Radek Stepanek, who is bidding to compete in the Australian Open main draw for the 14th time, earned a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7(4), 8-6 victory over Slovenian Blaz Kavcic in two hours and 41 minutes on Thursday in the second round of qualifying. The 38-year-old Stepanek will next look to beat John-Patrick Smith for his place in the 128-player main draw. Smith overcame Kenny De Schepper 6-4, 6-3. Second seed and #NextGenATP star Frances Tiafoe cruised past Yannik Reuter and will next take on American compatriot and No. 25 seed Tim Smyczek, who defeated Mohamed Safwat 6-4, 6-3. Tiafoe fell in the second round of qualifying in 2016, and is hoping to make his main draw debut. Sixth seed Bjorn Fratangelo...
Four-time former champion Roger Federer could run into a Top 16 seed early at the Australian Open, having been listed outside the Top 10 seeds for the first time since the 2002 US Open (No. 13 seed). The Swiss superstar, who has won 17 Grand Slam championship titles, has been named as the No. 17 seed. Pete Sampras was No. 17 seed when he won his 14th and final major at the 2002 US Open. World No. 1 Andy Murray will attempt to go one better than his five runner-up finishes, while No. 2-ranked Novak Djokovic is bidding to capture a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown. Rafael Nadal, the 2009 titlist, is the ninth seed. The 2017 Australian Open draw...
Qualifying veterans and #NextGenATP stars both started making their way to the main draw of the Australian Open on Wednesday as qualifying matches got underway in Melbourne. Top seed Radek Stepanek took his opening qualifying match 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2 against American Sekou Bangoura. Stepanek, 38, is trying to reach his 15th Australian Open singles main draw. The right-handed Czech will face Slovenian Blaz Kavcic next. Second seed Frances Tiafoe, a member of the ATP World Tour's Next Generation, also advanced in three sets. The 18-year-old American won 75 per cent of his first-serve points to beat Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in two hours and 14 minutes. Tiafoe is attempting to reach his first Australian Open main draw. [ALSO...
Qualifying veterans and #NextGenATP stars both started making their way to the main draw of the Australian Open on Tuesday as qualifying matches got underway in Melbourne. Top seed Radek Stepanek took his opening qualifying match 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2 against American Sekou Bangoura. Stepanek, 38, is trying to reach his 15th Australian Open singles main draw. The right-handed Czech will face Slovenian Blaz Kavcic next. Second seed Frances Tiafoe, a member of the ATP World Tour's Next Generation, also advanced in three sets. The 18-year-old American won 75 per cent of his first-serve points to beat Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in two hours and 14 minutes. Tiafoe is attempting to reach his first Australian Open main draw. [ALSO...
Aussie teen Omar Jasika will make his second straight appearance at the 2017 Australian Open after earning a main draw wild card on Sunday. The 19 year old, who won his first tour-level match at Melbourne Park last year, claimed the Wildcard Play-off with a 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 win over John-Patrick Smith. Jasika completed an improbable run, having trailed by two sets and a break to Marinko Matosevic in the first round. "I’m happy to be in the Australian Open in 2017," said Jasika. "Looking forward to it. Last year was a great experience and one of the few days I won’t forget." Jasika joins fellow Tecnifibre player Denis Istomin in the main draw. The Uzbek, who owns a...