Still riding a wave of euphoria after their Australian Open success, Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic could turn out to be unwelcome guests in Moscow for Serbia's Davis Cup tie against Russia.
Novak Djokovic ran into a spot of bother before seeing off Davis Cup team mate Viktor Troicki 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to secure his place in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters on Thursday. Czech Tomas Berdych booked his place for the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Serb Janko Tipsarevic.
World number one Rafael Nadal held off a late challenge from Briton Andy Murray to move to the brink of a record fifth consecutive title at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-2, 7-6 semi-final win on Saturday.
Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic promised to apologise to a shaken ball girl for an outburst during his tough five set victory over big-serving South African Kevin Anderson on Tuesday.
Novak Djokovic has undergone an elbow operation in an attempt to cure an injury that has troubled him for the past two years.
Bidding for a record-extending ninth Australian Open title, the world number one and double-defending champion remains the runaway favourite at his favourite Grand Slam where he once remarked that he felt touched by the "divine".
With another Australian Open title having slipped through his fingers after a tournament plagued by off-court dramas, Andy Murray could not wait to see the back of Melbourne Park after losing his fifth final on Sunday.
It was one of the big days in the life of World No 1 Novak Djokovic when he addressed the United Nations on Friday and encouraged youth to follow ones dreams and cultivate sporting values like teamwork and fairplay.
Britain's Andy Murray, bristling with confidence after ending a three-year wait for another Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, will seek to make history in Brazil by becoming the first man to win successive Olympic gold medals in men's singles tennis.
Novak Djokovic was in imperious form before the circuit came to a halt. Djokovic said he initially struggled to cope with the uncertainty surrounding when tennis can restart after its shutdown in early March due to the novel coronavirus.
Djokovic had his personal best winning sequence of 30 consecutive sets ended as Cilic played almost flawlessly aggressive tennis to draw first blood in a magnificent duel.
The Russian ended Djokovic's hopes of completing a sweep of all four Grand Slam titles in 2021 when he defeated the Serb in the US Open final in September to pick up his maiden major.
Images from Day 6 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Saturday.
Novak Djokovic has no intention of passing the torch to the next generation just yet.
'If one thing seemed clear in this week of very uneven tennis in Melbourne though, the much celebrated golden age of tennis may be over.'
Serena Williams knows how tough it is to reach tennis's Holy Grail by winning all four majors in a year and Novak Djokovic does too after his quest fell short on Saturday. Williams cleared three of the hurdles last year, stumbling in the U.S. Open semi-finals when history beckoned. Djokovic claimed a first French Open title last month, having triumphed for a sixth time in Australia at the start of the year, and was favourite to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the first three grand slams of the year.
'This will be my first trip to Eastbourne, I have heard great things about the tournament'
A winner of 12 Grand Slam titles, the Serb has suffered a noticeable dip in form since winning his maiden French Open last June, relinquishing top spot in the ATP rankings to Briton Andy Murray five months later.
In the earlier match, Zverev beat Cilic -- the Croat's 9th loss in 10-round robin matches in the Finals
Novak Djokovic's star still burns bright as he returns to Melbourne Park in search of a record seventh Australian Open title.
'It ranks right at the top. Under the circumstances, playing against Nadal, such an important match, it's amazing," the 31-year-old told reporters after needing barely two hours to extend his perfect record in seven Australian Open finals'
Photos of the Wimbledon final game between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final to win a 24th Grand Slam singles title and equal Margaret Court's record haul.
Far from being a fading force, 12-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has shown signs that he is emerging from the toughest spell of his career and is ready for a fresh start ahead of next week's French Open.
Not since Stan Wawrinka's 2016 US Open triumph has a Grand Slam been won by someone other than the 'Big Three', winners of the last 13 major titles.
Novak Djokovic's bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title kicked off on Monday with an easy win over qualifier Radu Albot in the US Open first round.
Novak Djokovic is fallible after all, as American powerhouse Sam Querrey proved in stunning fashion to stop the Serb's seemingly unstoppable charge towards a calendar year grand slam at a rain-hit Wimbledon on Saturday. The 28th seed boomed down 31 aces and repelled an attempted Djokovic comeback to win a third-round match that began the previous evening 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5).
'I spoke to Roger and Rafa a few days ago and we had a conversation about the near future of tennis. How we can contribute to help lower ranked guys who are obviously struggling the most.'
Djokovic practised his serves and returns with his entourage on an empty court at Melbourne Park
Novak Djokovic said he expects a "great battle" against Italian powerhouse Matteo Berrettini in Sunday's Wimbledon final when victory will earn the Serb a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title.
Andre Agassi says that he and Novak Djokovic need to learn to trust each other if their partnership is to deliver results for the world number four.
'Irresponsible' Djokovic panned for Adria Tour misadventure.
As tradition demands the Serb will open play on Centre Court on Monday as defending men's champion but rather than a gentle loosener the 28-year-old faces a real danger in the form of Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, the world number 33.
For 15 minutes Novak Djokovic appeared to have a fight on his hands at the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday, then the Serb dialled up his A game and tore Stanislas Wawrinka to pieces.
The 32-year-old, who has not played since retiring injured in the US Open semi-finals, cited an abdominal injury.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic heads into the European clay court season in ominous form after his victory over Andy Murray in the final of the Miami Open on Sunday.
Nadal was much more than a claycourt bully, though. He spent more than 900 successive weeks from 2005 in the ATP's top 10, 209 of them at number one and at the age of 24 became the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam.
Rafael Nadal will return to the top of the men's world rankings after Tomas Berdych retired with a back injury during their China Open semi-final.
Djokovic did not drop a set en route to the final in Rome
Defending champion Novak Djokovic trounced stand-in David Goffin 6-1 6-2 for a clean sweep of his group at the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday but spiced up a leisurely afternoon workout by picking a row with the umpire. The world number two, who will be joined in the last four by Milos Raonic after the Canadian beat Austrian Dominic Thiem 7-6(5) 6-3, began the week at London's O2 Arena quarrelling with a reporter and despite being relatively untroubled on court, there has been an edginess about the 12-times grand slam champion.
