If Roger Federer is to capture his sixth Australian Open crown, he’ll have to go through a minefield to clinch his 20th Grand Slam crown. Having taken part in the Australian Open draw ceremony on Margaret Court Arena Thursday night, the Swiss superstar watched on as he realised he’d need to potentially beat a resurgent Juan Martin del Potro, six-time former champion Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev and 2014 titlist Stan Wawrinka if he is to reach his seventh final at the first major championship of the year. Federer’s first task will be to prepare to meet Slovenian Aljaz Bedene in the first round. View Singles Draw Speaking during an on-court interview, Federer said, “It’s great to be back. I...
Juan Martin del Potro, who will return to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since August 2014 next week, swept through to the ASB Classic semi-finals on Thursday night. The popular Argentinean star, competing this week at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament for the first time since his 2009 title (d. Querrey), struck 11 aces and didn’t face a break point in a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Russian Karen Khachanov in one hour and 33 minutes. "I took all of my chances and I played solidly on my service games," said del Potro. "I ran a lot today, more than yesterday, which is good for my physical condition and I’m sure I will run...
The abiding memory is of a stick-thin blond, wearing a baggy shirt and screams of “Come on!” echoing around the Adelaide Oval with every winning stroke. Adelaide Tournament Director Colin Stubs must have known something when he awarded a wild card to a high-school student, ranked No. 550 in the ATP Rankings with one tour-level appearance to his name. By the end of the first week of January 1998, Lleyton Hewitt had not just his parents, but the whole of the tennis world shaking their heads in disbelief. The local boy had worked his way through the field to become the lowest-ranked – and second-youngest – player to win an ATP World Tour event. It was the first time that...
For the eighth time in 13 attempts, David Ferrer is among the last four standing at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The four-time champion routed Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hyeon Chung on Thursday 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals. Ferrer has yet to drop a set in Auckland this week and is looking very much like the Ferrer of 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013, the four years he took home the Auckland trophy. “I tried to play consistent and aggressive because with Chung, he plays with power, and it's never easy,” Ferrer said on court. “He has a really great future.” [ALSO LIKE] Ferrer broke the 21-year-old South Korean five times during the 75-minute victory. The seventh-seeded Spaniard...
Fabio Fognini continued the best Sydney International of his career on Thursday, advancing to the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 with a 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-2 win against fifth seed Adrian Mannarino. The fourth-seeded Fognini, who had lost in the second round in Sydney three times before this year, sharpened his play as the quarter-final match progressed. Fognini faced eight break points in the first two sets, saving five of the eight. But in the decider, the 30-year-old faced only one break point and erased it. “It was a long match,” said Fognini. “It was really tough from the beginning. I was, I think, in the first crazy set 4-1 up, double break, and I lost it. I was...
