Tennis in General - Results and Comments

2020 DAVIS CUP DRAW :

Defending champions Spain will play Russia and Ecuador in the Davis Cup Group A in November, after the draw was made in London this afternoon. Spain won the first edition of the reformed tournament in Madrid four months ago, when Rafael Nadal powered them to victory with a 2-0 win in the final against Canada. Canada have been placed in Group B with Kazakhstan and Sweden while 10-time winners and wild card France will take on Great Britain and the Czech Republic in Group C. The other wild card team, Serbia, will be up against Germany and Austria in Group F, which could mean singles showdowns between Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem. The United States have again been drawn alongside Italy, with Colombia completing Group E. Croatia, Australia and Hungary make up Group D. It will be the second Davis Cup finals in Madrid after the change of format last year, which swapped the traditional spread of four three-day ties across 10 months, with one week of competition. The 12 teams are due to contest the finals at the Caja Magica from 23 to 29 November.

The ATP has announced a six-week suspension of the men’s professional tennis tour due to escalating health and safety issues arising from the global outbreak of COVID-19. The suspension means all ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events scheduled up to and inclusive of the week of April 20 will not take place.Following the recent cancellation of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the affected ATP Tour events are the Miami Open presented by Itau, the Fayez Sarofim & Co U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, and the Hungarian Open in Budapest. The six-week suspension comes in the wake of the World Health Organization’s declaration on Wednesday that COVID-19 constitutes a global pandemic and the 30-day travel restriction announced by the United States for foreign nationals from 26 European countries. The suspension follows numerous local government orders on restrictions, bans or cancellations of public gatherings or events. The ATP has been closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation related to COVID-19, taking advice from medical experts and travel advisors and consulting with all local regulatory authorities, and will continuously review the feasibility of subsequent events in the calendar. Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: “This is not a decision that was taken lightly and it represents a great loss for our tournaments, players, and fans worldwide. However we believe this is the responsible action needed at this time in order to protect the health and safety of our players, staff, the wider tennis community and general public health in the face of this global pandemic. The worldwide nature of our sport and the international travel required presents significant risks and challenges in today’s circumstances, as do the increasingly restrictive directives issued by local authorities. We continue to monitor this on a daily basis and we look forward to the Tour resuming when the situation improves. In the meantime, our thoughts and well-wishes are with all those that have been affected by the virus.” The suspension of ATP events takes place with immediate effect, meaning this week’s ATP Challenger tournaments in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, and Potchefstroom, South Africa, are not able to be completed. The ATP is carefully reviewing the broad impact of this evolving situation related to FedEx ATP Rankings points, and any decisions will be announced in due course. In addition, in full collaboration with the ITF, FedEx ATP Rankings points will not be available at any ITF World Tennis Tour events during the suspension period.

The inaugural 12-team Fed Cup Finals have been postponed to date because of Coronavirus. The event was scheduled to take place at the Laszlo Papp Arena in Budapest from 14 to 19 April. The Hungarian government banned indoor gatherings of more than 100 people earlier on Wednesday, shortly after the ITF Board had taken the decision to postpone the Finals. The ITF says it is committed to staging the Finals at a later date this year. April's play-offs are also affected, with all the 8 scheduled ties that has been postponed to date.

RANKINGS AT MARCH 9TH :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 10.220 points
2. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.850 points
3. Dominic Thiem AUT 7.045 points
4. Roger Federer SUI 6.630 points
5. Daniil Medvedev RUS 5.890 points
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 4.745 points
7. Alexander Zverev GER 3.630 points
8. Matteo Berrettini ITA 2.860 points
9. Gael Monfils FRA 2.860 points
10. David Goffin BEL 2.555 points
11. Fabio Fognini ITA 2.400 points
12. Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 2.360 points
13. Diego Schwartzman ARG 2.265 points
14. Andrey Rublev RUS 2.234 points
15. Karen Khachanov RUS 2.120 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 8.717 points
2. Simona Halep ROU 6.076 points
3. Karolina Pliskova CZE 5.205 points
4. (5.) Sofia Kenin USA 4.590 points
5. (7.) Elina Svitolina UKR 4.580 points
6. (4.) Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 4.555 points
7. (6.) Kiki Bertens NED 4.335 points
8. Belinda Bencic SUI 4.010 points
9. Serena Williams USA 3.915 points
10. Naomi Osaka JPN 3.625 points
11. Aryna Sabalenka BLR 3.615 points
12. Petra Kvitova CZE 3.566 points
13. Madison Keys USA 2.962 points
14. (16.) Johanna Konta GBR 2.803 points
15. (14.) Petra Martic CRO 2.770 points

The Combined Event "BNP Paribas Open" (ATP Masters 1000 & WTA Premier Mandatory), scheduled in Indian Wells (United States) from March 11th to 22nd, has been postponed to date due to COVID-19 emergency

WTA FINALS OF THE WEEK :

WTA International Lyon : Sofia Kenin (1) won her fifth WTA tournament in career (fourth WTA International and on hard), defeating
Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

WTA International Monterrey : Elina Svitolina (1) won her 14th WTA tournament in career (7th WTA International and 10th on hard), defeating
Marie Bouzkova (9) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4

2020 DAVIS CUP - QUALIFYING ROUND :
Final Results :

Zagreb (Croatia - Dom Sportova, Hard Indoor) : Croatia (1) 3 - India 1

Debrecen (Hungary - Főnix Hall, Hard Indoor) : Hungary 3 - Belgium (2) 2

Bogotà (Colombia - Palacio de los Deportes, Clay Indoor) : Colombia 3 - Argentina (3) 1

Honolulu (United States - Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Hard Indoor) : United States (4) 4 - Uzbekistan 0

Adelaide (Australia - Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, Hard) : Australia (5) 3 - Brazil 1

Cagliari (Italy - Circolo Tennis Cagliari, Clay - Played Without Spectators due to Covid-19 Emergency) : - ITALY (6) 4 - Korea Republic 0

Dusseldorf (Germany - Castello Düsseldorf, Hard Indoor) : Germany (7) 3 - Belarus 1

Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan - Daulet National Tennis Centre, Hard Indoor) : Kazakhstan (8) 3 - Netherlands 1

Bratislava (Slovakia - AXA Aréna NTC, Clay Indoor) : Slovakia 1 - Czech Republic (9) 3

Premstätten (Austria - Steiermarkhalle Schwarzlsee, Hard Indoor) : Austria (10) 3 - Uruguay 1

Miki (Japan - Bourbon Beans Dome, Hard Indoor - Played Without Spectators due to Covid-19 Emergency) : Japan (11) 0 - Ecuador 3

Stockholm (Sweden - Kungliga Tennishallen, Hard Indoor) : Sweden (12) 3 - Chile 1

CROATIA (1), HUNGARY, COLOMBIA, UNITED STATES (4), AUSTRALIA (5), ITALY (6), GERMANY (7), KAZAKHSTAN (8),
CZECH REPUBLIC (9), AUSTRIA (10), ECUADOR & SWEDEN (12) are qualified for 2020 Davis Cup Finals (23-29 November in Madrid, Spain)
with the four Semifinalists of last year, SPAIN, CANADA, RUSSIA & GREAT BRITAIN and the two wild-cards, SERBIA & FRANCE.

WTA SEMIFINALS OF THE WEEK :

WTA International Lyon : A-L. Friedsam def. D. Kasatkina (7) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
S. Kenin (1) def. A. Van Uytvanck (5) 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2)

WTA International Monterrey : M. Bouzkova (9) def. J. Konta (2) 6-3, 6-4
E. Svitolina (1) def. A. Rus 6-0, 6-1

2020 DAVIS CUP - QUALIFYING ROUND :
Results After Matchday 1 :

Zagreb (Croatia - Dom Sportova, Hard Indoor) : Croatia (1) 2 - India 0

Debrecen (Hungary - Főnix Hall, Hard Indoor) : Hungary 1 - Belgium (2) 1

Bogotà (Colombia - Palacio de los Deportes, Clay Indoor) : Colombia 1 - Argentina (3) 1

Honolulu (United States - Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Hard Indoor) : United States (4) 2 - Uzbekistan 0

Adelaide (Australia - Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, Hard) : Australia (5) 2 - Brazil 0

Cagliari (Italy - Circolo Tennis Cagliari, Clay - Played Without Spectators due to Covid-19 Emergency) : - ITALY (6) 2 - Korea Republic 0

Dusseldorf (Germany - Castello Düsseldorf, Hard Indoor) : Germany (7) 1 - Belarus 1

Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan - Daulet National Tennis Centre, Hard Indoor) : Kazakhstan (8) 1 - Netherlands 1

Bratislava (Slovakia - AXA Aréna NTC, Clay Indoor) : Slovakia 0 - Czech Republic (9) 2

Premstätten (Austria - Steiermarkhalle Schwarzlsee, Hard Indoor) : Austria (10) 1 - Uruguay 1

Miki (Japan - Bourbon Beans Dome, Hard Indoor - Played Without Spectators due to Covid-19 Emergency) : Japan (11) 0 - Ecuador 2

Stockholm (Sweden - Kungliga Tennishallen, Hard Indoor) : Sweden (12) 1 - Chile 1

RANKINGS AT MARCH 2ND :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 10.220 points
2. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.850 points
3. (4.) Dominic Thiem AUT 7.045 points
4. (3.) Roger Federer SUI 6.630 points
5. Daniil Medvedev RUS 5.890 points
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 4.745 points
7. Alexander Zverev GER 3.630 points
8. Matteo Berrettini ITA 2.860 points
9. Gael Monfils FRA 2.860 points
10. David Goffin BEL 2.555 points
11. Fabio Fognini ITA 2.400 points
12. Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 2.360 points
13. Diego Schwartzman ARG 2.265 points
14. Andrey Rublev RUS 2.234 points
15. (17.) Karen Khachanov RUS 2.120 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 8.717 points
2. Simona Halep ROU 6.076 points
3. Karolina Pliskova CZE 5.205 points
4. Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 4.555 points
5. Sofia Kenin USA 4.365 points
6. Kiki Bertens NED 4.335 points
7. Elina Svitolina UKR 4.301 points
8. (9.) Belinda Bencic SUI 4.010 points
9. (8.) Serena Williams USA 3.915 points
10. Naomi Osaka JPN 3.625 points
11. (13.) Aryna Sabalenka BLR 3.615 points
12. (11.) Petra Kvitova CZE 3.566 points
13. (12.) Madison Keys USA 2.962 points
14. Petra Martic CRO 2.770 points
15. (16.) Garbine Muguruza ESP 2.711 points

THIS WEEK SCHEDULE :

No ATP tournaments this week, due to the Qualifying Round of the 2020 Davis Cup (6 & 7 March); here' s the schedule :

Zagreb (Croatia, Hard Indoor) : Croatia (1) vs India
Debrecen (Hungary, Hard Indoor) : Hungary vs Belgium (2)
Bogotà (Colombia, Clay Indoor) : Colombia vs Argentina (3)
Honolulu (United States, Hard Indoor) : United States (4) vs Uzbekistan
Adelaide (Australia, Hard) : Australia (5) vs Brazil
Cagliari (Italy, Clay) : ITALY (6) vs South Korea
Dusseldorf (Germany, Hard Indoor) : Germany (7) vs Belarus
Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan, Hard Indoor) : Kazakhstan (8) vs Netherlands
Bratislava (Slovakia, Clay Indoor) : Slovakia vs Czech Republic (9)
Premstätten (Austria, Hard Indoor) : Austria (10) vs Uruguay
Miki (Japan, Hard Indoor) : Japan (11) vs Ecuador
Stockholm (Sweden, Hard Indoor) : Sweden (12) vs Chile

Lyon (France), 2-8 March : "2020 Open 6ème Sens-Métropole de Lyon"
Category : WTA International
Prize Money : $ 275.000
Surface : Hard (Indoor)

Monterrey (Mexico) 2-8 March : "2020 Abierto GNP Seguros"
Category : WTA International
Prize Money : $ 275.000
Surface : Hard

ATP & WTA FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 500 Acapulco : Rafael Nadal (1) won his 85th ATP tournament in career (21st ATP 500 and third in Acapulco), defeating
Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-2

ATP 250 Santiago : Thiago Seyboth Wild (wc) won his first ATP tournament in career, defeating Casper Ruud (2) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

WTA International Acapulco : Heather Watson (7) won her fourth WTA tournament in career (all WTA International and on hard), defeating
Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-1

ATP & WTA SEMIFINALS & FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 500 Dubai - Semifinals : S. Tsitsipas (2) def. D. Evans 6-2, 6-3
N. Djokovic (1) def. G. Monfils (3) 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-1
Final : Novak Djokovic (1) won his 79th ATP tournament in career (14th ATP 500 and fifth in Dubai), defeating
Stefanos Tsitsipas (2) 6-3, 6-4

ATP 500 Acapulco - Semifinals : T. Fritz def. J. Isner (5) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
R. Nadal (1) def. G. Dimitrov (7) 6-3, 6-2

ATP 250 Santiago - Semifinals : C. Ruud (2) def. A. Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (5), 6-2
T. Seyboth Wild (wc) def. R. Olivo (q) 6-1, 6-3

WTA Premier 5 Doha - Semifinals : A. Sabalenka (9) def. S. Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-3
P. Kvitova (8) def. A. Barty (1) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Final : Aryna Sabalenka (9) won her 6th WTA tournament in career (all on hard and third WTA Premier 5), defeating
Petra Kvitova (8) 6-3, 6-3

WTA International Acapulco - Semifinals : H. Watson (7) def. Xiyu Wang (q) 6-4, 7-6 (6)
L. A. Fernandez def. R. Zarazua 6-3, 6-3

RANKINGS AT FEBRUARY 24TH :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 9.720 points
2. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.395 points
3. Roger Federer SUI 7.130 points
4. Dominic Thiem AUT 7.045 points
5. Daniil Medvedev RUS 5.890 points
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 4.745 points
7. Alexander Zverev GER 3.885 points
8. Matteo Berrettini ITA 2.860 points
9. Gael Monfils FRA 2.860 points
10. David Goffin BEL 2.555 points
11. Fabio Fognini ITA 2.400 points
12. Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 2.360 points
13. Diego Schwartzman ARG 2.265 points
14. Andrey Rublev RUS 2.219 points
15. Denis Shapovalov CAN 2.075 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 8.367 points
2. Simona Halep ROU 6.076 points
3. Karolina Pliskova CZE 5.200 points
4. (5.) Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 4.665 points
5. (7.) Sofia Kenin USA 4.490 points
6. (8.) Kiki Bertens NED 4.335 points
7. (6.) Elina Svitolina UKR 4.301 points
8. (9.) Serena Williams USA 3.915 points
9. (4.) Belinda Bencic SUI 3.885 points
10. Naomi Osaka JPN 3.625 points
11. Petra Kvitova CZE 2.981 points
12. Madison Keys USA 2.962 points
13. Aryna Sabalenka BLR 2.815 points
14. (15.) Petra Martic CRO 2.770 points
15. (14.) Johanna Konta GBR 2.753 points

THIS WEEK SCHEDULE :

Santiago (Chile), 24 February - 1 March : "2020 Chile Open"
Category : ATP World Tour 250
Prize Money : $ 674.730
Surface : Red Clay

Dubai (United Arab Emirates), 24-29 February : "2020 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships"
Category : ATP World Tour 500
Prize Money : $ 2.950.420
Surface : Hard

Acapulco (Mexico), 24 February - 1 March : "2020 Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC"
Categories : ATP World Tour 500 & WTA International
Prize Money : $ 2.000.845 (ATP) & $ 275.000 (WTA)
Surface : Hard

Doha (Qatar), 23-29 February : "2020 Qatar Total Open"
Category : WTA Premier 5
Prize Money : $ 3.240.445
Surface : Hard

ATP FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 500 Rio de Janeiro - Semifinals : Ch. Garin (3) def. B. Coric (5) 6-4, 7-5
G. Mager (q) def. A. Balazs (LL) 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (2)
Final : Christian Garin (3) won his fourth ATP tournament in career (all on red clay and first ATP 500), defeating
Gianluca Mager (q) 7-6 (3), 7-5

ATP 250 Marseille : Stefanos Tsitsipas (2) won his 6th ATP tournament in career (fourth ATP 250 and second consecutive in Marseille), defeating
Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4

ATP 250 Delray Beach - Semifinal : R. Opelka (4) def. M. Raonic (2) 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3
Final : Reilly Opelka (4) won his second ATP tournament in career (both ATP 250 and on hard), defeating
Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-2