Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 7 Final

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day Seven results 

Final

Canada v Spain

Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) 7-6(3) 6-3

Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 6-3 7-6(7)

Spain win the Davis Cup and the doubles match not played.

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 6 semis

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day Six results 

Semi finals

Russia v Canada

Andrey Rublev (Russia) defeated Vasek Pospisil (Canada) 6-4 6-4

Denis Shapovalov (Canada) defeated Karen Khachanov (Russia) 6-4 4-6 6-4

Vasek Pospisil / Denis Shapovalov (Canada) defeated Karen Khachanov / Andrey Rublev (Russia) 6-3 3-6 7-6(5)

Canada through to final

Great Britain v Spain

Kyle Edmund (Great Britain) defeated Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 6-3 7-6(3)

Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Daniel Evans (Great Britain) 6-4 6-0

Feliciano Lopez / Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Jaimie Murray / Neal Skupski (Great Britain) 7-6(3) 7-6(8)

Spain through to the final to play Canada.

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 5

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day Five results 

Quarter finals

Serbia v Russia

Andrey Rublev (Russia) defeated Filip Krajinović (Serbia) 6-1 6-2

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Karen Khachanov (Russia) 6-3 6-3

Karen Khachanov / Andrey Rublev (Russia) defeated Novak Djokovic / Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-4 4-6 7-6(8)

Serbia eliminated, Russia through to semi finals - to play Canada.

Great Britain v Germany 

Kyle Edmund (Great Britain) defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-3 7-5

Daniel Evans (Great Britain) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(2)

Doubles not played

Germany eliminated, Great Britain through to semi finals

Argentina v Spain 

Guido Pella (Argentina) defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (Spain) 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-1

Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) 6-1 6-2

Marcel Granollers / Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Maximo Gonzalez / Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 6-4 4-6 6-3

Argentina eliminated, Spain through to semi finals - to play Great Britain.

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 4

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day Four results 

Group A 

Filip Krajinović (Serbia) defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 7-5 7-6(5)

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Benoit Paire (France) 6-3 6-3

Pierre-Hugues Herbert / Nicolas Mahut (France) defeated Janko Tipsarević / Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-4 6-4

Serbia qualified as quarter finalist

Group C

Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) defeated Nicolás Jarry (Chile) 6-4 6-3

Cristian Garín (Chile) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 6-7(3) 7-6(7) 7-6(8)

Kevin Krawietz / Andreas Mies (Germany) defeated Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera / Alejandro Tabilo (Chile) 7-6(3) 6-3

Germany qualified as quarter finalist

Group E

Kyle Edmund (Great Britain) defeated Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) 6-3 6-3

Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) defeated Daniel Evans (Great Britain) 5-7 6-4 6-1

Jaime Murray / Neal Skupski (Great Britain) defeated Alexander Bublik / Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) 6-1 6-4

Great Britain qualified as quarter finalist

Russia and Argentina also qualified as quarter finalists, due to finishing as the two second-placed teams with the best records in the group rounds.

Quarter finals

Australia v Canada

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) defeated John Millman (Australia) 7-6(7) 6-4

Alex de Minaur (Australia) defeated Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 3-6 6-3 7-5

Vasek Pospisil / Denis Shapovalov (Canada) defeated John Peers / Jordan Thompson (Australia) 6-4 6-4

Australia eliminated, Canada through to semi finals.

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 3

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day Three results 

Group A 

Filip Krajinovic (Serbia) defeated Yuichi Sugita (Japan) 6-2 6-4

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) 6-1 6-2

Janko Tipsarevic / Viktor Troicki (Serbia) defeated Ben McLachlan / Yasutaka Uchiyama (Japan) 7-6(5) 7-6(4)

Group B

Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) defeated Nikola Mektic (Croatia) 6-1 6-3

Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Borna Gojo (Croatia) 6-4 6-3

Marcel Granollers / Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Ivan Dodig / Mate Pavic (Croatia) 6-3 6-4

Spain qualified as quarter finalist 

Group C

Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) defeated Guido Pella (Argentina) 1-6 6-3 6-4

Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) defeated Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) 6-3 7-6(8)

Kevin Krawietz / Andreas Mies (Germany) defeated Maximo Gonzalez / Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 7-6(18)

Group D

Nick Kyrgios (Australia) defeated Steve Darcis (Belgium) 6-2 7-6(9)

Alex de Minaur (Australia) defeated David Goffin (Belgium) 6-0 7-6(4)

Sander Gille / Joran Vliegen (Belgium) defeated John Peers / Jordan Thompson (Australia) 0-1 (retired)

Australia qualified as quarter finalist 

Group E

Andy Murray (Great Britain) defeated Tallon Griekspoor (Netherlands) 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(5)

Robin Haase (Netherlands) defeated Daniel Evans (Great Britain) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4

Jamie Murray / Neal Skupski (Great Britain) defeated Wesley Koolhof / Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) 6-4 7-6(6)

Group F

Fabio Fognini (Italy) defeated Reilly Opelka (USA) 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3

Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated Matteo Berrettini (Italy) 5-7 7-6(5) 6-2

Sam Querrey / Jack Sock (USA) defeated Simone Bolelli / Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 6-4

Canada qualified as quarter finalist 

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 2

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day Two results 

Group A 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) defeated Yasutaka Uchiyama (Japan) 6-2 6-1

Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) defeated Gaël Monfils (France) 7-5 6-2

Pierre-Hugues Herbert / Nicolas Mahut (France) defeated Ben McLachlan / Yasutaka Uchiyama (Japan) 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5

Group B

Andrey Rublev (Russia) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) 3-6 6-3 7-6(0)

Rafa Nadal (Spain) defeated Karen Khachanov (Russia) 6-3 7-6(7)

Marcel Granollers / Feliciano Lopez (Soain) defeated Karen Khachanov / Andrey Rublev (Russia) 6-4 7-6(5)

Group C

Guido Pella (Argentina) defeated Nicolas Jarry (Chile) 6-4 6-3

Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) defeated Cristian Garin (Chile) 6-2 6-2

Maximo Gonzalez / Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) defeated Nicolas Jarry / Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (Chile) 6-3 7-5

Group D

Nick Kyrgios (Australia) defeated Alejandro Gonzalez (Colombia) 6-4 6-4

Alex de Minaur (Australia) defeated Daniel Elahi Galan (Colombia) 6-4 6-3

John Peers / Jordan Thompson (Australia) defeated Juan-Sébastian Cabal / Robert Farah (Colombia) 6-3 3-6 7-6(6)

Group E

Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) defeated Botic Van de Zandschulp (Netherlands) 6-2 6-2

Robin Haase (Netherlands) defeated Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) 7-5 3-6 7-6(5)

Alexander Bublik / Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) defeated Robin Haase / Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) 6-4 7-6(2)

Group F

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) defeated Reilly Opelka (USA) 7-6(5) 7-6(7)

Denis Shapovalov (Canada) defeated Taylor Fritz (USA) 7-6(6) 6-3

Sam Querrey / Jack Sock (USA) defeated Vasek Pospisil / Denis Shapovalov (Canada) via walkover

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid - Day 1

Davis Cup Finals in Madrid

Day One results 

Group B

Andrey Rublev (Russia) defeated Borna Gojo (Croatia) 6-3 6-3

Karen Khachanov (Russia) defeated Borna Ćorić (Croatia) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4

Karen Khachanov / Andrey Rublev (Russia) defeated Ivan Dodig / Nikola Mektic (Croatia) 7-6(3) 6-4

Group D

Steve Darcis (Belgium) defeated Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) 6-3 6-2

David Goffin (Belgium) defeated Daniel Elahi Galan (Colombia) 3-6 6-3 6-3

Juan-Sebastian Cabal / Robert Farah (Colombia) defeated Sander Gille / Joran Vliegen (Belgium) 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3)

Group F

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) defeated Fabio Fognini (Italy) 7-6(5) 7-5

Denis Shapovalov (Canada) defeated Matteo Berrettini (Italy) 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 7-6(5)

Matteo Berrettini / Fabio Fognini (Italy) defeated Vasek Pospisil / Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 6-2 3-6 6-3

Davis Cup Finals - Madrid

Well here it is. The new version of the once great Davis Cup. Now a whole heap of teams gathered into one city for one week, and this they call the finals.

At the end of the crowded schedule in Madrid there will be a victorious nation. Yes, a worthy winner, but without the traditional method of achieving it.

Some like the change, but it has divided the tennis world.

Ok, opinion out of the way.

18 teams spilt into 6 groups of three and round robin matches played.

Seeded nations are shown in brackets.

Group A               Group B

France (1)            Croatia (2)

Serbia                  Spain 

Japan                   Russia 

Group C               Group D

Argentina (3)        Belgium (4)

Germany              Australia 

Chile                    Colombia 

Group E               Group F

Great Britain (5)   USA (6)

Kazakhstan          Italy

Netherlands         Canada 

Monday’s (Day 1) schedule

Croatia v Russia (Group B)

Italy v Canada (Group F)

Belgium v Colombia (Group D)

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Tsitsipas triumphs

Day 8 - final day of the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

Final result

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) defeated Dominic Thiem (5) 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(4)

End of year rankings

1. Rafa Nadal 

2. Novak Djokovic 

3. Roger Federer 

4. Dominic Thiem 

5. Daniil Medvedev 

6. Stefanos Tsitsipas 

7. Alexander Zverev 

8. Matteo Berrettini 

9. Roberto Bautista Agut 

10. Gaël Monfils

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Semis

Day 7 - semi finals of the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

Semi final results 

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) defeated Roger Federer (3) 6-3 6-4

Dominic Thiem (5) defeated Alexander Zverev (7) 7-5 6-3

The final will be between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem.

From 2003-2018, the last day of the ATP Finals featured one or both of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, except on two occasions:

2009 - Nikolay Davydenko defeated Juan Martin del Potro

2017 - Grigor Dimitrov defeated David Goffin 

2019 will be the third occasion,

From 2003-2015, 11 of the 13 ATP Final trophies were won by either Roger Federer or Novák Djokovic.

None since by those two.

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Day 6

Day 6 of the  Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

GROUP ANDRE AGASSI 

Rafa Nadal (seeded 1)

Daniil Medvedev (4)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6)

Alexander Zverev (7)

Day 6 results 

Rafa Nadal (1) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5

Alexander Zverev (7);defeated Daniil Medvedev (4) 6-4 7-6(4)

Final Group standings

1. Stefanos Tsitsipas 2 wins

2. Alexander Zverev 2 wins

3. Rafa Nadal 2 wins

4. Daniil Medvedev 0 wins

The semi finalists are Tsitsipas and Zverev 

Semi final match ups 

Stefanos Tsitsipas v Roger Federer 

Dominic Thiem v Alexander Zverev

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Day 5

Day 5 of the  Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

GROUP BJÖRN BORG

Novak Djokovic (2)

Roger Federer (3)

Dominic Thiem (5)

Matteo Berrettini (8)

Day 5 results

Matteo Berrettini (8) defeated Dominic Thiem (5) 7-6(3) 6-3

Roger Federer (3) defeated Novak Djokovic (2) 6-4 6-3

Final Group standings

1. Dominic Thiem 2 wins 

2. Roger Federer 2 wins 

3. Novak Djokovic 1 win

4. Matteo Berrettini 1 win

The semi finalists are Thiem and Federer.

With Djokovic eliminated, Nadal is assured of finishing the year ranked #1.

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Day 4

Day 4 of the  Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

GROUP ANDRE AGASSI 

Rafa Nadal (seeded 1)

Daniil Medvedev (4)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6)

Alexander Zverev (7)

Day 4 results 

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) defeated Alexander Zverev (7) 6-3 6-2

Rafa Nadal (1) defeated Daniil Medvedev (4) 6-7(3) 6-3 7-6(4)

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Day 3

Day 3 of the  Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

GROUP BJÖRN BORG

Novak Djokovic (2)

Roger Federer (3)

Dominic Thiem (5)

Matteo Berrettini (8)

Day 3 results

Roger Federer (3) defeated Matteo Berrettini (8) 7-6(2) 6-3

Dominic Thiem (5) defeated Novak Djokovic (2) 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(5)

London - Nitto ATP Finals - Day 2

Day 2 of the  Nitto ATP Finals in London.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

GROUP ANDRE AGASSI 

Rafa Nadal (seeded 1)

Daniil Medvedev (4)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6)

Alexander Zverev (7)

Day 2 results 

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) defeated Daniil Medvedev (4) 7-6(5) 6-4

Alexander Zverev (7) defeated Rafa Nadal (1) 6-2 6-4

London - 2019 Nitto ATP Finals

The last tournament for the season on the ATP calendar is the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

The top 8 players, qualified through the 2019 ATP Race, gathered in London and then separated into two groups, where, after a series of round robin matches, the semi-finals and final will follow.

The year end #1 will be determined by results in this tournament - Rafa Nadal leads Novak Djokovic by 640 points at the start of proceedings.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals - the season ending ATP tournament, on Hard Indoor, in London, England, 10 - 17 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (3) who defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-4 6-3

GROUP ANDRE AGASSI 

Rafa Nadal (seeded 1)

Daniil Medvedev (4)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (6)

Alexander Zverev (7)

GROUP BJÖRN BORG

Novak Djokovic (2)

Roger Federer (3)

Dominic Thiem (5)

Matteo Berrettini (8)

Day 1 results

Novak Djokovic (2) defeated Matteo Berrettini (8) 6-2 6-1

Dominic Thiem (5) defeated Roger Federer (3) 7-5 7-5

Fed Cup Final - France are Champs !

The star of Mladenovic was already bright when the doubles teams hit the court to decide the Fed Cup champion nation for 2019.

Two sets later Kiki was glittering all over Perth as she had just dominated the court, carrying partner Caroline Garcia with her to a famous victory over a gallant team of Samantha Stosur and Ashleigh Barty.

The Aussies began smartly enough, breaking Garcia in the opening game and consolidating with a solid Barty service hold.

After Mladenovic put the French team on the scorecard, the attack focused on Stosur when the veteran Aussie took her turn at the line.

In quick time the serve was shattered and 2-2 the result.

The Aussies played catch-up, and did so with love games for 4-4, but it was the Barty serve which was broken when serving at 4-5, and the French pair were on top 6-4 and Kiki Mladenovic serving first in set two.

The first two games confirmed Australia’s plight as Mladenovic held to love and Stosur was broken, winning just one point.

Garcia appeared set to give the service break straight back, but the three break points all evaporated and France stood firm at 6-4 3-0.

Mladenovic was untouchable, but one more opportunity presented itself in game seven when Garcia faced a break point.

Not to be converted though and what could have been 3-4 instead became 2-5.

Stosur saved two Fed Cup points in the longest game of the match, before holding serve and demanding that Kiki Mladenovic serve for the win.

A nervous start, including a double fault had Australia hoping for something at the last minute to save it with 15-30. However errors were costly and match point arrived in a flash.

It was the only one needed and France won the Fed Cup final.

The match score for Mladenovic / Garcia was 6-4 6-3.

Fed Cup Final - Day 2 match 2

Australia up against it now and Ajla Tomljanovic the great hope of leveling things.

Caroline Garcia was replaced in the reverse singles by Pauline Parmentier for France. 

Australia ahead 2-1 on serve and my battery is about to die

No more live blog coverage sorry 

While there is some life in the battery great credit to Ajla Tomljanovic to keep Australia in contention for the Cup.

Her straight sets win over Pauline Parmentier was based on solid ground strokes and a big serve. The vital service breaks came at the very end of each set so the match was a closely fought affair on base stats.

More specifics later.

Tomljanovic saved two break points in the opening game of the match, then served four successive love games. In between, Parmentier was untroubled maintaining pace, if dropping a few points in doing so, until game eight where a break point was saved in a nine point game.

Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Parmentier found herself down 15-40, but could only save one of the two set points and Tomljanovic put Australia ahead 6-4.

Set two began with the fifth straight love game from the serve of Tomljanovic, responded with the second nine point game from the French racquet. Five games passed without drama, then a double break occurred - first Parmentier suffered and at 4-6 2-4 appeared doomed to the locker room post haste.

However, Tomljanovic lost focus and wasted two game points in the seventh game, and Parmentier grabbed the first break point offered by the Australian in the set and converted it for 3-4.

Serve was held by both players until Tomljanovic led 6-5. Serving to stay in the match, Parmentier repeated her effort of game ten in set one and fell behind 15-40. This time she couldn’t save either of the set points which were also match points, and Australia won 6-4 7-5.

Fed Cup Final - Day 2 match 1

Well this is it - the second and final day of the 2019 Fed Cup Final. 

First up Ash Barty taking on Kiki Mladenovic and neither worked up much of a sweat in winning yesterday’s matches.

Ash would be wanting to give Australia the edge, at the same time exacting revenge for the defeat suffered at the hands of Kiki in May in Rome. If successful, that would be win #16 in succession in Fed Cup competition for the world #1.

Ash served first and despite missing with her first serve three times, a pair of aces in the end sealed a comfortable hold.

Awesome defence and impeccable backhand slice pressured Kiki into a double fault and break point. Ash converted, coming to the net for the easy put away. 2-0.

An ace on second serve at 30-30 was pretty cool from Ash and she extended her advantage to 3-0.

The forehand that served Kiki so well yesterday began paying dividends, and a love game on serve ignited things for France.

Ash responded at 15-30 with her customary court movement but a Kiki forehand brought it to deuce.

Two winning Ash forehands avoided any drama and confirmed 4-1.

Another Kiki love game kept her within a single break. 

Ash overcame a pair of errors with the magical sliced backhand. 5-2.

After  wonderful volley gave Kiki two game points, errors took it to deuce, then a Barty return forehand winner produced set point. It was sufficient and Australia led 6-2.

In the blink of an eye, set two was underway and Ash was down 0-40.

All three break points were saved via French errors.  A fourth and fifth chance also went begging.

A game of rubbish was won by Ash and she led 1-0.

Another hold of serve despite not an impressive brand of tennis. The overall standard had dropped markedly.  1-1.

Ash lifted it back sharply with a fine game where first serves landed to her satisfaction. 

3-2 after a pair of service holds, Ash the far simpler. 

At 3-3 and 30-30, Ash was fortunate when Kiki missed an overhead. Ash won the game with a clean winner. 

A double fault gave Ash a break point but she netted the next two points.

An Aussie winning forehand took it to another deuce. 

More deuces until eventually Kiki held on for 4-4.

Some slashing winners from Kiki earned her two break points, only one of which Ash could save, and now France could serve to square the match.

Not even a double fault could prevent Kiki from leveling at 2-6 6-4.

Ash began the decider by holding serve, the disappointment of set two behind her.

Kiki had 40-0 but endured deuce before holding on, an ace clinching it.

Ash now throwing in all the errors and effectively donating a break of serve to Kiki whose consistency brought her into control.

Ash wasted a break point opportunity and Kiki shut her out to lead 3-1. Ash fought off break point with big serving and smart court work.

Ash was back, using the third of three break points to level at 3-3.  Kiki was slightly off the boil. 

A ripper backhand highlighted a superb service game from Ash who moved ahead 4-3. 

Good tennis and solid from Kiki 4-4. 

From nowhere a love game full of unforced errors and Kiki the beneficiary, now serving for the match.

Ash returned the favour - 5-5.

First serves on break points and a drop shot with wicked back spin took Ash to within a game of victory.

Love game from Kiki and a tie break to decide.

Ash played two bad points in the tie break and the match was gone. 

France won 2-6 6-4 7-6(1)

I hate tie breaks - the worst way to finish a tight enthralling tennis match.

Wildcard Sinner shocks de Minaur in Milan

Final of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

2019 Next Gen ATP Finals - a season ending exhibition tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Milan, Italy, 5 - 9 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) who defeated Alex de Minaur (2) 2-4 4-1 4-3(3) 4-3(3)

Final result

- Wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) defeated Alex de Minaur (1) 4-2 4-1 4-2

This is the second year of the event, and both times de Minaur has been undefeated going into the final, only to lose the ultimate prize.

Sinner dominated the final, winning 55 points to 38, but it was his ability to save break points that frustrated the Australian. Nine chances were presented to de Minaur, and he converted none.

Nevertheless, this was not a standard ATP tournament, again trialling a number of ideas of what might be considered changes to the rules of tennis in the future (hopefully way into the future).

So Alex shouldn’t be too upset as he packs up his racquets for a momentary rest.

He finishes 2019 at #18 in the world and his conqueror, Sinner #95. The 18 year old Italian has come on the scene in a big way, and expect that ranking to improve significantly in 2020.

Fed Cup Final - Day 1 match 2

Second match - Ash Barty, world #1 from Australia against France’s Caroline Garcia 

The pair had met three times before, Garcia successful the first time in the final of Wuhan 2017, and Barty bettering her once in each of the subsequent two years.

Barty served first and opened and closed with aces  1-0 

García replied, matching Barty’s sliced backhand with some crafty shot making of her own. Until the errors crept in, and on break point a perfectly placed lob allowed the Australian to wander into the net and put away a winner. 2-0.

A textbook service game gave García little chance and then some Djokovic like returning and retrieving set up three break points. The break came on the third with a clean winner, one of so many already.

Barty held brilliantly, and in five games had contributed some of the most breathtaking tennis by an Australian for some time. 

García, not playing especially bad tennis, was more competitive when attempting to avoid the dreaded bagel. 

Taking a number of excursions to deuce, and saving set points, but not all of them, García finally fell victim to Barty’s skill at the net. 

6-0 Australia.

Set two began less convincingly for Barty, double faulting for 30-30. She steadied though, clinching the game with another ace.

García let a 30–15 lead slip, and on break point a Barty forehand converted for 2-0.

Big serving and a savage forehand quickly took Barty to 3-0 and nothing would stop the worlds best in her current mood.

Another break point and we were gonna be outta here early today.

Yep. 4-0 and Barty to serve.

French resistance in the form of two break points. Both saved, the second with a clever second serve. Barty survived luckily. 5-0.

A Barty winner and a pair of García errors brought up three match points. Two saved but when García found the net it was over.

Ash Barty defeated Caroline Garcia 6-0 6-0.

After Day 1 

France 1 Australia 1

Fed Cup Final - Day 1 match 1

Here at last the final - and first up on Perth’s RAC Arena Ajla Tomljanovic from Australia against France’s Kristina Mladenovic.

The pair had met twice, but that was back in 2014, so counted for nothing.

Mladenovic won the toss and elected to receive serve.

The roof was shut due to excessive heat.

Two errors and a double fault didn’t help the Aussie, but she saved two break points with grim defence.

The French forehand ultimately proved too much and a third break point was converted when Tomljanovic found the net.

An ace and three winners from Mladenovic made it a 2-0 start.

Effective serving and more meaningful ground strokes still couldn’t allow Tomljanovic to convert a game point - instead the French #1 drilled a forehand winner to break again for 3-0.

A double fault brought Mladenovic to deuce and she was forced there a second time. The retrieval skills of the Australian continued to frustrate Mladenovic until a break arrived, putting Tomljanovic on the scoreboard.

By the way the roof was open part way.

Mladenovic broke for the third time, and consolidated, sealing a 5-1 lead with a backhand pass.

Winners aplenty from the French racquet, and two set points came in a rush. Just one required as Mladenovic landed a shot right on the baseline and Tomljanovic was all at sea.

6-1 France 

Set two began the way set one ended with Mladenovic holding easily and Tomljanovic dropping serve to love.

Staying back in the court was causing all sorts of trouble for the Australian and she refused to change tactics.

Mladenovic appeared to be coasting to victory at 3-0.

After some careless Mladenovic errors, Tomljanovic at 40-15 looked to hold serve for the first time, but after the longest game of the match she again failed to trouble the scorers.

Her doubles expertise to the fore, Kristina Mladenovic pushed and pulled Tomljanovic around the court until she finally put winners away and moved within a game of French jubilation.

Ajla Tomljanovic did hold serve which required Kiki Mladenovic to serve out the match, which she summarily did on the first match point provided.

6-1 6-1

Now the pressure on Ash Barty to square the ledger for Day One

Milan - Next Gen ATP Finals semis

Semi finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

2019 Next Gen ATP Finals - a season ending exhibition tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Milan, Italy, 5 - 9 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) who defeated Alex de Minaur (2) 2-4 4-1 4-3(3) 4-3(3)

Semi final results 

- Alex de Minaur (1) defeated Frances Tiafoe (2) 4-2 4-1 0-4 4-2

- Wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) defeated Miomir Kecmanovic (5) 2-4 4-1 4-2 4-2,

and will play Alex de Minaur in the final.

Fed Cup final preview

The 2019 Fed Cup final, the preeminent team event in women’s tennis, is to be contested over the weekend of 9-10 November in Perth, Australia.

Australia captained by Alicia Molik, will host Julien Benneteau’s France, outdoors on the Plexicushion Prestige hard court at RAC Arena, after the two nations won exciting semi final ties in April this year.

For Australia, it required a three set victory in the final (doubles) rubber against Belarus, and for France similarly against Romania.

Coming into the final, the rankings of team members is interesting. 

One player stands out as possibly the key to the whole event and of course that is the world number one, and last weeks winner of the season ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen, Ash Barty.

Barty will no doubt play singles, but also doubles, where she is ranked #19.

The next highest ranked Australian is Ajla Tomljanovic at #51, and this is the first time Ajla has been eligible to play for the country she adopted as her own.

Sam Stosur (96) played two singles runners against Belarus, was part of the winning doubles combination, and is the long time stalwart of the team. Stosur is the highest ranked Australian doubles player at #15, and just last week made the semis at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen.

Other players in the squad, if maybe not the final playing line-up, are Astra Sharma (107) and Priscilla Hon (123). Both have had progressive years - Sharma hit a career high ranking of #85 mid 2019. Her win in an ITF tournament in Irapuato was followed by a finals appearance in the WTA international category Claro Open in Bogotá.

Priscilla Hon partnered Barty in the doubles clinching rubber against the USA to allow Australia to progress beyond the first round of the Fed Cup.

France has a wealth of experience, and can draw on the following players to give Australia a close contest.

Kristina (‘Kiki’) Mladenovic (39) has been as high as #10, and has had wins over Kerber, Svitolina and Bertens in the last couple of months. And she defeated Ash Barty in straight sets in Rome in May.

Significantly, Kiki is the top ranked doubles player in the world, and lifted the WTA Finals trophy last week with partner Timea Babos. If Babos was French, Alicia Molik would have a headache or two more than she has now.

Caroline Garcia is ranked #45, but is a former top five player, and although Barty has won their past two meetings, this year in Wuhan took three sets.

Alizé Cornet ten years ago almost cracked the top ten, and was a top twenty player as recently as 2015. Now she hovers around the 30-50s, presently sitting at #59. Cornet defeated Stosur in their last meeting in Gstaad last year, but lost to Tomljanovic in Indian Wells earlier this year.

Pauline Parmentier is the lowest ranked in the team at #122, but is a former top 50 player (#54 at start of 2019), and was the star for France against Romania. With France down 1-2, Parmentier replaced Mladenovic in the reverse singles and kept her country alive, defeating Irina-Camelia Begu in three sets.

At 33, she shares veteran status with Sam Stosur for this final.  She defeated Stosur in the Bronx this year.

Fiona Ferro is the fast rising young player in the French squad - ranked #325 two years ago, she is now  #63. She defeated Stosur in qualifying in Lausanne this year, but has lost all her three matches against Tomljanovic, most recently in Rabat this year.

Having said all that, the draw has just been done:

Day One Singles

Ajla Tomljanovic v Kristina Mladenović 

Ashleigh Barty v Caroline Garcia 

Day Two Singles 

Ashleigh Barty v Kristina Mladenović 

Ajla Tomljanovic v Caroline Garcia 

Doubles

Ashleigh Barty / Samantha Stosur v

Kristina Mladenović / Caroline Garcia 

Good luck and good tennis !

Milan - Next Gen ATP Finals Day 3

Final Day of the round robin stage of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

2019 Next Gen ATP Finals - a season ending exhibition tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Milan, Italy, 5 - 9 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) who defeated Alex de Minaur (2) 2-4 4-1 4-3(3) 4-3(3)

GROUP A

Day 3 results

Alex de Minaur (1) defeated Casper Ruud (4) 4-1 4-0 4-2

Miomir Kecmanovic (5) defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (7) 4-1 4-1 4-3(6)

Group order after round robin matches 

1. Alex de Minaur (1) 3 wins 0 losses 

2. Miomir Kecmanovic (5) 2-1

3. Casper Ruud (4) 1-2

4. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (7) 0-3

GROUP B

Day 3 results 

Frances Tiafoe (2) defeated Mikael Ymer (6) 4-2 4-2 4-2

Ugo Humbert (3) defeated wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) 4-3(5) 3-4(3) 4-2 4-2

Group order after round robin matches 

1. Wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) 2 wins 1 loss

2. Frances Tiafoe 2-1

3. Mikael Ymer 1-2

4. Ugo Humbert 1-2

Semi final match ups 

Alex de Minaur (1) v Frances Tiafoe (2)

Wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) v Miomir Kecmanovic (5)

Milan - Next Gen ATP Finals Day 2

Day 2 of the round robin stage of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

2019 Next Gen ATP Finals - a season ending exhibition tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Milan, Italy, 5 - 9 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) who defeated Alex de Minaur (2) 2-4 4-1 4-3(3) 4-3(3)

GROUP A

Day 2 results

Alex de Minaur (1) defeated Miomir Kecmanovic (5) 4-1 4-3(4) 1-4 4-0

Casper Ruud (4) defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (7) 3-4(2) 4-3(2) 4-2 3-4(2) 4-1

Both semi finalists will be determined by the final round robin matches on Day 3

GROUP B

Day 2 results 

Frances Tiafoe (2) defeated Ugo Humbert (3) 4-2 4-3(5) 3-4(4) 4-1

Wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) defeated Mikael Ymer (6) 4-0 4-2 4-1

Sinner is through to the semi finals, while Humbert is eliminated.

The other semi finalist will be the winner of the Tiafoe v Ymer match on Day 3

Milan - 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals

Over the next week, Milan hosts the second edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Played over five days, the competition features the best seven qualified players (21 years and under) of the season, plus one wildcard.

Players split into two groups and after a series of round robin matches, the semi-finals and final will follow.

It is not recognised as an official ATP tournament for ranking points and won’t count in players win/loss record. The scoring system is different - best of five sets, first to four games in a set, and tie break at 3-3.

2019 Next Gen ATP Finals - a season ending exhibition tournament, on Hard Indoor, in Milan, Italy, 5 - 9 November 2019.

Defending champion:

Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) who defeated Alex de Minaur (2) 2-4 4-1 4-3(3) 4-3(3)

Players qualified but withdrawn 

Stefanos Tsitsipas (qualified first - withdrew because qualified for Nitto ATP Finals)

Felix Auger-Aliassime (qualified second - would have been third seed - withdrew through injury)

Denis Shapovalov (qualified fourth - withdrew through exhaustion)

GROUP A

Alex de Minaur (seeded 1)

Casper Ruud (4)

Miomir Kecmanovic (5)

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (7)

Day 1 results

Alex de Minaur (1) defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-2 3-4(5) 4-1 4-1

Miomir Kecmanovic (5) defeated Casper Ruud (4) 4-3(5) 4-3(5) 4-2

GROUP B

Frances Tiafoe (2)

Ugo Humbert (3)

Mikael Ymer (6)

Jannik Sinner (8) wildcard 

Day 1 results 

Wildcard Jannik Sinner (8) defeated Frances Tiafoe (2) 3-4(4) 4-2 4-2 4-2

Mikael Ymer (6) defeated Ugo Humbert (3) 4-3(2) 1-4 4-2 4-1