Naomi Osaka overcame her slow start with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Czech Marie Bouzkova on Monday as the world number three defended her US Open title defense is underway in front of a large crowd. Unseeded Bouzkova held her ground for most of the first set but was unable to seize four break opportunities against the four-time Grand Slam winner of Japan. Osaka, who scored 21 wins but made 13 unforced errors in the first set, broke Bozkova 5-4 to win the opening match and never looked back, winning the first five matches of the second despite struggling with her first serve. The match ended with a winning forehand, she smiles and wave to the stands that were empty a year ago."It feels kind of crazy to play in front of everyone again," Osaka said. "Last year when we didn't have a crowd, I know I felt lonely." The evening was a reassuring comeback for Osaka, who was eliminated by the third round of the Tokyo Olympics and the Western & Southern Open. She said she felt at home at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she won her first major title three years ago. "I think it might be the court where I've played the most matches in my career," said Osaka. "I'm just glad I won."Also Read- Shooter Avani Lekhara First Indian Woman To Win Gold At Paralympics
A match from the end of his bid for what would have been the calendar's first Grand Slam tournament in men's tennis since 1969, Novak Djokovic covered his face with a towel, hiding his tears during the changeover.In 27 Grand Slam matches in 2021, on hard courts, clay courts and grass, Djokovic is unbeatable. Needing one more victory, in Sunday's US Open final against Daniil Medvedev, to complete a season sweep for major titles and claim his 21st career record, Djokovic couldn't pull it off.Outplayed by someone using a similar style to his own, Djokovic came up just short of those two historic milestones, losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to first-time major champion Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium.Also Read- Novak Djokovic outlives Stefanos Tsitsipas at French Open to win nineteenth majorA simply stunning performance from @DaniilMedwed pic.twitter.com/0sF1r2CiNg— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021No.1 ranked Djokovic had been sublime in the sport's top four tournaments, enduring the burdens of expectations and pressure for the past seven months and, in New York, the past two weeks. He beat Medvedev in the Australian Open final in February, then added titles at the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.He made mistakes, 38 inadvertent mistakes in all. He couldn't convert the chance of a break until it was too small, too late, going just 1 for 6. He also showed frustration, destroying his racket by hitting it three times against the court after one point, drawing boos from the crowd of 25,703 and a code violation from chair umpire Damien Dumusois. List of players to defeat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam in 2021:Daniil Medvedev-end of list-— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021Much of Djokovic's troubles had to do with No. 2 ranked Medvedev, who used his 6-foot-6(1.98meter) frame to chase everything and respond with seemingly effortless groundstrokes, in the same way. that Djokovic wears down foes, and delivered pinpoint serving. Medvedev won 20 of his first 23 service points, forming a pattern. He finished with 16 aces and 38 winners in total, 11 wins more than Djokovic. After overcoming several double faults at match point, Medvedev finally finished the job, then toppled over to the court on his side. Djokovic reached the 31st Grand Slam final, equaling the record of six victories on the hard court at Flushing Meadows. But he couldn't get the last thing he needed. He remains tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 major titles. And the last man to complete a true Grand Slam going 4-4 at the majors in a single season remains Rod Laver, who did it twice, in 1962 and 1969, and was in the stands on Sunday. The last woman to achieve this feat was Steffi Graf in 1988. Instead, Djokovic joined Jack Crawford in 1933 and Lew Hoad in 1956 as men who won the first three Grand Slam tournaments over a year and reached the U.S. Open final before losing. Djokovic came out a bit cold Sunday, double faulted in each of his first two service games and mixed enough groundstroke fouls bowing his head or rolling his eyes after some that 12 minutes, Medvedev was a point from a second break and a 3-0 lead. Djokovic eventually used a couple of aces at 117 mph and 124 mph to hold there, but it was Medvedev who stole the show in the early going. It was the fifth consecutive match in which Djokovic lost the first set, and 11th in Grand Slam play this year, but unlike other cases, he was unable to win again. This moment though pic.twitter.com/dgvqLMpdBv— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021Djokovic got to love-40 in Medvedev’s first service game of the second set but did not come through on any of those break points. On the third, Djokovic put a sliced backhand in the net, then pounded his racket against his left thigh — one, two, three, four times, perhaps as disappointed in his footwork as anything. Thousands of fans tried to reinforce him by chanting his nickname "No-Le! No-Le! No-Le!" After some of Medvedev's mistakes, some in the stands would applaud, considered poor form in tennis and repeatedly admonished with a “please” from Dumusois.Also Read- Taliban set to ban womens sports in Afghanistan, claims report
Tennis great Roger Federer has dropped out from the top 10 in the men's singles rankings for the first time since January 2017. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has slipped from 9th to 11th spot in the charts updated by the ATP on Monday after the Indian Wells Masters 1000 final. Roger Federer has not played on the men's singles circuit since his quarter-final exit at Wimbledon 2021. He pulled from the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open following which he underwent a third surgery on his right knee. Federer also underwent knee surgeries in 2020. Federer missed most of the 2020 season as he did not play in a major tournament after exiting the Australian Open in the semi-finals. In fact, the Swiss great's last Grand Slam title came in 2018 when he won the Australian Open. Federer said during his public appearance at the Laver Cup last month that he was in no rush to get back to the circuit but insisted he is recovering well from the surgery. Novak Djokovic, who lost the US Open final and an opportunity to complete a Calendar Slam, continues to retain the top spot in the men's singles rankings while US Open champion Daniil Medvedev is at the 2nd spot. 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who missed the US Open, has moved to the 5th spot while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev complete the top 5. Hubert Hurkacz on Monday became the second man from Poland to break into the top 10 of the men's singles rankings. The Polish star, who won the Miami Open this year, is the first man from his country to accomplish the feat since Wojtek Fibak, who climbed to a career-high World No. 10 on 25 July 1977. Hurkacz began the season at World No. 34. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie, who scripted history by winning the Indian Wells tittlen Sunday, jumped to a career-high 15th spot in the men's singles rankings.Also Read- Yuvraj Singh Arrested, Released on Bail Over Casteist Remark on Yuzvendra Chahal
