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The US Open

Djokovic in miracle turnaround to win Serb struggle

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Novak Djokovic flipped the momentum in a flash after dropping the opening two sets as he overhauled Serb compatriot Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 early Saturday at the US Open.

A modest crowd remained at the Ashe showcort as yet another match went well into the wee hours as controversy over scheduling of the in-you-face Grand Slam erupted again.

Djokovic managed to recover from two sets to love down for the eighth time in his career; he last performed the escape act here in 2011, saving two points to beat Roger Federer in a semi-final.

The second-seeded winner came back a changed man after heading for a clothing change after losing the opening two sets and said he fired himself up during the brief pause.

.”I gave myself a little pep talk in the mirror. I was pissed off and agitated but I had to force myself to lift my spirits.

“Tonight it worked and I’m grateful.”

From then on the 23-time Grand Slam winner caught fire as the hopes faded for Djere, a frequent practice partner.

The struggle lasted for three and three and three-quarter hours as Djokovic struggled into the fourth round. .  

“It was unbelievable,” he said after winning on a second match point as Djere went wide.

“It’s almost 2 a.m. and there are a large number of people still here.. The match was not so enjoyable for me in the first two sets.

“It was one of the toughest I’ve played here in many years. It was difficult for me to find a solution but in the third set I lifted myself and the crowd got into it.

“Once I got the break in the third set I told myself I might as well go after it.

“This match was nerve-wracking all the way to the last shot.”

The 32nd-seeded Djere missed out on his first career Top 10 win in a Grand Slam tournament and has now lost seven times.

Djokovic is now into the New York fourth round for a 15th consecutive time.

He ended with 11 aces and broke seven times against his countryman.

ATP

Positive vibes after RG takes player crisis meeting

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The peace talks came after a Friday interview boycott by most top players, who limited their pre-event interactions with media to 15 minutes while snubbing TV broadcasters.

Players are asking for a larger share of Grand Slam prize money, aiming for a rise from 15 to 22 per cent, a figure well below payouts in other spots.

French federation (FFT) officials promised a response to the demands in the immediate future. Confrontations with Wimbledon and the US Open are also likely to proceed during the Paris fortnight.

The Australian Open has already sided with the players when the issue first arose earlier this season.

The FFT “has committed to responding to the players’ proposals in the coming weeks,” the ruling body said.

Players are seeking a closer involvement in the big decisions of the sport along with increased health insurance and retirement benefits.

Sinner, with USD 56 million already in career prize money at age 24, might do well to follow the example of retired icon Roger Federer, who earned 130 million on court and much more off it,

The Swiss, reportedly now a tennis billionaire, often said he would not be needing his ATP pension but was happy to work on behalf of other  players.

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Strasbourg

Raducanu plays coaching lottery with return to her OG

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Emma Raducanu has gone back to the future with her latest choice of coach, choosing to re-group with the mentor who helped her to a US Open title five long years ago.

The Briton whose career has been a patchwork of changing coaches and near-constant injuries and illness since her 2021 big day in New York, revealed she has re-employed Andrew Richardson, her OG coach.

The pair split not long after then-teenaged Raducanu won the Open title from an unprecedented qualifying start.

She has since struggled and wil head to Roland Garros from next Sunday with only one clay tournament, a late wild-card entry into Strasbourg.

“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time,” she posted on social media.

The WTA no. 30 has played just 15 matches this season – none on clay – with her last one more than two months ago.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu with her coach, Andrew Richardson at the 2021 US Open

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The Australian Open

Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews

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Wimbledon will bow to the high-tech future by introducing limited electronic reviews of line calls on major courts at the Championships, the club revealed on Saturday.

The All England Club will allow the technology on showcourts including Centre Court, No. 1 and four others. During controversial moments, competitors will be allowed to ask the chair umpire for a review of the point in question.

The wizardry is coming late to Wimbledon having been used at the US Open since 2023 and later adapted by the Australian Open. Roland Garros relies on marks in its clay surface to determine line calls.

Under the rules, players can ask for the review any number of times, with electronic line-calling now in effect at the grass-court major for a second year after the 2025 elimination of human line judges.

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