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  • Novak Djokovic was ‘ready to abandon his career’ reveals former coach Goran Ivanisevic

    Goran Ivanisevic has claimed Novak Djokovic’s stance on Covid vaccines has been justified, as he suggested the 24-time Grand Slam champion was ready to quit tennis to stand by his principles.

    In an interview with former Croatian footballer Slaven Bilic on his “Failure of the Champion” show, former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic opened up on his career in tennis and in particular his highly successful period coaching Djokovic.

    Ivanisevic and Djokovic parted ways on amicable terms in March of last year after the pair lived through some huge high points and some notable setbacks.

    The biggest challenge during that period for Djokovic came as he was deported from Australia for refusing to take a Covid vaccine and he also missed some big tournaments in the years following that high-profile exit from Melbourne in January 2022.

    Ivanisevic now believes Djokovic may have been right in his stance, as he suggested the people of the world ‘behaved like sheep’ as they agreed to take the Covid vaccines.

    “Novak refused the vaccine, ready to abandon his career, a decision no other elite athlete would do,” said Ivanisevic.

    “The world condemned him, criticized him relentlessly, even belittled him for standing firm. Yet he never wavered, standing firm in his conviction with a determination that still resonates.

    “Now we are talking about those vaccines and they say that some of them caused problems. We were locked up like sheep for three years and we were manipulated.

    “It was during the pandemic when he refused to get vaccinated. He said publicly several times that it was a decision he was making for his body, that he knew his body best and that he didn’t want to do that. And he was ready to end his career for this reason. He went all the way just to not get vaccinated

    “He never told anyone not to get vaccinated, he never told us not to get vaccinated. We all got vaccinated. He never did that in his life. He organized a tournament in Belgrade, he facilitated the vaccination of other players, but he did not get vaccinated and, for this reason, he was criticized.”

    Ivanisevic also gave his verdict on the GOAT debate in tennis, as he insisted Djokovic has to be considered as being a few steps ahead of his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the battle to be named as the best player in the history of the men’s game.

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    “Those are the three perhaps the greatest players in the world,” said Ivanisevic.

    “Federer plays the most beautiful tennis, even when he plays badly, you enjoy watching. Then you have Rafa who is a fighter, to the point of exhaustion, he is such a fighter, he will leave his life on the court. He won 14 titles at Roland Garros, that will never happen in the history of any sport. Djokovic is the most complete of all three and the best ever.

    “When someone tells me that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, how does it matter? Everything matters . If Luka Modrić was English, he would be the most expensive in the history of football.

    “It’s not the same, this one is Swiss, this one is Spanish, then a guy from Serbia comes and they don’t understand anything, where he came from. He goes and says what he thinks, he’s the only one, he says what others think and what they shouldn’t say. Novak tells the truth, it hurts people, not everyone will hear it. I know what others think, they twist it a bit, and he is like that.

    “We are Balkans, so they put us all in the same category, you are this or that. He showed them on the field and they can’t take that away from him. He is the best. You don’t have to love him, you have to respect him and acknowledge him. At the end of the day, they will have to acknowledge him, because he is the greatest. If he was one of those two, yes, they would have already acknowledged them.”

    READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s updated 2025 tournament schedule after Madrid Open announcement

    The post Novak Djokovic was ‘ready to abandon his career’ reveals former coach Goran Ivanisevic appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Novak Djokovic’s updated 2025 tournament schedule after Madrid Open announcement

    Novak Djokovic’s participation at the 2025 Madrid Open has been announced, but how does the tennis legend’s likely schedule look for the rest of the season?

    Speaking ahead of the 2025 Brisbane International, where he started his campaign, Djokovic outlined his intention to play more in 2025 than he did last year.

    “I’m looking to play more tournaments this year than I played last season, so hopefully also my level is going to go up,” he explained.

    “Hopefully I will win a few more tournaments and my ranking will go up to where it should be.

    “The way I’m feeling today, I still think that I can go strong for years to come.

    “But how long I’m going to feel motivated to keep going is unpredictable. I still love this sport and I still love competing.”

    Since his appearance in Brisbane, Djokovic has played the Australian Open, the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells Open, while he is currently in action at the Miami Open.

    Here, we look at Djokovic’s possible calendar for the remainder of the 2025 ATP Tour season.

    Monte Carlo Masters (Masters 1000) – April 6-13

    Since making his debut in 2006, Djokovic — a Monte Carlo resident — has missed the Masters tournament in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin only once (in 2011). He is a two-time champion at the historic clay-court event.

    Madrid Open (Masters 1000) – April 23-May 4

    The Madrid Open has announced that Djokovic is set to play the tournament for the first time since 2022. Djokovic has won the clay-court event at La Caja Majica three times.

    Italian Open (Masters 1000) – May 7-18

    Djokovic has made 18 consecutive appearances at the Italian Open since making his main draw debut at the Foro Italico in 2007. The Serb is expected to return this year to seek a seventh title in Rome.

    French Open (Grand Slam) – May 25-June 8

    The Serbian will turn 38 shortly before the start of his bid to win a fourth French Open title and 25th major.

    Wimbledon (Grand Slam) – June 30-July 13

    The seven-time Wimbledon winner will try again to equal Roger Federer’s men’s singles title record after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the previous two championship matches.

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    Cincinnati Open (Masters 1000) – August 7-18

    The former world No 1 has featured in only one of the last four editions of the Cincinnati Masters — although 2021 and 2024 were Olympic years, which congested this part of the calendar.

    Djokovic has not played the Canadian Open since 2018, indicating his clear preference to compete in Cincinnati when playing a US Open warm-up in the latter part of his career.

    US Open (Grand Slam) – August 24-September 7

    The Serb will chase his fifth US Open crown this year, having won his most recent major at Flushing Meadows in 2023.

    Serbia vs. Turkey (Davis Cup World Group I) – September 12-14

    After losing to Denmark in the 2025 Davis Cup first round qualifier in Djokovic’s absence (due to injury), Serbia will face Turkey in a World Group I tie determining who reaches the 2026 first round qualifier.

    Djokovic led Serbia to victory against Greece in the same situation in September 2024, and he will likely feature again this year given his commitment to representing his country.

    Shanghai Masters (Masters 1000) – October 1-12

    The four-time Shanghai champion made his first appearance in China since 2019 at last year’s tournament, and he may appear again this year in a nation where he receives huge support.

    Paris Masters (Masters 1000) – October 27-November 2

    Djokovic skipped the Paris Masters in 2024, and this could be a tournament he foregoes again given its spot in the calendar, although his commitment to playing more Masters 1000 events so far in 2025 leaves the door open.

    ATP Finals – November 9-16

    Djokovic withdrew from last year’s edition of the ATP Finals despite qualifying as he brought his campaign to an early close. It is uncertain whether the record seven-time champion will return to Turin if he finishes in the top eight.

    READ NEXT: ‘I expected more from Zverev, Alcaraz and even Djokovic in Sinner’s absence’

    The post Novak Djokovic’s updated 2025 tournament schedule after Madrid Open announcement appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu’s Miami Open quarter-final vs. Jessica Pegula: When is it? What is the head-to-head record?

    Emma Raducanu has recovered from a tough start to the season to make a superb run to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Miami Open — and she will be hoping there is still more to come.

    The British star’s fourth round victory over Amanda Anisimova saw her advance to the last eight of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in her career.

    Here is our full guide to Raducanu’s Miami quarter-final matchup.

    Who will Raducanu play in the Miami Open quarter-finals?

    Raducanu will take on 31-year-old American Jessica Pegula, the world No 4, in the last eight in Miami.

    Pegula is a winner of seven WTA Tour singles titles, including three WTA 1000 crowns, while she was a runner-up at last year’s US Open.

    After receiving a first round bye as the fourth seed in Miami, Pegula downed Bernarda Pera 6-4, 6-4 in her opening match.

    She then battled past No 32 seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(2) in a difficult third round encounter.

    In the last 16, Pegula earned an impressively convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over world No 29 Marta Kostyuk, winning the last six games having trailed 0-3 in the second set.

    When will the match take place?

    The quarter-final between Raducanu and Pegula will be played on Wednesday March 26. The order of play for Wednesday is yet to be announced.

    Who has Raducanu beaten en route to the quarter-finals?

    During her run, Raducanu has earned four consecutive tour level matches for the second time in her career — after her stunning 2021 US Open title run.

    The world No 60 crushed 188th-ranked Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round.

    The Brit then prevailed 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3) in an epic second round encounter with world No 10 Emma Navarro for her third career top 10 win.

    The 22-year-old backed up that up by overcoming 48th-ranked McCartney Kessler, who retired due to a physical issue when Raducanu led 6-1, 3-0 in the third round.

    In the last 16, Raducanu dismantled world No 17 Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-3 for her third straight win against an American.

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    What is the head-to-head record?

    The head-to-head between Raducanu and Pegula is split at 1-1, with the Brit earning her win on grass and the American registering her victory on hard-court.

    Pegula won 6-4, 7-5 in the pair’s maiden clash in the last 16 of the 2022 Cincinnati Open.

    Raducanu triumphed 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 after saving a match point in a thrilling second round meeting in Eastbourne last year for her first-ever top 10 win.

    What did Raducanu say about facing Pegula?

    “Jessie is one of the most consistent players on the tour, she consistently has unbelievable results,” Raducanu told Tennis Channel after beating Anisimova.

    “I know it’s going to be a really, really difficult match but I think I’m playing pretty good tennis and I just enjoy having an opportunity every time to be in this stage of a tournament.

    “It’s something that I need to be really proud of because it’s not something that has happened very often for me. But I’m really happy with how the things are going, and more importantly just enjoying finding the competitive spirit again.”

    What has Pegula said about Raducanu?

    Pegula shared her thoughts on Raducanu after the Brit’s win against Navarro in Miami.

    “When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players. I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries, finding consistency,” the world no 4 told the media.

    “It’s tough nowadays, the depth is so good if you can’t really rack in those matches and play a lot and get those wins under your belt it can be really difficult to keep that confidence.

    “I can understand why she was probably a little emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000, beating a top 10 player — that’s massive. Sometimes it takes a physical and mental battle to get through that.

    “And in that moment, you’re thinking, ‘My gosh, how am I going to do this? Not again?’ For her to come back in the third and win the tiebreaker. I’m sure she feels like there’s a monkey off her back.”

    READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu makes surprising comments after sealing Miami Open quarter-final place

    The post Emma Raducanu’s Miami Open quarter-final vs. Jessica Pegula: When is it? What is the head-to-head record? appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz facing huge threat of a rankings collapse unless he finds his best form

    Carlos Alcaraz has admitted his focus has been lost in recent weeks and he needs to get it back quickly to avoid an alarming collapse in his ATP Ranking.

    After his shock defeat against David Goffin in his first match at the Miami Open, Alcaraz missed out on a glorious chance to gain some valuable ranking points as he looks to protect his position in the top three of the ATP Rankings.

    The concern for Alcaraz will be that the huge proportion of the ranking points current on his record come from his wins at the French Open and Wimbledon last summer, where he collected 4,000 ranking points.

    Take those points from his record and Alcaraz would slide out of the top 10 of the ATP Rankings and that is a strong possibility given his recent form and comments.

    Alcaraz will not be able to make any strides forward in the rankings in the next two Grand Slam events and can only lose points in those tournaments.

    While he will have a chance to gain some ranking points in the European clay court season ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year at Roland Garros, the 21-year-old is in danger of sliding down the ATP list over the next few weeks.

    His lacklustre performances in defeats against Jack Draper in Indian Wells and the veteran Goffin in Miami came after he publicly admitted he was ‘very nervous’ ahead of his defeat in the first of those two matches.

    That led some to suggest Alcaraz made a mistake when he opened up on his vulnerabilities in a press conference and he did something similar after the loss against Goffin.

    “Mentally, I’m screwed, to be honest,” said Alcaraz. “This is a tournament where I want to do well, and losing in the first round hurts a lot.

    “I know this part of the season very well; I’ve played great tennis in the past at these tournaments, but after what happened today, I don’t really know what to say.

    “I think I was feeling good after Indian Wells, but now with this loss, I don’t know what to say.

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    He also admitted he was nervous prior to the Goffin match, but suggested that was a positive sign.

    “I felt great, I was fine, just a little nervous as usual before every match, but nothing out of the ordinary in these types of situations, nothing I hadn’t felt before,” he added.

    “I felt prepared, convinced I could put on a good level of tennis, but in the end it just wasn’t to be. I did everything right before the match; it wasn’t a question of an injury or any other pain; I was fine before the match.

    “I did have the feeling after the first set that this match was going to be tougher than previous ones, then I started to feel a little more tired in my legs, especially at the end of the second set.”

    Alcaraz’s incredible rise in tennis has been a story of relentless success so far, but now there are question marks over whether the youngster is vulnerable after a shaky start to 2025.

    READ NEXT: Patrick Mouratoglou admits Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘unusual’ comments may come back to haunt him

    The post Carlos Alcaraz facing huge threat of a rankings collapse unless he finds his best form appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu seals huge rankings breakthrough after another stunning Miami Open win

    Emma Raducanu’s sparkling run at the Miami Open continued with a thrilling 6-1, 6-3 win against Amanda Anisimova, as she powered through to her first WTA 1000 quarter-final.

    Another sensational Raducanu display secured her fourth win in Miami, as a dispirited Anisimova looked to run out of ideas early in the match as she couldn’t cope with the pace, power and invention of the shots coming at her from her British rival.

    Raducanu and Anisimova share a warm relationship off the court and that was reflected by their friendly exchange at the net at the end of the match, but there was no mercy shown on the court by the 2021 US Open champion.

    This version of Raducanu is the closest we have seen to that memorable champion who stunned the sporting world when she won that Grand Slam title in New York and now she is almost certain to be back in the top 50 of the WTA Rankings when they are updated at the end of the Miami Open.

    Raducanu did not drop a point on her serve in the first set, as she powered past an opponent who has been in good form of late and beat Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva in the last round of the Miami Open.

    “I felt something was going down on the other side [of the net] and it’s difficult to stay focused when your opponent is making errors and then blasting the lines on the other side of the net,” she said, reflecting on the big win against Anisimova.

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    “You have no idea what’s going on and those matches are tough to stay focused all the time. I’m really proud of how I came through that. Amanda has been playing amazing tennis. Won a WTA 1000, top 20, so it’s a big win.

    “I kept going for my shots, buy I’m happy with how I’m moving and I knew I had to dig every ball I could and make it as physical as possible.

    “I’m happy with how I moved and how I extended the rallies.”

    Raducanu’s run in Miami was unexpected after she started the tournament parting company with coach Vladimir Platenik and she seems to be settled in her camp alongside Mark Petchey and Jane O’Donohue, who are helping her in Miami.

    “I have come a long way in a week,” she added. “Since Indian Well, I wasn’t necessarily feeling great, but I have some really great people around me this week who I trust and hvae fun with off the court. That’s really important.

    “I think it’s a different approach this week. I think five minutes before the match I was playing spike ball with the team. It helps me to relax.

    “When I’m playing my best tennis I’m really expressing my personality.

    “I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit so I don’t need restrictions or being told what to do.

    “I think when I’m being really authentic, that’s when I’m playing my best.”

    Raducanu will be back in action on Wednesday, when she will look to close in on a place in the top 40 of the WTA Rankings with another big win.

    READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu strongly defended in coach debate by Nick Kyrgios amid Miami Open resurgence

    The post Emma Raducanu seals huge rankings breakthrough after another stunning Miami Open win appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu strongly defended in coach debate by Nick Kyrgios amid Miami Open resurgence 

    Nick Kyrgios has defended Emma Raducanu and commented on the Brit’s coaching situation amid her strong run at the 2025 Miami Open.

    Raducanu has bounced back from a difficult start to the year to reach the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event in Miami.

    The world No 60 had lost six of her previous seven matches heading into the Miami Open, but her three consecutive wins at the Hard Rock Stadium have moved her season record to 6-6.

    The 22-year-old dismantled 188th-ranked Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-1 in the first round before edging out world No 10 Emma Navarro 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3) in the second round.

    In the third round, Raducanu was leading world No 48 McCartney Kessler 6-1, 3-0 when her opponent retired with an injury.

    The former world No 10 will face 17th seed Amanda Anisimova in the last 16 in Miami. Raducanu won the pair’s only previous encounter 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

    Before her campaign in Miami, Raducanu split with coach Vladimir Platenik after just one match — a 3-6, 2-6 loss to Moyuka Uchijima at the Indian Wells Open. She has faced some criticism for the swift decision to cut ties with another coach.

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    Raducanu has been joined by Mark Petchey and Jane O’Donoghue — two coaches she had previously worked with — for the Miami Open.

    After Raducanu’s win over Kessler, Kyrgios took aim at the 2021 US Open winner ‘s critics and suggested having a coach is “overrated.”

    “People awfully quiet that Raducanu is winning now – where all the experts at now? lol coach’s overrated,” the former world No 13 wrote on X.

    Kyrgios defeated Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the Miami Open to earn his first win since October 2022. The 29-year-old was then beaten by Karen Khachanov in his second match.

    Following her win against Kessler, Raducanu told Sky Sports: “I returned really well and from the first point, I was putting pressure on her serve.

    “The impact that can have on a match when someone isn’t feeling great is big. I was imposing myself from the first ball.

    “I look a lot of confidence from playing Emma [Navarro] in my last match. Three hours in the heat, I’m really proud of myself for the way I bounced back.

    “I have had no big injuries [this year] and that’s been a big issue for me over the last few years.

    “I’m also getting to more balls in the corners and I have developed the confidence and hand skills to do something with it when I get there.”

    READ NEXT: Who is Alex Eala? Teen star making history with Miami Open run

    The post Emma Raducanu strongly defended in coach debate by Nick Kyrgios amid Miami Open resurgence  appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Iga Swiatek admits she is ‘mentally off’ as she questions the media scrutiny she gets in Poland

    Iga Swiatek made a passionate plea for her critics to give her some space in an Instagram post earlier this month and now she has opened up on why she opted to make that social media post post.

    Many were surprised to read the long and heartfelt message from the world No 2, as he asked for some understanding after she stuck a ball in anger in Indian Wells that nearly hit a ball kid.

    “First, about the incident during my last match. It’s true – I expressed frustration in a way I’m not proud of,” she wrote in a passionate statement on Instagram.

    “My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground.

    “I immediately apologised to the ball boy, we made eye contact and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him.

    “I’ve seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and frankly, I didn’t expect such harsh judgments. Usually, I control such impulses, so half-jokingly I can say I lack experience in this and misjudged my aim in the heat of the moment.”

    She went on to discuss her emotions and suggested the positive doping test she recorded at the back end of 2024 – for which she was subsequently clearly of wrongdoing – has taken a toll on her.

    “Regarding emotional expression,” she said in her Instagram statement. “The second half of last year was extremely challenging for me, especially due to the positive doping test and how circumstances completely beyond my control took away my chance to fight for the highest sporting goals at the end of the season.

    “This forced me to rearrange certain things within myself. In Australia, after weaker performances in previous years, I played without expectations, and focused solely on my work, accepting that another Australian Open might not go my way regardless of my efforts. Thanks to this mindset, I performed very well and was close to reaching the final.

    “In the Middle East, however, it struck me hard that my positive test result case, missing two highly-ranked tournaments in October, and last year’s exceptional results (winning four 1000-level tournaments and a Grand Slam in the first half of the season) will keep affecting my ranking and basically take away my chance for No 1.

    “This realisation deeply upset me. You could see this on the court in Dubai.

    “I know that playing while stuck in past frustrations, over things beyond my control, isn’t the right path. My team and I recognised this issue almost immediately (with their experience, probably faster than anyone could imagine), but shifting perspective takes significant time, effort, and team support.”

    “Working on oneself isn’t something you achieve once and keep forever,” the Pole added. “Sometimes we take two steps forward and one step back.

    “I’m facing new elements of this puzzle all the time: circumstances change, my experiences evolve, I evolve, opponents evolve, and I must constantly adapt. It’s never easy, and it’s particularly challenging for me right now.”

    It is unusual for an elite athlete to make such public comments, but the negativity flowing towards her appears to be continuing, with reports in her native Poland last week questioning the influence of psychologist Daria Abramowicz on the five-time Grand Slam champion.

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    Now she has explained to Sky Sports Tennis why she decided to public with her grievances, as she insisted she is blocking herself off from social media snipes while she is competing at the Miami Open.

    “I explained why my frustrations were a bit higher during the past months,” she said. “It’s hard to say it silenced the noise because during tournaments I’m mentally off. I’m not checking what’s going on on the internet but in Poland it’s not easy sometimes.

    “I think abroad more people are distant to what’s going on with players and athletes overall. At home, they like to focus on every little thing that went wrong so I just wanted them to know that this is not the perfect way to support me, but I know there are fans that are supportive.

    “This post was for them to explain why I was a little frustrated and what was in my head the last month.

    “I just wanted to let it go and focus on the future. I feel a bit better and I feel like I can just do my job and not be under so much pressure and scrutiny. I will assess the situation after the tournament when I actually go on the internet.”

    Swiatek is clearly trying to encourage her critics to step back from what appears to be media snipes about her on court and off court life, with the 23-year-old doing her best to try and turn the tide of negativity in a different direction.

    READ NEXT: Retired Spanish great weighs in on ‘sensitive’ Iga Swiatek after honest behavioral admission

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  • Novak Djokovic analyses Joao Fonseca’s rise and names two other stars who can challenge Alcaraz, Sinner

    Novak Djokovic has identified three bright ATP prospects who he believes will be “knocking on the door” of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the coming years.

    The 24-time Grand Slam winner progressed to the last 16 of the Miami Open after a 6-1, 7-6(1) third round victory against world No 65 Camilo Ugo Carabelli. Djokovic, the No 4 seed, will next face 16th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti.

    The 37-year-old tennis great is seeking a record seventh Miami Open crown, having secured his most recent title at the Masters 1000 event in 2016.

    Sinner, the world No 1, is not competing in Miami as he is banned until May 4 due to failing two doping tests in 2024.

    World No 3 Alcaraz, meanwhile, fell to a shock defeat to David Goffin in his opening match.

    Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca, who is 18, has continued his impressive start to the season in Miami by defeating Learner Tien and Ugo Humbert en route to the third round.

    After his win over Ugo Carabelli, Djokovic discussed the rapid rise of Fonseca.

    “He’s been talk of the tour in the last several months. I mean, deservedly so,” the world No 5 said.

    “He’s a very good tennis player. I mean, so young. Just incredible firepower from both ends of the baseline, serve. He’s a very complete player.

    “Of course, what is impressive is the way he strikes the ball, but even more so is how he handles the nerves on the court for someone that doesn’t have experience at all playing at the highest level.

    “I think everyone knew that he’s going to have quite a support here. He’s exciting for Brazil, for the world of tennis.

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    “I was saying back in Australia, for our tennis ecosystem, our sport, it’s super important to have a superstar, future superstar, hopefully coming from Brazil. Such a big country, big market, important.”

    The Serbian went on to name 19-year-old stars Jakub Mensik and Learner Tien as players he places in the same category as Fonseca.

    “He’s a very exciting player to watch, but he’s not the only one,” Djokovic continued.

    “You have Mensik. Maybe because people talk about Fonseca so much, they forgot about Mensik. Tien, as well. All those players are very young, but they have as good of rankings as he does. They’re as good as him.

    “I think it’s exciting, I don’t know what I should call it — that generation, the new generation is bringing. It’s always great that you have exciting players to watch and see the players that have potential to reach the greatest heights and to carry this sport.

    “Obviously, Sinner and Alcaraz are the leaders of today, still very young. But then these guys, it seems like they’re knocking on the door of Sinner, Alcaraz in the years to come.”

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper shocks leave one clear winner at Miami Open

    The post Novak Djokovic analyses Joao Fonseca’s rise and names two other stars who can challenge Alcaraz, Sinner appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Patrick Mouratoglou admits Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘unusual’ comments may come back to haunt him

    Patrick Mouratoglou admits Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘unusual’ comments may come back to haunt him

    Patrick Mouratoglou has admitted he was ‘surprised’ by Carlos Alcaraz’s brutally honest comments suggesting he is struggling to deal with the pressures at the top of the sport.

    Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz was honest in his post-match press conference following a defeat against Jack Draper at the Indian Wells Masters.

    “I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game,” Alcaraz said. “I think today I was more worried about his level, his game, than myself… So when you’re thinking more about the opponent than yourself, then it is a big problem.

    “So that’s what happened. Since the beginning of the day, since the morning, I was thinking about his game, because he’s really tough, he’s really solid, and it’s going to be a really physical match.”

    Those words will have been noted by the Draper camp and the next time he plays Alcaraz, the Brit will know his young rival is wary of the threat he can pose.

    Now respected coach Mouratoglou has suggested Alcaraz’s decision to be so honest about his emotions is a gamble that may backfire on him.

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    Speaking exclusively to Tennis365 as he releases a compelling book Champion Mindset, the former coach of Serena Williams and current coach to Naomi Osaka admitted Alcaraz’s brutal honesty was not the norm for an elite sportsman.

    “It was a choice for him to say that. I don’t know if it was good or not,” Mouratoglou told Tennis365. “If it helps him to take it out of his system to say it, to admit it, why not?

    “Most other players would not say it, that is his choice. We will see how he plays now after he has said this. We will see if he feels less pressure now that he has said this, that he admitted his weakness of that moment.

    “Maybe the fact that he verbalised it will put more pressure on him, we’ll see. It is unusual to hear this.”

    Mouratoglou went on to reflect on a period of Rafael Nadal’s career when he also went public with his self-doubt before he returned to Grand Slam-winning ways. 

    “I don’t know if this is a Spanish thing, but I remember that Rafa had a period in his career when he was losing a lot of matches and he was saying that he kind of lost his mental strength, he admitted it,” he continued.

    “I was very surprised when he said this, actually, but then he came back to his true self and it shows that even the great players go through doubts at some points.

    “It was the same when I started with Serena. She had not won a Grand Slam for three years, she lost in the first round of Roland Garros and it was a difficult moment. Everyone goes through this at some point in their lives and their career.”

    Mouratoglou’s book is set to become one of the must-read publications for anyone involved in tennis, with his story revealing how he banished his own insecurities in the formative days of his life to become one of the biggest characters in tennis.

    His guide to building self-confidence and climbing your way to the top offers lessons for all in life and not just tennis, which is why Champion Mindset is a book that will reach out to an audience beyond the tennis community.

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz’s new service motion broken down and rated by Patrick Mouratoglou

    Champion Mindset by Patrick Mouratoglou

    Champion Mindset by Patrick Mouratoglou

    The post Patrick Mouratoglou admits Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘unusual’ comments may come back to haunt him appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu one win away from rankings breakthrough after crushing Miami Open win

    Emma Raducanu turned in a sparkling performance as she dismantled in-form McCartney Kessler to power into the fourth round of the Miami Open for the first time.

    Kessler retired from the match while trailing 6-1 3-0 after a brief chat with the WTA trainer, but it was clear from first point to the last that Raducanu had far too much power for her.

    Powering service returns with brutal brilliance, this display was a reminder of the kind of form Raducanu served up to win the 2021 US Open, with the confidence flowing for the 22-year-old Brit.

    She offered up words of comfort for her opponent after the match, as the American audience in Miami appreciated her comments for her beaten American rival.

    “It’s never a way any athlete wants to win a match. I wish McCartney a speedy recovery,” said Raducanu in her on-court interview.

    “She’s in such good form right now. Playing so well. Playing so aggressive. We both had long last matches and, yeah, it’s a tough physical sport. I wish her all the best.”

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    Raducanu expanded on her thoughts in an extended interview with Sky Sport Tennis as she admitted he was happy with all aspects of her game.

    “I think I was happiest with my focus,” she stated. “That is such a big part of tennis, especially in a match like this.

    “I’m playing in the third round and I haven’t been at this stage of a tournament for a while, so I’m very happy with that.

    “I returned really well and from the first point, I was putting pressure on her serve. The impact that can have on a match when someone isn’t feeling great is big. I was imposing myself from the first ball.

    “I look a lot of confidence from playing Emma [Navarro] in my last match. Three hours in the heat, I’m really proud of myself for the way I bounced back.

    “I have had no big injuries [this year] and that’s been a big issue for me over the last few years.

    “I’m also getting to more balls in the corners and I have developed the confidence and hand skills to do something with it when I get there.”

    Raducanu’s best run in Miami has propelled her to within one win of a return to the top 50 of the WTA Rankings and if she can reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final by winning her next match, she could open the door to a second major breakthrough in her career after that iconic US Open win three and a half years ago.

    She is also eyeing up a move towards compatriot Katie Boulter in the rankings, as she eyes up a return to the British No 1 ranking, but she will need to get to the semi-finals in Miami if she is to reach that rankings goal this week.

    This is the first time Raducanu has won three matches in succession since her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon last July.

    READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu reveals why she is a big fan of a contentious change in tennis

    The post Emma Raducanu one win away from rankings breakthrough after crushing Miami Open win appeared first on Tennis365.