2013/05/24

Djokovic to Meet Nadal in Monte-Carlo Final

 

Djokovic 6 228

(April 20, 2013) Novak Djokovic will meet Rafael Nadal for the first time since last year’s French Open final when they play for the Monte-Carlo Masters title on Sunday. Both men advanced to the final in straight sets.

Nadal ousted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the semifinals on Saturday to earn a spot in the final and extend his win streak there to 46, while Djokovic ran through Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-1. This will; be the 16th time they’ll face each other with a title on the line. Nadal leads Djokovic 8-7 head-to-head in finals, 19-14 overall.

Nadal is looking for his ninth straight Monte-Carlo title.

“At the start of the week, the way I felt in the first match, if somebody told me I’d be playing finals, I’d be very happy to hear that,”  said Djokovic  who has been dealing with an ankle injury this week. “I’m handling it much better than I was at the start of the week. It has been improving and the pain has been decreasing. It’s much, much less than before.”

“I know what I need to do,” Djokovic said of trying to beat Nadal. “Of course, it’s easier said than done.”

RESULTS – SATURDAY, 20 APRIL, 2013

Singles – Semi-finals
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d F Fognini (ITA) 62 61
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d [6] J Tsonga (FRA) 63 76(3)

Doubles – Semi-finals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d M Raonic (CAN) / B Tomic (AUS) 63 63
J Benneteau (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d D Marrero (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP) 64 63
SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, 21 APRIL, 2013

COURT CENTRAL start 2:00 pm
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [3] R Nadal (ESP)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs J Benneteau (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB)

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Djokovic Advances, Nadal Cruises, Murray, Berdych and Del Potro Upset in Monte-Carlo

 

Rafael Nadal photo by William Lucas/Inovafoto

Rafael Nadal photo by William Lucas/Inovafoto

(April 18, 2013) Eight-time defending  Monte-Carlo Masters champion Rafael Nadal extended his winning streak at the tournament to 44 matches, while No. 1 Novak Djoovic had to rally from a set down for a second straight day to move into the quarterfinals. No. 2 seed Andy Murray was not so fortunate falling to No. 13  Stanislas Wawrinka 6-1, 6-2.

Novak Djokovic still nursing a twisted right ankle rallied past Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday.

“It was very difficult for me today,” Djokovic said to media. “Another tough match. I am trying to take things day by day. I didn’t know what to expect today and I’m really glad that I won.”

“It’s another big test obviously, again a two-hour match,” the No. 1 continued. “Obviously I’m not physically out there feeling my best. Somehow feels that I always miss that half a step. But I’m trying. I’m fighting. After I lost the first set today, I tried to find that inner strength. I found it again. So that’s a positive thing. Every day brings a new challenge and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Djokovic will face Jarkko Nieminen in the quarterfinals. Nieminen stunned No. 5 seed Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4).

The left-hander Finn is into his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarterfinal since 2006 Paris.

It was another easy win For Nadal on Thursday as the 8-time Monte-Carlo champion stopped Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-4. Nadal will take on Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.

“He’s playing well,” Nadal said of Bulgaria’s Dimitrov. “He’s able to play very well, very aggressive, very good technique. He’s (a) complete player.”

For No. 2 seed Andy Murray, it’s a match he’ll want to forget. In less than an hour the Brit fell to Stanislas Warwinka 6-1, 6-2.

“Just looked at the stats … 24 unforced errors is far too many,“ said a disappointed Murray. “That’s a set’s worth. That’s where half the points went. “I hope that’s not going to be the case over the next five, six weeks. I’ve had tough losses on the clay before and I’ve come back well from them. Hopefully today will be the same.”

“He’s an amazing player. He’s always tough to beat,” said Wawrinka to media. “Therefore, to beat Andy that easy was a big surprise, for sure. I’m playing really good, really strong, really confident with my game. I know what he’s looking for in his game. He’s playing slow, he’s playing from the baseline, he’s not putting so much pressure. For me on clay, it’s perfect.”

The loss means that Murray will fall to No. 3 in the rankings next week, surpassed by Roger Federer.

Italy’s Fabio Fognini recorded the biggest upset of his career as he knocked out fourth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-2. It’s his second career win over a top ten player.

RESULTS – THURSDAY, 18 APRIL, 2013

Singles – Third Round
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d [14] J Monaco (ARG) 46 62 62
[13] S Wawrinka (SUI) d [2] A Murray (GBR) 61 62
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d [16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) 62 64
F Fognini (ITA) d [4] T Berdych (CZE) 64 62
J Nieminen (FIN) d [5] [WC] J del Potro (ARG) 64 46 76(4)
[6] J Tsonga (FRA) d J Melzer (AUT) 63 60
[7] R Gasquet (FRA) d [9] M Cilic (CRO) 75 64
G Dimitrov (BUL) d F Mayer (GER) 62 64

Doubles – Quarter-finals
M Raonic (CAN) / B Tomic (AUS) d [3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / D Nestor (CAN) 76(7) 63

Doubles – Second Round
[4] A Qureshi (PAK) / J Rojer (NED) d C Fleming (GBR) / J Marray (GBR) 64 61
[5] M Mirnyi (BLR) / H Tecau (ROU) d I Dodig (CRO) / R Stepanek (CZE) 62 62
J Melzer (AUT) / L Paes (IND) d [6] M Bhupathi (IND) / R Bopanna (IND) 62 63
J Benneteau (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [7] A Peya (AUT) / B Soares (BRA) 76(7) 64

SCHEDULE – FRIDAY, 19 APRIL, 2013

COURT CENTRAL start 10:30 am
[6] J Tsonga (FRA) vs [13] S Wawrinka (SUI)
G Dimitrov (BUL) vs [3] R Nadal (ESP)
F Fognini (ITA) vs [7] R Gasquet (FRA)
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs J Nieminen (FIN)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:30 am
[5] M Mirnyi (BLR) / H Tecau (ROU) vs D Marrero (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP)
J Benneteau (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs [4] A Qureshi (PAK) / J Rojer (NED)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs J Melzer (AUT) / L Paes (IND)

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Former Top 50 Ricardo Mello Retires at 32

Ricardo Mello photo by Lucas William/Inovafoto

By Barbara Galiza

(February 11, 2013) São Paulo – Brazilian Ricardo Mello played his last professional tennis match Monday afternoon at 32. The former No. 50 in the world had received a wildcard into ATP 250 São Paulo, but didn’t get through the first round. He fell in two sets, 6-4, 6-4  to lucky loser Martin Alund, from Argentina.

 

“Before the match, lots of moments from my career went through my head like a movie”, said Mello after the loss. “I always wanted to retire at this tournament, where I played practically every year. It’s great being at home because it means playing in front of your family and friends, people that didn’t get to follow your whole career because of the constant traveling.”

 

In his news conference, Mello also talked about the pressure of being part of the Brazilian generation that came up right after the Gustavo Kuerten era. Mello won only one ATP singles title versus Guga’s three Roland Garros crowns. His conquest came in 2004, when he beat the top three seeds (Mario Ancic, Mardy Fish and Vince Spadea) to win the Delray Beach trophy.

 

“It very hard dealing with the pressure. People expected, friends and family, for you to play in a level you can’t always reach.”

 

Mello also shared what he considered his toughest loss: a quarterfinal against the Slovakian Domink Hrabty in Los Angeles. He was up a set and 6/1 in the second set tiebreak, but couldn’t close out the match even with the five match points. Hrbaty went on to play Andre Agassi in the semis.

 

Barbara Galiza is a journalist from Rio de Janeiro covering the Brasil Open  as media in São Paulo for Tennis Panorama. She likes tennis and writing. Sometimes she blogs, most of the time she tweets. – @fiercetennis. Follow her São Paulo updates on @TennisNewsTPN.

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Alves Fails to Qualify, Questions About Court Conditions at Brasil Open

Brazil Open

By Barbara Galiza

 

(February 10, 2013) Even with an impressionable run in the Davis Cup play-off against America last week, Brazilian Thiago Alves still failed to quality for his home tournament. The 135th player in the world fell in the second round of qualifying and his reaction hinted the indoor clay at São Paulo was to blame. After his loss, the Brazilian smacked his racket and kicked the surface so hard, some areas had to be refilled.

 

Fabio Fognini‘s coach, José Perla, also complained about the surface, but on Twitter: “The only problem with São Paulo are the courts. They are in terrible conditions and the balls are from the supermarket. (…) We hope no one gets hurt.”

 

The ATP 250 São Paulo has the presence of Rafael Nadal confirmed, after just returning to tour last week from a seven-month injury lay-off. The Spaniard will make his debut on Tuesday, but the organizers insist the courts will be in perfect condition for the start of the tournament tomorrow.

 

“The courts are still being adjusted. The clay hasn’t even had a month to settle down (since the Federer Tour exhibitions, held on the same site, but on hardcourts). The people from the ATP will still arrive and make the conditions 100% for the start of the tournament,” says Brasil Open’s press agent.

 

Barbara Galiza is a journalist from Rio de Janeiro covering the Brasil Open in São Paulo for Tennis Panorama. She likes tennis and writing. Sometimes she blogs, most of the time she tweets. – @fiercetennis. Follow her São Paulo updates on @TennisNewsTPN.

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Notes From Behind the Wall at the China Open

Notes From Behind the Wall:

Count on the Chinese to ask the blunt questions, no sugar-coating. Exhibit A:

Q. You are used to being good friends with Azarenka but actually have some unpleasant experience this year. Will you bother to make a further explanation to that unpleasant experience this year?

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Well, actually, we’re still okay, we are still friends, so I don’t know really what is the question about.

 

What the transcript does not show was Radwanska saying she does not understand the question before having it repeated and giving the answer above. The question was definitely a surprise since the two haven’t met since Madrid after facing off one tournament after another since the start of the year. By Indian Wells, already their fourth encounter, the friendship seems to have soured after Radwanska called out Azarenka for exaggerating an injury sustained during their match in Doha. In the tennis calendar, Doha in February seems like a lifetime ago. But don’t blame the Chinese media for bringing that up now, after all, they’ve been waiting the whole year for the tour to finally make its way here.

 

The drawing power of the Armada?

 

The practice courts on Monday morning were a relatively calm place for a scattered group of spectators to check out the players as they do their thing. On court 1 was Christina Mchale still here and practicing hard, on court 5 there was Laura Robson against Virginie Razzano. Then you see several security people lined up behind the fence that straddles practice courts 1 and 2.

It turns out that scheduled for noon at court 1 were Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero and on court 2 were Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar. In the end, there weren’t many people around the practice courts anyway for security to control.

 

The legend of the Fabio

 

Having heard so much about the on court antics of one Fabio Fognini, I had to go check it out for myself. I left the media room when Fognini was down a break at 1-3 and I get to the court and he had just lost the first set 1-6. Then it was all Fabio talking to the umpire complaining about the line calls. Fognini to Steve Ulrich “You make me crazy. I’m not joking, you make me crazy.” I feel for his coach who was very enthusiastic, yelling encouragement even in French and Spanish “Tres bien” Vamos!” This was all to no avail as the complaining Fognini loses to Florian Mayer 1-6 2-6.

 

Abigail Hinto is in Beijing this week covering the China Open for Tennis Panorama News. Follow her updates on twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

 

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , ,

Klizan Wins First ATP Tournament Title

 

Seven months ago, Martin Klizan was ranked at No. 121 in the world, today he’s is No. 45 and climbing. The Slovak captured his first ATP World Tour on Sunday defeating Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-3 for the St. Petersburg Open.

The 23-year-old’s breath through win came at the recent US Open when the southpaw upset 6th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Klizan made his way to the finals by stunning top seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in an almost four-hour match.

“It’s always very difficult to play a tournament after Davis Cup. I’ve played many matches and it was a tough Davis Cup for us, so it was a very, very tough week this one, “Klizan said. “I was really ‘dead’ yesterday after the match, but I’ve played really solid this week and I’m very happy to win my first title. I hope I can get more points at the end of this season.

“I said last year that I would like to be Top 100 by the end of this year and I’ve already done it. Now I’ve been Top 50, Top 40, maybe I can be Top 30 at the end of the year. I hope I can be healthy and still with enough power to play until the end of the season. I’ve played many, many great weeks.”

 

RESULTS – SUNDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER, 2012

Singles – Final
[3] M Klizan (SVK) d [4] F Fognini (ITA) 62 63

Doubles – Final
[1] R Ram (USA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d L Lacko (SVK) / I Zelenay (SVK) 62 46 10-6

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Not Done Yet – Roddick Beats Fognini, will play Del Potro next at US Open

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – The 20th seed  Andy Roddick postponed his retirement by advancing to the fourth round of the US Open with a 7-5, 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4 win over Italy’s Fabio Fognini on Sunday.

“I am trying to keep all of my emotions together. All the support I have received over the past few days has been truly humbling,” said Roddick.

“It was a pretty physical match. You know, we had some ‑‑ we were moving it around a little bit. But, no, I mean, I don’t go in expecting anything. You go in, you just try to play your game, and sometimes it goes like the other night and sometimes, you know, you kind of ‑‑ got away from me a little bit and I had to get it back in the fourth set. That’s just the way it goes sometimes. It was pretty physical out there. I have the rest of tonight, all day tomorrow, and I have a feeling they might give me some time on Tuesday, as well.”

2003 US Open winner Roddick, who announced his retirement once the tournament is over, will play for a spot in the quarterfinals against 2009 winner Juan Martin Del Potro, the seventh seed from Argentina.

Roddick spoke about his match-up with Del Potro: “We’ve had really close matches. I was 0‑3 against him. I beat him the last time we played. I think of the 0‑3, two of them I had match points in. We played a bunch in 2009, in that summer. I think we played back‑to‑back weeks. You know, he’s a tough matchup for anybody because he hits such a big ball. I’m going to have to serve well, kind of try to rush him a little bit. When he gets into a groove and has time, he’ll put a hurt on the ball.”

 

Del Potro defeated 63rd ranked countryman Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(9) in a three-hour 20-minute marathon.

“I play good match. Is not easy when you play with friends or players from Argentina, but the match was okay. I have many match points, but he made big serves and he play really, really well until the last point,” said Del Potro.

“This is my best tournament. All of my biggest memories are here.”

As for the match with Roddick: ”I will prepare like always. I know this is special, this day, for him, but I’m doing my job. I will trying to be focused on my match and doing my things, my shots. The match is going to be very tough. But, anyway, if I play in high level, will be tough for both players.

“Big atmosphere. The crowd loves Andy here and they have respect to me, so will be a fantastic show to the players and to the fans also.

“I don’t know if all crowd will be with him. But, anyway, I like to play in these kind of matches. Is nice for me. But I will like to win and I will try to do my best tennis.”

http://youtu.be/s45g-MjlIWA

 

http://youtu.be/gZYbdEVG8mo

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,

Federer Breezes Past Former Practice Partner Fognini

WIMBLEDON – Roger Federer mentioned that he had practiced with Fabio Fognini, when the Italian was a junior. Federer said that it’s pretty common to hit with juniors during the second week of the grand slams. He thought Fognini was a good player and he was happy to see he him on the tour.

On Wednesday, they met on the second round at Wimbledon, and Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. Fognini didn’t seem comfortable serving at 0-1 in the first set, where he lost the game, hitting a forehand long, thus, getting himself in a place where no one wants to be against a top player. Down a break right in the beginning of the set. This means more pressure to catch up, consequently more errors will follow. Serving at. 2-0 Federer started varying his game, coming to the net, stretching out for balls in all directions, right, left, up for lobs, down for very low slice shots. Federer continued to show his magic on Centre Court for the rest of the match.

Fognini didn’t play Wimbledon 2011 because of a left thigh injury that he sustained at 2011 Roland Garros. His best results were reaching the third round in 2010, losing to Julien Benneteau. He defeated Michael Llodra in the first round at Wimbledon on Monday. It was good win for Fognini, considering Llodra is a dangerous player in grass due to his serve and volley game style.

Federer spoke about the match: “I thought he tried hard, to be quite honest.  Obviously grass court, it’s hard to get into the match when you’re down.  I was serving well.  You’re not going to get many chances throughout a set maybe against me when I’m serving well like that and able to vary with my serve.

“So obviously it’s frustrating and you’re trying, but even as hard as you try, sometimes you don’t really get into it, right?  That’s grass‑court tennis.

“You have to be extremely patient and really focus on your own service games, focus on what you can control.  I guess maybe this is where maybe a little bit ‑‑ I don’t consider him a clay‑court player, but on clay, if you do play well, you will get your chances; whereas on grass it’s not automatically the case.

 

“He was down in the score quickly.  After that things get a bit complicated.  I didn’t think it was that easy of a match maybe.  Really tried to focus hard and made sure I played sort of a clean match, which I was able to do again today.”
Fognini is ranked No. 68 in the world and is yet to win an ATP singles title.

Lucia Hoffman for Tennis Panorama News at Wimbledon

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,

One Year Trial for Blue Clay says Santana

Manolo Santana photo by Lucia Hoffman

By Lucia Hoffman

Former Spanish tennis player and Director of the Madrid Open, Manolo Santana confirmed to Tennis Panorama News  that the blue clay courts were approved for one year, and it is to be decided after that if it will work for the event and for the players.  Novak Djokovic mentioned this in his news conference on Monday:

Q. If by the end of the week you in the top players decide that you don’t like the blue clay, will you start to push for it to be changed back to red for next year?

A. Well as I understand we have the agreement for one year. We’ll see what is going to happen at the end of the week.

Tuesday morning during practice Italian player Fabio Fognini, who lost in three intense sets against French player, Gilles Simon, also told Tennis Panorama News that “the courts are too slippery they are not the same as red clay.” Fognini also showed his discontent regarding the new blue surface, because it’s in the middle of the clay season that leads to Roland Garros at the end of the month.

Obviously, doing well in Roland Garros is on most players mind once the clay season starts. Madrid and Rome, are considered important events leading to the grand slam event. Victoria Azarenka, Gael Monfils, and others mentioned that they have Roland Garros on their minds and focusing on the preparation for it. French player, Gilles Simon, who just won a red clay title recently in Bucharest, pointed out that winning Roland Garros has been his dream.  For the Madrid event, at the moment, most of those players have already accepted the fact they have to play on the court they are offered, and that the conditions are the same to all players and they will have to adjust to it.

Lucia Hoffman is in Madrid covering the Mutua Madrid Open for Tennis Panorama News.

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, interviews, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Third Bucharest title for Simon

Top seed Frenchmen Gilles Simon captured his third Bucharest title by defeating Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-3 for the Nastase Tiriac Trophy on Sunday.

Simon previously won the tournament in 2007 and 2008. It’s his fifth ATP World Tour title and his fifth on clay.

“I played a great match today,” said Simon. “It was very difficult; Fabio played well and I had to run a lot today. You really have the feeling that you are never in control of the game. I’m always happy when I win a tournament like this because sometimes people think it will be easy when you’re the No. 1 seed, but on the court it’s very close every time. I’m very proud to win this tournament for the third time and to bring the trophy back home.”

Fognini was trying to win his first ATP title.

“I’m upset because I lost the final. I had my chances, but he has played more finals than me and is more experienced. Maybe next time I will have the chance to win the tournament. It’s been a good week. I’m happy that I played great tennis; it was just my third tournament after the injury.”

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,
«Older Posts