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Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Finals for the second year in a row, shortly after beating Lorenzo Musetti in a near three-hour final to win the Hellenic Championship. Djokovic said a shoulder injury would prevent him from playing in the season-ending event for the top eight men's players that starts on Sunday in Turin, Italy. "I'm sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury," Djokovic said in a post on social media. The decision means Musetti will take his place, even though his loss to Djokovic initially handed the final qualifying spot to Felix Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic has won the ATP Finals seven times but the 24-time Grand Slam champion also missed the tournament last year because of an injury. On Saturday, the Serb rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Musetti to clinch his 101st career title. The 38-year-old Djokovic also set a men's record with his 72nd title on hard courts, one more than Roger Federer. "An incredible battle," Djokovic said
Novak Djokovic battled through a tough opening set before pulling away to defeat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (3), 6-1 at the Hellenic Championship, the first top-tier tournament held in Greece in more than 30 years. Both players held their serve under pressure in the first set until Djokovic edged out the tiebreaker. The momentum shifted in the second set, where the top seed broke Tabilo twice and completed the match in just over 90 minutes. Djokovic's win secured him a spot in the quarterfinals at the ATP 250 event, as elite-level tennis returned to Greece for the first time since 1994. The Telekom Center crowd in Athens offered constant support for the 38-year-old Serb, who moved with his family to Athens earlier this year. It feels really like home playing in Athens, Djokovic said in an on-court interview. More than recognition for my tennis achievements, I felt that people here approached me in a friendly and humane way, and that touched my heart. Djokovic had lost his past tw
Novak Djokovic improved to 19-0 in the first round of the U.S. Open, battling through some leg troubles to beat Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Djokovic had his hands on his knees multiple times in the second set and received treatment on his right big toe after it. But after having his serve broken in the first game of the third set, he won the next five games to regain control Sunday night. It was the 24-time Grand Slam champion's first match since Wimbledon and one that made it tough to tell if the 38-year-old remains a real contender to win a fifth title in Flushing Meadows. He rolled through the first set in just 24 minutes, then looked weary in a second set that took nearly an hour longer. The No. 7-seeded Djokovic has made a career of wearing down his opponents, but he looked like the one who was feeling it physically in the second set against an opponent who was half his age. To be quite honest with you, I wish I had Learner Tien's age but that's not possible, Djokovic said
Tennis star Novak Djokovic is part of a group of investors who have bought a stake in French second-tier soccer team Le Mans, along with ex-Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen, the club said Friday. Le Mans said in a statement that they join other new financial investors into the club, including Latin American sports investment firm OutField and Georgios Frangulis, the founder and chief executive of OakBerry. Frangulis is the boyfriend of three-time women's Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka. "The uniqueness of this fund also lies in its contribution from high-level athletes," Le Mans president Thierry Gomez said in the statement. "Novak Djokovic, Felipe Massa, and Kevin Magnussen will be part of the adventure. No financial details were given. Djokovic is the owner of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles in tennis. The 38-year-old Serb has won 100 career titles overall. Massa won 11 races and secured 41 podiums in his F1 career. When driving for Ferrari, the popula
Novak Djokovic wanted to make this much clear after losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday: This was not a farewell performance. Djokovic intends to compete again at the All England Club. I'm not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today, the 38-year-old Djokovic said. I'm planning to come back definitely at least one more time. His 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 defeat at Centre Court against the No. 1-ranked Sinner put an end to Djokovic's latest attempt to tie Roger Federer's men's record of eight championships at Wimbledon and to claim an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title overall. Djokovic was not fully able to compete at his best level, two days after taking what he described as a nasty and awkward fall in the last game of his quarterfinal victory. I don't want to talk in details about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best, Djokovic said Friday. I do feel disappointed that I just wasn't able to move as well as I thought or hoped that I would. He