ATP
Cancun ‘disaster’ could see WTA chief go
THE last-minute scramble to find a host for the year-ending WTA finals was a disaster, according to several players.
Former World No.3 Elina Svitolina was just one not happy with the WTA’s decision to host the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.
Several players labelled the court conditions ‘unsafe’ as many others criticised the training facilities.
And the weather also had a major negative impact on the event. Cancun is always vulnerable to wind and rain in October/November. So why the WTA go there?
In all honesty, the cash-strapped WTA had little choice – there was, at such a late stage, no other option.
“I saw the court was not ready, I don’t know why the WTA wanted to host it in Cancun,” Svitolina said last week.
“It’s a shame for the best eight players in the world to be playing in these conditions, it’s terrible for our sport to be honest.”
WTA CEO Steve Simon has since apologised in an open letter to platers.
But the damage has already been done and there is zero chance Cancun will be asked to host the event again.
But it didn’t end there…
Polish channel Canal+ Sport was pretty brutal in its assessment of the conditions.
And they copped some feedback from organisers, but stuck by their earlier critical remarks.
“It’s our job to show you what’s on the ground, the station said.
“What’s more – some people from the WTA are already starting to snoop around, saying that they don’t like it, that we’re telling the truth. Well, that’s too bad.
“This is our role here. That’s why we came here, not for a holiday.”
As for Simon? Martina Navratilova has already called for him to go.
SAUDI sports washing continues at a pace, with tennis now firmly in the middle eastern regimes sights.
And tennis authorities are falling over themselves to cash in.
The ATP seems happy to hand a Masters 1000 tournament to the desert kingdom, the second highest-level tournament category in tennis after the Grand Slams.
And the cash-strapped WTA is on its knees begging for support with the WTA Finals being offered up after a disastrous Cancun event.
So far, the Saudis have secured hosting rights to stage the Next Gen ATP Finals and talks to buy either Miami or Madrid are progressing well.
Such an event could of course have a major impact on the lead-up to the Australian Open, as GST’s Bill Scott confirmed on Wednesday.
Outlined to start in January 2025, the Saudi tournament would finish just days before the start of the Australian Open, threatening a number of existing lead-in events such as the United Cup mixed national teams event.
The United Cup will be held next year in Perth and Sydney in January while other players warm up at the Adelaide International or in Auckland.
And how much are the Saudis paying? According to reports, around half a billion dollars.
MEANWHILE, in New York the owner of the Mets baseball team, hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, has unveiled a $8 billion plan for a 50-acre casino, hotel and music complex in Queens, next to the US Tennis Center.
‘Metropolitan Park’ would encompass 20 acres of green space with Cohen claiming it would generate $130 billion in economic impact over the next three decades in an area.
“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” Cohen said.
Cohen’s big plan though might see the light of day – he has still to persuade Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State legislature – both of which are yet to be convinced.
EMMA Raducanu turns 21 tomorrow and will never be in the world’s top 10 again.
A brave prediction or solid forecast?
Raducanu is still injured – possibly the longest sick note in tennis history – and is now ranked at 285.
But get this, she still pulls £10 million in off-court deals from companies like Nike, Porsche, Vodafone and Evian.
Will she name her comeback in 2024? Many had hoped so, but in a recent interview for Amazon Prime, Raducanu told Laura Robson her recovery was still ongoing.
ONE player who is making a comeback is Former No.1 Naomi Osaka.
She will will kick off her comeback at the Brisbane International in January.
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has also been confirmed for Brisbane.
But Aussie Nick Kyrgios has told Brisbane officials it will be a “wait and see” approach as he returns from injury.
Kyrgios, 28, has played only one match this year after a stunning 2022 that saw him reach the Wimbledon final and a US Open quarter-final.
COACHING merry-go-round… Italian Matteo Berrettini is rumoured to have teamed up Thomas Enqvist as his new coach for 2024.
Berrettini is still recovering from an injury sustained at the US Open ion September.
And Andy Murray has split with long-time coach Ivan Lendl for a third time.
“Ivan has been by my side at the biggest moments in my career and I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s helped me achieve,” Murray said.
CONGRATS to Belinda Bencic, who announced on social media during the week she is to become a mom.
“Expecting our little miracle soon!” she wrote in Instagram in a joint post with boyfriend Martin Hromkovic. “We can’t wait to meet you.”
Bencic gave no hint of a due date, she last played in September in San Diego.
AND staying with the tennis relationship theme, Paula Badosa admitted last week criticism over her dating Stefanos Tsitsipas has hurt.
For some reason their relationship has attracted negative headlines, with some saying his poor court performances are because has focused too much on his new girlfriend.
“That has hurt me a lot because with the whole issue of the injury, I have actually been able to dedicate myself quite a bit to helping him,” she told El Pais.
“We both love tennis and he is also a super-working person, we are very similar in the goals we set for ourselves.
“We talk a lot about tennis and we help each other a lot.
“I can understand that we are public figures and that we are exposed, but in the end, we are two 25-year-olds and all this is delicate, because it is an innocent relationship.”
AND finally….
Seeing double? No, just another Alcaraz coming through the system.
Carlos Alcaraz’s younger brother Jaime recently finished as the runner-up at the Rafa Nadal Tour Masters event in Mallorca.
Jaime Alcaraz, 12, had a great campaign at the under-12 tournament, eventually falling 6-0, 6-1 to Russian Stefan Shangichev.
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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