If Rafael Nadal is to finish as the year-end No. 1 for a fourth time, his recent performances on hard courts will be of critical importance. Nadal extended his win streak to 12 straight with the China Open title on Sunday, defeating Nick Kyrgios 6-2, 6-1. The Spaniard, who remains undefeated since returning to World No. 1 on 21 August, tightened his grip on the top spot in the Emirates ATP Race To London. Now up to 2,360 points over Roger Federer, he has put himself in prime position to cap his 2017 campaign in No. 1 fashion. Victory in Beijing gives Nadal his 75th career crown, moving to within two titles of John McEnroe for fourth on the Open...
Henri Kontinen and John Peers continued their dominant run in ATP World Tour doubles finals, improving to 8-1 as a team with victory at the China Open on Sunday. The top seeds edged American duo John Isner and Jack Sock 6-3, 3-6, 10/7, prevailing after one hour and 10 minutes in Beijing. Kontinen and Peers added a second ATP World Tour 500 level crown to their trophy haul, having triumphed at the Citi Open in Washington in August. Also the champions at the Australian Open to open the year, they split $196,420 in prize money. The No. 2 team in the Emirates ATP Doubles Race To London, the Finnish-Aussie duo pull to within 760 points of Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo...
David Goffin captured the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2017 crown on Sunday, adding to the ATP World Tour title he won last week at the Shenzhen Open (d. Dolgopolov). It was his first trophy at an ATP World Tour 500-level tournament. Watch by Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako, the fourth-seeded Belgian defeated Adrian Mannarino of France 6-3, 7-5 in 84 minutes at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo for his fourth ATP World Tour title (4-6 overall in finals). Last year, Goffin had finished as runner-up to Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in the title match. “It’s a really special trophy for me, as I won the tournament last week and now have again today,” said Goffin. “It’s a special feeling at...
Ben Mclachlan and Yasutaka Uchiyama had the Ariake Colosseum rocking on Sunday afternoon at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2017 when they became the first all-Japanese titlists in Tokyo for 12 years. Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako of Japan watched the historic final unfold. Mclachlan, New Zealand-born by a Japanese mother, and Uchiyama defeated second-seeded Briton Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares of Brazil 6-4, 7-6(1) in one hour and 32 minutes for their first ATP World Tour team title. "It hasn't really sunk in," said Uchiyama. "We have been the challengers all week and today as well, but I noticed that they were feeling the pressure and at that point, we were able to play well and push our...
Jonathan Erlich and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi tasted victory for the first time as a team, claiming the Chengdu Open title on Sunday. The Israeli-Pakistani duo downed Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner 6-3, 7-6(3) in one hour and 29 minutes, claiming two of seven break chances. They take home 250 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $96,610 in prize money. "This week is very special," said Qureshi. "When I came here, I was on one leg and I had an MRI and wasn't sure if I would even play. I signed up with Jon five minutes before the deadline. He was still in Israel. He took the risk and flew all the way here on Sunday. Thanks to him for trusting...
