Established 1961 25 Sports Monday, January 14, 2019 Seventh heaven beckons for Federer, Djokovic at Open as Murray bows out

Djokovic to open his assault on seventh crown against American Krueger tomorrow

MELBOURNE: Roger Federer and And Djokovic said yesterday he was delighted to be are both gunning for a record seventh back in Melbourne where his rise to greatness all began crown from today, but Andy Murray will make his last in 2008 with his first win. “It was my first appearance in Melbourne as the era of the “Big Four” major trophy, that obviously served as a great spring- draws to a close. board for my career,” Djokovic said as he prepared to Number one Djokovic and third seed Federer face a open his assault on a seventh crown against American stern challenge from the likes of youthful force Mitchell Krueger tomorrow. Alexander Zverev, seeded four, who is still looking for a “It opened a lot of doors for me. It allowed me to first major to cement his place as torch-bearer for the believe in myself that I can actually win the biggest next generation. tournaments in the world, challenge the best players in But Murray dropped a pre-Grand Slam bombshell, the world.” breaking down during a tear-filled press conference as he revealed chronic hip pain means he will retire after NADAL ‘FEELS GOOD’ Wimbledon-if he can carry on that long. Federer, now 37, remains the chief threat to the Serb And question marks remain over the fitness of world and he sounded a warning yesterday. “I’m playing good number two Rafael Nadal who pulled out of his . I’m confident that I think it needs a good per- Brisbane warm-up but arrived in Melbourne profess- formance by my opponent probably to beat me,” said ing he was “fully fit” and promising to unleash a the Swiss master, who warmed for Melbourne with vic- remodelled serve. tory in Perth’s Hopman Cup. It all means the era of the “Big Four” is almost over Second-ranked Nadal, 32, pulled out of Brisbane after a season in which Federer-who opens his title with a thigh strain although he returned for an exhibi- defence against Denis Istomin today-rolled back the tion in Sydney and insisted at the weekend his fitness years on Rod Laver Arena to lift an emotional 20th woes were behind him. “I feel good. If I am not feeling Grand Slam. good, I will not be here,” he said before revealing he It put him on a par with other six-time Australian had remodelled his serve. Open winners Djokovic and Roy Emerson-although the “There are always things to improve,” said the Australian great’s victories all came before the Open Spaniard, who faces Australian wildcard James era. By contrast, the 31-year-old Djokovic endured a Duckworth today. Djokovic picked young guns Zverev MELBOURNE: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis miserable early Melbourne exit in 2018, followed by of Germany, Borna Coric of Croatia, Karen Khachanov tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP elbow surgery and a string of disappointing results that of Russia and Greece’s Stefano Tsitsipas as key threats saw him drop outside the top 20. to the top three. But since winning a fourth Wimbledon in July the “It’s just a matter of time when we will see some of He has never got beyond the third round in and 27th seed Alex de Minaur, who faces Portugal’s Serb rose inexorably back to number one by losing only them competing in the last stages of Grand Slams,” said Melbourne and faces Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene in his Pedro Sousa today, and the temperamental Nick three further matches-one of which was to Zverev at Djokovic. Zverev, 21, starts the Australian Open full of opener tomorrow. Last year, seeded four, he crashed Kyrgios. Kyrgios has a tough opening match against the ATP Finals. Djokovic won his third US Open in confidence after an impressive warm-up to reach the out in the last 32 to South Korea’s Chung Hyeon and former world number three Milos Raonic and then a September to put him on 14 Grand Slams-three behind final of Perth’s mixed teams Hopman Cup, despite his has only reached one quarter-final in 14 major appear- possible clash with former Australian Open champion Nadal and six behind Federer. terrible record at Grand Slams. ances. Home fans will look to new Sydney champion Stan Wawrinka in round two. — AFP

ed third at this year’s tournament, said she was carefully Wozniacki upbeat managing her arthritis, a condition which sometimes leaves her so exhausted she can barely move her arms. “For me, it’s just all the time making sure I get good ahead of Aussie massaging, good treatments, ice baths, stretching, do everything even more thoroughly than maybe in the Djokovic insists Open defence past,” she said. She added that she had not changed her playing style and had learned to recognise symptoms of no decision MELBOURNE: An upbeat Caroline Wozniacki said she arthritis to avoid flare-ups. “I think especially as an ath- was relishing returning to the Australian Open as defend- lete, you’re even more aware of it. You know your body ing champion yesterday and dismissed concerns health even better,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to put into words, on ousting problems were affecting her game. but I can definitely tell the difference whether it’s just The Dane achieved a career milestone at Melbourne soreness from training or soreness from that (arthritis).” Park to claim her maiden Grand Slam last year, but also She said the pre-season routine was unchanged, aside ATP Tour chief revealed she was suffering the debilitating auto-immune from some extra gym work to keep in shape before train- MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic insisted yester- condition rheumatoid arthritis. ing began in earnest. After such a rollercoaster 2018, day no decision had been taken about ousting ATP Wozniacki, 28, insisted there was no extra pressure Wozniacki said she needed “to leave the racquet behind Tour chief Chris Kermode after reports of a player returning Down Under as the title holder, saying she was for a while” during the off-season, recharging her batter- revolt against the way the sport was being run. treating her upcoming campaign as “a nice, fun chal- ies in the Maldives and the Virgin Islands. Britain’s Daily Telegraph said a move was under- lenge”. “I felt comfortable straightaway when I hit balls The avid Liverpool fan also visited the less sunny way to topple the Briton, citing a strongly worded on that court. It was just a good feeling,” she said of her climes of Anfield to see her beloved team in action, MELBOURNE: Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki hits a shot email sent by ATP player council member Vasek return to Rod Laver Arena, the scene of last year’s three indulging in the local fare after cheering Jurgen Klopp’s Pospisil to players ranked between 50 and 100. set triumph over world number one Simona Halep. men on to victory. “They have great burgers right out- during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP It reportedly called for the workforce to “start “Then, you see your photos all over the place, which is side. There’s a huge line outside one of them... they had acting and running like a business not like a bunch cool. So it’s definitely great to be back.” Wozniacki, seed- fries, all sorts of stuff,” she said. — AFP of scared kids ... we need a CEO that first and fore- most represents OUR interests”. The email added that “the governance structure of the ATP favours the interests of the tournaments and its (their) Court says nerves could jinx owners ... It’s time for a change and it can be achieved by staying unified and demanding what Serena’s record Slam bid we deserve for our hard work”. The newspaper said the ATP board-comprised MELBOURNE: Australian great French Opens, three Wimbledons and five of three tournament representatives and three Margaret Court has predicted nerves US Opens. player representatives-would vote on a possible could undermine Serena Williams’ bid to However, 13 of Court’s titles came renewal of Kermode’s contract this month. He match her record 24 singles majors at before 1968, when the women’s game needs two of the three board members from each Melbourne Park, clearing the way for an entered the Open era and became fully side of the ATP to support him. outsider to snatch the title. professional. For that reason many pun- The ATP players council, headed by Djokovic, She disputed the bookies’ assessment dits, including 18-time Slam champion met in Melbourne on Saturday and reportedly vot- that Serena is red-hot favourite to lift the Chris Evert, believe Williams is already ed 5-4 against Kermode continuing in his role. Australian Open trophy for an eighth the greatest of all time. Asked for clarity in a press conference Sunday, time, taking her overall Grand Slam tally Another win at Melbourne Park would Djokovic said: “I don’t know where you got that to 24 and equalling Court’s mark. “I think settle the argument once and for all, but MELBOURNE: Serena Williams of the US hits a return during a practice session in information, a 5-4. it’s possible for Serena to equal me, if Court said the American no longer had Melbourne yesterday, ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. — AFP “That information is completely confidential, so anybody’s gonna do it, it’s Serena, but I the fearlessness of youth on her side. I can’t speak about anything that we spoke about don’t think there’s a clear-cut favourite,” “When you’re young, you tend not to of 22 majors at Wimbledon in 2016. Under involved an arduous boat trip that in that room.” The world number one added: “The Court told Melbourne’s Herald Sun news- think about it too much,” she said. “I won Her extraordinary success rate in many top players declined to make. decision hasn’t been made on the president. He’s paper yesterday. my first Australian championship when I Grand Slam finals has slowed in recent Other detractors point out that some still president. He’ll remain president till the end of “I think it’s a pretty open tournament was 17 and I had no nerves. As I went years. Between 1999 and 2015 she of the Slams she won involved only 32 his term. and I think an outsider can win it.” along... it became harder.” reached 25 Slam deciders and lost only competitors, rather than the 128-player “Whether there’s a renewal or not, it’s going to Williams, 37, has won 23 singles Grand Williams has been one shy of Court’s four, but since then her record stands at draws Williams has faced throughout be decided in the next period.” One man who has Slams since 1999 — seven Australian record since winning the 2017 Australian only two wins in six finals. her career. However, Court bristles when been touted as a potential replacement is Tennis Opens, three French Opens, seven Open, when she was eight weeks preg- Critics say Court not only won the her own record is dismissed as largely Australia and Australian Open boss Craig Tiley. Wimbledons and six US Opens. Court, nant. She has spoken in the past about bulk of her titles in the amateur era, but irrelevant in the world of modern tennis Roger Federer said he wanted to speak with his now 76, won 24 singles Grand Slams from the mental hurdles she faced before her record was bolstered by 11 Australian and points out she won 11 titles in the colleagues about what was going on. 1960-73 — 11 Australian Opens, five reaching Steffi Graf’s Open-era milestone crowns at a time when the journey Down Open era. — AFP “We’ve had a good five, six years now under Chris’s leadership. Obviously it’s an important role,” he said. “We need to look at it very thor- oughly. I need to speak with Novak, Rafa (Nadal), That reinstatement, however, was conditional on Russia WADA executive committee no later than Thursday and Andy (Murray) a little bit just to get their take WADA gets ready allowing access to a tainted Moscow laboratory and which could recommend that RUSADA be ruled com- on it all.” In recent days Stan Wawrinka and Nick data in the Laboratory Information Management pliant or that new sanctions be considered. The execu- Kyrgios have expressed support for Kermode, to rule on Russia System (LIMS). tive committee will announce its decision on Jan. 22. illustrating the divided nature of the men’s game. Top Australian coach Darren Cahill, who until SO WHERE ARE WE? SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? recently was working with world number one compliance Russian authorities had indicated they were pre- Russian authorities will say they have now met all Simona Halep, said he would be stunned if pared to allow a five-member WADA inspection team the requirements in the Road Map to Compliance laid Kermode was removed. access to the lab before a Dec. 31 deadline but then out by WADA and that RUSADA’s provisional status “Big increases in prize money, pension plan, LONDON: An explainer ahead of the World Anti- threw up a late roadblock, saying the equipment being should be lifted. However, athletes’ groups and anti- new events, doubles initiative supporter, new pro- Doping Agency (WADA) Compliance Review used to extract the data was not certified under Russian doping organisations have concerns about whether all gressive rules for injured players & LL’s (lucky los- Committee’s (CRC) meeting on Jan. 14-15 in Montreal law. Facing new sanctions, Russia opened the door to a data and testing samples were handed over or whether ers), challenger increases, facility upgrades ++,” where a report will be submitted to the executive com- second, three-member WADA inspection team on Jan. they might have been tampered with. he tweeted. “I’d be stunned if Chris Kermode is mittee making recommendations on the reinstatement 9 when the data extraction process began. removed. ATP needs stability right now.” of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA): END GAME Adding to the ATP board woes was member WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? If WADA is satisfied that Russia has met all the obli- Justin Gimelstob pleading not guilty last month to a IS RUSADA SUSPENDED? The inspection teams will meet WADA’s Compliance gations RUSADA’s conditional reinstatement will be felony battery charge in a Los Angeles court. The No. At a meeting in the Seychelles in September, Review Committee at the agency’s Montreal headquar- confirmed. If WADA is not satisfied it has received full two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion WADA’s executive committee voted to reinstate the ters on Monday and Tuesday. Russian authorities will cooperation it can impose new sanctions. Russia would was accused of attacking one-time friend Randall Russian agency, which had been suspended since have the opportunity to make submissions to the CRC then have 21 days to appeal against WADA’s decision to Kaplan. He pleaded not guilty. — AFP November 2015 over alleged state-backed doping. for their consideration. The CRC will file a report to the the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). — Reuters