ATP
Wimbledon Men’s Day 1
Holder Novak Djokovic won his 29th match in a row at Wimbledon on Monday, with the seven-time winner helping to dry off the Centre Court grass during an opening-day rain interruption.
The second seed pitched in as weather blew in, with officials likely wondering why they did not shut the roof immediately.
Instead, they delayed and paid the price with an interruption of 90 wasted minutes, during which a fidgety Djokovic got to work with a towel in hopes of getting back on court as soon as possible for what ended as a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) defeat of Argentine Pedro Cachin.
“It was frustrating for the crowd waiting for us (to resume),” the winner said. “We both wanted to play but it was a bit too slippery.
“But once the roof was opened, we were out there.”
No. 68 Cachin saved three match points before Djokovic – bidding for his fifth consecutive trophy here – finished off the afternoon after nearly four hours on and off court to reach the second round.
He improved to 87-10 at the tournament.
Djokovic came to the major without any official tournament preparation on grass – his usual scenario.
“The opening match is always a bit tricky, especially since I had no lead-up event.
“Grass is quite different in terms of movement, style and tactics. It takes more time to adjust than on any other surface
“But there is no reason I can’t (make the transition) again.
“I’m going match by match; I hope the level of tennis will elevate.”
Clay-centric Casper Ruud, seeded fourth, duplicated his career best Wimbledon showing by winning the first round 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over French qualifier Laurent Lokoli.
The outsider put up a fight as he won the second set but was eventually double-faulted to lose to the steady Norwegian who has played finals at three of the last five Grand Slams.
“I take every match as an underdog here, I don’t have the perfect game for grass,” Ruud said.
“Today I played quite well, but there are many more players ahead of me who are favourites.
“I’ll just try to play loose and without pressure. I want to enjoy it every time I step onto court.”
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev became the first man through to the second round with his defeat of 2022 double winner Max Purcell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in 93 minutes.
Rublev, who was unable to compete here in 2022 due to the ban on Russian players, is glad to be back.
“Obviously I feel really happy to be back; in general I haven;t played much Wimbledon… I was injured or it was pandemic or then they banned us.
“Of course I feel really special and really happy to be back in London to play at one of the best tournaments and to get a win today was a nice moment.”
He advanced with 27 winners and five breaks of serve as he won his 11th straight opening match this season..
Italian 14th seed Lorenzo Musetti ended a run of two straight losses in the first round here as he defeated Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru 6-3, 6-1, 7-5, making his point with 33 winners.
Jordan Thompson will next face Djokovic after spending three and a half hours battling Brandon Nakishima of the US, with the Australian coming from two sets to love down for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3 result.
econd seed pitched in as weather blew in, with officials likely wondering why they did not shut the roof immediately.
Instead, they delayed and paid the price with an interruption of 90 wasted minutes, during which a fidgety Djokovic got to work with a towel in hopes of getting back on court as soon as possible for what ended as a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) defeat of Argentine Pedro Cashin.
“It was frustrating for the crowd waiting for us (to resume),” the winner said. “We both wanted to play but it was a bit too slippery.
“But once the roof was opened, we were out there.”
No. 68 Cachin saved three match points before Djokovic – bidding for his fifth consecutive trophy here – finished off the afternoon after nearly four hours on and off court to reach the second round.
He improved to 87-10 at the tournament.
Djokovic came to the major without any official tournament preparation on grass – his usual scenario.
“The opening match is always a bit tricky, especially since I had no lead-up event.
“Grass is quite different in terms of movement, style and tactics. It takes more time to adjust than on any other surface
“But there is no reason I can’t (make the transition) again.
“I’m going match by match; I hope the level of tennis will elevate.”
Clay-centric Casper Ruud, seeded fourth, duplicated his career best Wimbledon showing by winning the first round 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over French qualifier Laurent Lokoli.
The outsider put up a fight as he won the second set but was eventually double-faulted to lose to the steady Norwegian who has played finals at three of the last five Grand Slams.
“I take every match as an underdog here, I don’t have the perfect game for grass,” Ruud said.
“Today I played quite well, but there are many more players ahead of me who are favourites.
“I’ll just try to play loose and without pressure. I want to enjoy it every time I step onto court.”
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev became the first man through to the second round with his defeat of 2022 double winner Max Purcell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in 93 minutes.
Rublev, who was unable to compete here in 2022 due to the ban on Russian players, is glad to be back.
“Obviously I feel really happy to be back; in general I haven;t played much Wimbledon… I was injured or it was pandemic or then they banned us.
“Of course I feel really special and really happy to be back in London to play at
one of the best tournaments and. To get a win today was a nice moment.”
He advanced with 27 winners and five breaks of serve as he won his 11th straight opening match this season..
Italian 14th seed Lorenzo Musetti ended a run of two straight losses in the first round here as he defeated Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru 6-3, 6-1, 7-5, making his point with 33 winners.
Jordan Thompson will next face Djokovic after spending three and a half hours battling Brandon Nakishima of the US, with the Australian coming from two sets to love down for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3 result.
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic takes a tumble over the net during first round Wimbledon win – by 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
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