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Novak Djoković zakończył współpracę z "guru". Zmianę wymusił Marian Vajda
Spoiler:
Pepe Imaz nie jest już członkiem sztabu Novaka Djokovicia. Serb na prośbę trenera Mariana Vajdy zakończył współpracę z budzącym sporo kontrowersji Hiszpanem.
Według światowych mediów Pepe Imaz był winnym odejścia ze sztabu Serba w grudniu 2016 roku Borisa Beckera. Hiszpan budził spore kontrowersje, choć jego współpraca z Novakiem Djokoviciem trwała kilka lat. Filozofia Imaza ("miłość i pokój") wywodzi się z ośrodka Puente Romano w Marbelli, gdzie były tenisista zajmuje się "leczeniem duszy". Djoković był pod wielkim wpływem Hiszpana.
Teraz media odsłaniają kulisy powrotu Mariana Vajdy na stanowisko głównego szkoleniowca Djokovicia. Po nieudanych występach w Indian Wells i Miami były lider rankingu ATP rozpoczął rozmowy ze Słowakiem. - Tak, chciałem, aby Novak zakończył współpracę z Pepe Imazem, ale to nie był mój najważniejszy warunek. Musiałem się spotkać z Novakiem osobiście. Drugim warunkiem było ustalenie zasad współpracy i planów na najbliższe miesiące - powiedział w rozmowie ze słowackim "Sportem" Vajda.
Już podczas pierwszego spotkania Vajda naciskał na zmiany. - Nie chcieliśmy, aby pozostali ludzie z otoczenia Novaka mieli na niego aż tak duży wpływ. Nie zależało nam na tym, aby traktować tenis jako filozofię - przyznał szkoleniowiec Djokovicia.
Pod wpływem Słowaka "Nole" szybko zaczął wracać do formy. Na kortach Rolanda Garrosa przegrał w ćwierćfinale z Marco Cecchinato, ale to zachęciło go do dalszej pracy. W efekcie Djoković wygrał po raz czwarty Wimbledon, sięgając tym samym po 13. wielkoszlemowy tytuł w karierze.
"The family of 85-year-old Miloslav Radisavljevic from Ljig, who was attacked last night in his house, kidnapped, and taken to a field several kilometers away, is in complete shock because of everything that has happened," a statement said.
It added that the grandfather of the famous Serbian tennis player's wife, given the circumstances, is unable to give statements to the media, "as are Novak and Jelena - but they thank the police for their swift reaction."
The statement also asked the public for understanding, considering that the investigation into the case is still ongoing.
Earlier in the day, B92 reported that Radisavljevic had been found by electricians handcuffed to a power line in a corn field near Ljig, a small town in western Serbia.
Mayor of Ljig Dragan Lazarevic confirmed that the incident had taken place, and described it as an attempted kidnapping.
Shortly afterwards, however, the police said the case was a robbery, and that the victim did not have any visible injuries.
The Interior Ministry (MUP) said that the police immediately interviewed the man, who told them that two masked robbers entered his home at about 03:00 hours CET on Thursday, taking his wallet with about RSD 26,000 (EUR 220), and a cell phone.
The victim also said that he was then taken out of the house and tied to the metal structure of a power line located nearby, the MUP said, adding that the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in the town of Valjevo has been informed about the case, while the police are intensively searching for the perpetrators.
Now a 13-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic won his fourth Wimbledon title on Sunday to legitimize his 2018 comeback from a troubling elbow injury. A 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 final victory over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson earned him his first Grand Slam title since the 2016 French Open, but it was his five-hour, 15-minute semifinal against Rafael Nadal that will live longest in the memory.
Played at a breathtaking level over the course of two days, the marathon match brought out a vintage Djokovic performance in a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8 result. As was the case so often in the past, the Serb was at his best when it mattered most, winning the crucial third-set tiebreak, 11-9, and saving five break points in the fifth set to deny Nadal an opportunity to serve for the match.
Here’s more on the resurgent Serb.
The Novak Djokovic File
Age: 31
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia
Current Rank: 10
Career-High Rank: 1
Best US Open Finish: Champion (2011, 2015)
The Baseline
- Djokovic’s 2017 season ended with a Wimbledon quarterfinal loss when he retired in the second set of his match against Tomas Berdych due to an elbow injury. He made his ATP return at this year’s Australian Open, where his fourth-round run was ended by Hyeon Chung in straight sets. He underwent elbow surgery soon after in an effort to make a full recovery.
- After a brief hiatus, Djokovic competed at Indian Wells in March but lost in his opening match. He once again failed to register a win at the Miami Masters later in the month, but by mid-May, he began to show signs of life. After being unable to get beyond the round of 16 in any of the six 2018 events he entered to that point, a semifinal run at the Rome Masters provided hope with Roland Garros around the corner. A quarterfinal appearance at the French Open ended his clay-court swing on a positive note, and his form continued to improve on the grass courts with a run to the final of the Fever Tree Championships in London.
- As seeds fell all around him throughout a wild first week at Wimbledon, Djokovic quietly plotted his course into the semifinals with a slew of straightforward wins. He dropped just two sets in his first five matches – one to Kyle Edmund in the third round and the other to Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals. Seeded 12th by the All England Club, Djokovic stood at No. 21 in the ATP World Rankings heading into Wimbledon but has now entered the Top 10 for the first time in 2018.
- After struggling through 2017 and being forced to watch Nadal and Roger Federer dominate the ATP World Tour, Djokovic can now look forward to battling his rivals after recapturing the form that propelled him to four year-end No. 1 finishes. Having missed out on the 2017 US Open, the Serb will be looking to make up for lost time this summer, as he hunts his third US Open trophy.
They Said It!
"There were several moments where I was frustrated and questioning whether I can get back to the desired level or not. But that makes this whole journey even more special for me." – Djokovic said of his injury struggles, speaking at his post-final Wimbledon press conference.
Wimbledon finalists teaming for the first time
It’s not often that the two most recent Grand Slam finalists compete on the same court in their very next match. But on Monday, that’s exactly the situation Kevin Anderson and Novak Djokovic found themselves in. The thing is, they weren’t playing against one another this time.
Anderson and Djokovic impressively dismissed #NextGenATP Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round in doubles at the Rogers Cup.
The two Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings had never played doubles together prior to walking on the National Bank Grandstand, and it showed, as they faced break point at 0-2 to go down an immediate double break. But from there, Anderson and Djokovic were extremely solid both from the baseline and at net, always managing to be in the right place at the right time to triumph after 67 minutes.
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The South African and the Serbian are now a combined 103-131 in tour-level doubles matches, and they are both pursuing their second title in the discipline. Next, they will face a stiff test against third seeds and reigning Roland Garros champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.
The clash was reminiscent of a first-round doubles match at the 2010 Rogers Cup, where young Canadians Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil played Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. But that time, the home favourites prevailed.
Did You Know?
All four players are in the singles draw in Toronto. Djokovic, fresh off his Wimbledon title, will play reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hyeon Chung in the first round, while Anderson, who has a bye as the fourth seed, is set to battle Andrey Rublev or Evgeny Donskoy. Shapovalov will face Jeremy Chardy, and Auger-Aliassime will try to upset Lucas Pouille.
ATP Toronto: Novak Djoković rozgrzał się w deblu. Teraz czas na singla
Spoiler:
W poniedziałek Novak Djoković odbył pierwszy mecz w rozgrywanym na kortach twardych turnieju ATP World Tour Masters 1000 w Toronto. W I rundzie zmagań debla Serb i Kevin Anderson w dwóch setach pokonali Denisa Shapovalova i Felixa Augera-Aliassime'a.
Marcin Motyka
Marcin Motyka
07 Sierpnia 2018, 07:10
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Getty Images / Marc Atkins / Na zdjęciu: Novak Djoković
ATP Toronto: Benoit Paire nie dał się ponieść emocjom i wygrał. Ekspresowy Fernando Verdasco
15 lipca Novak Djoković i Kevin Anderson zmierzyli się ze sobą w finale wielkoszlemowego Wimbledonu (6:2, 6:2, 7:6(3) dla Serba). W poniedziałek znów pojawili się na korcie, tyle że tym razem stanęli nie po przeciwnych, lecz po tej samej stronie siatki. W I rundzie debla turnieju ATP Masters 1000 w Toronto Serb i Afrykaner zmierzyli się z kanadyjską parą Denis Shapovalov / Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Pojedynek pierwotnie miał odbyć się na korcie centralnym, lecz z powodu opóźnień spowodowanych opadami deszczu został przeniesiony na arenę Granstand. Miejscowi fani szczelnie wypełnili trybuny. Byli ciekawi, jak ich młodzi reprezentanci (Shapovalov ma 19 lat, a Auger-Aliassime to 17-latek) poradzą sobie z duetem złożonym z czołowych singlistów świata.
REKLAMA
Kanadyjczycy rozpoczęli doskonale i już w gemie otwarcia przełamali Andersona. Lecz Djoković i jego partner szybko opanowali sytuację. Serb zachwycał minięciami i grą z linii końcowej, natomiast Afrykaner dzielnie mu pomagał.
Djoković i Anderson bądź - jak kto woli - "Djokerson", bo tak żartobliwie nazwał duet z Afrykanerem tenisista z Belgradu, po godzinie i sześciu minutach gry zwyciężyli 6:3, 6:2. W II rundzie zmierzą się z rozstawionymi z numerem trzecim Francuzami Pierre'em-Huguesem Herbertem i Nicolasem Mahutem, zeszłorocznymi triumfatorami Rogers Cup.
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Poniedziałkowy debel był dla Djokovicia i Andersona rozgrzewką przed rywalizacją w singlu. Serb zmagania w grze pojedynczej rozpocznie we wtorek. Nie wcześniej niż o godz. 19:00 czasu polskiego na korcie centralnym spotka się z Hyeonem Chungiem, z którym przegrał w IV rundzie tegorocznego Australian Open. Afrykaner natomiast inauguracyjny pojedynek rozegra w środę. Powalczy z Rosjaninem - kwalifikantem Jewgienijem Donskojem lub z utalentowanym Andriejem Rublowem.
Rogers Cup, Toronto (Kanada)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000, kort twardy, pula nagród 5,315 mln dolarów
poniedziałek, 6 sierpnia
I runda gry podwójnej:
Kevin Anderson (RPA) / Novak Djoković (Serbia) - Felix Auger-Aliassime (Kanada, WC) / Denis Shapovalov (Kanada, WC) 6:3, 6:2
Four-time champion to meet Polansky in second round
In his first match since winning his 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic began his bid for a fifth Rogers Cup crown with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Mirza Basic.
Djokovic hit nine aces and converted three of five break points to overcome the lucky loser in 90 minutes. The Serbian was originally due to face reigning Next Gen ATP Finals titlist Hyeon Chung. But Basic, who fell in the final round of qualifying to American Bradley Klahn, entered the draw after Chung's withdrawal (back pain).
"I thought I served very well today... except those double faults in the game when I lost the break. But, in general, I worked a lot on that shot [recently]," said Djokovic.
Djokovic improved to 36-6 at the event and will face wild card Peter Polansky for a place in the third round. The Canadian beat Matthew Ebden of Australia 7-6(3), 6-4 on Monday.
The former World No. 1 looked solid on serve in the opening set, winning 75 per cent of service points to establish a one-set lead. But, despite earning the first break of the second set at 3-3, Djokovic ran into trouble closing out the match.
In the following game, back-to-back double faults opened the door for Basic, who earned his first break of the match with a ripped backhand winner down the line. The pair traded breaks once more at 5-5, after a series of loose errors, to force a tie-break. It was there that Djokovic re-established control and charged to victory.
"I've had plenty of success in Toronto and Montreal, and I wanted to start off well," said Djokovic. "I think I played a solid match. Obviously, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the new surface. The conditions here are quite different from practising in Europe or other places... So I'll just focus on this week and see how it goes."
#NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced to the second round by exactly the same scoreline as Djokovic, beating Turkish Airlines Open Antalya champion Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 7-6(3).
"I was serving unbelievably today. I felt very comfortable with my serve from the beginning of the match and it played a big role in my game today," said Tsitsipas. "I managed to win lots of easy points with my serve."
Tsitsipas landed 11 aces and dropped only five points behind his first serve to book a second-round clash against seventh seed Dominic Thiem. The Austrian and Tsitsipas have already met on four occasions this season, with the Thiem leading their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-1.
"I feel pretty high with my [level]," said Tsitsipas. "I feel like I’m around 80-90 per cent. I feel there’s 10 per cent more which I can for sure improve and beat even higher-ranked players."
Did You Know?
In 2007, Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in successive matches to win his maiden Rogers Cup title.
Novak Djokovic endorsed the use of a shot clock at the Rogers Cup, where he beat Peter Polansky for a place in the third round on Wednesday, feeling it didn’t hinder the way he prepared to serve.
The former World No. 1 admitted, “I didn't feel that it affected me in a negative way at all in [my] two matches. On the contrary, I actually feel like there is more time now than before because the shot clock starts counting down once the chair umpire calls the score. So I'm pretty comfortable with it. It's good that we have shot clock in the tournaments prior to the US Open.”
The shot clock, first used in US Open qualifying and the Next Gen ATP Finals last year, was used in Washington, D.C. at last week’s Citi Open, an ATP World Tour 500 tournament.
With 25 seconds to serve between points, the clock begins when the chair umpire announces the score and turns off when the server lifts the racquet to signify the the start of the serving motion. The clock will also be in use at next week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the Winston-Salem Open and at the US Open.
The clock is also used to speed up the start of matches. Players have one minute from walking on court to present themselves for the coin toss, five minutes for the warm up and one minute after the warm up to be ready for play.
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Djokovic, who recently started his third three-year term as a member of the ATP Player Council, believes that the sport has taken great steps forward over the past 10 years.
“I think there was just much more communication, pro-activity from players and a willingness to participate in conversations,” said Djokovic, who served as President of the ATP Player Council from 2008-10 and 2016-18. “You can see that there is much more improvement.
“You just have to take into consideration so many different interested (parties) in our sport. It's not just us that have all the right to make decisions. We are part of the association that is 50 per cent players and 50 per cent tournaments. You have to discuss and go to the [ATP] Board and vote, and so the process is quite long. But it has been much better in the past couple years than it was in the past 10, 15 years.”
Last month, the ATP announced the approval of an ATP World Team Cup, set to take place at the start of the ATP World Tour season from 2020. The tournament, which returns to the calendar for the first time since taking place in Dusseldorf from 1978 to 2012, will feature 24 teams and offer US $15 million in player prize money, as well as ATP Rankings points.
“I think the ATP World Team Cup is something that we are very proud of,” said Djokovic. “We worked very hard together with ATP management to make that happen… That competition will be revolutionary for our sport.”
Serbian star awaits the winner of seventh seed Thiem or Tsitsipas
Four-time former champion Novak Djokovic once again put together a solid service performance at the Rogers Cup to book his place in the third round on Wednesday.
The ninth-seeded Serbian, who has now won 21 of his past 24 matches, knocked out Toronto resident and wild card Peter Polansky 6-3, 6-4 over 85 minutes in the first match of the day on Centre Court. Twenty minutes after the match ended, heavy rain suspended play.
"I thought I served well in the moments when I really need it and I was looking for the first serve," said Djokovic. "I thought I found pretty good accuracy and angles with the first serve, and also my second serve worked pretty well. Overall my game was so-and-so. In the moments when I probably needed to step it up, I did."
Djokovic will now prepare to face seventh-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem or Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. Djokovic leads Thiem 5-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including wins in all three of their hard-court meetings, but Thiem has won their past two matches on clay at Roland Garros in 2017 and at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in April. Djokovic has not played Tsitsipas.
Having started the year with a 6-6 record, Djokovic has since gone 21-3 (27-9 overall) and this week in Toronto marks his first tournament since lifting his fourth trophy — and 13th Grand Slam championship — at Wimbledon on 15 July. He is currently in fifth position in the ATP Race To London for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 11-18 November at The O2.
Tennis Radio
Former World No. 1 Djokovic worked his way into the match against Polansky by cutting down on early groundstroke errors. He dropped his opening two service points, but found success behind 12 of his next 14 deliveries. Polansky played a patient game, but at 3-4, the Canadian made four straight errors — finishing his service game with a second double fault — to be broken and give Djokovic the initiative. Djokovic won 15 of his 18 first-service points in the 34-minute opener.
Djokovic needed to bide his time in the second set, converting his fifth break point opportunity of the ninth game when Polansky struck a forehand long. Djokovic, who hit seven aces and committed 29 unforced errors, advanced to the third round after Polansky hit a backhand return wide.
When asked about Djokovic’s qualities, Polansky said, “He raises his level on the big moments. I only got one free point on a 30-All or deuce or break point. But what I found trickiest out there was just his serve locations. He doesn't have the biggest serve, but he's putting every serve on the line, or an inch from the line, every time.
“When we got into those baseline rallies, I felt really good. I felt like whoever had the first cut was just going to take the point. I felt like we were actually trading baseline points… Even when I was able to get a forehand, I felt in control, which has given me some confidence against a Top 10 player.”
The 31-year-old Djokovic, who has compiled a 37-6 record at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament since his title-winning debut in 2007, also lifted the trophy in 2011-12 and 2016. Overall, the Serbian has won 30 Masters 1000 crowns (30-14 record in finals).
Djokovic Says 'I Have To Accept It', Sets Sights On Cincy
Spoiler:
Serbian fell against #NextGenATP Tsitsipas, remains in doubles
Novak Djokovic arrived at the Rogers Cup, a tournament he has won four times, with a boatload of momentum. Fresh off his fourth Wimbledon title, the Serbian hadn’t failed to reach the quarter-finals of a tournament since the Mutua Madrid Open in May.
But the former World No. 1’s hot streak cooled off on Thursday when he lost in the third round against #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. While it was certainly disappointing, what’s done is done, and the Serbian won’t let the loss keep him down.
“I really want to do well,” Djokovic said. “Losing in this kind of tournament, it's not something I don't care about. It really frustrates me. But I have to accept it, deal with it, and move on.”
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The 31-year-old needs to refocus right away, with the Western & Southern Open just days away. Djokovic has lifted 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies in his career, with the only one missing from his collection being Cincinnati, where he owns a 26-11 record, and an 0-5 mark in finals.
“I'm going to get into Cincinnati, the only [Masters] 1000 event that I didn't win in my career, and hopefully I can have a good tournament,” Djokovic said.
While his loss against Tsitsipas stings, Djokovic has still won 21 of his past 25 matches. He says he never adjusted to the quick, high-bouncing conditions in Canada, and simply had a bad day.
“I just played not that great, especially from the baseline. I didn't return well. So all in all, it wasn't that great of a match,” Djokovic said. “You have those days, and better earlier than later in this series.”
It’s not like Djokovic was blitzed by an opponent who was not in form, either. Tsitsipas is second in the ATP Race To Milan, and is creeping ever closer to the Top 20 in the ATP Rankings after beginning the season at No. 91.
“He's definitely one of the leaders of Next Gen without a doubt, especially this season. He's had some terrific results and terrific wins,” Djokovic said. “He's showing a lot of commitment, a lot of discipline. You know, he's putting in the hours in the gym, on the tennis court, and it's paying off. I mean, he's very talented. He was the best junior in the world. If he keeps on going this way, he's got a good future.
“He just played better in the decisive moments. I had my chances to come back in the third set when I dropped my serve at 15/40. An easy forehand. I missed it. But that's sport. You have to deal with these kind of situations.”
Djokovic was able to go right back on court and earn some confidence, teaming with Kevin Anderson to oust reigning Roland Garros champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in doubles. They are now into the quarter-finals.
“Hopefully these next few days with doubles and practice sessions, I can get what I need before Cincinnati,” Djokovic said.
ATP Cincinnati: brakujący element. Novak Djoković rozpoczyna rywalizację o "złotą koronę"
Spoiler:
Jeśli Novak Djoković wygra turniej ATP w Cincinnati, zostanie pierwszym singlistą w dziejach, który zwycięży we wszystkich imprezach rangi Masters 1000. Rywalizację o to osiągnięcie Serb rozpocznie w poniedziałkową noc.
Marcin Motyka
Marcin Motyka
13 Sierpnia 2018, 16:35
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Getty Images / Vaughn Ridley / Na zdjęciu: Novak Djoković
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ATP Cincinnati: Roger Federer wraca do rozgrywek. Rafael Nadal i Novak Djoković w jednej ćwiartce drabinki
W 1990 roku władze ATP utworzyły cykl turniejów pod nazwą "Super 9", obecnie znanych jako ATP World Tour Masters 1000. To najbardziej prestiżowe imprezy w kalendarzu ATP World Tour, rangą ustępujące tylko rozgrywanym pod egidą Międzynarodowej Federacji Tenisa (ITF) Wielkim Szlemom. Zwycięstwo w zawodach złotej serii to dla każdego tenisisty wielki sukces i powód do dumy.
Kolejny turniej tej rangi rozpoczął się w niedzielę, w Cincinnati. W imprezie Western & Southern Open wystąpią niemal wszyscy czołowi tenisiści świata. Ale dla jednego z nich tegoroczna edycja zmagań w stanie Ohio może stać się wyjątkowa. To Novak Djoković, który stoi przed szansą, by jako pierwszy singlista w dziejach skompletować triumfy we wszystkich zawodach rangi Masters 1000.
REKLAMA
Jak dotychczas, Serb wygrał 30 turniejów tego cyklu (więcej, 33, ma jedynie Rafael Nadal). Sześć razy zwyciężył w Miami, pięć w Indian Wells, po cztery w Rzymie, w Kanadzie (impreza Rogers Cup rozgrywana jest przemiennie w Toronto oraz w Montrealu) i w Paryżu. Trzykrotnie triumfował w Szanghaju oraz ma po dwa triumfy w Monte Carlo i w Madrycie. Do skompletowania "złotej korony" brakuje mu tylko mistrzostwa w Cincinnati.
Tenisista z Belgradu nigdy nie zwyciężył w Western & Southern Open, choć aż pięciokrotnie grał w finale tej imprezy. W sezonach 2008 i 2011 przegrywał decydujące spotkania z Andym Murrayem, natomiast w latach 2009, 2012 i 2015 ulegał Rogerowi Federerowi.
Sam Djoković dał do zrozumienia, że chciałby zwyciężyć w Cincinnati. W środę, po odpadnięciu w III rundzie turnieju w Toronto, powiedział: - Mam nadzieję, że kilka następnych dni treningów i gry w deblu da mi to, czego potrzebuję przed występem w Cincinnati. To jedyny turniej ATP Masters 1000, którego nigdy nie wygrałem, dlatego liczę na to, że zaprezentuję się tam dobrze.
"Złotą koroną" w historii zdobyli jedynie debliści - bracia Bob i Mike Bryanowie oraz Daniel Nestor. W niedzielę to grono może się powiększyć o pierwszego singlistę - Djokovicia.
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Rywalizację w Western & Southern Open 2018 Serb rozpocznie w poniedziałek. W I rundzie zmierzy się ze Steve'em Johnsonem, a ten mecz rozpocznie się na korcie centralnym nie wcześniej niż o godz. 2:30 czasu polskiego.