Argentine Renzo Olivo booked a second-round match-up with fourth seed Joao Sousa at the Brasil Open on Monday. Olivo beat 2016 semi-finalist Inigo Cervantes of Spain 7-6(6), 6-4 in one hour and 53 minutes. Olivo saved 12 of 16 break points and landed 70 per cent of his first serves to win his Sao Paulo debut. The 24-year-old Olivo, No. 92 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, will face Sousa for the first time. Olivo's countryman Guido Pella also advanced, hitting 10 aces to prevail against Brazilian wild card Guilherme Clezar 6-2, 6-3. He awaits the winner of Carlos Berlocq and Thiago Monteiro for a place in the quarter-finals. [ALSO LIKE] Portugal's Gastao Elias ended the hopes of local wild card...
Roger Federer's quest for an eighth Dubai title could hardly have started better on Monday at the Aviation Club. The third seed raced past Frenchman Benoit Paire, winning their first-round contest 6-1, 6-3 in 54 minutes at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. It was Federer's first match since winning the Australian Open last month, his 18th Grand Slam title. But the 35-year-old Swiss showed no rust in the rout, winning nearly 70 per cent of his service points and saving all three break points faced. Federer broke Paire twice in the first set as the Frenchman struggled to stay in rallies. The Swiss broke twice more in the second set to earn his fourth win in as many tries...
Dominic Thiem has found a home on the Latin American Golden Swing, surging to the title at the Rio Open presented by Claro on Sunday. Thiem fought past Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 34 minutes to lift the trophy at the Jockey Club Brasileiro. With Brazilian legend Gustavo Kuerten in attendance, the World No. 8 claimed his eighth ATP World Tour crown, second at the 500 level and third on the Golden Swing, having previously triumphed in Buenos Aires and Acapulco in 2016. He fired 25 winners, including 14 on his forehand wing and seven aces to prevail over Carreno Busta. Thiem also converted four of eight break chances in extending his FedEx ATP Head2Head edge...
Second seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram picked up their first ATP World Tour doubles title of 2017 on Sunday at the Delray Beach Open, prevailing in a tight 7-5, 7-5 final over third seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi. “It seems like I’m just the sideshow here in Delray Beach. I just have to make sure I’m not the reason we’re losing matches!” joked Klaasen. “I think Rajeev and I have done some good things to improve our games and this week was another progression for us as a team. The crowd has been great all week. People really enjoy their doubles here and that makes it fun for us." The South African-American pair earned their fourth ATP World...
Third seed Jack Sock continues his strong start to 2017 by taking another title on Sunday at the Delray Beach Open. The American won his third ATP World Tour singles title when top seed Milos Raonic withdrew before taking the court for their final due to a hamstring tear in his right leg. The unfortunate end to the tournament gives Sock his second ATP World Tour crown of 2017, having prevailed last month at the ASB Classic (d. Sousa). Sock didn’t drop a set in claiming victory this week. He improves to 11-1 this season and is projected to move to a career-high No. 18 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday. “It’s very unfortunate for him and I hope...
