ATP

ATP Tour: Murray v. Ferrer in Vienna. Dimitrov v. Berdych in Stockholm

Published

7 years ago

19/10/2014

TENNIS ATP TOUR – Andy Murray beat Viktor Troicki 6-4 6-3 in 83 minutes to qualify for his 44th final at the Erste Bank ATP 250 Tournament in Vienna where he will face David Ferrer, who battled past German Phillip Kohlschreiber 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-3). Murray, who received a wild-card from the organizers, will be looking to win his second title of the year after Shenzhen. Diego Sampaolo

Troicki saved a break point early in the first set before Murray converted his third break point chance in the fifth game. Murray faced some trouble only in the following game when he was broken back at 3-2 when he made two double faults. In the ninth game Troicki went up 30-0 but he made a double fault and sent a forehand wide allowing Murray to get the break at 4-all. The Scotsman held his serve to 30 before clinching the first set with 6-4

Murray got a break early in the second set. Troicki saved a break point at 2-5 but he dropped his serve to love in the ninth game.

Ferrer had to fend off five break points in the first set after a perfect week in which he did not drop a serve during the whole tournament. Ferrer got the break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead before saving two break points in the sixth game. Ferrer failed to convert two set points at 5-2 but he closed out in the ninth game with 6-3

Kohlschreiber broke serve twice in the fourth and in the eighth games to win the second set with 6-2 and forced the match to the decider. In the third set Ferrer rallied from 2-4 after going down a break. Ferrer broke back to love clawing his way back into the match. Kohlschreiber held serve in the ninth game for 5-4, The third set came down to the tie-break. It went on serve until 2-2 when Ferrer got a mini-break. Ferrer pulled away to 4-2 but Kohlschreiber got the mini-break. However the German made a double fault to go down 3-5 before sending a sending a backhand volley wide. Ferrer won the tie-break 7-3 to reach the 46th final of his career

The Spanish player will be bidding to win his second title of the year in his fourth final of the year.

Murray leads 7-6 in their 13 head-to-head matches but Ferrer won their last clash in three sets in Shanghai.

IF Stockholm Open:

Defending champion Grigor Dimitrov recovered from a 1-4 deficit to overcome Bernard Tomic with 6-3 7-5 to advance to the final at the ATP 250 in Stockholm The young Bulgarian, who beat Ferrer last year, will play the sixth final of his career and the fourth of 2013.

Dimitrov broke serve once and cruised to 3-0 in less than 10 minutes. He did not face any break point in the first set and closed out with 6-3.

Tomic bounced back in the second set pulling away to 4-1 with a break lead but he failed to convert two set points when Dimitrov was serving. Tomic made a double fault when he was serving for the set at 5-3. Dimitrov broke back before getting another break at 5-all. Dimitrov held serve in the 12h game to close out the match.

Dimitrov set up the final against Tomas Berdych who beat Mathias Bachinger 7-6 6-4 in the other semifinal. Bachinger got a break in the seventh game of the first set to take a 4-3 lead. Berdych broke to draw level to 5-5 when Bachinger was serving for the set. Berdych had to fend off a set point before wrapping up the tie-break with 9-7.

Bachinger broke serve in the eighth game but he was broken back to 15 when he was serving for the first set at 5-3. The second set came down to the tie-break. After four mini-breaks Berdych was the first to hold serve at 3-2. The tie-break went on serve until Bachinger earned a set point at 6-5 but Berdych saved it with an ace. Bachinger faced a set point but he won the point to draw level to 7-7. Berdych took the 8-7 edge earning the set point. He hit a forehand winner to close out the tie-break with 9-7.

Berdych got a break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead in the second set. Bachinger converted his third break point chance of the second set to break back for 4-4. Berdych broke again in the following game to edge 5-4 with a forehand winner before closing out on his first match point

Berdych has reached his fifth final of the year and his 24th in his career

Dimitrov leads 3-1 in their four previous matches. The Bulgarian beat Berdych 6-7 6-2 6-2 in their most recent head-to-head match in Rome last May.

“I would like to defend my title every single week. It brings out the best out in you. so it’s a really place to be in”, said Dimitrov

Moscow Kremlin Cup

US Open champion Marin Cilic fought back from a set down to edge last year’s Kremlin Cup finalist Mikhail Kukushkin 4-6 6-3 6-2 to secure his spot on the ATP Finals in London. It was not a easy match for Cilic who went down a set and a break before reaching his fifth final of the year and his 22nd final of his career (he boasts a winning record of 12-9). Kukushkin started well saving all the eight break point chances he faced in the first set.

The Kazakh player broke serve at 4-3 after saving three break points in the first game and two in the fourth game. Cilic did not convert another break point chance in the tenth game and dropped the first set with 4-6.

Kukushkin looked to be cruising to a surprising win when he got another break. Cilic broke straight back to claw his way into the match. Cilic broke in the eighth game en route to winning the second set with 6-3. He reeled off five consecutive games from 3-3 in the second set to build up a 2-0 lead in the third set. Cilic broke again in the seventh game for 5-2. He held serve to 30 to close out the match and qualify for his fifth final of the year.

The Croatian player will face Roberto Bautista Agut who overcame Ernests Gulbis with a double 6-4. Cilic is the third Croatian player to qualify for the end-of-year ATP Finals or Masters Cup after Goran Ivanisevic (five times) and Ivan Ljubicic (2006)

Bautista Agut will play his third final of the year on three different surfaces after winning in Stuttgart on clay and s’Hertogenbosch on grass. Gulbis saved two break points at 2-2 before dropping serve in the seventh game. Bautista Agut did not face any troubles and closed out the first set with 6-4.

At 2-2 Gulbis saved two break points in the second set which went on serve until 3-3. Bautista Agut broke again in the seventh game as in the first set. The Spanish player faced the first break point of the match at 4-3 in the second set when he made a double fault but he saved it when Gulbis made a fault on his second serve.

In the Combined WTA Tournament at the Kremlin Cup Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova cruised past Czech qualifier and first-time WTA semifinalist Katerina Siniakov with a double 6-2. Pavlyuchenkova will play her third WTA Premier final after Brisbane 2013 and Paris Indoor 2014. Pavlyuchenkova will try to become the fourth Russian player to win in the home tournament after Anastasya Myskina (twice Kremlin Cup champion in 2003 and 2004), Anna Chaktvetadze (2006) and Elena Dementieva (2007).

Pavlyuchenkova will face Irina Camelia Begu from Romania who battled past Lucie Safarova in three sets with 7-6 1-6 6-3. Begu converted only one of her 14 break point chances in the 8th game of the match before serving out for the match. Begu crowned an impressive week in which she knocked out two top-20 players Ekaterina Makarova and Lucie Safarova. She will play her first WTA Premier Final.

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Murray wins Vienna, Cilic in Moscow and Berdych in Stockholm

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ATP

Auger Aliassime overcomes slow start to beat Seppi in Washington

The Canadian looked down and out early in the match but bounced back to avenge a loss he suffered at the French Open in June.

Published

14 hours ago

04/08/2021

Elias Laradi

Second seed Felix Auger Aliassime survived a huge scare in his opening match at the Citi Open in Washington.

The Canadian was on the verge of being upset by the Italian Andreas Seppi but battled back to beat him 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 59 minutes. Blasting a total of 25 winners and nine aces in the win.

“In my mind, I wanted to find a way to come back. To get that early break in the second really helped me a lot and I think I served a little bit better and I put more volume and height on my shot,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I was more patient and in the first set I was missing too quickly in the rallies so digging deep physically and mentally allowed me to come back nicely in the match and to finish strong in the third set. I am happy with the way things turned around for me today”.

It was the world number 88 with the better start to the match and after both players held their opening service games he had two chances to get the early break and took a 2-1 lead. After consolidating the break, the Italian set up another breakpoint with a stunning forehand winner, broke again for a 4-1 lead, and served out the first set.

Auger-Aliassime was keen on getting back into the match and wanted to avoid a second straight upset loss to the Italian. After holding serve in the first game of the second set he had two chances to take an early lead and broke for the 2-0 lead with a forehand up the line of his very own on breakpoint. That was enough for him to serve out the second set and send the match into a decisive third set to decide the winner.

It was the Canadian who repeated what he did in the second set holding the opening service game and breaking Seppi’s serve with a sublime passing shot. The Italian responded the next game by breaking right back but failed to consolidate the break as the world number 15 broke again with his powerful backhand winner.

At 5-2, the Auger-Aliassime found himself at match point and it took him five attempts before being able to convert and seal the match. Avenging a loss he suffered at Roland Garros.

After the match in his post-match press conference, the Canadian was asked if he had the loss to Seppi at the French Open in the back of his mind during the match.

” In a way yes of course because we played once and he beat me and as a player, you never want to go down twice in a row against a player but it happens but in my case, I really wanted to find a way to win that match and get revenge just for myself to try and get the win”. he said.

Auger Aliassime will now face the winner of the second-round match between Jenson Brooksby or Frances Tiafoe in the third round.

ATP

Vasek Pospisil survives scare at Citi Open

The Canadian battled back from a set down in what was a tricky opening encounter.

Published

2 days ago

03/08/2021

Elias Laradi

Vasek Pospisil was pushed to limits by qualifier Emilio Gomez in his opening match at the Citi Open.

The Canadian required three sets to beat the Ecuadorian qualifier 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 after two hours and 11 minutes of play. He hit a total of 10 aces en route to the second round.

” It’s always good to get through a tough one and I felt dialed in during the second set,” said Pospisil. “I was a little bit distracted during the first set but I am glad to get match play and getting the win is important so I am happy I got it done”.

The first three games of the opener went on serve and at 2-1 the Canadian had three chances to take an early break but the world number 165 saved all three and held serve. At 3-3, Pospisil played a poor service game and Gomez took full advantage by breaking him at love. That one break of serve was enough for him to serve out the first set.

The Canadian was determined to stay alive in the second and broke the Ecuadorian early to take a 2-0 lead and managed to turn it into a double break for a commanding 4-0 lead. Gomez got one of the breaks back but it wasn’t enough as the world number 61 would serve out the second set to force a decider.

The third set started with three breaks of serve but it was the Canadian that was finally able to hold serve and consolidate a break. That break was enough for him to serve out the match and complete the comeback.

Pospisil will next face the young American Sebastien Korda in the third round who is the 12th seed this week in the American capital.

” It’s going to be a tough one because he is playing some great tennis this year and he is an up and comer and a great player,” he said of Korda. “I will have to play really well to win that one because he is a dangerous player so I will have to serve well and return well”.

Other results

It was a busy day one at the Citi Open being held at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC with some thrilling matches. Kei Nishikori beat Sam Querrey in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 and Marcus Giron pulled a three-set comeback against Ilya Marchenko 4-6, 6-4, 7-6.

In the battle of the Belorussians, Ilya Ivashka beat Egor Gerasimov in straight sets 7-5, 6-4. Meanwhile, Jenson Brooksby avenged a loss to the South African Kevin Anderson by beating him in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.

Andreas Seppi needed three sets to dispatch Yasutka Uchiyama of Japan 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, Ricardas Berankis beat the American qualifier Mitchell Kreuger in straight sets 7-6, 6-2, and Daniel Elahi Galan beat another American Tommy Paul in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

Finally, in the last match of the day an American favourite, Jack Sock advanced to round two after his Japanese opponent Yoshito Nishioka was forced to retire due to injury during their match.

ATP

John Isner Wins 16th ATP Title In Atlanta

The 6ft 10 American got revenge on his American opponent for the loss he suffered last week in Los Cabos.

Published

3 days ago

02/08/2021

Elias Laradi

John Isner has continued his love affair with the Atlanta Open by ousting Brandon Nakashima to win the tournament for a record sixth time.

The sixth seed beat the American teenager 7-6, 7-5 in one hour and 57 minutes. Firing a total of 21 aces and winning 81% of his first-serve points en route to the victory.

“I think if you count the last two weeks playing singles and doubles I played 12 matches in about 10 or 11 days so I have played a lot which is exactly what I need,” Isner said following his win. “Hopefully I can take this and go forward and build some momentum for tournaments ahead.’
“This tournament has meant everything to my career it’s amazing”. He added.

The first set was extremely tight and neither player gave an inch in their respective service games. The opener was decided by a tiebreaker which Isner is accustomed to. Whilst the first set was tight, the tiebreaker was an even tighter affair Isner squeezing out a 10-8 win to take the first set 7-6.

Again the second set was competitive and again neither player got an edge on their return game. It was only at 5-4 that the Dallas, Texas native found himself at triple match point but the world number 115 saved all three.

Nakashima would save a fourth before holding serve and at 6-5, the world number 35 earned a fifth match point. That’s where he closed out the match and sealed the win and the title.

After the match, Isner was asked about his history of playing numerous tiebreakers throughout his career.

” I play a lot of those and it’s a situation I am comfortable in since I have been on tour forever,” he explained. “Honestly I think today (Sunday) I was just a little bit luckier and that’s what It really came down to. It’s amazing to be out here again playing on a Sunday and it was awesome”.

Isner confirmed that he will not be making the trip to Washington, DC for the Citi Open and instead he will take a week off after playing back-to-back tournaments in Los Cabos and Atlanta. He is next scheduled to be in Toronto for the National Bank Open.