Google Play App Download

Tennis News

From around the world

Murray beats Granollers under US Open roof

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra from 22:00 BST plus live text coverage on selected matches on the BBC Sport website.

Andy Murray beat Spain’s Marcel Granollers to reach the third round of the US Open as rain hammered down on the new roof above Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The Briton, seeded second, won 6-4 6-1 6-4 as a storm passed over New York, suspending play on the outside courts.

Murray goes on to face Frenchman Gilles Simon or Paolo Lorenzi of Italy in the last 32 on Saturday.

Fellow Britons Dan Evans and Naomi Broady are scheduled to play on Thursday, along with Serena Williams.

You couldn’t hear the ball – Murray

A flurry of resistance from Granollers at the end of the first set, and a stadium reverberating to the noise of spectators and rain, could not derail Murray.

“It’s tough, you couldn’t really hear the ball, which makes it tricky, but we’re lucky to play under the roof because otherwise there’d be no tennis right now,” said Murray.

The Scot, 29, went through in two hours and 22 minutes to take his record to 24 wins and one defeat since the beginning of Queen’s Club in June.

There were 34 winners but a first-serve percentage of just 43% and 28 unforced errors will give him something to work on before he returns to action on Saturday.

Granollers, ranked 45th, quickly fell 5-2 behind but a shift to more aggressive tactics made Murray work hard to close out the set, the second seed needing 23 minutes and seven set points to clinch the final two games.

Murray also had to see off a couple of break points early in the second set but then eased away with five games in a row for a two-set lead.

The match had begun under the new roof that covers the 23,000-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium, which has the effect of keeping out the rain but also trapping in the noise of the spectators.

With a torrential downpour beating on the new structure, the second half of the contest was played out amid a persistent buzz of noise, but Murray remained focused and grabbed the decisive break at 4-4 in the third set.

“I hit quite a lot of winners, although first-serve percentage wasn’t great,” Murray said.

“I won a lot of points behind my first serve. I would have liked to make a few more first serves but it is a little bit different serving under the roof, a little heavier conditions.”

Source link

Queen's Club increases capacity for 2017 Aegon Championships

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016

The Queen’s Club will increase its capacity by more than 2,000 seats for the 2017 Aegon Championships.

It means the London club’s Centre Court will hold almost 9,000 people for the June tournament which marks the start of the grass-court season.

Queen’s has also signed a deal with the Lawn Tennis Association to host the championships until 2026.

Tournament director Stephen Farrow said the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event would be “better than ever” in 2017.

“Last year we sold out within 24 hours and enjoyed a 20% increase in hospitality sales, so the demand for an increase in capacity is clear,” he added.

Britain’s two-time Wimbledon and Olympic champion Andy Murray is the holder and record five-time winner.

Next year’s tournament runs from 19 to 25 June.

Source link

Under Closed Roof, Rafa Reigns

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016

Under Closed Roof, Rafa Reigns

Sep012016

Rafa Nadal beats Andreas Seppi – and the rain – at Flushing Meadows

Rafael Nadal showed no interest in a late night out at Flushing Meadows Wednesday, racing away with the first seven games of the match to set up a routine straight-sets victory over Italian veteran Andreas Seppi.

Nadal’s 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 win was overshadowed by the historic closure of the retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time in match play. Eager tournament referee Brian Earley needed little encouragement to close the roof at 10.39 p.m. when the much-anticipated raindrops fell.

“It is great to be the first player to play with the roof closed, in the competition, because I was the first player to hit in the Centre Court with the roof closed,” said Nadal. “[There is] no big difference. With the roof open there is no wind at all, so it’s not a big change. And the roof is so high you don’t feel that you are closed… It’s an unbelievable, unbelievable court.”

Fans raced to pull out their mobile phones to capture the closing, which happened at a speedy clip of 5 mins., 35 seconds.

Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director, said of the closing: “I thought people would like it. I don’t think anyone went to the bathroom or got a beer. Everyone stayed to watch the roof close. Play was suspended for just seven minutes and 22 seconds and the players didn’t leave the court.”

Fielding questions about crowd noise being amplified by the roof closure, M. Smith said that the USTA was collecting data that would be reviewed.

Back on court, Nadal at times appeared to lack a little confidence with his forehand but at other times produced some of his signature forehand winners.

“Today was a good win,” said Nadal. “I feel that I played a little bit more aggressive than in the first round… The last forehand of the match was great. I hit some good forehands down the line again. That’s an important shot for me.”

Source link

Isner Stays Focussed Despite Third Set Slip

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016

Isner Stays Focussed Despite Third Set Slip

Sep012016

Source link

Monfils Discusses Second Round Win At US Open 2016

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016

Monfils Discusses Second Round Win At US Open 2016

Sep012016

Source link

Raonic: 'I Was My Own Worst Enemy Today'

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016

Raonic: 'I Was My Own Worst Enemy Today'

Aug312016

Ailing Raonic slumps to earliest major defeat this season

Some days, the mind and body just aren’t in sync. For Milos Raonic, Wednesday was one of those days at Flushing Meadows.

The fifth-seeded Canadian conceded stress and cramps were a significant factor in falling 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1 to American Ryan Harrison in the US Open second round. It is the first time Harrison has progressed as far at a major, while it marks the first time this season Raonic has failed to reach the fourth round at a major.

“I was my own worst enemy today,” Raonic said. “I tried the best I could to find my way out of it. My body didn’t let me. It was numerous things: the left arm; right forearm there towards the end of the third; both quads; a little bit hip flexor on the left.”

You May Also Like: Harrison Rocks Raonic At US Open

The Canadian finished with 18 aces but threw in an uncharacteristic 15 double faults. He won just 67 per cent of first-serve points to Harrison’s 74 per cent and was brought undone by 62 errors, almost double his opponent’s.

“I think I hesitated at the beginning. I forced a little bit. I wasn’t moving that well. Then later on, a bunch of those were sort of out of my hand,” Raonic said of the error count. “There were points there that I could barely hold the racquet. I was just sort of trying to get through, either hope it subsides after a certain amount of time or gets better. It just didn’t happen.

“I can’t remember a single time where I’ve lost a match because of cramping.”

In a breakout year for the Canadian, expectations were high after reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Still, he was adamant he had not piled too much of that pressure on himself.

“I think I put it on myself the same way in London,” he said. “I think I put it on myself the same way the beginning of the year in Australia. I believe a lot in myself. I try to get the most out of every single time, out of all the important tournaments.

“Now I have a bunch of tournaments left to play with specific goals in mind of what I would like to do for the rest of the year. I’m going to try to get every inch out of maximising that as well.”

Despite the loss, Raonic remains in strong contention to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Coming into the US Open he was third in the Emirates ATP Race To London with 4,375 points, 1,845 points clear of ninth-placed Tomas Berdych. The Top 8 finishers in the Race qualify for the season finale, to be held 13-20 November at The O2.

Source link

Harrison Rocks Raonic At US Open

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016

Harrison Rocks Raonic At US Open

Aug312016

American claims second Top 10 win of his career.

American qualifier Ryan Harrison claimed the biggest win of his career Wednesday when he upset fifth seed Milos Raonic 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1 at the US Open. Harrison played inspired tennis and took advantage of an ailing Raonic, who struggled with his court movement.

Harrison had a 1-26 record against Top 10 opponents before today, with his lone win coming over then World No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov in Acapulco in 2015.

Levelling the match at one-set all after converting his seventh set point, Harrison looked a long way from victory when Raonic broke him in the first game of the third set. But the Canadian seemed in less than perfect fitness and handed back the break in the eighth game, when he served three double faults. Soon after Raonic served two more double faults and missed an overhead to drop serve and hand Harrison the set.

In the fourth set, this year’s Wimbledon finalist began to labour even more with his court movement, with Harrison remaining strong in warm conditions to claim the victory.

It was a poor serving day for the Canadian, who threw in 15 double faults, and won just 67 per cent of the first serves he put into play. He also paid the price for converting just three of 19 break point chances. He also made nearly twice as many unforced errors (62 to 33) than Harrison as he delivered a high-risk groundstroke bombardment, crushing flat forehands and backhands with little margin for error.

But take no credit away from Harrison, who took the fight to Raonic with 23 forehand winners and 10 backhand winners, including a number of key backhand passes when Raonic was at net. He also handled the warm conditions better and looked fresh despite the first three sets lasting 3 hrs. and 11 mins.

Harrison next meets former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, a 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 winner over Frenchman Benoit Paire.

Source link

US Open 2016: Fifth seed Milos Raonic knocked out by Ryan Harrison

  • Posted: Sep 01, 2016
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra from 22:00 BST plus live text coverage on selected matches on the BBC Sport website.

Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic of Canada made a shock exit at the hands of American qualifier Ryan Harrison in the second round of the US Open.

Raonic, the fifth seed, struggled physically as Harrison – the world number 120 – won 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 7-5 6-1.

“I started cramping midway through the second set,” said Raonic. “There was a lot of nerves and stress.”

Top seed Novak Djokovic reached round three without hitting a ball as Jiri Vesely withdrew before their match.

The Czech, 23, said he was “very, very disappointed” to pull out with inflammation of his left forearm.

Defending champion Djokovic, who has been struggling with a wrist injury, gets three days off before facing Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny on Friday.

Former champion Marin Cilic and French seeds Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga progressed, with fourth seed Rafael Nadal to play Italy’s Andreas Seppi later on Wednesday.

Cramp ends Raonic hopes

Raonic was among the favourites for the title after reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon, losing to Andy Murray on both occasions.

However, the 25-year-old struggled to carry his bags by the time he left the court following defeat by Harrison.

“It was probably just nerves and stress, a mental sort of over-exuberance,” said Raonic.

“Cramping in the left arm, right forearm there towards the end of the third set, both quads, a little bit in the hip flexor on the left. It was just catching me all over.

“I couldn’t switch grips from one point to the next. There were a few points where I would hold the racquet with my left hand and trying to stretch out my right hand in between shots, and that’s not going to work.”

I belong at the top – Wozniacki

Two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki fought back superbly to beat ninth seed and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Wozniacki, a former world number one, has slipped to 74th in the rankings and was one point from falling behind 5-0 against Kuznetsova.

However, the Dane battled back to win 6-4 6-4 and reach the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon last year.

“I stopped looking at the ranking once I fell out of the top 10,” said the 26-year-old. “I feel like I belong at the top.

“Today I beat someone who’s been playing really well this year and that’s definitely going to build my confidence.”

Germany’s Angelique Kerber, seeded second and in with a chance of taking the number one ranking, beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 6-2 7-6 (9-7).

Roberta Vinci, Dominika Cibulkova, Johanna Konta and Petra Kvitova were other seeds to progress, with third seed Garbine Muguruza taking on Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in the night session.

Brits through in doubles

Fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares came through a tight opening match against Gastao Elias and Joao Sousa, seeing off the Portuguese pair 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-5.

They were joined in the last 32 by the pairing of Britain’s Dan Evans and Australian Nick Kyrgios, who defeated Americans Daniel Nguyen and Noah Rubin 6-3 6-3.

Source link