Novak Djoković

[arti]

Djokovic Begins Parisian Pursuit For World No. 1

Spoiler:

Novak Djokovic was last the No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings at the 2016 Rolex Paris Masters. So it’s only fitting that two years on, it’s at the Parisian ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event that the Serbian has a chance to take the top spot back.

Djokovic, a four-time champion at the tournament, got off to a good start to his pursuit of that goal on Tuesday with a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Portuguese qualifier Joao Sousa. Djokovic has won 19 consecutive matches, and he has crafted a 28-set winning streak dating back to the second round of the US Open.

"In the important moments, I managed to get the right shots in play. Not 100 per cent pleased with my game, I missed a lot of shots from the back of the court," Djokovic said. "But at the end of the day, it's the first match, so it takes a bit of time to adjust."



For Djokovic to pass World No. 1 Rafael Nadal when the next ATP Rankings come out on 5 November, he must outlast Nadal this week in Paris. If both stars lose in the same round, the Spaniard will remain No. 1. Djokovic, who has spent 223 weeks atop the ATP Rankings, was No. 1 for 122 straight weeks — the fourth-longest stint in history — before falling to Marin Cilic in the 2016 Paris quarter-finals.

The 31-year-old can also tie Nadal’s record of 33 Masters 1000 titles with a victory this week. The Serbian has won the past two events at this level, triumphing at the Western & Southern Open and the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Djokovic did well to save nine of the 10 break points he faced agains Sousa, who won the Millennium Estoril Open earlier this season. Djokovic won 73 per cent of second-serve return points en route to a one-hour, 33-minute victory against Sousa, whom he now leads 6-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

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In the third round, Djokovic will face three-time ATP World Tour titlist Damir Dzumhur, who upset #NextGenATP Canadian and Intrum Stockholm Open champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-3 in just 71 minutes. It will be the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

Dzumhur, the No. 52 player in the ATP Rankings, owns four wins against Top 10 opponents in his career, but he is 0-4 this year. The 26-year-old captured his 100th tour-level match win in the first round in Bercy, defeating German Peter Gojowczyk.

Did You Know?
Djokovic's 28-set winning streak is one off his career-best of 29 sets in a row, which came from the 2015 US Open final through the 2015 Rolex Paris Masters semi-finals.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 18-tuesday

[Damian]

Novak Djoković znów numerem jeden światowego tenisa

Spoiler:

Rafael Nadal jednak nie zagrał w hali Bercy w Paryżu – to oznacza, że Novak Djoković od poniedziałku będzie liderem rankingu ATP Tour
Paryski turniej zapowiadał się rewelacyjnie – powrót do akcji Rogera Federera i Rafaela Nadala, uczestnictwo Novaka Djokovicia atakującego szczyt rankingu światowego, dla kilku innych ostateczna kwalifikacja do turnieju mistrzów ATP Tour w Londynie, ale wiele ważnych odpowiedzi padło już wtedy, gdy Nadal oświadczył w środę, że nie zagra.


Powodem, wedle Hiszpana jest naciągnięcie mięśni brzucha. – Od kilku dni mam bóle tych mięśni, zwłaszcza przy serwisie, lekarze zalecili mi przerwę w grze, więc nie wystartuję – rzekł tenisista w Paryżu, pozostawiając także wątpliwości, co do startu w Masters w Londynie.

Nadala zastąpił w drabince Malek Jaziri – rzeczywiście szczęściarz – opadł w eliminacjach, ale jako lucky loser dostał się od razu do drugiej rundy turnieju, by zagrać z Fernando Verdasco i zarobić co najmniej 33 445 euro.

KONKURS “RZECZPOSPOLITEJ”
Wybierz z nami Innowatora Stulecia. Zgłoś kandydatów na orzelinnowacji.rp.pl.
Decyzja Hiszpana oznaczała, że Novak Djoković zostanie od poniedziałku nr 1 rankingu ATP World Tour, gdyż Serbowi wystarczyło do tego osiągnięcia zagrać lepiej w turnieju, niż Nadal. Ostatni raz Novak był liderem równo dwa lata temu, właśnie w hali Bercy po 122 tygodniach stracił prowadzenie.

Teraz może pracować w stolicy Francji nad innymi sprawami: 33. sukcesem w turnieju z cyklu ATP Masters 1000 (to byłoby wyrównanie rekordu Nadala), zwiększeniem przewagi rankingowej przed wielkim finałem sezonu w Londynie oraz, co może mniej ważne, ale miłośnicy tenisowych statystyk takie rzeczy też lubią: poprawieniem serii setów bez porażki – po wtorkowym sukcesie w meczu otwarcia (7:5, 6:1 z Joao Sousą) ma ich już 28, rekord Djokovicia z 2015 roku wynosi 29, do wyrównania lub poprawienia zatem już w czwartek podczas spotkania z Damirem Dżumhurem.

Widzowie w hali Bercy jeszcze nie zobaczyli Rogera Federera, który pierwszą rundę miał wolną z zasady, ale drugą też, gdyż w środę z gry zrezygnował jego rywal, Milos Raonic (miał problemy z łokciem). Szwajcar pojawił się pod dachami Paryża po zwycięstwie w minionym tygodniu w Bazylei – wygrał tam 99. turniej ATP. Okrągła setka zwycięstw jeszcze tej jesieni, właśnie w Paryżu – to byłby kolejny liść do wieńca chwały. Na razie na drodze stanie Federerowi Fabio Fognini, albo może też nie stanie, bo Włoch ma ponoć kłopot z kostką.

– Nie wiem, czy jestem w stanie znów wygrać ten turniej, mogę oczywiście mówić o zwycięstwie numer 100, ale naprawdę trudno orzec, gdzie i kiedy się zdarzy. Oczywiście byłoby pięknie, gdy zdarzyło się tutaj, ale będę myślał na razie wyłącznie o kolejnych spotkaniach, nie o tej setce. O kondycję się nie martwię – mówił Szwajcar.

Kibicom postaje zatem czekanie na ewentualne półfinałowe starcie Federera z Djokoviciem, ale też oglądanie w hali Bercy postępów Grigora Dimitrowa pracującego od niedawna pod okiem Andre Agassiego, gry Saschy Zvereva, typowanego na następcę starzejących się mistrzów oraz sprawdzaniem po każdej rundzie, czy w Masters zagrają Marin Cilić, Dominic Thiem i Kei Nishikori. Raczej zagrają, ale policzyć punkty trzeba.

Transmisja telewizyjna z Paryża w Polsacie Sport Extra.

https://www.rp.pl/Tenis/310319895-Novak ... enisa.html

[grzes430]

#1: Novak ponownie na szczycie rankingu.

Serb wraca na fotel lidera rankingu ATP po 2 latach przerwy.


TimesLIVE

1. Roger Federer - 310
2. Pete Sampras - 286
3. Ivan Lendl - 270
4. Jimmy Connors - 268
5. Novak Djoković - 224
6. Rafael Nadal - 196
7. John McEnroe - 170
8. Bjorn Borg - 109
9. Andre Agassi - 101
10. Lleyton Hewitt - 80

[Damian]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Od3Q-P ... A&index=28[/youtube]

[Damian]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWvD8w ... A&index=29[/youtube]

[Barty]

[Damian]

2018 Comeback Nominees: Djokovic, Kubler, Millman, Nishikori

Spoiler:

Nominees made significant moves in the ATP Rankings following returns from surgery
The Comeback Player of the Year Award in the 2018 ATP World Tour Awards Presented by Moët & Chandon recognises those players who have overcome injury in re-establishing themselves as one of the top players on the ATP circuit. The winner, as selected by the players, will be announced ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals.
Novak Djokovic
Two years after he last sat atop the ATP Rankings, Novak Djokovic will return to World No. 1 on Monday following the Rolex Paris Masters, after rallying from a low of No. 22 in June.
"Reflecting on what I've been through in the last year, it's quite a phenomenal achievement, and of course I'm very, very happy and proud about it," he said. "Five months ago if you told me that – I always believe in myself – but it was highly improbable at that time considering my ranking and the way I played and felt on the court."
Djokovic: I’m Playing At My Best Level
Djokovic’s 2017 campaign concluded prematurely with a fourth-round retirement at Wimbledon as he struggled with an elbow injury. On his return to the courts at the Australian Open, the former World No. 1 lost in the fourth round and decided to undergo a ‘small medical intervention’. He was left searching for answers following consecutive opening-round losses in Indian Wells and Miami, and reunited with his former coach Marian Vajda at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
From a 6-6 start to the season, Djokovic turned his season around by reaching the Rome semi-finals, Roland Garros quarter-finals and the Queen’s Club final before triumphing at Wimbledon. From mid-August, he proved unbeatable. Djokovic became the first player to achieve the Career Golden Masters as he claimed the elusive Western & Southern Open title, and he added to his trophy collection by winning the US Open and Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Jason Kubler
When Jason Kubler was younger, his knee would swell up anytime he touched a hard court. With a hereditary knee condition, the former junior World No. 1 underwent numerous surgeries as a teenager and played exclusively on clay courts from March 2012 through May 2015 to protect his knees.
Kubler’s Titanic Top 100 Climb
After being set back by microfracture knee surgery in 2016 and a shoulder injury the following summer, the Australian made his ATP Challenger Tour hard-court debut last October at Traralgon and won the title as a qualifier. He replicated that result on home soil at the Playford Challenger to start 2018. With another hard-court title at the Winnipeg Challenger, a runner-up finish at the Vancouver Challenger, and his return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Kubler found himself breaking into the Top 100 ahead of the US Open. In New York, he recorded his first tour-level win for four years.
In the space of 12 months, Kubler soared more than 800 spots in the ATP Rankings, climbing from No. 921 last October to a career-high No. 91 this October. “It’s almost unreal. Twelve months ago, I didn’t even imagine anything like this,” he said.

John Millman
John Millman has been here before. In 2015, the Aussie was nominated for Comeback Player of the Year, after rising more than 1,000 spots in the ATP Rankings following a shoulder injury that had left him doubting whether he could play at the elite level again. Millman again faced adversity in 2017, when he underwent another significant surgery, this time on his groin. “This one was really tough because movement is a big part of my game. Even when I was on the sideline, I couldn't do so much,” he admitted.
Time In The Gym Proving Critical For Millman In Comeback
Dropping outside the Top 200 last August, Millman began his road back with success on the Challenger Tour in the latter half of 2017, culminating with the title in his final tournament of the year. With a runner-up finish at the Gazprom Hungarian Open in Budapest and a pair of Challenger titles in the first half of the 2018 season, he eclipsed his previous career-high ATP Ranking of No. 60 by mid-May.
But he didn’t stop there, as he continued his climb to World No. 35 by October. Millman’s biggest moment came at Flushing Meadows, when he upset Roger Federer under the lights to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open. “I have retired in my head maybe a few times throughout my career when things got pretty tough, with my body and stuff,” he said afterwards. “It's those moments, playing on Ashe that makes all that toil worthwhile, and if times get tough down the track, hopefully I can think back to that moment.”

Kei Nishikori
Only 10 months ago, Kei Nishikori couldn’t imagine he’d be competing for a place in the Nitto ATP Finals entering the final week of the regular season. After wrist surgery forced him to miss the final three months of the 2017 season, the former World No. 4 dropped outside of the Top 10 to a low of No. 39 this April.
From Challengers To London Contenders, Kei Has Reason To Sing
Now, Nishikori stands at World No. 11, with a pair of ATP World Tour 500 finals in Tokyo and Vienna in October giving him a chance to take his place among the elite eight at The O2. “It wasn't easy to imagine but now, the last couple of months especially, I've been playing really well and have a lot of confidence, “ he said. “I'm happy to be back at this level.”
Nishikori’s comeback campaign began with a first-round loss at the Newport Beach Challenger, but was quickly followed by a title at the Dallas Challenger and a semi-final run at the New York Open. At the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, he showed he was still a contender for the tour's most prestigious titles as he upset two Top 5 players – Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev – before falling to Rafael Nadal in the final. He also reached the Round of 16 at Roland Garros, quarter-finals at Wimbledon, and prevailed against Marin Cilic in five sets to reach the US Open semi-finals (l. to Djokovic).

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... k-nominees

[arti]

Djokovic Sets New Personal Record, Books Cilic Clash In Paris

Spoiler:

Novak Djokovic set a new personal record after advancing to Rolex Paris Masters quarter-finals on Thursday. The second seed, who led Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 2-1 when the Antalya champion was forced to retire, extends his streak to 30 consecutive sets won, passing his previous best mark of 29 achieved between the US Open final and Paris semi-finals in 2015.

Djokovic, who will return to World No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on 5 November, has now also won 20 consecutive tour-level matches for the sixth time, and 29 of his past 30 encounters since arriving at Wimbledon in July. The four-time champion will next face Marin Cilic in a repeat of this year's Fever Tree Championships final.

"Reflecting on what I've been through in the past year, it's quite a phenomenal achievement [to return to No. 1]," said Djokovic. "Of course, I'm very, very happy and proud about it.

"I always believe in myself, but it was highly improbable [five months ago], considering my ranking and the way I played and felt on the court. I'll probably be able to speak more profoundly about it when the season is done and hopefully if I get to finish [the season] as No. 1."



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Djokovic owns a 15-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against the 6'6" right-hander, who will guarantee his place at the Nitto ATP Finals in London if he can secure his third victory against the Career Golden Masters winner.

Cilic has defeated Djokovic in two of their past three meetings, including a straight-sets win at the same stage in Paris two years ago. Cilic overcame Djokovic for the first time to reach the 2016 semi-finals; a match which proved to be Djokovic's last encounter as World No. 1.

"I had a very good head-to-head record [against Marin] until that match a few years ago here," said Djokovic. "He likes playing indoors. Obviously he has a big serve and a big game from back of the court. It's just a very powerful style of tennis.

"It's going to be a tough one. [It is] tough to receive his missiles. His first serves are really, really fast, and he uses a lot of rotation and variation with his serve. If he has a high first serve percentage, then it's obviously a big challenge to play him because he's got a really big game from back of the court... I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a great match."

Cilic

Cilic improved his chances of qualifying for the elite eight-man event after one hour and 49 minutes, defeating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(5), 6-4. The 18-time tour-level titlist fired 29 winners to advance to the quarter-finals in Paris for the third straight year and fourth overall. Cilic reached the semi-finals in 2016, falling to John Isner in straight sets.

"I am very close to London, to securing my spot mathematically," said Cilic. "In the next match against Novak it will be another big challenge. [It will be] great to play him again."

Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Dimitrov ends his 2018 campaign with a 24-19 tour-level record. The 27-year-old Bulgarian, who reached his 15th tour-level final at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in February (l. to Federer), was aiming to reach the quarter-finals in Paris for the first time.



Did You Know?
With victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday, Marin Cilic recorded his 40th tour-level victory of the season. The World No. 7 has notched 40 or more tour-level wins in seven of the past 10 years.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 8-thursday

[grzes430]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC_h2bO ... XA&index=9[/youtube]

[Damian]

Novak Stretched, But Battles To 21st Straight Win

Spoiler:

Djokovic to face Federer or Nishikori in the Paris semi-finals
Novak Djokovic saw his personal-best 30-set winning streak come to an end on Friday at the Rolex Paris Masters. But the Serbian, who will ascend to the top spot in the ATP Rankings on Monday, bounced back to beat fifth seed Marin Cilic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to claim his 21st consecutive tour-level match victory.

"It was a big challenge. I was a break down in the third set. And really, this match could have gone either way," Djokovic said. "I won the match, but if he would've won it, it would've been absolutely deserved."

The win against Cilic is Djokovic’s 10th victory against a Top 10 opponent this season, and he has now claimed nine matches in a row against that elite group. Djokovic owns a 30-1 record since the start of Wimbledon.


While Djokovic entered the quarter-finals with a 15-2 advantage in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Cilic, there was little doubt that the Croatian could put up a fight, having defeated Djokovic for the title at the Fever-Tree Championships earlier this year.

But while Cilic grabbed the first break in the deciding set with an immaculate crosscourt forehand passing shot that landed right on the line, Djokovic remained solid. Even after breaking his racquet in frustration after watching that passing shot sail by, the second seed settled down and kept his defensive pressure up. And after getting the break back, it was the Serbian who gained the decisive advantage with a crosscourt forehand passing shot winner of his own, ultimately holding to love to clinch the match when Cilic hit a backhand in the net after two hours and 11 minutes.

"Break point, passing shot, he was at the net, I managed to find the good angle and then break his serve," Djokovic said of the tightness of the moment.

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It has been an especially impressive week for Djokovic because the Serbian says he has been struggling with "kind of a flu".

"It's not easy to perform every single day," Djokovic said. "The energy levels are not as high, and I try to manage the situation. But I've had this particular case before so I hope I can progress day by day."

The Parisian fans are in for a blockbuster semi-final, as Djokovic will face third seed Roger Federer. It will either be Djokovic’s 47th FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting against Federer. Federer is pursuing his 100th tour-level crown, after earning crown No. 99 in Basel last week.

"I'm just pleased to be in the semis," Djokovic said. "I know I can play better. At times tonight I was playing really well. At times, not that great. So there are things that I have to obviously improve for the next one, and I'm looking forward to it."

Cilic could have guaranteed his place at the season finale at The O2 in London from 11-18 November if he beat Djokovic, but the Croatian still earned his spot later in the evening after Federer defeated Kei Nishikori.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 018-friday

[Damian]

[Damian]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82pNvh7 ... A&index=16[/youtube]

[Damian]

Novak Edges Roger In Paris Thriller

Spoiler:

Novak Djokovic will play for a fifth Rolex Paris Masters crown on Sunday vs. Karen Khachanov
Can anyone stop Novak Djokovic? The Serbian has been an impervious force over the past four months and on Sunday he will play for a record-tying 33rd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title (w/Nadal).

Djokovic extended his win streak to 22 straight with a 7-6(6), 5-7, 7-6(3) victory over Roger Federer in the Rolex Paris Masters semi-finals. At three hours and two minutes, their longest three-set meeting was a scintillating affair at the AccorHotels Arena, as the pair battled for a coveted spot in the championship at the Masters 1000 event.

Not only did Djokovic overcome 54 winners off Federer's racquet, but his 0/12 break-point conversion rate proved to be the first time he has squandered double-digit break chances in his career. But the Belgrade native was too clutch in the big moments, digging deep in the critical stages in both tie-breaks, including a set point saved at 6/5 in the first.

"We had epic matches throughout our rivalry but this one definitely ranks as one of the best matches we played," said Djokovic. "High quality tennis. Next to the match I played against Nadal in the semis of Wimbledon, this was definitely the most exciting match I was playing this year, and probably the best quality tennis match that I was part of.

"It was also expected, because when I get to play Roger, I know I have to get the best out of myself in order to win. And that's why our rivalries and matches are so special."


Behind a determined display from the back of the court, Djokovic reigned once again against Federer, booking his spot in the Paris final for a fifth time. He carries a 4-0 record in Paris title matches into a championship encounter with Karen Khachanov on Sunday, having reigned in 2009 and 2013-15. Moreover, the win against Federer is his 11th victory against a Top 10 opponent this season and he has now claimed 10 matches in a row against that elite group.

Djokovic, who will return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on Monday - for the first time in two years - continues his quest to finish in the year-end top spot for a fifth time. Meanwhile, Federer's bid to end the year at No. 1 comes to a close.

Meeting for the 47th time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry, Djokovic extended his advantage to 25-22. He has now won four straight encounters since 2015. Their lone previous meeting in Paris came exactly five years ago in the 2013 semis. Djokovic stormed back from a set down, en route to the title, kicking off his run of three straight crowns in the French capital.

You May Also Like: Khachanov Charges Into Maiden Masters 1000 Final
Following their Cincinnati encounter in August, Federer described his returning performance as one of the worst of his career. He claimed just 26 per cent of such points and looked to flip the script as they entered the fast indoor courts of Paris-Bercy on Saturday. But as proceedings got underway, Djokovic's delivery proved to be untouchable once again.

And the Serbian was on the prowl with Federer serving at 3-4, forcing the Swiss to retreat to his backhand corner as he stood tall on the baseline. Federer would save four break points in that game, including a moment of magic that put his razor reflexes to the test. A Djokovic forehand clipped the net and spun towards Federer's head, but the Swiss quickly raised his racquet and struck a sublime drop volley to the delight of the Parisian faithful.


"The quality of his serve tonight was quite amazing, to be honest," Djokovic added. "His serve was always his weapon. But, you know, tonight he was just hitting the spots beautifully. He was mixing it up.

And even though usually on the return I feel comfortable, but, you know, at times you have matches where just the opponent is on a roll. He's feeling good. He's serving well. There's not much you can do. Just wait for your opportunities and, when they are presented, you try to capitalise on them."

The riveting first set would proceed to a tie-break and Djokovic would seize the initiative, denying a set point and sealing the opener when a Federer backhand slid wide. He fired nine winners in the 71-minute opening set.

Coming into the match, Djokovic owned a commanding 17-1 record against Federer when winning the opener, but the Swiss looked to turn the tables in the second. They once again remained on serve throughout the set, but it was Federer who came up clutch in the critical stage. With Djokovic serving to force another tie-break, his Swiss rival pounced, reeling off nine of 11 points to suddenly snatch a late break and send the encounter to a decider. He launched a forehand winner down the line to seize the set.

Djokovic's inability to convert on his first 10 break points shined bright, particularly in the opening game of the third set. The second seed had a 15/40 look, but Federer clamped down once again. In faster conditions, the Swiss' serve is as reliable a weapon as any and it frequently did damage on Saturday.

The drama would reach a pulsating crescendo in a deciding tie-break. It marked the third time in which a tie-break has settled a meeting between the two superstars. Djokovic entered with a 2-0 record, having prevailed in the 2007 Montreal final and 2014 Indian Wells final. And the trend would continue as the clock edged towards 9pm in Paris. A Federer double fault gave two mini-breaks to Djokovic at 4/1 and he would not look back, crossing the finish line after just over three hours when a Federer forehand found the net.

With the defeat, Federer's quest for a 100th tour-level crown will wait until the Nitto ATP Finals in two weeks. He was bidding to reach a 49th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final and second in Paris, having lifted the trophy in 2011. In addition, the World No. 3's outside chance of finishing as year-end No. 1 came to an end.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/pa ... r-djokovic

[DUN I LOVE]

47. finał M-1000 osiągnął Novak, przed nim nieznacznie Fed (48) i Rafa (49).

[Żilu]

[Rroggerr]

Finał w Bercy.


Le Monde

Novak przegrał swój drugi finał w 2018 roku. W paryskiej hali Bercy lepszy okazał się Karen Chaczanow. 31-letni Serb ma na koncie 104 zawodowe finały (72-32), w tym 47 finałów Masters-1000 (32-15).

[Żilu]

Djokovic: 'He Can Really Hurt You'

Spoiler:

Djokovic reflects on Paris final loss to Khachanov
After seeing his 22-match winning streak come to an end at the hands of Karen Khachanov, Novak Djokovic heaped praise on the 22-year-old Russian as he looks ahead to the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

The 31-year-old Serbian, who will return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on 5 November, was bidding to capture his third straight ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown and join rival Rafael Nadal with a record 33 titles at the level. But Khachanov upset the odds with fearless play, improving his unbeaten record to 4-0 in tour-level championship matches after one hour and 39 minutes.

"[Karen] absolutely deserved to win the match today," said Djokovic. "All the credit to him. He deserves it. He's a young player, up and coming. But already an established player, a top player. He showed great quality today and he showed why we're going to see a lot of him in the future.

"He was playing big from the back of the court. Flat backhands and forehands. He can really hurt you. That's a big weapon... His serve is really, really strong and precise. His overall game was really, really great all week."

Not to be discouraged by his final loss, Djokovic focused on important milestones after a hard-fought week in the French capital. Djokovic was twice pushed to a third set, in back-to-back matches, by Marin Cilic and Roger Federer but continued to showcase his best level at crucial moments.

With victory over Damir Dzumhur in the third round, Djokovic notched his sixth tour-level win streak of 20 or more matches. The Wimbledon and US Open champion will now shift his focus towards the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London from 11-18 November.

"I'm satisfied, of course, [with this week]," said Djokovic. "I'm going to be No. 1 tomorrow officially. What more can I ask for? I won 20-plus matches in a row and had the most amazing last five months of the year. I'm going into the season finale [in London] with a lot of confidence and feeling good about my game."

Djokovic will be bidding to equal Federer's record six crowns at the elite eight-man event in London this year. The Career Golden Masters winner captured four consecutive trophies at the season-ending event from 2012 to 2015 and will be eager to end his year on a high by clinching the year-end No. 1 position in the ATP Rankings. Both Djokovic and Nadal are still capable of finishing the 2018 season as World No. 1.

"Now it's recovery time for half of the week and half of the week training," said Djokovic.

Djokovic will enter London with a 565-point ATP Race To London lead over Nadal, who will be aiming to finish the year as the top-ranked player for the second straight year. Both men are attempting to join Federer with five year-end No. 1 finishes.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 018-sunday

[arti]

Djokovic Completes Remarkable Return To No. 1

Spoiler:

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic today returned to the top of the ATP Rankings for a fourth stint at the pinnacle of men’s professional tennis. Almost two years to the day since Djokovic completed his 223rd and most recent week at No. 1, he replaces Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the top spot.

Djokovic is the first player to be ranked outside the Top 20 then climb to No. 1 in the same season since Marat Safin in 2000. Safin was as low at No. 38 on 28 February 2000 before becoming No. 1 on 20 November that year. When Djokovic fell to No. 22 on 21 May 2018, it was his lowest ranking since he was No. 22 as a 19-year-old on 2 October 2006.

“Reflecting on what I've been through in the last year, it's quite a phenomenal achievement,” said Djokovic. “And, of course, I'm very, very happy and proud about it. Five months ago, if you told me that, I would be — I always believe in myself, but it was highly improbable at that time considering my ranking and the way I played and felt on the court… I'll probably be able to speak more profoundly about it when the season is done and hopefully if I get to finish as No. 1.”

Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman and President, said, “What Novak has achieved this season has to go down as one of the great sporting comebacks. It’s been a phenomenal return to form that would have been hard to imagine just six months ago. He fully deserves his return to No.1 in the ATP Rankings and should be incredibly proud of his exceptional season.”

Djokovic underwent surgery on his right elbow in January after the Australian Open, which was his first tournament in six months. He reunited with long-time coach Marian Vajda at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in April and entered the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in May with a 6-6 record. Djokovic has since compiled a 43-5 match record, including a 31-2 mark since the start of Wimbledon.

The 31-year-old won two Grand Slam championship crowns at Wimbledon (d. Anderson) — which represented his first major title since June 2016 at Roland Garros — and at the US Open (d. Del Potro) for the third time in the same season (also 2011 and 2015). As the World No. 21 at Wimbledon, he was the lowest-ranked major champion since No. 44-ranked Gaston Gaudio at 2004 Roland Garros. He defeated Nadal 10-8 in the fifth set of their Wimbledon semi-final, which lasted five hours and 15 minutes.

By beating Roger Federer in August at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Djokovic became the first player to win titles at all nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events since the start of the tournament series in 1990. He captured his fourth Rolex Shanghai Masters title (d. Coric) last month and additionally finished runner-up at the Fever Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club (l. to Cilic) in June and at the Rolex Paris Masters (l. to Khachanov) last week.

Djokovic and Nadal will now battle to become a five-time year-end No. 1 in the ATP Rankings at the Nitto ATP Finals, the season finale to be held at The O2 in London from 11-18 November.

MOST WEEKS AT NO. 1 IN ATP RANKINGS (since 1973)
A list of the total number of weeks each player has spent at No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973):

Player Total Weeks At No. 1
Roger Federer (SUI) 310
Pete Sampras (USA) 286
Ivan Lendl (CZE/USA) 270
Jimmy Connors (USA) 268
Novak Djokovic (SRB) 224 (as of 5 November 2018)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) 196
John McEnroe (USA) 170
Bjorn Borg (SWE) 109
Andre Agassi (USA) 101
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 80
Stefan Edberg (SWE) 72
Jim Courier (USA) 58
Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) 43
Andy Murray (GBR) 41
Ilie Nastase (ROU) 40
Mats Wilander (SWE) 20
Andy Roddick (USA) 13
Boris Becker (GER) 12
Marat Safin (RUS) 9
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 8
John Newcombe (AUS) 8
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) 6
Thomas Muster (AUT) 6
Marcelo Rios (CHI) 6
Carlos Moya (ESP) 2
Patrick Rafter (AUS) 1

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... kings-2018

[arti]

Brak tytułu w Paryżu nie zmartwił Novaka Djokovicia. "Od poniedziałku będę numerem jeden. Czego mogę chcieć więcej?"

Spoiler:

Brak tytułu w Paryżu nie zmartwił Novaka Djokovicia. "Od poniedziałku będę numerem jeden. Czego mogę chcieć więcej?"
- Jestem zadowolony z tego tygodnia. Od poniedziałku oficjalnie będę numerem jeden. Czego mogę chcieć więcej? - mówił Novak Djoković, którego nie zmartwiła porażka z Karenem Chaczanowem w finale turnieju ATP Masters 1000 w Paryżu.
W finale turnieju ATP Masters 1000 w Paryżu Novak Djoković niespodziewanie przegrał 5:7, 4:6 z Karenem Chaczanowem. - Karen absolutnie zasłużył na zwycięstwo. Muszę mu to oddać. Jest młodym, ale już ugruntowanym tenisistą z czołówki. Pokazał świetną jakość - mówił po spotkaniu z 22-letnim Rosjaninem.

Dla Serba to pierwsza porażka po serii 22 wygranych meczów z rzędu. Poprzednią przegraną zanotował 9 sierpnia, gdy w III rundzie imprezy w Toronto uległ innemu młodemu tenisiści, wówczas 19-letniemu Stefanosowi Tsitsipasowi. - Karen naprawdę może ci wyrządzić szkodę. Ma płaski bekhend i forhend. To potężne bronie. Serwuje mocno i precyzyjnie. Ogólnie przez cały tydzień pokazywał świetną grę - ocenił.
Belgradczyk nie był szczególnie zmartwiony niedzielnym rezultatem. Wprawdzie nie zdobył tytułu, ale dzięki występowi w Paryżu po ponad dwóch latach powróci na pierwsze miejsce w rankingu ATP. - Jestem zadowolony z tego tygodnia. Od poniedziałku oficjalnie będę numerem jeden. Czego mogę chcieć więcej? Wygrałem ponad 20 meczów z rzędu i miałem niesamowite ostatnie pięć miesięcy.

Teraz przed Djokoviciem udział w Finałach ATP World Tour (11-18 listopada). - Pół najbliższego tygodnia spędzę na rekonwalescencji, a kolejne pół - na treningach. Do ostatniego turnieju w sezonie przystąpię w dobrym samopoczuciu i z dużą pewnością siebie - dodał.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/78668 ... de-numerem

[Lucas]

Why Not To Fall Behind Novak Djokovic

Spoiler:

Nobody on the ATP World Tour wants to lose the first set. But there’s a lesson in the numbers — whatever you do, don’t fall behind Novak Djokovic.

A slow start has proven especially harmful against Djokovic, as no player has been more dominant with a one-set lead than the Serbian. According to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone, Djokovic holds a 724-31 record after winning the opener, a win-rate of 95.9 per cent. Only 14 players in history have won at least 90 per cent of their matches after winning the first set.

That could be something to keep an eye on this week at the Rolex Paris Masters, where the 72-time tour-level champion Djokovic continues his pursuit to regain the No. 1 ATP Ranking. And the recent Cincinnati, US Open and Shanghai champion is in excellent form, arriving in Paris having won the past 24 matches in which he has won the first set.

Top 5 Players In History After Winning The First Set

Player Record Win-Rate
1. Novak Djokovic 724-31 95.9%
2. Rafael Nadal 808-42 94.8%
3. Bjorn Borg 563-35 94.1%
4. Andy Murray 557-39 93.5%
5. Roger Federer 1,047-75 93.3%
In fact, the four-time Paris titlist has won the first set in 25 of his 35 clashes at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. And of those 25 matches, he has triumphed 24 times. It doesn’t hurt that Djokovic arrives in France on an 18-match winning streak overall, either.

What’s perhaps most impressive is that, excluding wins over two qualifiers ranked outside of the Top 90, Djokovic owns a 22-1 record at the final Masters 1000 tournament of the year against opponents with an average ATP Ranking of No. 17. But that’s not all — Djokovic has always dominated with the lead against the best players in the sport.



The 31-year-old has won 89.8 per cent of his matches against Top 10 opponents after taking the opening set. That means that Djokovic’s win-rate in such a situation against the Top 10 is better than that of all but 15 players in history against the field.

Only one player has done better against the elite group, and that’s World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has won 90.0 per cent (135-15) of his matches against the Top 10, and he is directly behind Djokovic in matches won after claiming the first set against the field. Nadal has captured 808 of 852, or 94.8 per cent.

Rounding out the Top 5 in the category are Bjorn Borg (94.1%, 563-35), Andy Murray (93.5%, 557-39) and Roger Federer (93.3%, 1,047-75). Of the Top 10 players in matches won after triumphing in the first set, only one — Juan Martin del Potro — has not reached No. 1 in the ATP Rankings.

The 'Big Four' Against Top 10 Opponents After Winning The First Set

Player Record Win-Rate
1. Rafael Nadal 135-15 90.0%
2. Novak Djokovic 159-18 89.8%
3. Roger Federer 187-34 84.6%
4. Andy Murray 78-18 81.3%
Djokovic has been doing that well this year, clinching 40 of the 42 matches in which he has come out on top in the opener. And he’ll try to continue getting ahead in Paris, where he seeks a record-tying 33rd Masters 1000 title.

Did You Know?
Djokovic can return to the top spot in the ATP Rankings by triumphing in Paris, regardless of Nadal's result at the indoor hard-court event.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/fe ... tober-2018