Tag: tennis

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Sania Mirza ‘Plans’ To Retire At WTA 1000 In Dubai In February | Tennis News

File photo of Sania Mirza.© InstagramIndian tennis ace Sania Mirza has revealed her plans to retire from the sport. During a recent interview, the player said that she is planning to call time on her illustrious career at the upcoming WTA 1000 event in Dubai in the month of February. Notably, Sania had earlier decided to hang up her boots following the end of 2022 season but she withdrew her decision later after injuries sidelined her."I was going to stop right after the WTA Finals, because we were going to make the WTA Finals, but I tore my tendon in my elbow right before US Open so I had to pull out of everything," Mirza told wtatennis.com."And honestly, the person that I am, I like to do things on my own terms. So I don't want to be forced out by injury. So I've been training."The pl...
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Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka Power Into Adelaide International Semi-finals | Tennis News

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev set up an Adelaide International semi-final against either Novak Djokovic or Denis Shapovalov Friday with a command performance in the countdown to the opening Grand Slam of the year. The Russian, runner-up at the last two Australian Opens, proved too strong for compatriot Karen Khachanov in a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win. Serbian top seed Djokovic, bidding for a 92nd career title and first in Adelaide since 2007, locks horns with Canada's Shapovalov in an evening clash."Never easy to play your compatriot. I'm happy that I really managed to raise my level, particularly in the end of both sets and really happy to be through to the semis," said third-seeded Medvedev."I'm playing well right now and honestly that's all that matters."Little separated t...
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No Grudges As Novak Djokovic Feels ‘The Love’ In Australia | Tennis News

Novak Djokovic said Tuesday the reception he had received in Australia was more than he could wish for and the good vibes would reflect in his tennis as he targets a 22nd Grand Slam title this month. The Serbian star, who will bid for a 10th crown at the Australian Open, is back in the country a year after being kicked out for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. He was barred from returning for three years, but the government has since lifted the ban and Djokovic made a winning return at the Adelaide International, beating Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2.The 35-year-old was given a warm welcome when he played a losing doubles clash on Monday and received similar treatment on a packed centre court."It's great to be back. To see the packed house for my first match was defini...
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Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova Diagnosed With Throat And Breast Cancer: Report | Tennis News

File image of Martina Navratilova© AFPTennis Legend Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion has been diagnosed with both throat and breast cancer, according to a report by BBC. BBC quoted Navratilova as saying that both cancers had been caught at an early stage. "The double whammy is serious, but fixable, and I'm hoping for a favourable outcome," she said. "It's going to stink for a while, but I'll fight with all I have got." Navratilova will will start treatment in New York later this month.The Guardian also published a statement by Navratilova's representative. "Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with stage one throat cancer," read the statement. "The prognosis is good and Martina will start her treatment this month."The cancer type is HPV and this particular t...
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Felix Auger-Aliassime, Holger Rune Stunned At Adelaide International | Tennis News

Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin stunned second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the first round of the season-opening Adelaide International on Monday as Novak Djokovic was given a hero's welcome in a rare doubles appearance. On a day of upsets, world number 11 Holger Rune also crashed out, as did women's third seed Daria Kasatkina. Canada's Auger-Aliassime was in top form towards the end of 2022, winning three tournaments in October and November before leading Canada to Davis Cup glory when they beat Australia in the final.He rose to number six in the world and said before the tournament he wanted to ride the wave of momentum into the 2023 season.But he came unstuck against Popyrin, who dropped out of the top 100 last year, slumping 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).The 23-year-old Australian attacked a...
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Novak Djokovic Gets Hero’s Welcome During First Match In Australia In Almost 2 Years. Watch | Tennis News

Novak Djokovic reacts during his doubles match with Vasek Pospisil at the Adelaide International.© AFPTennis fans gave Novak Djokovic a raucous welcome during his first match in Australia in almost two years when he made a rare doubles appearance at the Adelaide International on Monday. Playing with Canada's Vasek Pospisil, they lost to doubles specialists Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar 4-6, 6-3, 10/5 but enjoyed overwhelming crowd support along the way.Things you love to see @DjokerNole on a tennis court pic.twitter.com/qukEwfGsu4— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2023It's all about having fun@DjokerNole x @VasekPospisil #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/at96lzCWvK— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2023The Serbian superstar was deported from the country before the 2022 Australian Open fo...
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United Cup: Taylor Fritz Crushes Struggling Alexander Zverev As US Progress | Tennis News

Taylor Fritz inflicted a second straight defeat Monday on struggling former world number two Alexander Zverev at the United Cup as the United States powered into a playoff match against Britain. German two-time ATP Finals champion Zverev slumped 6-1, 6-4 in just 64 minutes to the world number nine in Sydney as he continued his return from serious injury. It followed a straight-sets loss to 81st-ranked Czech Jiri Lehecka on Saturday in his first competitive match since tearing three right ankle ligaments during his French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal in June."It was tough to judge my level because I feel he's coming back from injury, he's a bit rusty, he was giving me a lot of free points," said Fritz, who had a breakthrough year in 2022 with titles at Indian Wells, Tokyo and Eas...
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Wimbledon Player Ban Changed ‘Nothing’: Aryna Sabalenka | Tennis News

File photo of Aryna Sabalenka.© AFPWorld number five Aryna Sabalenka said Sunday that Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players last year achieved "nothing" and that she "really hoped" it would change course in 2023. Following Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Britain's Lawn Tennis Association came under pressure from the government to impose a ban. Russian and Belarusian players, including Sabalenka, were eventually barred from Wimbledon with both the ATP and WTA -- the men's and women's governing bodies -- stripping the Grand Slam of its ranking points in response."I'm just really disappointed sport is somehow in politics. We're just athletes playing their sport. That's it. We're not about politics," she told the Melbourne Age newspaper on the sidelines of the Adelaide Int...
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World Number Three Casper Ruud Cruises At United Cup | Tennis News

World number three Casper Ruud cruised past Thiago Monteiro in straight sets to give Norway some hope in their mixed teams United Cup tie against Brazil in Brisbane on Sunday. After Brazil won both opening singles rubbers Saturday, Ruud's 6-3, 6-2 victory brought Norway back into the tie ahead of the second singles clash between his countrywoman Ulrikke Eikeri and Laura Pigossi. Ruud was far too consistent for the 71st ranked Monteiro, who made 27 unforced errors, wrapping up a dominant win in only 70 minutes."It was a must-win match for Norway so I was maybe feeling the pressure a little bit," Ruud said. "But I was able to come out with a good start."The Norwegian was a runner-up at last year's French and US Opens and said he was feeling confident ahead of the Australian Open later thi...
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Canadian Star Felix Auger-Aliassime Keen To Ride Wave Of Momentum | Tennis News

Rising Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime said Saturday he was determined to "improve and improve" in a bid to keep riding the wave of success he enjoyed over the closing stages of 2022. Speaking ahead of the season-opening Adelaide International, the 22-year-old said his brilliant late-season form had nothing to do with luck and was all down to his preparation. The world number six won three tournaments in October and November before leading Canada to Davis Cup glory when they beat Australia in the final.He said he wanted to take that form into the Australian summer."When you have it, you try to ride that wave as long as it lasts, or at least you try to see what's working and you try to kind of keep going with what's working as much as you can," Auger-Aliassime said at a press confere...