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Bryan Brothers Announce Retirement, Ending Legendary Doubles Partnership

  • Posted: Aug 27, 2020

Bryan Brothers Announce Retirement, Ending Legendary Doubles Partnership

Record-breaking twins call it a career

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have announced the end of their historic doubles partnership just days ahead of the US Open, scene of their major championship debut in 1995.

As the most accomplished team in doubles history, the Bryan brothers captured an Open Era record 119 trophies in 26-season careers, including all four Grand Slams, all nine ATP Masters 1000s, Nitto ATP Finals (four titles) and Olympic gold medal. They also hold the all-time team records for Grand Slam titles (16 from 30 finals) and ATP Masters 1000 crowns (39 from 59 finals).

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Tribute: Farewell Bob & Mike, Doubles Giants

“We’re most proud of the way we devoted ourselves completely to the game and gave our full effort every day,” said Bob Bryan of their decision to retire. “Our loyalty toward each other never wavered and we are leaving professional tennis with zero regrets. We’ll miss the competition and camaraderie amongst the players. We’ll also miss the excitement of gearing up for a big match and playing for the roar of the fans.”

“We feel it’s the right time to walk away,” Mike Bryan said. “We’ve given over 20 years to the tour, and we are now looking forward to the next chapter of our lives. With that said, we feel very blessed to have been able to play the game of doubles for so long. We are grateful to have had the opportunities in the beginning of the year to play and say our goodbyes to the fans. Winning our final event in Delray Beach and clinching the Davis Cup tie in Honolulu are moments we’ll forever remember and cherish.”

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: “As the most successful men’s doubles team of all-time, Bob and Mike have rewritten the record books throughout their phenomenal careers. It’s difficult to put into words what they have brought to the game, not only on the court but also off it. As flag bearers for men’s doubles, they have been a model of consistency and excellence for the past 20 years, winning more matches, titles, and holding more weeks at No. 1 than any team in history. Hugely popular wherever they have played across the globe, they’ve been exemplary role models and done more for the promotion of doubles than anyone could have imagined. On behalf of the ATP, I would like to thank them for everything they have done for the sport. The Tour will miss them greatly, and we wish them all the best as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”

The Bryans were the standard bearers for doubles for more than 17 years, since they first ascended to No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings on 8 September 2003. They spent 438 total weeks and ended 10 seasons as the No. 1 team [2003, 2005-07, 2009-2014]. Mike, who became the oldest doubles No. 1 at age 40 on 16 July 2018, also spent the most weeks at the summit of the team game (506). Bob, who underwent hip surgery in August 2018, spent a total of 439 weeks at No. 1.

Bringing their own energy and charisma to the court, they endeared themselves to the public throughout the world and significantly helped grow the sport’s popularity, appearing in 178 tour-level finals (119-59) and lifting trophies in 34 different cities. They also helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007 and at the 2012 London Olympics won the gold medal, adding to their 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal.

During a career-best season in 2013, the Bryan brothers compiled an 11-4 record in tour-level finals, including three Grand Slams and five Masters 1000 titles, to earn 15,110 FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings points. The twins, who also won six ATP Masters 1000 titles in 2014, reached seven straight Grand Slam doubles finals between 2005 Australian Open and 2006 Wimbledon. From 2005 to 2017, and again last year for the 14th time, the Bryans were presented the ATP Tour Fans’ Favourite Team award. They earned the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award in 2015.

Bob underwent right hip surgery on 2 August 2018, but the Bryan brothers reunited at the start of the 2019 season and went on to lift two ATP Tour titles. They claimed their 1,100th team match win at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on 13 August 2019, and on 23 February 2020 – in what proved to be their last tournament – captured a sixth crown at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com, marking the 20th consecutive year they had lifted an ATP Tour title. They finish their legendary careers with a 1,108-359 team record overall.

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Statement On Pause in Play Of The Western & Southern Open

  • Posted: Aug 27, 2020

Statement On Pause in Play Of The Western & Southern Open

Play will be suspended Thursday

As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States. The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have decided to recognise this moment in time by pausing tournament play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27. Play will resume on Friday, August 28.

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Raonic Saves MP, Rallies Into W&S Open Semis

  • Posted: Aug 27, 2020

Raonic Saves MP, Rallies Into W&S Open Semis

The Canadian will face Tsitsipas in the semi-finals

Milos Raonic saved a match point to defeat Filip Krajinovic 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 on Wednesday evening, advancing to the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open.

Krajinovic, who made the final of the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters, acquitted himself well, serving for the victory at 6-4, 5-4. But Raonic raised his aggression and eventually triumphed after two hours and 43 minutes.

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Krajinovic held match point at 5-4 in the decider, with Raonic serving at 30/40. The former World No. 3 missed his first serve, but he backed up his second serve with a series of punishing forehands to stave off defeat.

Raonic will next play reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom he defeated in straight sets at this year’s Australian Open. That was the pair’s only previous ATP Head2Head meeting.

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Agassi’s Influence: Dimitrov Headlines Reimagined Nike Collection

  • Posted: Aug 27, 2020

Agassi’s Influence: Dimitrov Headlines Reimagined Nike Collection

Agassi’s classic look celebrated 30 years on

Thirty years ago, Andre Agassi made a bold fashion statement at the US Open. The American wore the daring Nike Challenge Court collection in New York, a series of rebellious designs that broke the unwritten rules of tennis fashion.

During the next three weeks at the Western & Southern Open and the US Open, his charge, Grigor Dimitrov, will be at the forefront of a new take on the 1990 Agassi collection. Dimitrov is no stranger to bold fashion statements. At this year’s Australian Open, the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion wore an eye-catching dark purple and yellow Nike tracksuit.

“I absolutely love it. I spoke to Andre about it and I have been dying to wear some of those things. I am so glad I am able to do it,” said Dimitrov. “It is one of the most iconic collections there has ever been. No doubt about it. They have done such a great job with the collection this year. Super amazing stuff… I love the colours and the denim and everything that comes with it.”

Shop the Nike Challenge Court collection at Tennis Warehouse in the United States and Europe.

With modern and functional fabrics, Nike’s designers have restored the classic graphics of 1990, including the flaming tennis ball. The collection’s signature graphics have been reimagined, using torn paper, coquille board and snippets of the original design. The unconventional Challenge Court gear have not only been embraced by Dimitrov, but also Top 20 stars Karen Khachanov, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

 

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First win after 5 months ?✅?? New outfit @nikecourt x @agassi ?

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Agassi’s iconic denim shorts, known as ‘jorts’, are back in a new form. The Nike Fall NY Flex Ace 9″ Shorts have the same denim look, but are made with a stretchy, lightweight fabric.

By looking through its past, Nike has managed to create a bold new look for its leading stars. For Dimitrov and his fellow ATP Tour rivals, the hope will be that their fashion choices earn them the same success that Agassi enjoyed 30 years ago. The Las Vegas native advanced to the 1990 US Open final in the famous apparel.

“[Andre and I] exchanged a little message together. We were on the phone just talking about that and he was like, ‘Boy, time flies. Let’s see how it is going to look on you.’ I think it is special. He appreciates it a lot as well,” said Dimitrov.

“I think there are periods in somebody’s life that we are always going to remember, we are never going to forget and we always want to have more of it as well. Now we are able to revive it, bring it back.”

For more information on the Nike Challenge Court collection, visit Tennis Warehouse in the United States and Europe.

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Tsitsipas Looks Up, Up Up En Route To W&S Open SFs

  • Posted: Aug 27, 2020

Tsitsipas Looks Up, Up Up En Route To W&S Open SFs

Fourth seed will play Raonic or Krajinovic

Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the Western & Southern Open semi-finals Wednesday evening when his opponent, Reilly Opelka, retired leading 6-5 in the first set due to a right knee injury.

The Greek star is into the last four of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the fifth time, with all of those results coming since the 2018 Rogers Cup in Toronto. Tsitsipas had never previously won a match at the Western & Southern Open, but he has now moved past a trio of tall opponents — 6’8” Kevin Anderson, 6’10” John Isner and 6’11” Opelka — at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“The question remains: Am I
going to make it to the record books for playing the tallest
players on the ATP consecutively, one after the other?” Tsitsipas asked Tuesday evening, cracking a laugh. “I have to check it out. I don’t think it has ever
happened before.”

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Opelka took a medical timeout at the 4-3 changeover to have his right knee taped. The American tried to battle on, saving two break points at 5-5 and holding that service game. But Opelka, a first-time Masters 1000 quarter-finalist, could not continue.

Tsitsipas will face former World No. 3 Milos Raonic or Serbian Filip Krajinovic for a spot in the final. Raonic beat the reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion in straight sets at this year’s Australian Open, but Tsitsipas owns a 2-0 ATP Head2Head series lead against Krajinovic.

The fourth seed is pursuing his first Masters 1000 title, having lost in the championship match at 2018 Canada and last year’s Mutua Madrid Open.

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Murray/Skupski Oust 2019 Roland Garros Champs At The W&S Open

  • Posted: Aug 26, 2020

Murray/Skupski Oust 2019 Roland Garros Champs At The W&S Open

Murray/Skupski to play third seeds Ram/Salisbury

Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski advanced to the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open for the second consecutive year on Wednesday, ousting fourth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies 4-6, 6-1, 10-8.

“Another good win for us today. Weather conditions totally different to what we played in so far this week,” Skupski said, noting the wind. “We adapted well. We got off to an early lead in the second and took confidence from that. The tennis wasn’t great today because of the conditions, but we managed to come through and we’re both excited to be in the semi-finals of ‘Cincinnati’.”

The match turned around early in the second set, when Skupski hit an inside-in forehand winner past Krawietz, who was at the net. The Brits then found their rhythm, playing a clean Match Tie-break to advance after one hour and 19 minutes.

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Murray and Skupski will try to reach their first ATP Masters 1000 final as a team when they play Australian Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.

“It won’t be easy, but we’re looking forward to it,” Skupski said. “Hopefully we can put in another good performance.”

Ram and Salisbury eliminated fifth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-5, 7-6(8). The third seeds saved the two break points they faced.

ATP Heritage: Milestones. Records. Legends.

Two unseeded teams will battle for a spot in the Western & Southern Open final in the bottom half of the draw when singles stars Pablo Carreno Busta and Alex de Minaur face Americans Steve Johnson and Austin Krajicek. Neither pair had previously competed together in a tour-level event.

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Johnson and Krajicek are playing together for the first time since the 2011 ATP Challenger Tour event in Knoxville, where they lifted the trophy. The wild cards upset veteran tandem Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-4, 7-5.

Carreno Busta lost in the second round of the singles draw and De Minaur was eliminated in the first round. But they have found their form on the doubles court, defeating eighth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-5, 6-7(6), 10-7 in the quarter-finals. They also upset defending champions Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek in the first round.

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Djokovic Joins Exclusive W&S Open Club

  • Posted: Aug 26, 2020

Djokovic Joins Exclusive W&S Open Club

World No. 1 to meet Bautista Agut in semi-finals

Novak Djokovic charged into a record-equalling eighth Western & Southern Open semi-final on Wednesday, beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-1.

The World No. 1 tied Jimmy Connors, Stefan Edberg, Roger Federer and Bill Talbert’s semi-final totals at the ATP Masters 1000 event after 62 minutes, converting five of nine break points. Djokovic is seeking his second Western & Southern Open trophy after completing the Career Golden Masters at the event in 2018.

Most Western & Southern Open Semi-final Appearances

Player Semi-finals
Jimmy Connors 8
Stefan Edberg 8
Roger Federer 8
Bill Talbert 8
Novak Djokovic 8

Djokovic is now two wins away from creating further history at the tournament. If the 33-year-old lifts the trophy on Friday, he will equal Rafael Nadal’s record haul of 35 Masters 1000 trophies.

“It was great. I started a little bit tight in my opening couple of service games… Ever since I made that break at the beginning of the first set, I never looked back,” said Djokovic. “I really played very aggressive whenever I had the chance and I was going for my shots.”

The 17-time Grand Slam champion’s unbeaten run now stands at 24 matches, which includes a 21-0 record this season. Djokovic is making his fourth ATP Tour appearance of the year, having lifted titles at the ATP Cup — as part of Team Serbia — the Australian Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

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Djokovic will attempt to reach his seventh Western & Southern Open final when he meets Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals. The Belgrade-native leads Bautista Agut 8-3 in their ATP Head2Head series, but has lost his past three hard-court encounters against the World No. 12.

”We always expect Roberto to play on a certain level,” said Djokovic. “He doesn’t drop much. He doesn’t give it away. You have to earn your points. He is so solid from the back of the court… Roberto found a way [against Medvedev] and that is obviously a virtue of champions.”

The 79-time tour-level titlist fired a forehand passing shot winner and capitalised on a series of errors from Struff to break for a 3-1 lead in the first set. Djokovic held serve with confidence throughout the opener and converted his first set point with a powerful forehand down the line.

Djokovic moved up the court and took advantage of multiple double faults from Struff to race to a 5-0 lead. The 2018 champion failed to serve out the match, but claimed a love service break in the following game with a forehand winner to book his semi-final spot.

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Bautista Agut Completes Comeback, Stuns Medvedev At W&S Open

  • Posted: Aug 26, 2020

Bautista Agut Completes Comeback, Stuns Medvedev At W&S Open

Spaniard to face Djokovic in semi-finals

After 32 minutes, Roberto Bautista Agut found himself serving at 0/40 to avoid a 1-6, 0-1 deficit against Daniil Medvedev at the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday. What followed was one of the most memorable comebacks of the year.

The 32-year-old changed the pace and served with confidence to escape immediate danger, before turning the tables on the defending champion to clinch a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph. Bautista Agut saved 15 of 20 break points and won 71 per cent of second serve return points (24/34) to advance after two hours and 13 minutes.

“After the first set, I was thinking a lot of bad things,” said Bautista Agut. “It was a very good comeback.”

With his second ATPHead2Head win in as many matches against Medvedev, Bautista Agut is through to his first semi-final at the Western & Southern Open. The World No. 12 also defeated Medvedev in straight sets to win the 2017 Tata Open Maharashtra final in Chennai.

This is the second time Bautista Agut has made a strong start on the ATP Tour this year. Following the 2019 off-season, the 6’0” right-hander claimed eight consecutive victories in Australia to open the year. Bautista Agut had already beaten last year’s semi-finalist Richard Gasquet and 11th seed Karen Khachanov to book his meeting with Medvedev in New York.

Bautista Agut will face Novak Djokovic for a place in the championship match. Bautista Agut trails Djokovic 3-8 in their ATP Head2Head series, but has won two of their three most recent encounters.

“He didn’t lose a match this year. He is a great player, very solid, very aggressive and he has a lot of weapons,” said Bautista Agut. “Against him, I will try to play my best game to beat him, which is not easy. If I can play a good level, it is going to be a good match.”

Medvedev made a rapid start on Grandstand, finishing extended rallies with delicate drop shots and pinpoint backhands to establish a 4-0 lead. The Russian wrapped up the first set after just 28 minutes with a powerful first serve into Bautista Agut’s forehand.

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After saving three consecutive break points at 0/40 in the opening game of the second set, Bautista Agut charged to the net on numerous occasions to break serve for a 3-1 lead. But Medvedev continued to find success on his return, playing with greater consistency than his opponent to earn consecutive service breaks for a 4-3 lead.

Bautista Agut found a way back into the match, rushing Medvedev with powerful forehands at crucial moments. The Spaniard earned three straight games to extend the match to a deciding set.

After trading breaks to open the third set, Bautista Agut saved break point and moved to the net to hold serve for a 2-1 lead. The World No. 12 made the crucial breakthrough at 3-2, dictating rallies from the baseline to force Medvedev into errors. Bautista Agut maintained his advantage to serve for the match at 5-4 and held his nerve in a marathon final game to claim the first spot in the semi-finals

“I tried to do some different things. I tried to mix up a little bit with the slice… [I hit] some great volleys and it was a fantastic match for me,” said Bautista Agut.

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