Tennis Frontier

Tag: stuttgart

  • Federer Wins 98th Title In Stuttgart

    Federer Wins 98th Title In Stuttgart

    Roger Federer secured his 98th ATP title in Stuttgart with an impressive straight-sets victory over Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4 7-6(3).

    It was a first title on the grass courts of Stuttgart for Federer, who had been beaten here by Tommy Haas (2017) and Dominic Thiem (2016).

    Federer, who turns 37 in August will now travel to Halle to defend his title at the Gerry Weber Open before launching his Wimbledon campaign.

    Match Highlights:

    Post Match Interview:

    The veteran Swiss also returns to Number One in the World Rankings and spoke with the media after the match.

    It’s been a lot of fun this week. I played great in the in the big moments. I was there especially against Kyrgios and Raonic so I’m very pleased you know.

    The fans were absolutely amazing – they came up in big numbers and really supported me all week and at the end.

    I played some of my best tennis already right away you know on my comeback so it’s a great feeling.

    I’m first of all very pleased that I can go as a world number one to Halle, a place where I’ve enjoyed so much success and where I have such a close relationship to the tournament and the family and the fans over there. So I’ll be travelling there tomorrow and then get ready for my match. I think I’m playing already on Tuesday so only one day off with the travelling so it’s gonna be quite hectic you know from now till then. But no problem, I signed up for it and I can’t I can’t wait to play again actually.

    Federer was presented with a Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 4MATIC Coupe in addition to his prize money.

    http://gty.im/976921186

     

    Click to discuss the Stuttgart Open in the Forum.

  • Sharapova Drives Away with Title in Stuttgart

    Sharapova Drives Away with Title in Stuttgart

    Maria Sharapova

    Maria Sharapova retains her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, besting Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, in a match that featured a dramatic shift in momentum at the midway point. Ivanovic came out strong and played at a very high level, seeming to be about to take out the defending champion, leading by a set and up 3-1 in the second. The Russian, with her back nearly to the wall, at risk of not only losing this title which she’d won the last two years, but also of dropping out of the Top 10, raised her level of play dramatically, and left the Serbian suddenly more confounded than confident. Sharapova won four games in a row, and then the set.

    In the third, Sharapova broke Ivanovic in the first game, from which she never recovered. Both women are former world No. 1 players, with Sharapova currently at No. 9 and Ivanovic at No. 12, but this win brings Sharapova’s record in their head-to-head match-up to 10-3.

    And she gets to keep the car, too.

    [divider]

    Also in women’s tennis today, Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor, a 21-year-old Spaniard, overcame Romina Oprandi of Switzerland to take the title at the Grand Prix De SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Marrakesh, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Francisco Carbajal

  • The Queen of Stuttgart

    The Queen of Stuttgart

    Maria Sharapova claimed her second consecutive Stuttgart crown in defeating China’s Li Na at the Porsche Open.

    The World Number 2 won in straight sets 6-4 6-3. It was the only match of the tournament where she hadn’t been stretched to a deciding final set.

    Sharapova exerted a lot of pressure on the Li Na service game, with quality agressive returning. This paid dividends as she broke Li twice in the first set. She was broken back once, but it was a temporary repreive for Li and the russian closed out the set.

    Sharapova serving well and returning even better, wrapped things up in a comfortable second set with Li Na double faulting on match point.

    “I thought it’d be the toughest match of the tournament, but I played my best tennis today,” Sharapova said. “I was able to step it up.”

    The second-seeded Li had a double-fault on match point

    Sharapova now improves to 9-5 over Li in their personal head to head matchup and is confidently building momentum during the European clay court swing, where the main focus will be to defend her Roland Garros title in Paris.

    Discuss this and more with fellow tennis fans in our community forums.

  • Li Na and Maria Sharapova in Stuttgart Final.

    Li Na and Maria Sharapova in Stuttgart Final.

    The top two seeds at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Stuttgart, Maria Sharapova and Li Na both advanced to face off in Sunday’s final. Top seeded Maria Sharapova defeated hometown girl Angelique Kerber with Li Na prevailing over Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

    Sharapova had the tougher task of the two, being pushed by the German to a 7-5 final set decider. The Russian World Number 2, began well enough, breaking twice to take the first set and then started the second set with another break.

    Kerber fought back strongly, reeling off eight of the next nine games to secure the second set and break Sharapova early in the third.

    The third set was a rollercoaster of momentum swings following Kerber’s initial break with both players breaking. Delicately poised at 5-5, Sharapova put the hammer down, winning the next two games without dropping a point to take the match and advance to the final. Notably this was her 15th straight clay court victory.

    Her opponent on Sunday, Li Na advanced in more convincing fashion. A straight sets victory over in-form American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 64 63. Mattek-Sands had enjoyed a great week, including taking the scalp of fourth seeded Sara Errani. However, Li Na’s combinaton of poise, strength and consistency were a step too far.

    Sharapova leads the head to head 8-5, but on the single occasion they have met this year, Li ran out a comfortable winner. It will be an interesting final.

    Click here to discuss this and more with fellow tennis fans our discussion boards.

  • Sharapova progresses in Stuttgart following marathon tussle.

    Sharapova progresses in Stuttgart following marathon tussle.

    World Number 2 and the top seed, Maria Sharapova prevailed in a marathon tussle lasting over three hours to progress to the Quarter Finals in defence of her Stuttgart title over clay court specialist Lucie Safarova.

    Sharapova won in three sets 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3, squandering several match points en route to a hard fought victory.

    “I`ve had a few three-hour games in my career, so I knew I just had to keep fighting until the end. That`s when it`s the time to get the game-plan going and calm down a little bit.” said the Russian in the post match interview.

    Sharapova will now face Ana Ivanovic in the quarter finals on Friday.