Zverev sets up Stuttgart final with his old nemesis
German star Alexander Zverev has taken out US third seed Ben Shelton with a 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) victory in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open to set up a showdown with his nemesis Taylor Fritz.
Zverev and Shelton tested each other in a high-quality encounter before the world No.3 played a near flawless tiebreak to clinch the match in little over two hours on Saturday and stretch his career win-loss record over the American to 3-0.
The 28-year-old banged down 15 aces, 35 winners and did not face a break point in front of his home crowd to reach his first grass-court final in eight years.
"I'm super happy to be in the final, it's my first grass-court final since 2017," Zverev said.
"It's been eight years. I actually really like playing on the surface. I'm happy to be in the final in Germany again, I'm looking forward to it."
But in the final, a bigger test awaits Zverev as he tackles Fritz, the American who's beaten him on the last four occasions they've played over the past year.
Despite the defeat, Shelton can take plenty of positives from the ATP 250 event, with the 22-year-old set to make his top 10 debut in the ATP rankings on Monday.
In the first semi-final, Fritz, ranked seventh in the world, sent down 10 aces and 23 winners, winning 86 percent of his first-serve points to knock out Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
"The clay-court season wasn't the best for me, so I came here more motivated to start the grass season off well," said Fritz after reaching his first tour-level final since November. "I'm super happy that I've been able to start it off with a final.
"I'm locked in and ready to go. Once I start winning a couple of matches on grass and start feeling good, all the other things start clicking for me."
The second seed is eyeing a fourth grasscourt title, as he looks to continue to build momentum towards Wimbledon, where the 27-year-old is a twice quarter-finalist.
In the other European ATP event going on in Rosmalen, Ugo Humbert, the only seed left in the draw, crashed out to Gabriel Diallo 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final.
The Canadian advances to a final duel with Belgium's Zizou Bergs, with the p[air both seeking their maiden title.
Bergs had little trouble overcoming Daniil Medvedev's American conqueror Reilly Opelka 6-1 6-4.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Strong Like Jon' - American rallies to win Cairns tri
Nick Thompson stayed "Strong Like Jon" at the Ironman Cairns triathlon - only American Matthew Marquardt was even stronger. Marquardt recovered from an awful swim-bike transition to overhaul Thompson on the marathon to claim the title, while the rising Australian star held on for second after saying pre-race that his run form was "a bit of a mystery". Marquardt and Jackie Hering made history on Sunday, becoming the first American winners in the event's 14-year history. Marquardt is also the first triathlete from outside Australia or New Zealand to claim the men's race. Thompson had "Strong Like Jon" printed across the back of his race top as a tribute to long-time friend Jon Sammut, who is still regaining full use of his legs after a horrific bike crash last December at Western Australia's Busselton Ironman . "He's always been equally as good as me," Thompson said of Sammut. "I hope he's proud of me, I think he will be. "When he's finally allowed to have a beer at the end of the year, it will be on me. He's one of many names back home (in WA) that I'm lucky to have - I couldn't think of a better support network." Marquardt overtook Thompson after 30km in the run to win the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon race in seven hours 50 minutes 41 seconds. Thompson finished two minutes 49 seconds behind Marquardt and Henrik Goesch from Finland was 6:57 back in third. Marquardt's day looked shot when he cramped badly in his legs after being among the leaders out of the water at Palm Cove, north of Cairns. It is a problem that has happened at his last three races and the medical student thought it had been fixed. He lost eight minutes early on the bike, before rallying, and then storming through the marathon. "The T1 (swim-bike) was definitely really, really rough, but it's a long day and that's the beauty of an Ironman," he said. "You can falter a lot and still come back and have a phenomenal day. "Certainly it's a mystery. I'd love to have a little less drama." Hering had a more straightforward day, holding off defending champion Hannah Berry from New Zealand and Australian-based Dutch triathlete Lotte Wilms for the women's title. After having to pull out at the Ironman European championships at Hamburg a fortnight ago, Hering made a last-minute call to race at Cairns and only arrived on Wednesday. Like Marquardt, it was Hering's first visit to Australia and she won in 8:42:15, with Berry at 3:55 and Wilms 4:48 behind the American for third. "What I know especially about Lotte and Hanna is that they really don't quit, they're just very tough," said the 40-year-old Hering. Penny Slater passed compatriot Regan Hollioake on the run to finish fourth and the top Australian woman. "I came back from the dead - I retired from triathlon a few times on the bike there," Slater said. The top-five finishers qualified for this year's Ironman world championships - the men will race in Nice and the women will compete at triathlon's spiritual home in Kona, Hawaii. The worlds will be held on Hering's birthday and Cairns was double mission accomplished, sealing the win and her Kona berth. "That was the main deal ... super bang for the buck," she said. The Ironman and 70.3, or half-Ironman races were held in windy conditions, with massive crowds at the Cairns finish. The Ironman 70.3 race featured 92-year-old Japanese finisher Hiromu Inada. Nick Thompson stayed "Strong Like Jon" at the Ironman Cairns triathlon - only American Matthew Marquardt was even stronger. Marquardt recovered from an awful swim-bike transition to overhaul Thompson on the marathon to claim the title, while the rising Australian star held on for second after saying pre-race that his run form was "a bit of a mystery". Marquardt and Jackie Hering made history on Sunday, becoming the first American winners in the event's 14-year history. Marquardt is also the first triathlete from outside Australia or New Zealand to claim the men's race. Thompson had "Strong Like Jon" printed across the back of his race top as a tribute to long-time friend Jon Sammut, who is still regaining full use of his legs after a horrific bike crash last December at Western Australia's Busselton Ironman . "He's always been equally as good as me," Thompson said of Sammut. "I hope he's proud of me, I think he will be. "When he's finally allowed to have a beer at the end of the year, it will be on me. He's one of many names back home (in WA) that I'm lucky to have - I couldn't think of a better support network." Marquardt overtook Thompson after 30km in the run to win the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon race in seven hours 50 minutes 41 seconds. Thompson finished two minutes 49 seconds behind Marquardt and Henrik Goesch from Finland was 6:57 back in third. Marquardt's day looked shot when he cramped badly in his legs after being among the leaders out of the water at Palm Cove, north of Cairns. It is a problem that has happened at his last three races and the medical student thought it had been fixed. He lost eight minutes early on the bike, before rallying, and then storming through the marathon. "The T1 (swim-bike) was definitely really, really rough, but it's a long day and that's the beauty of an Ironman," he said. "You can falter a lot and still come back and have a phenomenal day. "Certainly it's a mystery. I'd love to have a little less drama." Hering had a more straightforward day, holding off defending champion Hannah Berry from New Zealand and Australian-based Dutch triathlete Lotte Wilms for the women's title. After having to pull out at the Ironman European championships at Hamburg a fortnight ago, Hering made a last-minute call to race at Cairns and only arrived on Wednesday. Like Marquardt, it was Hering's first visit to Australia and she won in 8:42:15, with Berry at 3:55 and Wilms 4:48 behind the American for third. "What I know especially about Lotte and Hanna is that they really don't quit, they're just very tough," said the 40-year-old Hering. Penny Slater passed compatriot Regan Hollioake on the run to finish fourth and the top Australian woman. "I came back from the dead - I retired from triathlon a few times on the bike there," Slater said. The top-five finishers qualified for this year's Ironman world championships - the men will race in Nice and the women will compete at triathlon's spiritual home in Kona, Hawaii. The worlds will be held on Hering's birthday and Cairns was double mission accomplished, sealing the win and her Kona berth. "That was the main deal ... super bang for the buck," she said. The Ironman and 70.3, or half-Ironman races were held in windy conditions, with massive crowds at the Cairns finish. The Ironman 70.3 race featured 92-year-old Japanese finisher Hiromu Inada. Nick Thompson stayed "Strong Like Jon" at the Ironman Cairns triathlon - only American Matthew Marquardt was even stronger. Marquardt recovered from an awful swim-bike transition to overhaul Thompson on the marathon to claim the title, while the rising Australian star held on for second after saying pre-race that his run form was "a bit of a mystery". Marquardt and Jackie Hering made history on Sunday, becoming the first American winners in the event's 14-year history. Marquardt is also the first triathlete from outside Australia or New Zealand to claim the men's race. Thompson had "Strong Like Jon" printed across the back of his race top as a tribute to long-time friend Jon Sammut, who is still regaining full use of his legs after a horrific bike crash last December at Western Australia's Busselton Ironman . "He's always been equally as good as me," Thompson said of Sammut. "I hope he's proud of me, I think he will be. "When he's finally allowed to have a beer at the end of the year, it will be on me. He's one of many names back home (in WA) that I'm lucky to have - I couldn't think of a better support network." Marquardt overtook Thompson after 30km in the run to win the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon race in seven hours 50 minutes 41 seconds. Thompson finished two minutes 49 seconds behind Marquardt and Henrik Goesch from Finland was 6:57 back in third. Marquardt's day looked shot when he cramped badly in his legs after being among the leaders out of the water at Palm Cove, north of Cairns. It is a problem that has happened at his last three races and the medical student thought it had been fixed. He lost eight minutes early on the bike, before rallying, and then storming through the marathon. "The T1 (swim-bike) was definitely really, really rough, but it's a long day and that's the beauty of an Ironman," he said. "You can falter a lot and still come back and have a phenomenal day. "Certainly it's a mystery. I'd love to have a little less drama." Hering had a more straightforward day, holding off defending champion Hannah Berry from New Zealand and Australian-based Dutch triathlete Lotte Wilms for the women's title. After having to pull out at the Ironman European championships at Hamburg a fortnight ago, Hering made a last-minute call to race at Cairns and only arrived on Wednesday. Like Marquardt, it was Hering's first visit to Australia and she won in 8:42:15, with Berry at 3:55 and Wilms 4:48 behind the American for third. "What I know especially about Lotte and Hanna is that they really don't quit, they're just very tough," said the 40-year-old Hering. Penny Slater passed compatriot Regan Hollioake on the run to finish fourth and the top Australian woman. "I came back from the dead - I retired from triathlon a few times on the bike there," Slater said. The top-five finishers qualified for this year's Ironman world championships - the men will race in Nice and the women will compete at triathlon's spiritual home in Kona, Hawaii. The worlds will be held on Hering's birthday and Cairns was double mission accomplished, sealing the win and her Kona berth. "That was the main deal ... super bang for the buck," she said. The Ironman and 70.3, or half-Ironman races were held in windy conditions, with massive crowds at the Cairns finish. The Ironman 70.3 race featured 92-year-old Japanese finisher Hiromu Inada.
Courier-Mail
5 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
‘Sick joke': Aussie George Kambosos victim of cruel KO loss to Richardson Hitchins
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News. George Kambosos has suffered the most brutal loss of his career with boxing commentators suggesting he was so outclassed that the fight should not have been allowed to go ahead. The former IBF and WBO world champ was taught a devastating lesson by American Richardson Hitchins on Sunday before the referee stopped the fight in the eighth round. Hitchins vs Kambosos Jr | SUN 15 JUNE 9AM AEST | IBF super lightweight champ Richardson Hitchins attempts to make a first defence of his crown against Australia's George Kambosos Jr. | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports The crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York watched Kambosos get belted right from the opening round as Hitchins defeded his IBF junior welterweight title in style. Kambosos was knocked to the ground for the first time in the eighth round when Hitchins landed a third savage body shot, but the fight could easily have been stopped in the previous rounds. Kambosos bravely fought on after he had been left wincing from two earlier body shots and a barrage of jabs to the face. You can watch the KO punch in the video player above. George Kambosos was brave. Photo: DAZN. But one stat showed just how out-matched the 32-year-old was against the IBF world super lightweight champ. According to DAZN, Hitchins landed 104 jabs to Kambosos' 32 after seven rounds. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Leading boxing commentator Sergio Mora said on the broadcast the fight had been a 'surgical beatdown'. 'Hitchins has no respect for Kambosos now' he said in an earlier round. 'Now he's not even jumping back or trying to counter. He's barely making him miss with that shoulder before coming back with that right hand landing accurately.' He went on to say: 'Hitchins is so relaxed. He has no respect for him'. The referee stopped the fight. Photo: DAZN. The commentary team noted Hitchins at one point yelled at Kambosos' corner to stop the fight. Boxing analyst Chris Mannix scored the fight 70-63 after seven rounds. 'Surgical performances do not get much more dominant than that,' he said. Boxing guru Dan Rafael was even more savage in his analysis, questioning why the fight was allowed to happen. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Since his historic triumph over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has lost four of his past six fights. Rafael posted on X: 'That the IBF made Kambosos mandatory is a sick joke'. He went on to write: 'Complete and utter destruction in a mismatch. Hitchins easily retains the IBF 140 title in a sensational performance. He wrote earlier: 'Hitchins continues to beat the s*** out of Kambosos. Punishing him, battering him. 'I said it would be a massacre and thru four rounds that is what it is. 4-0 and Hitchins landing at will.' Lopez was ringside for the fight ans offered up some brutal advice to the Australian after the fifth round. 'Move your f***ing head,' he said 'Move you're f***ing head.' Kambosos' career is now at crossroads. He said he did not know what will come next for him. 'I don't know right now. I've had two fights in three months' time, two solid guys. I've been fighting the best,' he said. 'Right now, I'm going to coach my son's footy team. That's what I want to do. We'll go back to the drawing board.' Speaking after the fight, Hitchins said he had watched Kambosos' previous fights with Devin Haney and knew if he was able to take the fight inside he would be able to find success. 'He (Haney) was head-hunting a lot when he was hurt, so I said I'm going to touch him with some short shots and when I did I saw that he squinted,' added Hitchins. 'I smelled blood but I just wanted to keep punishing him. I told his dad, 'If you love your son you should stop the fight'. He was tough. He was a true competitor. But I was just the better man tonight.' Originally published as 'Sick joke': Aussie George Kambosos victim of cruel KO loss to Richardson Hitchins
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Strong Like Jon' - American rallies to win Cairns tri
Nick Thompson stayed "Strong Like Jon" at the Ironman Cairns triathlon - only American Matthew Marquardt was even stronger. Marquardt recovered from an awful swim-bike transition to overhaul Thompson on the marathon to claim the title, while the rising Australian star held on for second after saying pre-race that his run form was "a bit of a mystery". Marquardt and Jackie Hering made history on Sunday, becoming the first American winners in the event's 14-year history. Marquardt is also the first triathlete from outside Australia or New Zealand to claim the men's race. Thompson had "Strong Like Jon" printed across the back of his race top as a tribute to long-time friend Jon Sammut, who is still regaining full use of his legs after a horrific bike crash last December at Western Australia's Busselton Ironman . "He's always been equally as good as me," Thompson said of Sammut. "I hope he's proud of me, I think he will be. "When he's finally allowed to have a beer at the end of the year, it will be on me. He's one of many names back home (in WA) that I'm lucky to have - I couldn't think of a better support network." Marquardt overtook Thompson after 30km in the run to win the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon race in seven hours 50 minutes 41 seconds. Thompson finished two minutes 49 seconds behind Marquardt and Henrik Goesch from Finland was 6:57 back in third. Marquardt's day looked shot when he cramped badly in his legs after being among the leaders out of the water at Palm Cove, north of Cairns. It is a problem that has happened at his last three races and the medical student thought it had been fixed. He lost eight minutes early on the bike, before rallying, and then storming through the marathon. "The T1 (swim-bike) was definitely really, really rough, but it's a long day and that's the beauty of an Ironman," he said. "You can falter a lot and still come back and have a phenomenal day. "Certainly it's a mystery. I'd love to have a little less drama." Hering had a more straightforward day, holding off defending champion Hannah Berry from New Zealand and Australian-based Dutch triathlete Lotte Wilms for the women's title. After having to pull out at the Ironman European championships at Hamburg a fortnight ago, Hering made a last-minute call to race at Cairns and only arrived on Wednesday. Like Marquardt, it was Hering's first visit to Australia and she won in 8:42:15, with Berry at 3:55 and Wilms 4:48 behind the American for third. "What I know especially about Lotte and Hanna is that they really don't quit, they're just very tough," said the 40-year-old Hering. Penny Slater passed compatriot Regan Hollioake on the run to finish fourth and the top Australian woman. "I came back from the dead - I retired from triathlon a few times on the bike there," Slater said. The top-five finishers qualified for this year's Ironman world championships - the men will race in Nice and the women will compete at triathlon's spiritual home in Kona, Hawaii. The worlds will be held on Hering's birthday and Cairns was double mission accomplished, sealing the win and her Kona berth. "That was the main deal ... super bang for the buck," she said. The Ironman and 70.3, or half-Ironman races were held in windy conditions, with massive crowds at the Cairns finish. The Ironman 70.3 race featured 92-year-old Japanese finisher Hiromu Inada.
