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Tag: Tata Open Maharashtra

  • Tata Open Maharashtra: Cilic survives scare to enter final eight

    Roberto Carballes Baena took some shaking off by World No. 17 and high seed Marin Cilic, who was enjoying his first match of the brand new season. The thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 contest put the match favorite into the quarter-finals on the fifth version of the Tata Open Maharashtra on the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Wednesday. Baena performed a stable match, earlier than Cilic ended the resistance.

    The crowd would welcome Cilic again to Pune noisily, however Baena had serve breaks on his thoughts – Cilic bought away within the first set, however was left hopping a tad because the ball zipped by the air.

    “Always important to start well and a win like that gives a lot of positives. We are coming through the off-season, working hard and practising. But it’s not the same when you come to the court,” the Croat mentioned later.

    A few upsets panned out. World No. 60 Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi packed off final yr’s runner-up Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland 6-1, 7-6 (4) whereas World No. 62 Spaniard Pedro Martinez got here from behind twice for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Argentine Sebastian Baez, ranked 43.

    Mercurial No. 8 seed Arslan Karatsev of Russia was stretched by Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven 7-6 (7), 7-6 (8). The Netherlands’ breakthrough star Botic Van De Zandschulp despatched away Italian teen Flavio Cobolli 7-5, 6-4.

    Botic too was banking on good preseason work to tug him by two stiff back-to-back matches. “I had preseason so hopefully, I am fit enough to play a couple of matches in a row,” he mentioned.

    World No. 17 Marin Cilic made his manner into the singles quarter-final on the fifth version of the Tata Open Maharashtra after beating Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in an thrilling contest on the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Wednesday…🎾🙌#Maharashtra_Open pic.twitter.com/Plsi5U8Qcv

    — All India Tennis Association (@AITA__Tennis) January 4, 2023

    Struggling at first, to search out his radar, he would finally string collectively a bunch of fine video games and begin enjoying nicely when he fell behind towards the qualifier. “He (Cobolli) already had three matches, so it was easy for him. When I was 5-2 behind, I started playing my best tennis. In the second set also, I was 4-1 behind but did a good job out there,” he would say, enjoying his singles match virtually 16 hours after the doubles final evening. “In the day, it’s different. But it’s good to get a match on the Centre Court, makes the next one easier,” he added.

    Martinez needed to haul again his sport from a pool of errors, as he discovered his vary within the second making fewer unforced errors. It was his second straight three-setter. “I’ve had a good preseason for such situations training in my hometown. It was gym to court, court to gym… And I worked a lot on fitness and movement on court,” he mentioned.

  • Tata Open Maharashtra: Bopanna-Ramkumar carry males’s doubles trophy

    India’s Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan gained their second ATP World Tour title collectively after pipping the highest seeded Australian pair of Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith within the closing of the Tata Open Maharashtra, on Sunday.
    The second-seeded Indians erased the primary set deficit to win 6-7(10) 6-3 10-6 in a single hour and 44 minutes.
    Bopanna and Ramkumar had mixed as a group on the ATP Tour for the primary time on the Adelaide occasion final month within the run-up to the Australian Open and gained the trophy.
    For Bopanna, it was his twenty first ATP doubles title whereas for Ramkumar it’s his second trophy at this stage and it’ll push him inside doubles top-100 for the primary time in his profession.
    They break up USD 16370 as prize cash and earned 250 rating factors every.

    The second that #TeamRamBo had been topped Doubles Champions on the #TataOpenMaharashtra 2022 🏆@rohanbopanna and @ramkumar1994 gained their 2️⃣nd #ATPTour title of the 12 months 🙌#AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour pic.twitter.com/usGHidANKS
    — Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) February 6, 2022
    Bopanna had gained this occasion with compatriot Divij Sharan in 2019.
    Still going robust at an age of 41, Bopanna mentioned it’s his years of enjoying expertise that’s serving to him out within the circuit.
    “A lot is to do with experience, which you really bring in, years and years of experience and the biggest thing is my body is feeling very very good at the moment,” Bopanna mentioned after the match.
    “I did quite a lot of yoga which has helped me tremendously and I’m very grateful to my Yoga Teacher (Mohan) in Bangalore which has made such a distinction for me and I can strive one thing new at this age.
    “It has made a difference and that really shows as long as I am playing matches, competing and doing something that is physically appealing. May be at the practice court I may not be giving my 100% but as long as I am feeling good and go out their and enjoying the pace as currently right now.”
    Asked to match the 2 titles that they’ve gained collectively, Bopanna mentioned performing earlier than the house crowd was robust whereas in Adelaide nobody watched them.
    “Both are extraordinarily particular however anytime you win a title at dwelling it’s lot extra pressures. In Adelaide nobody was actually watching, however right here there have been lot extra expectations and particularly coming right here with a win folks anticipated an computerized win which wasn’t simple however at that tie break the gang actually helped.
    “You just get that extra boost, that extra energy. Even if your legs are feeling tiered that’s the energy you need to hit the serve especially for me. Winning in India is always especial and especially with an Indian partner is truly truly great.”

    The candy style of success 🏆👏@rohanbopanna @ramkumar1994 #AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour pic.twitter.com/cih6xM8EPv
    — Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) February 6, 2022
    Ramkumar mentioned he now desires to play ATP 500 occasion in Dubai and for that wil attempt to do nicely within the the upcoming two Challengers in Bengaluru.
    “Let’s see if there is a chance to get in Dubai and hope I can play that,” mentioned the 27-year-old.
    Ramkumar mentioned everybody believed in his sport and that gave him confidence on this match.
    “Coming from Bops (Bopanna) who at all times believes in me, my coaches and each one who’ve at all times consider in me and mentioned you play nicely and that simply retains me going.
    “I just have to work on a few thing on court and just keep competing at this level as much as I can which will improve my game and automatically the ranking,” he mentioned.

    Big serves marked the start of the competition with solely Ramkumar and Luke shedding some extent every within the first 4 video games.
    Bopanna’s volley error on a return from Luke made it 30-all within the fifth sport however Ramkumar pulled off an ace and adopted that up with one other big serve to carry for a 3-2 lead.
    The Indian group had received an opportunity to interrupt Patrick-Smith’s serve within the subsequent sport when Luke made an error whereas making an attempt an overhead volley at 40-30 however the alternative couldn’t be utilised because the Australian pulled of a giant serve on the deuce level.
    The Australians additionally created break alternative on Ramkumar’s serve within the ninth sport once they discovered two service return winners and the Indian serving a doubler fault at 40-30 however the dwelling group managed to carry.
    A snug maintain at love by Patrick-Smith made it 5-5.
    Eventually a tie-break was required for deciding the primary set. Both the groups had various set factors because the Indians squandered two probabilities and the Australians three earlier than changing their fourth.
    They received the prospect when Bopanna made an unforced error at 10-all and Ramkumar netted a forehand on set level.
    In the second set, the Indian duo wanted a very good begin they usually received it by breaking Luke’s serve within the third sport when the Australian made a volley error on deuce level.
    Bopanna saved a break probability on his serve within the subsequent sport to maintain their nostril forward. Patrick-Smith was serving to remain within the set within the ninth sport and was damaged to permit the Indian group power a Super Tie Breaker.
    At 30-all, an engrossing rally ensued between the 2 pairs. Luke blinked to present Indian first set level which they transformed when Bopanna dispatched a volley winner with ease.
    Bopanna and Ramkumar dominated the STB to safe the title.

  • Bopanna-Ramkumar duo enters doubles semis, Yuki crashes out from Tata Open

    Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan superior to the doubles semi-finals, however it was curtains for Yuki Bhambri in singles second spherical on the 2022 Tata Open Maharashtra on the Balewadi Stadium right here on Thursday.
    Bopanna and Ramkumar defeated Austrian-Czech duo of Alexander Erler and Czech Jiri Vesely 7-6(7-3) 7-6(7-4) within the quarterfinals.
    Bopanna and Ramkumar, enjoying their second ATP occasion collectively on the fourth version of South Asia’s solely ATP 250 event, will now meet Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. The French duo entered final 4 spherical with a hard-fought win in opposition to Federico Gaio and Lorenzo Musetti 4-6 6-3 10-2.
    Another Indian pair of N Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan may even be seen within the semifinals after their opponents, Gianluca Mager and Emil Ruusuvuori withdrew from the last-eight match as a result of an harm to the previous.

    #TataOpenMaharashtra Doubles semifinalists, Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan have a crack on the Bowl Tennis Challenge.
    Do you fancy giving it a go? 😉#AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @oxyrich_north pic.twitter.com/0kS80EfJRX
    — Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) February 3, 2022
    The Indian duo, which entered the principle draw as an alternate pair, defeated compatriots Arjun Kadhe and Purav Raja 6-1 6-4 within the opening spherical performed late on Wednesday night time.
    However, it was curtains for comeback man Yuki as he suffered a 3-6 2-6 defeat in opposition to eight seed Stefano Travaglia of Australia within the singles second spherical.

    Stefano Travaglia acquired the higher of Yuki Bhambri within the Singles Second Round on the #TataOpenMaharashtra 2022 🎾
    Watch the highlights right here 📺: #AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour pic.twitter.com/P2fmnBFn5e
    — Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) February 3, 2022
    Earlier within the day, Sweden’s Elias Ymer shocked top-seed and world no 15 Aslan Karatsev of Russia in straight units to storm into the singles quarterfinals.
    Ymer handed Karatsev a stunning 6-2 7-6(7-3) defeat in a second spherical match that lasted for one hour and 36 minutes.
    The 25-year-old Ymer, who got here by the qualifiers, began the sport nicely and took an early 3-1 lead in opposition to Karatsev, who struggled to seek out his rhythm on the South Asia’s solely ATP 250 occasion.

    With 76 per cent of service factors gained, in comparison with Karatsev’s 47 per cent, Ymer comfortably bagged the opening set.
    The star Russian, who upstaged world no.1 Novak Djokovic on his house court docket to enter the Serbia Open closing final 12 months, tried to forge a comeback however Ymer confirmed phenomenal reflexes, coupled with some highly effective pictures to degree the scores at 4-4 within the second set.
    Ymer then held his serves and compelled Karatsev, the primary participant in an Open Era to succeed in the Grand Slam semifinal on debut at 2021 Australian Open, to a tie-break.
    “I was more focussed on my serves. When you serve well, you always win matches. I think the serve was the key,” Ymer mentioned after his match.

    World no. 163 Ymer began strongly within the tie-breaker by racing to a 3-0 lead after which maintained his positive contact to finish a sensational victory.
    Meanwhile, defending champion Jiri Vesely, who acquired opening-round bye, began his marketing campaign with a assured 6-3 6-4 win in opposition to Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
    Sixth-seeded Emil Ruusuvuori additionally had a straightforward outing in opposition to qualifier Vit Kopriva, securing a 6-3 6-3 victory throughout a lopsided last-16 contest.

  • Singles gamers competing in doubles format is sweet for recreation: Rohan Bopanna

    Veteran Indian tennis participant Rohan Bopanna says the presence of singles gamers within the doubles attracts, in a method, is sweet for the game as they draw extra followers into the stadiums and that goes a great distance in selling the doubles format.
    The sport lives on the superior, bodily and mentally demanding singles model however on the similar time the doubles format can also be getting more durable by the day as a result of when the highest singles participant unleash their high-quality recreation, it makes the doubles matches extra fascinating, robust and difficult.
    When solely the doubles rankings have been thought of for entries, the format was even for its exponents. But acceptance of singles rankings has introduced prime gamers and established stars within the fray, making it troublesome for doubles participant to maintain.
    Bopanna mentioned it will probably’t be mentioned in sure phrases if it’s good or unhealthy however presence of singles gamers does have a bonus.
    “That’s a catch 22 situation, talking about it,” Bopanna mentioned when he was requested if it wasn’t higher if solely doubles specialists play this format.
    “Lot of singles participant?s do play doubles to enhance their recreation. (Denis) Shapovalov (Bopanna’s associate) is someone who enjoys taking part in doubles and concurrently he’s additionally studying a lot, whether or not it’s his accuracy on returns, his volleys, or returns, which helps him a lot within the singles.
    “Today, I do know reduce offs of all of the match get more durable and more durable as a result of quite a lot of (singles) guys are taking part in doubles.
    “It can be nice for doubles gamers if the foundations return within the day when it was solely the doubles rating however that’s not likely going to alter. That’s why sustaining the rating by taking part in on the highest degree is essential, in any other case it’s robust get into 500s and 1000s.
    “In a way, having singles players you have lot of people watching (the game). At the end of the day, doubles is also getting promoted, so this is catch 22 situation, not sure whether you have them there, or have only doubles players with doubles rankings.”

    Bopanna is ready to compete on the Tata Open Maharashtra with compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan.
    There have been debates in previous on this concern when doubles gamers felt that singles gamers are consuming into their share. For singles gamers, taking part in doubles offers them good observe and match sharpness however the doubles gamers’ survival relies upon solely on this format.
    Recently, India’s Arjun Kadhe mentioned he has determined to focus extra on doubles and prime singles participant Yuki Bhambari additionally mentioned he would actively compete within the doubles format.
    Bopanna, 41, mentioned the important thing for them can be to maintain their rankings excessive.
    “Even in case you are taking the doubles route, this can be very troublesome. There is not any assure it’s simpler route.
    “Having performed for therefore a few years, (I do know) it’s about sustaining for years and years and that’s the important thing. In the boys’s doubles, I used to be the one one taking part in on the Grand Slams, we now have so many great gamers. Keeping rating excessive, day in and day trip is the important thing.
    “It’s a good opportunity for Yuki and Arjun, if they are taking that route to try and do well in the circuit, but it’s not just about playing.”
    Bopanna hoped that some younger gamers will take the baton from the present era.
    “I know there’s a gap from the guys who playing like Ram or Sumit, Praj. Having said that there are more Challengers (in India). It will take a few years but there are talented youngsters in India who need to get chance in India and get their ranking high enough.”

    Bopanna, the winner of a combined doubled Grand Slam Trophy, mentioned India does want an ATP 250 occasion on its circuit together with Challengers and ITF Futures.

  • Medvedev will realise you may’t drive followers to assist you, says Karatsev

    Aslan Karatsev couldn’t actually spout a Dostoevsky and even summon a useful Meddy-ism, a la Daniil Medvedev, however he drew out the chuckles anyway. The World No 15 had simply made the quarters of the 2021 Australian Open beating Felix Auger-Aliassime and was going through the press that was quizzing him intently on digging deep and different profundities. Russian tennis gamers are anticipated to lace ironies with darkish humour, and humour with gravitas. The then 27-year-old, who made semis at Melbourne final 12 months, although, would put a pin prick to the great bubble.
    Recalling the interplay whereas enjoying on the Tata Open Maharashtra on arrival, Karatsev peals off: “So the journalist asked me, ‘What was your self-talk to yourself during the break at the toilet?’ He was expecting some special answer. But I said, ‘It was just the toilet.’ And the answer came out everywhere on Instagram,” he chortled. There’s a wave of Russian challengers coming for the titles, however Karatsev reckons it’s a randomly coincidental surge, and never some deliberate emergence.
    Also, Safin and Medvedev is likely to be a hack’s delight with all that they spoke. But there are Russians, after which there are different Russians.

    Say hello to the Singles Top Seed at #TataOpenMaharashtra 2022 😍@AsKaratsev is prepping up in Pune 💪🎾#BenefitPune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour pic.twitter.com/e0Bpl8E6p2
    — Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) January 31, 2022
    Top seed at Pune, the multi-lingual professional who speaks Russian, Hebrew and English, says “working very hard” is likely to be the one widespread trait throughout the bunch that has signalled a resurgence after a lull. “Before, we had a big gap after Marat, Kafelnikov. There was nobody in Top 10, Top 5. There were players in Top 100. Not like now with 4 players in Top 30, maybe we are working harder than others. But I don’t know, everyone works hard,” he says matter-of-factly.
    Karatsev moved to Israel the place he began tennis early. “My sister played. So I started playing at 3 and half. Till age of 12 I was playing in Israel where my mother and sister were. There were financial problems from 13 to 16 years. Then I found a Russian sponsor and moved back,” he recollects. Stints in Moscow for 2 years, then Germany, Spain, and Croatia adopted. “Last two and half years I’m training in Minsk,” he provides, of working with a Spanish coach.
    For the widely-travelled professional, the primary push had come from a Russian who had in actual fact gained his earliest title on the Mumbai ATP in 2006 – Dmitry Tursunov, a hoot of a personality. Inspiration within the lean years although got here from the sooner era.

    “All of them were great players who showed we could compete at highest level for so many years and hence inspired kids. I watched Kafelnikov, Youzhny, Safin, Tursunov. Had some opportunity to play Youzhny before he retired and also doubles with Tursunov. He helped me greatly, playing doubles with me and guiding me, when I was 21,” Karatsev says.
    Yet, it’s a fragmented burst of gamers. “There’s some training in Nice, (Andrey) Rublev is at Barcelona, Karen Khachanov training with a Croatian… so it’s not like all together. I don’t know what he does, and he doesn’t know what I do. We just work hard,” he reiterates.
    Karatsev counts amongst his scalps a sure Djokovic. “I like to face the big players. Feel really pumped. I don’t like to go around big players. But it was especially heartening beating Djokovic in Belgrade which made it more special. Unbelievable match,” he recollects.
    Karatsev final got here to Pune earlier than the pandemic, enjoying right here as an alternate in qualifiers, earlier than his huge escape on the Australian Open. “Same weather condition as Australia,” he would say, touchdown right here from the Slam. Very averse to getting experimental with meals — “Less spicy. Just chicken, rice and salad” — he wouldn’t have minded some hitting time within the early rounds. “To get into rhythm, cause not had much time to practice.”

    Senior to Medvedev by a number of years, Karatsev reckons the emotional Russian finalist will ultimately rationalise that the gang was rooting for Nadal coming back from damage primarily. Though he did empathise with Medvedev a tad. “Sometimes it’s not nice when someone is clapping you between first and second serve. It happened to me also. But you cannot do anything or tell fans ‘come on support me.’ So doesn’t make sense,” stated the wise Russian.

  • Yuki comes from behind to win first spherical at Tata Open Maharashtra

    India’s Yuki Bhambri registered a sensational come-from-behind win over Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia within the males’s singles opening spherical of the Tata Open Maharashtra tennis event right here on Monday.
    The 29-year-old Indian, who began immediately in the primary attract South Asia’s solely ATP 250 meet, secured a 6-7 (10), 6-2, 7-5 win in his opener.
    After dropping the hard-fought first set, the previous junior world primary, who made a comeback within the worldwide circuit not too long ago after a two-year break because of an damage, began the second with 2-0 lead and seemed in good contact.

    The level with which @yukibhambri wrapped up a gruelling three-set win towards Jozef Kovalik to maneuver into Round 2 of the #TataOpenMaharashtra 😍💪#AdvantagePune #ATPTour #ATP #Tennis | @msltatennis @tatacompanies @atptour @IndTennisDay by day pic.twitter.com/7K45z6JbYu
    — Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) January 31, 2022
    He didn’t let the momentum shift earlier than bagging the set simply and levelling the scores.
    In the decider, the Delhi-born participant transformed a break level to take the scores at 3-3 after which added another set level to maintain himself forward within the sport.
    Though the 29-year-old Slovakian tried his greatest to make a comeback into the competition, Bhambri held his nerves and clinched the decider to advance into the second spherical.

    Prajnesh Gunneswaran is the opposite Indian who can be in motion within the singles principal draw in a while Monday. He will tackle fifth-seed German Daniel Altmaier.
    Earlier, France’s Quentin Halys despatched World No. 82 Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania packing with a shocking 6-1, 6-2 win.
    The World No. 141 Halys of France seemed fairly assured towards the higher-ranked opponent as he hardly gave any alternative to Berankis.
    In the opposite round-of-32 match, former World No. 39 Moldovan Radu Albot confronted a troublesome problem from Federico Gaio of Italy within the second set however managed to sail via with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory.

    Meanwhile, the top-seeded Australian pair of Like Saville and John-Patrick Smith lived as much as the expectations as they defeated Stefano Travaglia and Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-1, 6-4 in straight units.
    In the opposite doubles opening spherical match, the French duo of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul outclassed the third-seeded pair of Szymon Walkow and Jan Zielinski 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) to maneuver to the quarterfinals.

  • Quarantine rules imply no Tata Open Maharashtra in February

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    There had been hypothesis, however now that the ATP has revealed the first-quarter calendar for 2021, it’s confirmed that Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune won’t be held in early February. South Asia’s solely ATP occasion was initially scheduled to happen from February 1. But after the Australian Open’s dates shifted from a January 18 begin to February 8, it was anticipated that the Indian match must be rescheduled.
    However, the match director of the ATP 250 occasion, Prashant Sutar, asserts the rescheduling was not as a result of postponed Australian Open. Instead, it was due to the ATP’s insistence {that a} match venue should not power gamers into quarantine.
    “Australian Open (dates shifting) is not the reason. The thing is the ATP wanted us not to quarantine players,” Sutar informed The Indian Express.

    “That was something the government and the city would not accept. (Quarantine for travellers from abroad) is mandatory. That was the main reason, otherwise we could have had it a week before or after the Australian Open. The rest could have been managed. It was decided to wait till the pandemic is over, and maybe we can think of having the event in November if we get a good slot.”
    Organising the Pune occasion every week earlier than the Australian Open, nevertheless, would have meant that gamers wouldn’t be capable to compete on the 12 months’s first Grand Slam for the reason that Australian authorities too has strict quarantine protocols. In reality, the main shifted dates to permit gamers to journey to the nation between January 15 and 17, end the necessary 14-day quarantine, after which compete in a warm-up occasion adopted by the Open.
    The have to quarantine has been a bone of competition amongst gamers, regardless of the continued COVID-19 pandemic. In August, forward of the US Open, Spanish sports activities every day Marca reported that the highest 20 males’s gamers, led by World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, have been threatening to boycott the US Open in the event that they have been made to enter quarantine after they returned to Europe.
    It’s a difficulty that, in the intervening time, would have brought about issues for the occasion in India.
    The Pune ATP was held final 12 months every week after the Melbourne main – a slot that had been allotted to the match for the approaching years as properly. Now nevertheless, organisers are hoping for change.
    “We have already requested the ATP for a feasible date in November,” Sutar says. “Hopefully, we can club the ATP with the Pune Challenger and have both events in successive weeks. That way we can sort of create a bubble for the players as they won’t have to travel. We expect the ATP to get back to us in probably the next three months or so when they start making the schedule. Then we will also have to check with the government and the quarantine rules.”
    The Coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the tennis excursions final 12 months, cancelling all occasions from March until August – a significant casualty was Wimbledon. Post the restart too, many occasions needed to be cancelled, together with the Pune Challenger.
    “You also have to understand the players’ point of view,” he provides. “You are coming here for a week, but for that you have to quarantine for 14 days, it doesn’t make sense for them.”

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