Novak Djokovic Dismantles Debutant Schwartzman At ATP Finals - UBITENNIS
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Novak Djokovic Dismantles Debutant Schwartzman At ATP Finals

The world No.1 has clinched his 40th win of 2020 in London as he bids to reach another milestone this week.

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Novak Djokovic has kicked-off his campaign for a record-equalling sixth title at the ATP finals with a clinical win over Diego Schwartzman.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion appeared to be slightly tentative early on before easing a 6-3, 6-2, victory in what was his first match since his shock loss at the Vienna Open last month. Djokovic is making his 13th appearance at the season-ending event compared to Schwartzman who is debuting at the age of 28. The showdown between the two saw the top seed fire seven aces and 23 winners as he broke four times to seal the win.

“At the beginning of the match it wasn’t that great from me. It was a close encounter until I broke him for 4-3 (in the first set),” Djokovic admitted afterwards.
“In the second set I started swinging for the ball a little bit more with a bit less hesitation. I was very pleased with the way I played.”

Heading into his latest match Djokovic boasted a commanding 5-0 winning record against his Argentine rival and had only ever dropped three sets against him on the ATP Tour. Although at The O2 the world No.1 initially looked a bit nervy early on as he dropped serve just three games into his clash with Schwartzman. Despite the blip, he managed to regain his footing by breaking back instantly as both men illustrated some blistering hitting. Gaining in momentum Djokovic worked his way to a 5-3 advantage after hitting a forehand winner to break for a second time in the match before sealing the opener with the help of a serve down the line his rival failed to return.

Continuing to dismantle Schwartzman, the five-time champion swiftly worked his way to a double break lead in the second set by winning four out of five games. Admirably his rival kept fighting on the court but it was too late to derail Djokovic. Serving for his 37th win at the ATP Finals, he closed the match out with a winning forehand volley at the net.

“It was a good opening match and I’m looking forward to the next one,” said the former champion.

The triumph extend Schwartzman’s hunt for his first ever win over a world No.1 player. He has now lost all eight of his encounters against a player at the top of the rankings but has defeated members of the top 10 twice this year.

“Everything is difficult against him,” Schwartzman said of Djokovic. “I think what he is doing when he is playing his best is that he is moving the ball from everywhere to everywhere on the court.’
“It is very difficult to know what he is going to do and try to make good points (against him).  He’s moving the ball, doing winners and has a lot of talent when he has the chance to move the ball.”

Meanwhile Djokovic, who has already sealed the year-end No.1 spot, has now won 40 matches on the Tour this season against three losses. Furthermore, he has won 14 consecutive meetings against an Argentine player on the Tour since his loss to Juan Martin Del Potro at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

At the ATP Finals Djokovic will play Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev later this week. He has lost to both of those players twice in his career but does lead the head-to-heads.

I’ve been playing the ATP Finals in this arena for many years and been blessed to experience some incredible matches. It feels very strange to be playing without any fans.” Djokovic commented on the atmosphere.

This year’s event is taking place without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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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