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Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Tie-break marathon: Fritz edges Lehecka without a single break
ATP Toronto The National Bank Open saved the best for last on a bumper Sunday that saw all four men's singles matches go into a deciding set. In the Toronto nightcap, Taylor Fritz edged Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-6(5) in a dramatic match in which neither player lost a service game. Across nearly three hours, Fritz saved all nine break points against him while Lehecka saved five. Fritz escaped 0/40 at 5-6 in the opening set before Lehecka dug out of the same hole at 0-1 in the third set. After fighting off a final break point to hold for 4-3 in the decider, the American closed out the victory by winning five of the last six points from 2/4 in the deciding tie-break, improving to 4-0 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series. While Fritz struggled at times to find the court with his aggressive game, finishing with 48 errors, he found a way through to the quarter-finals behind a stellar serving day. 'I think just in the end [it was about] really accepting what was there for me tonight,' said the American, who won 82 per cent of his first-serve points. 'Luckily for me, I was serving really, really well tonight. He was too. 'When it came down to that tie-break, I really bailed myself out with a lot of first serves, and then just trying to put balls in the court and not try any shots that, despite how badly I wanted to try to be aggressive, just be disciplined and just make the balls that I felt like I could make.' The victory completed the box set of ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals for Fritz, who is through to that stage in Canada for the first time. He is the 11th active player to reach the quarters at all nine Masters 1000s. 'It's really cool,' said Fritz. 'It shows the consistency on all the different tournaments and surfaces. I guess what's next is to go for semis.' Fritz has reached the semis in six of the nine Masters 1000s, all but Rome, Cincinnati and Paris.
The Irish Sun
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jack Draper becomes highest Wimbledon seed since Andy Murray but two-time champ ‘refuses to answer questions about him'
JACK DRAPER can shower with the big boys now as he secured a top-four seeding spot at Wimbledon. England's top hope fought off American Brandon Nakashima 6-4 5-7 6-4 to reach the Queen's semi-finals for the first time. Advertisement 5 Jack Draper has secured a top four seeding at Wimbledon Credit: Alamy 5 He is on a crash course with Carlos Alcaraz if he makes the Queens final this Sunday Credit: Alamy The Sutton star is on a collision course with Arthur Rinderknech 7-5 6-4 – his record 16th win in a row. Yet Court . And he can enjoy the comforts of washing in the exclusive Gentlemen's Members' Dressing Room , one of the perks of being an elite player. Draper – Britain's highest Wimbledon seed since defending champion Andy Murray was top guy in 2017 – said: 'This means the world to me. Advertisement READ MORE IN TENNIS 'This is a definite huge step for me. I remember last year going into the grass ranked around 40. 'To be inside the top-four come Wimbledon one year around, that's massive progress. 'A testament to my team, the dedication I have had for tennis, the work I have put in on a daily basis. 'You know, I live and breathe the sport and I'm obsessed with progressing. Advertisement Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'I'm obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to. 'The top-16 seeds get, you know, a better changing room. There's some tournaments where it's top-eight seeds, in the Masters 1000s I've had this year. Andy Murray starts new career as agony aunt as he reveals details of 'terrible' first date with wife Kim 'Nothing is different apart from the fact that maybe, potentially, I won't see Alcaraz or Sinner in the quarters – if I make it there.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Murray won't be stepping into TV punditry work just yet – as he does not want to annoy Jack Draper with his words. Muzza, 38, hated it when he was playing and former British tennis stars, who had nowhere near his same level of ability or talent, gave him advice. Now retired and at a loose end following the dissolution of his coaching gig with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, the Scotsman could earn decent money working for the BBC. But the two-time Wimbledon singles champion is conscious of appearing in front of millions and saying something that current British No 1 Draper, 23, disagrees with. Advertisement Asked by GQ magazine if he feels the need to stay in the public eye, Murray replied: 'I'm not thinking daily that I need to tweet something or somehow remain relevant. 'That's why I'm much more interested in the idea of coaching because I feel like I'd actually really be helping someone. 'Whereas with punditry, it can be harmful. If I go and work at, let's say Wimbledon, you start getting asked questions about British players like Jack Draper. 5 Andy Murray has revealed he is snubbing a Wimbledon TV appearance Credit: Getty Advertisement 5 Murray told GQ he doesn't want to annoy the likes of Jack Draper Credit: Getty 'I know when the British ex–tennis players would talk about my tennis and what I should be doing. 'Because you respect them, you listen to what they're saying – but it's not always the same as what your coach is telling you. 'What the pundits are saying could be wrong. They're not right all the time, and when you're young, it's quite conflicting. Advertisement 'So I'd be more inclined to do coaching, because I think punditry is quite an easy gig. You can just throw stuff out there. "People love it if it's a bit controversial, but you don't actually have any skin in the game.' On an extremely hot day, Draper, 23, will try to out-ace Czech speedster Jiri Lehecka, who crushed the spirit of British star Jacob Fearnley 7-5 6-2 in the opening quarter-final. Dressed in all-black clothes, the black-haired Scotsman injured his arm returning one 138mph ace. Advertisement And overall he served TEN double faults as his service game malfunctioned due to nerves and anxiety. Fearnley, 23, moaned: 'He was serving great. I was serving terrible. At this level you can't give away that many free points.' BBC's Wimbledon TV comms team will be revealed on Monday. 5 Advertisement
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Alcaraz hopes to learn from mistakes ahead of Paul quarter-final
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz eliminated "dumb mistakes" from his game to see off Ben Shelton on Sunday and hoped to learn from his experience to avoid another tough workout when he plays American Tommy Paul in the French Open quarter-finals. The defending champion was put through the wringer in his third-round match by Damir Dzumhur and was unable to show his usual aggressive side against Shelton, who dragged him into battle before losing 7-6(8) 6-3 4-6 6-4. "I was really focused and trying to show my good tennis, playing aggressively, hitting great shots," Alcaraz said. "In the beginning it was difficult for me to play at that level. I just tried to play more solid than aggressive. Probably I made dumb mistakes that I had to go for it all the time. I found the right way in the match. "I tried to keep it in that direction, but tennis is like that. One round you're playing against one opponent and the next round you're playing a totally different game so you have to get used to the game from the opponent." While Shelton may not be the most natural player on clay, Paul represents a different kettle of fish and Alcaraz said he was aware of what could be in store for him when they meet in the last eight. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough. In Grand Slams, in Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all," Alcaraz said. "I lost a few matches against him as well. He's in the quarter-finals of another Grand Slam, so his level is really high right now. He has a lot of confidence, I'm pretty sure. It's going to be an interesting match.
Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Alcaraz hopes to learn from mistakes ahead of Paul quarter-final
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his fourth round match against Ben Shelton of the U.S. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz eliminated "dumb mistakes" from his game to see off Ben Shelton on Sunday and hoped to learn from his experience to avoid another tough workout when he plays American Tommy Paul in the French Open quarter-finals. The defending champion was put through the wringer in his third-round match by Damir Dzumhur and was unable to show his usual aggressive side against Shelton, who dragged him into battle before losing 7-6(8) 6-3 4-6 6-4. "I was really focused and trying to show my good tennis, playing aggressively, hitting great shots," Alcaraz said. "In the beginning it was difficult for me to play at that level. I just tried to play more solid than aggressive. Probably I made dumb mistakes that I had to go for it all the time. I found the right way in the match. "I tried to keep it in that direction, but tennis is like that. One round you're playing against one opponent and the next round you're playing a totally different game so you have to get used to the game from the opponent." While Shelton may not be the most natural player on clay, Paul represents a different kettle of fish and Alcaraz said he was aware of what could be in store for him when they meet in the last eight. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough. In Grand Slams, in Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all," Alcaraz said. "I lost a few matches against him as well. He's in the quarter-finals of another Grand Slam, so his level is really high right now. He has a lot of confidence, I'm pretty sure. It's going to be an interesting match. "I'll try to keep going, trying to be better. I'll try to learn from the mistakes I made today. I'm not going to make the same against Tommy, but I think for the people it's going to be a really interesting match to watch." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Associated Press
06-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Charleston Open will pay women same as men starting in 2026 with bank extending rights deal
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The Charleston Open is keeping Credit One Bank as its title partner through 2031 along with the tennis tournament paying equal prize money to women and men starting in 2026. Credit One Bank announced the rights extension Sunday on the final day of this year's event. Prize money for the WTA-500 level event will be the same as the men's ATP-500 level event. That will make the Charleston Open the first standalone WTA 500 tournament to hike prize money before the 2033 goal for all weeklong WTA 1000 and 500 events to pay the same prize money to women as for men. The 500 level is two below Grand Slams and one level below Masters 1000s. Amber Greenwalt, Credit One Bank's senior vice president of brand and advertising, said the tournament has had a legacy of empowerment since 1973. This tournament was the first where women were offered $100,000 in prize money in 1973 and first to be broadcast live on network television. Inaugural champ Rosie Casals's $30,000 check was the largest payout to a woman that year. 'This commitment reflects our dedication to advancing equity both on and off the court, as we continue to champion progress and opportunity for all,' Greenwalt said in a statement. The 2025 Charleston Open prize money will be $1.06 million and had been set to rise to approximately $1.15 million for 2026. The purse will match the ATP 500 event, which typically is more than $2 million with the amount finalized once the official prize money is released for the 2026 season. 'We are proud to take this action as part of our ongoing commitment to acknowledging the hard work and dedication of our athletes, leading by example for the next generation,' tournament owner Ben Navarro said. The nine-day event kicks off the clay season for the WTA Tour with a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 28 and a doubles draw of 16. The Charleston Open is the largest women's only tennis tournament in North America. ___
