Novak Djokovic, a men’s tennis player with the most Grand Slam titles (24), relegated to 7th place in the world ranking after a disappointing season, announced this Saturday the hiring of former player Andy Murray as his new coach.
“I’m delighted to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net as me, this time as a coach. I’m looking forward to starting the season with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared some exceptional moments together.” throughout our careers,” the Serbian declared in a statement.
In a video, with voice-over and a succession of images of the two together, Djokovic later joked that Murray “never liked retirement.”
“We have played against each other since we were children. There have been 25 years of rivalry, of pushing each other’s limits. We have had battles that are among the most epic in our sport. They called us revolutionaries, daredevils, they told us what we were doing. history. I thought our common story was over, but there is finally a last chapter. It is time for one of my toughest opponents to join my coaching staff. Welcome, coach Andy Murray,” says the tennis player from Belgrade.
The collaboration between Djokovic and Murray, both 37 years old and with a total of 27 ‘Bigs’ with the name of one of the two – three for the Scot, who made a place for himself in the domain of the Big3 completed by Nadal and Federer – , will focus on its first phase in preparation for the Australian Open (January 12-26), where ‘Djoko’ will try to win for the eleventh time.
This would allow him to raise his record of Grand Slam titles to 25. With this she would surpass the Australian Margaret Court in the absolute first place in number of ‘greats’.
– A new era –
With Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray retired, Djokovic is the only superstar from the previous generation who will still be active in 2025.
The year 2024 has clearly marked a generational change, with the retirement of Nadal, the disappointing results of Djokovic and with Jannik Sinner (23 years old) taking control of tennis.
Sinner, world number 1, this season has won the Australian and United States Open, the ATP Masters, three Masters 1000 and on Sunday he will play in the Davis Cup final. Only the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (21 years old), champion at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, overshadowed him.
“I really want to be on the same side of the net for once” as Djokovic, reacted, for his part, Murray, who lost four finals in Melbourne against his new pupil.
The Scot, whose last years of his career were hampered by injuries, was unable to recover his best level, which had taken him to first place in the world and to winning Olympic gold (2012, 2016), in addition to the US Open titles. 2012 and Wimbledon 2013 and 2016.
Murray hung up his racket for good in August.
In the 36 matches they had during their career, Djokovic won 25 and Murray 11. Seven of them were in the finals of Grand Slam tournaments, with a 5-2 record for the Serbian.
AFP.
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Italy, the fashionable country on the tennis planet, will defend the Davis Cup on Sunday against the Netherlands after Jannik Sinner achieved the second point against Australia in the semifinals by beating Alex De Miñaur (6-3 and 6-4), this Saturday at the Martín Carpena Sports Palace in Malaga.
The Italians, who are seeking their third Silver Salad after those won in 1976 and 2023, had achieved their first thanks to Matteo Berrettini (35th ATP), who came back against Thanasi Kokkinakis (77th); 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 and 7-5 in two hours and 43 minutes.
The second round had less suspense with Sinner, world number 1, irresistible, signing his third victory in Malaga after giving his team two points in the quarterfinals against Argentina: he won the singles match against Sebastián Báez and the doubles match with Berrettini .
“We are happy to be back, it will be a tough duel but we will give 100%. Today I had one of the best feelings since last year’s victory in the Davis Cup,” Sinner told the crowd, with an Italian majority among the 10,000 spectators present at the event. Martin Carpena.
– Nine wins in nine games –
In the best year of his career, Sinner has allowed himself to accelerate in the final stretch: He has 29 victories in the last 30 games since losing in the Montreal quarterfinals to Andrey Rublev on August 11. The only one who beat him in this section was Carlos Alcaraz, on October 2 in the final in Beijing.
Against one of his favorite enemies -nine wins in nine games and only one set lost-, the number 1 accelerated from the beginning but De Minaur (9th ATP) had come out ready to break his disastrous streak and returned the first break.
Having endured the first blow, he received the second without having had a break: a rush that put Sinner at 4-2, then 6-3 in 40 minutes.
In each rally, the redhead proposed an endless round of powerful and precise lashes, torture for De Minaur despite his spectacular mobility, unable to harm him beyond returning the perfect storm as he could.
In the second round the panorama did not change much although De Minaur, braver and more successful, delayed his defeat while the public chanted his name, harboring hopes of extending the show.
Sinner waited this time for 4-4 to achieve his break and confirm the victory in one hour and 28 minutes. Frustrated, De Minaur slammed his racket against the floor.
– Berrettini, the remontada –
At the start of the day Kokkinakis, undefeated this year in Davis, faced Berrettini, managing to win the first set in the tie break.
But the Italian, a ‘Top-10’ who has been declining in recent years due to injuries, was taking the measure of the match and was accurate in the second set to achieve a decisive break – the only one of the set.
In the third he repeated the maneuver. With 5-5 he broke a Kokkinakis who had long since stopped hurting the great Italian -1.96 meters and 95 kg-.
With a direct serve, on his first match point, the 35th player in the world certified the victory: “I lost the first set, I should have won it. I put my heart on the court today, I think I played very well, I improved things in my game and “In the second set I saw his energy go down. I stayed positive.”
“He served incredible, I regret a game in the second set in which I lost my concentration a little. He didn’t give me any options with his serve,” Kokkinakis summarized.
AFP.
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Paraguay becomes the venue for the South American AGEGROUP and JUNIOR men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics competitions that will take place from November 25 to 30.
This is an international event that will host more than 250 athletes from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Uruguay, Venezuela and Paraguay, plus 40 international and 10 national judges.
The competition will take place in the Gymnastics Pavilion of the National Sports Secretariat, with top-level infrastructure and equipment, over four intense days.
The Paraguayan delegation FIG 1 is composed of Nuar Sosa, Keila Lucero, Paula Warkentin and Julieta Chiola. FIG 2: Abigail Barros and Fernanda Stadecker. Coaches: Jose Pulido and Rossana Melgarejo. Delegate: Adriana Urbieta and sub delegate Ana Fernandez.
The following authorities participated in the presentation ceremony: César Palacios, member of the Board of Directors of the Paraguayan Gymnastics Federation, Mario González, Head of the Department of Federations of the National Sports Secretariat, both accompanied by Adriana Urbieta, delegate of the Team Paraguay.
Pre-sale tickets are now available from the TÜTI website (www.tuti.com.py), access to the sports days will have a daily cost of 20,000 guaraníes. Those interested will be able to access their tickets digitally or at the box office from November 25.
