ESTORIL/WASHINGTON, April 30, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
Tennis stars-turned-rappers Denis Shapovalov and Corentin Moutet, who collaborated on the rap song “Drip,” squared off in the ATP 250 Millennium Estoril Open Thursday on red clay in this Portuguese Riviera town near Lisbon. The No. 1 seed Shapovalov was stunned by the 73rd-ranked Moutet, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, with a berth in Friday’s quarterfinal round at stake.
Afterward, during an on-court interview, Moutet said, “It was a very close match. Today, I’m lucky that I won at the end. A few points decided the winner.”
He’s done it!@moutet99 completes the upset of No.1 seed Shapovalov 6-4 2-6 6-4 to reach the QFs in Estoril!#EstorilOpen pic.twitter.com/3GCaHwmRUS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 29, 2021
Moutet’s victory against Shapovalov, ranked 14th in the world, was his second Top 20 triumph this year, while the Canadian was seeking to win for the first time as a top seed in an ATP Tour tournament. Shapovalov’s 2021 season win-loss record leveled at 8-8, including 1-2 on clay.
There was a difference of just three points during the two hour and six-minute match with Moutet coming out ahead of Shapovalov 87-84.
Moutet will face No. 7 seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain, who advanced over Pierre-Hugues Herbert from France, 6-2, 7-6 (3). Other Thursday winners were: No. 2 seed Cristian Garin of Chile by walkover against Richard Gasquet of France, who was suffering from an injured adductor; and Cameron Norrie of Great Britain beat Spanish wild card Pedro Martinez, 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5. On Friday, Garin will play Norrie, while other quarterfinals pair No. 6 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia against Kevin Anderson of South Africa and No. 3 seed Ugo Humbert of Frances takes on No. 8 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain.
Albert Ramos is our last player into the top 8.
The clay court specialist and former top 20 beats Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-2, 7-6(3) to reach the QFs in Estoril.
Faces Moutet tomorrow in a battle of lefties. pic.twitter.com/xCkGupkZQ5
— Millennium #EstorilOpen (@EstorilOpen) April 29, 2021
WTA Mutua Madrid Open: Kuznetsova out, Hercog in
The WTA Insider reported Thursday night that Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova had pulled out of the singles main draw of the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open due to a hamstring injury suffered during practice. Her place will be taken by lucky loser Polona Hercog of Slovenia, who will face Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in a first-round match.
5️⃣ matches to watch@betway x #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/SPLo8olXRN
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 29, 2021
Meanwhile, the lower half of the singles draw will play their first-round matches on Friday to complete the paring of the field from 64 to 32. There are 16 matches in all spread out among four courts. Among the five seeded players who will play their matches on Manolo Santana Stadium are: No. 2 Naomi Osaka, who plays fellow Japanese Misaki Doi; No. 3 Simona Halep, who faces Spanish wild card Sara Sorribes Tormo; No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka, who opposes Russian qualifier Vera Zvonareva; No. 6 Karolina Pliskova, who will be challenged by American teenager Coco Gauff; and No. 11 Jennifer Brady, who battles fellow American Venus Williams.
Click here for a complete Friday order of play.
Mutua Madrid Open completes ATP wild cards
Two final singles wild cards for the ATP Tour Masters 1000 Mutua Madrid Open were revealed on Thursday. Gaining main draw wild card entry is Jaume Munar and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, both of Spain. They join previously announced Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz and Fernando Verdasco.
The men’s singles qualifying draw begins Saturday and main draw singles play starts on Sunday at La Caja Mágica in Madrid.
¡Bienvenidos! 🤗
🇪🇸 @alexdavidovich1 y 🇪🇸 @jamunar_38 cuentan con una invitación para el cuadro principal del #MMOPEN
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 29, 2021
Naomi Osaka: Good vibes
Good vibes 😌@naomiosaka | @WTA | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/HwxvhRP4p1
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 29, 2021
Doi and Aoyama: Check out their style
Who knew Japanese tennis stars Misaki Doi and Shuko Aoyama could dance? The Mutua Madrid Open tweeted a short video of Doi and Aoyama showing off their moves as part of International Dance Day on behalf of the Special Olympics.
ダンス動画でWTAチャリティに参加✨修子さんにも一緒に踊ってもらいました😆😆
These are our moves @MisakiDoiTennis & #ShukoAoyama @SpecialOlympics #InternationalDanceDay#InclusiveHealth pic.twitter.com/SyBxaGALez
— Misaki Doi 土居美咲 (@MisakiDoiTennis) April 29, 2021
Kim Clijsters: Contributing to a safer world
Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters tweeted a photo of her getting her first Covid-19 vaccination shot. “Playing my part in creating a safer world,” the Belgium star wrote on Twitter.
1st shot today, playing my part in creating a safer world for all of us. No side effects yet … second one in three weeks ! pic.twitter.com/IqLmwozJeq
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) April 29, 2021
Happy 51st Birthday, Andre Agassi
🔹 Australian Open 🏆🏆🏆🏆
🔸 US Open 🏆🏆
🔹 Wimbledon 🏆
🔸 Roland-Garros 🏆
🔹 ATP Finals 🏆
🔸 Olympic Games 🥇This man won everything there is in the sport of tennis. Happy birthday to the legend, @AndreAgassi! pic.twitter.com/9Cz8eczBoK
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) April 29, 2021
By the numbers
Jil Teichmann saves 6MPs to defeat No.5 Elina Svitolina 26 64 76(5) in 1R #MMOPEN.
2nd time Teichmann has come back from MP down to win this season. Saved 2MPs to defeat Sevastova in Adelaide.
Players to save MPs and win 2+ times in 2021: Sorribes Tormo, Svitolina, Teichmann.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) April 29, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Paula Badosa /¡Primera victoria! Muy feliz por volver a veros,@MutuaMadridOpen
¡Primera victoria! Muy feliz por volver a veros, @MutuaMadridOpen ✌🏻✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/ZFTL3Angat
— Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) April 29, 2021
Iga Swiatek /Mączka – tęskniłam
👋 Hi #clayseason I missed you
👋 Mączka – tęskniłam@MutuaMadridOpen pic.twitter.com/9s9EwTyQZw
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) April 29, 2021
