Wimbledon Men’s Day 2

Published

2 years ago

July 4, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz got his first taste of play under the Wimbledon No. 1 court roof on a rain-wrecked Tuesday as the top seed began his campaign 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 over Jeremy Chardy.

The 20-year-old Spaniard who showed he has the game for grass by winning the Queen’s club title last month, won the first eight games against his veteran French opponent.

Alcaraz is bidding to become the third Spaniard after Manolo Santana and Rafael Nadal to lift a Wimbledon trophy.

He left no doubt as to his intentions for the grass-court fortnight: “The main goal for me this tournament is to win it “

Chardy, 36, has played a limited schedule this season after coming back at the Australian Open from 18 months out with a knee injury.

He has now lost all seven of his matches against world No. 1 players.

Alcraraz claimed the first two sets in less than an hour but had to work in the third as he fell behind 4-2.

The Spaniard erased the deficit and ended the match with back-to-back aces to reach the second round in his third appearance here.

“I played really well at the beginning of the match but he lifted his level in the third set,” the winner said.

“I was in trouble, But I like to play rallies, to battle. I’m happy to have played at a great level.”

Alcaraz said playing under the roof was nothing out of the ordinary.

“It doesn;’t change too much, I don’t think about it. I have to be focused on my game and show my best level.”

He said that the presence of eight-time retired winner Roger Federer watching not too far away in the Royal Box on centre court left him envious.

“I saw that Roger Federer was here. I was a little bit jealous,” the 20-year-old said.

“Honestly, I want Roger Federer to watch one of my matches obviously. I wish to talk a little bit with him.

“For me it would be amazing, I hope to see him around more than once.”

Andy Murray put on a command performance with Switzerland’s great man still in the audience, schooling young Brit Ryan Peniston 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 in two hours.

The two-time champion said he felt his best physically since his last title in 2016.

“It was amazing to have royalty (Kate, Princess of Wales) and some tennis royalty as well,” the 36-year-old said.

“It was great to see Roger here supporting the event. It was nice to see some claps after a couple of good shots.”

Murray, who advanced on his second match point, plays the winner of the unfinished match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and former US Open winner Dominic Thiem.

“It was amazing to be back on Centre Court,” Murray said “I started off nervous since I wanted to play well.

“But once I got the first break of serve I played some good stuff. There were some good signs there.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good coming into Wimbledon – I’m hoping to be fit and ready for a good run.”

Main photo:- Andy Murray celebrates as he wins first round match in straight sets by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz

Published

10 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Bill Scott

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

ATP

Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Bill Scott

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

ATP

Zverev fulfils home fan dreams to line up against Shelton

Published

14 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Bill Scott

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