Verdasco Into Quarter-Finals, Kecmanovic Shocks Tsonga
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Qatar spikers book QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune semi-finals spot in qatar_tribune Tokyo Volleyball QatarTribuneChannel Qualification PAGE 14 THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN 2020 Verdasco into quarter-finals, Kecmanovic shocks Tsonga VINAY NAYUDU someone who has grown DOHA through the rankings swiftly and is now ranked 62, Kec- AGE, some say is just a num- manovic made only five er- ber. On Wednesday, 36-year- rors from the back of court. old, Doha-resident and Span- From being outside the ish player Fernando Verdasco top 130 and never to have underlined his belief as he won a tour level match, he is broke past 27-year-old and now sixth-seeded Filip Krajinovic has 26 tour level match of Serbia to move into the wins including against Tson- quarter-finals of $1.4mn Qa- ga. tar ExxonMobil Open 2020. Speaking on his debut win Verdasco’s telling three- in Doha, the Serbian said, “I set 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 came on tried to stay calm especially Khalifa International Tennis in the tie-break and it paid & Squash Complex’s centre off. I played some really good court and was witnessed by tennis today and I’m really HH The Amir Sheikh Tamim happy about it. bin Hamad al Thani. “It’s definitely a pretty Delighted following his cool feeling. I hoped it would hard fought win, Verdasco, happen but obviously didn’t who always calls Doha his know it would be that quick. home, said, “I’m honoured I am really excited to be here to have won and I was moti- and hopefully I can keep go- vated by the presence of HH Miomir Kecmanovic hits a returns the ball against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their match on Wednesday. ing. The Amir. It’s always a great About beating Tsonga, he feeling to win here.” DAY THREE RESULTS court’s big action matches, said, “It was definitely one On what turned out to be Serbian Kecmanovic up- of my better wins. I’ve had an exciting evening of tennis, Singles (2nd Round) Pavic (CRO) & Bruno Soares (BRA) 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 staged Tsonga with a hard- some exciting wins last year. there were some other thrill- 2-Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-4, 6-2 2-Henri Kontinen (FIN) & Franko Skugor (CRO) bt Ken fought win. Tsonga, however, And to start the year off with Q-Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt WC-Cem Ilkel (TUR) 6-1, 6-4 Skupski & Neil Skupski (GBR) 6-7 (2), 6-4, 13-11 ing results with 20-year-old Fernando Verdasco bt 6-Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 3-Rohan Bopanna (IND) & Wesley Koolhof (NED) bt was hampered by a lower such a big name, it’s definite- Miomir Kecmanovic of Ser- Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt 5-Laslo Djere (SRB) Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) & Frances Tiafoe (USA) 6-3, back trouble. ly motivating me and giving bia handing a shock loss to 6-1, 6-3 6-4 It was all about the open- me a lot more confidence. third seed and 2012 cham- Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt 3-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 Luke Bambridge (GBR) & Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) bt ing set tie-break where On his feeling on being in (11-9), 6-1. 4-Fabrice Martin (FRA) & Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3, 7-6 pion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Doubles (Quarter-finals) (9-7). Tsonga too put in his all. Doha, Kecmanovic said, “It’s of France; Pierre-Hugues Frederik Nielsen (DEN) & Tim Puetz (GER) bt 1-Mate But to Kecmanovic’s credit pretty cool. I like the courts. I Herbert from France defeat- Fernando Verdasco of Spain reacts during his second round match he stayed composed and re- like the hotel, the food. Eve- ing fifth seed Laslo Djere of against Filip Krajinovic at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on vantage of as many as eight players, however, committed turned almost all to Tsonga rything is great. I mean, so Serbia in straight sets; and Wednesday. break points as Karjinovic three double faults each. to clinch the tie-break at 11-9 far I’m enjoying myself.” qualifierMarton Fucsovics of succeeded in getting a break “Not winning any of the and the crucial set 7-6. Kecmanovic, who fin- Hungary prevailing over Tur- Well before the young and served impressively with to claim the set 6-4. break points in the second set In the second, Kec- ished 2019 by reaching the key’s Cem Ilkel. and hot prospect Kec- power. In the decider though, was tough, especially mental- manovic exhibited his range semi-finals at the Next Gen Second seed and a former manovic took on Tsonga, it It was in the 10th game Verdasco came out all guns ly. But the support of the fans of shots even as Tsonga strug- ATP Finals, will meet Hun- finalistAndrey Rublev had was Verdasco fighting like a that Verdasco upped the ante blazing to blank his opponent brought me back and I’m gled to move at times. In the garian qualifier Marton Fuc- earlier set the tone scoring a man possessed against Kra- to tilt the scale in his favour. 6-0. thrilled with the win,” said end, the Serbian emerged a sovics, who scored a breezy smooth win against Kazakh- jinovic. Still in the top-50, In the second set though, Verdasco hit a total of 17 Verdasco. deserving winner. win over Turkish wild card stan’s Mikhail Kukushkin. Verdasco used his experience Verdasco failed to take ad- aces to Krajinovic’s 2. Both In another of centre Touted as a hot prospect, Cem Ilkel. Relieved Rublev rolls on, eases Dynamo Schwartzman powers past fellow Russian Kukushkin Argentina into ATP Cup quarters AFP VINAY NAYUDU SYDNEY DOHA A focused Diego Schwartz- winning start to the It was first match of the man and Guido Pella guided tournament from season, first match for me Argentina into the ATP Cup Asecond seed Andrey since two months. I was a quarter-finals on Wednesday, Rublev was quite expected. leaving Croatia heartbroken. And that the 22-year-old little bit nervous and my After Poland beat Austria Russian brushed aside the team felt it since the 2-1 in the earlier Group E tie, challenge from Russia-born beginning. But in the end, it boiled down to a winner- Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin I’m happy that I was takes-all clash between the in straight sets in the sec- two nations in Sydney for a ond round also spoke about focused more on the things spot in the last eight of the in- Rublev’s rising stature. that how I could win. I’m augural team event. But there was something happy with my performance. Left-hander Pella got his about this tie that many country off to a strong start couldn’t perhaps perceive. – Andrey Rublev with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 win over As for the match proper, the former world number three two players ensured normal Andrey Rublev hits a return against Mikhail Kukushkin during their Qatar ExxonMobil Open match at Marin Cilic. service till 4-4 in the opening the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha on Wednesday. It left world number 13 set before the world No. 23 Schwartzman the task of Diego Schwartzman of Argentina (right) celebrates victory with team- Rublev got the much-needed the last one and a half year, since the beginning. But in the to be back in the rhythm. “Even needing to beat Borna Cor- mate Guido Pella after his men’s singles match against Borna Coric of break to gain control and win out of four, he beat me three end, I’m happy that I was fo- when you finish the season ic, ranked 28, to secure the Croatia at the ATP Cup in Sydney on Wednesday. (AFP) the set at 6-3. times,” said Rublev. cused more on the things that well and you don’t play for a tie, top the group and earn a In the second, Rublev “And the last time, I re- how I could win. I’m happy while, you lose little bit rhythm prized slot in the last eight ries in the other group tie pre- said he was playing some of broke twice in the 3rd and 5th member that I won was really, with my performance,” he ex- of playing. against Russia. vented Austria winning the his best-ever tennis. games to eventually win the set really tough in Cincinnati. So I plained. “And it’s when you after He did it in style, racing group. “I played really well to- at 6-4 to ensure his appointed was expecting it to be a really Rublev first created waves one and a half months or af- through the first set 6-2 as his Polish youngster Hurkacz day. I mean Dominic is a great place in the quarter-finals. tough match. I didn’t know -- international when he made ter two months play the first team cheered him on from the upset world number four player, the way he played the Rublev later at the press things for me to beat him. And the final of Qatar ExxonMobil match, it’s always even if you sidelines before driving the fi- Dominic Thiem -- his third top first set was unbelievable. He conference revealed that he I’m really happy that I could Open on his first appearance feel the ball well, it’s always a nal nail in Croatia’s coffin by 30 scalp at the tournament, to brought out the best in me,” was expecting a much tough win in straight sets today,” in the tournament in Doha in bit tough.