As Predicted, Mayer Beats Mayer for ATP Hamburg Title
Posted by Staff on July 30th, 2017 @ 2:48 pm
Leonardo Mayer, the man who lost in the final round of qualifying before gaining the main draw as a “lucky loser,” defeated namesake Florian Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the Sunday final of the German Tennis Championships on clay in Hamburg.
“It’s amazing to win in Hamburg again,” said the Argentine champion. “It’s like home here and I feel very comfortable. I like the city and I always play well here. …
Fognini Stops Cinderella Hanfmann in ATP Gstaad Finale
Posted by Staff on July 30th, 2017 @ 2:09 pm
Giant-killer Fabio Fognini stopped a lesser-ranked opponent, but one on an almost-unstoppable roll when he edged Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to win the J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad for his first title of the year.
The 25-year-old Hanfmann was a qualifier, winning six matches in seven days during the week.
“Fabio was the better man today, he deserves to win,” said Hanfmann, who upset defending champion Feliciano Lopez and …
Peng Wins Jiangxi Open; Teens Making WTA Debut Win Doubles
Posted by Jeremy Davis on July 30th, 2017 @ 1:52 pm
31-year-old and No. 2 seed Peng Shuai won her second career title on Sunday at the Jiangxi Open in China, defeating Nao Hibino 6-3, 6-2.
Hibino had 18 unforced errors during the match, while Peng kept a tidy 13 unforced errors to eight winners. It was her second career title after the 2016 Tianjin Open.
The WTA was apparently unable to secure an interpreter, as no quotes from the winner or runner-up …
Siniakova Sinks Wozniacki to 0-5 in 2017 WTA Finals at Bastad
Posted by Staff on July 30th, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
Czech Katerina Siniakova won her second career WTA title and second of 2017 on Sunday, in the final of the Ericsson Open in Bastad defeating former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-4.
“Last year was really good,” said the 2016 Bastad runner-up, “and so I’m so happy that I came back because I couldn’t imagine a better week.”
The final was delayed by rain, leaving heavy conditions on the red clay, …
Muguruza, Kvitova, American Contingent Come Out at WTA Stanford; Preview
Posted by Staff on July 29th, 2017 @ 6:45 pm
Amazingly no former champions are in the field next week for the Bank of the West Classic. Former winner Serena Williams is out due to pregnancy, former champ Venus Williams is taking a break, and former winner Victoria Azarenka withdrew due to illness.
Heading the field are former Grand Slam winners Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova, as well as a fountain of American hopefuls.
Here is a look at the tournament slate:
BANK …
Lorenzi Defends, Haas Receives Wild Card at ATP Generali Open in Kitzbuhel; Preview
Posted by Staff on July 29th, 2017 @ 6:15 pm
Paolo Lorenzi defends his title from last year, and Tommy Haas continues his goodbye tour next week on red clay at the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel:
GENERALI OPEN
KITZBUHEL, Austria; surface: clay
Seeds: Pablo Cuevas, Fabio Fognini, Paolo Lorenzi, Gilles Simon, Robin Haase, Jan-Lennard Struff, Jiri Vesely, Horacio Zeballos
Floaters: (WC) Tommy Haas
Notes: No Top 20 players in Kitzbuhel where clay still rules the day…
The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…
(6) Struff starts against …
Thiem, 4 ATP Top 10; Halep at Combined Citi Open; ATP/WTA Previews
Posted by Staff on July 29th, 2017 @ 5:54 pm
The Citi Open hosts both the men and women in Washington, D.C., next week where four Top 10ers headline the men’s field, and Simona Halep is the women’s headliner against a dangerous field.
CITI OPEN
WASHINGTON, D.C.; surface: hard
Men’s Seeds: Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Alexander Zverev, Gael Monfils, Lucas Pouille, Jack Sock, John Isner, Nick Kyrgios, Gilles Muller, Mischa Zverev, Juan Martin del Potro, Steve Johnson, Kevin Anderson, …
WTA to Squeeze More Money from Tennis Fans via WTA TV
Posted by Jeremy Davis on July 27th, 2017 @ 3:09 pm
It’s not bad enough the WTA tour made a “major” deal with erstwhile soccer channel beIN Sports, which tennis fans need to pay a premium to see on their cable or satellite subscriptions.
This week the WTA announced “WTA TV,” a livestreaming service which, once you pay even more, you can watch women’s tennis.
The service launches on July 31 for a $9.99 monthly pass or $74.99 for a year pass.
We’ll pass. …
Maria Sharapova: My Passion For Tennis Is Stronger Than Ever
Posted by Tom Gainey on July 27th, 2017 @ 10:59 am
On the eve of Maria Sharapova’s return to the WTA from a thigh injury next week in Stanford, the former No. 1 penned a piece in the Players’ Tribune in which she talked about dealing with the fallout from her doping sentence, her support group, her fans, and her passion for tennis, which she says is stronger than ever.
Some excerpts:
I’m aware of what many of my peers have said …
Andy Murray Hitting Against A Wall [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on July 27th, 2017 @ 10:41 am
While Nick Kyrgios hit the hoops court, Andy Murray is rehabbing his ailing hip in a different way. Earlier this week the World No. 1 posted this video of him hitting against a wall. Exciting, right?
If his recovery goes well, Murray is scheduled to hit with real players at the Canadian Open in Montreal on August 7….
Ailing Nick Kyrgios Rehabbing His Hip By Playing Basketball?
Posted by Tom Gainey on July 27th, 2017 @ 10:33 am
Nick Kyrgios skipped his title defense in Atlanta this week to continue to recover from a hip issue. So how is the Australian No. 1 rehabbing his injury? Hitting the basketball court, that’s how.
Aussie media spotted the star on the basketball court earlier this week in Canberra.
Nick Kyrgios pulls out of Atlanta Open with hip strain, nek minnit Tues night mixed bball at Belco, ACT. 🏀
…
Novak Djokovic’s 2017 Season Is Over Due To An Elbow Injury
Posted by Staff on July 26th, 2017 @ 9:36 am
It’s official, Novak Djokovic’s 2017 season is officially over. A year ago Roger Federer ending his season following Wimbledon, now it’s Djokovic.
The Serb cited a bad right elbow he has been battling for some 18 months, he said during a news conference earlier today.
“All the doctors I’ve consulted, and all the specialists I have visited, in Serbia and all over the world, have agreed that this injury requires rest,” said …
Novak Djokovic Might Not Play The US Open, Might Be Out 3 Months
Posted by Tom Gainey on July 24th, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
According to reports out of Serbia, Novak Djokovic has a bone bruise in his right elbow which might force him to miss the US Open.
Serbia’s Davis Cup doctor Zdeslav Milinković said Djokovic needs to sit out 6 to 12 weeks to heal his elbow.
Via Google translation, Milinković said, “The most important thing is that Novak is at the moment calm and recovering successfully. The minimum will be paused for …
Kyrgios Withdraws, Isner Large, in Charge at Atlanta; ATP Preview
Posted by Staff on July 24th, 2017 @ 12:03 am
BB&T Atlanta Open
ATLANTA, Ga., USA; surface: hard
Seeds: Jack Sock, John Isner, Gilles Muller, Ryan Harrison, Kyle Edmund, Donald Young, Chung Hyeon, Jared Donaldson
Floaters: Dudi Sela, Marcos Baghdatis, Ernesto Escobedo, (Q) Tim Smyczek, Bjorn Fratangelo, Vasek Pospisil
Notes: No Top 10 seeds, but an American onslaught for home fans with Sock and Isner leading the seeds, along with U.S. seeds Harrison, Young and Donaldson…Atlanta starts the US Open Series, the seven-week summer …
Wozniacki Looks to Turn Around 0-4 Record in Finals at Bastad; WTA Preview
Posted by Staff on July 23rd, 2017 @ 11:13 pm
Ericsson Open
BASTAD, Sweden; surface: clay
Seeds: Caroline Wozniacki, Anastasija Sevastova, Caroline Garcia, Carla Suarez Navarro, Kiki Bertens, Katerina Siniakova, Julia Goerges, Johanna Larsson
Floaters: Mona Barthel, Carina Witthoeft, Sara Errani, Irina-Camelia Begu
Notes: Wozniacki the lone Top 10er in the field…
Tough starts for (9) Larsson vs. Barthel, a tired (6) Bertens vs. the German riser Witthoeft, and (3) Garcia vs. last week’s title winner Begu (winner to likely face the former French Open …