Category: Sports

In the Australia Open final, Rafel Nadal won a record-breaking 21st grand slam title after beating Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

The player had earlier missed the second half of 2021 due to a foot injury and was not considered fit enough to play at the Australian Open. However, Nadal returned at the beginning of January at the Melbourne Summer Set tournament and won his first ATP title in May 2021.

Post winning the match against Matteo Berrettini in a semifinal at the Australian Open, Nadal said that he was happy to be back after being beset by injuries. In an interview post-match he said, “It has been one of the most emotional matched in my tennis career and to share the court with Medvedev was an honor. I don’t even know what to say, guys, for me it’s just amazing”.

The tennis player played his best tennis in the final and took this chance where he wouldn’t squander again and hold his nerve expertly to etch his name in the tennis history.

It was the Spaniard’s first record of more than 20 points since he shared the previous record with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who was refused entry after his visa was revoked.

On Saturday, Barty, the first Australian woman recovered from 5-1 down in the second set to beat Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-2 (2) in the final ending a 44-year drought from Australian women at their home Grand Slam tournament.

Since Wendy Turnbull in 1980, Barty is the first homegrown player to reach the final. The 25-year-old Australian has made a remarkable comeback after taking time off, she missed every Grand Slam event for two years in 2015 and 2016, and thought of a cricketing career after losing in the first round at three majors in 2014.

Barty said, “This is just a dream come true for me. I am just so proud to be an Aussie”. She further thanked her coach and support team saying that she feels extremely fortunate and lucky to have so much love in her life. Now, Barty has won a Grand Slam singles title on three surfaces: grass at Wimbledon last year, clay at this year’s French Open, and hard court at Melbourne Park. In addition to Serena Williams, she is the only active women’s tennis player who has won majors on all three surfaces.

On Wednesday, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza announces her retirement and will hang up her racquet at the end of the 2022 season.

Winner of six Grand Slam titles, three mixed double trophies makes the announcement after losing the Australian Open women’s double first round with partner Nadiia Kichenok. The duo lost the match to Slovenia’s Tamara Zadansek and Kaja Juvan.

In a press conference, post-match Sania Mirza said, “There’s a bunch of reason for it. I do feel my recovery is taking longer and considering he is three years old, I do feel I am putting him at risk by traveling so much with him. Unfortunately, the pandemic is making is take certain decisions for the well-being of ourselves and our family. My knee was hurting today and I’m not saying that’s the reason we lost but I do think that it is taking time to recover as I am getting older”. She further added that her body is “wearing down”.

The 35-year-old will retire as India’s most accomplished woman tennis player. The former world number one in doubles who teamed up with Swiss legend Martina Hingis said a few factors influenced her decision.

On Monday, Serbian tennis player Novak could be barred from playing in the French Open as there would be no exemption from France’s new vaccine pass law.

Djokovic chases his record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, some tournaments are considering exempting him or reducing the number of exemptions for travelers who aren’t immunized against COVID-19. Novak was forced to leave Australia before the year’s first Grand Slam tournament after losing a court case to reverse the visa cancellation.

The new French vaccine pass approved by the parliament will require people to have a certificate of vaccination to enter all the public places including cafes, restaurants, long-distance trains, cinemas.

The ministry said, “The rule is simple. The vaccine pass will be imposed, as soon as the law is promulgated, in establishments that were already subject to the health pass. This will apply to everyone who is a spectator or a professional sportsperson, and this until further notice.

Djokovic was barred from bidding to win a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. earlier he had refused to get vaccinated and was criticized for making public appearances and attending events last month after testing positive for the coronavirus.

On Sunday, at the IG stadium, Lakshya Sen beat Singapore Loh Kean Yew to claim India Open Super 500 title, tempting instinct to match the world champion’s showboating.

A pair of men in their early 20s, both of whom possess exuberant attack capabilities, could have come to a point when the Almora man’s life was at risk as they got into a race to see who hit harder and faster. However, Sen showed maturity and control, putting to shade the just-crowned world champion. Having won the world championships bronze medal, Sen became the first opponent to defeat Kean Yew on the circuit, with a 24-22, 21-17 victory.

Rankireddy and Shetty’s victory against Hendra Setiawan and Mohamad Ahsan, who had won three world championships earlier in the day, was proof that the age of the well-seasoned Indian men’s badminton players, who are not a one-off like Prakash Padukone and P Gopichand, is here.

Sen said, “It feels nice to win. In the end I was a little anxious to win. But I am happy I pulled off the win”. Sen was under pressure at the end of both the semifinals and the finals. Having the confidence and momentum to hold his own under pressure makes Sen the most anticipated player of 2022 in Indian badminton.

On Sunday, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was adjourned by the Australian federal court. The visa case will be considered for its verdict after hearing arguments from lawyers representing him and the federal immigration minister.

Chief Justice James Allsop told the court, “ We would hope to be in a position to identify to the parties later in the afternoon what the course is that we propose”. During the past 10 days, the tennis star has been detained by immigration authorities, released, and then detained again as he prepares for a tournament starting on Monday.

On Sunday morning the immigration officials escorted the player to his lawyer’s office to attend the virtual court hearing. He earlier spent the Saturday night in an immigration detention hotel. Acting for Djokovic, Nick Wood pointed out how the player played in the Australian Open and several other major tournaments last year without provoking any protests or unrest. However, Stephen Lloyd said that Djokovic’s opposition to vaccination can be seen not only in his public statement but also he has not yet been vaccinated against the COVID-19 after it become widely available even for the common people.

On Wednesday, the young shuttler from Gujrat, Tasnim Mir becomes the first Indian to grab the world’s number 1 position in the under-19 girls singles in the latest BWF junior rankings.

The 16-year-old has secured titles in three junior international tournaments to jump three places and was rewarded for last year’s stellar run. She grabbed the top position in the junior world ranking. 

Tasnim said, “I can’t say that I expected this. I thought I will not be able to become number 1 as tournaments were getting affected by COVID-19 but I won three events in Bulgaria, France, and Belgium. So, I am really excited and happy that finally, I could become world No 1. It is a great moment for me.

She further added that she will completely focus on her senior circuit from now on and is looking forward to her tournament in Iran and Uganda next month. She plans to be in the top 200 by the end of the year with her good performance.

Tasnim is currently ranked a lowly 602 in the women’s singles supported by OGQ. It has never been accomplished by any Indian woman, including two-time Olympic medalist P V Sindhu and silver medalist Saina Nehwal.

World number one Tennis player Novak Djokovic arrived at the Australian airport to defend his Australian Open crown in the 21st Grand Slam title but was stopped by border officials on arrival and denied entry to the country. Djokovic is currently fighting deportation from Australia as the Australian government revoked his visa because he failed to meet its Covid-19 protocols that have made double vaccination a necessary requirement.

Although he claimed on his Instagram account a few days back that he has been exempted to play in the tournament which starts on the 17th of January and can attend it without being vaccinated. He has openly said that he is an anti-vexer and has not revealed any information related to his vaccination status yet.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Djokovic is facing deportation because he hasn’t provided the officials with his vaccination status or an adequate medical exemption. Morrison further said that “Rules are rules and there are no special cases”.

However, Djokovic’s lawyers are working hard to avoid the cancellation of his visa and are arguing in court to prevent his deportation.  

World Champion Novak Djokovic stated that he will be heading to the Australia’s Open as he has been granted a medical exception to play amid the controversy over him being an anti-vexer. An independent panel of experts decided on the protocols that the players have to follow before entering into the competition. It stated all players need to be fully vaccinated before entering the game, however some can be exempted on medical grounds such as Djokovic.

Djokovic recently sent a confirmation that he is on his way for the Australian open, while his rival Rafael Nadal is also En route to achieve the 21^st Grand Slam Title.

Djokovic was previously criticised heavily due to his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine. His father also accused the organizers of the game for blackmailing their son to get vaccinated and said that he might not participate in Melbourne.

Although government officials of Victoria state which is also hosting this year’s Australian Open clearly were against the entry of unvaccinated players to the tournament. However, the State’s Deputy Premier James Merlino said that “They’re the rules. Medical exemptions are just that — it’s not a loophole for privileged tennis players,”.

World number one Novak Djokovic has been named on the official entry list for next year’s Australian Open but 23-times Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams has opted out of the competition on advice of her medical team. Williams, who last won the Australian Open titles in 2017, had a season disrupted by injury and has not played since her first-round match at Wimbledon in June where she sustained a leg injury.

All the players, staff, officials and also spectators have to be fully vaccinated in order to be a part of the Australian Open, but Djokovic has declined to disclose his vaccination status. If the tennis star is not fully vaccinated, he will have to undergo 14 days quarantine upon arrival and the state government will have to apply for an exemption for him.

However, Djokovic has not confirmed his availability for the event yet, saying he would be making a decision “very soon” about travelling to Australia. If he plays, he will be playing for his 21st Grand Slam men’s singles title.

Meanwhile, 20-times Grand Slam champion Roger Federer is also not playing the Australian Open next year as he is still recuperating from a knee surgery.