ATP
Australian Open Men’s Day 3
Daniil Medvedev exploded in anger at a low point in his opening match at the Australian Open on Tuesday destroying a net camera with his racquet but controlling his temper long enough for a win over a Thai challenger.
The finalist at three of the last four editions stayed the course for a 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Kasidit Samrej, ranked 418 and making his Grand Slam debut as a wild card.
It took five blows of his racquet on the net tech to earn the fifth seed a code violation for abuse, with extra time needed for workers to sweep up debris from the broken bit of electronic kit.
After his blow-up Medvedev seemed to find the serenity needed to close out victory in three hours.
The player who became the new father of a second child a week ago, had a bawdy take on the newcomer:
“(If) he plays like this every match, life can be good, money, girls, casino, whatever – I wish he can play like this every match.”:
Medvedev added: “Second and third set I couldn’t touch the ball. Full power, everything in — I didn’t know what to do,” he said after crushing the player known as “Boom” in Thai tennis circles..
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz crushed compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 in a no-nonsense win to move into the second round..
The American champion who helped his country to the United Cup title in Sydney this month, fired 34 winners as he defeated an opponent just back from an 18-month doping ban and a pair of wrist surgeries.
Last September’s US Open finalist Fritz earned minor revenge for a loss he took to Brooksby in New York four years ago.
“I’d say my confidence is pretty high, like an 8,” Fritz said. “I think sometimes when you’re playing really good at the end of the year, that off-season almost
kills a little bit of the momentum.
“I’ve been playing pretty well since the start of the year…United Cup I played pretty good. There’s no reason for me not to be very confident.”
Holger Rune earned his first win of the season after losing in the Brisbane first round, with the 13th-seeded Dane coming through in five sets to defeat China’s Zheng Zhizhen 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The win was his first in five sets in Melbourne after losing in the 2022 first round and in the round of 16 a year later.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard salvaged a pair of match points in the third-set tiebreaker, but veteran French showman Gael Monfils would not be denied, claiming a 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4 win just three days after winning the Auckland title.
“My age, it is just a number. But I can tell you that tomorrow morning I will be more 48 than 38,’ Monfils said..
“I was happy the way I responded physically, how I put my focus where I wanted it. At the end of the day, a win is a win. You’re satisfied with that.
“I’ve been working quite hard. When you can win one, two, three matches, it’s just like something you’re happy with and you want to keep going in this direction.”
Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist who has not passed a Grand Slam fourth round since that highlight showing, staged a comeback to overhaul Britain’s Cam Norrie 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
The Italian winner who has been dogged in recent seasons by injury, hit 32 aces, which accounted for just over half of his 63 winners.
He now tangles with Rune in the second round.
“I’m happy for my performance, it’s never easy to play the first round,” the semi-finalist here in 2022 said.
“I think I played a really good match. My backhand is better than three years ago; my return is better than three years ago.
“There is still room for improvement, luckily, and it’s just a matter of time and
matches and opportunities to play against the best in the world.”
Karen Khachanov, a semi-finalist here two years ago, handed a 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-3 opening defeat to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
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
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Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
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