Tag: tennis

Stricken Djokovic stages French Open escape act, Medvedev out

By Jed Court PARIS, June 3, 2024 (AFP) – An injured Novak Djokovic sealed a 15th consecutive French Open quarter-final with a thrilling comeback victory over Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round on Monday, while Daniil Medvedev became the highest seed to crash out at Roland Garros so far. In the women’s draw, both Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina comfortably powered into the last eight. A limping Djokovic looked to be heading for a […]

Djokovic eyes Federer record and French Open last 16 spot

PARIS, June 1, 2024 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic can equal Roger Federer’s record for Grand Slam match wins by beating Lorenzo Musetti at the French Open on Saturday. Defending champion Djokovic, chasing a fourth title at Roland Garros and 25th career major, will go level with the retired Federer on 369 victories at the Slams if he sees off the Italian 30th seed and makes the last 16. Djokovic has defeated Musetti four times in […]

Djokovic claws out win in return to Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 10, 2024 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic struggled to a winning comeback at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters five years after his last appearance, defeating Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday. World number one Djokovic, who had not played since losing an Australian Open semi-final to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in January, is chasing a sixth title at the desert venue in the season’s first Masters event. The 36-year-old Serb […]

India’s Bopanna becomes oldest world No.1, aged 43

MELBOURNE, Jan 24, 2024 (AFP) – India’s Rohan Bopanna will become the oldest number one in men’s doubles history after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday at the age of 43. Bopanna, who attributes his longevity to yoga, turned professional more than two decades ago and his previous highest ranking was third, which he reached in 2013. Wednesday’s win for Bopanna and Australian partner Matthew Ebden against Argentine pair Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni […]

Djokovic confronts heckler as he battles through at Australian Open

By John WEAVER MELBOURNE, Jan 17, 2024 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic said an angry altercation with a fan may have helped get him over the line during a testing second-round encounter at the Australian Open against home favourite Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday. The world number one showed his trademark mental strength to face down his inspired opponent, prevailing 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in more than three hours. It followed a gruelling first-round match on […]

Medvedev, Gauff power through at Australian Open ahead of Osaka comeback

By Martin PARRY MELBOURNE, Jan 15, 2024 (AFP) – Two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev and US Open champion Coco Gauff swept into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, but Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova was sent packing. On a baking-hot day at Melbourne Park, men’s seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and 16th seed Ben Shelton also tasted victory, ahead of Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam comeback on Rod Laver Arena in the evening session. Third seed […]

Ostapenko beats heat to oust defending Brisbane champion Pliskova

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 4, 2024 (AFP) – Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko ended Karolina Pliskova’s title defence when she downed the Czech star 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to book a quarter-final against Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International on Thursday. The 26-year-old former French Open champion needed assistance from the trainer during the third set as she struggled with the heat and humidity. But she managed to recover enough to overcome Pliskova in 2hr 13min. “It was very, […]

Nadal draws qualifier at comeback tournament in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec 30, 2023 (AFP) – Rafael Nadal was handed a dream start to his comeback tournament after drawing a qualifier Saturday in the opening round of the Brisbane International. The 37-year-old Spaniard has been out of the game for almost 12 months following hip surgery after the 2023 Australian Open in January. It was feared that Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, would never play professionally again. However, he has […]

‘Proud’ Sinner twice beats Djokovic to send Italy into Davis Cup final

By Rik Sharma MÁLAGA, Spain, Nov 25, 2023 (AFP) – A “proud” Jannik Sinner beat world number one Novak Djokovic twice in one day to send Italy into the Davis Cup final with a 2-1 win over Serbia on Saturday in Malaga. Italy, who won the trophy for the first and only time in 1976, will face 28-time winners Australia on Sunday. Sinner, who has now triumphed three times in four clashes across 11 days […]

Djokovic beats Rune to secure top spot in year-end world rankings

TURIN, Italy, Nov 12, 2023 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic will finish the year as world number one for a record-extending eighth time after beating Holger Rune 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in his opening match at the ATP Finals on Sunday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion needed just one win or a defeat for young rival Carlos Alcaraz in order to secure top spot in the ATP rankings for 2023 and made no mistake in […]

Djokovic return win, Medvedev loses cool and Zverev grinds through

PARIS, Nov 1, 2023 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic returned to the court on Wednesday, cruising past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2 and strengthening his hold on top spot in the rankings after his two closest rivals both lost at the Paris Masters. Second seed Carlos Alcaraz tumbled out against qualifier Roman Safiullin late the previous evening and earlier on Wednesday, Daniil Medvedev, seeded third, threw another Paris tantrum as he lost 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 […]

Djokovic to open 2024 at United Cup, but no Nadal

SYDNEY, Oct 20, 2023 (AFP) – World number one Novak Djokovic will open his 2024 season at the mixed teams United Cup in Australia, but injury-plagued Rafael Nadal was not on the Spain team announced Friday. Djokovic will spearhead Serbia at the tournament from December 29-January 7 in Sydney and Perth as he builds towards the defence of his Australian Open title. Nadal was part of the Spain team in 2023 before injuring his hip […]