Category: Tennis

Todd Woodbridge Berates Djokovic’s Players Association for Lack of Inclusivity

Tennis ace Novak Djokovic has carried on with his plans to form a breakaway group from the Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP, which has been the governing body for the sports since over 6 decades. 

Titled as the Professional Tennis Players Association or PTPA, the association will represent male players as announced in an email. While tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have criticized the association for disrupting unity between players, former world’s doubles number one Todd Woodbridge has berated the association for not including women players and for completely missing the mark. 

It’s just poor judgment at this time,” insisted Australian doubles great Woodbridge in a recent interview.

“Everybody’s losing jobs, millions are out of work, tournaments are struggling to stay up and afloat, and the tour’s been trying for the last six months to get back.

But there’s the biggest downfall of all and that’s … where are the women? If you’re going to do this, tennis is the one sport that’s united in the world with equal prize money. Our majors are played together.

This is tone deaf by the group that has decided to break away. The ATP is the players’ representation.

They’ve got their seat at the table; they want more, they want more control of that.

This is the first week back and they throw this sort of bomb out there? I’m pretty disappointed with the way that they’ve gone with that timing.”

World number two Rafael Nadal also tweeted his concerns and called it a “difficult and complicated” time for the world.

“I personally believe these are times to be calm and all work together in the same direction,” said the Spaniard.

“It is time for unity, not for separation. These are moments where big things can be achieved as long as the world of tennis is united.

Players, tournaments and governing bodies have to work together. We have a bigger problem and separation and disunion is definitely not the solution.”

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWZ94jRemmU

Djokovic Accused of Making Up Fake Injury in Australian Open

Siberian Tennis star Novak Djokovic was recently accused of making up an injury in the just concluded Australian Open. 

Speaking after his victory, a candid Djokovic was happy to shut down skeptics who accused him of telling porkies.

“It was a bit unfair at times but it’s neither the first nor the last time,” he said in his post-match press conference.

Earlier, Djokovic added: “I got injured in the third round. It was rollercoaster ride if I can define it in one word. I think it makes even sweeter for me.”

“I wanted to keep things quiet and clear for me in terms of talking about the injury or any other stuff. Just keeping it to tennis.”

“It’s a muscle tear. It was a muscle tear at that point. I don’t think I’ve experienced that kind of a snap that I had in the third round. I went to an MRI. The MRI has shown a tear. People questioned that. I understand they question my injury, question whether there is a tear. There is. I can get the doctors to confirm that.”

“For me it was a huge obstacle and challenge. I haven’t practiced in the days between the matches.

Out of 14 waking hours, Djokovic is believed to have spent 10 hours on the doctor’s table and doing everything he possibly could.

“I owe great gratitude to my doctor putting in a lot of hours and knowledge and know how. I guess we’re all different. I have maybe a great ability to heal. I don’t know,” added Djokovic. 

“I just managed somehow with pills and painkillers and stuff.”

“It’s not healed up. I’m going to go and do another MRI tomorrow before I travel back. But I am definitely going to take some time off. I don’t know how long it will take.”

The Siberian won his 18th Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open and is third only to Federer and Nadal in the all time list. 

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGhuJI-CHew

Margaret Court Not Sent Invitation for the Australian Open This Year

Controversial tennis great Margaret Court has not been invited to this year’s Australian Open. The 78 year old prodigy, who is still in line for her Order of Australia was left stumped at this decision.

Debates raged online after it became public that Margaret Court will soon receive the Companion to the Order of Australia, which is the highest civilian honor in the country. Court was already made an Officer to the Order of Australia back in 2007. 

The 78-year-old has had unquestionable feats on the tennis court, with over 24 grand slam titles, which still stands as the benchmark for singles titles. However, her views on the LGBTQ community and on same-sex marriages have made Court really unpopular with the masses and drew a lot of angry criticism toward herself. Recent news of Court receiving the Order of Australia award has further stoked the fire. 

“No, because I loved representing my nation,” Court told 3AW on Tuesday. “When I got the AO it was for my community reach program. We put out 75 tons of food a week. And this was for my tennis, and I think it was a long-time coming.”

“I wasn’t one who looked for it. I didn’t know I was getting it. I was very honored when I was told I was. There wasn’t a lot of fuss about it, but there has been a lot of other people who have made a lot of fuss about it.”

Court added further that she wouldn’t come to the Australian Open, even if she was invited. “I’m not coming to the Australian Open. No, I wasn’t invited,” Court said. “With coronavirus, we’ve been so busy with our community work. I haven’t even thought about it.”

While Court reiterated her view point that being gay is a curable choice, she further went on to say that a lot of what she said was misconstrued by trolls online. She also talked about the constant bullying and trolling she’s gone through during the last few years. 

“I’ve always said what the Bible says,” she said. “I don’t hate anybody. I love people, and I love gay people and transgender people, and we get them into our community services. We never turn anybody away.”

“A lot of things were said which I never really said, which I think was the sad part.”

“I’ve been bullied a lot in the last few years, and I don’t mind. That’s alright. But if I say anything, then [they say] I’m a bigot and I’m everything else, and I don’t like that,” Court concluded. 

As controversial as her opinions might be, they take nothing away from the stellar career that Margaret Court has enjoyed on the tennis court. Her laurels still stand out in individual tennis and make her a stalwart of the game. This justified the decision to give Court the Companion to the Order of Australia, which is the highest civilian honor in the country. 

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJvkseYK3s

Novak Djokovic Snubs ATP Player Council Elections in Controversial Manner

Tennis ace Novaj Djokovic has recently decided to withdraw himself from the ATP council elections after forming the controversial PTPA in August last year. The formation of PTPA drew the ire of other players including Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. All of these players are currently part of the ATP player council. 

“I’ve been nominated by my fellow players, I did not proactively run for council,” Djokovic told reporters after a defeat to Danill Medvedev at the ATP Finals.

“I was saying before and I’m going to say it again: We want to collaborate with ATP, and we want to be able to potentially have a place in the ecosystem, because this is what players deserve,” he added.

“Now, with this rule that has been voted on last night, that actually is a strong message from ATP that they don’t want PTPA at all in the system. So it’s very clear.”

“We are just trying to fight for a better position and better treatment out there in the ecosystem, and that’s all there is. It’s unfortunate really to see that the ATP’s position is such, but OK, now we know where we stand.”

Djokovic went on to clarify his stance in a series of tweets. The current number one made his decision clear and cleared away any doubts surrounding it. 

The tweets read, “As you know, I am part of the PTPA, an organization that was recently created with no intention of being in conflict with the ATP.” 

“The PTPA has yet to be structured with the strategy and long term vision yet to be clearly defined, and although the PTPA has made it clear it does not intend to be combative, it is unclear how the ATP will view the association in the future.”

‘Unfortunately, given these latest developments I feel it is now necessary to remove myself from the list of candidates. I do not wish to create conflict or uncertainty around the player elections or create any issues that may arise. I do this reluctantly and with a heavy heart.” 

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWZ94jRemmU

Nick Kyrgios Opens Up About Dark Battle With Depression

Nick Kyrgios, one of tennis’s most temperamental and aggressive stars, has been part of numerous controversies in the past few years. He has also been criticized for his antics on court and has many acts of misdemeanor to his name. 

Nick Kyrgios, who comes from Australia, has opened up about his battle with depression and has admitted to being in a dark and lonely place during his recent battles as he went through the relentless grind and pressure of tennis tours. 

Kyrgios has been part of a number of temperamental and aggressive reactions on courts. These reactions include expletive meltdowns, explosive racquet smashing on the court and other arguments with on-field personnel and the crowd. The ATP even put Kyrgios on probation and asked him to seek professional help for his issues. 

“I don’t think people understand how lonely tennis can be,” Kyrgios told Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph magazine.

“You’re out there on the court on your own. You can’t really talk to anyone. You have to figure things out for yourself. I did struggle with that.”

Kyrgios says he always remembers himself as an emotional individual, and does not like spending long periods away from his family home in Canberra. He also mentioned there were times when he was seriously and clinically depressed. 

“I remember waking up in Shanghai one year and it was 4pm and I was still in bed, curtains closed. I didn’t want to see the light of day,” he said.

“I felt like no one wanted to know me as a person, they just wanted to get a hold of me as a tennis player and use me. I didn’t feel like I could trust anyone. It was a lonely, dark place. And things came from that.”

“A lot of people were putting pressure on me, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I just lost joy for the game and I was spiraling out of control,” he added.

“I fell into depression because of the things I thought I had to be.”

The 25-year-old has done some damage control on his falling reputation by assisting fundraising efforts for deadly bushfires in Australia last summer and also adding a voice of reason during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Nothing beats playing in some of the best parts of the world against tough opponents and doing all the work off the court to have success. I’m definitely missing it. But I don’t live and breathe tennis,” he said.

“I love being at home with my family and my girlfriend, and working with my foundation (for underprivileged children) and helping the community. There are plenty of other things I love doing,” he concluded. 

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT-SmkidD4E