Holger Rune is through to his ninth Atp final after beating Roman Safiullin at the 2024 Brisbane International.
It was 14th Tour-level semifinal for the young Dane, and the odds were on his side, as he won 8 of the previous 13 last four matches that he played. On the other hand, it was only fifth semifinal for his opponent, who lost three of the previous four.
However, both had great form, and fans in Brisbane expected a great match, which they got, even though it wasn't a three-set match but another two-set win for the Danish player.
Rune had a dream start into the match, breaking his opponent's serve in the very first game of the opening set, and since then, he never allowed him to think about a comeback in the opener.
The young Dane didn't offer any break points, and he even had a chance to increase his lead to two breaks.
It was 14th Tour-level semifinal for the young Dane, and the odds were on his side, as he won 8 of the previous 13 last four matches that he played. On the other hand, it was only fifth semifinal for his opponent, who lost three of the previous four.
However, both had great form, and fans in Brisbane expected a great match, which they got, even though it wasn't a three-set match but another two-set win for the Danish player.
Rune had a dream start into the match, breaking his opponent's serve in the very first game of the opening set, and since then, he never allowed him to think about a comeback in the opener.
The young Dane didn't offer any break points, and he even had a chance to increase his lead to two breaks.
- 1/6/2024
- Tennis Infinity
Holger Rune will be playing in the semifinals of the 2024 Brisbane International after overcoming James Duckworth.
Tournaments in Australia are quite specific, because many home players enter them, and usually, they pose a serious threat on the home soil, as the Australian fans are able to get behind them, and they are used to the conditions.
That's what happened to Rune already twice at the 2024 Brisbane International, as he had to deal with Max Purcell in the opening round. After that, the young Dane played a challenging match against Alexander Shevchenko, and finally, in the quarterfinals, he recorded his first straight-sets win of the new Atp season.
Taking on Duckworth in Australia was never going to be easy, but Rune made it look like it in the first set of the match. He was solid on his serve, and when it came to his opponent's serve, he was able to...
Tournaments in Australia are quite specific, because many home players enter them, and usually, they pose a serious threat on the home soil, as the Australian fans are able to get behind them, and they are used to the conditions.
That's what happened to Rune already twice at the 2024 Brisbane International, as he had to deal with Max Purcell in the opening round. After that, the young Dane played a challenging match against Alexander Shevchenko, and finally, in the quarterfinals, he recorded his first straight-sets win of the new Atp season.
Taking on Duckworth in Australia was never going to be easy, but Rune made it look like it in the first set of the match. He was solid on his serve, and when it came to his opponent's serve, he was able to...
- 1/5/2024
- Tennis Infinity
Ben Shelton has some big results to back up in 2024, but he lost his first match at the Brisbane International, as he was overpowered by Roman Safiullin.
The Russian managed to beat Carlos Alcaraz last year, and he was one of the dark horses at many tournaments that he entered, and the same applied to the first Atp 250 tournament of the year.
Regardless, the third-seeded Shelton was the favorite, as he played the Australian Open quarterfinals and the US Open semifinals in 2023, but he couldn't enter the New Year on a winning foot.
The first set of the match was a real fight. First, Safiullin had a break point, before the American had three consecutive break points in the fifth game of the opening set.
However, he couldn't use any of his chances, and after that, the Russian created four break point chances in the eighth game of the first set,...
The Russian managed to beat Carlos Alcaraz last year, and he was one of the dark horses at many tournaments that he entered, and the same applied to the first Atp 250 tournament of the year.
Regardless, the third-seeded Shelton was the favorite, as he played the Australian Open quarterfinals and the US Open semifinals in 2023, but he couldn't enter the New Year on a winning foot.
The first set of the match was a real fight. First, Safiullin had a break point, before the American had three consecutive break points in the fifth game of the opening set.
However, he couldn't use any of his chances, and after that, the Russian created four break point chances in the eighth game of the first set,...
- 1/1/2024
- Tennis Infinity
The 2024 Brisbane International will be held from December 31st, 2023, to January 7th, 2024, and the draw for the Atp 250 tournament has been released.
The tournament in Brisbane has been highly anticipated due to multiple reasons. One of them is the season start, but the other one is the fact that the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, is returning to the tennis courts.
The Spaniard doesn't have high expectations ahead of his comeback, but he'll have a chance to ease into the tournament, as he'll face one of the qualifiers in the first round of the tournament, with his possible second-round opponent being the winner of the match between the eighth-seeded Aslan Karatsev and home wild card Jason Kubler.
The top seed at the tournament is the Danish prodigy Holger Rune, who will take on Max Purcell on his return to the courts, with the winner of the match meeting either...
The tournament in Brisbane has been highly anticipated due to multiple reasons. One of them is the season start, but the other one is the fact that the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, is returning to the tennis courts.
The Spaniard doesn't have high expectations ahead of his comeback, but he'll have a chance to ease into the tournament, as he'll face one of the qualifiers in the first round of the tournament, with his possible second-round opponent being the winner of the match between the eighth-seeded Aslan Karatsev and home wild card Jason Kubler.
The top seed at the tournament is the Danish prodigy Holger Rune, who will take on Max Purcell on his return to the courts, with the winner of the match meeting either...
- 12/30/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Denis Shapovalov has provided an injury update ahead of a long-awaited return to the courts for the 2024 season.
Shapovalov has not featured since he was knocked out in round 16 at Wimbledon after a four-set defeat to Roman Safiullin. However, following his early elimination from Wimbledon, the Canadian later revealed that he was playing during the competition with a knee injury.
Since his last appearance in the summer grass court season, Shapovalov has dropped out of the top 100 in the Atp rankings for the first time in six years.
Despite his struggles in the second half of 2023, the 24-year-old gave a positive update on his official Instagram channel, where he outlined his intention to get back to fitness again next season.
"A lot of hard work and tough days coming back from my injury but I’m super excited to be feeling good on the court again!! Can’t wait to...
Shapovalov has not featured since he was knocked out in round 16 at Wimbledon after a four-set defeat to Roman Safiullin. However, following his early elimination from Wimbledon, the Canadian later revealed that he was playing during the competition with a knee injury.
Since his last appearance in the summer grass court season, Shapovalov has dropped out of the top 100 in the Atp rankings for the first time in six years.
Despite his struggles in the second half of 2023, the 24-year-old gave a positive update on his official Instagram channel, where he outlined his intention to get back to fitness again next season.
"A lot of hard work and tough days coming back from my injury but I’m super excited to be feeling good on the court again!! Can’t wait to...
- 12/20/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The 2024 Adelaide International will run from January 8th to 13th, 2024 and the entry list for the Atp 250 tournament features multiple Top 30 players.
As one of the first tournaments of the 2024 season, it's not a surprise that the Atp 250 event in Adelaide attracted a strong field of players, as there are only a couple of tournaments before players head to the Australian Open.
In 2023, there were two events held in Adelaide, as Novak Djokovic won the first tournament before Soonwoo Kwon triumphed at the second event, but in 2024, neither of them will play in Adelaide.
Yet, the field for the 2024 Adelaide International is still very strong. World no. 13 Tommy Paul leads the field, as the American needs to prepare well for the Australian Open, where he defends last year's semifinal.
Joining him in Adelaide will be fellow American Sebastian Korda, who played in the final against Djokovic last year, but fell...
As one of the first tournaments of the 2024 season, it's not a surprise that the Atp 250 event in Adelaide attracted a strong field of players, as there are only a couple of tournaments before players head to the Australian Open.
In 2023, there were two events held in Adelaide, as Novak Djokovic won the first tournament before Soonwoo Kwon triumphed at the second event, but in 2024, neither of them will play in Adelaide.
Yet, the field for the 2024 Adelaide International is still very strong. World no. 13 Tommy Paul leads the field, as the American needs to prepare well for the Australian Open, where he defends last year's semifinal.
Joining him in Adelaide will be fellow American Sebastian Korda, who played in the final against Djokovic last year, but fell...
- 12/12/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The 2024 Brisbane International will act as the official curtain raiser of the men's tennis season, running from December 31, 2023, till January 7, 2024.
The Brisbane International will be played on outdoor hard courts and feature a 32-player singles draw. Twenty-one players have qualified based on actual ranking, while three players (one of whom is confirmed) will enter as wild cards. Six players will join from the qualifying rounds.
After a four-year absence, tennis action returns to Queensland state, which will boast a star-studded lineup in its 12th edition, with the acquisition of several of the world's best tennis players. Based on prestige, charisma, and accomplishment, no active players can match Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard will emotionally return after a long-term injury at the Brisbane International, and he'll undoubtedly be the headline act. Despite his expected rankings drop, Nadal has been offered a wild card to play the event as he targets getting in shape before the Australian Open.
The Brisbane International will be played on outdoor hard courts and feature a 32-player singles draw. Twenty-one players have qualified based on actual ranking, while three players (one of whom is confirmed) will enter as wild cards. Six players will join from the qualifying rounds.
After a four-year absence, tennis action returns to Queensland state, which will boast a star-studded lineup in its 12th edition, with the acquisition of several of the world's best tennis players. Based on prestige, charisma, and accomplishment, no active players can match Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard will emotionally return after a long-term injury at the Brisbane International, and he'll undoubtedly be the headline act. Despite his expected rankings drop, Nadal has been offered a wild card to play the event as he targets getting in shape before the Australian Open.
- 12/6/2023
- Tennis Infinity
For the second consecutive season, the destination of the Atp year-end No. 1 ranking came down to the final week of the season at the Atp Finals.
Except that this time, the list of possibilities was very straightforward for Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz who have fought back and forth for the top prize all season. Djokovic knew a win over Holger Rune in his first group match would be sufficient to lock his spot as the year-end No. 1 for an eighth year.
Alcaraz, praying for a miracle, needed Djokovic to lose all three round-robin matches, and for him to win the Atp Finals as an undefeated champion to overturn the deficit which stood at 1,490 points. It was too much ground to make up with just one tournament to play.
The Spaniard will reflect on a missed opportunity during the Asian swing when Djokovic gave him a virtual free pass for the top spot.
Except that this time, the list of possibilities was very straightforward for Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz who have fought back and forth for the top prize all season. Djokovic knew a win over Holger Rune in his first group match would be sufficient to lock his spot as the year-end No. 1 for an eighth year.
Alcaraz, praying for a miracle, needed Djokovic to lose all three round-robin matches, and for him to win the Atp Finals as an undefeated champion to overturn the deficit which stood at 1,490 points. It was too much ground to make up with just one tournament to play.
The Spaniard will reflect on a missed opportunity during the Asian swing when Djokovic gave him a virtual free pass for the top spot.
- 11/13/2023
- Tennis Infinity
There are a lot of question marks about Carlos Alcaraz's physical condition, but he declared himself 100% fit ahead of the 2023 Atp Finals.
The last time we saw Carlos Alcaraz play was at the Paris Masters recently, and he didn't look 100% fit. He played a fine match against Roman Safiullin, but something was missing in his game, which worried fans.
He admitted that he didn't feel too well during the match, which further worried fans. We don't really know whether he's fully fit because he has a habit of overselling his health and playing events even when he's hurt.
He generally doesn't do that when he's really hurt, but some aches here and there are common for him. In the pre-event press conference, Alcaraz spoke about his excitement of finally being able to play in Turin and declared himself 100% fit.
Whether that is true or not remains to be seen,...
The last time we saw Carlos Alcaraz play was at the Paris Masters recently, and he didn't look 100% fit. He played a fine match against Roman Safiullin, but something was missing in his game, which worried fans.
He admitted that he didn't feel too well during the match, which further worried fans. We don't really know whether he's fully fit because he has a habit of overselling his health and playing events even when he's hurt.
He generally doesn't do that when he's really hurt, but some aches here and there are common for him. In the pre-event press conference, Alcaraz spoke about his excitement of finally being able to play in Turin and declared himself 100% fit.
Whether that is true or not remains to be seen,...
- 11/12/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to make his Atp Finals debut next week, playing in his first round-robin match on Monday.
The World No. 2 will open up against Alexander Zverev, a two-time champion at the Atp Finals, in what is expected to be a seismic challenge.
But if recent matches are anything to go by, it looks increasingly likely Alcaraz will get his first win on the board. But can he go all the way? Here are five reasons why he might.
5. Alcaraz Adapts Better Than Almost Everyone
Apart from Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz's adaptive powers are unmatched. He has played one indoor hardcourt match this season, heading to Turin.
For any other player, this is bad timing and hardly the kind of tonic you need to win a tournament as prestigious and as tough as the Atp Finals, given the quality of opponents.
But in his young career, Alcaraz has shown...
The World No. 2 will open up against Alexander Zverev, a two-time champion at the Atp Finals, in what is expected to be a seismic challenge.
But if recent matches are anything to go by, it looks increasingly likely Alcaraz will get his first win on the board. But can he go all the way? Here are five reasons why he might.
5. Alcaraz Adapts Better Than Almost Everyone
Apart from Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz's adaptive powers are unmatched. He has played one indoor hardcourt match this season, heading to Turin.
For any other player, this is bad timing and hardly the kind of tonic you need to win a tournament as prestigious and as tough as the Atp Finals, given the quality of opponents.
But in his young career, Alcaraz has shown...
- 11/11/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Novak Djokovic's seventh Paris Masters title had brought a significant shift in the year-end race and the Olympics race as the 2023 season draws to a close.
The World No. 1 defeated in-form Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to win the 40th Masters 1000 title of his career, which is a record at this tournament level. Djokovic extended his gap at the top of the world rankings to 2,990 points ahead of Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic just needs one win at the Atp Finals, which begins Sunday, November 12, to be certain of finishing as the year-end No. 1 for a record-extending eighth time. The Serbian star racked up 1,000 points for his Paris win and overtook Alcaraz in the Olympics race.
The 24-time major champion has now accumulated 5,200 points since mid-June when the Olympics race started accruing points. He is 920 points ahead of second-placed Alcaraz. Djokovic could potentially have one last crack at the Olympic Games...
The World No. 1 defeated in-form Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to win the 40th Masters 1000 title of his career, which is a record at this tournament level. Djokovic extended his gap at the top of the world rankings to 2,990 points ahead of Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic just needs one win at the Atp Finals, which begins Sunday, November 12, to be certain of finishing as the year-end No. 1 for a record-extending eighth time. The Serbian star racked up 1,000 points for his Paris win and overtook Alcaraz in the Olympics race.
The 24-time major champion has now accumulated 5,200 points since mid-June when the Olympics race started accruing points. He is 920 points ahead of second-placed Alcaraz. Djokovic could potentially have one last crack at the Olympic Games...
- 11/7/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Novak Djokovic won the Paris Masters for a record-extending seventh time at the weekend and continued his dominance of the World No. 1 for a 398th week.
The 36-year-old can take out the champagne from the ice as he is now within spitting distance from the year-end No. 1 trophy. Djokovic can seal this year's race at the Atp Finals in Turin and end Carlos Alcaraz's hopes. But how?
What Novak Djokovic Needs To Do To Clinch Year-End No. 1 Ranking
After beating Grigor Dimitrov in the final in Paris-Bercy, Djokovic extended accumulated 1,000 points for the week. His current points tally stands at 9,945. Carlos Alcaraz has done a commendable job forcing the race into the final tournament of the season.
Considering that Djokovic has won three of the four Grand Slams, which account for the bulk of his points total this season, we cannot overstate Alcaraz's effort. But a costly early defeat...
The 36-year-old can take out the champagne from the ice as he is now within spitting distance from the year-end No. 1 trophy. Djokovic can seal this year's race at the Atp Finals in Turin and end Carlos Alcaraz's hopes. But how?
What Novak Djokovic Needs To Do To Clinch Year-End No. 1 Ranking
After beating Grigor Dimitrov in the final in Paris-Bercy, Djokovic extended accumulated 1,000 points for the week. His current points tally stands at 9,945. Carlos Alcaraz has done a commendable job forcing the race into the final tournament of the season.
Considering that Djokovic has won three of the four Grand Slams, which account for the bulk of his points total this season, we cannot overstate Alcaraz's effort. But a costly early defeat...
- 11/6/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Novak Djokovic will reign supreme at the top of the men's rankings for the 398th week and has virtually sealed the year-end No. 1 ranking.
The Serbian superstar won the Paris Masters for an unprecedented seventh time in his career, beating Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday's final. Djokovic added 600 points from winning the title, stretching his lead over Alcaraz to 2,990 points.
Djokovic is now guaranteed to clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking, either by winning one round-robin match at the Atp Finals or Alcaraz losing at least one round-robin match. The world's Top 3 will not have a new entrant by the end of the year, so Jannik Sinner cannot improve beyond fourth in the rankings.
But Russia's Daniil Medvedev can swap places with Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard will need at least two wins on his Turin debut to be sure of remaining the No. 2 player. Holger Rune drops to 10th after losing in...
The Serbian superstar won the Paris Masters for an unprecedented seventh time in his career, beating Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday's final. Djokovic added 600 points from winning the title, stretching his lead over Alcaraz to 2,990 points.
Djokovic is now guaranteed to clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking, either by winning one round-robin match at the Atp Finals or Alcaraz losing at least one round-robin match. The world's Top 3 will not have a new entrant by the end of the year, so Jannik Sinner cannot improve beyond fourth in the rankings.
But Russia's Daniil Medvedev can swap places with Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard will need at least two wins on his Turin debut to be sure of remaining the No. 2 player. Holger Rune drops to 10th after losing in...
- 11/6/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz suffered a damaging defeat at the Paris Masters, giving Novak Djokovic the all-clear to cement his status as the year-end No. 1 player for the eighth time.
Coming to Paris, Alcaraz was just 500 points behind Djokovic and spoke like a man who knew his ultimate aim. Alcaraz's obsession with Djokovic and the No. 1 ranking had partly affected his form during the Asian swing in which he failed to win a title in either Beijing or Shanghai - the latter losing in the round of 16 .
But heading into his first match against Roman Safiullin, he made his intention and ambition clear - the No. 1 ranking was on his mind . Despite a section of fans feeling he was being cocky or conceited in a way, Alcaraz has maintained that he practices with a goal in his mind.
However, he ran into an in-form Roman Safiullin, who had the upper hand when...
Coming to Paris, Alcaraz was just 500 points behind Djokovic and spoke like a man who knew his ultimate aim. Alcaraz's obsession with Djokovic and the No. 1 ranking had partly affected his form during the Asian swing in which he failed to win a title in either Beijing or Shanghai - the latter losing in the round of 16 .
But heading into his first match against Roman Safiullin, he made his intention and ambition clear - the No. 1 ranking was on his mind . Despite a section of fans feeling he was being cocky or conceited in a way, Alcaraz has maintained that he practices with a goal in his mind.
However, he ran into an in-form Roman Safiullin, who had the upper hand when...
- 11/2/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Roman Safiullin has been playing some really solid tennis for much of this year, and it's why Carlos Alcaraz wasn't stunned by his level during their recent Paris Masters match.
Roman Safiullin might have been a Challenger player two years ago, but slowly, the Russian played himself into the Top 100, and he's proven this year that he definitely belongs there.
Posting a 41-24 record on the Atp Tour is no joke, which is why he's Top 50 as of now. He has a heavy game with powerful serves and really solid shots from both sides.
Indoor conditions suit his game pretty well, as he played indoors a lot over the years. He certainly brought the heat against Alcaraz in Paris, sensationally beating him in two sets . The Spaniard was asked whether he was surprised by the level Safiullin brought, and he said that he wasn't.
Well, he didn't surprise me at all,...
Roman Safiullin might have been a Challenger player two years ago, but slowly, the Russian played himself into the Top 100, and he's proven this year that he definitely belongs there.
Posting a 41-24 record on the Atp Tour is no joke, which is why he's Top 50 as of now. He has a heavy game with powerful serves and really solid shots from both sides.
Indoor conditions suit his game pretty well, as he played indoors a lot over the years. He certainly brought the heat against Alcaraz in Paris, sensationally beating him in two sets . The Spaniard was asked whether he was surprised by the level Safiullin brought, and he said that he wasn't.
Well, he didn't surprise me at all,...
- 11/1/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz hasn't had a very good time at the Paris Masters traditionally, and he crashed out early in the most recent attempt as well.
Alcaraz crashed out early from the Atp 1000 event in his first going but did much better the next year. That was last year's edition, where he played somewhat well and made it to the quarter-final.
He faced Holger Rune but injured himself in the first set, having to retire from the match. It didn't look serious at the time, but he actually missed the Atp Finals and the Australian Open because of that injury, so despite some good matches, it still proved a bad outing overall for him.
This year wasn't any better, either. He arrived in Paris in seemingly unhealthy condition but opted to play, which wasn't a good idea.
He lost to Roman Safiullin, which was disappointing for him . He admitted after the...
Alcaraz crashed out early from the Atp 1000 event in his first going but did much better the next year. That was last year's edition, where he played somewhat well and made it to the quarter-final.
He faced Holger Rune but injured himself in the first set, having to retire from the match. It didn't look serious at the time, but he actually missed the Atp Finals and the Australian Open because of that injury, so despite some good matches, it still proved a bad outing overall for him.
This year wasn't any better, either. He arrived in Paris in seemingly unhealthy condition but opted to play, which wasn't a good idea.
He lost to Roman Safiullin, which was disappointing for him . He admitted after the...
- 11/1/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz was not fond of losing opening matches at an Atp tournament until he met the fearless Russian ball striker Roman Safiullin at the Paris Masters .
Alcaraz, playing his first match since a round of 16 exit at the Shanghai Masters over two weeks ago, was overpowered by Safiullin , who clearly took advantage of a subpar performance by the Spaniard to earn the biggest win of his life.
The result sets Safiullin on course to break the world's Top 40 for the first time, highlighting the immense work he's done over the last six months in which he reached a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon and his first Tour-level final in Chengdu .
The scoreline was a shock in many quarters, but not the man who pulled it off, who knew he had to raise his level to beat one of the world's best players. It was the first time Alcaraz...
Alcaraz, playing his first match since a round of 16 exit at the Shanghai Masters over two weeks ago, was overpowered by Safiullin , who clearly took advantage of a subpar performance by the Spaniard to earn the biggest win of his life.
The result sets Safiullin on course to break the world's Top 40 for the first time, highlighting the immense work he's done over the last six months in which he reached a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon and his first Tour-level final in Chengdu .
The scoreline was a shock in many quarters, but not the man who pulled it off, who knew he had to raise his level to beat one of the world's best players. It was the first time Alcaraz...
- 11/1/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz didn't play a good match in his 2023 Paris Masters opening match, and apparently, he didn't feel well either.
Alcaraz had high hopes for the Paris Masters because he wanted to do well at the event for once, but it didn't work out that way. He alluded to some physical issues before the event, though he used his typical narrative of it being common or normal.
Whatever the truth is, it certainly didn't help him in the match against Roman Safiullin because the Russian outplayed him . It was a close match, and Alcaraz held leads at times but never fully relaxed, which he confirmed after the match.
Per his own words, Alcaraz didn't feel all that well on the court, which makes sense because he didn't really look comfortable.
Not at all. I just didn't feel well, you know, on the court. A lot of things to improve, a lot of things to practice.
Alcaraz had high hopes for the Paris Masters because he wanted to do well at the event for once, but it didn't work out that way. He alluded to some physical issues before the event, though he used his typical narrative of it being common or normal.
Whatever the truth is, it certainly didn't help him in the match against Roman Safiullin because the Russian outplayed him . It was a close match, and Alcaraz held leads at times but never fully relaxed, which he confirmed after the match.
Per his own words, Alcaraz didn't feel all that well on the court, which makes sense because he didn't really look comfortable.
Not at all. I just didn't feel well, you know, on the court. A lot of things to improve, a lot of things to practice.
- 11/1/2023
- Tennis Infinity
For the third year in a row, Carlos Alcaraz struggled at the Paris Masters , and after the match, he spoke about the reason why it keeps happening.
Alcaraz doesn't have a good record at the Paris Masters, managing only one good outing last year. Unfortunately, that one was cut in the quarter-final due to an abdominal injury that left him unable to play for quite a long time.
This year's tournament saw him take on Roman Safiullin in the opening round of the Atp 1000 tournament, and he was beaten with a tremendous effort from the Russian.
After the match, Alcaraz pondered over the reasons for his struggles in Paris, highlighting the long and exhausting season as a possible cause of his bad level in Paris.
Well, I don't know. Probably the season has been so, so long. Probably that affect my game. But I don't know. I think this tournament has a lot of surprise.
Alcaraz doesn't have a good record at the Paris Masters, managing only one good outing last year. Unfortunately, that one was cut in the quarter-final due to an abdominal injury that left him unable to play for quite a long time.
This year's tournament saw him take on Roman Safiullin in the opening round of the Atp 1000 tournament, and he was beaten with a tremendous effort from the Russian.
After the match, Alcaraz pondered over the reasons for his struggles in Paris, highlighting the long and exhausting season as a possible cause of his bad level in Paris.
Well, I don't know. Probably the season has been so, so long. Probably that affect my game. But I don't know. I think this tournament has a lot of surprise.
- 11/1/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz 's Halloween was a real nightmare as the Spaniard fell to a shock straight sets loss in the second round of the Paris Masters .
Alcaraz was beaten by Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-4 , in what was his first loss in the first match of an Atp tournament this season. His early exit will have significant repercussions in the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Alcaraz was chasing Novak Djokovic for that accolade, arriving in Paris just 500 points behind . Alcaraz's best-case scenario was to try and truncate the Serbian's lead. And his worst-case scenario was to try and maintain that deficit.
But after Tuesday's costly defeat, he's staring at the possibility of the deficit growing into four digits at the end of the week. In fact, Djokovic could virtually seal the year-end No. 1 ranking by winning the title, here's why:
Why Carlos Alcaraz Is Unlikely To Finish Year-End No. 1:
Alcaraz's...
Alcaraz was beaten by Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-4 , in what was his first loss in the first match of an Atp tournament this season. His early exit will have significant repercussions in the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Alcaraz was chasing Novak Djokovic for that accolade, arriving in Paris just 500 points behind . Alcaraz's best-case scenario was to try and truncate the Serbian's lead. And his worst-case scenario was to try and maintain that deficit.
But after Tuesday's costly defeat, he's staring at the possibility of the deficit growing into four digits at the end of the week. In fact, Djokovic could virtually seal the year-end No. 1 ranking by winning the title, here's why:
Why Carlos Alcaraz Is Unlikely To Finish Year-End No. 1:
Alcaraz's...
- 11/1/2023
- Tennis Infinity
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz surprisingly lost in his first match at the 2023 Paris Masters , as an inspired Roman Safiullin from Russia bested him.
The Russian is a very talented player, and this year, he already managed to beat Alexander Zverev , but also the likes of Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov. Therefore, Alcaraz knew that he's not facing an easy opponent, and he quickly recognized that also in the match.
The 20-year-old is in a world no. 1 fight with his rival Novak Djokovic , and he often spoke about his motivation to overtake the Serbian. After a small break from competing, both returned to the tennis court on the same day, as Djokovic won in doubles earlier on the day .
However, the Spanish player didn't have a happy return to the tennis court. Early on, things went as planned, as Alcaraz broke his opponent's serve and led 2-1 in the opening set of the second-round match.
The Russian is a very talented player, and this year, he already managed to beat Alexander Zverev , but also the likes of Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov. Therefore, Alcaraz knew that he's not facing an easy opponent, and he quickly recognized that also in the match.
The 20-year-old is in a world no. 1 fight with his rival Novak Djokovic , and he often spoke about his motivation to overtake the Serbian. After a small break from competing, both returned to the tennis court on the same day, as Djokovic won in doubles earlier on the day .
However, the Spanish player didn't have a happy return to the tennis court. Early on, things went as planned, as Alcaraz broke his opponent's serve and led 2-1 in the opening set of the second-round match.
- 10/31/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz may not be the World No. 1 in the Atp rankings for now, but he is top of the leaderboard in the Olympics Race ahead of Novak Djokovic .
The Spaniard has earned 4,280 points since mid-June when the points for the Olympics qualification started to accrue. Alcaraz has earned the bulk of his points from winning his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, beating Djokovic in that epic final in London .
Djokovic, meanwhile, is not far off, having accumulated 4,210 points ahead of his second-round match at the Paris Masters. Considering that the Serbian star missed the entire Asian swing , which would have certainly allowed him to pick up enough points to lead this race, it is quite an achievement that he is still there or thereabouts in leading.
Djokovic will be 37 when the Olympics come around next summer, but he's made his intentions clear that he regards next year's Games...
The Spaniard has earned 4,280 points since mid-June when the points for the Olympics qualification started to accrue. Alcaraz has earned the bulk of his points from winning his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, beating Djokovic in that epic final in London .
Djokovic, meanwhile, is not far off, having accumulated 4,210 points ahead of his second-round match at the Paris Masters. Considering that the Serbian star missed the entire Asian swing , which would have certainly allowed him to pick up enough points to lead this race, it is quite an achievement that he is still there or thereabouts in leading.
Djokovic will be 37 when the Olympics come around next summer, but he's made his intentions clear that he regards next year's Games...
- 10/31/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The draw for the 2023 Vienna Open has been released, and this will mark the final stop of the Atp 500 events this season (running concurrently with the Swiss Indoors).
Apart from exploring historical sites and culinary delights, the 32-player singles field will compete for a generous prize money pool. The tournament will run from October 23 to 29 . The winner stands to gain €450,650 and 500 ranking points. On that note let us delve into the draw.
The top half of the draw contains the top seed Daniil Medvedev , fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas , sixth seed Tommy Paul, and Eighth seed Karen Khachanov . The defending champion Medvedev will open up against French teenager Arthur Fils .
Medvedev is projected to meet Karen Khachanov in the last eight, but the Zhuhai champion will need to beat in-form Roman Safiullin, and then one of J.J. Wolf or Jiri Lehecka. Medvedev, for his part, will await the winner of...
Apart from exploring historical sites and culinary delights, the 32-player singles field will compete for a generous prize money pool. The tournament will run from October 23 to 29 . The winner stands to gain €450,650 and 500 ranking points. On that note let us delve into the draw.
The top half of the draw contains the top seed Daniil Medvedev , fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas , sixth seed Tommy Paul, and Eighth seed Karen Khachanov . The defending champion Medvedev will open up against French teenager Arthur Fils .
Medvedev is projected to meet Karen Khachanov in the last eight, but the Zhuhai champion will need to beat in-form Roman Safiullin, and then one of J.J. Wolf or Jiri Lehecka. Medvedev, for his part, will await the winner of...
- 10/21/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Alexander Zverev surprisingly lost already in the first round of the 2023 Japan Open , losing to Australia's Jordan Thompson .
After the draw for the 2023 Japan Open came out, it was clear that fans at the Atp 500 tournament in Tokyo will get to see many interesting matches. And one of those was the first-round clash between Zverev and Thompson .
The two met only once before, and it was six years ago, but as expected, the German handled that match well, winning in three sets. But this time, the situation was vastly diferent.
Zverev lost in his last match in Beijing to Daniil Medvedev ; he then suffered a first-round loss in Shanghai to Roman Safiullin , and the 26-year-old was coming to Tokyo with four consecutive sets lost.
And Thompson certainly wanted to expose his opponent's weaknesses and vulnerability, and he managed to do that. Zverev had three break points in the opening game,...
After the draw for the 2023 Japan Open came out, it was clear that fans at the Atp 500 tournament in Tokyo will get to see many interesting matches. And one of those was the first-round clash between Zverev and Thompson .
The two met only once before, and it was six years ago, but as expected, the German handled that match well, winning in three sets. But this time, the situation was vastly diferent.
Zverev lost in his last match in Beijing to Daniil Medvedev ; he then suffered a first-round loss in Shanghai to Roman Safiullin , and the 26-year-old was coming to Tokyo with four consecutive sets lost.
And Thompson certainly wanted to expose his opponent's weaknesses and vulnerability, and he managed to do that. Zverev had three break points in the opening game,...
- 10/16/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The much-anticipated draw for the 2023 Stockholm Open has been released, with a slew of interesting matches on offer right from the first round.
The 28-player draw is led by Holger Rune , the reigning champion and the sole Top 10 player in the field. There is also a Grand Slam winner in the fold, with Wawrinka making a rare foray in Scandinavia - his first visit to Stockholm since 2011.
The three wild cards at the tournament have been awarded to home players including Leo Borg, son of 11-time major champion Bjorn Bjorg. The top four seeds at the tournament will each receive a bye in the first round. On that note, let us take an in-depth look at the draw.
Holger Rune's title defense will begin in the second round against one of Miomir Kecmanovic or home wild card Karl Friberg. After a hard-court summer to forget in North America, Rune will...
The 28-player draw is led by Holger Rune , the reigning champion and the sole Top 10 player in the field. There is also a Grand Slam winner in the fold, with Wawrinka making a rare foray in Scandinavia - his first visit to Stockholm since 2011.
The three wild cards at the tournament have been awarded to home players including Leo Borg, son of 11-time major champion Bjorn Bjorg. The top four seeds at the tournament will each receive a bye in the first round. On that note, let us take an in-depth look at the draw.
Holger Rune's title defense will begin in the second round against one of Miomir Kecmanovic or home wild card Karl Friberg. After a hard-court summer to forget in North America, Rune will...
- 10/14/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Andy Murray last played in Shanghai, and that will be it in Asia this year as the Brit withdrew from the 2023 Japan Open in Tokyo.
Andy Murray has had yet another up-and-down season as the British player found a really solid level at times but also disappointed more than once. It's simply the reality of his tennis career right now, as he's unable to play his best tennis regularly.
He'll do at times, but recently, he didn't have that much success . He only won one of his four matches played in East Asia. He's 32-17 on the year, which is a really good score, but it simply didn't work out in recent weeks.
Whether it's because of the fast conditions in Asia, which leave him vulnerable, or something else doesn't really matter that much. The conditions certainly don't help, as he lost to Aslan Karatsev, Alex de Minaur and Roman Safiullin,...
Andy Murray has had yet another up-and-down season as the British player found a really solid level at times but also disappointed more than once. It's simply the reality of his tennis career right now, as he's unable to play his best tennis regularly.
He'll do at times, but recently, he didn't have that much success . He only won one of his four matches played in East Asia. He's 32-17 on the year, which is a really good score, but it simply didn't work out in recent weeks.
Whether it's because of the fast conditions in Asia, which leave him vulnerable, or something else doesn't really matter that much. The conditions certainly don't help, as he lost to Aslan Karatsev, Alex de Minaur and Roman Safiullin,...
- 10/11/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Despite dealing with injury concerns on Sudnay, Ben Shelton returned to the courts at the 2023 Shanghai Masters on Monday for a doubles match and stole the show.
In many ways, Shelton was the player the crowd reacted to the most, which makes sense. He's been quite popular since his surprise US Open run and the viral phone celebration that he turned into a global phenomenon .
He is playing really well this week in Shanghai and will face Jannik Sinner in the singles on Tuesday. His last match saw him deal with injury concerns as he called for a medical timeout but finished it with a victory over Roman Safiullin .
We don't know what the issue was, but seemingly, it's not huge enough to prevent him from playing. Shelton returned to the courts for a doubles match with Hubert Hurkacz against Rinky Hijikata and Cameron Norrie.
He played well but, unfortunately,...
In many ways, Shelton was the player the crowd reacted to the most, which makes sense. He's been quite popular since his surprise US Open run and the viral phone celebration that he turned into a global phenomenon .
He is playing really well this week in Shanghai and will face Jannik Sinner in the singles on Tuesday. His last match saw him deal with injury concerns as he called for a medical timeout but finished it with a victory over Roman Safiullin .
We don't know what the issue was, but seemingly, it's not huge enough to prevent him from playing. Shelton returned to the courts for a doubles match with Hubert Hurkacz against Rinky Hijikata and Cameron Norrie.
He played well but, unfortunately,...
- 10/9/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Carlos Alcaraz will face Daniel Evans at the 2023 Shanghai Masters in a match that promises to be a very interesting one.
Alcaraz has been playing spectacular tennis since touching down in China, and yet it's yielded nothing more than a semi-final last week in Beijing. He simply ran into a very inspired Jannik Sinner, who played even better than him .
Dan Evans has been in China for a while, but he only got a win relatively recently. Chengdu was a loss to Roman Safiullin, a player who went to the final that week . Beijing was a loss to Jannik Sinner, the eventual champion, and now he's going to face Carlos Alcaraz after advancing past Mikhail Kukushkin.
If Alcaraz wins, does that mean he'll go to the final? We don't know, but we do know that he needs to beat Evans to get there.
Head-to-head:
So far, that hasn't been the problem for the Spaniard,...
Alcaraz has been playing spectacular tennis since touching down in China, and yet it's yielded nothing more than a semi-final last week in Beijing. He simply ran into a very inspired Jannik Sinner, who played even better than him .
Dan Evans has been in China for a while, but he only got a win relatively recently. Chengdu was a loss to Roman Safiullin, a player who went to the final that week . Beijing was a loss to Jannik Sinner, the eventual champion, and now he's going to face Carlos Alcaraz after advancing past Mikhail Kukushkin.
If Alcaraz wins, does that mean he'll go to the final? We don't know, but we do know that he needs to beat Evans to get there.
Head-to-head:
So far, that hasn't been the problem for the Spaniard,...
- 10/8/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Ben Shelton keeps on winning as the American turned around the match against Roman Safiullin to advance at the 2023 Shanghai Masters .
This was a highly complex matchup for the American, but he handled it about as well as he could, considering the circumstances. He seemed bothered by a physical issue that required a medical timeout, but he didn't give up and continued fighting.
He was down a set at that point, so turning that around and winning against an in-form player who just bested Alexander Zverev in the previous round is very impressive. Safiullin was the better player in the opening set, as he was far more stable.
Winning the set while serving poorly was a huge win for Safiullin, but Shelton greatly assisted with his erratic play. Shelton played far better in the second set battling bravely for much of it.
Eventually, it paid off as he broke his...
This was a highly complex matchup for the American, but he handled it about as well as he could, considering the circumstances. He seemed bothered by a physical issue that required a medical timeout, but he didn't give up and continued fighting.
He was down a set at that point, so turning that around and winning against an in-form player who just bested Alexander Zverev in the previous round is very impressive. Safiullin was the better player in the opening set, as he was far more stable.
Winning the set while serving poorly was a huge win for Safiullin, but Shelton greatly assisted with his erratic play. Shelton played far better in the second set battling bravely for much of it.
Eventually, it paid off as he broke his...
- 10/8/2023
- Tennis Infinity
After playing for two weeks in a row, Alexander Zverev paid the price for fatigue against Roman Safiullin at the 2023 Shanghai Masters .
Alexander Zverev opted to play a lot of tennis in Asia in an attempt to gather a lot of points for the Atp Finals in Turin. Winning the event in Chengdu was a good step towards that, and he actually bested Safiullin in the final there.
Fast forward to now, and the Russian had no problems besting Zverev in two sets as the German struggled with fatigue. He admitted before the event that he was feeling tired , but the Atp Finals is a huge motivation for him, so he's going to keep pushing.
This loss is not ideal for Zverev as we don't have many Atp 1000 events on the calendar so this was a good chance to earn some big points but he couldn't overcome his opponent. Safiullin...
Alexander Zverev opted to play a lot of tennis in Asia in an attempt to gather a lot of points for the Atp Finals in Turin. Winning the event in Chengdu was a good step towards that, and he actually bested Safiullin in the final there.
Fast forward to now, and the Russian had no problems besting Zverev in two sets as the German struggled with fatigue. He admitted before the event that he was feeling tired , but the Atp Finals is a huge motivation for him, so he's going to keep pushing.
This loss is not ideal for Zverev as we don't have many Atp 1000 events on the calendar so this was a good chance to earn some big points but he couldn't overcome his opponent. Safiullin...
- 10/6/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Alexander Zverev had some memorable moments at the Shanghai Masters , including a match against Roger Federer but the match is not remembered for Zverev but rather for Federer.
It was a very interesting match that Alexander Zverev almost won in two sets. The emphasis is on two sets because he didn't win it in two but rather in three sets. That, however, is not what people remember this match for as Federer miraculously saved multiple match points in the second set to win it even though he didn't win the match.
The sequence of Federer pulling out the second set is quite famous on social media, but Zverev has a few issues with it. Speaking ahead of the Shanghai Masters, the German remembered it and took issue with the video edited so that it seemed like Federer won that match.
Everybody remembers him saving whatever five, six match points in the second set.
It was a very interesting match that Alexander Zverev almost won in two sets. The emphasis is on two sets because he didn't win it in two but rather in three sets. That, however, is not what people remember this match for as Federer miraculously saved multiple match points in the second set to win it even though he didn't win the match.
The sequence of Federer pulling out the second set is quite famous on social media, but Zverev has a few issues with it. Speaking ahead of the Shanghai Masters, the German remembered it and took issue with the video edited so that it seemed like Federer won that match.
Everybody remembers him saving whatever five, six match points in the second set.
- 10/6/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Alexander Zverev is feeling the fatigue these days, but the German is battling it in hopes of securing a spot at the year-end Atp event in Turin.
Zvere has fond memories of Turin having won the Atp Finals since the event moved to the Italian city. He hopes to be there this year as well, and some of the most recent results have undoubtedly made it more likely to happen.
Zverev started the year poorly, earning the 10th win of the year only at the Monte-Carlo Masters in April. Six months later, Zverev is up to 50 wins now with two trophies, the second of which happened at the Chengdu Open recently .
He's managed a sensational turnaround and peaked at a level pretty close to what he used to play before getting injured. The goal is clear, to make it to Turin, and he's on pace to be there, though more work needs to be done.
Zvere has fond memories of Turin having won the Atp Finals since the event moved to the Italian city. He hopes to be there this year as well, and some of the most recent results have undoubtedly made it more likely to happen.
Zverev started the year poorly, earning the 10th win of the year only at the Monte-Carlo Masters in April. Six months later, Zverev is up to 50 wins now with two trophies, the second of which happened at the Chengdu Open recently .
He's managed a sensational turnaround and peaked at a level pretty close to what he used to play before getting injured. The goal is clear, to make it to Turin, and he's on pace to be there, though more work needs to be done.
- 10/5/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Alexander Zverev bested Roman Safiullin recently in Chengdu, and he'll face him again at the 2023 Shanghai Masters , so what will happen now?
There are a lot of things that could happen in this very interesting matchup. The courts in Shanghai play rather similarly to the ones in Chengdu, though you could argue that the conditions were even faster in the latter. That should help Safiullin greatly but what helps him also helps Zverev in a way.
That's why their most recent matchup was as close as it was. Zverev barely pulled out of the win , and I see something similar happen here. For starters, Safiullin already played a match in Shanghai and actually won easily against Andy Murray.
That should help him against Zverev, for whom this will be the first match in Shanghai in somewhat different conditions compared to Beijing last week.
Head-to-head:
Now, that most recent match is...
There are a lot of things that could happen in this very interesting matchup. The courts in Shanghai play rather similarly to the ones in Chengdu, though you could argue that the conditions were even faster in the latter. That should help Safiullin greatly but what helps him also helps Zverev in a way.
That's why their most recent matchup was as close as it was. Zverev barely pulled out of the win , and I see something similar happen here. For starters, Safiullin already played a match in Shanghai and actually won easily against Andy Murray.
That should help him against Zverev, for whom this will be the first match in Shanghai in somewhat different conditions compared to Beijing last week.
Head-to-head:
Now, that most recent match is...
- 10/5/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The 2023 Shanghai Masters is the penultimate Masters tournament on the Atp calendar, and the draw for this prestigious event has been released.
It is pertinent to note that the 2023 edition will have a midweek start because it will be a 12-day event featuring an expanded draw size of up to 96 players in the singles field. That means all the top 32 seeds will have a bye in the first round.
A lot has happened since its last staging in 2019. Two of its former champions who competed that year miss out. Roger Federer officially retired from the sport in 2022, while the most decorated champion in the event's history Novak Djokovic chose to rest during the Asian swing.
The tournament's defending champion is Daniil Medvedev who leads the bottom half of this year's draw. He'll start his title defense in the second-round stage against one of Cristian Garin or a qualifier. A third-round...
It is pertinent to note that the 2023 edition will have a midweek start because it will be a 12-day event featuring an expanded draw size of up to 96 players in the singles field. That means all the top 32 seeds will have a bye in the first round.
A lot has happened since its last staging in 2019. Two of its former champions who competed that year miss out. Roger Federer officially retired from the sport in 2022, while the most decorated champion in the event's history Novak Djokovic chose to rest during the Asian swing.
The tournament's defending champion is Daniil Medvedev who leads the bottom half of this year's draw. He'll start his title defense in the second-round stage against one of Cristian Garin or a qualifier. A third-round...
- 10/2/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Novak Djokovic will maintain the same gap of 3,260 points over closest rival Carlos Alcaraz as the Atp Tour oscillates to Asia.
The Serbian man will not play this year's Asia swing , announcing on social media he was withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters which begins next week. Djokovic on 11,795 points won't be able to extend his lead. Alcaraz who will play in Beijing and Shanghai has the chance to cut that gap by half .
There was no movement in the world's Top 10, but Germany's Alexander Zverev added 250 ranking points after bagging his second title of the season in Chengdu. Zverev came back from the brink to defeat Roman Safiullin , and boost his hopes of appearing at the Atp Finals, moving in seventh spot in that column.
Karen Khachanov became an Atp titlist for the first time since 2018 after winning the Atp 250 in Zhuhai. The Russian moves up a spot to 14th in the Atp ladder,...
The Serbian man will not play this year's Asia swing , announcing on social media he was withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters which begins next week. Djokovic on 11,795 points won't be able to extend his lead. Alcaraz who will play in Beijing and Shanghai has the chance to cut that gap by half .
There was no movement in the world's Top 10, but Germany's Alexander Zverev added 250 ranking points after bagging his second title of the season in Chengdu. Zverev came back from the brink to defeat Roman Safiullin , and boost his hopes of appearing at the Atp Finals, moving in seventh spot in that column.
Karen Khachanov became an Atp titlist for the first time since 2018 after winning the Atp 250 in Zhuhai. The Russian moves up a spot to 14th in the Atp ladder,...
- 9/27/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Alexander Zverev has another trophy in his cabinet after surviving a really close match against Roman Safiullin at the 2023 Chengdu Open .
Zverev won his first trophy this year at the Hamburg Open , and he's now up to two Atp titles in 2023. The German put together an amazing week in Chengdu using the rather fast conditions to his favour and the same thing happened in the final.
Roman Safiullin benefitted from the same conditions because his style of play is quite similar. He, too, has an incredible serve and loves to play attacking from the baseline, which gave Zverev quite some trouble in this one.
Neither player found a breakthrough in the opening set, even though Zverev had several set points. He missed out on that and then dropped the opening set in the tiebreak, which was annoying, mainly cause he played really well. The problem was that he didn't in the most crucial moments,...
Zverev won his first trophy this year at the Hamburg Open , and he's now up to two Atp titles in 2023. The German put together an amazing week in Chengdu using the rather fast conditions to his favour and the same thing happened in the final.
Roman Safiullin benefitted from the same conditions because his style of play is quite similar. He, too, has an incredible serve and loves to play attacking from the baseline, which gave Zverev quite some trouble in this one.
Neither player found a breakthrough in the opening set, even though Zverev had several set points. He missed out on that and then dropped the opening set in the tiebreak, which was annoying, mainly cause he played really well. The problem was that he didn't in the most crucial moments,...
- 9/26/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Alexander Zverev has a chance to boost his Atp Finals chances by quite a bit, but he needs to defeat Roman Safiullin in the Chengdu Open final to do that.
Zverev has been playing fairly solid tennis since touching down in China, winning a couple of matches comfortably. His toughest challenge came against Grigor Dimitrov, but he passed it with flying colours , earning a chance to play a very tricky player in the Atp 250 final.
Safiullin is not a player who you'd expect in finals, but he's been working hard in the past two years, and his improvement is noticeable. Playing on a court that matches his strengths with the serve and forehand certainly helps.
It's an interesting matchup on paper, one Zverev should win comfortably given the talent disparity however, if he will get his second trophy of the year after winning in Hamburg remains to be seen. Let's see what might happen.
Zverev has been playing fairly solid tennis since touching down in China, winning a couple of matches comfortably. His toughest challenge came against Grigor Dimitrov, but he passed it with flying colours , earning a chance to play a very tricky player in the Atp 250 final.
Safiullin is not a player who you'd expect in finals, but he's been working hard in the past two years, and his improvement is noticeable. Playing on a court that matches his strengths with the serve and forehand certainly helps.
It's an interesting matchup on paper, one Zverev should win comfortably given the talent disparity however, if he will get his second trophy of the year after winning in Hamburg remains to be seen. Let's see what might happen.
- 9/25/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The Atp Tour makes its first pitstop in China in almost four years with the Chengdu Open , one of four tournaments taking centre stage in the autumnal Asia swing.
28 singles players will vie to lift one of the most lucrative Atp 250s on the calendar, led by Top-10 player Alexander Zverev who is making his first trip to the touristic Chinese city of Chengdu.
There are a handful of perennial hard-court specialists in the draw , and the outright tournament favorite could have his work cut out especially if he is not operating at 100% after picking up a muscle injury in his US Open defeat to Carlos Alcaraz .
The top four seeds at the tournament have a bye in the first round. So Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti , Grigor Dimitrov , and Daniel Evans will learn the identity of their opponents after the first round of action is concluded.
In Zverev's case, he'll...
28 singles players will vie to lift one of the most lucrative Atp 250s on the calendar, led by Top-10 player Alexander Zverev who is making his first trip to the touristic Chinese city of Chengdu.
There are a handful of perennial hard-court specialists in the draw , and the outright tournament favorite could have his work cut out especially if he is not operating at 100% after picking up a muscle injury in his US Open defeat to Carlos Alcaraz .
The top four seeds at the tournament have a bye in the first round. So Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti , Grigor Dimitrov , and Daniel Evans will learn the identity of their opponents after the first round of action is concluded.
In Zverev's case, he'll...
- 9/18/2023
- Tennis Infinity
An all-American clash awaits us in the fourth round of the 2023 US Open , and it's going to be a great one, though not the first time we see it.
Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton play prototypical American tennis with good serves and really attacking baseline play. What separates them from the rest of the US players is the power that they bring, as both hit it really hard, quite possibly too hard.
Both have done really well so far, as Paul downed Stefano Travaglia in four, Roman Safiullin in five, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four. Shelton wasn't any worse, beating Pedro Cachin in four, advancing past Dominic Thiem after he retired , and then beating Aslan Karatsev in four sets .
The quarter-final final of the home slam is at stake, so expect a lot of fire from both players. Coincidentally, we saw something like that play out already this year.
Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton play prototypical American tennis with good serves and really attacking baseline play. What separates them from the rest of the US players is the power that they bring, as both hit it really hard, quite possibly too hard.
Both have done really well so far, as Paul downed Stefano Travaglia in four, Roman Safiullin in five, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four. Shelton wasn't any worse, beating Pedro Cachin in four, advancing past Dominic Thiem after he retired , and then beating Aslan Karatsev in four sets .
The quarter-final final of the home slam is at stake, so expect a lot of fire from both players. Coincidentally, we saw something like that play out already this year.
- 9/2/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Tennis returns to China and the 2023 Chengdu Open is one of the Atp 250 events, and the entry list suggests players are happy to come back.
Held from September 20th to 26th, the 2023 Chengdu Open will be played without the defending champion. Pablo Carreno Busta dropped out of the Top 100 as the Spaniard is struggling with injuries, making him unable to compete on the Atp Tour.
And with the absence of the previous three champions from the entry list, Bernard Tomic, Denis Istomin, and Karen Khachanov, it's clear that there will be a new champion crowned at the 2023 Chengdu Open, and the player's field fighting for the crown is really interesting.
Alexander Zverev has recently returned to his top form , and the German will want to prove that his previous results were not a fluke, and he'll get a chance to do that in Chengdu. Followed by the likes of Lorenzo Musetti...
Held from September 20th to 26th, the 2023 Chengdu Open will be played without the defending champion. Pablo Carreno Busta dropped out of the Top 100 as the Spaniard is struggling with injuries, making him unable to compete on the Atp Tour.
And with the absence of the previous three champions from the entry list, Bernard Tomic, Denis Istomin, and Karen Khachanov, it's clear that there will be a new champion crowned at the 2023 Chengdu Open, and the player's field fighting for the crown is really interesting.
Alexander Zverev has recently returned to his top form , and the German will want to prove that his previous results were not a fluke, and he'll get a chance to do that in Chengdu. Followed by the likes of Lorenzo Musetti...
- 8/22/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The 2023 Winston-Salem Open is a very unique Atp 250 tournament, and the draw just reflects the uniqueness of the competition.
It's not every day that players can compete in a 48-player draw at an Atp 250 tournament, but the Winston-Salem Open, which is the last tournament before the 2023 US Open , makes it possible as players fine-tune their form.
One of those players is the top seed Borna Coric . The Croatian won the Cincinnati Masters last year, but he lost early this year, and he will drop out of the Top 20 in the Atp Rankings as a result of not defending the title.
Coric hasn't been enjoying the best period, as he also deleted his Instagram account to probably avoid negative comments , but he will get a chance to get back on track in Winston-Salem. As the top 16 seeded players have a bye, he's also one of them, starting against either a qualifier...
It's not every day that players can compete in a 48-player draw at an Atp 250 tournament, but the Winston-Salem Open, which is the last tournament before the 2023 US Open , makes it possible as players fine-tune their form.
One of those players is the top seed Borna Coric . The Croatian won the Cincinnati Masters last year, but he lost early this year, and he will drop out of the Top 20 in the Atp Rankings as a result of not defending the title.
Coric hasn't been enjoying the best period, as he also deleted his Instagram account to probably avoid negative comments , but he will get a chance to get back on track in Winston-Salem. As the top 16 seeded players have a bye, he's also one of them, starting against either a qualifier...
- 8/19/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The 2023 Cincinnati Masters , held from August 13th to 20th, is here, and so is the draw for the Atp 1000 tournament.
After the Atp Masters 1000 event held in Canada, players traditionally move to Cincinnati to complete the doubleheader. The tournament is also called the Western & Southern Open, and last year, it was sensationally won by Borna Coric .
And while the Croat managed to stun everybody in 2022, this year, the focus will once again shift to the big names. The top seed at the tournament is none other than Carlos Alcaraz , who will want to translate his form from the Canadian Open also to Cincinnati.
As with all the top-eight-seeded players, the Spaniard has a bye in the first round, and in the second round of the competition, he'll start against one of the qualifiers, or John Isner , who received a wild card for the tournament.
And even though the 20-year-old is...
After the Atp Masters 1000 event held in Canada, players traditionally move to Cincinnati to complete the doubleheader. The tournament is also called the Western & Southern Open, and last year, it was sensationally won by Borna Coric .
And while the Croat managed to stun everybody in 2022, this year, the focus will once again shift to the big names. The top seed at the tournament is none other than Carlos Alcaraz , who will want to translate his form from the Canadian Open also to Cincinnati.
As with all the top-eight-seeded players, the Spaniard has a bye in the first round, and in the second round of the competition, he'll start against one of the qualifiers, or John Isner , who received a wild card for the tournament.
And even though the 20-year-old is...
- 8/11/2023
- Tennis Infinity
The 2023 Winston-Salem Open runs from August 20th to 26th and the entry list for the Atp 250 event promises a lot of thrilling action.
Thanks to being placed right ahead of the US Open in the calendar, the Winston-Salem Open usually attracts many tennis players and fans alike, because it's time of the season when players still want to fine-tune their game ahead of the last major of the season.
Last year, Adrian Mannarino won the title in Winston-Salem, and the Frenchman will be back to defend it in 2023. But the competition will be fierce, led by Borna Coric , who won the Cincinnati Masters last year , and he'll want to make sure to keep some of those points to his name in case he fails to defend his title at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters .
Also a couple of experienced Spaniards will play at the 2023 Winston-Salem Open as Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut...
Thanks to being placed right ahead of the US Open in the calendar, the Winston-Salem Open usually attracts many tennis players and fans alike, because it's time of the season when players still want to fine-tune their game ahead of the last major of the season.
Last year, Adrian Mannarino won the title in Winston-Salem, and the Frenchman will be back to defend it in 2023. But the competition will be fierce, led by Borna Coric , who won the Cincinnati Masters last year , and he'll want to make sure to keep some of those points to his name in case he fails to defend his title at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters .
Also a couple of experienced Spaniards will play at the 2023 Winston-Salem Open as Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut...
- 7/28/2023
- Tennis Infinity
London, July 17 (Ians) Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz retained the world No.1 position in the latest Atp rankings released on Monday after beating Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon and second Grand Slam singles title.
At only 20 years old, Alcaraz has already held World No.1 for longer than 12 other former World No.1s including Mats Wilander (20 weeks), Daniil Medvedev (16), Andy Roddick (13), Boris Becker (12) and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero (8).
Alcaraz leads second-placed Djokovic by 880 points in the Atp Rankings, setting the stage for a big showdown for the Atp Year-End No. 1 ranking.
Last year, Alcaraz became the youngest player to earn the year-end No.1 honour. Djokovic owns the record for most year-end No.1 finishes with seven, most recently accomplishing the feat in 2021.
There was no change in this week’s top 10. Alcaraz and Djokovic are followed by Russian Daniil Medvedev at No.3, Norway’s Casper Ruud at No.4, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas at No.
At only 20 years old, Alcaraz has already held World No.1 for longer than 12 other former World No.1s including Mats Wilander (20 weeks), Daniil Medvedev (16), Andy Roddick (13), Boris Becker (12) and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero (8).
Alcaraz leads second-placed Djokovic by 880 points in the Atp Rankings, setting the stage for a big showdown for the Atp Year-End No. 1 ranking.
Last year, Alcaraz became the youngest player to earn the year-end No.1 honour. Djokovic owns the record for most year-end No.1 finishes with seven, most recently accomplishing the feat in 2021.
There was no change in this week’s top 10. Alcaraz and Djokovic are followed by Russian Daniil Medvedev at No.3, Norway’s Casper Ruud at No.4, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas at No.
- 7/17/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Jannik Sinner will take on Novak Djokovic for a spot in the Wimbledon final and he expects to do better than last year.
Sinner has been playing some really solid tennis at this year's Wimbledon, but it must be said that his draw has been the easiest out of all semifinalists. Most of the seeds in his part of the draw crashed out relatively early leaving him to play Roman Safiullin in the quarter-finals .
The Russian is a solid player but was one of the easier opponents in the draw at that point in the event. Last year's run was a bit more impressive from Sinner as he took down Carlos Alcaraz among others, and put a lot of pressure on Novak Djokovic. He did lose in the end, but speaking to Eurosport ahead of their rematch, Sinner expressed confidence.
I am going to watch [last year’s quarter-final], knowing that it is going...
Sinner has been playing some really solid tennis at this year's Wimbledon, but it must be said that his draw has been the easiest out of all semifinalists. Most of the seeds in his part of the draw crashed out relatively early leaving him to play Roman Safiullin in the quarter-finals .
The Russian is a solid player but was one of the easier opponents in the draw at that point in the event. Last year's run was a bit more impressive from Sinner as he took down Carlos Alcaraz among others, and put a lot of pressure on Novak Djokovic. He did lose in the end, but speaking to Eurosport ahead of their rematch, Sinner expressed confidence.
I am going to watch [last year’s quarter-final], knowing that it is going...
- 7/14/2023
- Tennis Infinity
London, July 12 (Ians) Novak Djokovic stayed on track for a record 24th Grand Slam title, rallying from one set down to overcome Andrey Rublev of Russia 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday to reach the Wimbledon semifinals.
The Serbian will play Italy’s eighth seed Jannik Sinner for a place in the final. Sinner booked his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance by beating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, reports Xinhua.
However, Djokovic will play his 46th major semifinal, equalling Roger Federer’s men’s singles record.
25-year-old Rublev was playing in his eighth major quarterfinal, but remains in search of his maiden Slam semifinal. No man has contested as many Grand Slam quarterfinals without a win in the Open Era. Rublev was also beaten by Djokovic this year in the Australian Open quarters, with the 36-year-old going on to win the title.
“He was the best I...
The Serbian will play Italy’s eighth seed Jannik Sinner for a place in the final. Sinner booked his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance by beating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, reports Xinhua.
However, Djokovic will play his 46th major semifinal, equalling Roger Federer’s men’s singles record.
25-year-old Rublev was playing in his eighth major quarterfinal, but remains in search of his maiden Slam semifinal. No man has contested as many Grand Slam quarterfinals without a win in the Open Era. Rublev was also beaten by Djokovic this year in the Australian Open quarters, with the 36-year-old going on to win the title.
“He was the best I...
- 7/12/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The terrible season of Denis Shapovalov is continuing as the Canadian withdrew from the Swiss Open where he was set to play.
It's not been a very good year for Denis Shapovalov who has been battling confidence issues and injuries for much of it. He finally found some solid tennis at Wimbledon but unfortunately, his run ended against Roman Safiullin who was able to overcome a slow start in that match and win it in four sets.
The match itself was a bit odd as Shapovalov won the opening set but then completely faltered as the match went on. The progression of it made much more sense when you hear what he had to say after the match and the injury he has.
The Canadian explained the odd nature of his injury. It's not an injury that really prevents him from actively playing but rather gives him a lot of...
It's not been a very good year for Denis Shapovalov who has been battling confidence issues and injuries for much of it. He finally found some solid tennis at Wimbledon but unfortunately, his run ended against Roman Safiullin who was able to overcome a slow start in that match and win it in four sets.
The match itself was a bit odd as Shapovalov won the opening set but then completely faltered as the match went on. The progression of it made much more sense when you hear what he had to say after the match and the injury he has.
The Canadian explained the odd nature of his injury. It's not an injury that really prevents him from actively playing but rather gives him a lot of...
- 7/11/2023
- Tennis Infinity
Novak Djokovic arrived at Wimbledon with a chance to equal some records and he did just that with his quarter-final win.
Djokovic has been playing pretty solid tennis at this year's Wimbledon, even though he's not as dominant as he was in the past. We saw a similar thing at Roland Garros and he still won the event so it's hardly something to be worried about if you're a fan.
He lost a set against Hurkacz in the 4th round and he did so again against Rublev in the quarter-final . The win sent the Serbian into another Grand Slam semi-final and that's the record he equalled.
Before this event, Roger Federer had the most Grand Slam semi-finals so far with 46. Djokovic was at 45 before Wimbledon but with this one, the Serbian has now the same amount as the retired Atp legend Federer.
It's quite clear that he'll overtake the Swiss...
Djokovic has been playing pretty solid tennis at this year's Wimbledon, even though he's not as dominant as he was in the past. We saw a similar thing at Roland Garros and he still won the event so it's hardly something to be worried about if you're a fan.
He lost a set against Hurkacz in the 4th round and he did so again against Rublev in the quarter-final . The win sent the Serbian into another Grand Slam semi-final and that's the record he equalled.
Before this event, Roger Federer had the most Grand Slam semi-finals so far with 46. Djokovic was at 45 before Wimbledon but with this one, the Serbian has now the same amount as the retired Atp legend Federer.
It's quite clear that he'll overtake the Swiss...
- 7/11/2023
- Tennis Infinity
For a second match in a row, Novak Djokovic had to overcome a tough challenge at Wimbledon as he defeated Atp number five Andrey Rublev in four sets.
Andrey Rublev has been having a very good Wimbledon campaign after missing out on the event last year and he certainly played well against Djokovic. Showing his tremendous talent with a shot-of-the-year contender in the last match, Rublev continued playing his aggressive style taking the first set from Djokovic 6-4.
You could argue that he wasn't that much better than the Serbian in that set but he won the crucial rallies and that's what he needed to do to beat Djokovic. Rublev saved all three break points he allowed while converting the only Djokovic allowed on his serve and that was enough.
The outcome was vastly different in the next set as Djokovic played one of the best sets of the tournament winning it in only 29 minutes.
Andrey Rublev has been having a very good Wimbledon campaign after missing out on the event last year and he certainly played well against Djokovic. Showing his tremendous talent with a shot-of-the-year contender in the last match, Rublev continued playing his aggressive style taking the first set from Djokovic 6-4.
You could argue that he wasn't that much better than the Serbian in that set but he won the crucial rallies and that's what he needed to do to beat Djokovic. Rublev saved all three break points he allowed while converting the only Djokovic allowed on his serve and that was enough.
The outcome was vastly different in the next set as Djokovic played one of the best sets of the tournament winning it in only 29 minutes.
- 7/11/2023
- Tennis Infinity
London, July 11 (Ians) Italy’s Jannik Sinner stormed into his maiden semifinals at the Wimbledon here by beating unseeded Roman Safiullin in four sets in a quarterfinal clash.
The Italian eighth seed survived a fright when he lost the second set before fighting back to win the next two sets, emerging a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory in two hours and 14 minutes at No.1 Court.
The 21-year-old Sinner thus became the third Italian man to reach the last four at Wimbledon, joining Nicola Pietrangeli (1960) and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini.
In a clash that witnessed some heavy hitting, Sinner broke Safiullin’s serve six times to improve to 2-0 in his head-to-head series with Safiullin, who was making his debut at Wimbledon and produced an array of attacking shots to become the lowest-ranked man to advance to the quarterfinals since then-World No. 144 Nick Kyrgios in 2014.
Sinner, the World No.8 is 37-10 in...
The Italian eighth seed survived a fright when he lost the second set before fighting back to win the next two sets, emerging a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory in two hours and 14 minutes at No.1 Court.
The 21-year-old Sinner thus became the third Italian man to reach the last four at Wimbledon, joining Nicola Pietrangeli (1960) and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini.
In a clash that witnessed some heavy hitting, Sinner broke Safiullin’s serve six times to improve to 2-0 in his head-to-head series with Safiullin, who was making his debut at Wimbledon and produced an array of attacking shots to become the lowest-ranked man to advance to the quarterfinals since then-World No. 144 Nick Kyrgios in 2014.
Sinner, the World No.8 is 37-10 in...
- 7/11/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
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