del Potro Defeats Jack Sock at the Stockholm Open to End Long ATP Title Drought

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the end of a long drought for Juan Martin del Potro…

The 28-year-old Argentine tennis player won the Stockholm Open on Sunday to end a 33-month title drought, beating sixth-seeded Jack Sock 7-5, 6-1.

del Potro, who has struggled with wrist problems in recent years, won his 19th ATP tour title — and his first since winning in Sydney in 2014.

The Argentine, who did not drop a set during the tournament, broke his American opponent’s serve four times in the final and never faced a break point.

“I’ve been trying to fix my problems for the past two years and I didn’t expect to win a title at this moment in my career,” the 28-year-old del Potro said. “I am so happy to get the trophy here. It’s motivation for looking forward to the future.”

Both players held serve until 5-5 of the opening set, when del Potro raised his game to emerge with a one-set lead.

Sock seemed tired in the second set, holding serve only once and winning just two points when returning serve.

“His serve is massive and very tough to read, which put more pressure on my serve,” Sock said. “I’ve had a long week here and it might have caught up with me a bit.”

Midway through the match Sock requested medical treatement for pain in his arm.

del Potro, beaten by Andy Murray for the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games, reached his second final of the year after beating 2013 champion Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals.

del Potro Defeats Grigor Dimitrov to Reach Stockholm Open Final

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Martin del Potro is ready to claim his first title of the year…

The 28-year-old Argentine tennis player, who won the men’s singles silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games, has reached his second final of the year by defeating Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 7-5 at the Stockholm Open on Saturday.

del Potro, a wild card entry at the tournament, lost his serve for the first time all week, but compensated with four breaks against second-seeded Dimitrov on the center court in the Swedish capital.

In the other semifinal, sixth-seeded Jack Sock of the United States beat fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4 in 2 hours, 49 minutes.

Sock, after his first meeting with Zverev, was back in the final for a second straight year.

Sock will go after his second career ATP title, and del Potro his 19th.

Schwartzman Upsets Grigor Dimitrov to Win Istanbul Open

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Schwartzman is officially an ATP titleholder…

The 23-year-old Argentine tennis player cane back from the brink of elimination to upset second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-0 and claim his first-ever ATP Tour title at the Istanbul Open.

Playing his first final, Schwartzman was trailing 5-2 in the second set before he won four straight games. Schwartzman failed to serve the set out but prevailed in the tiebreaker before dominating the third set with three breaks.

He completed the victory in 2 hours, 47 minutes.

Schwartzman’s third-set romp was aided by Dimitrov, who lost his composure and smashed his racket three times, which ultimately led to a warning, a point penalty and then another point penalty. The second and final point penalty came with Dimitrov down 5-0 and gave the game, set and match to Schwartzman.

“I let my family down, I let my team down, I let my fans down with that kind of behavior, which I definitely apologize for,” Dimitrov said.

In his best week on the tour, Schwartzman knocked out top-seeded Bernard Tomic in the second round before saving a match point in the quarterfinals against Damir Dzumhur. In the semifinals, he upset fourth-seeded Federico Delbonis.

It was the eighth final for Dimitrov, who won four titles, the most recent in Queen’s Club in London in 2014.

Dimitrov said he had a cramp when he was close to taking the second set.

“It was very unfortunate that I couldn’t close out the match,” Dimitrov said. “I have to give credit to Diego.”

Dimitrov broke Schwartzman four times in the first set, but the Argentine always fought back with a re-break to force a tiebreaker. Dimitrov finally won the set by converting his second set point.

Nadal to Compete at Queen’s Club for First Time in Three Years

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael Nadal is making a comeback fit for a queen…

The 28-year-old Spanish tennis star says he’ll play at this year’s Queen’s Club, ending his three-year absence at the grass-court tournament.

Nadal, who lifted the trophy in 2008, has gone on to reach the Wimbledon final following every appearance at the event that’s traditionally seen as a warm-up to the SW19 championships.

“I always loved playing at The Queen’s Club and I am very happy that I will be back this year,” Nadal said.

“It was a great experience for me to lift the trophy in 2008 because it is such an important and traditional tournament. To win Wimbledon a few weeks later was like a dream.”

Nadal will be joined by the defending champion Grigor Dimitrov, US Open winner Marin Cilic, 2014 Australian Open victor Stan Wawrinka and ATP World No.4 Andy Murray in this year’s draw.

“Coming helps with the adjustment from clay to grass because the grass courts at Queen’s are so good,” Nadal added.

Lopez Defeats Richard Gasquet to Successfully Defend His Aegon International Title

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Feliciano Lopez is a back-to-back champion…

The 32-year-old Spanish tennis player beat top seed Richard Gasquet of France 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5 on Saturday to complete a successful title defense in the Aegon International final.

It’s the first time the third-seeded Lopez has retained an ATP title, and the first time he has beaten Gasquet in their six career meetings.

Lopez, who held championship point against Grigor Dimitrov last week at Queen’s Club but couldn’t seal the deal, is the first player to reach back-to-back grass-court finals before Wimbledon since 2001, when Lleyton Hewitt won at Queen’s and s-Hertogenbosch, and Thomas Johansson won Halle and Nottingham.

There was little to separate him and Gasquet, with two breaks giving the Spanish left-hander the opening set, and Gasquet, the 2005 and 2006 champion, winning the tiebreaker in the second.

In the third set, games went with serve until Lopez broke to lead 6-5 and then served out the match for the fourth title of his career.

Bautista Agut Advances to His First-Ever Grand Slam Quarterfinals

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

No let down (under) for Roberto Bautista Agut…

The 25-year-old Spanish tenista followed up his upset win over No. 5 seed Juan Martin del Potro at the Australian Open with a victory over another seeded player.

In his third round match Saturday, Bautista Agut, ranked No. 62 in the world, defeated No. 27 seed Benoit Paire of France in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park.

It’s the fifth victory over Paire for Bautista Agut. He most recently defeated the French player in straight sets at the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this month.

Bautista Agut has now reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam event for the first time in his career.

The plucky underdog’s next opponent will be No. 22 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who defeated No. 11 seed Milos Raonic of Canada in four sets.

Ferrer Reached Title Match at Stockholm Open

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Spain’s Stockholm Open slump is officially over, thanks to David Ferrer.

The 31-year-old Spanish tennis star defeated fifth-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the Stockholm Open final.

With the win, Ferrer becomes the first Spaniard in 37 years to reach the tournament’s title match.

He will face seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who defeated wild card Benoit Paire of France 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, in Sunday’s title match.

Ferrer, the tournament’s top seed, will be going for his third title of the year and his first since February.

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