Tennis has failed to provide an environment and culture that allows alleged victims to feel comfortable reporting abuseIn hindsight the silence that accompanied the first allegations of domestic abuse against Alexander Zverev turned out to be the most proactive action tennis took for nearly 10 months. During the first week of the Paris Masters last November, to much criticism, the official tennis social media accounts barely covered Zverev’s run to the final there. As time passed, normalcy predictably resumed. Zverev, one of the most promising young tennis players, has continued to grow as a player and over the past month he has won an Olympic gold medal. All other issues were pushed to the side.But that has been disrupted again...
Stereotypical Covid sceptics are a kind of fringe lunatic but elite sportspeople are reared to keep total control of their bodiesA few years ago, I was in India on an England cricket tour, watching net practice. It was a baking hot day at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi, and for the observing media the only available shade was next to a small marquee – really, just a glorified tent – that had been erected for the batsmen to pad up and the bowlers to take a breather. It was while perching in this very spot that I became aware of the surreal conversation taking place on the other side of the canvas.“Have you guys heard of Julian Assange?”...
Stereotypical Covid sceptics are a kind of fringe lunatic but elite sportspeople are reared to keep total control of their bodiesA few years ago, I was in India on an England cricket tour, watching net practice. It was a baking hot day at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi, and for the observing media the only available shade was next to a small marquee – really, just a glorified tent – that had been erected for the batsmen to pad up and the bowlers to take a breather. It was while perching in this very spot that I became aware of the surreal conversation taking place on the other side of the canvas.“Have you guys heard of Julian Assange?”...
An improvement in his serve and mixing up his game at vital times leaves no real weaknesses to be exploitedAs the fourth set of Sunday’s Wimbledon final hung in the balance for whoever had the courage to take it, Matteo Berrettini made his move while leading 3-2, 15-30 on Novak Djokovic’s serve. He struck an exquisite down-the-line backhand slice, then unloaded on an inside-out forehand into the other corner. The crowd gasped, anticipating the end of the point. But somehow Djokovic chased down both shots. Then he reached Berrettini’s subsequent drop shot, slotting an angled forehand past the Italian at the net.It was the type of point that has defined Djokovic for so long – the movement, the flexibility and...
The Serb seized all the key moments to claim a 20th grand slam and now looks to be putting his former rivals in the shadeMoments after Novak Djokovic captured his sixth Wimbledon title, with an enthralling and high-class victory over the Italian gunslinger Matteo Berrettini, he patted the grass like an old friend before chewing on a single blade. It has become a familiar ritual. But, for the first time on Centre Court, the Serb was heralded with shouts once reserved for his great rival Roger Federer.“Novak, you’re the Goat!” several of his fans cried. And while bald statistics show that Djokovic has now claimed 20 grand slams, taking him level with Federer and Rafael Nadal, he is surely now...