Hall of Fame Championships quarterfinals
July 9, 2014
NEWPORT, R.I. — Seven of the eight seeded players have advanced to the quarterfinals at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. Defending champion Nicolas Mahut overcame Australian qualifier Luke Saville with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
“It was a tough match,” said Mahut. “He won many matches at Wimbledon; he qualified and won a round. On this kind of surface you have to be really focused on your serve and take your opportunities.”
Americans Jack Sock and John Isner also advanced to the quarterfinals, and will face each other in the next round.
“Everything leading up to the match, we’re good friends. In competition, we’re both going to want to win. Jack has an incredibly bright future,” said Isner about his friend on the ATP World Tour. “He’s got a lot of weapons in his game, especially with his forehand. He’ll only get better.”
In the closest match of the day, Ivo Karlovic edged Sergiy Stakhovsky, 7-5, 7-6 (3). Full results from today and the order of play for tomorrow is listed below.
In addition to the matches, there was a buzz around the property today upon Nick Bollettieri’s arrival in Newport for this weekend’s Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Bollettieri traveled to Newport ahead of the weekend to participate in several special events. Today, he hosted a free tennis clinic on the grass courts for kids at the tournament.
On Friday, Bollettieri will be participating in several events around the tournament’s AARP Day, highlighting how tennis truly is a sport of a lifetime. In the morning, he’ll host a free tennis clinic for ages 50+ (now at capacity.). In the afternoon, he will participate in a panel discussion around the theme “Life Reimagined” focused on change, challenges, and turning points in their lives after turning 50. Bollettieri, who is 82 years old and still highly active on the tennis court, will be featured on the panel, which will also include twelve-time Grand Slam doubles champion Owen Davidson and Charles Dress, of Warwick, a retired HR executive who has made tennis a major part of his retirement. The panel will be hosted by Barbara Hannah Grufferman, author of The Best of Everything After 50.
On Saturday, Bollettieri will be among the five individuals being enshrined in the Hall of Fame, along with Lindsay Davenport, Jane Brown Grimes, John Barrett, and Chantal Vandierendonck.
RESULTS – JULY 9, 2014
Singles – Second Round
Doubles – First Round
ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014
CENTER start 11:00 am
COURT 1
Not Before 3:00 pm