Julian Knowle and Philipp Petzschner were warriors all week at the SkiStar Swedish Open and the Austrian-German tandem were rewarded with their first team title on Sunday. Knowle and Petzschner defeated Dutch duo Sander Arends and Matwe Middelkoop 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 on Centre Court in Bastad, notching their fourth straight victory in a Match Tie-break. They prevailed after 70 minutes, converting three of 14 break chances. Competing as a team for the first time, the unseeded titlists split €26,110 in prize money and 250 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points. Both ended lengthy ATP World Tour title droughts, notching their first trophies since 2014. "It was an amazing week," said Petzschner. "Coming in, Julian had won in Braunschweig and we just...
Victory never tasted so sweet for David Ferrer. Two years removed from his most recent ATP World Tour title, the Spaniard lifted a trophy once again, prevailing at the SkiStar Swedish Open on Sunday. Elated and emotional, Ferrer raised his arms in triumph and held back tears as the 35 year old needed one hour and 26 minutes - and seven match points - to dismiss Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-4. He fired three aces and saved four of five break points faced, turning in a vintage Ferrer performance predicated on great agility and depth off his forehand. It was Ferrer's 27th ATP World Tour title, the most in the Open Era without winning a Grand Slam, and first since emerging...
Playing together for the first time this week, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Rajeev Ram notched the doubles title at the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open. Qureshi and Ram defeated Aussie duo Matt Reid and John-Patrick Smith 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 on Saturday. The win came one day after rallying past third seeds Sam Groth and Leander Paes 11-9 in a Match Tie-break, saving eight match points. It was the second doubles title in Newport for both players, with Qureshi prevailing in 2015 with Jonathan Marray and Ram in 2009 with Jordan Kerr. In total, Qureshi captured his 15th ATP World Tour doubles crown and fourth of the year (with four different partners). For Ram, it was title No. 13 and his...
Guillermo Duran and Andres Molteni claimed their first team ATP World Tour doubles title at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday. The third-seeded Argentines needed one hour and 36 minutes to dispatch Croatian wild cards Marin Draganja and Tomislav Draganja 6-3, 6-7(4), 10-6. They fired four aces, while converting four of nine break chances. Duran and Molteni had an opportunity to close it out in the second set, but failed to convert on a pair of match points in the ninth game. They would drop the ensuing tie-break, but eventually emerged victorious in the deciding Match Tie-break. "We are so happy to win this week," said Duran. "Thanks to Andres for playing with me. We were a little...
Top seed John Isner will vie for his third title at the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open, setting a final clash against first-time ATP World Tour finalist Matthew Ebden on Sunday. World No. 21 Isner booked his spot in his 23rd tour-level final and first of the year with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 victory over Bjorn Fratangelo. The big-hitting American's serve was on song throughout the 73-minute affair, firing 15 aces, while not facing a break point. He won 78 per cent of total service points. "It went well and was a pretty good match," Isner, who has not dropped serve all week, told reporters. "I served well and started it off well. I was all over him from...
