Tennis News

How This Lifelong Fan Won A VIP Trip To 2022 ATP Cup

With nine Australian Open titles to Novak Djokovic’s name, few tennis fans would bet against the World No. 1 winning at Melbourne Park. But that’s exactly what one American tennis fan did during the ATP Cup Bracket Challenge, and it’s earned him the VIP trip of a lifetime. 

Jon Spencer Stewart from Arlington, Texas, correctly chose Russia, Italy, Spain and Germany as his four group leaders, picked both semi-final winners and named Team Russia as the ultimate ATP Cup champion.

Now, Stewart will be packing his bags to see the 2022 ATP Cup in person as the Bracket Challenge grand prize winner. In addition to a VIP trip for two to Australia to watch the semi-finals and final of next year’s tournament, Stewart has won a backstage tour and a meet-and-greet with an ATP Tour player. 

“It’s unbelievable. I remember filling that out and almost forgetting about it, but I thought, ‘You know, I probably did really good on that.’ And then suddenly I got the email!” Stewart told ATPTour.com. “I don’t watch tennis all the time taking detailed notes, I pretty much went with my gut. I can’t explain it… I just thought the Russians would be the better team instead of Serbia. I had a premonition.”

Stewart’s ‘premonition’ was backed by a bit of scouting as he followed the abbreviated 2020 season. He kept a particularly keen eye on Italians like Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini, and enjoyed the back-court play of the Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev-led Russians. 

He even got an early look at Aslan Karatsev long before he made waves at this year’s Australian Open as a qualifier. In fact, seeing the 27-year-old’s name alongside Medvedev and Rublev’s sealed Stewart’s winning pick for Team Russia. 

“I think I was watching [Prague] where I first saw Aslan Karatsev,” he recalled. “I don’t think they played him in the ATP Cup, but I saw him in [Team Russia’s] line-up. I was very impressed with him. I thought, ‘This guy’s great, but he can never win.’ And then he blew everybody away at the Australian Open.”

But only one friend or family member will be coming along with him, meaning Stewart has one last important pick to make as the ATP Cup Bracket Challenge winner.

“I’ve never been to Australia, and I’ve always dreamed of going there… Deciding who to bring with me, that’s the tough part,” Stewart joked. 

* All photographs courtesy of Jon Spencer Stewart. Photo credit: James Lavine

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Cilic Strikes Unique 'Overhead Drop Shot' In Coria Win

Across his 11 previous appearances at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Marin Cilic has played many memorable matches and struck countless winners. But in his first-round match on Thursday, the Croatian added a new shot to his repertoire in his 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory against Federico Coria.

The former World No. 3 claimed three service breaks to improve to 12-11 at the event after two hours and three minutes. The first of those breaks came in extraordinary fashion, as he mishit an attempted overhead for a drop shot winner.

Cilic, who reached the 2013 Miami semi-finals, won 100 per cent of his first-serve points in the decider (16/16) to book a second-round meeting against 13th seed Cristian Garin. In his only previous ATP Head2Head match against Garin, the Croatian earned a 6-1, 7-6(5) win at the 2019 Cinch Championships.

“Federico played solid,” said Cilic. “He is retrieving a lot of balls back and [he is] a good grinder behind the court. It was important for me to keep my head down, keep the focus and just try to get the best level I could today.”

Another former top five player was unable to advance Thursday. Lucky loser Damir Dzumhur eliminated Kevin Anderson 7-6(6), 7-5 after one hour and 57 minutes.

“I know that my game can be much better than what I’m showing right now and my position in the [FedEx] ATP Rankings can be much better,” Dzumhur said. “This win means a lot to me and I hope that this is going to give me enough confidence to continue playing good and to make some good results in the next tournaments.”

The World No. 126, who lost in the final round of qualifying against Alejandro Tabilo, will take a 3-1 ATP Head2Head series lead into his clash against second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“I’m going to try to keep going that way. Stefanos is improving his game so much every week,” Dzumhur said. “He’s one of the best players in the world right now and he’s definitely one of the young generation who can come to No. 1.”

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Khachanov/Rublev Down Koolhof/Kubot In Miami

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev made a strong start to their Miami Open presented by Itau campaign on Thursday when they eliminated sixth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-2.

The unseeded pair saved seven of the eight break points they faced to record a 69-minute victory on Court 6. Khachanov and Rublev are chasing their maiden team title in Miami, following two runner-up finishes at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. The Russians advanced to the championship match at this event in 2018 (l. to Bryan/Bryan) and also reached the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters final (l. to Herbert/Mahut).

Last year’s Rolex Paris Masters champions Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz opened their Miami title bid with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. The Canadian-Polish pair will face fourth seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek or Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin for a quarter-final spot.

Tim Puetz and Alexander Zverev also eliminated seeded opposition on Thursday. The Germans converted four of their seven break points to beat third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-2, 6-4.

Taylor Fritz and John Isner marked their team debut with a 7-5, 6-3 win against Alexander Bublik and Adrian Mannarino. The Americans will meet second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic or countrymen Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey in the second round.

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Miami Open: Jack Draper retires on ATP Tour debut

British teenager Jack Draper is forced to retire from his debut on the ATP Tour after struggling with the heat and collapsing on court in the Miami Open.

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Kokkinakis Strikes Past 17-year-old Mochizuki In Miami

Thanasi Kokkinakis continued his return from a right shoulder injury on Thursday, by winning his first ATP Masters 1000 match for three years, after booking a place in the Miami Open presented by Itau second round.

The Australian, who is currently at No. 243 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, overcame fellow qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan 6-3, 6-3 in 84 minutes to set up a clash against Hungarian No. 29 seed Marton Fucsovics.

Kokkinakis, who beat then-World No. 1 Roger Federer as a No. 176-ranked qualifier in the 2018 Miami second round, returned to the ATP Tour last month at the Murray River Open in Melbourne. The 24-year-old, who did not compete for 16 months, took Stefanos Tsitsipas to five sets at the Australian Open.

Kokkinakis recovered from 0/40 in the first game, then broke 17-year-old Mochizuki courtesy of a double fault for a 3-1 lead. The first set, which lasted 38 minutes, ended with Mochizuki hitting a forehand long.

Kokkinakis seized the momentum after three straight service breaks at the start of the second set, but Mochizuki continued to fight and broke back with a backhand return winner at 2-5. Kokkinakis completed his second tour-level win of 2021 after Mochizuki struck a backhand into the net.

Former junior World No. 1 Mochizuki, who won the 2019 Wimbledon junior title, was making his Masters 1000 debut this week in Miami. The World No. 630 has a 1-2 record in ATP Challenger Tour finals.

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Wawrinka Sidelined Due To Left Foot Surgery

Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka has undergone minor surgery on a left foot injury.

The Swiss star, who announced the news on Twitter, said, “After having some problems in my left foot for a while, I have decided to do a small procedure on it. Everything went well. I will be out for a few weeks, but can’t wait to start practising again soon.”

Hey guys, just wanted to update you . After having some problems in my left foot for a while, I have decided to do a small procedure ???? on it. Everything went well ??. I will be out for a few weeks but can’t wait to start practicing again soon ???? ?? pic.twitter.com/5PZre7kluA

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 25, 2021

Wawrinka has compiled a 3-3 record in the 2021 season and last played at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on 9 March. The 35-year-old, who is currently No. 21 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, underwent two left knee surgeries in August 2017.

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Thursday Preview: Musetti, Korda & Kokkinakis Begin Miami Campaigns

Three #NextGenATP stars — Lorenzo Musetti, Sebastian Korda and Thiago Seyboth Wild — start their campaigns at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Thursday, when there will be 16 singles and four doubles matches. Thanasi Kokkinakis will also make his first appearance at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in almost three years (2018 Monte-Carlo).

Musetti, the charismatic 19-year-old, who broke into the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time on Monday, makes his Miami debut against American wild card Michael Mmoh in the final match on Butch Buchholz court.

The Italian made a big impression at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in October last year, qualifying for the Rome tournament and beating Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori en route to the third round. Last week, as a qualifier at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, Musetti beat Diego Schwartzman, Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov before falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Acapulco semi-finals.

World No. 87 Korda will start his fourth ATP Masters 1000 tournament appearance full of confidence, having advanced to his first ATP Tour final in January at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com (l. to Hurkacz). The American, who is the son of Petr Korda, went on to capture his second ATP Challenger Tour title at Quimper (d. Horansky). Only 10 spots separate the 20-year-old from his first-round opponent in Miami, World No. 77 and 2019 Delray Beach titlist Radu Albot of Moldova. They will contest the 7pm night session match on Grandstand.

Seyboth Wild, who clinched his first ATP Tour title at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open in Santiago (d. Ruud) last year, makes his Masters 1000 debut against Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan in the fourth match on Court 4.

Tennis fans can also look forward to watching Australia’s Kokkinakis, who won the hearts of many new fans at last month’s Australian Open when he took Tsitsipas to five sets in Melbourne. The 24-year-old, who is continuing his comeback after a series of injuries in recent years, takes on fellow qualifier and 17-year-old Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan in the first match on Butch Butchholz court.

Also on the second show court, former World No. 3 and 2016 Cincinnati titlist Marin Cilic, who is one of seven former Masters 1000 champions in the Miami draw, meets Guillermo Coria’s brother, Federico Coria of Argentina, while South Africa’s Kevin Anderson also challenges Thiago Monteiro of Brazil.

Doubles play gets underway on day two with Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev facing sixth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot. Third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz also feature on the schedule.

Watch Live | View TV Schedule

SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 2021

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
WTA MATCH
[Q] B. Fratangelo (USA) vs F. Verdasco (ESP)

Not Before 3:00 pm
WTA MATCH

Not Before 7:00 pm
S. Korda (USA) vs R. Albot (MDA)

BUTCH BUCHHOLZ start 11:00 am
[Q] S. Mochizuki (JPN) vs [Q] T. Kokkinakis (AUS)
J. Chardy (FRA) vs D. Kudla (USA)
M. Cilic (CRO) vs F. Coria (ARG)
[PR] K. Anderson (RSA) vs T. Monteiro (BRA)
[WC] M. Mmoh (USA) vs L. Musetti (ITA)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
[WC] J. Draper (GBR) vs M. Kukushkin (KAZ)
J. Thompson (AUS) vs F. Delbonis (ARG)
M. Kecmanovic (SRB) vs [Q] L. Broady (GBR)
P. Martinez (ESP) vs T. Sandgren (USA)
C. O’Connell (AUS) vs J. Sousa (POR)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
S. Kwon (KOR) vs I. Ivashka (BLR)
S. Caruso (ITA) vs Y. Uchiyama (JPN)
F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) / H. Hurkacz (POL) vs S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL)
D. Galan (COL) vs [Q] T. Seyboth Wild (BRA)
A. Bedene (SLO) vs [Q] T. Fabbiano (ITA)

COURT 6 start 11:00 am
T. Fritz (USA) / J. Isner (USA) vs A. Bublik (KAZ) / A. Mannarino (FRA)
T. Puetz (GER) / A. Zverev (GER) vs [3] M. Granollers (ESP) / H. Zeballos (ARG)
K. Khachanov (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS) vs [6] W. Koolhof (NED) / L. Kubot (POL)

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Vasek Pospisil apologies for expletive-filled rant at ATP chairman at Miami Open

Vasek Pospisil apologises for an expletive-filled rant in a match at the Miami Open, during which he threatened to sue tennis organisers.

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Johanna Konta among tennis players back at school to study business

Johanna Konta is among the players juggling a business studies course with a tennis career.

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Tiafoe Passes Travaglia Test Under Miami Lights

Frances Tiafoe was down a set and a break to Stefano Travaglia, but he came roaring back on Wednesday to reach the second round at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The American had to dig deep to turn around the match against Travaglia, saving five of seven break points faced – including four in the second set that would have had the Italian serving for the match. Tiafoe fired 26 winners en route to a battling 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Tiafoe was the primary aggressor in the opening set, but the Italian escaped after saving three break points across two service games. Travaglia claimed a late break of serve at 6/5, and powered his way to a 2-0 lead in the second set. 

The 23-year-old American did well to break straight back to love, and served his way out of trouble as he settled into the contest. Tiafoe saved three break points with three big first serves in the second set to keep them on serve at 4-4, and sent them into a decider with a late break of his own. He was in full flight in the final set and Tiafoe reeled off the last five games in a row to seal his spot in the second round. 

Tiafoe, a quarter-finalist here in 2019, will face No. 19 seed Daniel Evans next – in both singles and doubles. Tiafoe is partnering with Nicholas Monroe and Evans with Neal Skupski for their first-round clash in doubles, while Tiafoe and Evans will fight for a spot in the third round in singles on Friday. 

Also in action, Americans Ernesto Escobedo and Marcos Giron booked their spots in the second round with straight-sets victories. Escobedo claimed an all-qualifier contest against Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-3, 6-2, while Giron edged past Tommy Paul 7-6(5), 6-4. 

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