ATP
Wimbledon 2024 Men’s Day 2
Novak Djokovic solidified his fast-track comeback from knee surgery while Andy Murray had to pull the plug on his final participation in singles on Tuesday at the event he has won two times.
The second-seeded Djokovic took to the court less than a month after surgical repair on a right knee meniscus and proved his iconic fitness with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva.
Murray, 37, both within a week of Djokovic, was unable to front up for his singles start less than a fortnight for keyhole surgery to remove a spinal cyst.
The three-time Grand Slam champion still expects to compete in doubles alongside his brother Jamie as he plays what is expected to be his final Wimbledon before retirement later this season.
He first played the main draw here in 2005 and won the title in 2013 and 2016.
“I’m disappointed. I wanted to play in the tournament and I wanted to have a chance to go out there, walk out on my own on the Centre Court again and give it another go,” Murray said on Tuesday.
“I also was only going to give it a go if I felt like I could be competitive and I didn’t feel like that today.”
He added: “I’m sorry for everyone who came and wanted to support and watch again. I wanted that moment as well, as much for me as for the people that have supported me over the years.
“The fans but also my closest friends, family, my team. It was important for me to do that with them as well. It was one of those things.
“Unfortunate. The timing was horrible, the surgery was a complex one and it wasn’t to be.”
Djokovic swept the final 14 points of the opening set against Kopriva in a show of force and managed his way to a straightforward victory with concluding aces after two hours.
The Serb polished his record in Wimbledon first rounds to 19-0.
“I’m very pleased with the way I felt on court,” the seven-time Wimbledon winner said.
“Coming in there were a little bit different circumstances because of the knee. I’m happy with the way that I played.
“I tried to focus on the match and not think about the knee. But there is no other tournament where I would risk it or rush it so much.
“I just love Wimbledon. Injuries come and go, they are part of what we do.
There was an opening win on a day of several rain interruptions for fourth seed Alexander Zverev, a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 winner over Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.
The German who has never passed the fourth round here, said he has suddenly discovered a new appreciation for the grass.
“Suddenly this year I’ve decided that I love grass courts, that’s the biggest change.
“This is also the most open Wimbledon in 20-plus years. If someone catches two good weeks, they could do great things.
“I’m hoping for once that’s gonna be me. I want to compete and do well here at the most historic tournament we have.
“I’ve struggled over the years but this year feels different.”
Volatile No. 6 Andrey Rublev cracked a racquet on his knee after losing a set as he became the biggest upset victim so far with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (5) loss to Grand Slam debutant Francisco Comesano.
The 122nd-ranked Argentine was stunned as he claimed the first elite match win of his career at the expense of a Top 10 seed.
The 22-year-old was playing only his fourth career match at the Tour level
“I’m extremely happy, it’s a dream to play here,” the winner said. “I don’t know what to say.
“I had a little bit of lucky, but I tried to enjoy the match and tried to play my best.”
Seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz beat Radu Albot 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 as the Pole overcame a weather interruption.
Alex de Minaur, the ninth seed, won a battle with fellow Aussie and qualifying lucky loser James Duckworth 7-6 (1), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4).
Alexei Popyrin put another Australian into the second round, defeating Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-4.
Queen’s Club finalist Lorenzo Musetti ignored the dreary skies as he finished off a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2 win over France’s Constant Lestienne in just over three hours.
Spaniard Jaume Munar ended the Wimbledon debit dream of 29-year-old Brit Billy Harris 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
French lucky loser Giovanni Perricard laid on 51 aces in a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 6-3 defeat of Sebastian Korda.
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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