DIRIYAH: Tennis champion Daniil Medvedev flies into Saudi Arabia next month to defend his Diriyah Tennis Cup title of 2019, which led to his most successful season ever.
The defending champion and 11 of the world’s best tennis players will compete Dec. 8-10 for the second tournament of the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco.
Having recently become a new father, Medvedev won the inaugural Diriyah Cup in 2019 in impressive fashion, winning every match in straight sets including the final where he defeated Fabio Fognini 6-2.
“It was a great tournament, had great players and I played very good there. I then went on to have the best season of my life at that point,” he said about his first trip to the Kingdom.
“It bought me a lot of confidence for the season ahead and that’s what I’m going to try to do this season,” he added
Since his 2019 win, Medvedev secured his first major victory at the 2021 US Open where he stunned the tennis world with a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. The current world No. 7 also enjoyed a stint as world No. 1 earlier this year.
Most recently, he has enjoyed a personal high after becoming a father for the first time following the birth of his daughter just last month.
“I’m a really happy person in life right now. It’s only good emotions,” he said.
“The experience is amazing. Many people told me that I can only understand this when I have a baby and now I can completely understand. It’s a lot of fun. I’m so happy about it and so grateful to my wife.”
Medvedev is part of a world-class field of 12 preparing for a new season’s first major in Australia with competitive tennis heading to Diriyah for three days across singles and doubles. The likes of Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Cameron Norrie have also been announced in the field.
The 2022 edition will be the biggest line-up to ever play in Saudi Arabia, and the defending champ is encouraging Saudi fans to come and experience the energy courtside in Diriyah.
“Like every other sport, on TV it is beautiful, you can see the energy, you can see everything,” added Medvedev, “but you can feel it sitting courtside, especially with the best players in the world like at the Diriyah Tennis Cup, you can feel the amazing energy.”
Tickets are now available for fans to experience the energy firsthand. For more information and to purchase your ticket, please visit www.diriyahtenniscup.com.
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Daniil Medvedev inspired to defend Diriyah Tennis Cup title
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Daniil Medvedev inspired to defend Diriyah Tennis Cup title
- The world No. 7’s Diriyah Tennis Cup 2019 title led to his most successful season ever
- Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Cameron Norrie have also been announced in the field
As expected, Alcaraz and Sabalenka named top-seeded players at the Australian Open
- Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were officially made the top-seeded players for the Australian Open which begins Sunday at Melbourne Park
- Sabalenka, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are the top three seeds in the women’s draw for the second consecutive year
MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were officially made the top-seeded players for the Australian Open which begins Sunday at Melbourne Park.
The announcement on Wednesday comes a day ahead of the tournament draw.
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner was seeded second, with Alexander Zverev third and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic fourth. Sabalenka, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are the top three seeds in the women’s draw for the second consecutive year.
Madison Keys returns as the defending champion and the ninth-seeded player, one of four American women among the top 10 seeds.
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Men’s Singles Seedings
1. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
2. Jannik Sinner, Italy
3. Alexander Zverev, Germany
4. Novak Djokovic, Serbia
5. Lorenzo Musetti, Italy
6. Alex de Minaur, Australia
7. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada
8. Ben Shelton, United States
9. Taylor Fritz, United States
10. Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
11. Daniil Medvedev
12. Casper Ruud, Norway
13. Andrey Rublev
14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Spain
15. Karen Khachanov
16. Jakub Mensik, Czech Republic
17. Jiri Lehecka, Czech Republic
18. Francisco Cerundolo, Argentina
19. Tommy Paul, United States
20. Flavio Cobolli, Italy
21. Denis Shapovalov, Canada
22. Luciano Darderi, Italy
23. Tallon Griekspoor, Netherlands
24. Arthur Rinderknech, France
25. Learner Tien, United States
26. Cameron Norrie, Britain
27. Brandon Nakashima, United States
28. Joao Fonseca, Brazil
29. Frances Tiafoe, United States
30. Valentin Vacherot, Monaco
31. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece
32. Corentin Moutet, FranceWomen’s Singles Seedings
33. 1. Aryna Sabalenka
34. 2. Iga Świątek, Poland
35. 3. Coco Gauff, United States
36. 4. Amanda Anisimova, United States
37. 5. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan
38. 6. Jessica Pegula, United States
39. 7. Jasmine Paolini, Italy
40. 8. Mirra Andreeva
41. 9. Madison Keys, United States
42. 10. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland
43. 11. Ekaterina Alexandrova
44. 12. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine
45. 13. Linda Noskova, Czech Republic
46. 14. Clara Tauson, Denmark
47. 15. Emma Navarro, United States
48. 16. Naomi Osaka, Japan
49. 17. Victoria Mboko, Canada
50. 18. Liudmila Samsonova
51. 19. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic
52. 20. Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine
53. 21. Elize Mertens, Belgium
54. 22. Leylah Fernández, Canada
55. 23. Diana Shnaider
56. 24. Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia
57. 25. Paula Badosa, Spain
58. 26. Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine
59. 27. Sofia Kenin, United States
60. 28. Emma Raducanu, Britain
61. 29. Iva Jovic, United States
62. 30. Maya Joint, Australia
63. 31. Anna Kalinskaya
64. 32. Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic — AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
The announcement on Wednesday comes a day ahead of the tournament draw.
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner was seeded second, with Alexander Zverev third and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic fourth. Sabalenka, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are the top three seeds in the women’s draw for the second consecutive year.
Madison Keys returns as the defending champion and the ninth-seeded player, one of four American women among the top 10 seeds.
— -
Men’s Singles Seedings
1. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
2. Jannik Sinner, Italy
3. Alexander Zverev, Germany
4. Novak Djokovic, Serbia
5. Lorenzo Musetti, Italy
6. Alex de Minaur, Australia
7. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada
8. Ben Shelton, United States
9. Taylor Fritz, United States
10. Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
11. Daniil Medvedev
12. Casper Ruud, Norway
13. Andrey Rublev
14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Spain
15. Karen Khachanov
16. Jakub Mensik, Czech Republic
17. Jiri Lehecka, Czech Republic
18. Francisco Cerundolo, Argentina
19. Tommy Paul, United States
20. Flavio Cobolli, Italy
21. Denis Shapovalov, Canada
22. Luciano Darderi, Italy
23. Tallon Griekspoor, Netherlands
24. Arthur Rinderknech, France
25. Learner Tien, United States
26. Cameron Norrie, Britain
27. Brandon Nakashima, United States
28. Joao Fonseca, Brazil
29. Frances Tiafoe, United States
30. Valentin Vacherot, Monaco
31. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece
32. Corentin Moutet, FranceWomen’s Singles Seedings
33. 1. Aryna Sabalenka
34. 2. Iga Świątek, Poland
35. 3. Coco Gauff, United States
36. 4. Amanda Anisimova, United States
37. 5. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan
38. 6. Jessica Pegula, United States
39. 7. Jasmine Paolini, Italy
40. 8. Mirra Andreeva
41. 9. Madison Keys, United States
42. 10. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland
43. 11. Ekaterina Alexandrova
44. 12. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine
45. 13. Linda Noskova, Czech Republic
46. 14. Clara Tauson, Denmark
47. 15. Emma Navarro, United States
48. 16. Naomi Osaka, Japan
49. 17. Victoria Mboko, Canada
50. 18. Liudmila Samsonova
51. 19. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic
52. 20. Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine
53. 21. Elize Mertens, Belgium
54. 22. Leylah Fernández, Canada
55. 23. Diana Shnaider
56. 24. Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia
57. 25. Paula Badosa, Spain
58. 26. Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine
59. 27. Sofia Kenin, United States
60. 28. Emma Raducanu, Britain
61. 29. Iva Jovic, United States
62. 30. Maya Joint, Australia
63. 31. Anna Kalinskaya
64. 32. Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic — AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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