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Glasspool/Heliovaara Beat Tsitsipas Brothers In Rotterdam

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Glasspool/Heliovaara Beat Tsitsipas Brothers In Rotterdam

Defending champs Arevalo/Rojer off the mark in Delray Beach

Fourth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara made a fast start at the ABN AMRO Open with a straight-sets win against wild cards Petros Tsitsipas and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Monday. The British-Finnish pairing converted on three of four break points in the 6-3, 6-4 victory, winning 86 per cent of their first-serve points in a comfortable outing.

Through to the quarter-finals, Glasspool/Heliovaara are seeking their fourth title as a team and their second of 2023 after a triumph at the Adelaide International 1 last month. The duo is 8-1 on the young season.

Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen were also victorious on Day 1 in Rotterdam, earning a 6-3, 5-7, 10-3 win against Dutchmen Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp.


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Defending Champs Arevalo/Rojer Advance In Delray Beach
Top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Marcelo Arevalo defeated Americans Brandon Holt and Jackson Withrow 6-3, 7-5 on Monday in the opening round of the Delray Beach Open. The Salvadoran-Dutch duo won four titles in 2022, including at Roland Garros and Delray Beach. They have already claimed another this season at the Adelaide International 2.

Robert Galloway and John-Patrick Smith also advanced at the ATP 250 with a 6-4, 7-6(6) win against Americans Mackenzie McDonald and Ben Shelton.

Buenos Aires Action

Francisco Cabral and Nikola Cacic moved on to the quarter-finals at the Argentina Open with a 6-3, 6-7(4), 10-4 victory against Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar.

Diego Schwartzman and Dominic Thiem are also in action on Monday against Argentines Sebastian Baez and Facundo Bagnis.

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Rio Open Presented By Claro 2023: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Rio Open Presented By Claro 2023: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

All about the clay-court ATP 500 tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro

The second ATP 500 event of the 2023 season will see defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Cameron Norrie and Lorenzo Musetti lead the field at the Rio Open presented by Claro.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the tournament in Brazil:

When is the Rio Open presented by Claro?

The 2023 Rio Open presented by Claro will be held from 20-26 February. The clay-court ATP 500 tournament, established in 2014, will take place at the Jockey Club Brasileiro. The tournament director is Luiz Procopio Carvalho.

Who is playing at the 2023 Rio Open presented by Claro?

The Rio Open presented by Claro will feature stars including World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, four-time tour-level titlist Cameron Norrie and World No. 18 Lorenzo Musetti.

When is the draw for the Rio Open presented by Claro.?

The Rio Open presented by Claro draw will be made Saturday, 18 February at 6 p.m.

What is the schedule for the Rio Open presented by Claro?

*Qualifying: Saturday 18 February – Sunday 19 February at 4 p.m.
*Main Draw: Monday 20 February – Thursday 23 February 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
*Friday 24 February sessions starting at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
*Saturday 25 February session starting at 5 p.m.
*Doubles Final: Saturday 25 February, third from 5 p.m.
*Singles Final: Sunday 26 February at 5:30 p.m.

View On Official Website


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What is the prize money and points for the Rio Open presented by Claro?

The Total Financial Commitment for the Rio Open presented by Claro is $2,178,980.

SINGLES
Winner: $376,620/500 points
Finalist: $202,640/300 points
Semi-finalist: $108,000/180 points
Quarter-finalist: $55,170/90 points
Second Round: $29,455/45 points
First Round: $15,710/0 points

DOUBLES (US Dollars; per team)
Winner: $123,710/500 points
Finalist: $65,980/300 points
Semi-finalist: $33,380/180 points
Quarter-finalist: $16,690/90 points
First Round: $8,640/0 points

How can I watch the Rio Open presented by Claro?

View TV Schedule

How can I follow the Rio Open presented by Claro?

Social
Hashtag: #RioOpen
Facebook: @rioopenoficial
Twitter: @RioOpenOficial
Instagram: rioopenoficial

Who won the last edition of the Rio Open presented by Claro in 2022?

Carlos Alcaraz won the 2022 Rio Open presented by Claro title with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Diego Schwartzman in the championship match. Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini lifted the doubles trophy, defeating Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares 7-5, 6-7(2), 10-6 in the final.

Who holds the Rio Open presented by Claro record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles, Singles: Rafael Nadal (1), David Ferrer (1), Pablo Cuevas (1), Dominic Thiem (1), Diego Schwartzman (1), Laslo Djere (1), Cristian Garin (1), Carlos Alcaraz (1)
Most Titles, Doubles: Juan Sebastian Cabal, Robert Farah (2)
Oldest Champion: David Ferrer, 32, in 2015
Youngest Champion: Carlos Alcaraz, 18, in 2022
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Rafael Nadal in 2014
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 90 Laslo Djere in 2019
Last Home Champion: None
Most Match Wins: Pablo Cuevas (13)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

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Wu Breaks New Ground For China, Mover Of Week

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Wu Breaks New Ground For China, Mover Of Week

ATPTour.com looks at the top Movers of the Week in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, as of Monday, 13 February 2023

Wu Yibing has become the highest-ranked Chinese player in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history thanks to his title run at the Dallas Open, while Jannik Sinner and Sebastian Baez also made jumps after their triumphs at the Open Sud de France – Montpellier and Cordoba Open, respectively.

ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings after a trio of action-packed ATP 250 events.

View Pepperstone ATP Rankings


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No. 58 Wu Yibing, +39 (Career High)
Wu knocked off a series of milestones during his title run at the Dallas Open. He became the first Chinese player in history to defeat a Top 10 opponent with his semi-final win against Taylor Fritz, and then held off John Isner in a nerve-wracking final to become the first to win an ATP Tour title.

Wu has risen 39 spots to No. 58 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings as a result, the highest position ever held by a Chinese player. The 23-year-old has plenty of capacity to continue his climb, as he has only 39 Pepperstone ATP Ranking Points to defend between now and the start of June. Read Dallas Final Report & Watch Highlights.

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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Wu Yibing

No. 7 Taylor Fritz, +1 (Career High)
Despite his three-set defeat to Wu in Dallas, Fritz has climbed to a career-high No. 7 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings after reaching his first individual semi-final of the 2023 season. The 25-year-old Fritz defeated fellow Americans Jack Sock and Marcos Giron en route to improve his record for the year to 7-3.

No. 14 Jannik Sinner, +3
A dominant showing from Sinner at the Open Sud de France – Montpellier has moved the Italian three spots closer to a Top 10 return. The 21-year-old, who has a career high of No. 9 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, did not drop a set in defeating Lorenzo Sonego, Arthur Fils and Maxime Cressy to seal his seventh tour-level crown. Read Montpellier Final Report & Watch Highlights.

No. 36 Sebastian Baez, +11
Baez battled past countryman Federico Coria in a hard-fought final at the Cordoba Open and the Argentine has returned to the Top 40 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings as a result. It was a second ATP Tour crown for Baez, who is now just five spots shy of the career high he reached in August last year. Read Cordoba Final Report & Watch Highlights.

No. 40 Maxime Cressy, +11
The American serve-and-volleyed his way past a series of tough opponents in Montpellier, where he dispatched Emil Ruusuvuori and Borna Coric in straight sets before downing Holger Rune in a three-set semi-final battle. Despite falling short against Sinner in the final, the 25-year-old Cressy has jumped 11 spots to No. 40 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

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Other Notable Movers
No. 44 Albert Ramos-Vinolas, +10
No. 49 Federico Coria, +18 (Career High)
No. 62 Quentin Halys, +8
No. 71 Gregoire Barrere, +4 (Career High)
No. 94 Emilio Gomez, +8 (Career High)
No. 107 Hugo Dellien, +31
No. 117 Arthur Fils, +46 (Career High)

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Dimitrov Races Through Rotterdam Opener

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Dimitrov Races Through Rotterdam Opener

2018 finalist to meet fifth seed Hurkacz or Bautista Agut in second round

Grigor Dimitrov wasted little time kick-starting his 2023 ABN AMRO Open campaign on Monday, when the World No. 28 eased past Aslan Karatsev 6-1, 6-3 in just 59 minutes in Rotterdam.

The Bulgarian is a former finalist at the ATP 500 tournament, and he delivered a confident performance on the indoor hard courts of the Rotterdam Ahoy. Dimitrov did not face a break point against Karatsev and converted four from five of his own to improve his record in opening rounds at the event to 8-1.

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Tsitsipas Could Face Early Sinner Test In Rotterdam

It was a second victory of 2023 for Dimitrov against the three-time tour-level titlist Karatsev. The pair also met in the first round at January’s Australian Open, where the Bulgarian also prevailed as a straight-sets winner. The 31-year-old Dimitrov went on to reach the third round in Melbourne, where he was beaten by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

The eight-time ATP Tour champion’s reward for Monday’s victory is a second-round clash against fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz or Roberto Bautista Agut.


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#NextGenATP Gigante: From Lucky Loser To Challenger Champion

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

#NextGenATP Gigante: From Lucky Loser To Challenger Champion

Broady triumphs at the Challenger 100 event in Vilnius

Matteo Gigante was down and out in the second round of qualifying at the Tenerife Challenger-3. Following a straight-sets defeat against Giovanni Fonio, it seemed the Italian was off to his next tournament. But little did he know what the rest of the week held for him.

After receiving a lucky loser spot in the Tenerife main draw, Gigante went on a run to collect his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title. In the final, he defeated countryman Stefano Travaglia 6-3, 6-2 in just one hour, 10 minutes.

“I’m so proud, I played amazing tennis this week,” Gigante said. “[The final] was against a good friend, when we are in Rome we practise every day. It’s difficult mentally but I’m so happy.”

ATP Challenger Tour 

The 21-year-old is the first lucky loser champion on the Challenger Tour since 2018, when Tommy Paul won in Charlottesville and just the 16th lucky loser champion in Challenger history.

A rain-delayed quarter-final, which was halted at 1-1, forced Gigante to spend almost four hours on court Saturday, including a comeback 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3 semi-final victory over Riccardo Bonadio.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/matteo-gigante/g0gd/overview'>Matteo Gigante</a> claims the Challenger 75 event in Tenerife.
Matteo Gigante claims the Challenger 75 event in Tenerife. Credit: Joana Wallmeier

Gigante adds his name to a plethora of young Italian stars who are finding early success on the Challenger Tour. In 2022, seven Italian #NextGenATP players collected Challenger titles: Matteo Arnaldi, Mattia Bellucci, Flavio Cobolli, Francesco Maestrelli, Lorenzo Musetti, Luca Nardi, and Francesco Passaro. The Rome-native Gigante is the third #NextGenATP winner of this season, joining Frenchmen Arthur Fils and Arthur Cazaux.

Following his Challenger 75 title on the Canary island, the lefty rises to a career-high No. 194 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

At the Vitas Gerulaitis Cup in Vilnius, Lithuania, Liam Broady claimed his first Challenger title since September 2021 (Biel). The British lefty didn’t drop a set all week and downed Czech Zdenek Kolar 6-4, 6-4 in the championship match.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/liam-broady/bi23/overview'>Liam Broady</a> at the 2023 Vilnius Challenger.
Liam Broady at the 2023 Vilnius Challenger. Credit: Saulius Čirba

Broady, 29, is a former junior World No. 2 and was a finalist at the 2011 Wimbledon and 2012 US Open boys’ singles events.

In 2022, Broady made his career-best Grand Slam result by reaching the third round at Wimbledon (l. de Minaur), where he earned a wild card and won back-to-back five setters, including against 12th seed Diego Schwartzman.

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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Wu Yibing

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

First-Time Winner Spotlight: Wu Yibing

23-year-old reflects on his historic title

Wu Yibing made history on Sunday when he triumphed in a three tie-break Dallas Open final against John Isner to become the first Chinese ATP Tour titlist.

After Wu earned the biggest victory of his career, the 23-year-old spoke to ATPTour.com about the importance of his win back home, overcoming injuries, why he loves Kevin Durant, cooking and more.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
I feel happy. It’s not only about winning the title. It’s more about me personally making history, also for the country. It’s huge for the next generation. For me, I need to keep going, keep my body healthy and I’m sure there’s more to come.

It has been a long wait to see this success from Chinese men’s tennis, which could create a lot of pressure, but you seemed so relaxed this week. How have you managed to not allow the pressure to bother you?
I’ve been through a lot of things. I’ve been through injuries, I’ve been through many difficult situations when I was growing up. I think the reason why I’m relaxed now on the tennis court is because I trust myself. If you want to beat me, you have to work hard.

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Wu Becomes First Chinese ATP Tour Titlist In History With Dallas Triumph

When you were away from professional tennis for about three years because of injuries and the pandemic, did you ever doubt you would reach a moment like this? How does it feel to persevere?
Of course there were a lot of doubts because I did surgery and the rehab wasn’t going well. It took longer than it should [have], but it turned out I’m here. I’d be [lying] if I said 100 per cent I’m going to be here today. But the process is always the most important thing.

I trust myself and I work hard for it. In the gym, on the tennis court, off the court, I always think about tennis. The way I look at tennis, now it’s more relaxing, more enjoyable than before.

You first started playing tennis by coincidence when the badminton net was too high for you. Have you ever thought about what you might be doing today if there wasn’t a tennis court near the badminton court that day? If not, what do you think you would be?
I don’t know! I’m happy with what I am now. But I have this confidence [that] if I chose badminton or sports or just being a student, I would do good things because I trust in myself. When I do things, I’m very focused and if I want to do good, normally I would say 70 or 80 per cent is going to turn out good.

Who are some of your key team members and how have they helped you get to this point?
Of course my tennis coach now Gerardo [Azcurra], he’s been helping me. We see each other’s faces every day! Through IMG [we connected]. He gives me a lot of positive tips and working with him is a very happy thing. Also David the physio here, he keeps my body healthy. It’s just my first week working with him, and good for him!

Also back in China I have my support team, especially Team China and the association, they give us the best conditions to play, the chances to travel around the world and support us.

Also my family. I haven’t seen my family in more than a year. Back in China because of the pandemic and the Covid situation, I’m not allowed to go back home like every day so I can see my parents or my grandparents maybe like twice a week or twice in two weeks. I’m sure they’re still up now. They watch all my matches, especially my mom and grandpa. They take notes! I couldn’t do any of this without their support, especially my family’s.

Follow The Cast Of ATP Tour | Break Point

How did Kevin Durant become your favourite athlete and what do you like most about him?
When I first watched the NBA, I think that was the 2011-2012 season. That’s when Westbrook, Harden and Durant played on the Thunder and they made the finals that year and lost to LeBron [James]… That is my first memory of NBA basketball.

I bet everybody in China knows basketball by Yao Ming. He’s the Chinese giant, he’s a legend. I had some sponsor stuff with him once and we took a picture. I think he’s even taller than John [Isner]. It’s a lot of pressure when you’re standing right next to him.

Back to Durant, I think he has this thing. He’s very cool on court. He doesn’t show much emotion and he’s not a really outgoing guy on court and I want to be like him. I want to be a cool guy on court. There’s not much talking, there’s not much bulls%^!. You just do the job your own way. I think that’s very cool.

What are some of your other favourite hobbies off the court?
I play video games a lot and I love music. But I don’t really listen to Western [music]. I am getting better with it.

What is something fans might not know about you?
I can cook! Is that a thing? I’m pretty into cooking TV shows, which I watch every day. I love cooking different food and I think this also gives me inner peace when I’m alone in the house or after practice. Even if you’re tired, you still cut the food, you cook and you wash. That makes me more comfortable. I don’t know if it tastes good because sometimes it can be terrible, but you just enjoy the process.

How will you celebrate this milestone moment in your career?
Maybe have some beer! I’m not really a celebratory person. Maybe playing some video games will do.

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Murray/Venus Rally In Dallas For First Team Title

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Murray/Venus Rally In Dallas For First Team Title

Top seeds battle past second seeds in Match Tie-break

Jamie Murray and Michael Venus began their partnership this year. On Sunday, they stepped into the winners’ circle together for the first time.

The top seeds rallied past second seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 1-6, 7-6(4), 10-7 to win the Dallas Open for their first title as a team.

“Obviously it’s great, we just started the year and as a new partnership you want to spend as much time on the court together [as possible],” Venus said. “So, to be able to do it in matches, I think that’s great, because that’s where you learn the most about each other.

“We had some tough matches here, and just really happy to get the title.” 


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Murray and Venus were in danger of losing a straightforward encounter when serving at 3-4, 0/40 in the second set. But they managed to hold firm under pressure to escape. That allowed them to then win the second-set tie-break and the ensuing Match Tie-break.

“We had a great week, obviously. To win the tournament, not easy, we had to battle a lot,” Murray said. “Especially today we went down really hard in the first set… But I think we stayed calm and kind of committed to what we were trying to do out there and worked our way into the match. Had a good hold half-way through the set at 0/40, which probably would have been curtains for us.

“But as that set went on we got stronger and stronger, and we played a really solid tie-break, so super happy with how it turned out.” 

Murray is now a 28-time tour-level titlist and has earned at least one crown in 11 consecutive seasons. Venus, an 18-time tour-level champion, has now earned glory in nine straight years.

This was the pair’s second final of the year after reaching the championship match at the Adelaide International 1. They will try to maintain their momentum next week at the Delray Beach Open, where they are the second seeds.

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Baez Battles Past Coria To Cordoba Crown

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Baez Battles Past Coria To Cordoba Crown

22-year-old wins ATP 250 event for second tour-level title

There is nothing quite like victory at home, as Sebastian Baez found out Sunday at the Cordoba Open.

The World No. 47 prevailed 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in an all-Argentine championship match against Federico Coria on Sunday at the ATP 250 event. Although it was Baez’s fourth ATP Tour championship match, it was his first on home soil, and his one-hour, 50-minute win was followed by an emotional courtside huddle with his team.

“Winning a tournament in Argentina is something very difficult to describe with words, all my friends and family were there, it was something incredible,” Baez said. “I couldn’t find any celebration when the match point ended, I was able to get out what I felt when I got to my team. [My coach] Seba has supported me for as long as I can remember in my career, I am very grateful to him.”


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In a hard-fought final, the 30-year-old Coria dug deep in pursuit of his first ATP Tour title, but Baez’s powerful forehand frequently proved decisive in the baseline exchanges. Despite an early exchange of breaks in the deciding set, it was Baez who held firm to add the Cordoba crown to his 2022 victory in Estoril. 

“The balance of the match is very positive, I held [my level] a little longer than him and that’s why I think I was able to win the tournament,” Baez said. “In the difficult moments I played my best tennis and that makes me happy. I knew it was going to be a tough match because we know each other very well with Fede and that’s how it was, but I managed to control the tension, the nerves and I managed to do it.”

After competing at the 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals, Baez enjoyed a breakout season on the ATP Tour last year, and notably on clay. He defeated Frances Tiafoe for his Estoril title while also reaching finals in Santiago and Bastad and pushing Alexander Zverev to five sets in a Roland Garros thriller.

As well as his countryman Coria, the fourth-seeded Baez also defeated Luciano Darderi, Tomas Barrios Vera and Hugo Dellien this week in Cordoba, where he reached the quarter-finals on tournament debut a year ago. This year’s run will lift the 22-year-old 11 spots to No. 36 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday, just five places shy of his career high.

“I’m 22 years old and I’m in the place I’ve always dreamed of,” Baez said. “Obviously I want more but I [will] enjoy it to the fullest. I’m sure I’ll celebrate it with a good ‘asado’ with my friends and family.”

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Wu Becomes First Chinese ATP Tour Titlist In History With Dallas Triumph

  • Posted: Feb 13, 2023

Wu Becomes First Chinese ATP Tour Titlist In History With Dallas Triumph

23-year-old survives 44 aces, saves four championship points to down Isner

Wu Yibing came back from the brink to make history Sunday at the Dallas Open, where the fast-rising 23-year-old saved four championship points before downing John Isner 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(12) to become the first Chinese player to lift an ATP Tour trophy.

Before this week, no Chinese man had ever reached a tour-level final in the Open Era or defeated an opponent in the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Wu achieved both of those in one go with his semi-final victory against World No. 8 Taylor Fritz in Dallas, and he continued his history-making run in Sunday’s final with a milestone victory for tennis in his country.

“I made history here for my country and for my home,” said Wu at the trophy ceremony. “I’m very proud of myself and especially thanks to all the fans and my team who came here to support. I couldn’t do this without any of you guys.”

After a bright start, Wu appeared to have faded in the face of a trademark serving barrage from Isner at the indoor ATP 250 event in Texas. The American held championship point on his opponent’s serve at 6-5, 30/40 in the second set, but Wu kept his cool to recover before sealing a historic victory in a nerve-wracking deciding-set tie-break.

Wu forced Isner to push a forehand long to clinch a third-set tie-break in which the first 22 points went with serve. He completed a remarkable two-hour, 59-minute win despite Isner firing 44 aces in the match.

“It’s a tough one to lose,” said Isner, who is now 16-15 in tour-level finals. “I don’t know how many match points I had, I’m sure it’s a lot. I swear I thought I won the match a few times. I know he hit one ball… It had to be [on] the back sixteenth of the line on one of the points… Sports can be brutal. I had match point in the second set too.

“It’s like he plays every point the same, so definitely no nerves,” added Isner when asked about Wu’s performance. “He gets a ball to hit, he hits it, and on this court it’s hard to hit him a shot he is uncomfortable with… He is an unbelievable ballstriker and a very good talent.”


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Even after falling a set behind, Wu continued to strike aggressively from the baseline in his maiden tour-level meeting with Isner. His combination of power and accuracy brought him 41 winners, including seven aces, while the Chinese also won all 13 points he played at the net.

Wu, who did not compete on the ATP Tour from March 2019 to January 2022 due to a series of injuries, had notched just six tour-level wins prior to this week. Yet he showed no sign of nerves throughout his run, during which he defeated Michael Mmoh, third seed Denis Shapovalov, Adrian Mannarino, top seed Fritz, and Isner.

On Monday, Wu became just the second Chinese player to crack the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Now he will rise to a career-high World No. 58 just one week later.

Isner, who pledged to donate $100 to the Isner Family Foundation for each ace he hit this week, finished the tournament with 138 aces, raising $13,800 for needy children in the Dallas area.

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