As Wimbledon 2025 approaches, Novak Djokovic would be hoping to end his grand slam title drought which has been going on for nearly two years now. Djokovic, who has joint-most 24 grand slam titles (among men and women) to his name, last won at US Open 2023 final for a major trophy. As he continues to search for the record 25the grand slam title, the grass court championship could be his best bet given his record. He has won Wimbledon seven times - second only to Roger Federer's eight Wimbledon titles.While Djokovic certainly has a knack of winning on the grass court, his last two finals - where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz - has popped up some questions. The Serb, however, has not lost a single Wimbledon final if he managed to win at least two sets out of first three.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-retirement-should-he-call-time-heres-what-record-suggests-since-winning-last-grand-slam-us-open-2023-1749465545319">Should Novak Djokovic retire? Here's what his record suggests since winning US Open 2023 - his 24th grand slam</a>What is Djokovic's best bet to win at Wimbledon? Let's have a look:Djokovic first won a Wimbledon title in 2011 when he beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in four sets. It was three years later in 2014 when he won the second time - beating Roger Federer 6(7)-7(9), 6-4, 7(7)-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 in a five-set thriller. He defended his title next year in 2015 by beating Federer again, but this time in four sets - 7(7)-6(1), 6(10)-7(12), 6-4, 6-3.After a couple of years of gap, Djokovic came back to win four back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 with 2020 cancelled due to Covid 19. Here's how he won in each of these finals:<ul><li>Wimbledon 2018 Final: Djokovic beat Kevin Anderson 6-6, 6-2, 7(7)-6(3) in straight sets</li><li>Wimbledon 2019 Final: Djokovic beat Roger Federer 7(7)-6(5), 1-6, 7(7)-6(4), 4-6, 13(7)-12(3) in five-set epic</li><li>Wimbledon 2021 Final: Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini 6(4)-7(7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in four sets</li><li>Wimbledon 2022 Final: Djokovic beat Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7(7)-6(3) in four sets</li></ul>Djokovic has also lost three Wimbledon finals in his career - 2013, 2023 and 2024 and below is how he lost them:<ul><li>Wimbledon 2013 Final: Djokovic lost to Andy Murray 4-6, 5-7, 4-6 in straight sets</li><li>Wimbledon 2023 Final: Djokovic lost to Alcaraz 6-1, 6(6)-7(8), 1-6, 3-6, 6-4 in five-set thriller</li><li>Wimbledon 2024 Final: Djokovic lost to Alcaraz 2-6, 2-6, 6(4)-7(7) in an anti-climax final</li></ul>It is clear that if Djokovic wins at least two sets from first three in the Wimbledon, he has 100 a percent title-win record and would be hoping to reprise the same at the upcoming Wimbledon Championship which starts June 30.

While Djokovic certainly has a knack of winning on the grass court, his last two finals - where he lost of Carlos Alcaraz - has popped up some questions. The Serb, however, has not lost a single Wimbledon final if he managed to get at least two wins in the first three sets.

As Wimbledon 2025 approaches, Novak Djokovic would be hoping to end his grand slam title drought which has been going on for nearly two years now. Djokovic, who has joint-most 24 grand slam titles (among men and women) to his name, last won at US Open 2023 final for a major trophy. As he continues to search for the record 25the grand slam title, the grass court championship could be his best bet given his record. He has won Wimbledon seven times - second only to Roger Federer's eight Wimbledon titles. While Djokovic certainly has a knack of winning on the grass court, his last two finals - where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz - has popped up some questions. The Serb, however, has not lost a single Wimbledon final if he managed to win at least two sets out of first three. Also Read - Should Novak Djokovic retire? Here's what his record suggests since winning US Open 2023 - his 24th grand slam What is Djokovic's best bet to win at Wimbledon? Let's have a look: Djokovic first won a Wimbledon title in 2011 when he beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in four sets. It was three years later in 2014 when he won the second time - beating Roger Federer 6(7)-7(9), 6-4, 7(7)-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 in a five-set thriller. He defended his title next year in 2015 by beating Federer again, but this time in four sets - 7(7)-6(1), 6(10)-7(12), 6-4, 6-3. After a couple of years of gap, Djokovic came back to win four back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 with 2020 cancelled due to Covid 19. Here's how he won in each of these finals: Wimbledon 2018 Final: Djokovic beat Kevin Anderson 6-6, 6-2, 7(7)-6(3) in straight sets Wimbledon 2019 Final: Djokovic beat Roger Federer 7(7)-6(5), 1-6, 7(7)-6(4), 4-6, 13(7)-12(3) in five-set epic Wimbledon 2021 Final: Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini 6(4)-7(7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in four sets Wimbledon 2022 Final: Djokovic beat Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7(7)-6(3) in four sets Djokovic has also lost three Wimbledon finals in his career - 2013, 2023 and 2024 and below is how he lost them: Wimbledon 2013 Final: Djokovic lost to Andy Murray 4-6, 5-7, 4-6 in straight sets Wimbledon 2023 Final: Djokovic lost to Alcaraz 6-1, 6(6)-7(8), 1-6, 3-6, 6-4 in five-set thriller Wimbledon 2024 Final: Djokovic lost to Alcaraz 2-6, 2-6, 6(4)-7(7) in an anti-climax final It is clear that if Djokovic wins at least two sets from first three in the Wimbledon, he has 100 a percent title-win record and would be hoping to reprise the same at the upcoming Wimbledon Championship which starts June 30.

While Djokovic certainly has a knack of winning on the grass court, his last two finals - where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz - has popped up some questions. The Serb, however, has not lost a single Wimbledon final if he managed to win at least two sets out of first three.

Best bet to win Wimbledon? How Djokovic can all but ensure record 25th grand slam title win

Roger Federer is one of the greats to ever set foot on a tennis court - he retired from professional tennis in 2022 after playing for 24 long years since his debut in 1998. During his career, he won literally everything and finished with 20 grand slams to his name. He won his first grand slam title in 2003 Wimbledon and went on to win the championship seven more times in addition to six Australian Open titles, five US Open titles and one French Open as well.Since the turn of the century (2001), Federer has won the Wimbledon Championships most times than any other player in men's singles - 8. The Swiss national, however, hasn't always been lucky on his favorite grass court as he is also the player to lose the Wimbledon final most times since 2001. Is he really the Wimbledon great? Let's have a look at this numbers:Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/which-is-most-attacking-test-team-how-have-england-fared-since-adopting-bazball-in-june-2022-1750156735960">Most attacking Test team? How have England fared since adopting Bazball in June 2022</a>Federer lost a total of four Wimbledon finals - 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2019. His contemporaries and two of Big Three - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - lost it three times each along with Andy Roddick who also lost it three times.Federer won hist first Wimbledon title in 2003 and went on to defend it four more years till 2007 until he met with Rafael Nadal in 2008 Wimbledon who he had beaten the previous year. In 2008, Nadal broke Federer's streak and the Swiss great couldn't get it back again - ever.In the next three finals he lost - in 2014, 2015 and 2019 - he faced Novak Djokovic - also one of the greats to ever play the game and currently on top with 24 men's singles titles (including seven Wimbledon titles) - the most in history.Djokovic has won seven Wimbledon titles and lost it three times to Andy Murry in 2013 and Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 &amp; 2024. Unlike Federer, Djokovic has never lost a Wimbledon title against Big Three while the Swiss player has lost it four times against Nadal and Djokovic combined.While Federer is truly one of the greats to ever play tennis, it won't be without discussion if he's the greatest ever to play the Wimbledon Championship.

Federer won hist first Wimbledon title in 2003 and went on to defend it four more years till 2007 until he met with Rafael Nadal in 2008. Nadal broke Federer's streak and the Swiss great couldn't get it back again - ever.

Roger Federer is one of the greats to ever set foot on a tennis court - he retired from professional tennis in 2022 after playing for 24 long years since his debut in 1998. During his career, he won literally everything and finished with 20 grand slams to his name. He won his first grand slam title in 2003 Wimbledon and went on to win the championship seven more times in addition to six Australian Open titles, five US Open titles and one French Open as well. Since the turn of the century (2001), Federer has won the Wimbledon Championships most times than any other player in men's singles - 8. The Swiss national, however, hasn't always been lucky on his favorite grass court as he is also the player to lose the Wimbledon final most times since 2001. Is he really the Wimbledon great? Let's have a look at this numbers: Also Read - Most attacking Test team? How have England fared since adopting Bazball in June 2022 Federer lost a total of four Wimbledon finals - 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2019. His contemporaries and two of Big Three - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - lost it three times each along with Andy Roddick who also lost it three times. Federer won hist first Wimbledon title in 2003 and went on to defend it four more years till 2007 until he met with Rafael Nadal in 2008 Wimbledon who he had beaten the previous year. In 2008, Nadal broke Federer's streak and the Swiss great couldn't get it back again - ever. In the next three finals he lost - in 2014, 2015 and 2019 - he faced Novak Djokovic - also one of the greats to ever play the game and currently on top with 24 men's singles titles (including seven Wimbledon titles) - the most in history. Djokovic has won seven Wimbledon titles and lost it three times to Andy Murry in 2013 and Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 & 2024. Unlike Federer, Djokovic has never lost a Wimbledon title against Big Three while the Swiss player has lost it four times against Nadal and Djokovic combined. While Federer is truly one of the greats to ever play tennis, it won't be without discussion if he's the greatest ever to play the Wimbledon Championship.

Federer won hist first Wimbledon title in 2003 and went on to defend it four more years till 2007 until he met with Rafael Nadal in 2008. Nadal broke Federer's streak and the Swiss great couldn't get it back again - ever.

Greatest player in Wimbledon? Roger Federer could have won 12 titles if not for Djokovic and Nadal

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz just won one of the best matches in the history of French Open 2025 as he defended his title in come-from-behind victory in a five-set thriller against Jannik Sinner on Sunday (June 8). Alcaraz, 22, was two sets down against Sinner at 4-6, 6(4)-7(7) and then staged a comeback for ages in the longest final of French Open history.The Roland Garros title which he defended was his fifth grand slam since making his debut in Australian Open 2022 and none of his contemporary players are near to him. The closest is Jannik Sinner with three titles but Alcaraz is paces ahead of him as he showed on Sunday.His win at Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on Sunday proposed a question - Is he officially the one of the successors of Big Three - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer? Here's what his record says:Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-retirement-should-he-call-time-heres-what-record-suggests-since-winning-last-grand-slam-us-open-2023-1749465545319">Should Novak Djokovic retire? Here's what his record suggests since winning US Open 2023 - his 24th grand slam</a>In 14 grand slams played, Alcaraz has never lost a chance to win a title whenever he has managed to reach the final: US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, French Open 2024 and 2025.Since winning his first grand slam at Flushing Meadows in 2022, he has managed to reach semis or more of a grand slam on six occasions and won four titles. The remaining two times (French Open 2023 and US Open) he lost in semis.While he has managed a win in three of the four grand slams, Rod Laver Arena in Australian Open remains the only court he has not conquered yet but looking at his form, the title is somewhere in the near future.In four Australian Open tournaments played, he has been a quarter-finalists twice and lost both those games (2024 and 2025) in four sets.He also has the strength and fitness to last long as three of his five title wins have come in five sets and remaining two in three sets. It is clearly not easy to beat him even when the opponents pin him two sets down in a grand slam final (French Open 2024 and 2025).With two of Big Three retired and Novak Djokovic in his fag end of the career, Carlos Alcaraz clearly seems the favorite to take the reins - at least as of now.

In 14 grand slams played, Alcaraz has never lost a chance to win a title whenever he has managed to reach the final: US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, French Open 2024 and 2025.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz just won one of the best matches in the history of French Open 2025 as he defended his title in come-from-behind victory in a five-set thriller against Jannik Sinner on Sunday (June 8). Alcaraz, 22, was two sets down against Sinner at 4-6, 6(4)-7(7) and then staged a comeback for ages in the longest final of French Open history. The Roland Garros title which he defended was his fifth grand slam since making his debut in Australian Open 2022 and none of his contemporary players are near to him. The closest is Jannik Sinner with three titles but Alcaraz is paces ahead of him as he showed on Sunday. His win at Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on Sunday proposed a question - Is he officially the one of the successors of Big Three - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer? Here's what his record says: Also Read - Should Novak Djokovic retire? Here's what his record suggests since winning US Open 2023 - his 24th grand slam In 14 grand slams played, Alcaraz has never lost a chance to win a title whenever he has managed to reach the final: US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, French Open 2024 and 2025. Since winning his first grand slam at Flushing Meadows in 2022, he has managed to reach semis or more of a grand slam on six occasions and won four titles. The remaining two times (French Open 2023 and US Open) he lost in semis. While he has managed a win in three of the four grand slams, Rod Laver Arena in Australian Open remains the only court he has not conquered yet but looking at his form, the title is somewhere in the near future. In four Australian Open tournaments played, he has been a quarter-finalists twice and lost both those games (2024 and 2025) in four sets. He also has the strength and fitness to last long as three of his five title wins have come in five sets and remaining two in three sets. It is clearly not easy to beat him even when the opponents pin him two sets down in a grand slam final (French Open 2024 and 2025). With two of Big Three retired and Novak Djokovic in his fag end of the career, Carlos Alcaraz clearly seems the favorite to take the reins - at least as of now.

In 14 grand slams played, Alcaraz has never lost a chance to win a title whenever he has managed to reach the final: US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, French Open 2024 and 2025.

Is Carlos Alcaraz officially one of the successors of Big Three? His titles and fitness surely favour him

Novak Djokovic has been around for a long time now - 2008 to be precise when he won his first grand slam title - the Australia Open. Over the years, Rod Laver Arena became his favourite court as he managed nine more wins here out of a total 24 grand slams he has won.Djokovic is 38 now and will be 39 next year - his age is showing up as he continues to chase the elusive 25th grand slam title - probably the only feather missing from his decorated tennis career cap. But, should Djokovic retire? Let's have a look at the details:Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/roland-garros-carlos-alcaraz-scripts-marvellous-comeback-to-beat-jannik-sinner-for-french-open-2025-crown-1749403046167">Carlos Alcaraz scripts marvellous comeback to beat Sinner for French Open crown</a>The Serbian is already considered one of the greats of the game with joint-most grand slam tiles among men or women to go with Margaret Court's 24. But, it has been nearly one and half years that Djokovic has managed to win a slam.Since he won US Open 2023, Djokovic has made it to only one more slam final - Wimbledon 2024 - that too he lost in straight sets against Carlos Alcaraz. That final, however, is the best Djokovic could muster after his last grand slam - signs of age catching up?Here's how Djokovic has fared in grand slams since winning US Open 2023:<ul><li>Australian Open 2024 - The Serb lost it to Jannik Sinner 1-6, 2-6, 7-6, 3-6 in the semi-final.</li><li>French Open 2024 - Djokovic gave walkover to Casper Ruud in quarter-final due to injury.</li><li>Wimbledon 2024 - The Serb lost it to Carlos Alcaraz 2-6, 2-6, 6-7 in straight sets in the final.</li><li>US Open 2024 - Djokovic lost to Alexie Popyrin 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 in third round.</li><li>Australian Open 2025 - Djokovic gave a walkover win to Alexander Zverev in semi-final while being down 6(5) - 7(7) - again age catches up.</li><li>French Open 2025: The Serb lost to Jannik Sinner 4-6, 5-7, 6(3)-7(7) in straight sets in the semis and took a medical timeout in between as well.</li></ul>Clearly, Djokovic isn't as fit as he used to be and this is visible in his records. He has managed to reach knock out stage five times in six grand slams but has managed to win only one set and gave walkover twice.Time is definitely running out for the Serb and if doesn't manage to win a grand slam anytime soon, he'll surely be ending his career with 24 titles - still the joint most.

Djokovic has managed to reach knock out stage five times in six grand slams since he US Open 2023 title but has managed to win only one set and gave walkover twice.

Novak Djokovic has been around for a long time now - 2008 to be precise when he won his first grand slam title - the Australia Open. Over the years, Rod Laver Arena became his favourite court as he managed nine more wins here out of a total 24 grand slams he has won. Djokovic is 38 now and will be 39 next year - his age is showing up as he continues to chase the elusive 25th grand slam title - probably the only feather missing from his decorated tennis career cap. But, should Djokovic retire? Let's have a look at the details: Also Read - Carlos Alcaraz scripts marvellous comeback to beat Sinner for French Open crown The Serbian is already considered one of the greats of the game with joint-most grand slam tiles among men or women to go with Margaret Court's 24. But, it has been nearly one and half years that Djokovic has managed to win a slam. Since he won US Open 2023, Djokovic has made it to only one more slam final - Wimbledon 2024 - that too he lost in straight sets against Carlos Alcaraz. That final, however, is the best Djokovic could muster after his last grand slam - signs of age catching up? Here's how Djokovic has fared in grand slams since winning US Open 2023: Australian Open 2024 - The Serb lost it to Jannik Sinner 1-6, 2-6, 7-6, 3-6 in the semi-final. French Open 2024 - Djokovic gave walkover to Casper Ruud in quarter-final due to injury. Wimbledon 2024 - The Serb lost it to Carlos Alcaraz 2-6, 2-6, 6-7 in straight sets in the final. US Open 2024 - Djokovic lost to Alexie Popyrin 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 in third round. Australian Open 2025 - Djokovic gave a walkover win to Alexander Zverev in semi-final while being down 6(5) - 7(7) - again age catches up. French Open 2025: The Serb lost to Jannik Sinner 4-6, 5-7, 6(3)-7(7) in straight sets in the semis and took a medical timeout in between as well. Clearly, Djokovic isn't as fit as he used to be and this is visible in his records. He has managed to reach knock out stage five times in six grand slams but has managed to win only one set and gave walkover twice. Time is definitely running out for the Serb and if doesn't manage to win a grand slam anytime soon, he'll surely be ending his career with 24 titles - still the joint most.

Djokovic has managed to reach knock out stage five times in six grand slams since he US Open 2023 title but has managed to win only one set and gave walkover twice.

Should Novak Djokovic retire? Here's what his record suggests since winning US Open 2023 - his 24th grand slam

In one of the most high-octane clashes of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/french-open">French Open 2025</a>, Novak Djokovic will take on World No.1 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jannik-sinner">Jannik Sinner</a> in the semi-finals at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday (June 6).&nbsp;The 38-year-old Serbian stalwart is chasing a record 25th <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/grand-slam">Grand Slam</a> title and has turned things around after a rough start to the season. Coming into Paris after four first-round exits, the Serbian star has looked sharp on the clay court. He dominated the first four matches in straight sets before battling hard to Alexander Zverev in four sets in the quarterfinal.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2025-sabalenka-gauff-set-up-roland-garros-title-showdown-in-women-s-singles-1749146578225">French Open 2025: Sabalenka, Gauff set up Roland Garros title showdown in women's singles</a>&nbsp;On the other hand, Sinner has been simply flawless. Back in action after a doping ban, the Italian has looked rock solid, winning all his matches in straight sets. His victims so far include Andrey Rublev, Richard Gasquet, and Alexander Bublik. This is Sinner’s chance to reach his first-ever French Open final after falling short in the semis last year.&nbsp;When will the Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner semi-final start?&nbsp;The match is scheduled to begin not before 7 PM local time in Paris. For Indian viewers, that means the action will start no earlier than 10:30 PM IST on Friday (June 6).&nbsp;Where can you watch Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner live in India?&nbsp;The French Open 2025 semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network. Viewers can also live stream the match on the Sony LIV app and FanCode app.&nbsp;With Novak chasing history for the most Grand Slam titles and Sinner hungry for his maiden Roland Garros final on clay, this semi-final promises to be a thrilling one in Paris.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Novak Djokovic will take on World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Court Philippe-Chatrier on (Friday) June 6.

In one of the most high-octane clashes of the French Open 2025, Novak Djokovic will take on World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday (June 6). The 38-year-old Serbian stalwart is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title and has turned things around after a rough start to the season. Coming into Paris after four first-round exits, the Serbian star has looked sharp on the clay court. He dominated the first four matches in straight sets before battling hard to Alexander Zverev in four sets in the quarterfinal. Also Read | French Open 2025: Sabalenka, Gauff set up Roland Garros title showdown in women's singles On the other hand, Sinner has been simply flawless. Back in action after a doping ban, the Italian has looked rock solid, winning all his matches in straight sets. His victims so far include Andrey Rublev, Richard Gasquet, and Alexander Bublik. This is Sinner’s chance to reach his first-ever French Open final after falling short in the semis last year. When will the Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner semi-final start? The match is scheduled to begin not before 7 PM local time in Paris. For Indian viewers, that means the action will start no earlier than 10:30 PM IST on Friday (June 6). Where can you watch Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner live in India? The French Open 2025 semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network. Viewers can also live stream the match on the Sony LIV app and FanCode app. With Novak chasing history for the most Grand Slam titles and Sinner hungry for his maiden Roland Garros final on clay, this semi-final promises to be a thrilling one in Paris.

Novak Djokovic will take on World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Court Philippe-Chatrier on (Friday) June 6.

French Open 2025 | Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner semi-final: When and where to watch. Details inside

Novak Djokovic said beating Alexander Zverev on Wednesday was a "testament" to his ability to compete at the highest level as the 38-year-old reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros to inch closer to a record 25th Grand Slam title.&nbsp;Djokovic fought past third seed Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in a grueling night session duel, which captivated Court Philippe Chatrier over three-and-a-quarter hours.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2025-sinner-ends-bubliks-dream-run-in-straight-sets-to-enter-semis-1749054726532">French Open 2025: Sinner ends Bublik's dream run in straight sets to enter semis</a>&nbsp;The 24-time Grand Slam winner moves on to face world number one Jannik Sinner in the last four, after the Italian earlier raced past the unseeded Alexander Bublik in straight sets.&nbsp;"Jannik is in tremendous form, and he has been the best player for the last couple of years," said Djokovic. "It's going to be of course semi-finals of a Grand Slam against the No. 1 in the world. There is no bigger occasion for me, so I'll try to do my best to step it up and perform as well as I did tonight.&nbsp;"I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up, you know, with Sinner in few days' time. It's a big challenge for me."&nbsp;On centre court, last year's runner-up Zverev roared out of the blocks with an immediate break of serve as he clinched the opener against Djokovic.&nbsp;It was the first time former world number one Djokovic has dropped a set at the French Open this year.<h2>‘Forget the age’ &nbsp;</h2>Djokovic engineered himself a 3-1 lead in the second set after Zverev pushed a backhand long when serving at 30-40.&nbsp;The three-time Roland Garros champion then held firm through the rest of the frame to level the match as he started to punish the 1.98m-Zverev with drop-shots.&nbsp;The Serb sniffed out a break opportunity in game five of the third set and snaffled it, before again breaking the German as he took control of the encounter.&nbsp;Now on a high, Djokovic started the fourth by again pouncing on his opponent's usually reliable serve.&nbsp;He brought Chatrier to its feet when he whipped a cross-court forehand past Zverev to save break point in the sixth game at the end of an exchange that the 28-year-old looked certain to win on at least three occasions.&nbsp;Zverev appeared a defeated man when he eventually passed up that chance at a vital break-back with a netted forehand.&nbsp;Djokovic marched on and sealed his 101st win at the French Open, raising his arms aloft in triumph after finally converting match point at the fifth time of asking.&nbsp;"It was an amazing match," summarised Djokovic. "Obviously, beating one of the best players in the world on the biggest stages is something that I definitely work for, and I still, you know, push myself on a daily basis at this age because of these kind of matches and these kind of experiences.&nbsp;“It's a proven kind of testament to myself that I can and to others that I can still play on the highest level.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

French Open 2025: Djokovic downs Zverev to set up semi clash with Sinner

Novak Djokovic said beating Alexander Zverev on Wednesday was a "testament" to his ability to compete at the highest level as the 38-year-old reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros to inch closer to a record 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic fought past third seed Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in a grueling night session duel, which captivated Court Philippe Chatrier over three-and-a-quarter hours. Also read | French Open 2025: Sinner ends Bublik's dream run in straight sets to enter semis The 24-time Grand Slam winner moves on to face world number one Jannik Sinner in the last four, after the Italian earlier raced past the unseeded Alexander Bublik in straight sets. "Jannik is in tremendous form, and he has been the best player for the last couple of years," said Djokovic. "It's going to be of course semi-finals of a Grand Slam against the No. 1 in the world. There is no bigger occasion for me, so I'll try to do my best to step it up and perform as well as I did tonight. "I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up, you know, with Sinner in few days' time. It's a big challenge for me." On centre court, last year's runner-up Zverev roared out of the blocks with an immediate break of serve as he clinched the opener against Djokovic. It was the first time former world number one Djokovic has dropped a set at the French Open this year. ‘Forget the age’ Djokovic engineered himself a 3-1 lead in the second set after Zverev pushed a backhand long when serving at 30-40. The three-time Roland Garros champion then held firm through the rest of the frame to level the match as he started to punish the 1.98m-Zverev with drop-shots. The Serb sniffed out a break opportunity in game five of the third set and snaffled it, before again breaking the German as he took control of the encounter. Now on a high, Djokovic started the fourth by again pouncing on his opponent's usually reliable serve. He brought Chatrier to its feet when he whipped a cross-court forehand past Zverev to save break point in the sixth game at the end of an exchange that the 28-year-old looked certain to win on at least three occasions. Zverev appeared a defeated man when he eventually passed up that chance at a vital break-back with a netted forehand. Djokovic marched on and sealed his 101st win at the French Open, raising his arms aloft in triumph after finally converting match point at the fifth time of asking. "It was an amazing match," summarised Djokovic. "Obviously, beating one of the best players in the world on the biggest stages is something that I definitely work for, and I still, you know, push myself on a daily basis at this age because of these kind of matches and these kind of experiences. “It's a proven kind of testament to myself that I can and to others that I can still play on the highest level.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Djokovic fought past third seed Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in a grueling night session duel, which captivated Court Philippe Chatrier over three-and-a-quarter hours.

Novak Djokovic breezed past Filip Misolic to book his spot in the last 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday, but the 24-time Grand Slam winner had to battle with the Champions League final for the crowd's attention in Paris.&nbsp;The three-time French Open champion needed just over two hours to beat his 153rd-ranked Austrian opponent 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-french-open-2025-alexander-zverev-cruises-into-fourth-round-jannik-sinner-eases-past-jiri-lehecka-1748702842281">French Open 2025: Alexander Zverev cruises into fourth round; Jannik Sinner eases past Jiri Lehecka</a>&nbsp;Djokovic had previously joked that he was not keen on potentially playing the late match on centre court on Saturday as it would prevent him watching Paris Saint-Germain take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich.&nbsp;Football fan Djokovic may have missed the majority of PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter, but the Serb told reporters after his win the final made its presence felt on court in Paris.&nbsp;"I don't know if it was good for me to get this scheduled slot, because it was interesting, the crowd was really following the (football) game," said Djokovic.&nbsp;&nbsp;"And I could hear once they (PSG) scored, and it was way too many times that they were celebrating. I was like, 'Wow, there's a lot of goals from Paris' and 'What's going on?'.&nbsp;"So now I heard it's 5-0, so it's quite a result, to be honest," added the AC Milan supporter.&nbsp;Djokovic told reporters he was unsure how everyone would be getting home from Roland Garros as the French capital prepared to celebrate its first Champions League title.&nbsp;"It's going to be quite a journey, quite an adventure (getting home)," he joked. "But I think we are in for a long celebration and probably not much sleep tonight. So it's a fun night to be in Paris, I guess!"&nbsp;Despite the umpire being obliged to request excited local spectators concentrate on the match happening in front of them, Djokovic was still able to keep his mind firmly focused on his quest for a record-breaking 25th major title.&nbsp;"Nine out of nine sets won (in the tournament). Again, tonight, solid when I needed to be," he said.&nbsp;"But credit to Filip for really coming up with some great points, great shots, and really playing courageous tennis.&nbsp;"I think there's always something to improve, something to get better at, but overall, I have to be pleased with the level of tennis so far."&nbsp;The 38-year-old faced only one break point, which he saved, while hitting just 14 unforced errors to 33 winners.&nbsp;The sixth seed will face 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie for a spot in the quarter-finals, after the former top 10 Brit eliminated his compatriot Jacob Fearnley.&nbsp;Djokovic beat Norrie in three sets earlier this month on the red dirt in Geneva on his way to securing a century of ATP titles.&nbsp;The semi-final win extended his perfect record against Norrie to five wins from five.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

French Open 2025: Djokovic storms in fourth round in fun night to be in Paris

Novak Djokovic breezed past Filip Misolic to book his spot in the last 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday, but the 24-time Grand Slam winner had to battle with the Champions League final for the crowd's attention in Paris. The three-time French Open champion needed just over two hours to beat his 153rd-ranked Austrian opponent 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier. Also read | French Open 2025: Alexander Zverev cruises into fourth round; Jannik Sinner eases past Jiri Lehecka Djokovic had previously joked that he was not keen on potentially playing the late match on centre court on Saturday as it would prevent him watching Paris Saint-Germain take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich. Football fan Djokovic may have missed the majority of PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter, but the Serb told reporters after his win the final made its presence felt on court in Paris. "I don't know if it was good for me to get this scheduled slot, because it was interesting, the crowd was really following the (football) game," said Djokovic. "And I could hear once they (PSG) scored, and it was way too many times that they were celebrating. I was like, 'Wow, there's a lot of goals from Paris' and 'What's going on?'. "So now I heard it's 5-0, so it's quite a result, to be honest," added the AC Milan supporter. Djokovic told reporters he was unsure how everyone would be getting home from Roland Garros as the French capital prepared to celebrate its first Champions League title. "It's going to be quite a journey, quite an adventure (getting home)," he joked. "But I think we are in for a long celebration and probably not much sleep tonight. So it's a fun night to be in Paris, I guess!" Despite the umpire being obliged to request excited local spectators concentrate on the match happening in front of them, Djokovic was still able to keep his mind firmly focused on his quest for a record-breaking 25th major title. "Nine out of nine sets won (in the tournament). Again, tonight, solid when I needed to be," he said. "But credit to Filip for really coming up with some great points, great shots, and really playing courageous tennis. "I think there's always something to improve, something to get better at, but overall, I have to be pleased with the level of tennis so far." The 38-year-old faced only one break point, which he saved, while hitting just 14 unforced errors to 33 winners. The sixth seed will face 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie for a spot in the quarter-finals, after the former top 10 Brit eliminated his compatriot Jacob Fearnley. Djokovic beat Norrie in three sets earlier this month on the red dirt in Geneva on his way to securing a century of ATP titles. The semi-final win extended his perfect record against Norrie to five wins from five. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The three-time French Open champion needed just over two hours to beat his 153rd-ranked Austrian opponent 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.

French Open 2025: Djokovic storms in fourth round in 'fun night to be in Paris'

Novak Djokovic extended his perfect record against French players at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) win over Corentin Moutet to reach the third round on Thursday. It was largely plain sailing for the 38-year-old Djokovic although he did have to save a set point to force a tie-break in the third set.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2025-bublik-tweener-against-de-mianur-to-win-fourth-set-highlights-his-come-from-behind-win-in-five-set-thriller-watch-1748531902091">French Open 2025 | Bublik's tweener against de Mianur to win fourth set highlights his come-from-behind win in five-set thriller - WATCH</a>&nbsp;That came after the 24-time Grand Slam champion took a medical timeout earlier in the set to receive treatment for a blister on his left foot.&nbsp;"Things got a little bit complicated with the blister. That was bothering me for a bit," said Djokovic. "But I don't think it's going to be an issue for me to recover."&nbsp;Just when Moutet threatened to prolong the match, Djokovic clicked back into gear -- a day after a nighttime cycle around the Arc de Triomphe -- to improve to 12-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros.&nbsp;"Obviously atmosphere was electric, especially in that third set. He was close to win it, so the crowd got involved. And it was, yeah, not much fun for me," said Djokovic.&nbsp;He is through to the last 32 in Paris for the 20th time, more than even 14-time champion Rafael Nadal managed. But Djokovic said he would not repeat his jaunt around the notoriously busy Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 avenues converge.&nbsp;"At one point we had cars all over the place. It was quite an adrenaline experience, but I don't think I will repeat that," he said. "Probably in all other streets, it's much more safe. But, yeah, we were crazy enough to get into that roundabout. It was fun but at one point but also a bit dangerous."&nbsp;Djokovic will play 23-year-old Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic for a spot in the last 16. Misolic withstood a comeback from Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov to prevail 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 4-6, 6-3.&nbsp;The three-time French Open champion issued a playful appeal to tournament organisers not to schedule his next match on Saturday night, to avoid a clash with the Champions League final.&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain will be bidding for a first European crown against Inter Milan. Kick-off in Munich is roughly 30 minutes after the evening session begins at Roland Garros.&nbsp;"It's going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I'm not playing night session," said Djokovic. "Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland Garros schedule..."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

French Open 2025: Novak Djokovic rolls past Moutet to reach Roland Garros last 32

Novak Djokovic extended his perfect record against French players at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) win over Corentin Moutet to reach the third round on Thursday. It was largely plain sailing for the 38-year-old Djokovic although he did have to save a set point to force a tie-break in the third set. Also read | French Open 2025 | Bublik's tweener against de Mianur to win fourth set highlights his come-from-behind win in five-set thriller - WATCH That came after the 24-time Grand Slam champion took a medical timeout earlier in the set to receive treatment for a blister on his left foot. "Things got a little bit complicated with the blister. That was bothering me for a bit," said Djokovic. "But I don't think it's going to be an issue for me to recover." Just when Moutet threatened to prolong the match, Djokovic clicked back into gear -- a day after a nighttime cycle around the Arc de Triomphe -- to improve to 12-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros. "Obviously atmosphere was electric, especially in that third set. He was close to win it, so the crowd got involved. And it was, yeah, not much fun for me," said Djokovic. He is through to the last 32 in Paris for the 20th time, more than even 14-time champion Rafael Nadal managed. But Djokovic said he would not repeat his jaunt around the notoriously busy Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 avenues converge. "At one point we had cars all over the place. It was quite an adrenaline experience, but I don't think I will repeat that," he said. "Probably in all other streets, it's much more safe. But, yeah, we were crazy enough to get into that roundabout. It was fun but at one point but also a bit dangerous." Djokovic will play 23-year-old Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic for a spot in the last 16. Misolic withstood a comeback from Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov to prevail 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 4-6, 6-3. The three-time French Open champion issued a playful appeal to tournament organisers not to schedule his next match on Saturday night, to avoid a clash with the Champions League final. Paris Saint-Germain will be bidding for a first European crown against Inter Milan. Kick-off in Munich is roughly 30 minutes after the evening session begins at Roland Garros. "It's going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I'm not playing night session," said Djokovic. "Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland Garros schedule..." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Djokovic is through to the last 32 in Paris for the 20th time, more than even 14-time champion Rafael Nadal managed.

Jannik Sinner takes on the retiring Richard Gasquet at the French Open on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic looks to sharpen his game in the second round in his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title.&nbsp;Women's second seed and former Roland Garros finalist Coco Gauff also targets a place in the last 16 along with 18-year-old contender Mirra Andreeva.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-carlos-alcaraz-eases-into-third-round-with-dominant-win-over-fabian-marozsan-ruud-exits-early-1748442399216">French Open: Carlos Alcaraz eases into third round with dominant win over Fabian Marozsan; Ruud exits early</a>&nbsp;World number one Sinner faces his second French opponent in a row at Roland Garros and is expecting a memorable encounter against the 38-year-old Gasquet, playing at the tournament for the 22nd and final time.&nbsp;"I know you're going to support him (Gasquet), it's OK, I know that," Sinner told the crowd after his first-round win over hope Arthur Rinderknech. "I'm just happy to share a court with him."&nbsp;The 23-year-old Italian showed some signs of rustiness against Rinderknech in just his seventh match back since returning from a three-month doping suspension.&nbsp;Sinner made his comeback at the Italian Open earlier in May, reaching the final before losing in straight sets to reigning Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz.&nbsp;Djokovic, fresh off his 100th ATP title last weekend, got his tilt at a fourth French Open title off to a solid start on Tuesday.&nbsp;The Serbian sixth seed will need to be on his guard against crafty Frenchman Corentin Moutet.&nbsp;"I don't know how many more Grand Slams I've got left in my body," Djokovic said after the opening round. "I spent quite a bit of time in making sure that every step of the way in preparation and prevention is respected in order for me to still be able to play on this level."&nbsp;Third-ranked Alexander Zverev meets Jesper de Jong for a place in round three, with Alex de Minaur, Jakub Mensik, Arthur Fils and Joao Fonseca all returning to the court as well on Thursday.&nbsp;Gael Monfils looks to pull off an upset over British fifth seed Jack Draper in the night session after fighting back from two sets down under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier in his opener.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Roland Garros: World number one Sinner and Djokovic set up French Open challenges

Jannik Sinner takes on the retiring Richard Gasquet at the French Open on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic looks to sharpen his game in the second round in his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title. Women's second seed and former Roland Garros finalist Coco Gauff also targets a place in the last 16 along with 18-year-old contender Mirra Andreeva. Also read | French Open: Carlos Alcaraz eases into third round with dominant win over Fabian Marozsan; Ruud exits early World number one Sinner faces his second French opponent in a row at Roland Garros and is expecting a memorable encounter against the 38-year-old Gasquet, playing at the tournament for the 22nd and final time. "I know you're going to support him (Gasquet), it's OK, I know that," Sinner told the crowd after his first-round win over hope Arthur Rinderknech. "I'm just happy to share a court with him." The 23-year-old Italian showed some signs of rustiness against Rinderknech in just his seventh match back since returning from a three-month doping suspension. Sinner made his comeback at the Italian Open earlier in May, reaching the final before losing in straight sets to reigning Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, fresh off his 100th ATP title last weekend, got his tilt at a fourth French Open title off to a solid start on Tuesday. The Serbian sixth seed will need to be on his guard against crafty Frenchman Corentin Moutet. "I don't know how many more Grand Slams I've got left in my body," Djokovic said after the opening round. "I spent quite a bit of time in making sure that every step of the way in preparation and prevention is respected in order for me to still be able to play on this level." Third-ranked Alexander Zverev meets Jesper de Jong for a place in round three, with Alex de Minaur, Jakub Mensik, Arthur Fils and Joao Fonseca all returning to the court as well on Thursday. Gael Monfils looks to pull off an upset over British fifth seed Jack Draper in the night session after fighting back from two sets down under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier in his opener. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sinner faces his second French opponent in a row at Roland Garros and is expecting a memorable encounter against the 38-year-old Gasquet, playing at the tournament for the 22nd and final time.

The French Open 2025 is in full swing with all the first round games of men's singles are done. There have been many interesting moments in those matches including Novak Djokovic's drama about playing in rain. The most intriguing moment, however, came during the match between Italian Mattia Bellucci and British Jake Draper on Tuesday (May 27).While Draper won the match comfortably by 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 margin, it was in the first set that an interesting moment came which sent the crowd into frenzy at the Roland Garros.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-french-open-2025-result-today-daniil-medvedev-suffers-setback-loses-first-round-match-to-81st-ranked-player-in-five-sets-watch-1748355054697">Daniil Medvedev suffers setback, loses first round match to 81st ranked player in five sets</a>Serving for the set with advantage on his side, Bellucci opted for underarm serve and caught Drape by surprise. The Brit sprinted to pick the serve but only to hold it for another shot before the Italian won the set. Have a look at the video below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Underarm serve to seal the set 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> <a href="https://t.co/l88HVMMcyT">pic.twitter.com/l88HVMMcyT</a>&mdash; Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) <a href="https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/1927393074717643173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Djokovic throws water tantrumNovak Djokovic started his 2025 French Open 2025 with a win in first round against Mackenzie McDonald. The 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 straight sets win on Tuesday (May 27), however, did not come without the drama.The Serbian had a moment in the match when he got into the argument with the chair umpire. The argument was about not continuing to play but the chair umpire thought otherwise and the temperature soared as rain started to come down at the centre court.The chair umpire gave the argument that the matches were being played on the outside courts so they'd have to continue. After a bit, the rain got a bit heavier and the chai umpire allowed the roof to be closed but play had to continue till the roof closed which took about 15 minute.

While Draper won the match comfortably by 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 margin, it was in the first set that an interesting moment came which sent the crowd into frenzy at the Roland Garros.

The French Open 2025 is in full swing with all the first round games of men's singles are done. There have been many interesting moments in those matches including Novak Djokovic's drama about playing in rain. The most intriguing moment, however, came during the match between Italian Mattia Bellucci and British Jake Draper on Tuesday (May 27). While Draper won the match comfortably by 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 margin, it was in the first set that an interesting moment came which sent the crowd into frenzy at the Roland Garros. Also Watch - Daniil Medvedev suffers setback, loses first round match to 81st ranked player in five sets Serving for the set with advantage on his side, Bellucci opted for underarm serve and caught Drape by surprise. The Brit sprinted to pick the serve but only to hold it for another shot before the Italian won the set. Have a look at the video below:

While Draper won the match comfortably by 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 margin, it was in the first set that an interesting moment came which sent the crowd into frenzy at the Roland Garros.

From Bellucci's underarm serve to Djokovic's rain tantrum - French Open first round games in men's singles are full of drama - WATCH

24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic started his 2025 French Open 2025 with a win in first round against Mackenzie McDonald. The 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 straight sets win on Tuesday (May 27), however, did not come without the drama.The Serbian had a moment in the match when he got into the argument with the chair umpire. The argument was about not continuing to play but the chair umpire thought otherwise and the temperature soared as rain started to come down at the centre court.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-french-open-2025-result-today-daniil-medvedev-suffers-setback-loses-first-round-match-to-81st-ranked-player-in-five-sets-watch-1748355054697">French Open 2025: Daniil Medvedev suffers setback, loses first round match to 81st ranked player in five sets</a>The chair umpire gave the argument that the matches were being played on the outside courts so they'd have to continue. Former world number 1 in double Rennae Stuubs did not like this behaviour from Djokovic and called him out on X."If they’re still playing on the outside courts, you should still be playing on center court. Even if you have a roof, you cannot have preference for what u want. It’s not fair to everyone else and your opponent," she wrote.After a bit, the rain got a bit heavier and the chai umpire allowed the roof to be closed but play had to continue till the roof closed which took about 15 minute.The drama, however, did not have any bearing on the result as Djokovic showed why is he considered a legend. The Serbian outclassed his opponent in every aspect, i.e. points won (90-60), break points won (5/9-1/5), service points won (55-44) and service games won (13-6)."I don't know how many more Grand Slams I've got left in my body," Djokovic said after his win. "I'm just trying to enjoy every moment in this magnificent stadium."The three-time French Open champion, in the second round, will face one of Corentin Moutet and Clement Tabur from the all-French clash.

French Open 2025: The drama, however, did not have any bearing on the result as Djokovic won his first round match 6-3,6-3,6-3 in straight sets against Mackenzie McDonald.

24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic started his 2025 French Open 2025 with a win in first round against Mackenzie McDonald. The 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 straight sets win on Tuesday (May 27), however, did not come without the drama. The Serbian had a moment in the match when he got into the argument with the chair umpire. The argument was about not continuing to play but the chair umpire thought otherwise and the temperature soared as rain started to come down at the centre court. Also Watch - French Open 2025: Daniil Medvedev suffers setback, loses first round match to 81st ranked player in five sets The chair umpire gave the argument that the matches were being played on the outside courts so they'd have to continue. Former world number 1 in double Rennae Stuubs did not like this behaviour from Djokovic and called him out on X. "If they’re still playing on the outside courts, you should still be playing on center court. Even if you have a roof, you cannot have preference for what u want. It’s not fair to everyone else and your opponent," she wrote. After a bit, the rain got a bit heavier and the chai umpire allowed the roof to be closed but play had to continue till the roof closed which took about 15 minute. The drama, however, did not have any bearing on the result as Djokovic showed why is he considered a legend. The Serbian outclassed his opponent in every aspect, i.e. points won (90-60), break points won (5/9-1/5), service points won (55-44) and service games won (13-6). "I don't know how many more Grand Slams I've got left in my body," Djokovic said after his win. "I'm just trying to enjoy every moment in this magnificent stadium." The three-time French Open champion, in the second round, will face one of Corentin Moutet and Clement Tabur from the all-French clash.

French Open 2025: The drama, however, did not have any bearing on the result as Djokovic won his first round match 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets against Mackenzie McDonald.

French Open 2025: Novak Djokovic starts chase of elusive 25th grand slam with win and a bit of drama

Novak Djokovic sets out on his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday, as women's contenders Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva get their campaigns under way.&nbsp;The 38-year-old Djokovic starts off against 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva.&nbsp;"Obviously winning 100th title, that is a nice milestone, of course, definitely much needed for my game and confidence level coming into Roland Garros," said Djokovic.&nbsp;"I needed to win matches, and particularly on this surface. "I'm the type of player that needs to get some matches under his belt before the big tournaments."&nbsp;Three-time Roland Garros champion Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one&nbsp;&nbsp;Jannik Sinner and last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev. Seeded sixth, Djokovic returns to Paris for the first time since beating Carlos Alcaraz to capture a much coveted Olympic gold medal last August.&nbsp;"After the Geneva title, I feel more confident. I feel more positive about my level," said Djokovic."I feel better, I still have a lot of ambitions, I still have high objectives."&nbsp;World number three Zverev hopes to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to&nbsp;&nbsp;Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals. His preparation has been far from ideal. As a last-minute entry in Hamburg, he lost in the round of 16 and blamed illness for a lacklustre display.&nbsp;He then revealed his journey to Paris was delayed after his plane, which was also carrying other tennis players, got struck by lightning, which forced it turn around and do an emergency landing.&nbsp;Zverev takes on US teenager Learner Tien, who beat the German in straight sets in Acapulco in February.&nbsp;Fifth seed Jack Draper, who won at Indian Wells and reached the Madrid final, takes on Mattia Bellucci in round one, while 11th seed Daniil Medvedev meets Cameron Norrie.&nbsp;Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, squares off against Laslo Djere. Czech teenager and Miami champion Jakub Mensik faces home hope Alexandre Muller.<h2>Gauff, Andreeva ones to watch</h2>In the women's draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff plays Australia's Olivia Gadecki, who has just one Grand Slam main draw match win to her credit.&nbsp;Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year's WTA Finals but reached&nbsp;the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month.&nbsp;"It definitely gives me a lot of confidence, but I think I'm just putting those results in the past and focusing on the next two weeks here," said Gauff.&nbsp;The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros. Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells.&nbsp;She also won silver in doubles at last year's Olympics, two months after a sparkling run to the last four at Roland Garros before falling to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini.&nbsp;Andreeva faces Spanish world number 98 Cristina Bucsa in the first round. "I'm super excited to be back. The practices and everything is going good so far. I just can't wait to start the tournament," said sixth-seeded Andreeva.&nbsp;Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, is also in action. The Tunisian is unseeded after battling injury and meets Poland's Magdalena French. There is also a clash of mothers as two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka plays Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, a surprise 2009 US Open semi-finalist who will retire after Wimbledon.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

French Open 2025 Confident Djokovic kicks off Slam record attempt

Novak Djokovic sets out on his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday, as women's contenders Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva get their campaigns under way. The 38-year-old Djokovic starts off against 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva. "Obviously winning 100th title, that is a nice milestone, of course, definitely much needed for my game and confidence level coming into Roland Garros," said Djokovic. "I needed to win matches, and particularly on this surface. "I'm the type of player that needs to get some matches under his belt before the big tournaments." Three-time Roland Garros champion Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev. Seeded sixth, Djokovic returns to Paris for the first time since beating Carlos Alcaraz to capture a much coveted Olympic gold medal last August. "After the Geneva title, I feel more confident. I feel more positive about my level," said Djokovic. "I feel better, I still have a lot of ambitions, I still have high objectives." World number three Zverev hopes to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals. His preparation has been far from ideal. As a last-minute entry in Hamburg, he lost in the round of 16 and blamed illness for a lacklustre display. He then revealed his journey to Paris was delayed after his plane, which was also carrying other tennis players, got struck by lightning, which forced it turn around and do an emergency landing. Zverev takes on US teenager Learner Tien, who beat the German in straight sets in Acapulco in February. Fifth seed Jack Draper, who won at Indian Wells and reached the Madrid final, takes on Mattia Bellucci in round one, while 11th seed Daniil Medvedev meets Cameron Norrie. Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, squares off against Laslo Djere. Czech teenager and Miami champion Jakub Mensik faces home hope Alexandre Muller. Gauff, Andreeva ones to watch In the women's draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff plays Australia's Olivia Gadecki, who has just one Grand Slam main draw match win to her credit. Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year's WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month. "It definitely gives me a lot of confidence, but I think I'm just putting those results in the past and focusing on the next two weeks here," said Gauff. The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros. Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. She also won silver in doubles at last year's Olympics, two months after a sparkling run to the last four at Roland Garros before falling to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini. Andreeva faces Spanish world number 98 Cristina Bucsa in the first round. "I'm super excited to be back. The practices and everything is going good so far. I just can't wait to start the tournament," said sixth-seeded Andreeva. Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, is also in action. The Tunisian is unseeded after battling injury and meets Poland's Magdalena French. There is also a clash of mothers as two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka plays Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, a surprise 2009 US Open semi-finalist who will retire after Wimbledon. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The 38-year-old Djokovic starts off against 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva

French Open 2025: 'Confident' Djokovic kicks off Slam record attempt

Former tennis great Andy Murray has spoken on parting ways as Serbian player Novak Djokovic's coach. The partnership, a much talked about at that, went on for some time before both parties called it quits.”It’s been a great ride. We both decided it was time to part ways,” said Murray while talking to UbiTennis. The partnership went on for five months and Murray was also asked what would he not miss.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/india-coach-gambhir-comments-on-test-retirement-of-virat-and-rohit-1747992566460">India coach Gambhir opens up on Test retirement of Virat and Rohit, says 'very individual decision'</a>Murray replied with a tongue in cheek remark and said: “One thing I won’t miss is the food. He was always trying to get me to eat vegan. Man, I don’t want air sandwiches and chickpeas for every meal.”Djokovic also shared his views on calling time on the partnership and, as quoted by BBC, said: “We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it. My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person. I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.”Djokovic, with Murray, reached the semis of Australian Open 2025 before losing it. He then suffered a loss of form and exited next four of five tournaments played in the first round. In the fifth tournament, Miami Open, he was beaten in the final by 19-year-old Jakub Mensik.Djokovic will now be seen in the French Open 2025 which begins May 25 - Djokovic is searching for the elusive 25th slam title which will put him at the top and one ahead of Margaret Court's 24 - the all-time most slams won by an athlete male or female.

Djokovic will now be seen in the French Open 2025 which begins May 25 - Djokovic is searching for the elusive 25th slam title which will put him at the top.

Former tennis great Andy Murray has spoken on parting ways as Serbian player Novak Djokovic's coach. The partnership, a much talked about at that, went on for some time before both parties called it quits. ”It’s been a great ride. We both decided it was time to part ways,” said Murray while talking to UbiTennis. The partnership went on for five months and Murray was also asked what would he not miss. Also Read - India coach Gambhir opens up on Test retirement of Virat and Rohit, says 'very individual decision' Murray replied with a tongue in cheek remark and said: “One thing I won’t miss is the food. He was always trying to get me to eat vegan. Man, I don’t want air sandwiches and chickpeas for every meal.” Djokovic also shared his views on calling time on the partnership and, as quoted by BBC, said: “We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it. My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person. I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.” Djokovic, with Murray, reached the semis of Australian Open 2025 before losing it. He then suffered a loss of form and exited next four of five tournaments played in the first round. In the fifth tournament, Miami Open, he was beaten in the final by 19-year-old Jakub Mensik. Djokovic will now be seen in the French Open 2025 which begins May 25 - Djokovic is searching for the elusive 25th slam title which will put him at the top and one ahead of Margaret Court's 24 - the all-time most slams won by an athlete male or female.

Djokovic will now be seen in the French Open 2025 which begins May 25 - Djokovic is searching for the elusive 25th slam title which will put him at the top.

Andy Murray opens up on parting ways with Novak Djokovic, says 'thing I won’t miss is...'

From Rafael Nadal to Novak Djokovic, here are the top six players who have won the most French Open mens singles titles. The legendary list comprises Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Gustavo Kuerten and Ivan Lendl.

From Rafael Nadal to Novak Djokovic, here are the top six players who have won the most French Open titles. The legendary list comprises, Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Gustavo Kuerten and Ivan Lendl.

6 legends with most French Open men's singles titles in Open Era

Novak Djokovic overcame soggy conditions on his 38th birthday to beat Matteo Arnaldi on Thursday and reach the Geneva Open semi-finals in a tune-up event for Roland Garros.The former world number one retrieved a break in the second set to claim a 6-4, 6-4 win over the 39th-ranked Italian who dumped him out at the first hurdle in Madrid last month.Djokovic is hunting the 100th title of his career on the eve of the French Open having not won a tournament since capturing Olympic gold in Paris last August.&nbsp;"It's great to be in the semi-finals again. Last year I played the semi-finals. Hopefully this year I can go at least a step further. That's the goal," said Djokovic.&nbsp;Djokovic, who received a wild card to play in Geneva after skipping Rome, will meet British qualifier Cameron Norrie for a place in Saturday's final.&nbsp;The 24-time Grand Slam champion had not won a match on clay this season after also losing his Monte Carlo opener at the start of April to Alejandro Tabilo.&nbsp;A single break early in the first set enabled Djokovic to take control, but the sixth-ranked Serbian had to rally from 4-1 down in the second.&nbsp;He drew audible gasps from the crowd when he grabbed his right knee after stretching for a shot in the fifth game.&nbsp;But Djokovic, who had surgery last year to repair a torn meniscus suffered at the French Open, quickly rebounded and let out a mighty roar as he broke to go 5-4 ahead before putting away Arnaldi.&nbsp;He said an angry outburst after dropping serve helped him reset as he won the final five games.&nbsp;"I think I'm playing really, really good tennis," said Djokovic, who was presented on court with a chocolate cake topped with sparklers after his victory.&nbsp;"Today it was a lot of tension on the court. A straight-sets win but it was much closer than maybe the score indicates.&nbsp;"I was 4-1 down in the second. Somehow after that racquet breaking I didn't lose a game and kind of found my optimal state and balance, mentally and emotionally."&nbsp;Norrie ousted Australian fifth seed Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in the day's last quarter-final.&nbsp;Hubert Hurkacz put out top seed Taylor 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) earlier and will play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner in the other semi-final.&nbsp;The 128th-ranked Ofner came from behind to beat fourth seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic overcame soggy conditions on his 38th birthday to beat Matteo Arnaldi on Thursday and reach the Geneva Open semi-finals in a tune-up event for Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic overcame soggy conditions on his 38th birthday to beat Matteo Arnaldi on Thursday and reach the Geneva Open semi-finals in a tune-up event for Roland Garros. The former world number one retrieved a break in the second set to claim a 6-4, 6-4 win over the 39th-ranked Italian who dumped him out at the first hurdle in Madrid last month. Djokovic is hunting the 100th title of his career on the eve of the French Open having not won a tournament since capturing Olympic gold in Paris last August. "It's great to be in the semi-finals again. Last year I played the semi-finals. Hopefully this year I can go at least a step further. That's the goal," said Djokovic. Djokovic, who received a wild card to play in Geneva after skipping Rome, will meet British qualifier Cameron Norrie for a place in Saturday's final. The 24-time Grand Slam champion had not won a match on clay this season after also losing his Monte Carlo opener at the start of April to Alejandro Tabilo. A single break early in the first set enabled Djokovic to take control, but the sixth-ranked Serbian had to rally from 4-1 down in the second. He drew audible gasps from the crowd when he grabbed his right knee after stretching for a shot in the fifth game. But Djokovic, who had surgery last year to repair a torn meniscus suffered at the French Open, quickly rebounded and let out a mighty roar as he broke to go 5-4 ahead before putting away Arnaldi. He said an angry outburst after dropping serve helped him reset as he won the final five games. "I think I'm playing really, really good tennis," said Djokovic, who was presented on court with a chocolate cake topped with sparklers after his victory. "Today it was a lot of tension on the court. A straight-sets win but it was much closer than maybe the score indicates. "I was 4-1 down in the second. Somehow after that racquet breaking I didn't lose a game and kind of found my optimal state and balance, mentally and emotionally." Norrie ousted Australian fifth seed Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in the day's last quarter-final. Hubert Hurkacz put out top seed Taylor 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) earlier and will play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner in the other semi-final. The 128th-ranked Ofner came from behind to beat fourth seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic overcame soggy conditions on his 38th birthday to beat Matteo Arnaldi on Thursday and reach the Geneva Open semi-finals in a tune-up event for Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic avenges Matteo Arnaldi loss in Geneva, to face Cameron Norrie in semis

From Novak Djokovic to Roger Federer, here are the top 5 men’s singles players with the most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era featuring Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi. These 5 legends shaped the tennis history.

From Novak Djokovic to Roger Federer, here are the top 5 men’s singles players with the most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era featuring Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi. These 5 legends shaped the tennis history.

Open Era legends: 5 most successful men in Grand Slam history

When <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/andy-murray">Andy Murray</a> revealed their unexpected coaching partnership in December 2024, days before the Australian Open, tennis lovers were divided&mdash;some curious, others undecided and in some serious doubt.
Two of the game's all-time greatest nemesis uniting not on opposite sides of the net, but on the same side of the court, was a twist of destiny few saw coming. Six months on, the partnership has been ended before the 2025 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/french-open">French Open</a>.
It was an ambitious experiment. One that promised inside information, mutual respect, and a common sense of the sport's highest stakes. But it finished with hushed press releases and courteous goodbyes&mdash;putting stop to a relationship that perhaps never did find its beat.
<h2>From rivals to allies</h2>
To see why this partnership captivated and stunned in equal proportion, we must go back to the genesis of the Djokovic-Murray rivalry. Both born just one week apart in May 1987, the two rose to the junior ranks side by side and emerged as Grand Slam giants, facing each other in four major finals between 2011 and 2016.
Their head-to-head score tilted in favor of Djokovic (25&ndash;11) notwithstanding, there was no mistaking the reciprocal respect. Murray, intensely logical and notoriously stubborn, was nearly alone among rivals able to contend with Djokovic's ductility and grit in competition. Outside of it, however, their dispositions were different&mdash;one of spiritual compliance and open vulnerability in the case of Djokovic, and dry sarcasm and cautious emotional register for Murray.
When Murray announced he would become a member of Djokovic's staff as a coach in December 2024, it was universally called as a masterstroke. Djokovic, meanwhile, was struggling with form and injury issues, and appeared to be looking for a psychological advantage&mdash;and who was better qualified than someone familiar with his game better than anyone else?
<h2>A rocky start</h2>
However, barely a moment later, the arrangement appeared uncomfortable.
The Australian Open, their opening grand slam as partners, witnessed Djokovic being knocked out in the third round. His movement was messy, his temperament fragile. Murray, on the other hand, appeared surprisingly subdued in the box&mdash;a sharp contrast to Djokovic's longtime previous coach Goran Ivani&scaron;ević, whose dynamism and tactical input were widely regarded as critical components in Djokovic's supremacy.
Publicly, they remained positive. &ldquo;I really enjoy working with Andy,&rdquo; Djokovic had said in March in an interview. &ldquo;He sees the game differently and we&rsquo;re trying new things.&rdquo; Murray echoed the sentiment, calling the partnership &ldquo;a learning experience.&rdquo; But reports suggested friction behind the scenes.
Some of the friction could have been a product of the very nature of their relationship. Murray, even after retiring carried the heart of a fighter. His own life had been marked by pain, grit, and a certain rejection of orthodoxy. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was a man wrestling with the existential burden of legacy.
Whereas Murray stressed upon strategic finesse and back-court stoutness, Djokovic's coaches apparently favoured sustaining intensity and ferocity. Their coaching philosophies intersected&mdash;not explosively, but sufficiently to build tension.
There were whispers Murray grappled with the limited control he was granted. A source told Sky Sports, "It never felt like Andy was ever really in charge. Djokovic still called most of the shots. Andy was more like an advisor than a coach."
<h2>A quiet breakup</h2>
The breakup was without drama, but also without affection.&nbsp;In statements issued to the media ahead of the French Open, both parties announced their split. &ldquo;I really enjoyed deepening my relationship with Novak,&rdquo; Murray said. &ldquo;But we&rsquo;ve decided to go our separate ways.&rdquo;
Djokovic was equally courteous, saying, "Thank you, coach Andy, for all the har d work, fun &amp; support over last six months on &amp; off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together. "
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun &amp; support over last six months on &amp; off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/iXqkdIN2Gb">pic.twitter.com/iXqkdIN2Gb</a>
&mdash; Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1922201125152809324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The press releases were brief&mdash;professional, polished, and pointedly devoid of sentimentality.What's most revealing, perhaps, is the timing. Breaking up the partnership on the eve of Roland Garros sends the message that both men saw it wasn't working, and neither was prepared to drag it through the clay-court grind.
There are some partnerships, however high-minded in aspiration or storied in history, that just don't work. The Djokovic-Murray coaching saga is a reminder that friendship and rivalry don't always go hand-in-hand.
This was not the first unconventional coaching experiment that Djokovic had tried&mdash;his previous stint with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/boris-becker">Boris Becker</a>, Andre Agassi, and even Marian Vajda each saw different levels of success. None were nearly as confusing, though.
<h2>What comes next?</h2>
For Djokovic, then, the French Open starts. Without Murray to support him, he'll rely on trusted staff and his own judgment to launch another Grand Slam bid&mdash;perhaps his final best chance at victory in Paris considering his recent struggles and age.
For Murray, there are questions regarding what he will do after playing. Will he go on a younger player's team? Will he take time to reassess? Either time or Murray himself will tell.
What&rsquo;s sure is that this brief, turbulent partnership will be remembered&mdash;not for trophies, but for the curiosity it inspired and the conversations it sparked. It was a bold move. It just wasn&rsquo;t the right one.

World, Sports: When former tennis player Andy Murray announced he would join Novak Djokovic’s team in a coaching role in December 2024, many hailed it as a masterstroke

When Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray revealed their unexpected coaching partnership in December 2024, days before the Australian Open, tennis lovers were divided—some curious, others undecided and in some serious doubt. Two of the game's all-time greatest nemesis uniting not on opposite sides of the net, but on the same side of the court, was a twist of destiny few saw coming. Six months on, the partnership has been ended before the 2025 French Open. It was an ambitious experiment. One that promised inside information, mutual respect, and a common sense of the sport's highest stakes. But it finished with hushed press releases and courteous goodbyes—putting stop to a relationship that perhaps never did find its beat. From rivals to allies To see why this partnership captivated and stunned in equal proportion, we must go back to the genesis of the Djokovic-Murray rivalry. Both born just one week apart in May 1987, the two rose to the junior ranks side by side and emerged as Grand Slam giants, facing each other in four major finals between 2011 and 2016. Their head-to-head score tilted in favor of Djokovic (25–11) notwithstanding, there was no mistaking the reciprocal respect. Murray, intensely logical and notoriously stubborn, was nearly alone among rivals able to contend with Djokovic's ductility and grit in competition. Outside of it, however, their dispositions were different—one of spiritual compliance and open vulnerability in the case of Djokovic, and dry sarcasm and cautious emotional register for Murray. When Murray announced he would become a member of Djokovic's staff as a coach in December 2024, it was universally called as a masterstroke. Djokovic, meanwhile, was struggling with form and injury issues, and appeared to be looking for a psychological advantage—and who was better qualified than someone familiar with his game better than anyone else? A rocky start However, barely a moment later, the arrangement appeared uncomfortable. The Australian Open, their opening grand slam as partners, witnessed Djokovic being knocked out in the third round. His movement was messy, his temperament fragile. Murray, on the other hand, appeared surprisingly subdued in the box—a sharp contrast to Djokovic's longtime previous coach Goran Ivanišević, whose dynamism and tactical input were widely regarded as critical components in Djokovic's supremacy. Publicly, they remained positive. “I really enjoy working with Andy,” Djokovic had said in March in an interview. “He sees the game differently and we’re trying new things.” Murray echoed the sentiment, calling the partnership “a learning experience.” But reports suggested friction behind the scenes. Some of the friction could have been a product of the very nature of their relationship. Murray, even after retiring carried the heart of a fighter. His own life had been marked by pain, grit, and a certain rejection of orthodoxy. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was a man wrestling with the existential burden of legacy. Whereas Murray stressed upon strategic finesse and back-court stoutness, Djokovic's coaches apparently favoured sustaining intensity and ferocity. Their coaching philosophies intersected—not explosively, but sufficiently to build tension. There were whispers Murray grappled with the limited control he was granted. A source told Sky Sports, "It never felt like Andy was ever really in charge. Djokovic still called most of the shots. Andy was more like an advisor than a coach." A quiet breakup The breakup was without drama, but also without affection. In statements issued to the media ahead of the French Open, both parties announced their split. “I really enjoyed deepening my relationship with Novak,” Murray said. “But we’ve decided to go our separate ways.” Djokovic was equally courteous, saying, "Thank you, coach Andy, for all the har d work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together. " Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together 🙏 pic.twitter.com/iXqkdIN2Gb — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) May 13, 2025 The press releases were brief—professional, polished, and pointedly devoid of sentimentality.What's most revealing, perhaps, is the timing. Breaking up the partnership on the eve of Roland Garros sends the message that both men saw it wasn't working, and neither was prepared to drag it through the clay-court grind. There are some partnerships, however high-minded in aspiration or storied in history, that just don't work. The Djokovic-Murray coaching saga is a reminder that friendship and rivalry don't always go hand-in-hand. This was not the first unconventional coaching experiment that Djokovic had tried—his previous stint with Boris Becker, Andre Agassi, and even Marian Vajda each saw different levels of success. None were nearly as confusing, though. What comes next? For Djokovic, then, the French Open starts. Without Murray to support him, he'll rely on trusted staff and his own judgment to launch another Grand Slam bid—perhaps his final best chance at victory in Paris considering his recent struggles and age. For Murray, there are questions regarding what he will do after playing. Will he go on a younger player's team? Will he take time to reassess? Either time or Murray himself will tell. What’s sure is that this brief, turbulent partnership will be remembered—not for trophies, but for the curiosity it inspired and the conversations it sparked. It was a bold move. It just wasn’t the right one.

Murray quits as Djokovic's coach as partnership fails to serve any aces

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli</a> is a walking great, perhaps the greatest cricketer of his time. Having accomplished unbelievable feats in abundance during his 14-year stint in the whites that ended on Monday (May 12) as he announced his Test retirement via a social media post, Kohli called time on a glorious yet proud career. Meanwhile, social media was flooded with congratulatory posts, all showering love and shock over his decision, one of which included Tennis legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic" rel="dofollow">Novak Djokovic</a>.
Djokovic enjoys watching any little cricket he does, having shared space with some of the top modern-day names like Steve Smith during one of the Australian Open segments earlier. He is not new to the gentlemen&rsquo;s game, like his peers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/roger-federer" rel="dofollow">Roger Federer</a> and Andy Murray, who have also admitted admiration for cricket and a few of its greats, making it a crossover that shouldn&rsquo;t surprise anyone.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-save-your-tears-virat-kohli-cricketing-idol-sachin-tendulkar-pens-heartfelt-note-for-kohli-on-test-retirement-rishi-sunak-uk-pm-9060860" rel="dofollow">Save your tears! Virat&rsquo;s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement</a>
Per several reports, Kohli informed the BCCI about his intentions to do away with Tests just ahead of the five-match England series starting June 20 in Leeds. While the BCCI officials confirmed those developments by trying to have a highly influential Indian cricketer try to persuade Virat to do a U-Turn on his decision, Kohli&rsquo;s final call shocked most of the cricketing fraternity.
On Monday, he took to Instagram to announce his Test retirement.
"It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life," Kohli said in a social media statement.&nbsp;
"There's something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.
"As I step away from this format, it's not easy - but it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for. I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude - for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile,&rdquo; he wrote.
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<h2>Djokovic&rsquo;s message for Kohli</h2>
Djokovic posted an Instagram story on Monday, writing, &lsquo;Incredible Innings&rsquo;, while congratulating Kohli on a decorated Test cricket career.
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In whites, Virat played 123 matches, scoring 9230 runs, including seven double hundreds.&nbsp;

Social media was flooded with congratulatory posts, all showering love and shock over his decision, one of which included Novak Djokovic. Sports, Cricket, Tennis

Virat Kohli is a walking great, perhaps the greatest cricketer of his time. Having accomplished unbelievable feats in abundance during his 14-year stint in the whites that ended on Monday (May 12) as he announced his Test retirement via a social media post, Kohli called time on a glorious yet proud career. Meanwhile, social media was flooded with congratulatory posts, all showering love and shock over his decision, one of which included Tennis legend Novak Djokovic. Djokovic enjoys watching any little cricket he does, having shared space with some of the top modern-day names like Steve Smith during one of the Australian Open segments earlier. He is not new to the gentlemen’s game, like his peers Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who have also admitted admiration for cricket and a few of its greats, making it a crossover that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Also read | Save your tears! Virat’s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement Per several reports, Kohli informed the BCCI about his intentions to do away with Tests just ahead of the five-match England series starting June 20 in Leeds. While the BCCI officials confirmed those developments by trying to have a highly influential Indian cricketer try to persuade Virat to do a U-Turn on his decision, Kohli’s final call shocked most of the cricketing fraternity. On Monday, he took to Instagram to announce his Test retirement. "It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life," Kohli said in a social media statement. "There's something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. "As I step away from this format, it's not easy - but it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for. I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude - for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” he wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) Djokovic’s message for Kohli Djokovic posted an Instagram story on Monday, writing, ‘Incredible Innings’, while congratulating Kohli on a decorated Test cricket career. In whites, Virat played 123 matches, scoring 9230 runs, including seven double hundreds.

Kohli’s greatness breaches borders as Tennis great Novak Djokovic congratulates him on Test retirement

Novak Djokovic's bid for a 100th career title was spoiled by Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who beat the Serb 6-3, 6-4 in the Madrid Open second round on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded Djokovic suffered a second consecutive opening defeat, he also exited in his opener against Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo two weeks ago.
<h2>Djokovic crashes out</h2>
Arnaldi, ranked 44th in the world, recorded just the second top-five win of his career and scribbled 'OMG' on the camera lens after his landmark victory.
"At the start I was just trying to not s*** in my pants, to be honest," said the 24-year-old Arnaldi.
The athletic Arnaldi squandered a 2-0 lead early in the contest but pounced again in the eighth game, breaking the Djokovic serve. The Italian wrapped up the opening set in 48 minutes.
Djokovic, a three-time champion in Madrid, fired 20 unforced errors in the first frame and finished the contest with a total of 32.
"He's my idol, he's always been. I was just glad that I could play him because I never played him, I just practised once with him. So playing him on a stage like this was already a victory for me," said Arnaldi, who showcased an entertaining brand of all-court tennis.
"But, you know, he is not at his best right now, so I came on court to try to play my best tennis and win. It happened. So right now, I don't even know what to say."
Elsewhere, Lorenzo Musetti, playing his first match since reaching the biggest final of his career in Monte Carlo, moved past Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to book a third-round meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The talented Italian is on the cusp of making his top-10 debut, having entered the tournament at a career-high number 11.&nbsp;
Musetti admitted he is doing his best not to check the ATP live rankings website until he officially joins the top-10 club.
"This week, I don't want to look," said the 23-year-old, who moved up to number nine in the live rankings on Saturday.
Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys was broken while serving for her third-round victory at 5-4 in the second set against Anna Kalinskaya, but recovered to complete a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) in one hour and 48 minutes.
The fifth-seeded Keys lost to Kalinskaya earlier this month in Charleston.
"I knew I had to raise my level after getting a bit of spanking last time," said Keys.
A semi-finalist in Madrid 12 months ago, Keys awaits her compatriot Emma Navarro or Croatia's Donna Vekic in the round of 16.
American fourth seed Coco Gauff eased past compatriot Ann Li 6-2, 6-3 to set up a last-16 clash with Swiss Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ms-dhoni-is-carrying-team-on-his-shoulders-what-are-other-10-players-doing-suresh-raina-rant-on-csks-slump-in-ipl-2025-9004907" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Dhoni is carrying team on his shoulders, what are other 10 players doing,&rsquo; Raina&rsquo;s rant on CSK&rsquo;s slump in IPL 2025</a>
Seventh-seeded teenager Mirra Andreeva continued her impressive form at WTA 1000 tournaments this season by storming into the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-3 performance against Polish 27th-seed Magdalena Frech.
The 17-year-old Russian, who won back-to-back titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, will take on Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva for a shot at reaching a second consecutive Madrid quarter-final.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tennis | World | Sports: Novak Djokovic suffered a second consecutive opening defeat, he also exited in his opener against Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo two weeks ago.

Novak Djokovic's bid for a 100th career title was spoiled by Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who beat the Serb 6-3, 6-4 in the Madrid Open second round on Saturday. The fourth-seeded Djokovic suffered a second consecutive opening defeat, he also exited in his opener against Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo two weeks ago. Djokovic crashes out Arnaldi, ranked 44th in the world, recorded just the second top-five win of his career and scribbled 'OMG' on the camera lens after his landmark victory. "At the start I was just trying to not s*** in my pants, to be honest," said the 24-year-old Arnaldi. The athletic Arnaldi squandered a 2-0 lead early in the contest but pounced again in the eighth game, breaking the Djokovic serve. The Italian wrapped up the opening set in 48 minutes. Djokovic, a three-time champion in Madrid, fired 20 unforced errors in the first frame and finished the contest with a total of 32. "He's my idol, he's always been. I was just glad that I could play him because I never played him, I just practised once with him. So playing him on a stage like this was already a victory for me," said Arnaldi, who showcased an entertaining brand of all-court tennis. "But, you know, he is not at his best right now, so I came on court to try to play my best tennis and win. It happened. So right now, I don't even know what to say." Elsewhere, Lorenzo Musetti, playing his first match since reaching the biggest final of his career in Monte Carlo, moved past Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to book a third-round meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas. The talented Italian is on the cusp of making his top-10 debut, having entered the tournament at a career-high number 11. Musetti admitted he is doing his best not to check the ATP live rankings website until he officially joins the top-10 club. "This week, I don't want to look," said the 23-year-old, who moved up to number nine in the live rankings on Saturday. Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys was broken while serving for her third-round victory at 5-4 in the second set against Anna Kalinskaya, but recovered to complete a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) in one hour and 48 minutes. The fifth-seeded Keys lost to Kalinskaya earlier this month in Charleston. "I knew I had to raise my level after getting a bit of spanking last time," said Keys. A semi-finalist in Madrid 12 months ago, Keys awaits her compatriot Emma Navarro or Croatia's Donna Vekic in the round of 16. American fourth seed Coco Gauff eased past compatriot Ann Li 6-2, 6-3 to set up a last-16 clash with Swiss Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic. ALSO READ | ‘Dhoni is carrying team on his shoulders, what are other 10 players doing,’ Raina’s rant on CSK’s slump in IPL 2025 Seventh-seeded teenager Mirra Andreeva continued her impressive form at WTA 1000 tournaments this season by storming into the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-3 performance against Polish 27th-seed Magdalena Frech. The 17-year-old Russian, who won back-to-back titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, will take on Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva for a shot at reaching a second consecutive Madrid quarter-final. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Madrid Open: Novak Djokovic crashes out in straight sets against Matteo Arnaldi

​In a remarkable conclusion to the 2025 Miami Open, 19-year-old Czech sensation Jakub Mensik clinched his first ATP title by defeating Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 7-6(4), 7-6(4). This victory not only denied Djokovic his 100th ATP title but also positioned Mensik as one of the youngest champions in Masters 1000 history.​
The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/miami-open">Miami Open</a>, renowned for its substantial prize pool, featured a total purse of $9 million in 2025. As the singles champion, Mensik earned $1,124,380, while runner-up <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> received $597,890. Semi-finalists Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov each took home $332,160, and quarter-finalists Arthur Fils, Matteo Berrettini, Sebastian Korda, and Francisco Cerundolo earned $189,075 each respectively.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hyo-joo-kim-rallies-with-stunning-64-defeats-lilia-vu-in-playoff-to-clinch-lpga-ford-championship-8908712">Hyo Joo Kim rallies with stunning 64, defeats Lilia Vu in playoff to clinch LPGA Ford Championship</a>
Mensik's journey to the title was particularly inspiring, overcoming knee pain that nearly led to his withdrawal from the tournament. His resilience and determination culminated in a historic win over Djokovic, who had been aiming to join the exclusive club of players with 100 ATP titles. Despite the loss, Djokovic expressed admiration for Mensik's performance, acknowledging the young player's potential and predicting a bright future ahead.
<h2>Sabalenka keeps on dominating&nbsp;</h2>
​In the 2025 Miami Open women's singles final, World No. 1 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/aryna-sabalenka">Aryna Sabalenka</a> clinched her first Miami Open title by defeating fourth-seeded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jessica-pegula">Jessica Pegula</a> 7-5, 6-2. This victory marks Sabalenka's eighth WTA 1000 title and her 19th WTA singles title overall. ​
The Miami Open offered a total prize pool of $8,963,700 for the women's singles event. As the champion, Sabalenka earned $1,124,380, while runner-up Pegula received $597,890. ​Semi-finalists Jasmine Paolini and Alexandra Eala each took home $332,160, and quarter-finalists Iga Swiatek, Qinwen Zheng, Magda Linette, and Emma Raducanu earned $189,075 each respectively.
Sabalenka's dominant performance throughout the tournament, where she did not drop a set, underscores her position as the world's top-ranked player. Her powerful forehand and strategic play were instrumental in overcoming Pegula, who was seeking her first Miami Open title. ​
During the post-match ceremony, both players exchanged heartfelt compliments. Sabalenka humorously expressed her willingness to share the prize money with Pegula, acknowledging their competitive history. Pegula reciprocated by congratulating Sabalenka on her success and expressing determination to continue improving. ​
This triumph adds to Sabalenka's impressive record, which includes three Grand Slam titles, and solidifies her reputation as a formidable competitor on the WTA Tour. ​
(With inputs from agencies)

Tennis, Sports: The prize money for the men's and women's category is the same at the Miami Open, meaning the winner of the match will get just over $1 million

In a remarkable conclusion to the 2025 Miami Open, 19-year-old Czech sensation Jakub Mensik clinched his first ATP title by defeating Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 7-6(4), 7-6(4). This victory not only denied Djokovic his 100th ATP title but also positioned Mensik as one of the youngest champions in Masters 1000 history. The Miami Open, renowned for its substantial prize pool, featured a total purse of $9 million in 2025. As the singles champion, Mensik earned $1,124,380, while runner-up Novak Djokovic received $597,890. Semi-finalists Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov each took home $332,160, and quarter-finalists Arthur Fils, Matteo Berrettini, Sebastian Korda, and Francisco Cerundolo earned $189,075 each respectively. Also Read: Hyo Joo Kim rallies with stunning 64, defeats Lilia Vu in playoff to clinch LPGA Ford Championship Mensik's journey to the title was particularly inspiring, overcoming knee pain that nearly led to his withdrawal from the tournament. His resilience and determination culminated in a historic win over Djokovic, who had been aiming to join the exclusive club of players with 100 ATP titles. Despite the loss, Djokovic expressed admiration for Mensik's performance, acknowledging the young player's potential and predicting a bright future ahead. Sabalenka keeps on dominating In the 2025 Miami Open women's singles final, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka clinched her first Miami Open title by defeating fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2. This victory marks Sabalenka's eighth WTA 1000 title and her 19th WTA singles title overall. The Miami Open offered a total prize pool of $8,963,700 for the women's singles event. As the champion, Sabalenka earned $1,124,380, while runner-up Pegula received $597,890. Semi-finalists Jasmine Paolini and Alexandra Eala each took home $332,160, and quarter-finalists Iga Swiatek, Qinwen Zheng, Magda Linette, and Emma Raducanu earned $189,075 each respectively. Sabalenka's dominant performance throughout the tournament, where she did not drop a set, underscores her position as the world's top-ranked player. Her powerful forehand and strategic play were instrumental in overcoming Pegula, who was seeking her first Miami Open title. During the post-match ceremony, both players exchanged heartfelt compliments. Sabalenka humorously expressed her willingness to share the prize money with Pegula, acknowledging their competitive history. Pegula reciprocated by congratulating Sabalenka on her success and expressing determination to continue improving. This triumph adds to Sabalenka's impressive record, which includes three Grand Slam titles, and solidifies her reputation as a formidable competitor on the WTA Tour. (With inputs from agencies)

How much did Miami Open 2025 winners earn? Full breakdown inside

Czech teenager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jakub-mensik">Jakub Mensik</a> upset <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/miami-open">Miami Open</a> at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title.
The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis.&nbsp;The final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain and when the players emerged it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection. He used eye-drops during a changeover in the first set.&nbsp;
Mensik started strongly, breaking Djokovic's first serve game to go 2-0 up and the tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2 Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net.
The set remained on serve from then on, but in the tie-break Mensik's powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic fought back the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley.
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It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. Twice he lost his footing and ended up on his back, and he changed his footwear between sets.
Mensik had beaten Djokovic by the exact same margin in the first set of their only other meeting in Shanghai before losing in three sets.
This time, however, the momentum appeared to be with him.
The second set was a nip and tuck affair, though, with neither player able to break. Once again Mensik's power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory he fell to his back in celebration.
"To be honest I don't know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously," Mensik said in his on-court interview.&nbsp;
"It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I'm really glad (about), to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match.
"I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later," he said.&nbsp;Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic as his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb.
"There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament," he said.
"I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many," Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results.
<h2>No excuses</h2>
After the match Djokovic admitted he had not felt at his best.
"It's unfortunate for me. Two tiebreaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that (were) happening. Honestly, yeah, I didn't feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory," he said.
Asked specifically about his eye problem, the Serb said: "I really prefer not to talk about -- there are quite a few things, but I prefer not to... just congratulate him. That's it. I don't want to sound like I'm giving excuses here for my loss."
Djokovic said he had spotted Mensik's talent a few years ago and invited him to train at his club.&nbsp;"I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and, you know, to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing," he said.
"Never really happy to lose, but he's one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest."
The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976.
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Tennis, Sports: The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis

Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title. The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis. The final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain and when the players emerged it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection. He used eye-drops during a changeover in the first set. Mensik started strongly, breaking Djokovic's first serve game to go 2-0 up and the tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2 Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net. The set remained on serve from then on, but in the tie-break Mensik's powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic fought back the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley. Also Read: Manchester City come from behind to seal FA Cup semis spot after Haaland limps off It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. Twice he lost his footing and ended up on his back, and he changed his footwear between sets. Mensik had beaten Djokovic by the exact same margin in the first set of their only other meeting in Shanghai before losing in three sets. This time, however, the momentum appeared to be with him. The second set was a nip and tuck affair, though, with neither player able to break. Once again Mensik's power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory he fell to his back in celebration. "To be honest I don't know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously," Mensik said in his on-court interview. "It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I'm really glad (about), to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match. "I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later," he said. Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic as his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb. "There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament," he said. "I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many," Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results. No excuses After the match Djokovic admitted he had not felt at his best. "It's unfortunate for me. Two tiebreaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that (were) happening. Honestly, yeah, I didn't feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory," he said. Asked specifically about his eye problem, the Serb said: "I really prefer not to talk about -- there are quite a few things, but I prefer not to... just congratulate him. That's it. I don't want to sound like I'm giving excuses here for my loss." Djokovic said he had spotted Mensik's talent a few years ago and invited him to train at his club. "I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and, you know, to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing," he said. "Never really happy to lose, but he's one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest." The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Miami Open: Djokovic falls short of 100th career title as Czech teenager Jakub Mensik lifts title

World number one <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/aryna-sabalenka">Aryna Sabalenka</a> powered her way to the Miami Open title on Saturday, beating American <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jessica-pegula">Jessica Pegula</a> 7-5 6-2 in the WTA 1000 event at Hard Rock Stadium.
The title was the Belarusian's first at Miami and her second of the season following her January triumph in Brisbane.&nbsp;Having lost the final at Indian Wells to Russian 17-year-old <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mirra-andreeva" rel="dofollow">Mirra Andreeva</a> earlier this month, Sabalenka was determined not to fall at the last hurdle again.
"I'm super happy to have this trophy, I was able to play my best tennis in the final," said Sabalenka, who paid tribute to Pegula's performance after repeating her win over her from last year's US Open final.
Both players struggled to hold their serve in the first set, which saw seven breaks of serve, with Pegula causing Sabalenka some trouble when she brought her up to the net.
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But the momentum shifted when Pegula was serving to stay in the set at 6-5 down and Sabalenka turned it on, producing a delicate forehand drop and then a superb down the line winner to take the set.
Once she recovered from being broken on her first service game of the second set, it was easier going for Sabalenka, whose bid for a third straight Australian Open title was thwarted in the Melbourne final by Madison Keys earlier this year.
Sabalenka broke twice to go 3-1 up and never looked in danger from that point on as she wrapped up the win in one hour 27 minutes.
"I think I was able to completely forget about (it being) the final, about the outside things and I was just so focused on the game," said Sabalenka.
In her last 14 matches against top 10 players, Sabalenka has won 12 and she credited her ability in the clutch moments for her record.
"It is all about those key moments of the match, about playing aggressive and staying with the game plan, going for shots without being afraid of losing the point," she said.
It was the third time that Pegula has faced Sabalenka in a final and she has lost on all three occasions.&nbsp;"I consider myself one of the world&rsquo;s best hard-court players, but she&rsquo;s probably the best," Pegula conceded after the match.
<h2>Raising her level</h2>
"She just keeps ... raising her level in key moments of the match when she needs to, and I feel like that was the big difference today and the last few times I have played her," she added
But Pegula, the world number four, said she was pleased to again have been a serious contender in a tournament.&nbsp;"Happy to be in another big 1000 final and having consistent results and keep going deep in tournaments. The reason we play is to put ourselves in good chances to win these events. I was able to do that the last couple weeks," she said.
The 26-year-old Sabalenka has now won eight WTA 1000 titles and 19 titles on the WTA Tour overall - 17 of which have come on hard courts including all three of her Grand Slam singles titles -- the 2023 Australian Open, the 2024 Australian Open and the 2024 US Open.
She looks a calmer, more focused, presence on court than in her earlier seasons when she was capable of bouts of rage when the going got tough.
"I think before, every time I would lose my serve, one game, I could just completely lose the match because I would still be thinking about that first game," she said.
Sabalenka said that her struggles in the past with her serve had allowed her to develop a stronger all-round game and more positive mentality.
"When I was struggling with my serve I had to push myself on the return and had to play with something else. So now, every time I am losing (serve) I know that I have weapons, that I can return well and that I can break back," she said.
"I think that challenge really helped me to be more focused and not get too crazy on court after losing a game on my serve," she added.
The men's final on Sunday will feature <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> up against Czech 19-year-old Jakub Mensik with the Serb looking for his 100th professional title.
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Tennis, Sports: Having lost the final at Indian Wells to Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva earlier this month, Sabalenka was determined not to fall at last hurdle again

World number one Aryna Sabalenka powered her way to the Miami Open title on Saturday, beating American Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2 in the WTA 1000 event at Hard Rock Stadium. The title was the Belarusian's first at Miami and her second of the season following her January triumph in Brisbane. Having lost the final at Indian Wells to Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva earlier this month, Sabalenka was determined not to fall at the last hurdle again. "I'm super happy to have this trophy, I was able to play my best tennis in the final," said Sabalenka, who paid tribute to Pegula's performance after repeating her win over her from last year's US Open final. Both players struggled to hold their serve in the first set, which saw seven breaks of serve, with Pegula causing Sabalenka some trouble when she brought her up to the net. Also Read: Eoin Morgan explains how Ben Stokes could become England’s ‘flexible’ ODI captain But the momentum shifted when Pegula was serving to stay in the set at 6-5 down and Sabalenka turned it on, producing a delicate forehand drop and then a superb down the line winner to take the set. Once she recovered from being broken on her first service game of the second set, it was easier going for Sabalenka, whose bid for a third straight Australian Open title was thwarted in the Melbourne final by Madison Keys earlier this year. Sabalenka broke twice to go 3-1 up and never looked in danger from that point on as she wrapped up the win in one hour 27 minutes. "I think I was able to completely forget about (it being) the final, about the outside things and I was just so focused on the game," said Sabalenka. In her last 14 matches against top 10 players, Sabalenka has won 12 and she credited her ability in the clutch moments for her record. "It is all about those key moments of the match, about playing aggressive and staying with the game plan, going for shots without being afraid of losing the point," she said. It was the third time that Pegula has faced Sabalenka in a final and she has lost on all three occasions. "I consider myself one of the world’s best hard-court players, but she’s probably the best," Pegula conceded after the match. Raising her level "She just keeps ... raising her level in key moments of the match when she needs to, and I feel like that was the big difference today and the last few times I have played her," she added But Pegula, the world number four, said she was pleased to again have been a serious contender in a tournament. "Happy to be in another big 1000 final and having consistent results and keep going deep in tournaments. The reason we play is to put ourselves in good chances to win these events. I was able to do that the last couple weeks," she said. The 26-year-old Sabalenka has now won eight WTA 1000 titles and 19 titles on the WTA Tour overall - 17 of which have come on hard courts including all three of her Grand Slam singles titles -- the 2023 Australian Open, the 2024 Australian Open and the 2024 US Open. She looks a calmer, more focused, presence on court than in her earlier seasons when she was capable of bouts of rage when the going got tough. "I think before, every time I would lose my serve, one game, I could just completely lose the match because I would still be thinking about that first game," she said. Sabalenka said that her struggles in the past with her serve had allowed her to develop a stronger all-round game and more positive mentality. "When I was struggling with my serve I had to push myself on the return and had to play with something else. So now, every time I am losing (serve) I know that I have weapons, that I can return well and that I can break back," she said. "I think that challenge really helped me to be more focused and not get too crazy on court after losing a game on my serve," she added. The men's final on Sunday will feature Novak Djokovic up against Czech 19-year-old Jakub Mensik with the Serb looking for his 100th professional title. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Aryna Sabalenka cruises past Jessica Pegula to clinch Miami Open title

Novak Djokovic moved to within one win of his 100th career title on Friday, outclassing Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 to cruise into the final of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/miami-open">Miami Open</a>, where he will play Czech teenager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jakub-mensik" rel="dofollow">Jakub Mensik</a>.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a>, who now has a 13-1 record against the Bulgarian, totally dominated the contest, which was over in 69 minutes. The Serb -- who at 37 is now the oldest man to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final -- will take on a 19-year-old in Sunday's final after the big-serving Mensik beat world number four Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).
The match between Djokovic and his 33-year-old opponent was the oldest semi-final in Masters 1000 history, with a combined age of 70, but it was the older of the pair who dominated.
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Djokovic was broken on his first service game but that was the extent of his difficulties as he maintained his record of never losing in a&nbsp;Miami&nbsp;semi-final.
The serve was once again Djokovic's strong suit -- he made 87% of his first serves and hit five aces -- but his all-round game was impressive and he will head into Sunday's final confident of becoming only the third man after Jimmy Connors (109) and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/roger-federer">Roger Federer</a> (103) to win 100 titles.
"It was very windy today, very difficult to control the ball, changing direction all the time but I had good serves and held my nerves," Djokovic said.
"The serve was again the highlight of the match for me. I think it was 84% last game and I thought that would be difficult to beat that but today it was 87% so I don't know what to say?
"Hopefully I can continue in the same fashion because that definitely make my life easier."
<h2>Swagger</h2>
After a slow start to the season, Djokovic has his swagger back and his eye on his 100th win.&nbsp;"After the Olympics, which was the 99th title, every tournament I play in has been going for 100 and I haven't be able to achieve that. Hopefully Sunday, I am going to go all in," he said.
Dimitrov has now lost 10 straight matches against the Serb and was philosophical in defeat.&nbsp;"He's just doing the basics extremely well, better than anyone. You just cannot let yourself take a step down or make an easy error," he said.
Lionel Messi was in the stands to watch the game after training nearby with Inter&nbsp;Miami and Djokovic was delighted to see him.&nbsp;"It was a huge honour to have King Leo in the stands. It was the first time I have played in front of him," Djokovic said.
As expected, the contest between Mensik and Fritz was a baseline battle which was ultimately decided by two tie-breaks won by the Czech.&nbsp;Mensik blasted 25 aces and kept the pressure on Fritz throughout with his relentless power-hitting as he reached his first Masters 1000 final.
"I just I cannot describe how I feel right now, the feeling will come later. It was a fantastic atmosphere even though I was facing an American here," said Mensik.
"The key was to stay focused. He serves the same as me so it was just a game of serves. He didn't give me the opportunity to break him, so the two tie breaks decided it."
Mensik has only faced Djokovic once in his career, losing to him Shanghai in October.
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Tennis, Sports: The Serb—who at 37 is now the oldest man to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final -- will take on a 19-year-old in Sunday's final after Mensik beat Taylor Fritz

Novak Djokovic moved to within one win of his 100th career title on Friday, outclassing Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 to cruise into the final of the Miami Open, where he will play Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. Novak Djokovic, who now has a 13-1 record against the Bulgarian, totally dominated the contest, which was over in 69 minutes. The Serb -- who at 37 is now the oldest man to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final -- will take on a 19-year-old in Sunday's final after the big-serving Mensik beat world number four Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). The match between Djokovic and his 33-year-old opponent was the oldest semi-final in Masters 1000 history, with a combined age of 70, but it was the older of the pair who dominated. Also Read: How to Watch Brooklyn Nets vs LA Clippers Live Streaming: Time, Channel & Free Streaming Options Djokovic was broken on his first service game but that was the extent of his difficulties as he maintained his record of never losing in a Miami semi-final. The serve was once again Djokovic's strong suit -- he made 87% of his first serves and hit five aces -- but his all-round game was impressive and he will head into Sunday's final confident of becoming only the third man after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to win 100 titles. "It was very windy today, very difficult to control the ball, changing direction all the time but I had good serves and held my nerves," Djokovic said. "The serve was again the highlight of the match for me. I think it was 84% last game and I thought that would be difficult to beat that but today it was 87% so I don't know what to say? "Hopefully I can continue in the same fashion because that definitely make my life easier." Swagger After a slow start to the season, Djokovic has his swagger back and his eye on his 100th win. "After the Olympics, which was the 99th title, every tournament I play in has been going for 100 and I haven't be able to achieve that. Hopefully Sunday, I am going to go all in," he said. Dimitrov has now lost 10 straight matches against the Serb and was philosophical in defeat. "He's just doing the basics extremely well, better than anyone. You just cannot let yourself take a step down or make an easy error," he said. Lionel Messi was in the stands to watch the game after training nearby with Inter Miami and Djokovic was delighted to see him. "It was a huge honour to have King Leo in the stands. It was the first time I have played in front of him," Djokovic said. As expected, the contest between Mensik and Fritz was a baseline battle which was ultimately decided by two tie-breaks won by the Czech. Mensik blasted 25 aces and kept the pressure on Fritz throughout with his relentless power-hitting as he reached his first Masters 1000 final. "I just I cannot describe how I feel right now, the feeling will come later. It was a fantastic atmosphere even though I was facing an American here," said Mensik. "The key was to stay focused. He serves the same as me so it was just a game of serves. He didn't give me the opportunity to break him, so the two tie breaks decided it." Mensik has only faced Djokovic once in his career, losing to him Shanghai in October. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Miami Open: Novak Djokovic to face Mensik with 100th title within reach

Novak Djokovic turned on the style to take his place in the last four of the Miami Open with an impressive 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over American Sebastian Korda, becoming the oldest man to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final.<o:p></o:p>
The 37-year-old Serb made a strong start against Korda, breaking early to get a first set advantage that he never let slip but Korda showed great resilience in the second set, taking the contest to a tie-break. But the fourth seed, looking for his seventh Miami Open title but first since 2016, again came up strong, sealing the win with a powerful ace.<o:p></o:p>
Djokovic, who will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Friday, had no doubt what had been the key to his success after winning 84% of his first-serve points.<o:p></o:p>
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"One word, serve. I was serving very well, probably the best serving performance, not just here, but in a long time," he told reporters. "Eleven aces, when I needed to find the first serve. It makes life easier on the court when you are feeling your serve. I needed it in the second set when I think Korda was feeling his ground strokes much better."<o:p></o:p>
A victory at Miami would be a landmark 100th singles title for the 24-time Grand Slam champion and he said he's glad to be refinding a top level.<o:p></o:p>
"I am obviously playing the best tennis I have played in quite some time. It's great when I experience tournaments like this and performances like this. It motivates me and encourages me to keep going for more," he said.<o:p></o:p>
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik marched into his first Masters semi when he defeated France's Arthur Fils 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.<o:p></o:p>
Fils had enjoyed one of the biggest wins of his career on Wednesday when he defeated top seed Alexander Zverev but he struggled to repeat the feat against the impressive 19-year-old Mensik.<o:p></o:p>
The towering Czech's big serve was too much for Fils, who had come through three-set battles with Frances Tiafoe and Zverev and showed signs of tiredness.<o:p></o:p>
"It feels incredible. I think the biggest result so far in my career, so I'm glad I just kept going since the first round," said Mensik. "That's the key, to keep the focus during the two weeks, because it's always tough. The job is not done."<o:p></o:p>
Mensik broke out to an early 4-1 lead but then let Fils back into the contest with the 20-year-old Frenchman forcing a tie-break.<o:p></o:p>
But having survived that comeback from Fils, Mensik was rock solid in the second set as he powered his way to victory in 75 minutes.<o:p></o:p>
Mensik, ranked 54th in the world, will next face American third seed Taylor Fritz, who came through an enthralling battle with Italian Matteo Berrettini with a 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5.<o:p></o:p>
Berrettini looked buried in the second set tie-break when he trailed 6-3 but his booming serve and some incredible returns gave him the opportunity of a deciding set. In total, Berrettini saved six match points in the second set.<o:p></o:p>
It was nip and tuck with the pair on serve until Fritz, working hard on the baseline, broke to go 6-5 up and then held on for the win.<o:p></o:p>
"Obviously gave myself a lot of chances throughout the match. I wish I could have made it happen in the second set," said Fritz. "I think I made it extremely tough for myself. He raised his level and played really well in the third, so I had to work, you know, extra hard to win the third set and raise my level, as well.<o:p></o:p>
"After not closing it out, not winning those match points, I think I showed one of my biggest strengths in resetting and being able to win the third."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
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Sports, Tennis: Djokovic, who will face Bulgarian Dimitrov on Friday, had no doubt what had been the key to his success after winning 84% of his first-serve points.

Novak Djokovic turned on the style to take his place in the last four of the Miami Open with an impressive 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over American Sebastian Korda, becoming the oldest man to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final. The 37-year-old Serb made a strong start against Korda, breaking early to get a first set advantage that he never let slip but Korda showed great resilience in the second set, taking the contest to a tie-break. But the fourth seed, looking for his seventh Miami Open title but first since 2016, again came up strong, sealing the win with a powerful ace. Djokovic, who will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Friday, had no doubt what had been the key to his success after winning 84% of his first-serve points. Also read | There's more to Maradona's death than just heart failure, forensic expert tells court "One word, serve. I was serving very well, probably the best serving performance, not just here, but in a long time," he told reporters. "Eleven aces, when I needed to find the first serve. It makes life easier on the court when you are feeling your serve. I needed it in the second set when I think Korda was feeling his ground strokes much better." A victory at Miami would be a landmark 100th singles title for the 24-time Grand Slam champion and he said he's glad to be refinding a top level. "I am obviously playing the best tennis I have played in quite some time. It's great when I experience tournaments like this and performances like this. It motivates me and encourages me to keep going for more," he said. Czech teenager Jakub Mensik marched into his first Masters semi when he defeated France's Arthur Fils 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. Fils had enjoyed one of the biggest wins of his career on Wednesday when he defeated top seed Alexander Zverev but he struggled to repeat the feat against the impressive 19-year-old Mensik. The towering Czech's big serve was too much for Fils, who had come through three-set battles with Frances Tiafoe and Zverev and showed signs of tiredness. "It feels incredible. I think the biggest result so far in my career, so I'm glad I just kept going since the first round," said Mensik. "That's the key, to keep the focus during the two weeks, because it's always tough. The job is not done." Mensik broke out to an early 4-1 lead but then let Fils back into the contest with the 20-year-old Frenchman forcing a tie-break. But having survived that comeback from Fils, Mensik was rock solid in the second set as he powered his way to victory in 75 minutes. Mensik, ranked 54th in the world, will next face American third seed Taylor Fritz, who came through an enthralling battle with Italian Matteo Berrettini with a 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5. Berrettini looked buried in the second set tie-break when he trailed 6-3 but his booming serve and some incredible returns gave him the opportunity of a deciding set. In total, Berrettini saved six match points in the second set. It was nip and tuck with the pair on serve until Fritz, working hard on the baseline, broke to go 6-5 up and then held on for the win. "Obviously gave myself a lot of chances throughout the match. I wish I could have made it happen in the second set," said Fritz. "I think I made it extremely tough for myself. He raised his level and played really well in the third, so I had to work, you know, extra hard to win the third set and raise my level, as well. "After not closing it out, not winning those match points, I think I showed one of my biggest strengths in resetting and being able to win the third." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ageing Djokovic creates history with semis berth in Miami Open; Fritz advances

The Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), co-founded by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> and Vasek Pospisil in 2020, has launched legal actions against the sport&rsquo;s major governing bodies, accusing them of &ldquo;anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices.&rdquo;
The lawsuits target the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/atp">Association of Tennis Professionals</a> (ATP), Women&rsquo;s Tennis Association (WTA), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/itf">International Tennis Federation</a> (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Filed in the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, the actions involve around 20 players.
&ldquo;The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades,&rdquo; the PTPA stated. It accused the governing bodies of acting as a &ldquo;cartel&rdquo; that enforces restrictive policies to suppress player earnings and impose harsh playing conditions.
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Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, declared, &ldquo;Tennis is broken. Behind the glamorous image, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety.&rdquo;
The PTPA alleges the governing bodies collude to fix prize money, enforce an unsustainable schedule, and disregard player welfare. It highlighted extreme playing conditions, including excessive heat, late-night matches, and inconsistent tennis balls that lead to injuries.
Other complaints include restrictions on sponsorship deals, control over image rights, and an unfair ranking points system. The PTPA also raised concerns over privacy violations, citing invasive searches of players&rsquo; personal devices, late-night drug tests, and interrogations without legal representation.
Alongside Djokovic and Pospisil, the PTPA&rsquo;s executive council includes Hubert Hurkacz, Ons Jabeur, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Taylor Townsend, and SaiSai Zheng. Several players, including Nick Kyrgios, Varvara Gracheva, Reilly Opelka, Corentin Moutet, and Taro Daniel, have joined the legal fight in various jurisdictions.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Tennis: The Professional Tennis Players' Association was set up by Novak and Vasek Pospisil in 2020. Some 20 players were named as part of at least one of the actions

The Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil in 2020, has launched legal actions against the sport’s major governing bodies, accusing them of “anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices.” The lawsuits target the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Filed in the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, the actions involve around 20 players. “The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades,” the PTPA stated. It accused the governing bodies of acting as a “cartel” that enforces restrictive policies to suppress player earnings and impose harsh playing conditions. Also Read: IPL 2025 | MS Dhoni at 43: Still Fit, still fearless, still CSK’s king! Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, declared, “Tennis is broken. Behind the glamorous image, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety.” The PTPA alleges the governing bodies collude to fix prize money, enforce an unsustainable schedule, and disregard player welfare. It highlighted extreme playing conditions, including excessive heat, late-night matches, and inconsistent tennis balls that lead to injuries. Other complaints include restrictions on sponsorship deals, control over image rights, and an unfair ranking points system. The PTPA also raised concerns over privacy violations, citing invasive searches of players’ personal devices, late-night drug tests, and interrogations without legal representation. Alongside Djokovic and Pospisil, the PTPA’s executive council includes Hubert Hurkacz, Ons Jabeur, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Taylor Townsend, and SaiSai Zheng. Several players, including Nick Kyrgios, Varvara Gracheva, Reilly Opelka, Corentin Moutet, and Taro Daniel, have joined the legal fight in various jurisdictions. (With inputs from agencies)

Tennis civil war: Djokovic’s union takes swing at ‘corrupt’ bigwigs

Five-time champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> crashed out in his Indian Wells ATP Masters opener on Saturday, just the latest proof that 'things are different' now for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic had 37 unforced errors and was helpless as Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp won the last five games to triumph 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.&nbsp;The Serbian star had hoped that the addition of old rival <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/andy-murray">Andy Murray</a> as his coach would help him go deep into a tournament he last won in 2016.
Instead it was an earlier exit than his third-round loss to lucky loser Luca Nardi last year.&nbsp;"You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years," the 37-year-old said.
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"I've been struggling to play on the desired level. Every now and then, I have couple good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it's really a challenge. It's a struggle for me.
"So it is what it is. I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way."
Forced out of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/australia-open">Australian Open</a> semi-finals with a hamstring injury, Djokovic dropped his first match at his comeback event in Qatar last month.
Asked if any physical problem hindered him on Saturday, Djokovic deflected the question.
"I mean, it's always something happening, but I don't want to talk about it," he said. "No excuses for a poor performance ... just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me."
It was another big win for van de Zandschulp, who stunned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/carlos-alcaraz">Carlos Alcaraz</a> at the US Open last year before beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in the Spanish great's last match.
After 14 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic cleaned things up the second, grabbing a quick break on the way to a 3-0 lead.&nbsp;Djokovic pumped his fist after belting a forehand winner to the corner for his first break chance of the match and after consolidating the break nodded his head in satisfaction.
However, van de Zandschulp wasn't about to go quietly and the rallies remained tense affairs.
Trailing 0-40 in the sixth game of the second set, Djokovic clawed out another break in a game that went to deuce five times, but he was broken as he served for the set, gifting van de Zandschulp a third break opportunity with a forehand miss.
<h2>Awful mistakes</h2>
Clearly frustrated at times, Djokovic muscled a forehand winner to the baseline to secure the second set and level the match.&nbsp;It was only a brief respite. Van de Zandschulp kept the pressure on both from the baseline and at the net and Djokovic's errors began to pile up again.&nbsp;Van de Zandschulp took control in the third with a break for 3-1, winning the last five games.
"The first three games, four games of the third set were quite close," Djokovic said. "Had my chances. Was just some awful mistakes.
"When I reflect on this match, obviously I'll see a little bit more what I could have done more.&nbsp;"He played, I think, some really good points to break my serve. But just putting myself in that position, I shouldn't allow myself to do that."
Djokovic said he didn't know if he would head immediately to Miami to begin preparations for the Miami Open starting March 19.&nbsp;"I still haven't talked with Andy and the team, so going to do that and make a plan," he said.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Tennis: Djokovic had 37 unforced errors and was helpless as Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp won the last five games to triumph 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Five-time champion Novak Djokovic crashed out in his Indian Wells ATP Masters opener on Saturday, just the latest proof that 'things are different' now for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic had 37 unforced errors and was helpless as Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp won the last five games to triumph 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. The Serbian star had hoped that the addition of old rival Andy Murray as his coach would help him go deep into a tournament he last won in 2016. Instead it was an earlier exit than his third-round loss to lucky loser Luca Nardi last year. "You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years," the 37-year-old said. Also Read: Salah, Nunez complete Liverpool fight back as Reds close in on PL title "I've been struggling to play on the desired level. Every now and then, I have couple good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it's really a challenge. It's a struggle for me. "So it is what it is. I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way." Forced out of the Australian Open semi-finals with a hamstring injury, Djokovic dropped his first match at his comeback event in Qatar last month. Asked if any physical problem hindered him on Saturday, Djokovic deflected the question. "I mean, it's always something happening, but I don't want to talk about it," he said. "No excuses for a poor performance ... just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me." It was another big win for van de Zandschulp, who stunned Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open last year before beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in the Spanish great's last match. After 14 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic cleaned things up the second, grabbing a quick break on the way to a 3-0 lead. Djokovic pumped his fist after belting a forehand winner to the corner for his first break chance of the match and after consolidating the break nodded his head in satisfaction. However, van de Zandschulp wasn't about to go quietly and the rallies remained tense affairs. Trailing 0-40 in the sixth game of the second set, Djokovic clawed out another break in a game that went to deuce five times, but he was broken as he served for the set, gifting van de Zandschulp a third break opportunity with a forehand miss. Awful mistakes Clearly frustrated at times, Djokovic muscled a forehand winner to the baseline to secure the second set and level the match. It was only a brief respite. Van de Zandschulp kept the pressure on both from the baseline and at the net and Djokovic's errors began to pile up again. Van de Zandschulp took control in the third with a break for 3-1, winning the last five games. "The first three games, four games of the third set were quite close," Djokovic said. "Had my chances. Was just some awful mistakes. "When I reflect on this match, obviously I'll see a little bit more what I could have done more. "He played, I think, some really good points to break my serve. But just putting myself in that position, I shouldn't allow myself to do that." Djokovic said he didn't know if he would head immediately to Miami to begin preparations for the Miami Open starting March 19. "I still haven't talked with Andy and the team, so going to do that and make a plan," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Things are different', says Djokovic after another early exit at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic's comeback came to a crashing halt on Tuesday as he lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Qatar Open.
Djokovic, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January.&nbsp;
But the Serb said that while he was not 100 per cent, fitness was not the issue.
"I was outplayed by just a better player today," he said.&nbsp;
"Yes, I wasn't at my desired level, and it could be that I'm still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that."
"I think he played a masterclass match to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side."
It was only Berrettini's second&nbsp;win this year and his first over a player in the top 10 since 2023.&nbsp;
It was also the Italian's first ever win over Djokovic. Their previous encounters included victories for the Serb in the Wimbledon final and Roland Garros quarterfinals both in 2021.&nbsp;
"Something I've been looking to do for a long time. I've played against him in the most important tournaments on tour,"&nbsp;the 28-year-old Italian said on court after the victory. "I wish I could have won one of those matches."
Berrettini has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months but won three tournaments after returning to court last year.
"Really happy with my performance," he said. "Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing."
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The first set went with serve but Berrettini took two points off Djokovic's serve to win the tiebreak.&nbsp;The Italian then broke to love in the second game of the second set.&nbsp;
Djokovic had broken Berrettini 27 times in their four previous encounters but the Italian was comfortable on serve until the final game before finally winning on his second match point.
"A champion like Novak is always ready to come back," Berrettini said. "You don't have to think about match point. You have to think about the next point."&nbsp;
Djokovic said that Andy Murray had agreed to continue as his coach "indefinitely" but said that he did not plan to overhaul his style.&nbsp;
"I am trying to improve my game, like everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically," Djokovic said. "My game is what it is, the core is going to be the same."
"There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it's more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances."
<h2>Cold and windy</h2>
Alex de Minaur celebrated his birthday by beating Russian Roman Safiullin&nbsp;6-1, 7-5, even though the Australian did not enjoy the weather.
"They're tough days, these ones," said De Minaur. "It's cold, it's windy, you probably don't want to get out of bed. But once you step on court, you have to do everything you can to win.&nbsp;
"Whether it's ugly or pretty tennis, you just put the ball in the court, and that's what I did today."&nbsp;
World No.6 Daniil Medvedev eliminated compatriot and defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.&nbsp;
Medvedev, the former world No.1, has not won a tournament since the Rome Masters in spring 2023. He was knocked out in the second round of this year's Australian Open by teenage American Learner Tien.&nbsp;
A third Russian former champion, Andrey Rublev, the fifth seed, beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Tennis: Novak Djokovic, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January.

Novak Djokovic's comeback came to a crashing halt on Tuesday as he lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Qatar Open. Djokovic, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January. But the Serb said that while he was not 100 per cent, fitness was not the issue. "I was outplayed by just a better player today," he said. "Yes, I wasn't at my desired level, and it could be that I'm still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that." "I think he played a masterclass match to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side." It was only Berrettini's second win this year and his first over a player in the top 10 since 2023. It was also the Italian's first ever win over Djokovic. Their previous encounters included victories for the Serb in the Wimbledon final and Roland Garros quarterfinals both in 2021. "Something I've been looking to do for a long time. I've played against him in the most important tournaments on tour," the 28-year-old Italian said on court after the victory. "I wish I could have won one of those matches." Berrettini has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months but won three tournaments after returning to court last year. "Really happy with my performance," he said. "Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing." ALSO READ | SWOT analysis | Champions Trophy 2025: Underdogs with fighting spirit - Can Bangladesh overcome the odds? The first set went with serve but Berrettini took two points off Djokovic's serve to win the tiebreak. The Italian then broke to love in the second game of the second set. Djokovic had broken Berrettini 27 times in their four previous encounters but the Italian was comfortable on serve until the final game before finally winning on his second match point. "A champion like Novak is always ready to come back," Berrettini said. "You don't have to think about match point. You have to think about the next point." Djokovic said that Andy Murray had agreed to continue as his coach "indefinitely" but said that he did not plan to overhaul his style. "I am trying to improve my game, like everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically," Djokovic said. "My game is what it is, the core is going to be the same." "There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it's more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances." Cold and windy Alex de Minaur celebrated his birthday by beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-5, even though the Australian did not enjoy the weather. "They're tough days, these ones," said De Minaur. "It's cold, it's windy, you probably don't want to get out of bed. But once you step on court, you have to do everything you can to win. "Whether it's ugly or pretty tennis, you just put the ball in the court, and that's what I did today." World No.6 Daniil Medvedev eliminated compatriot and defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Medvedev, the former world No.1, has not won a tournament since the Rome Masters in spring 2023. He was knocked out in the second round of this year's Australian Open by teenage American Learner Tien. A third Russian former champion, Andrey Rublev, the fifth seed, beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Qatar Open: Matteo Berrettini ends Novak Djokovic's comeback in straight sets win

Novak Djokovic on Monday urged tennis authorities to overhaul the sport's anti-doping system, pointing to "inconsistencies" in cases involving top stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek and those of lower-ranked players.
World number one Sinner agreed to a three-month ban on Saturday, admitting "partial responsiblity" for mistakes by his team which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
Sinner was facing a potential ban of two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his initial exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), announced in August.
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In a surprising move, WADA withdrew its appeal and came to an agreement with Sinner to accept a three-month ban.
In another high-profile case last year, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine.
"There's a majority of the players that I've talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled," said Djokovic.
"A majority of the players don't feel that it's fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It seems like, it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers."
In contrast, the recently retired Simona Halep, a former world number one, was handed a four-year ban by the&nbsp;ITIA in 2022 after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug roxadustat.
She argued it was the result of a tainted supplement and successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced her suspension to nine months.
"Simona Halep and (Britain's) Tara Moore and some other players that are maybe less known that have been struggling to resolve their cases for years, or have gotten the ban for years," said Djokovic.
"There is so much inconsistencies between the cases."
Djokovic, who is returning to action this week at the Qatar Open for the first time since retiring injured from last month's Australian Open semi-finals, believes a change is needed.
"Right now it's a ripe time for us to really address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn't work (for) anti-doping, it's obvious," he said.
"I hope that in the next period of the near future that the governing bodies are going to come together, of our tours and the tennis ecosystem, and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes.
"It's inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair."
"If you are going to treat every case individually or independently, which is what's happening, then there's no consistency, then there is no transparency, and some cases are transparent, some are not," he continued.
"The problem is that right now there is a lack of trust generally from the tennis players, both male and female, towards WADA and ITIA, and the whole process."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World number one Sinner agreed to a three-month ban on Saturday, admitting "partial responsiblity" for mistakes by his team which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol. Sports

Novak Djokovic on Monday urged tennis authorities to overhaul the sport's anti-doping system, pointing to "inconsistencies" in cases involving top stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek and those of lower-ranked players. World number one Sinner agreed to a three-month ban on Saturday, admitting "partial responsiblity" for mistakes by his team which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year. Sinner was facing a potential ban of two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his initial exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), announced in August. Also Read: Champions Trophy: The top three blockbuster matches to watch out for in tournament In a surprising move, WADA withdrew its appeal and came to an agreement with Sinner to accept a three-month ban. In another high-profile case last year, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine. "There's a majority of the players that I've talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled," said Djokovic. "A majority of the players don't feel that it's fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It seems like, it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers." In contrast, the recently retired Simona Halep, a former world number one, was handed a four-year ban by the ITIA in 2022 after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug roxadustat. She argued it was the result of a tainted supplement and successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced her suspension to nine months. "Simona Halep and (Britain's) Tara Moore and some other players that are maybe less known that have been struggling to resolve their cases for years, or have gotten the ban for years," said Djokovic. "There is so much inconsistencies between the cases." Djokovic, who is returning to action this week at the Qatar Open for the first time since retiring injured from last month's Australian Open semi-finals, believes a change is needed. "Right now it's a ripe time for us to really address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn't work (for) anti-doping, it's obvious," he said. "I hope that in the next period of the near future that the governing bodies are going to come together, of our tours and the tennis ecosystem, and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes. "It's inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair." "If you are going to treat every case individually or independently, which is what's happening, then there's no consistency, then there is no transparency, and some cases are transparent, some are not," he continued. "The problem is that right now there is a lack of trust generally from the tennis players, both male and female, towards WADA and ITIA, and the whole process." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic calls for 'overhaul' of anti-doping system after Jannik Sinner case

Serbian Novak Djokovic shared a heartfelt message for Alexander Zverev after the German player lost Australian Open 2025 Final against Jannik Sinner on Sunday (Jan 26). After losing the first set 3-6, Zverev showed fight in the second set and took it to tie-break but Sinner went on to win 7-6. The Italian won the third set 6-3 again for his second consecutive Australian Open title.
<h2>Djokovic's message to Zverev</h2>
Djokovic, who had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/australian-open-2025-dont-really-believe-it-former-players-question-novak-djokovic-injury-in-semi-vs-zverev-8655518" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">retired from semi-final against Zverev</a>, asked the German to 'keep believing' while congratulating Sinner for the win on his Instagram story.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/sinner-vs-zverev-australian-open-2025-final-live-score-updates-liveblog-8655167" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Australian Open 2025 Final HIGHLIGHTS</a>
"Sasha, keep believing my friend! You have IT in you," wrote Djokovic in his story. Watch it below:
<figure class="image"><img alt="Djokovic to Sasha" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/487x774/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/26/f9dEWzPpB7icadmnFx2X.JPG" style="width: 487px;">
<figcaption>Djokovic's heartfelt message to Zverev Photograph: (Instagram/NovakDjokovic)</figcaption>
</figure>
This was the third time that the German ended up losing a grand slam final after ending up as a runner-up in French Open 2024 and US Open 2020.
Zverev, after the straight-sets loss, was in tears before <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/zverev-australian-open-final-crying-video-sinner-consoles-after-winning-title-8655911" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sinner consoled him</a>. The German also acknowledged that 'he is not good enough' in the post-match presentation speech.
"I want to thank my team," Zverev said after loss. "We are trying to do the right work, I am just not good enough. It is as simple as that. I really appreciate what everyone has done for the past three years, back from my ankle injury to playing Grand Slam finals again. I really appreciate everything they have done and would not be here without them," he added.
Sinner, on the other hand, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/jannik-sinner-australian-open-2025-final-win-and-joins-rafael-nadal-in-elite-company-after-beating-zverev-at-melbourne-park-8656007" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">joined Spain's Rafael Nadal in elite company</a>. During the win on Sunday, top seed Sinner also became the first player since 1973 to register 10 consecutive straight sets victories against top-10 opponents.&nbsp;
Sinner is also only the eighth player in the open era to win his first three grand slam finals, along with Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg, Gustavo Kuerten, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, and Carlos Alcaraz.

Australia Open 2025 Final: Djokovic, who had retired from semi-final against Zverev, asked the German to 'keep believing' while congratulating Sinner for the win. Sports Tennis

Serbian Novak Djokovic shared a heartfelt message for Alexander Zverev after the German player lost Australian Open 2025 Final against Jannik Sinner on Sunday (Jan 26). After losing the first set 3-6, Zverev showed fight in the second set and took it to tie-break but Sinner went on to win 7-6. The Italian won the third set 6-3 again for his second consecutive Australian Open title. Djokovic's message to Zverev Djokovic, who had retired from semi-final against Zverev, asked the German to 'keep believing' while congratulating Sinner for the win on his Instagram story. Also Read: Australian Open 2025 Final HIGHLIGHTS "Sasha, keep believing my friend! You have IT in you," wrote Djokovic in his story. Watch it below: Djokovic's heartfelt message to Zverev Photograph: (Instagram/NovakDjokovic) This was the third time that the German ended up losing a grand slam final after ending up as a runner-up in French Open 2024 and US Open 2020. Zverev, after the straight-sets loss, was in tears before Sinner consoled him. The German also acknowledged that 'he is not good enough' in the post-match presentation speech. "I want to thank my team," Zverev said after loss. "We are trying to do the right work, I am just not good enough. It is as simple as that. I really appreciate what everyone has done for the past three years, back from my ankle injury to playing Grand Slam finals again. I really appreciate everything they have done and would not be here without them," he added. Sinner, on the other hand, joined Spain's Rafael Nadal in elite company. During the win on Sunday, top seed Sinner also became the first player since 1973 to register 10 consecutive straight sets victories against top-10 opponents. Sinner is also only the eighth player in the open era to win his first three grand slam finals, along with Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg, Gustavo Kuerten, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, and Carlos Alcaraz.

Australian Open 2025: In a heartfelt message, Novak Djokovic wants Alexander Zverev to 'keep believing' after loss in final

Novak Djokovic injury saga from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/australian-open">Australia Open 2025</a> semi-final against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/alexander-zverev">Alexander Zverev</a> isn't dying down. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic">Djokovic</a> had retired from the semi-final against Zverev due to injury which he had picked during the quarter-final win against Carlos Alcaraz.
<h2>What Djokovic said about quitting the semi-final match</h2>
The 27-year-old Serbian, chasing his 25th grand slam, had retired after the first set in the semi-final and said: &ldquo;I didn't hit a ball since [the] Alcaraz match, so until like an hour before today's match. I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/sinner-vs-zverev-australian-open-2025-final-live-score-updates-liveblog-8655167" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sinner vs Zverev Australian Open 2025 Final Updates</a>
&ldquo;Medications and, I guess, the strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today. But yeah, towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried,&rdquo; he added.
The explanation, however, didn't go well with many of the former players who questioned the circumstances under which Djokovic quit.
<h2>What the former players said about Djokovic's injury</h2>
Former Italian Paolo Bertolucci, while talking to Corrieredellosport, said: "Djokovic had a strain, he said. I didn't have time to open my eyes and the match was already over. Now: with a contracture you struggle to walk, but with a strain you can't even take a step... I don't really believe it."
Another Italian, Adriano Panatta, replied: "But what strain, come on , he must have had a small contracture. We know him, we know what Nole does in these situations, come on. He tried, he saw that there was no chance against Zverev and after losing the first set he threw in the towel. It won't change anything for him in his career anyway."
Djokovic, fed up with the questions, eventually posted his medical report on social media and said: "Thought I'd leave this here for all the sports injury 'experts' out there."

Australian Open 2025: Djokovic had retired from the semi-final against Zverev due to an injury he had picked up during the quarter-final win against Carlos Alcaraz. Sports Tennis

Novak Djokovic injury saga from Australia Open 2025 semi-final against Alexander Zverev isn't dying down. Djokovic had retired from the semi-final against Zverev due to injury which he had picked during the quarter-final win against Carlos Alcaraz. What Djokovic said about quitting the semi-final match The 27-year-old Serbian, chasing his 25th grand slam, had retired after the first set in the semi-final and said: “I didn't hit a ball since [the] Alcaraz match, so until like an hour before today's match. I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had." Also Read: Sinner vs Zverev Australian Open 2025 Final Updates “Medications and, I guess, the strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today. But yeah, towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried,” he added. The explanation, however, didn't go well with many of the former players who questioned the circumstances under which Djokovic quit. What the former players said about Djokovic's injury Former Italian Paolo Bertolucci, while talking to Corrieredellosport, said: "Djokovic had a strain, he said. I didn't have time to open my eyes and the match was already over. Now: with a contracture you struggle to walk, but with a strain you can't even take a step... I don't really believe it." Another Italian, Adriano Panatta, replied: "But what strain, come on , he must have had a small contracture. We know him, we know what Nole does in these situations, come on. He tried, he saw that there was no chance against Zverev and after losing the first set he threw in the towel. It won't change anything for him in his career anyway." Djokovic, fed up with the questions, eventually posted his medical report on social media and said: "Thought I'd leave this here for all the sports injury 'experts' out there."

Australian Open 2025: 'Don't really believe...,' Former players question Novak Djokovic injury in semi

It was an emotional day for Serbia&rsquo;s Novak Djokovic as he pulled out of the Australian Open during his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev on Friday (Jan 24). Playing at the iconic Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, Djokovic sighted injury concerns after losing the opening set to Zverev, handing a walkover to his German counterpart. After the match, the Melbourne crowd was seen booing the 24-time Grand Slam champion, upon which Zverev reacted and asked them to stop. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Zverev reacts to Melbourne crowd&rsquo;s reaction<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;Very first thing I want to say is please guys don&rsquo;t boo a player when he goes out with injury,&rdquo; Zverev said during an on-court interview. <o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;I know that everybody paid for the tickets and wanted to see a five-set match but you&rsquo;ve to understand Novak is somebody who has in the last 20 years given absolutely everything of his life to the sport. He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, he has won this tournament with a hamstring tear, if he cannot continue a tennis match it really means he cannot continue a tennis match, so please be respectful and really show some love for Novak."<o:p></o:p>
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The 38-year-old lost the opening set 7-6 in the tiebreak and subsequently decided to walk over, as the crowd met the decision with mixed reactions. As Djokovic walked out of the Rod Laver Arena with coach Andy Murray in the frame, the crowd did not greet him well. However, Zverev was not impressed and asked the crowd to respect the 10-time Australian Open men&rsquo;s singles champion.<o:p></o:p>
As a consequence of the walkover, Zverev will now meet the winner of Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton in the final. The Italian is the defending champion at the Australian Open in men&rsquo;s single and will look to continue his hot streak in Melbourne.

Sports, Tennis: Novak Djokovic sighted injury concerns after losing the opening set to Alexander Zverev, handing a walkover to his German counterpart. 

It was an emotional day for Serbia’s Novak Djokovic as he pulled out of the Australian Open during his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev on Friday (Jan 24). Playing at the iconic Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, Djokovic sighted injury concerns after losing the opening set to Zverev, handing a walkover to his German counterpart. After the match, the Melbourne crowd was seen booing the 24-time Grand Slam champion, upon which Zverev reacted and asked them to stop. Zverev reacts to Melbourne crowd’s reaction “Very first thing I want to say is please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury,” Zverev said during an on-court interview. “I know that everybody paid for the tickets and wanted to see a five-set match but you’ve to understand Novak is somebody who has in the last 20 years given absolutely everything of his life to the sport. He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, he has won this tournament with a hamstring tear, if he cannot continue a tennis match it really means he cannot continue a tennis match, so please be respectful and really show some love for Novak." ALSO READ | No Indian in ICC’s ODI Team of the Year 2024; 3 Afghanistan players included The 38-year-old lost the opening set 7-6 in the tiebreak and subsequently decided to walk over, as the crowd met the decision with mixed reactions. As Djokovic walked out of the Rod Laver Arena with coach Andy Murray in the frame, the crowd did not greet him well. However, Zverev was not impressed and asked the crowd to respect the 10-time Australian Open men’s singles champion. As a consequence of the walkover, Zverev will now meet the winner of Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton in the final. The Italian is the defending champion at the Australian Open in men’s single and will look to continue his hot streak in Melbourne.

Australian Open: Zverev reacts at crowd's jeering after Djokovic pulls out, says ‘please guys, don't boo’

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