Djokovic Gains Tel-Aviv Semi Final Ticket: Novak Djokovic barged into the Tel-Aviv Open semifinals with a 7-6(7/5), 6-3 win over Vasek Pospisil of Canada. The match lasted for almost two hours and Djokovic won for the sixth-straight time against Pospisil. It was the first men’s singles tournament for the 21-time Grand Slam champion since winning at Wimbledon in July. The world number seven fought hard from the start, spending 59 minutes to win the set via tiebreak. The Serb made adjustments in the second set and broke Pospisil’s serve in the second game. Djokovic will aim for a seat in the final as he meets Russian bet Roman Safiullin, who outclassed Arthur Rinderknech of France 6-4, 6-1. The other semifinal will feature Marin Cilic of Croatia and Constant Lestienne of France. The second seed Cilic advanced to the last-four via walkover while Lestienne advanced to his first tour-level semifinal with a 6-7(4/7), 6-3, 7-6(7/3) win in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic Gains Tel-Aviv Semi Final Ticket: Still Unvaccinated Against COVID-19
Djokovic has not played competitive men’s singles tennis action after winning the Wimbledon as he refuses to be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease. His insistence forced him to miss the United States Open. Sports betting sites always give Djokovic the favorites’ tag, as he has played consistent tennis at almost all surfaces whether clay, hardcourt or grass court. After the Tel-Aviv Open, the Serbian tennis star intends to play in the Astana Open in Kazakhstan on October 3-9 and the Paris Masters from October 31 to November 6. He hopes to remain in the top eight in the men’s singles rankings to qualify for the ATP Finals set in Turin, Italy, on November 13-20.
Casper Ruud Secures ATP Finals Berth
Casper Ruud reached the ATP Finals for the second consecutive year by securing a quarterfinal ticket in the Korea Open. Ruud battled past Nicolas Jarry of Chile 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. The world number two Norwegian tennis star was a semifinalist in last year’s edition of the season-ending tournament before falling to Daniil Medvedev. He is playing in his first singles event since the US Open where he placed second. Aside from Ruud, world number one and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have already secured their entry in the season-ending tournament. Ruud, however, failed to make it to the Korea Open semifinal when he succumbed to Japanese 56th seed Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 on Friday.
Andy Murray Highly Recommends Roger Federer to Become Future Laver Cup Captain
British three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has expressed support for Roger Federer as Team Europe captain in the next Laver Cup. The suggestion was made after Bjorn Borg indicated that next year’s edition of the team event in Vancouver could be his last. Murray, who is a two-time Wimbledon champion, believes that Federer will continue to be involved in the sport despite announcing his retirement. He hopes that the Swiss tennis great will impart his knowledge to future tennis stars as a coach. His longtime foe and Team Europe teammate Novak Djokovic also backed the idea. Djokovic, Federer and Murray were part of the sport’s “Big Three” that captured most of the Grand Slam titles in the past two decades. Trying his luck in coaching will be great for the tennis maestro as he continues to be with the sport that allowed him to be great. ATP tennis punters will look forward to seeing Federer mentoring up-and-coming tennis stars in the future.
