World number one Novak Djokovic battled into the ATP and WTA Western & Southern Open final Friday despite a neck problem while Japan’s ...
World number one Novak Djokovic battled into the ATP and WTA Western & Southern Open final Friday despite a neck problem while Japan’s Naomi Osaka shook off stress to advance as well.
Djokovic was treated twice by a trainer for neck issues but rallied to defeat Spanish eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in the New York Covid-19 quarantine bubble where the US Open begins on Monday.
The 33-year-old Serbian improved to 22-0 this year despite surrendering three breaks in the third set of the three-hour marathon.
He will face Milos Raonic in Saturday’s final after the Canadian, 0-10 all-time against Djokovic, eliminated Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Fourth-seeded Osaka won a semi-final match she once vowed not to play, saving 18-of-21 breakpoints to beat Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) and reach Saturday’s final.
There she will play two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, who beat British eighth seed Johanna Konta 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka on Wednesday initially withdrew from her semi-final as a protest for the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
But when the ATP and WTA followed her lead and postponed all semi-finals to Friday, she changed her mind and played.
“I just wanted to create awareness in the tennis bubble,” she...
