Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Andrey Rublev to win the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi - UBITENNIS
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Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Andrey Rublev to win the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi

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World number 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas beat defending champion Andrey Rublev 6-2 4-6 6-2 to win the title at the 14th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports Centre, in Abu Dhabi. 

Tsitsipas followed up with straight-set wins over Cameron Norrie and Casper Ruud with a three-set win over Rublev. 

Tsitsipas converted a break point in each of the first and third games and held his serve easily to race out to a 4-0 lead. The Greek player saved two break points in a marathon sixth game featuring six deuces to hold for 5-1 and served out the first set with a hold to 30 in the eighth game. 

Both players went on serve until the 10th game when Ruud earned his first break on the set point to win the second set 6-4. 

Rublev went up 40-15 in the first game of the decisive set but committed errors to face a break point. Tsitsipas broke twice in the first game, as Rublev slammed a forehand wide. Tsitsipas broke for the second time in the third game and closed out the third set 6-2 with a love service hold. 

Tsitsipas reached the final in his previous appearance at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships. 

“It was great. I felt very on the court. I was covering the court much better. My serve was very consistent, which helped a lot. I know it’s an exhibition and I wish to be playing like this in ATP events, but regardless, I see it as a big positive and, hopefully, I can keep building in this way”, said Tsitsipas. 

Despite the defeat Rublev enjoyed a good week in Abu Dhabi highlighted by wins over Borna Coric in the quarter finals and Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal. 

“I feel great about the week. All the players are here to play against top players, to feel the tension, to feel the atmosphere and emotions before the season. I have said before, normally I face guys like Alcaraz and Tsitsipas in the quarter finals and the semifinals but her I play them straight away, so it helps to prepare for the season”, said Rublev. 

World number 3 Casper Ruud beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-1 6-4 to claim third place in a re-match of this year’s US Open final. 

Ruud beat Alcaraz twice in exhibition tournaments. Alcaraz won his previous official ATP Tour matches in two top finals at the Miami Open and at the US Open. 

Ruud raced out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Alcaraz pulled one break back in the fifth game for 1-4, but Ruud broke at love in the sixth game to close out the opening set 6-1 after 26 minutes. 

Ruud saved five break points in the second and sixth games of the second set. The Norwegian player earned the break in the ninth game for 5-4 and closed out the match with a hold at love in the 10th game. 

Ruud had been on a Latin American Tour of exhibition matches with Rafael Nadal and spent a one-week holiday before the Mubadala World Tennis Championships. Alcaraz came back from an abdominal injury which forced him to miss the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. 

“Carlos had a little bit of tough end to the year, was struggling a little bit end with injury and has played a lot better than he did today. For me it gives me a good indication. After yesterday, I thought I was quite far behind but after today maybe I am a bit further ahead than I thought and if I am playing well, I can beat good players. I have had some really good days of practice which is the most important thing to get ready for next year, so I am happy to start my pre-season in Abu Dhabi and for sure got what I wanted from the trip”, said Casper Ruud. 

Despite the defeat Alcaraz is confident that he will be in top shape for the Australian Open. 

“In the process of practice, I have been working to recover my level and feel more comfortable on court. That’s the aim, to try and feel comfortable on court”, said Alcaraz. 

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Emil Ruusuvuori upsets Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the third round at Wimbledon

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Emil Ruusuvuori upset Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (12-10) 3-6 6-3 to reach the third round for the first time on his 16th Grand Slam appearance at Wimbledon. 

Ruusuvuori has become the third Finnish player to reach the third round at Wimbledon, joining Pekka Saila and Jarkko Nieminen. He hit 41 winners and won 80% of his first serve points. 

Ruusuvuori earned a break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Tsitsipas broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5. Ruusuvuori went up a mini-break twice, but Tsitsipas pulled back on serve both times. Ruusuvuori earned his third mini-break to win the tie-break 8-6. The second set went on serve en route to tie-break. Both players traded mini-breaks four times in the tie-break. Ruusuvuori won the final three points to seal the tie-break 12-10. Tsitsipas broke in the fourth game to win the third set 6-3. Ruusuvuori earned a break in the sixth game and closed out the fourth set on his first match point. 

Tsitsipas led 2-0 in his previous head-to-head matches against Ruusuvuori and did not lose more than six games in either match. 

Ruusuvuouri scored his first Grand Slam win over a top 20 player in 2024. 

“I did not get away far. It was difficult. It could have been a bit different if I won the second set tie-break, but I tried my best and it did not work. I am just proud of myself the way I fought and the way I never gave up. I will continue towards the path of getting the better”, said Tsitsipas. 

Ruusuvuori set up a third round match against Giovanni Mpetchi Perricard, who beat Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4 6-1 6-2. 

Alexander Zverev cruised into a third round match with a 6-2 6-1 6-4 win over Marcos Giron to reach the third round in 16 of his 17 Grand Slam tournaments. 

Zverev broke twice in the first and eighth games to win the first set 6-2. The German earned three breaks to close out the second set 6-1. The third set went on serve until the 10th game, when Zverev sealed the win with a break at 15.

Zverev set up a third round agains Cameron Norrie, who beat Jack Draper 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 7-6 (8-6). 

Arthur Fils was leading 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 2-6 7-6 6-6 (9-8), when Hubert Hurkacz was forced to retire while he was facing a match point. The Polish player suffered from an injury. Hurkacz was leading 8-7 in the tie-break of the fourth set, but he opted to withdraw from the match after losing the next two points. 

Fils set up a match against Roman Safiulin, who beat Tomas Machac in four sets. 

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‘I Didn’t Know How To Handle It’ – Arthur Fils On Hurkacz’s Mid-Match Wimbledon Injury

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Arthur Fils - Wimbledon 2024 (X @wimbledon)

Arthur Fils has broken new ground at Wimbledon but he did so in unfortunate circumstances. 

The 20-year-old Frenchman is through to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career after his opponent Hubert Hurkacz was forced to call it quits. Fils was leading the match 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-6, when his Polish opponent took a tumble on the ground and suffered what appeared to be a knee injury. As a result, Hurkacz had to retire from the match which is something he hasn’t done since the 2021 Italian Open. 

“It was the first time I had this situation, so I didn’t really know how to handle it,” Fils commented during his press conference.
“I think that I did pretty good. I didn’t know if I had to do one kick serve and just make him play.
“Hallelujah, I passed the first serve. I mean, I played two great points because it wasn’t that easy. Then he stopped. Of course, it’s a sad end, but I’m happy about how I deal with those two points.”

When Hurkacz suffered his fall, he went over the net to check on his peer and help him get back up. 

“I saw a friend. He was in pain and he couldn’t move. I didn’t care about the score. I was just hoping that the guy is well and he can still walk and everything.” Fils commented. 

Fils, who beat Switzerland’s Dominic Stricker in his opening match, is the youngest Frenchman to reach the last 32 at Wimbledon since Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils in 2005. His breakthrough comes during what has been an encouraging season where he reached the semi-finals in Auckland the quarter-finals at four other events. Last year he recorded wins over top 10 players Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas. 

Whilst he is heading in the right direction, Fils admits there is plenty of room for improvement in his game. Especiallywhen it comes to the grass.

“It’s only my second year on grass. Okay, I’m playing better than last year, but I still have so much to improve.” He said. 
“Sometimes my movement, I don’t know how to move on it (the grass). I don’t know if I’m too powerful but I’m always slipping.”

Fils will play Roman Safiullin in the next round. 

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Danil Medvedev rallies from one set down to beat Alexander Muller at Wimbledon

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Danil Medvedev rallied from a set a break down to beat Alexander Muller 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 7-5 on Centre Court at Wimbledon. 

Both players were not able to break in the first set, which went on serve en route to the tie-break. Muller rallied from 0-2 down to win the tie-break 7-3 with three mini-breaks. 

Muller raced out to a a 3-0 lead in the second set. Medvedev broke back in the fifth game and held serve to 3-3. Muller earned two set points at 5-4 and 6-5, but Medvedev held his service games. Medvedev came back from 0-3 down to win the win the tie-break 7-4 with two mini-breaks.  

Medvedev went up a 4-1 lead in the third set. Muller pulled back on serve to draw level to 4-4. The Frenchman won his fifth consecutive game with a second break to close out the third set 6-4.

Both players went on serve in the fourth game until the 12th game when Medvedev earned the decisive break, when Muller made a double fault on the match point. 

“I did not play my best match. For whatever reason it feels much slower. Really slow bounce, not like a grass court where it normally slides. I need to get used to it. The more matches I play on it, the more chances I have to play better and better”, said Medvedev. 

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