US Open Second Service: Roger Federer unlikely to play at Laver Cup as Serena Williams sets another record
Looking back on the big news in our exclusive ‘Second Service’… A setback in Roger Federer’s comeback casts doubt over his Laver Cup participation as Serena Williams shatters another record plus more…
To start, Roger Federer might not be fit in time to return to court at this monthās Laver Cup after further complications with his right knee.
According to Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, the 41-year-old has run into more troubles in his recovery, forcing him to reduce his physical preparation, saying: āhe has liquid in his right knee and it has become inflamedā
Beyond the Laver Cup 2022, Federer aims to return to competitive ATP tour action at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, a tournament he has won a record 10 times in his illustrious career, the last three of those coming from 2017 to 2019.
In other news, Serena Williams last career match, her loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open, set a new record for the most-watched telecast in the history of ESPN.
TheĀ 23-time Slam champion played the 1,014th tour-level singles match of her career in front of a sellout crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium, as well as a record ESPN audience that peaked at 6.9 million viewers, bowing out against the world number 46 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, just over 25 years on from herĀ US OpenĀ debut at the age of 17.
The broadcast averaged 4.8 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 3.9 million held by the 2012 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray
Furthermore, Rafael Nadal is not targeting a return to the top of the ATP rankings according to coach and former world number one Carlos Moya.
Despite crashing out in the US Open fourth round to home favourite Frances Tiafoe,Ā the 22-time Slam championĀ is still in with a chance of returning to world number one for the ninth time once competition wraps in New York.
However, 1998 French Open champion Moya has stressed that Nadal is more focused on his physical and mental fitness, particularly for the Slams, above all else.
āBeing number one again has a lot of value. Ending the year at the top of the rankings, even more so,ā Moya admitted to the ATP. āIf you look at his schedule, itās clear that itās not a goal.
Read what else he had to say here.
And to finish off, Nick Kyrgios has said he does not pay much attention to tournaments outside of the four Slams following his run to the Wimbledon final.
The world number 25Ā described himself asĀ ādevastatedā after losing to Karen KhachanovĀ at theĀ US OpenĀ as his 2022 Slam season came to an end, and is already counting down the days to his home Major in January.
Honestly, I donāt even really care about any other tournament,ā Kyrgios explained in his post-match press conference. āI feel like at the Grand Slams, now having success at a Grand Slam, itās just like no other tournament really matters. You get better, you get worse, then at a Grand Slam none of it matters. You either win or lose.
? Read >> Breaking tennis news
? Follow >> 24/7 LIVE scores
? Free >> Receive our legendary newsletter
?Ā Join >> Tennishead CLUB, the world’s only virtual tennis club
? Social >>Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube
? Order >> World’s best tennis magazine
? Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted retail partner