All posts tagged: novak djokovic ndtv sports

From Novak Djokovic Realising His Ultimate Olympic Dream To Legends Having Their Last Dance, Tennis Saw It All In 2024

From Novak Djokovic Realising His Ultimate Olympic Dream To Legends Having Their Last Dance, Tennis Saw It All In 2024

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The passing of the baton from legends to youth in the world of tennis has begun. The era of legendary players is giving way to a new wave of budding youngsters. Tennis stands on the verge of an exciting transformation, with the next generation of stars showing signs of taking centre stage and forging their paths to glory. For India, the year started on a sweet note, with veteran Rohan Bopanna reaching the summit where he stood apart from the rest of his competitors. In January, Bopanna became the oldest player to win a Grand Slam title after tasting success with his partner Matthew Ebden at the Rod Laver Arena by lifting their maiden Australian Open men’s doubles title as a team. The Indian-Australian duo managed to oust the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori with a straight-set win to etch their names in history in golden letters. His success became a sight to behold, especially after he climbed to a career-best world No. 1 in the latest ATP Double Rankings …

Novak Djokovic Splits From Goran Ivanisevic With Bitter Sweet Message

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Novak Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic are to go their separate ways, the tennis world number one announced on Wednesday, ending a five-year association which yielded 12 Grand Slams. Djokovic brought Croatia’s 2001 Wimbledon champion on board as a member of the coaching team ahead of the grass court Grand Slam in 2019 and although the Serbian admitted their “on-court chemistry had its ups and downs”, it also resulted in huge success. However, Djokovic has had by his high standards a poor start to the year, losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Australian Open semi-finals. The 36-year-old Serbian then lost to Sinner’s unheralded compatriot Luca Nardi in the third round at Indian Wells, prompting him to withdraw from the Miami tournament for what he claimed were scheduling reasons. “Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago,” Djokovic posted on Instagram. “Our on court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid. “In fact, I am proud to say (not sure he is) that …

‘Vulnerable’ Rafael Nadal Says Novak Djokovic Clear Favourite At Australian Open

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal admitted Saturday he felt vulnerable heading into the Australian Open after two straight defeats in the build-up and said that Novak Djokovic was clear favourite. The 22-time Grand Slam winner crashed in his season-opening match at the mixed teams United Cup in Sydney to 12th-ranked Cameron Norrie and then again to Australia’s Alex de Minaur. Against the Australian, the Spaniard dropped six consecutive games after leading by a set and 1-0. The 36-year-old top seed faces a testing first-round clash at Melbourne Park on Monday against emerging 21-year-old Briton Jack Draper, who reached the Adelaide semi-finals this week. “Probably one of the toughest first rounds possible… young, powerful, growing very, very fast in the rankings, playing well,” he said. “A big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. Let’s see. I’m here to just give myself a chance. I know he’s playing well.” Nadal has lost six of his last seven matches stretching back to defeat to Frances Tiafoe in the last 16 at the US Open. Asked …

Novak Djokovic Survives Marathon Before Winning Adelaide International Title

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Top seed Novak Djokovic saved a match point Sunday before defeating Sebastian Korda to win the Adelaide International and reinforce his status as a heavy title favourite for the Australian Open. The 21-time Grand Slam winner needed more than three hours to stamp his authority on his unseeded American opponent, son of former world number two Petr Korda, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4. In doing so, Djokovic extended his unbeaten streak in Australia to 34 straight matches. The winner of 92 career titles now heads to the Australian Open in about a week with momentum in his bid to secure the Grand Slam for a 10th time, helped by the absence at Melbourne Park of injured world number one Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, the 2007 champion at Adelaide in the early days of his career, called the pre-Open tune-up week “very special for me”, thrilled by overwhelming fan enthusiasm. “It’s been an amazing week. To be standing here is a gift definitely,” said the Serbian world number five, who missed last year’s Australian Open after being …

No Grudges As Novak Djokovic Feels ‘The Love’ In Australia

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Novak Djokovic said Tuesday the reception he had received in Australia was more than he could wish for and the good vibes would reflect in his tennis as he targets a 22nd Grand Slam title this month. The Serbian star, who will bid for a 10th crown at the Australian Open, is back in the country a year after being kicked out for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. He was barred from returning for three years, but the government has since lifted the ban and Djokovic made a winning return at the Adelaide International, beating Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2. The 35-year-old was given a warm welcome when he played a losing doubles clash on Monday and received similar treatment on a packed centre court. “It’s great to be back. To see the packed house for my first match was definitely a very pleasant surprise. Lots of support, lots of love,” he said at a press conference. “That obviously motivated me and allowed me to express myself in the best possible way on the …

Novak Djokovic Gets Hero’s Welcome During First Match In Australia In Almost 2 Years. Watch

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Novak Djokovic reacts during his doubles match with Vasek Pospisil at the Adelaide International.© AFP Tennis fans gave Novak Djokovic a raucous welcome during his first match in Australia in almost two years when he made a rare doubles appearance at the Adelaide International on Monday. Playing with Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, they lost to doubles specialists Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar 4-6, 6-3, 10/5 but enjoyed overwhelming crowd support along the way. Things you love to see @DjokerNole on a tennis court pic.twitter.com/qukEwfGsu4 — ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2023 It’s all about having fun@DjokerNole x @VasekPospisil #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/at96lzCWvK — ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2023 The Serbian superstar was deported from the country before the 2022 Australian Open for not being vaccinated for Covid and was subsequently barred from re-entering for three years. But the ban was lifted in November and he will be attempting to win a 10th Australian Open title later this month. The match was played on a packed outside court, with the spectators who managed to get in firmly behind …

“Highly Motivated” Rafael Nadal Ready For Novak Djokovic Challenge In Australia

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A “highly motivated” Rafael Nadal welcomed rival Novak Djokovic’s much-anticipated return to the Australian Open as “good for tennis” Wednesday, while brushing off suggestions this may be his last tilt at the season-opening Grand Slam. The 36-year-old Spanish great, who recently became a father, is beginning his new season at the United Cup, a new mixed-teams event starting Thursday in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. It will provide a warm-up for his defence of the Australian Open title next month at Melbourne Park, where he swept past Russian Daniil Medvedev to win this year in an epic five-setter. That victory came after arch-rival and nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic was detained and deported ahead of the tournament after refusing to get vaccinated for Covid-19. Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid. The Serb arrived back in the country on Tuesday for the first time since being turfed out. Nadal, who has a record men’s 22 Grand Slam titles to Djokovic’s 21, said he was happy to see …