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Miami Open

Sabalenka remains in the Miami mix despite death of boyfriend

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Aryna Sabalenka was spotted by a Polish blogger on the practice court at the Miami Masters on Tuesday amid conflicting reports on the death of her former hockey player boyfriend.

The Tennis channel reported that the world No. 2 is still planning to play the event with contrasting explanations emerging over the death of 42-year-old  Konstantin Koltsov who was travelling with his double Australian Open champion girlfriend.

The hockey coach was reported by his team to have died from a blood clot. But Miami police say his death was a suicide as he jumped from a hotel balcony  on Collins Avenue just after midnight on Monday.

Koltsov played NHL hockey for the Pittsburgh Penguins and had been dating Sabalenka for three years.

Main photo:- A Valentine’s Day photo of Koltsov and Sabalenka posted on Instagram

Madrid Masters

Raducanu closing in on Petchey as next Coach

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Emma Raducanu has had seven full time coaches since she started her professional career in the summer of 2021

This does not include several interim coaches Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, and Vlado Platenik

She and her team are apparently in discussions with Mark Petchey, Andy Murray’s former coach, about appointing him full time.

The pair did work together during the Covid pandemic in 2020 at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Raducanu’s most impressive run since her shock win in the 2021 US Open came under Petchey’s temporary  renewed influence as she reached her first ever final eight of a WTA 1000 event  in Miami last month.

It was also the most wins she had picked up in a single tournament since her US Open title.

One possible sticking point to a permanent arrangement is that Petchey currently has a role as a commentator for the  Tennis Channel.

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ATP

Stan stunned by Chilean outsider

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Former champion Stan Wawrinka let a third-set lead slip as the three-time Grand Slam winner blew a promising match start to lose 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 on Monday to Alejandro Tabilo in the Monte Carlo Masters opening round.

Wawrinka, who turned 40 less than a fortnight ago. won the title in the principality in2014 with an upset of Roger Federer in the final.

But after ripping through the opening set against Canadian-born Chilean Tabilo in just 20 minutes with four unforced errors, problems began to creep into the Swiss veteran’s game as he struggled to compete.

Victory in two and a half hours was only the third of the season for the 32nd-ranked Tabilo, who moved into a second-round contest with two-time tournament winner Novak Djokovic.

Wawrinka led 3-1 in the deciding set against his Latin opponent but lost serve three more times in the tight decider while saving match points in the 10th and 12th games.

 Wawrinka was competing here for the 15th time and has not beaten a top-50 player since last October.

The Swiss began the season with four consecutive first-round losses.

“It was a frustrating loss today, but the level is there,” Wawrinka said. “I enjoyed the atmosphere, it was a great fight on the court>

The Swiss said that he will carry on with his career, continuing to work hard.

“For the time being, everything holds up. The preparation we are doing tennistically and physically is allowing me to be the best I can possibly.

“Some days are more difficult than others, but overall, I have no problems in the morning.”

But he added: “Frustration increases with years because you know you are getting close to the end and you will have less opportunities of going further in the tournaments if you lose. 

“This loss was one point here, one point there. Maybe feeling a bit too relaxed at certain important moments. 

“I should have been more aggressive; I made mistakes at the bad moments sometimes, and that made the difference.”

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ATP

Eventual career end a touchy topic for Novak

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With his 38th birthday in little over a month, Novak Djokovic is understandably thinking of his legacy when he finally bows out of tennis.

But the 24-time Grand Slam champion is in the midst of a late-career quest with a 100th Tour title  and a record 25th Grand Slam hanging in the balance.

The Serb lifted his last trophy in Paris, winning gold at the Games. He missed out on his title century a week ago, losing the Miami final.

But Djokovic remains optimistic about someday going out with a bang as the  last of the ATP Big 4: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, himself and his current coach Andy Murray.

“I don’t think (I would quit before pushing to achieve his goals), but you never know,” he said on Sunday prior to his start at the Monte Carlo Masters.

“I still have gas left in the tank and I’ve proven that I can still play at a high level.

“It gives me satisfaction to compete (well) on court.”

He explained his dilemma: “There is a group which thinks I should leave tennis on a high, which I understand. They thought I should have left after winning Olympic gold.

“But you never know what the future will bring. I would love to win my 100th title and another Grand Slam. If I could sign for that, I would.

“But it’s a big mountain to climb and I’m hoping for the best.”

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