One day after securing the World No. 1 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Andy Murray added another first to his growing resume, defeating John Isner for his maiden title at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris. Murray prevailed 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4 in a thrilling two-hour and 18-minute final. Murray claimed his eighth tour-level crown of the year and 43rd in total. He notched a 14th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and joins Tim Henman (2003) and Greg Rusedski (1998) as British winners in Paris. "I'm happy that I managed to get there," said Murray. "I was pleased. I felt really nervous before the match and I didn't feel flat or anything like that, which that was the most...
Henri Kontinen and John Peers continued their late-season surge on Sunday, winning their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 team title at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris. The unseeded Kontinen/Peers knocked off top-seeded Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 in front of a partisan French crowd. The Finnish/Australian duo struck 11 aces and outplayed Herbert/Mahut in the Match Tie-break, leading 9-4 before Peers clinched the title with a forehand volley. “It was amazing to actually get the first Masters [1000] title for both of us. I know we've put in a lot of hard work together and it's something to cap off a really good year, just before we head into London,” Peers said. Kontinen/Peers had...
Marin Cilic sent a strong message to fellow contenders in the Emirates ATP Race To London, powering to the Swiss Indoors Basel title on Sunday. The fourth-seeded Croatian downed Kei Nishikori 6-1, 7-6(5), riding his dominant serve and potent forehand to victory after one hour and 37 minutes. Cilic notched his 16th tour-level title and second of the year. Two months after capturing his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati (d. Murray), he earned his first title at the 500 level. Cilic strengthened his position among the final two players looking to secure bids at the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, boosting his point total to 3,090 in the Emirates ATP Race To London. Currently in...
Andy Murray turned the battle for No. 1 blazing hot on Sunday with his 6-3, 7-6(6) Erste Bank Open 500 title victory against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Vienna. The Scot now trails World No. 1 Novak Djokovic by just 415 points in the Emirates ATP Race To London heading into the final week of the ATP World Tour regular season. With 1,000 points up for grabs at the BNP Paribas Masters this week, Murray could surpass the Serbian if he wins the Paris title and Djokovic does not reach the final. But Djokovic controls his fate. If he reaches the final, he'll remain No. 1. Reaching No. 1 would be a historic achievement for Murray, who, on Monday, will have spent...
Fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Jack Sock streaked to the Swiss Indoors Basel title on Sunday, lifting the trophy in their first tournament as a team. "We knew well going into the week that if we played well, we could be a dangerous team," said Sock. "We're both crafty and like playing from the baseline, but are also comfortable at the net. We served well and he returned very well. He usually carries me on the return games. We just had fun out there and kept it light and loose." The Spanish-American duo prevailed 6-3, 6-4 over Robert Lindstedt and Michael Venus in exactly one hour at the St. Jakobshalle, saving three of four break points faced. They claimed an...