GO TO TWITTER >>>


Thursday 16 June 2011

Men's Singles Draw // Men's Doubles Draw // Order of Play


Calling all tennis fans! Betting tennis with 888sport! Join NOW! 

Updated during the tournament.

singles news dates go to individual news pages
monday 13 June
 click here for monday news, draw & order of play
tuesday 14 June click here for tuesday news, draw & order of play
wednesday 15 June click here for wednesday news, draw & order of play
thursday 16 June click here for thursday news, draw & order of play
friday 17 June click here for friday news, draw & order of play
saturday 18 June click here for saturday news, draw & order of play

Thursday

16 June 2011
Nishikori takes step nearer to title
text alertsKei Nishikori captured the scalp of Czech Republic veteran Radek Stepanek (left) 6-2 6-3 to breeze into the semi-finals to produce his best ever run at Eastbourne. The Japanese no1 was bouncing eagerly around the court throughout the tie despite having already played – and beaten – German qualifier Rainer Schuettler only a couple of hours beforehand. This was the first ever match-up between these two and in-form Nishikori continued his formidable run this term – his fourth quarter-final this year - with few problems against the player who thrashed top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga yesterday. Nishikori’s run could continue to be crowned champion at Eastbourne if he continues to mix up his shots and no fear, and this victory extended his career-best number of annual ATP Tour wins to 19.
16 June 2011
Kunitsyn masters the art of finishing
text alertsIgor Kunitsyn appears to have mastered the Devonshire Park grass courts and handed France's Julien Benneteau (ace) a finishing lesson as he romped to a 6-3 6-2 success in their first ever meeting. The Russian, who has simply scythed through the draw to reach the semi-finals, is a rising star. He was in total command from start to finish, comfortably taking control at the net and dictating play with a creative variety of shots. After a swift opening set Benneteau then played percentage tennis yet still had no answer for Kunitysn’s fierce groundstrokes and powerful serve.

16 June 2011
Seppi steps up to roll over Rochus
text alertsItalian Andreas Seppi (left) continued his unbeaten run against Olivier Rochus to march into the semi-final courtesy of a 6-2 6-7 6-3 triumph. The pair met twice on clay last year, their only previous meetings, and Seppi appeared to once again see off the Belgian without dropping set. Rochus, who appeared slow off the starting blocks having seen off Carlos Berlocq earlier in the day, made a string of unforced errors to lose the first set 6-2. But Rochus made amends in the second set and took control, only to be forced into a tense tie-break that he won 7-5. With the outcome on a knife-edge both players set to the task of battling it out from the baseline and relying on solid forehand drives to earn precious points. One break of serve gave Seppi the advantage and he held his nerve to serve out the match and book a final four berth.

16 June 2011
Dimitrov's dreams destroyed by Tipsarevic

text alertsSerbian star Janko Tipsarevic (left) squeezed into the semi-final stage at the expense of 20-year-old Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 7-6, completing impressive back-to-back victories in the same day. Tipsarvic, in his third Eastbourne quarter-final on the bounce, has played a mean grass court all week but found the Bulgarian a handful before cruising in the second set tie-break 7-2.  Tipsarevic had the added confidence and swagger about him, partly due to the fact that he was the only remaining seeded player in the draw at the start of the day. Dimitrov started off with a flurry of winners but his opponent was exceptionally fast around the courts and deserved the two breaks of serve to take the opening set. Yet Dimitrov played to his strengths and tried to wear out Tipsarevic, who stopped chasing every ball like an excited puppy until the tie-break. With games going with serve the result looked in the balance, only for Dimitrov to play cautiously from the baseline and show nerves on his serve that Tipsareic punished to pull off a slender success.

16 June 2011
Double trouble tie-break for Berlocq

text alertsOlivier Rochus relied on a tie-break to dismiss Carlos Berlocq (left) in their rain-delayed second round match that resumed at 1-1 in the third set. In their first ever meeting Argentine Berlocq seemed to have the edge on Wednesday after taking the opening set 6-3, and fluffed opportunities to seal success to be forced into a tie-break that he narrowly lost 7-5. The return to the courts meant the victor would next face wily Italian Andreas Seppi for a semi-final slot, so both preserved their energy in the opening exchanges and neither attacked the net. The resultant tie-break again saw battling Berlocq try his luck to no avail and he bowed out graciously 7-3 to suffer a 3-6 7-6 7-6 defeat, although he will be riding high on confidence after impressive performances at Devonshire Park.

16 June 2011
Schuettler suffers Nishikoro KO punch

text alertsJapanese no1 Kei Nishikori (left) had a tough tussle before moving into the quarter-finals at the expense of qualifier Rainer Schuettler 6-4 4-6 6-2. The German veteran led 1-0 from last night before rain postponed the tie on Court 1, and the pair returned some classic grass tennis to treat the crowd. With Nishikori yet to claim an ATP Tour title, the world no59 is fast becoming the most likely victor come Saturday despite just three wins in as many years at Devonshire Park. His plucky and pacey style of play gave him only a slight edge over the delicate touch from world no118 Schuettler, so it came as no surprise that just one break of serve in the first two sets left the result on a knife-edge. Tiring 35-year-old Schuettler found the third set just one step too far despite his heroics of winning four matches to reach this stage, allowing Nishikori to dominate proceedings from the net and claim a hard-fought victory.

16 June 2011
Tipsarevic thunders past Kushushkin
text alertsJanko Tipsarevic had few difficulties in polishing off Mikhail Kushushkin (left) 6-3 7-6 to earn a quarter-final berth. The multi-tattooed Serbian star resumed against Kushuskin with a slender 2-1 lead from last night, when rain halted play, but seemed rejuvenated as he turned on the style with an array of thunderous winners and piledrivers that hardly bounced. But the second set was a game of cat-and-mouse as the pair relied on their powerful serves and baseline skills to battle it from the back of the court. With no service games dropped a tie-break ensued, which Tipsarevic was keen to wrap up and continuously charged the net to force Kushushkin into making uncharacteristic errors and triumph 7-2.

16 June 2011
All the news from Devonshire Park


text alertsQuarter-finals takes place from 11.30am.

Gates open at 10.00am.




2010 AEGON International 

DAY-BY-DAY NEWS | FEATURES | DRAW | RESULTS | ALERTS

  • French flair's final flurry

    AEGON International final, Eastbourne | 19 June 2010


    Mauresmo gives Llodra lift to title

    French ace Michael Llodra was crowned 2010 Eastbourne champion after brushing aside Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in their baseline battle, following vital tactical advice from compatriot and ex-Wimbledon winner Amelie Mauresmo.

    Veteran Llodra hit 11 aces to dismiss the Spaniard in the rain-interrupted final to win 7-5, 6-2 in quickfire 67 minutes and earn his second title of the season.

    World no46 Llodra (left), who had hit 50 aces at the tournament to reach the final showdown, had few problems with his magnificent serve to hold all 10 service games against Garcia-Lopez.

    The opening set was a tight cat-and-mouse contest, with Llodra securing the only serve break in the 11th game for a deserved 6-5 lead and nine aces. 

    Left-hander Llodra was constantly getting caught out by Garcia-Lopez's powerful passing shots, so had to abandon his usually reliable serve and volley tactics.

    The 30-year-old served out the set to edge ahead without facing a single break point, and held Garcia-Lopez (right) to just two points on the return in the first set.

    When rain briefly interrupted play during the third game of the second set, the Centre Court crowd were feeling the cold and hoping for a ray of sunshine to break through.

    But the only brightness was Llodra's much improved game after the short delay. After further advice from on-watching short-term coach Mauresmo, Llodra lifted his game to move up a gear and outplay his clay court expert opponent.

    The Spanish world no41's costly double fault gave Llodra the lead but then the French ace made a meal out of completing the rout.

    Llodra had to save two break points, the only ones he face in the final, and was cagey in breaking Garcia-Lopez's serve in the eighth game of the second set to capture the title.

    This was Llodra's fifth career title and his second on grass after triumphing at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2004.

    Llodra said: "I know I can play well on grass, but you still have to do the job out there on the court. It's always a pleasure to win a title, it doesn't happen every week so you have to enjoy it when it happens. 

    "It's been a great week and I felt good right from the beginning. At 6-5 in the first set it was a great time to break and I knew that if I stayed focused I would get my chances. Then it helped to serve first in the second set.”

    "When I came here I had a good sensation and it was a very good week, it's been really nice. I've been working with Amelie [Mauresmo] for two weeks now, we discuss a lot my game outside the court so I now feel more comfortable. I know the job I have to do, I can win or I can lose but I feel very relaxed, so I have to say a big thank you to Amelie."

I know I can play well on grass, but you still have to do a job out there on the surface

- Michael Llodra