Monaco Claims 300th ATP Tour-Level Win at Shenzhen Open

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Monaco is part of Argentina’s Magnificent Seven…

The 30-year-old Argentine tennis player, a former World No. 10, claimed his 300th tour-level win on Wednesday at the Shenzhen Open as he battled past Vasek Pospisil 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in just under two hours.

“It’s amazing. 300 victories is a lot,” said Monaco, who has eight career titles. “It’s a gift and it gives me a boost of power for my next matches. I’m really happy.”

Monaco has become the seventh Argentine player in the Open Era to win at least 300 singles matches on the ATP World Tour, joining an illustrious group that includes tennis legend Guillermo Vilas (928 wins), as well as David Nalbandian (383) and Juan Martin del Potro (312).

Additionally, Monaco becomes the 26th active member on the ATP World Tour (sixth this season) to win at least 300 career matches.

Monaco’s first tour-level win came on home soil in Buenos Aires in 2004 against Nicolas Lapentti. Speaking to ATPWorldTour.com, he hailed his greatest win as being his victory over Tommy Haas in the 2012 Hamburg final.

“I think the most important victory in my life was the match I won in Hamburg. It was really important for me because I knew before the match that if I won, I’d break into the Top 10. Also it was the final of an [ATP World Tour] 500, in Germany, against Tommy. It was incredible and the best day of my life for sure.”

Here’s a look at Monaco’s achievements By The Numbers…

ARGENTINA’S 300 WINS CLUB

Player	Match Wins No.
Guillermo Vilas	929
David Nalbandian	383
Jose-Luis Clerc	375
Juan Ignacio Chela	326
Juan Martin del Potro	312
Martin Jaime	301
Juan Monaco	300

Estrella Burgos’ Historic Run at the U.S. Open Comes to an End

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Victor Estrella Burgos’ historic appearance at the U.S. Open may have come to an end, but his presence has left a lasting impression

The 34-year-old Dominican tennis player, who after many years competing in the twilight world of the Challenger circuit became the country’s first-ever representative in a major at this year’s U.S. Open, lost to No. 5 seed Milos Raonic on Saturday in a hard-fought third round match that lasted two hours and 43 minutes.

Estrella Burgos, short and fast in the Michael Chang mold and owner of a cutting single-handed backhand slice and solid serve, out-aced the Canadian king of aces 8-7, but could not stop him closing it out in three tie-breaks, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3).

“It was difficult,” Raonic conceded. “He’s playing well. He’s playing with a lot of aspiration. It was a lot of fun, the atmosphere out there. But I believe I can play better. I believe I will.”

Estrella Burgos, who turned pro in 2002, had only earned $485,879 in his career prior to his first appearance at the U.S. Open. He came desperately close to extending the match into a fourth set, when serving for the third, but faltered at the key moment.

Estrella Burgos did not play in professional tournaments until he was 26 as he could not afford to travel. He also had to take an eight-month break from the sport after suffering a serious injury to his right elbow in 2012.

“It wasn’t until three years ago that I started to focus on my fitness,” he said. “I can play against anyone with top-quality tennis, but being in shape is the key to sticking on the tour for several more years.”

But Estrella Burgos was delighted just to be competing at the grand slam event in Flushing, New York, on the biggest stage he’s ever likely to stride in the game.

“It was really amazing,” said Estrella Burgos, who earlier this year became the first Dominican to reach the top 100 in the ATP rankings. “For me, it was the best week: third round of the US Open. I think I won, how much I don’t know, $110,000? But I have to pay the taxes.

“I lost today, but it was my best match [of the tournament]. I played at a very good level. The three sets were very close. I was serving for the set in the third set. I cannot close the set, but I’m not so … I’m not too sad.”

Raonic, not always known for his warmth, embraced Estrella Burgos at the net, relieved to get into the second week and perhaps happy, too, to see the back of an opponent who did not just “turn up” but gave him a serious fright.

Reality will soon kick in for Estrella Burgos when he returns to the outer fringes of his sport, but he has had a taste of the big time and he likes it very much and intends to play the ATP World Tour in Europe, adding: “For sure I’m going to play the Australian Open. I want to try to mix it. I want to play more ATP than Challenger.”

Away from the tennis, Estrella Burgos has spent most of his time at his New York hotel with his family and having “a really good time” with “a lot of friends”.

He has not neglected his tennis, though, and prepared hard for longer matches. “I have so much confidence,” he said. “When I go on to the court, I don’t care if I play five sets, I am feeling OK. Today I was two sets down and in the third set thinking, OK, I want to make this game five sets.”

Ferrer Defeats Julien Benneteau to Reach the Western & Southern Open Final

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The third time has proven to be the charm for David Ferrer…

Playing in his third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semifinal of the year, the 32-year-old Spanish tennis player soundly defeated France’s Julien Benneteau to advance to the Western & Southern Open final, his first Masters 1000 final in 2014.

Ferrer, the sixth seed, was a comprehensive winner as against Benneteau, losing just five games.He needed just an hour and 11 minutes to complete a 6-3 6-2 win over his French opponent, who was playing in a Masters 1000 semifinal for the first time in his career.

The unseeded Benneteau managed to keep pace with Ferrer for the first six games before dumping a backhand into the net to give the Spaniard a break of serve.

Ferrer held his own serve then broke Benneteau again to wrap up the set, finishing things off with a backhand winner down the line.

Unforced errors continued to flow from Benneteau’s racquet at the start of the second set and Ferrer went a break up again in the fourth game.

The Frenchman did manage one more service hold and then showed admirable spirit to save four match points in the eighth game before finally succumbing on the fifth.

Ferrer, who was forced to save two match points in his opening clash with Philipp Kohlschreiber earlier this week, said afterwards: “I’m going step by step. Tennis is always a surprise. When I looked in my quarter of the draw and saw Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga there, I knew it was not easy.

“But as they lost, I took my chance and got into the final. I’m trying to improve my game every day. Watching the top 10 guys is a great inspiration to improve also. I’m feeling very comfortable on hard courts. On those I can play more with my timing than with power.”

Ferrer will now face former World No. 1 Roger Federer in the men’s final, his first in 11 tries at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 event.

Ferrer Defeats Tommy Robredo to Reach Western & Southern Open Semifinals

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Ferrer is hoping to advance to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final in 2014.

The 32-year-old Spanish tennis star outlasted his compatriot Tommy Robredo in a hard-fought match on Friday to reach his first Western & Southern Open semifinal in 11 trips to Cincinnati.

It’s Ferrer’s third semifinal at the Masters 1000 level in 2014. He lost in the semifinals in Monte Carlo to Stanislas Wawrinka; and he lost to Kei Nishikori in the semifinals in Madrid.

With his 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory, Ferrer denied Robredo – who had defeated World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 – his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semifinal in eight years.

Ferrer is also closing in on the 600-win plateau, improving to 590-285 with his win.

Currently ranked No. 6 in the world, Ferrer claimed the 10th encounter (8-2) with the 16th-seeded Robredo in two hours and six minutes, winning 74 per cent of first serve points and breaking serve on four of 11 chances.

Robredo was unable to overcome 51 unforced errors and 19 forehand winners by Ferrer.

“Well, it’s not easy play against a friend,” said Ferrer. “Tommy and I have played a lot of times in our careers. I wish him the best luck for the next tournaments.”

Robredo Upsets World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at Western & Southern Open

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Tommy Robredo has taken down the No. 1 seed at the Western & Southern Open.

The 32-year-old Spanish tennis player beat top-ranked Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (6), 7-5 in the round of 16 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Robredo, the 16th-seed, beat a top-ranked player for only the second time in his career. The first time, he edged Lleyton Hewitt in the 2003 French Open.

“When I finish my career, and when I will be sitting at home and talking with friends, I will remember days like this,” Robredo said.

Djokovic, who has never won the event, dropped the first set after fighting back from a 6-3 deficit in the tiebreaker. Robredo took the set with an ace that Djokovic challenged. The replay showed the ball caught the slimmest sliver of the line.

Robredo failed to convert two match points before completing the victory with a slam on Djokovic’s short lob.

“It’s disappointing that I’m finishing Cincinnati again with a tough loss, but it’s the sport,” said Djokovic, who lost in the third round at Toronto last week. “I didn’t play well in Toronto, didn’t play well here. Hopefully, it’s going to be different in New York (at the US Open).”

Robredo had lost six straight matches against the Serb after winning their first encounter.

“I knew that if I wanted to win I had to go for it and try to hope that he will not play his best match,” Robredo said. “Both things happen and then I could win.”

Bautista Agut Defeats Benjamin Becker to Claim First Ever ATP Title

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a hard-fought first ATP title for Roberto Bautista Agut…

The 26-year-old Spanish tennis player mounted an impressive rally to claim his maiden World Tour crown on Saturday, beating Benjamin Becker in the Topshelf Open final.

Bautista Agut captured his first title with a 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 victory, overcoming 13 aces and a 32-minute first set in favor of his German counterpart.

One of the ATP World Tour’s rising stars in 2014, the Spaniard has soared from World No. 73 in the ATP rankings at the beginning of the year to a new career-high of No. 23 with his title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Bautista Agut, the tournament’s third-seed becomes the second first-time champion this year after Federico Delbonis won in Sao Paulo. He was competing in just his second final, having previously fallen in the 2013 Aircel Chennai Open title match to Janko Tipsarevic.

Becker raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set behind a pair of early breaks. Bautista Agut was unable to counter Becker’s pace and guile in the baseline rallies as the German veteran needed just 32 minutes to take the opener.

Bautista Agut’s game would gain traction as the match progressed, however, and he would snatch the second set in a tiebreaker and surge to an early lead in the third set behind a break in the fifth game. As Becker pressed for a break back, Bautista Agut held steady, and he would hold on for the title in exactly two hours.

He’s the fifth different Spanish winner this year, withRafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Guillermo Garcia-Lopezand Fernando Verdasco also bringing home trophies to the Iberian nation. He’s also the second different Spaniard to triumph in Den Bosch after Ferrer prevailed in 2008 and 2012.

“It took me a while to recover from a very long match yesterday and I was getting better and better after the first set,” said Bautista Agut, who earns $77,350 and 250 ATP rankings points with the win.

“I was more focused and started to feel better physically. I was trying to not think too much and play my game point by point. It was the same nervousness as every match. I played calm and aggressive in the last game. I had to celebrate hard (after match point) and enjoy the moment.”

Verdasco Beats Nicolas Almagro to Win the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s “sweet No. 6” for Fernando Verdasco…

The 30-year-old Spanish tennis player, currently ranked No. 29 in the world, beat his fellow countryman Nicolas Almagro in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (4), to win the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship on Sunday.

The victory marks Verdasco’s sixth ATP World Tour singles title and his first singles since April 2010.

With the win, Verdasco ends a six-match losing streak in tournament finals.

He also reached the doubles final and had been on the court six hours longer than Almagro going into the final.

“I’m so tired I don’t know if I can talk so much,” said Verdasco, seeded fourth in the Houston, Texas-based tournament..

Almagro had a walkover in the semifinals when American Sam Querrey pulled out due to a back injury.

Almagro, he tournament’s third-seed reached set point five times against Verdasco’s serve in the ninth game of second set, but couldn’t convert. He also up a mini-break in the tiebreaker before Verdasco rallied.

It’s the second second-place finish in the tournament for Almagro, who lost to John Isner last year.

To date, Almagro has won four of his six singles titles on clay.

“You are never happy when you lose a final,” Almagro said. “I had my chances. But I credit Fernando.”

On Saturday night in the doubles final, twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan beat Verdasco and David Marrero 4-6, 6-4, 11-9.

Delbonis Defeats Paolo Lorenzi at the Brazil Open to Claim His First ATP Title

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The second time’s the charm for Federico Delbonis…

Playing in only his second ATP final, the 23-year-old Argentine tennis player defeated Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Brazil Open final on Sunday to earn his first ATP title.

Delbonis broke Lorenzi’s serve to start the decisive set and held on to close the match in 2 hours, 6 minutes after converting on his second match point.

He jumped and punched the air after sending a winner down the line past Lorenzi’s outstretched arms.

Delbonis celebrated a nearly perfect week in which he also reached the semifinals in the doubles tournament.

“To tell you the truth, I have no words,” Delbonis said. “I played well match after match. It was a great result in the end.”

In his first ATP final, Delbonis lost to Italy’s Fabio Fognini last July after upsetting Roger Federer in the semifinals in Hamburg.

With the victory at the ATP 250 tournament in Sao Paulo, Delbonis will move to 45th in the ATP rankings, a career best.

Lorenzi won the first set on Sunday after breaking Delbonis’ serve at 3-3, but the hard-hitting Argentine started serving well and was never broken again, finishing with 12 aces and no double faults.

Delbonis beat home-crowd favorite Thomaz Bellucci in the semifinals. He had defeated second-seeded Nicolas Almagro in the second round, a three-time winner at the Brazil Open.

It was the first time since 2007 that the Brazil Open wasn’t won by a Spanish player. Argentine Guillermo Canas lifted the trophy that year, and after that the tournament was won by Spaniards Almagro, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal.

Nadal decided not to defend the clay-court title this week. He chose to play in the first Rio Open, which he won last week.

Delbonis Reaches Men’s Final at the Brasil Open

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Could the second time be the charm for Federico Delbonis?

In a hard-fought semifinal match at the Brasil Open, the 23-year-old professional tennis player defeated home-crowd favorite Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 in 2 hours, 9 minutes to reach a title match for only the second time in his career.

Delbonis, who lost his first finals match in Hamburg last year, will play Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi – ranked No. 114 in the world – in the men’s final.

Top-seeded Tommy Haas retired from his semifinal match against Lorenzi on Saturday.

Lorenzi was leading Haas 6-3, 3-2 when the German called it quits due to a shoulder injury.

Lorenzi and the No. 61-ranked Delbonis have never faced each other before on the ATP World Tour.

Ferrer Defeats Nicolas Almagro to Reach Copa Claro Final

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Ferrer is thisclose to a three-peat…

The 31-year-old Spanish tennis player defeated compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-4-62 in Saturday’s semifinals at Argentina’s Copa Claro to reach the finals.

Ferrer, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, improved his FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage over Almagro to 15-0 with the win.

The two-time defending champion prevailed in 86 minutes, saving six of seven break points faced while converting on four of his own. Almagro secured his lone break of serve to open the second set but was unable to maintain the early lead.

Ferrer, ranked No. 5 in the world, will look to overturn a seven-match losing streak in ATP World Tour finals when he faces Italy’s Fabiio Fognini in the finals, with his most recent title coming in Buenos Aires last year.

He’s also seeking to extend the string of Spanish dominance in the Argentine capital, with four different Spaniards having hoisted the trophy since 2009.

A win in the final would give Ferrer his third three-peat on the ATP World Tour, after winning three consecutive titles in Acapulco (2010-12) and Auckland (2011-13).

Meanwhile, Fognini rallied from down a set and a break to defeat third-seed Tommy Robredo 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday, booking a spot in the Copa Claro final.

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