Tennis Today: Andy Murray ‘quietly practised at Wimbledon’, Italian Open cashes in on Roger Federer’s return
In Tennis Today, Andy Murray has been practising, using a gym and playing golf while Italian Open organisers have upped their ticket prices following Roger Federer’s decision to play.
What’s on the site
The Novak Djokovic juggernaut slowed down recently, but it is back up to full pace again after the Serb won the Madrid Open.
On the WTA Tour side, the outstanding Kiki Bertens denied Simona Halep not only the Madrid title, but also the world No 1 ranking.
Back to Djokovic and the world No 1 knows you can’t write off Rafael Nadal, especially on clay.
Attention now turns to Rome for the 2019 Italian Open and we have some interesting facts and figures to get you in the mood.
Guess who will be playing in Rome after accepting a late entry? That’s right, it’s Roger Federer.
We had another EXCLUSIVE with Annabel Croft and the BT Sport analyst does not believe the women’s game is heading towards an identity crisis.
Ever wondered what a tennis player carries in his bag? Jamie Murray has the answer for you.
What’s in the news
Mike Dickson from the Daily Mail reports that Andy Murray “quietly practised at Wimbledon” last week while he also recently had a hit at “nearby Roehampton Club, on a court directly alongside four female members enjoying a doubles match. Murray is also said to have used the gym and played eighteen holes on the golf course there.”
But perhaps the best part of the story is the interview with Bob Bryan, a man who Murray draws inspiration from as the doubles great underwent a career-saving hip operation last year.
Also in the Daily Mail, Serena Williams enjoyed a stroll with her daughter Olympia.
Simon Briggs has a lovely interview with Fabio Fognini in The Telegraph and here are some teasing quotes.
“I am Italian. Of course I love clothes.”
“No, I gonna stay like this 110 per cent. Yes sir.”
“I am not thinking ‘F—, that forehand.”
The Sun’s major tennis story is “‘SLAVE LABOUR WIMBO’ BBC accused of exploitation after job advert requesting unpaid workers for Wimbledon”
“THE BBC has been accused of exploitation after asking for unpaid workers at Wimbledon.”
What’s on social media
Roger Federer is bringing in the fans, so up go the Italian Open ticket prices.
Federer plays the #IBI19 in Rome. The President of the Italian Federations: “We have doubled the price of tickets for Wednesday, the day Federer will play. We want to reward fans who had bought tickets before they knew Federer would play”
That’s one way of looking at it— Vanni Gibertini (@vgibertini) May 12, 2019
Apparently the prices went from €60 to €132.
Serena Williams and family.
View this post on Instagram
Ridiculous from Novak Djokovic.
Champion meets champion.
What’s on TV
ATP Rome
LIVE – Amazon Prime Video
WTA Rome
LIVE – BT Sport 2
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