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The great Brian Gottfried, one of tennis’ greatest serve and volleyers EVER, joins AZ for a look back at some good times, and a little “where are they now?”

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Original author: Andy Zodin

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Tennis players talking football: Colorado Tennis Hall of Famer, Jeff Loehr joins AZ to break down the big game. PFM’s last stand??

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Original author: Andy Zodin

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Dave “THE KOZ” Kozlowski is one of the most colorful and passionate sports journalists that tennis has to offer. This segment will tell you why!!

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Original author: Andy Zodin

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After a more than solid 17 years on tour, Michael Russell is moving on to the next phase of his career, which keeps him very relevant in American tennis.

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Original author: Andy Zodin

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All you need to know about the 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN, at the spectacular Indian Wells Garden!!

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Original author: Andy Zodin

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USTA Player Development Director, Martin Blackman joins AZ for an exclusive preview of American tennis in 2016 & beyond!!!

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Original author: Andy Zodin

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Murray Needs One More Win in Paris to Take the No. 1 Spot

Come Monday morning, Novak Djokovic of Serbia might not work up as the ATP World No. 1 since he left the door wide open after his semifinal loss on Friday, November 4, 2016 at BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.

Marin Cilic of Croatia took out top seed Djokovic in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(2). This means that Andy Murray of Great Britain has a huge chance to take over the coveted title. He only has to win one more match in order to dethrone Djokovic as the ATP World No. 1.

Murray did his part today by winning his quarterfinal match. He earned his spot to the semifinal after a 7-6(9), 7-5 win over Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. Murray next faces the winner of 4th seed Milos Raonic of Canada and 11th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Murray has a winning record against both Raonic and Tsonga. He is 8-3 in his head-to-head against Raonic, and 14-2 against Tsonga. Murray beat Tsonga on Sunday in the Vienna final. All eyes will be on Murray as he attempts his quest to be World No. 1.

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Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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John Isner Reaches Semifinals at Paris Masters

PARIS (AP) John Isner won a hard-fought all-American contest against Jack Sock 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters on Friday.

Isner looked set for a straight-set win while served up a break at 4-3 in the second set but lost his temper after a foot-fault call.

Isner, who had not dropped his serve once since the start of the week, was unsettled by the decision and was broken twice in a row, allowing Sock back in the match.

But the change in momentum did not last long. Isner capitalized on Sock’s mistakes to break him twice early in the decider.

Isner equaled his best result at the indoor tournament, making it to the last four for the first time in five years in the French capital.

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Djokovic Loses in Quarterfinals at Paris Masters

PARIS (AP) — Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic has lost in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters.

The top-ranked Djokovic was beaten by Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (2) for the first time in 15 matchups.

Djokovic’s loss means Andy Murray can rise to No. 1 in the ATP rankings if he reaches the final.

Djokovic saved two match points in the 12th game but Cilic served extremely well to prevail in the tiebreak.

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Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Isner, Sock Advance to Quarterfinals in Paris

Americans John Isner and Jack Sock advanced to the quarterfinals of BNP Paribas Masters in Paris on Thursday, November 3, 2016. They set up an all-American quarterfinal.

Isner defeated giant killer Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, who took out U.S. Open champ Stan Wawrinka in the second round. Isner won in three sets 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3. He plays fellow compatriot Sock in the quarterfinal on Friday.

Sock beat local favorite Richard Gasquet of France in a tight two-setter 6-4, 7-6(11).

Marin Cilic of Croatia and Milos Raonic of Canada also advanced to the quarterfinals. Cilic beat David Goffin of Belgium 6-3, 7-6 (9). Cilic plays Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal on Friday. Raonic defeated Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. He awaits the winner of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kei Nishikori of Japan.

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Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Djokovic, Murray Battle Continues in Paris for No.1 Spot

Two down, three to go! Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Andy Murray of Great Britain passed their respective third round tests on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris . These two tennis giants are battling for the coveted year-end number one spot.

Djokovic, who had an easy win in his second round match (they both had first round byes), today struggled against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. He was forced to take a medical timeout due to a slip. The Bulgarian won the first set but Djokovic came back to win the next two sets, taking the match 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Novak’s next opponent is 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic of Croatia. On paper, Novak has an overwhelming advantage over Cilic as he leads their head-to-head 14-0. However, Cilic is on a winning streak, coming off a Swiss Indoor win in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday.

Murray, who survived a nasty scare in his second round match presented by Fernando Verdasco of Spain, had a routine match today. He defeated Lucas Pouille of France. Murray won 6-3, 6-0.

Murray awaits the winner of Gilles Simon and Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. Murray has a winning record against both of them. He is 9-6 in his head-to-head against Berdych, and 16-2 against Simon.

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Cilic Qualifies for ATP Finals with Win at Paris Masters

PARIS (AP) Marin Cilic ended a three-match losing streak against David Goffin and earned a spot at the ATP finals.

The former U.S. Open champion converted his sixth match point Thursday to beat Goffin 6-3, 7-6 (9) at the Paris Masters, giving him a spot in the quarterfinals and one of the remaining two berths at the season-ending tournament in London.

Goffin had won their three previous encounters, all of them this year. But Cilic was better Thursday on crucial points, often using his big serve to lift himself out of trouble.

The ninth-seeded Croat raised his arms in triumph and let out a big scream after Goffin shanked a forehand to end it.

Cilic will next face either top-ranked Novak Djokovic or Grigor Dimitrov.

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Murray Must Play Better if he Wants Djokovic’s No. 1 Ranking

PARIS (AP) — If Andy Murray is to take Novak Djokovic’s No. 1 ranking at the Paris Masters this week, he must play significantly better than he did in a scrappy win against Fernando Verdasco in the second round on Wednesday.

Murray becomes No. 1 if he wins the tournament and Djokovic – winner for the past three years – does not reach the final.

Djokovic began his quest for a fourth straight Paris Masters title by easing past Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-4.

Murray is full of confidence after three straight tournament wins, but needed to scrap hard to beat Verdasco 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5.

Murray’s 12th win in 13 career matches against the Spaniard was unconvincing and he needed 2 ½ hours to prevail.

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Del Potro Heads Argentina’s Davis Cup Team for Croatia Final

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Juan Martin Del Potro will lead Argentina’s team for the Davis Cup final against Croatia later this month in Zagreb.

Argentina captain Daniel Orsanic named Del Potro on Wednesday along with Federico Delbonis, Guido Pella and Leonardo Mayer. It’s the same team that beat Britain in the semifinals.

Orsanic says “picking the team was again difficult, but we went with players who have delivered.”

Argentina will be playing its fifth Davis Cup final – and it has lost the previous four in 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

Croatia, which won the Davis Cup in 2005, has yet to name its team for the Nov. 25-27 match, but seems sure to contain Marin Cilic and Ivo Karlovic.

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Djokovic Starts Bid for 4th Straight Win by Beating Muller

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic began his quest for a fourth straight Paris Masters title with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday.

The top-ranked Serb broke Muller’s serve once in each set and sealed victory with an ace.

Celebrating his win, Djokovic tapped his hand against his heart and made a throwing gesture to all four sides of the court as if to share the moment with the crowd.

Djokovic has a special bond with Paris, having won this tournament four times overall and having also clinched the French Open in June to complete his haul of all four majors.

“It’s a moment of happiness. It’s a real pleasure to come back to Paris after what I did at Roland Garros this year,” Djokovic said. “In the last few years I’ve played my best tennis here. It’s the end of the season and you have to find that last bit of energy.”

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Mladenovic, Garcia to Spearhead France in Fed Cup Final

PARIS (AP) France captain Amelie Mauresmo is keeping faith in the same players for the Fed Cup final against the two-time defending champion Czech Republic next week.

Maursemo named Caroline Garcia, Kristina Mladenovic, Alize Cornet, and Pauline Parmentier to face the Czechs at home in Strasbourg on Nov. 12-13.

The same quartet defeated the Netherlands in the semifinals.

The Czechs are bidding for a fifth title in six years, while France is playing its first final since 2005.

Mladenovic and Garcia were cleared to play after the French Tennis Federation lifted their ban in September. The pair was provisionally suspended for ”damaging” the federation’s image at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where the players criticized the FTT over a clothing mix-up after their defeat in the first round of the doubles.

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