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Watch: Garcia Resumes Training
Caroline Garcia on resuming training at Rafa Nadal Academy following longest break of her career.
Caroline Garcia celebrates her return to tennis getting her feet dirty.
"Excited" is how the 26-year-old Frenchwoman described her state of mind resuming training on the red clay of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca after two months of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More: Thiago Seyboth Wild Interview
"I was expecting it to be much longer," Garcia said. "And I got very lucky because I was able to train at home with a lot of material.
"So I was pretty lucky and the Academy helped me out a lot. So I'm healthy and back on court and I'm excited to start. We are starting slowly, but it's good."
The two-month sabbatical marks the longest time without tennis of Garcia's career. She says playing is a pleasure after a lengthy break.
"I'm very excited to be back on court," Garcia said. "It's the first time for me I don't play tennis for two months. I took already in the past a one-month layoff, but never two. So I was a little bit worried to see how my body was going to react, but I'm happy.
"For now I play only one hour a day because we have time and we want to keep healthy. And it's a little bit tough because we don't know when we are going to start tournaments again. But we just want to play and enjoy."
Photo credit: @PorscheTennis
Djokovic Playing Til 40? The Serb Refuses to Limit Himself
World No.1 Novak Djokovic says there are no limits to how long he can play, and he reiterates that owning the all-time Grand Slam title record is one of his "clear goals."
Novak Djokovic still playing at 40? Don’t rule it out. In an interview with American journalist Graham Bensinger, the Serb said that he does not believe in limits of any kind.
“I don’t believe in limits. I think limits are only illusions of your ego or your mind. I definitely want to go for a long time, but I know that at the same I’ll have to maintain the right principles and the routine to maintain the health and wellbeing of my body, mind and soul.”
“I’m aware that the tempo, and the amount of tournaments that I am playing is going to decrease very soon, so I will not be able to play on this intensity with this many tournaments and this much travelling for a long time.” “I might be playing at 40, but then there will probably be a focus on the biggest tournaments and the tournaments that mean the most to me.
Djokovic says reiterated the notion that he is hoping to finish with the all-time Grand Slam titles record, as well as most weeks at No.1.
“I think that I still have things to do in the sport,” he said. “I believe I can win most Slams and break the record for longest No time format has been specified No.1. Those are definitely my clear goals but at the same time they are not the only thing that motivates me, on a daily basis. It’s not sustainable. It doesn’t fuel me every day. What fuels me every day is something that is more related to my growth.”
Lucky Letcord Podcast: Interview with Rising Force Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil
20-year-old Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild joins Chris Oddo to talk about the most important elements of his game and his biggest heroes.
In this week's episode of the Lucky Letcord Podcast we are joined by Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild.
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The current World No.114 recently became the youngest player from his country to claim an ATP title as well as the youngest player to win a Golden Swing title in South America since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Near the end of the interview Thiago talks about the two players he would most enjoy facing, and talks about why it would be easier for him to play against his idol Nadal, compared to practicing with him.
We talk to the 2018 US Open Boys Singles champion about his transition from juniors to challengers to pros, and ask him what are the key ingredients to making it seem so seamless.
We also talk about Thiago's relationship with his father, who has been guiding him since he picked up his first racquet. The 20-year-old, who is has recovered from Coronavirus and is now practicing in Brazil, runs down the key elements of his game that he plans to improve and talks about the importance of having self-belief and a fearless quality.
We also discuss how he developed that blistering forehand, talk a bit about two of his biggest idols, and more!
Trip To Bouchard Slam Match Raises $85,000
Genie Bouchard raises $85,000 for unique All In Challenge.
Former Wimbledon finalist Genie Bouchard remains a major fan draw.
The former world No. 5 flexed her philanthropic muscles raising $85,000 for charity with her All In Challenge.
Watch: Kyrgios Tells Murray He's Better Than Djokovic
The winning bidder and a guest will attend a Grand Slam tournament of their choice—airfare covered by the Canadian—sit in the player's box next to Bouchard's team and coach while you cheer her on to victory.
In addition, the two guests will enjoy a meal with Bouchard, who will present the winner with a signed racquet and sneakers.
One hundred percent of of the money raised through Bouchard's auction will go directly to Feeding America, Meals On Wheels, World Central Kitchen and No Kid Hungry.
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
Watch: Nick Kyrgios Tells Andy Murray He’s Better than the Big Three on Insta Live Session
The fiery Aussie kept the viewers wildly entertained as he sipped a red beverage and chatted up the three-time major champ. Tennis fans have long argued for Andy Murray‘s inclusion in the Big Four (and for the use of the term Big Four instead of Big Three), while others are of a different mind. They celebrate the Big Three (a trio of men that have each won at least 17 major singles titles) and argue that Murray, while incredible in his own right, doesn’t deserve mention among the deities that reside at the top of the men’s tennis food chain.
Then there is Nick Kyrgios, who is quick to laud the Scot as the best of all of them.
“Muzz is, he’s better than the big three,” Kyrgios said during an Instagram Live session with Murray. “And Twitter is gonna be like, ‘oh, that Nick Kyrgios, Kyrgios says that Murray is better than the Big three.’ I believe it. I actually believe it. … Well you’re definitely better than Djokovic, that’s for sure.”
Nick Kyrgios went fishing today pic.twitter.com/FvZB5LUE2G
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 16, 2020
Kyrgios clearly had a blast with his old buddy Andy, and Murray played along brilliantly (even though he was at a loss for words at times), sometimes wearing a stoned-face look of a confused parent and other times letting his guard down and simply cracking up. Kyrgios, sipping red wine as he reeled off jokes and indulged in his favorite pastime of taking cracks at Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, was at his self-deprecating best when he described the time that Murray only allowed him four games in a match in Montreal (their first meeting, in 2014, if you are scoring at home).
“I literally felt like I didn’t know what tennis was that day,” Kyrgios said of the 6-2 6-2 thumping he took, which wasn't long after he had engineered a massive upset of Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in the round of 16. “I wanted to walk off after like four games.”
Kyrgios went on to throw a not-so-subtle jab at the great Nadal. “I played him pretty convincingly at Wimby,” Kyrgios says, after taking a sip of wine. “So I thought I’d have a chance.
Watch the full interaction below, in which Kyrgios contines to make the point that Murray is better than Djokovic, below:
Nick Kyrgios – who has had a few red wines – has reiterated his belief that Andy Murray is a better tennis player than Novak Djokovic and says on the first time they played each other: ‘you returned my serve, which Rafa couldn’t… I knew I was in trouble.’ pic.twitter.com/Fbe2D9cIRh
— George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) May 16, 2020
Ivanisevic: Tennis Needs Nick Kyrgios and Nick Kyrgios Needs Tennis
The Croatian superstar says that it would be a shame if the Aussie never wins a major.
Class of 2020 International Hall of Fame inductee Goran Ivanisevic spoke with Todd Woodbridge on the Australian Open’s YouTube page to talk about his quarantine and his Hall of Fame career. Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion and World No.2, also gave his thoughts on Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios.
And, as you might expect, those thoughts were rather interesting.
“He has some issues deep down,” Ivanisevic told Woodbridge, adding that he can relate to some of the things the Australian goes through emotionally on the court. “He is the worst for himself and I know how he feels. He is fighting with 100 people, sometimes he wants to prove something that is impossible to prove.”
Ivanisevic, like so many, is blown away with Kyrgios’ natural talent.
“But there is no sense to talk about his talent because he is one of the biggest talents,” he said. “He is the guy who can win grand slams. He can beat anybody any day. He is, for me, the best server in the game. He can do whatever with the ball.”
Ivanisevic says it will be a shame for tennis if Kyrgios doesn’t find a way to win a major title.
“He has his demons and he is getting better and better and he will honestly regret one day if he’s kind of not be able to change. Because the guy’s so talented, to not to win a grand slam would be a shame for tennis. Hopefully he can change and do it because I think he’s a great guy—he’s funny he has some good comments, some time a little crazy—deep down he’s a good guy and tennis needs Nick Kyrgios and Nick Kyrgios needs tennis.”
Reilly Opelka Takes Shots at ATP in Candid Interview with Racquet Mag
The American has strong views on several topics and he does not hesitate to share them. In an interview with Giri Nathan of Racquet Magazine, American Reilly Opelka opened fire with some critical remarks on the ATP Tour.
The 22-year-old World No.39 criticized the ATP, saying that they could not have handled the Coronavirus pandemic “much worse,” and expressing his belief that players have been “left in the dark” by the tour.
talked to Reilly Opelka about milkshake, tennis gambling, learning from Djokovic: https://t.co/j5UnVZu1S6
— giri (@girinathan) May 15, 2020
“I think they couldn’t have handled it much worse,” Opelka told Nathan. “We’re completely left in the dark, we don’t know what’s going on. And the execs haven’t taken pay cuts.”
Opelka also had harsh words for tennis’ relief fund aspirations, which have asked for contributions from the tour’s top 100 players to fund relief efforts for those that are lower-ranked.
It’s a policy that has already drawn criticism from Dominic Thiem, who strongly believes that he should not be required to donate to a specific cause. Guido Pella and Matteo Berrettini have also expressed similar sentiments; Opelka agrees with them.
“Players should never pay other players,” he said, adding: “I don’t think, as an ATP exec, you should be supportive of asking your players to pay for other players when you haven’t even taken a pay cut yourself, when us players have taken a 100% pay cut. That’s completely wrong. It’s actually shocking that it hasn’t been addressed more. The PGA execs took pay cuts right away, the WTA, the ITF, the USTA.”
2 months later and no pay cuts from ATP execs.. and not one ATP player has been paid since pre Indian Wells. 🤦♂️
— Reilly Opelka (@ReillyOpelka) May 11, 2020
The exact distrubtion of the ATP's player fund has yet to be announced, so it remains a topic of hot debate. And it isn't the only issue that Opelka has strong opinions on.
Opelka also expressed his frustration with the copious fines he has received for drinking Red Bull on court and wearing sponsorship logos that are too large. He also feels that the tour should be more willing to embrace gambling sponsors and let the players benefit from such deals.
On the tennis side the American said he is currently working hard to improve his return by looking at the techniques of World No.1 and returning whiz Novak Djokovic.
“When returning, he has such good posture, he’s on balance, and that first step is critical,” Opelka told Nathan. “And he does it better than anyone.”
Looking for Control? Try These Three Tennis Racquets
Offerings from Yonex, Wilson and Tecnifbre are here to tighten your game up. By — Sam Jones, May 14, 2020
Attention intermediate to advanced players: If you like to provide your own power on court, you will need an ultra-precise and stable racquet to help you maintain consistency and control. That means you might want a little extra weight on your frame, and utilize a denser (think 18×20 or at least 16 x 19) string pattern for more directional control. Here are three tip-top control racquets on the market right now.
To read more about control tennis racquets, visit Tennisexpress.com
Wilson Blade 98 v7 18×20
The Blade has become a surgical scalpel for an endless list of top level professionals and collegiate All-Americans. The flat 20.6 millimeter beam, 98 square inch head, and 18×20 string pattern help create one of the most consistent control racquets around, with plenty of plow through.
Wilson made the Blade more stable and comfortable with the advent of FeelFlex technology. The 18×20 string pattern offers increased control over the 16×19 version, but is a little less spin friendly. Another nice feature of the Blade is the relatively low 305 gram unstrung weight, which allows for players to customize their frames with weighted tape.
Yonex VCORE Pro 97HD
Yonex took a demanding frame, the VCORE Pro 97 and threw an 18×20 string pattern on it. This frame is for players with finely tuned mechanics who can generate near world-class racquet head speed. The 320g unstrung weight offers tons of stability against bigger hitters, but the old school balance of 7pts head light keeps it practical to whip around the court. Yonex added VDM (Vibration Dampening Mesh) inside the handle of the HD to filter out vibrations without losing a feel for the ball. Flatter ball strikers will love the consistency of the sweet spot and serve and volley players will appreciate the predictable flex on finesse shots. If you are a frequent string breaker that hits a lot of topspin, you will love the dense pattern because it will increase the string life.
Tecnifibre TF40 305
The TF40 is a softer feeling model than the popular T-Fight models. The ball seems to stay on the string bed longer due to the XTC material embedded throughout the frame, and the string pattern is further enhanced by a special grommet system that reduces shock at contact. The 18×20 string pattern and slim 21.7 millimeter beam offer sublime control in an extremely comfortable frame. The TF40 is surprisingly powerful for a control oriented model, and at only 305 grams unstrung it is an easy racquet to further customize for elite tournament play
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Navratilova: Sympathy for Serena and Federer
Hall of Famer says Wimbledon cancellation stalls Serena's hunt for history.
Wimbledon's cancellation could be a road block in Serena Williams' hunt for history.
Martina Navratilova says she sympathizes with the 23-time Grand Slam champion, who is aiming to equal Margaret Court's all-time major record winning her 24th Grand Slam crown.
More: Social Flex As Stars Return to Court
Time is passing and missing Wimbledon, which cancelled for the first time in 75 years due to the coronavirus pandemic, is a major missed opportunity for the 38-year-old Williams and 38-year-old Roger Federer, Navratilova says.
The former world No. 1 believes Wimbledon's grass is the ideal launching pad for both Williams and Federer to win another major.
“Only war has stopped major tournaments happening, now we have this pandemic and for players like Roger Federer and, of course, Serena Williams, it’s time lost," Navratilova told Laureus.com in an interview. "Particularly Serena, Wimbledon being her best chance to break Margaret Court’s record.
"She’s stuck on 23 and tries to get to 24, maybe 25. It’s an opportunity lost, when you’re not getting any younger. If I was sitting in that position I’d be going nuts that I can’t play."
Navratilova says historic chases by iconic champions Serena, Federer and Nadal are impacted most by sport's shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic and will need to adapt to achieve their aims.
“Everybody’s in the same boat, but for the old players like Roger and even Rafa Nadal and, particularly, Serena Williams, it’s more difficult, no doubt about it," Navratilova told Laureus.com. "I sympathize with them, because this is an enemy you can’t rehab, you can’t fight against, you just hope it will go away and we can play next year.
“Novak Djokovic is right behind Roger and Rafa chasing the major titles, but I think the one that’s most affected would be Roger Federer because he’s the eldest by quite a bit. But you have to deal with it. As Billie Jean King said ‘champions adjust’.”
Sevastova, Mirza, Contreras Gomez and Kontaveit Claim 2020 Fed Cup Heart Awards
Latvia's Sevastova became the first player to ever defeat Serena Williams in a Fed Cup singles rubber in March.Anastasia Sevastova, Sania Mirza, Fernanda Contreras Gomez and Anett Kontaveit have earned Fed Cup Heart Awards for 2020. Over 17,000 fans took part in the voting, which began on April 30.
Sevastova takes the honors for the “Qualifiers” group, and earns a $3,000 cheque for her efforts, which she will donate to Latvian food bank charity Paedusai Latvijai.
Sevastova, who became the first player to defeat Serena Williams in a Fed Cup singles rubber in February, is tied for the all-time lead in Fed Cup singles wins in Latvia’s history. She edged out Carla Suarez Navarro, Leylah Annie Fernandez and Aliaksandra Sasnovich for the award.
🇱🇻 Anastasija Sevastova
🇪🇪 Anett Kontaveit
🇮🇳 Sania Mirza
🇲🇽 Fernanda Contreras GomezCongratulations to YOUR #FedCup Heart Award winners…
— Fed Cup (@FedCup) May 11, 2020
Mirza, who made her first Fed Cup appearance since 2016 in Dubai in March, takes the award for the “Asia/Oceana 1” Group. She went 3-0 in doubles and helped India book a spot in the Fed Cup Playoffs with her 18-month-old son Izhaan watching on.
22-year-old Fernanda Contreras Gomez guided Mexico to the playoffs as well. She edged Veronica Cepede Royg in the voting for Americas 1 Group.
Anett Kontaveit improved her current Fed Cup singles winning streak to seven, which included a three-set win over Elina Svitolina in Tallinn, Estonia.
Kontaveit's donation will go to Varjupaikade MTU, a charity running and working with animal shelters across Estonia.
