German tennis player Alexander Zverev rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 upset victory over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open final, winning his first Masters 1000 title at the Foro Italico here on Sunday.

Djokovic was hoping to win his 31st ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Italy, but the four-time champion in Rome collided with rising star Zverev, who clinched his first big title on Sunday, reports Efe.

Djokovic confirmed in his post-match press conference that former American world No. 1 Andre Agassi would be his new coach at the French Open, the season’s second Grand Slam tournament, which starts on May 28.

The world No. 2 said he had reached an agreement with Agassi to start working together during Roland Garros.

“We are both excited to work together and see where it takes us,” the Serbian star, who has won 12 Grand Slam titles, said.

“We don’t have any long-term commitment. It’s just us trying to get to know each other in Paris a little bit. He will not stay the whole tournament. He’s going to stay only to a certain time, and then we’ll see after that what’s going to happen. We’ll see what the future brings,” the 29-year-old Djokovic, who fell out of the top spot in the ATP rankings in November, said.

Ahead of the Madrid Open earlier this month, Djokovic, who turns 30 on Monday, parted ways with long-time coach Marian Vajda. He split with Boris Becker at the end of 2016.

“Andre is someone that I have tremendous respect for as a person and as a player,” Djokovic said.

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record seventh Australian Open title with an easy win against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco while Rafael Nadal began with a convincing victory over German Florian Mayer.

World No.2 Djokovic won 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes to advance to the second round.

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Ninth-seeded Spaniard Nadal defeated his No.49 rival 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and four minutes. Nadal, who won the Australian Open in 2009, erased any bad memories of his first round defeat last year against compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Nadal will play the next round against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 3-0 after the Russian’s withdrawal due to respiratory problems.

Djokovic will play the second round against the winner of the match between Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin and Croatian Ivan Dodig.

Spain’s David Ferrer beat Australian Omar Jasika in the first round.

Ferrer, 21st seed, defeated World No.290, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 in 86 minutes.

The Spaniard will next face the winner between Russian Danill Medveded and America’s Ernesto Escobedo.

Ferrer, a semi-finalist in 2011 and 2013, is celebrating his 15th appearance at the Australian Open this year.

Earlier on Tuesday, Spanish tennis player Roberto Bautista defeated Guido Pella of Argentina.

The 13th-seeded Spanish player won 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 in 84 minutes.

The Spaniard has reached the second round of this tournament twice and recently won the fifth title of his career in Chennai.

Bautista will now play in the second round against Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka, who defeated Australian Alex Bolt 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

IANS

Britain’s Andy Murray topped the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world singles ranking for the first time in his career on Monday with 11,185 points, after winning the Paris Masters title on Saturday.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who spent 223 weeks on top of the rankings, came in second with 10,780 points, 405 points less than Murray, reports Efe.

“It might only be for one week, so I might as well try and enjoy it, because I could lose it at the Tour Finals and never be there again,” Murray told ATP’s official website.

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“So, I was really happy about that and hopefully will feel the same way going into London, as well. I’m sure I will, because you’re competing against the best players in front of a big crowd there,” the 29-year-old added.

Meanwhile, Canadian Milos Raonic jumped to the fourth place, while Croatian Marin Cilic came in seventh.

The current ATP rankings and point scores are as follows:

1. Andy Murray (Scotland) 11,185 points

2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 10,780

3. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) 5,115

4. Milos Raonic (Canada) 5,050

5. Kei Nishikori (Japan) 4,705

6. Gael Monfils (France) 3,625

7. Marin Cilic (Croatia) 3,450

8. Rafael Nadal (Spain) 3,300

9. Dominic Thiem (Austria) 3,215

10. Tomas Berdych (Czech) 3,060.

IANS

By Yassh Grover

When he lifted the trophy at the clay courts of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic became the eighth player in history to complete a Career Grand Slam. And the third man to hold all major titles at once. Now popularly called as a Nole Slam.

So it’s no surprise the Serbian starts the Wimbledon Championship as a clear favourite to lift his fourth title. The World number one had got the better of Swiss king Roger Federer in last year’s final; a four-set encounter at the All England Tennis Club to defend his title.

Under the guidance of tennis great and coach Boris Becker, himself a three-time Wimbledon winner, Djokovic takes the grass courts on his super hot streak. But the defending champion will be under pressure; to defend his title and bag his fifth straight grand slam win. Since he entered Wimbledon last year, Novak is yet to lose a match in majors.

Among his challengers, Rafael Nadal is giving the grass court event a miss. Third seed Roger Federer is very much in the mix; and if he has any hope of adding to his tally of grand slam titles then this is the place to do it. Djokovic’s path through the draw looks easy enough before he runs into big serving Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. Then Federer could be waiting for him in the last four stage.

But the toughest challenge for the Serbian could come from the local hero and 2013 champion Andy Murray. The second seed, despite a semi-final ouster last year, has been in devastating form in the majors. Murray comes into this year’s Wimbledon with two runner-up finishes in grand slams under his belt. The British is looking at a potential match against Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals on his side of the draw. The other Swiss great of tennis has added former champion Richard Krajicek to his coaching staff.

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In the women’s section, top seed Serena Williams will have to shake off the humiliating French Open final loss to Garbine Muruguza. But the American will take heart from the fact that she had beaten Muruguza in the Wimbledon final last year to lift the crown. This year the defending champion is looking for her seventh Wimbledon title, while the French Open champion Muguruza will try to stop her her from doing that.

Petra Kvitova has had an inconsistent year but the two-time winner is at her very best on grass and could put in an impressive performance during the next fortnight.

In the top half of the draw, former finalist Agnieszka Radwanska is another player who is adept on grass-courts and could produce a deep run in the tournament. Similarly, Dominika Cibulkova has been in good form of late and the former Australian Open finalist could do some damage in the second week of the tournament.