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Djokovic: I Had To ‘Find Holes’ In Brooksby’s Game

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2021

It is one feat to take a set off Novak Djokovic at a major. It takes a monumental step up to outlast the World No. 1 and carry that momentum to victory on a Grand Slam stage.

#NextGenATP American Jenson Brooksby rode a blistering start and the energy from his home crowd to blitz the opening set of his first ATP Head2Head showdown with the Serbian in his first outing on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night. But as seven contenders previously this season discovered, a one-set advantage did not transfer to the upset as Djokovic found his groove 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

“He played a perfect first set. Everything he intended to do he executed it perfectly,” Djokovic said. “On my end, I was just trying to find a rhythm, trying to read his game, trying to understand where I can find holes in his game and start to attack and shift the momentum to my side.”

Djokovic began to turn the match in his favour midway through a torrid battle in the second set, a point of the match at which he admitted he needed to impose himself. It was a timely reminder of the physicality and mentality required to go the distance with the world’s best.

“I really wanted him to feel my presence on the court. I wanted the energy to shift on my side because he was a better player for a set and a half. He had the momentum,” Djokovic said. “I felt like that was the point where, OK, now I got him. He also was struggling a little bit physically at one point. I wanted to wear him down and it worked.”

Twenty-five matches down, the top seed stands three matches from the Grand Slam. A third straight major championship showdown against sixth seed Matteo Berrettini is his next hurdle in his 11th US Open quarter-final. Like Brooksby, in the Wimbledon final, Berrettini took the opening set only for the Serbian to reel him in.

Djokovic Digs Deep To Fend Off Brooksby At US Open 

“[He’s the] hammer of tennis. Next to [Juan Martin] del Potro, probably the hardest hitter of serve and forehand,” Djokovic said. “He’s got the lethal serve-plus-one game. He’s already established as a top player.

“Without a doubt, he played a… semi-final here a couple years ago, final in Wimbledon. That was a tough four-setter. If he serves well, which is his biggest weapon, he’s tough. He’s tough on any surface to play against.

“I’ve had some really close matches with him at [Roland Garros] and Wimbledon recently. We’re going to play the third Grand Slam in a row against each other. Hopefully the result will be the same as the previous two.”

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Brooksby: ‘I Can Compete With Anybody’

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2021

#NextGenATP American Jenson Brooksby had World No. 1 Novak Djokovic completely rattled for a set and a half on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open on Monday night. After four sets, gallant in defeat, the 20-year-old had more than proved his worth on the big stage and led the top seed to remark: “America has a bright future in tennis.”

Outside the Top 200 in the FedEx ATP Rankings less than four months ago, Brooksby left to a standing ovation with his head held high, confident he had exceeded all expectations on his first run to the second week of a Grand Slam. Despite the disappointment of the 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 fourth-round defeat, he knew he had made the most of every opportunity before a vocal home crowd.

“It’s definitely all positive things to take away. I learned my game. I’m feeling really confident in my game. I believe I can compete with anybody,” Brooksby said. “I knew it would be important to start strong, to impose my mindset and my strategy, my game out there. It’s definitely special.

“I always enjoy the matches and everything throughout the moment. Obviously you have to stay focused… Atmospheres like that are what you want to be in front of since you were a little kid, watching on TV when you were young, and now you’re living it. It is something I really appreciate and I’m grateful to be here now. [I’m] excited to keep [playing] in atmospheres like this for the future.”

Projected to rise to the cusp of the Top 40 in the FedEx ATP Rankings after the US Open, it has been a meteoric ascent. Brooksby only cracked the Top 100 earlier this month after he reached the final in Newport and the semi-finals in Washington, D.C.

The experience of taking it to the world’s best on the biggest Grand Slam stadium is invaluable as he looks to build on his breakout run. There was no rush to depart after his first taste of competition on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I did take time to look around a little bit, just appreciated being in an atmosphere like that with so many people cheering you on. Took a moment to still have it all in after,” he said. “You’re not going to win every match you play obviously, but you still have to enjoy it.

“I think [the belief] comes from definitely more training, but most importantly other match situations against other guys and… just the whole process of it. Leading up to it, I 100 per cent believed I could win against anybody. I thought I showed that with the level I could produce out there. Unfortunately, physically it got a little tougher.”

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Soares Recalls Bout With Four Knives & '12 Hours Of Surviving'

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2021

Bruno Soares was excited to fly to Tokyo in July for his third Olympics. The Brazilian doubles star flew from Sao Paolo to Houston without incident. When Soares picked up his backpack in Houston for his four-and-a-half hour layover, he felt discomfort in his abdominal area and attributed it to gas. After eating breakfast, drinking coffee and relaxing, the 39-year-old boarded without feeling pain.

That is when a normal travel day turned into travel hell.

“They served food about 45 minutes in. As soon as I finished lunch, it was like someone came with four knives and just put them in my abs. It was out of nowhere. The pain went from being uncomfortable to being incredibly painful,” Soares told ATPTour.com. “Then it was just 12 hours of surviving. I threw up twice because of the pain. It was quite a tough flight.”

Upon arrival at the Olympic Village in Tokyo, Soares received treatment from doctors, who gave him painkillers and began treatment. The Belo Horizonte-native had appendicitis, which required surgery.

“It’s been an interesting past couple months to say the least. It was a tough thing for me. The timing couldn’t have been worse,” Soares said. “We know how big the Olympics are, but it’s even bigger when you have it once every four years. Not only that, but I missed the whole summer.

“I just appreciate that nothing worse happened. I got surgery there, everything went alright. That’s life, ups and downs. Not much to complain about.”

 

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After five days, Soares flew home to Brazil. But because of the surgery, he had to stay home for a month. The 34-time tour-level doubles titlist lost weight and muscle, and had to return to action “really slowly”.

“You recover from appendicitis,” Soares said. “But the rest of the body doesn’t really work, so you kind of have to take it easy and be smart with the comeback.”

Soares began hitting again two-and-a-half weeks before the start of the US Open. For the first week, he took it slowly to see how his body would react. That left him little time to prepare for the season’s final major alongside partner Jamie Murray. But on Monday, they battled past Dominik Koepfer and Emil Ruusuvuori in three sets to reach the quarter-finals.

“It’s been a crazy ride,” Soares said. “But to be honest I’m just happy to be back on court.”

Making the run even more special is having his six-year-old son in New York. Noha has walked up to his father after each match for a special handshake.

“It’s just amazing to have him around. I decided to have a boys’ trip only, so it’s just me, him and my coach, and it’s been amazing,” Soares said. “Honestly, the result is just the cherry on the cake on this trip. Whatever happens, it’s been a blast for me.

“I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to play. I want to play more. But to have him with me and experiencing everything, it’s been such a special feeling for me.”

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Ivanisevic On Djokovic: ‘The More Pressure He Has, The Better He Plays’

  • Posted: Sep 07, 2021

Novak Djokovic is now just four wins from completing the first Grand Slam by a male since Rod Laver in 1969. The pressure is mounting by the match, but according to one of his coaches, former World No. 2 Goran Ivanisevic, that is just the way the Serbian likes it.

“He’s going to definitely feel pressure, but he’s a guy who the more pressure he has, the better he plays. That is why he is such a champion. That is why for me he is the biggest tennis player in the history of the sport,” Ivanisevic told ATPTour.com in Newport in July, when he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “Regardless of results or Grand Slams, I said seven or eight years ago when I was not even close to being on his team that the only person who can win four Grand Slams in a year is him.”

Djokovic has sometimes appeared immune to pressure with his stellar play in the biggest moments — that has helped the World No. 1 win eight of the past 12 majors. But that does not mean the 34-year-old does not walk with the weight of expectations.

“He has pressure. Everybody feels the pressure. You can see in the matches sometimes he plays better. He didn’t play seven perfect matches at Wimbledon, but he won. You don’t see that so much because he’s winning,” Ivanisevic said. “I didn’t say he’s going to win for sure, because you can’t say he’s going to win seven matches. It’s a long two weeks, seven matches.

“I’m very happy that there is a crowd because last year we witnessed the saddest US Open ever with the screens and no crowd. This year is going to be an electric atmosphere. It’s going to be great for tennis, great for him. He needs that.”

Goran Ivanisevic
Ivanisevic was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
The crowd has been raucous at Flushing Meadows after there were no fans at the season’s final major due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But not only are there fans in New York with their eyes on the action, there are people around the world watching to see if the Serbian can make history this fortnight.

There have inevitably been questions surrounding Djokovic, who lost in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics as well as the bronze-medal match, and did not play again until his first-round match at the US Open. But according to Ivanisevic, Djokovic thrives when people doubt him in any way.

“A lot of people will crack. A lot of people will say, ‘Okay, I don’t know’. But him? He says, ‘Bring it on, I’m going to show you who I am on the court’,” Ivanisevic said. “Look at him, three Grand Slams in a row. He’s already made history and can make even bigger history. He’s an amazing person. You can learn a lot of things from him.”

Ivanisevic is one of the few coaches on Tour who understands the pressure of chasing glory at major championships. But was it easier for the inimitable lefty to play or coach?

“Honestly yes, [it is more pressure to coach]. It’s much easier to play because you play for yourself. You get your frustrations and emotions out on the court,” Ivanisevic said. “As a coach, you’re sitting there, especially coaching a player for whom a final is not good enough. Only victories count, titles and he is on the road to making tennis history.”

Novak Djokovic
Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman/USTA
Despite the pressure of the job, Ivanisevic loves being part of Team Djokovic. To the Croatian, he has a front-row seat to greatness. Djokovic will break his tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal if he lifts a record 21st major trophy at this US Open.

“I’m grateful for being part of the team to witness it from the first row. They ask me how it is. It is an honour, it is a pleasure. But is it easy? Not at all,” Ivanisevic said. “It’s very stressful, but I like that. All your life some kind of stress [is good] and that drives you to be better and coaching a player like him, you can always learn something new every day.”

Ivanisevic after Wimbledon joked that Djokovic has 27 lives. But just a week later, he changed his mind and said he has more than that, adding that, “It is unbelievable how he finds the energy to be better every day”.

The Hall of Famer is especially proud to be working with another player from the Balkans. To the Croatian, Djokovic’s accomplishments show people back home what they are capable of.

“It’s unbelievable how the sport brings people together,” Ivanisevic said. “It’s great and it really makes me proud, makes me happy. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, it doesn’t matter how rich your country is. If you’re good, you’re good. If you’re going to succeed, you’re going to succeed.”

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The Nomadic Life With… Lloyd Harris

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2021

Lloyd Harris is into the quarter-finals of a major for the first time after beating American Reilly Opelka 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 on Monday to reach the last eight at the US Open. Harris is the second South African man since Wayne Ferreira in 1992 to make the US Open quarter-finals.

The 24-year-old recently spoke to ATPTour.com about life on Tour, his love for flying and more.

What are two things you can’t leave home without?
One would have to be my cell phone or my computer, either of those. I would need one of them to entertain me with Netflix. The other would be my golf glove because wherever I go I need to find a golf course to play golf. I can’t travel around with my clubs as that would be next level.

What is something you have forgotten on a trip that has caused an issue?
We recently forgot two of my laundry bags with all my tennis kit. One clean bag and one dirty bag of laundry, so we were pretty worried I wasn’t going to have clothes for the next tournament. Luckily we managed to get it sent to us, but that could be pretty disastrous to rock up to a tournament without any tennis clothes. That was in Cincinnati.

Do you enjoy the travelling or is it something you just have to do as it is part of your job?

For the most part, I have really enjoyed travelling. I enjoy the flying aspect. I think the long hours at the airports can be challenging, especially when you are travelling more locally. But I feel when you are travelling internationally, it is a little easier as you get the lounge access. Recently with Covid, it has been a little bit harder with all the paperwork and the PCR tests, it has made it more draining.

I like the experience of rocking up early for the flight and having breakfast and a coffee and then get ready for the journey ahead. I have some time on the flight to watch Netflix.

Jet lag is tough, but it depends which way I go. When I come to America, it is very easy for me. It is actually a good thing as I am always up at 7 a.m. But when I am in Asia, I can’t go to sleep and can’t wake up in the morning. Normally it hits me on days three and four.

Have you gone to a tournament because you want to visit a particular city?

It is nice to visit and see new places. It is quite refreshing. I have not played that many years on the Tour, so it is not like I have played all the events. Some of the events are new for me, so I enjoy going to them. I also like going to events where I have played well and enjoy the conditions and have done well in the past.

Is there a tournament you have been to where you have gone to see a particular sight?
I remember we had a tour guide a few years ago in Washington D.C. take us to see the White House, which was pretty cool. When you are in Paris, you go for some pictures of the Eiffel Tower. I wouldn’t say there was something specifically that sticks out, but we visit so many cool cities on the Tour, I think I have seen a lot of the main things. I am not particularly huge on spending the whole day out as tennis tires you out enough.

Outside of tennis, is there a particular vacation spot you love?
I used to really like going to Dubai, but now I moved there so I can’t call it a vacation spot anymore. My girlfriend and I had an unbelievable trip to Bali two years ago and we visited some islands, which were just spectacular. The Philippines is also high up on my list. I had some friends go there. Hopefully I can ask them for some tips! It is a little bit of a hidden gem. I have seen some unbelievable pictures and videos from there.

 

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Do you have any crazy stories from your travels?
I think one of the craziest journeys I have done is when I was still playing juniors in San Luis Potosi in Mexico. We had a 16-hour flight from Johannesburg to New York. Then I had a long layover there, and a six-hour flight to Mexico City. It was a 40-hour journey overall. It becomes quite a journey being from South Africa.

How do you take care of your body in those situations?
It is not always easy. I feel like if I am going to big events, I have to take a lot more care. But if it is for a holiday you can get away with being a little more stiff and tired as long as you are not causing damage. You have a lot of time lying next to the beach. When I go to big events, I try to fly more comfortably.

How do you make yourself comfortable in hotel rooms when travelling on the road?
A lot of places you spend five, maybe six days, which is not much. There is not much of a home aspect in that regard. I think the thing that makes you feel the most at home is unpacking and getting into a little routine. [Maybe you] wake up and have a specific coffee, stock the fridge with something for that week, maybe a chocolate log or sparkling water.

I used to travel with a full coffee machine. Especially at tournaments in Asia where coffee wasn’t as accessible, I had this huge espresso machine. It was kind of hilarious. Then we went over to the Minipresso, which is smaller and portable. But these days, it is easy to get coffee, so it is not necessary thankfully.

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Preview: Djokovic Squares Off Against Next Great US Hope

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2021

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2021 enters its final week on Monday as the top seed takes on #NextGenATP American Jenson Brooksby for the first time at the US Open. The Serbian has never lost to an American at Flushing Meadows in 10 previous ATP Head2Head meetings and stands unbeaten in his past 20 showdowns with players from the US overall.

The three-time champion will be wary of the 20-year-old wild card – the youngest from the home contenders to reach the fourth round in New York since a 20-year-old Andy Roddick in 2002. It will be No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Race to Turin versus sixth in the ATP Race to Milan.

Brooksby was outside the Top 200 in the FedEx ATP Rankings less than four months ago, but cracked the Top 100 earlier this month after he reached the final in Newport and the semi-finals in Washington, D.C. He avenged a first-round Roland Garros defeat to Aslan Karatsev from May to book his maiden Grand Slam fourth-round berth.

“It will be a great challenge. One of the toughest there can be,” Brooksby said. “But I’m really believing in myself with what I’m showing out there so far. I got a great team around me to help me recover.. [It] will be really exciting.

“I’m sure it will be a full crowd. I’m excited to see how well I can focus, see how well I can play with one of the biggest challenges and with one of the biggest crowds in a court that you can get.”

Djokovic won his 17th straight showdown against Kei Nishikori, following a hard-fought four-set triumph in the third round. Brooksby will be sure to ride the home crowd support, not that it will faze his opponent.

“Arthur Ashe is the place where you bring the energy, that’s for sure, where you feel this kind of electric atmosphere, particularly in the matches like this where it’s decided in a few points,” Djokovic said after his win over Nishikori. “Yeah, the crowd was involved. It was loud. It was nice. I thrived on that.”

Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Alexander Zverev continues his campaign for a maiden Grand Slam title when he tackles #NextGenATP Italian Jannik Sinner on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The pair split two prior ATP Head2Head meetings, with Sinner having won their only previous clash at a major at Roland Garros last year.

Sinner survived 17th seed Gael Monfils in five sets to reach the fourth round in New York for the first time, while Zverev advanced after Jack Sock retired in the fourth set with a groin injury. Following his Tokyo and Cincinnati title runs, Zverev looks for his 15th straight match win against the 20-year-old.

In the second German vs. Italian fourth-round showdown on Monday, qualifier Oscar Otte takes on Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini on Louis Arrmstrong Stadium for a place in his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final. The World No. 144 would become the lowest-ranked US Open quarter-finalist since No. 174 Jimmy Connors in 1991 should he level the ledger at 1-1 in the pair’s ATP Head2Head.

Otte has already beaten two Italians in the main draw this year – 20th seed Lorenzo Sonego and Andreas Seppi. Sixth seed Berrettini is bidding to reach his third major quarter-final of 2021 and comes off a five-set victory over Winston-Salem champion Ilya Ivashka.

A first-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist is guaranteed on Louis Armstrong Stadium when 22nd seed Reilly Opelka and unseeded South African Lloyd Harris meet for the second time. The 24-year-old American narrowly edged the World No. 46 in a third-set tie-break en route to the Toronto final last month. Harris picked up his third Top 10 victory of the season when he defeated seventh seed Denis Shapovalov in straight sets in the third round.

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