It all started with a volley. Arguably the most daring and improbable shot of the tournament. It wasn't just any volley. An off-balance moment of improvisation that Denis Shapovalov had no business converting. Rogerio Dutra Silva had one leg into the second round of the Coupe Rogers. A rifled, dipping forehand at his opponent's feet was surely enough to send him over the finish line, but a moment of magic would stop the Brazilian in his tracks and bring the Montreal faithful to their feet. It was every bit audacious as it was brilliant: an off-balance drop volley winner from just inside the service line. Match point saved. The dream stays alive. One of four match points saved on that...
Frenchman Jerome Golmard, a winner of two ATP World Tour titles, passed away on Monday aged 43 following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He was first diagnosed with the disease in January 2014 and soon established Association Jerome Golmard, Combattre la maladie de Charcot. Golmard, who, for much of his career had a residence in Boca Raton, Florida, where a number of French players made their home, first began playing tennis aged six with his parents by hitting against the wall of his local club. In a 14-season injury-plagued professional career, Golmard reached a career-high No. 22 on 22 April 1999, shortly after capturing his first ATP World Tour title at...
Twenty-three years into his professional career, the body may creak a bit, but the mind of Nenad Zimonjic remains ambitious. A long-time custodian of doubles and its promotion, Zimonjic is a fervent and proud ambassador. Today, in his 42nd year, the Serbian has become the 10th player to record 700 doubles match wins (or more). The feat encompasses an 18-year span from his first tour-level match win with Nebojsa Djordjevic in a Davis Cup zonal tie in May 1995 to his 700th victory today with Marcin Matkowski in the German Tennis Championships 2017 first round (d. Berlocq-Schwartzman). “It’s nice to play in Hamburg again, for the first time since 2012, and to achieve the 700th match win in a country...
Mervyn Rose, one of the leading players produced by Australia in the 1950s, who would later coach numerous players including WTA greats Billie Jean King, Margaret Court and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, passed away on Sunday aged 87. Fred Perry, a winner of eight Grand Slam singles titles, once commented that the Australian left-hander “possessed the most rhythmic game in tennis.” With profound tactical nous, Rose was also able to execute delicate and decisive volleys to become one of Australia’s leading lights, although a weak backhand meant that he was overshadowed by youngsters Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall in an era of Harry Hopman’s great champions. “Rosie”, who made his Grand Slam championship debut in 1949, was often at odds with...
Roger Federer stands alone. The Swiss achieved Wimbledon immortality on Sunday, becoming the all-time titles leader at The Championships with a resounding 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic. Federer notched a record eighth crown at the All England Club, surpassing Pete Sampras for solo first place on the all-time list. The Swiss added to his unprecedented Grand Slam titles haul, lifting a 19th trophy in total and second of the year, having prevailed at the Australian Open in January. The World No. 5 will ascend two spots to No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, capping a remarkable return to the Top 3 for the first time in nearly one year. The oldest man to win Wimbledon...
