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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Soonwoo Kwon

  • Posted: Sep 26, 2021

Soonwoo Kwon enjoyed a dream week at the Astana Open as he defeated three seeds en route to capturing his maiden ATP Tour title.

The 23-year-old is the second South Korean man to win a tour-level trophy in the Open Era, after Hyung-Taik Lee triumphed in Sydney in 2003. The World No. 82 overcame Australian James Duckworth in the championship match.

ATPTour.com caught up with Kwon after he lifted his first title in Nur-Sultan.

Watch Nur-Sultan Final Highlights

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
To win the title as a Korean, it has been 18 years and it means a lot to me and I am really proud of myself. I feel great and really happy for myself and my team and all the people supporting me from Korea.

You had to win two matches in three sets and defeat three seeded players to get this trophy. At what point in the week did you start to believe that you could win this title?
I just took one match at a time. I never thought I was going to win the tournament. But after match after match, I was only thinking about the next match. Today I just came out and it was a perfect day for me.

Prior to your run here, you had never reached the final at an ATP Tour event. What do you think was the key behind your breakthrough this week in Nur-Sultan?
The key point was being relaxed and not getting panicked. I tried to get my game face on and stayed focused and that was it. Just trying to stay in the match. Especially in the quarter-finals, it was a tough match for me with a lot of ups and downs, but I just tried to stay calm and didn’t panic.

You are the second South Korean man in the Open Era to win an ATP Tour title. To what extent do you think this can help grow the sport in South Korea and inspire others to follow in your footsteps?
Winning this tournament is going to help a lot of players in South Korea and is going to help a lot of guys who are trying to go out there. The younger guys will look up to me and they are going to believe they can do it as well.

Could you take a moment to acknowledge some of the key figures in your life and career who have helped you to reach this milestone?
My parents have been really supporting me from the start to now. They have been really supporting me from Korea. My sponsor Fila, they have been really helping me with a lot of stuff, and our agency Leeco. They have been really friendly and helping me when I had a tough time. My team, my coach and my trainer. They have been working so hard since we started and the Korean city team, in Korea, which is Daejeon city, have been helping me with a lot of practices. Also, the people that are helping us in America. All those guys have been helping me with my career and my journey.

How did you start playing tennis and what are some of your early memories playing the sport?
My father, he introduced me to tennis. I was a pretty wild boy when I was young. I was running around and looking to expend energy. I have some good memories playing tennis and at the same time I was playing soccer.

How would you describe yourself as a player, and how would you describe yourself off the court? Does your on-court attitude extend off the tennis court as well?
I am a pretty wild guy off the court. I really enjoy singing, really friendly. I like to have fun, I am a really easy guy. On the court a lot of people say I am really serious, just a different personality, I think it changes. Off the court I smile a lot. Nothing really worries me. On the court I also get really focused and get really serious about taking care of business.

What do you consider to be your biggest passions outside of tennis and can you tell us a little bit about those interests?
I like singing. I don’t consider myself a good singer but I like to enjoy it. Maybe in the shower and stuff like that. I like to watch movies, little hobbies. Netflix and Korean dramas.

This is a milestone moment in your career. How will you celebrate this victory?
I will enjoy this today and celebrate with my team and the people here at the hotel. I will enjoy it today as much as possible, then tomorrow I am heading out to San Diego to play another tournament there and we will restart. But today is my happiest day so I will enjoy it.

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Gonzalez/Molteni Seal Nur-Sultan Title

  • Posted: Sep 26, 2021

Top seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Andres Molteni completed a dream week at the Astana Open on Sunday as they cruised past Andrei Vasilevski and Jonathan Erlich 6-1, 6-2 to capture their first tour-level title as a team.

The Mexican-Argentine tandem have now won their past eight matches at all levels, after also triumphing last week in Szczecin at an ATP Challenger Tour event. They first teamed at the US Open last month where they reached the third round.

“We started very well,” Gonzalez said. “We played well on return, so we had many opportunities to break them, and it was good for us to have this early break in the first set. Then all the nerves from playing in the final we [were able to] control better.”

In a dominant display against Vasilevski and Erlich, Gonzalez and Molteni won 87 per cent (20/23) of their first-serve points and did not face a break point to secure their victory after 61 minutes.

“We played at the US Open where we reached the third round,” Molteni added. “Then in Szczecin, we won the challenger on clay and then this week we won, so we are doing fine and working well. Let’s hope we keep up with this attitude.”

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Gonzalez has now won 16 tour-level doubles titles, having also lifted the trophy in Stuttgart (w/Demoliner) earlier this season. It was Molteni’s first tour-level doubles title since winning in Cordoba in 2019 (w/Jebavy). The 33-year-old has now captured eight trophies at this level.

Vasilevski and Erlich were competing in their eighth tour-level tournament as a team this year and were aiming to win their second ATP Tour crown of the season, after triumphing in Belgrade.

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Kwon Captures Maiden ATP Tour Title In Nur-Sultan

  • Posted: Sep 26, 2021

South Korean Soonwoo Kwon broke new ground on Sunday at the Astana Open as he overcame James Duckworth 7-6(6), 6-3 to capture his first ATP Tour title.

Kwon, who defeated three seeds en route to the trophy, became the second South Korean man to win a tour-level crown in the Open Era, after 2003 Sydney champion Hyung-Taik Lee.

“I am really happy to win my first ATP 250 title,” Kwon said. “I am just really, really happy to win today. It was a tough match today against James. He served really well and played very well and I tried to focus every single point.”

In an entertaining match, Kwon combined his powerful groundstrokes with great variety to cause Duckworth problems. The 23-year-old saved three set points from 3/6 down in the first-set tie-break, before securing his victory after one hour and 38 minutes in his maiden ATP Tour final.

Watch Highlights

Earlier this season, Kwon reached the quarter-finals in Singapore and Marbella and enjoyed a run to the last four in Eastbourne. The unseeded South Korean also lifted his third ATP Challenger Tour trophy in Biella. The World No. 82 will move above his previous career-high of No. 69 in the FedEx ATP Rankings on Monday.

“It was a fantastic tournament and it has been an honour to play here,” Kwon added. “Thank you to my team and my coach for supporting me.”

In a tight first set, both players were strong on serve. Duckworth won 80 per cent (20/25) of points behind his first delivery, with Kwon at 86 per cent (18/21) as they played aggressively. After Duckworth saved the only break point of the set at 4-4, they moved to a tie-break where Kwon showed great resilience to battle back from 3/6 down, winning five straight points to lead.

The 23-year-old then recovered from being broken in the opening game of the second set as he raised his level in the first ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair, sealing the title when Duckworth could only find the net with a forehand return.

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Duckworth, who did not drop a sent route to his maiden ATP Tour final, was aiming to become the second Australian champion in Nur-Sultan in as many years after John Millman triumphed in Kazakhstan last season.

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Federer: 'I Think The Worst Is Behind Me'

  • Posted: Sep 26, 2021

Roger Federer, who is recovering from August right knee surgery, made a late decision to attend this year’s Laver Cup. The Swiss legend is happy that he did.

“The reception I’ve received, everybody is so upbeat that I’m here. They wish me all the best and they don’t even see the crutches. They just want me to be good again and enjoy the weekend,” Federer said in an interview for the event with former World No. 1 Jim Courier. “I’ve seen some incredible tennis, some great matches and it’s been wonderful. I’m really happy I made the trip.”

The 20-time major champion admitted that it was a difficult process to decide whether to undergo a third right knee surgery after having two last year. But following Wimbledon, where he was “really unhappy” with his performance in reaching the quarter-finals, Federer opted to go through with it.

“I was just nowhere near where I wanted to be to play at the top, top level. But I tried my best and at the end… too much is too much. Now I’ve just got to take it step by step,” Federer said. “I’ve got to first walk again properly, run properly and then do the sidesteps and all the agility work and then eventually I’ve got to be back on the tennis court. But it’s going to take me a few more months and then we’ll see how things are at some point next year.

“I’ve got to take my time. I don’t want to rush into anything at this point. This is also for my life. I want to make sure I can do everything I want to do later on. There’s no rush with anything, so I’m actually in a really good place. I think the worst is behind me.

“I took the time and, I don’t know, I’m just really in a good place. I’m really happy.”

Federer has received several thunderous ovations inside Boston’s TD Garden, where he has often been sitting in the front row watching the action or behind the scenes visiting with the players. The former World No. 1 played in the first three editions of the Laver Cup.

“I think Boston is a great city. The stadium is wonderful, the crowds have been incredible. Both teams are stacked with absolute quality and top players,” Federer said. “That’s what the idea was behind it: that everybody could come together, have the most incredible weekend, learn from one another and then hopefully that’s going to inspire them, motivate them and get them going for the rest of this year, next year.”

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Medvedev Marches Past Shapovalov, Extends Team Europe's Lead

  • Posted: Sep 26, 2021

Daniil Medvedev suffered no letdown on Saturday in his first match since claiming the US Open title.

The World No. 2 beat Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-0 to give Team Europe a 9-1 lead over Team World in the Laver Cup. The top-ranked player in the event broke serve four times and needed just 75 minutes to triumph inside TD Garden.

Medvedev entered the match trailing Shapovalov 1-2 in their ATP Head2Head rivalry. But they had not played since Tokyo in 2018 (a Medvedev win), and the 25-year-old has since firmly established himself near the top of the sport.

The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion left Shapovalov stunned with his precision and consistency, leaving the dynamic lefty few ideas to try to turn the match around.

At 6-4, 5-0, Shapovalov’s longtime friend and teammate, Felix Auger-Aliassime, wandered over to the Team Europe bench with his hands up in disbelief at Medvedev’s play after an impressive point. Even Shapovalov laughed as he walked to the net to shake the Russian’s hand after match point.

Team World will try to claw closer in the overall score when John Isner and Nick Kyrgios take on Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in a doubles clash to complete the day’s play.

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Federer & Roddick Enjoy Reunion At Laver Cup

  • Posted: Sep 25, 2021

Andy Roddick made his first visit to the Laver Cup on Saturday, and he got to do more than take in the tennis. The International Tennis Hall of Famer spent time with his old rival and friend, Roger Federer.

The former World No. 1s sat in the front row for Stefanos Tsitsipas’ straight-sets victory against Nick Kyrgios. They also spoke about fatherhood and watching their children grow up.

“They are as busy as ever. I don’t know. There are no slow days. I don’t know if it’s the same in your life,” Federer said in a video on the Laver Cup’s Instagram page.

“I get dominated by somebody this big every day,” Roddick replied, cracking a laugh as he held his hand below his waist.

 

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The event’s Instagram page posted behind-the-scenes footage of an interview the pair conducted, in which Federer admitted to predicting Team World would take a 3-1 lead on Friday (Team Europe led 3-1).

“That just proves that you know nothing about tennis!” Roddick joked.

“We know nothing!” Federer quipped.

Federer won 21 of the pair’s 24 ATP Head2Head meetings, including in three Wimbledon finals and a US Open final, before Roddick’s retirement in 2012. But they have both expressed respect and admiration for each other through the years, and are always happy to catch up.

“I am finally here at Laver Cup, it took me long enough. Here in Boston, TD Garden, couldn’t be more excited,” Roddick said. “I got a little tour earlier from none other than the man himself, Roger Federer. It’s always good catching up with him. Looking forward to watching some tennis.”

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Gonzalez/Molteni Reach Nur-Sultan Final

  • Posted: Sep 25, 2021

Top seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Andres Molteni overcame Ricardas Berankis and Artem Sitak 6-4, 6-0 on Saturday at the Astana Open to reach the final in Nur-Sultan.

The Argentine-Mexican tandem saved all four break points they faced and won 75 per cent (15/20) of their second-serve points to advance in 65 minutes. Gonzalez and Molteni triumphed in Szczecin last week at an ATP Challenger Tour event after first teaming at the US Open.

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They will face Andrei Vasilevski and Jonathan Erlich in the championship match after the unseeded team edged past Benjamin Bonzi and Romain Arneodo 7-6(7), 7-6(5). Vasilevski and Erlich saved one set point at 6/7 in the first-set tie-break, before advancing after one hour and 59 minutes.

Metz
In Metz, Pole Hubert Hurkacz continued his bid to win both the singles and doubles titles as he teamed with countryman Jan Zielinski at the Moselle Open to defeat Henri Kontinen and Ben McLachlan 6-4, 6-4 in 62 minutes.

Hurkacz and Zielinski will face Hugo Nys and Arthur Rinderknech in Sunday’s final, after the unseeded pair upset second seeds Tomislav Brkic and Nikola Cacic 6-3, 7-6(3) on Friday.

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Sinner Could Face Pospisil In Sofia Final Rematch

  • Posted: Sep 25, 2021

#NextGenATP Italian Jannik Sinner will begin his Sofia Open title defence against either Canadian Vasek Pospisil or a qualifier, it was revealed at the ATP 250’s draw ceremony on Saturday.

The 20-year-old, currently 11th in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin, defeated Pospisil in last year’s Sofia final, their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting. If Sinner can reach the quarter-finals, he is seeded to play Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who is starting his campaign against Benoit Paire.

Alexander Bublik is the fourth seed and arrives having enjoyed a run to the semi-finals on home soil in Nur-Sultan. The Kazakhstani could face #NextGenATP star Lorenzo Musetti in his opening match if the Italian can overcome wild card Dimitar Kuzmanov in the first round. Musetti will be targeting a strong end to the season as he aims to qualify for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

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Fifth seed Filip Krajinovic will be Bublik’s opponent in the quarter-finals if both men make it that far. The Serbian will be aiming to snap a four-match losing streak in his first-round match against Bulgarian wild card Alexandar Lazarov.

In the bottom half of the draw, Metz semi-finalist Gael Monfils is the second seed and will face either Winston-Salem champion Ilya Ivashka or Pablo Andujar in the second round. The Frenchman holds a 4-0 ATP Head2Head lead against Andujar and is tied at 1-1 with Ivashka.

Australian Alex de Minaur is seeded to meet Monfils in the semi-finals and will begin his quest for his third tour-level title of the season against either American Marcos Giron or Spaniard Jaume Munar.

In other action, sixth seed Adrian Mannarino begins against Italy’s Gianluca Mager, while eighth seed John Millman faces Mikael Ymer.

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