Category Archives: French Open

Novak Djokovic defiant despite warning not to repeat political message

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  • French sports minister insists on ‘neutrality’ at Roland Garros
  • ‘I would say it again,’ says Serbian world No 3

Novak Djokovic has insisted that he would not hesitate to opine on Kosovo and the clashes between Kosovo authorities and ethnic Serbs again, even as the backlash to his comments continues to grow.

“I don’t mind saying that. I mean, I would say it again,” Djokovic said. “But I don’t need to because you have my quotes if you want to reflect on that. Of course I’m aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is. It’s something that I stand for.”

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Elina Svitolina advocates for Ukraine on spectacular return

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  • Svitolina beats Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-2
  • ‘These moments bring joy to people of Ukraine’

Sixteen months since Elina Svitolina last competed in a grand slam tournament, the Australian Open, life has changed significantly. She is now a mother, having taken maternity leave from the tour before giving birth to her first child, Skaï, with her husband, Gaël Monfils. Her country, Ukraine, has been invaded by Russia. She spent much of her time away from the sport, including during her pregnancy, advocating for her country’s cause.

On the court, however, not too much has changed. Svitolina returned to the French Open with a spectacular performance, dismantling the 26th seed, Martina Trevisan, a semi-finalist last year, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the second round. Trevisan is Svitolina’s first top‑30 win of her comeback.

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Djokovic’s French Open title defence in doubt after Covid pass ruling

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  • France rules all athletes will have to be vaccinated for events
  • French MP says Novak Djokovic’s behaviour is ‘irresponsible’

Novak Djokovic may not be allowed to defend his French Open title in May after the French government ruled that all athletes will have to be vaccinated in order to attend and compete in sporting events in France.

The French sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, has announced that athletes would not be exempt from France’s Covid pass, which will soon come into effect for over 16s. “The vaccination pass has been adopted. As soon as the law is promulgated, it will become mandatory to enter public buildings already subject to the health pass (stadium, theatre or lounge) for all spectators, practitioners, French or foreign professionals,” she wrote on twitter.

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Novak Djokovic rallies to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in epic French Open final

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  • Djokovic wins 6-7 (8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
  • Serb claims his 19th grand slam title with Paris win

After the sheer willpower and strength it took to topple Rafael Nadal on his surface and his court on Friday, Novak Djokovic was charged with returning to the scene two days later and summoning his prime form once more against the second-best clay‑courter of the season.

For a fair amount of time during this match it was reasonable to ask if this was a challenge too far, as his own waning energy and the force that is Stefanos Tsitsipas combined to create a two-set deficit for the Serb. Instead, Djokovic pulled off the type of manic recovery he has made look routine for over a decade, recovering to force five sets and eventually defeat Tsitsipas 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and win his second French Open title.

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Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open amid row over press conferences

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  • World No 2 pulls out of event after being fined by organisers
  • Osaka says speaking to press causes her ‘huge anxiety’

Naomi Osaka has announced her withdrawal from Roland Garros one day after she was fined $15,000 by the French Open and warned that she could face expulsion from the tournament following her decision not to speak with the press during the tournament.

Osaka, 23, who won her first match against Patricia Maria Tig and was scheduled to face Ana Bogdan in the second round, had released a statement last Wednesday stating her intention to skip her media obligations during Roland Garros because of the effects of her interactions with the press on her mental health.

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Rafael Nadal demolishes Novak Djokovic to win 13th French Open title

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  • World No 2 thrashes No 1 seed 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
  • Spaniard equals Roger Federer’s haul of 20 grand slam titles

Novak Djokovic drove Rafael Nadal to almost unprecedented heights of excellence but was powerless to stop his old rival winning his 13th French Open and the 20th major he needed to match the record of their absent friend, Roger Federer.

Nadal’s 100th win at Roland Garros was almost flawless – 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 in two hours and 41 minutes in front of a drastically reduced audience because of the pandemic at a rescheduled grand slam under a new roof at Court Philippe Chatrier – yet it was a final of rolling contradictions, too.

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Ashleigh Barty storms to French Open glory with win over Vondrousova

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• Australian dominates in straight-sets cruise, 6-1, 6-3
• Impressive display secures first grand slam title

Ashleigh Barty celebrated her breakthrough French Open victory with an expletive used often enough by most people not named Margaret Court, the last Australian to win the title, 46 years ago, and a Christian fundamentalist whom the new champion respects but disagrees strongly with for her strident views on gay marriage.

Related: Dominic Thiem ends Novak Djokovic’s slam streak to reach French Open final

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Mike Scioscia says managing Ohtani has been easy so far

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Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani gestures back after he scores on a single by Mike Trout with Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kevin McCarthy walking back to the mound during the sixth inning of a baseball game against in An... . Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks at a news conference after Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 3, 2018.