Isner beats Tomic to reach last-8 in New York
LONDON: John Isner made quick work of Australia’s Bernard Tomic to advance to the quarterfinals of the New York Open on Wednesday with a 7-6(7), 6-4 victory. The big-serving American sent down 27 aces, won 85 per cent points on his first serve and did not face a single break point as he wrapped up the match in 74 minutes at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
“I definitely served very well,” Isner said after the match. “I was down a set point in the first set and I came up with three aces.
“I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals. Last year I lost my first match here, hopefully I continue to improve,” he added.
Isner, who was knocked out in the first round of last month’s Australian Open, is the tournament’s top seed after South African Kevin Anderson withdrew with an elbow injury.
Isner is the tournament’s top seed after South African Kevin Anderson withdrew with an elbow injury. In the quarter-finals, the American will face Australian seventh seed Jordan Thompson, who defeated Christopher Eubanks 4-6, 6-1,6-4 .
INJURED SHARAPOVA OUT OF INDIAN WELLS
LOSANGELES: Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from next month’s WTA Indian Wells Open after failing to overcome a right shoulder injury, tournament organisers said Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Russian star has been struggling with a right shoulder problem which forced her withdrawal from the Saint Petersburg tournament last month. Organisers of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells announced on Wednesday the same problem had prompted her withdrawal from the March 4-17 event in California.
Sharapova’s place in the main draw will be taken by Germany’s Mona Barthel. Sharapova has been struggling back to top fitness since her return from ban.
STAN POWERS INTO ROTTERDAM QUARTERS
LONDON: Swiss wildcard Stan Wawrinka booked a quarter-final place at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Canadian fourth seed Milos Raonic on Wednesday.
Wawrinka, seeking his first title since undergoing knee surgery in 2017, will next face another Canadian for a place in the last four after Denis Shapovalov beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3 at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam.
“It is one of the best matches I have played in many months now. So far I have two great matches, tonight was a great performance,”he said. Meanwhile, Jo-wilfried Tsonga also reached quarter-finals with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over Tallon Griekspoor .
LOST TO MYSELF, SAYS TSITSIPAS AFTER EXIT
ROTTERDAM:RISING Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas said he “lost to himself” after suffering a shock defeat at the ATP event in Rotterdam by Bosnian Damir Dzumhur on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old, who dumped out Roger Federer en route to the Australian Open semi-finals last month, saved two match points late in the third set but still slumped to a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 loss.
It was Dzumhur’s first win since October after a run of four straight defeats, and Tsitsipas was left frustrated by an erratic display. “I lost to myself, not to him,” said the world number 12.
“He fools you, waits for you to make mistakes. He stands eight metres behind the baseline and plays with your strengths. He played nothing crazy or special, but you don’t get any rhythm with him. “The momentum was on my side but he kept putting the ball into the court and running.”
YOUNGSTER MUNAR OUSTS ITALY’S FOGNINI
LONDON: Spain’s Jaume Munar battled back from a set down to defeat second-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the Argentina Open and advance to the quarter-finals.
The unseeded 21-year-old, who qualified for last month’s Australian Open but retired against Fognini in his first match, followed up his run to last year’s ATP Next Gen semi-finals by beating the world number 15 at the second time of asking.
“It’s the best victory of my career,” said Munar, who is ranked 77th in the world.