Eighth seed David Ferrer opened up his 2017 season in style on Monday at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, putting on an impressive performance to dispatch local favourite Bernard Tomic, 6-3, 7-5. “My goals this year are to be happy with myself and be focused in every tournament that I play, without pressure,” said Ferrer. “All tennis players have pressure, but at this moment of my career, I need to enjoy these types of matches on Centre Court. I am 34 years old, 35 next month, so I hope I will play a little bit longer." The World No. 21 will once again have to contend with a pro-Aussie crowd in the second round when he faces wild card...
Home favourite Jordan Thompson kicked off the 2017 ATP World Tour season with his first win at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp. The 22-year-old Thompson, who's playing at a career-high ranking of No. 79, beat #NextGen player Elias Ymer of Sweden 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday in a battle of wild cards. The Sydney native won 93 per cent of his first-serve points and saved one of two break points faced. He'll face countryman Bernard Tomic or eighth seed David Ferrer in round two. “It's always good to start off a new year with a win, especially here in Brisbane,” Thompson said. “I didn't make too many errors. I returned pretty well, and movement was good.” Aussie wild cards also...
CROATIA 2, ARGENTINA 3 Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Davis Cup Final Argentina completed an improbable comeback to claim its first Davis Cup title, storming back from the brink of elimination to defeat Croatia on Sunday. The South American nation was one set from defeat in the fourth rubber, with Marin Cilic leading Juan Martin del Potro two sets to love, and they would mount a historic rally to lift the trophy. Del Potro turned in his first career two-set comeback 6-7(4), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3, followed by a clutch 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win for Federico Delbonis over Ivo Karlovic. Argentina is the eighth nation to rally from 1-2 down and first since Serbia completed the comeback in 2010. Having captured...
CROATIA 2, ARGENTINA 1 Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Davis Cup Final Croatia is one win from claiming their second Davis Cup crown after Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig provided the heroics in Saturday's doubles rubber. In front of a sold out Arena Zagreb in the Croatian capital, Cilic and Dodig defeated Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 6-3 to put the host nation ahead 2-1 after Day 2 of competition. Dodig, No. 13 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings, led the charge in claiming his fifth straight Davis Cup doubles rubber since 2015. He has won three in a row this year with Cilic. “This is a once in a lifetime experience and I have to thank...
CROATIA 1, ARGENTINA 1 Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Davis Cup Final Croatia, the 2005 champion, is level with four-time former finalist Argentina at 1-1 on Friday in the Davis Cup final at the Arena Zagreb. Argentina has previously defeated Croatia in quarter-final ties in 2002, 2006 and 2013. Marin Cilic handed Croatia the early lead when he used his big-match experience to beat Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2 in three hours and 30 minutes. Cilic, who improved to a 49-23 record on the season, won 77 per cent of his first service points and struck 17 aces. World No. 41 Delbonis, who had recovered from 0-2 sets deficit against Serbia’s Viktor Troicki in last year’s quarter-finals, hit...