Istomin hands Uzbekistan the lead, Sock levels - UBITENNIS
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Istomin hands Uzbekistan the lead, Sock levels

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Istomin finally secured victory By SweTennis (Denis Istomin) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Istomin finally secured victory
By SweTennis (Denis Istomin) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Denis Istomin overcame the volatile, error strewn display of Steve Johnson to hand Uzbekistan the lead in this Davis Cup World Group Playoff tie. The World number sixty-two survived Johnson serving for the match deep in the fifth set, after he had had his own chance in the fourth, to prevail 6-1, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5. It was a gripping encounter, more for the drama than the actual quality of tennis on show,with both players proving frustratingly inconsistent.

Istomin had started superbly, breaking serve in Johnson’s first service game as the American’s attacking game faltered into standard forehand errors, a sign of things to come. Istomin consolidated with strong serving extended his lead further with a double break for five-one, as Johnson  committed twenty unforced errors in the set. American captain Jim Courier was left to try and rally a despondent-looking Johnson. Istomin secured he opening set with another comfortable service hold.

Johnson regained his composure in the second set, enjoying a much better read on the Istomin serve, as he won nearly half of the points off of Istomin’s first serve delivery. Johnson was striking a much better balance, dictating rather than pushing the play with his forehand, and this resulted in far more winners than errors. Johnson deservedly levelled the match

The third set was a very finely balanced affair, with both players trying to take the initiatives based on their mutual attacking styles. Both players were now employing the drop-shot more frequently, though Istomin far more successfully than Johnson. Each had opportunities to break near the end of the set. Johnson had two break points at five-all, but was wrong-footed as he tried to second guess the Istomin serve, the Uzbek escaping to stay in front on serve. Istomin very nearly had love-thirty the next game, but a line-call error after a Johnson forehand had tickled the tape saw the umpire quickly off the chair to correct. Johnson then escaped fifteen-thirty to ensure a tiebreak.

The tiebreak proved a close affair, with both players tightening up and relinquishing leads. Istomin lead early at two-love, Johnson at four-three, and Istomin once again at five-four. Istomin finally held both his service points, playing a drop shot on set point that Johnson did not run down. Uzbekistan led two sets to one.

Johnson immediately held and fashioned a break point in Istomin’s service game. However the Uzbek again denied him as Johnson blasted long on a forehand. Istomin then rushed the net, forcing Johnson into two passing errors to level affairs. Johnson quickly found himself in trouble, down love-thirty after a forehand found the tramlines again. Johnson staved off a break point with consecutive aces, mirroring Istomin. Istomin again had a break point in the seventh game after more wild cuts from Johnson, but he missed a second serve return to let the American off the hook. At five-all however, the narrative proved to be the same, except this time there was no escape for the American. A driven forehand volley miss from Johnson handed Istomin break points and he sealed the break to serve for the match.

Johnson gamely stayed with him however, and broke back to thirty, forcing a fourth set tiebreak. Johnson took the early lead in the tiebreak when a forehand cross-court exchange ended with Istomin dumping a groundstroke in the net. Istomin quickly recovered the mini break with a short angle backhand. Johnson earned it straight back however, running wide around to hit a forehand return down the middle near Istomin’s feet, who could only reply long. Johnson then held with a forehand winner down the line and a Istomin error to secure set points. He secured the set with another error from Istomin.

The change in the match was remarkable. Johnson was now dominating and immediately put pressure back on the Istomin serve, holding a break point in the first game. Istomin held but, after a quick hold to love, Johnson secured the break when Istomin missed a backhand volley. Incredibly Istomin and Johnson then traded breaks, the American regaining the lead after finally getting a read on a istomin drop-shot before, drop-volleying to lead again. Istomin broke again though, as a horrible Johnson drop-shot and an unsurprisingly wild forehand  leveled things. A better drop shot in the next game again handed Johnson break points. Both were saved, but Johnson broke from deuce to lead yet again. Johnson endured four break points at four-three but saved them, registering the first hold of serve for either play for five games.

The drama continued when Istomin earned a break point as Johnson served for the match. Johnson stopped play insisting a ball was out. The umpire came down from the chair but after examining the mark, referred Johnson to the original call of in and the match continued. Johnson then unnecessarily smashed wide for an Istomin match point. It was saved but another error resulted in a second. Johnson found the net to hand Uzbekistan the opening rubber.

In the later match, Jack Sock quickly dismissed the challenge of Farrukh Dustov, winning ins straight sets 7-5, 6-3,6-2 in what was his Davis Cup debut. The doubles, taking place on Saturday, is likely to see Querrey/Johnson take on Istomin/Dustov. Querrey/Johnson is a Davis Cup debut partnership in the absence of the Bryan brothers.

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Wrist Injury Threatening To End Holger Rune’s Olympic Dream

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Holger Rune will have a second medical opinion on Monday before deciding if he is fit enough to play at the Olympic Games, according to his team. 

The Danish world No.17 recently retired from his quarter-final match at the Hamburg Open due to a knee injury. The hope at the time was that his withdrawal would be just a precautionary measure ahead of the Olympics. However, he is also dealing with a second issue that appears to be more serious.

According to TV 2 Sport, Rune has been struggling with a wrist issue and underwent a scan on Sunday which his mother Aneke says ‘doesn’t look promising.’ Aneke is also the manager of her son’s career. Rune’s Olympic dreams now rest on the outcome of a second medical expert that he will visit tomorrow who has a better understanding of the sport. 

“Unfortunately, it does not look promising after the first medical opinion after the review of the scan of the wrist,” Aneke Rune told TV 2 Sport.

“We are waiting for two tennis-specific doctors who will give a second opinion tomorrow (Monday). Tennis wrists look different from regular wrists, so we’ll hold out hope for one more day.” 

Rune is one of three Danish players entered into the Olympic tennis event along with Caroline Wozniacki and Clara Tauson. The country has only won one medal in tennis before which was at the 1912 Games when Sofie Castenschiold won silver in the women’s indoor singles event. 

So far this season, the 21-year-old has won 27 matches on the Tour but is yet to claim a title. He reached the final of the Brisbane International and then the semi-finals of three more events. In the Grand Slams, he made it to the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon. 

It is not known when a final decision regarding Rune’s participation in Paris will be made.

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Hubert Hurkacz Undergoes ‘Knee Procedure’ Ahead of Olympic Bid

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Poland’s top player on the ATP Tour is not giving up on his dream of winning a medal at the Olympic Games despite recently undergoing a medical procedure.

World No.7 Hubert Hurkacz suffered a knee injury during his second round clash at Wimbledon against France’s Arthur Fils. In the fourth set tiebreak of their clash, Hurkacz dived for a shot but landed badly on his knee and required on-court medical attention. He then played two more points before retiring from the match. 

In a social media post published on Wednesday, the  27-year-old confirmed he underwent a procedure on his knee earlier this week but didn’t provide any further details.  Although Hurkacz has stated his intention to play at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where the tennis event will be held on the clay at Roland Garros. 

“I had a knee procedure this Monday, but I’m feeling better already and my team and are dedicating extensive time each day to the rehab process.” He wrote on Instagram. 

“It’s a dream for every athlete to represent their country at the Olympics, and I want to make sure I am fully fit and ready before making the final decision to step on court. The aim is not only to participate, but to win a medal for my country.”

So far this season Hurkacz has won 34 out of 48 matches played on the Tour. He won the Estoril Open in April and was runner-up to Jannik Sinner in Halle. 

The Olympic tennis event is scheduled to begin a week Saturday on July 27th. Poland is yet to win a medal in the event but expectations are high with women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek also taking part. 

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Motivation, Pressure And Expectations – Novak Djokovic Targets History At Wimbledon

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image via x.com/wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has broken numerous records throughout his career but he still feels the pressure of trying to make history in the sport. 

The world No.2 is through to his 10th Wimbledon final where he will play Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him at this stage of the tournament 12 months ago. There is plenty on the line for the Serbian who could equal Roger Federer’s record for most men’s titles won at SW19 and break the overall record for most major singles won in the sport if he triumphs over the Spaniard. Djokovic currently has 24 Grand Slam trophies to his name which is the same as Margaret Court, who won some of her titles before the Open Era started. 

“Obviously I’m aware that Roger [Federer] holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line.” Djokovic said on Friday after beating Lorenzo Musetti.

“Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam. Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations.”

Coming into Wimbledon, there had been doubts over Djokovic’s form after he underwent surgery to treat a knee injury he suffered at the French Open. However, he has defied the odds to reach the final. His run has also seen him beat Alexi Popyrin and Holger Rune before getting a walkover in the quarter-finals from Alex de Minaur, who sustained an injury during the tournament. Then on Friday, he overcame a spirited Musetti in three sets. 

Despite the challenge, Djokovic has insisted that his expectations to do well are always high no matter what the situation is. During what has been a roller-coaster first six months of the season, he is yet to win a title this year or beat a player currently ranked in the top 10. Although he will achieve both of these if her beats Alcaraz on Sunday. 

“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.” He said.

“I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos [Alcaraz] or Jannik [Sinner] or Sascha [Zverev] or any of those guys, Daniil [Medvedev]. 

“This year hasn’t been that successful for me. It’s probably the weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.”

Djokovic hopes that a Wimbledon win will help turn his season around like it has done in the past for him. 

“Wimbledon historically there’s been seasons where I wasn’t maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.” He commented.

“For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of top 20, losing in fourth round of Australian Open, I think it was quarters of Roland-Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play. Then I won Wimbledon and then won US Open and then later on became No.1 very soon.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Alcaraz is hoping to stop Djokovic in his tracks. Should he defend his title at Wimbledon, he would become the first player outside the Big Three to do so since Pete Sampras more than 20 years ago. He has won their only previous meeting on the grass but trails their head-to-head 3-2. 

“I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me,” said Alcaraz.

“But I’m ready to take that challenge and I’m ready to do it well.”

When the two players take to the court to play in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic will be 15 years and 348 days older than Alcaraz. Making it the largest age gap in a men’s Grand Slam final since the 1974 US Open. Whoever is victorious will receive £2,700,000 in prize money. 

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