DUBAI: Jelena Ostapenko came back from a set down for a third straight match by beating former world number one Simona Halep 2-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-0 to reach the event final WTA in Dubai on Friday.
The Latvian, who knocked out sixth seed Iga Swiatek in the second round and saved a match point before ousting Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals, will face Russian world number 31 Veronika Kudermetova in the title decider on Saturday.
The free-swinging Ostapenko knocked out four Grand Slam champions en route to the final and denied Halep a chance to claim a third crown in Dubai.
Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, is through to the 11th final of her career, where she will seek to clinch her first hard-court title since 2019.
“Playing the fourth game in a row for a Grand Slam champion is not easy,” said the 24-year-old.
“I’m just happy with the way I was fighting. When things weren’t going my way because I felt a bit exhausted at the start, I needed time to maybe warm up and, yeah, I just managed to win the game.”
It was the third meeting between the pair, and the first since 2017, when an unranked Ostapenko shocked Halep in the Roland Garros final – after outscoring the Romanian by a set and a break – before that Halep does not avenge this defeat in Beijing a few months. later, earning him the top spot.
Halep drew first blood, breaking Ostapenko’s serve in game five before doubling her advantage to claim the first set in just 26 minutes, finishing it off with back-to-back aces.
Ostapenko started the second set with renewed purpose, carving out a 3-0 lead helped by an unusually sloppy service game from Halep. But Halep responded immediately and they were soon back on level.
Double faults began to creep into Halep’s game, and despite saving two set points on her serve en route to the tie-break, the Romanian could not earn a single point in the breaker as Ostapenko took the contest into a decider.
The Latvian big hitter took a 5-0 lead as Halep lost faith in her serve. Serving for the win, Ostapenko fended off two break points before clinching his ticket to the final.
“I knew I had to play aggressively no matter what, regardless of the score,” said Ostapenko, who will return to the top 20 for the first time since 2018 on Monday.
“She really doesn’t like playing against players who play aggressively and take her time. I really knew I had to do it today, the whole game, even though I miss sometimes, which I did. . I think that helped me win.”
Kudermetova reached the final without touching a ball after her semi-final opponent Marketa Vondrousova was forced to retire ahead of their clash, citing a right adductor injury.
The Czech left-hander has won six matches this week in Dubai through qualifying and the main draw but said she must prioritize her health as she focuses on the Qatar Open next week.
“The injury, it started a few days ago and I played so many matches here that it made the injury worse,” said the former Roland Garros runner-up. “I’m really sad to leave the tournament this way, but I still had a great week and I’m proud of the way I played.”

Former world No. 9 Fabio Fognini has cast doubt on Novak Djokovic’s alleged positive Covid test in December, which was a crucial part of his ordeal at the Australian Open last month. Fognini, who won the Australian Open doubles title in 2015, also claims to have spoken with the Serb after his controversial expulsion.

Djokovic’s positive test was part of a medical vaccine exemption which he said would allow him to enter Australia.

But the unvaccinated tennis star was met with hostility after arriving in Melbourne and held in a migrant detention center for several days.

After a judge cleared him to play, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke stepped in and deported the 20-time Grand Slam champion on the grounds that it could stoke anti-vaccine sentiment in the country.

The legitimacy of Djokovic’s positive test, which was reportedly recorded in December, has been questioned by BBC Research.

READ MORE: Andy Murray vs. Auger-Aliassime gets bizarre ending as Brit is forced to deny cheating

He was also seen without a mask in public the day after he was supposed to have tested positive and admitted knowing about his positive test during an interview with a French journalist in December.

Djokovic has largely withdrawn from the public eye in recent weeks, and Fognini cast doubt on the fiasco, admitting “only he knows” whether his test was truly positive.

‘I spoke to Djokovic when they kicked him out of Australia,’ the Italian says The Grafico.

“It was very crazy. He fought because he knew he could do it.

He is on the roster, but US Covid vaccine entry requirements suggest he will run into trouble unless his stance changes.

Moreover, exemptions would be difficult to obtain, even if Djokovic wanted to return to this path after his high-profile struggles in Melbourne.

The Serb could be back in action at Roland Garros, which is set to drop within six months of his presumed positive test and could therefore earn him a vaccine passport.

Fognini is not the only one with his doubts, however, which could prompt further investigation into his Covid claims ahead of the start of the tournament.

LOS ANGELES: Novak Djokovic, 20-time top-ranked Grand Slam champion, barred from playing Australian Open because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19, is entered in the Indian ATP event Wells next month.
Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells, where organizers announced entries on Wednesday and said proof of full vaccination will be required for spectator entry to the tournament grounds from March 7-20.
The Serbian star was set to try for a fourth straight Australian Open title last month – what would have been his 21st career singles crown – but Australian Borders officials say he did not meet the requirements for unvaccinated travelers to enter the country.
Djokovic’s visa was eventually canceled and after a failed legal appeal he left without playing.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal, also on the Indian Wells entry list, won the Australian Open to set the record with his 21st career Slam singles crown.
Indian Wells organizers noted in a statement that vaccinations will be required for the event, but also said player protocols for Djokovic and other male players will be decided by the ATP in accordance with US restrictions.
“With health and safety being the tournament’s top priority, the BNP Paribas Open will require valid proof of full vaccination to enter the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the tournament,” he said.
“Guidelines for players are governed by the protocols established by their respective governing bodies, the WTA and the ATP, as well as any restrictions established by the United States of America regarding the vaccination status of incoming international travelers. in the country.”
Djokovic is due to resume touring at the Dubai ATP event from February 21.
Three-time Indian Wells winner Nadal, who missed the 2021 event with a foot injury, and Djokovic on the court are defending US Open champion and Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev, ATP Finals winner Alexander Zverev and French Open 2021 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas as well as reigning champion Cameron Norrie of Great Britain.
Australian Open champion Ashleigh Barty, Australia’s world number one, leads the women’s field. The reigning Wimbledon champion did not play in Indian Wells in 2021 when Spaniard Paula Badosa won the title she will try to defend.
World number two Aryna Sabalenka, 2021 French Open champion and world number three Barbora Krejcikova and fourth-ranked Karolina Pliskova are also on the court, as are 2012 and 2016 winner Victoria Azarenka and 2015 champion Simona Halep.
Teenagers Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Emma Raducanu of Great Britain, the 19-year-olds who met in last year’s US Open final won by Raducanu, and 17-year-old American Coco Gauff will also be on field.

Andy Murray lost to Japanese Taro Daniel in Australian Open second round; Scot has yet to name a permanent successor to manager Jamie Delgado and appears to have completed his trial period with Jan de Witt; Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will team up at the Laver Cup in London in September

Andy Murray made the late decision to play the Rotterdam Open next week in what will be his first appearance since a second-round loss at the Australian Open, while Roger Federer spoke about his future.

Murray lost in straight sets to Japan’s Taro Daniel in Melbourne after defeating Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in five sets in the first round of the first Grand Slam of the year.

The Scot is also set to take part in the Qatar Open in Doha, followed by the Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates later this month.

Murray, who finished second in the Sydney Tennis Classic ahead of the Australian Open, has reportedly ended his trial period with coach Jan de Witt.

The 34-year-old added De Witt, former coach of France’s Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils, to his squad after parting ways with longtime manager Jamie Delgado at the end of 2021.

Speaking in December, Murray – who is now ranked 102nd in the world – said he would not be rushing to name a permanent successor to Delgado.

“The decision is important to me,” he said. “Obviously I don’t know how much longer I’m going to play, so I want to make sure that the person who accompanies me during the last period of my career is the right one.”

Murray also tested Johanna Konta’s former coach Esteban Carril at the Stockholm Open late last year.

Federer: Important months ahead of me

Roger Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, said he still had the drive and motivation to make a successful comeback.

The 40-year-old has only played 13 games in 2021 and slipped to 30th in the table.

“I want to come back strong and give it my all,” said 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer.

“To give you a little update. I have a few very interesting and important months ahead of me. I think I will know a lot more by April-May.

“The drive is still there. I’m motivated to do my job.

“I’m back in the gym tomorrow. I’m working as hard as I can, so it’s still good times even if it’s a bit slow.

“I would like to do a lot more, but the doctors and everyone are holding me back a bit.”

Federer and Nadal will team up in the Laver Cup

Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal will team up with Federer in September at the Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena.

Nadal and Federer – who previously teamed up in doubles at the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague in 2017 – will be part of a European squad led by Bjorn Borg to take on Team World.

Nadal eclipsed Federer and Novak Djokovic’s tally of 20 Grand Slam titles when he beat Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne last Sunday after coming back after two sets.

Nadal said: “The Laver Cup is such a unique event and I loved taking part in it. I suggested to Roger that we should play doubles together in London and he seems enthusiastic, so now we just have to persuade our captain Bjorn !

“Roger has been a big part of my career, a great rival and also a real friend. Being part of the European team together is great and if we can possibly share the court once again as a doubles couple, then it would be a really special experience for both of us at this stage of our careers.”

Federer, who is currently recovering from knee surgery, said: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to competition later this year and the Laver Cup is an integral part of my plan.

“Rafa is an amazing person and an inspiration to me and countless others around the world. He messaged me on social media after the Laver Cup in Boston last year suggesting we play in double in London and I’m definitely up for a Laver Cup ‘Fedal’ come back!”

Nadal: 21 Grand Slams may not be enough in all-time race

Nadal also believes he will have to add to his 21 Grand Slams to end his career with more than Federer and Djokovic.

“I have no idea how many Grand Slams I will have,” Nadal told reporters at his academy in Mallorca. “I want to be the one with the most majors out of the three of us, I would love that.

“But I’m not obsessed, absolutely not. Anything that comes is welcome. I don’t think 21 is enough, to be honest, but you never know what will happen in the future.”

Djokovic describes Australian visa ordeal as ‘unfortunate’

Novak Djokovic described his detention and deportation from Australia which prevented him from defending his Australian Open title an “unfortunate event” and thanked the Serbian president for his support.

The top-ranked tennis star met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday and called the events in Australia “unexpected, to say the least.”

“I wanted to meet you today because, mainly as a citizen of Serbia, I felt a great need to thank you for the great support you, as President of Serbia, gave me, as well as all state institutions during the unfortunate events in Australia,” Djokovic said.

“Although I was alone in detention and faced with many problems and challenges, I did not feel alone. I had huge support mainly from my family, from all the people close to my life, from the whole Serbian nation , many people with good intentions from the region and the world.

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Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic will receive the COVID-19 vaccine, his biographer has sensationally claimed.

Author Daniel Muksch says seeing Rafael Nadal become the most successful men’s player of all time by winning the Australian Open caused the backflip.

Watch the video above for more on Novak’s vaccine backflip

World No. 1 Djokovic was forced to miss last month’s Grand Slam in Melbourne after being sent off due to his unvaccinated status.

Nadal’s victory over Daniil Medvedev saw the Spaniard overtake rivals Djokovic and Roger Federer as the first to win 21 major tournaments in his career.

tennis star will get the COVID hit.” class=”css-12cetpi-StyledImage en5ut4d0″/>

Muksch, who wrote A life at wara book chronicling the life of the 20-time Grand Slam champion due out later this year, told Servus-TVDjokovic is probably keen to get the jab so he won’t miss any more opportunities to compete.

“From what I heard from his surroundings, I think he is getting vaccinated,” Muksch reportedly told Austrian TV.

“Maybe the final in Melbourne also contributed to that.

“Rafael Nadal’s 21 motivates him, no doubt.”

Djokovic has not spoken publicly since his legal bid to stay in Australia fell through and he was sacked in mid-January.

He first flew back to Serbia, but has since been photographed on a trip to Montenegro.

The 34-year-old is expected to play at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which does not require the player to be vaccinated at the start of February 21.

However, this tournament is the exception, not the rule, with Djokovic likely to find his future playing options severely limited if he continues to dodge the needle.

France have already indicated that any players hoping to compete at Rolland Garros in May must be stung.

Watch Health Minister Greg Hunt react to Novak’s backflip below

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said Sunrise he was “thrilled” to hear that Novak could get the hit.

“Look, I’m glad anyone, anywhere gets vaccinated and if somehow as a country we encouraged Novak or anyone else to do it, c is great,” he said.

“But you know what is much more important? I think this will encourage more people who have been hesitant to get vaccinated and that would be the real win.

“I hadn’t heard that. I’m glad if so.

“But for everyone, no matter where you are, whether you’re overseas or in Australia, first dose, second dose, booster, whatever you’re entitled to, it will help keep you safe. Please move forward.

What did Novak say about vaccination?

Djokovic admitted in court documents during the appeal of the federal government’s deportation decision that he was not vaccinated.

However, he did not reveal the exact reasons.

In April 2020, he said he was “opposed to vaccination”.

He later clarified his position by adding that he was ‘not an expert’ and would keep an ‘open mind’ but wanted to have ‘the ability to choose what is best for my body’. .

During a Facebook live, he explained that he “wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to get vaccinated” to travel or participate in tournaments.

He added that he was “curious about wellness and how we can get our metabolism in the best shape to defend against imposters like COVID-19.”

False claim of COVID infection dismissed

It comes after Serbian officials dismissed reports that Novak Djokovic used a false positive test for COVID-19 to try to enter Australia and defend his Australian Open title.

The country’s prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received a request for criminal prosecution against unnamed individuals who allegedly forged two PCR certificates, which were later used by Djokovic to seek a medical exemption from vaccination during his entry into Australia.

“The prosecution acted in accordance with the regulations, checks were carried out and it was determined that Novak Djokovic was tested several times and that the certificates on the test results of December 16, 2021 and December 22, 2021 are valid”, says the press release.

tennis player Novak Djokovic leaves a migrant detention hotel in Melbourne.” class=”css-12cetpi-StyledImage en5ut4d0″/>

Discrepancies have been reported in the serial numbers of the tests administered by Serbian authorities to the best Djokovic before his trip to Australia, suggesting possible irregularities in the way they were issued.

The tennis superstar was expelled from the country and banned from playing at the Australian Open last month after an 11-day visa saga on the eve of the tournament because he failed to meet strict vaccination requirements against COVID-19.

To enter Australia, he had submitted a positive COVID-19 test issued in Serbia on December 16 for a visa waiver on the grounds that he had recently recovered from the virus.

The 34-year-old is unvaccinated and the Australian government subsequently decided to cancel his visa and deport Djokovic, saying his presence in Australia could spark anti-vaccination sentiments.

– With PAA