Tennis Today: Multilingual Novak Djokovic impresses Kazakh locals ahead of Rafael Nadal match

In Tennis Today, Novak Djokovic knows how to win over the locals in Kazakhstan while Roger Federer donates appearance fee to charity.
What’s on the site
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are not playing official ATP Tour matches this week as they are in Kazakhstan for an exhibition tournament (more on that below) and Vienna tournament director Thomas Muster is not happy.
“Nadal and Djokovic only play where and when they want,” Muster said.
Roger Federer hasn’t played in the Davis Cup in recent years, but he will still be allowed to compete at next year’s Olympic Games thanks to “specific rules”.
It is a real battle for Alexander Zverev at the moment and the German admits he is struggling mentally, saying after his latest defeat that he was “completely flat for some reason”.
What’s in the news
Roger Federer’s appearance fees are in the “higher six-digit, sometimes even the seven-digit range” these days, but every single penny that he gets at the Swiss Indoors Basel this week will go to the Roger Federer Foundation, according to Basler Zeitung, via Express Sport.
As Kim Clijsters prepares for her 2020 comeback, tennis great Steffi Graf has warned the former world No 1 that it will be “very difficult”, also in Express Sport.
In case you missed it, the Tennis Podcast discusses Andy Murray’s Antwerp glory and plans for the remainder of 2020 as well as Jelena Ostapenko’s resurgence and Denis Shapovalov’s maiden title.
What’s on social media
Novak Djokovic winning over the locals.
Nadal just and Djokovic touching down.
And a video of Nadal and Djokovic’s arrival.
If you are not following @behindtheracquet yet, then you should change that as they deliver some pretty inspirational stuff. Here is Rio Olympics gold medallist Monica Puig talking about her struggles.
Katie Boulter finally got to wear her Wimbledon whites.
The venue where Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev will meet in an exhibition match in Mexico.
What’s on TV
ATP Vienna
LIVE – Amazon Prime Video
ATP Basel
LIVE – Amazon Prime Video
WTA Zhuhai
LIVE – BT Sport 1
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