Tennis Frontier

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General Tennis News from the Tennis Frontier

  • Nadal Tops Monfils at Qatar Open

    Nadal Tops Monfils at Qatar Open

    Doha - Nadal

    Rafael Nadal overcame Gael Monfils to capture his first title of 2014 at the Qatar Open in Doha, his maiden trophy here in five attempts, where it was Monfils himself who twice sent the Spaniard packing in previous years, but couldn’t make it a third time today.

    Nadal raced through the first set while Monfils appeared to still be gathering himself, but the Frenchman led the entertaining second by a break for most of it. The Spaniard broke back, but Monfils took it in the tiebreak. Nadal broke early in the third, and didn’t look back, winning the match and the trophy: 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2.

    This is the world No. 1’s 61st career title, one behind Guillermo Vilas’s total, putting him 7th on the all-time list. The only active player with more titles is Roger Federer, who is looking for his 78th tomorrow in Brisbane versus Lleyton Hewitt. The Frenchman has reached 20 career finals, but has won just four.

    Photo credit: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

  • Ana Ivanovic Secures WTA Auckland Title

    Ana Ivanovic Secures WTA Auckland Title

    Ana Ivanovic

    Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic continued with her excellent run of form by defeating Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a titanic battle to seize the WTA Auckland crown in 2 hours, 19 minutes.

    Williams, also a former world No. 1, fought back strongly after Ivanovic had raced to an early lead by taking the opening stanza 6-2. The 33-year-old American won the second set to level proceedings having fought back from 3-5 down and facing a championship point.  She held serve and then broke the Serb twice to send the match into a deciding set.

    In the decider, Ivanovic broke Williams early and stayed in control, despite having to survive two break points when serving for the match.

    It was Ivanovic’s 12th title and first since 2011.

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    Cover Photo: NAPARAZZI (Creative Commons License)

  • Serena Williams Bags Brisbane

    Serena Williams Bags Brisbane

    Serena Brisbane

    Serena Williams secured her first title of 2014 defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Brisbane International.

    Williams, the world No. 1, took the match 6-4, 7-5 in 98 minutes to send out a clear warning to her rivals in the build up to the Australian Open.

    She took the first set without facing a single break point and capitalized on an unforced error from Azarenka to break in the seventh game.  The Belarus World No. 2 was offered no opportunity to restore parity and could not get back into the set.

    Azarenka raised the stakes in the second set, twice breaking Williams and was in pole position to level things up after jumping out to a 4-2 lead before Williams broke back.

    At 5-5, the American broke again to edge out in front and then served out the match to take the title.

    The win extended a run of successive victories to 22 and Williams didn’t drop a set during the entire tournament.

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    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Francisco Carbajal

  • Djokovic Wins Abu Dhabi Invitational

    Djokovic Wins Abu Dhabi Invitational

    Novak Djokovic has opened the new season by defeating Spain’s David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2 at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition tournament in 82 minutes.

    Ferrer who came into the final on the back of a victory over World No. 1 Rafael Nadal had led 4-2 in the first set but a succession of unforced errors proved his undoing as Djokovic took control of the match and swept to victory.

    “I’m very satisfied with the way I played and I always enjoy coming back here,” stated the Serb, who added $250,000 to his bank balance in the process.

    New coach Boris Becker was in attendance, and will be encouraged by the Djokovic’s early season form.

    In the third place playoff match, Nadal defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6, 6-3.

  • Federer and Edberg Hook Up (Now Official)

    Federer and Edberg Hook Up (Now Official)

    Stefan Edberg has officially joined the Roger Federer coaching team for the 2014 season. The Swedish legend will travel with the Federer camp for around 10 weeks during the forthcoming year.

    Federer has described Edberg’s role in the context of providing inspiration and bringing a fresh pair of eyes to the camp rather than providing specific coaching.

    “I am sure he can bring a different angle to my game which is interesting,” stated Federer.

    Edberg, 47, is a former world No. 1 who won six singles and three doubles Majors, and has been described as a “childhood idol” by Federer during his formative years.

    The appointment comes on the heels of Novak Djokovic hiring Boris Becker as head coach. A third legend of the period, Ivan Lendl, has already had considerable success coaching within the Andy Murray camp.

    Edberg will join Federer initially in Australia. The appointment coincides with the Swiss maestro’s decision to try a racquet with a bigger frame at his first Brisbane International.

  • Czech Republic Repeats in Davis Cup

    Czech Republic Repeats in Davis Cup

    8705871692_1c393ac441_z e

    For the second straight year, the Czechs have won the Davis Cup trophy, this year defeating the host team Serbia, 3-2.

    The Serbian team was hamstrung by the losses of Janko Tipsarevic (injury) and Victor Troicki (serving a ban for missing a drug test), forcing them to play the unknown No. 117-ranked Dusan Lajovic in two of the singles matches.  Having the world No. 2 Novak Djokovic on their side was not enough for Serbia to repeat their 2010 victory.

    For the Czech Republic, it was again their stalwarts, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, who were the two-man show all weekend, as they had been in defeating Spain this time last year.  When the teams split the singles rubbers on Friday, the Czech’s decided to press Berdych-Stepanek, a proven combination (14-1 total Davis Cup record as a doubles team) into service again on Saturday, when it seemed that the doubles might decide the eventual winner, given the weakness and inexperience of Lajovic.  Somewhat controversially, Djokovic was not substituted in to play with Nenad Zimonjic (at 37, the oldest man ever to play in a Davis Cup final), who teamed with Ilija Bozoljac, in what was indeed a losing effort against the crafty Czech pair.  Today, Djokovic defeated Berdych to assure a live rubber for the 5th match.  And just as he did last year, Stepanek clinched for his team.

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    Scores:

    Novak Djokovic d. Radek Stepanek: 7-5, 6-1, 6-4

    Tomas Berdych d. Dusan Lajovic: 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

    Berdych/Stepanek d. Bozoljac/Zimonjic: 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4)

    Djokovic d. Berdych: 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-2

    Stepanek d. Lajovic: 6-3, 6-1, 6-1

    Photo credit:  elPadawan (Creative Commons License)

  • Djokovic Tops Nadal in London to Win Year-End Title

    Djokovic Tops Nadal in London to Win Year-End Title

    WTF Winner - Djokovic 2

    Novak Djokovic, who has rediscovered his drive and motivation since losing his world No. 1 ranking seven weeks ago, exacted revenge again today against the man who took it from him by beating Rafael Nadal convincingly, 6-3, 6-4, to take the ATP World Tour Finals title.  This was Djokovic’s third title at the year-end tournament, and Nadal’s second loss in a final, having never taken this trophy.

    The Serbian came out strong from the start, while the Spaniard started looking nervous, and was broken in his opening service game.  Nadal got the break back, but was committing too many unforced errors on his trusty forehand side, and too many double-faults, trying for a bit too much to combat, futilely, in the end, the Djokovic A-game.

    Djokovic, looking nimble and assured throughout, broke again early in the second set.  Nadal kept his nerve, fending off championship points in each of the last two games.  He held serve despite having been down, and got Djokovic to deuce at the last, but couldn’t hold off the inevitable any longer.  Djokovic served an ace, and then a Nadal shot sailed wide to end the match.

    The win evens their head-to-head this year to two wins a piece, and closes the gap on the overall to 22-17.  It also sends a big salvo across the bow at Nadal for the season to come.  Djokovic is gunning for him again.

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    Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero beat Mike and Bob Bryan for the doubles title:  7-5, 6-7(3), 10-7.  They were the surprise Spanish duo to pull it off, passing the higher-ranked Spanish team of Granollers/Lopez, who beat the Bryans at this tournament last year.

    Photo credit:  Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

  • Djokovic Defeats Wawrinka to Set Showdown With Nadal

    Djokovic Defeats Wawrinka to Set Showdown With Nadal

    WTF SF - Djokovic

    In his most convincing win of this ATP World Tour Finals, the Serbian Novak Djokovic beat Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland to set up the final that most had anticipated, with Rafael Nadal having won his semifinal earlier in the day.

    The 28-year-old Swiss has been enjoying the most successful year of his career, and was making his debut at the ATP World Tour Finals.  He came out looking to start strong, threatening Djokovic’s first serve, and breaking his second. But the Serbian broke back immediately, and then seemed to kick things up a notch to counter any significant threats that Wawrinka threw at him.  In the end, Djokovic blew past him, 6-3, 6-3.

    The final will be played in London’s O2 Arena tomorrow at 8pm GMT.  It will be the 38th meeting between Djokovic and Nadal, a record, and their sixth match of 2013.  Nadal leads on the year 3-2, though the most recent win went to the Serb.

    Photo credit:  Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

  • Nadal Denies Federer in London

    Nadal Denies Federer in London

    WTF SF - Nadal

    In the 32nd meeting of this storied rivalry, Rafael Nadal prevailed over Roger Federer, 7-5, 6-3.

    The first semifinal of the day started with each man playing well and holding serve.  They traded breaks three times in succession in the 9th-11th games of the set, which Nadal served out at 6-5. The second set was more squarely on Nadal, who broke Federer’s serve in the 6th game, and again with the Swiss serving in the final game at 3-5, to close out the match.  It was the Spaniard’s first win over the former No. 1 on indoor hard courts.

    This was Federer’s 12th consecutive year playing in the ATP World Tour Finals, which he has won six times.  For Nadal, it is his fifth appearance, and only his second time to make the finals.  He lost in the finals to Federer in 2010.

    Photo credit:  Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

  • Barclays ATP World Tour Finals – Semifinals – Schedule of Play and Results

    Barclays ATP World Tour Finals – Semifinals – Schedule of Play and Results

    WTF SFs

    Barclays ATP World Tour Finals – Day 7 – Semifinals: Schedule of Play (Scores added as known)

    CENTER COURT — Start 12:00

    [6] David Marrero (ESP) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d [3] Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) — 7-6(10), 7-5

    Not Before 14:00

    [1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) d [6] Roger Federer (SUI) — 7-5, 6-3

    Not Before 18:00

    [1] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) d [2] Alexander Peya (AUT) / Bruno Soares (BRA) — 4-6, 6-4 [10-8]

    Not Before 20:00

    [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) d [7] Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) — 6-3, 6-3