SYDNEY LOVE FOR DEL POTRO, CORIC TAKES A DIVE

Written by: on 15th January 2015
Tennis Apia International tournament in Sydney
SYDNEY LOVE FOR DEL POTRO, CORIC TAKES A DIVE

epa04560767 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns the ball to Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan during their men's quarter final match at the Apia International tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, 15 January 2015. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT  |

(Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/2/Auckland-Sydney-Off-Court-Activities-Recap.aspx?utm_source=ATPMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATP%20World%20Tour%20Insider%20#2%20-%20January%2015%202015%20(1) )

Apia International – Sydney, Australia

 

Nick Kyrgios joined fellow Aussies Sam Groth, Marinko Matosevic and Pat Cash at the Apia International Sydney players’ party before getting down to business on the tennis court. Juan Martin del Potro, Fabio Fognini, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Eric Butorac were some of the other players in attendance. They discussed everything from fashion to sightseeing before enjoying some food and drinks with friends and family.

 

Vasek Pospisil and Daniel Nestor engaged in a little “microphone roulette” at the party. Find out how the two Canadians fared in their interviews with each other.

 

Sydney’s future tennis stars loved getting a chance to hang with their favourite players and, of course, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Apia International Sydney Kids’ Day. Groth and del Potro spent time posing for photos and signing autographs.

 

Sam Groth of Australia in action against Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain during their second round match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 15 October 2014. EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Kyrgios and Groth were also recognised for their breakthrough seasons in 2014 at the Apia International Sydney. After finishing No. 52 and No. 81 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, respectively, the two Aussies received congratulations and commemorative trophies from Alison Lee, the ATP Executive Vice President, International Group.

 

“Everyone on tour knows that it’s not an easy road to the Top 100,” said Groth. “Everyone has their own journey to get there and it takes everyone different amounts of time.”

 

Frenchman Julien Benneteau took part in Sydney’s draw ceremony before answering some questions about his goals for 2015. The 33 year old thinks this year is as good as any when it comes to claiming his first career title.

 

“Why not? It will be nice if I can make it, but I’m happy with the career I have. I will try in 2015 to stay competitive… In my singles career, I will try to be better than I am.”

 

Heineken Open – Auckland, New Zealand

Croatia’s Borna Coric cheers during his quarterfinal match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 24 October 2014. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS

A jet-lagged Borna Coric woke himself up with a start on his second day in Auckland as he jumped off the city’s famous Sky Tower, which is the tallest building in New Zealand at 192 meters high.

 

Joined by fellow Croatian rising star and good friend, Ana Konjuh, Coric dared to take on New Zealand’s only base-jump by wire, falling at 85km per hour.

 

“It was very exciting and I screamed like a little girl,” Coric said after landing safely on the ground.

 

Kevin Anderson and Michael Venus took time away from their Heineken Open preparations to check out the new BMW i8 at an Auckland racetrack. Though the field trip was all in good fun, the two athletes made time for some friendly competition.

 

Venus emerged victorious in their impromptu “hot lap”, but Anderson, accustomed to driving in the U.S., said he needed the steering wheel on the left side in order to make it a fair contest. There is always next year for a rematch!

 

To kick off the action in Auckland, rising star Dominic Thiem assisted with the Heineken Open draw ceremony. Against the odds, the 21-year-old drew his doubles partner, Jan-Lennard Struff, in the first round.

 

“It’s quite funny that the only two German speaking guys in the event face each other in the first match,” said Thiem, who would eventually fall to Struff in a tight three-set match.

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