WASHINGTON, February 26, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
On Thursday evening, Roberto Bautista Agut gave a master class performance in easily outdistancing 113th-ranked French qualifier Gregoire Barrere, 6-0, 6-3, to move into the quarterfinal round of the ATP 250 Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
The No. 13 Bautista Agut needed just 66 minutes to confirm his place among the last eight as he pursues his 10th career ATP Tour title. He served three aces, won 72 percent (18 of 25) of his first-serve points, saved three of four break points he faced and broke Barrere in six of the Frenchman’s eight service games. Bautista Agut won the first eight games of the match before Barrere finally got on the scoreboard with a service hold.
Next, Baustisa Agut will oppose sixth seed Ugo Humbert of France for the first time in one of the Friday quarterfinal matchups.
He’s the No. 1 seed for a reason. @BautistaAgut storms into the quarterfinal, defeating Barrère in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.#OSDF21 pic.twitter.com/uklbjKF5kX
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 25, 2021
Elsewhere, in just his second ATP Tour match of 2021, Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat No. 4 seed Hubert Hurkacz, 7-5, 6-2. It was the 56th-ranked Davidovich Fokina’s second straight win over the World No. 30 from Poland after beating him in last year’s US Open.
Also, No. 3 seed Dusan Lajovic of Serbia was upset by No. 102 Dennis Novak of Austria, 7-6 (5), 7-5. The 27th-ranked Lajovic was broken four times during the one hour and 31-minute match.
Others advancing from Thursday’s second-round play in the Sud de France Arena were: No. 83 Egor Gerasimov of Belarus, who backed up his victory against Andy Murray by taking out No. 60 Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, 6-4, 7-6 (4); and No. 144 Peter Gojowzcyk of Germany, who bested No. 69 Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-3, despite 29 aces served by the Czech.
On Friday, Gerasimov will face Davidovich Fokina; Novak takes on Gojowzcyk; and in a matchup of seeded players, No. 2 David Goffin of Belgium opposes No. 7 Lorenzo Sonego from Italy.
Day 4 at @OpenSuddeFrance ✅
Gerasimov d. Bedene
Gojowczyk d. Vesely
Davidovich Fokina d. Hurkacz
Novak d. Lajovic
Bautista Agut d. Barrere— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2021
In doubles, the No. 1 seeds Henri Kontinen of Finland and Edouard Roger-Vasselin from France reached the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over French duo Ugo Humbert and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Schwartzman begins Golden Swing with win
World No. 9 and top seed Diego Schwartzman, playing in his home country, won his first clay-court match since reaching the French Open semifinals last October on Thursday evening. Schwartzman needed just 67 minutes to beat Marco Cecchinato of Italy, 6-2, 6-2, to move into the quarterfinals against No. 5 seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain, who defeated 234th-ranked Argentine qualifier Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5.
Blistering return winners 🚀@dieschwartzman made his presence felt in his opening round match…#CordobaOpen pic.twitter.com/oxXLeYrFXD
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 26, 2021
Schwartzman, a finalist at Cordoba last year, broke the 87th-ranked Ceccinato’s serve in five of eight games while saving six of seven breaks he faced. He outpointed his opponent 66-42.
“I’m very, very happy. It’s my first clay-court match since Roland Garros, so it has been many months,” Schwartzman said after the match, quoted by the ATP website. “[Then I spent] many months preparing for other surfaces. Coming back to my country and playing the first match on clay this year and playing like this was very nice for me. It’s a really good start.”
🎾 Sólida victoria de @dieschwartzman 🇦🇷 en su estreno en el @CordobaOpen: se impuso 6-2 y 6-2 ante Marco Cecchinato 🇮🇹 y avanzó a cuartos de final.
📌 Fue su primer partido oficial en el país en condición de top 10 del ranking (9°). pic.twitter.com/1pTfvgcamF
— Córdoba Open (@CordobaOpen) February 25, 2021
Earlier Thursday, No. 3 seed Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia was upset by 335th-ranked qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-2, in two hours and 19 minutes. It was the first match that the 41st-ranked Kecmanovic had former World No. 3 and Argentine great David Nalbandian as his coach, a partnership that was announced via social media earlier this week.
By the numbers 📊
19 years old…
World no. 335…
2nd career tour level win…Qualifier 🇦🇷 @juanmacerundolo knocks off Kecmanovic 6-7, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the QF!#CordobaOpen pic.twitter.com/6cOveBdkTa
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 25, 2021
Also advancing to the quarterfinals was No. 7 seed Thiago Monteiro of Brazil, who defeated Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain, 6-3, 6-4. On Friday, the 74th-ranked Monteiro will face Cerundolo. The other two quarterfinals will pair No. 2 seed Benoit Paire of France against No. 95 Federico Coria of Argentina and No. 128 Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia against 130th-ranked Argentine qualifier Facundo Bagnis.
Rafael Nadal: Addresses fans after pulling out of Rotterdam
After Rafael Nadal announced he was pulling out of next week’s ATP 500 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, the World No. 2 addressed his fans via his social media platforms. He wrote:
It is with great sadness that I have to forfeit from Rotterdam. As most of the fans know, I suffered some back problems in Australia that started in Adelaide and continued during Melbourne. We found a temporary solution that allowed me to play without pain in the second week
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 25, 2021
this was the perfect year for my calendar.
I hope to come back and play there soon.
All the best to the tournament, always a top class event.— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 25, 2021
Donna Vekic: Begins recover from knee surgery
Hi♀️ a quick update,I had a small surgery on my right knee yesterday and thanks to Dr.Biedert everything went wellAlready started my rehab today and look forward to being back on court soon!Thank u everyone for ur messages and support ,especially to my family,team and friends❤️ pic.twitter.com/B10ERUhOdC
— Donna Vekic (@DonnaVekic) February 25, 2021
Nadal, Thiem nominated for Laureus Awards
Congratulations to two ATP stars @RafaelNadal & @ThiemDomi have been nominated for 2021 @LaureusSport awards
Nadal is a nominee for the Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year. Thiem is a nominee for Laureus World Breakthrough Of The Year. pic.twitter.com/Oz8gp18PXr
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2021
Naomi Osaka: Nominated for Laureus Sportswoman of the Year
It’s official. These are the Nominees for the 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award:
♀️ @AnnavdBreggen
⛷ @FedeBrignone
♀️ Brigid Kosgei
@naomiosaka
⚽️ @WRenard
@breannastewartWho would you pick as the winner? #Laureus21 pic.twitter.com/sf4eXCATaX
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 24, 2021
The Way Back Machine / Venus Williams, 2002, rises to No. 1
To say that @Venuseswilliams reaching No. 1 was a long time coming would be an understatement.
She had already won her first four Grand Slam titles at that point—Wimbledon and the US Open in 2000, then Wimbledon and the US Open again in 2001.https://t.co/QQJ72lvbld
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 25, 2021
By the numbers
Venus and Serena Williams are known for their singles success, but they’re also one of the most formidable doubles teams in history.
Together, they’ve won 14 majors (with a 14-0 finals record) & 3 Olympic gold medals
-4 Australian Opens
-2 French Opens
-6 Wimbledons
-2 US Opens pic.twitter.com/6fyVAidLau— Tennis Historian (@HistorianTennis) February 23, 2021
What they’re saying
Coco Gauff on building confidence after reaching the semifinals of her first WTA 500 of the new season following the Australian Open:
“Definitely I think playing was the right decision, even though I had to go through quallies, I think it was the right decision to play and at the end of the day I need more matches under my belt. I’m still new and need a lot more experience and it definitely plays a role.
“I didn’t realize how much a role experience plays until I started playing some players who are a lot older than me and they know what to do, even when it comes to the little mind games and all that, they know what to do in those moments. So I’m just learning and picking up a few tricks and as I go.”
✨
@CocoGauff comes from a set down to defeat compatriot Shelby Rogers 2-6 6-4 6-4 and advance to the #AdelaideTennis semifinals on debut. pic.twitter.com/NOzHLreSCK
— Adelaide International (@AdelaideTennis) February 25, 2021
What they’re podcasting
On a new episode, The Lucky Letcord Podcast takes a look at @DjokerNole‘s tremendous success in Australia, pondering if he might be the one to top Margaret Court’s Grand Slam record, and breaking down @naomiosaka‘s fantastic performance.#AusOpenhttps://t.co/XBHqfQBrZP pic.twitter.com/k3G83gcnUR
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 25, 2021
What they’re writing
Simon Cambers of Tennis Majors writes about how the pandemic helped Iga Swiatek adjust after winning her Roland Garros title.
Interesting to hear @iga_swiatek talk about how the Coronavirus pandemic actually allowed the enormity of her @rolandgarros win to sink in, without the attention of the world on her shoulders https://t.co/2JuPlOmvs3
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) February 25, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Practicing in Qatar / When Nadia met Mayar
Muy lindo entrenamiento con @MayarSherif_1
Gracias colega por compartirlo conmigo. Éxitos en Qatar!
Cómo andan ustedes❓— Nadia Podoroska (@nadiapodoroska) February 24, 2021