Tennis: Coric climbs 123 ranking places after Cincinnati title

PARIS, France -- Croatia's Borna Coric soared a remarkable 123 places in the ATP rankings on Monday after becoming the lowest ranked player to win a Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati.

The 25-year-old spent a year out of action with a shoulder injury which required surgery, before returning in March.

He arrived in Cincinnati as the world number 152 after spending much of his 2022 season on the second-tier Challenger circuit but is now ranked 29th.

Coric dropped just one set in the tournament, against 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the second round, and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's final.

Tsitsipas climbed two places to world number five, while Cincinnati semi-finalist Cameron Norrie jumped two spots to a career-high ranking of ninth.

ATP top 20:

1. Daniil Medvedev 6,885 pts

2. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5,760

3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5,630

4. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 5,190

5. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,890 (+2)

6. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4,770

7. Casper Ruud (NOR) 4,695 (-2)

8. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 3,625 (+1)

9. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 3,415 (+2)

10. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3,355

11. Andrey Rublev 3,120 (-3)

12. Taylor Fritz (USA) 3,090 (+1)

13. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 3,020 (-1)

14. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 2,375

15. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,360

16. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,200

17. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2,175

18. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 1,840 (+1)

19. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,730 (-1)

20. Alex de Minaur (AUS) 1,665

Selected:

29. Borna Coric (CRO) 1,360 (+123)

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: No.1 Medvedev advances while No.1 Swiatek sinks in Cincy

Top-ranked Daniil Medvedev advanced to the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters quarter-finals on Thursday while women's world number one Iga Swiatek was upset by American Madison Keys.

Top seed Medvedvev kept Denis Shapovalov winless against world number ones with a 7-5, 7-5 victory while Poland's Swiatek lost 6-3, 6-4 to 2019 Cincinnati champion Keys, who needed five match points to finish off the shock triumph.

Shapovalov, who lost in an hour and three-quarters, has dropped all eight career matches he has played against the elite echelon.

Medvedev moved into a quarter-final against 11th seed Taylor Fritz after the American stopped number six seed Andrey Rublev 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 7-5.

"It was a fight today, definitely not easy," said Medvedev, who clinched the top US Open seeding when Rafael Nadal lost here in the second round.

"The match was pretty tight, played at a great level. My goal was to stay in every point possible and try to put pressure on him if I had the chance."

Medvedev secured late breaks in both sets as he matched his volatile Canadian opponent.

Medvedev and Fritz have never played.

"We trained together at the start of the season before the ATP Cup," Medvedev said. "He won Indian Wells, he's a Masters champion. I need to be at my best to try and beat him."

Unseeded Keys was thrilled with her defeat of Swiatek, against whom she had lost two prior matches.

"I had a couple of games with a couple of match points," Keys said. "She beat me pretty badly last time so I'm happy to get the win."

Swiatek never found an ace and was broken five times as she fought back in vain after standing one game from defeat.

It was the second week in a row that the Pole, who put together a 37-match win streak this season, lost in a Masters third round. She suffered the same fate in Toronto seven days earlier.

Keys plays on Friday against Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, who advanced to the last eight 6-2, 6-4 over Alison Riske-Amritraj.

Also ousted was Estonian second seed Anett Kontaveit, who fell to China's Zhang Shuai 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

- Pegula beats Raducanu -

Top-ranked American Jessica Pegula ended the run of US Open champion Emma Raducanu 7-5, 6-4, sending the Briton onto the practice courts before the August 29 start of her Grand Slam title defense.

Raducanu will head to New York with a 15-18 record since her 2021 title triumph and will drop from the top-10 after failing to reach the quarter-finals.

The teenager put a backhand into the net to give her opponent a match point, with Pegula sending over a service winner to wrap up the victory in an hour and three-quarters on her opponent's 21st unforced error.

"I didn't feel amazing out there," Pegula said after reaching her seventh career quarter-final at a Masters 1000. "I've never hit with Emma, there was a lot to get used to.

"I'm happy with how I competed and stayed in it. I'm glad I handled things really well. I've been playing very consistently, no dramas, get out there and do what you've got to do. I try to do that every single week."

Czech Petra Kvitova, twice a Wimbledon champion, defeated Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur 6-1, 4-6, 6-0. Kvitova broke six times as her fifth-ranked Tunisian opponent committed six double-faults.

Borna Coric, who upset second seed Rafael Nadal, continued his injury comeback progress by beating Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-3.

Number 152 Coric is the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finalist since 239th-ranked Ivo Karlovic at 2011 Indian Wells.

Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, semi-finalist at the last two editions, defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3.

John Isner sent down 20 aces in a 7-6 (7/3), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of US compatriot Sebastian Korda. At 37, Isner is the oldest Cincinnati men's quarter-finalist in the post-1968 Open Era.

Isner passed Roger Federer, who was a younger 37 when he reached his most recent Cincinnati quarter-final in 2018.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Kyrgios overcomes tricky Davidovich Fokina in Cincinnati opener

CINCINNATI -- Nick Kyrgios began the last major US Open tune-up with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Masters.

The Australian marched through with 29 winners - including 10 aces - and three breaks of the Spaniard's serve to reach the second round.

The 28th-ranked Kyrgios has won all 11 of his first-round matches this season and won his 22nd match since returning to the ATP in June after skipping the clay season.

He now faces good friend Taylor Fritz after the American crushed Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-1.

"Physically, I didn't feel the best, but you have to keep pushing, keep trying," Kyrgios said.

"Alejandro's a hell of a player, he's got a lot of shots at his disposal. I had to serve well and dictate," the Montreal quarter-finalist aded.

"It was tricky conditions out there, the courts are a lot more lively than Montreal, it was harder to control the ball."

Kyrgios took 50 minutes to secure the first set, wrapping it up after a break in the penultimate game with back-to-back serve winners.

He went up an early break to start the second set but lost it three games later as the dissatisfied Australian kept up a frustrated gripe session with his three-strong support box as Davidovich Fokina made it 2-2.

Kyrgios struck straight back with a love break to regain control 3-2 and ran out the winner in 91 minutes on his second match point.

It marked a happy return to Cincinnati for Kyrgios, who was fined a record $113,000 during a spectacular meltdown at the tournament in 2019 when he smashed two racquets in the locker room in a loss to Karen Khachanov.

Kyrgios acknowledged his turbulent history at the tournament after Tuesday's win.

"I've played some amazing tennis here and had some crazy outbursts," he said. 

"It's a flip of the coin as to which Kyrgios shows up here.

"Hopefully this time around it's just a calm, collected -- I just want to have a good week before I continue on the good habits and give myself all the best for preparation for the US Open.

"I have been an emotional kind of tennis player my entire career. Ever since I picked up a racquet, my mum used to watch me throw tantrums and cry on the court and be emotional when I lost.

"That's just me showing that I do care about the result - I think that's important. 

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Alcaraz breaks into top 5 by reaching Hamburg final

HAMBURG, Germany -- Carlos Alcaraz will become the youngest player to reach the top five of the ATP rankings since Rafael Nadal in 2005 after powering into his fifth ATP final of the season in Hamburg on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Spaniard eased to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 success against Slovakian Alex Molcan and will face Lorenzo Musetti in Sunday's final at the clay-court event.

Alcaraz has won all five of his previous Tour finals, including Masters triumphs in Miami and Madrid earlier this year.

"Lorenzo is playing really well," Alcaraz said. "Of course he's a great player. It's going to be a great final.

"He has played great matches before the final. (I have) as well, so I have a lot of confidence for the final and hope to make it six-for-six."

He will pass Casper Ruud, who reached the Gstaad final on Saturday, in the updated rankings which will be released on Monday.

Alcaraz struggled to pull away from Molcan in the first set, being broken when serving for the match at 5-3.

But he eventually wrapped it up on his fifth set point in a tie-break and raced through the second set.

Earlier, Italy's Musetti reached his first ATP Tour final with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Francisco Cerundolo.

"It means a lot for me," the 20-year-old said.

"It's a surprise for me because I was not playing my best tennis last week (in Bastad), so I didn't expect to be in the final here."

The world number 62 dominated the majority of the match but missed a match point when leading 5-4 in the second set when an underarm serve backfired.

Musetti regrouped though to win in a tie-break, beating an in-form Cerundolo who won the Bastad title last week.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Medvedev stays top of ATP rankings, Hurkacz back in top 10

PARIS, France -- Russian Daniil Medvedev remained top of the ATP rankings released Monday despite his loss in the Halle final over the weekend to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Hurkacz's victory saw him jump two spots into 10th place while Italian Matteo Berrettini, who won on grass at Queen's, falls to 11th and Britain's Cameron Norrie to 12th.

Serbia's Filip Krajinovic, the losing Queen's finalist, rose from 48th to 31st.

ATP rankings as of June 20, 2022

1. Daniil Medvedev 8160 pts

2. Alexander Zverev (GER) 7030

3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6770

4. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6525

5.Casper Ruud (NOR) 5050

6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4945

7. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 4893

8. Andrey Rublev 3870

9. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 3760

10. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3738 (+2)

11. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 3480 (-1)

12. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 3200 (-1)

13. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 3185

14. Taylor Fritz (USA) 2920

15. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2325 (+1)

16. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2293 (-1)

17. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2220

18. Reilly Opelka (USA) 2100

19. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2045

20. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 1903

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Murray says Wimbledon 'will never be an exhibition'

LONDON -- Two-time former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said Wednesday the tournament "will never feel like an exhibition" despite it being stripped of ranking points over the ban on Russian and Belarusian players.

The decision by the ATP and WTA to remove the sport's most prestigious tournament of ranking points has prompted some players to say they may skip Wimbledon, the year's third Grand Slam.

"I'd hazard a guess that most people watching on centre court Wimbledon in a few weeks' time wouldn't know or care about how many ranking points a player gets for winning a 3rd round match," tweeted Murray.

"But I guarantee they will remember who wins. Wimbledon will never be an exhibition and will never feel like an exhibition."

Former world number one Naomi Osaka has revealed she is "leaning towards not playing" Wimbledon while defending champion Novak Djokovic said he will play despite losing 2,000 points.

But Djokovic described it as a "lose-lose situation", and the controversy has showed no signs of abating, with several players at the ongoing French Open likening Wimbledon to a high-profile exhibition event this year.

"I follow golf very closely and have no idea how many ranking points the winner of the the Masters gets," said Murray, who opted to miss the French Open to prepare for the grass-court season.

"Me and my friends love football and none of us know or care how many ranking points a team gets for winning the FIFA World Cup.

"But I could tell you exactly who won the World Cup and the Masters." 

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Djokovic keeps iron grip on number one ranking

PARIS, France -- Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic made it 329 weeks as world number one after collecting his third Grand Slam title of the year, when the new ATP rankings were released on Monday. 

Djokovic, who has already pocketed the Australian and French Opens as well as Wimbledon, is almost 2,000 points ahead of Daniil Medvedev who remains at number two. 

Matteo Berrettini, who lost Sunday's Wimbledon final to the Serb, moves up one place to eighth while Roger Federer, who has spent 310 weeks at number one in the past, dropped a place to nine.

Hubert Hurcacz, who beat Federer and became the first Pole to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, climbed seven places from 18 to 11. 

Two Canadians were also on the rise with 20-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, going up four places to 15th while Denis Shapovalov edged into the top 10 after succumbing to Djokovic in the semifinals at the All-England Club.

ATP rankings as of July 12

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 12,113 pts

2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 10,370

3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,270

4. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 8,150

5. Alexander Zverev (GER) 7,475 (+1)

6. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 7,425 (-1)

7. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 6,255

8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 5,488 (+1)

9. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,215 (-1)

10. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 3,625 (+2)

11. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3,163 (+7)

12. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 3,060 (-1)

13. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2,940

14. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,765 (-4)

15. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 2,738 (+4)

16. Casper Ruud (NOR) 2,725 (-2)

17. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 2,690 (-2)

18. Christian Garín (CHI) 2,610 (+2)

19. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,603 (-2)

20. David Goffin (BEL) 2,500 (-4)

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Nadal stays third in ATP rankings despite Rome triumph

PARIS, France -- Rafael Nadal remained third in the ATP rankings published on Monday despite seeing off Novak Djokovic to win a 10th Italian Open title at the weekend.

Spaniard Nadal set down a key marker on Sunday, two weeks out from the defence of his Roland Garros crown with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 over Djokovic, who stays top of the rankings.

Nadal, a 13-time French Open winner, is also behind Daniil Medvedev, who suffered a second round exit in Rome to continue his struggles on clay.

The United States enters its second week without a player in the top 30, with Taylor Fritz dropping a place down to 32nd.

Fritz's compatriot Reilly Opelka has moved up 12 places to 35th. 

ATP top 20 on Monday (changes in brackets):

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 11063 points 

2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 9793 

3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9630 

4. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 8445 

5. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 7430 

6. Alexander Zverev (GER) 7115 

7. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 6090 

8. Roger Federer (SUI) 5605 

9. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 3958 

10. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 3465 

11. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 3215 

12. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 3085 

13. David Goffin (BEL) 2875 

14. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2703 (+1) 

15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2675 (-1) 

16. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2518 (+4) 

17. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 2500 (+1) 

18. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 2498 (+1) 

19. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 2498 (+2) 

20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2496 (-3)

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Djokovic concedes upgrades needed after Belgrade failure

BELGRADE, Serbia -- World number one Novak Djokovic admitted he needs to work on his game ahead of next month's French Open after he was knocked out by Aslan Karatsev in the Belgrade semi-finals on Saturday.

The 28th-ranked Karatsev saved 23 of 28 break points to advance to his second final of the year following a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory, gaining a measure of revenge for his defeat by Djokovic in the last four of the Australian Open.

It was a second surprise loss in as many weeks for Djokovic, who was also beaten in the last 16 of the Monte Carlo Masters by Britain's Dan Evans.

Djokovic is registered for the Madrid Open but did not confirm whether he would play at the May 2-9 Masters-level event which will feature reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

"Roland Garros is the main goal but I need to play better if I'm thinking about doing something there. I have a lot of work ahead of me," said the 18-time Grand Slam champion.

Djokovic commended the "bravery" of Karatsev and his "excellent play in the important moments" but revealed he felt "dizzy" in the third set.

Karatsev rose from 114th to inside the top 50 following his improbable run as a qualifier at the Australian Open, as Djokovic won the tournament for a record ninth time.

"You have to put (in) like 200 per cent to beat this guy, it's like playing against a wall," said Karatsev.

"This is definitely (the biggest win of my career), it's the World No. 1," he added.

"I'm really happy, I put everything on the court. The match was long. I'm really happy with my performance today."

Djokovic, the 2009 and 2011 champion at the event which is played at a venue which carries his name, surrendered a 3-0 advantage in the opening set as he dropped serve three times.

The Serb then fell 4-2 behind in the second but summoned his well-documented powers of recovery to win four straight games and send the match to a deciding set.

Dubai champion Karatsev fended off eight break points in the third set before winning Djokovic's service game to move 4-3 ahead and leave the top seed on the brink.

Djokovic saved a match point down 5-3 to force Karatsev to serve it out. The third seed saved two further break points as he completed a landmark win after three hours and 25 minutes.

Karatsev will face 10th-ranked Matteo Berrettini in Sunday's final after he overcame Japan's world number 126 Taro Daniel.

The Italian dropped serve while serving for the match in the second set but regrouped to advance 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-0.

Second seed Berrettini will target his first title since winning on grass at Stuttgart in June 2019.

Daniel had been the first lucky loser to reach an ATP semi-final this year. 

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Tsitsipas 'learns to breathe' and captures maiden Masters title

MONACO -- Stefanos Tsitsipas crushed Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday in a one-sided final in the Monte Carlo Open for his first Masters 1000 title and put his success to "learning to breathe".

The Greek 22-year-old world number five took just one hour and 11 minutes to beat the Russian, ranked eighth, for the biggest victory in his career, after his triumph in the year-end ATP Finals in 2019.

"Breathing is something I've been working on the last couple of months with my psychologist," said Tsitsipas, who said he has taken up meditation and is "inspired by Buddhism".

"I find breathing very important especially when I'm performing or playing, breathing helps me control myself and have full control of what I'm doing out there.

"Definitely something that I've been putting a lot of work in the last couple of weeks."

The Greek's victory in his seventh match against 23-year-old Rublev gave him a 4-3 advantage in their head-to-head meetings.

Tsitsipas believes that his rivalry with Rublev, which started at the prestigious Orange Bowl in Florida, could even one day go on to match the epic confrontations involving Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

"You see back 15 years ago, 10 years ago when Nadal and Federer built one. I feel like in our circumstances, the way it's going to be in this era, there are going to be much more rivalries than just one," said Tsitsipas.

"It won't be singular. Me with (Alexander) Zverev, me with (Jannik) Sinner, me with (Matteo) Berrettini."

Tsitsipas now has six titles on the ATP Tour, including the year-end ATP Finals in 2019 and four ATP 250 tournaments (Stockholm 2018, Marseille and Estoril 2019, Marseille 2020).

By the time Rublev got going in the first set on Sunday, the damage was done.

Tsitsipas calmly held his service games to win the first set in 32 minutes. 

The second followed the same pattern as Tsitsipas broke serve in the third game. He broke again to end the match.

Rublev, who was playing in his first Masters 1000 final after eliminating Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, did not have a break point in the match.

The Russian admitted he had even surprised himself when he defeated Nadal, an 11-time champion in Monte Carlo, on Friday.

"When I confirmed to play Barcelona (which starts Monday), it was right before match with Rafa," he said.

"I was thinking in my head that Friday probably I will be already in Barcelona! But, I think I can play on Wednesday, so I have like two days off, which is more than enough."

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Djokovic to host Serbia tournament a year after COVID-19 fiasco

BELGRADE, Serbia -- World number one Novak Djokovic will relaunch the Serbia Open tournament in Belgrade on Monday, less than a year after a charity event he organized in the city ended in fiasco.

Djokovic was among several players to test positive after last year's event, which was held in front of thousands of fans with no social distancing.

Organizers insist that the forthcoming ATP clay court event scheduled for April 19-25 will be very different -- no fans will be allowed and Covid protocols will apply.

The Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade will also stage a second clay court event from May 24 on the eve of Roland Garros.

Apart from Djokovic, other top players in Belgrade this week event will include Italy's Matteo Berrettini as well as Russian sensation Aslan Karatsev who made the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year.

The tournament is organized by the 33-year-old's family with his younger brother Djordje acting as director, and will be played in his "Novak" facility where he regularly trains.

The Serbian capital stepped in, relaunching the Serbia Open after a nine-year hiatus, after Budapest withdrew from organizing a tournament.

- 'Controlled spaces' -

Fans will not be allowed in the stands, while the players will have to follow "strict security protocols" prescribed by the ATP, Djordje Djokovic told the N1 TV channel.

"Masks will be mandatory, inside and outside. We want to respect the rules in order to protect the players." 

He added that the players would be housed in "controlled spaces", noting that "isolation is currently a necessity".

According to tennis expert Nebojsa Viskovic, organizing the tournament by the book is crucial to revamp the world number one's tarnished reputation as a host.

"The organizers will certainly want to improve this image (of Djokovic) and this is what motivated their decision that there would be no audience this year," Viskovic told AFP.

- Shirtless in a nightclub -

Months after tennis went into lockdown last March, Djokovic launched an ill-fated charity competition in Belgrade.

The Adria Tour packed in 4,000 spectators, players shook hands and took selfies with fans, and ball boys and girls handled sweaty towels.

Djokovic and other tennis stars including Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev were heavily criticized after being photographed partying shirtless at a teeming Belgrade night club.

The inevitable happened. Djokovic and his wife Jelena were among a clutch of people linked to the event to test positive for the virus -- Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also falling ill.

The tournament -- branded by the media as a "coronavirus horror show" -- was abruptly cancelled because of the infections, Djokovic later saying he was "deeply sorry" that the tournament "caused harm".

- 'They are only human' -

However, the Adria Tour was held in accordance with Serbian regulations at the time -- most restrictions had been lifted ahead of parliamentary elections.

"We trusted the Serbian government's coronavirus rules, but we have been too optimistic," Thiem, who tested negative, said after the tournament.

According to Viskovic, players were also "a little too euphoric" at getting back to the game in front of the fans after months of isolation.

"After all, they are only human", he said.

"Perhaps the criticism was too harsh, the organizers did not do anything against the rules," Serbian player Troicki told AFP.

He said the Adria Tour perhaps came too soon, but insisted "this time there will be no problems".

However, even after the tournament, Djokovic continued to spark controversy, particularly with his opposition to vaccination.

The Serbia Open had four editions between 2009 and 2012 and the organizers not only intend to maintain the slot in the circuit's schedule, but also to raise it to the next level.

"The ATP is so far very satisfied with what we have done and we hope to get the best marks and, within a year or two, get rewarded with an ATP 500 license" Djordje Djokovic said.

A WTA Serbia Open tournament for female tennis players will be held also in Belgrade from May 16.

Djokovic, who suffered his first loss of 2021 in Monte Carlo on Thursday, is top seed in Belgrade and has a bye in the opening round.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Who can stop Djokovic? Australian Open's controversial king targets ninth crown

Novak Djokovic has not endeared himself to fans over the past year, but the Australian Open's undisputed king will take some stopping as he targets a record-extending ninth title at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic claimed his 17th Grand Slam crown in last year's gripping final, when he came back from 2-1 down to edge Austria's Dominic Thiem in five sets.

The Serbian's eighth victory in 16 visits reinforced his dominance in Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, where he claimed his first Grand Slam title in 2008 and has won seven of the last 10 editions.

Rafael Nadal and Thiem look to be his biggest rivals at this year's tournament, with six-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer sidelined as he recovers from double knee surgery.

The Australian Open was the highlight of a mesmerising early 2020 season for Djokovic, who won his first four tournaments of the year.

However, off-court, things soon unravelled for the elastic-limbed world number one.

After tennis went into lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, Djokovic launched the ill-fated Adria Tour in June, with no social distancing and players pictured dancing shirtless at a packed nightclub.

Djokovic and his wife Jelena were among a number of people to subsequently test positive for the virus, with Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also falling ill.

- Line judge row -

Worse was to come when tennis resumed and Djokovic defaulted out of the US Open in sensational fashion, when he angrily swiped away a ball that accidentally hit a female line judge in the throat.

His hopes of becoming the first man in half a century to win all four Slams twice then ended in a straight-sets defeat to Nadal in the French Open final.

Djokovic also drew negative comment in August for launching the Professional Tennis Players Association, a breakaway group outside the men's tour, as tennis attempted to get back on its feet.

And he found himself labelled a "tool" by Australia's Nick Kyrgios after requesting better conditions for players during Australia's mandatory quarantine, including private houses with tennis courts.

Despite the off-court turbulence, Djokovic enjoys strong support in Melbourne -- which has a sizeable Serbian population -- and said Rod Laver Arena brings back "beautiful memories".

"It does feel like a home for me in Australia, in Melbourne, particularly in Rod Laver," he said this week. 

"That is by far my most successful tennis court in my career. Had some profound memories in the last 15 years, and you know, won my first Grand Slam back in 2008. 

"Had probably the most exciting matches played on this court, and definitely the longest match ever that I played was in the finals, almost six hours with Rafa (Nadal) in 2012."

Nadal will undoubtedly figure prominently in the tournament but it is now 12 years since he won his lone title in Melbourne, despite four more trips to the final.

The Spaniard also has fitness concerns after he pulled out of two days' play at this week's ATP Cup with a sore back.

Thiem came agonisingly close to victory last year and, buoyed by his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, will be confident against anyone in the draw -- including Djokovic, against whom he has won five of their last seven meetings.

Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also among the top contenders at a tournament where form is difficult to judge, with playing opportunities hard to come by during the pandemic.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Djokovic, Nadal to begin 2021 campaigns on Feb. 2

MELBOURNE -- Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will start their 2021 seasons on Feb. 2 when they lead Serbia and Spain respectively in the team-based ATP Cup ahead of the Australian Open.

The top two men's players will be joined by world number three Dominic Thiem and Russian No. 4 Daniil Medvedev on the opening day of the tournament at Melbourne Park, which will also host the year's first Grand Slam from Feb. 8-21.

Reigning champions Serbia, led by Australian Open holder Djokovic, will begin their title defense against Canada on Rod Laver Arena and will also play Germany in the group stages.

Austrian Thiem, who lost to Djokovic in last year's final in Melbourne, will play the early session on the John Cain Arena against Italy.

World number two Nadal, part of the team that finished runners-up to Serbia, and ATP Finals winner Medvedev will highlight the evening sessions when they play against opponents from hosts Australia and Argentina.

The ATP Cup debuted last year with 24 teams and was held across three cities in Australia but there will be half the number of teams in this year's edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The start of this year's tournament has been pushed back by a day to allow more time to train for 72 players confined to their hotel rooms after some passengers on the three charter flights that brought them to Australia tested positive.

Russia are the only team with two top 10 players in their side in Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, while Argentina and Japan are led by No.9 Diego Schwartzman and Kei Nishikori, ranked 41st.

The winners from each group will advance to the semi-finals. 

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Ed Osmond)

-reuters-

Tennis: Djokovic virtually assures year-end top ranking for sixth time

VIENNA, Austria -- Novak Djokovic virtually ensured equalling Pete Sampras's record of ending the year as world number one for the sixth time on Wednesday when he reached the Vienna ATP quarter-finals.

Djokovic defeated Croatia's Borna Coric 7-6 (13/11), 6-3 and will secure the year-end top spot as long as Rafael Nadal does not take an unlikely wild card into the Sofia event next month.

If the 33-year-old Serb wins the Vienna title on Sunday, he will make sure of the landmark regardless of whether or not Nadal plays in Bulgaria.

Djokovic, who now has 39 wins and just two defeats in 2020, has been the top-ranked player at the end of a season five times: in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018.

He shares that mark with career rivals Roger Federer and Nadal.

Sampras achieved the feat six years in succession between 1993 and 1998.

"Sampras was my childhood idol growing up and it will be amazing to tie his record by being the year-end world number one six times," Djokovic said on Sunday.

Djokovic also has another target -- beating Federer's all-time best of 310 weeks spent on top of the rankings.

He is currently enjoying his 292nd week in total as world number one.

Should he stay in pole position, he will pass Federer in early March 2021.

Djokovic, a 17-time Grand Slam title winner, is playing his first tournament since his straight sets loss to Nadal in the Roland Garros final over two weeks ago.

He is seeking a fifth title of the year and next faces either Poland's Hubert Hurkacz or Italian lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego.

"It was very tiring and very challenging," said Djokovic after his fourth win in four meetings with Coric, the world number 24.

"Borna is a great fighter. He's a very good friend of mine. Off the court we've known each other for quite a long time."

Djokovic came through having saved four set points in the opener.

"He has kind of a similar style of tennis as I do. From the backhand corner he's very solid and is trying to create points with his forehand. 

"He was serving very well, especially in the first set. It was very difficult for me to return his serve."

Elsewhere, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas opened his Vienna campaign with a 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4 win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.

The reigning ATP Finals champion will face Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the last eight.

Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev also progressed with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Taiwanese lucky loser Jason Jung.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Federer is the best, but Djokovic tougher for Nadal, says uncle Toni

MUMBAI -- Roger Federer is the best tennis player of the current generation but reigning world number one Novak Djokovic remains the most difficult opponent in Rafa Nadal's career, the Spaniard's uncle and former coach Toni Nadal has said.

The "GOAT" (Greatest of all Time) debate in men's tennis has divided opinion for a decade and remains a hot topic as the trio continue to dominate, having won the last 13 majors.

Federer, who will be 39 in August, is nearing the end of a glittering career and leads the race on 20 Grand Slam singles titles, with Spaniard Nadal close on his heels with 19.

Djokovic is three behind the Swiss with 17 majors and is a year younger than Nadal, who turns 34 next month.

"For me, he (Federer) is a wonderful player. I like to watch Roger Federer a lot," Toni told Eurosport's Players' Cut programme, which features Nadal this week.

"If I wasn't the uncle nor the coach of Rafael, I would want Federer to win all the matches. But at the end, I like how he plays, because he's very elegant but he's very effective too.

"I know Federer is the best ever with I don't know who; maybe Rod Laver or maybe Rafael, he's not too far (behind). But at the moment Federer is the best."

Djokovic looked unstoppable this season before the novel coronavirus pandemic brought the tennis circuit to a halt in early March.

He lifted the ATP Cup with Serbia, won an eighth Australian Open title and then completed a fifth triumph at the Dubai Tennis Championships, extending his unbeaten run to 21 matches.

The Serb has a slight edge on world number two Nadal, having won 29 of their 55 career meetings so far.

"For us it was always more difficult to play against Djokovic," Toni said.

"Because it's not about who of them is better. For us, when we play against Federer, we have a way to beat him. In my mind, before going on court, I know what we have to do.

"When we play against Djokovic, many times we didn't know exactly what we had to do. This is more difficult, for me. I prefer to play against Federer."

Nadal currently trains under former world number one and fellow Mallorcan Carlos Moya after uncle Toni stepped down as his long-time coach at the end of the 2017 season. 

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Ken Ferris)

-reuters-

Murray warns tennis chiefs against quick return after virus

LONDON -- Andy Murray insists tennis must take it slowly as the sport's bosses consider when to return after the coronavirus.

The men's ATP and women's WTA tours are suspended until at least July 13 due to the pandemic, while this year's Wimbledon has been cancelled.

Premier League football clubs are hoping to finish their postponed season in the summer.

But former world number one Murray believes tennis will be one of the last sports to resume due to the travel required.

"I'm sure all tennis players want to get back to competing and playing as soon as possible. But right now that is not the most important thing, Murray said on Tuesday.

"First of all, we want to get our normal lives back, just being able to go out, see friends, go to restaurants and have your normal freedoms.

"And then hopefully over time, things will start to allow for travelling and sport will be able to go back to normal as well. But I don't see that happening very soon."

Murray believes containing the virus is essential before there is any thought of tennis getting back in full swing.

At present the US Open and French Open are both set for August and September, but Murray said: "The first thing is to try and find a way to stop the virus spreading and once we have done that we will be able to do more normal things that everyone does rather than thinking about competing at sport.

"When you don't get to see it for a while, maybe people realise how much they love playing it, but just because it's difficult not to have sport just now doesn't mean we have to speed things up.

"I'm obviously no expert on this but I assume the danger is when you try to do things too quickly -- like avoiding social distancing.

"If we get back to international travel, then maybe there could be a second wave of infections and that would slow everything down again and that's not what anyone wants. Let's just get things back to normal first."

Agence France-Presse

Tennis authorities to set up virus relief fund for players

PARIS, France -- The international governing bodies of tennis said on Tuesday a relief programme will be created to provide assistance to players most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

World tennis has been at a standstill since the beginning of March and will not resume until mid-July at the earliest following the postponement of Roland Garros and the cancellation of Wimbledon.

"With so much uncertainty around when it will be safe to restart the professional tennis tours, the international governing bodies of world tennis can confirm they are in discussions to create a Player Relief Programme," read a joint statement from the ATP, WTA, ITF and four Grand Slam tournaments.

It will provide "much-needed assistance to the players who are particularly affected during this time of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis."

No amount was disclosed but "details are being finalised with an announcement expected in the near future," the statement added.

"Already agreed is that the ATP and the WTA will administer the Player Relief Programme and all seven stakeholders will make a significant contribution."

Novak Djokovic on Saturday revealed he was working with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to organise aid for players struggling with the paralysis of the game due to the health crisis.

The world number one estimated raising "between $3 million (2.75 million euros) and $4.5 million". He said the cash could come from the prize money for the season-ending World Tour Finals or the final bonus pools for top players.

According to reports Djokovic, as president of the ATP Players' Council, proposed to members that players in the top 100 for singles and the top 20 in doubles contribute according to their rankings. 

The proposed scale runs from $30,000 for a top-five player to $5,000 for those between 51 and 100. 

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Tsitsipas 'trying to learn' French during coronavirus lockdown

ATHENS, Greece -- Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Tuesday the coronavirus pandemic lockdown has given him a chance to brush up on his French.

The 21-year-old ranked sixth in the world has returned home with the global season on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

"It's an opportunity to stay a little longer with my family and do things I didn't have time to do before," he said during an online chat with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

"Specifically, right now on a daily basis I'm trying to learn a little bit of French, it's something I've always wanted but I didn't have time to deal with and it's an opportunity now," Tsitsipas said.

Mitsotakis had a teleconference with outstanding Greek athletes such as Tsitsipas to thank them for their contributions in encouraging people to exercise at home while observing the measures.

"We do have the opportunity to change habits and come out of this trial stronger. People will understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and might even discover exercise again, even if at home, and even light jogging, things that are allowed under the circumstances," Mitsotakis said.

The premier said if April goes smoothly with measures against the illness, the gradual return to normalcy may begin in May, "which will include an increase in sports activities."

Greece's world number 20 Maria Sakkari thanked and congratulated Mitsotakis and his government for the positive results in the fight against the virus.

"We all understand that it is not easy, it is something very difficult, we are all grateful. I think I am speaking on behalf of everyone, it is something admirable that you have achieved," 24-year-old Sakkari said.

Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi, 30, said things are very difficult and "the more we sit, the more it will take us to return to the normality of things for us."

"We are in a difficult time from now on, but I think everyone is doing what they can at home, on the street, a little on the beach," Stefanidi added.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: ATP, WTA extend suspension of play amid coronavirus outbreak

NEW YORK - The ATP and WTA have extended the suspension of their tours until June 7, the two tennis bodies said in a joint statement on Wednesday, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to shred the sporting calendar.

The claycourt season "will not be held as scheduled" due to the suspension, the organising bodies of the men's and women's tours said. The men's ATP and women's WTA rankings will be frozen for the time.

"The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community," the associations said.

"We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximising the tennis calendar."

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) also postponed its World Tennis Tour until June 8, the organisation said on Wednesday, a day after the French Open announced a shock switch to September from May.

The tournament was rescheduled to a week after the U.S. Open concludes, a move that prompted outcry from players.

The U.S. Tennis Association said there were no plans to reschedule the Flushing Meadows tournament and it would consult with other stakeholders before making any changes.

The ATP and WTA statement urged tennis bodies to work "in unison", as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts major sporting events across the globe.

"Now is not a time to act unilaterally," the two groups said. "All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game." 

(Reporting by Amy Tennery Editing by Toby Davis)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: I do not feel unloved by opposition fans, says Djokovic

BELGRADE - Novak Djokovic does not feel antagonized by lack of fan support when facing his biggest rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in major finals on the ATP Tour, Serbia's world number one said on Tuesday.

Tennis pundits have often suggested that Djokovic gets infuriated as well as galvanized by overwhelming support for Federer and Nadal when he locks horns with them, but the 32-year-old from Belgrade offered a different view.

"I've read a lot of stuff suggesting that I am disliked but I really don't have that impression, especially off-court," Djokovic told a news conference at his tennis academy in the Serbian capital.

"Even if that was true, why would I want to add fuel to the fire?

"I don't want to stir up negative emotions. I have no ill feelings for people who don't support me. Having said that, I am not proud of my occasional reactions on the court as my passion gets the better of my self-control at times.

"I will always admit that I do make mistakes and I always try to learn from them. You reap what you sow and it is never my intention to generate bad energy."

Djokovic conceded that there were places where he has less support than in others.

"It is a fact that most fans support Federer and Nadal against me but that's due to what they represent in world tennis," he added.

"It doesn't mean that fans hate me and it certainly doesn't mean that I need to turn Serbia against the rest of the world just because fewer people support me in Grand Slam finals."

Djokovic won his 17th overall major honour last month at his favourite hunting ground in Melbourne, where he captured his eighth Australian Open title amid vocal support from local Serb expatriates.

The atmosphere was in stark contrast to last year's Wimbledon final, where Djokovic forced Federer into submission after five dramatic sets despite raucous fan support for the Swiss maestro, who has won a record 20 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic revealed how he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the face of adversity.

"When they chanted 'Roger, Roger' I willed myself into believing they were chanting 'Novak, Novak'," he said.

"Sometimes it does give me an impetus. But honestly, I do prefer having the crowd on my side. Where would you rather be, in a place where 10,000 fans are with you or against you?"

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

source: news.abs-cbn.com