Looking for Tennis and Racket Sports International News?

Felix Auger-Aliassime will have a shot at his second ATP Tour title - and a return to the World's Top 10 - after dismissing #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-3 in the UniCredit Firenze Open semi-finals Saturday.

The Canadian, who has already climbed two places this week to No. 11 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will reclaim a coveted spot in the Top 10 if he beats first-time finalist J.J. Wolf Sunday (5pm CEST, See Broadcasters).

Significantly, Auger-Aliassime has the opportunity to extend his lead over Taylor Fritz in seventh place in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin to 180 points, as both players fight to make their debut at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be played 13-20 November.

[ATP APP]

In the early stages of the semi-final, Auger-Aliassime displayed strong firepower to hit through Musetti, racing off to an early lead. The Canadian remained flawless from the baseline, firing 21 winners to only six unforced errors, dispatching the Italian in one hour, 27 minutes.

American duo Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow advanced to the Gijon Open final Saturday, when they ousted Sander Gille and Fabrice Martin 6-4, 6-4.

Lammons and Withrow, who claimed their first team title in San Diego last month, look to continue their hot streak Sunday, when they face Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in the championship match. The Americans are also two-time Challenger champions this season (Cary and Salzburg).

[ATP APP]

In Florence doubles action, third seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek fended off two match points to survive Lorenzo Sonego and Andrea Vavassori 6-2, 3-6, 12-10. The Croatian-American duo, who won the ATP 250 event in Lyon earlier this season and are 12th in the Pepperstone ATP Teams Rankings, will face Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in Sunday’s final.

Mahut and Roger-Vasselin took down countrymen Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul 6-4, 7-6(4) Saturday to advance to their first Tour-level final of this season.

American J.J. Wolf has charged into his first ATP Tour final after a power-hitting 6-4 6-4 win over Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer at the UniCredit Firenze Open in Florence.

Rising to a career-best No. 56 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, the 23-year-old will play the winner of top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and third-seeded home favourite Lorenzo Musetti.

"I definitely had to keep my nerve and wait for my chance," Wolf said. "He's sneaky aggressive and can turn defense into offense in a second. I'm not sure what to expect tomorrow as I haven't been in a final before. I'm just going to keep working on the things I've been working on and not worry about the result."

[ATP APP]

Wolf, who upset fourth-seeded countryman Maxime Cressy in the second round and seventh seed Alexander Bublik in the quarter-finals, improved to 16-16 on the year.

Andrey Rublev extended his winning streak against Dominic Thiem to four matches Saturday after defeating the Austrian 6-4, 6-4 to charge into the Gijon Open final in Spain.

Playing an ultra-aggressive brand of tennis, Rublev firmed up his hold on sixth position in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin, as he looks to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the third consecutive year.

Rublev, who has now won eight straight sets against the 2020 US Open champion, battled his inner demons after being broken when attempting to serve out the first set. The 24-year-old, who has spoken candidly about difficulties in controlling his on-court frustrations, exploded in rage after dropping serve but regained composure to break in the next game to close out the set.

“When I was winning 4-1 with a break point for 5-1 it looks like the match is going my way and then I am at 5-4 with him serving,” Rublev said. “That’s not easy to accept, but I was lucky I played a really good game and Dominic helped me out a little bit.

“Then I felt more confident and I was able to win in two sets, which was the most important thing. This week I have been playing really well and I’ll try to show my best tennis of the week tomorrow.”

This past week, American teenager Zachary Svajda staked his claim as the latest #NextGenATP star to watch on the ATP Challenger Tour.

The 19-year-old rallied from a set down to capture his maiden Challenger title in Tiburon, California, defeating countryman Ben Shelton in the final 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Svajda is the youngest American in the Top 300 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The two-time USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships titlist joins fellow San Diego native Brandon Nakashima (Quimper-2, February 2021) as the only American teenage Challenger champion in the past five years.

Following his title on home soil, which propelled him to a career-high No. 255, ATPTour.com spoke with the California teen.

#NextGenATP youngster Timofey Skatov made his ATP Challenger Tour breakthrough this past week, when he lifted his maiden Challenger trophy in Parma, Italy.

The 21-year-old defeated Slovakian Jozek Kovalik 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-4 in the Parma Challenger final to become the first Kazakh Challenger champion this season. Skatov has reached at least the semi-finals in four of his past five Challenger tournaments and the title in Italy launched him to a career-high No. 152 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

ATPTour.com spoke to Skatov following his title to learn more about the rising star.

Timofey, congratulations on winning your first Challenger title. Can you describe your emotions?
I was really happy when I won the tournament, I didn’t even expect to win it. I played just one Challenger final before and I lost it. This one was a bit surprising for me. Maybe because of that, I was more happy because when you are having tough times and then finally you win a Challenger, it feels good.

Felix Auger-Aliassime boosted his Nitto ATP Finals qualification chances on Friday in Florence, where he moved past #NextGenATP American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-4.

In a dominant display, the Canadian fired 23 winners and won 90 per cent (35/39) of his first-serve points to set up a semi-final meeting with #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti at the UniCredit Firenze Open.

“I am very pleased with my level,” Auger-Aliassime said in his on-court interview. “It was a great two sets of tennis. I think I served well. I could have been better on the second serve, he was winning a lot of points. I had to stay very focused until the end because you never know, matches can change quickly.”

[ATP APP]

With his 89-minute victory, Auger-Aliassime has climbed one place to seventh in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, moving past American Taylor Fritz, who lifted the trophy in Tokyo last week.

#NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti lit up the UniCredit Firenze Open Friday when he produced a stunning display to reach the semi-finals on home soil in Florence.

In front of a packed Italian crowd, the 20-year-old opened his shoulders to fire an array of winners past Mackenzie McDonald, advancing 6-3, 6-2 at the ATP 250 event.

“It was a really good start,” Musetti said. “But he came back and was very good. But I had to defend some break points, but I think I won the match because I played really well in the important situations. I always used my serve well and I am confident as I am playing really good. I am looking forward to the semis.

“It is pretty special here. I can hear the crowd. It is really noisy and really Italian. I am taking all the energy the crowd is giving me.”

Musetti lost just three games in his opening round win against Bernabe Zapata Miralles and played with confidence against the American, striking 23 winners to earn his 26th tour-level win of the season in 77 minutes.

Sander Gille and Fabrice Martin reached the semi-finals at the Gijon Open on Friday when they downed Sander Arends and David Pel 6-4, 7-6(5).

In a tight clash, the Belgian-French tandem raised their level at the crucial moments, saving all three break points they faced to advance after 89 minutes at the ATP 250 event.

Gille and Martin, who upset top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the first round, are teaming for the first time this week. The 31-year-old Gille has lifted five tour-level trophies in his career, while Martin has triumphed seven times. They will next play Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow.

In the other match in Spain, Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni moved past Nikola Cacic and Hugo Nys 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the championship match. Gonzalez and Molteni did not face a break point to triumph after 71 minutes.

[ATP APP]

Dominic Thiem moved to within two wins of capturing his first tour-level title since 2020 on Friday when he moved past fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-3 at the Gijon Open.

The Austrian played with confidence throughout the one-hour, 34-minute clash in Spain, riffling his groundstrokes with heavy topspin and pace to advance to his second tour-level semi-final of the season. Thiem reached the last four on clay in Gstaad in July.

[ATP APP]

Thiem, who moved past Joao Sousa and Marcos Giron in his opening two matches at the ATP 250 event, is up to No. 132 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings following his 14th tour-level win of the year. He will climb back into the Top 100 if he wins the title in Gijon.

The 29-year-old will be aiming to reach his first tour-level final since the Nitto ATP Finals in 2020 when he next plays Andrey Rublev or fifth seed Tommy Paul on Saturday. Thiem’s last tour-level title came at the US Open in September 2020.

Andres Molteni has won four ATP Tour titles alongside Santiago Gonzalez. This week, the Argentine is pursuing glory with another Gonzalez.

Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez defeated Portugal’s Francisco Cabral and former doubles World No. 1 Jamie Murray 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Gijon Open. They will next play Serbian Nikola Cacic and Monagesque Hugo Nys, who upset second seeds Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2.

In other Gijon action, Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow eliminated third seeds Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez 6-7(8), 6-4, 10-6.

[ATP APP]

Italians Thrill Home Fans In Florence
Italians Lorenzo Sonego and Andrea Vavassori earned the doubles upset of the day Thursday when they ousted second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 6-1, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the UniCredit Firenze Open.

Lorenzo Musetti put on a show for his home fans Thursday at the UniCredit Firenze Open, where the #NextGenATP Italian dispatched Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 6-0 with a scintillating opening display in Florence.

Musetti displayed confidence in all facets of his game in the second-round clash at the indoor ATP 250 event. The third seed delighted a vocal home crowd with an array of classy winners to close out victory against Zapata Miralles in just 69 minutes.

Musetti hit 21 winners to the Spaniard’s eight in the pair’s first tour-level meeting. With the win, the Italian is into his sixth tour-level quarter-final of the season and his third on indoor hard courts (after Rotterdam and Sofia). The 20-year-old, whose excellent season has also included his maiden ATP Tour title in Hamburg, has already qualified to compete at November’s Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan for the second consecutive year.

Musetti will meet Mackenzie McDonald in the quarter-finals in Florence after the American downed another #NextGenATP Italian, Francesco Passaro, 6-4, 7-5. The No. 79-ranked McDonald broke Passaro’s serve twice in each set to clinch a 95-minute win and reach his third tour-level quarter-final of the season.

Brandon Nakashima joined his countrymen McDonald and J.J. Wolf in the last eight with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Altug Celikbilek. The San Diego champion Nakashima will take on top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Oscar Otte next as he looks to join Musetti in reaching the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals for the second consecutive year. The 21-year-old is currently sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan.

With his back against the wall Thursday, Andy Murray showcased his trademark fighting spirit to reach the quarter-finals at the Gijon Open.

After losing a 56-minute first set, the former World No. 1 rallied to edge Argentine Pedro Cachin 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(3) at the ATP 250 event in Spain.

In their first ATP Head2Head meeting, the Scot raised his intensity and refused to go away, twice rallying from a break down in the third set to eventually seal his 25th tour-level win of the season after two hours and 49 minutes.

"I think I served well in the second and third sets. I fought very hard," Murray said in his on-court interview. "In the first set I wasn't playing my best and Pedro was serving very well for the first set and a half. I was really struggling to break serve. I changed the way I was returning to give myself more opportunities to break. I fought very hard to come back from a break down twice in the third set."

Murray struck his flat groundstrokes consistently, hitting 31 winners and committing just 19 unforced errors, while he held his nerve in the third-set tie-break to advance to his fourth tour-level quarter-final of the season.

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic started their title quest at the UniCredit Firenze Open in Florence with victory on Wednesday when they moved past Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler 6-4, 6-2.

In a strong serving display, the second seeds saved the one break point they faced and won 97 per cent (30/31) of points behind their first deliveries to advance after 63 minutes. The Croatians have now won their past five matches after they clinched their fifth tour-level title of the season last week in Astana. Mektic and Pavic will play Lorenzo Sonego and Andrea Vavassori in the quarter-finals.

Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul also advanced at the ATP 250 event in Italy, edging fourth seeds Matthew Ebden and John Peers 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.

[ATP APP]

Gille/Martin Upset Top Seeds Granollers/Zeballos In Gijon
Sander Gille and Fabrice Martin upset top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals at Gijon Open.

Roberto Carballes Baena defied the powerful game of Matteo Berrettini to earn a shock first-round win Wednesday at the UniCredit Firenze Open, where the Spaniard rallied to a 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-5 victory.

The World No. 80 showcased incredible defence to frustrate the second seed throughout the pair’s three-hour, 19-minute clash, holding firm even when trailing by a break of serve in both the second and third sets. Carballes Baena converted all five break points he earned and reeled off five games in a row from 2-5 in the third set to silence a vocal home crowd in Florence.

“I’m very happy, it’s a very good win for me, the best of my career,” said Carballes Baena after clinching his third Top 20 triumph. “I just tried to win every point, to be focused every point, and tried to return the serve, because he served very well. I’m very happy because I am in the next round.”

A magic pass ?@Robertocarba93 #FirenzeOpen pic.twitter.com/8eyJ1paUfN

Berrettini had led 7-5, 2-0 before Carballes Baena rallied in impressive fashion to force a second-set tie-break and level the match. The Italian appeared to have finally cracked the Carballes Baena code after breaking in the sixth game of the decider, but the Spaniard’s late charge proved decisive.

Dominic Thiem was made to work hard on Wednesday at the Gijon Open, but he found a way to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP 250 event in Spain.

In a hard-fought clash, the Austrian battled past American Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 to advance to his fourth tour-level quarter-final of the season after two hours and 27 minutes.

“It was a very intense match,” Thiem said in his on-court interview. “Long, long rallies and lots of running. It was so close throughout the whole match until the third set. At the end of the second set, anything could have happened. I had to save a break point at 4-4 in the second set, if he makes it he is probably going to be the winner.

“It was so close the match, but luckily I was able to win that second set and then running away at the beginning of the third. I am really happy. It was so close, so intense. A great night.”

After a slow start, Thiem opened his shoulders to overpower Giron. He recovered from squandering a break advantage in the second set, eventually forcing a decider when Giron struck a double fault on set point. The 29-year-old then raced through the third set to improve to 13-13 in tour-level matches in 2022.

After Sam Querrey brought his 16-year career on the ATP Tour to a close at the US Open in August, the American had quite the list of achievements to look back on.

A 10-time tour-level titlist, Querrey was renowned as one of the biggest and most destructive servers on Tour. The Californian backed up his prime weapon with clinical volleying and a high-powered ground game that carried him to a career-high No. 11 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2018.

Now an ambassador for Top Court, Querrey reveals the secrets behind his dominant one-two punch on serve, emphasising how big serving is made more effective by staying alert to handle your opponent’s return. He also discusses how his approach to tennis and training developed from his time as a junior and reveals some light-hearted off-court stories involving former World No. 1 Andy Roddick.

Technique: Querrey’s dominant serving was all about routine, and the American delves into the technical aspects he focused on during his service motion. The first delivery can’t always work out, of course, so Querrey also walks you through the skills needed to add a kick to your second serve, forcing your opponent into an immediate readjustment on return.

Drills: A big server needs the skills to back up their delivery, and Querrey showcases two drills to help fans develop this crucial aspect of their game. His ‘Short High Forehand Finish’ and ‘20/20 Volley’ drills help develop consistency when dealing with returns, enabling you to move forward with confidence behind your serve.

Under pressure early from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday at the Gijon Open, Andy Murray found a moment of magic to trigger a stunning turnaround at the ATP 250 event in Spain.

Murray pulled off a difficult forehand volley on the stretch at 2-4, 30/40 to avoid going a double break down in the first set of his first-round clash against the Spanish sixth seed. It proved a pivotal moment in the pair’s maiden ATP Head2Head meeting, as the Briton held serve for 3-4 before raising his level to claim 10 of the next 13 games and storm to a 7-5, 6-2 victory.

"In the first set he was playing much better than me,” said Murray after his one-hour, 44-minute win. “He had a lot of chances to get the second break of serve and I managed to stay tough in those moments. At the 4-3 game he played a bad game to give me the break back and after that I started to play a little bit better.

“I think he was a bit frustrated, and then in the second set his level dropped a little bit, but the end of the first set was very important because he was playing very well and it was a difficult first set.”

The win improved Murray’s record for the 2022 season to 24-16. The 35-year-old, who has reached finals in Sydney and Stuttgart this year, is chasing his first tour-level title since he triumphed in Antwerp in 2019. Murray remains as eager as ever as he looks to add to his 46 tour-level titles.

Alexander Bublik added another win to his impressive indoor record in 2022 on Tuesday at the UniCredit Firenze Open, but this one carried a little extra meaning for the Kazakh.

The seventh seed's 7-5, 6-2 victory against Cristian Garin at the ATP 250 event in Florence was his 100th tour-level victory. Bublik fired 37 winners and broke the Chilean’s serve three times to notch a Tour-leading 14th indoor win of the season.

“I played a good match, I stayed solid, I served well,” said Bublik after his 87-minute triumph. “The conditions fit me well, the court is quite fast, so I’m pleased with my game and let’s see what goes on after.”

As he celebrates reaching the 100-win milestone at the age of 25, Bublik emphasised his determination to continue working hard as he bids to improve on his career-high of No. 30 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The Kazakh achieved that position after lifting his maiden ATP Tour trophy in Montpellier in February.

“I do believe you must improve every day, and improve everything, so I wouldn’t find a specific thing that I need to improve,” said Bublik. “But I think the overall game, if I can stay solid, stay disciplined, I think we can talk about something bigger.”

If you are a Dominic Thiem fan, Vienna just became even more interesting.

Last week, Thiem visited Madame Tussauds Vienna — a popular tourist attraction where people pose for pictures with life-size wax figures of their favourite celebrities — to reveal a wax figure of himself. 

"What's better than one Dominic Thiem? Two Dominic Thiems ???,” Thiem wrote on Instagram. “Madame Tussauds is world-famous for its wax figures, and so it is an honour to now be part of this great collection myself. After all the hard work from the whole team at Madame Tussauds, I was very excited to see the final result, and I can say my twin turned out very well. ?"

Photo Credit: Madame Tussauds Vienna/Christoph Kleinsasser
Thiem in January 2021 participated in Vienna in a three-hour sitting, during which 250 measurements of his head and body were recorded. There were also 180 photos taken from different angles to ensure that the wax figure would look as much like him as possible. He had to hold his position on a turntable with minimum movement throughout the process.

The figure is dressed in an actual kit the Austrian wore during the 2020 US Open, including a racquet he used en route to his first Grand Slam title. Lukas Rauscher, Marketing Manager of Madame Tussauds Vienna, was thrilled when the figure was unveiled.