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Saturday 18 June 2011

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


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Updated during the tournament.

singles news dates go to individual news pages
monday 13 June
 click here for monday news, draw & order of play
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friday 17 June click here for friday news, draw & order of play
saturday 18 June click here for saturday news, draw & order of play

Saturday

18 June 2011
Seppi finally seals maiden title
Eastbourne 2011 winner Andreas SeppiAndreas Seppi (above) finally broke his ATP Tour duck with a fiercely-fought 7-6 3-6 5-3 triumph over tenacious Janko Tipsarevic, who retired at 8.30pm with a thigh injury.

A marathon day that kicked off early for both players turned into an almost never-ending day when the rain returned to interrupt the compelling final that last 155 minutes.

Tipsarevic fumed: "It's an absolute disgrace, the organisation ... not the organisation but the fact that what happened out there today. At 4-3 when I slipped I asked the chair umpire ' What else needs to happen for you to postpone this match' And he was just quiet. He was repeating like a parrot that we have enough light, we have enough light."

Serb star Tipsarevic, the no3 seed, was in emphatic form to overturn Japan's Kei Nishikori in straight sets, and made a solid start back on Centre Court against Seppi. However, the wily Italian began to master the big stage to pull off some remarkable groundstrokes that had started to wear out Tipsarevic.

The Italian battled back from the baseline with a string of winners and remained on the baseline once he knew how to exploit the few flaws of Tipsarevic. The resultant tie-break proved to be an entertaining affair with long rallies and unforced errors, Seppi's acute angles paving the way for a 7-5 success.

Tenacious Tipsarevic (below) probed Seppi by turning to a more aggressive game plan and counterattacking at every opportunity, which worked magnificently to earn a break in serve to reel off the second set.

Eastbourne runner-up Janko TipsarevicWith the grey clouds hoovering over Devonshire Park, a regular occurence this week, both players were eager to call it a day and claim their first singles title on the circuit. But it was Seppi who moved through the gears and notched his game in style to race into a seemingly comfortable 4-0 lead in the decisive set. His rhythm was broken by a swift shower when the umpire requested  the players to patiently wait 20 minutes on courtside for Centre Court to dry.

Tipsarevic, feeling the strains of a long day, was eager to call it a day so complained to the umpire about poor light that ended in some vicious finger-wagging by the Serb. Obviously upset with his request to go falling on deaf ears Tipsarevic then spent the forced break playing on his cell phone - although not using Twitter, maybe checking the weather forecast.

Janko Tipsarevic took a tumble to concede titleWhatever Tipsarevic (left) saw on his cell phone seemed improve his ability when they returned to battle it out as he reeled off the next three games in rapid fashion. Yet Tipsarevic remaining dissatisfied with the conditions that he referred to the umpire as 'greasy' and complained that the 'scoreboard was shining. The crowd, who has been seated since 10.30am waiting for the weather to improve, had little sympathy with the Serb who was greeted with 'get on with it' shouts from the spectators.

Then Seppi reeled off the next games and was perilously close to winning on merit, when serving for the title at 15-0, only for the Serb to concede defeat after taking a tumble and injuring his thigh. Tipsarevic had taken an earlier tumble and staring defeat in the face waved the white flag and conceded the title citing a thigh injury.

It was not a particularly gallant way for Seppi to capture his first title, especially as he was just a game away from earning the victory on merit. However, the sparse Centre Court crowd seemed relieved that a winner had been determined so that they could leave the cold and blustery Devonshire Park after their marathon day.

Seppi speaks about success /// Video of final

Semi-final reports

18 June 2011
Tipsarevic tears past Nishikori
Janko Tipsarevic wins semi-finalJanko Tipsarevic (above) blasted past Japanese ace Kei Nishikori with few problems on Centre Court 6-2 6-4, to register his fourth win on the bounce against Japan's no1 and have a shot of claiming his first ATP Tour title.

Nishikori got off to a flying start with incredible serving ability and powerful groundstrokes before tenacious Tipsarevic altered his tactics and started to dominate from the net.

Beaten semi-finalist Kei NishikoriThe second set continued in the same vein with Nishikori (left) looking flustered every time the Serb star approached. Tipsarevic has had a tough route reaching the final despite being the no3 seed in what is arguably a weak men’s event.

He had been badly affected by the rain but bounced back with aplomb every time, easily seeing off British wildcard James Ward in the third set at his second shot of completing the opening round tie.

The world no30 finished runner-up on grass at last year’s pre-Wimbledon warm-up at Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, and has improved on that run on his Eastbourne debut thanks to switching his skills to suit his opponent.

Yet the no-nonsense style of world no59 Nishikori was initially a major threat to Tipsarevic’s dream, with the Japanese ace determined to reach his second final this season.

Nishikori was unable to create the necessary chances to reach break point and relied too much on his service game and overpowering groundstrokes from the basline, which Tipsarevic used to his advantage with an array of neat touches and clever angles on Centre Court to storm into the final.

Seppi slides past keen Kunitsyn
Andreas Seppi v Igor KunistynAndreas Seppi saw off Russian star Igor Kunistyn on Court 2 6-4 2-6 6-4 in the battle of the virtual veterans.

The first ever encounter on the ATP Tour between the pair became an entertaining and enthralling encounter, with many Centre Court ticket holders preferring to watch a tight contest.

Russian ace Igor KunistynAlthough history was on the side of world no71 Kunistyn (left) , whose compatriot Dimitry Tursunov was crowned as the inaugural champion at Devonshire Park in 2009 and having battled past the Italian in straight sets a decade ago in a Futures tournament, the Russian bowed out at the semi-final stage for the second year on the bounce at Devonshire Park.

Eastbourne regular Seppi, yet to win an ATP Tour title, edged the opening set but was outmanoeurved in the second set to set up an enthralling decisive third set. Seppi, the world no51, turned on the style on big points but found Kunistyn's power strokes to hot to handle at times to leave the result on a knife-edge.

But wily Seppi stood his ground and with calm and collected shots moved into a slender lead and refused to relinquish it to pull off a deserved victory and set up only his second final appearance on the circuit.

Anyone could have won 2011 Eastbourne
text alertsKei Nishikori (left) beat Igor Kunitsyn in three closely-fought sets at 2010 Eastbourne in the qualifying event, revenge for a poor defeat at 2010 Washington.
Janko Tipsarevic has triumphed three times over Italian Andreas Seppi, most recently at 2010 Dubai, but has always struggled to sew up victory.
Igor Kunitsyn will be aiming to seek revenge if he faces Janko Tipsarevic after the Russian was brushed aside in front of his home crowd at 2010 St Petersburg despite winning their previous two matches.
Andreas Seppi has never played exciting Japanese ace Kei Nishikori but is eight places higher in the rankings as world no51.

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