Tag: Tennis

The world number one ends a hugely successful, seven-year partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic.

World number one Novak Djokovic has ended his highly successful partnership with Croatian coach Goran Ivanisevic shortly before the clay season gets into full swing.

Ivanisevic, who claimed the singles title at Wimbledon in 2001 after finishing runner-up in 1992, 1994 and 1998, joined Djokovic’s team in 2018 and helped the 36-year-old win 12 Grand Slam titles.

“Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago,” 24-time major champion Djokovic said on Wednesday in an Instagram post with a picture of himself and Ivanisevic playing a board game.

“Our on-court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid. In fact, I’m proud to say (not sure he is) that apart from winning tournaments together we also had a side battle in Parchisi going on … for many years.

“And that tournament never stops for us. Sefinjo, thanks for everything my friend. Love you.”

Djokovic failed in his bid to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in January when he lost 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.

The Serb pulled out of the ongoing Miami Open to limit the number of events he plays this year. That decision came after a shock third-round loss to Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.

Djokovic will gear up for the clay season as he bids to claim a fourth title at the French Open, which will take place from May 26 to June 9.

Djokovic dropped only three games in his march to quarters, while Sabalenka has dropped 11 games in four matches.

In a Grand Slam that has seen several top-ranked players drop out in the first three rounds, defending champions Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka have dodged upsets to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals without a major blip.

Djokovic was ruthless in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino on Sunday as he entered his 58th Grand Slam quarterfinal to match Roger Federer’s all-time Grand Slam record.

In a rare daytime appearance on Rod Laver Arena, the 10-time Australian Open champion hit 31 winners and raced to victory in 1 hour and 44 minutes.

Djokovic is into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time, which is equal second on the all-time list with Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe. The difference is that he has converted most of those quarterfinal runs into titles at Melbourne Park.

He will face Taylor Fritz, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, last year’s runner-up.

Meanwhile, the ruthless women’s world number two, Aryna Sabalenka, warned that she is stronger now than when she won her maiden Grand Slam in Melbourne as her imposing march towards another title gathered steam.

The Belarusian was in total control against unseeded American Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena, blazing home 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes.

Sabalenka has dropped a scant 11 games in her four matches and, with top seed Iga Swiatek out of the tournament, is the clear favourite to win a second Grand Slam.

Should she do so, she will be the first woman to retain the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka completed the feat in 2013.

“I think I feel stronger than last year. So far I feel good. Hopefully, I just can keep it up,” said the 25-year-old, who has embraced her status as reigning champion in Melbourne.

“I’m getting stronger because I enjoy the atmosphere and I really want to stay here as long as I can, till the very last day.”

Last year’s US Open champion Coco Gauff has kept up with the two singles favourites after racing past unseeded Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena as she zeroes in on a second Grand Slam title.

Gauff said she was enjoying “learning adulthood” after showing poise and determination to storm into her first Australian Open quarterfinal.

The tournament’s top seed among women Iga Swiatek lost 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the third round on Saturday.

Swiatek’s four Grand Slam titles and 18-match winning streak were no help against the big-hitting teen.

But pedigree and past performance seem to mean little to nothing at Melbourne Park so far this year, setting up a closing week that features a bunch of new players and storylines.

Apart from Swiatek, the other seeded players to depart the Grand Slam are Elena Rybakina (3), Jessica Pegula (5), Ons Jabeur (6) and Marketa Vondrousova (7).

In men’s draw, seeded players such as Ben Shelton (16), Holger Rune (8) and Casper Ruud (11) have also dropped out before the last-eight stage.

Briton Andy Murray was a first-round victim, along with returning former champion Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki.

The first tennis Grand Slam of the year is upon is as Melbourne Park plays host to the Australian Open 2024.

Here’s what you need to know about the tournament:

What are the key dates?

The Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 14 and runs through to the men’s singles final on Sunday, January 28.

The women’s singles final will be staged the day before.

The event’s 15-day duration is a first, given the tournament would usually begin on a Monday, but an extra day has been added in the hope of avoiding late-night finishes.

Players qualify for the main draw by being ranked in the top 104, or by winning three qualifying matches (in qualifiers from January 8 to 11), or by wildcard.

How much is the prize money?

The total prize money for the tournament has increased by 13 percent this year to stand at 86.5 million Australian dollars ($57.83m).

The singles champions will win 3.15 million Australian dollars ($2.11m) each.

Who are the favourites?

Both reigning champions will line up in Melbourne to defend their crowns, with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defending his men’s singles title and Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka competing to retain the women’s trophy.

Djokovic, 36, has won the Australian Open on 10 occasions and is the top seed. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Italy’s Jannik Sinner are ranked two, three and four.

Alcaraz heads to Melbourne Park without any competitive matches under his belt this season.

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Ready? PLAY 💥 pic.twitter.com/ccffFod5wr

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

Sabalenk lost the women’s number one ranking to Poland’s Iga Swiatek last year.

America’s Coco Gauff is seeded third behind the pair after winning the US Open in September. Elena Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, is ranked fourth.

The biggest name to miss out is Spain’s Rafael Nadal as he continues his rehabilitation from a hip injury but Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, returns from eight months out following surgery on both her wrist and ankle. Japan’s Naomi Osaka also returns after giving birth last July, hoping to add to her four major titles. 

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Leading the charge 💪 pic.twitter.com/mLfAnQRwkJ

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

What happened in Thursday’s Australian Open draw?

Djokovic begins his quest for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown overall against one of the qualifiers.

The Serbian required treatment for a wrist problem during his United Cup defeat by Alex de Minaur last week – his first loss in Australia for six years.

The 36-year-old has been given a relatively gentle start but could play Greek seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals in what would be a mouthwatering rematch of last year’s final.

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King of Melbourne. Who will it be this year? 🏆 🤔 pic.twitter.com/oFqnvg8wrf

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

Meanwhile, Swiatek faces a tricky test against 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

Defending champion Sabalenka will also take on a qualifier first while 2023 runner-up Elena Rybakina, who Sabalenka in the final of the tune-up tournament in Brisbane, faces former world number one Karolina Pliskova.

Wimbledon champion Alcaraz meets French veteran Richard Gasquet.

The 20-year-old second seed is on course for a quarterfinal clash with the rejuvenated Alexander Zverev, who goes up against fellow German Dominik Koepfer.

Tsitsipas squares off with Matteo Berrettini in another tantalising opener, while twice-finalist Medvedev will start against a qualifier.

Italian youngster Jannik Sinner, who is tipped to go deep at Melbourne Park, will face Botic van de Zandschulp.

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Coming for the Melbourne crown 👑

The CHAMPION will be… 👀 pic.twitter.com/sXrYsEsiqM

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

US Open champion Gauff faces Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, while Osaka, who won the title in 2019 and 2021, returns to Grand Slam tennis for the first time since 2022 and is pitted against Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in a tricky opener.

Angelique Kerber, who also made her comeback to the tour following a lengthy maternity break, will play 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins in her opener and could take on top seed Swiatek in the next round.

Wild card Caroline Wozniacki, another former champion and returning mother, will play 20th seed Magda Linette.

Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who stunned Djokovic last week before beating Alcaraz in a charity match, will spearhead local hopes and begin his campaign against Canadian former world number three Milos Raonic.

What time will the ties be played?

The show courts start at 12pm (01:00 GMT) while the day sessions begin an hour earlier on the outer courts.

The Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena will host the night sessions which begin at 7pm (08:00 GMT).

Both the women’s and men’s singles finals start at 7:30pm (08:30 GMT).

Austrian Dominic Thiem’s match suspended for 40 minutes after reptile slithered its way courtside. He won the qualifier.

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem had to face a tough battle during his qualifying tennis match at the Brisbane International – and also one of Australia’s most venomous snakes.

Thiem’s match against Australian James McCabe was suspended for 40 minutes on Saturday after a snake slithered courtside.

It was spotted by fans near the courtside electrical wires, prompting officials to call in security staff and stop play, as McCabe had just wrapped up the first set 6-2 against the 2020 US Open champion.

A professional snake catcher was summoned to snare the 50cm (20-inch) reptile and tease it into a bag. It was identified as an eastern brown snake and one of Australia’s most deadly reptiles.

“I really love animals, especially exotic ones,” Thiem said. “But they said it was a really poisonous snake and it was close to the ball kids, so it was a really dangerous situation.”

The former world number three told reporters after the match: “It’s something that has never happened to me and is something I’ll definitely never forget.”

Thiem, currently ranked no 98 after several years grappling with a wrist injury, was not yet out of danger when play resumed. He had to save three match points before winning the second set tiebreak. The 30-year-old then went on to clinch the deciding set for a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win.

Thiem reached the final of the Australian Open in 2020 when he pushed the Serbian champion Novak Djokovic to five sets, and won the US Open later that year.

The Brisbane International is a tune-up event to the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, which begins on January 14 in Melbourne.

Former world number one Rafael Nadal will return to tennis – after almost a year on the sidelines because of a lingering hip injury – in Brisbane on Sunday when he plays a doubles match alongside Marc Lopez, whom he partnered with in 2016 to claim an Olympic gold medal.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, drew a qualifier in the singles draw as he gears up for the first stop of what could be his farewell tour.

The 37-year-old Spaniard, who has won the French Open a record 14 times, had to pull out of that event in May because of his injury.