ATP
Online bodyguard for players
Is it Roland Garros circa 2023 or Roland Garros circa 1984?
Some will wonder after French Open officials announced last week they will be censoring any criticism of players during this year’s event.
Roland Garros has teamed up with Bodyguard, an application to protect players against what it has termed cyberbullying, which will also book any criticism of matches.
Bullying is one thing and has no place in society, but genuine criticism of professional millionaire athletes for their on-court failures?
The Bodyguard software, which players can download, will, it is claimed, be used to protect all of the official FFT and Roland-Garros public media accounts, and the accounts of players competing in the Grand Slam.
Players will scan the QR code supplied by Bodyguard to connect their social media accounts to the system, which, according to a Roland Garros press release will book any ‘unkind comments’.
So who will do the checking? Fair or unfair? Critics or bullying?
A team of linguists have apparently created word patterns that enable the system to be updated in real time according to what is posted on social media.
Then AI will moderate the comments in real time, analysing every comment in under 200 milliseconds.
The platforms monitored are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Discord.
George Orwell has well and truly arrived at Roland Garros.
DOMINIC Thiem has Rafa Nadal to thank for his place at the French Open.
Thiem, who failed to get a wildcard at the tournament, has taken up the Spaniard’s place in the main draw.
But what has happened to the Austrian since he suffered a wrist injury in June 2021?
He has struggled to find any form since returning to the court in March last year.
Clay may be his best bet – he has won 10 of his 17 career titles on the surface, but losses at a couple of Challengr events recently show he is far from the player he was.
Now ranked a lowly No. 96, he made it to consecutive French Open finals in 2018 and 2019, losing to Rafael Nadal both times.
MARK Philippoussis has called time on a coaching role with Stefanos Tsitsipas, calling it the end of “a great ride”, but offering no reason for the split.
Philippoussis joined Tsitsipas’s father Apostolos in the coaches box last year and helped guide the Greek player to the Australian Open final, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.
Philippoussis, 46, wrote on Instagram last week that the partnership was over.
“Thanks for the opportunity of being a part of your team,” Philippoussis said.
“It was a great ride and experience, and I’m proud of what we achieved together in the short amount of time we had.
“I wish you health, happiness and success for your future, on and off the court!”
GARBINE Muguruza announced last week she was back on the tour, entering Wimbledon, bit there was even better news from the Spanish star as she got engaged to boyfriend Arthur Borges.
Muguruza, 29, who has been dating Borges since 2021, took a time form tennis in January.
And the wedding? “We would like it to be next year, in the summer, near the beach and in Spain, because it is the place that most unites us,” Muguruza told iHola!
AFTER all the poverty claims following Covid shutdowns, British tennis benefited by £43 million thanks to Wimbledon last year.
The Lawn Tennis Association’s accounts, published last week, showed on top of the £43m, they also received a £5m grant to support other grass court events.
LTA’s research shows tennis is booming in Britain, with a claimed 48 per cent participation increase among 16-34-year-olds.
The LTA has 326 employees, whose total costs are £22.7 million. And the chief executive Scott Lloyd was paid a handsome £572,000.
Other tennis playing nations will look on enviously.
SERENA Williams has used a YouTube post to tell her five-year-old daughter Olympia that she was going to be a big sister.
Williams, who revealed her pregnancy at the Met Gala earlier this month, called the YouTube clip “Olympia’s Surprise” as her daughter had yet to be informed of her pregnancy, but was worried that mommy was putting on weight, even calling her “fat”.
Serena was joined by husband Alexis in their video as she told her the news.
“Olympia does not know right now that I am pregnant, but she did call me fat, and then she got really like stressed out,” Serena said.
Williams then tried to imitate her daughter’s “Mommy, you’re fat” comment before telling her she was to be a big sister.
FRENCH player Hugo Gaston has been hit with a $144,000 fine after he was caught throwing a ball out of his pocket during his recent Madrid Open match against Borna Coric.
Nothing new perhaps, as the Frenchman was previously warned for the same action last year.
Gaston, who was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Coric in the second round, was seen taking a ball out of his pocket and throwing it on the floor while his opponent was going in for a winner to take the set.
WTF moment:
Andy Murray made fun of compatriot Liam Broady for his 2023 French Open attire.
Broady was competing in the Roland Garros qualifiers last week. He made a good comeback after losing the first set to secure victory over French opponent Arthur Gea, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match that lasted well over two hours.
After successfully winning that first round, Broady took to social media to share a picture of himself in the official Bidi Badu outfit for this year’s Roland Garros.
After Broady asked his followers for their opinions on his attire, Murray couldn’t resist a dig. he former World No. 1 questioned how he could wear such a an outfit at the French Open, along with several laughing emojis.
“Did you actually wear that at Roland Garros? 😂 😂 fair play mate that’s a shocker,” Murray commented.
Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
AND finally…
Our tips for the winners’ rostrum in Paris?
We are happy to endorse John McEnroe’s selection in the men’s event, Carlos Alcaraz.
“I would say Alcaraz would be the slight favourite to win this,” McEnroe said.
“Alcaraz has a lot of pressure now because he’s just such an unbelievable breath of fresh air.
“He’s so electric, he’s got such a great personality that people want him to win.
And in the women’s singles?
So much harder to predict because there has been no on for two outright favourites for a while in women’s tennis.
Iga Światek is up there, but there are injury doubts and there’s a chasing pack that includes Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and maybe Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.
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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