TENNIS ATP – The first ATP 500 tournament of the season, the first one on the American soil and the first South-American indoor clay event; it is in these three directions that the ATP circuit will branch out next week. Let’s see in detail the history and some fun facts about Rotterdam, Memphis and Sao Paolo. By Remo Borgatti, translated by Lorenzo Dicandia
Rotterdam – It is going to be the new Ahoy Sportpale to host the ATP World Tour 500 of Rotterdam, arrived to its 42nd edition. Actually, the tournament had a kind of prelude in 1972 under the name of Rotterdam Indoors, an event held in the WCT circuit; in that occasion Arthur Ashe grabbed the title winning the final over Tom Okker. The following year the event was not held and since 1974 it took the actual denomination of ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.
So, starting from 1974, nobody managed to win the Holland tournament more than two times in a row. Four are the players who won two titles back-to-back: Ashe, Edberg, Escude and Soderling.
There have been only six finals played between the two top seeds, five of which between 1977 (Stockton-Nastase) and 1984 (Lendl-Connors); then nothing for 25 years. Nadal and Murray in 2009 revived this long gone tradition.
Regarding the 1984 final between Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors, in that occasion the title wasn’t assigned because, with the score set on 60 10 for the Czech player, the match was interrupted and never resumed again due to a bomb threat.
Five times the number one seeded was kicked immediately out of the tournament: Nastase in 1974, Mecir in 1989, Corretja in 1999, Safin in 2001 and Ferrero the following year. The Frenchman Nicolas Escude was the one who defeated Ferrero that year; he had already won the tournament the year before coming from the qualies (the only time it happened in the event). Two are the wild-cards who managed to hold the trophy at the end of the week in the history of the tournament: Jarryd in ’93 and Krajicek (the current director) in 1995.
The Swedish guy did not have the ranking to play in the main draw (he was the number 156 of the world) and got to Rotterdam with just three victories in the last seventeen matches played, although a month earlier, at the Australian open, he had managed to qualify and to defeat Boris Becker (fourth seed) in the first round, coming back from two sets to one down. In order to win what ended up being his last singles’ titles (eighth of his career), Anders defeated four top-20 players.
There was a drain of favorites in the 2008 edition. No seed got to the quarterfinals: Youzhny (4) Murray (6), Ferrero (7) and Baghdatis (8) were out in the first round; Nadal (1), Davydenko (2), Ferrer (3) and Berdych (5) in the second round.
Pete Sampras is undefeated in Rotterdam. Playing as the first seed in his only appearance there in 1996, he defeated Carbonell and Hlasek before withdrawing from his quarterfinal match against Henman.
Last year– He hadn’t won a tournament in over a year, but the perennial runner-up Tomas Berdych had yet another string to bow, and he bowed it in Rotterdam, where the then number 7 of the ATP ranking was the third seed, behind the Argentinian Del Potro and Murray. However, the hero of the 41st edition of the ABN Amro was the home crowd favorite Sijsling, who got to the main draw thanks to a wild-card. Igor managed first to prevail over the 7th seed Youzhny in his debut match, and then to get the semifinals defeating Berrer and Kohlschreiber, with the latter who had been the protagonist of the early defeat of Richard Gasquet. The path of the Dutch was interrupted by Marin Cilic, who got to the penultimate act of the tournament defeating two excellent names: Tsonga (5) and Murray (2), both in straight sets.
The protagonist of the top side of the draw was the Latvian Gulbis, perfect against both Dimitrov (8) and Del Potro (1). In the semifinal, however, Ernests could not do much against Berdych, who had just got out of a hard fought match against the Polish Janowicz, the only player who managed to get a set off him in the tournament. The final was pretty one-sided, win the Czech player having the edge by 64 62. Andreas Seppi, the only Italian in the draw, was also the victim of Berdych’s powerful shots, being defeated with a double 63 in the first round.
PAST WINNERS
1974 Tom Okker-Tom Gorman 46 76 61
1975 Arthur Ashe-Tom Okker 36 62 64
1976 Arthur Ashe-Bob Lutz 63 63
1977 Dick Stockton-Ilie Nastase 26 63 63
1978 Jimmy Connors-Raul Ramirez 75 75
1979 Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe 64 62
1980 Heinz Gunthardt-Gene Mayer 62 64
1981 Jimmy Connors-Gene Mayer 61 26 62
1982 Guillermo Vilas-Jimmy Connors 06 62 64
1983 Gene Mayer-Guillermo Vilas 61 76
1984 Ivan Lendl-Jimmy Connors finale non terminata
1985 Miloslav Mecir-Jakob Hlasek 61 62
1986 Joakim Nystrom-Anders Jarryd 60 63
1987 Stefan Edberg-John McEnroe 36 63 61
1988 Stefan Edberg-Miloslav Mecir 76 62
1989 Jakob Hlasek-Anders Jarryd 61 75
1990 Brad Gilbert-Jonas Svensson 61 63
1991 Omar Camporese-Ivan Lendl 36 76 76
1992 Boris Becker-Alexander Volkov 76 46 62
1993 Anders Jarryd-Karel Novacek 63 75
1994 Michael Stich-Wayne Ferreira 46 63 60
1995 Richard Krajicek-Paul Haarhuis 76 64
1996 Goran Ivanisevic-Yevgeny Kafelnikov 64 36 63
1997 Richard Krajicek-Daniel Vacek 76 76
1998 Jan Siemerink-Thomas Johansson 76 62
1999 Yevgeny Kafelnikov-Tim Henman 62 76
2000 Cedric Pioline-Tim Henman 67 64 76
2001 Nicolas Escude-Roger Federer 75 36 76
2002 Nicolas Escude-Tim Henman 67 64 76
2003 Max Mirnyi-Raemon Sluiter 76 64
2004 Lleyton Hewitt-Juan Carlos Ferrero 67 75 64
2005 Roger Federer-Ivan Ljubicic 57 75 76
2006 Radek Stepanek-Christophe Rochus 60 63
2007 Mikhail Youzhny-Ivan Ljubicic 62 64
2008 Michael Llodra-Robin Soderling 67 63 76
2009 Andy Murray-Rafael Nadal 63 46 60
2010 Robin Soderling-Mikhail Youzhny 64 20 ret.
2011 Robin Soderling-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 63 36 63
2012 Roger Federer-Juan Martin Del Potro 61 64
2013 Juan Martin Del Potro-Julien Benneteau 76 63
2014 Tomas Berdych-Marin Cilic 64 62
Memphis – The US National Indoor tennis Championships traces back its roots to 1971, the year of the first of the four editions played in Salisbury. In 1975 the tournament was moved to Memphis and the year later the Tennis Racquet Club (the only private club in the world that hosts an event of the ATP tour) became the home of the Regions Morgan Keegan, name of the current main sponsor.
Only twice the number one seed was defeated in the first round: John McEnroe (who was also the defending champion) in 1981 was shocked by his compatriot Trey Waltke by a score of 63 64, while Pete Sampras, in 2001, after getting a bye in the first round, lost in the following one 76 62 against Woodruff.
7 Memphis’ champions were not among the seeds: Vijay Amritaj (1976), Michael Stich (1990), Taylor Dent (2003), Joachim Johansson (2004), Kenneth Carlsen (2005), Steve Darcis (2008) and Jurgen Melzer (2012).
The 1980 final was the only one between the first two seeds: John McEnroe won over Jimmy Connors after two tie-breaks.
The following year, 13 of the 16 seeds came from the U.S.; only Noah (6), Glickstein (15) and Gomez (16) came from a different country.
The players that managed to get to more than one final also are all Americans: the record belongs to Connors with 6 finals (he won 4 of them), followed by Roddick (5 finals and 3 victories) and Todd Martin, who holds the record for most consecutive finals (4, 2 wins and 2 losses).
The two times defending champion Kei Nishikori has a 9-1 record in the main draw of the event. In his 5 appearances in Memphis, he was twice defeated in the qualifying, and once in the first round (by Marco Baghdatis in 2009), before winning in 2013 and 2014.
Last year – The defending champion Kei Nishikori confirmed himself pretty easily as the winner, having to fight only in his quarterfinal match against Bogomolov. The American, author of the elimination in the first round of Sam Querrey (6), managed to take the second set off him before eventually losing the final one by 63. Another two seeds were immediately out (Przysiezny and Matosevic), followed by Feli Lopez and Kukushkin in the second round. The Spaniard, number two of the seeding, got in the way of a pretty inspired Ivo Karlovic who defeated him 76 64. The Croatian then went all the way to the semifinals, defeating the American Sock and taking advantage of the retirement of Lu after one set (61). In the upper side of the draw Nishikori did not meet Hewitt but the player who had defeated him, Michal Russell, to whom the Japanese player conceded just five games. The final was well fought, ending with a breaker in the second set. The score of the tie-break was pretty interesting, considering that Karlovic is surely among its top specialist: 7-0 for Nishikori. Last year event also represented the debut in an ATP tournament for Nick Kyrgios, defeated in three sets by Smyczek.
PAST WINNERS
Salisbury
1971 Clark Graebner-Cliff Richey 26 76 16 76 60
1972 Stan Smith-Ilie Nastase 57 62 63 64
1973 Jimmy Connors-Karl Meiler 62 46 76 67 63
1974 Jimmy Connors-Frew McMillan 64 75 63
Memphis
1975 Harold Solomon-Jiri Hrebec 26 61 64
1976 Vijay Amritraj-Stan Smith 62 06 60
1977 Bjorn Borg-Brian Gottfried 64 63 46 75
1978 Jimmy Connors-Tim Gullikson 76 63
1979 Jimmy Connors-Arthur Ashe 64 57 63
1980 John McEnroe-Jimmy Connors 76 76
1981 Gene Mayer-Roscoe Tanner 62 64
1982 Johan Kriek-John McEnroe 63 36 64
1983 Jimmy Connors-Gene Mayer 75 60
1984 Jimmy Connors-Henri Leconte 63 46 75
1985 Stefan Edberg-Yannick Noah 61 60
1986 Brad Gilbert-Stefan Edberg 75 76
1987 Stefan Edberg-Jimmy Connors 63 21 rit.
1988 Andre Agassi-Mikael Pernfors 64 64 75
1989 Brad Gilbert-Johan Kriek 62 62 rit.
1990 Michael Stich-Wally Masur 67 64 76
1991 Ivan Lendl-Michael Stich 75 63
1992 MaliVai Washington-Wayne Ferreira 63 62
1993 Jim Courier-Todd Martin 57 76 76
1994 Todd Martin-Brad Gilbert 64 75
1995 Todd Martin-Paul Haarhuis 76 64
1996 Pete Sampras-Todd Martin 64 76
1997 Michael Chang-Todd Woodbridge 63 64
1998 Mark Philippoussis-Michael Chang 63 62
1999 Tommy Haas-Jim Courier 64 61
2000 Magnus Larsson-Byron Black 62 16 63
2001 Mark Philippoussis-Davide Sanguinetti 63 67 63
2002 Andy Roddick-James Blake 64 36 75
2003 Taylor Dent-Andy Roddick 61 64
2004 Joachim Johansson-Nicolas Kiefer 76 63
2005 Kenneth Carlsen-Max Mirnyi 75 75
2006 Tommy Haas-Robin Soderling 63 62
2007 Tommy Haas-Andy Roddick 63 62
2008 Steve Darcis-Robin Soderling 63 76
2009 Andy Roddick-Radek Stepanek 75 75
2010 Sam Querrey-John Isner 67 76 63
2011 Andy Roddick-Milos Raonic 76 67 75
2012 Jurgen Melzer-Milos Raonic 75 76
2013 Kei Nishikori-Feliciano Lopez 62 63
2014 Kei Nishikori-Ivo Karlovic 64 76
Sao Paulo – The Complexo Desportivo Constancio Vaz Guimaraes hosts for the fourth year the Open of Brazil, held previously for eleven times in Costa Do Sauipe.
Initially it was played in September and on hard courts; however since 2004, although staying in Salvador of Bahia, the Brazilian 250 event changed both surface (red clay), and month (February).
Three champions were unseeded: Daniel Vacek, Guillermo Canas and the defending champion Federico Delbonis. Canas triumphed in 2007 after receiving a wild-card from the organizers (he was ranked world no. 107) and won here his last tournament.
Two times the number one seed was knocked out in the first round: Kuerten in 2001 (by Saretta) and Moya in 2004 (by Behrend). Two were also the times in which both the two top seeds got to the final: in 2003 Schalken-Schuetller and in 2008 Almagro-Moya. In both occasions the number two seed had the edge.
Rafael Nadal is undefeated in the tournament, having a 9-0 record, split between Salvador and Sao Paulo. The player from Majorca, shares with his compatriot Almagro, the peculiarity of having lifted the trophy in both the locations, while Guga Kuerten is the only player having won the tournament both on red clay and on hard courts.
Last year – In the first final played between two unseeded players, the Argentinian Federico Delbonis won over the Italian Paolo Lorenzi in three sets: 46 63 64. The local fans hoped that Bellucci, whom was granted a wild-card, could be able to win it all. However, Thomaz, after having defeated Giraldo, Haider Maurer and Klizan en route to the semifinal, ended up losing against the eventual champion.
In the top half of the draw, Lorenzi played a great tournament, defeating in the quarters Juan Monaco after three hard sets. The access to the final was easier thanks to the retirement of the top seed Tommy Haas, half way through the second set. The other Italians in the main draw were Starace (who was defeated by Haas in the second round, after having gone through the qualies), and Volandri, who did not manage to repeat his 2012 run (when he got to the final), collecting only three games against Delbonis in the first round.
PAST WINNERS
Costa do Sauipe
2001 Jan Vacek-Fernando Meligeni 26 76 63
2002 Gustavo Kuerten-Guillermo Coria 67 75 76
2003 Sjeng Schalken-Rainer Schuettler 62 64
2004 Gustavo Kuerten-Agustin Calleri 36 62 63
2005 Rafael Nadal-Alberto Martin 60 67 61
2006 Nicolas Massu-Alberto Martin 63 64
2007 Guillermo Canas-Juan Carlos Ferrero 76 62
2008 Nicolas Almagro-Carlos Moya 76 36 75
2009 Tommy Robredo-Thomaz Bellucci 63 36 64
2010 Juan Carlos Ferrero-Lukasz Kubot 61 60
2011 Nicolas Almagro-Alexandr Dolgopolov 63 76
Sao Paolo
2012 Nicolas Almagro-Filippo Volandri 63 46 64
2013 Rafael Nadal-David Nalbandian 62 63
2014 Federico Delbonis-Paolo Lorenzi 46 63 64
