Tennis fans were left fuming after World number five Novak Djokovic pulled out of a match with Aussie star Nick Kyrgios not long before it was due to start.
It comes off the back of Kyrgios making a complete backflip on his stance on Djokovic being allowed to play in tournaments with his stance on vaccination, telling the World Tennis League in Dubai he thinks ‘Novak needs to be playing at all costs.’
“He’s one of the greatest of all time and as long as he’s going to be playing and hanging around, we need him at these tournaments,” said Kyrgios.
The world number 22 was very vocal about his support for Djokovic being unable to compete in the Australian Open as well as his deportation from the country for not disclosing his vaccination status. But it seems he has since had a change of heart.
“I think, as a competitor, I want to see him there,” said Kyrgios.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
“And if I win a tournament, if you don’t go through Novak, then you kind of know the tournament isn’t really a tournament.”
The two were set to face off on the court for the first time since their Wimbledon final in July. But Djokovic was a last-minute no-show, and Team Falcon’s teammate Grigor Dimitrov stepped in at the last minute to face Team Eagle’s Kyrgios.
“Djokovic announced he won’t be partaking in the WTL tonight due to not feeling 100% well enough to play,” read a statement from the WTL. “Team Falcons will continue to play v Team Eagles, and we look forward to Novak’s return to centre court.”
But despite the explanation and the fact it was only an exhibition match, fans were still upset after expecting to see the highly anticipated Wimbledon rematch.
Djokovic’s stand-in ended up causing a huge upset, with Dimitrov beating Kyrgios 7-6 (5) 6-3.
Fit, firing and confident again, Thanasi Kokkinakis believes he can become the next bolt from the blue to make a deep grand slam run.
Carlos Alcaraz’s ascent to world No.1 and US Open champion, and Casper Ruud’s charge to the Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows finals have shown there is room for some fresh faces at the peak of men’s tennis.
After also seeing close friend Nick Kyrgios enjoy a career-best year, including a blistering run to the Wimbledon final, Kokkinakis has reason to believe.
“You’ve just got to be in really good shape and that’s what I’m working hard on at the moment, getting in real good nick,” Kokkinakis told AAP.
“Then, whatever happens, happens – but definitely making a deep run at a slam would be a goal.
(Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
“Especially when you play some of these guys in events and you either beat them or you’re like, ‘Hang on, I’m not that far off’, and you see them make really deep runs.
“You’ve just got to be consistent physically and mentally and be ready to play but it’s definitely there if I want it.”
The first half of Kokkinakis’ career was cruelled by a luckless run of shoulder, pectoral, groin, knee and elbow injuries, as well as a serious bout of glandular fever.
In 2017, the South Australian even lost his ranking.
But his 2022 resurgence, kickstarted by a maiden ATP Tour title breakthrough in his home city of Adelaide in January, has the 26-year-old believing again.
“I still didn’t play that many tournaments this year, so I’m hoping for an even fuller year next year,” the world No.93 said.
“But (this was) my best year on tour, so I’m stoked. I had some really good wins.
“It’s just about being consistent and bringing my best effort every time I go out there and play. The next goal for me is top 50 and then go on from there.”
The fight to achieve that goal will start in his home town.
Kokkinakis won the second Adelaide International this year after making the semi-finals of the first tournament, and is poised to compete in both ATP 250 events next month.
Adelaide One includes Novak Djokovic, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, while Rublev and Kyrgios headline the second tournament.
Kokkinakis is on notice to perform – given the rankings points he will be defending, early defeats in Adelaide would send him spiralling out of the top 100 and mean no direct entry to the slams.
“I saw the list. It was crazy. Especially Adelaide One – it looks like a Masters event, almost,” Kokkinakis said.
“I’m going to go back to Adelaide, a court that I’ve had my best memory on, playing in front of friends and family – a little bit of pressure but it’ll be fun. I’ll enjoy it.”
Boris Becker has shared more detail of his time in prison, with the three-time Wimbledon champion revealing a fellow inmate threatened his life.
Becker explained how a prisoner named called John told him “if I didn’t do this or that he would kill me. He had tried it with others.”
Despite being moved to another facility, Becker was threatened yet again by a new inmate and revealed he “went crazy” during his eight months behind bars, fearing for his life.
“I had two big worries, a shared cell – I was f***ing scared – and also showering,” said Becker.
“The films didn’t help me when you see the soap falling on the ground.”
However, he went on to explain that “You didn’t see anyone naked, with each prisoner having their own shower cubicle.
He also spoke of getting in contact with his mother Elvira, 87, after a priest arranged for him to call her.
(Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“First I told her that I was alive and that I was doing well. She wanted to hear my voice. I said there was no danger, I lied of course,” he said.
Speaking exclusively with German TV channel Sat.1, Becker went on to explain that “It’s extremely full, extremely dirty, extremely dangerous, murderers, sex offers, drug deals, you meet all types.
“You go out of your cell and you have to look after your own skin because the guards don’t do it for you.”
But he did make friends on the inside, with whom he intends to keep in touch with now he is out.
“Prison is a different world. You are all the same. It sounds strange, you are so dependent on each other,” said Becker.
“I will keep contact with some of the prisoners. We needed each other. We really supported each other.”
After being by each other’s sides since 2005, Rafael Nadal has parted ways with his longtime coach Francisco Roig.
“I want to inform you that Francis Roig is leaving my team and starting a new personal project as a coach,” said Nadal in a statement online.
“He started joining the team and worked with us together with my Uncle Toni and later with Carlos Moyá and recently Marc López. Francis has been an important person in my career and I am very grateful to him for all these years of work and friendship.
“When we started working together I was a child and together with my Uncle Toni, we started on the circuit. Francis is a great coach who knows tennis very well and has helped me a lot to get better and better. I only have words of gratitude and I wish him all the luck in the world in his new project!”
Pictures have emerged of what part of that new project looks like, with Roig linking up with 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. The world number 3 posted on her Twitter account a photo of the two joining forces.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Former Wimbledon champion, double grand slam winner and Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 30.…
Rafael Nadal has hailed the brilliance of Alex de Minaur, calling him "a great player" after the Australian forced the Spanish legend to say…
The clay season promises to be one of high level and tight margins. With the Monte Carlo open just around the corner, it will…
In incredible scenes, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells was halted abruptly due to a "bee invasion." Less…
Marathon man Jordan Thompson has finally clinched his first ATP Tour title, with the Australian upsetting Norwegian Casper Ruud to lift the trophy in…
Alex de Minaur has earned the perfect 25th birthday present, booking a place in the final of the Rotterdam Open with an emphatic revenge…
