The 23-time Grand Slam champion ended her remarkable career at last year’s US Open but has avoided claiming that she “retired” multiple times since, and doubled down on her comments recently in a hint that she could one day make a return to the court.
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The 40-year-old, who revealed prior to the Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows that it will likely be her final tournament, was beaten 7-5 [4]6-7 6-1 by the Australian in New York.
Top seed Djokovic won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to equal Pete Sampras’s mark of seven titles at the All England Club and move within one of the men’s record of eight held by Roger Federer.
“I have to pull out of the tournament as I have been suffering with pain in the abdomen,” said the 36-year-old.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made a tearful exit in the first round 12 months ago after retiring during the first set due to a leg injury and doubts have been growing about whether she would return.
The three-time Grand Slam winner was initially expected to skip the entire clay court season before accepting a wildcard entry into the Madrid Open earlier this month.
The Greek world number five Tsitsipas’ second Masters 1000 title comes at the perfect time for the 23-year-old, who is hoping to improve on his runner-up finish at last year’s French Open and claim a maiden Grand Slam title this year.
The Australian, who has won three grand slams and is the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, said she was retiring from the sport to “chase other dreams”.
Nadal had the opportunity to overtake ‘Big Three’ rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the list of major winners with only a second Melbourne triumph and first since 2009 in Sunday’s showpiece, but he looked to have blown that chance after falling two sets down to the 2021 US Open champion.
In temperatures of 32C, Cornet won 6-4 3-6 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of a major for the first time.
Serbia’s Djokovic, 34, has not spoken publicly about his vaccination status.
The 34-year-old Serbian gained a measure of revenge over his Russian opponent who dashed his dreams of a Grand Slam sweep in the US Open final in September.
After winning Wimbledon, the third major of the year, the 34-year-old lost in the bronze medal match to Pablo Carreno Busta at the Tokyo Olympics before pulling out of the mixed doubles citing a shoulder issue.
His third straight triumph at the All England Club also earned the Serbian a 20th Grand Slam title, equalling the men’s record haul held by Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal of Spain.
The 25-year-old Barty, who won her maiden Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2019, emulated her idol Evonne Goolagong who claimed the second of her All England Club titles in 1980.
The two warriors produced superhuman tennis as the 58th duel between them arguably rivalled anything they had conjured against each other since they first locked horns in 2006.
Williams has not won a Major since returning to tennis after the birth of her daughter, although she is still going deep in tournaments.
The demand for a reduction was due to players’ inability to train at required level amid the strict COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Twenty-five players – thought to mostly be qualifiers – on board the flight from Doha to Melbourne must isolate in their room for 14 days.
Thirty-three-year-old Murray, who is self-isolating and in good health, was awarded a wildcard to play in the main draw of the year’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne.