Tag Archives: Mallorca Open

Feliciano Lopez Defeats Max Purcell at Mallorca Open to Extend His Career by At Least One More Day

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Feliciano Lopez isn’t retiring just yet… 

The 41-year-old Spanish veteran tennis player extended his career by at least one more day with an emotional victory at the Mallorca Open on Tuesday — the final event of his 26-year career.

Feliciano LopezLopez was cheered on by friend and compatriot 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal during his 6-3 7-5 victory over Max Purcell.

Lopez, who reached a career high ranking of 12 and holds the record for appearing in 79 successive Grand Slam main draws, will face Australian Jordan Thompson on Wednesday.

“It’s a really special win for me, probably one of the most special wins of my career so far, to be honest,” Lopez, who has more than 500 ATP singles wins, said on court at the Santa Ponsa Country Club after his win.

“This is over my expectations, to be winning a match at this stage of my career in Mallorca, this beautiful place, surrounded by the ones that I love, my friends.”

Nadal, who is currently out of action as he tries to recover from injuries, was joined by Carlos Moya in the stands to cheer on their former Davis Cup compatriot.

“Most of them came for my hypothetical last match. Luckily, it wasn’t the last match of my life. I have another opportunity tomorrow, and this is very overwhelming, I have to say,” Lopez added after only his second ATP Tour win this year.

Rafael Nadal Eyeing Return to Competitive Tennis Play at Next Month’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship

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Rafael Nadal is hoping to return to the court next month…

The 35-year-old Spanish professional tennis player is aiming to return from injury at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next month before playing another tournament in his buildup to the Australian Open, the world No. 5 said.

Rafael Nadal

Nadal struggled with back issues at the start of this year and pulled out of Wimbledon and the 2020 Tokyo Games.

He last competed in August at the Citi Open in Washington.

He announced ahead of the U.S. Open that the injury to his left foot would rule him out for the rest of the year but said this week that he might return at the December 16-18 Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event.

“My plan is to play Abu Dhabi in December and a tournament before playing the Australian Open. It is my goal and we are working hard to make it that way,” Nadal said at a sponsor event in Paris.

“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back, but I can say that my goal is to try to come back to Abu Dhabi in December, and then, of course, for the start of the new season in January.

“The injury in my foot still needs to get a little better, but I’m already training almost an hour-and-a-half a day so that’s positive.”

World No. 12 Dominic Thiem, who hasn’t played since suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open in June, will also return to competitive tennis in Abu Dhabi.

 

Nadal will be bidding for a men’s record 21st major title at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on January 17.

Garcia Wins First-Ever Title on Grass at the Mallorca Open

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Caroline Garcia is kicking serious grass, just in time for Wimbledon…

The 22-year-old part-Spanish tennis player hit an ace on match point to close out a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Sunday over Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in the Mallorca Open final and claim her first-ever title on grass.

Caroline Garcia

Things turned in Garcia’s favor starting in the seventh game of the match, when she reeled off three games in a row to take the first set.

Sevastova, who had had to spend a night in the hospital earlier in the week due to a stomach virus, continued to battle in the second set but was hurt by her low first-serve percentage – 41 percent – and also was unable to make any impression on Garcia’s service games.

Caroline Garcia
Garcia, the tournament’s sixth seed, defeated former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals and former Wimbledon finalist Kirsten Flipkens in the semifinals to reach her first final on grass.

It’s Garcia’s second singles title of the year, the third of her career.

Garcia, whose two previous WTA Tour titles had both come on clay, said afterward that she felt comfortable in Mallorca because the ball bounces higher and skids less at this tournament than other grass-court events.

She will now look to keep her momentum going at tennis’ premier grass-court showcase, Wimbledon, which gets under way on June 27.

Garcia Reaches Her First Career Grass-Court Final at the Mallorca Open

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It’s a new first for Caroline Garcia…

The 22-year-old part-Spanish tennis player advanced to her first grass-court final by beating Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 on Saturday at the Mallorca Open.

Caroline Garcia

Garcia, the tournament’s No. 6 seed, had seven aces and won 84 percent of first-service points against Flipkens, a 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist.

In the final, Garcia will face Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, who defeated second-seeded Jelena Jankovic in the other semifinal, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Garcia has been on a roll in recent weeks, winning her first title of the year on clay at Strasbourg and then teaming with Kristina Mladenovic to capture the French Open doubles title, her first Grand Slam title.

Garcia Defeats Ana Ivanovic to Reach Mallorca Open Semifinals

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Caroline Garcia is two wins away from a momentous occassion…

The 22-year-old part-Spanish tennis player advanced to the semifinals of the Mallorca Open on Friday after defeating former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in three hard-fought sets.

Caroline Garcia

The tournament’s sixth seed, currently ranked No. 32 in the world, closed out the quartefinal match with a 7-6 (9), 5-7, 6-3 score. It was her fourth straight win against Ivanovic, who is currently ranked No. 25 in the world.

Garcia, who hails from France, is seeking her first title on grass at the Mallorca Open.

Garcia, who won the women’s doubles title at this year’s French Open, had nine aces in the match. Ivanovic had eight aces and double-faulted 10 times.

She will next face Kirsten Flipkens, who beat qualifier Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay 7-5, 6-3.