Ellen Discovers Djokovic's Weakness

Posted: Mar 23, 2016

Ellen Discovers Djokovic's Weakness

Mar222016

The defending Miami Open champion will open his defence on Friday

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres may have discovered Novak Djokovic’s weakness: Smashing his own face in front of a television audience.

Djokovic, who is scheduled to start his Miami Open title defence on Friday, recently stopped by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” to talk about his on-court success, his family and his biggest competitors. He and DeGeneres even made time for a little tennis.

The World No. 1 agreed with DeGeneres when she said he’s playing the best tennis of his career.

“Yes, absolutely at the peak of my abilities at the moment… I managed to put many things together in private and professional life so I found that harmony and balance that allows me to use my full potential on the tennis court,” said Djokovic, who is married and has a 17-month-old son, Stefan. “I’m just trying to cherish every moment spent on court.”

DeGeneres asked the Serb to name his biggest competitor. The five-time Miami champion rattled off Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. He also named possible future challengers, including Canadian Milos Raonic and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

“It’s good for sport,” Djokovic said of the younger generation. “Sport needs rivalries, but also sports needs some new generations and new players that are challenging for major titles.”

He and DeGeneres also scheduled a practice.

She said she plans to attend the men’s Wimbledon final in July. Djokovic suggested they hit a couple of balls on the grass, to which DeGeneres jokingly agreed.

Later they tried to smash Djokovic’s face. The two stood in front of a board and tried to hit tennis balls through eight circles wearing Djokovic’s smiles.

“Why is it only my face?” he said.

“Because it’s a game we’re calling smash your face,” DeGeneres said.

“My own face,” Djokovic said.

DeGeneres hit a face on her second attempt and drew cheers from Djokovic and the crowd.

“How can you smash such a beautiful face?” he said.

Djokovic served a ball through a face on his fifth attempt.

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Serena has boosted men's game – Murray

Posted: Mar 23, 2016

Men’s tennis has a lot to thank 21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams for, Andy Murray has said as the sport’s equality row rumbles on.

Indian Wells boss Raymond Moore quit after saying that the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men.

Novak Djokovic added to the debate by saying the men should earn more.

But Murray said: “When Serena Williams does great, we also capitalise on that. Someone who’s 70 in the world on the men’s tour also capitalises on that.”

The Briton, 28, said he did not “really understand” what Moore, who subsequently apologised for his remarks, “was getting at”.

In Short: Raymond Moore’s comments were out of order – Murray

But he added that the 69-year-old South African was “out of order” for suggesting female players should “get down on their knees” to thank the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for boosting the sport’s appeal.

Federer and Nadal have won 31 Grand Slam singles titles between them, dominating the men’s game for several years before world number one Djokovic took over.

“Roger and Rafa have been unbelievable for tennis but so has Serena Williams,” Murray told BBC Sport. “We should all be thankful for those guys and what they’ve done for the sport.”

Murray gave short shrift to Djokovic’s notion that men’s tennis is a bigger draw than the women’s game.

“At the US Open last year, the tickets for Serena’s matches were selling out much quicker than the men’s matches,” the Scot said.

He added there would be women’s matches at the Miami Open that would hold more appeal than some of the men’s.

As a result, he said, it made “more sense to make it [prize money] equal”.

Murray, who is in Miami with wife Kim and new daughter Sophia, said the issue of equal pay was a topic of discussion in the locker room.

“I think the amount players speak about it, it’s obviously something they can get frustrated about,” he said.

He pointed out that lower ranked male players also benefit from the success of Federer and Nadal, not just women.

“Why does someone ranked 70 in the world deserve to capitalise on what they’re doing just because they’re a man?” Murray asked.

“When tennis does well, everyone should thrive on that success.”

World number one Williams said Djokovic was “entitled to his opinion” but wondered what he would say to his daughter if he had one.

“If I had two kids, I would never tell my son or my daughter that one deserves more because of their sex,” the American said.

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Petzschner and Peya Glad To Be Reunited On Court

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

Petzschner and Peya Glad To Be Reunited On Court

Mar222016

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Americans Mardy Fish and James Blake Quiz Each Other

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

Americans Mardy Fish and James Blake Quiz Each Other

Mar222016

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Paying Tribute to Bud Collins

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

Paying Tribute to Bud Collins

Mar222016

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Emirates ATP Rankings 21 March 2016

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

Emirates ATP Rankings 21 March 2016

Mar222016

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Swan loses in Miami Open qualifying

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

British wildcard Katie Swan was beaten 6-2 4-6 6-2 by Sam Crawford in the final round of Miami Open qualifying.

The 16-year-old from Bristol had beaten world number 102 Lauren Davis on Monday but struggled with a tight hamstring against American Crawford.

After taking the second set, Swan left the court to have her thigh bandaged before losing the decider.

In men’s qualifying, Briton James Ward lost 6-3 6-3 to American Bjorn Fratangelo.

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Indian Wells CEO quits after comments

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

Indian Wells tournament chief Raymond Moore has quit after his controversial comments about women’s tennis.

Moore, 69, said the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men – a view described as “sexist” by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Women’s world number one Serena Williams said Moore’s statement was “offensive and very inaccurate”.

But her male counterpart, Novak Djokovic, claimed his tour should fight for more money.

Moore said female players “should get down on their knees” in thanks to male counterparts such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The South African – a former player – later apologised for his “erroneous” remarks.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Moore’s comments were “extremely prejudiced”, adding female players may boycott Indian Wells if Moore stayed.

Djokovic, who won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Sunday, described Moore’s remarks as “not politically correct”.

But the 28-year-old Serb suggested men should get more prize money because more people watch their matches.

There has been equal prize money in all four majors – the Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon – since 2007, and combined Masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami pay the same to men and women.

In a statement, Indian Wells tournament owner Larry Ellison said: “Ray let me know he has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and tournament director effective immediately. I fully understand his decision.”

Speaking in a BBC Radio 5 live special on equality in sport, former badminton world champion Gail Emms said: “If was Novak Djokovic, I would feel aggrieved as well.”

The Briton, an Olympic silver medallist, added: “I don’t like saying this, but it is easier to be a top female athlete than it is for males, because purely on numbers, how hard you’ve got to work to get up there.

“I’m not saying the top female athletes don’t work hard, and the ones at the top are fantastic athletes and sacrifice and dedicate a lot. It’s just a numbers game.”

iFrame

Other arguments so far:

Djokovic said women had "fought for what they deserve and they got it", but claimed prize money should be "fairly distributed" based on "who attracts more attention, spectators and who sells more tickets".
Navratilova said Djokovic "clearly doesn't understand" why men and women should get equal prize money in combined tournaments and she "thought we settled that issue years ago".
Judy Murray, former Great Britain Fed Cup captain and mother of British number one Andy Murray, said: "I think there'll be a couple of people who probably woke up the next morning and wished they had thought a bit more about what they said before they said it."
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said player equality is a "bedrock" principle and there was no place for Moore's "antiquated, sexist or uninformed ideologies".
Chris Kermode, chief executive of the ATP, said Moore's comments were "disparaging" and said they had been "made in poor taste".
Former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd backed Djokovic's view on the men's popularity, but said: "It's supply and demand and it could swing back in the future."

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Thompson Enjoying Breakthrough Season

Posted: Mar 22, 2016

Thompson Enjoying Breakthrough Season

Mar222016

The popular Australian is currently at a career-high Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 117

Australian men’s tennis is enjoying a resurgence with Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios ranked comfortably inside the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, but 21-year-old Jordan Thompson has produced impressive results on the ATP Challenger Tour that show he could soon be ready to join them.

The World No. 117 has more than cut his ranking in half over the last 12 months with a series of strong performances. After reaching the final last year at Challenger events in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and Traralgon, Australia, Thompson broke through last month by winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Cherbourg, France. The victory was even more impressive since the Australian was forced to save two match points in his quarter-final against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

“It was very exciting. You play a lot of tournaments and you’re lucky to win one,” said Thompson, who is the No. 8 seed at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour event in Shenzhen, China. “I took a lot of confidence by winning my first Challenger and beating those top players.”

Thompson has spent the last few years training in Brisbane alongside fellow Aussies James Duckworth, John Millman and Benjamin Mitchell, but made a move earlier this year to Melbourne. But with plenty of top Australian players training there, Thompson will have plenty of motivation to continue pushing himself up the rankings.

“It’s best if we try and push each other,” said Thompson. “Nick (Kyrgios) just won his first ATP Tour title, Omar (Jasika) is very talented and Blake (Mott) just won his first challenger. It inspires young guys to be at that level and also just start playing tennis.”

His play has even attracted the attention of former world No. 1 and new Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who invited the rising star to practice with him at his house in Sydney and the Australian Open. But while Thompson freely admits that playing under Hewitt “would be a honor,” he has some more immediate targets in sight for the rest of the season.

“I think it’s every player’s goal to be in the Top 100 and it’s my goal for sure as well,” said Thompson. “The ultimately goal is to try and play as many Grand Slams as possible. That’s where the money is and this is my job now.”

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