Young guns fire in Basel
A QUARTET of future stars battled it out in the Swiss Indoors ATP 500 semi-finals overnight, giving fans a glimpse into what to expect over the next decade. In the end, 2024’s big improver in huge serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and American cult hero Ben Shelton booked their places in the Basel decider. Mpetshi […]
Demon dashes closer to Turin in Vienna
A LOSS to Andrey Rublev compounding earlier defeats to Tommy Paul and Grigor Dimitrov has given Aussie Alex de Minaur an opportunity to snatch the last spot in the ATP Finals race. The Australian advanced through to the Erste Bank Open semi-finals overnight with a 6-7 6-3 6-4 win over young Czech Jakub Mensik. The […]
Machac marches into Vienna quarters
DEFYING the odds against the ATP Tour’s best indoor player in 2024, Czech Tomas Machac upset world number nine Grigor Dimitrov‘s chances of reaching the ATP Finals. Machac won the pair’s maiden encounter, winning 6-7 6-4 6-3 under the roof at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The match itself lasted two hours and 31 […]
No Thiem for sentimentality as Darderi dashes “last dance”
THERE has been no shortage of tennis legends retiring in 2024, and Austrian star Dominic Thiem joined fellow Grand Slam winners Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray on the sidelines after his career came to an end in his home nation overnight. Coming into the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, the Austrian – who had more […]
Zverev zooms past future star in Vienna
WORLD number three Alexander Zverev has made light of former junior boys world number one Joel Schwaerzler in the opening round at Vienna after the top seed dismissed the teenager in straight sets, 6-2 6-2. Zverev – who enters the tournament as favourite without Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz there, only needed 67 minutes to […]
Goffin makes long Shanghai Night for Zverev
BELGIAN David Goffin wound back the clock at the 2024 Shanghai Masters overnight, with the former Top 10 talent upsetting second seed and world number three Alexander Zverev to reach the quarter finals of the ATP 1000 event. Goffin won in straight sets, 6-4 7-5, to advance past the German who was in the headlines […]
Tiafoe tirade stuns Shanghai in controversial day
TENNIS is no stranger when it comes to heated player-official confrontations, usually resulting in huge fines, or in rare cases disqualifications. However few past exchanges could hold a candle to the expletive-laden rant Frances Tiafoe directed at chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote at the Shanghai Masters overnight. The Ecuadorian official was at the centre of Tiafoe’s […]
Rune bests Berrettini in Shanghai showdown
DANISH 21-year-old Holger Rune had to wait an extra 48 hours to finally step out on court for his first Shanghai Masters match, but the talented world number 14 made the most of it, surviving in-form opponent Matteo Berrettini in a two-hour showdown. Due to constant rain, the second round matches that were meant to […]
Berrettini bounces back for Shanghai success
AFTER withdrawing due to an abdominal injury issue mid-match last week in Tokyo, Italian former Top 10 talent Matteo Berrettini got his body back on track by producing a straight sets nail-biting win over Australian Christopher O’Connell in Shanghai. The world number 45 needed two tiebreakers to get it done, but eventually won both 11-9 […]
Arthur gets his Fils after denying fellow Frenchman
PLAYING the role of party pooper perfectly, NextGen ATP Frenchman Arthur Fils denied compatriot Ugo Humbert a rare slice of history in Tokyo. Humbert was gunning to become the first player in tennis history to win his first seven ATP Tour finals, being one of three who had achieved half a dozen straight. Incredibly, Humbert […]