Jannik Sinner in motion throughout his spherical of 32 match towards Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac REUTERS
DOHA:
In his first match since dropping an epic semifinal on the Australian Open late final month, second-seeded Jannik Sinner dumped Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 within the first spherical of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Monday in Doha.
Sinner was the two-time defending Australian Open champion earlier than he fell 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. The Italian had no such difficulties on Monday, by no means going through a break level and committing simply 9 unforced errors.
Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia, the 2023 Doha champion, additionally posted a snug first-round consequence, a 6-4, 6-2 victory over China’s Juncheng Shang.
Sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic beat British qualifier Jan Choinski 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4. Australia’s Alexei Popyrin and France’s Arthur Fils and Valentin Royer additionally superior.
Delray Seashore Open
Alex Michelsen gained 86% of his service factors en path to a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over sixth-seeded Valentin Vacherot of Monaco within the first spherical at Delray Seashore, Fla.
Michelsen by no means ceded a break level and was notably efficient when placing his first serve in play, successful 92.3% of the factors (36 of 39).
Eighth-seeded Frances Tiafoe of the U.S., the 2018 Delray Seashore champ, pushed previous Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-4, and the USA’ Marcos Giron knocked out Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro 6-3, 7-5. France’s Terence Atmane and Hong Kong’s Chak Lam Coleman Wong additionally gained their openers.
Rio Open
All three Brazilians in motion fell within the first spherical at Rio de Janeiro.
Peru’s Ignacio Buse rallied previous Brazilian qualifier Igor Marcondes 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. The Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva defeated Gustavo Heide 6-2, 7-6 (5), and Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann beat Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva 7-6 (3), 6-4.
The one seeded participant to hit the courtroom on Monday, seventh-seeded Daniel Altmaier of Germany, misplaced 6-4, 7-6 (7) to Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, a fortunate loser from qualifying.
Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo and Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante moved on with straight-set wins.
Gauff speaks out
Coco Gauff stated at a press convention Sunday on the Dubai Tennis Championships that she’s “proud to be an American” whereas additionally denouncing the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis final month.
“Every part occurring within the U.S. — clearly I am probably not for it. I do not suppose individuals must be dying within the streets only for current. I do not like what is going on on,” Gauff stated.
Gauff, 21, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is the newest in a rising listing of American athletes who’ve voiced their displeasure with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who have been accountable for the deaths of Good and Pretti.
Winter Olympian Hunter Hess advised reporters on Feb. 6, “Simply because I am sporting the flag does not imply I signify every thing that is occurring within the U.S.” That drew a response from President Donald Trump, who known as Hess a “actual Loser” on his Fact Social platform.
Madison Keys, who’s ranked No. 17 on the WTA circuit and fourth amongst American ladies, additionally weighed in on the topic.
“I’m hopeful that we as a rustic can come collectively and get again to the values that I feel make our nation nice,” Keys stated. “We’re very numerous. We’re a house of immigrants. and I hope that we are able to get again to these values.” Reuters
