‘Second Service’ tennis news: Nick Kyrgios takes aim at ATP over Wimbledon points decision, as Wilander backs Halep as innocent in doping scandal
Looking back on the big tennis news in our exclusive ‘Second Service’… Nick Kyrgios took aim at ATP for the Wimbledon points decision, as Mats Wilander backed Halep as innocent in her doping scandal, and more.
To start this tennis news roundup, Nick Kyrgios has qualified for the ATP Finals in doubles alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, and has taken aim at the ATP by suggesting he should be in contention to qualify in singles too.
“Should of (sic) been in singles as well [but] no points at Wimbledon,” Kyrgios wrote on his Instagram Story. “First time in 53 years but we won’t speak of that.”
In other tennis news, Simona Halep has seen Mats Wilander join the numerous others suggesting she is innocent following her doping suspension.
“Honestly, my heart goes out to Simona Halep,” Wilander told Eurosport. “I would never claim that I think I know her.
“I’ve watched her play a lot of tennis matches over the years. I’ve interviewed her quite a few times. And I would say that out of all the players I’ve run across, she is one of the ones that there’s no way that she would intentionally do anything.
“So I think that she’s out there, she’s said it. She’s going to try and clear her name.”
Read what else he had to say here.
Furthermore, Novak Djokovic has safely made it into the last 16 of the Paris Masters as he chases a record-extending seventh title at the event.
The 22-time Slam champion has now won 17 ranking matches in a row since the French Open, with titles at Wimbledon and in Israel and Kazakhstan. His only loss in that time came to Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Laver Cup in September.
Moreover, Djokovic has now surpassed Roger Federer in terms of career Masters 1000 match wins. The Swiss great ended his career with 381 wins at Masters level. Djokovic now has 382 to his name.
The 39-time Masters title-winner still trails leader Rafael Nadal on the all-time list. The Spaniard enters Paris with 406 wins to his name at 1000 level.
To finish off, Carlos Alcaraz does not see the fight to be world number one as a duel between himself and compatriot Rafael Nadal.
The 19-year-old made history after claiming the US Open to become the youngest man ever to top the ATP rankings. However, he has not yet guaranteed the status of year-end world number one, with world number two Nadal poised as his closest challenger in that regard.
“I don’t see it that way,” Alcaraz told Eurosport when asked if he is fighting with Nadal for the number one ranking. “It’s true, Rafa is fighting for the number one. Some players have the same goal, to be number one, so I need to do my best.
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