Tennis Today: Novak Djokovic backed to beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal ‘eight times out of ten’
In Tennis Today, Novak Djokovic finds an ally – although since he pays him to be one, it may not be all that special – and Naomi Osaka dons a cunning disguise…
What’s on the site
Let’s start with some great news if you’re a Novak Djokovic fan, which you definitely should be!
The world number one has been on the shelf since the US Open, but he has revealed he is back training and is unlikely to miss any, or at least much, of the Asian swing.
One man who definitely isn’t a Djokovic fan, of course, is Nick Kyrgios and he has been urged to end that feud and focus on his own career instead.
Kyrgios’ disdain for Djokovic may stem from the undeniable fact that he is a massive Roger Federer fanboy. In fact, he loves Federer so much he even bores himself talking about him.
Finally, Andy Murray is back to winning ways in singles tennis, and he could be about to make a return to the Great Britain Davis Cup team too.
What’s in the news
Novak Djokovic is the ‘most complete’ player between himself, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer and would beat them eight times out of ten when they are all at their best, says the completely unbiased Goran Ivanisevic.
Quoted in the Express, Ivanisevic, a member of Djokovic’s coaching team, strongly backed his player.
“For me, let’s put it this way, if they are all playing their best in 10 matches, I would say at least eight matches Novak wins,” he said.
“He’s the most complete player of the three.”
He also backed all three players to go above 20 Grand Slam titles, adding: “Rafa will definitely win a few more French Opens and will go over 20 for sure.
“Novak will go over 20. Roger, you can’t under-estimate. He’ll still be thinking about Wimbledon.”
Elsewhere, Milos Raonic has given a very interesting interview to Tennishead, in which he talks about the ‘intensity of the Laver Cup – especially with Nadal coming at you in your first match.
“At the Laver Cup I hadn’t played since Montreal then my first match was against the guy who had just won the US Open (Nadal).
“So I had no clue where my game was at and hadn’t played any matches to see what was working for me and then its like going to play Rafa who’s spinning his forehand to your backhand all day and making you run around.
“So that kind of stuff is pretty intense.”
What’s on social media
Martina Hingis is still doing that thing where she carries a baby up a huge mountain…
View this post on Instagram
A very happy birthday to Jack Sock.
Everyone had their eye on – and was rooting for – Andy Murray in Zhuhai (except Tennys Sandgren)
And Naomi Osaka adopted a cunning disguise to slip unseen in the crowd in Japan…
What’s on TV
ATP Chengdu – Amazon Prime
ATP Zhuhai – Amazon Prime
WTA Wuhan – BT Sport
WTA Tashkent – BT Sport
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