ATP
Iga eager to praise her idol
FRENCH Open champion Iga Swiatek was the guest of honour at the graduation ceremony at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca last week, even giving a speech and paying tribute to her idol.
Of course that was Rafa himself and Swiatek commented on something she spotted at Roland Garros that helped inspire her.
“For the last few weeks, I’ve been looking at one quote at Roland Garros in Paris,” Swiatek said.
“On Court Philippe-Chatrier it’s written, ‘The victory belongs to the most tenacious’.”
The young Pole then said that Nadal’s example has impacted her version of “tenacity”.
“I often have the feeling that sometimes when I’m playing or when I’m doing things off court, that I should do them better or I should seek perfection,” Swiatek said.
“But this shouldn’t be the sense. We should all focus on the process and giving 100 percent, no matter what you can give, because every day is different.”
Swiatek told the assembled guests and graduates of her admiration for Nadal as, as a youngster, she watched his matches, and particularly when he was not at his best, but overcame his struggles to win.
“These are the matches that inspired me,” she said. “So I hope you will be tenacious.”
ANOTHER tenacious sports star was also at Roland Garros, watching Novak Djokovic win his 23rd Slam.
NFL legend quarterback Tom Brady sat in the player’s guest box and was delighted to get a victory hug from Djokovic after he has secured victory over Casper Ruud.
PRIZE money at Wimbledon this year will be a record £44,700,000, an 11 per cent increase on last year and a 17% increase on the pre-pandemic Championships of 2019.
And the distribution is again supporting players in the early rounds, qualifying competition prize money up 14.5 per cent on last year, while main draw singles players losing in the first round will receive £55,000, up 10 per cent.
Singles champions and runners-up will receive £2,350,000 and £1,175,000 respectively.
The prize pool for the doubles events is up 10.7 per cent, while the wheelchair and quad wheelchair singles and doubles events have all risen by about 20 per cent.
“We are delighted to offer record prize money to the players competing at The Championships this year, with double digit increases across the majority of events,” Ian Hewitt, Chairman of the All England Club, said.
ROGER Federer has backed Novak Djokovic to keep winning Grand Slams “for a long time” after the 23rd major title of his career at the French Open.
“I thought what Novak did is incredible,” Federer said after the Roland Garros triumph.
“Honestly, it’s great for tennis, great for sports when tennis writes its own history and keeps on adding to it like we’ve seen with Serena Williams as well, Rafa then myself and now with Novak.
“I remember when I came on tour, and Pete Sampras reached 14 we thought ‘Okay, that one is gonna stay forever’. Then I went to 15, I eventually ended up at 17, and then we pushed each other to 20 – I don’t remember who was first – and then Rafa pushed it to 22.
“Then now Novak pushed it to 23 and he looks like he’s gonna keep on doing that for a long time still to come, which is great. And I wish him all the best.”
EMMA Raducanu is to donate all proceeds from her online tennis lesson to the LTA Foundation, a youth tennis program.
The 2021 US Open champion has been offering online tennis lessons on the Airwayz platform, with each lesson priced at $2,000 a session.
For the fee, subscribers receive individual coaching and get an insider’s look into her daily life and routine.
However, it has been confirmed by the platform representatives that 100% of the proceeds will be donated to programs run by the LTA Foundation.
BACK to Emma… but this time away from the tennis court, the former US Open champion may have a new ‘mixed doubles’ partner.
Raducanu has been pictured with Carlo Agostinelli, 22, the son of London-based American private equity dollar billionaire Robert Agostinelli.
Agostinelli junior is one-time head boy of posh English public school Harrow, who also played football – soccer – for Stanford University in California while studying there.
Father Robert was also linked to a consortium that tried to purchase Liverpool Football Club a few years back.
The pair were spotted in Mexico last month.
GREAT to hear Feliciano Lopez has been appointed tournament director for the Davis Cup Finals.
The group stage will take place from September 12-17 in four European cities followed by the last-eight event in Malaga, Spain on November 21.
“I have some special memories of playing in this competition so I am very happy to be taking a leading role in delivering these events,” Lopez, 41, said.
“As tournament director, my sole focus will be to build on the recent success of the competition and make it the best it can be for players and supporters across the world.”
NO Boris, but still a great lineup of talent on the BBC team covering Wimbledon.
Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, and Martina Navratilova have all been confirmed, with Clare Balding anchoring the presentation after taking over from Sue Barker.
Other notable names include Pat Cash, Tracy Austin, Annabel Croft, Tim Henman, Johanna Konta, Anne Keothavong, and Sania Mirza.
And it doesn’t end there … The panel of experts will include John Lloyd, Louise Pleming, Colin Fleming, Jo Durie, Peter Fleming, Liz Smylie, Dominic Inglot, Nick Monroe, Arvind Parmar, Todd Woodbridge, and Leon Smith.
And finally … Toy Story? Nah, More like Tennis Story.
American animation studio Pixar has lost been famous for creating many superb characters.
But now using the latest technology, MidJourney’s AI image creation tool has generated images of a number of sporting greats, including a number of tennis stars.
First, there’s Roger Federer, then Rafa Nadal and that headband, Serena Williams and sister Venus.
Finally, there’s an AI image of one Maria Sharapova.
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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