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Tennis August 9, 2022 By crownfortune

Novak Djokovic on first win over Roger Federer: ‘He has to lose sometimes’

Tennis By crownfortune August 9, 2022

Novak Djokovic made a name for himself in 2007, reaching his first Major final and lifting multiple Masters 1000 titles. Novak conquered the first in Miami and added the second four months later in Montreal. The Serb wrote history books after beating the world’s leading three players as the first one to achieve that after Boris Becker in Stockholm 1994.

Novak defeated Andy Roddick in the quarter-final and toppled Rafael Nadal in the semi-final to set the title clash against Roger Federer. Djokovic prevailed 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 in two hours and 13 minutes for his sixth ATP title.

It was Novak’s first victory over Roger in five matches, prevailing in the closing stages of sets one and three to lift the trophy. Federer had nine break points and converted five. He got broken three times, but it was not enough to emerge at the top after losing ground in the decisive moments.

Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer for the first time in Montreal 2007.

The Swiss won two points more than the Serb thanks to the second set. He wasted six set points in the opening set, which probably cost him the title.

Federer broke at 5-5 in the opening set and served for it in game 12. He squandered six set points to bring Djokovic into contention before the tie break. Novak had the momentum and claimed it 7-2 with a service winner for a massive boost.

Roger shifted into a higher gear in set number two and grabbed breaks in games six and eight for 6-2 in half an hour. Djokovic made a strong start in the decider and broke Federer in the first game. The Serb served well in the next three service games to open a 4-2 gap before the Swiss broke back in game eight for 4-4.

The set went into a tie break, and Novak played on a higher level to forge a 6-1 advantage. Djokovic converted the second match point to start a massive celebration of his first win over Federer. “It has been a fantastic week for me, and I won the second notable title after Miami.

I should put Montreal at the top, considering I defeated three top-3 players. It’s like a dream come true, facing Roger Federer in the final and beating mentally the strongest player in two tie breaks. It’s normal to have ups and downs against world no.

1, as he feels comfortable on any court. It was a big motivation for me to face Roger in an ATP final for the first time. I tried to stay in touch and keep my focus in every point because he uses every opportunity. It’s a massive victory for me, and as I said during the ceremony, Roger has to lose sometimes.

The first set was crucial, as we both wanted to take it. I got broken from 40-0, and you expect world no. 1 to seal the set in the next one. I gave my best to leave that game behind me and focus on the next one, breaking back and taking it in the tie break.

The second set ended quickly, and I had to regroup ahead of the decider. I grabbed an early break before Roger pulled it back at 3-4, which should have never happened. I prevailed in the end, and I’m thrilled,” Novak Djokovic said.

News April 3, 2022 By crownfortune

‘You’d run into Rafael Nadal and…’, says ATP ace

News By crownfortune April 3, 2022

Rafael Nadal was the author of a start to the season that left everyone speechless. After being out for a long time with injury, the former world number 1 turned up in Australia without great expectations. His success in Melbourne (ATP 250) gave him the confidence to accomplish one of the greatest feats of his career.

The Spanish phenomenon has in fact won the Australian Open against all odds, recovering two sets to Daniil Medvedev in the final. Thanks to that triumph, Rafa overtook Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time rankings of the Majors.

The 35-year-old from Manacor 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). Nadal’s streak of winning streak ended against Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final, also due to a fractured rib.

None of the Big 3 therefore took part in the Miami Open. At the press conference, Frances Tiafoe stressed that the Next Gen today have a better chance of winning the big tournaments.

Tiafoe opens up on Rafa Nadal
“There is a little opening in tennis,” Tiafoe said.

“The big guys don’t play every Masters, for example, this one. Big guys, you know what I mean, the big three. So there is a little space for guys,” he added. “I mean, there was a while there where you go deep in an event, and you’d run into Rafael Nadal and them, I was, like, Yeah, I’m probably going home.

But now guys can win it.” Tiafoe also spoke about the resurgence of American men’s tennis. He highlighted how he and Taylor Fritz were the first to break through among the crop of American youngsters. “Yeah, yeah.

I think it’s been interesting,” Frances Tiafoe said. “Like, I mean, Fritz, we’re kind of the first guys to break top 100. Fritz made final of a 250 when we were super young. I made quarterfinal of Australia really young.

Top 30, 20 years old, 21 years old. Me and Fritz kind of going. Reilly’s kind of figured out, Reilly breaks through, Tommy starts to break through. You have Korda, these guys. I think seeing guys that you grew up with doing well, you’re like, Well, f***, this guy can do it.

I grew up with him,” Tiafoe added. “I’ve beaten him how many times. Why not? But it’s all good blow. We genuinely want to see each other do well. It’s good.”

Entertainment March 26, 2022 By crownfortune

Serena Williams reacts to shock Ashleigh Barty retirement from tennis

Entertainment By crownfortune March 26, 2022

Tennis great Serena Williams was at first sad to hear Ashleigh Barty was stepping away from the game at a very young age but added that she is also happy for the Australian and what’s to come next for her in her life.

Three weeks after withdrawing from the Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami, Barty announced a shock retirement from tennis. Williams and Barty clashed two times and twice the American ended on the winning side. Their two meetings came at the Grand Slam level as Williams beat Barty at the Australian Open in 2014, before also beating the Australian at the French Open four years later.

“@ashbarty I can’t lie I was sad to read your decision but also happy for your new chapter. Always your fan close up and afar. Sending all my love,” Williams tweeted.

Barty retires, Williams not done yet
Williams, who hasn’t played since Wimbledon, has revealed her plans to return this year.

Meanwhile, Barty explained her decision to retire at 25. “There was a perspective shift in me in this second phase of my career that my happiness wasn’t dependant on the results. Success for me is knowing that I’ve given everything that I can, I’m fulfilled, I’m happy,” Barty said in a conversation with Casey Dellacqua.

“I know much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself. I’ve said it to my team multiple times, I just don’t have it in me anymore. I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want, and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level anymore.

I just know that I’m absolutely spent. I know I have physically I have nothing more to give. That for me is success. I’ve given eveything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis. I’m really happy with that. For me that is my success.”

Entertainment March 17, 2022 By crownfortune

‘Roger Federer wins everything, it’s time for someone new’

Entertainment By crownfortune March 17, 2022

Kicking off the 2007 season from just outside the top-15 and with big goals on his mind, Novak Djokovic lost to Roger Federer at the Australian Open. In March, the Serb reached the first Masters 1000 final in Indian Wells. Rafael Nadal proved to be too strong for Novak, who learned the lesson well ahead of their next clash two weeks later in Miami.

World no. 1 Roger Federer was not among the title runners at the opening Masters 1000 events of the season, losing to Guillermo Canas in both Indian Wells and Miami and leaving the space for the youngsters to show their true colors.

Novak played against his coeval Andy Murray in the semi-final in Indian Wells and Miami. Djokovic was thrilled that the young guns were making their way towards the top after a couple of Roger Federer’s dominant seasons.

Novak needed an hour and 37 minutes to beat Rafa 6-3, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarter-final. Djokovic took 15 out of 20 points behind the second serve and fended off four out of five break chances to keep the pressure on the other side.

Nadal could not follow that pace, having troubles after missing the first serve and getting broken thrice to propel Novak into the semis. Djokovic forged the triumph in the mid-range and extended exchanges, hitting more winners than unforced errors.

Novak forced a mistake from Rafa in the fourth game to move 3-1 in front before suffering a break at 15 in the next one when his forehand landed long. Djokovic forced another Nadal’s mistake to secure the second straight break.

Novak Djokovic reached back-to-back Masters 1000 finals in March 2007.

The Serb cemented it with a hold at love and clinched the set with an incredible volley at 5-3. Rafa saved three break points in the second set’s third game to stay on the positive side and landed a volley winner in the next one to earn a break chance.

Novak dismissed it with a powerful forehand and brought the game home with a volley winner to level the score at 2-2. In the fifth game, Nadal netted a slice backhand to suffer a break, sending the younger opponent in front and allowing Djokovic to serve for the victory at 5-4.

Novak passed the most challenging test in that tenth game, fending off three break chances and sealing the deal with an ace to notch the first triumph over Nadal. “I’m expecting a nice battle against Andy, competing against each other in the second straight Masters 1000 semi-final; he must be fitter than in Indian Wells.

It’s a great thing for tennis to see youngsters like Nadal, Murray and me playing at this level and bringing something new to tennis. I think you all had enough of Roger Federer winning every tournament, so it’s good,” Novak Djokovic said.

Entertainment March 15, 2022 By crownfortune

Emma Raducanu sent message from Jo Konta as ex-star gives verdict on Brit’s season so far

Entertainment By crownfortune March 15, 2022

EMMA RADUCANU suffered a narrow defeat to Petra Martic at the BNP Paribas Open.
Emma Raducanu has been defended by a fellow former British No 1 after an early exit in Indian Wells. The 19-year-old has suffered with injuries and niggles this year, being unable to make it out of the third round in her four tournaments this season. But Johanna Konta has seen the positive side of her compatriot’s losses.

Raducanu had her best result of the season in Indian Wells when she made it to the round of 32, having receiving a first-round bye before defeating Caroline Garcia in round two. She narrowly lost a tight, two-hour 46-minute match to Petra Martic 6-7(3) 6-4 7-5 on Sunday and will now head to the Miami Open for her next tournament.

The world No 13 admitted she was told she had “no chance” of competing in the Californian desert after picking up a leg injury that forced her to retire her opening match in Guadalajara and withdraw from the subsequent Monterrey Open. Although she made it to the third round, the US Open champion admitted she had picked up another injury in Indian Wells but would still be competing in Miami.

“I think it’s just part of not playing and having so much stop start and having five, six days to prepare for matches and then playing at that intensity,” Raducanu said after her loss, explaining her back had been giving her problems. “I’ve had it for the last few days – just a product of training hard and probably the last match was pretty intense too and it didn’t settle down.”

It follows a series of injuries and niggles for the Bromley teenager, who caught Covid during the pre-season and saw her training derailed before suffering with severe blistering at the Australian Open, then going on to face the issues with her leg and back. In Melbourne, Raducanu defeated 2017 US Open champion and former world No 3 Sloane Stephens before putting up a good fight against Danka Kovinic despite her blisters, losing in three sets.

With some concerned over Raducanu’s early losses, recently-retired former world No 4 Johanna Konta has heralded her recent results as a positive part of the 19-year-old’s learning process. “I think she has to look back on this Australian Open as a positive experience. The fact that she had that tough first round against Sloane Stephens and was able to come through that and also the way she was still able to compete in that second round,” the former British No 1 said.

Calling for Raducanu to be given the time to adjust in her first full season on the pro tour, Konta continued: “I think it’s a positive that she’s on tour and she’s going to be consistently on tour now, that’s what we need to keep on talking about, she needs time in this environment and just that consistent time in this environment – it’ll all go into the bank of experience.”

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After the Miami Open, the world No 13 will compete on the clay courts for the first time in her professional career, having previously contended junior and ITF events on the surface, and Konta was quick to back her successor as British No 1 in unfamiliar territory. “I don’t really think Emma necessarily deals with pressure like how we would be expecting her to deal with it, I think she’s incredibly mature with how she’s dealing with everything around her,” she said.

“So, I do not believe it will faze her too much changing onto the clay court, she’s definitely played on clay courts I would assume before as a junior, and obviously again it’ll just be about spending time on that surface at the highest level of the game. It’s an exciting time for her to discover how her game feels on the surface against these players so I think more than anything it’s again just time and adding it all into the bank of experience.”

The first big tournament in the WTA clay-court calendar kicks off on April 4 in Charleston, while the first European event begins in Stuttgart on April 18. Raducanu will be able to pick up points to add to her ranking over the clay season before the grass swing begins, where she made her tour debut in Nottingham last year before her Wimbledon breakout, reaching the second week as a 338th-ranked wildcard.