ATP
Wimbledon 2024 Men’s Day 7
Jannik Sinner crushed Ben Shelton as the American’s father looked on, with the top-seeded world No. 1 hammering out an efficient 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9) move into the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Sunday.
The match was played safely under the roof of Court No. 1 on a second straight day of frequent rain interruptions which left play on outer courts in chaos.
Australian Open champion and Roland Garros semi-finalist Sinner, 22, was untroubled by the opponent coached by his former ATP competitor father who played the fourth round three decades ago, moving through in just over two hours.
Sinner backed up his straight-set hammering of Shelton four month ago at Indian Wells; the American went out this time on a double-fault..
After sweeping the first two sets, Sinner had to struggle through a tiebreaker in the third, saving four set points for Shelton before earning his third successive Wimbledon quarter-final on his opponent’s costly mis-fire on serve.
“That was a very tough match, especially in the third set,” Sinner said. “I had to save set points, these kind of matches can also be very long.
“I’m very happy to have closed it out in three sets. These are the kind of moments we work for, and I need to play the best that I can.”
Sinner’s victory kept him in the lead for season match wins, with 43, keeping him just ahead of Casper Ruud on 40.
Carlos Alcaraz held onto his chances of a title repeat against a new style of grass challenge as he managed a 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 win over the first left-hander he has ever played at the All England Club.
The third seed who won the championship a year ago spent nearly three hours in defeating France;s Ugo Humbert to reach the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz put away the opening two sets as he got a handle on Humbert’s lefty game, but needed to go four sets to advance.
The Spaniard set up a pair of match points with a drop shot and wrapped up proceedings with a serve winner on his first chance.
“It’s always tricky to play a lefty,” the winner said, ‘adding: “I played my first one on grass at Queen’s (last month).
“I felt great today, I played at a high level and tried not to think about anything but the match.”
The seed secured the second set on an athletic set point, where he did the splits and slipped but still managed to come good on the grass of Centre Court.
“I try to fight for every ball, every point, it doesn’t matter where I am. I want to show the opponent that I’m gonna be there.”
By reaching a Grand Slam quarter-final for the ninth time, the youngster levels with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in joint-3rd place on the all-time list.
He is the fifth Spaniard to get this far here after Rafael Nadal, Feliciano Lopez, David Ferrer and Ferrero.
Main photo:- Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
-
Dubai3 weeks agoKasatkina confirms move to Australia
-
ATP4 weeks agoHenman joins Team Europe as Noah’s assistant
-
ATP4 weeks agoDimitrov casts his spell on Khachanov
-
Rouen5 days agoDart apologizes for “stinky” opponent jibe
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPaolini powers past Osaka in Miami
-
ATP3 weeks agoBadosa aims for back injury return by Madrid
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoRaducanu set for huge rankings boost after Miami Open win
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPhilippine teen swats Swiatek in Miami