Kei Nishikori won his second match in two days, but his win was not enough to prevent the OUE Singapore Slammers from defeating his team Japan Warriors on day three of the 2016 International Premier Tennis League at the Saitama Super A
Greetings. Since the last time I posted, the Argentines won their first Davis Cup title so congrats to them and especially Del Potro who was the hero of the tie. He came back from two sets to love down to defeat Cilic 6-7(4), 2-6, 7-5 6-4, 6-3 in the
(Saturday) Congrats to Murray who became number one today for the first time! Surely deserved after a very consistent year although he’d probably wanted to at least win his match over Raonic to get it done. I must say it feels strange that Murray got
The serve in pickleball is a crucial part of the game, and it must be executed within the rules to ensure fair play. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform a legal and effective pickleball serve: Basic Pickleball Serve Technique:Positioning:Stand behind the baseline, with both feet behind the back boundary line.Service Box:The serve must be ...
In tennis, players use a variety of strokes to control the ball and strategically outmaneuver their opponents. Here are some common tennis strokes: Forehand:The forehand is a fundamental stroke where the player hits the ball with the palm of the hand facing the direction of the stroke. It is typically the more dominant and powerful groundstroke for...
Pickleball has a unique and interesting origin story that dates back to the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The sport was created by three friends—Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Here's the origin story of pickleball: A Game for the Family:In the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard and his family returned home to Bainbri...
The "chip and charge" is a strategy in tennis where a player hits a short, low shot (chip) and quickly moves forward towards the net (charges) to put pressure on their opponent. This tactic is often used when returning a serve or hitting a short ball. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a chip and charge in tennis: Anticipation: As you pr...
Ivan Lendl is a former professional tennis player and coach who was born on March 7, 1960, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). Lendl is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of his era and one of the most successful players in the Open Era. Here are some key points about Ivan Lendl: Playing Career:Ivan Lendl turned ...
Ping pong, also known as table tennis, follows a set of rules established by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Here are some fundamental rules of ping pong: Scoring: Game Points:A game is typically played to 11 points, but it can also be played to 21 points in some formats.Winning a Game:The player or pair scoring 11 points (or as d...
Doubles tennis is a dynamic and strategic game that requires effective communication, teamwork, and coordinated efforts between partners. Here are some key doubles tennis strategies to enhance your performance on the court: Communication:Constant communication is crucial in doubles tennis. Keep your partner informed about your intentions, the oppon...
Steffi Graf, whose full name is Stefanie Maria Graf, is a former professional tennis player from Germany. Born on June 14, 1969, in Mannheim, West Germany, Graf is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Here are some key highlights of Steffi Graf's tennis career: Grand Slam Success:Graf achieved the calendar-year Grand Slam in 1...
Hitting a topspin forehand in tennis involves a specific technique to generate the desired spin and control. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hit a topspin forehand: Grip:Eastern or Semi-Western Grip:Use either an Eastern or Semi-Western grip. The Semi-Western grip is commonly preferred for topspin forehands as it allows for easier access to t...
In tennis, the second serve is crucial, and having effective strategies can help you maintain control of the point. Here are some second serve strategies to consider: 1. Variety in Spin: Kick Serve: Use a kick serve to add topspin and make the ball bounce high, making it challenging for your opponent to attack.Slice Serve: Employ a slice serve to k...
Pete Sampras is a former professional tennis player from the United States, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Here are some key highlights about Pete Sampras: Birth: Peter Sampras was born on August 12, 1971, in Washington, D.C., USA.Career Start: Sampras started playing tennis at a young age and turned pro...
A lob in tennis is a shot where the ball is hit high and deep, typically over the opponent at the net, with the intention of landing it close to the baseline. It's a strategic shot used to change the direction of play, create distance, and put pressure on the opponent. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hit a perfect lob in tennis: Certainly! He...
Serving and volleying is a classic and effective strategy in tennis that involves following up a serve by rushing the net to hit a volley. It requires a combination of a powerful serve, quick movement, and precise net play. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute the serve and volley strategy: Serving: Develop a Strong Serve:Work on developin...
After a year off the courts, Rafael Nadal will be back in competition in late December at the Brisbane International presented by Evie. After an operation on his psoas muscle and a lingering hip issue, the 22-time Grand Slam champion set out on the long road to recovery with his sights set on a 2024 return, and the opportunity to bring an end to his legendary career while battling it out on a tennis court.
Having recently returned from Kuwait, where they practised for a few days with Arthur Fils, and before heading for Australia, Carlos Moyà, the Spaniard’s coach, sat down with ATPTour.com for an exclusive discussion about the most difficult time in the Mallorcan’s career.
Could you break down what has happened in the past few months, from Nadal’s decision to have an operation to the latest training sessions, with a mind to return to competition in Brisbane?
It’s what comes with an operation that requires complete rest. He had a more complicated operation than was first expected. Once they opened him up and saw what was there, it was more delicate than they had first thought. It’s not that he didn’t have tests and scans... but it seems that they didn’t have a good idea of the problem and the recovery period was longer than expected.
It's also true that if he hadn’t had the operation, it would’ve been even more difficult for him to recover. He always knew he wanted to come back and that he wanted to say his goodbye on court.
After the operation... it was a month and a half of practically not seeing him, because he went on holiday. He was doing rehab as much as he could, given that he was on the boat in Greece. Then, at the end of August, we started to train, but very lightly. We would do two days a week, twenty minutes. It was a very slow progression. Sometimes we would take a step back, then go again... We were always very careful.
As we continue our review of the 2023 ATP Tour season, we look back at some of the biggest names who called time on their playing careers this year. Americans John Isner and Jack Sock lead Part 2 of this story, with Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar among those featured in Part 1 yesterday.
John Isner
Isner was the standard-bearer of American men's tennis for much of his career. The No. 1 American in the year-end Pepperstone ATP Rankings for eight of nine years from 2012-20, Isner finished inside the year-end Top 20 for the entirety of the 2010s.
The ATP Tour's all-time aces leader hit 48 aces in his final singles match at the US Open. The former World No. 8 closed his career with 16 tour-level singles titles and 489 match wins.
“I think I've overachieved. I never imagined myself having this much success for this long," said Isner, who turned pro in 2007 after winning the NCAA team title with the University of Georgia. “Of course, there's so many matches I wish I could have back, but I prepared in my mind as best as I possibly could for 17 years. I don't have many regrets, that's for sure.” Read Isner Tribute
Jack Sock
A former Top 10 star in both singles and doubles, Sock reached a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 8 in 2017, a year in which he finished as the No. 1 American. The following season, he ascended to World No. 2 in doubles.
As we continue our review of the 2023 ATP Tour season, we look back at some of the biggest names who called time on their playing careers this year. Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar lead Part 1 of this story, with Americans John Isner and Jack Sock to feature in Part 2 tomorrow.
Feliciano Lopez
One of the longest careers in the history of the ATP Tour reached its conclusion when Lopez said goodbye to the circuit at age 41, after 26 seasons as a professional. The former World No. 12 played his final tournament on home soil at the Mallorca Championships.
“I feel very proud of having been able to make it through [more than] 20 years as a professional without missing one, but also of having left a good impression on my fellow players and on the people I have spent time with,” he said.
It was a fitting finale on the grass courts of Mallorca, with Lopez's 87 tour-level wins on the surface the most of any Spaniard. He also enjoyed what he called his "best week" on the ATP Tour on grass, when he was crowned champion in both singles and doubles at the Cinch Championships at The Queen's Club in 2019. The former World No. 12 ended 2002-20 in the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Read Lopez Tribute
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Throughout 196 ATP Challenger Tour events held worldwide in 2023, fans had the opportunity to discover young superstars, witness the comeback of experienced tour veterans and see historic runs before their eyes. ATPTour.com highlights five player storylines from the ATP Challenger Tour season.
Teenager Mensik Makes History
At 17 years, eight months, Jakub Mensik won the Prague Challenger to become the youngest Czech Challenger champion in history. In just his sixth Challenger outing, the teen completed a dream week, saving two match points in the quarter-finals two days before lifting the trophy.
The 2022 Australian Open boys’ singles finalist joined elite company, becoming one of five 17-year-old Challenger titlists in the past five years, alongside Jannik Sinner (2019), Carlos Alcaraz (2020), Shang Juncheng (2022). The only previous 17-year-old Czech champion was former World No. 4 Tomas Berdych, who captured two Challenger titles in 2003.
“I knew I could play with those guys, but I didn't have the experience. After a few tournaments, I really started to trust myself and play my best game,” Mensik told ATPTour.com in June. “In Prague, that tournament I felt very special on court. From the start, I beat the top seed [Radu Albot] and after that match, I was like, 'Let's continue'. Match by match, I felt more comfortable on the court. Then in a few days I became a champion. I felt very special and it was a very good experience for me. After losing in first rounds and qualifying rounds, I think it was faster than I expected.”
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In October, Hurricane Otis caused devastating damage in Acapulco, including to the venue of the city’s ATP 500 event, the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. But tournament organisers confirmed Thursday that the 2024 edition of the tournament will proceed in Acapulco.
“With great enthusiasm and optimism, we are pleased to announce that the Telcel Mexican Open presented by HSBC will take place in Acapulco, from February 24 to March 2, 2024,” tournament organisers wrote. “This event marks a significant milestone in the reconstruction and revitalisation of this emblematic city. By holding the tournament in Acapulco, we not only promote tennis, but we also generate a positive impact on the local economy and the community, providing vitality to sectors such as tourism, transportation, gastronomy and hospitality, including job creation in the region.
“With this celebration, we reaffirm to the world that Acapulco is open and standing.”
Organisers made clear in their announcement that the tournament does not just celebrate tennis, but a wider camaraderie among Mexicans, who are rebuilding from the damage caused by the hurricane.
Tournament Director Álvaro Falla said: “We express our recognition and gratitude to the great work and support of the people of Guerrero, to the public that has purchased tickets, to all our sponsors for their continued support, and to tennis led by the ATP.”
You never know what you will see from the world's best tennis players. The next point you watch could feature one of the most incredible shots of the season.
With a lengthy list to choose from, ATPTour.com compiled the 10 best hot shots from 2023. From tweeners to no-look winners and more, perhaps the highlight reel of superb shotmaking will inspire you to try these at home.
Two players were featured twice. Any guesses on who?
One incredible point came during an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, earning ‘ooh's’ and ‘ahh's’ from the crowd before concluding with a standing ovation.
What was the number one hot shot? Watch the full video below to see the shot so good it even had the player's opponent laughing.
Arthur Fils’ triumph at the Oeiras Challenger in January was an early sign of what was to come on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2023: Frenchmen building off their countrymen's success as they win Challenger titles.
Despite Fils competing in his first Challenger final in Oeiras, the teen held his nerve, lifting the trophy within 24 hours of Arthur Cazaux winning the Nonthaburi Challenger and Richard Gasquet claiming the ATP 250 in Auckland.
“I saw that overnight Arthur Cazaux did it, I saw that Richard Gasquet did it. I said, ‘Okay you have to win this one!’” Fils said after triumphing in Oeiras.
Players from France collected 27 Challenger titles this year, marking the most titles by a single country in a season.
Constant Lestienne’s trio of Challenger titles led the way for France, which had 19 players triumph at that level in 2023. The 31-year-old went on a late-season surge earning titles in Stanford, Saint-Tropez and Alicante. Lestienne’s triumph in Alicante steered France clear of Argentina’s then-record 23 Challenger titles, which was set last year.
