Angelique Kerber To Start Wimbledon Bid Against Qualifier With No.1 Ranking At Stake - UBITENNIS
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Angelique Kerber To Start Wimbledon Bid Against Qualifier With No.1 Ranking At Stake

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7 years ago

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Angelique Kerber (zimbio.com)

Germany’s Angelique Kerber faces both a physical and mental test at next week’s Wimbledon Championships as she bids to win the tournament for the first time in her career.

Currently leading the WTA rankings by 115 points (as of 26th June), the world No.1 risk losing her position if she succumbs to another shock first round exit like the French Open. Her opening test at Wimbledon will be against a yet to be named qualifier or lucky loser. Following that match, if she wins, Kerber would play either Kirsten Flipkens or Misaki Doi. After the second round, things get dramatically tougher for the 29-year-old. In the third round she could play Lucie Safarova, a player who she has lost two in two out of their three previous matches (the last being in 2015). Then in the last 16, a daunting clash with former finalist Garbine Muguruza lurks.

“I’m feeling good. I had three matches right now before going to Wimbledon. This was my goal, to have matches,” Kerber said following her loss to Johanna Konta at the Eastbourne on Thursday. “I will try to make my focus on from tomorrow, just only on Wimbledon, trying to improving from this week into the next few weeks.”
 

Simona Halep, who was a win away from claiming the world No.1 spot at the French Open, will also start her campaign against a qualifier. The former Wimbledon semifinalist could also face some tough matches during the later part of the first week. In her section, Carla Suarez Navarro and Eugenie Bouchard are potential third round opponents. Then Anastasija Sevastova, who recently won the Mallorca Open, could be a last 16 rival. Russia’s Elena Vesnina is also lurking in the draw.

Karolina Pliskova will be hoping to progress beyond the second round of the tournament for the first time in her career. The third seed will start her campaign against Russian world No.83 Evgeniya Rodina in what will be their first meeting since 2015.

“I have some confidence behind me because of the matches that I’ve been winning,” Pliskova recently told The Telegraph. “I’ve won two titles already this year, so I don’t feel the big pressure that I sometimes felt I was under last year. I’m handling some situations better.”

Elina Svitolina’s path to the title is full of landmines. Her opening match will be against former Wimbledon girls champion Ashleigh Barty, who recently reached the final of the Birmingham International. The Australian is currently at a ranking high of 54th in the world. Should she triumph in the first round, Svitolina will play either Francesca Schiavone or Mandy Minella next. One of her biggest challenges could occur in the fourth round. Two of the players she could face are French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko or the heavy-hitting Madison Keys. Besides the tough draw, Svitolina has also been troubled by a heel injury recently.

Outside of the big four, all eyes will on the return of two players. Petra Kvitova is trying not to get ahead of herself after her fairytale run to the Birmingham Open title. Playing in only her second tournament since returning from a career-threatening knife attack, the Czech dropped just one set in the tournament. At Wimbledon she will play Johanna Larsson. Kvitova could potentially be a fourth round opponent for home favourite Johanna Kontas, however, the Brit has withdrew from her Friday match at Eastbourne due to a spinal injury.

Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka will start her campaign against Cici Bellis is what will be her first grand slam tournament as a mother.

The draw

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Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

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20 hours ago

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22/04/2024

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Rafael Nadal has eased speculation that he might be retiring from the sport soon after signing on to play in the Laver Cup later this year. 

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to join the line-up for this year’s team competition which features Europe taking on the rest of the world over three days. It will be Nadal’s fourth appearance in the competition and his first since 2022. He competed in the inaugural edition of the event back in 2017 alongside co-founder Roger Federer. 

“I am very happy to be playing Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe,” Nadal said in a press release. “I have some really special memories from my Laver Cup experiences, including all the emotions from London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time.”

Nadal’s decision to play comes amid questions about his future in the sport. The former world No.1 has previously indicated that this year could be his last on the Tour but he has stated that no decision has been made. In recent months he has been sidelined from action due to injury setbacks and has only been able to play in two tournaments so far this year. 

“At this stage in my career I really want to go out there and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” he explains.
“Teaming up is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I’m looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe win back the Laver Cup.”

Other European players confirmed to be playing are Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have agreed to play for Team World. This year’s event will be held in Belin at the Uber Arena between September 20-22. 

The Laver Cup was inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup. It was co-founded by Federer’s Team8 management company (which he formed with agent Tony Godsick), businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia. In 2019 it became an official ATP sanction event and now has a place on the official calendar. 

Nadal is set to return to competitive action at the Madrid Masters which he has won on five previous occasions. He has been drawn to play teenage wild card Darwin Blanch in the first round. If he wins, Nadal will then play Alex de Minaur who knocked him out of the Barcelona Open last week. 

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Novak Djokovic Withdraws From Masters 1000 Event In Madrid

Novak Djokovic will miss the Masters 1000 event in Madrid and will look to build up his Roland Garros preparations in Rome.

Published

3 days ago

on

20/04/2024

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(@TheTennisLetter - Twitter)

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Masters 1000 event in Madrid as he aims for quality over quantity in his bid for Roland Garros glory.

The world number one has had a rough start to the season by his standards as he is yet to win a title this season after a semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open.

Djokovic was hoping a change of surface would bring a change of fortunes but the Serb was defeated in three sets in the semi-finals of Monte-Carlo.

Now it seems that result has made Djokovic rethink his schedule as the current Roland Garros champion has withdrawn from Madrid.

No official reason has been given although the news seems to be not that surprising given Djokovic’s history in the Spanish capital.

The Serb hasn’t played since 2022, where he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, and has now won the title there for five years.

It looks like Djokovic will be putting his faith into more favourable conditions in Rome, which is the most similar to Roland Garros in terms of conditions.

Djokovic is a six-time champion in the Italian capital and will aim for a seventh title when he plays there on the 8th of May.

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Thanasi Kokkinakis Questions ‘Insane’ Drug Testing

Thanasi Kokkinakis has been tested three times within the last six days.

Published

3 days ago

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20/04/2024

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Thanasi Kokkinakis has questioned persistent drug testing after he revealed he was tested three times in six days.

The Australian is in good form at the moment having won the Sarasota Challenger in Florida.

Kokkinakis claimed glory with a three set win over Zizou Bergs in the final as he continues to climb the rankings.

However that glory has been overshadowed by the fact that Kokkinakis has revealed he was drug tested three times within a six day period.

The world number 94 described it as ‘insane’ and it comes after Alexandre Muller complained of persistent drug testing after his recent defeats.

Doping has been a huge topic of conversations with Simona Halep losing two years of her career after testing positive after the US Open before the Court Of Arbitration For Sport shortened her case.

Kokkinakis will be hoping that this is the last time he has to deal with persistent drug testing as he continues his clay court season.

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