The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Novak Djokovic

  • Unsettled home front affecting Djokovic – McEnroe

    Unsettled home front affecting Djokovic – McEnroe

     

     

    Tennis commentator John McEnroe  has courted controversy by suggesting Novak Djokovic is struggling with family ‘issues’ and comparing him with troubled golfer Tiger Woods.

    When discussing Djokovic’s losing streak, the former Wimbledon champion compared the 30-year-old to Woods, who in the past has had a high-profile divorce, been arrested, and suffered problems with prescription medication.

    Speaking as part of the BBC commentary team for this year’s Wimbledon, McEnroe, 58, said: ‘the person that comes to mind immediately with Novak is not a tennis player, it’s actually a golfer: Tiger Woods.

    Former world number one Djokovic has suffered with his form in the last year – after completing a career Grand Slam last year, he started to lose matches and momentum.

    In 2009, Woods crashed his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant outside his Florida home. Just months later, he was divorced after reports of extra-marital affairs surfaced.

    On Tuesday, the 14-time major winner Woods revealed he had completed an ‘intensive’ programme to help him manage his sleep loss medication.

    McEnroe added: ‘I think there’s a big difference, one is the age, but two the health. I think this (Djokovic’s form) isn’t a physical thing, this is more a mental thing.’

    It is not the first time the commentator has sparked controversy – last month he said that 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams would be ranked around 700 if she competed in the men’s game.

  • Djokovic placed as second seed at Wimbledon

    Djokovic placed as second seed at Wimbledon

    Three-times champion Novak Djokovic has been placed as second seed for next week’s Wimbledon tennis championships in spite of slipping to fourth in the ATP world rankings.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that seven-times champion Roger Federer has also benefited from the seedings released by the All England Club on Wednesday.

    They have defending champion Andy Murray number one in the men’s singles, with Germany’s Angelique Kerber the women’s top seed.

    Wimbledon differs from the other grand slams, in the men’s singles at least.

    Previous form on grass in the previous two years come into play to re-order the top 32 in the world rankings.

    It is a system agreed with by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

    Spaniard Rafa Nadal, who won a 10th French Open last month, is second in the ATP rankings but will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon after a mediocre record there in recent years.

    In spite of winning the title twice, the 31-year-old has not been past the fourth round since 2011.

    Favorite Federer, fifth on the ATP rankings, is seeded third which means he will avoid one of his biggest rivals for the title until the semi-finals.

    Fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, runner-up at the French, drops to fifth seed, from his world ranking of three.

    Other beneficiaries of the system include Luxembourg’s grasscourt expert Gilles Muller who is seeded 16th compared to an ATP ranking of 26.

    Muller won the recent Den Bosch tournament and reached the semi-final at Queen’s Club last week.

    Queen’s Club champion Feliciano Lopez, ranked 25, is seeded 19th.

    The women’s seeds stick strictly with the current WTA rankings.

    Romania’s Simon Halep, who could take over the top spot this week if she wins the Eastbourne title, is seeded two.

  • French Open: Rain offers fans bumper Day 11

    French Open: Rain offers fans bumper Day 11

    Tennis fans with tickets for Roland Garros on Wednesday are in for a bumper day of action, after rain and storms caused cancellations on Tuesday.

    The squally conditions have evened things up in the men’s draw, where all four quarter-finals will now be thrashed out on Day 11.

    Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic had been due to get a day off on Wednesday, while the top half of the draw battled it out, but now all men will be treated equal.

    Nadal, seeking a 10th French Open crown, plays friend and fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, while Djokovic faces Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

    Top seed Andy Murray clashes with Japan’s Kei Nishikori, while Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic complete the lineup.

    French fans will get behind Caroline Garcia as she attempts to reach the semi-finals against Czech Karolina Pliskova, while Romanian Simone Halep plays Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

  • French Open :  Djokovic sent packing!

    French Open :  Djokovic sent packing!

     

    Defending champion Novak Djokovic is out of the French Open following a straight-sets defeat by Dominic Thiem.

    The Serbian second seed was second best throughout to powerful-hitting Thiem, losing 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-0 in Paris.

    It is the Austrian sixth seed’s first victory over Djokovic and he will now play Rafael Nadal in the last four.

    Nadal reached the semis after fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta withdrew from their match with an abdominal injury while trailing 6-2 2-0.

    Fourth seed Nadal is aiming to win a record 10th title at Roland Garros having become just the fifth man to reach 10 semi-finals at a single Grand Slam in the Open era.

    In 2016, Djokovic won the French Open title to become the first man since 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time.

    Since then, he has lost in the third round at Wimbledon, suffered defeat in the US Open final, and lost in round two at the Australian Open. He has now failed to progress past the last eight in Paris for the first time since 2010.

    “The last couple of tournaments I have had some great tournaments and it was unfortunate to finish Roland Garros in this way,” said Djokovic.

    “This is a whole new situation for me, not winning a big tournament for eight or nine months – this hasn’t happened for a while.

    “All the top players have gone through that and I guess I have to learn lessons and figure how get through. It is a big challenge and I’m up for it.”

    He was unable to cope with the power of Thiem, who hit 38 winners – 20 from his dominant forehand – in total to Djokovic’s 18.

    The match was a total reversal of the last time the two met, when Thiem managed to win just a single game three weeks ago in Rome.

  • London attack does not change Wimbledon plans – Djokovic

    London attack does not change Wimbledon plans – Djokovic

    Three times Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic said on Sunday he will not change plans or preparations for the tournament next month; after an attack in London on Saturday left seven people dead and 48 injured.

    A van rammed into pedestrians on London Bridge and three attackers with knives charged out and stabbed others nearby.

    “Everything will progress the same in terms of my plans for Wimbledon and I will try to go there with family, and of course be conscious,” Djokovic said at the French Open.

    “I think it’s always about being conscious of what time of the day or night you go, where do you go, but, you know, it’s very unpredictable.”

    A French national and a Canadian were among those killed. Australia said one of its citizens was among the injured.

    Police, who fired about 50 bullets, shot dead the three male assailants in the Borough Market area near London Bridge within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency call shortly after 10 p.m.

    “It’s very disturbing that one of the biggest cities in the world, most important cities in the world, some of the most popular locations in the town suffering these terrorist attacks,” said Djokovic.

    “So of course it makes you wonder a little bit, makes you question certain things.

    “I mean, if we live in fear, you know, that’s not life. I also believe that you kind of attract, you know, certain things that when you are, you know, living under stress and fear of everything,” he said.

    Wimbledon, the year’s third grand slam, runs from July 3 to July 16.

  • Djokovic crashes out of Australian Open

    Djokovic crashes out of Australian Open

     

    Defending Champion, Novak Djokovic has crashed out of the Australia Open by Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin on Thursday.

    The 117th-ranked Istomin ousted the six-time winner 7-6(10/8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in 4hr 48min on Rod Laver Arena.

    The loss marked Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2008 as he was outdone by a red-hot Istomin in four hours, 48 minutes.

  • Rio Olympics 2016: Djokovic crashes

    Rio Olympics 2016: Djokovic crashes

     ***Murray lose one win one

    Andy and Jamie Murray are out of the men’s doubles, while top seed Novak Djokovic lost in the singles, in some of the matches played Sunday at the Rio Olympics.

    The Britons, seeded second, lost 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (16-14) to Brazilian pair Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa in front of a partisan home crowd.

    Earlier, defending champion Andy Murray won his opening Olympic singles match by beating Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.

    But Djokovic, Troicki’s team-mate, is out after a shock loss to Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.

    The world number one lost 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) to the London 2012 bronze medalist.

    It would be recalled that del Potro had dropped out of the top 100 after being plagued by a serious wrist injury over the past couple of years.

    Djokovic, 29, has won four out of the past five Grand Slams, but also suffered a surprise early exit at Wimbledon last month.

    After warmly congratulating Del Potro at the net, he left the court in tears after failing to improve on the bronze medal he won at Beijing 2008.

    His defeat opens up the draw for second seed Murray, 29, who beat Troicki 6-3 6-2 to progress to the second round.

    After losing his serve in the first game, the Scot went on to control the tempo of the match.

    British women’s number one Johanna Konta also recorded a straight-set wins in her first-round tie on her Olympic debut.

    Konta, who won in the women’s doubles alongside Heather Watson on Saturday, beat Liechtenstein’s Stephanie Vogt 6-3 6-1.

    The 25-year-old 10th seed had to see off two break points in the first set before taking control against the world number 290.

    In the doubles, the Murrays saved six match points, and wasted five set points, in an epic second-set tie-break before Bellucci and Sa eventually completed the win.

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  • Murray to miss Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final

    Murray to miss Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final

    Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will miss Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final clash against Serbia with captain Leon Smith naming Kyle Edmund and James Ward as his two singles players.

    Murray was instrumental to helping Britain to their first Davis Cup victory after 79 years last November, but had suggested it was unlikely he would feature against Serbia, who are also missing their talisman Novak Djokovic.

    In the doubles, Andy’s brother Jamie, ranked fifth in the world, will partner doubles specialist Dominic Inglot.

    “This date is a real nightmare for everybody, not just for him (Andy Murray) because it’s not easy to change surface again.

    “I was hopeful last week that he would play but then he goes and wins Wimbledon and has Olympics and U.S. Open coming up and I hope he does well there also.

    “As a team, we are all delighted for him. I hope he comes out to support the team,’’ Smith told reporters.

    World number 73 Daniel Evans, who was named in the initial squad, also missed out due to personal issues and a shoulder injury.

    Murray has committed to playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he will look to defend his title.

    The quarter-finals are scheduled for July 15 to July 17, at the Tasmajdan Stadium in Belgrade.

  • Djokovic crashes out to Querrey at Wimbledon

    Djokovic crashes out to Querrey at Wimbledon

    Novak Djokovic is out of Wimbledon after a shock defeat on Saturday by American Sam Querrey, thus ending the world number one’s hopes of a calendar-year Grand Slam.

    The number 28-seeded Querrey completed a 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) third-round win after rain had suspended play on Saturday evening.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it was the Serb’s first loss at a major since the 2015 French Open final.

    Djokovic had hoped to win his third straight Wimbledon title and secure the third leg of a calendar Slam.

    The 29-year-old has already won the Australian and French Opens this year, and was also trying to become only the second man to win five successive major titles.

    “It’s incredible, especially to do it here at Wimbledon,” said 28-year-old Querrey after ending one of the most dominant runs in tennis history.

    “I’m so ecstatic, so happy. I played the break points well and every time he had a break point I was able to come up with a big serve.

    “He came out and got the first four games. Fortunately for me we had another rain delay and I got to regroup.

    “I’m just taking it one round at a time, I’m not even sure who I’m playing next.’’

    The 6 feet 6 inches Querrey has a huge serve, and grass-court pedigree as a former Queen’s Club champion.

    But both points did not give any reason to think he might be the man to finally derail Djokovic.

    Even when the world number 41 headed off with a two-set lead on Friday evening, having played superbly, there were few at the All England Club confidently backing him to win.

    Djokovic had looked strangely out of sorts in the first chapter of the contest but he took advantage of an edgy Querrey to build a quick 4-0 lead on Saturday’s resumption.

    The third set was duly taken either side of another rain delay but try as he might, the 12-time Grand Slam champion could not break away in the fourth.

    The pair shared 16 break points before Djokovic finally moved ahead with a forehand for 5-4.

    But he gave the break straight back with a poor attempt at a drop volley.

    When the rain returned just after Querrey had held for a 6-5 lead, it left Djokovic heading for the locker room with one knowledge.

    That he would have to serve to stay in the match on resumption.

    A little over an hour later, the top seed played a nerveless service game to force the tie-break but once again he could not find his usual clinical edge.

    A 3-1 lead disappeared and in spite of Djokovic saving a first match point with an ace, it was Querrey who was leaping in the air in celebration.

    This was after the Serb pulled a forehand wide on the second.

  • Djokovic hits Australian Open final

    Djokovic hits Australian Open final

    Novak Djokovic advanced to his sixth Australian Open final with a 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 victory over Roger Federer.

    The world number one dominated the first two sets with some superb hitting, but had to hold off a spirited Federer fightback later on, the BBC reports.

    It is the third straight Grand Slam in which Djokovic has beaten the Swiss, prolonging Federer’s wait for an 18th major title.

    Djokovic will face Andy Murray or Canada’s Milos Raonic in the final.

    The Serb has beaten British number one Murray in the final on three previous occasions, including last year’s four-set victory.

    “I played unbelievably in the first two sets, but I needed to because Roger has been playing unbelievably and I knew he would be aggressive,” 10-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic said.

    Before the match, much attention had focused on the first set, with Federer never having beaten Djokovic in a best-of-five match having dropped the opener.

    But it was barely a contest as Djokovic twice broke the world number three in his opening three service games.

    Pummelling Federer with deep groundstrokes and using clever changes of pace to induce 12 unforced errors from his opponent, the Serb wrapped up the set inside 23 minutes.

    And he was no less dominant in the second, decisively breaking to love in the third game as he threatened to hand a rattled Federer one of his worst ever defeats.