ABC Tennis: Monaco

Showing posts with label Monaco. Show all posts

Friday, October 5, 2012

Monaco claims Malaysian Open

Updated September 30, 2012 23:07:19

Argentina's Juan Monaco clinched his fourth title of the year and kept Julien Benneteau waiting for his first ATP crown when he won the Malaysian Open 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in Kuala Lumpur.

The match lasted three hours and came a day after Monaco, the second seed and world number 11, came through a tight semi-final against Japan's Kei Nishikori.

The win keeps alive Monaco's hopes of reaching November's ATP World Tour Finals as one of the eight top-ranked players.

But it meant heartbreak once again for France's Benneteau, 30, who has now lost seven ATP finals.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, malaysia

First posted September 30, 2012 23:07:19

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Monaco outlasts Isner to win in Houston

Updated April 16, 2012 13:30:25

Argentina's fourth-seeded Juan Monaco outlasted US second seed John Isner for a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 triumph on Monday (AEST) in the final of the ATP US Men's Clay Court Championship.

Monaco, ranked 16th in the world, captured his fifth career title and his second of the year after a February crown at Vina del Mar. Before that, he had not won a title since 2007.

"This is a great moment in my career," Monaco said. "This tournament is going to bring me a lot of confidence."

Monaco, who improved to 5-8 in finals, had reached the semi-finals last month at Miami, losing to the eventual winner and world number one Novak Djokovic.

Isner saved 12 of 15 break points that he faced, but lost the only one he saw in the third set to surrender a break in the penultimate game of the match. Monaco held serve once more to claim the crown after two hours and 27 minutes.

"I came out of the gates slow," Isner said. "I wasn't quite there. It took a while to get warmed up and engaged in the match. I got better as the match went on. After the first set, the quality from both of us picked up a lot.

"I had some things go right in the second set but I had some things go against me in the third set. He was pressuring me pretty well all day. All in all, it was a good effort and was the best match I played all week."

Monaco had lost both prior matches against Isner, including a third-round affair last month at Indian Wells.

"We played a great final," Monaco said. "First set, I played really well. Then he came back in the second. In the final set, it was a battle. We fought until the last point. I served pretty well in the last game so I'm happy."

Despite the defeat, Isner will become the top-ranked American player in the world on Monday when he passes countryman Mardy Fish and moves up one spot into ninth in the ATP rankings.

"I'm making good strides this year. I just have to keep on working," Isner said. "I know there's room to improve in my game. I still need to get into better shape.

"I want to play 70 matches a year. To do that, I would have to have a pretty darn good year."

Isner, who sparked a US semi-final Davis Cup triumph on French clay last week to book a semi-final date with Spain in September, missed a chance for his fourth career ATP title and the first on clay.

Isner, a runner-up to Roger Federer last month at Indian Wells, lost to fellow American Sam Querrey in the 2010 Belgrade final in his only prior clay final.

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, united-states

First posted April 16, 2012 13:30:25

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Isner to face Monaco in Houston final

Updated April 15, 2012 10:31:15

John Isner outlasted Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to reach the final of the $442,500 ATP US Men's Clay Court Championship aganst Juan Monaco.

As a result, the power-serving American ensured he will rise from 10th to ninth in the ATP rankings on Monday, passing Mardy Fish to become the top-rated US player in the world.

"That has been one of my goals for a long, long time," Isner said. "I'm so happy to accomplish it."

Isner, who sparked a US semi-final Davis Cup triumph on French clay to book a semi-final date with Spain in September, will seek his fourth career title in tomorrow's final against Argentina's fourth-seed Monaco, who beat US qualifier Michael Russell 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in the other semi-final.

"It's going to be difficult for me," Monaco said. "I will have to be ready with my returns."

Isner has held serve in 44 consecutive games at the only ATP clay-court event in his homeland, although he was pressed for the first two sets by the Spaniard.

"I knew going into this match it was going to be tough," Isner said. "I always find myself playing my best when my back is against the wall and tonight was no different."

Isner, a runner-up last month at Indian Wells, seeks his first clay-court ATP crown against Monaco.

"It's most likely his best surface," Isner said. "I'm going to have to play well. He's having a great year."

Monaco, ranked 16th in the world, won his fourth career ATP title, and first since 2007, in February at Vina del Mar and reached the semi-finals last month at Miami, losing to the eventual winner, world number one Novak Djokovic.

Monaco served to reach a first-set tie-breaker but hometown hero Russell broke him in five points, claiming the set when the South American netted a forehand volley.

Monaco dominated the second set and battled in the third. Trying to level the final set in the 10th game, Russell sent a backhand beyond the baseline to hand Monaco a match point, then netted a backhand to send Monaco to his 13th ATP final.

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, united-states

First posted April 15, 2012 10:31:15

View the original article here