French Open 2019: Full Draw Schedule and Reaction from Roland Garros
May 23, 2019
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a forehand to Dominic Thiem of Austria in the final of the men's singles at Roland Garros during the French Open on June 10, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Frey/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal will face qualifiers in the first two rounds of his 2019 French Open and has a preferable draw ahead of him as he goes in search of a third straight crown at Roland Garros.
Top seed Novak Djokovic was the last player other than Nadal to win the French Open, and he was drawn opposite Hubert Hurkacz in his first match of the competition.
No. 3 Federer lines up in the third quadrant of the men's singles and could face Nadal as early as the quarter-finals should both make it that far.
Tennis.com posted a complete rundown of the men's draw:
Naomi Osaka heads to Paris as the top seed for this year's French Open, and she was drawn against Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova for her first fixture of the competition.
Last year's champion, Simona Halep, is seeded third ahead of her title defence and will face Ajla Tomljanovic in her opener.
WTA Insider posted a breakdown of the women's draw:
Nadal is widely considered the king of clay with 11 all-time French Open wins to his name—five more than any other male player in the Open Era—but Djokovic would seek to challenge the throne as the No. 1 seed.
It's a peculiar situation for Nole to be seeded first and yet not be considered the outright majority favourite.
What's more, tennis writer Ricky Dimon sees the Spaniard's route to the final as a grand opportunity:
Nadal will discover his first qualifier opponent in due course, but the prospect of facing two such simple fixtures in the opening stages will be like music to the ears of the 32-year-old.
That being said, Djokovic is enjoying top form in 2019 and already has one major to his name after collecting the Australian Open at the start of the year.
That's after the Serb clinched two in the latter half of 2018, and journalist David Law hyped up what could be a historic win that's gone under the radar:
Czech star Karolina Pliskova is the second seed in the women's draw and is closely followed by defending champion Halep, who will encounter Australia's Tomljanovic in her opener.
The Romanian star finally ended her search for a major trophy here in 2018, and Halep was proud to again share her moment alongside Parisian king Nadal in the buildup to Roland Garros:
Kiki Bertens and Angelique Kerber complete the top five seeds at fourth and fifth, respectively, and will face Pauline Parmentier and Anastasia Potapova in their first-round matchups.
NBA Conference Finals, All Elite Wrestling, NHL Playoffs and More to Watch
May 20, 2019
PORTLAND, OR - MAY 18: Seth Curry #31 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 18, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
There's a good chance that the final two teams in both the NBA and NHL playoffs will be determined this week. We're already halfway there on the ice with the Boston Bruins, and the Golden State Warriors are a win away from sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers. On the diamond, Wednesday brings a duel between the National League's last two Cy Young winners.
Must Watch: NBA Conference Finals
Despite the lopsided series standing, the Western Conference Finals have produced some phenomenal basketball and thrilling games in the last few days. The Warriors used two strong comebacks in Games 2 and 3 to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Trail Blazers, with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green all stepping up to have standout games in the injury absence of Kevin Durant.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, we have had great games and a close series, as the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks in double overtime Sunday night to cut their series deficit to 2-1. Kawhi Leonard had an excellent game in a must-win moment for his team, scoring 36 points, grabbing nine rebounds and tallying five assists while playing a game-high 52 minutes. And he still had enough in the tank for this huge dunk:
There's just one spot left in the pursuit of the Stanley Cup, with the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues battling for the chance to face the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final, which begins next Monday night in Boston. The Blues took the 3-2 series lead with a pivotal Game 5 win on Sunday, moving them within one win of playing for the Cup.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 19, 2019
Now San Jose must win Game 6 in order to extend the series, while St. Louis will certainly want to clinch the series and win the Western Conference title at home. Game 6 and a potential Game 7 will be on NBCSN this week:
Game 6: Sharks at Blues, Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Blues at Sharks, Thursday at 9 p.m.
What's on B/R Live This Weekend
1. All Elite Wrestling
AEW's debut event night on B/R Live is this Saturday at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, and the card is stacked. Two programs will fill the evening, with a two-match pre-show called The Buy-In leading into the main event: Double or Nothing.
Some of the top matchups in Double or Nothing include The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers and Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho. You can stream the event via pay-per-view here on B/R Live for $49.99, which also includes the ability to watch a full replay of the event on demand. For a full preview of Double or Nothing and everything you need to know about AEW on B/R Live, go here.
2. National Lacrosse League Finals Game 2
The NLL Cup could be awarded on Saturday night after Game 2 of the NLL Finals. The Calgary Roughnecks defeated the Buffalo Bandits 10-7 over the weekend to take the 1-0 series lead on the road against the top overall seed in the league.
Now the best-of-three series shifts to Canada, where the Roughnecks can clinch their third league championship in franchise history. The Bandits needs their best performance of the season in order to bring the series back to Buffalo for a decisive Game 3. You can watch Game 2 of the NLL Finals right here on B/R Live. For more on the Bandits vs. Roughnecks matchup, including highlights and previews, go here.
More to Watch This Week
1. Cup Finals in European Soccer
Two of the most prominent domestic cup tournaments in the world conclude with final matches this Saturday. Both Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, already Spanish and German league champions respectively, can claim the domestic double with wins in their cup finals. In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona takes on Valencia in Sevilla, Spain (3 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN). Barcelona is looking to bounce back and lift a trophy after collapsing in the semifinals of the Champions League, while Valencia has another shot at a title after falling in the semifinals of the Europa League.
Fresh off clinching the Bundesliga title last weekend, Bayern faces off against RB Leipzig in Berlin for the DFB-Pokal title Saturday afternoon (2 p.m. ET, ESPN News and WatchESPN). Leipzig finished third in the league but was 12 points short of Bayern at the top. Leipzig has never won the DFB-Pokal, while Bayern hopes to return to the winner's podium for the first time since 2016 after losing the final last year.
2. Two UCL Spots for Four Teams on Last Matchday in Serie A
This section heading really says it all. The Italian league's final two UEFA Champions League spots are still up for grabs, and four teams remain in contention heading into the final day of play on Sunday. Right now, the race for the top four looks like this:
Atalanta: 66 points Inter Milan: 66 points AC Milan: 65 points AS Roma: 63 points
The fight for Serie A’s final Champions League spots is going down to the wire 👀🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/ivObLfK0AE
Every match on Sunday will be played simultaneously, with kickoffs set for 2:30 p.m. ET:
Atalanta vs. Sassuolo Inter Milan vs. Empoli SPAL vs. AC Milan AS Roma vs. Parma
3. Liga MX Clausura Finals
The top league in Mexico crowns its spring champion this week after a two-leg final featuring a pair of the biggest clubs in North America. Tigres will host Leon in Leg 1 on Thursday at 9:45 p.m., with the return leg to be played at Leon on Sunday at 9:06 p.m., both on Univision.
The winner of the Clausura final will face Club America, which won the Apertura final, Liga MX's fall season. The victor of that final matchup will be the full-season Liga MX champion.
4. Cy Young Showdown
There's a great pitching matchup on the schedule this week between two National League East rivals. The New York Mets host the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night (7:10 p.m. ET, MLB.TV) in the third game of a four-game series. The matchup on the mound is between the 2017 NL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and 2018 recipient Jacob deGrom.
Scherzer has a 3.72 ERA and 87 strikeouts through 10 starts this season, while deGrom has a 3.98 ERA and 67 strikeouts in nine starts. Neither pitcher has gotten great support from his team thus far in 2019, something deGrom knows all about from last season. And after a rough series sweep by the Marlins over the weekend, New York will need a great outing from deGrom to get the Mets back on track.
For your Memorial Day Weekend baseball fix, check out a rematch of the 2018 American League Championship Series when the Boston Red Sox visit the Houston Astros beginning Friday, with Saturday night's game televised on Fox at 7:15 p.m. The two teams just finished a series over the weekend, when the Red Sox's win on Sunday broke up the scorching Astros' 10-game winning streak.
Quick Catch-Up
1. Brooks Back-to-Back
The PGA Championship belonged once again to Brooks Koepka, who won the major for the second year in a row, this time leading and winning wire-to-wire. Koepka comfortably was in control from the first tee on Thursday, but things got real tight when the wind picked up at Bethpage Black on Sunday during his back nine. Gusts up to 30 miles per hour had his shots flying all over the place, which led to four straight bogeys while Dustin Johnson was knocking in birdies. Koepka's seven-shot lead was down to one, but he steadied himself and his game, never losing the lead and ultimately winning by two strokes.
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 20, 2019
2. Queens of Europe, Again
Lyon earned another European crown on Saturday, when the French club won its fourth UEFA Women's Champions League title in a row and sixth overall, defeating Barcelona 4-1. The star of the match was Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg. The Ballon d'Or winner scored a hat trick in the first half to secure the trophy.
Rafael Nadal defeated top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 to win the Italian Open for a record ninth time. After losing in the semifinals of his previous three clay-court tournaments, the win gives Nadal even more confidence on his favorite surface heading into his favorite Grand Slam tournament. The French Open, on the clay of Roland Garros in Paris, begins on Sunday. Nadal will be seeking his 12th championship there, which would extend his own record.
That's really the best advice we can give to anyone thinking about fighting heavyweight Deontay Wilder, who continues to knock out main event boxer after boxer. Even before watching this video, our advice remains the same: look out.
Italian Open 2019: Rafael Nadal Dominates Novak Djokovic to Win Final
May 19, 2019
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the trophy after winning against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their ATP Masters tournament final tennis match at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 19, 2019. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) (Photo credit should read TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal successfully retained his Italian Open title on Sunday by beating top seed Novak Djokovic in three sets in Rome.
The Spaniard powered through the first set in just 38 minutes, handing the world No. 1 a bagel for the first time in 142 sets between the two players:
Djokovic rallied in the second set and took his chances when they came to clinch it 6-4 and force the decider.
However, Nadal gained an early break at the start of that set, leading an angry Djokovic to smash his racket into the clay in frustration.
Nadal did not look back from that point, breaking twice more to win the third set 6-1 and clinch a record ninth Italian Open title.
He looked the fresher and sharper player from the start of the match and broke twice to race into a 4-0 lead.
The second seed converted his second break point in the opening game of the match whenDjokovicnetted a forehand and then backed it up by holding to love.
Two more break points followed inDjokovic's next service game, and a fierce forehand winner from Nadal saw him move 3-0 up against a lethargic top seed:
Djokoviccould do little against a relentless Nadal in the first set. He saved four break points at 4-0, only to see the second seed clinch a triple break with a brilliant backhand passing shot down the line.
Nadal then served the set out comfortably to handDjokovica first bagel in almost two years, as noted by tennis correspondent Christopher Clarey:
1st bagel set lost by Djokovic since 2017 French Open quarterfinals when Dominic Thiem beat him 7-6, 6-3, 6-0
— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) May 19, 2019
Freelance writer BenRothenbergoffered an explanation for Nadal's dominance:
Both are playing well, but I've got to think the rest advantage is big for Nadal today against Djokovic.
He's won his matches here in Rome far more efficiently, to his well-earned credit, and got to play much earlier yesterday, which is just luck.
Nadal responded immediately by breakingDjokovicin a lengthy first game of the third set, and the Serb's frustrations were evident:
Nadal breaks to open the third set after an 11-minute game, and Djokovic takes out his frustrations on his racket, with three hard (Djoko)smashes into the clay.
This time the defending champion did not let up, racing to victory and his first title of 2019 after semi-final defeats in his last four tournaments.
It is a big win for Nadal overDjokovicheading into the French Open, where he will be aiming to lift the title for a 12th time at RolandGarros.
Italian Open 2019: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal Advance to Men's Final in Rome
May 18, 2019
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will face off in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday after they both won their respective semi-finals on Saturday at Foro Italico in Rome.
Nadal was exceptional in getting past Stefanos Tsitsipas, losing just seven games. Djokovic took on Diego Schwartzman later in the day and was made to work hard over the course of three sets before eventually coming through.
The women's final will see fourth seed Karolina Pliskova and Johanna Konta go head-to-head. Pliskova was a routine winner over Maria Sakkari, while Konta came from behind to get the better of Kiki Bertens.
Saturday Results
Men's Semi-Finals
(1) Novak Djokovic bt. Diego Schwartzman: 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3
(2) Rafael Nadal bt. (8) Stefanos Tsitsipas: 6-3, 6-4
Women's Semi-Finals
(4) Karolina Pliskova bt. Maria Sakkari: 6-4, 6-4
Johanna Konta bt. (6) Kiki Bertens: 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
Saturday Recap
Nadal's preparations for the French Open haven't been as serene as in recent years, but the Spaniard appeared back to his usual self with a masterful display on Saturday.
The second seed has lost in the semi-finals of his previous three clay court tournaments, including a defeat to Tsitsipas at the Madrid Open on May 11. However, this time he made no mistake, putting in his best performance of the competition so far.
Jose Morgado of Record praised the forehand of Nadal, which was lethal throughout:
Next up for Nadal is his long-term rival Djokovic, who dug deep to overcome a determined opponent in Schwartzman.
Djokovic was excellent in the opening set and appeared on course for a comfortable win. However, Schwartzman showed why he is such a difficult prospect on clay in the second, twice breaking the top seed and eventually taking the match into a decider in a tiebreak.
At this point, the Argentinian was pumped up:
Script flipped... 😲
Diego Schwartzman takes the second set 7-6(2) from Novak Djokovic.
The match continued to be tight early in the second set, although Djokovic was able to secure a crucial break in the sixth game, putting him to within touching distance of the final. The Serb produced some of his best play at this stage of the game:
In the end, the 15-time Grand Slam champion closed the match out, but he will need to improve to overcome Nadal.
Prior to that contest, the women's showdown between Pliskova and Konta should be an absorbing watch.
Konta's win represented the biggest shock of the day, as she rallied back from losing the first set in style. The Brit found her rhythm at the end of the second set to win 7-5 and then moved through the gears in the final set to progress relatively comfortably.
Tennis journalist Simon Cambers feels Konta is getting better on this surface:
No question @kikibertens was tired today but impressed by @JohannaKonta - wind and clay are not often a good combination for her but she is clearly learning to enjoy the surface and getting more comfortable on it. Great effort
The final will represent another major hurdle for Konta to overcome, as Pliskova made light work of her semi-final opponent.
The fourth seed was outstanding against Sakkari, serving expertly throughout the match and upping her game at crucial moments. Sunday will be the third final of the year for the Czech, who is looking in peak condition again following an inconsistent couple of years.
Italian Open 2019: Nadal, Djokovic Advance to Semi-Finals with Wins on Friday
May 17, 2019
ROME, ITALY - MAY 17: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in their Men's Single Quarter Final Match during Day Six of the International BNL d'Italia at Foro Italico on May 17, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Top seed Novak Djokovic booked his place in the semi-finals of the 2019 Italian Open after coming from a set down to beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro.
The world No. 1 will face Diego Schwartzman for a place in the final. The Argentinian caused an upset by knocking out sixth seed Kei Nishikori in straight sets.
Second seed Rafael Nadal made light work of Fernando Verdascoon Friday, beating his Spanish compatriot comfortably to book a semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek star went through after third seed Roger Federer was forced to withdraw with a leg injury before their quarter-final clash on Friday.
In the women's draw, Great Britain's Johanna Konta beat Marketa Vondrousova in three sets to set up a semi-final against Kiki Bertens. The sixth seed progressed after world No. 1 Naomi Osaka withdrew from their quarter-final clash with a hand problem.
Greece's Maria Sakkari also secured her place in the last four after coming from a set down to see off Kristina Mladenovic. She will face fourth seed Karolina Pliskova after her win over Victoria Azarenka.
Men's Results
(2) Rafael Nadal bt. Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-0
(8) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (3) Roger Federer (Federer withdrew)
Diego Schwartzman bt. (6) Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2
(1) Novak Djokovic bt. (7) Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4
Women's Results
(4) Karolina Pliskova bt. Victoria Azarenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2
Johanna Konta bt. Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
(6) Kiki Bertens vs. (1) Naomi Osaka (Osaka withdrew)
Maria Sakkari bt. Kristina Mladenovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
The full schedule is available from the tournament's official website.
Friday Recap
Djokovic survived a tough test against Del Potro, who took the first set after clinching the only break at 3-3 after the No. 1 seed sent a backhand wide following a lengthy rally:
Game on! 😲@delpotrojuan strikes first against Djokovic in Rome...
Djokovic responded well in the second and moved into a 5-2 lead. He had a chance to level the match but could not convert a set point, as the Argentinian held and broke back to put the match back on serve.
Both players held serve to send the match into a tiebreak. Del Potro had two match points but a missed forehand, and a Djokovic drop shot saw him level things at 6-6 before he won the tiebreak:
There was more drama to follow in the third. Djokovic saved three break points to hold and make it 2-2 before he broke Del Potro to move 3-2 up.
This time Djokovic ensured there was no way back for Del Potro. The world No. 1 served the win out comfortably to move to within a match of the final.
Nadal's win over Verdasco has set up a rematch with Tsitsipas just a week after being knocked out of the Madrid Masters in three sets by the talented 20-year-old.
The second seed got off to a slow start, losing the first two games and then needing to save a break point to avoid going 3-0 down.
He managed to force his way back into the game but also had to save three break points at 4-4 before clinching the first set:
From facing 0/40 on his serve at 4-4 to taking the opener 6-4 💥
The former world No. 1 explained on Twitter the reasonbehind his decision to pull out:
I had to take the tough decision this morning to pull out of the Italian Open as I am not feeling 100% physically. The fan reaction and crowd energy during my matches yesterday remind me exactly why I am still competing on the ATP Tour. Mazie Grille! 🙃 A presto!👏🇮🇹💯🙌 #Roma
The Czech broke again to send the game into a decider and looked to have the momentum going into the third set.
Vondrousova had a chance for an early break to go 2-0, but Konta came up with a spectacular backhand winner and did not look back from there.
Konta won six games in a row to take victory in one hour and 53 minutes and booked her place in the semi-finals. Her win also means her WTA ranking will move inside the top 32, netting her a seed at the 2019 French Open, according to WTA Insider.
Italian Open 2019: Nadal, Djokovic Highlight Thursday's Rome Masters Results
May 16, 2019
ROME, ITALY - MAY 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Jeremy Chardy of France in their Mens Singles Round of 32 Match during Day Five of the International BNL d'Italia at Foro Italico on May 16, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka all played and won twice at the Italian Open on Thursday in an extended schedule following Wednesday's postponement due to rain.
Federer beat Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3 in his first appearance at the Rome Masters since 2016, before beating Borna Coric in three sets.
Djokovic saw off Denis Shapovalov and Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nadal gave up just one game apiece against Jeremy Chardy and Nikoloz Basilashvili, and Osaka downed Dominika Cibulkova and Mihaela Buzarnescu.
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios walked out of his match with Casper Ruud after throwing a chair onto the court.
There were upsets in both the men's and women's tournaments as No. 7 seed Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams both fell to Johanna Konta, while Simona Halep, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem were also knocked out.
Federer was similarly efficient in his match against Sousa. The Portuguese made Federer work hard for the victory, but the 20-time Grand Slam champion had more than enough quality to respond.
He took the opening set with a hold to love in 41 minutes, and as so often with Federer, it was his serve that saw him through.
The Swiss legend saved all seven of the break points Sousa earned, defending with some quite staggering play when put under pressure by his opponent:
And he won 77 percent of points behind his first serve to eventually grind Sousa into submission.
The 37-year-old was caught cold in the opening set of his second match, but he quickly responded to edge out Coric in the second and third sets.
Nadal's performance was brutal as he blew Chardy away in a little over an hour.
A quite ludicrous backhand passing winner from the Spaniard to seal the opening set 6-0 summed things up as Chardy simply could not get close to the eight-time winner and defending champion.
The Frenchman saved himself the embarrassment of a double bagel by holding once in the second set, but he understandably could not get off the court quick enough after Nadal sealed victory.
Nadal had a similarly straightforward time against Basilashvili.
The Spaniard was recently described as "salty" by Kyrgios on the No Challenges Remainingpodcast of tennis writer Ben Rothenberg (h/t the Australian Associated Press, for theGuardian).
As Rothenberg observed, the Australian continued to make waves on Thursday:
I'm not sure it matters, but I agree. Looked like it was Kyrgios' choice to stop the match, so more of a forfeit/retirement than a traditional DQ/default. But it was spiraling quickly there.https://t.co/1IZHcKDAmM
Meanwhile, Djokovic is going for his third tournament win of the year after triumphs at the Australian Open and the Madrid Open, and he began his campaign in Rome in emphatic fashion.
The top seed was fast out of the blocks, earning two breaks in the first set to immediately get on the front foot and leave Shapovalov with a mountain to climb.
Serving at a remarkable 80 percent, the Serb won 28 points from 32 behind his first serve and did not concede a single break point.
Unable to produce a similar level of play with the ball in hand, the 20-year-old Shapovalov simply could not compete.
He served at 52 percent during the match and Djokovic took advantage as he completed his first victory of the tournament in 66 minutes.
Nick Kyrgios Calls Rafael Nadal 'Salty,' Novak Djokovic 'Cringeworthy'
May 16, 2019
Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev (unseen) during their ATP Masters tournament tennis match at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 14, 2019. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)
Nick Kyrgios has expressed his dislike for some of his fellow tennis stars, describing Rafael Nadal as "salty," Novak Djokovic's celebrations as "cringeworthy" and Fernando Verdasco as "the most arrogant person ever."
The Australian appeared on the No Challenges Remaining podcast of tennis writer Ben Rothenberg (h/t the Australian Associated Press, for the Guardian), and he didn't mince his words.
On Nadal, he said:
"He’s my polar opposite, like literally my polar opposite. And he’s super salty. Every time I’ve beaten him ... when he wins, it’s fine. He won’t say anything bad, he’ll credit the opponent, ‘He was a great player’. But as soon as I beat him, it’s just like, ‘He has no respect for me, my fans and no respect to the game’.
"And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? I literally played this way when I beat you the other previous times and nothing changed ... When you beat me in Rome here a couple of years ago, nothing changed; I was the same person’."
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Novak Djokovic of Serbia is congratulated in his Men's Singles Final match by Rafael Nadal of Spain during day 14 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Juli
He's not a fan of Djokovic and his celebrations, either:
"I just feel like he has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked. He just wants to be like Roger (Federer). For me personally—I don’t care right now, I’ve come this far—I feel like he just wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him.
"This whole celebration thing (blowing kisses to the crowd) that he does after matches, it’s like so cringeworthy.
“(But) we’re talking about a guy who pulled out of the Australian Open one year because it was too hot. No matter how many grand slams he wins, he will never be the greatest for me. Simply because, I’ve played him twice and like, I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the greatest of all time."
Verdasco also had some criticism lobbed his way, but Kyrgios did reserve praise for Roger Federer―calling him the greatest of all time―and Andy Murray. He also referred to Thanasi Kokkinakis his "brother."
The 24-year-old Kyrgios has never shied away from controversy. He was involved in a spat with a fan during the Miami Open in March, repeatedly engaging a man who had taunted him, per CNN's George Ramsay. The fan was eventually removed from the venue.
Tennis Now shared footage of the back-and-forth:
Kyrgios has a perfect head-to-head record against Djokovic, winning their only two meetings. He's three-and-three against Nadal, having won their most recent meeting in Acapulco in February.
Per Reuters, Nadal criticised the Australian after the loss, saying he lacks respect. In response, Kyrgios said the Spaniard doesn't know him and he wouldn't listen.
While his talent has never been in question, Kyrgios' antics and knack of attracting controversy make him a divisive figure. He holds impressive records against the world's best players but has struggled with consistency, never making it past the quarter-finals of a grand slam.
He has also never been ranked inside the ATP top 10, winning just two titles since the end of the 2016 season.
The Australian's Wally Mason and his colleagues wondered who he really is:
There's a debate in the office about whether Nick Kyrgios is worth reporting on. Pretentious, smart alec who will never amount to anything unless he gets fit and hires a coach or prodigiously talented and misunderstood. What do you think? #tennis#kyrgioshttps://t.co/fqkQ5nMFno
Nadal, Djokovic and Kyrgios are all currently in action in Rome as they continue their preparations for the French Open, which gets underway later this month.
Italian Open 2019: Wednesday's Play Canceled; Federer, Nadal in Action Thursday
May 15, 2019
The fifth day of the 2019 Italian Open was a wash out as heavy rain forced play to be cancelled on Wednesday.
Roger Federer was set to feature in the afternoon against Joao Sousa but the inclement conditions meant the pair could not take to the court.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal also saw their matches postponed, with action expected to resume on Thursday.
Full competition results can be found at the tournament's official website, while the latest schedule can be found here.
Fans were expecting to see three icons of men's tennis feature in Rome before the heavens opened.
Organisiers attempted to keep proceedings in order, with Djokovic's mouthwatering match against Shapovalov only cancelled late in the day, but the weather was persistent and relentless.
Shapovalov has continued to climb the rankings and the 20-year-old is expected to provide an ample test for the world No. 1.
Naomi Osaka will also be back in action as she continues to put the disappointment of the Madrid Open behind her.
The Japanese superstar was dumped out of the tournament in straight sets by Kiki Bertens, who went on to win the competition.
Osaka will want to hold onto her No. 1 world ranking, but Simona Halep is breathing down her neck as she attempts to dethrone the 21-year-old.
Madrid Open 2019: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal Win on Thursday
May 9, 2019
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand in his match against Jeremy Chardy of France during day six of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 09, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Madrid Open on Thursday after he dismantled Jeremy Chardy in straight sets.
Later on, Roger Federer took two hours to despatch Gael Monfils on the clay, winning in three sets as the Swiss matched the Frenchman's energy.
No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal progressed with a straightforward win over rising American prodigy Frances Tiafoe.
Unseeded Stan Wawrinka skipped into the next round as he defeated Kei Nishikori in straight sets.
In the women's quarter-finals, Simona Halep saw off Ashleigh Barty in two sets, but No. 1 seed Naomi Osaka was shocked as she was eliminated by Belinda Bencic.
The 22-year-old Swiss continues to enhance her reputation after beating the Japanese star in three sets.
An action-packed day in the Spanish capital concluded with Petra Kvitova crashing out toKiki Bertens.
Men's Singles Results
(1) Novak Djokovic bt. Jeremy Chardy, 6-1, 7-6 (2)
Djokovic entered his match with a 12-0 head-to-head record with Chardy, and his dominance over the Frenchman was reflected in the opening set as he quickly raced to a 5-0 lead.
Chardy avoided a bagel when serving to stay in the set, but all it did was delay the inevitable, and it quickly went Djokovic's way, per Metro's George Bellshaw:
The 32-year-old improved in the second set as he managed to keep proceedings on serve, and he even managed to earn a set point, but Djokovic was able to take the set to a tiebreaker.
From there, the world No. 1 took control to set up a tie with Marin Cilic:
💯 Novak Djokovic makes it 13-0 against Jeremy Chardy.
Federer was in sensational form as he exploded out of the traps against Monfils, taking the first set without losing a game.
However, the 32-year-old fought back to claim the second set, breaking the icon's serve as he levelled proceedings.
Federer once again put his foot on the gas to edge the deciding set, winning a tiebreak finish 7-3 as his opponent faded.
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 09: Roger Federer of Switzerland is congratulated by Gael Monfils of France after his three set win during day six of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 09, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
It was an easy day for Nadal as he cruised to victory against Tiafoe in the evening session.
The king of clay broke his opponent's serve to make it 3-1 in the first and repeated the break in the second to squeeze Tiafoe's hopes of a shock.
Nadal fired six aces on his way to victory, never allowing the American the chance to capitalise from his service games.
Halep and Barty produced an entertaining contest when they met on court Manolo Santana.
Both sets followed the same pattern, with Halep getting a break in front before being pegged back.
Reigning French Open champion Halep showed her class in the clutch moments, though, as she recovered from the setbacks to break at 5-5 in each set before holding serve to win.
The victory continued the 27-year-old's superb record in Madrid, per Record's Jose Morgado:
Halep now won 24 of her last 27 matches in Madrid since 2014
2019 - SF* 2018 - QF 2017 - W 2016 - W 2015 - R1 2014 - F
Halep will play Bencic in her semi-final after the world No. 18 sent Osaka packing from Madrid.
Osaka was strongly expected to make the last four, but she could now lose her status as the top-ranked player in the world after the surprise loss.
Bencic appeared to be on her way to defeat in the deciding set but rallied to suppress a 5-3 deficit.
The Swiss took the final set 7-5 as she twice broke the favourite's serve in dramatic fashion.
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 09: Kiki Bertens of Netherlands is congratulated by Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic after her win during day six of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 09, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
There was disappointment at the end of the day for Kvitova as she was soundly beaten by Bertens.
The 27-year-old Dutch player was ruthless as she accelerated past the No. 2 seed in straight sets.
Kvitova lost her serve five times as her opponent sailed to victory with authority and ease.
Madrid Open 2019: Rafael Nadal Cruises to Win in Wednesday Action
May 8, 2019
Rafael Nadal won his opening match at the 2019 Madrid Open on Wednesday with a dominant victory over Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime.
There were also wins for Alexander Zverev, Kei Nishikori and Stanislas Wawrinka, while seventh seed Juan Martin del Porto's tournament is over after he was beaten in three sets by Serbia's Laslo Dere.
Meanwhile, Gael Monfils came from a set down to beat Marton Fucsovics and thrilled the crowd by producing an outrageous winner on his way to victory:
That is OUTRAGEOUS 😲@Gael_Monfils magic in Madrid! 🙌
In the women's draw, No.1 seed Naomi Osaka is safely into the quarter-finals after beating Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich in straight sets.
No. 2 seed Petra Kvitova is also through after seeing off Caroline Garcia, while Simona Halep progressed by thrashing Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova 6-0, 6-0 in just 45 minutes to set up a meeting with Australian Ashleigh Barty.
Men's Singles Selected Results
(2) Rafael Nadal bt. Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3
Laslo Dere bt. (7) Juan Martin del Porto 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
(15) Gael Monfils bt. Marton Fucsovics 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Stanislas Wawrinka bt. Guido Pella 6-4, 6-3
Jeremy Chardy bt. Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-2
Frances Tiafoe bt. Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
(6) Kei Nishikori bt. Hugo Dellien 7-5, 7-5
(10) Fabio Fognini bt. John Millman 6-2, 6-2
(8) Stefanos Tsitsipas bt. Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 7-5
The Spaniard's preparations for the tournament had been disrupted by a stomach virus, but he showed no ill-effects against the talented 18-year-old.
Both players had to contend with windy conditions in the Spanish capital, but the second seed took advantage of some unforced errors to gain the crucial break with Auger-Aliassime serving at 3-4.
Nadal then served out the first set with no problems to clinch the opener.
The second seed improved as the match progressed and was dominant on serve. He gained an early break in the second on his way to a comfortable win:
It was a solid performance from Nadal as he bids for a sixth title in Madrid, and he goes on to face America's Frances Tiafoe in the next round.
Osaka reached the quarter-finals in Madrid for the first time in her career in a straightforward win over an in-form Sasnovich.
There was little to choose between the two players in the early stages, as six of the first seven games went to deuce.
However, the reigning U.S. and Australian Open champion just had the edge on her opponent, using power and precision to win the first three games in a row and take the lead:
Osaka did have to save two break points before managing to force three set points at 5-2 on the Sasnovich serve. The Belarusian then double-faulted to hand Osaka the first set.
The 21-year-old broke early in the second to take control of the match. Sasnovich did manage to break straight back, but Osaka broke again and then held serve to see out the second set out 6-3:
Halep is also safely through after an utterly dominant victory that secured her a place in the quarter-finals for the fifth time in the past six years:
Incredibly dominant performance from Simona Halep, 60 60 over Viktoria Kuzmova @MutuaMadridOpen.
Halep won 48 of 60 points to score her 2nd tour-level double-bagel.
Both have come on clay (2016 Bucharest F, d. Sevastova)
The match was briefly interrupted by rain in the opening stages, allowing the roof to be closed which seemed to suit Halep much more than her opponent.
The Romanian lost just seven points in the opening set and only five more in the second as she raced to victory:
Simona Halep loses just 12 points and beats Kuzmova 6-0, 6-0 to reach the QFs in Madrid. Viktoria won ONE first serve point. 44 minutes.
It was a tough day for the 20-year-old Kuzmova, who could not get near her opponent, as Halep put in a near-flawless performance to secure the second double bagel of her career on the WTA Tour.
