It all starts and ends with the return landing back in the court.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of return points won by the year-end Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings when the return was successfully put back in play highlights a key strategic advantage that Novak Djokovic enjoyed over his closest rivals.

Djokovic was the peak performer at winning both first and second serve points when his return was put back in play. The data set comes from the ATP Serve & Return Tracker and includes 13,215 first and second serve returns from the 2022 season.

First Serve Return Points Won When Return In Play (Top 10 Average = 45.9%)

Imagine an opponent making a powerful first serve and Djokovic successfully blocking it back in play. Who is now favoured to win the point?

Incredibly, Djokovic is.

Djokovic (50.3 per cent) was the only Top 10 player to break through the 50 per cent threshold and win more points than he lost when returning first serves back in play. This statistic helps explain what makes him one of the greatest returners in the history of our sport.

As a player who has always done things his own way on the tennis court, Nick Kyrgios appreciates the importance of innovation in the game. It comes as no surprise that the Australian is looking forward to the inaugural edition of the United Cup.

“I think it’s just a great event to have,” said Kyrgios as he prepares to lead the host nation at the new mixed teams event to be held from 29 December to 8 January. “An event where females and males come together as one to represent their nation, I think that’s incredibly important, and for the fans to see their favourite female players and male players come together and play for their country, [with] all the best athletes from around the world. I think it’s a very special, special event.”

The teams competition will kick off the 2023 season on both the ATP and WTA Tours, with 18 nations competing in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. As Team Australia’s leading men’s singles player, Canberra-born Kyrgios is set for a pair of blockbuster clashes against Team Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Team Spain’s Rafael Nadal in Sydney, the city he now calls home.

“There’s nothing better, to play the Australian summer is one of my favourite times of the year,” said Kyrgios. “Obviously being home, but being able to play in Sydney, in front of the home fans, my family, my friends, there’s nothing more that I love.

“To be honest I’ve never really played that great in Sydney, but I’m hoping I’m going to change that narrative at the start of the year. Just playing in Australia in general is special. The Tour is a long grind and it’s rarely in Australia, so I’m definitely not going to take it for granted.”

Each United Cup tie will comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match to be played across two days. Kyrgios is a top-class doubles option for Team Australia’s co-captains, Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Stosur, with the 27-year-old’s high-energy performances alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis making the pair crowd favourites wherever they play on the ATP Tour. Kyrgios predicts more of the same when male and female stars team up at the United Cup.

“What I love about mixed doubles is [what it brings] for the fans,” said Kyrgios. “To see some of the best females in the world playing with some of the best males in the world, I think it provides some really good entertainment… We’ve seen some iconic doubles pairs over the last decade.”

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal headlined ATP Tour stars who reacted to the epic FIFA World Cup Final on social media Sunday, when Lionel Messi led Argentina past France for the trophy.

Federer wrote on Instagram, “Fairytale stuff Argentina! ⚽️ Time and time again you @leomessi have redefined greatness. It’s a privilege to watch you. Congrats Leo & 🇦🇷 . Special and historic 👏🏼🏆.”

 

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Nadal posted on Instagram stories congratulating both the Argentines and French on the classic match. “Enjoy it champions,” he wrote in one of his posts.

Argentines, led by Juan Martin del Potro, quickly took to social media to celebrate their country’s victory.

FELICITACIONESSS LEOOO!!! 🐐
FELICITACIONESSS SELECCIÓN!!! 🇦🇷
GRACIAS POR ESTA GRAN ALEGRÍA QUE NOS DIERON!!!
LA FOTO QUE TODO EL MUNDO NECESITABA VER!!! 🙏🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/tTFIfpU3rq

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) December 18, 2022

🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/GkE2UWO5nD

— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) December 18, 2022

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray, who praised Messi throughout the tournament, shared his thoughts on the global superstar once more: “Is Messi the best athlete of all time? Forget just football,” Murray wrote. “What a man.”

Is messi the best athlete of all time? Forget just football. What a man.

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) December 18, 2022

Casper Ruud, who was wearing an Argentina jersey with his name on it during the championship, also congratulated the winners.

 

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