The Last Time With... Filip Krajinovic

During the 2021 season, Filip Krajinovic earned his 100th career tour-level win in Indian Wells and reached his fourth ATP Tour final in Hamburg. Off court, the Serbian has stories to tell, from meeting his idol Pete Sampras to his struggles in the kitchen.

In the latest installment of our popular series, Serbia's Filip Krajinovic reveals the last time...

I missed a flight?
I cancelled a flight last minute in June because Novak [Djokovic] called me to tell me he was going to do something to celebrate his Roland Garros victory. I was meant to go to Montenegro and then at the last minute I just cancelled and went to see him. I am always last minute, but to miss a flight, I don’t think I have.

I lost something important?
I lose my wallet so much. I am quite good on that also though. I don’t think I have lost something very important ever. I have lost the keys to my car, but they can be easily replaced. So far, so good.

I paid money to hire a court or buy tennis balls?
I paid before I came to Wimbledon. There is one tennis club in Serbia and I was a little bit surprised when they told me, 'Hey, man, you have to pay'. It was €15 per hour, and I paid for four hours and needed four hours and was with my coach.

Being famous helped me?
It has helped me out a lot. Back in Serbia, people follow tennis a lot because of Novak and the rest of us are second league, but they are still following. I always try and say I am a tennis player. If need a reservation, I try to always have my tennis racquet next to me. I am hoping they know who I am. Serbia is a very small country, so we all know each other.

I strung a tennis racquet?
I have never done that in my life. I don’t think I can do it. I need time to learn a little bit, but I am really not interested in that! It takes at least 25 minutes. I have never watched the whole racquet being done either.

I cooked for myself or others?
No, I am really bad! All I do is make a tea, I do not go to the kitchen at all, I am really really bad at that. I can make the coffee though with a machine, you press the button and magic. When I am playing the tournaments I always eat in the restaurants. Even when I am home, I like to go to the restaurant. I love to eat steak and spaghetti, Europe and Italian food. My kitchen, when you go to my apartment, is totally new.

I met a childhood idol?
My idol when I was young was Pete Sampras, and 10 years ago I had the chance to go to his house. My sponsor was IMG, and he was in touch with IMG needing someone to hit with him, so they told me to go to his house and hit for a couple of days. I was really happy I was able to meet him. I was young and it was fun. I was too scared to ask for advice, I was in shock. At that time, my English was not very good, so I didn’t want to get into that many conversations.

Photo Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

I asked someone for a selfie?
Today I asked my coach, let’s do a selfie on the court.

I went to a concert?
Over a year ago, when everything was normal. I went to see some Serbian star, a big star. He is about 70-years-old, he is the most famous singer in Serbia. I went there and it was amazing, about 20,000 people there. I had a great time; he plays pop music. I am really in love with music, I like to listen to music all the time.

I attended a live sporting event other than tennis?
I watch soccer lots in Serbia. I watch Red Star [Belgrade], and I also watch the NBA when I am in America. I like to watch Nikola Jokic, the Most Valuable Player. For me, soccer is the main sport, I like to go to the stadium and cheer my team. The crowd is amazing, unbelievable, one of the best in the world.

I made my debut at a Tour event?
I played in Madrid for the first time this year at the tournament. I had never played in Madrid before, but every other tournament I have played.

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2022 ATP Cup FAQ

What is the ATP Cup?
The ATP Cup is an annual country teams competition staged in Australia by Tennis Australia in partnership with ATP.

When will the 2022 event be played?
Running 1-9 January, ATP Cup will be staged in the first week of the 2022 ATP Tour season. The 2022 tournament will feature a 16-team field and be hosted across two venues in Sydney – Ken Rosewall Arena and the Qudos Bank Arena – both at Sydney Olympic Park.

What is the format of the 2022 event?
The 2022 ATP Cup will feature a 16-team field with four groups of four teams. The winners of each group will advance to the semi-finals.

When will the draw and schedule be released?
The draw will be made 4 December, when the 16 countries will be allocated to the four groups. The schedule will be released 6 December.

How do entries work?
The top-placed countries in the ATP Cup Standings gain acceptance into the event based on the singles FedEx ATP Ranking and entry of the country’s No. 1 singles player at the entry deadline. Host country Australia will be granted a wild card into the event if it doesn't gain acceptance based on the ranking of its No. 1 singles player.

A minimum of three ATP-ranked players, including two members with singles FedEx ATP Rankings points, are required for a country to be eligible to qualify.

Rankings to be used for entries are the FedEx ATP Rankings. A Protected Ranking can be used to enter provided the player’s Protected Ranking is valid through the entry deadline. Protected Ranking will not be used for team seeding.

What are the ATP Cup Standings?
The ATP Cup Standings is a provisional entry list for the ATP Cup, ordered by the FedEx ATP Ranking (or Protected Ranking) of a country's highest-ranked singles player. ATP Cup Standings also show which players within each country would qualify for a place in their country’s team, subject to player entry rules.

View ATP Cup Standings

How many players will be in each team?
Competing teams will have a maximum of five players - three selected based on singles FedEx ATP Ranking, with fourth and fifth position decided by best (singles or doubles) ranking. Teams with less than five players will have their third and fourth (if applicable) player(s) decided by best (singles or doubles) ranking.

What points and prize money are on offer?
The 2022 ATP Cup will feature US$10 million prizemoney and award a maximum of 750 FedEx ATP Rankings points in singles and 250 in doubles.

What is the format?
Each tie will be comprised of two singles matches and one doubles match. The country that wins two matches will win the tie. Singles will be best-of-three tie-break sets. Doubles will feature No-Ad scoring and a Match Tie-break in lieu of a third set.

What is the order of play?
There is a day session and an evening session each day. The No. 2 players will play first in each tie, followed by the No. 1 players, with the doubles to follow. All doubles matches will be played regardless of whether the tie is decided after the two singles matches, except if the final is decided after the two singles matches. In that event, the doubles will not be played.

Is on-court coaching allowed?
Yes. Coaching will be permitted by the team captain, the competing player’s individual coach or fellow player team members. Coaching advice is not limited to changeovers and set breaks, but it shall not interfere with the speed of play.

Can a player play singles and doubles?
Yes. The team captain decides who plays doubles. The on-site FedEx ATP Ranking order must be respected for singles matches. For example, the No. 1-ranked player on a team based on on-site FedEx ATP Rankings at the start of the competition cannot play No. 2 singles. Protected Ranking will be considered the official ranking for line-up position.

*All the above information is subject to change by the ATP rules and regulations.

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Tennis' five stars who may knock Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal off perch

THE era of the Big Three's dominance looks to be coming to an end as top young stars emerge as the new threat to world No 1 Novak Djokovic's crown, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal struggle with injuries.

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Germany Defeats Great Britain In Thriller, Advances To Davis Cup SFs

Germany advanced to the semi-finals of the Davis Cup Finals on Tuesday evening, with the country's doubles team of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz leading the way past Great Britain in a thriller.

All three of Germany's ties have gone to a deciding doubles rubber and on all three occasions, Krawietz and Puetz have come through. They battled past Great Britain's Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 7-6(10), 7-6(5) on Tuesday to send their country to Madrid, where Germany will face the Russian Tennis Federation or Sweden.

"I'm super happy that we are going to Madrid. The whole team is great. We feel so comfortable with the whole team. The box today was unbelievably loud," Krawietz said in his on-court interview. "[There were] no spectators, but we heard everything, so it pushed us a lot and we are super happy to make it through to the semi-finals."

All four players showed a tremendous competitive spirit and flashes of brilliant shotmaking in Innsbruck. But the Germans stayed cooler under pressure to triumph. Krawietz and Puetz saved four set points in the first-set tie-break and rallied from 0/5 in the second-set tie-break to secure their victory.

"[It was] just grit, persistence, whatever you want to call it. I thought it was a pretty high level," Puetz said. "I think it showed in the tie-break, us being down 5/0 and just [being] persistent, keeping going, believing in ourselves, playing point by point and here we are."

Jan-Lennard Struff kept Germany's hopes alive in the second match of the day when he clawed past 2021 breakthrough star Cameron Norrie 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2. 

Norrie, who competed as an alternate in the Nitto ATP Finals earlier this month, appeared to turn the match around when he forced the decider. But Struff played courageously to earn his first ATP Head2Head win against the lefty (series tied 1-1).

Earlier in the day, the crafty righty Daniel Evans had given Great Britain a 1-0 lead in the tie when he defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-2, 6-1.

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Tsitsipas 'Caravaggio' Image Named One Of Time's Top 100 Photos Of 2021

Fans will remember this year’s Roland Garros final — in which Novak Djokovic rallied past Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets — for years to come. Getty Images photographer Julian Finney was there to document it, with one of his images from the match recently being named one of TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2021.

Finney captured Tsitsipas sliding into a backhand slice on Court Philippe Chatrier, with a pocket of light shining perfectly on the Greek as if he were under a spotlight. According to the photographer, the moment came “out of nowhere”.

“The usual nice light us photographers love had gone from the court as the sun was beginning to go down behind the stadium. Without a fifth set this picture wouldn't have been possible,” Finney said. “I was aware of new pockets of light formed by the new centre court construction, but what occurred at this split moment was something I didn't plan for. It's one of those golden moments that comes and goes very quickly.

“What was so special was the low light beaming through a gangway in the stadium above whilst at the same time it was also reflecting off a window up a few rows behind me. Stefanos was also playing a low sliding backhand in the very limited spot of light. It all came together. It is the kind of lighting you'd expect from a studio set up.”

View TIME'S Top 100 Photos Of 2021

Finney, who was using a 24-70mm lens, knew as soon as he shot the image that he “had something special”, which was rewarding.

“When in that moment Stefanos played this particular shot low and sliding into this spot on the court, I couldn't believe it paid off to shoot it loosely cropped," Finney said. "The way the light is flaring through, the very certain spot he played the shot, the timing, his white top helped elevate the reflection of the light, [everything worked]. I knew as soon as I looked at the back of my camera I had a very special image.

"One friend mentioned it having a feel of a Caravaggio painting, quite the compliment! I also think the fact no one else got the same image, [which does not happen often] these days, is something to treasure.”

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Great Britain stunned as Germany come from behind to win Davis Cup quarter-final tie

GREAT BRITAIN will not be advancing to the last-four of the Davis Cup Finals for a second successive time, as they blew a 1-0 lead over Germany in their quarter-final tie.

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Australian Open facing uncertainty as new Omicron Covid variant causes border delays

JANUARY'S Australian Open could be under threat after Prime Minister Scott Morrison was forced to push back the relaxing of border restrictions by two weeks.

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Haas Defeats Berdych On Final Day Of Champions Tennis

The ATP Champions Tour’s Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall came to a close on Sunday night, with Greg Rusedski’s Team Greg taking home the trophy. Tommy Haas' 4-1, 4-3(1) victory against Tomas Berdych was one of the highlights of the day.

Across the event, tennis fans laughed, cheered - and some even had the chance to play with some of the world’s greatest players — with 2021 wrapping up 24 years of Champions Tennis at the iconic British venue. In addition to Haas' win against Berdych, Xavier Malisse defeated Marcos Baghdatis 4-2, 4-3(2), and Radek Stepanek overcame Fernando Gonzalez 4-2, 4-3(0). 

At the end of the four-day event, Team Greg lifted the trophy as the clear victors in this year's tournament, with Team Mark coming in second and Team Goran in third.

Over the past 24 years, Champions Tennis has seen players through the ages who have held the World No. 1 FedEx ATP Ranking, reached a Grand Slam singles final or been a singles player on a victorious Davis Cup team, compete in a mixture of team and individual events in both singles and doubles. 

Some of the biggest legends of the game took to the stage in front of a full house at the Royal Albert Hall, including British star and US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who faced Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse. 

Other stars included British favourite Rusedski, fan favourite Mansour Bahrami, Chilean Gonzalez, Spaniard David Ferrer, 2006 Australian Open finalist Baghdatis and former Top 10 star Stepanek. Other players who competed in the tournament included Malisse, Australian legend Philippoussis, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Berdych, former top five player Thomas Enqvist, former Russian No. 1 Mikhail Youzhny, German Haas, Swedish star Mikael Pernfors and Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.

2021 also marked the last time the tournament will be held at the historic Royal Albert Hall.

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European Union demand 'verifiable proof' Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai is safe

THE European Union has stepped in and shared their concerns over the safety of Peng Shuai, after the Chinese tennis player accused the country's former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault earlier this month.

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Emma Raducanu can learn lessons from three players to avoid second year hangover

EMMA RADUCANU is preparing for her 'sophomore season' on the WTA Tour after shooting up the rankings from world No 338 to world No 19 thanks to her unprecedented US Open title win.

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WTA boss 'deeply concerned' after claiming Peng Shuai is still not 'free from censorship'

WTA TOUR Chairman and CEO Steve Simon has reiterated his concern for the safety and freedom of Peng Shuai, almost a month after the tennis player went 'missing' after accusing the former vice premier of China of sexual assault.

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Novak Djokovic 'owes Daniil Medvedev dinner' after Russia keep Serbia alive in Davis Cup

DANIIL MEDVEDEV'S friendship with main rival and world Novak Djokovic is continuing to blossom after the Russian hinted that the world No 1 was sending him text messages during his team's Davis Cup tie against Spain.

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Emma Raducanu to spend Christmas away from home in Australian Open sacrifice

EMMA RADUCANU has confirmed she will not be spending Christmas at home with her family in Bromley, and is choosing to remain in the Middle East to practice ahead of the first Grand Slam of 2022.

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Johanna Konta opens up on 'heart palpitations' as Brit mulls over skipping Australian Open

AFTER missing most of 2021's major events due to injuries and Covid, Johanna Konta has revealed a heart problem which may impact her future in the sport.

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Ivashka: 'My Father Wanted Me To Do Martial Arts'

Ilya Ivashka knew the moment he tried his first sport it was never going to last.

The Belarusian enjoyed a breakout season at 27 with a maiden tour-level title at Winston-Salem and a career-best FedEx ATP Ranking of No. 43. But his late-blooming tennis success may not have been possible had he taken his father’s advice.

“It is funny because my father wanted me to do martial arts,” Ivashka told ATPTour.com. “I started but I didn’t really like it because I was so scared I was going to break something, so I didn’t want to go and I didn’t like to fight.

“My dad was playing tennis with his friends and he was always taking me and I saw it and liked it, so I asked him if I could play tennis. Then my parents helped me and have been there all of my life to help me find coaches and put me in good tennis centres to improve and it went naturally.”

It soon became apparent Ivashka had the talent for his chosen discipline and he quickly excelled, after he started playing aged five. He was channelled into a more advanced group and from there, there was no turning back.

The Minsk native enjoyed his best season to date under Spanish coach and former player, Jose Checa-Calvo. In addition to his title run in Winston-Salem, which included wins over the likes of top seed Pablo Carreno Busta and former World No. 3 Marin Cilic, he reached the second week at a major for the first time with a fourth-round run at Wimbledon. His biggest win by FedEx ATP Ranking came as a qualifier in Munich in May, where he scored his first Top 10 victory over Alexander Zverev to reach the final.

“I have been quite consistent this year and coming through qualifying all the year I have been competing well and giving my best,” he said. “I was improving week by week and it didn’t matter if I won or lost. I was feeling very good in Winston-Salem.

“I think I have improved a little bit mentally, which helps me to be more consistent and fight for every match. It doesn’t matter about your ranking because at this level you can beat anybody or lose to anybody.”

He first teamed up with Checa-Calvo while training in Spain in 2018 after he decided to part ways with his former coach. The new partnership was one which Ivashka said quickly brought out the best in him as a player and as a person.

“I met Jose and we spoke for five minutes and I was like ‘wow’. So since then we are very good friends and he is like a step-brother to me,” Ivashka said. “He is always helping with all of the things off court and on court. He is a very big part of our success.

“He is a different character, but it is something I am learning from him. He is very calm. We are kind of similar because I spent a few years practising in Spain and the people there are more relaxed with everything.

“They take life very easily. In Belarus we have a little bit of a different mentality, so going to Spain was good for me. When we are back in Barcelona he has his life and I have my own. He has his kid, who is nine months and I have my wife.”

Ivashka, who went 31-16 in 2021, is a self-confessed home body who favours a night in watching TV with his wife or reading J.K. Rowling books over a night out on the town. After four to five weeks on the road he admitted he tired of travel and enjoyed being home. However, there was one place he didn’t mind being away for work in 2021 on the ATP Tour.

"One of my favourite tournaments is St. Petersburg," Ivashka said. "It is one of my favourite cities in the world because everywhere you go, it is like a museum. It is amazing."

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Gojo Fires Croatia Ahead

Borna Gojo sprung a surprise Monday at the Davis Cup Finals, overcoming World No. 27 Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-2 to give Croatia a 1-0 lead against Italy in the quarter-finals in Turin.

The World No. 279 played well above his FedEx ATP Ranking against Sonego, striking 20 winners and hitting with great power and depth to triumph after two hours and 19 minutes.

"It feels amazing," Gojo said. "We knew we had to get one point from the two singles. We are confident with our doubles team. I hope Marin [Cilic] can bring us another win. The support was unbelievable. They are so loud. Some of my best friends and family are here and I want to thank them with all my heart for coming."

Jannik Sinner will face Marin Cilic in the next match Monday, aiming to level the tie and force a deciding doubles rubber in Italy.

See all Davis Cup results

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal comeback goals outlined with 21 Grand Slam titles in sight

EXCLUSIVE: Greg Rusedski has given his verdict on Roger Federer's and Rafael Nadal's respective comebacks from injury, and predicted their aims to add to their Grand Slam tallies.

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Nick Kyrgios on 'uncomfortable' Serena Williams situation - claims he's the better player

NICK KYRGIOS spoke about playing mixed doubles previously with Serena Williams and gave a brutal assessment.

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Emma Raducanu downplays SPOTY chances as Novak Djokovic set to miss Australian Open

WEEKLY TENNIS ROUND-UP: Emma Raducanu played her first match on home soil since becoming a Grand Slam champion last week as Novak Djokovic's father said his son would not play January's Australian Open over "blackmail".

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Cilic Secures Tie For Croatia

Marin Cilic stepped up Thursday at the Davis Cup Finals, overcoming Alex de Minaur 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 to give Croatia a 2-0 lead against Australia in Group D at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.

The World No. 30, who helped guide Croatia to the Davis Cup title in 2018, fired 29 winners and rallied from a break down in the third set to secure victory after two hours and 10 minutes.

“It is such a great occasion to be back on the court playing for Croatia,” Cilic said. “We have not had a match in the past 20 months. It was a pleasure to play against team Australia, they were fighting strong. Every match is important.”

Earlier, Borna Gojo earned just his second Top 100 win when he downed Alexei Popyrin 7-6(5), 7-5 to give Croatia a 1-0 lead.

The 23-year-old fired eight aces and saved all five break points he faced against the World No. 61 to secure victory in one hour and 52 minutes.

“It feels amazing,” Gojo said. “We have unbelievable support here, I would like to thank everyone who came from Croatia. It is a big win for me, but I am here as part of team Croatia and we need three points.

“He was probably the better player in the first set, but I knew if I focused on my serve and stayed close, I would have a chance eventually. We had a close one in Australia at the beginning of the year, so I knew I could compete with him.”

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic then gave Croatia a 3-0 victory, moving past De Minaur and John Peers 6-3, 6-1 in the doubles in the final match on Thursday.

See all Davis Cup results

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Novak Djokovic's father claims he is being 'blackmailed' over Australian Open

REIGNING Australian Open champion and world number one Novak Djokovic appears unlikely to travel to Melbourne to defend his title over the rules around vaccination for players.

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Emma Raducanu shares advice received from Lewis Hamilton after becoming US Open champion

EMMA RADUCANU has lifted the lid on her friendship with "role model" Lewis Hamilton.

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Bublik & Kukushkin Deliver For Kazakhstan

Alexander Bublik helped guide Kazakhstan into the quarter-finals at the Davis Cup Finals on Sunday in Madrid.

The World No. 36 downed Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 7-6(6) in 83 minutes to clinch a 2-0 victory for Kazakhstan against Canada. Bublik won 84 per cent (42/50) of his first-serve points and hit five aces in a dominant display.

Earlier, Mikhail Kukushkin laid the foundations for Kazakhstan’s victory, edging Brayden Schnur 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-5 in the first match of the tie. The World No. 183 recovered from squandering three match points at 6-5 in the second set as he raised his level in the decider to triumph.

In the final match of the tie, Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov sealed Kazakhstan’s win in style, beating Peter Polansky and Schnur 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1.

Kazakhstan beat Sweden in its opening tie in Group B and has now reached the quarter-finals at the Davis Cup Finals six times.

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Croatia Reaches QFs

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic delivered on Sunday at the Davis Cup Finals to seal Croatia’s qualification from Group D in Turin.

The pair has won nine tour-level titles this season and showed their experience to move past Fabian Marozsan and Peter Nagy 7-6(6), 6-2 in one hour and 30 minutes to seal a 2-1 win for Croatia against Hungary.

“We wanted to win and give a statement and now we will go into tomorrow’s match with confidence,” Mektic said. “We won a tight first set again, but we are happy to win.”

In the first rubber on Sunday, Croatian Nino Serdarusic moved past Marozsan 6-4, 6-4 after 72 minutes. The World No. 242 was strong on serve, winning 95 per cent (36/38) of points behind his first delivery and struck seven aces.

Hungary then levelled the tie when Zsombor Piros upset World No. 30 Marin Cilic 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 after two hours and 35 minutes. The 22-year-old broke five times and hit 26 winners to triumph.

Croatia wins the group, having also beaten Australia in Turin, and plays Italy in the quarter-finals on Monday.

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Salisbury/Skupski Seal QF Spot For Great Britain

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski overcame Tomas Machac and Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-2 Sunday at the Davis Cup Finals in Group C to book Great Britain’s spot in the quarter-finals.

The pair did not face a break point and fired 36 winners to complete Great Britain’s 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic after 74 minutes.

"Today was tough," Great Britain captain Leon Smith said. "You look at the rankings and people think it is straightforward but it is never like that in the Davis Cup. I'm thrilled for these guys [Salisbury and Skupski]. To come out and play as well as they did speaks volumes. We asked for passion, determination and the quality comes after that. I'm really proud of them."

In the first match of the tie in Innsbruck, Austria, Machac won 80 per cent (24/30) of his first-serve points to upset World No. 25 Daniel Evans 6-2, 7-5 in one hour and 35 minutes to give the Czech Republic the lead.

However, Cameron Norrie then levelled the tie, downing Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 in one hour and 43 minutes. Norrie broke five times and hit 23 winners in his victory. Great Britain tops Group C, after also defeating France 2-1 on Saturday.

See all Davis Cup results

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Emma Raducanu confirms SPOTY plans as she rates chances of winning prestigious award

EMMA RADUCANU has downplayed her chances of being crowned the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year next month.

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Emma Raducanu reveals Lewis Hamilton tutorship as Britain's tennis and F1 heroes team up

EMMA RADUCANU defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse in an exhibition match at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.

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Emma Raducanu confirms pre-season schedule with new coach ahead of Australian Open debut

EMMA RADUCANU will be spending Christmas in the Middle East as part of her preparations for her first full season on the tennis tour, following her US Open triumph in September.

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Ferrer & Stepanek Record Wins At Champions Tennis Event

On day three of the ATP Champions Tour’s Champions Tennis Spaniard David Ferrer and former World No. 8 Radek Stepanek recorded singles victories at the Royal Albert Hall.

Saturday’s afternoon session saw Ferrer down Marcos Baghdatis 4-1, 4-2, while Stepanek defeated Nicolas Almagro 4-2, 4-2. In the doubles match Tommy Haas and Greg Rusedski overcame Ferrer and Mikhail Youzhny 4-3, 4-1.

In the evening session, Xavier Malisse moved past Nicolas Almagro 4-3, 4-1, while Youzhny edged Fernando Gonzalez 4-3, 4-3. In the doubles match Tomas Berdych and Mark Philippoussis defeated Almagro and Ferrer 4-3, 3-4, 4-0.

The day was full of lighthearted fun and birthday celebrations, in addition to intense competition. It kicked off with the crowd joining in on a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate Stepanek. Later in the day ball girls and ball boys joined in on the action and were invited on to the court to play against some of the legends - one of them even finishing a point for Gonzalez.

At the end of the third day, Team Greg was in the lead with eight points, followed by Team Mark and Team Goran with two points each.

Champions Tennis sees players who have held the World No. 1 FedEx ATP Ranking, reached a Grand Slam singles final or been a singles player in a victorious Davis Cup team, compete in a mixture of team and individual events in both singles and doubles.

Across the four days some of the biggest legends of the game will take to the stage in front of a full house, including British star and US Open champion Emma Raducanu who will be facing Romanian and Hamburg European Open winner Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Other stars include British favourite Rusedski, fan favourite Mansour Bahrami, Chilean Gonzalez, Spaniard Ferrer, 2006 Australian Open runner up Baghdatis, and former doubles World No. 4 Stepanek.

Other players competing in the tournament include Malisse, Australian legend Philippoussis, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Berdych, former top-fiver Thomas Enqvist, former Russian number one Youzhny, German Haas, Swede and Canada Masters winner Mikael Pernfors, and Spaniard Almagro.

2021 also marks the last time the tournament is being held at the historic Royal Albert Hall, with this year's tournament offering tennis lovers a fantastic final opportunity to watch legends of the game battle it out in the beautiful surroundings of this legendary building.

Paul McCann, VP, Tennis Events at IMG said: “For 24 years we’ve given fans the amazing opportunity to watch their favourite tennis superstars play in the iconic Royal Albert Hall, and this year has been like no other. It’s fantastic to see the players compete on the court again, and for a final time, cheered on by the roar of the packed crowd.”

Sponsors of Champions Tennis at Royal Albert Hall include: Original Penguin, Rado, Lacoste Fragrances Dunlop, Superstars, OneStream Software, Brewin Dolphin, Stella Artois, Harrogate, Vodafone, Jaguar, Nyetimber, onefinestay, Adnams, Lavazza.

Tickets are still available from £20 and can be purchased via the ATP Champions Tour website here: www.atpchampionstour.com/london. For more information please visit Champions Tennis on Twitter @ChampionsTennis and on Instagram @champions_tennis. This year’s Champions Tennis tournament is being live streamed on ATPChampionsTour and on Facebook at The ATP Champions Tour.

Teams
Team 1: Rusedski (Captain), Baghdatis, Haas, Stepanek
Team 2: Philippoussis (Captain), Berdych, Gonzalez, Malisse
Team 3: Enqvist (Captain), Ferrer, Youzhny, Almagro
Exho Singles: Raducanu, Ruse
Exho Doubles: Bahrami, TBC

Order of Play
Sunday 28 November
Exho Singles Raducanu v Ruse
Exho Doubles Bahrami/TBC v Pernfors/TBC
Final Singles Team 1st v Team 2nd
Final Doubles Team 1st v Team 2nd
Final Singles Team 1st v Team 2nd

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Emma Raducanu compared to Rafael Nadal during first match back on British soil

EMMA RADUCANU has been compared to tennis icon Rafael Nadal.

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Emma Raducanu 'would get in a bit of trouble' if she repeated exhibition antics

EMMA RADUCANU has been told she would 'get in trouble' if she repeated her exhibition antics on tour.

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Emma Raducanu vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse LIVE: Updates, stream, latest from Royal Albert Hall

EMMA RADUCANU is playing her first match on home soil since winning the US Open at the Champions Tennis in London's Royal Albert Hall.

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Emma Raducanu needs one thing to achieve successful 2022 - and it's not a Grand Slam

EXCLUSIVE: Greg Rusedski has shared how Emma Raducanu can achieve success in her first full season on the professional tour following her historic US Open triumph.

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Emma Raducanu message sent ahead of London return - 'We mustn't panic'

EMMA RADUCANU will take on Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Royal Albert Hall today.

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De Minaur Helps Guide Australia To Victory

Alex de Minaur edged Marton Fucsovics 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(2) Saturday at the Davis Cup Finals to help Australia battle back and defeat Hungary to keep alive its qualification hopes in Group D in Turin.

Following John Millman’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Zsombor Piros in the first match of the tie, the pressure was on De Minaur. But he stepped up, breaking five times to secure victory after three hours and seven minutes.

“This is what the Davis Cup is all about,” De Minaur said. “You leave it all out there for your country. It was a brutal battle, it was a great match and I am happy to get a point for my country. Day one we had a tough day, we just had to come out today and keep going.”

In the decisive doubles rubber, Alex Bolt and John Peers then overcome Fabian Marozsan and Piros 6-3, 6-7(11), 6-3 in two hours and five minutes to seal a 2-1 comeback victory for Australia.

Bolt and Peers did not face a break point and raised their level in the third set to triumph.

Australia lost its opening Group D tie against Croatia, but can still qualify for the quarter-finals as one of the two best second-placed nations.

See all Davis Cup results

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Kazakhstan Edges Sweden

Following Alexander Bublik's victory, Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov completed the comeback for Kazakhstan Saturday at the Davis Cup Finals, defeating Andre Goransson and Robert Lindstedt 6-3, 6-3 to seal a 2-1 win against Sweden.

The pair won 87 per cent (26/30) of first-serve points and did not face a break point to triumph after 69 minutes.

In the opening match of the day in Madrid, Elias Ymer overcame Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 7-6(4) to put Sweden on the brink of qualification, after the former champion won their opening Group B tie against Canada Thursday.

Ymer hit nine aces and blasted 26 winners in his one-hour, 53-minute win. However, his brother, Mikael Ymer, was unable to win the tie, falling to Alexander Bublik 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 in one hour and 37 minutes.

Bublik broke four times and won the last eight games to bring Kazakhstan level.

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Norrie Seals Victory For Great Britain

Cameron Norrie moved past Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-6(8) Saturday at the Davis Cup Finals to ensure Great Britain made a winning start in its first tie in Group C in Innsbruck, Austria.

The World No. 12 saved all four break points he faced and hit 24 winners as he overpowered Rinderknech to secure victory after two hours and six minutes.

Earlier, Daniel Evans had given Great Britain a 1-0 lead when he defeated Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 56 minutes.

The 31-year-old won 80 per cent (20/25) of his first-serve points and broke three times to seal his win.

“It was always going to be a difficult tie,” Great Britain capitan Leon Smith said. “Evans got us off to a great start. I thought his mentality was really good today. I thought he got the balance right, playing offensive tennis like we know he can do, while also showing his defensive skills. Then with Cam, it was a heck of a match. It just shows you how far he has come and the confidence he has got.”

In the final match of the tie, France clawed one point back when Nicolas Mahut and Rinderknech overcame Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-1, 6-4. Great Britain will qualify if it beats the Czech Republic on Sunday, while France can still advance as one of the two best second-placed nations.

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Emma Raducanu faces huge challenge to adapt as ‘everyone is looking at her’

EMMA RADUCANU has been warned she faces a huge test in 2022 after her extraordinary breakthrough season.

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Stars In Action At Champions Tennis Event

The second day of the ATP Champions Tour’s Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall has concluded, with two more days of competitive tennis still to come from some of the world’s greatest players in the iconic British venue.

Friday's afternoon session saw Mark Philippoussis defeat Thomas Enqvist 4-3, 4-3, while David Ferrer beat Tomas Berdych 3-4, 4-2, 4-1. In the doubles match, Nicolas Almagro and Mikhail Youzhny overcame Fernando Gonzalez and Xavier Malisse 4-3, 4-3.

In the evening session, Radek Stepanek beat Malisse 4-3, 4-3, while Tommy Haas defeated Gonzalez 3-4, 4-1, 4-2. In the doubles match, Mark Philippoussis and Berdych overcame Baghdatis and Greg Rusedski 3-4, 4-1, 4-2.

Champions Tennis sees players who have held the World No. 1 ranking, reached a Grand Slam singles final or been a singles player in a victorious Davis Cup team, compete in a mixture of team and individual events in both singles and doubles.

Across the four days some of the biggest legends of the game will take to the stage in front of a full house, including British star and US Open champion Emma Raducanu who will be facing Romanian and Hamburg European Open winner Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Other stars include British favourite Rusedski, fan favourite Mansour Bahrami, Chilean Gonzalez, Spaniard Ferrer, 2006 Australian Open runner up Baghdatis, and former doubles World No. 4 Stepanek.

Other players competing in the tournament include Malisse, Australian legend Philippoussis, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Berdych, former top-fiver Thomas Enqvist, former Russian number one Youzhny, German Haas, Swede and Canada Masters winner Mikael Pernfors, and Spaniard Almagro.

2021 also marks the last time the tournament is being held at the historic Royal Albert Hall, with this year's tournament offering tennis lovers a fantastic final opportunity to watch legends of the game battle it out in the beautiful surroundings of this legendary building.

Paul McCann, VP, Tennis Events at IMG said: “For 24 years we’ve given fans the amazing opportunity to watch their favourite tennis superstars play in the iconic Royal Albert Hall, and this year has been like no other. It’s fantastic to see the players compete on the court again, and for a final time, cheered on by the roar of the packed crowd.”

Sponsors of Champions Tennis at Royal Albert Hall include: Original Penguin, Rado, Lacoste Fragrances Dunlop, Superstars, OneStream Software, Brewin Dolphin, Stella Artois, Harrogate, Vodafone, Jaguar, Nyetimber, onefinestay, Adnams, Lavazza.

Tickets are still available from £20 and can be purchased via the ATP Champions Tour website here: www.atpchampionstour.com/london. For more information please visit Champions Tennis on Twitter @ChampionsTennis and on Instagram @champions_tennis. This year’s Champions Tennis tournament is being live streamed on ATPChampionsTour and on Facebook at The ATP Champions Tour.

Teams
Team 1: Rusedski (Captain), Baghdatis, Haas, Stepanek
Team 2: Philippoussis (Captain), Berdych, Gonzalez, Malisse
Team 3: Enqvist (Captain), Ferrer, Youzhny, Almagro
Exho Singles: Raducanu, Ruse
Exho Doubles: Bahrami, TBC

Order of Play
Saturday 27 November
AM – Match 1 Baghdatis v Ferrer
AM – Match 2 Haas/Stepanek v Almagro/ Youzhny
AM – Match 3 Rusedski v Enqvist
PM – Match 1 Malisse v Almagro
PM – Match 2 Berdych/Philippoussis v Enqvist/Ferrer
PM – Match 3 Gonzalez v Youzhny

Sunday 28 November
Exho Singles Raducanu v Ruse
Exho Doubles Bahrami/TBC v Pernfors/TBC
Final Singles Team 1st v Team 2nd
Final Doubles Team 1st v Team 2nd
Final Singles Team 1st v Team 2nd

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Roger Federer dubbed ‘the Lionel Messi of tennis’ ahead of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

ROGER FEDERER is currently sidelined after undergoing further treatment for a long-term knee injury.

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Rafael Nadal issues plea with Carlos Alcaraz forced to withdraw from Davis Cup

RAFAEL NADAL has pleaded with tennis stars to put their health first after Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz was ruled out the Davis Cup with Covid-19.

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Roger Federer could still play at Wimbledon as Ivan Ljubicic sets timeline on decision

Roger Federer has won eight Wimbledon titles throughout his career.

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Grigor Dimitrov slammed by Nick Kyrgios with Roger Federer remark - 'Get your own game'

Roger Federer has influenced players across the globe for years.

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Serbia Moves Ahead Against Austria

Dusan Lajovic stood firm under pressure Friday at the Davis Cup Finals, edging Gerald Melzer 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5 to give Serbia a 1-0 lead in their tie against Austria.

The World No. 33 fired 29 winners and recovered from squandering a break advantage in the third set, converting his fourth match point to secure victory after two hours and 42 minutes.

“It is the Davis Cup. It is the emotions, the stress, the pressure,” Lajovic said. “It is the tight moments all the time. He played some good tennis in the past couple of months, and had confidence and showed it today, playing great tennis. My team helped me so much and I want to wish Novak [Djokovic] good luck for the next match.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will aim to win the tie for Serbia when he faces Dennis Novak in the next match in Group F in Innsbruck, Austria.

See all Davis Cup results

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Emma Raducanu's Champions Tennis exhibition match to be shown on BBC on Sunday

Emma Raducanu will take on Elena-Gabriela Ruse in an exhibition match this weekend.

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Sonego Fires Italy Ahead

Lorenzo Sonego delivered Friday on his Davis Cup Finals debut to give Italy a 1-0 lead over the United States, defeating Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6(4) at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.

The 26-year-old, who triumphed on home soil in Cagliari this season, was strong on serve, winning 90 per cent (38/42) of points behind his first delivery and saving the one break point he faced to secure victory in one hour and 31 minutes.

“It was not easy,” Sonego said. “I was the first time for me competing at the Davis Cup and I am really happy about the match. Thank you everyone.”

The World No. 10 Jannik Sinner will play John Isner in the next match of the tie.

See all Davis Cup results

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Lopez Gives Spain Early Advantage

A fired up Feliciano Lopez recorded his seventh singles win for Spain Friday at the Davis Cup Finals, overcoming Roberto Quiroz 6-3, 6-3 to give them a 1-0 lead against Ecuador in Group A in Madrid.

The 40-year-old hit 13 aces and saved all five break points he faced to earn victory after 82 minutes in front of a lively home crowd at the Madrid Arena.

“I still have the passion for the game,” Lopez said. “Without that passion I wouldn’t be here. I am 40 years old and have been playing on the Tour for such a long time and it is true without this passion it would not be possible to keep training each day. I have been waiting for moments like this, giving the first point to my country.”

Pablo Carreno Busta will play Emilio Gomez in the second rubber of the tie on Friday.

See all Davis Cup results

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Tsitsipas 'Focused On Healthier Future' After Elbow Injury Update

Stefanos Tsitsipas insists that he is “focused on a happier and healthier future” after posting a photograph on Facebook Thursday with bandages over his right elbow.

“Things often get tougher before they get easier, but with each struggle we get an opportunity to create our own unique story,” wrote Tsitsipas, in his Facebook post from a Swiss hospital bed. “Some days life is all about your dreams, hopes and visions for the future. There are also days where life is just about putting one foot in front of the other and that’s okay too.

“To all the fans, thank you for your continuous support and encouragement. [I’m now] focused on a healthier and happier future. Next stop, pre-season in Dubai two weeks from now and then looking forwards to Australia.”

The World No. 4 retired in his first match against Alexei Popyrin at the Rolex Paris Masters on 3 November, then withdrew from last week’s Nitto ATP Finals after a round-robin loss to Andrey Rublev.

Tsitsipas compiled a 55-19 match record this year, including his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Rublev) and at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon (d. Norrie), an ATP 250 event.

The 23-year-old, who rose to a career-high No. 3 in the FedEx ATP Rankings on 9 August, was runner-up in his first major championship final at Roland Garros (l. to Djokovic). He also reached finals at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco (l. to Zverev) and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (l. to Nadal).

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Novak Djokovic fired warning by seven-time Grand Slam winner - 'They aren't intimidated'

Novak Djokovic will finish 2021 as the world No 1, but the Serbian star has been warned that the players below him aren't daunted by the Serbian's legacy.

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Cilic Secures Tie For Croatia

Marin Cilic stepped up Thursday at the Davis Cup Finals, overcoming Alex de Minaur to give Croatia a 2-0 lead against Australia in Group D at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.

The World No. 30, who helped guide Croatia to the Davis Cup title in 2018, fired 29 winners and rallied from a break down in the third set to secure victory after two hours and 10 minutes.

“It is such a great occasion to be back on the court playing for Croatia,” Cilic said. “We have not had a match in the past 20 months. It was a pleasure to play against team Australia, they were fighting strong. Every match is important.”

Earlier, Borna Gojo earned just his second Top 100 win when he downed Alexei Popyrin 7-6(5), 7-5 to give Croatia a 1-0 lead.

The 23-year-old fired eight aces and saved all five break points he faced against the World No. 61 to secure victory in one hour and 52 minutes.

“It feels amazing,” Gojo said. “We have unbelievable support here, I would like to thank everyone who came from Croatia. It is a big win for me, but I am here as part of team Croatia and we need three points.

“He was probably the better player in the first set, but I knew if I focused on my serve and stayed close, I would have a chance eventually. We had a close one in Australia at the beginning of the year, so I knew I could compete with him.”

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic will play De Minaur and John Peers in doubles in the final match on Thursday.

See all Davis Cup results

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Emma Raducanu named Sportswoman of the Year after breakout season with US Open triumph

Emma Raducanu has capped off her breakthrough year with yet another prestigious prize.

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Sweden Moves Ahead Against Canada

Elias Ymer got Sweden off to a winning start Thursday at the Davis Cup Finals, overcoming Canadian Steven Diez 6-4, 6-2 in Group B in Madrid.

The 25-year-old was dominant throughout, winning 82 per cent (23/28) of his first-serve points and breaking five times to secure victory after 88 minutes. The World No. 171’s brother, Mikael Ymer, will take on Vasek Pospisil in the second match of the tie.

“I felt I played well,” Ymer said. “I really like Madrid. The court and the city are amazing. I am really happy I gave Sweden a good start and now I can support my brother next. You don’t see this often, two brothers playing No. 1 and No. 2 for their country. It is a very special occasion.”

See all Davis Cup results

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Czech Republic Earns Early French Lead

Tomas Machac sprung a surprise Thursday, defeating Richard Gasquet 7-6(3), 6-2 on his Davis Cup Finals debut to give Czech Republic a 1-0 advantage over France in Innsbruck, Austria.

The World No. 143 rallied from a break down in the first set and committed just seven unforced errors to secure victory after one hour and 36 minutes in their first Head2Head meeting.

“It feels really good,” Machac said. “I am so happy I played today and won today for the Czech Republic. It was a really tough match from the beginning, mentally especially. I am really happy. In the tie-break I played really well without any mistakes. That was the crucial moment.”

Jiri Vesely will be aiming to double Czech Republic’s lead when he plays Adrian Mannarino in the second match of the tie in Group C.

See all Davis Cup results

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ATP Releases Calendar For Opening Half Of 2022 Season

The ATP has announced the calendar for the first half of the 2022 ATP Tour season, kicking off in January with the third edition of the ATP Cup in Sydney, Australia, through to the end of The Championships, Wimbledon in July.

See Standings For ATP Cup

The new season launches with the ATP Cup, staged in partnership with Tennis Australia. The 2022 edition will feature a 16-team field and be hosted across two venues in Sydney – Ken Rosewall Arena and the Qudos Bank Arena – both at Sydney Olympic Park. As part of a reconfigured opening section of the season, Week 1 will also feature two ATP 250 events running in parallel to the ATP Cup, at the Adelaide International and Melbourne Park. Week 2 will feature two ATP 250s, including a second event at the Adelaide International and the Sydney Tennis Classic, a new one-off event, alongside Australian Open qualifying in Melbourne.

Elsewhere, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, traditionally held in Week 1, will be played in Week 7 in 2022, immediately followed by the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. As previously announced, the ASB Classic in Auckland (ATP 250) will not be held in 2022 due to complications related to COVID-19.

All other events through Wimbledon are scheduled to occur in their customary week in the calendar, with details of the remaining section of the calendar to be communicated in due course.

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: “We’re delighted to announce the calendar and give our fans visibility for the first half of the 2022 ATP Tour season. Tennis has had to adapt to fluid circumstances since the start of the pandemic and, while we continue to navigate its challenges, today’s announcement is a positive milestone in our continued return. We cannot wait to kick off another exciting season and welcome back to the calendar those events that were unfortunately unable to stage last year. I would like to credit the hard work of our players and tournaments that has allowed us to reach this point.”

View the 2022 calendar here.

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Australian Open chief reveals talk with Novak Djokovic amid Covid uncertainty

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has revealed he spoke with world number one Novak Djokovic recently - but he does not know whether the Serb will play in Melbourne.

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Andy Murray has one 'question mark' that could prevent successful 2022 comeback season

EXCLUSIVE: Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski believes one thing in particular could hold Andy Murray back from seeing success in 2022 as his comeback from hip resurfacing surgery continues.

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Emma Raducanu questioned over coach choice as concerns raised about Torben Beltz link up

US Open champion Emma Raducanu has been questioned by seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander about her decision to hire Torben Beltz as coach.

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Who's Your Favourite Player & Team? Vote Now In 2021 ATP Awards

Awards season is officially underway! Cast your vote and show your support for your favourite singles player and doubles team in the 2021 ATP Awards. 

Voting for the Fans' Favourite Awards closes at 11:59pm GMT on Tuesday, 7 December. 

[AWARD GROUP POLL]198[/AWARD GROUP POLL]

** If you have already cast your vote, you have the option to change your selection through the dropdown menu during the voting period, but your last submission will be the only one recorded. If you try to vote for the same player again, the Vote button will not work.

Note: Fans' Favourite candidates are active players in the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings and Top 25 teams in the FedEx ATP Doubles Team Rankings as of 15 November 2021. The Top 100 includes players with protected ATP Rankings who have played at least one tour-level match in 2020. Candidates with protected rankings are noted in the list with (PR). 

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Davis Cup Finals: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

Novak Djokovic will lead the charge for Serbia, while World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev headlines a strong Russian team at the 2021 Davis Cup Finals, to be held from 25 November – 5 December in Madrid, Spain, Innsbruck, Austria and Turin, Italy.

Despite Rafael Nadal’s absence due to injury, reigning champions Spain still has a strong team, with Pablo Carreno Busta and Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals champion Carlos Alcaraz competing. Alcaraz will be making his Davis Cup debut after enjoying a breakthrough year.

The 20-year-old Jannik Sinner will make his debut for Italy, while Cameron Norrie will spearhead Great Britain’s push following his standout 2021 season.

Here’s what you need to know about the Davis Cup Finals: what is the schedule, where to watch, which countries are playing and more.

Established: 1900

Tournament Director: Fernando Verdasco

When and where is the Davis Cup Finals?

The 2021 Davis Cup Finals will be held from Thursday, 25 November, to Sunday, 5 December, in Madrid, Innsbruck and Turin. Each venue will host the matches for two of the six groups as well as at least one quarter-final. Madrid will host two quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final.

Who is playing at the 2021 Davis Cup Finals?

The Davis Cup Finals features 18 teams, including 12 qualifiers, the previous edition’s four semi-finalists and two wild cards. The teams are divided into one of six groups where they compete in a round-robin format.

Madrid Arena, Madrid, Spain:
Group A: Spain, Russia Tennis Federation, Ecuador
Group B: Canada, Kazakhstan, Sweden

Olympia-Halle, Innsbruck, Austria:
Group C: France, Great Britain, Czech Republic
Group F: Serbia, Germany, Austria

Pala Alpitour, Turin, Italy:
Group D: Croatia, Australia, Hungary
Group E: United States, Italy, Colombia

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How does the 2021 Davis Cup Finals work?

Format Of Ties: All ties will consist of two singles and one doubles. Both singles and doubles are best-of-three sets with ad scoring. The first match will be contested by the second-ranked players on each team and the second match will be contested by the first-ranked players on each team. The doubles match will follow the singles match.

Points: The teams with the highest number of points in their group once all matches have been played will qualify for the quarter-finals, alongside the best two runners-up. The tournament will then go into knockout rounds until one team is crowned champion.

Who won The 2019 Davis Cup?

Spain d Canada 2-0
Spain defeated Canada in the final, with Roberto Bautista Agut downing Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(3), 6-3, before Rafael Nadal clinched the tie, overcoming Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6(7). Read More. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Davis Cup Finals were not held. 

What is the match schedule? How can I watch?

Order Of Play | TV Schedule
Thursday, 25 November: 4pm, one tie in Group B, Group C, Group D
Friday, 26 November: 4pm, one tie in Group A, Group E, Group F
Saturday, 27 November: 10am, one tie in Group B, Group C, Group D. N.B. 4:00pm, one tie in Group A, Group E, Group F
Sunday, 28 November: 10am, one tie in Group B, Group C, Group D. N.B. 4:00pm, one tie in Group A, Group E, Group F
Monday, 29 November: 4:00pm, quarter-final, winner Group D vs winner Group E
Tuesday, 30 November: 4:00pm, quarter-final, winner Group C vs winner Group F
Wednesday, 1 December: 4:00pm, quarter-final, winner Group B vs second best 1 or 2
Thursday, 2 December: 4:00pm, quarter-final, winner Group A vs second best 1 or 2
Friday, 3 December: 4:00pm, semi-final
Saturday, 4 December: 1:00pm, semi-final
Sunday, 5 December: 4:00pm, final

Who holds the Davis Cup record for most titles, most wins and more?

Most Titles: United States (32)
Most Match Wins: Nicola Pietrangeli (78)
Last Home Champion: Spain in 2019

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US Open winner Daniil Medvedev has '£168k watch stolen’ while playing ATP Finals in Italy

Daniil Medvedev reportedly had his luxury £168,000 Bovet watch stolen while competing in last week's ATP Finals in Italy.

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Nick Kyrgios details how feeling 'horny' and being 'sexually frustrated' impacted career

The story of Nick Kyrgios' career has largely been one of unfulfilled potential - and now the Australian has suggested a reason why that might be the case.

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Novak Djokovic sent vaccine warning over Australian Open deadline - 'Running out of time'

Novak Djokovic, the world number one and 20-time Grand Slam champion, is running out of time to get the vaccine and play in the Australian Open.

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China's foreign ministry condemns scepticism over Peng Shuai's safety - 'Malicious hyping'

China's foreign ministry has hit out at western scepticism over tennis star Peng Shuai's safety, labelling it as 'malicious hyping'.

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Alex's Ascent: Inside Molcan's Dramatic Rise To The Top 100

When Alex Molcan embarked on his 2021 campaign, the 23-year-old already knew it would be his best season yet. After years of injury setbacks and struggles to find confidence and consistency, Molcan was finally turning the corner.

Healthy and ready to make his move up the FedEx ATP Rankings, the budding Slovakian star was poised to make 2021 his breakout year.

But a rise to the year-end Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings? Even he admits that was the furthest thing from his mind.

"It's the first time for me in the Top 100 and I'm really happy that I made it this year," said Molcan. "I didn't think it was possible from a Top 300 ranking to get to the Top 100 in one year. I just thank my coaches and my team who made it possible for me to stay healthy. I will try to improve my game even more, prepare well and wish for the best in the next season. We'll see what's going to happen."

Molcan enjoyed one of the biggest jumps to the year-end Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings in 2021, soaring a total of 225 spots. After launching his campaign at No. 312, he would rise to a career-high No. 87 following a title run at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Helsinki on Sunday.

Biggest Movers To The Year-End Top 100

Player	Ranking Jump	Year-End 2020 - 2021
Juan Manuel Cerundolo	+252	341 - 89
Jenson Brooksby	+251	307 - 56
Alex Molcan	+225	312 - 87
Sebastian Baez	+212	309 - 97

Molcan's story started at the age of five, when his parents introduced him to the game in his native Presov, Slovakia. He also played football and ice hockey, but when the local tennis coaches told him that he had the talent to go far, the decision was made.

While a young Alex had all the tools to take the next step, it was the support of his mother Andrea that was the most critical part of his development and his early career. He explains that without his mom's sacrifice, which included uprooting her life and moving to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava so her son could train at the best facilities, he would not be in the Top 100 today.

"All good tennis players have to go from home to somewhere else to train and play," said Molcan. "This is my experience, going from my hometown to Bratislava when I was 12. I didn't know anyone but my mother. I went to school there and it was hard, because I was one guy from another city. Every player has to sacrifice something to be good. My mom sacrificed a lot for me to be the person and the tennis player I am today. She always supported me to play tennis and she changed her life because of me."

When Molcan's mother moved back to their hometown three years later, he was left to navigate life on the junior circuit alone. The road to the top is rarely a linear one and following a rash of injuries, the Slovak had many obstacles to overcome to put himself in position to have a successful career.

Shoulder and back ailments plagued Molcan in his teenage years. Without any consistency, he says he was stuck around 300 in the FedEx ATP Rankings as he launched his pro career. The Slovak underwent wrist surgery in 2017 and he would suffer an abdominal tear the following year.

A first Challenger final appearance came in Sevilla in 2018, and that taste of success would drive him to work even harder and dedicate himself to make the most of his opportunities. He entered 2021 ready to take the tour by storm.

"If you want to change, you have to work. This year, we prepared really good. In the winter, we did three weeks training in the mountains in Slovakia. No tennis for 20 days, but a lot of running and working with the other Slovakian players. It was really good for me and I was prepared for the season. Everything is like a puzzle and now I am putting the puzzle together."

The lone Slovakian in the year-end Top 100, Molcan flexed his muscle throughout his breakthrough season. It all started with a statement win over #NextGenATP star Lorenzo Musetti at the Gran Canaria Challenger in February. From there, he would reach his first ATP Tour final in Belgrade as a qualifier, before falling to World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, and his maiden Challenger crown would arrive soon after in Liberec, Czech Republic.

"I will never forget when we were warming up before the match and the announcer was introducing us and saying 'Novak Djokovic, World No. 1, 18 Grand Slams'. To be there was amazing. I had goosebumps. That tournament was a huge confidence boost. Playing Djokovic in the final was the biggest experience I've ever had. I took a lot of information from that match, to see how Djokovic plays. He's not playing crazy fast and he doesn't have a big serve, but to see his logic and intelligence on the court was big for me. I took a lot of information from him."

Molcan continued to alternate success at both levels, also qualifying for his first Grand Slam, en route to the US Open third round. And he would conclude his campaign in dominant fashion, reaching back-to-back Challenger semi-finals in Bergamo and Bratislava, before lifting his second crown in Helsinki, Finland, on Sunday.

"I'm really happy that the last tournament of the season is a winning tournament," Molcan added. "Top 100 is of course something every single player is dreaming about. Now that I'm there, I will try to get to an even better place and focus on having a good preseason and play well next year."

Get To Know Alex
Tennis idol: Rafa, of course. The way he is fighting all the time, his mentality and his forehand. It's crazy. I love to watch him more than anyone else.

Biggest passion: Cars. I am a car guy. From the expensive ones, my favourite is Ferrari. From the normal cars, it has to be BMW. I own a BMW 340i. It's fast. I'm also a fan of Formula One. Since I watched the Netflix show 'Drive to Survive' and they are showing the background of the sport, I like it more. That's why I like Ferrari.

Dream job: Business man. It's similar to tennis. If you want to be good, you have to work at it. If you want to earn the money, you need to work crazy hard to be there. I like it. My mother's boyfriend is a business man. It's really stressful, but I like how it works. You have to build your brand.

Favourite food: At homes, it's pancakes with Nutella and whipped cream. On tour, it's sushi. You can get good sushi everywhere, but I love it. During the US Open, we went to Nippon, the first Japanese restaurant in New York City.

Tattoos: I like tattoos. When I was 18, I got my first tattoo. It is my mother's birthdate. That was the starting point and I knew I would have more. I like how they look. Every year in the winter, usually in November and December, I am getting something. I find meaning in the tattoos. I have a tiger on my right arm and I like the Asian culture, so I have a temple, a lotus flower and a buddha too. Many things. I also like mythology and animals.

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ATP Announces Rule Changes To Speed Play

ATP has announced new rules relating to toilet breaks, attire changes to come into effect from 2022, in addition to a proposed change to the Medical Time Out rule (start date TBC).

Toilet Break & Change of Attire (Effective 2022)

• Players can take a maximum of three minutes once they have entered the toilet
• Players will receive two minutes for a change of attire in addition to the three-minute toilet break
• Note: Change of attire may only be done in conjunction with a toilet break (unless authorised by the Chair Umpire)
• A player may only take one toilet break per match
• Toilet breaks can only be taken during a set break
• Time violations will apply if a player is not ready within the allowed time

Medical Time Out (Effective Date TBD)

• One three-minute time out per match to be taken during a changeover or a set break only.
• If the player cannot continue to the next change of ends, he will forfeit the points required to get to that change of ends/set break

Further updates will be provided in due course.

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Baez Makes Top 100 Debut With Campinas Crown: "It Is The Icing On The Cake"

For Sebastian Baez, this was the cherry on top of a historic 2021 campaign.

One week after showing off his talents on the global stage of the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, the charismatic 20-year-old from Buenos Aires celebrated his biggest milestone yet. On Monday, the pride of Argentina surged into the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings after clinching his sixth ATP Challenger Tour title of the year.

A semi-finalist at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Baez showcased his supreme agility and abundance of energy with the world watching. And he would carry the momentum to his final tournament of the year, nearly 6,000 miles away, in Campinas, Brazil. His reward for a breakthrough 2021 season? A shiny new 'No. 97' next to his name.

"It is a very nice feeling to enter the Top 100," said Baez. "I was rising in the rankings during the year and I felt it was getting closer and closer. Ending 2021 like this, it is the icing on the cake."

Photo: Joao Pires/Fotojump

Baez culminated a historic 2021 season with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 victory over World No. 94 Thiago Monteiro in the Campinas final. The Buenos Aires native is the youngest player in Challenger history to win six titles in a season, while also claiming the most match wins in a single campaign among players aged 20 & under. He posted a 44-7 record, which is also good for second place on the 2021 win percentage list (86.2), behind only Jenson Brooksby (88.5).

After opening the season just outside the Top 300 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, he joins countryman Juan Manuel Cerundolo as #NextGenATP Argentines in the Top 100.

"For me, playing on clay is natural, so moving from hard courts in Milan to Campinas was no problem," added Baez. "I arrived in Brazil on Saturday and had the weekend to adapt. I was able to do it and played very well. The confidence of playing good matches at the highest level (in Milan) helped make this week feel more comfortable and easier.

"I think it was not the goal to win so many matches this year, but I started at No. 320 and the fruit of a lot of work over many years and being so attentive to detail helped. Me and my coach can continue to achieve big goals."

Most Challenger Match Wins In A Season (age 20 & under)

Player	Match Wins	Age
Sebastian Baez (2021)	44	20
Frances Tiafoe (2016)	42	18
Jiri Novak (1995)	42	20
Mario Ancic (2002)	40	18

Entering 2021, only three players had won six Challenger titles in a single season: Younes El Aynaoui (1998), Juan Ignacio Chela (2001) and Facundo Bagnis (2016). In 2021 alone, Baez joined Tallon Griekspoor and Benjamin Bonzi in achieving the feat.

Ready to graduate to the ATP Tour in 2022, the Argentine is here for the challenge.

"Now I want to have the greatness that the best players in the world have. I know I can still improve. My ceiling is high and every day I want to be better than the day before."

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Djokovic Sets Record, 3 Debutants in Top 10 Year-End FedEx ATP Rankings

The ATP Tour today published the 2021 year-end FedEx ATP Rankings on ATPTour.com with Novak Djokovic headlining a season of breakthroughs and milestones.

Djokovic earned a record seventh year-end No. 1 finish, breaking a tie with Pete Sampras for the most in history. Rafael Nadal finished in the Top 10 for a record 17th consecutive year at No. 6, breaking the record he shared with Jimmy Connors.

Daniil Medvedev became the first player outside Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Nadal to finish year-end No. 2 since Andy Roddick in 2004. He also became the first Russian to finish No. 2 since Marat Safin in 2000.

There were three new faces in the Top 10: No. 8 Casper Ruud (22), No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz (24) and No. 10 Jannik Sinner (20), the youngest to finish in the Top 10 since No. 9 Juan Martin del Potro (20) in 2008.

There were eight players aged 25-and-under in the year-end Top 10 for the first time since 1995. Four of the Top 5 players were 25-and-under, the first year-end occurrence since 2009.

The average age of the Top 10 was less than 26 years old (at 25.6), the youngest since 2009 (25.0).

The Top 10 of 2021
1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) – Oldest year-end No. 1 at 34, record seventh time at year-end No. 1 and most overall weeks at No. 1 with 348. Back-to-back years at No. 1 for third time (2011-12, 2014-15, 2020-21).
2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) – Third straight year-end Top 10 finish and first Russian to finish in Top 2 since No. 2 Marat Safin in 2000, third overall (No. 2 Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1999).
3. Alexander Zverev (GER) – First German to finish in Top 3 since No. 3 Boris Becker in 1994. Also fifth straight Top 10 season, most since Becker finished in elite group in eight straight years from 1985-92.
4. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) – Greek native finishes in Top 10 for the third straight season with year-end best ranking (was No. 6 in 2019-20).
5. Andrey Rublev (RUS) – Finishes in Top 10 for second straight year. This is the second consecutive year with two Russians in Top 10 and first in year-end Top 5 since 2000 (Kafelnikov, Safin).
6. Rafael Nadal (ESP) – Oldest in year-end Top 10 at 35 and finishes a record 17th straight year in the Top 10. He has the second-most Top 10 year-end finishes in history (behind Federer with 18).
7. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) – First Italian to finish in the year-end Top 10 three times. It is the first time two Italians are in the year-end Top 10 in history of the FedEx ATP Rankings (since 1973).
8. Casper Ruud (NOR) – First Norwegian to finish in Top 10 in history of FedEx ATP Rankings after climbing from No. 27 last season.
9. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) – First Pole to finish in Top 10 in history of the FedEx ATP Rankings. The World No. 9 made second-biggest jump into the Top 10 from last year (No. 34).
10. Jannik Sinner (ITA) – Youngest player (20) to finish in the Top 10 since World No. 9 Juan Martin del Potro (20) in 2008. The Italian made biggest jump into Top 10 from 2020 (No. 37).

View Full 2021 Year-End FedEx ATP Rankings

2021 Year-End FedEx ATP Rankings Quick Facts

- There were no changes at No. 1 during the season for the first time since 2015, the only other time Djokovic held the top spot without any interruptions in the year.

- The United States led all countries with 12 players in the Top 100 (most since 1996), followed by Spain with 10, France with 9, Italy with eight and Argentina with 7. It was the third straight year eight Italians were in the year-end Top 100. Spain and the U.S. had the most players in the Top 50 with six followed by Italy with four. The six Americans in the year-end Top 50 was the most since seven in 2003.

- Roger Federer, 40, finished as the oldest player in the Top 100 at No. 16. It was the Swiss superstar’s record 21st consecutive year in the Top 20. There were 31 players 30 and older in the year-end Top 100.

- There were three Russians in the year-end Top 20 for the second straight year with No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, No. 5 Andrey Rublev and No. 18 Aslan Karatsev, who jumped from No. 112 last year.

- No. 23 Taylor Fritz finished as the top American for the first time while No. 24 John Isner finished in the Top 25 for the 12th straight year. No. 26 Reilly Opelka gave the Americans three players in the year-end Top 30 for the first time since 2017.

- There were 14 players 25 and younger in the year-end Top 30 for the second season in a row.

- Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals champion Carlos Alcaraz made the biggest jump in the Top 50, climbing 109 positions from No. 141 to No. 32. The 18-year-old Spaniard is the youngest player in the Top 100 and the top player in the year-end rankings at his age since 18-year-old Andrei Medvedev was No. 24 in 1992. Alcaraz was one of 10 first-time winners on the ATP Tour this season.

- #NextGenATP players Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 20, and Jenson Brooksby, 21, made the biggest jumps into the Top 100 from last year. Cerundolo climbed 252 spots from No. 341 to No. 89 and Brooksby improved 251 spots from No. 307 to No. 56. There were 10 #NextGenATP players (21 & under) in the Top 100 of the year-end FedEx ATP Rankings.

- Overall there are 34 countries represented in the year-end Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

- Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic finished No. 1 in the year-end FedEx ATP Doubles Team Rankings. Pavic finished No. 1 last year (w/Soares) and in 2018 (w/Oliver Marach).

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