Milos Raonic was supposed to begin his 2024 campaign at the Hong Kong Open, but he abandoned that recently.
It's one of those Atp 250 events that was added to this year's calendar, and Milos Raonic wanted to play there. He requested a wild card into the event because he didn't want to burn his protected ranking for an Atp 250 event, which makes total sense.
Unfortunately for Raonic, he didn't get the wild card from the event, so he decided against playing in Hong Kong. The plan is actually to travel directly to Melbourne, where he'll take part in the Kooyong Classic exhibition. He spoke about it recently in the Match Point Canada podcast.
I'll go straight down to Melbourne. I was hoping to play actually in Hong Kong, and I just made kind of a rational decision. I requested at the event, a wild card, I didn't want to use one...
It's one of those Atp 250 events that was added to this year's calendar, and Milos Raonic wanted to play there. He requested a wild card into the event because he didn't want to burn his protected ranking for an Atp 250 event, which makes total sense.
Unfortunately for Raonic, he didn't get the wild card from the event, so he decided against playing in Hong Kong. The plan is actually to travel directly to Melbourne, where he'll take part in the Kooyong Classic exhibition. He spoke about it recently in the Match Point Canada podcast.
I'll go straight down to Melbourne. I was hoping to play actually in Hong Kong, and I just made kind of a rational decision. I requested at the event, a wild card, I didn't want to use one...
- 12/25/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic is an experienced tennis player who admired many others growing up, but Pete Sampras for him sticks out.
He's not the only one who appreciates Sampras, as Novak Djokovic has often spoken fondly about the American. When Sampras won Wimbledon, a young Novak Djokovic was inspired to dedicate himself to tennis.
For Raonic, the American just symbolizes a tennis player who has not been appreciated enough. Until recently, he was the one who led in the Grand Slam race with 14 and that number was considered huge for good reason.
Only in the last 10-15 years did we see three players emerge on the Atp Tour and overtake that number comfortably. Some of that probably diminished Sampras' legacy, which is a shame because, as Raonic talked about in the Match Point Canada podcast, he's really underappreciated.
Pete Sampras. Huge Pete Sampras fan. Was the person that made me realize the importance of a serve,...
He's not the only one who appreciates Sampras, as Novak Djokovic has often spoken fondly about the American. When Sampras won Wimbledon, a young Novak Djokovic was inspired to dedicate himself to tennis.
For Raonic, the American just symbolizes a tennis player who has not been appreciated enough. Until recently, he was the one who led in the Grand Slam race with 14 and that number was considered huge for good reason.
Only in the last 10-15 years did we see three players emerge on the Atp Tour and overtake that number comfortably. Some of that probably diminished Sampras' legacy, which is a shame because, as Raonic talked about in the Match Point Canada podcast, he's really underappreciated.
Pete Sampras. Huge Pete Sampras fan. Was the person that made me realize the importance of a serve,...
- 12/25/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic came back to tennis earlier this year and it was an interesting experience for him that didn't go smoothly.
The Canadian spent a lot of time away from the game after dealing with multiple injuries. He's had quite a few of those in his career, and for a while, he was basically retired in all but name.
He never formally retired but hadn't much hope of returning to the sport, let alone to the top where he once was. That changed after a while as he saw a chance to attempt a comeback, and he took it.
It was a slow process with many bumps along the road, but he did it. The comeback came earlier this year and came out of nowhere.
There was no talk and no indication about it, so it was good to hear him speak about it at length during a recent episode...
The Canadian spent a lot of time away from the game after dealing with multiple injuries. He's had quite a few of those in his career, and for a while, he was basically retired in all but name.
He never formally retired but hadn't much hope of returning to the sport, let alone to the top where he once was. That changed after a while as he saw a chance to attempt a comeback, and he took it.
It was a slow process with many bumps along the road, but he did it. The comeback came earlier this year and came out of nowhere.
There was no talk and no indication about it, so it was good to hear him speak about it at length during a recent episode...
- 12/25/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Jannik Sinner's former coach, Riccardo Piatti, has stated that he sees similarities between the Italian and Novak Djokovic when he was younger.
Piatti is a very experienced and respected coach. He was also a part-time coach to Djokovic, in addition to doing some work with the 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic.
Sinner, who has been training with Carlos Alcaraz in recent days, collaborated with Piatti for many years. He began to coach the Atp Finals runner-up at the age of 13, when Sinner decided to prioritize tennis over other sports.
Piatti oversaw his younger compatriot's transformation into a top-10 player, with Sinner also reaching his first two Grand Slam quarterfinals and winning five Atp titles under the guidance of Piatti.
Sinner chose to end his relationship with Piatti in February 2022. He hired Simone Vagnozzi, and then in July 2022, Darren Cahill also joined the Wimbledon semifinalist's team.
However, there appears to be...
Piatti is a very experienced and respected coach. He was also a part-time coach to Djokovic, in addition to doing some work with the 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic.
Sinner, who has been training with Carlos Alcaraz in recent days, collaborated with Piatti for many years. He began to coach the Atp Finals runner-up at the age of 13, when Sinner decided to prioritize tennis over other sports.
Piatti oversaw his younger compatriot's transformation into a top-10 player, with Sinner also reaching his first two Grand Slam quarterfinals and winning five Atp titles under the guidance of Piatti.
Sinner chose to end his relationship with Piatti in February 2022. He hired Simone Vagnozzi, and then in July 2022, Darren Cahill also joined the Wimbledon semifinalist's team.
However, there appears to be...
- 12/23/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The Kooyong Classic has been a longstanding tennis exhibition played ahead of the Australian Open, and the upcoming edition will feature some big names such as Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, and Casper Ruud.
The Kooyong Exhibition has been a longstanding exhibition event in Melbourne since 1988. The exhibition has been held 32 times so far, with the most recent one being held last year. It was the first since 2019 as the exhibition wasn't played during the pandemic.
It's always been an event that drew big names to it as players such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and others that participated. It's just a great way to get a feel for what tennis in Melbourne might look like before the eventual Australian Open that follows a few days later.
This upcoming 2024 edition will not be short of any big names. Jannik Sinner is among those who have already signed up to play at the event,...
The Kooyong Exhibition has been a longstanding exhibition event in Melbourne since 1988. The exhibition has been held 32 times so far, with the most recent one being held last year. It was the first since 2019 as the exhibition wasn't played during the pandemic.
It's always been an event that drew big names to it as players such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and others that participated. It's just a great way to get a feel for what tennis in Melbourne might look like before the eventual Australian Open that follows a few days later.
This upcoming 2024 edition will not be short of any big names. Jannik Sinner is among those who have already signed up to play at the event,...
- 12/18/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic will not play any tournament before the 2024 Australian Open, as he withdrew from his first Atp event of the year.
After being away from professional tennis for nearly two years, the tall Canadian returned to competition this year in 's-Hertogenbosch, and it was a really good comeback.
In his first match in almost two years, Raonic bested Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic before losing in his second match to Jordan Thompson.
He was then forced to withdraw from the Queen's Club, but after that, the Canadian made his first appearance at Wimbledon since 2019, beating Austria's Dennis Novak in the first round before losing to Tommy Paul in four sets.
He then received a wild card for his home event in Toronto, which was a real success for the Canadian. Raonic made it to the third round, but he was stopped by Mackenzie McDonald.
After that, he was forced to withdraw from a few more tournaments,...
After being away from professional tennis for nearly two years, the tall Canadian returned to competition this year in 's-Hertogenbosch, and it was a really good comeback.
In his first match in almost two years, Raonic bested Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic before losing in his second match to Jordan Thompson.
He was then forced to withdraw from the Queen's Club, but after that, the Canadian made his first appearance at Wimbledon since 2019, beating Austria's Dennis Novak in the first round before losing to Tommy Paul in four sets.
He then received a wild card for his home event in Toronto, which was a real success for the Canadian. Raonic made it to the third round, but he was stopped by Mackenzie McDonald.
After that, he was forced to withdraw from a few more tournaments,...
- 12/16/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Rafael Nadal has officially entered the 2024 Australian Open, and he did so without a wild card, using his protected ranking instead.
The last time Rafael Nadal competed in an official match was earlier this year at the Australian Open. He was facing Mackenzie McDonald, who bested Nadal in three sets after the Spaniard injured himself while extending to get to a ball.
Since then, Nadal has been on a comeback, trying to find a way to return to the courts. He didn't do it in time for Roland Garros and eventually underwent surgery to address the issues.
The comeback will happen in about a month at the Brisbane International, after which he'll play at the Australian Open. Due to his inactivity, Nadal dropped in the Atp Rankings all the way down to 664, which is where he's ranked right now.
That's obviously not good enough to enter the Australian Open draw directly,...
The last time Rafael Nadal competed in an official match was earlier this year at the Australian Open. He was facing Mackenzie McDonald, who bested Nadal in three sets after the Spaniard injured himself while extending to get to a ball.
Since then, Nadal has been on a comeback, trying to find a way to return to the courts. He didn't do it in time for Roland Garros and eventually underwent surgery to address the issues.
The comeback will happen in about a month at the Brisbane International, after which he'll play at the Australian Open. Due to his inactivity, Nadal dropped in the Atp Rankings all the way down to 664, which is where he's ranked right now.
That's obviously not good enough to enter the Australian Open draw directly,...
- 12/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
A ground-breaking claim has emerged about Saudi Arabia's potential involvement in fostering a deal that could see the Atp and Wta tours lose out its controlling power over tennis tournaments.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly set to host a Masters 1000 tournament by 2025, which will act as a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open. The Gulf Kingdom has made its intentions clear that they're looking to inject an influx of cash into tennis following highly successful investments in other sports.
That move is likely to have significant repercussions on the tennis calendar, as it means it will overlap with Atp tournaments being held in Australia in the opening weeks of January, putting them at risk of being scrapped because of diminishing revenues from sponsors.
Most tennis players would instead flock to the Middle East to play in the Saudi Masters as a tune-up tournament, and, most importantly, have the chance to compete for astronomical prize money amounts.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly set to host a Masters 1000 tournament by 2025, which will act as a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open. The Gulf Kingdom has made its intentions clear that they're looking to inject an influx of cash into tennis following highly successful investments in other sports.
That move is likely to have significant repercussions on the tennis calendar, as it means it will overlap with Atp tournaments being held in Australia in the opening weeks of January, putting them at risk of being scrapped because of diminishing revenues from sponsors.
Most tennis players would instead flock to the Middle East to play in the Saudi Masters as a tune-up tournament, and, most importantly, have the chance to compete for astronomical prize money amounts.
- 11/28/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The Scandinavian pair of Holger Rune and Casper Ruud have been confirmed among the entrants in the first stage of the Uts Tour in 2024, which will be played in Norway's capital city, Oslo.
Rune and Ruud will be joined by World No. 5 Andrey Rublev (winner of Uts Frankfurt), Gael Monfils, Alexander Bublik, and Dominic Thiem, who is returning to the tournament for the first time since appearing in the inaugural event back in 2020.
The first pitstop of the 2024 Ultimate Tennis Showdown Tour will take place at the Telenor Arena in Oslo from February 9 to 11. For Ruud "The Iceman", a former Top 10 player who has headlined three Grand Slam finals in his career so far, it will be the first time he will perform in front of his home crowd and in his home city in a competitive tennis tournament.
Ruud got his first taste of the Uts Tour in Frankfurt...
Rune and Ruud will be joined by World No. 5 Andrey Rublev (winner of Uts Frankfurt), Gael Monfils, Alexander Bublik, and Dominic Thiem, who is returning to the tournament for the first time since appearing in the inaugural event back in 2020.
The first pitstop of the 2024 Ultimate Tennis Showdown Tour will take place at the Telenor Arena in Oslo from February 9 to 11. For Ruud "The Iceman", a former Top 10 player who has headlined three Grand Slam finals in his career so far, it will be the first time he will perform in front of his home crowd and in his home city in a competitive tennis tournament.
Ruud got his first taste of the Uts Tour in Frankfurt...
- 11/23/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic made a surprise appearance at the Davis Cup Finals Final Eight, delivering the first point toward Canada's title defense aspirations.
Many expected Felix Auger-Aliassime to step up and play this match, but he didn't. Finland didn't nominate their best player either, as Emil Ruusuvuori is struggling with an injury.
World no. 782 on the Atp Tour, Patrick Kaukovalta, is quite an unknown player to many tennis fans, and he didn't have the same experience as Raonic and it showed.
The Finnish player struggled particularly with the return, as he couldn't touch Raonic at all. The Canadian put up a serving clinic, dropping only one point behind his first serve and only two points behind his second serve.
It was a pretty vintage showing from him as he bombed 18 aces as well. His opponent, for the most part, followed him up on that totalling 11 aces and dominating on his serve,...
Many expected Felix Auger-Aliassime to step up and play this match, but he didn't. Finland didn't nominate their best player either, as Emil Ruusuvuori is struggling with an injury.
World no. 782 on the Atp Tour, Patrick Kaukovalta, is quite an unknown player to many tennis fans, and he didn't have the same experience as Raonic and it showed.
The Finnish player struggled particularly with the return, as he couldn't touch Raonic at all. The Canadian put up a serving clinic, dropping only one point behind his first serve and only two points behind his second serve.
It was a pretty vintage showing from him as he bombed 18 aces as well. His opponent, for the most part, followed him up on that totalling 11 aces and dominating on his serve,...
- 11/21/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Nick Kyrgios has pulled out from the last leg of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (Uts) in Seoul due to a persistent wrist injury.
The Uts Seoul is the last stop of the international tennis league before the inaugural Grand Final in London. The event in South Korea is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 3 at the Korea International Exhibition Center.
Kyrgios has played just one match this season which was during the grass swing in Stuttgart. Aside from that, he has spent the entire year nursing injuries. In January he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee and spent a huge chunk of the first half of the season working on his fitness.
He was determined to return to action in the grass swing until a complicated wrist issue forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon and a succession of events after that. That came at a cost as the...
The Uts Seoul is the last stop of the international tennis league before the inaugural Grand Final in London. The event in South Korea is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 3 at the Korea International Exhibition Center.
Kyrgios has played just one match this season which was during the grass swing in Stuttgart. Aside from that, he has spent the entire year nursing injuries. In January he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee and spent a huge chunk of the first half of the season working on his fitness.
He was determined to return to action in the grass swing until a complicated wrist issue forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon and a succession of events after that. That came at a cost as the...
- 11/16/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Tennis is a pretty lucrative sport if you can get to the top, and Andrey Rublev proved it yet again by passing $20 million in career earnings.
The Russian is one of the best players in the world and has been for a few years now. He's just secured another Top 10 finish and will play at the Atp Finals once more.
It's going to be his fourth time at the event, proving that he's been Top 8 for a fourth consecutive year. He's also won a couple of trophies along the way, 14 to be precise, some of which have been huge, like the Masters he won earlier this year.
As the sport exploded in popularity over the years, so did the earnings increase. There were plenty of great players in the past. However, the prize money wasn't as good as it's now, which is they the top earners list is mostly dominated...
The Russian is one of the best players in the world and has been for a few years now. He's just secured another Top 10 finish and will play at the Atp Finals once more.
It's going to be his fourth time at the event, proving that he's been Top 8 for a fourth consecutive year. He's also won a couple of trophies along the way, 14 to be precise, some of which have been huge, like the Masters he won earlier this year.
As the sport exploded in popularity over the years, so did the earnings increase. There were plenty of great players in the past. However, the prize money wasn't as good as it's now, which is they the top earners list is mostly dominated...
- 11/6/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
There are many names lavished on the city of Paris, but one that probably stands out is the City of Records.
One man synonymous with the city is Rafael Nadal, who has won Roland Garros, the Grand Slam clay court tennis tournament, a staggering 14 times . And across the city, another man has charted some highly impressive numbers in Paris-Bercy, the famous stop of indoor hard-court tennis on the Atp Tour.
That other man is Novak Djokovic , winner of the Paris Masters a record six times. The Serbian star will look to extend his own record this week, where he is the overwhelming favorite to win his sixth title of another breathtaking season.
In addition to six titles in Bercy, Djokovic is also the holder of the most final appearances at the tournament with eight. He was a runner-up on two occasions, in 2018 (lost to Karen Khachanov) and most recently last...
One man synonymous with the city is Rafael Nadal, who has won Roland Garros, the Grand Slam clay court tennis tournament, a staggering 14 times . And across the city, another man has charted some highly impressive numbers in Paris-Bercy, the famous stop of indoor hard-court tennis on the Atp Tour.
That other man is Novak Djokovic , winner of the Paris Masters a record six times. The Serbian star will look to extend his own record this week, where he is the overwhelming favorite to win his sixth title of another breathtaking season.
In addition to six titles in Bercy, Djokovic is also the holder of the most final appearances at the tournament with eight. He was a runner-up on two occasions, in 2018 (lost to Karen Khachanov) and most recently last...
- 10/31/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Canada won the 2022 Davis Cup Finals, and they're bringing the firepower this year with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic both in the squad.
The Davis Cup Finals are inching closer, and defending champions Canada will have a tall order. There are many countries with packed squads who are hoping to dethrone them, but they're not going to go down easily.
We already saw some good stuff from the younger Canadians in the Davis Cup a few weeks ago, and the hope is that they can do it again. Still, there is a big veteran presence in the squad as well with Vasek Pospisil who is useful in both singles and doubles.
The main stars are obviously going to be Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic. After skipping a few events , Raonic will be in Spain for the Davis Cup Finals, which is an interesting choice.
He hasn't played since the US...
The Davis Cup Finals are inching closer, and defending champions Canada will have a tall order. There are many countries with packed squads who are hoping to dethrone them, but they're not going to go down easily.
We already saw some good stuff from the younger Canadians in the Davis Cup a few weeks ago, and the hope is that they can do it again. Still, there is a big veteran presence in the squad as well with Vasek Pospisil who is useful in both singles and doubles.
The main stars are obviously going to be Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic. After skipping a few events , Raonic will be in Spain for the Davis Cup Finals, which is an interesting choice.
He hasn't played since the US...
- 10/23/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The Wilson ProStaff is one of the most recognisable rackets in tennis , favoured by legends such as Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.
The racquet brings to tennis players a distinct, smooth feel, fine-tuned for attacking, all-court tennis. But if you want to stand out from the crowd, the market for high-quality tennis rackets is bigger than ever, and there are a few frames out there that bring the same characteristics to tennis.
Dunlop CX200 Tour 18x20:
To understand why the Dunlop CX200 Tour makes this list, we first need to know what makes a ProStaff, a ProStaff. While there are many factors present, a major one that is difficult to get around has been there since the very first iteration of the ProStaff in 1984:
The frame construction composing of a continuous, double braid of graphite and Kevlar fibres. This double braided construction plays a huge part in the...
The racquet brings to tennis players a distinct, smooth feel, fine-tuned for attacking, all-court tennis. But if you want to stand out from the crowd, the market for high-quality tennis rackets is bigger than ever, and there are a few frames out there that bring the same characteristics to tennis.
Dunlop CX200 Tour 18x20:
To understand why the Dunlop CX200 Tour makes this list, we first need to know what makes a ProStaff, a ProStaff. While there are many factors present, a major one that is difficult to get around has been there since the very first iteration of the ProStaff in 1984:
The frame construction composing of a continuous, double braid of graphite and Kevlar fibres. This double braided construction plays a huge part in the...
- 10/18/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic won't be playing at the 2023 Swiss Indoors in Basel as he withdrew from the event amid uncertainty about his career.
Milos Raonic was out of tennis for a very long time before making a comeback earlier this year during the grass season. He surprised many by coming back, as nobody really expected it, and he didn't really tease it on social media either.
It just sort of happened, and while it didn't look spectacular, it looked fair enough considering the circumstances. He won a match on his comeback and won a match at Wimbledon as well. Good play did happen, though, but it was at the Canadian Open in Toronto, where he played in front of family.
He bested Frances Tiafoe in the opening round and advanced to the 3rd round, where he lost to Mackenzie McDonald. It was a very emotional tournament for Raonic, who wasn't sure...
Milos Raonic was out of tennis for a very long time before making a comeback earlier this year during the grass season. He surprised many by coming back, as nobody really expected it, and he didn't really tease it on social media either.
It just sort of happened, and while it didn't look spectacular, it looked fair enough considering the circumstances. He won a match on his comeback and won a match at Wimbledon as well. Good play did happen, though, but it was at the Canadian Open in Toronto, where he played in front of family.
He bested Frances Tiafoe in the opening round and advanced to the 3rd round, where he lost to Mackenzie McDonald. It was a very emotional tournament for Raonic, who wasn't sure...
- 10/7/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic both withdrew from the 2023 Shanghai Masters , the penultimate Atp 1000 event.
Both Canadians are having far from an ideal tennis season. While Shapovalov played his last match at Wimbledon , Raonic competed only at four events this year, with his most recent outing being a straight-sets loss to Stefanos Tstsipas at the 2023 US Open.
That came after the experienced Canadian showed some promise, beating the likes of Miomir Kecmanovic, Dennis Novak, Taro Daniel, but also Frances Tiafoe, who Raonic defeated on home soil at the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto.
Also Shapovalov managed to record some solid wins in 2023, but his win record stands at the lowest number in his career, as the young Canadian recorded only 13 wins in 2023, while also having the same amount of losses.
Moreover, after a series of withdrawals , it really seemed that his 2023 season would be over, and with another withdrawal, it seems even more inevitable.
Both Canadians are having far from an ideal tennis season. While Shapovalov played his last match at Wimbledon , Raonic competed only at four events this year, with his most recent outing being a straight-sets loss to Stefanos Tstsipas at the 2023 US Open.
That came after the experienced Canadian showed some promise, beating the likes of Miomir Kecmanovic, Dennis Novak, Taro Daniel, but also Frances Tiafoe, who Raonic defeated on home soil at the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto.
Also Shapovalov managed to record some solid wins in 2023, but his win record stands at the lowest number in his career, as the young Canadian recorded only 13 wins in 2023, while also having the same amount of losses.
Moreover, after a series of withdrawals , it really seemed that his 2023 season would be over, and with another withdrawal, it seems even more inevitable.
- 9/29/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
'Dirty, sticky, and a lot fun,' is how Milos Raonic predicted the post-match victory celebrations for Team World, who sealed a second Laver Cup success with a dominant 13-2 win over Team Europe.
The final outcome was inevitable after a rampant opening day saw Team World race to a 4-0 lead. They extended that cushion even further when Taylor Fritz defeated Andrey Rublev in the opening match on Day 2. Casper Ruud briefly kept the series interesting, getting Europe on the board.
But it proved futile as John McEnroe 's men gobbled up the next three matches rendering the remaining singles matches on Day 3 a no-show. It was the second time in six editions that Team World had triumphed over Team Europe and they could finally take the champagne out of the ice.
After the trophy lift in the middle of the court, a proper celebration ensued in the locker room.
The final outcome was inevitable after a rampant opening day saw Team World race to a 4-0 lead. They extended that cushion even further when Taylor Fritz defeated Andrey Rublev in the opening match on Day 2. Casper Ruud briefly kept the series interesting, getting Europe on the board.
But it proved futile as John McEnroe 's men gobbled up the next three matches rendering the remaining singles matches on Day 3 a no-show. It was the second time in six editions that Team World had triumphed over Team Europe and they could finally take the champagne out of the ice.
After the trophy lift in the middle of the court, a proper celebration ensued in the locker room.
- 9/26/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman gave a response to accusations of sportswashing against his country, saying he 'doesn't care'.
The de facto leader, known by the acronym Mbs, has overseen the colossal spending on sports since he rose to power six years ago, through the country's sovereign wealth fund - the Pif (Public Investment Fund) which has total estimated assets of over $700 billion.
This is a strategic investment in line with Vision 2030 - an ambitious plan that is expected to transform the Gulf kingdom from its dependence on fossil fuels. So far, it has forged ties with high-profile football players to play in their domestic league.
Besides owning an 80% stake in Newcastle United - an English-based football club, its investment extends beyond football to encompass the successful takeover of golf, hosting high-profile sporting spectacles such as Formula 1 and Wrestling. And of late, it has tested tennis hands.
The de facto leader, known by the acronym Mbs, has overseen the colossal spending on sports since he rose to power six years ago, through the country's sovereign wealth fund - the Pif (Public Investment Fund) which has total estimated assets of over $700 billion.
This is a strategic investment in line with Vision 2030 - an ambitious plan that is expected to transform the Gulf kingdom from its dependence on fossil fuels. So far, it has forged ties with high-profile football players to play in their domestic league.
Besides owning an 80% stake in Newcastle United - an English-based football club, its investment extends beyond football to encompass the successful takeover of golf, hosting high-profile sporting spectacles such as Formula 1 and Wrestling. And of late, it has tested tennis hands.
- 9/23/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The depleted Team Europe at the 2023 Laver Cup is losing more star power as Stefanos Tsitsipas is out of the event due to an injury.
Tsitsipas was the most experienced player in Team Europe at the 2023 Laver Cup, attending multiple events of the popular exhibition before. However, he will miss the competition this year due to an injury, which wasn't disclosed.
He was in action just recently in the 2023 Davis Cup, playing for Greece, but he didn't look that good , losing one singles and one doubles match, while winning only once in singles. It isn't very pleasant for Tsitsipas because the Laver Cup is one of his favourite tennis events by his own admission, so not being able to play is not great fun.
It's not good for Team Europe either, as they're severely lacking some star power. It will make the revenge for last year's defeat that much harder,...
Tsitsipas was the most experienced player in Team Europe at the 2023 Laver Cup, attending multiple events of the popular exhibition before. However, he will miss the competition this year due to an injury, which wasn't disclosed.
He was in action just recently in the 2023 Davis Cup, playing for Greece, but he didn't look that good , losing one singles and one doubles match, while winning only once in singles. It isn't very pleasant for Tsitsipas because the Laver Cup is one of his favourite tennis events by his own admission, so not being able to play is not great fun.
It's not good for Team Europe either, as they're severely lacking some star power. It will make the revenge for last year's defeat that much harder,...
- 9/19/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
As Tennis Infinity hinted before, Milos Raonic will indeed take part in the 2023 Laver Cup as part of Team World.
Tennis Infinity reported months ago that Milos Raonic might be a player to watch when it comes to the 2023 Laver Cup , as the Canadian would like to play some more tennis on native soil. The special Atp competition being held in Vancouver this year gives him the chance to do so, as we haven't got many tennis events in Canada.
The news of him joining Team World as an alternate came down today as he expressed excitement about participating in the competition again. He played in the 2019 edition in Geneva, losing both of his matches. The first one was against Rafael Nadal, and the second one was against Alexander Zverev.
I’m excited to be selected as part of Team World again. I look forward to doing anything I can...
Tennis Infinity reported months ago that Milos Raonic might be a player to watch when it comes to the 2023 Laver Cup , as the Canadian would like to play some more tennis on native soil. The special Atp competition being held in Vancouver this year gives him the chance to do so, as we haven't got many tennis events in Canada.
The news of him joining Team World as an alternate came down today as he expressed excitement about participating in the competition again. He played in the 2019 edition in Geneva, losing both of his matches. The first one was against Rafael Nadal, and the second one was against Alexander Zverev.
I’m excited to be selected as part of Team World again. I look forward to doing anything I can...
- 9/14/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
For the first time in four years, the Atp Tour returns to China, and the first week of October will feature the 12th edition of the Shanghai Masters .
This year, the tournament will feature an expanded singles field of up to 96 players in the main draw action running from October 4th until 15th. Since its debut in 2009, the Shanghai Masters has been voted the best tournament in that category for five successive seasons (2009-2013).
A fantastic lineup is in store, headed by the world's top players. Two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz will play the Atp's famed Asian swing for the first time and Shanghai will mark an important stop for him in his quest to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.
Four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic recently rubberstamped his status as the world's top-ranked player but enters the 12th edition as the second seed. Russia's Daniil Medvedev won the last...
This year, the tournament will feature an expanded singles field of up to 96 players in the main draw action running from October 4th until 15th. Since its debut in 2009, the Shanghai Masters has been voted the best tournament in that category for five successive seasons (2009-2013).
A fantastic lineup is in store, headed by the world's top players. Two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz will play the Atp's famed Asian swing for the first time and Shanghai will mark an important stop for him in his quest to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.
Four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic recently rubberstamped his status as the world's top-ranked player but enters the 12th edition as the second seed. Russia's Daniil Medvedev won the last...
- 9/6/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic joined in on the discussion that has sent heads spinning in recent days amid a possible merger between the governing bodies of men's and women's professional tennis.
The former World No. 3 is up to speed with the news that the Atp and Wta executives will convene a meeting at the end to discuss a merger that is expected to transform the sport of tennis . The consensus so far alludes to the fact that tennis' top heads fear Saudi Arabia's possible takeover.
But more than that, Raonic has shared a fascinating insight on X . Raonic opined that the Public Investment Fund - Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth, estimated to be more than $700 billion - wants ownership of tennis as a whole.
Hosting the Next Atp Finals is obviously a start , and they are reportedly in contention to stage the Wta Finals too. Raonic believes the ultimate goal is ownership. Apart...
The former World No. 3 is up to speed with the news that the Atp and Wta executives will convene a meeting at the end to discuss a merger that is expected to transform the sport of tennis . The consensus so far alludes to the fact that tennis' top heads fear Saudi Arabia's possible takeover.
But more than that, Raonic has shared a fascinating insight on X . Raonic opined that the Public Investment Fund - Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth, estimated to be more than $700 billion - wants ownership of tennis as a whole.
Hosting the Next Atp Finals is obviously a start , and they are reportedly in contention to stage the Wta Finals too. Raonic believes the ultimate goal is ownership. Apart...
- 9/6/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The US Open proved less than enjoyable for Stefanos Tsitsipas once more as the Greek is out early after a disappointing loss.
Stefanos Tsitsipas played a final in his first Grand Slam of the year, but he won't be doing that at the last one. He's had well-documented struggles at the US Open, and they continued this year. He was facing Dominic Stricker in the second round of the last major of the season, and failed to replicate the level shown against Milos Raonic .
The Swiss player put up a great effort, so it was a combination of things that led to the defeat of Tsitsipas . The loss, though, is a tough one to swallow because he served for the match in the 4th set. It's unfortunate, but he took all the blame after the match.
By no means I'm supposed to put any blame on any people or any members of my team.
Stefanos Tsitsipas played a final in his first Grand Slam of the year, but he won't be doing that at the last one. He's had well-documented struggles at the US Open, and they continued this year. He was facing Dominic Stricker in the second round of the last major of the season, and failed to replicate the level shown against Milos Raonic .
The Swiss player put up a great effort, so it was a combination of things that led to the defeat of Tsitsipas . The loss, though, is a tough one to swallow because he served for the match in the 4th set. It's unfortunate, but he took all the blame after the match.
By no means I'm supposed to put any blame on any people or any members of my team.
- 8/31/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Stefanos Tsitsipas struggled greatly against Dominic Stricker at the 2023 US Open but still served for the match, only to lose it in a heartbreaking fashion.
The Greek player has built up a reputation of being quite vulnerable to players who can push him around on the court. Not being the greatest of returners certainly doesn't add anything to the equation, and Stricker's skillset combined those two problem areas.
The Swiss player loves to attack and does it quite well if his serve is working, and it did for parts of this match. Stricker had five aces and 19 winners overall in the opening set, which he ultimately won 7-5, putting pressure on Tsitsipas, who overcame Milos Raonic in the first round .
The Greek responded well, but it took a lot out of him as he had to endure a long set against the Swiss player. It was in the tiebreak and...
The Greek player has built up a reputation of being quite vulnerable to players who can push him around on the court. Not being the greatest of returners certainly doesn't add anything to the equation, and Stricker's skillset combined those two problem areas.
The Swiss player loves to attack and does it quite well if his serve is working, and it did for parts of this match. Stricker had five aces and 19 winners overall in the opening set, which he ultimately won 7-5, putting pressure on Tsitsipas, who overcame Milos Raonic in the first round .
The Greek responded well, but it took a lot out of him as he had to endure a long set against the Swiss player. It was in the tiebreak and...
- 8/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Stefanos Tsitsipas navigated a matchup with Milos Raonic about as well as you can hope at the 2023 US Open , winning in straight sets.
Facing a carefree Raonic at the US Open would have been challenging for anybody, especially Tsitsipas, who can struggle with great servers. He did his best in this one and successfully returned Raonic's powerful serve in the straight-sets victory .
Following the match, Tsitsipas expressed satisfaction with the way he handled the match noting that his backhand did a good amount of work in this one, particularly when it comes to changing directions which was crucial.
I found ways to return as many balls as I could today, get started with rallies. I was really feeling my backhand change of direction really well. I was just able to navigate the ball from left to right with ease, which helped a lot.
The reporters at the press conference got curious about his one-handed backhand,...
Facing a carefree Raonic at the US Open would have been challenging for anybody, especially Tsitsipas, who can struggle with great servers. He did his best in this one and successfully returned Raonic's powerful serve in the straight-sets victory .
Following the match, Tsitsipas expressed satisfaction with the way he handled the match noting that his backhand did a good amount of work in this one, particularly when it comes to changing directions which was crucial.
I found ways to return as many balls as I could today, get started with rallies. I was really feeling my backhand change of direction really well. I was just able to navigate the ball from left to right with ease, which helped a lot.
The reporters at the press conference got curious about his one-handed backhand,...
- 8/29/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Stefanos Tsitsipas won the match of two former Grand Slam finalists, beating Milos Raonic in three sets at the 2023 US Open .
Facing a former world no. 3 on the Atp Tour, and a player that made it to the Grand Slam final never seemed as an easy task for the Greek. Moreover, the Canadian played some solid tennis on home soil , despite later withdrawing from the 2023 Cincinnati Masters .
On the other hand, Tsitsipas' form has been far from ideal , but the Greek player was still favoured, especially because this was only Raonic's eighth match since he returned to competing on the Atp Tour in June this year.
Throughout the match, the world no. 7 managed to limit his opponent's serve, but at the same time, Raonic couldn't hit it as precisely as he used to, hitting only eight aces, and committing the same amount of doubles faults during the match.
Because of that,...
Facing a former world no. 3 on the Atp Tour, and a player that made it to the Grand Slam final never seemed as an easy task for the Greek. Moreover, the Canadian played some solid tennis on home soil , despite later withdrawing from the 2023 Cincinnati Masters .
On the other hand, Tsitsipas' form has been far from ideal , but the Greek player was still favoured, especially because this was only Raonic's eighth match since he returned to competing on the Atp Tour in June this year.
Throughout the match, the world no. 7 managed to limit his opponent's serve, but at the same time, Raonic couldn't hit it as precisely as he used to, hitting only eight aces, and committing the same amount of doubles faults during the match.
Because of that,...
- 8/29/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
After sharing the difficulties of being away from each other in the past month, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa have been inseparable during the US swing.
While Badosa has spent time away from the courts trying to recover and attain peak fitness levels ahead of the US Open , her boyfriend Tstsipas has been the busier on the men's tour, where he started the month by bagging his first title of the season in Los Cabos .
Tsitsipas and Badosa both traveled to North America to participate in this summer's hard-court swing but would reunite in Cincinnati where Badosa joined the Greek star in celebrating his 25th birthday.
Despite missing out on competing in both tuneup events, Badosa has passed herself fit to play at the US Open next week . Since they began dating earlier this year, Tsitsipas confirmed their relationship during the grass swing , where he confessed that the pair are...
While Badosa has spent time away from the courts trying to recover and attain peak fitness levels ahead of the US Open , her boyfriend Tstsipas has been the busier on the men's tour, where he started the month by bagging his first title of the season in Los Cabos .
Tsitsipas and Badosa both traveled to North America to participate in this summer's hard-court swing but would reunite in Cincinnati where Badosa joined the Greek star in celebrating his 25th birthday.
Despite missing out on competing in both tuneup events, Badosa has passed herself fit to play at the US Open next week . Since they began dating earlier this year, Tsitsipas confirmed their relationship during the grass swing , where he confessed that the pair are...
- 8/26/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic wasn't sure whether he'd play at the US Open , but he will, and it's a great matchup against Stefanos Tsitsipas .
The Canadian most recently played at the Canadian Open, where he had some really good performances and a couple of wins. It was a promising sight to see, considering how long he was absent from the Atp Tour in recent years.
The hope is to do the same at the US Open, and he'll have a pretty decent chance thanks to his serve and overall aggressive play. It's the type of play that gets rewarded in New York, though he could have been luckier with the draw. Facing Tsitsipas in the opening round is less than ideal, but such is the curse of a non-seeded player.
Head-to-head:
Raonic and Tsitsipas actually played two times so far, and the Canadian won both matches. Both matches were played in 2020, so before the Canadian's troubles,...
The Canadian most recently played at the Canadian Open, where he had some really good performances and a couple of wins. It was a promising sight to see, considering how long he was absent from the Atp Tour in recent years.
The hope is to do the same at the US Open, and he'll have a pretty decent chance thanks to his serve and overall aggressive play. It's the type of play that gets rewarded in New York, though he could have been luckier with the draw. Facing Tsitsipas in the opening round is less than ideal, but such is the curse of a non-seeded player.
Head-to-head:
Raonic and Tsitsipas actually played two times so far, and the Canadian won both matches. Both matches were played in 2020, so before the Canadian's troubles,...
- 8/24/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The group stage of Davis Cup Finals will take place in September, where defending champions Canada will play in Italy, but they will be without Felix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic .
It's going to be a very interesting group in Italy as the defending champions are coming without much star power. They produced a rather super effort last year to win the event though their win wasn't without controversy as it was considered invalid by many .
In any case, it was Felix Auger-Aliassime who led the country as the best player, but he won't be making a return for this year's group stage. The Canadian hasn't been playing that well recently, losing a lot of matches and dealing with injuries earlier in the year.
He finally snapped his losing streak in Cincinnati by beating Matteo Berrettini so he would have obviously been very important. It's unclear why he's missing the event...
It's going to be a very interesting group in Italy as the defending champions are coming without much star power. They produced a rather super effort last year to win the event though their win wasn't without controversy as it was considered invalid by many .
In any case, it was Felix Auger-Aliassime who led the country as the best player, but he won't be making a return for this year's group stage. The Canadian hasn't been playing that well recently, losing a lot of matches and dealing with injuries earlier in the year.
He finally snapped his losing streak in Cincinnati by beating Matteo Berrettini so he would have obviously been very important. It's unclear why he's missing the event...
- 8/15/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic won't be competing at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters after he withdrew from the Atp 1000 tournament.
At the home event in Toronto, the Canadian pulled out some incredible tennis and reached the third round of the 2023 Canadian Open. However, then he was stopped by Mackenzie McDonald , and the 32-year-old was expected to make his way to Cincinnati after that.
But that won't be happening, because Raonic withdrew from the second Atp 1000 tournament of the US swing. While it's not clear why the 2016 Wimbledon finalist made the decision, it will be most likely to prepare for the last major of the season.
After his third-round loss in Toronto, the Canadian avoided a question about possible retirement . Yet, his tennis has been really good on the home soil, and when asked about his thoughts going forward, with the US Open in mind, he said:
"Yeah, you know, if all things are well,...
At the home event in Toronto, the Canadian pulled out some incredible tennis and reached the third round of the 2023 Canadian Open. However, then he was stopped by Mackenzie McDonald , and the 32-year-old was expected to make his way to Cincinnati after that.
But that won't be happening, because Raonic withdrew from the second Atp 1000 tournament of the US swing. While it's not clear why the 2016 Wimbledon finalist made the decision, it will be most likely to prepare for the last major of the season.
After his third-round loss in Toronto, the Canadian avoided a question about possible retirement . Yet, his tennis has been really good on the home soil, and when asked about his thoughts going forward, with the US Open in mind, he said:
"Yeah, you know, if all things are well,...
- 8/11/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic is out of the Canadian Open as he was beaten by Mackenzie McDonald, but he's not committing to retiring yet.
Raonic was basically out of the sport for a very long time with many assuming that he was never going to come back. Injuries and his body not being able to handle the tough nature of the sport practically retired him even without a big announcement.
That changed this year when he made a surprise comeback on the grass. It was a pretty decent showing overall but also a reminder that his body can't really handle regular tennis with a withdrawal leading up to Wimbledon.
As a former Grand Slam finalist, it was tough for him to accept not being to play on the level he played before but over time, he kind of got used to it. He even admitted that he didn't enjoy everything about his comeback to tennis .
Either way,...
Raonic was basically out of the sport for a very long time with many assuming that he was never going to come back. Injuries and his body not being able to handle the tough nature of the sport practically retired him even without a big announcement.
That changed this year when he made a surprise comeback on the grass. It was a pretty decent showing overall but also a reminder that his body can't really handle regular tennis with a withdrawal leading up to Wimbledon.
As a former Grand Slam finalist, it was tough for him to accept not being to play on the level he played before but over time, he kind of got used to it. He even admitted that he didn't enjoy everything about his comeback to tennis .
Either way,...
- 8/11/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Casper Ruud was up a break against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final set but he couldn't get it done losing the match in three sets.
Oh, this will sting for a while for Casper Ruud as the Norwegian found himself up a break in the final set only to lose the match in three sets. The Norwegian was favoured in this match despite Fokina being in utterly impressive form in the opening two matches.
The Spaniard won his opening round match easily and then followed that up with an equally impressive thrashing of Alexander Zverev . Due to that many assumed that he would have a chance to best Ruud and he did but he was quite lucky.
The opening set was as close as it can get finishing in a tiebreak. It was won by Davidovich Fokina whose ultra-aggressive style ultimately paid off as he posted 27 winners in that one.
Oh, this will sting for a while for Casper Ruud as the Norwegian found himself up a break in the final set only to lose the match in three sets. The Norwegian was favoured in this match despite Fokina being in utterly impressive form in the opening two matches.
The Spaniard won his opening round match easily and then followed that up with an equally impressive thrashing of Alexander Zverev . Due to that many assumed that he would have a chance to best Ruud and he did but he was quite lucky.
The opening set was as close as it can get finishing in a tiebreak. It was won by Davidovich Fokina whose ultra-aggressive style ultimately paid off as he posted 27 winners in that one.
- 8/10/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
After playing two great matches and winning, Milos Raonic 's Canadian Open run is over as he was beaten by Mackenzie McDonald .
Many had high hopes that Raonic could possibly beat McDonald because, in reality, it was a very winnable match for him. The American is a solid player but certainly not on the level as Frances Tiafoe whom Raonic defeated in a c ontroversy-ridden round one match.
The Canadian followed that win up with another solid win over a player who, admittedly wasn't expected to beat to Canadian. So with all of that, some expected him to overcome McDonald however he himself was playing really well at the event so far.
He followed up those great performances with another one against Raonic who gave up his serve early in the match and that was the problem. He needed to keep the match close and put McDonald under a lot...
Many had high hopes that Raonic could possibly beat McDonald because, in reality, it was a very winnable match for him. The American is a solid player but certainly not on the level as Frances Tiafoe whom Raonic defeated in a c ontroversy-ridden round one match.
The Canadian followed that win up with another solid win over a player who, admittedly wasn't expected to beat to Canadian. So with all of that, some expected him to overcome McDonald however he himself was playing really well at the event so far.
He followed up those great performances with another one against Raonic who gave up his serve early in the match and that was the problem. He needed to keep the match close and put McDonald under a lot...
- 8/10/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The win of Milos Raonic over Frances Tiafoe at the 2023 Canadian Open was a sensational one, but the match featured a very controversial moment.
Milos Raonic and Frances Tiafoe battled for three sets, with the Canadian ultimately winning the match at the Atp 1000 event in Toronto . The first set belonged to Frances Tiafoe, who secured the set after a very controversial point that was ultimately ruled in his favour .
The whole ordeal lasted a few minutes with the umpire changing his decision a few times ultimately landing on the point belonging to Tiafoe. Raonic was asked about the point after his win over Taro Daniel, and he admitted it was the right decision.
It was the right call by Fergus. I think for me the main thing was just the back and forth on it, the fact that there was a few changes about that decision, like, two or three at least.
Milos Raonic and Frances Tiafoe battled for three sets, with the Canadian ultimately winning the match at the Atp 1000 event in Toronto . The first set belonged to Frances Tiafoe, who secured the set after a very controversial point that was ultimately ruled in his favour .
The whole ordeal lasted a few minutes with the umpire changing his decision a few times ultimately landing on the point belonging to Tiafoe. Raonic was asked about the point after his win over Taro Daniel, and he admitted it was the right decision.
It was the right call by Fergus. I think for me the main thing was just the back and forth on it, the fact that there was a few changes about that decision, like, two or three at least.
- 8/10/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic produced another solid effort at the Canadian Open in Toronto beating Taro Daniel in two rather simple sets.
After taking out Frances Tiafoe in the previous round, it would have been rather surprising to see Raonic lose against a player that was ranked lower than the American. Fortunately for the native fans in attendance that didn't happen as the Canadian once again turned back the clock with a great performance.
Daniel is a pretty solid player capable of playing good tennis on multiple surfaces. Known as a clay courter for much of his career, the Japanese player found some success on hard courts in the recent year. He won his first match here to earn a chance to take on Raonic, but he was easily overmatched in this one.
From the start, it was clear that Raonic was having another good match as his serve was impeccable. It...
After taking out Frances Tiafoe in the previous round, it would have been rather surprising to see Raonic lose against a player that was ranked lower than the American. Fortunately for the native fans in attendance that didn't happen as the Canadian once again turned back the clock with a great performance.
Daniel is a pretty solid player capable of playing good tennis on multiple surfaces. Known as a clay courter for much of his career, the Japanese player found some success on hard courts in the recent year. He won his first match here to earn a chance to take on Raonic, but he was easily overmatched in this one.
From the start, it was clear that Raonic was having another good match as his serve was impeccable. It...
- 8/9/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Frances Tiafoe and Milos Raonic battled for over an hour in a 26-point first-set tiebreak that ended in dramatic circumstances at the Canadian Open .
The two players engaged in an intense rally at 13-12, with Tiafoe holding his fifth set point of the night, when Raonic chased to put away a short ball mid-court. It looked destined to land in but clipped the high part of the net cord, but before it nestled on the court, Tiafoe got there in time and scooped it for a cross-court winner.
However, Tiafoe came at a searing pace to chase the deadball, and his momentum forced him to touch the net before the ball bounced twice. Chair umpire Fergus Murphy initially called it a foul shot but quickly reversed his decision after realizing Tiafoe touched the area between the singles stick and the post, which according to Atp rules, counts as a permanent...
The two players engaged in an intense rally at 13-12, with Tiafoe holding his fifth set point of the night, when Raonic chased to put away a short ball mid-court. It looked destined to land in but clipped the high part of the net cord, but before it nestled on the court, Tiafoe got there in time and scooped it for a cross-court winner.
However, Tiafoe came at a searing pace to chase the deadball, and his momentum forced him to touch the net before the ball bounced twice. Chair umpire Fergus Murphy initially called it a foul shot but quickly reversed his decision after realizing Tiafoe touched the area between the singles stick and the post, which according to Atp rules, counts as a permanent...
- 8/9/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
In the first round of the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto, Frances Tiafoe will meet Milos Raonic , who made his comeback to the Atp Tour only recently.
If you had a chance to put Milos Raonic's comeback on your bingo card, you probably wouldn't have done it because nobody expected it. Even so, that happened as the Canadian played a couple of grass events , confirming that he'll play in Canada as well.
Well, it's here, the Canadian Open is upon us, and Raonic is in the draw. He didn't prove quite lucky with the draw, getting Frances Tiafoe in the first round, which will make it very hard for him to actually win a match in front of the home crowd.
On another note, it's going to be a packed stadium and a fun match because that's how Tiafoe plays. Those are the type of matches you want to play as a player.
If you had a chance to put Milos Raonic's comeback on your bingo card, you probably wouldn't have done it because nobody expected it. Even so, that happened as the Canadian played a couple of grass events , confirming that he'll play in Canada as well.
Well, it's here, the Canadian Open is upon us, and Raonic is in the draw. He didn't prove quite lucky with the draw, getting Frances Tiafoe in the first round, which will make it very hard for him to actually win a match in front of the home crowd.
On another note, it's going to be a packed stadium and a fun match because that's how Tiafoe plays. Those are the type of matches you want to play as a player.
- 8/6/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The Atp 1000 action is back with the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto , and the draw for the event has been released.
Running from August 7th to 13th, the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto, also called the National Bank Open, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the calendar, especially because it's the first big event in the lead-up to the last major of the season.
However, this year, the tournament will be held without some of the biggest stars. Most notably, world no. 2 Novak Djokovic withdrew from the tournament , but also the defending champion Pablo Carreno Busta will miss it , along with Nick Kyrgios , and home star Denis Shapovalov, who also withdrew from the tournament .
But even without all these star names, the event can still offer a very competitive field. That will be led by none other than the world no. 1 in the Atp Rankings , Carlos Alcaraz , who will play...
Running from August 7th to 13th, the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto, also called the National Bank Open, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the calendar, especially because it's the first big event in the lead-up to the last major of the season.
However, this year, the tournament will be held without some of the biggest stars. Most notably, world no. 2 Novak Djokovic withdrew from the tournament , but also the defending champion Pablo Carreno Busta will miss it , along with Nick Kyrgios , and home star Denis Shapovalov, who also withdrew from the tournament .
But even without all these star names, the event can still offer a very competitive field. That will be led by none other than the world no. 1 in the Atp Rankings , Carlos Alcaraz , who will play...
- 8/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic made a surprising comeback to the Atp Tour on grass a few weeks ago, and while he looked solid, it doesn't mean he's going to continue playing for a long time.
Raonic was away from the sport for a while because his body couldn't really handle playing consistent tennis anymore. It doesn't look like that time off did much in that regard, as his tennis looked good, but his body is unlikely to hold up in the future.
After producing some solid wins and playing once more at Wimbledon, Raonic is back in Canada, where he will play at the Canadian Open , which begins on August 7th. He spoke about his comeback to Open Court, admitting that he didn't enjoy everything in his comeback journey.
Most of my injuries have been to the lower body, so I knew I needed (to do) something to give myself the best chance.
Raonic was away from the sport for a while because his body couldn't really handle playing consistent tennis anymore. It doesn't look like that time off did much in that regard, as his tennis looked good, but his body is unlikely to hold up in the future.
After producing some solid wins and playing once more at Wimbledon, Raonic is back in Canada, where he will play at the Canadian Open , which begins on August 7th. He spoke about his comeback to Open Court, admitting that he didn't enjoy everything in his comeback journey.
Most of my injuries have been to the lower body, so I knew I needed (to do) something to give myself the best chance.
- 7/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Ivan Ljubicic, a former Atp player, and coach, gave an exclusive interview detailing his time coaching Roger Federer and his subsequent retirement from tennis.
Ljubicic, a former Atp world number three, is one of the most revered Croatian tennis players of his generation. The 44-year-old coached Canada's Milos Raonic , guiding him to a maiden Masters 1000 final in 2013, and played an integral role in his development to become his country's no.1.
Ljubicic then coached Roger Federer, helping him to win three Grand Slam titles in the final phase of his career. The bald-headed Croat is credited with improving Federer's one-handed backhand amid its declining effectiveness against two-fisted opponents.
Ljubicic and Federer had a fruitful and special partnership both on and off the court. However, their brief, but highly successful time was marred by debilitating injuries and forcing Federer to pull the plug on his playing career. Ljubicic admits when the moment came,...
Ljubicic, a former Atp world number three, is one of the most revered Croatian tennis players of his generation. The 44-year-old coached Canada's Milos Raonic , guiding him to a maiden Masters 1000 final in 2013, and played an integral role in his development to become his country's no.1.
Ljubicic then coached Roger Federer, helping him to win three Grand Slam titles in the final phase of his career. The bald-headed Croat is credited with improving Federer's one-handed backhand amid its declining effectiveness against two-fisted opponents.
Ljubicic and Federer had a fruitful and special partnership both on and off the court. However, their brief, but highly successful time was marred by debilitating injuries and forcing Federer to pull the plug on his playing career. Ljubicic admits when the moment came,...
- 7/27/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
New Delhi, July 20 (Ians) Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, the current world no 1 male and female tennis players, sit on top of the respective entry lists for the 2023 US Open Grand Slam tournament, which were released by the United States Tennis Association.
This year’s US Open is scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 10 at the Usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Both Alcaraz and Swiatek will head back to Flushing Meadows as defending champions.
The main draw cutoff for men’s singles is 96 while it is 100 for women’s singles at this year’s US Open.
The three-time champion Novak Djokovic is also set for his return to USA for the first time in two years. He had missed last year’s edition due to vaccine protocols that require international travelers to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
He will be joined by former champion,...
This year’s US Open is scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 10 at the Usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Both Alcaraz and Swiatek will head back to Flushing Meadows as defending champions.
The main draw cutoff for men’s singles is 96 while it is 100 for women’s singles at this year’s US Open.
The three-time champion Novak Djokovic is also set for his return to USA for the first time in two years. He had missed last year’s edition due to vaccine protocols that require international travelers to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
He will be joined by former champion,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The 2023 Cincinnati Masters , the Atp 1000 event, will be held from August 13th to 20th, and the entry list is traditionally star-studded.
Leading up to the last Grand Slam of the season, the Cincinnati Masters, also called the Western & Southern Open, is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar. It's an Atp 1000 tournament and last year, it was surprisingly won by Croatian talent , Borna Coric .
The Croatian will be back to fight for the trophy in 2023, but he'll once again face a talented field of contenders, fighting for a trophy that can be also used as a vase . Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are leading the list, and many will be hoping for a rematch of their Wimbledon final .
But with the rivalry starting between the two, there will be multiple names that will want to insert themselves into the discussion, and stop the dominance of these two players,...
Leading up to the last Grand Slam of the season, the Cincinnati Masters, also called the Western & Southern Open, is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar. It's an Atp 1000 tournament and last year, it was surprisingly won by Croatian talent , Borna Coric .
The Croatian will be back to fight for the trophy in 2023, but he'll once again face a talented field of contenders, fighting for a trophy that can be also used as a vase . Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are leading the list, and many will be hoping for a rematch of their Wimbledon final .
But with the rivalry starting between the two, there will be multiple names that will want to insert themselves into the discussion, and stop the dominance of these two players,...
- 7/18/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2023 Wimbledon men's final was a match for the ages as Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in a near five-hour marathon to win the title.
Alcaraz defeated Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1 3-6, 6-4 in four hours and 43 minutes to win his second Grand Slam and a maiden Wimbledon. The victory also cemented his status as the world no. 1 and is the first player to qualify for the season-ending Atp Finals in Turin.
According to the BBC's confirmed viewership number, Alcaraz's stunning success had a peak audience of 11.3 million viewers on BBC One and trumped the 9.6 million who tuned in to watch the 2019 final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Sunday's final is now the second most-watched Wimbledon final in the UK since Andy Murray's win over Milos Raonic in 2016 - which drew a whopping 13.3 million TV viewers. The 2023 men's final was also streamed 4.1 million times on BBC's two...
Alcaraz defeated Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1 3-6, 6-4 in four hours and 43 minutes to win his second Grand Slam and a maiden Wimbledon. The victory also cemented his status as the world no. 1 and is the first player to qualify for the season-ending Atp Finals in Turin.
According to the BBC's confirmed viewership number, Alcaraz's stunning success had a peak audience of 11.3 million viewers on BBC One and trumped the 9.6 million who tuned in to watch the 2019 final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Sunday's final is now the second most-watched Wimbledon final in the UK since Andy Murray's win over Milos Raonic in 2016 - which drew a whopping 13.3 million TV viewers. The 2023 men's final was also streamed 4.1 million times on BBC's two...
- 7/17/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Serena Williams is a retired player, though according to one fan, she shouldn't be, which would probably find the approval of many.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion is probably the best woman to ever step on the tennis court and compete on the Wta Tour, but according to some, Williams misses that one Grand Slam to prove that.
As of last year's US Open, Serena Williams is officially a retired player though the American is never quite far away from the sport. Her shadow looms large over the Wta Tour and there doesn't go by a week that Serena is not mentioned in some way or another.
She was present at a Wta event recently, and it was to watch her sister Venus Williams make a return to the sport following a long injury absence. She didn't make the trip to London for Wimbledon as she's currently pregnant and expecting...
The 23-time Grand Slam champion is probably the best woman to ever step on the tennis court and compete on the Wta Tour, but according to some, Williams misses that one Grand Slam to prove that.
As of last year's US Open, Serena Williams is officially a retired player though the American is never quite far away from the sport. Her shadow looms large over the Wta Tour and there doesn't go by a week that Serena is not mentioned in some way or another.
She was present at a Wta event recently, and it was to watch her sister Venus Williams make a return to the sport following a long injury absence. She didn't make the trip to London for Wimbledon as she's currently pregnant and expecting...
- 7/14/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic made a surprising return on grass with the hope of playing a few events including the Canadian Open , and he'll do just that after receiving a wild card for the event.
Raonic has been away from tennis for two years, basically being retired in all but name. The Canadian's body broke down relatively early in terms of his age which was unfortunate as he was a solid player at his peak.
He was ranked number 3 on the Atp Tour, but he's not at that level anymore. His performances on grass have been quite solid , probably better than many people anticipated considering how much time he was away from the sport.
When announcing his return, Raonic talked about the wish to play in Toronto at the Canadian Open since, in many ways, that event will likely be his last. The Canadian was adamant that this was not some tennis...
Raonic has been away from tennis for two years, basically being retired in all but name. The Canadian's body broke down relatively early in terms of his age which was unfortunate as he was a solid player at his peak.
He was ranked number 3 on the Atp Tour, but he's not at that level anymore. His performances on grass have been quite solid , probably better than many people anticipated considering how much time he was away from the sport.
When announcing his return, Raonic talked about the wish to play in Toronto at the Canadian Open since, in many ways, that event will likely be his last. The Canadian was adamant that this was not some tennis...
- 7/12/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
2023 might be the year of the Rabbit in Chinese culture but in tennis, it's the year of returns apparently as Kevin Anderson is coming back to the Atp Tour.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you might have noticed that we've seen an influx of former players making a comeback to tennis. Not long ago Milos Raonic shockingly came back to tennis after being away for a very long time.
He never effectively retired so it doesn't really count, but one who did was Caroline Wozniacki. She's coming back too as announced recently . Juan Martin Del Potro is possibly coming back later this year at the US Open though that will only be to properly say goodbye at the only Grand Slam event he ever won.
They're not the only ones as Kevin Anderson is coming back as well. The former Wimbledon finalist is planning to make a comeback...
Unless you've been living under a rock, you might have noticed that we've seen an influx of former players making a comeback to tennis. Not long ago Milos Raonic shockingly came back to tennis after being away for a very long time.
He never effectively retired so it doesn't really count, but one who did was Caroline Wozniacki. She's coming back too as announced recently . Juan Martin Del Potro is possibly coming back later this year at the US Open though that will only be to properly say goodbye at the only Grand Slam event he ever won.
They're not the only ones as Kevin Anderson is coming back as well. The former Wimbledon finalist is planning to make a comeback...
- 7/7/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The second day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships is turning into a disaster with multiple Atp & Wta matches cancelled.
The first rounds at Grand Slams are always the most difficult for organizers, who are certainly praying for sunny days in the first week of the majors. However, that's not the case at the 2023 Wimbledon, as Monday and Tuesday were both marked by relentless rain.
On the first day of the main draw, there was some rain, but not enough to cause major damage. The men's defending champion Novak Djokovic had to dry the court himself when waiting for 70 minutes , and Venus Williams had a horrific fall , but other than that, almost all of the matches were completed.
Some had to be moved to Day 2, causing the schedule to be more packed than usual, but it's the persistent rain on Tuesday that is causing even more matches to be moved. The play...
The first rounds at Grand Slams are always the most difficult for organizers, who are certainly praying for sunny days in the first week of the majors. However, that's not the case at the 2023 Wimbledon, as Monday and Tuesday were both marked by relentless rain.
On the first day of the main draw, there was some rain, but not enough to cause major damage. The men's defending champion Novak Djokovic had to dry the court himself when waiting for 70 minutes , and Venus Williams had a horrific fall , but other than that, almost all of the matches were completed.
Some had to be moved to Day 2, causing the schedule to be more packed than usual, but it's the persistent rain on Tuesday that is causing even more matches to be moved. The play...
- 7/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Milos Raonic is preparing for his first Wimbledon since 2019 and the Canadian admitted he is feeling emotional about his long-awaited return to SW19.
In June, Raonic returned to professional tennis following a two-year absence from the Atp Tour due to an ongoing Achilles injury. The 32-year-old returned at the Liberma Open and defeated Miomir Kecmanovic before he lost in straight sets against Australian Jordan Thompson in the following round.
Then, Raonic had another injury setback and was forced to withdraw from the Cinch Championship, although the knock was not enough to keep the Canadian from a return at Wimbledon. Raonic will take on Dennis Novak at Wimbledon in his first-round clash and the 2016 finalist told Tennis Majors that his expectations are different this time around because of his recovery from injury.
“It’s going to be an emotional thing to go through here but it’s impossible to get an idea of how much.
In June, Raonic returned to professional tennis following a two-year absence from the Atp Tour due to an ongoing Achilles injury. The 32-year-old returned at the Liberma Open and defeated Miomir Kecmanovic before he lost in straight sets against Australian Jordan Thompson in the following round.
Then, Raonic had another injury setback and was forced to withdraw from the Cinch Championship, although the knock was not enough to keep the Canadian from a return at Wimbledon. Raonic will take on Dennis Novak at Wimbledon in his first-round clash and the 2016 finalist told Tennis Majors that his expectations are different this time around because of his recovery from injury.
“It’s going to be an emotional thing to go through here but it’s impossible to get an idea of how much.
- 7/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Andy Murray won Wimbledon the last time he played a Brit in the first round and he joked about that ahead of this year's event.
Andy Murray wants to win Wimbledon, it's a clearly stated goal for him and he thinks he can get it done. It will be tough to do and unlikely to happen but not impossible . Impossible is nothing after all and Murray is actually the only player to have beaten Djokovic at Wimbledon out of the whole field taking part in the event.
The last time he won the event, was in 2016 when he defeated Milos Raonic in the final. It was a brilliant run from him as he dropped only two sets in the seven matches he played. The first-round match was against compatriot Liam Broady. He was asked whether he remembers that considering that he's facing a compatriot in the first round this year as well.
Andy Murray wants to win Wimbledon, it's a clearly stated goal for him and he thinks he can get it done. It will be tough to do and unlikely to happen but not impossible . Impossible is nothing after all and Murray is actually the only player to have beaten Djokovic at Wimbledon out of the whole field taking part in the event.
The last time he won the event, was in 2016 when he defeated Milos Raonic in the final. It was a brilliant run from him as he dropped only two sets in the seven matches he played. The first-round match was against compatriot Liam Broady. He was asked whether he remembers that considering that he's facing a compatriot in the first round this year as well.
- 7/2/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
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