Latest news with #GenevaOpen
The Onion
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Onion
Geneva Open Introduces Ice Courts
GENEVA—Saying frost-covered courts heralded a new direction for the sport, officials from the Geneva Open defended Monday their decision to hold a tennis tournament on ice. 'The state-of-the-art ice courts at the Tennis Club de Genève will allow for more strategic play as athletes try to avoid slipping and falling while serving, returning, or even just walking to their bench before the match,' grounds manager Sofia Blaser said of the 250-level event, which failed to crown a winner after nearly 100 singles and doubles players were sidelined by injuries suffered during the tournament. 'Since we are the only facility in the world currently using this surface, it is only natural that athletes will take some time to adjust to the slippery, below-freezing conditions necessary to maintain the ice,' she continued. 'It's similar to players learning to slide on clay, except in this case they keep sliding until they eventually slam into a fixed part of the stadium, which breaks their momentum. They're also not used to the way the ice makes the ball wet, heavy, and freezing to the touch, but they will be in time. Ahead of next year, we'll be doubling our fleet of Zambonis, outfitting the ball kids with spiked shoes, and allowing the players extra time between points to blow-dry the ball.' At press time, Norwegian Casper Ruud was already being hailed as an ice court specialist based solely on his time spent in the Scandinavian tundra.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Andy Murray hints at frosty split with Novak Djokovic as tennis legend makes surprise admission about coaching role with former rival
Andy Murray has hinted at a frosty split with Novak Djokovic as the tennis legend was asked about his brief spell coaching the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Murray, who retired after the Olympic Games in Paris last year, was a shock appointment by Djokovic in November. He worked with Djokovic through the Australian Open, where the Serbian star reached the semi-finals before being forced to retire injured against Alexander Zverev. The 38-year-old, however, struggled for wins on the ATP tour under Murray's coaching and a split was announced in May. Murray was asked about the experience as he began a four date theatre tour, which started at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow on Wednesday. 'We had a chat on the phone and he asked me if I would consider coaching him, which I wasn't expecting,' Murray said, as per The Times. 'I think it was a pretty unique opportunity. 'I was really enjoying being at home but I thought I should give it a go and see whether I enjoyed it.' Murray reportedly paused before adding: 'I'm not sure if I did.' The comment may have been another wry joke from Murray, who had broken the ice with his former on-court rival when they reunited for Rafael Nadal's farewell at the French Open. Djokovic had revealed how Murray had congratulated him after winning the Geneva Open just days after their split. 'He did congratulate me, and he said, Now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments,' Djokovic said. 'Of course he was joking, but, I think I have said enough but I will say it again: Andy is just an amazing person. 'For him to join my team and for us to give a shot to this player/coach relationship was really an incredible thing for tennis and for both of us. I was very privileged and honoured. 'I was enjoying myself very much regardless of the fact that we haven't had maybe the success we both wanted or people expected us to have.' Murray revealed earlier this month that he would be open to returning to coaching in the future Despite his short time in Djokovic's camp, Murray revealed earlier this month he expects to coach again in the future. 'I would do it again at some stage, I don't think that will happen immediately,' Murray told the BBC. 'You also learn a lot about how to work with a team. As an individual athlete, you have a team of people around you, but you're the focal point whereas when you're coaching an individual, you're working with a physio, physical trainers, agents, and you need to know how to get your message across to the player and find out what makes them tick. 'That was the thing I learned and something I need to work on if I want to do it again in the future. 'It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Andy Murray theory emerges following Novak Djokovic split in relationship claim
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic announced their coaching partnership ahead of the Australian Open, but the duo split in May after just six months - and one former tennis star has now put forward his theory Former British tennis star and current pundit Andrew Castle doesn't believe Andy Murray would've been coaching Novak Djokovic in the literal sense of the word. The tennis world was left gobsmacked when it was revealed that the one-time competitors would join forces ahead of the Australian Open in January. However, their intriguing partnership was short-lived, ending just six months later in May before the French Open. A flurry of speculation about why they parted ways soon followed. Despite initial plans to maintain their professional relationship until Wimbledon, a string of disappointing results for Djokovic seems to have prompted a change of heart. Aside from clinching the Geneva Open, and making it to the semi-finals at Roland Garros since ditching the Scot, it's been a tough year overall for the 37-year-old. Castle, 61, has a hunch that Murray was actually brought on board to provide tips to the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suggesting his role was "not the same" as a traditional coach. "I don't see it as a coaching relationship," Castle said to Betway. "I don't see those types of relationships; I see it as support and somebody who has been in the trenches as well and understands [what is needed]. "Novak may need an observation now and again and you might say something along the lines of, 'You're 37 now and need to get to the ball earlier on a rally because you don't cover the courts as quickly as you did.; "That's a truth so there could be observations like that. The tactical nous that Andy had was unbelievable so there can be a little bit of that and no doubt that was a plus. "That was what I would see as those relationships but it's certainly not the same type of coaching as going down the club and getting the club pro to take me through [some techniques]." Upon ending his partnership with Murray, Djokovic said: "We felt like we couldn't get more out of that partnership on the court, and that's all there is to it. "My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person. I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well." Murray, who retired last summer after the 2024 Paris Olympics, has said that the experience hasn't deterred him from considering coaching again in the future. "I would do it again at some stage," Murray told the BBC. "I don't think that will happen immediately. I wasn't planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. "It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go."
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Judy Murray drops huge hint over Andy's next job after coaching Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray's time working with Novak Djokovic came to an end by mutual agreement in May and the 38-year-old is yet to make an announcement on what will come next Andy Murray is unlikely to jump back into coaching at the top level of tennis after splitting from Novak Djokovic, according to his mum. Murray's link-up with Djokovic came to an end at the start of May after six months of the former rivals working together and he isn't in a rush to find a new job. Murray retired from playing tennis last summer before surprisingly joining the Serbian's coaching team in a bid to try and improve the 24-time Grand Slam champion. The combination did not work out and they mutually agreed to part ways last month, cutting Murray loose into retirement. The 38-year-old had been enjoying playing golf and spending time with his family before the Djokovic job came up unexpectedly. And Judy Murray says there are no plans to find another high-profile player to coach. She told The National: "Andy had just retired and wasn't looking to go into coaching but he stepped in because Novak asked him. "When they joined up, I was certainly interested to see how he got on being on the other side of things and realising how stressful it can be. I don't think he's ready to jump straight back into coaching, though, because the tennis circuit is relentless." Judy Murray added: "I can see him doing a consultant type role with young players and he's already done a lot of mentoring with the British players on the men's side who are coming through, but I can't see him being a full-time tennis coach. "There's more to life than jumping straight back into the tennis rat race after nearly 20 years as a player. I don't think he'll necessarily want to jump back onto that merry-go-round – not when you're someone who's got four kids to taxi around and you want to get your golf handicap to scratch. "Whether he does it in the future, I don't know – that's for him to answer and I actually don't think he knows the answer either but my guess is not right now." Djokovic had been struggling for form while working with Murray, but appears back to his best currently. He won the Geneva Open to make it 100 titles on the ATP Tour at the end of May and has now reached the semi-finals of the French Open, where he will face Jannik Sinner on Friday. Murray, meanwhile, will relish the chance to get back onto the golf course, where he had spent a lot of his time between retiring from tennis and working with Djokovic. 'The lessons have made a huge difference. That's been the most important thing for me,' he said last year. 'I used to go down to the range and hit lots of balls, and I could hit a few good ones. But if you have a fundamental flaw in your swing or what you're doing, it doesn't matter how many balls you hit on the range. So, getting lessons and practising those things is helping.'
India Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Djokovic vs Sinner Live Streaming: When and where to watch French Open semifinal
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are set for a blockbuster semi-final clash in the men's singles at the French Open 2025. Their match will be the second of the day on Court Philippe-Chatrier, following the showdown between Lorenzo Musetti and defending champion Carlos entered the tournament after four first-round exits earlier this year. However, he regained form by winning the Geneva Open - his 100th ATP title. Now, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is just two wins away from securing a record 25th 38-year-old Serb didn't drop a set until Alexander Zverev took the opening set off him on Wednesday. Djokovic bounced back strongly to win the match in three hours and 17 minutes. Sinner, meanwhile, is eyeing his first-ever French Open final. After losing to Alcaraz last year, the Italian will be eager to make amends. He also carries momentum, having won his last three matches against to watch Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner in French Open 2025Sony Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for the French Open 2025. Live streaming of the Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner semi-final can be watched on Sony LIV and Fancode to watch Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner in French Open 2025The match between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will not start before 7 PM local time, and 10:30 PM Watch
