Seasonal; Team; Individual; Extreme; Gear;
Casper Ruud on Carlos Alcaraz – He’s Already One of the Best Movers on Tour
The Norwegian was impressed with virtually every facet of the 18-year-old's game. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday April 3, 2022
Casper Ruud had a fantastic week at the Miami Open, reaching his first Masters 1000 final, and becoming the first player from Norway to achieve that feat. He climbs to a career-high ranking of No.7 in the world thanks to his performance, but he wasn’t able to get past rising Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in Miami.
The 18-year-old became the third youngest Masters 1000 champion in history, and the youngest man to ever win the Miami title, when he locked down a 7-5, 6-4 win over Ruud.
After the contest Ruud had nothing but praise for the blossoming game of Alcaraz. He said that the soon to be 19-year-old is already one of the top movers in the sport.
“I think he's one of the players I played who moves better than pretty much anyone,” he said. “I think I have also played a couple of practice sets with Monfils, and he is always running very well. I think those two players are the guys who are moving the best on court. We also have Alex de Minaur, and these guys are very quick with their feet. He has kind of that very quick feet movement but also very much or a lot of firepower in his groundstrokes.”
Ruud says that what makes Alcaraz so tough is that he has all the components. Already, at 18, he has a complete game.
“He serves not incredible but heavy and good enough, and he can mix it up well, going out wide, he goes kick serve sometimes on the first serve,” Ruud said. “I have seen Rafa talk about him, saying that he has all the ingredients to make a good salad, and I think that describes it very well.”
First of a long series pic.twitter.com/bKlbH4Q3Wa
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) April 3, 2022
Courier – Alcaraz Has All the Tools
Four-time major champion Jim Courier, commentating for Tennis Channel after the final, also raved about Alcaraz’s game.
“The kid is so impressive and he’s gaining amazing experience as he goes this season,” said Courier. “It’s remarkable to watch him flourish in real time. He’s just been impressive from the jump.
“You just have to basically take the racquet out of his hands because when he has a chance to play tennis the movement is amazing, the power is very evenly distributed, which is wonderful to see for a player of any age. Keep in mind, players like Djokovic had to work hard for his second serve and his forehand to kind of catch up to the rest of his game, and then he started to lift off. This kid is balanced now. We’ll see, it’s a long road to get to what Roger and Novak and Rafa have done, but all the tools are in the toolbox and he seems to have the most important one which is this one [points to temple].”
Ruud drops to 0-2 lifetime against Alcaraz. He fell to the Spaniard last spring in Marbella, and he believes that while Alcaraz is pretty much the same player, he has put on muscle and made improvements.
“I think he plays quite similar to what he did when we played last year in Marbella,” he said. “It was pretty much almost a year ago, and of course he has improved. He plays very aggressive. But at the same time, he doesn't mind like moving and grinding out balls or points if he needs to.
“Physically he has grown a little bit, I think he has put on some more muscle since last year, but even last year he was ripping the ball very hard,” Ruud said.
“Even though he didn't have like a major outbreak in springtime last year, I think we all could predict that he would have a good season. This year has been impeccable one so far for him.So, I mean, he's one to look out for, and we will see him, like I said in the speech on court, I think we will see him on the big stage for many years and lifting trophies for many years to come.
Navratilova on Alcaraz – A Hall of Famer if He Stays Healthy
The 18-time major champion was raving about the world-class game of Alcaraz after he won the Miami title. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday April 3, 2022
Carlos Alcaraz has been getting rave reviews from pundits and players alike ever since he stormed onto the scene as a bright-eyed 16-year-old to win his first match at the Rio Open in 2020. Two years later he’s the yougest Miam Open champion men’s singles champion on history and the third youngest Masters 1000 title winner.
18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova thinks that this is just the tip of the iceberg for Alcaraz. Speaking in an interview alongside Jim Courier for Tennis Channel after Alcaraz topped Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4, the legend and Hall of Famer predicted an extremely bright future for the rising Spaniard.
“There’s nothing missing,” an excited Navratilova said. “His physique. He’s got it all going on, and for me, he’s one of the top people that you have to talk about at every major now, along with Djokovic, Nadal and Medvedev, he is the fourth one for me.”
Alcaraz, just more than a month shy of his 19th birthday, is going to present beaucoup problems for the rest of the men’s tour, says Navratilova.
“He’s only going to get better and that’s pretty scary for the rest of the field,” Navratilova said. “You see them making errors that they normally wouldn’t make because of his speed. He’s so quick, I think he’s as quick as anybody, I think he’s quicker than Djokovic – maybe not faster, but quicker – and when he’s stretched out wide on the backhand he’s so strong he can still dip the ball at [his opponent’s] net – you think you’re great position to put the volley away and, oops, there goes the ball.
“He can create pace, where most people would be hitting a defensive shot, he can still create offense – he’s so impressive.”
The rise of Carlos Alcaraz 📈
April 2020: World No. 318
April 2021: World No. 120
April 2022: World No. 11 (from Monday)What's next for @alcarazcarlos03? pic.twitter.com/xC53jvqknB
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 3, 2022
The Touch of Alcaraz is Epic
Navratilova says that the World No.11 possesses a rare combination of power and nuance.
“Another thing that impresses me about this young man, besides his power, is his touch,” she said. “For me that’s the best combination of raw power and pure touch that I have seen, usually people have one or the other, but not both.”
Is it too early to say that Alcaraz is a lock to be a multiple Grand Slam winner, and thus a Hall of Famer? Apparently not.
“I think the only thing that would keep him from getting to the Hall of Fame would be his body, if somehow that doesn’t hold up,” Navratilova raved. “But he’s a specimen, he doesn’t need to do anything different physically, he’s perfect right now, just keep going the same way on the physical part, and mentally Juan Carlos Ferrero has done a great job with him, he really understands the game, and he’s only going to get better.”
Alcaraz is literally a coach’s dream, says Navratilova. With his diverse skill set he can execute on any plan and expose any weakness.
“The coach literally can give him a game plan that’s very specific and he doesn’t have to think ‘oh, can I handle it,’” she said. “He can handle all of it. He can handle whether it’s slice, drop shot, lob, go big, stand back, he can come in, do the SABR a la Roger Federer – he’s got it all. And he’s so quick coming from defense to offense – I mean, good luck to the tour.”
I Shouldn’t Have Been out there – Azarenka Explains Controversial Retirement in Miami
The 32-year-old says that personal problems have been weighing on her of late. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 27, 2022
Victoria Azarenka beat a hasty retreat in Miami, after falling behind 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2, 3-0 on Sunday.
The No.12 seed, a three-time champion in Miami, abruptly retired from the match, leaving her opponent, the umpire and fans wondering what exactly went wrong. The 32-year-old elected not to consult with on-court medical professionals and instead headed off court, leaving the umpire confused. “Vika, we need to wait,” she said.
Wow…. pic.twitter.com/SuVWW7cQZ1
— Marty (@Svitoflopina) March 27, 2022
Azarenka did not give a post-match press conference but did release the following statement through the tournament on Sunday evening, saying that she has been going through personal problems and should not have been playing on Sunday.
“I shouldn’t have gone on the court today. The last few weeks have been extremely stressful in my personal life,” Azarenka said. “Last match took so much out of me, but I wanted to play in front of a great audience as they helped me pull through my first match. I wanted to go out there and try but it was a mistake.
“I hope to take a break and be able to come back. I’m sorry to the fans for what happened as you were great to cheer for me. It was the only reason I decided to step on the court. I always look forward to the challenge and pressure of competition but today it was too much. I have to and will learn from this.
“I would like to congratulate my opponent and wish her best of luck in this tournament and beginning of her professional career.”
Tiafoe: American Anthem Inspires
Frances Tiafoe points to a simple reason for 12 American men cracking the Top 100.
The Sunshine Double is popping with a red, white and blue hue.
Twelve American men currently reside in the ATP Top 100.
Kyrgios: Tennis Culture Changing
American No. 1 Taylor Fritz snapped Rafael Nadal's 20-match win streak to become the first American man since Andre Agassi in 2001 to win Indian Wells.
Seeing the success of compatriots compelled a simple response in Frances Tiafoe: If they can do it, why can't I do it?
Tiafoe, who swept Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo to reach the Miami Open fourth round for the fourth consecutive appearance, said seeing Fritz, Dallas champion Reilly Opelka, Tommy Paul and Sebastia Korda positing positive results is major motivation.
"I think seeing guys that you grew up with doing well, you're like, Well, f–k, this guy can do it," Tiafoe told the media in Miami. "Sh-t, I grew up with him. I've beaten him how many times. Why not?"
Another encouraging element for Tiafoe is the absence of Big 3 champion roadblocks in Miami.
"We [Americans] genuinely want to see each other do well. It's good," Tiafoe said. "And then also finally there is a little opening in tennis. The big guys don't play every Masters, for example, this one. Big guys, you know what I mean, the big three.
"So there is a little space for guys. I mean, there was a while there where you go deep in an event, and you run into Rafa and them, I was, like, Yeah, I'm probably going home.
"But now guys can win it."
The 24-year-old Tiafoe has risen to No. 29 in the live rankings matching his career-high ranking.
Tiafoe will face either 22nd-seeded Gael Monfils or Francisco Cerundolo, the 23-year-old brother of 20-year-old Juan Manuel Cerundolo for a quarterfinal spot.
"I genuinely hope [Monfils] wins. We are such good friends," Tiafoe said. "I love seeing him play well and do well.
"He beat me last time, round of 16 in Toronto. I've got to owe him one back, for sure. It will be good. Crowd will get into it. It's definitely a popcorn match, for sure."
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
Day 4 Preview: Medvedev Takes On Two-Time Champion Murray In Miami
Daniil Medvedev begins his Miami Open presented by Itau campaign hunting a first title in south Florida. If that wasn’t motivation enough, the top seed also knows that a run to the semi-finals will secure his return to the top of the ATP Rankings after just three weeks away.
Another former World No. 1 looms large in Medvedev’s path, however, as his clash with two-time champion Andy Murray headlines Saturday’s action at Hard Rock Stadium.
Medvedev won the pair’s only previous meeting in Brisbane in 2019 but the World No. 2 has not been past the quarter-final stage in three appearances in Miami. In contrast, Murray holds a 29-9 match record at the ATP Masters 1000 event and lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2013, although this is the first time he has played at the tournament since it moved from its former home at Key Biscayne.
Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is also in action for the first time this week as he takes on American qualifier J.J. Wolf. The pair met for the first time in Acapulco in February and Tsitsipas will be hoping for a repeat result – the Greek completed a 6-1, 6-0 victory in just 47 minutes in Mexico. World No. 167 Wolf will be full of confidence, however, after beating Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in the first round in straight sets on his Miami debut.
View Schedule | View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw
Felix Auger-Aliassime will look to bounce back from a rare disappointment in 2022 when he takes on World No. 48 Miomir Kecmanovic. Auger-Aliassime suffered a second-round loss to Botic van de Zandschulp at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, but prior to that defeat had enjoyed a storming start to the year that included leading Team Canada to ATP Cup glory and clinching a first ATP Tour title at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
His opponent on Saturday had no such problems in Indian Wells. Kecmanovic upset Marin Cilic and Matteo Berrettini on his way to the quarter-finals in California, but the Serb has never been past the second round in Miami. He has beaten Auger-Aliassime at a Masters 1000 event before, however, running out a straight sets winner at the 2019 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the pair’s only previous tour-level meeting.
Hubert Hurkacz will step on court at Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since clinching his maiden Masters 1000 title at the same venue a year ago. The World No. 10 begins his defence with a first meeting with France’s Arthur Rinderknech, who beat Laslo Djere on Miami debut in the first round on Thursday. Hurkacz is seeking to become the first man to defend the Miami title since Novak Djokovic in 2016.
An even more recent first-time Masters 1000 winner also kicks off his Miami campaign on Saturday. Taylor Fritz ended Rafael Nadal’s unbeaten season to clinch the title in Indian Wells last week, the American fighting through an ankle problem to secure the biggest title of his career.
Fritz will hope he is back in good enough shape to improve his 2-0 ATP Head2Head series record with Mikhail Kukushkin. The World No. 159 set the meeting with Fritz by beating van de Zandschulp in the first round but has not been past the second round in 10 appearances in Miami.
[FOLLOW ACTION]
Another promising American, Sebastian Korda, faces Albert Ramos-Vinolas as the #NextGenATP star seeks to improve on his dream quarter-final run on debut in 2021. The man who beat Korda in the final of the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in November, Carlos Alcaraz, chases his first match win in Miami against Marton Fucsovics. Alcaraz beat the Hungarian in the pair’s only previous meeting in Cincinnati last year.
Also in action on Saturday are Denis Shapovalov and Jenson Brooksby, who both come into their second-round matches with 0-2 ATP Head2Head series records against their respective opponents. Shapovalov faces the big-serving South African Lloyd Harris, while Brooksby takes on World No. 20 Nikoloz Basilashvili.
ORDER OF PLAY – SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022
STADIUM start 12:00 noon
ATP – [1] D. Medvedev vs [WC] A. Murray (GBR)
WTA – [9] D. Collins (USA) vs [Q] V. Zvonareva
WTA – K. Muchova (CZE) vs N. Osaka (JPN)
Not Before 7:00 pm
ATP – [3] S. Tsitsipas (GRE) vs [Q] J. Wolf (USA)
Not Before 9:00 pm
WTA – K. Kanepi (EST) vs [8] O. Jabeur (TUN)
GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
WTA – [22] B. Bencic (SUI) vs H. Watson (GBR)
ATP – A. Rinderknech (FRA) vs [8] H. Hurkacz (POL)
ATP – M. Kecmanovic (SRB) vs [7] F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
ATP – [11] T. Fritz (USA) vs [Q] M. Kukushkin (KAZ)
Not Before 7:00 PM
WTA – A. Li (USA) vs A. Riske (USA)
BUTCH BUCHHOLZ start 11:00 am
WTA – K. Siniakova (CZE) vs [WC] D. Saville (AUS)
Not Before 12:30 PM
WTA – I. Begu (ROU) vs A. Sasnovich
ATP – [32] A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs S. Korda (USA)
ATP – [12] D. Shapovalov (CAN) vs L. Harris (RSA)
ATP – M. Fucsovics (HUN) vs [14] C. Alcaraz (ESP)
COURT 1 start 11:00 am
ATP – T. Paul (USA) vs [23] K. Khachanov
ATP – [Q] Y. Nishioka (JPN) vs [24] D. Evans (GBR)
WTA – [LL] L. Bronzetti (ITA) vs [Q] A. Kalinskaya
ATP – [18] N. Basilashvili (GEO) vs J. Brooksby (USA)
ATP – [21] M. Cilic (CRO) vs A. Popyrin (AUS)
COURT 7 start 11:00 am
ATP – K. Majchrzak (POL) vs [15] R. Bautista Agut (ESP)
WTA – A. Guarachi (CHI) / Y. Xu (CHN) vs N. Kichenok (UKR) / R. Olaru (ROU)
WTA – [ALT] E. Alexandrova / Z. Yang (CHN) vs [3] S. Stosur (AUS) / S. Zhang (CHN)
WTA – [6] G. Dabrowski (CAN) / G. Olmos (MEX) vs L. Marozava / S. Santamaria (USA)
WTA – [DA SR] L. Siegemund (GER) / V. Zvonareva vs N. Dzalamidze / U. Eikeri (NOR)
COURT 5 start 11:00 am
ATP – J. Thompson (AUS) vs [25] A. de Minaur (AUS)
ATP – P. Martinez (ESP) vs [27] C. Garin (CHI)
ATP – [29] A. Karatsev vs U. Humbert (FRA)
ATP – A. Behar (URU) / G. Escobar (ECU) vs P. Martinez (ESP) / L. Sonego (ITA)
ATP – L. Glasspool (GBR) / M. Venus (NZL) vs [2] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR)
COURT 2 start 11:00 am
ATP – R. Klaasen (RSA) / B. McLachlan (JPN) vs [3] M. Granollers (ESP) / H. Zeballos (ARG)
ATP – [4] J. Peers (AUS) / F. Polasek (SVK) vs S. Bolelli (ITA) / F. Fognini (ITA)
ATP – T. Brkic (BIH) / N. Cacic (SRB) vs R. Opelka (USA) / J. Sinner (ITA)
ATP – [8] N. Mahut (FRA) / F. Martin (FRA) vs [PR] A. Krajicek (USA) / E. Roger-Vasselin (FRA)
ATP – S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL) vs I. Dodig (CRO) / M. Melo (BRA)
COURT 3 start 11:00 am
WTA – [OSE] A. Cornet (FRA) / J. Teichmann (SUI) vs [5] D. Jurak Schreiber (CRO) / A. Klepac (SLO)
WTA – [1] V. Kudermetova / E. Mertens (BEL) vs [OSE] J. Paolini (ITA) / T. Zidansek (SLO)
WTA – [OSE] P. Badosa (ESP) / A. Sabalenka vs A. Danilina (KAZ) / B. Haddad Maia (BRA)
WTA – A. Muhammad (USA) / E. Shibahara (JPN) vs [8] M. Bouzkova (CZE) / L. Hradecka (CZE)
WTA – [WC] B. Bencic (SUI) / A. Konjuh (CRO) vs [OSE] A. Kalinina (UKR) / E. Rybakina (KAZ)
Swiatek Sets Sights on No.1 After Indian Wells Title
The Pole is always striving for better. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 21, 2022
Iga Swiatek becomes the World No.2 on Monday, thanks to an 11-match winning streak that took her through titles at Doha and Indian Wells. 20-year-old Swiatek is not satisfied with that accomplishment, however.
The Pole, who defeated Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 6-1, in Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open final, says she would like to sit atop the WTA’s rankings one day.
“I mean, it's pretty surreal for now. I have to look at it and I have to check the rankings by myself and, I don't know, just see it,” Swiatek said if becoming the second Polish player to ever rise to No.2, along with Agnieszka Radwanska.
😱Speechless…
😱Brak słów…@BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/9UkompkMMm— Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek (@iga_swiatek) March 20, 2022
Swiatek, who says she tried hard not to think about her ranking during the week at Indian Wells – she was solely focused on her tennis – is 2204 points behind current No.1 Ash Barty in the rankings. Sounds like a perfect target for the rising talent.
“Right now it's too surreal to describe it, honestly. But for sure I want to go higher because I feel like getting the No. 1 is closer and closer,” she said. “For sure, Ash [Barty] is one of the players that I want to look at. I don't know. It's going to be a pretty cool experience to actually compete against her because I think she's, like, one of the most complete players on tour. She has shown her mental strength. I think it's going to be really exciting.”
Jim Courier Tips Carlos Alcaraz as Future Teenage Slam Winner
The teenage wunderkind will have four chances to match Nadal's feat of winning a Grand Slam before turning 20. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 20, 2022
Four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 Jim Courier knows a thing or two about spotting young talent on the tennis court.
And he’s extremely high on rising Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
During the broadcast of Nadal’s 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over the 18-year-old on Sunday, Courier said he thinks the teenage wunderkind has a good chance of becoming the first teenage male to win a Grand Slam singles title since Rafael Nadal won Roland Garros at the age of 19 in 2005.
“I think Alcaraz has the potential to do it in the next four majors,” said Jim Courier, four-time Grand Slam champion while calling the match for Tennis Channel. “All signs point towards opportunity for him – it wouldn’t surprise me.”
Alcaraz, who will rise to No.16 in the ATP rankings next week, will head to the Miami Open next week. He says he’ll depart Indian Wells happy, after becoming the youngest semifinalist at Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 1988.
“I thought that I'm able to beat Rafa in some moments,” Alcaraz said. “But as I said yesterday, Rafa has a thousand lives. If he's down, he's able to play at a great level in the tough moments. Yeah, I thought I could win in the third. “And the net, he told me great tournament, good luck for the rest of my career.”
Verstappen Fan Griekspoor Full Throttle After Historic 2021 Season
As Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen begins his pursuit of a second consecutive Formula 1 World Championship this weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Dutch tennis player Tallon Griekspoor will be firmly in his corner.
The 25-year-old, who will be competing in next week’s Miami Open presented by Itau, greatly enjoys Formula 1. In December, when Verstappen clinched the world championship in Abu Dhabi, Griekspoor was a keen viewer.
“That was crazy,” Griekspoor recently told ATPTour.com. “That was probably one of the biggest achievements in sports in a really long time. Max is doing unbelievably for Dutch sport. We are a pretty small country. I think all the people in Holland have been into Formula 1 for quite a [while], it’s a popular sport, but then since Max is doing so well, since he got into it, it’s been crazy. It’s been all about Formula One.
“Him clinching the championship in that last round was absolutely crazy. I was not in Holland back then, I was in some hotel room jumping through my hotel room so excited. But yeah, that was really big, and he did an amazing job.”
[NEWSLETTER]
At the time, Griekspoor was in the Czech Republic, where he admitted to having plenty of nervous moments during the race.
“I remember driving from the airport, bad connection, I was watching on the phone, trying on another phone to get a better connection, it was losing connection all the time. But then it was looking so bad because Lewis was just pretty much faster,” Griekspoor said. “Then the safety car… I was back in my hotel alone in my room. It was crazy, I was screaming, guys from my team [in] the room next to me were like ‘What are you doing? Are you okay?’”
Griekspoor grew up with motorsport in his family, although he did not participate in it too much, and even then just for fun. He has seen Verstappen a couple of times, but never formally met the racing champion.
The Dutchman is blossoming into a star himself, though. Last year, Griekspoor set the record for most ATP Challenger Tour titles in a season with eight. The 25-year-old did not fully grasp the magnitude of his achievements until the offseason.
“You just keep on going from one tournament to the other. Then at the beginning of the year you start in the ATPs and that’s probably the point where you realise, ‘I did well’,” Griekspoor said. “Now I’m playing ATPs every week, but you just keep on going.”
Griekspoor began 2021 at No. 153. Little more than 14 months later, he is on the verge of moving into the Top 50.
“Sometimes it’s good to realise how well you did, and also be proud of what you did. It’s not normal, not everybody does it, going that way so fast,” Griekspoor said. “There are so many good young guys, we all go so fast. It seems normal, but it’s not normal, that’s the thing. I’m enjoying it a lot.”
Like Verstappen, Griekspoor does not fear the big stage. As a 21-year-old, he stunned Stan Wawrinka in Rotterdam. He has also defeated Top 15 players Karen Khachanov and Aslan Karatsev at his home event.
“I had some good wins there, obviously beat some big names there,” said Griekspoor. “This year, Karatsev, crazy match. Coming back, like, I was nowhere, he was all over me. There was not much crowd this year [because of the Covid-19 pandemic], only like 1,250 people I think, but the years before I played in a pretty much sold-out arena, which was like 10,000 people. I love to play at home, I love to play in front of the crowds, I love to play on the big court. That for me is why I play tennis.”
Not only did Griekspoor play a lot of matches last year thanks to his success on the ATP Challenger Tour, but he also gained invaluable experience against some of the best players in the sport. The Dutchman lost against Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon and Novak Djokovic at the US Open.
“I enjoy playing those guys, I’m ready to fight with them. I’m willing to battle with them and, even though I’m losing, I’m still enjoying the battle,” Griekspoor said. “I’m trying to see where I can improve. Those guys are good, really good.”
A year ago, Griekspoor aimed to crack the Top 100 in the ATP Rankings. He eclipsed that mark, finishing 2021 at year-end No. 65. He does not want to put a number on his goals for 2022.
“I’m just looking to play week in, week out with those guys,” Griekspoor said. “Maybe I’m looking for my first ATP title somewhere. Why not? For me, the level in Challengers is also tough. It’s not like it’s a lot different, so maybe that’s a goal, but it’s not like if I don’t make it this year I’m done. I think I have many years to come.
“I’m feeling confident, I’m playing well, battling with the best guys in the world, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Nadal on Osaka’s Heckling Difficulties: Even though it’s Terrible, We Need to Be Prepared for It
The Spaniard says that hecklers are an unfortunate part or the sports' reality.
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 14 2022
The great Rafael Nadal has weighed in on Naomi Osaka’s run-in with a heckler on Saturday night at the BNP Paribas Open.
Though the Spaniard feels deeply for Osaka, he thinks she has to be strong in the face of an element that, however unfortunate, is part of the sport.
“I feel terrible about what happened, that never should happen,” he said, before adding: “The real thing, in the real world, that happens, you know? I feel very sorry for her. We are having, in my opinion, a great life. We are very lucky people that we're able to enjoy amazing experiences because of our life, because we are tennis players. We make money.”
Nadal echoed the sentiments of Andy Murray, who said that players need to be equipped with such adversities, even if they shouldn’t be happening at all.
Naomi Osaka asked for the microphone after her loss against Veronika Kudermetova. Here's what she said. pic.twitter.com/0Pj9WnNe4t
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 13, 2022
It’s just the silly world we live in.
“Even if is terrible to hear from that, we need to be prepared for that, no?” Nadal said. “We need to resist these kind of issues that can happen when you are exposed to the people, no? “At the same time, as we like a lot when the people are supporting, when something like this happens, we need to accept and move forward, no?
“I understand that probably Naomi, he suffered a lot with his probably kind of issues that she has, mental issues. The only thing that I wish her is recover well from that and wish her all the very best. But the life, nothing is perfect in this life, no? We need to be ready for adversities.”
Medvedev: Toughest Task in Tennis
Losing world No. 1 ranking inspired reflective response in US Open champion.
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 14, 2022
Daniil Medvedev lost the world No. 1 ranking and gained first-hand experience in the toughest task in tennis.
The top-seeded Medvedev lost to Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Indian Wells today, which means Novak Djokovic surpasses him and will regain the top spot on Monday.
More: Magic Monfils Topples Medvedev from Top Spot
Losing world No. 1 ranking inspired reflective response in US Open champion.
Medvedev said it reinforced the toughest task in tennis: winning consistently when you're expected to win.
"I always say, when I play my best tennis, my good tennis, it's really tough to beat me," Medvedev told the media in Indian Wells. "But that's the toughest part of tennis is to reproduce it time after time.
"That's where the big three are just unreal because no matter which conditions, no matter which surface, they are always winning tournaments a lot of the time or winning some crazy matches. Yeah, I'm going to need to try to do better."
Monfils The good news for Medvedev is he's felt more comfortable in Miami where he reached the quarterfinals last spring.
Medvedev said he's more motivated to make another run at the top at the Miami Open.
"Definitely not pressure. I thought it could give me more motivation, well, I had motivation," Medvedev said. "It's just that, yeah, as I say, I didn't find my best tennis.
"Well, now I know I'm going to lose it, so I have Miami to try to get it back. Usually feeling a little bit better in Miami in terms of tennis, so we'll try to play good there."
Photo credit: Getty
