Category: Tennis Heroes

Nick Kyrgios favors Playing as Team than Alone

Nick Kyrgios says that wins and losses mean more to him when he is the part of a team environment than when he plays on his own.


Kyrgios was spotted with moist eyes when he came second in a very tight singles match that he played opposite to Roger Federer in the recently finished Laver Cup.

Laver Cup was initially supposed to be an exhibition event, but the way it turned out, one must say that the players definitely not took it as an exhibition event.

Everyone was keen to put in his best in the event and most of the matches were very closely contested which consequently made the event a super hit blockbuster.

As per Kyrgios, the reason for him to be as gutted as he was after that particular loss at the hands of Federer was because he felt he let his team, which was Team World, down.

Kyrgiois says he saw how hard all the members of the team prepared and how much everyone backed each other ahead of the competition and through the competition to win it.

And the chances of Team World winning the competition were lying heavily on the result of that match between him and Federer. Continue reading Nick Kyrgios favors Playing as Team than Alone

NALBANDIAN REMINISCES ABOUT HIS PLAYING DAYS

Retired tennis star David Nalbandian has shared details of his playing career as he reminisces.


He disclosed that he played many key games with injuries. The star, who retired four years back, revealed that he played the 2004 French Open semis with injury.

He defeated the then top ranked players in Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin on the route to the last four but his injuries prevailed as he succumbed 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-0 against Gaston Gaudio.

“I played with a torn abdomen. But I think that Gaston was playing very well, and especially on the clay, a surface which always affects me more,” he said.

He had reached the final in Rome and was expected to replicate such at the Grand Slam event but he failed to. He had to take a two months break after that. Continue reading NALBANDIAN REMINISCES ABOUT HIS PLAYING DAYS

SHARAPOVA BACK WITH A BANG

Maria Sharapova has returned with a bang after over a year on the sidelines.


She returned to a victory in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, getting past Italian Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3. During a makeshift interview at the Porsche Arena, she said she had been “waiting for this moment for a long time.”

The tennis star was found guilty of drug abuse. She was banned for two years but she appealed the sentence at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) where she won a reduction to 15 months. She complained that she had a heart issue, aside others, that necessitated her taking a Latvian-produced drug meldonium. She said she was oblivious that the drug was added to the list of banned substance in 2016 by the Anti Doping Agency. The drug is not approved for sale in the United States, and it helps her increase oxygen flow to her heart.

As she returned the biggest questions were the issue of her return after a long time out and her travails during the appeal. There were rumours that the focus of any interview would be the game but so many questions needed answers. Ahead of the game, top stars like Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber asked that Sharapova not get a wild card for the event and Sharapova’s agent blasted them. Sharapova also put the ITF on blast for not publicizing the banning of meldonium. Continue reading SHARAPOVA BACK WITH A BANG

FORMER CRICKETER WINS FIRST WTA TITLE

A former cricketer in Ashleigh Barty has claimed her first WTA singles title in Malaysia after she made the move to return to her first love.


Barty is a former Wimbledon junior champion but decided to take a break from the game during her teenage years.

Barty decided to re-commit herself to the sport after a long time out. After more than a year, she has started receiving dividends of the decision by winning her first professional tennis tournament. She saw off six players before making it to the final. She defeated Japan international Nao Hibino in the final to lift the title in Kuala Lampur.

“I think it was very unexpected going into the week, we just wanted to come here and play some good tennis and maybe squeak out three-five matches, including doubles. Even if we didn’t walk away with a title, it would have been a fantastic week. Continue reading FORMER CRICKETER WINS FIRST WTA TITLE

WILLIAMS FACES SHOCKING DEFEAT AT THE US OPEN

In an outstanding display of skill and power, opponent Karolina Pliskova knocked female tennis player Serena Williams out of the recent US open tournament.


The Czech player brought an outstanding package to the game as she attained a glowing reputation for successfully making it to the US open semi final, and to further enhance her progress, she defeated popular top seed fan favorite Williams in an impressive showdown.

The crowd was silenced as Williams incurred a double fault on match point during the second tiebreaker of the game. With the match score line ending at 6-2, 7-6(5), Pliskova ensured her graceful passage to the final after a particularly intense 86 minutes match session against Williams. The match brought a sad turn for Serena Williams as not only did the outcome cost her the number one ranking which she had held on to since January 2013, but also a good chance at obtaining a history making 23 grand slam title to surpass Steffi Graff’s mark.

This loss marks the second consecutive year where Williams has been defeated just before making history at a major season ending event. It was a surprising turn of event, as the slender Czech player was widely known for her underperformance in previous matches. Continue reading WILLIAMS FACES SHOCKING DEFEAT AT THE US OPEN

Season 2015 not Good for Juan Martin Del Potro

The 2015 season was just limited to two tournaments for Juan Martin Del Potro and during that curtailed season, he was not at ease with the rackets he had to use.


The company which manufactures rackets for Del Potro stopped manufacturing his favourite model last year and instead came up with a new model which he did not like much. He did try it, but, was surely not comfortable enough to go into the games with it.

And, since the company could only provide that model, he had no option, but, to bring out the rackets he had already used previously, the old ones. However, the problem was that those rackets were deteriorating in quality quickly having been used enough already.  After each practice session or even after a little knock ahead of his matches, De Potro would feel as if the strings of the rackets had to be changed. Continue reading Season 2015 not Good for Juan Martin Del Potro

Martina Hingis says she had not expected herself to have the kind of season

Martina Hingis says she had not expected herself to have the kind of season she has had this year.

Hingis emerged the winner of as many as 5 Slam trophies, all partnering with the Indian players.

She clinched the Australian Open, the Wimbledon and the US Open mixed doubles titles with Leander Paes and the Wimbledon and the US Open doubles title with Sania Mirza.

The Swiss veteran is currently in India to take part in a team event and she took time out of her busy schedule for an exclusive interview to a newspaper.

She spoke heartily of India and also expressed her love for the food that she has had there.

In the words of Hingis, “It’s a beautiful country, India. The thing which is the most impressive over here is the food. The sweets, I absolutely love them. Gulab jamun, I’ve been ordering on a daily basis.”

When asked if there is any particular historical place she has visited in India or has planned to visit, Hingis said, “No, not yet. But, I have heard a lot about Charminar. So, I would like to go and have a look.”

On her grand success in the professional circuit this season, Hingis admitted that she had not foreseen herself clinching so many titles. Continue reading Martina Hingis says she had not expected herself to have the kind of season

Kei Nishikori absolutely smashed Leonardo Mayer of Argentina

Kei Nishikori absolutely smashed Leonardo Mayer of Argentina to move forward in Citi Open which is going on in the American Capital Washington DC.

Nishikori, who has been seeded 2nd in the tournament, toppled Mayer in the straight sets by 6-4, 6-4.

After the shocking defeat that Andy Murray suffered, Nishikori is now being seen as the topmost favourite in the singles category in the tournament.

And, if he keeps on playing the way he did against Mayer, there would not be too many obstacles in his way to the title.

The man waiting in the next round for Nishikori is a young Aussie Sam Groth whom the Japanese does not know much about as he suggested in his interview post the first game.

Talking about Groth, Nishikori said, “It’s going to be my first game against him. So, I don’t have that much of idea to be honest. I have heard that he is somebody who serves huge.”

“It’s always tricky to face players like these. But, I am in good form and hitting the ball well. So, I must back myself and concentrate on what my strengths are rather than thinking about what he can do.”

When enquired if his girlfriend is really pregnant as he has been reported, the 25-year old wore a surprising expression on his face. Continue reading Kei Nishikori absolutely smashed Leonardo Mayer of Argentina