Top 4 Led By Djokovic, Nadal In Action Tuesday At ATP Cup
Posted by Staff on February 1st, 2021 @ 12:25 pm
With a loaded line-up featuring 9 of the Top 10, the ATP Cup opens play Tuesday in Melbourne.
The Top 4 players in the world will all be in action in this 12-team, 5-day sprint.
The first of three round-robin days will be highlighted by Novak Djokovic and his defending champion Serbia team taking on Canada and Denis Shapovalov.
Djokovic leads Shapovalov 5-0 including a tough 3-set final set breaker win at …
After 11 Months Off, Nick Kyrgios Back On Court Tuesday In Melbourne
Posted by Staff on February 1st, 2021 @ 12:04 pm
Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios is set for his return to tennis in Melbourne on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Australian star will take on Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the Murray River Open draw.
Kyrgios, who has been outspoken against playing during the pandemic, hasn’t hit a ball on tour since retiring in the first round of Acapulco 11 months ago.
Recently in a pre-event press conference, Kyrgios said he didn’t miss the game …
Serena, Halep Roll, Gauff Survives In Melbourne; Barty, Venus-Kvitova Today
Posted by Staff on February 1st, 2021 @ 11:46 am
On a busy Monday in Melbourne, many of the top women’s stars opened play at their respective tournaments on the grounds of the Australian Open.
Serena Williams made her official 2021 debut thumping for Australian Top 20 Daria Gavrilova 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Yarra Valley Classic. The 39-year-old Serena hit 27 winners to just 15 unforced.
“It was a good match for me. It wasn’t easy at all. …
Wawrinka, Dimitrov, Auger-Aliassime Lead ATP Melbourne 2 Field; Kyrgios Returns
Posted by Staff on January 30th, 2021 @ 2:49 pm
As part of the a huge lead-up week on the Australian Open grounds in Melbourne, the ATP will hold a new 56-draw 250 level event starting Monday.
The Murray River Open (Melbourne #2) boasts a solid field with 56 players trying to win the $19,500 champions prize and 250 ranking points.
Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka is the top seed followed by Grigor Dimitrov, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Borna Coric, Capser Ruud and …
ATP Adelaide Begins Monday In Melbourne; Goffin, Sinner, Hurkacz Star
Posted by Staff on January 30th, 2021 @ 2:24 pm
Due to the pandemic, the Adelaide event has been re-scheduled and re-located to the week of February 1 in Melbourne, to be played on the grounds of the Australian Open alongside another ATP 250 event.
The Great Ocean Road Open is a 56 draw event (Melbourne #1) features six players in the Top 40 including top seed David Goffin, Karen Khachanov, Delray Beach champion Hubert Hurkacz, Jannik Sinner, Nikolaz Basilashvili …
Djokovic, Nadal Among 15 Of Top 17 Playing ATP Cup
Posted by Staff on January 30th, 2021 @ 1:54 pm
The second edition of the ATP Cup team event gets underway on the Australian Open grounds in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Despite the reduced field — countries cut from 24 to 12 — the 5-day event is star-powered with 15 of the Top 17 in action including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Denis Shapovalov, Alexander Zverev, Gael Monfils, Dominic Thiem and Kei Nishikori.
The 12 countries have been split into …
Halep, Osaka, Sabalenka Headline Gippsland Trophy
Posted by Staff on January 30th, 2021 @ 12:42 pm
A powerful field headlines the the Gippsland Trophy (Melbourne #1) which is set to be on Sunday on the Australian Open grounds.
Fifty-four players — with the Top 10 seeds earning byes — will be part of this inaugural event.
Leading the was are Simona Halep, former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka and the streaking Aryna Sabalenka who upped her win streak to 15 after claiming the lone WTA title of …
Serena, Kenin, Barty Open Up At Yarra Valley Classic
Posted by Staff on January 30th, 2021 @ 12:22 pm
The WTA goes into full swing Sunday in Melbourne with two stops being play concurrently on the grounds of the Australian Open.
One even is called thee Yarra Valley Classic (Melbourne #2). The 54-draw tournament is loaded with four players in the Top 10 along with 7-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams.
Ash Barty, Sofia Kenin, Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova are the Top 4 seeds in order. Then it’s Serena, Garbine …
Devastated Andy Murray Won’t Play The Australian Open
Posted by Staff on January 22nd, 2021 @ 11:33 pm
Andy Murray’s positive COVID test won’t allow him to play the Australian Open, the former No. 1 confirmed on Friday.
Just over a week ago, the Scot announced a positive test, but the Australian Open didn’t rule out the 5-time finalist from making a return trip.
Today, Murray ended such hopes after a search for a pathway to play under the strict Australian rules came up empty.
“Gutted to share that I …
Australian Open TD Craig Tiley To Players: Send Complaints To Me, Not To Social Media!
Posted by Staff on January 20th, 2021 @ 11:47 am
Players have been hitting social media hard during their quarantine, some of it entertaining, some of it enlightening, but there’s also been a fair bit of complaining, and that’s doing no one any good.
And Australian Open head Craig Tiley has had enough of it. Tiley said during an interview that he wants players to air their issues with him.
What really upset me probably last night the most was if …
Novak Djokovic Releases Statement: My Good Intentions Have Been Misconstrued
Posted by Staff on January 20th, 2021 @ 11:31 am
Following his rejection of his “demands” by the health officials in Australia, Novak Djokovic released a lengthy statement earlier today on social media clearing up his intentions when he asked the Australian Open to ease the quarantine restrictions earlier in the week. The request was met with criticism and one player, Nick Kyrgios, called him a “tool”.
Djokovic said he and tournament direction Craig Tiley were brainstorming ideas of …
With 72 Players Now In Full Quarantine, Djokovic Wants Fewer Restrictions
Posted by Staff on January 18th, 2021 @ 11:52 am
As the number of players in full 14-day isolation has ballooned to 72, Novak Djokovic has given tennis authorities a list of demands for players.
Djokovic, the leader of the fledgling PTPA, has asked Tournament Director Craig Tiley for an ease on quarantine restrictions, an opportunity to stay in private houses with tennis courts, better food and more.
The ask was responded to with a swift “no” from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
“People …
Nick Kygios Calls Novak Djokovic A “Tool”
Posted by Staff on January 18th, 2021 @ 11:22 am
Nick Kyrgios is back! As tennis has returned to his homeland, Nick Kyrgios took a shot at Novak Djokovic on twitter in his first tweet of 2021, calling him a “tool” for presenting demands for players currently in quarantine to Australian Open head Craig Tiley.
“Djokovic is a tool. I don’t mind Bernie but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes” Kyrgios tweeted.
Djokovic is a tool. I
…
It’s Getting Messy In Melbourne, 47 Players Quarantined With No Training Ahead Of Australian Open
Posted by Sean Randall on January 16th, 2021 @ 12:04 pm
After months and months of planning, it didn’t take long for issues to arise with the Australian Open COVID-19 protocols.
The tournament chartered several flights to ferry players to Australia, but in the last 24 hours two of those planes had passengers test positive upon arrival.
On a flight from LAX, two aboard tested positive including a coach.
On a flight from Abu Dhabi, one passenger tested positive — Bianca Andreescu’s coach, …
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams Arrive In Australia
Posted by Staff on January 14th, 2021 @ 11:50 am
Players are slowly trickling into Australia and several top names have already reached. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena and Venus Williams are among the big stars who have already touchdown in Australia after taking one of the tournament’s charter flights.
Players who arrive will still quarantine for 14 days, though they will be allowed to train up to five hours per day.
The four stars landed in Adelaide where they will …