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Tag: Medvedev

Alexander Zverev Apologises After ‘Unacceptable’ Behaviour in Mexico

Posted on by Chirag

Alexander Zverev, the defending Acapulco champion, has been all over the headlines the past couple of days following his interesting week in Mexico. 

After setting the record for the match that ended most late in the day at 4:56 am in his first round, he headlined newspapers after his temper tantrum in Mexico during a tie break in his first round doubles match. Now the German has come out to apologise for this shameful incident and make peace with the tennis world.

“I have privately apologised to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable.”

As you know I leave everything out on the court,” he wrote.

“Yesterday I left too much. I am going to take the coming days to reflect on my actions and how I can ensure that it will not happen again.”

With stars like Andy Murray, who’s playing in the Dubai Open currently and was taken out of the singles race by Jannik Sinner earlier this week, also commenting on this incident, Zverev has been in deep trouble and under the risk of a heavy fine by ATP. 

Meanwhile stars like Medvedev and Nadal have been cruising past their opponents and are in the quarterfinals in their separate brackets. 

With this disqualification from Acapulco, Zverev missed out on a chance to face either of them and also close the gap to World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev.

Nadal Cruises Past Kudla as Champion Zverev Kicked Out of Acapulco

Posted on by Chirag

Acapulco has seen a lot of tennis the past couple of days with the likes of Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Nadal and Zverev all in action.

The now 21 time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal cruised past his first round opponent Denis Kudla with a score of 6-3, 6-2. The Spaniard showed off his insane banana forehands to his Mexican fans as he made it to round 2.

Meanwhile, Zverev, the defending champion, created history in Acapulco in his first round when he ended and won his match at 4:56 am in the morning. He and Brooksby played  a match that became the match to end most late in the day in Mexican tennis history.

With the defending champion in good spirits, it came as a shock when he was kicked out of the tournament after an incident last night.  The incident took place after Zverev’s double match, in which he partnered Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo against the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.

Following the conclusion of the match, which saw Zverev and his partner lose 6-2 4-6 (10-6), the World no 3 went and smashed his racquet repeatedly on the umpire’s chair, despite official Alessandro Germani seated on it.

“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” the ATP said in a statement.

Zverev was upset with the official over a line call, which took place earlier in the match. He also hurled expletives at Germani.  

Zverev’s second round singles opponent Gojowczyk was also given a walkover following this incident.

Djokovic Returns to On Court Action With A Thrilling Win

Posted on by Chirag

The World No. 1 made a comeback last night in Dubai as he played his first official match of 2022. 

The Serbian took on Italy’s Loreonzo Musetti in a thriller under the burning heat as he defeated him 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets. Novak looked to have not lost a single step as he slid his way across the court for outstanding returns.

Recently Nadal and Novak himself have compared Djokovic’s style to that of the current World No. 2 breathing down Novak’s neck and Australian Open finalist, Daniil Medvedev. Is a 2022 dream match on the cards this year with the likes of Djokovic, Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Nadal all in a tournament at the French Open possibly?

“A pleasant experience,” he said.

After thanking the crowd following his first match of 2022, Djokovic added: “I couldn’t pick a better place to kick start the season – it was the best possible experience tonight.

“All in all, it’s a straight-set win so of course I have to be satisfied, especially after not playing for two and a half, almost three months.”

“It’s always in the heat of battle, the atmosphere where you need to get that energy out. Sometimes you are frustrated with yourself, your game, the things that are happening.”

He later said he had received a “very friendly” welcome back to competition by the “majority” of players.

He added: “I’m very thankful for that because having the kind of an understanding at least, I would say, if not support from my peers and my colleagues, is very important to me because they are the people that I get to see sometimes more than my family.

“I care greatly about the relationships that we have.”

Draws Announced for Acapulco and Dubai Duty Free

Posted on by Chirag

As the two ATP tournaments commence today, the draws were fully announced last night online. Stars like Medvedev and Nadal, Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev all in the Acapulco Open in Mexico.

While over in Dubai, the Duty Free Tournament will play host to players like the returning World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Rublev, Murray and Cilic. 

This will be Novak’s first tennis tournament in almost 3 months as he missed this year’s first grand slam, the Australian Open after a controversial legal battle over his Anti Vax lifestyle. 

Meanwhile one of his greatest rivals, Rafael Nadal, who returned to tennis in late December after 4 months tending to injuries has been doing great. He did lose in the first round of a friendly tournament in Abu Dhabi on his return but managed to win an ATP title before winning his 21st career grand slam and becoming the first person to reach that incredible milestone. 

Nadal, drawn in the same side as Medvedev will face Riley Opelka in the first round and prediction wise might go toe to toe again with Australian Open 2022 finalist Daniil Medvedev in the semi finals.

While Djokovic has been drawn to face the Italian Musetti as he looks to bounce back to winning ways with an ATP title after a long time in Dubai. He will most probably face Rublev in the finals in Dubai within the next week and a half.

Toni Nadal talks About Rafa’s Mindset as Medvedev Turns His Back on the Crowd

Posted on by Chirag

On Sunday in the Rod Laver Arena, Rafael Nadal shook the world with his insane comeback after being 2 sets down to the world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev. 

The match featured Nadal in a tremendous form that got the crowd chanting for him and booing Medvedev. This played a vital role in Medvedev’s head as he was continuously booed throughout the match. Medvedev post his match even talked about this saying, “From now on, I play for myself, for my family…for all Russians, because I feel a lot of support there,” he said. “I will say this: if there is a tournament in Moscow before Roland Garros or Wimbledon, I will go there even if I miss Wimbledon or Roland Garros or something else.”

“The kid stopped dreaming. The kid is going to play for himself.”

Medvedev was also being booed during and after his second round match against crowd favourite Nick Kyrgios and made it a point to tell the crowd how disrespectful they were being. 

On the other side, Nadal said he understood the frustration but Medvedev will understand the role you have to let the crowd play in your head as he advances in his career. 

“Nowadays, people tend to surrender to frustration and complain too much. Rafa, though, being down 2 sets to zero had no bad face, nothing. He knew, all the time, how to overcome difficulty, which I think is the most outstanding thing from yesterday’s match,” said Toni Nadal, Rafael’s father.

“What Would Novak Do?” Asks Medvedev

Posted on by Chirag

Danni Medvedev won his quarter finals match against the young Canadian Aliassime yesterday in a thrilling five set match. Hope seemed to have been lost for Medvedev as he lost the first two sets to the Canadian. However in one of the best comebacks in Australian Open history, Medvedev went on to win the next 3 sets straight in a row to secure his spot against Tsitsipas on Friday.

Post the grueling match, Medvedev was in a good mood, and said ““I have no idea!” When asked about the intense heat and physicality.

“I mean, talking about the match point, I managed to serve well. If it had been a second serve, we never know what would happen. Talking about the whole match. It’s funny this bag, I usually come with a lot of (spare) clothes, just in case, you know six shirts, three pairs of shoes, whatever. Now it’s empty!”

“I didn’t really know what to do,” Medvedev explained. “Actually I don’t know if people are going to like it but I told myself ‘what would Novak (Djokovic) do?’”

At this point, the crowd serenaded him with boos with the mention of the World no. 1 

“Because he is one of the greatest champions, or Rafa (Nadal) or Roger (Federer) to be honest, they’ve won so many matches like this.”

At the mention of Nadal and Federer, the crowd cheered in response.

“And I just thought ‘ok, I’m going to make (Auger-Aliassime) work.’”. “If he wants to win it, he needs to fight until the last point, even if it’s 5-0, 40-0 for him, I’m going to try to make him tired for the next match, you know? Just fight until the last point, and it worked.”