Australian Open: Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win ninth consecutive Grand Slam title
Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win a ninth consecutive Grand Slam title with victory in the Australian Open wheelchair doubles.
Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win a ninth consecutive Grand Slam title with victory in the Australian Open wheelchair doubles.
Jannik Sinner revealed he will take the positives out of his run to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open after his tournament was ended by Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old, who was making his third appearance in Melbourne, dropped just one set en route to his second major quarter-final and believes the experience can help him develop further.
“Of course, it’s a positive tournament,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference. “I think that what I have to improve is the tennis in general. I have to serve better, I have to do everything more, especially when you play against the top guys.
“My goal is to play many matches like this, important matches against the best guys in the world, and then we see and then I grow. I think it was good. I played matches, and I had [a good] experience. Let’s see next year what I do here.”
The Italian won four tour-level titles in a standout 2021 season and was aiming for his second win against the fourth-seeded Greek. However, he was unable to match the intensity of Tsitsipas, praising his level.
“I think he played better than me today,” Sinner added. “He served better. He moved the ball better than me. He was moving better than me. It’s tough to play against him when he plays like that.
“I couldn’t generate the power that I would have wanted. I was trying to move him, but I was maybe a little bit too far back because he played incredible today.”
Sinner will next compete in Rotterdam, an ATP 500 indoor-hard event, at the start of February.
Stefanos Tsitsipas reaches the Australian Open semi-finals for a third time with a dominant victory over Jannik Sinner.
American Danielle Collins says it feels “incredible” to reach the Australian Open semi-finals less than a year after taking an indefinite break from tennis.
Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram reach a third consecutive Australian Open doubles semi-final with victory over Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini.
A small act of kindness from Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday at the Australian Open quickly became one of the feel-good moments of the Australian Open.
Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis were playing in the doubles quarter-finals against Tim Puetz and Michael Venus when Kokkinakis hit a first serve that was a let. Although the point was “dead”, Kyrgios reacted to Venus’ return by instinctively swatting a volley away.
The ball bounced into the crowd and struck a young fan. Kyrgios immediately noticed and quickly grabbed a racquet from his bag and handed it to the fan. After the match, during which the home crowd was fully behind the Aussies, the 26-year-old signed the racquet as well.
Turning this young man’s frown upside down ?? @NickKyrgios • @tkokkinakis • #AusOpen • #AO2022
? : @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/rbYR2Z4riu— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2022
In their post-match press conference, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis spoke about the importance of the home fans.
“This Australian Open I think with everything the people have gone through, they just are just so happy to see Aussies have success. Demon in the fourth round, us kind of carrying the flag in doubles a little bit,” Kyrgios said. “This Oz Open, honestly, I think for us it’s more about the people. Playing for them is more important than our doubles success.
“We haven’t drawn up any goals of what we want to achieve this year in doubles. I just want to play and give the people of Australia and the Australian Open a show and genuinely try and grow the sport of tennis. That’s why I’m playing. I know Thanasi is just enjoying it. This is the most fun we’ve ever had on the court.”
Kokkinakis, who captured his first ATP Tour title at the Adelaide International 2 with the full support of the Australian fans, agreed.
“The thrill for us is honestly walking out there. This sounds stupid, but we worry about what happens in the match after,” Kokkinakis added. “But it’s just seeing the support we’ve gotten and the crowd go nuts every time we get out there and how much they’re enjoying it, that kind of gets us going and gets us motivated to do better for them, honestly.”
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios will play third seeds Granollers and Zeballos in the semi-finals.
Gael Monfils suffered a heartbreaking five-set defeat against Matteo Berrettini in the Australian Open quarter-finals, but the Frenchman’s resolve is as strong as ever.
“I will take a lot of positive things. Again, I put [myself in a] situation to beat a Top 10 player at the past two Slams in a row, so the past two times, really bad in a way,” said Monfils, who lost against Jannik Sinner in five sets at last year’s US Open. “I keep learning from that, but I feel like it’s been always tough for me. It’s still tough for me, but somehow I’m not losing the faith.
“I need one time… I won’t win 20, but one time, just one time I need. I’m working for this. I still believe I can do it. It’s hard. It’s been 20 years that I’m not doing the good thing, but who knows? This year it might click.”
The 35-year-old was trying to reach his first Australian Open semi-final and advance to the last four at a major for the third time (2008 Roland Garros, 2016 US Open). Not much separated Monfils from that achievement.
“[On the] important points, [I need to] bring the ‘A’ game, and inside the court. It’s easy to say, but inside the court, make the good choices. Either don’t rush or you don’t go for it. It’s always a split second and boom, it’s gone,” Monfils said. “The best, they are the best for that, because [in] the split second, they make the best decision. They know [how] to handle it better, the pressure. And this you cannot learn. It’s experience.”
It was the second time Monfils has lost a major quarter-final against Berrettini. They also went to a fifth set in the last eight at the 2019 US Open, where the Italian triumphed in a tie-break.
“He handled it good, played good, [has a] big game. Obviously my tactic was not up [to par] at the beginning, but as I said, I’m in shape, I have a strong belief, I play good,” Monfils said. “Of course he will have a tough time. I think I’m a good player. Not better than him, but good player. So no matter what, he needs to work to beat me.”
Regardless of his disappointment, Monfils has had a strong start to his 2022 season. He claimed his 11th ATP Tour title in Adelaide and is now 8-2 on the year. All eight of the Frenchman’s victories have come in straight sets.
“I’m working hard. I feel I played good. I was lucky to win a 250, but as I said, I’m gonna click, for sure, maybe go [to] a semi-final in a Slam, maybe more, play better in the [ATP] 500s, play better in the [ATP Masters] 1000s,” Monfils said. “It’s just [the] beginning of the year. It’s a long season. So [I] will have some time for sure. I will go back at home with a positive energy [from] Australia this year.”
Japanese star Kei Nishikori announced on Tuesday that he underwent arthroscopic left hip surgery, which will keep him about for “about six months”.
“After trying several different rehab options I have decided (together with my medical team) to have arthroscopic hip surgery this week,” Nishikori wrote on Twitter. “I will work as hard as I can and the goal is to be back in about 6 months. Thank you for all your support and look forward to seeing you on the tour again soon.”
Nishikori, who is currently No. 46 in the ATP Rankings, has not competed since the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last October.
The 32-year-old has climbed as high as World No. 4, lifted 12 ATP Tour trophies and competed in the Nitto ATP Finals four times.
Dylan Alcott on Tuesday was named Australian of the Year and awarded an Officer of the Order (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List. The longtime wheelchair tennis star was recognised for his distinguished service to Paralympic sport and as a role model for people with a disability.
Alcott won his Australian Open quad wheelchair singles semi-final on Tuesday afternoon before flying to Canberra for the evening ceremony. The Australian did not expect to win, he told the media before his flight.
“If by the very odd chance you have a win, you cannot do that on Zoom. So many people with disability should have won that award over the years but haven’t,” Alcott said. “I would never forgive myself if I don’t go, even though I don’t think I’m going to get up. I’m going to go. I always do stuff like this.”
Alcott later added: “I’m always like, It would just be so cool for a person with disability to get up there and be able to have that. Been Young Australian of the Year, Senior, all that, just not many Australians of the Year. Also to be given that platform to talk about what you’re passionate about is super cool.”
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley congratulated Alcott for his accomplishments on and off the court.
“We are incredibly fortunate Dylan chose tennis as we’ve had the opportunity to see first-hand his great sense of humour, sharp intellect and his incredible work ethic and drive to succeed in all aspects of his life,” Tiley said in a statement. “His advocacy for people with a disability is a force to behold. He has the power to change the world and is not afraid to use it.
“For a long time we’ve known that Dylan’s influence reaches far beyond the tennis court or the sports stadium. He has a magnificent ability to engage with all people that transcends tennis, and sport.”
Alcott will play Sam Schroder in the Australian Open final on Thursday. It will be his last competitive match before retiring.
Rafael Nadal shows the immense fight which has characterised his career to beat Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and reach the Australian Open semi-finals.