With the French Open all wrapped up, the grass court season is underway. We’ve had some early success thus far. Here is an update with our ASICS players.
The big movers in this week’s rankings with their new ranking:
Stevie Johnson – #63 (#2 American behind Isner) *career high*
Alison Riske – #40 (#4 American behind the Williams’ sisters and Sloane) *career high*
Coco Vandeweghe – #75 (inching towards her career high ranking #69 from July 2012)
Gael Monfils – #20
Here are some results from this week:
Gerry Weber Open – Halle, Germany
A week after making the quarter-finals of the Nottingham Challenger, Stevie Johnson has moved on into the second round of the Gerry Weber Open after his 6-4, 6-2 win yesterday against the twenty two year-old, 6’8″ Frenchman Albano Olivetti. Stevie played lights out and his serve was en fuego as he had twelve aces and won 96% of his points on his first serve (23 of 24) in a match played inside the big stadium. Tomorrow Stevie will be returning to the stadium as he takes on Teymuraz Gabashvili for a chance to book a spot in the quarter-final in a tough draw which includes world #1 Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer!
Gael Monfils won his first round match in dominant fashion against the big serving German Benjamin Becker 6-1, 7-5, but could not keep up his winning ways today as he lost his second round match against the very tough #4 seed Kei Nishikori 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Michael Chang is in Halle coaching Nishikori and was scouting Gael the day in his first round match.
The #4 seeds and defending champs Scott Lipsky and Santiago Gonzalez won more points than their opponents today but still managed to lose the match to Andre Begemann and Julian Knowle 6-4, 2-6, 10-6
AEGON Championships – London, England
Australia’s Marinko Matosevic ended Marin Cilic’s attempt to reach a third consecutive Queen’s Club final with his big upset on Day 2, knocking out the 9th seed and 2012 Champion in the first round 6-4, 6-4. Marinko followed this victory up with a 7-6(3), 6-3 second round win over Lukas Lacko today!
Kenny De Schepper marched into the third round with a 7-6(3), 7-5 win over the 6th seed and #10 player in the world Ernests Gulbis, who just last week reached the semi-finals of the French Open. Kenny beat Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.
The 11th seed, Vasek Pospisil won his first round match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 against Paolo Lorenzi but lost today 6-4, 6-4 against Sergiy Stakhovsky. Vasek also partnered with Nick Monroe winning their first round doubles match before losing to a very strong team and the defending US Open champions today.
Michael Russell lost his first round match 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to fellow American Denis Kudla, a player fifteen years his junior!
The #3 seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic won their second round match against Dimitrov and Wawrinka 7-6(4), 7-5.
The #2 seeds Bruno Soares and Alexander Peya received a bye in the first round and play their 2nd round doubles match tomorrow.
AEGON Classic – Birmingham, England
Today there were four consecutive matches inside the stadium featuring an ASICS player.
Alison Riske advanced to the third round today with a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory over Nadia Kichenok. Ali won her first round match against Nadia’s twin sister Lyudmyla 7-6(3), 6-3. Ali will be playing fellow American Sloane Stephens in the third round tomorrow back on Center Court!
Coco Vandeweghe won her first round match again Zarina Diyas 6-4, 7-5 and battled back in her 2nd round match vs. Yanina Wickmayer to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-1! Coco had 16 aces in the match!
The #2 seed Sam Stosur had a bye in the 1st round and won her 2nd round match today 6-1, 6-3 over Christina Mchale. Sam will be playing her third round match vs. fellow Aussie Casey Dellacqua on Center Court tomorrow!
Francesca Schiavone won her first round match 6-3, 6-4 over Jie Zheng but lost today in the second round to the #3 seed, Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-4.
Virginie Razzano won her first round match against Karolina Pliskova 7-6(1), 6-3 but lost a very close match today in the second round 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-6(0) to the 6th seed Klara Koukalova
Johanna Konta won her first match over the 14th seed Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-1 before losing in the 2nd round today to Aleksandra Wozniak by a score of 6-4, 6-2
Teliana Pereira lost her first round match 6-3, 6-3 to 11th seed Madison Keys
Irina Facloni, the 15th seed in qualifying, won both of her matches to advance to the main draw but unfortunately had to withdraw due to a sudden illness. It was unfortunate, but Irina has had a good start to what looks to be a promising grass court season
The #3 seeds Abigail Spears and Raquel Kops-Jones won their 1st round match over Rosolska/Savchuk 6-2, 6-1
Lisa Raymond and her partner Liezel Huber won their first round doubles match 6-4, 7-6(0) over Marina Erakovic and Arantxa Parra Santonja
Citta’ Di Caltanissetta Challenger – Caltanissetta, Italy
Brazilian Joao Souza advanced to the quarter-finals with his straight set win today!
Here is a nice story on Stevie:
Marinko’s big upset:
http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2014/06/11/matosevic-shocks-cilic-at-queens
http://article.wn.com/view/2014/06/10/Aussie_Matosevic_shocks_former_champ_Cilic_at_Queens/
Video of Ali touring the grounds of the AEGON Classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWoBAYJc4nk
http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3898661/title/video-riske-tours-edgbaston-priory-club
Topics: Alison Riske, Asics, Coco Vandeweghe, Gael Monfils, Stevie Johnson, Tennis, Tennis News
ASICS TENNIS PLAYERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE – http://t.co/Ao3EKRoK8r #tennis @ASICS @Gael_Monfils #sports #ASICS