Tennis in General - Results and Comments

ATP FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 250 Montpellier : David Goffin (2) won his fifth ATP tournament in career (fourth ATP 250 and second on hard indoor), defeating
Roberto Bautista-Agut 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

ATP 250 Singapore : Alexei Popyrin won his first ATP tournament in career, defeating Alexander Bublik (4) 4-6, 6-0, 6-2

ATP 250 Còrdoba : Juan Manuel Cerundolo (q) won his first ATP tournament in career defeating Albert Ramos-Vinolas (5) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2

NEXT WEEK SCHEDULE :

Rotterdam (Netherlands), 1-7 March : "2021 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament"
Category : ATP Tour 500
Prize Money : € 1.117.900
Surface : Hard (Indoor)

Buenos Aires (Argentina), 1-7 March : "2021 Argentina Open"
Category : ATP Tour 250
Prize Money : $ 411.940
Surface : Red Clay

Doha (Qatar), 1-6 March : "2021 Qatar Total Open"
Category : WTA 500
Prize Money : $ 565.530
Surface : Hard

Lyon (France), 1-7 March : "2021 Open 6ème Sense Metropole de Lyon"
Category : WTA 250
Prize Money : $ 235.238
Surface : Hard (Indoor)

ATP & WTA SEMIFINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 250 Montpellier : D. Goffin (2) def. E. Gerasimov 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
R. Bautista-Agut (1) def. P. Gojowczyk 7-5, 6-1

ATP 250 Singapore : Al. Popyrin def. M. Cilic (3) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2)
A. Bublik (4) def. R. Albot (6) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

ATP 250 Còrdoba : J. M. Cerundolo (q) def. F. Coria 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
A. Ramos-Vinolas (5) def. F. Bagnis (q) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3

WTA 500 Adelaide : I. Swiatek (5) def. J. B. Teichmann 6-3, 6-2
B. Bencic (2) def. C. Gauff 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 6-2
Final : Iga Swiatek (5) won her second WTA tournament in career (first WTA 500 and on hard), defeating
Belinda Bencic (2) 6-2, 6-2

RANKINGS AT FEBRUARY 22ND :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 12.030 points
2. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.850 points
3. (4.) Daniil Medvedev RUS 9.735 points
4. (3.) Dominic Thiem AUT 9.125 points
5. Roger Federer SUI 6.630 points
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 6.595 points
7. Alexander Zverev GER 5.615 points
8. Andrey Rublev RUS 4.609 points
9. Diego Schwartzman ARG 3.480 points
10. Matteo Berrettini ITA 3.480 points
11. (12.) Denis Shapovalov CAN 2.910 points
12. (11.) Gael Monfils FRA 2.860 points
13. Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 2.710 points
14. Milos Raonic CAN 2.630 points
15. David Goffin BEL 2.600 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 9.186 points
2. (3.) Naomi Osaka JPN 7.835 points
3. (2.) Simona Halep ROU 7.255 points
4. Sofia Kenin USA 5.760 points
5. Elina Svitolina UKR 5.370 points
6. Karolina Pliskova CZE 5.205 points
7. (11.) Serena Williams USA 4.915 points
8. (7.) Aryna Sabalenka BLR 4.810 points
9. Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 4.735 points
10. (8.) Petra Kvitova CZE 4.571 points
11. (10.) Kiki Bertens NED 4.505 points
12. Belinda Bencic SUI 4.010 points
13. (24.) Jennifer Brady USA 3.765 points
14. (13.) Victoria Azarenka BLR 3.535 points
15. (14.) Garbine Muguruza ESP 3.320 points

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 14 (LAST) :
Results Finals :

Men' s Singles : Novak Djokovic (1) won his 82nd ATP tournament in career (18th Grand Slam and 9th Australian Open, third consecutive), defeating
Daniil Medvedev (4) 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 after 1h 53'

In first set the Serbian starts better, immediately going 3-0, but the Russian does not give up and break him back in fifth game, then both players keep their service turns until 6-5 Djokovic, when Nole goes 0-40 on Medvedev's serve, closing the set at third set-point after 42'; second set opens with a break in the first game for the Russian, who then loses his service twice in a row, finding himself 1-4 down, with Djokovic making no mistakes and closing the set 6-2 with another break after only 35'; in third set, the world's N° 1 saves two consecutive break points in first game and then breaks his opponent's serve again, flying 3-0 and keeping the break until
5-2, when the sixth break suffered by the Russian puts an end to the match, giving Nole another pearl in his extraordinary career, while the Russian still has to postpone his first career Slam success, having lost his second Final of two played.

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Men' s Doubles Semifinals : Ivan Dodig / Filip Polasek (9) def. Rajeev Ram / Joe Salisbury (5) 6-3, 6-4

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NEXT WEEK SCHEDULE :

Còrdoba (Argentina), 22-28 February : "2021 Còrdoba Open"
Category : ATP Tour 250
Prize Money : $ 393.935
Surface : Red Clay

Singapore (Singapore), 22-28 February : "2021 Singapore Tennis Open"
Category : ATP Tour 250
Prize Money : $ 361.800
Surface : Hard (Indoor)

Montpellier (France), 22-28 February : "2021 Open Sud de France"
Category : ATP Tour 250
Prize Money : € 323.970
Surface : Hard (Indoor)

Adelaide (Australia), 22-27 February : "2021 Adelaide International"
Category : WTA 500
Prize Money : $ 565.530
Surface : Hard

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 13 :
Results Finals :

Women' s Singles : Naomi Osaka (3) won her fourth WTA tournament in career (all Grand Slams and second Australian Open), defeating
Jennifer Brady (22) 6-4, 6-3 after 1h 17'

In the fourth game of the first set two double faults cost the break to Brady, but Osaka, after missing a 4-1 chance, was immediately broken back and with 7 points in a row the American went 3-3, then, in the eighth game, which lasted 12 points, the Japanese wasted a 5-3 chance, looking more nervous than her opponent, and, in the ninth game, she went 0-30, canceled a break-point and went 5-4, in the next one, after two 5-5 chance for Brady, a lucky recovery of the Japanese finished on the line gave her a set point and the American then completed the work with a forehand error, losing the set 6-4 after 42 '; Osaka took a break advantage even at the start of the second set and this time she confirmed it, going 3-0, with Brady still with her head at the end of the first set : the American continued to make mistakes, and was broken again, going down 0-4, but the Japanese missed a 5-0 chance and Jennifer recovered one of the two breaks (1-4), shortening the distance further (2-4). Naomi, however, did not distract any further and closed the match 6-3 at first match-point; the 23-year-old Japanese tennis player from Monday will rise to the second WTA ranking position overtaking Simona Halep, while the 25-year-old American will reach her best ranking of world's N° 13.

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Mixed Doubles : Barbora Krejcikova / Rajeev Ram (6) def. Samantha Stosur / Matthew Ebden 6-1, 6-4

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2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 12 :

Men' s Singles Second Semifinal : D. Medvedev (4) def. S. Tsitsipas (5) 6-4, 6-2, 7-5

Women' s Doubles Final : Elise Mertens / Aryna Sabalenka (2) def. Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina Siniakova (3) 6-2, 6-3

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Men' s Doubles Semifinals : I. Dodig / F. Polasek (9) def. N. Mektic / M. Pavic (2) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
R. Ram / J. Salisbury (5) def. J. Murray / B. Soares (6) 6-4, 7-6 (2)

Mixed Doubles Semifinals : B. Krejcikova / R. Ram (6) def. S. Sanders / M. Polmans 6-3, 6-3
S. Stosur / M. Ebden def. D. Krawczyk / J. Salisbury 7-5, 5-7, 10-8 (Long Tie-break)

WTA 250 Melbourne (Phillip Island Trophy) Final : Daria Kasatkina won her third WTA tournament in career (first WTA 250 and on hard), defeating
Marie Bouzkova (13) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

Due to COVID-19, the 2021 edition of the ATP 250 "Grand Prix Hassan II" in Marrakech has been postponed from its traditional 5-11 April date. Consideration will be given to rescheduling the tournament later in the year. Last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 11 :
Semifinals Results :

Men' s Singles First Semifinal : N. Djokovic (1) def. A. Karatsev (q) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Women' s Singles : N. Osaka (3) def. S. Williams (10) 6-3, 6-4
J. Brady (22) def. K. Muchova (25) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

WTA 250 Melbourne (Phillip Island Trophy) Semifinals : D. Kasatkina def. D. R. Collins (8) 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1
M. Bouzkova (13) b. B. V. Andreescu (2) 6-7 (9), 6-2, 7-5

The Finals of the "Billie Jean King Cup by Paribas" (the revamped Fed Cup), which was scheduled to be held from April 13 to 18 in Budapest, has been postponed again due to COVID-19 protocols in Hungary, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Thursday. The inaugural 12-nation Finals was initially scheduled
to be held in March last year before the pandemic forced authorities to put it back a year. The eight two-day home-and-away Play-off ties (Poland vs Brazil,
Great Britain vs Mexico, Serbia vs Canada, Latvia vs India, Japan vs Ukraine, Romania vs Italy, Argentina vs Kazakhstan and Netherlands vs China P.R.) will be played as planned on 16 & 17 April.

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 10 :
Quarter-finals Results :

Men' s Singles Bottom Half : S. Tsitsipas (5) def. R. Nadal (2) 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-5
D. Medvedev (4) def. A. Rublev (7) 7-5, 6-3, 6-2

Women' s Singles Top Half : K. Muchova (25) def. A. Barty (1) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
J. Brady (22) def. J. Pegula 4-6, 6-2, 6-1

Women' s Doubles Semifinals : B. Krejcikova / K. Siniakova (3) def. D. Jurak / N. Stojanovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
E. Mertens / A. Sabalenka (2) def. N. Melichar / D. Schuurs (4) 7-5, 6-4

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 9 :
Quarter-Finals Results :

Men' s Singles Top Half : N. Djokovic (1) def. A. Zverev (6) 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (6)
A. Karatsev (q) def. G. Dimitrov (18) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2

Women' s Singles Bottom Half : S. Williams (10) def. S. Halep (2) 6-3, 6-3
N. Osaka (3) def. S-W. Hsieh 6-2, 6-2

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 8 :
Fourth Round Results :

Men' s Singles Bottom Half : R. Nadal (2) def. F. Fognini (16) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
D. Medvedev (4) def. M. McDonald (PR) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
S. Tsitsipas (5) def. M. Berrettini (9) Walkover (Abdominal Injury)
A. Rublev (7) def. C. Ruud (24) 6-2, 7-6 (3) ret. (Abdominal Problem)

Women' s Singles Top Half : A. Barty (1) def. S. Rogers 6-3, 6-4
J. Pegula def. E. Svitolina (5) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
K. Muchova (25) def. E. Mertens (18) 7-6 (5), 7-5
J. Brady (22) def. D. Vekic (28) 6-1, 7-5

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 7 :
Fourth Round Results :

Men' s Singles Top Half : N. Djokovic (1) def. M. Raonic (14) 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
G. Dimitrov (18) def. D. Thiem (3) 6-4, 6-4, 6-0
A. Zverev (6) def. D. Lajovic (23) 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3
A. Karatsev (q) def. F. Auger-Aliassime (20) 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

Women' s Singles Bottom Half : S. Halep (2) def. I. Swiatek (15) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
N. Osaka (3) def. G. Muguruza (14) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
S. Williams (10) def. A. Sabalenka (7) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
S-W. Hsieh def. M. Vondrousova (19) 6-4, 6-2

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 6 :
Third Round Complete Results :

Men' s Singles Bottom Half : R. Nadal (2) def. C. Norrie 7-5, 6-2, 7-5
D. Medvedev (4) def. F. Krajinovic (28) 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-0
S. Tsitsipas (5) def. M. Ymer 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
A. Rublev (7) def. F. Lopez 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
M. Berrettini (9) def. K. Khachanov (19) 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
F. Fognini (16) def. A. De Minaur (21) 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
C. Ruud (24) def. R. Albot 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
M. McDonald (PR) def. G. Harris 7-6 (7), 6-1, 6-4

Women' s Singles Top Half : A. Barty (1) def. E. Alexandrova (29) 6-2, 6-4
E. Svitolina (5) def. Y. Putintseva (26) 6-4, 6-0
K. Muchova (25) def. Ka. Pliskova (6) 7-5, 7-5
E. Mertens (18) def. B. Bencic (11) 6-2, 6-1
S. Rogers def. A. Kontaveit (21) 6-4, 6-3
J. Brady (22) def. K. Juvan (q) 6-1, 6-3
D. Vekic (28) def. K. Kanepi 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4
J. Pegula def. K. Mladenovic 6-2, 6-1

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 5 :
Third Round Complete Results :

Men' s Singles Top Half : N. Djokovic (1) def. T. Fritz (27) 7-6 (1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2
D. Thiem (3) def. N. Kyrgios 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
A. Zverev (6) def. A. Mannarino (32) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
A. Karatsev (q) def. D. Schwartzman (8) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
F. Auger-Aliassime (20) def. D. Shapovalov (11) 7-5, 7-5, 6-3
M. Raonic (14) def. M. Fucsovics 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
G. Dimitrov (18) def. P. Carreno Busta (15) 6-0, 1-0 ret. (Abdominal Injury)
D. Lajovic (23) def. P. Martinez 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-1, 6-4

Women' s Singles Bottom Half : S. Halep (2) def. V. Kudermetova (32) 6-1, 6-3
N. Osaka (3) def. O. Jabeur (27) 6-3, 6-2
A. Sabalenka (7) def. A. Li 6-3, 6-1
S. Williams (10) def. A. Potapova 7-6 (5), 6-2
G. Muguruza (14) def. Z. Diyas 6-1, 6-1
I. Swiatek (15) def. F. Ferro 6-4, 6-3
M. Vondrousova (19) def. S. Cirstea 6-2, 6-4
S-W. Hsieh def. S. Errani (q) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has announced a five-day snap lockdown in what he described as a "short, sharp circuit breaker" to contain the outbreak connected to the "Holiday Inn" quarantine hotel. The stage four restrictions, which took effect at 11.59pm Friday 12 February and will last until 11.59pm Wednesday, mirror the rules that were in place in August so many will be all-too familiar to Melburnians. The Australian Open matches will go ahead, with professional athletes considered essential workers, but no spectators will be allowed from Saturday to Wednesday.

NEW WTA TOURNAMENT STARTING TOMORROW :

Melbourne (Australia), 13-19 February : "2021 Phillip Island Trophy"
Category : WTA 250
Prize Money : $ 235.238
Surface : Hard

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 4 :
Second Round Complete Results :

Men' s Singles Bottom Half : R. Nadal (2) def. M. Mmoh (q) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2
D. Medvedev (4) def. R. Carballes Baena 6-2, 7-5, 6-1
S. Tsitsipas (5) def. T. Kokkinakis (wc) 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4
A. Rublev (7) def. T. Monteiro 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (8)
M. Berrettini (9) def. T. Machac (q) 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
F. Fognini (16) def. S. Caruso 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (14-12 Super Tie-break)
K. Khachanov (19) def. R. Berankis 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
A. De Minaur (21) def. P. Cuevas 6-3, 6-3, 7-5
M. McDonald (PR) def. B. Coric (22) 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
C. Ruud (24) def. T. Paul 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-5
F. Krajinovic (28) def. P. Andujar 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
F. Lopez def. L. Sonego (31) 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
R. Albot def. C. O'Connell (wc) 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (8)
C. Norrie def. R. Safiullin (q) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
M. Ymer def. C. Alcaraz (q) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
G. Harris def. Al. Popyrin (wc) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3

Women' s Singles Top Half : A. Barty (1) def. D. Gavrilova (wc) 6-1, 7-6 (7)
K. Kanepi def. S. Kenin (4) 6-3, 6-2
E. Svitolina (5) def. C. Gauff 6-4, 6-3
Ka. Pliskova (6) def. D. R. Collins 7-5, 6-2
B. Bencic (11) def. S. Kuznetsova 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
E. Mertens (18) def. L. Zhu 7-6 (8), 6-1
A. Kontaveit (21) def. H. Watson 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2
J. Brady (22) def. M. Brengle 6-1, 6-2
K. Muchova (25) def. M. Barthel (SR) 6-4, 6-1
Y. Putintseva (26) def. A. Van Uytvanck 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
D. Vekic (28) def. N. Podoroska 6-2, 6-2
E. Alexandrova (29) def. B. Krejcikova 6-3, 7-6 (4)
K. Mladenovic def. N. Hibino 7-5, 6-1
S. Rogers def. O. Danilovic (q) 6-2, 6-3
K. Juvan (q) def. M. Sherif (q) 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3
J. Pegula def. S. Stosur (wc) 6-0, 6-1

2021 AUSTRALIAN OPEN - DAY 3 :
Second Round Complete Results :

Men' s Singles Top Half : N. Djokovic (1) def. F. Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 6-3
D. Thiem (3) def. D. Koepfer 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
A. Zverev (6) def. M. Cressy (q) 7-5, 6-4, 6-3
D. Schwartzman (8) def. A. Muller 6-2, 6-0, 6-3
D. Shapovalov (11) def. B. Tomic (q) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2
M. Raonic (14) def. C. Moutet 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-1, 6-4
P. Carreno Busta (15) def. J. Vesely 6-3, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4
M. Fucsovics def. S. Wawrinka (17) 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (11-9 Super Tie-break)
G. Dimitrov (18) def. A. Bolt (wc) 7-5, 6-1, 6-2
F. Auger-Aliassime (20) def. J. Duckworth 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
D. Lajovic (23) def. A. Bublik 6-4, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3
T. Fritz (27) def. R. Opelka 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-2
N. Kyrgios def. U. Humbert (29) 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4
A. Mannarino (32) def. M. Kecmanovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
P. Martinez def. E. Ruusuvuori 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (5)
A. Karatsev (q) def. E. Gerasimov 6-0, 6-1, 6-0

Women' s Singles Bottom Half : S. Halep (2) def. A. Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
N. Osaka (3) def. C. Garcia 6-2, 6-3
A. Sabalenka (7) def. D. Kasatkina 7-6 (5), 6-3
S-W. Hsieh def. B. V. Andreescu (8) 6-3, 6-2
S. Cirstea def. P. Kvitova (9) 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
S. Williams (10) def. N. Stojanovic 6-3, 6-0
G. Muguruza (14) def. L. Samsonova (q) 6-3, 6-1
I. Swiatek (15) def. C. Giorgi 6-2, 6-4
F. Ferro def. E. Rybakina (17) 6-4, 6-4
M. Vondrousova (19) def. R. Marino (q) 6-1, 7-5
O. Jabeur (27) def. A. K. Schmiedlova (LL) 6-3, 6-2
V. Kudermetova (32) def. V. Gracheva 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
A. Li def. A. Cornet 6-2, 7-6 (6)
Z. Diyas def. B. Pera 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
A. Potapova def. T. Babos (q) 6-2, 6-4
S. Errani (q) def. V. Williams 6-1, 6-0