Novak Djokovic has taken the first battle of the 2017 ATP World Tour season against Andy Murray, beating the Scot 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to defend his Qatar ExxonMobil Open title and exact revenge on the World No. 1. In an electrifying final, the Serbian captured his first title since July (Rogers Cup) and showed some of the fiery tennis that helped him dominate the first half of 2016. The 29 year old frequently encouraged the crowd to back him, lifting his arms and pumping his fist while staring into the stands. “Best scenario I could ask for at the beginning of the season. Playing all five matches in this tournament and then three hours against No. 1 of the world,...
Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin have claimed the first ATP World Tour title of 2017. The Frenchmen dismissed third seeds Vasek Pospisil and Radek Stepanek 6-4, 7-6(3) in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open doubles final on Friday to celebrate their first team doubles title. Their familarity with each other certainly paid off this week. Chardy and Martin have known each other since they were eight years old and have played together in the past, including last year at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. They reached the quarter-finals at both events. [ALSO LIKE] “We knew we could beat some good teams,” Martin said. “For me, especially to win with Jeremy, it's the best win I can...
Andy Murray has clinched year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, the 17th different player to do so in history (since 1973). The milestone was achieved in dramatic fashion on Sunday when he beat his rival for top spot, Novak Djokovic, 6-3, 6-4 in the title match of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 in London. It was the first time in history that the year-end No. 1 ranking was on the line for both players in the final ATP World Tour match of the season. It was also the first time since Lisbon in 2000 that the year-end No. 1 ranking was decided in the final. That year, Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten defeated Andre Agassi of...
Andy Murray sealed a storybook conclusion to his 2016 campaign, assuming the mantle of year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings with his first Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title. Murray dethroned rival Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday's gripping final. Murray capped a stunning march to the pinnacle of the tennis world with his 24th consecutive match win and fifth straight title. He cemented his place in the history books in becoming the 17th player to finish atop the Emirates ATP Rankings and first Brit to lift the trophy at the season finale. "It’s a very special day," Murray during the trophy presentation. "It’s been a tough rivalry. I’ve lost many of them but obviously I’m happy I’ve...
Henri Kontinen and John Peers finished their debut season with the perfect ending on Sunday in London. The pairing won the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals doubles title during their team debut, beating fellow first-timers Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 at The O2. "To be honest, it probably actually hasn't sunk in. It will hopefully sink in tomorrow once I get a flight back home," said Peers. "When I start to think what we've achieved probably in the last month, it's been a great thing for both of us. "It just feels really good to know all the hard work we kept putting in time and time again, even if we felt good or bad, that it's...