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MIAMI – Marcel faces Melzer
Marcel will face Jürgen Melzer in the 2nd round of the Sony Open in Miami. The Austrian who is unbeaten for the sixth match in a row overcame Ricardas Berankis in the 1st round 7/6 in the 3rd set. "I am looking forward to the match with Jürgen. He is a very agressive player with a strong serve and good volleys, definetely a test for my game. But I am ready to beat him," says a relaxed Marcel. We wish him all the best!
SONY Open in Miami – ATP 1000
31 seed Marcel awaits the winner of the match between Jurgen Melzer (AUT) and Ricardas Berankis from Lithuania. In the head to head statistics Marcel is 1/0 down versus the Austrian. If Berankis will get through to the 2nd round then it comes to the first match between him and Berankis.Granollers/Lopez Win Biggest Title Of Their Careers
by James Buddell
Sixth seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez became the second Spanish team to win the season-ending championships on Monday when they defeated fifth-seeded Indians Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna 7-5, 3-6, 10-3 in 90 minutes for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title at The O2 in London.
The only other Spanish duo to win the championship are Juan Gisbert Sr. and Manuel Orantes in 1975 at Stockholm, when they captured the title with the best round robin record.
Granollers and Lopez, who will compete for Spain in next week’s Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic, recorded their 40th match win of the season (40-16 overall). They are now 3-4 in tour-level finals this year, having teamed up in February.
Granollers and Lopez, playing one-up and one-back to great effect, took a 2-1 lead in the first set, after Granollers hit three successive forehands at Bopanna, who hit a backhand volley into the net on the deciding point. However, Lopez was broken in the next game. At 5-5, Bhupathi mis-placed two serves to fall to 0/30. The 38-year-old Bhupathi made two further backhand volley errors, off Granollers forehands. Serving for the set, Lopez faced sudden death deuce and break point, but Granollers intercepted a backhand volley to clinch the opener in 43 minutes. The Spaniards had won 23 of their 34 service points.
Midway through the second set, at 3-4, the Indians set up two break point chances at 30/40. Lopez centred play on Bhupathi, less flashier and powerful than Bopanna, to recoup one points, but on the deciding point Granollers committed a forehand error. Bopanna then coolly closed out to 30 with the team’s fifth ace of the set, which lasted 35 minutes. Bhupathi and Bopanna had won 76 per cent of their first service points.
Clever inter-play and defence by Granollers and Lopez gave them a 4-0 lead in the Match tie-break, which saw Bhupathi and Bopanna guilty of not putting away their volleys and rushing into their strokes. Having won six of the first seven points, Granollers and Lopez weathered a Bhupathi grounstroke blitz. At 9-3, with Lopez serving, Bhupathi put a forehand volley long. Granollers and Lopez ran to one another in celebration after capturing the biggest title of their careers.
Granollers and Lopez were the first Spanish duo to play at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals since Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez in 1994. Casal-Sanchez finished as runners up in 1988 and 1990.
Bhupathi and Bopanna end their partnership with a 34-22 season record. Last week, they won their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (d. Qureshi-Rojer) and played with confidence throughout the week in the English capital. Bhupathi, who was making his 12th appearance, has now finished as runner-up on five occasions – in 1997, 1999-2000 with Leander Paes and with Max Mirnyi in 2010.
The 2012 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals was watched by a record 263,229 spectators.
Granollers/Lopez To Play Indians In London Doubles Final
by James Budell
© Getty ImagesMarcel Granollers and Marc Lopez celebrate reaching the title match on Sunday at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
Sixth seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez set-up a title match against fifth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna on Sunday at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The teams have met once before in May at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
Granollers and Lopez became the first Spaniards to reach the season-ending championships final since Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez, who were runners up in 1988 and 1990.
Granollers and Lopez defeated eighth seeds Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen 6-4, 6-3 to book a place in Monday evening’s final at The O2 in London. Earlier this year, Marray and Nielsen beat the pair in the Wimbledon first round en route to the Grand Slam championship title.
Playing one-up and one-back, Granollers and Lopez frustrated their net-rushing opponents early on as they hit groundstroke winners. Nielsen lost his serve in the third game, which Lopez survived sudden death deuce for a 5-3 lead. At 5-4, Granollers served at set point, but also break point. Taking his time to serve, he hit an unreturned delivery that clinched the 40-minute set. Marray and Nielsen failed to convert any of their seven break point opportunities.
The Spaniards, who will compete in next week’s Davis Cup maintained their momentum in the second set. Lopez came through another game decided on a sudden death point in the third game. Marray and Nielsen got back on level terms in the sixth game, when Marray hit a backhand return down the line that Lopez could not lunge to and volley cleanly.
In the next game, Marray let slip a 40/0 lead, losing four straight points. Granollers fired a forehand return down the line, which Marray scrambled up. Nielsen went to cover his partner, leaving half of the court exposed. Granollers whipped a forehand crosscourt into space. At 3-5, 15/30 Nielsen double-faulted to gift the Spaniards three match points. He saved one, but the Spaniards were not to be denied, completing a memorable win in 78 minutes.
LONDON: Marcel & Marc clinch SF spot
by James Buddell
Sixth-seeded Spaniards are through to the semi-finals on their debut at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after defeating seventh seeds Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday evening.
© Getty Images Victory for Granollers and Lopez eliminates three-time former champions and second seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, who were beaten by third seeds Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek earlier in the day.
Granollers and Lopez advanced with a 2-1 record in Group A, having beaten the Bryans at the start of the week before losing to Paes and Stepanek. In Sunday’s semi-finals they will face eighth seeds Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen.
"It will be a tough match," said Granollers. "They've had a great season, especially at Wimbledon. We need to play a great match if we want to win."
Qureshi and Rojer got off to the worst possible start. Both lost their serves, but recovered one break in clinching Lopez’s serve on a sudden death deuce. Granollers, who lost three points in his three service games, closed out the set in 49 minutes with a hold to 30. Qureshi and Rojer had won just four of their second service points.
"It was a tough match," said Granollers. "They were playing very well during the whole season and we needed to win and I think we played a great match."
"We tried to play better than in our second match," added Lopez. "We needed to win in order to stay alive, against a team that didn't have anything to play for and that helped us. We are happy to get to the semi-finals."
Granollers and Lopez also beat Qureshi and Rojer at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in April. Victory, at The O2 in London, on Saturday evening, improved their season tally to 38-16.
The pair are the first Spaniards to play in the season-ending doubles championship since Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez in 1994. Granollers and Lopez will compete for Spain against the Czech Republic in next week’s Davis Cup final.
"It would be a perfect ending, something incredible [to win the tournament]," said Lopez. "We're enjoying playing on this court against the best teams and it would be amazing."
Qureshi and Rojer finish the week with a 0-3 record in round-robin play. This year’s two-time ATP World Tour titlists finish their season with a 34-25 match record.
ATP Finals – chance for SF still alive
Third seeds Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won their second Group A match against sixth seeds Spaniards 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 32 minutes. Who will qualifie for the two SF spots is still open – there are many "if's". Read the qualifying scenarios yourself:
Doubles Group A qualification scenarios after the completion of the 2nd round of the event's group stage:
1) Regardless of score, if B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN defeat L. PAES / R. STEPANEK and A. QURESHI / J. ROJER defeat M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ, then B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN win the group and L. PAES / R. STEPANEK qualify 2nd.
2) Regardless of score, if L. PAES / R. STEPANEK defeat B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN and M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ defeat A. QURESHI / J. ROJER, then L. PAES / R. STEPANEK win the group and M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ qualify 2nd.
3) Regardless of score, if L. PAES / R. STEPANEK defeat B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN and A. QURESHI / J. ROJER defeat M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ, then L. PAES / R. STEPANEK win the group and B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN qualify 2nd.
4) If B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN defeat L. PAES / R. STEPANEK in 2 sets and M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ defeat A. QURESHI / J. ROJER in 2 sets, then B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN win the group and L. PAES / R. STEPANEK qualify 2nd.
5) If B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN defeat L. PAES / R. STEPANEK in 2 sets and M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ defeat A. QURESHI / J. ROJER in 3 sets, then B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN win the group and L. PAES / R. STEPANEK qualify 2nd.
6) If B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN defeat L. PAES / R. STEPANEK in 3 sets and M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ defeat A. QURESHI / J. ROJER in 2 sets, then L. PAES / R. STEPANEK win the group and B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN qualify 2nd.
7) If B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN defeat L. PAES / R. STEPANEK in 3 sets and M. GRANOLLERS / M. LOPEZ defeat A. QURESHI / J. ROJER in 3 sets, then L. PAES / R. STEPANEK win the group and B. BRYAN / M. BRYAN qualify 2nd.
Marc & Marcel surprise three-time former titlist Bryans;
saving 1 M.P. in group A win
by James Buddell
© AFP/Getty ImagesMarcel Granollers and Marc Lopez celebrate beating Bob and Mike Bryan on Monday.
Sixth-seeded Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez got off to a dream start on their Barclays ATP World Tour Finals debut Monday when they defeated top seeds and three-time former champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 7-5, 5-7, 11-9 in one hour and 38 minutes in Group A round robin play.
The Spaniards saved one match point at 8-9 before closing out their first ever win in four meetings against the American team, who has finished year-end World No. 1 in eight of the past 10 years.
The Bryans took a 2-0 lead, but it was short-lived. Mike Bryan saved one break point at 5-5, but on sudden death deuce Lopez hit a well-place lob, that turned defence into attack, and came to the net for a smash winner down the middle. Lopez then closed out the 42-minute first set to 15.
With Granollers playing at the net and Lopez battling from the baseline, the Bryans were forced to change their own tactics, as they often got engaged in lengthy rallies, rather than short exchanges ending with volley winners. There were few chances in the second set, but the Bryans capitalised on a lack of first serves from Lopez at 5-6 to clinch the set. Lopez double-faulted at 30/40.
In the third point of the Match tie-break, Bob Bryan guided a backhand return down the line and went onto take a 4-1 lead. The Spaniards eventually got back on serve by blasting holes in the Bryans net defence. But Mike Bryan raised his game, returning with authority to move the twins within sight of their 60th match win of the year.
Lopez double-fauled at 6-7, but the Spaniards fought back to ensure a nail-biting end. Mike Bryan hit a backhand into the net at 9-8, before Granollers ripped a forehand winner down the middle for the Spaniards first match point opportunity. Granollers finished the 16-minute Match tie-break with a forehand, that Bob Bryan volleyed wide. Granollers and Lopez are the first Spanish players to compete at the season-ending championships since Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez in 1994. Spain’s Davis Cup doubles duo have compiled a 2-4 record in ATP World Tour finals and a 37-15 record this year.
Marcel & Marc qualified for the ATP Tour doubles final
After a great season Marcel and Marc are qualified for the ATP tour finals which are taking place in London this week. In the group matches they will face the Bryan's, Paes/Stepanek and Rojer/Quereshi. Read the full preview of the ATP:BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS 2012
© Getty ImagesA number of the doubles teams for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals line-up at the Royal Court's of Justice in London. Three-time former champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have been drawn in Group A alongside Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. They will also contest round-robin play against Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer.Defending champions Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor are pitted in Group B against Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau, the BNP Paribas Masters titlists Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna and Wimbledon winners Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen.
GROUP A
[1] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA)
[3] Leander Paes (IND) / Radek Stepanek (CZE)
[6] Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP)
[7] Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) / Jean-Julien Rojer( NED)
GROUP B
[2] Max Mirnyi (BLR) / Daniel Nestor (CAN)
[4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU)
[5] Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND)
[8] Jonathan Marray (GBR) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN)
Alternates
Colin Fleming (GBR) / Ross Hutchins (GBR)
The Bryan twins are competing at the season-ending championships for the 11th time, having won the title in 2003-04 and 2009. They were also runners up in 2008.
Mirnyi and Nestor will begin this year’s tournament on Monday against Lindstedt and Tecau, who have finished as runners up at Wimbledon for the past three years. The Bryans will challenge Spaniards Granollers and Lopez during the evening session.
On Tuesday, from 12 noon local time, Bhupathi and Bopanna, who took a Eurostar train from Paris to London, after they won their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 team title, take play Marray and Nielsen, while Australian Open winners Paes and Stepanek meet Qureshi and Rojer in the evening session from 6pm.
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is being held at The O2 in London for the fourth successive year. With tickets still available for the season finale, don’t miss your chance to witness the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams competing in the world’s biggest indoor tennis tournament. For more information, visit: www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com.
Marcel has beaten Gilles Simon for the third time in a row to secure a quarter final spot at the Valencia Open. The defending champion delivered a great mix of pace changes and sudden net approaches, that broke Gilles Simon's rhythm and consistency. In tomorrows quarter final Marcel will face Alex Dolgopolov. Twelve months ago they met in round one and Marcel prevailed 6/3 6/4.
Marcel begins title defence in Valencia
Marcel began his title defence at the Valencia Open 500 Wednesday with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over qualifier Jan Hajek. In the second round the 2011 champion awaits Gilles Simon from France. Good luck!
ATP Masters London - Marcel qualified for the doubles event
Marcel and Marc Lopez have qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals. The team currently ranked number 5 in the ATP Doubles Race to London reached the US-Open semi final and won the TMS 1000 in Rome. Togehter they also lifted the trophy in Gstaad and finished runner up in Toronto, Barcelona, Acapulco and Umag.
Marcel had to retire
Marcel was unable to finish his match against Croat Ivo Karlovic. After loosing the first set 7/6 Marcel hat to retire at 2/2 in the 2nd set due to an injury.
Metz: Marcel awaits Karlovic in 2nd round
Marcel will play Ivo Karlovic from Croatia in his opening match in Metz. It is their first meeting on the ATP tour. Karlovic won his previous match versus French qualifier Kenny DeSchepper 7/6 7/6. The biggest weapon of Karlovic is his serve. Marcel is known as one of the best return players on the tour – promising facts for an exciting match.
Marcel starts indoor season in Metz
Marcel starts his indoor season at the Moselle Open in Metz. Third seed Marcel has a bye in the opening round. In the 2nd round he will face the winner of big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic who takes on French qualifier Kenny De Schepper for the first time.
Marcel battles past Verdasco for first final of 2012
VEGETA OPEN, Umag, Croatia
© Getty Images Marcel Granollers finalist in Umag
Fourth seed Marcel Granollers has not ended his winning streak in Umag yet. After a thriller quarterfinal in which he prevailed against Bachinger 7-5 in the third set, Marcel beat top Seed Fernando Verdasco with a convincing 6-2 6-7 6-1 score. Constant change of pace and state of the art defensive tennis frustrated Verdasco who could not find any game solutions. Tonight's final against Marin Cilic will be tha chance for Marcel to win his fourth career title.
New all time high for Marcel – ATP Nr. 22!
After his great performance in Paris Marcel moves up the ATP ranking to number 22, a new all time high. Congratulöations and good luck for the upcoming grass court season.
Great Marcel tops Mathieu to reach 1/8 final of Roland Garros
For the first time in his career, Marcel reached the last sixteen of a Grand Slam tournament. Marcel impressed with great tennis in the match against Mathieu, especially in the first two sets and won them each with 6/4. But Mathieu did not give up and fought back, took set 3 and 4. The decision had to occur in the fifth set where Marcel showed a lot of fighting spirit. In the end Marcel took the final set 6/1.
Marcel goes onto face countryman, David Ferrer, who beat M. Yuzhny in straight sets.
Roland Garros – Marcel through to 2nd round
Marcel had a good start in Paris. He overcame Joao Sousa (POR) in 4 sets, winning 6/2 3/6 6/3 6/4. Marcel was struggling a bit when he got cramps in his right leg after the first set. But he got through this crisis, tried to keep the points short and was successful with his change in tactics.
In the 2nd round Marcel with face Malek Jaziri from Tunesia.
Marcel wins 1st title with Marc Lopez at the Italian Open in Rome
Marc Lopez and Marcel captured their first ATP World Tour doubles team title on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia as they defeated Lukasz Kubot and Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-2 in Rome. In an all-unseeded final, Granollers and Lopez saved all nine break points they faced and converted three of their six opportunities to claim victory in 80 minutes. Continue reading...
ITALIAN OPEN – ROME
Marcel awaits his Spanish Davis Cup fellow and fifteen seed Feliciano Lopez in the 1st round of the Italian Open in Rome. It is an interesting fact that it will be the first match between them. Hopefully Marcel will lead the head to head statistics by 1/0 after the match. Good luck!
Madrid: Marcel moves on to 2nd round in singles and doubles
After winning his first round doubles match against Raonic/Troicki Marcel also moved on to 2nd round in singles. He overcame Carlos Berlocq from Argenina in three tough sets 7/5 3/6 7/5. Marcel was quite happy with his victory over Berloq and is looking forward to his next match versus world number 13 Nicolas Almagro (ESP). Almagro who counts to the best clay court players already for many years will be a good test for Marcels preparation on the way to Roland Garros. In doubles Marcel and his partner Marc Lopez await the French Serbian team Llodra/Zimonjic in the 2nd round.
Marcel receives "Player 10 award"
The award is given from the APT (Association of Tennis Journalists) during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell each year to the player that demonstrates both strong tennis skills and good human qualities. "I am very proud and motivated for this sincere recognition, and doubly happy considering the value of the award itself," said Granollers, referring to the sculpture designed and produced by artist and former tennis journalist, Duaita Prats. Marcel finished runner-up with Marc Lopez in the doubles final of the ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament on Sunday.
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MARCEL GRANOLLERS ELEGIDO “JUGADOR 10”
El tenista recibió el tradicional premio que otorga anualmente la prensa española especializada en tenis durante la celebración del torneo de Barcelona
La Asociación de Periodistas de Tenis (APT) ha concedido a Marcel Granollers el premio de "Jugador 10", que se otorga anualmente en Barcelona, durante la celebración del Barcelona Open Banc de Sabadell-60 Trofeo Conde de Godó, en reconocimiento a sus cualidades humanas así como tenísticas en las que el año pasado brilló con sus victorias en los torneos de Gstaad y Valencia.
Pere Bonet, Director de Comunicación de Segura Viudas, en presencia de Manel Serras, presidente de la APT y otras personalidades de este deporte, fue quien entregó a Granollers el premio al Jugador 10 APT-Segura Viudas, una pieza escultórica única realizada Duaita Prats que fusiona dos mundos tan cercanos como son el tenis profesional de competición y el periodismo deportivo..
La relación de premiados por la APT como "Jugador 10" en colaboración con Segura Viudas, durante la celebración del Trofeo Conde de Godó, es la siguiente:
2012: MARCEL GRANOLLERS
2011: DAVID FERRER
2010: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO
2009: FERNANDO VERDASCO
2008: EQUIPO FEMENINO FED CUP Y CAPITÁN (MIQUEL Margets)
2007: RAFAEL NADAL
2006: ALBERT COSTA
2005: RAFAEL NADAL
2004: GUSTAVO KUERTEN
2003: CARLOS MOYÀ
2002: LLEYTON HEWITT
2001: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO
2000: ÀLEX CORRETJA
