ATP
Paris to be Rafa’s farewell
ARE we about to see the end of another glittering career?
After Roger, is time for Rafa to say farewell?
Only Rafa will know that, but his second round exit in Melbourne may play heavy on his mind.
Injuries at 36 are a lot harder to recover from than at 26 – and Rafa will know that.
And he is on a rough losing streak at the moment, dropping seven of his last nine matches.
He did admit to considering retirement last year, but has since stayed quiet.
Tennis fans will not want to see his forced retirement because of injuries but it is now a very distinct possibility.
“He is perhaps the best fighter, the best competitor that tennis has ever had,” Boris Becker said on Eurosport as Nadal made his exit.
“That was a landslide. We talked for a long time about the change of generations and we are seeing it live right now.”
Will he continue? He will want to – at least until Paris – where Roland Garros is his ‘home’.
Perhaps a dignified farewell on the red dirt of Paris is where Rafa will eventually admit tennis mortality.
TALKING of superstars, the third of this generation, Novak Djokovic, wasn’t happy with a Eurosport special media post during week one highlighting his conversation with an umpire during his first round clash against Roberto Carballes Baena.
Djokovic told the umpire he needs to rush to use the washroom, and walks off as the umpire tries to call his name.
He rushes back just in time as the umpire calls time, to avoid a time penalty, since the break was not his designated toilet break.
The social media caption read: “Novak Djokovic defied the umpire to take an early bathroom break in his first match at the Australian Open”.
“I didn’t “defy” her or the rules,” Djokovic responded.
“She gave me permission and told me to be quick.”
“Next time be mindful about what you post. You have a responsibility towards many sports fans that follow your page.”
Did Djokovic post this? Or was it one of his support staff?
Probably the latter, as his team has a record of criticising media posts, accusing some of “picking on him big time” after his deportation from Australia last year.
ITALIAN Camila Giorgi’s father Sergio had a dig at the media questioning of his daughter on week one of the AO, after she admitted being jabbed for Covid by a doctor being investigated for providing fake certificates.
Giorgi subsequently said she also received the Covid vaccination from another doctor and was vaccinated before she flew to Australia last January to compete in the 2022 event.
Dad, an Argentinian by birth, slammed media for asking covid questions in her round e post match media conference.
But Sergio has a chequered history at Slams, caught vaping at the French Open in May last year.
TV cameras panned to Mr Giorgi in the stands, who was having a sneaky vape.
He could be seen covering his face with a towel before blowing a puff of smoke.
And during the Italian Open in Rome he was seen “inserting himself into the conversation with the chair umpire” – quote – throughout his daughter’s clash with Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Italian doctor Daniela Grillone is under investigation by authorities for allegedly delivering fake Covid-19 vaccinations to patients, and Giorgi was a patient.
But why was Giorgi senior allowed to attend the press conference?
And why was he allowed to try and dictate to the press conference moderator what line of questioning the media should take?
NOVAK Djokovic inadvertently teamed up with Novak Kyrgios on Thursday night, accusing a group of fans of being drunk and disorderly towards him during his match against qualifier Enzo Couacaud.
Kyrgios accused a woman of being drunk at Wimbledon last year and was subsequently sued by the woman, a lawyer. He later apologised and made a donation to charity for his comments.
But Djokovic complained to their chair umpire about four fans dressed in Where’s Wally costumes who repeatedly harrassed him.
The fans booed and jeered in between first and second serves prompting Djokovic to hit back, saying “Shut up! Thank you!”
‘You know who it is. The guy is drunk out of his mind. From the first point he has been provoking,” Djokovic complained to the umpire.
“He is not here to watch tennis. He just wants to get in my head
“So I am asking you, what are you going to do about it. You heard him at least 10 times. I heard him 50 times.
“Why don’t you get security guards, get him out of the stadium?”
The four were eventually told to leave.
EXHAUSTED fans brave enough to get through the Murray-Kokkinakis marathon at Melbourne Park on Friday morning faced another dilemma as they left the arena in search of a taxi home.
According to reports on Australia’s ABC network, tax drivers had turned off their meters and were demanding extortionate fees of rides home.
One woman said a driver was asking for $125 to go 19 kilometres from the venue for what officials said would normally be about a $45 fare.
AN Australian Open fan caused disruption on Eurosport’s coverage of day four of the event as he was were caught live on TV making a lewd gesture behind the back of presenter Barbara Schett.
Schett was standing in the middle of Melbourne Park previewing the day’s tennis on Thursday when the fan was spotted behind her making the gesture.
MAYBE Rafa Nadal did have a point when he criticised the balls being used at the Open.
Now others have joined in, including Novak Djokovic.
“The longer you play, the more rallies you play, the fluffier or the bigger the ball becomes and it’s slower,” Djokovic said after beating Roberto Carballes Baena in his opening match on Tuesday.
And sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also pointed his finger at the balls.
He told a chair umpire: “I don’t want to complain about it, but the balls are not bouncing.”
The weather and temperatures can affect bounce, as can indoor or outdoor surfaces and conditions
BALLKIDS are not paid at the Australian Open, despite being paid at the US Open and Wimbledon.
Should there be paid? The response to that question has been mixed during the week as woke social media warriors had their say.
Around 2,500 under 18s apply to be a ballkid every year. They apply, they are not coerced.
About 20 percent get through the tough application and training process and many see it as a dream come true. – but to be paid?
Social media, of course, took up the story with all its usual unbalanced views.
“How is this not child exploitation?” one post questioned on a US site called Reddit.
“It isn’t unreasonable to suggest the ballkids get paid for their time,” another said.
So, back to facts… Wimbledon’s ballkids get a flat payment of £200 a week ($351).
Ballkids at the US Open receive what has been termed as the New York minimum wage of around $15 an hour.
Fair enough, but given there is no shortage of volunteers for the role and they are not coerced into applying, this is hardly exploitation.
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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