Tennis

Tommy Haas, the tournament director of the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, has a wealth of experience in team competitions, having represented Germany in the Davis Cup and played for Gruen Weiss Mannheim in the Bundesliga. He believes that team events like the Laver Cup are essential for the sport, offering a unique blend of camaraderie, pressure, and prestige.Haas emphasizes that team events differ significantly from individual tournaments. In team competitions, players feel a sense of responsibility to contribute to their team's success, which creates a different kind of pressure. "You might want to win more because you rarely experience it," Haas explains. "That's why it makes it all the more special."The Laver Cup, in particular, holds a special place in Haas's heart. He describes it as a "super, super great event" that brings together top-class players from Team Europe and Team World. The tournament not only offers prize money and a trophy but also a sense of prestige for the participants.Haas believes that team events are not only beneficial for players but also for fans. Spectators get to witness a variety of matches featuring top players throughout the day, including doubles action. The Indian Wells tournament, for example, has hosted exhibition tournaments and invitation-only mixed competitions featuring renowned tennis stars.Haas concludes by highlighting the importance of team spirit in team events. "It makes it more special to get points for a team," he says. "That's why you have more fun out there and try not to let your team down."

The Davis Cup Final 8, scheduled for November 19-24 in Malaga, Spain, has unveiled its initial lineups, featuring a star-studded cast led by Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, and Alcaraz, the current world No. 3, will represent Spain in their quest for a sixth Davis Cup title. The duo made their team debut at the Paris Olympics but fell short of the medal rounds.Italy, the defending champions, will be spearheaded by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who played a pivotal role in their 2023 Davis Cup triumph. Lorenzo Musetti, another Italian star, will also be vying for a title defense.The United States, led by Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, will face Australia in the quarterfinals. The Aussies, last year's runners-up, will be without Alex de Minaur but will have Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin in their ranks.Canada, the 2022 champions, will rely on Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov to defend their title. Germany, with Jan-Lennard Struff and Yannick Hanfmann, has yet to finalize its roster, leaving open the possibility of world No. 2 Alexander Zverev's inclusion.The Netherlands, Spain's quarterfinal opponent, will feature Botic Van de Zandschulp, who defeated Alcaraz at the US Open. Argentina, led by Sebastian Baez and Francisco Cerundolo, will face Italy in the other quarterfinal.The Davis Cup Final 8 promises thrilling matches and intense competition as the world's top tennis nations battle for the prestigious trophy.

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has accused Sumit Nagal of demanding an annual fee of $50,000 to play Davis Cup ties for India. However, Nagal has defended his actions, stating that it is "standard practice" for athletes to be compensated for their services.Nagal had opted out of the recent Davis Cup tie against Sweden, citing a back strain that also forced him out of the US Open men's doubles competition last month. It was India's best chance to beat Sweden in their own backyard, but competing without a singles specialist, the team received a 0-4 hammering.AITA expressed its displeasure, saying that the country's top players, including Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Sasikumar Mukund, refused national duty. Nagal had entered the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open and was scheduled to play on Thursday but withdrew citing the same back issue.AITA head Anil Dhupar said, "You tell me why should a player be asking for money to play for the country. This is a big question. He had demanded an annual fee of $50,000 (approx 45 lakh) and said if he is not paid, he will not play."Dhupar insisted that players are paid by TOPS and receive prize money from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for Davis Cup participation. However, Nagal claimed that it is standard practice for athletes to be compensated for their participation in events, even when representing their country."This is not about personal gain. My discussions with AITA and the Davis Cup Captain are confidential and I would not like to indulge in any speculation about this," he wrote in a statement.AITA was furious that Nagal chose to skip Davis Cup last week by citing injury but "recovered miraculously" to compete in Hangzhou Open. Nagal withdrew from the ATP 250 tournament, two days after AITA came out with its statement.Nagal said representing the country was always "a privilege and an honour that I hold in the highest regard." He defended his decision to pull out of the Davis Cup, saying that competing while carrying an injury could jeopardize his health and the team's chances.It has been learnt that captain Rohit Rajpal had taken Nagal's proposal to the AITA Executive Committee, which initially agreed to pay him but asked the captain to renegotiate the figure. However, before an agreement could be reached, Nagal withdrew from the tie and the discussion on the matter ended without progress.Nagal criticized AITA on social media platforms, saying many of them were there just to enjoy junkets. He further justified his break, saying that injury management is a complex science and sometimes just a few days of rest can make the difference between aggravating an injury and being fit to play again.Nagal said he was committed to the country and looked forward to future opportunities to wear the national colors. He had skipped the tie against Pakistan too earlier this year, conveying to the team management that the contest was being played on grass court and his game was more suited to the hard surfaces.

Italy's Davis Cup triumph in Bologna was a resounding success, with the defending champions securing their spot in the Final 8 in Malaga, Spain. Despite the absence of Jannik Sinner, who was recovering from his historic US Open victory, the Italian team showcased their dominance in the Group Stage.Matteo Berrettini, Italy's top player, led the charge with three impressive victories. He overcame Botic van de Zandschulp, Carlos Alcaraz's conqueror at the US Open, in a thrilling three-set battle. Berrettini also defeated Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca and Belgian Alexander Blockx in straight sets.Flavio Cobolli played a crucial role in Italy's success, securing the winning point against Tallon Griekspoor in another three-set encounter. Cobolli's victory clinched the tie for Italy, who won all three of their matches in the Group Stage.Italy's triumph is a testament to their depth and resilience. They have now won all three of their Davis Cup ties this year, including victories over Brazil and Belgium. Their success is a continuation of their historic victory in 2021, when they captured the title for the first time in 47 years.Sinner, who played a pivotal role in Italy's 2021 triumph, was on hand to support his teammates in Bologna. His presence was a reminder of the team's strength and the high expectations they have for the Final 8.Italy will face stiff competition in the Knock-Out Stage, with Spain, Australia, the United States, Germany, Canada, and Argentina all qualifying for the Final 8. However, the Italians will be confident in their ability to defend their title and continue their dominance in the Davis Cup.

Argentina has secured a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8 after a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Finland in Manchester. The Argentines, who last reached the quarterfinals in 2018, overcame a challenging Group D that included a loss to defending champion Canada.Tomas Martin Etcheverry opened the tie with a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Eero Vasa, while Francisco Cerundolo battled past Otto Virtanen 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-0. The doubles pair of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni sealed the victory with a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Patrick Kaukovalta and Harri Heliovaara.Argentina's victory puts pressure on host Britain, who must defeat Canada 3-0 on Sunday to advance.In other Group D action, Brazil kept their hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Belgium. Joao Fonseca and Thiago Monteiro secured three-set victories, but the doubles match went to Belgium. Brazil can still qualify if the Netherlands lose 3-0 to Italy on Sunday.In Group C, the United States earned a seeding in the Final 8 by topping Germany 2-1. Reilly Opelka saved two match points to defeat Henri Squire, while Brandon Nakashima cruised past Maximilian Marterer. The Americans lost their first point in nine matches when Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram fell to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in doubles.In Group B, France defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in a tie between teams already eliminated. The victory was sealed by a doubles win for France.

Novak Djokovic made a triumphant return to competitive tennis, crushing Greek player Ioannis Xilas 6-0, 6-1 in the Davis Cup World Group I tie on Saturday. The victory marked Djokovic's first match since his shock third-round exit at the US Open.Playing in front of his home crowd at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Djokovic displayed his dominance from the outset. He lost just 15 points in the entire match, showcasing his exceptional form and determination to bounce back from his recent setback.Djokovic's victory gave Serbia a 2-0 lead on Day 1 of the two-day tie against Greece. World No. 53 Miomir Kecmanovic had earlier opened the tie with a 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 713 Aristotelis Thanos.The Greek team was without their star player Stefanos Tsitsipas, who withdrew ahead of the tie due to a back injury. Despite Tsitsipas' absence, Greece put up a spirited fight, but they were ultimately outmatched by the superior quality of the Serbian team.The tie between Greece and Serbia was one of 12 promotional ties taking place this weekend. The 12 winning nations from the World Group I ties will qualify for the 2025 Davis Cup qualifying round next winter.Djokovic's performance in Belgrade was a clear indication that he is back to his best and ready to challenge for more Grand Slam titles. The Serbian maestro will be looking to add to his record-breaking tally of 21 Grand Slams when the Australian Open gets underway in January.

India's Davis Cup hopes suffered a setback as they fell 0-2 behind Sweden in the World Group I tie on Saturday. N Sriram Balaji and Ramkumar Ramanathan were both defeated in straight sets in the opening singles matches.Balaji, a doubles specialist, was outplayed by Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-2. The Indian struggled to keep up with Ymer's powerful groundstrokes and was broken twice in each set.Ramkumar, a more experienced Davis Cupper, was expected to level the tie against Leo Borg, the son of legendary Bjorn Borg. However, the 21-year-old Borg proved to be a formidable opponent, winning 6-3, 6-3.Ramkumar's challenge fell apart in just 58 minutes. He failed to find a way past Borg's solid serve and consistent groundstrokes. The Indian also made several unforced errors, which proved costly.India now face an uphill battle to win the tie. They need to win all three remaining matches on Sunday, including the doubles and two reverse singles.Captain Rohit Rajpal has a tough decision to make regarding the doubles pairing. Balaji and Ramkumar could be given another chance, but Niki Poonacha may also be considered.India have a history of overcoming 0-2 deficits in Davis Cup ties. They beat Brazil in 2010 and China in 2018 after trailing 0-2. However, they will need to produce a special performance to do so again against Sweden.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world's third-ranked tennis player, has shown signs of regaining his form after a disappointing US swing. Playing in front of a home crowd in Valencia, Alcaraz helped Spain secure a spot in the Final 8 of the Davis Cup Finals with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory over France's Ugo Humbert.Alcaraz's performance was a welcome sight for Spanish fans, who have witnessed a dip in his form since winning the US Open in September. The 21-year-old struggled in Cincinnati and the US Open, losing to Gael Monfils and Botic van de Zandschulp, respectively.However, Alcaraz looked sharp against Humbert, saving all six break points he faced and hitting 12 forehand winners. He credited the team atmosphere for his improved play, saying, "I need being with the team, all the players, all the staff from the federation. Seeing them cheering me always in every point, every match… I need this atmosphere, these kind of matches that I feel like I’m not playing alone."Alcaraz's victory was preceded by a hard-fought win by Roberto Bautista Agut over Arthur Fils. Bautista Agut rallied from a set down to win 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, securing Spain's place in the knockout stage alongside Australia.Alcaraz will now turn his attention to the Laver Cup in Berlin, where he will make his debut for Team Europe. He will then embark on an Asian swing, hoping to regain his top form and challenge for more Grand Slam titles.

India to Face Sweden in Davis Cup World Group-1 EncounterIndian tennis star Sriram Balaji will lead the charge for India against Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group-1 encounter, which will be played on indoor hard courts at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm on Saturday. Balaji will open the campaign against Elias Ymer, ranked 238th in the world.The Indian team, which includes Ramkumar Ramanathan, will rely on the duo to secure the first day's play. Balaji and Ramanathan were instrumental in India's 4-0 victory over Pakistan in the World Group play-off earlier this year.Captain Rohit Rajpal has hinted at repeating the players in singles and doubles, after observing their performance in training. The team will depend on Balaji and Ramanathan to shoulder the doubles rubber against Filip Bergevi and Andre Goransson.Ramkumar will face Leo Borg, the son of legendary Bjorn Borg, in the second singles on the opening day. Borg, ranked 603rd, may be less experienced than his father, but he has a strong foundation, having been ranked No.12 in the world as a junior.Sweden has never lost to India in the five ties they have played over the years. In fact, India has managed to win only two rubbers in all. However, the Indian team is determined to break this streak and secure a victory on Swedish soil.The matches on the first day are scheduled to start from 5.30 p.m. IST, while the second day's play, which will feature the doubles followed by the two reverse singles matches, will start at 3.30 p.m. IST. Sony Sports will broadcast the matches live for the Indian audience.