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Jan 7, 2024 5:15:14 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 7, 2024 5:15:14 GMT
Rafael Nadal: Spaniard 'unsure' of hip injury concerns after Brisbane International exit..By Jonty Colman, BBC Sport.
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Nadal dropped three match points in the second set of his Brisbane International quarter-final defeatRafael Nadal says he is "not 100% sure of anything" after being injured in his quarter-final defeat by Australian Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International. Nadal failed to convert three match points as he lost 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 in three hours and 26 minutes. The Spaniard, 37, was playing his third match since returning from almost a year out with a hip problem. Nadal needed a medical timeout when he was 1-4 down in the deciding set. A winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal said the pain in his left hip is in a similar place to the injury that required an operation in June 2023, but he hopes this one is just muscular. It comes just nine days before the start of the Australian Open in Melbourne, which he has won twice. Nadal, who has dropped to 672nd in the rankings, said of his chances of playing in the tournament: "I don't know. I hope to have the chance to be practising next week and to play Melbourne. "Honestly, I am not 100% sure of anything now. Then, the next couple of days, let's see how I feel. If I don't feel well, then we are going to do a test and we are going to check it. "I feel the muscle tired. It is not the same like last year at all because when it happened last year, I felt something drastic immediately. Here I didn't feel anything. "The only problem is, because the place is the same, you are a little bit more scared than usual. In an ideal world, it is just the muscle supercharged after a few days of effort and a very tough match. "I have been taking a lot of precaution because I know, after a year, it is difficult for the body to be playing tournaments at the highest level. When things are becoming more difficult, you don't know how your body is going to react." After wins over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler earlier this week, Nadal faced the toughest test of his comeback against Thompson, ranked 55th in the world. Friday's defeat was 33 minutes longer than his victories over Thiem and Kubler combined. Nadal dropped serve midway through the first set only to respond with a break of his own before accelerating away to take the opener. Chances to close out the match came Nadal's way in the second set tie-break, but Thompson clung on to force a decider. From there, the 29-year-old Australian took charge and broke Nadal's serve in the final set, with the veteran unable to recover.
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Jan 7, 2024 22:00:43 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 7, 2024 22:00:43 GMT
Rafael Nadal: Spaniard to miss Australian Open following hip injury..By Harry Poole, BBC Sport.
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Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open in 2009 and 2022Rafael Nadal will miss the Australian Open and instead return to Spain for treatment on a hip injury he sustained at the Brisbane International. Nadal, 37, made his long-awaited return after almost a year out with injury this week, winning his first two matches in Brisbane in straight sets. But he was injured in his quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson on Friday. Nadal said a scan had shown a micro tear on a muscle but not in the same area as his previous long-term injury. The Spaniard, who had not played a singles match for 349 days prior to his opening win over Dominic Thiem, said the result was "good news" but he was "not ready to compete at the maximum level". He said in May, after being forced to miss the French Open for the first time in 19 years, that 2024 would "probably" be the final year of his career, meaning he may have already played his last Australian Open, a tournament he has won twice. But while his latest injury felt in a similar place to that which led to "one of the toughest years" of his illustrious career, crucially it appears it is not as significant as he initially feared. "I have worked very hard during the year for this comeback and as I always mentioned my goal is to be at my best level in three months," 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said on social media. "Within the sad news for me for not being able to play in front of the amazing Melbourne crowds, this is not very bad news and we all remain positive with the evolution for the season. "I really wanted to play in Australia and I have had the chance to play a few matches that made me very happy and positive. "Thanks all for the support and see you soon!" The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on 14th January. Nadal will now focus on returning to fitness in time for the French Open, which begins on 20 May and where he is a record 14-time champion. His most recent appearance at a Grand Slam was the 2023 Australian Open, when he struggled with injury in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald. That was his final appearance on court before having an operation on his left hip in June and the former world number one has since slipped to 672nd in the rankings. With Nadal's withdrawal, this will be the first Australian Open since 1999 without either Nadal or Roger Federer, who retired in 2022, featuring in the men's singles main draw.
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Jan 7, 2024 22:06:19 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 7, 2024 22:06:19 GMT
Rafael Nadal: Why Spanish great will be so missed at Australian Open..
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Rafael Nadal thrilled the Melbourne crowd to beat Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open finalTwo years ago, Rafael Nadal stood in the centre of Rod Laver Arena, hands over his mouth in disbelief. In that moment, he stood alone. He had just battled back from a two-set deficit against Daniil Medvedev, fighting for a little over five hours to lift the Australian Open title and secure a then-men's record 21st Grand Slam title. It is a little different this year. The 37-year-old had arrived in Australia on the first leg of his farewell tour, having said 2024 will likely be his last, but the tape that has long held up the body has unravelled a little further. A hip injury sustained at the Brisbane International has ruled him out of this year's tournament. Nadal may still return to Melbourne - and if there is one thing his career has taught us, it is to never rule him out - but he may also have said goodbye to the city that was home to one of his "most emotional" moments.
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Jan 8, 2024 12:21:02 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 8, 2024 12:21:02 GMT
Emma Raducanu reunites with coach Nick Cavaday before Australian Open..By Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent.
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Emma Raducanu and Nick Cavaday were on court together in Melbourne on MondayEmma Raducanu has reunited with childhood coach Nick Cavaday in time for the Australian Open where she will play her first Grand Slam for a year. The 2021 US Open champion, sidelined for much of 2023 after ankle and wrist surgeries, has been working with a series of LTA coaches since returning to the practice courts in October. The 21-year-old has had a sequence of short-lived coaches since turning professional, but it is understood both she and Cavaday have the desire to work together beyond the Australian Open. She and Briton Cavaday have begun working together in Melbourne before Tuesday's charity match against Naomi Osaka. Raducanu practised for two hours, with the help of a hitting partner, under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena on Monday after a second consecutive day of persistent rain in Melbourne. Cavaday, who was head coach of the LTA's Loughborough Academy until April of last year, also spent time on court with Raducanu in London before Christmas. But the decision that the 37-year-old would fly out to Melbourne to coach Raducanu at the Australian Open was only made in the last week. "I've known Nick since I was 10 years old and he was helping me out the last week at the NTC [National Tennis Centre]. Before that the LTA helped me a ton," Raducanu said while competing on the WTA Tour in Auckland last week. Like Jane O'Donoghue, who assisted Raducanu in Auckland last week, Cavaday worked with the former British number one when she was a junior. A former Futures Tour player, Cavaday coached British players Aljaz Bedene (who later reverted to Slovenian nationality) and Dom Inglot before spending four and a half years at the Loughborough Academy. Since leaving in April, he has been coaching British 18-year-old Ranah Stoiber. Cavaday is a big believer in the development of a player, and in carefully tailored programmes to deliver long-term improvement. Raducanu, who parted ways with German coach Sebastian Sachs shortly after having three operations on her hands and left ankle in May, only started seriously to consider coaching options in December, once a return to the tour in Australia seemed very likely. She will not need to qualify for next week's Australian Open, having gained direct entry after the withdrawal of the American Lauren Davis, and so has taken the chance to play two exhibition matches. Tuesday evening's match with Osaka will be the first of a series of charity matches on the Rod Laver Arena this week. And then on Thursday, Raducanu will play 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who reached the fourth round of last year's Wimbledon, at the Kooyong Classic to the east of Melbourne. In Auckland last week, Raducanu took last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina to three sets, having beaten Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her first match since April. "The biggest goal I have going forward is just being healthy, being injury free," Raducanu said last week when asked about her goals for the season. "And then tennis-wise I think it's really important for me to approach it with the identity of how I want to play tennis and not let anything dictate that. And then, results-wise, I want to be more consistent."
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Jan 8, 2024 12:24:03 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 8, 2024 12:24:03 GMT
Adelaide International 2024 results: Jack Draper earns opening win but Katie Boulter loses..
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Jack Draper reached his first tour-level final in Sofia in NovemberJack Draper opened with an impressive straight-set win over Sebastian Baez at the Adelaide International but fellow Briton Katie Boulter lost. Draper, 22, comfortably beat the 26th-ranked Baez 6-1 6-3 as he continues his preparations for the Australian Open. However, British number one Boulter suffered a 6-3 6-4 defeat by Romania's Anna Bogdan in the women's event. Qualifying for the Australian Open was due to begin on Monday but rain prevented any matches being played. The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, starts in Melbourne on 14 January. Draper, the world number 62, is set to join Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Emma Raducanu, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Andy Murray in the main draw in Melbourne. Following a breakthrough 2022 in which he reached a new career-high ranking 22 times, Draper made his debut appearance at the tournament last year but struggled with cramp as he lost to Rafael Nadal in four sets in the opening round. Contesting his first match of the year following a 2023 season disrupted by a shoulder injury, a fit and firing Draper always looked in control against 23-year-old Baez. He closed out the opening set by winning five games in a row before another double break of serve settled the second after one hour and 18 minutes. "I'm very happy with my performance today. It's not easy coming out for the first match of the year," said Draper, who will play Miomir Kecmanovic or Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. "I feel really confident, really happy with my body and my game. I just want to carry on playing injury-free." World number 57 Boulter, 27, will now turn her attention to the Australian Open following her exit against 66th-ranked Bogdan. Both players resisted break points in the early stages but Bogdan, 31, was able to serve out the first set after making the breakthrough in the eighth game. And although Boulter took a 2-0 lead at the start of the second, Bogdan battled back - with a run of four consecutive games putting her on course for victory. Harriet Dart and Heather Watson are among eight British players who will be aiming to join their compatriots in the Australian Open main draw once qualifying is able to get under way, with Monday's matches rescheduled for Tuesday.
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Jan 9, 2024 8:37:58 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 9, 2024 8:37:58 GMT
Emma Raducanu: Briton pulls out of charity match before Australian Open..By Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent.
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Emma Raducanu's most recent Grand Slam appearance was at last year's Australian OpenBritain's Emma Raducanu withdrew from a charity match on Tuesday that was part of her Australian Open build-up. The 2021 US Open champion is set to make her Grand Slam return next week in Melbourne after missing much of 2023 following ankle and wrist surgeries. She woke up a "little sore" after a two-hour practice session on Monday and chose to rest instead. Earlier, original opponent Naomi Osaka pulled out and was replaced by Donna Vekic for the match at Melbourne Park. The charity match - the first of four scheduled to take place in the lead-up to the start of the Australian Open on Sunday - was later cancelled. World number two Carlos Alcaraz and Australian number one Alex de Minaur meet on Wednesday. Players often pull out of these charity matches for the most minor of reasons - and Raducanu was inevitably going to be tired after matches and practice sessions having not played for nearly nine months. The current world number 299, who has gained direct entry into this year's Australian Open main draw, is scheduled to play 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva at the Kooyong Classic to the east of Melbourne on Thursday. The draw for the Australian Open - Raducanu's most recent major before having surgery - takes place that day.
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Jan 9, 2024 14:57:49 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 9, 2024 14:57:49 GMT
Adelaide International: Britain's Dan Evans wins on return from injury..ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/9/17/be63867d-27ee-49b3-a2d7-81f6fdd5b1ff.jpgDan Evans won the first ATP 500 title of his career last seasonBritish number two Dan Evans impressed on his return from injury by beating Australian Rinky Hijikata in straight sets at the Adelaide International. Competing for the first time since tearing his calf at the Vienna Open in October, he won 6-3 6-4 to set up a last-16 match against Alexander Bublik. Evans, 33, made a fast start under the Centre Court lights in Adelaide, forcing three break points in Hijikata's opening service game before breaking to 15 for a 3-1 lead. The fleet-footed world number 40 produced several moments of brilliance and, although unable to make the most of five more break points two games later, he was untroubled in serving out a dominant first set. Hijikata provided sterner resistance in the second but Evans took full advantage when the 22-year-old wildcard's level dropped in the ninth game - allowing him to serve out a satisfying victory. "I was a little tired - it's my first match of the year - and it was important to keep focused," said Evans, who reached a career-high rank of 21 after winning the biggest title of his career at the Citi Open in Washington last August. "It was a very good match to be part of and the crowd were very fair as well." On his recovery from injury, he added: "It was challenging to get injured at the end of last year. It took a while to heal and I'm still looking after it. I'm still a little nervous but it feels all right."
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Jan 11, 2024 9:33:36 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 11, 2024 9:33:36 GMT
Australian Open 2024 draw: Emma Raducanu plays Shelby Rogers, Andy Murray faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/D23A/production/_131481835_gettyimages-1251954017-1.jpgEmma Raducanu will play American Shelby Rogers when she makes her Grand Slam return at the Australian Open following an eight-month injury lay-off. The 21-year-old Briton, who had wrist and ankle surgeries last May, could play British number one Katie Boulter in the Melbourne third round. Boulter starts against China's Yuan Yue, with 12th seed Zheng Qinwen looming in the second round. Five-time finalist Andy Murray plays 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The Australian Open, which is the first Grand Slam event of the 2024 season, starts at Melbourne Park on Sunday. The tournament has been extended to 15 days, in a move which organisers say will alleviate late-night finishes, and culminates with the finals weekend on 27-28 January. Raducanu starts with US Open rematchFormer British number one Raducanu made her competitive comeback at the Auckland Classic last week and is set to return to Grand Slam action in a draw which has special significance. In the extraordinary US Open title triumph which shocked the world in 2021, Raducanu won 11 games in a row to beat Rogers and reach the quarter-finals in New York. After her lengthy absence, Raducanu is playing at Melbourne Park under an injury-protected ranking of 103rd in the world. Rogers, also playing under an injury-protected ranking, had been a fixture inside the top 50 before missing the second half of last season with an abdominal issue. The winner will play China's Wang Yafan or Romanian 22nd seed Sorana Cirstea in the second round. Raducanu and 57th-ranked Boulter, who is aiming to build on a career-best season in 2023, are among three Britons with direct entry to the women's singles. Jodie Burrage is making her debut in the Australian Open main draw and takes on German world number 81 Tamara Korspatsch. Who are the other Britons playing?Murray, 36, was the only British player to land a seeded opponent when the draw was made at Melbourne Park on Thursday. ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/9/15/8df4c1c8-9206-40c9-ae27-e9da9e17791c.jpgThe world number 44, who said in a recent interview with BBC Sport this could be his last year before retirement, is likely to face Novak Djokovic if he reaches the third round. Cameron Norrie is Britain's highest ranked player and seeded 19th. He faces Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in a part of the draw which appears quite favourable. Dan Evans continues his return after a calf injury with a match against Italy's world number 46 Lorenzo Sonego and could face second seed Carlos Alcaraz in the next round. Jack Draper is aiming to build on an encouraging end to the 2023 season and will face American Marcos Giron, who is ranked 60th and never been past the first round in Melbourne. Two Britons - Francesca Jones and Oliver Crawford, an American-born player who recently switched allegiance - could yet join them in the main draw by coming through qualifying.
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Jan 12, 2024 9:28:52 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 12, 2024 9:28:52 GMT
Andy Murray gets first win of season v Dominic Thiem..
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Andy Murray has said this year could be his last on tour if he is not enjoying his tennisThere was a morale-boosting victory for Andy Murray, who beat Dominic Thiem in an exhibition match for his first victory of 2024. The 6-4 6-2 win comes before the year's opening Grand Slam starts on Sunday. Three-time Grand Slam winner Murray was knocked out in the first round of the Brisbane International last week and lost to Marin Cilic at the Kooyong Classic exhibition event on Wednesday. The Scot, 36, told BBC Sport a fortnight ago that this year could be his final one on the tour if it proved to be as challenging as the end to last season, where he won just two matches in his final five events. Murray has been drawn against 30th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina in the first round of the Australian Open, the tournament where he has been a beaten finalist on five occasions.
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Jan 12, 2024 9:31:55 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 12, 2024 9:31:55 GMT
Australian Open 2024: Emma Raducanu 'feeling good' in Melbourne..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/16A1/production/_128039750_emma.jpgEmma Raducanu has allayed any fears about her fitness before making a Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old Briton returned to competitive action in Auckland last week after eight months out following operations on her wrists and ankle. Raducanu pulled out of two exhibition events in Melbourne this week but has practised and shown no signs of issues. "For a few days after the matches I was sore but I've bounced back from that and I'm feeling good now," she said. Raducanu is playing in the first Grand Slam of the 2024 season using an injury-protected ranking of 103rd in the world. She moved directly into the main draw, without needing to qualify or receive a wildcard, after several withdrawals from higher-ranked players. Raducanu will play American Shelby Rogers - who the Briton beat on the way to winning the US Open in 2021 - in the first round on Monday or Tuesday. "I did a lot of good work in the off-season. But regardless of how good I may feel on the court on a particular day or in practice, getting that level of consistency is going to require more time," Raducanu said. "I've been doing the right work, doing it consistently. I just need to keep going more and more." In her pre-tournament news conference on Friday, she added: "I think my level, to be honest, is just too good not to come through if I put consistent work together." ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/9978/production/_127488293_gettyimages-1243680139.jpgRaducanu opened her comeback tournament in Auckland with a win against Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse, then produced a high level against Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina before fading physically in a deciding set which she lost 6-1. Afterwards Raducanu had some soreness and decided it would not be in her best interests to play in the exhibition matches - one at Melbourne Park as part of the Australian Open's fan week and another against Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva at the Kooyong Classic. Instead Raducanu did full practice sessions at Melbourne Park this week and hit with British number two Jodie Burrage on Friday. "She was absolutely creaming the ball. She was proper going for it. It was a good practice," Burrage said. "It's nice to see her back on the court, back playing some really good stuff as well. It will be really interesting to see what she does this week."
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Jan 12, 2024 9:41:35 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 12, 2024 9:41:35 GMT
Australian Open 2024: A host of illustrious names have returned to action at the start of the 2024 season, adding more star power to an eagerly anticipated first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open.ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17A45/production/_132273869_ao.png.webpichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11131/production/_132273996_aus.png.webpCould this be Andy Murray's last stand ?
When you think back to an emotional Andy Murray telling the media at the 2019 Australian Open he thought he would soon have to retire because of impending hip surgery, it still defies logic the 36-year-old will be playing again in Melbourne this year. Former world number one Murray, with metal inserted into his hip joint, continues to plug away as he aims for another deep run at a major. Now 44th in the world, the Briton came close to a seeding - as one of the top 32 men - at Wimbledon and the US Open last year. But the end to the season was rockier. Starting from the US Open in August, he finished the year with three wins from his final six tournaments and a shoulder injury kept him out of the Davis Cup Finals. Picking up a sickness bug and bruising the meniscus in his knee meant the start of his pre-season was "not straightforward". Speaking to BBC Sport two weeks ago in Brisbane, Murray accepted this year could be his final one on the tour if it proved to be as challenging as the end to last season. However, he thought practice sessions had showed his level "was good enough" to make encouraging progress in Melbourne and beyond. For how long he does not yet know.
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Jan 13, 2024 22:39:32 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 13, 2024 22:39:32 GMT
Australian Open 2024: Cameron Norrie concerned but hopeful over wrist injury..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/02/20/74996561-0-image-a-34_1693682985813.jpgBritish number one Cameron Norrie remains concerned about a wrist injury but thinks he is "going to be good" to play in the Australian Open. Norrie, who is the only Briton seeded at the first Grand Slam of the season, pulled out of an ATP event in Auckland on Thursday because of the issue. Speaking on Saturday, he said: "We're managing [the injury] with my team. It was better today, which is positive." Norrie is due to play Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in the first round on Tuesday. Left-hander Norrie said he started feeling pain in his left wrist shortly after beating France's Luca van Assche in the third round of the Auckland Classic on Wednesday. As a result, the world number 19 withdrew from the tournament - which takes place in the city where he grew up - before his quarter-final on Thursday. Norrie, 28, said he had a scan which did not reveal any serious issue, but added: "I couldn't play Auckland so obviously I'm concerned. "It's feeling better. I think I'm going to be good. Luckily I'm scheduled to play on Tuesday, so I have a few more days and I'm looking forward to practice tomorrow." The setback comes after a positive start to the new season for Norrie, who is looking to bounce back after a poor end to last year where he admitted feeling burned out. Norrie began with a notable win over in-form Australian world number 10 Alex de Minaur at the United Cup.
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Jan 13, 2024 22:43:13 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 13, 2024 22:43:13 GMT
Adelaide International: Jack Draper loses to Jiri Lehecka in ATP final..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1B69/production/_128271070_draper.jpgBritain's Jack Draper missed out on the first ATP Tour title of his career as opponent Jiri Lehecka fought back to win 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the Adelaide final. Draper, 22, started impressively in a quality contest but paid the price for a dip at the end of the second set. Finely balanced at 4-4, Draper lost the next five games as Lehecka levelled the match and moved 3-0 up in the decider. The 22-year-old Czech saved three break points from 40-0 down for 4-1 and then served out to win his maiden ATP title. Draper cut a frustrated figure in the deciding set, expressing his annoyance by shouting underneath a towel at one changeover and receiving a warning for hitting the ball out of the court after Lehecka held serve in the fifth game. Nevertheless, Draper will take plenty of positives as he travels to Melbourne for the Australian Open. "This is why I train and work hard, hopefully I can play in many more big finals like this," said the British number four, who will move up to 55th in the world after this performance. Draper reached a career-high ranking of 38th early last year, but dropped out of the top 100 after missing three months in the middle of the season with a shoulder injury. It was the latest in a long line of physical issues which have hampered the powerful left-hander. After regaining fitness, he reached the last 16 at the US Open in September and continued to perform strongly in the latter stages of 2023. The highlight was contesting his first tour-level final at the Sofia Open in October, although he was beaten to the title by experienced Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the final.
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Jan 14, 2024 19:04:23 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2024 19:04:23 GMT
Australian Open 2024 results: Jodie Burrage loses to Tamara Korpatsch on day one..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/14/08/79988017-0-image-a-1_1705220506614.jpgBritish number two Jodie Burrage says she needs to improve her self-belief after letting a one-set lead slip on her Australian Open main-draw debut. Burrage, 24, was beaten 2-6 6-3 6-0 by Germany's Tamara Korpatsch on the tournament's historic Sunday start. The Briton made a confident start but faded badly as Korpatsch took control and won nine of the final 10 games. "I've got to do some work and trying to back myself and believe a little bit more," said Burrage, who is ranked 102. "You could see it today. It was just absolutely panic stations at some point." On trying to show more self-belief at the highest level, Burrage added: "I think ultimately that's what I struggle with a lot. If I'm honest, I've struggled with that my whole career. "In a match like today when someone just stops missing and puts balls in court, it's not easy to have the confidence to hit through them. "I need to learn how to back myself on the court because at the moment I don't in those situations." Burrage was the first of seven Britons playing in the singles, with the rest in action on Monday or Tuesday as the first round is now spread over three days.
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Jan 14, 2024 19:10:01 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2024 19:10:01 GMT
Australian Open 2024: Andy Murray plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/12/16/79943619-12956893-image-a-32_1705076276131.jpgAndy Murray hopes to avoid another marathon match when he starts his latest Australian Open campaign against Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Five-time finalist Murray, 36, plays 30th seed Etcheverry at about 16:30 local time in Melbourne (05:30 GMT). The pair played for over three hours in their two meetings last year, both of which were played across three sets. "I made most of my matches quite physical last year. I don't know if it was necessarily him," Murray joked. Britain's Murray tended to do things the hard way in 2023, particularly in the early part of the season when his first seven wins of the year went to deciding sets. The first of those victories came at the Australian Open, where Murray beat Italy's Matteo Berrettini in almost five hours before recovering to clinch victory over Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis in a match lasting almost six hours and finishing at 04:05 local time. The seventh win of the run came against 24-year-old Etcheverry, with Murray coming through 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-4 victory at Indian Wells after three hours and 12 minutes. The pair met again at Basel in October, where Murray lost 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 after another three-hour tussle. "He has a game that can make the matches that way," world number 44 Murray said. "Again, I know that last year when I wasn't serving well, you end up getting into lots more long rallies. "Because of the way I return, I put quite a lot of returns back in play, you can end up getting into lots of long points when that's the case and matches will go on. "Hopefully that's not the case on Monday."
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Jan 14, 2024 19:14:05 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2024 19:14:05 GMT
Australian Open 2024 results: Novak Djokovic beats qualifier Dino Prizmic in his longest first-round match..
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Novak Djokovic was full of praise for his young rival on Sunday nightDefending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic said it was like "playing myself in the mirror" after he came through the longest first-round Grand Slam match of his career against teenage qualifier Dino Prizmic. Djokovic, chasing a record-extending 11th men's title in Melbourne, needed four hours and one minute to beat the 18-year-old 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4. Croat Prizmic, facing his childhood idol on his debut appearance at a Grand Slam, saved six match points before Djokovic, 36, secured victory. "[He has] so much potential. He has everything that he needs and can still improve," world number one Djokovic said of his opponent, ranked 178th. "The way he is mentally present on the court, I like it a lot. He never gives up. "I felt like I was playing [against] myself in the mirror. He has no weaknesses, really." Djokovic, who could achieve a record 25th Grand Slam singles title this month, later said he had felt "under the weather". While the Serb will face Alexei Popyrin or Marc Polmans in the second round, Prizmic - crowned French Open boys' champion last year - has a bright future ahead on the evidence of his breakthrough performance on Rod Laver Arena. Sunday's match surpassed Djokovic's previous longest in the first round of a major, which was a three-hour-57-minute encounter against Gael Monfils at the US Open in 2005. Few could have anticipated the absorbing tussle which would develop after Djokovic took a straightforward first set. But Prizmic hinted at what was to come when he broke Djokovic for the first time for a 3-1 lead in the second, before holding his nerve in the tie-break with his fourth set point. That set up a rollercoaster third set, which Djokovic claimed by winning four successive games - but only after Prizmic had battled back with a double break from 2-0 down. And even as the result began to appear a formality in the fourth set when Djokovic continued his run of games for a 4-0 lead, his teenage opponent refused to go quietly, breaking back before saving four match points in the ninth game to force the top seed to serve out victory. "He deserves all the applause. He is an amazing player, he handled himself incredibly well on the court. This is his moment," Djokovic said. "It could easily have been his match as well. He showed great mentality and resilience. "I certainly want to be in his corner. So hopefully he will invite me, because he will make some big things in his career that's for sure." i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/14/12/79992293-12961759-image-a-16_1705235698116.jpgDjokovic urged the Rod Laver Arena crowd to applaud the 18-year-old after his victory
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Jan 15, 2024 9:40:47 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 15, 2024 9:40:47 GMT
Australian Open 2024 results: Andy Murray loses to Tomas Martin Etcheverry..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/08/80020303-0-image-a-5_1705306954294.jpg
Andy Murray is out of the Australian Open after losing to Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets in the first roundAndy Murray made a rare exit in the Australian Open first round after a subdued display against Argentine 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The 36-year-old Briton showed little emotion as he lost 6-4 6-2 6-2 on the second day of the Melbourne tournament. Murray, a five-time finalist, failed to reach the second round for only the second time in his past 13 appearances. After conceding 2024 could be his final season before retirement, the Scot has lost both of his matches this year. Murray told BBC Sport in Brisbane he would think about ending his stellar career if he did not enjoy playing this year, having struggled for form in the closing stages of the 2023 season. Since the start of the US Open in August, Murray has lost eight of his past 12 matches - including the past four. i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/08/80020611-12964033-image-a-32_1705307834390.jpg
Murray had pressured his opponent in the opening set, but failed to pull off one of his signature comebacks on this occasionKnown for his long and gruelling encounters last season, Murray said he wanted to avoid another marathon match against Etcheverry. Unfortunately for the British number four, it was a quick match for the wrong reasons. Both of the two previous meetings between the pair - three-set matches which they split on the ATP Tour last season - lasted more than three hours. This five-set match finished much quicker as the Scot toiled in a worryingly below-par performance. Murray had his serve broken six times, including twice when he lost the final five games, and did not threaten Etcheverry's serve after the second game of the match. Having shown little expression throughout, Murray appeared emotional as he waved farewell to all sides of the Kia Arena on his way back to the locker room. Five years ago, the Australian Open played a video montage in tribute to Murray when they thought it would be his last appearance because of an impending hip surgery. It turned out to be very premature. But if there are many more performances like that this season then Murray, by his own admission, may not be back here next year. i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/08/80020607-12964033-image-a-31_1705307803993.jpg
The Brit gave a subdued wave to the crowd, who supported him throughout, as he exited the court after the gameSpeaking last week in Melbourne, Murray discussed how he was trying to show less frustration on court when he was not playing as well as he would expect. There was plenty of emotion during his matches last season - chuntering at his box, screaming at himself and threatening to smash racquets in the difficult moments. But in his defeat against Etcheverry on Monday, there was barely a flicker of emotion as the match ran away from him. One of the things that left Murray particularly frustrated last year was the struggles with his service game. He was working hard to improve in that area during pre-season, but Murray landed just 46% of his first serves, and won just 33% of points behind his second, in a costly first set against Etcheverry. Etcheverry, known for his supreme fitness and solidity from the baseline, coped with everything Murray could throw at him. Even when the former world number one tried to mix things up by bringing him forward, he kept his composure and responded with delicate touches. A double fault and two poor baseline returns from Murray gifted more break points in the third game of the second set, but even saving the third opportunity with a delicious drop-shot was not enough. Murray succumbed to the fourth and the sight of his shoulders slumping as he walked back to his chair demonstrated the scale of the task facing him. The unforced errors continued to tot up from Murray and it helped Etcheverry, still playing at a high level, cruise to only his second win at Melbourne Park.
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Jan 15, 2024 9:52:06 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 15, 2024 9:52:06 GMT
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Jan 18, 2024 9:57:43 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2024 9:57:43 GMT
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Jan 18, 2024 14:53:39 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2024 14:53:39 GMT
Emma Raducanu v Wang Yafan - Australian Open 2nd Roundichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/1/18/d43f355d-22c6-4536-8de1-1542d7308cba.jpgGame, set and match - Wang Yafan - Raducanu 4-6 6-4 4-6 Wang Wang Yafan has done it. She sprints to pick up a Raducanu drop shot and that forces the error. After almost three hours she has found her way through. Emma Raducanu's comeback Grand Slam is ends with signs of promise and things to work on. ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/1/18/f40de4fd-7fb8-47d8-ace1-e52079c3417f.jpgAustralian Open 2024 results: Emma Raducanu loses to Wang Yafan..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Melbourne Park.Emma Raducanu says there was "no way" she was going to quit in her Grand Slam comeback as she battled valiantly before losing at the Australian Open. Britain's Raducanu, 21, was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-4 by China's Wang Yafan in a second-round match where she was "throwing up" in her mouth. Raducanu was playing only her fourth match after wrist and ankle surgeries which kept her out for eight months. "Everything I went through last year has made me so much tougher," she said. "There was no way I was going to pull out. She was going to have to beat me - and she did." For any player coming back from such a long absence, it takes time to reach match sharpness and patience with their progress will be required. With Raducanu, given the long list of physical and mental struggles she has endured since winning the 2021 US Open, even more caution is necessary. Therefore it was unsurprising - but not necessarily worrying - to see Raducanu suffer in the deciding set of an intense battle with 94th-ranked Wang. Raducanu looked like she was going to be sick early in the third set and had her blood pressure checked by a doctor. Despite that, she had chances to break back in the decider but Wang held on. Afterwards, Raducanu alleviated any concerns by saying she thought it was a stomach bug. "All of a sudden I just felt so sick, really like weak and nauseous. Throughout the third set I think everyone could see it was a bit of a battle," she said. "Physically, I felt fine. It was more I was throwing up in my mouth. Now I'm OK, I'll get over it. "It just sucks with the timing." The way she scrapped throughout a three-hour contest, and showed glimpses of her undoubted quality, was encouraging and admirable. In a testing breeze, Wang played precisely and smartly in the first set as Raducanu was made to pay for a slow start. The former British number one was unable to recover from going a double break down and lost serve again in the first game of the second set. When Raducanu faced two more break points at 1-1, it felt as though Wang's solidity would be enough to win in straight sets. But there was plenty to admire about Raducanu's response. She managed to increase her level, put an extra spring in her step, and immediately broke back for 2-2 at the fifth attempt. When Wang again served into the wind at 4-3 down, Raducanu stuck in another baseline duel and finished off a 24-shot rally with a crosscourt forehand winner to move a break up. Getting over the line was difficult. But competing on the biggest stages of all is where Raducanu wants to be and she showed her resilience. Raducanu missed two set points on her own serve, but took a fourth opportunity in the next game to force a decider. Both players took a breather before the third set started and Raducanu handed over an early advantage by missing a forehand which she would expect to put away. Then came the breathing difficulties and feeling nauseous. When she trailed 2-0, she required an assessment from the doctor and the prescribing of some tablets. Still Raducanu refused to give in. Four more break points came and went for the Briton before Wang served out to reach a Grand Slam third round for the first time.
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