Australian Archives

Tennis December 10, 2022 By mariam

Novak Djokovic: ‘I’m really glad that I was able to play…’

Tennis By mariam December 10, 2022

Former world number 1 Kim Clijsters underlined that she loves how Rafael Nadal plays but noted that with Novak Djokovic there is “so much physical smoothness” Nadal, 36, and Djokovic, 35, are widely considered among the best players.

However, their playstyles are completely different. “I love how Rafa plays, the intensity, the fight and the drive. But with Novak there is a physical softness, I’ll call it that, when he moves from side to side.

What Rafa did this year in Australia. You know, kind of knowing how he was struggling with his foot and being so close to thinking, ‘Am I really going to get to the level that I want to get back to? And then getting to a level that was, perhaps, some of the best tennis I’ve ever seen him play, I thought was incredible.

Novak is like he just picked up from there, right? He goes to Wimbledon and you can see the focus of him,” Clijsters said on Craig Shapiro’s podcast, according to Sportskeeda. Djokovic, who will turn 36 in May 2023, remains one of the healthiest and fittest athletes on the Tour.

Clijsters is in awe of Djokovic’s form and skill, and she hopes to witness the Serb make more history before he retires. “I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but there’s a picture with a Belgian gymnast at the Olympics that he posted, where she’s in a full split right next to her.

It’s amazing, I love that part of him. I love to see him do well and to see him try to be the greatest with the most Grand Slam trophies,” Clijsters added. Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam champion, received good news from Australia as he is allowed to return to the Open in Australia in 2023.

It remains to be seen if Djokovic can win his record 10th Australian Open title in January.

Update on Djokovic’s status
Novak Djokovic might be the epitome of the adage: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

“That kind of performance could not come at a better moment for me, because I was looking really to get at that highest level and try to finish the season in style, and hopefully carry that momentum into the next season,” said Novak Djokovic during the Asics Tennis Summit in Marbella.

“I wasn’t having the full season, so it was kind of always going back and forth: warming up, preparing and then cooling down. I’m really glad that I was able to play the last several months of the year, to play them in a really high quality tennis style, especially the indoor season,” he added.

Tennis November 20, 2022 By crownfortune

‘Never been Rafael Nadal’s jam’, says top analyst

Tennis By crownfortune November 20, 2022

Rafael Nadal did not finish the season as he would have liked, but his 2022 is still an amazing year. The Spanish champion has won two Grand Slams, the Australian Open and Roland Garros, as well as having nurtured the dream of returning to the top of the ATP ranking at 36.

The former world number 1 was also on the hunt for his third title at Wimbledon, but a tear in his abs forced him to retire on the eve of the semi-final against Nick Kyrgios. That injury turned out to be more serious than expected and prevented him from arriving in New York in the best conditions, so much so that his US Open ended in the round of 16 against Frances Tiafoe.

The Manacor veteran played very little in the latter part of the season, also thanks to the birth of his first child. After being eliminated in the second round of the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, Rafa was defeated by both Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Finals in Turin.

The Iberian partially redeemed himself by beating Casper Ruud on the last day of the ‘Green Group’, when he was already mathematically eliminated.

Brett Haber on Rafa Nadal
Tennis commentator Brett Haber has refused to read much into Rafael Nadal’s early exit from the ATP Finals in Turin following back-to-back straight-set losses.

“If you want to debate how long Rafael Nadal can/should keep playing, fine — that’s your right. But let’s not do it because he lost 2 matches in a row on a lightning-fast, low-bouncing indoor hardcourt vs top-10 opponents.

Never been his jam. Not indicative of anything, IMO.” Rafael Nadal has expressed his delight at having one of his greatest competitors, Novak Djokovic, back at the Australian Open in 2023. “Tennis is better when the best players are on the court,” Nadal said.

“At the end we don’t have to create many stories. Even if was a big mess what happened last year in Australia, was not good for our sport. That was past. Roger is not playing any more. I missed lot of Grand Slams for injuries.

Last year Novak was not able to play there. That’s past. What’s next is Novak will be able to play again,” he added. “That’s the best news possible, especially knowing that now the virus is more under control – seems – around the world.

So why not? Happy for him. Happy for the tournament. Happy for the fans. That’s it.”

Tennis July 30, 2022 By crownfortune

‘Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open despite…’, says ATP legend

Tennis By crownfortune July 30, 2022

Last Friday, July 8, Rafael Nadal should have played the Wimbledon semifinals, but he did not get to do so because the day before he announced his withdrawal from the third Grand Slam of the season. An abdominal injury was responsible for his withdrawal.

Before his match against Nick Kyrgios and after signing an epic victory against Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals, the Spaniard announced at a press conference that he was not available to compete. “Today I have confirmed that I have a tear in the abdominal.

All day I have thought about the decision, but I think there is no point in continuing. Although I have tried throughout my career to continue in difficult circumstances, it is obvious that if I continue the injury will get worse.

I feel sad to have to say this”, he confessed then. Twenty days after the decision, Nadal returned to training this week at home. Specifically, at his structure in Manacor (Mallorca), where he tests himself to be able to compete again on the American hard court tour.

The next scheduled ATP Tour stop on Nadal’s calendar is set for the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada, which will take place from August 7-14. An event in which the best in the world will be present and it will be ideal to measure the recovery of Spanish.

The Spaniard is the player who has won the most titles this season —along with Carlos Alcaraz— with a total of four crowns and registers a match record of 35-5. These numbers allow him to lead the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin as No.

1 of the year.

McEnroe praises Rafa Nadal

While the documentary on John McEnroe has been out for a few days in British and Irish cinemas, the Tennis365 site, which was able to watch this film, selected an extract in which we see the stormy left-hander return to the birth of his first child while that he was 27 and at the top of his game.

“It should be everyone’s biggest goal to be a good parent. If you are a parent, if you decide to bring children into the world, even when I was 27, I had my first son, I felt like: Did I always want to be the best player in the game? world ? Yes, did I aspire to be and want to improve? Well, I took time off to improve, you know, Rafael Nadal took six months off and won the Australian Open.

I took six months off and lost in the first round of the US Open. It was the only year I lost the first round. I won’t go into the details of what happened, but for a combination of reasons, I wasn’t even ready to come back.

But having said that, you know, I had two children, one at 27 and one at 28. What am I supposed to do? ‘Telling my wife ‘Oh, okay, take care of the kids, do I have to go take care of this situation with my ranking?’ No, no, I was trying to do both to the best of my ability. But the first priority for me should be my kids, you know, or not having them.”

Tennis June 1, 2022 By crownfortune

‘Serena Williams will play again,’ says her former coach

Tennis By crownfortune June 1, 2022

The famous coach Rick Macci had the opportunity to work with several world no. 1 players, including Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati and Maria Sharapova. In the early 90s, Macci was also involved in developing two extraordinary sisters, helping their father draw the most from them and prepare the famous duo for the professional circuit.

Of course, they are Serena and Venus Williams, and they stayed with him until they were ready to conquer the world of tennis. Often asked about Serena and her long-expected comeback, Macci confirmed that the 23-time Major champion plans to compete again and that the retirement will have to wait a bit more.

Williams has not played since the last year’s Wimbledon. Serena experienced an injury in the opening round against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, not competing again in the previous 11 months. The American has played only six tournaments since the start of 2021, and she is currently ranked 276th.

Serena Williams is yet to play a match in 2022.

One of the greatest female players in the Open era will lose all of her ranking points after Wimbledon, playing in London or not, as the WTA decided to give no points at this year’s Championship.

Thus, Serena will drop out from the WTA ranking for the first time since October 1997, ending her streak that has been going on for almost 25 years! Williams cracked the top-20 in 1998 after a couple of notable results. Serena entered the top-4 in 1999 following her first Major crown at the US Open, still at 17.

Williams established herself as the top-10 player in 2000 and 2001 and conquered the WTA throne in 2002 despite playing only nine tournaments that year! Despite injuries, Serena has remained competitive for over two decades, winning 23 singles Major titles and moving one behind Margaret Court’s record of 24.

After only six tournaments on her tally and no Major finals, Serena finished the 2021 season ranked outside the top-40 for the first time since 2006. The American veteran struggled with injuries and terminated the year after tearing her hamstring in the Wimbledon first round.

Serena decided to call it a year and make a fresh start in 2022, although without specifying when. Williams claimed the 23rd Major crown at the Australian Open 2017 after beating her sister Venus in the final. The great American took a break from tennis to give berth to a child later that year and returned in the spring of 2018.

Serena reached four Major finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and 2019, losing them to much younger opponents and failing to make an extra step and match Court’s record. Serena has been dealing with numerous injuries in the past couple of years. Her best result at Majors came at the last year’s Australian Open when she lost to Naomi Osaka in the semi-final.

F1 May 12, 2022 By crownfortune

Lewis Hamilton questioned over FIA row as Mercedes urge F1 bosses to find ‘resolution’

F1 By crownfortune May 12, 2022

LEWIS HAMILTON is embroiled in a row with the FIA over their ban on jewellery.

Lewis Hamilton has been told he should just “put the jewellery back on right after the race” as the seven-time Formula One world champion continues his defiance against the FIA’s crackdown on items such as chains, rings, earrings and watches. Drivers are not allowed to wear jewellery while out on track due to safety reasons.

Lewis Hamilton has been told that after the Spanish Grand Prix, he will not be permitted to drive his Mercedes if he still has any on. Niels Wittich one of the FIA’s race directors reminded drivers of the rule, which is not new to the sport, before the Australian Grand Prix but Hamilton was given a two-race medical exemption to give him time to remove permanent piercings.

The Briton may require minor surgery to take out a nose stud but has made it clear he does not want to do so, meaning he may face further punishment from F1’s governing body. The FIA could fine him, put points on his super-licence or even refuse to let the Mercedes driver out on track at the Monaco Grand Prix, where his exemptions ends.

But the son of F1 icon Niki Lauda told Servus TV that Hamilton should reconsider his stance on wearing jewellery in the cockpit of his car. Mathias Lauda said: “Why doesn’t he just put the jewellery back on right after the race? The FIA sets the rules and they have to be the same across a thousand racing series.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has asked the FIA to find a “good resolution”. He said: “What was needed was a dialogue between Lewis and Mohammed. It is clear that regulations are here to protect the drivers.

“But on the other side we need diversity and the means of expressing yourself and we know that this is important to Lewis. Without going into detail – where the piercings stayed and where they didn’t – I am sure they will come to a good resolution.”

Lewis Hamilton turned up at his Miami press conference sporting three watches, eight rings, four necklaces and two earrings in a clear response to the FIA’s clampdown. He explained: “I couldn’t get any more jewellery on today.

“I feel like it’s almost like a step backwards if you think of the steps we’re taking as a sport and the more important issues and causes we need to be focused on. We’ve made great strides as a sport. This is such a small thing. I’ve been in the sport for 16 years and I’ve been wearing jewellery for 16 years. In the car I only have my earrings on and my nose ring, which I can’t even remove.

“It seems unnecessary for us to get into this spat. I’ll try to communicate and work with Mohammed. I’m here to be an ally of the sport, of Mohammed and Formula One. I think we’ve got bigger fish to fry, bigger things to do, more impact to have. I think that’s where the focus should be.”

Tennis May 9, 2022 By crownfortune

Roger Federer: “My trip to Malawi was extraordinary”

Tennis By crownfortune May 9, 2022

Recently, Roger Federer visited Malawi to personally check the progress of the School Readiness Initiative. Federer hasn’t played much in the past couple of years, having had to contend with a serious right knee injury.

After the semifinal reached at the Australian Open 2020, a real ordeal has begun for the champion of Basel on the sporting level. The former world number 1 played the misery of 13 official matches in 2021, without ever giving the feeling of being able to return to the highest levels.

The around of 16 at Roland Garros and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon were his best seasonal results , a far too meager booty for alegend of his caliber. A few weeks later, the King announced that he had suffered a knee relapse and had to operate on his knee for the third time in 18 months.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion hopes to return in late summer or early autumn. For the moment, his presence at the Laver Cup and the ATP in Basel has been confirmed.

Federer visited Malawi

Federer said in a video posted on YouTube: “We have managed to do great things here in Malawi, allowing many children to receive adequate education.

I want to help people and give them a chance to grow, because I believe the potential is incredibly big here. That’s why I wanted to come in person.” The Swiss then went into detail: “I had the opportunity to interact with the children and their parents.

It is essential that children also learn at home and not just at school. I had a lot of fun playing with them, now I’m an expert having four children at home. My trip to Malawi was extraordinary in all respects.” Fans are hoping Roger can treat himself to one last round of the merry-go-round before hanging up his racquet.

His last major triumph now dates back to the 2018 Australian Open, but everyone still remembers the two match points wasted at Wimbledon 2019.

News April 29, 2022 By mariam

Simona Halep recalls dominating Serena Williams in 2019 Wimbledon final

News By mariam April 29, 2022

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep called Serena Williams “the queen of grass” and revealed that’s why she entered the 2019 Wimbledon final feeling no pressure. Halep and Williams met in the 2019 Wimbledon final, and even though Halep was the underdog, she gave Williams no chance as the claimed a dominant 6-2 6-2 win to lift her first Wimbledon title.

“In 2018, when I lost the Australian Open final, I said the next time I would win. I was super confident even if it was like very hurtful for me to lose that final, I was leading. And then it happened and then in Wimbledon, I didn’t expect that I can play final on the grass surface, because we never had a court back home, grass court.

So, I didn’t expect that I’ll be in the final and playing against Serena. I had like no expectations because I knew she was the queen of grass. She won so many times, so the pressure was not negative, was positive.

I was super focused, it was my perfect day of tennis,” Halep told Alize Lim for Tennis Majors’ show “Major Talk.”

Halep has rewatched the 2019 Wimbledon final many times
“I watched it like 100 times, but I watch it just for like enjoying, not analyzing what I did.

I just love the moment, it was the best by far,” Halep added. “Yeah, the whole match. It was not long. One hour, it’s okay to watch this (laughs)”. Halep lost her first three Grand Slam finals before finally winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open.

Halep reached the French Open finals in 2014 and 2017 but on both occasions suffered losses in three sets. Halep also reached the 2018 Australian Open but again suffered a three-set defeat in a Grand Slam final. Halep finally captured her first Grand Slam ttile after recovering from a set down in the 2018 French Open final versus Sloane Stephens.

News April 23, 2022 By mariam

Novak Djokovic reaches final of Serbia Open – his first final of 2022

News By mariam April 23, 2022

Novak Djokovic reached his first final of 2022 by beating Karen Khachanov in the semi-final of the Serbia Open.

In front of his home crowd in Belgrade, the world number one fought back to beat his Russian opponent 4-6 6-1 6-2.

The clay court event is Djokovic’s third this season after a disrupted start to the year beginning with his deportation from Australia in January.

Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek reached the Stuttgart Open final with a gruelling win over Liudmila Samsonova.

Poland’s Swiatek won a three-hour semi-final 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5 to extend her winning run to 22 matches and keep alive a hope of a fourth consecutive title.

She will play world number four Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in Sunday’s final.

Djokovic will play Russian second seed Andrey Rublev, who comfortably beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-2 6-2, for the title, also on Sunday.

novak Djokovic

Djokovic was unable to compete at the Australian Open after being deported because of his Covid-19 vaccination status.

He returned at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February but went out in the quarter-finals and then missed the US hard court swing, again because of his vaccination status.

On his return to the tour he suffered a shock defeat by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month.

When world number 31 Samsonova clinched the first-set tie-break, a run which had seen Swiatek win 28 sets in a row came to an end.

During her winning streak 20-year-old Swiatek has collected titles in Doha, Indian Wells and Miami – and ascended to the top of the rankings after Ashleigh Barty’s retirement – but her 23-year-old opponent came as close to inflicting defeat as any other opponent in recent months.

After the pair exchanged four breaks early in the deciding set, the 2020 French Open champion crucially held serve under pressure at 5-4 down, broke again a game later and clinched her first match point in the following game.

She faces Sabalenka, who beat world number three Paula Badosa of Spain 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in the first semi-final.

News April 22, 2022 By mariam

‘Rafael Nadal is on the cusp of tennis immortality’, says former Top 5

News By mariam April 22, 2022

Rafael Nadal became the protagonist of a fabulous start to the season. After opening his season with a victory at the ATP 250 in Melbourne, the Spanish phenomenon literally blew the bank at the Australian Open. In a tournament that had often been hostile to him in the past, the former world number 1 achieved one of the most incredible feats of his entire career.

The 35-year-old Majorcan recovered two sets of disadvantage from Daniil Medvedev in the final, finding the energy to overturn a challenge that is now almost lost. By winning the Happy Slam for the second time, Rafa overtook Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time rankings of the Majors.

The Manacor veteran has also become the fourth man in history to have won all Grand Slams at least twice (along with Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson). As if that were not enough, the Iberian also won in the prestigious Acapulco tournament.

His streak of unbeaten came to a halt in the Indian Wells final, where he was defeated by host Taylor Fritz (also due to a fractured rib). In a recent interview with the ‘Olé’ portal, former ATP number 4 Jose Luis Clerc said that Nadal would put an end to the GOAT debate by triumphing again at Roland Garros.

Clerc praises Rafa Nadal
“If Rafael Nadal wins Roland Garros, he will be the greatest of all time. The one who I don’t think will win another Grand Slam is Roger. Those of us who love the sport want Federer to be eternal, but he is not.

People tell me ‘Batata , Roger is the best,’ but for me the one who wins the most Grand Slam titles is going to be the greatest in history,” Clerc said. Rafael Nadal has made a dream start to his 2022 campaign.

After opening his season with the Melbourne 250 title, the Spaniard recovered from two sets and a break point down to triumph for the second time at the Australian Open. Rafael Nadal had one of the most remarkable starts to his 2022 season.

News April 21, 2022 By crownfortune

‘Roger Federer is slowly on his way to retirement’, says ATP ace

News By crownfortune April 21, 2022

A serious right knee problem has significantly limited Roger Federer’s appearances on the pitch in the past two years. Suffice it to say that the Swiss champion played the misery of 13 official matches in 2021, collecting nine wins and four losses.

The round of 16 at Roland Garros and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon were his best seasonal results, a far too meager booty for a legend of his caliber. A few weeks after the Championships, the 20-time Grand Slam champion announced that he had suffered a knee relapse and had to operate for the third time in 18 months.

The 40-year-old from Basel is still undergoing rehabilitation and hopes to return in late summer or early autumn, perhaps for the Laver Cup (which will take place at the O2 Arena in London at the end of September). Fans are hoping that the former world number 1 will be able to treat himself to one last round of the merry-go-round before hanging up his racket.

In a long interview granted to ‘Tennisnet’, Dominik Koepfer recalled his battle against Federer at Roland Garros 2021. The German surrendered in four sets, after having wasted several chances.

Koepfer on facing Roger Federer

In a long interview given to our colleagues from Tennisnet, the German player necessarily returned to his match against Roger Federer during the 2021 edition of Roland-Garros.

A duel lost in four very tight sets after 3h40 of play. “Of course it’s bittersweet when you play against Roger, you come so close and you don’t win. It was probably one of the last chances to beat him I think. He is slowly on his way to retirement.

Nonetheless, it was a great experience. It was also a bit of a shame that it didn’t happen in front of spectators. It was during the night session and there was a curfew in Paris, you were not allowed to go out after 9 p.m.

After that it will still be a beautiful memory. But I also know that I have regrets because I had my chances. Looking back, I think I lacked nerve at the end of the match.” Davidovich Fokina considers Federer as his idol.

He grew up watching the Swiss maestro and believes he has a similar personality as Federer. Talking about his emotions during Federer’s tough loss against Nadal in the 2009 Australian Open final, he said, “I cried when he lost in Australia.

I cried with him”. The Spaniard believes that he is an emotional person. Earlier, he said, “When I lose a lot of matches, I cry a lot”.