Jun 17, 2019 | 2019, Alexander Zverev, Halle, Match Report
Down a break at 5-2 in the second set, Alexander Zverev could have cast his eyes to the seemingly inevitable third set against Robin Haase on Monday at the NOVENTI OPEN.
But the German kept his focus on what was in front of him, and didn’t even need to bother with a third set. The two-time Halle finalist (2016, 2017) beat Haase 6-4, 7-5 to make the second round at the ATP 500 event.
“This is probably one of my favourite tournaments and I’m always motivated here. Last year, I played with an injury here and lost first round and this year I really want to do well. I hope this was a good start for a good tournament for me,” Zverev said.
Zverev dug himself out of trouble to serve for the match at 6-5 in the second set, but needed more heroics to stave off the Dutch veteran. The second-seeded Zverev saved two break points while serving at 6-5, including one during a 41-shot rally that Haase ended when he sprayed a backhand wide.
Zverev fell to countryman Florian Mayer in the 2016 final and Roger Federer in 2017. Federer, a nine-time champion, is again the top seed at the grass-court event.
The 22-year-old Zverev will next face American Steve Johnson, who ended a three-match losing streak by beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3. Johnson hit 13 aces, won 85 per cent of his first-serve points (29/34) and never faced a break point.
“He is someone who has an unbelievable serve, a very good grass-court game. He has won a [couple] tournaments on grass. He has a good forehand and a very good slice. He beat Philipp in straight sets, which also tells a lot,” Zverev said. “It won’t be an easy match but there are no bad players here. Therefore, there aren’t any easy matches here.”
Jun 17, 2019 | 2019, Alexander Zverev, Halle, Match Report
Down a break at 5-2 in the second set, Alexander Zverev could have cast his eyes to the seemingly inevitable third set against Robin Haase on Monday at the NOVENTI OPEN.
But the German kept his focus on what was in front of him, and didn’t even need to bother with a third set. The two-time Halle finalist (2016, 2017) beat Haase 6-4, 7-5 to make the second round at the ATP 500 event.
“This is probably one of my favourite tournaments and I’m always motivated here. Last year, I played with an injury here and lost first round and this year I really want to do well. I hope this was a good start for a good tournament for me,” Zverev said.
Zverev dug himself out of trouble to serve for the match at 6-5 in the second set, but needed more heroics to stave off the Dutch veteran. The second-seeded Zverev saved two break points while serving at 6-5, including one during a 41-shot rally that Haase ended when he sprayed a backhand wide.
Zverev fell to countryman Florian Mayer in the 2016 final and Roger Federer in 2017. Federer, a nine-time champion, is again the top seed at the grass-court event.
The 22-year-old Zverev will next face American Steve Johnson, who ended a three-match losing streak by beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3. Johnson hit 13 aces, won 85 per cent of his first-serve points (29/34) and never faced a break point.
“He is someone who has an unbelievable serve, a very good grass-court game. He has won a [couple] tournaments on grass. He has a good forehand and a very good slice. He beat Philipp in straight sets, which also tells a lot,” Zverev said. “It won’t be an easy match but there are no bad players here. Therefore, there aren’t any easy matches here.”
Jun 17, 2019 | 2019, Kevin Anderson, London Queens Club, Match Report
World No. 8 Kevin Anderson made a successful return to action on Monday, rallying past home favourite Cameron Norrie 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes to reach the second round of the Fever-Tree Championships.
This is the second seed’s first tournament since Miami three months ago, and just his second event since the Australian Open, as he has been recovering from an elbow injury. The South African won his sixth ATP Tour title to start the season in Pune.
Anderson struck 19 aces and won all but four of his first-serve points (56/60) to get by World No. 49 Norrie, who was looking for his first main draw win at The Queen’s Club on his third attempt. Anderson reached the final at this ATP 500 tournament in 2015.
Early on, the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals qualifier appeared to be understandably rusty, getting broken in his first service game. But Anderson was not broken the rest of the way. The 33-year-old increasingly worked his way into the Brit’s service games, showing good movement and groundstroke play to back up his booming serve, withstanding Norrie’s 12 aces.
Anderson will next play Frenchman Gilles Simon, who battled past British qualifier James Ward 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2). He will be looking to build form on the grass, a surface on which he has enjoyed plenty of success. Last year, Anderson made his second Grand Slam final by reaching the championship match at Wimbledon.
Did You Know?
Anderson said before competing this week that his elbow injury has not completely prohibited him from training. The South African has had no limitations with his groundstrokes, only his serve.
Jun 17, 2019 | 2019, Halle, Karen Khachanov, Match Report
Karen Khachanov won his first match as a Top 10 player on Monday at the NOVENTI OPEN in Halle. The 2017 semi-finalist dismissed Serbian lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the second round at the ATP 500 event in Germany.
Khachanov, who broke into the Top 10 last Monday after making his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros, lost his opener last week at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart to eventual champion Matteo Berrettini. The 6’6” right-hander is the first Russian to be ranked inside the Top 10 since Mikhail Youzhny during the week of 7 February 2011.
Khachanov, who improved to 15-14 on the year, will next face German Jan-Lennard Struff or Serbian Laslo Djere.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert won an all-French battle against Gael Monfils 7-6(6), 6-4. The 28-year-old Herbert won won 53 per cent of his second-serve return points and will next meet German wild card Rudolf Molleker or Ukraine qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky.
In other first-round action, Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com champion Radu Albot prevailed past Aussie Matthew Ebden 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, and Portuguese qualifier Joao Sousa ousted Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(3), 6-1.
Jun 17, 2019 | 2019, Kevin Anderson, London Queens Club, Match Report
World No. 8 Kevin Anderson made a successful return to action on Monday, rallying past home favourite Cameron Norrie 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes to reach the second round of the Fever-Tree Championships.
This is the second seed’s first tournament since Miami three months ago, and just his second event since the Australian Open, as he has been recovering from an elbow injury. The South African won his sixth ATP Tour title to start the season in Pune.
Anderson struck 19 aces and won all but four of his first-serve points (56/60) to get by World No. 49 Norrie, who was looking for his first main draw win at The Queen’s Club on his third attempt. Anderson reached the final at this ATP 500 tournament in 2015.
Early on, the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals qualifier appeared to be understandably rusty, getting broken in his first service game. But Anderson was not broken the rest of the way. The 33-year-old increasingly worked his way into the Brit’s service games, showing good movement and groundstroke play to back up his booming serve, withstanding Norrie’s 12 aces.
Anderson will next play Frenchman Gilles Simon, who battled past British qualifier James Ward 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2). He will be looking to build form on the grass, a surface on which he has enjoyed plenty of success. Last year, Anderson made his second Grand Slam final by reaching the championship match at Wimbledon.
Did You Know?
Anderson said before competing this week that his elbow injury has not completely prohibited him from training. The South African has had no limitations with his groundstrokes, only his serve.
Jun 17, 2019 | 2019, Halle, Karen Khachanov, Match Report
Karen Khachanov won his first match as a Top 10 player on Monday at the NOVENTI OPEN in Halle. The 2017 semi-finalist dismissed Serbian lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the second round at the ATP 500 event in Germany.
Khachanov, who broke into the Top 10 last Monday after making his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros, lost his opener last week at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart to eventual champion Matteo Berrettini. The 6’6” right-hander is the first Russian to be ranked inside the Top 10 since Mikhail Youzhny during the week of 7 February 2011.
Khachanov, who improved to 15-14 on the year, will next face German Jan-Lennard Struff or Serbian Laslo Djere.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert won an all-French battle against Gael Monfils 7-6(6), 6-4. The 28-year-old Herbert won won 53 per cent of his second-serve return points and will next meet German wild card Rudolf Molleker or Ukraine qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky.
In other first-round action, Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com champion Radu Albot prevailed past Aussie Matthew Ebden 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, and Portuguese qualifier Joao Sousa ousted Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(3), 6-1.
