Paul says Djokovic thwarted his Australian Open gameplan
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — Tommy Paul went into his first career Grand Slam semifinal with a specific game plan to confront Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. “I mean, walking on the court was cool,” said Paul, the first U.S. man in the semifinals at Melbourne Park since Andy Roddick in 2009. Let's let the unseeded Paul explain what his strategy was and what happened:— “I wanted to serve and volley some. There were the two break points in the match's opening game — although Djokovic ended up holding there. “It felt like things were getting away from me really fast,” Paul said.
wftv.comPaul says Djokovic thwarted his Australian Open gameplan
Tommy Paul went into his first career Grand Slam semifinal with a specific game plan to confront Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Djokovic knows these settings and circumstances so well, especially at a tournament where he's won 27 matches in a row and is 19-0 in semifinals and finals for his career. “I mean, walking on the court was cool,” said Paul, the first U.S. man in the semifinals at Melbourne Park since Andy Roddick in 2009.
news.yahoo.comDjokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final
Forget about how Djokovic produced twice as many unforced errors, 24, as winners, 12, in the opening set. As usual, Djokovic summoned what it took to extend his Australian Open winning streak to 27 matches, the longest in the Open era, which dates to 1968. It’s ‘1,‘” said Tsitsipas, who was 0-3 in Australian Open semifinals before Friday. Tsitsipas’ other major final came at the 2021 French Open, when he grabbed the first two sets before blowing that big lead and losing to Djokovic in five. Djokovic, the greatest returner or his, or maybe any, generation, broke to close that set, when Paul sent a forehand wide.
wftv.comTsitsipas beats Khachanov to reach 1st Australian Open final
3-seeded Tsitsipas had been 0-3 in semifinals at Melbourne Park, but he finally went a step further to get to the second Grand Slam championship match of his career. Khachanov collected four consecutive points there, erasing the match points with a pair of booming forehands. Now Tsitsipas will face Novak Djokovic or unseeded American Tommy Paul in the men's singles final on Sunday. Earlier this week, Djokovic said about Tsitsipas: “He has never played a final, am I wrong?” Reminded by reporters about Roland Garros, Djokovic replied: “That’s right. Chair umpire Nico Helwerth’s first warning for a time violation came while Tsitsipas served for the first set at 5-3, love-15.
wftv.comTommy Paul's Australian run helps make US men relevant again
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — Tommy Paul was too little at the time to remember watching Andy Roddick win the 2003 U.S. Open, the last Grand Slam singles title for an American man. Paul’s run at Melbourne Park is one of the many examples of the ways in which U.S. men are suddenly relevant again in tennis. That makes this sequence the first time U.S. men reached the final four at consecutive Slams in 16 years, when Roddick was the runner-up to Federer at the 2006 U.S. Open and lost to him in the semifinals at the 2007 Australian Open. Consider:— The Australian Open men's bracket was filled with big wins by 20-something Americans, including Mackenzie McDonald beating defending champion and No. “There’s a lot of hope for American tennis,” Shelton said.
wftv.comAustralian Open 2023 Day 10: Tommy Paul becomes 1st American man in semis since 2009, will face Novak Djokovic
On Day 10 of the Australian Open, American Tommy Paul punched his ticket to somewhere he's never gone before: the semifinal of a Grand Slam. The 25-year-old Paul, unseeded at the Australian Open, beat fellow unseeded American Ben Shelton 7-6(6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to become the first American man to make the Australian Open semifinals since Andy Roddick in 2009. Djokovic easily advances to semifinalsNovak Djokovic is taking no prisoners on his march to capture his 10th Australian Open trophy and record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title. During this bracket-busting tournament, the number of players who could conceivably beat Novak Djokovic dwindled more and more each day. Linette's dream run continues with win over PliskovaLate bloomer Magda Linette's Australian Open dream isn't over yet.
wftv.comPaul tops Shelton at Australian Open, faces Djokovic next
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — Tommy Paul received a lot less attention than his younger, less-experienced, opponent, Ben Shelton, heading into their all-American quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Let’s go!” or “Benny, Benny, Benny! "She deserves to be here and deserves to see me win big matches.”Paul's next opponent will be 21-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic, who overwhelmed No. Roddick was also the last man from the U.S. to win a Grand Slam singles championship, at the U.S. Open 20 years ago. Shelton noticed the exchange and kicked his serve wide, leaving Paul out of position and with no chance at reaching the ace.
wftv.comPaul beats Shelton in all-US quarterfinal at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — Tommy Paul received a lot less attention than his younger, less-experienced, opponent, Ben Shelton, heading into their all-American quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Let’s go!” or “Benny, Benny, Benny! Roddick was also the last man from the U.S. to win a Grand Slam singles championship, at the U.S. Open 20 years ago. Paul's next opponent will be 21-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic or Andrey Rublev. Shelton broke again to steal that set when Paul sailed a backhand long.
wftv.comAustralian Open 2023 Day 8: Americans Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul advance to quarterfinals; Djokovic cruises
For the first time since 2000, three American men have made the Aussie Open quarterfinals, and they're all first-timers. Shelton, Paul storm into quarterfinalsShelton, just 20 and using his passport for the very first time, is playing in only his second Grand Slam. Unlike Shelton, Paul has faced several seeded opponents on his way to the quarterfinals. Paul has never made a Grand Slam quarterfinal, and his best finish at the Aussie Open was a third-round exit in 2020. 24 de Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 and is on to his 13th Australian Open quarterfinal and his 54th Grand Slam quarterfinal overall.
wftv.comBest Australian since '04 for US men; Djokovic lone GS champ
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — It's been almost two full decades since this many U.S. men reached Week 2 at the Australian Open. Paul, who is ranked 35th, topped Californian Jenson Brooksby by a score of 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. 27 Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4 at night despite some more signs of trouble from his left hamstring. “But mainly I just focus on myself.”Rublev sounded a similar note following his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. Sabalenka is now 7-0 in 2023 after beating Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-3, and Bencic stretched her winning streak to eight matches by defeating Camila Giorgi 6-2, 7-5.
wftv.comMost US men in Australian Week 2 since 2004; Djokovic wins
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — It's been almost two full decades since this many U.S. men reached Week 2 at the Australian Open. Paul, who is ranked 35th, topped Californian Jenson Brooksby by a score of 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. 27 Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4 at night despite some more signs of trouble from his left hamstring. “But mainly I just focus on myself.”Rublev sounded a similar note following his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. Sabalenka is now 7-0 in 2023 after beating Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-3, and Bencic stretched her winning streak to eight matches by defeating Camila Giorgi 6-2, 7-5.
wftv.com4 US men in Australian Open 4th round; 1st time since 2004
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — It's been almost two full decades since this many U.S. men reached Week 2 at the Australian Open. It must feel very much like a chance for a career-defining result for them and other young men still in the bracket. Paul, who is ranked 35th, topped Californian Jenson Brooksby by a score of 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. “But mainly I just focus on myself.”Rublev sounded a similar note following his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. Sabalenka is now 7-0 in 2023 after beating Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-3, and Bencic stretched her winning streak to eight matches by defeating Camila Giorgi 6-2, 7-5.
wftv.comAustralian Open must feel like opportunity for younger men
MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — There was a moment at the Australian Open on Saturday that must have felt very much like a chance for a career-defining result for some of the young men moving into Week 2. “Of course, I know what’s happening,” said Rune, who appeared to hurt his ankle and wrist in a fall during a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5) win against Ugo Humbert and pronounced himself OK afterward. “But mainly I just focus on myself.”Rublev sounded a similar note following his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. “There were some moments before when I feel there is opportunity to go to semis or even final maybe and, in the end, nothing happened,” said Rublev, who delivered 60 winners. Wolf gets the winner of Ben Shelton vs. Alexei Popyrin, while Paul's next opponent will be Andy Murray or Roberto Bautista Agut.
wftv.comDavis Cup: Italy tops US in doubles to reach semifinals
MÁLAGA, Spain — (AP) — Italy beat the United States in a doubles decider Thursday to advance to the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time in eight years. Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini defeated Tommy Paul and Jack Sock 6-4, 6-4 to secure a 2-1 win for Italy after the teams split the singles matches. Bolelli and Fognini broke once in each set to set up a semifinal on Saturday against the winner between Germany and Canada. The American team led by captain Mardy Fish team came to Spain with high hopes that it could break that dry spell. On Wednesday, a Croatia team led by Marin Cilic advanced to the other semifinal after beating a Spain side that was missing Rafael Nadal and No.
wftv.comNo sign of Grand Slam drought ending soon for American men
The last American man to win a Grand Slam tournament was Andy Roddick at the U.S. Open in 2003, and there's no sign the drought will end anytime soon. “But I don’t see it being what it once was ever again.”AdOpelka, for one, isn’t surprised the United States has the same number of seeded men in Melbourne as, say, Bulgaria or Norway. The United States has four seeded women in Melbourne, including Kenin and Serena Williams. That’s a challenge, because those kids want to play basketball and football.”The United States Tennis Association has inner-city programs in more than 250 locations. Opelka (ranked 38th), Fritz (ranked 31st), Tommy Paul (53rd) and Frances Tiafoe (64th) are all 23 and good friends who root for each other.
Serena Williams through easily in Australian Open tuneup
United States' Serena Williams makes a backhand return to Australia's Daria Gavrilova during a tuneup tournament ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE – Serena Williams found a silver lining in the delayed start to the Australian Open, the season-opening Grand Slam tournament that is starting three weeks later than usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams is playing in the Yarra Valley Classic, along with top-ranked Ash Barty and defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. “So I definitely was pushing the limits, but I’m here.”Williams has been stalled on 23 major singles titles since the 2017 Australian Open, when she was two months pregnant with now-3-year-old daughter Olympia. AdFrances Tiafoe, an Australian Open quarterfinalist in 2019, lost to Corentin Moutet 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.