Tag Archives: ATP

Nicolas Jarry Outlasts Tommy Paul to Reach Rome Open Final

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Nicolas Jarry is one win away from becoming Chile’s first ATP Masters 1000 champion in 25 years.

On Friday, the No. 21 seed overcame 14th-seeded Tommy Paul, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3, for his third three-set victory in his run to the Rome Open final.

Nicolas Jarry With grandfather Jaime Fillol cheering him on, Jarry regrouped after dropping the second set from a set and a break up. He held his nerve in the final game, saving two break points in between needing five match points to shut the door on Paul and dampen his 27th birthday.

“I was not very happy at the end of the second set,” Jarry admitted to press in the mixed zone afterwards. “I tried to use that energy to push myself and to focus it on my tennis, on what I need to do, and try to play as best I can. That gave me the break and more confidence to continue and to close the match.

“Tommy doesn’t make you feel comfortable on the court, so I made it through and that’s the best thing about it.”

Jarry advanced to his second final of the year, following Buenos Aires (defeated No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in semis)

The last Chilean player to win a 1000-level title was Marcelo Rios at 1999 Hamburg, the former world No. 1’s fifth triumph at that level.

Jarry will look to join him on the Internazionali BNL d’Italia honor roll, as Rios was crowned the 1998 winner when Albert Costa withdrew prior to their final with a wrist injury.

In the quarterfinals, Jarry picked up his third Top 10 victory of the season by ousting Monte Carlo title holder Stefanos Tsitsipas. The boisterous crowd at the Foro Italico was one of the factors in pushing him across the finish line then and against Paul.

“Yesterday and today were amazing. I was hoping it was going to be like yesterday. Yesterday was my first day in the stadium. It was quite a shock. But I enjoy this atmosphere, I like it,” said Jarry.

His nation nearly had two reasons to celebrate on the day, before Alexander Zverev crashed the party. After getting outplayed early, the 2017 champion stormed past Alejandro Tabilo, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

“He’s a tough, tough guy to beat. Amazing backhand, good serve. He’s playing very good tennis right now,” assessed Jarry about his upcoming opponent.

In turning the tide, Zverev has now won his past 18 matches against left-handers. The No. 3 seed is 21-11 lifetime in tour-level finals.

Nicolas Jarry Upsets Stefanos Tsitsipas at Italian Open to Reach First ATP Masters 1000 Semifinal

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Nicolas Jarry has reached his first career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

The 28-year-old Chilean professional tennis player rallied past sixth seed and 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

Nicolas JarryJarry produced relentless power from the baseline, striking 23 forehand winners, including a 166 kilometres-per-hour bruiser, to spoil Tsitsipas’ quest for a third consecutive semi-final appearance in Rome.

“I think beating Stefanos on clay is a good achievement. Certainly happy with my fight today, for how I played and how I maintained myself,” Jarry said in his on-court interview. “I kept trying to find different ways to have chances on his serve. I knew I was playing good. I had to adjust some things in the backhand so he didn’t push me back, that’s why he played so good. I was able to do those things and I’m extremely happy for the win.”

A key turning point came at 3-3 in the second set, when Jarry tallied five consecutive points from 0/40 and let out a massive roar to bring alive the Foro Italico crowd.

The 21st seed was crisp from the back of the court and delivered some of his best tennis to win nine of the final 11 points in the second set, sending the match into a decider.

Jarry displayed mental fortitude throughout the two-hour, 38-minute thriller, during which he fought off 11 of 13 break points faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Tsitsipas will rue letting slip two break points at 5-5, 15/40 in the second set that would have given him the chance to serve for the match had he converted.

But Jarry held his nerve under pressure and earned a dramatic break of his own at 5-4 in the third set, converting his fourth match point to improve to 4-2 in his ATP Head2Head series with Tsitsipas.

“I always practise, always trying to find ways to be better, be stronger, be happier, enjoying it more,” Jarry said. “The last two matches, I’ve enjoyed it a lot so that’s my greatest achievement so far. Happy for that and that it’s brought me into the semis. [I will] try to continue this path. I’m playing pretty well, I just want to maintain it. That’s the toughest thing of all.”

Jarry and countryman Alejandro Tabilo are the first Chilean duo to reach the semifinals of an ATP Tour event since 2006 in Vina del Mar, where Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu made the last four.

The 6’7” Jarry, who is 15-11 on the season, is tied at his career-high No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Thursday’s quarter-final victory marks the three-time tour-level titlist’s 10th victory against a Top 10 player and third this season, having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Buenos Aires and Casper Ruud in Miami.

Jarry will face 14th seed Tommy Paul in Friday’s semifinals. The Santiago native won their lone meeting at Roland Garros last year.

Francisco Cerundolo Upsets Alexander Zverev to Reach Madrid Open Quarterfinals

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Francisco Cerundolo has reached his fourth ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

The 25-year-old Argentine professional tennis player earned his third Top 5 win on Tuesday at the  Madrid Open, after upsetting World No. 5 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4.

Francisco CerundoloCerundolo saved both break points he faced and won 79 percent (33/42) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to overcome the two-time Madrid champ Zverev after 90 minutes.

Cerundolo is the first Argentine quarterfinalist in Madrid since Juan Martin del Potro reached the last eight in the Spanish capital in 2012.

Cerundolo, who captured a tour-level clay-court title in Bastad in 2022, will aim to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semifinal (Miami 2022) when he takes on American Taylor Fritz.

If Cerundolo defeats Fritz, he will move to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He eached a previous career-high No. 19 in June last year.

Fritz defeated Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(2), 6-4 in 88 minutes to advance to his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal this season.

Roberto Carballes Baena Defeats Pabel Kotov to Reach Marrakech Open Final

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Roberto Carballes Baena is one win away from his third ATP Tour title…

The 31-year-old Spanish tennis player and the tournament’s defending champion advanced to the final of the Marrakech Open by defeating Russia’s Pavel Kotov in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, at Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech.

Pedro MartinezCarballes Baena, ranked No 64, will play the Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who defeated Argentina’s Mariano Navone, the No 7 seed.

In the previous rounds of the Marrakech tournament, Carballes Baena won against Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante (6-2, 2-0 ret.), No 3 seed Daniel Evans (6-4, 7-6 (3)) and American qualifier Nicolas Moreno De Alboran (6-4, 4-6, 6-4).

Kotov, ranked No 68, beat Moroccan wildcard Elliot Benchetrit (7-5, 6-3), Italian Flavio Cobolli, the No 8 seed (6-1, 7-6 (5)) and Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini (6-1, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

Carballes Baena previously claimed the 2018 Ecuador Open and 2023 Grand Prix Hassan II titles.

Pedro Martinez Edges Past Defending Champion Casper Ruud to Reach Estoril Open Final

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Pedro Martinez has pulled off the upset while logging his first win against an ATP Top 10 player …

The 26-year-old Spanish professional tennis player reached the final of the Estoril Open by edging past Norway’s Casper Ruud, the top seed and defending champion, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at Clube de Ténis do Estoril on Saturday evening.

Pedro MartinezIn what was a match-of-the-week contender, the pair battled it out for three hours, seven minutes in the semifinal clash – well over the length of Ruud’s previous two matches combined.

Both played at a high level, with Ruud coming back from 5-1 down in the deciding set, including an epic 16-minute game at 5-2 that saw Ruud overcome three match points.

Martinez, however, played brilliant attacking tennis, and now moves into his third ATP final. He is on a nine-match winning streak as well, having claimed the Challenger in Girona last week.

“If I wanted to win I had to play my best, and even if like this, I might not win,” said Martinez after his victory over Ruud. “At the end I was a little bit nervous, but I’m happy I got the win.”

This was the first top 10 victory for world No 77 Martinez in seven attempts. Next up, he’ll face another top 10 player in Hubert Hurkacz, the second seed.

“Casper is a top 10, Hubert is a top 10,” declared Martinez. “For sure if I want to win again it’s going to be a big battle, I’m going to give everything.”

Earlier in the tournament, the Spaniard won against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier (6-4, 6-2), Roberto Bautista Agut (7-5, 6-4) and French lucky loser Richard Gasquet (6-4, 6-4).

Ruud, ranked No 8, defeated Botic van de Zandschulp (6-1, 6-2) and Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics (6-3, 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Estoril tournament.

Hurkacz beat Cristian Garin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in the Estoril ATP 250 final.

Sebastian Baez Outlasts Alejandro Tabilo to Claim Chile Open Title

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Sebastian Baez is rockin’ & rollin’ through South America…

The 23-year-old Argentine tennis player completed his South American clay-court swing on a high note on Sunday in Santiago, rallying past home favorite Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the final of the Chile Open to secure his second title in as many weeks.

Sebastian BaezLast week Baez triumphed at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro.

Baez has won nine consecutive matches and will climb to a career-high No. 19 in the ATP Rankings on Monday.

He found his best tennis when it mattered most on Court Jaime Fillol, earning 12 of the championship clash’s final 16 games to emerge victorious after two hours and 14 minutes.

Baez’s winning streak appeared in jeopardy when this year’s Auckland champion Tabilo made a quick start in front of a partisan crowd. Chants of “Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Viva Chile!” filled the air as day turned to night and the lefty moved to within a set of earning his second ATP Tour crown.

Tabilo also was able to draw confidence from the pair’s first ATP Head2Head meeting last year in Cordoba, which he won in straight sets. But one of the key differences in this encounter was how Baez performed under pressure.

When the pair met in Cordoba, Baez saved just one of the six break points he faced. In Santiago, he saved eight of 10 break points while converting five of his 16 opportunities according to Infosys ATP Stats.

After an uncharacteristically out-of-rhythm start from Baez, he locked in from the back of the court for the final two sets. Many rallies were grinding duels from behind the baseline and in those situations, Tabilo was unable to consistently find ways to put his opponent under duress.

Tabilo found his moments and hit some jaw-dropping shots, including a stunning backhand down the line to help him break back when Baez served for the match at 5-3 in the deciding set.

But the second seed was able to successfully ride those waves of momentum and rely on his heavy forehand to control the action. Despite losing serve on the verge of victory, he broke in the next game, hitting a final forehand winner to capture his fifth title since the start of the 2023 season.

Baez is now fifth in the ATP Live Race To Turin and is 16-5 in 2024. He’s trying to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time.

With the win, he became the first player to win multiple titles during the South American clay-court swing since Cristian Garin in 2020.

Alex de Minaur Defeats Casper Ruud to Win Second Straight Mexican Open Title

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Make that back-to-back titles for Alex de Minaur. 

The 25-year-old Spanish & Uruguayan Australian tennis player defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to become the first player to win back-to back titles in the Mexican Open since 2012.

Alex de MinaurThe third-seeded de Minaur won his eighth ATP title to become the fourth player to repeat as champion in Mexico and the first since David Ferrer in 2010-12.

de Minaur won his 10th consecutive match in Acapulco to break a four-match losing streak in ATP finals, including in Rotterdam earlier this year.

“Acapulco is becoming like a second home,” De Minaur said. “I thought that it was impossible to get feel better after what happened last year, but I came back a year later to defend the title and it has been true pleasure.”

Alex de Minaur The sixth-seeded Ruud missed the chance to win his 11th title in the ATP and his first ATP 500 title.

de Minaur took an early break to take a 3-1 lead in the first set before both hold their serve for the 6-4 score.

In the second set, both players exchanged breaks in the first four games and de Minaur got a break in the seventh game to take the lead.

The Mexican Open was nearly canceled because a Category 5 hurricane hit the city four months ago, leaving 52 people dead. The Diamond Zone, an oceanfront area replete with hotels and where the tennis arena is located, was devastated.

“We wanted to bring some joy to this wonderful city,” de Minaur said, “and I’m sure that Acapulco will shine stronger than ever.”

Defending Champion Alex de Minaur Advances to Mexican Open Final

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Alex de Minaur is heading back to the Mexican Open final…

The 25-year-old Spanish & Uruguayan Australian tennis player, the tournament’s defending champion, advanced to the final when Jack Draper retired in the third set on Friday.

Alex de MinaurThe third-seeded de Minaur won the first set 6-3, dropped the second 6-2 and was leading 4-0 in the third when Draper, who was visibly diminished physically, called it quits.

de Minaur will face Casper Ruud, who pulled off an upset by beating second-seeded Holger Rune 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the late match.

“I’m happy to be in the final, but I´m hoping that Jack is doing fine. He has a tremendous talent, and hopefully he can recover for the upcoming tournaments,” de Minaur said. “It’s hard to play when your opponent is not OK physically, but you need to remain focused.”

de Minaur won his ninth straight match in Mexico and became the first defending champion to reach the Acapulco final since David Ferrer in 2013.

de Minaur has seven career ATP titles, with last year at Acapulco his most recent.

Draper, from England, was playing in his first semifinal of an ATP 500 tournament.

In the other semifinal, Ruud lost the first set and then was down 3-1 in the third with Rune serving, but he managed a couple of breaks and held his serve to take the win.

“I did not get the best start, and the third set looked really bad. I just tried to stay in there and it seemed like Holger was struggling, and at the end it worked for me,” Ruud said.

Ruud will try to win his 10th career title, the first one in an ATP 500.

Rune, who is No. 7 in the ATP rankings, lost in the Acapulco semifinals for the second year in a row.

Alex de Minaur Outlasts Stefanos Tsitsipas to Advance to Mexican Open Semifinals

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Alex de Minaur is celebrating a hard-fought win at the Mexican Open.

The 25-year-old Spanish & Uruguayan Australian tennis player, the defending champion, rallied past Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to book a second straight spot in the semifinals of the Mexican Open.

Alex de Minaurde Minaur, the ATP’s ninth-ranked player, struggled in the first set and lost it in 28 minutes but rallied in the next two to get the win in 2 hours, 6 minutes.

“It was a tough match. It was not very spectacular because the wind made it hard for both of us,” said de Minaur, who broke a 10-match losing streak to the No. 12 Tsitsipas. “My first win against Tsitsipas was meant to be in Acapulco, a place of great memories.”

In the semifinals, the third-seeded De Minaur will meet Jack Draper, who ousted Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 6-2.

de Minaur has won eight matches in a row in Mexico and became the first defending champion in Acapulco to reach the semifinals the following year since David Ferrer in 2013.

Tsitsipas was aiming for his third semifinal in Acapulco.

Mariano Navone Defeats Cameron Norrie in Stunning Upset at Rio Open to Reach First-Ever ATP 500 Final

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Mariano Navone,” the 30th-ranked Báez said. “We are using this [tournament] to climb up, we are young. I like to play in Rio, come to Brazil. When I don’t play against a Brazilian I feel like a local.”

By beating his first Top 50 opponent, Navone became the first qualifier to reach an ATP 500 final since Jiri Vesely accomplished the feat in Dubai in 2022.

“It was incredible,” he said post-match. “It’s a pleasure to play here in Rio, my first ATP 500. I’m very happy to make the final, my first final. I played so good all week and I hope [to win] the title tomorrow.”