Roger Federer

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the French Open third round on Wednesday, but all the focus was on Novak Djokovic as a political row sparked by the two-times Roland Garros champion intensified.

PARIS - Serbia's top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic is through to the Roland Garros second round after defeating American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) on Monday.

World number three Djokovic won after two hours and 29 minutes of play.

Kovacevic is placed 114th in the ATP rankings.

The main news was that Rafael Nadal, who won 14 trophies in Paris, decided to withdraw from the tournament after not recovering from an injury.
Now it is uncertain whether Nadal will continue his career at all.

ROME - Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Rome Masters tournament after losing to Dane Holger Rune 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

World number seven Rune, who won after two hours and 20 minutes of play, is now 2-1 head-to-head against Djokovic.

ROME - Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is through to the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters tournament after defeating Briton Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday.

Defending champion Djokovic, who won after an hour and 28 minutes of play, is now 3-0 head-to-head against Norrie.

He will next face the winner of the tie between Dane Holger Rune and Australian Alexei Popyrin.

As "Corriere della Sera" reports, Djokovic does not think it is possible to have such ties with rivals.
"We were never friends, that is not possible among rivals, but we were never enemies either. I have always respected Federer, he is one of the greatest of all time, he had an incredible influence, but we were never close," said Djokovic.

WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden on Tuesday withdrew a regulation mandating COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travellers, which officially confirms that Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic will be able to play at the US Open this year.

Biden's decision will take effect on May 12, after the end of a coronavirus emergency in the US.

WASHINGTON - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the world number one in men's tennis, will be able to compete at the US Open this year after the US government announced on Monday it would lift all COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travellers on May 11, when a coronavirus emergency in the country is set to end, Reuters has reported.

WASHINGTON - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the world number one in men's tennis, will be able to compete at the US Open this year after the US government announced on Monday it would lift all COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travellers on May 11, when a coronavirus emergency in the country is set to end, Reuters has reported.

World number one Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Madrid Masters on Saturday, joining Rafael Nadal in missing the tournament with the French Open just five weeks away.

Both men are vying for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, with the tournament beginning on May 28.