Showing posts with label Madrid Open. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madrid Open. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Tuesday, 6 May 2025
CASPER RUUD CAPTURES FIRST MASTERS 100O TITLE IN MADRID
The Norwegian star overcomes Jack Draper in straight sets to win the biggest title of his career.
Casper Ruud achieved a significant milestone in his tennis career by winning the 2025 Madrid Open, marking his first ATP Masters 1000 title. In a closely contested final, Ruud overcame Britain’s Jack Draper with a scoreline of 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, showcasing resilience and a strong will to win on the clay courts of Madrid.
"This victory is particularly noteworthy as it ends Ruud’s streak of losses in major finals, including previous defeats in Miami 2022, Monte Carlo 2024, and three Grand Slam finals. The win not only adds a prestigious title to his resume but also propels him back into the ATP Top 10, now ranked World No. 7.
Jack Draper, despite the loss, has had a remarkable run in 2025. His performance in Madrid, including victories over top players, has elevated him to World No. 5, making him the fourth British man to reach the ATP Top 5. At 23 years and 121 days old, Draper also became the youngest British man in the Open Era to reach ATP finals on clay, grass, and hard courts.
To secure this win, Casper Ruud navigated a challenging draw. He commenced his campaign with a straight-sets victory over Alexander Shevchenko in the second round. In the third round, Ruud faced and defeated Sebastian Korda. The fourth round saw him overcome Taylor Fritz, followed by a quarterfinal win against Daniil Medvedev. In the semifinals, Ruud bested Francisco Cerundolo before clinching the title with a hard-fought victory over Jack Draper in the final.
Inside the Baseline…
Ruud’s Madrid title feels like a long time coming and well-earned. Often overshadowed by flashier opponents, Casper Ruud has quietly built one of the most consistent clay-court resumes on tour. This win not only silences questions about his ability to win the big ones, but it firmly places him among the favorites for Roland Garros. His game may not scream highlight-reel, but it now screams champion.
Monday, 28 April 2025
TENNIS MATCHES AT MADRID OPEN SUSPENDED DUE TO MAJOR POWER OUTAGE
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| MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 28: The empty center court is seen during a general power blackout during Day Seven of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 28, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. A widespread power outage hit Spain, Portugal and parts of France. Julian Finney, Getty Images |
MADRID — Former U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff was preparing to shower in a dark locker room after play at the Madrid Open was suspended and then postponed due to a major power outage in Spain and Portugal.
Then Gauff realized that the water was off, too.
“So I just had to take baby wipes and wipe myself,” Gauff said, “and spray some perfume and call it a day.”
Gauff managed to beat Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-2 shortly before the outage began. Then the 2023 U.S. Open champion posted an Instagram story showing only an emergency light working in an otherwise dark locker room.
The ATP Tour said that two singles matches and one doubles match were underway when power went out at 12:34 p.m. local time (1034 GMT).
“The cut is preventing the use of electronic line calling systems and also left a spider cam dangling over the court inside Manolo Santana Stadium,” the ATP added.
The tournament said later that all of the day’s matches were postponed “in order to guarantee general safety.”
Grigor Dimitrov was leading Jacob Fearnley 6-4, 5-4 inside the main stadium when play was stopped. Also, Matteo Arnaldi was leading Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 3-2 when play was suspended. That match later continued — apparently with manual line calling — and Arnaldi won 6-3, 6-4.
The doubles match was also completed and some players were practicing despite the outage. A a few people remained in the stands to watch.
The outage knocked out subway networks, phone lines, traffic lights and ATM machines.
Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica said restoring power to large parts of the country after the outage could take up to 10 hours.
The company declined to speculate on the causes of the blackout.
Gauff also posted a photo of candles being distributed.
“I don’t think we’re even going to be able to go back to the hotel because the traffic lights are out,” Gauff said. “It’s just crazy how much we depend on electricity. It’s really insane and puts it in perspective.”
Another fourth-round women’s match was also completed before the blackout: Mirra Andreeva beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-1, 6-4.
Second-ranked Iga Swiatek “sat in the darkened players’ lounge, talking with members of her team,” ahead of her scheduled match against Diana Shnaider, the WTA Tour said.
Swiatek and Shnaider had been scheduled to play in the main stadium after the Dimitrov-Fearnley match.
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka had been scheduled to play Peyton Stearns later.
- Associated Press
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
ELINA SVITOLINA AND HUSBAND GAEL MONFILS FACE ANTI-DOPPING WAKE-UP CALL IN MADRID HOURS AFTER HER ROUEN TRIUMPH
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| Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils - Source: Getty |
Hours after clinching her 18th singles title at the Open de Rouen, Elina Svitolina, along with her husband, Gael Monfils, underwent anti-doping tests. The Frenchman was present in his home nation to watch his wife triumph.
On Sunday, April 20, Svitolina defeated Olga Danilovic in a hard-fought final in Rouen 6-4, 7-6(8). The Ukrainian was watched on by her 38-year-old husband, Monfils, from the stands as she earned her 18th title.
"I feel very good, it was a good tournament for me," Svitolina said after her victory (via WTA Tour). "Not an easy final, but very happy I could win all my matches in two sets and play good matches. I’m happy with the start of the season."
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| Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina at the 2023 US Open - Source: Getty |
Soon after, the couple traveled to Spain in a private jet as both of them will be playing at the Madrid Open next. However, early in the morning in Madrid, the couple had to undergo anti-doping tests. Revealing the news through an image on her Instagram Story, the Ukrainian captioned it:
""Love" the early mornings when we are in sync with anti-doping controls"
Svitolina will receive a bye in her first round in Madrid as she is seeded, while World No. 42 Monfils will take on a qualifier.
Soon after World No. 17 Elina Svitolina bagged her 18th title in Rouen, she and husband Gael Monfils traveled to Madrid in a private jet. Upon reaching their destination, the Ukrainian booked an Uber XL.
"We just landed in Madrid, and my wife tells me she ordered an Uber XL. Well… have a look. That’s the Uber XL [he turns the camera to the vehicle]... Now she wins a tournament — and immediately starts booking Uber XLs!" Monfils said (translated from French).
At the Madrid Open, Svitolina is seeded 17th and has received a bye in the first round. She will face the winner of Jaqueline Cristian vs. Sonay Kartal in the second round.
Meanwhile, Monfils is preparing to face a qualifier in the first round of the Masters 1000 event. The winner of his match will take on the seventh seed, Andrey Rublev, in the second round.
- Aliasgar Ayaz
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
BATTLING NADAL BEATS CACHIN TO REACH MADRID OPEN FOURTH ROUND
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| Reuters |
Rafael Nadal survived a second set wobble to defeat Pedro Cachin 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3 in the Madrid Open third round on Monday.
Nadal, who beat 10th seed Alex de Minaur in the second round, held his nerve as he was tested by the 91st-ranked Argentine, who won his maiden ATP title at the 2023 Swiss Open.
"Some moments good, some moments not good, but I found a way," the 37-year-old Nadal said.
Cachin struggled against his powerful forehand in the first set as the Spaniard broke twice to take a 5-1 lead before the match was temporarily paused with a spectator feeling unwell.
When play resumed, the five-times Madrid champion broke again to win the set.
Cachin started the second on a better note, taking a 4-1 lead helped by some fine cross-court backhands and, though Nadal broke twice to make it 5-5, he claimed the set in the tiebreak.
Both players broke early in the third, which stood at 2-2, but local favourite Nadal then broke twice more to emerge as the winner with the fans giving him a standing ovation.
"Day by day... playing in front of this crowd means everything to me," said the 22-times Grand Slam champion.
Nadal next faces Czech Jiri Lehecka, who beat Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro 6-4 7-6(7) to reach the fourth round.
- Reuters
Monday, 29 April 2024
Monday, 8 May 2023
Friday, 5 May 2023
Thursday, 4 May 2023
Sunday, 30 April 2023
Sunday, 13 May 2018
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