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Injured Djokovic advances to quarters at Australian Open
Serbia's Novak Djokovic hits a backhand return to Canada's Milos Raonic during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. For anyone curious about the severity of his injury, he put it into context after qualifying for the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 12th time. The eight-time Australian Open champion planned to spend most of the next two days recovering ahead of his quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev. “If you’re here, it’s for a reason - there’s no doubt about it,” Dimitrov said after his 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 win. AdAnd not since Patrick McEnroe — John’s brother — in 1991 has a man ranked as low as 114th made it to the Australian Open quarterfinals.
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Australian Open goes quiet as lockdown keeps crowds away
Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic serves to compatriot Karolina Pliskova during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. Crowds were gone from the Australian Open on Saturday because of a five-day hard lockdown imposed by the state government to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 cases. And with the lack of fans, players were faced with an all-too-familiar feeling: a distinct lack of buzz. The Australian Open was allowed to continue during the lockdown — but without fans. He struggled without a crowd in a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open.
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No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown
(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE – The Australian Open will be allowed to continue but without crowds after the Victoria state government imposed a snap, five-day lockdown starting Saturday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak at a quarantine hotel. Andrews said the Feb. 8-21 Australian Open could continue “because these people are at their workplace.”“It will be happening, but there’ll be no one there watching it," he said. The seven-time Australian Open winner didn't hear the news until after the match. “It was a good last match before the lockdown, it's really sad to say.”The Australian Open was the first Grand Slam tournament in a year to allow sizeable crowds. Under the initial plan for the Australian Open, the government allowed up to 30,000 people daily the first week at Melbourne Park, or about 50% of capacity.
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Djokovic: "makes my heart full" to see Aussie Open crowd
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating France's Jeremy Chardy during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. I really, really appreciate your support in coming out tonight." 7 Aryna Sabalenka, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, French Open winner Iga Swiatek and 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, returning from 15 months on the sidelines. Playing in her 21st Australian Open, the elder Williams beat Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2. Two weeks in hard lockdown didn't help 2016 Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber, who lost to Bernarda Pera.
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Nadal sidelined; team Djokovic wins to open ATP Cup defense
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Canada's Denis Shapovalov in their ATP Cup match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE – Rafael Nadal didn't make it for Spain's ATP Cup opener because of a sore back, deciding it wasn't worth the risk a week ahead of the Australian Open. Nadal played more of a hand in that, with Djokovic limiting his time on court because of a blister. Back at Melbourne Park, where he has won a record eight Australian Open titles, he had plenty of energy to consume. Osaka, who won the U.S. Open last year and the Australian Open in 2019, will next face No.
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No set guidelines for calling off US Open if COVID outbreak
FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2017, file photo, tennis fans move in and out of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. 5 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a 2019 U.S. Open semifinalist, and No. Bertens cited concerns about needing to quarantine when returning to Europe for clay-court tournaments in Rome and Paris that are scheduled for after the U.S. Open. If coaches or guests exit the bubble, theyll lose their 2020 credential and not be allowed to get one next year. Aside from two official hotels for players and their guests, there will be private housing available for rent.
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Washington tennis tournament canceled; US Open still planned
WASHINGTON The hard-court tournament in the nations capital that was supposed to mark the official return of mens professional tennis amid the pandemic was scrapped Tuesday but the group in charge of the U.S. Open immediately said the tuneups cancellation in no way impacts its Grand Slam event. That is to be followed by the U.S. Open, where main-draw play is due to begin Aug. 31 without any spectators. The next Grand Slam tournament will be the clay-court French Open, which postponed its start from late May to late September because of the pandemic. After the ATP and Citi Open announced the decision to abandon plans to play this year, the U.S. Tennis Association put out a statement saying it understands the rationale behind that cancellation. The USTA's statement continued: This decision in no way impacts the U.S. Open or the Western & Southern Open.

Nick Kyrgios faces possible suspension after outburst
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images(CNN) - Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios could face a 16-week suspension from ATP events and a $25,000 fine after his on court outburst at the Cincinnati Masters in August. Both the potential fine and suspension will be lifted after a six-month probationary period provided Kyrgios meets a number of conditions laid down by the ATP. Kyrgios has five days to launch an appeal but the Australian has said on social media he will accept the probation. This isn't the first time Kyrgios' behavior has been subject to scrutiny either. More recently, he labeled the ATP as "pretty corrupt" during the US Open when asked about his hefty fine at Cincinnati.

Nick Kyrgios labels ATP 'pretty corrupt' after US Open win
(CNN) - Nick Kyrgios dispatched Steve Johnson in straight sets in the first round of the US Open, but it was his comments after the match that sparked controversy. "ATP's pretty corrupt anyway, so I'm not fussed about it at all," Kyrgios told reporters in New York of his fine. "Why are we talking about something that happened three weeks ago when I just chopped up someone [in the] first round of the US Open?" At that point, the match was evenly poised with Kyrgios 1-0 up and on serve, before prevailing in a tie break in the second set. Kyrgios, who has never progressed past the third round at the US Open, next faces Frenchman Antoine Hoang.

Nick Kyrgios smashes 2 rackets, curses at umpire
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images(CNN) - Nick Kyrgios is once again in hot water after walking off the court to smash two rackets and calling an umpire a "f***ing tool." After Khachanov won the second set 7-6 (7-4), he called umpire Fergus Murphy "the worst f***ing ref ever, the worst ref in the game. Having left the court with two rackets, cameras caught the world number 27 breaking them before making his way back to the court. After the defeat, Kyrgios called Murphy a "f***ing tool" and spat on the court in the chair umpire's direction before leaving. Not the first timeThis is not the first time Kyrgios has expressed his displeasure at umpire Murphy's decision-making.

Serena Williams fined $10,000 for damaging Wimbledon court
(CNN) - Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams has been handed a $10,000 fine for damaging one of the practice courts with her racquet. The American has previously been fined $10,000 at the All England Club for repeatedly smashing her racket on the court during a second-round victory over Christina McHale in 2016. Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus have also been fined $10,000 for incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct. The 37-year-old Williams is targeting a first Wimbledon title since 2016 and a record-equaling 24th grand slam victory. Williams and her mixed doubles partner Andy Murray are also in second-round action against Fabrice Martin and Raquel Atawo Tuesday.

Rafael Nadal edges past Nick Kyrgios in Center Court thriller
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves in his Men's Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day 4 of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 4, 2019, in London. (CNN) - Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios played out a Wimbledon classic on Center Court, with the Spaniard coming out on top 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6. It was a fiery affair at times as Nadal showed levels of on-court emotion rarely seen throughout his career, whipping the crowd up and desperately urging them to get behind him. During the second set, Kyrgios remonstrated with umpire Damien Dumusois after becoming frustrated with Nadal's slow play and the length of time he was taking in between points. The quality of tennis on display was more reminiscent of a grand slam final rather than a second round match as both players hit a number of stunning winners from all over the court.