Julian Knowle and Philipp Petzschner were warriors all week at the SkiStar Swedish Open and the Austrian-German tandem were rewarded with their first team title on Sunday. Knowle and Petzschner defeated Dutch duo Sander Arends and Matwe Middelkoop 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 on Centre Court in Bastad, notching their fourth straight victory in a Match Tie-break. They prevailed after 70 minutes, converting three of 14 break chances. Competing as a team for the first time, the unseeded titlists split €26,110 in prize money and 250 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points. Both ended lengthy ATP World Tour title droughts, notching their first trophies since 2014. "It was an amazing week," said Petzschner. "Coming in, Julian had won in Braunschweig and we just...
Victory never tasted so sweet for David Ferrer. Two years removed from his most recent ATP World Tour title, the Spaniard lifted a trophy once again, prevailing at the SkiStar Swedish Open on Sunday. Elated and emotional, Ferrer raised his arms in triumph and held back tears as the 35 year old needed one hour and 26 minutes - and seven match points - to dismiss Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-4. He fired three aces and saved four of five break points faced, turning in a vintage Ferrer performance predicated on great agility and depth off his forehand. It was Ferrer's 27th ATP World Tour title, the most in the Open Era without winning a Grand Slam, and first since emerging...
Rajeev Ram discusses moving on from singles to focus on his flourishing doubles career after playing his last singles match in Newport. Photo: Ben Solomon
We chat with Andy Roddick, newly inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, on life after tennis and what he has done with all of his trophies. Photo: Ben Solomon
Little by little, Rajeev Ram could feel the end coming. Last year the 33 year old played both singles and doubles at tournaments, but in practices, he couldn't push himself as much as he would have liked. Little injuries popped up here and there, and he had so much success in doubles with Raven Klaasen, including a run to the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals title match, that Ram started playing singles less and less. “I had a great year last year in singles even and in doubles. But I could just feel the wear and tear starting to take its toll,” said Ram, who reached the Delray Beach Open singles final and won two doubles titles last year. Ram wants...