Akira Santillan and Max Purcell enjoyed a day off at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Ho Chi Minh City, visiting the famous Ben Thanh Market. The Aussies tested their talents in bargaining for a deal, as they shopped for clothes and sunglasses. The Ben Thanh Market is one of the oldest surviving structures in the city, with merchants selling various crafts, textiles, souvenirs and food. Developed in the early 17th century, it is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnam's largest city. "I loved it," said Purcell. "I haven't been to markets like that in nearly three years, the last time I was in Asia. I love experiencing the local culture and it's cool to haggle for cheap things." "It...
Australian Akira Santillan has forged a memorable 2017 - and as a bonus, he's picked up a few pointers as to how to make his 2018 season on the ATP World Tour even more constructive. At just 20 years old, the #NextGenATP star is still learning how to balance his training regimen with tournament play. If the 2017 season has taught him something, it's to pace himself, and to put in the time on the practice courts. "I've played too many tournaments in a row this year and it doesn't suit me,” Santillan said. "I usually play better when I go practise, play my first tournament and get a good result. I'll learn from that and go and play three...
Cameron Norrie is a man on a mission this week at US Open qualifying. The Brit has not dropped a set en route to the final round and is now one win from making his US Open debut. At No. 226 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Norrie is showing he belongs among the game's best. But this is far from a surprise considering his near-perfect run of form leading up to the last Grand Slam of the year. Norrie is one of many players carrying successful summer hard-court swings on the ATP Challenger Tour into Flushing Meadows. A maiden title in nearby Binghamton and subsequent semi-final finish in Lexington have fueled the former Texas Christian University standout. "I beat some...
#NextGenATP Akira Santillan feels like now is his time to flourish on the ATP World Tour. The 20 year old recently earned the biggest victories of his career – winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title earlier this month in Winnetka and claiming his first ATP World Tour win at the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open in Newport (d. Mmoh). Santillan has also resolved a nagging dilemma that had been weighing on his mind and affecting his play: Which country should he represent? The right-hander was born in Japan to his South African father, Dean, and his Japanese mother, Harumi. But the family moved to Australia for Akira's tennis when he was about seven, and Akira lived Down Under...