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☆ Serbia and France off to winning starts in Davis Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 36-year-old's team mates ensured there were no hiccups in their opener as Dusan Lajovic downed Hong Seong-chan 6-4 7-6(3) and Laslo Djere battled past Kwon Soon-woo 4-6 6-2 6-2 to give Serbia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie. "It's tough to play against a player who you consider is not at his highest level but this is the Davis Cup and everybody can surprise you." Adrian Mannarino battled past Dominic Stricker 3-6 6-1 6-4 while Ugo Humbert sealed a comfortable 6-4 6-4 win over veteran Stan Wawrinka, who made his return to Davis Cup duty earlier in 2023 after seven years away. Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin teamed up to beat Wawrinka and Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-2 6-2 in the doubles rubber. Nicolas Jarry then settled the contest by defeating Elias Ymer 6-2 6-4 in 69 minutes.

Persons: France's Ugo Humbert, Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka, Jason Cairnduff, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Margaret Court's, Dusan Lajovic, Hong, Laslo Djere, Kwon, Djere, He's, hasn't, Adrian Mannarino, Dominic Stricker, Ugo Humbert, Stan Wawrinka, It's, Stan, he's, Humbert, Adrian, Nicolas Mahut, Edouard Roger, Vasselin, Wawrinka, Marc, Andrea Huesler, Leo Borg, Bjorn Borg, Cristian Garin, Nicolas Jarry, Elias Ymer, Wesley Koolhof, Harri Heliovaara, Patrik Niklas, Salminen, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: AO, Rights, Davis, South Korea, Spain, U.S, France, Chile, Thomson Locations: France, Manchester, Britain, Serbia, Valencia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Australia, Malaga, Sweden, Bologna, Croatian, Split, Netherlands, Finland, Bengaluru

☆ Tennis-Serbia and France off to Winning Starts in Davis Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VALENCIA (Reuters) - Serbia made a victorious start to their Davis Cup Finals group stage campaign by beating South Korea on Tuesday before 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic arrives for tougher tests ahead. "It's tough to play against a player who you consider is not at his highest level but this is the Davis Cup and everybody can surprise you." Adrian Mannarino battled past Dominic Stricker 3-6 6-1 6-4 while Ugo Humbert sealed a comfortable 6-4 6-4 win over veteran Stan Wawrinka, who made his return to Davis Cup duty earlier in 2023 after seven years away. Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin teamed up to beat Wawrinka and Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-2 6-2 in the doubles rubber. Nicolas Jarry then settled the contest by defeating Elias Ymer 6-2 6-4 in 69 minutes.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Margaret Court's, Dusan Lajovic, Hong, Laslo Djere, Kwon, Djere, He's, hasn't, Adrian Mannarino, Dominic Stricker, Ugo Humbert, Stan Wawrinka, It's, Stan, he's, Humbert, Adrian, Nicolas Mahut, Edouard Roger, Vasselin, Wawrinka, Marc, Andrea Huesler, Leo Borg, Bjorn Borg, Cristian Garin, Nicolas Jarry, Elias Ymer, Wesley Koolhof, Harri Heliovaara, Patrik Niklas, Salminen, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: VALENCIA, Reuters, Davis, South Korea, Spain, U.S, France, Chile Locations: Serbia, Valencia, Czech Republic, Manchester, Switzerland, France, Australia, Britain, Malaga, Sweden, Bologna, Croatian, Split, Netherlands, Finland, Bengaluru

☆ Serbia target Davis Cup progress with Djokovic boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The world number one is set to travel to Valencia and join the Serbia team for their Davis Cup Finals group stage ties with South Korea, Spain and Czech Republic, although he is likely to feature only in the final two clashes. "We can't wait to have him for Friday," Kecmanovic told a news conference before their Group C opener against South Korea on Tuesday. "It definitely takes a little bit of the pressure off since he always carried the team so well. Defending champions Canada clinched their first title in the men's premier team event beating Australia in last year's final. They are joined by the 12 winners of the 2023 qualifiers - Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Britain, South Korea, Netherlands, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States - apart from wild cards Italy and Spain.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Mike Segar, Novak, Miomir Kecmanovic, Daniil Medvedev, Margaret Court's, Kecmanovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev, Carlos, David Ferrer, Shrivathsa Sridhar Organizations: U.S, Open REUTERS, Davis, U.S ., Serbia, South, Wimbledon, Switzerland, Split, Canada, men's, Australia, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Serbia, New York, Valencia, South Korea, Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden, Chile, France, Netherlands, Finland, Bologna, Manchester, Malaga, Croatia, Britain, Switzerland, Italy, Bengaluru

☆ Djokovic will dominate tennis for years, says Murray
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 10, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates while wearing a shirt with an image of Kobe Bryant after winning the U.S. Open REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsMANCHESTER, England, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic, who won his 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday, will dominate men's tennis for years because younger players have yet to reach his level, according to Andy Murray. It doesn't look like that's close to happening," Murray told the BBC on Monday. He's played at this level for such a long time now," said Britain's Murray, who won three Grand Slams. In July, 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz ended Djokovic's Wimbledon reign after the Serbian had won four titles in a row at the All England Club. "Physically, motivation, whether someone like Alcaraz improves - he's an amazing player Alcaraz, he's brilliant, but to do what Novak is doing on a consistent basis is different."

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Kobe Bryant, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Djokovic's, Margaret Court's, Novak, Murray, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, He's, Britain's Murray, Carlos Alcaraz, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: U.S, Open REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., BBC, Wimbledon, Serbian, All England, Serbia, Davis, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Kobe, Rights MANCHESTER, England, Valencia, South Korea, Spain, Czech Republic, Gdansk

☆ Djokovic wins U.S. Open for record equalling 24th Grand Slam
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The victory, his fourth in 10 Flushing Meadows finals, capped another remarkable Grand Slam campaign for Djokovic with wins at the Australian, French and U.S. The 36-year-old Serb becomes the oldest U.S. Open men’s winner in the Open Era and the first to win three Grand Slam events in a season for the fourth time. The last time the two clashed at the U.S. Open was in the 2021 final, when the Russian captured his only major and denied the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam. While Djokovic and Medvedev are intriguing figures, neither has been fully embraced by the New York crowds. That would be the only break Djokovic would need against a surprisingly flat Medvedev who could not manufacture a single break chance in the first set.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Margaret Court's, Djokovic, Arthur Ashe, Medvedev, Steve Keating, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: U.S, Flushing Meadows, Djokovic, Medvedev, U.S ., New, Thomson Locations: Flushing, U.S, Russian, New York, Lincoln

☆ Need to raise game against Djokovic, says Medvedev ahead of U.S. Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 9 (Reuters) - Daniil Medvedev expects Novak Djokovic to be in top form at Sunday's U.S. Open final, but the third-seeded Russian adds that he will try to produce his "best-ever version" to beat the record-23-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic, 36, is hunting a fourth U.S. Open title that would see him equal Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams and a good measure of revenge on Medvedev. For example, I beat him in the U.S. Open final, he beat me in Bercy (Paris Masters) in a great match. Carlos beat him in Wimbledon, he beat him in Cincinnati," Medvedev told reporters. And I have to be, if I want to still beat him, 10 times better than I was that day."

Persons: Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic, Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz's, Djokovic, Margaret Court's, Carlos, Novak, he's, It's, Alcaraz, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, Djokovic, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows, U.S, Bercy, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Djokovic-Medvedev U.S. Open final could be spellbinding affair
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The last time Djokovic and Medvedev clashed at the U.S. Open was in the 2021 final, when the Russian captured his only major so far and denied the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam. Second seed Djokovic, 36, fought back from two sets down to beat fellow Serb Laslo Djere in the third round but did not drop another set on the way to his 10th U.S. Open final. "He (Djokovic) is always better than the previous time he plays," said 27-year-old Medvedev, who will be appearing in his third U.S. Open final, having also lost to Rafa Nadal in 2019. While Djokovic and Medvedev are compelling figures, neither has been fully embraced by the New York crowds they have so desperately courted. Not long ago Medvedev was Flushing Meadows' public enemy number one for his on court antics that included giving the crowd the finger during a 2019 match.

Persons: Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev, Arthur Ashe, Margaret Court's, Andrey Rublev, dethrone Alcaraz, Rafa Nadal, Novak, he's, Steve Keating, Ken Ferris Organizations: Tennis, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS, U.S, Sunday, U.S ., Djokovic, New, Yorkers, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Flushing Meadows, U.S, Russian, New York

☆ Medvedev upsets Alcaraz to deny U.S. Open blockbuster final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A final involving former-U.S. Open champions Medvedev and three-time winner Novak Djokovic on Sunday is one of obvious high quality but not the next chapter in tennis's hottest rivalry of Djokovic and Alcaraz that has had the sport buzzing. The last time Djokovic and Medvedev clashed at the U.S. Open was the 2021 final, where the Russian claimed his only major so far and denied the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam. "The challenge is you are playing a guy who has won 23 Grand Slams and I have only one," said Medvedev, who also reached the 2019 U.S. Open final losing to Rafa Nadal. That was all Alcaraz would need, holding on to take the set 6-3 and the first step in his fight back. Alcaraz would make one final stand in a breathtaking game that seesawed back and fourth, Medvedev needing four match points to close the deal.

Persons: Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Shannon Stapleton, Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Federer, Medvedev, Margaret Court's, Rafa Nadal, Alcaraz, Steve Keating, William Mallard, Michael Perry Organizations: Tennis, REUTERS, U.S, Medvedev, Djokovic, U.S ., Flushing, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, Flushing Meadows, New York

☆ Djokovic puts record books out of mind in hunt for 24th major title
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Serb battled past American Ben Shelton in straight sets on Friday to set up a rematch with Russia's Medvedev, who denied him a rare calendar Grand Slam two years ago. The memory of that bitter defeat was still fresh in his mind, as Djokovic told reporters he was trying not to focus on the significance of a 24th major title that would match Margaret Court's all-time singles record. Djokovic won the Australian Open and hoisted the trophy at Roland Garros already this year. He had a chance to collect his 24th major title in Wimbledon but was denied in the finale by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. "Every time in a Grand Slam final it's another shot for history, you know, and I'm aware of it, and of course I'm very proud of it.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Mike Segar, Novak, Daniil Medvedev, Russia's Medvedev, Margaret Court's, Djokovic, Roland Garros, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev, Amy Tennery, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Wimbledon, New York, London

☆ Alcaraz and Djokovic on course for another Grand Slam showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Defending champion Alcaraz, 20, won his second major at the All England Club in July and said it would be "great" to play three-time U.S. Open winner Djokovic in the showpiece. "It would be great to play a final against Novak here in New York but we both have really tough semi-finals," Alcaraz said. "Last year I was facing my first semi-final of a Grand Slam. In-form Djokovic, 36, will replace Alcaraz as world number one after the tournament and is on the hunt for his 24th Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court's all-time singles record. Now in his first Grand Slam semi-final in only his fifth appearance at majors, Shelton is up for the daunting challenge of squaring off against Djokovic.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Brendan Mcdermid, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Medvedev, Daniil I, Daniil, Andrey Rublev, Carlos, Margaret Court's, Ben Shelton, Michael Chang, Ben, That's, Shelton, who's, I'm, Hritika Sharma, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Tennis, U.S, REUTERS, Wimbledon, All England Club, Wells, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, New York, Flushing Meadows, American, Hyderabad

☆ Veteran Djokovic overcomes Shelton to reach US Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Shelton had flummoxed opponents in New York with his big serve but the 36-year-old second seed Djokovic was able to harness his experience to neutralise a third-set surge from the young American. He next faces the winner of a match between top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and third seed Daniil Medvedev. "These are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on, that still get me going," Djokovic said on court. Shelton handed Djokovic a break in the sixth game of the first set with a series of unforced errors, and the unseeded American was unable to convert his own break point chance in the ninth. Playing in only his seventh U.S. Open singles match, Shelton triumphed in a 30-shot rally before converting a break point in the eighth game, humbling Djokovic, who was appearing in his 100th singles match at the hardcourt major.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Arthur Ashe, Shelton, Djokovic, neutralise, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Margaret Court's, humbling Djokovic, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Serbian, U.S, New York, American

☆ Shelton hopes to play disruptor against Djokovic
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts during his quarter final match against Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York. The 20-year-old will need all of his weapons on Friday if he is to stand a chance in his first meeting with Djokovic. "I think that it's an advantage with my game style, playing someone who's never played me before," Shelton told reporters. "I think that I can bring some things to the table that maybe you don't see in your normal match that you play on the ATP Tour. "I think whenever you play somebody for the first time and someone who has been in this situation so many times and come out victorious so many times, that's in the back of your head," Shelton said.

Persons: Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Mike Segar, Ben Shelton's, Novak Djokovic, disruptor, Shelton, Bryan Shelton, Arthur Ashe, Djokovic, who's, Margaret Court's, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, ATP, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, American, Flushing Meadows, Bengaluru

☆ Djokovic keen to have fun but fully focused on winning at US Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Sep 5, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after winning a game against Taylor Fritz of the United States on day nine of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Appearing more relaxed in his post match interview, Djokovic sang, '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)' with fans in the stands joining along. "I'm trying to enjoy the moments on the court, but there's so much stress and pressure going on that it's hard to have fun, so to say, on the court," Djokovic told reporters. "It's really about finding a way to navigate through the match and win a match for me, you know. "Both of the guys ... Shelton and Tiafoe, have a lot of charisma," Djokovic said.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, USTA Billie Jean King, Danielle Parhizkaran, belting, Margaret Court's, Arthur Ashe, Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, . Shelton, Tiafoe, They're, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, U.S, Beastie Boys, Arthur, Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Djokovic turns up heat to beat Fritz and breeze into U.S. Open semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With temperatures once again nudging towards 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), Djokovic turned in a cool, clinical effort, improving his record against American opposition at the U.S. Open to a perfect 12-0. "It's expected of course that people are backing the home player and there is nothing wrong with that," said Djokovic. On a baking hot day, 19-year-old Coco Gauff had warmed up the Arthur Ashe crowd, blasting past Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-2 to become the youngest American to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001. "As the song went that they played here five minutes ago, you've got to fight for your right to party." Djokovic wasted no time ending both those runs, breaking the American three times and then taking the first set with a booming ace.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Brendan Mcdermid, Novak Djokovic shrugged, Margaret Court's, Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Arthur Ashe, It's, I've, Coco Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko, Serena Williams, Fritz, Roger Federer, you've, Steve Keating, Rory Carroll, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, REUTERS, Flushing Meadows, Djokovic, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Flushing, U.S, American, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Fritz aims to down Djokovic, Gauff faces Ostapenko in U.S. Open quarters
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Open quarters would be a pretty good time to get him." In their most recent meeting, Djokovic beat Fritz last month in the quarter-finals of a U.S. Open tune-up event in Cincinnati that the Serbian went on to win by beating Carlos Alcaraz. Should Fritz prevail over Djokovic it would set up an all-American semi-final against the winner of the late match at Arthur Ashe Stadium between 10th seed Frances Tiafoe and unseeded Ben Shelton. The day's other women's quarter-final sees Czech 10th seed and French Open finalist Karolina Muchova facing Romanian 30th seed Sorana Cirstea. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Taylor Fritz, Germany's Yannick Hanfmann, Andrew Couldridge, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Fritz, Arthur Ashe, Djokovic, Novak's Novak, It's, he's, I've, Carlos Alcaraz, Margaret Court's, Laslo Djere, Andy Roddick, Frances Tiafoe, Arthur, Ben Shelton, Tiafoe, Jelena Ostapenko, Gauff's, Karolina Muchova, Sorana, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Germany's Yannick Hanfmann REUTERS, U.S, Serbian, York, French, Sorana Cirstea, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, Cincinnati, New York, American, Latvian, Washington, Czech, Romanian, Toronto

☆ Djokovic enjoys drama-free win to reach US Open quarters
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Sunday, the 36-year-old Serb broke to open the contest and was never threatened as Gojo managed only a single break chance in the entire match. Next up for Djokovic is top-ranked American and ninth seed Taylor Fritz, who advanced with a tidy 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker. Fritz will head into the showdown as the only player yet to drop a set but still stinging from the 6-0 6-4 beating Djokovic laid on him in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open. "Obviously Taylor has been now an established top-10 player for the last couple of years," said Djokovic, who has won all seven career meetings with Fritz. Reporting by Steve Keating in New York; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Serbia's Laslo Djere, Shannon Stapleton, Novak Djokovic, Gojo, Djokovic, Laslo Djere, Margaret Court's, Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Taylor Fritz, Dominic Stricker, Fritz, Taylor, Steve Keating, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Tennis, Serbia's Laslo Djere REUTERS, U.S, 105th, Croat, Djokovic, Swiss, Cincinnati, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, Flushing Meadows, New York

☆ Djokovic fights back from two sets down to reach U.S. Open final 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I hope you enjoyed the show, it was not so enjoyable for me especially in the first two sets," Djokovic told the crowd. "I did a little pep talk in the mirror," said Djokovic about his bathroom break after the second set. With cracks in Djere's game starting to appear, Djokovic continued to dial up the pressure breaking again to open the fourth set pulling a mighty fist pump from the 36-year-old. Moving in for the kill Djokovic swept the next six games to take the fourth set and a 2-0 lead in the decisive fifth that he would never surrender. "Once I got the break in the third I thought 'OK, I have a shot, I have a chance," said Djokovic.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Serbia's Laslo Djere, Shannon Stapleton, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Arthur Ashe, Margaret Court's, Frenchman Alexandre Muller, Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Djere, Steve Keating, Miral Organizations: Serbia's Laslo Djere REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, Flushing Meadows, Belgrade, New York

☆ Swiatek, Djokovic headline third round action at U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2023 Poland's Iga Swiatek in action during her second round match against Australia's Daria Saville REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Defending women's champion Iga Swiatek and three-times winner Novak Djokovic headline a slate of enticing matches at the U.S. Open on Friday as third round action of the year's final Grand Slam gets underway. Djokovic, who is seeking a 24th Grand Slam title to equal Margaret Court's record, will close out the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium when he faces fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, the 32nd seed. Top-ranked Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are also in action with both looking to bolster their hopes of becoming the first U.S. man to win a Grand Slam in 20 years. In the second round, a resurgent Wozniacki earned her first top-20 win in nearly five years with a straight-sets upset of 11th seed Petra Kvitova. "I've been feeling very comfortable here in New York in general," said former world number one Wozniacki.

Persons: Iga, Australia's Daria Saville, Mike Segar, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic, Swiatek, Kaja Juvan, Louis Armstrong, Juvan, Djokovic, Margaret Court's, Arthur Ashe, Djere, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, Fritz, Jakub Mensik, Tiafoe, Caroline Wozniacki, Jennifer Brady, Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, I've, Coco Gauff, Belgian Elise Mertens, Elena Rybakina, Frank Pingue, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, Slovenian, Louis, Czech, New York, Former, Belgian, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, New York, Serbian, Cincinnati, U.S, Toronto

☆ Djokovic, Swiatek advance before China's Zhang shocks Ruud at US Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/7] Aug 30, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits to Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain on day three of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. But while results followed the form book for much of the day at the year's final Grand Slam, shocks sprung up as the sun went down. Earlier, Swiss young gun Dominic Stricker delivered a shock by grinding out a 7-5 6-7(2) 6-7(5) 7-6(6) 6-3 win over Greek seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for his first top-10 win. Djokovic remains on course for a fourth U.S. Open title that would pull him level with Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams. Sixth seed Gauff warmed up the home crowd early when the teenager beat Mirra Andreeva 6-3 6-3, before handing the baton to the U.S. men.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Bernabe Zapata Miralles, USTA Billie Jean King, Robert Deutsch, Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud, Petra Kvitova, Billie Jean King, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Zhang Zhizhen, Ruud, Caroline Wozniacki, Dominic Stricker, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic, Arthur Ashe, Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Margaret Court's, Swiatek, Daria Saville, Wozniacki, you'd, Mirra, Andy Roddick, Fritz, Tiafoe, Austrian Sebastian Ofner, Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas, Tommy Paul, American Ben Shelton, Dominic Thiem, Thiem, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Serbia, USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, U.S, Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, COVID, Flushing, U.S ., Austrian, Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, Spain, Swiss, Flushing Meadows, U.S, Russian, American, New York

☆ Ruthless Djokovic makes winning return to US Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I was excited to go out on the court, it has been a couple of years so to come in front of you guys is always a pleasure," Djokovic told the New York crowd. Djokovic broke Muller for a fourth time to open the second set and went 2-0 up before his opponent held serve for the first time, raising both hands in triumph as the crowd roared. But the cheers would be few and far between as Djokovic closed out the second with a wicked forehand. Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in an epic Wimbledon final in July, opens his account on Tuesday against Germany's Dominik Koepfer. Next up for number two seed Djokovic is Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who was a straight sets winner over American Ethan Quinn.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, France’s Alexandre Muller, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Frenchman Alexandre Muller, Margaret Court's, Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Ashe, Barack Obama, Michelle, Carlos Alcaraz, Muller, Frenchman, Alcaraz, Germany's Dominik Koepfer, Holger Rune, Roberto Carballes Baena, Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Ethan Quinn, Steve Keating, Peter Rutherford Organizations: France’s Alexandre Muller REUTERS, U.S, COVID, New, Cincinnati, U.S ., Djokovic's, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Flushing, New York, U.S, Danish

☆ Djokovic and Wozniaki make winning returns to US Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On the women's side, Coco Gauff was made to work for her place in the second round. Djokovic, prevented from playing in last year's U.S. Open due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19, began his latest campaign to match Margaret Court's all-time record haul of 24 Grand Slams with a 6-0 6-2 6-3 win over Alexandre Muller. read more"This court has seen so much history and so many battles," Djokovic told the New York crowd. SPARSE CROWDWhile Djokovic played in front of a packed house, Swiatek performed to a sparse sleepy morning audience. In contrast to Gauff's laboured win, Danielle Collins, the 2022 Australian Open finalist, turned on the jets to dispose of Czech Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2 6-0 in a lightning quick 52 minutes.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, France’s Alexandre Muller, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Swiatek, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, Margaret Court's, Alexandre Muller, Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, Frenchman, Arthur Ashe, Daniil Medvedev, Barack Obama, Michelle, Serena Williams, Swede Rebecca Peterson, mercifully, Daria Saville, I'm, Wozniacki, Tatiana Prozorova, Andy Roddick, Fritz, Tiafoe, Steve Johnson, Christopher Eubanks, South Korea's Kwon, Laura Siegemund, Gauff's, Danielle Collins, Czech Linda Fruhvirtova, Steve Keating, Pritha Sarkar, Shri Navaratnam, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Tennis, France’s Alexandre Muller REUTERS, U.S, Djokovic, COVID, Cincinnati, New, U.S ., Djokovic's, Russian, Wimbledon, South, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, New York, Flushing, American, Cincinnati, Czech

☆ Calendar slam hopes doused but Djokovic fired up for U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Aug 18, 2023; Mason, OH, USA; Novak Djokovic (SRB) reacts after a point against Taylor Fritz (USA) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. There's still a fire going," said Djokovic, who won the Australian Open and French Open titles to leapfrog Rafa Nadal into top spot in the list of men's major champions. "There's still that drive and motivation to really come at the biggest events in sport and try to win, try to win titles and try to bring some good sensation to the crowds." HARDCOURT DOMINANCEIf the chasing pack feel Djokovic's days of dominance are numbered, the three-time U.S. Open champion's record on hardcourts should give them pause for thought. I think Novak can play much better than he did in the Wimbledon final.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Katie Stratman, Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, leapfrog Rafa Nadal, ramped, Nadal, Patrick Mouratoglou, Alcaraz, Novak, Mouratoglou, Carlos, Margaret Court's, Will, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Southern Open, Lindner, Tennis Center, U.S, Wimbledon, Flushing Meadows, Cincinnati, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Flushing Meadows, tennis, United States, America, Flushing, Bengaluru

☆ Medvedev cruises past Musetti to reach Cincinnati third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 16 (Reuters) - Former champion Daniil Medvedev beat Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Open where Novak Djokovic was preparing to begin his U.S. Open preparations. "We both made some mistakes, we both made some double faults and stuff like this," third seed Medvedev, who served five double faults, said during his on-court interview. Musetti did well to claw back from 0-40 down to hold for a 2-1 lead in the second but Medvedev responded in style with a love hold and broke the Italian's serve on the next two opportunities before closing out the match. In other second-round action, Italy's Jannik Sinner, who won the Canadian Open, faces Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic and fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas meets American Ben Shelton. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniil Medvedev, Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, Novak Djokovic, Medvedev, Musetti, Dusan Lajovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ben Shelton, Djokovic, Margaret Court's, Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Frank Pingue, Ed Osmond Organizations: Cincinnati, U.S, Canadian, Serbian, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Toronto

☆ I've never faced a player like Alcaraz, says beaten Djokovic
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, July 16 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic has experienced everything possible on a tennis court during his trophy-laden 23-year career but said he has never faced a player quite like Carlos Alcaraz. "I didn't expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he's proven he's the best player in the world," Djokovic said after his 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 defeat. I think he's got some nice sliding backhands, some similarities with my backhands. After outplaying Alcaraz in a one-sided first set, Djokovic then slugged out an 85-minute second and had a point for a two-set lead in the tiebreak but dumped a backhand into the net. "Set point, I missed the backhand.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Alcaraz, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Margaret Court's, Casper Ruud, cramp, Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger, Rafa, He's, we've, he's, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Dylan Martinez Djokovic, outplaying, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Court, Wimbledon, Djokovic, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Thomson Locations: U.S, London, Britain

☆ Alcaraz seizes the throne as Djokovic finally meets his match
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Of course, he did, because you do not have 23 Grand Slam titles in the bank by ducking a fight in moments of crisis. Young pretenders have repeatedly tried and failed to take Djokovic down at Wimbledon -- Matteo Berrettini in the 2021 final and Nick Kyrgios last year. That he did it with Djokovic still at the peak of his powers and halfway to a calendar-year Grand Slam, made it feel like a seismic moment in men's tennis. "I've won some epic finals that I was close to losing so it's fair and square," Djokovic, who saved match points when beating Roger Federer in 2019, told reporters. The bull-like Spaniard, playing only his second Grand Slam final compared to Djokovic's record 35, might have folded after being schooled by the master in a 34-minute opening set.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Young, Matteo Berrettini, Nick Kyrgios, Boris Becker, Manuel Santana, Rafa Nadal, Djokovic, I've, Roger Federer, Carlos, Federer, Serena Williams, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Andrew Couldridge, Novak, King Felipe, Carlos Carlos, Margaret Court's, Alcaraz, Djokovic's, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS, Thomson Locations: ducking, Wimbledon, tennis, London, Britain

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