#alex zverev one shot

[kelloggsenthusiast]

What if I wrote a Conan gray song disguised as an Alex Zverev one shot?

[footballffbarbiex]

Let The World Fall Down. Chapter One.

Summary:  So come here, and close your eyes Lie back, release your mind And let the world fall down while I'm by your side  After years of refusing to acknowledge what is in front of both of them, Sascha and his best friend finally have time together after months apart. But is this uninterrupted time together what they need to finally admit what they’ve known all along?

words: 3901 Warnings: none really. Mutual pining, Mischa being sassy and playing the matchmaker. A/N: not BETA’d so all errors and typos are my own. I’m a NERVOUS wreck posting this so please let me know what you think? Tag list is open. 

_________

This is the longest that she’s gone without seeing him and though she understands the reasons why, it didn’t mean that she didn’t miss him any less. The phone calls and facetime just didn’t feel the same as it did when in person. The video calls satisfied her a little but not like it should. Like a cheap and greasy meal, it filled you for a tens of minutes but before the hour is up, your stomach is rumbling again, wanting something real.  

Sure, she had laughed and had grinned throughout the video call, and for a little while after, she felt good. She felt happy and content with what she had, but after more time had passed, she went back to missing him once more. The weeks crept past at what felt like a snails pace and though she knew it wasn’t Sascha’s fault, she blamed him for the content he’d send her when he thought he was just helping. Cute videos of him and his dog, sleepy morning Sascha barely awake, and ones of him looking into the camera and saying goodnight. She loved it so much that she started to dread whatever else he’d send because it would only make things worse.

Her wake up was rude to say the least. Constant phone calls which wouldn’t let up until she answered.

“What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re still sleeping?” Sascha’s voice had singsonged down the line at her.

“Well not now. is it you that’s been calling me all morning?”

“So you have been ignoring me? That’s just rude.” He’d clicked his tongue and scoffed. “And I thought you’d wanna be here with me. Guess I was wrong.” He’d tried to put on a sad voice and she could almost see the pout he’d have on his face as he said it.

“You know I can’t see you. Don’t be an ass about this.”

“Nu-uh. Someone slept through the announcement. It’s official. You can see me. Pack whatever you don’t already have here, and I’ll see you soon.”

It was the only thing she needed to get out of bed. She’d scrambled around her room, tripping over clothes and objects that she couldn’t remember ever putting there. She remembered falling asleep early on the couch while watching a movie and had woken up, uncomfortable, aching with a sore neck from her awkward position and took herself to bed without really looking at anything other than to put her phone on the wireless charger and fell back asleep without a second thought.

She’d left a lot of things at Sascha’s before like always, only she didn’t think it would be months until she would be using them again. She packed a small, modest bag. Clean underwear, a few change of clothes which can easily be washed without a second thought. She’s used Sascha’s deodorant and at times, even slipped on a pair of his boxer shorts and one of his shirts to sleep in. She remembers the way his face would light up as he’d watch her walk into the room.

“You look adorable in that.”

His eyes had lingered a little longer than necessarily over her body as she’d walked towards him but she liked it. Sascha never once made her feel uncomfortable, their friendship never crossed over that line but she can’t deny that sometimes she’s wanted him to take those steps. There’s always been a certain chemistry between them, and though she knows Sascha is an incredibly warm and friendly person, mutual friends and family had started to make comments about the small differences with him when she’s around.

She’d tried not to get her hopes up or look too much into it but sometimes, it felt as though they were a couple more than best friends and at times, because of how close they were, it was too easy to picture they were.

“Tell me,” Mischa had said one evening when Sascha had left the room, “if he didn’t like you, why would he continuously find something wrong with his relationships?”

“Because there was something wrong with the relationships?” She’d replied slowly, looking at him as though he was a crazy person. “If he really liked me,” she said, lowering her voice, “why would he have relationships just to sabotage them?”

“To make a point that he isn’t crazy about you?”

“Your boy logic is both stupid and childish. And I want no part in it,” she’d said and flicked him on the nose before trying to ignore his smirky faces for the rest of the night.

Despite everything being said to her, she never felt as though remaining friends hindered their relationship. It grew from strength to strength and though her feelings for him niggled away beneath the surface, they never interfered and she never held it against him for not feeling the same for her. If he knew, he had a good way of hiding it, and the fact that he looked forward to seeing her today put her in an incredible mood.

Her journey to him seemed to take forever, and though she was trying to remain patient because they’ve had months of this now, simply knowing she’d be with him within the hour had her feeling impatient. She’d drummed her fingers against the door of the car, sang along (in her head) to the song on the radio and tried to tick off the little check points she had for visiting him. Certain stores, certain locations they’d gone together. Each check point means she’s getting closer to him and her excitement begins to radiate throughout her.

How close are you?

Looking forward to seeing me?

No. I need to know how long I have so I can pretend not to be in.

He’d done this before. Had her travel out to see him, and for some reason, she can’t quite remember why now, they’d started arguing via text over something stupid which resulted in him refusing to let her in and he’d pretended to not be home for at least an hour, leaving her alone on his doorstep, stewing in her anger towards him.

I will turn around and go home…

No you won’t. His response is accompanied by a picture of him snuggling into their favourite hoodie of his. His chin and most of his mouth was covered by his hoodie sleeve covered fist, but she still saw the curve of his lips, the raise of his cheek and the way his eyes crinkled. She hated him sometimes and when he played like this, she hated him even more. She hugs her luggage a little closer to her as they’re mere streets away, not that she now wants to give him any indication of it. Not after that.

She quickly pays once there, grabbing her belongings as fast as she can without dropping anything and throws the bag over her shoulder and trundles over to the door which swings open before she even has chance to knock. He’s no longer wearing the hoodie, it dangles from three fingers while his other arm is open and extended. His hair is a mess but clean and fluffy, and he wears his glasses again.

“No contacts?”

“Thought I’d treat you.” He replies, wrapping her into a big hug, knowing perfectly well that she always gets soft puppy eyes at him when he wears his glasses.

Because for a moment I can pretend you’re not as stupid as the things which come out of your mouth sometimes she’d told him previously and he’d scowled at her.

She feels him bend his knees so that he’s closer to her, his face buries within her hair and she hears him sigh contently when her arms close around his waist and lock behind his back. She breathes him in, takes in his laundry detergent and the faint smell of aftershave which lingers from the hoodie. “I’ve missed you so much.” He whispers as Lövik sniffs around their legs, his paw scratching carefully at her leg to let her know that he’s there. “I’m not the only one.”

“I’ve missed him too.”

“Not me?” He asks and she chuckles to herself as he tightens his grip on her as she tries to wriggle out of his grip, but he’s stronger than he looks even with only one arm around her as the other still offers his hoodie out and holds her closer to him.

“Gonna let me go?” She queries when he shows no sign of letting up and she feels him shake his head against hers.

“No. I’ve waited too long for this.” She’s not mad, just shuffles his big frame backwards, careful not to nudge Lövik out of the way too hard but does so to shut the door behind her with her foot.

“I don’t mind all of this, but you’re going to have to let me go at some point you know.” She tells him, offering him a way out while secretly hoping he keeps holding onto her just as tightly.

“At some point.” He repeats, “not right now. Just let me have this.”

__

He’s infectious as always, no matter what he’s doing, his mood spreads to others. Sascha usually has a lot to say but today he’s something else. He seems to bounce from place to place, no longer walking or pacing like he could, he’s like tigger, unable to stay still and his words are tumbling out at record speed and yet despite being here, there and everywhere, he can’t stay away too long and has to be within touching distance of her.

“How do you still have something to say considering how much we talk already on a daily basis and you’ve barely shut up since I arrived?” She asks in awe. Sascha grins at her and comes to a stop in front of her.

“I’m just happy that you’re here.” He says, cocking his head to the side to observe her. When he’d finally let her go, she’s tugged his hoodie from his hand and pulled it on with ease, her hands had fisted front, bringing it up to her nose and she’d breathe it in deeply.

“You’ve just hugged me, why’d you need to do that?”

“Because this just hits different.” She’d told him and shuffled off after scooping Lövik up into her arms.

“what about your bags?” he’d called after her.

“you don’t hold a dog and bark yourself.” She’d responded, adapting the quote and hearing him laugh behind her. Her things were taken to his spare room, though they both know it’s unofficially her room regardless of who else stays there, and he’d laid himself down on the soft mattress, plopping his body down on it with his legs dangling off the edge from the knee down. He’d grinned up at her, adjusted his glasses and ran his fingers through his hair to push it from his face and she’d wondered how she’d remained standing when her legs had felt close to buckling.

With Sascha’s cooking ability being non-existent, she takes over in the kitchen, wincing when she saw the state of the pans. “What did you do to them?” She asked before he snatched it from her hand.

“I tried to fend for myself and since then, because of that, I’ve been living on take out.” he holds the burnt pan out of her reach, one hand on her head as she tried to swipe at the hand holding the cooking equipment behind him.

“How did you not burn your house down if that pan was anything to go by?”

“There were flames and swearing and panic and the smoke alarm was singing to me. Never again. Did you know you can burn water?”

“You can’t.”

“Apparently I can.”

“But how is that possible?”

“Where there’s a will, there is a way. And I found that way.”

He’d watched as she made herself at home once more, making him sit down as she got to work. She gave him drinks, little snacks to chew on as she made them something to eat.

“I still think it’s some kind of sorcery that you put things in those pans and they just cook. As it should.”

“I still think it’s crazy that a grown man can’t make anything for himself. I’m starting to think this is the reason you wanted me to come over.”

“Why do you think I missed you?” He grinned and she shook her head, fully intending to make sure his fridge and freezer has some readymade meals for ease before she leaves him again.

He’d expressed his gratitude with a series of grunts, low moans and groans as he’d savoured each mouthful, commenting how amazing it felt to finally be able to eat something which hadn’t been delivered via a delivery driver on his third stop. He’d inhaled it and then devoured a second portion too before retiring to the couch where he now slumps and rubs his swollen belly.

“Oh, don’t mind me, I’ll just cook for you and clean up after huh?” She shouts teasingly from the kitchen, making sure there’s enough bite in her voice to get her point across but with enough smile to be heard in her words so that he knows she’s not fully serious.

“Leave it, I’ll do it afterwards. I have a dishwasher for a reason.”

“I still don’t understand why,” she comments as she makes her way towards him, “you don’t cook and you eat take out so don’t even need to use plates.”

“I keep it around for when you come and feed me. Obviously.” He grins and beckons her over. She slides up to him and begins to curl her legs beneath her when he pulls them over his own and gives her another small smile as she gets comfortable. “Do you want to choose what we watch?” He asks, offering her the controller.

He waits until she’s browsing before moving his hand to his belly, stroking over the food swollen spot to begin with. She chooses what to put on and they lapse into a silence as the TV plays and Lövik stops pacing to lay beside Sascha’s feet with a huff. As the minutes pass by and he relaxes into a state of sleepiness, his fingers stroke over her ankle, slowly massaging and pinching at her skin until he can feel her beginning to relax beside him. A smile tugs at his lips and he finds himself zoning out, lost in thought about something but nothing.

By the time he’s focusing again his hand is just above her knee, stroking up and down with his fingertips over her thigh. He blinks to focus his eyes and turns to look at her to say something but when he does, he feels it click into place.

He’s not too proud to admit to himself that he’s waited impatiently to see her again. That he’d wanted to contact her far more than he had. That he regretted not holding onto her a little longer the last time they saw each other, even though he gives her the biggest cuddles he possibly can each time she leaves anyway. He wishes he’d submitted it more to memory, but they’d seen each other at least twice a month prior to this and he didn’t think he wouldn’t be seeing for so long. No-one did and so the moment she came through that door, he didn’t want to let her go again for fear that she’d be pulled from him once more.

“If you’re just calling me to tell me that you miss her, hang up. Right now.” Mischa had said immediately upon answering the call on one of the occasions, forcing Sascha to pull a face and abruptly hang up. Six minutes later, Mischa was sighing down the phone at him and saying “go on, get it all out. You may as well say it someone if you won’t just admit it to her.”

“There’s nothing to admit.” He’d replied stubbornly and gritted his teeth, hating being called out when he didn’t need that at that moment in time.

“There is and the longer you leave it, the worse this is going to get. Or, it’s fine. Don’t say anything, swallow your feelings, get over this crush and let her get a boyfriend and move on.” Mischa’s tone had turned strict and he quickly found himself feeling like a child again. The two things he found himself taking away from the conversation in total was the way he felt silly for overthinking about her and the fact that she really could just get a boyfriend and move on.

Move on.

He’d almost wanted to scoff at the thought. He didn’t even know how she felt and here he was, thinking she was already getting over her feelings for him. Hell, he didn’t even know how he himself felt, though part of him wanted to accept that he didn’t just see her as a friend. They’d been the same way for almost all of their friendship that this was just the normal for them. She knew him better than anyone, better than any of his exes had ever tried to.

He’d kept his relationship and his friendship separate until he knew where he’d stood with it. He hadn’t wanted to scare off any potential good relationships with how close he was to her but at the same time, he hadn’t hidden her away either. They knew his best friend was a woman, they heard stories involving her and other than that initial meeting, he hadn’t kept her a secret but had started to drive himself crazy when he began to compare his potential girlfriend with the chemistry that he felt for her and sadly for him, it wasn’t as strong, he didn’t feel that click. As much as he hated comparing the two, which were very different situations, he wasn’t prepared to accept something less than he felt was right.

“So she’s setting a standard that you haven’t actually had.” Mischa had challenged during one of their many talks about her and Sascha wanted to biff him over the head.

“She’s not setting anything.” He’d responded and regretted starting the conversation.

“She is though. You’ve never dated her, have you even kissed her?” Mischa had asked, accusation dropping from his voice for a moment to ask. Sascha confirmed they had not. “So you haven’t kissed, anything sexual is out of the question then, you haven’t told her you like her and don’t challenge me on this Sascha, we both know it even if you don’t want to admit it, and yet, you measure any future girlfriend against her. If you want someone like her, just drop the like part, ditch any other girls and do us all a favour and just date her.”

And until this moment, he hadn’t thought it was truly because his feelings were more than he originally thought, he just simply put it down to it being a different type of friendship. But sitting here with his hand on her thigh and her staring straight ahead at the TV, the light flickering across her face casting her in a light glow, he’s never had the urge to kiss her as much as he does now. The time spent apart has done more than made him miss her, it’s made him face his feelings and realise how his life would be if she wasn’t around. They’d spoken sure, but it hadn’t felt the same, not even with their video calls. He wanted her here with him, snuggled up next to him and for him to be able to wake up in the morning and know that when he rolls out of the bed that she’ll be there at his waiting for him somewhere within his home, no doubt snuggled up with Lövik after sneaking him into her room.

“I kinda don’t want you to go.” He says, knowing if he doesn’t say something now then he won’t.

“I did just get here.” She chuckles, “and I’ve got this big ol’ belly right now.” She takes his hand and places it on her stomach and jiggles it. She’s trying to emphasize her food belly but it’s the wrong moment to be doing this and he’s not sure how to react. “I’m not going anywhere,” she gives her more sincere smile. “At least not for a few days anyway.” His thumb strokes over the small swell of her belly, temporarily able to picture a future that he hadn’t considered previously.

“I just…I realised how much I loved having you here when you weren’t, and how much I took having you specifically around.” He pulls his hand from her belly, feeling a little inappropriate to leave it there while trying to say what he needs to say.

“I think we certainly took it for granted before.” She nods in agreement. “It just means we’ll have to make the best of any time we do spend together. I know I mocked you earlier,” she says as she rests her head against the sofa now and turns to look at him properly, “but I’ve missed you. A lot.”

“How much?” He asks, and she rolls her eyes. He always tries to beat her at everything. Marshmallow eating competition, how much popcorn he can put in his mouth. Even with something like this, he has to miss her the mostest.

“Enough to start hating your videos.”

“Oh.” He answers, knowing he’s a little touchy right now and that she wouldn’t have meant it in the way that it’s come out but it still stings to hear it.

“I just mean that it started to get a little too much, in a good way mostly. I didn’t want videos of you or phone calls. I wanted you. I loved seeing you,” she says, reaching over and stroking his hair, “but I wanted to be here, doing this.” She smiles as he leans into her hand, closing his eyes momentarily to appreciate the moment. “My handsome soft boy.”

He hates the way his stomach flips as she refers to him as hers but it does. Only it doesn’t feel as though it’s flipping anymore but bursting into butterflies. He covers her hand with his own, his fingers slipping through the gaps of hers. She doesn’t fight it, if anything she welcomes the two of them joining hands.

“How long do you want me to stay here?” She asks. “I didn’t bring a whole lot of things but I figured I could always do some washing. I don’t want to outstay my welcome. Especially so soon.”

“You don’t see me for several months and you’re already planning to get out of here?” He replies as his eyes snap open to look at her.

“More like I haven’t seen you for several months and I’m wondering when you’ll kick me out. Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done that.”

It wouldn’t. He knows this and in hindsight, he’s not so proud about that day. “Well, I can assure you that I’m in no rush to do that again.”

“You sound certain.”

“I am. I’ve got plans for us, and I need you to stick around for it.” Because how else can I tell you I love you, if it’s not in person?

[mytennisdiary]

US Open 2021 - Day 2

Sakkari vs Kostyuk

Early trade of breaks to open the match, 1-2. Big servers who are vulnerable on their seconds, Sakkari has more winners and errors so far, she’s the aggressor looking to come forward. Sakkari making and winning a high % of 1st serves, but she’s finding the net a bit too often with her forehand. Both players cruising on serve until 3-4, Sakkari was up 40-15 and let Kostyuk back in with a forehand error and double fault, then double faulted to give her a break point, but saved it with a first serve. Serve abandoned her a bit, but Kostyuk can’t do enough with the return against the kicker. Sakarri follow up with some solid defense to get a break point at 4-4, Kostyuk capitulates with a forehand error long.

Musetti vs Nava

Nava takes the first set in a tight tiebreak behind a nice serve and volley play and a huge forehand passing shot on the run. Very even, Musetti has more rally tolerance, Nava is the one who looks to go big and finish points quicker, also the one who makes errors. At 2-3, Nava played a few loose points and then Musetti hit an awesome defensive winner to get 0-40, Nava double faulted the break away. Musetti’s composure is impressive, baiting Nava into errors now. Musetti plays so far back. Serving for the set, up 30-0, Musetti totally collapses, errors and an unconvincing attempt to come in where he got passed on break point, 5-4 back on serve. Nava immediately gives it right back with double faults, 1 set all. Same story in the 3rd set, Musetti drawing needless errors from Nava, including a double on break point, to go up a break, 1-3.

Opelka vs Kwon

Opelka wins the 1st in a tiebreak behind a huge serve and a nice low volley pickup. Opelka serves out the 2nds, now up 2-0. Opelka served out the 3rd set to take it in straights.

Zverev vs Querrey

Querry serving big and hanging with Zverev, 3-4 in the 1st. Querrey totally capitulates with errors at 4-4, broken at love. Zverev serves it out easily, 6-4. Querrey double faults the break away deep in the 2nd set.

Sevastova vs Siniakova

Extremely tight first set went to Siniakova in a breaker. Siniakova has 2 break chances at 2-3 in the 2nd after a beautiful backhand pass, but Sevastova saves them with easy forehand power. Siniakova turns it right back around with a beautiful backhand winner and gets the break, 2-4 in the 2nd. It really is Sevastova’s awesome forehand against Siniakova’s great backhand.

McDonald took out Goffin in straight sets for a nice little upset.

Bencic vs Rus

Bencic is serving for the 1st set. Bencic won pretty comfortable in straights, her movement looks good.

Badosa vs Van Uytvanck

Badosa sneaks out a break at 5-4 to steal the 1st set.

Barty vs Zvonereva

Barty looks totally dominant, starts up 3-0. Zvonereva is a veteran, two time major finalist, but she doesn’t look to be moving well at all.

Anisimova vs Diyas

Anisimova up a set and had break chances at 2-3, finally capitalized on her 4th chance.

Berrettini vs Chardy

Honestly, the difference in this 1st set might be Berrettini’s slice backhand which he is keeping very low. Tight tiebreaker, both players had costly double faults but Chardy’s came later. Chardy had some great run-around forehands, but he lost it on one into the net.

Fucsovics and Carreno Busta lost five set thrillers when I was out playing basketball

Djokovic vs Rune

Djokovic was dominant in the 1st set, looking to come in and shorten the points. But then in the second set Djokovic got a bit wonky. He was broken at love, turned the set around and got up a break, only to then get broken back again. Rune has an impressive forehand and a good second serve, he really is able to make some impressive shots on the run. Djokovic played a pretty scratchy tiebreak and Rune took the 2nd. But then, in the third, Rune started to cramp and that was really the end of things. In the second, the crowd was really on Rune’s side, chanting his name. Novak didn’t really look too happy, or too comfortable at all after the first set. Kind of a strange start to the grand slam attempt. Djokovic didn’t do his typical crowd thanking post-match celebration, he thought they were booing him.

Muchova vs Soribes Tormo

Sorribes Tormo won in straight sets. She is just a brick wall and she continues her recent good form.

Brooksby vs Ymer featured a strange episode that I’ll likely learn more about going forward. Ymer threw his racket and got penalized but then got into a verbal exchange with the chair and refused to play, the chair docked him a game and Ymer called the chair a liar. This all happened when he was down 2 sets, but then he managed to win the 3rd. Brooksby gutted it out in the 4th.

Fritz vs de Minaur

Fritz has never won against Alex, he was trying to overhit and got down a break, but then he righted the ship. 1st set tiebreak, Fritz showed good patience and served well to get the set.

Andreescu vs Golubic

Andreescu broken first, but then she played an excellent return game at 5-4 to deny Golubic when she was trying to serve it out. Andreescu has now won 11 points in a row, totally taking momentum with some big forehands stepping into the court. Best game of the match by far at 5-6 with Andrescu slamming the ball and Golubic playing awesome defense, she really handles Andreescu’s power impressively and pulls these impressive down the line winners out off both wings. In the end it was a 14 minute game and Bianca got it on her 3rd set point chance, 7-5. Early in the 2nd Andreescu has called the trainer, it looks like she’s crying. Maybe nausea? This was a real epic battle all the way through the 3rd set, Andreescu was emotional after getting the win.

[thisdaynews]

Australian Open semi-finals: Thiem v Zverev

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/australian-open-semi-finals-thiem-v-zverev/

Australian Open semi-finals: Thiem v Zverev

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Live Reporting

By Alex Bysouth

All times stated are UK

Posted at 10:0810:08

Game and second set – Thiem

Zverev 6-3 4-6 Thiem

Ace! Absolute zinger from the Austrian… he hits back with the second set.

Posted at 10:0710:07

Set point Thiem

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Thiem comes dashing into the net, and jabs away a volleyed winner.

Set point!

Posted at 10:0610:06

Post update

Jonathan Jurejko

BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Dominic Thiem has been here before. Two nights ago in fact. He struggled to serve out against Rafa Nadal, that time for the match.

The positive? He went on to win the breaker. Although he is not done quite yet in this game…

Posted at 10:0610:06

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

One of the longest rallies of the match so far, 24 shots… measured stuff from both players, until Dominic Thiem sticks a little extra zip on it and Alexander Zverev finds the net.

Deuce.

Posted at 10:0510:05

Post update

Posted at 10:0510:05

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Nerves? Dominic Thiem can’t put this set away.

Alexander Zverev has a chance to rescue it. Break back point once more.

Posted at 10:0410:04

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Brilliant from Dominic Thiem, digging deep and coming up with a soaring forehand that Alexander Zverev cannot get around. Deuce.

Posted at 10:0410:04

Post update

Jonathan Jurejko

BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Wow. What an overhead winner from Zverev. From well behind the baseline!

That has stirred the Laver crowd, who Zverev urges to make some noise with some arm whirring and ear cupping.

And the adrenalin is still flowing as many of the 15,000 fans leap to their feet after that stinging duel in the next point.

Suddenly the atmosphere has ramped up a notch.

Posted at 10:0310:03

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Thiem at the net… leaps high to reach a Zverev return, but finds the net!

Break back point.

Posted at 10:0210:02

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Finger-in-the-air stuff from Alexander Zverev, who cups his ear as the crowd cheer a smashed winner from behind the baseline – Dominic Thiem missed the chance to put him away.

Zverev comes cantering into the net off the next, defends two Thiem stingers but then the Austrian steps into a volley of his own to pick off the seventh seed.

30-30.

Posted at 10:0010:00

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

Snappy start from Dominic Thiem with a massive serve down the T that rattles the frame of Alexander Zverev. But he then drags a backhand into the gauze. 15-15.

Posted at 9:599:59

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem

Pat Cash

Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Alexander Zverev can get down on himself, but he’s done a great job in this tournament.

Posted at 9:589:58

Post update

Zverev 6-3 4-5 Thiem*

What a return! A flat-batted backhand that just kisses the line from Thiem…

The angered Zverev skips forward to hammer away the next point and then stings down an ace to make Thiem serve for the second set.

Posted at 9:579:57

Post update

*Zverev 6-3 3-5 Thiem

Uh oh, a few cracks appearing in the Alexander Zverev game – the confidence of the first set has evaporated, as he slaps a simple short ball long.

The German regains some composure and Dominic Thiem tickles a forehand long.

30-15.

Posted at 9:559:55

Post update

*Zverev 6-3 3-5 Thiem

Quick hold from Dominic Thiem to consolidate that break.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Posted at 9:549:54

Post update

Zverev 6-3 3-4 Thiem

David Law

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra tennis commentator

Alexander Zverev has now missed seven out of his 20 first serves having missed just two from 20 in the first set.

Posted at 9:539:53

Post update

Jonathan Jurejko

BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Dominic Thiem had the net cord on his side in the quarter-final win over Rafael Nadal and it has helped him again there.

At this rate, the Austrian will asking if can take the Melbourne tape with him on tour for the rest of the year…

Posted at 9:529:52

Thiem breaks

Zverev 6-3 3-4 Thiem*

Dominic Thiem only needs one… the fifth seed edges back in front in this set.

Posted at 9:529:52

Break points Thiem

*Zverev 6-3 3-3 Thiem

Thiem just won’t go away! Like a fly that will not be swatted… Zverev chases him around and eventually a lofted forehand from the Austrian gets its comeuppance.

But the buzzing Austrian is back, clipping the tape and watching the ball drop agonsingly on Zverev’s side. Two break points.

Posted at 9:509:50

Post update

*Zverev 6-3 3-3 Thiem

Brilliant. This is hotting up. Three strokes in that point looked like they could be winners, but were somehow kept alive.

Eventually Dominic Thiem takes it. 0-30.

Read More

[aion-rsa]

Tennis World Tour 2 Roster Announced, Features Federer and Nadal

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Hitting like tennis icons Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal on a real court may be close to impossible. World Tour Tennis 2 will give fans the chance to at least hit like some of their favorite pros on the virtual court. The new game from NACON and Big Ant Studios will feature 38 professional players, including a few tennis legends. 

The roster announcement came just a day after Domenic Thiem won a thrilling fifth-set tiebreak to capture his first U.S. Open title. The newly crowned Grand Slam winner is one of the playable pros in World Tour Tennis 2. On the WTA side, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, American Madison Keys, Canadian Bianca Andreescu, and Czech Petra Kvitova are amongst the playable pros in the women’s game. You can find the full list of players in World Tour Tennis 2 below. 

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

The tennis sim is set to launch on September 24th on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, and October 15 on Nintendo Switch. The game is a sequel to the poorly reviewed World Tour Tennis, which launched despite the original game publisher, BigBen Interactive, admitting the game was only about 20 percent completed with weeks to go before release. It should be noted that the sequel is being produced by Big Ant Studios, an Australian game developer known for rugby, lacrosse, and cricket titles. There are several new features that the studio hopes will put the series back on track: 

Highly anticipated new features: the ability to play doubles matches with up to 4 players locally and online, a competitive mode, an improved serve system and a new shot timing mechanic

More realistic: more animations create smoother gameplay

Multiple game modes: Career, Quick Match, Online, Tournament, Ranked Match and Tie Break Tens – there’s a format to suit every player

Several official courts: Manolo Santana of the Mutua Madrid Open, the OWL ARENA of Halle or the 3 courts of Roland-Garros: Philippe-Chatrier, Suzanne-Lenglen and Simonne-Mathieu.

Here’s the full list of players in World Tour Tennis 2: 

Alex De Minaur

Daniil Medvedev

Grigor Dimitrov

Marat Safin (pre-order bonus)

Alexander Zverev

David Goffin

Gustavo Kuerten (pre-order bonus)

Nick Kyrgios

Ashleigh Barty

Denis Shapovalov

Jannik Sinner

Petra Kvitova

Belinda Bencic

Dominic Thiem

John Isner

Rafael Nadal

Benoit Paire

Elina Svitolina

Karen Khachanov

Roberto Bautista Agut

Bianca Andreescu

Fabio Fognini

Kei Nishikori

Roger Federer

Borna Coric

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Kiki Bertens

Stanislas Wawrinka

Caroline Garcia

Francis Tiafoe

Kristina Mladenovic

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Casper Ruud

Gaël Monfils

Kyle Edmund

Cori Gauff

Garbine Muguruza

Madison Keys

The post Tennis World Tour 2 Roster Announced, Features Federer and Nadal appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2H8801e

[vsplusonline]

Australian Open | Dominic Thiem beats Alexander Zverev to reach final

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/australian-open-dominic-thiem-beats-alexander-zverev-to-reach-final/

Australian Open | Dominic Thiem beats Alexander Zverev to reach final

Dominic Thiem won the new-generation battle with Alex Zverev 3-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(4) to reach his first Australian Open final on Friday and set up the ultimate test against Melbourne Park maestro Novak Djokovic.

In an enthralling semifinal featuring a rain interruption, a lighting failure and a plenty of drama besides, the fifth seeded Austrian shrugged off a sluggish start and was braver on the big points under the roof at Rod Laver Arena.

He thrashed two blazing forehand winners to raise three match points in the decisive tiebreak, then sealed it with a cross-court volley to book his third Grand Slam final after losing the last two French Open deciders to Rafa Nadal.

“Both of us could have won this today,” Thiem, who dumped Nadal from the quarterfinals, said on court.

“Maybe (I have) a little bit of experience, little bit of something else. He’s just 22, maybe not long before he makes it to his first Grand Slam final.

“It was an unreal match, again two tiebreaks, so tough and so close. It was almost impossible to break him.”

With the men’s Grand Slams dominated for years by the ‘Big Three’ of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer, Thiem will bid to become the first man born in the 1990s to win a major title.

For two players seeking a maiden final in Melbourne, it was a nervous start with each dropping their opening service games before rain halted play briefly for the roof to close.

After the resumption, Thiem was the first to blink with a double fault opening the door for Zverev, who crashed through to break the Austrian in the seventh game.

Still rattled, Thiem conceded the set in a flurry of unforced errors.

Zverev had served woefully in his dreadful ATP Cup in the leadup to Melbourne, but he needed only two second serves in the entire first set.

The demons returned briefly, however, as he opened the third game of the second set with consecutive double faults before dropping serve.

But that was just the cue for a madcap phase of service breaks and sparkling rallies — and also a few bone-headed shots — from both players.

Thiem finally held to 5-3, but the madness continued.

In an outrageous game of net-rushing, botched overhead smashes and thumping groundstrokes, Thiem fought off two break points before blasting an ace down the ‘T’ to take the set and level the match.

Light failure

The pair had literally shot the lights out, and play was halted for a second time after Zverev held serve to 1-0 in the third set due to lamps failing on the roof.

Following a break of some seven minutes, Thiem landed a crushing blow, luring Zverev into an ill-fated trip to the net before ripping a backhand past him to take his serve again.

He began throwing Zverev around the court with his power but the German hung tough, claiming a spell-binding rally with a searing pass after Thiem had dived like a goalkeeper for a volley.

Thiem dropped serve and Zverev lifted with some superb tennis.

His line call challenges were appalling, however, and he used up his quota by the ninth game, leading to a minor tantrum and a code violation for an audible obscenity.

Fired up, he prised two set points from Thiem but the Austrian nervelessly saved both before racing away in the tiebreak.

A sizzling forehand down the line brought three set points, and Thiem converted the first with a sumptuous one-handed backhand winner fired from an absurd angle.

There was no glorious dash to the finish line for Thiem, with the fourth set a grind but he was magnificent in the tiebreak as he courageously attacked the lines before claiming it with a decisive rush to the net.

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[torentialtribute]

No respect for big names. Underarm serves. Nick Kyrgios is the man who’s shaking up tennis

Nick Kyrgios is sitting in the bowels of the Miami Dolphins stage and beaming after the reaction to his latest victory – from the courtside security

"Afterwards I had about five of the guards who don't care much about the game tell me how much fun that was to watch," he says. "That's super important because this is the entertainment business."

The 23-year-old Australian had just gone through to the third round of the Miami Open with a win over qualifier Alexander Bublik that had an element of the Harlem Globetrotters about it. The bumper attendance on the secondary arena at Hard Rock Stadium was bigger than that watching Serena Williams competently make the debut on the giant main court.

He has an outstanding career record against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

There was his usual mix of scorching winners, gossamer-touch drop shots, careless mistakes, drives from between the legs and that strange reluctance to chase down every single ball. He has a curious ability to excite a crowd while displaying a certain indifference.

This is perhaps why he can lose to anyone – sometimes in dismal fashion – while enjoying an outstanding aggregate 6-6 record against the sainted trio or Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He is 2-0 against the latter.

Kyrgios talks like he plays tennis: fast, unpredictable and not afraid to display a wide repertoire of shots. This is particularly the case when assessing how he managed to compile his enviable stats against the big three.

Kyrgios talks like he plays tennis: fast, unpredictable and displaying a wide repertoire of shots

HIGHS AND LOWS

THE GOOD

June 2014 Nick Kyrgios announces himself to the tennis world by knocking world No. 1 Rafa Nadal out of Wimbledon. May 2015 – Comes from a set down to beat Roger Federer 14-12 in a final set tiebreak in Madrid. February-March 2017 Beats Novak Djokovic twice in straight sets in Acapulco and Indian Wells. February 2019 – Back in Acapulco hits an underarm serve on the way to another win over Nadal, then beats Alex Zverev in the final.

THE BAD

Aug 2015 Hurled a barrage of salacious insults at Stan Wawrinka. Given a suspended six-month sentence. Oct 2016 Verbally abused a spectator during a 48-minute defeat by Mischa Zverev in Shanghai. He said: "I don't owe the fans anything." If they don't like it, just leave. "Jun 2018 Fined £ 13,000 for obscene gestures with a water bottle at Queens.

"I just go out there and do my thing and nothing changes or I'm playing Alexander Bublik or Federer or Rafa," he says. I serve big, I back myself, at the end of the day they are only human.

'They don't do anything spectacularly well. Obviously Federer is unbelievably talented and the greatest of all time, but he gets tired in tight situations. Djokovic struggles with short balls, he doesn't like to come forward. Second serve can get a bit shaky.

'Rafa loves to be defensive so you can really push through his forehand and expose how far back he stands. So they do have weaknesses and if you play the right way and execute it right under pressure then they can be beaten.

'You just have to play the right way and for the stars to align. Of course they are a level above all of us, but they are definitely beatable, I don't think they are God's to the sport. "

Late last month Kyrgios went out and beat Nadal amid a febrile atmosphere at the ATP Tour event in Acapulco. On the way he served underarm, infuriating the great Spaniard, who afterwards declared that his opponent lacked respect for both his opponents and himself.

Kyrgios plays around behind the clock during his match against Alexander Bublik in Miami

Unlike many of the present day younger ATP players, you will not find Kyrgios coming off court to describe it as an 'honor' to share the court with them.

'I don't know how much respect the others show them but I'm not going to really respect someone just because they can hit a ball over the net, that's not enough for me to give them respect, "said Kyrgios, who plays today Serbia's Dusan Lajovic.

'Why would I give them an inch? They've already got the advantage with always playing on the best courts in the best conditions, all that sort of stuff, so I don't know why you would give them inches. "

" Obviously what they ( the trio) do for the sport is huge, they inspire millions around the globe. But when I'm on the court we're competing and I'm not trying to be your friend.

'I'm not sure why I would go out there and be very respectful of Rafa to get ready for me to serve. "

Kyrgios throws his racquet during his match against Philipp Kohlschreiber at Indian Wells

It is perhaps counting that Kyrgios's peak this year came when winning the ATP title in the Mexican playground, where there were obviously plenty of distractions away from the gravel of the tennis.

'Acapulco was insane on and off the court, I definitely lost a couple of years off my life that week. I was going jet skiing every day, I had my best friend there, it was like a holiday week, that's when I tend to play well. One of the best atmospheres ever.

'I hit it (the underarm serve) and people say' he's being disrespectful ', but when other people do it they'd say' very technically switched on '. When I did it, it's like the roof is falling in. I'm never going to hit one again because I've got scorched for it … I'm kidding – I'm hitting it again for sure, I was thinking about it all day today.

'At times I think tennis is way too serious. I don't think about goalsetting. There is so much going on in the world that we are so sheltered from, I'm not trying to put my attention into tennis too much, I come in and play my match somewhere like this and I'm out of here. "

Kyrgios has long established a bond with Andy Murray, who believes he is one of the people who 'gets' him. The two have stayed in touch while Murray continues his convalescence.

Kyrgios went out and beat Rafael Nadal on way to winning the Acapulco Open in Mexico

'I had a hit the other day with Amanda Anisimova (the exciting American prospect) at 9am the other day, I never hit that early. Andy in Brisbane this year asked me if I wanted to hit at 9am and I said that's way too early. He messaged me the other day when he saw that I'd hit with her, adding a sad face.

'So I have been in contact with him a little bit, he's obviously a great guy and I wish him all the best. If he can come back and play I don't care if he wins a match, I just want to see him back on the tour and competing. The results aren't something to be concerned about it would be just to see him happy. If you're able to play again that's a success. I think he is someone I will keep in touch with when I have finished playing for sure. "

In his darker moments Kyrgios does not always help himself, putting in halfhearted efforts or descending to puerile antics like making suggestive gestures with water bottles, as he did last summer at Queen's.

But the ongoing debate among some earnest types about whether he is 'good for the game' is tennis's most inane debate – or course he is, for all the undulating behavior.

The Harlem Globetrotters analogy is a fitting one, because he makes no secret that what he would much rather be doing is shooting hoops.

Last week he could be found dispensing wisdom to a group of eleven year-old schoolchidren as part of a Unicef ​​charity appearance prior to the tournament.

After advising them that it was important to always listen to their parents, he also added a note of regret.

'When I was 14 , my parents told me I could play basketball for longer and still it breaks my heart. It was one of the toughest challenges to give that up. I love basketball. "

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[footballffbarbiex]

Sascha Zverev Masterlist.

______________________

Prompts, blurbs, song blurbs, Dating Would Includes:

______________________

Sweet Sound Of Silence. (Coming soon.) Blurb. Smut.  You’ve been in a bad mood all day and there’s only so much Sascha can take before the niceness dissolves. 

_______________

Fluff One Shots.

_______________

_______________

Smut One Shots.

_______________

This Side Of The Camera. (Coming Soon.) With only his phone for company, Sascha begins to look back over the memories they’ve created. 

_______________

Series.

_______________

MORE COMING SOON. 

Let The World Fall Down. 

Chapter One. So come here, and close your eyes Lie back, release your mind And let the world fall down while I'm by your side After years of refusing to acknowledge what is in front of both of them, Sascha and his best friend finally have time together after months apart. But is this uninterrupted time together what they need to finally admit what they’ve known all along?

[youreamonocoque]

Nerves still not subsided, Alex has made a lot of unforced errors. He’s doing well considering this is the furthest he’s gotten. But heck, I’m proud of him getting this far; Zverev is a hard match

I managed to watch a bit! Two and a half sets before I had to do some work but I did manage to see some! 

He looked really good, okay maybe he didn’t beat Zverev but it was always going to be a tough for him. He made a few unforced errors but he played some nice shots and a couple of times when he was on the back foot he found a way to win the point which was great. His forehand looked solid and he had some nice touches, I didn’t really see him come forward to the net a lot but he did well from the back and ripped a few forehands which was great. He got beaten fairly comprehensively (that’s how I describe the scoreline sorry, it’s harsh, i feel bad!) but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. There were nice points in there that he won and some nice ones that he lost but his game is developing and he did really well to get this far into the tournament. It’s really good that there’s a lot of other Aussie players coming through and moving up the ranks. Alex looks the best of them (behind de Minaur) and I wouldn’t be too surprised it he picked up a title this year (or two or three, I’m not sure which tournaments he’s down to play).

I’m so happy for you (and him) that he got this far and there were no easy third rounds this year so he did really well to get to it and put in a good performance against Zverev. He had two good wins prior to this against a former World Number 8 and the current World Number 30 (and also former Number 6) which were brilliant. The match against Zverev may have looked comprehensive on paper with the 6-3 6-3 6-2 scoreline but he had a good match! 

[melbourniseme]

Australian Open 2019

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We are in full swing of another hot Australian summer, which means 3 things for Melbournians; flip-flops become formalwear, rooftop bars are overflowing with excited holiday goers, and of course…Australian Open Tennis!

Hosting one of the 4 International Grand Slam Tournaments, Melbourne certainly holds its reputation as the Sporting Capital of the World, and Melbourne Park is where all the action will kick off on Monday January 14th. With some of the biggest names in sport fighting for Grand Slam glory, who will be victorious at the completion of the Tournament?

A strong favorite for any Grand Slam Tournament in the Men’s Singles has to be Roger Federer. Not only has he won the last 2 consecutive Australian Open Titles, but he currently has an equal record number of wins in this Tournament (6), his 2018 win giving him a total of 20 Grand Slam Victories over the 4 Tournaments. There is no doubt he is a record breaker, and we look forward to seeing what he brings to the 2019 Competition.

There is however, some very strong competition in the Men’s Singles, and a few names to keep an eye on: Number 8 Seed Kei Nishikori is in great form, winning the Brisbane International this month in convincing style. Youngster Alexander Zverev has shot up the ATP rankings to be the number 4 seed for this Tournament at just 21 years of age, whilst Austrian Dominic Thiem has also been impressive, seeded number 7.

Some excitement for Australian Tennis comes from young gun Alex de Minaur, who has upset some big names (Andreas Seppi and Gilles Simon) to take home the Sydney International Trophy this week. In an excellent display from our Australian representatives, Ashleigh Barty also successfully made the Sydney International Final in the Women’s Singles Division, losing in 3 sets to Petra Kvitova.

The Women’s Singles draw is tight with Simona Halep the number 1 seed. Number 4 seed Naomi Osaka from Japan has shown some excellent form, whilst 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki will also be coming in with some confidence. Brisbane International winner and number 7 seed Karolina Pliskova is playing some good tennis and should be one to watch. Although seeded at number 16, Tennis Guru and 2017 Australian Open winner Serena Williams can never be counted out, and we look forward to what she brings to the competition.

As a Grand Slam, there is plenty of Tennis to be seen, which can range from: Men’s and Women’s Singles, to Men’s and Women’s Doubles, and also the Junior Boy’s and Girl’s will be on display in the Singles and Doubles Tournaments on outside Show Courts. A true highlight of this Tournament is the Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Competition, which will take place on Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th of January.

My recommendation would be to get a ground pass to a day in the first week so that you will be able to enjoy the beautiful weather and incredible talent that will be on display. If spending the day in the sun isn’t for you, then a seat in Rod Laver Arena or Margaret Court is all you need to see how it all unfolds.

Shane Asbury Sports Editor

        Australian Open 2019 Australian Open 2019 We are in full swing of another hot Australian summer, which means 3 things for Melbournians; flip-flops become formalwear, rooftop bars are overflowing with excited holiday goers, and of course…Australian Open Tennis!

[investmart007]

NEW YORK | Federer's 'unreal' shot at US Open; 10 of top 13 women out

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/kXwy8X

NEW YORK | Federer's 'unreal' shot at US Open; 10 of top 13 women out

NEW YORK — The most pivotal part of Roger Federer‘s U.S. Open victory over Nick Kyrgios, both men agreed, came all of 17 minutes in, when the 20-time major champion was serving at 3-all, love-40 and got out of the jam.

The most spectacular part? That came, anyone who saw it surely would agree, much later. It was the on-a-full-sprint, drop-shot-retrieving, flick-from-a-few-inches-off-the-ground, forehand-around-the-net-post, jaw-dropping winner that Federer conjured up a few games from the conclusion of the 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 tour de force in the third round Saturday.

“Almost unreal,” said Kyrgios, who admired the bit of racket wizardry with eyes wide open and mouth agape.

“A special one, no doubt about it,” declared Federer, who put it up there among his greatest hits, which, considering who we’re talking about, is certainly saying something.

There’s no rule mandating that the ball travel over the net for a shot to count, but Federer pointed out that this was not the sort of thing he can try in practice, mainly because there isn’t as much room to run wide of the court as in a big arena like Arthur Ashe Stadium, so “you will be running into a fence.”

Much was made of Kyrgios’ previous match, in which chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani climbed out of his seat to have a chat with the 23-year-old player about whether he was giving his best effort while trailing by a set and a break. Kyrgios went on to win; Lahyani was chastised by the U.S. Tennis Association for breaching “protocol” but allowed to continue officiating at the tournament.

This time, of course, Kyrgios received no sort of counsel during the match other than all the muttering, at various volumes, he directed at himself. He doesn’t have a coach and wondered aloud, during the latest in a long line of news conferences that sound more like therapy sessions, whether he should add one — or perhaps someone who could help with the mental aspect of the game.

Federer alluded to one particularly questionable choice Kyrgios made at 5-all, 40-15 in the final set, when he went for a drop shot that found the net instead of simply hitting a normal forehand into the open court.

“Clearly,” Federer said, “when you play that way and you lose, it’s always, like, you feel like he’s so much to blame. But that’s just how he plays.”

Clearly.

The contrast between Kyrgios’ mindset and Federer’s was not lost on the talented, if temperamental, Australian.

“We’re two very different characters. Just the way he goes about things, I could take a leaf out of his book. The way he behaves on court. His demeanor,” the 30th-seeded Kyrgios said. “I don’t want to change myself too much, but I could definitely take away things he does in certain situations. He’s the ultimate role model to anyone who wants to play.”

The No. 2-seeded Federer moved into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the 17th consecutive appearance. He’s won five titles at the U.S Open, although the last arrived a decade ago.

While he keeps on keeping on, there are all sorts of seeds tumbling from both singles draws.

It’s most pronounced in the women’s field, where 10 of the top 13 seeds already are gone as Week 1 comes to an end. No. 4 Angelique Kerber and No. 5 Petra Kvitova — owners of a combined five Grand Slam titles — exited Saturday, both at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the same new arena where No. 1 Simona Halep and No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki were beaten earlier in the tournament.

Over in Ashe at night, Maria Sharapova eliminated No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 to improve to 23-0 in night matches at the U.S. Open.

No. 6 Caroline Garcia and No. 13 Kiki Bertens also lost, while 2017 runner-up Madison Keys came back to beat Aleksandra Krunic 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Two seeded men lost in the afternoon to unseeded opponents: No. 4 Alexander Zverev and No. 17 Lucas Pouille. Zverev still has never made the fourth round in visits to New York after being beaten 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 by Philipp Kohlschreiber in an all-German matchup, while Joao Sousa defeated Pouille 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).

Kohlschreiber now meets 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori, who got past No. 13 Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

At night, 13-time major champion Novak Djokovic was facing No. 26 Richard Gasquet in Ashe, while 2014 U.S. Open title winner Marin Cilic met Alex de Minaur in Armstrong.

Djokovic could meet Federer in the quarterfinals.

First, though, Federer gets what shapes up as a mismatch against 55th-ranked John Millman, who never before has made it this far at any Grand Slam tournament.

“He’s the best that’s played the game, in my opinion,” said Millman, who practiced with Federer ahead of the grass-court portion of this season. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Roger.”

The outcome of Federer vs. Kyrgios might very well have been decided in the very early going, long before Federer’s “How did he do that?!” trick shot in the third set.

In the match’s seventh game, Federer faced a total of four break points. On the first three, Kyrgios missed a shot. On the fourth, Federer snapped off a forehand winner. The game then continued through five additional deuces and Federer held. Turned out Kyrgios would not muster another break chance.

“He loosened up straightaway after that. He started playing some shots that we all know he can make. All the pressure was off him. He’s an unbelievable front-runner,” Kyrgios said. “When he gets in front, there’s not much you can do.”

By Associated Press ___

[latestnews2018-blog]

Kyrgios tips De Minaur to give Nadal a scare

New Post has been published on https://latestnews2018.com/kyrgios-tips-de-minaur-to-give-nadal-a-scare/

Kyrgios tips De Minaur to give Nadal a scare

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios plays a shot during his second round match against Netherland’s Robin Haase, on July 5, 2018.

London: Nick Kyrgios fired a warning to Rafael Nadal after continuing to lead a strong Australian challenge at Wimbledon on Thursday.

The 23-year-old maverick kept himself under control during an impressive straight sets defeat of Dutchman Robin Haase and is a potential semi-final foe for Nadal.

But it is another young Australian, 19-year-old Alex De Minaur, who Kyrgios is predicting could cause Nadal problems.

De Minaur plays the Spaniard in the third round after beating Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

“It’s awesome. He’s going to be a guy that’s going to love playing on grass for his whole career,” Kyrgios told reporters.

“These type of balls, nightmare, so flat. He’s a great returner. I honestly think he can cause some damage the next round. I don’t think Rafa is going to be liking the ball that’s going to come at him constantly for three hours.

“It’s going to be a tough ask for him, but I think he could definitely cause a little bit of discomfort.” With 30-year-old Matthew Ebden also into the third round in the bottom half there is plenty for Australian fans to cheer, although the focus is very much on Kyrgios, who himself stunned Nadal at Wimbledon four years ago.

Kyrgios, seeded 15, arrived at Wimbledon in good form after strong runs on the grass in Stuttgart and at Queen’s Club.

And he followed a first-round win over Denis Istomin with another focused display to set up a clash with Japan’s Kei Nishikori who he is yet to beat and who he described as a ‘nightmare’ to play.

Kyrgios is one of the players being tipped as a potential champion here but said it was still too early to get excited about anyone else than the usual suspects.

“I don’t know if we can do much,” he said. “We can just take care of business every day until we meet them. Hopefully we can play our best tennis.”

Alexander Zverev avoided a shock exit as the world No. 3 battled back to beat American youngster Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.

Zverev had just lost the third set when bad light forced play to be suspended late on Thursday evening.

But the 21-year-old German has plenty of practice at scrambling out of trouble after three times winning from two sets to one down at the recent French Open.

He staged another impressive escape act on Court One, winning the final two sets to move into the third round.

Zverev will face Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis for a place in the last 16.

After enjoying the best Grand Slam run of his career when he made the French Open quarter-finals last month, Zverev is hoping to reach the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time.

He was beaten in the fourth round last year.

Following early exits for Swiss 16th seed Borna Coric and Canadian world number 25 Denis Shapovalov, Zverev’s win was a boost for the group of young prodigies branded the sport’s ‘NextGen’ stars by the ATP.

South African eighth seed Kevin Anderson reached the last 16 with a straight-sets win over experienced German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The way he played in his 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 victory suggested Anderson could go further than ever before at the All England Club.

Anderson, 32, pressured Kohlschreiber from the start and was gifted an early and decisive break as the German double-faulted and he netted a forehand in the second game.

The South African also broke at the start of the second set but Kohlschreiber hit back immediately.

Anderson bided his time and broke at 5-5 with a forehand winner and held for a two-set lead.

He got a huge slice of luck at 5-5 in the third set when his backhand return flopped off the net tape and over to earn him the break and he served out to love, clenching his first and roaring his delight as Kohlschreiber’s return flew long.

Anderson, the only African left in the singles draws, will face Frenchman Gael Monfils for a place in the last eight. Monfils American Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

[ultrasfcb-blog]

French Open 2018: Rafael Nadal favorite, no Andy Murray or Roger Federer, Serena Williams

French Open 2018: Rafael Nadal favorite, no Andy Murray or Roger Federer, Serena Williams

French Open 2018: Rafael Nadal favorite, no Andy Murray or Roger Federer, Serena Williams

Spain’s Rafael Nadal received his 10th Roland Garros title in Paris final 12 months

2018 French Open Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 27 Might-10 June Protection: Every day stay radio and textual content commentaries on BBC Radio 5 stay and the BBC Sport web site

Sharp terracotta clay courts, luscious backdrops with the Eiffel Tower looming within the distance, rows of pristine Parisians carrying Panama hats… unmistakeably the French Open at Roland Garros.

The second Grand Slam of the tennis calendar – and the one main on clay – begins on Sunday.

Spain’s 16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal continues to be the person to beat in Paris, whereas 23-time main winner Serena Williams is the star attraction within the ladies’s draw.

Nevertheless, two of the most important names won’t be enjoying within the French capital – 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Britain’s former world primary Andy Murray.

In Murray’s absence, the British cost will likely be led by Kyle Edmund within the males’s draw and Johanna Konta within the ladies’s.

This is the whole lot you have to know…

Who can cease the King of Clay?

Beating Nadal on a clay court docket is the last word problem in tennis – a notion each 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and three-time Grand Slam champion Murray agree on.

And, as soon as once more, the 31-year-old Spaniard is the favorite to win at Roland Garros.

Nadal triumphed in Paris final 12 months, changing into the primary participant – male or feminine – to win the identical Grand Slam match 10 occasions within the Open period.

Worryingly for his rivals, he has picked up the place he left off final 12 months on the clay, lifting his 11th titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona on his option to a record 50-set winning streak on a single floor.

Finally that run got here to an finish in a defeat by Dominic Thiem in Madrid – Nadal’s first loss on clay because the Austrian world quantity eight beat him in Rome 12 months beforehand.

Regular service resumed for the Spaniard on the Italian Open, a gutsy three-set victory over Germany’s in-form Alexander Zverev giving him an eighth title in Rome, and serving to him regain the world primary rating from long-time rival Roger Federer.

Nonetheless Nadal – who begins his defence in opposition to Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov – deflected discuss of lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for an 11th time following his win in Rome.

“Circumstances in Paris are utterly completely different,” he mentioned. “I do not consider that what occurred, even when I misplaced – even with the victory – creates a big effect about what can occur in Paris.”

The place’s Federer?

Federer waved ‘au revoir’ till the summer season following his Miami Open defeat in March

For the second 12 months working, Federer – who turns 37 in August – has determined to skip the whole clay-court season.

When asserting his choice final 12 months, he spoke in regards to the must be good along with his scheduling to lengthen his profession, and the French Open – on his least favorite floor and a match which he has received solely as soon as in 2009 – has been sacrificial.

The choice proved to be a smart one final 12 months as a refreshed Federer returned to the court docket for the grass season, occurring to raise a document eighth Wimbledon title.

The Swiss maestro regained the world primary rating in February after a blistering begin to the 12 months during which he claimed the Australian Open throughout a 17-match successful run.

However successive defeats – by Juan Martin del Potro within the Indian Wells last, adopted by a shock loss in opposition to injury-hit Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis – preceded the announcement Federer would once more skip Roland Garros.

Federer has not performed in Paris since 2015, resulting in some options – including from his old rival – that he doesn’t fancy assembly Nadal on clay.

Edmund prepared for first Slam as Britain’s high man

Edmund, ranked 17th, has damaged into the world’s high 20 for the primary time

With Murray nonetheless not absolutely recovered from hip surgical procedure, Edmund goes into his first Grand Slam because the British primary.

It’s the first Slam because the 2006 US Open the place three-time main champion Murray has not been ranked because the nation’s main participant.

In fact, Edmund has performed on the most important stage with out Murray’s shadow looming – most notably on the Australian Open in January.

The 22-year-old turned solely the sixth British man within the Open period to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, seeing his exceptional run ended within the final 4 by Croatia’s 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.

Since then the Yorkshireman has additionally crushed 2016 French Open champion Djokovic in Madrid, serving to him climb into the world’s high 20 for the primary time.

He’ll start his marketing campaign in opposition to younger Australian Alex de Minaur.

Cameron Norrie is the one different Briton within the males’s singles draw. The world quantity 102, who shot to prominence within the Davis Cup defeat by Spain in March, has gained direct entry to a Grand Slam for the primary time and can face Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk within the first spherical.

Who can cease Nadal?

Alexander Zverev: The person recognized by many as Nadal’s biggest threat. The 21-year-old German is the main participant on the ATP Tour this 12 months, having received 30 matches and claimed clay-court titles in Munich and Madrid. Nevertheless, he has by no means gone previous the final 16 of a Grand Slam.

Marin Cilic: The highly effective Croat reached a career-high third on this planet following his run to the Australian Open last, however has by no means gone past the final eight at Roland Garros. Runs to the Monte Carlo quarter-finals and Rome semi-finals, nonetheless, have left the 29-year-old hoping he can go deep within the attract Paris.

Novak Djokovic: The once-dominant Serb has dropped down the rankings after an elbow injury which has disrupted his career since Wimbledon. He’s now ranked 22nd on this planet, however confirmed glimpses of returning to his greatest kind with a run to the Italian Open semi-finals this month.

Dominic Thiem: The one man to have crushed Rafael Nadal on clay previously two years. And it’s a feat the 24-year-old Austrian has achieved twice – in Rome final 12 months and in Madrid earlier this month. He’s but to switch his expertise into main prizes, having nonetheless not managed to land a Masters title, though he has reached the Roland Garros semi-finals for 2 years working.

Stan Wawrinka: A irritating 12 months for the 2015 champion, who has been sidelined by a knee harm for a lot of the previous 12 months. The 33-year-old Swiss has reached no less than the semi-finals in every of the previous three years, however an absence of time on court docket means the same feat this 12 months is perhaps past him.

Serena out of match apply – however ‘can nonetheless win’

Serena Williams is aiming for a primary Grand Slam title since having a child

Serena Williams has solely performed 4 Tour matches since returning to the court docket after giving beginning to daughter Alexis in September – however that has not stopped coach Patrick Mouratoglou saying the 23-time Grand Slam champion can still win in Paris.

Williams, 36, misplaced to older sister Venus within the final 32 in Indian Wells on her WTA return in March, then went out to Japan’s rising star Naomi Osaka in spherical one at Miami a fortnight later.

The previous world primary has plummeted to 453rd on this planet rankings, however is ready to use her protected rating to play at Roland Garros. The unseeded American begins in opposition to Czech Kristyna Pliskova.

If she does win a fourth French Open singles crown, though there are nonetheless query marks about her health and sharpness, it would take her stage with Margaret Courtroom’s all-time Grand Slam document of 24 majors.

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Halep leads the feminine contenders

Simona Halep: The Romanian goes into the match because the world primary and the main participant on the WTA Tour this 12 months, hoping this would be the second she lastly lands her first Grand Slam title. Nevertheless, she has received solely one in all her previous eight finals – together with defeat by Jelena Ostapenko in final 12 months’s Roland Garros showpiece.

Caroline Wozniacki: The Dane landed her first Grand Slam title with victory over Halep on the Australian Open in January and is second within the 12 months’s Race to Singapore standings. Clay, nonetheless, isn’t her favorite floor, having by no means received a title on the crimson dust.

Elina Svitolina: For the second 12 months working, the Ukrainian world quantity 4 goes into Roland Garros because the Italian Open champion. In distinction to Halep, whom she beat in Rome, Svitolina has received her previous eight finals – though has by no means reached a Grand Slam semi-final.

Jelena Ostapenko: The unseeded Latvian shocked the world 12 months in the past when her all-out attacking sport led to her an unlikely Roland Garros victory – simply two days after her 20th birthday. She has maintained her place on this planet’s high 10 since, regardless of a patchy 2018 which has introduced just one last. However she can’t be counted out – particularly with the expertise of savouring victory – to succeed once more on her favoured floor.

Maria Sharapova: A two-time champion at Roland Garros, the Russian will likely be among the many seeds for the primary time at a Grand Slam since coming back from a 15-month doping ban final 12 months.

Konta aiming to show she will compete on clay

British primary Johanna Konta confirmed she was among the many greatest on grass throughout her memorable run to the Wimbledon semi-finals final 12 months, however it has been a special story on clay.

The 27-year-old solely managed to win two matches on the floor final 12 months, and has by no means progressed previous the primary spherical at Roland Garros.

However she confirmed encouraging indicators by reaching the final 16 in Rome earlier than dropping to Ostapenko.

‘I’ve by no means believed that I am not good on this floor,” mentioned Konta, who performs Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva within the opening spherical.

Konta has slipped to 22nd on this planet rankings since her Wimbledon heroics propelled her to a career-high fourth, reaching only one quarter-final this 12 months.

She is joined in the primary draw by Heather Watson, who has additionally struggling for kind however ended a four-month dropping streak this week with a victory in Nuremberg.

The 26-year-old has dropped to 87th within the rankings and begins in opposition to house hopeful Oceane Dodin.

Additionally in the primary draw – representing Australia – is Inverness-raised Isabelle Wallace. The 21-year-old left the Highlands on the age of 10 on account of an absence of funding and tennis assets and now lives in Spain.

Nevertheless, she informed BBC Sport that she will likely be representing Scotland when she opens in opposition to Alison van Uytvanck of Belgium.

“Although I am Australian, everybody again house is filled with help. I nonetheless consider myself as Scottish,” she mentioned. “I feel lots of people would perceive in my state of affairs and it is the suitable factor to.”

Final 12 months’s singles champions Jelena Ostapenko and Rafael Nadal took house about €2.16m (£1.9m) every. (Prize cash in British kilos: Winner £1.93m; Runner-up £984,000; Semis £492,000; Quarters £334,000; Final 16 £195,000)

BBC protection

We will likely be bringing you each day protection from French Open throughout BBC radio and digital platforms.

On daily basis there will likely be a specific radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 stay sports activities further and/or on the BBC Sport web site, whereas there can even be each day stay textual content commentaries – that includes all the most effective pictures and social media from Paris – on the web site.

You may as well observe BBC Tennis on Twitter and the BBC Sport Instagram account for extra behind-the-scenes protection from Roland Garros.

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Rafael Nadal vs Grigor Dimitrov: What time is Australian Open semi-final, what TV channel is it on and what are the odds?

What it is?

It's the Australian Open semi-final between 14-time slam champion Rafael Nadal and Bulgarian 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

What time does it start?

It should start at 8.30am - as long as the doubles matches beforehand don't overrun heavily - on Friday January 27. 

Which TV channel is it on?

You can follow all the action on British Eurosport, or you could follow our game-by-game updates right here on this page throughout the morning.

How did they get to the semi-final?

Nadal beat Florian Mayer and Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets in the first two rounds, before sneaking through a monster five-setter against Alex Zverev. The Spaniard then took out French sixth seed Gael Monfils in the fourth round in four sets, before beating big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in straight sets in impressive fashion.

Nadal beat Raonic to make the semis Credit: Getty Images

Dimitrov saw off Christopher O'Connell in straight sets and then Hyeon Chung in four to get through the first two rounds, before beating Richard Gasquet in the third round.

Denis Istomin, who knocked Novak Djokovic out earlier in the tournament, was then dismissed in straight sets. Finally, Dimitrov then beat David Goffin in three sets to make it into the semi-final.

What's the head to head between these two?

Nadal leads 7-1, but that doesn't quite paint the full picture of these two players' battles.

Dimitrov often causes Nadal a lot of trouble, with his wide serve putting pressure on the Spaniard's backhand. He ended his winless run against Nadal only last November. This one could be a close call.

Dimitrov comes into the game in fine form Credit: Getty Images

What has Nadal been saying?

On his route to the semi:

I think all of them [his conquests] are top players. So that's very important for me because that means that I'm competitive and playing well. Very happy that after a lot of work, to be in this round again. Is a special thing for me, especially here in Australia.

On beating Raonic:

Even moments he played so good from the baseline, I was there trying to stop his aggressive shots and don't lose court, don't lose meters behind the baseline. That's an important change for me," Nadal said. "I feel very happy for my attitude. I hit some great passing shots. That's good news for me. When I make that happen, it's because I'm playing well.

Plenty of fans are hoping to see a Nadal vs Roger Federer final Credit: AP

On facing Dimitrov:

He's a player that has an unbelievable talent, unbelievable potential. He started the season playing unbelievable.

It's going to be a very tough match for me. I hope for him, too. I'm going to try to play my best because I know he's playing with high confidence.

What has Dimitrov been saying?

On going all the way:

I feel like I have all the tools to go further and my job isn't over yet. I'm ready to go the distance.

Just going forward with the confidence that I have built up also from the previous tournament. With each match I've been feeling better and better — It just all comes pretty natural right now.

How much have the top male players earned in 2016?

What are the odds?

Nadal - 2/5

Raonic - 2/1

What is our prediction?

Nadal to come through in four sets. 

[viralhottopics]

Andy Murray crashes out of Australian Open to inspired Mischa Zverev

The World No1 and top seed Andy Murray was knocked out of the Australian Open by an inspired showing from the German Mischa Zverev, the world No50

Andy Murray, out of sorts and scrapping like a junkyard dog for three-and-a-half hours over four sets, could not hold off the magnificent challenge of Mischa Zverev, the world No50, and went out of the Australian Open on day seven, when he surely harboured hopes of cashing in on the earlier departure of Novak Djokovic.

The last time the top two seeds failed to reach the quarter-finals of a slam was at Roland Garros in 2004. Denis Istomin, the world No 117, played the game of his life to put six-time champion Djokovic out in the second round; Zverev, best known as the older brother of 19-year-old prodigy Alex who lost a close match to Rafael Nadal on Saturday – finds himself in the quarter-final of a slam for the first time at 29, after beating a player he described beforehand as the best in the world.

Honestly I dont know how I did it, Zverev said courtside after winning 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in front of a packed and raucous Rod Laver Arena crowd on Sunday afternoon with attacking tennis of the highest order.

I just serve and volleyed the whole way to pull it off. Somehow I made it. I got excited [at the end], but the crowd is here, how can you not stay focused? It was kind of easy to stay aggressive but definitely tough to stay calm. It means the world to me, and to have my whole family here, its just amazing. Everything is new to me, everything is a little bit unreal, like a dream to me.

My brother inspires me all the time. He challenges me to do better all the time. Hes still ranked higher than me, so he gets to walk in the door first at home.

Murray was outright favourite after Djokovics departure but, try as he might, he could not break his opponent down. The only time they had played each other he beat him for the loss of four games on his winning the boys title at Flushing Meadows in 2004.

They are the same age but separated by galaxies in achievement and stature.

Zverev was honest enough to say before the match, [The result] will depend on Andy. If he plays his best tennis, I dont think I have a lot of chances. Lets see if I can annoy him a little bit. If Im serving well and Im not missing any volleys, maybe I can do some damage. Honestly, hes the best player in the world.

Not on Sunday, he wasnt.

It was a match that did not digress much from the script once the tone had been set in the early stages. Murrays normally impeccable defence let him down under pressure and his serving was not near the heights he had hit earlier in the week. Zverev took points on 27 of 40 of Murrays second serves, and that was the building block of his success. The German also was ferocious and controlled at the net winning the point 55 times in 99 visits.

Murray might be vaguely comforted by the widely held view that, despite the smaller gap in ranking points, his losing performance was marginally better than Novak Djokovics in going out to world No 117 Denis Istomin on day two.

Those extraordinary results have set the tournament alight the first time the top two seeds in a slam have failed to make the quarter-finals since 2004 at Roland Garros – opening and closing doors all over the draw.

It took Zverev three-and-a-half hours on a warm but not debilitating afternoon to beat the world No1, and he did it with the sort of attacking tennis that suggested desperation but was born out of necessity and inclination.

Whoever dressed Zverev day-glo tangerine shorts, sleeves and shoes clearly thought he was doing a shift on a school crossing. Nevertheless, he kept it bright and tight with some excellent tennis until Murray broke in the fourth game, then the world No50 one place ahead of Dan Evans, who had problems of his own against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Hisense Arena broke back at the second attempt, coming well inside the court to drive Murray deep on both flanks. As luck would have it (all Zverevs), the net intervened on the Germans behalf twice in the seventh game, as did a passing helicopter during Murrays ball-toss, and the Scot had to save two break points to stay in front. This was a harder assignment than anyone had predicted even Zverev, who beforehand said he would struggle to stay with Murray at his best. This was not Murray at his best; nor was he at his worst. He was just constantly flummoxed by a determined and talented opponent.

He had not lost here to a player as lowly placed as the German since 2006, when Juan Ignacio Chela beat him, but Zverev pushed him all the way in every game. Trusting his attacking instincts, Zverev came in behind nearly ever serve much as Sergiy Stakhovsky did when beating Roger Federer in the second round at Wimbledon in 2013 – but it was inevitable he would pay the price for it at some point. In the ninth game, Murray drew him on to the punch beautifully to force one netted volley too many, for a second break. Murray needed only to hold to take the set but Zverev kept swinging and was rewarded with a break back when Murray botched a backhand volley. The pattern continued when Zverev played a near perfect point to break for 6-5 on the hour, dinking a drop volley to seal his third break. Murray was in genuine trouble at 40-love down on his opponents serve, and there was nothing he could do about Zverevs ace to take the set.

It was written, perhaps, that Zverev would crack under the strain of his own adventure. He won 30 points at the net in the first set but, at the start of the second, faltered at his favoured place on the court to drop serve. Murray handed him three break points with his second and third double faults of the match, and had to fight hard to hold through two deuce points for 3-0. Still, Murray struggled to assert his dominance. He saved two of three lazily surrendered break points in the fifth game but the big left-hander refused to go quietly, and the breakback duly arrived when Murray slapped a forehand long. He repaired the damage with a sizzling winner down the line for 4-2, but Zverev refused to buckle and got another look on the Murray serve; he was rewarded with an easy break as he watched a forehand fly by him over the baseline. Zverev, looking vulnerable for the first time, saved four set points and held with an ace for 5-all. However, in the space of three games, Murray had held to love twice and squandered four break points, then broke to love to level at a set apiece. This was tennis at its most profligate.

The third continued in the same vein. Zverev broke early and held for 4-2 on a dubious line call upheld by Hawkeye. For all that the outsider was making the running with his aggression, Murrays game was creaking under the persistent onslaught, and he could only grin foolishly when a backhand volley bounced out off his head as he spun in the shot to drop serve again. When Murray dumped a backhand to hand the third set to Zverev, a minor crisis had grown into a serious dilemma after two hours and 40 minutes of enthralling tennis.

Murray dropped serve after a nine-minute struggle at the start of the fourth, and he was fast running out of time and games. Relief spread through his box when he held, shakily, for 2-3, deep disappointment when he failed to break.

After a decent service game, at 3-4 down, he had just two chances left to break and stay in the tournament against an opponent who refused to play to his ranking. Zverev served big for game point, Murray stuck a return wide, and Zverev was a game away from the biggest win of his life.

A magnificent stop volley won Zverev the first point on Murrays serve for 0-15. Murray scrambled to 15-all. Zverev drove a forehand wide: 30-15. A Zverev return trickled over off the net: 30-all. Murray saved with a booming serve for 40-30, then netted from deep for deuce. Zverev hit long for game point, Murray. The chair over-ruled to call fault on Murrays first serve, but he refused to challenge and replays showed it was in: deuce. Murray attacked mid-court: game point. A desperate backhand from behind the line kissed the line and he stayed in the tournament.

Zverev, serving for the match, got to within two points of victory with a stretched backhand drop volley, one of the shots of the tournament. Murray dumped a backhand to hand him match point and the place went crazy. Murrays wild forehand slid achingly into the tramlines and the job was done.

Murray, more philosophical than devastated, said later, he came up with some great pick-ups, especially reflex volleys at the end of the match. It was tough because I was playing some good shots, but it wasnt meant to be. He deserved to win, he played great when he was down ad also in the important moments. I couldnt convert my opportunities.

In the last game I also came up with some great returns. I definitely could have served better a couple of sets. I dont think I was flat. I was getting myself pumped up, trying to get myself a bit more energy, positive body language at the end of the match.

I had some opportunities in the last two service games, maybe missed a couple of balls. He came back from all of the mistakes he made, kept coming up with great shots. Not too much you can do about that. It was a tough one to lose. Obviously I wanted to go far in this event. Im disappointed right now but credit to him. He played a really good match.

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from Andy Murray crashes out of Australian Open to inspired Mischa Zverev