Rafael Nadal has a tough task if he is to lift an incredible 10th trophy at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, following the 2017 draw ceremony at the Jardin Exotique on Friday. The Spanish star, who is vying to capture a record 50th clay-court career crown, has been drawn in the same half as two-time former titlist Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov. Nadal, who will meet Daniel Evans or Kyle Edmund in the second round, could face No. 14 seed Alexander Zverev in the third round, prior to a quarter-final against No. 8 seed Dimitrov. Nadal overcame Zverev in five sets in the Australian Open third round in January, while he has an 8-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against...
Miomir Kecmanovic continues to break new ground in 2017. The Junior World No. 1 is currently embarking on his professional career, hoping to follow in the footsteps of countryman Novak Djokovic. A host of recent juniors, the likes of #NextGenATP players Denis Shapovalov, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas to name a few, are enjoying recent success on the ATP Challenger Tour. Kecmanovic is certainly on the right track to join the group and break into the Top 200 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. This week in Mexico at the San Luis Open, the 17 year old is truly making strides. A 6-2, 7-5 victory over #NextGenATP player Stefan Kozlov, in a rain interrupted contest, was backed up by a fighting...
Cast your mind back to Mexico in 1980. Most players were still plying their trade with wooden racquets when the inaugural edition of the longest-running ATP Challenger Tour event, the San Luis Open, took place at the historic Club Deportivo Potosino, one of the most renowned sports clubs in the country. This week, the clay-court event, one of seven Challengers to debut in the 1980s that's still in existence today, is celebrating its 31st edition. “I think it’s so special because it’s the oldest tournament on the Challenger Tour. Great players have come here, we’ve had a former World No. 1 play here (Marcelo Rios played his last competitive match here in 2004) and we get top junior players,” said...
Borna Coric ousted second seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas to reach the semi-finals of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Friday. The 20-year-old #NextGenATP player from Croatia came back from a set down to advance with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in two hours and 30 minutes. Coric, who last reached an ATP World Tour semi-final at this tournament a year ago, next faces Jiri Vesely, whom he leads 2-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. The two players are both past winners of the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates award, with Vesely holding the distinction in 2013 and Coric the following year. In his quarter-final, the 23-year-old Vesely fired nine aces and saved three of the four break...