MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THURSDAY IN NEWPORT, BASTAD, STUTTGART / HEWITT STILL HANGING TOUGH BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 10th July 2014

MEN'S TOUR NEWS FROM THURSDAY IN NEWPORT, BASTAD, STUTTGART / HEWITT STILL HANGING TOUGH BY RICKY DIMON

epa04309709 Spain's Feliciano Lopez returns the ball to his compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver during their second round match of the the Mercedes Cup ATP tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, 10 July 2014. EPA/DANIEL MAURER |

Big serving has ruled the U.S. Men’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships so far, with the exception of two-time runner-up Lleyton Hewitt making his way to quarterfinals. Also still alive are Ivo Karlovic (semifinals), Samuel Groth (semifinals) and a quarterfinal trio of John Isner, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson. Elsewhere on Thursday, a quartet of seeds–including David Ferrer–advanced in Bastad and all eight seeds found the winner’s circle in Stuttgart.

Newport summary:

The defending champion is out, as Nicolas Mahut went down to Groth 6-3, 6-4. Groth struck only seven aces, a modest mark by his standards, but he saved the only break point he faced. Up next for the Australian is Karlovic, who got past Dudi Sela 7-6(3), 7-5. The 6’11” Croat also thwarted his opponent’s lone break chance.

“I’ve got myself in great shape,” Groth commented after upsetting Mahut. “I’m not losing my mind out on court. I’m doing a lot of things better. I’ve tightened up my groundstrokes. I’m volleying better than I ever have. I’m making it tough for guys to break me. I’m becoming more prepared to be a top player.”

Bastad summary:

There will be two all-seeded quarterfinal clashes at the SkiStar Swedish Open after Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Carlos Berlocq and Pablo Carreno Busta prevailed during second-round action. Only Berlocq required three sets, as he ousted qualifier Radu Albot 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Ferrer defeated Victor Hanescu, Verdasco got the best of Albert Ramos, and Carreno Busta beat Paolo Lorenzi. Ferrer will face Berlocq on Friday, while Verdasco is going up against Carreno Busta.

“He’s a very young, talented player,” Verdasco said of Carreno Busta, a fellow Spaniard. “I’ve been watching him; he played great (on Thursday). it’s going to be a tough match. I’ve practiced with him a few times. I’ll prepare for the battle and hopefully I’ll play good and be in the semis.”

Stuttgart summary :

All eight seeded players won matches on Thursday at the Mercedes Cup, but one was later eliminated. Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Jan-Lennard Struff in his opening-round contest at the rain-delayed tournament, but the German fell to Lukas Rosol 7-5, 7-6(5) later in the day. Kohlschreiber is the only seed that failed to reach the quarterfinals. Fabio Fognini, Mikhail Youzhny, Roberto Bautista Agut, Feliciano Lopez, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Santiago Giraldo, and Federico Delbonis all advanced. Four of the seven seeds needed three sets, and Garcia-Lopez survived a long tiebreaker before holding off Yann Marti 7-6(13), 7-5.

Spain’s Feliciano Lopez returns the ball to his compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver during their second round match of the the Mercedes Cup ATP tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, 10 July 2014. EPA/DANIEL MAURER

“It was tough conditions; very cold,” explained Youzhny, who got a first-round bye before taking out Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 6-1. “The first match is always tough in any tournament. I’m happy because it was good for me today. Maybe he didn’t play his best tennis and that helped me a lot.”

TIDBITS:

* Groth eliminates Newport defending champ Mahut, assures spot in top 100.

* Carreno Busta eases past Lorenzi, needs one more win for likely place in top 50.

* Verdasco wins all-Spanish clash with Ramos, needs two more wins to defend 2013 Bastad finalist points.

* Defending Bastad champion Berlocq survives Albot, must reach final to remain top 50.

* Kohlschreiber falls to Rosol in Stuttgart, loses chance to climb from No. 26.

* Lopez overcomes Gimeno-Traver, would reach top 20 with Stuttgart title.

* Bautista Agut downs Sorensen, must make it to final for top 20 chance.

* Youzhny destroys Mayer, clinches top 20 spot unless Stuttgart final is Lopez vs. Bautista Agut.

* Garcia-Lopez beats Marti, into top 30 with one more victory this week.

Topics: Bastad, Hall Of Fame Tennis Championships, Ivo Karlovic, jack sock, John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt, Mercedes Cup, Newport, Ricky Dimon, Samuel Groth, SkiStar Swedish Open, Steve Johnson, Stuttgart, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

July 10, 2014 at 8:46 pm

MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THURSDAY IN NEWPORT, BASTAD, STUTTGART / HEWITT STILL HANGING TOUGH BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/T2cBnkI14P #tennis
TasteofTennisAU says:

July 10, 2014 at 8:50 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THURSDAY IN NEWPORT, BASTAD, STUTTGART / HEWITT STILL HANGING TOUGH BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/…
RD_Tennistalk says:

July 10, 2014 at 9:20 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THURSDAY IN NEWPORT, BASTAD, STUTTGART / HEWITT STILL HANGING TOUGH BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/…