Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic stated on Monday that he wants to be “as ready as I can be” for the French Open as he prepares for only his third tournament of the season in Belgrade this week In January, the world number one was deported from Australia due to his Covid vaccination status, and … Read more
Carlos Alcaraz became the latest fancied player to exit the Monte Carlo Masters tournament after he was beaten by 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 from American Sebastian Korda in their second round clash on Wednesday. Alcaraz had shows on the rear of coming out on top for the renowned Miami Masters championship yet the 18-year-old … Read more
World number one Novak Djokovic lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters. In the second round, Davidovich Fokina surprised top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, handing him another blow as he tries to move on from the controversy surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic … Read more
Former Australian Open runner-up and world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced on Wednesday that he will retire from tennis following this year’s French Open. “A few weeks ago I decided I was going to stop at Roland Garros this year,” the 36-year-old Tsonga said in a video posted to social media. “It took me a … Read more
MIAMI: Daniil Medvedev will try to reclaim the world number one ranking and top seed Aryna Sabalenka chases her first final in 10 months at the ATP and WTA Miami Open. Men’s play starts Wednesday and women’s play begins Tuesday in the hardcourt tournament at Hard Rock Stadium, where highest seeds receive first-round byes. Serbia’s … Read more
ACAPULCO: Daniil Medvedev celebrated his rise to the world number one ranking with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Yoshihito Nishioka in the quarter-finals of the ATP Mexico Open on Thursday. The 26-year-old Russian rode a rollercoaster of emotions after learning he’d take over the top spot thanks to Serbian star Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final defeat in Dubai … Read more
INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic was entered into the draw for this week’s ATP/WTA Indian Wells tournament on Tuesday but it is unclear whether he will take part in the tournament, organisers said. A brief statement from tournament organisers said officials were in contact with Djokovic’s team to determine whether he would play in California or even be allowed … Read more
PARIS: While the ATP rankings barely moved on Monday following a weekend when the Davis Cup replaced tournaments, there was one visible change, as the Russian flag vanished from the list. Daniil Medvedev stayed on top, but the country column next to his name contained a white rectangle, after the ATP responded to the invasion … Read more
Karen Khachanov, the world number 26 who will face Novak Djokovic in the second round in Dubai, stated on Tuesday that he admired the Serb’s adamant opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine. After winning his first match, Djokovic’s major contender for the title, second seed Andrey Rublev, shared the idea, saying that tennis “needs” Djokovic. Khachanov … Read more
Novak Djokovic admitted the warm reception he was given by fans in Dubai on Monday exceeded his expectations as he made a successful return to the tour for the first time since his deportation from Australia. The world No.1 kicked off his 2022 campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti, and was greeted … Read more
Andy Murray said on Monday he does not agree with Novak Djokovic’s stance against the Covid-19 vaccine but believes “it’s not great for tennis if our best player is not competing in the major events”. Former world number one and three-time major winner Murray was speaking as Djokovic made a succesful return to the sport thanks to a … Read more
Novak Djokovic’s season, derailed in January when he was deported from Australia, finally starts on Monday in Dubai with the world number one insisting players in the locker room “have been positive and welcoming” on his return. Djokovic missed the chance to win a 10th Australian Open, and 21st Grand Slam, due to the cancellation of his … Read more
Novak Djokovic, the world number one, stated on Thursday that he has missed playing tennis as he prepares for his comeback in Dubai following the coronavirus vaccine controversy that prevented him from defending his Australian Open title. The Serb, who was deported from Australia due to a lack of vaccinations, toured the Serbian pavilion at … Read more
The 20-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was recently prevented from playing the Australian Open because he was not vaccinated for Covid-19. However, the 34-year-old has now entered the next month’s Indian Wells ATP event. Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells, where organisers announced entries on Wednesday and said proof of full vaccination … Read more
Patrizia Kummer, an unvaccinated Swiss snowboarder who competed in the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday after three weeks of quarantine, said she had “no difficulty” and didn’t “care what people thought” of her. Athletes who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 enter the “closed loop” bubble system immediately at the Beijing Games, but those who have not … Read more
Australian Open 2022 was this year’s first Grand Slam tournament that took place at Melbourne Park in Australia from 17 to 30 January 2022. The 110th (54th edition in the Open Era) edition of the major event ended with one of the all-time great men’s finals. Men’s singles defending champion Novak Djokovic was unable to … Read more
Rafael Nadal roared back from two sets down to win a titanic five-set duel with Daniil Medvedev and claim a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title in the Australian Open final on Sunday. The Spanish great looked dead and buried as the Russian world number two carved out a two-set lead but Nadal surged home … Read more
Rafael Nadal needed five match points before putting away tenacious German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann at the Australian Open on Wednesday and continue his march towards a record 21st Grand Slam title. The Spanish world number five was always in command in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win in 2hr 42 min in hot conditions on Rod … Read more
Number one tennis star Novak Djokovic headed home on Monday after Australia deported him over his Covid-19 vaccination status while the Australian Open went underway without him. Djokovic left Australia on Sunday after losing his court bid to stay in the country. The Serbian tennis player has d a brief stop at Dubai. Djokovic was … Read more
Crowds at the troubled Australian Open will be capped at 50 per cent capacity as Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations continue to rise in Melbourne, announced Thursday. Face masks will also be mandatory at the opening Grand Slam of the year, which starts on Monday, except when eating or drinking, and spectators must socially distance themselves … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic was drawn Thursday to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Australian Open despite ongoing uncertainty over whether he will still be in the country. The world number one, top seed and defending champion is looking to clinch a 10th title at Melbourne Park starting next week and a record … Read more
MELBOURNE: Australia was poised Thursday to decide if it will deport Novak Djokovic following a sensational legal battle over the tennis superstar’s arrival in the country without a Covid-19 vaccine. The 34-year-old world number one’s hopes of a record 21st Grand Slam were in peril after he admitted breaking isolation rules in Serbia and to an incorrect … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted “errors” in his travel papers and for not isolating after a claimed coronavirus infection, as he battled to stay in Australia and fight for a record 21st Grand Slam. The world number one said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his … Read more
MELBOURNE: The rapidly spreading Omicron variant, no Serena Williams or Roger Federer and now the Novak Djokovic saga — the Australian Open is struggling to live up to its “Happy Slam” reputation. With the tournament just 10 days away, there was the threat Friday of more disarray with the possibility of other players being in a similar … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic received “no special” favours to be granted a Covid vaccine exemption to play at the Australian Open, said tournament chief Craig Tiley on Wednesday, as the move sparked a furious backlash. The nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic announced late Tuesday he was en route to Melbourne with “an exemption permission”, ending the drawn-out saga over whether … Read more
SYDNEY: Veteran Roberto Bautista Agut upset world number eight Casper Ruud on Monday to give Spain their second straight win at the ATP Cup, a record matched by Hubert Hurkacz’s Poland. The 33-year-old Bautista Agut is the lead singles player for his country in the absence of 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and has stepped up … Read more
Nick Kyrgios has urged Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to play at the Australian Open, saying that it would be a “disaster” if the ‘Big Three’ will not play in the tournament. Swiss ace Roger Federer has already pulled out as he recovers from a knee injury and Nadal’s plans are unclear after contracting Covid-19. … Read more
SYDNEY: Novak Djokovic could still play at the Australian Open, a Serbian teammate said Thursday, despite the world number one’s last-minute decision to pull out of the ATP Cup in Sydney. The 20-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from this week’s teams event days before its start on Saturday, heightening doubts over whether he will defend his Australian … Read more
