Third seed Grigor Dimitrov made a strong start to his 2018 Australian Open campaign, dismissing Austrian qualifier Dennis Novak 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 on Monday at Melbourne Park. The Bulgarian finished 2017 by winning the biggest title of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals in London, where he beat David Goffin. After another strong effort at the ATP Training Camp in Monte-Carlo in December, Dimitrov opened his 2018 season with a semi-final showing in Brisbane, and is now looking to win his first Grand Slam championship. He reached the semi-finals in Melbourne last year, losing a heart-breaking five-set contest against Rafael Nadal. "It's still early in the tournament," said Dimitrov. "I just had to come out and just play my...
It did not take long for a classic to unfold at the 2018 Australian Open. And if the rest of the fortnight lives up to how it has begun, fans around the world are in for a treat. World No. 49 Kyle Edmund recovered from a 0-2 deficit in the fifth set to spring an early upset against the No. 11 seed Kevin Anderson, withstanding 35 aces in his 6-7(4), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory that lasted three hours, 59 minutes. "It was a really good result for me," said Edmund. "[There are] so many positive reasons - just getting through a tough match like that [against] a quality player... Just the overall thought [is a] personal satisfaction, the hours...
Roger Federer was, somewhat unbelievably, an underdog entering the 2017 Australian Open — seeded 17th after missing six months due to injury. But the Swiss did the seemingly impossible, shocking himself and the world by ousting four Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings to claim his first major trophy since 2012 Wimbledon. He trailed Kei Nishikori 0-5 in the first set of their Round of 16 encounter before winning in five sets. He fell behind 1-3 in the deciding fifth set of the final against Rafael Nadal. No matter, Federer still found a way to triumph despite his last official tournament prior to that coming at 2016 Wimbledon. “It was more of a 'let's see what happens' kind of...
A LOOK BACK East Hotel Canberra Challenger (Canberra, Australia): Australia has been a home away from home for Italian veteran Andreas Seppi. A trio of Round of 16 appearances at the Australian Open included upsets of Marin Cilic in 2013, Roger Federer in 2015 and Nick Kyrgios in 2017. The 33-year-old's success Down Under has continued in 2018, picking up his eighth ATP Challenger Tour title on Saturday in Canberra. It was his first title at any level since 2014, when he won on home soil in Ortisei. Seppi overcame sixth seed Marton Fucsovics 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the final and is primed for another run into the second week at Melbourne Park. He will open the first Grand Slam of...
Dominic Thiem introduces his best friend, Dennis Novak, who will play Grigor Dimitrov in the Australian Open first round on Monday after qualifying into the main draw.
