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Federer Holds Off Zverev Challenge

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2017

Federer Holds Off Zverev Challenge

Swiss star prevails on Thursday

The last time Roger Federer and Mischa Zverev played at the Gerry Weber Open in 2013, the Swiss star scored a double bagel victory in the quarter-finals. Their second-round match in Halle on Thursday was far more competitive, but top seed Federer came out on top once again with a 7-6(4), 6-4 win.

Federer improves his FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Zverev to 4-0, including a win this year in the Australian Open quarter-finals. He has yet to drop a set against the German. The Swiss star improves to 56-6 in Halle and 15-0 in second-round matches at this event.

Awaiting Federer in the quarter-finals is another German in defending champion Florian Mayer, who defeated sixth seed Lucas Pouille earlier in the day. Federer leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 7-0, including three straight-sets wins in Halle (2005, 2012, 2015).

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Johanna Konta loses to Coco Vandeweghe in straight sets at the Aegon Classic

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2017

Britain’s Johanna Konta was knocked out of the Aegon Classic in the second round by American Coco Vandeweghe.

Konta, the highest seed left in the Birmingham event, was beaten 6-1 6-3 in 64 minutes by the world number 30.

The world number seven won only 11 points in losing the first set in 24 minutes and became frustrated as Vandeweghe finished the match strongly.

The Briton will now play at Eastbourne where she will hope for a good run in the last event before Wimbledon starts.

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‘A chastening experience’

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller at Edgbaston Priory

This was a chastening experience for Konta so close to the start of Wimbledon. She was outplayed and out-powered by a grass-court natural – who has just appointed Pat Cash as her coach.

Vandeweghe can be very inconsistent, but having reached the Australian Open semi-finals earlier in the year is one to watch very closely at Wimbledon.

Konta won only one point against Vandeweghe’s first serve and appeared ill at ease throughout the match. She will hope her home town of Eastbourne gives greater cause for optimism next week.

Cash presence inspires Vandeweghe

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash was courtside to watch Vandeweghe for the first time since becoming her coach.

“He finally showed up! I had to get him down from commentating from Queen’s,” joked the 25-year-old New Yorker.

“We’re going to give it a try and see how it goes. Maybe I’ll get one of those headbands at the end of the experience.”

Vandeweghe will play Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the last eight after the Spaniard overcame Alison Riske 6-1 6-4.

Svitolina doubtful for Wimbledon

World number five and second seed Elina Svitolina may miss Wimbledon because of a foot problem sustained in her 6-4 4-6 6-2 defeat by Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi.

“I was really looking forward to this year at Wimbledon but today the court was slippery and it’s so bad for my foot,” said the 22-year-old Ukrainian.

“I will do my best. But for the moment it’s very uncomfortable”.

Giorgi, the world 102, faces Australian Ashleigh Barty in the last eight.

French fifth seed Kristina Mladenovic beat China’s Zhang Shuai 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to set up a quarter-final with Czech Petra Kvitova.

Azarenka beaten in Spain

Former world number one and two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka’s comeback ended in a second-round defeat against 19-year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh at the Mallorca Open.

Belarusian Azarenka, 27 and playing her first event in over a year after giving birth to her first child, lost 6-1 6-3 in an hour and 15 minutes.

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Queen's 2017: Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey reach quarter-finals

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2017
2017 Aegon Championships
Venue: Queen’s Club, London Dates: 19-25 June
Coverage: Comprehensive live coverage on BBC One, BBC Two, Red Button, Connected TV and online daily

Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey ensured there will be three former champions in the quarter-finals with victories on day four of the Aegon Championships.

Fourth seed Cilic beat 19-year-old American Stefan Kozlov 6-0 6-4.

“Serving well is they key on grass and I did that really well again today,” said the 2012 champion, who is yet to face a break point.

American Querrey, the 2010 winner, beat Jordan Thompson – conqueror of Andy Murray – 7-5 (7-3) 3-6 6-3.

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, champion in 2014, is already through to the last eight, where he will face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev.

The 19-year-old beat Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-2 6-2.

Spain’s Feliciano Lopez saw off Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in the remaining second-round contest.

In the doubles quarter-finals, third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares beat Ryan Harrison and Michael Venus 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 10-6.

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Serve key to Cilic chances

Croatia’s Cilic, 28, is the highest seed left in the draw after Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic all lost on Tuesday.

“It happens quite often,” said the former US Open champion.

“We are playing so many tournaments during the year and it’s very rarely that all the top seeds are going through.

“So it’s not easy, especially at a tournament like this where there’s so many great players, great grass-court players.

“Considering also that it’s one of the first weeks on grass, it’s always very tricky.”

Cilic has looked sharp in his opening two rounds and goes on to face American Donald Young for a place in the semi-finals.

Querrey ended the hopes of lucky loser Thompson, the Australian ranked 90 in the world who stunned five-time champion Murray.

“I don’t feel like the win from seven years ago has any effect on how I play today,” said Querrey, referring to his tournament win in 2010.

“That was fun to win, but seven years is a long time ago.”

Teenager Medvedev races through

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Kokkinakis, 21, had caused a major upset with his victory over Raonic on day two, but could not back up such a strong performance.

The Australian is ranked 698th following a succession of injuries and on Tuesday became the lowest-ranked player to beat a top-six opponent since 1994.

Medvedev proved much tougher opposition, however, repeating his win over Kokkinakis in the Netherlands last week as he fired down 13 aces.

“I’m happy I managed to show a very solid game, I was serving amazing,” said the Russian, ranked 60th.

Federer joins top four for Wimbledon

Roger Federer took another step towards a ninth Halle title and boosted his Wimbledon hopes with victory over Germany’s Mischa Zverev.

The Swiss, 35, won 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in Germany, and ensure he will be seeded at least fourth for Wimbledon next month.

That means he will avoid meeting Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal before the semi-finals at the All England Club.

Federer will play Germany’s Florian Mayer in the last eight in Halle.

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Solid Cilic Growing In Confidence At Queen's

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2017

Solid Cilic Growing In Confidence At Queen's

Fourth seed through on windy day four

Marin Cilic was solid on serve at the Aegon Championships on Thursday when he booked his spot in the quarter-finals for the sixth time in 11 visits to The Queen’s Club.

World No. 7 Cilic, the highest-ranked player left in the ATP World Tour 500 tournament draw, swept past #NextGenATP American qualifier Stefan Kozlov 6-0, 6-4 in 65 minutes.

The 2012 titlist, seeded fourth this week, won 20 of his 21 first-service points – and lost seven points overall – for his 21st match win of the season. He now plays American Donald Young.

Sam Querrey, the 2010 champion, and 2014 runner-up Feliciano Lopez are in action later today.

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Wimbledon 2017: Katie Boulter will 'cherish' main draw experience

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2017

Katie Boulter says she will “cherish” playing in the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time in her career.

The 20-year-old world number 246 has previously played in qualifying and in the girls’ singles.

But next month’s tournament is Boulter’s first time in the women’s singles, having been handed a wildcard.

She told BBC Radio Leicester: “I’ve put in all the hard work this year but I am fortunate to get a wildcard and am so thankful.”

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Boulter, who is from Woodhouse Eaves in Leicestershire, was ranked in the top 10 players in the world during her junior career and is coached by former British number one Jeremy Bates.

The British number six added: “I am looking forward to playing and thankful to get the opportunity to test my skills against higher-ranked players.

“Each moment I will enjoy and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

“Ultimately I am there to try to win matches. I just want to have fun and play my game and I don’t doubt that I can do well.”

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Simona Halep: World number two accepts Eastbourne wildcard

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2017
Eastbourne 2017
Venue: Devonshire Park, Eastbourne Date: 26 June-1 July Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online

World number two Simona Halep has accepted a wildcard to appear at Eastbourne for the first time.

It will be the Romanian’s only grass-court tournament before Wimbledon after she missed the Aegon Classic in Birmingham with an ankle injury.

The 25-year-old won the Madrid Open and reached the French Open final during the clay-court season.

Seven of the top 10 women’s players will appear at Eastbourne, including world number one Angelique Kerber.

“The quality of the draw is very high so I’m hoping for some great matches to give me the best possible preparation ahead of Wimbledon,” Halep said.

She reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year, losing 7-5 7-6 (7-2) to Kerber.

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