Seasonal; Team; Individual; Extreme; Gear;

Defending Acapulco champion downplays bad blood with king of clay.
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal and nemesis Nick Kyrgios gave us a blockbuster Acapulco epic last February.

The volatile Kyrgios fought off three match points edging Nadal and muting the pro-Rafa crowd with a gripping and contentious 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6) triumph. That inspired comeback win igntited Krygios on a rousing title run.

More: Clijsters Took Six Drug Tests Before Comeback

Two-time gold-medal champion Nadal and Kyrgios are on opposite sides of the draw and could square off again in this week's Acapulco final. 

Both men thrilled fans participating in Abierto Mexicano Telcel kids' day. 

Photo credit: Guillermo Sanchez

In his first match since bowing to Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open, Nadal will face fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar in his opener followed by a potential second-rounder vs. either Aussie Alex de Minaur or 50th-ranked Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

The sixth-seeded Kyrgios, who withdrew from Delray Beach last week nursing a wrist issue, launches his title defense vs. Frenchman Ugo Humbert.

It will be Kyrgios' first match since falling in four tight sets to Nadal in the Australian Open fourth round last month. 

The temperamental Aussie admitted he tried drilling Nadal "square in the chest" during his second-round Wimbledon loss last summer. 

In Melbourne, Kyrgios downplayed a rift with Nadal saying there is no bad blood in their sometime acrimonious rivalrty.

"I don't really know Rafa. I've never, like, hung out with him or anything like that," said Kyrgios. "So I don't really know how he is. I don't really dislike him. I never said…

"I mean, I don't know him at all. Hell of a tennis player. Don't know him as a person. I'm sure he's okay."

Photo credit: Guillermo Sanchez

The South African had his second knee surgery in six months. Kevin Anderson has had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and is out indefinitely.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist and former World No.5 announced the news on social media on Friday February 21.

“After consulting with medical professionals and my team we decided that having surgery was the best way forward,” he wrote. "I had the procedure done Wednesday. It is beyond difficult and frustrating to have to deal with this, after the setbacks I had last year. But I know it’s the right decision for me to get back where I want to, and rest assured I will do everything in my power to get there.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid way through December last year, during my off season training, I injured my right knee. I tried to push through both in training and on the match court, but it didn’t get better. I had scans done in Australia, and they unfortunately showed that I had suffered a medial meniscus tear. After consulting with medical professionals and my team we decided that having surgery was the best way forward. I had the procedure done Wednesday. It is beyond difficult and frustrating to have to deal with this, after the setbacks I had last year. But I know it’s the right decision for me to get back where I want to, and rest assured I will do everything in my power to get there. Thank you for all your continued support and I look forward to seeing you back out there as soon as possible. 🙏

A post shared by Kevin Anderson (@kandersonatp) on

Feb 21, 2020 at 5:52am PST

It has been an extremely tough period for the South African star. He was plagued by elbow problems last year and ended up shutting his season short after Wimbledon due to a knee injury. He had his first surgery on his right knee in September of last year. Five months later he has had his second knee surgery.

Anderson, who reached the US Open final in 2017 and the Wimbledon final in 2018, owns a career record of 333-228 with six career titles to his name.

David Goffin likes what he sees in compatriot Kim Clijsters' comeback.
The son of a tennis coach who grew up with a Roger Federer poster plastered to his wall, David Goffin is not only an elite player, he’s a devoted fan of the sport.

The Belgian baseliner watched compatriot Kim Clijsters’ comeback match in Dubai this week—and liked what he saw.

More: Federer Has Knee Surgery, Plots Grass Comeback

Playing her first WTA match in seven-and-a-half years, the 36-year-old Clijsters was impressive, but Garbiñe Muguruza was imposing on serve spoiling the Hall of Famer's return with a fierce 6-2, 7-6(6) triumph in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships opener.

“Her first match impressed me—her level was already very high,” Goffin said in this video interview with Open 13 Provence fans. “We will see how she will manage with consecutive matches. But impressive first match for her age.”

Goffin said two components of Clijsters’ comeback that touch him the most are: she’s playing for the joy she draws from the game and she exuded her familiar positive competitive spirit.

“I’m really happy to see her back on court,” Goffin said. “She comes back for her, for her pleasure.

“She seems to do it with a fine spirit. I hope she will succeed.”

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

The Canadian has saved multiple match points in consecutive matches at the Open 13 Provence.

  
Felix Auger-Aliassime delivered his second dramatic victory in as many days at the Open 13 Marseille on Thursday, defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-0 6-7(6) 7-6(9) to book his spot in the quarterfinals.

The 19-year-old Canadian saved two match points in his 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-3 victory over Stefano Travaglia on Wednesday in Marseille, and he came through tight quarters again against Herbert in a battle that was one of the most entertaining clashes of the young 2020 season despite the lopsided first set.

Herbert nearly pulled off the miracle himself as the Frenchman saved a match point at 5-6 in the second set tiebreaker before closing the set with the point of the tournament, a perfectly placed tweener lob followed by a punched backhand volley winner that brought the crowd at the Palais des Sports to their feet.

Stand 🆙#O13Provence pic.twitter.com/AOn0Hip1QK

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2020

Herbert, ranked 79 in the world at the moment, saved three more match points in the third set to get to the tiebreaker, two at 4-5 and one more at 5-6.

In the tiebreaker it was the Canadian’s turn to fight off elimination and he did so with aplomb, saving match points at 5-6, 6-7 and 7-8 before earning a fifth match point at 9-8. Herbert saved that one with a big serve down the T that elicited a backhand floating long from Auger-Aliassime, but the Canadian finally converted his sixth match point with an ace to clinch his victory in two hours and 40 minutes.

No Quit 𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕥 🙅‍♂️@felixtennis saves 3⃣ match points to survive an Herbert scare 6-0 6-7(6) 7-6(9) in an epic.#O13Provence pic.twitter.com/KotO7dFaDp

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2020

In addition to Herber’s tweener shot on set point in the second set, the Frenchman also hit a ridiculous winner at 6-6 in the third set breaker off a smash from Auger-Aliassime—the Canadian dove to try and snag the reply but could not get back over the net.

Anyone have any nails left? Things are getting WILD in Marseille…#O13Provence pic.twitter.com/zVAReZzEi3

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2020

Auger-Aliassime moves on to face Egor Gerasimov in the quarterfinals at Marseille. The Belarusian toppled David Goffin 6-4 7-6(5) in Thursday’s final match.

This one was a longtime coming for the unranked AmericanJack Sock broke down in tears after an emotional victory at the Delray Beach Open on Tuesday night as the American earned his first ATP main draw win since 2018 by saving a match point and taking down defending champion Radu Albot 3-6 6-3 7-6(2).

All. The. Feels. 🙌

Jack Sock lets the emotions pour out after winning his first singles non-Laver Cup @atptour match since October of 2018…#DBOpen pic.twitter.com/m4bZkpvtVA

— Delray Beach Open (@DelrayBeachOpen) February 19, 2020

Sock, who squatted down on the court after match point and tried to conceal his tears before shaking Albot’s hand, had saved a match point while serving at 5-6 in the third set. The unranked American dominated the tiebreaker to earn a spot in the second round in Delray Beach.

He then headed to his chair and took a seat as the tears continued to flow.

Soci will face his sometimes doubles partner Steve Johnson in the second round at Delray Beach.

It’s easy to see why the victory was so meaningful for the 27-year-old. Sock has struggled with injuries over the last two years. A hip injury plagued him in 2018, and in January of 2019 he injured his thumb and needed surgery which put him out for six months.

The former World No.8 has won just 10 of his last 37 singles matches at the ATP level and he was clearly relieved to finally pull out a victory on Tuesday night.

"To come out here I felt somewhat back to my normal self," Sock said. "I just kept telling myself I need to get through that first match at a tournament somewhere. My tennis usually gets better throughout an event. So hopefully I can keep producing something."

The Belgian is enthused after a spirited loss in her long awaited comeback. One match into her comeback, Kim Clijsters is preaching patience. The Belgian, who fell 6-2 7-6(6) to Garbiné Muguruza in round one action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, says it could take her a while to find a level of consistency that she is happy with.

After the loss, her first WTA match in seven and a half years, Clijsters came away with some very positive feelings, and an overall willingness to keep pushing herself in order to continue progressing in her comeback.

“I felt like for a while I was dominating some of the points,” 36-year-old Clijsters said on Monday in Dubai. “I think that's a good feeling to have, knowing the way I started the first set and then the way I was able to get back into that second set, with the type of tennis I played, it's something that is the positive about this match. I'll take that with me for the next matches.”

Clijsters is firm in her feeling that she has made the right decision about returning to the sport, and whether she can climb back to the top of the sport the way she did in her first comeback in 2009 does not seem to be of ultimate importance.

Seriously so so so proud of Kim Clijsters. You inspire me. Wow. Just wow congrats you did amazing.

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 18, 2020

“I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have that belief somehow,” she said on Monday. “It doesn't mean that this is a confirmation or something for me. It might take 10 matches to get the way I played in the second set, might take me 10 matches to get that from start to finish.I have patience, believe it or not. I'm going to, yeah, work my way into it and fight. We'll see what happens.

For those who were wondering if the game had passed Clijsters by during her absence, the first test has given the four-time major champion a lot of reinforcement that this is not the case. She did not look out of place from a ball-striking perspective against one of the tour’s premier baseliners. It was a loss but as far as losses go, extremely positive in that it indicated that Clijsters still has the ability to outhit the game’s most fierce pugilists.

I may have lost the match but for me this was a win. Being back on Court … that’s the feeling and energy I’ve missed and loved finding it again. Now looking forward to working together with my team to continue to grow and find my rhythm – step by step! 💪 #fortheloveofthegame pic.twitter.com/wFRcp4JaYq

— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) February 18, 2020

Clijsters expressed relief in that regard.

“I do feel a little bit of I'm not going to say relief, but a feeling of the pace I can handle,” she said. “Obviously she's probably not the hardest hitter out there. There's some girls that hit the ball a lot harder. I felt like I was able to go toe-to-toe with her from the baseline.

The 36-year-old Belgian will play in Dubai, which starts on February 17.

Kim Clijsters‘ long awaited return to the WTA Tour is coming—and soon. The former World No.1 and four-time major champion (and Hall of Famer) has taken a wild card into next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which begins on February 17.

I’m accepting a wild card to play the @DDFTennis. Since announcing my return, there have been a few bumps but looking forward to returning to the match court and what this next chapter brings … Thanks to all my fans for their encouragement these past weeks. See you in Dubai! pic.twitter.com/XOwIeEujyk

— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) February 9, 2020

Clijsters, 36 and a mother of three, originally announced her comeback last September. She had to delay her original start due to a knee issue (a grade 2-3 sprain to her right MCL) that occurred in November but she has since regained her fitness and declared herself ready to go.

Clijsters first retired in 2007, then returned to quadruple her major title count, winning three titles as a mother from 2009 to 2011. She retired again in 2012, playing her last match at the US Open where she fell to Laura Robson.

As a former World No.1, Clijsters is eligible to receive unlimited wild cards. She has previously announced that she plans to play in Monterrey (March 2-8), followed by the BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) and the Volvo Car Open in Charleston.

The American says size doesn't matter as she comes to grips with the fact that she is now a major champion.
Photo Source: Mark Peterson/ Corleve

The size of the fight in the tennis is more important that than the size of the tennis player in the fight, and American Sofia Kenin was living proof of that on Saturday night in Melbourne as she ripped and roared her way to her maiden major title.

Kenin, at 5’7”, says that size does not matter when it comes to playing great tennis.

“Size doesn't matter at this point,” she said on Saturday night to a packed room of reporerters. “You can play at this level. You can make incredible things happen. So size doesn't really matter. Just matters how tough you are and mental toughness.”

Speaking of mental toughness, Kenin proved that she had it in spades when she saved three break points to get out of serious trouble at 2-2 against Garbiñe Muguruza in the third set of her 4-6 6-2 6-2 victory over the Spaniard.

Kenin won five straight points in what was a legendary game and she won them in mind-blowing fashion as she routinely cracked down-the-line winners past Muguruza.

“I can remember that game very well, yes,” she said. “That's the game I feel like changed things. I had to play some best tennis. I did. After that, I was on fire. I was ready to take the beautiful trophy.”

Kenin says that part of her trademark tenacity comes from being of Russian heritage. Even though she moved to the US at a young age, she says she still feels Russian on the inside.

“I feel like I got the feisty,” she said when asked about her heritage and growing up watching players like Maria Sharapova. “I saw what it's like. She won a Grand Slam at 17, Maria, which I remember watching it on TV. Yeah, I feel like that definitely helped me. I have part of Russian stuff inside me, fight and fierce that I have. Trying just to be confident, do what I do best."

But her dreams? Those are American…

"And thank you to my parents for giving me the American dream," she concluded.

The Swiss matched his record for most match points saved in a victory on Tuesday in Melbourne. Photo Source: Mark Peterson/Corleve

The great Roger Federer saved seven match points and defeated Tennys Sandgren in five sets on Day 9 of the Australian Open. Federer's victory marks the 22nd time that he has saved at least one match point and won. It also ties his previous record for most match points saved en route to victory. Federer also saved match points and won against Scott Draper in Cincinnati in 2003.

The Swiss has now saved match points en route to victory four times at the majors, but he has never gone on to win the title at a Slam after saving match points.

Tourney/Year/Opponent/Round/#Saved

1. Rotterdam, 1999/Guillaume Raoux R32, 2 MPs saved
2. Marseille, 2000/Ivan Ljubicic QF, 2 MPs saved
3. US Open, 2000/Peter Wessels R128, 1 MP saved
4. Basel, 2000/Lleyton Hewitt SF, 1 MP saved
5. Rome, 2001/Thomas Johansson R32, 1 MP saved
6. Vienna, 2001/Nicolas Massu R16, 3 MPs saved
7. Cincy, 2003/Scott Draper R16, 7 MPs saved
8. Paris, 2003/Martin Verkerk R16, 4 MPs saved
9. WTFs, 2003/Andre Agassi RR, 2 MPs saved
10. Dubai, 2005/Juan Carlos Ferrero R16, 2 MPs saved
11. Halle, 2006/Olivier Rochus QF, 4 MPs saved
12. WTFs, 2006/Andy Roddick RR,3 MPs saved
13. Madrid, 2011/Feliciano Lopez R16, 1 MP saved
14. US Open, 2014/Gael Monfils QF, 2 MPs saved
15. Shanghai,2014/Leonardo Mayer R16, 5 MPs saved
16. WTFs, 2014/Stanislas Wawrinka SF, 4 MPs saved
17. Wimbledon, 2016/Marin Cilic QF, 3 MPs saved
18. Miami, 2017/ Tomas Berdych QF, 2 MPs saved
19. Halle, 2018/Benoit Paire R16, 2 MPs saved
20. Madrid, 2019/Gael Monfils R16, 2 MPs saved
21. Rome, 2019/Borna Coric QF, 2 MPs saved
22. AO,2020/Tennys Sandgren R16, 7 MPs saved

"I have more confidence, I feel better," says Novak Djokovic ahead of Roger Federer rematch.
Roger Federer knows all about tie breakers turned heart breakers.

A fierce Federer fought off seven match points, including denying four match points in the tie breaker, to ignite a miraculous 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3 AO comeback win over 100th-ranked Tennys Sandgren.

More: Federer's Match-Points Miracle

Federer's reward for a titantic comeback is an Australian Open semifinal clash vs. defending champion Novak Djokovic. The pair have combined to claim 13 of the last 16 Australian Open crowns.

Seven-time AO champion Djokovic dispensed a gut-wrenching defeat to Federer and Fed fans all over the world last July. 

A defiant Djokovic denied two championship points in the final set fighting off Federer, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3) to successfully defend his Wimbledon title in The Championships' longest final—and first men’s major final decided in a fifth-set tie breaker.

Djokovic is 26-23 lifetime vs. Federer and knows major margins can be miniscule when they face off.

"Wimbledon last year, he had two match points, he was one shot away from winning that match," Djokovic said after sweeping Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. "It's not like I've been dominating the matchups. I've had success against him, as you said, in Grand Slams in particular.

"But Roger is Roger. You know that he's always going to play on such a high level, regardless of the surface. He loves to play these kind of matches, big rivalries, semis, finals of Grand Slams."

The 20-time Grand Slam king, who took a medical timeout for treatment of a groin issue vs. Sandgren, said he believes he should be physically fine for his rematch with personal nemesis Djokovic.

"I don't know if you can call it an injury," Federer said of his groin issue. "It's just pain and problems. I need to figure it out now. But as it's not like in 18 hours, like you got a third round to play, semifinals, you have an extra day, adrenaline, there's a lot of things.

"Two good nights of sleep, doctors, physios. Hopefully we'll find out that it's actually nothing bad."

The 38-year-old Swiss has not defeated Djokovic in a Grand Slam match since scoring a four-set win in the 2012 Wimbledon semifinals.

Djokovic aims to impose his advantage on the Grand Slam court he's come to regard as his own turf.

"What he did today was really amazing. I mean, to come back and save seven match points at his age," Djokovic said. "I mean, he's still playing such a great tennis and proving that he deserves to be up there. He's a great fighter. Obviously I have lots of respect for him. But I've been feeling well on the court.

"I think if I continue playing the way I was throughout the tournament here and also ATP Cup, I've been building I think as the time passes by, in every match, I have more confidence, I feel better. In the end of the day, this is my favorite court, I mean, the court where I had the most success in my career. Hopefully things can come together for me in a positive way on Thursday and I can have a chance to win."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve