Next Gen ATP star Thanasi Kokkinakis made a dream return to the ATP World Tour when he teamed with fellow Australian Jordan Thompson to win the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp title Sunday. The players, who ironically will play against each other in the first round of next week's Apia International Sydney, both claimed their first tour-level doubles title with a 7-6(7), 6-4 win over first-time team Gilles Muller and Sam Querrey. Kokkinakis, who did not play a match on the ATP World Tour last year after undergoing December 2015 shoulder surgery, said: “It's pretty crazy. I haven't experienced that for a while. To be honest, I haven't experienced a competitive match for a while. To go on a run...
Revenge was sweet for Novak Djokovic on Saturday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Just six weeks removed from relinquishing the year-end No. 1 throne and ATP Finals title to Andy Murray, the Serbian notched a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in the Doha final. Djokovic successfully defended his title in the Qatari capital, improving to an impressive 20-0 against his rival when winning the first set. After watching Murray wrestle away the top spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings, the World No. 2 was eager to make an early statement to open 2017. "Best scenario I could ask for at the beginning of the season," said Djokovic. "Playing all five matches in this tournament and then three hours against the No....
Andy Murray's remarkable 28-match win streak ended on Saturday when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final. But the Scot said he's still feeling positive about his start to the 2017 ATP World Tour season. “Obviously disappointed not to win tonight, but I played pretty good the last couple of the matches. I think physically it was a good test to start the year, and I did good there,” Murray said. “My body feels all right just now, so that's positive.” Murray hadn't dropped a set until facing Djokovic in the final. The Scot had rolled through Jeremy Chardy, Gerald Melzer, Nicolas Almagro and third seed Tomas Berdych to extend his match-win streak to 28. The...
Daniil Medvedev advanced to his first ATP World Tour final in dramatic fashion on Saturday, saving one match point to defeat Dudi Sela 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 at the Aircel Chennai Open. The Russian #NextGenATP star will face Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut for the title. The 20-year-old Medvedev, No. 99 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, stormed back from an early deficit and would break Sela serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. The Israeli held match point at 40/30, but Medvedev would reel off three straight points to break back. He would eventually force a decider and it was smooth sailing from there. Medvedev, who reached a pair of ATP Challenger Tour finals last year, claiming his maiden...
Novak Djokovic has taken the first battle of the 2017 ATP World Tour season against Andy Murray, beating the Scot 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to defend his Qatar ExxonMobil Open title and exact revenge on the World No. 1. In an electrifying final, the Serbian captured his first title since July (Rogers Cup) and showed some of the fiery tennis that helped him dominate the first half of 2016. The 29 year old frequently encouraged the crowd to back him, lifting his arms and pumping his fist while staring into the stands. “Best scenario I could ask for at the beginning of the season. Playing all five matches in this tournament and then three hours against No. 1 of the world,...