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Williams went too far in US Open row – Federer

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2018

Roger Federer says fellow tennis great Serena Williams “went too far” in her outburst at the umpire during September’s US Open final.

Williams received a code violation for coaching, a penalty point for racquet abuse and a game penalty for calling the umpire a “liar” and a “thief” during her defeat by Naomi Osaka.

Federer said the incident could have been handled differently.

“I feel like Serena should have walked away,” he told the Sunday Times.

“She did, but she went too far. She should have walked earlier.”

Federer did, however, say Williams’ actions were “a little bit excusable”.

He added: “The umpire maybe should not have pushed her there. It’s unfortunate, but an incredible case study.”

What happened in New York?

Osaka’s 6-2 6-4 victory over Williams on 9 September was overshadowed by the American’s outbursts during the second set.

Williams, 37, was given a first code violation after umpire Carlos Ramos judged a gesture from coach Patrick Mouratoglou to be coaching.

The American – a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion – told Ramos she would “never cheat to win and would rather lose”. Mouratoglou later admitted he had been coaching from the box.

Williams received another code violation for smashing her racquet, leading to Ramos docking her a point.

When the game finished, she called him “a liar” and “a thief”. That led to Ramos docking her the next game – leaving Osaka needing just one for victory.

Williams later said it was “sexist” to have been penalised a game.

She was fined $17,000 (£13,100) by the United States Tennis Association for the code violations.

  • Djokovic beats Federer to reach Paris Masters final

‘What was the problem with the catsuit?’

In the Sunday Times interview, Federer also addressed the subject of female players’ on-court attire.

It was announced in September that Williams would be banned from wearing a black catsuit at future French Opens, with the tournament set to introduce a stricter dress code.

She wore the outfit at the tournament in May, and said it made her “feel like a superhero”.

At the US Open, meanwhile, France’s Alize Cornet was given a code violation for changing her shirt on court.

“What was the problem with taking the shirt off or the catsuit?” said Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam singles champion.

“Serena has worn crazier stuff in the past. Guys have worn crazier stuff. For me it was all a bit of nonsense.

“I was totally on the women’s side. Leave them alone.”

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Tiafoe For Mayor: Affable American Finds His Focus In 2018

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2018

Tiafoe For Mayor: Affable American Finds His Focus In 2018

American is the third seed at the Next Gen ATP Finals

Frances Tiafoe is a bit too busy to be launching any political campaigns. But when the 20-year-old, who’s making his Next Gen ATP Finals debut this week, finds the time and energy to devote to politics, one of the people who knows him best thinks Tiafoe might be a natural for the field.

Nearly three years ago, when trainer Paul Kinney started working with Tiafoe, the teen-aged American was playing ATP Challenger Tour events. Tiafoe’s outgoing and laid-back personality endeared him to nearly everyone – players, officials and organisers – at every tournament.

Kinney remembers Tiafoe’s morning routine as follows: First, he’d set his bags of gear down at a table to eat breakfast, but then he’d see someone he knew and stroll over to them to talk, then there was someone else and someone else and someone else and someone else. Twenty minutes later, Tiafoe was left scanning the room, trying to remember where he rested his racquets.

Kinney called him “The Mayor.” “You’re meeting with all of your constituents,” Kinney joked.

Read More: 2017 NextGenATP Class Continues To Soar

Tiafoe is still as outgoing and energetic as ever, but this year the affable right-hander has found a way to balance the jokes with the work and have his best year yet.

Before 2018, he was 9-29 in tour-level matches. Too often, he’d get close to the end line but fall short. He was 4-13 in deciding sets.

But Tiafoe enters the Next Gen ATP Finals, which starts Tuesday, with a 26-23 record this year, including 11-8 in deciding sets.

“I had a ton of tight matches with a lot of guys, but I always took the short end of the stick. Now I’m beating these guys,” said Tiafoe, who used to play defensively during big moments late in matches. “Now I’m feeling really comfortable when it gets tight. I actually embrace it, I want it… Now I just take it. If I’m going to lose that way, that’s fine.”

Watch: Tiafoe Qualifies For Milan

The on-court change stems from an overall new mindset that Tiafoe has carried with him this year. His coaches and Kinney all say that the right-hander is taking more ownership of his career and applying what he’s learned from his first two years on tour.

His coaches see it in the way he pays more attention to details in planning meetings, such as when they discuss upcoming goals or practice agendas.

“He’s asking more questions about his tennis, he’s trying to prepare a little bit better than he used to,” coach Robby Ginepri told ATPWorldTour.com. “Before, he would just show up and just thought he had to hit a yellow tennis ball and whatever happened, happened.”

Tiafoe said: “I think I’m just holding myself way more accountable, just really believing.”

The accountability extends to his work with Kinney as well. Besides his daily town hall meetings as “The Mayor”, Kinney remembers Tiafoe as a teenager with few, if any, routines.

Even the way Tiafoe dressed himself in the morning changed from day to day. “Shoes, shorts, shirt. Sometimes it was shirt, shoes, shorts… Everything was just kind of, ‘I’m going to throw on whatever I’m thinking’,” Kinney told ATPWorldTour.com. “The one routine that he had that was consistent wasn’t his alone: When you wake up in the morning the first thing you do is roll over and grab your phone.”

Read More: For Tsitsipas, One Year Has Made All The Difference

That routine is why, in the beginning of their partnership, Kinney had to take Tiafoe’s phone away from him for an hour so they could get their work done. “Those people writing you, they aren’t going anywhere. Those text messages aren’t going to get deleted,” Kinney would say.

But slowly, Tiafoe has matured, and Kinney has helped him establish routines that have led to another injury-free year, despite the fact that Tiafoe more than doubled the amount of tour-level matches he played, from 2017 to 2018 (24 to 49).

“The best part is his trainer Paul Kinney has kept him healthy all year, and he’s been able to play a long, full season,” Ginepri said.

Tiafoe thought his long 2017 campaign would also finish in Milan. Zack Evenden, Tiafoe’s assistant coach and hitting partner, said the group thought it was a given Tiafoe would be among the world’s best 21-and-under players at the Fiera Milano during the inaugural event.

But Tiafoe finished 110 points behind final qualifier Daniil Medvedev of Russia. So this year, Tiafoe and his coaches wanted to leave no doubt.

Read & Watch: 5 Things To Know About Tiafoe

We didn’t want to cut it close; we didn’t even want to think about it,” Evenden told ATPWorldTour.com. “We knew we were going to be in Milan by the end of the season.”

Ginepri views the event as another folder in Tiafoe’s growing portfolio of experiences, a binder that may one day include a trip to the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, where the top eight players in the world compete for the season’s final title.

“[In Milan,] you get a chance to see what it’s like to play late in the season, like at the Nitto ATP Finals, where ultimately these guys want to play in their career,” Ginepri said.

The coach, however, isn’t expecting Tiafoe to take advantage of one of the tournament’s key innovations – the availability of mid-match coaching at the end of each set.

The maturing Tiafoe, Ginepri said, can usually problem solve well on his own, as he’s shown throughout the best year of his career.

He might not even utilise me to be honest,” Ginepri said. “He feels his way around the court pretty well.”

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De Minaur, Always The Best Version Of Himself

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2018

De Minaur, Always The Best Version Of Himself

19-year-old Aussie has had one of the biggest breakthroughs in recent years

Alex de Minaur has been undoubtedly one of the breakout players of the ATP World Tour these past 11 months. The 19-year-old #NextGenATP Aussie has enjoyed a season that could well be defined as a whirlwind. He started the year being World No. 208 and has improved his position a total of 18 times (!) to reach his best ATP Ranking yet, at No. 31.

His season has not gone unnoticed by anyone, and the Sydney native has been nominated for two awards at the ATP World Tour Awards Presented by Moët & Chandon: ‘Newcomer Of The Year’ and ‘Most Improved Player Of The Year’, both categories chosen by his peers. To close a simply brilliant season, De Minaur will try to put the icing on the cake with the Next Gen ATP Finals crown.

Read More: De Minaur Among 2018 Newcomer Of The Year Nominees | Learn More About The Nominees For Most Improved Player Of The Year

ATPWorldTour.com unravels a dream year that began in the best possible way: with a sweet Aussie summer.

There is nothing that can match the feeling of playing at home, more so if your country has a devotion for tennis. De Minaur took that home-court advantage and made a statement run: he reached semi-finals at the Brisbane International, beating former World No. 3 Milos Raonic. One week later, De Minaur reached his first ATP World Tour final at the Sydney International, where he dazzled and was a few points away of the title (l. to Medvedev).

The local effect also served him well in his permanent residence, Alicante (Spain). At the beginning of April, De Minaur (whose mother is Spanish and his dad is Uruguayan) stood in the final of the Ferrero Challenger Open and was stopped by Pablo Andujar. The ATP Challenger Tour served as a springboard for the European summer on grass, where De Minaur reached the final in the Surbiton Trophy and most importantly of all, where he won his first ATP Challenger title at the Nature Valley Open.

In Wimbledon, sacred territory for his mentor Lleyton Hewitt, De Minaur proved that the sky is the limit and reached the third round, where he collided with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. The first half of the season exemplified De Minaur’s frame of mind: every match is taken point by point. And each tournament is of the utmost importance, regardless of the category.

Uncovered: De Minaur, Hewitt

Far from remaining satisfied with what had been achieved so far, De Minaur traveled from Europe to the U.S. looking for more success. And he did not disappoint: At the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., he reached his first ATP World Tour 500 final, where World No. 3 Alexander Zverev won his second consecutive Citi Open title.

At the US Open, where De Minaur reached the third round, ATPWorldTour.com spoke to the man who accompanies the Aussie around the world: His full-time coach Adolfo Gutiérrez.

“Today, being 19 years old, he remains the same as before, nothing has changed,” said the Spanish coach. “Winning matches, having fame, people knowing him… But everything is still the same. He is very humble.”

What the coach appreciates the most about De Minaur’s personality is his courage: “He is fearless.”

Gutiérrez finds in Hewitt the perfect complement for De Minaur. “I am very grateful to him because he helps us a lot by training with him, by preparing the matches… with everything. The experience of Lleyton is very good for us,“ said Gutiérrez.

“Mentally, Lleyton makes him believe that he can, when he goes out on the court to play against a higher-ranked opponent, [Lleyton] convinces him that he can win and that suits him. If someone like Lleyton tells you something like this… He really convinces him. And if he says it, there must be a reason to believe it.”

De Minaur arrives in Milan with a positive record of 24-21 and the desire to put a finishing touch to a dream season.

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Tecau/Rojer Upset Bryan/Sock To Reach Paris Final

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2018

Tecau/Rojer Upset Bryan/Sock To Reach Paris Final

Unseeded duo aiming to lift third tour-level trophy in 2018

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau advanced to their third tour-level championship match of the season on Saturday, beating Mike Bryan and Jack Sock 6-1, 7-5 at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The Dutch-Romanian duo advanced after one hour, winning 83 per cent of service points (40/48) en route to victory. Rojer and Tecau are seeking their third tour-level title of the season after title runs in Dubai and Winston-Salem earlier this year.

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Bryan and Sock were also bidding to reach their third tour-level championship match of the season, following Grand Slam success at Wimbledon and the US Open. The American duo drops to 16-5 since joining forces at the Fever-Tree Championships in June.

Rojer and Tecau will meet Marcel Granollers and Rajeev Ram for the title on Sunday. Granollers and Ram reached the final after Mate Pavic was forced to withdraw from the tournament, with Oliver Marach, due to an abdominal injury. Competing as a team for the first time, the Spanish-American tandem are yet to drop a set in the French capital.

Did You Know?
Both Bryan and Sock have previously lifted trophies at the Rolex Paris Masters. Alongside brother Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan has captured the doubles trophy on four occasions, while Sock claimed the singles title 12 months ago.

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Federer: 'I Have Some Regrets'

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2018

Federer: ‘I Have Some Regrets’

Swiss star reflects on three-set loss to Djokovic

Despite admitting to some regrets after falling in a final-set tie-break to Novak Djokovic in the Rolex Paris Masters semi-finals on Saturday, Roger Federer remained upbeat about his progress, as he looks to end his season on a high at the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

The 37-year-old Swiss, who was aiming to move one win from collecting his 100th tour-level title, was making his first tournament appearance in the French capital since 2015, but eventually fell to his great rival after three hours and two minutes. Federer’s outside chance of finishing 2018 as year-end No. 1 in the ATP Rankings also came to an end.  

“I think the level was good from my side,” said Federer. “Clearly I have some regrets. When you lose a close match like this you always have. Wherever they are in the match.

“But, overall, it was a good tournament. I can look back and think it was definitely worth it to come to Paris. The welcome was great. I played some good tennis, so I can be happy.”

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Federer also took the time to praise Djokovic, who has won 22 consecutive matches, ahead of his final meeting against Russian Karen Khachanov on Sunday. Djokovic will be aiming to collect his third successive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy, which would bring the 31-year-old level with Rafael Nadal’s record haul of 33 titles at the level.

“Novak is obviously on a roll. You can feel it,” said Federer. “He protects his serve very well. I think I did the same as well. And at the end it came down to a few things here and there.

“I’m happy with my game. It’s better than last week in Basel. There I won the tournament and here I played in the semis and it needed somebody of Novak’s calibre to beat me. So, that’s all right. I’m looking forward to a rest now and a good preparation for London.”

With added confidence, following on from capturing a record ninth crown at the Swiss Indoors Basel last week, Federer has every reason for positivity as he switches his focus to the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in London from 11-18 November. The six-time champion is chasing his first trophy at the event since 2011 and remains well aware of the challenges the elite eight-man event presents.

“Last week, I obtained the title [in Basel] and it gave me a lot of confidence. I saved a lot of break points. I wasn’t tense. I wasn’t nervous. So I got used to playing matches again,” said Federer. “We’re going to play against the Top 10 from the first [match in London]. It’s not simple. My body is in shape. Mentally I felt tough. So, it’s a good thing as well. And I reached the semi-finals [in Paris]… I can still be satisfied.”

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Djokovic beats Federer to reach Paris Masters final

  • Posted: Nov 03, 2018

Novak Djokovic says his thrilling three-set epic with Roger Federer at the Paris Masters was “one of the best” between the pair.

In their 47th meeting, the Serb beat Federer 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 7-6 (7-3) to reach Sunday’s final.

Djokovic, who will return to world number one on Monday, will face Karen Khachanov after the Russian defeated Dominic Thiem.

“It was a spectacular match,” Djokovic told Sky Sports. “We went toe-to-toe.”

He added: “We’ve had some epic matches but clearly this is one of the best, in terms of the level of play.

“Along with the Wimbledon semi-final against Nadal, it’s surely the most exciting match this season.”

  • Relive all the action from Federer v Djokovic in Paris

The 31-year-old, now unbeaten in 22 matches, is a four-time winner of the Paris Masters. A win on Sunday will see him draw level with Spain’s Rafael Nadal on 33 career Masters titles.

Swiss third seed Federer, chasing his 100th career title, seemed to be back to his best in Saturday’s semi-final and looked stronger as the match wore on.

The 37-year-old spurned set point in the first set tie-break and could only watch as Djokovic took the early advantage, roaring with emotion following a one hour 14 minute epic.

But, with nothing separating the two in the second, Federer finally broke Djokovic to win the set and restore parity – the first service break of the match.

Federer hit several sublime backhand shots down the line in the deciding set but Djokovic’s serve was dominant, although the Serb grew frustrated as the set wore on, his opponent standing resolute.

The third set tie-break proved Federer’s undoing as he found himself unable to answer Djokovic, allowing the Serb to seal victory in three hours and two minutes.

“Novak is obviously on a roll. You can feel it. At the end it came down to a few things here and there,” said Federer.

“But overall I’m happy with my game. It’s better than last week in Basel. There I won the tournament and here I played in the semis and it needed somebody of Novak’s calibre to beat me.”

Djokovic will face Khachanov for only the second time in Sunday’s final after the 22-year-old beat Thiem 6-4 6-1.

“He’s been playing some sensational tennis. He’s striking the ball beautifully,” Djokovic said.

“I’ve got to use my experience and hopefully I can recover before then.”

Analysis

Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent

Their 47th meeting was one of their best.

Federer drove Djokovic to distraction by saving all 12 break points he faced – including one with a volley he wasn’t even able to see as the ball reared at him off the net.

Both served commandingly in the final set and the only anti-climax was the final tie-break in which Federer was error-strewn and Djokovic showed no mercy.

Federer has played superbly here, especially when you consider he was unsure whether even to compete after winning a 99th title in Basel last week.

But Djokovic is unquestionably the best in the world right now: he has played 32 matches since June and won 31 of them.

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Pliskova withdraws from Czech team for Fed Cup final

  • Posted: Nov 03, 2018

Karolina Pliskova has pulled out of the Czech Republic’s Fed Cup final against the United States with a torn calf muscle.

Pliskova, 26, was injured at the WTA Finals and will be replaced by world doubles number one Barbora Krejcikova.

Pliskova, the world number eight, said she was “terribly sorry” to miss the final, which starts on 10 November.

The United States team is already missing Serena and Venus Williams and WTA Finals runner-up Sloane Stephens.

Pliskova said: “Our team is so strong that the girls will replace me.”

The Czechs have also called up seventh-ranked Petra Kvitova, 33rd-ranked Barbora Strycova and 31st-ranked Katerina Siniakova, who is Krejcikova’s doubles partner and fellow doubles world number one.

The final involves the two most successful nations in Fed Cup history – the USA with 18 trophies and the Czech Republic with 10, including five as part of the former Czechoslovakia. It will be played on the hardcourt of the 15,000-capacity O2 Arena in Prague.

US captain Kathy Rinaldi has called on world number 35 Danielle Collins, 48th-ranked Sofia Kenin and 15th-ranked doubles player Nicole Melichar – each making their Fed Cup debuts.

Alison Riske, ranked 63rd in the world, will also make the trip to Prague for the two-day final as the US bid to defend their title.

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Injured Del Potro pulls out of ATP Finals

  • Posted: Nov 03, 2018

Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from the season-ending ATP Finals in London and will be replaced by Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

World number four Del Potro is still sidelined with the right knee injury he sustained in Shanghai last month.

Nishikori will join Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem at the event.

“It’s frustrating for me not to be able to compete in London,” said Del Potro.

The Argentine, 30, last played in the tournament in 2013 but has been plagued by injuries since.

“It’s a very special tournament and I’ve tried everything possible to get my knee better,” he added. “The rehabilitation is making good progress, but I need more time.

“Of course, it’s disappointing for me right now, but I had a very good season overall.”

The ATP Finals run at the O2 Arena from 11-18 November.

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Update: Roger Forces A Decider Vs. Novak In Paris

  • Posted: Nov 03, 2018

Update: Roger Forces A Decider Vs. Novak In Paris

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are battling for a spot in the Rolex Paris Masters final

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are battling in the Rolex Paris Masters semi-finals and the stakes are as great as they’ve ever been.They are heading to a decider after Djokovic took the first set 7-6(6) and Federer converted a late break for 7-5 in the second.

The Serbian and the Swiss renew their rivalry for a 47th time, with Djokovic leading the storied FedEx ATP Head2Head by a tally of 24-22. The last time they met, in the Cincinnati final this year, Djokovic streaked to a straight-set victory.

This time, Federer is bidding to exact his revenge and move one step closer to a stunning 100th tour-level title. It has been nearly three years since he last defeated his Serbian rival, with his last triumph coming at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2015. Djokovic, meanwhile, is eyeing a 23rd straight match win this year, which would put him in a fourth consecutive final.

You May Also Like: Khachanov Charges Into Maiden Masters 1000 Final

Following their Cincinnati encounter in August, Federer described his returning performance as one of the worst of his career. He claimed just 26 per cent of such points and looked to flip the script as they entered the fast indoor courts of Paris-Bercy on Saturday. But as proceedings got underway, Djokovic’s delivery proved to be untouchable once again. 

And the Serbian was on the prowl with Federer serving at 3-4, forcing the Swiss to retreat to his backhand corner as he stood tall on the baseline. Federer would save four break points in that game, including a moment of magic that put his razor reflexes to the test. A Djokovic forehand clipped the net and spun towards Federer’s head, but the Swiss quickly raised his racquet and struck a sublime drop volley to the delight of the Parisian faithful.

The riveting first set would proceed to a tie-break and Djokovic would seize the initiative, denying a set point and sealing the opener when a Federer backhand slid wide. He fired nine winners in the 71-minute opening set.

Djokovic owns a commanding 17-1 record against Federer when winning the opener, but the Swiss looked to turn the tables in the second. They once again remained on serve throughout the set, but it was Federer who came up clutch in the critical stage. With Djokovic serving to force another tie-break, his Swiss rival pounced, reeling off 9 of 11 points to suddenly snatch a late break and send the encounter to a decider. He launched a forehand winner down the line to seize the set.

Djokovic’s inability to convert on 10 break points shined bright, particularly in the first game of the third set. The second seed had a 15/40 look, but Federer clamped down once again. In faster conditions, the Swiss’ serve is as reliable a weapon as any and it frequently did damage on Saturday.

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