The Top 5 ATP Masters 1000 Hard-Court Match Winners
Of all the four majors of tennis, the ATP Masters 1000 is the highest level of tennis that is outside the Grand Slams. The surface to the hard-court event is the hard courts and these tournaments will shape the kind of season the best players are going to have. In a way, it is a battlefield where the talented ones test their skills against the world’s iconic arenas. In terms of pure hard-court dominance, five men stand out as having incredible match win records at these prestigious events. Here’s a look at the five players with the most ATP Masters 1000 hard-court match victories. 5. Andre Agassi – 168 Wins One of the greatest personalities in tennis history is Andre Agassi, and he scored his 168th victory on hard courts, entering the annals of Masters 1000 victory history. Agassi’s playing career spanned an era marked by the appearance of many talented competitors for this sport, and he was always one to be reckoned with, particularly in Masters 1000 tournaments. His first Masters 1000 match victory was recorded at Indian Wells in 1990, while his last was there too, 16 years later, in 2006. Agassi’s finest performance throughout his career happened in the Miami Open tournament. There, he had 59 wins and a perfect win percentage of 85.5%, with Miami being Agassi’s real fortress in his whole career. 4. Andy Murray – 177 Wins Britain’s Andy Murray is one of the finest hard-court players ever, whose defensive abilities are unmatched. He has 177 hard-court Masters 1000 triumphs and ranks fourth on that list. Like Agassi, Murray produced his first win on this level in Cincinnati way back in 2005, then again and again proved to be a persistent grass-court opponent on hard courts during his career. He last featured at the hard-court Masters 1000 level at the 2024 Miami Open after advancing to the third round. Murray’s best play came at the Shanghai Masters. He had 25 wins with an incredible win percentage of 82.1%. His great play on Shanghai’s fast hard courts made him winner of several editions of the title. 3. Rafael Nadal – 210 Wins Although clay courses through his veins, Nadal never did forget about his success on the hard courts. His ATP Masters 1000 titles there stood at 210. Nadal entered Masters 1000 hard court competition at the Madrid Open in 2003 and concluded it first at Indian Wells in 2004. His last appearance was in a hard court Master was at the Paris Masters in 2022. Nadal was at his best at Indian Wells; he has 59 wins with a fantastic win percentage of 84.3%. The only place he is not known as a clay-court specialist is on hard courts. His fighting spirit and adaptability have garnered him huge success on hard courts. 2. Roger Federer – 264 Wins Roger Federer stands in second position on this elite list, with 264 match wins on hard courts within ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Federer made his Masters 1000 debut at the 1999 Miami Open, where he lost, but he won his maiden Master 1000 on a hard court at the Miami Open, the following year. His latest appearance in a Masters 1000 tournament was in 2019 when he reached the quarterfinal stage in the Shanghai Masters. Elegant and flexible, Federer dominated the Masters 1000 events for two complete decades. The ongoing rivalry of the player with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal only added more glamour to these tournaments, and his unparalleled longevity is reflected in his win count. 1. Novak Djokovic – 267 Wins At the top of that is Novak Djokovic, a man whose dominance of hard courts has never been seen before. With 267 match wins up to his latest titles at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Djokovic fashioned a record that only continues growing even stronger. Serbian sensation Novak Djokovic made his Cincinnati Open debut in 2005 and earned his initial on hard courts Masters 1000 victories later in the same year at the Paris Masters. Djokovic was brilliant at the Miami Open where he notched a fantastic 86.3% win rate, his best performance at any Masters 1000 event in such terms, and took his record to 51 hard-court wins at Indian Wells. At 37, the Serbian maestro appears to be getting no closer to the slow lane as he demonstrates why he is part and parcel of the pantheon of all-time great players. The ATP Masters 1000 tournaments on hard courts have been defined through the contributions of these five players to the long history of the game in their respective ways. The struggle to become the best on the hard courts may very well be fought out by new faces down the line, however one thing is sure, these five legends will always be at the top. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
More On Back Injury That Forced Naomi Osaka To Withdraw From Japan Open
Naomi Osaka announced that she would not compete in this week’s Japan Open due to a back injury that has also forced her to retire from her last match at the China Open in Beijing. Osaka’s Back Injury At 26, Osaka has shown great form to live up to expectations. However that momentum didn’t carry over into reality as Osaka was matched up against eventual champion Coco Gauff in the last 16, retiring after the second set due to worsening back pain. Osaka complained of a locked back during a practice session prior to playing Gauff so was unsure if she could even play. Despite her willingness to have a go, she aggravated within the context of the game and had to withdraw. Background Information on Back Injuries Back injuries are usually a common and recurring medical problem with athletes, more so with high impact sports like tennis. The injuries can be caused by muscle strain, ligament sprain, herniated discs, or even stress fractures. Common symptoms involve local pain, stiffness, spasm, and loss of motion. Acute injuries occur suddenly with intense activity, while chronic injuries develop gradually from cumulative insult or poor biomechanics. Such is the case of Osaka, whose sudden withdrawal speaks to the vulnerable nature of the back, which easily compromises performance as well as overall well-being. Potent Remedial Measures The most effective treatment for acute injuries to the back will often involve a multi-factor approach. Above all, the athlete must rest; this can help prevent further damage as the body rehabilitates itself. Often, athletes are advised to cease participating in activities that worsen the condition, usually for a number of days to weeks depending on the severity of the injury. Ice therapy assists in the reduction of inflammation while also numbing the area, and heat therapy promotes blood flow and relaxes tight muscles that could be painful. Role of Physical Therapy The level of recovery is helped by physical therapy with a specific program that could focus on strengthening the muscles in the core and the back, improve flexibilities, and enhance stability in general. Techniques may include manual therapy, ultrasound, and specific exercises to help eliminate pain and restore normal function. Secondly, stretching routines can facilitate flexibility and reduce risk of future injury. Medications and Gradual Return to Activity Medication also forms a part of treatment. Analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, purchased over the counter, can comfort from pain and reduce inflammation. If the athlete experiences intense pain, health care providers will prescribe muscle relaxants or corticosteroids. The athlete needs to progress gradually towards normal activity. Swim or cycle to maintain a condition without too much stress on the back. Sport-specific training, introduced gradually after the pain subsides with professional assistance, is crucial in avoiding re-injury. It is a pity for the fans, but she deserves care and concentration on recovery to come back stronger from this moment on. The whole world of tennis will literally watch her recover and start leading up to the competitions with all the hopes she would return as soon as possible and as strong as possible. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Bopanna/ Sutjiadi go down in US Open mixed doubles semi-final
India’s Rohan Bopanna and Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi bowed out of the US Open mixed doubles competition after a straight-sets loss to the all-American pairing of Donald Young and Taylor Townsend. Young, who is playing the final professional tournament of his tennis career, and Townsend started the match on Louis Armstrong Stadium on a positive note, winning the first three games of the match. Bopanna/ Sutjiadi broke back to level the first set at 3-3 but the American duo broke again and then served out the first set 6-3. Also Read: Bopanna equals best US Open mixed doubles performance by reaching semis In the second set, Young/ Townsend broke Bopanna/ Sutjiadi in the fifth game and held on to that break to complete the 6-3, 6-4 win in just under an hour. Young/ Townsend to face Vavassori/ Errani in US Open mixed doubles final With Bopanna’s loss, India’s campaign at the US Open 2024 comes to an end. Young/ Townsend will go on to face Italian duo Andrea Vavassori/ Sara Errani in Thursday’s final. While Townsend and Errani have both won Grand Slams in the women’s doubles format, a title on Sunday would be the first Grand Slam of any kind at the pro level for either Young or Vavassori. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani
Bopanna, Bhambri crash out of US Open in third round
India’s campaign in the men’s doubles event at the ongoing US Open in New York came to an end on Sunday with both Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri bowing out of the event with their respective partners. Bopanna/ Ebden, the second seeds and runners-up here last year, were defeated 1-6, 5-7 by 16th seeds Maximo Gonzalez/ Andres Molteni. The Indo-Aussie duo was unable to earn a single break point during the 66-minute encounter while Gonzalez/ Molteni converted three of three break point opportunities to advance to the quarter-finals. Bhambri/ Olivetti also go down in straight sets at the US Open Earlier on Sunday, Yuki Bhambri and French partner Albano Olivetti went down to top seeds Marcel Granollers/ Horacio Zeballos 2-6, 2-6 in another third-round clash. The Indo-French duo was also unable to earn a look at a break point while Granollers/ Zeballos converted four of seven break point chances during the 74-minute win. India’s hopes now will rest on Bopanna in the mixed doubles competition. Bopanna and Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi will take on fourth seeds Ebden/ Krejcikova in a quarter-final clash on Monday.
Bopanna, Bhambri and Balaji advance to US Open second round
It was a good start for the Indian men in the US Open doubles competition with Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri and Sriram Balaji all winning their first-round matches with their respective partners. Bopanna and Australia’s Matt Ebden, the second seeds who reached the final here in New York 12 months ago, defeated Robin Haase/ Sander Arends 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday. This was the first win for the Indo-Aussie duo on the U.S. hardcourt swing after early losses in Montreal and Cincinnati. Bopanna/ Ebden advance to face Roberto Carballes Baena/ Federico Coria for a place in the third round. Bhambri, Balaji score maiden US Open doubles winsOn Wednesday, Bhambri and French partner Albano Olivetti reached the second round with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win over American wildcard duo Ryan Seggerman/ Patrik Trhac. This was Bhambri’s first US Open main draw doubles win. The Indo-French duo will next face 15th seed Austin Krajicek/ Jean-Julien Rojer, both of whom are former Grand Slam doubles champions. Sriram Balaji, partnering Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi, had the toughest time of the three Indians in making it to the second round. The Indo-Argentine duo lost the first set of their match against Marcus Daniell/ Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela before coming through in a third set tiebreak 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 (12-10). This was also Balaji’s first main draw doubles win at the US Open. Up next for Balaji/ Andreozzi are the eighth seeds Neal Skupski/ Michael Venus, both also former Grand Slam doubles champions. Meanwhile, in the first round of the boys singles qualifying event, India’s Rethin Pranav Senthil Kumar advanced to the second round when fourth seed Niels McDonald retired while trailing 3-0 in the first set. Senthil Kumar, playing his first-ever junior Grand Slam, will next face American wildcard Keaton Hance with the winner advancing to the main draw. India’s top-ranked men’s player Sumit Nagal bowed out of the US Open singles event after a straight-sets loss to world No 40 Tallon Griekspoor, of the Netherlands. Griekspoor started off the match on a strong note, winning the first two sets 6-1 and 6-3 before Nagal was able to put up a tougher challenge in the third set. The Indian got the first break of the third set in the 11th game to lead 6-5 and served for the set. However, the Dutchman broke back right away to take the set into a tiebreaker. Nagal led 6-4 and earned himself two set points. However, a forehand error from the Indian and a service winner from Griekspoor levelled the tiebreak at 6-6. The Dutchman then went the next two points to close out the win 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) in two hours and 10 minutes on Court 15 at Flushing Meadows. Insert sub-heading: Nagal’s doubles partner Nishioka forced to retire from first round singles clashGriekspoor will go on to play 21st seed Sebastian Baez in the second round while Nagal will focus his efforts on the men’s doubles event where he is partnering with Yoshihito Nishioka. However, Nishioka was forced to retire during the fifth set of his first-round match and it remains to be seen if he will be fit to take the court for the first round doubles encounter, likely to take place on Wednesday or Thursday. This was Nagal’s third appearance in the US Open main draw (now 1-3 record here) and marked the first time that the 27-year-old Indian has competed in the main draw of all the four Grand Slams in the same season. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani
Exclusive: “It would be a tough match playing two Americans at home” – Bhambri on US Open first round
India’s No. 2 ranked doubles player Yuki Bhambri and partner Albano Olivetti will begin their US Open campaign against American wildcards Ryan Seggerman/ Patrik Trhac in the first round. Coming into the final Grand Slam of the season ranked a career-high No. 48 in the world, Bhambri will be playing his first match in nearly a month when he takes to the court at Flushing Meadows. In the absence of matches, Bhambri and Olivetti have been putting hard work on the practice courts. “The only reason we ended up playing one tournament (Washington) during the hardcourt stretch is because we did not get into the other events. The Masters in Cincinnati and Montreal, the cut-offs were too high so we did not get in and the same in Winston-Salem. We had a good training week on the hardcourts though and are now looking forward to playing the rest of the season, starting with the US Open,” Bhambri said speaking exclusively to The Sportz Planet. Bhambri and Olivetti have never played Seggerman/ Trhac before but the Indian is aware that it will be a tough assignment. “Never played them before. This is the first time. From what I’ve read about them, they have been playing mostly on the ATP Challenger Tour but obviously they are top 100 doubles players so they must be good. I’m sure it would be a tough match playing two Americans at home. We are definitely going to try and prepare well and put our best foot forward,” he added. “Definitely a positive sign for Indian doubles going forward” – Yuki Bhambri Bhambri was one of four Indians to feature in the men’s doubles draw when it was released – the second Grand Slam in a row with such a high representation for India (Sumit Nagal has since had to pull out after his partner Yoshihito Nishioka retired from his first-round singles match and withdrew from the doubles as well). The 32-year-old described this as a positive sign for Indian tennis and is confident that the numbers will go up in the future. “I’m sure we are going to see more and more Indians on the doubles draws as well. It’s no coincidence that due to the support the Doubles Dream of India has been providing that a lot of our players have been doing well and reaching career-highs and I’m sure the number will increase from four in the future as well. Definitely a positive sign for Indian doubles going forward,” the Indian commented. Bhambri’s first round match at the US Open will take place on Wednesday or Thursday this week. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani
Nagal’s US Open campaign ends with first round singles loss
India’s top-ranked men’s player Sumit Nagal bowed out of the US Open event after a straight-sets loss to world No 40 Tallon Griekspoor, of the Netherlands. Griekspoor started off the match on a strong note, winning the first two sets 6-1 and 6-3 before Nagal was able to put up a tougher challenge in the third set. The Indian got the first break of the third set in the 11th game to lead 6-5 and served for the set. However, the Dutchman broke back right away to take the set into a tiebreaker. Nagal led 6-4 and earned himself two set points. However, a forehand error from the Indian and a service winner from Griekspoor levelled the tiebreak at 6-6. The Dutchman then went the next two points to close out the win 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) in two hours and 10 minutes on Court 15 at Flushing Meadows. Griekspoor will go on to play 21st seed Sebastian Baez in the second round. Nagal’s doubles partner Nishioka forced to pull out of the tournament Meanwhile, there was more bad news for Nagal as his doubles partner Yoshihito Nishioka was forced to pull out of the tournament after retiring during the fifth set of his first-round singles match. Nishioka was in the fifth set of his first round match against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic when he fell to the ground due to full body spasms and had to receive medical attention on the court. Nishioka/ Nagal will be replaced in the men’s doubles draw by an alternate team. This was Nagal’s third appearance in the US Open main draw (now 1-3 record here) and marked the first time that the 27-year-old Indian has competed in the main draw of all the four Grand Slams in the same season. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani
Suresh Dhakshineswar’s run in Winston-Salem Open ends in semis
India’s Suresh Dhakshineswar’s run at the ATP Winston-Salem Open doubles event came to an end on Friday night as he and British partner Luca Pow were knocked out in the semi-finals. The Indo-British duo, who play together for Wake Forest University in the NCAA US College circuit and received a wildcard into the main draw, were beaten by fourth seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in straight sets. Lammon/ Withrow dropped only seven points on their serve in the contest, winning 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final where they will meet Julian Cash and Robert Galloway on Saturday. The loss brought Dhakshineswar’s ATP Tour debut to an end. His semi-final result in doubles should take his world ranking from No. 1710 to the top 550 next week. He also reached the second round in the singles qualifying draw last weekend. 19-year-old Vaishnavi Adkar through to ITF final in Thailand Meanwhile, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, India’s Vaishnavi Adkar, seeded 8th, scored an upset win over third seed Rina Saigo 6-0, 6-3. The win moves her into the final where the 19-year-old will face fourth seed Patcharin Cheapchandej. Also, India’s Siddhant Banthia and American partner Tennyson Whiting are through to the doubles final of the ITF M25 Lesa event in Italy. Seeded second, the Indo-American duo defeated fourth seeds Gianluca Cadenasso /Noah Perfetti, both from Italy, 7-6(3), 7-5. Banthia and Whiting will face top seeds Giorgio Ricca/ Alexander Weis in the final on Saturday. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani
US Open 2024: Top Five Absentees From The Tournament
A couple of big names sadly had to pull out of the US Open 2024 due to injuries among other issues. Here are the top five pullouts. Rafael Nadal The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal leads the missing list. Nadal has suffered a plethora of different injuries this season. Nadal was placed on the entry list for the US Open, however he finally decided to pull out of it, citing that he wasn’t able to give the best performance. His absence from the tournament signals recovery time, with plans to return for the Laver Cup. This withdrawal from Nadal will turn out to be a huge loss for the US Open, where he has always been slotted for electric and special night sessions at the courts. Cameron Norrie One more big name who will not feature at the US Open 2024 is British No. 2 Cameron Norrie. The nagging forearm injury that has kept Norrie off the court for weeks just never came right, as he made a gutsy effort to be ready to play in New York but was unable to recover in time to feature there and therefore deprive fans of one of Britain’s top tennis stars. Nick Kyrgios Another player who is not going to feature in this year’s US Open is the flamboyant Nick Kyrgios, whose powerful game has been blighted by niggling knee and wrist injuries that have kept him away from competitive tennis since October 2022. He has managed to play just a single singles match in almost a year, and thus Kyrgios decided not to take part in the US Open to concentrate on a complete recovery. While he is set to play some exhibition matches, he will not be in the main draw at Flushing Meadows. Simona Halep Former world number one Simona Halep has had a really bad year and missing the US Open 2024 just adds to her woes. Due to a knee injury and an earlier suspension this year, Halep has largely been off the courts in what has been a straggly and inconsistent season for the former world number one. Despite briefly coming back to the tour in March, Halep has been bothered by her form and fitness, which eventually forced her out of competitive action. The US Open will miss her drastically, based on the grounds that she is a serially consistent performer in Grand Slams. Marketa Vondrousova Closing out the top five is Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion. Vondrousova has been going through a tough summer as she is plagued by several injuries which have really derailed her season. It all started at the Berlin Championships with a hip injury, and then another misfortune in the form of a hand injury added to the woes. She tried to get back on track at Wimbledon but didn’t succeed, dropping out early without defending her title. Vondrousova has pulled out of the US Open 2024 as a result of this injury as well; her woes continue. Impact for the US Open 2024 These are absences that can change the competitive fabric in 2024, the opportunity for new challengers to emerge into the spotlight. Their absence, of course, is going to be sorely felt throughout the tournament, but this is what makes for such an amazing Grand Slam: the surprise keeps tennis fans around the world screaming from their chairs. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Suresh Dhakshineswar through to doubles semi-final in ATP Tour debut
India’s Suresh Dhakshineswar and British partner Luca Pow advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP 250 Winston-Salen Open with a win over Gonzalo Escobar/ Aleksandr Nedovyesov on Thursday. For the second straight match, Dhakshineswar/ Pow won the first set, lost the second and then won a close match tiebreak – this time winning 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 to move into the last four. The Indo-British duo, who play together for Wake Forest University in the NCAA US College circuit, had upset sixth seeds Ariel Behar/ Andrés Molteni in the first round earlier in the week. Suresh Dhakshineswar projected to move more than 1,000 spots in the world doubles rankings next week Dhakshineswar/ Pow, who received a wildcard into the main draw, will meet fourth seeds Jackson Withrow/ Nathaniel Lammons or seventh seeds Marcelo Melo/ Rafael Matos in the semi-finals on Friday. Currently ranked No. 1710 in the world in doubles, Dhakshineswar is expected to climb into the top 550 in the world rankings next week and could go higher if he advances further in the tournament. The 6 foot-6 inch Indian had also competed in the singles qualifying event where he won his first round before going down in the second and final qualifying round earlier in the week. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani