Wimbledon finalist returns to Estoril, joining Tsitsipas and de Minaur
Portugal Open joined the ATP Tour in 1990, staged at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Oeiras until 2014 when it lost the license due to lack of sponsors. From the following year, the event moved to the Clube de Ténis do Estoril in Cascais where it found the perfect home, with Richard Gasquet, Nicolas Almagro, Pablo Carreno Busta and Joao Sousa as the champions in the last four years. 2019 edition will take place between April 29 - May 5 and the organizers have signed the Australian Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and another young gun Alex de Minaur, both returning to Estoril after enjoying their time in Portugal last spring.
On Wednesday, the world no. 5 Kevin Anderson was confirmed as well, planning the Estoril trip for the fourth time and standing as one of the favorites for the title. Back in 2017, Anderson defeated Salvatore Caruso, Joao Domingues and Richard Gasquet to advance into the semis where he lost to Gilles Muller in straight sets, missing a chance to reach the first ATP final on the slowest surface. A year ago, Kevin suffered the first round exit against Tsitsipas, battling for over two hours before the Greek prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 with a better performance in sets two and three.
Anderson had mixed fortune so far in 2019, winning the title in Pune after a great comeback against Ivo Karlovic in the deciding tie break but losing to Frances Tiafoe in the second round of the Australian Open. The young American toppled Kevin in just under three hours after playing better in the closing stages of sets two, three and four, sending the South African home much earlier than he expected. After taking a week off, Kevin will compete in New York, Delray Beach and Acapulco, hoping for a better run and a chance to fight with Juan Martin del Potro for the place in the top-four.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2RyuSq0
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