Zverev Bests Nishikori Against In Rainy Washington, Murray WDs; Del Potro v Fognini In Los Cabos Final
by Staff | August 4th, 2018, 10:47 am
  • 11 Comments

The rains returned again at Washington forcing one quarterfinal to be played on Saturday. But two matches were completed.

First, Andy Murray withdrew ahead of his match against Alex De Minaur. After a 3:01am finish and three straight 3-set matches, the Scot cited fatigue as the reason for his exit.

“I won’t be able to play my match tonight. I’m exhausted after playing so much over the past four days, having not competed on the hard courts for 18 months. I also need to be careful and to listen to my body as I come back from a long-term injury,” Murray said in a statement. “I’m gutted not to be playing and I’d like to thank the tournament and all the fans. There are lots of positives to take from this week, so I’ll take some time to rest and recover, and then head to Cincinnati early to prepare and get ready.”

Top seed Alexander Zverev got his match in beating Kei Nishikori in a rematch of their 2017 Washington semifinal. This time, Zverev needed three sets and a 2-hour third set rain delay to get the job done in a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

“It was great. It was a fantastic match, a very high level from the baseline,” Zverev said. “We both played great, so happy to be through to the semi-finals. Hopefully it will be another good few days here.”

The 21-year-old Zverev will meet 19-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals after the Greek downed David Goffin 6-3, 6-4.

“He’s a very solid baseliner,” Tsitsipas said of Goffin. “Much better from the baseline than the rest of the players, so getting early breaks against this type of player is super important. You raise your confidence like that and you’re just secure when you break from the beginning of a match or set.”

The two youngsters have never met before.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a good match. Hopefully it’s going to be entertaining,” the defending champion Zverev said of facing Tsitsipas. “He’s been playing great this year. But for me, nothing changes. I want to go out there and I want to try to win.”

Tsitsipas won’t be the only teen in the semifinals. The 19-year-old De Minaur will await the Andrey Rublev-Denis Kudla winner.

In Los Cabos, the final is set between veterans Juan Martin del Potro and Fabio Fognini. Del Potro is trying to follow in Sam Querrey’s from last year and sweep both Mexican events.

“It will be tough tomorrow against Fabio,” Del Potro said after 6-3, 7-6(6) win over Damir Dzumhur. “But anything can happen in the final, so I will try to do my best.”

And the last tour clay title of the year goes to… Martin Klizan who beat Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-2 in the Kitzbuhel final. The match was just the second all-qualifier final since the ATP World Tour began in 1990 (2015
Sydney – Troicki d. Kukushkin).

Klizan improves to 6-0 in ATP finals.


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Nishikori Stops Del Potro’s DC Streak At 2am; Roanic, Zverev Advance But Thiem, Dimitrov Out

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11 Comments for Zverev Bests Nishikori Against In Rainy Washington, Murray WDs; Del Potro v Fognini In Los Cabos Final

Margot Says:

Just watched Rublev, coming back after injury, win. Very impressed: 1) Big improvement mentally as well as tennis wise 2) Fab ROS, that’s what will push him above many young pretenders 3) Fab aggressive-defensive play. Wow, does he hit the ball with controlled aggression!
Really looking forward to Pretty Boy v Gorgeous Greek God. Should be a very interesting match with both having something to prove.
First time since 1995 that all four semi finalists have been under 21. Here comes the next gen. and bring it on say I.


chofer Says:

Nice said Margot. Here rooting for Tsi Tsi Fly (although Sasha more likely to win) and Delpo winning in Los Cabos. This way, he surpasses Sascha in the rankings:))

Andrei Rublev is hands down the best name out of the next genners. Classic!

As asaid before, you can’t be a champion if your name goes like Apichatpong Weerasethakul. That can only work in films!


Margot Says:

And Pretty Boy wins. Was majestic in the first set. The second was much more competitive, especially the 9th game, but PB overpowered GGG. Was dominant from the back of the court and good to see him coming forward so much more these days. His volleying improving all the time. Good to see you chofer! Let’s talk tennis :) Oh, and suitable names too, of course. Sooooo…Tennys Sandrem? Tee hee…


chofer Says:

Hi Margot!

Tennys Sandgren, the ultimate oxymoron!


Margot Says:

6 years ago today, Andy won gold at the Olympics. Feeling sad :(


j-kath Says:

Margot: Andy will probably be remembering that anniversary today and knowing his grit and determination it will spur him on and beyond this dodgy period.


Margot Says:

Kath: The spirit is wonderful and fighting like crazy, but alas the flesh is all too weak.
Here’s a brill article by Tignor:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2018/08/andy-murray-2018-citi-open-washington-dc/75775/


j-kath Says:

Yew, Margot, thanks for the article – as you anticipated I felt it!!!! My only frown was the addition of a year to Andy’s age – he’s 31 not 32 ….second time this source has made this error in two days. It simply annoys my dandruff.


Madmax Says:

Margot Says:
6 years ago today, Andy won gold at the Olympics. Feeling sad :(

August 5th, 2018 at 2:06 am

Margot! No! No! No!

You must not. There has been so much coverage about Andy on TV and his comeback. It is fantastic that he is back playing.

He has had major surgery. That type of surgery could have ended his career. It didn’t. It gave him another chance. Give him time. He has done so well already, listening to the body is the best thing that he could do.

No need to be sad. Really.


Madmax Says:

I had hoped that Delpo was going to win.
Alas. Not to be. No matter! Onwards delpo, onwards and upwards!


Daniel Says:

Zverev will pass Fed in ATP race pints for second, with 4.085 pts, 1685 pts behind Nadal.

Depending how he performs nets tourneys and who wins USO he can be #1 without a Slam. Race hitting up.

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