Name the scenario, and Jack Sock probably used it to attack the net during his opening match at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. He came forward on booming first serves and bouncy second offerings, after heavy forehands and skidding returns. The eighth-seeded American sprinted to the centre 21 times, winning 15 of those attempts, or more than 70 per cent, against the big-serving Marius Copil of Romania, who came forward only 12 times. The aggressive style of play has gained new emphasis for Sock, who recently changed coaches. After working with Troy Hahn for three successful years, the 24 year old now works with Jay Berger, formerly the head of men's tennis for USTA Player Development. Berger, who stepped...
Juan Carlos Ferrero was the “perfect fit” to join the team of Alexander Zverev and his father and coach, Alexander Zverev Sr., who together made the decision to bring on Ferrero. The Spaniard and the #NextGenATP Zverev have talked almost daily since Zverev approached him about working together at the Mutua Madrid Open in May. This week at the Citi Open in Washington, DC, is the first time they've worked together in person. Zverev wanted to bring on Ferrero for a few reasons, he said on Wednesday. He remembered the Spaniard being of the hardest workers during his time on the ATP World Tour. Ferrero's bonafide top-level credentials – former World No. 1, four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles...
Peter Polansky just wanted matches going into a three-week run of ATP Challenger Tour events last month, but now sits at a career-high Emirates ATP Ranking as he enjoys one of his most successful runs on tour. The Canadian reached three consecutive Challenger finals on home soil, recording finishing runner-up showings in Winnipeg, Gatineau and Granby. Polansky then followed that up by winning his first ATP World Tour main draw match of the season this week over Yasutaka Uchiyama in Los Cabos. He’s played 17 matches in the past four weeks. “I didn’t really have any expectations going into those three Challengers,” said Polansky. “I had been struggling with my results for the previous three or four months, but felt...
First coach and most important lesson he taught me My first coach was my dad, and I think the lesson he definitely instilled in me was hard work. We worked very hard and he said in order to chase your dreams, you definitely have to put in the effort and that's something that's really stuck with me throughout my career. First pinch-me moment on the ATP World Tour Playing a practice set with Federer in Miami. I had been on the tour for a little bit, and I had seen some of the top guys... I remember I won the practice set, too. I know in hindsight it's just practice stuff but that was a pretty surreal feeling... That was...
At the end of another hot and humid day in Washington, DC, Gael Monfils surely wanted nothing more than to head to his hotel room and relax in air conditioning. But every time he turned to hop into his tournament-provided vehicle on Monday evening, he kept being stopped. “Monfils, Monfils!” fans shouted. So the popular and affable Frenchman halted, gazed at who had said his name and kindly followed their instructions, smiling for back-to-back selfies with grinning fans. Monfils could easily have begged off, politely declining the requests and waving goodbye. Surely the fans would have understood. The guy wants to go home after a day of work, who could blame him? But, just as he goes above and beyond...
