Two-time champion David Ferrer successfully transitioned from grass to clay on Tuesday, beating Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-4 to move into the second round at the SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad. The eighth-seeded Ferrer, who won the title in 2010 and 2012, is making his 10th appearance in Bastad and improved to 22-7 at the clay-court event. The 35 year old will next meet German Dustin Brown, who defeated Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-3. Two-time finalist (2013, 2016) Fernando Verdasco saved four of five break points to outlast #NextGenATP Swede Elias Ymer 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours. “I could have been more aggressive but I really felt I played with all my heart,” Ymer said. “I had a...
Henri Laaksonen is the first main draw winner at the SkiStar Swedish Open after defeating local favourite and #NextGenATP player Mikael Ymer 7-6(5), 7-5 on Monday. Ymer served for the opening set twice and was unable to convert on a set point at 5-4. Laaksonen grabbed the lone break of the second set at 5-5 and ultimately prevailed in two hours and 24 minutes. The Swiss player broke into the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time this week. He’ll take on third seed Pablo Cuevas in the next round. Federico Delbonis, Arthur De Greef, Leonardo Mayer and Maximilian Marterer all won their final-round qualifying matches on Monday. [ALSO LIKE] Brown/Khachanov Save 4 M.P. For Victory...
10 THINGS TO WATCH IN UMAG 1. Back on Clay: The ATP World Tour returns to clay this week with the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag and SkiStar Swedish Open. Headlining in Umag are Top 20 players David Goffin and Gael Monfils, defending champion Fabio Fognini and Croatia’s #NextGenATP superstar Borna Coric. 2. Goffin is Back: Goffin has earned 31 victories this season despite suffering a right ankle injury at Roland Garros that forced him to miss the entire grass-court swing. In February, he became the first Belgian to break into the Emirates ATP Rankings Top 10. Goffin is seeking his first ATP World Tour title since 2014 Metz, having lost his last six finals. He is making his Umag...
Sweden is hungry for another rising star to crack the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, and #NextGenATP player Mikael Ymer is showing that he has the tools to achieve this with his run this week at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Bastad. The 18 year old delighted the home crowd on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over second seed Renzo Olivo of Argentina to reach his first Challenger semi-final of the year. Ymer passed through the qualifying rounds in just one of the six Challenger events he’s played this season, but made full use of a wild card to produce an inspired run. “It feels great. I haven't had the best Challenger year, so I’ve been...