<<

AEGON CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAY 5 MEDIA NOTES Friday, June 19, 2015

Queen’s Club, , Great Britain | Jun 15 – 21, 2015 Draw: S-32, D-16 | Prize Money: €1,574,640 | Surface: Grass

ATP Info: Tournament Info: ATP PR & Marketing: www.ATPWorldTour.com www.lta.org.uk Richard Evans: [email protected] @ATPWorldTour @BritishTennis #AegonChampionships Thomas Troxler: [email protected] facebook.com/ATPWorldTour facebook.com/britishtennislta

DAY 5 TALKING POINTS

• QUARTER-FINAL DAY: Just three seeds remain on Day 5 at the Aegon Championships: No. 1 , No. 3 and No. 7 . The last time only three seeds advanced to the QF at this event was in 2012. Murray’s pursuit of a fourth Queen’s title continues against the big-serving Gilles Muller, who knocked out defending champion in the previous round, while Raonic and Simon go up against each other. The unseeded duo of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and open play on Centre Court, with and clashing in the evening. The top four seeds in doubles have all advanced to the SF.

• MURRAY EYEING HISTORY: Murray is set to contest his fifth QF at the Aegon Championships. He is bidding for a fourth title at the Queen’s Club this week. If successful, the 28-year-old will join an elite group of players to have won a quartet of titles here. John McEnroe, , and are currently tied at the top of the Open Era tournament leaderboard with four crowns apiece. All three of Murray’s titles have come in odd years: 2009 (d. Blake), 2011 (d. Tsonga) and 2013 (d. Cilic). He is also one of seven men to complete the Queen's-Wimbledon double in the same year: McEnroe (‘81, ‘84), Jimmy Connors (‘82), Becker (‘85), Pete Sampras (‘95, ‘99), Hewitt (‘02), (‘08) and Murray (‘13).

• GRASS-COURT LEADERS: Among active players, Murray has the third-most match wins on grass courts, sitting behind (133) and Lleyton Hewitt (128). Murray is second, however, in career winning percentage on grass (83.3%) with Federer once again leading the way on 87.5%. Here’s a look at the five active match WIN leaders on the surface:

W-L Index Titles Roger Federer 133-19 .875 14 Lleyton Hewitt 128-40 .762 8 Andy Murray 80-16 .833 5 60-15 .800 2 Feliciano Lopez 59-31 .656 2

• SERVING UP A RECORD: Isner and Feliciano Lopez set a new record in their tightly contested 2R clash. The pair combined for 65 aces, the most in a best-of-three set ATP World Tour match since the ATP began tracking aces in 1991. The previous record was set by (32) and Juan Martin del Potro (30) in the 2R of in 2012. Isner’s 36 aces were also the most in his career in a best-of-three set match. Aegon Championships Day 5 – Friday, June 19, 2015 Page 2 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

DAY 5 FEDEX ATP HEAD2HEADS

CENTRE COURT

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs Kevin Anderson (RSA)

FedEx ATP Head2Head: Anderson leads 2-1

2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami Hard R64 Kevin Anderson 6-3 5-7 6-4 2011 () Hard R32 Kevin Anderson 7-6(1) 7-6(4) 2015 Estoril () Clay R16 G Garcia-Lopez 6-4 3-6 6-1

2015 Highlights 2015 Highlights W (2): (d. Seppi), F: Memphis (l. to Nishikori); (d. Vesely); SF (3): (l. to Vesely), SF: Estoril (l. to Gasquet); (l. to Nishikori), QF: (l. to Bedene) (l. to Sock)

Garcia-Lopez vs Anderson 32 (Jun 4, 1983) Age (DOB) 29 (May 18, 1986) 34 (23 – Feb 21, 2011) Emirates ATP Rankings (high) 17 (15 – Jan 19, 2015) 5-4 Queen’s W-L 11-6 23-13 (2-1) 2015 W-L (on grass) 23-13 (2-0) 240-263 (25-23) Career W-L (on grass) 197-148 (19-16) 5 (2) Career titles (2015) 2 (0) Jose Aparisi, Coach , Diego Dinomo Michael Anderson

• Garcia-Lopez advanced to the Aegon Championships QF for the first time with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Rafael Nadal’s conqueror . The Spaniard ended a three-match losing streak in the 1R, overcoming compatriot Pablo Andujar 7-6(3), 6-2. • Garcia-Lopez is back at the Queen’s Club for the fifth time. His previous best result here was a 3R showing in 2009 (l. to Murray). He fell in the 1R on his last two visits in 2012 and 2013. • Garcia-Lopez got his grass-court season under way in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Copil in 1R). • Garcia-Lopez clinched his fourth career title in Zagreb in February (d. Seppi) and his fifth in Bucharest in April (d. No. 15 Monfils in SF, Vesely in F). It’s the first time he has won multiple titles in a single season. • Garcia-Lopez’s highest-ranked win this year came over No. 10 Cilic en route to the 3R in . • In 2014, Garcia-Lopez posted his second Top 40 season (also 2010), ending a four-year trophy drought by capturing the title in (d. Granollers). • Anderson booked his place in the Aegon Championships QF for the third time in four years, ending the eight-match winning run of Roland Garros champion 7-6(4), 7-6(11). The South African also handed Wawrinka his first loss after the Swiss won the 2014 , ending his 13-match winning streak at Indian Wells. • In the 1R, Anderson saved a match point en route to a 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2 win over four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt, who was playing in his last ever match at the Queen’s Club. • Anderson is back at the Aegon Championships for the seventh time. He reached the QF here on his last two visits, in 2012 (l. to Dimitrov) and 2014 (l. to Stepanek). • Anderson’s last competitive outing was a 3R defeat to at Roland Garros. The South African’s best clay performance came in Houston in April where he advanced to the SF before falling to eventual champion . Aegon Championships Day 5 – Friday, June 19, 2015 Page 3 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• Anderson reached a ninth ATP World Tour final in Memphis in February (l. to Nishikori, falling to 2- 7 in finals). • On January 19, Anderson rose to a career high No. 15 in the Emirates ATP Rankings after advancing to the SF in Auckland (l. to Vesely). He went on to reach the 4R at the Australian Open (l. to Nadal). • In 2014, Anderson became the first South African to post back-to-back Top 20 seasons since (1994-96) after reaching the QF or better eight times during the year.

[7] Gilles Simon (FRA) vs [3] Milos Raonic (CAN)

FedEx ATP Head2Head: Raonic leads 3-0

2011 Estoril (Portugal) Clay QF Milos Raonic 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 2014 Roland Garros () Clay R32 Milos Raonic 4-6 6-3 2-6 6-2 7-5 2014 Tokyo () Hard SF Milos Raonic 6-1 6-4

2015 Highlights 2015 Highlights W: (d. Monfils); F: (l. to Federer); SF: (l. to Berdych); SF (2): Rotterdam (l. to Wawrinka), QF (2): (l. to Janowicz), Indian Wells (l. to Federer); Bucharest (l. to Gimeno-Traver) QF (3): Aus Open (l. to Djokovic), Monte-Carlo (l. to Berdych), (l. to Murray)

Simon vs Raonic 30 (Dec 27, 1984) Age (DOB) 24 (Dec 27, 1990) 13 (6 – Jan 5, 2009) Emirates ATP Rankings (high) 8 (4 – May 11, 2015) 3-3 Queen’s W-L 2-0 25-11 (2-0) 2015 W-L (on grass) 23-9 (2-0) 354-243 (28-21) Career W-L (on grass) 197-96 (16-11) 12 (1) Career titles (2015) 6 (0) Jan De Witt Coach Ivan Ljubicic,

• Simon booked his place in the Aegon Championships QF for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Australian teenager , converting on four of his six BP opportunities. The Frenchman survived two MPs in the 1R, coming from behind to beat 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-2. • Simon is making his fourth appearance at the Queen’s Club. After reaching the 3R on his debut in 2009 (l. to Youzhny) he fell at the first hurdle in 2011 (l. to Mannarino) and 2012 (l. to Bolelli). • Simon arrived in West London after a round of 16 showing at Roland Garros (l. to Wawrinka). • Simon captured a 12th ATP World Tour title in Marseille in February (d. Monfils in a 3rd set TB). The victory put him into second place, behind Yannick Noah (23), on the all-time French title leaders list. Gasquet joined him on 12 two months later. Simon also made the SF in Rotterdam (l. to Berdych), as well as a QF in Montpellier (l. to Janowicz) and Bucharest (l. to Gimeno-Traver). • Simon has a 27-64 career record vs. Top 10 opposition. His most recent Top 10 victory came in Rotterdam in February when he defeated then No. 4 Andy Murray en route to the SF. • In 2014, Simon finished in the Top 25 for the sixth time in seven years after reaching a second career ATP Masters 1000 final in in October. The Frenchman came in ranked No. 29 and defeated No. 4 Wawrinka and No. 7 Berdych en route to the final (l. to Federer in 2 TB sets). • Raonic, who is making his Aegon Championships debut, advanced to his seventh QF of the season with a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 victory over Richard Gasquet on Wednesday. The Canadian opened with a 5- 7, 6-3, 6-2 defeat of British . Aegon Championships Day 5 – Friday, June 19, 2015 Page 4 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• This is Raonic’s first tournament since a QF loss to Andy Murray in Madrid. He was forced out of Rome and Roland Garros after undergoing surgery to correct a pinched nerve in his right foot. • Raonic opened his season with a run to the Brisbane final (l. to Federer). He also reached SFs in Rotterdam (l. to Wawrinka) and Indian Wells, and the QF at the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic) and Monte-Carlo (l. to Berdych). • At Indian Wells, Raonic saved three MPs en route to a first win over Rafael Nadal, putting the Canadian into a fifth career ATP Masters 1000 SF (l. to Federer). He was the first player from his country to beat Nadal. • In 2014, Raonic became the first Canadian to end a season in the Top 10 after winning a personal- best 49 matches and capturing a sixth career title – and first at ATP 500 level – in Washington.

[1] Andy Murray (GBR) vs Gilles Muller (LUX)

FedEx ATP Head2Head: Murray leads 3-0

2011 GBR vs. LUX EAG II 2nd RD (Great Britain) Hard RR Andy Murray 6-4 6-3 6-1 2012 Brisbane () Hard R16 Andy Murray 4-6 7-6(4) 6-0 2015 (U.A.E.) Hard R32 Andy Murray 6-4 7-5

2015 Highlights 2015 Highlights W (2): (d. Kohlschreiber), SF (2): (l. to Troicki), Madrid (d. Nadal); ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Goffin); F (2): Australian Open (l. to Djokovic), QF (3): Chennai (l. to Wawrinka), Miami (l. to Djokovic); Rotterdam (l. to Wawrinka), SF (2): Indian Wells (l. to Djokovic), Estoril (l. to Carreno Busta) Roland Garros (l. to Djokovic); QF (2): Rotterdam (l. to Simon), Dubai (l. to Coric)

Murray vs Muller 28 (May 15, 1987) Age (DOB) 32 (May 9, 1983) 3 (2 – Aug 17, 2009) Emirates ATP Rankings (high) 48 (34 – Feb 16, 2015) 22-5 Queen’s W-L 6-5 38-6 (2-0) 2015 W-L (on grass) 20-12 (5-1) 519-157 (80-16) Career W-L (on grass) 139-140 (18-22) 33 (2) Career titles (2015) 0 (0) Amelie Mauresmo, Coach Alexandre Lisiecki, Jonas Bjorkman

• Murray advanced to the QF at the Aegon Championships for the fifth time, overcoming 7-5, 6-4. The World No. 3 kicked off his bid for a fourth Queen’s crown with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Yen-Hsun Lu. • Murray returns to the Aegon Championships for the 10th time in 11 years (except 2007). He has a 22-5 career record here, winning three titles: 2009 (d. Blake), 2011 (d. Tsonga) and 2013 (d. Cilic). In odd years, Murray has an 18-1 record at Queen’s (4-4 in even years). • Murray is the first Brit since Francis Gordon Lowe (1913-14, '25) to win a hat-trick of titles here. • Murray is looking to reach his fourth SF at Queen’s Club. He is 3-1 in QFs here. • Murray is bidding to join four-time winners John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt at the top of the Open Era tournament leaderboard this week. • Murray arrived on the grass after his best ever season on clay. He posted a 15-1 record winning back-to-back titles in Munich and Madrid, with his lone defeat coming against Novak Djokovic in the SF at Roland Garros. The Scot had never contested a clay-court final before this year. Aegon Championships Day 5 – Friday, June 19, 2015 Page 5 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• Murray’s victory in Madrid was his 10th at ATP Masters 1000 level and his first in more than two years. It also marked his 33rd title overall, which saw him break into the Top 20 Open Era title leaders, joining Arthur Ashe and in 19th place. • In March, Murray advanced to the SF at Indian Wells and the final in Miami, losing to Djokovic each time. With his 4R win over Anderson in Miami, Murray became the first British player to hit 500 wins. He defeated 185 different opponents from 50 different countries en route to the milestone. • Murray opened his season by reaching the Australian Open final for the fourth time (l. to Djokovic). • Murray has reached at least the QFs at nine of his 10 tournament outings this year. Only and Tomas Berdych can lay claim to more (10 of 11). • In 2014, Murray finished in the Top 6 for the seventh year in a row, winning three titles. • Muller advanced to his first QF at the Queen’s Club with a 6-4, 7-6(5) upset win over defending champion Grigor Dimitrov, saving all three BPs he faced while winning 86% of points behind his first serve. The 32-year-old posted a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over in the 1R. • Muller fired down 37 aces during his 1R win, marking the 10th time a player has hit that many aces in a best-of-three set match on the ATP World Tour since 1991. Mark Philippoussis ( 1995 vs. ) and Ivo Karlovic (Zagreb 2014 vs. Daniel Brands) jointly hold the record in best-of-three set matches (44). Muller has hit a total of 56 aces in his opening two matches. • Muller is contesting this event for the sixth time. This is the first time he has gone past the 2R. • Muller came into this week off the back of a SF appearance in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Goffin). • Muller’s other SF outing this season came in Sydney at the beginning of the year (l. to Troicki). He also reached QFs in Chennai (l. to Wawrinka), Rotterdam (l. to Wawrinka) and Estoril (l. to Carreno Busta). • Muller has a 6-27 record vs. Top 10 opposition with his most recent win coming in February 2013 over then No. 10 Richard Gasquet in Marseille. • In 2014, Muller finished in the Top 50 for the first time, and made the biggest jump into the Top 100 (319 spots), working his way back up the Emirates ATP Rankings from No. 366 in 2013. He compiled outstanding Challenger results, winning five titles in seven finals.

Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs John Isner (USA)

FedEx ATP Head2Head: Troicki leads 3-2

2009 (Thailand) Hard QF Viktor Troicki 7-6(3) 6-2 2010 SRB vs. USA WG 1st RD () Clay RR Viktor Troicki 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4 2011 Washington (U.S.A.) Hard QF John Isner 7-6(5) 3-6 6-1 2011 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard R32 Viktor Troicki 6-4 3-6 6-2 2015 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Clay R32 John Isner 7-6(4) 7-6(5)

2015 Highlights 2015 Highlights W: Sydney (d. Kukushkin); SF (2): Miami (l. to Djokovic), F: (l. to Nadal); (l. to Thiem); QF (2): Zagreb (l. to Garcia-Lopez), QF (2): Memphis (l. to Querrey), Acapulco (l. to Anderson) Madrid (l. to Berdych)

Troicki vs Isner 29 (Oct 2, 1986) Age (DOB) 30 (Apr 26, 1985) 25 (12 – Jun 6, 2011) Emirates ATP Rankings (high) 18 (9 – Apr 16, 2012) 3-1 Queen’s W-L 3-1 25-13 (6-1) 2015 W-L (on grass) 21-13 (2-0) 214-178 (23-17) Career W-L (on grass) 264-165 (26-14) 2 (1) Career titles (2015) 9 (0) Jack Reader Coach

Aegon Championships Day 5 – Friday, June 19, 2015 Page 6 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• Isner edged past Feliciano Lopez 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 7-6(4) in two hours and 28 minutes to reach the QF here for the first time. The American (36) and the Spaniard (29) hit a combined 65 aces, the most in a best-of-three set ATP World Tour match since the ATP began tracking aces in 1991. The previous record was set by Daniel Brands (32) and Juan Martin del Potro (30) in the 2R of Vienna in 2012. Del Potro won the match 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. Isner’s 36 aces were the most in his career in a best-of-three set match and the third-most this season behind Ivo Karlovic (39) in the 2R at the Australian Open and Gilles Muller (37) in the 1R this week. • Isner overcame 18-year-old qualifier 7-6(11), 6-4 in his opening match. • Isner has saved both the BPs he faced this week (one vs. Donaldson, one vs. Lopez). • Isner is back at the Aegon Championships for the second time. On his only previous visit in 2008, he defeated Kevin Anderson before falling to in the 2R. • Isner came into this week off the back of a 2R exit at Roland Garros (l. to Chardy). • Isner’s season to-date has been highlighted by SF appearances in Miami in April (d. No. 6 Raonic in 4R, No. 5 Nishikori in QF; l. to Djokovic) and Nice in May (l. to Thiem). • In May, Isner reached the QF in Madrid (l. to Berdych after holding 1 MP), becoming the first American to reach the QF of an ATP Masters 1000 event on clay since Roddick (Madrid 2009). • Isner ended 2014 as the top-ranked American for the third straight season, finishing in the Top 20 for the fifth year in a row. He won two titles in Auckland (d. Lu) and (d. Sela). • Troicki will contest the Aegon Championships QF for the first time after knocking out 2012 champion Marin Cilic 6-7(8), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes. He improved to 6-52 vs. Top 10 opponents having also beaten Cilic in Stuttgart last week. The Serb saw off qualifier Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4 in the 1R. • Troicki’s only previous visit to Queen’s came in 2008 when he fell in the 2R (l. to Nalbandian). • Troicki arrived in West London after a solid week in Stuttgart where he reached the final with wins over Borna Coric, , and Cilic (l. to Nadal). It was his first ATP World Tour final on grass and his seventh overall (2-5). • Troicki opened his season in Sydney, where he came through qualifying before capturing his second career title (d. Kukushkin). It was the first all-qualifier final in ATP World Tour history. • Troicki also reached a pair of QFs in February: Zagreb (l. to Garcia-Lopez) and Acapulco (l. to Anderson). • In 2014, Troicki finished just outside the Top 100 at No. 102 after climbing more than 700 places during the season. He reached his first ATP World Tour SF in three years as a qualifier in Vienna in October (l. to Murray).