Sweden
Tennys Sandgren gets back on the winning track with a quality 64 64 win vs Lucas Pouille in Sweden. It’s the American’s first main draw win since beating Troicki at US Open. Sandgren is holding steady at 62 in the ATP rankings down from a high of 47 in April. Pouille is at 22.
Hyeon Chung, 27 in the world, beat Taylor Fritz, 56, for the second time this year in straight sets, 62 62 today.
Qualifier Ernie Gulbis beat WC Mikael Ymer. Gulbis is 145 in the rankings. 20 year old Ymer is struggling still at 285.
22 year old brother Elias Ymer, still with coach Robin Soderling, beat Max Marterer in three sets as a wildcard. The older Ymer is ranked 135.
Bradley Klahn continues to win matches, today defeating Marius Copil 62 36 64. The Californian is 102 in the world. His four ATP main tour wins this year equals his total career ATP wins before 2018. His career mark in ATP main draws is now 8-25.
Fernando Verdasco beat the dangerous Matt Ebden 64 62 in what was their very first ATP meeting. The 34 year old Spaniard is ranked 29 while Ebden is at his career best 40 at age 30.
Moscow
Wildcard Nick Kyrgios beat Andrey Rublev in three sets. 20 year old Rublev has dropped to 78 in the world, Nick is lodged at 37.
Benoit Paire avenged his crushing US Open 75 in the fifth loss to Mischa Zverev last year with a third win over the lefty Russian this year. Paire powered to a 76 26 61 win today, his third tough win over Zverev in 2018. They also played once in 2008 in Marseilles qualies, won by Zverev in two sets. The flashy French hotshot is 57 in the world while MZ is 71.
25 year old Russian Egor Gerasimov, ranked 217, beat Damir Dzumhur 61 67 62. Gerasimov is coached by former Wimby semifinalist Vladimir Volchkov. Gerasimov has won 16 career ATP singles matches. Dzumhur is the defending champion of Moscow so his ranking will fall from 39.
Antwerp
37 year old Feliciano Lopez is ranked 70 now but he got a much needed win vs struggling wildcard Frances Tiafoe 64 76. The American is ranked 45.
McKenzie McDonald continues to win matches, taking down Nicolas Jarry today 61 76, Double M is ranked 84. Jarry is at 43.
Jo Wilfried Tsonga returned with a 75 57 76 win vs Pella. It’s his first win since February. Tsonga is now ranked 75 at age 33.
No tags
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
« Previous 1 2 3 Next »Scoop Malinowski · October 19, 2018 at 3:49 pm
Hope Shapovalov is not going to be another Donald Young with his mom constantly at his side. maybe it’s time she let the kid go out on his own. DY with his ever present mom around makes him look like a junior.
Hartt · October 19, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Shapo’s mother is one of his coaches, so as long as that is the case she will be there. Scoop, I know, I know, you think he needs a new coach. I think he is still at a stage where he is improving his skills, a super coach is for the future.
At the beginning of the season I thought Denis would do well to defend his points from last season and finish this year in the top 50. But it looks like he will at least be in the top 30, so I think that is a good result.
Hartt · October 20, 2018 at 8:22 am
Kasatkina just defeated Ons Jobeur in 3 sets in Moscow. It’s so great that Dasha won her home tourney. She was down a set and 1-4 in the second set, so she did very well to turn things around. My stream was so far behind that I ended up just watching the scores, so am not sure just what Dasha did to accomplish this, or if Jabeur simply did not play as well as the match went on.
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2018 at 9:11 am
Big win for Kasatkina, hope this springboards her career and her coach gets a big bonus! Jabeur is a favorite of mine, first saw her as a junior at US Open, she has a different game, lots of variety and she is a flamboyant player. I saw her hit successive between the leg tweeners on a baseline rally as a junior at US Open. The flashy Tunisian struggled for years failing to qualify for US Open main draw or any major main draw. But her perseverance has paid off and this is her best result by far. Very talented unique player.
Hartt · October 20, 2018 at 11:00 am
Overall, Jabeur vs Dasha was a fun match because both players have variety. Someone posted that it looked like Ons was cramping at the end, so that may have been a factor.
Georges just beat Bencic for the Luxembourg title. Julia served very well today, 7 aces, 1 DF, a first serve % of 65%, plus she did not face one break point. Belinda let frustration get the best of her a few times, and had a couple disputes with the ump.
catherine · October 20, 2018 at 11:36 am
Hartt – I think Belinda bounced her racquet at one stage towards the end of the match and might have got a penalty. Didn’t make much difference. Julia wanted this one. I think the court suited her as well. Against my inclinations I listened to a bit of the commentary – OMG it was awful. Like you I enjoy hearing the sound of the ball(love to hear those aces from Julia) but I wish I had a voice mute.
Usual PR guff flowing out of Singapore, fashion shows, vacuous interviews etc. For me, some of the more interesting players are not there. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Angie loses every match she plays.
Apparently when the WTA were searching for a new site for this end of the year pantomime one of the suggestions was Manchester, England. That’s right – Manchester, glamour centre of the UK 🙂 Wozniaki might have preferred Liverpool since she’s a Liverpool FC fan.
Hartt · October 20, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Yes, Belinda did give her racquet a good throw and got called on it.
I like big servers, in both the men and the women, so I enjoy watching Julia. I also like the way she does not grunt loudly, or make a fuss. She usually just gets on with things.
Hartt · October 20, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Gulbis beat Isner 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will play Tsitsipas in the Stockholm final. Now will people believe me when I say that Ernie is playing well?
Normally I would root for Stefanos, but this Ernie comeback story is so great that I’m rooting for him.
Hartt · October 20, 2018 at 2:43 pm
I think Dasha made a lot of new fans today. First, there was her great comeback. Secondly, there was her caring behaviour towards Ons at the end of the match. Jabeur was cramping so badly that she had a hard time moving from the back of the court. Dasha had bent down onto the court, in tears. Then she got up, walked over to Ons and hugged her. Dasha and a physio helped Ons get to her chair. Then Dasha burst into tears again.
Dasha gave a lovely acceptance speech, giving Ons a lot of encouragement, and thanking everyone imaginable. She said she’d gone to the tourney as a child, and had dreamed of standing on the court with the trophy.
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2018 at 6:29 pm
Ernie is unbeaten in ATP finals, I think it’s 6-0. Remarkable stat which indicates greatness under pressure.
Scoop Malinowski · October 20, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Did Jabeur use a lot of drop shots? She used to love that drop shot.
catherine · October 21, 2018 at 2:18 am
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2018/10/20/elina-svitolina-following-anthony-joshuas-workouts-tweaks-physique/
Interesting comments from Elena, and I like her views about coaching. Doubt the WTA is listening though.
She hasn’t had a particularly good time the latter part of this year so I hope things will look up for her and she can emulate Joshua – on the tennis court naturally 🙂
catherine · October 21, 2018 at 6:14 am
From what I can see so far the court in Singapore is slow, much slower than Luxembourg eg, and I think we may see some quite boring tennis. Pushers heaven.
I wish they would hurry the courts up again.
Lots of pictures of coaches 🙂
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 7:01 am
Scoop, Jabeur did use some drop shots, but Dasha is so quick she can get to most of them, so they are not as effective against her as with many players.
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 7:13 am
Scott Byrnes, Genie Bouchard’s trainer, wrote about why Genie has been playing better. He said it is because she has dedicated herself to self-improvement, and while that may seem like an obvious thing, even top players find it difficult. He thinks players like to have people on their teams whom they feel comfortable with, rather than those who will push them out of their comfort zone on a daily basis.
I hope this means that Genie is finally willing to make some changes in her game. In a tweet she joked about how she had shown she could throw in an occasional slice, so I thought that was a good sign.
Scott’s comments are also a clue to the constant coaching carousel, especially among the women. It sounds as if a coach tries to push the player beyond her comfort zone, he is gone.
catherine · October 21, 2018 at 8:13 am
Svitolina bt Kvitova SS – pretty uninspiring match and Petra looked as though she really did not want to be there.
Hartt – those comments from Scott Byrnes can be applied to a few players I can think of and I’m sure you can think of some too.. Also it struck me that in the old days, when there were no teams, just coaches who didn’t even always travel with the players, that kind of psychological comfort blanket wasn’t necessarily available. The motivation was yourself.
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2018 at 8:13 am
Hartt, a lot of these top woman players develop a princess syndrome where they act like and want to be treated like a princess. I practiced next to Vekic in key biscayne public courts three years ago and noticed this. I think it happens with a lot of players, they are treated like royalty by all the tournaments, they are paid handsomely, they lose that sense of who they were when they were nobody with no status.
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2018 at 8:14 am
Hartt, as good as Jabeur played this week, she is not the calibre of player that Kasatkina is, the ranking gap showed.
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 8:49 am
Scoop, I think you make a good point about the “princess syndrome.” You see a similar sense of entitlement with some of the male players as well. I suppose it can be difficult to remain grounded when you are being told over and over again how great you are. But if they want to improve as players they must understand that they have to work hard on their actual tennis, even if that means hearing opinions from their coaches, etc., that they would rather not hear.
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 8:52 am
Scoop, as you know, I am a big Dasha fan. In fact, her title means a teat! 🙂
But I was very impressed by Jabeur’s play in that match. If she hadn’t started to cramp late in the decider, she may well have won the title. I will certainly pay more attention to her now.
catherine · October 21, 2018 at 9:56 am
Hartt – I commented (and others have done) before that this may well have been what happened between Kerber and Fisette. He wanted more of the kind of commitment which she was not prepared to give, not at this stage. That is, if she wants to remain at the top of the game.
We’ll see in Singapore how his absence works out and then what type of coach she goes for.
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 11:56 am
Catherine, yes that is a likely scenario with Kerber and Fissette.
I wonder which player he will coach next? He has been with a wide variety, but has helped several women be successful.
In his piece, Byrnes talked about how a player may have to put up with annoying team members to get the best results. He joked and said something like just 70% annoying might work.
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 12:24 pm
I could not get the match, but was thrilled that Khachanov creamed Mannarino, winning the Moscow title 6-2, 6-2 in 55 minutes. This moves Karen to No. 19 in the live rankings. He is definitely playing better this season, and I am hoping for big things from him next year.
I was able to see Tsitsipas vs Gulbis. Stefanos won 6-4, 6-4, but it took 1 hour, 20 minutes for the Antwerp title. I was sort of sad that Ernie’s record of winning finals (6 of 6) came to an end. But this was Stefanos’ first ATP title, so a big win for him.
Three of my treats-eligible players came through this weekend, so I can start a reserve for the off season. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Given Gulbis perfect 6-0 in previous finals this is a huge win for Tsitsipas, to attain his first ATP title is a big accomplishment. Nadal won his in Sopot, Federer won his in Milan 2001, then he won three more including a Masters 1000 in Hamburg in 2002. For sure Tsitsipas will win more titles next year, I will guarantee you that. Djokovic won his first title in Amersfoort. Murray’s was in San Jose vs Hewitt. I think there is an outside chance that Tsitsipas can be better than Federer. Outside chance of that happening. Not impossible.
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Khachanov will be top ten next year. Then top five.
Hartt · October 21, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Scoop, I hope you are right about Karen. There are so many very good players right now that making the top 10 is doing extremely well.
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Khachanov can’t miss, he will be an elite top player. Too many weapons, too much power, perfect steady progression. He showed vs Rafa this year that he can battle the ultimate elites. He will only get better.
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 9:15 am
I’m trying to watch Singapore but have given up because the court’s so slow it’s like the players are wading through treacle.
Snail wrestling would be more enthralling.
Hartt · October 22, 2018 at 9:26 am
Bianca Andreescu is finally playing again after being away for some time with back problems. She just won a small ITF event in Florence, USA, so a great result.
Hartt · October 22, 2018 at 9:53 am
I am so excited about how well Karen is doing. I first became aware of him when he made the QFs in Moscow a few years ago. He was just 17 at the time, and ranked No. 808.
The ATP site started showing interviews with him a couple years and Karen was so totally charming that there was another reason to root for him.
I was lucky enough to see him play on a small court at the Rogers Cup, where we fans were so close to the court that you could get a real sense of how powerful his shots are.
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 9:55 am
Hartt – you will have to re-install her on your treats list 🙂
I notice Felix lost in a match with a weird scoreline.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 9:59 am
I first saw Khachanov play first match on on day one at Miami Open on court 7 or 8 vs Daniel Gimeno Traver, he got a WC into the main draw and was 17 I think, ranked around 400 or so. He was competitive but lost. The word back then I was told that he had no weapons but that faulty forecast has since changed.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 10:02 am
Good match by Felix to hang in there with Fucsovics who has become a force this year. Felix no doubt is inspired by the successes of Tsitsipas who he beat at US Open juniors in the SF or F just two years ago. Good win for Svitolina over Kvitova yesterday 63 63, her first win vs Kvitova since 2014. Svitolina seemed to be semi-flirting with the boxing champ Anthony Joshua in an article…http://ringobserver.com/2018/10/21/tennis-star-svitolina-inspired-by-boxers/
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 10:24 am
Scoop – You presumably didn’t see the link I left to the Telegraph piece in Svitolina few posts back. She lives in London
Hartt · October 22, 2018 at 11:06 am
Catherine, I had decided to have a secondary treats list even before Bianca was back playing. Titles by these players warrant a small treat – Bianca, Rebecca Marino, and Gabriela Dabrowski. They are obviously all Canadian players. So I got a small, but colourful, plant in honour of Bianca’s win.
Hartt · October 22, 2018 at 11:14 am
Scoop, I complained on another site about Felix getting a WC for the Vienna main draw. I thought a WC for the qualies would have been better. That way he could have had some match play in Vienna if he did get to the main draw and have to face tough opponents. I hope this is his last WC before Rogers Cup, his home tourney.
I had mixed feelings about his actual play. He was great in the first set, although Marton was below par. Then he was hopeless in the 2nd set. His FH was leaking UFEs. I was glad to see him fight back in the decider, but he still had some surprising UFEs even late in the match.
Presumably he will play at least 1 more Challenger before the end of the season.
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 11:33 am
Kerber is rolling over Bertens in S’pore – Kiki has never played well against her. Serve is a big weakness. A few glitches in Angie’s game, same as before but her new coach will supposedly fix those.
Kerber’s box is stuffed with supporters. Fisette seems the only one who’s been chucked overboard. Bizarre.
Stephens bt Osaka in, from what I saw of it, a mediocre sort of match. I spotted Sacha peeking at Kerber/Bertens.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Catherine, yes I did see that and it seems Svitoina made a subtle pass at Joshua 🙂 How did she end up to live in London, like Edberg? Not exactly the most suitable place for an elite tennis pro to live and train.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Hartt, when a player gets offered a WC into a main draw he has to take it, I wonder if any player ever turned down a main draw WC to instead go through qualies? I do know Patrick Rafter rejected a six figure appearance fee to play in Dubai after he lost his first round match. He said he wasn’t happy with how he played and rejected the appearance fee which was agreed on and was his. Probably the only player in history to do that.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Good to see Capriati and Yayuk Basuki at WTA F in Singapore. Capriati’s first appearance at a WTA event in a long time.
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Oops !I’ve done it again. Kerber loses in 3 sets to Bertens. I really should stop leaving matches when I think someone’s winning.
Actually, kudos to Bertens who looked down and disconsolate at one point. And big worry for Angie’s new team because this was a bad loss for her. I wonder if she’s thrown away Fisette’s phone number 🙂
Scoop – Elena used to go out with a cricketer she met in the gym where Joshua trains. Apparently they are no longer an item (according to Duke who is no longer with us to bring that kind of information) but Svitolina probably likes London because it’s convenient for travel to US etc and there are plenty of places to train. And a good social life and Ukrainian community.
Edberg preferred London to the US because he never felt at home in America – stayed in London until he and his family returned to Sweden . His coach, Tony ?, was English I think.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Where is Duke? Catherine, in WTA tennis remember: NLIS…No lead is safe.
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Scoop – no idea where Duke is….I miss his eagle eyed social commentary 🙂
That non-handshake at the end of Kerber/Bertens was one for the ages. Angie did not look happy. She might try poaching Kiki’s coach who’s really lifted her game this year. Handsome too…
Hartt · October 22, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Scoop, my complaint wasn’t with Felix accepting the WC, I didn’t expect him to refuse it. My complaint was with the tourney for offering it. I get that the tourney directors want to establish a relationship with a future superstar, but I don’t think the WCs are the best route for Felix.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Sluiter has been with Bertens for three years now at least. The success has not been instant or overnight. I spoke with her in Miami a couple of years ago, commented how she enjoyed the IPTL so much and smiled so much on court noting that she rarely/never smiled on court for WTA matches. She agreed.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 1:29 pm
HArtt, Wildcards are not going to make or break Felix at this point. Might as well take it when it’s offered. I remember Jose Higueras saying he felt wildcards were an insult to a player, it showed that player was not working hard enough to get into the main draw on merit alone. He said this a long time ago. But I doubt Higueras recommended any USTA players to decline a main draw WC.
Hartt · October 22, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Scoop, I first noticed Bertens at the IPTL, thinking how well she was playing. Maybe it was also because she looked like she was enjoying herself.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 3:05 pm
IPTL was the happiest I ever saw Bertens on a court, she was otherwise too dour, too serious, too frozen in the stress and pressure. IPTL might have saved her career or at least altered it by giving her the feeling of joy that was clearly missing.
catherine · October 22, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Kiki smiled on court this match – she hit a good winner leaving Angie flat-footed and then broke into a wide grin – maybe accounts for the extreme frostiness of that non-handshake 🙂 Angelique is a temperamental lady although that is not the impression she wants to give the world. She can strop for Germany if things don’t go right. As they didn’t here.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2018 at 3:35 pm
Players can get really annoyed when an opponent smiles or shows joy. I still remember Mary Pierce getting in the zone and clobbering Sanchez Vicario, just clubbing winners all over the court, like blasting Arantxa off the court. It was amazing. at French Open. And Arantxa was so annoyed that Pierce was feeling such a joyful feeling at her expense. It was so nice to see Pierce feeling such joy on the court as she could be pretty dour too. Arantxa was boiling mad.