Black Tennis Pros

American Taylor Townsend

(Oracle Challenger Series) In a highly-anticipated WTA matchup vital to determining who will earn the wild cards into the main draw of the 2019 BNP Paribas Open, No. 9 seed Taylor Townsend took on fellow American Sachia Vickery on day two of play in Indian Wells. It was Townsend who came out on top, besting Vickery in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 in a match that took just over an hour to play.

Townsend is coming off of a strong performance at the Oracle Challenger Series Newport Beach just last month, where she reached the quarterfinals in singles and was a doubles finalist alongside partner Yanina Wickmayer.

Holding 29 points on the Road to Indian Wells Leaderboard coming into the week, she will give herself a chance to earn one of the wild cards into the 2019 BNP Paribas Open if she can have her best Oracle Challenger Series performance yet.

Read the rest of this post...........

Sloane Stephens participating in the 2019 Abierto Mexicano Telcel Kick Off

2016 event champion and No. 1 seed Sloane Stephens wasted very little time in accomplishing today's goal of shutting down Pauline Parmentier of France.  In one hour and nine minutes, Sloane moved into the next round with a 6-2, 6-2 win.

In the post match interview, Sloane stated,“I felt good out there. Obviously I like coming back here and playing here. I’m happy to get that first win under my belt after having not played since Australia.

“I’m happy to be playing well and happier to have another chance to get back out on the court.”

Up next, Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Read the rest of this post...........

Once again, as Sloane Stephens took the court in Acapulco today, Tennis Channel commentators have found it necessary to throw American Sloane Stephens and Australian Nick Kyrgios into a boxed comparison. This is no less than the third occasion that I have heard male commentators on Tennis Channel utilize this 'lil idiom.

With no offense to Nick Kyrgios, if it were being done for the positive, it would be a different story. However, the moment you all make the comparison, you begin running down the issues that you have with Nick Kyrgios and his game. With all the negatives that have been assigned to Kyrgios, to now constantly attribute this same opinion to Sloane Stephens may be interpreted more broadly.

The issues and opinions that you have with Sloane and her game need to be limited to Sloane. Unless there's some new rule establishing grouping players deemed to have like "issues," cut the wack opining.

Oh, and FYI - Wack: not up to the mark : lousy, lame.

Read the rest of this post...........

American Frances Tiafoe in Acapulco at the 2019 Abierto Mexicano Telcel

Sixth Seed American Frances Tiafoe overcame his first set deficit in round one play of the 2019 Abierto Mexicano Telcel, and came back strong in the second and third rounds to defeat Australian Jordan Thompson 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Big Foe is on the Go! 💪@FTiafoe rallies from a set down to defeat Jordan Thompson 3-6 6-4 6-3 in Acapulco. #AMT2019 pic.twitter.com/ULKhLju2go

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 26, 2019

Read the rest of this post...........

American Nicholas Monroe and Doubles partner Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela in round one of the 2019 Abierto Mexicano Telcel

Nicholas Monroe

On Monday, February 25, in round one play, Alexander and Mischa Zverev of Germany, had a spectacular presentation in the doubles tournament of Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, defeating in the Caliente Grand Stand, the doubles team of American Nicholas Monroe and Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela of Mexico.

In a one hour and fourteen minutes match, “Sascha” and Mischa, only needed to break their opponents service in each set to win, in a game full of emotions because the public was always supporting the Mexican Reyes-Varela.

The final score was 6-3, 7-5.

Read the rest of this post...........

Frenchman Gael Monfils in round one of the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Championships

The Frenchman opens his first round of play in the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Championships with the same precision and consistency that he has always utilized at his best. In head to head competition, his opponent, Marin Cilic of Croatia, has never been able to prevail against Monfils in their four meetings. Cilic was defeated today 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.

During one game Monfils makes a point by exhibiting one of his very athletic jumps to smash the ball and the commentator makes a very apropos comment, "That's worth the entrance money, isn't it, alone... just look at this!" Oh, how true. 

Monfils has kicked off a purposeful and productive 2019. Go Gael!!

Read the rest of this post...........

Welcome to the Top 100, @felixtennis! After his thrilling run at the #RioOpen, the teenager soars up the ATP Tour rankings to No. 60 (!!) in the world. #FélixRising

Canada now has the two youngest players in the Top 100 in Félix and @denis_shapo. The future is NOW. pic.twitter.com/rgFuuNuvck

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) February 25, 2019

Read the rest of this post...........

Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and Laslo Đere during 2019 Rio Open Final Trophy Presentation

Félix Auger-Aliassime was disappointed with the loss and how he played, especially in the serving game, but give all the credits to Djere for the win. “Obviously today was tougher, especially my second serve fell apart for some reason and had been serving well for the whole tournament. It’s a little bit disappointing because obviously I was playing for the title and it was big for me. But at the same time I’m not gonna lose to much sleep for this loss. I've done good things this week and I’m gonna stick with the positives.”

The 18-year-old Canadian had the best week of his young career. He received a wild card for the main draw and defeated in the first round the number 2 seed, Italian Fábio Fognini. Then he got past by Christian Garin (7/5, 6/4), Jaume Munar (6/4, 6/3) and in the semifinals the experienced Uruguayan and 2016 champion, Pablo Cuevas (6/3, 3/6, 6/3). “It was one of the most special tournaments that I played. And having Guga in the audience in the final, a great inspiration, it was special. I will continue working and hope to return next year” said Auger-Aliassime.

Read the rest of this post...........