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Friday, April 26, 2019

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April 26, 2019

Monte Carlo Masters 2019: Fabio Fognini Beats Dusan Lajovic to Win Tennis Event

MEN'S TENNIS

Monte Carlo Masters 2019: Fabio Fognini Beats Dusan Lajovic to Win Tennis Event


Fabio Fognini took the biggest event of his career yet Sunday, beating the unseeded Dusan Lajovic in the final of the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters. Set scores were 6-3, 6-4.

Fognini dominated the majority of the rallies, and while Lajovic put up a good fight for stretches, he lacked the consistency to threaten the Italian. A minor injury also couldn't slow down the 31-year-old, who shocked 11-time Monte Carlo Masters champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. It's Fognini's first ever Masters 1000 title.

Lajovic started the final using the same strategy he used against Daniil Medvedev on Saturday, patiently slicing away and waiting for Fognini to make mistakes.


It led to an early break in the third game, in part thanks to a sensational cross-court winner from the Serb, but Fognini answered right back with some solid baseline play of his own.

The level of play was incredibly high in the early stages, with the two serving up some amazing rallies:

But it was Fognini who appeared to have the upper hand whenever the rallies lasted beyond a few groundstrokes. The Italian blasted his way past Nadal with some excellent winners, and he picked up where he left off against Lajovic, earning himself another break with much of the same.

Per tennis writer Carole Bouchard, Lajovic wasn't helping matters with some poor decision-making:

Up 4-2, Fognini continued his fine play from the baseline, relying on his serve to close out the first set. Lajovic did well to cut out some of the mistakes from his game and managed to hold serve the rest of the way, but while he pushed for a break in the ninth game, it was the Italian who secured the advantage after the first set.

Per Tennis TV, it marked Lajovic's first lost set of the tournament:

Fognini carried his momentum straight into the next set, breaking serve after some good back-and-forths between the two.

But just as Lajovic seemed ready to wilt under the pressure, the Serb bounced back from a poor backhand to hit two excellent winners and break right back. Here is one of those winners:

The two continued to go blow for blow until Fognini secured yet another break, this time in the fifth game. He required medical attention immediately after, however:
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April 26, 2019

Naomi Osaka Hits Back At Critics After Thrilling Comeback Win In Stuttgart

Naomi Osaka Hits Back At Critics After Thrilling Comeback Win In Stuttgart

Naomi Osaka battled back from 1-5 down in the final set to beat Donna Vekic 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) but denied that she was struggling this year.
Naomi Osaka admitted that the defeats, and the pressure of being number one, had affected her.


World number one Naomi Osaka has hit back at her critics after fighting to a dramatic comeback win over Donna Vekic to reach her first career clay court semi-final in Stuttgart on Friday. The 21-year-old Japanese battled back from 1-5 down in the final set to beat Vekic 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) but denied that she was struggling this year. "I don't know why people are saying I am having a bad season," she said. "I won the Australian Open, right?" Despite securing her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne, Osaka had not reached a semi-final since then before her thrilling fightback in Stuttgart, having suffered early exits in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.


She admitted that the defeats, and the pressure of being number one, had affected her.

"I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me. You can tell because I get antsy on court, whereas before, if I made a mistake, I would just act on it."

"When I am at my best, I wake up wanting a new challenge. In this phase, I felt like I was waking up just wanting to win."

Naomi Osaka said that she had tried to "think logically" when she found herself on the brink of defeat in Friday's quarter-final.

"I try not panic anymore, because that costs energy," she said.

"I just told myself I didn't want to come away from here with any regrets."

In Saturday's semi-final, Osaka will face Estonian eighth seed Anett Kontaveit, who reached the last four after former world number one Victoria Azarenka retired hurt in the final set of Friday's rollercoaster late match.

Azarenka was serving for the match in the second set, but eventually threw in the towel after struggling with a shoulder complaint at 0-3 down in the decider.

"It's going to be a very tough match tomorrow," Kontaveit said of her semi-final clash with Osaka.

Osaka cannot lose her number one spot in Stuttgart, but she will be looking to keep a healthy points lead over world number three Petra Kvitova, who also won her quarter-final.

Kvitova overcame a rocky start to beat Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

"It was really difficult today, but I am very happy to be in the semi-final. I feel good and healthy," said Kvitova.

In the semi-final, the Czech will face Dutch sixth seed Kiki Bertens, who beat home favourite and reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4.

"It's going to be a tough match. Petra is a great player, so I am looking forward to it," said Bertens.

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April 26, 2019

USTA LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

NATIONAL
USTA LEAGUE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

2018 League National Championships Results

 October 5-7
Adult 18 & Over 4.0 Men (Arlington, TX)

 Adult 18 & Over 4.0 Women (Arlington, TX)

 Adult 18 & Over 5.0+ Men (Orlando, FL)
Adult 18 & Over 5.0+ Women (Orlando, FL)


October 12-14
Adult 18 & Over 2.5 Women (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 18 & Over 3.0 Men (Las Vegas, NV)

 Adult 18 & Over 3.0 Women (Las Vegas, NV)

 Adult 18 & Over 3.5 Men (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 18 & Over 3.5 Women (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 18 & Over 4.5 Men (Arlington, TX)
Adult 18 & Over 4.5 Women (Arlington, TX)
October 19-21
Adult 40 & Over 3.5 Men (Arlington, TX)

 Adult 40 & Over 3.5 Women (Arlington, TX)

 Adult 40 & Over 4.5+ Men (Las Vegas, NV)

 Adult 40 & Over 4.5+ Women (Las Vegas, NV)

 Adult 55 & Over 6.0 Men (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 55 & Over 6.0 Women (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 55 & Over 8.0 Men (Orlando, FL)
Adult 55 & Over 8.0 Women (Orlando, FL)
October 26-28
Adult 40 & Over 3.0 Men (Mobile, AL)

 Adult 40 & Over 3.0 Women (Mobile, AL)

 Adult 40 & Over 4.0 Men (Las Vegas, NV)

 Adult 40 & Over 4.0 Women (Las Vegas, NV)

 Adult 55 & Over 7.0 Men (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 55 & Over 7.0 Women (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 55 & Over 9.0 Men (Orlando, FL)

 Adult 55 & Over 9.0 Women (Orlando, FL)
November 9-11
Mixed 18 & Over 6.0 (Mobile, AL)

 Mixed 18 & Over 7.0 (Mobile, AL)

 Mixed 18 & Over 8.0 (Mobile, AL)

 Mixed 18 & Over 9.0 (Mobile, AL)

 Mixed 18 & Over 10.0 (Mobile, AL)
November 16-18
Mixed 40 & Over 6.0 (Orlando, FL)

 Mixed 40 & Over 7.0 (Orlando, FL)

 Mixed 40 & Over 8.0 (Orlando, FL)
Mixed 40 & Over 9.0 (Orlando, FL)
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Thursday, April 25, 2019

April 25, 2019

Tennis Today: Novak Djokovic pays tribute to Monte-Carlo duo while Serena Williams forgets her balls

Tennis Today: Novak Djokovic pays tribute to Monte-Carlo duo while Serena Williams forgets her balls

In Tennis Today, Novak Djokovic shares some kind words about Fabio Fognini and Dusan Lajovic after their Monte-Carlo Masters heroics while Serena Williams goes to practice without her balls.

What’s on the site
The EXCLUSIVES continue to roll in from Kevin Palmer following the Fed Cup this weekend and Laura Robson is the latest to chat to us about the upcoming World Group matches and her desire to be part of the Great Britain team.

The Barcelona Open is up and running and James Spencer wonders if Rafael Nadal’s wobbling form make for a relatively open field.

Unsurprisingly, Fabio Fognini was a big mover on the ATP Rankings following his Monte-Carlo Masters success.

What are the chances of Monte-Carlo Masters becoming a joint ATP-WTA event?

Results round-up:
ATP Barcelona
ATP Budapest

What’s in the news
The Justin Gimelstob court case has come to a close and The Telegraph reports that he has been “sentenced to three years probation as court hears attack caused woman to miscarry”.

Josh Boswell’s report “Gimelstob, an Association of Tennis Professionals board member, was found guilty on Monday of a felony assault, reduced to a misdemeanour by the judge after a last-minute deal with the LA District Attorney”.

Heartbreaking stuff from Madison Kaplan, who said: “Thankfully my husband survived, but our unborn child did not.

“My doctors said everything had looked perfect with the pregnancy before the attack. The only reason they could see causing the miscarriage was the stress from the attack. Justin might not have gotten his wish in killing Randy, but he did kill a tiny innocent little baby girl.”

Katie Boulter reached new heights this weekend as she helped Great Britain to a glorious win in the Fed Cup and her coach Jeremy Bates told the Daily Mail “she can be way better than she is now”.

Staying with the Fed Cup, Metro.co.uk says former Great Britain coach Judy Murray wants the World Group ties to be on free-to-air television after the BBC snubbed the Kazakhstan rubber.

Eugenie Bouchard spent some time on the beach and the Daily Mail is all over it.
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