Daniil Medvedev and Camila Giorgi win Canadian Open as US Open nears
Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev prepares for the US Open with a Canadian Open final win against Reilly Opelka, while Italy’s Camila Giorgi claims the women’s title.
Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev prepares for the US Open with a Canadian Open final win against Reilly Opelka, while Italy’s Camila Giorgi claims the women’s title.
#NextGenATP Italian Jannik Sinner will look for a return to the form that carried him to a maiden ATP 500 title earlier this month when he opens his Western & Southern Open campaign against Argentine Federico Delbonis on Monday. The 11th seed captured the biggest title of his career with victory in the Citi Open final little more than a week ago but fell to Aussie James Duckworth in his opening match in Toronto.
He has never faced the left-handed Delbonis, who plays his first match on hard courts since a loss to Jordan Thompson in the first round of the Miami Open in March. At 19, Sinner is the youngest man in the Top 15 of the FedEx ATP Rankings since Juan Martin del Potro in 2008.
“It’s great to have fans back in the stands, had people watching my practice yesterday…it will be nice to play in front of big crowds and stuff. I’m really looking forward to that.” –@andy_murray #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/9feqoglHmR
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 15, 2021
“When you see somebody is the youngest or whatever, I don’t put much weight on that. There are a lot of players who have done much, much better than me,” Sinner said following his triumph in Washington, D.C. “It’s not about who is the youngest or whatever. I just want to improve, work hard.”
The last time former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet squared off against former World No. 1 Andy Murray he claimed the honours at the same stage in Cincinnati two years ago. Now ranked No. 53 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, the French veteran had to win through qualifying to take his place in the main draw, while Murrray had to rely on a wild card.
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A two-time champion in Cincinnati, Murray leads their ATP Head2Head 8-4 and will bid to improve on his 33-13 record at the tournament. His countryman, Daniel Evans, also opens his campaign on Monday when he faces 10th seed Diego Schwartzman.
The 31-year-old Evans is looking for his first win of the North American hard-court swing, while the Argentine comes off three-set round-of-16 defeats to Roberto Bautista Agut and Karen Khachanov in his two hard-court outings since Wimbledon. Schwartzman fell to Khachanov at the Tokyo Olympics and in 7-5 in the third set to Robert Bautista Agut in Toronto last week.
Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev saved a match point to deny Simone Bolelli and Maximo Gonzalez in the opening round of the Western & Southern Open on Sunday. The Tokyo Olympics doubles teammates rallied from a set down to see off the Italian-Argentine pairing 6-7(6), 6-3, 11-9 in one hour and 42 minutes.
Khachanov and Rublev reached ATP Masters 1000 finals in 2018 in Miami and 2019 in Paris and improved on their opening-round exit in Cincinnati last year. They boosted their record together this season to 6-8 and could win consecutive matches together for the first time in 2021 should they find a way past second seeds Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers.
Earlier, the unseeded Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie proved too strong for Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and Chilean Cristian Garin. The Australian-British duo prevailed 6-2, 6-2 and await the winner of sixth seeds John Peers and Filip Polasek and Matwe Middelkoop and Luke Saville.
Guido Pella has landed a confidence-boosting victory over David Goffin in the first round of the Western & Southern Open on Sunday for his first win over the Belgian in two years. The former World No. 20 snapped a five-match losing streak to oust the Belgian 6-3, 6-3.
In Pella’s first match since Wimbledon and Goffin’s first since Halle, due to an ankle injury, both struggled for rhythm. But the Belgian’s 31 unforced errors to his conqueror’s 16 ultimately proved telling. While the two were relatively even on first-serve points won – Pella 67 per cent to Goffin’s 65 per cent – the World No. 19 won only 41 per cent of his second-serve points and finished with five double faults.
It was only the Argentine’s fourth match win from 17 this season and improved his ATP Head2Head record against Goffin to 2-4. He has the chance to win consecutive matches for the first time in 2021 when he next meets either Fabio Fognini or Nikoloz Basilashvili.
In the only other first-round men’s singles match played, World No. 50 Benoit Paire fought back to deny Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. It was only the Frenchman’s ninth match win from 23 this season and he will next face sixth seed Denis Shapovalov.
Reilly Opelka came up short in his maiden appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto, but the 23-year-old was quick to draw on a host of positives following a defeat to one of the “top three returners in the world”. No. 1 seed Daniil Medvedev prevailed 6-3, 6-4 in the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers final on Sunday.
Despite the result, it was a career-best week for Opelka that guaranteed his debut in the Top 30 of the FedEx ATP Rankings on Monday. It was the 6′ 11″ American’s third ATP Tour final after his victories at Delray Beach last year and New York in 2019.
Opelka had outlasted Nick Kyrgios in three sets in the opening round, seen off former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov, saved a match point against in-form Lloyd Harris and denied former World No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut. In the semi-finals he posted his first Top 5 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas but felt Medvedev raised the bar in the final.
“It’s hard to disrupt him, hard to hurt him, hard to really hurt him,” Opelka said. “Medvedev is top three best returners in the world, you could say. I’d say especially for a big guy, maybe he’s No. 2 behind Novak for like a server like myself, because he’s long.
“He can afford to stand far back, because he’s lanky. He has like a really long reach. He’s got a good wingspan… Yeah, and he’s fast. He’s a good athlete… As fast as he is he’s able to get out of the corners quick, he’s able to play deep back in the corner to me. Yeah, it’s tough. There’s not many answers when he’s on like he was today.”
For only the third time in 15 tournaments this season, he strung together consecutive match wins after his charge to the Rome semi-finals and Roland Garros third round. The ATP Head2Head ledger now read 4-1 in the Russian’s favour, but prior to their two encounters this year, every match had gone the distance, the first two decided in a third-set tie-break.
“The discrepancy and level between me and those guys, it’s extremely small. It’s already small for anyone in general, but even for me it’s always going to come down to a couple of points,” Opelka said.
“So it’s just about the details, and I’m not gonna — I’m confident, obviously I’ve won matches, I’ll have some expectation of myself, but I’m not going to be riding this win for too long… Or not a win, but this week.
“I think this week was a great example of using that optimistic mindset as much as possible. I think it can extend some weeks, even if it’s just one tournament per year, maybe two a year. I mean, look what this does for my ranking. That’s all it takes.”
Alexander Zverev is happy but not content with the gold medal he won at the Tokyo Olympics, and is hoping to bring more silverware home during the US hard-court swing.
The German is adamant that although the euphoric feeling from achieving Olympic glory has not fully faded he is ready to get back to business at the Western & Southern Open.
“Am I still on Cloud Nine now? Yeah, a little bit,” Zverev said in his pre-tournament press conference. “Winning that medal is the biggest thing that can happen in any sport, because the Olympics are very special. You’re not only competing for yourself, you’re competing for a lot of people.
“It is a very special feeling. But I’ve got to get back to playing so I’ve got to forget that feeling a little bit and I’ve got to start working again and start competing again. I am extremely hungry. I’m not satisfied yet.”
The Western & Southern Open has not been the 24-year-old’s favourite tournament in terms of results, as Zverev is yet to win a match at the event in the six years that he has participated. Despite the poor record, the four-time ATP Masters 1000 champion is feeling confident heading into the week.
“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to hopefully change how Cincinnati has usually gone for me. I’m looking forward to competing and proving that I’m still one of the best players,” Zverev said. “Yes, I know that I’m having a pretty good year, so I am extremely happy with that, but there is a Masters coming up and there is a Grand Slam coming up. Those are two very important and big tournaments.”
Zverev, who has a 33-11 match record in 2021 including three titles (Acapulco, Madrid and Tokyo Olympics), will play his opening match against the winner of South African Lloyd Harris and Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka. The German is overjoyed that a crowd will be in attendance for the event, as he believes fans are vital to the sport.
“I’m extremely happy to see so many people, because I have always said that live sports and sports in general need spectators, because the spectators bring emotions,” Zverev said. “I think it’s great to see the crowd back. It’s great to see that life is slowly going back to normal. I think a lot of people have missed that.”
Top seed Daniil Medvedev captured his fourth ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday in Toronto, overcoming American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-3 to become the first Russian champion at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers since Marat Safin in 2000.
The 25-year-old took down big-server John Isner in the semi-finals as he stood two or three feet closer to the baseline on return to counter the height and angle of the serve. Medvedev successfully repeated this against 6’ 11” Opelka, breaking twice as he recorded victory in 85 minutes.
”I could not have dreamt of [this] at one point,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “With Masters, with Novak [Djokovic] and Rafael [Nadal] playing, it seemed like an untouchable achievement. Now I have four wins in five finals, which is a good score. I am just happy. I want to achieve more. I am really happy I achieved this in Canada.
“Even today, he [Opelka] showed up, he played some really good points. He was fighting until the end, he saved break points in crucial moments. Playing your first [Masters 1000] final is not easy. I played my first in Canada and won only three games.
”Playing Canada and Cincinnati, the goal is to win as many matches as possible. I was able to do it two years ago and I will try and do it again.”
[FOLLOW 1000]The World No. 2 has now won 12 tour-level titles, with 11 of those triumphs coming on hard. He owns a 4-1 record in Masters 1000 finals, also capturing trophies in Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris, with his one defeat in a final coming in Montreal to Rafael Nadal in 2019.
The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion has lifted trophies this year on hard in Marseille and grass in Marbella. Medvedev also guided Russia to the ATP Cup title in February before advancing to his second Grand Slam final at the Australian Open.
Medvedev’s First-Serve Placement vs Opelka
Medvedev’s Return Hit Points vs Opelka
Hawkeye data and visuals courtesy of ATP Media
Medvedev, who was competing in his first Masters 1000 championship match of the year, now holds a 4-1 ATP Head2Head Series lead against Opelka, having also defeated the 23-year-old at Roland Garros, in Miami and Washington.
“When you play Reilly, I think still the biggest factor is how you serve and how you return. Actually, my serve was not on top point today. That’s why I had breakpoints to save. That’s why it was sometimes close calls on my serve,” Medvedev said. “But I was very good on return. I managed to put pressure on him almost nonstop. I think he didn’t almost have maybe one or two easy games in the match. That’s what made the difference, if we talk about tennis.
“[When] I played my first Masters final, I was happy just to be there playing against Rafa. I always try my best, but something was wrong, so I lost super easy and super fast. It can be the same for everybody. I know for me I think experience is the key… This week he beat some really strong guys to be in the final, so probably next time in the final [we] can wait for a more dangerous Reilly than today.”
In a lively start, Opelka exerted early pressure on Medvedev, striking the ball with great power as he stepped inside the baseline to move 0/40 ahead on the Russian’s serve in the fourth game. However, Opelka was unable to take his chances, with Medvedev making five straight first serves to hold. It was then Medvedev who broke first, hammering his backhand down the line past Opelka on return to lead 3-2. Medvedev played consistently as he hit his flat backhand to great effect, causing Opelka problems, who won just 6/13 points at the net to clinch the first set in 38 minutes.
In the second set, Medvedev continued to stand deep behind the baseline during rallies as he soaked up pressure, forcing Opelka into errors. The American struggled to hit through Medvedev, with the Russian winning nine points in a row, breaking again to seize control. Medvedev raised his level in the key moments, fending off another break point at 3-2 when Opelka pushed a drop shot wide. Medvedev dominated the longer rallies in the second set, hitting with great depth as he sealed his victory.
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?? Paris@DaniilMedwed now holds four of the nine ATP Masters 1000 titles ??: @TennisTV | #NBO21pic.twitter.com/hHs6olV10w
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 15, 2021
Opelka was competing in his maiden Masters 1000 final on Sunday, having enjoyed a run to the last four at Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome in May. The 23-year-old, who recorded his first Top 5 win against World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals, has won two tour-level titles in New York in 2019 and Delray Beach in 2020.
The World No. 32 was the first American to reach the final at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers since Mardy Fish in 2011, with Andy Roddick the last American to win the title in Canada in 2003.
”He [Medvedev] was flawless,” Opelka said. “I had one chance to break early. I don’t think that would have changed much because he was in so many of my service games. When I hit some big shots, he countered well and it was very tough to disrupt him at all.
“I have learned a lot about myself. I learned that the difference between some matches is so small, you’ve just really got to be optimistic. I was playing Lloyd Harris a couple days ago on the back court, and the guy was red hot. Returning unbelievably, playing well, not missing a ball. I could have lost there and still had a pretty good week, two good wins, on to the next one.
”But I stayed the course, stayed optimistic, and I came up with some clutch shots. Next thing you know I win that, I beat Roberto Butista Agut, I beat Tsitsipas, [and it] ends up being a longer week. I think this week was a great example of using that optimistic mindset as much as possible. Look [at] what this does for my ranking.”
Tennis great Roger Federer says he will be sidelined for “many months” as he prepares to have further knee surgery.
Roger Federer announced on Instagram Sunday that he will miss the US Open and “many months” after undergoing knee surgery.
“I just wanted to give you a bit of an update [on] what’s been going on since Wimbledon. As you can imagine, it’s not been simple. I’ve been doing a lot of checks with the doctors as well on my knee, getting all the information as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon,” Federer said in a video. “That’s just not the way to go forward, so unfortunately they told me for the medium to long term to feel better, I will need surgery. I decided to do it.
“I’ll be on crutches for many weeks and also out of the game for many months, so it’s going to be difficult of course in some ways, but at the same time I know it’s the right thing to do because I want to be healthy, I want to be running around later as well again and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the tour in some shape or form.”
The Swiss star, who turned 40 on 8 August, underwent arthroscopic right knee surgeries in February 2020 and May 2020. Federer has played five tournaments since having those surgeries, all of which came this season. The 103-time tour-level titlist most recently competed at Wimbledon.
“I am realistic, don’t get me wrong. I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it,” Federer said. “But I want to be healthy, I will go through the rehab process I think also with a goal while I’m still active, which I think is going to help me during this long period of time.”
At the end of his video, Federer made sure to thank the fans for all the support and continuing to motivate him through the highs and lows.
“Also a big thank you already now for all of your messages that are going to be coming in because you guys are always incredible. You always think of me. Some of you suffer with me,” Federer said. “I’ll update you as I move along with my rehab. I wish you all the best and I’ll check in with you soon.”
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray is prioritising short-term progress over long-term aspirations as he returns to the court at the Western & Southern Open this week following a recent injury setback.
The Brit is a two-time champion in Cincinnati, capturing the title in 2008 and 2011, and said in his pre-tournament press conference that his body is feeling good and he is well-prepared for the event. Murray withdrew from the singles tournament at the Tokyo Olympics due to a torn quad. However, he did reach the quarter-finals in doubles alongside countryman Joe Salisbury.
“It was hard and frustrating to have to miss the opportunity to play in another big event again,” Murray said. “It was tough because I obviously felt like I had built up some sort of momentum during Wimbledon.
“Since then I have been back and practising and building up. I arrived nice and early on the Monday and have just been preparing since.”
It has been another challenging year for Murray, with injury issues hindering the three-time Grand Slam champion. This has led to a more short-term mentality for Murray, who makes his return to the Tour this week.
[WATCH LIVE 3]“I try to focus on the short term, as it’s been very difficult to plan medium and longer-term targets because of various issues that I have had this year,” said Murray, who has received a wild card entry for the event. “I just need to take things very much each week at a time now and give all my energy to each match and each event that I play and see where I am at the end of the US Open.”
The 34-year-old has only played eight matches in 2021 so far, with three of his four losses coming against players ranked World No. 12 or higher in Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini and Denis Shapovalov.
“When I look at the matches that I have played on the tour this year, a few of the guys I have lost to have had top seasons, and I have just not been ready to win against them when I played against them,” Murray said. “The short-term goal is to be on the practice court with these guys as much as I can and hopefully get the chance to play matches.”
Murray, who will open his Western & Southern Open campaign against a qualifier, has fond memories returning to Cincinnati, and is looking forward to playing in front of the crowd.
“In my career I have enjoyed playing here. It’s a great event,” said Murray, who holds a 33-13 career record in Cincinnati. “I’m very thankful they gave me (a wild card), but hopefully I have done some good things for their event over the years, too.
“It’s great to have fans back in the stands. I had people watching my practice yesterday, and that was nice, and it will be nice to play in front of big crowds. I look at this week as a great opportunity for me to play on hard courts and conditions that I like against top players again.”
