Filip Krajinović

[Damian]

[Damian]

Krajinovic Gives Serbia Early Lead

Spoiler:

Lajovic plays Ruud in No. 1 singles match
Filip Krajinovic survived a scare in the second set Saturday at ATP Cup, defeating Norway’s Viktor Durasovic 6-2, 7-5 to earn his first win of the season and give Serbia a 1-0 lead in its Group A tie.

“I was a little bit nervous at the end of the second set,” Krajinovic said in his on-court interview. “I missed some shots, which is normal as it is my first match this year and there are a lot of expectations. It is not easy, but we are happy we are leading 1-0.”

The World No. 42, who was making his ATP Cup singles debut on the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, led by a set and a break as he hit consistently and returned with great depth on his backhand to force Durasovic into errors in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.



However, from 4-2 ahead in the second set, Krajinovic lost three consecutive games, before he regained his focus to secure his victory against the World No. 345 after 73 minutes. The 29-year-old broke four times and won 79 per cent (27/34) of his first-serve points en route to his win.

“It is not easy to play for Serbia without Djokovic,” Krajinovic added. “The expectations are very big. Whatever you do is not enough because he is No. 1 and the greatest of all time. I am sure he is watching us now and cheering for us.”

Later on Saturday, World No. 8 Casper Ruud will look to level the tie for Norway when he faces Dusan Lajovic in the No. 1 singles match.

The ATP Cup format sees the No. 2 singles played first, followed by the No. 1 singles and doubles.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/norway- ... 2022-day-1

[Damian]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Krajinovic Hands Serbia Early Lead Against Chile

Spoiler:

Filip Krajinovic ensured defending champion Serbia got off to a strong start on Monday against Chile with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) victory over Alejandro Tabilo in Group A at the ATP Cup.

"I was controlling the match up a set and a break, then he began to play better and made some unbelievable passing shots," said Krajinovic. "I got tight, which is normal when you play for your country. At the end, he came up with some big serves and I'm very proud to have won. It means a lot to start the year well."

Dusan Lajovic will now look to clinch the tie-winning point with victory over Chile’s Cristian Garin, who beat his Serbian opponent in February 2013 for his first ATP Tour match win at Vina del Mar.



Krajinovic broke through at 3-3 in the first set on Qudos Bank Arena, when good scrambling resulted in a low backhand winner. The World No. 42 won 14 of 17 points at the net and closed out the 40-minute opener with an ace down the T.

When his best shots came back, Tabilo went for more power and it cost him in the first game of the second set. But credit to the 24-year-old, he kept fighting and won five straight games – breaking serve courtesy of Krajinovic groundstroke errors at 1-2 and 2-3. Tabilo went onto convert his third set point with a forehand winner, his 22nd winner of the 41-minute set.

The decider was full of momentum swings, at first for World No. 139 Tabilo with an early service break and then Krajinovic, who opened up a 3-1 advantage. Tabilo recovered and forced Krajinovic to save a break point with a forehand winner at 5-5. When it came to the crunch though in the tie-break, Krajinovic did just enough to complete victory in two hours and 26 minutes.

Krajinovic beat Norway’s Viktor Durasovic on his ATP Cup singles debut on Saturday and later partnered Nikola Cacic to doubles victory. Chile lost to Spain in its first group match in Sydney.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/serbia- ... 022-monday

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Barty]

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[Damian]

In second-round action later in the day, fifth seed Filip Krajinovic ended the feel-good run of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4, 7-6(2), though the Frenchman can take heart from a battling performance against the World No. 36.

“I think I played a very, very good match,” Krajinovic assessed. “I started really well. I knew Tsonga is always a dangerous player. He’s a great champion and I knew that he was going to serve big.”


The Serb’s decision to receive first paid dividends with an immediate break of serve on the lone break point of the first set. There was more drama in set two, as Tsonga stepped up his aggression and created five unclaimed break points. The Frenchman showed why he reached the heights of World No. 5 with some exquisite touch at the net and well-placed passing shots, but he could not stop his opponent from running away with the tie-break.

“I think he served really big in the second set especially,” Krajinovic continued, “but I stayed in the match. I was playing aggressive and my tactic was working today.”

The 29-year-old is through to the Montpellier quarter-finals for the third time in three appearances. He reached the semis in 2020, losing to Gael Monfils.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/gasquet ... -wednesday

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

Krajinovic booked his spot in the last four in Montpellier for a second time, defeating Bosnian qualifier Damir Dzumhur 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 39 minutes.

“I knew he is a very talented player," Krajinovic said in his on-court interview. "We have known each other for a long time. We were both tight in the first set, but I somehow managed to find a way to win the set. In the second set, I stayed with my game and I am happy to be in the semi-finals again.”

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The fifth seed, who enjoyed a run to the semi-finals at the ATP 250 event in 2020, rallied from a break down in the first set against Dzumhur before he established control in the second set with his aggressive ball striking to triumph in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.

The 29-year-old is aiming to capture his first tour-level title in Montpellier, having advanced to four finals at this level.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/bautist ... 022-friday

[Damian]

[Damian]