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Lleyton Hewitt, były lider rankingu ATP, powiedział, że Roger Federer będzie faworytem Australian Open 2018. Zdaniem Australijczyka, trudno przewidzieć, w jakiej formie w Melbourne pojawią się Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray i Novak Djoković.



Marat Safin: Novak Djoković nie zagrozi Rafaelowi Nadalowi i Rogerowi Federerowi
Australian Open 2017 był wielkim powrotem Rogera Federera. Szwajcar, rozgrywający wówczas pierwszy oficjalny turniej po półrocznej przerwie spowodowanej kontuzją kolana, w znakomitym stylu zdobył tytuł - 17. w Wielkim Szlemie. Za niespełna siedem tygodni Federer powróci do Melbourne, by bronić mistrzostwa. I zdaniem wielu jest faworytem.
Tak uważa chociażby były rywal Szwajcara z kortów, niegdyś lider rankingu ATP, Lleyton Hewitt. - W sezonie 2017 Roger był niezwykle dominujący, zwłaszcza w największych turniejach. On dalej zamierza być wśród najlepszych i uważam, że będzie faworytem Australian Open. Bez względu na to, że ma już 36 lat.

Australijczyk uważa, że Federer jest w korzystniejszej sytuacji oraz lepszej formie fizycznej od największych rywali, Rafaela Nadala, Andy'ego Murraya i Novaka Djokovicia. - Niepokoi mnie sposób, w jaki Rafa wycofał się z Finałów ATP World Tour. Nie wiem, czy w ciągu tych kilku tygodni zdąży wrócić do najwyższej formy - mówił Hewitt.


- Djoković i Murray w poprzednich latach byli w czołówce, a teraz zostaną rozstawieni z niższymi numerami. Obaj nie grali przez sześć ostatnich miesięcy, dlatego ich forma będzie dużą niewiadomą. Trudno przewidzieć, jak będą się prezentować i czy wytrzymają fizycznie oraz mentalnie - dodał mistrz US Open 2001 i Wimbledonu 2002.

Heather Watson Heather Watson chce skrócenia meczów mężczyzn w wielkoszlemowych turniejach. "Tak będzie uczciwie"

Heather Watson chce skrócenia meczów mężczyzn w wielkoszlemowych turniejach. "Tak będzie uczciwie"
- Mecze mężczyzn w wielkoszlemowych turniejach powinny być ograniczone do trzech setów. Tak będzie sprawiedliwie - powiedziała Heather Watson. Według Brytyjki panie i panowie powinni grać na takich samych zasadach.

Łukasz Iwanek
Łukasz Iwanek
03 Grudnia 2017, 16:07
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Getty Images / Heather Watson

Martina Hingis: Wskazałam drogę Federerowi i Wawrince
Heather Watson zastanawia się czy ciągnące się w nieskończoność maratony we współczesnym tenisie, wyniesionym na wyżyny przygotowania fizycznego, mają sens. - Chciałabym poznać punkt widzenia mężczyzn, czy rzeczywiście mają ochotę rozgrywać pięciosetowe mecze - powiedziała Brytyjka dla portalu standard.co.uk.
Według Watson, szczególnie w Melbourne i Nowym Jorku, gdzie panują upały, długie mecze w męskim tenisie zwiększają liczbę kreczów. - Grać pięć setów w takich warunkach jest dla nich wyniszczające fizycznie. Chciałabym, aby było uczciwie i tak samo - stwierdziła brytyjska rakieta numer dwa.


- To samo dotyczy wzywania trenera na kort w trakcie meczu. Kobiety mogą to robić, a mężczyźni nie. Nie podoba mi się to. Jeśli panowie nie mają na to pozwolenia, to u pań taki przepis również nie powinien obowiązywać. Chcę, aby było tak samo. Nie wiem, dlaczego ma być inaczej w WTA i ATP - mówiła Watson.

Mężczyźni do trzech wygranych setów grają we wszystkich wielkoszlemowych turniejach oraz w Pucharze Davisa. Jedynie w US Open oraz drużynowych mistrzostwach świata w piątej partii rozgrywany jest tie break. W Australian Open, Rolandzie Garrosie i Wimbledonie w rozstrzygającej odsłonie gra toczy się do dwóch gemów przewagi.

Watson w swoim dorobku ma trzy singlowe tytuły w głównym cyklu (Osaka 2012, Hobart 2015, Monterrey 2016). Najwyżej w rankingu była na 38. miejscu, obecnie jest klasyfikowana na 74. pozycji. Brytyjka to mistrzyni Wimbledonu 2016 w mikście w parze z Finem Henrim Kontinenem.

The biggest names in world tennis are set to return to the Australian Open this summer. Former world number ones Novak Djokovic (SRB) and Andy Murray (GBR) along with Kei Nishikori (JPN) and Stan Wawrinka (SUI) all sidelined during 2017 due to injury, have confirmed they’ll return healthy for Australian Open 2018.

Defending champion Roger Federer and world No.1 Rafael Nadal, who swept the Grand Slam pool in 2017, show no sign of slowing down as they prepare for more success during the Australian summer. “I didn’t see it coming this way. I thought maybe if the stars aligned I’d make the quarters or a semi, and maybe beat one or two top ten players,” Roger Federer said recently reflecting on his historic win.

“I was hoping that maybe down the stretch of the season, Wimbledon or US Open in 2017, that was when I was going to hit my stride, you know, that was when I was going to be 100 percent, not before that, you know I needed maybe time, so winning the Australian Open was such a surprise for me.

“I still pinch myself. When I’m home sometimes, having a glass of champagne with my friends and family we say ‘this is for the Australian Open, cheers’. We’re still joking about it, it was a crazy moment in my life … we couldn’t believe it, all the five-setters. The rivalry with Rafa, being down 3-1 in the fifth, it was disbelief. I hope it’s going to be another dream, magical run where I can just enjoy the atmosphere and play for the people,” Federer continued.

“I still pinch myself. When I’m home sometimes, having a glass of champagne with my friends and family we say ‘this is for the Australian Open, cheers’.
Roger Federer, Australian Open 2017 men's singles champion

Serena Williams made it clear how much it meant to her winning her 23rd Grand Slam crown here at the Australian Open. “I’ve been number one for so long, so many times, and I’ve done things that are amazing. That ranking means a lot but also I think sometimes being able to compete means just as much,” Williams said. “Tennis is a sport I absolutely love, it’s my life, the rest of my life, whether I’m playing or not playing, it’s definitely something that’s made an incredible impact in my life.

“I was chasing it [23rd Grand Slam title] for a really long time, like a really long time. It was on my radar and I knew I had the opportunity to get there, and I’m here and it is a great feeling, there’s no better place to do it than in Melbourne. This is the crowning moment of the year for sure.”

“I’m very happy to confirm that all the top players will be back in Melbourne in January,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said at the tournament launch today. “It’s been an incredibly exciting year for tennis. We have seen Roger and Rafa, and Serena and Venus really raise the bar in terms of performance and it all started here in Melbourne.

“Who would have thought when Serena and Venus met the ballkids the week before the AO that they’d end up facing each other in the women’s final? Or that after Serena won, for the sixth time, we’d find out that she was eight weeks pregnant?

“Serena is a truly remarkable athlete and she’s hasn’t ruled out a return to the Australian Open. Her baby’s initials are AO and she’s suggested she should also have her name on the 2017 trophy, so the AO is well and truly top of mind for her at the moment. If anyone can do it, she can and I’m certainly not counting her out of a return come January.

“Venus has also had an incredible year, turning back the clock to make the second week of every major this year.

“And then of course we have Roger and Rafa. Anyone who was fortunate enough to see them play any of their matches this year was in the box seat to witness two of the most amazing comebacks.The men’s final between Roger and Rafa is one of the matches of the year and both players have gone from strength to strength since.

“Roger has won five titles from the nine tournaments he’s played and he can’t wait to come back, step out on Rod Laver Arena again and begin his title defence. He loves playing here, loves the Aussie fans, and has said his Australian Open win this year was one of the most meaningful of his career. It would be almost unbelievable to think that Rafa has taken the No.1 spot in tennis unless you know how driven and committed he is to not just the sport, but continuously improving himself and his game.

“He’s the ultimate competitor and brings so much intensity to every match. He’s made history with his tenth title at Roland Garros and is on track to finish the year in the top spot. With the return of Novak, Andy and Stan, who will all have lower rankings, there’s also a real chance we’ll finally see a breakthrough from one of the rising stars like Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem or David Goffin,” Tiley continued.

The Aussies will be led by world No.21 Nick Kyrgios, No.22 Daria Gavrilova and Ashleigh Barty. Barty has rocketed up the rankings since her return to tennis, rising from 271 at the beginning of 2017 to her current career high of 23, with the potential to overtake Gavrilova as the top -ranked Australian woman.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be really the only sporting event in the country where we get the chance to see the very best in the world compete right here in Melbourne,” Tiley said.

AO Press Release, December 4, 2017

The tennis year has finished off in spectacular fashion for Soon Woo Kwon of South Korea and Xinyu Wang of China, with both taking out the singles titles at the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off in Zhuhai, China.

Both Kwon and Wang will be packing their bags for Melbourne in January after winning direct entry into the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, Australian Open 2018.

The Wildcard Play-off has been a revelation for Wang, who at 16 years of age had a remarkable run to win the women’s singles final.

Currently ranked No.763 in the world, she defeated rising star Abigail Tere-Apisah of Papua New Guinea, 4-6 7-5 6-4.

“I told myself, it’s not the time to hold back, so I just went for my shots, and after that I was able to play more freely,” she said.

“It’s probably the most important day in my life so far. I want to become an excellent player like Li Na and Zheng Jie, I will work hard to achieve this goal.”

Soon Woo Kwon, the top seed, defeated fourth seed Li Zhe of China, to win the men’s singles 6-1 6-1.

Kwon already has some big goals leading into January’s Australian Open.

“I’m really happy that I could win. I went through some tough moments recently, so the win gave me something good to end the season on a good note,” Kwon said.

“I want to play Roger Federer in the first round.”

Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley congratulated both players on winning a wildcard.

“It’s been an incredible week for both Xinyu Wang and Soon Woo Kwon, and we wish them all the best for January.

“This is a fantastic event for the best players in the Asia-Pacific and gives them the opportunity to play at Grand Slam level. It’s a vital part of growing the sport of tennis in the region and creating additional international exposure,” Tiley said.

Brothers Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana from Thailand took out the men’s doubles title, while No.2 seed Xinyu Jiang and Qianhui Tang claimed victory in the women’s doubles final.

In the juniors, Chinese pair Linang Xiao and Qianhui Tang took out the coveted titles in the 18-and-under boys and girls finals.

The Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off is an important part of the lead up to the Australian Open.

Next Monday 11 December, some of Australia’s best emerging players will be at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open 2018 Play-off, for their chance to win direct entry into the tournament.

Dall’11 al 17 dicembre, a Melbourne, si giocheranno i consueti Australian Open Playoff, dove il vincitore riceverà un invito per il tabellone principale del prossimo Australian Open 2018.
Bernard Tomic ha ricevuto un invito dagli organizzatori ma ha rinunciato e giocherà quindi le qualificazioni.

Tomic, nel frattempo, giocherà anche le qualificazioni di Brisbane per provare ad entrare nel main draw.

I Partecipanti: A.Santillan, A.Bolt, A.de Minaur, J.Smith, A.Whittington, S.Groth, D.Kelly, O.Jasika, M.Percell , M.Banes, B.Mousley, M.Polmans, J.Kubler, C. O’Connell, A.Harris e B.Ellis.