The men’s doubles final on Saturday at the Australian Open features third seeds Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan looking for another title in Melbourne, while fourth seeds and reigning ATP Finals champions Henri Kontinen/John Peers seek their first Grand Slam title. Kontinen/Peers lead their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry over the Bryans 2-0, with both straight-sets victories coming this past November at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals. The Finnish-Australian pair are arguably the most in-form doubles team at the moment, having won 15 of their past 16 matches dating back to Paris. However, the Bryans have far more experience in Grand Slam championship matches. They are contesting their 30th Grand Slam final together (16-13), while Peers is playing his third and Kontinen...
Much like their tennis careers have evolved over the years, so, too, has Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka's friendship. Years ago, Wawrinka would frequently ask his compatriot for tips on how to play certain guys. Federer would kindly oblige, and Wawrinka would execute the game plans that Federer shared. “That showed me that he's a great player, that he's got a mind of somebody who understands what I'm trying to explain to him,” Federer said after his Australian Open quarter-final win. “Some players, you tell them something, they've just got no clue what to do, what it means. Stan had that early on, so I think he was a great learner.” Years passed, Federer kept hauling titles, but Wawrinka also...
Wednesday's Australian Open quarter-final winners will receive the same prize – a semi-final berth – but just how special that last-four appearance will feel should vary for all four players taking the court on Day 10 Down Under. No. 11 David Goffin (BEL) v. No. 15 Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) FedEx ATP Head2Head: Dimitrov leads 1-0 For Goffin and Dimitrov, the next round is almost brand-new territory. Bulgaria's Dimitrov has reached the semi-finals at a Grand Slam only one prior time – 2014 Wimbledon. Goffin will be going for his first semi-final showing. The Belgian fell during his only other Grand Slam quarter-final appearance, 2016 Roland Garros. Dimitrov won their only prior FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, a four-set win that also...
Will Stan The Man take the battle of big hitters against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga? Can Roger wind back the clock once more and play vintage Federer tennis against his old-school foe, Mischa Zverev, who will try to keep points as precise as possible? Tuesday's Australian Open quarter-final match-ups should feature two very different but equally as intriguing contests for fans. They'll also feature a bit of history. For only the second time in the Open Era, all eight Grand Slam quarter-finalists have lost two or more sets before their last-eight match-ups. The last time that happened was almost 45 years ago, at the 1972 US Open. No. 4 Stan Wawrinka (SUI) v No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) FedEx ATP Head2Head: Wawrinka...
World No. 50 Mischa Zverev takes on four-time former champion Roger Federer at the Australian Open on Tuesday for a place in the semi-finals. ATPWorldTour.com reveals 10 things you need to know about the German. 1) Is a 29-year-old left-hander who plays a serve and volley game - he came to net 118 times in his fourth-round Australian Open win over Andy Murray. 2) Two years ago, he was No. 1,067 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Next week, he is projected to surpass his career-high ranking of No. 45 on 8 June 2009. 3) He won through qualifying a record 10 times last year to make tour-level main draw events. 4) Earlier this month, he and...