list goes on and on...), players will be keen to get their hands on the tournament’s coveted golden falcon trophy.

The 2018 event, held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in the Qatari capital of Doha, features Dominic Thiem as the tournament’s top seed after two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic withdrew due to an ongoing elbow injury. The World No. 5 will be arriving in Doha for the second time in his career, having qualified back in 2013 before losing in the first round to Peter Gojowczyk.

Thiem enters the new season following a career-best year. Having excelled on his favoured clay courts through many of 2017’s spring tournaments, the tenacious 23-year-old will be looking to improve his hard court results from the year prior. He opens against Evgeny Donskoy, who in 2017 became one of just five players in 2017 to defeat Federer in a remarkable three-set upset.

Also coming off his best season to date is Pablo Carreno Busta, whose resolute and gritty defensive tennis earned him an alternate spot at the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals, where he eventually played two tough matches against the world’s best. Carreno Busta, last year’s US Open semi-finalist and the No.2 seed this week in Doha, plays #NextGenATP semi-finalist Borna Coric in a challenging opening-round encounter.

Former Top 10 players Tomas Berdych and Richard Gasquet also join the field this week. Berdych, who reached the final in 2015 before falling to David Ferrer, kicks off his tournament against Jan-Lennard Struff, while 2013 champion Gasquet plays Victor Estrella Burgos for a place in the second round.

The doubles competition features two-time Grand Slam champions and No.1 seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, as well as Wimbledon finalists Mate Pavic and Oliver Marach.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2Cupeze

Moya Weighs In On Nadal’s 2017, What Lies Ahead

Rafael Nadal will land in Melbourne on January 4 to begin preparations for the Australian Open. Despite withdrawing from the Brisbane International Presented by Suncorp, the first ATP World Tour tournament of 2018, to recover from an exhausting 2017, the Emirates ATP Rankings No.1 plans to storm into this year's Australian Open with the same ambition and enthusiasm he showed in his run to the final last year.

By Nadal's side will be fellow Spaniard and former world No.1 Carlos Moya, who made a successful addition to Nadal's team for the 2017 season. Being rested going into the first major tournament of the year is essential if Nadal is to repeat the success he achieved in 2017, according to Moya. In this interview with ATPWorldTour.com, Moya reviews his 2017 as a member of Team Nadal, and what his charge needs to do in 2018 to reach the heights he soared to in 2017.

ATPWorldTour.com: It seemed Rafa needed a rest going into this upcoming 2018 season.
Carlos Moya: It's important to be fresh and rested if he's going to start the season off on the right foot. Rafa wants to be an even better version of himself this year.

Nothing too serious in terms of injuries occurred last year but at the same time, nothing good comes from rushing things. That's why we want him to take his time returning to the court. There's no need to hurry matters. We know Rafa; he doesn't slow down often, whether in training or during a match. Nadal isn't the type of competitor to hit the brakes. For the team, then, the goal has been to convince Nadal that rushing a return to competitive play could lead to more discomfort and injuries -- both of which could derail our plans for a big year. He isn't a 20-year-old now; we have to take things step by step and be smart about his health and recuperation.

ATPWorldTour.com: Ahead of his 2017 campaign, Nadal had an off-season of more than three months. The Spaniard won't have the benefit of an extended "preseason" going into 2018. Will that have an effect on his performances later in the season?
Moya: When a player reaches this point of his career, the time you spend training during the off-season doesn't matter all that much. Not everything that happened in 2017 was a result of the work we did in the weeks leading into the new year. We had a long preparation period ahead of 2017, that's true, but the things you work on then don't last throughout the year. We learned it's better to take small breaks throughout the course of the year, as we did after Australia, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. That made him fresh throughout the year.

Of course, his knees are cause for concern; they limited his play the last two tournaments he entered. In past seasons, however, it might have been his state of mind or his attitude that gave out. He held those together to close out this season. His knees failed, but he was still playing at a very high level right up until the end.

ATPWorldTour.com: Playing fewer tournaments, is that an option?
Moya: Rafa played so many matches in 2017 because he won a lot of tournaments and reached the final in quite a few others. He was almost always playing deep into tournaments. He competed in 18 events and that isn't an exceedingly brutal schedule. Can we fit in more breaks? Yes, although it depends on our objectives as we go along. It's also difficult because of Nadal’s nature. Even now, he’s still very ambitious and wants to chase down everything, but at the same time he's starting to see that that isn't always possible. Could he have turned down London? Yes, but [the Nitto ATP Finals] trophy is the only major one he has yet to win.

ATPWorldTour.com: How about for you. Was this an exhausting season?
Moya: No. It has been a spectacular year. There's little more I could have asked for on all levels: sports, professional, personal ... I said earlier this season that this was the biggest challenge I would face as a coach. What can be better than this? Nothing; as an experience, nothing can overcome what I am experiencing right now, both in terms of results and just being a part of Rafa's team. To be by the side of the No.1 in the world, who also happens to be one of my best friends and with whom I've experienced so much, little else can be asked.

ATPWorldTour.com: Does it feel better to succeed on the court or from the bench (as a coach)?
Moya: Nothing beats the success you achieve as a player. Nothing will ever beat earning a Grand Slam title or becoming No.1 in the world. Now that I can't compete as a player, I try to be the best team player I can be, so that Rafa can be the best player possible. As a technical expert, it's difficult to even aspire to accomplish more than I have in 2017. As for Rafa, he managed to surpass the objectives he set at the beginning of the year.

ATPWorldTour.com: Did you meet your objectives?
Moya: I did, more or less. Rafa was more conservative when he set his goals, though. But I'm glad that I was able to convince him that he could reach those goals.

ATPWorldTour.com: Do you discuss your tennis philosophies with Nadal?
Moya: Yes.

ATPWorldTour.com: Is that a good thing?
Moya: I think so. I like that he listens, but also that he reads. If a player's thoughts are only based on the opinions of others, then the player won't grow much. Sometimes, I give him a point of view that is not his own, and I'm not always right -- far from it. But it's my duty to tell him what I think is best for him. And if I have one advantage, it's that I'm seeing things from the outside. A player might try to go for everything, to tackle more than he is capable. It's much easier to pull someone back from the outside, than it is for the player to rein it in. It's possible the advice I give Rafa now isn't advice I would have accepted when I was a player.

ATPWorldTour.com: Did you have to say things that are difficult to accept?
Moya: I've had to say it all, just about, so it's important to find the right moment when dealing with an elite player like Rafa. The timing is as important as the actual message, sometimes more so. You have to know when and how to be sensitive. I spend a lot of time with Rafa, which is why I often say that a coach's job goes way beyond the hours you spend on the court. My opinion doesn't have to be in line with the rest of the team; in the end, Rafa is old enough and mature enough to decide what to keep with him.

ATPWorldTour.com: Why did Nadal decide to drop in weight?
Moya: It's not something he gave much thought to in the past, but recently it's something he's decided to do.

ATPWorldTour.com: Was it that important for him to cut weight?
Moya: No, but at the same time, it wasn't for just one reason but for several reasons. He decided to lose weight because he wants to try something a little different, something that he thinks will improve his game. That alone helps him mentally. On top of that, we believe that losing weight will lower the possibility of more injuries and improve his longevity.

ATPWorldTour.com: This upcoming season, Toni Nadal will not travel with the team. How does this affect you?
Moya: My role remains the same, so things won't change for me. For Rafa, that's one less person who will be with him, someone who was involved in his day-to-day life, but I'm sure he'll be available if Nadal needs anything from him. Even for me, if I think Toni can help with something, I know without a doubt he'll be there for us.

ATPWorldTour.com: Grigor Dimitrov's coach, Daniel Vallverdu, said he's been in constant communication with Grigor. Is that the case with you and Nadal?
Moya: No, it's different. Every coach is different, every relationship is different. My approach with Milos Raonic, for example, was different from the one I have with Nadal. Different countries, different mentalities, different directions in their careers, different objectives ... When Rafa's traveling and I'm back home, I'm talking to him on the phone often. But when we complete an event like Roland Garros or Wimbledon, we might be disconnected for four or five days afterward.

ATPWorldTour.com: Do you and Nadal strategize before matches?
Moya: We do sometimes, but I was discussing tactics a lot more with Raonic. The wrong approach, the wrong game plan, those things affected Milos much more than they do Rafa. The talks were a lot longer with Milos than with Rafa.

ATPWorldTour.com: You've developed different training methods with Nadal, focusing more on specific exercises. Did that work throughout the year?
Moya: Toward the end of 2017, we haven't been able to train on any one specific thing. He's done very little work on his knee, for example. There have been few workout routines since the US Open, and he came back from China with a bad knee. It's no secret that if you can't train a specific stroke, it's difficult to maintain your level of fitness or to make adjustments and improvements. That's an area we've been lacking, but the physical issues just didn't allow for it.

ATPWorldTour.com: Was not defeating Roger Federer a negative for Nadal in 2017?
Moya: The only negatives this year were in Paris-Bercy [at the Rolex Paris Masters] and in London [at the Nitto ATP Finals]. Based on how he played throughout the calendar year, I think Rafa could have won at both Paris-Bercy and in London, two tournaments he has never won. It would have been some feat, almost daunting, and in the end I guess it was asking too much of him.

ATPWorldTour.com: So, you aren't worried about Federer?
Moya: It is clear that he has found a way to beat Rafa and we haven't had an answer. Honestly, I think things could have turned out differently at the Australian Open final, which was very close. The truth is, things fell in favor of Federer this year but all credit to Roger. He turned the rivalry around and put a dent in Nadal in 2017. Now it's up to us, Rafa's team, to convince him that he has the weapons to beat Federer again. Obviously, adjustments have to be made. Nadal played an ultra-aggressive game in 2017 and maybe that works with 99 percent of his opponents, but maybe it just doesn't against Federer. Still, I'm happy with the end result. I'm OK with Rafa losing to the same opponent several times if it means he finishes the season as No.1.

ATPWorldTour.com: Nadal finished 2008, 2010 and 2013 on top after spectacular seasons. He also experienced subpar campaigns and/or injuries each immediate year after ending No.1. Do you fear this trend will continue in 2018?
Moya: Do I fear it? No, but those are still facts and they mean something, and I don't believe in coincidences. When something happens several times, then it isn't by chance. As a coach, you have to be attentive to that and as a team, we'll try to give Rafa the battery power he needs to avoid a slump. So yes, since it happened before, we're alerted by it.

ATPWorldTour.com: Many top players who were sidelined in 2017 return in 2018. Do you think those players can accomplish what Nadal and Federer managed to do?
Moya: It will be difficult. What Nadal and Federer did in 2017 wasn't simple. They made it look easy, but it wasn't.

ATPWorldTour.com: Will Nadal and Federer dominate 2018 the same way they did in 2017?
Moya: That also won’t be easy. With Rafa, it's about always evolving and not growing stale. Yes, there's room for him to evolve but with each year, finding that space to grow gets smaller and smaller. The challenge is to anticipate situations, stay on top of matters and be one step ahead.

ATPWorldTour.com: Has Nadal changed much since his teenage years?
Moya: Of course he has. When you're 17 or 18, you can count on being explosive, impulsive and playing without caution. Those factors help you at that age, but as the years go by, you grasp other aspects of the game. You might not have the same characteristics that made you successful before, but experience counts for a lot. The fact that Rafa is No.1, after all these years, it shows how he's evolved. I can't say that he's a better player than he once was, but that growth, the change, it's there.

ATPWorldTour.com: Nadal, by his own admission, has a lot of self-doubt. How have you helped to combat this?
Moya: Surrounding yourself with optimistic and positive people always helps boost self-esteem. I've never doubted Rafa and if I did, he'd pick up on that immediately. I've been honest with him from the day I started working with him. He's surrounded by sincere people who trust and believe in him. The fact that a player of his caliber still has bouts with self-belief, though, I think that makes him a complicated person to understand.

ATPWorldTour.com: Can Nadal compete and endure as long as Federer?
Moya: That's hard to say but Rafa still has some years left, at least five. What Federer has achieved so far is something totally extraordinary. Nadal is going to follow Roger's lead, on and off the court. We'll see how far this adventure takes us.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2DBldbH

Cilic, Bautista Agut Ready For Battle In Pune

The Tata Maharashtra Open is set to get underway this week with Marin Cilic heading a field of 28 players vying to start their 2018 ATP World Tour seasons off with a bang.

Leading the charge for the first time in the West Indian metropolis of Pune, is World No. 6 and 2014 US Open champion Cilic. With nothing to defend in the opening week of 2018, Cilic will look to add on precious ranking points to nudge himself closer to the career-high of No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings that he achieved late last season courtesy of his run to the Wimbledon final. The 29-year-old Croat is a two-time champion at Tata Maharashtra Open in both 2009 and 2010, when the tournament was held in Chennai.

Cilic will open against either Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena or Indian wild card Ramkumar Ramanathan, who will be starting his season in his home country for the fifth straight year.

Seeded second in Pune is 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson. Despite missing the first months of his 2017, the South African returned with vengeance, skyrocketing back into the Top 15 by reaching the second week at all three Grand Slams he played in addition to an appearance in the final of Citi Open. Anderson will play either Ruben Bemelmans or a qualifier in his first match.

Defending champion and World No. 22 Roberto Bautista Agut returns to India having claimed the crown in Chennai one year ago over Daniil Medvedev. Having landed in the same half of the draw as Cilic, Bautista Agut will have to fight past Tennys Sandgren or Gilles Simon to have a chance at a potential semi-final showdown with the Croatian No.1 seed.

Benoit Paire and Robin Haase also join the competition in Pune, with a possible quarter-final meeting between the two should they navigate past their opening obstacles. Paire kicks off 2018 against either Nicolas Kicker or Marton Fucsovics, while Haase plays Blaz Kavcic.

Additionally, returning from a lengthy injury layoff is Pablo Andujar. Andujar, who reached a career-high of No. 32 in the Emirates ATP Rankings back in 2015, hasn’t played a tour-level match since late 2016 and will look to start 2018 with momentum when he faces Nicolas Jarry in the first round. Jarry made his Top 100 debut in November and will be keen to build upon his three ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2017 as he transitions on to the ATP World Tour in 2018.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2DDkZkx

Three Tournaments Kick Off 2018 Challenger Season

Craving some tennis? You're not alone. The wait is nearly over as we tear the wrapping off a fresh season on the ATP Challenger Tour.

While the stars of the ATP World Tour prepare to launch their campaigns in Brisbane, Doha and Pune, a trio of tournaments also mark the beginning of the Challenger season. The action is set to take off in Bangkok, Noumea and Playford, as players look to make an immediate impact in 2018 and #NextGenATP stars begin their quests in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan.

For the 15th consecutive year, the French territory of New Caledonia kicks off the season. The island paradise, located off the eastern coast of Australia, welcomes players to the Ligue de Tennis de Nouvelle Caledonie in the capital city of Noumea. The tournament once again features a stacked draw. Top 150 players Julien Benneteau, Taylor Fritz and Cameron Norrie join teens Stefan Kozlov and Corentin Moutet, who are slated to meet in the first round at the Internationaux BNP Paribas.

Player to watch in Noumea: Norrie, seeded third, was one of the breakout stars on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2017, rising to year-end No. 114 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. The three-time titlist capped his campaign with a 31-8 run, including late-season victories at the Northern California stops of Tiburon and Stockton. He opens against Italy's Stefano Napolitano.

View Draws: Noumea | Playford | Bangkok

Meanwhile, the inaugural event in Playford, Australia, features an equally strong draw. Next Gen ATP Finals semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev is the top seed and is in search of his second ATP Challenger Tour title. A quartet of #NextGenATP Aussies carry the home hopes, with wild cards Marc Polmans, Omar Jasika, Max Purcell and Alexei Popyrin in the field.

Player to watch in Playford: The City of Playford Tennis International also features the long-awaited return of Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka. The 22-year-old saw his 2017 season come to a painful conclusion in April when he tore the ACL in his left leg at the Miami Open presented by Itaú. Nishioka, who rose to a career-high No. 58 before the injury, is set to make his comeback debut in Playford as he eyes a return to the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Finally, the Thai capital of Bangkok welcomes Challenger competitors for the 10th straight year. Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov lifted the trophy in 2010, while reigning Next Gen ATP Finals winner Hyeon Chung prevailed in 2014. This year, Germany's Yannick Maden leads the pack with teenagers Miomir Kecmanovic and Duckhee Lee also in action.

Player to watch in Bangkok: Kecmanovic is soaring into 2018 after claiming his maiden Challenger crown in Suzhou, China, in October. The 18-year-old Serbian became the youngest from his country to win on the circuit since Novak Djokovic in 2005. Up to a career-high No. 207 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, the former junior No. 1 will look to carry the momentum into the new season. He will face fourth seed and countryman Nikola Milojevic in the first round at the KPN Academy-Usierra Bangkok Open.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2DDhFWt

Video : Roger Federer vs Yuichi Sugita - Hopman Cup 2018 Highlights HD

Roger Federer vs Yuichi Sugita - Hopman Cup 2018 Highlights HD
Roger Federer vs Yuichi Sugita - Hopman Cup 2018 Highlights HD Raz Ols

View on Raz Ols

Video : Jack Sock - Top 10 Immense Shots (HD) The Tennis News

Jack Sock - Top 10 Immense Shots (HD)
This time I present to you the 10 best shots from American Jack Sock. He is truly a great player for this sport, both sportsmanship and shotmaking wise. Wish you all the best for next year. TennisTube: http://ift.tt/2viFWNQ This channel is dedicated to tennis Top 10 videos, mostly of Roger, but also from other players. Please help me get this channel up and running, by sharing and subscribing. Check out my other channel for tennis tributes below. Tennis Tributes: https://www.youtube.com/user/TennisTopTributes Tennis Top 10's: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpNB9K_Z_lJKmOjW_Rud3aw

View on YouTube

Djokovic Delays Start To 2018 Campaign

Novak Djokovic has been forced to postpone the start of his 2018 season due to a right elbow injury, withdrawing from the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, which begins on 1 January in Doha. The two-time defending champion announced on his website that he will instead continue rehab to ensure a strong return to the ATP World Tour.

“Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for better since yesterday. I still feel the pain,” Djokovic said. “I am sorry that I will not be able to play in front of my fans here. I have great memories of this tournament and the matches I played, like the final against Andy [Murray] from last year. The atmosphere at the stadium is always wonderful, the organisation is on the highest level, and I will surely miss it a lot.”

The former World No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings was hoping to defend back-to-back titles in Doha after missing six months due to injury, last appearing at Wimbledon.

“Only when I’m 100 per cent ready to play, will I be able to come back,” Djokovic said. “I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for patience and understanding.”

Unfortunately the situation with the elbow has not changed for better since yesterday. I still feel the pain. Therefore, I will have to withdraw from ATP tournament in Doha https://t.co/iD0bOR5xkT
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) December 30, 2017

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2lvPqBJ

Challenger Chronicles: Nicolas Jarry

I will never forget 2017.

There were so many unforgettable moments and I learned a lot about myself this year. Many times I didn't really believe it, but being patient is so important. Trusting in my abilities and keeping the same focus through the good days and the bad days.

Since I turned pro in 2014, I put a lot of pressure to win matches and lift my first trophy. I'm only 22, but it has already been a long road. After breaking my wrist two years ago, I needed to not only build my strength but also find my confidence. This was the hardest part, but I know that I am better because of it. If you told me that I would win my first three Challenger titles and finally reach the Top 100, I would have said you were crazy. I also qualified for my first Grand Slams at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. All in the same season. I still don't believe it.

But what I am most proud of came in November. It was a long year. I played in 27 tournaments. I was very tired when I returned home to Santiago. The off-season and a nice vacation were just two weeks away. But it gives me so much energy to play in my hometown with everyone supporting me. And that made it even more incredible to win the title. I didn't lose a set all week. It was amazing with my friends and family there.

This would not have been possible without them. They have given me so much. To see their faces after I won the title, how proud and excited they were, it was very special. I won my first Challenger titles in Medellin, Colombia and Quito, Ecuador during the summer, but this one has a special place in my heart.

He's done it! @NicoJarry claims his first title on home soil, defeating Arevalo 61 75 for the Santiago 🏆. Third #ATPChallenger crown of 2017. http://pic.twitter.com/TfIfz8ZhNe
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 18, 2017

Since the beginning of the tournament, I knew in the back of my mind what I was playing for. If I did well, I would enter the Top 100 for the first time and had the chance of playing in the main draw in the Australian Open. But I was thinking match by match. When I won the semi-final, I wasn't aware of how close I was to the Top 100 until I went to sleep. All the thoughts came to my head. I was thinking that one of my best friends would be able to go with me to Australia, if I won. Tennis can be very lonely and I have never travel with friends, so I really wanted this. Fortunately, I fell asleep quickly. It wasn’t like my first Challenger final in Quito 2014, when I remember seeing the clock until 4 am.

My aunt Catalina Fillol is the tournament director and the happiness I felt was indescribable. I was very emotional between the last point and the trophy ceremony. While she was making her speech, she started crying. This made it even tougher to keep myself from doing the same.

Tennis is a huge part of our family. My grandfather Jaime Fillol, Sr. is a former Top 20 player. He was extremely proud but we didn't talk much because the final finished late. He is the reason I started playing tennis. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. He is a legend in Chile. He was the tournament director at the old ATP World Tour event in Vina del Mar. He ran many tournaments in the same club over the years and I was a part of that. Some of my earliest memories are from those tournaments. His face said everything after I won and it was very special to have him give me the trophy.

Jarry

During the whole week the stadium was packed. I was amazed by how many people came to watch. It’s so nice to see that tennis is becoming popular again. Among the crowd were some familiar faces as well, such as Nicolas Massu, Fernando Gonzalez and Adrian Garcia. These three were the guys that I looked up to. They made the title even more special. I am very close with them too. Adrian used to live in my grandfather’s house, so he knows me since I was two years old.

Fernando is also close to my family and one time, before the final of the ATP event in Viña del Mar, he was nervous and started playing with me. I was that little kid at the tournament that was always running around. He grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. I had my racquet in my hand and smashed his leg. He won the tournament, so maybe it was because of me. I like to think I removed his nerves. And Nico – since he became Davis Cup captain we are close friends. They have been incredibly supportive during my career so far. They support me 100 per cent and I turn to them whenever I need help or advice.

I also have to thank the fans that came to the club during the week. Playing in Chile is the best. We are very nationalistic and we love to play for our flag. When we play sports, the people go crazy. You might have seen videos of how loud and passionate we sing our nation anthem in football matches. For me, it’s very special to play at home and more when your whole family comes to the tournament. I have a few uncles and cousins that live away from Chile and they all came for the week. My mother has one brother and three sisters and I’m the oldest of 16 cousins. They were all running around the club and asking me to play with them.

It’s weird to play in a tournament while you are sleeping in your own bed, eating at home and hanging out with friends in the same week. I was always worried that it might distract me from practice and the things that I have to do on court. But with the help of my team and friends, they gave me space in the right moments and I was able to perform in the best way possible to have an amazing week.

Now, with the 2018 season already here, I could not be more excited. I hope to play more on the ATP World Tour and will start in Pune next week. I know my journey is just beginning.

Challenger Chronicles I: Amir Weintraub
Challenger Chronicles II: Skupski Brothers
Challenger Chronicles III: Jason Jung
Challenger Chronicles IV: James McGee
Challenger Chronicles V: Denis Shapovalov
Challenger Chronicles VI: Stefanos Tsitsipas

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2EkAH4W

Dimitrov Set To Defend Brisbane Crown; Murray, Raonic Return

Ready? Play.

The ATP World Tour kicks off its 2018 season this week at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, the starting line for an exciting marathon of twists and turns, ultimately leading to the finish line: the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals in London.

Seeded first is defending champion and winner of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals, Grigor Dimitrov, who currently sits at a career-high of World No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings as a result of his impressive triumph at the season-ending event.

“That was definitely one of my biggest highlights,” said Dimitrov of his landmark victory in London last season. “It was such a long year ... so to be able to come to an end of the season the way I did was something that I really appreciated and cherished a lot as well. Also I think that showed a lot to my team and of course to myself what we’re capable of doing and just pushing the limits even more now.”

Having defeated three Top 10 players en route to victory in Brisbane last year to open his most successful season to date, the Bulgarian looks to continue his fine run of form in Australia and kick off 2018 with emphasis.

“It’s pretty amazing. I’ve been playing this tournament for quite some time and it’s been a dream of mine to win it and being able to do that last year was something that definitely propelled my year into a great success,” said the 26 year old.

“You always count on that start. The start of the year is so important. You should never get too negative or too positive but … I’m pretty pleased to be back here and excited to get that first match going on.”

Former Brisbane winners Andy Murray and Milos Raonic make their long awaited return to the ATP World Tour after shutting down their seasons early last year to nurse recurring injuries. Murray, the champion in 2012 and 2013, opens against either Ryan Harrison or Leonardo Mayer; Raonic, who defeated Roger Federer in the 2016 final, plays Steve Johnson or Aussie wild card Alex de Minaur to kick off his season.

Elsewhere in the draw, 2017 Australian Open quarter-finalist Mischa Zverev faces off against a qualifier in the first round, while Damir Dzumhur, who won his first two ATP World Tour titles in St. Petersburg and Moscow last year, encounters Denis Istomin in his opening match of the new season. Home favourite Nick Kyrgios, seeded third at this year’s tournament, will open against either fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden or American Frances Tiafoe.

2017’s inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals victor Hyeon Chung starts his Brisbane campaign against fifth-seeded Gilles Muller, while 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov, the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates, looks to build on his previous season’s success with a start against Kyle Edmund, against whom he owns a 2-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead.

In doubles, Shapovalov teams up with compatriot Raonic to play the first seeded duo of Henri Kontinen and John Peers in what promises to be an exciting first-round encounter, while Lleyton Hewitt steps out of retirement to partner Jordan Thompson against Dimitrov and Harrison.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2DCLero

Previa 2 2018: Goerges, Barty, Kasatkina se preparan para seguir construyendo sobre la temporada en que se han dado a conocer

¿Éxito o seguir creciendo? WTA Insider observa a seis jugadoras fuera del Top 10, que están preparadas para otro ascenso en la clasificación en 2018.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2pWGniy

C'mon! Hewitt Returns In Brisbane For Doubles

Lleyton Hewitt, a former No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is stepping out of retirement to play doubles with compatriot Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp.

“I’m excited to play with Jordan in the doubles,” said Hewitt, who will partner his fellow Australian against 2017 Brisbane singles champion Grigor Dimitrov and Ryan Harrison in the first round. “There’s always such a great atmosphere at this tournament, and we’re looking forward to a tough match against Grigor and Ryan.”

Hewitt’s last tour-level match was also alongside Thompson — they competed in doubles at Wimbledon in 2016, where they lost in the second round. Hewitt will also be playing doubles at the Australian Open with Sam Groth.

It will be a thrill for the Australian crowd to see the 2014 Brisbane champion in action four years after he stunned top-seeded Roger Federer at the event to win one of his 30 tour-level singles titles.

“It’s great to see Lleyton back in action. His Brisbane International win in 2014… was one of the most memorable moments in the history of the tournament. He is still such a tough competitor, and hasn’t lost his will to win,” Tournament Director Cameron Pearson said. "He’s a favourite with the Aussie crowds, so I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere on the court, especially with the defending men’s champion on the other side of the net.”

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2BYNJ6C

Serena se enfrenta contra Ostapenko en Abu Dhabi

En su primer partido desde que dio a luz en septiembre, Serena Williams se enfrentó a Jelena Ostapenko el sábado en una exhibición en Abu Dhabi

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2lxJ7xE

Takeaway: Three thoughts on Serena Williams' return in Abu Dhabi

Will Serena Williams play the Australian Open in just over two weeks? WTA Insider weighs in.

from News, WTA RSS Channel http://ift.tt/2CdiOrp

Best Of 2017: "I Could Share These Awards With Everybody"

In the final installation of ATPWorldTour.com's Best of 2017 series, Roger Federer reflects on his trio of honours in the 2017 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moet & Chandon: ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite in the 2017 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moet & Chandon, the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award and Comeback Player of the Year.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2Ck4LzQ