ATP
What a balls-up!
IS it something about the shape of our balls that has men’s tennis in turmoil?
Carlos Alcaraz thinks so.
A lot of players have complained about the balls in use this year, including Novak Djokovic and the constant change of ball for different tournaments.
American Taylor Fritz experienced four different balls in four consecutive events – something he described as a nightmare – and something Alcaraz, and others, say is causing stress and injuries on players’ bodies.
Alcaraz last week suggested every swing be played with the same ball.
So, all tournaments in Australia play with the same ball, and then come to South America with the same ball, the US with the same ball.
“Every swing should play with the same ball and not change in every tournament,” the said.
“I think if I hear well, we’ve played with 20 or 21 different balls, something like that, in a year. It’s crazy.
“Some players have already started dealing with various arm issues this season and Alcaraz believes that everyone could end up injured if the ATP doesn’t step in.
“If the ATP want the best players in every tournament, they should change it. If not, every player’s going to be injured because of that.”
Djokovic has held talks with the ATP about the issue.
“I actually had the conversation with Andrea Gaudenzi (president of ATP) and Massimo Calvelli, the CEO,” the world No.1 said in Paris.
Swiss Stan Wawrinka joined the debate when he shared a photo of four different types of balls used over four weeks.
THE British Lawn Tennis Association sacked a council member last week who used Twitter – X – to post an offensive remark about the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East.
Wasim Haq, who was appointed to the LTA Council 2021 to help promote diversity and inclusion within the sport, posted: “Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu”.
An LTA statement read: ‘The LTA Board considered this matter today and agreed that the tweet posted by Wasim Haq on 11 November was unacceptable and in no way reflects the LTA’s position or values.
“Therefore the Board have agreed that Wasim Haq will be removed from his role as an independent councillor with immediate effect.”
Haq was also sacked from a similar role at the English Football Association.
YES, we know it’s still November, but Andy Murray is already in the Christmas spirit, working on a TV special for a festive cookery show.
Murray needed a helping hand with his skills, so he turned to the woman in the UK known as the Queen of the Kitchen.
Mary Berry, whose mother was Scottish, joined the former Wimbledon champion and his granny Shirley Erskine for a masterclass in cooking up some seasonal favourites for the show.
Murray,36, admitted the cooking was nerve-wracking as Berry, 88, taught him how to make kedgeree in the kitchen of the Cromlix Hotel in Dunblane, Scotland.
Murray’s mum Judy, took to Twitter, or whatever it’s called this week, hoping that her mother had her hearing aid in.
“So Mary Berry’s in the Cromlix kitchen teaching Andy how to cook and Granny is assisting.
“So obviously there’s shortbread. Hope she remembered her hearing aid. Granny I mean. Not Mary.”
PLANS for a major expansion to Wimbledon are in jeopardy after the scheme, approved by one London borough, was set to be rejected by a neighbouring one.
The majority of the scheme sits in the borough of Merton, but a number of the proposed tennis courts lie just north of the borough’s boundary, in Wandsworth.
The development was approved by Merton Council last but Wandsworth planning officers have recommended the application for refusal.
A Wandsworth planning officer’s report said the Wimbledon development should be rejected as it ‘would constitute inappropriate development’.
The report read: “The proposed development would result in the net loss of open space/green infrastructure by reason of the development of substantial areas of parts of the site that are primarily grass, with no replacement provision provided.”
More than 2,000 objections to the scheme were submitted to Merton Council while a change.org petition to ‘Save Wimbledon Park’ has attracted more than 14,000 signatures.
WIMBLEDON update: A demonstration organised by residents in the borough of Merton, south London, took place recently to protest against Merton Council’s approval of the Wimbledon Tennis expansion.
RAFA Nadal’s plans for a 2024 farewell tour are still on track with the Spanish legend saying he was sure he’ll be returning to competition ‘soon’.
Nadal missed nearly all of 2023 with a hip injury that required surgery.
He wrote on Thursday on social media: “I confirmed yesterday I’ll be back”.
“Stay tuned,” he then wrote on Instagram.
It is still not known if that farewell year will begin in Melbourne in January.
STILL no comeback in sight for Emma Raducanu, but plenty of time for shopping g on Black Friday.
The young Brit, who hasn’t played a competitive match since Stuttgart early this year, took to Twitter – X to tell of her recent purchases:
“Black Friday week has me with a wireless printer, salted pistachios, electric piano, pukka pad set, pens and a sheet to put on my car so i don’t need to scrape ice off the windows in the winter,” Raducanu posted.
No new tennis racket?
AND finally … ever heard of the Necker Cup?
No, neither had we before a story popped up on our news feed yesterday that Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson was hosting his own pro-am event and charity dinner on his own private Caribbean island.
The event ended yesterday, but not before those with enough money could mingle over a five person with several ATP and WTA players, including Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who was pictured playing with Branson before being entertained by singers Michael Bolton and Jewel.
And their cost? You can book as a spectator for $69,000 per couple for the five days or play in the cent for $99,000.
We are told that since 2012, the Necker Cup has raised over $4,000,000 for a number of charities.
But there’s more… Memo to the woke Bouchard, who cannot grasp that millionaire tennis stars are open to criticism.
Bouchard called an Instagram poster who questioned why the divisive Nick Kygrios was acting as a commentator at the ATP finals ‘a hater’.
The fan wrote: “When are you people going to stop giving this guy a platform?” Perfectly legitimate criticism for a player who loves to criticise everyone else.
Bouchard responded: “Stop being a hater!”
No, Eugenie, it’s not hate in the real world – it’s called opinion – something the woke generation of today seemingly cannot handle.
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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