Novak Djokovic Say He’s OK To Go!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 18th, 2015 @ 3:37 pm
Top seed Novak Djokovic shook off any flu concerns yesterday declaring that he’s primed for a shot at a fifth Australian Open title.
“I had tough couple days. But it’s all behind me now. I’m ready for the Open,” Djokovic said. “Little bit with the flu and stomach. But I carried that already from the Middle East a little bit. But now it’s good. It’s passed.”
Djokovic’s bug began at the Abu …
Sick Novak Djokovic Hasn’t Practiced This Weekend At The Australian Open
Posted by Staff on January 17th, 2015 @ 9:23 pm
Apparently Novak Djokovic is still fighting a sickness he began the year with. According to reports, the four-time Australian Open champion has skipped his practices and press appearances in Melbourne so he can have more time to fight an illness.
The Serb began the year in Abu Dhabi where he contracted the flu.
The top seeded Djokovic does have an extra day before his Tuesday first round match against …
Juan Martin Del Potro Has Withdrawn From Australian Open
Posted by Staff on January 17th, 2015 @ 8:43 pm
Juan Martin del Potro announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open earlier today. The 26-year-old said his surgically repaired wrist is not quite ready for Grand Slam play.
After withdrawing from Brisbane, the Argentine was excited to be back on the court in Sydney where he won two matches. But with continued pain, Del Potro has decided to continue his recovery back in Argentina and not risk any damage.
Since his March …
Poll: Who’s Your Pick To Win The 2015 Australian Open?
Posted by Staff on January 17th, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
We are just 24 hours from the start of the first Grand Slam of the 2015 tennis season, the Australian Open. There are four former champions in the draw with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and last year’s stunning winner Stan Wawrinka.
Among the top contenders are 3-time finalist Andy Murray, US Open finalist Kei Nishikori and rising stars Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov.
Unseeded Juan Martin del Potro also returns …
Troublemaker Troicki, Vesely, Watson Win Pre-Aussie Titles; X-Notes!
Posted by Staff on January 17th, 2015 @ 12:17 pm
ATP Troublemaker Troicki Back from Ban with Sydney Title in 1st All-qualifier Final
In a historic first-time all-qualifier final on tour, Serb Viktor Troicki defeated Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday for his second career ATP title at the Apia International Sydney in Australia.
What you won’t read in the tournament wrap on the ATP website is the tournament win bringing possible closure for Troicki — who in 2013 was banned …
Australian Open Women’s Preview: Serena, Sharapova, Yawn.
Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 17th, 2015 @ 1:47 am
What’s up with the women’s line-up this year at the Aussie Open?
It’s supposed to be the surge of youngsters, but it looks like it will be the veterans going into week two.
Here are how the seeds fell in the four quarters of the draw:
Top Quarter
Top 4 Seeds: (1) Serena Williams, (8) Caroline Wozniacki, (11) Dominika Cibulkova, (15) Jelena Jankovic
Easy start for Serena, and a couple of interesting opening matches in …
Rafael Nadal: I Cannot Say I’m Completely Recovered From My Injuries
Posted by Staff on January 17th, 2015 @ 1:16 am
Former champion Rafael Nadal spoke to the Australian press today to discuss his outlook on the first Grand Slam of the tennis season.
Q. To be at the best level you can be, is it a question now of fitness or match toughness?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is a question of everything to be ready, to feel yourself confident, to feel yourself that you are 100% competitive. Always you need to play more …
Roger Federer: I’m Serving Better Than I Ever Have
Posted by Staff on January 16th, 2015 @ 10:02 pm
Four-time tournament champion Roger Federer met the press to discuss the upcoming Australian Open. Here’s what he said.
Q. What is it about this Grand Slam which you particularly like as compared to the other three?
ROGER FEDERER: Sort of it’s laid back, you know. The city, compared to the other three, clearly is more small, you know. It’s easy to get around. Everything’s pretty convenient here. It’s really well-organized. Not saying …
2015 Australian Open TV Schedule: ESPN, Tennis Channel
Posted by Staff on January 16th, 2015 @ 9:40 pm
The 2015 Australian Open begins Sunday evening in the U.S.A. via two cable networks – ESPN and Tennis Channel. ESPN will cover the majority of the event including the final weekend matches while the Tennis Channel will broadcast first ball action and outer court, non-singles events.
ESPN2 will present daily, marathon, overnight telecasts from Melbourne (primarily starting at 9 p.m.) through the women’s semifinals, when the action switches to ESPN. Approximately …
Kvitova Enters Oz with WTA Sydney Title Under Belt
Posted by Staff on January 16th, 2015 @ 2:01 pm
No. 2 seed Petra Kvitova enters the Australian Open on a hot streak, on Friday capturing the title at the APIA International Sydney WTA event with a 7-6(5), 7-6(6) win over unseeded fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova.
“It’s always great to play the final,” Kvitova said. “And it’s an even better feeling to win in the final! I’m just glad how I played today. I mean, it was a very tough match …
Australian Open Men’s Draw: Djokovic Drives For Five, Federer v Nadal SF?
Posted by Sean Randall on January 15th, 2015 @ 8:13 pm
The first Slam draw for the new year just came out, and it looks like a good one for Novak Djokovic. The World No. 1 and 4-time Australian Open champion avoided both Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray who are situated in the bottom half of the draw with Roger Federer. So good news for the Serb!
Djokovic could run into John Inser in the fourth round, then a date probably with …
Del Potro Wins, Meets Car Crash Fognini Next at ATP Sydney
Posted by Staff on January 13th, 2015 @ 11:00 am
Former US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro won his first appearance on tour since February of last year today at Sydney, overcoming a still-sore wrist injury to defeat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3, 7-6(4) at the Apia International Sydney.
He will tomorrow face No. 1 seed Fabio Fognini.
“It was a great moment for me,” Del Potro said. “I think I played well in my first match after 10 months. I served well. …
Juan Martin Del Potro Returns To Tennis Today In Sydney! [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 12th, 2015 @ 9:56 am
After 10 months off the tour recovering from a left wrist injury, Juan Martin del Potro makes his long-awaited returning tonight in Sydney against Sergiy Stakhovsky.
The former US Open champion isn’t expecting big things after missing so much time, and he says he still feels pain the wrist.
“[The wrist] hurts a little bit,” del Potro said. “It bothers me sometimes when I hit backhands but I am trying to hit …
Roger Federer And Lleyton Hewitt Play Tennis At The Sydney Harbor [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 12th, 2015 @ 9:41 am
Former No. 1s Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt kicked off the Australian Open festivities with a Fast4 promo hit at the historic Sydney Harbor.
The Fast4 format makes tennis quicker by playing no-ad, no lets and a tiebreaker at 3-all.
Federer beat Hewitt 4-3 (5-3), 2-4, 3-4 (3-5), 4-0, 4-2 in 90 minutes.
“Clearly it’s an idea to cut it down because you can go into the match knowing the maximum length is …
Rafael Nadal Arrives At The Australian Open [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 12th, 2015 @ 9:26 am
Good news for Rafael Nadal fans. The former No. 1 arrived today at the Australian Open.
Here’s vine footage of Rafa at the airport:
Nadal will once again seek to complete a second career Grand Slam in Melbourne starting next week. Rafa, who lost in the final last year to Stan Wawrinka, will be seeded third, which could place him in the same …