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“I think it’s a bit of a joke, to be honest” : Lewis Hamilton offers support to Max Verstappen amidst FIA row

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“I think it’s a bit of a joke, to be honest” : Lewis Hamilton offers support to Max Verstappen amidst FIA row During the drivers conference at the Singapore GP last week, three-time world champion Max Verstappen was caught swearing while talking about the changes to his car, which led to him receiving a penalty by the FIA. The FIA believes that the Dutchman breached the International Sporting Code as these words cannot be said on live broadcast. Subsequently on Friday, Verstappen was called upon by the stewards where he explained that he believed the word was ‘ordinary’, in his native language at least. “While the Stewards accept that this may be true, it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums, in particular when not under any particular pressure. The Stewards note that significant fines have been levied for language offensive to or directed at specific groups. This is not the case here. But, as this topic has been raised before, the Stewards determined to order a greater penalty than previously,” in a statement released by the FIA. Max Verstappen is now obliged to work for public interest as a penalty. Following qualification, the 26-year-old also refused to elaborately answer the questions he was asked in Saturday’s FIA press conference, stating that he would ‘get a fine’ again. Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris get in support of the Dutchman The 26-year-old finished second in qualifying, sandwiched between his rival Lando Norris and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. When asked about Verstappen’s punishment, the British duo cited out their thoughts which were in support of the Dutchman. “I think it’s a bit of a joke, to be honest,” stated the seven-time world champion. This is the pinnacle of the sport. Mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn’t be doing it, and I hope Max doesn’t do it,” said the 39-year-old, who wants Verstappen to boycott the penalty (via RacingNews365). “I think it’s pretty unfair, I don’t agree with any of it,” said Norris. The community service will be coordinated by the FIA’s secretary general, with a date yet to be decided. As for the Singapore Grand Prix, the Dutchman finished at second, just behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. Max Verstappen is still the favorite to win this year’s world championship, as he is 52 points clear of the Briton in the rankings. Also Read: “It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season” : Lewis Hamilton has high hopes for the remainder of the year

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

“I think we are gonna build great rivalry” : Carlos Alcaraz hopes his rivalry with Jannik Sinner becomes as great as the Big Three

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“I think we are gonna build great rivalry” : Carlos Alcaraz hopes his rivalry with Jannik Sinner becomes as great as the Big Three After two decades of dominance portrayed by the ‘Big 3’, it is finally time for the next generation to take over, and this current year of tennis clearly showcased that. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the two outright best players in the world right now, which has reflected in their trophy cabinets as both have swept this year’s Grand Slam titles; the Italian comfortably winning the hardcourt titles while the Spainard showed his class in Wimbledon and French Open. With the world no.1 and world no.3 outperforming the majority of top ranked players, debates have obviously sparked about whether or not they can live up to the hype and this sort of consistency just like the ‘Big 3’ did. “He push me to practicing 100% just to try to beat him” : Carlos Alcaraz on Jannik Sinner motivating him to become a better player Prior to the much-awaited Laver Cup, the Spainard reflected on this topic in a recent press conference and revealed that he liked the idea of sharing this rivalry with the Italian. “Well, a lot of people talk about it, I like hearing it, I’m not gonna lie. I hope so. I hope that we our rivalry is going to be or almost that the Big 3 had during the whole career,” said Alcaraz. “I don’t know. This is the first year that we shared all the Grand Slams. Hopefully gonna keep going like that, sharing great moments, fighting for the great tournaments, the Grand Slams, Masters 1000, Masters,” the 21-year-old added. Much like the ‘Big 3’, the two share a friendly relationship off-court as well, and as time passes and they play more and more against each other, this close rivalry may well bloom into an even better relationship. “So, let’s see how it’s gonna be in the future the next few years. If we’re gonna stay like that at this level, I think we are gonna build great rivalry, relationship off the court, as well,” reflected the four-time Grand Slam champion. The duo has already played against each other in nine occasions, with the Spainard slightly in the lead at 5-4. Already termed as one of the best modern rivalries, fans can surely expect close finishes whenever they tune in, as their matches have ended in straight sets only three out of the nine times. In addition to Alcaraz wanting his rivalry with Sinner same as the ‘Big 3’ he also revealed that the Italian pushes him to become a better player so that he can beat him in their upcoming matches. “He push me to practicing 100% just to try to beat him, you know, in the next matches. So it’s great, hopefully having that great rivalry that the Big 3 had in their career,” said the Spaniard. While the world no.1 has taken time off after a very busy summer which included Cincinnati and US Open victories and controversial doping tests, the Spaniard competed at the Laver Cup this weekend, where Team Europe emerged victorious. Also Read: “He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal
Tennis

“I was really excited to share the locker room with him once again” : Carlos Alcaraz reveals he will miss playing with Rafael Nadal after his withdrawal from the Laver Cup

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“I was really excited to share the locker room with him once again” : Carlos Alcaraz reveals he will miss playing with Rafael Nadal after his withdrawal from the Laver Cup This summer’s tennis at the Paris Olympics saw plenty of memorable moments, including the widely awaited dream scenario of the wonderkid Carlos Alcaraz teaming with the greatest Spanish player of all time in tennis. The duo provided fans many iconic moments together, and were able to reach till the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles as well. The duo was set to play in the highly anticipated Laver Cup as part of Team Europe, with the 38-year-old legend set to play his first match since the Olympics. But after the Spainard’s withdrawal from the US Open, he took to social media to announce his withdrawal from the Laver Cup as well. “I’m really disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week. This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win. I wish Team Europe the very best of luck and will be cheering them on from afar,” said the Spainard. Grigor Dimitrov has already been announced as the Spaniard’s replacement, and the Bulgarian is set to join Bjorn Borg’s star-studded squad which includes Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud. “It would have been super special to repeat here in Berlin” : Carlos Alcaraz was hoping to play alongside his idol once again Although Team Europe are the favourites this time around to win the Laver Cup, the tournament has certainly lost the fan appeal due to the Spanish legend’s withdrawal. In addition to the increased competition, the cup is also the means for fans to view rivals and friends turned into teammates, all pushing forward for the same goal. The reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz was probably the most disappointed after hearing the news of Nadal’s withdrawal. The youngster has revealed multiple times that Rafael Nadal has been his favourite to watch growing up, and he considers him as his idol. Alcaraz in a recent interview reflected his sadness over the 22-time Grand Slam champion not participating in the Laver Cup. “It would have been super special to repeat here in Berlin. When they gave the team and I saw that Rafa was coming, I was really excited to share the locker room with him once again,” said the Spainard (via Marca). “Here at the Laver Cup we are all much closer together and it would have been a unique experience. I am going to miss him and I hope he returns to the courts soon when he feels well. I hope we meet at some tournament soon.” the 21-year-old added. Alcaraz also revealed that he heard from Spanish captain David Ferrer that Nadal might be returning to play the Davis Cup for his country, chances of that being high since the event is set to be held in December. “I heard David [Ferrer] say that if Rafa was there, he would go all out with him. I hope I’m also physically fit to be able to go to Malaga. It’s something that I’m particularly excited about and I hope Rafa is there too.” Alcaraz said. “Rafa is one of the greatest in the history of our sport. For me, he is my idol, he is the one I watched the matches with when I was a child. I have tried to learn from him as much as I could during the time we were together.  I will miss him in Berlin because it was a unique opportunity to continue learning from him. He has been a unique tennis player,” the four-time Grand Slam winner added. With the 38-year-old participating in less and less tournaments as time passes, it has given fans the hint that not long is left before the Spanish legend’s legendary career ends. Fans worldwide will surely be tuning into every single match of Rafael Nadal from now on, hoping that it is not his last. Also Read: “If we could unite them, we would still have a super champion” : Serb’s former trainer believes that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s skillsets can still make a quality winner

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic
Tennis

“If we could unite them, we would still have a super champion” : Serb’s former trainer believes that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s skillsets can still make a quality winner

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“If we could unite them, we would still have a super champion” : Serb’s former trainer believes that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s skillsets can still make a quality winner After the retirement of the great Roger Federer in 2022, it was down to the last two members of the ‘Big 3’ to uphold their legacy further. But looking at the grand scheme of things, it has been anything but that. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have had disappointments in the past two years, especially the Spainard, who has been battling through injuries to participate in major tournaments, just to get sidelined again after suffering a streak of prolonged injuries. As for the Serbian, he has also faced a few minor injuries here and there, but has been able to stay consistently at the top of the ATP rankings. But this year, apart from his historic gold medal win in the Paris Olympics, the 37-year-old has had tough luck in several tournaments, including the four Grand Slams. They were shared by newcomers Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner this season, making it the first time since 2002 that no member of the ‘Big 3’ has been able to clinch a single Grand Slam title. Marco Panichi believes Rafael Nadal’s performances have been hindered by injuries, while Novak Djokovic lacks the motivation to push forward In a recent interview with Tennis Italiano, the Serbian’s former trainer revealed what he thinks is happening recently with possibly the two greatest players in the sport’s history. “Rafael Nadal has a physical problem, he can’t train consistently. He’s a machine that has traveled many kilometers. Novak Djokovic is healthy, but his motivation is low. If we could unite them, we would still have a super champion.” said Panichi. Obviously the two veterans are now at the final stages of their careers, as retirement looms sooner rather than later. But Djokovic and Nadal, who believe are each other’s greatest rivals, cannot be underestimated due to the performances they have displayed for well over a decade. Panichi was not wrong with his statement as uniting the skillsets of both veterans can possibly make a formidable rival to any of the current world’s best players. The Serbian’s former trainer also commended his mentality, and revealed how he keeps himself at the top of his game even at this age, while also saying he loses the hunger in his game if a certain aspect is missing out. “In every detail Novak Djokovic wants to constantly stay one step ahead of the others. In the type of preparation, in the search for machines and techniques that can allow him to prepare and recover faster, in the care of nutrition. Off the field he is a wonderful, intelligent, funny guy. On the field the Slavic warrior in him comes out, and he needs it to “feed”. If that aspect is missing, he gets a little lost,” the Italian coach added. Tennis fans may not get to see the duo play much that often nowadays, which eventually makes their return even more special. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have a combined 46 Grand Slam titles in total, as they have cemented themselves in the greatest of all time category. Also Read: “He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

Jannik Sinner
Tennis

“He is the most relaxed person I’ve ever seen beside of Roger before a Slam final” : Andy Roddick compares Jannik Sinner to Roger Federer after US Open final

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“He is the most relaxed person I’ve ever seen beside of Roger before a Slam final” : Andy Roddick compares Jannik Sinner to Roger Federer after US Open final Amidst facing criticism due to his recent doping controversy, Jannik Sinner showed the world why he is the top ranked player in tennis as he dominated his way to win the US Open. He also added another hard-court Grand Slam title to his collection this year. Amongst the array of celebrities present in the Flushing Meadows, former 2003 winner Andy Roddick also showed up in the latter stages of the tournament. The American had not met the Italian yet, and was vividly surprised to see his performance in the knockout stages. Before seeing the youngster comfortably win the final in straight sets against Taylor Fritz, Roddick had gotten the chance to meet the Italian and his team, and was left impressed by his mentality and composure pre-match, so much so that he compared Sinner to one of the members of the ‘Big 3’. “He plays and is not very stressed” : Andy Roddick analyses Jannik Sinner’s attitude which has led him to the top Speaking on his podcast ‘Served with Andy Roddick’, the American revealed how he had never seen a player more calm than the Italian was before a major final, apart from his friend and rival Roger Federer. “I had never met Jannik Sinner before in my life. I don’t know a lot of the players because I’m not at all the tournaments. I said hello quickly and then got out of the way because my biggest fear ever is being in someone’s way when they’re getting ready for a match or something,” said Roddick. “But he is the most relaxed person I’ve ever seen beside of Roger before a Slam final. It feels like he has this very quiet confidence about the way that he goes about things. Even his celebrations aren’t for anyone else, it’s like this relief like okay and you feel like he was ready to start again like an hour after the US Open, which is a problem for the rest of the earth,” the 42-year-old added. Andy Roddick also talked about the Italian’s post-match attitude just after winning the US Open, and analysed how this mindset separates him from other players who have way more experience under their belt. “After the match Jannik was talking about his shots and how he wanted to get back to work right away to improve, all this just an hour after the US Open and it’s really intimidating. He plays and is not very stressed.”  After an eventful summer, winning both the US and Cincinnati Open, all while facing heavy criticism for his doping allegations, Jannik Sinner is off to a well-deserved break. He will feature in the final ATP tournaments of the season, where he hopes to increase his lead as the world no.1 ranked player. Also Read: “He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

Tennis

“That feeling of getting it done with your friends on the team, the energy is amazing” : Taylor Fritz on his motivation to participate in the Laver Cup with teammates who are otherwise rivals

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“That feeling of getting it done with your friends on the team, the energy is amazing” : Taylor Fritz on his motivation to participate in the Laver Cup with teammates who are otherwise rivals The main part of this year’s tennis season is over, with the prestigious four Grand Slam tournaments concluded. But there a few more tournaments left till the end of the year, and the Laver Cup is one of the most watched ones. Envisioned by Roger Federer, it brings out a new and different team format compared to the rest of the tournaments, and fans are able to watch all their favorrite players in action at the same time. This year’s Laver Cup is being held in Berlin, and starts from September 20.  World no.7 Taylor Fritz will be making his fourth appearance in the Laver Cup. The American has had a wonderful year till now, climbing into the top 10 ATP rankings, after getting runners-up in the US Open, winning bronze in the men’s doubles at the Olympics, and also winning the Delray Beach Open and Eastbourne International. But despite all these huge accolades, the 26-year-old has revealed that he seems to be enjoying participating in the Laver Cup much more than other tournaments, due to him not competing individually, and that he gets to be in a team which consists of all of his friends. “Getting the chance to celebrate with the team is always my favorite” : Taylor Fritz The Laver Cup can be termed as a ‘friendly’ in other sports terms, due to its exciting yet competitive nature where the best players in the world come together as ‘Team Europe’ and ‘Team World’. Due to these factors, it also puts less pressure on the players individually. Taylor Fritz recently cited out some interesting statements as to why he personally loves participating in the tournament. “Laver Cup is one of the most fun weeks of the year, being in this team environment, playing for Team World, being on the team with all my friends, just having that team energy competing and trying to win something together — that’s something we normally don’t do in tennis,” said the American in a recent interview (via lavercup.com). “Getting the chance to celebrate with the team is always my favorite, it’s something that you don’t get to do in tennis because it’s individual, you’re only celebrating with your team, you’re not celebrating with the other players so that’s something that’s always so fun for me. I have more fun when I’m around all the guys and we’re hanging out and we’re all rooting for each other. We all want the same thing, you know?” the US Open runner-up added. Apart from having fun in the tournament, Fritz also said that the team knows its main objective – to win the Laver Cup. “We all really care about it, I think both teams always want to win, it’s been such a prestigious event. That feeling of getting it done with your friends on the team, the energy is amazing,” said the 26-year-old. Taylor Fritz will team-up with Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Francisco Cerundolo, and Alejandro Tabilo as they go up against the best in Europe led by Carlos Alcaraz this coming weekend. Also Read: “He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

Jannik Sinner
Tennis

“He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

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“He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case The world no.1 has been on the end of countless criticism for a few months now, in regards to him testing positive on certain doping tests. While Jannik Sinner eliminated the noises around him and won the US Open, his second Grand Slam title, he is not out of the woods yet as many renowned tennis players past and present, have reflected their take on this matter. Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov, Simona Halep amongst other have criticised the decision made by ITIA, as they believe the Italian was given ‘special treatment’ due to his rank and stature as he is one of the frontrunners for leading the next generation of tennis, and that more serious measures should have been taken. “Ridiculous—whether it was accidental or planned, you get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah, nice,” Kyrgios recently stated. Meanwhile, world no.9 Casper Ruud has a completely different opinion than the Australian tennis star, and gave Sinner the benefit of doubt. The Norwegian did feel initially that there could have been some bias due to the Italian’s rank, but after getting caught on the rules and protocols he came to a different conclusion. He also felt not all athletes could have come up with an explanation in a span of just two weeks. “If you have read the documents and understand the process in this type of case, then you understand that there is no discrimination here. What Sinner has done well, to defend himself, is that he managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive. He understood quite quickly where it came from,” said the 25-year-old. What do the ‘Big 3’ think about this peculiar case surrounding Jannik Sinner? As far as tennis news is concerned, nothing makes headlines faster than when the ‘Big 3’ are involved. While Rafael Nadal believed in Jannik Sinner and had no doubt in his intentions, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic raised a few questions on the inconsistency of these protocols which lead to players getting frustrated. “I have an advantage or a flaw, which is to believe in the good faith of people. I know Sinner and I don’t think he wanted to do drugs,” The Spaniard trusts the verdict of the judge in this case and believes that if Sinner was indeed guilty, he would already have been facing the consequences (via El Horminguero). “I understand the frustration of, ‘Has he been treated the same as others?’ And I think this is where it comes down to. I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 percent sure what was going on, I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered,” Roger Federer did not blame the Italian at fault, and instead questioned the whole system. “We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols…It is very difficult to speak about it. He tested positive but there have been some reasons that we don’t know that allowed him to play.” the 37-year-old was also confused about the unclear protocols which led Jannik Sinner to not receive any penalty. While the Italian’s US Open victory has certainly helped this matter to go under the radar, there will always be a sort of ‘sour taste’ involved whenever he thinks about this time in the future, due to his reputation being harmed in the process as well. Also Read : “To be able to do it against the greatest of all time is unbelievable” : Alexei Popyrin expresses his shock over victory against Novak Djokovic

Tennis

“If you look at Roger, Rafa, and Novak, have you seen them cramp once in a match?” : Patrick Mouratoglou reveals the worrying problems of Carlos Alcaraz’s busy schedule

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“If you look at Roger, Rafa, and Novak, have you seen them cramp once in a match?” : Patrick Mouratoglou reveals the worrying problems of Carlos Alcaraz’s busy schedule In the past two decades, the ‘Big 3’ of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, have won over 150 titles combined. Their longevity, work ethic and determination are widely talked about, but people often miss out on one of the most important aspects which made them compete at the top for so long – their fitness. Carlos Alcaraz is firmly on the line of becoming the next great in tennis, but he has recently been hit back by a rather dreadful thought. The Spainard has had one of his best years, winning the Wimbledon and French Open. But after losing the Olympic gold medal to Novak Djokovic, the 21-year-old has been on a dry spell with early eliminations in tournaments. Although, nobody really knew before the actual reason of Carlos Alcaraz’s poor performances late in the year, some fans on social media believed the Spainard lost his confidence after a close defeat to the Serbian in the Olympics final. This belief was solidified after hearing his words after his surprise second round exit in the Flushing Meadows. “Right now, I feel like I’ve taken steps backwards mentally and I don’t understand why. I’ve had a spectacular summer at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. I left those tournaments saying that I’d taken a step forward mentally. I’d realised that to win big things, to win Grand Slam titles, you have to be mentally strong,” said the 21-year-old. “Now I’ve reached this swing and I’ve taken steps backwards, like I’m not doing well mentally, I’m not strong. I don’t know how to control myself when faced with problems and I don’t know how to handle it.” Alcaraz added. After hearing the Spainard’s comments, it is obvious that he is feeling mentally drained out. Recently, French tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou took to social media and explained exactly why this is happening to the 21-year-old. “That is exactly the consequence of someone who is emotionally drained” : Patrick Mouratoglou on Carlos Alcaraz’s recent struggles Patrick Mouratoglou believes the Spainard’s busy schedule with little to no rest has taken an effect on him, hindering his performances. The Frenchman also said that he was ‘not surprised’ to see this outcome, knowing fully well the toll the body takes after playing high-pressure tournaments constantly. “I wouldn’t think he would lose in three sets like this but for me, it’s half a surprise. Two Grand Slams in a row, now he can rest. No. The Olympic Games now. Plus, all the other tournaments. He was exhausted, mentally exhausted. I am not surprised that he is saying that he had so many thoughts and so many emotions that he couldn’t deal with. That is exactly the consequence of someone who is emotionally drained,” said Mouratoglou (via social media). “If you are not fresh here [in the mind], it is more and more difficult to do it.” the 54-year-old added. The Frenchman also compared Carlos Alcaraz to the ‘Big 3’, suggesting that the Spainard does not have the emotional maturity of their level yet, and that he and his team need to take things slowly and let him recover, especially mentally. “He’s very, very emotional. We’ve seen him cramp many times already. If you look at Roger, Rafa, and Novak, have you seen them cramp once in a match? All their careers? He cramped many times already, only at 20. He’s an emotional player. So, I think that knowing that, in the future, they will have to think of a calendar where he has enough rest – mental rest, not physical rest. Mental rest. I think it is very important for his future,” the Frenchman suggested. Luckily, Carlos Alcaraz is only 21 and has a long way ahead in his career. But in order for no major issues in the long term, the Spainard needs to operate carefully – both physically and mentally. Also Read : “To be able to do it against the greatest of all time is unbelievable” : Alexei Popyrin expresses his shock over victory against Novak Djokovic

Tennis

“Now we’re like friends” : Nick Kyrgios reflects on his unexpected change in his relationship with Novak Djokovic

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“Now we’re like friends” : Nick Kyrgios reflects on his unexpected change in his relationship with Novak Djokovic Over the years, Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic have had a complex relationship, containing mixed feelings of respect and admiration but also more than a few moments when their rivalry got seriously intense, which caused friction in their relationship. Many examples come to mind, but the most prominent one would probably be their public spats during the time of lockdown, which attracted a lot of media attention as well. In 2020, Djokovic was partially responsible for several fans and players testing positive for the then ongoing COVID-19, due to an event he organized, which led the 29-year-old speak some harsh words about the Serbian. Tensions between the duo came at an all-time high when the 24-time Grand Slam champion wanted to ease out the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions ahead of the 2021 Australian Open, and sent a written letter to tournament director Craig Tiley, but the Australian was fully against this idea and reacted in a highly unpleasant matter. But recently, the Australian admitted that him and the Serbian are now much closer than before, and that the things which happened in the past is water under the bridge. “We text each other, we send ridiculous memes and all this stuff on Instagram” : Nick Kyrgios The duo’s relationship turned over a new leaf in 2022, when Djokovic unfortunately got deported during the Australian Open vaccination event, and the 29-year-old came in full support for the Serbian. It has been smooth sailing from then on for the two, and the Australian recently addressed this on a recent episode on the ‘Tennis Insider Club’ podcast. “The fact that I played a Slam final with Novak at Wimbledon is crazy, because we’re so different that now we’re like friends and it’s amazing and I get to hit with him and help him, it’s pretty cool.” said Kyrgios. “Yeah, it’s crazy. I never thought that I’d be really good friends with Novak Djokovic at all, and it’s not just on the courts. It’s like, we text each other, we send ridiculous memes and all this stuff on Instagram.” the Australian added. The duo also shared a feel-good moment in the recently concluded 2024 US Open, which showcased how far their relationship has come about. After his win over the retired Laslo Djere, the 37-year-old had a light-hearted interview on-court with Kyrgios, where he mocked the high standards of the Australian, amongst other jokes.  Also Read : “To be able to do it against the greatest of all time is unbelievable” : Alexei Popyrin expresses his shock over victory against Novak Djokovic

Tennis

“I don’t think Federer, Nadal or Djokovic ever thought they’d lose to me” : Nick Kyrgios reflects on becoming a professional tennis player

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“I don’t think Federer, Nadal or Djokovic ever thought they’d lose to me” : Nick Kyrgios reflects on becoming a professional tennis player Nick Kyrgios is often seen as one of the most talented yet puzzled professional in the world of tennis. The Australian’s tennis career is widely viewed as a ‘what could have been’ as fans believed he had the potential to be amongst the best in the world. The 29-year-old recently reflected on his past and his career, where he provided an outlook of his journey and personal life in a recent appearance on the podcast ‘Tennis Insider Club’. This podcast usually shows a different side of the players, and revolves more around revealing their true personality. The Australian’s first love was basketball, but his parents made focus more towards tennis. Kyrgios eventually became world no.1 in junior tennis and also won the 2013 boys’ Australian Open, but surprisingly confessed that he did not envision himself as a professional tennis player. His big break and then meteoric rise came at just the age of 19, where he shockingly defeated one of the ‘Big 3’ of tennis in Rafael Nadal. “I never thought I was going to become a pro. I was playing from seven and then I got to about 15 and I was, you know, going up the ranks, obviously playing a lot of junior events and then won a couple of junior doubles Grand Slams. And then I was the No. 1 junior in the world. But I never thought I would still be as good as Federer at the time. Nadal,” said Kyrgios. “And then I won a Challenger at 17, I think and then I saw the list of people that had done that and it was like Raonic, Federer, Dimitrov. I just laughed, I was like there’s no way that Nick Kyrgios is going to be at that level. And then a year later it was, I was there, it just happened straight away,” the 29-year-old added. Nick Kyrgios on being unprofessional at the start of his career To play against the ‘Big 3’ is in itself a privilege, but to be able to beat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic is no small feat, and only a small percentage of professional tennis players can say that. Nick Kyrgios is one of them, although he believes that none of them would have thought that they will lose to him, due to his ‘unprofessionalism’. “I don’t think Federer, Nadal or Djokovic ever thought they’d lose to me. I think they look back and they’re like, ‘How the hell did we manage to lose to him?’  I guess I think about how unprofessional I was at that time. I didn’t give my full self to the game. I wasn’t training all the time and it just happened really early in my career.” the 29-year-old said in a conversation with Naomi Osaka on the ‘Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios’ podcast. The Australian’s professional career has been tainted by acts of unprofessionalism, and controversies both on and off court. Kyrgios has been a part of major disputes with umpires, code violations, allegations of tanking matches, and also verbal spats with players like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, attracting headlines in the media. Nick Kyrgios believes this unprofessionalism also did not allow him to train properly and focus fully on his game, although admits it happened very early in his career. Also Read : “To be able to do it against the greatest of all time is unbelievable” : Alexei Popyrin expresses his shock over victory against Novak Djokovic

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