Monday 31 December 2018
Highlights: Murray Opens 2019 With Duckworth Win In Brisbane 2019
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Nadal Says He Achieved Amazing Things In 2018
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Highlights: Kudla Battles Past Fritz In Brisbane
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Nadal Ready For More 'Amazing' Things In Brisbane
By the most telling measure – ATP Rankings – Rafael Nadal had a season he'd take six out of seven days of the week. The 32-year-old Spaniard finished No. 2, behind Novak Djokovic.
But if Nadal were to judge his season by another marker – number of tournaments played – he'd want to put 2018 behind him and seek a big improvement during the 2019 season, which he'll kick off this week as the top seed at the Brisbane International.
The Spaniard played only nine tournaments in 2018, and had to withdraw from two of them – during the quarter-finals of the Australian Open (right hip) and the semi-finals of the US Open (right knee). But he still hoisted five titles, including three ATP Masters 1000s and his 17th Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros.
“It was a tough season in terms of injuries... I didn't have the chance to play as often as I would like,” said Nadal, who didn't play again after retiring against Del Potro on 7 September.
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“On the other hand, I won five events out of nine that I played. It was a great level of tennis every time that I was on court. So that's great news. I enjoyed it a lot. I achieved things that were amazing for me.
“I enjoy a lot of fantastic moments in my career. So it will be not fair if I only talk about the injuries because I had the chance to create a lot of opportunities to enjoy, a lot of opportunities to play in front of the best crowds of the world and to achieve much more than what I have dreamed. So my only goal is to keep doing the things that make me happy, and today playing tennis makes me happy, and I want to do it better and as long as possible.”
The Spaniard skipped the Asian swing following the US Open to recover from his knee injury. But at the Rolex Paris Masters, Nadal had to withdraw before his first match because of an abdominal injury. He shut down his season for good on 5 November following ankle surgery.
Read More: Moya: Rafa's Recovery Is Right On Track
The 80-time titlist, however, is ready to end his nearly four-month break in Australia, where he won the 2009 Australian Open, his only title on the continent. Nadal is playing in Brisbane for only the second time. He lost to Canadian Milos Raonic in the 2017 quarter-finals.
“I am here because I loved it in 2017. I had been here for the first time in 2017... I enjoyed a lot. Being honest, the tournament is great. It's a very familiar event, with a great atmosphere out there. The people here in Brisbane and Australia in general are very enthusiastic. I enjoy a lot playing in front of them. I always have a great connection with the crowd,” Nadal said.
“I missed it last year. It was a tough decision to not come here last year, and I am here to try my best again. And I hope to have the chance to play in front of this great crowd and to fight for important things.”
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Highlights: Millman Fights Past Sandgren In Brisbane
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Dimitrov Pleased With Brisbane Opener 2019
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So Far, So Good For Murray In 2019
The first day of 2019 may have been just the fresh start former World No. 1 Andy Murray needed, as the Scot began the new season on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against home favourite James Duckworth in the first round of the Brisbane International.
"I thought I did quite well. I think maybe both of us at the beginning of the match were a bit nervous, a few errors from the back of the court from both of us. But I think as the match went on, the rallies were a bit more entertaining," Murray said on court after the match. "I think for the first match of the new year after quite a long break, it was alright."
The 2012-13 Brisbane champion was limited to 12 matches in 2018 after undergoing hip surgery in January. And while Murray showed flashes of his former self in his comeback, earning two wins against Top 20 players in the ATP Rankings, he ultimately went 7-5 for the year.
But Murray, who is now 10-0 at the season-starting ATP 250 event, is beginning his return towards the top of the sport. The 31-year-old broke Duckworth three times in the one-hour, 28-minute clash, saving four of the five break points he faced.
"It's been really hard. Eighteen months, a lot of ups and downs. It was tricky just to get back on the court competing again," Murray said. "I'm happy I'm back out here competing again. I want to try enjoy it as much as I can."
It was an encouraging performance for Murray, who was made to sprint to the net several times by Duckworth in a rematch of their 2018 US Open encounter, won by Murray in four sets. The Scot, currently No. 240 in the ATP Rankings, also hit a couple of highlight reel shots during the match, consistently pumping his fist and trying to get Duckworth’s home crowd on his side.
Murray will next face Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, who won his first three ATP Tour titles in 2018. It will be the first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair.
On the bottom half of the draw, Denis Kudla earned a second-round match against second seed Kei Nishikori with a 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-4 victory against 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier and compatriot Taylor Fritz. Kudla was unable to convert any of the four match points he earned in the second set, but he withstood 22 Fritz aces in the match to win after two hours and 24 minutes.
Former Nitto ATP Finals Champions Upset
Brits Kyle Edmund and Neal Skupski spoiled John Peers’ hometown party, defeating the Aussie and his partner, Henri Kontinen, 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach the second round of the year’s first tournament. Kontinen and Peers triumphed at back-to-back Nitto ATP Finals in 2016-17.
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Video : Murray Ready To Leave Tough Times Behind
Andy Murray reflects on his fall from No. 1 in the ATP Rankings and time away from the sport due to a hip injury, his recovery, and the road back towards the top of the ATP Tour ahead of competing at the Brisbane International.
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Video : De Minaur: 'I Have A Real Hunger For More'
After 'a year full of highs' in 2018, Alex De Minaur is determined to continue his surge up the ATP Rankings as he begins his 2019 season at the Brisbane International.
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De Minaur: 'I Have A Real Hunger For More'
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Murray Ready To Leave Tough Times Behind
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Highlights: McLachlan/Struff Beat De Minaur/Hewitt In Brisbane
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Video : Highlights: McLachlan/Struff Beat De Minaur/Hewitt In Brisbane
Watch highlights as Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff beat Alex de Minaur and Lleyton Hewitt at the Brisbane International. Video: Tennis Australia. Photo: TennisPhotoNetwork
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Defeated No More: Djokovic Brothers Win In Doha
The Djokovic brothers are on the board. Novak Djokovic and Marko Djokovic celebrated the end of 2018 with their first doubles win as a team on Monday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
The Djokovics beat fellow wild cards Cem Ilkel of Turkey and Qatar's Mubarak Shannan Zayid 6-3, 3-6, 10-6. The brothers first played together 11 years ago and lost their first five matches – at 2007 Umag, 2008 Bangkok, 2009 Umag, 2011 Dubai and 2013 Dubai.
They'll play for a spot in the semi-finals against Damir Dzumhur/Dusan Lajovic, who upset top seeds Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic 6-4, 1-6, 10-7.
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Second seeds Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares also fell in their opener, losing to Hungary's Marton Fucsovics and Guido Pella of Argentina 6-3, 6-4.
The star-studded team of Russian Karen Khachanov and Swiss Stan Wawrinka couldn't make it out of the first round, either, falling 7-5, 6-3 to Belgian David Goffin and Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France. Goffin/Herbert will meet Nikola Mektic/Alexander Peya in the quarter-finals. Mektic/Peya dismissed Marius Copil/Horia Tecau 6-4, 7-6(4).
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Video : Murray Ready To Leave Tough Times Behind
Andy Murray reflects on his fall from No. 1 in the ATP Rankings and time away from the sport due to a hip injury, his recovery, and the road back towards the top of the ATP Tour ahead of competing at the Brisbane International.
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Read & Watch: Berdych Returns With Win In Doha
Former World No. 4 Tomas Berdych returned to the ATP Tour for the first time in six months on Monday and opened his 2019 campaign with a 6-4, 7-6(5) first-round victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in one hour and 42 minutes at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Czech wild card Berdych, who went 11-11 in 2018 before ending his year in June due to a back injury, will next play eighth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in Doha.
Verdasco, the 2017 semi-finalist (l. to Djokovic), won 83 per cent of his first-service points and struck nine aces to beat lucky loser Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to join fellow Spaniard — seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut — in the second round. Bautista Agut avenged his loss to Italian Matteo Berrettini in last year’s Gstaad final with a 6-1, 6-4 first-round win over 69 minutes.
Elsewhere, fifth-seeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili lost five of his first-service points in beating Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 in one hour and 38 minutes. Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, making his tournament debut, scraped past Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4) in two hours and 38 minutes.
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Video : Hot Shot: Berdych On The Stretch At Doha 2019
Watch Hot Shot as Tomas Berdych chases down a stunning forehand on Monday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
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Video : Hot Shot: Verdasco Leaves Lorenzi Flat-Footed In Doha 2019
Watch Hot Shot as Fernando Verdasco defends well before outmanoeuvring Paolo Lorenzi with a well-placed backhand up the line at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
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Marach/Pavic Interview Fellow Stars Of 2019 Qatar ExxonMobil Open
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Hot Shot: Verdasco Leaves Lorenzi Flat-Footed In Doha 2019
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Felix Auger-Aliassime: Road To The 2019 Season
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Video : Felix Auger-Aliassime: Road To The 2019 Season
Go behind the scenes as the ATP Tour gives you exclusive access to Felix Auger-Aliassime's preparations for the 2019 season in Florida, as the #NextGenATP Canadian looks to build on a strong 2018 campaign.
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Darcis Earns Comeback Win In Pune
After missing the entire 2018 ATP Tour season due to an elbow injury, Steve Darcis made a winning return to action at the Tata Open Maharashtra on Monday.
"It feels good [to win], of course," said Darcis. "When you don't play for 400 days it is long and to come here and have the first win of the year, I feel great."
The 34-year-old Belgian notched a 6-3, 6-4 win over sixth seed Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain after one hour and 33 minutes, converting four of five break points en route to his first tour-level victory since the 2017 European Open in Antwerp.
"I had a lot of pressure. It is strange to come back onto the court for a match after such a long time, but I was feeling good on the court," said Darcis. "Of course, [there was] a lot of stress, but I just tried to be solid... I was serving good, so I am pretty happy about the way I played today."
Darcis will meet #NextGenATP American Michael Mmoh for a place in the quarter-finals. Mmoh defeated Indian wild card Prajnesh Gunneswaran 7-5, 6-3.
Jaume Munar earned his first win of the season in Pune, beating Radu Albot 6-2, 7-6(4) on his tournament debut. The 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals semi-finalist saved nine of 10 break points to move into a second-round clash against Simone Bolelli or Denis Istomin.
Evgeny Donskoy also overcame seeded Spanish opposition to advance to the second round, saving four consecutive match points from 2/6 down in the final-set tie-break to eliminate eighth seed Pablo Andujar 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(6). Donskoy converted his first match point after two hours and 30 minutes to book a second-round meeting with Felix Auger-Aliassime or Ivo Karlovic.
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Kokkinakis Looks 'To Get Back To Where I Belong'
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Video : Kokkinakis Looks 'To Get Back To Where I Belong'
He beat Roger Federer last March in Miami... and hasn't won a tour-level match since. Learn more about the strange journey of Thanasi Kokkinakis, who Tuesday looks for that next elusive main-draw win in Brisbane.
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Roger Federer vs Serena Williams: When are they playing? How to watch Hopman Cup
ROGER FEDERER VS SERENA WILLIAMS - Find out all you need to know about the historic mixed doubles Hopman Cup match below.
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McLachlan/Struff Pass De Minaur/Hewitt Test In Brisbane
Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff made a winning return to Australia on Monday, beating Alex de Minaur and Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-1 at the Brisbane International.
The second seeds, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals on their team debut this year, converted five of six break points to overcome the Australian duo in 50 minutes. The Tokyo champions will meet John Millman and John-Patrick Smith or Marcelo Demoliner and Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
Austin Krajicek and Artem Sitak began their partnership with a 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over Taylor Fritz and Nick Kyrgios. The first-time pairing withstood 13 aces and saved all three break points they faced to edge past Fritz and Kyrgios after 77 minutes.
Australian duo James Duckworth and Jordan Thompson saved three set points in a marathon first set en route to a 7-6(12), 6-4 win over Kei Nishikori and Yoshihito Nishioka. Duckworth and Thompson dropped just five points behind their first serves (36/41) in the 88-minute clash. Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof also advanced, beating Roman Jebavy and Andres Molteni 6-3, 5-7, 10-6.
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Nadal Looking Forward To Return In Brisbane
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Highlights: Raonic Races Past Bedene In Brisbane
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Nadal, Murray Enjoy Early New Year Celebrations In Brisbane
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Highlights: Dimitrov Downs Nishioka In Brisbane
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Bryans Reuniting Headlines Promising 2019 Doubles Season
The 2018 ATP Tour doubles season was an exciting one, from Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic clinching the year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles Team Ranking to Jack Sock partnering Mike Bryan after Bob Bryan hurt his hip in Madrid, ultimately winning Wimbledon, the US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals.
Which doubles storylines should you look for in 2019?
Bryan Brothers Reunite
Bob Bryan may be 40 years old. But he has recovered from August hip surgery and is ready to rejoin brother Mike Bryan, who is No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings.
While Mike Bryan and Sock enjoyed a tremendous partnership in the second half of 2018, winning Wimbledon, the US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals, it’s easy to forget that Bryan/Bryan had gotten off to a fast start to the 2018 season before Bob Bryan’s injury.
Bryan/Bryan reached at least the semi-finals in seven of the nine tournaments they played together in 2018, winning two ATP Masters 1000 titles (Miami, Monte-Carlo) in the same year for the first time since 2015. It was in a third Masters 1000 final in Madrid that Bob Bryan injured his hip. The twins are scheduled to make their return as a team at the Brisbane International.
Look for the pair to make more history in 2019, as they have already claimed 116 tour-level doubles titles together.
Can Marach/Pavic Back Up 2018 Performance?
Marach and Pavic dominated the early part of 2018, getting off to a 17-0 start with consecutive titles in Doha, Auckland and at the Australian Open. The Austrian-Croatian pair would also triumph in Geneva en route to eventually guaranteeing that they would finish as the year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles team.
Marach and Pavic finished the year strong as well, reaching the semi-finals or better at their final five tournaments of the year ahead of their second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals (2017 as alternates).
In 2019, more teams will be chasing after what Marach and Pavic have already earned. Will they be able to further raise their level to keep their spot at the top of the doubles world?
Accomplished Teams Looking To Bounce Back
Two teams that did not qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in 2018, but have been mainstays on the ATP Tour in recent years, are Henri Kontinen/John Peers and Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau.
Kontinen/Peers were the two-time defending champions at the season finale in London, but only appeared at The O2 in 2018 as alternates in a loss against Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. The Finnish-Australian team lost its final six matches of the season. But the pair also showed flashes of brilliance last year, winning titles in Brisbane, The Queen’s Club and Toronto. So expect them to bounce back in 2019.
Also missing out were Rojer and Tecau, as Tecau missed four months due to injury. While the veterans rallied to finish 11th in the ATP Doubles Race To London, they could not recover enough to make the season finale. With both players healthy, the Dutch-Romanian duo will make a strong push to return to The O2 for the fourth time as a team in 2019.
Top Pairs Sticking Together
While you might expect some movement among doubles teams, with players switching partners at the start of the season, 13 of the Top 14 pairs in the 2018 ATP Doubles Race To London will remain intact in 2019. The only team that qualified for last year's Nitto ATP Finals that will not be competing together to start the season is Bryan/Sock, and that is due to the return of Bob Bryan.
New teams in 2019 include Ivan Dodig/Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Austin Krajicek/Artem Sitak.
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500 Weeks/10 Years At World No. 1 For Mike
While the Bryan Brothers’ reunion will be a major storyline to follow in 2019, it’ll be important to follow Mike Bryan individually as well. As of 31 December, the World No. 1 will have spent 479 weeks atop the ATP Doubles Rankings. That means that if the American can remain atop the doubles mountain until 27 May without losing his top position, Bryan will reach 500 weeks as the No. 1-ranked player.
But that’s not all. In 2019, Bryan can also reach 520 weeks at World No. 1, which would give him an unprecedented 10 years at the peak of his discipline.
To put that feat into context, Roger Federer holds the record for most weeks atop the ATP Rankings, having led the singles pack for 310 weeks.
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Sunday 30 December 2018
Roger Federer delivers Tokyo Olympics and 2019 French Open update
ROGER FEDERER says he is not thinking about whether he will play at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Scouting Report: 30 Things To Watch In Brisbane, Doha & Pune
It's the moment everyone has been waiting for: the start of the 2019 ATP Tour season. Five of the Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings are in action this week at a trio of ATP 250 events. Rafael Nadal leads the way at the Brisbane International, Novak Djokovic headlines the field at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, and Kevin Anderson is the top seed at the Tata Open Maharashtra.
10 THINGS TO WATCH IN BRISBANE
1) The Champs are Here: Former champions Nick Kyrgios (2018), Grigor Dimitrov (2017), Milos Raonic (2016) and Andy Murray (2012-13) return to the Queensland Tennis Centre this week for the Brisbane International.
2) Rafa’s Return: The No. 1 seed in Brisbane is World No. 2 Nadal. Knee, abdominal and ankle injuries have sidelined the Spaniard since 7 September, when he retired in the US Open semi-finals against Juan Martin del Potro. Nadal is appearing in Brisbane for the second time after falling to Raonic in the 2017 quarter-finals. Only one of Nadal’s 80 championships have come in Australia. Nadal edged Roger Federer in five sets to capture the Australian Open title 10 years ago.
3) Special Kei: After falling to No. 39 in the ATP Rankings on 2 April, Kei Nishikori soared towards the end of 2018 to year-end No. 9. The Japanese superstar reached two finals, two semi-finals and two quarter-finals in his final six regular-season events. He is seeking his first ATP Tour title since Memphis in February 2016.
4) First Time for Everything: In 2018 alone, 23-year-old Kyle Edmund broke into the Top 15 of the ATP Rankings, earned the four biggest wins of his career, captured his first ATP Tour title at Antwerp and advanced to his first Grand Slam semi-final and ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
5) Russian Rising: Who led the ATP Tour in hard-court wins last season? The surprising answer is Daniil Medvedev, who earned 38 victories and three titles on hard courts. All three of Medvedev’s championship wins came against opponents playing on home soil. He defeated Alex de Minaur in the Sydney final, Steve Johnson in the Winston-Salem final and Nishikori in the Tokyo final.
6) No. 1 Aussie: One year ago, De Minaur entered the Brisbane International as a 208th-ranked wild card. De Minaur’s semi-final run in Brisbane started a sensational season that saw him reach his first two ATP Tour finals, achieve a new career-high ATP Ranking 18 times and earn ATP Newcomer of the Year honours. The 19-year-old from Sydney returns as the No. 1 Aussie and World No. 31.
7) Homecoming King: Three Aussies are ranked in the Top 40 — De Minaur, Kyrgios and Brisbane’s own John Millman. The 29-year-old Millman comes home after causing one of the biggest upsets of 2018. Millman reached the US Open quarter-finals by defeating Federer, a five-time champion.
8) Comeback Trail: World No. 256 Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and the 257th-ranked Murray are using protected rankings to compete in Brisbane. Tsonga underwent left knee surgery and Murray had right hip surgery last season. But the two stars have combined to win 61 tour-level titles, and were inside the world’s Top 10 at the same time as recently as 10 July 2017, so expect them both to begin their climb towards the top of the sport.
9) Aussie, Aussie, : The three main draw wild cards went to home talents as 26-year-old James Duckworth, 25-year-old Alex Bolt, and 19-year-old Alexei Popyrin will compete in the event. Duckworth made the Brisbane quarter-finals in 2015 before falling to eventual titlist Federer.
10) Together Again: The winningest doubles team in ATP Tour history will reunite in Brisbane when twin brothers Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan team up for the first time since May. Bob had right hip surgery last summer, while Mike went on to win the Nitto ATP Finals and two Grand Slam titles with Jack Sock.
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10 THINGS TO WATCH IN DOHA
1) No. 1 Choice: World No. 1 Djokovic opens the 2019 season at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, marking the fifth time in six years and 11th time in 16 years that the top-ranked player on the ATP Tour competes in Doha. Djokovic previously played in Doha as the World No. 1 in 2015-16. Murray (2017), Nadal (2009, 2011, 2014), Federer (2005-06, 2010) and Andy Roddick (2004) are former World No. 1s who were atop the ATP Rankings while competing in Doha.
2) Dream Finish: Djokovic ended the 2018 season on a 39-4 run, winning four championships, reaching three other finals and rising from No. 22 to No. 1. The 31-year-old broke Nadal’s 2017 record by becoming the oldest year-end No. 1 in ATP Rankings history (since 1973). The Serb has been superb in Doha with a 12-1 record and title victories over Nadal in 2016 and Murray in 2017.
Watch Highlights Of Djokovic's 2017 Victory In Doha:
3) Dominant Dominic: Also returning to Doha is Dominic Thiem, who conceded a walkover to eventual champion Gael Monfils in the 2018 Qatar ExxonMobil Open semi-finals. The Austrian recovered well from a viral infection in Doha, qualifying for his third Nitto ATP Finals after reaching his second ATP Masters 1000 final at Madrid and his first Grand Slam championship match at Roland Garros.
4) Next Big Thing: Karen Khachanov ended Djokovic’s 22-match win streak on 4 November and defeated three other Top 10 players to capture the ATP Masters 1000 Paris title. Khachanov’s fourth career trophy allowed him to finish the season at a career-high No. 11 in the ATP Rankings. The 22-year-old Russian posted 46 victories in 2018 and won ATP 250 titles at Marseille and Moscow.
5) Karen & Stan: The first major ‘popcorn’ match of the year comes in the first round in Doha, as Khachanov will face former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka. The pair competed for the first time just months ago in St. Petersburg, with Wawrinka winning two tie-breaks.
6) Italian Invasion: Three Italians are in the Doha draw, led by World No. 20 and two-time ATP Tour champion Marco Cecchinato. Joining Cecchinato is 22-year-old Matteo Berrettini, who won his first ATP Tour title at Gstaad in July. Italy’s elder statesman is 37th-ranked Andreas Seppi, who turns 35 next month. Seppi has finished 14 straight seasons inside the Top 100 of the year-end ATP Rankings.
7) Pride of Georgia: Nikoloz Basilashvili won not one, but two ATP 500 titles in 2018 to become the first champion from Georgia on the ATP Tour. The Hamburg and Beijing champ earned a personal-best 29 victories overall in 2018 to finish the season at a career-high No. 21 in the ATP Rankings.
8) Tomas’ Comeback: Tomas Berdych has been a stalwart toward the top of the ATP Rankings for years, finishing inside the year-end Top 20 every season from 2006-17. But the Czech suffered from a back injury that kept him out after the Fever-Tree Championships. Now, Berdych is ready to mount his ascent back toward the upper echelons of his game, beginning in Doha.
9) Goffin Returns: After ending 2017 at a career-high No. 7, David Goffin missed four weeks due to an eye injury and five weeks due to a right elbow injury last season. Now ranked outside of the Top 20, the 5-foot-11 Belgian will play his first match since September as he begins his push for a return to the high level that helped him reach the championship match of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals.
10) No. 1s Return: Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, the 2018 year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles Team, began last season in Doha, winning the title. They’d eventually start the year 17-0 and qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. The Austrian-Croatian team is back again in Qatar as the top seeds.
10 THINGS TO WATCH IN PUNE
1) Pune 2.0: The Tata Open Maharashtra — India’s only ATP Tour event — returns to Pune for the second year in a row, and No. 1 seed Anderson will once again open his season there. Last year, Anderson rebounded from a loss in the Pune final to Gilles Simon by reaching his second Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and qualifying for the year-end Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.
2) South African Ace: Anderson made history for Africa in 2018 as the top player from the continent since ATP Rankings were established in 1973. The 6’8” South African reached a career-high No. 5 after advancing to the Wimbledon final. Anderson beat Roger Federer 13-11 in the fifth set of the Wimbledon quarter-finals and John Isner 26-24 in the fifth set of the semi-finals.
3) Defending Champion: Simon went 8-1 overall in his Indian debut last season. The former World No. 6 swept Marin Cilic and Anderson en route to his first ATP Tour singles title since 2015. Simon also made his first-ever doubles final in Pune with fellow Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Watch Highlights Of Simon's Victory:
4) Chung’s Challenge: Coming off the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals title, Hyeon Chung was one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour to start the 2018 season. He beat Alexander Zverev and Djokovic en route to the Australian Open semi-finals, then reached back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals in Indian Wells and Miami. He will look to get off to another good start in 2019, pursuing his first tour-level trophy in Pune.
5) 40-Love: Ivo Karlovic, 6’11”, returns to India for the first time in a decade. The Croat, who turns 40 on 28 February, became the oldest champion in ATP Challenger Tour history when he won the title in Calgary, Canada, in October. Karlovic is the oldest player in the ATP Rankings at No. 100.
6) Generation Gap: Karlovic, the oldest player in the draw by half a decade, will meet the youngest player in the draw in the first round. Eighteen-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime made it through qualifying as the top seed, and will take on Karlovic in the main draw. Auger-Aliassime reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final just months ago in Chengdu.
7) Meteoric Rise: Following his third right elbow surgery, Pablo Andujar of Spain ended the 2017 season tied for 1,701st in the ATP Rankings. After winning the Marrakech title and three ATP Challenger Tour championships, Andujar completed a 1,619-spot rise to end 2018 at No. 82.
8) Guess Who’s Back: Also returning to the Top 100 late last season was former World No. 10 Ernests Gulbis. The Latvian qualified at Stockholm in October en route to his first ATP Tour final in more than four years. Gulbis will be unseeded again when he makes his Indian debut this week.
9) Home Team: Four Indian players will contest the singles main draw at Pune, as qualifier Saketh Myneni joins wild cards Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Ramkumar Ramanathan, and Arjun Kadhe in the first round. Gunneswaran made his ATP Tour main draw debut at Stuttgart in June, and won his first two ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2018 to finish the year ranked just outside of the Top 100. Ramanathan made the final in Newport (l. to Johnson).
10) Living Legend: Six-time Chennai doubles champion Leander Paes of India joins seven of his compatriots in the doubles draw. The 45-year-old Paes won at least one tour-level doubles title each year from 1997-2015. Paes teams in Pune with Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela of Mexico, his exclusive partner since September.
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Dimitrov, Raonic Race To Clean Starts In Brisbane
Former champion Grigor Dimitrov started his 2019 season perfectly on Monday at the Brisbane International. The 2017 titlist outplayed Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka, saving six of seven break points and advancing 6-3, 6-4.
“I felt I was actually hitting the ball quite all right for our first match of the year... There [were] a few things that I would like to maybe improve in the next match, but overall I think it's off to a positive start,” Dimitrov said.
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The title Down Under in 2017 kicked off Dimitrov's best year yet. He reached the Australian Open semi-finals, won the Nitto ATP Finals (d. Goffin) and finished a personal best No. 3 in the year-end ATP Rankings.
But the Bulgarian struggled to duplicate that run during 2018, finishing last season just inside the Top 20, at No. 19. He'll next face Aussie John Millman or American Tennys Sandgren.
Milos Raonic, another former Brisbane champion, also advanced in straight sets. The 2016 titlist dropped only two points on his first serve (93%, 27/29) and hit 18 aces during a 6-0, 6-3 win against Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene. The Canadian will next face Serbian qualifier Miomir Kecmanovic or Leonardo Mayer of Argentina.
Top seed Rafael Nadal leads the Brisbane field, which also includes two-time champion Andy Murray and last year's titlist Nick Kyrgios.
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Video : Grigor Dimitrov: No Vegas Vacation, But Great Prep For 2019 Season
After spending part of the pre-season with Andre Agassi in Las Vegas, Grigor Dimitrov is ready to attack the 2019 ATP Tour season.
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Djokovic, Thiem, Wawrinka, Khachanov Immerse In Qatari Culture
Before kicking off their 2019 seasons in Doha, Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Karen Khachanov and Stan Wawrinka visited the Katara cultural village on Sunday afternoon.
The players wore traditional Qatari men's attire while walking the Katara beach. “Catara” was the historical name used for Qatar prior to the 18th century. The buildings and facilities at Katara were deliberately arranged in order to reflect the country's cultural and architectural heritage.
Wawrinka and Khachanov posed for a selfie together, with a couple of their closest friends. The two – Wawrinka and Khachanov, not the camels – will play doubles together on Monday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open against David Goffin and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. But on Tuesday, Wawrinka and Khachanov will clash in singles.
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Wawrinka leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 1-0, but Khachanov finished his 2018 by ending Djokovic's 22-match win streak in the Rolex Paris Masters final.
Djokovic is the top seed in Doha. He, too, will be double dipping in singles and doubles. The Serbian will pair with brother Marko Djokovic on Monday against Cem Ilkel of Turkey and Mubarak Shannan Zayid of Qatar.
Thiem, who finished his 2018 by making his third consecutive appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, is the second seed and will try to win his third hard-court title.
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Roger Federer: This is how I will prepare to face Serena Williams on New Year’s Day
ROGER FEDERER says he intends to be tucked up in bed early the night before his eagerly anticipated clash with Serena Williams.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2AmB2E2
Video : Berdych Excited For Comeback Challenge
Tomas Berdych takes you into his training and mindset as he battles back from injury, hoping to climb back towards the top of the ATP Tour in 2019. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour.
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Berdych Excited For Comeback Challenge In 2019
Tomas Berdych first broke into the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings on 4 October 2004, just after his 19th birthday. To put that into context, #NextGenATP sensation Denis Shapovalov was just five years old at the time. The Czech star Berdych first finished inside the Top 20 of the year-end ATP Rankings in 2006, and he’d stay inside that elite group for 12 consecutive years.
But after a 9-3 start to the 2018 season, Berdych’s year began to crumble. Back pain hindered his performance, leading to losses in eight of his next 10 matches. And after losing to Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the first round of the Fever-Tree Championships, enough was enough.
“[The pain had] started quite a while ago and at the Queen’s tournament, I just said, ‘No’,” Berdych remembered. “I cannot go on anymore.”
That would be the end of the 13-time ATP Tour titlist’s season. The 33-year-old dropped as low as No. 77 in the ATP Rankings, a number he hadn’t seen since he was 18 years old. But Berdych knew that he had no choice but to take time away from the court.
“My body said now I need rest and now I need to take care of it,” Berdych said. “I did all the tests, I did all the medical things that I had to do. I was very lucky that I didn’t have to do any surgeries, which was very good for me.”
By the middle of October, Berdych was able to resume training on the court. But despite having been on the ATP Tour for so long, this was a new experience for him. The Czech had dealt with small injuries over the years, but nothing that kept him out for an extended period of time.
“I remember my first steps on the court, starting to serve when the shoulder and everything was quite stiff. My serve was like throwing the ball by hand, it was very slow,” Berdych remembered. “In two weeks I could serve properly and I was like, ‘Wow, what a difference’.
“Since then I’m feeling good, I can load up, and everything is going well. So I’m very happy for that.”
Now, it’s about Berdych finding a rhythm and building up his ATP Ranking again. Currently World No. 71, he may fall even further after the Australian Open, where he is defending 350 points from making the quarter-finals last year. If Berdych loses in the first round, he will fall outside of the Top 100.
This is uncharted territory, and Berdych knows that. But he also knows that he has the level in him. At the 2018 Australian Open, the Czech beat Juan Martin del Potro and Fabio Fognini, both of whom went on to complete the best season of their careers.
Berdych has won 627 tour-level matches, more than former World No. 1s Thomas Muster, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick, among others. So it’s not a question of whether or not the Czech is capable of boosting his level. But it’s just a matter of working step by step, staying healthy, and making a push back to form.
“I’m seeing it as a big challenge ahead of me. In my career, I’ve never experienced it,” Berdych said of having to rebuild after injury. “So after 15, 16 seasons, I’m really looking forward to something new and some new situations, so exciting times coming up.”
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Roger Federer: Swiss star makes big declaration after winning Hopman Cup start
ROGER FEDERER says he is ready to mount his assault for a 21st Grand Slam title after making an ideal start to the new season at the Hopman Cup.
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Kevin Anderson: Road To The 2019 Season
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Rafael Nadal: Tennis star told exactly how to prepare ahead of Australian Open
RAFAEL NADAL has been told exactly what he needs to do to make sure he can get back to his best as he continues his comeback from injury.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2GIwn4S
Rafael Nadal: Kevin Anderson reveals the ONE thing tennis star has changed after injury
RAFAEL NADAL made his comeback from injury at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, but one thing about his game was noticeably different.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2GN4TLo
Video : Road to the 2019 Season: EP6 Kevin Anderson
The 2018 ATP Tour season for Kevin Anderson included reaching the Wimbledon final and the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time alongside a year end No. 6 ranking. What can the South African achieve in 2019? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2dj6EhW Visit the official site of men’s professional tennis: http://bit.ly/dI6Ehb FOLLOW THE ATP WORLD TOUR Watch live and on demand: http://bit.ly/1sltqpW Check live scores: http://bit.ly/2jDYTJ6 View the latest rankings: http://bit.ly/1FH8mPH Meet the players: http://bit.ly/2jE5FhO Follow the tournaments: http://bit.ly/2aiGU3O Catch up on tennis news: http://bit.ly/2jDZhXR JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Download MyATP: http://www.myatp.com/ Like us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1Os98Zv Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATPWorldTour Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2d3JoTJ Follow us on Google+: http://bit.ly/2jE5KSO
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Video : Grigor Dimitrov: No Vegas Vacation, But Great Prep For 2019
After spending part of the pre-season with Andre Agassi in Las Vegas, Grigor Dimitrov is ready to attack the 2019 ATP Tour season.
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Video : Kei Nishikori: A Veteran At 29?
Kei Nishikori begins the 2019 season from a much stronger base than a year earlier. But is the Brisbane International second seed happy to now be called a veteran of the ATP Tour?
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Grigor Dimitrov: No Vegas Vacation, But Great Prep For 2019
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Kei Nishikori: A Veteran At 29?
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Roger Federer vs Cameron Norrie LIVE stream: How to watch Hopman Cup game online and on TV
ROGER FEDERER live stream - How to watch Hopman Cup game against Cameron Norrie online and on TV.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2EUY0VV
Saturday 29 December 2018
Read & Watch: An Adventure In Brisbane Murray Won't Forget
It’s not every day that you get to take a helicopter ride over a crystal clear ocean, and it’s also not every day that you try kangaroo for the first time. But former World No. 1 Andy Murray did both on Saturday before beginning his campaign at the Brisbane International.
Murray and his coach, Jamie Delgado, took a helicopter ride to North Stradbroke Island, which is about 30 kilometres southeast of Brisbane. It was a nice excursion for the Scot before beginning his 2019 season at the ATP Tour 250 event.
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“I enjoyed going in the helicopter. I’d been a few times before, but normally over cities. I’ve not been over water as much, and [there are] amazing views up there, so I enjoyed it,” Murray said. “Coach didn’t like it as much. I think he came around at the end. He was a bit worried at the beginning.”
Once on the island, Murray and Delgado received a traditional welcome, and a chef presented various local cuisine for the pair to taste. Murray even tried slow-cooked kangaroo for the first time, despite initial hesitation. He also enjoyed oyster and lobster tail.
“The kangaroo was alright. It was better than what I was expecting. Most of the stuff was fresh today, caught out of the ocean here and it was very good,” Murray said. “As you get a little bit older, you want to immerse yourself in the culture of the different countries that we go to visit. It’s a great opportunity that we get to travel the world and see different places, meet different people, try different foods. I had kangaroo for the first time in my life today, which I certainly wouldn’t have tried when I was younger, but I gave it a go and it was pretty good.”
Murray will now shift his focus to the task at hand in Brisbane, as he looks to earn his third title at the season-opening event. While the Scot is in town to extend his perfect 9-0 record at the tournament, he was happy to take a bit of a break from the tennis to enjoy the area first.
“Just to see the local culture, check out the beaches. I got to try a lot of their food, which was brilliant,” Murray said. “This is definitely a little bit different from most things we do, and I enjoyed it.”
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A Pre-Tournament Adventure To Remember For Murray In Brisbane 2019
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Dimitrov & Fritz Enjoy Arcade In Brisbane 2019
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Health In Hand, Nishikori's Sights Set On Big Titles
Kei Nishikori began 2018 in a far different state than that in which he finished the season. It’s easy to forget that the Japanese star missed the Australian Open as he continued his recovery from a wrist injury that had kept him out since the 2017 Coupe Rogers. Nishikori began his comeback on the ATP Challenger Tour in late January, even losing his first match against the World No. 238.
But Nishikori would find some of his best tennis, and more importantly, good health, as the year went on. He qualified for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth time, beating Roger Federer in round robin play at the season finale.
“It took a little while to get my tennis back... Also, my wrist was hurting at the same time. It took a little while to get healed 100 per cent,” said Nishikori, who begins the new year at the Brisbane International. “At that time I couldn’t really imagine I’d be in the Top 10 at the end of the year. But I was very happy to finish by playing in London last year.”
While Nishikori showed signs of his best tennis early in his comeback — reaching the final of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and his first quarter-final at Wimbledon — he was still well out of reach of a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals when the US Open rolled around.
“Obviously it was a progression,” said one of Nishikori’s two coaches, Dante Bottini.
But Nishikori clicked into gear, digging deep to find the consistency he was seeking, making the quarter-finals or better in his final six tournaments of the year ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals, highlighted by a run to the last four in Flushing Meadows.
During the off-season, it’s been back to work for Nishikori at his second home: the IMG Academy in Florida, where he moved as a teenager. The World No. 9 is leaving no stone left unturned as he pushes to maintain his momentum.
It’s the same hard-working attitude Nishikori has had since he first decided he wanted to become a professional tennis player at 12 years old. He could have stayed in Japan, but Nishikori chose to move to the IMG Academy to completely focus on his tennis.
“At an early age, you saw the trademarks of a champion,” said Nishikori’s childhood coach Paul Forsyth. “From 13 to where he is right now, you can tell the boy was going places.”
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And Nishikori, who turned 29 on Saturday, certainly has gone far in the sport. That’s why a swarm of Japanese media visited with Nishikori for a media day in Florida in the middle of December, chronicling the star’s every move in his preparation for the upcoming season.
“He’s like Michael Jordan here, like Diego Maradona in Argentina,” Bottini said of his charge’s star-status in Japan.
“I heard that there is an airplane with his picture. I’ve heard that before, but it’s amazing. He’s an idol in Japan,” Forsyth said.
And while Nishikori showed why he receives that attention with his impressive 2018 comeback, he is not ready to slow down his upwards trajectory. He wants to continue rising, and push the bar even higher.
“I hope I can come back to the Top 5 again and win the big tournaments."
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Video : Road to the 2019 Season: EP5 Kei Nishikori
After an exciting season in which Kei Nishikori went from starting on the ATP Challenger Tour level to qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals, the Japanese superstar gets set to climb even further in 2019. Photo Credit: Mike Frey/Tennis Photo Network
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Rafael Nadal: Tennis star makes big Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic claim
RAFAEL NADAL has claimed that once Andy Murray recovers from injury, he will be hard to beat.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2Swp3Lm
Djokovic Looks To Ride Momentum Into Doha
Novak Djokovic played sensational tennis at the end of the 2018 season. In his final five tournaments of the year, Djokovic won the Western & Southern Open, the US Open and the Rolex Shanghai Masters before finishing runner-up at the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals. Now back at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, the Serbian will look to use that momentum to get off to a fast start in 2019.
Djokovic opens his season at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he will face Damir Dzumhur in the first round. In the pair’s only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting just two months ago in Paris, Djokovic led 6-1, 2-1 before three-time ATP Tour champion Dzumhur was forced to retire.
The 31-year-old Djokovic will try to extend his 10-match winning streak in Doha, as the 72-time tour-level titlist has triumphed at the season-opening event in his past two appearances (2016-17). If he gets by Dzumhur, the top seed will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics or Marius Copil in the second round. Fifth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, who could face Djokovic in the quarter-finals, won his first two tour-level titles in 2018, and both of them came at ATP Tour 500 events.
Watch Highlights Of Djokovic's 2017 Triumph In Doha:
And while everyone will want to see Djokovic’s form, plenty of fans will also be glued to a tantalising first-round encounter, on the same half of the draw, between Paris titlist Karen Khachanov and former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka.
Khachanov finished 2018 as one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour, storming to his first ATP Tour Masters 1000 title in France, playing impressive tennis to beat Djokovic in the final. The Russian, the third seed in Doha, has proven to be one of the biggest hitters on the circuit. But Wawrinka has shown his ability to also unleash on the ball, especially with his elegant, yet ferocious one-handed backhand.
Wawrinka came out on top in their only previous encounter, which came just more than three months ago in St. Petersburg. But that was a tightly contested affair with both sets going to tie-breaks, and the duo should put on another thrilling show in Doha. Khachanov or Wawrinka could eventually play seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the last eight, with Djokovic lurking in the semi-finals.
Dominic Thiem is the second seed in Doha, and the Austrian will try to add a third hard-court title to his resumé. Thiem opens against Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who beat him in their only clash two years ago. That match was also on a hard court, albeit indoors, in Rotterdam.
Tomas Berdych, who has not competed since the Fever-Tree Championships in June, makes his return as a wild card against a player whom he has beaten on eight of 10 attempts: Philipp Kohlschreiber. Former World No. 4 Berdych seeks his first title since 2016 Shenzhen. The winner of that match could face No. 8 seed Fernando Verdasco in the second round.
Also on the bottom half of the draw are fourth seed Marco Cecchinato and sixth seed David Goffin, who could meet in the quarter-finals.
Did You Know?
Djokovic is also competing in doubles in Doha, alongside his brother, Marko Djokovic. They have played together five times previously, with the last time coming in Dubai in 2013.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2EWkoiz
Former World No1 makes INCREDIBLE Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic claim
MARCELO RIOS has made a sensational claim about Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2Q6a20F
Federer Pursues 100th Title, Bryan Chases 500th Week At No. 1 In 2019
In 2018, Novak Djokovic completed his Career Golden Masters, John Isner struck his 10,000th ace, Roger Federer became the oldest No. 1 in ATP Rankings history (since 1973) at 36 and much more. Here are some of the milestones out there for ATP Tour stars to reach in 2019:
Titles
- Federer continues his pursuit of title No. 100, after earning his 99th in Basel. The Swiss fell just short of the century mark when he reached the semi-finals in both Paris and London.
- Federer can also capture his 10th trophy in Halle and Basel. He’d become just the second player to win 10 titles at a single event, joining Rafael Nadal, who has done so at three tournaments.
- Nadal, who owns 11 victories at Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros, can become the first player to lift a trophy 12 times at a single event.
- Djokovic, who was victorious four times in 2018, is just three titles from becoming the sixth player to win 75 titles. The Serbian has earned three championships or more in 10 of the past 12 years.
- Mike Bryan, who finished at the top of the ATP Doubles Rankings for the 10th time in 2018, currently owns 121 tour-level doubles titles, 116 of which have come with brother Bob Bryan. While the twin brothers are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in that category, Mike Bryan can become the first player to win 125 titles in the discipline. He has captured at least four championships in a season 16 times.
- Andy Murray is looking to make a strong comeback in 2019, and what better way to do it than winning his 50th title? He currently sits with 45, but he has claimed five titles or more in a year four times previously.
- Juan Martin del Potro can become just the third Argentine to capture 25 titles. He needs to lift three trophies in 2019, a feat he has accomplished four times (2008-09, 2012-13).
- Marin Cilic (18 titles) has only captured four crowns in a season once before (2014). But if he manages to do so again, he will tie Goran Ivanisevic (22) for the most titles won by a Croatian.
Match Wins
- Nadal (918-189) can move past Guillermo Vilas (948-290) and become just the fourth player to crack the 950-wins mark. Ivan Lendl sits in third place with 1,068 victories (1,068-242).
- Djokovic (836-175) needs just 14 victories to become the seventh player to earn 850 wins. If the World No. 1 triumphs 46 times in 2019, he will pass Ilie Nastase (837-312), Andre Agassi (870-274) and John McEnroe (881-198) to move to the No. 6 spot.
- Murray (662-189) won seven matches in 2018, missing much of the year due to injury. But if the former World No. 1 bounces back, he can become the fifth active player (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Ferrer) to claim 700 wins.
- Tomas Berdych needs 12 wins to tie and 13 victories to pass Bjorn Borg for 20th place.
- Three players can reach the 500-wins mark in 2019: Stan Wawrinka (482-279), Cilic (479-252) and Feliciano Lopez (473-430). In 2018, Fernando Verdasco and Richard Gasquet hit the milestone, while recently retired Mikhail Youzhny fell just short at 499.
- Nicolas Almagro (397-278), John Isner (393-242) and Kei Nishikori (374-242) can all earn their 400th tour-level victories. Almagro would become the 14th Spaniard, Isner the 19th American and Nishikori would be the first Japanese.
- Jeremy Chardy (248-253), Roberto Bautista Agut (245-150), Ernests Gulbis (235-217), David Goffin (229-144) and Dominic Thiem (225-129) could all reach 250 wins.
Rankings Milestones
- Mike Bryan, who sits atop the ATP Doubles Rankings (479 weeks as of the week of 31 December), can become the first player to reach 500 weeks as World No. 1. If the American remains at No. 1, he can accomplish the feat as soon as 27 May.
- Djokovic can reach 250 weeks atop the ATP Rankings the week of 6 May. If the Serbian maintains top spot, he can pass Jimmy Connors (268 weeks) and Ivan Lendl (270) in 2019 to reach third place in weeks atop the ATP Rankings. He would trail just Federer (310) and Pete Sampras (286).
- If Nadal wrestles No. 1 back from Djokovic, he can reach 200 weeks on top of tennis’ mountain. The Spaniard has spent 196 weeks as World No. 1.
- Federer can finish inside the year-end Top 50 for the 20th consecutive year. The 37-year-old has finished 18 straight seasons inside the Top 20.
- Nadal can finish inside the year-end Top 10 for the 15th consecutive year (Federer had 14 straight from 2002-15).
- Murray, who currently sits at No. 257 in the ATP Rankings, can finish in the year-end Top 10 for the 10th time.
Did You Know?
Ivo Karlovic turns 40 on 28 February, and he will try to become the first 40-year-old to finish inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings since Jimmy Connors in 1992. Karlovic just missed out as a 39-year-old, finishing 2018 at No. 101. The Croatian became the oldest tour-level semi-finalist since a 40-year-old Connors at 1992 San Francisco in Houston this year.from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2Ak7U0g
19 #NextGenATP To Watch In 2019
The top of the list will sound familiar. The #NextGenATP players who made headlines in 2018 – Rogers Cup finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas; Denis Shapovalov, the youngest Mutua Madrid Open semi-finalist; Alex de Minaur, Newcomer of the Year in the 2018 ATP World Tour Awards Presented By Moët & Chandon; and Delray Beach Open titlist Frances Tiafoe – will again be contenders for the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals as all four were born in 1998 or later.
Read Flashback: 18 #NextGenATP To Watch In 2018
But the remainder of the names on the 2019 #NextGenATP to watch list might be first-time reads for some fans. Players such as Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia or Aussie Alexei Popyrin have climbed the ATP Rankings behind ATP Challenger Tour runs. But they combine for only one tour-level win.
Will that change in 2019, and which other #NextGenATP players could pull a “De Minaur” and raise their ATP Ranking 177 spots in 12 months? ATPTour.com previews the 2019 #NextGenATP class.
Potential Returnees
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Rank: 15; Age: 20): The Greek was the #NextGenATP standout in 2018. In Milan in 2017, he was an alternate, unable to qualify for the 21-and-under championships. But in 2018, he sprinted through the tournament unbeaten, beating Aussie Alex de Minaur in the final to finish 5-0.
Tsitsipas will be eager to make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in London, but he'll have to avoid the dreaded second-year slump to remain in the Top 15 in 2019, as more coaches and players will have more match film to analyse and study.
Denis Shapovalov (Rank: 27, Age: 19): Shapovalov nearly halved his ATP Ranking from 2017 (51) to 2018 (27). If he can do that again in 2019, he'll be inside the Top 15. The left-hander has made a coaching change heading into his third year on tour. After working with Martin Laurendeau for years, in 2019, Shapovalov will work with Canadian Rob Steckley, who used to coach WTA player Lucie Safarova, and continue to work with his mother, Tessa Shapovalova, who has coached him all his life.
Alex de Minaur (Rank: 31, Age: 19): No other player should inspire #NextGenATP players more than De Minaur, who was No. 208 in January but finished the season No. 31. De Minaur reached the Sydney International final (l. to Medvedev), the Citi Open final (l. to Zverev) and the Next Gen ATP Finals title match (l. to Tsitsipas). His peers voted him the Newcomer of the Year.
How will De Minaur fare in 2019? He'll start the year in friendly territory, in his native Australia, where he celebrated his first tour-level wins in 2017 and made his first tour-level final in 2018.
Frances Tiafoe (Rank: 39, Age: 20): Tiafoe had only nine tour-level wins before this season (9-29). But he went 28-26 in his breakthrough 2018, which included his maiden ATP Tour title in Delray Beach (d. Gojowczyk) and his first clay-court ATP Tour final, at the Millennium Estoril Open (l. to Sousa). Tiafoe also made his first third round at a Grand Slam at Wimbledon (l. to Khachanov) before making his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
Ugo Humbert (Rank: 84, Age: 20): Few players at any level finished the year better than Humbert. The Frenchman was ranked No. 257 on 16 July but, behind reaching the second round at the US Open, an opening-round win at the Moselle Open and three ATP Challenger Tour titles from six finals, Humbert landed at No. 84 in the year-end ATP Rankings.
Michael Mmoh (Rank: 103, Age: 20): Mmoh just missed out on qualifying for the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals, finishing 88 points behind the final qualifier, Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, who will have aged out of the competition in 2019. But Mmoh still reached one of his other main goals for 2018: reaching the Top 100. The American cracked the century line in October after winning back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour titles (Columbus, Tiburon).
Read More: From Riyadh to Milan? Mmoh's Journey Speeds Up
Felix Auger-Aliassime (Rank: 109, Age: 18): Auger-Aliassime might be the most intriguing name on this list. One day before his 18th birthday, at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, he knocked out No. 18 Lucas Pouille in straight sets to earn his second ATP Masters 1000 victory (2018 Indian Wells, d. Pospisil).
He ended the year 6-10 at tour-level, which included qualifying but losing in the first round to Shapovalov at the US Open. Auger-Aliassime also won his third and fourth ATP Challenger Tour titles. Only Richard Gasquet (7) and Tomas Berdych (5) won more Challenger titles before their 19th birthday.
Read More: Felix Flies To Tashkent Challenger Title
Casper Ruud (Rank: 113, Age: 19): In February 2017, Ruud made the semi-finals of the Rio Open presented by Claro, an ATP Tour 500-level event. But after the run, he admitted to relaxing.
“I was really proud of myself, which you should be, but I was maybe a bit too happy with playing good that week... I wasn't maybe greedy enough to go for many good weeks in a row,” Ruud told ATPTour.com.
He learned from that mistake, and in 2018, Ruud, whose father, Christian, reached No. 39 in the ATP Rankings, beat David Ferrer to make the quarter-finals of the SkiStar Swedish Open en route to climbing 26 spots in the ATP Rankings.
Other #NextGenATP To Watch In 2019
|
Player |
Country |
Rank |
Age |
Notes |
|
Miomir Kecmanovic |
Serbia |
132 |
19 |
Made back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour finals to finish 2018 |
|
Corentin Moutet |
France |
149 |
19 |
Reached career-high No. 105 in September after winning ATP Challenger Tour title in Istanbul (d. Halys) |
|
Alexei Popyrin |
Australia |
153 |
19 |
Qualified and won opener at Swiss Indoors Basel for maiden tour-level win |
|
Yosuke Watanuki |
Japan |
188 |
20 |
Pushed Milos Raonic after winning his opener at home Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018 in October |
|
Rudolf Molleker |
Germany |
194 |
18 |
Ousted countryman Jan-Lennard Struff at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart for first tour-level win; then dismissed Spain's David Ferrer in Hamburg |
|
Duckhee Lee |
South Korea |
209 |
20 |
Picked up first two tour-level wins in Davis Cup action against New Zealand |
|
Gian Marco Moroni |
Italy |
218 |
20 |
Roman, who climbed 490 spots in the ATP Rankings in 2018, would be a fan favourite in Milan |
|
Jay Clarke |
Great Britain |
221 |
20 |
Beat ATP Tour titlist Ryan Harrison of the U.S. to celebrate first tour-level win at the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne |
|
Jurij Rodionov |
Austria |
236 |
19 |
Won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Almaty in June |
|
Mate Valkusz |
Hungary |
246 |
20 |
Climbed 603 spots in the ATP Rankings in 2018 |
|
Yunseong Chung |
South Korea |
266 |
20 |
Rose 322 spots in the ATP Rankings in 2018 |
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2CDvpTA
Kei Nishikori: Road To The 2019 Season
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2TeO79q
Rafael Nadal delivers surprise verdict after playing his last match of 2018
RAFAEL NADAL has provided a brutally honest verdict on how he has rated 2018.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2An00TU
Rafa Faces Tough Start In Brisbane
With two days to go ahead of the start of the 2019 ATP Tour season, top seed Rafael Nadal was handed a tough draw at the Brisbane International.
The 32-year-old, competing at the Queensland event for the second time, will make his return to action against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or a qualifier after a first-round bye. In his first tour-level event since retiring from his US Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro in September, Nadal will be aiming to reach his second quarter-final in Brisbane.
On his debut in 2017, Nadal did not drop a set en route to the last eight before falling to defending champion Milos Raonic in three sets. The 80-time tour-level titlist's appearance in Brisbane proved to be the perfect start to the season, with Nadal reaching his first Grand Slam final in almost three years at the Australian Open three weeks later.
If Nadal reaches the quarter-finals in Brisbane, he may need to overcome 2018 semi-finalist Alex de Minaur for a place in the last four. In 2018, De Minaur announced himself to the tennis world in front of home fans, reaching the semi-finals in Brisbane (l. to Harrison) before advancing to his maiden ATP Tour final at the Sydney International (l. to Medvedev). The 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up is joined in the top quarter by countrymen Alex Bolt, Jordan Thompson and Alexei Popyrin.
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Also featuring in the top half of the draw is fourth seed Daniil Medvedev and former champions Andy Murray and Milos Raonic. After a stunning breakthrough season in 2018, Medvedev will be eager to get off to a quick start in Australia. The 22-year-old Russian, who could meet Murray in the second round, lifted three tour-level titles in 2018.
Two-time champion Murray (2012-'13), who owns an unbeaten 9-0 record at the event, will open his 2019 campaign against Australian wild card James Duckworth. Canadian No. 1 Raonic will begin his bid for a second Brisbane title against Aljaz Bedene. Raonic reached back-to-back finals at the tournament in 2015 (l. to Federer) and 2016 (d. Federer).
In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Kei Nishikori could meet Grigor Dimitrov in a repeat of the 2017 championship match. Nishikori will face Taylor Fritz or Denis Kudla for a place in the quarter-finals, with 2017 winner Dimitrov opening his season against Yoshihito Nishioka.
Third seed Kyle Edmund and defending champion Nick Kyrgios headline the third quarter of the draw. Edmund, who captured his first tour-level trophy at the European Open in October, will meet the winner of an all-qualifier first-round match, while Kyrgios will meet Ryan Harrison in a repeat of the 2018 final. Kyrgios overcame the American in straight sets to become the first home champion at the event since Lleyton Hewitt in 2014.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2GMs88n
Rafael Nadal coach reveals one thing he HATES about Spaniard - it makes me uneasy
RAFAEL NADAL may have been involved some of the most epic matches of 2018, but his coach Carlos Moya doesn’t want to see many more of them.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2LH2yjS
Spider Bite Tests Kyrgios Ahead Of Brisbane Title Defense
Nick Kyrgios will be hoping for a Peter Parker effect.
But in reality, a spider bite just before Christmas has hampered the Australian's preparation to defend the Brisbane International title he won for the first time last season. The four-time ATP Tour title winner had not practised in recent days before stepping on court for a very light 15-minute hit Saturday.
"I didn't take [the bite] seriously enough," Kyrgios said at his pre-tournament press conference. "I felt some irritation on my foot a day before Christmas and then I woke up on Christmas Day and my foot was really swollen.
"I've been in the hospital the past couple of days on a drip, getting antibiotics. I think I'll be okay but it’s definitely impacted my preparation and it’s still pretty irritated. I haven't been able to step on court or do anything really the last couple of days. But it's getting better, definitely progressing."
Kyrgios, No. 35 in the ATP Rankings, grabbed the eighth and final seed and was drawn to meet Ryan Harrison, the American he beat in last year's final. Kyrgios had already treated himself to a light pre-season before missing recent days due to the bite and admits that he may take time to find top gear in his season opener.
"I spent a lot of time in the gym and played a lot of basketball. The off-season for me is not about getting on court and trying to improve. I want to completely step away from the game and enjoy my time at home. I play enough tennis during the year. The last thing I want to do is go out and hit more balls. I'll probably be rusty, to be honest.
“[But] I'm really looking forward to being in Australia the next month. I have very good memories in Brisbane. I feel comfortable here."
Kyrgios is now the No. 2-ranked Australian behind 19-year-old Alex de Minaur and one of six Australians in the Top 100. The 23-year-old said that he is pleased with the collective success of his countrymen.
"It's always great to see the other Aussies do well. I'm not the jealous or envious type. I'm happy they are having success. I look at Alex, who was orange boy for us at Davis Cup and to see him play so well on the big stage is great. I know he's very excited for the Aussie summer and I'm sure he'll do very, very well. It's also good to see a guy like John Millman finally break through. His win over Federer at the US Open was a special moment for all of us.”
Did You Know?
Kyrgios reached a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 13 in Otcober 2016.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2GHZPYM
Friday 28 December 2018
Rafael Nadal copying Roger Federer tactic in 2019 - Carlos Moya
CARLOS MOYA wants Rafael Nadal to copy a key trait of Roger Federer’s and they have been working on it all offseason.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2AuMBt5
Video : Road to the 2019 Season: EP4 Denis Shapovalov
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Roger Federer: Serena Williams makes Hopman Cup admission about Swiss star
SERENA WILLIAMS says she is looking forward to facing Roger Federer next week for the first, and probably last, time in her career.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2RlARCC
Rafael Nadal casts doubt over Australian Open participation after revealing injury pain
RAFAEL NADAL revealed he is still feeling pain in his ankle following successful surgery, casting doubt upon his Australian Open participation.
from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed http://bit.ly/2QSZaIF
Video : Top 10 Hilarious Robbie Koenig Reactions on Federer Shots
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Nadal Leads Top 10 In Surprising Serving Statistic
You are a righty about to hit a first serve against a lefty in the Deuce court. The serve should go out wide, right? Surely sliding the first serve out to the left-hander’s backhand return will deliver the highest win percentage…
No. It. Doesn’t.
An Infosys ATP Insights deep dive into the current serving patterns of the Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings against left-handed opponents in the Deuce court from 2011-2018 at ATP Tour Masters 1000 events and the Nitto ATP Finals identifies more first serves do go wide to the lefty’s backhand return, but a higher percentage are won serving right down the middle to the forehand.
Current Top 10: Location Of First Serves To The Deuce Court
• Wide to left-hander’s backhand = 74.2% won
• T to the left-hander’s forehand = 75.6% won
• Advantage = 1.4 percentage points.
What’s fascinating is that eight of the world’s Top 10 serve wide to the backhand more often with their first serve in the Deuce court, but six of those 10 players win more with their first down the T to the forehand.
2018 Top 10: Serve Direction In Deuce Ct vs. Lefties (2011-2018 Masters 1000s & Nitto ATP Finals)
|
ATP Ranking |
Player |
T (to the forehand) |
Body |
Wide (to the backhand) |
Serve Down T vs. Out Wide |
|
2 |
Rafael Nadal |
161 |
64 |
124 |
+37 |
|
6 |
Kevin Anderson |
63 |
3 |
60 |
+3 |
|
10 |
John Isner |
145 |
22 |
147 |
-2 |
|
1 |
Novak Djokovic |
312 |
38 |
324 |
-12 |
|
4 |
Alexander Zverev |
67 |
19 |
89 |
-22 |
|
5 |
100 |
15 |
123 |
-23 |
|
|
7 |
Dominic Thiem |
132 |
6 |
175 |
-43 |
|
9 |
Kei Nishikori |
120 |
49 |
165 |
-45 |
|
8 |
Marin Cilic |
101 |
3 |
166 |
-65 |
|
3 |
Roger Federer |
154 |
15 |
233 |
-79 |
|
|
TOTAL |
1355 |
234 |
1606 |
-251 |
|
|
PERCENTAGE |
42.4% |
7.3% |
50.3% |
- |
Rafael Nadal, the only left-hander in the Top 10, directed by far the most serves down the T in the Deuce court to his left-handed opponents’ forehand than out wide to the backhand. Does the 17-time Grand Slam champion know something about playing lefties that the rest of the Top 10 do not, or is it simply a result of his natural lefty slice serve motion across his body which ends up down the T? Nadal hit 37 more first serves down the T than out wide, with Kevin Anderson the only other Top 10 player registering more first serves down the T - hitting 63 down the T and 60 out wide.
Roger Federer went with the traditional pattern of a wide slider to the backhand return the most, hitting 79 more first serves out wide than down the T (233 wide/154 T).
Win Percentage: T vs. Wide (2011-2018 Masters 1000s & Nitto ATP Finals)
|
ATP Ranking |
Player |
T (to the forehand) |
Body |
Wide (to the backhand) |
% Point Difference T vs Wide |
|
5 |
83.0% |
60.0% |
65.0% |
18.0 |
|
|
8 |
Marin Cilic |
77.2% |
100.0% |
68.1% |
9.2 |
|
7 |
Dominic Thiem |
81.8% |
66.7% |
78.9% |
2.9 |
|
6 |
Kevin Anderson |
85.7% |
66.7% |
83.3% |
2.4 |
|
3 |
Roger Federer |
76.6% |
73.3% |
75.1% |
1.5 |
|
2 |
Rafael Nadal |
71.4% |
67.2% |
70.2% |
1.2 |
|
9 |
Kei Nishikori |
70.0% |
75.5% |
70.9% |
-0.9 |
|
4 |
Alexander Zverev |
71.6% |
78.9% |
73.0% |
-1.4 |
|
10 |
John Isner |
80.0% |
72.7% |
83.0% |
-3.0 |
|
1 |
Novak Djokovic |
70.8% |
60.5% |
75.3% |
-4.5 |
|
|
AVERAGE WIN % |
75.6% |
69.7% |
74.2% |
-1.4 |
The table above identifies that six of the top 10 had a higher win percentage serving to the left-hander’s forehand down the T than out wide to the backhand. Juan Martin del Potro led the Top 10 in a T versus wide comparison, winning 18 percentage points more (83.0% to 65.0%) down the T than out wide. The other players that won more down the T than out wide were Marin Cilic (+9.2), Dominic Thiem (+2.9), Anderson (+2.4), Federer (+1.5) and Nadal (+1.2).
There are two key factors that are driving these metrics:
• Serving down the T consistently elicits faster serves, delivering a higher likelihood of an ace or an unreturned serve.
• The element of surprise. Lefties will typically be sitting on a wide first serve.
The analysis certainly suggests that first serves can more than hold their own against a comparatively stronger forehand return. The secret sauce is undoubtedly in the mix.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2Spo2oh