Tennis Frontier

Author: Susan DePalma

Alpine Victory for Andujar in Gstaad

Pablo Andújar defeated Juan Mónaco, of Argentina, 6-3, 7-5 to take his third ATP title, the previous cups both won in Casablanca in 2011 and 2012, and all on the red clay.

After dropping the first set, Mónaco broke Andújar in the second to go up 3-0. But the Spaniard reeled off a series of games to even the set, and finally broke in the 12th game, holding his serve for the straight sets win.

Both players will see a big lift in their rankings after today. Andújar will rise from No. 71 to No. 44 when the ATP rankings are published on Monday, a move of 27 places, and Monaco, who has been as high as No. 10 in the world, and as recently as 2012, but has struggled recently with injury and form, will climb 24 spots back into the Top 100, to No. 81.

It has been noted in the Spanish press that, in the seven months of the tennis year so far, Spanish players hold the most titles of any country with eleven: Rafa Nadal (Doha, Río de Janeiro, Madrid, Roland Garros), David Ferrer (Buenos Aires), Roberto Bautista (‘s-Hertogenbosch, Stuttgart), Guillermo García-López (Casablanca), Fernando Verdasco (Houston), Feliciano López (Eastbourne), and Pablo Andújar (Gstaad.) It may be aging, but the Armada sails on.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): si.robi

July 28, 2014
Uruguay’s Cuevas Takes Title in Umag

Pablo Cuevas had to get through qualifiers just to make the main draw at the Vegeta Croatia Open, but on Sunday he hefted the trophy, beating Spain’s Tommy Robredo, the defending champion at the event, 6-3, 6-4.

The win gave Cuevas his second consecutive title win, having won in Bastad two weeks ago, for his first and second career cups on the ATP tour, at age 28. His ranking will jump a full 20 points from No. 60 to No. 40 when the new rankings are published on Monday.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Carine06

July 28, 2014
Svitolina Defends Title in Baku

Elena Svitolina of Ukraine defeated Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia in the final in Azerbaijan on Sunday 6-1, 7-6(2).

The second-seeded Svitolina, ranked No. 38, took the opening set in 22 minutes, breaking the Serbian twice, and won the second set tiebreak at 2. Svitolina, 19, is the first teenager to win multiple WTA titles since Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who won three titles in 2010 and 2011 before turning 20.

Jovanovski, age 22 and ranked No. 36, was the 2012 champion at Baku, and had been going for her third career title.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Firuza48

July 28, 2014
Djokovic Outlasts Federer in Epic Wimbledon Final

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in five sets to take his second Wimbledon title, 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4.

It was a high quality match from start to finish, lasting nearly four hours. Neither player saw a break point in the first set, which went to Federer in a tiebreak, but Djokovic shook it off and broke the Swiss in the third game of the second set, which proved to be all that was needed to even the match at a set a piece. There were no breaks of serve in the third set, and this time the tiebreak went to the Serb.

In the fourth, Djokovic was up 5-2 and saw championship points at 5-4, but Federer held his resolve as Novak got tight. Federer broke again to take the set 7-5 and force the decider. In the fifth, each player had chances, but it was Djokovic who broke Federer in the final game to take the title. Roger Federer was vying for his eighth Wimbledon crown and his 18th Major title overall, but it was Djokovic who won his second Wimbledon in his third final, giving him seven Majors to date.

The win also returns Novak Djokovic to the world No. 1 in the ATP rankings. [divider] Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

July 6, 2014
Dominating Kvitova Wins Second Wimbledon Title

Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, played a nearly flawless match to beat Eugenie Bouchard, of Canada, in the Wimbledon Ladies Finals today, 6-3, 6-0. Just 20, Bouchard was in her maiden final of a Major, the first Canadian ever to play in the singles finals of a Slam tournament, but it wasn’t nerves or poor performance that produced the rather deceptively lopsided scoreline. The match was brief, but entertaining for the breathtaking tennis being produced by Kvitova from the first point to the last, with a brave, if futile, effort from Bouchard, as well.

Kvitova broke the young Canadian in the third game of the first set, and then again to take a 5-2 lead and serve for the set. Bouchard managed to convert on her lone break point of the match, but Kvitova broke back to take the first set. In the second, with her powerful backhand and strong serving, she refused to allow Bouchard to make any inroads and closed out the victory at love. This is the Czech’s second Major win, having previously won at Wimbledon in 2011.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Carine06

July 5, 2014
Federer Claims 7th Halle Title; Dimitrov and Ivanovic Win in England

Roger Federer won the title at the Gerry Weber Open today, defeating Alejandro Falla, 7-6(2), 7-6(3.) It was just the tune-up he would have been hoping for as he prepares for the start of Wimbledon in one week.

Ana Ivanovic won her first grass title and third of this year in Birmingham over Zahlavova-Strycova, 6-3, 6-2. And Grigor Dimitrov also won his first trophy on grass, beating Feliciano Lopez in three tight sets, 6-7(8), 7-6(1), 7-6(6).

June 15, 2014
Sharapova Wins French Open

In one of the best and most competitive women’s finals in recent Roland Garros history, Maria Sharapova defeated Simona Halep of Romania in Paris, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4. It was Sharapova’s second victory at the French, her fifth Major title, but only the first one where she has repeated. (She won here three years ago.)

For the 22-year-old Halep, it was her first Major final in a year where she has won seven titles and risen from No. 57 to No. 4 in the rankings. At the start of the match, it was the younger woman who seemed more calm and poised, where the veteran Sharapova showed signs of nerves. Simona broke Maria in the first game of the match, though the Russian broke back to level at 2-2. For all the excellent shot-making in the match and thrilling rallies, the serving was not especially fine, and the women traded five breaks of serve in the first set, six in the second, and the opening two games of the third.

The young Romanian demonstrated a great deal of bravery and guile playing her opponent, but Sharapova is a fierce competitor. When the defending champion, Serena Williams, went out of the tournament in the second round, Sharapova became the favorite, and she is not one to let an opportunity pass her by. Less than a year ago, Maria had shoulder surgery, so the comeback from injury makes the victory even sweeter.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

June 7, 2014
Muguruza Revealed; Del Potro Practices; Mayer on Nadal

The latest from Spanish-language press [divider]

What you didn’t know about Garbiñe Muguruza

Muguruza is getting a lot of attention after her second-round upset over Serena Williams, so it’s a good time to dig a little deeper. Born in Caracas to a Venezuelan mother and Spanish Basque father, she moved to Spain at age six. Garbiñe, which means “Inmaculada” in the Basque language, became the Spanish Junior Champion at twelve. “I’ve spent my whole life training on clay, but my best results have been on faster surfaces because of my style of play. My height [1,82/6’0] helps me be aggressive,” Muguruza said in 2013. “I’ve studied Serena Williams, who has always been my idol.”

This was prescient, as it was clear that Garbiñe had a game plan against Williams. She also mentioned that she admires Maria Sharapova’s “attitude, on and off the court.” “Immaculate” she surely was against Williams, and consolidated with a win today over Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia. She’ll face another surprise winner, the French qualifier, Pauline Parmentier, in the next round. [divider]

Del Potro Back on the Practice Courts

After surgery on his left wrist last March, Juan Martin Del Potro is back on the practice court. He says he’s mostly practicing drives and volleys, because he’s still wearing a splint on the left wrist. Here’s a video of his practice session:

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Leonardo Mayer Hopes that Nadal is “Human” Tomorrow

Mayer spoke to the Argentine press about his chances against eight-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal tomorrow in the third round of the French Open. “I have the technique, but I’m not going to say it because [Nadal] might find out,” he said, laughing. (Mayer is 0-2 in their head-t0-head, and has yet to take as set off Nadal.) “I think it’s going to be difficult, but it can be done. And he’s human, at times.” [divider]

Cover Photo: Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

May 31, 2014
Djokovic Topples Nadal in Rome

Novak Djokovic overcame a slow and sloppy start to take down his arch-rival Rafael Nadal at the Internazional BNL d’Italia today in Rome, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This is his third title overall in the Italian capital, and the second at the direct expense of Nadal, who was the defending champion.

The first set saw both players a bit tentative, but Nadal got the first break in the third game, and then again in game five to race ahead to a 4-1 lead. Djokovic got one break back in the next game for 2-4, held quickly, and nearly broke Nadal again at 4-3, but the Spaniard fought him off for the hold, and eventually served the set out. Djokovic had 17 unforced errors for the set to Nadal’s 8.

The rest of the match saw a better level from both, and the momentum swung back and forth a few times, though it was the Serbian who found a very high level and rarely saw it drop again. In the second set, Djokovic broke Nadal in his first service game with a laser-like passing shot, and raced quickly to 3-0. In the fifth game of the set, Nadal broke his opponent to put the set back on serve, but was immediately handed the break back by Djokovic, which was all the lead he needed for the remainder of the set.

The world No. 2 broke the No. 1 again in the first game of the deciding set, but Nadal battled for the break back in the sixth game of the set, only to be broken once again in his next service game. With Nadal serving at 3-5, Djokovic broke yet again to regain the Italian title, and move himself within 650 rankings points of taking back the No. 1 spot from Nadal.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

May 18, 2014
Serena Williams Defends in Rome

World No. 1 Serena Williams defended her title at the Internazionale BNL d’Italia, defeating an injured Sara Errani 6-3, 6-0.

Williams broke the Italian No. 1 in her first service game, but Errani broke back in the seventh, to the delight of the wildly partisan Rome crowd, who were hoping to have their first female champion since 1950. In the next game, Errani came up lame, and Serena got the break back. The Italian was taken off the court by the trainer for treatment. A short while later, she jogged out onto the court with her left thigh strapped, but Serena served the set out.

In the second set, it became clear that the injury was definitely impairing the Italian’s movement, and there was nothing to do but hang on for the sake of honor while the American served the set out, which she won at love. Serena’s celebration was subdued, given her injured opponent. Errani couldn’t contain her tears in her speech to her fans at the trophy presentation.

It ended up being a double disappointment for the Italians today, as Errani and her partner, Roberta Vinci, also of Italy, were forced to retire from the doubles final due to Errani’s injury, and the win went to Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik, 4-0 by retirement.

For Williams, this is her third title in the Italian capital, having won in 2002 and again last year. In both of those years, Serena went on to win the French Open, which begins next week, and where she will go in as the favorite.

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Photo credit (Creative Commons License): Yann Caradec

May 18, 2014