South Point: How the tennis tournament in St. Petersburg ended
The international tennis tournament "Trophies of Northern Palmyra" can already be called traditional. This year it was held in St. Petersburg for the third time and, despite its exhibition status, gathered a strong lineup of participants and a full house in the stands. The brightest match of the tournament was the game between Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik, and there was also a touching farewell to Olympic champion Elena Vesnina, who finished her career. And the final winning point in the team rivalry with the Sphinxes was unexpectedly set by Lions captain Mikhail Youzhny, who played his farewell match in 2018 just on this St. Petersburg court. Now the 42-year-old Youzhny suddenly returned to the court in the final games of the entire three-day match and he didn't falter.
Beautiful non-stop hitting
The team format appeared already in 2022 at the first Northern Palmyra Trophies, in 2023 Russian and foreign tennis players and tennis players were divided into two teams - "Lions" and "Sphinxes", which remained in 2024. However, it was not without innovations. If last year the scoring was based on the number of victories in separate meetings, this time the organizers decided to give importance to each game - everything went to the total score. The usual for traditional tennis scoring up to six games, classic sets with transitions after odd-numbered games - all this disappeared and was replaced by a completely new format. Where everything "danced" solely on time - each game consisted of three games of 20 minutes each. And there was only one break during each set - at the very equator, after 10 minutes of play. In addition, the usual "more - less" in games were replaced by decisive points, which is already used in pairs and at official competitions.
By the way, the tennis players, many of whom have only recently resumed training after vacations, noted: even though the matches are quite short in time, but taking into account the minimal pauses for rest, they are very intense. In addition, the opponents did not spare each other for the sake of entertainment, regularly delighting the audience with combinations "shortened - diverting candle", sometimes forcing their opponents to run back and forth on the court two or three times per play.
Of course, it was not without spectacular twiners, hand serves and other beautiful strokes, which are not often seen in official matches. Here, without psychological tension, athletes sometimes allowed themselves to create real tennis masterpieces. But, undoubtedly, the highlight of the tournament was the point won by Bublik's racket handle in the game against Khachanov. The match between two high-level tennis players with the necessary artistry gathered full stands. The fans took turns shouting "Karen!" and "Sasha!" because even though Bublik, unlike Khachanov, represents Kazakhstan and not Russia, he is a local native - born and raised in Gatchina, Leningrad Region.
The captain of the Lions surprised Kokkinakis
Bublik lost this game, but he was probably the most outstanding player of the home tournament. And the others were good, too. Khachanov, Diana Schneider, Anastasia Potapova, Russian Yulia Putintseva, who plays for Kazakhstan, as well as Spaniards Roberto Bautista Agut and Pedro Martinez, Bulgarian Victoria Tomova, Serb Dusan Lajovic and Australian Tanasi Kokkinakis showed quality tennis, not forgetting about the cultural program.
Khachanov admitted that he advised Tanasi to go to a Russian bath. "I don't know if he will agree or not, but I think he has no idea what awaits him if he goes. With brooms and all the rules," Karen smiled. However, Kokkinakis in St. Petersburg was clearly ready for new sensations, and also admired the tennis public. By the way, he admitted to the Izvestia correspondent that he regularly communicates with his friend Nick Kyrios, who plans to return to the tour in January after a serious injury.
- We won the Australian Open with him as a pair. And if everything goes well, we will play with Nick in Melbourne and in 2025," said Tanasi.
In the end, it was Kokkinakis who had to finish the tournament with a match against Bautista Agut. "The Australian's Sphinxes were trailing the Lions by a few points, so Kokkinakis had to pull off the feat. But he failed to accomplish it in the match with the Spanish veteran. Bautista led, but suddenly, about seven minutes before the end of the final third set, the Spaniard was replaced by the Lions' captain, Yuzhny, as stipulated by the regulations.
In the first draws Mikhail, who six years ago played his last career match against Bautista Agut, didn't look very confident at first without warming up. But after just one bad game, he got involved. And he clearly surprised Kokkinakis, who had relaxed, with his gorgeous slashes and shortcuts, taking the final two games in a row. In the end, the Lions won 116:111.
- It was really unexpected. They said, "Go play a couple games." I don't have to be told twice, I just went and played. This is a special hall for me, it has always energized me and energizes me," commented on his tennis impromptu with a smile.
However, at the "Trophies of Northern Palmyra" not only the winners but also the losers were often smiling. Everyone was energized with positivity before the new season. And it was absolutely normal.
