Roger Federer to miss the 2021 Australian Open due to ongoing knee rehab

Roger Federer is withdrawing from the Australian Open while he continues preparing to return to action after two operations on his right knee, the tournament confirmed on Sunday.

Tony Godsick -- Federer's longtime representative and CEO of their management company, TEAM8 -- said he is working on putting together a 2021 tennis calendar for the 20-time Grand Slam champion, who plans to get back on tour soon after the year's first major tennis tournament.

"Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open. He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness. However, after consultation with his team, he decided that the best decision for him in the long run is to return to competitive tennis after the Australian Open," Godsick said in a statement released to the AP.

"I will start discussions this coming week for tournaments that begin in late February and then start to build a schedule for the rest of the year," Godsick said.

The start of the Australian Open's main draw was delayed by three weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic and is now scheduled to begin on Feb. 8 at Melbourne Park.

Federer, 39, has spent more weeks atop the ATP rankings than anyone else but is No. 5 after his hiatus. He is training in his usual offseason home of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The choice to delay his comeback came with input from coaches Severin Luthi and Ivan Ljubicic and fitness coach Pierre Paganini.

"We wish him all the best as he prepares for his comeback later in the year," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement confirming that Federer pulled out of the field, "and look forward to seeing him in Melbourne in 2022.''

Federer hasn't played a tournament match since late January at the 2020 Australian Open, where he was clearly injured while losing in straight sets to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Soon after, Federer played in an exhibition charity event with Rafael Nadal in front of a record tennis crowd of more than 50,000 people at a soccer stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Just weeks later, Federer announced he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and would be sidelined for at least four months. He later had a second procedure on that knee and wound up missing the rest of the pandemic-altered season.

One measure of Federer's popularity: Despite appearing in only six matches in 2020, he recently was voted the winner of the ATP Tour fans' favorite award for the 18th consecutive time.

Until this knee issue, Federer had his career interrupted only once by an operation -- on his left knee in 2016. He sat out the second half of that season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the US Open, but was back at his best when he resumed playing, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2017.

He won the Australian Open again the following year for his sixth trophy there, to go along with eight from Wimbledon, five from the US Open and one from the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

While Federer was sidelined this year, Nadal equaled his men's record for most major championships by collecting his 20th at Roland Garros in October. Federer posted a congratulatory message on social media to Nadal that day, saying he hopes "20 is just another step on the continuing journey for both of us.''

Djokovic's title in Australia this year moved him closer to Federer and Nadal with a total of 17.

espn.com

Well it seems that 2020 will continue it's fine tradition of being the worst year on record right to the very end.  

Also way to depress me hours before my Birthday. 2020 can well and truly fuck off. 

The news is not surprising given what Roger said recently about not being where he wanted to be with his knee rehab. 

But still so disappointing. Australia has always been good to Roger and it's always been so fun to watch him play there. 

Hopefully he can play in Dubai and do well there. Would really love a new champion at the Aussie Open, anyone other than Djokovic or Nadal. Perhaps Thiem will make it his year to shine down under. 

That would be something to see. 

At least all the ladies will still be in the draw. 

Really looking forward to the return of Bianca Andreescu. Hope she can shake things up in Aus. 

And I'm hoping Angie Kerber will have a better year as well. Do not screw this up for me 20201.

Roger Federer congratulates Rafa Nadal tying him for most Grand Slams with 13th Roland Garros win

I have always had the utmost respect for my friend Rafa as a person and as a champion. As my greatest rival over many years, I believe we have pushed each other to become better players. Therefore, it is a true honor for me to congratulate him on his 20th Grand Slam victory. It is especially amazing that he has now won Roland Garros an incredible 13 times, which is one of the greatest achievements in sport. I also congratulate his team, because nobody can do this alone. I hope 20 is just another step on the continuing journey for both of us. Well done, Rafa. You deserve it.

from Roger Federer's Facebook

From one G.A.O.T. to another. ♥ Congrats Rafa on your 20th Grand Slam. 100 wins #13 titles at Roland Garros. Insane. 

Iga Swiatek first Polish player to become a Grand Slam Champion at Roland Garros!

PARIS, France - Polish teenager Iga Swiatek made history in capturing her first Grand Slam title, capping off a pitch-perfect fortnight with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

"I'm just proud of myself," she said to open her post-match press conference. "I've done a great job past two weeks. I wasn't expecting to win this trophy. It's obviously amazing for me. It's a life-changing experience."

The 19-year-old, who lost no more than five games in each of her seven matches, became the first from her country to win a Grand Slam singles title in emphatic style, winning the final six games and dismissing the No.4 seed after one hour and 24 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Both women were playing their first final on the terre battue, though Kenin began 2020 with a maiden major title in Melbourne. Thrice pushed to a final set in the fortnight, the 21-year-old served out a straight-set semifinal win over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to reach the championship match.

"She obviously played a really good match," Kenin said. "She's really hot right now, playing some really great tennis. I'm not going to use this as an excuse, but my leg obviously was not the best. It's obviously disappointing."

Swiatek, by contrast, roared into her first Grand Slam final with the loss of just 23 games, the fewest since Mary Pierce finished runner-up in Paris in 1994. Facing down surprise quarter and semifinalists Martina Trevisan and Nadia Podoroska, the Polish teenager scored her most impressive wins in the first week, stunning 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova in the first round and avenging last year's French Open defeat to top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep in the fourth.

"Everybody is stressed when they're playing Grand Slam finals. I just knew that Sofia may also be stressed, that she's not a machine," Swiatek said. "I was aware that we can both struggle, and we're probably not going to play our best tennis because it's hard with so much pressure.

"But I just did everything I've done in the previous rounds. I focused on technique and tactics. I tried to get rid of expectations, just play one ball after another. I didn't really care if I'm going to lose or win. I think the main key was just keeping my expectations low."

They played just once before at this very tournament - albeit on the junior level - with Swiatek knocking out the American en route to the quarterfinals of the 2016 girl's singles tournament, and was equally impressive in the first three games of Saturday's final, winning 12 of the first 15 points.

Struggling with the Chatrier shadows and Swiatek's relentless weight of shot, Kenin nonetheless got on the board and soon began imposing her own depth as she evened the set at three games apiece.

Swiatek, who reached the doubles semifinals with Nicole Melichar, battled through a pair of long games to break Kenin after nearly 10 minutes - outrallying the American on her third break point opportunity - to find herself serving for the first set.

From set point down, Kenin reversed the deficit to earn break point and blasted a backhand return winner - one that sent Swiatek's racquet flying from her hand - to get back on serve.

Strong returning from Swiatek, the first Polish woman playing a Grand Slam final since Agnieszka Radwanska at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, followed and the Pole was ahead two more set points, making no mistake on her second opportunity as she played remarkable defense to seal a 50-minute first set.

"I just feel like I kind of made history. But I still think that Radwanska, she achieved a lot because she played on the top level of WTA for, I don't know, 12 years. I don't even know the number," she said of her illustrious countrywoman.

"I know there's going to be a lot of people who is going to compare us. But I think I have to be really consistent for the next couple years to everybody to name me like the best player in Poland because still I have a lot to do. Still I think that's kind of her place."

Exchanging breaks to open the second, Swiatek, who was cheered on from afar by good friend and US Open champion Naomi Osaka, kept pressing even as Kenin left the court for a medical timeout, winning a fifth straight game behind a barrage of winners.


"It was so crazy for me, winning against Simona that I already thought about the tournament as my lifetime achievement. Really, I had no expectations.

"I knew it's going to be tough in the final. I didn't want to stress a lot about it, so I just told myself that I don't care and I tried to believe in that."

Championship point arrived after a service winner and Swiatek completed a nerveless performance with one last forehand winner.

"I think at the end I really just enjoyed the moment. It's not that I don't care if I'm going to win or lose, I'm just not thinking about it all the time. I'm focusing on the things I do right now because winning is just an effect of my work that I'm doing every minute."

Swiatek ended the match with an astounding 25 winners, making just 17 unforced errors while converting six of nine break point opportunities. Winning over 60% of all points played on return, she allowed Kenin just 10 points in the second set.

"It's inspiring," she said of this new wave of young Grand Slam champions that includes Kenin, Osaka, and Bianca Andreescu. "I know that there are no limits. Even though you're really young and you're an underdog, you can do a lot in a sport like tennis.

"Well, on one hand it's pretty inspiring. Sometimes I caught myself visualizing that I'm also winning a Grand Slam. But on the other hand it was also really far away. Right now when I'm here and I'm a Grand Slam champion, it's crazy.

"You believe in things, but in the back of your head you know that there's going to be a huge amount of work that you have to do to win that. Then after two weeks of great playing, you already have it. It's just - I don't know - overwhelming.

"I think I'm going to need some more time to comment on that because I need some perspective, some distance."

wtatennis.com

 I am still in shock and awe over the whole thing to be honest. It is one thing to win your first Grand Slam so young, but to do it so convincingly without losing a set is something else. 

After years of waiting, Poland finally has a Grand Slam Champion!. 

Congratulations Iga on your outstanding mental toughness, poise and court craft. You are the pride of Poland.  

It was an absolute pleasure to watch you for 2 weeks. I can't wait to see, what you'll show us in 2021. 

Bring on the Aussie Open. 

Iga Swiatek reaches Roland Garros final, first Polish player in the Open Era!

PARIS, France – Iga Swiatek will be the first Polish woman to play in the final of Roland Garros during the Open Eta after dismantling qualifier Nadia Podoroska, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals.

The 19-year-old WTA World No.53, who is also into the doubles semifinals along with Nicole Melichar, had lost just 20 games in her five matches prior to her final-four clash and maintained her smooth sailing in Paris by winning in 70 minutes.

While Podoroska, who was bidding to become the first qualifier ever to make it into the final of a major, as well as just the second Argentine lady, won the first couple of points of the match, her early confidence was soon evaporated by the power and precision of her rival.

In total, Swiatek broke on five occasions, while she hit 23 winners in the type of commanding performance that has become her custom over the past fortnight.

“I’m kind of surprised! I never thought before the tournament I would play so well. But I always knew that if I was going to make a final of a Grand Slam, it would be the French Open,” she admitted.

“This is what I planned to move. I wanted to play this match as if it was a first round. I didn’t want to think about being in the semifinal because it would stress me. I just kept being aggressive, like in the previous matches. I’m feeling lucky that I’m feeling good and nothing hurts.”

The early signs were that it would be a more competitive match. Podoroska played the opening two points with authority and forced deuce as Swiatek served in the opening game.

The early signs were that it would be a more competitive match. Podoroska played the opening two points with authority and forced deuce as Swiatek served in the opening game.

Swiatek has specialized in success on her opponents’ serves for the duration of her time in Paris, and that was maintained at the outset of this encounter. Having broken Martina Trevisan in six of eight occasions in the quarters, she started the semi by breaking to 15.

Some impressive hustling from Podoroska allowed her to stay in touch with two holds, but the 23-year-old missed her sole break point of the frame by going wide and would never get a serious look at the Swiatek serve again.

Indeed, Swiatek increased her domination from that point, holding to love then sealing the set in 36 minutes at the third opportunity as her opponent fired into the net.

The momentum continued into the second as Swiatek showed her game is about more than hard hitting as she athletically chased down a drop en route to the opening game.

A matter of minutes later, the screw was turned as the teenager boasted a 4-0 advantage, drilling a forehand to break in the first instance then executing a superb lob on the way to a second.

Podoroska did succeed in breathing some life into the match with a determined break to stop the run of six games against her only to lose her own serve for a fourth successive time.

Swiatek confidently served out the match and only Sofia Kenin or Petra Kvitova will stand in the way of her becoming Poland’s first major winner in Saturday’s final.

“Petra has been a superstar has been a superstar for many years and Sofia has been on fire this year. But I don’t want to think about it right now, I’m just happy I’m in the final,” she said.

wtatennis.com

I have been keeping an eye on this young lady since last year,  and continue to be really impressed with the way she's playing. 

She had some great results on the hard courts last year. But clay is clearly the surface she shines on.

I was beyond impressed with the way she beat Simona Halep in straight sets only losing 3 games. After such a big win like that most players often have a let down and lose in the very next match. 

But not Iga Swiatek she has kept this momentum up and has not lost a set, or more then 4 games in each to reach the final

That is outstanding for someone so young. 

I'm astonished with her poise, and her on court craft as well as her power which has surprised many at this tournament. 

What a dazzling display of dominance to reach your first ever Grand Slam final. 

The first Polish woman to reach a Roland Garros final in the open era (the only other one being in 1939). 

A historic moment for Poland in the sport.

She's playing like someone who belongs on the big stage. And that's fantastic to see. 

There's a lot of darkness going on around the world this year with the pandemic, but the sport of tennis has been the one bright spot I will happily cling to and cherish. 

Being a Polish woman myself, it's not often I get to feel Polish pride when it comes to my favourite sport, and after Agnieszka Radwanska retired I wasn't sue I would ever again get the chance to do so.  

I'm so happy to be wrong.

Well done Iga!. 

I believe you can take it all the way. Poland is cheering for you. ♥♥

Lindt Home of Chocolate THE GRAND OPENING with Roger Federer

Roger Federer may not be in action on the court this year, but he’s definitely keeping busy.

The Swiss great recently participated in the grand opening of a new chocolate museum in Kilchberg, Switzerland.

The Lindt Home of Chocolate will offer visitors an interactive history of chocolate, a research center, along with the opportunity to see a nine-meter high chocolate fountain that contains 1.4 tons of chocolate.

Federer, who is a brand ambassador for Lindt said, “The Lindt Home of Chocolate is a unique chocolate experience and I look forward to coming here with my kids.”

The 20-time major champion is not competing this season as he continues to recover from knee surgery. Federer is hopeful though that he can start training soon for next year.

Federer told German daily Tages-Anzeiger that he wants to have two training sessions a day starting next week. His goal is to be fully ready for the 2021 Australian Open.


Though he admits he is getting closer to retirement, he wants to give himself more chances to fully compete on the tour.

“It would have been easy to retire now,” Federer said about not competing since January, “but I want to continue to offer myself the chance to take advantage of tennis.”

tennisnow.com

Roland Garros releases details on Covid safety measures for this year's tournament

Now that the health and safety protocol for the 2020 Roland-Garros tournament has been unveiled, Jean-François Vilotte, Director General of the FFT, gives us an outline of what to expect.

The 2020 edition of the Roland-Garros tournament, which begins on 21 September, will certainly be unusual. Firstly, due to the time of year: the Parisian Grand Slam is being played in the autumn, for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Secondly, due to the transformation of Philippe-Chatrier court, which now boasts a retractable roof. And lastly, due to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires an extremely strict health and safety protocol to be rolled out for everyone involved in the event.

For rolandgarros.com, Jean-François Vilotte, Director General of the French Tennis Federation, explains the reasoning behind the measures and gives specific details about how they will be implemented.

Can you give us an outline of the health and safety protocol to be implemented at Roland-Garros?

The aim of this health and safety protocol is to act responsibly by protecting everyone who, for whatever reason, is present inside the stadium during the 2020 edition of the tournament, while organising this outstanding international tennis event. The primary protective measure is to enable everyone to respect social distancing guidelines and hygiene precautions: first of all, the health and safety protocol states that everyone must wear a face covering, that the flow of people will be managed so that social distancing guidelines can be respected and, for the same reason, it ensures that enough space will be left between spectators when seated. Similarly, a whole series of passive protective measures will be rolled out inside the stadium, such as hand sanitiser dispensers. But, in addition to these measures, we have devised a way of physically partitioning the stadium so that visitors can avoid close interaction with other people.


Was partitioning the stadium the best solution for welcoming visitors in the best possible conditions this year?

The partitions put in place will be restrictive, but they are there for obvious reasons so the spectators will understand. The way Roland-Garros Stadium is set out and managed will, of course, be quite different to previous editions. But we are lucky to have a 12-hectare stadium that spans 1 kilometre from east to west, and various competition sites: Simonne-Mathieu court to the east, then Philippe-Chatrier court, Suzanne-Lenglen court and, to the west, the outside courts. This unique layout means that Roland-Garros stadium is not like any other traditional sporting facility. This distinctive feature will allow us to organise the tournament in the best possible way, to ensure that the competition runs smoothly – which is non-negotiable – while ensuring the safety of the various populations.

These populations include the people who organise the tournament in every sense. What provisions have been made for them?

In terms of the people who are regularly present inside the stadium, in particular the people who are involved in organising the different aspects of the tournament, we have set up a testing policy that will determine whether or not their accreditation will be issued. And for accredited persons present at the stadium over a longer period, these tests will be repeated at various intervals throughout the tournament’s duration.

We imagine that the protocol will also be extremely strict for the players and their entourage…

Yes of course. We will pay particular attention to the athletes and their entourage who, by definition, will be in greater proximity to one another. So, again, following the example we have seen elsewhere and which we ourselves have put in place when organising other, less prestigious tournaments [Ed.: such as the Challenge Elite FFT], we will implement strict hygiene conditions for the athletes and their entourage in order to monitor and detect any traces of COVID-19 contamination. This health and safety protocol is extremely strict and very responsible. We would never have considered holding the tournament if we were not convinced, along with the public authorities, that this health and safety protocol fulfils all of the current health and hygiene guidelines.

The decision to hold Roland-Garros in this unprecedented context was not taken lightly, we see…

The FFT has a responsibility to protect the health of anyone involved in the tournament: it has a responsibility to international tennis to organise this major tournament and it also has a responsibility to society. What we want people to see is that it is possible to enjoy sport, socialise and interact with other people while respecting strict health and hygiene guidelines. We want our tournament to be truly remarkable and to set an example, from all angles. By setting an example with our tournament, we hope to prove that we can get the economy back on track, though it goes without saying that certain conditions and certain restrictions must be respected.


What do you mean by this?

As the organisers of this sporting event – which is, along with the Tour de France, the most important regular international sporting event to be held in France – we have a responsibility in terms of employment, economic activity, the reputation of the City of Paris and the Greater Paris region, and, more generally, the events-based economy. From this point of view, the 2020 tournament is not just a sporting event, it is also proof that, even in the current climate, we have the human resources and the expertise, in the field of sporting events, to organise an event of this scale while doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of all people involved.

Discover here all the details of the health and safety protocol.

rolandgarros.com

Sorry, but I'm still not convinced. At least with the U.S. Open there were no people. 

Which seems logical and easier to control, having all these people even in these different sections seems kind of reckless. 

But that's partially my own anxiety talking.

I wish them all the luck in the world, but I wonder how many of the top players will actually show up. Besides Djoker who of course will because he was denied in the U.S. 

Other than him and Stan, I don't know how many top ten guys will be there. Biggest question of course will be whether Nadal will be there to defend his title. 

And I'm honestly curious how many of the women will show up as well. 

Novak Djokovic disqualified from U.S. Open 4th round for hitting lines person in the throat with a tennis ball

Well, now we know the answer to the most discussed tennis question in 2020. Who can beat Novak Djokovic, who entered today’s fourth round U.S. Open match, 26-0 on the year?


The answer: Novak Djokovic.

An absolutely stunning unforced error, Djokovic was defaulted this afternoon late in the first set of his match against Spain's Pablo Carreño Busta. While Djokovic’s anger was self-directed, he fired off ball that struck a lineswoman in the throat. In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, this “negligent disregard” triggers an automatic default. In legal terms, this is a strict liability crime.

Djokovic left the grounds without speaking to the media, but this may mark a massive pivot point—not just of this unusual tournament but of tennis history. With 17 career major singles titles, Djokovic trails Rafael Nadal (19) and Roger Federer (20), the lead criteria in tennis’ GOAT debate. As the only member of the Big Three to attend this event — he took the court today as the only male player in the draw to have ever won a major — he was the odds-on favorite to win in New York and narrow the gap.

Not only will that not happen, but one wonders about the long-term impact of this gaffe. In an extraordinarily harshly worded statement, the USTA noted that Djokovic will lose all of his ranking points and prize money from this tournament, and will likely be fined additionally. How Djokovic will handle the splashback from this catastrophe will be a prominent theme going forward.

As for the tournament itself, it, too, was jolted. For the first time in four years, a player outside the Big Three will walk away with the title. Austria’s Dominic Thiem is the highest remaining seed and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who reached the final last year, is still in the draw as well. And let’s devote a few lines to Carreño Busta, the opponent today. While Djokovic authored his own demise, the Spaniard’s play was a contributing factor, causing, as it did, such frustration and agitation. Rightly stunned, as so many others were, Carreño Busta said afterwards, “I never expected this moment.”

Neither did the tournament. Part of what makes this incident still more remarkable: the context. This “closed open,” the first tennis major staged post-COVID, featured no fans and a bubble-type of atmosphere. Officials planned for hundreds of scenarios and eventualities and controversies. The top seed defaulted mid-match for hitting a line judge with a ball was not among them.

The popular discussion topic before this tournament: would the title come adorned with an asterisk, given the absence of fans and a moth-eaten field. The view here was that it would possibly be quite the opposite: the players who won the event would not have a diluted title, but one freighted with extra meaning, able, as they were to compartmentalize the chaos and persevere. It is beyond shocking that the world’s number one player in the world wasn’t up to that. And took himself out of contention.


si.com

2020 continues it's track record of bizzare events. Of all the opponents I thought would knock Djokovic out of the tournaments, I never could have figured it would be himself.

He has made a statement on his Instagram and Twitter, where he apologizes several times but that's something that should have been done right off the bat not 2 hours later. So damage is done there. It's a bit of karma for Djokovic really. 

He handled the pandemic thing with the Adria Tour atrociously and he's been getting away with these out bursts recently so it was bound to catch up to him eventually. Hopefully he'll learn and grow from it. 

But I'll be honest it's not going to make me dislike him less. He may get more titles than Roger and Rafa in the end. 

But he'll never be in the same league in terms of class, and he'll never have the same respect in that regard.

Five 'bubbles', 400,000 fans and full prizemoney at 2021 Australian Open

The 2021 Australian Open could be moved to later in the year due to COVID-19 but tournament director Craig Tiley says organisers are confident of hosting the grand slam in its usual January slot with full prizemoney and fans in the stands.

Melbourne is in the midst of a full lockdown after a second spike in COVID-19 cases, but Tiley and his team have been working since shortly after the 2020 edition finished to draw up strategies to ensure next year's tournament goes ahead.

Ticket sales will start in October and five "bio-secure bubbles" will be opened across the country six weeks before the tournament begins to allow players arriving in Australia to avoid the most restrictive quarantine measures, Tiley said.

"We're going to open our bio-bubble from the first of December and players can come at any time," Tennis Australia's chief executive added.

"When the players arrive, our expectation is they're not going to be in a hotel for 14 days like the current requirements are. We'll have an exemption within this bio-secure bubble.

"We've said every year that we're the 'happy slam'. But now we're saying we're the 'very safe and happy slam.'"

TA's crisis management team, set up because of the bushfire smoke that threatened this year's tournament, has put a business and operational plan in place for each of the scenarios they came up with.

The first scenario was the event being held in much the same way as 2020, while the second was a tournament with limited crowds, said Tiley.

"Scenario three was behind closed doors, a broadcast-only event. Scenario four was moving to another time of the year," he added.

"And scenario five is no event at all."
'The way we were'

Tiley was confident of being able to welcome some 400,000 fans to Melbourne Park in 2021, about half the number that attended this year's tournament.

The vast site, which covers an area of about 2.5 kilometres, allows organisers to enforce physical distancing effectively, while the wearing of masks will be mandatory.

"We've established a strategy and an operational plan for all our fans and how they will be positioned around the site," he said.

Tiley said they would consult with the main tours if they were forced to reschedule, not act unilaterally as the organisers of the French Open did when they moved their event from May to the end of September.

The Australian winter would rule out the months of May to July as prospective windows but March-April or September-October could be looked at, he added.

Tiley said organisers had employed a "global expert" to help set up the bio-security bubbles and testing facilities in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, which will allow players to acclimatise and train for the grand slam.

The Australian Open, which has been held in Melbourne since 1972, is the primary source of revenue for TA and the last edition had a direct economic impact of $387 million on Melbourne, Tiley said.

TA expects turnover and revenue from the next edition to decrease by a double-digit percentage but they would not be reducing the $71 million prize purse.

"I'm optimistic and positive that we'll have an event and it'll be in Melbourne," said Tiley, adding that TA had cash reserves of $80 million to lean on in the event the tournament had to be cancelled.

"It will have some crowds and it'll be the beginning of kind of getting back to the way we were."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/five-bubbles-400-000-fans-and-full-prizemoney-at-2021-australian-open-20200812-p55l2l.html

ATP also announces cancellation of China tournaments for 2020

The ATP has announced the cancellation of the 2020 China tournament swing, following a Chinese government directive relating to sporting events in continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The directive, issued earlier this month by the General Administration of Sport in China, mandates that no international sporting events will proceed in China for the remainder of the year. As a result, the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia’s only ATP Masters 1000 tournament, the China Open in Beijing, an ATP 500 event, as well as the Chengdu Open and Zhuhai Championships, ATP 250 events, will not take place in 2020.

In addition to the four ATP Tour events affected, the policy also applies to other major international sporting events scheduled to take place in China.

“Our approach throughout this pandemic has been to always follow local guidance when staging events. We respect the Chinese government’s decision to do what’s best for the country in response to the unprecedented global situation,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman. “It’s with a heavy heart that we announce ATP tournaments will not be played in China this year. These important events have been a cornerstone of the Tour’s presence in Asia and I want to thank the organizers for their commitment and cooperation. Chinese fans are some of the most passionate in the world and I know players will be looking forward to the next opportunity to play in front of them.”

The ATP continues to work on a revised calendar for the final section of the 2020 season, through to the Nitto ATP Finals in November. A further update is expected in the next fortnight on a provisional schedule of events.

The 2020 ATP Tour provisional calendar can be found here.

atptour.com

All WTA tournaments in China cancelled for 2020

Due to the recent decision by China’s General Administration of Sport, all seven WTA tournaments that were scheduled in China on WTA’s 2020 provisional calendar will not be held.

This includes the seven WTA events on the 2020 provisional calendar of:



- Week of Oct. 12 – China Open (Beijing)
- Week of Oct. 19 – Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open
- Week of Oct. 19 – Jiangxi Open (Nanchang)
- Week of Oct. 26 – Zhengzhou Open
- Week of Nov. 9 – Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen
- Week of Nov. 16 – Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai
- Week of Nov. 23 – Guangzhou Open


"We are extremely disappointed that our world-class events in China will not take place this year," stated Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. "Unfortunately, this decision also includes the cancellation of the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen and as result, the corresponding Porsche Race to Shenzhen. We do however respect the decision that has been made and are eager to return to China as soon as possible next season."

Simon added, "We would like to acknowledge the significant efforts made by our tournaments in the region throughout this process along with the Chinese Tennis Association for their dedication and commitment to the WTA. We share in the disappointment of many around the world who were looking forward to this swing and appreciate all of the continued support from our fans, partners and the entire region, as we continue to navigate the remainder of the 2020 season."

The WTA remains committed to moving forward with the return to play plan which provides for operating as many tournaments and providing as many playing opportunities as possible this season. The Tour is looking at implementing some final adjustments to the provisional calendar based upon the decisions set forth in China.

The WTA continues to monitor the situation closely and work with medical experts, as protecting the health and safety of our WTA community is of utmost importance. The Tour continues to remain vigilant in managing this challenging situation and playing as much tennis as it is safe to do so.

wtatennis.com

French Open Tennis confirms play for the Grand Slam will start in late September

Following discussions with the international tennis authorities – the ATP, WTA and ITF – the French Tennis Federation is delighted to announce that this year’s Roland-Garros tournament will be played over three weeks, from 21st September to 11th October 2020, providing the conditions relating to the COVID-19 health crisis allow it to go ahead. The Parisian Grand Slam has been granted an extra week of competition, which means the qualifying tournament can be played from 21st September.


After the decision to postpone the Roland-Garros tournament to 20th September - 4th October and the ensuing discussions with the international tennis authorities, the new international schedule drawn up by the ATP, WTA and ITF has granted the Roland-Garros tournament an extra week of competition. This way, the qualifying rounds will be played from Monday 21st to Friday 25th September and will be followed by the main draw from Sunday 27th September to 11th October.

In a bid to act responsibly, the FFT is now working with the French government to prepare for the tournament and set out suitable measures that will ensure the health and safety of all people present. All options will be considered and are susceptible to change.

“We are delighted that our discussions with the various international tennis authorities have allowed us to extend the 2020 edition of the Roland-Garros tournament to three weeks. In the current, difficult climate, we are well aware that it is a privilege to be able to hold Roland-Garros in its usual format. Especially since the qualifying tournament will help to financially support a category of professional players who have been severely affected by this unprecedented crisis. The responsible decision we made on 17th March to postpone the Roland-Garros tournament – the climax of the clay season – until the autumn means that the 2020 clay season can be saved, providing the current situation continues to improve. The Roland-Garros tournament is thus fulfilling its historic role as the clay-court world championships. The tournament in autumn 2020 will be a new chapter in Roland-Garros’ ongoing history,” explained Bernard Giudicelli, President of the FFT.

rolandgarros.com

The U.S. Open and Roland Garros are so close together that I have a feeling a lot of players will choose one or the other, but not both because even for the most elite of athletes having to play 4 weeks in a row would be exhausting. Assuming some of them show up at all.

WTA announces updated provisional playing schedule

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA - Subject to appropriate governmental and health-related approvals, the WTA has announced a plan for the WTA Tour to return to play this season. Competition is provisionally scheduled to begin the week of Monday, August 3 at the 31° Palermo Ladies Open in Italy following five months of suspension due to COVID-19.

The calendar is conditioned on several key factors including the ability for play to safely resume in line with the guidance of medical experts, governmental approval of sporting events, and relaxed travel policies. The WTA’s strategic plan and provisional Tour calendar is in alignment with the efforts of the ATP, ITF, USTA and FFT.

It is currently anticipated that tournaments will be held without fans and each tournament will have a limited footprint, with players and essential personnel only. WTA tournaments will be available for viewing on broadcast - for a list of WTA’s broadcast partners, click here.

"Having assessed the global outlook for travel in the latter half of the year, working with our medical experts on providing the safest environment possible, and working through the diverse operational challenges for running events safely in the context of COVID-19, the WTA is pleased to release a calendar for the remainder of the 2020 season," said WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon. "For now, the vital energy of spectators in stadiums will be greatly missed, but our broadcast and social media partners are exploring new ways to engage with our fantastic fans. It is our sincere hope and desire that we will be able to return to play this summer."

The calendar includes a total of 20 tournaments, beginning in Palermo. The WTA Tour’s return will see the Western & Southern Open, typically held in Cincinnati, Ohio, being hosted this year at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City -- the same site as, and a week prior to the US Open, which maintains its originally scheduled dates.

Following the US Open, the WTA Tour will continue to Europe with several red clay events, including the Mutua Madrid Open leading into Roland Garros, with Roland Garros qualifying scheduled the week of September 21 and main draw the following two weeks, concluding on October 11.

Thereafter, the WTA Tour will traverse across several countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific, including the China Open in Beijing, with another few weeks of tournament competition leading into the season-ending Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen set for November 9-15.


With the provisional plan to return to play this summer, the Porsche Race to Shenzhen will resume, with all points earned in 2020 eligible to count for qualification towards the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen.

Due to various circumstances brought on by COVID-19, several WTA tournaments are unable to be held this year and will sit off the calendar in 2020.

Note: The Upper Austria Ladies Linz is planning to operate in the fall, date to be finalized.

WTA Rankings update

The WTA rankings have been frozen since March 16, 2020. A determination on the rankings process will be made in the coming weeks with respect to the most appropriate and fair way for the rankings to resume in parallel with the resumption of the Tour.

wtatennis.com

ATP Issues revised calendar for resumption of tennis

The ATP, in collaboration with the WTA, ITF, USTA and the FFT, has issued a revised provisional calendar that sets a pathway for the resumption of the Tour for the first time since the suspension of professional tennis in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new-look ATP Tour calendar intends to resume on Friday 14 August with the Citi Open, the ATP 500 event in Washington, D.C., followed by the Western & Southern Open, the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 event, to be hosted at Flushing Meadows, in the lead up to the US Open (31 August – 13 September).

Following New York, the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, ATP Masters 1000 events on clay in Madrid and Rome, respectively, will take place in September ahead of Roland Garros in Paris (27 September – 11 October), which will also feature a singles qualifying draw the week prior.

The calendar is subject to change and continued assessments will be made relating to health & safety, international travel policies, and governmental approval of sporting events. All events will be held under strict guidelines related to health & safety, social distancing, reduced or no fans on-site. The ATP continues to explore all options for additional ATP 500 and 250 events to be added to the schedule, should circumstances allow.

A further update on the intended schedule beyond Roland Garros, including a possible Asia swing ahead of the European indoor swing culminating with the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in London, is expected in mid-July.

“Our objective has been to reschedule as many tournaments as possible and salvage as much of the season as we can,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman. “It has been a truly collaborative effort and we hope to add more events to the calendar as the situation evolves. I would like to recognise our tournaments’ efforts to operate during these challenging times, as well as our players who will be competing under different conditions. At every turn, ensuring that the resumption of the Tour takes place in a safe environment will be paramount.”

The ATP Challenger Tour will also resume from the week of 17 August, in parallel with the ITF World Tennis Tour.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULING
The revised calendar includes the Generali Open, an ATP 250 event in Kitzbühel, which coincides with the second week of the US Open. Top 10 singles players will not be eligible to compete in Kitzbühel unless they have played, and already lost, at the US Open.

FEDEX ATP RANKINGS 

The FedEx ATP Rankings have been frozen since 16 March 2020. The ATP continues to monitor all global travel restrictions and general access to playing opportunities ahead of the resumption of the Tour.

As the situation continues to evolve on a weekly basis, a determination will be made in the coming weeks with respect to the most appropriate and fair way for the rankings to resume in parallel with the resumption of the Tour.

atptour.com

USTA announces U.S. Open and Western Southern Open Tennis as first live events to be played in August despite pandemic

The 2020 US Open will play as scheduled—preceded by the Western & Southern Open—with Governor's approval.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo endorsed playing the US Open starting August 31st—without fans and with safety protocols in place—in a tweet today.

More: US Open Will Play on Schedule

"The US Open will be held in Queens, NY, without fans from August 31 to September 13," Cuomo tweeted. "The USTA will take extraordinary precautions to protect players and staff, including robust testing, additional cleaning, extra locker room space, and dedicated housing & transportation."


The US Open will be the first Grand Slam to play since the coronavirus pandemic erupted.

Wimbledon cancelled for the first time in 75 years due to the virus.

The Flushing Meadows major is bringing the Queen City to Queens.

The USTA announced the Western & Southern Open, played annually in Cincinnati, will move to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and be contested before the US Open.

"We are incredibly excited that Governor Cuomo and New York State have today approved our plan to host the 2020 US Open and 2020 Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center," USTA CEO Mike Dowse said. "We recognize the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times, and we will do so in the safest manner possible, mitigating all potential risks.

"We now can give fans around the world the chance to watch tennis' top athletes compete for a US Open title, and we can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport."

tennisnow.com

Personally I think this is a monumentally bad idea. It's not only unfair to players and fans alike, but a Grand Slam without a crowd just seems pointless entertainment wise. 

Also how much does the USTA stand to gain financially with all the health restrictions/expenses with no crowds to bring in revenue?. I'm not sure that's feasible. 

I will be honestly surprised if even half of the top ten players agree to travel to the U.S. right now, especially New York City which is still a real hot spot for the virus. 

So again really not sure what the USTA is thinking. I am all for having live tennis again, but it is still unsafe and seems foolish to be putting people at risk for the sake of a few bucks. 

Also Roger Federer is not going to play so that's another minus in the column for me. I hope the players stand their ground and refuse. 

Can't put on an event without participants.

Roger Federer undergoes 2nd arthroscopic knee surgery will not play till 2021

Roger Federer announced on Wednesday that he recently underwent a "quick arthroscopic procedure" on his right knee, and he will not play until 2021.

“A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional quick arthroscopic procedure on my right knee,” Federer tweeted. “Now, much like I did leading up to the 2017 season, I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 per cent ready to play at my highest level. I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly. But, I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season.”

Federer underwent surgery on the same knee in February. The Swiss' initial plan following that surgery was to return during the grass-court season.

The 38-year-old's lone tournament of 2020 came at the Australian Open, where he reached the semi-finals. Eventual champion Novak Djokovic defeated him in straight sets.

No big loss here I honestly highly doubt any of the 2020 tennis season will happen at this point. I know U.S. Open and Roland Garros are holding out hope, but I think that's all it is right now. 

Even if both somehow were to happen the likelihood of all players wanting to participate much less travel are slim to none.

So rest up Roger, here's to a speedy recovery and a fantastic 2021 season *fingers crossed*

atptour.com

Roger Federer can't imagine playing in empty stadiums

Roger Federer is not keen on playing tennis without any fans in attendance and the Swiss hopes that the ATP will wait out the Coronavirus long enough to avoid such a situation.

“In my view, I can’t see an empty stadium,” Federer said while participating in Gustavo Kuerten’s charity “Winning Together.” “I can not. I hope that doesn’t happen. Even if most of the time we are training there is no one, everything is quiet, in silence.”

Federer says that while playing without spectators is possible, be believes it would be better to start when it is safe for at least some fans to attend tennis events.

“For us, of course, it is possible to play without any fans,” he said. “But on the other hand, I really hope that the circuit can return as it normally is. May we wait for the appropriate time to return to normal mode again. At least a third of the stadium or half full. But for me, completely empty when playing in big tournaments is very difficult.”

In the meantime, the Swiss is enjoying family time, relaxing, and not working too much on his tennis, or even missing it.

“I’m not training at the moment because I don’t see a reason for that to be honest,” he said. “I am happy with my body now and I still believe that the lap of the circuit is a long way off. And I think it’s important for my head at this point to enjoy this break after playing so much tennis. I don’t miss it so much. I will feel it eventually when I am close to returning and have a goal to train for. I’m going to be super motivated.”

tennisnow.com

Simona Halep Urges 'Grand Slams Priority' and ‘Player Consultation' | Tennis Legends | Polcast part 2

Simona Halep Reacts to Wimbledon Cancellation | Tennis Legends Podcast Eurosport

Darren Cahill on Simona Halep: 'A Small Lady With a Huge Heart, Romania Can Be Very Proud’

Simona Halep and Justine Henin Tennis Legends Podcast Eurosport

Feels like forever since I've last posted. But the world without sport is a weird place right now.



It feels appropriate for my first post in a while to be with 2 of my fave female tennis players. Past and present.

ATP & WTA announce further suspension along with cancellation of Wimbledon due to Corona Virus

In conjunction with the cancellation of The Championships, Wimbledon, the ATP and WTA have jointly announced the continued suspension of the ATP and WTA Tours until July 13, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to Wimbledon, the suspension covers the entirety of the ATP/WTA European grass court swing, including ATP events in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Stuttgart, London-Queen’s, Halle, Mallorca, Eastbourne, as well as WTA events in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Nottingham, Birmingham, Berlin, Eastbourne and Bad Homburg. The suspension comes into effect at all levels of the professional game, including the ATP Challenger Tour, as well as the ITF World Tennis Tour. At this time, tournaments taking place from July 13, 2020 onwards are still planning to proceed as per the published schedule.

The ATP and WTA realise the importance and responsibility to prioritise the health and safety of the tennis community and general public while assessing the feasibility of the Tours’ resumption.

“Regrettably, the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic leaves us with no choice but to suspend the Tour further; a decision we’ve made in close cooperation with our members and the other governing bodies of tennis,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman. “Health and safety remains the top priority as we navigate the challenges ahead in these unprecedented times, and we will do everything we can for the Tour to resume at the earliest opportunity once it is safe to do so.”

“This was a decision that the WTA and its members did not take lightly, however we remain vigilant in protecting the health and safety of our players, staff and fans,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. “While we share in the disappointment of the season’s further postponement, our priority remains to support each other during this unprecedented time and work together as a sport in preparation of our return to play.”

atptour.com

WTA & ATP cancel clay season due to Corona Virus no tennis until at least June

Please see below for a joint statement regarding professional tennis and COVID-19 from the WTA Tour and the ATP World Tour.

"After careful consideration, and due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19, all ATP and WTA tournaments in the Spring clay court swing will not be held as scheduled. This includes the combined ATP/WTA tournaments in Madrid and Rome, along with the WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat and ATP events in Munich, Estoril, Geneva and Lyon.

"The professional tennis season is now suspended through June 7, 2020, including the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour. At this time, tournaments taking place from June 8, 2020 onwards are still planning to go ahead as per the published schedule.

"In parallel, the FedEx ATP Rankings and WTA Rankings will be frozen throughout this period and until further notice.

"The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community, in order for the sport to move forward collectively in the best interest of players, tournaments and fans.

"We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximizing the tennis calendar based on various return dates for the Tours, which remains an unknown at this time. We are committed to working through these matters with our player and tournament members, and the other governing bodies, in the weeks and months ahead.

"Now is not a time to act unilaterally, but in unison. All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game, a view that is shared by ATP, WTA, ITF, AELTC, Tennis Australia, and USTA."

wtatennis.com

May need to keep the tennis subscriptions after all so I can watch some old matches. Talk about some major tennis withdrawal. 2020 is gonna be a strange season that's for sure. 

Roland Garros postponed until September due to Corona Virus

The current confinement measures have made it impossible for us to continue with the dates originally planned.

The whole world is affected by the public health crisis connected with COVID-19. In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the tournament, the French Tennis Federation has made the decision to hold the 2020 edition of Roland-Garros from 20th September to 4th October 2020.

Though nobody is able to predict what the situation will be on 18th May, the current confinement measures have made it impossible for us to continue with our preparations and, as a result, we are unable to hold the tournament on the dates originally planned. 

 
In order to act responsibly and protect the health of its employees, service providers and suppliers during the organisation period, the FFT has chosen the only option that will allow them to maintain the 2020 edition of the tournament while joining the fight against COVID-19.

At this important period in its history, and since the progress of the stadium modernisation means the tournament can be held at this time, the FFT was keen to maintain the 2020 tournament. Therefore, this year’s Roland-Garros will be held from 20th September to 4th October. 

 
This decision was made in the interest of both the community of professional tennis players, whose 2020 season has already been compromised, and of the many fans of tennis and Roland-Garros.

“We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this UNPRECEDENTED situation, which has evolved greatly since last weekend. We are acting responsibly, and must work together in the fight to ensure everybody’s health and safety,” explained Bernard Giudicelli, President of the FFT.
Any tickets already purchased will either be refunded or exchanged to take into account the new dates of Roland-Garros 2020. We will give details about how to do this in a subsequent press release.

rolandgarros.com

The cancellation was expected, the reschudule however was not. Many players are already pointing out they were not consulted on the time frame of the event. 

As usual the governing bodies of both tours are not communicating with their players just doing what they think is best. 

I'm not sure how feasible this will be given it's what 1/2 weeks after the U.S. Open also the same week as the Laver Cup, not to mention many other overlapping events on the calendar. 

Safe to say you can still more than likely count Roger Federer out of it. At this point it might have been better if they postponed it till next year. 

2020 is an endless nightmare at the moment. Best to stay safe and healthy.

The Last of Us heading to series at HBO

Craig Mazin, the creator of the acclaimed limited series Chernobyl, is reteaming with HBO to adapt The Last of Us, the massive Sony PlayStation video game franchise.

In a rare development in the world of video game adaptations, the writer and creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann, is also involved and will work with Mazin to pen and executive produce what is intended to be a series.

Carolyn Strauss will also executive produce along with Evan Wells, the president of Naughty Dog, the Santa Monica-based developer of the game. The project is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television in association with PlayStation Productions. It will be the first television series from PlayStation Productions.

Launched in 2013, Sony and Naughty Dog's The Last of Us garnered critical praise for its engrossing tale of the postapocalypse, centering on the relationship between Joel, a smuggler in this new world, and Ellie, a teenager who may be key to a cure for the deadly pandemic.

Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle the14-year-old girl out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. The HBO series will cover the events of the original game, which was written by Druckmann, with the possibility of additional content based on the forthcoming game sequel, The Last of Us Part II, which will release on May 29, 2020.

Mazin, who is said to be an avid player of the game, stated, "Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus. Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I'm so honored to do it in partnership with Neil."

"From the first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of The Last of Us," said Druckmann in a statement. "With Chernobyl, Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn't think of better partners to bring the story of The Last of Us to life as a television show."

The Last of Us won numerous "game of the year" awards and went on to sell more than 17 million copies across both its original release on the PlayStation 3 and a remastered version on PlayStation 4.

"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to partner with Craig, Neil, Carolyn and the teams at Sony, Naughty Dog and PlayStation to bring the virtual world of this acclaimed game to life," stated HBO programming president Casey Bloys.

"This is the first of many shows we intend to develop with our friends at PlayStation Productions," said Chris Parnell, co-president of Sony Pictures Television Studios. The Last of Us is a brilliant achievement in storytelling and character development, and we are lucky to have the opportunity to work with this team to adapt it."

Druckmann is a longtime vet of Naughty Dog, starting as a programming intern in 2004. In 2007, he was given the role of game designer on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the first installment in the action adventure series. In 2013, he created The Last of Us, based on a concept he developed as a student at Carnegie Mellon University.

Mazin's Chernobyl tackled a bleak and complex true-life event and became a must-see show for HBO. The show won an Emmy for outstanding limited series and landed one for Mazin for outstanding writing. Mazin also won a PGA award and a WGA award.

hollywoodreporter.com

Forget the Uncharted movie, I am so excited for this!. Yes please. 

Kim Clijsters starts 2nd comeback tournament in Monterrey

MONTERREY, Mexico - Kim Clijsters' latest comeback tour is taking the Hall of Famer to places she's never been.

Two weeks ago, the 36-year-old returned to competitive tennis after a nearly seven-year absence at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in what was also her tournament debut, and the four-time Grand Slam champion is set to make another this week at the Abierto GNP Seguros.


"From the moment we got picked up at the airport, people have been really friendly. It's a very beautiful area. I'm excited to be here and to be playing here in Monterrey, and for the first time in South America," Clijsters told the media on Sunday ahead of the tournament.

"The other Belgians who've played here in the past told me about it at Fed Cup. [Victoria] Azarenka told me that it was a great tournament to come and play at. They were right. It's nice to be here."

A wildcard into the draw this week in Mexico, the still-unranked Belgian will face No.2 seed Johanna Konta of Great Britain in the first round as her third stint on the WTA continues to find its feet.

The match will be Clijsters' second against a Top 20 player in as many events after she lost a hard-fought 6-2, 7-6(6) match to Garbiñe Muguruza in Dubai.

Two points away from winning the second set against the Australian Open runner-up, the 36-year-old feels that her first month back on the professional circuit has been full of positives.

"I feel like with the tennis that I've been playing, I'm improving. I still have a good level in me. I'm still at the stage where I feel like I need match rhythm," Clijsters said.

"I've played one official match so far, and some practice sets. I would like to have more matches, and that's the only way that I can practice certain things that you can only learn from matches.

"In practice, I'm moving better, I'm reacting better, I'm making better decisions. It has to happen in the match now. I think the more matches I get to play, the more that will improve a little bit, and we'll see how far I can go."

After ending her 2019 season after the US Open due to a knee injury, British No.1 Konta is also searching for matchplay of her own in Monterrey. The World No.15 is 0-3 in singles to start the season, but reached the doubles semifinals of the St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy last month alongside Caroline Garcia.

Konta is also in the doubles draw this week partnering Elina Svitolina, who is the tournament's top seed in singles.

The match against Konta will be another first for former World No.1 Clijsters, as she and the Brit have never played.

"I haven't seen that many players yet. I've played one tournament, and I'm really trying to focus on my tennis and my fitness, so I'm not around as much," Clijsters continued.

"I've seen a lot of new faces, a lot of girls that I don't know, but that I'm starting to get to know a little bit. I've been practicing with different girls, and that's been fun.

"There are also girls that I know really well. Azarenka, I saw her yesterday, or Simona Halep [a practice partner in Dubai], who I've seen for many years."

Regardless of what comes to her this week in Mexico, Clijsters' comeback will continue to gain steam throughout the spring. Last week, she was awarded a wildcard for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where she is a two-time champion.

"It's a process. It's a process of ups and downs, and I think that's something you have to understand. It comes with failure, but I think it's how you deal in the moments where it's the toughest," she said.

"That's when you improve the most, when you learn the most about yourself and when you're capable of improving. I think that was something I was always able to do well.

"When I lost in the past I was disappointed, but after a certain about of time, I was able to make that switch in my head and use it, and that's how I was able to become better. I think it's that kind of mindset. It's important to not get discouraged about the losses, and use it to motivate you even more."

wtatennis.com

Simona Halep wins 20th Career Title in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE -- No.1 seed Simona Halep was forced to the brink, but battled to a hard-earned second Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title, as the Romanian fought back from a set down to overcome rising Kazakh Elena Rybakina, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) in Saturday night’s classic final.

"It feels great that I could win it," Halep said, during her post-match press conference. "Actually, it was amazing. [Rybakina] fought till the end. She didn't give up any balls. It was really tough mentally. The pressure was very high. But I want it badly, so that's why I fought till the end."

Reigning Wimbledon champion Halep, who also hoisted the Dubai trophy in 2015, stormed back from a break down at 3-1 in the final set to clinch her 20th career WTA singles title after nearly two-and-a-half hours of unpredictable play.

"It's very special to be in 2020, 20th anniversary of this tournament, 20th title," an elated Halep stated. "It's pretty special. I just want to enjoy it. It's very, very beautiful."

World No.2 Halep notched her first title of the season as she approaches her 318th consecutive week in the Top 10 -- the tenth-longest streak in WTA history. She also earned redemption from her only previous meeting with Rybakina, where the Romanian was forced to retire in the first set of their 2019 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open encounter due to a lower back injury.

"She's strong," Halep said about her vanquished foe. "She has a huge serve. She's tall. She has power. I think she's really good to get into the top 10 very soon."

"[Rybakina is] moving well, even if she's very tall," Halep continued. "Her ball doesn't jump that much. It's really tough to find the length of the ball. The shot, cross backhand, is amazing. She can go also down the line. I think she's at the highest confidence level. I think everything she hits, it's really good now."

With her 20th title, Halep has drawn level with Victoria Azarenka in sixth place on the list of active title winners (behind Serena and Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova).

"I've done a lot of results, many results these six, seven years," said Halep. "I'm staying here in the top 5, top 10, which is not easy. I'm proud of my job. Also this tournament gives me confidence that I'm still there."

Despite the loss, Rybakina, who was in her fourth final out of five events this season, will continue to move up the rankings, as she is projected to reach No.17 on Monday's new rankings, up two spots from her current career-high position of No.19.

After a tight first game, the nerveless power of Rybakina allowed her to edge ahead as the first set took shape. Halep found herself in danger on serve in the second game of the match, having to save a break point, though the Romanian got herself out of trouble on that occasion.

However, at 3-2, Halep let a 40-15 lead slip away as exceptional returning by the Kazakh pulled to another break point. In that instance, Rybakina was ceded the break after a long forehand miscue by Halep, as the unseeded player took a crucial 4-2 lead. The Kazakh was not overwhelmed by her first big advantage, using strong serving to move ahead 5-2.

After holding at love for 5-3, Halep finally had chances on the Rybakina serve, withstanding two set points before clutching two break points. However, Rybakina calmly batted those break points away with an ace and an error-forcing winner, and claimed a third set point after a wide return by Halep. There, another wide return by the top seed gave Rybakina a stirring one-set lead.

Halep, though, was undaunted, and after erasing a break point in the first game of the second set, the Romanian crept ahead. Halep fired a forehand winner for triple break point at 2-1, and after a forehand miscue by the Kazakh followed, the former champion had earned her first break of the night and a 3-1 lead. An ace helped the top seed close out another game and a sturdy 4-1 lead.

Rybakina, however, would keep working for a straight-set win, staving off two break points to hold for 4-2, then getting back on serve at 4-3 after an error-laden game from Halep. Despite that stumble, Halep took command in the set once more, converting her fourth break point of a massive game filled with grueling rallies to slide ahead 5-3.

Serving to level the match, Halep found a much-needed ace at 30-30, giving herself a set point. There, a rally forehand forced an error from Rybakina, and the combatants were deadlocked at one set apiece.

Rybakina, though, clutched the upper hand early in the decider, gritting out a tough service hold for 2-1, then earning a break point in the next game with a huge return off of a Halep second serve. Halep was pressured into a double fault in the next point, and Rybakina was leading by a break at 3-1 in the final set.

Errors by the Kazakh in the very next game gave Halep the break back immediately, though, and the Romanian kept herself on serve until she was able to break Rybakina once more, forcing errors with outstanding defense for a 6-5 lead.

Serving for the match in that game, though, Halep was never able to reach match point, as powerful hitting by the young Kazakh led the topsy-turvy tilt to its inexorable conclusion -- a decisive final-set tiebreak.

In the breaker, Rybakina walloped another huge return off a second serve to go up 4-3, but Halep immediately got the minibreak back with a vicious forehand winner. Eventually, Halep claimed the only match point after a wide Rybakina backhand, which she converted to polish off a tiring tilt and notch a noteworthy 20th WTA singles title.

wtatennis.com

What a great tournament and tremendous fight from Simona Halep. 

My gosh how I enjoy watching her play when she's healthy, because she's able to produce out of this world shots that you just won't see with any other player on tour. 

Congratulations on your 20th title Simona (and your 2nd in Dubai), thanks for making another dreary wintery week a little brighter. 

It was an absolute joy to watch you fight your heart out. 

Enjoy some well deserved rest :). 

Roger Federer underwent right knee surgery set to return on the grass in June

Roger Federer announced today that he will return to competitive tennis during the grass-court swing, after undergoing right knee surgery in Switzerland on Wednesday.

“My right knee has been bothering me for a little while,” Federer announced on Twitter. “I hoped it would go away, but after an examination, and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday. After the procedure, the doctors confirmed that it was the right thing to have done and are very confident of a full recovery.

“As a result, I will unfortunately have to miss Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami and the French Open. I am grateful for everyone’s support. I can’t wait to be back playing again soon, see you on the grass!”

The 38-year-old, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals (l. to Djokovic) last month, also underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery on 3 February 2016, limiting him to seven tournaments that season.

atptour.com

4 months is an awful  long drought without Roger in the draw, but I would rather he's back to 100% healthy so he can play for a few more years. 

And the last time he had arthroscopic knee surgery he came back after a 6 month break and won 2 Grand Slams. 

I would not mind that happening again. 

Strange how this happened the same month as 4 years ago, just at the end of February instead of the start. 

Get well soon Roger!. The tennis world is going to miss you.