Brasil Open 2017 Welcomes Back Ball Dogs
Brasil Open 2017 Welcomes Back Ball Dogs
Mar052017
Cuevas and Ramos-Vinolas will return to battle for title
Second seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas and third seed Pablo Cuevas will complete their rain-delayed Brasil Open final on Monday, with play scheduled to resume at 12:00pm local time in Sao Paulo. The heavens opened as Ramos-Vinolas led the two-time defending champion 7-6(3), 3-3.
Both players traded service holds throughout the opening set, but the Spaniard ran away with the tie-break as Cuevas’ steady baseline game betrayed him. The Uruguayan hit four consecutive errors to give Ramos-Vinolas a 6/2 lead and a forehand error from Cuevas on set point gave the Spaniard a commanding advantage.
Perhaps aided by a brief rain delay just one point into the second set, the defending champion regrouped by racing to a 3-1 lead, but Ramos-Vinolas fought hard to get the break back. With Ramos-Vinolas serving at 3-3, a more substantial shower began and the players were brought off the court.
Cuevas has once again produced his top form in Sao Paulo and extended his win streak here to 12 matches. Having entered the tournament with a 3-9 record since the US Open, he came alive this week with wins over sixth seed Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals and top seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the semi-finals.
Ramos-Vinolas looks to put the perfect end to his run in the Golden Swing of clay-court events in South America. The Spaniard recorded semi-final showings at the Ecuador Open and Rio Open presented by Claro, as well as a quarter-final finish at the Argentina Open.
Watch Full Match Replays
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
Wroclaw Open (Wroclaw Open): Former Top 10 player and eighth seed Jurgen Melzer continued his recent run of form by taking the title in Wroclaw with a 6-4, 6-3 win over local wild card Michal Przysiezny. The Austrian, who returned to the tour last June after sitting out for nine months due to injury, also won last month’s ATP Challenger Tour event in Budapest. Having started the year outside the Top 300 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, he is projected to move back inside the Top 160 on Monday.
Przysiezny was seeking to become the first Polish winner in the tournament’s 14-year history. He reached his first Challenger final since winning the title in Kyoto in March 2015.
Keio Challenger (Yokohama, Japan): Top seed and local favourite Yuichi Sugita saved two match points, rallying from 2-5 down in the final set to defeat Korean teenager Soon Woo Kwon 6-4, 2-6, 7-6. The 28 year old picked up his seventh Challenger title, all of which have come in Asia. Kwon becomes the third Korean player to reach a Challenger final, joining Hyeon Chung (won Kaohsiung, Kobe and Maui, l. Nanchang) and Duckhee Lee (l. Kaohsiung)
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Kwon: “Reaching the final here will help me play with more confidence in the games to come. I like that the staff here created a good atmosphere. I think that was part of why I was able to do well.”
A LOOK AHEAD
There are two $50,000 Challengers on the schedule this week. The tournament in Santiago, Chile, returns for the 12th year. Last year’s runner-up, Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil, is the top seed and Nicolas Kicker of Argentina is the second seed. #NextGenATP player Christian Ruud of Norway, a semi-finalist earlier this month at the ATP World Tour 500 event in Rio de Janeiro, is also in the draw.
The event in Zhuhai, China, is back for the second straight year. Evgeny Donskoy of Russia, who shocked Roger Federer last week at the ATP World Tour 500 event in Dubai, is the top seed. Sugita looks for another big week as the second seed and #NextGenATP player Duckhee Lee of Korea is the third seed. Last year’s runner-up and local favourite Ze Zhang will also compete this week.
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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.
For the first time in six years, an all-Brazilian team has claimed the doubles title at the Brasil Open. Rogerio Dutra Silva and Andre Sa lifted the trophy on home soil in Sao Paulo, defeating Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-7.
“Every title is special, but to do it on home soil is another level,” said Sa. “It was a great atmosphere this week. I had my friends and family here, so it was really special. Rogerio is from Sao Paulo, so it was very special for him as well. We’re just really happy.”
Teaming for the first time this week, Dutra Silva and became the first all-Brazilian tandem to prevail at the tournament since Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in 2011. Previously, Sa had triumphed alongside Melo for the 2008 crown, when the event was held in nearby Costa do Sauipe.
Individually, it was 39-year-old Sa’s 11th ATP World Tour doubles title and first since 2015. For the 33-year-old Dutra Silva, it was his maiden title in just his second final. They split $24,680 in prize money and 250 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points.
“I feel amazing. To play at home with the crowd, everything was perfect,” said Dutra Silva. “It was my first time playing with Andre, a legend of tennis, so I’m very happy.”
Watch Full Match Replay
The Brazilian-Kiwi pair of Demoliner and Daniell had their chances on a sun-kissed Sunday afternoon at the Pinheiros Sports Club, earning five break points in the first set. But Sa and Dutra Silva denied all of them and overcame a 2/0 deficit in the ensuing tie-break. Dutra Silva pumped his fists after firing a cross-court forehand winner for a mini-break at 4/4 and a Daniell double fault secured the opener after 58 minutes.
The first break of the match came in the 11th game of the second set, as Daniell hit a stunning reflex volley winner to edge ahead 6-5. The championship would proceed to a Match Tie-break, where Dutra Silva struck a lob that landed on the baseline for the decisive mini-break at 8/6. He and Sa would lift their arms in victory after two hours and three minutes.
Demoliner remains in search of his first ATP World Tour doubles title, falling to 0-3 in finals. He previously finished runner-up with Daniell in Bastad last year, as well as in Quito with Thomaz Bellucci. Daniell, meanwhile, falls to 3-2 in finals. They earn $12,970 in prize money and 150 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points.
Find out the details of the major sports coverage on offer across BBC television, radio and online this week.
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England resume their ODI series in the West Indies on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Manchester City travel to Sunderland on BBC Radio 5 live and the European Indoor Athletics Championships conclude with full coverage of the final day on BBC Two.
06:00-13:00, Boxing – David Haye v Tony Bellew (one hour repeats), BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
07:30-09:00, Football – Match of the Day (repeat), BBC One
09:00-10:00, Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 live
12:15-13:00, Football – MOTD2 Extra, BBC Two and BBC Radio 5 live
08:55-10:55, 12:55-14:35 & 23:30-00:50, Football – The FA People’s Cup, first round, BBC Red Button
13:00-16:00, 5 live Sport – Coverage of the afternoon’s sport, including Tottenham v Everton updates, BBC Radio 5 live
13:00-14:30, Triathlon – Abu Dhabi highlights, BBC Two
13:15-22:00, Cricket – West Indies v England, second ODI, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
14:30-19:00, Athletics – European Indoor Championships, BBC Two (14:30-18:15, BBC Two Wales, 18:15-19:00, BBC Red Button)
14:45-17:00, Football – Aberdeen v Partick Thistle, Scottish Cup, BBC One Scotland
16:00-18:06, Football – Sunderland v Manchester City, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live
18:06-19:30, Football – 606, phone-in, BBC Radio 5 live
22:30-23:35, Football – Match of the Day 2, BBC One (23:30-00:35, BBC One Scotland)
22:30-23:30, Football – Sportscene, BBC One Scotland
Listen to live commentary as West Ham host Premier League leaders Chelsea on BBC Radio 5 live.
19:00-20:00, Football – The Monday Night Club, BBC Radio 5 live
20:00-22:00, Football – West Ham v Chelsea, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live
22:00-22:30, Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy, BBC Radio 5 live
00:05-00:50, Rugby league – Super League Show, BBC One (North West, North East & Cumbria, Yorks & Lincs and Yorkshire)
The SheBelieves Cup continues in the United States as England Women take on Germany Women live on the BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website and mobile app.
13:00-13:45, Rugby league – Super League Show (repeat), BBC Two (repeated 23:05-23:50, BBC Red Button)
18:30-22:30, Football – 5 live Final Score, Connected TV and online
19:45-22:00, Football – Championship & Champions League updates (build up & team news from 19:00), BBC Radio 5 live
20:55-23:05, Football – England Women v Germany Women, SheBelieves Cup, BBC Red Button and online
Watch live coverage of the Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships on BBC Red Button and online.
12:50-14:40, Winter sports – Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships: Moguls Finals, BBC Red Button and online
14:40-16:10, Rugby league – Super League Show (repeat), BBC Red Button
20:00-22:00, Football – Manchester City v Stoke, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 19:00)
Follow live coverage of the All England Open Badminton Championships across Connected TV and online and the final ODI between England and the West Indies takes place on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.
10:50-12:35, Winter sports – Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships: Dual Moguls Finals, BBC Red Button and online
12:00-21:00, Badminton – All England Open Championships, Connected TV and online
13:15-22:00, Cricket – West Indies v England, third ODI, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
19:30-20:30, Rugby union – Six Nations Preview: week four, BBC Radio 5 live
20:30-21:30, 5 live Sport – International Women’s Day special, BBC Radio 5 live
21:30-22:00, Horse racing – Cheltenham Festival preview, BBC Radio 5 live
22:00-22:30, Football – The Premier League Show, BBC Two
Wales and Ireland go head-to-head at the Principality Stadium as week four of the Six Nations begins, with BBC TV, radio and online at the heart of all the action.
13:00-14:00, The Friday Sports Panel, BBC Radio 5 live
13:55-16:00, Horse racing – Live coverage from the Grand Military Gold Cup Day at Sandown, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
16:00-23:00, Badminton – All England Open Championships, Connected TV and online
18:20-20:25, Winter sports – Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships: Aerials Finals, BBC Red Button and online
19:30-21:30, Basketball – London Lions v Plymouth Raiders, BBL, Connected TV and online
19:30-22:30, Rugby league – Hull FC v St Helens, Super League, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
19:30-22:00, Rugby union – Wales v Ireland, Six Nations, BBC One, Connected TV and online (20:00-22:30, BBC Radio 5 live; Forum, 21:55-22:20, BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online)
England take on Scotland in the Six Nations while the FA Cup quarter-finals get under way, with non-league Lincoln City away to Arsenal. Follow all the action across the BBC.
05:00-06:00, Football – City v United: Manchester’s Cold War (repeat), BBC Radio 5 live
10:55-13:10, Winter Sports – Snowboard Slopestyle Finals, World Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Championships 2017, BBC Red Button and online
11:00-12:00, Fighting Talk, BBC Radio 5 live
12:00-13:00, Football – Football Focus, BBC One
12:00-17:00, Badminton – All England Open Championships, Connected TV and online
12:15-15:00, Football – 5 live sport, Middlesbrough v Manchester City (build-up from 12:00), FA Cup Quarter Final, BBC Radio 5 live
12:55-14:55, Rugby Union – England v Scotland, Women’s Six Nations, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
14:30-17:30, Football – Final Score, BBC Red Button and online
14:55-17:00, Football – Hull City v Swansea City, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
16:00-17:45 Rugby Union – England v Scotland (build-up from 15:00), Six Nations, BBC Radio 5 live
16:10-17:10, Football – Final Score, BBC One (not BBC One Scotland, 16:10-17:00 BBC One NI)
16:10-17:10, Football – Sportscene, BBC One Scotland
17:00-17:10, Football – Final Score from NI, BBC One NI
17:00-19:30, Football – Arsenal v Lincoln City, FA Cup quarter-final, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
17:40-19:30, Football – Arsenal v Lincoln City, FA Cup quarter-final, BBC Radio 5 live
18:50-21:00, Winter Sports – Snowboard Halfpipe Finals, World Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Championships 2017, BBC Red Button and online
19:30-20:30, Football – 606, phone-in, BBC Radio 5 live
21:00-22:30, Football – FA Cup Sixth Round Goals, BBC Red Button and online
22:10-23:05, Football – Match of the Day, BBC One
23:05-23:35, Football – FA Cup quarter-final highlights, BBC One
League One Millwall travel to White Hart Lane in the FA Cup quarter-final seeking their fourth Premier League scalp of this season’s competition. Follow all the action live on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 live.
07:40-08:30, Football – Match of the Day (repeat), BBC One
08:30-09:00, Football – FA Cup quarter-final highlights (repeat), BBC One
08:55-10:50, Football – FA Cup Sixth Round Goals (repeat), BBC Red Button and online
09:00-10:00, Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 live
10:50-12:50, Winter Sports – Snowboard Cross Individual Final, World Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Championships 2017, BBC Red Button and online
11:30-17:00, Badminton – All England Open Championships, Connected TV and online
11:55-14:00, Football – Celtic v Rangers, Scottish Premiership, BBC Radio 5 live
12:30-13:15, Football – MOTD2 Extra, BBC Two
13:00-16:00, 5 live Sport, BBC Radio 5 live
13:30-16:00, Football – Tottenham v Millwall, FA Cup quarter-final, BBC One
13:30-16:00, Football – Tottenham v Millwall, FA Cup quarter-final, BBC Red Button and online (with 5 live commentary)
13:55-16:00, Rugby Union – Italy v France, Women’s Six Nations, Connected TV and online
14:00-16:00, Football – Tottenham v Millwall, FA Cup quarter-final, BBC Radio 5 live
14:55-17:00, Rugby League – Widnes Vikings v Castleford Tigers, Super League, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
16:00-18:06, Football – Liverpool v Burnley, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live
18:00-19:00, Rugby Union – Six Nations Rugby, BBC Two (not BBC Two Scotland, BBC Two Wales)
18:00-19:00, Rugby Union – Scrum V, Wales v Ireland, Six Nations, BBC Two Wales
18:00-19:00, Football – Sportscene, BBC Two Scotland
18:06-19:30, Football – 606, phone-in, BBC Radio 5 live
22:30-23:00, Football – Match of the Day 2, BBC One
23:00-00:00, Football – Sportscene, BBC One Scotland
23:40-00:10, Rugby Union – Women’s Six Nations Highlights, BBC Two
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