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  • Novak Djokovic facing threat of a new rankings slide and it may be terminal

    Novak Djokovic started the European clay court season eyeing a move back into the top four of the ATP Rankings, but he is now facing a huge slide backwards after a couple of thumping defeats.

    Djokovic raised hopes that he could still compete with the young guns on the ATP Tour as he made it through to the Miami Open final in March.

    Even after a defeat against Jakub Mensik in the Miami finale, Djokovic should have been inspired by his encouraging performance, but he has failed to back that up in his opening two clay court events.

    A defeat against Alejandro Tabilo at the Monte Carlo Masters came amid what Djokovic described as a ‘horrible’ performance.

    He backed that up with another defeat against Matteo Arnaldi in his opening match in Madrid before confirming he was pulling out of this week’s Rome Masters.

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    “Kind of new reality for me, I have to say,” said Djokovic after the defeat against Arnaldi.

    “You know, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament. It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face this kind of sensation on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments.

    “I guess, the circle of life and the career, eventually, it was going to happen. Now I’m trying to, you know, use this as a driving force for the future. Obviously, Grand Slams, I was saying many times, are the most important tournaments for me.

    “Which doesn’t mean that I don’t want to win here, of course I wanted to, but Grand Slams are where I really want to play the best tennis. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do that in Roland Garros, but I’ll do my best.

    Djokovic has lost all four of the sets he has played on clay and his next match may be his opener at the French Open in Roland Garros.

    Getting into the top four of the ATP Rankings would have ensured he avoided a match against world No 1 Jannik Sinner, No 2 Alexander Zverev and No 3 Carlos Alcaraz before the semi-finals in Paris.

    Yet he now looks set to be out of those prized four positions and he could be in line for a slide in the rankings over the next couple of weeks.

    Djokovic failed to protect his current position at No 5 in the ATP Rankings after his defeats in Monte Carlo and Madrid and Jack Draper overtook him in that position after his run to the Madrid Open final.

    Now Djokovic is facing more threats in the rankings after he opted to pull out of the Italian Open this week.

    Casper Ruud confirmed his status as one of the most dangerous players on clay courts when he won the Madrid Open and he is now closing in on Djokovic’s No 6 ranking as he returns to action in Rome.

    World No 8 Alex de Minaur also has a chance to over take Djokovic in the rankings if he has a good run in Rome and so does Lorenzo Musetti.

    While rankings are no longer a big concern for Djokovic, he will not want to drop out of the top eight of the ATP list, as that would set up the prospect of a match against one of the highest-ranked players in the men’s game as early as the round of 16 at Roland Garros.

    Djokovic played Alcaraz at the quarter-final stage in the Australian Open and beat him impressively, but he would be keen to avoid an early meeting with the Spaniard or Sinner in Paris as he will be looking to get back into form after a shaky start to his clay court campaign.

    READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s doubters given a firm reminder by world No 1 ahead of French Open

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  • Iga Swiatek extends Italian Open record as she serves up incredible stats with 52-minute win

    Iga Swiatek destroyed Elisabetta Cocciaretto at the 2025 Italian Open to begin her title defence at the Foro Italico in style.

    The five-time Grand Slam champion crushed Cocciaretto, who is ranked 82nd, 6-1, 6-0 in just 52 minutes on Centre Court in Rome.

    Swiatek won 51 of the 71 total points played, including 28 of 35 on her own serve, and she did not face a single break point.

    The world No 2 has now won 18 consecutive completed matches at the Italian Open in straight sets — a record at the tournament.

    The Pole has won triumphed in Rome in three of the last four years, with her only defeat a retirement at 2-2 in the third set against Elena Rybakina in the 2023 quarter-finals.

    Swiatek’s victory was her 27th win in a row in opening matches at WTA 1000 tournaments — a run that started at the 2022 Qatar Open.

    Only Martina Hingis (40), Monica Seles (29) and Lindsay Davenport (28) have amassed more opening match 1000 level wins in succession.

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    Swiatek’s second set whitewash against the 24-year-old Italian was the 33rd set she has won 6-0 at WTA 1000 tournaments.

    This has seen her tie former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka for the most ‘bagel’ sets won at WTA 1000 events since the format was introduced in 2009.

    Nine of Swiatek’s 6-0 sets at this level of tournament have come in Rome, which moves her to joint-fifth for the most bagels in the Italian capital with Nathalie Tauziat.

    Most 6-0 sets won at the Italian Open (WTA)

    =1. Chris Evert – 16

    =1. Gabriela Sabatini – 16

    =3. Monica Seles – 11

    =3. Serena Williams – 11

    =5. Nathalie Tauziat – 9

    =5. Iga Swiatek – 9

    Swiatek’s staggering record after winning the first set

    Perhaps the most telling stats to highlight after Swiatek’s victory are those that prove she is virtually unstoppable as a front runner.

    After winning the opening set in matches at WTA 1000 tournaments, Swiatek is now a stratospheric 98-0.

    The 23-year-old holds an equally mind-blowing 82-1 record after going up a set in clay-court matches, with the only defeat the aforementioned retirement against Rybakina in Rome two years ago.

    Swiatek will face either Danielle Collins or Elena Gabriela Ruse in the third round in Rome as she continues her quest for a first title in almost a year.

    The former world No 1 has not reached a final since collecting her fourth French Open crown in June 2024.

    READ NEXT: Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff vs Jessica Pegula: Battle for world No 2 at Italian Open

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  • Jannik Sinner’s attempts to downplay expectations dismissed by two Grand Slam champions

    Jannik Sinner has attempted to play down the hype surrounding his return to tennis, but Andy Roddick and Jim Courier have dismissed his pre-tournament comments and backed the world No 1 to return to form with a bang.

    Sinner is returning to action after a three-month suspension after he failed drug tests in March 2024 and the Italian has claimed he cannot be expected to return to top form after a long break from the game.

    “I have to say I have low expectations for this tournament. I’ve been sitting out for so long and I don’t have any feedback on how I’m going to play,” said Sinner, in a press conference that started when he was bizarrely applauded into the room by euphoric members of the Italian media.

    “The goal will be Paris. I’m not here to beat anyone but to try to get through the first round and then we’ll see what can happen. It’s difficult for me to start a new tournament and get back to the rhythm.

    “But we’re very calm, we’re physically and mentally well, we’re rested, which will pay off at the end of the season too.”

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    Sinner may be keen to suggest he is not the favourite to win the title in front of his adoring fans in Rome, but Roddick has told the Tennis Channel that he has to be viewed as the man to beat in every tournament he enters.

    “He is doing a great job of being a rational thinker, but he is No 1 in the world,” said Roddick.

    “I understand there are going to be lower expectations, but he is still the No 1 player in the world and he has been the dominant force in tennis for the last 18 months.

    “There is only so low that the expectations can go around Jannik Sinner.

    “There are more questions surrounding him and there are going to be moments in this tournament when it’s not the perfect version of Jannik Sinner.

    “I don’t know if he’s going to win the tournament, but I like him to win two or three matches.”

    Courier is also convinced Sinner will bounce back in style, as he suggested the early round in Rome may be his biggest concern.

    

    “The guy hasn’t lost a match since October and the only loss he’s taken recently was from WADA,” said Courier, referring to his drug test case with the World Anti-Doping Agency.

    “I have no reason to think that his level is not going to be where it needs to be, but he will be vulnerable in the first couple of matches.

    “He is managing expectations. You should not expect pure honesty from players in press conferences. They are protecting themselves.

    “If he comes out and says I expect to win this tournament, people are going to start taking shots at him saying he is too arrogant.

    “He has the worst draw he could possibly get coming back because he is going to be tested from the third round on.”

    Courier went on to suggest a potential match against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo could test Sinner if they meet in the fourth round in Rome.

    “The danger match is Cerundolo,” he added. “He is in form, he’s got confidence, he’s got a nasty game on all surfaces bar grass. That’s the game where you really need to be sharp.”

    READ NEXT: Dan Evans lambasts Jannik Sinner’s Rome return: ‘Pretty convenient’

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  • Emma Raducanu gives verdict on tough Italian Open win as she reacts to Mark Petchey absence

    Emma Raducanu proclaimed that her battling three-set opening round victory at the 2025 Italian Open gives her “a lot of confidence.”

    The world No 49 defeated 78th-ranked qualifier Maya Joint 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3 in the opening round at the Foro Italico.

    Raducanu recovered from 4-2 down to win the opening set, but she lost the second set on a tiebreak after serving for the match at 5-4.

    In the deciding set, Raducanu responded strongly as she surged into a 5-0 lead, and she staved off another fightback from Joint to prevail after two hours and 44 minutes.

    The 22-year-old was playing just her second match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome after a first round defeat in 2022. She missed the event through injury in 2023 and chose to skip it last year.

    Raducanu was impressed by Joint and predicted that her 19-year-old Australian opponent will climb the rankings quickly.

    “It was a really hard battle. Maya played an amazing match and such a high level. And I think I did as well,” the Brit said.

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    “I think that the overall level of the match was really high and she’s flown up the rankings. I mean, playing like this, I think she’s gonna go up really fast, really quick. I’m really proud of myself as well, because that was a great performance, I think, on all fronts.

    “It gives me a lot of confidence because it’s not just clay – it’s at night, it’s heavy. I think with the new balls, it was still flying, but the balls got old pretty quickly and it was very cold.

    “So I’m really proud. I take a lot of confidence from this win, not just because I won, but I think the level in general was really high, and I think I was committing to my shots, which is what I said I wanted to do, and I was really going for it.”

    Jane O’Donoghue was the lone coaching presence in Raducanu’s box as Mark Petchey was preoccupied with his commentary role for American broadcaster Tennis Channel.

    “Petch, I think was on comms of my match, so I hope he was nice to me (laughs),” the 2021 US Open champion said.

    Raducanu will face 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round in Rome. She holds a 1-1 record against the 30-year-old Russian.

    READ NEXT: Alex Eala +6 in WTA Rankings after suffering heavy loss on Italian Open debut

    The post Emma Raducanu gives verdict on tough Italian Open win as she reacts to Mark Petchey absence appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Why the new Queen’s Club event is such a big deal – and why you need to be there

    Why the new Queen’s Club event is such a big deal – and why you need to be there

    A sparkling new WTA Tour 500 event is coming to The Queen’s Club from June 7-15 – and there are some incredible options to watch some of the biggest stars in the women’s game battle it out on the historic courts.

    Several big names are already confirmed, and as it will now be the primary grass court warm-up tournament ahead of Wimbledon, there is an expectation that plenty more will be added to the entry list.

    Here is a rundown on why you need to be at The Queen’s Club as women’s tennis returns to the grounds for the first time in over 50 years – and information on how you can experience the event in style in hospitality.

    Why is this such a big deal?

    New tournaments are not common on the WTA Tour and certainly not an event of this magnitude.

    The historic Queen’s Club in south London will be the most prestigious grass court tournament ahead of Wimbledon on the WTA Tour and that will attract some of the game’s biggest stars.

    Prize money will be huge and the 500 ranking points available to the champions at The Queen’s Club could have an impact on the seedings for the third Grand Slam of the year at Wimbledon, which will be played a couple of weeks after this tournament comes to an end.

    WTA 500 tournaments are the second most prestigious level of tournaments on the WTA Tour and as there are no WTA 1000 tournaments on grass courts, this event at The Queen’s Club will be the biggest prize on offer in this phase of the tennis year.

    Who is playing?

    Former world No 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, Australian Open title-winner Madison Keys, British stars Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu, US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula, and reigning Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina are already confirmed to play at The Queen’s Club, with more set to be announced.

    “I used to watch the [men’s] tournament every year growing up, so to be able to compete at such a wonderful, historic, and iconic event to commence the grass court season is an honour,” Boulter said.

    “We have some of the best women’s players in the world competing at Queen’s, and it takes the British grass court swing to a whole new level.

    “To win that title as a British player would be an absolute dream and I will do everything I can to get myself in that position. Let’s make more history this summer.”

    Browse Keith Prowse hospitality packages here

    What to expect

    In short, this will be the best women’s tennis tournament seen in Britain for many years.

    While the grass court events at Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne have been long-standing fixtures in the WTA Tour calendar, the Queen’s Club tournament will be on another level both as a fan experience and the action on court.

    The LTA’s acclaimed ability to stage top-quality events will ensure the HSBC Championships, women’s tennis at Queen’s, will be the showpiece event in the build-up to Wimbledon.

    And if you want a seriously premium – and value for money – experience, there is sure to be a Keith Prowse hospitality package for you.

    Aside from the best seats on The Andy Murray Arena at Queen’s Club, you’ll also be able to indulge in a variety of food and drink options throughout the day.

    You will be treated to welcome drinks on arrival, followed by a specially curated cocktail menu as well as a selection of Pimm’s, wine, spirits, beers and soft drinks.

    These drinks can also be taken courtside, so you can watch every match with your choice of refreshment. Then it’s over to our team of amazing chefs for an Asian fusion menu made with fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

    Watch the artists at work with our live chefs’ station with every dish cooked and served right in front of you. This will be followed by afternoon tea, with a delicious array of treats and more drinks throughout the rest of the day.

    Premium Value for money

    Love Fifteen is an award-winning experience offering informal dining coupled with a relaxed atmosphere that caters for any group size. Guests are invited to indulge in a seasonal menu and an inclusive, bottomless bar, plus the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere within a private courtyard garden.

    This package includes an official Centre Court East Stand ticket and starts at £275pp + VAT.

    For something a little more luxurious, Club Lounge is an award-winning experience, promising an intimate setting where you can truly indulge in sophisticated sips and tempting tastes from £385pp + VAT.

    Enjoy a smartly furnished suite ft. live music, plus an exclusive outdoor garden overlooking the practice courts; the perfect place to unwind and spend quality time with your guests, before heading back to your prime-located Centre Court seats – positioned directly behind the server, in the South Stand.

    Get information on hospitality for the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club here.

    Introducing HerStory

    HerStory is a premium, female-delivered experience designed to celebrate and empower!

    Keith Prowse asked their valued customers exactly what they would want to witness as the WTA 500 returns to The Queen’s Club… so your memorable day out will see an interactive insights session hosted with and by key sports and sports business personalities, Asian fusion food featuring local ingredients and a focus on sustainability, ‘giving back’ through profits benefitting the LTA Tennis Foundation, plus a live DJ setting the tone throughout 12 and 13 June 2025, with this package from £485pp + VAT.

    Keith Prowse's HerStory

    Meet the Tournament Director – Laura Robson

    Former British No 1 Laura Robson is the high-profile tournament director for the WTA 500 tournament at The Queen’s Club and she is relishing the challenge she has been handed.

    “It’s a new event, so you never know how it’s going to go. I’m very positive about it and I think it’s going to be great for the players involved,” said Robson.

    “The logistics are very hard because it’s a members’ club and they are used to having a lot of their own spaces and we have taken over the women’s dressing room for the first time.

    “It’s a small club and that space on site is what it is. We can’t have any more, so we need to limit the number of people that are there.

    “I couldn’t be more confident about the courts. We have made sure we have fewer matches on Centre Court and No 1 Court, so hopefully that will keep them fresh.

    “The general consensus is everyone is excited to have this new event, so we will see how it goes.”

    Browse Keith Prowse hospitality packages for the Queen’s Club event today

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  • Novak Djokovic expected to renew Lacoste contract as huge claim is made about his future

    Novak Djokovic has the desire to continue playing until at least the 2028 Olympic Games, according to the CEO of Lacoste — his clothing manufacturer.

    The tennis legend has been a brand ambassador for iconic French designer sports company Lacoste since 2017, and he extended his agreement until 2025 in 2021.

    Questions have been raised about Djokovic‘s tennis future in recent months, with the Grand Slam record holder enduring a difficult season.

    Djokovic produced encouraging performances at both the Australian Open and the Miami Masters, but he has lost his first match at four of the seven tournaments he has entered in 2025.

    The former world No 1 is set to turn 38 later this month, and he is on a three-match losing streak after defeats in Madrid, Monte Carlo and Miami.

    The Serbian withdrew from the ongoing Italian Open without giving a reason, suggesting his desire to compete outside the Grand Slams is limited.

    Djokovic won his 24th and most recent major at the 2023 US Open, while he secured his 99th and latest singles title at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Thierry Guibert, Lacoste’s CEO, expressed his confidence that Djokovic will renew his deal with the brand and claimed retirement is still a long way off for the world No 6.

    “Novak wants to go at least until the Los Angeles Games [in 2028],” Guibert said in an interview with L’Equipe.

    “I have no doubt that we will find common ground in the coming weeks. We are mainly discussing the type of renewal.

    “Since we signed him, he has won half of his Grand Slams with us. He has contributed a lot to the brand.”

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    Following his historic gold medal triumph in Paris in August, Djokovic expressed his appetite to defend his Olympic title in Los Angeles.

    “I still want to play in Los Angeles,” Djokovic said.

    “I enjoy playing for my country, and the Olympic Games particularly, and Davis Cup, being part of the team.”

    Djokovic, who delivered an incredible performance to down Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match at Stade Roland Garros, added: “Everything that I felt in that moment when I won really surpassed everything I thought or hoped that it would.

    “I thought that carrying the flag at the opening ceremony [at the 2012 London Games] was the best feeling ever until I experienced this today.

    “And being on that court with the Serbian flag raising, singing the Serbian anthem, with the gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport. It definitely stands out as the biggest sporting achievement I had.”

    Djokovic is next scheduled to compete at the French Open, where he will revisit the site of his Olympic triumph for the first time.

    READ NEXT: The 22 active players who have won an ATP Masters 1000 title after Casper Ruud’s Madrid triumph

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  • Dan Evans lambasts Jannik Sinner’s Rome return: ‘Pretty convenient’

    Dan Evans has branded Jannik Sinner’s return to the professional tour at the Rome Masters ‘pretty convenient’, ahead of the Italian’s anticipated comeback.

    The statements come just days after Sinner’s three-month suspension from competing came to an end, with the world No 1 returning to action on Saturday.

    Sinner accepted the suspension in February after a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), one which made clear that both sides agreed that the Italian did not ‘intend’ to intake the banned anabolic steroid clostebol.

    “The whole thing is pretty convenient,” Evans commented, whilst speaking on BBC Five Live Sport.

    “I think a lot of the players are thinking [that] the comeback in Rome, which massive for Italian tennis, it seems pretty convenient. By the way, like Broads said, this is not Jannik’s problem, this is a tennis problem.

    “From the outside, from the public, they’re looking in and thinking that he’s had preferential treatment. The ranking being where it is [ATP world No 1] kind of adds to that as well, and I think it’s a difficult one to pick the bones out of.”

    The controversy first started in August, after it was announced that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March 2024.

    These results were not revealed until late summer, due to an independent tribunal finding that the world No 1 had ‘no fault or negligence’ for the failed tests.

    “I think that the issue has been that people felt that he’s received preferential treatment,” Naomi Broady added.

    “I think that’s what a lot of the players have not been happy about. It’s the lack of consistency. Even the fact that you can come to an agreement for how long you are banned, it should just  – the goalposts shouldn’t move.

    “If you’ve tested positive, that’s your ban. I don’t know why you should be able to negotiate, that, to me, doesn’t make much sense.

    “Even the way that he was still able to play whilst the case was ongoing, for all of the other players, if you test positive, you sit on the sidelines and you wait. We seen that, with Simona Halep, you sit on the sidelines and wait. For some people, it is years, it can take a really long time.”

    Sinner was found to have ‘no fault or negligence’ due to the Italian claiming that his physio had used an over-the-counter cream – which contained the steroid – to treat a minor finger wound on himself, before giving a massage to the Italian.

    However, WADA sought to overturn the independent tribunal’s findings and argued that the three-time Grand Slam champion carried some level of responsibility for his team’s actions – dropping their appeal after the settlement was reached.

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    Since the August revelation, Sinner has split with fitness coach Umberto Ferrara and physio Giacomo Naldi – the former of whom recently joined the team of Matteo Berrettini.

    “Even though he knew he had tested positive because of the physio [in April], they only parted ways when he received the ban,” said Broady.

    Evans further argued: “One of his best friends [Berrettini] is using the same physio, the Italians have no issue with this physio, clearly. For three months, he’s clearly not bothered about what has happened and the process of it all.”

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  • Juan Carlos Ferrero’s public criticism of Carlos Alcaraz labelled ‘a risky move’

    Patrick Mouratoglou has admitted he was “very surprised” by the comments Juan Carlos Ferrero made about Carlos Alcaraz’s commitment to tennis.

    Alcaraz‘s Netflix documentary series, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, was released last month, and the Spanish star’s approach to his career was the central theme.

    The four-time major champion stressed that he wants to achieve his lofty ambitions without compromising his happiness.

    “Right now my biggest fear of all is ending up seeing tennis as an obligation,” Alcaraz explained.

    “Sometimes I feel like I am enslaved to tennis and that causes anxiety, frustration, doubts.”

    Ferrero, who has coached Alcaraz since September 2018, also featured in the series.

    The former world No 1 made a revealing admission about Alcaraz’s philosophy being at odds with the way his team sees the sport.

    “His understanding of work and sacrifice is so different from ours,” said Ferrero. “It’s so different that it makes me doubt whether ‘his way’ of doing things will help him become the best in the world.”

    Mouratoglou, a renowned coach who currently works with Naomi Osaka, gave his verdict on Ferrero’s choice to publicly question Alcaraz.

    “First of all, what Carlos has accomplished at a young age is unbelievable,” the Frenchman said in an Instagram video.

    “I was very surprised to read that his coach said publicly that he was not committing 100%. It will bring a lot of criticism. It’s really difficult to manage that.

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    “Apparently, the way he deals with pressure is to not commit 100%, which is actually a behaviour that is quite usual for professional athletes. That’s a way to take pressure away.

    “Is it the right way? For sure not. I would try to solve the problem between him and me. He (Ferrero) probably did try and probably doesn’t work, so probably, he goes to the next level. Ferrero is trying to motivate his player.

    “Is it the right way? I don’t know. If it works, then bravo. If it hurts the player and hurts the relationship between the two, then I would say it’s not a good job.

    “So, we will see what are the consequences — the positive one or the negative one, or maybe a bit of both. Let’s see how Carlos received it. Maybe he will have a reaction to that, a positive one. But it’s risky.”

    Alcaraz will play Yoshihito Nishioka or Dusan Lajovic in his first match at the Italian Open as he seeks his third title of the 2025 season.

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev: Battle for world No 2 at Italian Open

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  • Rafael Nadal’s ex-coach warns Carlos Alcaraz about his ‘best in history’ ambition

    Former world No 1 Carlos Moya has asserted that Carlos Alcaraz’s goal of becoming the greatest player of all time in his own way will be “complicated.”

    Alcaraz opened up about his philosophy to his life and tennis career in his recently released Netflix documentary series: Carlos Alcaraz: My Way.

    The four-time Grand Slam champion explained: “What I would like is to be the best in history. It’s my dream, but one of the keys for me is to enjoy myself. I’m the type who likes to spend time at home, which tennis doesn’t allow you to do.

    “I’ve lived a short time and I have a lot left to live. And right now I want to decide for myself. And if I make a mistake, I want to make it for myself. I’m paving my way to becoming the best player in history. And I want to do it my way.”

    The Spanish star added: “Right now my biggest fear of all is ending up seeing tennis as an obligation. Sometimes I feel like I am enslaved to tennis and that causes anxiety, frustration, doubts.”

    Moya, who coached tennis legend Rafael Nadal from 2017 until his retirement last year, shared his thoughts on the approach Alcaraz outlined in the documentary.

    “It’s a viable option if you want to win Grand Slams in the short term. In the long term, it’s complicated because tennis is a long-distance race,” Moya said at an event with businessman Pedro Escudero.

    “I see myself a bit like Alcaraz. I was 21 too, but it’s true that I was at a different level than him. The thing is, my ambition was never to be the best in history. Perhaps that’s what’s shocking. Wanting to be the best in history in that way.

    “Can he become one [of the best in history]? I see it as difficult even if he has a normal life. Being a slave to tennis is already very complicated… Although it’s clear that, given his level, he can be.

    “Of the three who have achieved it, no one has done it the way he says, but he’s still a guru or a pioneer and he’ll achieve it.

    “On the other hand, that’s what he thinks now at 21. Maybe in two years he’ll get a little tired of what he says about living life. Maybe in two years he’ll reach the maturity to live those two years to the fullest.

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    “He’s living in the moment and he also has the right to; he’s earned it. He’s a great player; he’s won four majors. Sometimes we forget about this, but it’s incredible.”

    The 1998 French Open champion continued: “Perhaps Alcaraz is demanding something of himself that doesn’t exist. He may be close to perfection at times, but he’s 21. He’s going to improve, he’s going to stabilise, and that will give him time.

    “You can’t rush certain things. Nobody comes close to perfection at 21. Experience, life, and past situations are what lead you to that.

    “No matter how much he’s lived and won, he still has a lot of life left to live, and those things are what will take him to his highest level, whatever that may be. He’s becoming a unique player, and everyone enjoys watching him play.”

    Moya also shut down the notion that Nadal was a “slave to tennis.”

    “Rafa had a great life outside of tennis, perhaps not so much attending events, Formula 1, or motorcycling, but he had a very full life off the court,” the Mallorcan added.

    “I know him well and I know he had his hobbies and enjoyed his free time. Rafa was not a slave to tennis.

    “It’s impossible to win what he (Alcaraz) has won without discipline, without hard work. He’s 21 years old and has the right to live what he’s saying. He doesn’t hurt anyone and he keeps winning.

    “Is that sustainable in the long term? It’s difficult, but he already has his team, who advise him, who direct him, and who tell him things as they see fit.”

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    The post Rafael Nadal’s ex-coach warns Carlos Alcaraz about his ‘best in history’ ambition appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu’s agreement with Mark Petchey not a long-term solution, warns former British No 1

    Emma Raducanu believes her coaching agreement with Mark Petchey and Jane O’Donoghue is “working pretty well”, but former world No 21 Dan Evans has raised concerns about the long-term future.

    2021 US Open winner Raducanu started working with Petchey during the Miami Open and they enjoyed instant success as she reached the quarter-final of the WTA 1000 event, resulting in a return to the top 50 of the WTA Rankings.

    Both parties have made it clear that for now it is an ad-hoc partnership as Petchey also works as a tennis commentator, meaning he won’t be able to mentor Raducanu at all tournaments.

    But that is where Jane O’Donoghue, a former Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) national women’s coach, comes into the picture as she is expected to step in when Petchey is unavailable.

    Although the agreement is off to a solid start, former British No 1 Evans feels things will get complicated when Raducanu starts to lose matches.

    “It can’t last if she starts losing matches and Petchey is in the commentary box. That’s not going to work,” he told BBC 5 Live Tennis.

    “I think Emma will be looking for a new coach again pretty soon if she starts to lose some matches on the grass into the US swing. I’m not sure how that can last as it is.”

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    Both Petchey and O’Donoghue – who is currently on a sabbatical from her full-time job – are with Raducanu in Rome this week for the Italian Open, but the latter’s agreement is also short-term as she won’t be available next year when she returns to her job in finance.

    “It’s been working pretty well,” the world No 49 told BBC Sport.

    “Mark is doing his commentary work and around that he is going to help me as much as he can and hopefully the times align that he can be there with me in the matches.

    “That’s why Jane is here for when he’s not able to make it to the session.

    “While she’s not working it’s nice to have her as much as possible, but she will go back to work and then I need to figure another solution out.”

    The big question is who will support Petchey when O’Donoghue is no longer available.

    Raducanu added: “I just need to work on who that person is.”

    With both Petchey and O’Donoghue by Raducanu’s side for now, they have been tasked to help her to take her game to the next level.

    “I feel slightly better than I did in Madrid,” the British No 2 said.

    “I want to use this period of the clay season to try and work on certain things in my game that I think are going to help me bridge the gap to the next level.

    “I want to take more balls on, I want to be more aggressive in certain points – I want to structure the points more on my terms.

    “I know I may make more errors doing that, but I’m willing to go through that.”

    The post Emma Raducanu’s agreement with Mark Petchey not a long-term solution, warns former British No 1 appeared first on Tennis365.