Novak Djokovic is delighted his Latin American fans by announcing he will make his ATP World Tour debut in the region after accepting a wild card into the Abierto Mexicano Telecel. The World No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings joins a stellar field that features five other players inside the Top 10, including Milos Raonic, Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic Dominic Thiem and David Goffin. Rounding out the lineup are Juan Martin del Potro, Nick Kyrgios and Ivo Karlovic. "This is great news for the tournament. We’re very pleased to have the World No. 2 in the Acapulco field. The public will be very happy and we’re treating it like a big party,” said Acapulco tournament director Raul Zurutuza. "Novak...
SERBIA 2, RUSSIA 0 Venue: Cair Sports Center, Nis, Serbia (Indoor Hard) World No. 2 Novak Djokovic fought off a stern challenge from #NextGenATP star Daniil Medvedev, giving Serbia a convincing 2-0 lead when Medvedev retired due to a leg issue. Djokovic was leading 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-0. Djokovic fired 21 winners and accumulated seven breaks of serve in the contest. He improved his Davis Cup singles record to 30-7. In the first match of the tie, Viktor Troicki saved a match point in the fifth-set tie-breaker to complete a dramatic 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(6) victory over another #NextGenATP star in Karen Khachanov. Russia defeated Serbia 3-2 in the only other Davis Cup meeting between these two teams, a...
It did not take long for Roger Federer to reclaim the top spot among 'Big Titles' winners, kicking off his 2017 campaign with the Australian Open title on Sunday. The Swiss' fifth triumph Down Under, as a result of a thrilling 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Rafael Nadal, brings his Big Titles total haul to 48. Coupled with six ATP Finals crowns and 24 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level, Federer's 18th Grand Slam victory moves him ahead of Novak Djokovic for the Big Titles lead. He has won 89 tour-level crowns overall. Consistency has been the hallmark of Federer's career, since claiming his first Big Title in Hamburg nearly 16 years ago, when the tournament...
Much like their tennis careers have evolved over the years, so, too, has Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka's friendship. Years ago, Wawrinka would frequently ask his compatriot for tips on how to play certain guys. Federer would kindly oblige, and Wawrinka would execute the game plans that Federer shared. “That showed me that he's a great player, that he's got a mind of somebody who understands what I'm trying to explain to him,” Federer said after his Australian Open quarter-final win. “Some players, you tell them something, they've just got no clue what to do, what it means. Stan had that early on, so I think he was a great learner.” Years passed, Federer kept hauling titles, but Wawrinka also...
Novak Djokovic’s reaction after his shock second-round exit at the Australian Open? Quite simply “hats off” to Denis Istomin. “Whenever he needed to, he came up with a big serve, a big play. All I can say is hats off,” said the six-time Australian Open champion. “Him playing this well, it’s amazing. He played obviously above his level. You got to give him credit for that. Many things came together for him today. He's a well-deserved winner. “It was one of these days when you don't feel that great on the court, don't have much rhythm, and the player you're playing against is feeling the ball very well. “That's sport.” His loss to World No. 117 Istomin marks only the...