Bautista Agut, Pella Move Into Munich Quarter-finals
May022019
Khachanov, Kohlschreiber in action later today
Roberto Bautista Agut is one win away from reaching the BMW Open by FWU semi-finals for the third time (2015, 2017) in the past five years after he beat German wild card Rudolf Molleker in Munich on Thursday. The fourth-seeded Spaniard, who picked up his ninth ATP Tour title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (d. Berdych) in the first week of 2019, recovered from 2-4 down in the first set and won 27 of 31 first-service points to defeat Molleker 6-4, 6-2 in 77 minutes.
He will next play seventh-seeded Argentine Guido Pella, the Brasil Open champion (d. Garin) in February, who worked his way past Taro Daniel of Japan 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes for a place in his fourth ATP Tour quarter-final of the season. Pella led by a set and 5-3, but could not convert a match point at 6/5 in the tie-break before No. 72-ranked Daniel forced a decider. Bautista Agut beat Pella 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 in the 2017 Australian Open first round.
Later today, second-seed Russian Karen Khachanov takes on home favourite and three-time former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber, while American Denis Kudla meets last week’s Hungarian Open titlist Matteo Berrettini of Italy.
Marco Trungelliti has received support from the Tennis Integrity Unit more than two weeks after complaining of feeling abandoned after blowing the whistle on match-fixing in the sport.
The 29-year-old world number 130 acted as a witness in last year’s prosecution of three fellow Argentine players for gambling-related activities.
He said he was criticised for his actions, with his motives questioned.
But the TIU says he acted with “the best interests of the sport” in mind.
“His courageous and principled stand against those who seek to corrupt is to be admired and commended,” the organisation added in a statement.
The three tennis players sanctioned former world number 78 Nicolas Kicker, ex-world number 269 Patricio Heras and Federico Coria, whose career-high ranking is 223.
Last June, Kicker was banned for six years, with three of those suspended, while Heras was banned for five years, with two suspended. Coria was banned for eight months, with six months suspended.
Trungelliti, who famously drove all night from Barcelona to Paris to claim a place in the main draw of the 2018 French Open, subsequently found himself shunned by some of his fellow professionals and said he repeatedly asked without success for the TIU to support him.
The TIU explained in their statement why they had not publically defended Trungelliti earlier.
“As part of its confidentiality policy, the TIU’s intention is at all times to protect the identity of witnesses, and in line with that has not commented on or confirmed Mr Trungelliti’s involvement in these cases,” they said.
“However, the TIU understands that Mr Trungelliti has subsequently been subject to strong personal criticism and that his motives for co-operating with the TIU have been questioned.
“The TIU unreservedly condemns the treatment received by Mr Trungelliti and would like to place on record its appreciation of his support and full compliance with the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.”
All about the ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Madrid
The Mutua Madrid Open, held at Caja Magica, is the second of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments played on clay. Rafael Nadal, who made his tournament debut in 2003, has won a record five titles from eight Madrid finals.
Nadal will look to reclaim the Madrid trophy in 2019, and faces a field that includes a trio of former titlists – World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, defending champion Alexander Zverev, Roger Federer – as well as Dominic Thiem. Nadal lost to Thiem in the 2018 Madrid quarter-finals and last week in the Barcelona semi-finals.
Federer, a three-time champion in Madrid, is making his return to the European clay-clay swing for the first time since 2016. The 37-year-old Swiss is playing his first tournament since winning the Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open presented by Itau, and enters Madrid two victories shy of his 1200th match win.
Here’s all you need to know about Madrid tennis tournament: when is the draw, what is the schedule, where to watch, who won and more.
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Established: 2002
Tournament Dates: 5-12 May 2019
Tournament Director: Feliciano Lopez
Read: Lopez’s New Journey
Draw Ceremony: Friday, 3 May at 6:30pm
Schedule (View On Official Website) * Qualifying: starts Saturday at 11:00am * Main draw: starts Sunday at 11:00am, Monday – Friday at 12:00pm and 8:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm * Doubles final: Sunday, 12 May at 3:30pm * Singles final: Sunday, 12 May not before 6:30pm
How To Watch Watch Live On Tennis TV | View TV Schedule
View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown
Honour Roll (Open Era) Most Titles, Singles: Rafael Nadal (5) Most Titles, Doubles: Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Daniel Nestor (5) Oldest Champion: Andre Agassi, 32, in 2002 Youngest Champion: Rafael Nadal, 19, in 2005 Most Match Wins: Rafael Nadal (51)
2018 Finals Singles: [2] Alexander Zverev (GER) d [5] Dominic Thiem (AUT) 64 64 Read & Watch Doubles: Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Alexander Peya (AUT) d [2] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) 53 ret. (B. Bryan – right hip) Read & Watch
A Look Back: 2018 Madrid
Social Hashtag: #MMOPEN Facebook: @mutuamadridopen Twitter: @MutuaMadridOpen Instagram: @mutuamadridopen
Did You Know… From 2002-08, the Mutua Madrid Open was contested on indoor hard courts in the lead to the season finale, the Tennis Masters Cup. In 2009, the Madrid tournament transitioned to clay and became part of the European spring swing. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray won the Madrid title on both surfaces.
Monfils Can Do Nothing But Smile After Falling Victim To Most Bizarre Ace Of 2019
May012019
Frenchman left stranded by windy conditions in Estoril
Reilly Opelka has never needed help adding to his ace count on the ATP Tour, but the American received plenty on Wednesday to leave Gael Monfils amused and confused at the Millennium Estoril Open.
The 21-year-old landed his fifth ace of the match in strange circumstances, as the wind on Estadio Millennium diverted his serve to leave Monfils stranded at the baseline. Serving at 6-3, 2-5 (40/30), Opelka’s delivery appeared to be heading towards Monfils after landing in the middle of the service box, but a strong gust of wind blew the ball away from the Frenchman to hand the New York Open champion his ninth game of the match.
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Monfils responded well to the unexpected ace, laughing and giving a ‘thumbs up’ to his opponent before motoring to victory. Following the humorous incident, the eight-time ATP Tour titlist claimed seven straight games to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 win.
With only four days to go until the Mutua Madrid Open, Juan Martin del Potro looks set to return to action on the ATP Tour.
The World No. 8 stepped onto the clay at La Caja Magica for the first time this year on Wednesday, as he prepares to make his first ATP Tour appearance since the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com in February. Del Potro has been recovering from a right-knee injury sustained at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October 2018.
The ATP Masters 1000 event features a packed field, which includes World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, five-time champion Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who will be making his first appearance on clay since the 2016 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The Tower of Tandil owns a 15-7 record in the Spanish capital, highlighted by semi-final runs in 2009 (l. to Federer) and 2012 (l. to Berdych).
Read & Watch: Tsitsipas Reaches Milestone In Estoril
May012019
Monfils through in three sets
Last year’s semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas made a winning return to the Millennium Estoril Open on Wednesday, beating Guido Andreozzi 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.
The #NextGenATP Greek fired five aces and saved three of four break points to record his 20th tour-level victory of the season (20-9) after 86 minutes. Tsitsipas is the third man to reach 20 victories this year, joining Daniil Medvedev (25-8) and Guido Pella (20-9) on the exclusive list.
Tsitsipas has advanced to the quarter-finals or better at six tour-level events this year, which includes championship-match appearances in Marseille (d. Kukushkin) and Dubai (l. to Federer). The 20-year-old will meet Portuguese qualifier Joao Domingues for a place in the semi-finals.
In the opening match on Estadio Millennium, Domingues became the lowest-ranked Estoril quarter-finalist in the tournament’s five-year history. The World No. 214 was leading John Millman 6-3, 2-1, when the Australian was forced to retire.
On his tournament debut, Gael Monfils conquered windy conditions and a tricky second-round opponent to advance to the last eight. After dropping the opening set, the third seed breezed to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory against Reilly Opelka after 89 minutes. Monfils played well under pressure throughout his debut performance at the ATP 250 event, saving nine of 10 break points to record his 16th victory in 19 tour-level matches this season.
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The 32-year-old, who captured his eighth ATP Tour title at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament earlier this year (d. Wawrinka), was making his first appearance since the BNP Paribas Open in March. Monfils was forced to withdraw from back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami and Monte-Carlo due to a left achilles injury.
The Frenchman will next face #NextGenATP Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 19, who dismissed French veteran Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 6-2 in only 47 minutes. Davidovich Fokina was 0-1 at tour-level before this week but qualified for the ATP 250, beat American Taylor Fritz and is now into the quarter-finals.
Justin Gimelstob has resigned from the ATP board after being sentenced for assault, saying he has become “a significant burden and distraction”.
He was given three years probation and 60 days community service after a “no contest” plea to a battery charge.
Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka had suggested the American should leave his role as a player representative.
“Given the current climate I do not deserve to be in this position of influence,” Gimelstob, 42, said.
Gimelstob, who has also worked as a coach and TV commentator, was sentenced in Los Angeles last week.
Former friend Randall Kaplan alleged that early in the evening of 31 October, Gimelstob “punched him in the head and face more than 50 times” in front of Kaplan’s pregnant wife Madison and two-year-old daughter.
Mrs Kaplan went on to have a miscarriage, which the couple believe was a result of the stress of the attack.
Gimelstob did not admit guilt by pleading no contest and says he still “disputes the way that evening has been depicted”.
But in a statement on his Facebook page, he added: “That evening compromised the sport and the people that entrusted me with the authority to represent them.
“My job was to best represent the players, the ATP, and be a custodian of the sport. My choices and actions last Halloween night prohibit me from doing that at this time.
“My role is designed to work on behalf of the players and the sport and it is clear that I have now become a significant burden and distraction to both.
“That is not something that could or should continue.”
Britain’s Murray became the first leading player to call on Gimelstob to quit his role, telling the Telegraph he “could not see” how the American could continue.
On Tuesday, fellow three-time Grand Slam Champion Wawrinka called for an end to “a shameful period” for the sport.
Cristian Garin added a new chapter to the story of his breakthrough season at the BMW Open by FWU on Wednesday.
The Chilean defeated sixth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 7-5 to advance to his third ATP Tour quarter-final of the season after 84 minutes. Garin converted six of 12 break points to overcome the Argentine and notch his 15th tour-level victory of the season (15-6).
The 22-year-old has already contested two ATP Tour championship matches on clay this season, picking up his maiden tour-level trophy in Houston (d. Ruud) last month after a runner-up finish at the Brasil Open in March (l. to Pella). Garin will meet two-time defending champion Alexander Zverev or Cordoba Open titlist Juan Ignacio Londero for a place in the semi-finals.
Read & Watch: Isner Announces Family Expansion With Unique Gender Reveal
Apr302019
American looking to return to ATP Tour action next week
John Isner and his wife Madison welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Hunter Grace, last September. But the two already are expecting their second child.
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Isner and his family recently hosted a “Gender Reveal Party, Tennis Edition”. Watch the below video to see the reveal.
The World No. 9 is currently nursing a stress fracture in his left foot that he suffered during the Miami Open presented by Itau final against Roger Federer. isner, 34, expects to return to tour-level action at the Mutua Madrid Open, which starts Sunday.
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