Pablo Andujar Upsets Roger Federer at Geneva Open

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Pablo Andujar is celebrating a major victory…

The 35-year-old Spanish professional tennis player beat a rusty Roger Federer 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at the Geneva Open.

It was Federer’s official return to the ATP Tour at the claycourt tournament. He missed nearly the entire 2020 season after twice having knee surgery. He returned to the Tour at the Qatar Open in March, but hadn’t played since losing in the quarterfinals in Doha.

On Tuesday, Federer went toe-to-toe with Andujar in their first-ever meeting, showing plenty of encouraging signs with his shot-making and on-court movement ahead of the French Open.

After bouncing back in the second set, Federer looked poised to run away with the contest before an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration put an end to any hopes of an extended run at his home tournament.

Andujar, ranked 75th in the world, made a strong start, while Federer struggled to settle into his serving rhythm early on.

Garbine Muguruza Defeats Barbora Krejcikova to Claim Dubai Championships Title

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Garbine Muguruza is a titleholder once again…

The 27-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan professional tennis player and former world No. 1 has ended her almost two-year wait for a title with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win against Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the Dubai Championships on Saturday.

“It means a lot,” the ninth-seeded Muguruza said, “it’s never easy to win.”

In her third attempt at a title this season, the former No. 1 hit seven aces and saved seven of the nine break points she faced to beat Czech doubles specialist Krejcikova.

It’s her first title since winning in Monterrey in April 2019. Muguruza lost the Qatar Open final last week to Petra Kvitova and the Yarra Valley Classic final last month to Ash Barty.

Overall, it’s Muguruza’s eighth career singles title, including two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017.

Zeballos Loses to Novak Djokovic, But Ends Up A Winner on Twitter

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

He may have lost his match, but Horacio Zeballos ended up a winner on Twitter.

Following the 31-year-old Argentine tennis player’s loss in the second-round at the Qatar Open to former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Zeballos asks his opponent to pose for a selfie.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion cheerfully obliged.

“I just have to mention that making a selfie after the match was over, that was the first time that I ever had this kind of experience in my career,” Djokovic said on court after beating Zeballos 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday. “So, Horacio, well done. Very original.”

“Eehhh sorryy. Creo que tengo la mejor selfie del dia jejeje. Que groso Nole.un genio!! Y yo figuretiiii.. Me encanto!!,” posted Zeballos on Twitter, along with the selfie.

Djokovic managed to break the Argentine once in each set while never facing a break point on the other side.

“Credit to Zeballos for playing some fearless tennis,” said Djokovic, the defending champion. “He was stepping in and trying to go for his shots. He wasn’t backing up to the baseline.”

Ferrer Beats Fabio Fognini to Claim the Rio Open Title

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It could turn out to be a memorable year for David Ferrer…

The 32-year-old Spanish tennis player won his second tournament of the season, downing Italy’s Fabio Fognini on Sunday 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the Rio Open.

It’s the 23rd ATP singles title of his career for Ferrer, who has won all eight matches he has played against Fognini, including the previous one — the final on clay last year in Buenos Aires.

Ferrer was seeded No. 2 in the clay-court tournament behind countryman Rafael Nadal.

“It was my best match of the tournament and I’m very happy having won two tournaments this season,” said the 32-year-old Ferrer, who is off to the best start of his career.

Ferrer also won the Qatar Open in Doha.

Nadal lost to No. 6 Fognini in Saturday’s semifinal 1-6, 6-2, 7-5. The loss ended Nadal’s 52-match winning string in semifinals on clay. Nadal, the winner of 14 Grand Slams, has yet to reach the final in three tournaments this season.

Fognini was looking for his fourth ATP singles title.

Ferrer Claims His 22nd Career Title at the Qatar Open

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

David Ferrer has earned his first title of 2015…

The 32-year-old Spanish tennis player beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the Qatar Open on Saturday to claim his 22nd career title.

Ferrer, the tournament’s top seed, has now won at least one title in six consecutive years.

“The performance, it was very good,” said Ferrer , currently ranked No. 10 in the world. “I’m happy, because it never is easy to begin the season winning one tournament.”

Ferrer improved his record to 8-5 against Berdych, whose finals record slumped to 10-15.

Berdych was not surprised by the quality of play from Ferrer, a day after the Spaniard battled through three tiebreak sets against seventh-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the semifinals.

“First of all, David is never tired,” Berdych said. “Not after the match he played yesterday after two-and-a-half hours. I have seen him playing five hours and then he played the next day.”

Ferrer began the final by breaking the third-seeded Berdych in the first game, and raced to 4-1.

Berdych hadn’t dropped his serve in 34 service games through the semifinals, but surrendered four of eight service break opportunities to Ferrer.

In the second set, Berdych had three set points on Ferrer’s serve in the 10th game, but the Spaniard managed to hold for 5-5.

“In important points I got a little bit lucky,” Ferrer said. “I tried to be confident in the bad moments. I played very good in those moments.”

Ferrer received the advantage when Berdych double-faulted on a second break point he faced in the 11th game.

Nadal Named the Top Seed at the Australian Open

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It comes as little surprise… But Rafael Nadal has been listed as the top seed at the Australian Open, which gets underway on Monday at Melbourne Park.

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, recently extended his points lead over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after clinching the title at the Qatar Open.

Djokovic, the defending champion, is the No. 2-seeded man, followed by David Ferrer, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro and 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at sixth.

The other Latino seeds include Spain’s Nicolas Almagro at No. 13, Spain’s Tommy Robredo at No. 18, Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and No. 27 and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at No. 32.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams has been made the top seeds at the Australian Open.

Defending champion Victoria Azarenka is No. 2, followed by Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Agnieszka Radwanska and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in sixth.

The only Latina to earn at ranking at this year’s Australian Open is Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro at No. 16.

The 32 seeds were only altered twice from the rankings, both because of injuries. No. 29-ranked Jurgen Melzer is not playing due to a left shoulder injury and Maria Kirilenko, who would have been seeded 18th, has a left knee injury.

Nadal Extends His ATP Rankings Lead Over Novak Djokovic

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Rafael Nadal isn’t planning to give up his recently reacquired World No. 1 ranking anytime soon…

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star has increased his points lead over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the recently released ATP rankings, due to his victory at the Qatar Open over the weekend.

Nadal won his first title of the season and 61st of his career at the tournament over the weekend after defeating France’s Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2.

The win expanded Nadal’s lead over Djokovic, the world No. 2, while Spain’s David Ferrer kept his hold on the No.3 spot.

Nadal has 13,130 points, while Djokovic has 12,260 points.

Britain’s Andy Murray comes in at No. 4 and Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro is No. 5 in the world.

The world’s top tennis players are gearing up for the Australian Open, the tennis season’s first Grand Slam event, which begins on January 13.

Nadal Outlasts Gael Monfils to Win the Qatar Open

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael Nadal has earned his first singles title at the Qatar Open… and the first time he’s won his opening tournament of the year.

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star, currently ranked No. 1 in the word, survived a second-set slip up to defeat France’s Gael Monfils 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 to win the tournament in Doha.

Nadal was in inspired form in the opening set, winning it in just 23 minutes.

But although Monfils led 3-0 in the second set, Nadal fought back before the Frenchman edged him in the tie-break.

Monfils was then broken at 1-2 in the decider and Nadal held on to win his 61st career title.

Nadal, who had struggled at times in some of his matches this week, was well on top in the first set as Monfils looked shell-shocked.

However, the Frenchman, who had looked the better player on his way to the final, upped his game from the start of the second set with some powerful groundstrokes but saw his advantage disappear as Nadal regained his composure to get back into the match.

But in the tie-break, a misplaced lob by Nadal gave Monfils a 4-2 advantage and he held on to that lead to force a decider.

After the excitement of the second set, the third set failed to live up to expectations and a Monfils error, when a forehand went long, put Nadal 3-1 up.

Nadal saved four break points in the next game and from then on he did enough to win the title and give him the perfect boost ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Monday, January 13.

Nadal Survives Test to Reach the Qatar Open Final

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael Nadal could be called the “Comeback King”…

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star reached the final of the Qatar Open on Friday after storming back from one set down to beat German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I’m in the final,” Nadal said. “That (will) probably give me a little bit more confidence, a little bit more rhythm.”

Nadal lost the first three games against the 162nd-ranked Gojowczyk but came back to level the first set before losing serve again in the 10th game.

The top-ranked Spaniard then raced to a 4-1 lead in the second and broke Gojowczyk’s in the third game of the decider after two forehand errors by the German.

“We’ll see if I am able to make (changes) tomorrow to play a little bit better,” Nadal said.

Nadal, who is trying to earn first title in Doha, will now face Gael Monfils of France, who beat Florian Mayer of Germany 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal.

The 31st-ranked Monfils hasn’t dropped a set all week but has only beat Nadal twice in 10 previous meetings. However, both those victories came here in Doha — in the 2009 quarterfinals and the 2012 semifinals.

This will be Monfils’ third appearance in the Doha final — he lost to Roger Federer in 2006 and to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2012.

“It means a lot to be in the final again,” Monfils said. “I have one match to go. I’ll be ready for it.”

Nadal Defeats Ernests Gulbis to Reach Qatar Open Semifinals

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael Nadal is the last seed standing in the Middle East…

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star, the top seed at the Qatar Open, beat seventh-seeded Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on Thursday to earn the distinction as the tournament’s last remaining seed.

Nadal, who is often tested by the 24th-ranked Gulbis, has yet to lose a match to the Latvian in seven played.

This rain-delayed match marked only the second time Nadal has defeated Gulbis in straight sets. The other time was also in Doha, in the 2011 quarterfinals.

Nadal finally broke Gulbis in the 11th game when the latter sent a drop shot wide. Nadal needed five set points to close out the first set in the next game.

Gulbis raced to 3-0 in the second set but couldn’t hold on to the advantage. He had three points for 4-1 but ended up losing serve.

Nadal broke with a stunning backhand cross-court that creased the line in the seventh game to take a permanent lead. He closed the match with a breathtaking backhand volley winner.

“I’m happy to win against Ernests,” Nadal said. “If you are not playing well it’s very, very difficult. He’s able to hit winners from every part on the court.”

Nadal is set to play German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk. The 162nd-ranked Gojowczyk defeated fellow German qualifier Dustin Brown 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) to reach his first career tour semifinal.

Before this week, Gojowczyk had only one ATP tour-level match win, at the 2013 US Open.

The other semi will pit Florian Mayer of Germany against Gael Monfils of France.

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