ATP
Play the game Novak
ONCE again, Novak Djokovic thinks he is above the law.
Djokovic may well be one of the best mens players we have seen, but he still seems to think he should be exempt from the truckles the rest of the world have lived under for the past two or so years.
Remember, Djokovic remains unvaccinated against the deadly Covid-19 virus that has killed millions around the world.
A decision that saw him deported from Australia last year because he lied about his status on his immigration forms.
That decision, labelled bizarrely political, rather than scientific, was overturned earlier this year by a new Australian government eager to overturn almost everything the previous regime had put in place.
But Djokovic remains barred from entering the USA, where a ban on the unvaxxed remains in place until May 11 at the earliest.
The barrier to entry was recently extended by US authorities because of spike in cases over the winter.
Now the world No.1, still unvaxxed and still refusing to accept what happened around the world, has reportedly applied for a special entry exemption in order to play at Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
Younger brother Djordje Djokovic has told Serbian media that Novak has applied for an exemption and that Djokovic family still seem to think they are above the law and that they should be allowed to travel wherever they want.
“Novak has to get a special permit, considering that the USA still does not allow entry to unvaccinated people, which is simply incredible because the whole world is open and sports events around the world are held with vaccinated and unvaccinated athletes,” the younger Djokovic said.
“Novak has submitted all the required documentation and a request, and the directors of the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments have publicly said Novak is needed at those tournaments and that they want him to come.”
Djokovic has been included on the Indian Wells Open entry list even though he is not allowed to enter the country.
“There are only a few days to go before a decision is made and what remains for us to do is hope for a positive outcome,” he said.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has confirmed that foreign travellers who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 are not allowed to enter the country.
When millions have complied to help suppress and control the deadly virus, when many other ‘ordinary’ citizens have been denied entry, why should Djokovic, who still refuses to be vaccinated – be allowed entry?
Some in the media have accused him, or his family, of playing the victim card.
“Yeah this is what gets me as well… We all want body autonomy and free choice. wrote Jon Wertheim on Twitter.
“It’s his choice not to get vaccinated and accept the consequences. Fine. We should respect that….But then stay out of the victimisation lane.”
Californians endured some of the toughest Covid lockdowns during the height of the pandemic, and to allow one person, no matter who they are, exemption, would be the height of hypocrisy.
Sport is not above the law.
THE inability of Djokovic to enter the US will scupper Nick Kyrgios’ dream of playing doubles with the current world No.1.
Kyrgios was hoping got team up with the Serb at Indian Wells next month.
“If Novak is allowed in the USA we are playing doubles at Indian Wells. Y’all ready?”, Kyrgios posted on Instagram recently.
SMASH and grab in Montpelier?
World No. 50 Alexander Bublik thinks so.
Bublik smashed three rackets in the first round of the Open Sud de France on Wednesday, eventually losing to French opponent Gregoire Barrere 4-6, 7-6 (14-12) 6-7 (3-7).
Barrere took the first set 6-4, but Bublik tried to bounce back in the second one. That set went to a tiebreaker and didn’t stop until Bublik came out on top 14-12.
The third tiebreaker, enraged Bublik so much he let fly, smashing a racket five times as the crowd booed.
Broadcaster Sue Thearle then commented that it was good Bublik had other rackets.
Not for long … Bublik walked over to his bench, took out another racket and smashed that as well.
And he wasn’t done yet, picking up a third and hitting it four times.
The 25-year-old grabbed a fourth but that one survived as he went back on the court to finish the match.
STAYING in the south of France, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina admitted he was close to tears after watching his opponent Ugo Humbert suffer a horror fall during their first-round match in Montpellier.
The French wildcard went down at the side of the court during the second set tiebreak after winning the opener and could barely move afterwards, retiring the match when he lost the breaker.
Humbert took the opening set of their match 6-1 as Davidovich Fokina fought back to force a tiebreak in the second set – before the 25-year-old Humbert fell awkwardly chasing down a ball.
Humbert rolled onto the floor and stayed there as Davidovich Fokina rushed over to see if he was OK.
Humbert received treatment and tried to play on but could hardly move, before losing the second set 7-6(2) and retiring.
“I’ve known Ugo since we were kids,” Davidovich Fokina said, before he started to cry.
“I’m going to cry because I was watching him cry. I’ve known him since we were kids, I know him very well and it’s never easy to see a friend like this.
“You know, he just flew on the court and I was like, something’s happened because he was crying and I was like… It’s tough.”
Humbert later said via Instagram that he hadn’t; as was first thought, broken a bone.
WHERE is Reilly Opelka? As the new crop of young American men start to show what they are made of on the ATP tour, there is still no sign of Opelka, struggling with injury.
The American hasn’t played since the Cincinnati Masters last August, where he was beaten by Nick Kyrgios and suffered a hip injury.
Good friend Taylor Fritz last week voiced his concerns.
“It’s awful,” Fritz said. “He started last year really strong. He was playing really good tennis. It sucks.
“It could happen to any of us at any time. You never know when you can be out for 8 months. It’s really sad to see.
“He’s one of my best friends. I look forward to seeing him. Haven’t gotten to spend a ton of time with him because he hasn’t been at tournaments.”
There’s hope that Opelka will return before the clay season begins in May.
A FORMER top 500 doubles player has been banned for life from the game after an investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency found him guilty of match fixing.
Younes Rachidi was found guilty of 135 offences – the highest number committed by any player in the history of both the ITIA and its predecessor the TIU.
The 36-year-old Moroccan hasn’t played a competitive match on the Tour since 2017.
In a statement, the ITIA described Rachidi’s breaches as ‘egregious’ and has also fined him $34,000 in addition to the ban.
Mohamed Hassan was also banned for life and fined $12,000 after being found guilty of 29 offences relating to seven matches between 2016 and 2018.
And Houria Boukholda was been banned for two years and fined $10,000 for 15 offences relating to five matches in 2017 and 2018.
Boukholda’s penalty was less as the investigation found he was heavily influenced by Hassan.
AND finally….
Rafael Nadal is known for his use of vibrant colours on court and the upcoming French Open will see the Spanish legend shift his colour focus to blue.
Nadal, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles at Roland-Garros, will be sporting a sky blue top for the Paris event, which starts on May 28.
Nadal wore a lemon/lime shirt last year, with a green fern pattern on the front.
Alexander Zverev took a further step towards a defence of his 2025 title at the ATP Munich event with a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 hammering of Canada’s Gabriel Diallo on Thursday.
The German who won his only title of 2025 in his home nation faced an opponent carrying an injury in the 73-minute loss.
“I think he had some issues with his back and wasn’t serving fully in the second set anymore. Very unfortunate,” the 28-year-old world No. 3 said.
“Of course I am happy with the win and getting an easier match today.”
After days of cold weather, the spring sun finally made an appearance in the Bavarian capital.
Zverev advanced the the last eight with five breaks of serve and will bid fro a return to the semi-finals against fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo, a winner over Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0.
“I played well from the baseline. I probably didn’t serve well in the first set, but it got better in the second. I am trying to improve every day,” the winner said as he reached a second straight quarter-final here..
Zverev has won their last four meetings.
“I’ve never beaten him on clay, which is his favourite surface, but I am definitely looking forward to the challenge,” Zverev said.
“I’m very happy to be at this stage, facing a tough opponent. That’s what it’s going to be tomorrow.”
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his 2025 Munich trophy
Roland Garros will continue to buck the trend of electronic linecalling, with Grand Slam tournament boss Amelie Mauresmo laying down the law on Thursday in Paris.
Unlike the other three majors which have sent teams of line judges into early retirement, the clay major will stick with the tried and true for another edition beginning on May 24.
In addition to tradition, the skid marks left on the dirt by ball makes determining in or out subjective enough to often require a keen eye.
“They are not 100% reliable,” Mauresmo said of the electronic systems currently in use.“Our decision was to stick to our way.”
But the former WTA No. 1 suddenly flipped the script when it comes to the controversial suggestion that women should play best-of-five-sets at the four majors just like the men.
The idea has drawn scorn from top women, but that does not dissuade Mauresmo.
“You can’t change a format overnight to go from best of three to best of five. But if we think about it, would it be only the semifinal, the final, or for all matches?” the former Wimbledon champion said.
“This could be a win-win situation but we have to talk about this with the women players.”
The Wimbledon winner admitted that she had often yearned during her playing days for longer contests.
“When I did the Masters (season-ending) final ( 2005) I would have wanted to do the final in best of five. So maybe one day, you never know.”
The former player would not be drawns out on the dreaded night matches at Roland Garros, formerly a fully daytinem event.
“We will talk about scheduling when the time comes,” she said.“Nothing is closed and nothing is set in stone, it depends on the draws and the lineups.”
Also on the table are likely to be the distribution of night matches, with women barely registering in the night-tiem hours during the 2025 edition.
On the final Saturday there has been one change: The men’s doubles final will be played before the women’s singles final and not afterward.
“We will talk about scheduling when the time comes,” the TD said. “Nothing is closed and nothing is set in stone, it depends on the draws and the lineups.”
In the continuing prize money arms race among the four Grand Slams, Roland Garros announced a rise to a global USD 72 million in player payouts, a rise of USD 6.25 million.
Carlos Alcaraz quit the Barcelona Open with a wrist injury and cast serious doubt on his fitness and availability for run-up events prior to next month’s French Open.
The Spaniard who lost his No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner through Sunday’s loss to the Italian in the Monte Carlo Casters final was unable to carry on at his home event in Barcelona.
Alcaraz quit the clay event prior to his second-round match against Tomas Machac. The Spaniard injured his wrist in a first-round win over Finn Otto Virtanen and warned that he could make no solid commitment yet to furue play due to his injury.
“It’s with great sadness I have to go back home to start my recovery as soon as possible with my team, with the doctors, with the physio, and try to be as healthy as possible as soon as possible for (future) tournaments,” he said.
“Let’s hope, that you can see me back on a tennis court as soon as possible.”
Alcaraz is now touch and go for the Madrid Masters oddly starting in a week next Wednesday as the ATP stretches out the Masters events in an unpopular money-spinning exercise.
Alcarraz could face a serious hit to his ranking if he cannot front up in the Spanish capital and next month in Rome, with titles to defend in both venues.
“But I’ve seen today’s tests, and it’s a slightly more serious injury than we all expected.
“In the end I have to listen to my body, what won’t affect me later on: That’s why I have to withdraw from this tournament.
“I never like to withdraw from any tournament, but especially from this one,”
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