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Lopez Returns To Top 30 After London-Queen's Triumph

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2017

Lopez Returns To Top 30 After London-Queen's Triumph

ATPWorldTour.com looks at the top Movers of the Week in the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, as of Monday, 26 June 2017

Spaniard Feliciano Lopez admitted he was playing “the best tennis of my career” after he captured his biggest title at the prestigious Aegon Championships. He completed a magical run by saving a match point in a thrilling deciding tie-break against Marin Cilic in a 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(8) final victory. Read Report & Watch Highlights

Lopez rose seven spots to No. 25 in the Emirates ATP Rankings after he captured his third grass-court crown and the sixth ATP World Tour trophy of his career. Three months shy of his 36th birthday, Lopez is at his highest ranking since 20 February 2017 (No. 28). He was competing at The Queen’s Club in London for the 12th straight year, having made his tournament debut in 2006.

View Latest Emirates ATP Rankings

A number of #NextGenATP players also had standout performances on grass courts last week at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle and also in London.

The 21-year-old Karen Khachanov moved to a career-high No. 34, with a four-place rise, after he reached the Halle semi-finals (l. to Federer). He beat Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev, 19, in the last eight, who also jumped up 14 spots to a career-high No. 92 – his breakthrough into the Top 100. Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev, 21, moved eight positions to a career-high No. 52 after he advanced to The Queen’s Club quarter-finals (l. to Dimitrov).

Damir Dzumhur clinched his seventh ATP Challenger Tour crown at the Internationaux de Tennis de Blois (d. Heremy) and surged up 11 spots to No. 83, 17 places off his career-high of No. 66 (20 March 2017). The No. 97-ranked Federico Delbonis, rose 12 places after his eighth Challenger trophy at the Internazionali Di Tennis Dell Umbria (d. Cecchinato).

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Eastbourne: Petra Kvitova opts out of tournament with abdominal injury

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2017
Eastbourne 2017
Venue: Devonshire Park, Eastbourne Date: 26 June-1 July Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has pulled out of Eastbourne with an abdominal injury.

The Czech won the Aegon Classic in Birmingham on Sunday, her second tournament since she was stabbed by an intruder at her home in December.

Victory moved the 27-year-old, who returned to action in May, up to 12th in the world rankings.

Kvitova is one of the favourites for Wimbledon, where she won the title in 2011 and 2014.

  • Follow Eastbourne across the BBC
  • From tickets to TV coverage – all you need to know about Wimbledon 2017

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Fucsovics Caps Challenger Grass Season With Ilkley Crown

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2017

Fucsovics Caps Challenger Grass Season With Ilkley Crown

Revisit the week that was on the ATP Challenger Tour as we applaud the achievements of those on the rise and look ahead to who’s in action in the week to come

A LOOK BACK
Aegon Ilkley Trophy (Ilkley, U.K.): There is no stopping Marton Fucsovics in the month of June. The Hungarian claimed his second title in four weeks on Sunday, prevailing on the grass of Ilkley with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 win over qualifier Alex Bolt of Australia.

Also the champion at the clay-court Challenger in Vicenza, Italy, 25-year-old Fucsovics has moved to the doorstep of a Top 100 breakthrough. Now a four-time winner on the ATP Challenger Tour, he has boosted his position in the Emirates ATP Rankings to a career-high World No. 107. The title was extra sweet for Fucsovics, who was awarded a main draw wild card at Wimbledon following the match.

Fergana Challenger (Fergana, Uzbekistan): Fourth seed Ilya Ivashka was ruthless in streaking to his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Fergana. The Belarusian did not drop a set all week, capped with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Nikola Milojevic on Sunday. With the win, players from Belarus are now an impressive 4-0 in Challenger finals this year. Egor Gerasimov won titles in Saint-Brieuc and Karshi, while Uladzimir Ignatik prevailed in Rennes.

Poprad-Tatry Challenger (Poprad-Tatry, Slovakia): Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe has returned to professional tennis with a vengeance after being sidelined for nearly three years due to injury. The former World No. 71 claimed his first ATP Challenger Tour title since 2013 on Saturday, prevailing on the clay of Poprad-Tatry.

Stebe, who defeated Laslo Djere 6-0, 6-3 in the final, has won 10 of his last 11 matches after reaching the semis as a qualifier in Caltanissetta last week. Having been outside the Top 700 of the Emirates ATP Rankings a year ago, he is projected to rise to No. 167.

Internationaux de Tennis de Blois (Blois, France): Top seed Damir Dzumhur made quick work of local favourite Calvin Hemery in the Blois final, claiming his seventh ATP Challenger Tour title with a 6-1, 6-3 win in just 68 minutes. It was a strong week for Dzumhur, who stopped the breakout run of Lyon winner Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round, followed by a straight-set win over fourth seed Henri Laaksonen in the semis. Laaksonen was looking to enter the Top 100 for the first time with a win. Dzumhur rises 11 spots to No. 83 in the Emirates ATP Rankings with his first title in nearly two years.

Internazionali di Tennis dell’Umbria (Todi, Italy): Last year, Argentina boasted a record-tying 20 winners on the ATP Challenger Tour. The South American nation finally has its first in 2017, with Federico Delbonis claiming the title on the clay of Todi, Italy. Delbonis ousted home hope Marco Cecchinato 7-5, 6-1 in front of a packed crowd at the Tennis Club Todi. It was the eighth Challenger crown for the 26 year old, who celebrates a return to the Top 100.

Watch Hot Shots: Smith in Ilkley | Delbonis in Todi | Caruana in Todi

THEY SAID IT
Fucsovics: “In the beginning of the year, I didn’t think I would be close to the Top 100. Now I will be almost inside it. Top 100 has been a goal in all of my career. I want to finally make it.

“It’s been a great month and this is a great tournament in Ilkley. I played unbelievable all week. I think my game fits on all the surfaces. I can play well on clay and on grass. I won Wimbledon juniors seven years ago, so I really like the grass.”

A LOOK AHEAD
The lone tournament on next week’s slate is the Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan. Defending champion Cecchinato is the top seed, while Todi winner Delbonis looks to go back-to-back. Seeded third, Delbonis lifted the Milan trophy in 2015.

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ATP CHALLENGER TOUR ON TWITTER: The ATP Challenger Tour has launched a dedicated Twitter account for the latest news and information about players and events. Follow @ATPChallengerTour at twitter.com/ATPChallengerTour

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Soares/Murray Double Their Fun For London Title

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2017

Soares/Murray Double Their Fun For London Title

Third seeds remain undefeated on grass this year

Third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares doubled their fun on Sunday at the Aegon Championships, winning their semi-final and the championship matches on the same day to take their second consecutive ATP World Tour doubles title on grass.

“If you see the board that’s down in the lounge, it’s all the great players that have won the doubles here. All the best teams, the best doubles players. They get an amazing field every year and this year was no different,” said Murray. “I used to watch this tournament growing up all the time. I’ve played here a lot of times now. I obviously lost the final to Bruno a few years ago. It’s a home event, and it has a little bit more on it, doesn’t it? I’m really proud to get my name up on the board. It was a great week for us.”

Murray/Soares started the day by finishing out their rain delayed semi-final against Marin Cilic and Marcin Matkowski with a 1-6, 6-3, 10-8 victory. They held set point in the second set on Saturday when showers forced them off the court, and kept the momentum on Sunday by racing to an 8/5 lead in the Match Tie-break before prevailing on their third match point.

The third seeds returned to the court shortly after for a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3 win over French duo Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Murray/Soares didn’t drop serve in the match, winning 78 per cent of their first-serve points and breaking Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin three times to prevail in 61 minutes.

“Playing home events is not easy. You do get a lot of the support when you’re on court, which is very nice, but I also know that there is a lot going on off court, so it’s not easy for the local guys. It’s no different for Jamie,” said Soares. “But every time we are on court, it’s very nice for us. We had the chance to play together in Brazil and it was amazing, and every time we come here it’s really nice. Today was a special day, winning such a big tournament and with a great crowd.”

You May Also Like: Kubot/Melo Stay Unbeaten On Grass With Halle Title

Murray/Soares also lifted the winner’s trophy last week in Stuttgart (d. Marach/Pavic) and this March in Acapulco (d. Isner/Lopez). Their win today makes Murray the first British player to win the doubles title at the Queen’s Club since 1990. Soares picks up his second Queen’s Club title after winning in 2014 (w/Peya). They earn 500 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split €119,140.

Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin were pairing for the first time this season, but had previously enjoyed success with fellow Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. Benneteau/Mahut won the title this February in Marseille (d. Haase/Inglot), while Mahut/Roger-Vasselin finished runner-up at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Madrid (l. Kubot/Melo). Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin pick up 300 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split €58,330.

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Darcis, Mannarino Advance In Antalya

  • Posted: Jun 25, 2017

Darcis, Mannarino Advance In Antalya

Seventh seed Coric defeated on Sunday

Steve Darcis became the first main draw winner on Sunday at the inaugural Antalya Open, moving into the second round over Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4.

The Belgian needed only a break of serve in the first and third sets to advance in two hours and 20 minutes. Next up for Darcis is third seed Fernando Verdasco.

You May Also Like: Lopez Saves MP For Queen's Club Crown

Adrian Mannarino scored the first upset of the tournament with a 7-5, 6-4 win over seventh seed and #NextGenATP Croatian Borna Coric. The Frenchman will play Egyptian qualifier Mohamed Safwat or Turkish wild card Cem Ilkel in the second round.

Safwat, Matthew Ebden of Australia, Kamil Majchrzak of Poland and Ramkumar Ramanathan all won their final-round qualifying matches on Sunday. Ebden will take on Yuichi Sugita in first-round main draw action, while Ramanathan plays Rogerio Dutra Silva and Majchrzak takes on Andreas Seppi.

#NextGenATP player Karen Khachanov withdrew due to a shoulder injury and will be replaced by a lucky loser.

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Briton Willis to begin Wimbledon qualifiers

  • Posted: Jun 25, 2017
Wimbledon qualifying
Venue: Bank of England Sports Centre, Roehampton Date: 26-29 June
Coverage: 11:00-17:00 BST on BBC Red Button and 11:00-19:00 BST on Connected TV and online

Britain’s Marcus Willis will play Slovakian Andrej Martin on Monday in the first qualification round for the Wimbledon main draw in Roehampton.

Willis, 26, won six matches last year to qualify before losing to seven-time champion Roger Federer on Centre Court in the second round.

Now ranked 387th in the world, he must win three matches to qualify.

Martin, the world number 146, beat top-15 player Lucas Pouille in straight sets at the 2016 French Open.

  • From tickets to TV coverage – all you need to know about Wimbledon 2017
  • How to follow Wimbledon qualifying on the BBC

Willis will be second on Court 11 on Monday. If he beats Martin, 27, he could face fellow Briton Liam Broady in the next round.

Qualification runs from 26-29 June, with the main draw to be made on 30 June.

Willis has received a wildcard for the men’s doubles at Wimbledon.

Seven Britons have been given wildcards for the singles: Naomi Broady, Heather Watson, Laura Robson, Katie Boulter in the women’s draw, and Brydan Klein, Cameron Norrie and James Ward in the men’s.

Wimbledon runs from 3-16 July.

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Jamie Murray & Soares win Queen's doubles – highlights & report

  • Posted: Jun 25, 2017

Britain’s Jamie Murray won his first Queen’s Club title as he and Brazilian Bruno Soares beat France’s Julien Beneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin at the Aegon Championships in London.

Murray and Soares, who beat the Scot in the 2014 final, came through 6-2 6-3 to claim their sixth title together.

The pair teamed up in 2016 and have since won major titles at the Australian and US Open.

“We played some amazing tennis today,” said Murray, 31.

Murray is the first British player to win the doubles at Queen’s since Jeremy Bates and American Kevin Curren won in 1990.

  • Spain’s Lopez ends long wait for Queen’s win
  • Judy Murray ‘pretty sure’ sons will play Wimbledon doubles
  • Kvitova wins first title since stabbing

Murray and Soares first had to complete their semi-final, as they trailed Croatia’s Marin Cilic and Poland’s Marcin Matkowski 1-6 5-3, 40-40, when play was suspended because of rain on Saturday.

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Cilic returned to the court less than an hour after losing the singles final to Feliciano Lopez, but Murray and Soares won 1-6 6-3 10-8.

They carried that momentum into the final, which followed immediately – once their next opponents had arrived on Centre Court.

A Soares return gave them the first break for 3-1 and another brought them the set in game eight.

Murray fended off two break points at the start of the second and again it was a Soares return that provided the breakthrough in game eight.

That left Murray to serve for the title and, after the French pair saved two match points, a first serve clinched the third.

“I think my heart rate dropped below 180 for the first time once we won the first set of this match, having had to get through the semi-final before,” added Murray.

“We played a great match, a long day today, but it was worthwhile.”

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