Novak Djokovic is not resting on his laurels after claiming the all-time men's record with his 23rd Grand Slam title last month and the Serbian said on Saturday that he is already eyeing number 24 at Wimbledon where he is the defending champion.

Djokovic went past Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 Slams when he won the French Open last month and, though his old Spanish rival will not be challenging for titles this year due to injury, Djokovic has no plans to put his feet up and relax.

The 36-year-old has won the last four Wimbledon crowns and is one shy of tying Roger Federer's men's record of eight titles at the All England Club. He also now sits just one Grand Slam behind Margaret Court who won a record 24.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-feliciano-lopez-hails-miracle-boy-carlos-alcaraz-touts-him-to-fill-compatriot-nadals-shoes-610843">Wimbledon 2023: Feliciano Lopez hails 'miracle boy' Carlos Alcaraz, touts him to fill compatriot Nadal's shoes</a>

"I don't feel more relaxed, to be honest. I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis," Djokovic told reporters. "As long as there's that drive, I know that I'm able to compete at the highest level. If that goes down, then I guess I'll have to face probably different circumstances and have a different approach.

"So far there's still the drive. A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done. The tennis season is such that it doesn't really give you much time to really reflect or enjoy."

Djokovic said that although he was proud of his historic achievement, life as a professional player demands that kind of mentality and intensity as he looks to win as many majors as he can before his body can take no more.

"If you really want to have a chance and have a go at more slam titles, you need to maintain that concentration and devotion," he said. "I want to try to use every Grand Slam opportunity I have at this stage where I'm feeling good in my body, feeling motivated and playing very good tennis, to try to get more."

<h2>'Alcaraz, for his age, is impressive'</h2>

Djokovic comes into Wimbledon as the second seed this year with 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz now world number one after his first title on grass at Queen's. However, that does not faze the Serbian.

"I think for someone his age, it's impressive, everything he (Alcaraz) is doing. With his team, of course, he's got Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world number one, in his corner who can guide him and mentor him," Djokovic said. "For me, I don't need to have Carlos or anybody else really to find that extra drive and motivation when I enter Slams because I know that I have to win seven matches to win a title.

"So, whoever I get to face across the net, it doesn't make a difference for me. I need to do what I need to do."

Djokovic will begin his Wimbledon title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday.

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Novak Djokovic is not resting on his laurels after claiming the all-time men's record with his 23rd Grand Slam title last month and the Serbian said on Saturday that he is already eyeing number 24 at Wimbledon where he is the defending champion.

Novak Djokovic is not resting on his laurels after claiming the all-time men's record with his 23rd Grand Slam title last month and the Serbian said on Saturday that he is already eyeing number 24 at Wimbledon where he is the defending champion. Djokovic went past Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 Slams when he won the French Open last month and, though his old Spanish rival will not be challenging for titles this year due to injury, Djokovic has no plans to put his feet up and relax. The 36-year-old has won the last four Wimbledon crowns and is one shy of tying Roger Federer's men's record of eight titles at the All England Club. He also now sits just one Grand Slam behind Margaret Court who won a record 24. ALSO READ: Wimbledon 2023: Feliciano Lopez hails 'miracle boy' Carlos Alcaraz, touts him to fill compatriot Nadal's shoes "I don't feel more relaxed, to be honest. I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis," Djokovic told reporters. "As long as there's that drive, I know that I'm able to compete at the highest level. If that goes down, then I guess I'll have to face probably different circumstances and have a different approach. "So far there's still the drive. A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done. The tennis season is such that it doesn't really give you much time to really reflect or enjoy." Djokovic said that although he was proud of his historic achievement, life as a professional player demands that kind of mentality and intensity as he looks to win as many majors as he can before his body can take no more. "If you really want to have a chance and have a go at more slam titles, you need to maintain that concentration and devotion," he said. "I want to try to use every Grand Slam opportunity I have at this stage where I'm feeling good in my body, feeling motivated and playing very good tennis, to try to get more." 'Alcaraz, for his age, is impressive' Djokovic comes into Wimbledon as the second seed this year with 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz now world number one after his first title on grass at Queen's. However, that does not faze the Serbian. "I think for someone his age, it's impressive, everything he (Alcaraz) is doing. With his team, of course, he's got Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world number one, in his corner who can guide him and mentor him," Djokovic said. "For me, I don't need to have Carlos or anybody else really to find that extra drive and motivation when I enter Slams because I know that I have to win seven matches to win a title. "So, whoever I get to face across the net, it doesn't make a difference for me. I need to do what I need to do." Djokovic will begin his Wimbledon title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tennis: 'Whoever I get to face, it doesn't make a difference...': Novak Djokovic on defending Wimbledon crown

Daniil Medvedev has no doubt that Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player in history and the world number three believes the Serbian's ability to conjure up victories even on his bad days sets him apart from the rest.

Djokovic claimed a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open last month to leapfrog Rafa Nadal and go three ahead of another great rival in Roger Federer, with the 36-year-old eyeing an eighth crown at Wimbledon which begins on Monday.

Victory in London will leave Djokovic level with Margaret Court on 24 major titles atop the all-time list.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-whoever-i-get-to-face-it-doesnt-make-a-difference-novak-djokovic-on-defending-wimbledon-crown-610954">Tennis: 'Whoever I get to face, it doesn't make a difference...': Novak Djokovic on defending Wimbledon crown</a>

"I don't know how does he do it," Medvedev told reporters. "I think if I saw it right, Novak is almost 50%. I think I saw he played 70 majors and 35 (34) he was in the final. I don't know how it is possible. He doesn't have bad days?

"Actually, he does, like everybody. Even on these bad days, he manages to beat the opponent. It's actually tough because it's one against one. Both of them want to win.

"I don't know how he's doing it. That's why he's for me the greatest in the history of tennis. But this is basically, of course, debatable."

<h2>'I want continue playing against him...'</h2>

Having also won the Australian Open at the start of the year, Djokovic is looking to keep alive his hopes of a calendar year Grand Slam - winning all four majors in a single year.

Medvedev famously beat Djokovic in the 2021 U.S. Open final to deny the world number two the feat at the final hurdle.

"To be able to beat him when he was going for a Grand Slam, maybe he was a little bit tighter than usual, but I played an amazing match," Medvedev said. "This gives me even more pride that I was able to do it, given what he continued to do after this.

"I'm just happy I was able to do it. I don't want to stop. I want to try to continue to play against him again in finals, or against anyone else. That's what I didn't manage to do since some time."

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Daniil Medvedev has no doubt that Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player in history and the world number three believes the Serbian's ability to conjure up victories even on his bad days sets him apart from the rest.

Daniil Medvedev has no doubt that Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player in history and the world number three believes the Serbian's ability to conjure up victories even on his bad days sets him apart from the rest. Djokovic claimed a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open last month to leapfrog Rafa Nadal and go three ahead of another great rival in Roger Federer, with the 36-year-old eyeing an eighth crown at Wimbledon which begins on Monday. Victory in London will leave Djokovic level with Margaret Court on 24 major titles atop the all-time list. ALSO READ: Tennis: 'Whoever I get to face, it doesn't make a difference...': Novak Djokovic on defending Wimbledon crown "I don't know how does he do it," Medvedev told reporters. "I think if I saw it right, Novak is almost 50%. I think I saw he played 70 majors and 35 (34) he was in the final. I don't know how it is possible. He doesn't have bad days? "Actually, he does, like everybody. Even on these bad days, he manages to beat the opponent. It's actually tough because it's one against one. Both of them want to win. "I don't know how he's doing it. That's why he's for me the greatest in the history of tennis. But this is basically, of course, debatable." 'I want continue playing against him...' Having also won the Australian Open at the start of the year, Djokovic is looking to keep alive his hopes of a calendar year Grand Slam - winning all four majors in a single year. Medvedev famously beat Djokovic in the 2021 U.S. Open final to deny the world number two the feat at the final hurdle. "To be able to beat him when he was going for a Grand Slam, maybe he was a little bit tighter than usual, but I played an amazing match," Medvedev said. "This gives me even more pride that I was able to do it, given what he continued to do after this. "I'm just happy I was able to do it. I don't want to stop. I want to try to continue to play against him again in finals, or against anyone else. That's what I didn't manage to do since some time." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wimbledon: 'For me he is the greatest in history of Tennis': Daniil Medvedev hails Slams leader Novak Djokovic

Defending women's champion Elena Rybakina will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round at Wimbledon while men's second seed Novak Djokovic will begin his title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin.

Friday's draw at the All England Club pitched women's top seed Iga Swiatek against China's 33rd-ranked Zhu Lin, a potentially tricky first hurdle for the Pole. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who could not play last year because of Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will open her campaign against Hungarian Panna Udvardy.

American veteran Venus Williams against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in one of the standout matches of the opening round while home favourite Andy Murray, bidding for an unlikely third title at the age of 36, plays British wildcard Ryan Peniston.

Murray could face fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two although first Tsitsipas must get passed former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem who has tumbled down the rankings. American teenager Coco Gauff, who many are tipping for a long run, has a tough opener against fellow former French Open runner-up and compatriot Sofia Kenin.

Djokovic, who has won the last four men's titles at Wimbledon and is bidding to match Roger Federer's eight, is not seeded one this year having been replaced at the top of the rankings by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz, who warmed up by winning the title at Queen's Club last week, faces a tricky opener against experienced Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Last year's runner-up Nick Kyrgios, who has hardly played this year and whose participation is in doubt because of injury, plays dangerous Belgian wildcard David Goffin in a standout first round clash.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-polands-kamil-majchrzak-banned-for-13-months-after-failing-drug-test-610529">Also Read:&nbsp;Tennis: Poland's Kamil Majchrzak banned for 13 months after failing drug test</a>

Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, a potential semi-final opponent for Alcaraz, returns to Wimbledon with a first round against British wildcard Arthur Fery. The projected women's quarter-finals based on seedings would see Swiatek meet seventh seed Coco Gauff while third seed Rybakina could face Tunisia's Ons Jabeur.

Swiatek is positioned to face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. The men's quarter-finals, if the seeds progress, would see Alcaraz up against Denmark's sixth seed Holger Rune with Medvedev up against Tsitsipas while in the bottom half Djokovic could face seventh-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev with fourth seed Casper Ruud potentially facing Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, will face Cachin on Monday while Rybakina plays the traditional Tuesday Centre Court opener for women's defending champions.

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Defending women's champion Elena Rybakina will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round at Wimbledon while men's second seed Novak Djokovic will begin his title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin.

Defending women's champion Elena Rybakina will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round at Wimbledon while men's second seed Novak Djokovic will begin his title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin. Friday's draw at the All England Club pitched women's top seed Iga Swiatek against China's 33rd-ranked Zhu Lin, a potentially tricky first hurdle for the Pole. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who could not play last year because of Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will open her campaign against Hungarian Panna Udvardy. American veteran Venus Williams against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in one of the standout matches of the opening round while home favourite Andy Murray, bidding for an unlikely third title at the age of 36, plays British wildcard Ryan Peniston. Murray could face fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two although first Tsitsipas must get passed former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem who has tumbled down the rankings. American teenager Coco Gauff, who many are tipping for a long run, has a tough opener against fellow former French Open runner-up and compatriot Sofia Kenin. Djokovic, who has won the last four men's titles at Wimbledon and is bidding to match Roger Federer's eight, is not seeded one this year having been replaced at the top of the rankings by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, who warmed up by winning the title at Queen's Club last week, faces a tricky opener against experienced Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Last year's runner-up Nick Kyrgios, who has hardly played this year and whose participation is in doubt because of injury, plays dangerous Belgian wildcard David Goffin in a standout first round clash. Also Read: Tennis: Poland's Kamil Majchrzak banned for 13 months after failing drug test Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, a potential semi-final opponent for Alcaraz, returns to Wimbledon with a first round against British wildcard Arthur Fery. The projected women's quarter-finals based on seedings would see Swiatek meet seventh seed Coco Gauff while third seed Rybakina could face Tunisia's Ons Jabeur. Swiatek is positioned to face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. The men's quarter-finals, if the seeds progress, would see Alcaraz up against Denmark's sixth seed Holger Rune with Medvedev up against Tsitsipas while in the bottom half Djokovic could face seventh-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev with fourth seed Casper Ruud potentially facing Jannik Sinner. Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, will face Cachin on Monday while Rybakina plays the traditional Tuesday Centre Court opener for women's defending champions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Tennis: Novak Djokovic to face Pedro Cachin in Wimbledon 2023 opener, Rybakina up against Rogers

Less than a week remains for the start of the Wimbledon Championships as top seeds in the gentlemen’s division gather to clinch glory at the All England Lawn Tennis &amp; Croquet Club (AELTCC) from Monday, June 3. Top seed&nbsp;Carlos Alcaraz, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will be some of the names who could lift the coveted Wimbledon title in little over two weeks, but Novak Djokovic will stand as the clear favourite to clinch the Wimbledon 2023 title. The Serbian has a stellar record at the Championships and will look to stamp his authority at the All England Club next week.

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Mind-blowing <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> stats 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/xfTbV0TiSJ">pic.twitter.com/xfTbV0TiSJ</a>
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1673742446897905689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Djokovic’s impressive numbers at Wimbledon</h2>

The seven-time champion could make history if he win a record 24th Grand Slam title that will see him go level with Margaret Court for most singles titles at&nbsp;24. Djokovic has an impeccable record at the All England Club and has not lost a completed match since 2016. The former world number one is currently on a run of 28 consecutive wins at Wimbledon, having last lost in 2017 at the Championships.

The 36-year-old, now in the twilight of his career, has won 86 matches at Wimbledon, more than his year’s top 20 combined (85 wins). Novak has an astonishing record at the Centre Court of Wimbledon and has not lost at the coveted stadium since his historic defeat to Andy Murray in the final of 2013.

The 23-time major winner could become just the third player in the open era to win the grass court Championships for five consecutive seasons and could join Roger Federer (2003 to 2008) and Bjorn Borg (1976 to 1980) in the elite list.

<h2>Djokovic enters Wimbledon with momentum</h2>

Novak will enter the Wimbledon Championships with momentum on his side having conquered both the Australia Open and the French Open in 2023. In 2023, the Serb has not achieved much success compared to other years but has bought his ‘A-Game’ into play whenever he has needed. Novak won the Australian Open and the French Open with ease despite facing the challenge of the finest players on the court in the form of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud in big games. His win at the French Open also saw him become the first triple Grand Slam champion, having won all the Grand Slams on at least three occasions.

Currently, Novak is the defending champion at the three Grand Slams which include the Australia Open, French Open, and the US Open. Additionally, his long-term compatriots Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are not part of the Wimbledon this year as the former has announced his retirement while the latter is struggling with injuries and did not even participate at Roland Garros in May.

So far in 2023, Novak has won a win-loss record of 27-4 and will look to build on to his impressive numbers at Wimbledon. Interestingly, Novak has not lost a Grand Slam match since he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in June 2022. He is unbeaten in his last 21 Grand Slam matches and could extend that tally at Wimbledon this year.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-ankita-raina-indias-only-singles-player-at-event-bows-out-with-a-loss-in-qualifiers-609611">Wimbledon 2023: Ankita Raina, India’s only singles player at event, bows out with a loss in qualifiers</a>

<h2>Lack of experience with compatriots</h2>

Novak possesses impressive numbers at the Wimbledon Championships but apart from it another factor that could see him as the favourite to clinch the title is the experience of his compatriots. The current top 10 seeds at the Wimbledon Championships have a combined two Grand Slam titles in between them, 21 less than Djokovic’s tally of 23, this includes US Open triumphs of Daniil Medvedev in 2021 and Carlos Alcaraz’ in 2022.

The only other players likely to enter Wimbledon with Grand Slam titles with them include Stanislas Wawrinka (three titles) and Andy Murray (three titles). The inexperience of his compatriots could play a big role in deciding the outcome of matches as Djokovic in the past has showcased his will against the likes of Tsitsipas and Ruud.

<h2>Djokovic eyes place in history books</h2>

One factor that makes Djokovic favourite is the will to capture a place in the history books as he chases an elusive 24th Grand Slam title. Currently, Novak holds the record for most singles Grand Slam titles with 23 and a win at the All England Club will see him go past Serena Williams for most individual titles while he levels the tally of Margaret Court. A win at Wimbledon will also put him on course for an annual Grand Slam title which has not been achieved since 1969 when Rod Laver clinched the historic feat.

The Serb came close to achieving the annual Grand Slam in 2021, only before he lost the US Open final to Daniil Medvedev. If does go all the way to win the Wimbledon this year, he will become the first male player since Rod Laver to win 28 consecutive Grand Slam matches, a feat achieved in 1969.

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Less than a week remains for the start of the Wimbledon Championships as top seeds in the gentlemen’s division gather to clinch glory at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTCC) from Monday, June 3.

Less than a week remains for the start of the Wimbledon Championships as top seeds in the gentlemen’s division gather to clinch glory at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTCC) from Monday, June 3. Top seed Carlos Alcaraz, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will be some of the names who could lift the coveted Wimbledon title in little over two weeks, but Novak Djokovic will stand as the clear favourite to clinch the Wimbledon 2023 title. The Serbian has a stellar record at the Championships and will look to stamp his authority at the All England Club next week. Mind-blowing @DjokerNole stats 🤯#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/xfTbV0TiSJ — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2023 × Djokovic’s impressive numbers at Wimbledon The seven-time champion could make history if he win a record 24th Grand Slam title that will see him go level with Margaret Court for most singles titles at 24. Djokovic has an impeccable record at the All England Club and has not lost a completed match since 2016. The former world number one is currently on a run of 28 consecutive wins at Wimbledon, having last lost in 2017 at the Championships. The 36-year-old, now in the twilight of his career, has won 86 matches at Wimbledon, more than his year’s top 20 combined (85 wins). Novak has an astonishing record at the Centre Court of Wimbledon and has not lost at the coveted stadium since his historic defeat to Andy Murray in the final of 2013. The 23-time major winner could become just the third player in the open era to win the grass court Championships for five consecutive seasons and could join Roger Federer (2003 to 2008) and Bjorn Borg (1976 to 1980) in the elite list. Djokovic enters Wimbledon with momentum Novak will enter the Wimbledon Championships with momentum on his side having conquered both the Australia Open and the French Open in 2023. In 2023, the Serb has not achieved much success compared to other years but has bought his ‘A-Game’ into play whenever he has needed. Novak won the Australian Open and the French Open with ease despite facing the challenge of the finest players on the court in the form of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud in big games. His win at the French Open also saw him become the first triple Grand Slam champion, having won all the Grand Slams on at least three occasions. Currently, Novak is the defending champion at the three Grand Slams which include the Australia Open, French Open, and the US Open. Additionally, his long-term compatriots Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are not part of the Wimbledon this year as the former has announced his retirement while the latter is struggling with injuries and did not even participate at Roland Garros in May. So far in 2023, Novak has won a win-loss record of 27-4 and will look to build on to his impressive numbers at Wimbledon. Interestingly, Novak has not lost a Grand Slam match since he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in June 2022. He is unbeaten in his last 21 Grand Slam matches and could extend that tally at Wimbledon this year. ALSO READ | Wimbledon 2023: Ankita Raina, India’s only singles player at event, bows out with a loss in qualifiers Lack of experience with compatriots Novak possesses impressive numbers at the Wimbledon Championships but apart from it another factor that could see him as the favourite to clinch the title is the experience of his compatriots. The current top 10 seeds at the Wimbledon Championships have a combined two Grand Slam titles in between them, 21 less than Djokovic’s tally of 23, this includes US Open triumphs of Daniil Medvedev in 2021 and Carlos Alcaraz’ in 2022. The only other players likely to enter Wimbledon with Grand Slam titles with them include Stanislas Wawrinka (three titles) and Andy Murray (three titles). The inexperience of his compatriots could play a big role in deciding the outcome of matches as Djokovic in the past has showcased his will against the likes of Tsitsipas and Ruud. Djokovic eyes place in history books One factor that makes Djokovic favourite is the will to capture a place in the history books as he chases an elusive 24th Grand Slam title. Currently, Novak holds the record for most singles Grand Slam titles with 23 and a win at the All England Club will see him go past Serena Williams for most individual titles while he levels the tally of Margaret Court. A win at Wimbledon will also put him on course for an annual Grand Slam title which has not been achieved since 1969 when Rod Laver clinched the historic feat. The Serb came close to achieving the annual Grand Slam in 2021, only before he lost the US Open final to Daniil Medvedev. If does go all the way to win the Wimbledon this year, he will become the first male player since Rod Laver to win 28 consecutive Grand Slam matches, a feat achieved in 1969. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXPLAINED | Why Novak Djokovic is favourite to clinch Wimbledon 2023

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning as he comfortably beat Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title on Sunday and return to world number one. In baking temperatures, the 20-year-old had too much firepower for his wily Australian opponent as he claimed his first grasscourt title in impressive fashion.

It was only Alcaraz's third tournament on grass, but the way he marched through the draw augurs well for his prospects at Wimbledon, where he will be seeded number one.

De Minaur, the first Australian to reach the London final since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006, had chances for a break of serve when leading 4-3 in the opening set but could not take them. Alcaraz then broke serve in the following game before wrapping up the set on serve.

De Minaur double-faulted to hand over a service game early in the second set and there was no way the muscular Spaniard was going to pass up the opportunity to notch his fifth title of 2023.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/american-sprinter-noah-lyles-equals-usain-bolts-career-record-in-200m-event-watch-608527">American sprinter Noah Lyles equals Usain Bolt's career record in 200m event - WATCH</a>

Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish player to win the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament and will now hope to emulate Rafa Nadal who triumphed at Queen's in 2008 before going on to win Wimbledon for the first time a few weeks later.

"So many legends have won here so to see my name on the trophy surrounded by great champions, it's amazing," reigning U.S. Open champion Alcaraz said on court.

While Novak Djokovic remains the favourite to retain his Wimbledon title, Alcaraz will be the top seed at the tournament, where he reached the fourth round last year.

The way he has taken to grass, winning 10 sets in succession after losing his first of the week at Queen's, should make him a serious contender at the All England Club.

"I started the week not too well, but I adapted my movement and I ended the week with a lot of energy," he said.

As well as Nadal, several other players in recent times have gone on to win Wimbledon after conquering Queen's Club, including Andy Murray in 2013 and 2016, Pete Sampras in 1995 and 1999, and Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. Boris Becker, then a teenager, also did the double in 1985 as a teenager.

Even 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal took a while to adapt his game to grass, but the speed at which Alcaraz has looked at ease on the surface is astonishing.

De Minaur is one of the craftiest lawn players in the world but he could do nothing as Alcaraz showed great lawn skills, notably an impressive sliced backhand when required and a confidence around the net.

His forehand, meanwhile, was simply devastating, regularly clocking 90mph and drawing gasps from the crowd.

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Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning as he comfortably beat Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title on Sunday and return to world number one.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning as he comfortably beat Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title on Sunday and return to world number one. In baking temperatures, the 20-year-old had too much firepower for his wily Australian opponent as he claimed his first grasscourt title in impressive fashion. It was only Alcaraz's third tournament on grass, but the way he marched through the draw augurs well for his prospects at Wimbledon, where he will be seeded number one. De Minaur, the first Australian to reach the London final since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006, had chances for a break of serve when leading 4-3 in the opening set but could not take them. Alcaraz then broke serve in the following game before wrapping up the set on serve. De Minaur double-faulted to hand over a service game early in the second set and there was no way the muscular Spaniard was going to pass up the opportunity to notch his fifth title of 2023. ALSO READ: American sprinter Noah Lyles equals Usain Bolt's career record in 200m event - WATCH Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish player to win the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament and will now hope to emulate Rafa Nadal who triumphed at Queen's in 2008 before going on to win Wimbledon for the first time a few weeks later. "So many legends have won here so to see my name on the trophy surrounded by great champions, it's amazing," reigning U.S. Open champion Alcaraz said on court. While Novak Djokovic remains the favourite to retain his Wimbledon title, Alcaraz will be the top seed at the tournament, where he reached the fourth round last year. The way he has taken to grass, winning 10 sets in succession after losing his first of the week at Queen's, should make him a serious contender at the All England Club. "I started the week not too well, but I adapted my movement and I ended the week with a lot of energy," he said. As well as Nadal, several other players in recent times have gone on to win Wimbledon after conquering Queen's Club, including Andy Murray in 2013 and 2016, Pete Sampras in 1995 and 1999, and Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. Boris Becker, then a teenager, also did the double in 1985 as a teenager. Even 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal took a while to adapt his game to grass, but the speed at which Alcaraz has looked at ease on the surface is astonishing. De Minaur is one of the craftiest lawn players in the world but he could do nothing as Alcaraz showed great lawn skills, notably an impressive sliced backhand when required and a confidence around the net. His forehand, meanwhile, was simply devastating, regularly clocking 90mph and drawing gasps from the crowd. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz wins Queen's Cup and regains number one ranking

Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray is gearing up for Wimbledon 2023 edition. The veteran's career has been marred with injury concerns. Before he decides to call it quits, Murray will be eager to add more titles to his cabinet. Recently, the Brit spoke at length on his retirement plans and revealed that he wants to sign off on his 'own terms'.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the 36-year-old said that he is focused on making the most of the opportunities in the last phase of his professional career. In 2018, he underwent hip surgery which kept him out of action for almost the whole season. However, now he wants to remain injury free and compete hard till he decides to step aside. Murray revealed that he plans to 'keep playing a bit longer' but hopes no big injury derails his progress.

<h2>Another injury would mean the end for me: Murray</h2>

Murray said, “I hope not, but you never know. It's why athletes need to make the most of it while they're still able to because if I was to have another big injury or if something happened to the metal hip, that would be me finished. I wouldn't try to come back from another operation or major surgery again so I want to keep playing a bit longer."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/partied-all-night-and-scored-250-next-day-ishant-shares-unheard-tale-of-kohli-lauds-his-transformation-608843">Partied all night and scored 250 next day: Ishant shares unheard tale of Kohli, lauds his transformation</a>

The two-time Wimbledon winner made it clear that he doesn't want to retire after this year's edition at the All England Club. "I know it's not going to be going on forever, but I have an idea of when I would like to finish and it's not this year's Wimbledon. I don't know exactly which tournament it would be or where it will be. I just have an idea of how much longer I would like to play for and I don't want to put myself in a position like before I had the operation."

“I want to finish on my own terms. I want to finish on the court where I feel I can still do myself justice and playing at a really high level. I definitely feel I can do that for a couple more years,”&nbsp;Murray concluded.

Murray occupies the 39th spot in the latest ATP rankings and&nbsp;recently emerged on top to claim&nbsp;the Nottingham Open title before facing a first-round&nbsp;exit&nbsp;at the Queen’s Club Championships. Only time will tell how far will he go in the forthcoming Wimbledon, which starts on July 3.

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Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray is gearing up for Wimbledon 2023 edition. The veteran's career has been marred with injury concerns. Before he decides to call it quits, Murray will be eager to add more titles to his cabinet.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray is gearing up for Wimbledon 2023 edition. The veteran's career has been marred with injury concerns. Before he decides to call it quits, Murray will be eager to add more titles to his cabinet. Recently, the Brit spoke at length on his retirement plans and revealed that he wants to sign off on his 'own terms'. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 36-year-old said that he is focused on making the most of the opportunities in the last phase of his professional career. In 2018, he underwent hip surgery which kept him out of action for almost the whole season. However, now he wants to remain injury free and compete hard till he decides to step aside. Murray revealed that he plans to 'keep playing a bit longer' but hopes no big injury derails his progress. Another injury would mean the end for me: Murray Murray said, “I hope not, but you never know. It's why athletes need to make the most of it while they're still able to because if I was to have another big injury or if something happened to the metal hip, that would be me finished. I wouldn't try to come back from another operation or major surgery again so I want to keep playing a bit longer." Also Read: Partied all night and scored 250 next day: Ishant shares unheard tale of Kohli, lauds his transformation The two-time Wimbledon winner made it clear that he doesn't want to retire after this year's edition at the All England Club. "I know it's not going to be going on forever, but I have an idea of when I would like to finish and it's not this year's Wimbledon. I don't know exactly which tournament it would be or where it will be. I just have an idea of how much longer I would like to play for and I don't want to put myself in a position like before I had the operation." “I want to finish on my own terms. I want to finish on the court where I feel I can still do myself justice and playing at a really high level. I definitely feel I can do that for a couple more years,” Murray concluded. Murray occupies the 39th spot in the latest ATP rankings and recently emerged on top to claim the Nottingham Open title before facing a first-round exit at the Queen’s Club Championships. Only time will tell how far will he go in the forthcoming Wimbledon, which starts on July 3. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Tennis: 'I want to finish on own terms' - Andy Murray on retirement plans ahead of Wimbledon 2023

Veteran Roger Federer was the guest of honour on the 30th anniversary of the Halle Open on June 21, Wednesday, while inside OWL Arena, a special ceremony was held to mark his achievement.

Veteran Roger Federer was the guest of honour on the 30th anniversary of the Halle Open on June 21, Wednesday, while inside OWL Arena, a special ceremony was held to mark his achievement. The ten-time German grass-court ATP 500 event winner also weighed on the GOAT (Greatest of all time) debate following Novak Djokovic’s record-breaking 23 Grand Slam wins at the Roland Garros in Paris lately. As the tournament commemorated "Roger Federer Day" on the centre court, the 103-time ATP tour-level winner praised Novak for his gigantic achievement but said for as long as Rafael Nadal is around, this debate stays alive. 𝐑𝐅 is honoured in Halle 🐐@ATPHalle welcomes back 10-time champion @rogerfederer on #RogerFedererDay! ❤️#TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/DDypaGO6op — ATP Tour (@atptour) June 21, 2023 × Federer, who retired from professional tennis last September during the Laver Cup, showered praises on Novak, aged 36, for becoming the first male Tennis star to win 23 Grand Slams in Open Era, surpassing Nadal's tally of 22 Slam wins. And by mentioning Rod Laver’s unique record of him lifting the Wimbledon title at the age of 17 in the same sentence, Roger said, "What is better? Winning Wimbledon at 17 like Becker or Paris at 36 like Novak? I don't know." ALSO READ: Bidding committee 'underestimating' 2024 Olympics budget is now costing Paris, says Government report Meanwhile, when asked to share his thoughts on the GOAT debate, Roger, who is widely regarded as the greatest athlete of all time, let alone in Tennis, replied by saying till the time his old foe on the field and a dear friend of his, Rafael Nadal is around, calling Novak the GOAT will not do justice. "What he has achieved is absolutely gigantic. It could be sufficient. But I think as long as Rafa is still playing, too, you can't answer that definitively yet," Roger added. Rogers relishes time spent in Halle At Halle, Roger boasts a 69-8 career record, having won in 2003-06, 2008, 2013-15, 2017 and 2019. Upon returning to the event for the first time since hanging his boots, Federer remembered the time spent in this event over the past two decades and cherished his friendship with the Weber family. “With Halle, we go way back,” said Federer. “I don’t know the first time I ever came here, maybe 22 years ago, and I played 18 years in those years. More than just a partnership, it’s also become a friendship over the years with the Weber family, first Gerhard Weber and then Ralf, who is now the tournament director. So it’s been a wonderful time, obviously also [I had] a lot of success here." Memories that will last forever. 🫂 There is only one @rogerfederer ✨@ATPHalle | #TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/2Yxv02a88p — ATP Tour (@atptour) June 21, 2023 × “[There were] great times, good moments spent as well in the second part of my career with the family. My kids would be running around all across the venue, and also the fans. We got to know them all, there’s been a lot of moments for interaction as well. It’s been really good, to be honest, and I always love coming here, so it’s really nice to come back again once I’m retired,” Federer added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Roger Federer weighs in on GOAT debate, says 'what Novak has achieved is gigantic but till Nadal is around...'

Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Rudd in straight sets to win the French Open 2023 and, in the process, created history by becoming the first male tennis player ever to win record-breaking 23 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian is now the only player to win all Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – at least three times.

The 36-year-old beat Ruud 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 7-5 and went past Nadal – the Clay King, as the most successful male tennis player in history.

The veteran star won his third title Roland Garros after 2016 and 2021, in addition to winning ten Australian Open, seven Wimbledon and three US Open titles.

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Falling in love in Paris 😘<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> <a href="https://t.co/yfK23yY9eC">pic.twitter.com/yfK23yY9eC</a>
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While Novak’s 23rd Slam title puts him ahead of every male Tennis athlete ever, he joins the legendary pair of Margaret Court and Serena Williams on the list of players with 23 or more Grand Slam wins. He will aim for his 24th title at Wimbledon this year.

Upon winning the coveted trophy in Paris, France, the number three seeded at the event, Novak will reclaim his number one ranking on Monday, leapfrogging Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2023-iga-swiatek-beat-karolina-muchova-to-win-womens-single-title-602974">French Open 2023: Iga Swiatek beats Karolina Muchova to win women's singles title</a>

Playing his seventh French Open Final with a superb head-to-head record lead of 4-0 over Ruud, also without losing a set, Novak came with a mission. The Norwegian Ruud looked more composed at the start, taking a 3-0 lead. With the scorecard reading 4-1 at one stage, it looked like Ruud is up for a challenge and might break Novak’s unbeaten streak over him.

But as great players do, they make stunning comebacks, and so did the Serb star. After being down 1-4 at one stage, Novak pulled his socks and won the first set 7-6.&nbsp;

He took an early lead in the second set and made light work of his opponent, winning the second set 6-3. With only one set away from entering history books, Novak looked more determined than ever.

In the third and final set of the match, Novak and Ruud displayed their A-games, but with experience and will to win this high-octane clash, Novak had an edge over his opponent. Without much hassle, he overcame the challenge and beat Ruud to win his third French Open title – and overall 23rd Grand Slam title.

Moreover, some of the star players from other sports, like Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were present. NFL legend Tom Brady and former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson were also there.

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The stage is yours, champ 😃<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> <a href="https://t.co/74vuaZKmJ7">pic.twitter.com/74vuaZKmJ7</a>
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Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Rudd in straight sets to win the French Open 2023 and, in the process, created history by becoming the first male tennis player ever to win record-breaking 23 Grand Slam titles.

Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Rudd in straight sets to win the French Open 2023 and, in the process, created history by becoming the first male tennis player ever to win record-breaking 23 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian is now the only player to win all Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – at least three times. The 36-year-old beat Ruud 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 7-5 and went past Nadal – the Clay King, as the most successful male tennis player in history. The veteran star won his third title Roland Garros after 2016 and 2021, in addition to winning ten Australian Open, seven Wimbledon and three US Open titles. Falling in love in Paris 😘#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/yfK23yY9eC — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023 × While Novak’s 23rd Slam title puts him ahead of every male Tennis athlete ever, he joins the legendary pair of Margaret Court and Serena Williams on the list of players with 23 or more Grand Slam wins. He will aim for his 24th title at Wimbledon this year. Upon winning the coveted trophy in Paris, France, the number three seeded at the event, Novak will reclaim his number one ranking on Monday, leapfrogging Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. ALSO READ: French Open 2023: Iga Swiatek beats Karolina Muchova to win women's singles title Playing his seventh French Open Final with a superb head-to-head record lead of 4-0 over Ruud, also without losing a set, Novak came with a mission. The Norwegian Ruud looked more composed at the start, taking a 3-0 lead. With the scorecard reading 4-1 at one stage, it looked like Ruud is up for a challenge and might break Novak’s unbeaten streak over him. But as great players do, they make stunning comebacks, and so did the Serb star. After being down 1-4 at one stage, Novak pulled his socks and won the first set 7-6. He took an early lead in the second set and made light work of his opponent, winning the second set 6-3. With only one set away from entering history books, Novak looked more determined than ever. In the third and final set of the match, Novak and Ruud displayed their A-games, but with experience and will to win this high-octane clash, Novak had an edge over his opponent. Without much hassle, he overcame the challenge and beat Ruud to win his third French Open title – and overall 23rd Grand Slam title. Moreover, some of the star players from other sports, like Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were present. NFL legend Tom Brady and former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson were also there. The stage is yours, champ 😃#RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/74vuaZKmJ7 — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023 × WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic beats Casper Ruud to claim historic 23rd Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic insists it is "disrespectful" to hail him as the greatest player of all time after clinching a record-breaking 23rd men's Grand Slam title on Sunday.

36-year-old Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets in the French Open final, breaking the tie of 22 majors he shared with longtime rival Rafael Nadal.

A third Roland Garros title added to his 10 Australian Open trophies, seven Wimbledons and three at the US Open.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2023-novak-djokovic-beats-casper-ruud-to-claim-historic-23rd-grand-slam-title-603221">Novak Djokovic beats Casper Ruud to claim historic 23rd Grand Slam title</a>

He is the only man to win all four Slams on at least three occasions and on Monday he will return to the world number one ranking and start a 388th week on top of the pile.

"I don't want to say that I am the greatest, because I feel it's disrespectful towards all the great champions in different eras of our sport that was played in completely different way than it is played today," said Djokovic.

"So I leave those kind of discussions of who is the greatest to someone else. I have of course huge faith and confidence and belief in myself and for everything that I am and who I am and what I am capable of doing."

However, despite becoming the oldest ever French Open champion, he warned he is far from finished.

When asked if he could win 24 or 25 majors, he replied: "Why not?"

Eleven of his Grand Slam titles have been secured since he turned 30.

Retirement is a long way off for a man who has already seen Roger Federer hang up his racquet with 20 majors to his name while 37-year-old Nadal, sitting out the rest of the season with injury, has already said 2024 will be his last as a professional.

"Of course the journey is still not over," said Djokovic. "I feel if I'm winning Slams, why even think about ending the career that already has been going on for 20 years.&nbsp;

"So I still feel motivated, I still feel inspired to play the best tennis in these tournaments. Those are the ones that count I guess the most in history of our sport.

"I now look forward to Wimbledon," added Djokovic where he will look to equal Federer's record of eight titles.

Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic hailed the Serbian star for being able to install special "software" every time a Grand Slam tournament rolls around.

"It's fascinating to see, because sometimes you think, okay, now you have 23. But he's gonna find, again, some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25, who knows where is the end," said Ivanisevic.

<h2>'Not an easy guy'</h2>

"He's keeping his body great, he's in great shape. He's unbelievable, and he's still moving like a cat on the court. He's there, like a Ninja."

However, the former Wimbledon winner admitted Djokovic is "not an easy guy" such is his intensity to make history.

"Especially when something's not going his way. But we are here to put our back and to get beaten, we are here for him to feel better, for him to perform better.&nbsp;

"Sometimes not easy. Sometimes it's very complicated. But overall, this is for what you live, you know, the tournaments like this, the finishing like this."

Djokovic arrived in Paris having endured a mediocre clay court season, failing to get beyond the quarter-finals of any of the three events he played.

There was the added worry of the recurrence of a longstanding wrist injury.

"The day we arrived here, he was better, he was more motivated, he was more hungry. Every day he played better and better," said Ivanisevic who believes Djokovic's victory over world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals was key in his title push.

"I thought against Alcaraz one-and-a-half hours he played unbelievable smart and unbelievable tennis," said Ivanisevic.&nbsp;

"And today he just finish what we started actually in Monte Carlo, to practise, and now it's payday. We cash the cheque."

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Novak Djokovic insists it is "disrespectful" to hail him as the greatest player of all time after clinching a record-breaking 23rd men's Grand Slam title on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic insists it is "disrespectful" to hail him as the greatest player of all time after clinching a record-breaking 23rd men's Grand Slam title on Sunday. 36-year-old Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets in the French Open final, breaking the tie of 22 majors he shared with longtime rival Rafael Nadal. A third Roland Garros title added to his 10 Australian Open trophies, seven Wimbledons and three at the US Open. Also Read: Novak Djokovic beats Casper Ruud to claim historic 23rd Grand Slam title He is the only man to win all four Slams on at least three occasions and on Monday he will return to the world number one ranking and start a 388th week on top of the pile. "I don't want to say that I am the greatest, because I feel it's disrespectful towards all the great champions in different eras of our sport that was played in completely different way than it is played today," said Djokovic. "So I leave those kind of discussions of who is the greatest to someone else. I have of course huge faith and confidence and belief in myself and for everything that I am and who I am and what I am capable of doing." However, despite becoming the oldest ever French Open champion, he warned he is far from finished. When asked if he could win 24 or 25 majors, he replied: "Why not?" Eleven of his Grand Slam titles have been secured since he turned 30. Retirement is a long way off for a man who has already seen Roger Federer hang up his racquet with 20 majors to his name while 37-year-old Nadal, sitting out the rest of the season with injury, has already said 2024 will be his last as a professional. "Of course the journey is still not over," said Djokovic. "I feel if I'm winning Slams, why even think about ending the career that already has been going on for 20 years. "So I still feel motivated, I still feel inspired to play the best tennis in these tournaments. Those are the ones that count I guess the most in history of our sport. "I now look forward to Wimbledon," added Djokovic where he will look to equal Federer's record of eight titles. Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic hailed the Serbian star for being able to install special "software" every time a Grand Slam tournament rolls around. "It's fascinating to see, because sometimes you think, okay, now you have 23. But he's gonna find, again, some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25, who knows where is the end," said Ivanisevic. 'Not an easy guy' "He's keeping his body great, he's in great shape. He's unbelievable, and he's still moving like a cat on the court. He's there, like a Ninja." However, the former Wimbledon winner admitted Djokovic is "not an easy guy" such is his intensity to make history. "Especially when something's not going his way. But we are here to put our back and to get beaten, we are here for him to feel better, for him to perform better. "Sometimes not easy. Sometimes it's very complicated. But overall, this is for what you live, you know, the tournaments like this, the finishing like this." Djokovic arrived in Paris having endured a mediocre clay court season, failing to get beyond the quarter-finals of any of the three events he played. There was the added worry of the recurrence of a longstanding wrist injury. "The day we arrived here, he was better, he was more motivated, he was more hungry. Every day he played better and better," said Ivanisevic who believes Djokovic's victory over world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals was key in his title push. "I thought against Alcaraz one-and-a-half hours he played unbelievable smart and unbelievable tennis," said Ivanisevic. "And today he just finish what we started actually in Monte Carlo, to practise, and now it's payday. We cash the cheque." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'It feels disrespectful,' says Djokovic on being called greatest after winning 23rd grand slam title

In the French Open final, Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud of Norway to earn a men's record 23rd Grand Slam championship, proving his superiority once more.

Novak Djokovic beats Casper Ruud to win the French Open

A flawless Casper Ruud stormed into the French Open finals for a second year running by dismantling German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-4 6-0 in a battle of big-hitters on Friday (June 9) and&nbsp;set up a showdown with 22-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Last year's runner-up Ruud swapped early breaks with Zverev before turning up the heat on a warm evening on Court Philippe Chatrier by pounding the German with some vicious, spin-heavy forehands to go up 5-2 and claiming the opening set.

Zverev, playing in a third straight Roland Garros semi-final at the scene of his season-ending ankle injury last year, wasted an early opening in the next set and found himself in trouble as fourth seed Ruud snatched another break in the seventh game.

Ruud extended his lead in the match and continued to control the rallies from behind the baseline to frustrate an error-prone Zverev in the next set, before storming into a third Grand Slam final in his last five events going back to Roland Garros 2022. 
 
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A flawless Casper Ruud stormed into the French Open finals for a second year running by dismantling German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-4 6-0 in a battle of big-hitters on Friday (June 9) and set up a showdown with 22-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

A flawless Casper Ruud stormed into the French Open finals for a second year running by dismantling German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-4 6-0 in a battle of big-hitters on Friday (June 9) and set up a showdown with 22-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. Last year's runner-up Ruud swapped early breaks with Zverev before turning up the heat on a warm evening on Court Philippe Chatrier by pounding the German with some vicious, spin-heavy forehands to go up 5-2 and claiming the opening set. Zverev, playing in a third straight Roland Garros semi-final at the scene of his season-ending ankle injury last year, wasted an early opening in the next set and found himself in trouble as fourth seed Ruud snatched another break in the seventh game. Ruud extended his lead in the match and continued to control the rallies from behind the baseline to frustrate an error-prone Zverev in the next set, before storming into a third Grand Slam final in his last five events going back to Roland Garros 2022. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Rampant Ruud stops Zverev to book French Open final clash with Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam after he got the better of number-one seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday, June 9. Djokovic, a two-time champion at the Roland Garros got the better of the Spaniard by 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 at the Philippe Chatrier court. He will now face the winner of Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday where he can win his 23rd Grand Slam title.

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Never doubt Novak 💪🇷🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> gets the better of Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach a 34th Grand Slam final.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> <a href="https://t.co/fefJZKKMxn">pic.twitter.com/fefJZKKMxn</a>
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<h2>What happened in the contest?</h2>

The contest was well anticipated by the Paris crowd and the media around the world as the battle of the two generations. It was expected to be a tight contest, but Djokovic and his experience prevailed in the end as the Serb booked his place in the final. The former World No.1 took the lead in the contest after winning the first set 6-3.&nbsp;However, he lost his serve at the wrong time in the second set.

Alcaraz won the second set 7-5 and looked on course to give a hard time to the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Things though did not pan out perfectly for the World No.1 and he lost the consequent sets by the same score of 6-1. While there was a lot of tussle in the second set, it was the final straw for the defending US Open champion before he surrendered the match to Djokovic.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-ricky-ponting-explains-where-india-did-go-wrong-with-their-bowling-plans-in-first-innings-602434">WTC Final: Ricky Ponting explains where India went wrong with their bowling plan in first innings</a>

<h2>Day with destiny awaits</h2>

The 36-year-old Djokovic will look to conquer his third French Open title on Sunday and could become the player with the most Grand Slam singles titles in the men’s division. Currently level with Rafael Nadal, the Serb will be presented with an opportunity to surpass the great Spaniard in his own backyard, where he is a 14-time champion. Having won the French Open in 2016 and 2021, Djokovic will be eager to add to his tally, which will also see him go level with Serena Williams for most Grand Slam singles titles. Only Margaret Court of Australia with 24 titles has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Djokovic and Williams.

Sunday’s final will be Novak’s 34th Grand Slam title, another record for most Grand Slam finals in the men’s singles division. So far in his 33 Grand Slam singles finals, the Serb has won 22 and lost 11 and will look to get the better of Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev to reach the milestone title.

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Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam after he got the better of number-one seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday, June 9.

Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam after he got the better of number-one seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday, June 9. Djokovic, a two-time champion at the Roland Garros got the better of the Spaniard by 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 at the Philippe Chatrier court. He will now face the winner of Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday where he can win his 23rd Grand Slam title. Never doubt Novak 💪🇷🇸@DjokerNole gets the better of Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach a 34th Grand Slam final.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/fefJZKKMxn — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023 × What happened in the contest? The contest was well anticipated by the Paris crowd and the media around the world as the battle of the two generations. It was expected to be a tight contest, but Djokovic and his experience prevailed in the end as the Serb booked his place in the final. The former World No.1 took the lead in the contest after winning the first set 6-3. However, he lost his serve at the wrong time in the second set. Alcaraz won the second set 7-5 and looked on course to give a hard time to the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Things though did not pan out perfectly for the World No.1 and he lost the consequent sets by the same score of 6-1. While there was a lot of tussle in the second set, it was the final straw for the defending US Open champion before he surrendered the match to Djokovic. ALSO READ | WTC Final: Ricky Ponting explains where India went wrong with their bowling plan in first innings Day with destiny awaits The 36-year-old Djokovic will look to conquer his third French Open title on Sunday and could become the player with the most Grand Slam singles titles in the men’s division. Currently level with Rafael Nadal, the Serb will be presented with an opportunity to surpass the great Spaniard in his own backyard, where he is a 14-time champion. Having won the French Open in 2016 and 2021, Djokovic will be eager to add to his tally, which will also see him go level with Serena Williams for most Grand Slam singles titles. Only Margaret Court of Australia with 24 titles has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Djokovic and Williams. Sunday’s final will be Novak’s 34th Grand Slam title, another record for most Grand Slam finals in the men’s singles division. So far in his 33 Grand Slam singles finals, the Serb has won 22 and lost 11 and will look to get the better of Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev to reach the milestone title. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Novak Djokovic demolishes World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz to book final berth

Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster French Open 2023 semifinal. World Number 1 Alcaraz performed exceptionally against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his last game.

Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster French Open 2023 semifinal. World Number 1 Alcaraz performed exceptionally against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his last game. Meanwhile, third-ranked Djokovic made a slow start against Karen Khachanov. However, he picked up the match once he restored parity by taking the second set in a tie-break, where he won all seven points. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming French Open 2023 semifinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. We have mentioned the head-to-head stats, match details, and live-streaming details. French Open Semifinal Alcaraz vs Djokovic Match Details Date: Friday, June 9 Time: 06:15 PM IST Tournament: French Open 2023 Round: Semifinal Venue: Paris, France Category: Grand Slam Surface: Outdoor clay Prize money: €49,600,000 Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic head-to-head stats Alcaraz and Djokovic have squared off only once at the Madrid Masters. Alcaraz won his lone meeting with Djokovic in a third-set tie-break. Alcaraz and Djokovic are two of the most active players in contemporary sports. The Spaniard has a big serve, powerful groundstrokes, and moves swiftly. However, Djokovic is a counterpuncher par excellence and has succeeded on all surfaces. Among the two, Djokovic has more experience, especially on clay. Alcaraz also has a brilliant record on the surface, including seven titles. Carlos Alcaraz might have an edge in the game, as he's 25-2 on clay in 2023, while Novak Djokovic is only 10-3. Coincidentally, both men dropped one set en route to the last eight. How to watch French Open 2023 semifinals between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic Tennis fans in India can watch the French Open 2023 semifinal live on Sony TEN. The live telecast of the semifinal will start at 06:15 PM IST. The final is on June 10 at 06:30 PM IST. People in India can also enjoy the game on the Sony LIV app and website with a premium subscription. In France, France TV Sport will telecast the live matches. NBC and Tennis Channel will telecast the French Open 2023 live in the United States of America. Here is the complete list of TV channels that will telecast the French Open 2023 in the respective countries. India: Sony TEN and SonyLiv France: France TV sport, Amazon Prime Video Europe (All territories): Eurosport United Kingdom: Eurosport, discovery+ USA: NBC Sports, Peacock TV, Tennis Channel & Bally Sports Canada: RDS, TSN Latin America: ESPN Brazil: SporTV, ESPN North Africa & Middle East: beIN Sports WATCH WION LIVE HERE

French Open 2023 Semifinal: Check prize money, head-to-head & live-streaming details for Alcaraz vs Djokovic

World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four.

For almost three sets,&nbsp;Alcaraz played jaw-dropping tennis, having pulverised his opponent, who staged a brief comeback to force a tiebreak in the third.

The 20-year-old will now face third seed Novak Djokovic in a mouth-watering semi-final on Friday with the Spaniard chasing a second Grand Slam title after winning the U.S. Open crown last year and the Serbian veteran on course for a record-breaking 23rd men's singles major.

Alcaraz did not take long to put Tsitsipas under pressure, breaking him on his second service game.

The 24-year-old Greek, still searching for an elusive first Grand Slam title, could not match Alcaraz's power and precision and the Spaniard broke him to love with a sensational running forehand down the line to go 5-2 up.

He wrapped up the first set, winning 12 of the last 14 points played, but he was equally relentless in the second to break Tsitsipas in the very first game to love.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-novak-djokovic-books-semifinal-berth-after-dominant-win-against-khachanov-likely-to-face-alcaraz-601423">French Open: Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov</a>

Like a bear hunting down prey, Alcaraz did not let off, forcing the Greek into the net with superb and constant drop shots or stretching him wide on his backhand.

He added another break to his rapidly growing collection to go 4-1 up and even the crowd, clearly backing Tsitsipas, could not spark a comeback as Alcaraz bagged the second set a little later with his dazed opponent double-faulting.

It was a similar story in the third as he earned a quick break and took a 5-1 lead, before he squandered three match points. Tsitsipas launched a four-game comeback but Alcaraz ended it on his fifth match point. 
 
 
 
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World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four. For almost three sets, Alcaraz played jaw-dropping tennis, having pulverised his opponent, who staged a brief comeback to force a tiebreak in the third. The 20-year-old will now face third seed Novak Djokovic in a mouth-watering semi-final on Friday with the Spaniard chasing a second Grand Slam title after winning the U.S. Open crown last year and the Serbian veteran on course for a record-breaking 23rd men's singles major. Alcaraz did not take long to put Tsitsipas under pressure, breaking him on his second service game. The 24-year-old Greek, still searching for an elusive first Grand Slam title, could not match Alcaraz's power and precision and the Spaniard broke him to love with a sensational running forehand down the line to go 5-2 up. He wrapped up the first set, winning 12 of the last 14 points played, but he was equally relentless in the second to break Tsitsipas in the very first game to love. Also Read | French Open: Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov Like a bear hunting down prey, Alcaraz did not let off, forcing the Greek into the net with superb and constant drop shots or stretching him wide on his backhand. He added another break to his rapidly growing collection to go 4-1 up and even the crowd, clearly backing Tsitsipas, could not spark a comeback as Alcaraz bagged the second set a little later with his dazed opponent double-faulting. It was a similar story in the third as he earned a quick break and took a 5-1 lead, before he squandered three match points. Tsitsipas launched a four-game comeback but Alcaraz ended it on his fifth match point. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Top seed Alcaraz hunts down Tsitsipas to set up semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic

Former world number one and number three seed Novak Djokovic has reached the semifinal of the French Open 2023 after getting the better of Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 of Russia on Tuesday, June 6. Despite dropping the first set, the Serbian star did not hesitate and won the next three to advance to the semis and will likely face number one seed Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday’s final. Djokovic is targeting a record 23rd Grand Slam at the French Open and is now one step closer to the dream.

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Win No. 9️⃣0️⃣ in Paris 💪🇷🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> <a href="https://t.co/bUqbykErZ4">pic.twitter.com/bUqbykErZ4</a>
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<h2>Djokovic moves a step closer to 23rd Grand Slam</h2>

After taking the first set 4-6, the former champion was again stretched down to the limit and needed the tiebreak to come back into the contest. The Serb lost his serve at the wrong time in the first set and paid the price to hand over the set to the Russian No. 11 seed. However, the tables were quickly turned by Djokovic as he won the second set tiebreak convincingly, without giving any opportunity to his opponent to settle. Khachanov failed to win a single point in the tiebreak.

<h2>Djokovic’s thoughts after the match</h2>

"I think he was a better player for most of the first two sets," said Djokovic.&nbsp;

"I was struggling to find my rhythm. I came into the match quite slow but played a perfect tie-break and from that moment onwards played a couple of levels higher.

"It's a big fight, something you expect in the quarter-finals. You're not going to have your victories handed to you, you have to earn them."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-may-pull-out-of-asia-cup-if-hybrid-model-rejected-report-601189">Pakistan may pull out of Asia Cup if hybrid model is rejected: Report</a>

<h2>Djokovic's semi-final is scheduled for Friday</h2>

As things stand, Djokovic will look to book a berth in Sunday’s final and will face the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday, June 9. Currently, he is levelled with Rafael Nadal for most singles Grand Slam titles in the men’s division. Both have 22 Grand Slam titles while the same number is shared by Steffi Graf in the women’s division. &nbsp;

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Former world number one and number three seed Novak Djokovic has reached the semifinal of the French Open 2023 after getting the better of Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 of Russia on Tuesday, June 6.

Former world number one and number three seed Novak Djokovic has reached the semifinal of the French Open 2023 after getting the better of Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 of Russia on Tuesday, June 6. Despite dropping the first set, the Serbian star did not hesitate and won the next three to advance to the semis and will likely face number one seed Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday’s final. Djokovic is targeting a record 23rd Grand Slam at the French Open and is now one step closer to the dream. Win No. 9️⃣0️⃣ in Paris 💪🇷🇸#RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/bUqbykErZ4 — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2023 × Djokovic moves a step closer to 23rd Grand Slam After taking the first set 4-6, the former champion was again stretched down to the limit and needed the tiebreak to come back into the contest. The Serb lost his serve at the wrong time in the first set and paid the price to hand over the set to the Russian No. 11 seed. However, the tables were quickly turned by Djokovic as he won the second set tiebreak convincingly, without giving any opportunity to his opponent to settle. Khachanov failed to win a single point in the tiebreak. Djokovic’s thoughts after the match "I think he was a better player for most of the first two sets," said Djokovic. "I was struggling to find my rhythm. I came into the match quite slow but played a perfect tie-break and from that moment onwards played a couple of levels higher. "It's a big fight, something you expect in the quarter-finals. You're not going to have your victories handed to you, you have to earn them." ALSO READ | Pakistan may pull out of Asia Cup if hybrid model is rejected: Report Djokovic's semi-final is scheduled for Friday As things stand, Djokovic will look to book a berth in Sunday’s final and will face the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday, June 9. Currently, he is levelled with Rafael Nadal for most singles Grand Slam titles in the men’s division. Both have 22 Grand Slam titles while the same number is shared by Steffi Graf in the women’s division. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov

The French Open 2023 is living up to expectations. As we have entered the final week, there are a plethora of big-ticket games lined-up. French Open 2021 runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed into the last eight and is set to lock horns with current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, which promises to be an enthralling battle between the two youngsters.

Ahead of the battle, Tsitsipas spoke at length about the upcoming quarter-final face-off. It is to be noted that Alcaraz&nbsp;holds an impressive 4-0 ATP head-to-head record against the Greek player.&nbsp;However, the 24-year-old is up for the challenge this time around.&nbsp;

"The clash we've all been waiting for," said&nbsp;Tsitsipas during his press conference after a dominant straight-set&nbsp;win over Sebastian Ofner. On being asked to elaborate, Tsitsipas added: "I think I said everything I had to say. I think everyone was expecting it, weren't they? And it's here. It's game on."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-world-number-seven-ons-jabeur-swats-aside-bernanda-pera-to-enter-french-open-quarter-finals-600844">Tennis: World number seven Ons Jabeur swats aside Bernanda Pera to enter French Open quarter-finals</a>

Since their first-ever meeting, Alcaraz has continued to climb up the ladder whereas Tsitsipas is still searching for his maiden Grand Slam title. The two locked horns in the 2021&nbsp;US Open where the Spaniard defeated Tsitsipas to become the first man&nbsp;to brush aside&nbsp;a top-three-ranked player in singles at the tournament since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973.&nbsp;

Both Alcaraz and Tsitsipas have contrasting playing styles. The contest promises to be an engaging battle as the race for the title has intensified. Novak Djokovic, another strong contender, will also be in action on Tuesday (June 06), before the Alcaraz-Tsitsipas face-off, as he is up against Russia's&nbsp;Karen Khachanov in the quarters.&nbsp;

Alcaraz and Tsitsipas will come face-to-face later in the day.

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The French Open 2023 is living up to expectations. As we have entered the final week, there are a plethora of big-ticket games lined-up. French Open 2021 runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed into the last eight and is set to lock horns with current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, which promises to be an enthralling battle between the two youngsters.

The French Open 2023 is living up to expectations. As we have entered the final week, there are a plethora of big-ticket games lined-up. French Open 2021 runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed into the last eight and is set to lock horns with current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, which promises to be an enthralling battle between the two youngsters. Ahead of the battle, Tsitsipas spoke at length about the upcoming quarter-final face-off. It is to be noted that Alcaraz holds an impressive 4-0 ATP head-to-head record against the Greek player. However, the 24-year-old is up for the challenge this time around. "The clash we've all been waiting for," said Tsitsipas during his press conference after a dominant straight-set win over Sebastian Ofner. On being asked to elaborate, Tsitsipas added: "I think I said everything I had to say. I think everyone was expecting it, weren't they? And it's here. It's game on." Also Read: Tennis: World number seven Ons Jabeur swats aside Bernanda Pera to enter French Open quarter-finals Since their first-ever meeting, Alcaraz has continued to climb up the ladder whereas Tsitsipas is still searching for his maiden Grand Slam title. The two locked horns in the 2021 US Open where the Spaniard defeated Tsitsipas to become the first man to brush aside a top-three-ranked player in singles at the tournament since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973. Both Alcaraz and Tsitsipas have contrasting playing styles. The contest promises to be an engaging battle as the race for the title has intensified. Novak Djokovic, another strong contender, will also be in action on Tuesday (June 06), before the Alcaraz-Tsitsipas face-off, as he is up against Russia's Karen Khachanov in the quarters. Alcaraz and Tsitsipas will come face-to-face later in the day. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Tennis: 'Clash we have all been waiting for' - Tsitsipas geared up for Alcaraz face-off in French Open QFs

Novak Djokovic battled into the French Open fourth round for a 14th consecutive year on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz also progressed, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula and men's seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament.

Djokovic has made headlines for his comments about Kosovo this week but his on-court progress has been relatively serene, reaching the second week without dropping a set.

The Serb star was made to work hard by Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who served for the first set and missed a set point in the second, but won 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"I thought if I lost the second set we would play five hours today, but I'm proud of the performance," said Djokovic.

Two-time champion Djokovic, who has also made the French Open quarter-finals in each of the past 13 years, will take on Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in the last 16.

The 36-year-old is hoping to break out of his tie with injured rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's all-time list of major winners at Roland Garros.

He is just one title behind Serena Williams' mark of 23 Slams and two adrift of Margaret Court's overall record.

Djokovic, slated to meet world number one Alcaraz in the semi-finals, has now won three of his four matches with Davidovich Fokina.

The first two sets lasted two hours and 47 minutes, as Davidovich Fokina provided a stern test of Djokovic's form.

But the world number three broke when he trailed 6-5 in the opening set before overturning a 3-1 deficit to win a tie-break.

Davidovich Fokina missed one set point to level the match before Djokovic won another breaker before being booed by the crowd for taking a medical time-out.

"That's something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don't understand that," said Djokovic, who made short work of the third set.

Alcaraz thrashed Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov for the loss of just seven games in the night-session match.

The Spaniard powered to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory, with the only slight blip when he trailed 4-1 in the second set.

He reeled off seven straight games after that wake-up call, though, to set up a fourth-round meeting with Italian 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti who dismantled British number one Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

"I knew I'd have my chances in the second set to come back a bit and that's what I did," Alcaraz said.

The 20-year-old is bidding for a second straight Grand Slam title after winning the 2022 US Open and then missing this year's Australian Open through injury.

<h2>Sonego stunner</h2>

Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock out Rublev and reach the last 16 for the second time.

The world number 48 was two points from defeat during a fourth-set tie-break but prevailed 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after three hours and 42 minutes.

Sonego will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a possible quarter-final meeting with Djokovic.

"I played more aggressive than in the first and second sets because when he's aggressive it's tough to compete against him," he said.

Eleventh seed Khachanov ended Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis' run with an entertaining 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) win.

Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over former semi-finalist Diego Schwartzman.

The Greek fifth seed, who a blew a two-set lead to Djokovic in the 2021 final, will next play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner after making the second week for a fifth straight year.

American Pegula's hopes were ended in comprehensive fashion by a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Belgian Elise Mertens.

World number three Pegula has still never passed the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam tournament.

The former Australian Open semi-finalist will next face 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-1983-wc-winning-team-backs-protesting-wrestlers-urges-them-to-not-immerse-medals-in-ganges-599632">India's 1983 WC winning team backs protesting wrestlers, urges them to not immerse medals in Ganges</a>

<h2>Sabalenka 'not safe'</h2>

Aryna Sabalenka refused to do an official post-match press conference after powering into the last 16 for the first time with a straight-sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova.

The Belarusian claimed she "did not feel safe" when asked to condemn her country's support of Russia's war in Ukraine during a press conference earlier this week.

The second seed is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against world number 82 Rakhimova.

Sabalenka will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the fourth round.

Russian Daria Kasatkina, a semi-finalist last year, raced past American Peyton Stearns 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour.

The ninth seed will next face Elina Svitolina on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ukrainian Svitolina reached the fourth round on her first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 Australian Open with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova.

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Novak Djokovic battled into the French Open fourth round for a 14th consecutive year on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz also progressed, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula and men's seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic battled into the French Open fourth round for a 14th consecutive year on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz also progressed, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula and men's seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament. Djokovic has made headlines for his comments about Kosovo this week but his on-court progress has been relatively serene, reaching the second week without dropping a set. The Serb star was made to work hard by Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who served for the first set and missed a set point in the second, but won 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier. "I thought if I lost the second set we would play five hours today, but I'm proud of the performance," said Djokovic. Two-time champion Djokovic, who has also made the French Open quarter-finals in each of the past 13 years, will take on Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in the last 16. The 36-year-old is hoping to break out of his tie with injured rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's all-time list of major winners at Roland Garros. He is just one title behind Serena Williams' mark of 23 Slams and two adrift of Margaret Court's overall record. Djokovic, slated to meet world number one Alcaraz in the semi-finals, has now won three of his four matches with Davidovich Fokina. The first two sets lasted two hours and 47 minutes, as Davidovich Fokina provided a stern test of Djokovic's form. But the world number three broke when he trailed 6-5 in the opening set before overturning a 3-1 deficit to win a tie-break. Davidovich Fokina missed one set point to level the match before Djokovic won another breaker before being booed by the crowd for taking a medical time-out. "That's something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don't understand that," said Djokovic, who made short work of the third set. Alcaraz thrashed Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov for the loss of just seven games in the night-session match. The Spaniard powered to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory, with the only slight blip when he trailed 4-1 in the second set. He reeled off seven straight games after that wake-up call, though, to set up a fourth-round meeting with Italian 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti who dismantled British number one Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. "I knew I'd have my chances in the second set to come back a bit and that's what I did," Alcaraz said. The 20-year-old is bidding for a second straight Grand Slam title after winning the 2022 US Open and then missing this year's Australian Open through injury. Sonego stunner Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock out Rublev and reach the last 16 for the second time. The world number 48 was two points from defeat during a fourth-set tie-break but prevailed 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after three hours and 42 minutes. Sonego will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a possible quarter-final meeting with Djokovic. "I played more aggressive than in the first and second sets because when he's aggressive it's tough to compete against him," he said. Eleventh seed Khachanov ended Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis' run with an entertaining 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) win. Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over former semi-finalist Diego Schwartzman. The Greek fifth seed, who a blew a two-set lead to Djokovic in the 2021 final, will next play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner after making the second week for a fifth straight year. American Pegula's hopes were ended in comprehensive fashion by a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Belgian Elise Mertens. World number three Pegula has still never passed the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam tournament. The former Australian Open semi-finalist will next face 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. ALSO READ | India's 1983 WC winning team backs protesting wrestlers, urges them to not immerse medals in Ganges Sabalenka 'not safe' Aryna Sabalenka refused to do an official post-match press conference after powering into the last 16 for the first time with a straight-sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova. The Belarusian claimed she "did not feel safe" when asked to condemn her country's support of Russia's war in Ukraine during a press conference earlier this week. The second seed is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against world number 82 Rakhimova. Sabalenka will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the fourth round. Russian Daria Kasatkina, a semi-finalist last year, raced past American Peyton Stearns 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour. The ninth seed will next face Elina Svitolina on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals. Ukrainian Svitolina reached the fourth round on her first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 Australian Open with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz reach last 16 as Pegula, Rublev exit

The French Open 2023 is currently underway and Rafael Nadal is being surely missed. The 14-time Roland Garros winner decided not to play in his favourite slam owing to an injury he had suffered in the Australian Open in January earlier this year.

The Spaniard has now undergone the surgery for the same injury — arthroscopic surgery for injured left hip flexor to be precise — on Friday night, a day before his 37th birthday. Nadal's spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo informed about the surgery which took place in Barcelona.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-preview-manchester-united-stand-in-way-as-pep-guardiolas-city-chase-historic-treble-599926">FA Cup Final Preview: Manchester United stand in way as Pep Guardiola's City chase historic treble</a>

Nadal picked up the injury during his second round loss against Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open on January 18 and hasn't played a single game since. The 22-time grand slam winner hoped to recover in time for the Monte Carlos tournament but that couldn't be the case. The Spaniard dropped out of French Open afterwards as he informed about his decision days before the ongoing grand slam.

"The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. At this moment, I won't be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is. I have no intention of continuing to play for the next few months," Nadal had said at the press conference.

He further said that he'd like to play for another year on the professional court but he couldn't say that with 100 per cent surety.

"My intention is for next year to be my last year on the professional tour, I can't say this 100 per cent because you never know what's going to happen," Nadal had added.

Notably, with 22 slams, Nadal is tied with Serbian Novak Djokovic for most grand slam titles among men. Djokovic, however, has the chance to go one up on Nadal if he manages to win French Open 2023 as he has already entered the Round of 16.&nbsp;

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The French Open 2023 is currently underway and Rafael Nadal is being surely missed. The 14-time Roland Garros winner decided not to play in his favourite slam owing to an injury he had suffered in the Australian Open in January earlier this year.

The French Open 2023 is currently underway and Rafael Nadal is being surely missed. The 14-time Roland Garros winner decided not to play in his favourite slam owing to an injury he had suffered in the Australian Open in January earlier this year. The Spaniard has now undergone the surgery for the same injury — arthroscopic surgery for injured left hip flexor to be precise — on Friday night, a day before his 37th birthday. Nadal's spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo informed about the surgery which took place in Barcelona. Also Read: FA Cup Final Preview: Manchester United stand in way as Pep Guardiola's City chase historic treble Nadal picked up the injury during his second round loss against Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open on January 18 and hasn't played a single game since. The 22-time grand slam winner hoped to recover in time for the Monte Carlos tournament but that couldn't be the case. The Spaniard dropped out of French Open afterwards as he informed about his decision days before the ongoing grand slam. "The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. At this moment, I won't be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is. I have no intention of continuing to play for the next few months," Nadal had said at the press conference. He further said that he'd like to play for another year on the professional court but he couldn't say that with 100 per cent surety. "My intention is for next year to be my last year on the professional tour, I can't say this 100 per cent because you never know what's going to happen," Nadal had added. Notably, with 22 slams, Nadal is tied with Serbian Novak Djokovic for most grand slam titles among men. Djokovic, however, has the chance to go one up on Nadal if he manages to win French Open 2023 as he has already entered the Round of 16. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal undergoes surgery for injury which forced him out of French Open

Former World number one Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Round of 16 of the ongoing French Open 2023 as he overcame a stern challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain. Djokovic with the win has sealed his place in the R16 for the 14th consecutive year and will look to win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title in Paris. The Serb is one of the favourites to win the tournament and needed two tiebreaks before he won the contest with scores of 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

<h2>What happened in the contest?</h2>

Djokovic, seeded third in the tournament was taken to the limits by his Spanish opponents but eventually prevailed 7-4 in the tiebreak. The Spaniard then took the second set by storm as well but again was short of the target as the Serb sealed the second set 7-5. The third set was no teaser for the former two-time champion in Paris who won 6-2 to seal a place in the Round of 16.

"I knew it would be a difficult and physical match. We played three hours just for the first two sets. I thought if I lost the second set that we would play for five hours," said Djokovic.

"He's an amazing fighter and there aren't many weaknesses in his game.

"But a win is a win and I am very proud of the way I played today."

He will next face either Hubert Hurkacz or Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas for a place in the quarterfinal on Sunday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-against-india-is-our-grand-finale-ahead-of-ashes-2023-says-australian-spinner-nathan-lyon-599610">WTC final against India is our grand-finale ahead of Ashes 2023, says Australian spinner Nathan Lyon</a>

Djokovic claimed the breaker and bellowed at the crowd. Some spectators then jeered him as he argued with the umpire before calling a medical timeout for treatment on his left thigh.

The Serb, in return, gave the Court Philippe Chatrier fans a sarcastic thumbs up and a round of applause.

Djokovic stretched out to a commanding 3-0 lead in the decider and briefly won back the affection of the crowd when he helped his opponent courtside after a nasty fall.

A win in Paris for Djokovic will see him become the most successful men’s singles tennis player with 23 Grand Slam titles. He will surpass Rafael Nadal’s tally of 22 Grand Slam titles while he will be one short of Margaret Court’s singles record of 24 titles.

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Former World number one Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Round of 16 of the ongoing French Open 2023 as he overcame a stern challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain.

Former World number one Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Round of 16 of the ongoing French Open 2023 as he overcame a stern challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain. Djokovic with the win has sealed his place in the R16 for the 14th consecutive year and will look to win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title in Paris. The Serb is one of the favourites to win the tournament and needed two tiebreaks before he won the contest with scores of 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2. What happened in the contest? Djokovic, seeded third in the tournament was taken to the limits by his Spanish opponents but eventually prevailed 7-4 in the tiebreak. The Spaniard then took the second set by storm as well but again was short of the target as the Serb sealed the second set 7-5. The third set was no teaser for the former two-time champion in Paris who won 6-2 to seal a place in the Round of 16. "I knew it would be a difficult and physical match. We played three hours just for the first two sets. I thought if I lost the second set that we would play for five hours," said Djokovic. "He's an amazing fighter and there aren't many weaknesses in his game. "But a win is a win and I am very proud of the way I played today." He will next face either Hubert Hurkacz or Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas for a place in the quarterfinal on Sunday. ALSO READ | WTC final against India is our grand-finale ahead of Ashes 2023, says Australian spinner Nathan Lyon Djokovic claimed the breaker and bellowed at the crowd. Some spectators then jeered him as he argued with the umpire before calling a medical timeout for treatment on his left thigh. The Serb, in return, gave the Court Philippe Chatrier fans a sarcastic thumbs up and a round of applause. Djokovic stretched out to a commanding 3-0 lead in the decider and briefly won back the affection of the crowd when he helped his opponent courtside after a nasty fall. A win in Paris for Djokovic will see him become the most successful men’s singles tennis player with 23 Grand Slam titles. He will surpass Rafael Nadal’s tally of 22 Grand Slam titles while he will be one short of Margaret Court’s singles record of 24 titles. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Novak Djokovic seals R16 berth for 16th successive year, overcomes Alejandro Fokina's challenge

Novak Djokovic defiantly insisted on Wednesday, "It's something I stand for," regarding the controversy over his comments about Kosovo earlier this week at the French Open. On Monday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion wrote, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence," on a TV camera after his first match at Roland Garros.

"I would say it again, but I don't need to because you have my quotes," he said after making the third round on Wednesday with a straight-sets win over Marton Fucsovics. "I'm aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is. It's something that I stand for. So that's all."

Djokovic had defended his message in comments to Serb media, saying that Kosovo is Serbia's "cradle, our stronghold".

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/djokovic-brushes-aside-kosovo-row-to-reach-french-open-last-32-598948">Djokovic brushes aside Kosovo row to reach French Open last 32</a>

The International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body of the sport, said they had received a request from the Kosovo Tennis Federation demanding Djokovic be sanctioned over his actions. However, they pointed out that such statements do not contravene regulations.

"Rules for player conduct at a Grand Slam event are governed by the Grand Slam rulebook, administered by the relevant organiser and regulator. There is no provision in this that prohibits political statements," an ITF spokesman told AFP.

Djokovic was criticised for his comments about recent clashes in Kosovo by French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera who said he "shouldn't get involved".

Oudea-Castera told broadcaster France 2 that Djokovic's message was "not appropriate, clearly".

"It was a message that is very activist, that is very political."

The Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC) accused Djokovic of "stirring up" political tensions, a spokesman told AFP.

Djokovic "breached the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter regarding political neutrality and involved yet another political statement in sports", the KOC wrote in a letter sent to the IOC on Tuesday.

KOC head Ismet Krasniqi sought that the IOC initiates disciplinary proceedings against Djokovic, said the letter posted on Facebook.

Such "behaviour cannot be tolerated as it sets a dangerous precedent that sports can be used as a platform for political messages, agendas and propaganda", the letter quoted Krasniqi as saying.

Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, meanwhile,&nbsp;said that Djokovic should be free to "say his opinion".

Svitolina, who has repeatedly spoken out over tennis' response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, believes players should be able to talk publicly about political issues.

"We are living in a&nbsp;free world, so why not say your opinion on something?," said Svitolina. "I feel like if you stand for something, you think that this is the way, you should say."

"I mean, if you are with a friend sitting, talking, you're going to say your opinion, he is going to say his opinion. So why not?"

Thirty peacekeepers from a NATO-led force in Kosovo were injured in clashes with ethnic Serb demonstrators on Monday during protests against the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in northern Kosovo after an extremely low-turnout elections boycotted by Serbs.

Kosovo, mostly populated by Muslim ethnic Albanians, broke away from the then-Yugoslavia in the late 1990s and declared independence in 2008, in a move that has never been accepted by neighbouring Christian-majority Serbia or its ally Russia. 
 
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Novak Djokovic defiantly insisted on Wednesday, "It's something I stand for," regarding the controversy over his comments about Kosovo earlier this week at the French Open.

Novak Djokovic defiantly insisted on Wednesday, "It's something I stand for," regarding the controversy over his comments about Kosovo earlier this week at the French Open. On Monday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion wrote, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence," on a TV camera after his first match at Roland Garros. "I would say it again, but I don't need to because you have my quotes," he said after making the third round on Wednesday with a straight-sets win over Marton Fucsovics. "I'm aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is. It's something that I stand for. So that's all." Djokovic had defended his message in comments to Serb media, saying that Kosovo is Serbia's "cradle, our stronghold". ALSO READ: Djokovic brushes aside Kosovo row to reach French Open last 32 The International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body of the sport, said they had received a request from the Kosovo Tennis Federation demanding Djokovic be sanctioned over his actions. However, they pointed out that such statements do not contravene regulations. "Rules for player conduct at a Grand Slam event are governed by the Grand Slam rulebook, administered by the relevant organiser and regulator. There is no provision in this that prohibits political statements," an ITF spokesman told AFP. Djokovic was criticised for his comments about recent clashes in Kosovo by French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera who said he "shouldn't get involved". Oudea-Castera told broadcaster France 2 that Djokovic's message was "not appropriate, clearly". "It was a message that is very activist, that is very political." The Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC) accused Djokovic of "stirring up" political tensions, a spokesman told AFP. Djokovic "breached the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter regarding political neutrality and involved yet another political statement in sports", the KOC wrote in a letter sent to the IOC on Tuesday. KOC head Ismet Krasniqi sought that the IOC initiates disciplinary proceedings against Djokovic, said the letter posted on Facebook. Such "behaviour cannot be tolerated as it sets a dangerous precedent that sports can be used as a platform for political messages, agendas and propaganda", the letter quoted Krasniqi as saying. Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, meanwhile, said that Djokovic should be free to "say his opinion". Svitolina, who has repeatedly spoken out over tennis' response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, believes players should be able to talk publicly about political issues. "We are living in a free world, so why not say your opinion on something?," said Svitolina. "I feel like if you stand for something, you think that this is the way, you should say." "I mean, if you are with a friend sitting, talking, you're going to say your opinion, he is going to say his opinion. So why not?" Thirty peacekeepers from a NATO-led force in Kosovo were injured in clashes with ethnic Serb demonstrators on Monday during protests against the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in northern Kosovo after an extremely low-turnout elections boycotted by Serbs. Kosovo, mostly populated by Muslim ethnic Albanians, broke away from the then-Yugoslavia in the late 1990s and declared independence in 2008, in a move that has never been accepted by neighbouring Christian-majority Serbia or its ally Russia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic says 'it's what I stand for' in Kosovo 'heart of Serbia' row

Novak Djokovic brushed aside the furore surrounding his comments about clashes in Kosovo by easing into the French Open third round on Wednesday with a straight-sets win over Marton Fucsovics.&nbsp;

Djokovic, who is chasing a men's record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, came through a marathon first set against Hungarian Fucsovics before prevailing 7-6 (7/2), 6-0, 6-3 in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;

He will next face Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a fourth-round place on Friday.

There was plenty of drama during an 87-minute opening set which saw Djokovic broken while he was serving for it.&nbsp;

But eight previous break points saved proved key for the third seed as he went on to dominate a tie-break.&nbsp;

World number 83 Fucsovics could not maintain his level, though, as the 36-year-old Djokovic raced through the next seven games.&nbsp;

Fucsovics rallied by breaking back early in the third set and again when Djokovic served for the match.&nbsp;

But Djokovic wrapped up victory in the next game on his second match point.&nbsp;

The Serb has still not failed to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since the 2017 Australian Open.&nbsp; 
 
 
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Novak Djokovic brushed aside the furore surrounding his comments about clashes in Kosovo by easing into the French Open third round on Wednesday with a straight-sets win over Marton Fucsovics.

Novak Djokovic brushed aside the furore surrounding his comments about clashes in Kosovo by easing into the French Open third round on Wednesday with a straight-sets win over Marton Fucsovics. Djokovic, who is chasing a men's record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, came through a marathon first set against Hungarian Fucsovics before prevailing 7-6 (7/2), 6-0, 6-3 in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier. He will next face Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a fourth-round place on Friday. There was plenty of drama during an 87-minute opening set which saw Djokovic broken while he was serving for it. But eight previous break points saved proved key for the third seed as he went on to dominate a tie-break. World number 83 Fucsovics could not maintain his level, though, as the 36-year-old Djokovic raced through the next seven games. Fucsovics rallied by breaking back early in the third set and again when Djokovic served for the match. But Djokovic wrapped up victory in the next game on his second match point. The Serb has still not failed to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since the 2017 Australian Open. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Djokovic brushes aside Kosovo row to reach French Open last 32

Ace Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic created a stir at the going French Open tournament after he wrote a 'controversial' message on the lens of a camera following his first round victory.

The message, written in Serbian, read, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.” The 36-year-old has now drawn flak from the Kosovo Tennis Federation which, if an English translation of their official statement is to be believed, called Djokovic a 'fugitive athlete.'

Kosovo Tennis Federation, in a statement issued on social media, said that "the statement made by such public figure on the occasion of world events such as French Open directly result in rise of tension between the two countries, Serbia and Kosovo."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-second-seed-daniil-medvedev-stunned-by-brazils-thiago-wild-in-first-round-598459">French Open: Second seed Daniil Medvedev STUNNED by Brazil's Thiago Wild in first round</a>

The federation also asked 'fugitive athletes and sportsmen to refrain from misuse their position in spots for political purpose,' going by a translation of the statement. 
 
Have a look at the official statement here:

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Apart from a call to stop the violence, Djokovic, while defending his actions, said Monday it's the least he could do, adding, "I feel responsibility as a public figure…as well as a son of a man who was born in Kosovo.”

The Kosovo side had sought an investigation, but French Tennis Federation, the organiser of French Open tournament, said, “No official Grand Slam rules on what players can or cannot say. The FFT will not be making any statement or taking any stance on this matter.”

Djokovic appeared even ready for retribution, if any. “I don’t know if someone will punish me or something like that, but I would do it again,” he had said following his first-round victory.

There have been recent ethnic clashes in northern Kosovo - with border alongside Serbia and a place with decent Serb population - considered minority in Kosovo, and police and NATO peacekeepers.

The issue at heart is Kosovo - with bigger population of Albanese people, claiming independence from Serbia in 2008 and Belgrade's refusal of its acknowledgement.

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Ace Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic created a stir at the going French Open tournament after he wrote a 'controversial' message on the lens of a camera following his first round victory.

Ace Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic created a stir at the going French Open tournament after he wrote a 'controversial' message on the lens of a camera following his first round victory. The message, written in Serbian, read, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.” The 36-year-old has now drawn flak from the Kosovo Tennis Federation which, if an English translation of their official statement is to be believed, called Djokovic a 'fugitive athlete.' Kosovo Tennis Federation, in a statement issued on social media, said that "the statement made by such public figure on the occasion of world events such as French Open directly result in rise of tension between the two countries, Serbia and Kosovo." Also Read: French Open: Second seed Daniil Medvedev STUNNED by Brazil's Thiago Wild in first round The federation also asked 'fugitive athletes and sportsmen to refrain from misuse their position in spots for political purpose,' going by a translation of the statement. Have a look at the official statement here: × Apart from a call to stop the violence, Djokovic, while defending his actions, said Monday it's the least he could do, adding, "I feel responsibility as a public figure…as well as a son of a man who was born in Kosovo.” The Kosovo side had sought an investigation, but French Tennis Federation, the organiser of French Open tournament, said, “No official Grand Slam rules on what players can or cannot say. The FFT will not be making any statement or taking any stance on this matter.” Djokovic appeared even ready for retribution, if any. “I don’t know if someone will punish me or something like that, but I would do it again,” he had said following his first-round victory. There have been recent ethnic clashes in northern Kosovo - with border alongside Serbia and a place with decent Serb population - considered minority in Kosovo, and police and NATO peacekeepers. The issue at heart is Kosovo - with bigger population of Albanese people, claiming independence from Serbia in 2008 and Belgrade's refusal of its acknowledgement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Did Kosovo Tennis call Novak Djokovic a 'fugitive' over 'controversial' message at French Open?

Kosovo Olympic authorities have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to open disciplinary proceedings against Novak&nbsp;Djokovic, accusing the Serbian of stirring up political tension by saying "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" at the French Open. Djokovic&nbsp;wrote the message on a camera lens following his first-round win on Monday, the same day that 30 NATO peacekeeping troops were hurt in clashes with Serb protesters in the Kosovo town of Zvecan, where&nbsp;Djokovic's father grew up.

Serbian authorities said 52 protesters were wounded in the clashes. The violence erupted after ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo's Serb-majority area following elections that were boycotted by the Serbs. The world number three later said he was against any kind of conflict but defended his statement and described Kosovo's situation as a "precedent".

"Novak&nbsp;Djokovic&nbsp;has yet again promoted the Serbian nationalists' propaganda and used the sports platform to do so," Ismet Krasniqi, president of Kosovo's Olympic Committee (KOK), said in a statement. "The further post-match statements made by such a public figure without any feeling of remorse, directly result in raising the level of tension and violence between the two countries," he added, urging the IOC to investigate "by opening disciplinary proceedings against the athlete."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fugitive-kosovo-tennis-calls-out-serb-novak-djokovic-for-controversial-message-at-french-open-598614">Did Kosovo Tennis call Novak Djokovic a 'fugitive' over 'controversial' message at French Open?</a>

France's Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, whose country will host the Summer Olympics in Paris next year, said&nbsp;Djokovic's message was "not appropriate, clearly". "There is a principle of neutrality for the field of play. When you carry messages about defending human rights, messages that bring people together around universal values, a sports person is free to express them," she told French television. "But in this case, it was a message that is very activist, that is very political. You shouldn't get involved, especially in the current circumstances, and it shouldn't happen again."

Djokovic, chasing a record 23rd Grand Slam title, has said he was not holding back and would do it again. He is set to play his second-round match later on Wednesday against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics. The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, Kosovo's tennis federation said&nbsp;Djokovic's comments were "regrettable", accusing him of using his status as a well-known personality to stir tensions. NATO, which has some 4,000 soldiers currently in Kosovo, will send 700 extra troops to curb violence and put another battalion on high alert as unrest intensifies.

<h2>Svitolina backs Djokovic</h2>

"We are living in the free world, so why not say your opinion on something?," said Svitolina, who reached the third round with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Storm Hunter on Wednesday.

"I feel like if you stand for something, you think that this is the way, you should say.

"I mean, if you are with a friend sitting, talking, you're going to say your opinion, he is going to say his opinion. So why not?" added Svitolina.

Kosovo Olympic authorities have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to open disciplinary proceedings against Novak Djokovic, accusing the Serbian of stirring up political tension by saying "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" at the French Open.

Kosovo Olympic authorities have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to open disciplinary proceedings against Novak Djokovic, accusing the Serbian of stirring up political tension by saying "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" at the French Open. Djokovic wrote the message on a camera lens following his first-round win on Monday, the same day that 30 NATO peacekeeping troops were hurt in clashes with Serb protesters in the Kosovo town of Zvecan, where Djokovic's father grew up. Serbian authorities said 52 protesters were wounded in the clashes. The violence erupted after ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo's Serb-majority area following elections that were boycotted by the Serbs. The world number three later said he was against any kind of conflict but defended his statement and described Kosovo's situation as a "precedent". "Novak Djokovic has yet again promoted the Serbian nationalists' propaganda and used the sports platform to do so," Ismet Krasniqi, president of Kosovo's Olympic Committee (KOK), said in a statement. "The further post-match statements made by such a public figure without any feeling of remorse, directly result in raising the level of tension and violence between the two countries," he added, urging the IOC to investigate "by opening disciplinary proceedings against the athlete." Also Read: Did Kosovo Tennis call Novak Djokovic a 'fugitive' over 'controversial' message at French Open? France's Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, whose country will host the Summer Olympics in Paris next year, said Djokovic's message was "not appropriate, clearly". "There is a principle of neutrality for the field of play. When you carry messages about defending human rights, messages that bring people together around universal values, a sports person is free to express them," she told French television. "But in this case, it was a message that is very activist, that is very political. You shouldn't get involved, especially in the current circumstances, and it shouldn't happen again." Djokovic, chasing a record 23rd Grand Slam title, has said he was not holding back and would do it again. He is set to play his second-round match later on Wednesday against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics. The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, Kosovo's tennis federation said Djokovic's comments were "regrettable", accusing him of using his status as a well-known personality to stir tensions. NATO, which has some 4,000 soldiers currently in Kosovo, will send 700 extra troops to curb violence and put another battalion on high alert as unrest intensifies. Svitolina backs Djokovic "We are living in the free world, so why not say your opinion on something?," said Svitolina, who reached the third round with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Storm Hunter on Wednesday. "I feel like if you stand for something, you think that this is the way, you should say. "I mean, if you are with a friend sitting, talking, you're going to say your opinion, he is going to say his opinion. So why not?" added Svitolina.

Kosovo Olympic Committee seeks IOC disciplinary action against Serbian star Novak Djokovic

On Monday (May 29), former world number one Novak Djokovic eased past debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the French Open 2023 edition. Squaring off with the newcomer, Djokovic risked controversy by sharing a message about Kosovo and urging to stop the violence.&nbsp;The 22-time Grand Slam champion shared a message for one and all as he wrote on a camera lens in Serbian, stating, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence."

It is to be noted that the incident happened amid rising tensions in Kosovo. On Monday, clashes broke out between Serb protesters and NATO peacekeeping soldiers -- defending three town halls in northern Kosovo -- which led to as many as 25 soldiers being injured. Thus, Djokovic joined in and gave a special message for his countrymen after a winning start at the Roland Garros.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2023-novak-djokovic-opens-campaign-with-straight-set-win-over-philippe-chatrier-597995">French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic opens campaign with straight set win over Aleksandar Kovacevic</a>

<h2 data-testid="paragraph-1">'My stance is clear: I am against wars, violence and any kind of conflict, as I’ve always stated publicly'</h2>

After his match, Djokovic told a news briefing, "As a son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to the entire Serbia. My stance is clear: I am against wars, violence and any kind of conflict, as I’ve always stated publicly. I empathise with all people, but the situation with Kosovo is a precedent in international law."

The French tennis federation (FFT), which organises the French Open, reacted to Djokovic's message and told Reuters, "No official Grand Slam rules on what players can or cannot say. The FFT will not be making any statement or taking any stance on this matter."

Djokovic will now lock horns with Hungary's Marton&nbsp;Fucsovics in the second round on Wednesday (May 31). He is expected to go the distance in 2023's second Grand Slam tournament and compete for the mega title along with No. 1 ranked Carlos Alcaraz.&nbsp;

On Monday (May 29), former world number one Novak Djokovic eased past debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the French Open 2023 edition. Squaring off with the newcomer, Djokovic risked controversy by sharing a message about Kosovo and urging to stop the violence.

On Monday (May 29), former world number one Novak Djokovic eased past debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the French Open 2023 edition. Squaring off with the newcomer, Djokovic risked controversy by sharing a message about Kosovo and urging to stop the violence. The 22-time Grand Slam champion shared a message for one and all as he wrote on a camera lens in Serbian, stating, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence." It is to be noted that the incident happened amid rising tensions in Kosovo. On Monday, clashes broke out between Serb protesters and NATO peacekeeping soldiers -- defending three town halls in northern Kosovo -- which led to as many as 25 soldiers being injured. Thus, Djokovic joined in and gave a special message for his countrymen after a winning start at the Roland Garros. Also Read: French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic opens campaign with straight set win over Aleksandar Kovacevic 'My stance is clear: I am against wars, violence and any kind of conflict, as I’ve always stated publicly' After his match, Djokovic told a news briefing, "As a son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to the entire Serbia. My stance is clear: I am against wars, violence and any kind of conflict, as I’ve always stated publicly. I empathise with all people, but the situation with Kosovo is a precedent in international law." The French tennis federation (FFT), which organises the French Open, reacted to Djokovic's message and told Reuters, "No official Grand Slam rules on what players can or cannot say. The FFT will not be making any statement or taking any stance on this matter." Djokovic will now lock horns with Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in the second round on Wednesday (May 31). He is expected to go the distance in 2023's second Grand Slam tournament and compete for the mega title along with No. 1 ranked Carlos Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic shares message for violence-hit Kosovo after first-round win in French Open

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