Archive of posts tagged Novak Djokovic

Alcaraz: Grass Game Most Beautiful Form of Tennis

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"The style that the people bring to the court when they play on grass, I think is so beautiful," Carlos Alcaraz said. Alcaraz

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Saturday, June 28, 2025
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport

An old adage states beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Grass-court tennis is the game’s most alluring surface for Carlos Alcaraz.

Tennis Express

Two-time Wimbledon champion Alcaraz proclaims the lawn game is the most transcendent tennis for players and fans.

“I think the most beautiful tennis that we can watch is on grass,” Alcaraz told the media at Wimbledon today. “The style that the people bring to the court when they play on grass, I think is so beautiful.

“The sound of the ball. The movement is really tough, but when you get it, it's kind of you're flying (smiling).”

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

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Grass rewards the five-time Grand Slam champion’s athleticism, aggression and all-court acumen, which are among the reasons Alcaraz loves lawns.

“It's just pretty well to me because I really want to hit slices, dropshots, going to the net all the time, playing aggressively,” Alcaraz said. “I think on grass it's the style that you have to play. So that's what I like the most.”

Riding a career-best 18-match winning streak into his Wimbledon title defense, Alcaraz opens Centre Court play against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini on Monday at 1:30 p.m.

It’s Alcaraz's first match since he beat Jiri Lehecka to win Queen’s Club—his fourth career grass-court championship equaling Rafa Nadal and Feliciano Lopez for most by a Spanish man in the Oepn Era.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

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The two-time reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner is aiming to join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in capturing three consecutive Wimbledon crowns in the Open Era.

Alcaraz said today he’s hunting the title—not necessarily that legacy list.

“I'm coming here thinking that, yeah, I really want to win the title. I really want to lift the trophy,” Alcaraz said. “Not thinking about how much players have done it, you know, winning three Wimbledons in a row.

“I'm just thinking about, okay, I just want to be ready and just want to prepare myself in the best way possible, just to start the tournament with a lot of confident. Obviously I feel a lot of confident right now (smiling).

"But just thinking about still going forward, it's still doing the good things, and start the tournament. So two weeks could be really long on a Grand Slam, but right now I'm not thinking about who I could join if I win three Wimbledons in a row.”

While media and fan speculation over Alcaraz’s relationship with US Open mixed doubles partner Emma Raducanu has run rampant since his UK return, the five-time Grand Slam champion has been busy teeing off with another British major winner.

“I play some golf. Actually, I play with Andy Murray on Monday and a few more players,” Alcaraz said of post Queen’s Club activity. “Just went to the center a little bit. Just wanted to go to the center a little bit, walk around, have a good food, and just having quality time with them doing some stuff that probably I wouldn't be able to do it while the tournament is on.”

Djokovic's Last Wimbledon Dance?

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The Grand Slam king talks up his chances ahead of his Alexandre Muller

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday June 28, 2025

He’s 38. He’s done everything there is to do in the sport. Well, almost everything…

Tennis Express

Novak Djokovic doesn’t stand atop the all-time Wimbledon men’s singles titles list, and he isn’t the oldest man to ever win a major singles title. If he can somehow find a way to be the last man standing at the end of this Wimbledon fortnight, he could add a few select chapters to his voluminous legacy.

At Wimbledon, most agree that it is Djokovic’s best chance. The Serbian legend himself said so on Saturday during his pre-tournament media conference. Maybe it’s even his last chance?

“I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance [for a 25th Grand Slam title] because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, just getting that extra push mentally and motivation to perform the best tennis at the highest level,” he said.

Djokovic, who enters these Championships with a 97-12 record on his hallowed Wimbledon grass, hopes it isn’t his last dance at Wimbledon, but he admits it is a possibility.

“Whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure,” he said. “My wish is to play for several more years. I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. That's the goal, but you never know at this stage.”

Djokovic has been defeated in the final by Carlos Alcaraz in successive years, in five sets in 2023 and in straight sets last year.

He hopes that his form at the majors means he’ll be able to find his way back to another final, and maybe even win it.

Grand Slams stay quite consistent, quarters or semi-finals except for the US Open. That's a good sign. These tournaments give me the biggest drive still. Australia and at Roland-Garros showed me that I can still play on a very high level at the later stages.”

Djokovic will face France’s Alexandre Muller in the first round at Wimbledon.

Toni Nadal: "Exceptional" Alcaraz Has Skills to Surpass Rafa Nadal's Career

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"I am not a fortune teller, but he has the [skills] to surpass [Rafa Nadal]," Toni Nadal said.Carlos Alcaraz

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, June 13, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

Toni Nadal has spent his coaching career focused on the tennis ball not a crystal ball.

Still, watching an "exceptional" Carlos Alcaraz out-duel world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the longest Roland Garros final in history compels Toni Nadal to a powerful conclusion: Alcaraz has the skills to match—and perhaps surpass—King of Clay Rafael Nadal's career.

Tennis Express

Toni Nadal, uncle and original coach of Rafa Nadal, met Spanish media at "The Battle Of Stars" celebrity golf pro-am in Mallorca on Thursday.

Uncle Toni cites a few reasons why he believes Alcaraz can achieve a career similar to 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal: the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner is exceptionally skilled, an explosive athlete—and for now the 22-year-old Spaniard's primary rival is Sinner whereas Rafa Nadal had to confront two fellow legends in Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

"[Carlitos] is an exceptional player who has all the [skills] in the world," Toni Nadal told Spanish media in comments published by AS.com. He's the fastest, he hits it very hard, he hits it well with a drive, with a backhand, the serve has improved a lot…

"I see him as a great player and on top of that I think he has an advantage, today he doesn't have the best Federer or the best Djokovic as rivals. He has a very good one which is Jannik Sinner, but I think the others for him are quite [manageable]."

During the record-setting five hour, 29-minute Roland Garros final on Sunday, TNT analyst and Hall of Famer John McEnroe created controversy—and sparked some backlash from Rafa Nation— declaring the stratospheric level both Alcaraz and Sinner produced would beat prime Nadal in a hypothetical RG final.

"You took a look at them bringing their A-game right now — I'm saying Sinner and Alcaraz against Nadal on clay — you would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favored to beat Nadal, at his best," McEnroe said. "Do I think they're going to reach, 20, 24 titles either one of them?

"No. Because I think that plateau is so hard it's almost impossible; there's more depth in the game, bigger hitters, and more things happen."

Toni Nadal took his analysis a step further than McEnroe saying Alcaraz, if healthy, can match and perhaps "surpass" his Olympic doubles partner's career.

"I am not a fortune teller, but he has the [skills] to surpass [Rafa Nadal]," Toni Nadal said.

Alcaraz on Facing Sinner in RG Final: Beautiful Brutality

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"They push you to the limit," Carlos Alcaraz said of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.Adam

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, June 6, 2025
Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty

King of Clay Rafa Nadal famously said suffering is a prerequisite to Grand Slam success.

Reigning Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz says facing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner brings beautiful brutality. 

World No. 2 Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti in four sets to power into his second straight Roland Garros final with his 13th consecutive win in Paris.

Tennis Express

Alcaraz rides a 4-0 record in Grand Slam finals into Sunday's French Open final against either Sinner in a rematch of the 2024 Roland Garros semifinals.

A red-hot Sinner scorched 44 winners and saved three set points in the third set fending off Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in three hours, 16 minutes to advance to his maiden Roland Garros final.

It's the first time since the 1984 French Open that both men's and women's singles finals feature No. 1 vs. No. 2 with Aryna Sabalenka meeting Coco Gauff in the women's title match tomorrow.

Asked afterward what he loves about facing those two champions, Alcaraz said both bring out his best—and reinforce his belief pain is progress because both rivals "push you to the limit."

"I mean, I enjoy every time that I'm playing against them, because I love that battle," Alcaraz told the media in Paris. "But, you know, most of the time is just about suffering, because they push you to the limit."

Alcaraz said those brutal showdowns are beautiful experiences that make him a better player.

"But my favorite thing is, as I said, it gives you the feedback of how can I be better, a better player," Alcaraz said. "I think that's important, and that's beautiful, even though if I win or not, gives you a lot of stats and gives you the feedback."

Paris | Djokovic and Sinner set up blockbuster S/F

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In many ways its not surprising to find Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the French Open, but at 38 years of age and having recently collected his 100th title, the Serbian seems to have found a renewed confidence as he makes a final push for that 25th grand slam singles title.

The post Paris | Djokovic and Sinner set up blockbuster S/F appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine.

Tiafoe on Musetti Controversy: I Think It's Comical

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"Obviously he did that and nothing happened," Frances Tiafoe said of Lorenzo Musetti kicking a ball that struck a linesperson..Arthur Ashe Stadium court

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Facebook

The ball didn't bounce Frances Tiafoe's way, but a crucial kicked ball call favored Lorenzo Musetti.

Tiafoe wasn't happy about it.

Tennis Express

In case you missed it: During the second set of Musetti's 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 Roland Garros quarterfinal conquest of Tiafoe today, the frustrated Italian kicked a stray ball. Though there was no malice in the kick and the ball was struck softly it hit a lineswoman in the chest.

Tiafoe looked at the chair umpire for a call. The chair umpire hit Musetti with a code violation warning, but not a default, which was an option.

Asked his view of the controversy afterward, Tiafoe said there's a double standard at play that he called "comical."

"I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened," Tiafoe told the media in Paris. "I think that's comical, but it is what it is. Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about.

"Obviously it's not consistent, so it is what it is."

Former US Open semifinalist Tiafoe is well aware of Novak Djokovic being defaulted from the US Open after accidentally striking a lineswoman in the throat with a ball.

At the 2020 US Open, Djokovic hit a ball in frustration at the back wall after dropping serve. The shot inadvertently struck a lineswoman in the throat immediately knocking her to the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open and forfeited ranking points and the $250,000 prize money he earned reaching the US Open fourth round and incurred a $10,000 fine as well.

Tiafoe's point is simple: Why did Djokovic's strike warrant a disqualification but Musetti's did not?

Presumably, the chair umpire considered the softness of the shot and lack of malice in Musetti's case.

The Grand Slam rule states that disqualification can be ruled if "intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences." 

In this case, Musetti immediately apologized for the kicked ball and was hit with a code violation. The Monte-Carlo finalist said he believes the chair umpire made the right call as he did not intend to harm anyone.

"Honestly it was really unlucky coincidence," Musetti told the media in Paris. "Yeah, I was a little bit, honestly, scared, because I really didn't want to harm nobody, of course. So I immediately went to the line umpire, and I of course said, Sorry, I apologize to everyone.

"It was right to have a warning, but I think the umpire saw that there was no intention about that, and that's why probably just, you know, let me continue my game."

TNT analyst and former Grand Slam semifinalist Coco Vandeweghe said Musetti should have been ejected.

"In other sports if you put hands on the ref or hit the ref with the ball, you're ejected," Vandeweghe said on TNT. "The accident is always going to be there until it happens on purpose. You are at risk of hitting a ball girl or ball boy or a fan in the stands."

Interestingly, at Roland Garros we've seen similar incidents met with different decisions throughout the years.

The first disqualification of the 2023 Roland Garros generated tears and controversy.

Aldila Sutjiadi and Miyu Kato were disqualified from Roland Garros doubles two years ago after Kato hit a ball that struck a ball girl.

Twenty years before Kato's doubles disqualification, Guillermo Coria hit a ball kid with his Prince racquet and was not disqualified.

Some veteran tennis fans are calling Roland Garros out for an inconsistent standard pointing to the 2003 men's semifinals when a frustrated Guillermo Coria turned and hurled his Prince racquet at the back wall, accidentally brushing a ball kid in the process.

Coria was horrified seeing his racquet nearly nail the ball kid and immediately apologized and offered the ball kid the shirt off his back in an effort to apologize further.  In that case, officials did not default Coria and allowed him to complete that semifinal loss to Martin Verkerk. Coria went on to reach the 2004 Roland Garros final and held championship points before losing a heartbreaker to compatriot Gaston Gaudio.

French Open 2025 Day Ten Recap

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Day Ten at Roland Garros saw the first two men’s semi-final spots claimed, and neither match went the distance. Lorenzo Musetti continued his dream clay season with a composed four-set win over Frances Tiafoe, seizing the key moments late in the third before powering through the fourth to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final. Carlos …

Paris | Djokovic to face Zverev as Bublik knocks out Draper

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The first day of the second week of the French Open proved to be the last day of the British challenge as both Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie were defeated in their attempts to reach the quarter finals of the major clay court championships.

The post Paris | Djokovic to face Zverev as Bublik knocks out Draper appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine.

Today at Roland Garros Day 9

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Granby Tennis Club

Today at Roland Garros, the French Open was buzzing with high-stakes matches. In the women’s singles, LoĂŻs Boisson created a stir by defeating the American No. 3 Jessica Pegula in a dramatic match. Ranked 361st, Boisson’s win by 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 was a major upset, making her the lowest-ranked woman to beat a top-five player at the French Open in four decades. She’s now set to face sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals. The day also saw second-seeded Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, advance against Ekaterina Alexandrova. On the men’s side, No. 3 Alexander Zverev advanced due to the retirement of Tallon Griekspoor, who suffered an abdominal strain.

In other matches, tennis legend Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title, having already reached his 100th match win at Roland Garros, joining an elite group with Federer and Nadal. Djokovic will face Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. The tournament is heating up as we approach the final stages, with fans eagerly following every serve and volley on the iconic clay courts of Paris.

Granby Tennis Club

French Open 2025 Day Seven Recap

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The business end of the French Open is fast approaching, and Day Seven served up a relatively straightforward batch of matches, with only one encounter going more than three sets. Jannik Sinner delivered the performance of the day with a clinical dismantling of Jiri Lehecka, while Novak Djokovic quietly picked up his 99th win at …

Aryna Sabalenka: Quit Your Job

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World No. 1 sends clear message to former coaches.Amanda Anisimova

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, May 30, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

Tennis is an ongoing educational experience.

Today, Aryna Sabalenka schooled her skeptical teachers.

Tennis Express

World No. 1 Sabalenka tamed tricky lefty Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-3 powering into the Roland Garros fourth round for the third straight year.

Three-time major champion Sabalenka, who improved to a Tour-best 37-6 in 2025, will face former French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova in a blockbuster fourth-round battle between two massive hitters.

Today, Sabalenka sent major message to coaches who slammed her as too “stupid” to make her mark as a pro: Quit your job.

Recalling junior coaches who questioned her mental strength, Sabalenka told those skeptics: You know nothing.

“I always been quite motivated and they didn’t have to push me,” Sabalenka said of her rise through the ranks. “But I have heard a lot [of coaches] saying I’m not smart enough, that I’m stupid, and I’ll never make it, and I don’t have anything to make it to the top.

“I guess I want to send a quick message to them to quit their job.

“Because honestly, I think they know nothing and they better quit just to save other players.”

Asked how she reacted to critical coaches claiming she was too witless to be a winner on the WTA Tour, Sabalenka said she laughed in their face.

“I was just laughing and saying: We’ll see,” Sabalenka said.

A sharp Sabalenka has surrendered just 10 games in three tournament wins this week.

Following her crushing conquest of Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 in her Roland Garros opener, Sabalenka shared her parents were never pushy about her career pursuit. However, the Belarusian said she saw demanding Eastern European coaches burn young players out.

“I definitely say that Eastern European school is very tough. I think that’s why whoever survive that school, they’re really tough,” Sabalenka said after round one.

On the one hand, Sabalenka said surviving her junior training made her a tougher competitor, but on the other hand she saw some fellow players broken by “brutal” coaches making punishing demands.

“I have to say that probably because of the environment and in the history of European countries, we are much tougher,” Sabalenka told the media in Paris. “Whoever got through the tough stuff, they, like, mentally and physically, they much stronger than probably, not like the rest of the world, but most of the girls on tour…

“I definitely think that the environment we have in our countries, which is like very tough and coaches are very brutal, you know, there is nothing nice about the way they, like, work with their players, they quite rude. I think that’s why maybe our mentality is much stronger, but also, the same time, they kind of like broke so many players because of that aggressive mindset.

“I think in Europe and the States, the environment is much healthier.”

 
Continuing her quest for a maiden Roland Garros crown, Sabalenka said she’s inspired by Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic still going strong at age 38 and was moved seeing the Big 4 reunite for Roland Garros’ royal celebration send off for King of Clay Rafael Nadal.

“Imagine if he gonna retire tomorrow, then everyone going to be sad, no? Don’t you think so?” Sabalanka said. “Then there is another like 10, 15 years to Jannik and Alcaraz to become one of the greatest. But just, you know, let him be.

“You know, it was so sad to see the ceremony, big four were on the court and you understand that three of them retired. Everyone missing their games.

“So let’s just let Novak to be there to show and fight and show his greatness and to inspire that generation.”

John McEnroe: Djokovic Is Firm Third Favorite For RG Title

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John McEnroe ranks only reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner ahead of Novak Djokovic as French Open favorites. 

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, May 25, 2025
Photo credit: Lacoste

Slashing an ace on championship point, Novak Djokovic joined the Century Club in stirring style today.

Two days after celebrating his 38th birthday, Djokovic captured his 100th career championship with a stirring 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) over Hubert Hurkacz in the Geneva Open final. Djokovic joins fellow icons Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the third man in Open Era history to collect 100 career Tour-level titles.

Look for Djokovic to keep the party pumping in Paris, says Hall of Famer John McEnroe.

Tennis Express

Continuing his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown, Djokovic faces a demanding draw at Roland Garros.

If seeds hold true to form, Djokovic would need to beat 2024 finalist and third seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and No. 2-seeded reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz to win his third Roland Garros title in the last five years.

Former world No. 1 in singles and doubles McEnroe says Djokovic is the third firm favorite to win this 2025 French Open final behind only the top-seeded Sinner and four-time major champion Alcaraz.

In a TNT Zoom call with the media on Friday to promote the network’s Roland Garros coverage, McEnroe cited four factors for Djokovic as third favorite to win Roland Garros:

*The Serbian superstar owns a 96-16 Roland Garros record, including a streak of 15 straight years where he’s reached quarterfinals or better and he has the best draw of any of the top seeds, says McEnroe.

*If Djokovic advances to the quarterfinals he could face Zverev. McEnroe says he favors the reigning Olympic gold-medal champion over the former gold-medal champion if that match comes off.

*Though Alcaraz is 15-1 in clay this season, Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in their last clay-court clash in the gold-medal match on Roland Garros’ red clay, the Serbian beat the Spaniard in their last major meeting at the Australian Open and he’s one of only two men to defeat the reigning champion on red clay in the last year.

*This is Djokovic’s 21st consecutive French Open appearance and McEnroe says you cannot discount the Grand Slam king’s ability to conjure one more magical run in Paris.

“You don’t count him out until the day [he] retires,” McEnroe said of Djokovic. “He’s got the best draw of anyone to get to there [quarterfinals].

“And the way Zverev is playing—Zverev is not playing with the same confidence until he reached the finals of Australia this year. That [loss to Sinner in the AO final] really hurt him mentally—at least from what I’ve seen. And he doesn’t seem to be playing with the same confidence.

“So I can see the possibility of [Novak] getting there. And whether or not Zverev was there, I don’t think Novak would go in being much of an underdog.

TNT Sports, the exclusive home of live Roland-Garros coverage in the U.S., said it plans to “provide the most comprehensive coverage in the history of the Parisian Grand Slam.”

McEnroe, Jim Courier and Caroline Wozniacki will be among the network’s top analysts with Andre Agassi and Venus Williams also set to contribute to coverage.

It all starts Sunday, May 25, at 5 a.m. ET on TNT, truTV and Max. TNT Sports will deliver nearly 300 hours of programming across TNT and truTV — all originating live from Paris — along with unprecedented streaming coverage on Max and extensive original content available via Bleacher Report and House of Highlights.

Long-time New York Knickerbockers season ticket holder McEnroe, who was courtside at Madison Square Garden on Friday night to see his beloved Knicks fall into an 0-2 hole against the Indiana Pacers, used a basketball analogy to amplify Djokovic’s chances in Paris.

“And who knows with the other guys? What happens if one of them [Sinner or Alcaraz] gets hurt?” McEnroe said.  “And I hate to see any athlete get hurt, but [Celtics star] Jayson Tatum went down you never want to see that, but that certainly made it easier for the Knicks to pull out game six.

“So Novak, to me, would still be like the third favorite [to win Roland Garros].”

The mercurial McEnroe who formed one half of the fame Fire & Ice rivalry vs. Iceman and fellow Hall of Famer Bjorn Borg, suggests the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry will continue to command the sport so long as both young superstars remain healthy.

“They will continue to dominate if they are able to stay healthy and I hope they do, obviously we all do,” McEnroe said. “I thought Ben Shelton would be able to step up to [fill] a void… He seems to have leveled off, not enough steps forward.

“it would be nice for us here obviously if we were able to get an American male [to win a Grand Slam title], which has not happened in 20 years. I would think [Rome semifinalist] Tommy Paul would probably have the best shot [of American men] on this surface.”