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Tag: Novak Djokovic

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Rafael Nadal’s 2007 French Open winning racquet sells for $118K at auction | Off the field News – Times of India

Rafael Nadal's championship point-winning racquet from his 2007 French Open final triumph over Roger Federer has fetched an impressive sum of over $118,000 at an auction on Monday. This sale places the item among the highest-priced pieces of tennis memorabilia ever auctioned.Nadal beat Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the 2007 final in Paris to win his third Grand Slam title before the Spaniard moved on to secure a further 19 - 14 of them at Roland Garros - becoming one of the sport's greatest players.The auctioned racquet had not only played a pivotal role in Nadal's historic French Open win but was also used in earlier matches of the tournament, including the semi-final against Novak Djokovic.Sold for $118,206 at Prestige Memorabilia's online auction, The Tennis Auction, the racquet was ...
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Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev: Australian Open Men’s Final | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Jannik Sinner's stunning victory over Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals has brought an end, at least temporarily, to the era dominated by Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. The 22-year-old Italian, ranked fourth, is now set to face Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the men's final on Sunday, with both players vying to carve their names onto the coveted Australian Open trophy.Sinner's journey to the final has been nothing short of impressive, progressing smoothly through the draw without dropping a set until the semi-finals. His impeccable serve has been a highlight, as he didn't face a break point against Djokovic and has been broken just twice in 88 service games throughout the tournament.Reflecting on his remarkable journey, Sinner expressed confidence in ...
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Jannik Sinner’s strong and improved baseline game helps him stun Novak Djokovic to reach Australian Open final

In a resolute, nerveless, three-hour-long display of destructive shot making and tactical mastery, Jannik Sinner, the rising 22-year-old World No.4, defeated Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Friday, reaching his first Major final and becoming the first Italian man to reach the singles final in Melbourne.Sinner outplayed and outmanoeuvred the undisputed king of Melbourne Park – and men’s tennis in general – and in doing so, not only strengthened his long-held credentials as a potential great in the making, but also achieved a feat that none of the Serb’s greatest rivals had been able to accomplish even at the peak of their careers. Prior to Friday, Novak Djokovic had never lost in the semifinal or final of the Australian Open. A perfect 20...
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Australian Open: Novak Djokovic stunned by Jannik Sinner in semifinal | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic failed in his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title as he was defeated by Jannik Sinner 1-6, 2-6, 7-6(6), 3-6 in the Australian Open semifinal in Melbourne on Friday.Sinner had a match point in the tie-breaker but Djokovic brought all his experience into play to save it and win the 76-minute third set.Djokovic stood just two matches away from tennis immortality, but his march towards an 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown was dashed by Sinner on the Rod Laver Arena.Italy's Sinner had recent pedigree in matches against Djokovic, beating him in the group stage at the ATP Finals -- though Djokovic came out on top in the final -- and at the Davis Cup.Before this match, Djokovic had an unbeaten streak of 33 matches -- stretching b...
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Australian Open: Jannik Sinner can match Novak Djokovic in his game, but can he emulate the Serb’s appetite for the big stage?

For Novak Djokovic, hunting a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, the biggest threat in the main draw of the Australian Open may not have been a rematch of his epic five-set Wimbledon final defeat to 20-year-old Spanish phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz. The highly-anticipated potential semifinal between Djokovic, the greatest tennis player on the big stage, and Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old World No. 4 from Italy on an unparalleled hot streak, is now a reality, as well as a small headache for the World No. 1.Friday’s semifinal has the potential to be a seminal moment in Sinner’s career. Not only is he in red-hot form – he has won 18 of his last 19 matches and clinched two ATP titles and the Davis Cup since October – but he has also defeated Djokovic twice in three meetings over 12 days at...
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Australian Open 2024: Can in-form Jannik Sinner clutch up for ultimate Novak Djokovic test?

Among the many storylines surrounding the Australian Open this year, it has relatively slipped under the radar that Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old World No. 4 from Italy, is the most in-form player in the world.His 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over the fifth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev on Tuesday was his 18th victory in the last 19 matches, which has included a talismanic Davis Cup win for his country. He has stormed through this tournament’s draw without dropping a set, and suffering only two breaks of serve. The 26-year-old Rublev is in the peak of physical shape and is now an experienced campaigner who has spent much of the last four years among the world’s top 10 players. Yet, both his temperament and game have betrayed him on the big stage. Tuesday’s loss meant he had been defeated in ea...
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Jannik Sinner sets up Novak Djokovic semi-final at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

Jannik Sinner secured a convincing victory in the early hours of Wednesday, defeating Andrey Rublev in straight sets to advance to his first Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne.The Italian fourth seed displayed a formidable performance, particularly on serve, as he triumphed 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 against the Russian fifth seed on Rod Laver Arena.Sinner's impressive win sets the stage for a challenging semi-final showdown against the defending champion, Novak Djokovic.The upcoming clash promises to be a formidable test for the Italian player as he aims to make his mark in the tournament and compete against one of the tennis greats in the quest for the Australian Open title."It's obviously very tough to play against him," said Sinner. "We've had tough matches in the past."Today was thre...
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Novak Djokovic goes past Taylor Fritz to enter Australian Open semis | Tennis News – Times of India

Novak Djokovic maintained his dominance over Taylor Fritz, overcoming a significant challenge to secure a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over the 12th-seeded American in the scorching conditions of Tuesday at Australian Open. This win propelled the 36-year-old defending champion into a record-extending 48th Grand Slam semi-final.Despite Djokovic having triumphed in all eight of their previous encounters, including a challenging five-set match at Melbourne Park in 2021 and a commanding victory at the U.S.Open last year, the Serbian faced a formidable test in this encounter. Striving for an 11th title and a historic 25th major to surpass Margaret Court's record, Djokovic encountered resistance in a marathon first game that featured nine deuces, with Fritz saving eight break points.Undeterr...
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Carlos Alcaraz storms into Australian Open quarter-final against Alexander Zverev | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Carlos Alcaraz swiftly advanced to the Australian Open quarter-final in Melbourne on Monday, setting the stage for a clash with Alexander Zverev. Alcaraz secured the win with a decisive scoreline of 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in just one hour and 49 minutes.In a commanding straight-set victory over unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, the second seed, considered a formidable contender against defending champion Novak Djokovic, showcased a dominant performance without facing a single break point.The Spaniard, who opted to skip any competitive tennis before the first Grand Slam of the year, expressed satisfaction, stating that he executed his game plan perfectly."I pushed him to the limit in every ball, every point," he said. "He has played a lot of tough matches before this one, so probably...
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Dominant Novak Djokovic enters Australian Open quarter-finals, equals Roger Federer’s record | Tennis News – Times of India

Novak Djokovic continued his determined pursuit of a historic 25th Grand Slam title, gaining momentum on Sunday by defeating 20th seed Adrian Mannarino in a commanding fashion to secure a spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals. The Serbian dominated his French opponent on Rod Laver Arena with a resounding 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 victory, reaffirming his position as the undeniable frontrunner to claim an 11th title at Melbourne Park."I really wanted to lose that game in the third set because the tension was building up so much in the stadium," he joked, referring to the possibility of winning without losing a game. "I just needed to get that out of the way and re-focus."The current world number one has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the 58th time, matching Roger Federer's men's ...
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Novak Djokovic shares how he riled Roger Federer as a newcomer | Tennis News – Times of India

Novak Djokovic has shared insights into how he unsettled Roger Federer when he burst onto the tennis scene as a brash newcomer. However, he noted that this only fueled his determination to become the best player in the world.The Serbian, currently holding the top spot in the world rankings, is aiming for a historic 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne, where he has already clinched the title on 10 occasions.Djokovic stands as the most decorated player in men's tennis, boasting two more major titles than the sidelined Rafael Nadal and a four-title lead over the retired Federer, both of whom are part of the renowned 'Big Three.'Having engaged in a memorable rivalry with the Swiss maestro, winning 27 of their 50 encounters, the 36-year-old is now eyeing an 11th Australian Open victory in Mel...
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Golden Slam not happening: Djokovic is GOAT but Steffi Graf was something else

If Novak Djokovic says that he can walk on water, the world is most likely to believe him. So late last year when the Serb said that 2024 for him would be about winning the Olympic gold medal at Paris and sweeping the four Slams, the ambitious new year goal sounded reasonable and realistic for most. The ones not convinced by the Serbian living legend were those who had diligently followed the then 19-year-old Steffi Graf’s magical Golden Grand Slam year of 1988.Djokovic might have won a world record 24 Slams but at 36 he isn’t the Steffi of the late 80s. The 1988 bar is too high. The German phenomenon lost a grand total of just two sets in all the four Grand Slams she won. Djokovic, by the way, has already lost two sets in the first two rounds of the season’s opening Slam – the ongoing ...
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Smooth Novak Djokovic glides into last 16 at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic finally hit his stride at the Australian Open on Friday as he sent Argentine Tomas Etcheverry packing 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the third round and marched into the second week of the tournament for the 16th time.The 10-time champion, who was dragged into dogfights in the first two rounds, gave a masterclass in clean and clinical tennis for two sets as he picked apart the 24-year-old Argentine in his 100th match at Melbourne Park. "It was a great match, I think the best performance I have had during this tournament and I'm pleased with the way I played throughout the entire match," he said as cheers rang out on Rod Laver Arena.The world number one has been under the weather in Melbourne, regularly blowing his nose during changeovers, and admitted he has not been at ...
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Watch: Novak Djokovic confronts heckler at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic revealed that a heated altercation with a fan might have played a role in helping him secure victory during a challenging second-round match at the Australian Open against local favorite Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday.The world number one exhibited his characteristic mental fortitude to overcome his determined opponent, triumphing 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in a match that lasted over three hours.This victory came on the heels of a demanding first-round encounter on Sunday, where he spent over four hours on the court against teenager Dino Prizmic. Djokovic acknowledged afterward that he was "a bit under the weather" during that match.During the fourth set on Wednesday, Djokovic became involved in a contentious exchange with a spectator on Rod Laver Arena."There were...
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Carlos Alcaraz destroys Gasquet to reach Australian Open second round | Tennis News – Times of India

In a commanding display of strength, Carlos Alcaraz delivered an impressive performance in his opening match at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday, overpowering French veteran Richard Gasquet with a scoreline of 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-2.The second seed, with aspirations to dethrone the 10-time champion Novak Djokovic from the world number one spot, faced a tight first set but swiftly elevated his game in the subsequent sets, demonstrating his prowess on the court.Expressing his satisfaction, Alcaraz mentioned the positive feeling of being back in Melbourne. Despite not advancing beyond the third round in his previous two visits, his strong start in this tournament suggests a potential breakthrough for the talented young player."In the first set I struggled a little with his game," h...
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Sumit Nagal ends 34-year wait: From Rs 80,000 in the bank at start of last year to becoming the first Indian after Ramesh Krishnan to beat a seeded player in a Grand Slam

Late last year, India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal lamented being in the position that many on the brutal, unequal professional tennis tour were backed into after a few tough years. Making ends meet, training at the highest level, playing more matches, travelling with coaches, had all been a financial impossibility.“If I look at my bank balance, I have what I had at the beginning of the year. It is 900 euros (around Rs 80,000),” he told PTI in September. “The funding needed to break into the top 100 is around one crore.” On Tuesday, after becoming the first Indian since Ramesh Krishnan in 1989 to beat a seeded player in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam, Nagal will get closer to that amount. Even if he loses his next match, after beating 27th seed Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-...
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‘Looking forward to play together’: Text-buddy Novak Djokovic responds to Virat Kohli | Cricket News – Times of India

After Virat Kohli revealed how his camaraderie with tennis legend Novak Djokovic began with a casual "hello" via an Instagram message and turned into mutual admiration, the Serbian ace responded to BCCI's video post on 'X', thanking Kohli for his "kind words". "Thank you for these kind words @imVkohli. Looking forward to the day we play together," wrote Djokovic, who is currently vying for his 11th Australian Open title and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam trophy.On Sunday, the BCCI shared a video featuring Kohli where the batting legend made the story of his friendship with Djokovic public. "I got in touch with Novak very organically, I was just looking at his profile once on Instagram and I just happened to press the message button. I thought I'll just say hello, maybe," Kohli said ...
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Novak Djokovic comes through Dino Prizmic test in Melbourne opener | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic found himself in a challenging battle against the talented teenager Dino Prizmic and had to show resilience to kick off his Australian Open title defense with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory in the first round on Sunday.The Serbian, who participated in his first Australian Open a few months before the Croatian qualifier was born in August 2005, appeared to be in complete command initially on the Rod Laver Arena court, where he has claimed 10 of his 24 Grand Slam titles.Prizmic had already demonstrated the weapons in his arsenal and managed to break the top seed with a brilliant crosscourt winner early in the second set. This forced Djokovic to elevate his game, responding with a break straight back.Despite requiring a medical timeout to receive strapping on his...
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‘I got in touch with Novak…’: Virat Kohli reveals how he made Novak Djokovic his ‘text buddy’ – WATCH | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India's star cricketer Virat Kohli on Sunday revealed the heartwarming story of mutual admiration between him and tennis legend Novak Djokovic. The tale unfolded when Kohli initiated contact with the 24-time Major champion through a casual social media greeting. To his astonishment, the tennis maestro had already reached out to him, marking the commencement of their camaraderie."I got in touch with Novak very organically, I was just looking at his profile once on Instagram and I just happened to press the message button. I thought I'll just say hello, maybe," Kohli revealed on BCCI twitter ahead of his T20 comeback against Afghanistan at Indore."And then I saw a message from him on my DM already. I never opened it myself. So, first time I saw my own messages myself, I saw, he...
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‘Virat Kohli and I have been texting for a few years’: Novak Djokovic opens up on bond with Indian cricketer

They have never met each other, but over the last few years, Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic have forged a bond via text messages, both players have revealed. Recently, Djokovic gave a brief glimpse into his relationship with the Indian batting maestro. “Virat Kohli and I have been texting a little bit for a few years. We never got the chance to meet in person, but it was an honour and privilege to listen to him speak nicely about me. I admire his career and his achievements. I started to play cricket. I’m not very good at it. I have a task to perfect my cricket skills before I get to India so that I don’t embarrass myself when I am there,” he recently revealed on Sony Sports. Kohli then shared a funny anecdote about his first interaction with Djokovic and lifted the curtain on their bon...