ATP
Cold War Czech-out
A TENNIS Cold War is developing across Europe with news that an unnamed Russian player was stopped by Czech police on Thursday from entering the country to compete in the WTA Prague Open, which begins tomorrow.
The event was expected to see a handful of Russian and Belarusian players, including Evgeniya Rodina of Russia or Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, competing as neutrals, without any national flag or symbol, but a Czech government resolution has banned athletes from Russia or Belarus taking part in any events in the country.
Tournament director Miroslav Maly said the unnamed player was the first participant to arrive with a Russian passport.
“The management of the tournament fully respect the current stance of state authorities. We do not expect any player with Russian or Belarusian citizenship to take part in the tournament in this situation,” he said.
The WTA said it would “continue to review the situation as we factor important considerations around these complex geopolitical issues”.
It added: “WTA rules state that all players must be allowed to compete on the WTA based solely on merit, without discrimination.”
But will the WTA act to fine the Prague organisers, as this action clearly violates the rule?
They did when Wimbledon, under pressure from the Ukraine-backing UK government, issued their ban.
A week ago, Polish authorities denied entry to Russian Vera Zvonareva for ‘reasons of state security and public safety’.
AND… Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska wants the WTA to sanction Mirra Andreeva after the young Russian allegedly liked some social media content about the civil war between Russia and Ukraine.
The outspoken Ukranian posted on her own social media calling for the WTA to take action.
So a ‘like’, which may constitute just an opinion, is now not acceptable?
It’s very unlikely the WTA will formally sanction Andreeva even if the allegations are true and as yet the Ukranian hasn’t provided any screenshots or evidence to back up her allegations.
MORE complaints… this time from Casper Ruud, who has criticised the clay courts at the Hamburg European Open.
Ruud, a clay specialist, had just beaten Sebastián Baez at the event, but was clearly not happy.
“After the first three games, Casper Ruud tells the umpire that this Hamburg court is ‘the worst clay court he played all year on tour’,” journalist Jose Morgado reported.
COST of living crisis? Not in Monaco, where millionaire tennis players mingle with … well, millionaire F1 drivers, of course.
Daniil Medvedev, his wife Daria and baby daughter Alisa were recently spotted at FI champion Max Verstappen’s stepdaughter Penelope’s birthday party in the tax haven on the Mediterranean coast.
Verstappen has been in a relationship with Kelly Piquet, the daughter of former Brazilian racing driver Nelson Piquet since 2021 and Piquet was previously dating Russian racing driver Daniil Kvyat, the father of Penelope.
Russian Medvedev has had a long affair with racing, and has frequently been spotted with F1 drivers during his days off in Monaco.
NICK Krygios has dropped a hint he maybe retiring soon.
The outspoken and often controversial Aussie, was speaking in LA during time coaching at the UTS.
“I’m getting old. 28. Yeah,” he said. “But all the drinking and partying, I’m like 57.”
Kyrgios is 28, he has been a regular on the tour since 2014.
In response to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who is 36, claiming he could play for another five years, Kyrgios quickly dismissed any prospects of that.
“No chance. No way. Bro, there’s no chance I’m playing until 33. Kyrgios playing until 33 is insane! I’m not playing until 33. Nah, I promise you, when I’m gone, you’ll never see me again,” he said.
Kyrgios last week withdrew from the Citi Open in Washington, a decision that will likely see a big drop in the ATP rankings.
“Unfortunately my body is not ready to compete yet. My wrist is still not anywhere near to pain-free. Keep you all updated,” he posted on social media.
EMMA Raducanu’s agent Max Eisenbud has insisted her approach of hiring and firing coaches is nothing new, suggesting a change is unlikely.
And Eisenbud has squashed speculation that sponsors will attempt to cut ties with her her poor run of form, where she has struggled since winning the US Open in 2021.
“None of her sponsors have ever called up and been like ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe she’s not winning!’. No one,” Eisenbud said last week.
“I know people want to say ‘the pressure, she’s got the pressure’, I think the pressure she has is that she won a great tournament and she wants that feeling again and she wants to keep winning.”
But the every changing coach role? Well, that looks likely to continue.
Raducanu, 20, worked with Andrew Richardson for her US Open triumph. Since then, she has had spells with Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs.
She split with Sachs last month, with no new name as yet to fill a position controlled by her father Ian.
“The coaching situation, right or wrong, and this is something that her dad and Emma pretty much control on all the coaching stuff,” Eisenbud told The Tennis Podcast.
“That has been their philosophy all the way up through the juniors.
“They never had coaches for a long time. You’ve probably heard of that. For them, that is calm waters, having a coach for five months and going on to someone else.”
No doubt injury has been one issue to overcome, but no elite sportsman or woman wins anything without longterm coaching support.
FORMER world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki is set to return to the court on August 8 at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
Wozniacki, 33, announced a surprise return to tennis last month. She retired from the Tour after the 2020 Australian Open.
The Dane, now a mother of two children, has been granted wildcards for Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open.
“Over these past three years away from the game I got to make up for lost time with my family, I became a mother and now have two beautiful children I am so grateful for,” Wozniacki said.
But I still have goals I want to accomplish. I want to show my kids that you can pursue your dreams no matter your age or role. We decided as a family it’s time. I’m coming back to play and I can’t wait!”
AND finally …
Nick Kyrgios has challenged world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz to an exhibition match in Spain next year.
“He is a force for sure. I would of loved to see how it would of gone down last year when I was healthy and playing lights out,” Kyrgios wrote on social media.
“@carlitosalcarazz what about next year in your town we do an exhibition?
“He’s got that showman about him, which I like.”
Carlos Alcaraz ended a four-and-a-half month injury exile with a resounding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Roman Safiullin on Monday at the US Open to mark his return to the courts after a wrist injury.
The defending champion now ranked third is hoping to become the first man to successfully defend the title here Roger Federer won US Open over five consecutive editions (2004-2008).
“For me it’s been a really tough five months. Being able to step on Arthur Ashe and being able to compete again.. as I said before the tournament, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament than here in New York,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s a really special tenement for me. I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd. The energy. I missed competition. I missed everything. 🥹 I’m just really really happy I was able to compete again.”
“On this (Ashe) court, I made my dream. First major. First time becoming No. 1 in the world.
“The warm welcome I receive every time I come here is crazy. I really appreciate it. I really feel the love from the people.”
One-time top 10 regular Stefanos Tsitsipas unleashed a major surprise on Cincinnati winner Arthur Fils with a turnaround 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 win as the French youngster failed to earn a two-set-to-love lead over the Greek.
“I don’t have the answer,” the 10th-seeded Fils said after his collapse in form. “Once the energy went down at the end of the second, I never felt again a good energy.
“I have to talk with my team, but at my level, to do such a mistake is almost unprofessional.”
He added: “I was trying to fight; at one point I broke back early in the fourth, so I was trying to find a way, but not accurate enough on the serve.
“The ball was not going very well out of my racquet. Even if I was fighting, was tough.”
Fils had beaten No. 53 Tsitsipas in all five of heir previous matches
The Greek, playing unseeded for the first time here, reaching the second round for the sixth time as he came from a set and 5-2 down.
Former ATP No. 3 Tsitsipas pronounced himself “speechless” at his success. “It’s an amazing start to the tournament, I’m very proud of myself.
“I’m taking it a day at a time. I don’t wanna be looking too far away. I prefer to stay grounded in the moment. A win like this today matters a lot to me.”
:French veteran Adrian Mannarino, aged 38, fought back from two sets to love down for only the second time in his career to advance past Thiago Tirante 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The loss ended the dream of the 42nd-ranked Argentine who beat Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati second round last month as the Serb competed for the first time since Wimbledon at the pre-Open event.
The first-round match began on opening day but was interrupted by night-time rain and concluded on Monday.
Andrey Rublev wore down lucky loser Otto Virtanen as the Finn cramped in the closing stages on the way to a 6-7 (5), 6-7 (0), 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Virtanen entered the draw as former champion Marin Cilic withdrew.
Main photo:- ‘New look” Carlos Alcaraz celebrates first round win on return from injury – ATPTour.com
Novak Djokovic hit the wall as the 24-time Grand Slam winner vomited at the back of the court and was treated by the trainer during a disheartening first round loss which ended early Monday morning on opening day of the US Open.
The 39-year-old Serb fell ill – he said things have been this way for weeks – as he took a loss to Mariano Navone 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
In addition to his stomach problems, the ailing Serb was seen by the trainer, the doctor and used an inhaler as he complained of cramping and general poor health during a stress test lasting nearly four and three-quarter hours.
The defeat came a fortnight after Djokovic was knocked out in his opening match in Cincinnati after reaching a Wimbledon semi-final.
“It was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” Djokovic said early Monday.
“Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.
“The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.
He added: “I was up a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter.
But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.”
The disappointing end was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades and cut off a run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories going back to a loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
“From the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible, honestly from the beginning. They were trying to lift me up in important moments,” Djokovic said.
“I’m very sorry that I, you know, didn’t perform as well as I should have or could have… but the love and appreciation they gave me in the end really touched my heart.”
Seventh seed and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev came good after losing here a year ago in the first round, posting a win over Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 for his 33rd victory of the season.
Montreal quarter-finalist Daniel Merida defeated Marton Fucsovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to earn the fist straight-set men’s win of the fortnight.
Jiri Lehecka put out two-time semi-finalist Pablo Carreño Busta 6-1, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-2. The win served as revenge after the veteran Spaniard beat the Czech in the Roland Garros first round.
No. 101 Dino Prizmic spent nearly four hours before completing a win over Alexander Shevchenko to advance in five sets.
The 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 success was hard-fought, with Prizmic leading 5-2 and serving for it in the fourth set but needing to go all the way to claim his first victory here after saving two match points.
The Croat has threatened top 10 names in the past, beating Novak Djokovic in Rome and Ben Shelton in Madrid.
Cincinnati quarter-finalist Tommy Paul recovered after losing the opening set, storming back for a 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong.
Day 1 British results were mixed, with Cam Norrie going down in an upset loss to Frenchman Luca van Assche 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 while debutant Toby Samuel’s earned the biggest win of his career as he stunned Czech Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
Former finalist Casper Ruud made a last-minute pull out on Sunday as the US Open began, with the Norwegian still affected by the back injury which forced his retirement only days ago in Cincinnati.
The runner-up four years ago to Carlos Alcaraz has been carrying the problems for several weeks and pulled the plug on his participation on opening day of the season;s final major.
Ruud becomes the 20th player to withdraw,, a list led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is dealing with a knee injury and who has not played since winning Wimbledon in July.
Ruud was due to start in New York against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, whom he defeated last month in Montreal.
Ruud now faces a rush to fitness if he is to compete at the Laver Cup in London from September 25.
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