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Jannik Sinner sends message to critics as he responds to backlash over his Olympics withdrawal

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Jannik Sinner Paris Olympic

Jannik Sinner has addressed the criticism he has faced for his decision to withdraw from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The world No 1 highlighted the fact only he and his team knew how he felt and asserted that he gives “little importance and little weight” to those who reacted negatively.

Sinner pulled out of the Olympics prior to the tournament due to tonsillitis and expressed that he was “saddened” to not be able to compete.

Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner withdraws from Paris Olympics days before matches begin | Fox News

JUST IN: Novak Djokovic achieves another milestone, joins Federer and Nadal in exclusive group

“After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell,” he explained. “I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing.

“Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season. I couldn’t wait to have the honour of representing my country in this very important event.”

The 22-year-old Italian was hoping to make his debut at the Olympics in Paris, having opted to skip the Tokyo Games in 2021 to focus on his “development as a player.”

Sinner’s announcement that he would miss the Olympics again this year was met with a backlash from the Italian media and some fans.

The Australian Open champion’s absence received further scrutiny when it was confirmed he would play at the Canadian Open, which started two days after the Olympic tennis gold medal match.

In a press conference in Montreal, Sinner reiterated how the Games had been his main priority for this season when asked about the criticism he has received for withdrawing.

“It’s a question I don’t even want to have to answer honestly,” said the Italian. “I think only my team and I really know how I felt. From the outside it’s one thing, from the inside it’s another. I especially know how I felt.

“I had said since the beginning of the year that my biggest goal was the Olympics, but unfortunately I wasn’t even able to get out of bed. Then honestly, what people think… let’s say I give it little importance, little weight.

“I’m not on social media anymore, which is something that does me a lot of good. Then I read some things anyway, it’s obvious that when you open your phone there are notifications and I see something.

“But I also know who I am as a person and what kind of people I have around me — who all care a lot about me.

“Unfortunately this time it went like this, there will always be some good things and some a little bit worse, like this. I understand people’s reaction, I’m honest, but now I’m here in Montreal and what happened happened.”

Sinner started his title defence at the Canadian Open by defeating Borna Coric 6-2, 6-4 in the second round in Montreal on Thursday. He will face Alejandro Tabilo in the last 16 at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

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TENNIS

Novak Djokovic achieves another milestone, joins Federer and Nadal in exclusive group

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Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic continues to rack up the accolades, as he joins rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as just the third man to spent 850 total weeks in the top 10 rankings.

The 37-year old recently added the elusive Olympic gold medal to his resume at the Paris Olympic Games, defeating Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final. Subsequently, he began his 850th week in the top 10 of the ATP ranking list.
Novak Djokovic is superior to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in key area', claims renowned coach

READ: Carlos Alcaraz reveals what Novak Djokovic told him straight after Olympic heartbreak

The 24-time Grand Slam champion became just the third man to achieve this legendary milestone, joining fellow Big three members Federer and Nadal on this exclusive list. The Swiss Maestro leads the pack with 968 total weeks in the top 10, followed by Nadal with 912 weeks.
Djokovic cracked the top 10 rankings over 17 years ago, and appears motivated to extend his stay as he has shown little sign of slowing down. The former World No.1 entered the top 10 in 2007, after losing his first Masters final at Indian Wells to Nadal. He has remained consistent over the past decade and a half, only dropping out of the top 10 in 2017 after sustaining an elbow injury that left him sidelined.
Nonetheless, the Serbian came back in 2018, winning Wimbledon in July and reaffirming his spot amongst the elite. He is inching closer to spending 300 consecutive weeks in the top 10, and could produce another year-end top 10 finish should he successfully defend the 3000 points accrued from last year’s events at Cincinnati and the US Open.

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Roger Federer expresses concern for Rafael Nadal with career on the ropes

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Roger Federer Rafael Nadal

The retired Swiss legend expressed his concern for Nadal after revealing he has been keeping up with the Spaniard’s recent results.

Roger Federer expressed his concern for Rafael Nadal’s physical condition after the veteran star made it to the final of the Swedish Open in July.

The Swiss icon, who turns 43 on August 8, bid an emotional farewell from the sport in September 2022, citing the toll of injuries on his body as the reason behind his decision to walk away.

Rafael Nadal Says He Is 'Close To Retirement,' Talks Roger Federer

JUST IN: “Joy, happiness, sadness, disappointment”: Iga Swiatek full of mixed emotions following heartbreaking Olympic loss

Federer chose Nadal as his final doubles partner in the last match of his incredible 24-year career at the 2022 Laver Cup in London. That put their unbreakable bond on full display as the pair struggled to hold back the tears in their final match together.

Naturally, the nature of their friendship hasn’t changed even after his retirement, as Federer exhibited his worries for his friend in a recent interview when he kept up with his progress in Bastad.

Nadal, 38, had battled through to the final of the tournament in preparation for his Olympics participation before losing 3-6, 2-6 to Nuno Borges in the final.

But he looked physically spent in the final, and Federer feared for Nadal given how he has been plagued by injuries in recent years. Nadal himself admitted he was exhausted after failing to win a medal at the Olympics, having played doubles with Carlos Alcaraz for Spain.

After being informed Nadal lost the final during an interview with Vogue, Federer said: “He lost? Oh, come on. Three and two [the scoreline] Oh, God. I saw he was down 1-0, love-40.

“That’s the last time I checked, a few hours ago, but when I saw the score, I was like, ‘Oh, no… I hope his body is okay’.”

Some might expect tennis to be at the back of Federer’s mind when he is unwinding with his family.

But the opposite appears to be true, with the tennis icon revealing himself to a keen armchair fan in his retirement along with his wife, Mirka, and four children, Myla and Charlene, both 14, and 10-year-old twins Leo and Lenny, 10.

“I do check in with the game almost daily to see scores and results. Watching is a whole different thing — I love watching it when it’s on TV,” he added.

“We’ve been watching a ton of football as well — the Euros, and now the Olympics are coming up, so I’m going to watch all of that. I’m a big sports fan. But again, I’m always out and about and busy.

“But especially in the evening, when the day unwinds and I have time to sit back and maybe go on YouTube and watch some highlights, I tend to do that. I like to be up to speed on what’s going on, because the guys play nice, and I like to see what they’re doing.”

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“Joy, happiness, sadness, disappointment”: Iga Swiatek full of mixed emotions following heartbreaking Olympic loss

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Iga Swiatek Paris Olympic

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek entered the Paris Olympic Games as the overwhelming favorite considering her prowess on clay courts, but her dream of winning gold for her nation was cut short in the semifinals, leaving the World No.1 devastated.

The two-time defending French Open champion returned to a familiar site to compete for Olympic gold, with the tennis event at the Olympics being hosted on the clay courts of Roland Garros. After breezing through the competition in the earlier rounds, Swiatek was eliminated by China’s Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals, destroying her hopes of capturing her first Olympic gold medal.
Although the 23-year would end up winning the Bronze medal, her disappointment was obvious immediately after her semifinal loss. Swiatek looked visibly upset as she left the court, and excused herself in the middle of a post-match interview as she looked on the verge of tears.
Joy, sadness, disappointment, pride" - Iga Swiatek reflects on emotional Paris Olympics campaign, calls it 'special' despite missing out on gold

READ: Carlos Alcaraz reveals what Novak Djokovic told him straight after Olympic heartbreak

Nonetheless, the World No.1 released a statement on social media a few days after receiving her bronze medal. Swiatek revealed she needed some time to process her emotions, but was thankful for all the support she had received from thousands of fans around the world.
“It’s been a while now, so I can now start to summarize this chapter… Joy, happiness, sadness, disappointment, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, pride and many other emotions, many thoughts… I gather these Games in my head and I can feel how full the experience has been for me,” wrote the five-time Grand Slam champion. “I will probably look back on these two weeks with more perspective in some time, but I realize many things, including the progress I have made since Tokyo, but also the things I can still do, the opportunities I can seize to become a better tennis player and a better person – first of all.
“But the most important thing for me is probably everything I have experienced here. It is a special time that would not have been possible without my team and my family. Thank you for everything you do.”
Swiatek is scheduled to return to competition at next week’s Cincinnati Open.

 

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Rafael Nadal legacy concerns raised by close ally with schedule up in the air

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Rafael Nadal Olympics

Rafael Nadal is yet to confirm his next move after representing Spain at the Olympics.

Spanish tennis great Alex Corretja has warned that it will be ‘almost impossible’ for Rafael Nadal to play at the US Open after taking part in the Olympics. Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round of the men’s singles event at Roland Garros and teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles.

The 38-year-old is widely expected to retire at the end of the season but is yet to reveal when he will bring the curtain down on his glittering career. He recently appeared on the entry list for the US Open but later admitted that he could skip the tournament after his Olympic farewell.

Rafael Nadal Paris Olympics

JUST IN: Sinner gives his thoughts on the Djokovic-Alcaraz ‘high level’ Olympic final

Corretja has since expressed doubt over Nadal’s participation at Flushing Meadows, suggesting that he would need to play in Cincinnati before the US Open to avoid struggling with the change to hard courts. However, he added that Nadal could feature for Spain in the Davis Cup later this year.

“For the US Open on a fast court? You can’t get there without having played on a hard court in New York,” Corretja told El Larguero. “Is he going to go to Cincinnati in 10 days with the change of surface again? I see it as almost impossible.

“He has to find a place where he says: ‘This is as far as I want to go and it is worth making that effort, like up to the Laver Cup’. What if he helps in one way or another in the Davis Cup team, maybe motivating himself to play doubles?

“[He could] contribute something to the team that in September would put him in the semis and, maybe, if he goes to the final, he would play in November. If not, how do you train in Manacor now thinking about what I am preparing for? For me, that is the problem.”

Nadal has already confirmed that he will take a short break from tennis before announcing his next move after a busy summer period. Speaking before the Olympics, he did not give much away but insisted that he would play at the Laver Cup in September.

“Nothing is linear in this life,” he said. “There are moments and states which normally go hand-in-hand with physical states. I try to enjoy and live what I feel at each moment, always with a positive vision of what my day-to-day is within my possibilities.

“After this, I am going to take some time to think carefully about what I need for myself as a person, what I really want to do. I will play the Laver Cup. After the Games, I will take some time to think carefully about what I need.”

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Sinner gives his thoughts on the Djokovic-Alcaraz ‘high level’ Olympic final

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Jannik Sinner Novak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz

Despite his preparations for the upcoming North American hardcourt season, World No.1 Jannik Sinner found time to watch the men’s Olympic final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, and was quick to praise the quality of tennis.

Djokovic and Alcaraz faced off on the clay courts of Roland Garros, which played host to the tennis event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. An Olympic gold medal was the only accolade missing from Djokovic’s resume, and the Serbian finally struck that accomplishment off his list as he prevailed in a 7-6(3) 7-6(2) victory.
In a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final, it was Djokovic who emerged victorious during their encounter at the Olympics. The 24-time Grand Slam champion seemed determined to achieve the one accomplishment that had eluded him his entire career, and dropped to the ground in tears following his victory.
Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic

READ: Serena Williams slams Paris restaurant after claiming they turned her and her kids away

In an interview after the final, Sinner, who withdrew from the Olympics after consulting with his medical team, was asked to give his thoughts on the historic encounter.
“Yeah, of course, I watched a little bit,” responded Sinner. “Because in the beginning I was practicing, so when I came back I watched the whole second set. Yeah, it was a very high level match. I think everyone agrees with that. I think it was a very physical match.
“And you know when two of the best players in the world face each other at the moment, they are producing something very special so it was a pleasure to watch this kind of match and I think everyone of us enjoyed it, this kind of level. We don’t see it everyday so yeah, it was an amazing match.”

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Carlos Alcaraz reveals what Novak Djokovic told him straight after Olympic heartbreak

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Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the pair sharing an emotional moment after their thrilling match

Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about the heartfelt words Novak Djokovic shared with him after their epic Olympic final clash.

The young Spaniard was bested in an edge-of-your-seat match that ended 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to Djokovic, who exacted revenge for his Wimbledon defeat. The aftermath of the match was charged with emotion as both men broke down crying.

Carlos Alcaraz reveals what Novak Djokovic told him at the net as he vows 'to be better than Djokovic'

JUST IN: Serena Williams slams Paris restaurant after claiming they turned her and her kids away

For Djokovic, the victory marked a long-awaited triumph, securing his first Olympic gold at the fifth attempt to add to his bronze from Beijing 2008. Despite the overwhelming joy of his own success, the 37-year-old Serb took a touching moment to commend his 21-year-old rival, who snagged the silver medal in his debut Olympics.

Alcaraz shared Djokovic’s seven-word comment at the net during his post-match press conference, telling reporters (via the Express): “He told me that ‘I will win Olympic gold one day’. We are going to work for that. I’m sure my time will come.”

With Djokovic driven to complete the career golden slam, Alcaraz felt he couldn’t match his opponent’s insatiable drive. “His tears at the end of the match reflect the desire he had for this moment to come and he deserves it because he has played very well,” he continued.

“Today I had a Novak Djokovic in front of me who wanted to win the gold more than I did. At certain times he played better tennis and deserved the victory.”

As for his own emotions, which saw him have to pause his on-court interview, Alcaraz explained it was the disappointment of falling short in the crucial tiebreaks. But he insisted he held no regrets over his performance.

Carlos Alcaraz crying after defeat

“Those tears were because I felt that I didn’t achieve the goal of all Spaniards, but winning an Olympic medal is never easy and that is why I am also proud,” Alcaraz added. “It was a difficult moment to manage because I wanted more, I wanted the gold, but I am proud. In the end, I tried everything and I fought until the last ball.”

He also mentioned the pressure of his nation’s expectations, something he’s not felt so far in his career, potentially affecting his performance. However, he won’t have long to dwell on it as he is set to head to the upcoming Cincinnati Open later this week.

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Serena Williams slams Paris restaurant after claiming they turned her and her kids away

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Serena Williams The Peninsula

The restaurant has responded to her claims

Serena Williams has slammed a Michelin-star restaurant in Paris after they allegedly didn’t let her or her children eat there.

In a post on X, the legendary tennis player claimed she had she and her family weren’t allowed into L’Oiseau Blanc, the rooftop restaurant at The Peninsula, a luxury Parisian hotel.

She wrote: “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first.”

READ: “I put my heart, soul, body, everything on the line”: Novak Djokovic achieves Olympic Games destiny dream at age 37

Her post was immediately met with support from her followers, with one person writing: “Who doesn’t make room for a queen?”

Another said: “You can buy the whole damn place.”

A third wrote: “Shame on them.”

However, the hotel has since responded to Williams’ post, saying the restaurant was in fact just fully booked on the night she turned up.

Replying to the former tennis pro, the hotel said: “Dear Mrs. Williams,  please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight.

“Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.

“We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again.”

Serena Williams Says She Was 'Denied Access' to Paris Restaurant During Olympics

Williams has been in Paris in recent days after playing a key role in the Olympics opening ceremony last month.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner was a torchbearer during the ceremony, alongside the likes of fellow tennis star Rafael Nadal, athletics legend Carl Lewis, and French football icon Zinedine Zidane.

Along with her multiple major titles, Williams also won four Olympic gold medals during her career, one in the women’s singes in 2012 and three in the women’s doubles alongside her sister Venus in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

 

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“I put my heart, soul, body, everything on the line”: Novak Djokovic achieves Olympic Games destiny dream at age 37

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Novak Djokovic Olympic

Novak Djokovic finally got his hands on the one piece of silverware missing from his trophy case: the Olympic gold medal.

The Serbian tennis great beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 in an enthralling men’s singles final at Roland Garros on Sunday (4 August).

Djokovic adds the gold medal to the bronze he won in Beijing 2008 to complete a historic ‘Golden Slam’ at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic wins gold

JUST IN: Carlos Alcaraz left in floods of tears as Olympic Games gold medal dream dissipates against Novak Djokovic

The record 24-time Grand Slam champion dropped to his knees and elbows as he was overcome by the gravity of the moment. For a few moments, Djokovic was seen trembling on the red clay of Court Phillipe-Chatrier.

Already considered the greatest male player of all time, Djokovic became the fifth in an elite group of players to complete the ‘Golden Slam’ – winning all four major titles and the Olympic singles gold. He joins Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams to achieve the feat.

The match was billed as the dream cross-generational clash pitting the 21-year-old Alcaraz against the 37-year-old Djokovic, the youngest and oldest to contest a singles gold medal since 1988.

The contest lived up to the hype as none of the players would give an inch resulting in two tiebreakers, with Djokovic finding the edge in to win in straight sets with the match lasting just short of three hours.

Djokovic dished out some payback after Alcaraz’s back-to-back finals victory over the Serb at Wimbledon last month.

“When the last shot went past him, that was the only moment I actually thought I could win the match. I mean I believed that I could win, but to actually win it, because he keeps on coming back. He keeps on asking me to play my best tennis,” Djokovic said after the match.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m still in shock, honestly. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold at age 37. I finally did it.”

Alcaraz sat stunned and in tears after the draining match but would bow out of his maiden Olympics with a silver medal while sharing in a historic contest.

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Carlos Alcaraz left in floods of tears as Olympic Games gold medal dream dissipates against Novak Djokovic

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Novak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz Olympic

Carlos Alcaraz was left in floods of tears as his Olympic Games gold medal dream dissipated against Novak Djokovic losing out in two tie-breaks 7-6(4) and 7-6(5) to the greatest of all time.

Djokovic’s destiny was sealed with the Serbian only needing the gold medal to complete a career golden slam. But despite being at the start of his career and still being well within his 20’s when he plays in LA. It still showed how much it meant to Alcaraz.
A player who is not one to show emotion was in tears as he only took home the silver medal. Similar to Iga Swiatek who was in tears in losing the semi-final, Alcaraz is usually one to see the positive side.
Alex Corretja spoke to him on Eurosport and Alcaraz said that he gave everything but it wasn’t enough as he made him smile by the end of the interview amid tears. It was an emotional moment all around with Novak Djokovic also on tears.
Carlos Alcaraz BREAKS Down In Tears After Losing To Novak Djokovic In Paris Olympics Gold Medal Match : WATCH | Times Now

READ: Novak Djokovic sends threat to Carlos Alcaraz as Serb seeks revenge for Wimbledon

His famous IDEMO celebration saw him sat on his bench at the end of it with a towel wrapped around his eyes as he cried completing a career goal. He had never even reached a final of an Olympic Games no mind winning it.
On his final attempt ever, he has done it. A player who long couldn’t complete the yearly Golden Slam and just fell short didn’t do so again. Also against all the odds with some giving him minimal chance of winning against a player who seems to have his number. Alcaraz will be back but Djokovic proves again and again that he can’t be counted out and adds the final piece to the puzzle.

 

 

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