Alexander Zverev earned his first Masters Series title yesterday in Rome with a dominant 64 63 win over Novak Djokovic. It looked like a routine win with the German getting his breaks early in each set. The final point was a Djokovic return long and Zverev’s reaction was quite muted given the specialty of the occasion. I still remember Roger Federer crying after winning his first Masters Series title in Hamburg vs Safin.
After the monumental win Zverev said he needs “to keep working hard and improving. I can’t stop now.”
No he can’t and won’t stop now. This win by Zverev is only the beginning of a very prosperous and illustrious career.
There are two tournaments this week in Geneva and Lyon.
In Geneva, Ryan Harrison will face Janko Tipsarevic for the first time since 2010 Australian Open when the Serbian won in three sets. Harrison is at his career high ranking right now at 42 while the 32 year old is at 61.
Jared Donaldson scored another solid win beating Estrella Burgos in straight sets. Donaldson will play Kevin Anderson next. 31 year old Anderson has fallen to 62 in the rankings while Donaldson is at 72.
Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori are the top seeds in Geneva.
Tennys Sandgren has LLed into the Lyon draw and will face ATP 63 Carlos Berloq for what would be his first ATP main draw win.
Hyeon Chung straight setted Donald Young 62 63. Young is ranked 51 just a few spots below his career high of 38. Young has struggled since his R16 0646 loss to Fabio Fognini in Miami, losing first round to Montero in Houston and Verdasco in Rome both in straight sets. Young has now lost first round in his last three tournaments – all in straight sets. The loss to Fognini, which I watched on grandstand in Miami, has apparently damaged Young’s confidence.
Thanasi Kokkinakis has returned (with a protected ranking) in Lyon but lost in straight sets to Denis Istomin. The six foot five inch, 21 year old Aussie was ranked 69 in the world two years ago but has been ravaged by injuries. He has no ranking right now and will require a long road back to the ATP top hundred where his talent has proven he belongs. Incredibly, Kokkinakis actually won his first ATP title earlier this year in Brisbane with Jordan Thompson in doubles as they defeated Muller/Querrey in the final 76 64, as well as Wawrinka/Pouille and Nestor/Vasselin and Mahut/Hugues-Herbert en route to the final.
Borna Coris lost another close battle 64 in the third to ATP 71 Nikoloz Basilashvili who is co-coached by Gavin Hopper.
Raonic and Tsonga are the top seeds in Lyon.
No tags
Scoop Malinowski · May 22, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Kozlov is ahead of Moutet in first round qualies 26 75 53 right now.
Scoop Malinowski · May 22, 2017 at 12:39 pm
Opelka won 46 76 64 over De La Nava.
Chazz · May 22, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Anderson is going be a tough opponent for Donaldson. In Rome qualies last week, Anderson beat Escobedo 2 & 3.
Scoop Malinowski · May 22, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Kozlov wins 64 in third. Will play Stakhovsky next. Veteran Stakhokvsky won his match 76 in third. Mmoh lost when he retired 4-1 in the third. Smyczek beat McGee 62 60.
Dan markowitz · May 23, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Geez, watched Harry go down to Tippy in Geneva. Harry has best serve of Americans after Izzy and QBall but he has trouble being aggressive w his forehand. He missed a rather easy one after fighting back in 2nd set breaker from 6-3. He had no confidence on a short forehand.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 2:32 am
To revert to a previous thread – in view of the events of Monday in Manchester that ATP idea of allowing crowds to roam freely in an out of stadiums during matches etc seems more than insane – and I hope it’s quickly abandoned.
Sports associations should recognise the realities of the world we live in and get out of their little bubbles.
Hoping for a safe French Open.
Andrew Miller · May 24, 2017 at 5:02 am
Andersen is excellent. If Esco had beat him id have been impressed. Nope.
Dan Markowitz · May 24, 2017 at 8:12 am
Anderson is playing really well. He just blasted his way through Lorenzi the other day. He is dangerous. He just goes for his shots with abandon.
Chazz · May 24, 2017 at 8:29 am
Anyone catch highlights of Kyrgios losing to some unknown Argentinian qualifier named Nicolas Kicker? I give the kid credit for making some great shots but wow, what an uninspired effort from Kyrgios. I know he has had hip issues but he played the whole match and is also playing doubles right now so it can’t be that bad.
Chazz · May 24, 2017 at 8:31 am
Also Halep tore an ankle ligament in the Rome final and is 50/50 for RG.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 8:37 am
Chazz
I was just about to post that 🙂
Hope she doesn’t play if there’s any doubt. 2 week tournament on clay is a tough ask with any ligament trouble.
I’ve noticed a lot of retirements in women’s events recently. I’m presuming some of them are tactical.
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 9:42 am
Anderson is a top player but his ranking is way down. Opelka just saved mps to beat Leonardo Mayer. Opelka ready for his breakout.
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 9:44 am
Sounds like Kyrgios Tomicked it to Kicker. If he has a hip issue he would not be playing doubles. The ATP’s greatest enigma continues to stretch his lead in the ATP World Tour Enigma Rankings 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 9:46 am
The French Open better double security for the tournament. It’s not a good time right now in the world with Islamic terrorism and the media recommending everyone to just ignore it and keep living life despite it. No, you have to combat and destroy these evildoers not put your head in the sand.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 10:10 am
Scoop –
No, I think we can’t just ignore it – we can go on living our normal lives but it should always be in our minds. Many people in sport seem wrapped in their own worlds and take little interest in events outside. They can come across as ignorant or just plain self-centred and uncaring.
There are notable exceptions of course.
Security at W’don will be huge – but I expect some people will moan about that too.
Hartt · May 24, 2017 at 10:14 am
Chazz, I saw that match between Kyrgios and Kicker. Kicker played some solid tennis, but it was more a matter of Kyrgios not giving his best effort. He would get himself into trouble and then hit a couple brilliant shots to bail himself out. But as the match went on he gave less and less effort, until at the end he pretty well gave the match away.
I thought he had reformed and would try his best, whatever the match. But that is obviously not the case. I have given up on Nick, and fell sad about that because when he does give his best he is fun to watch.
Hartt · May 24, 2017 at 10:24 am
Just saw the match that Mischa Zverev won over John Isner. I was very happy, think I get even more excited when Mischa wins than when Sascha does, because it is more difficult for him.
There was a fun point in the last game of the match. Mischa landed on his bottom, but still got the ball over the net. Isner got it back but Mischa got the next point. Unfortunately, Mischa cut his left hand, his serving hand, and needed the doctor to patch it up. He went on to win the game and the match. No way was he going to give up. As the commie said, Mischa was calm, cool and collected throughout the match.
This is why I like to root for a guy like Mischa, who may not be as talented as the top players, but will always give everything he has on any given day, unlike Kyrgios.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 10:27 am
If Simona doesn’t play, or falls early, then this is surely the FO anyone can win. An animated banana could win it.
Unless a Player I Will Not Name gets her act together 🙂
Bet the FTF are sorry they slammed the door on Maria.
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 10:27 am
Catherine; It’s war now and it’s time to take actions. These beasts are not here to assimilate they are here to destroy us. We can’t keep turning the other cheek. The ban on muslim immigration must be enforced and the illegals send back asap.
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 10:32 am
Kozlov won first set vs Stakhovsky but is just about to lose the second set.
Chazz · May 24, 2017 at 10:33 am
I’m calling it right now – Madison Keys will win the French Open! What a story that would be. It won’t happen though. It will probably be between Pliskova, Svitolina, Muguruza or Mladenovic.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 10:43 am
Can’t see Madison winning after her long lay off. Muguruza will retire hurt and Pliskova’s not at her best on clay.
Whoever, I expect to see lots of empty seats unless it’s Mladenovic.
Chazz · May 24, 2017 at 11:06 am
Also of note, Siegemund is out of Paris with what looked like a knee injury.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Laura played too much recently. She’s 29, not 19.
catherine bell · May 24, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Looks like Kvitova might play RG.
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 1:19 pm
I like the Keys pick and believe she has been ready for a while to hoist her first GS. She is under the radar which I think is best for her. A lot of players have to believe they can win RG this year and that will make for a lot of tense pressure dramatic tennis.
Chazz · May 24, 2017 at 1:36 pm
On the men’s side, whoever wins is going to be an incredible story. Will it be Nadal reclaiming his RG glory at the age of 30? Will one of the NextGeners break through for their first major? Lots of great, fascinating storylines.
Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2017 at 1:47 pm
Kozlov goes down to Stakhovsky 76 46 46. Smyczek loses to Andreozzi. Fratangelo beats Klahn. Virginie Randazzo is playing her 20th time at Roland Garros.
catherine bell · May 25, 2017 at 3:11 am
Kvitova is giving a press conference today pm in Paris. My thinking is that RG suspect Simona may not play and Petra will be there.
I hope both will do what is absolutely the best for them.
catherine bell · May 25, 2017 at 8:55 am
Friday I mean, the press conference.
catherine bell · May 25, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Simona and Petra both practising at RG. Simona with Kuznetsova.
Djokovic debuts on practice court with Agassi. Does this mean Andre will be around for the first week and then take his leave, even if Djokovic is still playing ?
jg · May 25, 2017 at 2:50 pm
awesome to see Agassi back at the French
Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2017 at 3:09 pm
I would guess Andre will stay till the end. Team Djokovic is playing it coy with the Andre Alliance. No reason for Djokovic to lay all his cards on the table already. Gotta keep em guessing 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2017 at 3:10 pm
It really is. It’s almost or is the biggest story of the French Open. Even Nadal is overshadowed by the re-emergence of Andre Agassi.
Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Opelka loses a close three setter to Chile’s Jarry. Gabashvili qualifies after a bad year so far. Stahovsky qualies with a 76 in the third win vs Satral.
Dan Markowitz · May 25, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Qball lost a big match in Geneva today against the homecountry darling, Wawa. Qball was hitting Wawa off the court in the first set and I think went up a break in the second set, but he couldn’t keep the onslaught going and when Qball basically handed over the second set breaker, the match was pretty much over after that.
Qball has this beautiful girlfriend who seemed into Sam’s match, but although Q might be playing the best tennis of his career, and he might be a threat at the French to reach the second week, he just doesn’t have enough variety in his game to reach the elite top.
Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2017 at 9:57 pm
I think Querrey is a lot like Gasquet. Excellent striker excellent player but not quite driven enough not quite obsessed enough to be the top dog. If Gasquet and Querrey could take daily shots of Nadal Hewitt intensity energy they would for sure be top 3 in the world. But both are just too passive and not ruthless enough. They are great tennis players but they have pro golfer demeanors. To be the best in tennis you have to be “A freak” or “crazy” – two words insiders have told me that apply to the no 1 players. Querrey and Gasquet are too normal. Which is not a bad thing 🙂
Dan markowitz · May 25, 2017 at 10:02 pm
You’re putting QBall in Gaswuet’s league? That’s a leap for Big Sam. Hasn’t Richard reached two slam semis? That’s Tommy Hass territory and two more than Sam will ever sniff. But I like QBall and this new girlfriend is quite fun to watc so good for QBall who I think has the best backhand o all the top Americans.
Andrew Miller · May 27, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Glad Querrey has a champion girlfriend. If he’s going to make a slam semifinal now is the time to do it. He and Isner and other USA players can and should make a run in Roland Garros. It would be a shock but not a total shock as they’ve been playing at a high level all year. Sock could make a quarter. It’s not completely out of the question.
Andrew Miller · May 27, 2017 at 7:11 pm
I’d play Roland Garros. No matter what. It would be an honor.
Andrew Miller · May 27, 2017 at 7:16 pm
On the qualies, fitting that Stathovsky would end Kozlov’s tournament. He’s specialized in upending next generation players, probably second best to do this outside of Mischa “I beat every player from my brother’s generation so he doesn’t have to” Zverev.
Sorry to see Kudla’s run end in the final round of qualies. So close and yet so far.
And, nice to see Tsitsipas, Fratangelo get to the big show. Seemed like a pretty tough qualies event.
Scoop Malinowski · May 27, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Nice rise up by Tsitsipas who at the US Open juniors last year lost to Felix in straight sets. Stakhovsky is a career wrecker. He sent Harrison into a three year tailspin.
Andrew Miller · May 27, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Shapovalov lost early in the qualies. No physio id guess, maybe not a fan of the dirt. He lost by very little, but that’s tennis. It’s a game of millimeters.
Andrew Miller · May 28, 2017 at 10:58 am
Kvitova, so glad to see her back. That must have been something for her to make the journey back to the sport. I have no idea how she sees it but it seemed like she was pretty emotional to be back. She showed a pretty light touch in her match, as well as some serious yelling after clinching key points and the first set and breaks. Must have been a tough match for Boserup, who was not only facing Kvitova but the crowd and the world’s expectations for a good story.