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Sun, 10/03/2019 - 8:00am - 2:00pm
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Bryans Beat Skupskis For Fifth Delray Beach Title
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have never lived in Delray Beach, Florida, but the Delray Beach Open has long served as a second home to the all-time greats, and it did again on Sunday.
The Bryans won their fifth Delray Beach crown and 117th tour-level title together, beating another pair of brothers in Brits Ken Skupski/Neal Skupski 7-6(5), 6-4 during the historic final at the ATP 250. The title is their first together since last April at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the last time they celebrated a tour-level title before Bob injured his right hip and had to miss the rest of the 2018 season.
“We're very, very, very pleased with how this week's gone. Our expectations... have been a little bit lower than they have in the past. We've just been trying to have fun and enjoy our time together, and it's actually resulted in some really good play. We didn't lose a set this week. We're taking care of our serve and just weathering the tough times during matches,” Bob Bryan said.
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The twin Americans were playing in their seventh Delray Beach final (5-2) and first tour-level title match since the 2018 Mutua Madrid Open, an ATP Masters 1000, last May, when Bob's right hip forced him to retire.
He didn't play another match all season, and Mike went on to partner countryman Jack Sock for three titles – Wimbledon, US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals – and become the oldest player (40 years, 78 days) to be ranked No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings.
Watch: The Bryan Brothers Road To The 2019 Season
"Watching Mike do it last year gave me a lot of confidence," Bob Bryan said. "To see that he could get to No. 1 and be so dominant with Jack really helped me mentally. It helped get me to this stage because I know it's possible."
After Bob recuperated from hip surgery he underwent last August, the Bryans joined forces again in January, and their title this week shows they're back – or at least close to – their 2018 form that saw them pick up two ATP Masters 1000 titles (Miami, Monte-Carlo) before Bob's injury.“We don't want to stop here. We want to keep rolling and hold up bigger ones, hopefully an [ATP Masters 1000] in the near future and then a [Grand Slam],” Mike Bryan said.
The teams traded breaks in the opening set, but the Bryans took the tie-break with a 1-2 punch – a serve then volley winner. The Skupskis struggled to put the first set behind them, as Neal Skupski contributed two of their seven double faults for the match in the opening game of the second set. The Bryans earned the break, the only one they'd need in the second set.
The Bryans will receive 250 ATP Doubles Rankings points and $32,950 in prize money. The Skupskis will receive 150 ATP Doubles Rankings points and $16,870 in prize money.
It was the first all-brothers doubles final on the ATP Tour since June 1977, when Vijay Amritraj and Anand Amritraj beat John Lloyd and David Lloyd 6-1, 6-2 at The Queen's Club in London.
.videoWrapper { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */ padding-top: 25px; height: 0; } .videoWrapper iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Italian Teen Sinner Takes Maiden Title In Bergamo
Roger Federer Reveals Why He Is Playing On Clay In 2019
Roger Federer has not competed on clay since the 2016 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. But on Sunday in Dubai, the World No. 7 revealed why he is returning to the surface this season.
“I think after not playing for two years, also missing the French [Open] three years ago because of injury, I think the team understood that I was in the mood to do it again. I did grow up on clay, after all. I felt like my body is strong enough now again to do the surface changes from hard to clay to grass to hard. In the past I felt different,” said Federer, who has committed to the Mutua Madrid Open thus far. “It was purely based on [the fact that] I would just like to play. We can always readjust the schedule accordingly depending how I play the clay.”
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Federer also put to rest any chatter regarding any other reasons he might be competing on clay in 2019. To the 37-year-old, it’s simple.
“This doesn't mean this is my last clay-court season, or I had to play one more time before I retired. That was not the thinking,” Federer said. “My body was ready, I was ready, my schedule with the family, my schedule with the team was ready to do it again. This is when I opted to say, ‘It will be nice. Instead of taking a big chunk off, I'd rather stay in the rhythm and actually enjoy myself on the clay.’ It's going to be challenging, no doubt about it. I have to take baby steps in the beginning to some extent, but that's okay.”
For now, Federer is remaining focused on the task at hand: the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event he has won seven times. This week, Federer will make his fourth attempt to win his 100th tour-level title. He’s not getting too far ahead of himself, though.
“I think that's got to be the mindset, that you try your best every match, every week, anyway. Things fall into place or they don't. It's not because of lack of effort,” Federer said. “We've been talking about 99 titles ever since Basel, every tournament I've played. There's nothing new. Of course, coming to Dubai where I've enjoyed a lot of success sort of makes you believe maybe it could happen here. Then again, the draw is tough. I haven't played in a few weeks so you reset everything, get ready for your first round, hope everything is going to click again here in Dubai.”
Federer will face Philipp Kohlschreiber on Monday evening for the 14th time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. While the Swiss has won each of their previous 13 meetings, he is not taking the German veteran lightly. They played two tight practice sets a couple of days ago.
“7-6 in the first. I think it was for me. I wonder if he was a break up in the second, something like that. It was close. I remember it was very close,” Federer said.
“Everybody can play tennis. We can feel [that] in practice every single day. The moment you're not 100 per cent on, margins are so slim, you could easily lose. I think that's why it always keeps us very humble and on the ground,” Federer said. “That's why this first round is a true test. I think when you come through it, it also fuels you with a lot of confidence. I'm looking forward to it.”
Read Draw Preview: Roger Learns Path To 100th Title
Federer is competing for the first time since a surprising quarter-final loss at the Australian Open against reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. But he says he is not carrying any of that disappointment into Dubai.
“I still felt like I played okay. It wasn't a horrible tournament for me,” Federer said. “I played good actually [in all the] matches. I just messed up on some big, big points. I'm not going to change my game because I missed out on some opportunities. So it's actually been a nice break away from it all.
“I'm feeling good now. Fitness has been going well, tennis has been going well. I've been here a few days. I feel really well prepared. I'm excited that the ATP Tour is moving on and I'm here. I'm happy to be back.”
.videoWrapper { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */ padding-top: 25px; height: 0; } .videoWrapper iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Tsitsipas Hits Stunning Drop Volley In Marseille
Federer, Nishikori Look Ahead To Dubai
Tsitsipas Finds The Spark, Captures Marseille Title
Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his surge towards the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings on Sunday, beating Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5, 7-6(5) at the Open 13 Provence to lift his second ATP Tour title.
Tsitsipas, who will rise to a career-high No. 11 in the ATP Rankings on Monday 25 February, entered the tournament searching for form after early losses in Sofia (l. to Monfils) and Rotterdam (l. to Dzumhur), but found his best level to take the title in Marseille without dropping a set. The 20-year-old Tsitsipas, who owns an 11-4 record this season, last month became the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Novak Djokovic (2007 US Open) at the Australian Open.
"I lost the spark [after the Australian Open] and I was frustrated because it felt like I couldn't find it again," said Tsitsipas. "This week, I can say I am really happy because I felt this hunger back again... I really hope it stays the same because there are many good players out there that play for the same prize."
Tsitsipas' second tour-level trophy comes less than five months after lifting his maiden title in Stockholm (d. Gulbis) last October. The #NextGenATP Greek also ended his 2018 season with success in Milan, winning each of his five matches to triumph at the Next Gen ATP Finals.
"Winning titles is the thing that I am working for... It is the biggest satisfaction and the biggest joy in tennis," said Tsitsipas.
The World No. 12, who revealed his desire to add ATP 500 and ATP Masters 1000 trophies to his collection this year, improves to 2-0 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Kukushkin. Tsitsipas also defeated the Kazakh in three sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships last year.
"[I have] satisfaction. There was a lot of stress this week because I knew I had to face some good opponents... When you care a lot, you tend to be more stressed than usual. I am happy that I got through that stress and played the game that I was supposed to play," said Tsitsipas.
Holding serve with relative ease throughout the first set, Tsitsipas put Kukushkin under consistent pressure on serve. The #NextGenATP Greek tried to keep points short, charging to the net and dictating with his backhand to earn points on return. Kukushkin handled the pressure well to reach 5-5, before Tsitsipas made a crucial move. After holding serve for a 6-5 lead, the top seed played with depth and brought his forehand into play to extract a crucial backhand error from his opponent for a one-set advantage.
After failing to convert his first break-point opportunity, Kukushkin claimed the opening break of the second set at 2-2 with his second cross-court forehand winner of the game. But Tsitsipas recaptured his best level as Kukushkin served for the set at 5-4, playing with depth, while varying the pace on his groundstrokes, to reach a tie-break. With the trophy in sight, Tsitsipas moved up the court and extracted errors from his opponent with aggressive forehands to claim the title.
"I lost my serve at 5-4 [in the second set] and I had to win that service [game] if I wanted to win the match," said Kukushkin. "I made a few mistakes in the tie-break. From one point, it was a really great match. It was a great week for me... I played a good level of tennis today. Unfortunately, I made a few mistakes that decided the winner today."
Kukushkin was bidding to capture his second title in his fourth tour-level championship match. The 31-year-old lifted his maiden ATP Tour title at the 2010 St. Petersburg Open (d. Youzhny), before final losses at the 2013 VTB Kremlin Cup (l. to Gasquet) and the 2015 Sydney International (l. to Troicki).
"I was solid all week," said Kukushkin. "I did not drop a set before the final... I played a really good level of tennis. Of course, it is one of the best weeks of my life. Unfortunately, I was not able to win today, but this week, the way I played, was one of the best of my tennis career."
Kukushkin gains 150 ATP Ranking points and earns €47,105. Tsitsipas collects 250 ATP Ranking points and receives €89,435 in prize money.
.videoWrapper { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */ padding-top: 25px; height: 0; } .videoWrapper iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }French Success: Chardy/Martin Triumph In Marseille
Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin captured their second ATP Tour team title on Sunday, defeating Ben McLachlan and Matwe Middelkoop 6-3, 6-7(4), 10-3 to win the Open 13 Provence.
The French duo landed 12 aces and saved all three break points it faced to claim victory after 77 minutes. Adding to their maiden trophy from the 2017 Qatar ExxonMobil Open (d. Pospisil/Stepanek), Chardy and Martin are the 12th all-French team to triumph in Marseille since the tournament began in 1993.
"It feels great to win a title at home in France in front of our families and friends. It is a first for us," said Chardy.
This is Chardy's sixth ATP Tour doubles title. The 32-year-old picked up his fifth tour-level doubles crown last week in Rotterdam, alongside Henri Kontinen, at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.
Lifting his first ATP Tour doubles trophy since his title run with Chardy in Doha two years ago, Martin adds a fourth title to his collection. The 32-year-old has won all of his tour-level trophies on hard courts.
"We served very well during the whole match," said Chardy. "When Fabrice serves like [he did] today, it is almost impossible to break him. He also [hit] three great returns during the Match Tie-break."
"The goal is to be able to play together during the clay season," said Martin.
McLachlan and Middelkoop were bidding to lift their first team title in their third tournament appearance as a team. The third seeds played well under pressure in Marseille, surviving two Match Tie-breaks to reach the championship match.
Chardy and Martin collect 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points and split €37,820 in prize money. McLachlan and Middelkoop earn 150 points and share €19,380.
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Auger-Aliassime: I Don't Want To Be Remembered For A Final At 18
The tennis world became familiar with #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime when he was just 14, as he became the youngest player to win a main draw match on the ATP Challenger Tour. On Saturday evening, he advanced to his maiden ATP Tour final at the Rio Open presented by Claro. He is only 18 years old.
But already, Auger-Aliassime presents himself with a veteran’s mindset. Plenty of fans throughout the world will be watching Auger-Aliassime as he tries to lift his maiden ATP Tour trophy against Laslo Djere on Sunday. But the right-hander does not feel any extra pressure.
“It’s something I’ve dealt with for a few years now. You just have to manage it, work on that and focus on what you have to do every day,” Auger-Aliassime said. “For me, [winning the] title or not [winning the] title is not the most important thing today [for me], because at the end I want to have a successful career, every year. I don’t want to be remembered for just a final or just a title when I was 18.”
During Auger-Aliassime’s press conference after the Canadian defeated 2016 champion Pablo Cuevas in the semi-finals, the teenager was asked about how much breaking records means to him. Auger-Aliassime is the youngest ATP 500 finalist since the level was established in 2009. The reporter mentioned how the #NextGenATP star can be in the same conversation as Rafael Nadal, who won his first title at 18.
“It shows that I’m doing good things and I’m on the right track. But I don’t want to compare myself too much,” Auger-Aliassime said. “Nadal is Nadal. He’s an unbelievable player and person. I have a different background, different story. It’s two completely different things. It’s not the same generation at all, and I don’t want to think about it today. I just want to right now enjoy the moment, try to find a way to win tomorrow, and that’s all I’m thinking about.”
Before the tournament, the wild card owned just seven tour-level victories. But Auger-Aliassime won his first three matches this week in straight sets, including a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against No. 2 seed Fabio Fognini in the first round, his greatest win by ATP Ranking (Fognini is World No. 16). When a former Rio de Janeiro champion in Cuevas battled back to force a decider in the last four, Auger-Aliassime did not fold.
It would have been easy to feel more pressure knowing that no seeds reached the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 event, and that this could be a good opportunity for him. But Auger-Aliassime has remained focused all week.
“You have to put that out of your mind. I think that’s a trap, [if] I think that because the seeds are out, that it’s going to get easier,” Auger-Aliassime said. “These players have also just beaten great players, so sometimes it’s like this and I really put that away because today I was playing Cuevas. He won the tournament here a few years ago, so it was again a tough match. He probably could have been seeded, so that wasn’t in my head at all.”
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The Brazilian crowd got behind Auger-Aliassime as he battled in the third set against the Uruguayan, and the Canadian made a heart with his hands after the match to show his appreciation to the fans.
“It’s been great. Every time you have a breakthrough as a young guy, it’s special moments and the environment is very important,” Auger-Aliassime said. “From the first day I felt like, ‘Yeah, I feel good.’ From the hotel we stayed at to the places I’ve seen and the energy from the people, it’s really strong. I strongly believe that it has pushed me to where I am today this week and maybe I can get one last push with the support of the crowd tomorrow.”
Auger-Aliassime can add his name into the record books again on Sunday by breaking Alexander Zverev’s record as the youngest ATP 500 titlist (19, 2016 Halle). But to him, that’s not what’s most important.
“I’m just looking to play good tennis and go as far as I can.”
.videoWrapper { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */ padding-top: 25px; height: 0; } .videoWrapper iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }'When will it stop?': AFL star Eddie Betts calls out yet another incident of racist abuse
AFL star Eddie Betts again becomes the target of "abhorrent and disgusting" racial abuse on social media, with the Crows releasing a strident statement demanding an end to what it said was the cowardly behaviour.
Gonzalez & Jarry Take Rio Doubles Title
Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina and Nicolas Jarry of Chile picked up the biggest title of their careers on Saturday at the Rio Open presented by Claro, outlasting Brazilian wild cards Thomaz Bellucci and Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-7 in a thrilling final
Both teams held serve throughout the first set to force a tie-break, but a backhand return winner from Bellucci at 1/1 gave the Brazilians a mini-break and they held the lead for the rest of the set. A double fault from Dutra Silva allowed Gonzalez/Jarry to take a 2-0 lead in the second set and the Argentine-Chilean duo ultimately forced a Match Tie-break.
With the boisterous crowd that included former World No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten loudly cheering Bellucci/Dutra Silva on, the Brazilian pair fought back from being down a mini-break on two occasions. But at 7/8, Bellucci shockingly hit two double faults to hand Gonzalez/Jarry the title after one hour and 43 minutes.
This is the first ATP 500 title for both Gonzalez and Jarry. Gonzalez has won six ATP Tour doubles titles, including last week at the Argentina Open (w/Zeballos). Jarry earned his second ATP Tour doubles title, with his maiden trophy coming last year in Quito (w/Podlipnik-Castillo).
Despite the loss, Bellucci/Dutra Silva became the first all-Brazilian pair to reach the final in tournament history. They both drop to 1-2 in their individual ATP Tour doubles final records.
Gonzalez/Jarry earn 500 ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $115,940 for their title run, while Bellucci/Dutra Silva walk away with 300 ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $56,750.
Afghanistan beat Australia's T20 world record total thanks to unbeaten 162 from 62 balls
Afghanistan eclipses Australia's T20 international record score, with a thumping performance over Ireland off the back of a stunning, unbeaten 162 from 20-year-old Hazratullah Zazai.
Nadal Faces Potential Kyrgios Blockbuster In Acapulco Second Round
Rafael Nadal has made the final at Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in each of his three previous appearances. But the Spaniard could face a string of early tests if he hopes to keep alive that streak in Acapulco.
There will not be a repeat champion at the ATP 500 event, as 2018 winner Juan Martin del Potro withdrew ahead of the draw to rest his knee. Last year, the Argentine beat three Top 10 opponents in his final three matches of the event to clinch his first victory in Mexico.
Nadal, competing for the first time since reaching the Australian Open final (l. to Djokovic), opens his tournament against 31-year-old German Mischa Zverev. The top seed has beaten his fellow left-hander in straight sets in two previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, including the first round in Acapulco two years ago.
But looming in the second round could be talented Aussie Nick Kyrgios, who has defeated Nadal twice in their five previous clashes. To set that tantalising encounter, Kyrgios would have to battle past Delray Beach quarter-finalist Andreas Seppi.
Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and seventh seed Steve Johnson are also in Nadal’s quarter of the draw. The Spaniard has won 28 of his 30 sets in Acapulco to earn a 14-1 record at the event, with his most recent match at the ATP 500 event being a straight-sets loss against Sam Querrey in the 2017 final.
Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev, like Nadal, will try to lift his first trophy of the season in Acapulco. The German begins his tournament against a qualifier before facing former World No. 3 David Ferrer or Auckland champion Tennys Sandgren.
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All eyes will be on a potential quarter-final clash between Zverev and #NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur, who is the fifth seed. Zverev has triumphed in all three of their FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, winning six consecutive sets in their rivalry. De Minaur faces Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the first round.
New York and Delray Beach semi-finalist John Isner will look to stay consistent in Acapulco, beginning his push against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, whom he defeated in the Delray Beach quarter-finals. Should Isner win, he will face a compatriot in the second round: 2017 champion Querrey or 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Taylor Fritz.
Did You Know?
Nadal's two victories in Acapulco came when the tournament was held on clay courts. The ATP 500 event switched to hard courts in 2014.
Ellyse Perry's maiden ODI ton powers Aussies to thumping win over NZ
Australia retains the Rose Bowl with a 95-run win in the second one-day international against New Zealand, marked by Ellyse Perry reaching triple figures and Jess Jonassen's five-wicket haul.
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Superstar Ellyse Perry reaches triple figures in a one-day international for the first time, as Australia tries to retain the Rose Bowl in the second ODI against New Zealand in Adelaide. Follow all the action in our live ScoreCentre.
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