1 hr. ago
In his surprise return to the ATP 500 event in Basel this year, Novak Djokovic could not quite produce the run he would have hoped for, as he fell to Jan-Lennard Struff in his second match of the tournament.
Although it was a tightly contested encounter, with all three sets reaching the 5-5 mark, Djokovic eventually lost after making some uncharacteristic errors in the final-set tiebreak, handing Struff his first-ever victory against him in their ninth meeting.
At this stage of his career, Djokovic is far removed from needing results at ATP 500 tournaments. However, he has consistently stated that, regardless of his age, he always plays to win. More importantly, this defeat has dented his hopes of achieving something he was particularly keen on when returning to Basel: securing his place at the ATP Finals in Turin in just over two weeks.
Djokovic entered Basel ranked 12th in the Race to Turin, an event for which only the top eight players qualify. This is a significant change from previous years, when the Serbian would typically have secured his qualification by this stage of the season, even if he subsequently chose not to participate, as he did in each of the past two years. The Serbian needed a deep run in Basel to strengthen his position and avoid having to rely entirely on the Paris Masters to secure qualification.
However, following this defeat, Djokovic will now have to do precisely that. Given the current landscape of the live rankings, he will need a deep run in Paris to put himself in a strong position to qualify. At the time of writing, Djokovic sits 11th in the Race to Turin, with Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton already having secured their places.
#djokovic #turin #struff #serbian
Although it was a tightly contested encounter, with all three sets reaching the 5-5 mark, Djokovic eventually lost after making some uncharacteristic errors in the final-set tiebreak, handing Struff his first-ever victory against him in their ninth meeting.
At this stage of his career, Djokovic is far removed from needing results at ATP 500 tournaments. However, he has consistently stated that, regardless of his age, he always plays to win. More importantly, this defeat has dented his hopes of achieving something he was particularly keen on when returning to Basel: securing his place at the ATP Finals in Turin in just over two weeks.
Djokovic entered Basel ranked 12th in the Race to Turin, an event for which only the top eight players qualify. This is a significant change from previous years, when the Serbian would typically have secured his qualification by this stage of the season, even if he subsequently chose not to participate, as he did in each of the past two years. The Serbian needed a deep run in Basel to strengthen his position and avoid having to rely entirely on the Paris Masters to secure qualification.
However, following this defeat, Djokovic will now have to do precisely that. Given the current landscape of the live rankings, he will need a deep run in Paris to put himself in a strong position to qualify. At the time of writing, Djokovic sits 11th in the Race to Turin, with Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton already having secured their places.
#djokovic #turin #struff #serbian
5 hours ago
Novak Djokovic's hopes of making a record 19th appearance at the ATP Finals have been dented by a surprise defeat against Jan-Lennard Struff at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
Playing in the tournament for the first time in 15 years, the 39-year-old lost 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) - the first time he has been beaten by Struff in nine meetings.
"I knew I needed to go for it. There was only one way to play it. So, I was very, very happy," said the world number 27.
"I knew I had to play my best tennis to have a chance. The last eight times he beat me very, very easily. So, I'm very, very happy and pleased with the performance."
The year's top-eight performers qualify for the ATP event in Turin and this result leaves Djokovic - the men's game's record 24-time Grand Slam winner - 11th in the standings.
#time #first #play #eight
Playing in the tournament for the first time in 15 years, the 39-year-old lost 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) - the first time he has been beaten by Struff in nine meetings.
"I knew I needed to go for it. There was only one way to play it. So, I was very, very happy," said the world number 27.
"I knew I had to play my best tennis to have a chance. The last eight times he beat me very, very easily. So, I'm very, very happy and pleased with the performance."
The year's top-eight performers qualify for the ATP event in Turin and this result leaves Djokovic - the men's game's record 24-time Grand Slam winner - 11th in the standings.
#time #first #play #eight
4 months ago
Jannik Sinner is on course for a blockbuster Wimbledon showdown with Novak Djokovic after the defending champion ended German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff's fairytale run in the quarter-finals.
Sinner won 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Court One and will face Djokovic in the last four if the seven-time Wimbledon champion beats Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime later on Tuesday.
In the women's tournament, Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova reached their first Wimbledon semi-finals.
With Wimbledon basking in sweltering temperatures this week, world number one Sinner had to answer some uncomfortable questions about his ability to withstand the heat.
The 24-year-old Italian wilted in the recent French Open when the mercury reached boiling point, sparking a stunning second-round defeat against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who battled back from two sets and 5-1 down to beat Sinner.
Sinner won 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Court One and will face Djokovic in the last four if the seven-time Wimbledon champion beats Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime later on Tuesday.
In the women's tournament, Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova reached their first Wimbledon semi-finals.
With Wimbledon basking in sweltering temperatures this week, world number one Sinner had to answer some uncomfortable questions about his ability to withstand the heat.
The 24-year-old Italian wilted in the recent French Open when the mercury reached boiling point, sparking a stunning second-round defeat against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who battled back from two sets and 5-1 down to beat Sinner.
