American Jenson Brooksby beat Fabio Fognini 46 62 61 in the first round of Auckland but the match did not lack some controversy. During a changeover Fognini tried to order the young American to apologize for his net cord shots, to which Brooksby replied that he was taught that successful net cord shots are not “luck-based.”
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have both won 92 ATP singles titles. Djokovic saved match point to beat Sebastian Korda in the Adelaide final yesterday 67 76 64.
American Mackenzie McDonald is no longer wearing Fila attire. McDonald has switched over to wear Penguin, like Alja Tomljanovic and Vasek Pospisil.
Andrey Rublev has parted ways with longtime sponsor Nike and has created his own attire brand called “Rublo.” Nicolas Jarry is another currently active ATP player with his own attire brand named “NJ.”
The Sarasota Open Challenger in April has been raised to a $125,000 event from $100,000.
Japan’s 27 year old Yoshihito Nishioka is now ranked at a career high 33.
18 year old Coco Gauff won her third WTA singles title 61 61 vs Rebeka Masarova in Auckland. Masarova won the 2016 French Open girls title.
18 year old Linda Noskova of Czech Republic qualified in Adelaide (she had to save a match point) and then in the main draw beat Kasatkina and Jabeur before reaching the final vs. Aryna Sabalenka. 63 76 Noskova’s ranking will rise this week to 56 from 102.
Tommy Paul has switched from using Wilson to a Yonex racquet. He won his first match with the new racquet 64 75 in Adelaide 1R vs Chris O’Connell. The 25 year old American is ranked no. 35.
Former AO champion Sofia Kenin, now ranked 143, appears back on track. She beat Lin Zhu 62 62 at Hobart. After Indian Wells last year, 24 year old Kenin’s ranking fell all the way to 416.
American Ben Shelton, ATP 92, won his first match of 2023 in Auckland over no. 41 Sebastian Baez 76 61. The 20 year old lefthander won three ATP main tour matches last year and a bunch of Challenger titles.
Bethanie Mattek Sands missed all of 2022 due to injury but roared back this week with a final in Auckland with partner Leylah Fernandez. The American veteran and Canadian teen lost in the final to the team of Japanese Miyu Kato and Indonesian Aldila Sutjiadi 61 57 4-10. Check out the Bethanie Mattek Sands Biofile interview I did with her at Miami Open
The Practice Match Exhibition of Novak Djokovic vs Nick Kyrgios on Rod Laver Arena on Jan. 13 at 6:30 pm has sold out in 58 minutes. All tickets cost $20. The match proceeds will go to Australian Tennis Foundation.
Jenson Brooksby · Linda Noskova · MacKenzie McDonald · Novak Djokovic
catherine · January 10, 2023 at 2:41 am
McEnroe: “I think right now Swiatek is the best player by far, she’s a fantastic athlete, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a young woman get slide into the corners, it reminds me of Novak quite a bit”.
Emma was trying to do a Swiatek slide in Auckland but all she achieved was an ankle roll. She’s been practising but if she plays I see her going out early. She might start getting nervous about injuries and hesitant in play.
Noskova the Next Big Thing off the Czech production line. Petra will retire this year surely ?
Scoop Malinowski · January 10, 2023 at 8:06 am
Noskova lost 1R of AO qualies. Any updates on Emma ankle? Any photos of bruising or swelling? If not, you gotta wonder…
catherine · January 10, 2023 at 10:40 am
Saw a clip of Emma R on practice court – no strapping but she wasn’t going all out. No obvious swelling. So we’ll see.
Noskova – that’s what young players have to get used to and Emma missed out on when she was an 18 yr old.
Scoop Malinowski · January 10, 2023 at 10:46 am
She may have exaggerated the ankle injury to protect her ego and image? If it was that bad she would have pulled out of AO like Carlos. But it’s still mind boggling why Carlos did not wait a week to do rehab and let Dr. Cotorro work his magic with those mystery drug shots he injected into Rafa’s foot at RG last year.
catherine · January 11, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Well, we know why Naomi was shy about getting back on court. She’s pregnant but nevertheless plans to return in 2024. The WTA will have to add maternity care to its player support programs.
I think Evonne G had both her children while she was still playing, but it might be more difficult than Naomi thinks. So many more demands.
Scoop Malinowski · January 11, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Catherine, It may not be a publicity stunt. Or a calculated orchestrated scheme to get the sponsor pressure off her back and change her public image. Sorry to sound cynical. Not sure if WTA or Billie Jean King support women getting pregnant by men, it’s an agenda they don’t promote or advocate.
Scoop Malinowski · January 12, 2023 at 11:19 am
Emma ankle foot doesn’t seem to be a problem. She plays Korpatsch 1R and then Coco G. 17 year old Jerry Shang qualified for main draw AO, we zoomed up to a new level while being coached by Marcelo Rios for less than two months last year. Nadal vs Draper 1R could be a good match, but Nike may have a preference. Ernie Escobedo qualified for AO MD by beating Kotov, he’s been off the radar for years. Brandon Holt qualified again for his second GS, beat Trungelitti 63 60. Sorana Cirstea is now coached by Thomas Johansson, who won AO vs Safin in final. Bouchard got knocked out of 1R qualies by US teenager Ashlyn Krueger 64 in the third. All the hard work and still no results. Coco Vandeweghe will join Coco Gauff in main draw, as she qualifed by beating Miyazaki. Filipina teen Alexandra Eala lost 1R in qualies to Misaki Doi 64 67 36. Both Fruhvirtova sisters will be in main draw, Brenda qualified. Americans Kayla Day, Robin Montgomery, Hayley Bapstiste, Anne Li, Sophie Chang, Sachia Vickery, Louisa Chirico, Elle Mandlik, Krueger, Katrina Scott, Asia Muhammad and Alycia Parks failed to qualify. Taylor Townsend got the WC.