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ATP Winners This Week – Kevin Anderson, Roberto Bautista Agut and Kei NIshikori

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Kevin Anderson

ATP Winners This Week – Kevin Anderson, Roberto Bautista Agut and Kei NIshikori

Tata Open Maharashtra

Singles – Final
[1] K. Anderson (RSA) d I. Karlovic (CRO) 76(4) 67(2) 76(5)

Doubles – Final
[1] R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Sharan (IND) d L. Bambridge (GBR) / J. O’Mara (GBR) 63 64

In 2018, Kevin Anderson reached the final of the Tata Open Maharashtra, but the South African fell short of lifting the trophy. On Saturday, the top seed was able to go one step further.

The 32-year-old Anderson clinched his sixth tour-level title after two hours and 44 minutes, recovering from 2/5 down in a final-set tie-break to beat big-serving Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 7-6(5) in the tallest ATP Tour final in the Open Era.

The match broke the record for combined height in a championship match previously set by Anderson and John Isner at the 2013 BB&T Atlanta Open. The 6’8″ Anderson won 88 per cent of his first-serve points (57/65) to overcome 6’11” Karlovic, who at 39 years old was the oldest tour-level finalist since 43-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1977.

“I really wanted to go one step further than last year,” Anderson said. “You don’t get to win tournaments every week. So when you do, it is very special and it is something that definitely means a lot to me.”

  
Kei Nishikori
Brisbane International

Singles – Final
[2] K. Nishikori (JPN) d [4] D. Medvedev (RUS) 64 36 62

Doubles – Final
M. Daniell (NZL) / W. Koolhof (NED) d [4] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR) 64 76(6)
Almost three years after capturing his 11th tour-level title in Memphis, Kei Nishikori added a 12th ATP Tour trophy to his collection at the Brisbane International on Sunday.
The Japanese star ended a streak of nine straight tour-level final losses to beat Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in a repeat of last year’s championship match in Tokyo, won by the Russian.

Nishikori becomes the first Japanese champion in Brisbane, two years after falling to Grigor Dimitrov in the championship match. The World No. 9 defeated Dimitrov en route to the title, beating the Bulgarian in the last eight before earning wins over Jeremy Chardy and Medvedev.

“To win the tournament is very emotional. That’s why I’m playing,” said Nishikori. “I was trying in every final and every tournament… I played a great match against Dimitrov and today’s match was another good tennis [match]. I’m sure Daniil is going to be [in the] Top 10 soon.”
Roberto Bautista Agut

Qatar ExxonMobil Open

Singles – Final
[7] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) d [WC] T. Berdych (CZE) 64 36 63

Doubles – Final
D. Goffin (BEL) / P. Herbert (FRA) d R. Haase (NED) / M. Middelkoop (NED) 57 64 10-4

Roberto Bautista Agut closed out one of the best weeks of his career in style on Saturday, defeating former World No. 4 Tomas Berdych 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to win the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, his ninth ATP Tour title.
The victory comes just one day after upsetting World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Bautista Agut’s second victory against the Serbian. The 30-year-old has now lifted a trophy in January in four consecutive seasons after becoming the third Spaniard to win the title in Doha, joining Rafael Nadal (2014) and David Ferrer (2015). Bautista Agut’s quick start to 2019 leaves him optimistic for the rest of the season.

“It was a great start to the season,” Bautista Agut said. “I wish to feel good physically, mentally, like I am now, like I felt this week. And if this happens, I think I can get better in the [ATP] Rankings, and why not be closer to the Top 10?”

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