McEnroe Cannot be Serious

John McEnroe surprised BBC Wimbledon viewers when he compared Novak Djokovic with troubled golfer Tiger Woods.

Speaking about Djokovic's period of poor form, McEnroe compared the former Wimbledon champion with Woods, who in the past has had a high-profile divorce, been arrested, and suffered problems with prescription medication.

McEnroe claimed Djokovic "had some off-court issues with the family," adding: "That's going to throw you."

"If you're distracted you're not the same player," he said.

"When he [Woods] had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player.

"So we're starting to say: 'Wait a minute, is this possible with him [Djokovic]?'"

Former world number one Djokovic has suffered with his form in the last year - after completing a career Grand Slam last year, he started to lose matches and momentum.

He is married to Jelena, 31. They have a son together and she is expecting their second child. 

In 2009, Woods crashed his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant outside his Florida home. Just months later he was divorced after reports of extra-martial affairs surfaced.

McEnroe added: "I think there's a big difference, one is the age, but two the health. I think this (Djokovic's form) isn't a physical thing, this is more a mental thing."

The commentator also sparked controversy recently when he said that 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams would be ranked around 700 if she competed in the men's game.

Dojokvic Winner over Murray in Madrid

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Novak Djokovic beat defending champion Andy Murray 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the Madrid Open final. The defeat means the 28-year-old Briton will lose his world number two ranking to Roger Federer on Monday.

The Scot was blown away in the opening set, but fought back to level, only to fall to the Serb's power and accuracy in the decider.

Djokovic now moves ahead of Spain's Rafael Nadal with a record 29 ATP Masters 1000 titles.

The Serb underlined his current dominance as he claimed his fifth title in the past six Masters tournaments but he was pushed hard by Murray, exemplified by a 14-minute final game as Djokovic survived six deuces and seven break points to hold for the match.

"The first couple of break points I remember making two mistakes," said Murray.

"It was kind of back and forth from there and unfortunately I couldn't quite break, which was a shame because both of us on the break points until that last game were pretty clinical."

Djokovic broke Murray's serve in the opening game and the 2011 winner gave a masterclass combining powerful ground shots with brutal accuracy as he found the lines with uncanny regularity.

Murray found his second serve coming under huge pressure and Djokovic duly earned a double break before racing to the first set in just 31 minutes.

In the second, however, the Scot's serve began to click into gear and, having won just 17% of points on his second serve in the first set, he increased it to an impressive 60% in the second.

Djokovic made crucial forehand and backhand errors in the third game before serving a double-fault to be broken for only the second time in the tournament.

The Madrid crowd who were muted as Murray beat local favourite Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-4 in Saturday's semi-finals were now encouraging the Briton, who responded with some of his best tennis of the week as he won the set with a cheeky drop shot from the back of the court.

It was Djokovic's turn to regroup and after a comfortable hold needed just one of two break points to take the early initiative in the decider.

But this was a different Murray from the opening set and the Scot immediately broke back with Djokovic again serving a double fault at the crucial moment.

Again, however, the world number one raised the bar and this time it proved crucial with a decisive break in the sixth game.

"When you play against the best players, you are probably not going to win every single time," said Murray. "But you want to make the matches extremely difficult for them: physically and mentally, so it's not comfortable. So I think at least today I did that, but unfortunately didn't get the win.

"It's been a positive week for me this week overal l- a few years ago I wouldn't have thought I'd be winning against Rafa and then pushing Novak this close on a clay court."

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Murray Makes Mutua Madrid Quarters

Murray in Madrid

 Defending champion Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open with an impressive 6-4 6-2 win over 16th seed Gilles Simon of France.

Second seed Murray, 28, broke Simon for the first time to take the opening set as part of a five-game winning run.

He then broke three times in the second set to complete victory in one hour, 38 minutes.

Murray will play either Czech Tomas Berdych or Spaniard David Ferrer in the last eight.

Murray's serve was never broken and the power and variety of his ground strokes was too much for Simon, 31.

"It's always difficult to get the balance right against him because the better you hit the ball, the faster it comes back against him," Murray said.

"He uses the pace very well so I knew I needed to be patient and use variety, but also when the chance is there, go for it. Sometimes he makes players rush, but today I didn't have that problem. It was good from start to finish."

World number one Novak Djokovic, who won in Madrid in 2011, plays Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut later on Thursday.

Four-time winner Rafael Nadal, who lost to Murray is last year's final, plays Sam Querrey of the United States in the evening session.

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Becker Critical of Murray Drug Comments

Becker at Laureus Awards - Getty Images

Boris Becker, has criticised Andy Murray for airing his suspicions that some of his opponents may have used performance-enhancing drugs.

Murray, ranked No2 in the world behind Djokovic, has been outspoken on drug use in the sport in recent weeks and welcomed the ban imposed on Maria Sharapova following her failed test for meldonium at the Australian Open.

Murray, who was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals on Saturday, has also talked of being suspicious of opponents who he thought were not getting tired in matches.

Becker, a six-times grand slam winner, has accused Murray of being “out of order”. Speaking at the Laureus World Sport Awards, he told the Daily Mail: “We have random drug-testing and unless it’s proven, they are 100% innocent. So to assume something because somebody has won a grand slam or is fitter is totally out of order.

“Andy is one of the fittest players on the tour – he often outlasts players and nobody is questioning his ethics. I believe 100% Andy is clean. Roger [Federer] is clean, Rafa is clean, all these guys are clean. Novak gets tested a lot. That can mean twice in a grand slam.”

Murray had told the Mail On Sunday: “I have played against players and thought: ‘They won’t go away or they don’t seem to be getting tired’. Have I ever been suspicious of someone? Yeah. You hear things.

“It’s harder to tell in our sport as people can make big improvements to a stroke or start serving better because they have made technical changes. If it’s purely physical and you’re watching someone playing six-hour matches over and over and showing no signs of being tired, you’d look at that.”

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Djokovic Wins Fourth Miami Open

Novak Djokovic Miami Open - Getty Images

Novak Djokovic, continued his domination of men’s tennis with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the final of the Miami Open in Florida on Sunday.

Djokovic dropped serve in the first game but it was pretty much one-way traffic after that as he outclassed the No6 seed in all facets of the game on the hardcourt at Key Biscayne.

The 28-year-old Serb took 85 minutes to join the American Andre Agassi as a six-times Miami Open winner, for his 63rd career title. He claimed $1,028,300, becoming the sport’s all-time leading money-winner.

It is his fourth consecutive championship, and his 28th overall, in the Masters 1000, a series of nine tournaments considered the most prestigious other than the four grand slams. It is also Djokovic’s fourth title of 2016, following victories at the Australian Open, Qatar and Indian Wells.

His only blemish on an otherwise perfect record this year came in Dubai in February, when he retired during a quarter-final with an eye infection.

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Djokovic Saves Apology for Facebook

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Novak Djokovic has taken to his Facebook page to apologise for his comments over pay in tennis. The world No1 suggested male players should be paid more than women because they attract greater interest.

However, he wrote: “I typically use this page to share my excitement with you, especially after big wins. But this time I had to take a few deep breaths before addressing you. As you may have seen, I was asked to comment on a controversy that wasn’t of my making. Euphoria and adrenalin after the win on Sunday got the best of me and I’ve made some comments that are not the best articulation of my view, and I would like to clarify them.

“As you all know, I care deeply about the future of the game and all of the players. Tennis helped me so much in my life and being where I am today, I felt the need to speak about the fairer and better distribution of funds across the board – this was meant for both men and women. We all have to fight for what we deserve.

“This was never meant to be made into a fight between genders and differences in pay, but in the way all players are rewarded for their play and effort. Tennis is a sport that I love and that gave me the opportunity to help others who still have a long way to go to achieve their dreams. This was my view all along and I want to apologise to anyone who has taken this the wrong way.”

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Djoker Questions Equal Prize Money

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Novak Djokovic has questioned equal prize money in tennis, suggesting men should get better awards as they have more spectators.

Winning the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, he defended use of viewing statistics to determine fair distribution of prizes at joint events.

Earlier, Indian Wells Tennis Garden CEO Raymond Moore said the women's WTA Tour "ride on the coat-tails of the men".

Djokovic described the comments as "not politically correct".

The Serbian player said women "fought for what they deserve and they got it", but that the men's ATP tennis world "should fight for more".

"Stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men's tennis matches. I think that is one of the... reasons why maybe we should get awarded more."

"As long as it is like that and there is data and stats available and information... upon who attracts more attention, spectators, who sells more tickets and stuff like that, in relation to that it has to be fairly distributed."

Mr Moore caused controversy earlier when he said: "If I was a lady player, I would go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have."

He later apologised for the remarks.

A debate about the relative strengths of the men's and women's game should not be off limits, but the language Ray Moore used was deeply offensive - and it is hard to see how he can command the confidence of the players who will return to Indian Wells next year.

Novak Djokovic's comments are shared by very many in the men's game.

He is suggesting that prize money at combined events should be distributed on the basis of ticket sales and TV viewing figures.

That may lead in future to women being paid more, but could also fatally undermine the principle that men and women should be treated equally for competing on the same stage - irrespective of the number of sets they are asked to play.

World number one Serena Williams said Mr Moore's statement was "offensive", calling it "mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate".

Billie Jean King, who co-founded the WTA Tour and won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, tweeted: "Disappointed in Raymond Moore comments. He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success."

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Awesome Djokovic Ends Federer Dream

Novak Djokovic produced an awe-inspiring display to beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The 45th meeting between two of the sport's greatest champions was another classic encounter and Djokovic produced one of his finest ever performances in a 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 win in Melbourne.

Both men shared 22 wins apiece ahead of this latest showdown, but Djokovic seemed a class above his long-term rival while storming into a two-set lead in just 54 minutes.

Federer's decision to attack the net stemmed the Serb's onslaught in the third and he hauled back a set as a partisan crowd roared him on at a flood-lit Rod Laver Arena.

But the defending champion was not denied for long and broke again in the fourth set rivened by tension before serving out the match to love in two hours and 19 minutes to secure a place in his fifth successive Grand Slam final.

The world No 1 will now bid to join Australian legend Roy Emerson with a sixth title at Melbourne Park.

He will meet the winner of second seed Andy Murray and 13th seed Milos Raonic who play in the second semi-final on Friday. 

"I played unbelievable first two sets, but that's what's necessary against Roger," said the 10-time Grand Slam champion.

"He's been playing at a very high level and I knew he was going to try to play aggressive, mix up the pace and come to the net.

"I came out with the right intensity and executed everything perfectly. But it was a battle in the end."

Djokovic had given his rivals hope after two lacklustre displays against Gilles Simon and Kei Nishikori but the top seed was back to his very best here and will now be strong favourite to clinch his 11th major crown.

For Federer, his wait for an 18th continues and despite playing brilliantly against the rest of the field, it may never end while he keeps running into Djokovic, who has now won their last four Grand Slam meetings.

Sunday will be Djokovic's 19th major final overall and moves him into equal-third place with Ivan Lendl on the all-time list of most appearances in major finals, which is headed by Federer.

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