ATP Rotterdam: Raonic recovers from a set down against Kuznetsov - UBITENNIS
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ATP Rotterdam: Raonic recovers from a set down against Kuznetsov

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TENNIS ATP ROTTERDAM – The ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, a ATP 500 event, features a very strong line-up with three semifinalists of this year’s Australian Open Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych, Melbourne quarter finalist Milos Raonic and 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov. Diego Sampaolo

Raonic fought back from a set down to edge Andrey Kuznetsov 6-7 6-1 7-5 to set up a second round match against Simone Bolelli who cruised past Lukas Rosol 6-3 6-1.

Kutznetsov broke serve in the sixth game but Raonic broke back at 4-4. The Russian qualifier won the tie-break of the first set with 7-5 but Raonic bounced back in the second set winning every point behind his first serve and dropping just one game to force the match to the decider. Raonic served to stay in the set when he was 4-5 down. The decider went on serve until 5-all when Raonic got the crucial break on the 11th game. Raonic hit his 19th ace of the match to win the match after one hour and 54 minutes.

Andy Murray, who lost in the quarter final against Milos Raonic last year in the Dutch port city, will make his Rotterdam debut tomorrow against Nicholas Mahut from France on Wednesday. Murray’s possible rival in the second round could be Vasek Pospisil who converted on three of his four break points to beat German Phillip Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-2.

Tomas Berdych, defending champion in Rotterdam, beat German lucky loser Tobias Kamke 6-1 7-5. The Czech player, semifinalist at the Australian Open, extended his winning streak to six matches in Rotterdam. Berdych cruised to a easy win in the first set before wasting a big lead in the second set with a series of errors. Berdych hit 11 aces but dropped his serve twice

Jeremy Chardy advanced to the second round after his compatriot Julien Benneteau was forced to withdraw at 3-3 in the first set. Another Frenchman Giles Simon fought back from one set down to edge Joao Sousa 5-7 6-3 6-2. Simon wasted four set points in the first set, three at 5-2 and one at 5-4 before Sousa clinched the first set with 7-5. In the second set both players traded breaks until 3-all before Simon won seven consecutive games. Simon closed out with 6-2 after two hours and 19 minutes.

Gael Monfils won the all-French evening match against Edouard Roger Vasselin in straight sets with 6-3 6-2 with a break of serve in each set. Monfils will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round.

On Monday Grigor Dimitrov came back from a set down and had to save two match points when Paul Henri Mathieu was serving at 5-4 in the second set. Dimitrov forced the match to the tie-break which he won with 7-2 before clinching the third set with 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2. Mathieu beat Dimitrov in Basel in 2012 and once again caused problems to the Bulgarian player.

Dimitrov, reached his best result in Rotterdam in 2013 when he lost in the semifinal against eventual winner Juan Martin Del Potro, will face Gilles Muller who edged David Goffin 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (6-8) 6-3. The match went on serve until the third set when Muller got the only break of the match to seal the win.

Austrian rising star Dominic Thiem beat his close friend and training partner Ernests Gulbis 6-4 6-2. Thiem had already beaten Gulbis in their only previous head-to-head match in the second round of last year’s US Open. Both players are coached by Gunther Bresnik. Gulbis reached the semifinals at the Roland Garros last year but since then he won just nine of his 22 next matches and he has not won a single match in 2015. He lost in the first round against Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open

Thiem will face Sergiy Stakhovsky who overcame Marcel Granollers 6-2 7-6 (9-7).

Roberto Bautista Agut cruised past 19-year-old German rising star Aleksander Zverev 6-4 6-1.

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Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

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Rafael Nadal has eased speculation that he might be retiring from the sport soon after signing on to play in the Laver Cup later this year. 

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to join the line-up for this year’s team competition which features Europe taking on the rest of the world over three days. It will be Nadal’s fourth appearance in the competition and his first since 2022. He competed in the inaugural edition of the event back in 2017 alongside co-founder Roger Federer. 

“I am very happy to be playing Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe,” Nadal said in a press release. “I have some really special memories from my Laver Cup experiences, including all the emotions from London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time.”

Nadal’s decision to play comes amid questions about his future in the sport. The former world No.1 has previously indicated that this year could be his last on the Tour but he has stated that no decision has been made. In recent months he has been sidelined from action due to injury setbacks and has only been able to play in two tournaments so far this year. 

“At this stage in my career I really want to go out there and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” he explains.
“Teaming up is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I’m looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe win back the Laver Cup.”

Other European players confirmed to be playing are Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have agreed to play for Team World. This year’s event will be held in Belin at the Uber Arena between September 20-22. 

The Laver Cup was inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup. It was co-founded by Federer’s Team8 management company (which he formed with agent Tony Godsick), businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia. In 2019 it became an official ATP sanction event and now has a place on the official calendar. 

Nadal is set to return to competitive action at the Madrid Masters which he has won on five previous occasions. He has been drawn to play teenage wild card Darwin Blanch in the first round. If he wins, Nadal will then play Alex de Minaur who knocked him out of the Barcelona Open last week. 

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Carlos Alcaraz In Doubt For Madrid Open Title Defence

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Carlos Alcaraz admits that he is not certain if he will be ready in time to play at next week’s Madrid Masters.

The 20-year-old is yet to play a clay tournament in Europe due to a forearm injury which ruled him out of both Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He hurt his right arm whilst training shortly before the Monte Carlo event began. 

It is the latest in a series of injury issues that has affected Alcaraz throughout his young career. Since the start of 2023, he has also been derailed by issues with his abdominal, hamstring, post-traumatic arthritis in his left hand and muscular discomfort in his spine. 

“My feeling isn’t right, but it is what it is. Now I’m fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time,” Alcaraz told reporters in Barcelona on Monday.
“My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain. I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“I can’t say I’ll be 100% in Madrid, but that’s my intention. We’ll train and do everything we can so that the feelings improve so I can play a match … It’s also a very special tournament for me.”

Alcaraz has won the past two editions of the Madrid Open, which is classed as a Masters 1000 event. In 2022 he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final and then 12 months later he beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the title match.

The setback comes after what has been a steady start to the year for Alcaraz who has reached the quarter-finals or better in four out of five tournaments played. He successfully defended his title in Indian Wells and then reached the semi-finals in Miami. 

Should he not play in Madrid, it is likely that the Spaniard will lose his No.2 spot to Jannik Sinner who is just over 100 points behind him in the standings. He will still have the chance to play a clay-court event before the French Open with Rome taking place early next month. 

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Olympic Qualification Is Not the Only Goal For French Veteran Gael Monfils

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Gael Monfils (image via https://twitter.com/atptour)

Gael Monfils admits he doesn’t have too many years left on the Tour but this doesn’t mean his targets are any less ambitious. 

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings over the past 12 months following battles with injury. At his lowest, he was ranked 394th last May but is now in 40th position. As a result, he is closing on securing a place in the Olympic Games which is being held in his home country of France for the first time since 1924. The tennis event will be staged at Roland Garros. 

“When I was 400, I was thinking the Olympics would be great, but it’s going to be tough,” Monfils told reporters on Tuesday. 
“There are younger players playing well. If I don’t qualify, I don’t mind. It will just mean I’m very close to the ranking I want to be. That ranking will allow me to find another goal.”

Monfils is already a three-time Olympian but has never won a medal at the event. He reached the quarter-finals of the singles tournament twice in 2008 and 2016. 

Another goal of Frenchmen is the Wimbledon championships which concludes just three weeks before the Olympics begin. The proximity of these tournaments will be a challenge to all players who will be going from playing on clay to grass and then back to clay again. 

“I really want to go and play Wimbledon. I don’t have so many Wimbledons to play in the future. The Olympics is one goal, not the only goal.” Monfils states.
“My dream is of course to be part of the Olympics. I played three times at the Olympics. I’d like to be there again. But I also really want to do well in Wimbledon this year. To reach my goal, it has to be including Wimbledon.” He added. 

Monfils is currently playing at the Monte Carlo Masters where he beat Aleksandar Vukic in his opening match. In the next round, he will take on Daniil Medvedev in what will be their first meeting since 2022. He leads their head-to-head 2-1. 

Medvedev has openly spoken about his roller-coaster relationship with playing on the clay. He admits it is not his favourite surface but how much of a factor could this be in his upcoming clash with Monfils?

“Of course, it’s not his favourite one, but he’s still Daniil Medvedev, and whatever the surface, it’s always very complicated to play him,” Monfils concludes. 

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