champion Archives - Maxlabell

Tennis December 17, 2022 By mariam

Rafael Nadal crowned ITF World Tennis Champion for fifth time

Tennis By mariam December 17, 2022

Rafael Nadal has been named the ITF World Tennis Champion award for the fifth time, after an incredible season that saw him win both the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Only Novak Djokovic and Pete Sampras, with seven and six respectively, have won the award more than Nadal who moves level with Roger Federer.

The International Tennis Federation designates a world champion based on performances throughout the year, emphasising the Grand Slam tournaments and also considering team events such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

It was originally just for men’s and women’s singles champions when the award began in 1978, but now the title is also awarded for doubles, wheelchair, and junior players.

By winning the award Rafael Nadal becomes only the second men’s player this century to be named world champion when not the world No.1, with Carlos Alcaraz currently in that position. Ironically the other time this happened was in 2013 when Djokovic won the award, despite Nadal being No.1 at the time.

“I’m very happy to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time,” said Nadal. “When I first won the award in 2008, I would not have expected to still be playing at such a high level 14 years later. It was really special to win the Australian Open for a second time, and of course to win Roland Garros. I am really grateful for the support of my team and my fans around the world and I am already looking forward to the 2023 season.”

There was much less competition for the women’s singles award, as Iga Swiatek became the first Polish woman to be crowned world champion. Swiatek is in-fact only the second Pole to win the award in any category after Lukasz Kubot, who won the men’s doubles award in 2017.

It has been a phenomenal season for world No.1 Swiatek who has translated her WTA dominance to the Grand Slam’s, winning Roland Garros, for the second time, and the US Open.

“This was a big year for me, and such significant awards show me how far I’ve come,” said Swiatek. “I appreciate it and I want to thank the ITF. It wouldn’t have happened without my team, my family, and my fans from Poland and all over the world. Consider it our joint award for amazing adventures on court in 2022.”

The men’s doubles award went to the Brit-American duo of Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram, who culminated their Grand Slam year with a victory in Flushing Meadows.
The women’s doubles title went to a familiar holder of this award, with Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova picking up the world champion title for a second consecutive year and a third time in total. The Czech pair have won three of the four Grand Slam titles this year, adding to their already impressive trophy haul.

Tennis December 11, 2022 By mariam

Serena Williams beats Beyonce and Meghan Markle to become second-most searched African American woman in 2022

Tennis By mariam December 11, 2022

Serena Williams surpassed Beyonce, Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama to become the second-most searched African American woman in 2022.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion ended her professional tennis career in September with a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1 at the US Open.

Lifestyle website ThatSister performed looked at search data for more than 100 of the most powerful African American women since January 1, 2022, to determine who the most talked about people of the year were.

The results (via Yahoo) revealed Zendaya to be the most searched African American woman in 2022, followed by Serena Williams. The former World No. 1 was searched 1.65 million times each month this year, with a sharp increase in interest during the US Open.

Williams was followed by Meghan Markle, Beyonce and Michelle Obama in the top five. Jada Pinkett-Smith, Oprah Winfrey, rappers Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, and Whoopi Goldberg rounded out the top 10.

Tennis November 26, 2022 By mariam

RAFAEL NADAL ON ROGER FEDERER RETIREMENT AT ‘EMOTIONAL’ LAVER CUP – ‘A PART OF MY LIFE LEFT WITH HIM’

Tennis By mariam November 26, 2022

Rafael Nadal has opened up on how he felt when Roger Federer retired from the sport at the Laver Cup in September. Nadal united with Federer in one of the biggest moments of 2022 in a doubles match at the Laver Cup, which they narrowly lost. However, the night was all about Federer who is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players ever, along with Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal has revealed a part of his life left him when Roger Federer retired from tennis earlier this year.
Nadal played alongside Federer in a doubles match at the Laver Cup on an emotional night in London as the Swiss star waved goodbye.
The pair have played each other 40 times over the last two decades in one of sports greatest ever rivalries, with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head 24-16, having won 14 of the 24 finals they have contested.

“There are many experiences together, important moments shared in our lives as rivals and team-mates,” Nadal told the press ahead of an exhibition match in Argentina. “People have feelings and understand this sport for what it is, a sport.

“When you have a rival like Federer, throughout your career – because when I started Roger was already there, it’s true I played more matches with Novak than with Roger, but I started it with him [Federer].

“Due to our contrasting styles and personalities, due to affinity, in some way we have shared so much. Someone I have admired, who I have rivalled and also I have shared many beautiful things on and off the court was leaving.

“In that sense, all those moments, those feelings you have before playing a final of a Grand Slam, of an important tournament, everything that was in the air before those matches. It was different from other matches.
“You know you’re not going to live that again and a part of my life left with him [when he retired]. It was also the emotion of saying goodbye to someone who has been so important to our sport.”

WHEN WILL NADAL RETIRE?
Nadal had struggled with injuries over the last three years but had an incredible first half of 2022 where he won the Australian Open by fighting back against Daniil Medvedev and lifted a record-extending 14th French Open title.

He won in Paris despite having problems with his left foot, needing multiple injections to numb the pain he suffered.

An abdominal issue forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon ahead of his eagerly-anticipated semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios, before Frances Tiafoe beat him in the fourth round of the US Open.

Following a break, Nadal was defeated on his return to tennis at the Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals did not go to plan either as he lost his opening two group matches which eliminated him from the tournament.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is 36 years old, compared to Federer who called it a day at the age of 41.
Nadal didn’t give too much away about any retirement plans but revealed he is ready for life after tennis.
“My time will come when it has to come,” he said. “I’m quite prepared for my next life outside tennis.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for me beyond what will be an adaptation to the changes. My life has things equally or more important than tennis.”

Tennis November 25, 2022 By mariam

Emma Raducanu gives injury update as Brit returns to practice with noticeable difference

Tennis By mariam November 25, 2022

Emma Raducanu is back on a tennis court after shutting down her 2022 season with a wrist injury. Emma Raducanu has provided an update on her recovery from injury as she returned to the practice court, though there was one noticeable difference. The British No 1 ended her season early with a wrist injury and has finally started hitting tennis balls again, though did so with her left hand as the problem continues to heal.
Raducanu was forced to pull out of the Transylvania Open and Billie Jean King Cup Finals when she injured her right wrist towards the end of what was her first full season on the pro tennis tour. The 20-year-old has since been strength training with one of Andy Murray’s former fitness coaches Jez Green as she was forced to stop playing tennis because of her injury.

But the 2021 US Open champion has now given an update on her recovery journey as she posted a video to her Instagram story showing her return to the practice court, as she hit balls for the first time since pulling out of the BJK Cup Finals after a quick test to see whether she was able to play. Raducanu was clearly excited to be back on the court as she wrote “tnnsssss!!!!” over the video, which showed her hitting balls with her left hand.

It means the Brit’s right wrist has not yet recovered enough for her to begin using her playing hand but she will be able to practise her footwork and movement on a court while subbing in her left hand. Raducanu is currently set to play an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi against world No 2 Ons Jabeur next month, and will be hoping that her wrist heals in time for the event after pulling out of the same tournament last year.
The world No 75 will face the two-time Grand Slam finalist in a one-off women’s exhibition match at this year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship on December 16. It comes after Raducanu was scheduled to face Belinda Bencic at the same event last year but was forced to pull out when she caught Covid and was replaced by Jabeur, who won the match.
The Bromley local will then be starting her season at Auckland’s ASB Classic, taking place from January 2. With just over a month to go until her first tournament of 2023, she will be keen to switch back to using her right hand in practice as soon as rehab on her wrist has finished as she looks to climb her way back up the rankings after making her top 10 debut this year.
But those around Raducanu are positive she will be ready, as Britain’s BJK Cup captain Anne Keothavong said the British No 1 would be able to heal despite being forced to pull out of the event dubbed the World Cup of women’s tennis, which came “too soon” in her recovery. “Wrist injuries are never easy, but I think this one is under control,” she previously said, after it was believed that Raducanu had a brief hit with her right hand before ruling herself out of the BJK Cup squad.
“She’s got good people around her and she’s used her time to really work on other areas of her fitness. Right now, from what I understand, it’s something that she will recover from and she’s confident of that, she just needs a bit more time and Billie Jean King Cup is too soon.”

Golf November 10, 2022 By mariam

Phil Mickelson Once Revealed His ‘Aggressive’ Intentions Behind a Mysterious Routine the Lefty Follows While Playing Golf

Golf By mariam November 10, 2022

Almost all sports entities have a superstition that they think will help them do better. While it is an old piece of garment for some, many consider following a routine or ritual in a particular way will help them win an event. Similarly, fans of Phil Mickelson thought he started having one, too, when he suddenly started to wear black on Sunday. However, he had another intention behind it!

“Helps me get more aggressive.” Although his reason might sound lame, Mickelson didn’t tell the press why he started wearing black without any research. “Studies have shown that when NFL teams wear black, they have more penalties,” he added.
Notably, the study, ‘The Dark Side of Self- and Social Perception: Black Uniforms and Aggression in Professional Sports,’ conducted in 1988, proves the golfer’s point. An analysis they did of the penalty records of the National Football League and the National Hockey League indicated that teams with black uniforms in both sports ranked near the top of their leagues in penalties. Therefore, the golfer wasn’t saying anything when he explained his reason to wear black on Sunday.

Phil Mickelson considers his black outfit a lucky charm
Mickelson, who recently joined LIV Golf, revealed he intends to wear black in the final round during the 2015 Masters Tournament. Although he claimed it to make himself aggressive, he also had another reason to do so.

“I like to wear dark colors on Sunday,” he said in an interview after the third round at the Augusta National. ” I’ve won three times wearing a black shirt,” he added. “So I’ll wear a black shirt tomorrow.”
Notably, Lefty was in contention for winning the title after round 3 of the Masters Tournament in 2015. With an overall 11-under, the golfer finished third on the leaderboard on Saturday.
Going into the final round, Jordan Spieth had a 5-shot lead against Phil Mickelson. Even though the young golfer had a good lead from Lefty, he still had a chance at winning the title since he had experience in it; Moreover, he wore the black shirt in the finals!
However, Spieth won the tournament and secured his first-ever major title. All the aggressive Mickelson could do was decrease their difference by scoring a good 69 in the final round. Spieth won the event with a four-shot lead against Mickelson and the English professional golfer Justin Rose.
The black shirt didn’t let the 6-time major champion win another one at the Augusta National in 2015. Do you think it is the color that worked out for him at the three events he won before?

Tennis November 7, 2022 By mariam

Leylah Fernandez, Andreescu to lead Canada vs. Italy, Switzerland at BJK Cup

Tennis By mariam November 7, 2022

Armed with a well-rounded lineup that has plenty of star power, Canadian captain Sylvain Bruneau is aiming high at this week’s Billie Jean King Cup.

“We’re capable of everything really,” he said Monday on a pre-tournament video call from Glasgow.

The 12-team finals bracket features four groups at Emirates Arena. In Group A, Canada will open against Italy on Thursday and take on Switzerland on Friday.

Leylah Fernandez and Bianca Andreescu will likely serve as the singles weapons for a Canadian side that includes doubles star Gabriela Dabrowski, Rebecca Marino and Carol Zhao.

“It’s a very talented team with a lot of experience,” Bruneau said. “They love to represent their country, all of them, which is a great asset. They handle those moments really well.”

All ties in the finals are best-of-three matchups with two singles matches followed by a doubles match.

Group winners will advance to Saturday’s semifinals and the final is scheduled for Sunday.

Fernandez, from Laval, Que., is the highest-ranked Canadian in singles at No. 40. The 2021 U.S. Open finalist said the indoor hardcourt surface suits the Canadian side.

“We all grew up on indoor hardcourts so I think it’s going to be a good advantage for us,” she said. “We’re just going to go out there and have fun. It’s going to be good.”

Fernandez reached the quarterfinals at the French Open this year but then missed over two months of action after suffering a stress fracture in her foot at Roland Garros.

Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., won the U.S. Open in 2019 and reached a career-high No. 4 singles ranking that year. She has since slipped to No. 46.

“Last year I didn’t feel like myself basically,” she said. “And this year I kind of came back and I’m dealing with the losses better and even the wins. I definitely don’t like having the (No.) 46 beside my name so I definitely want to crack the top 10 hopefully in the next six months.”

Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked sixth in the world in doubles.

“We have, I think, probably the best lineup we’ve ever had for me as a captain,” Bruneau said.

Switzerland is led by 13th-ranked Belinda Bencic — the Tokyo Olympic champion — and No. 35 Jill Teichmann. The 27th-ranked Martina Trevisan leads an Italian side with four players in the top 70.

Switzerland and Italy will meet in the Group A opener on Wednesday. Switzerland currently holds the No. 5 position in the nation rankings — a whisker ahead of No. 6 Canada — while Italy is 12th.

“A few points are going to make the difference and hopefully we’ll be ready for the occasion when they come around,” said Swiss captain Heinz Guenthardt.

There will be a new champion at the event — previously known as the Federation Cup — after Russia was suspended from competition.

The ban gave Australia a qualification spot as the highest-ranked 2021 semifinalist. Its original opponent in the qualifying round — Slovakia — also got a bye as a result.

Switzerland qualified after reaching last year’s final and Belgium got a walkover win since Belarus is suspended from international team play.

“We will come back and win this title,” Bencic said after falling to Russia in 2021.

Canada upset 2020 champion France last year before falling to Russia. Andreescu and Fernandez were not in the lineup.

Canada booked its spot in the 2022 finals with a 4-0 win over Latvia last April in Vancouver. Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Spain and the U.S. also won qualifying rounds.

Great Britain has a spot as the host nation.

Bruneau has captained the Canadian side several times in the past. He’s filling in this week for Heidi el Tabakh, who’s temporarily unavailable due to personal reasons.

Bruneau must submit his final lineup one hour before the start of match play.

“I think we’re going to be very competitive,” he said. “We do have the belief we can do really well. But we know that we have good competition. So one tie at a time.”

Marino, from Vancouver, is ranked 67th in singles. Zhao, from Vaughan, Ont., holds the No. 169 position.

Canada has never reached the final at this tournament. Canada made it to the semifinals in 1988 before losing to Czechoslovakia.

Tennis November 1, 2022 By mariam

Andy Murray weighs in on his future, Serena Williams & Roger Federer retirements

Tennis By mariam November 1, 2022

Andy Murray admits he is still unsure how will his retirement look as he feels that there is “no perfect way” to end a tennis career. Recently, Murray witnessed Roger Federer’s retirement from tennis. In his final tournament, Federer teamed up with Rafael Nadal for a doubles match.

While Federer and Nadal were playing alongside each other, Murray and Novak Djokovic were supporting them from Team Europe bench. “I’m aware that I’m not going to be able to play forever,” Murray told Eurosport.

“I know that. From this year, the way people finish is different for everyone. It’s very rare that you get a perfect ending. Serena had a good run at the US Open, played well and had some great results. Roger finished on the same side of the net as his biggest rival [Rafa Nadal for Team Europe at the Laver Cup in an emotional doubles match].
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga finishing in France and Gilles also finishing in France in front of a great atmosphere. So there are all different ways of doing it and there is no right way, there is no wrong way and there is no perfect way to finish, and it is just what feels right for you.

Who knows when that will be [for me]?”

Murray has already retired once
In 2017, Murray contracted a serious hip injury. After undergoing a surgery, Murray returned to action in 2018. In the January of 2019, Murray announced the Australian Open would be the final tournament of his career.

After losing in the 2019 Australian Open first round, Murray underwent a hip replacement surgery. In August of that year, Murray made his return to tennis. Murray’s hip has been holding up well in recent years, but he never managed to return to his old form. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No 1, is now ranked at No 47 in the world.

Tennis October 18, 2022 By mariam

“Novak Djokovic was discriminated and defamed”

Tennis By mariam October 18, 2022

Not everyone appreciated the treatment towards Novak Djokovic and indeed more and more people considered this relentlessness against the tennis player as exaggerated. Commentator James Melville tweeted about Novak Djokovic’s situation, referring to words that he also repeatedly reported during his BBC interviews.

Melville tweeted: “We live in an upside-down world, he has been discriminated against and defamed.” Melville referred to Nole’s words, recent statements where the Serbian reiterated that he did not regret his choices and that decisions about his body are more important of any title.

Djokovic has been a protagonist in the last few weeks where he won the Tel Aviv and Nur Sultan tournaments and now he will certainly be among the protagonists of the year-end ATP Finals that will be held in Turin.

Djokovic experienced a very special 2022 for a tennis player

The Serbian champion paid the consequences for his choice not to carry out the vaccine against Covid-19 and this situation forced him to skip several tournaments. In this year Nole was forced to skip the entire Australian and US swings, a situation that prevented him from competing in the Australian Open and the US Open, tournaments that would certainly have seen him as the main favorite.

Especially before the Australian Open, Nole experienced really difficult moments with the Serbian champion who first entered the country and then was ‘recluse’ forced to return to Europe. Nole has played only a few tournaments, only half of the Grand Slam tournaments, a situation that slowed his physical condition but did not prevent him from winning the Wimbledon tournament.

Right now the Balkan tennis player is chasing Rafael Nadal, in the challenge for the tennis player who has won the most Slams in history: Rafa is first with 22 Slams and Nole chases at 21, certainly disadvantaged by this difficult situation.

We recall that the presence of Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open 2023 is still in doubt, due to the ant Covid-19 rules: the situation is still complex, like it was last season in Australian for the Serb.

Tennis October 17, 2022 By mariam

Australian Open 2023 even more at risk for Novak Djokovic

Tennis By mariam October 17, 2022

Craig Tiley corrects the shot: even the CEO of Tennis Australia has questioned the presence of Novak Djokovic at the first Grand Slam of the season after declaring during a long interview of how all the national bodies were working to ensure the presence of the best players in the world.

Tiley said: “We are on track to get back all the best players in the world all. Right now we are in a very different health situation from that of a few months ago, with people moving freely around the world. world and very few restrictions.

This leads me to think that we will be able to have the best players in the world in a few months.” Words strongly rejected by the former minister of internal affairs, Karen Andrews, firmly opposed to the annulment of the sentence that established not to grant a visa to Djokovic for the next three years.

She explained: “I don’t think there are any reasons why the decision should be reversed simply because he can afford it economically. The government should also consider all other people whose visas have been canceled.

There cannot be a rule for Novak Djokovic and a rule for everyone else. That’s not fair.”

Tiley explained: “We won’t put any pressure”
Then new pages are added to the story, with Tiley explaining how Tennis Australia, taking advantage of the trail left by the organizers of the US Open, will not interfere in the government’s decision regarding the presence of the twenty-one time Grand Slam champion.

So reviewing the position for a few days. CEO of the Australian Open: “This is not an issue that we can press. Novak and the government have to resolve this issue together, we will then comply and follow all instruction.”

Tiley then said: “We will not interfere between the two sides, they will have to decide. Depending on the result, we would obviously be happy to welcome him back here in Australia.”

Tennis October 6, 2022 By mariam

Andy Murray adds debut tournament to schedule as Brit aims to finish season on a high

Tennis By mariam October 6, 2022

Andy Murray has decided to add a new tournament to his calendar as he bids for a strong finish to 2022. The three-time major winner was handed a wildcard to compete in the Gijon Open, located in the coast of Northern Spain.

He joins a field including the likes of Andrey Rublev, 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem and home favourites Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut. The ATP 250 event, which will begin on Monday, will mark the Brit’s first event since making his very first Laver Cup appearance last month, which was an emotional one as the tennis world bid farewell to Roger Federer.

Two more wildcards for the event were handed out, one going to Felician Lopez, a former doubles partner for Murray, and a young Spanish star called Martin Landaluce, who won this year’s US Open junior event. There was no doubt Federer’s retirement had his teammates Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic thinking about their eventual exits from the sport.

However he chooses to bow out, the double Olympic champion claimed he has no intention of doing it in the same vein as the Swiss Maestro. “I’m really not thinking about that right now,” said the former world number one. “I certainly won’t and don’t deserve to have a send-off like that.

“Roger did deserve that night and it was super special having all of those guys there watching on the side of the court. I probably would announce when I’m going to play my last event, but when that is I don’t know.

“I’m still playing competitive tennis and physically feeling good against top players.” Murray’s experience at the Laver Cup was also enjoyable as his children were in the crowd to watch him play for the first time. “My kids actually came to watch me for the first time ever today,” he said after his doubles match with Matteo Berrettini on the event’s final day.

But his youngest left a little disappointed when Murray ended up on the losing side, as he added: “My wife said they did [enjoy it]. The little one was a bit sad that we lost but yeah I think they enjoyed it.”

The world No 46 himself also enjoyed his overall experience at the Laver Cup, and admitted how surprised he was at how special the tournament was. “It was incredible,” he said after losing to Alex De Minaur in a match tiebreak. “You know, one of the most special matches that I have played, to be honest.”

He continued: “I have never experienced that before obviously as I have not played in this event, and I know, you know, when the event started there was me probably a bit as well like sceptical about that side of things, but being part of it was really, really special. Yeah, something I’ll remember for a long time.”