Novak Djokovic to tell all as Roger Federer gives Rafael Nadal plan and Murray makes claim
Novak Djokovic: Adam Hills shares opinion on tennis star
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
While the WTA Tour had no tournaments on last week, it was an eventful seven days both on and off court on the ATP schedule.
Alexander Zverev was one of the players in action after a disappointing Australian Open loss but was overpowered by Alexander Bublik in the Montpellier final, while Joao Sousa and Albert Ramos-Vinolas ended their title droughts in Pune and Cordoba.
Away from the match court, Novak Djokovic promised to share his full side of the story in “seven to ten days” after an 11-day saga in Australia, which saw him undergo two stints in a government detention hotel when his visa was cancelled twice, before eventually being deported on the eve of the Australian Open.
And Roger Federer finally gave an update on his injury recovery process before he and Rafael Nadal were confirmed as the first two players for this year’s Laver Cup.
Unfortunately for another injured player, Juan Martin del Potro, it seems it could be the end as the former world No 3 prepares to return in Argentina this week but admitted his comeback was more of a farewell tour.
It was all happening for the Grand Slam champions last week, as Andy Murray also announced a coaching change and a last-minute decision on playing this week’s Rotterdam Open, while also making a big claim about the upcoming clay court season.
Express Sport takes a look at the biggest stories from on and off the tennis court over the last week.
Federer and Nadal confirm Laver Cup doubles reunion
The first two players for this year’s Laver Cup tournament were announced last week, with Federer and Nadal returning to represent Team Europe and hinting at another team-up on the doubles court.
Federer co-created the Ryder Cup-style team event, which will be held in London this September for its fifth edition.
Fresh off the back of a record 21st Grand Slam title, Nadal was announced for his third Laver Cup, having last represented Team Europe in Geneva back in 2019, when he was forced to miss the final day of play with a hand injury.
And the pair are hoping to team up on the doubles court once again, having previously joined forces at the inaugural 2017 Laver Cup in Prague, with their 2019 doubles hope shattered by Nadal’s injury.
“Rafa is an incredible person and an inspiration to me and countless others around the world. He messaged me on social media after the Laver Cup in Boston last year suggesting we play doubles in London and I am definitely up for a Laver Cup ‘Fedal’ comeback!” Federer said, announcing his participation in London later this year.
Nadal echoed his sentiment, adding: “I suggested to Roger we should play doubles together in London and he seems keen, so now we just need to persuade our captain Bjorn!”
JUST IN: Peng denies making sexual assault allegation and ‘never disappeared’
Djokovic promises tell-all on Australian visa saga
Djokovic is set to break his silence over his 11-day ordeal in Australia in the next week.
The world No 1 arrived in Melbourne for the Australian Open with a medical exemption granted by Tennis Australia but had his visa cancelled twice, winning his first appeal on fairness grounds but losing the second in Federal Court, leaving him deported on the eve of the tournament.
He spoke in front of the media for the first time since his deportation last Thursday, during a meeting with Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic, and promised to share his full side of the story in the next “seven to ten days”.
“Those circumstances that happened to me in Australia taught me and that bond will last forever,” the nine-time Aussie Open champion said.
“Since I did not speak before, please be patient, in the next seven to ten days I will address in more detail everything that happened in Australia.”
DON’T MISS
Tsitsipas could be set to ditch father as coach as new pictures emerge
Rafael Nadal’s ‘extraordinary cocktail’ behind Australian Open success
Nick Kyrgios snubbed by Leyton Hewitt for Davis Cup tie
Murray makes last-minute tournament decisions and sets out clay season plans
It was all change for Murray this week, as he parted ways with Jan de Witt, the German coach he had been undergoing a trial period with in Australia.
After a disappointing second-round exit from the Aussie Open, the former world No 1 decided not to renew his trial with the former coach of Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon.
Murray will now have his former coach Dani Vallverdu working with him for the next few weeks, while he will also continue to work with his current charge Stan Wawrinka who is preparing to return after an injury layoff.
And the Brit will be back in action this week, having made a last-minute decision to take a wildcard into the ATP 500 in Rotterdam.
He also made a big statement over the weekend, ruling out the clay swing for 2022 after saying it “made issues worse” around injuries.
“Last year I had some issues at the beginning of the year, the clay didn’t help, so I’ve spoken to my team about that and this year while I feel good and healthy, I don’t want to take that risk,” he said, speaking ahead of his first-round clash against newly-crowned Montpellier champion Alexander Bublik in Rotterdam.
“It’s not that I wouldn’t potentially play on clay in the future, last year I almost missed Wimbledon, was close to not playing the grass season, I’m not planning on playing the clay, I will still try to compete a bit during that period.”
Federer gives long-awaited injury update while return remains unclear
Federer has been out since his quarter-final loss to Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon, later revealing he suffered a “setback” with his ongoing right knee injury during the grass court season, deciding to end his season and undergo a third knee surgery in the space of 18 months.
The 20-time Major champion said he was intent on coming back “one more time” in an interview with his sponsors Credit Suisse last week, but couldn’t give a clear update on his future, admitting answers would likely come in the spring.
“To give you a little bit of an update maybe I have I think a very interesting and important next sort of months ahead of me,” the 40-year-old said.
“I feel like I will know a whole lot more coming April, you know, where my body is going to be.
“Until now I wasn’t really allowed to run yet and do the heavy workload with jumps and stop-and-gos so I hope that that’s all going to start hopefully in a couple of weeks and then we’ll see how the body will react to that. And that’s obviously what I will need to return to the tennis court.”
The current world No 30 still had the drive to return to the court, adding: “So I think this question is better answered maybe by April / May but for now of course the drive is there, I’m really motivated to do my work when I’m allowed to do.
“I did it all again this morning, I’m back in the gym again tomorrow and I’m working as hard as I’m allowed to so it’s still good times even though it’s a little bit slow because I would love to do way more but the doctors and everybody’s holding me back a little bit.”
Del Potro admits retirement is close in tearful statement ahead of comeback
Juan Martin del Potro makes his return to tennis on Tuesday, playing his first match since 2019 against compatriot Federico Delbonis at the Argentina Open.
The 2009 US Open champion has been plagued with injuries throughout his career, with his most recent ordeal starting when he fractured his knee when falling during a match against Borna Coric in the 2018 Shanghai Masters, before returning during the clay swing in 2019 only to slip on the grass at Queens Club during his opening win against Denis Shapovalov, hurting his knee once again.
Having not played since the summer of 2019, it was announced that Delpo would make his long-awaited comeback this week at the ATP 250 in Argentina, before going on to next week’s ATP 500 at the Rio Open, but this weekend the former world No 3 admitted his return was more of a goodbye.
Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference on Saturday, the 33-year-old became emotional as he announced: “Before I start this conference I would like to send a message. I have spent a lot of time thinking and imagining about this day, and I think this is one of the most difficult messages I will ever deliver.
“I know that people are expecting me to return to tennis, but this may be more of a farewell than a return.”
Del Potro did not make a full retirement announcement, but admitted he had no plans for future tournaments beyond Buenos Aires and Rio, giving in to the fact that his body could stop him playing again.
“I have strength to go forward but my knee is becoming a nightmare. I have been trying alternative treatments for a number of years, with different doctors and attempts to fix it but I have still not found a solution,” he added.
Zverev suffers defeat while WTA Tour action returns
Three ATP tournaments went ahead last week, with Alexander Zverev back in action after a disappointing round-of-16 loss to Denis Shapovalov at the Australian Open.
The German took a wildcard into the ATP 250 in Montpellier where he was the top seed and made it all the way to the final before being defeated by Alexander Bublik, who dispatched the world No 3 6-4 6-3 to lift his maiden tour title.
Meanwhile Joao Sousa, who had not won an ATP match in ten months, managed to win five in a row to lift his third ATP title at the Tata Open while Albert Ramos-Vinolas also ended his own title drought after two years, winning the Cordoba Open.
As well as the Rotterdam ATP 500 and Argentina ATP 250 this week, the likes of No 1 American Taylor Fritz are competing in the Dallas Open, while Brit Liam Broady is currently in the qualifying draw at the ATP 250 event.
And the women are back in action this week with the WTA 500 in St Petersburg taking place, with the likes of Maria Sakkari and Petra Kvitova competing for glory.
Source: Read Full Article