Due to vaccination requirements, French doubles star Pierre Hugues Herbert withdrew from the Australian Open.
Washington, December 13, 2021 (Michael Dickens)
Pierre Hugues Herbert is the first unvaccinated player to announce his withdrawal from the Australian Open next month.
30-year-old Herbert and Nicolas Mahut recently won the ATP Finals doubles championship in Turin, Italy. They won the Australian Open together two years ago and are currently ranked eighth in the doubles world. Herbert and Mahut won five Grand Slam doubles titles together and won their second French Open doubles title in June.
According to the Melbourne Herald Sun, Mahut’s position at the Australian Open is also in doubt because he has only received one dose of the approved Covid-19 vaccine so far after he tested positive for the coronavirus.
An unvaccinated tennis player withdrew from the Australian Open.
Details: https://t.co/kKobONX0cP pic.twitter.com/4oLnnUCdLd
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) December 11, 2021
French sports media L'Alsace quoted Herbert as saying: "Personally, I have not been vaccinated, and traveling to Australia is not my choice."
"I try my best. But because of my singles ranking, [going to Australia] having a good start can be a bad thing."
Herbert's current singles ranking is 110th, making him the second substitute in the Australian Open singles competition, which means he may have to qualify. Instead, he will start his season in some ATP Challenger Tour events in Italy to improve his singles ranking. He bowed in the first round of all four Grand Slam singles events this season.
"As far as I am concerned, not being vaccinated is a personal choice," Herbert said. "I don't know how long it will last. I don't know whether it is feasible to become an unvaccinated tennis player today.
"Not only Australia. Today, there are the United States, Austria... This is a very complicated topic."
L'Alsacien Pierre-Hugues Herbert renonce à l'Open d'Asutralie 2022 ⤵️https://t.co/qZyLW2yL4V@p2hugz @nmahut @FFTennis @TCStrasbourg @ericsalliot @atptour @Tennis @ActuFRArolandgarross
-L'Alsace Sports (@lalsacesports) December 10, 2021
Delgado and Murray split for Shapovalov
On Friday, Jamie Delgado became the latest well-known coach to change clients at this time of the year. That’s because the 44-year-old Delgado ceased to be his team from the long-term partner of Andy Murray’s team in 2016, when the Englishman won Wimbledon and ranked first in the world rankings. One — and becoming the head coach after succeeding Ivan Lendl in 2017 — tried out with Denis Shapovalov, number 14 in the world.
Ironically, Shapovalov defeated Murray in the third round of Wimbledon earlier this year. Delgado is expected to work with the 22-year-old Canadian at least during the Miami Open.
If you haven't heard of it, Andy Murray broke up with long-time coach Jamie Delgado. Murray will try out with Jan De Witt next week. Delgado will now work with Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Changes...pic.twitter.com/iX50UmKGL4
At the same time, Jan Dewitt, who has worked with Giles Simon, Gail Monfils, and Nicolas Basilashvili, joined Murray’s team, starting in Abu Dhabi later this month. The Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition started trial operation.
Murray, currently ranked 134th in the world, will use this exhibition as a prelude to participating in the Australian Open as he continues to restart his career after hip surgery in January 2019.
Nadal adds Mark Lopez to his team
Rafael Nadal is reunited with his 2016 Olympic doubles partner Marc Lopez. Only this time, the Spaniard extended his tennis partnership to the player-coach. That's because Lopez will join Carlos Moya and Francisco Roig as part of the Nadal team.
Lopez has been working with Nadal in Mallorca to prepare for the 20-time Grand Slam champion to return to the ATP Tour in Australia next month. First of all, Lopez will watch the match in Abu Dhabi when Nadal appears in the Mubadala World Tennis Championships exhibition in the United Arab Emirates.
@RafaelNadal The last time a new coach was added was in 2017, which was a very good year.
The Spaniard will hope to have more of the same success in 2022, after another new coach, Marc Lopez.
More: https://t.co/RcYxzWmsaw pic.twitter.com/ArGswp2J6Q
Remember Manolo Santana: a great player, a better man
Manolo Santana, who died on Saturday, is remembered as one of Spain's most important athletes of the 20th century. The news of Santana’s death was announced via social media by the Mutua Madrid Open. Santana served as the tournament director from 2002 to 2019 and later became the honorary chairman of the 1000 Masters. The main performance venue of Caja Mágica, where the Madrid Open is held, is named after him.
Te echaremos de menos Manolo; serás siempre único y special. Un saludo a tu familia y mucha fuerza en estos momentos. Nunca te olvidaremos! #manolosantana #santana #tenis #tennis #DEP pic.twitter.com/zKC2VejhHL
Santana, 83, was born in Madrid in 1938 and was the world's number one amateur player in 1965. He won four Grand Slam singles titles-the French Open in 1961 and 1964, the U.S. National Championship (later the U.S. Open in 1968) and Wimbledon in 1966. He was the first Spaniard to win these Grand Slams.
"My heart is with my deceased good friend Manolo Santana," wrote Rod Laver, the great hall of fame, who shared many great battles with Spanish heroes.
"As a clay master, Manolo once said that grass is for cows, but he still won the Wimbledon Championship in 1966, and inspired generations of Spain with his famous heavy topspin and fighting spirit. Players."
My heart is with my late friend Manolo Santana. As a clay court master, Manolo once said that grass is for cows, but he still won the Wimbledon Championship in 1966, and inspired generations of Spanish players with his famous heavy topspin and fighting spirit. pic.twitter.com/6GzSbzDcPT
In fact, although Santana cemented his position in the International Hall of Fame with his Grand Slam victory, he will always remember that he led the Spanish Davis Cup team, whether as a player in the 1960s or later in the 1980s and Captain of the mid-1990s.
Garbiñe Muguruza, ranked third in the women’s world, is a two-time Grand Slam winner. She shared a photo of her with an elderly Santana (Santana) and thanked him for his “kindness, warmth, and showing us where we are going. the way".
"You have always been our reference point, and a pioneer for everyone in the Spanish tennis world," she said. "In good and bad times, so close and focused. We will miss you. All my love for your family and loved ones."
DEP Manolo.Gracias port tu bondad, cercanía y por enseñarnos el camino. Siempre fuiste nuestro referente, para todos en el tenis español, un pionero. Tan atento y tan cercano, en los buenos y los malos momentos. Te echaré de menos. Todo mi cariño para su familia y seres queridos. pic.twitter.com/VLUWLmsimf
— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) December 11, 2021
Among the many forums of Manolo Santana shared on social media:
• Novak Djokovic, number one in the men’s world, wrote: “It’s heartbreaking to learn about Manolo Santana. I would like to express my deepest condolences and prayers to his family and all those who love him. Thank you dear Manolo for paving the way for you, you will always be missed and celebrated! Rest in peace, legend!"
The news just received about Manolo Santana is heartbreaking. Express my deepest condolences and prayers to his family and all those who love him. Thank you dear Manolo for paving the way for you, you will always be missed and celebrated! Rest in peace legend! #manolosantana pic.twitter.com/yD9133duQj
• The great Martina Navratilova of the Hall of Fame: "I am sad to hear that a good person in history has passed away and she played our beautiful tennis game very beautifully. Masters on and off the court And the gentleman-RIP my friend, Señor Manolo Santana #TennisHallOfFame"
• Spanish basketball star Paolo Gasol: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of tennis legend Manolo Santana. He has an important reference to our country's sports. I express my sincere condolences to his family and relatives. . Rest in peace, Manolo."
Muy triste por la noticia del fallecimiento de Manolo Santana, una leyenda del tenis y un gran referente del deporte de nuestro país. Mi más sincero pésame a sus fusiones y seres queridos.
Descans Embassy, Manolo 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/6Gez5nRC5o
• Christopher Clarey, New York Times tennis reporter: "A Spanish sports legend has passed away at the age of 83. Manolo Santana: the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon and a popularizer of #tennis in Spain. Crossed his path and interviewed him many times. A true knight."
Diacenko wins the WTA 125 Angéloire Arena Open
The first of the two year-end WTA 125 events held in France ended on Sunday afternoon. The 165th ranked Russian player Vitalia Diachenko defeated China’s 6-0 and 6-4. The second seed, Zhang Shuai, won the title of Angers, France, the champion of the Loir Angers Open.
A post shared by Open P2i Angers Arena Loire (@open.angers)
The 31-year-old Diachenko overcame 12 double errors and defeated Zhang No. 62. In the 92-minute final, she won 85% (34 of 40 points) of first serve points, saved 9 of the 10 break points she faced, and defeated Zhang 81-59.
After losing the final round of qualifying last weekend, after Ukraine's first seed Anhelena Karinina retired, Diachenko won a place in the 32-man draw as a lucky transporter. She won five consecutive games, won her first WTA Challenge this season and the third WTA 125 championship of her career, worth 12,100 Euros and 160 ranking points. This is her first championship title since she won in Taipei in 2019.
At the same time, Slovakia’s Teresa Mihalikova and Belgium’s Grete Minnen won the doubles championship. They defeated Romania’s 4-6, 6-1, 10-8 in 1 hour and 27 seconds. No. 1 seeds Monica Niculescu and Russia's Vera Zvonareva. minute.
DIATCHENKO ⚡️ MINNEN / MIHALIKOVA ⚡️
Le recap de cette dernière journée est disponible! 👆
🎥: @valmarcv #OPAAL2021 pic.twitter.com/XctnCTSBG5
-Open P2i Angé Loire Arena (@LoireOpen) on December 12, 2021
The main draw for the second French WTA 125, the BLS de Limoges Open in Limoges, France, will begin on Monday. Zhang and the 68th ranked Belgian Alison van Uytwank are the top two. Like Angers, the first prize is 12,100 euros and 160 points.
Belinda Bencic / 2021 Swiss Female Athlete of the Year
🙏🏽♥️ https://t.co/8ArBtZTA91
Return to the machine / December 12, 1968
#1968 Today, Arthur Ashe became the world's number one player, thus reaching the pinnacle of men's tennis🥇
Ash is the first African-American man to win the Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/ZwbRrYqqIX
Tracy Austin Happy 59th Birthday
🏆Two-time U.S. Open champion🌎Former No. 1 in the world📖@TennisHalloFame Class of 1992
Happy birthday, @thetracyaustin! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/tUzmy0Ps0j
-US Open (@usopen) December 12, 2021