Top-ranked Novak Djokovic withdraws from Rogers Cup
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup.
The Wimbledon winner this month for his 16th Grand Slam title, Djokovic is a four-time champion in the event that rotates between Montreal and Toronto, winning in Montreal in 2007 and 2011.
"I'm sorry to announce that I decided to pull out of Rogers Cup," Djokovic said Thursday in a statement. "With the support of my team, I have decided to give my body longer rest and recovery time before coming back again to play. I love Canada and I have many friends there that always make me feel like I'm at home and I'm looking forward to coming back again to play in front of all of you in Montreal."
With Djokovic out, Rafael Nadal will be the top seed in the event that opens Aug. 2 at IGA Stadium. Nadal won last year in Toronto. Roger Federer pulled out two weeks ago.
Rublev upsets top-seeded Thiem to reach Hamburg semifinals
Top-seeded Dominic Thiem was upset by Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals of the Hamburg European Open, losing 7-6 (3), 76 (5) on Friday.
Rublev, who beat a top-10 player for only the second time, recovered from two breaks in the first set to eliminate the two-time French Open finalist.
The 78th-ranked Rublev will next face either third-seeded Fabio Fognini or Pablo Carreno Busta.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev survived a scare before rallying to beat Filip Krajinovic 26, 7-5, 6-2.
Krajinovic was a set and a break up and serving for the match before Zverev recovered, breaking back with a backhand down the line, much to the delight of his home crowd.
The German never looked back and went on to win 91% of his first-serve points in the decider to set up a semifinal against defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili, after the fourth-seeded Georgian beat Jeremy Chardy 62, 6-3.
Zverev is playing at his home ATP 500 tournament for the first time since 2016, when he exited in the first round.
Zverev beats Delbonis to reach Hamburg quarterfinals
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev pleased his home crowd by beating Federico Delbonis on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Hamburg European Open.
Zverev rallied from 3-0 down in the second set to defeat the Argentine 6-4, 7-6 (2).
Delbonis had hoped to take it to a third set after breaking to love when Zverev was serving for the match but the German went on to win the tiebreaker.
Zverev is playing at his home ATP 500 tournament for the first time since 2016, when he exited in the first round.
He will next meet Serbia's Filip Krajinovic who hit 12 aces in a 67 (6), 7-5, 6-1 win over 2016 champion Martin Klizan.
Third-seeded Fabio Fognini is also through after saving a set point in the opening set and going on to beat Rudolf Molleker 7-5, 6-4.
The Italian will face Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, who beat seventh-seeded Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Bertens beat Krunic to reach Palermo quarterfinals
Top-seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands beat Serbian Aleksandra Krunic on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Palermo Ladies Open.
Bertens saved five of seven break points to win 6-3, 6-1 and set up a last-eight meeting against Jasmine Paolini, who beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4) in a late match.
Bertens' compatriot Arantxa Rus is also through after upsetting third-seeded Viktoria Kuzmova.
Rus, who is ranked No. 130, triumphed 6-4, 6-4 and will next face Paula Badosa after the Spaniard beat Hungarian lucky loser Fanny Stollar 6-1, 6-3.
The clay-court event is marking its return to the WTA Tour after a five-year absence.