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Alexander Zverev Wins Chengdu Open In China

September 26, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

In a thrilling final match played out in front of a capacity crowd, tournament number one seed and world No. 10 Alexander Zverev survived a robust challenge from Roman Safiullin to win 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in two hours and 59 minutes and lift the 21st ATP Tour-level title of his career.

The German was made to work hard for the win, with Safiullin showing incredible composure and grit to save break points in vital moments to keep the former world No. 3 at bay in the first set. The world No. 55 Safiullin then got an early mini-break to race to a 3-0 lead in the tie-break, before securing two more mini-breaks in the final two points to take a one set lead.

In the second set, the two players exchanged breaks in the second and third games, before holding serve strongly until a pulsating tie-break, in which neither player could capitalise on their service points. Three mini-breaks each were traded before Zverev scored the telling mini-break at 6-5 up to force a deciding set.

The German’s far greater experience of playing big finals began to show in the third set, as the 26-year-old appeared more relaxed while mistakes began creeping into Safiullin’s game, allowing Zverev to secure the necessary break in the fourth game that would seal his first Chengdu Open crown.

“He’s playing the best tennis of his life and he’s beaten a lot of great players this week, so I knew he was playing well. I’m happy to have been able to come back and win this title. This week has been amazing and it’s even better that I won the title,” said Zverev, who paid tribute to the throngs of fans that turned up throughout the week to watch him play.

“I feel like I always have a lot of fans in China and I feel Chinese people are very giving, they always bring gifts and give something in return for pictures and autographs, so that is very nice of them. I have never been here before so I didn’t know what to expect coming here, but it has surprised me in a nice way to see so many fans,” added the 26-year-old German, who will solidify his position at No. 7 in the Race to Turin with the 250 points picked up here today.

In a similarly electrifying finale to the doubles, top seeded French tandem Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul reversed a one set deficit to overcome second seeded Portuguese-Brazilian duo Francisco Cabral and Rafael Matos 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 in one hour and 51 minutes.

Cabral and Matos notched four points in a row against serve in the ninth game to secure the first break of the encounter, going 5-4 up and securing the first set in the next game. However, Doumbia and Reboul returned the favour in the second set, taking four points on the trot at 6-5 up against serve to force a super tiebreaker.

In the super tiebreaker, the Portuguese-Brazilian twosome seemed to have the upper hand when they went one mini-break up to take a 7-5 lead, but the French pair rallied instantly, upping their game to take five points on the trot and secure the unforgettable victory.

The pair have won 15 challenger titles and nine ITF Tour titles since teaming up in 2015, but the Chengdu Open title is their maiden Tour-level triumph as a pair, as well as individuals.

“We have been waiting for this moment for such a long time. We have won Challengers before, but it was a big goal for us to win an ATP Tour event. To do it here in China is special – it’s amazing for us,” said the 33-year-old Doumbia.

“I’m very happy to share this title with Sadio. We started playing doubles full time two or three years ago and we have been working hard every day to win these kinds of matches. We are very happy and hopefully we will win a lot of titles,” said the 28-year-old Reboul.

The duo credited their strong performance this week to feeling comfortable and at home in Chengdu, with Reboul adding: “I would say what is important is to feel good in a place. We have always felt very good here because the people are very nice. We were very excited to come back to China. I think when you feel at home, you can play your best tennis.”

The tournament is owned by IMG and is organised by the Chinese Tennis Association and Chengdu Municipal Government, is co-organised by Chengdu Sports Bureau, Shuangliu District Government and Chengdu Culture Tourism Group, and is promoted by Sichuan Investment International Tennis Centre Development Co., Ltd., CCTV IMG (Beijing) Sports Management Co. Ltd. and WME IMG China Culture Development Co. Ltd.

The Chengdu Open is also very proud to have the support of our distinguished partners, including the ATP Tour’s Premier Partner Emirates, the official ball and stringer Yonex, the official car FAW-Volkswagen, the Sichuan Tennis International Hotel, which is conveniently located adjacent to the courts and provides efficient services to the tournament, the official timer Luminox, the official player hotel Intercontinental Chengdu Global Center, the official coffee provider Wood & Coffee, the official gym equipment Impulse and the official water Su Lao Quan. The official tournament website www.ChengduOpenTennis.com has additional information about the tournament

A Look At The Favourites For the 2024 Grand Slams

September 25, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

The US Open provided plenty of drama across the last few weeks, culminating in a new Grand Slam record for Novak Djokovic and an exciting new dawn for the women’s game, as Coco Gauff secured her first major honour, opening up what could be a brilliant 2024 in tennis.

While there’s still plenty of tennis to play across the ATP and WTA, with the dust settling on the Grand Slams, we thought it provided the perfect opportunity to take a look at the odds for the coming year, starting with the Australian Open in January…

The Australian Open: No. 25 for Novak, Swiatek to claim her first in Melbourne?

Novak is hotly tipped to pick up a second straight Grand Slam and 11th Australian Open, priced at 13/10 with most bookmakers. The stars of this year follow behind him, with Carlos Alcaraz priced at 2/1 and Daniil Medvedev, 4/1. A win for Alcaraz would perhaps mark the beginning of a new dynasty after lifing the Wimbledon title this year, and a changing of the guard for 2024.

In the women’s game it’s really hotting up. There are a host of players that could win the Aussie Open, and continuing the gambling theme it’s almost like you could spin the reels of something like the 777 slots and get just as a determined answer than any pundit.

The oddsmakers are suggesting the title may sway towards Iga Swiatek, who reached the semi-finals in 2022. She’s at 3/1, but Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka aren’t far behind at 5/1. Ons Jabeur is priced at 8/1 while Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka are at 10/1, all of whom are realistic contenders. You’ve then got Carolina Garcia as a potential winner too. It could set up an incredibly exciting year in the Women’s Singles.

French Open: Alcaraz and Swiatek to prove solid opposition

Iga Swiatek is proving to be the female equivalent of Rafa Nadal of late on the clay, having lifted the last two French Open titles. She’s a heavy favourite again at 10/11 with most bookies, and is certainly the player to beat.

Aryna Sabalenka comes closest with the bookmakers at 13/2, but it’s seemingly the 22-year-old Polish star’s to lose at present.

Alcaraz takes the favourite tag in the French Open at 11/8, and it’s no surprise to see Djokovic and Nadal just behind him in the stakes. However, the Spaniard is great on clay and he’ll be tough to get past after reaching the Semi Finals this year. Win the Aussie Open, and this one would complete the set.

Wimbledon: Alcaraz and Swiatek to take clay form onto grass?

It’s going to be a similar story at Wimbledon according to the bookies, with Alcaraz and Swiatek both favourites for the title. Alcaraz beat Djokovic in a real classic this year and he’s just ahead of the Serbian at 6/4 compared to 7/4.

Medvedev is priced at 12/1, with Rafa at 10/1, and it’s a little difficult to look any further than that in the Men’s Singles.

In the women’s the current World Number Two is once again favourite at 5/1. She’s never won the Wimbledon title, reaching the quarter finals in her best year. Sabalenka, who reached the semi finals in 2023 is just behind her at 9/2, but would you write of Coco Gauff at 10/1 after getting a taste of Grand Slam success just a few weeks ago? It’s wide open.

US Open: A year on, Novak to do it again

It could be a difficult year for the Serbian superstar, with Alcaraz likely to prove a difficult opponent, but the hard court is his domain and he’s tipped to come back and be successful in New York once again in 2024.

Djokovic is priced at 5/4 with many bookies to win the title, with Carlos just behind him at 6/4. Medvedev and Jannik Sinner are the names most likely to break that duo duel, but all eyes will be on this year’s Wimbledon finalists right across the year.

Gauff is 8/1 to retain her US Open crown, with Swiatek the favourite across all four Grand Slams. She’s priced just ahead of Aryna Sabalenka at 3/1 and 4/1 respectively, while Elena Rybakina, who reached the third round this year, is third favourite.

Carlos Alcaraz (Photo by Justin Cohen Photography)

Coco Gauff Does Rolex Proud With U.S. Open Victory

September 12, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

After two weeks of world-class tennis, Rolex Testimonee Coco Gauff triumphed in New York to claim the 2023 US Open women’s singles crown and her first Grand Slam® title. In doing so, the 19-year-old becomes the youngest American player to win the US Open since 1999 and rises to a career-high ranking of world No. 3.
The fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the calendar year is seen as one of the highlights of the season by both players and spectators. Renowned for its electric atmosphere and impassioned fans, this year’s edition was no exception with Gauff feeding off the exuberant energy in the stands throughout the tournament and, in particular, during the final where she staged a thrilling 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback victory.

With origins dating back to 1881, the US Open is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world. Rolex’s special relationship with the tournament as Official Timekeeper was inaugurated in 2018, further strengthening the Swiss watchmaker’s presence at the heart of the game with the support of all four Grand Slam tournaments. As part of its pivotal partnerships in sport, the brand helps to foster the development of tennis by strengthening its commitment to young talent and the most iconic athletes whose exceptional feats have brought excellence and greatness to the game.

Gauff displayed peerless composure in the final to withstand the challenge of her powerful opponent and it was the American’s unwavering determination that saw her reign supreme on one of tennis’ biggest stages. As the match went on, Gauff grew in confidence and showed no sign of nerves in the closing exchanges, sealing the historic victory with a superb backhand winner on her first match point. Overcome with emotion, she immediately fell to the floor and sat on the sideline with her head in her hands before making a heart sign to the cheering fans. Almost the entirety of the star-studded, partisan crowd inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the US Open’s iconic centerpiece arena with a seating capacity of close to 23,800 – by far the largest court in Grand Slam tennis – leapt to their feet and erupted in a frenzied celebration of the new champion that they had willed to victory.

Winning a Grand Slam title in one’s home country is often regarded as a crowning moment for tennis players and to achieve this feat at such a young age speaks volumes of Gauff’s committed spirit and dedication. Before lifting the coveted trophy, Gauff climbed the stands to share an emotional moment with her parents, Corey and Candi Gauff, who used to take her to the US Open as a child to watch her idols play. All three embraced and cried tears of joy in recognition that their sacrifices had resulted in one of the sport’s greatest prizes.

Reflecting on the significance of her achievement, Coco Gauff said: “I feel like I’m in a little bit of shock at the moment. I feel like God puts you through trials and tribulations, and that makes this even sweeter. I’m thankful for this moment. I don’t have any words.”

With this victory, Gauff joins an illustrious list of Rolex Testimonees to have triumphed in New York, which includes Rod Laver, Chris Evert, Stefan Edberg, Pat Rafter, Justine Henin, Roger Federer, Juan Martín del Potro, Angelique Kerber, Sloane Stephens, Bianca Andreescu, Dominic Thiem, Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz.

The US Open Women��s Singles Championship Trophy is made from sterling silver; across the front of the Trophy features the engravings of some of the most famous names in tennis history, alongside which Gauff now belongs. Whilst they cannot take the original trophies home, champions are given a replica with the same dimensions as the original trophy – unlike at the other three Grand Slam tournaments.

While glory belonged to Gauff this year, several other members of the Rolex family delivered strong performances, including Alcaraz, who reached the men’s singles semi-finals. Fellow Testimonees Qinwen Zheng and Taylor Fritz both reached the quarter-finals; and Caroline Wozniacki displayed her relentless pursuit of excellence and resilience with a remarkable run at her third tournament since coming out of retirement. After a three-and-a-half year absence from the game, the former World No. 1 from Denmark captivated crowds and reached the fourth round.

Gauff has long been destined to reach the highest heights in tennis. After bursting onto the scene with an extraordinary performance at The Championships, Wimbledon in 2019, where she made history by becoming the tournament’s youngest qualifier, aged 15, and making it to the fourth round in her Grand Slam debut, her emergence and career to date has captured the world’s attention.

Always a prodigious talent, Gauff’s triumph provides a fitting conclusion to the 2023 Grand Slam season and adds another memorable chapter in the tournament’s rich history. The focus of the tennis world now turns to the annual team competitions including the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup, which takes place for the first time in Vancouver, Canada from 22–24 September, at which Rolex is a Founding Partner and Official Timekeeper.

Novak Djokovic Looks To Add On His 24 Major Singles Titles

September 12, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

With his win over Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open singles final, Novak Djokovic cemented his claim as the most accomplished tennis player — winning his 24th major singles title to equal the record held by Australian Margaret Court in the all-time count.

With the win, Djokovic became the oldest US Open men’s singles champion in the Open Era. In all, he has 10 Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, four US Opens and three Roland Garros titles, making him the only man to win all four majors at least three times.

The Serb has long since realized his childhood dream — winning Wimbledon and being No.1 in the world. “When I realized that, I started to dream new dreams and set new objectives, new goals,” Djokovic said. “I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Slams.”

Djokovic reached all four major finals in 2023, and the only loss came at Wimbledon, when Carlos Alcaraz beat him in five sets in the final.

That defeat once again aroused the discussion of the generation shift from the Big Three — Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — to the younger players.

Federer announced his retirement last year, and 37-year-old Nadal has been absent from matches due to a hip injury at this year’s Australian Open.

Djokovic, at 36, shows few signs of losing physical edge. He stays healthy, maintains exceptional skills and always desires to win more. “I see this every Grand Slam that I play right now as really a golden opportunity to make more history,” he said.

Capturing his first major title in Australia in 2008, Djokovic bagged half of his 24 major titles after he turned 30. And a prolonged career requires stricter self-discipline.

“One of the biggest lessons I have learned probably mentally throughout my career is that even if you find a formula that works, it’s not a guarantee, and actually most likely it’s not going to work the next year,” said the Serb who keeps reinventing himself.

“As a 36-year-old competing with 20-year-olds, I probably have to do it more than I have ever done it in order to keep my body in shape, in order to be able to recover so that I can perform on the highest level consistently,” the Serbian said.

For Djokovic, who always gets tough when the going gets tough, 24 is just a number that he can go beyond.

“I’ll continue to prioritize them [Grand Slams] as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis,” he said. “So that will not change. That will stay the same in the next season, or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs. So, let’s see.”

Evert and Navratilova Against WTA Finals In Saudi Arabia

August 28, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

Tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have spoken out against tennis masters in Saudi Arabia. In late June, WTA Chairman Steve Simon proposed the Year End WTA Tournament, where the best 8 performing women of the season are invited, in Saudi-Arabia. However, he was the first to admit that it is a complex undertaking.

Navratilova responded on social media with the following message:

“Women essentially have no rights there. Let them change a lot more, then we can interact more. Now is way too soon,” Martina Navratilova wrote.

Not all their men treat women badly there. It’s slowly changing and S.A. participating internationally can only benefit women’s status with the hard-line misogynists.
— Jennifer.f (@JenniferJAF) August 26, 2023

Chris Evert responded similarly and said the following:

“I didn’t read that. I don’t know … really?” Evert said incredulously. “I mean, for me, I would prefer not to go to Saudi Arabia to play the WTA Finals. Not that I’m going to go play, but for me, I would prefer the WTA not go to Saudi Arabia. Obviously they have the human rights issues and everything, just the way they treat women. I would be against it. But I don’t have a vote.”

Saudi Arabia continues to rise in the world of sports

Saudi Arabia continues to rise in the world of sports. After Formula 1 and many football players transferred to the Arabian football league, the country now gets the Next Gen ATP Finals later this year.

The Association of Tennis Players (ATP) has designated Jeddah as the organizer of the tournament until 2027. This looks to be the first step for professional tennis in the country. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi spoke with several investors about possibilities for more tennis tournaments in Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah is the successor of Milan, where the Next Gen Tournament originated. The Next Gen ATP Finals were won by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who are both on top of their game at the moment.

There is much money to be earned for young players at the Next Gen ATP Finals. The winner takes home 1.8 million dollar, which is a lot.

The world of tennis is divided about Saudi Arabia

But what about the top players, are they going to Saudi Arabia for tennis tournaments? Opinions about that are divided among younger and older and even former tennis players. That is because Saudi Arabia is known as a country to that violates human rights.

John McEnroe said that he isn’t exactly happy about tennis tournaments in Saudi Arabia. He said wouldn’t support it and thinks that tennis should stay far away from the country.

But tennis legend, Billie Jean King, supports a tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia as a lesbian woman. She said that if you want to make changes then you need to be involved. And if you don’t meet people and avoid discussion to change things, then nothing will change.

Lesson Failed: Never Take A Legend For Granted

August 22, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

BY JAMES BECK

Carlos Alcaraz should have learned at least one important lesson from his marathon loss to Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati final.

Never take anything for granted against a legend such as Djokovic.

Alcaraz paid a big price for ignoring that lesson in Sunday afternoon’s scorching heat on a blistering hard court.

NOVAK APPEARED TO BE HEADED FOR DEFEAT

Djokovic appeared to be a beaten man when Alcaraz served with a 4-3 lead in the second set. Djokovic was virtually wiped out, or so it appeared.

But the match really was just beginning. Alcaraz won the first point of that eighth game of the set, and everything appeared to be in order for the young Spaniard.

Boy, did things change quickly as Alcaraz carelessly committed four consecutive unforced errors. Suddenly, it was a new game with Novak looking alive and well. Four games later, they were in a tiebreaker and Alcaraz held his only match point of the day.

Djokovic was on fire then and on his way to a 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) victory.

LOSS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD

Of course, this one really didn’t mean that much to either Djokovic or Alcaraz. They are after bigger goals.

The big one comes up in New York in almost three weeks, if both players can make it to the final of the U.S. Open.

Alcaraz can only get better. After all, he’s only 20 years old. He made a remarkable improvement over his performance in losing to Tommy Paul a week earlier in Toronto.

You wouldn’t think Djokovic can get much better than the game he played in the Cincinnati final. Yes, it should be steaming hot in Arthur Ashe Stadium, too.

FIVE SETS A TELLING STORY

This time it will be five sets, and there is no telling who will survive the heat best if Alcaraz gets another shot at Djokovic. For both players to make it through two weeks in New York to the Sunday final would be a major achievement for both Djokovic and defending champion Alcaraz.

Either way, it probably is just a matter of time before Djokovic gives up the chase for more Grand Slam titles. It is worth it at the end of other majors for Djokovic only if he can prevail through the final shot.

But anything short of other major titles wouldn’t be worth what Djokovic went through Sunday in Cincinnati for 229 minutes. Of course, Alcaraz went through similar circumstances at the French Open.

But he’s 16 years younger than Djokovic.

All of the great ones eventually have to surrender to time.

COCO: A STAR IN THE MAKING

Coco Gauff likely will become one of the great ones before she finishes. A Grand Slam title in New York would set her on her way to greatness.

The 19-year-old, much like Alcaraz, is loaded with weapons. First, she is a great athlete.

That was obvious to me as early as May 2019 when I spotted Gauff resting on a bench at the courtside after a long workout at LTP Tennis in Charleston. She already qualified for the $100K ITF tournament there.

I interviewed Coco for just a few minutes before she was called back to the court. A month later she was in the round of 16 at the French Open.

JUST A MATTER OF TIME FOR GAUFF

Just 15 years old, it was just a matter of time before Gauff would become a superstar.

She isn’t quite there yet, but after winning titles in Washington as well as her first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, Gauff is getting close. She still has two more chances to win a Grand Slam title as a teenager, and the next step could be New York. She already has the experience of a runner-up finish at last year’s French Open.

Gauff really didn’t have much trouble upending Karolina Muchova, 6-3, 6-4, at Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open on Sunday.

But again, the draw for the U.S. Open will be filled with players capable of winning a Grand Slam title, even including the likes of Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, ranked just ninth in the world. As a left-hander, she already has the edge over most of the players on the field.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award. 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island, Site of John McEnroe Tennis Academy, Goes Deep For Pickleball In New Expansion

July 31, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

SPORTIME Randall’s Island, New York City’s premiere tennis facility, to add 12 indoor pickleball courts this fall. Court-time rentals, instructional clinics, social and competitive open play sessions, events and more will all be on the menu for the hundreds of thousands of City residents who have become part of the pickleball craze.

SPORTIME Randall’s Island, also the home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, is in the final stages of a facility expansion, which includes the addition of 10 new tennis courts, making the 30-court facility one of the largest in the world. In an effort to respond to the unprecedented growth of pickleball, and to welcome NYC pickleball players, SPORTIME will retrofit five of its bubbled, hard-surface, tennis courts, so that those courts can also provide 12 hybrid pickleball courts, which will be available for pickleball players to enjoy seven days a week. These five courts sit in the footprint which was the venue for the former World TeamTennis New York Sportimes franchise.

“Pickleball is a natural expansion of our racket sports business in NYC and at our clubs across New York State, and we are thrilled to be bringing the first large-scale, indoor, pickleball facility to NYC,” explains SPORTIME CEO & President, Claude Okin. “Our goal is to welcome thousands of NYC’s most committed picklers during the indoor season, so that they can keep playing all year and experience the best-in-class facilities, programs and amenities that SPORTIME has to offer!” Added Okin, “With the unveiling of our $45 million expansion project at Randall’s Island this fall, and the addition of pickleball, SPORTIME hopes to be the go-to destination for racket sports players of all ages and abilities to learn and enjoy our lifetime sports.”

The New York Post provided more details to the expansion here: https://nypost.com/2023/07/30/sportime-randalls-island-facility-adds-12-indoor-pickleball-courts/

Pickleball players of all levels will have the opportunity to improve their games, to join social and competitive, level-based group play, to rent courts seasonally or by the hour, and to enjoy a host of special events and tournaments throughout the year. SPORTIME tennis and pickleball members enjoy great benefits, including 7-day advanced court-time reservations, member pricing on lessons and events and access to SPORTIME Pickleball programming.

Joining the SPORTIME Randall’s Island leadership team is Pickleball Director Lisa Scotti. A New York native, Lisa has excelled at a variety of sports, including pickleball, paddleball, tennis, softball and paddle tennis. Lisa is a member of the Paddleball Hall of Fame, but, a few years ago she shifted her focus to playing and teaching pickleball exclusively, and she has achieved great success in prestigious tournaments across the Tri-State area and nationwide. As a Professional Pickleball Registry certified pickleball coach, Lisa enjoys introducing newcomers to the game and helping players of all ages and levels improve and compete. Lisa is a devoted ambassador for the sport, and Sportime is excited to have her at the helm of pickleball at its flagship facility in NYC!

SPORTIME Randall’s Island is located at 1 Randall’s Island, NY. For more information, visit www.SportimeNY.com/Manhattan or to communicate with a member of our Pickleball team, email PickleballNYC@sportimeny.com.

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About SPORTIME Pickleball

As New York State’s leader for tennis and racket sports, SPORTIME has been excited to welcome the fastest growing sport in the Country, pickleball, to our clubs, and to apply our 35 years of experience and expertise in racket sports and multi-sport programming and coaching, and in club management, to this fast growing market segment. SPORTIME clubs currently offer 50 pickleball courts at 8 SPORTIME facilities, already making us one of the largest pickleball providers in New York State. SPORTIME’s newest club, SPORTIME Port Washington, will feature a renovated 12-court pickleball facility, the largest pickleball center on Long Island. We are planning the addition of more than 100 additional pickleball courts at new and existing SPORTIME locations in the next two to three years, including the 12 courts in NYC at SPORTIME Randall’s Island.

About SPORTIME Clubs

Since 1994, SPORTIME has been proud to operate the finest tennis and sports facilities in New York State. SPORTIME’s 15 club locations, most recently expanded to include the iconic Port Washington Tennis Academy, now SPORTIME Port Washington, currently offer 194 indoor and outdoor tennis courts and 50 pickleball courts, as well as rinks, turf, camps, gyms and more, at sites across Long Island, in NYC, in Westchester and in the NY Capital Region. SPORTIME clubs are state-of-the-art, yet affordable, and feature the best tennis, sports and fitness facilities and programs, including the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) and SPORTIME Volleyball Club (VBC). SPORTIME clubs serve individuals of every age and athletic ability, 365 days a year. Learn more: www.sportimeny.com.

Alexander Zverev Continues Return To The Top After Hamburg Victory

July 31, 2023 by tennisbloggers 1 Comment

Alexander Zverev defeated Laslo Djere of Serbia 7-5, 6-3 to win the European Open tennis title in Hamburg to become the first men’s champion from Germany at the Rothenbaum Tennis Complex since Michael Stich in 1993.

The final was played on the two-year anniversary of one of Zverev’s greatest career wins, a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 semifinal win over Novak Djokovic, also from Serbia, at the Tokyo Olympics, clinching a media, which turned into gold.

In Hamburg, under a closed roof and in front of a sold-out-crowd of 10,000, Zverev continued to show his improved form after coming back from his serious ankle injury suffered at Roland Garros in 2022.

“This title means a lot to me, winning the tournament, where I was born,” said Zverev. “ It’s a very emotional moment for me as well as for my family. It’s also emotional because of the last year and a half that I had. It wasn’t easy. I can’t describe it in words. I’m just super happy right now.”

Lifting his 20th tour-level career trophy has boosted Zverev’s hopes of qualifying for the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. “Being number nine in the race, that’s great. If I am able to play in Turin this year, that’ll be a great achievement after the injury,” Zverev said.

The World No. 19 Zverev pocketed €342,500 in prize money as well as 500 ATP Ranking points.

Alexander Zverev (Deutschland) Hamburg, 26.07.2023, Tennis, Hamburg European Open 2023, Combined, Herren Einzel

Arantxa Rus Wins First WTA Tour Title In Hamburg

July 30, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

By Florian Heer

Arantxa Rus has clinched her maiden WTA Tour title by lifting the trophy of the 2023 Hamburg European Open. In front of a sold-out crowd at the Rothenbaum Tennis Stadium, the No. 7 seed of the WTA 250 clay-court event defeated 19-year-old German wild card entry Noma Noha Akugue 6-0, 7-6(3) in Saturday’s singles final.

Both players were competing in their first tour-level final with Noha Akugue having a nervy start while Rus was wide awake right from the beginning. The 32-year-old from the Netherlands gained an early break and kept the momentum to secure the first set in only 25 minutes.

Then, in a more competitive second set featuring two breaks on each side, Rus needed to go to the tie-break. However, she proved to be the more solid player in the end and secured the title victory in one hour and 35 minutes.

Rus: “It was the perfect week for me!”
“The first set went very fast, but in the second it was a fight from both of us,” said. Rus, who became the oldest first-time WTA title winner in the last 40 years and the oldest first-time finalist at a WTA Tour tournament in 17 years.

Rus added: “The atmosphere was great, although I knew most of the people would support her. It’s a very nice court here. A lot of spectators are coming out. The hotel is very nice, everything is close by each other. It makes it very easy for the players. Of course, when you are winning, the longer you stay here, the more you enjoy it. It was the perfect week for me.”

World No. 60 Rus pocketed €29,760 in prize money as well as 280 WTA Ranking points. She dedicated the title to her father, who passed away four months ago.

Meanwhile, Noha Akugue, who captured her maiden title on the Pro Circuit in Cairo, Egypt last year, remained upbeat. “I am very proud of myself, and I hope that I can continue like this,” she said. “Now, I am going to enjoy a few days off before competing in a WTA 125 event in Poland followed by the tournaments in America.”

Danilina/Panova triumph in doubles
Earlier on Center Court, Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Alexandra Panova captured the doubles title. The top seeds, who dropped just one set en route to the championship match, defeated second favourites Miriam Kolodziejova of the Czech Republic and US-American Angela Kulikov 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 13 minutes.

“Thanks for coming out, you guys were amazing. It was an enjoyable final. This was my first time in Hamburg. It was amazing event, one of the best on the tour,” said Danilina during the trophy ceremony.

“It was a pleasure to play here,” added Panova, who thanked tournament director Sandra Reichel in German for organizing the event.

By winning their first team title, Danilina and Panova split €10,820 in prize money and earned 280 WTA Doubles Ranking points.

Hingis back in Hamburg
Two-time Hamburg singles champion Martina Hingis (1998 and 2000) returned to the Rothenbaum Tennis Complex to take part in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Asked about her Hamburg memories, Hingis said: “I played my first final on the WTA Tour here and got a lesson from Conchita Martinez. However, I was able to win the doubles title alongside Gigi Fernandez. I have always loved Hamburg. I often went into the city and to the water. I have many fond memories of the tournament.”

Hingis’ list of achievements is staggering. The “Swiss Miss” claimed a total of five Grand Slam singles titles (three Australian Opens, one Wimbledon, one US Open) and 13 Grand Slam doubles crowns. In 1997, she achieved the rare feat of winning Australian Open titles in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

Ester Vergeer and Rick Draney Inducted Into International Tennis Hall of Fame

July 23, 2023 by tennisbloggers Leave a Comment

“I am proud of the many opportunities I had to share what I had learned and developed with other quadriplegics so they could participate in play. I am proud of being an advocate and campaigner for possibilities and opportunities for growth of the quad division in the United States and around the world,” Draney said.

Judy Tegart Dalton, a member of the Original 9 pioneers of women’s tennis and members of the Class of 2021, was also recognized during the ceremony. Dalton was unable to travel to Newport in 2021, but was aptly championed during this year’s program. In her career, Dalton collected nine major doubles titles, completing the coveted career Grand Slam in doubles. “I’d just like to say how honored I am to join this elite group. I feel that what we did as the Original 9 was something unique. To be honored all together, I would have loved to have been here, but this is nearly as good. In fact, it’s better really,” Dalton said. In a press conference earlier today, Vergeer also reflected on the occasion, saying her induction is, “The biggest honor you can have as an athlete.” Prior to the ceremony, Vergeer and Draney received their signature Hall of Fame Brooks Brothers blazers, and were celebrated after the ceremony at the official Enshrinement Reception presented by Infosys.