Nothing moves the dial more with the transition from hard courts to clay courts than points won returning first serves. An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the four semi-finalists from the 2017 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters against their own 2017 hard-court averages identifies the biggest improvement in any serve or return category was points won returning first serves. [ALSO LIKE] The four semi-finalists in Monaco last year were David Goffin, Lucas Pouille, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and the champion, Rafael Nadal. The quartet combined to put up positive numbers in all three return categories on the clay, but their combined performance against first serves was the most noteworthy. 2017 Monte-Carlo Semi-Finalists: Combined Monte-Carlo v Hard-Court Averages Return Statistics 2017 Hard Court...
Kei Nishikori won a match of extreme fluctuations on Thursday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Nishikori, back in Monaco for the first time since his 2012 debut, eventually got the better of Andreas Seppi and his large number of Italian supporters 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 in one hour and 47 minutes to close play on day five. Nishikori will now challenge second-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic on Friday. Nishikori leads 7-6 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but has lost their past three matchups. There was stunned silence on the second show court when Nishikori won the first seven games of the match against Seppi, who broke the streak by holding to 30 in the second game of the second set. It...
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, the recent Miami Open presented by Itaú champions, had made at least the semi-finals at five of their seven tournaments this season. Yet the five-time Monte-Carlo champions were on the brink of defeat Thursday against wild cards Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys in their opener at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. But after the left-handed twin, Bob, beat a net-rushing Arneodo with a powerful forehand to save match point in the Match Tie-break, the Americans advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-7(5), 6-0, 11-9 victory. The fourth seeds, who turn 40 on 29 April, are looking to win a third title at the Monte-Carlo Country Club since 2014. They will next face defending champion Pablo Cuevas...
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal withstood the power of Karen Khachanov on Thursday to record his 65th match win at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where he bids to capture a record 11th trophy this week. [ALSO LIKE] The Spanish superstar, seeking a record 31st ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown, defeated 21-year-old Russian Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in 80 minutes for a place in the quarter-finals against sixth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem. Nadal has now reached the Monte-Carlo quarter-finals 14 consecutive years. "It was a good victory - straight sets against a difficult opponent," said Nadal. "I think I played little bit better than yesterday [against Aljaz Bedene]. My serve worked well and my forehand was better than yesterday. "The previous match...
