Tennis Connect by Firstserveace.com

Speed Training Drills for all sports

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:07:00 +0000

I put together this condensed version of a speed training workout. The workout takes approx. 1 hour to complete for just over 10 min of actual work.
The first 3 minutes are warm up and stretching.

These drills are specific for speed and fast twitch. It is meant to increase first step quickness and reaction.

Whether you are training to steal a base or run down a ball on a tennis court, these drills will improve your performance and focus.

Tennis star Bautista Agut dribbling soccer ball

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 16:51:00 +0000

Check out this fantastic video of Bautista Agut dribbling a soccer ball and pulling off a nice trick on cue.

BA played soccer at a high level as a child. He did not fully commit to tennis until the age of 14. Very late by today's standards.

Although many pro tennis players did play soccer growing up, most of them made tennis their main sport at age 10 or even earlier. Very rare a person can become a top tennis pro starting later in life.

Bautista Agut is obviously incredibly talented.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC LOOKS TO MAKE A PUSH AT BNP PARIBAS OPEN

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 21:30:00 +0000

Djokovic to make a strong push at BNP PARIBAS OPEN

By: Jawad Bisharat

Novak Djokovic looks to make a strong push at BNP Paribas Open.

Recently working with coach Radek Stepanek and Andre Agassi, the pressure is on for Novak to have a good performance at this weeks BNP Paribas Open.

The draw is missing one very notable name in Rafael Nadal. Nadal is out with a hip injury and his return to the tour is still unknown.

Novak himself is returning from an elbow injury that sidelined him for the last 5 months of 2017. His return at the Australian Open was uneventful, losing in the round of 16 to up and comer Chung Hyeon of south Korea.

In watching Novak on the practice court today, his strokes looked like the Novak we all know and love, however he didn't seem well. Consistently blowing his nose and asking for a towel, Novak looked as if he was fighting off a cold. Lets hope it is nothing too serious and he is able to give his best effort this week.

Federer comes off his defense of his Australian Open title and is the favorite to take the BNP Paribas Open although there are several players who have a legitimate shot at stopping Federer's run. Stay tuned for exclusive pic, videos and behind the scenes look at the BNP Paribas Open.

FEDERER CLOSING IN ON #1 RANKING

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:50:00 +0000

By: Jawad Bisharat
02/12/2018

Further solidifying him as tennis's "greatest of all time", Federer could become the oldest male tennis player to reach the #1 ranking. Federer would need to reach the semi-finals at this weeks ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

Trailing Nadal in the standings by just 155 points, Roger knew this was his opportunity to make a move. Federer is playing the ABN AMRO for his ninth time.

Admittedly, Roger never expected to win the Australian Open and have a shot at regaining the #1 spot. Saying in his press conference ahead of the tournament "I actually thought I'd be home in Febuary and going into the mountains. I did not expect to win Melbourne."

"But now all options are open. It would again be a wonderful adventure if I could become number 1 again, a big surprise. Then I knew Rotterdam was an options."

"My Team and I are enjoying the challenge. We're going for it"

Roger will face qualifier Ruben Behelmans in the first round.

ABN AMRO is welcoming some of tennis biggest names. With a wild card given to Federer, it will not be an easy road to the semi-finals. Standing in his way will be Alexander Zverev, Stan Wawrinka, and #9 seed Giles Muller.

You can see live scoring at https://www.abnamrowtt.nl/en/live-score

World No. 1 Serena Williams has withdrawn from the 2017 BNP Paribas Open

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 22:29:00 +0000

World No. 1 Serena Williams has withdrawn from the 2017 BNP Paribas Open due to a left knee injury. Below is a quote from Serena:
Kerber to regain #1 ranking.

"Sadly, I have to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open. I have not been able to train due to my knees and am disappointed I cannot be there. I will keep moving forward and continue to be positive. I look forward to being back as soon as I can."

Appears Serena will be withdrawing from not only the BNP Paribis Open but the Miami as well.

This will allow Kerber to regain # 1 WTA ranking.

A revised WTA draw will be updated shortly

2017 BNP PARIBAS OPEN MATCHES FIRST CLASS TENNIS WITH ENHANCED DINING AND FAN HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCES

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 16:47:00 +0000

Indian Wells Tennis Garden debuts award-winning chefs and restaurateurs, infusion of local eateries, and new dining destinations at signature event

INDIAN WELLS, CALIF., March 1, 2017 – Long recognized as a world-class destination with year-round warm weather, Indian Wells Tennis Garden (IWTG) also boasts an array of renowned events, including the internationally acclaimed BNP Paribas Open (March 6-19, 2017). Leading up to this year’s event, IWTG and hospitality partner Levy collaborated on a major experience enhancement project, adding and renovating concessions, restaurants, and meeting places throughout the grounds.

The result: 100,000 square feet of added guest space throughout the stadium, more than 20 new dining locations, new amenities, and an unprecedented collection of local flavors and restaurants to match the action on the court. Hospitality renovations debuting at this year’s BNP Paribas Open will deliver an immersive experience for all fans.

Acclaimed Restaurants and Can’t-Miss Views

Fans looking for finer flavors won’t have to venture far. IWTG now boasts three prestigious restaurants with court views, as James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant Spago joins the fold. The full restaurant roster includes:

Spago – Best known for its market-driven California cuisine, Spago opens with a 100-seat full-service location overlooking the court in Stadium 1
Nobu – Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature sushi and Japanese fusion, already available to fans overlooking the court in Stadium 2, expands to player dining
Chop House – Also overlooking the Stadium 2 court, Chop House grills-up prime aged steaks and chops

A True Desert Dining Oasis

Concourse and stadium renovations deliver more than 20 new concession locations and restaurants for fans in all sections. Through the overhaul, Levy and IWTG curated an unmatched collection of SoCal dining institutions, award-winning local restaurateurs and stadium classics to satisfy any craving. This year’s enhanced menu features:

B.S. Taqueria – Carne asada tacos, chicharrones and more from 2015 Esquire Chef of the Year Ray Garcia’s popular LA joint
Dave’s Doghouse – Simply “the best hot dogs” presented by two-star Michelin Chef Josiah Citrin
Cassell’s Hamburgers – Reinventing burgers since 1948, the LA favorite crafted a special Indian Wells Turkey Burger for the venue (plus its classic fries and milkshakes)
Sherman’s Deli – The Palm Springs hot spot serves a mean Hot Brisket sandwich, among other deli creations
Piero’s PizzaVino – Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, antipasti, and pasta from the Palm Desert eatery
Melissa’s Fresh – Build-your-own salads and sandwiches made with the freshest local produce, and Melissa’s delicious Clean Snax
Wetzel’s Pretzels – Classic and specialty pretzels, Wetzel Dogs, and more from the pretzel sensation
Popcornopolis – Specialty popcorn flavors ranging from Cheddar to churro, from LA’s popped corn authority
Shock Top – Fans won’t want to miss the signature Shock Top-infused brat
Scoops – Hand-scooped ice cream and root beer floats

Beverage Destinations

IWTG’s renovated concession stands and restaurants include multiple new margarita, juice and coffee bars, providing fans with the perfect respite, including:

Lavazza – A selection of specialty coffees including authentic Italian espresso and cappuccino, a signature cold brew, and full range of classic, fresh and cool recipes
Citrus Freeze – Thirst-quenching lemon, orange, and mocha frozen lemonade concoctions
Signature Margaritas – Several new margarita bars serve creations like the No Fault and Frozen Cadillac margaritas
Local Craft Brew – Including Golden Road Brewing’s Wolf Pup Session IPA, Point the Way IPA, 329 Lager, and more

Fan Experience Enhancements

Renovations throughout IWTG will deliver a truly seamless experience. Stadium Plaza, a fan favorite gathering place, is now a permanent part of the Stadium, while an enlarged Superwall will now display up to five matches at once. And, Stadium 1 features renovated and expanded suites and new restrooms. The BNP Paribas Open will also debut a new hospitality room and renovated Front Box Club, satellite broadcast studio, fitness center, and club pro shop.

About the BNP Paribas Open

The BNP Paribas Open is the largest ATP World Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, and is held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The tournament offers more than $14 million in prize money, and is the only event to provide the Hawkeye line challenge system on all match courts, including qualifying rounds. For more information, visit www.bnpparibasopen.com.

About Levy

The original disruptor in defining the premium sports and entertainment dining experience, Levy remains one of the fastest growing and most critically acclaimed restaurant companies. Named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants, iconic sports and entertainment venues, and convention centers as well as the Grammy Awards, PGA Championship, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA All-Star Games. For more, visit www.levyrestaurants.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Nadal, Djokovic Lead Stacked Field In Acapulco

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 18:01:00 +0000

Nadal, Djokovic Lead Stacked Field In Acapulco

ATP Staff

Four members of the Top 10 in the Emirates ATP Rankings are appearing at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, in what is shaping to be a thrilling week in Acapulco. It is a historic field for the ATP World Tour 500 event, with Top 10 stalwarts Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem leading the pack, alongside the likes of Juan Martin del Potro, David Goffin and Nick Kyrgios.

If Djokovic and Nadal cross paths in Saturday's championship, it would be an unprecedented 50th FedEx ATP Head2Head encounter between the two stars, their first since the Internazionali BNL d'Italia quarter-finals last year. The Spaniard leads a talented bottom half of the draw that also features third seed Cilic, Delray Beach Open champion Jack Sock and #NextGenATP stars Borna Coric and Ernesto Escobedo.

Nadal, who will look to carry the momentum from a runner-up showing at the Australian Open, will be seeking his third title in Acapulco, having triumphed when it was held on clay in 2005 (d. Montanes) and in 2013 (d. Ferrer). He opens against a red-hot Mischa Zverev in a rematch of their encounter at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp last month, won by Nadal 6-1, 6-1.

In another enticing first-round affair, World No. 7 Cilic faces Argentina Open champion Alexandr Dolgopolov. "It's going to be extremely exciting with a lot of great players," said the Croatian. "The crowd in Mexico really deserves to have such a great tournament and I'm just hoping I can produce some good tennis and enjoy the week. It's in a great week this year, just prior to Indian Wells, and everyone loves it here.

Competing in his first tournament since a surprise second-round exit at the Australian Open, World No. 2 Djokovic is the first Top 2 player to enter Acapulco since No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten won the title in 2001. The late addition took a wild card into the draw on Thursday and could face del Potro in what would be a blockbuster second-round encounter. The Serbian, who is making his debut, will have to get through Slovakia's Martin Klizan in the first round on Tuesday. Del Potro opens against a qualifier or lucky loser.

Also in Djokovic's half of the draw is fourth seed and defending champion Thiem, who is coming off a title run on the clay of Rio de Janeiro, fifth seed Goffin, sixth seed Kyrgios and 2016 runner-up Bernard Tomic. Thiem and Goffin could meet in the quarter-finals.

Main draw action in Acapulco gets underway on Monday. Four qualifying spots remain up for grabs in Sunday's final round, with #NextGenATP stars Stefan Kozlov, Jared Donaldson, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz all on the schedule, along with Memphis Open champion Ryan Harrison.

French Stars Monfils, Tsonga Reach Marseille QFs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 15:49:00 +0000

Straight-set wins for French pair

ATP Staff

The top two seeds Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pleased the French crowd on Thursday evening at the Open 13 Marseille as they both advanced to the quarter-finals with straight-sets wins.

Monfils needed just 57 minutes to dismiss qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-1, 6-4. The right-hander dropped just eight points on serve as he set a quarter-final clash with countryman Richard Gasquet. The pair have met 12 times, with Monfils leading their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 7-5.

The 30-year-old Monfils is returning to action this week for the first time since his fourth-round showing at the Australian Open (l. to Nadal). The Frenchman, who qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time last year, is looking to go one better than his run in Marseille in 2015, when he finished runner-up to Gilles Simon.

Second seed Tsonga was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Illya Marchenko, saving all six break points the Ukrainian created to advance in 81 minutes.

Tsonga goes on to face 2015 champion Simon as he bids to win his second ATP World Tour title in as many weeks. The Frenchman is coming off his first title in 17 months after lifting the trophy in Rotterdam last week (d. Goffin).

The 31-year-old Tsonga is a two-time former champion in Marseille, hoisting the trophy in 2009 (d. Llodra) and 2013 (d. Berdych), while also finishing runner-up in 2014 (l. to Gulbis).

Ernests Gulbis Forehand- Is it really that different??

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:33:00 +0000

Gulbis

Ernests Gulbis Forehand- Is it really that different??

By Jawad Bisharat

Berdych

Every time I watch Ernest Gulbis on televison I repeatedly hear the commentators discussing how awkward Ernests Gulbis's forehand is. One commentator went as far as saying "Dad paid a lot of money for that forehand".

So I wanted to break down Gulbis's forehand for myself and see if it was really that different. After all he was ranked as high as 13 in the world, how bad could it be right?

The reality is it is not bad at all. You will see by the pictures of Berdych, Murray, and Djokovic that Gulbis's forehand is very similiar and in someways better. That said, Ernest has been working with Larry Spefanki in Rancho Santa Fe, Ca to make his forhard more traditional. I saw a preview of his new forehand when he played for the San Diego Aviator's in the summer of last year. The main advantage of this new stroke is time. He has shortened his swing allowing his to prepare for on coming shots quicker. However, see below how the stroke was really not much different.

Djokovic

Notice the similarity in the right arm of every player when preparing to hit the ball. Lets call this part 1. In part 1, all four players have their right arm nearly straight out towards the back fence as well as the face of the racket parallel with the ground. If I were to cover the faces of the players and showed you only part 1 of the take back you would not be able to determine who is who. Yes, I know Novak plays with Head and Gulbis Wilson, but you get my point.

Murray

The commentators are either looking for something to talk about or merely focusing on Gulbis's left arm which he extends out towards the ball. They described Gulbis's preparation as " He looks like he is stopping traffic".

Yes, this is not how the forehand is traditionally tought and looks akward at first glance. Players are tought to bring their left arm further across their body and more parallel with the baseline to create shoulder turn and body preperation. However, I would argue that Gulbis creates the same amount of shoulder rotation as any of the examples shown.

Figure 1

See figure 1. If you were to draw a line from the tip of Gulbis's racket straight across his shoulders it would be nearly identical to Murray's eventhough Murray brings his left arm across his entire body. He is the opposite extreme as most players keep it at 90 degrees from their shoulder.

Now that I have shown how Gulbis's preperation is not far off convential and more popular forehands lets focus on point of contact. Thats what really matters right??

At contact all players have moved into the same and most common position to strike the ball.

The elbow bends (Federer and Nadal do straighten their elbow at contact) and slides along the right hip. The player also allows the racket head to drop below their hand. This is important as they do not drop their hand much lower then the height of the ball. With the racket head dropped, they move their hand across the same plane as the ball giving them penetration and spin.

Of coarse different situations will call for the stroke to be adjusted but in this illustration I clearly show that Gulbis's forehand is very similiar to those of the world's top players. It's not necessarily how you start the stroke but more importantly how you finish it.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:27:00 +0000

I am reposting this article because I know we all need reminders sometimes. Interval training for tennis is essential due to the burst of energy we use during points. Adapting our body to stop and go will increase our on court stamina.

When I run across a good article that will help your wellness and your tennis game I like to share it with my readers. I have been interval training for many years and I can say with confidence that nothing compares to the results you can achieve applying these principles to your workout.

Jawad Bisharat

How to Get Fit in a Few Minutes a Week

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

Courtesy of NYTimes.com

High-intensity interval training, a type of workout that consists of very brief bouts of very strenuous exercise, has become enormously popular in recent years. A main reason is that although such workouts are draining, they can be both very effective and very short, often lasting only a few minutes.

But people take notably different approaches to this form of exercise. Some complete only one sustained, all-out, four- or five- minute bike ride or sprint — a single interval — and then are done. Others practice standard interval training, involving repeated brief bursts of almost unbearably taxing exertion, interspersed with restful minutes of gentler exercise. Some people perform such sessions two or three times per week; others almost every day.

The science of intensive interval training has, though, been lagging behind the workout’s popularity. Past studies of HIIT, as the practice is commonly known, had established that as measured by changes in cellular markers, standard short-burst HIIT training may improve aerobic fitness up to 10 times as much as moderate endurance training. But scientists had not determined whether a single sustained interval likewise improves fitness, or the ideal number of HIIT sessions per week.

So to clarify those issues, researchers at two of the laboratories most noted for HIIT science set out to learn more about the best way to do interval training.

First, for a study published this month in Experimental Physiology, scientists at McMaster University in Ontario gathered 17 healthy young men and women and divided them into groups. Ten of them were asked to exercise on two separate days. On one day they completed a standard HIIT session consisting of four 30-second bouts of all-out, tongue-lolling effort on a stationary bicycle, alternating with four minutes of recovery between. On another day they completed a single uninterrupted interval lasting for about four minutes, by which time each rider had combusted the same amount of energy as during the stop-and-go session. Before and after the workouts, the scientists gathered blood and muscle samples.

Separately, the remaining seven volunteers did the continuous four-minute workout three times a week for six weeks. The researchers again collected blood and muscle samples, and monitored changes in the riders’ athletic performance by having them ride as hard as possible for a specified period of time.

When collated and compared, the data showed that the physiological differences among the two groups of riders were notable and, in some ways, strange.

On the one hand, the scientists found no significant variations in how the muscles of riders in the first group responded to a single session of interval training, whether of the standard stop-and-go variety or a sole sustained effort. In both cases, the riders showed immediate, post-exercise increases in their blood levels of certain proteins associated with eventual improvements in endurance capacity.

But when the researchers checked blood and muscle tissue in the second group of riders after they had completed six weeks of single-interval training, some of the pending improvements seemed to have evaporated. These riders’ muscle tissues now had only average — not augmented — amounts of the chemicals that help cells to produce more energy, a reliable marker of fitness. This finding was in stark contrast to the results of earlier work by the same researchers, in which they found that six weeks of standard short-burst HIIT exercise resulted in significant, sustained gains in these markers.

The implications of the new study are not altogether clear, said Martin Gibala, the chairman of the department of kinesiology at McMaster University and senior author of the study, but “it would appear,” he said, “that there is something important, even essential, about the pulsative nature” of on-off HIIT training if you wish to reap sustained physiological improvements.

In more practical terms, before you riff on your current workout, check to see whether reliable science supports your improvisation.

That caution is underscored by the results of the other major new study of interval training, this one published this month in PLOS One and undertaken at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. In it, scientists asked volunteers to perform a total of 24 standard HIIT sessions over either three or eight weeks, meaning that the volunteers exercised either three times per week or almost every day and sometimes twice on the same day.

At the end of the prescribed time, those who had completed three HIIT sessions per week had improved their endurance capacity by almost 11 percent. But those exercising daily displayed no such improvements and, in some, endurance declined. Only after those volunteers had quit training altogether did their aerobic capacity creep upward; after 12 days of rest, their endurance peaked at about 6 percent above what it had been at the start, suggesting, the researchers believe, that daily high-intensity interval sessions are too frequent and exhausting. In that situation, fatigue blunts physical adaptations.

The takeaway of both studies is that it is best, if you wish to perform high-intensity interval training, to stick to what is well documented as effective: a few sessions per week of 30- or 60-second intervals so strenuous you moan, followed by a minute or so of blessed recovery, and a painful repetition or four. Done correctly, such sessions, in my experience, get you out of the gym quickly and inspire truly inventive cursing.

JACK SOCK'S FIRST MEETING AGAINST ROGER FEDERER

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:36:00 +0000

Young American faces the mighty Roger Federer for first time.

By Jawad Bisharat

Jack Sock is having a great BNP Paribas Open coming off an impressive 3 set win over #16 in the world Bautista Agut. Jack is playing some of the best tennis of his career but does he have a chance today against the mighty Roger Federer?

I say he has a better chance than most think. Wait, I didn't say he would win, I said he has a better chance than most may believe.

Lets break down the match-up.

Jack Sock was shown to generate more spin or revolutions per minute on the ball then Rafael Nadal (forehands). Over 3100 RPM compared to Nadal's approx. 3000 RPM. This is incredibly difficult to accomplish, as you can imagine, and Sock needs to implore this pace onto Federer today in a big way.

What has Nadal done to Federer over the past 10 years to consistently beat him? Yes, hit high to the backhand and take control of the rallies. Roger's best results against Nadal have always been on a fast court or indoors, where the ball doesn't kick as much. Indian Wells has slow, gritty courts which works in Sock's favor. Although, the high temperature and low humidity does speed things up a bit.

Jack will attempt to use Nadal like tactics against Feder today except for one little difference. Jack is right handed, so it will be much more difficult for him to consistently find the Federer's backhand. Jack needs avoid getting sucked into forehand to forehand rallies, which he will lose the majority of the time. He must find a way to frustrate Federer by not only playing to his backhand but use his power and pace to take the match the Federer.

Here is my struggle however, Jack plays a little like Andy Roddick. We all know the results Andy had against Federer. As Andy put it one time "How can you call it a rivalry if the same person always wins??"

Federer drove Roddick crazy by slicing short in the service box to his backhand. This forced Andy approach with a backhand and come to net where Roddick was most uncomfortable and vulnerable.

Look for Federer to use the same tactics today against Jack Sock as he did Roddick. Both player who have similiar styles and would prefer to stay on the baseline.

Final word. If Jack is to have a chance today then the serve will have to be near perfect. Serve over 70% first serve and he may find himself with winning opportunities.

BNP Paribas Open day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 21:02:00 +0000

Day 4 at BNP Paribas Open has the top players out in the sun

Exclusive picture by Jawad Bisharat

Novak Has Routine Win in Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 04:36:00 +0000

Novak Djokovic has routine win in Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

By Jawad Bisharat 2/25/15

As easily predicted Novak Djokovic dismantled Andrey Golubev 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships today.

Djokovic increased his first serve percentage to 61% from 50% just a day prior. However he only hit 1 ace in his routine win and quest for 5th Dubai title.

“Having one match under my belt before today's encounter helped me to feel a bit more comfortable to move around on the court quicker, and I tried to take away the time from my opponent today,” said Djokovic. “It was just a much better performance than yesterday. Hopefully I can improve as the tournament progresses.”

Novak will face qualifier Marsel Ilhan who upset the left handed Spaniard and #6 seed Feliciano Lopez. Lopez admittedly came into the tournament under the weather...or lets hope that was the reason he was upset by the #104th player in the world.

Federer, Murray and Berdych also move on to the QF's.

Although I am a definite fan of Marcus Baghdatis, I am surprised and disappointed by how he ended his match today. Who retires from a match during a 3rd set tiebreaker? This is one I have never seen before in my 35 years of watching tennis. Why not just play a few more points and give your opponent the win?? He didn't break his ankle, he had cramps, suck it up for 2 more minutes Marcus, you're better than that.

Today's tennis match schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 15:13:00 +0000

DUBAI DUTY FREE Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Previous Day

CENTRE COURT Start 2:00 pm
Joao Sousa (POR) v	[3] Andy Murray (GBR) H2H
Not Before 4:00 pm
[4] Tomas Berdych (CZE) v	Simone Bolelli (ITA) H2H
Not Before 7:00 pm
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v	Andrey Golubev (KAZ) H2H
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v	[2] Roger Federer (SUI) H2H

COURT 1 Start 3:00 pm
[7] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) v	Richard Gasquet (FRA) H2H
[Q] Jamie Murray (GBR) John Peers (AUS) v	Raven Klaasen (RSA) Leander Paes (IND) ATP
Not Before 7:15 pm
[1] Bob Bryan (USA) Mike Bryan (USA) v	Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) Joao Sousa (POR) ATP

COURT 2 Start 3:00 pm

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

v

Denis Istomin (UZB)
H2H

COURT 3 Start 3:00 pm
[WC] Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v	[LL] Borna Coric (CRO) H2H
Not Before 4:00 pm
[3] Vasek Pospisil (CAN) Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v	Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) ATP
[Q] Marsel Ilhan (TUR) v	[6] Feliciano Lopez (ESP) H2H

ABIERTO MEXICANO TELCEL Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Previous Day

CANCHA CENTRAL Start 4:00 pm
[Q] Ryan Harrison (USA) v	[3] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) H2H
Not Before 6:00 pm
[1] Maria Sharapova (RUS) v	[LL] Mariana Duque-MariÃ±o (COL) WTA
Not Before 8:00 pm
[1] Kei Nishikori (JPN) v	Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) H2H
Marinko Matosevic (AUS) v	[2] David Ferrer (ESP) H2H

GRAND STAND Start 4:00 pm
[Q] Elena Bogdan (ROU) v	Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) WTA
[WC/4] Kevin Anderson (RSA) v	Steve Johnson (USA) H2H
Monica Puig (PUR) v	[2] Sara Errani (ITA) WTA
Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) v	[2] Marcel Granollers (ESP) Marc Lopez (ESP) ATP

CANCHA 3 Start 4:00 pm
Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) v	[5] Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) H2H
[8] Benjamin Becker (GER) v	Bernard Tomic (AUS) H2H
[6] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v	Dusan Lajovic (SRB) H2H
Andre Begemann (GER) Robin Haase (NED) v	Benjamin Becker (GER) Philipp Oswald (AUT) ATP

CANCHA 4 Start 4:00 pm
Jocelyn Rae (GBR) Anna Smith (GBR) v	[WC] Carolina Betancourt (MEX) Adriana Guzman (MEX) WTA
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v	[WC/7] Santiago Giraldo (COL) H2H
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v	Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) WTA
Mariana Duque-MariÃ±o (COL) MarÃa Irigoyen (ARG) v	Eri Hozumi (JPN) Makoto Ninomiya (JPN) WTA
Sam Groth (AUS) Chris Guccione (AUS) v	[WC] Tigre Hank (MEX) Manuel Sanchez (MEX) ATP

CANCHA 2 Start 4:00 pm
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) v	MarÃa-Teresa TorrÃ³-Flor (ESP) WTA
[3] Caroline Garcia (FRA) v	Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) WTA
Kiki Bertens (NED) v	[LL] Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) WTA
Victoria Rodriguez (MEX) Marcela Zacarias (MEX) v	Elena Bogdan (ROU) Nicole Melichar (USA) WTA
Louisa Chirico (USA) Ana Sofia SÃ¡nchez (MEX) v	Irina Falconi (USA) Eva Hrdinova (CZE) WTA

CANCHA 1 Start 4:00 pm
Eric Butorac (USA) Rajeev Ram (USA) v	[Q] Dustin Brown (GER) Tobias Kamke (GER) ATP
Not Before 6:00 pm
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) v	[5] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) WTA
[1] Ivan Dodig (CRO) Marcelo Melo (BRA) v	Treat Huey (PHI) Scott Lipsky (USA) ATP
[1] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) Lucie Hradecka (CZE) v	Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) Chia-Jung Chuang (TPE) WTA

Djokovic Overcomes Pospisil in Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:25:00 +0000

Djokovic Overcomes Pospisil in Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

By Jawad Bisharat 2/24/15

Number 1 player in the world Novak Djokovic has a standard 6-4 6-4 victory over Vasek Pospisil in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.

Although Novak served at only 50% first serve percentage he won 78% of those points and 60% of second serve points which proved to be enough to secure the match.

Pospisil was only able to win 33% of his second serve points. This puts a lot of pressure on your service game and and against the best returner in the world you have a slim chance of winning a set. As the old adage says "you're only as good as your second serve".

"I'm still looking for that rhythm on the court," said Novak following the match. "But I managed to stay mentally tough. I was patient in rallies, I thought. As soon as we get through the rally, I have a better chance of winning. He's a very flashy player, aggressive, goes after his shots."

Next up for Djokovic is Andrey Golubev who is currently ranked #107 in the ATP ranking but was as high as #33 in the world back in 2010. Golubev has proven he can compete with the best in the world when he defeated #3 Stan Wawrinka in Davis Cup QF match in 2014.

In other notible matches, F. Lopez, Andy Murray and F. Verdasco all move on to 2nd round.

Twitter: @1stserveace

Serena ends boycott of Indian Wells Tournament

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 04:00:00 +0000

Serena Williams ends boycott of BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

By Jawad Bisharat

I guess time can heal old wounds. After over 14 years Serena Williams will once again play at the BNP Paribas Open, formally Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, Ca.. Serena has boycotted the tournament since 2001 after she was booed during her championship match against Kim Clisters. However, this was in response to Serena's sister Venus having pulled out of their head to head semifinal match just 4 minutes before the start. Did they not think this would anger the fans??

Richard Williams wanted to play the race card but every tennis fan knew the truth. Venus pulling out of the semi-final match against her sister Serena was orchestrated and deliberate. The fans had a right to be upset and they would have booed whether Serena was Black, white, Asian, yellow or green. This had nothing to do with race. Unfortunately, these events led to the tournament losing the Williams sisters and the Williams sisters losing the BNP Paribas Open for 14 years. The BNP Paribas Open has grown to be the 5th largest tennis tournament in the world behind only the 4 majors.

I am happy to see Serena back, at only 21 when this occured, I'm sure most of the decisions made in regards to her tennis were made by her father. I am sure the boos left an emotional scar but now at 33 she can make her own decisions. If she believed that race was the true culprit in 2001 she would not have decided to return. She credits recently reading Nelson Mandela's book that spoke about forgiveness for her change of heart.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

During the 2001 Tennis Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells, California, controversy erupted when Venus Williams withdrew four minutes prior to her semifinal match with her sister Serena. Serena was subsequently booed during the championship match against Kim Clijsters and during the trophy presentation. Neither Williams sister has played this tournament since, in what has been described as the most famous boycott in modern tennis.

The following day, Serena played Kim Clijsters in the final. Venus and her father, (and coach to her and Serena) Richard Williams were booed as they made their way to their seats.^[1] Serena was booed intermittently during the final, in which she defeated Clijsters, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2.

Richard accused the crowds at Indian Wells of overt racism, saying, "The white people at Indian Wells, what they've been wanting to say all along to us finally came out: 'Nigger, stay away from here, we don't want you here.' " However, no other reports of verbal racism were reported to tournament officials, although Venus has stated without elaboration, "I heard what he heard."^[1]^[4] Oracene Price (mother and coach of Venus and Serena) accused the crowd of "taking off their hoods."^[5]

Effects and criticism

Since the initial controversy, neither Williams sister has played the tournament in Indian Wells. The Women's Tennis Association currently classifies the Indian Wells tournament as a Premier Mandatory event for all eligible players.^[1] Exceptions are made when players engage in tournament promotions, but Venus and Serena have both declined to promote the tournament; WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott agreed he would not, promotionally, "put them in a position that is going to be awkward," and tournament director Charlie Pasarell has stated he would accept the WTA tour's ruling.

Allegations had been made before Venus's withdrawal that Richard Williams decided who won the matches between his daughters. Those allegations continued and increased as a result of her withdrawal.

Richard has said that racial epithets were used against him and Venus as they sat in the stands during the final, but no official complaints were recorded by the tournament. Venus and Serena have been criticized for refusing to discuss the controversy, as some believe that their silence perpetuates racism.

Serena discusses what happened in her view at Indian Wells in detail in an entire chapter titled "The Fiery Darts of Indian Wells" in her 2009 autobiography, On the Line. She says that on the morning of the semifinal, Venus told the tour trainer that she had injured her knee and didn't think she could play and tried for hours to get approval from the trainer to withdraw, but the tournament officials kept stalling.

"What got me most of all was that it wasn't just a scattered bunch of boos. It wasn't coming from just one section. It was like the whole crowd got together and decided to boo all at once. The ugliness was just raining down on me, hard. I didn't know what to do. Nothing like this had ever happened to me. What was most surprising about this uproar was the fact that tennis fans are typically a well-mannered bunch. They're respectful. They sit still. And in Palm Springs, especially, they tended to be pretty well-heeled, too. But I looked up and all I could see was a sea of rich people—mostly older, mostly white—standing and booing lustily, like some kind of genteel lynch mob. I don't mean to use such inflammatory language to describe the scene, but that's really how it seemed from where I was down on the court. Like these people were gonna come looking for me after the match. ... There was no mistaking that all of this was meant for me. I heard the word nigger a couple times, and I knew. I couldn't believe it. That's just not something you hear in polite society on that stadium court. ... Just before the start of play, my dad and Venus started walking down the aisle to the players' box by the side of the court, and everybody turned and started to point and boo at them. ... It was mostly just a chorus of boos, but I could still hear shouts of 'Nigger!' here and there. I even heard one angry voice telling us to go back to Compton. It was unbelievable. ... We refused to return to Indian Wells. Even now, all these years later, we continue to boycott the event. It's become a mandatory tournament on the tour, meaning that the WTA can fine a player if she doesn't attend. But I don't care if they fine me a million dollars, I will not play there again."

Roger Federer makes quick work of Youzhny in Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 19:11:00 +0000

Roger Federer makes quick work of Youzhny in Dubai

By Jawad Bisharat

Roger Federer made quick work of Mikhail Youzhny in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 6-3, 6-1.

Federer broke first in the 1st set at 3-3 and continued a 7 game win streak against the Russian.

Youzhny, now 32 years old, has never beaten Federer and Monday it was all the same. Youzhny doesn't match up well against Federer. Their style of play is very similar except Federer does everything just a little better except for the backhand which I feel is equal in quality.

Federer coming of a surprise loss to Seppi at the Australian Open last month is seeking his 7th Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship title.

"I think it was close in that first set." said Federer. "I think we were both trying to find our range. I'm happy I didn't start to play too careful after it, because it is tough to play here in Dubai with the quick conditions. After that, I think I started to return much better. Serve got a bit more consistent. My half volleys were getting better. I was able to get the set and the break, and then that's when you can bring it home."

In other matches, Denis Istomin upset #14 in the world Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 6-2. Gulbis, has not won a match in 2015. Istomin on the other hand plays a bigger game then his #65 ranking leads you to believe. He possesses all the stokes to compete with the top 20.

"I'm not in good form right now," said Gulbis, who led 4-1 in the first set. "I'm not feeling my shots at all. I have no timing. In practice I have been playing worse than in the match."

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Donald Young Denied in Del Rey Beach Open

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:51:00 +0000

Donald Young Denied in Del Rey Beach Open

By Jawad Bisharat

Ivo Karlovic wins Del Rey Beach Open over American Donald Young 6-3 6-3. Young was seeking his first ATP Tour level victory but the 6' 10" Karlovic denied his that opportunity.

Karlovic dropped13 aces and saved 7 break points his way to a straight set victory. The Croatian become the oldest player to win the Del Rey Beach Open just one week short of his 36th birthday.

Young has nothing to hang his head about. Reaching the semi-finals in Memphis last week and the finals here at Del Rey Beach it was 2 great weeks of tennis.

Young is definitely playing some of the best tennis of his career surpassing his impressive semi-final result last week in Memphis. Not only does this put some money in the Americans pocket it will catapult his ranking as well as confidence for the remainder of 2015.

The USTA and American tennis fans have been waiting for D. Young to break out and at the age of 25 he is in his prime to start competing with the best in the world.

Many of today's top players are peaking later in their career and lets hope this is true for Young in years to come.

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Young reaches final in Del Rey Beach Open

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 23:39:00 +0000

Donald Young Reaches Final in Del Rey Beach Open

By Jawad Bisharat

Donald Young reaches final in Del Rey Beach Open defeating Berard Tomic of Australia. Donald Young recovered from being a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 for a spot in only his 2nd final of his ATP Career and first final since 2011.

At 25 year old young is playing some his best tennis both physically and mentally. He survived 13 aces from his Aussie opponent and saved 7 of 10 break points. On Sunday he will be playing for his first ever ATP Crown.

Young defeated the #3 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in 3 sets on Friday to reach his second semi-final in two weeks. In Memphis Young came up short but with this renewed confidence he hopes to achieve what he has never done, win an ATP tour level tournament.

Young will face either 4th seed Ivo Karlovic or 5th seed Adrian Mannarino on Sunday for a chance at the trophy. He holds a 1-0 record against Mannarino and it would be the first meeting between him and the 6' 10", big-serving Croatian.

Karlovic and Mannarino are scheduled to play 8:00pm eastern.

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ATP Schedule of matches for Saturday Feb. 21st

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:34:00 +0000

RIO OPEN presented by Claro Saturday, February 21, 2015

Previous Day

CENTRE COURT Start 1:00 pm
[6] Anna Schmiedlova (SVK) v	[2] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) WTA
[1] Sara Errani (ITA) v	[5] Johanna Larsson (SWE) WTA
Not Before 5:00 pm
Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) v	[2] David Ferrer (ESP) H2H
[1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) v	[4] Fabio Fognini (ITA) H2H
Not Before 9:00 pm
Pablo Andujar (ESP) Oliver Marach (AUT) v	Martin Klizan (SVK) Philipp Oswald (AUT) ATP

COURT 1 Start 4:00 pm

Not Before 4:00 pm

[1] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)

MarÃa Irigoyen (ARG)

v

Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL)

Rebecca Peterson (SWE)

WTA

OPEN 13 Saturday, February 21, 2015

Previous Day

COURT CENTRAL Start 12:00 noon
Colin Fleming (GBR) Jonathan Marray (GBR) v	Lukas Rosol (CZE) Dominic Thiem (AUT) ATP
Not Before 2:30 pm
[WC/7] Gael Monfils (FRA) v	[4] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) H2H
[5] Gilles Simon (FRA) v	Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) H2H

DEL REY BEACH OPEN Saturday, February 21, 2015

Previous Day

STADIUM Start 1:00 pm
[1] Bob Bryan (USA) Mike Bryan (USA) v	Eric Butorac (USA) Rajeev Ram (USA) ATP
Not Before 3:00 pm
Donald Young (USA) v	Bernard Tomic (AUS) H2H
6:00 pm
Bernard Tomic (AUS) Viktor Troicki (SRB) v	[2] Raven Klaasen (RSA) Leander Paes (IND) ATP
Not Before 8:00 pm
[5] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) v	[4] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) H2H

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Donald Young gets to 2nd SF in 2 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 00:54:00 +0000

Donald Young advances to SF for 2nd straight week

By Jawad Bisharat

Donald Young was able to upset 3rd seed Alexandr Dolgopolov today to reach the SF in Del Rey Beach Open. Young will face the ever unpredictable Bernard Tomic for a chance to reach his first final of 2015 and first ever ATP World Tour Title.

Young has his set of ups and downs in the rankings over the past 2 years but today he came up big winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just under 2 hours.

“I thought I fought well,” said Young. “I didn’t start off the way I wanted to. He was playing pretty well, hitting through the wind and controlling his shots quite good. I decided to buckle down, fight, go out swinging and got a little more not so conservative and it happened to work.

“I feel good. Hopefully it’s not over yet… I’m enjoying it, and I’m going to ride the wave. Hopefully this is not the end and there can be some more.”

Young is definitely playing some of the best tennis of his career matching his impressive semi-final result last week in Memphis. Not only does this put some money in the Americans pocket it will catapult his ranking as well as confidence for the remainder of 2015.

The USTA and American tennis fans have been waiting for D. Young to break out and at the age of 25 he is in his prime to start competing with the best in the world.

Many of today's top players are peaking later in their career and lets hope this is true for Young in years to come.

Tomic is very similar to Australia as Young is to America. Very high expectations have been set for the #46 player in the world but anything short of top 10 will be a disappointment.

Tomic defeated 19 year old Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 6-1 in less then an hour. He will have a lot of fuel in the tank when he takes on Young Saturday.

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Nadal gets tested on way to QF in Rio

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:09:00 +0000

Nadal gets tested on way to QF in Rio
By Jawad Bisharat

Number 1 seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated countryman Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday to advance to the quarter finals at the Rio Open.

Carreno Busta drew first blood breaking Nadal to take the lead in the first set. Nadal however broke back, to even the set. Busta’s saved 3 set points on his serve, but the 23 year old was unable to hold on to the set losing in 73 minutes.

In the second set, Nadal was pushed saving 2 break points. Busta on the other hand could not hold serve and Nadal went on to win the match in over 2 hours.

“I think he played well; he played aggressive,” said Nadal. “I’m happy the way that I played."

Nadal will next face sixth seed Pablo Cuevas, who is coming off a win on Sunday at the Brasil Open 2015 defeating Vanni. Cuevas beat journyman Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2 in 69 minutes to secure a quarter final match against the best clay court player of all time.

"Montanes is a great player on this surface; the famous 'Old Fox'," said Cuevas "He definitely was a difficult opponent. I am confident. I was able to play the same as I’ve been doing for the last days, and I was able to prevail in the match. I am happy."

"If my rival is Nadal, it is going to be the first time I face him," he said. "I am in a good moment. I will try to enjoy the match and continue to play the same as I been doing and I wish I can continue with the streak."

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Nadal Wins Rio Opener

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:43:00 +0000

RIO OPEN PRESENTED BY CLARO 2015

NADAL WINS RIO OPENER; GOLDEN SWING KING FERRER ADVANCES

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by ATP Staff

17.02.2015

World No. 3 Rafael Nadal launched his clay-court season with a 6-4, 6-1 win overThomaz Bellucci on Tuesday night at the Rio Open presented by Claro.

Nadal struck first with a break at 2-all, but Bellucci returned the favour to level the match at 4-all. Nadal would break again one game later, consolidating to claim the first set 6-4.

A run of six straight games for the top seed saw him eventually go up 4-0 in the second set, before the Brazilian was able to hold serve. Serving down 1-5, Bellucci saved two match points before Nadal was able to clinch the victory in 91 minutes.

The Spaniard benefited from his opponent’s 31 unforced errors and struck 13 winners of his own as he advanced to the second round, where he will face compatriotPablo Carreno Busta.

The 23-year-old Spaniard needed two hours and 27 minutes to win his opening match 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0 over Carlos Berlocq.

Earlier, David Ferrer kicked off the evening's Spanish showcase with a 6-4, 6-2 win over countryman and qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Ferrer extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head record over the World No. 99 to 3-0 after the 89-minute win. The 32-year-old World No. 9 will meet Thiemo De Bakker in the second round.

Another Spanish native, Nicolas Almagro, was not so lucky in his Rio opener, falling to No. 6 seed Pablo Cuevas 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.

With six titles each, Ferrer and Almagro have tallied the most career championships on Latin America’s Golden Swing, which includes tournaments in Argentina, Brazil (2) and Ecuador during the month of February.

How to get tennis fit!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 04:41:00 +0000

I am reposting this article because I know we all need reminders sometimes. Interval training for tennis is essential due to the burst of energy we use during points. Adapting our body to stop and go will increase our on court stamina.

When I run across a good article that will help your wellness and your tennis game I like to share it with my readers. I have been interval training for many years and I can say with confidence that nothing compares to the results you can achieve applying these principles to your workout.

Jawad Bisharat

How to Get Fit in a Few Minutes a Week

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

Courtesy of NYTimes.com

So to clarify those issues, researchers at two of the laboratories most noted for HIIT science set out to learn more about the best way to do interval training.

When collated and compared, the data showed that the physiological differences among the two groups of riders were notable and, in some ways, strange.

In more practical terms, before you riff on your current workout, check to see whether reliable science supports your improvisation.

Berdych Wawrinka Clash in ABN AMRO Final

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:24:00 +0000

Berdych Wawrinka Clash in ABN AMRO Final
By Jawad Bisharat

Tomas Berdych and Stan Wawrinka clashed in the ABN AMRO final on Sunday. Wawrinka is coming off his semi-final win in a close two set battle against Canadian Milos Raonic. Wawrinka dropping to #8 in the world secured a spot in the final by taking both tiebreakers against big serving Canadian.

Berdych starting strong with penetrating ground strokes took the first set and looked to be on his way to taking the championship but Stan had other ideas.

Stan appeared slightly sluggish to start until he secured his first break of the match halfway into the 2nd set. With a renewed energy level and confidence Wawrinka served out the 2nd set.

Berdych opened the 3rd set serving and was quickly broken off a lucky net cord winner by Wawrinka. However, to my surprise Berdych let the match slip through his fingers in his effort to defend his title and become the 5th player in tournament history to accomplish this feat.

Berdych, who in my opinion is playing the best tennis of his career was again broken to fall behind 2 breaks in the final set which sealed the victory for Wawrinka. Although Berdych was able to recover 1 of the breaks it was too big of a mountain to climb and at the end was defeated 4-6 6-3 6-4 to continue a 6 match losing streak to the big hitting Swiss.

"It's been an amazing week," said Wawrinka. "It wasn't easy, but every match I found my way. It was a great final. Tomas was playing really well, but I'm happy to turn that match for me and win the title.

"It's my first [ATP World Tour] 500 title and winning indoors is something special for me personally. It's always amazing to win a trophy. It's the best feeling."

"I'm disappointed with the way the match finished," said Berdych. "There can only be one winner. I had my chances in the beginning of the second set and I didn't make them so I think that cost me the match.

"I can see some positive things because the last time I played him it went a completely different way. I was in control in the beginning and the small differences decided it today. Next time I need to work harder."

Both players coming off good results at the Australian Open last month are playing with confidence and mental toughness. Don't be surprised to see either one in the final of Major later this year.

COURT 2 Start 3:00 pm
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v	Denis Istomin (UZB) H2H

COURT 1 Start 4:00 pm
Not Before 4:00 pm
[1] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) MarÃa Irigoyen (ARG) v	Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL) Rebecca Peterson (SWE) WTA