Video : Roger Federer vs Alejandro Falla - Best Points

Roger Federer vs Alejandro Falla - Best Points

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Maple Syrup on Pizza? Tsitsipas Calls Double Fault!

On a recent episode of Tennis United, co-host Vasek Pospisil revealed that he enjoys maple syrup on his pizza crust. Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas was firm in his disagreement.

“That’s a double fault!” 

Tsitsipas and WTA star Naomi Osaka answered a series of questions during the segment, including: Does pineapple belong on pizza?

“No!” Osaka quickly said.

“I personally think it’s a no-no,” Tsitsipas added.

“I’m going to disagree. I’m going to say yes and the only reason I think yes is because people love it,” Pospisil said.

[FIVE THINGS]

Tsitsipas and Osaka answered various questions throughout the segment, including: If you’re bored, are you boring? If your food is bad at a restaurant, would you say something? What are you most likely to stay up all night thinking about?

“It’s all about tennis,” Tsitsipas said. “Just thinking about tennis. If I lose that day, I might stay up. I’ve had nights where I stayed up all night and I was just overthinking and processing what happened out there.”

I’m done being shy. It’s really a waste of my time. I could’ve shared so many ideas by now, I could’ve had convos with so many different people. All the things I could’ve learned 🤦🏽‍♀️ but no I’m over here actually putting my own limiter on myself.

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 5, 2020

Tsitsipas also explained why something Osaka tweeted in May — “I’m done being shy” — inspired him.

“I get it, and I saw a lot of realism and pragmatism to that. I thought to myself, ‘That’s really pure. That’s real,’” Tsitsipas said. “I would like to retweet it for the world to see because coming out of your shell and expressing yourself and just sharing your ideas and whatever you feel in that given moment, I found it quite inspiring, to be honest.”

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Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic slammed by Australian ace over pay row

The 'Big Three' have come in for criticism for their position over financial matters on the ATP Tour.

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Marcus Willis: From Teaching Pro To Centre Court

Editor's Note: But for the COVID-19 pandemic, Wimbledon would now be underway. During the next two weeks, ATPTour.com will look back on memorable matches and happenings at the grass-court Grand Slam.

At the start of June 2016, Marcus Willis was giving tennis lessons at the Warwick Boat Club in Great Britain for £30 an hour. Four weeks later, he found himself facing Roger Federer in a second-round clash on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

”I’ve had to cancel a few lessons,” Willis joked. “Everyone’s been really understanding and just said, ‘Don’t be silly. Get on with it and good luck.’”

The 25-year-old was a former Top 15 player in the ITF junior rankings, but a lack of discipline prevented him from making inroads at the pro level. After Willis brought a candy bar and soda on court during one of his ATP Challenger Tour matches, commentator Mike Cation nicknamed him Cartman, a reference to the rotund character on “South Park”.

When Willis finally found the motivation to maximise his potential, a series of injuries limited him to one tournament in the first five months of 2016 as his FedEx ATP Ranking dropped to No. 772. He continued to train in the morning and taught clinics in the afternoon, but considered ending his playing career to take a coaching job in Philadelphia. 

But after a last-minute withdrawal allowed him to sneak into the pre-qualifying draw for Wimbledon, the Brit seized his opportunity and produced the best tennis of his career. He won three matches to earn a wild card into the qualifying draw, then earned another three victories to qualify for his maiden Grand Slam main draw.

Willis took an immediate liking to the attention and local support as his unlikely story generated headlines. In his debut tour-level match, he stunned World No. 54 Ricardas Berankis in straight-sets to set up an improbable clash with Federer, rushing into a courtside pile of eager friends and family.

”I was overweight. I was [drinking] pints. I was just a loser. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought that I’m better than this,” Willis said after the win. “I’ve been behind the scenes working very hard… Ridiculous times in the morning. Ran myself into the ground, but it’s worth it now.”

Even Federer became a fan and called the unlikely run “one of the best stories in a long time in our sport.” Although the Swiss swiftly ended Willis’ Hollywood tale with a convincing straight-sets win, he made sure to make the moment about his opponent. Federer let Willis walk out ahead of him onto Centre Court and kept his post-match celebration brief, giving the Brit a chance to wave to the crowd and soak in their cheers.

”Not my standard Wednesday,” Willis said, smiling. “It was all just a blur. It was amazing. I did enjoy myself even though I was getting duffed up. I loved every bit of it… Just the whole experience was incredible.”

Although he wasn’t able to recapture his Wimbledon magic when he returned to the ATP Challenger Tour, Willis’ moment of magic remains one of the popular storylines in recent history at the All England Club.

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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic backed to play US Open and French Open by John McEnroe

Players on the ATP and WTA Tours face a decision over the schedule.

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An Umpire’s View of Isner-Mahut: Baby News, Toilet Breaks Can Wait

Nobody will soon forget the first-round battle between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at 2010 Wimbledon. The epic, which remains the longest match in tennis history, lasted 11 hours and five minutes over three days, from 22-24 June. The chair umpire was Sweden’s Mohamed Lahyani.

“The first day when I started was nothing special. It was like a normal match. You had two sets all, that can happen. At Wimbledon you have many times a suspension because of darkness, because it’s late,” Lahyani said. “I was not thinking anything. The second day was when I started thinking in the middle of the match, ‘This is unbelievable.’”

The length of the match became increasingly stunning as the games ticked by on the second day, 23 June. What was perhaps a bigger surprise for Lahyani was the phone call he got from his wife, Mariam, who was in Tangier, Morocco, 15 minutes before he walked on court to begin the fifth set.

“My wife called me just before that day and she said I just wanted to let you know we have special news: ‘It’s a boy!’” Lahyani recalled of the moment he found out they were going to have a son. “I told her, ‘I will finish my match. It will be over in one hour and then we’ll talk.’ That was unbelievable, and she was waiting for more than seven hours!”

Mariam did not watch the match, so she didn’t realise that her husband was presiding over something historic.

“I could not even sleep that night because it was too much,” Lahyani said. “Everybody was talking about the records and a lot of things. It was a special feeling.”

Lahyani didn’t realise what the match would become. But it also didn’t matter to him — he prides himself on treating every match equally.

“People always think about the final, final, final. But it doesn’t need to be a final to be the greatest match. This was a first-round match. I tell the young officials, ‘You have to treat every round the same.’ My best match was the first round. Don’t think the final should be your best,” Lahyani said. “You never know. The final could be the easiest. Most of the toughest matches are in the first round. You need to treat every match the same, even if it’s Court 18. It’s not just when you walk on Centre Court. Every match is important.”

Lahyani is most proud that over the course of the three days, there were no arguments from either player. For that, the Swede gave credit to everyone around him.

“It was teamwork. It was the line umpires, the ball kids, everyone around the court did something special. I was telling myself, as soon as a player was bouncing the ball, I told myself, ‘Mohamed, focus. You don’t want to finish the match after so many hours and do something stupid,’” Lahyani recalled. “I try to teach that to all my colleagues, the younger officials and everything, you need to focus the whole match. I think that match is a special example. If you lost concentration for a split second, you could destroy the whole match.”

The moment from the match that stands out most came late in the second day, after Mahut hit an ace down the T to level the fifth set at 50-50. The crowd gave the players a standing ovation, and Lahyani bellowed: “Game, Mahut. 50 Games All. Final Set.”

“When I said 50 games all, there was a standing ovation for what felt like minutes. The players had to tell the crowd to calm down and I had to say, Thank you, thank you.’ It was like a wave,” Lahyani said. “They were clapping for a while, it was unbelievable. It’s a special memory, 50 games all.”

After the match, Lahyani remembers Isner asking him a funny question: “Mohamed, you didn’t go to the bathroom? How come?”

“I was so concentrated on the match, so I didn’t even have time to think about food, drinks, anything,” said Lahyani, who didn’t take a single bathroom break. “I said, ‘Mohamed now it’s only the match. Don’t think of the people around you.’ You could see so many people standing around the court, everybody was there cheering. It was one of the best atmospheres and best feelings I’ve had in my career.”

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Video : Venus Williams vs Magdalena Grzybowska | Wimbledon 1997 first round | Full Match

Venus Williams vs Magdalena Grzybowska | Wimbledon 1997 first round | Full Match
Despite the absence of a Championships this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get into the Wimbledon spirit… #WimbledonRecreated Help us recreate Wimbledon from home by sending us your favourite traditions and moments on social media using the hashtag #WimbledonRecreated Play The Championships Visit wimbledon.com/gaming to take on seven rounds of retro tennis action and become a Wimbledon champion, with prizes on offer for the highest scores... A Wish from Wimbledon If we could grant you one wish, what would it be? Let us know here at wimbledon.com/wish and it might just come true!

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Video : Steffi Graf vs Lori McNeil | Wimbledon 1994 first round | Full Match Replay

Steffi Graf vs Lori McNeil | Wimbledon 1994 first round | Full Match Replay
Despite the absence of a Championships this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get into the Wimbledon spirit… #WimbledonRecreated Help us recreate Wimbledon from home by sending us your favourite traditions and moments on social media using the hashtag #WimbledonRecreated Play The Championships Visit wimbledon.com/gaming to take on seven rounds of retro tennis action and become a Wimbledon champion, with prizes on offer for the highest scores... A Wish from Wimbledon If we could grant you one wish, what would it be? Let us know here at wimbledon.com/wish and it might just come true!

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Video : Roger Federer vs Alejandro Falla | Wimbledon 2010 first round | Full Match

Roger Federer vs Alejandro Falla | Wimbledon 2010 first round | Full Match
Despite the absence of a Championships this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get into the Wimbledon spirit… #WimbledonRecreated Help us recreate Wimbledon from home by sending us your favourite traditions and moments on social media using the hashtag #WimbledonRecreated Play The Championships Visit wimbledon.com/gaming to take on seven rounds of retro tennis action and become a Wimbledon champion, with prizes on offer for the highest scores... A Wish from Wimbledon If we could grant you one wish, what would it be? Let us know here at wimbledon.com/wish and it might just come true!

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Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker trade insults in Twitter spat over Alexander Zverev

A Twitter spat is brewing between Boris Becker and Nick Kyrgios over Alexander Zverev.

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Locker Room Confessions: Inside the Isner-Mahut Epic

When Craig Boynton walked into the seeded players' locker room at the All England Club on 23 June 2010, his charge, John Isner, was beyond exhausted.

“For a brief period of time, a minute or two, he was talking and it didn’t make sense. It was gibberish. He was so depleted,” Boynton said. “It hit me then how far John dug and how much pain he was able to withstand and how he went far past any limit that I’d ever seen him push past.’”

Isner's first-round Wimbledon match against Nicolas Mahut still wasn't over. They had played for 10 hours across two days — obliterating the previous record for the longest match in tennis history — and somehow, both men had to summon the energy to return to Court 18 the next day.

“I walked through the door and Andy Roddick was flying out. Andy was unbelievable. He was so gracious. He says, ‘CB what do you need? Do you need [physio] Dougie Spreen for the night? Do you need the physio? What do you need? What do you need?’” Boynton said. “At that point I didn’t know. He goes, ‘You need food!’”

Roddick was familiar with long matches at Wimbledon, losing a heartbreaker in the previous year's final 16-14 in the fifth set against Roger Federer. The former World No. 1 had won his second-round match on Centre Court earlier in the day, but in the moment he was concerned with helping Isner and his team. Roddick sent them “10 to 12 bags” of chicken parmigiana, pizza, pasta and more from San Lorenzo’s, an Italian restaurant about a mile away. 

Isner needed all the fuel he could get. But as much as his epic against Mahut was a three-day physical battle, it was even moreso a war of wills, in which neither player gave an inch.

“It’s just one of those things when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force,” Boynton said. “It was just one of those crazy matches. Both guys were locked in, both guys were unrelenting and both guys were determined not to be denied.”

* * * * *
When Boynton learned Isner would play Mahut, an aggressive net-storming Frenchman, he wasn’t thrilled. Mahut had made the 2007 Fever-Tree Championships final, narrowly losing against Roddick. Mahut dispatched Isner in straight sets at the same tournament the next year.

“I knew Nico was very dangerous,” Boynton said. “He was not a qualifier in my eyes. He was on a pretty short list of some of the best grass-court players playing.”

Boynton tracked down Roddick to see if the former World No. 1 had any thoughts on the Frenchman’s game. Isner is the rare player who could control his destiny with his booming serve and powerful forehand, but extra insight never hurts.

“The rundown was that you’ve got to watch for his one-hander down the line. If you can get the ball low on his forehand volley, that’s not I would say a weak spot, but it’s definitely not as strong as his backhand volley,” Boynton recalled. “He had a little bit of a reputation of getting tight, [so the message was for us] just to look for that and pick up on that. Boy was I wrong on that one. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

The match started innocently. Mahut hit three unreturned serves and a cross-court backhand passing shot winner. The Frenchman held at love.

The 23rd-seeded Isner broke once to take the opening set, and Mahut broke in the American’s first service game of the second set, using that to even the match. There would not be a service break for two more days. Isner and Mahut split tie-breaks in the third and fourth sets to force a decider.

When the men departed Court 18 that Tuesday, due to darkness, at two sets apiece after two hours and 54 minutes, it was still an ordinary match. It was an unremarkable day at SW19, with Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray advancing to the second round without difficulty.

In his fourth main draw appearance at The Championships, Michael Russell earned his first win at the historic tournament that day. Part of his post-match routine was heading to the ice baths, where he saw Isner.

“I was thinking he must have finished his match, so I asked, ‘How did it go?’ He said, ‘We didn’t finish,’” Russell recalled. “We chatted a little bit and eventually I just said, ‘Good luck tomorrow, I’ll see you the next day.’ Sure enough, three days later he’s playing the longest match in the history of tennis.”

Boynton knew his charge needed to focus on holding serve on the match’s second day. Eventually, an opportunity would arise. At least that’s what he thought.

The match’s second day lasted longer than any other match in history. For the most part, the holds came quickly. Starting at 4-5, Mahut faced enormous pressure every time he served. If he held, the match continued. If he didn’t, he’d lose.

“Every time I was serving to stay in the match,” Mahut said. “I just tried to win the game, just to win the point I was playing. That's it. Again and again, every time [it was] the same.”

Mahut saved his first match point at 9-10 with an ace down the T, then two more at 32-33 with a forehand volley and then a booming serve out wide. The score kept ticking until the scoreboard stopped properly functioning at 47-47.

“It was almost an out-of-body experience. It was going so fast, but it wasn’t going anywhere at all,” Boynton said. “It is really difficult for me to describe because it was almost like something you’d see in The Twilight Zone. I can vividly remember just going, ‘This is bizarre. This is really bizarre.’”

As the match went on, Russell returned to the site for practice. The American said that in the locker room, there is an electronic schedule that shows the order of play “like a bingo screen”.

“I remember being in the locker room and I remember all the matches to follow, they just kept getting moved off the schedule,” Russell said. “Under John’s match, it just kept popping up with a black square, black square, black square, with all the emptiness of matches that had to be moved. He was second on that day.”

It was clear that this was no longer an ordinary first-round match. Rodney Marshall, a USTA strength and conditioning coach working with Isner, was at Wimbledon for the first time. The scene was something he’ll never forget.

“It was a surreal feeling looking up and seeing the commentating tower above us packed with people everywhere. When the match first started there were just a few people on Court 18 and by the time it was done there was a sea of people,” Marshall said. “I had friends from middle school text me during that match. The whole world was watching.”

Boynton knew that by the time they got into the 30s, it was becoming increasingly unlikely his charge would break. The 6’10” Isner was beyond tired.

“I was really, really concerned for John’s mother. I can see the concern as the games started mounting up and seeing how depleted John was getting; it was getting to the point where he had no gas and he was still going,” Boynton said. “It was a mother’s love. I really felt for her at that moment, all the way through.”

Somehow, as darkness descended on the London grass, Isner earned a fourth match point at 59-58. Mahut’s response? His 95th ace. At 59-59, play was called for the evening after seven hours and six minutes of fifth-set action.

“We’re just fighting like we never did before,” Mahut said in an on-court interview before they left the court. “Someone has to win.”

“A memory I have is just coming back into the seeded locker room and seeing all the players huddled around watching the match on the TV when we got back, including Roger. They were all like, ‘What is this?’” Marshall recalled. “It was a surreal moment. Everyone was just mesmerised by it thinking, ‘This is just unreal.’ Everyone was into it, from the locker room to the entire world.”

That was when Roddick got involved. The American knew recovery was vital to Isner's chances the next day.

“He just said, ‘Make sure John eats. When he wakes up at 3 a.m., make sure he eats. Just have him eat, eat, eat,’” Boynton said. “That was a huge part of getting John up and running the next day, getting the nutrients in him. I’ll always be thankful to Andy for doing that.”

Marshall says they spent two to three hours on site after the match trying to get Isner ready for the next day. Marshall had friends ask if Isner needed an I.V., but he didn’t believe fluid replenishment was an issue. Isner spent most of his time in the ice baths or on the massage table.

“His toes were bad. They were taping them up and trying to do the best job they could, but he went through several pairs of shoes,” Marshall said. “He was bleeding. It was bad, just really blistered.”

“His toes were just torched,” Roddick said the day after the match ended. “They looked like deli meat. They're disgusting.”

Isner’s team departed the grounds that night when the locker room attendants left. They got back to their flat near 1 a.m.

“We popped on our computers just to do what we do, check out ESPN, check things out, and just kind of wind down from the crazy day,” Boynton said. “You couldn’t hit a sports or even news website with this match being all over. I was like, ‘You guys are rockstars now. You’re everywhere!”

Russell played his second-round match — a five-setter against Fabio Fognini — on nearby Court 17. Although he was focussed on his match, it was impossible not to hear the commotion as Isner and Mahut played the third day of their match on Court 18.

“We knew that match was special, so there’s that little voice in the back of your mind when you hear a loud eruption: ‘I wonder if John broke serve, or I wonder if Mahut broke serve?’” Russell said. “You knew history was being made with a three-day match, which is just insane. It was crazy.”

Finally, after a record 11 hours and five minutes, the match came to an end. In the ad court, Isner returned the ball low, and Mahut floated the ball back, giving Isner time to set his feet in the perfect position. Isner took his time, forcing Mahut to guess, and the American laced a backhand passing shot down the line for a winner. He flopped onto his back in celebration before rising to hug Mahut at the net.

Isner clinched the longest match in history at 4:47 p.m. on 24 June, 67 minutes into that day’s play. He won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68. The tournament held a ceremony on court after the match.

“[I’m] a little bit tired,” Isner said in front of the crowd. “But when you come out and play a match like this in an atmosphere like this, you don’t feel tired.”

“I got into the locker room and John and I have a pretty good relationship, so I tapped him on the shoulder and say, ‘Hey, great job. But my God, we need to work on your celebration. That was the worst celebration,’” Boynton joked to add levity to the moment. “We were serious, but we were also real with each other. I gave him a pass. He got a mulligan.

“After that he was in the locker room talking to some guys about a fantasy mock draft he had coming up. He was talking about who he was going to draft in his fantasy leagues!”

Few remember that Mahut returned to the same court later that evening for a doubles match with countryman Arnaud Clement against Brits Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski. Skupski remembers seeing a light shining above the court — Isner was doing a television interview.

“I felt that must have been hard for Nico to see,” Skupksi said. “John wasn’t quiet, either.”

They only played one set, and Mahut had to return to Court 18 for a fourth day, losing that doubles match in four sets, regardless of how physically tired he was.

“Considering that and the mental stress of it, his ability to come back and play what seemed to be normal [tennis] was extremely impressive,” Skupski said. “Once the come down from a long match happens you don’t particularly want to go back on court, especially losing such an epic.”

Isner woke up the next morning and everything hurt. The worst pain came from a kink in his neck that didn’t allow him to look up at his service toss. His warm-up for the match was laying on the treatment table. Thiemo de Bakker dismissed Isner in 74 minutes.

“You can’t come back from that,” Marshall said. “I don’t care how good of shape you’re in.”

* * * * *
There was no trophy at stake in this legendary encounter. In reality, Isner and Mahut played for the right to lose in the second round. But it wasn’t about the 216 combined aces they hit or the 168 straight service games they held. It was proving that something that never had been done and never will be done again was possible.

“He went to a place, and I’d imagine Nico went to a place, where I’d think the military goes in training,” Boynton said. “They just kept on breaking through barriers inside their minds. It was amazing to see. It was like you watch the Rocky movies. These guys did that in multiple-fold.”

Countless people throughout the world were on the edge of their seats. As much as they wanted to know who would win, they really wanted to know how far Isner and Mahut could push the boundaries.

“You weren’t rooting for anybody to lose, you were rooting for tennis just to have such an incredible match,” Russell said. “It got a lot of people talking about our sport who weren’t interested in tennis before. I thought it was a huge stepping stone for the sport of tennis.”

Isner and Mahut will always be remembered for those three unforgettable days on Court 18. But they’ve both gone on to enjoy great success outside of the classic. Isner has won 15 ATP Tour titles and finished inside the year-end Top 20 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in each of the past 10 years. Mahut has reached doubles World No. 1 and won all four Grand Slams in doubles.

Isner has said that before the match, the extent of their interactions was a subtle head-nod in the hallway. Now, they are close friends.

“Obviously we have so much respect for each other after playing that,” Isner said. “I'm sure we'll eventually sit down and laugh about it.”

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Video : Tim Henman vs Yevgeny Kafelnikov | Wimbledon 1996 first round | Full Match

Tim Henman vs Yevgeny Kafelnikov | Wimbledon 1996 first round | Full Match
Despite the absence of a Championships this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get into the Wimbledon spirit… - Help us recreate Wimbledon from home by sending us your favourite traditions and moments on social media using the hashtag #WimbledonRecreated - Now's your chance to Play The Championships - visit wimbledon.com/gaming to take on seven rounds of retro tennis action and become a Wimbledon champion... - If Wimbledon could grant you one wish, what would it be? Let us know here at wimbledon.com/wish and it might just come true!

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Video : Best points from Coco Gauff vs Venus Williams | The Greatest Championships

Best points from Coco Gauff vs Venus Williams | The Greatest Championships
The very best points from Coco Gauff's first round upset against Venus Williams at The Championships in 2019. This is the official Wimbledon YouTube page. To keep up with Wimbledon throughout the year, visit wimbledon.com/mywimbledon

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Video : The Sampras Era | How Pete Sampras conquered Wimbledon

The Sampras Era | How Pete Sampras conquered Wimbledon
A decade decorated in Wimbledon silverware. The Pete Sampras era, narrated by Andy Roddick. This is the official Wimbledon YouTube page. To keep up with Wimbledon throughout the year, visit wimbledon.com/mywimbledon

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Video : Coco Gauff vs Venus Williams | Wimbledon 2019 first round | Full Match

Coco Gauff vs Venus Williams | Wimbledon 2019 first round | Full Match
Despite the absence of a Championships this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get into the Wimbledon spirit… - Help us recreate Wimbledon from home by sending us your favourite traditions and moments on social media using the hashtag #WimbledonRecreated - Now's your chance to Play The Championships - visit wimbledon.com/gaming to take on seven rounds of retro tennis action and become a Wimbledon champion... - If Wimbledon could grant you one wish, what would it be? Let us know here at wimbledon.com/wish and it might just come true!

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Flashback: Federer Lives To Fight Another Day At Wimbledon

In his first match at The Championships since one of his greatest Wimbledon triumphs, Roger Federer narrowly avoided an opening day upset at Wimbledon in 2010.

Appearing at SW19 for the first time since beating Andy Roddick 16-14 in an extended fifth set to capture a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title in 2009, Federer followed tournament tradition by opening Day One play on Centre Court against Alejandro Falla.

Meeting the Colombian for the third time in four weeks, Federer owned a perfect 11-0 set record against Falla, which included a 6-1, 6-2 victory en route to the NOVENTI OPEN final in Halle just two weeks earlier. All signs pointed to a comfortable opening match for Federer, but Falla started strongly to threaten Federer’s streak of 24 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.

[COACHES]

The World No. 60, who owned just three victories from five previous appearances at the All England Club, moved up the court in crucial moments to establish a two-set lead. After losing the third set, Falla secured an early break in the fourth set and maintained his advantage to serve for the match at 5-4. From this point, Federer raised his game to win nine of the next 10 games and earn a 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0 victory after three hours and 18 minutes.

"It came as a bit of a shock and it's not something I was that prepared for, but you have to draw from experience and physical strength. I live to fight another day,” said Federer.

Aiming to join Pete Sampras and William Renshaw as the only seven-time singles champions at the All England Club, Federer fell to eventual runner-up Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals. But the Swiss soon joined Sampras and Renshaw with his seventh trophy at SW19 in 2012, before surpassing the duo with a record-breaking eighth crown in 2017.

[ATP APP]

“I am happy because I played a great match,” said Falla. “Today is a special day for me in tennis, even if I lost that match. I can say I was serving for the match against Federer. Many players would like to be in that situation."

Two years later, Falla achieved his best Wimbledon result. The Colombian earned back-to-back five-set wins against John Isner and Nicolas Mahut to reach the third round. One month later, Falla returned to SW19 to face Federer in the first round of the 2012 London Olympics. The World No. 51 broke the eventual silver medallist on three occasions and forced a deciding set, before suffering a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 defeat.

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Flashback: Karlovic Aces Defending Champion Hewitt Out Of Wimbledon

Editor's Note: But for the COVID-19 pandemic, Wimbledon would now be underway. During the next two weeks, ATPTour.com will look back on memorable matches and happenings at the grass-court Grand Slam.

Grand Slam debuts don’t get much more memorable than this.

Ivo Karlovic, a 24-year-old qualifier ranked No. 203 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, strode out onto Centre Court at 1:00pm to face top seed and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt in their first-round 2003 Wimbledon match. Less than three hours later, Hewitt’s title reign ended as the Croatian scored a shocking 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4 upset.

Hewitt’s exit marked the first time in the Open Era that a defending men’s singles champion lost in the opening round at the All England Club. It only happened once before in the tournament’s 126-year history (Charlie Pasarell d. Manuel Santana, 1967). But for Karlovic, the result was perfectly logical once he got used to his surroundings.

"I saw him play last week and he didn't play anything special. I was pretty prepared to win,” Karlovic said after the match. “The first set, I was completely scared. After I saw that I can beat him, I started to play better.”

Karlovic had just four tour-level wins to his name and only one victory over a Top 100 player. He nearly didn’t even make it to the main draw and was two points from losing his second-round qualifying match against Juan Pablo Guzman. But what he lacked in experience, the 6’11” Croatian made up for with a booming serve that stunned those in attendance.

He shook off a slow start, cut the double faults out of his game and started delivering rockets that the Aussie struggled to get a racquet on. When Hewitt managed to put his opponent's serves back in play, it only took a few steps for the towering Karlovic to reach the net and knock off winning volleys.

Hewitt’s tactics were questionable as he frequently attempted to lob over Karlovic instead of hitting passing shots. Despite this, he reached set point with Karlovic serving at 4-5 in the second set, only to miss a playable return on his chance for a two-sets lead.

Once the Croatian survived that game, his slice approaches and surprising feel around the net added extra pressure to the Aussie’s service games as he comfortably took care of his own. Karlovic served out the match with ease and raised his arms in triumph.

''When I missed those opportunities early in the second set, his whole game sort of came together,'' Hewitt said. ''He didn't make as many easy mistakes.’’

Karlovic’s dream run ended in the third round to Max Mirnyi, but he made his Top 100 debut that September and has remained a perennial ATP Tour staple since then.

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Video : Roger Federer - All 52 Passing Shot Winners vs Nadal

Roger Federer - All 52 Passing Shot Winners vs Nadal
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Video : Novak Djokovic vs Olivier Rochus | Wimbledon 2010 first round | Full Match

Novak Djokovic vs Olivier Rochus | Wimbledon 2010 first round | Full Match
Despite the absence of a Championships this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get into the Wimbledon spirit… #WimbledonRecreated Help us recreate Wimbledon from home by sending us your favourite traditions and moments on social media using the hashtag #WimbledonRecreated Play The Championships Visit wimbledon.com/gaming to take on seven rounds of retro tennis action and become a Wimbledon champion, with prizes on offer for the highest scores... A Wish from Wimbledon If we could grant you one wish, what would it be? Let us know here at wimbledon.com/wish and it might just come true!

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Video : Worth The Wait | Duchess of Cambridge delivers Wimbledon "opening day" message

Worth The Wait | Duchess of Cambridge delivers Wimbledon "opening day" message
On what would have been the opening day of The Championships 2020, The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, delivers a message to Wimbledon fans around the world... This is the official Wimbledon YouTube page. To keep up with Wimbledon throughout the year, visit wimbledon.com/mywimbledon

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Nick Kyrgios rages at 'selfish' Alexander Zverev after German spotted partying

Nick Kyrgios has been outspoken in his criticism of the conduct from fellow tennis pros.

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Five Things To Know About Tommy Paul

Tommy Paul reached the Australian Open third round and is at a career-high No. 57 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

ATPTour.com looks at five things you should know about the 23-year-old.

1) He Made Headlines On The ATP Challenger Tour In 2019
Paul advanced to four ATP Challenger Tour finals in 2019, picking up trophies on home soil in Sarasota, New Haven and Tiburon. During those weeks, Paul clinched victories against two-time Australian Open quarter-finalist Tennys Sandgren, Thanasi Kokkinakis and four-time ATP Tour finalist Paolo Lorenzi.

Paul won nine consecutive matches from the start of his title run in Sarasota through finishing runner-up in Tallahassee. The American owns four Challenger trophies, having also captured the Charlottesville title in 2018 with straight-sets wins against Ivo Karlovic, Bradley Klahn and Peter Polansky.

[COACHES]

2) He Enjoyed A Big Start To 2020
Paul started the year at No. 90 in the FedEx ATP Rankings but, with nine wins from 14 tour-level matches in 2020, the 23-year-old currently sits at a career-high No. 57.

Paul opened the year with five straight-sets wins from qualifying to reach his maiden ATP Tour semi-final in Adelaide. The 6’1” right hander recorded wins against Leonardo Mayer and 2017 semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov the next week in Melbourne to make his first appearance in the third round of a Grand Slam.

The American then earned his first Top 10 win against 2019 runner-up Alexander Zverev at ATP 500-level Acapulco. Paul saved all four break points he faced to defeat the World No. 7 in 88 minutes.

“[I just have to] continue to do the right things, try to stick with the same routines as I had at the end of last year and through the beginning of this year,” said Paul. “I’m still the same person, still having fun. Just trying to make better decisions.”

3) He Has An Experienced Coach In His Corner
Paul began working with Brad Stine near the end of the 2019 season. Stine has previously worked with former World No. 1 Jim Courier and two-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson. The former U.S. national coach spent the 2019 off-season with Paul and was impressed by the World No. 57’s professional approach.

”[The o]ff-season was phenomenal with him,” said Stine. “I was really impressed with his work ethic and attitude coming to the court every day.”

4) Fun Is Important
Introduced to the sport by his parents aged seven, Paul noticed he was having more fun on court than most players his age. On days where he lacked motivation, Paul made a conscious effort to prioritise fun on the court to keep his spirits high.

That same mindset remains to this day. The 2015 Roland Garros boys' singles champion hopes his fun philosophy also provides fans in the stands with plenty of enjoyable moments.

“I want people to have fun watching me. I want them to see me having fun and I want them to enjoy watching it," Paul said. "I don’t want to be a boring guy out on the court."

5) A New City Means New Restaurants
Spending much of the year on the road, Paul loves to discover new restaurants during tournament weeks. During his title run at the Challenger event in New Haven last year, the Delray Beach resident visited Frank Pepe's Pizzeria with fellow player Ryan Shane.

"Eating on the road is pretty much always eating out," said Paul. "We try and find the best restaurants, restaurants that are famous in the area.”

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Video : The Greatest Championships

The Greatest Championships
Introducing The Greatest Championships, a round-by-round retelling of some of the best matches in our history...

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Wimbledon’s Most Memorable Moments

Since 1877, The Championships has witnessed some of the most important moments in tennis history. The grass courts of the All England Club have played an integral role in the careers of many of the sport’s greatest names, including Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest stars in the sport will have to wait another year to wear traditional all-white attire and compete for the biggest title in grass-court tennis.

ATPTour.com reflects on some of the most memorable moments from SW19.

1980: Borg, McEnroe Produce Instant Classic
Widely considered one of the greatest finals in Wimbledon history, four-time defending champion Bjorn Borg met first-time Wimbledon finalist John McEnroe in the 1980 final. A cool and composed Borg entered the match seeking his third straight Roland Garros-Wimbledon double. On the other side of the net, a fiery 21-year-old McEnroe was aiming to lift his second Grand Slam trophy after his 1979 US Open triumph.

Borg started slowly, but he charged back into the match and found himself on the brink of victory in the fourth set. The Swede earned seven championship points, but McEnroe saved each one and extended the match to a deciding set by winning a memorable 22-minute tie-break 18/16. In the decider, Borg raised his level on serve and broke through in the 14th and final game with a cross-court backhand passing shot to clinch a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(16), 8-6 victory and his fifth straight crown at the All England Club.

1985: The Youngest Champion
One week after lifting his maiden ATP Tour title at The Queen’s Club, Boris Becker arrived at SW19 for his second appearance at The Championships. The unseeded German survived back-to-back five-set encounters against Joakim Nystrom and Tim Mayotte, before overcoming Henri Leconte and Anders Jarryd in four sets to reach his maiden Grand Slam final against Kevin Curren.

After three hours and 18 minutes of action on Centre Court, the 17-year-old fired a huge serve out wide to complete a 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-4 victory and become the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. Becker reached another six Wimbledon championship matches, including three straight finals against Stefan Edberg between 1988 and 1990.

2000: Sampras’ Seventh
Between 1993 and 2000, Pete Sampras dominated The Championships. The American won 53 of 54 matches across eight appearances to tie William Renshaw’s then-record haul of seven titles at the All England Club. Sampras claimed three straight trophies from 1993 to 1995 and, after a quarter-final loss to eventual champion Richard Krajicek in 1996, the 6’1” right-hander returned to claim four consecutive titles from 1997 to 2000.

In the 2000 championship match, Sampras rallied from a set down to overcome Patrick Rafter 6-7(10), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 for his 13th Grand Slam crown. The victory moved Sampras into first place on the Grand Slam titles leaderboard, breaking a tie with 12-time Grand Slam winner Roy Emerson.

2001: Ivanisevic Wins ‘The People’s Final’
After finishing as runner-up on three occasions at SW19 during the 1990s, Goran Ivanisevic finally captured the Wimbledon trophy in 2001. Competing at No. 125 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, the 29-year-old rallied from two-sets-to-one down against home favourite Tim Henman in a three-day semi-final to face 2000 runner-up Rafter in a Monday championship match.

With 10,000 tickets available to fans in the Wimbledon queue, the 2001 final, known as ‘The People’s Final’, will be remembered for its incredible atmosphere. The stands of Centre Court were filled with Croatian and Australian flags and fans could barely contain their excitement as the match reached a fifth set. Ivanisevic made the crucial breakthrough with a forehand return winner at 7-7 in the decider, before clinching a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 win on his fourth championship point. Ivanisevic is the only wild card to capture the Gentlemen’s Singles title in tournament history.

2008: Nadal Dethrones Federer
After losses to the Federer in the 2006 and 2007 finals, Rafael Nadal returned to SW19 in 2008 in the form of his life. Riding a 23-match winning streak, which included a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 win against the Swiss in the Roland Garros championship match, Nadal entered a third straight Wimbledon final against Federer with confidence.

Across four hours and 48 minutes, in a final twice interrupted by rain, Nadal outlasted the five-time defending champion 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 across four hours and 48 minutes, in a final twice interrupted by rain, to claim his maiden Wimbledon crown at 9:15 p.m. local time. As Borg had done in the 1980 final, the Spaniard recovered from the disappointment of failing to convert championship points in a fourth-set tie-break to clinch the trophy. Nadal became the first man since Borg in 1980 to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double and ended Federer’s all-time record 65-match winning streak on grass.

2013: Murray Ends 77-Year Wait
One year after falling to Roger Federer in his maiden Wimbledon final, Andy Murray returned to The Championships as a Grand Slam winner and an Olympic gold medallist in 2013. Entering the tournament after his third triumph at The Queen’s Club, Murray cruised through to the quarter-finals before comeback victories against Fernando Verdasco and Jerzy Janowicz. Backed by 15,000 fans on Centre Court and a further 4,000 supporters on Henman Hill, Murray faced Novak Djokovic, the man he beat to win his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2012 US Open.

After edging the opening two sets, Murray recovered from a 2-4 deficit in the third set to serve for the trophy at 5-4. As the Centre Court crowd struggled to contain its excitement, Murray clinched a marathon 11-minute game to become the first British player to capture the Gentlemen’s Singles trophy at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

2017: Federer Makes History
Five years after lifting a record-equalling seventh Gentlemen’s Singles trophy in 2012, Federer arrived at the All England Club in 2017 in top form. The 35-year-old, who ended his 2016 season after Wimbledon to recover from knee surgery, was chasing his second major trophy of the year after lifting his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Federer had also won back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 crowns in Indian Wells and Miami and his ninth Halle trophy earlier in the year.

After advancing to the championship match with victories against Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych, Federer continued his run of form in the championship match to charge past Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes. With his final victory, Federer broke a tie with Renshaw and Sampras to become the first player in tournament history to lift eight Gentlemen’s Singles trophies. He joined Bjorn Borg (1976) as only the second man in the Open Era to claim the title without dropping a set.

2019: The Longest Final
Djokovic and Federer in 2019 met in the Wimbledon final for the third time. Alongside Federer’s meeting with Nadal in the 2008 championship match and Borg and McEnroe’s 1980 classic, the 2019 final will be remembered as one of the best finals in Wimbledon history.

With Federer seeking his 21st Grand Slam title and Djokovic aiming to close the gap in the all-time Grand Slam titles leaderboard with his 16th trophy at the level, both men found their best form on Centre Court. Federer held two championship points at 8-7, 40/15, in the fifth set, but Djokovic recovered to force a 12-12 tie-break. In the first Gentlemen's Singles match to be decided by the newly-introduced 12-12 final-set tie-break, the Serbian showcased his best retrieval skills in crucial moments to claim a 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3) victory after four hours and 57 minutes. Djokovic became the first man since Robert Falkenburg in 1948 to lift the Wimbledon trophy after saving championship points in the final, winning the longest tournament final in history.

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Video : Rafael Nadal - All 240 Passing Shot Winners vs Federer

Rafael Nadal - All 240 Passing Shot Winners vs Federer
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Rafael Nadal considers skipping Grand Slam event as Andy Murray calls for change

Rafael Nadal may skip the US Open or French Open.

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Natural Born Winner: Federer A Cut Above On Grass

An 18-year-old Roger Federer played his first ATP Tour match on grass at the 1999 Fever-Tree Championships. Byron Black, who never won a title on the surface, defeated him 6-3, 6-0. Little did anyone know that Federer would become the greatest on grass.

The Swiss’ first big breakthrough on the surface came two years later at Wimbledon, where he shocked former World No. 1 Pete Sampras in the fourth round. Sampras had won six of the previous seven editions of The Championships. A player who had not won a match at SW19 entering the tournament dethroned that generation's grass-court king.

“I lost to a talented player that's a great shot-maker, similar to the way I was when I was younger, and still today. He's got a great grass-court game. He's got all the tools,” Sampras said. “He's got a good all-around court game. Doesn't have any holes… His serve, I couldn't really get a hold of.”

The future looked bright for Federer. The next year, he made an interesting statement: “Grass court is a tough surface.”

In the 18 years since, the Swiss has made competing on grass look anything but difficult.

[COACHES]

Federer lifted his first tour-level grass-court trophy in Halle in 2003, and just weeks later he captured his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. The 22-year-old didn’t take his maiden major for granted.

“You don’t know if you’re ever going to win anything again after that because you could just be a one-Slam wonder or all of a sudden you have an injury and you can never play again,” Federer said. “Your life as a tennis player is complete if you can win Wimbledon.”

Most Tour-Level Titles On Grass (Open Era)

Player	Titles On Grass
1) Roger Federer	19
2) Pete Sampras	10
3) Jimmy Connors	9
T4) Andy Murray	8
T4) Lleyton Hewitt	8
T4) John McEnroe	8
T4) Ken Rosewall	8
T4) Stan Smith	8

Federer has earned virtually every grass-court record you could think of: 19 tour-level titles on the surface, eight Wimbledon trophies and an 87.4 grass-court winning percentage (compared to 83.5 per cent on hard), for example. Federer won 65 consecutive grass-court matches — 50 of which came in straight sets — from the start of 2003 Halle until his loss against Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final.

“Grass comes so natural to me,” he said after his 2017 Wimbledon semi-final.

The 103-time tour-level titlist is known for his aesthetically pleasing game. Everything flows smoothly, from his reliable serve to his ballet-like footwork and forays into the net. His aggressive game has long matched up well with the surface.

“His anticipation and timing is something that only a few players in the world have,” Rod Laver said.

Best Career Winning Percentage On Grass (Open Era)

Player	Record	Winning % On Grass
1) Roger Federer	187-27	87.4%
2) John McEnroe	121-20	85.8%
3) Novak Djokovic	95-18	84.1%
4) Bjorn Borg	67-13	83.8%
5) Andy Murray	107-21	83.6%

Even in his latter years, Federer has proven a force on grass. In 2017, the Swiss won his 19th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. It was his eighth title at SW19, breaking a tie with Sampras for the Open Era record.

Federer won that event convincingly, emerging victorious without dropping a set. At 35 years, 11 months, Federer became the oldest champion in Wimbledon history.

“I didn't think I was going to be this successful after beating Pete here [in 2001]. I hoped to have a chance maybe one day to be in a Wimbledon finals and have a chance to win the tournament,” Federer said. “Winning eight is not something you can ever aim for, in my opinion.”

Federer has won as many titles in Halle (10), as anyone else has won total on grass. Last season, 16 years on from winning the German event for the first time, Federer earned Halle trophy No. 10 at age 37.

"It’s amazing. For some reason I didn’t think I was going to make it anymore,” Federer said. "[It’s the] first time ever I could win a title 10 times in one place, so it’s obviously a very special moment in my career."

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Video : 50 Ridiculously Good POWER SHOTS by Roger Federer

50 Ridiculously Good POWER SHOTS by Roger Federer
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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal urged to deal with Novak Djokovic 'consequences'

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been urged to make Novak Djokovic feel the consequences of his actions.

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FedEx Keeps Delivering To Help Fight COVID-19

ATP Platinum Partner FedEx is playing a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19, leveraging its unique air and road networks and infrastructure to help communities and frontline healthcare workers.

Being at the heart of efforts to keep trade flowing across Europe and around the world, FedEx continues to deliver goods, including personal protection equipment (PPE), clinical trials, medical supplies and medical equipment. Since 1 Feb 2020, FedEx Express has globally transported more than 27.8 kilotons of PPE to help combat the COVID-19 virus, with masks accounting for 47 per cent (or 13 kilotons) of those shipments.

“In these unprecedented times, we have collaborated with governments, charities and NGOs to bring critical supplies where they are most needed," said Karen Reddington, President FedEx Express Europe and CEO of TNT. “We are keenly aware of the role we play, and we view it as our duty to support our customers and communities safely and effectively.”

FedEx activations in Europe include:

• Poland: In collaboration with IKEA, FedEx team members in Poland delivered 231 beds with mattresses, bedding, pillows and towels. In total, over 2,500 items have been transported to 34 Regional Quarantine Centers across the country;
• France: FedEx Express responded to the call from the French authorities to ship medical equipment and materials to France, including 9 million masks for French SMEs activities.
• The COVID-19 situation has generated an unprecedented demand for air freight transport from Asia to Europe. In April 2020, FedEx increased flights between Asia and Europe by almost 50 per cent with its Charles de Gaulle hub in Paris playing a vital part.
• Spain: FedEx team members worked with the Spanish army to deliver 300,000 face masks to a temporary field hospital in Madrid.
• Italy: FedEx Express delivered breathing equipment from the Netherlands to eight hospitals in Northern Italy.
• FedEx delivered 5 million face masks from China to Belgium to support those in urgent need.
• UK: Across the country, FedEx team members delivered ventilators, testing kits, respiratory parts and PPE gowns from China. They also shipped protective screens to stores and delivered urgent medical supplies to temporary field hospitals.

FedEx continues to support customers in Europe and around the world who are relying on the flow of goods and commerce.

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Gaudenzi: Agility & Efficiency Needed In COVID-19 Year

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi discusses how tennis stakeholders are collaborating for a safe return to play following the suspension of the Tour since March. The Italian also talks about the Tour structure, future opportunities and how tennis can emerge stronger from the pandemic.

The world of tennis has been through a lot recently, including the announcement of the revised calendar from August. Could you explain how some of these major decisions are made at the ATP and across tennis? What are some of the difficulties involved in the process?
Firstly, it’s important to outline the structure we have in place at the ATP, which is fairly unique in sport. The ATP is an equal partnership between players and tournaments, and that’s reflected in our core governance structure.

At the top, we have the ATP Board of Directors which is responsible for the main decision-making on the Tour. The Board consists of seven people: three Tournament Representatives and three Player Representatives, and myself as ATP Chairman. Essentially, it’s a 50-50 representation reflecting the equal partnership between players and tournaments that embodies the ATP. While each Board member is elected by their stakeholders, they have a fiduciary duty to do what is right for the Tour overall.

Beneath the Board you have the Player and Tournament Councils, elected by their constituents to represent the wider interests of the players and tournaments, respectively.

Overall, it’s a very democratic ‘pyramid’-style structure. The challenges inevitably arise due to the vast array of differing views and perspectives not only on the player side, but also with tournaments. A 20-year-old player ranked in the Top 200 will likely have very different priorities to a 30-year-old ranked in the Top 20 or doubles player ranked 80. Equally, on the tournament side, the financials of an ATP 250 tournament are very different to a Masters 1000.

So, the challenge in our system really comes from the hugely disparate points of views that we have to consider in our decision-making. While it is essential that we listen to everybody’s views, the reality is that consensus can be hard to come by. We cannot cater to individual interests and the Board must do what we believe is right for the sport overall, which ultimately, I strongly believe it is in the best interest of both players and tournaments. And we cannot simply look at matters through the lens of tournaments and players – but also our sponsors, media partners, and most importantly from the fan perspective. We must remember that the fans are the ones driving the commercial success of the sport across on-site attendance, TV viewership, and as the target audience for our sponsors.

Inevitably there are difficult decisions to be made and we cannot make everybody happy. Also keep in mind that we must also work collaboratively with the WTA, ITF and Grand Slams, especially in navigating the current crisis and finding solutions for tennis to return safely. This collaboration around complex issues is now more important than ever in order for us to grow the sport to a different level.

When balancing varied interests in decision making, what is ATP’s overall goal and priority?
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, our number one priority has been protecting health. This always has been and always will be the factor that most informs how and when tennis is able to resume and we make no decisions without consulting relevant medical experts. We have robust and exhaustive protocols in place to be implemented at ATP events in order to mitigate risks of infection but we must also be realistic that it is not possible to remove all risk.

After health, our primary goal is to pursue the greater good for our sport, and to try to salvage as much of the season as we can in terms of playing opportunities, ranking points, prize money, and delivering our sport for the fans who are eager to see tennis again.

We realise that the resumption of the calendar is not perfect by any means – we would love to have more events and more playing opportunities, and more space between our marquee events to ease player scheduling. The reality is that the economic impact of the crisis has meant that tournaments further down the pyramid are less able to weather the storm than those at the top. But does that mean we should hold back the whole Tour until the situation is fully back to normal? Our judgment was that we need to start somewhere and if we have tournaments at the top level that are able to run, and in a safe environment, providing earning opportunities not only for players but for the whole industry, well that’s a start.

The way in which we make this return balanced and fair for all, in terms of playing opportunities, including the Challenger Tour, prize money, the FedEx ATP Rankings, travel, is something that we will continue to work on.

In the long term, I am optimistic that with the preventative measures developed and the unity shown by tennis’ stakeholders, tennis will be back stronger than ever and will continue to grow for years to come.

Andrea Gaudenzi began serving as ATP Chairman on 1 January, 2020.

Regarding the ATP Tour resumption, which stakeholders were involved in decision-making?
It’s been a long process over many months that has resulted in a completely revised calendar under new terms. We’ve had to be agile and creative, and the process has involved compromise and concessions on all sides. The Board and the Councils have been a key part of that process. We also had group calls with all tournaments and all players.

And just as importantly, our decisions were made in close collaboration with WTA, USTA, FFT and ITF. There were many moving parts to finding a revised schedule that fitted around dates, venue availability, health and safety, and travel restrictions amongst other considerations. What we have is a workable schedule that salvages as many events and earning opportunities as possible and I want to thank everyone involved for their efforts. Much work lies ahead and we continue to monitor global travel restrictions with player access in mind while final decisions ultimately rest in the hands of local governments, keeping in mind the situation related to Covid-19 is continually evolving.

In general terms, a time of crisis like this accentuates the need for a nimble and fast decision-making process. And while the Board is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of the Tour, the management needs to be empowered to take day-to-day decisions if we want to run the business professionally. One of the things I’ve learnt in my years working in start-ups is that ‘done is better than perfect’. Decisions have to be taken and it won’t necessarily be perfect – but it’s better than waiting for a perfect solution that will never come as you watch others pass you by.

Do you think the circumstances around the ATP Tour’s resumption in August creates a fair playing field?
One of the great things about our sport is that it is truly global and meritocratic, based off ranking. We all know how important the FedEx ATP Rankings are – it’s the fabric that essentially ties the whole Tour together.

The impact of the pandemic challenges the essence of our Tour on many fronts – not only economically, but in terms of travel restrictions, quarantine etc. For a truly global Tour like ours that involves so much international travel, it’s very challenging.

It’s not going to be perfect from the outset and it will take some time but it’s something we will continue to work on and try and ensure as fair and balanced outcome for everyone involved in terms of playing opportunities, prize money and the fairest way possible for the rankings to resume.

How fair are the concerns within tennis around the circumstances of resumption, including which events have been rescheduled, FedEx ATP Ranking points, restrictions on player entourages etc.?
I think it’s natural for there to be a level of concern. The global situation with COVID-19 is rapidly developing and that presents a lot of unknowns.

I believe our precautions and protocols are well informed and under the current plans, some of the biggest ATP events in our sport should still be able to be staged safely despite the circumstances.

In the end though, we can have the most robust plans in place but collaboration and approval from local governments will be key, and we’ll continue to monitor international travel restrictions as the situation evolves weekly.

Some groups have expressed some frustration at not being more involved or aware of decisions. How effectively do you feel major decisions have been communicated?
We do our best to communicate decisions in an effective and timely way, keeping in mind that there are constraints and confidentiality requirements that must be respected in certain situations. In today’s world of social media, information spreads very quickly. That can be both an opportunity and a challenge at the same time.

At a certain point though, in order for a business to be run effectively, you cannot consult each player or tournament member on every item. While we would love to be as inclusive as possible, it is simply not scalable to micro-manage in that way. We would be extremely inefficient and we are simply not set up that way as a business; no organisation is. That’s where our governance structure needs to come into play, with the Councils and the Board, who are elected to represent their constituents, which is key to allowing us to be nimble.

How well do you feel the structure is working in terms of the having the vast array of stakeholders represented?
Any player or tournament representative on the Board or Councils should be held accountable via the election process we have in place - they have to be fully empowered and in the end, they can be voted in or out. And the same applies for my role as ATP Chairman.

A separate question is whether the ATP governance structure needs to be tweaked or modernised in any way. You can have the best governance structure in place but in the end the structure relies on the people and interpretation from stakeholders in order for it to work effectively. We’ll continue to assess if any adjustments need to be made there.

Separately the question of a broader governance structure that incorporates WTA, ITF and the Grand Slams is something that should be addressed for the benefit of the whole sport.

There have been a lot of questions over the income distribution in tennis and how to make the lower levels more viable. What is your view on that and how can it be addressed?
If you look at the numbers, total prize money across the ATP Tour, Challenger Tour and Grand Slams has more than doubled between 2009 and 2019, reaching more than US$270 million last year. And the biggest annual percentage increases have been directed towards the qualifying and early rounds in an effort to spread prize money to more players. So there have been some impressive increases in recent years.

Can we be doing better as a sport? I believe so, otherwise I would not have taken this role. For me the question is how can the sport come together and collaborate in a meaningful way that will raise the bar for everyone. Related to that, we must ask if the distribution of prize money is working as designed for what we are trying to achieve as a sport.

We have a strategic plan in motion which hopes to address these areas. The focus, first and foremost, is on growing the whole pie for the entire sport but also ensuring redistribution down through the tennis ecosystem all the way through to the Challenger Tour, which is required if we want a healthy sport that is appealing as a viable career path.

What are your predictions for the sport of tennis as it returns post COVID?
I think this pandemic has shown that tennis is stronger when we all work together and empower the respective boards, not only in the decision-making but right through to presenting a unified front as a sport. Tennis has enormous potential when its stakeholders work together and there will be a lot of upside if we can continue in that direction.

Separately, our sport’s business model has always relied strongly on ticketing revenues, particularly in comparison to some other sports. Having seen how difficult it has been for tournaments to be economically viable with reduced or no fans on-site, the pandemic has accentuated that reliance on on-site attendance. It shows more than ever that we need to look at our operations and ensure we’re investing in the right areas that have the most potential, particularly in technology, media and data, where I believe we have a lot of room for growth.

There is a lot of work ahead as we look to get the Tour back up and running, but I’m optimistic about the long-term prospects of our sport if we continue to stay united and work together.

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New Fan Essay Winners: Rooting For Chaos

The ATP editorial team had another fun time reading the entries that were sent to us for the second installment of our Fan Essay Contest.

Writers aged 18 and under were challenged to write an essay of 500 words or less on the topic: 'What is the best ATP Tour match you have seen (either in person or on TV)? Describe why the match was so compelling and why it had a big impact on you.' The winning entries are featured below.

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Thiem Over Chaos
By Ryan Canton, 18, Canton, Connecticut

I root for chaos when I have nothing to lose. Give me David over Goliath every single time. And on 4 September 2018, I once again found myself rooting for chaos.

It was on that night that I found myself glued to my television screen, heart pounding while watching the US Open quarter-final between Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal. Of course, I knew Rafa, but what truly impressed me was the man I knew nothing about.

As the match roared on, I found my jaw constantly gaping open and was dumbfounded by just how hard these two warriors were striking the ball. I had seen enough matches in my life to know that this was special. And before I could even wrap my head around the power in their groundstrokes, Thiem won the first set 6-0.

That set hooked me in for the long haul. To call what was to come a classic would be a massive understatement. The match was a complete and utter war, in the stifling New York humidity, with so much sweat pouring from both players that their bodies were glistening. I was completely hooked.

Two amazing sets of brutal, demanding and enthralling rallies later, Nadal was back in the driver’s seat. Up two-sets-to-one, I considered my hope of watching chaos to be nothing more than a pipe dream. Knowing that I had school in the morning and with the fourth set starting well after midnight, I considered heading to bed. My decision not to was one I’m forever grateful for.

Somehow, Thiem won that fourth set, and in the process he forever won himself a fan in me. He may have lost in the end, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore. Finally, after the clock had struck 2:00am and five of the most amazing sets I will ever have the pleasure of watching concluded, it was all over. But for me personally, the journey had just begun.

This match stuck with me and does to this day. It genuinely lit a fire in me and I am thrilled to say it got me onto the tennis court again. My one-hander has quite a bit to go before it reaches the level of Thiem's. But it’s thanks to that night, where I simply wanted to root for chaos, that I found a new love in the sport of tennis. When “The Dominator” takes the court, I’ll be pulling for the man that made me fall back in love with this great sport.

See what happened when Aussie John Millman read this fan essay from Melbourne's Connor Joyce...

The Resilience Of Del Potro
By Eluwole Timothy, 17, Ibadan, Nigeria

Scheduled at a late afternoon hour on 4 September 2017, the last fourth-round match at that year's US Open between Juan Martin del Potro and Dominic Thiem drew tennis fans from around the world into the Grandstand. I watched the match on TV after a training session in my hometown stadium in Ibadan. I had no idea that I was about to watch one of the best tennis matches ever.

The ‘Dominator’ dominated the first two sets and del Potro trailed 1-6, 2-6 after just 72 minutes. The Argentine struggled with a fever and looked feeble and weak. He lacked rhythm, missed routine shots and struggled with his mobility during rallies. Thiem had liberty to fire winners from all angles of the court and had little resistance from his tired opponent. It almost seemed as if del Potro was going to retire and call it quits.

With del Potro's back against the wall, he inspired hope and found his way into the match by grabbing the third set. His sudden charge changed the atmosphere and gave the match a new vibe.

Both players gave it their all in the fourth set, but it seemed as though Thiem was on his way to victory when he won four straight games to take the lead 5-2. Once again, del Potro found strength from within and fought back tenaciously. He saved two match points by landing two aces and eventually pushed the set into a tie-break. On set point, del Potro leveled the match with a thunderous 116mph forehand.

In the fifth set, the comeback was completed as del Potro broke Thiem in the final game. The victory sent the Grandstand crowd into a frenzy as they erupted in wild celebration. Del Potro spread his hands in joy as he soaked himself in the chants of "Ole Delpo" ringing from the crowd. I could hardly believe what I had just watched. I was so thrilled that I had goosebumps.

The resilience displayed in this match has always been a source of inspiration for me as a tennis player. It reminds me that I can fight illness, low moments and injuries as long as I remain resilient and focused.

There have been moments where I felt very weak and down at tournaments, matches where I had almost lost hope of winning, and this match served as a source of hope for me to get back into games and win them. It still inspires me today and even motivates me in other areas of life to tackle challenges and not lose hope even when the odds are against me.

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Davis Cup Finals Postponed Until 2021

The 2020 Davis Cup finals will be postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers announced Friday. The event’s next edition will begin on 22 November 2021.

The 18 teams that have already qualified for this year’s Finals will compete at the rescheduled Finals in 2021, with the draw remaining as published.

“This is a tough decision to have to make, but delivering an international team event on this scale while guaranteeing the health and safety of all involved ultimately poses too great a risk,” ITF President David Haggerty said. “It is a complex undertaking and we have made the decision now to provide certainty for players, national associations and fans.”

Rafael Nadal led Spain to the 2019 title, clinching the trophy with a victory against Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

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Video : Tennis United | Episode 12

Tennis United | Episode 12
This week's episode of #TennisUnited brings us a group chat with the Aussies, and David Goffin and Elise Mertens take the Five Second Challenge. Closing out Pride Month, Brian Vahaly talks about his personal journey and mission to make tennis more accepting. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2dj6EhW WEBSITE: http://www.atptour.com/ FACEBOOK: https://ift.tt/2T3aGl9 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ATP_Tour INSTAGRAM: https://ift.tt/2IoGZGP RADIO: http://bit.ly/2Dictrm PODCAST: http://bit.ly/2NilRRn About the Official ATP Tour YouTube Channel: Here you will find the latest videos from the ATP Tour, including hot shots, highlights, behind the scenes footage, documentaries and more. The ATP Tour showcases the best of the best, competing in 63 tournaments across 4 surfaces, all to be No. 1. Find all the action from on and off the court right here.

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Which Aussie Is Most Likely To Survive On A Deserted Island? Find Out!

Who is most likely to survive on a deserted island? Who is the best dancer? Who is the most likely to sleep until noon?

Alex de Minaur, James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis Nick Kyrgios, John Millman and Jordan Thompson answer all that and more in a special Aussie group chat on the 12th episode of Tennis United, which debuts Friday on the ATP Tour’s Facebook page.

The Aussies enjoy fun banter that you don’t want to miss. You can find out who failed their first driving test!

[COACHES]

Belgian stars David Goffin and Elise Mertens also join co-hosts Vasek Pospisil and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

“The Belgian team is here!” Goffin says. “I followed [Elise’s] Instagram and I saw she is quite fit and working hard [during the pandemic]!”

Goffin and Mertens take on a five-second challenge, in which they have to be fast on their feet to answer questions from Pospisil and Mattek-Sands. Throughout the episode, Canadians drop in to roast Pospisil in celebration of his 30th birthday, which was Tuesday. One of the roasters is former doubles World No. 1 Daniel Nestor.

“Exciting times, man. I guess this is where I’m supposed to say I miss you, which I really don’t,” Nestor says. "All those matches we played you [were] butchering all those volleys on top of the net!"

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Video : 7 Times Federer Completely FOOLED an Opponent with a Kick Serve

7 Times Federer Completely FOOLED an Opponent with a Kick Serve
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Bid On VIP Cahill Auction To Benefit Coaches In Need

Darren Cahill says he has been “incredibly lucky” to coach some of tennis’ biggest names, from former World No. 1s Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi to his current mentee, WTA World No. 2 Simona Halep. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected members of the ATP Coach programme whose ability to work has been impacted by the virus, and Cahill is doing his part to support them.

“The ATP Coaches’ division has launched a fan experience initiative where we’re trying to raise some money for some coaches in need,” Cahill said. “We’ve put together a bunch of great packages.”

Learn More About VIP Tennis Experiences

Listen up! Here's a message from @darren_cahill on the ATP coach fan experiences 🗣

All to support coaches affected by the #COVID19 pandemic 👊👇

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 26, 2020

Cahill’s package includes a two-hour lesson with the former World No. 22 at the 2021 Australian Open and two premium tickets for both the men’s and women’s singles finals. The winning bidder will also receive a behind-the-scenes tour and access to premium hospitality, including transport to and from the airport and tournament hotel. But that’s not all.

Halep is adding a match racquet from the Australian Open as well as a match outfit.

Learn More About Cahill's Auction

Other experiences include court time with Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker and more. There are also special prize draws that give you a chance to win memorabilia from Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev or Grigor Dimitrov.

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Video : The Man Behind The Hill | Tim Henman and the hopes of a nation

The Man Behind The Hill | Tim Henman and the hopes of a nation
This is the official Wimbledon YouTube page. To keep up with Wimbledon throughout the year, visit wimbledon.com/mywimbledon

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Video : Wimbledon Foundation | Youth Sport Trust Launch Set for Success Initiative

Wimbledon Foundation | Youth Sport Trust Launch Set for Success Initiative
The two-year programme will provide young people with the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills. This is the official Wimbledon YouTube page. To keep up with Wimbledon throughout the year, visit wimbledon.com/mywimbledon

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Mic Drop: Roger, Rafa Delight Fans With These 9 Words...

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have made careers out of carving up their opponents with their sudden impact ‘Serve +1’ patterns. Similarly, they can get a rise out of fans with just a handful of words.

At the 2017 Rolex Shanghai Masters, after a hard-fought final, they raised the roof with fans’ laughter after being persuaded to test their Chinese-language skills during the trophy presentation.

Join us as we count down 10 of the funniest player moments behind a microphone in this hilarious clip from ATP Uncovered presented by Peugeot. The memorable moments include a giddy Stefanos Tsitsipas learning that he qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, and Yoshihito Nishioka reminding Shenzhen fans that his last name is 'Nishioka' not 'Nishikori'.

[COACHES]

And in case you’re wondering… Rafa says ‘Ai Shang Hai’ (‘Love Shanghai’) and Roger says ‘Ai Wang Qiu, Ai Shang Hai' (‘Love Tennis, Love Shanghai’).

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Video : 50 Ridiculously Good Forehands by Roger Federer

50 Ridiculously Good Forehands by Roger Federer
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