Gilles Simon of France saved four match points in overcoming Igor Andreev of Russia 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7) in the first round of the Madrid Masters on Monday.
Simon saved all four while serving at 4-5 in the third set. Then the three-time title winner on tour this year came back from a 3-5 deficit in the tiebreaker to advance to a matchup with 11th-seeded James Blake.
Former top-5 player Tommy Robredo held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 in two hours, 19 minutes.
Robredo managed a decisive break point in the sixth game of the final set when Seppi slapped a forehand into the net. The Spaniard next plays eighth-seeded Andy Roddick.
Big Czech Tomas Berdych eased past Germany’s Rainer Schuettler 6-1, 6-2, while Marian Cilic of Croatia beat Belgian qualifier Olivier Rochus 6-3, 7-5.
American qualifier Mardy Fish hit 13 aces to beat Belgian Steve Darcis in his first match since he got married two weeks ago. Fish converted all four of his break points against Darcis to play Richard Gasquet of France next.
Lucky loser Simone Bolelli also advanced, beating Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-6 (4), 6-1. The Italian, who was entered only after former champion Marat Safin withdrew with a shoulder injury, will next face US Open finalist Andy Murray.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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