Daniil Medvedev goading the crowd and Nick Kyrgios getting hot under the collar in a sport comically perfect for rebels, what’s not to love?Purely in terms of tournament sass, it was predictable Novak Dojokovic would be booed off court after retiring from injury at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday night after once again deciding to graciously gift an opponent a win. The US Open is operating at Liberace levels of theatrics and is highly watchable for it.Djokovic had already sworn at the crowd and threatened a spectator during one practice session. “I’ll come find you after the match,” he glowered. “Trust me, I’ll come find you.” Retweeting the footage, Nick Kyrgios added the words “I’m scared” and an emoji suggesting...
Swiss justified the All England Club’s decision to make him No 2 seed as he came back from a limp second set against his old friend and rival to avenge 2008 final defeatTwo old friends played some tennis for a shade over three hours on a sunny Friday evening and everything felt right with the world. When it was over the crowd gave both their heroes standing ovations and prayed for an encore. Everyone agreed: this simply cannot be the last time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet at Wimbledon.Did it have to end? Unfortunately it did and when it was over the majestic Federer had reached the second Sunday for the 12th time, made up for his defeat to...
Few would bet against Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafa Nadal triumphing again this year as thirtysomethings march onThe three names at the top of the betting for the men’s singles at Wimbledon this year are so familiar that they can almost be taken for granted. Between them, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal have won 14 of the 16 slam titles in SW19 since Lleyton Hewitt lifted the trophy in 2002 and their odds imply a 75% chance that one of them will make it 15 from 17. Or, to put it another way, the other 125 players in the main draw have a 25% chance of winning between them, versus three men with a combined age of...
Dream of becoming the Olympic tennis champion six days before his 39th birthday is what keeps the Swiss great goingRoger Federer did more than win his 100th Tour-level tournament when he handed the Greek prodigy Stefanos Tsitsipas (his conqueror in the fourth round of the Australian Open two months ago) a 6-4, 6-4 tennis lesson in the 69-minute final of the Dubai tournament. He encouraged hope among his followers that, five months shy of his 38th birthday, he can still deliver the thrills they crave.He was always more than a tennis player. For most of his 22 years as a professional Federer has been a messiah and rarely a naughty boy. He has been the shimmering image of near-perfection, on...
Everyone knows Roger Federer gets to play when and where he wants in every tournament he enters but Laver Cup issue is a sign of turbulent timesIt is rare to see Roger Federer flustered or short-tempered but both those sides of his personality were on show in London this week, and how revealing they were.Everyone knows (including the man himself) that he gets to play when and where he wants in every tournament he enters. He has earned it. He is not only the biggest draw in tennis, he has been one of the genuinely major stars of international sport for nearly two decades. Related: Roger Federer in line of fire over scheduling and Davis Cup claims Continue reading...