Tennis News

From around the world

Andy Murray practices with Kyle Edmund before facing Stan Wawrinka at Eastbourne

  • Posted: Jun 24, 2018
2018 Nature Valley International on the BBC
Venue: Eastbourne Dates: 24-30 June
Coverage: Watch live coverage of the women’s tournament on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs, the BBC Sport website and app. Live text coverage of the men’s tournament, including Murray’s matches, on the BBC Sport website

Andy Murray practised with British number one Kyle Edmund before his first-round match at Eastbourne against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka.

Both Murray and Wawrinka are wildcards at the Nature Valley International, which starts on Monday, as they continue their comebacks from injury.

The 31-year-old Scot made his competitive return on Tuesday at Queen’s, where he lost to Nick Kyrgios.

He had been out for almost a year with a hip injury that required surgery.

  • Andy Murray column on his ’emotional’ comeback
  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

If Murray reaches the second round he will face fellow Brit Edmund, who has a bye and is the second seed at the event.

Edmund, 23, tweeted a picture of himself and Murray on Instagram after practice with the message “Always a pleasure! Great to see you Muzza. Practice smiles before I put my game face on.”

Former world number one Murray – now the British number two – has fallen to 156th in the world rankings, while Wawrinka is 261st following knee surgery.

Wawrinka, 33, lost to American Sam Querrey in the second round at Queen’s.

The Eastbourne tournament is the final warm-up event before Wimbledon begins on 2 July.

Source link

Murray & Soares lose Queen's doubles final

  • Posted: Jun 24, 2018

Britain’s Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares lost to Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the Fever-Tree Championships final at Queen’s.

Australia’s Peers and Kontinen of Finland recorded a routine 6-4 6-3 win over 2017 champions Murray and Soares.

“We got four great matches and played three on Centre Court in a fun atmosphere,” doubles specialist Murray told BBC Sport.

“We are looking forward to going and playing at Wimbledon next week now.”

  • Cilic beats Djokovic in marathon Queen’s final
  • Federer loses number one ranking after Halle defeat
  • Live scores, schedule and results

Source link

Olsson beats Houdet to win Queen's wheelchair singles

  • Posted: Jun 24, 2018

Sweden’s Stefan Olsson won the inaugural wheelchair singles event at Queen’s with a straight-set victory over Stephane Houdet of France.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Olsson, 31, posted a 6-1 6-4 win over the 47-year-old in the 53-minute final at the Fever-Tree Championships.

Houdet gained a measure of revenge with victory over Olsson in the doubles alongside compatriot Nicolas Peifer.

The duo claimed a 6-3 6-2 win over Olsson and Spain’s Daniel Caverzaschi.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Dermot Bailey won the singles title at the Slovakia Open with a 6-1 6-2 win over world number three, top seed and doubles partner Tadeusz Kruszelnicki.

Bailey and Poland’s Kruszelnicki had won the doubles title on Saturday with a 6-1 6-2 success over Slovakian duo Marek Gergely and Tomas Masaryk.

Source link

Cilic beats Djokovic in marathon Queen's final – highlights & report

  • Posted: Jun 24, 2018

Marin Cilic saved a match point before beating Novak Djokovic to win his second title at Queen’s Club.

The 29-year-old Croat fought back to win the Fever-Tree Championships 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the longest final in the tournament’s history.

Cilic, who won the title in 2012 and was runner-up last year, saved match point at 5-4 in the second set and came back from 4-1 down in the tie-break.

His serve was crucial in the final set as he won in two hours and 57 minutes.

“It was a special win for me because last year I had a match point and didn’t convert it,” said Cilic.

“It was a tough match, with no breaks for me until the final set.”

  • Relive Cilic’s marathon final with Djokovic
  • Federer loses to Coric in Halle final
  • Live scores, schedule and results

Former world number one Djokovic, seeking to secure his first title since winning at Eastbourne last year, was upbeat despite his loss.

“I have to congratulate Marin on a fantastic week,” said Djokovic, who was playing in the tournament for the first time in 10 years.

“He deserved to win and came up with some big shots. It’s a tough loss for me. But I have to see the positive because I haven’t played a final in almost a year.”

Cilic fightback stuns Djokovic

Djokovic, 31, took a wildcard in an attempt to regain his best form before Wimbledon, having had surgery on his elbow in January.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion went into the 99th final of his career with a 14-1 head-to-head record over his opponent.

Inspired to play tennis?

Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide.

His return of serve and athletic play blunted Cilic’s powerful serve in the first set and with the Croat struggling to assert himself looked on course to end his long wait for a trophy.

But Cilic denied Djokovic match point with a blistering serve and went to take the game and then force a tie-break.

Djokovic led 4-1 in the tie-break but nerves seemed to affect him and Cilic won six points in a row to set up the decider.

It was a tense final set and Cilic produced a moment of quality to tee up the only break of serve at 4-3.

Chasing down a wide ball, the Croat fired a stunning forehand winner that left Djokovic applauding.

The world number six then served it out to love to complete his victory.

‘Victory will boost Cilic’s Wimbledon hopes’

Analysis – BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

For much of this match, many of Djokovic’s trademark qualities were in evidence. He was serving well, defending resiliently and showing great speed across the court – and seemingly on his way to a first title for a year.

But he wobbled a little when just three points away from the prize, as a double fault and a backhand error contributed to Cilic’s run of six points in a row in the tie-break.

Cilic had lost his three previous finals, but he grew in confidence in the final set. His serving improved and his running forehand pass to set up the pivotal break of serve was breathtaking.

A second consecutive win over Djokovic, after 14 prior defeats, should further fuel his confidence ahead of Wimbledon.

Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Source link

Federer loses number one ranking after shock Coric defeat in final

  • Posted: Jun 24, 2018

Roger Federer suffered a surprise defeat to Borna Coric in the final of the Halle Open and will lose his world number one ranking.

Croatia’s Coric, 21, won 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 6-2 to end the Wimbledon champion’s run of 20 consecutive victories on grass.

Federer, 36, was bidding to win the event for the 10th time and secure his 99th career title heading into Wimbledon next week.

The Swiss’ defeat means Rafael Nadal will take over as world number one.

  • Murray drawn against Wawrinka at Eastbourne
  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Coric had claimed his first win over a top-10 player on grass earlier in the week when he knocked out Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

The Croat fended off two set points before clinching the opening set after 57 minutes.

Federer put pressure on Coric’s serve in the second set and converted a break point in the eighth game to force a decider.

Coric then broke Federer in the sixth game of the final set when the Swiss sliced a backhand long, before going on to claim his second ATP title.

Federer, who skipped the clay-court season including the French Open, began his grass season last week by winning the title in Stuttgart.

Source link

Wimbledon 2018: Tomas Berdych pulls out with back injury

  • Posted: Jun 24, 2018

Tomas Berdych has been forced to pull out of Wimbledon with a back injury.

The Czech, who was beaten by champion Roger Federer in last year’s semi-finals and who lost the 2010 final to Rafael Nadal, said he has had back pain for “a couple of months”.

The 32-year-old world number 19 is expected to be out for several weeks.

“I was very much looking forward to Wimbledon,” Berdych posted on social media. “My attempts to get ready for the grass season were not successful.”

Wimbledon runs at the All England Club in London from 2-15 July.

Source link