FEDERER CLOSING IN ON #1 RANKING

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

Murray, Berdych reach ABN AMRO QF's

ATP Photo

Murray, Berdych reach ABN AMRO QF's

by Jawad Bisharat

New #4 in the world Andy Murray just avoided a 3rd set against Vasek Pospisil on Thursday in Rotterdam, winning the last four games to take the 2nd set and the match   6-3, 7-5 at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

Pospisil served for the second set at 5-4 and had one set point but couldn't deliver. Pospisil played a tough match but Murray's abilities, mental toughness and stamina came through after 1 hour and 44 minute match.

"Obviously, the second set was a lot of momentum swings," said Murray. "I went up a break, was feeling good, but then I lost my serve to love in the next game. In the game after that I got broken to 15. Obviously, when he was serving for it he was in a great position. But we had a 30-shot rally on set point. It was a very physical rally, I was making him do more of the running and I think it took quite a lot out of him.

"My level was good. I moved well and I felt like when I really needed to, I was able to improve my level and step my game up a bit. I found a little bit of extra intensity in the important moments and that was key."

Murray is bouncing back from a runner-up outing in his eighth Grand Slam final at the Australian Open.

Murray will face the eighth seed Gilles Simon, who defeated his countryman Jeremy Chardy, 6-4, 6-3, to reach his second straight ATP World Tour quarter-final. "Today I played well from the beginning till the end," said Simon. "That was a big improvement compared to my first-round match.”

Although Murray is 12-1 Head2Head over Simon that doesn't guarantee a victory. Simon who can massage a ball from anywhere on the court can defuse Murray's power and keep up with Murray in the defence catgory.

Simon is going into this match with a lot of confidence and knows he is close to breaking through against the Scot. “My coach Jan knows him well and has helped unblock me against him. I played much better against him in the past two matches even though I ended up losing them. He’s obviously a very strong player who always finds a lot of solutions.”

Third seed Tomas Berdych was able to get by Andreas Sepp in a see saw battle 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. Seppi playing in his first tournament since defeating #2 in the world Roger Federer at last months Australian Open seemed to only show up for the 2nd set. 

Berdych arrived to the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament as defending champion and will face Gael Monfils for a spot in the semi-finals. 

"I think it was a very solid game today," said Berdych. "The opponent was not easy at all. I had my game plan, which worked perfectly from the beginning. He just started to play much better and took his chance, the only one he had in the second set. But in the third set, I was able to finish it, get my chances and execute."

BENNETEAU, Del potro in ABN AMRO FINAL 

Courtesy of Official ABN AMRO WEBSITE

Julien Benneteau and Juan Martin del Potro will decide who will become the winner of the 40th edition of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. After his sensational victory over Roger Federer, the Frenchman again caused a surprise in the semi-final by beating fifth-seeded Gilles Simon: 6-4, 7-6 (2).

The final against Del Potro will be Benneteau’s eight ever in the ATP World Tour. However, on all seven previous occasions the Frenchman ended empty-handed.

In the opening set both players reached a high level. Until the ninth game they kept their service games quite easily. Then Simon, number fourteen of the world, got broken by Benneteau who after that took the set win. "I didn’t reach the level of my match against Roger Federer, but I don’t care, I’m in the final”, Benneteau stated afterwards. “It was a tough match. It’s never easy to play against someone you know well. I sometimes practice with Gilles and we’re both on the French Davis Cup team."

In the first game of the second set it looked like Simon was going to retire. He reached out for his hamstring. It was the first sign of an injury. After the fifth game, with a 3-2 lead, he received treatment by a physiotherapist outside the court. Simon showed resilience, but in the tiebreak Benneteau was too strong.

Del Potro and Benneteau have never met before at the ATP World Tour. Benneteau: "Against a top ten player like Del Potro I’ve got nothing to lose. Rotterdam is a nice place for my first tournament win."

French tennis players historically perform well in Ahoy. In the past players like Cedric Pioline (2000), Nicolas Escudé (2001 and 2002) and Michael Llodra (2008) triumphed in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. Benneteau could be the fourth French player to do so.

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Del Potro, Dimitrov to face in semi-finals

Del Potro, Dimitrov to face in semi-finals
by Jawad Bisharat

A strong finish for Grigor Dimitrov helped him to beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-7(4), 7-6(0), 6-3 on Friday in the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

"I definitely had to fight with myself in the second set, I lost focus a little bit," said Dimitrov. "The match went through a lot of phases and I was happy I got out of it. I knew if I kept my composure on court and was able to play decent shots, I knew I could get the second set and eventually the match. It's never easy to play against a good friend."

Dimitrov is through to his second semi-final this season having reached ATP World Tour final at the Brisbane International having beat Baghdatis in the semi-finals.

Dimitrov will face second seed Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-4. Del Potro served 10 aces in his victory and looks forward to his semi-final match with Dimitrov

Later action will include Roger Federer looking to stay on track to defend his title at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

Click the "live scores" page above to catch the action.

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Federer onto quarter finals at ABN AMRO

Federer onto quarter finals
By Jawad Bisharat

Returning champion Roger Federer is set to play Julien Bunneteau in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament quarter finals on Friday. Federer made quick work of the wild card Thiemo de Bakker 6-3 6-4 in just over an hour.

Other action included Nieminen who reached his third ATP quarter final this season with a hard fought 3 set win over German qualifier Mattias Bachinger 6-3 5-7 6-3. Del Petro also moved on to the quarter finals with a win over under preforming Ernest Gulbis. Del Potro will face Nieminen tomorrow.

Although Marcos Baghdatis had a perfect record going into his match against Richard Gasquet he was considered the underdog. Proving the critics wrong Baghdatis dismissed the 4th seed 6-4 6-4 to also move onto the quarter finals.

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