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Ladybbird · 16-01-23, 06:17

Australian Open 2023 Preview: Djokovic, Nadal, Raducanu & Murray Set For Melbourne

Australian Open 2023 Dates: 16-29 January Venue: Melbourne Park

Novak Djokovic received a rapturous welcome on his return to the court in Australia at the Adelaide International last week

BBC 16 JAN 2023

Novak Djokovic returns to the Australian Open a year on from his controversial deportation, again primed as the man to beat at the opening Grand Slam tournament of the 2023 season.

The 35-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-extending 10th title in Melbourne and a record-equalling 22nd men's major, has warmed up by winning an ATP title in Adelaide.

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, ranked the world's best men's player, has pulled out with a knee injury and is one of several high-profile names to miss out.

British women's number one Emma Raducanu suffered an ankle injury in the build-up, initially putting her participation in doubt but the 20-year-old says she is "ready to play".

Raducanu will be one of seven Britons playing in the singles main draws, with 11th seed Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray headlining the men's interest.

This will also be the first Grand Slam event following the retirements of veteran superstars Serena Williams and Roger Federer.

With the tournament starting on Monday, BBC Sport runs through the major talking points.

Djokovic is still the man to beat

The build-up to this year's tournament has been much quieter than 12 months ago - but Djokovic remains the centre of most of the attention.

After a cancelled visa, detention in an immigration centre, multiple court cases and eventual deportation - all as a consequence of him being unvaccinated against Covid-19 - Djokovic was unable to play in the 2022 edition of a tournament which he has long dominated.

On his return, the Serb will be glad to focus on the tennis and looks well placed to regain his stranglehold on the trophy.

The nine-time champion has won the title on his past three appearances and has lost only three matches at Melbourne Park since 2011.

A limited schedule, partly down to not being allowed to enter the United States last year because of his vaccination status, means he is ranked fifth in the world but a strong end to last season, and confident start to this year, shows he still remains the man to beat.

Winning the Adelaide title last week came after triumphs in Tel Aviv, Astana and the ATP Tour Finals in 2022, with the only defeat in his past 25 matches inflicted by Holger Rune in the Paris Masters final.

Plus, one would imagine a player who has regularly thrived when he feels he has a point to prove will have extra fire in his belly after last year's chaos.

If he wins the title, Djokovic will also regain the world number one ranking.

Who can challenge in Alcaraz's absence?

Spain's Rafael Nadal was the main beneficiary of Djokovic's absence last year, winning a record 21st major men's title and extending his overall tally with another victory at the French Open.

Nadal, 36, is one ahead of Djokovic, who reduced the gap at Wimbledon, in the race to finish with the most silverware which is regularly used to determine the greatest players of all time.

Like Djokovic, Nadal can never be underestimated and ruled out of contention at a major. The two-time champion will be the top seed following US Open winner Alcaraz's withdrawal.

But, after an abdominal injury ruined the second half of last season for him, and having started this season with two consecutive defeats at the United Cup, another Nadal triumph looks to be a long shot.

A tough draw - which begins with a first-round match against rising British star Jack Draper - could also be problematic.

Norway's Casper Ruud will look to continue his upward trajectory following runs to the French Open and US Open finals last year, while Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas is also aiming to finally land his first major at a venue where he has a strong record.

Ruud and Tsitsipas also have the opportunity to become the world number one for the first time, guaranteed to replace Alcaraz if they win the title.

Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios will be the centre of attention for the home fans, Russia's Daniil Medvedev - who lost the 2022 final after a stunning fightback by Nadal - is aiming to recapture his best form, while Danish teenager Holger Rune aims to continue his swift ascent.

Rafael Nadal is the top seed in the men's singles, followed by Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz

Swiatek aiming to continue dominance

For the first time since Serena Williams was in her pomp almost a decade ago, the WTA season was completely dominated by a single player last year.

Iga Swiatek rose to the top of the world rankings when Australia's Ashleigh Barty announced her shock retirement in March, a time the 21-year-old from Poland was almost midway through a 37-match winning streak and on the way to winning the third of six titles in a row.

One of those triumphs came at the French Open - the second time she had won at Roland Garros - and she finished a productive season with another major trophy at the US Open.

The signs remain Swiatek will continue this year where she left off, although a defeat by American Jessica Pegula last week left the Pole in tears on the court and she subsequently pulled out of a tournament in Adelaide citing a shoulder injury.

Pegula, one of the most consistent players last season but still to land a major, also withdrew from the warm-up event after inspiring the US to victory at the inaugural United Cup.

The world number three is expected to challenge Swiatek at Melbourne Park, where a new champion will be crowned after Barty - who announced last week she is pregnant - ended Australia's 44-year wait for a major singles champion.

Tunisia's second seed Ons Jabeur is aiming to finally land a major after defeats in the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year, France's Caroline Garcia and American teenager Coco Gauff will look to build further on impressive seasons, while China's Zheng Qinwen is another talented youngster with a burgeoning reputation.

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka withdrew before announcing she is pregnant and 42-year-old Venus Williams - given a wildcard by organisers - pulled out through injury.

Iga Swiatek in the top seed in the women's singles, followed by Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, Coco Gauff and Daria Kasatkina

Raducanu fit to lead British bid

When Raducanu curtailed her 2022 season and shortly after started a two-month training block to build up her body for the rigours of the tour, she was hoping to put her injury problems behind her.

Then came the ankle injury - suffered in her second match of the year, when she played Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova in Auckland - which Raducanu described as an "accident" she could not avoid.

The 2021 US Open champion's mobility during practice at Melbourne Park this week initially looked difficult and she said her recovery progress would be assessed "day by day".

By Thursday - when the draw was made - she was moving freely and looked in good enough shape to play.

"We were thrown a bit of a curveball but we remained optimistic," she said on Saturday. "I fully trust my ankle and I'm ready to play."

Raducanu was tearful when she left the Auckland court after retiring with an ankle injury, but has been upbeat this week about her chances of playing the Australian Open

Harriet Dart, ranked 96th, is Britain's only other representative in the women's singles.

British men's number one Norrie, 27, is aiming to maintain his stunning progress over the past couple of years, showing his intent with a career-best victory over Nadal at the recent United Cup.

Norrie vowed after a first-round exit in Melbourne last year to tailor his schedule to peak at the majors, going on to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals and now hopes to avoid falling at the first hurdle in Australia for the fourth time in five years.

Dan Evans is the only other British seed in the men's singles, with rising star Jack Draper and former world number one Murray ranked in the world's top 50 but just outside the seeds.

Kyle Edmund, a semi-finalist in 2018, returns to Melbourne Park using a protected ranking as he continues his comeback after three knee operations.

In the men's doubles, world number one Neal Skupski and 2020 Australian Open champion Joe Salisbury lead the British hopes with their respective partners Wesley Koolhof and Rajeev Ram.

Lloyd Glasspool, Jamie Murray, plus all-British partnership Julian Cash and Henry Patten, are also in the draw, with Olivia Nicholls and Alicia Barnett - who made their breakthrough last year and starred for Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals - in the women's doubles along with Heather Watson.

In the wheelchair event, 17-year-old Ben Bartram has been awarded a wildcard and joins Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne.

Australian Open

Ladybbird · 18-01-23, 07:46

Australian Open BANS Russian and Belarusian Flags From Tournament

Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned from the Australian Open tennis tournament after a courtside incident.

BBC 18 JAN 2023

A spectator holds a Russian flag at the Australian Open on Monday

Spectators were initially permitted to bring the flags into Melbourne Park on the condition they did not cause "disruption".

But the organisers reversed that decision on Tuesday, after fans displayed a Russian flag during a match between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russian Kamilla Rakhimova.

The ban is effective immediately.

"We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis," Tennis Australia said in a statement.

Ukrainian fans say they called police and security to the first-round match on Monday, claiming Russian supporters were "taunting" Baindl.

"This is profoundly unsafe, the war is ongoing," one fan told local newspaper The Age. "It's a small court, the guys were extremely close to the players, so there was an element of what I felt was intimidation."

But one of the Russian men involved told The Age his group had simply been cheering their countrywoman on.

He said: "People can view that as being obnoxious but we were just being your normal supporters. There was no ridiculing or disrespect."

Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand had earlier called on Tennis Australia to take action.

Russian and Belarusian athletes have not been able to play under their countries' flags in several sports, including tennis, since the invasion of Ukraine began in February last year.

While players from the two countries are competing under a neutral white flag during the Australian Open, they were banned from playing at Wimbledon altogether in 2022.

Organisers were subsequently fined and the tournament was stripped of its ranking points by the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women's Tennis Association. The WTA said equal opportunities for players to compete as individuals had to be protected.

The Victorian state government on Tuesday said Tennis Australia had made the right decision.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine is abhorrent," acting premier Jancinta Allan said. "It breaches international human rights obligations. It's been enabled and supported by Belarus.

"[This] sends a very, very clear message that human rights are important, whether it's in sport, or more broadly in our community."

The ban comes after Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk said she would not shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus who she believes have not done enough to condemn the invasion.

Ladybbird · 20-01-23, 08:00

Australian Open 2023 Results: Andy Murray Beats Thanasi Kokkinakis at 4am in Melbourne

4am Finishes in Tennis a 'Farce' Says Andy Murray

BBC 20 JAN 2023

Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis

Amid the high of beating Berrettini, Murray cautiously spoke about the impact the five-set thriller would have on his body - a combination of his advancing years and the strain caused by his implanted metal hip - before he faced 26-year-old Australian Kokkinakis.

Andy Murray produced another scarcely believable display to fight back from two sets down to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in an epic Australian Open match finishing at 04:05 local time.

In one of the latest finishes in tennis history, Murray won 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 on a night of gruelling physical and mental endurance.

The second-round match started at 22:20 and lasted five hours 45 minutes.

It was the longest contest in 35-year-old Murray's eventful career.

The exhausted Briton remained calm after taking his first match point with a confident backhand down the line, sighing heavily before the two players enjoyed a warm embrace at the net.

With his proud mum Judy looking close to tears in the stands, Murray then let out a series of huge roars as he celebrated one of the best comebacks of his career.

A healthy and boisterous crowd stayed inside Margaret Court Arena until the end, showing their appreciation for the efforts of both men and providing much-needed vocal support.

The match is the second-latest finish in Australian Open history after a 2008 third-round match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis that ended at 04:34.

"The match was very up and down, there was frustration, tension, excitement, all that stuff," Murray, ranked 66th in the world, said.

"It's amazing to win the match but I also want to go to bed now. I want to sleep."

Murray is the third Briton to reach the third round at Melbourne Park this year, following Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans into the last 32.

Norrie, seeded 11th, is hoping to progress further on Friday when he plays Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka not before 04:30 GMT.

Australian Open Match Clock

It was the longest match of Murray's career, surpassing his Davis Cup contest with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in 2016

Murray produces a comeback extraordinary even by his standards

Murray has regularly defied the odds since coming back from the hip surgery in 2019 which he thought would end his career - including in his first-round victory over Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday.

Two days later, the Scot did it again with a comeback that ranks as simply extraordinary, even by his standards.

"I felt physically better today than I did the other day, which is a positive thing - but finishing at 4am is not ideal," the former world number one said.

Murray could not have asked for more time to recover but the trade-off was playing in chilly conditions, which led to long rallies, long points and a very long night.

The five-time Australian Open finalist started slowly and struggled to find rhythm, with his regular chuntering to his support box an early indication he was not happy.

Kokkinakis, backed by a raucous home crowd on an initially packed Margaret Court Arena, punished him with plenty of powerful and precise forehand winners on his way to a two-set lead.

At that point, you wondered how much energy - mental and physical - Murray had left in the tank.

Almost four hours later, we had the answer.

Murray trailed 5-2 in the third set but used all of his experience to maintain his composure as Kokkinakis got tight when he tried to serve out the match.

A horribly skewed smash summed up the strain felt by the world number 159 and Murray used the momentum to dominate the fourth set.

Deep into the decider it was still impossible to confidently predict who would emerge as the victor, but Murray decisively broke at 5-5 and served out for an extraordinary win.

"It was by far the longest match I've played but in those conditions that is what is going to happen," Murray said.

"To play in the cold at that time of the day and, with balls like that, you will get long rallies and long points."

The one thing that has evaded the former world number one since his comeback in 2019 is another deep run at a major like he made with regularity in his prime.

If he manages to recover sufficiently to beat Spanish 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut - coincidentally the man he played in what he thought might have been his final Grand Slam match before the hip operation four years ago - he will reach the fourth round of a major for the first time since 2017.

Andy Murray has won 11 matches from two sets down, meaning he has completed more successful comebacks than any other player

'Who does it benefit?' - Murray unhappy with late finish

The late finish brought more questions about why tennis allows this to happen and led to more scrutiny of the scheduling.

During the match, Murray screamed his frustration after losing a point and asked why they were "still playing at 3am".

Afterwards, he continued to express his displeasure and told a huddle of journalists, who were waiting in a corridor underneath Rod Laver Arena in a bid to speed up his exit, it was a "farce".

"Who is it beneficial for? A match like that and that's what the discussion is. Rather than about an epic match, it ends in a farce," he said.

"Amazingly, people stayed until the end and created an atmosphere, I really appreciate that. Some people need to work.

"But if my child was a ball kid for the tournament and they're coming home at 5am I'm snapping at that.

"It's not beneficial for them, for the umpires, the officials. I don't think it'samazing for the fans. It's not good for the players."

Ladybbird · 29-01-23, 07:47

Australian Open 2023: Champion Aryna Sabalenka Turns 2022 Nightmare into 2023 Dream

Australia was not a happy hunting ground for Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago.

BBC 29 JAN 2023

The start of 2022 saw her exit the pre-major Adelaide International event at the hands of a qualifier, her serve so poor she was left in tears and rolling them in underarm as her double fault tally hit 21.

The Australian Open didn't fare much better, the then-second seed sent packing in the fourth round at the start of a year that saw her serve 428 double faults - 151 more than any other player on the WTA Tour.

But 2023 marks a fresh start. And Belarusian Sabalenka is starting it as a Grand Slam champion.

Yes, the double faults are still there, starting the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina with one on her very first serve, later squandering her first championship point with another. But they are fewer and further between, her hard yards in the off-season coming good at the right time.

"Well, it was a good start for me," Sabalenka, 24, joked after her maiden singles major win. "I was like, well, it's going to be fun after the double fault."

Fun it was, at least for the viewer, as an enthralling final got under way.

After that double fault, it didn't get much better for Sabalenka as Wimbledon champion Rybakina took the early initiative, Sabalenka conceding a set for the first time this season.

But she had not lost her previous six Slam matches after dropping the first set and that was a stat she wasn't prepared to give up on. And so the fightback began.

In the battle of the big hitters, Sabalenka forced a decider on Rod Laver Arena, getting the all-important break before - with the nerves in full flow - finally clinching the biggest win of her career on her fourth championship point.

"I think it's even more enjoyable after all those tough matches," she said. "I really feel I needed those tough losses to understand myself a little bit better. It was like preparation for me.

"I actually feel happy that I lost those matches, so right now I can be a different player and just [a] different Aryna, you know?"

A different, considerably calmer, Aryna indeed, courtesy of work with a psychologist and biomechanics expert to correct her wayward serving.

Tonight, she will celebrate with the team who got her to this point. It is not the best day of her life - that is reserved for the day she met her boyfriend - but the celebrations will be as if it were.

Pizza, sweets and a "little bit of champagne" are on order, the latter already started on as she sipped a glass during her press conference.

"I will eat everything that I couldn't all this week," she said. "My mum and my grandma are fighting right now for this trophy. I will put it back home where I keep all these trophies."

A Belarusian winning the first Grand Slam of the season will inevitably raise a big question for the third. Will Sabalenka be allowed to compete at Wimbledon?

Last year, the answer was no, the grass major banning Russians and Belarusians from playing after Russia's invasion of Ukraine but organisers are yet to make a decision on the 2023 tournament.

Sabalenka continues to compete under a neutral flag and there will be no mention of her home nation etched next to her name on the trophy, but she batted away questions about the topic with a simple answer: "I think everyone still knows that I'm Belarusian player."

She has previously spoken about how upset she was after being banned from Wimbledon, unable to bear watching on TV and instead throwing herself into gym work.

It meant she likely did not watch Rybakina, her Moscow-born opponent who represents Kazakhstan, lift her first Grand Slam title on Centre Court last July.

Rybakina will reach the world top 10 for the first time when the rankings are updated on Monday, having not benefited from the boosted ranking points a Grand Slam title normally brings after Wimbledon had its stripped.

Rybakina, 23, has now lost all four of her meetings with Sabalenka, all of which have been decided in three sets - yet she will not dwell on a missed opportunity, knowing that with a higher ranking, more will soon come.

"I would say that not many girls can put me really under that sort of pressure," she said of her opponent.

"I just knew that I had to serve well. It's also pressure in the end, as soon as I have an opportunity, take it.

Ladybbird · 30-01-23, 01:05

Novak Djokovic Says 10th Australian Open is His Biggest Victory

Novak Djokovic says winning a 10th Australian Open to equal Rafael Nadal's record 22 Grand Slam men's titles is "the biggest victory" of his life.

BBC 30 JAN 2023

Djokovic, 35, beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in Melbourne having missed last year's event after being deported because of his Covid-19 vaccination status.

He also had to deal with a hamstring injury and a row involving his father.

Novak Djokovic and coach Goran Ivanisevic at Dubai airport

"Only the team and the family knows what we have been through in the last four or five weeks," said the Serb.

"I would say this is probably the biggest victory of my life, considering those circumstances."

Djokovic was overcome with emotion after sealing a straight-win over Greek third seed Tsitsipas on Rod Laver Arena.

After climbing into the box to celebrate with his team and family, he broke into tears and laid down in the middle of them as the magnitude of his achievement hit home.

Djokovic continued sobbing under his towel when he returned to his chair on the court.

The win sees him return to world number one for a record-extending 374th week from Monday.
How Djokovic overcome distractions to regain crown

Djokovic was deported from Australia on the eve of the 2022 tournament

Twelve months ago, Djokovic was not allowed to play after being deported from Australia following the coronavirus saga which eventually led to his visa being revoked after a court case.

After being allowed back to play at Melbourne Park this year, he had to overcome more adversity.

The hamstring issue was particularly problematic in the earlier part of the tournament, with his coach Goran Ivanisevic saying "97% of the other players" would have withdrawn injured.

"If I turn back the time two and a half weeks ago, I wasn't really liking my chance in this tournament with the way I felt with my leg," said Djokovic.

"Then it was just a matter of survival of every single match, trying to take it to the next round.

"The good thing about the Grand Slam is you have a day between the matches, so it allowed me to have more time than normal to get myself in somewhat of a good state to play and eventually win."

Djokovic also had to deal with controversy surrounding his father Srdjan - who was photographed with supporters of Russian president Vladimir Putin - before Friday's semi-final against American Tommy Paul.

There was an empty seat next to Novak Djokovic's mother, Dijana, in Rod Laver Arena after his father, Srdjan, decided to stay away from the final

Srdjan Djokovic decided to stay away from the semi-final because he did not want to be a "distraction" and also watched the final from outside Rod Laver Arena.

"We both agreed it would probably be better that he is not there. That hurts me and him a lot because these are very special, unique moments," Djokovic said.

"He was a bit sad. In a way I'm sad that he was not there in the stands. But he was throughout the entire tournament, so it's fine. In the end we have a happy ending."

Despite those distractions, and a second-set wobble when he became irritated with his coaching team, he played imperiously in the key moments to regain the crown which he was unable to defend last year.

"I have to say this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I have ever played in my life considering the circumstances, not playing last year, coming back this year," said Djokovic.

"I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable to be in Melbourne and to be in Australia. There is a reason why I have played my best tennis throughout my career in this arena.

"I try to pinch myself and really live through these moments. It's a long journey."

Ivanisevic, who said Djokovic was "from outer space" when discussing the level of his play, is looking forward to the rest of the season as his player and Nadal continue to contest the men's major record.

He added: "Battle of Spain against Serbia, it's like a handball match. 22-22 for the moment. Now it's going to be interesting this year."

The next Grand Slam is the French Open, where Nadal is the defending champion and has won 14 titles overall, starting on 28 May.

I am a born champion - Tsitsipas remains upbeat

Tsitsipas was bidding to become the youngest men's Australian Open winner since Djokovic in 2011

Tsitsipas, 24, was left to reflect on another defeat by Djokovic in what was his second major final and insisted he has what it takes to eventually become a Grand Slam champion.

The Greek, who was seeded third at Melbourne Park, led by two sets when the pair met in the 2021 French Open final before Djokovic fought back to win.

This time, he was not allowed to gain the advantage against a locked-in Djokovic.

Tsitsipas described the loss at Roland Garros as "heartbreaking" but was much more upbeat after Sunday's defeat.

"It's my time to aim for something like this," he said.

"I don't see any reason to be lowering my expectations or my goals. I am born a champion. I can feel it in my blood.

"I can feel it as a competitive kid that I was when I was young. It's something that is within me.

"I want to harvest that, make it bloom, make it even stronger and fonder, work hard towards those goals."

16-01-23, 06:17	#1
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,625 Thanks: 27,642 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Australian Tennis Open 2023: WINNERS Australian Open 2023 Preview: Djokovic, Nadal, Raducanu & Murray Set For Melbourne Australian Open 2023 Dates: 16-29 January Venue: Melbourne Park Novak Djokovic received a rapturous welcome on his return to the court in Australia at the Adelaide International last week BBC 16 JAN 2023 Novak Djokovic returns to the Australian Open a year on from his controversial deportation, again primed as the man to beat at the opening Grand Slam tournament of the 2023 season. The 35-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-extending 10th title in Melbourne and a record-equalling 22nd men's major, has warmed up by winning an ATP title in Adelaide. Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, ranked the world's best men's player, has pulled out with a knee injury and is one of several high-profile names to miss out. British women's number one Emma Raducanu suffered an ankle injury in the build-up, initially putting her participation in doubt but the 20-year-old says she is "ready to play". Raducanu will be one of seven Britons playing in the singles main draws, with 11th seed Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray headlining the men's interest. This will also be the first Grand Slam event following the retirements of veteran superstars Serena Williams and Roger Federer. With the tournament starting on Monday, BBC Sport runs through the major talking points. *Djokovic is still the man to beat* The build-up to this year's tournament has been much quieter than 12 months ago - but Djokovic remains the centre of most of the attention. After a cancelled visa, detention in an immigration centre, multiple court cases and eventual deportation - all as a consequence of him being unvaccinated against Covid-19 - Djokovic was unable to play in the 2022 edition of a tournament which he has long dominated. On his return, the Serb will be glad to focus on the tennis and looks well placed to regain his stranglehold on the trophy. The nine-time champion has won the title on his past three appearances and has lost only three matches at Melbourne Park since 2011. A limited schedule, partly down to not being allowed to enter the United States last year because of his vaccination status, means he is ranked fifth in the world but a strong end to last season, and confident start to this year, shows he still remains the man to beat. Winning the Adelaide title last week came after triumphs in Tel Aviv, Astana and the ATP Tour Finals in 2022, with the only defeat in his past 25 matches inflicted by Holger Rune in the Paris Masters final. Plus, one would imagine a player who has regularly thrived when he feels he has a point to prove will have extra fire in his belly after last year's chaos. If he wins the title, Djokovic will also regain the world number one ranking. Who can challenge in Alcaraz's absence? Spain's Rafael Nadal was the main beneficiary of Djokovic's absence last year, winning a record 21st major men's title and extending his overall tally with another victory at the French Open. Nadal, 36, is one ahead of Djokovic, who reduced the gap at Wimbledon, in the race to finish with the most silverware which is regularly used to determine the greatest players of all time. Like Djokovic, Nadal can never be underestimated and ruled out of contention at a major. The two-time champion will be the top seed following US Open winner Alcaraz's withdrawal. But, after an abdominal injury ruined the second half of last season for him, and having started this season with two consecutive defeats at the United Cup, another Nadal triumph looks to be a long shot. A tough draw - which begins with a first-round match against rising British star Jack Draper - could also be problematic. Norway's Casper Ruud will look to continue his upward trajectory following runs to the French Open and US Open finals last year, while Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas is also aiming to finally land his first major at a venue where he has a strong record. Ruud and Tsitsipas also have the opportunity to become the world number one for the first time, guaranteed to replace Alcaraz if they win the title. Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios will be the centre of attention for the home fans, Russia's Daniil Medvedev - who lost the 2022 final after a stunning fightback by Nadal - is aiming to recapture his best form, while Danish teenager Holger Rune aims to continue his swift ascent. Rafael Nadal is the top seed in the men's singles, followed by Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz Swiatek aiming to continue dominance For the first time since Serena Williams was in her pomp almost a decade ago, the WTA season was completely dominated by a single player last year. Iga Swiatek rose to the top of the world rankings when Australia's Ashleigh Barty announced her shock retirement in March, a time the 21-year-old from Poland was almost midway through a 37-match winning streak and on the way to winning the third of six titles in a row. One of those triumphs came at the French Open - the second time she had won at Roland Garros - and she finished a productive season with another major trophy at the US Open. The signs remain Swiatek will continue this year where she left off, although a defeat by American Jessica Pegula last week left the Pole in tears on the court and she subsequently pulled out of a tournament in Adelaide citing a shoulder injury. Pegula, one of the most consistent players last season but still to land a major, also withdrew from the warm-up event after inspiring the US to victory at the inaugural United Cup. The world number three is expected to challenge Swiatek at Melbourne Park, where a new champion will be crowned after Barty - who announced last week she is pregnant - ended Australia's 44-year wait for a major singles champion. Tunisia's second seed Ons Jabeur is aiming to finally land a major after defeats in the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year, France's Caroline Garcia and American teenager Coco Gauff will look to build further on impressive seasons, while China's Zheng Qinwen is another talented youngster with a burgeoning reputation. Two-time champion Naomi Osaka withdrew before announcing she is pregnant and 42-year-old Venus Williams - given a wildcard by organisers - pulled out through injury. Iga Swiatek in the top seed in the women's singles, followed by Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, Coco Gauff and Daria Kasatkina Raducanu fit to lead British bid When Raducanu curtailed her 2022 season and shortly after started a two-month training block to build up her body for the rigours of the tour, she was hoping to put her injury problems behind her. Then came the ankle injury - suffered in her second match of the year, when she played Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova in Auckland - which Raducanu described as an "accident" she could not avoid. The 2021 US Open champion's mobility during practice at Melbourne Park this week initially looked difficult and she said her recovery progress would be assessed "day by day". By Thursday - when the draw was made - she was moving freely and looked in good enough shape to play. "We were thrown a bit of a curveball but we remained optimistic," she said on Saturday. "I fully trust my ankle and I'm ready to play." Raducanu was tearful when she left the Auckland court after retiring with an ankle injury, but has been upbeat this week about her chances of playing the Australian Open Harriet Dart, ranked 96th, is Britain's only other representative in the women's singles. British men's number one Norrie, 27, is aiming to maintain his stunning progress over the past couple of years, showing his intent with a career-best victory over Nadal at the recent United Cup. Norrie vowed after a first-round exit in Melbourne last year to tailor his schedule to peak at the majors, going on to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals and now hopes to avoid falling at the first hurdle in Australia for the fourth time in five years. Dan Evans is the only other British seed in the men's singles, with rising star Jack Draper and former world number one Murray ranked in the world's top 50 but just outside the seeds. Kyle Edmund, a semi-finalist in 2018, returns to Melbourne Park using a protected ranking as he continues his comeback after three knee operations. In the men's doubles, world number one Neal Skupski and 2020 Australian Open champion Joe Salisbury lead the British hopes with their respective partners Wesley Koolhof and Rajeev Ram. Lloyd Glasspool, Jamie Murray, plus all-British partnership Julian Cash and Henry Patten, are also in the draw, with Olivia Nicholls and Alicia Barnett - who made their breakthrough last year and starred for Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals - in the women's doubles along with Heather Watson. In the wheelchair event, 17-year-old Ben Bartram has been awarded a wildcard and joins Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne. Australian Open __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

18-01-23, 07:46	#2
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,625 Thanks: 27,642 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Australian Tennis Open 2023: WINNERS Australian Open BANS Russian and Belarusian Flags From Tournament Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned from the Australian Open tennis tournament after a courtside incident. BBC 18 JAN 2023 A spectator holds a Russian flag at the Australian Open on Monday Spectators were initially permitted to bring the flags into Melbourne Park on the condition they did not cause "disruption". But the organisers reversed that decision on Tuesday, after fans displayed a Russian flag during a match between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. The ban is effective immediately. "We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis," Tennis Australia said in a statement. Ukrainian fans say they called police and security to the first-round match on Monday, claiming Russian supporters were "taunting" Baindl. "This is profoundly unsafe, the war is ongoing," one fan told local newspaper The Age. "It's a small court, the guys were extremely close to the players, so there was an element of what I felt was intimidation." But one of the Russian men involved told The Age his group had simply been cheering their countrywoman on. He said: "People can view that as being obnoxious but we were just being your normal supporters. There was no ridiculing or disrespect." Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand had earlier called on Tennis Australia to take action. Russian and Belarusian athletes have not been able to play under their countries' flags in several sports, including tennis, since the invasion of Ukraine began in February last year. While players from the two countries are competing under a neutral white flag during the Australian Open, they were banned from playing at Wimbledon altogether in 2022. Organisers were subsequently fined and the tournament was stripped of its ranking points by the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women's Tennis Association. The WTA said equal opportunities for players to compete as individuals had to be protected. The Victorian state government on Tuesday said Tennis Australia had made the right decision. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is abhorrent," acting premier Jancinta Allan said. "It breaches international human rights obligations. It's been enabled and supported by Belarus. "[This] sends a very, very clear message that human rights are important, whether it's in sport, or more broadly in our community." The ban comes after Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk said she would not shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus who she believes have not done enough to condemn the invasion. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

20-01-23, 08:00	#3
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,625 Thanks: 27,642 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Australian Tennis Open 2023: WINNERS Australian Open 2023 Results: Andy Murray Beats Thanasi Kokkinakis at 4am in Melbourne 4am Finishes in Tennis a 'Farce' Says Andy Murray BBC 20 JAN 2023 Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis Amid the high of beating Berrettini, Murray cautiously spoke about the impact the five-set thriller would have on his body - a combination of his advancing years and the strain caused by his implanted metal hip - before he faced 26-year-old Australian Kokkinakis. Andy Murray produced another scarcely believable display to fight back from two sets down to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in an epic Australian Open match finishing at 04:05 local time. *In one of the latest finishes in tennis history, Murray won 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 on a night of gruelling physical and mental endurance.* The second-round match started at 22:20 and lasted five hours 45 minutes. It was the longest contest in 35-year-old Murray's eventful career. The exhausted Briton remained calm after taking his first match point with a confident backhand down the line, sighing heavily before the two players enjoyed a warm embrace at the net. With his proud mum Judy looking close to tears in the stands, Murray then let out a series of huge roars as he celebrated one of the best comebacks of his career. A healthy and boisterous crowd stayed inside Margaret Court Arena until the end, showing their appreciation for the efforts of both men and providing much-needed vocal support. The match is the second-latest finish in Australian Open history after a 2008 third-round match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis that ended at 04:34. "The match was very up and down, there was frustration, tension, excitement, all that stuff," Murray, ranked 66th in the world, said. "It's amazing to win the match but I also want to go to bed now. I want to sleep." Murray is the third Briton to reach the third round at Melbourne Park this year, following Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans into the last 32. Norrie, seeded 11th, is hoping to progress further on Friday when he plays Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka not before 04:30 GMT. Australian Open Match Clock It was the longest match of Murray's career, surpassing his Davis Cup contest with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in 2016 Murray produces a comeback extraordinary even by his standards Murray has regularly defied the odds since coming back from the hip surgery in 2019 which he thought would end his career - including in his first-round victory over Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday. Two days later, the Scot did it again with a comeback that ranks as simply extraordinary, even by his standards. "I felt physically better today than I did the other day, which is a positive thing - but finishing at 4am is not ideal," the former world number one said. Murray could not have asked for more time to recover but the trade-off was playing in chilly conditions, which led to long rallies, long points and a very long night. The five-time Australian Open finalist started slowly and struggled to find rhythm, with his regular chuntering to his support box an early indication he was not happy. Kokkinakis, backed by a raucous home crowd on an initially packed Margaret Court Arena, punished him with plenty of powerful and precise forehand winners on his way to a two-set lead. At that point, you wondered how much energy - mental and physical - Murray had left in the tank. Almost four hours later, we had the answer. Murray trailed 5-2 in the third set but used all of his experience to maintain his composure as Kokkinakis got tight when he tried to serve out the match. A horribly skewed smash summed up the strain felt by the world number 159 and Murray used the momentum to dominate the fourth set. Deep into the decider it was still impossible to confidently predict who would emerge as the victor, but Murray decisively broke at 5-5 and served out for an extraordinary win. "It was by far the longest match I've played but in those conditions that is what is going to happen," Murray said. "To play in the cold at that time of the day and, with balls like that, you will get long rallies and long points." The one thing that has evaded the former world number one since his comeback in 2019 is another deep run at a major like he made with regularity in his prime. If he manages to recover sufficiently to beat Spanish 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut - coincidentally the man he played in what he thought might have been his final Grand Slam match before the hip operation four years ago - he will reach the fourth round of a major for the first time since 2017. Andy Murray has won 11 matches from two sets down, meaning he has completed more successful comebacks than any other player 'Who does it benefit?' - Murray unhappy with late finish The late finish brought more questions about why tennis allows this to happen and led to more scrutiny of the scheduling. During the match, Murray screamed his frustration after losing a point and asked why they were "still playing at 3am". Afterwards, he continued to express his displeasure and told a huddle of journalists, who were waiting in a corridor underneath Rod Laver Arena in a bid to speed up his exit, it was a "farce". "Who is it beneficial for? A match like that and that's what the discussion is. Rather than about an epic match, it ends in a farce," he said. "Amazingly, people stayed until the end and created an atmosphere, I really appreciate that. Some people need to work. "But if my child was a ball kid for the tournament and they're coming home at 5am I'm snapping at that. "It's not beneficial for them, for the umpires, the officials. I don't think it'samazing for the fans. It's not good for the players." __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

29-01-23, 07:47	#4
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,625 Thanks: 27,642 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Re: Australian Tennis Open 2023: WINNERS Australian Open 2023: Champion Aryna Sabalenka Turns 2022 Nightmare into 2023 Dream Australia was not a happy hunting ground for Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago. BBC 29 JAN 2023 The start of 2022 saw her exit the pre-major Adelaide International event at the hands of a qualifier, her serve so poor she was left in tears and rolling them in underarm as her double fault tally hit 21. The Australian Open didn't fare much better, the then-second seed sent packing in the fourth round at the start of a year that saw her serve 428 double faults - 151 more than any other player on the WTA Tour. But 2023 marks a fresh start. And Belarusian Sabalenka is starting it as a Grand Slam champion. Yes, the double faults are still there, starting the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina with one on her very first serve, later squandering her first championship point with another. But they are fewer and further between, her hard yards in the off-season coming good at the right time. "Well, it was a good start for me," Sabalenka, 24, joked after her maiden singles major win. "I was like, well, it's going to be fun after the double fault." Fun it was, at least for the viewer, as an enthralling final got under way. After that double fault, it didn't get much better for Sabalenka as Wimbledon champion Rybakina took the early initiative, Sabalenka conceding a set for the first time this season. But she had not lost her previous six Slam matches after dropping the first set and that was a stat she wasn't prepared to give up on. And so the fightback began. In the battle of the big hitters, Sabalenka forced a decider on Rod Laver Arena, getting the all-important break before - with the nerves in full flow - finally clinching the biggest win of her career on her fourth championship point. "I think it's even more enjoyable after all those tough matches," she said. "I really feel I needed those tough losses to understand myself a little bit better. It was like preparation for me. "I actually feel happy that I lost those matches, so right now I can be a different player and just [a] different Aryna, you know?" A different, considerably calmer, Aryna indeed, courtesy of work with a psychologist and biomechanics expert to correct her wayward serving. Tonight, she will celebrate with the team who got her to this point. It is not the best day of her life - that is reserved for the day she met her boyfriend - but the celebrations will be as if it were. Pizza, sweets and a "little bit of champagne" are on order, the latter already started on as she sipped a glass during her press conference. "I will eat everything that I couldn't all this week," she said. "My mum and my grandma are fighting right now for this trophy. I will put it back home where I keep all these trophies." A Belarusian winning the first Grand Slam of the season will inevitably raise a big question for the third. Will Sabalenka be allowed to compete at Wimbledon? Last year, the answer was no, the grass major banning Russians and Belarusians from playing after Russia's invasion of Ukraine but organisers are yet to make a decision on the 2023 tournament. Sabalenka continues to compete under a neutral flag and there will be no mention of her home nation etched next to her name on the trophy, but she batted away questions about the topic with a simple answer: "I think everyone still knows that I'm Belarusian player." She has previously spoken about how upset she was after being banned from Wimbledon, unable to bear watching on TV and instead throwing herself into gym work. It meant she likely did not watch Rybakina, her Moscow-born opponent who represents Kazakhstan, lift her first Grand Slam title on Centre Court last July. Rybakina will reach the world top 10 for the first time when the rankings are updated on Monday, having not benefited from the boosted ranking points a Grand Slam title normally brings after Wimbledon had its stripped. Rybakina, 23, has now lost all four of her meetings with Sabalenka, all of which have been decided in three sets - yet she will not dwell on a missed opportunity, knowing that with a higher ranking, more will soon come. "I would say that not many girls can put me really under that sort of pressure," she said of her opponent. "I just knew that I had to serve well. It's also pressure in the end, as soon as I have an opportunity, take it. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

30-01-23, 01:05	#5
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,625 Thanks: 27,642 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Re: Australian Tennis Open 2023: WINNERS Novak Djokovic Says 10th Australian Open is His Biggest Victory Novak Djokovic says winning a 10th Australian Open to equal Rafael Nadal's record 22 Grand Slam men's titles is "the biggest victory" of his life. BBC 30 JAN 2023 Djokovic, 35, beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in Melbourne having missed last year's event after being deported because of his Covid-19 vaccination status. He also had to deal with a hamstring injury and a row involving his father. Novak Djokovic and coach Goran Ivanisevic at Dubai airport "Only the team and the family knows what we have been through in the last four or five weeks," said the Serb. "I would say this is probably the biggest victory of my life, considering those circumstances." Djokovic was overcome with emotion after sealing a straight-win over Greek third seed Tsitsipas on Rod Laver Arena. After climbing into the box to celebrate with his team and family, he broke into tears and laid down in the middle of them as the magnitude of his achievement hit home. Djokovic continued sobbing under his towel when he returned to his chair on the court. The win sees him return to world number one for a record-extending 374th week from Monday. How Djokovic overcome distractions to regain crown Djokovic was deported from Australia on the eve of the 2022 tournament Twelve months ago, Djokovic was not allowed to play after being deported from Australia following the coronavirus saga which eventually led to his visa being revoked after a court case. After being allowed back to play at Melbourne Park this year, he had to overcome more adversity. The hamstring issue was particularly problematic in the earlier part of the tournament, with his coach Goran Ivanisevic saying "97% of the other players" would have withdrawn injured. "If I turn back the time two and a half weeks ago, I wasn't really liking my chance in this tournament with the way I felt with my leg," said Djokovic. "Then it was just a matter of survival of every single match, trying to take it to the next round. "The good thing about the Grand Slam is you have a day between the matches, so it allowed me to have more time than normal to get myself in somewhat of a good state to play and eventually win." Djokovic also had to deal with controversy surrounding his father Srdjan - who was photographed with supporters of Russian president Vladimir Putin - before Friday's semi-final against American Tommy Paul. There was an empty seat next to Novak Djokovic's mother, Dijana, in Rod Laver Arena after his father, Srdjan, decided to stay away from the final Srdjan Djokovic decided to stay away from the semi-final because he did not want to be a "distraction" and also watched the final from outside Rod Laver Arena. "We both agreed it would probably be better that he is not there. That hurts me and him a lot because these are very special, unique moments," Djokovic said. "He was a bit sad. In a way I'm sad that he was not there in the stands. But he was throughout the entire tournament, so it's fine. In the end we have a happy ending." Despite those distractions, and a second-set wobble when he became irritated with his coaching team, he played imperiously in the key moments to regain the crown which he was unable to defend last year. "I have to say this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I have ever played in my life considering the circumstances, not playing last year, coming back this year," said Djokovic. "I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable to be in Melbourne and to be in Australia. There is a reason why I have played my best tennis throughout my career in this arena. "I try to pinch myself and really live through these moments. It's a long journey." Ivanisevic, who said Djokovic was "from outer space" when discussing the level of his play, is looking forward to the rest of the season as his player and Nadal continue to contest the men's major record. He added: "Battle of Spain against Serbia, it's like a handball match. 22-22 for the moment. Now it's going to be interesting this year." The next Grand Slam is the French Open, where Nadal is the defending champion and has won 14 titles overall, starting on 28 May. I am a born champion - Tsitsipas remains upbeat Tsitsipas was bidding to become the youngest men's Australian Open winner since Djokovic in 2011 Tsitsipas, 24, was left to reflect on another defeat by Djokovic in what was his second major final and insisted he has what it takes to eventually become a Grand Slam champion. The Greek, who was seeded third at Melbourne Park, led by two sets when the pair met in the 2021 French Open final before Djokovic fought back to win. This time, he was not allowed to gain the advantage against a locked-in Djokovic. Tsitsipas described the loss at Roland Garros as "heartbreaking" but was much more upbeat after Sunday's defeat. "It's my time to aim for something like this," he said. "I don't see any reason to be lowering my expectations or my goals. I am born a champion. I can feel it in my blood. "I can feel it as a competitive kid that I was when I was young. It's something that is within me. "I want to harvest that, make it bloom, make it even stronger and fonder, work hard towards those goals." __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

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