Swedish brothers Elias Ymer and Mikael Ymer completed a fairytale run on home soil, streaking to the If Stockholm Open doubles title on Sunday. A day after dropping just seven games against second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Treat Huey, the Ymers routed fourth seeds Mate Pavic and Michael Venus 6-1, 6-1 in 51 minutes for their first ATP World Tour titles. They are the first Swedish duo to claim victory in Stockholm since 1998, when Nicklas Kulti and Mikael Tillstrom triumphed. "I don't think me or Mikael expected our first ATP title to come in doubles, especially here in our hometown of Stockholm." said Elias. "We had a great time and I really enjoyed playing with my brother." #NextGen star...
Richard Gasquet captured the title at the European Open on Sunday, fighting past Diego Schwartzman 7-6(4), 6-1. Gasquet notched his 14th ATP World Tour title and second of the year, having previously lifted the trophy in Montpellier in February. He needed one hour and 29 minutes to emerge victorious, saving one of two break points faced, while converting three of six of his own. The Frenchman was ruthless on his first serve, claiming 29 of 33 (88 per cent) of such points. Both players looked to blast through the indoor hard court at the Lotto Arena, unloading from the back of the court. Two scintillating backhand winners by Schwartzman punctuated the start of the match, as the Argentine sought to...
Daniel Nestor/Edouard Roger-Vasselin continued their unbeaten streak in 2016 with a win over top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut on Sunday in the final of the European Open in Antwerp, 6-4, 6-4. "Anti-inflammatories, good partners. At this point in my career, whenever somebody asks me to play, I say yes," joked Nestor about what still keeps him having success at age 44. "Eddie and I have always played well together, so we tried to take the opportunity." The match opened with three consecutive service breaks, but Nestor/Roger-Vasselin came out on top to lead 2-1 and rode their slight advantage to the opening set. They opened the second set by breaking the top seeds and put on a clinic in their own...
American Jack Sock will play for his first title of the season on Sunday at the If Stockholm Open. The 24 year old rallied to beat #NextGen star Alexander Zverev 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4 in two hours and 48 minutes on Saturday. The top American saved 10 of 12 break points to return to the If Stockholm Open final for the second consecutive year. He fell in last year's title match to Tomas Berdych. “We both had chances obviously at times,” Sock said. “It was a very good match, very good tennis. We both were battling out there.” On Sunday, Sock will face another top opponent in Juan Martin del Potro, who prevailed against second seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 7-5. Sock...
A pair of thrilling comebacks marked Semi-final Saturday at the European Open in Antwerp, as Richard Gasquet rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Kyle Edmund and Diego Schwartzman saved two match points to stun home favourite and top seed David Goffin. Veteran experience prevailed in the first semi-final, as third seed Gasquet stormed back to oust #NextGen star Edmund. The 30-year-old Frenchman reached his 27th ATP World Tour final, downing his 21-year-old opponent 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 after two hours and four minutes. Edmund was on the cusp of becoming the fourth member of the Next Generation contingent to reach a final in just the past five weeks. He led 4-2 in the second set, but Gasquet...