Ahead of one of the most eagerly awaited returns to the ATP World Tour for 2017, Juan Martin del Potro has released behind-the-scenes footage of his preparations back home in Argentina. The former World No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings announced earlier in the week he would start his season at the Delray Beach Open, the site of his tour comeback last season.
This week, he hit the courts with Gael Monfils and #NextGenATP player Elias Ymer at Crandon Park in Miami to practise for his season-opening campaign. His video footage from Tandil and Buenos Aires was filmed with his physiotherapist Diego Rodriguez before he shifted his preparations to the U.S.
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Former finalist John Isner had to dig deep to overcome #NextGenATP player Yoshihito Nishioka to get his Memphis Open campaign off to a winning start on Wednesday. The second-seeded American ground out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against the 21-year-old lefty to land a quarter-final match against his countryman Donald Young. “So tough, I knew it would be,” Isner said. “Getting a bye is a bit of a double-edged sword – you’re playing someone who’s already played a match, feeling confident. “Whereas myself, I didn’t quite have that coming into this match. The main thing is I held my composure pretty good and got an early break in the second and was able to ride that out. The third set...
During a meeting between the two masters of their sports, Vince Carter waited until the end to share his words of advice with Ivo Karlovic on Wednesday evening. Carter, who at 40 is the oldest player in the NBA, met Karlovic before the New Orleans Pelicans took on the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. The two professional athletes exchanged pleasantries and traded equipment on the court: Carter gave Karlovic a pair of autographed shoes, size 16.5; Karlovic gave Carter an autographed Head Radical racquet. Carter was excited by the new stick. He told Karlovic that his tennis-playing daughter will love it. Then Carter delivered the two words of wisdom that Karlovic has surely heard by now: “Stay young,” Carter...
Top seed Kei Nishikori survived an inspired challenge from home favourite Diego Schwartzman to win in his first outing at the Argentina Open in five years on Wednesday. The Japanese World No. 5 in the Emirates ATP Rankings fought back to claim a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 result to advance to the quarter-finals. Nishikori had won the Memphis Open title as top seed for the past three years but elected to change up his schedule to play in South American in 2017. Looking to transfer that good fortune as top seed to the clay in Buenos Aires, however, Nishikori found his run under serious pressure early on when his Argentine opponent, ranked No. 50 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, broke to...
Darian King thought he should pay more respect to “The King” while visiting Graceland on Wednesday. The 24 year old, who has made Barbados tennis history at the Memphis Open, was visiting Elvis Presley's former residence and was asked how much he knew about the musical legend. “Growing up and hearing about Elvis, sorry Mr. Presley, because obviously I can't address him like that, he's a big deal,” King said. “He's down in the books as a great one. I'm really happy to actually be here, around his surroundings, around his homeland.” King toured Presley's south Memphis estate, checking out the green carpet on the ceiling in the jungle room, where Presley recorded “Moody Blue”. He walked through “Lisa Marie”,...
