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More shocking details have emerged about Stefano Vukov’s behaviour towards Elena Rybakina, which prompted the WTA to ban the Croatian coach.

Concerning incidents of Vukov’s conduct towards Rybakina first made headlines at the 2024 Australian Open as he was seen shouting at her several times during matches.

The 2022 Wimbledon winner publicly defended her mentor, but she missed several tournaments over the next few months due to illness and injury.

Then on the eve of the US Open, they dropped a bombshell as Rybakina announced she had parted ways with Vukov – who had been her coach since 2019 – and not long after the WTA announced they would be launching an investigation into the Croatian’s behaviour.

Former world No 2 Goran Ivanisevic then joined Rybakina’s staff during the off-season, but Vukov returned to the fray for the Australian Open and Ivanisevic announced his departure not long after.

The WTA’s inquiry was concluded recently and it was confirmed that Vukov would be banned for one year with several disturbing details revealed in the initial report by The Athletic.

Vukov is said to have called the tennis player “stupid” and “retarded” while he also stated she would still be in Russia “picking potatoes” without him.

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But the publication has since released more information about events leading up to last year’s US Open after Rubakina parted ways with him.

It is reported that: “Told by a member of Rybakina’s team that he had been dismissed as her coach and to leave her alone, Vukov instead walked the lobby and hallways of her Manhattan hotel. He flooded her phone with text messages and more than 100 calls — according to sources with personal and professional relationships with Rybakina who were present at the hotel — as he sought another chance to convince Rybakina that her tennis career could not thrive without him.”

Several members of Rybakinas’s inner circle stated their concerns to WTA officials about the player as “they feared for the safety of the 2022 Wimbledon champion”.

A letter from WTA chief executive Portia Archer stated that she “also received an email from Rybakina’s mother requesting that he not make her daughter cry, and refused to coach her at one event as a result. The investigation also concluded that Vukov had violated the WTA’s no-contact directive, with Archer writing that he continued to ‘brazenly defy it even as this letter is penned’.”

The 37-year-old Vukov maintains that he hasn’t done anything wrong, but is yet to confirm if he will appeal against the ban.

The Athletic report claims that the relationship between coach and player “had become personal and romantic” as “Archer’s letter also noted the shift in their relationship. It said there was evidence that they stayed in the same hotel room in Melbourne for the Australian Open and that ‘there is increasing evidence that you are now involved in a romantic relationship’.”

Rybakina is yet to comment on the latest revelations as she previously just stated: “I’m just disappointed with the situation and how the process went. I’m not going to comment much on that any more.”

The post Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov saga: Wimbledon champion’s mother asked ‘that he not make her daughter cry’ appeared first on Tennis365.

The WTA has confirmed there was a safety incident involving Emma Raducanu at the Dubai Tennis Championship following a shocking incident early in her match against Karolina Muchova.

The 2021 US Open winner took on the 14th-seeded Czech in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament on Tuesday, but the encounter was marred by an odd event as early as the third game.

A visibly upset and emotional Raducanu approached the chair umpire and after exchanging a few words, she then went to hide behind the official’s chair.

Muchova then walks over for an explanation before also moving behind the official’s chair to console her young opponent.

After chatting with the tournament director and security officials via her walkie-talkie, the umpire climbs down from her chair to have an extended discussion with both players.

Both players then return to their benches and Raducanu was clearly in distress and could be seen wiping away tears with her towel.

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The match eventually resumes and the 22-year-old British player struggles in the next few games as Muchova opens a 4-0 lead, but she finds her rhythm again to take the opening set to a tie-breaker.

The Czech, though, held firm in the tie-breaker and eventually claimed a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 victory in just over two hours.

The WTA has since issued more details about events leading up to Tuesday’s match as it revealed that a man first approached Raducanu in public on Monday and the same individual was then removed from the match.

A statement from the WTA Tour read: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour.

“This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.

“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events. The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.

“We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players.”

here is the situation https://t.co/z4Vl23j9DL pic.twitter.com/2C4K2oAEgC

— Lisa ‍ (@lisa_talking) February 18, 2025

There has been no statement yet from Raducanu, but she was stalked as a teenager with a man “five-year restraining order and sentenced to community service” in 2022.

The then 19-year-old admitted: “Since all this has happened, I have felt creeped out. I feel very apprehensive if I go out, especially if I am on my own.”

Following her exit from the Dubai event, Raducanu is set to return home to the UK before heading to the United States in early March for the Sunshine Double with the Indian Wells Open starting on 5 March before the Miami Open gets underway on 18 March.

The post Full WTA statement and video after shocking Emma Raducanu incident in Dubai appeared first on Tennis365.

Emma Raducanu’s second-round match against Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships was briefly held up and the British player was clearly upset and crying following an incident.

But what happened?

The WTA has now confirmed that there was a security incident involving “a man who exhibited fixated behaviour” and officials have launched a full investigation while they have also vowed to ensure Raducanu and her team’s “well-being and provide any necessary support” during the rest of their stay in the United Arab Emirates.

The individual first approached Raducanu on Monday in a public area and the WTA revealed: “This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.”

The WTA 1000 match got off to a later than planned start as it was delayed due to poor weather in and around the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.

Raducanu was broken in the second game of the match as Muchova opened a 2-0 lead and after the lost game the 22-year-old went over to the chair umpire and had a brief discussion.

The world No 61 was in distress and then worryingly went to hide behind the umpire chair. The official then chats via her walkie talking to other presumably the tournament director and security.

Muchova approaches Raducanu to see what is going on and then consoles her rival.

The official then gets off her chair and also chats with Raducanu who then returns to her bench wiping away tears with her towel.

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The encounter was held up for several minutes and Muchova held her own serve before breaking Raducanu’s serve again for a 4-0 lead.

But the 2021 US Open winner managed to regain her composure and broke in game five and again in game nine to take the opening set via the tie-breaker.

She then opened a 5-4 lead and had a set point at 6-5, but this time Muchova held firm and turned things around to win the tie-breaker 8-6.

Raducanu was broken in the opening game of the second set and this time Muchova didn’t relinquish her advantage as she went on to win 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in two hours and four minutes.

Previous stalker case

It was a brave performance from Raducanu given the circumstances and it should not be forgotten that the 2021 US Open winner was stalked as a teenager and a man was given a “five-year restraining order and sentenced to community service”.

During a 2022 court case, it was heard that the man walked 23 miles to Raducanu’s home, took her father’s shoe as a souvenir and at one point left a note telling her he “deserved love”.

After the man was sentenced, Raducanu issued the following statement: “Since all this has happened, I have felt creeped out. I feel very apprehensive if I go out, especially if I am on my own.

“Because of this I feel like my freedom has been taken away from me. I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I feel on edge and worried this could happen again. I don’t feel safe in my own home which is where I should feel safest.”

There is no doubt this contributed to Raducanu feeling unsafe and “constantly looking over her shoulder” during the Dubai incident.

READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu under-fire despite following advice of her critics

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Iga Swiatek set and equalled a pair of records that illustrate her outstanding consistency with her opening victory at the Dubai Championships.

The world No 2 steamrolled two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka in her first match at the WTA 1000 event after a lengthy rain delay.

Swiatek broke the 35-year-old Belarusian six times and lost serve only once in a contest lasting an hour and 13 minutes.

The five-time major champion has improved her record against Azarenka, a former world No 1 who is currently ranked 34th, to 4-1.

In an on-court interview, Swiatek paid tribute to Azarenka’s career.

“She’s a legend. I have so much respect for her,” she said. “Her career is outstanding and she’s still playing super good, so I just wanted to be ready.

“And we played couple of times, so I was aware of how she plays, but yeah, I was ready for everything. I’m happy that I was solid and just focused and in the zone.”

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Asked what she did during the rain delay, Swiatek said: “I just read a book. I got a quick nap. I started doing some legos. Then unfortunately I had to go and play… so legos had to wait (smiling).”

Swiatek now holds the highest win rate of any player in opening matches at WTA 1000 tournaments (90.9%) since the format was introduced in 2009. Her last loss in an opening WTA 1000 match was a defeat to Ons Jabeur at the 2022 Cincinnati Open.

The 23-year-old has won her first match at 51 consecutive tournaments, which makes her only the second woman this century after Kim Clijsters to accomplish this.

Swiatek, who is a 10-time WTA 1000 titlist, is aiming to win the Dubai Championships for the first time. She was a runner-up at the tournament in 2023 and a semi-finalist last year.

READ NEXT: WTA Rankings: Aryna Sabalenka widens gap to Iga Swiatek; Amanda Anisimova’s milestone, Naomi Osaka -10

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Elena Rybakina has revealed that no players have offered her any support over the ban of her controversial coach Stefano Vukov.

It was revealed at the start of the year that the WTA had provisionally suspended Vukov pending an investigation into a breach of their code of conduct.

This came following Rybakina‘s announcement that Vukov would re-join her team just months after parting ways with the Croatian prior to last year’s US Open. The Russian-born Kazakh was coached by Vukov from February 2019 to August 2024.

The WTA confirmed last week that Vukov will remain suspended from coaching Rybakina in an official capacity, with The Athletic reporting it is a one-year ban.

In a statement, the WTA said: “The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct by Stefano Vukov has concluded.

“Following this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its findings, the WTA will not provide further details.

“We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct.”

The Athletic has also reported shocking details of the “mental abuse” Rybakina was subjected to from Vukov and revealed the pair’s relationship was described as “toxic” by the WTA’s chief executive Portia Archer.

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The 25-year-old has repeatedly said that Vukov “has never mistreated” her since the news of the investigation broke last month.

Rybakina is currently in action at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai, where she defeated world No 62 Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-2 in her opening match.

Speaking in her press conference after her victory, Rybakina reiterated that she is not happy with the situation as she addressed whether any of her fellow players had reached out to her.

“It’s very disappointing the way it’s been handled, just the outcome,” the world No 7 said.

“No one offered any support. Honestly don’t need [it]. There is couple players I’m in touch [with] more. But to say that I have very, very close friends on tour, it’s I think not true just because we competing against each other. Everybody’s surrounded by their teams.

“I have a couple of good friends, let’s say. But again, it’s all depends on time, how much you can spend outside or not.”

The 2022 Wimbledon winner added: “I need to focus on my tournament. It’s what I’m trying to do. Yeah, hopefully I can just keep on playing, keep on winning.”

READ NEXT: Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov saga: The shocking details of coach’s behaviour leading to ban

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Jannik Sinner will miss the next three months of action on the ATP Tour and it could have a big impact on his status as the world No 1.

The three-time Grand Slam winner has been top of the ATP Rankings since June last year as he replaced all-time great Novak Djokovic after the French Open.

Sinner is currently in his 37th consecutive week at No 1 and that total will grow over the next few weeks due to his massive points advantage at the top.

After the latest rankings update in which he dropped 500 points from last year’s Rotterdam Open title run, Sinner finds himself on 11,330 points with Alexander Zverev on 8,135 and Carlos Alcaraz third on 7,410.

With the Italian’s ban running from 9 February until 4 May, he is expected to miss six ATP Tour events (Qatar Open, Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open and Madrid Open).

After reaching an agreement with Sinner’s legal representatives, the World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed that they won’t strip him of any points or prize money earned during the 2024 season despite the failed dope tests.

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“Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome. As previously stated, WADA did not seek a disqualification of any results, save that which was previously imposed by the tribunal of first instance,” a statement read.

The good news is that he will only drop another 1,600 points from his results from the previous year.

The Miami Open (1,000), Monte Carlo Masters (400) and Madrid Open (200) are the tournaments where he had points to defend. He reached the semi-final in Indian Wells last year, but those points have already been deducted following the initial ruling from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August last year.

That effectively puts the 23-year-old on 9,730 points (11,330 minus 1,600) before he returns, meaning Zverev has to make 1,596 points to get past Sinner by the time the Italian Open takes place in mid-May while Alcaraz has a 2,321-point deficit to overcome.

But things will get a little more complicated for the world No 1’s two rivals as they will also drop points in the coming months.

Zverev has 850 points to defend until the ATP Masters tournament in Rome while Alcaraz will drop 1,400 points.

So in total, Zverev has to earn 2,446 points (1,596 plus 850) between now and the Italian Open while Alcaraz has a 3,721-point mountain to climb (2,321 plus 1,400).

Of course it is not impossible for either as they both have several tournaments between now and then.

Zverev is set to compete at the Mexican Open (500), Indian Wells Open (1,000), Miami Open (1,000), Monte Carlo Masters (1,000), Bavarian Championships (500) and Madrid Open (1,000) so there is a maximum of 5,000 points to win.

Theoretically, the German could replace Sinner at the top by mid-April if he wins the Sunshine Doule and the Monte Carlo Masters.

Zverev is currently sitting at a career-high No 2 in the ATP Rankings and he would become only the second German men’s world No 1 after Boris Becker while Alcaraz has previously spent 36 weeks at the top of the rankings.

Alcaraz will play at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid while his other two events are the Qatar Open (also 500) and Barcelona Open (500).

If Alcaraz wins four ATP Masters tournaments in a row (Indian Wells to Madrid) then he will pick up 4,000 points.

But even if Zverev or Alcaraz do the impossible, Sinner will get an opportunity to return to the top again at the Italian Open (1,000) as he doesn’t have any points to defend at the tournament.

They will then head to Roland Garros where Alcaraz will drop 2,000 points as the defending champion and Zverev 1,300 after finishing runner-up last year. Sinner, meanwhile, lost in the semi-final so will drop 800 points.

The post Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz’s battle to replace Jannik Sinner as world No 1 appeared first on Tennis365.

It is very unlikely that Jannik Sinner took a banned substance deliberately, but the outcome of the “agreement” with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has left Patrick Mouratoglou aghast.

Having twice tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol last March, Sinner was provisionally suspended before being given permission to continue playing pending an investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Five months later he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the ITIA as they accepted his explanation that his positive tests came after accidental contamination via one of his team members.

He was stripped of his ranking points and prize money for the Indian Wells Open, the tournament where he returned the positive samples.

However, that was not the end of the matter as WADA announced they had appealed the decision not to ban him as they demanded he be suspended for a minimum of between one and two years.

The was case set to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April, but last week WADA announced they had reached a settlement with Sinner and he would serve a three-month ban.

The tennis community, though, has reacted with outrage respected coach Mouratoglou taking to Instagram to share his views, stating: “I think this Sinner case is a huge scandal. It’s not about him being guilty or not, the question is more about how the anti-doping dealt with the situation. Everyone feels that there is a double standard, which there is, clearly.

“It’s very unlikely he [purposefully] did doping, first of all – and this is a personal statement – I don’t think this is his mindset at all, I don’t think that is his mentality to do doping. Second, when you find such low levels of a forbidden product in someone, in 90 percent of the cases – if not more – it is a contamination. So, the player is then a victim, and that’s why I think he is innocent.”

The Frenchman believes the Sinner case was initially “covered up” as the public was only informed of his positive tests in August last year.

He added: “When a player is controlled positive, in 100 percent of the case, it is the anti-doping [agencies] that make a public statement. As soon as this statement is out, the player is provisionally suspended which means he is not allowed to play anymore – until the case is finished and there is a decision as to whether he is guilty to not.

“In Sinner’s case, the ITIA, which is the anti-doping [agency], have decided to cover it [up], they didn’t make it public that he has been controlled positive, they didn’t say anything [they didn’t say] that he has been suspended, provisionally, like every other player would have been. So, this is clearly a double standard.

“We want a clean sport, and there is no clean sport is there is a double standard, depending on who the player is. It should be only about ‘did this player do doping? Yes or no?’”

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The ITIA initially stated that they found Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” as he was deemed not guilty, something that has upset Mouratoglou.

He continued: “Second, after five months, they decided to make it public that he had been control positive five months before, it was also said at the same time that he is not guilty. But, in other cases, the player is supposedly guilty because there is a public statement saying that he was control positive, so for five, six months, maybe one year, two years in some cases, for everyone, this player is doing doping and – for that period of time, that player cannot compete anymore.

“Which means he cannot get points, he cannot get money, but, more than anything he gets out of competition for such a long period that, in some cases, his career is over, so they’re destroying the career of a player. In Sinner’s case, again, no statement, and when they did five months later, it is to say that he is not guilty.”

The timing of the three-month ban has certainly raised eyebrows and as the suspension will run from 9 February until 4 March.

Mouratoglou feels it was “an arrangement” so that Sinner could play at the Australian Open before returning for his home ATP Masters 1000 event, the Italian Open, with the French Open set to follow two weeks later.

“During the Australian Open, we learnt that Sinner will be auditioned by WADA in April, so we think it’s going to be like a real tribunal, that will assess the case and decide whether he’s guilty or not,” he added.

“Right after the Australian Open, six weeks before when he was supposed to have been auditioned, they decide to take a decision after negotiating with him for a three-month ban. No audition, no review of the case, and a decision that is ideal for him because he could play the Australian Open – and win it – and is going to be safe to play the next Grand Slam, which is at the end of May-start of June at Roland Garros.

“So, it looks like they make an arrangement to make it look like that banned him a little bit, but not too much so he can play the Grand Slams, and, if you look at it, he’s going to be able to come back and play Rome just before Roland Garros – being Italian – so it looks even more like a set-up. It looks like a parody of justice, I understand that other players feel ‘where is the justice then?’”

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Novak Djokovic has revealed most players he has spoken to about Jannik Sinner’s doping ban are “not satisfied” and “believe there was favouritism.”

The Serbian legend branded the tennis anti-doping system “inconsistent” and “very unfair” as he called for change.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed on Saturday that Sinner had been suspended from tennis for three months for failing two doping tests in March 2024.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in August that Sinner would not face a ban as he carried “no fault or negligence” after testing positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol during and after last year’s Indian Wells Masters.

An independent tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.

However, WADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the verdict in September as they sought to impose a ban of between one and two years on the world No 1.

The appeal was set to be heard at CAS in April, but WADA confirmed it had reached an agreement with Sinner’s legal team for the Italian to serve a suspension from February 9 to May 4.

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The three-time major was forced to withdraw from this week’s Qatar Open ATP 500 event, and he will also miss Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.

The 23-year-old will not, however, miss any Grand Slams, and he will be able to compete at the Italian Open, which begins three days after his ban expires.

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), a players’ union founded by Djokovic, responded to Sinner’s ban with a strongly-worded message and asserted that there is “unacceptable bias” in the sport.

Speaking in his pre-tournament press conference at the Qatar Open, Djokovic spoke for the first time since Sinner’s case was resolved.

“I spoke with several players in the locker room, not only in the last few days but also in the previous months,” the world No 7 divulged. “Most of them are not satisfied with how the whole process has gone, and they don’t think it’s fair.

“Many of them believe there was favouritism. It almost seems like you can influence the result if you are a top player, and if you have access to top lawyers and so on.

“Sinner and [Iga] Swiatek are innocent, it has been proven. Sinner will have a three-month suspension due to some mistakes and negligence of some members of his team, who are working on the tour. This is also something that I personally and many other players find strange.”

The 37-year-old continued: “We have seen the cases of Simona Halep and Tara Moore, and other players perhaps less known, who have had difficulties for years to resolve their cases, or who have been suspended for a long time.

“I think it is really time to do something and address the system, because it is clear that the structure does not work like this.

“So yes, it is inconsistent and it seems very unfair to me, and that is all I have to say about it.

“We will see what happens in the near future, if the whole case will attract more attention and can shed light on other cases of lower-level players. And we have to keep in mind that Sinner and Swiatek, at the time, were number 1 in the world.”

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic returns from injury with 48-minute doubles win alongside retiring ATP star

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Alexander Zverev has described the “whole process” of Jannik Sinner’s doping case and the length of the Italian’s ban as “strange.”

Sinner has been suspended from tennis for three months, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announcing on Saturday that it had agreed a settlement with the Italian’s representatives.

The Italian tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March 2024 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that the world No 1 would not be banned from playing after an independent tribunal ruled he bore “no fault or negligence.”

The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that clostebol had entered his body by accidental contamination when he received a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.

However, WADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the ITIA’s ruling in September, seeking to impose a suspension of between one and two years on Sinner.

The case was scheduled to be heard at the CAS from April 16-17, but Sinner avoided the prospect of a longer ban by agreeing a deal with WADA.

The three-time Grand Slam champion’s suspension period runs from February 9 until May 4 (his ban also includes four days previously served while he was under a provisional suspension).

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Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference at the Rio Open, Zverev weighed in on the resolution to the Sinner saga.

“It’s a strange situation because obviously it’s been a very long process where first he was exonerated, then WADA wanted to take a second look and things like that,” the world No 2 said.

“For me, I think there are two options. Either you are not guilty and you should not receive any suspension. Because if you are not guilty, then you are not guilty. You should not be punished.

“But if you are guilty, then I think that for taking steroids, three months is not a suspension.

“So for me, you have to decide whether it was his fault or not. If it’s not his fault, then he shouldn’t get a three-month suspension, but if it is his fault, then this is strange in a way.

“The whole process, the whole situation that has existed for the last year, has been almost strange.”

Lorenzo Musetti, who is also playing in Rio, gave his thoughts on his Italian compatriot’s ban.

“Everyone is free to have their own opinion. I don’t really know the facts, so it’s difficult to judge,” the world No 17 said.

“But of course I trust the organisation and all the committees that have been behind the process. So if that decision is the three-month suspension, for us I don’t think it will have changed much.”

Asked if he had spoken to Sinner since the deal was announced, Musetti added: “No, I haven’t been in contact with him, but I’ll probably see him in Monte Carlo. Because he’s not supposed to play, but of course he’ll be there.”

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s PTPA makes strong statement on Jannik Sinner’s doping ban

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Novak Djokovic dropped just two games and needed only 48 minutes as he made his return to action with a dominant doubles victory at the Qatar Open.

The 37-year-old Serbian legend is partnering Fernando Verdasco in Doha at what is the 41-year-old Spanish veteran’s final tournament before his retirement.

Djokovic and Verdasco, who are competing as a wildcard pairing, demolished Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-1 in their opening round match at the ATP 500 event.

The duo broke five times and did not drop serve as they won 51 of the 81 points played in a one-sided contest.

In an on-court interview, Verdasco joked: “I have to say, maybe after this match I shouldn’t play the second round. I should just go and retire by winning 6-1, 6-1.

“It’s the best feeling ever, thank you so much for coming today, and see you on Wednesday.”

Verdasco, who reached a career-high ranking of world No 7 in 2009, has won seven ATP singles titles and eight doubles titles in a distinguished career.

The Spaniard will, perhaps, be remembered most for his inspired performance in the epic five-set semi-final he lost to Rafael Nadal at the 2009 Australian Open.

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Ahead of his farewell in Doha, where he lives, Verdasco expressed his gratitude to Djokovic for accepting his doubles offer.

“After so many incredible years on the ATP Tour, the time has come for my final tournament at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2025,” Verdasco wrote on Instagram.

“And what better way to finish than playing doubles with my friend Novak Djokovic, a true legend of our sport and one of the best athletes of all time

“@djokernole, thank you so much for saying yes since the first moment I told you.

“I’m going to enjoy every moment and give it my all one last time. Thank you everyone that has been there for me during all my career in the good and in the bad times.

“Let’s make this week unforgettable. THANK YOU.”

Verdasco and Djokovic will face Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, the second seeds and reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open doubles champions, in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic is playing for the first time since a hamstring tear forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev last month.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner, who is the current world No 7, will face Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Qatar Open singles event.

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The post Novak Djokovic returns from injury with 48-minute doubles win alongside retiring ATP star appeared first on Tennis365.