ATP

Marin Cilic Makes Wimbledon Final With 4-Set Win Over Querrey

Published

7 years ago

14/07/2017

Marin Cilic (zimbio.com)

Seventh seed Marin Cilic is into a Grand Slam final for the first time since his 2014 US Open title. With a four-set semifinal win on Centre Court over world No. 28 Sam Querrey, Cilic has earned the privilege of playing Roger Federer in Wimbledon’s championship match.

During the tightly contested match, Cilic produced 25 aces and 70 winners to win 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

“Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable,” he told the BBC following the win. “Especially after the way this tournament unfolded. From the first round I was playing really great tennis.”
“Today was a really hard-fought battle. Sam I think played really high level tennis, especially in that first set. He was serving big, hitting big from the back of the court. “

Marin Čilić is into his first #Wimbledon & second major final with a 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Sam Querrey.

— Ana Mitrić (@ana_mitric) July 14, 2017

The match, as anticipated, was a server’s duel. The first set did not feature anything even close to a break point, and therefore went to a tiebreak.

Cilic hit an unreturned serve to start the breaker. Then Querrey probably should have lost his serve on his first service point, but Cilic missed an easy backpedaling overhead. On the next point, Cilic hit a forehand winner for a 2-1 lead with a mini-break. The Croatian then held both of his serves for 4-1. Querrey managed to get the score to 3-4, but Cilic still led with the ball in hand.

Querrey then got the mini-break back on a lunging backhand crosscourt volley, tying the tiebreak at 4. Cilic afterwards missed a backhand, giving Querrey a 5-4 lead and the chance to serve out the set. But Querrey missed a forehand on the next point. 5-5.

Cilic then missed a backhand second-serve return long, giving the 29-year-old American a set point. The 2014 US Open champion held to made it 6-6.

They need to give a first serve back to Cilic after that… Seems someone passed out in the crowd

— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) July 14, 2017

When play resumed, Cilic missed crosscourt backhand wide, giving Querrey a 7-6 lead and a set point. Cilic then missed another crosscourt backhand, handing Querrey the opening set.

“Sam came out serving huge, hitting big and I felt that he was not tired at all. I felt that he was really into his mode and playing really well. That obviously pushed me to play big tennis towards the end of the match,” said Cilic.

In Game 1 of the second, Cilic earned the first break point of the match, but Querrey fended it off by forcing Cilic to make a bad backhand pass attempt. He went on to hold his serve.

Querrey found himself down another break point when the set was at 2-2. He gambled, going for a serve and volley, but the strategy was irrelevant because Cilic missed the backhand return. Querrey then hit a forehand winner and a backhand winner to take the game. Cilic later evened the set 3-3, holding to 15 by booming an ace up the T.

Querrey, in the next game, went down 0-40. Cilic lost the first break point by missing a backhand second-serve return, but, at 15-40, he landed a backhand pass, grabbing the first break of the match. He consolidated to love for 5-3.

One game later, Cilic, serving for the second set, held to love to take it 6-4.

Marin #Cilic is feeling better mentally and takes the 2nd set 6-4! 6-7 6-4 vs #Querrey #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3rRWvllBbs

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) July 14, 2017

To start Set 3, Querrey went down 0-40. He saved the first two break points with unreturned serve, and he fought off the third by dropping a forehand volley winner that barely landed in play. The game went to deuce twice more, but Querrey eventually held on a smash for 1-0.

At 1-1, Querrey netted a forehand volley, setting up two break points for Cilic. Querrey won the first with an ace, but lost the second on an incorrect challenge. This put Cilic up a break.

But Querrey broke right back on a crosscourt backhand winner for 2-2.

For novelty's sake, Cilic and Querrey trade breaks. 2-all in the third. #Wimbledon

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 14, 2017

Five holds later, Querrey led 5-4, and Cilic was serving to stay in the third set. Cilic held to 15 on an ace. Querrey then held to love for 6-5, putting the pressure back on his opponent. Cilic held with an ace for 6-6, despite this gem from Querrey:

https://twitter.com/doublefault28/status/885866698804473858

The first seven points of the tiebreak went according to plan, but then Querrey lost both of his serves, giving Cilic a 6-3 lead. Cilic finished the set with a forehand winner for 7-3, taking a two-sets-to-one lead.

At 1-1 in the fourth, Querrey had a break point, which he converted when Cilic missed a routine backhand into the net.

Querrey, up 2-1, missed a smash giving Cilic two break points. He saved them both to hold his serve.

With Querrey serving up 4-3, Cilic found another break point, which Querrey lost on a shanked backhand, letting Cilic tie the set 4-4 and put himself two games from the Wimbledon final. Cilic held to 30, making Querrey serve to stay in the tournament. Querrey held to 15 for 5-5.

Querrey, trailing 5-6, was again serving to stay alive. After missing a backhand, he was down 15-40 — two match points. Cilic lost the first one on a netted backhand, but he won the second on a backhand winner down the line, completing the Croat’s comeback from a set down.

The semi was a disappointment to American fans, who have not seen an American man in a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick in 2009.

Cilic will play either Tomas Berdych or Roger Federer in the final on Sunday. Against Federer, he trailed their head to head 6-1, but ties at 6-6 with Berdych.

It’s gonna be a huge match between Roger and Tomas,” The Croat said about their semi-final clash. “Tomas is also playing really well and it will be an open match I feel. Roger is playing his best tennis of his career on this court and it definitely feels like home (for him).”
“Whoever it is going to be, I’m gonna be ready to play my tennis and focus on my game,” he added.

Sunday will be the first time a Croatian player has contested a Wimbledon final since the 2001 Wimbledon championships.

ATP

Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

Published

3 days ago

22/04/2024

Adam Addicott

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.

ATP

Carlos Alcaraz In Doubt For Madrid Open Title Defence

Published

1 week ago

16/04/2024

Adam Addicott

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.

ATP

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

Published

2 weeks ago

10/04/2024

Adam Addicott

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.