Archive: marin-cilic
After all the upsets we'd had to this point, this seems almost unnatural. A seed winning? What is the world coming to? What Tomas Berdych is coming to, or at least coming close to, is the #6 ranking. Win the title and it's his; indeed, he will be just bare points behind Juan Martin del Potro in the contest for #5. Ernests Gulbis will be #23 or #24.
Former World Number One Andy Roddick made a blistering start to his ATP Champions Tour career with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of his 'childhood hero' Mats Wilander. Roddick was born three months after his opponent won his debut Grand Slam title at the French Open in 1982, and he was able to take full advantage of the 18 year age gap at the Delray Beach International Tennis Centre on Friday night...
We're still on Rotterdam time, FYI. Richard Krajicek is a great tournament director ! FYI Happy Valentines Day. It was here in a blink and gone. Hope all the lovers out there had a great day. Geezer and Lovey were @ the wedding of the 1996 Wimbledon Champion and his dear always gorgeous Daphne Deckers...
Because Rotterdam is the largest and strongest of this week's events, we are planning our schedule around it. We will send each day's edition when we are satisfied with the Rotterdam material. This means that we will be covering the late matches from Buenos Aires and (especially) Memphis in the next day's edition.
Top seed and winner of the last two editions David Ferrer looked unstoppable on South American clay as the Spaniard began his Argentine title defence by beating Maximo Gonzalez 7-6(7), 6-4 and running his Buenos Aires win streak to 11 matches.
Gael Monfils really does like playing in France. And indoor hardcourts. This was career final #21. He has won only five of them. Four of the titles (Metz 2009, Montpellier 2010, Stockholm 2011, and now Montpellier 2013) have been on indoor hardcourts, and three (all but Stockholm 2011) have been in France. This marks the first time he has ever won a title twice.
The difference here was probably the second serves. Jerzy Janowicz won only 56% of his second serve points; Richard Gasquet won 70%. And so Gasquet is back in the final. He will stay at #9; Janowicz will stay at #21. It's almost as if this match didn't happen....
French players won four of five matches on the day as the home indoor event began to gain pace. Unknown Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Andres Artunedo of Spain 6-4, 6-3 while No. 249 qualifier Albano Olivetti put out compatriot Kenny De Schepper 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 with a 14-ace performance.
Ivo Karlovic blasted a record-leveling 44 aces in a three-set match to beat Daniel Brands 6-7(4), 7-5 7-6(3) and begin his campaign at home on a high note. The performance tied that of Australian Mark Philippoussis, set October, 1995, in Kuala Lumpur.
With players straggling in from Davis Cup, action was slow on the ATP on Monday. Only one main draw match was scheduled, with Paul-Henri Mathieu beating Nicolas Mahut 6-1, 3-0 when Mahut retired with influenza in a poor day of play for any ticketholders.
Andy Murray no longer fears the wrath of iron-man coach Ivan Lendl, with the Scot having gained valuable confidence in his own game under the regime of the former grand slam tough guy. After two years together and success through Wimbledon and US Open titles, the pair has jelled into a smooth working unit.
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Andy Murray may currently be in Melbourne and wondering just how long he will survive in the upcoming Australian Open but part of his mind will forever be on London in June and July and the Scot has confirmed he will again contest the AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club as his main build up to the defence of his Wimbledon title.
All this, and still no points that count for Rafael Nadal! At least a title would count. And we may have a new player to keep our eyes on in the form of Peter Gojowczyk.
The court speed at the Australian Open has yet to be tested but some ATP players are saying that the court at Pat Rafter Arena at the Brisbane International is playing as quick as any outdoor surface on tour.
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