Murray’s impressive run ends in final loss
Djokovic came under added scrutiny last week when he admitted in a statement he had provided false information on his travel declaration, blaming his agent for the error.
He also admitted attending a media interview in Serbia while knowingly Covid-19 positive and when he should have been selfisolating, calling it an ‘‘error of judgement’’.
Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the Australian government of ‘‘harassing’’ and ‘‘maltreating’’ Djokovic, suggesting it was indulging in political point-scoring before the election. But Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists Djokovic’s visa cancellation was done in the public interest.
Andy Murray’s impressive run ended one win short of a 47th career title when he lost the Sydney Tennis Classic final 6-3, 6-3 to topseeded Aslan Karatsev.
Murray, 34, started the week with his first win on Australian soil in more than 1000 days. The threetime major winner progressed through the rounds to reach his first final since 2019.
Karatsev, who reached the Australian Open semifinals last year after going through qualifying for the season-opening major, was just too good.
‘‘First time back in the finals for three years, it’s been a long road to get back here,’’ said Murray, a threetime major winner who has slid from No1 to No135 in the rankings. ‘‘I’ll keep trying my best to come back and have more nights like this. Maybe see you next year.’’
Murray won’t have long to recover before he takes on No23 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, who he beat in Sydney, in the first round of the Australian Open.
The men’s title in Sydney was one of four decided on Saturday as the tune-up series concluded ahead of the Australian Open, which begins today.
In the women’s final in Sydney, Paula Badosa claimed her third career title when she upset French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4).
In Adelaide, unseeded Madison Keys claimed her first WTA Tour singles title since 2019 when she beat Alison Riske 6-1, 6-2 in an all-American final, and Thanasi Kokkinakis claimed in his first ATP Tour title in front of his home fans by beating Arthur Rinderknech 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Kokkinakis, 25, considered retirement after struggling with shoulder, chest, groin, knee and elbow injuries over five years. That’s off the radar, for now, after a run of eight wins in two weeks.
Kokkinakis will play qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the first round of the Australian Open and could meet 20-time major winner Rafael Nadal in the second round.
Earlier in Adelaide, Keys needed only 66 minutes to beat her regular practice partner in the first all-American final on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams beat Jessica Pegula at Auckland in 2020.
Keys can now turn her attention to the Australian Open where she will face 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the first round.
The former world No 7 and 2017 US Open finalist, who has slipped to her current 87th-ranking due to injuries and a form slump in recent years, had overcome a leg injury to beat third-seeded compatriot Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a semifinals to reach her first tour final since since 2020.
Badosa needed 2 hours, 22 minutes to win, getting a vital mini-break in the third-set tiebreaker to close out the match.