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Carlos Alcaraz's bucket hat is catching on 🤣🧢 #shorts

Delightful Drop Shots from The Championships | Wimbledon 2023.

 

 

THE FUNNIEST MOMENTS OF WIMBLEDON 2023 🤣

 

 

The Best Shots of Wimbledon 2023 | 18 MINUTES of Great Shots.

 

 

26 Minutes and 32 Points 🤯 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic's EPIC game in Wimbledon Final.

 

 

Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic: Extended Highlights | Wimbledon 2023 Final.

 

 

A FINAL FOR THE AGES | Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic Full Match | Wimbledon 2023.

 

 

Novak Djokovic’s father calls for him to retire: ‘He should have stopped’.

 

Novak Djokovic reacts during his defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final - CameraSport/Rob Newell

Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, has expressed hope that his son will retire from tennis next year, saying: “I think for some time that he should have stopped working this extremely difficult job.”

The comment came in a new documentary named Novak Djokovic – Untold Stories. With Rafael Nadal also targeting 2024 for a farewell tour, it seems that the last days of the Big Four/Big Three era could be approaching a hard stop.

When Djokovic was asked about his future in May, he replied: “The desire is still there, but things can change quickly – I am 36, I’ve been a pro for 20 years.”

At 36, he has a new rival in the shape of 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz – one of a vanishingly small group of players to hold a winning record against him.

It remains to be seen whether Alcaraz’s pulsating five-set victory over the Serb in the Wimbledon final 11 days ago will renew Djokovic’s competitive fires, or quench them. But both parents say they are content with what Djokovic has already achieved: a record tally of 23 major titles, plus 38 Masters 1000s victories and 389 weeks at world No 1 (also both records).

 

Novak Djokovic is close with his father Srdjan - Getty Images/Marko Metlas

“As far as my wishes for him go, he has already fulfilled them all seven/eight years ago,” said Srdjan Djokovic in the documentary.

“The rest is this amazing bonus, tennis is only one segment of his life, not his whole life. I expect him to be recognised for the things he will do after his career ends as well, after he leaves the tennis world, which I hope it will happen next year. And for Novak to slowly but surely… it’s not the end, but in a year-and-a-half let’s say.

“My wish as a father – I think for some time that he should have stopped working this extremely difficult job. It’s physically and mentally challenging and very demanding – with him being fully dedicated for 30 years, and not taking his foot off the gas, there is not much time for other things in life.”

Djokovic’s mother Dijana is also quoted in the film, saying that she thinks her son still has another year or two left in his tennis career. “It’s all up to him,” she explained. “As far as I’m concerned, he can retire right now – he has won everything.”

Djokovic’s approach to tennis is now extremely focused on the four slams, with other tournaments failing to excite him. This week, he withdrew from the upcoming Toronto Open – the next Masters 1000 event – at the start of August.

In all probability, he will play Cincinnati as his lone build-up event before the US Open, which he has surprisingly won just three times – his equal-lowest total among the four slams, level with the French Open.

The outcome of the next two hard-court majors will surely impact his planning process. If he regains winning momentum, Djokovic can still push his grand-slam tally towards the late 20s, thus setting a mark that may never be beaten.

As and when Djokovic finally does retire, many observers believe that he will pursue a political career in Serbia, where his approval ratings are stratospheric.

https://sports.yahoo.com/novak-djokovic-father-calls-him-114914391.html

"I really hope that I give a small light and some positive emotions for my country" 💙💛 @angie_kalinina | #IBI23

 

"I really hope that I give a small light and some positive emotions for my country" 💙💛@angie_kalinina | #IBI23 pic.twitter.com/q3sqdTKxmS

— wta (@WTA) May 19, 2023

 

Amid Ukraine crisis, Anhelina Kalinina delivers hope in Rome Anhelina Kalinina has offered Ukraine a brief moment of comfort. Reaching the finals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, she is well aware of what her success means to her home country.

ROME -- Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina had a message for her embattled home country after she advanced to the final of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

"It’s really important to win every match, because of what Ukraine goes through," Kalinina told the crowd at the Foro Italico. "I really hope that I give a tiny, small light, maybe some positive emotions for my country. I really hope that Ukraine a little bit enjoys [this].”

Kalinina, a 26-year-old Ukrainian, has emerged as the lowest-ranked Rome finalist in more than 35 years. The World No.47 has come through a series of challenging matches. She defeated former No.4 Sofia Kenin in the third round, then dug deep to knock off 30th seed Madison Keys, No.12 Beatriz Haddad Maia and No.11 Veronika Kudermetova in three sets. 

Her win against Haddad Maia was the longest match of the season, clocking in at 3 hours and 41 minutes. 

Remarkably, Kalinina has achieved all this while processing the news that her family in Kyiv continues to face danger. After the match, she shared with reporters the unsettling news that a bomb had exploded near the Kyiv academy where her parents serve as tennis coaches.

"Yeah, near the tennis court," she said. "We have an academy, [then] maybe 300 meters [there is an] airport, and [now] there is no airport. This is how they live."

Kalinina has been persistently faced with the impact of war since the Russian invasion began last spring. Last year, a Russian assault left her parents' home in ruins. Currently, her hometown of Nova Kakhovka is under the occupation of Russian troops. Her grandparents, along with the entire family, have now relocated to Kyiv.

"I have no connections with Nova Kakhovka anymore because everyone is in Kyiv," she said. "I'm super happy because it's absolutely impossible to stay, to live [there], because there was so many weapons, so many soldiers near my grandmother and grandfather's house. It was absolutely not possible to live, to stay.

"They are very old people. So for them, it was very tough to make this decision to move from that city. They're living 60 years there. We kind of pushed them, like, 'You have to go.' When the bomb came directly to their house, it was a couple of meters left, not exactly in their apartment, but left. They kind of wake up and realize, 'Oh, my God, yeah, we have to move.'"

Since the beginning of the war, Kalinina has used her earnings to offer support and aid to as many Ukrainians as she can. By making Saturday's final, she's guaranteed herself a prize money check of at least €‎272,000.

Kalinina says she has been moved by the vocal crowd support she has received from the Italian crowd all tournament. 

"I don't remember where I was playing [but] almost for me it was like the whole stadium was cheering me up," Kalinina said. "It's kind of amazing feeling. I have never experienced something like that. They bring so much energy to fight when you don't even have energy to do that.

"From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every person who was in the stadium from the first match till hopefully tomorrow I will have another match. Thanks for them. They kind of motivated me and they give me much more energy to fight."

https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3445015/amid-ukraine-crisis-anhelina-kalinina-delivers-hope-in-rome

Everything you need to know about the 2023 Rome final (WTA). No.6 Elena Rybakina will face No.47 Anhelina Kalinina for the title at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Here's what's at stake on Saturday at the Foro Italico.

ROME -- The Internazionali BNL d'Italia final is set for Saturday. Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will face first-time WTA-1000 finalist Anhelina Kalinina for one of the biggest clay-court titles on tour.

No.6 Rybakina has a chance to cement herself as a short-list favorite for the French Open by winning her second WTA 1000 of the season. 

No.47 Kalinina could make history as the lowest-ranked Rome champion in over 35 years if can finish off her Cinderella run.

Here's what you need to know ahead of Saturday's showdown:

When is the women's singles final? 

The singles final is scheduled for Saturday, May 20 at 7 p.m.

The doubles final between top seeds Coco Gauff/Jessica Pegula and Storm Hunter/Elise Mertens will follow the singles final. 

What are the points and prize-money at stake?

By virtue of making the Rome final, Rybakina and Kalinina have assured themselves at least 650 points and €272,200. Saturday's champion will walk away with 1000 points and €521,754.

How did Rybakina and Kalinina get here?

Seeded No.7 in Rome, Rybakina advanced to her third WTA 1000 final of the season and fourth final overall with wins over Jasmine Paolini, Anna Kalinskaya, Marketa Vondrousova, No.1 Iga Swiatek and 20th seed Jelena Ostpaenko. Her wins over Kalinskaya and Swiatek came via retirement, with Kalinskaya bowing out in the first set after seven games, while Swiatek retired at 2-2 in the third set. 

Rybakina has now made four finals this season, finishing runner-up at the Australian Open and Miami and winning Indian Wells. Since the introduction of the WTA-1000 format in 2009, Rybakina is the third player to make the final in Indian Wells, Miami and Rome in the same season, joining Maria Sharapova in 2012 and Swiatek in 2022. 

Seeded No.30, Kalinina has earned wins against Anna Blinkova, Sofia Kenin, 30th seed Madison Keys, No 12 Beatriz Haddad Maia and No.11 Veronika Kudermetova. Kalinina won her last three matches in three sets, with her 3-hour and 41-minute duel against Haddad Maia clocking in as the longest match of the season. 

What milestones are at stake on Saturday? 

Rybakina is bidding to win her fifth title on the Hologic WTA Tour and her second on clay. She won her first WTA title on clay in Bucharest in 2019. A victory would net her a second WTA 1000 title this season, which would lead the tour.

2023 WTA 1000 Champions:

• Dubai: Barbora Krejcikova d. Iga Swiatek
• Indian Wells: Elena Rybakina d. Aryna Sabalenka
• Miami: Petra Kvitova d. Elena Rybakina
• Madrid: Aryna Sabalenka d. Iga Swiatek

Rybakina came into the tournament ranked No.6 but has assured herself a Top 5 debut on Monday. If she wins the title, she will rise to No.4 and earn a Top 4 seed at Roland Garros. 

Kalinina is bidding to win her first WTA title. Her initial breakthrough came in Budapest in 2021. Both of these runs have been on clay courts.

Ranked No.47, Kalinina could become the lowest-ranked player to win the final at the Italian Open since Raffaella Reggi in 1985. By making the final, she assured herself a new career-high ranking on Monday. She will rise to No.13 with the title and No.15 as runner-up.

How do they stack up?

Rybakina and Kalinina have played just once. That match came last year on the green clay in Charleston. Kalinina won 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. 

What are they saying? 

Rybakina: "I came [to Rome] without any expectation because I knew the other years were really tough for me coming and play here. Maybe for some people, rain is not good. I guess for my allergies it went the other way. It's helping me a bit to feel better here. 

"I'm just happy that I got so many matches now before French Open."

Kalinina: "Didn't expect this. I was playing match by match. Yeah, it went to the final. Unbelievable."

Kalinina: "It just didn't go [my way] in Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Madrid. I'm just saying I was losing second, third round, even first. But now it went through.

"Yeah, it's tennis. This is sport. I respect everyone. It can go both ways. I appreciate the moment that it goes my way now."

Rybakina: "She's a really good person. Actually, she used to work with my coach. We just have a good relationship. I'm always cheering for her also. Same, whenever I win, she's always supporting me. We have a good relationship.

"Yeah, I'm happy that we're going to play final."

https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3445040/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2023-rome-final

H2H: Ruud vs Hune. 4-0 Ruud.

Year	Event	Surface	RND	Winner	Result
2022	Roland Garros France	Outdoor Clay	QF	Casper Ruud	61 46 762 63
2022	ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco	Outdoor Clay	R32	Casper Ruud	765 75
2021	Bastad Sweden	Outdoor Clay	R16	Casper Ruud	60 62
2021	ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco	Outdoor Clay	R64	Casper Ruud	62 61

Six memorable Rafael Nadal Grand Slam finals.

 

Champion: Rafael Nadal after winning the 2022 French Open title

Rafael Nadal on Thursday withdrew from the French Open and announced that 2024 will likely be his last season in tennis after a career which has brought him 22 Grand Slam titles.

AFP Sport recalls six of the Spaniard's greatest Slam finals:

2005 French Open

Nadal bt Mariano Puerta 6-7 (7/6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5

-- The one that started it all.

Nadal came in as an 18-year-old left-hander on the rise, with a huge top-spin forehand and expectations to match.

He won all three clay-court lead-up tournaments, in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome and there was a buzz growing around Nadal as he took to court in a sleeveless shirt, prowling like a young matador.

He blasted through the draw taking out Richard Gasquet, Sebastien Grosjean and David Ferrer.

But the real test came in the semi-final against world number one Roger Federer. The pair had never met on clay.

It was Nadal's 19th birthday and he won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Little-known Puerta of Argentina, ranked 37, was dispatched in a four-set final and Nadal would not lose another match on the Paris clay until 2009.

2008 Wimbledon

Nadal bt Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (7/5), 6-7 (10/8), 9-7

-- A match that is widely remembered as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time, it went to Nadal after an incredible four hours, 48 minutes of action.

Scheduled for a 2pm start, the final began late because of rain, had two more rain delays, and ended in light so bad that the Hawk-Eye line-calling system had ceased to work.

Federer clawed back a two-set deficit and saved two match points in the fourth set to take it the distance.

The sheer quality of tennis was like nothing seen before until Federer finally erred, finding the net at 9:21 pm to hand Nadal, who fell on his back onto the grass in relief, his first Wimbledon triumph.

2009 Australian Open

Nadal bt Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-2

-- Nadal again came out on top against Federer, this time in a five-set, four-and-a-half-hour thriller.

Unbelievably, the match started less than 24 hours after Nadal had been extended to five hours and 14 minutes in beating countryman Fernando Verdasco in a five-set semi-final.

Nadal's incredible feat of recovery and stamina delayed Federer from tying Pete Sampras's then record of 14 Grand Slam titles, and also gave Nadal his first Australian Open.

2012 Australian Open

Nadal lost to Djokovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5

-- One of four Australian Open final defeats for Nadal, but a true epic that will be forever etched in the memory.

The match was the ultimate test of endurance and skill as it unfolded over five hours and 53 minutes of tennis of the highest quality between the world number one Djokovic and second-ranked Nadal.

When it finally ended at 1:37 am Monday local time -- the longest Grand Slam final in history -- both players were almost out on their feet.

The pair traded brutal blows all night -- one energy-draining 31-shot rally caused Djokovic to fall at the end and Nadal to tumble over the sidelines.

"This one was very special," Nadal said. "Not because I lost, no, because of the way that we played."

During the trophy presentation, both players needed to sit down. They were totally exhausted.

2013 US Open

Nadal bt Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

-- Nadal had seven months out to rest his creaking, injured knees, missing the 2012 US Open and 2013 Australian Open. But he took the world of tennis by storm on his return.

The Spaniard won 60 of 64 matches, 22 of them on hard courts not thought to favour the "King of Clay", lifted 10 titles, two of them Grand Slams (French Open, US Open) and registered his sixth win over Djokovic in seven matches.

Again the quality of the tennis was that of dreams.

One rally lasted for 54 shots -- 20 more than any other in the tournament -- as Nadal won in three hours and 21 minutes of pulsating action.

2022 Australian Open

Nadal bt Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5

-- The 35-year-old Nadal claimed a 21st Slam title with a stunning comeback against Medvedev.

He became the first man in the Open era to win the Australian Open from two sets down, and also saved three break points in the third set.

Medvedev said Nadal's performance was "unreal" after coming out second-best in a gruelling match which lasted five hours and 24 minutes.

It was the second time Nadal had defeated Medvedev in a major final, after another five-set epic went his way in New York in 2019.

https://sports.yahoo.com/six-memorable-rafael-nadal-grand-023011836.html

Nick Kyrgios to miss French Open due to foot injury from robbery, manager says.

 

Nick Kyrgios will miss a second straight Grand Slam but due to a different injury. (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Nick Kyrgios has had a bad year, and now he will miss the French Open.

The Australian player's manager, Daniel Horsfall, told The Canberra Times that his client won't make the trip to Roland Garros due to a cut on his foot that he sustained during an armed robbery at his home May 1.

The alleged robbery reportedly saw a man threaten Kyrgios' mother with a gun and steal his Tesla. After the incident, Kyrgios reportedly realized he had cut his foot while trying to help his family and track down the suspect.

The cut turned out to be a serious problem for Kyrgios on the court and has been slow to heal, preventing him from ramping up his on-court training over the past few weeks. Kyrgios underwent knee surgery in January, and his recovery was reportedly going well until the cut.

From the Times:

"We needed to be at a point that he could comfortably play five sets. Right when we were getting stuck into the loading period, the [alleged] armed robbery happened at his house. During the ordeal, he cut his foot quite badly.

"We don't know when it happened, but it's quite a large laceration. The location of the wound, it's been open for almost a week and a half now. It's not healing correctly, and he can't put in the work on court, so he's been off court for almost two weeks now.

"His knee is fine, it's just that he can't get his loading up so we can manage the rest of his body correctly and he doesn't injure something else when he gets out there."

Kyrgios addressed the news with a tweet.

Only human 🫤 https://t.co/90lBrInZem

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) May 18, 2023

The French Open, which also had Rafael Nadal withdraw Thursday, is scheduled to begin May 28.

The 28-year-old Kyrgios had already missed the Australian Open after that knee injury forced him to withdraw the day before he was scheduled to begin play. He has not played an ATP-sanctioned event since October.

In addition to his injury woes, Kyrgios' grandmother died earlier this week, as he announced on Instagram with the caption "Seems like I can’t catch a break right now…… RIP Yiayia, the best we could ask for. Go enjoy your time with Papou now."

Kyrgios also pleaded guilty in February to assaulting an ex-girlfriend but had the charge dismissed without conviction by a judge in Australia.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-kyrgios-to-miss-french-open-due-to-foot-injury-from-robbery-manager-says-193100290.html

'Another league': Nadal's first French Open opponent recalls 18 years on.

 

A teenage Nadal celebrates after winning his first ever match at the French Open against Lars Burgsmuller

When Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that injury would prevent him taking part in this year's French Open for the first time in 19 years, it triggered bitter sweet memories for Lars Burgsmuller, his first ever opponent at Roland Garros.

Back in 2005, when Nadal's remarkable 14 titles on the Parisian clay were still in the future, the German  faced the Mallorca native in the first round.

Burgsmuller, then aged 29 and the world number 96, lost 6-1, 7-6, 6-1, but pushed 18-year-old Nadal to a tiebreak in the second set.

The German, who had already played Nadal the year before at Indian Wells when he was just 17, losing 6-2, 6-3, told AFP he "was not so enthusiastic" when he found out who he would face.

"Let's just say I'd heard from all sides that he was the next big thing," Burgsmuller, 47, said from his home in Essen, where he now works as a radiologist.

"Of course, at such a big tournament you hope for an easier draw, especially at the beginning.

"At the moment when I lost the match, you can see why I wasn't so excited."

The German said that while he was disappointed with the outcome at the time, he realised he was witnessing something special in the making.

"You have to acknowledge without any envy that he just somehow plays in another league," Burgsmuller said.

He counts the memory alongside his matches against Roger Federer and his Wimbledon clash with Andre Agassi as career highlights, alongside his win at the ATP event in Copenhagen 2002.

In the 17 years since their meeting, Nadal has amassed those record 14 French Open titles and lost only three of 115 matches.

Although he was convinced of the Spaniard's talent, he admits to being surprised Nadal went on to win the tournament at his first attempt.

"I felt that he was playing well and would have a great future, but that he would go from 0 to 100 so quickly and win the French Open, I honestly did not expect that.

"I don't know if he expected it himself or if anyone else did."

- 'Full throttle' -

Burgsmuller said Nadal gave "full throttle" from start to finish in their match.

"It makes no difference whether it's 0:0 or later on... he plays the first ball just like the last ball.

"You have the feeling you have to win every rally three times to get the point.

"I caught myself in moments where I thought 'OK, I've got the point', and then somehow he gets it past you -- and it really hurts you.

"That's his strength, even from difficult situations from the corners to somehow hit fantastic balls anywhere on the court."

- 'Beyond the pain barrier' -

Nadal's powerful game has carried him to a record 22 Grand Slam titles, equal with Novak Djokovic, but it has also taken a punishing toll on his body.

The Spaniard told reporters on Thursday his inability to recover from a hip injury in time for the French Open was "not a decision I made, it's a decision my body made."

"I need to stop for a while."

Like Nadal, Burgsmuller also battled injuries in his career and has followed how the Spaniard has faced setbacks along the way.

As a doctor, Burgsmuller said "you can certainly say that it does not make sense" to play through injury pain, but it was "ultimately up to the athlete to decide".

Burgsmuller said he hoped Nadal would still add to his French Open total in his final appearance next year, but feared the ongoing impact of injuries put that out of reach.

"It's never nice to see someone who is somehow battered and injured, who needs to push themselves beyond the pain barrier -- someone who is on the verge of maybe giving up or not even competing.

"A two-week Grand Slam is already incredibly exhausting for the body."

https://sports.yahoo.com/another-league-nadals-first-french-103938045.html