Novak Djokovic focused on Australian Open after winning court ruling
Novak Djokovic says he is focused on playing in the Australian Open next week after winning a court battle that overturned his visa cancellation.
Novak Djokovic says he is focused on playing in the Australian Open next week after winning a court battle that overturned his visa cancellation.
The ability to come back after a rough patch is something of a hallmark, even a speciality, of Rafael Nadal’s career. He seems to have an innate talent for overcoming any obstacles in his path. The Spaniard won his 89th tour-level title in Melbourne on Sunday, leaving behind the woes of an injury to his left foot and a positive COVID-19 test that hampered his preseason and made his return to competition all the more difficult.
“Given what we went through, this is a very special title,” Nadal said, with a trophy in his hands. “I’m not really one to say this, but I think I’m pretty satisfied on a personal level. I’ve been through a lot of tough times and I never lost hope or my desire to work with the right attitude. I feel happy about it and reaping the rewards with a title always makes it worth it.”
The Spaniard, who has now won an ATP Tour title for the 19th consecutive season, was particularly effusive in the evaluation of his victory in Australia. It’s not the biggest title of his career, the win itself will not change his place in the history of the sport, but it is a sign he is on the right path; one where he has the desire to persevere and face up to any challenge that presents itself.
“Winning is always special, whatever the title is. At the end of the day, it’s another title for my CV. But I’m happy about it, particularly because I know what we went through,” acknowledged Nadal, thinking back to the mission he embarked on in September to treat the dysplasia in his left foot and the 10 days he had to isolate at home, unable to practise in the midst of the preseason due to coronavirus.
“Knowing how much work we did. My family and team have been there for me unconditionally during all these months, which have been difficult,” Nadal added. “There were many doubts, there still are. Let’s be honest. It’s just a start, but it’s a positive start. I’m very satisfied.
“The first four days were terrible, I couldn’t move. I had awful joint pain,” he remembers in detail. “I was either on the sofa or in bed, unable to move. I had a high fever. That was the first four days. Then I was very tired for three days. Around the eighth day, as I have a bike at home, I started to do half an hour very lightly in order to start working. Then I had a negative [test] and I was able to train the odd day at home. I decided to leave for Australia because I understood that it was best for me mentally and in terms of my tennis.”
The final against Maxime Cressy, an exponent of serve-volley tennis, provided Nadal with an opportunity to fine tune his game in a difficult tactical context and also a final competitive match before turning his mind to the Australian Open.
“Today was a very positive match against an opponent who was very awkward and very difficult,” offered the Spaniard. “I did a lot of things well; I served well, I returned well. From the baseline I think I played points more within myself, with more restraint when hitting the ball. My movements were much more fluid. In general, I did a lot of things better than yesterday. I’m sure this will help me to go forward positively and give me energy for this week of training, which will be important.
“I know that I’m coming from a very tough situation. I understand that expectations are always high, because of what I’ve done in my career, but my approach is a little different. I will try to make every day, every training session, count. At the moment, I don’t feel like a genuine contender for what might come in a week. Later, you never know. Things change quickly in sport. What I have to do is be prepared for what might happen. If things improve, I’ll be here. You know I will give everything to try and have a chance. That’s why I’m here. Right now, my only goal is to stay on my path, work hard during the week and see if I am ready when I get there.”
Nadal continues to show what he has shown throughout his career; when difficulties present themselves, and against all odds, his willpower will always find a way.
Former World No. 39 Mikhail Kukushkin began his Australian Open qualifying campaign with victory on Monday, defeating Mirza Basic 6-2, 6-3.
The 34-year-old, who reached the fourth round in Melbourne in 2012, won 89 per cent (31/35) of his first-serve points to advance in 65 minutes. Kukushkin will face two-time tour-level champion Robin Haase in the second round after the Dutchman edged Andrej Martin 6-0, 4-6, 7-5.
Damir Dzumhur moved past Australian Li Tu 6-1, 6-3 in 78 minutes to record his first win of the season. The World No. 161 is aiming to make his eighth appearance in the main draw in Melbourne, after also coming through qualifying last year.
The Bosnian did not face a break point against Lu and will next play Australian Rinky Hijikata after the wild card downed Frenchman Mathias Bourgue 6-3, 6-4 in 87 minutes.
Radu Albot also booked his place in the second round with a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory against Italy’s Filippo Baldi. The former World No. 39 enjoyed a run to the third round at the Australian Open in 2021 and will meet Yosuke Watanuki next after his one-hour 32-minute victory.
Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann rallied from a set-and-a-break down to overcome Jason Jung 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-0 in two hours and 18 minutes, while World No. 169 Elias Ymer beat Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 7-6(3), 6-2.
Nick Kyrgios is a doubt for next week’s Australian Open after testing positive for Covid-19.
Tommy Paul recorded his third win in four matches this year by overcoming fellow American Frances Tiafoe, the seventh seed, 6-2, 6-3 on Monday at the Adelaide International 2.
Paul won 24 of 29 first-service points for victory in 69 minutes, almost two months on from beating Tiafoe 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4 en route to his first ATP Tour trophy at the Stockholm Open. The 24-year-old now challenges #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti or Benjamin Bonzi of France in the second round.
[FOLLOW ACTION]World No. 156 Aleksandar Vukic recorded the biggest win of his career when the Australian wild card knocked out sixth seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 7-6(5), 6-2 in 80 minutes. Vukic led 6/0 in the first-set tie-break and will next face fellow Australian wild card Alex Bolt or American qualifier Steve Johnson. Vukic lost to Johnson 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 at last week’s ATP 250 event in Adelaide.
Elsewhere, Arthur Rinderknech, who represented Team France at last week’s ATP Cup, hit 22 aces to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 in two hours and 13 minutes. He awaits the winner of fifth-seeded South African Lloyd Harris or Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea.
David Goffin earned his first victory in eight months on Monday, downing Facundo Bagnis 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round at the Sydney Tennis Classic.
The 31-year-old endured an injury-hit 2021 campaign, curtailing his season in September following the US Open due to a knee problem. However, the Belgian showed little sign of rustiness against World No. 71 Bagnis to advance after one hour and 31 minutes. Goffin’s last win came against Salvatore Caruso at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in May.
The five-time tour-level titlist, who broke Bagnis four times en route to victory, will next play Argentine Federico Delbonis or World No. 44 Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego also booked his place in the second round with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Frenchman Hugo Gaston.
[FOLLOW ACTION]The Italian was competing for the first time this year. Sonego won 81 per cent (44/54) of his first-serve points and fired eight aces to edge Gaston in two hours and 43 minutes.
The World No. 27 now leads the 21-year-old 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head series and will next face qualifier Christopher O’Connell or #NextGenATP Argentine Sebastian Baez.
Australian Jordan Thompson also moved through at the ATP 250 event on Ken Rosewall Arena, defeating American Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-2 in 83 minutes. The wild card rallied from a break down in the first set to set up a meeting with fourth seed Reilly Opelka in the second round.
No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime, +2 (Career High)
The 21-year-old has climbed two spots to a career-high No. 9 in the ATP Rankings after he helped guide Canada to the ATP Cup title in Sydney. The eight-time tour-level finalist earned victories over Cameron Norrie, Alexander Zverev and Roberto Bautista Agut as Canada won the third edition of the 16-team event. Read ATP Cup Final Report & Watch Highlights
View Latest ATP Rankings
No. 17 Roberto Bautista Agut, +2
The nine-time tour-level titlist has risen two places after he captured four wins at ATP Cup as Spain reached the final in Sydney. The 33-year-old led Spain to top spot in Group A after beating Cristian Garin, Casper Ruud and Dusan Lajovic. Bautista Agut then overcame Top 10 star Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals. It is the second time Spain has reached the final at the tournament (2020).
No. 19 Gael Monfils, +2
The Frenchman has returned to the Top 20 after he clinched his 11th tour-level trophy at the Adelaide International 1. The 35-year-old did not drop a set en route to the title, beating Karen Khachanov in the final to earn his first tour-level crown since February 2020, when he triumphed in Rotterdam. Read Adelaide Final Report & Watch Highlights
No. 75 Maxime Cressy, +37 (Career High)
The 24-year-old has soared into the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings for the first time following his dream run at the Melbourne Summer Set. The American came through qualifying at the ATP 250 event and clinched standout wins over Reilly Opelka and Grigor Dimitrov, before losing to Rafael Nadal in the championship match. Read Melbourne Final Report & Watch Highlights
Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 31 Ugo Humbert, +4
No. 39 Filip Krajinovic, +3
No. 71 Facundo Bagnis, +5
No. 72 Jaume Munar, +5
No. 74 Alex Molcan, +14 (Career High)
No. 81 Juan Manuel Cerundolo, +9 (Career High)
No. 82 Mikael Ymer, +12
Anthony Kelly quashes the decision to cancel the player’s Australian visa on Covid vaccination grounds.
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov led the celebrations on Monday as Team Canada took to the water in Sydney following its ATP Cup triumph.
Canada overcame Spain 2-0 in the final on Sunday to capture the third edition of the 16-team event, with Shapovalov downing Pablo Carreno Busta, before Auger-Aliassime sealed the win by defeating Roberto Bautista Agut.
To celebrate, the Canadian team enjoyed a boat ride on the Parramatta River, cruising past the Sydney Opera House as they held aloft the ATP Cup trophy and Canadian flags.
Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
It was a victory that had looked unlikely earlier in the week after Canada lost its first four matches and could have been eliminated before playing their third Group C tie. However, Auger-Aliassime earned a vital win against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie to keep them alive, before Canada earned qualification for the semi-finals by moving past Germany 2-1.
A hard-fought semi-final deciding doubles win over Daniil Medvedev’s Russia saw Canada knock out the 2021 champion to set up a meeting with Spain, where Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime then sealed victory.
Bendigo International [Bendigo, Australia | Challenger 80]: It had been three long years since Ernesto Escobedo last tasted victory on the ATP Challenger Tour. But that would change on Sunday in Bendigo. The 25-year-old American stormed back to defeat Enzo Couacaud 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 36 minutes, opening the 2022 season with a return to titletown.
After dropping the opening set and having taken a medical timeout early in the second, it appeared that Escobedo would come up short on a sun-kissed Sunday afternoon in Bendigo. But the California native dug deep to find his way to the winners’ circle for the first time since 2019. It marked the fourth Challenger crown of his career.
What a way to start the year! Thank you @javiernalbandian for pushing me everyday to get the best out of me. Now let’s go for more! ? @newbalance @babolat @ Bendigo, Victoria https://t.co/zOHG54jFPL
— Ernesto Escobedo (@netoescobedo) January 9, 2022
“The whole week I felt good and I had a great offseason with my coach,” said Escobedo after the final. “I came into the tournament prepared and happy and it all fell into place for me. I think the last champion here was Steve Johnson and he told me it’s a great town and a great tournament, so I was happy to come here and play. It’s been tough conditions in Australia for the past couple years [with the pandemic], so I’m just fortunate to be here competing.”
Escobedo, who rose to a career-high No. 67 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in 2017, has struggled to find his groove on the court over the years. Now, under the tutelage of Javier Nalbandian (brother of former World No. 3 David Nalbandian), he is slowly working his way back towards the Top 100. Escobedo will rise to No. 141 on Monday.
Having reached the quarter-finals at the ATP 250 in Los Cabos last year, followed by a second-round finish at both the US Open and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Escobedo has been building towards this moment for many months. He will next seek to qualify for the Australian Open for the first time since 2017, as he kicks off his qualifying campaign on Tuesday.
Traralgon International [Traralgon, Australia | Challenger 80]: If you haven’t already taken notice of Tomas Machac, it’s time to jump aboard the Czech train. The 21-year-old continued his push towards the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings with yet another Challenger title, emerging victorious on Sunday in Traralgon.
Machac lifted the third trophy of his young career, marking the third straight year in which he has triumphed on the Challenger circuit. He capped a dominant week on the hard courts of the Traralgon International with a 7-6(2), 6-3 win over Bjorn Fratangelo. The Beroun native also rallied from a set down to defeat eighth seed Mikhail Kukukshin in the quarter-finals and notched a straight-set victory over fellow 21-year-old Jesper de Jong in the semis.
The second-highest ranked player from the Czech Republic, behind only Jiri Vesely, Machac rises to a career-high No. 130 on Monday. A succssful qualifying campaign at next week’s Australian Open will go a long way in his Top 100 quest. Seeded 20th in Melbourne Park, he opens against Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Citta di Forli 1 [Forli, Italy | Challenger 50]: Luca Nardi became the first teenage champion of the 2022 ATP Challenger season, as the 18-year-old prevailed on home soil in Forli on Sunday. Nardi won the Challenger 50 title with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Mukund Sasikumar. The Italian was made to work this week, having rallied from a set down in three straight matches. He overcame Lucas Catarina, Evan Furness and third seed Christian Harrison, before downing Sasikumar for the trophy.
Nardi’s victory marks the fourth straight year in which an Italian teen has won a Challenger title. In 2019 it was Jannik Sinner, followed by Lorenzo Musetti in 2020 and Giulio Zeppieri last year.
Recent Italian Teen Titles
| Player | Year | Title(s) Won |
| Luca Nardi |
2022 | Forli |
| Giulio Zeppieri | 2021 | Barletta |
| Lorenzo Musetti | 2020 | Forli |
| Jannik Sinner | 2019 | Bergamo, Lexington, Ortisei |
Dove Men+Care Legion Sudamericana Challenger de Tigre [Buenos Aires, Argentina | Challenger 50]: Santiago Fa Rodriguez Taverna claimed his maiden Challenger title on Sunday, prevailing on home soil in Buenos Aires. He won the Challenger 50 event with a 6-4, 6-2 win over countryman Facundo Diaz Acosta, marking his fourth consecutive straight-set victory of the week.
The 22-year-old continues the run of success for Argentine players on the ATP Challenger Tour, with the South American nation coming off a record-tying 20-title haul in 2021.
