‘Second Service’ tennis news: Djokovic told Australian Open won’t ‘lobby’ for visa ban to be lifted, Raducanu splits with coach Tursunov
Looking back on the big tennis news in our exclusive ‘Second Service’… Novak Djokovic was told that the Australian Open won’t ‘lobby’ for his visa ban to be lifted as Emma Raducanu parted ways with Dmitry Tursunov opting to work with a former coach of Andy Murray, plus more…
To start this tennis news roundup, Novak Djokovic is far from certain to return to the Australian Open next year, with Craig Tiley saying the tournament won’t ‘lobby’ on his behalf.
Djokovic was at the centre of a political storm in Melbourne this year as he was sensationally deported due to his views on vaccination. That deportation meant he has also been banned for three years from receiving a visa to enter the country, and he is seeking to have that lifted to allow him to compete next year.
He himself has appeared confident of that happening, and tournament director Tiley last week said they were ‘on track’ to having a full roster of players again in 2023. However, Tiley is now mirroring the stance by the US Open by saying they will not get involved in the process and simply accept the government decision instead.
In other tennis news, Emma Raducanu is reportedly no longer working with Dmitry Tursunov after being with the coach over the summer.
The 2021 US Open champion was joined by the Russian at the US Open and in Ostrava. Both events saw her lose in the first round, to Alizé Cornet in New York and Daria Kasatkina in the Czech Republic. Reports suggest Tursonov will join an as yet unnamed WTA rival, with the partnership beginning as early as next week.
Moreover, Raducanu is apparently now working with fitness trainer Jez Green. Green worked with Andy Murray from 2007 to 2014. He has also worked with Alexander Zverev and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem.
Raducanu has reportedly enlisted Green until the end of 2022, with the possibility of extending their arrangement into 2023.
Furthermore, Iga Swiatek is ready and raring to go for the San Diego Open despite a marathon final over the Atlantic in Ostrava on Sunday.
The world number one begins the WTA 500 event against French Open foe Zheng Qinwen on her return to North America from Europe. Swiatek reached the final of the Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic last week. There she lost to home favourite Barbora Krejcikova in a match lasting three hours and 16 minutes.
“Even though I played two really long matches there I feel pretty fine physically,” Swiatek said ahead of San Diego. “The thing is that right now I feel more fresh because I had more time off after the US Open.
“So going into Ostrava I knew I could give everything and go all in. It’s not that bad. It’s the ‘nice’ jet lag, coming this way.”
To conclude, the 2023 Australian Open will welcome Russian and Belarusian players to compete in January, aligning with the decision of this year’s French Open and US Open.
Craig Tiley, chief of Tennis Australia and tournament director of the Australian Open, suggested athletes from the two countries will be allowed to play the tournament beginning 16th January next year. However, he did specify that Tennis Australia will stick to the restrictions laid out by the ATP and WTA so far in 2022 regarding representation.
“At this point, Russian and Belarusian players will be eligible to play in the Australian Open,” he said. “The only difference will be that they cannot represent Russia. They cannot represent the flag of Russia.”
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