First title for Paes-Raja at Knoxville Challenger
Leander Paes and Purav Raja won their first title together after joining forces as they lifted the Knoxville Challenger trophy with a close win over James Cerretani and John-Patrick Smith. The top-seeded Indian team battled past the US-Australian combination 7-6(4), 7-6(4) in the final of the $75,000 hard court event, on Sunday night.
It was the first title-clash for Paes and Raja after joining forces since August, when they teamed up to compete at ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open. It was the fourth Challenger title of the season for Paes, having won events at Leon and Ilkley with Canadian Adil Shamasdin and Tallahassee trophy with American Scott Lipsky.
Raja said he has learnt a lot during this short partnership with Paes so far. “It is fun. I have learnt a lot and trying to work on a system which hopefully will make us better in the coming weeks,” Raja said.
NEW DELHI:
NISHIKORI, RAONIC TO PLAY IN BRISBANE
Former winner Milos Raonic and this year’s runner-up Kei Nishikori are set to return to next year’s Brisbane International, organisers said on Monday. Canada’s Raonic, the former world No 3 who defeated Roger Federer in the 2016 Brisbane final and is now ranked 24, will be playing in the Australian Open warmup tournament for the fourth time. “The conditions are ideal for preparing leading into Melbourne (Open) and the whole Australian swing. I think it’s the best way to start off alongside the best players in the world,” Raonic said.
Japan’s Nishikori, ranked 22, is lining up his eighth trip to the Brisbane International, starting on December 31.
ZVEREV BEATS CILIC IN ATP FINALS DEBUT
A few hours after old master Roger Federer reminded everyone of his enduring magic, Alexander Zverev, the man leading the next generation of men’s tennis, dazzled on his ATP Finals debut. The 20-year-old German, ranked three in the world, was hot and cold against Croatia’s Marin Cilic but, when it mattered most, he produced his best tennis to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Zverev, the youngest qualifier for the season-ender for nine years, appeared to be fading after a dazzling start, but surged back in style to join Federer on top of Boris Becker Group. “There were a lot of nerves involved in my first match. I’m happy that I won.”
BRISBANE: LONDON: