Tennis

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The former champ and number 1, the new champ and still number 1

Here’s what Carlos Alcaraz had to say after winning his first Wimbledon title: “It’s a dream come true for me. I said before it would be so good to win but even if would have lost I would be really proud of myself.

"Making history in this beautiful tournament, playing a final against a legend of the sport. It’s a dream come true.

"It was unbelievable to play in these stages. It’s amazing for a boy – 20 years-old - I didn’t expect to reach this situation really fast.

"I am really proud of myself, I am really proud for the team and the work we put in every day to be able to lift this.

"After the first set I thought ‘Carlos, increase the level. Everyone would be disappointed’.

"I have to congratulate Novak, it was amazing to play against him. You inspire me a lot. I started playing tennis watching you. Since I was born you were already winning tournaments. You said 36 is the new 26 and you make that happen. It’s amazing.

More from Carlos Alcaraz, on playing in front of the king of Spain, King Felipe VI: "It’s really special. It’s special to play in front of royalty. King Felipe, I am really proud that you are here supporting me. When I played in front of you twice, twice I won, I hope you are coming more! It is really special and I have to thank you for coming and supporting."

On learning to play on grass: “I fall in love with grass right now. It’s amazing. I didn’t expect to play in this level in a really short period. I have played just four tournaments on grass, I won Queen’s. It’s a dream come true. I am happy with the work we were doing, coming into the grass season. I learn really fast and I am really proud.”

On being a member of All England Club: "It’s great to be a member here. It’s such an iconic club. It’s very special for me. I have to bring the card. I know Roger Federer had trouble getting in without the card! It’s really special to be a member of this amazing club, really iconic. I will come for sure."


Let's hear from Novak Djokovic, talking to BBC Sport's Annabel Croft:

"Good afternoon to everyone - not so good for me but good for Carlos. I have to start with praises to Carlos and his team. What a quality at the end of the match when you had to serve it out. You can up with some big plays in the big situation and you absolutely deserve it. Amazing.

I thought I would have trouble with you only on clay and hard court, but not on grass but now it's a different story from this year obviously. Congrats, amazing way to adapt to the surface. You played maybe one or twice. Amazing, what you did in Queens and congratulations to everybody in your team.

As for me, you never like to lose matches like these but I guess when all the emotions are settled I'll have to be very grateful. I won many tight and close matches in the past here, to name a few. 2019 against Roger. Maybe I should have lost a few finals that I won so maybe this is even stevens."

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Kate and Novak

Here's a little more from Novak Djokovic, who became emotional after addressing his son.

First, on if he will still reflect positively on 2023 having reached yet another final following his victories at the Australian Open and French Open:

"I will be tomorrow morning probably but today not so much. Tough one to swallow when you are so close. There are the moment that we work for every day to play on the biggest stages and biggest courts and most important tournaments in the world.

I've been blessed with so many incredible matches throughout my career. I'm really grateful. I lost to a better player and I have to move on stronger.

Asked to give a message to his team, he said:

"It's nice to see my son still there, still smiling. I love you, thank you for supporting me and we can all have a big hug, and love each other. Thank you."

Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic fined for smashing racquet in men's final..

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Novak Djokovic has been fined $8,000 (£6,117) for smashing his racquet against the net post during the Wimbledon men's singles final.

The incident occurred in the fifth set of his loss to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz when the 36-year-old Serb's serve was broken in the third game.

Umpire Fergus Murphy immediately issued Djokovic a warning for a code violation for the transgression.

**The money will be deducted from his runner-up cheque of £1.175m** (Made me have a great belly laugh, how will he cope with that deduction)

Djokovic's frustration had built up in the decisive set of an enthralling contest on Sunday, having missed a simple chance at the net for a break to go 2-0 up.

In the very next game Alcaraz backed up the hold by breaking the serve of the seven-time Wimbledon champion, which prompted the emotional outburst from Djokovic and brought boos from a section of the Centre Court crowd.

World number one Alcaraz took full advantage of the break to seal a 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory after four hours and 42 minutes.

The 20-year-old's victory at the All England Club denied Djokovic a 24th grand slam title.

Vera Zvonareva: Russian tennis player blocked from entering Poland..

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Vera Zvonareva had 'no war' written on her visor while playing at the Miami Open in March 2022

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Vera

Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva was blocked from entering Poland on Friday "for reasons of state security and public safety".

The former world number two, 38, was on the list of players set to compete at the Warsaw Open, starting on Monday.

But Poland's interior ministry said she is also on a list of people considered "undesirable" in the country.

Poland has become one of Ukraine's staunchest allies since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

The country has been refusing entry to people who support the actions of Russia and Belarus, however, Zvonareva had 'no war' written on her visor hat while playing at the Miami Open in March 2022.

"The Border Guard prevented a Russian tennis player from entering Poland," read a statement by the Polish interior ministry on Saturday.

"Vera Zvonareva, using a visa issued by France, tried to get into our country on a flight from Belgrade to Warsaw.

"After arriving from Serbia, the tennis player stayed in the transit zone of Warsaw Chopin Airport and today, after 12:00, she flew to Podgorica (Montenegro)."

The organisers of the Warsaw Open are yet to comment but the Women's Tennis Association said: "The WTA is aware of the situation involving Vera Zvonareva in Warsaw.

"The safety and wellbeing of all players is a top priority of the WTA. Vera has departed Poland and we will be evaluating the issue further with the event."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been supported by Belarus, which led to Russian and Belarusian athletes being banned from many sports.

Wimbledon followed other Grand Slam events by lifting its ban for this year's tournament, "subject to competing as neutral athletes".

Russian and Belarusian players continue to be asked about their stance on the war.

Poland Open: Britons Jodie Burrage and Heather Watson into last 16..

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Heather Watson

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Jodie Burrage.

Britons Jodie Burrage and Heather Watson both reached the last 16 of the Poland Open on Tuesday.

British number two Burrage came from a set down to beat India's Ankita Raina 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4).

Later, Watson beat third seed and world number 36 Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 7-5 6-2 to advance in Warsaw.

Burrage will play Italy's Lucrezia Stefanini next, whilst Watson faces Yuliya Hatouka of Belarus.

Elsewhere, world number one Iga Swiatek returned to the courts for the first time since her Wimbledon quarter-final defeat to wildcard Elina Svitolina.

Switatek comfortably beat Nigina Abduraimova of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-3 on home soil and will play either Claire Liu or Yuan Yue in the last 16.

At the German Open, Britain's Jan Choinski was knocked out in the first round, losing 6-4 7-5 to China's Zhang Zhizhen.

Poland Open: Watson eliminated by doubles partner Wickmayer..By Joe Nelson, BBC Sport.

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Heather Watson will compete alongside Yanina Wickmayer in the doubles final at the Poland Open on Sunday.

Britain's Heather Watson has been eliminated from the Poland Open after losing to her doubles partner Yanina Wickmayer in the quarter-finals.

Watson, 31, was beaten 4-6 3-6 by the Belgian, with Wickmayer set to face top seed Iga Swiatek in the last four.

Watson and Wickmayer defeated Ankita Raina and Yue Yuan 0-6 7-6 6-10 in the doubles semi-finals on Friday.

The doubles final, in which Watson and Wickmayer will take on Polish pair Weronika Falkowska and Katarzyna Piter, takes place on Sunday.

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Emma Raducanu returns to practice court for first time since surgery..

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Emma Raducanu has not played on the WTA Tour since the Porsche Grand Prix in April

Britain's Emma Raducanu has returned to the practice court for the first time since undergoing wrist and ankle surgery in May.

The 20-year-old posted a video of herself hitting with compatriot Kyle Edmund at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton on Wednesday.

"August 2nd, the fun part. First time back on court," she wrote on Instagram.

Former world number 10 Raducanu has been hampered by injuries since her stunning US Open title win in 2021.

Raducanu has not gone beyond the second round of any Grand Slam since becoming the first British woman in 44 years to win a major singles title.

She had played just 10 matches in 2023, winning five, losing four and retiring from one, before having surgery on both wrists and left ankle.

Raducanu missed the French Open and Wimbledon and is unlikely to be fit for the US Open, which begins on 28 August.

She is also without a coach, having split with Sebastian Sachs in June.

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Citi Open: Andy Murray's defeat to Taylor Fritz interrupted by climate protesters..

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Three-time Grand Slam winner Murray was a finalist at the event in Washington DC in 2006.

Andy Murray's last-16 defeat to top seed Taylor Fritz was interrupted by climate protesters at the Citi Open in Washington DC.

Play was halted for five minutes in the first set as three giant tennis balls were thrown on to the court.

The protesters were then escorted from the stands before play resumed.

Murray, 36, came from a break down to take the first set on a tie-break but Fritz fought back to win 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-4.

Murray was playing in his first tournament since his second-round loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon.

American world number nine Fritz entered the tournament in good form after winning the Atlanta Open last week for his sixth ATP career title.

Murray started their match slowly, smashing his racket after going a break down, but fought back to 5-5 before taking the first set on a tie-break.

Fritz gained the upper hand to take the second set, before Murray had a chance to break for 4-2 in the third.

But the American saved the break points, before breaking Murray's serve in the next game and going on to claim victory after three hours on court.

In total, Fritz saved eight of nine Murray break points, including three in the final set.

"I feel like when I'm down those break points, sometimes the opponent might feel some added pressure to it," said Fritz.

"It's been feeling great because that's not always the case, so I'm really happy with how I've been playing these big points."

Murray reflected on a close contest but indicated it was a painful defeat.

"He's one of the better hard court players in the world. I certainly had my chances to win today. So that's a positive," Murray said.

"But obviously you want to be getting through those matches. They were matches I have been used to winning. So it's frustrating right now."

Citi Open: GB's Dan Evans reaches first ATP 500 final with win over Grigor Dimitrov..

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Dan Evans has a 2-0 record over his final opponent Tallon Griekspoor

Dan Evans is through to his first ATP 500 final after a straight-set victory over Grigor Dimitrov in Washington DC.

The British number two beat the Bulgarian 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and will play Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in the final.

He becomes the the first British player to reach the final in Washington since Andy Murray in 2006.

The 33-year-old will hope to claim a second career title to add to the ATP 250 title he won in Melbourne in 2021.

Evans said he felt tired in his semi-final after playing twice on Friday, defeating Russia's Alexander Shevchenko after rain had cancelled their match on Thursday before knocking out home favourite and second seed Frances Tiafoe.

"It was so hard after yesterday putting in such a big effort," Evans said in his on-court interview.

"Coming back today, it was really important for me to not roll over and have a bad performance. The last few months, that is what has happened a little bit."

Dmitrov fired 24 winners to just nine from Evans, but the hard-hitting world number 20 came undone with 30 unforced errors.

The ninth seed has returned to form this week, after defeats in his opening matches at Queen's Club, Wimbledon and the Atlanta Open.

Meanwhile, 12th seed Griekspoor, who is chasing a third title of the season, came from a set down to beat American top seed Taylor Fritz 3-6 6-3 6-2 for his first win over a player in the world top 10.

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