Memphis Open, Tennessee, USA, ATP 250

[Moxie]

DATE: 13-19 February, 2017
SURFACE: Indoor Hard
PRIZE MONEY: $642,750
FIELD SIZE: 28
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Kei Nishkori

Seeds:

1. KARLOVIC, Ivo
2. ISNER, John
3. QUERREY, Sam
4. JOHNSON, Steve
5. TOMIC, Bernard
6. MANNARINO, Adrian
7. DARCIS, Steve
8. LU, Yen-Hsun

The Tournament:

Going back to 1977, when Bjorn Borg won it, Memphis boast many number one players amongst its winners, including Jimmy Connors, Andrei Agassi and Andy Roddick. Kei Nishikori has won the title each of the last 4 years, a singular achievement for the tournament.

The Players:

Kei Nishikori won't be back to defend his 2016 title, so the field is headed by Ivo Karlovic. We might see some exhibition serving as John Isner and Sam Querrey make up the Top 3.

About Memphis

Located on the Mississippi River, home of the Blues, Memphis packs about as much cultural wallop as any small city could hope to. Elvis lived here, and Martin Lurther King, Jr. died here. Come for the live music and excellent BBQ, but a visit to Sun Records, where Elvis got his start, and the museum that was once Stax Records are musts. Graceland, Elvis's home, is cunningly smaller than you'd think...a weird combination of just-as-gaudy as you expected, and also rather like your parents' 70s house. The Civil Rights Museum is elegantly done and sobering, and includes the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was shot. It's haunting to stand in the place you've so often seen in the news photos. Memphis is evocative and funky. With live music everywhere, it's also loads of fun.

Tourism Guide:

 

[britbox]

Memphis Draw

 

[britbox]

Results from the Memphis International Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Monday

Reilly Opelka (U.S.) beat Jared Donaldson (U.S.) 6-1 7-5
Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spain) 6-4 6-4
Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) beat Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 6-4
Donald Young (U.S.) beat 6-Adrian Mannarino (France) 3-6 7-5 7-6(4)

 

[El Dude]

No thread for this one yet.

Seeds:
1. Ivo Karlovic
2. John Isner
3. Sam Querrey
4. Steve Johnson
5. Bernard Tomic
6. Adrian Mannarino
7. Steve Darcis
8. Lu Yen-hsun

Day One Results
Damir Dzumhur defeated Kevin Johnson
Donald Young defeated Adrian Mannarino
Reilly Opelka defeated Jared Donaldson
Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Guillermo Garcia Lopez

 

[El Dude]

This isn't as "sexy" a lineup as, say, Rotterdam, but what makes this interesting to me is that there is a decent chance a young player breaks through and wins a first title: Americans Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe, and Taylor Fritz, as well and youngish (22) Australian Jordan Thompson all are in the mix.

 

[bajana]

Bajan Darian King reels in Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-4 to record Barbados first ever main draw and top 50 ATP win. Hey, if the stars align, he may get past Brown/Kukushkin.

Well done Darian - all 260,000 souls on the island are proud of you - especially the 260 who play or follow tennis

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Is this tourney reserved only for big servers? uzzled

 

[britbox]

Results from the Memphis International Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Tuesday

Tim Smyczek (U.S.) beat Frances Tiafoe (U.S.) 6-3 5-7 6-3
Taylor Fritz (U.S.) beat 8-Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(7)
Ryan Harrison (U.S.) beat Konstantin Kravchuk (Russia) 6-3 7-5
Matthew Ebden (Australia) beat Peter Polansky (Canada) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-1
Darian King (Barbados) beat 5-Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-4 6-4
7-Steve Darcis (Belgium) beat Radu Albot (Moldova) 7-5 3-6 6-4

 

[herios]

This isn't as "sexy" a lineup as, say, Rotterdam, but what makes this interesting to me is that there is a decent chance a young player breaks through and wins a first title: Americans Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe, and Taylor Fritz, as well and youngish (22) Australian Jordan Thompson all are in the mix.

Tiafoe lost his opener match to Smyczek. Fritz scores a good win against Lu.

 

[Andrew William]

My boy Harrison looking solid against Sammy.

 

[Andrew William]

Nice clean victory for Ryan. Let's keep it going!

 

[britbox]

Results from the Memphis International Men's Singles matches on Wednesday

Round 2
Ryan Harrison (U.S.) beat 3-Sam Querrey (U.S.) 6-3 6-1
2-John Isner (U.S.) beat Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Donald Young (U.S.) beat Reilly Opelka (U.S.) 7-6(3) 6-3
Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) beat 7-Steve Darcis (Belgium) 7-6(2) 6-4

Round 1
Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-3 6-4
Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) beat Jordan Thompson (Australia) 6-3 6-0

 

[herios]

Nice clean victory for Ryan. Let's keep it going!

Andy, could you enlighten me, where are these improvements in Ryan's game coming from ?

 

[Andrew William]

Andy, could you enlighten me, where are these improvements in Ryan's game coming from ?

That's a good question Herios.

I'd like to think it's Andy Roddick's coaching haha. But probably he's just finally got his head screwed on right. He's always had an all around game imo. So yes, I'll stick with the mental aspect of it as being the biggest difference. Probably in the best shape of his career as well.

Maybe his engagement to Lauren McHale has something to do with it! If he could win an event like Memphis that would do wonders for his confidence I'm sure.

 

[Andrew William]

Does anyone know much about Damir's game? I'm not really familiar with that player.

 

[Andrew William]

Would be nice to see Donald Young pull off the upset against the Marathon giant.

 

[britbox]

Results from the Memphis International Men's Singles Quarterfinal matches on Friday
Ryan Harrison (U.S.) beat Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 6-3 6-4
Donald Young (U.S.) beat 2-John Isner (U.S.) 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(6)
Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) beat 4-Steve Johnson (U.S.) 6-0 6-4
Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) beat Matthew Ebden (Australia) 7-6(3) 6-4

 

[bajana]

Would be nice to see Donald Young pull off the upset against the Marathon giant.

Heh, you got your wish :clap

 

[Andrew William]

Heh, you got your wish :clap

Haha! Nice. I fell asleep and didn't get to watch it. From the scoreline it looks like it was an exciting match.

 

[Andrew William]

Harrison taking charge of the first set here. Doesn't look like Damir has enough power in his game to really dictate matters so far. He is trying to junk up things with slices and stuff to offset that. But as long as Ryan keeps his head and plays it smart he should be fine.