Coco Gauff sets up all-American Wimbledon third round clash after straight-sets win

COCO GAUFF is into the third round at Wimbledon after a 6-2 6-3 win over Romanian player Mihaela Buzarnescu.

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Rafael Nadal came close to retiring just weeks before Wimbledon - 'I don't fear that day'

RAFAEL NADAL is looking to continue his run for the Calendar Slam at Wimbledon.

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Nadal Challenged Again, But Advances At Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal has been challenged in his first two matches at Wimbledon, but he is through to the third round without facing any significant danger.

The two-time champion defeated Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after three hours and two minutes on Thursday in the second round of The Championships. The second seed will next play 27th seed Lorenzo Sonego, who reached the fourth round at SW19 last year.

"Every day is a challenge, that's the truth. All the opponents are difficult. We are playing against the best players of the world and especially even in these conditions, it will be more [difficult]. I didn't play much on grass for the past three years," Nadal said in his on-court interview. "Every day is an opportunity to improve and today I'm through, so that gives me the chance to keep going. [I am] very happy for that."

It was not a perfect performance from Nadal, who lost his serve twice and dropped a set for the second consecutive match (also against Argentine Francisco Cerundolo). But he is now 32-3 on the season and continues his pursuit of the Grand Slam, having triumphed at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

[ATP APP]

Nadal so often is able to dominate his opponents in the early rounds with his unrelenting focus and the physicality of his game. He made 39 unforced errors against the former junior World No. 1, but credit goes to Berankis for raising his level against the 22-time major champion.

"I need to improve. But I think the fourth set was much better. I think it was a good level of tennis in that fourth set. The serve worked much better," Nadal said. "In the end I was able to play a little bit more aggressive with the forehand. At the beginning, it was too many mistakes, but that's a process. It's important for me to accept that things are not perfect and [that I need to] just keep working, being humble and accept the challenge."

There is a difference between winning one set against Nadal at a major and claiming a match, though.. Berankis lost his focus momentarily in his first service game of the fourth set, launching a forehand approach shot long to hand the Spaniard a service break. The 32-year-old, who is No. 106 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, was unable to battle back from there.

At 3-0 in the fourth set, there was a delay of about one hour due to rain, forcing the players to depart while the Centre Court roof was closed. But that only put off the inevitable, with Nadal cruising to the finish line upon the resumption. He hit three of his 12 aces in the final game to complete his victory.

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Nadal’s next opponent, Sonego, eliminated 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals competitor Hugo Gaston 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day. The Italian has made the third round at all three majors this season.

It will be the first ATP Head2Head meeting between Nadal and Sonego, who owns a 3-13 record against Top 10 opponents. 

Did You Know?
Nadal has now advanced to at least the third round at 21 consecutive majors he has played. In his past 15 Grand Slam appearances, he has reached at least the quarter-finals.

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'They're trying to kill me' Heather Watson hits out at Wimbledon schedule on 4 hours sleep

HEATHER WATSON is not happy she had to return to Wimbledon on four hours sleep.

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Brit Liam Broady to be denied huge reward because of ATP call after Wimbledon ban

LIAM BROADY is through to the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career.

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Nakashima Leads American Charge At Wimbledon

#NextGenATP American Brandon Nakashima earned his first Top 20 win Thursday when he upset World No. 16 Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8) to reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time.

The 20-year-old played consistently as he led the American charge on Day 4 at the grass-court Grand Slam. Nakashima fired 22 winners, while he committed just 14 unforced errors to advance after two hours and 19 minutes in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against the Canadian.

“It felt amazing out there. To play against such a high-level player on one of the biggest stages, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Nakashima said. “The crowd was great out there today. I am happy with the way I played and I am looking forward to the next match.”

[ATP APP]

A semi-finalist at the 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, the American will look to advance to the fourth round at a major for the first time when he faces Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan. Last month, Nakashima reached the third round at Roland Garros in a run that gave him further confidence.

"With each match I think my game is progressing in the right direction,” Nakashima added. “I am learning a lot from these matches, win or loss. I think getting to the third round in Paris was big for my confidence. Just knowing that I could compete with these top guys at the Grand Slams. Making the third round here is another step in the right direction.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

No. 1 American Taylor Fritz also advanced, defeating British wild card Alastair Gray 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-3 to capture his sixth straight win in two hours and six minutes.

The World No. 14, who lifted his third tour-level title and second in Eastbourne last week, broke Gray four times to reach the third round at SW19 for the second time. The Indian Wells titlist will next play Alex Molcan after the Slovakian downed Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Jenson Brooksby moved past Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-3 to ensure eight American men reached the third round at The Championships. The 21-year-old, who is making his Wimbledon debut, hit 30 winners to secure victory after two hours and 37 minutes. The World No. 34 will next meet Cristian Garin.

With seven Americans already though, Maxime Cressy or Jack Sock will make it eight, with the pair facing each other on Court 3.

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Sue Barker's whirlwind romance with Sir Cliff Richard as she took him to 'another world'

SUE BARKER once enjoyed a whirlwind romance with Sir Cliff Richard as she took him to "another world", he admitted in an unearthed book.

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Carolina Garcia fires Emma Raducanu warning after dumping Brit out of Wimbledon

CAROLINE GARCIA beat Emma Raducanu in the second round at Wimbledon.

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Alcaraz Breaks New Ground With Wimbledon Win

Carlos Alcaraz was in trouble Monday when he rallied from two sets to one down to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff in five sets at Wimbledon. The Spaniard was able to breathe a little easier on Wednesday.

The fifth seed defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-6(0), 6-3 to reach the third round at the grass-court major for the first time. At just 19, he has now made the third round at all four majors.

This is only the teen's second appearance at SW19. Last season he made his debut, losing in the second round against Daniil Medvedev.

[ATP APP]

It has been a breakthrough season for Alcaraz, who has claimed his first two ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo and Madrid, while also claiming crowns at ATP 500 events in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona. He cracked the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time in April.

Alcaraz lost serve just once in his two-hour, five-minute victory, in which he hit 39 winners to just 20 unforced errors. Alcaraz will next play 32nd seed German Oscar Otte, who advanced after just four games — he led 3-1 — when American qualifier Christian Harrison retired. 

Otte is a dangerous grass-court player with his aggressive game. The German made the semi-finals on the surface in Stuttgart and Halle, where the players to whom he lost were in the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings: Matteo Berrettini and Daniil Medvedev.

Last year, Otte reached the second round at Wimbledon as a qualifier. He pushed two-time champion Andy Murray to five sets, but fell short.

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Edmund On Comeback: ‘I Can Wake Up & Be A Tennis Player’

The crowds at Wimbledon this fortnight will have an array of British players to cheer on, but one in particular will be relishing the opportunity to step on court in front of his home fans. Two-time tour-level finalist Kyle Edmund is set to partner fellow Briton Olivia Nicholls in the mixed doubles, his first competitive action since October 2020 following a long-term knee problem.

“It's great, to be honest,” said Edmund at his press conference in London on Wednesday. “I have been out a long time. For me, just being back playing a match to start with feels like a reward for me, just to be back and playing.

“Being around here now, I have spent a couple of weeks hitting with everyone, practising with people. For me, it just wasn't so much about being here to win. It was just more being back amongst it and stuff. Around the players, the tournament, I have missed it a lot. I had to watch a lot of TV with people. It definitely feels good.”

Edmund was No. 47 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings when he last played a competitive match in qualifying at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna in October 2020. It was then that the former World No. 14 decided he needed to take action to address a knee problem he had been playing through up to that point.

“It was just sore to play on, so I played on it for a while, probably a couple years,” said the 27-year-old. “I obviously missed quite a lot of 2020 with the no tournaments.

"So, I kind of [thought], 'Okay, I'm going to train through this and make it better,’ but just couldn't quite get there. I was like, 'I don't really want to play the rest of my career feeling like this. So, let's do something about it.'”

Edmund underwent surgery in November 2020, but that only proved to be the beginning of a long road back.

“It just took a long time,” he said. “It's not an injury that heals by itself, and there is no straightforward procedure to have. It's just something that's now part of my life. I have just accepted that.

“I will constantly be dealing with it. It's not like now that I've had three ops it's all fixed. But I'm happy where I'm at and I can enjoy playing now and just wake up and be a tennis player rather than a professional rehabber, which was what I was feeling for a long time.”

[ATP APP]

As well as a physical battle, Edmund admitted the mental challenge of dealing with such a long-term injury has been tough. But the Briton believes he has come out the other side with a new, improved outlook on his life on Tour.

“It obviously taught me a lot of things,” said Edmund. “I have only known tennis for my whole career really. So, when I didn't have that, there were times where I was speaking to someone and I was saying, 'I feel like I've lost my identity. I've only known tennis. I'm a tennis player. So now I don't have that. What am I doing? Every time I wake up in the morning, I have no purpose.'

“So it taught me a lot in that way and what I did have, really. [Once] I didn't have it, you take things a lot less for granted. I wouldn't say I'm a person that took everything for granted and was arrogant in that way, but I just realised what I did have.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Edmund reached his career-high of No. 14 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in October 2018. The Briton has long-term ambitions to get back to the top of the game, but he is not putting himself under any pressure with fixed tangible goals.

“It's not really [about] where I get to. It's more like, can I put myself in a position to play the tournaments which then allow me to win matches? Can I put myself in a position to be able to play at a level where I can beat the guys to then get to the later rounds of tournaments?

“That's ultimately the goal, but right now it's just enjoying being here, really. I wasn't able to pick a racquet up for like five or six months. It was just too sore. It was sore to go up and down stairs. So, to be able to hit now with the best players in the world or be at this tournament, it's a start for me. Just to be playing again is great, to be honest.

“At times I didn’t know where this was going. I didn't know how I was going to get back playing. So it feels like a reward for me to be here.”

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'It's a joke' - Emma Raducanu bites back after Wimbledon exit to Caroline Garcia

EMMA RADUCANU was knocked out of the second round at Wimbledon by Caroline Garcia.

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Emma Raducanu served 'reality check' as Tim Henman weighs in on Wimbledon defeat

EMMA RADUCANU suffered defeat in the second round at Wimbledon.

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Rafa On Serena: 'It's Great She's Trying To Come Back'

WTA legend Serena Williams spoke ahead of Wimbledon about how much of a fan she is of Rafael Nadal. On Tuesday, the Spaniard returned serve following his first-round win on Centre Court against Francisco Cerundolo.

“First of all, thanks for the words from Serena. I read [them]. It's great to hear these beautiful things from probably one of the biggest female athletes in the history of the sport in general,” Nadal said. “And it’s great that she's trying to come back. The only thing that shows is passion and love for the game. After all the things that she achieved, and long period of time being injured, it’s so difficult to try to come back.”

Nadal has shown similar passion in overcoming his longterm foot injury as well as a stress fracture in his ribs earlier this year. Williams is competing in singles for the first time since Wimbledon last year.

“Just [to] be here shows that she has a lot of love for her work and for this game,” Nadal said. “I think that's a great example.”

[ATP APP]

Although it is no surprise that the all-time greats have a high level of respect for each other, fans might not know that Williams named her dog after Nadal, similar to the way Sebastian Korda named his cat after the Spaniard.

“Obviously I'm always rooting for Rafa,” Williams said. “He's been really inspiring in everything that he's done this year. And he has a lot more to do."

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Rafa Nadal makes injury confession after gruelling Wimbledon first round win

RAFAEL NADAL had to dig deep to get past Francisco Cerundolo in his opening Wimbledon match.

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Lung Power Helping Norrie In Journey To The Top

At the start of the 2021 season, then-World No. 74 Cameron Norrie was asked who he thought would have a breakthrough year on the ATP Tour. Without hesitation, he confidently backed himself.

Fast forward 18 months and the Briton has certainly delivered on his statement with a series of standout results. Since his declaration, the 26-year-old has lifted four tour-level trophies – including his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells - competed at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and cracked the Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“It is exactly where I want to be and the progress has been pretty significant,” Norrie told ATPTour.com when reflecting on the past year. “I think I have improved a lot of things. Firstly, the fundamentals of serve and return. Just putting the ball in tougher positions for the opponent and playing the bigger points on my terms.

“Then being calmer in bigger situations and matches than I had been in the past, so a mixture of everything. I am also just enjoying it day in day out and enjoying playing at the level. Last year I didn’t have a week which was a nothing week. I kept building and kept momentum and it was a lot of fun. I loved it. Indian Wells was amazing and to break into the Top 10 was unbelievable.”

Norrie is chasing further success this fortnight on home soil at Wimbledon, where he is the ninth seed. The Briton has never been beyond the third round at a Grand Slam, but made a promising start on the lawns in London on Monday when he defeated Pablo Andujar.

With Jaume Munar awaiting in the second round, the South Africa-born Norrie will be looking to rely on a special attribute as he looks to build up a head of steam at SW19: his impressive endurance levels.

Norrie, who won four deciding set matches en route to the title in the heat in Indian Wells last year, revealed that he first became aware that his fitness levels were abnormal when he visited a doctor when he was younger.

"The guy said to me ‘Are you a deep-sea diver?’ because of the size of my lungs. But I had no idea because I thought it was just normal,” Norrie said. “When he told me that it gave me more confidence in my running ability and engine. It is crucial to my game. I like to try and play long matches and make it as physical as I can and the longer the rally goes the better.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

By joining tennis’ elite at the top of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in the past year, Norrie has laid down another marker in his journey in the sport, which first took off when he arrived at Texas Christian University in 2014.

Although Norrie's long-term aim was to eventually compete professionally, he admitted that he felt that continuing to undertake formal education and play college matches would be a more suitable path for him at the time. Today, it is a decision the lefty is delighted that he made.

“I loved it,” Norrie said when analysing his university experience. “You are there with your team and friends. You are going out with them, practising with them and playing a lot of matches. It takes a lot of pressure off trying to turn pro at such a young age. If you are trying to play Futures at 17 or 18 it can be difficult, especially if you don’t have any financial help.

“I think you can lose direction pretty easily and there can be a lot of mental scaring losing week in, week out, so for me it gave me a couple of years to mature, settle in and live a more normal life. I had a full scholarship and I would definitely recommend it to almost everyone.”

Having moved to study in the United States from London, Norrie was thankful for the friends he made when he arrived in Texas. Today, there is one person in particular who continues to have an influential role in his career. Coach Facundo Lugones. The Argentine was the a volunteering assistant coach for the University team and was planning to pursue a career in the financial industry upon graduation.

However, Norrie persuaded Lugones to be his coach when he left school to turn professional in 2017 and it is a partnership that has flourished ever since.

“Facu is so passionate about tennis. He loves it and has learned a lot as well,” Norrie said. “It is interesting because every time I am doing something for the first time it is the same for him and it has been good. He is very committed and is travelling a lot with me. I feel very fortunate to have someone like Facu.”

From relaxing on campus to tactically unpicking the games of some of the greatest players to have played the sport, Norrie and Lugones have come a long way in a relatively short space of time. The lefty is pleased with how they have developed together.

“The relationship has changed a lot,” Norrie admitted. “At TCU we played on the team together. We were going out together and playing together. After college when I asked him to be my coach, the relationship changed and it is a much more professional relationship for sure. Facu did a great job drawing the line.”

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Norrie is currently riding high as the British No. 1. However, he admitted that he struggled at times when first transitioning from college tennis to the Tour, even with Lugones in his corner.

“At college I could rely on running and putting balls into court, but when transitioning to pro-level I had to become more aggressive,” Norrie said. “Everyone was serving and returning at a much higher level. At college there is so much going on with lessons and meetings and tennis and then suddenly you just have the tennis and it is quite nice to focus on just that. But it was a bit of a shock. The other distractions before helped me a little bit.”

Having fully found his home on Tour now, the World No. 12 will look to push himself to the limits again this fortnight in London, where his goal is clear.

"I want to try and play at a better level at the Grand Slams," Norrie said. "I have made the third round at all of them, but I feel I have potential in my game over five sets to do better.

“Looking ahead, I would love to qualify for the [Nitto ATP] Finals. played last year and would love to do that again. Also, keep pushing towards World No. 1, which I would like to get to at some point."

Having climbed from No. 74 to a career-high No. 10 in the past year, you wouldn’t bet against Norrie accomplishing his ultimate goal of World No. 1. The Briton’s victories over Top 10 stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev in the past six months show that he has the game, but time will tell to see if he can make that final jump. Maybe his enhanced lungs will help him find his way.

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Rafael Nadal officially gets Calendar Slam bid underway in testing Wimbledon win

RAFAEL NADAL got his 2022 Wimbledon Championships up and running with a difficult win over Francisco Cerundolo.

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Cressy Upsets Auger-Aliassime With Flawless Serving Display

Maxime Cressy's rapid rise continued Tuesday in an eye-catching Wimbledon debut. Relying on the serve-and-volley game that dominated the All England Lawn Tennis Club for much of its history, the World No. 45 earned his first Top 10 win by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime with a near-perfect serving performance.

In a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(9), 7-6(5) victory, Cressy charged the net 134 times, winning 71 per cent (95/134) of those points. In a match of fine margins, both players dominated on serve. The American saved the lone break point he faced — at 5-5 in the opening set — while Auger-Aliassime saved three of four.

[ATP APP]

The Canadian's bright start was dimmed when Cressy scored the only break of the match early in set two. But the complexion of the match truly shifted when Cressy won a dramatic third-set tie-break to edge ahead for the first time.

Auger-Aliassime erased a 0/4 deficit in the tie-break, levelling at 5/5 with his third straight point on return. Normal service resumed at the crucial moments, with nine points going the way of the server until a double fault handed Cressy the set. One point before at 9/9, Cressy fired an unreturned 126-mph second serve to bring up his third set point. He previously saved two set points on serve.

With Cressy serving to start the fourth set, he applied constant scoreboard pressure onto his opponent — in addition to the pressure of his relentless attacking game plan. Auger-Aliassime stood firm with his back to the wall and saved a match point at 5-6, Cressy just missing on a potential a return winner.

But the American struck several sweet returns in the tie-break, then clinched the match with another successful serve and volley, carving his 59th winner of the match to close it out after four hours and nine minutes.

Both players played a remarkably clean match, with Auger-Aliassime a plus-37 in the winners-to-unforced-errors count behind 64 winners. But it was not enough to stop Cressy, who finished plus-30.

The American advances to face qualifier Jack Sock in the second round after his countryman earned a 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 win against Bernabe Zapata Miralles earlier on Tuesday.

More to come...

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Emma Raducanu sends heartfelt message after overcoming 'tough times' for Wimbledon win

EMMA RADUCANU beat Alison Van Uytvanck in her Centre Court debut at Wimbledon.

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Emma Raducanu comes through Van Uytvanck test with flying colours to progress at Wimbledon

EMMA RADUCANU is into the second round at Wimbledon.

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Why does Novak Djokovic eat grass at Wimbledon? Unusual tradition explained

NOVAK DJOKOVIC is once more one of the favourites to win Wimbledon this year.

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Food Court: Struff's Healthy Habits & Soft Spot For Pepperoni Pizza

Jan-Lennard Struff will open his Wimbledon campaign on Monday against fifth seed Carlos Alcaraz. It will be the pair's second ATP Head2Head meeting, with the German previously defeating Alcaraz in the 2021 Roland Garros third round.

The 32-year-old achieved a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 29 in 2020 and reached his first ATP Tour final on home soil in Munich last May. Playing in the Wimbledon main draw for the ninth time this fortnight, Struff is seeking to advance beyond the first round for the fourth time, including a pair of third-round runs in 2018 and 2019.

Before the action heats up at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, find out what Struff likes to cook and eat to prepare himself for competition.

[ATP APP]

If you were having some friends over for dinner, what would you cook for them?
I like Caprese salad a lot. It's pretty easy to do, I would say. Depends who's coming over.

For myself, I always cook pasta and some fresh vegetables or something like this. I like macaroni a lot. I like vegan meats, something like this with cheese on top and maybe bolognese sauce; something plant-based

It sounds like you know your way around the kitchen pretty well. Would you call yourself a good cook?
No, I'm not that good but I can cook some things. Maybe some chicken... I would do it with vegetables and rice with teriyaki sauce.

Do you cook often at home?
Sometimes with my girlfriend I cook. She's cooking more often.

So far you've mentioned a lot of healthy meals. Do you have a particular cheat meal that you enjoy?
Pizza with pepperoni and a coke. Good Italian pizza.

READ MORE FOOD COURT FEATURES

What about when you need to be careful about what you eat? Do you have a go-to meal the night before a big match?
I like sushi or rice. Some grains or some salmon.

What do you like to eat on the day of a match?
In the morning I have a light breakfast. It depends what time I'm playing. If I just have the breakfast, I eat a bit more. But I try to get some wheat bread or yogurt.

If I eat in the afternoon, some plain pasta, sometimes some rice. I like salmon as well, but not too much.

During a match, what do you consume to help keep you going?
I drink my stuff — electrolytes — and sometimes have some bars. Sometimes I will have a few dates and bananas.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Back off the court... if you were to go out to a nice restaurant, what is one of your favourite orders?
Depends on the style, which type of restaurant. But I like to eat good steak, some cream spinach maybe. Vegetables, maybe some potatoes.

What about food from your country or culture? Are there any particular dishes that you like?
Some sausages. Bratwurst, for a soccer game... I sometimes eat it at the stadium. Schnitzel is always nice, but Austrian is better. But still I like it a lot. And potatoes, I think they're very healthy.

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Hurkacz To Donate €100 Per Wimbledon Ace To Ukrainians In Need

Hubert Hurkacz announced on social media Sunday that he will donate €100 for every ace he hits throughout The Championships at Wimbledon to Ukrainians in need.

"I'd like to announce that starting tomorrow I am pledging to donate 100 euros for every ace I hit at Wimbledon to help support the people of Ukraine. Hope my serve works well! #acesforaid"

I’d like to announce that starting tomorrow I am pledging to donate 100 euros for every ace I hit at Wimbledon to help support the people of Ukraine. Hope my serve works well! #acesforaid pic.twitter.com/6B9hOy6aE8

— Hubert Hurkacz (@HubertHurkacz) June 26, 2022

The Polish star is third on the ATP Tour in aces this season with 452 in 39 matches for an average of more than 11 aces per match. One year ago, Hurkacz advanced to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, hitting 54 aces in his six matches.

The 25-year-old is the seventh seed and will begin his tournament on Monday against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Hurkacz arrives in good form, having lifted his first ATP 500 trophy at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Emma Raducanu opens up on 'surreal' Wimbledon hype and pressure of big sponsors

EMMA RADUCANU was an unknown hopeful 12 months ago on her maiden Wimbledon voyage.

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Nick Kyrgios risks wrath of Wimbledon purists with bold clothing suggestion for players

NICK KYRGIOS has given his view on Wimbledon's traditional all-white dress code.

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Nick Kyrgios continues bitter Wimbledon tirade by hitting out at 'stupidest thing ever'

NICK KYRGIOS believes one thing about Wimbledon this year is the 'stupidest thing ever'

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All-Surface Novak: Learn Why Djokovic Is In A Class Of His Own

He is the one and only Mr. 54 per cent.

Novak Djokovic is in a class of his own competing on the three outdoor surfaces in our sport. An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the highest achievers when playing outdoors identifies Djokovic is the only player to push through the 54 per cent threshold of points won on grass, hard and clay. The data set goes back to 1991 when official records began and includes all players who have competed in a minimum of 10 matches on each surface.

[ATP APP]

The following breakdown includes only players to have broken through the 54 per cent threshold for points won on each of the three outdoor surfaces.

Grass
1. Pete Sampras = 54.64%
2. Roger Federer = 54.59%
3. Novak Djokovic = 54.16%

Hard
1. Novak Djokovic = 55.04%
2. Roger Federer = 54.43%
3. Rafael Nadal = 54.06%

Clay
1. Rafael Nadal = 56.28%
2. Novak Djokovic = 54.10%

First on hard. Second on clay. Third on grass. It’s a ubiquitous record that finds Djokovic as the only player in 30-plus years to break through the 54 per cent barrier with points won on all three outdoor surfaces. It speaks to his longevity and adaptability to thrive on slow, medium and fast courts.

Djokovic is imminently poised to improve his grass-court resume in the coming weeks at Wimbledon, where he has already won the title six times, including the past three editions. An interesting comparison between generations is that of Djokovic and grass-court legend John McEnroe.

Djokovic has already surpassed McEnroe in one facet, with six Wimbledon titles to the American’s three. With a win at SW19 in 2022, Djokovic would pull even with McEnroe with eight grass-court titles apiece. In fact, the equality runs even deeper if Djokovic is again triumphant this year, as both players would then share a grass-court match winning percentage of exactly 85.8 per cent, with Djokovic winning 109 of 127 and McEnroe 121 of 141. There are still seven matches in the way of that becoming reality.

What about comparing Djokovic to Sampras and Federer on grass?

Sampras edges Djokovic and Federer with grass-court points won, but Djokovic climbs above Sampras when analysing games won on grass. 

Grass: Games Won
1. Roger Federer = 58.66%
2. Novak Djokovic = 58.34%
3. Pete Sampras = 57.71%

Grass: Matches Won
1. Roger Federer = 86.9% (192-29)
2. Pete Sampras = 85.71% (90/105)
3. Novak Djokovic = 85.0% (102-18)

Federer and Sampras have built their grass-court resumes much more from the serving side, while Djokovic leads the duo when returning.

Grass: Service Points Won
No 5: Pete Sampras = 72.93%
No. 8: Roger Federer = 72.35%
No. 23: Novak Djokovic = 70.02%

Grass: Return Points Won
No. 19: Novak Djokovic = 39.60%
No. 47: Roger Federer = 38.24%
No. 81: Pete Sampras = 37.14%

Djokovic gets the opportunity to add to his already impressive grass-court legacy in the next couple of weeks at Wimbledon, hunting a seventh title, which would put him equal with Sampras and one behind Federer.

History once again beckons for the steadfast Serbian.

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Vijay Amritraj Honored with 2021 Golden Achievement Award

In recognition of his outstanding impact on the sport of tennis as a player, promoter, and humanitarian, India’s Vijay Amritraj has been named the 2021 recipient of the Golden Achievement Award.

The Golden Achievement Award is presented annually by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and International Tennis Federation to a person who has made important contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion, or education and has devoted long and outstanding service to the sport. The award was presented on Friday at a special celebration hosted in Amritraj’s honor in London.

“I’m humbled to receive this incredible award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation for my life’s journey in a sport that I’ve loved all my life,” remarked Amritraj. “This honour is really something I’m receiving on behalf of every Indian who has supported me over the years. I’ve had the privilege of representing India on the world’s stage in our sport. I hope it is inspiring for more players from India to come out and hit the international stage.”

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“For five decades, Vijay Amritraj has competed valiantly, opened doors, and spread goodwill through tennis,” said Todd Martin, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “We are honoured to join the International Tennis Federation in recognising his immense contributions around the world. As a player, humanitarian, and ambassador, Vijay has put his passion for tennis and people into action to make a difference in growing the sport and helping those in need. He is a profoundly deserving recipient of the Golden Achievement Award.”

David Haggerty, president of the International Tennis Federation, commented: “Both on and off the court, Vijay Amritraj has exemplified the spirit of the Golden Achievement Award with his numerous contributions to international tennis through his promotion of tennis and education wherever he went. In collaboration with the International Hall of Fame, we celebrate Vijay’s many accomplishments with the bestowing of this award.” 

A globally recognised and respected tennis icon as well as a national hero in his native India, Amritraj was the first Indian player to turn professional on the ATP Tour. During his extensive career as a Top 20 player in the 1970s and 1980s, he broke barriers and popularised tennis across more than half the world’s population throughout the Asian continent. Amritraj remains the highest-ranked ATP singles player from India in Pepperstone ATP Ranking history (No. 18), and he captured the most titles by an Asian singles player (15) during his career. From 1989-93, Amritraj was selected by his peers as President of the ATP Player Council, and he served as an ATP Board Member from 1991-97. 

During his career, Amritraj was instrumental in establishing the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy, which focuses on youth tennis development in India. The academy has produced several successful tennis players, including doubles major champion and legend Leander Paes.

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Post-retirement, Amritraj has remained committed to humanitarian efforts through his role as United Nations Messenger of Peace (2001-06) and through The Vijay Amritraj Foundation. Founded in 2006, the foundation’s mission is to bring hope, help and healing to the defenseless and innocent victims of disease, tragedy, and circumstance in India.

A familiar face on television to millions of Asian tennis fans, Amritraj remains active as a commentator, actor/producer, and tennis promoter. He represents India as an unofficial ambassador and statesman, frequently speaking to world leaders and governments.

The Golden Achievement Award is selected from a pool of nominations submitted by tennis federations and individuals from the around the world. The annual honouree is selected by the Golden Achievement Award Committee, which is comprised of tennis administrators. Amritraj is the first recipient from India and he joins an esteemed list of tennis leaders who have received the honour, including Brian Tobin of Australia, Eiichi Kawatei of Japan, and Peachy Kellmeyer of the United States. Learn more on tennisfame.com. 

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Wimbledon 2022: Full list of every player banned from tournament amid Russia controversy

WIMBLEDON is set to start this week but there are a number of players who will not be turning up at SW19.

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Andy Murray issues public rejection of Saudi Arabia and outlines previous big money snub

ANDY MURRAY has spoken out on rejecting a big money offer to play tennis in Saudi Arabia.

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Serena, Swiatek, Raducanu Draw Inspiration From Nadal At Wimbledon

Never before has Rafael Nadal entered Wimbledon after winning the year's first two Grand Slam events. But with the 2022 Australian Open and Roland Garros titles in tow, a trophy in his 15th Wimbledon would put him on the brink of the Grand Slam — winning all four majors in the same year. That feat that has not been achieved in men's singles since Rod Laver in 1969.

Tennis fans and players alike have taken note of the 36-year-old's historic season, including many of the WTA's most popular players.

"He's done a lot in 2022. He's been busy," Serena Williams said Saturday in her Wimbledon pre-tournament press conference. "I've always been a Rafa fan... so obviously I'm always rooting for Rafa. He's been really inspiring in everything that he's done this year. And he has a lot more to do."

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Williams named one of her dogs after the Spaniard — Christopher Chip Rafael Nadal, a Yorkshire Terrier. The 40-year-old Williams, who is preparing for her first competitive singles match since last year's Wimbledon, is eager to join Nadal among this season's Grand Slam champions.

WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who captured the Roland Garros singles title earlier this month, is similarly impressed by her fellow Paris champion. The Pole enters Wimbledon on a 35-match winning streak after scoring her second title in the French capital. She also reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open, where she was able to watch Nadal's five-set comeback against Daniil Medvedev from inside Rod Laver Arena.

"I watched the Australian Open final live and I could see how much work he's putting [in]," she said. "Sometimes when he's not even playing his best tennis, how he's coming back, finding solutions on court, it's a great inspiration.

"For sure, the way he's coping with [the] injury and the pain that he has, it's just the example of how the best kind of athletes deal with that. It's just really inspirational. Only Rafa could do it, you know?"

Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu also had her say on the Spaniard. Though the 19-year-old is firmly in the spotlight as she returns to her native Great Britain for her second Wimbledon, she has managed to find time to watch the likes of Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the practice courts.

"I'm 19...  just to be watching Rafa and Novak at such close range, to be able to take part and try to learn from them, walk amongst these great players, it's still special," she said. "I don't think it really ever changes when you're watching those greats. It's amazing to have them around leading such a great example.

"It's only my second Wimbledon, and I'm really new to this still. It's a really special feeling."

Nadal, the second seed at Wimbledon, is set to open his campaign on Tuesday against Francisco Cerundolo. It will be his first competitive action since he lifted the Roland Garros trophy on 5 June.

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Nick Kyrgios' blunt response to criticism: 'I don't want to be like Federer'

NICK KYRGIOS said he doesn't want to "be like Federer" as he addressed the off-court scrutiny he faces.

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Andy Murray hails 'mum-like' figure Sue Barker on eve of BBC icon's final Wimbledon

SUE BARKER rejected a three-year extension to her BBC deal and will step down as the broadcaster's face of tennis after Wimbledon.

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Roger Federer to fall off ATP rankings after Wimbledon causing Nadal and Djokovic headache

ROGER FEDERER is not participating at Wimbledon this year.

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Andy Murray backed in Wimbledon row but tennis fans split over John McEnroe verdict

WIMBLEDON and the ATP have caused a lot of debate over the SW19 ban on Russian and Belarusian players and the stripping of ranking points.

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Defending Champs Mektic/Pavic, Top Seeds Ram/Salisbury Lead Wimbledon Doubles Draw

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic defeated Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the 2021 Wimbledon semi-finals en route to winning their maiden Grand Slam title as last year's top seeds. Those two teams can only meet in the final this year in London, with Mektic/Pavic set to defend their title as the second seeds and Ram/Salisbury on the draw's top line.

The Croatian defending champions are set to open their campaign against Benoit Paire and Albert Ramos-Vinolas, with a rematch of their Queen's Club final against Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara looming as a potential third-round showdown in the draw's bottom quarter. 

VIEW DOUBLES DRAW

Mektic/Pavic enter Wimbledon on the heels of an Eastbourne title for the second straight season and will look to extend an eight-match win streak that dates back to their Queen's Club triumph earlier this month. Since they won their first tour-level title of the 2022 season at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, Mektic/Pavic have won four of their past five events.

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Also in the bottom quarter is the first-time pairing of Casper Ruud and American William Blumberg. The Norwegian Ruud reached the 2021 Wimbledon quarter-finals alongside Andre Goransson, and progressed to his first Grand Slam singles final last month at Roland Garros. Ruud/Blumberg face Nicolas Barrientos and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela in the opening round.

The draw's third quarter is anchored by Roland Garros champions Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer. Seeded fourth, the Salvadoran-Dutch duo opens up against American Denis Kudla and Jack Sock and could face fifth seeds Tim Puetz and Michael Venus in the quarter-finals.

Atop the draw, Ram/Salisbury — seeking their third Grand Slam title (2020 Australian Open, 2021 US Open) — will face Daniel Altmaier and Carlos Taberner in the opening round. The American-British duo won its lone trophy of 2022 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in April.

The Wimbledon top seeds reached the Roland Garros quarter-finals without dropping a set before bowing out to Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, falling 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-7(10). A rematch could be on the cards in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Dodig and Krajicek, who went on the reach the Roland Garros final, are seeded eighth at Wimbledon and will take on Americans Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey in the first round.

In the draw's second quarter, third seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, who lead the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Rankings behind their five tour-level titles in 2022, will face the Argentine duo of Facundo Bagnis and Diego Schwartzman in the opening round. Ninth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, who have won two major titles together, also landed in that quarter and will open against the French team of Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech.

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Andy Murray sends 'exciting' warning to Wimbledon rivals as Brit confident of making final

ANDY MURRAY is confident of a deep run at Wimbledon this year.

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How Murray, Djokovic Cut Down Big Servers On Grass

Grass-court tennis traditionally favours big servers, with the slick bounce off the turf adding to the arsenal of heavy hitters. But with Wimbledon rapidly approaching, keep an eye on two of the most successful grass-court players of all-time, who have found success by nullifying that potent threat on the surface.

Although two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and six-time winner Novak Djokovic are more than capable on serve, it is their return games that lift them to historic heights on the grass. Djokovic leads all active players with a 26.4 per cent win rate in return games on the surface, while Murray is a close second at 26.3 per cent, according to statistics from the Infosys ATP Performance Zone.

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As a result, those two men have claimed more grass titles than any active player other than Roger Federer, whose 19 tour-level titles are the most on the lawns since records have been kept. Murray has won eight such titles, while Djokovic has claimed seven.  

Diego Schwartzman is the only other active player to surpass the 25 per cent mark (25.3%) in grass-court return games won, with Denis Kudla fourth on the list (23.9%).

Career Return Games Won % On Grass (Active Players)

Player	Return Games Won
1) Novak Djokovic	26.4%
2) Andy Murray	26.3%
3) Diego Schwartzman	25.3%
4) Denis Kudla	23.9%
5) Roberto Bautista Agut	23.8%

When considering all surfaces, Djokovic and Murray win 32.2 per cent and 31 per cent of their return games, respectively. That still puts them in elite company, but slightly behind active leaders Rafael Nadal (33.6%) and Schwartzman (32.4%). Seventeen active players eclipse 25 per cent in that statistic.

A similar gap can be seen in serving statistics as well. Just three men have held serve at a rate better than 90 per cent throughout their careers: Ivo Karlovic (92%), John Isner (91.8%) and Milos Raonic (91.2%). Federer is the next-best at 88.8 per cent. But narrow the scope to just grass courts, and 12 men surpass 89 per cent, including Djokovic.

The Serbian is seventh in hold percentage across all surfaces (85.8%) and ninth on grass (89.4%). Murray clocks in at 24th overall (81.8%) and 14th on the grass (88.4%).

Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion, is seventh among active players in grass-court hold percentage with a rate of 89.8 per cent. That leaves him just below Matteo Berrettini (90.9%) and Nick Kyrgios (90%).

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Nadal Hits Centre Court At Wimbledon Before Continuing Grand Slam Pursuit

Rafael Nadal arrives at Wimbledon in a position he has never been in.

Before this year, the Spaniard had never triumphed at the Australian Open and Roland Garros in the same season. Now he is halfway to becoming the first men's singles player to win the Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.

One year ago, Novak Djokovic claimed the first three majors of the year before falling in the US Open final. Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion, will try to move closer to achieving the feat at SW19, where he will be the second seed.

[ATP APP]

The lefty will also attempt to move further clear of his chief rivals in the race for the most major titles. Nadal earned his 22nd Slam at Roland Garros, while Djokovic and Roger Federer own 20 each. It is the 36-year-old's first appearance at The All England Club since 2019, when he lost in the semi-finals against Federer.

Both Nadal and Djokovic practised on Centre Court Thursday, a historic moment at Wimbledon. It was the first time that the tournament has allowed practice on Centre Court and No. 1 Court before the first day of the event. Organisers permitted it in order to help the players get used to the conditions and break in the courts.

More On Wimbledon
Stars Training Hard For The Grass-Court Major
Learn Who Advanced Through Qualifying
Record Prize Money At The Championships In 2022

Nadal trained with Italian Matteo Berrettini, who advanced to his first major final at Wimbledon one year ago. The Italian underwent right hand surgery in March, but has quickly returned to form on the grass. Berrettini has won all nine matches he has played since his nearly three-month absence, lifting trophies in Stuttgart and at The Queen's Club.

Djokovic is 79-10 at the grass-court major and has won its past three editions. The top seed will chase his seventh Wimbledon trophy and 21st major crown over the coming fortnight.

The Serbian practised on Centre Court with former Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic. The Croatian has found some of his best form in recent weeks, having reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros and The Queen's Club.

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Emma Raducanu and Novak Djokovic's roles in Netflix series as tennis follows F1's lead

TENNIS is being sexed up with Netflix filming a new reality show of life on tour.

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Carlos Alcaraz addresses Wimbledon injury fears as he sports heavy strapping in exhibition

CARLOS ALCARAZ lost to Frances Tiafoe in a warm-up match for Wimbledon at Hurlingham on Thursday.

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Novak Djokovic has US Open update as thousands sign petition amid looming ban

NOVAK DJOKOVIC is in danger of missing the US Open but his adoring fans are hoping they can help to change that.

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Kubler, Sock, 2012 Nadal Conqueror Rosol Among Wimbledon Qualifiers

Australian Jason Kubler and Czech Lukas Rosol, who stunned Rafael Nadal at The Championships a decade ago, led 16 qualifiers through to the main draw at Wimbledon on Thursday.

Kubler, the second seed in qualifying, cruised past Swede Elias Ymer 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and six minutes to confirm his place in the main draw. The No. 98 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings needed a deciding set in his first two matches at Roehampton, but he earned five service breaks to triumph. It is the second time he has qualified for the grass-court major, having done so in 2018.

View All Final-Round Qualifying Results

Ten years ago, Rosol shocked Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon, marking one of the most memorable upsets of the decade in tennis. However, entering this week, the 36-year-old had not advanced to the main draw here since 2017. The Czech changed that on Thursday with a 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 6-4 win against Argentine Renzo Olivo. 

Former Top 10 star Jack Sock also moved on with a 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 victory against Frenchman Hugo Grenier. The American reached the third round in 2016.

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The final around of qualifying featured best-of-five action compared to best-of-three for the first two rounds, and there were three five-setters. Switzerland's Marc-Andrea Huesler outlasted Chinese Taipei's Jason Jung 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, Austrian Dennis Novak battled past American Stefan Kozlov 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, and American Christian Harrison rallied past German Daniel Masur 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.

The other qualifiers were Frenchman Enzo Couacaud, Switzlerland's Alexander Ritschard, German Nicola Kuhn, Australian Max Purcell, German Maximilian Marterer, Moldovan Radu Albot, Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin, Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Slovakian Lukas Klein and Italian Andrea Vavassori.

The Wimbledon draw will take place Friday.

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Novak Djokovic's bitter family feud with Roger Federer: 'Not a good man'

NOVAK DJOKOVIC had something of a family feud with Roger Federer after his parents took aim at the Swiss star.

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Murray/Soares To Meet Top Seeds Mektic/Pavic In Eastbourne SFs

To get to the title match at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares will have to go through both finalists from last week's Cinch Championships at The Queen's Club in London.

The British-Brazilian duo is halfway there after a 6-4, 7-5 win against London finalists Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara on Wednesday. They can now look froward to a Thursday semi-final showdown against top seeds and London champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. The Croatians defeated Maxime Cressy and Ugo Humbert 7-6(9), 6-1 to reach the last four.

The second Eastbourne semi-final will see fourth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek take on Matwe Middelkoop and Luke Saville after both teams also advanced on Wednesday.

[ATP APP]

Marathon Match Tie-break in Mallorca
Matthew Ebden and Philipp Oswald saved four match points to edge Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Jamie Munar 6-3, 2-6, 18-16 in Mallorca. A pair of one-sided sets preceded a neck-and-neck Match Tie-break in which neither team led by more than one point until the Aussie-Austrian duo claimed its fifth match point.

They will next face Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar in the semi-finals, after the Uruguayan-Ecuadorian team defeated Germans Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies, 7-5(3), 7-6(11). 

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Kozlov Advances To Final Day Of Wimbledon Qualifying

Stefan Kozlov moved to within one victory of his Wimbledon debut with a second-round qualifying win Wednesday at Roehampton. The American, who reached the Australian Open second round in his Grand Slam debut earlier this season, defeated Switzerland's Dominic Stricker 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3 to set up a Thursday meeting with qualifying 23rd seed Dennis Novak of Austria.  

View Wednesday Qualifying Results

The 24-year-old Kozlov, seeded third in the qualifying draw, got past France's Evan Furness 7-5, 6-3 on Monday. He currently sits at a career-high of No. 107 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, with his best results of the 2022 season including a quarter-final run in Delray Beach and a second-round showing in Acapulco after qualifying for both events.

Kozlov was one of four American men to advance on Wednesday, including 14th seed Jack Sock, Christian Harrison and Nicolas Moreno De Alboran. Sock, a 6-3, 7-5 winner against France's Constant Lestienne, is seeking to return to the Wimbledon main draw for the first time since 2018.

[ATP APP]

Elias Ymer, who fell to Borna Coric in the final of the Montechiarugolo-Parma ATP Challenger Tour event last week, continued his smooth progress through qualifying with a 6-3, 6-4 result against Italy's Riccardo Bonadio. The 26-year-old debuted in the main draw at all four Grand Slams in 2015 but has not competed in the Wimbledon main draw since. He reached the Pune semi-finals as qualifier in February .

Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber announced after his qualifying win on Monday that Wimbledon would be his last tournament as a professional. He started strongly against 32nd seed Mikhail Kukushkin in his bid to extend his stay, but fell short in a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 decision. The 38-year-old achieved a career-high of No. 16 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2012 and finished his career with eight ATP Tour titles.

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Billie Jean King slammed John McEnroe for Serena Williams comment: 'He wants attention'

BILLIE JEAN KING hit out at John McEnroe for comments he made about Serena Williams.

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Novak Djokovic sends ominous Wimbledon warning to Rafael Nadal with Auger-Aliassime win

NOVAK DJOKOVIC put in a sterling performance as he made light work of Felix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday.

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Serena Williams and Ons Jabeur flying as dream duo book Eastbourne semi-final spot

SERENA WILLIAMS won her second match in almost a year as her and partner Ons Jabeur progressed into the semi-finals at Eastbourne.

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Draper Marches Into Eastbourne QFs With Schwartzman Upset

Jack Draper's strong grass-court form propelled him into his second career ATP Tour quarter-final — and his first of 2022 — on Wednesday at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne. The #NextGenATP Briton followed up a straight-sets win over Jenson Brooksby with a 7-5, 7-6(3) win against fourth seed Diego Schwartzman as he recorded multiple wins at a tour-level event for the first time this season.

Playing on home soil for the third straight event, Draper broke serve three times in the victory while saving four of six break points against him. The 20-year-old settled into the contest after dropping serve to love in the opening game. Though he failed to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second — again losing four straight points — he regrouped to save a break point at 5-5 and won the final five points of the tie-break to advance.

"I got a bit tight and a bit tentative. Sometimes when that happens you can come into yourself a little bit and start playing more offensively," Draper reflected. "My coach was trying to tell me to be brave, try and impose your game on the court. At this level, guys take advantage [if you don't do that].

"It was a really tough match with Diego. He's a great competitor, great player and he's at the top of the game for a reason. Very happy to come through the match."

[ATP APP]

The Briton played aggressive tennis in front of his home fans, winning and losing points on his own terms with 30 winners and 35 unforced errors. In both sets, he found the range at the crucial late moments.

Draper advances to face either countryman and fellow wild card Ryan Peniston or Spain's Pedro Martinez in the quarter-finals.

"If it's Ryan, that's good new because it's another Brit into the quarter-finals," he said. "Very happy with the way he's playing at the moment. I think it's really good for British tennis, having another guy who's playing playing excellent tennis. It will be a tough match if I play him, two lefties.

"If I play Martinez, that's another player who's a Top 50 guy. He's a really tough competitor. It will be tough to play him. I've practised with him a fair bit. Either way I look forward to whoever I'm playing."

An all-British semi-final against top seed Cameron Norrie could also be on the cards, should both men advance.

The Sutton native broke into the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time on 13 June behind four ATP Challenger Tour titles this season. On that same day, he celebrated with an upset win against third seed Taylor Fritz at the Cinch Championships.

Draper is also fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Milan, putting him in a strong position to make his debut at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in November.

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Tsitsipas Reveals Perspective Shift In Mallorca

Sometimes we all need to stop, take stock and rethink a few things. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who arrives at the Mallorca Championships as the second seed, is doing just that.

“I’m trying to enjoy tennis from a perspective that I hadn’t done previously,” the Greek said during the build-up to his opener on Wednesday at the Mallorcan ATP 250. “Expectations aren’t so high, to be honest. I’m enjoying my life, and creating amazing memories is the most important thing at the moment.”

After earning a 17-4 record during the clay season — including a title in Monte Carlo, a final in Rome and a semi-final run in Madrid — Tsitsipas’ first outings on grass have been a little less productive. Tsitsipas has won two of the four matches he has played.

“I’m not focussed on any result, which is great,” the No. 6 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings said. “I’ve played in a lot of tournaments recently and I did very well in most, but really I want to enjoy myself and feel that I deserve some fun.”

[ATP APP]

That fun outside of tennis is certainly something he has found this week in Mallorca. “What I’ve enjoyed is swimming in the morning on the beach,” he said. “I’m not a huge fan of swimming pools, but I spend my time swimming in the sea and on the beach close to the house we’re living in.”

Tsitsipas is using these days to recharge his batteries before returning to competition, while also practising on the Balearic Island’s courts. “It’s absolutely perfect having this while you play on Tour, because it’s not something that happens often,” Tsitsipas said. “Also, it reminds me of my days in the place where I grew up. I had that life before being a tennis player and it makes me feel at home.

“Having the opportunity to play in a tournament like this and having such a familiar feeling, being by the beach with my loved ones, enjoying life, can sometimes be difficult when you’re away from home.”

There was one thing the Greek was not expecting to see when he set foot on the courts at the Mallorca Country Club: “I was surprised about the colour of the courts. It’s a grass court with a much more intense green and it creates more contrast with the ball, I really like that!”

Tsitsipas plays his opening match in Mallorca on Wednesday against Ilya Ivashka.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Carreno Busta/Munar Advance In Mallorca

Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Jaume Munar advanced on home turf Tuesday at the Mallorca Championships, edging third seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Andres Molteni, 7-6(4), 7-6(5).

The home favourites saved all seven break points against them in the contest. Despite not creating a break opportunity, the unseeded duo was at its best during both tie-breaks, in which the Spaniards never trailed.

Carreno Busta is seeking his fifth ATP Tour doubles title, with his most recent coming at the 2020 Western & Southern Open alongside Alex de Minaur. Munar, who reached the Santiago final with Federico Delbonis in 2021, is bidding for his first tour-level title title in singles or doubles. 

Roland Garros champions Jean-Julien Rojer and Marcelo Arevalo were also among the doubles winners on Tuesday in Mallorca, as the top seeds defeated Petros Tsitsipas and Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4, saving two break points while breaking once in each set.

[ATP APP]

Eastbourne Doubles Action
Luke Saville and Matwe Middelkoop scored the result of the day at the Rothesay International, upsetting second seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, 6-3, 6-4. The Australian-Dutch duo lost just four points on first serve (28/32) against the Colombians, finishing with an 88 per cent win rate on their first delivery.

Queen's Club finalists Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara got back to winning ways with a 7-6(3), 6-7(9), 10-4 result against Ben McLachlan and Andre Goransson, while Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares advanced past third seeds John Peers and Filip Polasek, 6-4, 6-7(5), 10-7.

Top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic avoided an upset despite facing six break points as they posted a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Britons Ken Skupski and Jonny O'Mara, dropping serve just once.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Djokovic, Nadal & More Stars Training Hard At Wimbledon

Former champions Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are already working hard at SW19 ahead of the season's third Grand Slam at Wimbledon. Djokovic, Nadal, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka are among the stars who have been spotted training on the hallowed grass.

Djokovic will pursue his seventh title at The Championships, where he owns a 79-10 record. The Serbian has won 21 consecutive matches at the tournament, having emerged victorious at the past three editions of the event.

Nadal has won the first two majors of the season at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. The Spaniard will try to complete the third step of the Grand Slam at Wimbledon, where he has lifted the trophy twice, in 2008 and 2010.

Daniel Vallverdu, the current coach of Wawrinka and a former member of Murray's team, posted a photo with both men as they continued their preparation for the grass-court major. Also in the photo was Ivan Lendl, Murray's coach. 

A few slam 🏆’s and myself.
Today was a good day!@stanwawrinka @andy_murray #Ivan@Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/qlTYtyRfCz

— Daniel Vallverdu (@danielvallverdu) June 20, 2022

Qualifying for Wimbledon began on Monday, with Jack Sock leading seven Americans through to the second round. Main draw action at The Championships will be played from 27 June through 10 July. Prize money for the event will total a record £40,350,000.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Serena Williams admits she considered retirement during gruelling year-long injury battle

SERENA WILLIAMS made a victorious return to the court with a win at Eastbourne on Tuesday.

from Daily Express :: Tennis Feed https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/1629140/Serena-Williams-injury-battle-Eastbourne-Wimbledon

Clutch Kyrgios Dominates Tie-breaks In Comeback Mallorca Win

Nick Kyrgios broke a sweat but did not break serve in a Mallorca Championships win against Laslo Djere on Tuesday. The Aussie did his damage in a pair of tie-breaks to advance with a 5-7, 7-6(1), 7-6(1) result in Spain despite a strong serving performance from the Serbian.

It was a reversal of his semi-final defeat to eventual champion Hubert Hurkacz last week in Halle, where the Pole came from a set down by winning two tie-breaks to defeat Kyrgios without a break.

"I've played good tie-breaks in my career and I know that if I'm serving well I've got a good chance," the Aussie said after his Mallorca win. "He was serving really, really well today and he played the big points really well. I'm just happy to win."

[ATP APP]

Kyrgios fired 24 aces but faced eight break points, saving seven of them to stay within touching distance as he struggled to find peak form. The Aussie stayed locked in to erase all six break points he faced in the third set — three in each of his opening two service games — and won 23 of his last 24 points on serve to secure the victory.

The World No. 45 dominated both tie-breaks, racing to leads of 3/0 and 5/0 in the second and third sets, respectively.

"Laslo is a tough competitor," Kyrgios said post-match. "We grew up together in juniors so I knew he was capable of playing some good tennis. I'm proud of myself for that [win]."

Looking to improve upon a pair of semi-final runs on the grass in Stuttgart and Halle, Kyrgios advances to play home favourite and fifth seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round. 

"Another hard one," Kyrgios previewed. "He's a great player and he's a great guy as well. He's one of my mates on tour and he's very nice to me."

American Marcos Giron also won a third-set tie-break to advance on Tuesday in Mallorca, upsetting sixth seed Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-6(2). Eighth seed Sebastian Baez was a 6-3, 6-4 winner against Jordan Thompson, while Daniel Altmaier downed Dusan Lajovic, 7-5, 7-6(2).

[NEWSLETTER]

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Serena Williams rolls back the years in dramatic comeback victory on return from injury

SERENA WILLIAMS returned for the first time since her injury at Wimbledon last year at Eastbourne.

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Andy Murray retirement expected as Brit tipped to wave emotional goodbye at Wimbledon

TENNIS fans believe this year's Wimbledon Championships could be Andy Murray's last as retirement looms for the British veteran.

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Karatsev/Vliegen Spring Mallorca Upset

Aslan Karatsev and Joran Vliegen sprung a surprise in their first tour-level match as a team on Monday at the Mallorca Championships, where they held their nerve in a pair of tie-breaks to edge fourth seeds Andrey Golubev and Maximo Gonzalez 7-6(1), 7-6(6).

Karatsev and Vliegen wrapped up the match with three consecutive points, the first of which fended off a set point for their opponents, to claim the second-set tie-break. Their next opponents at the ATP 250 event in Spain will be Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez or Tallon Girekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp.

In the other opening-round match played on Monday in Mallorca, Austrian wild card duo Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler enjoyed a 7-5, 3-6, 10-4 victory against Sebastian Baez and Joao Sousa.

[ATP APP]

Mahut/Roger-Vasselin Advance In Eastbourne
At the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin were 6-4, 7-6(8) winners against Top 50 singles stars Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Pedro Martinez. Mahut and Roger-Vasselin are chasing their second title together on grass after their triumph in Newport in 2013.

There was also opening-day success on the English south coast for Maxime Cressy and Ugo Humbert, who overcame Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 4-6, 10-8, while Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Aisam-Ul-Haq-Qureshi downed home wild card pairing Julian Cash and Henry Patten 6-4, 7-6(4).

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Wimbledon 2022: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The third Grand Slam event of the season will see the world's best players compete at Wimbledon, with defending champion Novak Djokovic, two-time titlist Rafael Nadal and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini in action.

Here's what you need to know ahead of the tournament in the UK capital:

When is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon 2022 will be held from 27 June - 10 July. The grass-court Grand Slam tournament, established in 1877, will take place at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in London, UK. The tournament director is Jamie Baker.

Who is playing at Wimbledon 2022?

Wimbledon will feature two-time champion Nadal, six-time winner Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

When is the draw for Wimbledon?

The Wimbledon singles draw will be made on Friday 24 June at 10 a.m.
The Wimbledon doubles draw will be made on Friday 24 June at 12 p.m.

What is the schedule for Wimbledon?

* Qualifying: Monday, 20 June – Thursday, 23 June at 11 a.m.
* Main Draw: Monday, 27 June – Sunday, 5 June, start times TBC.
* Doubles Final: Saturday, 9 July, start time TBC.
* Singles Final: Sunday 10 July, start time TBC.
*View On Official Website

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

What is the prize money for Wimbledon?

The prize money for Wimbledon is £40,350,000.

SINGLES
Winner: £2,000,000
Finalist: £1,050,000
Semi-finalist: £535,000
Quarter-finalist: £310,000
Round of 16: £190,000
Round of 32: £120,000
Round of 64: £78,000
Round of 128: £50,000

DOUBLES (£ per team)
Winner: £540,000
Finalist: £270,000
Semi-finalist: £135,000
Quarter-finalist: £67,000
Round of 16: £33,000
Round of 32: £20,000
Round of 64: £12,500

How can I watch Wimbledon?

TV Schedule

How can I follow Wimbledon?

Hashtag: #Wimbledon
Facebook: Wimbledon
Twitter: @Wimbledon
Instagram: wimbledon

Who won the last edition of Wimbledon in 2021?

Novak Djokovic won the 2021 Wimbledon singles title with a 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Matteo Berrettini in the championship match (Read More). Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic lifted the doubles trophy in London with a 6-4, 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5 triumph against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the final (Read More).

Who holds the Wimbledon record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (8)
Most Titles, Doubles: Todd Woodbridge (9)
Oldest Champion: Roger Federer, 35, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Boris Becker, 17, in 1985
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Bjorn Borg in 1980, John McEnroe in 1984, Pete Sampras in 1993-94, 1997-99, Lleyton Hewitt in 2002, Roger Federer in 2004-07, Rafael Nadal in 2010, Novak Djokovic in 2015, 2019, 2021
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 125 Goran Ivanisevic in 2001
Last Home Champion: Andy Murray in 2016
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (105)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

[ATP APP]

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Sock Leads Americans Through First Round Of Wimbledon Qualifying

Jack Sock led a group of seven Americans through to the second round of Wimbledon qualifying on Monday at Roehampton.

Sock, who lost a heartbreaker in the ATP Challenger Tour final on Sunday in Ilkley against Zizou Bergs, bounced back for a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Argentine Andrea Collarini.

This is the first time Sock is playing qualifying at the grass-court major since 2013. The 29-year-old is up to No. 102 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, putting him on the verge of returning to the Top 100 for the first time since the week of 29 October 2018.

View Monday Qualifying Results

Third seed Stefan Kozlov was one of the other six Americans who advanced. Kozlov defeated Frenchman Evan Furness 7-5, 6-3.

Veterans who moved on include German Philipp Kohlschreiber, Italian Andreas Seppi and Moldovan Radu Albot.

Kohlschreiber, the 38-year-old who first competed in the Wimbledon main draw in 2005, eliminated Frenchman Gregoire Barrere 6-2, 6-2. After the match, he announced this will be his final tournament.

[ATP APP]

Seppi, who has played the main draw at every edition of The Championships since 2005, ousted Mirza Basic 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. Seventh seed Albot defeated Italian Roberto Marcora 6-1, 6-4.

A group of #NextGenATP players also moved on: Swiss Dominic Stricker, Brazilian Matheus Pucinelli De Almeida, Australian Rinky Hijikata, Briton Arthur Fery, Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante, Czech Dalibor Svrcina and Croatian Duje Ajdukovic. Ajdukovic earned the upset of the day when he cruised past former Top 10 star Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-3.

Top seed Bernabe Zapata Miralles clawed past Indian Yuki Bhambri 7-5, 6-1. The Spaniard is trying to qualify for Wimbledon for the second consecutive year.

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Roger Federer almost drops out of top 100 as Swiss star faces long road back

ROGER FEDERER has dropped to his lowest ranking in more than two decades.

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Dan Evans gives inside scoop on Andy Murray injury latest after pre-Wimbledon scare

DAN EVANS has already hit with Andy Murray after the three-time Grand Slam champion got injured.

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Eight Brits looking to become the next Emma Raducanu as Wimbledon qualifying gets underway

EMMA RADUCANU won the hearts of the nation during her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2021.

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ATP Tennis Podcast: Berrettini Reflects On London Title, Hurkacz Discusses Halle Triumph

This week on the ATP Tennis Podcast...

MATTEO BERRETTINI ON WINNING THE QUEEN'S CLUB TITLE - "Every time I walk through these hallways and it’s tricky here, I get lost all the time in this clubhouse, it’s really tough, and I see all the names, all the champions of the past and the present and now knowing that it’s going to be me twice on the same wall, it gives me goosebumps so I’m really happy for what I’ve done."

VINCENZO SANTOPADRE ON MATTEO BERRETTINI’S DEVELOPMENT - "Matteo is a guy that learns so much from his experience and day-by-day. I think he’s a better man and also on court during the matches he finds a way to be better, even with the passing of the match. Matteo is an Italian, he has a lot of passion and every match he is inside the situation, so he’s grown a lot."

BOTIC VAN DER ZANDSCHULP ON HIS GOALS - "I proved I can beat guys that are ranked higher then me so that’s the goal I’m working on to go higher up the rankings and to be more consistent. The difference between the higher guys and me is that they win almost all the time against the lower ranked guys and if you talk about the rankings, maybe I want to be Top 25 and that’s the first goal I’m having now."

HUBERT HURKACZ ON WINNING IN HALLE - "Super happy to win my first title on grass, win my first ATP 500 title, so definitely very proud of myself from this week and super happy to share this moment with such a great team as I have. It definitely gives some boost of confidence before Wimbledon an grass is not a typical surface and not many players are used to playing on it, so it’s a little bit of a different game. But I really enjoy it and I’ll try to use that at Wimbledon."

DANIIL MEDVEDEV ON MAINTAINING HIS WORLD NO. 1 POSITION - "Last few months were maybe not as good as I wanted them to be and at the same time that’s why we have the rankings of the past 52 and the past 52 weeks I managed to take the most amount of points than other players and that’s why tennis rankings is not about one or two tournaments otherwise we’d have a lot of World No. 1's. I’m really happy that I’ve managed to keep the consistency going and I want to do better."

NICK KYRGIOS ON HIS ABILITY ON GRASS - "I think on grass I’d be Top 5, Top 10 in the world definitely. I think If I’m feeling good on grass I feel really, really comfortable on it, but the way I’m playing, obviously my showing this year I’ve only played five events and I’m ranked [45] in the world, so you know I’m not planning on playing a lot more tournaments but I feel like I can finish the year Top 20, Top 30 with only playing 10 to 12 events."

FRANCES TIAFOE’S COACH WAYNE FERREIRA ON THE RESPECT BETWEEN THE TWO - "The respect I get for what I did is deserved and it’s nice because these guys, especially Frances, I want him to respect me so that he’ll listen to me. If you have a coach that you don’t really respect, I think it’s impossible to help them, so I think that helps."

- Podcast presented by Chris Bowers
- Interviews by Chris Bowers, Richard Connelly, Ursin Caderas & Sue Barker

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