For the second consecutive year, Dominic Thiem narrowly missed out on winning his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Mutua Madrid Open. Thiem, who fell to Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2017 Madrid final. But the 24-year-old Austrian will leave the Spanish capital with something nearly as important as his first Masters 1000 crown: confidence. Thiem beat two Top 10 players – then-No. 1 Nadal and then-No. 8 Kevin Anderson – in addition to BNP Paribas Open semi-finalist Borna Coric and Argentina's Federico Delbonis to reach his second Madrid final. After quarter-final departures at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (l. to Nadal) and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (l. to Tsitsipas),...
Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic showed signs of improvement last week in Madrid, beating Monte-Carlo runner-up Kei Nishikori in the first round in what was arguably the best win of his comeback from right elbow surgery that kept him out after Wimbledon last year. And while he lost his next match against eventual quarter-finalist Kyle Edmund, the Serbian will look to continue improving at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he faces a familiar foe in his opener. The four-time champion will look to get another victory under his belt on Monday against talented Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in the third match on Court Centrale. Djokovic is well-acquainted with the former World No. 13, who himself is recovering from an injury...
What is the formula to dominate an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event? Just ask Alexander Zverev. Zverev didn't just dominate the 2018 Mutua Madrid Open. The World No. 3 thoroughly annihilated the field en route to his third Masters 1000 crown and first in the Spanish capital. No breaks surrended in 48 service games. Only one break point faced throughout the tournament. And a total of zero sets lost. Zverev put a bow on a perfect week with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Dominic Thiem on Sunday, blasting past his Austrian rival without pause. The 21-year-old admits that while it was a flawless performance in the Caja Mágica, it's one that he expects from himself. "I didn't get broken...
Rafael Nadal was keen to emphasise the importance of playing in the present as he discussed beginning his quest for a record eighth Internazionali BNL d’Italia title this week. The seven-time champion, who lost on clay last week in Madrid for the first time since 2017 Rome, is bidding to win his first title at the Foro Italico in five years. “Every tournament is very important in itself. And for me, even more. Because I have a great story at all these events. I won here seven times. And, for me, it's always very special to play here in this tournament,” said Nadal. The Spaniard enters Rome after his 21-match and 50-set winning streaks on clay were ended by Dominic...
Sometimes, it’s not easy to look on the bright side of a straight-sets defeat. But that is what Swiss Stan Wawrinka did after his opening-round loss against American Steve Johnson at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia on Sunday in his first match since February at Marseille. The 33-year-old says he only started practising fully 12 days ago, after all. “Disappointed with the result, that's for sure. Would have loved to win,” Wawrinka said. “[But] if I really look where I am right now, I'm really happy. I think, in general, my level is really high, it’s better than what I expected.... I'm happy with the level I have in practice. I'm happy with physically where I am right now. I feel...
