DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:07:30 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kecmanovic-upsets-zverev-in-mexican-open-round-of-16-662830.html Acapulco Feb 26 Top sed Alexander Zverev bowed out of the Mexican Open after losing to Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 63 367 764 This is the second time Zverev has been knocked out in the round of 16 in Acapulco after winning the title in the 2021 edition Kecmanovic took advantage of Zverevâs 34 unforced errors to clinch the match with a tiebreak in the third set after the Serbian took the lead by winning the first set however the German evened the score in the second set I guess I was more aggressive when it mattered I served a lot better than my usual standards so Im happy that things went well today Kecmanovic said Obviously hes the big favourite so I didnt have any pressure there but you still have to play well when it matters close out the match and thankfully it went my wayThis was Kecmanovics first Top 5 win of his career He has improved to 22 in his ATP HeadtoHead series with the 24time tourlevel titlist Into the last eight at the hardcourt ATP 500 Kecmanovic will face Franceâs Terence Atmane in the quarterfinals In other action fifth seed Flavio Cobolli downed Dalibor Svrcina 64 64 Cobolli won 86 per cent 3743 of his firstserve points and saved all six break points he faced according to ATP StatsâI love playing in Mexico Iâve been coming here for three years now The Mexican fans bring a lot of color to the court and on social media Iâm very happy with the match I played I donât know who Iâll be playing next but Iâm sure it will be a tough match It doesnât matter what my opponentâs ranking isâ said Cobolli In another match of the day Spainâs Rafael Jódar was eliminated from the tournament after losing 62 46 61 to Franceâs Terence Atmane No 163 The Madrid native lost the first set by committing 14 unforced errors and leaving many balls in the net However in the second set the Spanish player recovered but he was unable to overcome the Frenchman in the third set who showed his power with his left hand IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kecmanovic-upsets-zverev-in-mexican-open-round-of-16-662830.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sinks-fils-to-lift-qatar-open-trophy-662219.html Doha Feb 22 Carlos Alcaraz swept past resurgent Frenchman Arthur Fils 62 61 in just 50 minutes to secure the Qatar Open trophy just 20 days after becoming the youngest man in history to complete the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open The title triumph marked Alcarazâs ninth ATP 500 trophy drawing him level with former World No 1 Andy Murray for the fourthhighest tally in the category since its inception in 2009âI came this year hungry for more I think after every tournament we just have to set new goals Iâm just really happy and proud of everything I have done with my team on and off the courtâItâs been a really strong start to the year It wasnât easyâ I had to be strong mentally with my team Iâm just playing great tennis and Iâm really happy about this week This trophy means a lot to me Alcaraz said From the outset Alcaraz dictated terms striking early and defending with breathtaking athleticism Even after Fils raised his level and began trading blows from the baseline the Spaniard repeatedly produced spectacular retrievals and clutch shotmaking to extend his winning streak to 12 matches ATP reportsAlcaraz has also extended his outdoor hardcourt winning streak to 30 matches â a run that includes major triumphs at the Australian Open and US Open By clinching the title in Doha â his 26th tourlevel title The Spaniard now boast a 29265 record according to the ATP WinLoss IndexWith his run to a first tourlevel final since winning the title in Tokyo in 2024 Fils jumped seven spots to No 33 in the ATP Live Rankings The former World No 14 will next compete at the ATP 500 in Dubai where he faces a rematch with Jiri Lehecka whom the Frenchman beat in the Doha quarterfinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sinks-fils-to-lift-qatar-open-trophy-662219.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/ben-shelton-withdraws-from-mexican-open-in-acapulco-662087.html Acapulco Feb 21 Ben Shelton will not compete at this yearâs Mexican Open with tournament organisers confirming that the American has opted to step aside in order to recover physically Ranked No 9 in the ATP standings Shelton has made three previous appearances in Acapulco His deepest run came in 2024 when he advanced to the last eight before falling in a threeset battle to Casper Ruud Event officials in Acapulco stated that Shelton has been dealing with quadriceps discomfort prompting his withdrawal from the Mexican tournamentThe 23yearold is coming off a title run in Dallas where he saved three championship points to defeat Taylor Fritz and capture his first title of the season and fourth ATP Tour titleShelton has enjoyed a strong opening stretch to his 2026 campaign He reached the quarterfinals in Auckland and again at the Australian Open before lifting the title in Dallas He currently holds a 102 record on the seasonThe American No 1 roared back from a set down to earn a 36 63 75 victory for his second ATP 500 trophy saving all three championship points in a nervy 10th game of the deciderWith the onehour 51minute victory Shelton improved to 21 in his headtohead series with Fritz Since the beginning of 2025 Shelton is 114 in decidingset matches including nine wins from a set down ATP reportsâIt feels amazing I thank God because I needed something super natural to end up winning this tournament with all the holes that I was in I feel grateful to play five matches out here with these crowds The energy was amazing said Shelton after the winâI had to fight until the last minute Fritz was playing very good tennis and I was struggling a lot with what he was throwing at me I tried to be a competitor through and through and I ended up coming out on top I think itâs a testament to the work me and my team put in he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/ben-shelton-withdraws-from-mexican-open-in-acapulco-662087.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gotten-not-better-at-all-bro-gauff-vents-out-at-coach-after-loss-to-svitolina-662118.html Dubai Feb 21 Tensions flared for Coco Gauff during a dramatic semifinal defeat at the Dubai Tennis Championships as the World No 4 appeared to vent her frustration toward her coaching team in the midst of a gruelling contest Gauff lost 46 76 46 to Ukraineâs Elina Svitolina in a marathon match that lasted three hours The game was full of momentum shifts but a key moment in the middle of the second set drew as much focus as the tennis itselfAfter striking one of her 12 double faults on the afternoon the 20yearold American visibly bristled Turning away from the court Gauff could be heard expressing her exasperation saying âIve been doing everything youve wanted for the last six monthsâ She then appeared to lower her voice before adding âAnd its gotten not better at all broâMany people saw the comments as aimed at her serving coach Gavin MacMillan who joined her team before last yearâs US Open MacMillan a biomechanics expert with experience in various sports notably collaborated with Aryna Sabalenka in 2022 to help improve her serve Gauff brought him in to tackle ongoing serving issues as she led the WTA Tour in double faults last season with over 300Despite making technical adjustments to her service motion the problem reemerged during crucial moments against Svitolina Gauff succeeded in saving four match points in a tense secondset tiebreak to push the match to a deciding set but she couldnt stop Svitolinaâs momentumThe Ukrainian player now 31 reached her first Dubai final in nearly a decade where she will compete against American Jessica Pegula Pegula earned her spot in the final by coming from behind to defeat her fellow American Amanda Anisimova 16 64 63For Gauff the defeat was a bitter end to an otherwise strong week underscored by visible frustration as she continues to search for greater consistency on serve IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gotten-not-better-at-all-bro-gauff-vents-out-at-coach-after-loss-to-svitolina-662118.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mensik-upsets-sinner-in-doha-sets-sf-with-fils-661950.html Doha Feb 20 Jakub Mensik caused a major upset in the Qatar Open when the 20yearold stunned World No 2 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinal of the ATP 500 event Mensik beat Sinner 763 26 63 for the biggest win of his career by ATP rankingTwo years ago the Czech notched his maiden Top 5 victory against Andrey Rublev during his breakout run to the championship match in DohaThe 2025 Miami champion Mensik is now 42 against Top 5 opponents a tally that includes victories against ATP No 1 Club members Novak Djokovic and Sinner and he is up three spots to No 13 in the ATP Live Rankings as a result of his exploits in Doha so far ATP reportsâBefore the match I knew about Jannikâs quality A great guy a great champion Already what he has done in his young career itâs pretty impressive so I knew it was going to be a tough one But even with that thought I came to the match to win it and actually having a winning mindset Mensik saidHe will bid to reach the final in the Qatari capital for the second time on Friday when he faces the 21yearold FilsHaving made his return to action earlier this month after playing just two matches in the preceding eight months due to a back injury Frenchman Fils earned his first tourlevel semifinal appearance since last April by overcoming Jiri Lehecka 63 63âI didnt know that I was going to play that good that fast for sure You dont know what to expect when you are back from injury since what six to eight months So you dont really know what to expectâIâm pretty happy with the way Im playing now Its not my best tennis yet so far but were getting there I just need to fight every match to play a lot of balls to play a lot of games sets points to get again ready and getting better and better said Fils in his postmatch press conference IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mensik-upsets-sinner-in-doha-sets-sf-with-fils-661950.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-survives-injury-scare-to-enter-sf-in-dallas-661614.html Dallas Feb 14 Taylor Fritz survived an injury scare to beat Sebastian Korda 672 64 765 for a place in the Dallas Open semifinals At 45 3015 first set Fritz hit an awkward backhand flick that led to a sharp pain and a physio visit in the same game He had the injury worked on and was still feeling the pain but not as intensely He received multiple visits from the physio which he explained helped ATP reportsThat was a weird one He hit a really hard return and so I had to kind of hit a flick backhand and the way that I hit it just jammed my elbow I think It was a hardhit ball so I just think the way I hit it behind me and extended my elbow I instantly just felt this really sharp pain in my elbow Fritz said in his oncourt interview I went over to the towel box I was feeling it and I was like âIâll try to hit a serveâ Luckily I made it and it wasnât a bad serve because the ball came back and I couldnât hit the next ball It was such a sharp painFritz had to deal with Korda who served at 54 in the finalset tiebreak But the former No 15 player in the PIF ATP Rankings made backtoback forehand errors allowing Fritz to escape The top seed hit 22 aces and saved all four break points he faced according to ATP StatsFritz will next face former World No 3 Marin Cilic who stormed past breakthrough Briton Jack Pinnington Jones 61 64 in just 78 minutesThe Croatian a 21time tourlevel champion is pursuing his first ATP Tour title since Hangzhou in 2024 Fritz leads their ATP headtohead series 21 but they have not played since 2022 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-survives-injury-scare-to-enter-sf-in-dallas-661614.html Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/davis-cup-britain-beat-norway-to-reach-qualifiers-second-round-661135.html Oslo Feb 7 Great Britain are through to the Davis Cup Qualifiers 2nd Round after defeating Norway 30 in Oslo thanks to a 62 26 765 victory for Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the doubles match Great Britain will now face either Ecuador or Australia in the Davis Cup Qualifiers second round with the winner moving on to the Final 8 in November The Davis Cup Qualifiers secondround ties are set to take place in SeptemberLeon Smithâs team needed the minimum number of matches to overcome a depleted Norwegian side who were undoubtedly the underdogs after the withdrawal of world No 12 Casper Ruud on WednesdayCash and Glasspool the topranked doubles team in the whole of the sport were pushed all the way to a decisive tiebreak by a makeshift Norwegian pairing of Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Viktor DurasovicAll eyes were on the opening rubber of this tie as British No 1 Jack Draper made his longawaited return to the match court his first match since August 2025Draper showed signs of the player who reached a careerhigh world No 4 last year as he dispatched Viktor Durasovic 62 62 in only 61 minutesIt was then over to Cam Norrie who came back from 41 down in the second set to secure a 64 64 victory over 19yearold Nicolai Budkov KjaerComing into day two with a twomatch lead the Brits only needed one more win to seal their place in the second roundUp stepped last yearâs No 1 doubles team on the ATP Tour Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool to face Budkov Kjaer and DurasovicThe Brits showed their quality in the pressure moments of a deciding set tiebreak silencing the crowd and completing Great Britainâs victory with a 62 26 765 winWith the tie already wrapped up Jacob Fearnley came in to play Budkov Kjaer in the final rubber and put on a strong performance against the ATP Next Gen semifinalistFearnley put the icing on the cake for the British team winning 36 63 107 in an hour and 16 minutesIn other Davis Cup action Japans twoday tie against Austria started on Friday Yosuke Watanuki beat Sebastian Ofner 63 64 to give Japan the lead before Jurij Rodionov downed Shintaro Mochizuki 64 75 to level for AustriaGermany eased to a 20 lead against Peru with straightsets singles wins from Yannick Hanfmann and JanLennard Struff in Dusseldorf while Denmark and hosts Croatia are knotted at 11 after the first day of play IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/davis-cup-britain-beat-norway-to-reach-qualifiers-second-round-661135.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/indias-no-1-rutuja-bhosale-headlines-doubles-main-draw-for-mumbai-open-wta-125k-series-660713.html Mumbai Feb 3 The Doubles Main Draw for the fifth edition of the Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series was revealed at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association MSLTA on Tuesday Indiaâs Rutuja Bhosale will team up with Thailandâs Peangtarn Plipuech seeded number one in the tournament scheduled from February 4 to 8 at MSLTA Indiaâs No 4 and No 5 Womenâs Doubles players Ankita Raina and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty will team up to face Franceâs Leolia Jeanjean and Japanâs Naima Karamoko Meanwhile Indiaâs No 2 Womenâs Doubles player Prarthana Thombare will partner with 21yearold Alevtina Ibragimova They will compete against the second seed pair Elena Pridanika ranked World No 75 in Doubles and Polina Iatcenko Rutuja aims to win this tournament having nearly advanced in her last two eventsâreaching the semifinals at the Maharashtra Open and finishing as RunnerUp in the WTA 125K Series in Jinan China She and Plipuech will face Thailandâs Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Argentinaâs Nicole Fossa Huergo Speaking about the Mumbai Open happening at the MSLTA the 29yearold said âI have been playing at MSLTA since I was 10 years old so to see a WTA event happening here it simply feels unreal Itâs extremely exciting to see venues like the MSLTA provide a platform for the growth of tennis in Indiaâ Prarthana Thombare the runnerup in the last edition aims to build on her recent success at the Mumbai Open After an impressive 2025 which saw her reach the semifinals of the WTA 125K Series in Turkey and finish as the runnerup in WTA Newport USA she is eager to capitalize on the support of her home crowd advantage Speaking about playing in the Mumbai Open Thombare said âItâs very enjoyable and joyful to be playing in India especially in Maharashtra Its a very special tournament itâs my fourth year Itâs great to be back in Mumbai for another edition and hopefully I can lift the trophy this timeâ Darja Semenistaja the 2024 Singles champion will compete in doubles alongside Zuzzana Pawlikowska facing Japanâs Hiroko Kuwata and South Koreaâs Sohyun Park Mananchaya Sawangkaew last seasonâs Singles Runner Up and Leolia Jeanjean the current third seed in the Singles draw will also participate in the doubles event IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/indias-no-1-rutuja-bhosale-headlines-doubles-main-draw-for-mumbai-open-wta-125k-series-660713.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/yuki-bhambri-attains-career-high-world-no-20-atp-mens-doubles-rankings-660718.html Chandigarh Feb 3 Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri has climbed to a careerhigh ranking of world No 20 in the latest ATP Rankings making him the first Indian mens doubles player to break into the Top 20 after Rohan Bopanna With a significant jump from his previous rank of 22 Bhambri has officially broken into the elite Top 20 of the ATP doubles standings for the first time in his careerThis ranking leap comes on the back of an impressive run of form for the 33yearold who has featured in multiple ATP Tour finals and made deep runs at Grand Slam tournaments Partnering with Swedenâs Andre Goransson Bhambri produced an excellent showing at the first Grand Slam of the year the Australian Open in Melbourne reaching the third round to collect the ranking points necessary to push him past the threshold After dismissing local wildcards James Duckworth and Cruz Hewitt in the opener Bhambri and Goransson staged a dramatic comeback against Santiago Gonzalez and David Pel in the second round winning 46 76 5 63 They narrowly lost to the Brazilian duo Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos in a tightly contested match in the next round 677 36Bhambri who is a Roundglass Tennis Academy athlete has been steadily progressing since the 2025 season when he reached the US Open semifinals alongside New Zealands Michael Venus where they were narrowly edged out by the fourthseeded British duo of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski after holding a set and break advantageIn March 2025 Bhambri claimed his first ATP 500 title at the Dubai Tennis Championships partnering Australias Alexei Popyrin The pair came from a set down and saved four match points to defeat reigning US Open and Australian Open doubles champions Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten 36 7612 108 in a thrilling final Earlier in the season Bhambri also became Indias No 1 doubles player ending veteran Rohan Bopannas remarkable 286week reign at the topHe is currently scheduled to play the ATP 500 swing in the Middle East using these highertier tournaments to push toward further ATP ranking gains and later join the Indian squad for the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/yuki-bhambri-attains-career-high-world-no-20-atp-mens-doubles-rankings-660718.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/he-plays-the-way-we-do-ishan-kishan-backs-alcaraz-in-australian-open-final-660465.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 1 India wicketkeeperbatter Ishan Kishan has backed Carlos Alcaraz to win the menâs singles final against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open 2026 saying the young Spaniardâs attacking instincts and fearless shotmaking closely resemble the way Indian cricketers approach their game âI personally want Alcaraz to win because I feel that the way he plays is very much like how we playâ Kishan said in a video released by BCCI on X âHeâs a bit quick Whenever thereâs a gap he tries to hit it He doesnât lookâ he doesnât show that much patienceâ he addedKishan believes Alcarazâs natural aggression and willingness to seize opportunities make him an exciting prospect in big matches even against a seasoned champion like Djokovic He also said that Alcaraz is aiming for his first Aus Open title so he should win itâSo that is with Alcaraz Itâs very important for Alcaraz to win because heâll have his first Australian Open So I am with Carlito he saidContrary to Kishan Indias fast bowler Arshdeep Singh wants Djokovic to win the title clash I am supporting Iceman Djokovic he saidThe Australian Open final sets up a highstakes clash between two generations with Alcaraz and Djokovic both chasing a historic milestone of their ownVictory in Melbourne would see the 22yearold Spaniard complete a rare career Grand Slam having already won the French Open Wimbledon and the US Open He will also become the youngest man ever to achieve this feat eclipsing the record held by his compatriot Rafael Nadal who completed the set at 24Standing in his way is Djokovic who is not just playing for another title he is seeking to stand alone as the most successful Grand Slam player in the history of the sport male or female A victory would secure Djokovics 25th Grand Slam title moving him past Margaret Court 24 for the most major singles titles in history The final will be played at Rod Laver Arena Melbourne on SundayMeanwhile Kishan and Arshdeep were both the standout performers for India in the fifth T20I played at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday While Kishan played a magnificent knock of 103 runs Arshdeep took a fivewicket haul which helped India secure a 46run win against New Zealand IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/he-plays-the-way-we-do-ishan-kishan-backs-alcaraz-in-australian-open-final-660465.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/vaidehee-chaudhari-granted-wild-card-entry-into-main-draw-at-2026-mumbai-open-125k-series-660332.html Mumbai Jan 30 India No 2 womenâs sinngles player Vaidehee Chaudhari has been announced as the Wild Card into the main draw at the upcoming 2026 Mumbai open WTA 125K Series Also 15yearold youngster Parthsarthi Mundhe and 22yearold Akanksha Nitture have been given a Wild Card for the Qualifiers of the competition which will be held at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association MSLTA in MumbaiThe Qualifiers will be held on 31st January and 1st February followed by the main draw which is scheduled from 2nd to 8th February 2026Vaidehee Chaudhari was given the wild card into the main draw after Sahaja Yamalapalli earned direct entry into the main draw of the Mumbai Open WTA 125K SeriesShe is entering the Mumbai Open in a rich vein of form winning W35 Solapur in December after beating Michika Ozeki in the final 2025 and reaching the final of WTT 15 in Ahmedabad in JanuaryThe 25yearold was also a mainstay in the Indian Team at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group 1 and won crucial Singles matches for her sideSpeaking on the occasion Vaidehee Chaudhari stated âIm very excited and thankful to Hon President Mr Prashant Sutar and Hon Secretary Mr Sundar Iyer of MSLTA for giving me this golden opportunity This year there are a lot of highranked international players competing in the LampT Mumbai Open so I am looking forward to the challengeâTalking about her personal goals and strategy ahead of the tournament she said âI plan to enjoy every match and do my best to go deep in the competition by staying focused trusting my training and giving everything Iâve got in every single gameâ15yearold Parthsarthi Aru Mundhe hailing from Dharashiv district in Maharashtra is a Junior National Champion and will be looking to impress local supporters in the Qualifiers of her first ever LampT Mumbai Open campaign Parthsarthi Aru Mundhe will be facing Polandâs Zuzanna Pawlikowska while Akanksha Nitture will play against Indian veteran Ankita Raina on the first day of Qualifiers at the MSLTA IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/vaidehee-chaudhari-granted-wild-card-entry-into-main-draw-at-2026-mumbai-open-125k-series-660332.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mertens-and-zhang-win-australian-open-womens-doubles-title-660361.html Melbourne Jan 31 Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai who last played a Grand Slam together at Wimbledon in 2022 reunited at the Australian Open to win the womens doubles title The BelgianChinese duo defeated Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 764 64 to win what is a ninth Grand Slam doubles title between them in just their seventh career event as a pairMertens now has six Grand Slams three in Australia while Zhang has three Zhang lifted her other womens doubles trophies with the nowretired Samantha Stosur at the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 US OpenMertens has now won a doubles Grand Slam in each of the last three years Currently ranked World No 6 Mertens was assured of getting back to World No 1 regardless of the final result She will log her 40th week on top next weekThe No 4 seeds pulled away against the No 7 seeds after coming from 41 behind in the first set They later stormed out to a 50 lead in the second set and needed almost every bit of that cushion They didnt wrap up the win until five games later and after two championship points slipped away at 52 WTA reportsMeanwhile hometown wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans Re in the action in the mens doubles finalsKubler is bidding for his second Australian Open doubles crown after triumphing with Rinky Hijikata also as wildcards in 2023 Polmans a semifinalist with Andrew Whittington at Melbourne Park in 2017 is contesting his first Grand Slam finalIn the mixed doubles final on Friday hometown wildcards Olivia Gadecki and John Peers broke a 37year drought when they became the first pairing to defend their Australian Open mixed doubles crown in thrilling fashionGadecki and Peers became the first duo to win consecutive AO mixed doubles titles since Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh in 198889They became the first Australians to go backtoback at their home Slam since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher achieved the feat in 196364 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mertens-and-zhang-win-australian-open-womens-doubles-title-660361.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-gave-everything-the-work-continues-sinner-pens-heartfelt-note-after-aus-open-sf-exit-660403.html New Delhi Jan 31 World No 2 Jannik Sinner thanked his supporters and reflected on his Australian Open journey while congratulating Novak Djokovic on reaching the final The Italian faced a very tough loss on Friday at the tournament where he was defeated by Djokovic in an exciting fiveset semifinal After leading two sets to one Sinner couldnt finish the match and his disappointment was clear in his postmatch comments where he said that the defeat hurt him âa lotâSinner came into the match aiming for a third consecutive Australian Open title and had defeated Djokovic in their last five encounters However on Friday at Rod Laver Arena the second seed failed to take advantage of crucial opportunities converting only two of 18 break points against the 38yearoldâNot my day but I gave everything Congrats to DjokerNole itâs always an honour to share the court with you Thanks to everyone for all the support over the last two weeks The work continues See you soon againâ Sinner wrote on XSunday will mark the first time that Sinner will not compete in a major final since 2024 Wimbledon where Alcaraz defeated Djokovic Despite this setback the 24yearold Sinner expressed high praise for Djokovic and mentioned that the Serbianâs level of play was not unexpectedâHes won 24 Grand Slams We know each other very well how we play I always said you can not be surprised because I feel like hes the greatest player for many many years Of course hes playing less tournaments because of his age and everything but we also know how important Grand Slams are for me for him for Carlos and everyone There is this small extra motivation and he played great tennis Hopefully I can take it as kind of a lesson maybe to see what I can improve onâ Sinner said in his oncourt interview on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-gave-everything-the-work-continues-sinner-pens-heartfelt-note-after-aus-open-sf-exit-660403.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-japans-tokito-oda-becomes-youngest-man-to-hold-all-four-major-titles-simultaneously-660417.html Melbourne Jan 31 Japanese prodigy Tokito Oda made history by winning the Australian Open 2026 menâs wheelchair title against Martin De la Puente 36 62 62 This victory made him the youngest man to simultaneously hold all four Grand Slam titles across any professional tennis format At only 19 years old Odaâs victory over the third seed at Melbourne Park makes him the second man ever to win four consecutive menâs wheelchair singles majors joining Japanese legend Shingo Kunieda who astonishingly won 12 in a row starting from 2007Odas victory marks his second AO crown and his eighth major title overall bringing him within two titles of Britains Alfie Hewett Now firmly established as the world No1 Oda is on track to approach Kuniedaâs record of 28 menâs wheelchair singles Grand Slam titlesâFirst I gotta say I was missing you baby I want to appreciate Martin You are my best friend on tour We always hang out every time and you speak Japanese so sometimes itâs so funny with you Itâs the first time we shared a final at a Grand Slam I was very happy to play with Martin Big congrats to your teamâ Oda jokingly mentioned his first trophy won in 2024 before shifting focus to De la PuenteOda also secured the doubles title teaming up with Argentinian Gustavo Fernandez for his second Grand Slam doubles victoryâThank you all I really appreciate all of your love â I hope you guys keep supporting wheelchair tennis Thank you so muchâ he saidThe championship match started with De la Puente taking a 31 lead in the first set just before the days first rain delay Although Oda managed to briefly catch up the Spaniard responded strongly causing Oda to lose his first set of the tournamentOda raised his game significantly in the second set moving quickly to reach balls and returning them deep into the corners applying heavy spin to force De la Puente out of positionAfter a long rain delay Oda regained control under the Margaret Court Arena roof securing the title with 52 winners to De la Puenteâs 31 He also won 74 per cent of his firstserve points significantly surpassing his opponentâs 51per centIt was the 18th time these two had met their sixth encounter at a Grand Slam and their first final matchupDe la Puente was aiming to be the 13th player to win a menâs wheelchair singles Grand Slam title after previously losing to Hewett in the Wimbledon final in 2024 Although he was disappointed the Spaniard accepted the result graciously smiling through the momentâCongrats Tokito weâve known since you were almost a kid you already destroyed everyoneâs chair on tour â you are a great champion Thanks to my team Theyâve been pushing me a lot and I was struggling a lot at Christmas It was a tough time for me and they were pushing me â my team my family my girl â they were all pushing me Hopefully weâre gonna have another battle next yearâ De la Puente said after the lossBesides Odaâs win at Melbourne Park in 2024 he was also runnerup to Hewett in 2023 and 2025 He has now secured 41 singles titles before turning 20As the Australian Open marks 50 years of wheelchair tennis Odaâs rise serves as a strong symbol of the sportâs development and promising future IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-japans-tokito-oda-becomes-youngest-man-to-hold-all-four-major-titles-simultaneously-660417.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-edges-past-svitolina-to-enter-4th-consecutive-final-660102.html Melbourne Jan 29 World No1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her golden run in the ongoing Australian Open 2026 as she registered a dominant 62 63 straightsets win against Ukraineâs Elina Svitolina in the womenâs singles semifinal at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday Sabalenka was in complete control from the start and needed just over an hour to seal her place in the final This is the fourth consecutive time she will play in the Australian Open finalThe Belarusian used her power and strong serving to keep Svitolina under constant pressure and did not give a single chance of a comeback as she marched closer towards her third Australian Open titleSabalenka won 67 per cent of her points on the first serve and also won 79 per cent on the second serve showing the onesided nature of the matchSvitolina struggled to match Sabalenkaâs pace and consistency The Ukrainian won just 56 per cent of points on her first serve and 50 per cent on her second She also committed three double faults during the matchThe top seed converted four of her seven breakpoint chances while allowing Svitolina only one break from four opportunities Sabalenka also edged her opponent in total points won The twotime champion won 65 points as compared to the 46 won by SvitolinaAn incredible achievement but the job is not done yet said Sabalenka on the court after the matchSuper happy with the win She is such a tough opponent I have been watching her game She played incredibly throughout the tournament and I felt like I had to step in and put as much pressure as I could back on her and I am glad the level was there today I played great tennis and am happy to get the win in straight sets she addedSabalenka who lost the 2023 final to Madison Keys will face either Elena Rybakina or Jessica Pegula for the title on Saturday in Melbourne IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-edges-past-svitolina-to-enter-4th-consecutive-final-660102.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/maharashtra-star-vaishnavi-adkar-looks-to-make-her-mark-in-mumbai-open-wta-125k-660113.html Mumbai Jan 29 Homegrown talent and Maharashtraâs No1 womenâs singles player Vaishnavi Adkar has been given a wildcard into the main draw at the upcoming Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series which will be held at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association MSLTA in Mumbai The qualifiers will be held on January 31 and February 1 followed by the main draw which is scheduled from February 2 to 8 At just 21 Vaishnavi Adkar has proven herself as the No1 womenâs singles player of her state and has impressive wins under her belt She claimed her maiden ITF Pro Singles title at the W15 Womenâs Tennis Championship in Ahmedabad in 2024 She cemented her reputation as a promising young athlete when she won the bronze medal at the World University Tennis Championship in Germany last year also becoming the firstever Indian woman to do soHailing from Pune Maharashtra the Mumbai Open is set to be a special experience for Vaishnavi Adkar as she looks to impress her local crowd She stated âItâs really enjoyable to play in front of my home fans The energy is unmatched and the atmosphere is always positive and encouraging When you hear people cheering for you it gives you that extra boost especially in tight moments I feel proud to play in Maharashtra and represent India and Iâm really thankful to everyone who comes out to support us I aim to channelise this energy and maximise my performance in the upcoming Mumbai OpenâShe went on to thank the MSLTA and Mumbai Open for giving her the platform to face elite competition when she said âPersonally my rank is not high enough to get into the WTA events directly So having the Mumbai Open here in Maharashtra really helps to get the exposure that I need against the higherranked players and for this I would really like to thank MSLTA President Prashant Sutar and Hon Secretary Sunder IyerâLooking ahead at the upcoming tournament Vaishnavi Adkar shared âI want to focus on a few important aspects like my serve and controlling the baseline This tournament is going to help me observe and better understand what the higherranked players are doing differently as I hope to pick up a few lessons and improve my game and in the process make the most out of the opportunity that Iâve been givenâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/maharashtra-star-vaishnavi-adkar-looks-to-make-her-mark-in-mumbai-open-wta-125k-660113.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-want-to-take-positives-and-carry-them-through-the-season-says-svitolina-after-semis-loss-to-sabalenka-660125.html Melbourne Jan 29 Elina Svitolina left Melbourne Park without a place in the Australian Open final but not without renewed belief in where her game is headed The Ukrainianâs run at the Australian Open 2026 came to an end on Thursday with a 62 63 semifinal loss to World No1 Aryna Sabalenka who advanced to her fourth consecutive final in Melbourne It was Svitolinaâs first appearance in the last four at the Australian Open and despite the straightsets scoreline she emerged determined to focus on progress rather than disappointmentâIâm definitely very very happy with the two weeks here and in New Zealand as wellits of course very difficult when youre playing world No1 But I just want to take positives from the past weeks and the beginning of the year and just carry them through the seasonâ Svitolina said in her postmatch press conferenceThe 31yearold acknowledged that her serve let her down against Sabalenka calling it ânot greatâ but felt other parts of her game were working âTo be fair I thought I was returning today quite well I think I was returning well but then her second shot was unbelievable She was returning well quickly and then she had another punch coming the second shot after her serveâ she saidWhile the defeat may linger in the short term Svitolinaâs semifinal showing underlined the steady upward trajectory of her form This year marked her 13th appearance at the Australian Open and she surpassed her previous best results at the tournament Prior to 2026 her deepest runs in Melbourne came in 2018 2019 and 2025 when she reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Madison KeysâOf course when you play players like Sabalenka you dont have too much time to wasteâ Svitolina reflected âI feel Im in good form I think I can definitely draw some confidence and look forward to the upcoming tournaments Were just two weeks or maybe three weeks into the yearâHer path to the semifinals was particularly impressive Svitolina knocked out World No8 Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round and then dismantled World No3 Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals conceding only three games The victories marked the first time since 2019 that she had beaten top10 opponents in backtoback matches at a Grand SlamBeyond the tennis Svitolina spoke emotionally about what the tournament meant to her personally and nationally Despite falling one match short of the final she framed her Australian Open campaign as something to be proud ofâIm still disappointed that I didnt go furtherâBut I feel like I should not be allowed to really be sad I have a great positionâI have this amazing opportunity to play on centre court here represent my country to do it in a decent way and to have the opportunity you know to use my words and just be there for my people I feel like for the past weeks they have been really carrying me through with great vibes with great emotions and for me this is something that really motivates meâ she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-want-to-take-positives-and-carry-them-through-the-season-says-svitolina-after-semis-loss-to-sabalenka-660125.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-mertens-zhang-set-up-womens-doubles-final-against-danilina-krunic-660142.html Melbourne Jan 29 Fourth seeds Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai booked their place in the final with an authoritative straightsets victory while seventh seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic survived a dramatic threeset battle to reach their second Grand Slam final together Mertens and Zhang comfortably beat Ena Shibahara and Vera Zvonareva 63 62 in under 90 minutes on Margaret Court Arena securing their second major final after Wimbledon 2022âReally great performance I think weâre really there as a team Communication was there and I felt like today everything kind of worked But you know itâs been a great tournament so far so tomorrow weâll have a day off or a day of practice and then on to the finalsâ Mertens said after the matchThe semifinal was a smooth outing for Mertens and Zhang who previously escaped elimination by saving three match points in the second round against Jovic and Mboko then came from a set down in the quarterfinals to stay in the tournamentâWe kind of were fighting at that point to stay in the tournament and now weâre in the final So you know anything can happen when you keep on fightingâ Mertens saidAgainst Shibahara and Zvonareva the No 4 seeds took control early After splitting the first two games Mertens and Zhang won four straight to lead 51 They briefly wobbled surrendering a break but quickly closed the set The second followed a similar pattern a strong start a late break while serving for the match then a quick response to win Zhang played a key role at the end setting up and converting their third match pointâThis is our second time playing together at a Grand Slam and now second final Oh my God we should keep playing together foreverâ said Zhang during her oncourt interviewEarlier on Rod Laver Arena Danilina and Krunic reached the final after a tough 76 2 36 64 win over Dabrowski and Stefani lasting nearly two and a half hours They had upset top seeds and defending champions Siniakova and Townsend in the quarterfinalsâI feel like this match had everything in it So many ups and downs Luisa and Gaby played a great match Itâs always tough to play against them and I mean obviously it was emotional We just tried to hang in there especially after a break down in the third and it worked out for us wellâ Krunic said in their oncourt interviewDanilina and Krunic led 52 but Dabrowski and Stefani fought back The No 7 seeds won the tiebreak In the second the CanadianBrazilian pair broke late to level the matchThe drama continued in the decider Dabrowski and Stefani initially led 20 but a rain delay and roof closure shifted momentum Danilina and Krunic rallied to 33 then broke again to near victory However they were broken while serving for a match point Undeterred the No 7 seeds responded immediately with a break to love sealing the contest with a spectacular rally on match pointâThey were confusing me from the first point I tried to think about my own game what Iâm supposed to do what comes from my racket but theyâre a very energetic team They move well at the net and they know how to play doubles Today was a very different match for us and Iâm happy that at the very end we found that extra energy to be in Saturdayâs finalâ Krunic addedWith both teams having already tasted heartbreak at major finals Saturdayâs showdown promises a compelling battle for the womenâs doubles crown in Melbourne IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-mertens-zhang-set-up-womens-doubles-final-against-danilina-krunic-660142.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gadecki-and-peers-become-first-pair-in-37-years-to-defend-aus-open-mixed-doubles-title-660222.html Melbourne Jan 30 Hometown wildcards Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first pairing in 37year to defend their Australian Open mixed doubles crown here on Friday The home favourites edged French duo Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 46 63 108 inside Rod Laver ArenaGadecki and Peers became the first duo to win consecutive AO mixed doubles titles since Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh in 198889 They also became the first Australians to go backtoback at their home Slam since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher achieved the feat in 196364âI donât quite know where to start I canât believe we are in this positon right now âI knew we could do it but I didnât think we could really do it if you know what I mean said Gadecki at the trophy ceremonyIt was Peers third Grand Slam mixed doubles title after also winning the US Open 2022 with Storm Sanders He won the Australian Open 2017 mens doubles with Finlands Henri Kontinen and clinched a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics partnering Matthew EbdenMeanwhile it was a second Grand Slam title for WTA star Gadecki after her 2025 Melbourne Park triumph alongside PeersGadecki and Peers looked in trouble when they fell behind 57 in the match tiebreak before they peeled off five of the last six points Gadecki was particularly strong from the ground in the clutch while the French pair tightened with the finish line in sightThe Aussies moved ahead 87 when Mladenovic sprayed a long return before Peers crushing return made it 97 for two championship points The French duo saved one of them before the backtoback triumph was sealed when firsttime Grand Slam finalist Guinards return of Peers second serve crashed into the net Aus Open reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gadecki-and-peers-become-first-pair-in-37-years-to-defend-aus-open-mixed-doubles-title-660222.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/svitolina-stuns-gauff-for-maiden-australian-open-sf-659906.html Melbourne Jan 27 Elina Svitolina staged the major upset of Australian Open on Tuesday night as she stunned the third seed Coco Gauff in just 59 minutes and advanced to her fourth career Grand Slam semifinal and first at the Australian Open here on Tuesday While Gauff struggled with her serve unforced error count and early on even her string tension Svitolina did everything right to close out a 61 62 victory that puts her first Grand Slam semifinal since the summer of 2023 and her first in Australia at the age of 31Gauffs serving struggles reached a breaking point in this crucial seventh game as she committed two devastating double faults that handed Svitolina easy points Svitolinas penetrating baseline play proved decisive as she claimed the opening set 61 in dominant fashionGauff fought desperately to stay alive opening with a strong wide serve but couldnt sustain her level under pressure Svitolinas clinical performance throughout the match breaking serve five times total secured her place in the final fourWith a win over Gauff Svitolina extended her winning streak to 10 straight matches the thirdlongest tourlevel streak of her career In 2017 she won 15 matches in a row and in 2025 she won 11 straightThe world No12 supported courtside by husband Gael Monfils collected a 19th tour title in Auckland during her Australian Open buildup and hasnât dropped a set so far at Melbourne Park Shes now guaranteed to return to the Top 10 in the WTA Rankings for the first time since October 2021 in next Mondays rankingsSvitolinas win over Gauff is her 24th career Top 5 win Four of those have come at Grand Slams all since her return from maternity leaveShe will bid to reach her first Grand Slam final when she faces No 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka who leads their headtohead 51 on Thursday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/svitolina-stuns-gauff-for-maiden-australian-open-sf-659906.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-alcaraz-clears-de-minaur-challenge-to-make-first-semifinal-659931.html Melbourne Jan 27 World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his first semifinal at Melbourne Park moving within two wins of achieving the career Grand Slam as he sealed a statement 75 62 61 victory against Alex de Minaur in front of a vibrant Rod Laver Arena crowd The Spaniard absorbed the pressure and ultimately neutralised the full impact of Alex de Minaurâs newly refined attacking style aiming for his seventh major title and his first in Melbourne to arrange a semifinal matchup against last yearâs runnerup Alexander ZverevâIâm just really happy with the level that Iâm playing every match since the first round Iâve been increasing my level each match I was talking with my team about being patient because I want all the things right now But they told me to be patient that the level will come Today I felt really comfortable playing great tennis which Iâm really proud aboutâ Alcaraz said in his oncourt interviewDe Minaur showed a hint of what it takes to challenge the top players like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner but the match ultimately highlighted the distance still to be bridged at the highest level Alcaraz played powerfully from the baseline confidently controlling the game and advancing to the semifinals without losing a setThe 22yearold who became only the eighth Spanish man in history to reach the Australian Open semifinals is looking to become only the sixth man in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam joining Andre Agassi Roger Federer Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic and Rod Laver ATP reportsAfter his fourthround victory over Alexander Bublik De Minaur openly discussed his drive to avoid being a âpunching bagâ for top players and to improve his ability to shift opponents out of position His quickness and persistent defence have propelled him to a careerhigh No 6 in the ATP Rankings However his remarks highlight the need for evolution to compete with a new wave that has won the last eight major titlesDe Minaur fulfilled that goal in the match The quarterfinals first set saw five breaks of serve with the Australian recovering from deficits of 03 and 35 to advance and dominate play However that resilience was ultimately insufficient and temporaryâItâs really difficult I started the match really well hitting the ball really well But Alex puts you in a rush all the time so you want to hit the ball as hard as you can which is impossible against him So from 30 until 43 44 I wanted everything in a rush so I took a moment took a break mentally I was more patient until the end of the matchâ Alcaraz said when asked about playing De MinaurAlcaraz shifted gears confidently controlling the match with ruthless shotmaking to secure a twohour 15minute win This extended his lead to 60 against De Minaur who has only taken two sets in their rivalry which began in 2022After exiting in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park in 2024 and 2025 Alcaraz has now achieved a 164 record at the tournament He will face Zverev in the semifinals a rematch of their 2024 quarterfinal which the German won in four sets IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-alcaraz-clears-de-minaur-challenge-to-make-first-semifinal-659931.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-feel-like-they-dont-need-to-broadcast-gauff-speaks-out-on-privacy-after-australian-open-loss-659937.html Melbourne Jan 27 Coco Gauff urged for more privacy for players saying that some moments should not be shared publicly after behindthescenes footage captured her breaking a racquet following a tough loss in the Australian Open quarterfinals against Elina Svitolina âI tried to go somewhere where there was no camerasâ Gauff said expressing discomfort at the incident being aired on television and shared across social media âCertain moments â the same thing happened to Aryna after I played her in the US Open final â I feel like they donât need to broadcast Maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker roomâAfter losing 61 62 to Elina Svitolina in 59 minutes in the Australian Open Coco Gauff displayed frustration The Americans match was marred by five double faults and 26 unforced errors and only recorded three winners to Svitolinas dominating performance which sent her through to the Australian Open semifinals for the first time in her careerAfter the match Gauff took out her frustrations on her racquet in the players area and not on the court which she thought she was safe from the publicExplaining why she felt the need to release her emotions Gauff said âI donât want to lash out at my team They donât deserve that I donât think itâs a bad thing I try not to do it on court in front of kids and things like that but I do know I need to let out that emotionâGauffs loss was a stark contrast to her performance earlier in the tournament when she fought through backtoback threeset matches to make it to the quarterfinals Unfortunately she never had a chance against 12thseeded SvitolinaSvitolina took full advantage of her opponents weak serve breaking Gauff six times in seven attempts and completing the match in an efficient mannerOnce again service was a major problem for Gauff Last season she led the WTA in double faults with 431 numbers As a result she hired biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan who has previously worked with Aryna Sabalenka to help correct her movement when serving Despite this effort Gauff committed five double faults including one on a break point and one on set point during the first set which made it impossible for her to overcome SvitolinaSvitolina will now face world number one and title favourite Sabalenka in the semifinals The Belarusian easily defeated the teenager Iva Jovic 63 60 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-feel-like-they-dont-need-to-broadcast-gauff-speaks-out-on-privacy-after-australian-open-loss-659937.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-ends-jovics-dream-run-reaches-fourth-straight-aus-open-semifinal-659834.html Melbourne Jan 27 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka ended the 18yearold American Iva Jovics dream run securing a 63 60 win to reach her fourth consecutive Australian Open semifinal on Tuesday Sabalenka is the only player still standing in the womenâs field to have previously lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup With her place in a fourth consecutive Melbourne semifinal the top seed has reached the last four at a major for the 14th timeIn a dominant display the top seed struck 31 winners to Jovicâs 12 and won 61 per cent of points on the 29th seedâs second serveJovic at 18 was the youngest player to reach the last eight at the Australian Open without dropping a set since Venus Williams in 1998Sabalenka who is yet to drop a set will face either No 3 seed Coco Gauff or No 12 seed Elina Svitolina nextIn the pairâs firstever meeting Sabalenka immediately exerted her authority by pouncing on Jovicâs second serves to break and quickly consolidated for a 30 leadJovic prevented herself from falling to an even bigger deficit Her stunning ballstriking troubled SabalenkaServing for the set at 53 the top seed saved one break point before Jovic fended off a first set point The fourtime major champion saved another two break points with her trusty serve and set up a second set point with a cracking forehand winner down the line only to be denied when Jovic returned her serve the Australian Open reportsSabalenka then struck a brilliant backhand to earn a third set point and pummelled another backhand down the line to claim the setIn the second set Sabalenka surged to an early lead placing yet another backhand winner leading her to break in the 29th seedâs opening service gameSabalenka then gained an insurance break and a 30 lead then held to love to put the match within two games of its conclusion The 29th seed Jovic benefited from a double fault donation from Sabalenka and produced winners off both wings to earn a pair of break points as the topseeded rival served for the matchSabalenka saved the two serves and seconds later claimed victory and a semifinal berth with an ace out wide on match point IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-ends-jovics-dream-run-reaches-fourth-straight-aus-open-semifinal-659834.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-pegula-ends-keys-title-defence-in-straight-sets-659712.html Melbourne Jan 26 Jessica Pegula ended Madison Keys title defense at the Australian Open with a 63 64 victory and sailed into the quarterfinals on Monday The sixth seed prevailed over her countrywoman friend in one hour and 18 minutes on Monday and improved to 82 in Grand Slam fourthround matches overallPegulaâs triumph in the first allAmerican womenâs singles fourth round battle at Melbourne Park since Australian Open 2020 champion Sofia Kenin defeated Coco Gauff grants her entry to a fourth AO quarterfinal and first since 2023In Wednesdayâs quarterfinal Pegula will face either compatriot and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova or Wang XinyuPegula began proceedings by holding to love and surged to a 20 lead by breaking in Keysâ opening service game Keys earned her first break point opportunities of the match in the seventh game and although Pegula did her best to keep her opponent offbalance by mixing up the pace of her serves and groundstrokeslTwo minutes later thanks to four consecutive unforced errors from Keys Pegula regained the break and successfully served for the setIn the opening game of the second set Keys served a pair of backtoback double faults to give her rival a break point only to fend it off with a much needed ace But another double fault from the ninth seed gifted Pegula an early break Australian Open reportsThough Pegula gained a socalled insurance break edging ahead for a 41 lead her compatriot snatched one break back by punishing second serve with a forehand return winnerThe defending champion held serve to stay in the tournament at 35 putting the match on Pegulaâs racquetBut Pegula accustomed to big occasions executed one of the drop shots that Keys had been rightfully wary of enroute to setting up a pair of match points On the first Keys misfired a forehand into the net to hand Pegula the win before the duo shared a warm embrace IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-pegula-ends-keys-title-defence-in-straight-sets-659712.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-musetti-beats-fritz-to-book-qf-clash-with-djokovic-659731.html Melbourne Jan 26 Italian tennis star Lorenzo Musetti registered a convincing 62 75 64 victory against the ninthseeded American Taylor Fritz in the fourth round of the Australian Open prevailing into his fourth major quarterfinal and first here in Melbourne The Italian was in control for most of the contest using his variety and consistency to keep Fritz under pressure Musetti served efficiently throughout the match winning 84 per cent of points on his first serve and 74 per cent on his second while also striking 13 acesMusetti made a strong start by breaking Fritz early in the opening set and went on to take it comfortably The second set proved more competitive but Musetti raised his level at crucial moments converting break points to seal the set 75 In the third set the 21yearold maintained his momentum and closed out the match without facing any major threatâI think today my serve was really working well I think I made one of my best performances in aces in my career so far so Iâm really really happy When I finished last season pretty late the goals were to start well this year because Iâd never surpassed the first week here Making the final in Hong Kong winning doubles in Hong Kong with Lorenzo Sonego and now being in the quarterfinals for me itâs really a dream said MusettiWith this win the fifthseed Italian has earned a clash against record 10time champion Novak Djokovic who reached the last eight after Czech Jakub Mensik withdrew due to an abdominal muscle injuryNovak we played many many times and every time its a lesson first of all Musetti said after the match Its such an honour to share the court against him Every time I leave the court with something and thats something of course that I really think is helping me to try to win against him he addedDjokovic leads Musetti 91 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series and will enter Wednesdays meeting on a sixmatch winning streak against the Italian Last week the Serbian great collected his win No100 at the Australian Open became the first player to reach 400 wins at Grand Slams and overtook Roger Federer for the most menâs quarterfinals in tournament history IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-musetti-beats-fritz-to-book-qf-clash-with-djokovic-659731.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/jannik-sinner-reaches-third-consecutive-aus-open-qf-659760.html Melbourne Jan 26 Jannik Sinner experienced a short dip in performance but quickly regained control to secure his spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday defeating fellow Italian Luciano Darderi here at the Margaret Court Arena Sinner who suffered cramp in Saturdayâs conditions during that fourset victory over the American Eliot Spizzirri raised his game when it mattered to beat fellow Italian Luciano Darderi 61 63 762 The 2024 and 2025 champion has now won 18 Australian Open matches in a row and took his overall win streak to 19 contests since his most recent defeat in Shanghai last OctoberIn their first tourlevel meeting Sinner established an early lead with powerful serving and continuous pressure winning the first two sets quickly Darderi however did not give up easily The 22yearold intensified his play late in the third set attacking the baseline aggressively to create four break points at 44 and then taking control with a strong performance in the tiebreak leading 20The moment hinted at a change in momentum but Sinner responded with determination He raised his performance when it mattered most winning seven straight points to conclude the match and dispel any remaining doubts about his physical healthSinner completed the twohour nineminute match with 46 winners including 19 aces highlighting a display of power and efficiency This win also kept his perfect tourlevel record against fellow Italians intact at 180 ATP reportsThe reigning champion advanced to his fourth Australian Open quarterfinal matching players like Grigor Dimitrov Kei Nishikori and Stefanos Tsitsipas for the fourth most appearances at this stage among active players He will face either Ben Shelton or Casper Ruud next chasing his third consecutive Australian Open title a milestone only Novak Djokovic has reached once before in the Open EraThe result put the fourtime major champion into his fourth successive Melbourne quarterfinal where heâll play American Ben Shelton or Norwayâs Casper Ruud on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/jannik-sinner-reaches-third-consecutive-aus-open-qf-659760.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-swiatek-eliminates-inglis-to-reach-14th-career-grand-slam-qf-659761.html Melbourne Jan 26 World No 2 Iga Swiatek defeated qualifier Maddison Inglis on Monday and reached her 14th career Grand Slam quarterfinal and third at the Australian Open The second seed dropped just three games in her  60 63 win This was the first time that Swiatek has played an Aussie at the Australian Open She has faced Inglis on her home turf before though winning 61 62 in the 2021 Adelaide second round en route to her first hardcourt titleSwiatek broke serve to claim the opening set 60 delivering a dominant performance on Rod Laver Arena Despite Inglis showing flashes of resistance with powerful serves and winning some early points the secondseed Poles baseline power proved overwhelmingThe game featured several extended rallies including an 11shot exchange where Swiateks aggressive groundstrokes forced Inglis into errors Inglis fought hard winning spectacular points through effective serving and court positioning but Swiateks clinical shotmaking shone through at crucial moments The Polish star sealed the set with a spectacular backhand overhead winner from a defensive position showcasing her exceptional athleticismServing for the match for the second time the second seed dropped no points in a dominant display She constructed each point efficiently finishing with aggressive forehands After losing the opening set 60 Inglis showed tremendous fighting spirit in the second set but ultimately couldnt overcome Swiateks superior power and consistency Swiatek holds serve to love clinching the second set 63 and winning the match in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian OpenSwiatek set up a quarterfinal clash against No 5 seed Elena Rybakina Swiatek leads their headtohead 65 but Rybakina won their only previous Australian Open meeting 64 64 in the 2023 fourth roundA sixtime Grand Slam champion Swiatek who has won the French Open four times plus Wimbledon and the US Open once each is just three wins away from completing a career Grand Slam IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-swiatek-eliminates-inglis-to-reach-14th-career-grand-slam-qf-659761.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-medvedev-crashes-out-de-minaur-prevails-into-qf-659652.html Melbourne Jan 25 Daniil Medvedevâs Australian Open campaign came to a shocking end on Sunday as the world No 11 was knocked out in the fourth round by 25th seed Learner Tien in straight sets The Russian struggled to find his rhythm throughout the contest and went down 46 06 36 in a onesided encounter that lasted just over an hour It marked one of Medvedevâs earliest exits at the seasonâs first Grand Slam in recent yearsAfter posing some challenge to Tien in the first set the second one proved particularly disastrous for Medvedev who failed to win a single game as Tien reeled off 11 games in a row at one stage Despite a brief resistance in the third set Medvedev could not halt the momentum as the American closed out the match with authorityMedvedev was unable to cope with Tienâs aggressive play and consistency on return While the Russian managed six aces his overall effectiveness on serve was well below par winning just 58 per cent of points on his first serve and a poor 33 per cent on his secondWith this defeat Medvedev exits the tournament far earlier than expected while Tien continues his impressive run in Melbourne reaching the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career He will now face world No3 Alexander Zverev in semi finalMeanwhile home favourite Alex de Minaur played another watertight match to get a top10 win over Alexander Bublik on his way to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the second successive yearDe Minaur made the most of Bublikâs struggles on first serve early on before cruising through a surprisingly onesided match 64 61 61The world No6 who could become the first Australian menâs singles champion at the Melbourne major since Mark Edmondson in 1976 next faces world No1 Carlos Alcaraz who beat Tommy Paul earlier on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-medvedev-crashes-out-de-minaur-prevails-into-qf-659652.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-osaka-withdraws-before-third-round-due-to-physical-issue-as-inglis-receives-walkover-659583.html Melbourne Jan 24 Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis is through to the fourth round at Melbourne Park after fourtime major winner Naomi Osaka withdrew from the tournament Only hours before their scheduled match on Saturday night twotime AO champion Osaka announced she was withdrawing because of a physical issueIve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match the 28yearold wrote on her Instagram story I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me so having to stop here breaks my heart but I cant risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court Thanks for all the love and supportIm so grateful everyone embraced me so much And thank you to my whole team for always having my back and the tournament organisers for being so kindâ the 28yearold wrote on her Instagram storyInglis in her first main draw at a Grand Slam in four years has advanced to the round of 16 for the first time She joins Alex de Minaur as the only other Australian remaining in the tournament The West Australian will play against World No2 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round on Monday the Australian Open reportedInglis one of two qualifiers to reach the last 32 spent 13 hours and 24 minutes over 14 sets to advance to the third round With Osakas withdrawal she wont need to play more on Saturday night By reaching the fourth round Inglis is assured of earning 480000Osaka drew worldwide attention from both fashion and tennis fans with her memorable grand entrance before her first match against Antonia RuzicThe twotime Australian Open champion wore a striking white widebrimmed hat with a long veil obscuring her face along with ruffled white pants that swayed as she moved and a white parasol resting over one shoulder Backlit by the stadium lights Osaka appeared as a striking figure in sportsinspired fashionThe Japanese revealed that the inspiration for the outfit was nature not pop culture Created with Robert Wun it was modeled after a jellyfish The butterfly decorations referenced Osakas 2021 Australian Open victory when a butterfly landed on her during her thirdround match against Ons JabeurThe 28yearold also shared that the grand entrance was carefully planned in advance and involved some logistical effort to make sure it was executed properly IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-osaka-withdraws-before-third-round-due-to-physical-issue-as-inglis-receives-walkover-659583.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-americans-shelton-fritz-secure-a-spot-in-last-16-659586.html Melbourne Jan 24 World No 8 Ben Shelton and No 9 Taylor Fritz secured victories in their respective thirdround matches on the seventh day of the Australian Open to confirm their place in the last 16 at the first Grand Slam of the season While Shelton defeated Monacoâs Valentin Vacherot 64 64 765 in two hours and 17 minutes at the Margaret Court Arena Fritz beat Swiss wildcard entrant Stan Wawrinka 76 26 64 64 in a game that lasted two hours and 46 minutes at the John Cain ArenaSheltonâs Australian Open campaign continued to gather momentum on Saturday as he marched into the fourth round without dropping a setThe No 8 who has brushed aside all three opponents with authority again showcased the power and composure that have marked his rise at Melbourne Park The American struck 48 winners blasted 15 aces and won an imposing 81 per cent of points behind his first serve reinforcing his status as a looming threat for either Casper Ruud or Marin Cilic in the last 16Shelton seized control at the key moments breaking serve late in both the first and second sets to claim matching 64 scorelines as his aggressive returning repeatedly pressured Vacherot The third set went the distance but Sheltonâs superior serving and composure in the tiebreak proved decisive allowing him to close out a straightsets winYet to lose a set and brimming with confidence Shelton continues to look increasingly comfortable on the Melbourne stage whether or not as he insists this is even close to his best tennisMeanwhile Fritz defeated Wawrinka in four sets as the Swiss player who plans to retire from professional tennis at the end of this year was eliminated from the first Grand Slam of the seasonWawrinkas Australian Open run concluded with a 4519 winloss record having made his mens singles debut at this event in 2006 and winning his sole title in 2014 He is also a twotime semifinalist here in Melbourne 2015 and 2017 and this marks his fifth thirdround exit at the AOWawrinka a threetime Grand Slam champion and once a runnerup is next scheduled to appear at a Grand Slam at the French Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-americans-shelton-fritz-secure-a-spot-in-last-16-659586.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-swiatek-brushes-past-kalinskaya-to-reach-round-of-16-659588.html Melbourne Jan 24 Russian Anna Kalinskaya challenged World No 2 Iga Swiatek significantly before the latter secured a 61 16 61 victory at the Margaret Court Arena on Saturday moving into the fourth round of the Australian Open Swiatek rebounded strongly from her uncertain second set to secure the victory in 1 hour and 44 minutes maintaining her momentum in pursuit of a career Grand SlamThe secondseeded Pole was in â her ruthless form quickly building a 51 âlead with a double break and winning the âopening set in just 24 minutes to dominate an offcolour Kalinskaya who received treatment for her lower back during the breakHowever a role reversal in the second set saw sixtime Grand Slam champion Swiatek give up her serve three times as Kalinskaya took control and exploited several errors from the PoleSwiatek took a medical timeout between the second and third sets before returning with a vengeance winning five straight games to stamp out Kalinskayas resistanceTo her credit the 31st seed held serve and made Swiatek defend three break points but it was too little too late as the Pole held serve for the winSwiatek a sixtime Grand Slam champion is striving to achieve a career Slam by winning the Australian Open The twotime semifinalist has a 257 record at the happy slam and this is the sixth time shes reached at least the fourth round at the Australian Grand Slam Overall in Grand Slam tournaments the Poleâs winloss record is now 10721The Polish star dominated the opening set with a flawless service game but Kalinskaya responded with an emphatic 61 second set of her own serving confidently and dictating with aggressive forehands In the decider Swiatek reasserted control winning six straight games with blistering serves and relentless pressure to seal the match Despite Kalinskayaâs resistance and saved match points the No 2âs firepower and composure proved decisiveShe will next compete against Maddison Inglis the final home favourite and remaining qualifier Inglis ranked World No 168 and having saved two match points in her first qualifying match against Leyre Romero Gormaz moved forward after Naomi Osaka withdrew due to a left abdominal injury IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-swiatek-brushes-past-kalinskaya-to-reach-round-of-16-659588.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-eliminates-mboko-to-reach-13th-consecutive-grand-slam-qf-659601.html Melbourne Jan 25 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Victoria Mboko with a 61 76 1 victory at the Australian Open to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year She booked her 13th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal and has taken a crucial step towards having her name engraved on the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for a third timeSabalenka won her 20th consecutive tiebreak at the Grand Slam level eclipsing an almost twodecadeold record owned by Novak Djokovic who won 19 straight tiebreaks at majors between Wimbledon 2005 and 2007Sabalenka started off the match in punishing form and stormed out to a 61 41 lead in just over 45 minutes But the tip seeds serve was broken twice in the second set including at 54 after failing to convert three match pointsLater she found herself two points away from being pushed to a third set when Mboko pulled the 12th game to deuce But in the end Sabalenka found herself in a situation shes thrived in over the last 18 months a tiebreak set at a Grand Slam and improved her unbeaten streak in such sets to 20 to finally see off Mbokos challenge in 1 hour and 26 minutes reports WTAâWhat an incredible player for such a young age itâs incredible to see these kids coming up on tour She pushed me really hard today super happy with the win It was quite a fight Im super happy that I was able to close this match in straight sets said the twotime champion who is yet to drop a setIn Tuesdayâs quarterfinal Sabalenka will face off against 29th seed Iva Jovic for a place in the final four after the American earned an emphatic 60 61 win over Yulia Putintseva to secure her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal berth IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-eliminates-mboko-to-reach-13th-consecutive-grand-slam-qf-659601.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-battles-past-paul-to-book-australian-open-qf-spot-659613.html Melbourne Jan 25 World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz overcame the stern test of Tommy Paul to maintain his commanding start and reach his third consecutive Australian Open quarterfinal here on Sunday Alcaraz registered a 766 64 75 win over 19th seed Paul in two hours and 44 minutes to maintain his commanding start to the hardcourt major in MelbourneAt just 22 years old Alcaraz is a sixtime major champion and is chasing more history Should he claim his maiden Australian Open title Alcaraz would complete his Career Grand Slam and become the youngest player to achieve that feat The current holder of that record is his countryman Rafael NadalThe 22yearold top seed who fired 35 winners and is yet to drop a set will next play home favourite Alex de Minaur or Alexander Bublik at Melbourne Park for a place in the semifinalsIn a tight first set Alcaraz had to fight back from the early break deficit as Paul went toetotoe with the powerful Spaniard from the baseline Alcaraz broke serve in a dramatic tiebreak to claim the opening set 76 86 completing a remarkable comeback on Rod Laver ArenaAlcaraz rode a purple patch to clinch a break of serve in the third game of the second set Serving for the set for the second time the top seed delivered under pressure with a composed performance He held serve to claim the second set 64 taking a commanding twoset leadServing for the match after his crucial break in game eleven Alcaraz delivered a masterclass in clutch serving under pressure After dropping the opening point the Spaniard responded by firing three consecutive powerful serves that repeatedly forced errors from PaulAlcaraz then sealed the match with a thunderous 214 kmph service winner his fastest delivery of the game taking the third set 75 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-battles-past-paul-to-book-australian-open-qf-spot-659613.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-gauff-beats-baptiste-jovic-upsets-paolini-to-surge-to-last-16-659468.html Melbourne Jan 23 World No 3 American Coco Gauff was forced to raise her level in her thirdround meeting with compatriot Hailey Baptiste before securing a 36 60 63 win to enter the fourth round of the Australian Open here on Friday This is her 77th Grand Slam match win which came in her 100th Major match Only Venus Williams 85 and Iga Swiatek 83 have more wins in their first 100 Grand Slam matches among active players while Aryna Sabalenka also had 77 when reaching this milestoneGauff is the ninth player in the Open Era to appear in their 100th womenâs singles Grand Slam maindraw match before turning 22 joining the elite company of Mary Joe Fernandez Steffi Graf Martina Hingis Gabriela Sabatini Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Maria Sharapova Serena Williams and Venus WilliamsBaptistes forehand was an early problem for Gauff producing six of 12 winners from her right side to take the first set 63 However the 21yearold American quickly wrestled back momentum with a second set bagel to force a decider the 11th 60 set of her Grand Slam career Only Swiatek 32 has more since Gauffâs debut in 2019 while Sabalenka is level with her at 11In the decider Gauff and Baptiste traded holds through five games before Gauff broke for 42 As she had throughout the last two sets she leaned on her forehand to carry her across the finish line and into the Round of 16As she aims to maintain her strong record at the Australian Open Gauff will battle the No 19 seed and AO 2021 semifinalist Muchova for a place in her third straight AO quarterfinalMeanwhile 18yearold Iva Jovic caused the major upset of the tournament so far with a 62 763 thirdround defeat of No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini The win put No 29 seed Jovic into the second week of a major for the first time at just her sixth attempt Its also her first win over a Top 10 player in four meetings IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-gauff-beats-baptiste-jovic-upsets-paolini-to-surge-to-last-16-659468.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-keys-pegula-storm-into-fourth-round-659535.html Melbourne Jan 24 American stars Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula set up an allUSA Round of 16 clash at the Australian Open after cruising through their thirdround matches in straight sets on Saturday Keys run toward successfully defending her title continued with an emphatic straightsets victoryâ63 63 against former World No 1 KarolÃna Pliskovaâextending her winning streak to ten matches at Melbourne Park with each match played in under three hoursThe American served unrelenting power from the baseline and although the temperature outside was over 31 degrees Celsius 88 degrees Fahrenheit prior to noon she experienced no problems calling the heat âgreatâ because she is âa FloridianâKeys isnt the only American to achieve success in Melbourne this week No 6 seed Jessica Pegula was through to the Round of 32 after her impressive 63 62 win against Russian qualifier Oksana Selekhmeteva using her outstanding play aggressive movement and consistent shotmaking to dominate her opponent throughout their match Pegula closed the match out quickly and decisivelyâI was excited about the heat being Floridianâ Keys said on court brushing aside concerns over the challenging conditionsThe last time Keys and Pegula met in competition was on January 19 2022 at the Adelaide International where Keys edged Pegula 63 46 61 in the final of the Adelaide InternationalThus their meetings will continue into the next round of the tournament where Keys holds a twotoone series lead over Pegula While the pair share a strong bond off court that friendship will be put on hold when they face each other for a place in the quarterfinalsKeys and Pegula are regular collaborators away from competition producing a tennis podcast alongside fellow Americans Jennifer Brady and Desirae KrawczykKeys revealed that the group were even scheduled to record an episode before their upcoming clash highlighting the unique dynamic between the two playersDespite the heat and the stakes both Americans appeared relaxed and focused underlining their comfort in Melbourne conditionsWith Keysâ powerful shotmaking and Pegulaâs relentless consistency set to collide the allAmerican showdown promises to be one of the highlights of the Round of 16 at this yearâs Australian Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-keys-pegula-storm-into-fourth-round-659535.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-musetti-anisimova-storm-past-rivals-to-enter-round-four-659541.html Melbourne Jan 24 Amanda Anisimova and Lorenzo Musetti secured wins in their respective thirdround games at the Australian Open against Peyton Stearns and Tomas Machac While the former played at the Margaret Court Arena the latter competed at the John Cain Arena on Day 7 of the first Grand Slam of the season Anisimova secured her place in the Australian Open fourth round for the second year in a row defeating American compatriot Peyton Stearns 61 64 in just one hour and 11 minutes The World No 4 came out strong saving a break point in the opening game before breaking Stearns twice to race to a 51 lead in the first set She comfortably served out the set in just over 30 minutes showing little sign of troubleIn the second set Anisimova was in control at 52 but Stearns mounted a late comeback The former University of Texas player fought off a match point and broke back to close the gap to 54 Despite the momentum shift Anisimova remained focused and clinched the win with a forehand winner on her third match pointAlthough Anisimova hit 30 unforced errors more than double Stearns 14 she was the more aggressive player producing 14 winners compared to Stearnsâ six This victory marks her fourth career appearance in the Round of 16 at Melbourne Park In her next match Anisimova will face the winner of the thirdround clash between No 13 seed Linda Noskova and Wang Xinyu Anisimova has a 21 headtohead advantage over Noskova which includes a win in last yearâs Beijing final but has never faced Wang beforeMusetti completed a thrilling comeback to defeat Machac 26 64 62 57 62 in a captivating thirdround battle at the Australian Open Machac took the opening set 75 dominating with relentless baseline play and powerful groundstrokes Despite Musettis fighting spirit which included saving two set points with brilliant serves Machacs pressure proved too muchMusetti responded in the second set winning 64 with precise serving and powerful groundstrokes After breaking Machac in Game 9 the Italian clinched the set to level the match He then powered through the third set 62 relying on his strong serving and baseline consistency to take a 21 leadMachac fought back in the fourth set breaking Musettiâs serve to win 75 and force a deciding fifth set But the Italianâs composure and serve proved decisive in the final set where he broke away early clinching the match 62 His 205 kmh ace and clinical forehand winners sealed the win completing a remarkable comeback after being down two sets to oneMusetti advances to the fourth round after four hours and 27 minutes of intense tennis IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-musetti-anisimova-storm-past-rivals-to-enter-round-four-659541.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-outdoor-matches-suspended-as-temperatures-hit-36c-659547.html Melbourne Jan 24 The Australian Opens main showcourts at Melbourne Park had their roofs closed and outdoorcourt matches were suspended on Saturday under the tournaments extreme heat policy With temperatures soaring to 36ÂC 968ÂF tournament officials prioritized player safety due to the intense heat during Saturdays eventsThe Australian Open has a strict policy for extreme heat that grades four weather factors air temperature radiant heat wind speed and humidity When conditions reach level 5 officials suspend play and close the roofs To assist fans during these extremes the tournament advises staying hydrated wearing hats and using misting fans inside the stadiumThe defending mens champion Jannik Sinner was visibly affected by the heat while playing on Rod Laver Arena While trailing unseeded American Eliot Spizzirri Sinner experienced noticeable cramping and other mobility issues Sinner won the first set 64 lost the second 36 and was down 31 in the deciding third set when the heat stress index reached 50 the upper end of the scale This caused the match to be suspended for eight minutes to give Sinner time to cool off before play resumed under the closed roofThe match between Valentin Vacherot and Ben Shelton on Margaret Court Arena began shortly after the roof was closed The tournaments referee later announced that no further outdoor matches would be held until after 530 pm local time 0630 GMTDue to the forecast of extreme heat becoming typical during the tournament organisers decided to schedule matches earlier than usual By 1030 am when Madison Keys defending Womens Singles Champion began her match temperatures and humidity levels had already risen significantly Although her Florida upbringing had prepared her for hot weather Keys showed no signs of discomfort as she finished her match 75 minutes later defeating former World No 1 Karolina PliskovaOther players from Florida are Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova both of whom also enjoyed success in this extreme climateJessica Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 63 62 and noted that the high temperature helped her conserve energy and reduce effort during her match Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 61 64 in 71 minutes and mentioned that her early training in hot weather prepares her well for such conditions saying âIt is wonderful to be out on the court even when it is 90 degrees and I find it very enjoyable to be challenged under such conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-outdoor-matches-suspended-as-temperatures-hit-36c-659547.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-djokovic-musetti-shelton-cruise-into-third-round-with-easy-wins-659275.html Melbourne Jan 22 Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton all clinched easy straightsets victories in their second round match of the Australian Open on the fifth day of the first Grand Slam of the season While Djokovic defeated qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 63 62 62 at the Rod Laver Arena Musetti overcame Lorenzo Sonego 63 63 64 in the opening session at the Margaret Court Arena Shelton also facing a qualifier in Dane Sweeny registered a victory at the John Cain Arena with a scoreline exactly similar to DjokovicsThe 10time champion Djokovic defeated his Italian opponent in 2 hours and 15 minutes showing efficient movement and clean ball strikes throughout the match indicating good form early in the tournamentThe Serbian now stands one victory away from reaching 400 career wins at the Grand Slam level A win against either Botic van de Zandschulp or Shang Juncheng in the next round would see him become the first player in history to achieve the milestoneWhile Van de Zandschulp famously upset Djokovic last year at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells Djokovic has yet to face ShangCompeting at Melbourne Park for the 21st time Djokovic is projected to face Musetti in the quarterfinals with a potential semifinal clash against twotime defending champion Jannik SinnerMusetti defeated his fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego with scores of 63 63 64 achieving his best result at the seasonâs first major tournament The fifth seed generated 23 break opportunities converting six of themThe 23yearold Italian will now face either the 31st seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or the Czech player Tomas MachacShelton meanwhile handled the pressure of favouritism with ease producing a dominant performance against World No 182 Sweeny He took early control to win the opening set 63 then delivered a nearflawless second set striking nine aces and winning every point on serve in a rapid 26minute 62 routAlthough Sweeny briefly competed in the third set Shelton raised his level again winning five straight games to close out a 63 62 62 victory The American finished with 19 aces and 38 winners and will next face 30th seed Valentin Vacherot IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-djokovic-musetti-shelton-cruise-into-third-round-with-easy-wins-659275.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-swiatek-reaches-24th-straight-major-third-round-selekhmeteva-stuns-badosa-659308.html Melbourne Jan 22 World No 2 Iga Swiatek registered a 62 63 straightset victory at the Australian Open on Thursday reaching the third round in her 24th consecutive Grand Slam On Monday Swiatek became the first woman to reach the second round in 25 consecutive Grand Slams since Svetlana Kuznetsova 26 from 200612 She is now the only woman in the Open Era to advance to the third round of any decadeâs first 24 majors Her previous secondround exit came at the 2019 US Open where she lost to Anastasija SevastovaSwiatek broke serve to claim the opening set 62 Swiateks aggressive baseline play proved too powerful with her groundstrokes reaching speeds of up to 140 kmph consistently forcing Bouzkova into defensive positions and wrapping up a dominant performance on John Cain ArenaThe firstset win gave Swiatek complete control and she closed out the match with a composed hold of serve securing a 63 win in the second set to complete a straightsets triumph 62 63Serving for the match the second seed showed nerves of steel despite some early tension After dropping the opening point with an unforced error Swiatek regained control with powerful serving and aggressive baseline playThough Bouzkova saved two match points with gutsy shotmaking Swiateks quality proved decisive A clinical nineshot rally ended with a forehand winner sealing her progression to the third round of the Australian OpenLater Oksana Selekhmeteva recorded the first Top 30 win of her career and reached the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time after upsetting last years semifinalist Paula Badosa at the Australian OpenSelekhmeteva will next face a Top 20 player for the first time in her career when she takes on No 6 seed Jessica Pegula in the third roundElsewhere local qualifier Maddison Inglis also advanced to the third round after defeating Laura Siegemund 64 673 76 7 in 3 hours and 20 minutes the secondlongest match of the tournament so far IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-swiatek-reaches-24th-straight-major-third-round-selekhmeteva-stuns-badosa-659308.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sinner-fritz-through-to-third-round-osaka-survives-another-three-set-scare-659346.html Melbourne Jan 22 World No 2 Jannik Sinner No 9 Taylor Fritz and Japanese star Naomi Osaka secured victories in their secondround matches on the fifth day of the Australian Open to storm into the third round of the first Grand Slam of the season While Sinner defeated wildcard entrant James Duckworth 61 64 62 in an hour and 49 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena Fritz beat the Czech Republicâs Vit Kopriva 61 64 764 in an hour and 58 minutes at the John Cain Arena in the night sessionOsaka who stunned her fans with a headturning entry onto the court wearing a veil and carrying a white umbrella in her campaign opener overcame Romaniaâs Sorana Cirstea in a close threesetterSinner maintained his steady progress towards a possible third consecutive Australian Open title on Thursday demonstrating precise and efficient play The second seed was unstoppable extending his perfect 90 record against Australian players at Grand Slam tournamentsThe Italian encountered minimal difficulty on his serve successfully nullifying all three break points he faced and confirmed a thirdround match against American Eliot SpizzirriAlthough the beginning of the year hasnt been very convincing for the former world number four Fritz demonstrated his skill on the court He started aggressively quickly securing the first set and faced a bit more resistance in the second Throughout the match he remained in control even as his Czech opponents intensity increased and approached Fritzs levelThe former quarterfinalist was all in to secure his spot in the third round for the third year in a row Fritz recognised for his powerful serve hit 15 aces compared to Koprivas three He successfully converted 79 of his first serves and efficiently broke his opponent four times out of seven opportunitiesIn the womenâs game Osaka demonstrated that timing was crucial for her success For the second consecutive match she was pushed to three sets Each time she raised her level at the right moments ultimately defeating Sorana Cirstea 63 46 62 in exactly two hoursThe outcome was a revenge years in the making In 2015 a 17yearold from Osaka debuted in Grand Slam qualifying at Wimbledon facing Cirstea a former Top 30 player returning from injury Cirstea won that match 26 61 64 Interestingly they did not face each other again until this weekThe World No 16 will next encounter the only remaining home player in the womens draw Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis as she aims to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the first time since winning the title in 2021 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sinner-fritz-through-to-third-round-osaka-survives-another-three-set-scare-659346.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-survives-potapova-scare-mboko-beats-tauson-659409.html Melbourne Jan 23 World No1 Aryna Sabalenka battled her way into the fourth round of Australian Open 2026 after surviving her biggest test at Melbourne Park overcoming Anastasia Potapova 764 767 at Rod Laver Arenaon Friday The fourtime major champion who hasnât lost a Grand Slam third round match since Roland Garros 2022 was stretched in Fridayâs twohour twominute bout her longest outing at AO 2026 so farSabalenka found herself reeled in from a 764 40 lead and eventually saved four set points in the secondset tiebreak to wrap up the winShe played incredible tennis I was always on the back foot and to be honest there are days where you just have to be there to fight and try your best to put the ball back Even though emotionally I was all over the place I was able to still fight for every point and Im just super happy that I was able to get this win It was such a fight and I really enjoyed it Sabalenka said in her in court interviewPotapova was eyeing to be the first Austrian to reach the fourth round at Melbourne Park since Barbara Schett in 2000Sabalenka who clinched the 22nd title of her career at this monthâs Brisbane International is hoping to build upon the eightmatch winning streak that sheâs on in 2026She has now made the fourthround or better at the last 13 Grand Slam events she has contested dating back to a thirdround loss at Roland Garros in 2022In the fourth round the 27yearold Sabalenka meets her first seeded opponent at this year Australian Open in the form of Canadaâs Victoria Mboko who she has never facedIn her Australian Open debut the 17th seed Mboko was made to work for her 765 57 63 win over 14th seed Clara TausonAfter edging out an opening set tiebreak after being ahead by a break of serve twice Mboko came from an early break down to build a 765 53 leadBut Tauson found her best tennis in the next games when serving down 54 Five games in a row went to the Dane to not just earn her the second set but an early break in the thirdMboko then broke back immediately and hammered backtoback backhand winners to clinch the match from 3030 in the final game IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-survives-potapova-scare-mboko-beats-tauson-659409.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-alcaraz-rolls-into-rd-4-with-record-breaking-win-in-his-100th-grand-slam-match-659416.html Melbourne Jan 23 World No1 Carlos Alcaraz earned a 62 64 61 victory against Corentin Moutet in his 100th Grand Slam match to reach the Australian Open fourth round here on Friday With his win Alcaraz improved to 8713 at Slam level tying Bjorn Borg for the best major record in 100 matches The 22yearold Spaniard has twice reached the quarterfinals in MelbourneThe sixtime Major winner has also surpassed legends including Rafael Nadal and fellow ATP No 1 Club member John McEnroe who both went 8614 across their first 100 major matches as per ATP statsNovak Djokovic a record 24time major titlist and 10time champion in Melbourne went 7921 across his first 100 Slam matches while Swiss Roger Federer went 8020 Alcarazâs great rival Jannik Sinner played his 100th major match 8119 last year at Wimbledon coincidentally against the Spaniard in the championship match The Italian won that clash ATP reportsâIt wasnât easy When you play someone like Corentin you donât know whatâs going to be next Thatâs really difficult to approach the match but I had so much fun with it on the court I think we both pulled off great shots great points I think there were a few highlights in the match Iâm grateful to play this kind of match against him Alcaraz saidAfter leading 30 in the second set Alcaraz dropped four consecutive games but quickly regrouped and earned a crucial break at 44 to serve for a twosetstolove lead He then raced to a doublebreak lead in the third set and applied the finishing touches to advance after two hours and five minutesAlcaraz who is yet to drop a set will next play 19th seed Tommy Paul who advanced after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired with the American leading 61 61At just 22 years old Alcaraz is a sixtime major champion and is chasing more history Should he claim his maiden Australian Open title Alcaraz would complete his Career Grand Slam and become the youngest player to achieve that feat IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-alcaraz-rolls-into-rd-4-with-record-breaking-win-in-his-100th-grand-slam-match-659416.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-musetti-receives-first-round-walkover-after-collignon-retires-with-injury-659132.html Melbourne Jan 20 World no 5 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy advanced to the second round after his Belgian opponent Raphael Collignon retired due to injury The match was a gruelling threehour marathon with Musetti leading 46 763 75 32 when Collignon had to stopThe match marked Musettis Grand Slam debut shortly after he attained his careerhigh ranking of No 5 on January 12 2026 following his final appearance in Hong Kong He is only the third Italian man in history to reach this ranking milestoneThe Italianâs start to the first Grand Slam of the season was shaky as he handed an early advantage to Collignon who clinched the first set 64 The fifth seed missed a break point early in the set and couldnt recover against his Belgian opponent leading to a poor start to his tournamentHowever after being pushed to the brink by the World No 72 the Italian battled through a fierce tiebreak in the second set and ultimately won it 76 73Musetti appeared well on his way to advancing to the second round leaving Collignon to require something exceptional to turn the match aroundJust when Musetti seemed the favourite to advance holding a lead in the fourth set with the score at 46 76 73 75 32 Collignon retired hurt granting his Italian opponent a walkoverMusetti asked the crowd to give a standing ovation to Collignon as he walked off the court exhaustedThe World No 72 showed clear signs of physical distress in the third set and was forced to retire despite receiving oncourt medical treatment Collignon has a track record of physical issues in demanding matches most notably severe cramping during a Davis Cup victory over de Minaur in late 2025Musetti now advances to face Italian rival Lorenzo Sonego in the second roundSonego who beat Musetti at the Paris Masters in late 2025 won his latest match in four sets earlier in the day IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-musetti-receives-first-round-walkover-after-collignon-retires-with-injury-659132.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-rybakina-through-to-second-round-with-win-over-slovenian-rival-kaja-juvan-659166.html Melbourne Jan 20 Kazakhstanâs Elena Rybakina seeded No 5 defeated Slovenian Kaja Juvan 64 63 to advance to the second round of the Australian Open in the second match of the day at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park on Tuesday Rybakina matched the performance of other Top 10 players who have played so far at this yearâs Australian Open moving on to the second round She is set to play against Frances Varvara Gracheva nextKaja Juva ranked No 100 in the world fought valiantly but Rybakina was too strong winning 64 63 in 1 hour and 12 minutes at Margaret Court ArenaThe 2023 finalist has now secured seven consecutive victories in the first round in Melbourne marking the start of her career Interestingly she also defeated Juvan in the second round during her run to the final that year creating a sense of deja vu WTA reportsRybakina accumulated 64 points and hit 22 winners during the match She served five aces whereas Juvan had two Her first serve win percentage was 83 per cent dropping to 62 per cent on the second serve She successfully converted both break points Although Rybakina made more unforced errors 24 than Juvan 20 Juvan committed two double faultsThe Kazakh started to falter late in the first set when Juvans serve failed under pressure and Rybakina capitalised at the last moment to win the set 64 Until then both players maintained their service games without breakingIn the second set Rybakina improved her returning slightly and secured an early break Although her serve for the match was somewhat tentative she finished with a downtheline ace highlighting a largely dominant performance Juvan had only one break point which was essentially the last point of the game and she failed to convert it enabling Rybakina to smoothly advance to the next roundHer serve in particular appeared more polished than ever making a strong statement to the rest of the field She along with Anisimova Gauff Swiatek and Sabalenka all demonstrated varying degrees of dominance in their early wins However with Rybakina who did secure the last major title of 2025 at the WTA Finals a detail we shouldnt overlook she is arguably the most in form outside of the expected favourites for the title IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-rybakina-through-to-second-round-with-win-over-slovenian-rival-kaja-juvan-659166.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-eases-past-rajaonah-in-straight-sets-signs-off-with-iconic-selfie-with-rod-laver-federer-658970.html Melbourne Jan 18 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her bid for a fourth consecutive Australian Open final positively on Sunday overcoming Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah who gave Sabalenka a tough challenge in the first set here at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park The wild card certainly challenged herself against the highestranked opponent in her WTA Tour career but the twotime Australian Open championâs experience ultimately led to a 64 61 victory starting the night sessionI think I didnt really start at my best and was struggling to find my rhythm But then I feel like in the last two games of the first set I found my rhythm and I was able to step in and play a little bit better tennisâ Sabalenka was quoted as saying by the WTASabalenka capitalised on her momentum and the confidence gained from winning the first set By breaking Rakotomanga Rajaonahâs serve to close out the first set Sabalenka gained a key advantage and served for a 10 lead She quickly extended her lead in the second set to 30 It was clear that Sabalenkaâs powerful shots overwhelmed Rakotomanga Rajaonah who frequently hit returns into the net or out of boundsIn the second set Sabalenkas skill in controlling Rakotomanga Rajaonahs movement allowed her to create easy winners at the net as she approached 22 times or caused errors from her opponent For comparison Sabalenkas first serve averaged 167 kmh while Rakotomanga Rajaonahs was 149 kmh On the return Sabalenka won 42 of points on her opponents first serve and 64 on her secondSabalenka concluded the match by securing three of the final four games finishing after one hour and 16 minutesShe had two distinguished guests in attendance as she began her 2026 Australian Open campaign 20time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and legendary Rod Laver Sabalenka understood the importance of delivering a strong performance in front of these tennis icons especially the Australian legend after whom the building is named She was aware they were present as they made it to the video screens and sat in the front rowIm a huge fan The whole match I was telling myself Dont look there please Do not look Its incredible I never thought that Roger Federer and Rod Laver are going to be sitting in the first row of my match Thats unbelievableâ she told reporters after the gameI just wanted to impress Roger with my game I just couldnt do tweener but its OK Next timeDuring her oncourt postmatch interview Sabalenka who couldnât hold her excitement made a straightforward request saying Im a huge fan guys can I take a picture with you pleaseâ The two icons obliged to her request and clicked a selfie with her IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-eases-past-rajaonah-in-straight-sets-signs-off-with-iconic-selfie-with-rod-laver-federer-658970.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-emma-raducanu-dispatches-thailands-sawangkaew-in-first-round-658985.html Melbourne Jan 18 Emma Raducanu shook off an unsteady opening to assert her authority in the first round of the Australian Open powering past Thailandâs Mananchaya Sawangkaew with a 64 61 victory and extending her flawless record in Melbourne openers The British No1 seeded 28th was made to work early by the World No196 who played with freedom and precision in her Grand Slam debut Sawangkaew struck the ball cleanly from the outset repeatedly finding the baseline and unsettling Raducanu with depth and pace An early break put the underdog 31 ahead exposing some early nerves in Raducanuâs service gamesFor a stretch Sawangkaew looked anything but overawed by the occasion She served confidently stepped inside the court at every opportunity and forced Raducanu to defend under sustained pressure The former US Open champion was twice pushed to a break point as the set wore on but crucially held firm to stay in touchThat resistance proved the turning point From 43 down Raducanu raised her intensity finding greater penetration off both wings and pinning her opponent deeper behind the baselineA timely break brought the set back on serve before Raducanu surged ahead closing out the opener with a second break after Sawangkaewâs firstserve accuracy dippedMomentum swung decisively at the start of the second set Sawangkaewâs earlier fluency gave way to a string of forehand errors as Raducanu dictated rallies with increasing confidenceApart from a brief interruption following a disagreement with the chair umpire the Brit was largely untroubled as she reeled off seven consecutive games to establish a commanding 30 leadWith the pressure lifted Raducanu played with freedom and authority her aggression matched by visible emotion on court Her coaching team led by Francisco Roig echoed her celebrations from the stands as she continued to stretch her opponent across the baseline and close in on victoryAfter sealing the win Raducanu was quick to acknowledge the challenge posed by her opponent âShe played at a really high level and hit the ball extremely well Iâm very happy with how I managed to turn it aroundâ Raducanu told reporters after the winRaducanu moves into the second round with confidence restored having weathered an early test before delivering a statement finish under the Melbourne sun IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-emma-raducanu-dispatches-thailands-sawangkaew-in-first-round-658985.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-alcaraz-begins-career-grand-slam-quest-with-win-against-walton-in-first-round-658988.html Melbourne Jan 18 World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz opened his Australian Open campaign in commanding fashion defeating Australiaâs Adam Walton 63 76 62 in a firstround match at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Sunday The topseeded Spaniard needed just under two hours to outperform the home favourite displaying his trademark blend of power precision and court coverage to take control of the contest Alcaraz struck eight aces and committed only one double fault underlining his efficiency on serve throughout the matchAlcaraz dominated the opening set breaking Walton early to establish a strong lead The Australian raised his level in the second set pushing the Spaniard into a tiebreak but Alcaraz responded with authority winning seven of the nine points to claim the breaker and move two sets aheadThe third set followed a similar pattern to the first with Alcaraz breaking serve at key moments to seal the match comfortably He finished with 101 points won compared to Waltonâs 73 and claimed 19 games to his opponentâs 11The Spaniard was particularly effective on serve winning 76 per cent of points on his first delivery and 70 per cent on his second Walton struggled to capitalise on his chances converting just one of his breakpoint opportunities while Alcaraz broke serve four times from 10 chancesAlcaraz also outperformed Walton in receiving points winning 40 compared to the Australianâs 22 and maintained control during longer rallies highlighted by his ability to string together a maximum of eight consecutive pointsCarlos Alcaraz is chasing the historic Career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open which would make him the youngest man ever to win all four majors Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open Hes also looking to solidify his place among the alltime greats by continuing his dominance at the big events IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-alcaraz-begins-career-grand-slam-quest-with-win-against-walton-in-first-round-658988.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-elsa-jacquemot-upsets-marta-kostyuk-in-opening-round-658969.html Melbourne Jan 18 Day one of the Australian Open 2026 has already found its way to the history books as Elsa Jacquemot defeated Marta Kostyuk in a threeandahalfhour match at ANZ Arena with all three sets decided by tiebreaks This is the first occurrence of such an event in a womenâs singles match at Melbourne Park since the tournament adopted finalset tiebreaks in 2019At three hours and 31 minutes it became the longest womenâs singles match at the event since that formats introduction with an almost incredulous final score of 674 764 76107 The previous record after 2019 was three hours and 20 minutes set last year by Emma Navarro and Peyton Stearns whose allAmerican firstround match ended 675 765 75âIt was a crazy match Marta played so good So Im very happy to win this match It is not easyâ Jacquemot told the media at Melbourne ParkJacquemot achieved her first top20 win and her first maindraw victory at the Australian OpenThe 22yearold saved a match point in the second set and led 65 in the decider before Kostyuk seemed to suffer a severe ankle roll prompting a medical timeoutKostyuk the World No20 and a finalist at the Brisbane International last week returned to the match with heavy ankle support but appeared visibly uncomfortableThe Ukrainian rallied however winning the game and forcing a final tiebreak before eventually falling 710 to the FrenchwomanâItâs not easy because you feel itâs kinda like the end of the match It was at an important moment in the match I tried to stay as calm as possibleâ Iâm really happy I stayed focused Itâs hard We played for more than three hours and Kostyuk is a player that really loves to runâ Jacquemot said on the challenge of maintaining focus following the injury delaySpeaking of her secondround matchup with Yulia Putintseva she added âI really need to recover because it was a very long matchâDay one of the main draw featured the largest daysession crowd in the Grand Slamâs history with 73235 fans attending exceeding the 68883 who attended on middle Saturday in 2019 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-elsa-jacquemot-upsets-marta-kostyuk-in-opening-round-658969.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-can-still-beat-anybody-djokovic-confident-ahead-of-australian-open-2026-658830.html Melbourne Jan 17 Novak Djokovic on Saturday said he remains confident of challenging for the Australian Open title despite missing a little bit of juice in his legs Serbian star also insisted that he is capable of beating anyone on his day The 38yearold tennis great is bidding for a recordextending 11th Australian Open crown and a historic 25th Grand Slam title a feat that would see him move clear of Australiaâs Margaret Court Djokovic however faces a stiff challenge from world number one Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have dominated the major championships in recent timesDjokovic currently ranked fourth in the world reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments last year and said his belief in his game remains intact despite acknowledging the rise of the younger generationWhen Iâm healthy and able to put all the pieces together on a given day I still feel I can beat anybodyâ Djokovic said on the eve of the tournament âIf I didnât believe that I wouldnât be here competing I still have the drive Djokovic said ahead of the Australian OpenWhile conceding that Sinner and Alcaraz are operating at a level above the rest at present Djokovic said that does not rule out other contenders Thatâs a fact but it doesnât mean nobody else has a chance I like my chances in any tournament especially here in Melbourne he addedDjokovic has been chasing a recordbreaking 25th major for more than two years but said he is trying not to burden himself with that target Thereâs been a lot of talk about the 25th but I try to focus on what Iâve already achieved Twentyfour is not a bad number I have to appreciate the career Iâve had and release some unnecessary pressure he saidThe former world number one has not played a tourlevel match since defeating Lorenzo Musetti in the final in Athens in early November He withdrew from the Adelaide International earlier this month due to what he described as a minor physical setback and admitted he is no longer at his physical peakTo be honest Iâm missing a little bit of juice in my legs to be able to compete with these guys in the later stages of a Grand Slam but Iâm giving my best and still trying to stay in the mix he saidDjokovic begins his Australian Open campaign on Monday against 71stranked Spaniard Pedro Martinez as he looks to mount another title challenge in Melbourne IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-can-still-beat-anybody-djokovic-confident-ahead-of-australian-open-2026-658830.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-can-still-beat-anybody-djokovic-confident-ahead-of-australian-open-2026-658834.html Melbourne Jan 17 Novak Djokovic on Saturday said he remains confident of challenging for the Australian Open title despite missing a little bit of juice in his legs Serbian star also insisted that he is capable of beating anyone on his day The 38yearold tennis great is bidding for a recordextending 11th Australian Open crown and a historic 25th Grand Slam title a feat that would see him move clear of Australiaâs Margaret Court Djokovic however faces a stiff challenge from world number one Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have dominated the major championships in recent timesDjokovic currently ranked fourth in the world reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments last year and said his belief in his game remains intact despite acknowledging the rise of the younger generationWhen Iâm healthy and able to put all the pieces together on a given day I still feel I can beat anybodyâ Djokovic said on the eve of the tournament âIf I didnât believe that I wouldnât be here competing I still have the drive Djokovic said ahead of the Australian OpenWhile conceding that Sinner and Alcaraz are operating at a level above the rest at present Djokovic said that does not rule out other contenders Thatâs a fact but it doesnât mean nobody else has a chance I like my chances in any tournament especially here in Melbourne he addedDjokovic has been chasing a recordbreaking 25th major for more than two years but said he is trying not to burden himself with that target Thereâs been a lot of talk about the 25th but I try to focus on what Iâve already achieved Twentyfour is not a bad number I have to appreciate the career Iâve had and release some unnecessary pressure he saidThe former world number one has not played a tourlevel match since defeating Lorenzo Musetti in the final in Athens in early November He withdrew from the Adelaide International earlier this month due to what he described as a minor physical setback and admitted he is no longer at his physical peakTo be honest Iâm missing a little bit of juice in my legs to be able to compete with these guys in the later stages of a Grand Slam but Iâm giving my best and still trying to stay in the mix he saidDjokovic begins his Australian Open campaign on Monday against 71stranked Spaniard Pedro Martinez as he looks to mount another title challenge in Melbourne IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-can-still-beat-anybody-djokovic-confident-ahead-of-australian-open-2026-658834.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-world-no-185-arthur-fery-upsets-20th-seed-cobolli-658892.html Melbourne Jan 18 World No 185 and British qualifier Arthur Fery delivered the first major upset of the Australian Open 2026 defeating 20th seed Flavio Cobolli 761 64 61 on the opening day of the Grand Slam tournament Last year at Wimbledon Fery defeated Alexei Popyrin in the first round who was the 20th seed in the Grand Slam Interestingly Popyrin was also the 20th seed when he lost to Fery last JanuaryThe 23yearold was competing in his third match of the 2026 season He posted a 11 record at the United Cup securing a threeset win over Stan Wawrinka before losing to French player Arthur Rinderknech 674 765 75 in a tense threehour 21minute matchFery a twotime ITA AllAmerican from Stanford University delivered an excellent match winning six of his ten break points during a 2hour and 12minute game Against Cobolli he took medical timeouts after the first three games and received multiple visits from a doctor throughout the match due to a stomach issue which may have affected his performanceâIncredible experience here My first time playing a maindraw Slam outside of Wimbledon and it didnât disappoint on such a great court with great fans as wellâ said Fery in his oncourt interviewHe struggled to find rhythm against Ferys aggressive baseline play at John Cain Arena After beginning the years first Grand Slam with a PIF ATP Ranking of 185 Fery aims to build on his success in the next round where he will face either Miomir Kecmanovic or Tomas Martin EtcheverryLast November Cobolli was part of the Italian team that secured its third straight Davis Cup victory He played a key role that week not only winning the final match against Spain but also saving seven match points in the semifinals against Zizou Bergs of Belgium IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-world-no-185-arthur-fery-upsets-20th-seed-cobolli-658892.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/australian-open-zverev-overcomes-diallo-challenge-to-reach-second-round-658898.html Melbourne Jan 18 World Number 3 Alexander Zverev started his Australian Open campaign on a high note The German tennis star shook off an early setback to produce a composed fourset win over Canadaâs Gabriel Diallo in the first round at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday Zverev recovered after dropping the opening set in a tense tiebreak to register a 677 61 64 62 victory advancing to the second round after asserting his authority with superior serving and baseline consistencyThe match began with Diallo matching Zverev stride for stride forcing errors from the German and pushing the first set into a tiebreak Diallo held his nerve in the breaker to clinch the set briefly unsettling the former Grand Slam finalistHowever Zverev responded emphatically in the second set raising the intensity on his serve and return game He broke Diallo early and never looked back conceding just one game as he levelled the match with a dominant 61 set winning 84 per cent of points on his first serveThe third set saw Diallo attempt to reassert himself but Zverevâs experience proved decisive at crucial moments The German converted key break points to take the set 64 tightening his grip on the contest while maintaining control in longer ralliesZverev sealed the match in the fourth set with a clinical display breaking Diallo twice and closing out the encounter 62 He finished with 15 aces won 74 per cent of his firstserve points and converted six of eight breakpoint opportunities underlining his efficiency under pressureOverall Zverev claimed 118 total points compared to Dialloâs 92 and won 24 games in the match Diallo despite showing promise and winning the openingset tiebreak struggled with consistency on serve committing five double faults and winning only 46 per cent of points on his second serveWith this win Zverev has now become the first player to reach the second round of the last ten Australian Open tournaments Zverev has always shown great fight but never won a title The 28yearold will now aim to end his grand slam drought this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/australian-open-zverev-overcomes-diallo-challenge-to-reach-second-round-658898.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mensik-beats-baez-to-clinch-auckland-crown-658696.html Auckland Jan 17 Jakub Mensik clinched the Auckland Classic title after defeating Sebastian Baez 63 767 in the final producing another composed performance to cap an outstanding week at the tournament The final match lasted for one hour and 22 minutes but could have gone for much longer had Baez taken one of the three set points he had during the second set tiebreakerThe 20yearold Czech saved three consecutive set points from 36 in the secondset tiebreak before claiming a championshipmatch triumph at the hardcourt ATP 250Mensik produced a highclass serving performance to become the youngest Auckland champion since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009 He became the fifth youngest ever winner of this title and this is his second title following his triumph in Miami last yearMensik got a break in the sixth game in the opening set of the final and never looked like relinquishing that leadIn the second set Baez was down 1540 at 55 having doublefaulted twice He saved those two breakpoints but gave Mensik a look at another breakthrough two points later and this time he wasnât able to get himself out of trouble putting a low ball into the net ASB Classic reportsMensikâs serve had looked impenetrable before he had the opportunity to serve for the match in the next game However this time it let him down and Baez was able to get the break to send the set into a tiebreakerBaez held a 42 lead at the change of ends and went on to have three set points but Mensik saved them all drilling a return on the last of them as he got the score to 66Baez missed a volley to give Mensik a match point on the Czechâs serve but after a long rally the Argentine planted a backhand into the netAn ace on the next point gave Mensik another set point and this time Baez went too long with a backhandMensik who defeated Novak Djokovic to lift his only previous tourlevel trophy at the 2025 Miami Open will on Monday rise one spot to No 17 in the ATP Rankings as a result of his Auckland title runThe Czech will now head to Melbourne to prepare for his firstround Australian Open encounter against Pablo Carreno Busta IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mensik-beats-baez-to-clinch-auckland-crown-658696.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/keys-loses-to-mboko-in-adelaide-international-qf-658452.html Adelaide Jan 15 Defending champion Madison Keys suffered a shock exit from the Adelaide International on Thursday crashing out in the quarterfinals after a threeset defeat to Canadaâs rising star Victoria Mboko World No 17 Mboko 19 defeated ninthranked Keys 64 46 62 in one hour and 53 minutes for her second career victory against a top10 opponentEighth seed Mboko struck first by breaking Keys early to take the opening set but struggled to match the Americanâs powerful serving in the second In the deciding set Mboko was clinical on serve winning 75 percent of points on her first delivery and capitalising on the only break opportunity she earnedI know she won this tournament last year and of course the Australian Open I knew coming into this match it had to be a big fight so Im glad I got it done Mboko said on court after the match as reported by XinhuaKeys had won the Adelaide International title in 2025 before going on to claim her first career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open weeks later She will be in action in Melbourne on January 18 to defend her titleMboko will play Australiaâs Kimberly Birrell in Fridayâs semifinal after the world No 107 came back from a set down to beat Romaniaâs Jaqueline Cristian 57 61 75 in a threehour epicBirrell led 52 in the first set and had five set points but could not make the most of the opportunities as Cristian won five games in a row to seal the set Birrell flipped the momentum in a dominant second set where she won the opening five gamesTied at 55 in the third set Birrell got the decisive break of serve for a 65 lead and converted her second match point in the following game with a backhand winner down the line heading to her first career semifinal in a WTA 500 tournamentMbokoâs rapid rise has been one of the standout stories of the season She was named WTA Newcomer of the Year after lifting the National Bank Open title in Montreal and climbing from world number 333 at the start of the year to number 18 in the rankings IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/keys-loses-to-mboko-in-adelaide-international-qf-658452.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mboko-advances-to-adelaide-international-final-658545.html Canberra Jan 16 Canadas Victoria Mboko beat Kimberly Birrell of Australia in straight sets on Friday to advance to the Adelaide International final World No 17 Mboko was dominant in a 62 61 victory in 59 minutes in the semifinals of the warmup event for the Australian OpenThe 19yearold who was named the newcomer of the year by the Womens Tennis Association in 2025 won nine consecutive games to take control of Fridays contestA forehand down the line on her second match point was Mbokos 24th winner compared to just seven for BirrellIt feels nice because all my other matches have gone pretty long but I was glad I could be more aggressive today Mboko said on court after the match as reported by XinhuaMboko will play either world No 8 Mirra Andreeva or 23rdranked Diana Shnaider in Saturdays final before the Australian Open the first Grand Slam tournament of 2026 begins on SundayMboko would claim a third title in under six months with a victory on Saturday after she won her first career singles title at the Canadian Open in August and her second at Novembers Hong Kong Tennis OpenEarlier Mboko 19 defeated ninthranked Keys 64 46 62 in one hour and 53 minutes for her second career victory against a top10 opponentEighth seed Mboko struck first by breaking Keys early to take the opening set but struggled to match the Americanâs powerful serving in the second In the deciding set Mboko was clinical on serve winning 75 percent of points on her first delivery and capitalising on the only break opportunity she earnedMbokoâs rapid rise has been one of the standout stories of the season She was named WTA Newcomer of the Year after lifting the National Bank Open title in Montreal and climbing from world number 333 at the start of the year to number 18 in the rankingsBirrell was on Thursday drawn to play compatriot Maddison Inglis in the first round of the Australian Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mboko-advances-to-adelaide-international-final-658545.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/world-no-8-andreeva-sets-up-clash-with-mboko-in-adelaide-international-final-658606.html Adelaide Jan 16 Russiaâs rising star Mirra Andreeva will lock horns with Canadaâs Victoria Mboko in the final of the Adelaide International setting up a highquality contest between the two highestranked teenagers on the womenâs tennis circuit The clash also serves as a key Australian Open warmup as both players look to carry momentum into the seasonâs first Grand Slam World No 8 Andreeva the third seed at the tournament booked her place in Saturdayâs final with a commanding 63 62 victory over compatriot Diana Shnaider in the semifinals on Friday The Russian teenager showed composure and control throughout the contest extending her impressive run in Adelaide where she has yet to drop a setAndreeva will now face 17thranked Mboko who advanced to her first Adelaide final after producing a series of assured performances through the week At 18 and 19 respectively Andreeva and Mboko are the only teenagers currently ranked inside the worldâs top 25 in womenâs singles highlighting the emergence of a new generation on the WTA TourThe final will mark the first professional meeting between the two young stars Andreeva has been particularly dominant on serve during the tournament having been broken only once in each of her three matchesAgainst Shnaider who is ranked 23rd in the world Andreeva struck nine more winners while committing 10 fewer unforced errors underlining her efficiency under pressureâI was quite nervous before the match and a bit passive at the startâ Andreeva said on court following her semifinal victoryâI tried to stick to my plan no matter what play my own game be smart with my decisions and make the right choices on courtâ she addedSaturdayâs final presents Andreeva with the opportunity to claim her fourth WTA Tour singles title a milestone that would further strengthen her status as one of the brightest prospects in womenâs tennis Her consistent performances over the past year have already seen her break into the top 10 for the first timeFor Mboko the title match offers a chance to secure her third WTA Tour singles crown and cap a breakthrough week in Adelaide The Canadian has impressed with her athleticism shot selection and calm temperament attributes that have helped her navigate tough matches against higherranked opponents IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/world-no-8-andreeva-sets-up-clash-with-mboko-in-adelaide-international-final-658606.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-djokovic-sinner-in-same-half-of-draw-alcaraz-to-start-against-home-hope-walton-658349.html Melbourne Jan 15 The 24time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have been drawn in the same half of the Australian Open singles draw which was revealed Thursday Djokovic begins his campaign against Pedro Martinez while Sinner faces French lefty Hugo Gaston in the opening roundMeanwhile world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz is in the same half as last yearâs runnerup Alexander Zverev The 22yearold Spaniard who is aiming to capture his seventh major crown and complete a career Grand Slam begins against home hope Adam WaltonThe record 10time champion Djokovic and twotime defending titlist Sinner could meet in a blockbuster semifinal at the seasonâs first majorDjokovic 38 is aiming for his 25th major crown which would break his tie with Margaret Court for most major singles titles in tennis historySinner seeded second is chasing a threepeat at Melbourne Park and his fifth major title overall ATP reportsSinner made an appearance ahead of the draw ceremony and spoke about his outlook for the tournament âThe draw is very difficult it doesnât matter who you play We are the best players in the world and the way is very very long and very far We will go day by day he was quoted by ATP TourOther eyecatching openinground matchups include sixth seed Alex de Minaur against former No 6 Matteo Berrettini Zverev faces heftyserving Gabriel Diallo in the first roundMeanwhile fan favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis announced his withdrawal from mens singles shortly before the draw ceremonyOn Wednesday Kokkinakis withdrew from the Adelaide International secondround match due to a right shoulder injury handing his opponent Valentin Vacherot a walkoverHe suffered a flareup of his shoulder injury but defied the pain to secure a gallant victory in his first singles match in almost a year at the Adelaide International on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-djokovic-sinner-in-same-half-of-draw-alcaraz-to-start-against-home-hope-walton-658349.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-faces-tough-path-keys-could-face-pegula-anisimova-in-title-defence-658394.html Melbourne Jan 15 World No1 Aryna Sabalenkaâs road to a third Australian Open title in four years could include passing her rivals Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek after the draw for the seasonâs first major was revealed on Thursday The 27yearold Sabalenka and third seed Gauff are on a semifinal collision course but the Belarusian may first need to move past 2021 US Open champion and 28th seed Emma Raducanu bighitting Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson and seventh seed twotime major finalist Jasmine Paolini to reach that stageGauff who claimed her second major at Roland Garros last year could run into 18yearold Mirra Andreeva the eighth seed in the quarterfinalsDefending champion Madison Keys in her bid for backtoback Australian Open titles could face a challenging thirdround clash against Canadian 22nd seed Leylah Fernandez with the pair having split their two previous meetings That could result in a fourthround meeting with US compatriot Jessica PegulaKeys returns to Melbourne Park after winning her firstever Grand Slam last year She defeated Aryna Sabalenka who has reached the final in each of the past three editions and won titles in 2023 and 2024World No2 Iga Swiatekâs bid to complete a career Grand Slam faces serious threats before the final with a potential quarterfinal against fifth seed Elena Rybakina who was unbeaten at the WTA Finals in NovemberSwiatek could meet fourthseeded Amanda Anisimova in the semifinalsTwotime major finalist Anisimova could face compatriot Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals but the sixth seed faces a daunting prospect of reigning womenâs champion Keys in the fourth roundMoreover despite backtoback fourthround appearances at Melbourne Park eighth seed Andreeva will have a tricky first assignment in the form of former world No17 Donna VekicFormer world No1 and seventime major champion Venus Williams opens against Serbian lefthander Olga Danilovic a player 21 years her juniorThe 45yearold Williams who has twice reached the Australian Open final is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw surpassing the record previously held by Japanâs Kimiko Date who was 44 when she lost in the first round of the 2015 Australian Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/aus-open-sabalenka-faces-tough-path-keys-could-face-pegula-anisimova-in-title-defence-658394.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-defends-brisbane-international-crown-clinches-22nd-career-wta-title-657920.html Brisbane Jan 11 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka successfully reclaimed her Brisbane International crown defeating Marta Kostyuk 64 63 in 1 hour and 18 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday The Belarusian won the trophy without dropping a set all week This was Sabalenkas fifth title in Australia and the 22nd overall of her career pushing her past Victoria Azarenka for the thirdmost WTA Tour titles among active players behind Venus Williams and Iga SwiatekIts super specialâ Im happy to start this season on a very high note Yeah happy with the level I was able to show throughout this week she saidSabalenka also became one of only three women to defend the seasonopening WTA 500 title joining Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova on the tournamentâs illustrious honour roll Moreover she is ranked third among active players for most tournament victories among active players trailing only Venus Williams with 49 and Iga Swiatek with 25 as per WTA statsSabalenka imposed pressure early on as she charged to a 30 firstset lead But Kostyuk came alive winning three straight games to level the set at 3all But recovery was brief for the 23yearold as Sabalenka elevated the intensity converting the second of five break points to secure the 40minute first set WTA reportsSabalenka soon held all momentum building a streak of six straight games as she took control of the second set holding a 30 lead She punctuated her hold for 41 with a combination drop shot plus crosscourt forehand winner then served out the match comfortably a few games laterFirst of all I just want to congratulate Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season I wish you all the best this season It seems like it is going to be great tennis and I hope that we are going to meet each other many more times in finals said Sabalenka who has not lost a set in five matches against the UkrainianWith her first title of 2026 secured Sabalenka now turns her attention to the Australian Open where she is the defending runnerup after falling to Keys in last yearâs final Sheâll enter as the No 1 seed as she chases a third title in MelbourneMeanwhile Kostyuk will return to the Top 20 in the WTA Rankings on Monday and appears poised for a deeper Australian Open run than last year when she exited in the third round to Paula Badosa IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-defends-brisbane-international-crown-clinches-22nd-career-wta-title-657920.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/brisbane-international-kostyuk-beats-pegula-books-final-date-with-sabalenka-657773.html Brisbane Jan 10 Marta Kostyuk continued her blistering form at the Brisbane International on Saturday storming into the final with a commanding 60 63 victory over No 3 seed Jessica Pegula in the semifinals The 16thseeded Ukrainian has been one of the standout performers of the tournament having already eliminated second seed Amanda Anisimova and twotime WTA 1000 champion Mirra Andreeva in earlier rounds She carried that momentum seamlessly into the semifinal producing a ruthless opening stretch that left Pegula with little room to respondKostyuk raced through the opening set without dropping a game and extended her dominance into the second winning the first three games to surge ahead 60 30 Pegula finally halted the run in the fourth game of the second set but any hopes of a comeback were shortlived The American failed to convert a breakpoint opportunity in the following game and did not earn another chance for the remainder of the match as Kostyuk closed out the contest in straight setsThe Ukrainianâs efficiency was reflected in the numbers She struck four aces converted four of her eight breakpoint chances and successfully defended both break points she faced The win marked only her second victory over Pegula in six meetings and capped a run that has seen her defeat three top10 opponents during the weekStanding between Kostyuk and a maiden Brisbane title is world No 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka who earlier defeated Karolina Muchova 63 64 to reach her third consecutive final at the tournament Sabalenka has not dropped a set this week and will be chasing a second straight Brisbane crownThe final will be Kostyukâs first at the Brisbane International a notable step forward for the 23yearold who had previously exited the tournament twice in the second round It will also mark her first final appearance since Stuttgart in 2024 and offers her a chance to claim her first title since Austin in 2023The championship match will be the fifth meeting between Kostyuk and Sabalenka with the Belarusian holding a dominant 40 headtohead record all wins coming in straight sets Ranked world No 26 Kostyuk will be aiming to overturn that history a victory would secure her second WTA titleâI started unbelievably and you know weâre all human beings so I was like itâs going to end at some point today â maybe not today but Iâm very happy with how I stayed until the end of the matchâ Kostyuk said after the game IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/brisbane-international-kostyuk-beats-pegula-books-final-date-with-sabalenka-657773.html Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-de-minaur-swiatek-win-as-poland-on-verge-of-quarterfinals-657699.html Sydney Jan 9 Australiaâs Alex de Minaur registered a 64 46 64 win over Polandâs Hubert Hurkacz and sent the last United Cup quarterfinal to a deciding mixed doubles tie in Sydney on Friday The World No 6 saved all nine break points he faced across his first four service games â including four in the second game of the match â to keep Australia alive after world No 2 Iga Swiatek rising star Maya Joint in straight sets The tie will now be decided by the mixed doubles with the winner advancing to Saturday nightâs semifinal against defending champion the United StatesPlaying his first tournament since last yearâs grass season Hurkcaz was near untouchable in his first three service games when he dropped just one point on serve But growing increasingly frustrated by his inability to cash in on his chances in return games his unforced error count ticked up in the closing stages of the set ATP reportsAfter De Minaur saved three break points to level at 44 the 26yearold claimed the decisive break and then won 21 consecutive points on serve before unexpectedly dropping serve at the end of the second set He then broke early in the third set to underpin his eighth victory in 11 United Cup singles appearancesEarlier Swiatek registered a 61 61 win over Joint in just 57 minutes The Aussie rising star held serve to have an initial 10 lead but the sixtime Grand Slam champion Swiatek controlled the rallies often forcing Joint to scramble from side to side just to keep the rally alive WTA reportsIn the second Swiatek and Joint traded holds the latter of which earned some encouragement from the home crowd Similarly Swiatek recaptured the lead with a break and didnât look back en route to the double breadstick winSCHEDULE CHANGE DUE TO HOT WEATHERMeanwhile the start time for Saturdayâs play at the United Cup has been brought forwardWith high temperatures forecast for Saturday January 10 in the afternoon the start time of the BelgiumSwitzerland Day Session semifinal will begin at 10 am Previously the tie was scheduled for 1030 am Gates and arena doors will open from 9 am IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-de-minaur-swiatek-win-as-poland-on-verge-of-quarterfinals-657699.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-rybakina-reach-brisbane-international-qfs-657487.html Brisbane Jan 8 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her impressive run at the Brisbane International storming into the quarterfinals with a dominant straightsets victory over Romaniaâs Sorana Cirstea on Thursday From the beginning the defending champion appeared in full command breaking Cirsteaâs serve three times in the first set to establish dominance Sabalenka kept up her aggressive strategy throughout and secured a comfortable 63 63 victory in only 70 minutes advancing to the tournaments quarterfinalsSabalenkaâs performance further underlined her strong record in Australia in recent years Since the beginning of 2023 the Belarusian has secured 35 wins on Australian courts with just two losses Her achievements include consecutive Australian Open titles and her only defeats have come in the finals of the 2024 Brisbane International and the 2025 Australian OpenDespite her convincing win Sabalenka acknowledged there are still areas to improve as she prepares for the Australian Open which starts in Melbourne on January 18 After the match she said on court that she is not yet at her best and acknowledged that an athlete improves when âpushedâ by someoneI think there is always room to improve and Iâm definitely not at my peak Of course I prefer to win every match 60 60 like everyone probably prefers but at the end of the day you only get better when someone pushes you and you have to deal with moments under pressure Sabalenka saidMeanwhile World No 5 Elena Rybakina also advanced to the quarterfinals extending her winning streak to 13 matches The 26yearold Kazakh registered a convincing 63 62 victory over world number 25 Paula Badosa in one hour and 25 minutesRybakina dominated the match with her strong serve and solid baseline play making it difficult for Badosa to find her rhythm Her next opponent will be either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Karolina Muchova competing for a spot in the semifinalsAs several top seeds advance effortlessly the Brisbane International is setting the stage for exciting quarterfinal matchups allowing players to gauge their form before the seasonâs first Grand Slam IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-rybakina-reach-brisbane-international-qfs-657487.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/nick-kyrgios-says-hell-play-only-doubles-at-australian-open-657599.html New Delhi Jan 9 Nick Kyrgios has said that he will not feature in the Australian Open singles draw and instead will focus on doubles where he is expected to again pair up with Thanasi Kokkinakis âAfter some good conversations with TA Iâve made the call to focus on doubles for this yearâs AO Iâm fit and back on court but 5setters are a different beast and Iâm not quite ready to go the distance yetâ Kyrgios shared in his Instagram story section on FridayâThis tournament means everything to me but Iâd rather give my spot to someone whoâs ready to make their moment count Itâs all building blocks and Iâll be back next year and pumped to compete See you out there he addedNick played just five matches in 2025 before ending his season in March He eased back into competition with a series of exhibition matches in New York and Dubai last month then received a wildcard for the Brisbane International where he lost 63 64 to Aleksander Kovacevic in the first round on TuesdayMoreover Kyrgios and his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis were beaten by the French pair Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul on Wednesday in the second round in BrisbaneKyrgios has endured a series of serious injuries in recent years which have seen his world ranking slide to 673 and leave him without a protected ranking The former Wimbledon finalist has featured in just one Grand Slam match since 2022He lifted the menâs doubles title alongside fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open 2022 after defeating Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in straight setsSince losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic he has undergone a wrist reconstruction and two knee surgeries He played only six professional singles matches across the past three years and none since Miami in March last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/nick-kyrgios-says-hell-play-only-doubles-at-australian-open-657599.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-sets-muchova-face-off-in-brisbane-semis-657616.html Brisbane Jan 9 World No1 Aryna Sabalenka moved into the semifinals of the Brisbane International after defeating world No 5 Madison Keys 6â3 6â3 in straight sets in a rematch of the 2025 Australian Open final on Friday The victory also means Sabalenka has notched eight consecutive wins in Brisbane and 36 of her last 38 matches in AustraliaThe match marked Sabalenkas second meeting with Keys since her loss to the American in the Australian Open final following a dominant 6â1 6â0 victory at Indian Wells She extends her headtohead record to 6â2 since they first met in 2018The opening set was finely balanced but it was Keysâ lack of precision that proved decisive She conceded seven points through double faults hesitating between safety and aggression on her second serve as Sabalenka pressed relentlesslyThe second set unfolded as a series of breaks with Keys losing serve five games in a row Sabalenka steadied herself at 4â2 and then took full control sealing the victory with three serves to close out the matchSheâs a great player Always tough battles against her I was trying to stay focused trying to stay on my serve and put as much pressure as I can on her serve Thatâs all I was thinking about I put so much pressure back on her Sheâs aggressive and I tried to put all of that speed back on her Sabalenka saidA twotime Brisbane International champion in 2023 and 2025 Sabalenka will look to take another step toward a third title in four appearances having finished runnerup in 2024 â when she faces world No 20 Czechiaâs Karolina Muchova on SaturdayMuchova leads the headtohead 31 over Sabalenka having won each of their last three meetings dating back to 2023 Sabalenkaâs lone victory in the series came in their first matchup in 2019I always approach each match the same it doesnât matter the score between us Whatâs in the past stays in the past I will try to bring everything Iâve been working on throughout basically my whole career and try better every time Sabalenka addedMuchova has overcome chronic injury setbacks to emerge victorious against No 3 seed Elena Rybakina in a thrilling upset at Pat Rafter Arena She required just over two hours to secure the 62 26 64 victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-sets-muchova-face-off-in-brisbane-semis-657616.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/physically-not-ready-djokovic-pulls-out-of-next-weeks-adelaide-international-657236.html Adelaide Jan 5 Former World No1 and the worlds most successful player Novak Djokovic has decided to pull out of next weeks Adelaide International the buildup event for the years first Grand Slam tournament the Australian Open Djokovic who has won 24 Grand Slam titles so far claimed he is not physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International and therefore has pulled out of the event To all my fans in Adelaide unfortunately Im not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week said Djokovic in a statement issued via social media on Monday Its personally very disappointing as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago I was really excited about returning as it truly felt like playing at home Djokovic further said in his statementDjokovic said his focus now is on getting ready for the Australian Open The 38yearold Serbian has won the Australian Open title 10 times lifting the crown in 2008 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2019 2020 2021 and 2023My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia said Djokovic in his statement on social mediaEarlier in the day Djokovic said he has stepped away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association which he cofounded citing concerns regarding ongoing transparency and governanceDjokovic and Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil founded the Professional Tennis Players Association PTPA as a notforprofit corporation to ensure players have a unified independent voice in shaping the future of professional tennisAfter careful consideration I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency governance and the way my voice and image have been represented Djokovic posted on XI am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA giving players a stronger independent voice but it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation the post readI will continue to focus on my tennis my family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward but for me this chapter is now closed he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/physically-not-ready-djokovic-pulls-out-of-next-weeks-adelaide-international-657236.html Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-mertens-beats-mboko-to-seal-belgiums-win-over-canada-as-group-winner-up-for-grabs-657274.html Sydney Jan 6 Elise Mertens secured Belgiums victory over Canada with a 63 36 63 triumph against Victoria Mboko Her 2 hour and 5minute triumph followed a stunning 64 62 win by Zizou Bergs against World No 5 Felix AugerAliassime putting Belgium on the brink of the quarterfinals Despite winning the tie the Belgians need a clean sweep to advance If Canada wins mixed doubles then it advances to the knockout roundsMertens rode a stellar serving performance to a oneset lead holding at love in each of her first four service games and breaking Mboko decisively to love in the sixth game as wellThough Mboko showed the fighting spirit but Mertens earned the decisive break of serve in the fourth game from a 300 deficit and won a staggering 93 of points behind her first serve in the match overall WTA reportsEarlier Bergs secured his second career Top 10 victory in 1 hour and 28 minutes over AugerAliassime having also defeated thenWorld No 9 Andrey Rublev 10 months ago in MiamiâI actually forgot this was my second Top10 win so thatâs really huge actually especially with a convincing way of playingâ Bergs saidâI just looked at it as a match This is a a little different format so weâre still down We still have to win a lot of matches today so that was more the focus and today I just had to get the job done he addedAugerAliassime however enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025 reaching the US Open semifinals and competing in the Nitto ATP Finals He looked sharp in his first match of the season against Zhang but was unable to dominate the same way against Bergs who saved all five break points he faced IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-mertens-beats-mboko-to-seal-belgiums-win-over-canada-as-group-winner-up-for-grabs-657274.html Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bengaluru-open-2026-rawat-progresses-into-final-round-of-qualifying-main-draw-to-kick-off-on-monday-657037.html Bengaluru Jan 4 The SM Krishna Tennis Stadium witnessed edgeoftheseat action on Sunday as the first round of qualifying matches got underway at the 10th Bengaluru Open 2026 Indiaâs Sidharth Rawat booked his place in the final round of qualifying with a composed 63 75 victory over compatriot Nitin Kumar Sinha Rawat set the tone early claiming the opening set with confidence Sinha mounted a strong fightback in the second set and broke Rawatâs serve to take the lead but Rawat responded with two timely breaks of his own to close out the match in straight setsIn other firstround qualifying encounters Indians Dev Javia and Adil Kalyanpur put up spirited performances but were edged out in threeset battles by higherranked opponents Dominik Palan and Eero Vasa respectivelyAlso advancing to the final round of qualifying scheduled for Monday morning were KuanYi Lee Chinese Taipei Ryotaro Taguchi and Jumpei Yamasaki Japan Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong Malaysia Aziz Ouakaa Tunisia Niels Visker Netherlands and Frenchmen Arthur Reymond and Felix BalshawLater on Sunday Ukraineâs Yurii Dzhavakian was set to face Franceâs Alexis Gautier to conclude the opening day of qualifying at the tournamentMain draw action will begin on Monday afternoon with local fans in for an exciting lineup Wildcard entrant Manas Dhamne will take on fifth seed Matej Dodig of Croatia followed by a marquee allIndian clash between former champion Sumit Nagal and local favourite SD Prajwal Dev IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bengaluru-open-2026-rawat-progresses-into-final-round-of-qualifying-main-draw-to-kick-off-on-monday-657037.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-mensik-downs-ruud-as-czechia-seal-win-over-norway-657095.html Sydney Jan 5 Jakub Mensik clinched Czechiaâs victory over Norway at the United Cup on Monday when he defeated Casper Ruud 75 766 Making his United Cup debut and playing his first match of the season Mensikâs win followed Barbora Krejcikovaâs victory over Malene Helgo giving Czechia a 20 win in the Group D tie and eliminating Norway which fell to 02 this weekMensik 20 is the secondyoungest man to record a singles win in United Cup history behind 18yearold Stefanos Sakellaridis in 2023Mensik held his nerve late in both sets earning a crucial break at 55 in the opener before serving for a oneset advantage Mensik later rebounded after failing to serve out the match at 54 in the second setHe trailed 35 in the secondset tiebreak but won five of the following six points to survive The winner of last yearâs ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami Mensik crushed a forehand pass crosscourt when facing a set point at 56 in the secondset tiebreak according to ATPEarlier twotime major singles champion Krejcikova made a winning United Cup debut defeating Norways Helgo 64 63The former World No 2 enters the 2026 WTA Tour season ranked No 65 in the WTA Rankings after another injury setback at the end of 2025She reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in September a watershed moment in her season which had only begun in May after a recurring back injuryâI didnt play for a long period and the injury that I had was really tough and very unfortunate Krejcikova said Im really happy that Im here that I can play that I can enjoy it that I can compete and Im really happy that I can finally finish a match IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-mensik-downs-ruud-as-czechia-seal-win-over-norway-657095.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/womens-tennis-doesnt-need-battle-of-sexes-says-iga-swiatek-656801.html Sydney Jan 3 Sixtime Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek dismissed the significance of the Battle of the Sexes event which was heavily promoted during the 1973 tour and stated that it represented only half of the overall womens tennis Swiatek said that while many view it as one of the top events in tennis history on a global scale women in tennis have nothing to prove and should not be measured against mens tennis when being compared to itâI havenât watched because I donât watch stuff like thatâ Swiatek said during press conference âI think for sure it attracted a lot of attention It was entertainment but I wouldnât say that had anything to do with social change or any important topicsâSwiatek currently ranked No 2 in the world and participating in the United Cup in Sydney this week said the mixed team event was a far more meaningful way to celebrate womens tennis The match between Aryna Sabalenka the world No 1 in womens singles tennis and Nick Kyrgios the Australian entertainer has been compared to the famous battle between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973Kyrgios defeated Sabalenka 63 63 by reducing the size of his side of the court by nine per cent to nullify Sabalenkas strength speed and elevation advantage however Swiatek did not feel that any such comparison could be made Swiatek remarked that the context that made the 1973 match eradefining is no longer relevant Womens Tennis is now a legitimate global professional sportâI think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in â73 Thatâs itâ she said âThere were no more similarities because I feel like womenâs tennis stands on its own right now We have so many great athletes and great stories to present we donât necessarily need to compare to menâs tennis Honestly there doesnât need to be any competitionâAs she prepares for the Australian Open this month the only Grand Slam title she has not won she believes that modern formats such as the United Cup more accurately reflect the state of the game todayâI think actually events like this one United Cup brings tennis together and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitementâ she said âSeeing also singles players that usually donât have space to play mixed doubles together playing these kinds of matches I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and betterâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/womens-tennis-doesnt-need-battle-of-sexes-says-iga-swiatek-656801.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/venus-williams-receives-2026-australian-open-wild-card-656676.html Melbourne Jan 2 Seventime Grand Slam champion Venus Williams received a wild card entry into the main draw at the 2026 Australian Open It will be her first appearance at Melbourne Park since 2021 and the first time she will have competed outside the United States since 2023 Of her seven Grand Slam singles titles none have come in Melbourne Venus reached the final twice in 2003 and 2017 and both times her sister and 23time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams emerged victoriousIn addition to her two AO finals Williams reached the semifinals in 2001 and another six quarterfinals contributing to her tournament winloss record of 5421Iâm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer Iâve had so many incredible memories there and Iâm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career Venus saidThe 45yearold is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an AO main draw surpassing the record previously held by Japanâs Kimiko Date who was 44 when she lost in the first round of the Australian Open 2015Following a 16month layoff Venus returned to tennis last July and competed in three tournaments in 2025 She defeated compatriot Peyton Stearns 63 64 in the first round at the Mubadala Citi DC Open before falling to Magdalena FrechIn August Williams fell to Spains Jessica BouzasManeiro 46 46 in the first round of Cincinnati and took 11th seeded Karolina Muchova to three sets in the first round of the US Open In doubles playing alongside Leylah Fernandez Williams advanced to the quarterfinals where they fell to eventual finalists Katerina Siniakova and Taylor TownsendVenus will prepare for the Australian Open 2026 at the Hobart International where she also received a wildcard and will join fellow major champions Barbora Krejcikova and Emma RaducanuThe Australian Open 2026 main draw begins on January 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/venus-williams-receives-2026-australian-open-wild-card-656676.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-says-she-needs-revenge-against-kyrgios-with-revised-court-rules-after-battle-of-the-sexes-loss-656545.html Brisbane Jan 1 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has made it clear she wants another crack at Nick Kyrgios after falling to the Australian in round two of the muchtalkedabout âBattle of the Sexesâ match The pair faced off in Dubai on Sunday with Kyrgios coming out on top with a 63 63 victory after a competitive entertaining match However Sabalenka competed on a court that was reduced by nine per cent to account for the differences in movement and speed between male and female playersReflecting on the contest the Belarusian said she would prefer a revised setup if the matchup were to happen again particularly regarding court dimensions and serving rulesI think I would definitely do it again I love revenge and I dont like to leave it the way it is I think for the next match we will come up with a different format Before the match I didnt realise I would have to adjust and it was a bit tricky for me I think I would keep the full court but I would take two serves That would even our level a lot moreâ Sabalenka said on Thursday ahead of her title defence at the Brisbane InternationalShe added that the experience gave her valuable insight into Kyrgiosâ game and strengthened her belief that she could perform better in a rematchI always say that when you are losing you are learning and I learned a lot about his game I know Nick as a player and a person better and I feel I know how to play against him I would do it again I need revenge she addedDespite the loss Sabalenka took pride in pushing Kyrgios to his limits and said she enjoyed making him work hard for the win She also extended her best wishes to him as he prepares to compete in BrisbaneI am happy that I was able to challenge him make him work and make him physically get tired and mentally get tired I felt really excited to see a man getting tired and going for his full game It was a really cool experience and I really hope he will do well here in Brisbane and play incredible tennis in the Australian Open she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-says-she-needs-revenge-against-kyrgios-with-revised-court-rules-after-battle-of-the-sexes-loss-656545.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 03:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-spain-meet-argentina-greece-face-japan-on-opening-day-in-perth-656618.html Perth Jan 1 Jaume Munar will take on Sebastian Baez in the mens singles while JÃssica Bouzas Maneiro will play Solana Sierra in the womens singles when Spain kick off their campaign against Argentina in the United Cup mixed team tennis competition in Perth on Friday The four players will be involved in a mixed doubles clash to decide the outcome of the match in case they fail to reach a verdict in the singles clashesIn other matches Greece will face Japan with Maria Sakkari taking on Naomi Osaka while Stefanos Tsitsipas will clash with Shintaro Mochizuki in the mens singles encounter on the same court as the fourth edition of United Cup the international hardcourt event hosted by Tennis Australia which is played across Perth and SydneyThe event will have 18 national teams comprised of up to three womenâs and three menâs players who will compete in a group stage followed by a knockout format Matches in Perth will take place at RAC Arena while play in Sydney will be held at Ken Rosewall ArenaFor the group stage the 18 teams were split into six groups of three in a roundrobin format Groups A C and E will play in Perth while groups B D and F will play in Sydney The three group winners and the best runnerup in each city will advance to the quarterfinalsPerth will host its two quarterfinals on January 7 with winners travelling to Sydney for the semifinals and final Teams relocating from Perth will have a travel and rest day on January 89 The Sydney quarterfinals are scheduled for Jan 89 followed by the semifinals on Jan 10 and the final on Jan 11Each session features a menâs singles match a womenâs singles match and a mixed doubles match Singles matches showcase each countryâs topranked players and are bestofthree tiebreak setsMixeddoubles match can feature any combination of players and two tiebreak sets followed by a deciding 10point matchtiebreak if necessaryTeamsGroup AUnited States 1 Coco Gauff Varvara Lepchenko Nicole MelicharMartinezSpain Jessica Bouzas Maneiro Andrea Lazaro Garcia Yvonne CavalleReimersArgentina Solana Sierra Maria Lourdes Carle Nicole Fossa HuergoGroup CItaly 3 Jasmine Paolini Nuria Brancaccio Sara ErraniFrance Leolia Jeanjean Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah Elixane LechemiaSwitzerland Belinda Bencic Naima KaramokoGroup EGreat Britain 5 Emma Raducanu Olivia Nicholls Katie SwanGreece Maria Sakkari Despina Papamichail Sapfo SakellaridiJapan Naomi Osaka Nao Hibino Shintaro MochizukiSydneyGroup BCanada 2 Victoria Mboko Kayla Cross Gabriela DabrowskiBelgium Elise Mertens Greet Minnen Lara SaldenChina Zhu Lin Xiaodi YouGroup DAustralia 4 Maya Joint Maddison Inglis Storm HunterCzechia Barbora Krejcikova Linda Fruhvirtova Miriam SkochNorway Malene Helgo Astrid Brune Olsen Ulrikke EikeriGroup FGermany 6 Eva Lys Laura Siegemund Mina HodzicPoland Iga Swiatek Katarzyna Kawa Katarzyna PiterNetherlands Suzan Lamens Eva Vedder Demi Schuurs IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/united-cup-spain-meet-argentina-greece-face-japan-on-opening-day-in-perth-656618.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/prajwal-dev-receives-wildcard-for-bengaluru-open-2026-656411.html Bengaluru Dec 31 Indian tennis star Prajwal Dev has received a wild card for the Bengaluru Open 2026 highlighting the tournamentâs dedication to supporting Indian talent internationally As it marks its 10th edition this esteemed event will take place in Bengaluru from January 5th to 11th 2026 featuring a competitive international lineup alongside leading Indian players on the ATP Challenger Tour After winning the Menâs Singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 in Bhubaneswar last month the wild card entry presents the 29yearold with a crucial opportunity to face a highly talented field at one of Indiaâs top tennis tournaments Elevated last year to an ATP Challenger 125 level the Bengaluru Open now offers a prize purse exceeding USD 225000 and grants 125 ATP ranking points to the singles winner increasing its attractiveness and competitive importanceâIts a proud moment for me to compete at the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger especially in my home state This tournament has consistently provided us a world class stage to test ourselves against formidable international competition and this being the 10th edition is certainly special I am extremely grateful for the wild card and support by KSLTA and I look forward to playing at the Bengaluru Open and giving my best Thank youâ Expressed Prajwal upon receiving the wild cardPrajwal a righthanded player from Mysore has become a consistent presence on the professional circuit He achieved his highest ATP singles ranking of No 595 in February 2024 and his peak doubles ranking of No 265 in July 2025 His career highlights include winning an ATP Challenger doubles title at the 2023 Presidentâs Cup in Kazakhstan partnering with fellow Indian Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha He has also regularly represented Karnataka at the National Games and served as the flag bearer for the state in the last two editionsSunil Yajaman the Tournament Director of the Bengaluru Open also commented saying âPrajwal Dev has been a consistent and committed performer on the professional circuit and has contributed significantly to Indian tennis over the years His dedication and hard work make him a deserving recipient of the wild card for the Bengaluru Open 2026 The tournament has always aimed to support Indian players by providing them opportunities at a high competitive level and we are confident that Prajwal will make the most of this chance on home soilâOrganised by the KSLTA in association with the All India Tennis Association AITA the landmark 10th edition of the Bengaluru Open will feature a strong international lineup alongside Indiaâs leading players With Dev taking to the court as a wildcard entrant the tournament once again reinforces its role as a vital platform for Indian tennis and promises fans a week of worldclass action IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/prajwal-dev-receives-wildcard-for-bengaluru-open-2026-656411.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/harsha-deshpande-seals-double-title-at-gsta-state-ranking-tennis-tournament-655695.html Ahmedabad Dec 25 Emerging tennis star Harsha Deshpande made a remarkable showing in the Gujarat State Tennis Association GSTA State Ranking Tennis Tournament securing a double victory by claiming the Girls Under14 and Girls Under16 Singles titles Harsha a Grade VII student has been training at the Adani Sportsline Academy since 2024 She demonstrated maturity steadiness and tactical awareness beyond her years in both age groups of the event that took place at the SRAG Tennis Academy in Ahmedabad from December 20 to 23 2025In the Girls Under14 draw Harsha beat Jena Shah 6â1 in the quarterfinals then defeated Reona Pancholi 6â3 in the semifinals and clinched the title with a 7â3 victory over Zia Thakkar in the final She carried that momentum into the Girls Under16 category where she achieved dominant wins against Jiya Hada 6â0 in the quarterfinals and Pahel Mehta 6â1 in the semifinals before beating Sarah Rias 7â3 in the finalThe double triumph further marked a successful domestic season for Harsha who also secured her first Girls Under14 Singles title at the All India Championship Series 7 Tennis Tournament in August 2025 Her performances this year demonstrate consistent improvement across various age groups and increased confidence in competitive matchesHarshaâs growth is fostered by Adani Sportsline Academyâs structured training system which highlights technical skill physical fitness mental resilience and sustainable athlete development The academy remains dedicated to nurturing young talent via expert coaching and competitive exposure reaffirming its goal to develop Indiaâs future highperformance athletesHarshaâs victories highlight a strong domestic season and consistent progress on the junior circuit underscoring Adani Sportsline Academyâs commitment to structured longterm athlete developmentEarlier this year the Gujarat State Tennis Association GSTA entered into a collaboration with Tennis Premier League TPL which recently concluded its seventh season and both pledged their support to grassroots development programmes in the state The TPL announced this move as part of the nationwide Race to Gold RTG initiative which aims to unearth Indias tennis gems and provide them with scholarships to further their careers IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/harsha-deshpande-seals-double-title-at-gsta-state-ranking-tennis-tournament-655695.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/from-melbourne-to-riyadh-2026-tennis-season-breakdown-655529.html New Delhi Dec 24 The 2026 tennis season is poised to deliver another relentless globespanning campaign with the sportâs biggest stars set to navigate Grand Slams elite tour events and highprofile team competitions across six continents From the opening ball strike in Australia to the seasonending showdowns in Europe and the Middle East the calendar is packed with opportunities for history redemption and breakthrough performances The Grand Slams tennisâ fab fourThe campaign begins with the Australian Open the first Grand Slam of the year to be staged from January 12 to February 1 2026 at Melbourne Park Jannik Sinner returns as the defending menâs champion while Madison Keys leads the womenâs field after her 2025 triumph Traditionally a test of conditioning and confidence Melbourne often sets the tone for the months aheadAttention then turns to the red clay of Paris for the French Open at RolandGarros running from May 18 to June 7 2026 Carlos Alcaraz will be looking to defend the menâs title with Coco Gauff returning as the reigning womenâs champion as the worldâs best prepare for the most physically demanding major of the yearThe grasscourt season peaks at Wimbledon hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis amp Croquet Club from June 29 to July 12 2026 Sinner again arrives as defending champion on the menâs side while Iga Swiatek looks to reaffirm her grasscourt credentials as the womenâs title holderThe Grand Slam cycle concludes at the US Open held from August 31 to September 13 2026 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York Carlos Alcaraz enters as the defending menâs champion after his 2025 final victory over Sinner while Aryna Sabalenka returns having successfully defended her womenâs crown last seasonATP and WTA ToursThe ATP Tour calendar once again features nine ATP Masters 1000 events seven in the extended 12day format forming the backbone of the menâs seasonThe yearâs first Masters 1000 arrives at the Paribas Open in Indian Wells from March 4â15 2026 followed immediately by the Miami Open from March 18â29 Claycourt Masters follow at the Rolex MonteCarlo Masters April 5â12 Mutua Madrid Open April 22 â May 3 and Rome Masters May 6â17Hardcourt preparation for the US Open begins with the National Bank Open in Montreal from August 2â12 then the Cincinnati Open from August 13â23The Asian and indoor European swing features the Rolex Shanghai Masters 7â18 October and the Rolex Paris Masters 2â8 November before the season culminates at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin staged from November 15â22 2026The next generation steps into the spotlight at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF scheduled for December 2026 in Jeddah with dates to be confirmedThe WTA Tour will showcase 10 WTA 1000 tournaments in 2026 with seven using the enhanced 12day formatThe seasonâs first WTA 1000 events are the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha 8â14 February and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships February 15â21 The tour then converges with the men at Indian Wells 4â15 March and the Miami Open March 17â29European clay events follow at the Mutua Madrid Open 21 April â 3 May and the Internazionali BNL dâItalia in Rome 5â17 May The North American hardcourt swing resumes with the National Bank Open in Toronto 2â13 August and the Cincinnati Open August 13â24The autumn Asian swing features the China Open in Beijing from September 30 to October 11 followed by theWuhan Open from October 12â18 The season reaches its conclusion at the WTA Finals in Riyadh staged from November 7â14 2026 where the yearâs top eight players compete for the ultimate prizeHighintensity team tournamentsThe season opens with team competition at the United Cup the joint ATPWTA mixedteam event featuring 18 nations held from January 2â11 2026 across Perthâs RAC Arena and Sydneyâs Ken Rosewall ArenaLater in the year womenâs international tennis takes centre stage at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals an eightnation tournament scheduled for the week commencing September 21 2026 venue to be confirmed The competition continues with the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs featuring 14 nations in seven homeoraway ties during the week of November 16 2026Menâs team tennis delivers two of the seasonâs most anticipated events The Laver Cup returns to Londonâs O2 Arena from September 25â27 2026 renewing the Europe versus World rivalry The year concludes with the Davis Cup Final 8 held in Bologna Italy from November 24â29 2026 as nations battle for the sportâs oldest team trophyWith its mix of tradition innovation and expanding global reach the 2026 tennis season offers a calendar rich in opportunity and narrative From Grand Slam glory to team rivalries and yearend showdowns every week carries significance and every surface presents a new challenge As the season approaches one thing is sure the road to tennis greatness in 2026 will be long demanding and unforgettable IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/from-melbourne-to-riyadh-2026-tennis-season-breakdown-655529.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/world-tennis-league-nagal-shrivalli-lead-aos-eagles-to-dominant-win-654708.html Bengaluru Dec 19 Home favourites Sumit Nagal Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi stole the show on the third day of the World Tennis League at the SM Krishna Stadium Bengaluru The AOS Eagles defeated VB Realty Hawks 2212 in the first match of the day to extend their lead at the top They finished the league stage of WTL with 65 points from three matches and have one foot into Saturdayâs finalIt was tennisâ power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina who opened the show on Friday However this time Monfils and Svitolina stood at the opposite sides of the court in the mixed doubles contest In an entertaining contest Svitolina and Yuki Bhambri playing for the Hawks edged MonfilsShrivalli 64But Indiaâs leading singles player Nagal grounded the Hawks with a dominant performance in the menâs singles The 28yearold came out swinging against former Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov winning 61 to hand his team the momentumWhile Shrivalli cheered her team on from the dugout on the first two days she stepped into the spotlight effortlessly After a competent performance in the mixed doubles the 24yearold locked horns against teen sensation Maaya who trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy Shrivalli quickly found her range and wowed the Bengaluru crowd with her clean hitting as she beat the 16yearold 62Shrivalli then teamed up with Paula Badosa to beat the SvitolinaMaaya combine 63 It was Svitolinaâs first defeat of WTL 2025After the match Badosa was all praise for her young partnerâIndia you have a future star hereâ Badosa a semifinalist at this yearâs Australian Open told the crowd âShe carried the team today Since the first day I hit with her I have been impressed with her serve and aggressive gameâThe WTL is a oneofits kind mixedteam tennis tournament where top players get to compete at a high level but without the pressure of a tour event This year four franchises competed for the trophy After a roundrobin stage where each team faced the other in a quick fourset format the top two advanced to the finalResultsAOS Eagles 2212 VB Realty Hawksâ Yuki BhambriElina Svitolina Hawks bt Gael MonfilsShrivalli Bhamidipaty Eagles 64â Sumit Nagal Eagles bt Denis Shapovalov Hawks 61â Shrivalli Bhamidipaty Eagles bt Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi Hawks 62â Shrivalli BhamidipatyPaula Badosa bt Maaya Rajeswaran RevathiElina Svitolina 63 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/world-tennis-league-nagal-shrivalli-lead-aos-eagles-to-dominant-win-654708.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/carlos-alcaraz-splits-with-coachjuan-carlos-ferrero-654206.html New Delhi Dec 17 Tennis World No1 Carlos Alcaraz has parted ways with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday Alcarazs sevenyear association with fellow Spaniard Ferrero a former No 1 player who assisted Alcaraz in winning his first six Grand Slam titles comes to an end Samuel Lopez and Ferrero who won the French Open in 2003 were just named ATP Coach of the Year for their work with Alcaraz who won eight trophies in 2025 including the US Open and Roland GarrosItâs very difficult for me to write this postâ After more than seven years together Juanki and I have decided to end our time together as coach and player Thank you for turning childhood dreams into realities We started this journey when I was barely a kid and throughout all this time youâve accompanied me on an incredible journey on and off the court And Iâve enjoyed every step of it so much with you Weâve managed to reach the top and I feel that if our sports paths had to part ways it had to be from up thereFrom the place we always worked toward and always aspired to reach There are so many memories that come to mind that picking just one wouldnât be fair Youâve helped me grow as an athlete but above all as a person And something I value so much Iâve enjoyed the process Thatâs what Iâll hold onto the path weâve travelled together Now times of change are coming for both of us new adventures and new projects But Iâm certain weâll face them the right way giving our best as weâve always done Always adding up I wish you all the best from the heart in everything that comes Iâm left with the peace of mind of knowing we didnât hold anything back that we gave everything we had for each other Thank you for everything Juanki Alcaraz posted on XAt the age of fifteen Alcaraz began training with the 2001 French Open champion at the former world number one Ferreros academy which was approximately an hours drive from Alcarazs house Alcaraz won his first major at the US Open in 2022 followed by Wimbledon in 2023 the French Open and another Wimbledon in 2024 This year he won both the US Open and the French Open once moreFerrero Alcarazs former coach posted on Instagram Today is a difficult day One of those times when its hard to find the right words Saying goodbye is never easy especially when there are so many shared experiences behind it We have worked hard grown together and shared unforgettable momentsI want to thank you for the time the trust the learning and above all for the people who have surrounded me throughout this journey I take with me laughter challenges overcome conversations support during difficult moments and the satisfaction of having been part of something truly uniqueToday a very important chapter of my life comes to an end I close it with nostalgia but also with pride and excitement for what may come next I know that everything I have lived has prepared me to be betterThank you Carlos for the trust the effort and for making your way of competing make me feel so special I wish you all the best both professionally and personally I wish I could have continued I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again Thank you from the bottom of my heart he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/carlos-alcaraz-splits-with-coachjuan-carlos-ferrero-654206.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tpl-is-part-of-a-dream-to-expand-and-popularise-tennis-says-leander-paes-653252.html Ahmedabad Dec 13 Indian tennis icons Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi expressed their excitement as they appeared together on day four of the Tennis Premier League Paes attended as the Brand Ambassador of GS Delhi Aces while Bhupathi was present in support of SG Pipers BengaluruThe duo who won three Grand Slam titles together and rose to World No 1 as a pair have long supported the league and were in attendance on the fourth day of Season 7Sharing his excitement Paes said âIts wonderful to be in Ahmedabad The weather is fantastic to start with and to see the extravagance of the Tennis Premier League here is part of a dream to expand and popularise tennis throughout the countryââI am very grateful to Sania Rohan Mahesh and all the stars who support the league When you look at the players we have managed to bring together juniors professionals boys and girls and add an international flavour To have the entire fraternity of tennis come together here is specialâ he addedSG Pipers Bengaluru narrowly beat the GS Delhi Aces 4951 in the third match of the dayReflecting on the eveningâs matchups Paes noted âTonight I played against Rohan and Maheshâs team Mahesh was up against Sanyaâs team earlier These competitive rivalries are what make sport such a unifierâThe GS Delhi Aces are on the top of the points table with 211 points Speaking about the season and his teamâs form he said âThe season is going great I am a little biased toward my own team The Delhi Aces are on top right now but there is a lot of tennis still to go The format here is very interestingâPaes also touched on his role with the Delhibased team âTo play for your people for 40 years to win 20 Grand Slams and play 7 Olympics are blessings Now mentoring kids and building leagues like this so they can earn compete and grow against the best in the world keeps me inspiredâHighlighting the leagueâs journey the 18time Grand Slam winner said âWe are in our 7th straight season of the Tennis Premier League and that is something we are proud of We can take it global in the future Abu Dhabi Dubai Singapore bring in bigger sponsors and wider visibilityââBut for a patriot like me doing this in India gives me joy One year in Mumbai then Pune now Ahmedabad the aim is simple Take the sport to every young fan watchingâ he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tpl-is-part-of-a-dream-to-expand-and-popularise-tennis-says-leander-paes-653252.html Sat, 13 Dec 2025 23:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-league-is-fun-exciting-and-perfect-for-everyone-to-enjoy-says-rohan-bopanna-652078.html Ahmedabad Dec 8 Former Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna called the commencement of the seventh season of Tennis Premier League TPL fun exciting and for everyone to enjoy The TPL is all set for its seventh season taking place at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium from December 9 to 14 With the league completing seven consecutive editions it becomes only the fourth sports league in India to achieve this milestone This season also marks a major expansion as TPL moves outside Maharashtra for the first time By bringing the tournament to Ahmedabad the league continues to broaden its reach and build new communities of tennis fans across IndiaSeason 7 promises a highenergy week of tennis with a strong lineup of top 50ranked international players competing alongside Indiaâs leading talents Eight franchises will feature in TPLâs fastpaced fourround format of Womenâs Singles Mixed Doubles Menâs Singles and Menâs Doubles with each round worth 25 pointsEach team will play five league matches from 9 to 13 December with the top four advancing to the semifinals and final on 14 DecemberSeason 7 will feature a starstudded roster including Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna World No 26 Luciano Darderi and Britainâs top tennis star Dan Evans Indiaâs leading talents such as Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Sahaja Yamalapalli also add depth to an already competitive field With marquee players headlining every team the competition is set for a tightly contested weekRohan Bopanna of SG Pipers Bengaluru said âTwentyfive game points make the matches fast and exciting and now that I have retired this format is perfect for me It is fun highenergy and for youngsters it is a fantastic format to watch and play Every point is important and you need to start strong from the very first rally Being televised means fans get to enjoy every player in action not just the top stars Tournaments like TPL give everyone across the country the chance to follow all the players and that is amazingâLuciano Darderi who will represent the Rajasthan Rangers added âI am excited to be part of the Tennis Premier League for the first time and to represent the Rajasthan Rangers I have heard a lot about the energy of the league and the passion Indian fans bring to every match Playing in this format will be a new experience for me and I am looking forward to contributing to the team and enjoying the atmosphere in AhmedabadâDan Evans who will represent the Gurgaon Grand Slammers said âIt is great to be here in India for the first time I am really looking forward to joining the team and representing the Gurgaon Grand Slammers I have always enjoyed playing in India and I know how passionate the fans are here The TPL format is fast and competitive and I am excited to be part of this team environment and contribute to a strong campaign in Ahmedabadâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-league-is-fun-exciting-and-perfect-for-everyone-to-enjoy-says-rohan-bopanna-652078.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bopannas-sg-pipers-and-luciano-darderis-rangers-kick-off-tpl-7-with-wins-652408.html Ahmedabad Dec 9 The opening day of the Tennis Premier League TPL Season 7 featured a series of fiercely contested matches at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium Hosting the event in Ahmedabad for the first time players like Rohan Bopanna Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Luciano Darderi provided an exciting spectacle for the fans The matches were played on a charcoalcoloured court and all eight teams participated in the action on Tuesday SG Pipers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Rangers began their campaign with wins after the two intense matchesSG Pipers and Gurgaon Grand Slammers kicked off the seasons first match featuring Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty in the opening game Shrivalli Bhamidipaty set a strong tone for SG Pipers by winning the Womenâs Singles 187 She then partnered with Rohan Bopanna in Mixed Doubles sustaining her winning streak with a close 1411 win over Sahaja and Sriram BalajiIn the Menâs Singles Dan Evans contributed to Gurgaon Grand Slammers effort with a 169 victory against Ramkumar Ramnathan In Menâs Doubles SG Pipers Bengaluru won thanks to Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramnathan who defeated Sriram Balaji and Dan Evans 1510 This win marked SG Pipers Bengalurus start to their campaign ending in a 5644 overall victoryDefending champions Hyderabad Strikers faced Rajasthan Rangers in the second match Carole Monnet led the Strikers to an initial victory defeating Ekaterina Kazionova 187 in Womenâs Singles However Rajasthan Rangers Ekaterina Kazionova and Dhakshineswar Suresh won the Mixed Doubles 1312 against Carole Monnet and Vishnu VardhanIn the Menâs Singles Luciano Darderi defeated Pedro Martinez 1510 to lead Rajasthan Rangersâ comeback Later Luciano Darderi and Dhakshineswar Suresh teamed up to beat Vishnu Vardhan and Pedro Martinez 178 helping Rajasthan Rangers secure a narrow 5248 victoryIn the second half of the day GS Delhi Aces will compete against Yash Mumbai Eagles in the third match Meanwhile Chennai Smashers and Gujarat Panthers will wrap up day one IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bopannas-sg-pipers-and-luciano-darderis-rangers-kick-off-tpl-7-with-wins-652408.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/nick-kyrgios-makes-comeback-move-with-kooyong-classic-commitment-650185.html Melbourne Nov 25 Nick Kyrgios has taken a significant step toward his longawaited competitive return by confirming his participation in the Kooyong Classic a key exhibition event that serves as preparation for the Australian Open The former Wimbledon finalist now 30 has endured a torturous period away from professional tennis due to a series of debilitating injuries that have threatened to derail his career entirely His 2025 campaign was limited to just five singles appearances with his last competitive outing coming at the Miami Open back in MarchCurrently languishing at 666th in the ATP rankings and without the safety net of a protected ranking Kyrgios faces significant hurdles in securing spots at official warmup tournaments leading into the Australian Open He will require wildcards not only for those events but also for the seasons opening Grand Slam itselfHowever those wildcard entries are expected to be granted without much hesitation Kyrgios remains a former Brisbane International champion and continues to draw massive crowds at Melbourne Park where his explosive style and charismatic personality make him one of the most marketable players in Australian tennisBeyond the Kooyong Classic Kyrgios has already committed to several highprofile exhibition matches before 2025 wraps up Most notably hell square off against reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in a battle of the sexes showdown scheduled for December 28 in Dubai adding another layer of intrigue to his comeback narrativeThe Kooyong Classic itself promises to be a starstudded affair next year with a distinctly Italian presence headlining the mens draw Davis Cup heroes Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini will feature alongside world number eight Lorenzo Musetti ensuring highquality tennis in the leadup to Melbourne ParkThe exhibition tournament which was notably absent from this years calendar due to operational challenges is set to run from January 13 to 15 That timing places it perfectly just three days before the Australian Open commences a short distance away along the Yarra River offering players an ideal final tuneup opportunityFor Kyrgios the Kooyong Classic represents more than just match practice its a statement of intent that hes ready to reclaim his place among tenniss elite IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/nick-kyrgios-makes-comeback-move-with-kooyong-classic-commitment-650185.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/world-tennis-league-announces-star-studded-lineups-ahead-of-india-debut-650102.html Bengaluru Nov 24 The anticipation for the World Tennis League WTL is growing across the country as it arrives in Bengaluru scheduled from December 1720 Before the four days of tennis at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium the league announced the team owners and roster featuring a mix of international and Indian tennis stars under the dynamic new leadership 16 players 4 teams 1 champion the World Tennis Leagueâs 2025 edition promises electrifying courtside action delivered by some of the best global tennis stars and Indiaâs topseeded players guided by experienced coachesThis seasonâs franchise owners are the defending champions Game Changers Falcons owned by Amandeep Singh Game Changers FZCO VB Realty Hawks owned by Vashu Bhagnani Aussie Mavericks Kites owned by Dr Umed Shekhawat Amit Sahni and Kewal Kalra and AOS Eagles owned by AOS Sports Tournament Dubai led by Satender Pal ChhabraGame Changers Falconsâ Amandeep Singh said âWe are back to defend the title with yet another impactful lineup Our squad brings a balance of power and experience led by Medvedevâs court dominance and Bopannaâs doubles expertise With Magda and Sahaja adding depth and versatility we are looking at a powerpacked season aheadâVashu Bhagnani owner of VB Realty Hawks said âWeâve curated a team that thrives under pressure and truly reflects the competitive spirit of the Hawks Shapovalovâs explosive style paired with the consistency of Bhambri and the resilience of Svitolina and Maaya makes us a dynamic and adaptive unit Weâre here to make our first season of WTL a memorable oneâUmed Shekhawat from Aussie Mavericks Kites said âWith Kyrgiosâ explosive serve and bigmatch temperament Kostyukâs aggression and strong Indian representation through Dhakshineshwar and Ankita the Aussie Mavericks Kites are built for highimpact winning tennis Our team is ready to bring ambition and a fearless approach to WTLâs India debut leaving the fans wanting for moreâAOS Eaglesâ Satender Pal Chhabra said âA blend of experience hunger and versatility thatâs the Eaglesâ DNA This team has the spark to ignite the league and the discipline to go the distance Monfilsâ charisma Nagalâs hunger and the balanced depth with Paula and Shrivalli bring a lineup that is here to dominate WTLâTeams coaches and squads lineup1 Game Changers FalconsCoach John Laffnie De Jager JLSquad Daniil Medvedev Rohan Bopanna Magda Linette Sahaja Yamalapall2 VB Realty HawksCoach Robert LindstedtSquad Denis Shapovalov Yuki Bhambri Elina Svitolina Maaya Revathi3 Aussie Mavericks KitesCoach Julian KnowleSquad Nick Kyrgios Dhakshineshwar Suresh Marta Kostyuk Ankita Raina4 AOS EaglesCoach Mark GellardSquad Gael Monfils Sumit Nagal Paula Badosa Shrivalli BhamidipatyAs Bengaluru welcomes players from around the world WTLâs inaugural season in India promises a mix of topquality talent and authentic sporting spirit that fans will genuinely enjoy IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/world-tennis-league-announces-star-studded-lineups-ahead-of-india-debut-650102.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-gujarat-masters-gets-underway-in-ahmedabad-649925.html Ahmedabad Nov 22 After a successful Delhi leg the Tennis Premier League TPL Race to Gold Masters initiative got underway in Ahmedabad on Saturday Hosted in association with the Gujarat State Tennis Association the tournament will be played at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium over the Nov 2223 weekend The Race to Gold Masters initiative forms a vital part of TPLâs commitment to discovering Indiaâs next generation of tennis stars and giving them a platform to showcase their skills through the leagueâs unique 25point formatThe tournament offers a pathway to boys and girls across U10 U12 U14 and Menâs and Womenâs Open categories designed to strengthen Indiaâs domestic tennis ecosystem by providing emerging talent with vital exposure to international standards and competitive environments This leg features 160 players representing Ahmedabad Vadodara Surat Bhavnagar and Bharuch with 40 players from each region participating across all categoriesThe winners across the eight categories will receive scholarships worth â¹75000 each while also getting the opportunity to interact with tennis legends including Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna along with top international names participating in TPLâs seventh seasonIn addition they will also be recognised during a grand felicitation ceremony as part of the seventh season of TPL from December 9 to 14 2025Present at the occasion were TPL CoFounders Kunal Thakkur and Mrunal Jain along with Krishna Zaveri President GSTA Shrimal Bhatt General Secretary GSTA Rupak Kapadia Director of Tennis Gujarat University Tennis Centre Ajay Vasani Director of Tennis Gujarat University Tennis Centre and Vaidik Munshaw Director of Tennis Gujarat University Tennis CentreReflecting on the initiative CoFounder Kunal Thakkur shared âWe are thrilled to bring the Race to Gold Gujarat Masters to Ahmedabad As a city at the heart of Indiaâs sporting transformationâwith the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Indiaâs bold bid for the 2036 Olympics centred here Ahmedabad is the perfect venue for this initiative Inspired by Indiaâs Olympic ambitions Race to Gold reflects our commitment to nurturing a player capable of winning an Olympic medal in tennis This event will also set the tone for Season 7 of the league which returns to this very venue next monthEchoing those sentiments cofounder Mrunal Jain added âThe Race to Gold Gujarat Masters makes this moment even more special as it represents our commitment to taking Indian tennis to the next level Itâs a special feeling for me to be hosting the event at the TPL here Iâm an Ahmedabadi boy and it truly feels like Iâm bringing the event home The seventh season of the TPL is going to be a super hit with top players higher competition and an atmosphere that truly celebrates the growth of tennis in India Over the years the league has become a platform for rising talent international stars and passionate fans to come together and this season will take that legacy even furtherKrisna Zaveri President GSTA said âItâs a great opportunity for GSTA to host a tournament like the Tennis Premier League which brings together some of the biggest names in Indian and international tennis Events of this scale not only inspire young players but also accelerate the growth of the sport across the state For GSTA this aligns perfectly with our mission to build a stronger more inclusive tennis ecosystem TPL will play a meaningful role in elevating Gujaratâs tennis landscape and motivating the next generation of athletesâThe Tennis Premier League caravan will return to Ahmedabad for its seventh season marking a major milestone in the leagueâs journey as the TPL expands its footprint out of Maharashtra for the first time since its inceptionThis will also be the first time that the tournamentâs roster will include players ranked within the Top 50 on the international circuit providing Gujaratâs tennis fans with an opportunity to witness worldclass tennis action in the stadiumTennis Premier League Season 7 is scheduled from December 9 to 14 at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium in Ahmedabad IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-gujarat-masters-gets-underway-in-ahmedabad-649925.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bopanna-rybakina-medvedev-amp-kyrgios-to-headline-world-tennis-leagues-india-debut-in-bengaluru-649171.html Bengaluru Nov 18 After three seasons in the UAE the World Tennis League WTL is set to make its India debut next month Slated for December 1720 in Bengaluru the fourday tournament will find its home at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium owned and operated by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association This edition will continue WTLâs legacy of excellence featuring a strong lineup of tennis talent including Daniil Medvedev Nick Kyrgios Elena Rybakina Paula Badosa Rohan Bopanna Gael Monfils Arthur Fils Sumit Nagal Magda Linette and Marta KostyukWith tennis on the rise in the country WTL has also added Indiaâs standout performers like Yuki Bhambri Ankita Raina Shrivalli Bhamidipaty Maaya Revathi Dhakshineswar Suresh and Shivika Burman to the mixWith its unique team format and highlevel competition the World Tennis League has established itself as a prominent event in the tennis calendar and continues to attract attention from both players and fans worldwideTalking about her first appearance in India World No 5 Elena Rybakina said âIâve heard so much about the tennis culture in India and Iâm thrilled to make my debut here with WTL The league has an exciting format and Iâm ready to enjoy every moment on the court with my teamSpeaking on the historic edition 12time Grand Slam Champion and cofounder World Tennis League Mahesh Bhupathi said âIndia has always shared a deep and lasting connection with tennis and the WTLâs arrival here is an opportunity to strengthen that bond As someone who has lived the sport I believe this format brings out the fast dynamic and engaging side of the competition With international champions sharing the court with Indiaâs top talent we hope to inspire the next generation of players and showcase tennis as a sport that is intense global and full of possibilityâThe debut edition of the World Tennis League in India promises to be a landmark event uniting diverse audiences through the universal language of sportAs the worldâs eyes turn to Bengaluru this December the tournament will not only celebrate athleticism but also reinforce Indiaâs position on the global sporting map inspiring fans and athletes to dream biggerHighlighting the importance of this edition for Indiaâs sporting ecosystem Krishnan Kannan Managing Director Iconik Sports and Events Ltd stated WTL allows us to demonstrate Indiaâs ability to host worldclass tournaments while creating opportunities for our own athletes to play alongside international icons We aim to deliver an experience which goes beyond sport and showcase culture entertainment and community IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bopanna-rybakina-medvedev-amp-kyrgios-to-headline-world-tennis-leagues-india-debut-in-bengaluru-649171.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/netherlands-defeat-india-in-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-648955.html Bengaluru Nov 16 The Netherlands completed a commanding 3â0 victory over India on the final day of the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday In the opening singles match Anouk Koevermans delivered a composed performance to defeat Indiaâs Shrivalli Bhamidipaty World No 381 Koevermans broke early to establish a 21 lead in the first set and maintained control throughout taking it 62 Bhamidipaty mounted a brief fightback in the second set but the higherranked Dutch player held firm to close out the match 62 64Reflecting on her win Koevermans said âI told the captain I wanted to run for every ball because it keeps me focused and forces my opponent to make more mistakes and she did Itâs very important to run for every ball to stay in the game so thatâs what I didâThe second singles rubber saw Lamens ranked 89 in the world take on Indiaâs Sahaja Yamalapalli World No 309 Lamens dominated the first set 62 and carried the momentum into the second Although Yamalapalli managed to level the score at 22 after an early break Lamens quickly regained control earning another break to move ahead 43 before sealing a 62 63 victoryFollowing the encounter Yamalapalli said It was a tough match Suzanâs a very good player with a lot of experience She was challenging me every point she didnât give me any unforced errors and I had to be in there every single point It was challenging but itâs also a good experience because it shows me the level I want to get to and what I need to learnThe tie concluded with the doubles rubber where Lamens teamed up with Demi Schuurs to take on Indiaâs Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare The Dutch duo dominated from the start conceding just one game in the first set before racing to a 30 lead in the second Maintaining complete control Lamens and Schuurs sealed a 61 61 victory giving the Netherlands a clean sweep IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/netherlands-defeat-india-in-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-648955.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-masters-kicks-off-in-delhi-648852.html New Delhi Nov 15 The Tennis Premier League TPL Race to Gold Masters tournament kicked off its first leg at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association DLTA on Saturday Beginning with their North Zone in Delhi the tournament will be played across three cities including Gujarat November 2 and 23 and Mumbai November 29 and 30 in association with the respective state tennis associations An initiative by TPL this tournament provides a platform for emerging tennis talent allowing them to showcase their skills using TPLâs unique and exciting 25point format The aim is to unearth Indias tennis talent pool and help build a robust domestic ecosystem for the sportThe topranked players of each Race to Gold Masters Zone across U10 Boys amp Girls U12 Boys amp Girls U14 Boys amp Girls and Menâs amp Womenâs Open categories will receive scholarships worth â¹75000 To celebrate their achievements the winners will be felicitated live on television during the upcoming seventh season of the Tennis Premier League set to be held in Ahmedabad from December 9 to 14The winners will also get the opportunity to interact with Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna and play alongside some of the top players in TPL Season 7 including Luciano Darderi Arthur Rinderknech Corentin Moutet Alexandre Muller Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli BhamidipatySharing his thoughts on the initiative Kunal Thakkur CoFounder Tennis Premier League said The Tennis Premier League TPL believes that the league cannot grow unless the sport of tennis grows in India and we are doing whatever we can to support that The Race to Gold initiative is directly inspired by Indias aim to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad We felt this was the right time to start an initiative to help produce a player who can win an Olympic medal in tennis just as Leander Paes won the bronzeMrunal Jain CoFounder Tennis Premier League added If we support players who are U10 U12 and U14 now they will be peaking in the next 10 to 11 years just in time for the Olympics This initiative allows young talent to be felicitated by tennis legends see top50 world players live in action and even learn from them directly on the court which is essential for building our domestic ecosystemThe seventh season of the Tennis Premier League is set to be held in Ahmedabad from December 9 to 14 at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-masters-kicks-off-in-delhi-648852.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/really-proud-says-carlos-alcaraz-as-he-accepts-atp-year-end-no-1-trophy-648730.html Turin Italy Nov 14 Carlos Alcaraz accepted the ATP YearEnd No 1 trophy for the second time in his career at the ATP Finals here on Friday afternoon securing the position for the first time since 2022 The Spaniard who has clinched six Grand Slam titles so far clinched the honour when he defeated Lorenzo Musetti to move to 30 in roundrobin play at the season finale The 22yearold from El Palmar Murcia who turned professional in 2018 is hoping to win his maiden title in the ATP FinalsâIt is a pleasure for me being the No 1â Alcaraz said on the occasion âBeing the No 1 in the world is something that Iâm working really hard for with my team every day It is a goal But I think it is a journey that youâre not going through alone Itâs with your whole team with your family with your close people behind you always supporting you in the tough and good moments which Iâm really really proud about having such a great teamâAlcaraz pointed out that when he first earned YearEnd No 1 honours in 2022 he had the same team They have stuck together and continued to reap the rewardsâIâm still really proud of the team I have right nowâ Alcaraz said âSome new members in the team that Iâm really happy and proud to share this moment with them as well For me itâs a great achievement It means the world to me and Iâm just really proud and happyâ he was quoted as saying by the ATP TourATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and Head of Corporate Brand and Strategic Advisory at PIF Mohamed Alsayyad presented Alcaraz the trophyThe 22yearold is chasing his first Nitto ATP Finals title The Spaniard has booked his semifinal spot and will take on twotime champion Alexander Zverev or Felix AugerAliassime on SaturdayBut before returning his focus to the task at hand in Turin Alcaraz thanked fans around the world âI want to continue because the support that Iâm receiving everywhere that Iâm going I canât thank the people enoughâ Alcaraz saidâWeâre travelling since the 1st of January until the end of November â new places new countries new stages and the people are always the same The great energy the great atmosphere I feel the love everywhere that Iâm goingâIn some tournaments in some matches without the support of the people it wouldnât be possible to come back to win to lift trophies So I really want to say thank you to all the people who are coming to every tournament to every match who are supporting tennis supporting me Iâm really grateful to everyone for the energy and the love that I am receiving This trophy is obviously for themâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/really-proud-says-carlos-alcaraz-as-he-accepts-atp-year-end-no-1-trophy-648730.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/atp-finals-alcaraz-advances-to-semis-after-de-minaurs-victory-648464.html Turin Nov 13 World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the semifinals at the ATP Finals following Alex de Minaurâs 763 63 victory against Taylor Fritz on Thursday afternoon With Alcaraz winning two matches Fritzs defeat clears his path to the lastfour stage The Spaniard won his opening two matches at this yearâs prestigious yearend event and will top the Jimmy Connors Group if he defeats Lorenzo Musetti later on Thursday with de Minaur advancing in second place If Alcaraz loses to Musetti he will finish second behind the ItalianAlcaraz will also be playing for ATP YearEnd No 1 honours when he walks onto court in the Inalpi Arena If the Spaniard captures a tourleading 70th victory of the season he will end the year as World No 1 and subsequently end Jannik Sinnerâs challengeIf Alcaraz loses to Musetti tonight he would face Sinner in the semifinals If Sinner defeats Alcaraz and then goes on to win the title as the undefeated champion he would end the year as World No 1Alcaraz is making his third appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals with his previous best result a semifinal run in 2023 The 22yearold has lifted eight trophies in 2025 including majors at Roland Garros and the US Open He has won ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo Rome and CincinnatiThe Australian achieved his part of the bargain and will now need World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz to beat Musetti to ensure he secures a semifinal spotIn an impressive attacking display de Minaur dominated against a nervy Fritz to end the roundrobin stage holding a 12 record If Alcaraz who has now qualified beats Musetti later on Thursday de Minaur will join the Spaniard in the semifinals Musetti will qualify for the lastfour stage with a victory against Alcaraz Last yearâs finalist Fritz also went 12 in the roundrobin phase but is out IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/atp-finals-alcaraz-advances-to-semis-after-de-minaurs-victory-648464.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/former-chess-ace-prachura-pp-meets-team-india-ahead-of-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-in-bengaluru-648220.html Bengaluru Nov 12 Former international chess player Prachura PP met the Indian team here at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs 2025 scheduled from November 14 to 16 The interaction occurred as the team continued its final preparations ahead of the crucial match that will determine qualification for the World GroupDuring the visit Prachura also the owner of the Global Chess League franchise American Gambits jersey exchanged the Gambits jersey with Team India captain Vishal Uppal as a gesture symbolising mutual respect and sporting spirit camaraderieHe also interacted with players Sahaja Yamalapalli Shrivalli Bhamidipaty Ankita Raina Riya Bhatia and Prarthana Thombare extending his best wishes as they prepare to represent India at home soilIt will be the first time that India is hosting the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs India has featured in the playoff tie only once before in 2021 when they lost 31 away to LatviaTeam India will compete against the Netherlands and Slovenia in Group G of the Playoffs The three will face each other in roundrobin matches after which the group winners will advance to the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers The other two teams will return to their respective 2026 Regional Group I events for the next stage seasonEarlier in April 2025 the Indian team delivered a brilliant performance in Pune when it defeated South Korea 21 securing second place in the Billie Jean King Cup AsiaOceania Group 1 and earning qualification for the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Playoff The Indian team had finished second behind New Zealand in AprilOften regarded as the World Cup of tennis the Billie Jean King Cup formerly known as the Fed Cup is one of the most prestigious international tennis tournaments for women It gathers topranked players from various countries to compete in a team format The tournament is the womenâs equivalent of the mens Davis Cup IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/former-chess-ace-prachura-pp-meets-team-india-ahead-of-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-in-bengaluru-648220.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-downs-ailing-auger-aliassime-to-begin-atp-finals-title-defense-647953.html Turin Nov 11 Home favourite Jannik Sinner made a confident start to his ATP Finals title defense with a 75 61 opening victory against an injuryhampered Canadian Felix AugerAliassime With his onehour 41minute victory Sinner improved to 10 in Bjorn Borg Group The 24yearold Italian is now on a 27match winning streak indoors and has not dropped a set at the ATP Finals since his 2023 final defeat to Novak Djokovic ATP reportsWith his win at Inalpi Arena Sinner also kept alive his chances of pipping Carlos Alcaraz for ATP YearEnd No 1 The Italian trails his rival by 1050 points in the Live Rankings with Alcaraz having begun his ATP Finals campaign by defeating Alex de Minaur on Sunday afternoonSinner and AugerAliassime played out a hardfought first set The Canadian dug deep to fend off two break points at 32 and a set point at 54 but he was unable to deny Sinner a decisive break in a 12th game in which he also appeared to start feeling pain in his left leg after he served at 030AugerAliassime took an offcourt medical timeout at the end of the first set and although he battled but was unable to recover from dropping serve in the second game of the second set He also received treatment on his leg on court at 03 when he indicated to the physio that he was feeling pain in his left calf and again at 14Sinner struck the ball cleanly throughout the match and he retained his focus throughout as AugerAliassimes physical struggles played out across the netThe second seed finished the match having won 89 per cent 3236 of points behind his first serve according to ATP StatsI hope its nothing too serious I wish him obviously a very speedy recovery and hopefully he is back to 100 per cent physically Sinner said of AugerAliassime IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-downs-ailing-auger-aliassime-to-begin-atp-finals-title-defense-647953.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/not-dangerous-auger-aliassime-downplays-concern-about-injury-647960.html Turin Nov 11 Felix AugerAliassime who battled a calf issue during his 75 61 defeat to home favourite Jannik Sinner st the ATP Tour Finals downplayed any concerns about his physical condition says it not dangerous and he is not too much concerned about it After an encouraging start against the inform Italian AugerAliassime appeared to pull his left calf late in the first set while landing from a serve at 56 Though he continued to compete the injury clearly affected his movementNo not dangerous Im not too concerned Hes an amazing player You have to give credit when the guy is just better than you AugerAliassime was quoted by ATP TourAugerAliassime who is making his first appearance at the season finale since 2022 had matched Sinner through much of the opening set but the Italian began to turn the tide to win the matchThe Canadian called Sinner toughest pmayer to beat He said Today he was better than me Ill get ready for the next one Hes tough to beat anywhere especially here He started off amazing and never looked back really From the first point to the last he was amazing Toughest guy to beat hereAugerAliassime insisted he remains mentally strong despite the physical setback and defeat keeping a balanced perspective about the nature of competition at the elite eightman eventIve never been afraid because were not going to war I do put in my mind that its a battle a tennis battle Im very focused very drivenIve never been afraid of a tennis match Youre more focused when you play at this level everything needs to be very disciplined and very precise from the first momentsWhile the loss was a tough opening blow to his Turin campaign AugerAliassime will hope the calf issue settles quickly as he looks to regroup for his remaining roundrobin matches which will come against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and Alexander Zverev on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/not-dangerous-auger-aliassime-downplays-concern-about-injury-647960.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-wins-opening-match-pours-cold-water-on-musettis-atp-finals-debut-647932.html Turin Nov 10 American Taylor Fritz made a rousing start in the ATP Tour Finals beating Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the opening group match on Monday With this win Fritz spoiled Musettis ATP Finals debut in emphatic fashion delivering a commanding performance to silence the packed Inalpi Arena crowd in Turin Blending discipline with controlled aggression the Fritz dictated play from the baseline to seal a 63 64 win against the ItalianFritz has lost in experience at the season finale having reached the championship match last year and the semifinals on debut in 2022 The 28yearold arrived in northern Italy a week ago in stark contrast to Musetti who only touched down in Turin on Sunday after falling to Novak Djokovic in the Athens final on Saturday nightWith a full week of preparation in the bag Fritz looked more comfortable in the indoor conditions The sixth seed stepped inside the baseline to take the ball early redirecting pace and pushing Musetti onto the back foot Though the Italian produced flashes of brilliance while scrambling he spent most of the match retreating unable to wrest control from Fritzs penetrating flat groundstrokesI am really happy I thought I did a lot of things really well Fritz said I did a great job early on in the match to serve my way out of trouble and save some break points The whole second set I played well and had a lot of chances to break that I didnt get I am really happy I was able to serve it out there and it didnt come back to ruin itFritz finished with a performance rating of 920 against Musetti well above his 828 Tour average in 2025 After storming through the first set the American gained the crucial break of the second set at 11 when Musetti hit two consecutive doubles from 4030 before he pushed a backhand wide when defending on break point Fritz then held his nerve when serving out rallying from 030 at 54 to triumph after one hour and 43 minutesFritz is now 10 in the Jimmy Connors group and will also meet Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur in roundrobin play in Turin Alcaraz chasing his first Nitto ATP Finals crown defeated De Minaur on Sunday to kickstart his final push to earn ATP YearEnd No 1 honoursMusetti has enjoyed the best season of his career to qualify for the yearend event for the first time advancing to tourlevel finals in MonteCarlo Chengdu and Athens The 23yearold is joined by countryman and World No 2 Jannik Sinner in Turin The defending champion Sinner begins his campaign against Felix AugerAliassime on Monday night IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-wins-opening-match-pours-cold-water-on-musettis-atp-finals-debut-647932.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/atp-tour-djokovic-wins-101st-title-in-athens-ends-musettis-turin-bid-647627.html Athens Nov 9 Former World No1 Novak Djokovic dramatically captured his 101st career title on Saturday at the Hellenic Championship in Athens where he simultaneously ended Lorenzo Musettis hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals The 38yearold Serbian left it all on the court in a gutsy 46 63 75 victory in the final which featured 13 break points and five breaks of serve in a topsyturvy deciding set With his 72nd tourlevel title on hard courts Djokovic also cut his tie with Roger Federer for the most crowns in the Open EraDjokovic is the most successful male player in the history of the game with 24 Grand Slam titles so far He also among the players with the most wins on the ATP TourMusetti needed to capture the title to leapfrog Felix AugerAliassime into the final qualification spot for the seasonending finale in Turin He saved a match point in the semfinals against Sebastian Korda but he was unable to build on a promising start against the former World No 1 Djokovic in the championship matchTien captures maiden ATP Tour title in MetzMeanwhile Learner Tien won his maiden ATP Tour title spectacularly on Saturday at the Moselle Open in Metz where he overcame Cameron Norrie 63 36 766The 19yearold American trailed 15 in the decidingset tiebreak but he swung freely to turn the match on its head and clinch the biggest win of his fledgling career Tien who is set to make his debut inside the Top 30 of the ATP Rankings became the first American teenager to win an ATP Tour title since Andy Roddick 19 in 2002Cameron Norrie who fell in the Metz final in 2024 seemed poised to avenge last years heartbreak but ultimately fell just short He will close the season with a 3426 record according to the Infosys ATP WinLoss Index IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/atp-tour-djokovic-wins-101st-title-in-athens-ends-musettis-turin-bid-647627.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 01:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-wins-101st-title-in-athens-but-withdraws-from-atp-finals-due-to-injury-647643.html Athens Nov 9 Novak Djokovic captured his 101st career title in dramatic fashion at the Hellenic Championship where he overcame Lorenzo Musetti in an absorbing threehour clash The 38yearold Serbian left it all on the court in a gutsy 46 63 75 victory in the final which featured 13 break points and five breaks of serve in the deciding set aloneWith his 72nd tourlevel title on hard courts Djokovic also cut his tie with Roger Federer for the most in the Open EraBoth players were pushed to their physical limits across the match but particularly during the final set For Musetti it was heartbreak as he fell to his sixth consecutive defeat in an ATP Tour final He captured his first two titles back in 2022 in Hamburg and Naples ATP reportsI dedicate this win to the wonderful people of Greece You support me you support tennis and youve made me feel at home A win that feels even more special with much family here Huge gratitude also to everyone who made this beautiful new tournament so specialTo Musetti what an epic battle Congratulations on an incredible performance and tournament Keep it going your future is bright Djokovic shared in an Instagram postMusetti needed to capture the title to leapfrog Felix AugerAliassime into the final qualification spot for the Nitto ATP FinalsHowever after the Serbian withdrew later on Saturday Musetti will replace Djokovic and therefore compete at the season finale for the first timeI was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best but after todays final in Athens Im sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury Im truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play your support means so much I wish all the players an amazing tournament and I cant wait to be back on the court with you all soon Djokovic said in a statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-wins-101st-title-in-athens-but-withdraws-from-atp-finals-due-to-injury-647643.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 11:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-withdraws-from-atp-finals-after-101st-title-in-athens-647644.html Athens Nov 9 Novak Djokovic captured his 101st career title in dramatic fashion at the Hellenic Championship where he overcame Lorenzo Musetti in an absorbing threehour clash The 38yearold Serbian left it all on the court in a gutsy 46 63 75 victory in the final which featured 13 break points and five breaks of serve in the deciding set aloneWith his 72nd tourlevel title on hard courts Djokovic also cut his tie with Roger Federer for the most in the Open EraBoth players were pushed to their physical limits across the match but particularly during the final set For Musetti it was heartbreak as he fell to his sixth consecutive defeat in an ATP Tour final He captured his first two titles back in 2022 in Hamburg and Naples ATP reportsI dedicate this win to the wonderful people of Greece You support me you support tennis and youve made me feel at home A win that feels even more special with much family here Huge gratitude also to everyone who made this beautiful new tournament so specialTo Musetti what an epic battle Congratulations on an incredible performance and tournament Keep it going your future is bright Djokovic shared in an Instagram postMusetti needed to capture the title to leapfrog Felix AugerAliassime into the final qualification spot for the Nitto ATP FinalsHowever after the Serbian withdrew later on Saturday Musetti will replace Djokovic and therefore compete at the season finale for the first timeI was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best but after todays final in Athens Im sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury Im truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play your support means so much I wish all the players an amazing tournament and I cant wait to be back on the court with you all soon Djokovic said in a statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-withdraws-from-atp-finals-after-101st-title-in-athens-647644.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 11:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-rybakina-set-up-title-clash-at-wta-finals-647462.html Riyadh Nov 8 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka battled past Amanda Anisimova 63 36 63 in a fierce semifinal showdown to earn her place in the WTA Finals championship match against Elena Rybakina as both contenders aim to capture their maiden Billie Jean King Trophy The highly anticipated final on Saturday will feature the tournaments two unbeaten players Sabalenka last years runnerup enters with a slight advantage she leads Rybakina 85 in their career meetings including a victory in the 2023 Australian Open finalIts going to be another powerful match Sabalenka said after the match I feel like today was great preparation for Elena and Im looking forward to leaving everything I have on court in the last match of the season and fight for this beautiful trophyAfter a tense opening stretch against Amanda Anisimova the rematch of Septembers US Open final began to tilt in Sabalenkas favour when she broke to move ahead 53 unleashing her trademark power from the baseline to secure the first set after an hour of playThe New York champion who had earlier fended off five break points lost momentum early in the second as Anisimova raced to a 40 lead and it soon became clear the contest was headed for a deciding setIn the third Sabalenka rediscovered her rhythm firing a string of aces to level at 33 before landing a blistering backhand to earn the crucial break Though she faced some late pressure the top seed held firm to close out the match and book her place in the finalShes always pushing me to play my best tennis and honestly I wouldnt have cared if I lost this match Sabalenka saidWe played an incredible match and both deserved this place in the final It was an incredible fight Im super happy to get the win I told Amanda that she should be proud of her seasonEarlier in the day Rybakina rallied from a set down to defeat Jessica Pegula 46 64 63 maintaining her unbeaten run and advancing to the WTA Finals title matchPegula last years finalist raised her level after an early trade of breaks in the opening set surging ahead 42 as Rybakina battled inconsistency and appeared hampered by a shoulder problem picked up during her warmup the previous day IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-rybakina-set-up-title-clash-at-wta-finals-647462.html Sat, 08 Nov 2025 10:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/anisimova-dispatches-swiatek-to-reach-semifinals-at-wta-finals-647006.html Riyadh Nov 6 Fourth seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States came from behind to beat second seed Iga Swiatek of Poland 67 3 64 62 here on Wednesday advancing to the semifinals of the WTA Finals With Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan having already secured a semifinal spot as winner of the Serena Williams group Anisimova and Swiatek both with one win and one loss before the match faced off in a decisive showdown for the remaining semifinal berthThe two had met twice earlier this year as Swiatek swept 12 straight games to dominate the Wimbledon final while Anisimova got her revenge in the US Open quarterfinalsIn the opening set both players held serve tightly Although Anisimova earned four break points Swiatek saved them all and prevailed 76 3 in a tiebreak after the first 12 games went on serve reports XinhuaThe second set remained highly competitive Anisimova saved three break points in the third game to hold serve and the two traded holds until 54 In Swiateks fifth service game the American seized her chance for a crucial late break winning the set 64 to level the matchIn the decider Anisimova continued to apply pressure on Swiateks serveThe Pole saved the first service game but doublefaulted on break point in her next game Leading 52 Anisimova broke again to close out the match 62 and complete the comeback victoryThe first set was super tough Anisimova said afterwards I think I just made less errors in the second and third set I was trying to play higher percentage tennis and just keep going for it I think I was going for my serve a lot more I just knew that I was going to have to step my level up a little bit if I wanted to win the match in the endIn the groups other match on Wednesday inform Rybakina continued her impressive run defeating Russias Ekaterina Alexandrova who entered as an alternate 64 64 to claim her third consecutive groupstage victory Rybakinas original opponent Americas Madison Keys had withdrawn before the match due to illness IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/anisimova-dispatches-swiatek-to-reach-semifinals-at-wta-finals-647006.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wta-finals-clinical-swiatek-defeats-keys-in-opener-rybakina-too-starts-with-victory-646109.html Riyadh Saudi Arabia Nov 1 Former World No1 Iga Swiatek of Poland started her campaign in the WTA Final with a clinical performance to a straight sets win against Madison Keys in the opening match here on Saturday In the second match of the day Elena Rybakina used all her experience to get the better of Amanda Anisimova to launch her WTA Finals campaign in style The No 6 seed broke No 4 seed Anisimova in the opening game and never looked back cruising to a 63 61 win in just 57 minutesThe first singles match of the opening night of the season ender was a clash between two of the four Grand Slam winners in the draw The No2 Swiatek the Wimbledon winner defeated seventhseeded Australian Open champion Madison Keys 61 62Kind of happy with everything Swiatek said Mostly my serve and overall focus I was in the zone from the beginning to the end and I really wanted to keep it that wayKeys is making a return from injury She hadnt played in 68 days right after losing in the first round of the US Open She looked sluggish and her timing seemed offSwiatek won 12 of 15 games and 58 of 87 points converting five of eight break points It was over in 61 minutes The 24yearold from Poland now leads the headtohead 62 Earlier they had split this years two matches Swiatek has won 62 tourlevel matches so far in 2025 the most on tourThe more immediate target is a title here to go with her 2023 victory in Cancun Swiatek recorded her first win in the Serena Williams Group while Keys may well have to win her last two matches against No 4 Amanda Anisimova and No 6 Elena Rybakina to advance to the semifinalsKeys who returned to the practice courts after Saturdays match said she picked up a minor injury during the summerI just kept trying to play through it she said It was just one of those things where I couldnt ever be 100 percent Just felt like the best decision for me to have the best opportunity for the Finals was to kind of take some time get healthyKeys is participating in her second yearend championship going back to her initial breakthrough in 2016 Her record is now 13 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wta-finals-clinical-swiatek-defeats-keys-in-opener-rybakina-too-starts-with-victory-646109.html Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-seals-semis-berth-at-paris-masters-with-win-over-shelton-645944.html Paris Nov 1 Jannik Sinner moved one step closer to reclaiming the world No 1 ranking with a commanding victory over Ben Shelton at the Paris Masters Carlos Alcarazs surprise secondround loss to Cameron Norrie has opened the door for the Italian who can leapfrog the Spaniard by capturing the ATP Masters 1000 title in the French capitalSinner booked his place in the Paris semifinals for the first time with a 63 63 win his seventh consecutive triumph over Shelton The 24yearold will now take on third seed Alexander Zverev after the defending champion saved two match points to edge Daniil Medvedev in a gripping threeset battleIm very happy It was a very very tough match At times you dont have a lot of control because of his incredible serving but today I felt like I was returning very well Also from the back of the court I played very solid and very aggressive Sinner told Sky SportsSinner briefly surrendered his serve midway through the second set but quickly regained control sealing his win over 23yearold Shelton in less just 70 minutesAt the moment Im not thinking about the ranking added the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Its a consequence of how Im playingMaking the semis here in Paris means a lot It has been a very long season with some great great results and I never take these results for grantedSinner will meet Zverev in the semifinals after the German mounted a comeback to defeat Daniil Medvedev 26 63 76 75Alexander Bublik advanced to his firstever Masters semifinal with a hardfought 67 57 64 75 victory over Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur sparking emotional celebrations from Kazakhstans top playerThe 13th seed will next take on Canadas Felix AugerAliassime who cruised past Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot 62 62 to book his place in the final four IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-seals-semis-berth-at-paris-masters-with-win-over-shelton-645944.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/officially-hanging-up-my-racquet-rohan-bopanna-announces-retirement-646031.html New Delhi Nov 1 Indias twotime Grand Slam winner Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement from professional tennis on Saturday bringing an end to his 20yearlong celebrated career which saw him bring many laurels to the country Bopannas decision to hang up his boots came days after his last appearance at the Paris Masters 1000 where he teamed up with Alexander Bublik The duo ultimately lost the Round of 32 match falling 57 62 108 to John Peers and James TracyHow do you bid farewell to something that gave your life its meaning After 20 unforgettable years on tour its time Im officially hanging up my racquet he wrote in a lengthy social media postWidely regarded as one of Indias greatest tennis players Bopanna built a remarkable legacy based on a powerful serve deft net skills and a lasting influence in both mens and mixed doubles Over a career spanning more than twenty years the 45yearold has been a cornerstone of Indian tennis representing the nation with pride in numerous Davis Cup campaigns and at the Olympic GamesBopannas breakthrough moment came in 2017 when he lifted the French Open mixed doubles title alongside Gabriela Dabrowski cementing his place among the sports elite Yet it was in 2024 that he achieved one of the most extraordinary feats of his career clinching the Australian Open mens doubles crown and ascending to World No 1 at the age of 43 a testament to his resilience professionalism and enduring love for the gameAs I write this my heart feels both heavy and grateful Starting my journey from a small town of Coorg in India chopping blocks of wood to strengthen my serve jogging through coffee estates to build stamina and chasing dreams on cracked courts to standing under the lights of the biggest arenas in the world it all feels surreal Tennis hasnt been just a game for me It has given me purpose when I was lost strength when I was broken and belief when the world doubted me Bopannas post readEvery time I stepped onto a court it taught me perseverance resilience to rise to fight again when everything inside me said I couldnt and most of all reminded me why I started and who I am To my wonderful parents you are my heroes You gave me everything so I could chase this dream The sacrifices you made the quiet strength you carried the faith you never lostI owe it all to you To my sister Rashmi youve been my gentle constant and my cheerleader through it all Youve always seen the best in me even when I couldnt To my family thank you for being my anchor my safe haven and the love that kept me standing through every high and lowTo my wife Supriya my greatest partner off court Youve lived this journey with me the long flights sleepless nights and moments Ive missed You have carried our world with such grace while I chased mine Your love patience and strength are the quiet reasons behind every success Ive ever had To my daughter Tridha youve changed the way I see everything You have given me new purpose and a softer strength Every match I played in these last years I played for you to show you that dreams are worth fighting for and that kindness and courage matter more than winning You are my heartTo every coach partner trainer physio my team and my world of friends who walked this path with me thank you for pushing me lifting me and believing in me through every chapter To Scott my coach mentor and friend for 12 incredible years Youve seen me through every phase the highs the frustrations the vulnerabilities the comebacks and helped shape not just the player but the man I am today Your belief guidance and calm through it all have been my groundingAcross his illustrious journey Bopanna has reached five Grand Slam finals one in mens doubles with Matthew Ebden at the 2023 US Open and four in mixed doubles with Dabrowski at the 2017 French Open Timea Babos at the 2018 Australian Open and Sania Mirza at the 2023 Australian Open underscoring his consistency and longevity at the highest levelTo my fellow players thank you for the respect the rivalries and the brotherhood Lastly to my fans your love has been my fuel You celebrated me when I triumphed and stood by me when I fell You have given my career perspective and purpose Representing India has been the greatest honour of my life Each time I walked onto the court with the tricolour beside my name I felt its pride and its value Every serve every point every match I played for that flag for that feeling for my country Thank you India the post further readsI may be stepping away from competition but my story with tennis isnt over This game gave me everything and now I want to give back to help young dreamers from small towns believe that their beginnings dont define their limits That with belief hard work and heart anything is possible My gratitude is endless and my love for this beautiful game will never fade This isnt goodbye its a thank you to everyone who shaped me guided me supported me and loved me Youre all a part of this story Youre all a part of me IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/officially-hanging-up-my-racquet-rohan-bopanna-announces-retirement-646031.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-sinner-begins-bid-to-retake-world-no-1-with-victory-in-paris-645476.html Paris Oct 29 Just four days after he lifted an ATP 500 crown in Vienna Jannik Sinner the No 2 in the ATP Rankings kickstarted his Paris Masters title bid with a commanding 64 62 triumph against Zizou Bergs here on Wednesday Sinner produced a typically assured allaround performance to overwhelm his Belgian opponent in the pairs maiden ATP headtohead meeting and extend his tourlevel winning streak on indoor hard courts to 22 matchesBergs started his campaign at La Défense Arena by fending off four break points but was still unable to deny Sinner a break of serve in a 12minute opening game That was enough to set the Italian on his way to the first set and another break in the first game of the second set also proved decisiveThe secondseeded Sinner was authoritative behind his own serve throughout the match He did not face a break point and won 77 per cent 2431 of points behind his first delivery according to Infosys ATP Stats en route to setting a thirdround meeting with Francisco Cerundolo The Argentine earlier overcame Miomir Kecmanovic 75 16 764With his 88minute win against Bergs Sinner kept alive his hopes of capitalising on Carlos Alcarazs early Paris loss in the battle for World No 1 The Italian can return to top spot next Monday if he can lift his first Masters 1000 title of the seasonI felt like mostly the movement was good said Sinner Its a very unique court here Usually I always struggled a bit so Im very happy to come through the first match Im very happy with how I served today I was very precise and I also started with a break straight away which gives you a bit more confidence Im very happy about todays performanceSinners straightforward victory was in stark contrast to the opening match of the day on Court Central In a rematch of the Shanghai Masters final from earlier this month Valentin Vacherot again overcame his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a threeset battle to extend his Masters 1000 winning streak to nine matchesVacherot will take on Alcarazs conqueror Cameron Norrie for a quarterfinal berth in Paris Daniil Medvedev also advanced on Wednesday after his secondround opponent Grigor Dimitrov was forced to withdraw before their match due to a right shoulder injury IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-sinner-begins-bid-to-retake-world-no-1-with-victory-in-paris-645476.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-fires-past-vukic-norrie-stuns-alcaraz-in-paris-645424.html Paris Oct 29 Taylor Fritz stayed ahead of the chasing pack of ATP Finals contenders at the Paris Masters with a win over Australian Aleksandar Vukic Fritz moved smoothly past Vukic 764 62 and never really looked to be troubled Last years US Open finalist who also reached the Wimbledon semifinals and the US Open quarter finals this season was never in any real trouble against the AustralianHe served better 12 aces to 7 he retuned better on both first and second serves and he broke Vukic twice without ever facing a break point on his own serve It was all over in 96 minutes and it was the perfect way to celebrate his 28th birthdayFritz awaits the winner of 13th seed Alexander Bublik and Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the third roundWith fellow Turin contenders Ben Shelton Felix AugerAliassime and Daniil Medvedev also all claiming wins Tuesday Fritz ensured that he remained next in line to qualify at fifth in the ATP Live Race to TurinMeanwhile Cameron Norrie scored his first win over a world No1 Carlos Alcaraz with a stunning 46 63 64 victory over the best player in the worldThe British lefty is into the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event for the first time since Rome in 2023 and has equalled his best result in Paris R3 2021Alcaraz was competing for the first time since he won his Tourleading eighth title of the season in Tokyo in late September and was far from his best in his eighth ATP headtohead meeting with Norrie 53 in Alcarazs favourThe top seed committed 54 unforced errors and uncharacteristically struggled with his timing and footwork for large periodsElsewhere after five consecutive defeats Andrey Rublev is now making hay as he beat Learner Tien 64 64It may not have been the cleanest of matches seven aces undone by seven double faults 12 winners countered by 13 unforced errors but he did run away with seven of the last 10 points of the match It seems Rublev is back on trackHe will face Ben Shelton in the next round IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-fires-past-vukic-norrie-stuns-alcaraz-in-paris-645424.html Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/this-tournament-is-difficult-for-me-to-play-well-admits-alcaraz-after-paris-masters-loss-645437.html Paris Oct 29 Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Paris with clarity confidence and momentum but was left baffled with his loss to Britains Cameron Norrie The Spaniard admitted that Paris Masters is a tournament that is really difficult for him to play well Alcaraz who was competing for the first time since he won his Tourleading eighth title of the season in Tokyo in late September was far from his best in his eighth ATP headtohead meeting with NorrieThe British lefty scored his first win over a world No1 Alcaraz with a stunning 46 63 64 victory over the best player in the worldI came here really well I came here with a lot of energy I came here thinking that I could do good results because I have been playing really good tennis said Alcaraz This is the best year for me in terms of playing at the end of the year So Ive been talking with some other players with my team that I feel greatOther years I felt exhausted I felt tired I felt mentally physically But this year I feel good I skipped Shanghai I have been at home for some days so I could enjoy myself there and relax help the battery so I dont know what happened here It is a tournament that is really difficult for me to play well but I will figure it out and I will end up playing great tennis here for sure he addedThe defeat means that Alcarazs fierce rival Jannik Sinner could reclaim the World No 1 ranking if he wins his maiden title in ParisWith less than two weeks to go until the Nitto ATP Finals Alcaraz faces a quick turnaround to prepare in his quest for a first title at the yearend championshipsI will try to prepare myself as best as I can coming to Turin coming to Davis Cup really important tournaments that I have ahead right nowRight now I just want to be back home and lets see what Im going to do But of course Im going to practise and prepare myself and obviously I will try not to let this happen again said Alcaraz IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/this-tournament-is-difficult-for-me-to-play-well-admits-alcaraz-after-paris-masters-loss-645437.html Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/pan-pacific-open-rybakina-withdraws-from-semis-due-to-back-injury-644832.html Tokyo Oct 25 Elena Rybakina was forced to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open semifinal in Tokyo on Saturday due to a back injury just a day after securing her place at the seasonending WTA Finals Her withdrawal handed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic a walkover into Sundays final where the sixth seed will face either Sofia Kenin or Belinda BencicThe 2022 Wimbledon champion who had looked in fine form all week expressed her disappointment in a statement released by the tournament Im very sorry I cant play today said the Moscowborn Kazakh I have been having problems with my back this week and cant play 100 per cent I am disappointed that my fans will not see me today but I hope to see you next yearRybakinas decision to pull out comes at the end of a demanding stretch on the tour that saw her secure her eighth and final qualifying spot for the WTA Finals which will be held next month in Saudi Arabia On Friday she sealed her place among the elite eight with a straightsets victory over Canadas Victoria Mboko in the Tokyo quarterfinalsThe world number seven has been in excellent form recently lifting the Ningbo Open title in China last week to boost her qualification chances for the prestigious yearend eventWhile her Tokyo campaign ended prematurely Rybakinas consistency across the season including deep runs in Grand Slams and WTA events has firmly established her among the games eliteFans will now hope her withdrawal is merely precautionary as she looks to recover in time for the WTA Finals where she will join a starstudded field featuring the likes of Iga Swiatek Coco Gauff Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/pan-pacific-open-rybakina-withdraws-from-semis-due-to-back-injury-644832.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/indias-rising-tennis-star-srishti-kiran-prepares-to-shine-on-us-junior-circuit-642931.html Bengaluru Oct 13 At just 13 Srishti Kiran is already being hailed as one of Indias brightest young tennis prospects And she is getting ready to display her skills abroad in the competitive US junior circuit Ranked No 16 in the country in the U14 Girls category the Bengaluruborn player has been steadily climbing the junior circuit and is now preparing for one of the biggest tests of her budding career a series of tournaments in the United States including the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl in Florida this DecemberSrishti played a key role in helping India clinch its firstever Asian Tennis Federation ATF U12 Girls Team Championship crown in 2023 where she remained unbeaten Her performance on the Asian circuit soon caught wider attention and she was scouted to train at the prestigious RPS Academy in Florida under the mentorship of worldrenowned coach Gabe Jaramillo after being spotted at the Asian Tennis Federations Orange Ball programThe move is giving her worldclass exposure but has also demanded sacrifices at a young age The most challenging part has been staying away from home missing my mom and Bengaluru I just cope by calling her whenever I can But I really miss the food the people the weather of course she sharedDespite these challenges she embraced the sacrifices as part of her pursuit of excellence Without sacrifices you cannot become a good player she affirmedSrishti the youngest to win backtoback All India Tennis Association AITA U10 Championships began her journey into tennis at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association KSLTA Bengaluru when she was just four and a half years old She fondly remembers stepping onto the court with a racket almost as big as herselfMy earliest memory at KSLTA was coming for my first tennis class I was shorter than the net holding a racket but I loved it right away she recalledOver the years KSLTA has played an instrumental role in nurturing her talent providing not just training but also an environment where she felt constantly supported KSLTA has supported me a lot especially Sunil Yajaman sir Jt Secretary KSLTA And everybody here has supported me in some way or another It really felt like home she expressedHer resilience was evident in her recent performance at the KSLTAITF Juniors at SM Krishna Stadium where she reached the quarterfinals a performance that highlighted her growing prowessShe proudly donned Indias colours internationally at the age of 10 Srishti credited her steady progress to the enduring support from her parents the guidance of her coaches and mentors both in India and abroad Among the many lessons she received one stood out her coach Gabes constant reminder No matter what condition you are in stay focused and give it your all With utmost gratitude she added I would like to thank all my coaches for helping and motivating me along the way They believed that I could and that belief pushes me forwardSrishti also drew inspiration from American tennis star Coco Gauff admiring the similarities in their playing styles From the way she hits to the way she moves my game really matched with hers I really admire and learn from her she saidLooking ahead her immediate goals are to perform strongly at the upcoming Junior Orange Bowl and the IMG Academy International Tennis Championships in Florida later this yearHer longterm goals are firmly defined In 10 years I aim to be World No 1 winning an Olympic medal and lifting a Grand Slam for my country is my ultimate vision she expressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/indias-rising-tennis-star-srishti-kiran-prepares-to-shine-on-us-junior-circuit-642931.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-vacherot-claims-historic-victory-at-2025-shanghai-masters-642740.html Shanghai China Oct 12 Valentin Vacherot of Monaco ranked No 204 in the world defeated Frances Arthur Rinderknech 46 63 63 to claim the 2025 Shanghai Masters title on Sunday The match marked the lowestranked ATP Masters 1000 final in history Despite the unusual rankings it delivered highquality tennis and dramatic momentum shifts as Vacherot fought back after dropping the first set I feel that when I am down I have no choice but to bring my Agame Vacherot said reflecting on his record of rallying from behind reports Xinhua In the first set I didnt do that and he was playing better than me I took my first chance to break in the second set and from that point the crowd got more involved and we put on a better show in the second part of the matchI was just trying to beat the guy on the other side of the net he added describing the challenge of facing RinderknechThe two players are cousins connected through their mothers and grew up playing tennis together in southern France After sealing the victory Vacherot wrote on the camera lens Grandma and grandpa would be proudI tried to put aside the fact that hes my cousin and the guy Ive been training and growing up with It was very tough and he did a better job than I did in the first set coping with the pressure But I just found a way to turn it aroundIts unreal what just happened I have no idea whats going on right now Im not even dreaming its just crazy Im so happy with my performances over the past two weeks I just want to thank everyone who has helped with my career from the beginning There has to be one loser but I think there are two winners today one family that won and for the sport of tennis this story is unreal Vacherot said He thus became the lowestranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history since 1990 Notably the Monegasque star notched wins against Laslo Djere Alexander Bublik Tomas Machac and Tallon Griekspoor He then defeated Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic to reach the final of the tournament where he took on his cousin Arthur Rinderknech IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-vacherot-claims-historic-victory-at-2025-shanghai-masters-642740.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/manish-and-vaishnavi-clinch-singles-titles-in-national-tennis-championship-641581.html New Delhi Oct 4 Tamil Nadus Manish Sureshkumar and Maharashtras Vaishnavi Adkar continued their winning run in the 30th National Tennis Championship to clinch the mens and womens singles titles respectively at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Saturday In the mens singles final Manish Sureshkumar overcame Keerthivassan Suresh 64 62 in a twohour contest showing his consistency and composure under pressureBoth players began aggressively trading early breaks of serve to level at 11 Manish then broke Keerthivassans serve to go 21 up and consolidated to make it 31 Keerthivassan responded strongly holding and breaking back to edge ahead 43 However Manish lifted his game from that point breaking his opponents serve again to close the opening setCarrying the momentum into the second set the Tamil Nadu player maintained his rhythm playing long rallies with precise groundstrokes and solid returns He wrapped up the set 62 to seal the match and the mens singles crownOn the other hand Vaishnavi started the womens singles final in top gear breaking Akanksha Nittures serve early to lead 20 Though Akanksha briefly broke back Vaishnavi quickly regained control with precise shots to win the opening setThe second set followed a similar pattern as Vaishnavi maintained her momentum After both players held serve early she broke Akanksha twice to surge ahead 51 Despite Akansha pulling one break back Vaishnavi held firm serving out confidently to seal the set and title with the final score of 61 62Supported by DCM Shriram Ltd and held under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association AITA and the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association DLTA the Fenesta Open continues to be Indias largest domestic tennis championship attracting the nations top talentIn the Under18 category Harshini N edged past Snigdha Kanta 61 26 64 in a tightly contested girls singles final that lasted over three hoursIn the boys singles final Tavish Pahwa triumphed over Hruthik Katakam 762 10 retired after Katakam was forced to withdraw due to injuryMeanwhile in the mens doubles final the pair of Nitin Kumar Sinha and Maan Kesharwani defeated Manish Sureshkumar and Abhinav Sanjeev S 64 36 105 in a thrilling contest that went down to the wireIn the womens doubles category Akanksha Nitture teamed up with Soha Sadiq to record a 62 62 victory over Pooja Ingale and Yubrani BanerjeeVraj H Gohil and Prakaash Sarran came from behind to beat Karan Thapa and Channamallikarjuna Yale 26 75 105 in a gripping boys U18 doubles final In the girls U18 doubles final Savitha Bhuvaneswaran and Aahan outclassed Akansha Ghosh and Deepshika V 63 63 to lift the titleBesides the prestigious titles the winners will be awarded with prize money with a total prize pool of over Rs 2155 Lakh and Kit Allowance in the junior categories up for grabs The winners and runnersup in the U16 and U14 singles events will also receive a Tennis scholarship of 25000 each The Boys and Girls Under16 amp Under14 category qualifying and main draw matches will be played from October 5 to October 11 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/manish-and-vaishnavi-clinch-singles-titles-in-national-tennis-championship-641581.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-loses-in-shanghai-masters-opener-misses-chance-to-push-atp-tour-final-claim-641266.html Shanghai Oct 3 Ben Shelton lost to former World No 7 David Goffin in the second round at the Shanghai Masters 26 46 on Friday and missed the opportunity to boost his ATP Tout Final hopes on his return to tour on Friday Shelton who was competing for the first time since he was forced to retire during the third round at the US Open in August due to a left shoulder injury was slightly off the pace committing 22 unforced errors to 11 from Goffin who beat Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami earlier this yearGoffin saved all three break points he faced against Shelton and leads the sixth seed 20 in the pairs ATP Head2Head series The 34yearold who is a twotime Shanghai quarterfinalist plays Gabriel Diallo in the third round on SundayShelton22 who won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title on the surface in Toronto and also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open owns a 3719 tourlevel record in 2025 He arrrived arrived in Shanghai sixth in the ATP Live Race To Turin on 3720 points and in a good spot to make his debut at the ATP Finals in November according to ATP TourHowever the American could now be surpassed by seventhplaced Alex de Minaur 3355 and eighthplaced Lorenzo Musetti 3345 in the coming days Shelton is currently 1005 points ahead of 10thplaced Felix AugerAliassime who is the first player outside the Top 8 cut with ninthplaced Jack Draper sidelined for the rest of the year due to injuryAugerAliassime plays Chengdu champion Alejandro Tabilo in his Shanghai opener He just need one win in Shanghai to reach the 250 careerwins milestone according to the ATP WinLoss index He is 3419 on the year his best mark since his breakout 2022 season when his 60 victories led to his debut at the ATP Finals IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-loses-in-shanghai-masters-opener-misses-chance-to-push-atp-tour-final-claim-641266.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/conditions-are-different-than-beijing-sinner-braces-for-tough-challenge-in-shanghai-masters-title-defence-641135.html Shanghai Oct 2 World No 2 Jannik Sinner admitted he is expecting a difficult and tough challenge in his Shanghai Masters title defense which begins against Germanys 49thranked Daniel Altmaier who triumphed in five sets in their latest meeting at Roland Garros in 2023 The 24yearold Italian defeated teenager Learner Tien to clinch his 21st ATP title in Beijing Within hours of his triumph he travelled south to ShanghaiI have only one practice session to get ready but lets see Sinner was quoted by ATP as saying Its going to be a very very difficult and tough challenge especially the first match You never know whats going to happenThe Shanghai Masters will be missing World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz who pulled out citing physical issues That leaves fourtime Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic as the biggest obstacle to Sinners repeat bidLast year Sinner memorably beat Djokovic in the final to lift the Shanghai trophy marking one of the biggest victories of his career Yet the Italian who has confirmed he will only have one practice session before his opening match is focused from the outsetAfter his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz which also cost him his World No 1 spot Sinner hinted at subtle changes in his game Those tweaks he says are beginning to pay off but he remains hungry for moreIm not the only one who is changing Sinner said in his pretournament press conference in Shanghai If you ask every player every player is changing stuff and trying to get better Whatever we try to do its not crazy steps just trying to adjust a couple of things trying to get better as a player like everyone else does Certain shots that worked slightly better than the months before certain shots we can still improveBut its also normal and Im just looking forward to having as many matches as possible in every tournament This gives me the chance to try as many things as possible So lets see but we are quite happy with the work we are doing IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/conditions-are-different-than-beijing-sinner-braces-for-tough-challenge-in-shanghai-masters-title-defence-641135.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gauff-beats-lys-to-return-to-china-open-semifinal-641144.html Beijing Oct 2 The No 2 seed Coco Gauff reached the China Open semifinals for the third straight year withstanding a barrage of power from Eva Lys before coming through their quarterfinal 63 64 on Thursday This is Gauffs fourth semifinal of 2025 and her first off clay since winning last years WTA Finals Riyadh She now owns a 141 career record in Beijing and has made at least the last four in each of her three appearances so far the first player to make three consecutive semifinals here since Jelena Jankovic in 200608 according to the WTAThe American is bidding to successfully defend a title for the second time in her career following Auckland 202324 and will face either No 3 seed Amanda Anisimova or No 6 seed Jasmine Paolini in the semifinalsThe tone of the match was set as early as the first point a 16stroke lungbuster in which Lys made her aggressive intentions clear but was denied by a terrific lob and forehand putaway by GauffNo 66ranked Lys never wavered from her commitment to allout attack Her tally of 14 winners belied the amount of rallies in which Gauff was forced into error by Lys relentless pace frequently after exchanges of over 10 shotsThat game was the start of a fivebreak sequence in the first set mirrored in the second by three consecutive breaks Gauff always had the lead and the control over the match as a whole Lys played her part in several stunning points but could not reach that level with the consistency required to hit through Gauff The German finished the match with 48 unforced errors WTA reportsShes a tough opponent she hit some incredible shots on the run said Gauff postmatch I was trying my best to stay aggressive Just staying confident in my game and not being too passive when I have the lead IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gauff-beats-lys-to-return-to-china-open-semifinal-641144.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wta-tour-unbeaten-on-court-swiatek-wins-25th-career-title-in-seoul-639835.html Seoul Sep 21 Top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland trailed in nearly every single statistical category in Sundays Korea Open final but won the big moments to defeat No 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 16 76 3 75 in 2 hours and 41 minutes to lift another title on the WTA Tour The victory marked her third title of the season and the 25th of her career She is now 255 alltime in WTA finals First of all I want to congratulate Ekaterina for an amazing week and an amazing final Swiatek said during the trophy presentation Honestly I dont know how I won it because you were playing great and I just tried to stay alive Hopefully were going to play more finals because its always tough against you but its also entertainingHer neversaydie mentality ultimately gave Swiatek the edge in a match defined by razorthin margins aside from the lopsided opening set Alexandrova the clear underdog came out swinging and needed just 30 minutes to take the first set convincingly breaking Swiatek in the opening game and never looking backThe 24yearold Swiatek flipped the script to start the second set breaking Alexandrova immediately But the momentum shifted again as Alexandrova broke back in the next game The two then traded holds until it came time for a tiebreak where Swiatek finally looked to be the one in control for the first time in the matchThe former World No1 and seventime Grand Slam singles winner jumped out to a 30 lead extended it to 52 and closed out the tiebreak 73 to force a deciderEarly in the third Swiatek handed Alexandrova a break with three double faults in one game falling behind 21 But she recovered levelling the set at 3all and taking the lead for just the second time in the match in the next gameFrom there scoreboard pressure worked in Swiateks favour As Alexandrova served to stay in the match Swiatek turned up the heat blasting a crosscourt forehand winner on her second match point to put away her opponent and seal the comebackMeanwhile Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova reunited for what turned out to be a milestone title for both playersThe win was especially meaningful for Siniakova who reclaimed the WTA doubles No 1 ranking She now sits at 161 career weeks atop the rankings just two shy of Cara Black for third on the alltime listFor Siniakova its her 31st career WTA doubles title and third of the season having previously won the Australian Open and the WTA 1000 event in Dubai with regular partner Taylor Townsend who coincidentally is the player she displaced from the top spot in the rankingsFor Krejcikova the victory marks her milestone 20th career WTA doubles title and first of the 2025 season Her last came in Prague in 2024 also alongside Siniakova IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wta-tour-unbeaten-on-court-swiatek-wins-25th-career-title-in-seoul-639835.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 23:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-pulls-out-of-china-open-due-to-minor-injury-638940.html Beijing Sep 17 World No 1 womens tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the China Open due to a minor injury tournament organisers said The Belarusian who broke through with her first major title of the year in the final Grand Slam reached the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing last yearHi all I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open I am going to focus on being 100 healthy for the rest of the year and I cant wait to see my Chinese fans soon I look forward to returning to Beijing next year and wish the tournament good luck Sabalenka said in a statementSabalenka reached the womens singles finals at the Australian Open French Open and US Open this seasonThe main draw of the 2025 China Open is scheduled to run from September 24 to October 5 American Coco Gauff is the defending champion at the China OpenSabalenka had pulled off a rare repeat at this years at US Open powering past American Amanda Anisimova 63 763 to become the first woman to win backtoback singles titles in Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014Sabalenka notched her 100th career Grand Slam maindraw match victory wih her US final win and upped her tourleading win total to 56 on the yearAfter unsuccessful finals this year at the Australian Open and Roland Garros the reigning No 1 finally has her first major trophy of 2025 and the fourth of her careerOf the 11 majors Sabalenka played across the past three years she has now won four reached three finals three semifinals and one quarterfinalShe now has two titles each at the US Open and Australian Opens reminiscent of Naomi Osakas run from 201821 except she accomplished it in three years instead of four IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-pulls-out-of-china-open-due-to-minor-injury-638940.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/davis-cup-cerundolo-lifts-argentina-to-brink-of-finals-fritz-keeps-usa-alive-638215.html New Delhi Sep 13 Francisco Cerundolo and Taylor Fritz delivered pivotal singles victories on Saturday to keep Argentina and the United States firmly in contention for places in the Davis Cup Final 8 Cerundolo powered Argentina to the brink of qualification in Groningen while Fritz ensured the Americans stayed level in Delray Beach World No 21 Cerundolo overcame a shaky start before producing a 764 61 win against Dutch No 1 Botic van de Zandschulp The opening set was a rollercoaster featuring six service breaks but the Argentine steadied in the tiebreak racing ahead 40 before sealing the lead With his forehand firing and confidence surging Cerundolo then raced through the second set clinching his 33rd tourlevel win of the season His victory followed Tomas Martin Etcheverrys 64 64 triumph over Jesper de Jong putting Argentina 20 ahead of last years finalists The 2016 champions can now close out the tie in Saturdays doublesMeanwhile Fritz gave Team USA a muchneeded lift after Jiri Leheckas straightsets dismissal of Frances Tiafoe had put Czechia ahead The World No 5 struck cleanly from the baseline and served with precision to defeat Miami champion Jakub Mensik 64 63 leveling the tie at 11 It was a sharp response from Fritz in their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry which he now leads 21 having lost to Mensik in Miami earlier this yearFor both nations the wins of their top men underscored leadership in the team setting Cerundolos composure under pressure leaves Argentina on the cusp of backtoback Final appearances while Fritzs resilience ensured the United States avoided falling into a dangerous deficitAs the weekend continues their performances stand as defining moments in the push toward the Davis Cup season finale IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/davis-cup-cerundolo-lifts-argentina-to-brink-of-finals-fritz-keeps-usa-alive-638215.html Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/eala-tjen-set-up-quarterfinal-meeting-in-sao-paulo-637809.html Sao Paulo Sep 11 Alexandra Eala continued her surge Wednesday with a 61 64 win over Julia Riera to reach the quarterfinals of Sao Paulo Open It marks Ealas third quarterfinal of the season coming on the heels of her WTA 125 title in Guadalajara and a firstround upset of Clara Tauson at the US Open in recent weeksThe Filipino star converted all three break points to take the opening set in just over 30 minutesThe second set was more competitive Eala broke in the first game but Riera responded immediately Later Riera saved four match points before the No 3 seed Eala finally closed out the win WTA reportsI said the other day that the Brazilians are super hospitable Thats one thing I think you have in common with the Philippines so Im feeling at home I loved the atmosphere tonight Eala said after the matchNotably Eala has spent less than 25 hours on court including a 70minute victory over Yasmine Mansouri in the first roundNext Eala will face Indonesias topranked player Janice Tjen who dropped just one game in a 61 60 rout of Martina Okalova earlier in the day to advanced to her firstcareer quarterfinalAfter serving up a firstset breadstick Tjen delivered a secondset bagel in a match that lasted just 52 minutes She faced only one break point while forcing 12 of her own converting six Despite landing just over 42 of her first serves she won nearly 86 of those points according to WTA statsWith the win Tjen becomes the first Indonesian woman to reach a WTA quarterfinal since Angelique Widjaja in Bali in 2004The quarterfinal cash It will be Eala and Tjens first career meeting Eala is aiming for her third WTA semifinal of the season Tjen competing in just her second WTAlevel tournament is seeking her first IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/eala-tjen-set-up-quarterfinal-meeting-in-sao-paulo-637809.html Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-league-adds-gs-delhi-aces-as-new-franchise-637839.html New Delhi Sep 11 GS Delhi Aces have been added to the Tennis Premier League TPL as the new franchise ahead of the 7th edition of the league Guru Samruddhi House of Investments has acquired the GS Delhi Aces franchise Indian tennis legend 18time Grand Slam Champion and Olympic bronze medallist Leander Paes has joined GS Delhi Aces as the brand ambassadorI have been a part of TPL since its inception This year is a special one for the league as it will become Indias fourth sporting league to complete seven successful seasons and I am delighted to be associated with GS Delhi Aces Paes saidThe launch event of GS Delhi Aces took place in Dubai marking the very first team launch at the international stage in the history of TPL Over 500 attendees were presentThe league also features prominent names such as Sania Mirza Ambassador Gurgaon Grand Slammers Mahesh Bhupathi CEO SG Sports Rakul Preet Singh Coowner Hyderabad Strikers and Sonali Bendre Coowner Chennai SmashersSpeaking on the occasion Vijay Pusdekar CMD Guru Samruddhi and Lead Partner GS Delhi Aces said We are immensely proud to represent the confidence of putting on a good show for tennis fans in Delhi and across the countryWelcoming the new franchise Kunal Thakkur cofounder of TPL said We are delighted to welcome Guru Samruddhi House of Investments to the TPL family as we embark on a landmark seventh season This year for the very first time the league will feature ATP topranked players within 3050Mrunal Jain CoFounder of TPL added TPL continues to attract visionary partners like Guru Samruddhi House of Investments With the addition of big corporates we are confident that this season will be historic competitive and truly memorableTPL is the 4th Indian sports league to successfully enter its seventh season joining an elite group of longrunning sporting leagues in India Known for its fastpaced viewerfriendly format and a mix of international stars and emerging Indian players the league continues to attract top investors and global attention IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-league-adds-gs-delhi-aces-as-new-franchise-637839.html Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-takes-commanding-lead-in-year-end-no-1-race-637303.html New Delhi Sep 9 Carlos Alcaraz is in a great position to claim ATP YearEnd No 1 for the second time after lifting a US Open trophy at Flushing Meadows and recapturing World No 1 in the ATP rankings After his US Open triumph the Spaniard took a commanding lead in the ATP Live Race To Turin the seasontodate standings which serves as a measuring stick for the yearend No 1 battleAlcaraz now owns a 2590point advantage over his chief rival secondplaced Jannik Sinner in the Live Race No other player is within 6000 points of the Spaniard according to ATP statsThe US Open final was a big opportunity for Sinner to close the gap on Alcaraz and set the stage for an intense yearend No 1 clash in the final two months of the season Had Sinner beaten Alcaraz on Sunday there would have been a 1400point swing in his favourInstead Alcaraz is in perfect position with two ATP Masters 1000 events Shanghai and Paris and the ATP Finals among the tournaments remaining in 2025 He last finished yearend No 1 in 2022Only 10 players have finished as yearend No 1 more than once and Alcaraz can join Rafael Nadal 5 as the second Spaniard to accomplish the feat Alcaraz and Sinner are the only singles players who have already qualified for this years ATP FinalsFifthplaced Ben Shelton and eighthplaced Lorenzo Musetti are trying to qualify for the season finale for the first time Musetti is only 80 points ahead of ninthplaced Jack Draper who announced on Monday he will not compete for the rest of the season due to an arm injuryThe Briton who was ninth in the ATP Live Race To Turin will not be able to make a push for his ATP Finals debut Instead the 23yearold will focus on returning to health after a year in which he won his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-takes-commanding-lead-in-year-end-no-1-race-637303.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcarazs-us-open-win-fueled-by-15-day-training-camp-to-outsmart-sinner-reveals-coach-ferrero-637060.html New York Sep 8 After Carlos Alcaraz claimed his second US Open title and the No1 spot in ATP rankings coach Juan Carlos Ferrero revealed that the Spaniard had a 15day camp where the focus was on every detail that he has to improve to take down the Italian Alcaraz had beaten Sinner for the Roland Garros trophy where he needed to save three championship points to do so Two months ago Alcaraz fell to Sinner in the Wimbledon finalAt the grasscourt major Sinner triumphed in four sets to claim his fourth Slam trophy and pull to within one of his rival Alcaraz had plenty to think about and that is exactly what he did according to coach FerreroI think it was very important because we maybe practised for 15 days very focused on the details that we have to improve to play against Jannik We know that in this kind of surface on hard courts Jannik is always very difficult to play and is winning a lot of matches I think it helped a lot because he realised what he has to improve a lot and I was very focused on it said FerreroAlcaraz delivered a classy allaround display to down his great rival 62 36 61 64 and claim his second US Open title and became the youngest male player in history to claim six major titles and enables a triumphant return to the top of the ATP rankings for the first time since September 2023 Alcaraz will begin his 37th week at No 1 on Monday ending Sinners 65week reign at the top of the chartsI think we prepared the match very good watching some matches and seeing the specific details we had to play Carlos did 100 per cent of what he needed to Its easy to say and very difficult to do itThe performance today was perfect I think he compromised with himself to go for the match all the time tried to put pressure on the rival sooner than Jannik I think its one of the keys Ferrero saidI think these guys hit the ball both of them very very fast and I think who hits first takes the advantage on points Carlos has maybe more variety in his game and he can do more like slice go to the net and do more things than maybe Jannik But I think it helps a lot to change a little bit the way of the game he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcarazs-us-open-win-fueled-by-15-day-training-camp-to-outsmart-sinner-reveals-coach-ferrero-637060.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/after-us-open-glory-alcaraz-turns-focus-to-his-first-goal-of-completing-a-career-grand-slam-637078.html New York Sep 8 After winning his careers sixth major with his second US Open title Carlos Alcaraz has now shifted his focus to achieving his biggest goal of completing a career Grand Slam as well as the calendar slam Alcaraz has two crowns apiece at Roland Garros Wimbledon and the US Open in his cabinet The only major left is the Australian Open where he will try to secure glory at the start of next seasonIts my first goal to be honest When I just go to the preseason to see what I want to improve what I want to achieve Australian Open is there Its the first or second tournament of the year and it is always the main goal for me to complete a Career Grand Slam Calendar Grand Slam So its going to be great Alcaraz saidAlcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 62 36 61 64 to claim his sixth major title and second at the US Open and became the second youngest male player in history to claim six Grand Slams titles with his victory over SinnerWith his win in New York the Spaniard returned to the top spot in ATP rankings for the first time since September 2023 and began his 37th week at No 1 on Monday Reflecting on returning to World No 1 Alcaraz said Since I got the chance to recover the No 1 it was one of the first goals that I had during the season just to try to recover the No 1 as soon as possible or end the year as the No 1For me achieving that once again it is a dream Doing it in the same day as getting another Grand Slam feels even better Its everything Im working for and Im really happy to be able to live these experiences he addedNotably after his US Open win Alcaraz has become the fourth player in history to have won multiple major titles on all three surfaces two on hard two on clay and two on grass He joined Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal and Mats Wilander on the list IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/after-us-open-glory-alcaraz-turns-focus-to-his-first-goal-of-completing-a-career-grand-slam-637078.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-defends-crown-with-win-over-anisimova-636911.html New York Sep 7 Aryna Sabalenka solidified her status as the worlds top player on Saturday defeating Amanda Anisimova 63 763 to claim her second consecutive US Open title With the win Sabalenka becomes the first woman to defend her singles crown at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014 The top seed and defending champion delivered a powerful and composed performance against the eighthseeded American earning her first Grand Slam title of the 2025 season and the fourth major trophy of her career It also marked her 100th career Grand Slam maindraw victory and 56th win of the season the most on tour this yearSabalenka had reached the finals at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros earlier this year but fell short on both occasions On Saturday she broke through with a determined and emotionally charged display overcoming a spirited challenge from Anisimova who was appearing in her second straight Grand Slam finalThe opening set saw five service breaks between the two players with Sabalenka ultimately gaining the upper hand She broke Anisimova for a third time to go up 53 and closed out the set minutes later when Anisimova missed a forehand wideIn the second set Sabalenka appeared poised to finish the match while serving at 54 but a missed overhead at 30all opened the door for Anisimova to break back and push the set to a tiebreak However Sabalenka responded with poise controlling the tiebreak from the outset and sealing victory on her third championship pointAnisimova who defeated Sabalenka earlier this year in the Wimbledon semifinals came into the match with a 63 headtohead edge but fell short once again Despite the loss the American is projected to break into the Top 5 of the PIF WTA Rankings for the first time IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-defends-crown-with-win-over-anisimova-636911.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-still-want-to-play-grand-slams-djokovic-hushes-retirement-talks-after-us-open-sf-loss-636781.html New York Sep 6 Novak Djokovic confirmed that he wants to play a full Grand Slam season next year after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal of the 2025 US Open Alcaraz and Djokovic continued their intergenerational rivalry where the 22yearold Spaniard overcame the 38yearold Serbian 64 764 62 to reach his seventh major final and second in New YorkI still want to play Grand Slams and a full Grand Slam season next year said the Serb Lets see whether thats going to happen or not But Slams are Slams they are just different from any other tournament They are the pillars of our sport the most important tournaments we have said DjokovicIn a largely highquality absorbing twohour and 25minute clash on Arthur Ashe Stadium Alcaraz avenged his recent losses to Djokovic at this years Australian Open and the 2024 Paris Olympics to stay on track for his sixth Grand Slam title and a return to No 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings as per ATPIm happy with my level of tennis but its just the physicality of it As I said after the quarterfinals the press conference when I spoke to you guys I said Im going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as its needed said Djokovic who is 54 in his ATP Head2Head series with Alcaraz But it wasnt enough Thats something I unfortunately at this point in time in my career cant controlThe 100time tourlevel titlist said it is frustrating when he is unable to maintain his level physically But he was also realistic in explaining that at his age it is expectedIt comes with time and with age Djokovic said I still enjoy the thrill of competition Today I received amazing support again on the court from the crowd Very thankful for that I thoroughly enjoyed myself Yeah thats one of the biggest reasons why I keep on going The love that Ive been getting around the world has been amazing the last couple of years Djokovic concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-still-want-to-play-grand-slams-djokovic-hushes-retirement-talks-after-us-open-sf-loss-636781.html Sat, 06 Sep 2025 12:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kslta-itf-juniors-deepshika-scripts-comeback-rohith-dominates-to-clinch-titles-636841.html Bengaluru Sep 6 The KSLTA ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium concluded on Saturday as Rohith Gobinath and eighth seed Deepshika Vinayagamurthy emerged as champions in the Boys and Girls Singles respectively The Girls final produced a rollercoaster that lasted over three hours Top seed Snigdha Kanta dominated the opener 61 but Deepshika Vinayagamurthy showed grit to claw back in a tight second set The 15yearold broke Snigdhas second serve to take a 31 lead only for Snigdha to snap back and level at 33 Neither athlete gave an inch in a gruelling set to reach 66 before Snigdha sealed the tiebreak with only three points concededIn the decider Deepshika went ahead 31 before Snigdha fought back to 33 and the tension peaked when Snigdha broke back at 45 to stay alive But Deepshika dug deep and bagged the set 75 to take the titleRohith Gobinath breezed past his opponent to secure the title in 87 minutes The first set was evenly contested with both players holding their serve and taking three games each in the early exchanges Leveraging his strong backhand Rohith eventually clinched the set 75 Carrying that momentum into the second set he tightened his grip with early breaks to race to a 41 lead in the set and eventually sealed the contest 75 61 Speaking on his maiden ITF Junior Title Rohith Gobinath said My plan was to attack his service game and I took the first set after a tough battle I was in better physical condition in the second set and was able to do well I am thrilled as this is a big win in my career Reflecting on her victory Deepshika Vinayagamurthy added Snigdha is an amazing player and I went in with a mindset to just play my best In the first set she was playing extraordinary tennis and was finishing points too quickly so in the second set I got back to my basics and tried to drag the match a bit so I was able to make her play more get my rhythm and finish the match Boys Singles Finals Rohith Hari Balaji Gobina Gobinath bt Om Verma 75 61 Girls Singles Finals 8 Deepshika Vinayagamurthy bt 1 Snigdha Kanta 16 76 3 75 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kslta-itf-juniors-deepshika-scripts-comeback-rohith-dominates-to-clinch-titles-636841.html Sat, 06 Sep 2025 18:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-tops-pegula-to-reach-womens-singles-final-636575.html New York Sep 5 Top seed and defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka beat fourth seed Jessica Pegula in a thrilling threeset semifinal 46 63 64 in Arthur Ashe Stadium to sail into the final This was Sabalenkas fifth consecutive US Open semifinal The last player to reach five straight semis in New York was American Serena Williams 201116It will be Sabalenkas seventh Grand Slam final her fourth in the past five majors and her third in a row in New York leaving her one win from successfully defending her US Open titleAwaiting the winner of the Amanda AnisimovaNaomi Osaka semifinal Sabalenka will attempt to become the first player to win consecutive US Open womens singles titles since Serena Williams took three straight between 2012 and 2014Pegula took full advantage early playing a sharp measured opening set that kept Sabalenka off balance She limited herself to only three unforced errors stayed aggressive on return and drew the crowd into every rallyThe 27yearold Sabalenka who fell short in both the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals as well as the Wimbledon semis again struck first in the second set this time consolidating for an early 30 edge eventually forcing a deciderServing to open the third set at 3040 Pegula sent a forehand beyond the baseline to dig herself a hole The American would continue to put pressure on Sabalenkas serve especially in the sixth game which lasted some nine minutes But the 30yearold would manage to convert just two of seven break chances on the nightServing for the match at 54 4030 Sabalenka smacked what seemed to be a routine overhead into the net Pegula would save one more match point but couldnt save a third falling in two hours and five minutesIt was a really tough match She played incredible tennis as always I had to work really hard to get this win Im super happy to get the win against Jess because shes such a great player great fighter They are always tough matches Im super happy to be in the final again said Sabalenka IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-tops-pegula-to-reach-womens-singles-final-636575.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-yuki-bhambris-dream-run-ends-with-semifinal-loss-636582.html New York Sep 5 Indias Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand lost to British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in the US Open mens doubles semifinal bringing their dream run to an end Bhambri and Venus who only just teamed up this summer after success with others suffered 7672 6758 46 loss in the thrilling semifinal against the British duoBhambri who playing her maiden Grand Slam semifinal was the last remaining Indian challenge at this years US Open Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanths run came to an end with a 64 63 defeat to Brazils Fernando Romboli and Australias JohnPatrick SmithEarlier Indian veteran Rohan Bopanna and his partner Romain Arneodo of Monaco crashed out in the opening round on Saturday Arjun Kadhe and his partner Diego Hidalgo of Ecuador also made a firstround exitThe contest played in Louis Armstrong Stadium was closely fought at least until the firstset tiebreak started Then Bhambri and Venus ran away with it giving up just two points to grab the first frame 762 US Open reportsIn the second set Bhambri and Venus took control by breaking their opponents serve in the first game It looked as if an upset was imminent until Bhambri and Venus dropped serve as well A few more tight tense games followed resulting in yet another tiebreak This time the tiebreakand the setwent to the Brits 765In the third set Salisbury and Skupski were suddenly dominantindeed indomitableespecially at the net Up 53 the Brits earned a trio of match points all three of which they squandered But when serving with the match on their racquets Salisbury and Skupski won the deciding set 64Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will face Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the Mens Doubles Championship title at the US OpenGranollers and Zeballos advanced to the final by defeating the unseeded American duo Robert Cash and JJ Tracy in three sets 63 36 61 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-yuki-bhambris-dream-run-ends-with-semifinal-loss-636582.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-anisimova-sets-final-clash-with-sabalenka-with-sf-win-over-osaka-636590.html New York Sep 5 Amanda Anisimova continued her breakout season with another statement victory edging past Naomi Osaka to book her place in the US Open final Just two months after reaching her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon the American rallied from a set down to defeat the fourtime major champion 674 763 63 in a thrilling contest that stretched just under three hours inside Arthur Ashe StadiumAnisimovas win was historic making her the first player to ever beat Osaka in a major semifinal The match saw both players trade breaks relentlessly through the opening two sets before Anisimova steadied herself in the decisive stages Osaka dominated the firstset tiebreak but the 27yearold American hit back in the second racing through her own breaker to level the match as per WTANaomi is playing amazing tennis Anisimova said after the match Shes back where she belongs and I told her Im so proud of her After having a baby to be playing at this level its insane She was really giving me a run for the final and I wasnt sure Id make it past the finish lineThis tournament means so much to me and I think that was really getting to me In the end I was just trying to fight my way through and enjoy the moment We were both playing some amazing tennis and sometimes I was like How are we making these shots But we were and we just kept goingIn the deciding set Anisimova secured a crucial break at 31 and held her nerve saving two break points while serving for the match before closing it out on her third opportunity She finished with 50 winners handing Osaka just her third Grand Slam hardcourt defeat after winning the opening setThe result sets up a showdown with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka a rematch of their Wimbledon semifinal which Anisimova won With her second straight Slam final she also ensures that an American woman has featured in every major final this season the first time that has happened since 2002 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-anisimova-sets-final-clash-with-sabalenka-with-sf-win-over-osaka-636590.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-osaka-overcomes-muchova-to-reach-semis-636326.html New York Sep 4 Naomi Osaka secured her spot in the US Open semifinals on Thursday with a hardfought 64 763 victory over Karolina Muchova marking a powerful statement in her comeback to toplevel tennis The fourtime Grand Slam champion seeded 23rd and returning to form after a long maternity break maintained her perfect record in major quarterfinals now standing at 50 This win sets up a highstakes semifinal clash with Amanda Anisimova as Osaka continues her impressive run at Flushing Meadows four years after capturing her last major titleIt means so much Im surprised Im not crying said OsakaI was sitting up there watching and hoping I would have an opportunity to play on this court again so my dreams are coming true Theres been so much hard work you guys havent seen Im just grateful to my team Hopefully you guys will come and watch my next roundMuchova who had spent over 10 grueling hours on court across her first four matches took a medical timeout after narrowly losing the opening set receiving treatment in the locker room for a suspected left leg issue Despite returning with her thigh heavily strapped she came out aggressively and broke Osaka early in the second set Though visibly hampered in her movement at times Muchova continued to challenge Osaka with her crafty and unpredictable style of play breaking to take a 54 lead However Osaka regained control just in time forcing a tiebreak and ultimately sealing the match to advanceIt was an incredibly difficult match She is one of the best players in the world Every time I play against her its so difficult Osaka saidLast year she beat me when I had one of my best outfits I was really upset Im just grateful to be here IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-osaka-overcomes-muchova-to-reach-semis-636326.html Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-yuki-bhambri-reaches-first-ever-grand-slam-semi-final-636354.html New York Sep 4 Indias Yuki Bhambri reached his firstever Grand Slam semifinal after he and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus secured a spot in the US Open mens doubles last four The IndoKiwi pair pulled off a notable upset against the 11thseeded duo of Nikola Mektic and Rajeev Ram clinching a hardfought 63 678 63 victory in their quarterfinal showdown on Court 17 on WednesdayFor 33yearold Bhambri this marks a significant milestone in his career Once the junior world No 1 and winner of the 2009 Australian Open boys title he has now achieved his bestever result at a senior Grand Slam His journey marked by persistent injuries and a transition from singles to doubles has finally brought him to a major semifinal a breakthrough momentThe duos success adds another chapter to Indias storied history in mens doubles following in the footsteps of legends like Leander Paes Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan BopannaIn their quarterfinal clash Bhambri and Venus struck early A sharp return winner from Bhambri on Mektics serve gave them a 31 lead Although Venus faced pressure in the next game he held firm to consolidate the break The first set was wrapped up with a confident volley winner from Bhambri off Rams returnMomentum shifted in the second set as Bhambri dropped his serve early allowing Mektic and Ram back into the contest Despite levelling the set at 44 the IndoKiwi duo eventually lost it in a tight tiebreak with Bhambri doublefaulting on set pointIn the deciding set Bhambri held firm under pressure saving a crucial break point in the third game Then with Mektic serving at 43 the 11th seeds faltered A double fault at deuce and a brilliant angled backhand from Bhambri earned the decisive break Venus faced a stern test serving for the match falling behind 040 but the pair saved five break points in total before closing it out when Rams return clipped the netBhambri and Venus will now take on sixthseeded Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski for a place in the final looking to extend their fairytale runEarlier Bhambri and Venus had eliminated the fourthseeded duo of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the prequarterfinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-yuki-bhambri-reaches-first-ever-grand-slam-semi-final-636354.html Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/grateful-to-have-prevailed-in-a-challenging-match-says-bhambri-on-us-open-semis-entry-636382.html New York Sep 4 Indias Yuki Bhambri said it was a challenging match after he sealed a firstever Grand Slam semifinal spot in the US Open on Thursday Bhamri along with his mens doubles partner Michael Venus of New Zealand stunned the 11th seeds Nikola Mektic and Rajeev Ram 63 76 63 in a thrilling quarterfinal clash on Court 17Speaking on JioHotstar Bhambri reflected on the intensity of the match and the challenge posed by the experienced opponents It has been an incredibly nervewracking experience and at this moment there is a whirlwind of emotions We are simply grateful to have prevailed in such a challenging match Our opponents made it extremely difficult for us with their vast experience as multiple Grand Slam champions and competing against them truly tested our resolve at every stage he saidThe IndoKiwi pair took the first set 63 after an early break but Bhambris double fault on set point handed their opponents the second set in a tiebreak In the decider Bhambri and Venus broke at 43 and despite Venus facing intense pressure while serving for the match they saved five break points before sealing victory when Rams return hit the netOn the strong bond and long friendship that he shares with Michael Venus Bhambri said We have been friends for over 15 years and the timing felt right to start competing together I am genuinely pleased to be by his side on the court Having faced him multiple times as an opponent I always preferred partnering with him rather than playing against him It has been a wonderful journey so far starting from the US summer tournament in Washington and we are happy with the progress weve made togetherBhambri and Venus will now take on sixthseeded Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski for a place in the final looking to extend their fairytale run IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/grateful-to-have-prevailed-in-a-challenging-match-says-bhambri-on-us-open-semis-entry-636382.html Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-moves-to-semis-after-vondrousova-withdraws-with-knee-injury-636076.html New York Sep 3 World No 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the semifinals of the US Open without having to play a point after her quarterfinal opponent Marketa Vondrousova withdrew with a knee injury I am sorry to announce that I have to withdraw from my quarterfinal match this evening due to a knee injury 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova said in a statementI tried my best to take the court today but during the warmup I felt again my knee and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury I appreciate all the support this tournament and apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the match I had an amazing time here in NY and cant wait to be back next year she addedSabalenka posted a message on her Instagram story to her opponent So sorry for Marketa after all shes been through She has been playing amazing tennis and I know how badly this must hurt for her Take care of yourself and I hope you can recover quicklySabalenka who is now one step closer to defending her US Open title will face Jessica Pegula in the semis a rematch of last years final which Sabalenka won in straight setsThe No 4 seed and last years runnerup Pegula reached the second major semifinal of her career with a 63 63 defeat of Barbora Krejcikova in 1 hour and 26 minutesPegula 31 becomes just the second player among those who began their career in the Open Era to reach her first two Grand Slam semifinals after turning 30 She follows Flavia Pennetta who made the 2013 US Open semifinals aged 31 and then became the champion in New York two years later IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-moves-to-semis-after-vondrousova-withdraws-with-knee-injury-636076.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-dismisses-lehecka-to-enter-semifinals-636080.html New York Sep 3 Carlos Alcaraz dominated Jiri Lehecka in the US Open quarterfinals with a onehour 56minute match to stay in contention for his first hardcourt major title since 2022 The 22yearold Spaniard hustled for a 64 62 64 victory to reach the semifinals in New York without dropping a setWith a Tourleading 59 wins and six titles in 2025 according to the ATP WinLoss Index Alcaraz looks in good stead to better his careerbest tally of 65 wins and six trophies from 2023Into the last four at a hardcourt major for the first time since the US Open in 2023 Alcaraz awaits fourtime champion Novak Djokovic or last years finalist Taylor FritzWith the No 1 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings also up for grabs this week Alcaraz ramped up the pressure on fierce rival Jannik Sinner If he can match or better the defending champions result in New York he will climb to World No 1 for the first time since September 2023If I think about the No 1 spot too much Im going to put pressure on myself and I just dont want to do that I just want to step on court try to do my things follow my goals and try to enjoy as much as I can The No 1 spot is there but I try to not think about it too much Alcaraz saidLehecka who reached a careerhigh ranking of No 21 just before the tournament began will be solidly inside the Top 20 when the new rankings are released following his strong performance at the US OpenToday I kind of met the Grand Slam version of Carlos Thats the way how I would like to think about it because yeah its been difficult matchCarlos he just showed that he is one of the contenders for sure Everyone knew that and he proved that today as well and the match wasI dont really think that it was bad performance from my side I felt quite okay but I think that the most important things which he needed to do he did better than me Lehecka said in his postmatch press conference IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-dismisses-lehecka-to-enter-semifinals-636080.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-edges-fritz-to-set-alcaraz-showdown-in-semifinals-636088.html New York Sep 3 Novak Djokovic advanced to his fourth semifinal in as many majors this year after beating Taylor Fritz 63 75 36 64 in the US Open quarterfinals in Arthur Ashe Stadium The fourtime US Open champion tied Jimmy Connors by improving to 140 in US Open quarterfinals as he aims to reach his 11th US Open finalwith the ultimate goal of a 25th major titleDjokovic will next face rival Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster semifinal clash Tje Serbian leads the Spaniard 53 in their ATP Head2Head series including victories in their past two matches Friday will mark their first encounter at Flushing MeadowsDjokovic broke Fritz early and sealed a tense first set after saving six break points in a thrilling 10minute final game clinching it on his second set pointThe second set was marked by Fritz squandering his first four breakpoint chances Instead it was Djokovic getting the first break when he ran down a drop shot and Fritzs return found the net for a 43 edgeFritz at last got a break on his 11th chance when Djokovics drop shot fell short to tie it at 55 But the Americans immediately doublefaulted in the first and final points of the ensuing game giving Djokovic the break right back The Serb served it out with a sweet backhand for a twoset cushionFritz broke Djokovic in the third sets fourth game He hit three aces to take a 52 lead and he served out the frame winning his fortuneThe fourth set was clean as neither player saw a break point through nine games with Djokovic his legs becoming heavier hunting his 95th US Open match win Then the Serb maneuvered the score to 1540 for two match points but missed two backhands at the end of protracted rallies to bring up deuceFritz clawed his way to a game point but soon was staring down a third match point against him The Americans fifth double fault ended the contestAfter shaking hands with Fritz and the chair umpire Djokovic busted out the viral Soda Pop Kpop dance He explained in his oncourt interview that it was dedicated to his daughter Tara who was celebrating her eighth birthday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-edges-fritz-to-set-alcaraz-showdown-in-semifinals-636088.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-indias-yuki-bhambri-makes-maiden-grand-slam-quarterfinal-636109.html New York Sep 3 Indias Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand progressed to the mens doubles quarterfinals of the US Open Seeded 14th Bhambri and Venus defeated the No 4 seeds Germanys Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in straight sets 64 64Bhambri Indias topranked mens doubles tennis player at world No 32 has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his careerLast year Bhambri partnered with French tennis player Albano Olivetti for the US Open and made the prequarterfinals The duo lost to Spains Marcel Granollers and Argentinas Horacio Zeballos in straight setsEarlier Bhambri and Venus defeated the unseeded pair of Colombias Gonzalo Escobar and Mexicos Miguel Angel ReyesVarela 61 75 in an hour and 25 minutes at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre to progress to the prequarterfinals The IndoKiwi pair will next play the 11thseeded team of the 41yearold American veteran Rajeev Ram and his partner Nikola Mektic of CroatiaRam and Mektic needed three tight setsand nearly three hoursto edge past the unseeded team of Brazils Fernando Romboli and Britains JohnPatrick Smith 677 75 75Notably Ram secured his 500th tourlevel win with his secondround win on Notably he reached the milestone at Flushing Meadows where he won three consecutive titles with Salisbury from 202123 Ram became the seventh active man to reach 500 tourlevel doubles wins and he is the only active American with that many victoriesEarlier Indian veteran Rohan Bopanna and his partner Romain Arneodo of Monaco crashed out in the opening round on Saturday Arjun Kadhe and his partner Diego Hidalgo of Ecuador also made a firstround exitOn Sunday Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanths run came to an end with a 64 63 defeat to Brazils Fernando Romboli and Australias JohnPatrick Smith IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-indias-yuki-bhambri-makes-maiden-grand-slam-quarterfinal-636109.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kslta-itf-juniors-srishti-kiran-top-seed-snigdha-kanta-grab-win-on-day-two-636048.html Bengaluru Sep 2 Top seed Snigdha Kanta seventh seed Angel Patel and eighth seed Deepshika Vinayagamurthy progressed alongside Srishti Kiran who impressed with a straightsets victory on Day 2 of the KSLTA ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors across the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium and Sree Kanteerava Stadium Among the winners in the Boys Singles third seed Dev Vipul Patel fourth seed Vishal Vasudev M and sixth seed Adhiraj Thakur moved through while Rohith Hari Balaji Gobinath and USAs Niyanth Badrinarayanan produced notable wins to join them in the next roundRohith Gobinath staged a stirring comeback to upset seventh seed Prakaash Sarran 26 63 62 Prakash looked comfortable early on to take the first set with ease Rohit responded strongly in the second set lifting his intensity and finding his rhythm to draw level By the decider the momentum had shifted and he dominated the rallies to bag the win after nearly two hoursElsewhere Elsewhere Niyanth Badrinarayanan USA overcame a spirited challenge from Yashwin Dahiya to post a 674 63 61 victory The opening set was closely contested with Dahiya stealing the tiebreak to take the lead Niyanth struck back in the second breaking early and maintaining control to level the match From there he raised his level to pull clear and finish with a strong win in the deciderIn the girls singles 13yearold Srishti Kiran shone with a straightsets win over Tejaswi Mannen 76 6 63 Srishti nearly conceded the first set saving a set point in the tiebreak before edging it 86 She then took charge in the second breaking twice to close out the matchIn another thriller seventh seed Angel Patel delivered a comeback against Devashree Mahadeshwar prevailing 26 769 62 in a contest that stretched to nearly three hours Devashree looked in control after winning the first set and holding match points in the second set tiebreak before Angel edged ahead 119 It proved decisive as Angel carried her confidence into the final set breaking early and maintaining control to complete the win IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kslta-itf-juniors-srishti-kiran-top-seed-snigdha-kanta-grab-win-on-day-two-636048.html Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-anisimova-sets-swiatek-showdown-in-qf-osaka-stuns-gauff-635835.html New York Sep 2 Amanda Anisimova reached the US Open quarterfinals after defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets 60 63 Anisimova broke Haddad Maia in the first game and her play accelerated from there She never gave Haddad Maia a chance serving well and pounding pinpoint and deep twohanded backhands around the courtThe second set was more competitive as Anisimova was challenged in her quest to extend her best US Open showing in her careerHaddad Maia again was broken to start the frame but then collected a break of her own after losing seven straight games But Anisimova broke right back wiggled from a break point in the fourth game and despite Haddad Maias grit broke her in the final game to push through to the finish lineAnisimova who also advanced to the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2019 ran her Grand Slam record to 4222 with her win over Haddad Maia and improved her careerbest season mark to 3514She will next fave No 2seeded Swiatek in the quarterfinals in only their second meeting Anisimova will be looking to avenge her Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to the PoleEarlier Naomi Osaka dominated Coco Gauff 63 62 to advance to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021Notably every time Osaka has advanced to this stage at a major championship in the past she has eventually won the titleThe fourtime Grand Slam champion will meet No 11 seed Karolina Muchova of Czechia for a place in the 2025 US Open semifinalsMuchova is a twotime US Open semifinalist and beat No 27 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 63 670 63 to reach the last eightMeanwhile Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez continued their dream run dispatching yet another seeded team No 12 seeds Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 63 64 to advance to the quarterfinals at the 2025 US OpenThis is Willams 22nd appearance at this stage in doubles at a major and her first major quarterfinal of any kind since 2017 The last time she reached the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows was in 2014 and she previously lifted the trophy on two occasions in 1999 and 2009 with sister SerenaWilliams and Fernandez will next face top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend for a spot in the semifinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-anisimova-sets-swiatek-showdown-in-qf-osaka-stuns-gauff-635835.html Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sinner-dominates-bublik-for-8th-consecutive-grand-slam-qf-635845.html New York Sep 2 World No 1 and defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner humbled Alexander Bublik to storm into the quarterfinals setting up a showdown with fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti Sinner completed the 61 61 61 triumph in just 81 minutes against his Bublik who committed 13 double faultsthe last one on match pointamong 31 unforced errorsSinner has now reached at least the quarterfinals at eight consecutive Grand Slam tournaments The last time he was defeated before that stage was at the 2023 US Open when he fell in the fourth round to Alexander ZverevThere will be an allItalian mens singles quarterfinal at a major for the first time when Sinner takes on 10th seed Musetti The World No 1 will carry a 20 ATP Head2Head advantage into their showdownIts great to see Italian tennis is in great form now We have so many players so many different game styles Sinner said Lorenzo is maybe one of the biggest talents we have in our sport so Im looking forward for this one From an Italian point of view its great to have for sure one Italian player in the semisSinner maintained pace in the battle for No 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings with Carlos Alcaraz He must outperform the Spaniard at the US Open to retain World No 1The Italian became the youngest man to earn 24 wins at the majors in a season since 22yearold Rafael Nadal in 2008 according to the Infosys ATP WinLoss IndexSinner can reach 300 tourlevel wins for his career by making the final in New York IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sinner-dominates-bublik-for-8th-consecutive-grand-slam-qf-635845.html Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-pegula-cruises-to-quarters-with-commanding-win-over-li-635542.html New York Aug 31 Last years finalist Jessica Pegula stormed into the quarterfinals of the US Open with a commanding 61 62 victory over fellow American Ann Li on Sunday wrapping up the fourthround clash in under an hour with a ruthless and clinical display on Arthur Ashe Stadium Despite entering the tournament on the back of a shaky hardcourt swing having made early exits in Washington Montreal and Cincinnati Pegula has found her rhythm in New York The world number four is yet to drop a set at this years US Open and looked in complete control throughout her match against Li striking 12 winners and dictating play from the baseline with powerful precise groundstrokesI felt really comfortable moving today Pegula said after the win I felt like today I started off really well and I just wanted to keep executing thatPegula seeded fourth had already beaten Li earlier this year in the second round of Roland Garros and appeared to draw confidence from that result replicating the same aggressive approach She got off to a flying start winning the first three games of the opening set before Li managed to break her in the fourth to get on the scoreboardHowever Pegula quickly responded by breaking back in the next game regaining momentum The opening set came to a close when Li committed a backhand error in the seventh game handing Pegula the setIn the second set a baseline error from Li on a break point gifted Pegula an early lead once again this time in the fourth gameThe match ended in fitting style with Pegula firing a stunning backhand winner down the line and letting out a triumphant shout The win not only marked her first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance of the year but also reaffirmed her status as one of the tournaments top contendersUp next she will face either Czech star Barbora Krejcikova or fellow American Taylor Townsend in the last eight IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-pegula-cruises-to-quarters-with-commanding-win-over-li-635542.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-alcaraz-make-history-to-reach-quarterfinal-635556.html New York Sep 1 In his quest for ultimate history at the US Open the 38yearold Novak Djokovic became the oldest man in history to reach all four major singles quarterfinals in one season after ending the run of qualifier JanLennard Struff with 63 63 62 win inside Arthur Ashe Stadium His latest victory makes him the fourth oldest manafter Pancho Gonzalez Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connorsto advance to a US Open quarterfinal Prior to Djokovic Connors was the most recent man to achieve the feat which he did during his famous run to the semifinals at age 39 in 1991This is Djokovics 14th career singles quarterfinal at the US Open meaning he separates himself from Roger Federer and Andre Agassi both of whom notched 13Hes now second on the mens Open Era list behind only Connors who reached 17 US Open quarterfinalsThe Serb who is aiming alltime record 25th Grand Slam singles title will nexy play No 4 seed Taylor Fritz who beat Tomas Machac in straight setsEarlier the 22yearold Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals in the Open Era with a 763 63 64 victory over Frances Arthur RinderknechRinderknech was appearing in the Round of 16 at a major for the first time and was bidding to become the first Frenchman to reach the quarters in Flushing Meadows since Gael Monfils in 2019Alcaraz boasts a 212 record at the Grand Slams this season reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals saving three championship points to win Roland Garros and reaching the Wimbledon finalNext up for Alcaraz is 20th seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia a 764 64 26 62 winner over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino It will be a rematch of this summers Queens Club final won by Alcaraz 75 675 62 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-alcaraz-make-history-to-reach-quarterfinal-635556.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-defending-champ-sabalenka-roars-into-quarterfinals-635575.html New York Sep 1 Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka dominated Cristina Bucsa 61 64 to reach the US Open quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive year The win marks the fifth consecutive year that Sabalenka has made it to at least the quarterfinal round in Flushing Meadows with her previous four trips resulting in semifinal appearances or betterThe 73minute win also assures that Sabalenka will officially stay No 1 in the world rankings after the tournament regardless of any other resultsSabalenka has now reached the quarterfinals in each of the last 12 majors that she has contested solidifying her position as a top contenderA matchup of Grand Slam champions awaits Sabalenka in the quarterfinals as shell take on a former Wimbledon winner champion Marketa Vondrousova who prevailed in a battle of former Wimbledon champions defeating No 9 seed Elena Rybakina 64 57 62 in 1 hour and 51 minutes to advance to the US Open quarterfinals for the second time in her careerAgainst Vondrousova Sabalenka leads the headtohead 53 including a secondround win also taking place in Cincinnati a few weeks agoA win against either opponent would send Sabalenka to a fifth straight US Open semifinalEarlier Jessica Pegula advanced to the quarterfinals with a dominant 61 62 win over Ann Li in an allAmerican matchupPegula needed only 54 minutes to move past the 25yearold Li who was playing in her first fourthround match at a major championship and fell to 19 against Top 10 competitionPegulas dominant win over Ann Li in the fourth round was her 19th match win at Flushing Meadows now her highest tally at any of the four majorsI played Li at Roland Garros early this year and we had a really tough two sets And I know when shes serving really well and she has a lot of confidence shes really dangerous Pegula saidI felt like maybe she came out a little slow or nervous or whatever it was and I just felt like I wanted to jump on top of that and not let her feel comfortable on this court for a second And I felt like that was really my entire motivation the entire match she saidPegula improves to 82 in Grand Slam fourthround matches including 31 at that stage at her home major championship IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-defending-champ-sabalenka-roars-into-quarterfinals-635575.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-swiatek-rallies-past-kalinskaya-to-reach-fourth-round-osaka-sets-up-gauff-showdown-635411.html New York Aug 31 Iga Swiatek overcame a slow start to defeat No 29 seed Anna Kalinskaya 76 2 64 in 1 hour and 56 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium advancing to the Round of 16 at the US Open for the fifth straight year Kalinskaya built a 51 lead in the first setthanks in part to Swiateks 15 unforced errors and the No 2 seed only landing 41 of her first serves Leading 52 Kalinskaya had four set points But she double faulted on two of them enabling Swiatek to go on a tearKalinskaya also double faulted away the 10th game to let Swiatek tie the set 5all The players traded breaks in the next two games forcing a tiebreak When Swiatek went up 50 Kalinskaya finally lost her cool smashed her racket and kept playing Swiatek punctuated the set 72 by winning a sevenshot rallyThe pivotal game in the second set was the ninth At 4all Kalinskaya allowed Swiatek a break point with her 11th double fault of the match Swiatek seized the moment went up 54 and served successfully for the matchSwiatek who is trying to be the first woman since Serena Williams in 2012 to win Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year will now face No 13 Ekaterina Alexandrova in Round 4Earlier twotime US Open champion and No 23 seed Naomi Osaka defeated Daria Kasatkina60 46 63 to advance to the fourth roundOsakas return to the Round of 16 in New York is her first trip to this stage since she last won the title in 2020 She advances into Round 4 for a highly anticipated fourthround matchup with No 3 seed Coco Gauff who was a 63 61 winner over Magdalena FrechElsewhere No 8 seed American Amanda Anisimova edged past Romanias Jaqueline Cristian 64 46 62Next up for the American is the winner of the match between Brazils Beatriz Haddad Maia the No 18 seed and the unseeded but dangerous Greek player Maria Sakkari IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-swiatek-rallies-past-kalinskaya-to-reach-fourth-round-osaka-sets-up-gauff-showdown-635411.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 09:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-ostapenko-issues-apology-for-no-class-no-education-comment-towards-townsend-635429.html New Delhi Aug 31 Jelena Ostapenko has issued an apology for her no class and no education comments towards Taylor Townsend during a heated US Open row Ostapenko has accused Townsend of having no education and no class in a fiery postmatch exchange at Flushing Meadows after losing to the American 75 61 in the second roundTension between the pair escalated after a net cord went in Townsends favour during a 75 61 secondround win and 25th seed Ostapenko accused her of not apologisingThe pair had a curt handshake after Townsend clinched victory before Latvian Ostapenko made a comment at the net Both players continued to express their views in an animated argument at Ostapenkos chairLater at a press conference Townsend said She told me I have no education no class and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the USOstapenko now took to Instagram to explain her side while addressing her behaviour and wrote I wanted to apologise for some of the things I said during my secondround singles matchEnglish is not my native language so when I said education I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis courtI appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player Goodbye New York and I look forward to being back next year she addedFollowing her doubles win alongside partner Katerina Siniakova on Saturday Townsend told reporters she had still not heard from Ostapenko personally but she welcomed the public apologyThats nice that she did that that she apologised Thats fine Thats cool At the end of the day I think that its a learning lesson for herI mean the fact of the matter is like I said the other day Im still playing So I dont have time to be tapped in on what shes got going on and what she says Townsend saidI had a job to do today Got it done in the doubles Like I said this is part of it right being able to disconnect from whatever is happening on the outside because I have a goal while Im here I said it last night just keeping the main thing the main thing which is Im here to continue to grow and grow as a player and play my best tennis and put that on display Anything that gets in the way of that has got to go Towsend said in post game press conference IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-ostapenko-issues-apology-for-no-class-no-education-comment-towards-townsend-635429.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-rybakina-dominates-raducanu-for-third-round-victory-635202.html New York Aug 29 The 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan stormed into the fourth round of womens singles with a commanding straightsets win over the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in the US Open here on Friday In a thirdround clash between two Grand Slam champions played in the Louis Armstrong Stadium No 9 seed Rybakina dropped just three games across two sets to win 61 62 in just over an hourRybakina advanced to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her seventh maindraw appearance The Kazakhstani has now completed the full set of secondweek showings at all four Grand Slams She will next face either No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini or another former Wimbledon champion Marketa VondrousovaRybakina has now conceded just four games to Raducanu in two meetings combined Their first meeting was in the first round of Sydney 2022 Raducanus fourth tournament after her shock victory at the 2021 US Open and Rybakina won 60 61Raducanu had said before the start of the tournament that 2025 marked the first time I feel like I can come back to the US Open and really enjoy the memories After winning the 2021 womens singles trophy she was ousted in the first round in 2022 and 2024 On Friday the 22yearold Brit received plenty of encouragement from her new coach Francisco Roig Rafael Nadals former coachHowever her game quickly unravelled Rybakina easily won the first set 61 largely on her first serve despite making more unforced errors 10 to Raducanus fiveIn the second set Rybakina kept the pressure on never allowing Raducanu to string together more than a few consecutive points Whenever Raducanu made a winner or held serve the noonday crowd which included longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour roared with approval Even so Rybakina was never in danger of being broken She served for the match with a 52 lead after just 60 minutes of play and seized the win on the first match point when Raducanus backhand return went longIm pretty happy with the way I played today Its not easy to play Emma Rybakina said Sometimes the score doesnt show but shes a tough competitorFor some reason the US Open through the years wasnt really successful for me said Rybakina in her oncourt interview So hopefully this year it will change IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-rybakina-dominates-raducanu-for-third-round-victory-635202.html Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-advances-to-fourth-round-with-win-over-norrie-635217.html New York Aug 30 Novak Djokovic kept his quest for a historic 25th Grand Slam title alive on Friday overcoming a brief lower back issue to defeat unseeded Briton Cameron Norrie 64 674 62 63 and book his place in the fourth round of the US Open Under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium the 38yearold showcased his trademark resilience to become the oldest man to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors achieved the same feat in 1991Already the alltime leader in Grand Slam titles 24 and match wins 395 Djokovic added another milestone to his storied career by surpassing Roger Federer for the most hardcourt wins at the majors claiming his 192nd victory The fourtime US Open champion also extended his perfect record against Norrie to 70I guess coming into the match any match you really want to win in straight sets without any drama and just ease through but thats not possible said DjokovicMy team wants me to suffer on the court so I can get some more minutes spent in match play Its good that I get tested I hadnt played any matches since Wimbledon and its been for us quite a long time five to six weeksIm still trying to find my groove and my rhythm on court he addedDjokovic quickly turned up the pressure on Norrie breaking for a 43 lead with a forehand winner He then fired the ninth of his 18 aces in the next game to firmly consolidate his advantageI think it was probably the best serving performance of the tournament Djokovic saidSo of course Im glad Its probably one of the most if not the most important shot in the game Yeah Im glad how I executed that shotAfter taking a 54 lead in the first set Novak Djokovic began feeling the effects of a back issue and briefly left the court for treatment before returning to close out the set He needed more medical attention early in the second set with his serve speed briefly droppingDespite this he battled through a tight tiebreak that Norrie won The Brit broke early in the third but Djokovic responded with three straight games and even silenced a disruptive fan Regaining full control Djokovic closed out the third and dominated the fourth to seal the win and set up a clash with JanLennard Struff IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-advances-to-fourth-round-with-win-over-norrie-635217.html Sat, 30 Aug 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-injured-shelton-retires-tiafoe-stunned-in-early-exit-635223.html New York Aug 30 Sixth seed Ben Shelton was forced to retire from his US Open thirdround clash against Frances Adrian Mannarino on Friday shortly before 17th seed Frances Tiafoe also bowed out delivering a major blow to American hopes of ending a 22year drought for a mens Grand Slam title Shelton appeared to struggle with a left shoulder issue visibly wincing after a forehand early in the fourth set on Louis Armstrong Stadium He continued to clutch at the area while getting ready to return serve in the second game ultimately unable to continueI just did something to my shoulder I dont know what it is Im in a lot of pain Shelton said to his father and coach Bryan SheltonShelton later told his father it was the worst pain he had ever experienced before consulting the physio again Despite the discomfort he managed to hold his own against the crafty lefthander Mannarino who delivered flashes of brilliance throughout the matchTouted as a potential contender to end the long American mens title drought at Flushing Meadows dating back to Andy Roddicks 2003 triumph Shelton looked visibly distraught during the changeover burying his face in his towel as emotions took over Moments later he retired from the match prompting audible gasps from the stunned home crowdWhen he started having pain he was leading in the match said Mannarino who rallied from a set down to draw level at 36 63 46 64 when the match was abandonedHe probably would have won Its unfortunate for him and very lucky for me I dont really know what to say right now I suppose Im happy to get through I wish him the bestI was having good fun on the court there were some long rallies I lost some of them won some of them It was fun to play Bens such an amazing player it was a great match I was enjoying my time on court even if I was losingJust an hour later American fans faced another tough blow as Frances Tiafoe a Flushing Meadows mainstay since 2019 suffered a straightsets defeat 64 63 767 to Germanys JanLennard Struff on GrandstandStruff despite a late bout of double faults held his nerve in the closing stages to eliminate last years semifinalist and deepen the disappointment for the home crowdI think everybody knows sometimes its tough to serve out the match I tried to stay calm and tried to refocus and I managed to get some energy back so I was very happy about that Struff saidWith the exits of Shelton and Tiafoe Taylor Fritz now stands as the leading American hope at this years final Grand Slam He defeated Jerome Kym to reach the fourth round to keep home hopes alive at Flushing Meadows IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-injured-shelton-retires-tiafoe-stunned-in-early-exit-635223.html Sat, 30 Aug 2025 10:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kslta-to-host-itf-world-junior-j30-tournament-in-bengaluru-635146.html Bengaluru Aug 29 The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association KSLTA will host the KSLTAITF World Junior J30 Tournament 2025 from August 30 to September 6 at its iconic facilities in Cubbon Park and the Kanteerava Stadium This will be the third consecutive year that KSLTA is organising the prestigious junior event The tournament open to players aged 18 and below will feature both Qualifying and Main Draws in singles and doublesQualifying Draw A 32player field comprising 26 direct entries and six wild cards Of these wild cards three will be allotted by AITA and three by KSLTA The qualifying will be played over three rounds with four players advancing to the Main DrawMain Draw Also a 32player field with 22 direct entries four qualifiers four wild cards and two special exempts Wild cards will be shared equally between AITA and KSLTADoubles A 16pair draw featuring 14 direct entries and two wild cardsIn line with KSLTAs commitment to nurturing local talent wild cards for both qualifying and main draws will be reserved exclusively for Karnataka players with priority given to promising players from mofussil centres For this edition one main draw wild card has been awarded to Channa Mallikarjuna from Bellary while in the qualifying draw S Jeevith from Mandya and Ishaan Badagi from Belgaum have received entriesWild card entries from All India Tennis Association AITA are Aadirai K A and Riddhi Shinde from the main draw Vyom Shah Apoorv Jain Varad Pol Tanusshri Maneni Sathesh Suhani Bhasin and Hamsika Thumukunta from qualifying draws for boys and girls respectivelyScheduleQualifying Rounds August 3031 at both KSLTA Cubbon Park and Kanteerava StadiumMain Draw September 16 Singles begin on September 1 while doubles commence on September 2 Main draw matches will be split between the two venues with all quarterfinals onward staged at KSLTA Cubbon ParkSeeding for both singles and doubles will be based on the players ITF and AITA rankings at the time of the drawWith participation from talented juniors across the country the KSLTAITF World Junior J30 Bengaluru 2025 promises to be a showcase of the next generation of tennis stars IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/kslta-to-host-itf-world-junior-j30-tournament-in-bengaluru-635146.html Fri, 29 Aug 2025 19:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-gauff-survives-vekic-test-swiatek-fends-off-suzan-osaka-prevails-in-the-third-round-634975.html New York Aug 29 Coco Gauff overcame a dangerous opponent Donna Vekic to reach the third round of the 2025 US Open Shr survived a physically draining first set against the former world No 17 before going on to win 765 62 Gauff has progressed to the third round at the US Open for the fourth consecutive year and has now won 79 of her maindraw matches in New York thanks to an impressive 195 winloss recordThe 2023 champion will aim to repeat her fourthround run last year when she next faces 28th seed Magdalena FrechEarlier world No 2 Iga Swiatek after being dominant in the opening exchanges fend off a gallant fightback from world No 66 Suzan Lamens to register 61 46 64 ein to reach the third roundSwiatek dominated the opening set agains Lamens winning 61 at but Lamens fought back to win the second set before Swiatek ultimately prevailed in the third set 64The world No 2 bidding to become the first woman to win Wimbledon and US Open singles in the same calendar year since Serena Williams in 2012 will next face No 29 seed Anna Kalinskaya in Round 3 who she toppled in straight sets just 13 days ago en route to WTA 1000 glory in CincinnatiMeanwhile Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka continued to sparkle in a 63 61 win against American Hailey BaptisteFor Osaka next up is a clash with No 15 seed Daria Kasatkina who defeated Kamilla Rakhimova in a dramatic backandforth contest 62 46 75Later Amanda Anisimova advanced to the third round with a 762 62 win over Maya JointThe American equals her best result at her home Slam where she will next play Romanias Jaqueline CristianAnisimova moved into the third round of the US Open for just the second time in her career and the first time in five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-gauff-survives-vekic-test-swiatek-fends-off-suzan-osaka-prevails-in-the-third-round-634975.html Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/one-of-the-worst-things-naomi-osaka-slams-ostapenkos-racial-remarks-toward-townsend-635054.html New York Aug 29 Naomi Osaka has criticised Jelena Ostapenkos choice of words in her heated postmatch altercation with Taylor Townsend at the US Open calling them one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport Its one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport the fourtime Grand Slam champion said I know Taylor and I know how hard shes worked and I know how smart she is so shes the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like thatTownsend defeated 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko 75 61 in a tense secondround clash but the spotlight quickly shifted to a verbal exchange at the net Ostapenko visibly agitated repeatedly wagged her finger at Townsend who later hinted at possible racial undertones in their exchange during her press conferenceOstapenko later explained on Instagram that her anger stemmed from Townsends refusal to apologise after a crucial netcord point and insisted she had never been racist in her life She accused Townsend of being disrespectful in that momentBut Osaka who was born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father and has been an outspoken voice against racial injustice particularly through her support for the Black Lives Matter movement said the words Ostapenko used were in poor taste and poorly timedIf youre like genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko I dont think thats the craziest thing shes said Im going to be honest Osaka said with a smile I think its ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to And I dont know if she knows the history of it in America I know shes never going to say that ever again in her life But yeah it was just terrible Thats just really badOsaka who highlighted racial injustice during her 2020 US Openwinning run by wearing masks bearing the names of African Americans killed in recent years also weighed in on the sporting side of the controversy whether players should apologise for winning points off the net cordI definitely wouldnt care to the point where it would affect me that much that I get very angry she said Its up to the person whether they apologise or not but if its really close I can see why they dont apologise IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/one-of-the-worst-things-naomi-osaka-slams-ostapenkos-racial-remarks-toward-townsend-635054.html Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-emma-raducanu-cruises-past-janice-tjen-to-reach-third-round-634663.html New York Aug 28 Emma Raducanu returned to familiar territory at Flushing Meadows advancing to the third round of the US Open for the first time since her 2021 titlewinning run with a commanding 62 61 victory over Indonesias Janice Tjen The 22yearold Brit has looked sharp all week dropping just four games in her first two matches After sweeping past former doubles World No 4 Ena Shibahara in her opener Raducanu dismantled Tjen a qualifier who had enjoyed a stunning rise since graduating from Pepperdine University last year Tjen ranked No 149 came into the match on the back of a 10113 winloss record and a firstround upset of 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova But against Raducanu her dream run came to a swift end in just over an hourRaducanus serve proved decisive firing eight aces and conceding only 13 points behind her delivery She faced three break points in the third game but saved them all ensuring her hold on the momentum The Brit was equally clinical from the baseline directing the majority of her attacks to Tjens backhand side drawing frequent errors and carving out space for her 16 winnersSuper dangerous opponent Raducanu said after the match She was playing extremely well and I thought any ball that I put midcourt that was not necessarily good enough she just put away easy So I was really pleased with how I performed todayThough Tjen impressed with her volleying skills winning all six points at the net Raducanus precision and depth largely kept the Indonesian away from her strengths The result marked Raducanus third run to the third round of a major in 2025 underlining her resurgence this seasonNext up Raducanu will face either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or 18yearold qualifier Tereza Valentova as she bids to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in her career IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-emma-raducanu-cruises-past-janice-tjen-to-reach-third-round-634663.html Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-shelton-amp-djokovic-charge-into-round-3-634685.html New York Aug 28 Carlos Alcaraz has charged into the third round of the US Open beating Italys Mattia Bellucci 61 60 63 Alcaraz has now won 41 of his past 43 matches while targeting an eighth consecutive tournament finalThe win ensures Alcaraz has already bettered his 2024 campaign in New York which ended in a shock secondround defeat to world No 74 Botic van De ZandschulpA fivetime major champion is competing in his 19th Grand Slam main draw and has now reached the third round in 16 of themAlcaraz who is on a eightmatch winning streak next faces 32ndseeded Italian Luciano Darderi who beat American wild card Eliot Spizzirri 60 763 26 64 It will be Alcaraz and Darderis first Lexus ATP Head2Head clashBen Shelton defeated 64 62 64 Pablo Carreno Busta to claim the battle of former US Open semifinalists and reach the third round of his home major championshipFresh off his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal Shelton punched past the 34yearold Carreno Busta who made the final four in New York in 2017 and 2020 It marks the ninth consecutive Grand Slam in which Shelton has reached Round 3Shelton who next faces wily French veteran Adrian Mannarino in the third round is seeded to meet 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinalsMeanwhile Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect secondround record in New York to reach the third round for tihe 19th timeThe 38yearold was unable to find his Agame for large periods against American qualifier Zachary Svajda yet did enough to seal a 675 63 63 61 victoryWith his win Djokovic advanced to the third round at a major for a record 75th time surpassing Roger Federers tally of 74 The former No 1 player in the ATP Rankings is seeking a recordextending 25th major and first since winning the US Open in 2023 He will next meet Cameron Norrie or Francisco Comesana IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-shelton-amp-djokovic-charge-into-round-3-634685.html Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-fends-off-kudermetova-paolini-beats-jokic-634691.html New York Aug 28 Top seed Aryna Sabalenka unseeded Polina Kudermetova 764 62 in a secondround match in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday Reaching the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals plus the semifinals at Wimbledon would be a career year for most players But the bar is set so high for the No 1ranked Sabalenka a threetime Grand Slam winner that shes eager to cap the summer minus a bummerIf Sabalenka can repeat as the US Open womens singles champion she will become the first player to do so since Serena Williams 201214 But there have been 10 different women titlists in the last 11 years in New York CityIn the first set when she was broken in the first game and had to manipulate her way to a successful firstset tiebreak lifting her record in breakers to 191 this yearThe second set was all Sabalenka as Kudermetova ranked No 67 used a medical timeout to treat a balky knee and was betrayed by her spotty serve which led to nine double faults overall Sabalenka prevailed 62 in the second set to wrap up the win US Open reportsSabalenka next faces No 31 seed Canadian Leylah Fernandez who defeated Frances Elsa Jacquemot 62 36 62Later the seventhseeded Paolini disposed of Iva Jovic an unseeded American teenager 63 63 in secondround action in Louis Armstrong StadiumWhile Paolini came out sizzling in racing to a 30 firstset lead Jovic had a golden opportunity to get back on serve in the fifth game when she had three looks at break points but failed to cash Two games later Jovic had two more break chances but the result was the same as the chances slipped away She squandered two more break points when Paolini served to take the frame 63Paolini again streaked to a 30 cushion in the second with two service breaks While Paolini was gathering steam and lifting her play Jovic despite a late push couldnt keep paceJovic did finally break on her eighth chance she finished 2for11 which brought with it a sigh of relief But it didnt slow Paolini who entered the US Open fresh from a final showing on the Cincinnati hard courtsThe world No 8 Paolini will face the No 32seeded American McCartney Kessler IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-sabalenka-fends-off-kudermetova-paolini-beats-jokic-634691.html Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-swiatek-launches-bid-for-seventh-slam-with-easy-first-round-win-634460.html New York Aug 26 Former World No1 Iga Swiatek maintained her 100 record in the first round matches in the US Open winning her seventh successive opening round clash as she launched her campaign for her Grand Slam title No7 on Tuesday In an early match at a sunkissed Arthur Ash Stadium the 2022 winner maintained her recent form as she breezed past world No 84 Emiliana Arango 61 62 on Tuesday Swiatek who had snapped a 13month title drought in July by capturing her first Wimbledon title and backed that up by lifting the Cincinnati trophy for the first time two weeks ago is hoping to become the first WTA star to win the Wimbledon and US Open titles in the same calendar year since Serena Williams in 2012 Having fallen to No 8 in the WTA Rankings in June Swiatek already returned to No 2 this week The 2022 champion at Flushing Meadows a second title here this fortnight could potentially mean she reclaims the World No 1 ranking from Aryna SabalenkaOn Tuesday Swiatek made short work of Arango making her main draw debut here It was a difficult task for the Pole as Arango was trying everything to disrupt the No 2 seeds rhythm frequently throwing in the slice and offering up different depths of shot However Swiateks calculated striking collected a rapid 31 leadThe Swiatek forehand was arching over the net lasering line to line moving the Colombian side to side That stroke was the key to helping the Pole evade trouble at 030 to then hold for 41 It was relentless pressure for Arango and in just 26 minutes she was a set downArango earned a rare chance at 32 3030 A looping Swiatek backhand volley was run down by the Colombian before the world No 2 managed to hold her ground and connect with a lastditch backhand volley on the stretch Tuesdays dominant display chalked up victory No 50 so far this season and now the Pole advances to meet Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-swiatek-launches-bid-for-seventh-slam-with-easy-first-round-win-634460.html Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-marta-kostyuk-cruises-past-katie-boulter-mirra-andreeva-reaches-round-2-634461.html New York Aug 26 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and Mirra Andreeva cruised to a firstround victory while 12th seed Elina Svitolina was knocked out in the opening round of womens singles in the US Open here on Tuesday No 27 seed Kostyuk battled past Great Britains Katie Boulter to kick off Round 1 play on Grandstand at the 2025 US Open the match went the way of the Ukrainian 64 64 in their second encounterBoth women initially got off to a slow start in their opening service games but managed to hold Early on it was evident that Kostyuk was the more aggressive player and that mindset helped her quickly jump to a 21 leadAfter a tricky service game Boulter kept that positive momentum and converted a break point to level the first set at 44 However Kostyuk quickly grabbed the break back after a costly double fault from the Brit She would then serve her way out of a tricky service game to seal the first setShe continued to hold sway as the service woes started to mount for the Brit The two women traded breaks early but the Ukrainian quickly shut it down and broke back to retake a 21 lead She went to extend it to 53 when Boulter tried to launch a comeback saving five matchpoints before holding serve As the Ukrainian served out the match Boulter made closing the match very hard for the No 27 seed and roared back to try and level the second set but Kostyuk managed to close out the match on her sixth match point In her second match since Wimbledon Mirra Andreeva cruised to a firstround victory at the US Open over Alycia Parks Andreeva dominated winning 60 61 in just 55 minutes Back from injury Mirra Andreeva made short work of Alycia Parks easing into the US Open second round in just her second match since WimbledonAndreeva admitted she was nervous facing an opponent who had just reached the Monterrey semifinals but once play began she settled quickly and stormed through the first set 60Parks managed to hold serve to start the second set but that would be her lone game of the day Andreeva reeled off six straight games to complete a dominant 60 61 victory in just 55 minutes It was a clinical performance from the rising star who will now face Anastasia Potapova in the second round Potapova needed three sets to get past Chinas Lin Zhu 64 46 62Ukraines Elina Svitolina became the secondhighest seed to fall on the womens side at this years US Open following a straightsets defeat to Hungarys Anna BondarBondar ranked No 97 in the world pulled off the 62 64 upset win in one hour and 41 minutes to reach the second round and equal her best performance at the Grand Slam level For Svitolina it was her first openinground loss at a Grand Slam since the 2018 Wimbledon Championships IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-marta-kostyuk-cruises-past-katie-boulter-mirra-andreeva-reaches-round-2-634461.html Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gauff-osaka-cruise-into-us-open-second-round-634478.html New York Aug 27 The No 3 seed American Coco Gauff rebounded from a slow start and a secondset wobble to outlast Ajla Tomljanovic 64 672 75 in the final match of the womens first round After a slow startshe trailed 20 and 31 in the opening setGauff appeared to be on her way to a routine victory up 64 42 But Tomljanovic was unbowed slugging her way back into the match denying Gauff when she was two points from victory at 65 and blitzing the American in the secondset tiebreak 72 to force a deciderGauff took the early advantage in the third pulling ahead 31 But she couldnt convert break opportunities in each of Tomljanovics next two service games and was broken serving for the match at 54 a pair of double faults gifting Tomljanovic an early advantage in the gameGauff then dug deep to break for a 65 lead held her serve to secure the hardfought winNext up for Gauff is Donna Vekic the former world No 17 who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2024 and the quarterfinals at the US Open in 2019 Vekic outlasted world No 40 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in a tough threesetter in the opening roundMeanwhile Naomi Osaka kicked off her US Open campaign with a 63 64 triumph over Greet MinnenFacing the 106thranked Belgian Osaka attained a solid level inside Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday night to seal a place in the second roundAt world No 24 Osaka is seeded for the first time at a Slam since the 2022 Australian Open and her latest winher 10th in her past 13 matchesfollows on from a thirdround finish at Wimbledon and a final appearance at the recent Canadian OpenOsaka will next play Hailey Baptiste in the second round IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gauff-osaka-cruise-into-us-open-second-round-634478.html Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-venus-williams-to-play-womens-doubles-with-leylah-fernandez-634482.html New York Aug 27 Venus Williams campaign at the US Open is not over yet as 45yearold will return to the competition in New York after receiving a womens doubles wildcard entry with Leylah Fernandez Venus and Fernandez will take on the sixthseeded team of Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Ellen Perez of AustraliaVenus is appearing at her first Grand Slam tournament in two years after making a comeback following 16 months away from the tourWilliams has won 14 Grand Slam womens doubles titles alongside sister Serena Williams most recently at Wimbledon in 2016 She has competed just three times in womens doubles at the majors since then including her most recent US Open appearance in 2022 during her sisters farewell tournamentAt the 2025 US Open Williams has already competed in womens singles and mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka On Monday night she treated Arthur Ashe Stadium to a spellbinding second set but ultimately fell to 11th seed Karolina Muchova 63 26 61Williams was the oldest player to compete in the womens singles here since Renee Richards in 1981 and the third oldest of the Open EraFernandez 22 is seeded 31st in the womens singles in New York and beat compatriot Rebecca Marino 62 61 in the first roundShe reached the singles final in 2021 where she finished runnerup to Britains Emma RaducanuWilliams and Fernandez are among seven wildcard teams in the womens doubles draw joining Hailey Baptiste and Whitney Osuigwe Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton Carmen Corley and Ivana Corley Kristina Penickova and Thea Frodin Clervie Ngounoue and Iva Jovic and Julieta Pareja and Akasha UrhoboThe 2025 US Open womens doubles competition begins Thursday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-venus-williams-to-play-womens-doubles-with-leylah-fernandez-634482.html Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-zarazua-stuns-keys-andreeva-dismantles-park-634202.html New York Aug 26 Renata Zarazua staged an upset at The US Open by beating Australian Open champion Madison Keys to reach the second round The Mexican had scored her first ever Top 10 triumph with a gruelling 6710 763 75 scoreboard to down No 6 seed KeysZarazua fell in six previous attempts against Top 10 talents but secured a careerbest result in three hours and 10 mins to book a Round 2 rumble with Frances Diane ParryZarazua who trailed by a set and 30 is the first Mexican woman to defeat a Top 10 seed at a Grand Slam since Angelica Gavaldon took down Jana Novotna at the 1995 Australian OpenLast year was the first time in the 27yearold Mexicans career that she played in all four Grand Slam singles main draws The two titles on her resume are both WTA 125s a year ago in Charleston and in 2023 Montevideo Her careerhigh ranking is No 51The Mexican has never advanced past the second round Shell have that chance when she meets Diane Parry a 61 60 winner over retiring Petra KvitovaIn another action Mirra Andreeva made an impressive return to competition on Monday night at the 2025 US Open dismissing a wayward Alycia Parks under lights in Louis Armstrong StadiumAndreeva had played just one match since Wimbledon due to an ankle injury while Parks had arrived in New York fresh off her run to last weeks WTA Monterrey semifinalsAndreeva however played steady tacticallyastute tennis breezing into Round 2 with a 60 61 victoryAndreeva arrived in New York without a win since her Round of 16 triumph at Wimbledon over Emma Navarro seven weeks agoEarlier this year she won backtoback WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells and reached consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-zarazua-stuns-keys-andreeva-dismantles-park-634202.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-ruud-sail-through-first-round-win-634206.html New York Aug 26 Carlos Alcaraz downed bigserving American Reilly Opelka 64 75 64 to begin his campaign at Flushing Meadows where this fortnight Alcaraz is aiming for his second US Open crown and sixth major trophy overall With the win Alcaraz stays on course in the battle for World No 1 If the Spaniard matches or betters Jannik Sinners result Alcaraz will leave New York atop the ATP RankingsAlcaraz boasts a seasonleading 55 wins and six titles according to the ATP WinLoss Index Last Monday Alcaraz lifted his first Cincinnati Open titleHe will next face Mattia Bellucci in the second round Alcaraz will look to avoid a repeat of his stunning secondround exit last year when he fell to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight setsElsewhere Casper Ruud registered a 61 62 765 victory against unseeded Sebastian Ofner in their firstround match in Louis Armstrong StadiumRuud whos most comfortable on clay has had mixed success on the hard courts at the Austrailian Open and US Open since his 22 final run in Flushing Meadows where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets In eliminating Ofner Ruud collected just his ninth win at a hardcourt Grand Slam event since thenAwaiting Ruud in Round 2 is Belgian Raphael Collignon after he beat Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan a lucky loser in straight setsIf Ruud can advance to his second US Open singles final hell be the first player since Martina Navratilova 1983 to make the singles and mixed doubles finals at the same New York eventRuud and Iga Swiatek lost to Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani in this years mixed doubles finalEarlier Jack Draper who was beaten by Jannik Sinner in last years US Open semifinals returned to winning ways with a 64 75 677 62 result against Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-ruud-sail-through-first-round-win-634206.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-ruud-sail-through-first-round-wins-634211.html New York Aug 26 Carlos Alcaraz downed bigserving American Reilly Opelka 64 75 64 to begin his campaign at Flushing Meadows where this fortnight Alcaraz is aiming for his second US Open crown and sixth major trophy overall With the win Alcaraz stays on course in the battle for World No 1 If the Spaniard matches or betters Jannik Sinners result Alcaraz will leave New York atop the ATP RankingsAlcaraz boasts a seasonleading 55 wins and six titles according to the ATP WinLoss Index Last Monday Alcaraz lifted his first Cincinnati Open titleHe will next face Mattia Bellucci in the second round Alcaraz will look to avoid a repeat of his stunning secondround exit last year when he fell to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight setsElsewhere Casper Ruud registered a 61 62 765 victory against unseeded Sebastian Ofner in their firstround match in Louis Armstrong StadiumRuud whos most comfortable on clay has had mixed success on the hard courts at the Austrailian Open and US Open since his 22 final run in Flushing Meadows where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets In eliminating Ofner Ruud collected just his ninth win at a hardcourt Grand Slam event since thenAwaiting Ruud in Round 2 is Belgian Raphael Collignon after he beat Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan a lucky loser in straight setsIf Ruud can advance to his second US Open singles final hell be the first player since Martina Navratilova 1983 to make the singles and mixed doubles finals at the same New York eventRuud and Iga Swiatek lost to Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani in this years mixed doubles finalEarlier Jack Draper who was beaten by Jannik Sinner in last years US Open semifinals returned to winning ways with a 64 75 677 62 result against Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alcaraz-ruud-sail-through-first-round-wins-634211.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alexandra-eala-upsets-clara-tauson-creates-history-for-the-philippines-633966.html New York Aug 25 Alexandra Eala became the first player from the Philippines in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam maindraw match with her firstround at the US Open The 2022 US Open junior girls singles champion and world No 70 Eala came back from a double break in the third set to upset No 14 seed Clara Tauson 63 26 7611 and reach the second round of a Grand Slam for the first timeOn the Miami hard courts in the spring the leftywho at the time was ranked world No 140sent shockwaves through the tennis stratosphere when she defeated three Grand Slam champions in a rowJelena Ostapenko Madison Keys and Iga Swiatekto earn a semifinal berth at the eventAfter trading holds through the first four games she broke Tauson for a 32 lead in the opening set moments after the Dane complained to the chair umpire about crowd noise prompting a warning to the spectators When Eala extended her lead to 53 the umpire again asked fans to quiet down during points WTA reportEala closed out the first set but Tauson quickly seized momentum in the second breaking serve three times to force a deciderTauson raced to a 51 lead in the third and headed for victory But Eala and the crowd roared back She broke Tauson twice while the Dane was serving for the match the second break coming after a double fault on break pointThe double fault immediately followed a video review confirming Eala had hit the ball on her side of the net to set up the break opportunity a ruling that left Tauson visibly frustratedDespite her frustration Tauson saved a match point moments later to force a thirdset tiebreak She rallied from an 84deficit and saved three more match points but it wasnt enough to stop Eala from securing her first Grand Slam maindraw win IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-alexandra-eala-upsets-clara-tauson-creates-history-for-the-philippines-633966.html Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-overcomes-tien-in-straight-sets-in-opener-633974.html New York Aug 25 In his first competitive outing since Wimbledon Novak Djokovic saw off a challenging openinground test presented by Learner Tien to advance at the 2025 US Open Djokovic navigated fluctuations in his own physical level and held off the increasingly confident teenager to prevail 61 763 62The 24time major winner called ATP physio Clay Sniteman to court after the second set to reapply tape to a bloodied big toe on his right footEarlier in the match he appeared to be troubled by a hip issue and also pulled his racquet behind his head on several occasions perhaps in an attempt to suck in more oxygen ATP reportsDjokovic looking for his first major title since winning his fourth US Open in 2023 will now have two days rest before facing American qualifier Zachary Svajda on WednesdayTrailing 040 in the sixth game Djokovic escaped with a hold and was later forced to save a set point in the 10th game He was struggling but his famed fighting spirit and resilience were intact helping him snare the ensuing tiebreak and an invaluable twoset leadSet two saw Djokovics unforced error count spike five times higher than set one but after a medical timeout to treat a blister on his toe he was flying again in the third From an immediate break down the seventh seed reeled off five straight games to take a stranglehold over the match which he closed out in two hours 25 minutesThe Serb has not lost a Grand Slam firstround match since the 2006 Australian Open almost 20 years agoHes 750 at the openinground stage since that loss at Melbourne Park to Paul Goldstein as a teenager and now at age 38 this latest win puts him a step closer to a fourth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-djokovic-overcomes-tien-in-straight-sets-in-opener-633974.html Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-pegula-paolini-azarenka-advance-to-second-round-with-solid-wins-633976.html New York Aug 25 Fourth seed Jessica Pegula advanced into the second round of the US Open with a straightsets win over Egypts Mayar Sherif Playing the night session match on Ashe Stadium Pegula got off to a blistering start to win the first set 60 In the second set Sherif found her rhythm and broke the American to take a 41 lead However Pegula regained her focus and her form to win five games in a row and complete the 60 64 win in one hour and 15 minutesShe will next meet Anna Blinkova who defeated Yuliia Starodubtseva 63 61 in another firstround clashMeanwhile No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini dismissed qualifier Destanee Aiava 62 764 to reach the second round of the US Open for the third time in six main draw appearancesAfter winning the first set 62 Paolini had to work a lot harder to overcome the spirited Australian in the second set as both players held their service games to take the set into a tiebreakThe twotime Grand Slam runnerups experience pulled her through for a 62 76 4 win to set up a second round showdown against the experienced 31yearold Aliaksandra Sasnovich or rising teen Iva Jovic WTA reportsIn another match Victoria making her 18th career appearance in New York put her grit on display on Court 12 and worked her way past American qualifier Hina Inoue 760 64Playing her first match since Wimbledon Azarenka battled through fatigue and a pesky main draw debutante to book her 49th career US Open winAzarenka finished the two hour and fourminute contest with 35 winners to 14 for Inoue and she won 36 of 54 points that lasted four strokes or moreShe set up a secondround clash with either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Dayana Yastremska IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-pegula-paolini-azarenka-advance-to-second-round-with-solid-wins-633976.html Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-feeling-good-ahead-of-chase-for-rare-us-open-title-defence-633679.html New York Aug 23 The wait for a successful mens singles title defence at the US Open is up to 17 years but Jannik Sinner will have every reason to believe he can snap it this fortnight in New York The topseeded Italian enters this year with a 314 record for the season and he is also on a 21match winning streak at hardcourt Grand Slam tournaments dating back to the start of the 2024 Australian OpenAt his pretournament press conference on Friday in New York defending champion Sinner spoke assuredly when asked how he had recovered from the illness that caused him to retire from Mondays final against Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati as per ATPIm very happy to be back here Its a great tournament Its obviously the last Grand Slam we have for this season so the motivations are very high said the Italian Physically I feel good I have recovered mostly not 100 yet but we are aiming to be there in a couple of days So should be all fine for the tournamentThe No 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Sinner was asked his thoughts on why defending the title has been so tough in recent years at the US Open where the last man to win consecutive crowns was Roger Federer the Swiss won five in a row from 2004 to 2008 The 24yearold believes the challenge may lie in small contextual details that surround the eventWe are heading towards end of the season so some players they are tired Some players they are feeling different Many things can change said the 20time tourlevel titlist Its also the last big trophy of the year I feel like here it changes a lot if you play night or if you play day There are many many small things at this Grand Slam makes a differenceFor example also obviously we are sleeping in the city and it takes one hour to come to Flushing Meadows Small things But I feel if you dont handle them very well then its also very difficult to play the best possible tennis Lets see I always say that the future is unpredictable So I dont know whats going to happen this time But of course its a very very difficult tournament to playSinner and Alcaraz who have lifted the past seven Grand Slam trophies between them are locked in a battle for No 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings in New York The Italian has held top spot since June 2024 but with Sinner defending 2000 points and Alcaraz only 50 points from last years US Open Sinner will begin his 2025 campaign 50 points behind his rival in the PIF ATP Live RankingsIf Sinner reaches at least the fourth round he will retain No 1 provided that he advances at least one round further than AlcarazTo have rivalries its great said Sinner of his oncourt relationship with Alcaraz who leads 95 in the pairs ATP Head2Head series Its good for the sport its good for personal view because sometimes when youre tired in practice you try to simulate certain things because they can happen in the real matchAt the moment me and Carlos we are sharing big trophies but at the same time things can change You never know There are great great players out there and to the way to the final its very difficult to get there So lets see if this continues I always say we have to improve because players they understand us now how we areAfter Alcaraz lifted the Cincinnati trophy the Spaniard moved 1890 points clear of his rival Sinner in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin While Sinner has joined Alcaraz in already qualifying for the seasonending Nitto ATP Finals this fortnight in Flushing Meadows could also be crucial for the Italian if he is to haul in his rival and claim ATP YearEnd No 1 presented by PIF honours for the second consecutive year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-feeling-good-ahead-of-chase-for-rare-us-open-title-defence-633679.html Sat, 23 Aug 2025 10:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/ito-tjen-set-all-asian-meeting-in-us-open-final-qualifying-round-633483.html New York Aug 22 No 3 seed Aoi Ito and fastrising Janice Tjen set up an allAsian matchup in the final round of US Open qualifying for a berth in the main draw Japanese 21yearold Ito who has scored upsets over Jasmine Paolini and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova this summer came through a seesaw contest over Spains Guiomar Maristany Zuleta De Reales 60 16 61Meanwhile Tjen of Indonesia notched her 99th match win since graduating last May with a 75 75 win over Polands Maja Chwalinska coming from 53 down and saving two set points in the first setTjen 23 is bidding to become the first Indonesian player in a Grand Slam main draw since Angelique Widjaja at the 2004 US OpenWednesdays qualifying action was a nearwashout due to persistent rain Only eight womens matches were started and none were completed as a result the entire second round was postponed to Thursday with the scheduled final round pushed to FridayTwo of the most highly rated teenagers in the draw were among those who had their matches delayed at a crucial juncture No 2 seed Tereza Valentova trailed Tatiana Prozorova 54 in the first set while Emerson Jones led Laura Pigossi 54 having just failed to serve out the openerBoth returned on Thursday to wrap up their wins Valentova 18 sped through nine out of 10 games on resumption for a 75 61 victory Jones 17 came through 64 64 WTA reportsAustralias Jones will next face another former junior No 1 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva The 20yearold Andorran who is bidding to become the first player from her country to compete in a Grand Slam main draw trailed Astra Sharma by a set and a break overnight However on resumption she played with substantially more purpose and confidence to win 26 63 63British No 1 seed Francesca Jones came through a remarkable secondset tussle to defeat Ekaterine Gorgodze 61 7611 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/ito-tjen-set-all-asian-meeting-in-us-open-final-qualifying-round-633483.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/rain-wipes-out-us-open-qualifying-matches-633242.html New York Aug 21 Persistent rain at the US Open forced all of Wednesday local time qualifying matches to be cancelled Play lasted only about 45 minutes with six mens matches in progress before rain halted action for good Among those aiming to qualify for the seasons final major include Dino Prizmic Alexander Blockx Rei Sakamoto Martin Landaluce and Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez Tourveterans Bernard Tomic Lloyd Harris and JanLennard Struff remain in the qualifying drawHowever the mixed doubles action semifinals and final remain on schedule as No 1 seeds Jessica PegulaJack Draper and No 3 seeds Iga SwiatekCasper Ruud kicked off the 2025 mixed doubles semifinals in a tight highquality affair under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe StadiumSwiatekRuud upset the top seeds PegulaDraper 35 53 108 to make sebut in the mixed doubles finalLater the defending champion Italian team of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defeated Americans Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison in their semifinal match 42 42 to set up the final with SwiatekRuudThe Italians are battling No 3 seeds Swiatek and Ruud for the championship titleand the USD1 million prize purseThe newlook tournament was a hit with fans at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday with spectators filling both Ashe and Armstrong for the doubles actionMatches in the first three rounds of the tournament including tonights semifinals are bestofthreeset contests with each set played to four games tiebreak at 44 and a 10point tiebreak in lieu of a third setThe final played with traditional sets to six games with a 10point match tiebreak to decide the champion if the competitors split sets IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/rain-wipes-out-us-open-qualifying-matches-633242.html Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-erranivavassori-defend-mixed-doubles-crown-633245.html New York Aug 21 Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori claimed the title at the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship with a 63 57 106 victory against third seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud here in Thursday IST The Italians successfully defended their New York title without losing a set until the final After two straightsets wins on Tuesday in Louis Armstrong Stadium they completed their run with two more victories on Thursday at Arthur Ashe Stadium US Open reportsEarlier this year they likewise captured the mixed doubles crown at Roland Garros By contrast the American team was tapped to play just before the competition started after the team of Jannik Sinner and Katerina Siniakova were forced to withdraw after Sinner took illErrani and Vavassori earlier eliminated Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 42 42 in the semifinals In the only match that went to a deciding set before the final Ruud and Swiatek rallied past top seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula 35 53 108The US Open title is the third mixed doubles crown for Errani and Vavassori as a pair In addition to the 2024 trophy in New York they also won Roland Garros this summerIn the final the Italians led 53 in the second set before a late charge from Swiatek and Ruud forced a match tiebreak But the third seeds momentum was quickly halted as ErraniVavassori built a 40 lead in the tiebreak and never looked backThe USTA is offering the largest purse in tennis history with USD 90 million in total player compensationFor the first time ever the winning teams from the mens doubles womens doubles and mixed doubles tournaments will earn 1 million in prize moneyThe champions will be rewarded with a USD 1 million winners check along with the first Grand Slam trophy of the 2025 US Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-erranivavassori-defend-mixed-doubles-crown-633245.html Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-erranivavassori-pair-defends-mixed-doubles-crown-633249.html New York Aug 21 Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori claimed the title at the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship with a 63 57 106 victory against third seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud here in Thursday IST The Italians successfully defended their New York title without losing a set until the final After two straightsets wins on Tuesday in Louis Armstrong Stadium they completed their run with two more victories on Thursday at Arthur Ashe Stadium US Open reportsEarlier this year they likewise captured the mixed doubles crown at Roland Garros By contrast the American team was tapped to play just before the competition started after the team of Jannik Sinner and Katerina Siniakova were forced to withdraw after Sinner took illErrani and Vavassori earlier eliminated Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 42 42 in the semifinals In the only match that went to a deciding set before the final Ruud and Swiatek rallied past top seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula 35 53 108The US Open title is the third mixed doubles crown for Errani and Vavassori as a pair In addition to the 2024 trophy in New York they also won Roland Garros this summerIn the final the Italians led 53 in the second set before a late charge from Swiatek and Ruud forced a match tiebreak But the third seeds momentum was quickly halted as ErraniVavassori built a 40 lead in the tiebreak and never looked backThe USTA is offering the largest purse in tennis history with USD 90 million in total player compensationFor the first time ever the winning teams from the mens doubles womens doubles and mixed doubles tournaments will earn 1 million in prize moneyThe champions will be rewarded with a USD 1 million winners check along with the first Grand Slam trophy of the 2025 US Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-erranivavassori-pair-defends-mixed-doubles-crown-633249.html Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/so-many-good-points-and-highlights-erranivavassori-feel-special-to-defend-us-open-mixed-doubles-title-633273.html New York Aug 21 After the Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defended their US Open mixed doubles title in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium the former described it as so special to win again at Flushing Meadows The champions defeated Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 63 57 106 ranked No2 and No 12 in singles to win the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship I think tonight was amazing The atmosphere was crazy Vavassori reflected The last match was unbelievable also the level I think so many good points so many highlightsErrani came into the match ranked No 291 singles among WTA Tour players and Vavassori was the ATP Tours No 306 having split two matches this year and compiling a career record of 1013 for his careerIm so happy It was so special to win here again It was not easy after losing the second set in the final Andrea helped me a lot giving me a lot of energy believing in me I think he did an unbelievable match tiebreak It was so special said ErraniThe Italian duo ErraniVavassori did not lose a set in the tournament until SwiatekRuud rattled off four straight games from 53 down in the second set to force a match tiebreak But the Italians regrouped and never trailed in the decider ultimately clinching the title and a cool USD 1 million in prize moneyOn their first championship point Errani tossed in an underhand serve that surprised everyone in Asheespecially Swiatek and Ruud who managed to win an entertaining point to extend the match It wasnt the first time Errani broke out that tactic on a big occasion She successfully executed the play in the Olympic doubles semifinals last summer on the way to winning the gold medal with Jasmine Paolini who was in the stands to cheer on her compatriots Wednesday night You want to know the truth Because I feel if I serve normal Id do a double fault she explained about the shot I did an underarm serve Sometimes also its not easy to return from underarm Its getting low Some people sometimes get nervous I dont know I just feel it and I just did it But we lost that pointThey won the next point though to claim their third mixed doubles title as a pair after last year in New York and this summer at Roland Garros That is so special so funny I think we invented it here last year Errani said of the move I think the first time was in the semis or final Vavassori added with a smile She did that and I followed the wave IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/so-many-good-points-and-highlights-erranivavassori-feel-special-to-defend-us-open-mixed-doubles-title-633273.html Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-2025-alacaraz-radacanu-headline-exciting-mixed-doubles-showcase-632736.html New York Aug 18 The US Open 2025 is all set to kick off with a thrilling mixed doubles showcase featuring topranked tennis stars and wildcard pairings Scheduled for August 19 and 20 just ahead of the main singles draws beginning on August 24 the event will serve as an actionpacked curtainraiser to one of tenniss most prestigious tournaments The showcase will include 16 players the top eight based on combined singles rankings and eight wildcard entries The new scheduling format allows elite singles players to participate in this exhibitionstyle event creating rare and exciting pairings for fans to enjoyAmong the headline duos is Emma Raducanu 2021 US Open champion who will team up with 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz as a wildcard entry Novak Djokovic the 24time Grand Slam winner partners with fellow Serbian Olga Danilovic while Venus Williams still competing at 45 will join forces with Reilly OpelkaAdditional standout pairings include British No 1 Jack Draper with World No 4 Jessica Pegula and World No 1 Jannik Sinner paired with 10time Grand Slam doubles champion Katerina Siniakova Defending mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are also set to return as a wildcard pairingThis twoday event promises highstakes matches rare teamups and a vibrant energy that sets the stage for the main tournament With both established legends and emerging stars sharing the court the US Open 2025 mixed doubles showcase is poised to captivate tennis fans across the globeThe tournament will be streamed live on JioHotstar and broadcast on Star Sports Network August 1920 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-2025-alacaraz-radacanu-headline-exciting-mixed-doubles-showcase-632736.html Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/its-nice-to-check-off-the-list-another-tournament-swiatek-after-clinching-maiden-cincinnati-crown-632800.html Cincinnati Aug 19 Iga Swiatek added a new title to her resume winning knocking off No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini to win her first Cincinnati Open trophy After falling behind 30 early in the first set Swiatek rallied to defeat Paolini 75 64 in 1 hour and 49 minutes to become the first Polish player in the Open era to win a singles title at the eventThis is Swiateks 24th career WTA Tour singles title and her second WTA title of 2025 coming a month after she won Wimbledon It also marked her 11th career WTA 1000 title now tied for fifth with American Lindsay Davenport for most all time at that levelFor Paolini its her fifth loss in five matches against Swiatek and her second in a final Swiatek improved to a perfect 60 against Paolini in career headtoheads and has dropped only one set in those matchesSwiatek didnt drop a single set en route to the title a run that included victories over Top 10 players such as Paolini in the final and Elena Rybakina in the semifinals Since 1990 her winning percentage against WTA Top 10 players trails only Steffi Graf and Serena Williams according to WTA statsIts nice to check off the list another tournament in the season one I havent won Its a great motivation to push forward If I would have to point to two tournaments that would be the hardest ones to win it would be Wimbledon and Cincinnati so Im even more happy Its kind of proved that the greatest moments will probably come when you least expect them said SwiatekThe victory comes just ahead of the US Open where Swiatek will enter as the No 2 seed following her Cincinnati title She entered Mondays final needing a win to surpass Coco Gauff in the WTA rankings IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/its-nice-to-check-off-the-list-another-tournament-swiatek-after-clinching-maiden-cincinnati-crown-632800.html Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/first-time-finalists-swiatek-and-paolini-set-up-summit-clash-in-cincinnati-632507.html Cincinnati Aug 18 Iga Swiatek reached the final of the Cincinnati Open for the first time in her career with a 75 63 win over Elena Rybakina at the Lindner Family Tennis Center Having lost in the semifinals in the Queen City in each of the last two years No 3 seed Swiatek overcame a 53 deficit in the first set to claim victory The Wimbledon champion won 10 of the last 13 games to take her fourth straight win against Rybakina and her sixth win against the Kazakh in 10 tourlevel meetings WTA reportsSwiatek took a while to get to full flight on PampG Center Court After the match began with six straight holds of serve Rybakina moved into the ascendency by winning three straight games to establish a twogame cushionSwiatek has now reached the final in three of her last four tournaments played after not reaching one in more than a yearWith the win over Rybakina Swiatek secured her place at the WTA Finals in Riyadh and climbed back to No 2 in the PIF WTA Rankings placing her at the bottom of the US Open draw next weekSwiatek will face No 7 seed Jasmine Paoliniin Mondays final as she seeks an 11th career WTA 1000 titlePaolini also reached the Cincinnati Open final for the first time in her career defeating Veronika Kudermetova 63 67 2 63 in the semifinalsIt is Paolinis second WTA 1000 final of the season and the third of her career She has won the previous two She became the first Italian woman in the Open era to reach the singles final in CincinnatiSwiatek will take a 50 record into the final with Paolini Mondays final will be their fifth career meeting The two also met in the 2024 French Open finalShes an amazing player and its always tough to play her She defends really well and her serving is good too so its going to be tough but Ill try to do my best in the final I like the conditions here so thats fine and hopefully its going to be a good match Paolini said of SwiatekSwiatek leads the headtohead 40 including a 61 63 win in the Bad Homburg semifinals in JuneJasmine she plays fast but with a lot of spin and she has a lot of variety in terms of going to the net as well I think Im gonna have to prepare tactically but honestly Im just gonna kind of focus on myself Swiatek said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/first-time-finalists-swiatek-and-paolini-set-up-summit-clash-in-cincinnati-632507.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-mixed-doubles-draw-top-seed-draper-pegula-to-begin-against-alcaraz-raducanu-632518.html New York Aug 18 The full 16team field and draw for the blockbuster US Open Mixed Doubles Championship are unveiled Eight of the teams were determined by direct entry based on their combined singles ranking The other eight were granted wild cards Top seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula will face a stern opening test against two former US Open singles champions in Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu asThe winner will play the team that emerges between Olga DanilovicNovak Djokovic and Mirra AndreevaDaniil MedvedevSecond seeds Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina will face defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori Third seeds Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek take on Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe while fourth seeds Amanda AnisimovaHolger Rune will open against Ben Shelton and Taylor TownsendWorld No 1 and defending US Open mens singles champion Jannik Sinner originally entered with Emma Navarro who withdrew repaired with 10time Grand Slam womens doubles champion Katerina Siniakova That team received a wildcard entry into the fieldJasmine Paolini withdrew after advancing to the Cincinnati Open final Her previous partner Lorenzo Musetti repaired with Caty McNally That team also received a wildcard entry into the fieldWorld singles No 6 and reigning Australian Open womens singles champion Madison Keys and world No 14 and twotime US Open mens singles semifinalist Frances Tiafoe received direct entry based on their combined singles ranking on July 28World singles No 11 Andrey Rublev and No 14 Karolina Muchova also received direct entry based on their combined singles ranking on July 28Additionally twotime US Open womens singles champion Naomi Osaka and former US Open mens singles semifinalist Gael Monfils also received a wildcard entry into the fieldThe newlook event will be played Tuesday and Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with the mixed doubles draw revealing each teams potential path to a Grand Slam trophy and USD 1 million in prize moneyTuesdays first and second rounds will be played in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong StadiumThrough the semifinals matches will be best of three sets with short sets to four games noad scoring tiebreaks at fourall and a 10point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set The final will be a bestofthree set match to six games featuring noad scoring with tiebreaks at sixall and a 10point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/us-open-mixed-doubles-draw-top-seed-draper-pegula-to-begin-against-alcaraz-raducanu-632518.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sets-sinner-showdown-in-cincinnati-final-632311.html Cincinnati Aug 17 Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his seventh consecutive tourlevel final by beating an ailing Alexander Zverev 64 63 at the Cincinnati Open The victory set up a final showdown with Jannik Sinner a rematch of the Rome Roland Garros and Wimbledon title matches this seasonIm really looking forward to playing against him once again said the Spaniard who will meet Sinner for the fourth time this year and 14th time overall We raise our level to the top and we bring a really beautiful tennis to the match Im ready to take the challenge Im ready to see the things that I did wrong in the last match and trying to be better on that side on MondayAt 22 years and three months Alcaraz is the thirdyoungest player to reach nine Masters 1000 finals after Rafael Nadal 20 and Novak Djokovic 21 according to ATP statsThrough to his ninth ATP Masters 1000 final 71 and first on hard courts since he claimed the Indian Wells crown last year Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 16 matches at that prestigious level on the heels of his title runs in MonteCarlo and RomeEarlier defending champion Sinner delivered a rocksolid display to triumph 764 62 and reach his eighth ATP Masters 1000 final Ending the dream run of World No 136 Terence AtmaneWith his 86minute victory the world No 1 recorded his 200th tourlevel win on hard courts and extended his win streak on the surface to 26 matchesDespite defeat Atmane surged 67 spots to a new careerhigh No 69 in the ATP Live Rankings The 23yearold is next scheduled to compete in the qualifying event for the US Open which begins Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sets-sinner-showdown-in-cincinnati-final-632311.html Sun, 17 Aug 2025 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/cincinnati-open-rybakina-stuns-sabalenka-alcaraz-battles-past-rublev-to-reach-semis-632259.html Cincinnati Aug 16 Elena Rybakina stormed into her first Cincinnati Open semifinal on Friday with a commanding 61 64 victory over defending champion Aryna Sabalenka while fivetime Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz overcame a secondset lapse to defeat Andrey Rublev to reach the last four The ninthseeded Kazakh produced an impressive display to earn her seventh career win against a world No1 setting up a highstakes semifinal clash with sixtime major champion Iga Swiatek in a battle of Wimbledon titleholdersRybakina delivered a dominant serving performance firing 11 aces and winning 81 of points on her first serve She saved all five break points she faced to notch her fifth victory over Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in 12 encountersEarlier in the day Swiatek reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal in 15 months with a 63 64 win over 28th seed Anna Kalinskaya The Russian who had beaten Swiatek in their only previous meeting showed resilience by saving four match points before the Polish third seed finally converted her fifth opportunity on serve to close out the matchRussias Veronika Kudermetova cruised into her first Cincinnati Open semifinal with a commanding 61 62 win over compatriot Varvara GrachevaThe former top10 player appears to be regaining her best form securing her first WTA 1000 semifinal appearance since 2023Up next Kudermetova will face Italys seventh seed Jasmine Paolini who pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat twotime Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff 26 64 63In the mens draw Spanish second seed Alcaraz fought past ninthseeded Russian Andrey Rublev with a hardearned 63 46 75 victory to book his place in the semifinalsThe 22yearold wasnt at his sharpest tallying 15 unforced errors and three double faults in the final set but seized his only match point thanks to a Rublev double fault to clinch his 15th straight win at the Masters 1000 levelPlaying someone like Andrey when you lose focus on two or three points it can cost you the set or the match I just stayed strong mentally and thats what Im most proud of Alcaraz saidIts just accepting the moment accepting that I am playing a third set that its going to be a really tough battle and I love thatAlcaraz who has now won 37 of his last 39 matches reached his 12th Masters 1000 semifinal matching the tally of world No 1 Jannik Sinner who will meet French qualifier Terence Atmane in the other semifinalUp next for Alcaraz is third seed Alexander Zverev who cruised past Canadian Open champion Ben Shelton with a dominant 62 62 victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/cincinnati-open-rybakina-stuns-sabalenka-alcaraz-battles-past-rublev-to-reach-semis-632259.html Sat, 16 Aug 2025 17:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sinner-move-into-cincinnati-open-quarterfinal-631930.html Cincinnati Aug 14 Carlos Alcaraz sprinted into the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals with a convincing 61 64 win over Italian Luca Nardi Alcaraz closed out the first set in just 27 minutes making up for a late start to his feature night match after the Centre Court schedule was impacted by an extended rain delay earlier in the dayIn the second set Alcaraz was trailing 24 before tallying four consecutive games to advance after 80 minutes The 22yearold won a lengthy eightdeuce game at 44 during which Nardi double faulted on backtoback points to allow the second seed to serve for the match ATP reportsA 21time tourlevel titlist Alcaraz is seeking his first Cincinnati crown He reached the final in 2023 and held championship point before rival Novak Djokovic stormed back to lift the trophyThe Spaniard who is seeded to meet World No 1 Jannik Sinner in the final for the fourth consecutive tournament in which they have both featured next plays ninth seed Andrey Rublev who beat Francisco Comesana 62 63 to avenge last years Wimbledon firstround loss to the ArgentineEarlier defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame a resilient performance from French qualifier Adrian Mannarino 64 764 in a raindisrupted match to mive a steo closer to retaining his crown and capturing his first ATP Masters 1000 title of the seasonWith his onehour 48minute victory Sinner extended his winning streak on hard courts to 24 matches surpassing Novak Djokovics 2015 run of 23 wins and climbing to eighth place on the list of the longest hardcourt winning streaks of this century The Italians last defeat on the surface came against Carlos Alcaraz in the Beijing final last October according to ATP statsSinner will next meet 23rd seed Felix AugerAliassime or another Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in his fifth quarterfinal of the yearElsewhere third seed Alexander Zverev led 14th seed Karen Khachanov 75 30 when the Toronto finalist retired after 70 minutes of battle IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sinner-move-into-cincinnati-open-quarterfinal-631930.html Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-swiatek-make-cincinnati-quarters-631940.html Cincinnati Aug 14 World no1 Aryna Sabalenka and no 3 seed Iga Swiatek advanced to Cincinnati Open quarterfinal here on Thursday IST Defending champion Sabalenka beat Spains Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 61 75 This was her 50th win of the seasonShe will face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina who beat Australian Open champion Madison Keys 67 37 64 62Swiatek advanced to her third straight Cincinnati Open quarterfinal with a 64 63 defeat over Sorana Cirstea in 1 hour and 35 minutesSwiatek made a lightningfast start to the match hammering three clean winners en route to an immediate break a lead she maintained for the whole of the first setA pair of double faults from Cirstea handed the Pole an immediate lead in the second set as well but Swiatek repaid the favor with two of her own in the subsequent game WTA reportsSwiatek took a 41 lead before dropping serve for a second time but was able to keep her nose in front and closed out her first match point with a forehand winnerWe played many tough matches so I know Sorana can really hit the ball well especially on faster surfaces So I was ready Im happy I was solid enough I was trying to be proactive with my serve not many of my first serves went in but I was happy I was solid on my second serves Swiatek saidCincinnati is one of only three WTA 1000 events on the current calendar that Swiatek has played without yet reaching the final She was a semifinalist here in both of the past two years falling to Coco Gauff at that stage in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka last year She will next face either Anna Kalinskaya who defeated No 12 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 36 76 75 61 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-swiatek-make-cincinnati-quarters-631940.html Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sinks-medjedovic-for-50th-win-of-2025-in-cincinnati-631844.html Cincinnati Aug 13 Carlos Alcaraz eased past Hamad Medjedovic 64 64 in testing conditions at the Cincinnati Open to rack up his 50th win for the season Alcaraz kept his cool in the Ohio heat to notch his 13th consecutive Masters 1000 win and sailed into the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 eventThe opening stages of the match was hard fought The momentum then shifted clearly toward the Spaniard however with Medjedovic serving at 33 The Serbian saved three break points but the pressure told on the fourth when he produced a double fault to hand his opponent a breakthroughMedjedovic received treatment from the physio for neck pain at the end of the first set and played aggressively in the second set to try and shorten the rallies in the heat Although he was able to reclaim a break for 33 and ultimately outhit Alcaraz by 25 winners to 16 overall that approach proved too inconsistent to overcome the SpaniardThe Serbian netted consecutive drop shots to gift Alcaraz another break for 43 and this time the Spaniard did not let slip his lead He completed his 95minute win having converted three of seven break points he earned ATP reportsHaving already lifted titles in MonteCarlo and Rome in his current Masters 1000 winning streak Alcaraz will take on Luca Nardi next in Cincinnati as he chases his eighth trophy at that levelHaving both qualified for the ATP Finals Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz will compete in a thrilling battle for ATP YearEnd No 1 honours over the remaining months of the year Alcaraz currently holds a 1500point lead over Sinner in the ATP Live Race To TurinIn other action ninth seed Andrey Rublev pulled a threehour 30minute marathon against 21st seed Alexei Popyrin Rublev prevailed 675 765 75 to level his ATP HeadtoHead series with Popyrin at 22 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-sinks-medjedovic-for-50th-win-of-2025-in-cincinnati-631844.html Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-prevails-in-cincinnati-with-marathon-win-over-raducanu-631611.html Cincinnati Aug 12 Aryna Sabalenkas Cincinnati title defense stayed alive after a marathon win 76 3 46 76 5 over Emma Raducanu The dramatic match required three hours and nine minutes the fourth longest of Sabalenkas career She improved to 110 in firstset tiebreaks this yearSabalenka finished with 46 winners and 72 unforced errors She will play a Round of 16 match Wednesday against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro a 64 61 winner over wild card Taylor TownsendSabalenka has now won all three career matches against Raducanu all in the past 18 months Shes now won 49 matches and put in more time on court approaching 100 hours than any other WTA Tour playerRaducanu opened the match by winning eight straight points The ninth though was a selfinflicted double fault and signaled a shift in momentum Sabalenka promptly broke her to get it back on serveAfter dropping four straight games Raducanu held serve to make it 43 Thirty minutes into the match after a backhand error from Sabalenka Raducanu leveled it at 4all Saving two break points Raducanu held for a 54 lead WTA reportsServing at 5all Raducanu played her best game finishing it with a massive crosscourt forehand winner and an ace Sabalenka also won at love and they were into that fateful tiebreakThe second set sailed along on keel for six games until Raducanu earned three break points and converted the last one It was the only break registered in the second set and Raducanu closed it with an emphatic aceThe third set opened with seven consecutive relatively easy service holds The eight game was a match within itself There were 13 deuces and Raducanu saved four break points before hitting a first serve that finally Sabalenka couldnt get backAfter that Raducanu roared and turned to her box with a raised clenched fist There were no breaks in the third set and Sabalenka finished it with another virtuoso performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sabalenka-prevails-in-cincinnati-with-marathon-win-over-raducanu-631611.html Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-fritz-advance-in-cincinnati-amid-fire-alarm-and-power-outage-chaos-631616.html Cincinnati Aug 12 World No 1 Jannik Sinner saved a set point to beat Gabriel Diallo 62 766 and advanced to the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open Play was halted in the second game of the second set in his thirdround match with Gabriel Diallo when a fire alarm in the 1899 club grandstand began to soundAfter a delay of several minutes the players agreed to play through the sound and flashes playing four points before the alarm ended ATP reportsSinner ultimately closed out the match after saving a set point with a clutch forehand service return in the tiebreakSinner is on a 22match hardcourt winning streak since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Beijing final in October He next plays the winner of Tommy Paul and Adrian MannarinoPlaying his first tournament since winning his first Wimbledon title Sinner is 273 on the season according to ATP Stats Just 10 wins away from 300 career wins Sinner earlier in the tournament became the second player to qualify for Novembers ATP Finals where he will be the defending championThe start of Sinners evening match had been delayed by a late finish to Taylor Fritzs match with Lorenzo Sonego which endured a 75minute delay when the venue lost powerThe 27yearold Fritz who lost to Ben Shelton in straight sets in Canada last week moved past the Italian 764 75 in two hours and eight minutes without facing a break pointAfter winning a 67minute opening set play was suspended for about 75 minutes Upon resumption the second set went on serve until 5all when Sonego missed five first serves to give Fritz the break point he needed The American then held to love to close out his 38th tourlevel victory of the seasonChasing his first Masters 1000 crown of the season and second overall the former Indian Wells champ will meet Brazilian Joao Fonseca or Frenchman Terence Atmane in the fourth roundFritz is the first American to be among the top four seeds in Cincinnati since Andy Roddick in 2007 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-fritz-advance-in-cincinnati-amid-fire-alarm-and-power-outage-chaos-631616.html Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-survives-dzumhur-scare-to-reach-third-round-in-cincinnati-631361.html Cincinnati Aug 11 Carlos Alcaraz battled past World No 56 Damir Dzumhur 61 26 63 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Masters here on Monday IST Alcaraz raced through the first set in just 28 minutes But he found himself off course in the second set With errors creeping in and his intensity dipping the World No 2 opened the door for a surging Dzumhur who began charging the net and taking control of the rallies to levelThe Spaniard crucially regrouped in the decider finding just enough firepower and precision to steady the ship and close out the match after one hour and 41 minutesIt was just a rollercoaster Lots of good feelings bad feelings back to the good ones All I can say is I am happy to get the win at the end and just have another chance to be better I will try tomorrow to have my confidence back because today it was a little bit trickyDamir plays really smart tennis which I have to be focused and ready for that I have a rest day tomorrrow to give myself the confidence back and hopefully be better in the next round Alcaraz saidAlcaraz was competing for the first time since he lost to Sinner in the pairs latest Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting in the Wimbledon final Having both qualified for the ATP Finals Sinner and Alcaraz will compete in a thrilling battle for ATP YearEnd No 1 honours over the remaining months of the yearAlcaraz currently holds a 1500point lead over Sinner in the ATP Live Race To TurinAlcaraz has clinched a Tourleading five titles in 2025 including Masters 1000 crowns in MonteCarlo and Rome The 22yearolds best result in Ohio came in 2023 when he lost in a threeset final thriller against Novak DjokovicThe Spaniard who is chasing eighth Masters 1000 title will next meet Hamad Medjedovic IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/alcaraz-survives-dzumhur-scare-to-reach-third-round-in-cincinnati-631361.html Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gauff-pegula-kickstart-cincinnati-campaigns-with-wins-631366.html Cincinnati Aug 11 No 2seeded Coco Gauff mastered herself and opponent Wang Xinyu with a 63 62 victory in 70 minutes to reach the third round at the Cincinnati Masters Gauff has now won her sixth opening match in eight WTA 1000s this yearShell meet No 32 Dayana Yastremska a 64 26 62 winner over Viktoriya Tomova on Tuesday Gauff has beaten Yastremska three of four timesGauff is one of eight Americans in the WTA Rankings Top 50 and the fifth to advance to the third round Saturday saw No 5 Amada Anisimova No 6 Madison Keys and wild card Taylor Townsend get through On Sunday Gauff was joined by another 21yearold Ashlyn Krueger who was a 64 06 63 winner over Anastasija Sevastova WTA reportsLater No 4 Jessica Pegula equalled her former doubles partner with a 64 63 victory over Kimberly Birrell Next for Pegula is No 31 Magda Linette who beat Rebecca Sramkova 76 4 60Only Aryna Sabalenka 47 and Iga Swiatek 44 have won more matches this year at the WTA level than Pegulas 37No 8 seed Emma Navarro fell to qualifier Ella Seidel 64 16 64 Seidel a 20yearold German ranked No 124 gets the winner of the later match between Americans Caty McNally and McCartney KesslerEarleir No 7 Jasmine Paolini advanced in two fluctuating tiebreak sets 762 765 over Maria Sakkari However No 17 Belinda Bencic fell 64 760 to Veronika Kudermetova in the 11th edition of their rivalryMeanwhile No 3 Iga Swiatek and No 23 Jelena Ostapenko both advanced via walkover Swiatek had been due to face No 25 Marta Kostyuk in Mondays thirdround action but the Ukrainian was forced to withdraw due to a right wrist injuryOstapenko had been scheduled to face Camila Osorio in Sundays secondround action but an abdominal injury ended the Colombians hopes before she took to the courtOstapenko will face Lucia Bronzetti in the third round Swiatek will play either Sorana Cirstea or lucky loser Yuan Yue in the fourth round IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/gauff-pegula-kickstart-cincinnati-campaigns-with-wins-631366.html Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-zverev-breeze-into-cincinnati-masters-r3-631367.html Cincinnati Aug 11 Ben Shelton eased into the third round of the Cincinnati Open after Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired early in the second set with a knee injury Competing just three days after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto Shelton was leading 63 31 after 64 minutes when the Argentine retiredCarabelli grasped his knee on the first point of the fourth game of the second set after an awkward movement coming forward into the court After a medical timeout he could not move freely and retired after completing Sheltons service game ATP reportsI feel for Camilo and its obviously not the way that you want to go through I hope that he has a quick recovery Shelton next faces Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut saidMeanwhile world No 3 Alexander Zverev dropped a serving masterclass on American Nishesh Basavareddy to breeze into the third round with a 63 63 win his 40th of the yearZverev said that he was happy to get through without expending too much energy and to avoid playing in the heat of the dayI requested a night match coming from Toronto where its a lot colder I need some days getting used to the heat and conditions Im happy with the win and happy with how I playedThe twotime ATP Finals champion will next play 27th seed American Brandon Nakashima who toughed out a 46 63 765 win over Belgian qualifier Alexander BlockxElsewhere Karen Khachanov who fell to Shelton in a thirdset tiebreak in the Toronto final won his opening Cincinnati match against French qualifier Valentin Royer 64 76The World No 12 hit seven aces according to ATP Stats and took charge with his forehand in his one hour 50minute win He next faces American wild card Jenson Brooksby IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-zverev-breeze-into-cincinnati-masters-r3-631367.html Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/cincinnati-open-sabalenka-survives-vondrousova-test-sets-up-raducanu-clash-631212.html Cincinnati Aug 10 Aryna Sabalenka began her title defense at the Cincinnati Open with a gritty win over former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova on Saturday night The World No 1 battled through a challenging first set saving six break points before clinching it 75 Despite facing constant pressure on her serve Sabalenka maintained her composure and elevated her game in the second set to close out the match 75 61Its always a tough match against her Sabalenka said after the match Vondrousova always pushes me to the limit You have to stay focused and you have to fight for every point against herVondrousova had numerous chances creating 12 break points across the two sets but failed to convert any Sabalenka in contrast made the most of her limited opportunities going twofortwo on break points in the second set The win marked her fifth victory in eight career meetings with the Czech lefthanderNext up for Sabalenka is another Grand Slam champion Britains Emma Raducanu The former US Open winner advanced earlier in the day with a commanding 63 62 win over Olga Danilovic It was the pairs first meeting on the WTA Tour and Raducanu impressed with her clean aggressive baseline playRaducanu now unbeaten in opening matches since March will look to finally break through against Sabalenka The two have faced off twice before most recently at Wimbledon this year where Sabalenka won in straight sets Raducanu is yet to take a set from the topranked BelarusianTheir upcoming thirdround clash promises to be a marquee matchup between two of the sports most exciting names with Sabalenka aiming to continue her title defense and Raducanu seeking her first win in the rivalry IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/cincinnati-open-sabalenka-survives-vondrousova-test-sets-up-raducanu-clash-631212.html Sun, 10 Aug 2025 10:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/canadian-open-mboko-stuns-osaka-to-clinch-maiden-wta-1000-title-630833.html Montreal Aug 8 An 18yearold Canadian wild card Victoria Mboko stunned fourtime Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 26 64 61 to win her first WTA 1000 title on home soil at the Canadian Open After dropping the first set in the championship match Mboko once again showed her resilience and fighting spirit breaking in the opening game of the second set which seemed to throw Osaka off her game even though she managed to break back twice during the frameMboko carried her momentum into the final set cruising to victory against a discouraged opponent to achieve a destiny that seemed written in the stars from the moment she stepped foot in MontrealThe victory moves Mboko to a careerhigh no 25 on the WTA rankings guaranteeing that she will be seeded for the first at a Grand Slam in New York later this month Since 1970 Mboko is the second Canadian semifinalist finalist and champion at the Canadian Open after Bianca Andreescu in 2019Coming into the tournament Mboko was ranked 85th in the world Her victory makes her the secondlowest ranked player to win a Tier I WTA 1000 title since the formats introduction in 1990She is the second player since 2009 to claim her maiden title at a WTA 1000 event Mboko is the second wildcard to win the National Bank Open after Monica Seles in 1995Her fortnight included four victories over Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin Coco Gauff Elena Rybakina and Osaka Gauff and Rybakina were seeded No 1 and No 3 Its the first time thats happened in a single tournament since Ons Jabeur and Elina Svitolina in Wimbledon 2023 but they werent teenagers Mboko is the secondyoungest player ever to defeat four Grand Slam champions in a single WTA event in the Open Era The first was Serena Williams in 1999The 18yearold is the first Canadian woman to face four former Womens Singles Grand Slam champions and the first to beat all four in a single WTA event in the Open Era IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/canadian-open-mboko-stuns-osaka-to-clinch-maiden-wta-1000-title-630833.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-claims-first-atp-masters-1000-title-in-toronto-630837.html Toronto Aug 8 Ben Shelton won the biggest title of his career todate after claiming the Canadian Open mens singles crown after a pulsating final 675 64 763 victory against Karen Khachanov Shelton becomes the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 champion since 21yearold Andy Roddick won the 2004 Miami title He also surged to fourth in the ATP Live Race to Turin boosting his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in NovemberAfter edging two matches in the earlier rounds in thirdset tiebreaks Shelton had to do it again in final He dropped the opening set in a breaker but fought back to take the second In the shootout at 66 he raced out to a quick 30 lead which he never surrendered finishing off the win on his second match point The final lasted two hours and 48 minutesShelton is the fourth firsttime Masters 1000 champion in 2025 joining Jack Draper Indian Wells Jakub Mensik Miami and Casper Ruud Madrid It is the third title of Sheltons career adding to triumphs in Tokyo in 2023 and Houston in 2024 He has won at least one title for three straight yearsIts a surreal feeling Its been a long week not an easy path to the final My best tennis came out when it mattered most I was clutch I persevered I was resilient All the qualities I like to see in myself Shelton saidKhachanov blasted 10 forehand winners in the opening set and his power pinned Shelton deep behind the baseline But on the advice of his coach and father Bryan Shelton worked his way up the court in the second and third sets to take a more aggressive postureShelton now leads Khachanov 20 in their ATP headtohead series after also beating the 29yearold in Indian Wells earlier this year The players are seeded to meet in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-claims-first-atp-masters-1000-title-in-toronto-630837.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/jannik-sinner-secures-spot-in-atp-finals-joins-carlos-alcaraz-630961.html New Delhi Aug 8 Jannik Sinner has secured his spot at the 2025 ATP Finals joining rival Carlos Alcaraz in the seasonending event in Turin The world No 1 will return to his home nation to defend the yearend championship title he won in 2024 without losing a set This years ATP Finals will be held at the Inalpi Arena from November 916 Sinner will feature in the ATP Finals for the third year in a row and the fourth time overall According to the ATP WinLoss Index he holds a 102 record at the event with his only defeat in the past two editions coming against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 finalThe Italian has enjoyed another stellar season winning two majors for the second straight year and reaching the ATP Masters 1000 final in Rome He successfully defended his Australian Open title and captured his first Wimbledon crown while also holding three championship points in the Roland Garros final before a heartbreaking loss to AlcarazThe 23yearold the only player to top the ATP Rankings this season has remained World No 1 for 60 consecutive weeks since first reaching the summit last June He is now locked in a close battle with Alcaraz for the ATP YearEnd No 1 with the race likely to be decided at the seasons endSinner debuted at the ATP Finals in 2021 as an alternate replacing Matteo Berrettini That year he pushed Daniil Medvedev to a finalset tiebreak and defeated Hubert Hurkacz In his two appearances in Turin since then he has claimed victory in nine of his 10 matchesSinner withdrew from the Canadian Masters in Toronto last month due to an elbow injury Refreshed after nearly a month away from competition the Italian is set to return to action and defend his Cincinnati Open titleThe 23yearold has had a difficult early summer losing a gruelling French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz before bouncing back to beat the Spaniard at Wimbledon and claim his fourth Grand Slam title IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/jannik-sinner-secures-spot-in-atp-finals-joins-carlos-alcaraz-630961.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 18:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sania-mirza-pv-sindhu-say-belief-and-support-can-make-the-difference-for-upcoming-female-sportspersons-630559.html Mumbai Aug 6 When the Indian womens cricket team participated in the World Cup in 1997 at home they got Rs 1000 as match fee for each match Things have come a long way from those dark ages to 2025 when in the Womens Premier League WPL miniauction Simran Shaikh got a bid of Rs 190 crore and the 16yearold G Kamalini went for Rs 160 crore The media has started taking attention and the broadcasters are also showing womenonly sports even amidst toplevel mens competition like in the case of WPL 2025 in the middle of the mens Champions TrophyHowever there is a lot that still needs to be done to change societys perspective towards womens sports attract more eyeballs on the broadcast spectrum and gain the confidence of the corporate world to take a full dive into womens sportThis was the outcome of an evening of discussion on the scope of the sector during The Sports Women Huddle 2025 Invest in Her organised by Capri Sports Foundation which owns the WPL franchise UP Warriorz the Bengal Warriorz team in Kro Kabaddi League and the Warriorz FC a womens football teamIn a panel discussion on female athletes as market makers brand builders and change drivers multipletime Grand Slam champion in doubles tennis Sania Mirza twotime Olympic medallist shutter PV Sindhu 2016 Paralympic Games silver medallist Dr Deepa Malik and Atiqua Mir first female racer from India to win the Micro Max category at the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy RMCIT held in Le Mans talked about their experiences how they tackled adversities to succeed and how they envision the womens sport growing in the countryThe panellists discussed how in the changing world when there is social media improved corporate sponsorship and a bit more attention being given to womens sports what more needs to be done to improve female participation change the narrative to their skills and promote them as people capable of laying the marker when it comes to brand promotion and corporate engagementTalking about how societys perspective towards female sportspersons needs to change because they still want them to but demure and act like good girls Sania Mirza said the onus is on women to also be on the female sportspersons to act like world beaters and conduct themselves in such a way that they get the attention they deserveSania Mirza said there is no doubt that it is a mans world and in the case of Indian sports its the cricket world when it comes to Indian sports but the players have to do it for themselves and not for othersSo the fact is that as female representation I think it the onus is also on us how we represent ourselves how we are showing the worldYou know we have world beaters in this part of the world But we dont want them to act like world beaters We still want them to act like they are Bichare simpletons So if you act like a world beater theyre like array they have attitude and they are arrogantBut if you are acting like youre Bichare a good girl or whatever then they say Oh you dont have killer instinctSo there is no winning that So in short you dont do anything for other people you do it for yourself So I dont care how other people represent me I care how I represent myself And the onus is on me to have that killer instinct or have that attitude or have but do whatever it takes to represent myself in the best way possible and to win said SaniaSindhu agreed with Sania and said female sportspersons should not be bothered by what others think about them but should pursue sport because they like itAt the end of the day its us we represent And you know you know when you lose when social media was right there you know when you lose you know they take you there and when you win they keep you at like cloud 9 So you know you dont have to actually bother or feel bad about what they think but its what you think And what matters is you know how are you feeling at the end of the day Because its what you are thinking about what others are thinking I think that will really take you somewhere that you know you cant even imagine because it breaks you at the end of the day said SindhuDeepa Malik talked about how the sports world has changed for the differentially abled sportspersons and said it will have a bigger impact on society if more people from small towns and villages become successful in the sports worldImagine a disabled girl coming from a small village becomes successful and wins a medal in say the Paralympic Games it will change the total outlook of the entire village and inspire many more to take up the sport It has happened with me when I became the first Indian female to win a medal in the 2016 Paralympic Games and now in Paris 2024 so many women won medals she saidShe also talked about the role of male partners in assisting disabled sportspersons in achieving success in sports Talking of her example she said he needs the assistance of a male to get strapped into her wheelchair for participating in an event in such a way that she does not commit a foulSania Deepa and Sindhu also advised young sportspersons on how to handle pressure and losses when transitioning from junior to senior level She told them not to get bothered by defeats because initially they will lose a lot of matches Lose lose and lose so much that you no longer lose anything she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sania-mirza-pv-sindhu-say-belief-and-support-can-make-the-difference-for-upcoming-female-sportspersons-630559.html Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wildcard-teen-mboko-stuns-rybakina-to-set-up-montreal-final-with-osaka-630609.html Montreal Aug 7 Canadian teenager Victoria Mbokos magical ride in Montreal will continue into the Canadian Open final after another headlinegrabbing upset victory The 18yearold wild card saved a match point in dispatching No 9 seed Elena Rybakina 16 75 764 putting her through to her first WTA Tour singles final Mboko became the first Canadian player to defeat three former Grand Slam champions Rybakina Coco Gauff Sofia Kenin in a single WTA event in the Open Era and the fourth Canadian finalist at her countrys signature event in the Open Era after Faye Urban 1968 and 1969 Vicky Berner 1969 and Bianca Andreescu 2019 moreover the youngest of those and the first to do it in Montreal according to WTA statsThe teenage Canadian also became the third wildcard to reach the final at the Canadian Open in the Open Era after Monica Seles 1995 and Simona Halep 2015In the final frame Mboko continued to show maturity beyond her years with her back against the wall Rybakina twice served for the match at 54 and 65 but the former Wimbledon champion is the one who ended up flinching so close to the finish lineMboko saved a match point down 45 and broke again at 56 In the tiebreak the young Canadian was the steadiest of the two players on the court hitting the ball with purpose off both wings and coming up with clutch serves when she needed them mostIn a tiebreaker every point counts I really put emphasis on that especially in that kind of moment where I had that really long point I wanted to as much as I can to put as many balls in the court and to fight as hard as I possibly could So I wanted to stay really calm as well because its an incredibly stressful momentI feel like Ive been in situations where the score was tight and I kind of panicked a little bit but I really wanted to calm myself down and forget about the last point and always focus on the next Mboko said in her postmatch press conferenceAfter starting the season ranked outside the Top 300 in the WTA Rankings and entering the tournament ranked No 85 Mboko is assured of cracking the Top 40 no matter the result of finalIn the final Mboko will face fourtime Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka who advanced to her first WTA 1000level final since 2022 with a 62 767 win over No 16 seed Clara Tauson in the nightcap Osaka saved two set points in the second set at 64 in the tiebreak after losing leads of 31 and 42 earlier in the set IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wildcard-teen-mboko-stuns-rybakina-to-set-up-montreal-final-with-osaka-630609.html Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-shelton-set-all-american-sf-in-toronto-630313.html Toronto Aug 6 Taylor Fritz edged 2024 finalist Andrey Rublev while Ben Shelton moved past Alex de Minaur to set up an allAmerican semifinal at the Canadian Open Fritz was narrowly denied another serving shutout to claim a 63 764 win Holding match point at 54 in the second set after a serving masterclass Fritz seemed destined to claim his 42nd consecutive hold before an againstthescript lapse that saw Rublev convert his fourth break point of the game to level the match and soon after force a tiebreak But with the confidence of having won 18 of his previous 21 matches Fritz wrapped up the win ATP reportsFritz who becomes the third player this season to reach 20 hardcourt wins according to the ATP WinLoss index will play countryman Ben Shelton in the semifinalsShelton has moved inside the cut for the ATP Finals after snapping Alex de Minaurs sevenmatch winning streak in the quarterfinals with a comfortable 63 64 win Victory over 2023 Toronto finalist De Minaur lifted Shelton two spots to seventh in the ATP Live Race to Turin as he looks to make his debut at the season finale from in ItalyShelton 22 who also became the youngest American Masters 1000 semifinalist since Andy Roddick 20 years ago in Indian Wells will improve his careerhigh PIF ATP Ranking from No 7 to No 6 leapfrogging Novak Djokovic should he win the titleShelton who served 13 aces in the 91minute win will now look for his first win over second seed Fritz in a rare allAmerican Masters 1000 semifinal just the fourth since 2000 Fritz won their lone ATP headtohead meeting in Indian Wells in 2023Shelton who served 13 aces in the 91minute win will now look for his first win over second seed Fritz in a rare allAmerican Masters 1000 semifinal just the fourth since 2000 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-shelton-set-all-american-sf-in-toronto-630313.html Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-withdraws-from-cincinnati-open-for-non-medical-reasons-630099.html New Delhi Aug 5 World number six and 24time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open the organisers said The 38yearold Serbian who has reached three Grand Slam semifinals so far in 2025 was scheduled to make his first hardcourt appearance since his semifinal defeat at Wimbledon in July cited nonmedical reasons for his withdrawalDjokovics withdrawal follows his earlier decision to skip the Canadian Masters in Toronto citing a groin injury marking two consecutive missed ATP Masters 1000 tournamentsThe threetime champion owns a 4512 tournament record at the ATP Masters 1000 according to the ATP WinLoss Index In his most recent appearance at the event he saved a championship point to beat Carlos Alcaraz 57 767 764 in an instantclassic 2023 finalDjokovic is 269 this season a year in which he won his 100th tourlevel title in Geneva in May He has played just two events since that triumph reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon but losing to Jannik Sinner at both majorsDjokovic is next scheduled to play at the US Open where maindraw action begins Aug 24 He is pursuing his 25th Grand Slam title which would set an alltime record for mens and womens singles combined tying the record currently held by Margaret Court on the womens sideMeanwhile Jannik Sinner has arrived at the Cincinnati Open where he will aim to defend his title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Ohio The 23yearold Italian is seeking his maiden Masters 1000 trophy of 2025 Sinner will be joined at the event by Alexander Zverev Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz who fell to Sinner in the Wimbledon finalThe Cincinnati Open begins on Thursday and has undergone a major transformation as it expands to a twoweek 96player event in 2025 coinciding with a USD 260 million campus renovation This expansion aims to enhance both player and fan experiences with the addition of new courts The final will be played on August 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-withdraws-from-cincinnati-open-for-non-medical-reasons-630099.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mbokos-dream-run-continues-in-montreal-reaches-first-wta-1000-semis-630116.html Montreal Aug 5 Victoria Mbokos fairytale run at the Canadian Open continues as the 18yearold advanced to her first WTA 1000level semifinal after beating bighitting Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 64 62 The Canadian wild card who was ranked outside the Top 300 at this time last year is projected to break into the worlds Top 50 following her run this weekSince 1970 Mboko is only the second local player to reach the semifinals at the Canadian Open following Bianca Andreescu in 2019 She also becomes the youngest Canadian player in the Open Era to reach the semifinals at the event Moreover Mboko is the youngest from any nation to achieve the feat at the WTA 1000 level since Belinda Bencic in 2015Mboko coached by former Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat is just the fourth Canadian woman to reach the semifinals at a Tier 1WTA 1000 event joining Helen Kelesi Eugenie Bouchard and AndreescuStanding in her way in the semifinals on Wednesday night is a Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina who overcame Mboko a little over a week ago in Washington in straight setsEarlier in the day Kazakhstans Rybakina reached her second semifinal in Montreal after Ukraines Marta Kostyuk retired midwayRybakina led 61 21 when Kostyuk withdrew with a wrist injury It marked her third consecutive win over her Ukrainian rival US Open 2023 Stuttgart 2024 and Montreal 2025 after losing their first meeting in 2023 AdelaideThis is Rybakinas 10th WTA 1000level semifinal and her fifth semifinal appearance of the season the ñ third most on tour behind world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka nine and No 2 Iga Swiatek sevenThe semifinal between Mboko and Rybakina will be their second meeting in as many weeks with Rybakina having defeated the Canadian 63 75 at the Citi Open in Washington last week IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/mbokos-dream-run-continues-in-montreal-reaches-first-wta-1000-semis-630116.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-league-adds-gurgaon-grand-slammers-as-new-franchise-630177.html New Delhi Aug 5 Gurgaon Grand Slammers have been added to the Tennis Premier League TPL as the new franchise ahead of its seventh season Hygiia Ventures a Canadianbacked investment firm founded by entrepreneur Gaurav Agarwal has acquired the Gurgaon franchise Legendary tennis icon Sania Mirza joins as their brand ambassadorSports have always held a special place in my heart not just as a father to a passionate young tennis player but also as someone who admires the discipline it brings Acquiring a team in the Tennis Premier League is a meaningful way for us to support emerging Indian talent while expanding our investments into sports and franchise management Agarwal saidSania added Im thrilled to be associated with a team that values both talent and innovation Gauravs vision aligns perfectly with what Indian tennis needs structured long term investment Im looking forward to supporting the Gurgaon Grand Slammers this seasonTPL is the 4th Indian sports league to successfully enter its seventh season joining an elite group of longrunning sporting leagues in India Known for its fastpaced viewerfriendly format and a mix of international stars and emerging Indian players the league continues to attract top investors and global attention Gurgaon Grand Slammers marks another international investment into the TPL ecosystemWelcoming the new franchise Kunal Thakkur cofounder of TPL said Season 7 is a milestone for us and the addition of Gurgaon Grand Slammers strengthens the league further With Gauravs business expertise and Sanias tennis legacy this team is set to make an impactTPL cofounder Mrunal Jain added Hygiia Ventures coming on board shows how the league is growing as an attractive investment platform Its another big step forward for Indian tennis and TPL and we cant wait to see the Grand Slammers in action this season IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-premier-league-adds-gurgaon-grand-slammers-as-new-franchise-630177.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-scores-100th-tour-level-win-to-enter-toronto-qf-629886.html Toronto Aug 4 Ben Shelton registered his 100th tourlevel win after beating Flavio Cobolli 64 46 761 in the round of 16 of the Canadian Open to enter the quarterfinals Now 10069 in his tourlevel career Shelton is the eighth man born in the 21st century and the ninth active American to reach the 100wins mark He will next seek another milestone his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal when he takes on Alex de Minaur in his fourth quarterfinal at the prestigious levelShelton is into his third consecutive quarterfinal after reaching that stage at Wimbledon and advancing to the semis last week in Washington DC He is 167 this year on hard courts including his run to the Australian Open semifinals according to ATP statsAfter doing his thing in the first set Shelton got a bit of a taste of his own medicine in the second and third sets as the Italian piled the pressure on the Americans mighty serve while defending his own wellCobolli took the second and then served for the match at 54 in the third but thats when the fourth seed turned on the jets He broke back nearly broke again for the match in the 12th game and then won all of Cobollis service points in the tiebreakI thought I did a really good job rallying and finding a way to put returns in the court late in the match I was struggling with my two biggest weapons the serve and the firstball forehand Shelton said Coming through in the end I think speaks a lot about my mental toughness and my ability to be scrappy in those moments more so than my actual playShelton who entered Toronto at a careerhigh in the PIF ATP Rankings could move above Novak Djokovic to World No 6 by winning his third ATP Tour title this week IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/shelton-scores-100th-tour-level-win-to-enter-toronto-qf-629886.html Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/popyrin-rallies-to-upset-rune-as-canadian-open-title-defense-remains-alive-629736.html Toronto Aug 3 Defending champion Alexei Popyrin claimed his second consecutive win over a former Top 5 player when he rallied from a set down to defeat fifth seed Holger Rune 46 62 63 at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto on Sunday IST Popyrin went 011 on break point opportunities in the first set before converting both break points in the second set and his first of the third as he powered to the finish line behind 14 aces and 13 forehand winner as per ATPI started this week not high on confidence needing to get a grasp of the mental side Popyrin said of defending his title and 1000 points But this week I kind of just let go of all the pressureAfter the first set I was pissed about not breaking But when I came back out to return again it felt like I was in control of the match I told myself to be aggressive on the next break point that I got and from then on I felt quite comfortableThe 25yearold Australian produced a perfect blend of Serve 1 power and consistency making just two unforced errors from the baseline in the second set as he extended his winning streak to nine matches in Canada He will next play top seed Alexander ZverevPopyrin who ousted former World No 1 Daniil Medvedev in the third round advanced to his first hardcourt quarterfinal at any level since his stunning run to the title 12 months ago in MontrealI feel comfortable on these courts where I hit my first aggressive shot and then can dictate from there My forehand was the standout today Popyrin saidPopyrin hit 30 winners to 24 unforced errors while Rune hit 24 winners and 39 unforced errors according to Infosys ATP StatsPopyrin is No 26 in the PIF ATP Rankings but faced the prospect of tumbling outside the Top 50 without a deep run in Toronto as he defends the 1000 points he won last year in Montreal IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/popyrin-rallies-to-upset-rune-as-canadian-open-title-defense-remains-alive-629736.html Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-shelton-move-into-fourth-round-of-canadian-open-629563.html Toronto Aug 2 Second seed Taylor Fritz ousted the last remaining Canadian Gabriel Diallo 64 62 to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open Eyeing his second ATP Masters 1000 crown and first since his dream run at Indian Wells in 2022 Fritz will next face 19th seed Jiri Lehecka the Czech who rallied past 15th seed Arthur Fils 36 63 64 to advanceFritz broke to start the match and never really gave Diallo a chance to get back in it The American was squeaky clean throughout seemingly finding a way to come out on top on every big point Once he broke to go up 31 the result began to feel inevitable and he added a second break late before serving out the matchElsewhere fourth seed Ben Shelton registered a 678 62 765 win to improve to 50 in their ATP headtohead series against Brandon NakashimaInto the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the second time this season Indian Wells QF Shelton moved within one win of claiming his 100th tourlevel victory He will look to accomplish that feat against 13th seed Flavio Cobolli who beat Fabian Marozsan 62 46 63 Shelton is competing this week at a careerhigh No 7 in the ATP RankingsShelton staged multiple comebacks to edge his countryman Nakashima Barely anything went against serve in the opening frame with Nakashima getting his second minibreak of the breaker on the final point Shelton turned things around quickly in the second racing out to a 30 and then breaking again to finish itNakashima then seemed to flip the momentum in the opening game of the third with an early break only for Shelton to respond soon after to level at 22 At 45 on Nakashimas serve Shelton had two match points but two nervy errors allowed his countryman to hold The No 4 seed raced out to an early lead in the tiebreak and had three more match points at 63Nakashima saved the first two but on the the third the fifth overall Shelton blasted his 19th ace to finally finish off the win IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-shelton-move-into-fourth-round-of-canadian-open-629563.html Sat, 02 Aug 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/zverev-reaches-toronto-rd-4-becomes-fifth-active-man-to-record-500-tour-level-wins-629354.html Toronto Aug 1 Alexander Zverev overcame a spirited effort from Matteo Arnaldi at the Canadian Open where the top seed battled to a 675 63 62 victory to claim his 500th tourlevel match win The 28yearold now 3714 on the season is the first man born in 1990 or later to record 500 tourlevel wins Reaching the 500win mark places Zverev in rarefied air alongside Djokovic Marin Cilic Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka as the only active players to achieve that feat At 28 Zverev is the youngest among them with his nearest peer in age Cilic seven years his seniorMoreover the German is the seventh fastest to have reached that milestone this century Zverev is just the third German to reach 500 wins in the Open Era joining the retired Boris Becker 713214 and Tommy Haas 569338 in an exclusive national clubA seventime ATP Masters 1000 champion was not at his best in his thirdround victory on Thursday gifting Arnaldi a pair of set points in the opener first with a routine backhand volley miss then with a double fault at 45 in the tiebreak The 32nd seed seized his moment behind his own delivery unloading a Serve 1 forehand to gain a oneset advantage ATP reportsThe 2017 champion played into form as the match wore on rarely allowing the Italian any looks on return Across sets two and three Zverev dropped just four points behind his first serve according to the ATP Stats to advance after two hours and 46 minutesZverev next faces Argentine Francisco Cerundolo who holds a perfect 30 ATP headtohead record against the German with two of those wins coming this season Buenos Aires Madrid Cerundolo seeded 14th ousted countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry 63 64In other Toronto action fifth seed Holger Rune marched past 29th seed Alexandre Muller 62 64 Rune a finalist at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells this year will next meet 10th seed Daniil Medvedev or defending champion Alexei Popyrin IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/zverev-reaches-toronto-rd-4-becomes-fifth-active-man-to-record-500-tour-level-wins-629354.html Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/pegula-holds-off-sakkari-in-montreal-anisimova-raducanu-set-up-third-round-meeting-629153.html Montreal July 31 Twotime defending champion Jessica Pegula won her 11th straight match at the Canadian Open taking down Maria Sakkari in two close sets in the second round Pegula pulled off a daring firstset escape as she fended off five set points at 54 in the opening set and collected a 75 64 win over SakkariPegula converted all five of her break points on Wednesday becoming the first woman to win 11 straight matches at this event since Serena Williams reeled off 14 straight between 2011 and 2014The American will next face veteran Anastasija Sevastova in the third round Former World No 11 Sevastova beat Pegula in Indian Wells qualifying back in 2016 but Pegula picked up a claycourt win over Sevastova at 2019 CharlestonPegula led 31 in the first set before Sakkari stormed back in the opener at one point winning 12 points in a row Sakkari held her five set points at 54 but Pegula showed off her Canadian magic battling to a hold for 55After that Pegulas service returns ramped up in efficacy and she won the next four games to lead by a set and a break Pegula got all the way to 41 in the second set before Sakkari made another surge and reached 43 WTA reportsPegula had to save one final break point in the last game before earning another win in CanadaAnother American seeded in the Top 5 Amanda Anisimova was also a secondround winner on Wednesday No 5 seed Anisimova defeated Lulu Sun 64 765 in an evening encounterContesting her first match since she finished runnerup to Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon Anisimova slammed 11 aces as she moved into the third round for the second straight yearAnisimova will face a Grand Slam champion in the third round when she takes on 2021 US Open winner Emma RaducanuEarlier Naimi Osaka came from a set and 53 down saving two match points to triumph 46 766 63 over the No 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova in 2 hours and 37 minutes IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/pegula-holds-off-sakkari-in-montreal-anisimova-raducanu-set-up-third-round-meeting-629153.html Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/zverev-rune-and-musetti-win-in-toronto-opener-628885.html Toronto July 30 Top seed Alexander Zverev began his Canadian Open campaign by ousting Adam Walton 766 64 during which the 28yearold survived a lungbusting exchange to crucially earn set point in the opener After trailing 35 in the tiebreak Zverev seized momentum following that lengthy rally at 55 and found more rhythm from the baseline to advance Zverev was broken when he served for the match at 53 yet quickly regrouped to close out the onehour 42minute match the following game ATP reportsA seventime ATP Masters 1000 champion including a triumph in Canada in 2017 the No 3 player in the ATP Rankings will continue his quest to add to that haul against 32nd seed Matteo Arnaldi who defeated Australian Tristan Schoolkate 63 36 63 Zverev leads Arnaldi 10 in their ATP headtohead series with their lone meeting coming in Acapulco this yearEighth seed Casper Ruud competing in just his second tournament since Roland Garros raced past Roman Safiullin 63 63 The Norwegian next faces Nuno Borges who rallied past Argentine qualifier Facundo Bagnis 57 763 62After withdrawing from his opener in Washington last week due to back pain Holger Rune returned to claim a 767 63 victory in Toronto his first hardcourt win since reaching the Indian Wells final in March Mewnwhile Daniil Medvedev overcame lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina 763 64 but the 2021 champion is looking for more out of his gameLorenzo Musetti who is sixth in the Live Race and aiming to debut at the ATP Finals also came through his opening Toronto test in straight sets beating James Duckworth 75 61 With his win the 23yearold Italian snapped a threematch losing streak after firstround exits in Wimbledon and WashingtonMusetti will next play Alex Michelsen who edged Tomas Barrios Vera 767 63 in a tense secondround clash IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/zverev-rune-and-musetti-win-in-toronto-opener-628885.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/de-minaur-saves-3-championship-points-to-clinch-washington-title-628347.html Washington July 28 Alex de Minaur saved three championship points to clinch a 57 61 763 victory against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina earning his 10th tourlevel title in dramatic fashion After his title run De Minaur moved up five places this week to No 8 in the ATP Live Rankings and two places to eighth in the ATP Live Race To Turin Fokina rose seven places in the Live Rankings to return to the Top 20 at No 19 and also shot up seven places to 11th in the Race To TurinThe Aussie saved three championship points on serve at 54 in the final set but only after breaking from 300 when the Spaniard served for the title De Minaur was 16 millimetres from defeat on his opponents third match point but a desperate lob clipped the sideline and helped him turn the point and the match around ATP reportsIts something about this court I did it in 2018 against Rublev and honestly I just kind of knew I could do it I just backed myself and I told myself to commit no matter what and if I lost this match it was going to be on my terms Today it went my way Ive had a couple of brutal ones not go my way so Im glad this one went my way said the AussieDe Minaur credited his mentality and mindset with his recent success Im very happy with where I am at the moment how Im dealing with things on and off the court he explained I had the mindset that even if today didnt go my way it was a very positive week So I was proud of my efforts no matter what but jeez it feels good to hold my 10th titleFor Fokina who was seeking his first ATP Tour title it is a cruel blow after he missed out on two championship points in Delray Beach this past February against Miomir Kecmanovic and lost the Acapulco final to Tomas Machac in March IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/de-minaur-saves-3-championship-points-to-clinch-washington-title-628347.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/de-minaur-beats-moutet-to-reach-washington-final-628202.html Washington July 27 Alex de Minaur overcame an errorprone performance to halt the run of French lucky loser Corentin Moutet 64 63 and advance to the final of the DC Open here on Sunday IST By reaching the final De Minaur passed Andrey Rublev at No 10 in the ATP Live Rankings Moutet who came into the tournament as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying has this week climbed 13 spots to No 46 in the ATP Live Rankings cracking the Top 50 for the first time in his careerAfter winning 14 consecutive points to start the second set De Minaur seemed to be coasting to victory but double faulted to drop serve at 41 and later failed to serve out the match at 52 in a game that started with a double faultIn a more promising sign De Minaur won 17 of 22 points at net regularly approaching Moutets weaker backhand wing with impunity ATP reportsIt wasnt pretty tennis but I knew it was going to be a tricky match without a lot of rhythm De Minuar said Thats what hes able to do to opponents I had the mentality of doing whatever it took to get into the title match tomorrowThe Australian will need to sharpen his game ahead of final against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after spraying 33 unforced errors including 21 in the opening set and 21 for the match on his backhand according to ATP StatsFokina completed a hattrick of victories against American players backing up victories over Learner Tien and top seed Taylor Fritz with a 62 75 win over fourth seed Ben Shelton in the evenings second semifinalFokina hit just 10 winners but capitalised on Sheltons 35 unforced errors including seven double faults The 12th seed backed up impressively after the previous night rallying from 25 in the third set to beat World No 4 FritzHe became just the second Spanish finalist in Washington following Alex Corretjas surprise victory over fivetime champion Andre Agassi 25 years ago in 2000 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/de-minaur-beats-moutet-to-reach-washington-final-628202.html Sun, 27 Jul 2025 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fernandez-sets-summit-clash-with-kalinskaya-in-washington-628223.html Washington July 27 Leylah Fernandez battled all the way back to pull off a gruelling threetiebreak victory and reach her first final in over a year beating No 3 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 672 763 763 in a 3hour and 12minute contest at Washington Open Rybakina had not lost serve through 762 54 where she served for the match Naturally Fernandez had her exactly where she wanted her Staring down a match game at 54 in the second set Fernandezs cracking returns helped the Canadian earn her first service break of the day when she needed it mostOnce the third set hit Fernandez was the sturdier player in rallies down the stretch Bolstered by her neversaydie attitude these returns and rally groundstrokes could lead Fernandez to her fourth career title and her first since 2023 Hong Kong All of her three career WTA singles titles have come on hard court WTA reportsFernandez will next face Anna Kalinskaya who eased past 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 64 63 in the days second semifinalDC Open is arguably Kalinskayas best stop on tour She holds a 92 maindraw winloss record at the event and has never lost before the quarterfinals here including a semifinal showing in 2019 as a qualifier ranked No 160Kalinskaya went one further this year and is into her second career WTA singles final following WTA 1000 Dubai and WTA 500 Berlin both last year After narrow losses in both of those finals she has another opportunity to join the club of WTA singles titlists according to WTA statsThe summit clash is a huge chance for World No 36 Fernandez and World No 48 Kalinskaya both of whom have previously been ranked inside the Top 20 This WTA 500 trophy would be the biggest career title for either of them in fact Kalinskaya has yet to win a WTA singles title at allFernandez narrowly defeated Kalinskaya in their only previous meeting which was over four years ago On the hard courts of Guadalajara in 2021 Fernandez squeaked past Kalinskaya 75 46 64 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fernandez-sets-summit-clash-with-kalinskaya-in-washington-628223.html Sun, 27 Jul 2025 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tiafoe-shelton-set-all-american-qf-in-washington-627889.html Washington July 25 Frances Tiafoe scored a statement 61 64 victory against returning finalist Flavio Cobolli to reach the quarterfinal of DC Open This is Tiafoes third quarterfinal of the 2025 ATP Tour season after Houston and Roland Garros Tiafoe joins Andre Agassi and Alexander Zverev as the only men this century to reach the Washington quarters in four consecutive years With his first Top 20 win of the season 12 Tiafoe has now recorded backtoback hardcourt wins for the first time since his run to the 2024 US Open semifinals ATP reportsTiafoe beat countryman Ben Shelton in last years US Open third round and will now have a chance to level the pairs Lexus ATP Head2Head at 22 when the home favourites meet again in Fridays quarterfinals Shelton booked his place in the last eight with a 63 62 win against Gabriel DialloIm excited Were great friends We played an incredible match at the Open last year I think thats the best we actually both played He got me the first couple of times Hes a great player a great friend of mine Tiafoe said of the matchup with SheltonShelton is into his second quarterfinal in as many events after reaching that stage at Wimbledon where he lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner Seven of Sheltons 19 tourlevel quarterfinals have come on home soil according to ATP StatsElsewhere American Brandon Nakashima also advanced to the Washington quarters with a 763 63 win against Cameron Norrie setting up a meeting with seventh seed Alex de MinaurTaylor Fritz registered a 63 64 victory against Italys Matteo Arnaldi The top seed is through to his fourth quarterfinal in his past five events including his semifinal showing at Wimbledon IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tiafoe-shelton-set-all-american-qf-in-washington-627889.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/dc-open-sakkari-reaches-qfs-venus-williamss-doubles-campaign-ends-627710.html Washington July 24 Maria Sakkari scored a 75 76 1 win over Emma Navarro to advance to the quarterfinals of the DC Open Sakkari who received a wild card into the main draw has now won three of four career matches against the 24yearold American Shell next play the winner of Thursdays match between Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu on FridayThis year has been difficult for Sakkari before beating Navarro as she had lost 11 of 13 matches to seeded players in 2025 Now shes looking for a slice of history trying to emulate the feats of Paula Badosa 2024 and Nadia Petrova 20112 who won the title here as wild cards WTA reports Elsewhere in her tournament debut No 3 seed Elena Rybakina defeated teenage wild card Victoria Mboko 63 75 to make the quarterfinalsIn the womens doubles No 2 seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai narrowly defeated wild cards Hailey Baptiste and Venus Williams to reach the DC Open doubles quarterfinalsAfter winning her doubles match on Monday and singles on Tuesday night Venus finally came back to earth as Townsend and Zheng were 64 36 106 winners over Venus and Baptiste Before another packed house on John Harris Court it was an entertaining match until the winner asserted itself in the final frame With a lunging Townsend volley they converted their second match pointEarlier Venus who had accepted a maindraw singles wild card became the secondoldest woman ever to win a tourlevel singles match at the age of 45 when she was a forceful 63 64 winner over Peyton Stearns to advance to a secondround match against No 5 seed Magdalena Frech Earlier Venus who had accepted a maindraw singles wild card became the secondoldest woman ever to win a tourlevel singles match at the age of 45 when she was a forceful 63 64 winner over Peyton Stearns in an allAmerican firstround showdown to advance to a secondround match against No 5 seed Magdalena Frech Seventime Grand Slam champion Venus Williams is the oldest player to win a tourlevel singles match since 47yearold Martina Navratilova defeated Catalina Castano at Wimbledon in 2004 more than 21 years ago IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/dc-open-sakkari-reaches-qfs-venus-williamss-doubles-campaign-ends-627710.html Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/venus-williams-becomes-second-oldest-woman-to-win-tour-level-singles-match-627480.html Washington July 23 In her first singles match in 16 months former World No 1 Venus Williams stormed past World No 35 Peyton Stearns 63 64 in the DC Open womens singles firstround match on Wednesday IST The 45yearold Venus became the oldest player to win a tourlevel singles match since then47yearold Martina Navratilova beat Catalina Castano at 2004 Wimbledon over 21 years agoIts the first step and the first match is always extremely difficult Its hard to describe how difficult it is to play a first match after so much time off So going into the match I know I have the ability to win but its all about actually winning So this is the best result to play a good match and win Im here with my friends family people I love and the fans too who I love and they love me so this has been just a beautiful night Venus said after the matchSeventime Grand Slam singles champion Venus was already the oldest player to contest a tourlevel singles match since then46 yearold Kimiko Date lost her firstround match at 2017 Tokyo Williams will now get to contest at least one more This was her first singles win since she beat thenWorld No 16 Veronika Kudermetova at 2023 Cincinnati meaning her last two wins have come over Top 35 players almost two years apart WTA reportsVenus will face another Top 35 player in the second round she will have her first career meeting with World No 24 Magdalena Frech of Poland No 5 seed Frech beat qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 62 64 in the first round on MondayEarlier Venus emerged victorious in her first professional tennis match in 16 months joining Hailey Baptiste to defeat fellow doubles wild cards Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue in the DC Open womens doubles first round on Tuesday IST IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/venus-williams-becomes-second-oldest-woman-to-win-tour-level-singles-match-627480.html Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-need-to-recover-physically-and-mentally-alcaraz-withdraws-from-canadian-open-627346.html New Delhi July 22 World number two Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 event to recover following Wimbledon organisers said on Tuesday In a bid for a threepeat at Wimbledon the fivetime Grand Slam singles champion fell to Jannik Sinner in the grasscourt major final earlier this month Alcaraz owns a 486 record this season according to the ATP WinLoss Index and has claimed five titles including the Roland Garros trophyAfter many consecutive weeks of competition without rest I will not be able to play in Toronto this year I have small muscle issues and I need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next To the tournament and to my fans in Canada I am very sorry I will see you next year Alcaraz shared on his social mediaThe 22yearold Spaniard joined the long list of early withdrawals from the National Bank Open Sinner and Novak Djokovic have also withdrawn from the tournament on SundaySinner lifted the trophy in Toronto in 2023 while the 38yearold Djokovic is a fourtime National Bank Open champion British No 1 Jack Draper has also withdrawn from the Toronto draw due to an arm injuryWinning that title in Toronto two years ago was the start of a really special moment for me but after speaking with my team I have to prioritise my health I would like to thank Karl Hale the Tournament Director for everything he does and Im looking forward to returning to Canada and Toronto in the future to play in front of the great fans Sinner had saidThe Canadian ATP Masters 1000 event begins on Sunday and this year the ATP Masters 1000 tournament will expand to 12 days with the final set for August 7 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/i-need-to-recover-physically-and-mentally-alcaraz-withdraws-from-canadian-open-627346.html Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-sabalenka-and-badosa-withdraw-from-montreal-tournament-626711.html New Delhi July 17 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the National Bank Open citing fatigue opting to take additional rest before starting her preparations to defend her title at the seasons final major the US Open On the other hand Spaniard Paula Badosa also pulled out of the tournament with a psoas injury and will be out of action for a few weeksTwo players have withdrawn from the 2025 National Bank Open Aryna Sabalenka due to fatigue and Paula Badosa due to an injury the organisers saidSharing about her injury Badosa has shared on X Due to a psoas injury I will have to be out of competition for a few weeks I am going through really tough times Sometimes everything feels like a tunnel with no way out but if theres one thing Ive always shown its that I never stop fightingFollowing these changes Caty McNally and Moyuka Uchijima will now enter the main draw replacing Sabalenka and BadosaAfter skipping the Montreal event Sabalenka will resume competition in Cincinnati where she is the defending champion before turning her focus to the US OpenThe defending champion Sabalenka leads the maindraw entry list for the 2025 US Open which was released on TuesdayTopranked Sabalenka will top the draw as she seeks a second straight success in New York City After semifinal finishes in 2021 and 2022 and a narrow loss to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final Sabalenka finally hoisted her longawaited US Open trophy last year defeating Jessica Pegula in the finalHowever Sabalenka has yet to win a Grand Slam title this year All three of this years major champions will be in New York to try to capture a second 2025 Grand Slam title Australian Open champion Madison Keys Roland Garros titlist Gauff and Wimbledon victor Iga SwiatekAll of the worlds Top 70 players in the current PIF WTA Rankings can be found on the jampacked entry list as the top players on the WTA Tour will head to Flushing Meadows for the years final Grand Slam event Maindraw play at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center kicks off on August 24 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-sabalenka-and-badosa-withdraw-from-montreal-tournament-626711.html Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-kudermetova-and-mertens-capture-womens-doubles-title-625952.html London July 13 No 8 seeds Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens triumphed at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships capturing the ladies doubles title in a thrilling final on Centre Court In a gripping match lasting 2 hours and 23 minutes they staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the No 4 seeds Hsieh Suwei and Jelena Ostapenko 36 62 64 After dropping the first set Kudermetova and Mertens showed resilience breaking Hsiehs serve twice in the second set to level the match Kudermetovas net play and Mertens steady baseline consistency began to shift momentum in their favor However the third set saw another twist as Hsieh and Ostapenko raced to a 42 lead Undeterred the eighth seeds surged back winning the final four games Kudermetova sealed the victory with a volley winner on championship point finally earning her first Grand Slam doubles title as per WTAThis win holds special significance for Kudermetova who fell heartbreakingly short in the 2021 Wimbledon final Her partner Mertens meanwhile secured her fifth major doubles title and her second at Wimbledon Ironically Mertens previous Wimbledon crown came in 2021 when she partnered with Hsieh to deny Kudermetova and Elena Vesnina in another dramatic finishThe pairing of Kudermetova and Mertens had been a top duo in 2022 notably winning the WTA Finals After separating for two seasons they reunited this spring and quickly regained form reaching finals in Madrid and Rome before peaking perfectly at WimbledonFor Ostapenko the loss was particularly disappointing as a win would have made her the new WTA Doubles World No 1 She and Hsieh had shown great form early rallying from 14 down in the first set to win five straight games But the match turned when Kudermetova and Mertens raised their level particularly under pressure IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-kudermetova-and-mertens-capture-womens-doubles-title-625952.html Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/swiatek-lifts-maiden-wimbledon-title-with-6-0-6-0-win-over-anisimova-625847.html London July 23 Former World No1 Iga Swiatek made history at Wimbledon 2025 storming to her maiden Ladies Singles title and sixth career Grand Slam crown overall at the All England Club with a dominant 6060 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the final on Saturday Polands Swiatek the fourtime French Open and onetime US Open winner added the Wimbledon title to her kitty which made her a Grand Slam champion on all surfaces synthetic clay and grassSwiatek registered a commanding 57minute victory on Saturday just the second 60 60 Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era after Steffi Graf doublebagelled Natalia Zvereva in the French Open final in 1988Swiatek swept to her first title since she lifted a fourth Roland Garros trophy in June and improved her record to 60 in major finalsIn addition to making her the first Wimbledon singles champion from Poland in the Open Era the victory also marks Swiateks 100th career Grand Slam match win She is now 10020 in Grand Slam main draws since her Grand Slam maindraw debut in 2019Swiatek stamped her authority on the match with the first 60 opening set in a womens singles final at Wimbledon since 1983 when Martina Navratilova defeated Andrea Jaeger 60 63 Before that the 197375 finals all saw 60 first sets including Billie Jean Kings 60 75 win over a then18yearold Chris Evert in 1973Anisimova found stronger strokes in the early stages of the second set including a 90mph forehand winner to pull to 3030 with Swiatek serving 60 10 But it did not translate to the scoreboard and Swiatek joined Stefanie Graf in an exclusive club of players to win a major final without losing a gameDespite the ending Anisimovas effort at Wimbledon 2025 was overall a careerchanging one She scored her firstever win over a World No 1 against Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals and will crack the Top 10 for the first time in her career on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/swiatek-lifts-maiden-wimbledon-title-with-6-0-6-0-win-over-anisimova-625847.html Sat, 12 Jul 2025 23:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/without-a-doubt-ms-dhoni-sky-on-who-would-be-his-tennis-doubles-partner-625606.html New Delhi July 11 India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav who added star presence to Wimbledon revealed his pick as his doubles partner choosing former India skipper MS Dhoni for his endurance and mental toughness Suryakumar attended the grass court major at the All England Club with his wife Devisha Shetty for the first time Wimbledon had also shared a picture of SKY and his wife captioning it Bringing the flair to SW19 Delighted to have you at Wimbledon Suryakumar YadavI watch tennis quite a bit on television Ive always heard about the atmosphere around Centre Court especially the moment you walk in I am here to experience that surreal feeling in person Suryakumar said to Star Sports and JioHotstarAsked which cricketer he would pick as a doubles partner he replied Definitely MS Dhoni He has got speed a lot of endurance he is mentally very tough and recently whenever he is not playing cricket I have seen him playing a lot of tennis So yes without a doubt it would be MS DhoniSpeaking about watching tennis at Wimbledon for the first time and the inspiration behind his suit he added This is my first time here and I wanted to get everything right Honestly my wife really takes care of me She has been behind me for the last three or four days helping me decide what to wear to this wonderful tournament So many people have turned out in numbers I am one of them just here to experience the same thing they areThe India batter also shared about the which player he was eagerly awaiting to watch saying I have definitely come to watch Novak Djokovic I have been following his career for a very long time I even read his book Serve to Win which really inspired me I made my international cricket debut a little later in life though not quite as late as 30 but I could really relate to his journey and perseverance The way he keeps going is phenomenalHe went on to name Pete Sampras and Roger Federer as his favourite tennis players past and present If we are talking about Wimbledon specifically then definitely Pete Sampras and Roger Federer I remember how the crowd would go crazy when either of them turned up here But my alltime favourite is obviously Novak Djokovic And currently I would say Carlos Alcaraz he has been a wildfire on the court said SuryakumarThe 34yearold signed off by highlighting the parallels between tennis and cricket I feel there are a lot of similarities between cricket and elite tennis Mental toughness plays a crucial role in both There is also a lot of endurance involved In cricket we keep running the same 2025 metres repeatedly and it is similar in tennis as well So I would say strong mental resolve and endurance are the two big common factors said Suryakumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/without-a-doubt-ms-dhoni-sky-on-who-would-be-his-tennis-doubles-partner-625606.html Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-amanda-anisimova-stuns-world-no-1-sabalenka-to-reach-maiden-final-625524.html London July 10 Amanda Anisimova of the United States produced the performance of her career toppling top seed Aryna Sabalenka 64 46 64 to reach her firstever Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2025 here on Thursday The 23yearold American seeded No 13 held her nerve in a gripping twohour 36minute battle in the womens singles semifinals to notch her sixth career win over a Top 5 opponentand her first against World No 1She has thus become the first American player since Serena Williams in 2019 to reach the ladies singles finalWith this victory Anisimova also extended her strong record against Sabalenka to 63 underlining her comfort in the highpressure moments of this increasingly intense rivalry Her reward is a place in the Wimbledon final making her the first player born in the 21st century to achieve the feat at SW19Fellow 2000sborn Iga witek has a chance to join her if she beats Belinda Bencic in the second semifinal to be played later in the dayAnisimovas rise to this point hasnt followed a straight line A teenage prodigy who broke through to the French Open semifinals at just 17 in 2019 she took a sevenmonth break in 2023 to prioritise her mental health This time last year she was ranked No 189 and failed to qualify for Wimbledon losing to Eva Lys in the preliminariesBut her comeback since has been nothing short of remarkable She surged into the Top 20 with a runnerup finish at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto last August followed by a breakthrough WTA 1000 title in Doha earlier this year With this win at Wimbledon Anisimova is now assured of a Top 10 debut when the new rankings are released next weekThe semifinal appearance also marks a longawaited return to the sharp end of a major The sixyear 34day gap between her first and second Grand Slam semifinal is the fourthlongest in the Open Era behind only Mirjana LucicBaroni Natasha Zvereva and Lori McNeil Interestingly Bencicher potential opponent in the finalsits just behind with a gap of over five years between major semifinal appearances IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-amanda-anisimova-stuns-world-no-1-sabalenka-to-reach-maiden-final-625524.html Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-sinner-overcomes-shelton-to-reach-semis-625316.html London July 10 World No1 Jannik Sinner overcame a prematch injury scare to cruise past Ben Shelton in the mens singles quarterfinals and stormed into the semifinals of Wimbledon 2025 at the All England Club here on Wednesday The Italian star produced another rocksolid display to defeat Shelton 762 64 64 and reach the last four at the grass major for the second time Sinner who sustained an elbow injury and was down two sets before escaping into the quarterfinals when Grigor Dimitrov retired from the pairs fourthround clash quickly eased any fears of serious damage to his arm by nullifying Sheltons power across two hours and 19 minutes on No 1 CourtIm very very happy about todays performance said Sinner in his oncourt interview Playing against him is so difficult You have chances and then he serves very well as we saw in the last game Overall we play each other more and more we get to know each other a little bit better and Im looking forward to these kinds of battlesIn his first meeting with Shelton at Wimbledon Sinner reeled off seven straight points to clinch the openingset tiebreak before earning the only break of serve in the second and third to complete his win It was a sixth consecutive victory for the Italian in his ATP headtohead series with SheltonNow 243 for the 2025 season Australian Open champion Sinner will take on seventime Wimbledon titlist Novak Djokovic or Flavio Cobolli in Fridays semifinalsWhen you are in a match with a lot of tension you try not to think about it said Sinner who only practised for a short stint indoors on Tuesday when asked about how his arm had held up against Shelton It has improved a lot from yesterday to todayYesterday my day was very short on the practice court 20 minutes with the coaches only But I was looking forward to the match This is no excuse There is no better stage to play tennis and I think I showed this today IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-sinner-overcomes-shelton-to-reach-semis-625316.html Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-karan-singh-becomes-indias-no-2-ranked-player-625225.html Chandigarh July 9 Karan Singh has climbed to a careerhigh ranking of World No 426 in the latest ATP Rankings making him the secondranked Indian singles player just behind Indias No1 Sumit Nagal World No 307 With an 11place jump from 437 Karan has claimed the No 2 spot among Indian men in the ATP singles standings This ranking leap comes on the back of an impressive run of form for the 22yearold who has featured in three consecutive ITF World Tennis Tour M15 finals between May and June 2025 winning his maiden ITF title in Tehran Iran against Aleksandr Lobanov in straight sets 76 62 and finishing runnerup in the other two at Tehran and Tashkent UzbekistanMost recently Karan who is with Roundglass Tennis Academy competed in the ITF World Tour M25 tournament in Monastir Tunisia where he delivered a gritty performance to reach the quarterfinals He narrowly lost to Italys Fabrizio Andaloro in a thrilling threeset match 64 675 677This ranking jump is a reward for Karans resilience discipline and consistent performances over the last few months Weve focused on building not just his physical game but his tactical maturity and mental resilience Breaking into the top 500 is a big step and to become Indias No 2 at this stage of his career shows his hunger and potential We believe this upward trajectory will continue in the months to come said Aditya Sachdeva Technical Director of Roundglass Tennis AcademyKaran has been steadily progressing since his Davis Cup debut win for India in February 2025 where he helped the team seal a 40 win in the World Group I Playoff He is currently part of the ATP Challenger Tour swing in India using these highertier tournaments to push toward further ATP ranking gains IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tennis-karan-singh-becomes-indias-no-2-ranked-player-625225.html Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fabio-fognini-bids-farewell-to-tennis-after-epic-wimbledon-battle-with-alcaraz-625271.html London July 9 Fabio Fognini the Italian tennis star has announced his retirement from professional tennis following a fiveset thriller against Carlos Alcaraz in the opening round of Wimbledon 2025 The 38yearold former top10 player pushed the twotime defending champion for over four and a half hours before falling 75 675 75 26 61 in what turned out to be his final professional matchIts the best way to say goodbye Fognini said during a press conference at the All England Club on Wednesday Initially planning to retire at the end of the season Fognini confirmed that the emotional and intense Centre Court battle had prompted him to hang up his racquet immediatelyFabio Fogninis retirement at Wimbledon marks the end of a career that spanned 63 Grand Slam appearances His best result came at the 2011 French Open where he reached the quarterfinals but couldnt play the match due to a thigh injury handing Novak Djokovic a walkover Despite never reaching a Slam semifinal Fognini remained a popular and fiery presence on tour known for his shotmaking flair and oncourt passionHe leaves the sport with nine ATP singles titles highlighted by a memorable victory at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2019 the same year he became the first Italian man since 1979 to break into the ATP top 10Fogninis career however was as known for his fiery temperament as it was for his shotmaking brilliance He was involved in multiple oncourt controversies including being fined a thenrecord 27500 in 2014 and placed on probation in 2017 for insulting a female umpire at the US Open Currently ranked 138th Fognini said farewell to the sport in a touching gesture by asking Alcaraz for his match shirt a keepsake for the oldest of his three children with wife and 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fabio-fognini-bids-farewell-to-tennis-after-epic-wimbledon-battle-with-alcaraz-625271.html Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-swiatek-reaches-maiden-semis-with-straight-sets-win-over-samsonova-625297.html London July 9 Iga Swiateks longanticipated grasscourt breakthrough finally arrived on Wednesday as the No 8 seed powered past Liudmila Samsonova 62 75 to book her place in the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time in her career Playing on No 1 Court the fivetime Grand Slam champion produced a commanding display against Samsonova a firsttime major quarterfinalist Swiatek took 1 hour and 49 minutes to seal her fifth straight victory over the 19thseeded Russian extending her unbeaten headtohead record to 50 as per WTASwiatek who has spent a total of 125 weeks as World No 1 now becomes just the fourth active player to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slams joining Aryna Sabalenka Victoria Azarenka and Karolina PliskovaThe 23yearold Pole is enjoying her most consistent season on grass yet having gone 81 on the surface this year Her previous best Wimbledon result was a quarterfinal appearance in 2023 This year she reached her firstever grasscourt final in Bad Homburg just two weeks ago finishing runnerup to Jessica PegulaSwiatek started strong saving a break point in the opening game before dominating the first set She won all 10 of her firstserve points and broke Samsonova twice to take it 62 In the second set Swiatek led 62 42 400 but Samsonova mounted a late comeback breaking back and pulling level at 55But Swiatek with experience and poise regrouped Serving at 55 she held firm from 030 down then broke Samsonova in the next game to clinch the win Fittingly she sealed victory with a forehand return winner a signature of her grasscourt growth She also becomes the first Polish woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015World No1 Aryna Sabalenka quelled a strong challenge from Laura Siegemund of Germany and secured a place in the womens singles semifinals In another match Amanda Anisimova who secured her place in the lastfour stage by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 61 769 in their quarterfinal clash IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-swiatek-reaches-maiden-semis-with-straight-sets-win-over-samsonova-625297.html Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-sabalenka-quells-siegemund-to-set-up-semis-clash-with-anisimova-625085.html London July 8 World No1 Aryna Sabalenka quelled a strong challenge from Laura Siegemund of Germany and secured a place in the womens singles semifinals of Wimbledon 2025 at the AllEngland Club here on Tuesday Sabalenka came back strongly after losing the first set to win the quarterfinal clash 46 6264 in nearly three hours She thus set up a clash with youngster Amanda Anisimova who secured her place in the lastfour stage by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 61 769 in their quarterfinal clashThe spotlight was on the clash between Siegemund and Sabalenka as the former had caused a big upset in the third roundThe 37yearold Siegemund has already proven her credentials by becoming the oldest firsttime Wimbledon quarterfinalist in the Open era en route to dismissing Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the third round She has surrendered no more than six games in any match before the last eight clash with SabalenkaOn the biggest stage of her career the German stripped all the pace out of Sabalenkas strike But in the end she could not deny Sabalenka who came back strongly in the second and third sets to win the matchAfter the first set I was looking at my box thinking book the tickets were about to leave this beautiful place said Sabalenka adding She played an incredible tournamentShe plays such a smart game She makes everyone work for every point Whether youre a big hitter or not you have to work and run and earn the win I didnt want her to see I was annoyed even if I was a little bit I didnt want to give her that energy said the World No1On a sunny late Tuesday afternoon on No 1 Court No 13 seed Anisimova established herself in only three minutes at the beginning of Tuesdays quarterfinal breaking Pavlyuchenkovas serve with a rocket of a forehand That trend held up with Anisimova winning six of seven games in less than half an hour She has now won 28 consecutive matches this year when shes won the first setThe 34yearold Pavlyuchenkova had serving issues throughout the first set hitting three double faults and going 0for6 behind her second serveIn the second set Anisimova broke Pavlyuchenkova in the sixth game to lead 42 But serving for the match at 53 the American was broken for the first time when Pavlyuchenkova converted her third break pointPavlyuchenkova saved two match points to level the match at 55 then came back from 030 down at 65 to force the tiebreak The breaker saw Anisimova saving four set points before she converted her second match point of the tiebreak and fourth overall with a serve Pavlyuchenkova could not returnAnisimova finished with 26 winners 17 more than Pavlyuchenkova Shes now won all four of her matches against Pavlyuchenkova and is 112 on grass for the season another career bestThe result matched her careerbest major berth of six years ago and represents her furthest advancement here IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-sabalenka-quells-siegemund-to-set-up-semis-clash-with-anisimova-625085.html Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-vijay-amritraj-feels-potential-semi-final-between-djokovic-and-sinner-would-be-a-match-to-watch-624851.html New Delhi July 7 Veteran Indian tennis player Vijay Amritraj believes that Serbian legend Novak Djokovics potential semifinal clash against world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon mens singles would be a match to watch in the grasscourt Grand Slam Amritraj also highlighted the growing rivalry between Sinner and world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz as the duo shared all the Grand Slams between them since 2024 Among the big three Roger Federer Rafael Nadal and Djokovic the Serbian lasts Grand Slam victory came in the 2023 French Open while Federer retired in 2022 and Nadal called time on his career last yearWith Djokovic also at the final stage of his career Amritraj feels the rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz will go a long way after a spectacular Roland Garros final between them last monthI think SinnerAlcaraz have proven to be a good rivalry that has already started simply because the last six Grand Slams have been won between the two of them And so I do believe that there is a rivalry there Amritraj JioStar Wimbledon expert told IANS during virtual interactionDjokovic is clearly in the mix at this point hanging on especially on grass So its going to be interesting to see how the rest of the week progresses this week with Djokovic If we can make the semis and play Sinner that would be a match to watch he addedWhen asked who would he pick as the bigger player between the current top twos the former Indian star said It all depends so much on injuries physical capabilities desire and work ethic I think both of them have shown beyond reasonable doubt that they both have their talent and work ethic at this point Its a question also of remaining physically well and strongThats why they have very good physical teams around them to keep them fresh And so thats going to come down a lot to that Theyre both 22 and 23 Theyve been playing each other since the juniors So I think it remains to be seen but theyre just off to an excellent startAmritraj lauded Alcarazs variety and termed him a complete player with all bases coveredHe has got a tremendous variety in his game The variety was not there in a lot of most of the players today They are tremendous from the backcourt tremendous of the first serve Theyre not great volleyers but they dont come in much But Alcaraz has got a good mix of all of that including the drop shot and the lobHe moves extremely well he gets three points on a serve he attacks well he plays from the back well and under most circumstances he has got a very strong head So hes quite a complete player that way The question is how long will players take to be able to penetrate his defences So I think thats where Alcaraz stands at this point he saidIn the round of 16 clash Djokovic will face Australias Alex de Minaur while Sinner will take on Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on MondayOn the other hand defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will lock horns against Britains Cameron Norrie in the quarterfinal clash on Tuesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-vijay-amritraj-feels-potential-semi-final-between-djokovic-and-sinner-would-be-a-match-to-watch-624851.html Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-bencic-reaches-first-qf-with-straight-sets-win-over-alexandrova-624879.html London July 7 Belinda Bencic defeated No 18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 764 64 to reach her firstever Wimbledon quarterfinal and her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since becoming a mother in 1 hour and 57 minutes here on Monday Just two weeks ago the Swiss star had managed to win only three games in a heavy defeat to Alexandrova in Bad Homburg marking her return from an arm injury But Bencic turned the tables in emphatic fashion needing just under two hours to clinch a spot in the last eightThe match featured a tense finish Serving for the match at 53 in the second set Bencic held five match points only to see Alexandrova erase four of them with fearless forehand winners When Alexandrova broke back momentum appeared to swingBut Bencic showing composure and grit rallied from 030 in the next game winning four straight points and sealing the win on her sixth match point as a forehand from Alexandrova sailed longThe 28yearold who gave birth to daughter Bella in April 2024 has made a swift and inspiring return to form Unranked last October she is now back up to No 35 in the world Mondays win adds to an impressive 2025 that already includes a title in Abu Dhabi and a fourthround showing at the Australian Open as per WTABencic a former Wimbledon junior champion 2013 and proven grasscourt threat had fallen in the fourth round three times previously This time she broke through For Alexandrova its another missed opportunity her third Round of 16 exit in a major and second consecutive at WimbledonBencic who won the womens singles gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will now aim to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal in what has already been a remarkable comeback seasonBencics best performance at the Grand Slams is reaching the semifinals of the US Open in 2019 She has also guided Switzerland to the Fed Cup title in 2022 and the Hopman Cup crown in 2018 and 2019 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-bencic-reaches-first-qf-with-straight-sets-win-over-alexandrova-624879.html Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-pavlyuchenkova-survives-kartal-challenge-to-reach-qf-624693.html London July 6 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advanced to her second Wimbledon quarterfinal with a hardfought 763 64 win over Britains Sonay Kartal in a dramatic contest marred by a controversial linecalling malfunction The match lasted two hours and two minutes and tested both Pavlyuchenkovas resilience and composure In a tense first set with the score tied at 44 Pavlyuchenkova appeared to win a game point when Kartals backhand landed visibly long However a failure in the electronic linecalling systemlater blamed on operator errormeant the point was replayed instead of awarded to the Russian Kartal capitalized on the confusion breaking serve and earning a set point in the following game as per WTABut the veteran Pavlyuchenkova responded with calm authority She saved set point broke back and then cruised through the tiebreak showcasing her trademark power and experience The World No 50 who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in February and has since been on a determined comeback trail kept up her level in the second set with a flurry of highlightreel shots including a lefthanded forehand winner and a deft lobAlthough Kartal showed grit by briefly breaking back Pavlyuchenkova recaptured the lead at 32 and never looked back She sealed the victory on her first match point with a blistering forehand down the lineher 36th winner of the match far outpacing Kartals 14The win marks Pavlyuchenkovas 10th Grand Slam quarterfinal and second this season her first time reaching that milestone in a single year since 2011 With an 81 record on grass this season and a semifinal run in Eastbourne already under her belt shes in top form heading into a clash against either Amanda Anisimova or Linda Noskova for a place in the semifinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-pavlyuchenkova-survives-kartal-challenge-to-reach-qf-624693.html Sun, 06 Jul 2025 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-sinner-thrashes-martinez-to-reach-fourth-round-624602.html London July 6 World No 1 Jannik Sinner advanced to the fourth round of mens singles at Wimbledon for a fourth consecutive year by overcoming an injured Pedro Martinez 61 63 61 here on Saturday Having dropped just 17 games in his campaign so far the Italian has equalled the Open Era record for fewest games dropped while reaching the mens singles fourth round at Wimbledon held by Jan Kodes in 1972 Sinner is yet to drop his serve this week He has won all 37 service games he has played fending off all eight break points he has facedOn Saturday Sinner led Martinez 50 in the first set before the Spaniard took a medical timeout to receive treatment on his right shoulder Martinez struggled to serve at full capacity often firing first serves at 80 mph while the Italian remained typically dominant from the back of the courtIm very happy to be in the second week but I think we all saw he was struggling with the shoulder said Sinner in his comments after the match He couldnt serve very well and especially on this surface if you cant serve well its not easy to play But huge credit to him for coming out From my side I tried to stay solid from the back of the courtMartinez grew in confidence in a freehitting display in the second set carving out four break points in the eighth game Yet Sinner saved all of them with a mix of bruising ball striking and pinpoint serving to reassert his dominance on the encounter before racing to a onehour 55minute victoryBy reaching the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament for the 17th time Sinner overtook Nicola Pietrangeli 16 to claim the alltime Italian recordSinner set a clash with Grigor Dimitrov who moved past Sebastian Ofner 63 64 760 The 23yearold Sinner is chasing his fourth major trophy and first at Wimbledon where he reached the semifinals in 2023 before falling to Novak Djokovic IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-sinner-thrashes-martinez-to-reach-fourth-round-624602.html Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-carlos-alcaraz-dominates-tarvet-to-reach-third-round-624093.html London July 2 Carlos Alcaraz produced a dominant performance on Wednesday to book his place in the third round at Wimbledon defeating British qualifier Oliver Tarvet 61 64 64 on Centre Court After being pushed to five sets in his openinground battle against Fabio Fognini the Spaniard looked far more comfortable in his second match showcasing his trademark power variety and confidence In their first headtohead meeting Alcaraz overwhelmed the World No 733 breaking Tarvets serve six times and hitting 37 winners across two hours and 17 minutes The 21yearolds victory extended his careerbest winning streak to 20 matches and marked his 31st victory on grass further cementing his status as a dominant force on the surface as per ATPFollowing his firstround win over Fognini Alcaraz became the fastest player in the Open Era to reach 30 grasscourt wins He has now won his last 16 matches at Wimbledon and continues his quest to defend the title he claimed in both 2023 and 2024Fivetime Grand Slam winner Alcaraz seeded second is chasing history as he aims to become only the second manafter Bjorn Borgto win the Roland GarrosWimbledon double in consecutive years He is also looking to become just the fifth man to claim three Wimbledon titles in a rowDespite the loss 21yearold Tarvet showed flashes of brilliance in what was his Grand Slam debut The University of San Diego student who came through qualifying earned a firstround win over Leandro Riedi and managed to thrill the home crowd with a series of impressive passing shots in the second set Ultimately however he could not match Alcarazs consistent intensityAlcaraz the twotime defending champion in 2023 and 2024 now advances to face either Felix AugerAliassime or JanLennard Struff in the third round Having entered as a twotime defending champion Alcaraz remains a strong favourite at Wimbledon IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-carlos-alcaraz-dominates-tarvet-to-reach-third-round-624093.html Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-sabalenka-holds-firm-to-reach-third-round-624073.html London July 2 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka produced another composed and powerful display on Centre Court defeating Marie Bouzkova 764 64 on Wednesday to book her place in the third round of Wimbledon 2025 Sabalenka known for her blistering shotmaking and aggression was tested early by the crafty and defensive Bouzkova But the Belarusian brought her trademark intensity and poise at key moments to stretch her unbeaten record in Grand Slam second rounds to 18 straightThe first set was tightly contested with Bouzkova deploying a mix of spins angles and defensive prowess to keep Sabalenka guessing But in the tiebreak Sabalenka stepped up with two explosive forehands before punishing a soft 67 mph second serve from Bouzkova to close the set with a rocket forehand returnThe second set was more straightforward Sabalenka earned the decisive break in the sixth game and never looked back finishing the match with a forehand into the open courtone of her 40 winners on the day She kept her unforced errors in check 18 served five aces and won a commanding 31 of 35 points on her first serveWith several top seedsincluding Coco Gauff No 2 Jessica Pegula No 3 and Zheng Qinwen No 5exiting early Sabalenkas path to the title has opened up Her next opponent will be either 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or British star Emma Raducanu both Grand Slam winners and formidable threatsHaving reached the semifinals in her last two Wimbledon appearances Sabalenka is clearly eyeing more this year In a draw suddenly missing many of her biggest rivals the top seed is making her intentions clear shes here to win it all IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-sabalenka-holds-firm-to-reach-third-round-624073.html Wed, 02 Jul 2025 22:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-cocciaretto-stuns-no-3-seed-jessica-pegula-in-58-minutes-623886.html London July 1 Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy delivered the biggest upset of the 2025 Wimbledon so far ousting No 3 seed Jessica Pegula 62 63 in just 58 minutes in a womens singles firstround match here on Tuesday The result was the quickest defeat of a Top 5 seed at a major since Jule Niemeiers 58minute 64 60 defeat of Anett Kontaveit in the second round of Wimbledon 2022 as per WTA Cocciaretto took the ball relentlessly early to redirect all of the Americans pace tallying 17 winners to Pegulas five She also served flawlessly conceding just eight points in total behind her delivery and did not face a break point during the match while capturing Pegulas serve three timesCocciaretto advanced to the third round of Wimbledon for the second time and reversed her 64 60 loss to Pegula at that stage in 2023 Pegula fell in the first round of a Grand Slam for the first time since Roland Garros 2020 where she lost her opener to Aryna Sabalenka 63 61I was so pumped to play Wimbledon this year Cocciaretto said in her oncourt interview I couldnt wait until the match started I was practising so hardThe reason she was extrapumped Not just her love of Wimbledon or affinity for grass but also in order to banish the memories of 2024 This time last year she was ranked No 43 but is now down at No 116I had a lot of stops last year I was in the hospital and I was sick for one month Cocciaretto continued Thats why I couldnt play here and thats why I was so pumpedI dont think too much about my ranking right now The journey of tennis is long You have to adapt yourself you have to enjoy but also you have to deal with lifeBorn in Ancona the 21yearold Cocciaretto had the highest ranking of No 29 on the WTA ranking on August 21 2023 She made her WTA debut as a wildcard at the Italian Open in May 2019 and qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open 2020 where she lost to 17thseeded Angelique Kerber in the first round Her best performance at Wimbledon was the second round that she reached in 2022 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-cocciaretto-stuns-no-3-seed-jessica-pegula-in-58-minutes-623886.html Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-fonseca-flies-past-fearnley-injured-tsitsipas-retires-623735.html London June 30 Brazilian youngster Joao Fonseca made an immediate impact at the majors with a classy debut at Wimbledon racing past home favourite Jacob Fearnley in straight sets in the first round on Monday The Brazilian NextGenATP star defeated Fearnley 64 61 765 to become the first 18yearold to reach the second round at the grass major since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021 Another debutant and French qualifier Valentin Royer also advanced to the next round as Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas was forced to retire during his Wimbledon opener on Monday due to a back injuryRoyer led 63 62 against the Greek who received a medical timeout in the second set due to a back issue The former World No 3 Tsitsipas looked in discomfort at times during the 74 minutes on the court and struggled with his movement and serve making just 43 percent of his first deliveriesIn his first match at Wimbledon Fonseca produced a powerful display throughout and kept his cool in his only real moment of peril when set point down at 56 3040 in the third setIt means a lot Its super special for me said Fonseca in his oncourt interview after the match Its my favourite Grand Slam since my childhood Ive been watching all the matches so its just a pleasure being here Im sorry for winning against a British guy but thanks a lot for the support here Thanks for respecting the tennis today Jacob is a great friend a great player and Im looking forward to my next meetings against himBefore Januarys Australian Open Fonseca had not played a maindraw match at a Grand Slam tournament Yet the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals champion stunned thenTop 10 star Andrey Rublev in Melbourne to announce himself on the world stageAfter lifting his maiden ATP Tour title in February in Buenos Aires the Brazilian then reached the third round of a major for the first time at Roland GarrosEven with those recent standout performances in mind the way Fonseca dismantled Fearnley at Wimbledon was impressive Although he played in qualifying for the event last year the teenager had contested only four tourlevel matches on grass before Mondays clash He nonetheless had no trouble bringing his cleanhitting game to his leastfamiliar surface against FearnleyIn his first match Tsitsipas coached by former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic left SW19 holding a 1913 record on the season The 26yearold is the second mens seed to fall on Day 1 joining Daniil MedvedevTsitsipas is currently 22nd in the ATP Live Race To Turin having failed to advance beyond the third round in any of his previous five events The Greek is a former champion at the ATP Finals competing at the prestigious yearend event on five consecutive occasions from 2019 to 2023 Tsitsipas best result this year came in Dubai where he lifted his 12th tourlevel trophy IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/wimbledon-2025-fonseca-flies-past-fearnley-injured-tsitsipas-retires-623735.html Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-survives-a-delay-and-fonseca-challenge-to-reach-quarters-at-eastbourne-623109.html Eastbourne UK June 26 American Taylor Fritz overcame a late scare from Joao Fonseca of Brazil on Thursday overcoming the NextGenATP star in a match carried forward from the previous night at the Eastbourne Open the ATP Tour grasscourt event being played a week before Wimbledon The secondround clash was suspended due to darkness on Wednesday evening after they split sets and Fritz quickly regained his rhythm once play resumed The threetime champion earned an early break and attempted to serve out the match at 53 in the final set before Fonseca fought backHowever Fritz adjusted well to the windy conditions and a determined Fonseca to prevail 63 675 75 after two hours and two minutes and continued his love affair with the event The topseeded American who owns the record for most titles won in Eastbourne 2019 2022 2024 will have to lace up and return to court later on Thursday to face countryman Marcos Giron in the quarterfinalsIm really happy I was really happy with the level of tennis last night its a shame we couldnt finish the match then said Fritz Coming out today it was tough to really judge my grasscourt play there was a lot of scrapping around said the American starFritz was looking assured on serve throughout the final set during which he won all 11 points behind his first delivery according to Infosys ATP Stats before the ninth gameDespite stumbling at the final hurdle however Fritz was able to draw on his grasscourt pedigree which has helped him to three triumphs in Eastbourne and a first title of the season two weeks ago in StuttgartThe topseeded Fritz takes a 42 ATP headtohead lead into his clash with Giron Fonseca who is at a careerhigh No 57 in the ATP Rankings earned his maiden tourlevel grasscourt win over Zizou Bergs in the first round The 18yearold will now head to Wimbledon for his debut at the grasscourt majorIn other quarterfinal matches in the event Frances Ugo Humbert the fourth seed advanced to the semifinals with a 764 61 win over lucky loser Billy Harris of the United Kingdom American Jenson Brooksby also made it to the lastfour stage with a 62 63 win over wildcard Daniel Evans IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fritz-survives-a-delay-and-fonseca-challenge-to-reach-quarters-at-eastbourne-623109.html Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bad-homburg-open-paolini-pegula-reach-quarters-via-contrasting-routes-622770.html Bad Homburg Germany June 24 The top two seeds at the Bad Homburg Open both made it safely into the quarterfinals on Tuesday but via contrasting routes No 2 Jasmine Paolini needed to navigate a host of setpoint saves and matchpoint misses before overcoming Leylah Fernandez 768 766 in 2 hours and 32 minutes the joint secondlongest twoset match of 2025 so far No 1 Jessica Pegula was thoroughly efficient in defeating qualifier Katerina Siniakova 63 62 in 66 minutesPaolinis victory was a triumph of clutch play for the Italian The tone was set in a sevendeuce opening game which Fernandez eventually held and from there the momentum shifted back and forth between the pair Paolini volleying with panache took a 42 lead only for Fernandez to bounce back with a threegame run At 65 the Canadian held her first set point but Paolini came up with the shot of the match a terrific lob on the run to end a lungbusting rally to fend it off as per WTAAnother two set points for Fernandez came and went in the tiebreak before Paolini converted her second by coming out on top of another enthralling allcourt exchange foiling the former US Open runnerup with an unexpectedly short smashPaolini rode her momentum to a 52 lead in the second set but Fernandez had upped her baseline aggression particularly off her forehand wing This began to pay off as she started to mount a remarkable comeback Down 52 she staved off a first match point with an ace then clawed her way back to level at 55 Fernandez escaped triple match point down 65 as Paolinis backhand let the Rome champion down then was poised to force a third set as she held a double set point in the tiebreakBut Fernandez was unable to convert either and a relieved Paolini escaped with the last four points of the match in a row She will next face either No 7 seed Elina Svitolina or Beatriz Haddad MaiaPegula and Siniakova have become frequent foes over the years and their best battles have come on grass Siniakova was a 63 57 64 victor in the 2021 Bad Homburg second round the year she made her first of two finals here last year Pegula defeated the Czech 762 36 63 in the Berlin quarterfinals en route to her first grasscourt titleThere was no such barnburner in their third encounter on the German lawns Pegula was nearimpenetrable on serve dropping just four points behind her first delivery and facing just two break points all day She advances to face either No 5 seed Emma Navarro or wild card Naomi Osaka IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bad-homburg-open-paolini-pegula-reach-quarters-via-contrasting-routes-622770.html Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/carlos-alcaraz-clinches-second-queens-club-title-in-thrilling-final-622413.html London June 22 Carlos Alcaraz captured his second Queens Club title on Sunday overcoming a stern challenge from Jiri Lehecka to win the 2025 HSBC Championships final 75 675 62 The 22yearold Spaniard now the ATP Tour leader with five titles this season displayed resilience and brilliance to claim his 21st career tourlevel trophyThis tournament is really special to me said Alcaraz Im just happy to lift the trophy once again I came without expectation just to play good tennis and get used to the grass I was lucky to have a lot of friends and family here that made me feel really comfortable on and off the court said AlcarazFacing Lehecka who was contesting his first grasscourt final Alcaraz battled through two tightly contested sets After edging the first he narrowly lost a tense secondset tiebreak but responded emphatically in the decider His dominance in the final set showcased his grasscourt prowess and experience sealing the win in just over two hoursThis triumph marked Alcarazs fourth career title on grass joining Novak Djokovic Matteo Berrettini Taylor Fritz and Nicolas Mahut as the only active players with four or more Entering Wimbledon as the twotime defending champion Alcaraz rides an 18match win streakhis longest to dateSince a surprising early exit in Miami Alcaraz has been nearly unstoppable compiling a 271 record and collecting prestigious titles in MonteCarlo Rome Roland Garros and now London He has also widened his lead over Jannik Sinner in the PIF ATP Live Race To TurinA highlight of the match came during the secondset tiebreak when Alcaraz executed a stunning lob after a grueling rally igniting the crowd and underscoring his remarkable athleticism and flair under pressureIts tough for me to find the words now but Im super happy that I had the chance to fight for the title today said Lehecka who trails Alcaraz 12 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series Well done to Carlos and your team for doing a great job I gave everything I had today and unfortunately it wasnt enough IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/carlos-alcaraz-clinches-second-queens-club-title-in-thrilling-final-622413.html Sun, 22 Jun 2025 22:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/jannik-sinner-teams-up-with-italian-tenor-bocelli-to-release-duet-titled-polvere-e-gloria-622120.html New Delhi June 20 World No1 mens tennis player Jannik Sinner has teamed up with the famous Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli to release a duet titled Polvere e Gloria which means Dust and Glory The song features English and Italian lyrics and is accompanied by a music video that contains footage of the two of them side by side at a piano as well as clips of them both from their childhood Sinner is repeating parts of his winning and losing speeches in the songI am very happy and honoured to be part of this project with Andrea who for 30 years has been a unique and extraordinary voice a flag for our country in the rest of the world I could never have imagined hearing my voice in one of his songs Its extremely moving Sinner was quoted as saying by BCCThe release of the single comes as Sinner was defeated by Alexander Bublik in the second round of the Halle Open on Thursday following his French Open final loss to Carlos AlcarazAnnouncing the release of the duet on Instagram Bocelli and Sinner wrote Every life is a potential work of art each of us bears the sweet responsibility of nurturing our talents in the daily acrobatics of living pursuing our dreams while remaining steadfastly true to our valuesThis duet is such a bold leap that it has ignited our passion born of a shared and unwavering desire to express our deep belief that nothing is impossible Values bring people together and transcend all barriersAnd so here we are together with a small gift a song to celebrate the dedication authenticity love for life and the importance and priceless beauty of the journey often far more enriching and moving than any possible destinationDust and Glory is all this music lyrics and song in a joyful and unexpected encounter A wager to join voices in honouring the values we believe in The ones that lead each of us in our own way with what we have to commit to act to love and respect each other to grow every day and to become truly victorious champions of humanity artists of lifeBocelli is the most successful classical artist of all time He has sung for Popes Presidents and royalty performed in many of the greatest concert halls and opera houses and has sold 85 million records worldwide He has a Golden Globe 7 Classical BRITs and 7 World Music Awards under his belt plus a star on the Hollywood Walk of FameSinner who won the US Open in 2024 and the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 will turn his sights to the grasscourt major Wimbledon with the main draw beginning on June 30 IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/jannik-sinner-teams-up-with-italian-tenor-bocelli-to-release-duet-titled-polvere-e-gloria-622120.html Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bengaluru-to-host-prestigious-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-621974.html Bengaluru June 19 In a historic first Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association KSLTA will host Group G ties of the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru on 14 15 and 16 This will be the first time ever that the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs will be held on Indian soil The Playoffs will feature 21 nations split into seven groups of three teams each In a unique format every group tie will be hosted by a nation and the venues were formally announced following a draw held on Thursday in LondonIndia recently qualified for the Playoffs only for the second time in its history following a spectacular performance in the AsiaOceania Group I tie held in Pune India qualified along with New Zealand for the playoff following its 21 win over KoreaBoth New Zealand and India had four wins each in the sixteam competition The only other time India qualified for the playoffs was in April 2021 when they played in Latvia which saw Jelena Ostapenko lead her team to a 31 victory over IndiaIndia are in Group G along with Slovenia and the Netherlands and the fivemember Indian team will feature Ankita Raina rank 292 a top singles player from the country along with Sahaja Yamalapalli rank 301 Shrivalli Bhamidipaty rank 313 Vaidehi Chaudhari rank 405 and Prarthana Thombare the topranked Indian doubles player ranked No136 the KSLTA informed in a release on ThursdayIn other groups Canada Mexico and Denmark will feature in Group A and Group B includes Poland New Zealand and Romania while Group C features Slovakia Switzerland and Argentina Group D will have Czechia Colombia and Croatia and Group E will have Australia Portugal and Brazil Germany Belgium and Turkiye are in Group FThe KSLTA has been at the forefront of hosting international tennis events and have been a host to Davis Cup ties ATP World Doubles Championships WTA Tour Events ITF Womens 100K ATP Challengers ITF World Tennis Tour events and this would also be a first for KSLTA to host the prestigious Billie Jean King CupIn their endeavour to provide invaluable exposure to young players and fans across the country the leadership at KSLTA bid to host the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs when India qualified last monthHosting the prestigious BJK Cup playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium will be a historic moment for us at KSLTA and we believe it will elevate Indias profile in the global womens tennis It has always been our endeavour to host top international tennis events in Bengaluru and we have worldclass facilities here which equip us to host an event of this repute expressed Priyank Kharge Senior Vice President of KSLTA and Minister of IT amp BT amp RDPR Govt of KarnatakaSunil Yajaman Joint Secretary of KSLTA and Tournament Director of the event said We were absolutely thrilled when India qualified for the playoffs and their performance was outstanding There is a lot of promise with young tennis players performing exceptionally well and a home playoff tie can be a huge fillip in boosting the growth of the sport particularly at the grassroots and also inspire potential talentWe are very delighted to be chosen as one of the host countries for the playoffs and we look forward to welcoming the players and officials to Bengaluru I believe this would be a rare opportunity for sportsloving citizens of Bengaluru to witness this prestigious event happening for the first time in India We also feel this would be a great opportunity for the Indian team to perform at its best as all the players are welladapted to the conditions here We thank the International Tennis Federation ITF for choosing Bengaluru to host this exciting event he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/bengaluru-to-host-prestigious-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-621974.html Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/8-000-postscomments-from-4-200-accounts-wta-itf-publish-season-wide-online-abuse-amp-threat-report-621614.html New Delhi June 17 Womens Tennis Association WTA and International Tennis Federation ITF on Tuesday published the firstever seasonwide report outlining the scale of abuse directed at players on social media citing 8000 postscomments sent from 4200 accounts as abusive violent or threatening British no 2 Katie Boulter has also opened up about the death threats and abuse she has received on social media It becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone I think it increases in number and it also increases in the level of things that people say I dont think theres anything off the cards now she told BBC SportThe report findings are taken from Signify Groups Threat Matrix service which went live in January 2024 protecting players and tennis family members from targeted online hate as well as threatening and violent direct communicationAs per the report Between January to December 2024 16 million posts and comments were analyzed by Threat Matrix AI Analysts then verified c8000 postscomments sent from 4200 accounts as abusive violent or threatening Action has been taken against the most serious and prolific of these including 15 accounts escalated to law enforcementIt said During the year 458 players were targeted with direct abuse or threat five players received 26 per cent of the total abuse identified while 97 prolific accounts were responsible for 23 per cent of all detected abuseIn a joint statement WTA and ITF said Given the evidence highlighted by Threat Matrix the tennis bodies now call for a constructive dialogue with the gambling industry to tackle the individuals that engage in prolific or highly threatening online abuse connected to sports bettingThe report said angry gamblers sent 40 per cent of all detected abuse across the year 10 prolific accounts majority being angry gambler related were responsible for 12 per cent of all abuse of these nine have either been suspended posts permanently deleted by the platform or the user has removed their posts15 cases of egregious and highly threatening abuse have been investigated and evidence provided to law enforcement for assessment and action four related to Grand Slams one from the Paris Olympic Games and 10 were from across the tours Of the 15 cases three have been submitted to the FBI and 12 to other national law enforcement bodiesIt said that relevant account details have been shared with event security teams both Tours and Grand Slams to ban these individuals from access to venues and rescind tickets This has also included threats to mens and womens players detected by Threat Matrix during Grand Slam events Todays report covering the first year of the Threat Matrix service shows the scale of the problem and crucially the actions being taken to protect our athletes From law enforcement escalation and platform intervention to banning abusers from our events perpetrators must understand that they will face consequences for their actionsGiven the clear evidence highlighted by Threat Matrix on the link between angry gamblers and prolific online abuse and threat we are calling for a constructive dialogue with the gambling industry to help tackle this issue a spokesperson for the WTA and ITF saidAmerican tennis star Jessica Pegula member of the WTA Players Council added Online abuse is unacceptable and something that no player should have to endure I welcome the work that the WTA and ITF are doing with Threat Matrix to identify and take action against the abusers whose behavior is so often linked to gambling But its not enough on its own Its time for the gambling industry and social media companies to tackle the problem at its source and act to protect everyone facing these threats IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/8-000-postscomments-from-4-200-accounts-wta-itf-publish-season-wide-online-abuse-amp-threat-report-621614.html Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-sinks-djokovic-to-set-up-final-clash-against-alcaraz-at-french-open-620051.html Paris June 7 World No 1 Jannik Sinner notched a 64 75 763 triumph against threetime champion Novak Djokovic in a heavyweight semifinal clash at the French Open on Friday and will meet defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final Djokovic the mens record 24time Grand Slam champion was overwhelmed by Sinners power and precision from the baseline and on serve on Court PhilippeChatrier reports XinhuaSinner became only the second Italian man to reach the final at RolandGarros after Adriano Panatta the 1976 championIt was such a special occasion for me playing against Novak in the semifinal of a Grand Slam said Sinner Its just amazing and I had to step up and play the best tennis I could Im very happy how I handled the situation but this shows again what a role model he is for all of us and especially for us young playersWhat he is doing is incredible and I wish him only the best for the rest of the season I think we are all very lucky to see him playing such highlevel tennis its amazingIn the first set Sinner performed more steadily taking the opening set 64 with a break in the fifth gameDjokovic started stronger in the second but it was Sinner who broke first for a 53 lead Djokovic held serve in the ninth game and then broke Sinners serve in the 10th game while serving for the set leveling the score at 55Sinner stayed composed and secured another break eventually taking the second set 75Both players delivered toplevel tennis in the third set which ultimately went into a tense tiebreak Sinner proved to be more clutch in the decisive moments winning the tiebreak 73In his postmatch press conference 38yearold Djokovic reflected on the uncertainty of his future following the lossThis could have been the last match ever I played here so I dont know Thats why I was a bit more emotional even in the end said DjokovicIf this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowdDo I wish to play more Yes I do But will I be able to play in 12 months time here again I dont know Thats all I can say for the moment he addedEarlier in the other semifinal Alcaraz led 46 763 60 20 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighthseeded Italian retired with a leg injurySinner who has yet to lose a set in the tournament is now looking to avenge his loss to Alcaraz in last years semifinal when he was defeated in five setsAlcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner including the Italian Open final in May when Sinner returned from a threemonth doping banSunday is going to be very difficult I know my headtohead lately doesnt look great against Carlos but lets see what I can do said Sinner IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-sinks-djokovic-to-set-up-final-clash-against-alcaraz-at-french-open-620051.html Sat, 07 Jun 2025 09:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-djokovic-rallies-past-zverev-for-51st-grand-slam-semifinal-of-career-619668.html Paris June 5 Sixthseeded Novak Djokovic topped No3 seed Alexander Zverev last years finalist in four sets 46 63 62 64 to reach his record 51st career Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open The Serbs 51 major semifinals are already a record for men and just one behind Chris Evert for the overall mark and his 13th at RolandGarros He is the secondoldest man in the Open era to reach the RolandGarros semifinals after Pancho Gonzales in 1968The last time Djokovic faced Zverev he was walking off the court solemnly after injury put a premature end to their Australian Open semifinal in January But on Wednesday night in Paris after more than three hours of battle on court PhilippeChatrier the 24time Grand Slam champion rallied from a set behind to keep his quest for a recordsetting 25th Grand Slam title going into the semifinalsBeating one of the best players in the world on the biggest stages is something that I definitely work for and I still you know push myself on a daily basis at this age because of these kinds of matches and these kinds of experiences Its a proven kind of testament to myself that I can and to others that I can still play on the highest level Djokovic said after the winWith his 101st victory at the claycourt major threetime champion Djokovic set a semifinal with top seed Jannik Sinner their first meeting at a Grand Slam event since Sinner topped Djokovic in four sets on the way to his first Australian Open title last year Djokovics headtohead with Sinner is level at 44 but he has lost the last threeShould he win that and if No2 seed Carlos Alcaraz tops Lorenzo Musetti in the other semifinal Djokovic may have the opportunity to achieve something never before done No man has defeated the top 3 ranked players to win a Grand Slam tournament in the history of the ATP rankingsDjokovic arrived at Roland Garros fresh from winning his 100th tourlevel title in Geneva and is now on a ninematch winning streak The Serbian great is chasing his first major title since the 2023 US Open Alcaraz defending champion at Roland Garros and Sinner between them have won each of the five that followed IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-djokovic-rallies-past-zverev-for-51st-grand-slam-semifinal-of-career-619668.html Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/at-the-moment-djokovics-a-bit-underrated-says-zverev-after-french-open-sf-loss-619675.html Paris June 5 After losing to Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinal last years finalist Alexander Zverev reflected on defeat to threetime Roland Garros champion and called the Serbian great an underrated player The 24time major champion Djokovic who has suffered consecutive openinground defeats to start the claycourt swing has rediscovered his best form at the perfect time in his quest for a record 25th major trophyThe sixth seed Serbian did not arrive in Paris as the leading favourite but delivered a tactically astute display to prevail 46 63 62 64 and reach a recordextending 51st Grand Slam semifinalI think at the moment hes a bit underrated to be honest Zverev said of Djokovic Funny that you say that but I think like a lot of people count him out already but this year hes had wins over Carlos at the Australian Open he has had a win over me at the French Open Forget the age I think for any player those are pretty good results Hes still beating the best of the best So I think everybody needs to respect that Zverev was quoted by ATP TourThe last time Djokovic faced Zverev he was walking off the court solemnly after injury put a premature end to their Australian Open semifinal in JanuaryBut on Wednesday night in Paris after more than three hours of battle on court PhilippeChatrier the 24time Grand Slam champion rallied from a set behind to keep his quest for a recordsetting 25th Grand Slam title going into the semifinalsHes won 24 of these things I think yes I expected him to be able to play like this I have not seen him play like this this year yet I think it was very very high level from him It was at some point difficult for me I mean in the first set when the sun was not completely down there was still some heat on the court I could still I felt like hit some winners and do some damage with my serve Then later on when it got really really cold I couldnt really do much Zverev addedDjokovic who arrived in Paris fresh off claiming the title in Geneva set a semifinal with top seed Jannik Sinner Should he win that and if No2 seed Carlos Alcaraz tops Lorenzo Musetti in the other semifinal Djokovic may have the opportunity to achieve something never before done No man has defeated the top 3 ranked players to win a Grand Slam tournament in the history of the ATP rankings IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/at-the-moment-djokovics-a-bit-underrated-says-zverev-after-french-open-sf-loss-619675.html Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/at-the-moment-djokovics-a-bit-underrated-says-zverev-after-french-open-qf-loss-619709.html Paris June 5 After losing to Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinal last years finalist Alexander Zverev reflected on defeat to threetime Roland Garros champion and called the Serbian great an underrated player The 24time major champion Djokovic who has suffered consecutive openinground defeats to start the claycourt swing has rediscovered his best form at the perfect time in his quest for a record 25th major trophyThe sixth seed Serbian did not arrive in Paris as the leading favourite but delivered a tactically astute display to prevail 46 63 62 64 and reach a recordextending 51st Grand Slam semifinalI think at the moment hes a bit underrated to be honest Zverev said of Djokovic Funny that you say that but I think like a lot of people count him out already but this year hes had wins over Carlos at the Australian Open he has had a win over me at the French Open Forget the age I think for any player those are pretty good results Hes still beating the best of the best So I think everybody needs to respect that Zverev was quoted by ATP TourThe last time Djokovic faced Zverev he was walking off the court solemnly after injury put a premature end to their Australian Open semifinal in JanuaryBut on Wednesday night in Paris after more than three hours of battle on court PhilippeChatrier the 24time Grand Slam champion rallied from a set behind to keep his quest for a recordsetting 25th Grand Slam title going into the semifinalsHes won 24 of these things I think yes I expected him to be able to play like this I have not seen him play like this this year yet I think it was very very high level from him It was at some point difficult for me I mean in the first set when the sun was not completely down there was still some heat on the court I could still I felt like hit some winners and do some damage with my serve Then later on when it got really really cold I couldnt really do much Zverev addedDjokovic who arrived in Paris fresh off claiming the title in Geneva set a semifinal with top seed Jannik Sinner Should he win that and if No2 seed Carlos Alcaraz tops Lorenzo Musetti in the other semifinal Djokovic may have the opportunity to achieve something never before done No man has defeated the top 3 ranked players to win a Grand Slam tournament in the history of the ATP rankings IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/at-the-moment-djokovics-a-bit-underrated-says-zverev-after-french-open-qf-loss-619709.html Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-sprints-into-roland-garros-quarterfinals-with-win-over-rublev-619283.html Paris June 3 Top seed Jannik Sinner cruised into his 11th career Grand Slam quarterfinal and third in Roland Garros with a 61 63 64 rout of No17 seed Andrey Rublev This was Sinners 18th consecutive match win at a Grand Slam tournament Sinner has dropped just 30 games in 12 sets in Paris so far and by extending his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 18 the world No1 has tied Andre Agassi Boris Becker and Mats Wilander for the ninthlongest unbeaten run in the Open eraFour more wins would secure him not only a first RolandGarros title in the process but sole possession of seventh place on that illustrious list Sinners win also gives him sole possession of the most major victories for an Italian man in the Open eraIm very very happy We both know each other very well weve played each other so many times so we try to change up a little bit our game style and Im very happy Things can go very quickly in a bad way in bestoffive they can go so long so Im very happy and proud to finish in three Sinner saidBidding for his own third RolandGarros quarterfinal and first since 2022 Rublev kept a firststrike mentality throughout the match but was summarily dismissed by Sinners own strikes as the Italian wrapped up the first set in a half hourSinner hit 25 winners in three sets never lost serve in the twohour match and only faced one break point combined in the last two sets That came at 22 in the third set but Rublev couldnt find the court with a backhand return off a secondserve one of 39 unforced errors the No17 seed totalled in the match Sinner hit just 19 Roland Garros reportsSinner who on Monday began his 52nd consecutive week at No 1 in the ATP rankings will next play Alexander Bublik whom he leads 31 in their ATP Head2Head series The World No 62 Bublik earlier upset fifth seed Jack Draper to become the first Kazakhstani man to reach a singles Grand Slam quarterfinal in history IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/sinner-sprints-into-roland-garros-quarterfinals-with-win-over-rublev-619283.html Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-gauff-quells-alexandrova-to-reach-qf-andreeva-saves-set-point-against-kasatkina-619235.html Paris June 2 Second Seed Coco Gauff and sixthranked Mirra Andreeva scored fighting wins in the womens singles Round of 16 to book quarterfinal places in the French Open here on Monday Gauff the 21yearold American held off a determined attempt for a fightback by No 20 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 60 75 in 1 hour and 22 minutes to advance to her fifth consecutive Roland Garros quarterfinalIn another Round of 16 clash Andreeva a semifinalist in Paris last year overcame Australias Daria Kasatkina the 17th seed here fought back from 53 down in the second set and saved one set point to advance 63 75 and made her second Grand Slam quarterfinalWith this the 18yearold Andreeva became the youngest player to reach backtoback quarterfinals at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis in 199798 She has yet to drop a set or even concede more than five games in any set en route to the last eight where she will next face either No 3 seed Jessica Pegula or wild card Lois BoissonThe 21yearold also set a record becoming the fourthyoungest player in the Open Era to reach a fifth straight quarterfinal at the French Open following 20yearold Martina Hingis 19972001 20yearold Stefanie Graf 19861990 and 21yearold Conchita Martínez 19891993Gauff lost in the second round to Martina Trevisan on her maindraw debut in 2020 but has made at least the last eight in Paris every year since including a run to her first Grand Slam final in 2022Gauff advanced to her ninth major quarterfinal overall Having compiled a 135 record on hard courts through the first three months of 2025 she has continued to find her groove on clay where she is now 153 and counting this season after making backtoback finals in Madrid and RomeGauff will bid to reach her fifth Grand Slam semifinal against either No 7 seed Madison Keys or Hailey BaptisteOn Monday she started with a onesided opening set Alexandrova was undone by 15 unforced errors to only three winners in the first set The 30yearold won just five points in the first five games of the match though Gauff had to navigate seven deuces in the sixth before converting her third set pointAlexandrova upped her level in a highly competitive second set pegging Gauff back from a breakdown But the American was more solid at its conclusion reeling off 12 of the last 16 points of the matchAlexandrova committed to hanging with Gauff in longer exchanges while staying on the front foot resulting in several superb linetoline rallies Gauffs ability to find winning shots on the run still gave her the edge and despite her forehand showing signs of wobbling she had to save the first two break points of the set in the fourth game a pair of backhand winners garnered her the first break for 43Alexandrova found a series of spectacular forehands in the next two games to hit back but leading 54 she failed to take advantage of two Gauff double faults The errors of the first set returned and Gauff eased through the home stretch Gauff now holds a 41 headtohead lead against Alexandrova IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-gauff-quells-alexandrova-to-reach-qf-andreeva-saves-set-point-against-kasatkina-619235.html Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-lois-boissons-fairytale-run-continues-with-stunning-upset-over-pegula-619251.html Paris June 2 French wildcard Lois Boisson has etched her name into Grand Slam folklore with a jawdropping fourthround upset at Roland Garros 2025 In only her second tourlevel event and Grand Slam maindraw debut the 22yearold stunned World No 3 Jessica Pegula 36 64 64 on a stirring Monday afternoon at Court PhilippeChatrier Boisson ranked No 361 became the lowestranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal in eight years since Kaia Kanepis 2017 US Open run The home crowd watched in rapt disbelief as the young Frenchwoman battling back from an ACL injury just a year ago delivered a composed courageous and calculated performance to take down one of the WTAs most consistent forcesThe first set went Pegulas way as the Americans trademark discipline and timing wore down the Grand Slam debutante But Boisson armed with a topspinheavy forehand and tactical nous that belied her inexperience fought fire with fire Using the heaviest forehand topspin among all remaining women in the draw she dragged Pegula into deep baseline exchanges that increasingly tilted in her favourThe momentum began to shift in the second set as Boisson found her range with crisp passing shots and clever lobs A backhand crosscourt rally to break Pegula at 54 was the turning point The Frenchwoman served out the set with a maturity that had the crowd rising to their feetThe final set was a test of nerve heart and belief At 44 Boisson converted her fourth break point in a marathon game to move within a game of victory Serving for the match at 54 she faced four break points But each time she stood tall firing big serves painting lines and refusing to blink When she finally closed it out after 2 hours and 40 minutes Boisson dropped her racquet and looked to the sky soaking in the disbelief and ecstasy of a nationFrance had been without a representative in the mens or womens singles quarterfinals until now Boisson becomes the first Frenchwoman to reach this stage at Roland Garros since Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic did so in 2017 She also becomes the first woman to make the quarterfinals in her Grand Slam maindraw debut since Carla Suárez Navarro did it in 2008A quarterfinal clash with another rising sensation No 6 seed Mirra Andreeva who earlier defeated Daria Kasatkina IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-lois-boissons-fairytale-run-continues-with-stunning-upset-over-pegula-619251.html Mon, 02 Jun 2025 22:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-bopanna-pavlasek-bow-out-after-pre-quarterfinal-loss-619050.html Paris June 1 Indias Rohan Bopanna and his Czech partner Adam Pavlasek put up a spirited fight but were knocked out of the French Open on Sunday by second seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten The unseeded IndoCzech duo fell 26 675 in the prequarterfinals to Finlands Heliovaara and Britains Patten who are ranked third and fourth in the world respectivelyThe second seeds raced to a 51 lead in the first set with two breaks of serve Heliovaara then closed out the set with a dominant service game finishing with a powerful overhead smashBopanna started strong in the second set holding serve to love Patten responded equally well firing in a series of sharp angled servesBopanna and Pavlasek had a chance to break at 23 when Patten opened game six with a double fault and quickly went down 030 However the Briton responded under pressure winning four consecutive points to escape unscathedWith no breaks of serve in the second set it went to a tiebreak where Heliovaara sealed the match with a stunning return winner on the first match pointMeanwhile Yuki Bhambri is set to play his thirdround match alongside American partner Robert Galloway They face the ninthseeded American pair Christian Harrison and Evan KingIn the Junior Championship Indias promising young player Manas Dhamne exited the tournament after a 57 36 defeat to fellow qualifier Ronit Karki of the United StatesThe 17yearold Dhamne who had made it into the main draw through qualifying struggled to find his rhythm on SundayEarlier in the day the threetime RolandGarros champion Novak Djokovic scored the 99th win of his career on the Paris clay after beating Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic 63 64 62 to enter the fourth round of the tournament IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-bopanna-pavlasek-bow-out-after-pre-quarterfinal-loss-619050.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 19:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tommy-paul-reaches-first-roland-garros-qf-with-win-over-popyrin-619057.html Paris June 1 Tommy Paul broke new ground on Sunday at Roland Garros where he reached the quarterfinals at the claycourt major for the first time The American earned battling fiveset wins against Marton Fucsovics and Karen Khachanov earlier this week but found the going easier against Alexei Popyrin dispatching the Australian 63 63 63 in one hour and 52 minutes as per ATPPaul has now reached the last eight at three of the four majors advancing to the semifinals at the Australian Open in 2023 and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2024 The 28yearold is just the ninth American man in the Open Era and only active American to advance to Grand Slam quarterfinals on all three surfaces He joins Andre Agassi Michael Chang Jim Courier Vitas Gerulaitis Brian Gottfried John McEnroe and Pete SamprasAiming to reach the last four in Paris the 12th seed will next face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or countryman Ben Shelton Paul trails Alcaraz 24 in the pairs Lexus ATP Head2Head series and is tied at 22 with SheltonPaul saved 90 per cent 910 of the break points he faced against Popyrin stuck 27 winners to the Australians 18 and committed 15 fewer unforced errors 2237 than the World No 25 according to Infosys StatsPaul is now 123 on clay this season having reached the semifinals at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome last month The fourtime tourlevel titlist is currently No 8 in the ATP Live RankingsPopyrin had not dropped a set en route to reaching the fourth round in the French capital for the first time The 25yearold is up four spots to No 21 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/tommy-paul-reaches-first-roland-garros-qf-with-win-over-popyrin-619057.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 20:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-enters-fourth-round-with-99th-match-win-at-roland-garros-618966.html Paris June 1 The threetime RolandGarros champion scored the 99th win of his career on the Paris clay after beating Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic 63 64 62 to enter the fourth round of the French Open Fresh off his 100th tour level singles title in Geneva just prior to Roland Garros Djokovic is now eyeing the milestone of 100 match wins at a single tournament for the first time a mark he can achieve if he defeats former top 10 player Cameron Norrie on MondayNinetynine is good but 100 is better I hope Ill get more Im in a time in my career in my life when I feel very privileged because every time I step out on court Im playing for the history books Its incredible Djokovic talked about the possibility of reaching a century of wins on MondayThe only player to have earned more wins at RolandGarros than Djokovic is 14time champion Rafael Nadal who owns a 1124 record and the Serb has not lost before the quarterfinals in Paris since 2009The Serb faced just one break point against the 23yearold qualifier ranked No153 who had previously upset 27th seed Denis Shapovalov en route to his firstever Grand Slam third round at just his second major The result allowed Djokovic to match a personal best he also has 99 career match wins at the Australian Open where he is a record 10time championIt was the first night session this year for me Night sessions are different Waiting all day to play isnt easy because theres the anticipation youre very tense you have to prepare for the match Last year I played a few night sessions one incredible one against Lorenzo Musetti that finished at 3am Tonight I was just hoping it wouldnt finish after 3am There are always a lot of expectations but I think I played solidly in the right moments over three sets said Djokovic IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-enters-fourth-round-with-99th-match-win-at-roland-garros-618966.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 10:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-swiatek-survives-second-set-scare-to-extend-reign-to-24-wins-618801.html Paris May 30 World No 1 Iga Swiatek was pushed to the edge but emerged victorious yet again at the Roland Garros The threetime defending champion defeated Romanias Jaqueline Cristian 62 75 to reach the fourth round of the French Open for the seventh straight year extending her unbeaten streak at the claycourt Grand Slam to 24 matches It wasnt all smooth sailing for Swiatek After breezing through the first set in 39 minutes without facing a single break point the Pole found herself in a gritty secondset battle against an inspired Cristian who recently reached the Rabat final and brought that confidence to Court PhilippeChatrierSwiateks nerves were tested as she had to save six breakpoints in the second set and fought off a determined Cristian who threatened to take the match into a deciding third With the second set tied at 55 and Cristian a point away from forcing a tiebreak Swiatek dug deep to break serve and seal the win in one hour and 54 minutesRelief was the overriding emotion for the top seed after a challenging afternoonIm just happy that I was super solid in the last game and didnt give any free points Swiatek said She used her chances and went for it every time I gave her a chance It was a great match and I think pretty entertaining We both played nice Im happy Im through and happy with the performance she was quoted as saying by the WTA TourThe victory keeps Swiatek on track to equal Monica Seles record of 25 consecutive wins at the French Open in the Open Era To tie that mark she will have to overcome a formidable challenge in the fourth round either 2022 Wimbledon champion and 12th seed Elena Rybakina or the 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena OstapenkoIf its Ostapenko history wont be in Swiateks favour she has a surprising 06 headtohead record against the Latvian IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-swiatek-survives-second-set-scare-to-extend-reign-to-24-wins-618801.html Sat, 31 May 2025 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-kasatkina-ends-badosas-run-in-gritty-straight-sets-win-618900.html Paris May 31 Despite her trademark resilience and emotional firepower Paula Badosas Roland Garros 2025 campaign came to a heartbreaking end in the third round as she fell 61 75 to a tactically astute and unflinching Daria Kasatkina The onehourand34minute contest on Court SimonneMathieu was a test of physical limits mental resolve and strategic depth and Kasatkina emerged as the player with just enough clarity in all three departmentsFrom the opening exchanges it was evident something was amiss with the Spaniard Im cramping from the first game she confided to her coach Pol Toledo during an early changeover visibly struggling Even a midset supplement couldnt revive her movement or rhythm Kasatkina sensing vulnerability pouncedThe Russian raced ahead with ruthless efficiency breaking twice in the first 20 minutes and storming to a 50 lead Her deep returns varied angles and consistent depth left Badosa scrambling and erraticThe first set ended in just over half an hour with Badosa committing 17 unforced errors a testament to both her compromised physical state and Kasatkinas unrelenting game planThe second set however witnessed a flicker of the fighting spirit that has long defined Badosas career With little left to protect and everything to fight for the Spaniard unleashed her forehand with more authority and began stepping inside the baselineThe turning point seemed near when she finally converted her seventh break point in a mammoth eighth game that lasted over 10 minutes Her primal roar after that game wasnt just a celebration it was defiance a raw reminder of the grit buried under the fatigueBut Kasatkina ranked World No 17 didnt blink A brief rain delay added another layer of suspense but the Russian returned just as composed her counterpunching and court coverage stifling every Badosa attempt to swing the momentum furtherServing to stay in the match at 56 Badosa faltered A mistimed drop shot a double fault and a second serve that sat up for Kasatkina sealed her fate IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-kasatkina-ends-badosas-run-in-gritty-straight-sets-win-618900.html Sat, 31 May 2025 19:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-draper-brushes-off-fonseca-to-reach-fourth-round-618929.html Paris May 31 Jack Draper of Great Britain continued his superb season at the French Open on Saturday as he dispatched the young Brazilian Joao Fonseca 62 64 62 to reach the fourth round for the first time in Paris The spotlight was on Draper in his second ATP headtohead meeting with the 18yearold Fonseca who had not dropped a set en route to reaching the third round at a major for the first timeHowever the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals winner Fonseca struggled for consistency He was unable to live with Drapers power and physicality in the hot and lively conditions on Court SuzanneLenglen The British lefty hit his heavy topspin forehand with depth and was relaxed for large periods striking with liquid power to dominate the brutal baseline exchangesThe 23yearold won 93 percent of his firstserve points and committed 20 unforced errors to Fonsecas 38 according to Infosys Stats to advance after one hour and 49 minutesI played good The conditions were quite difficult out here I felt that the first set was really key Draper was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour on its website Then I kind of got on top of him used my forehand well served well and mentally it was a good performance from me and I am happy to be in the second week hereDraper had reached Roland Garros without a win in two previous appearances at the claycourt majorRanked No 5 in the ATP Rankings the lefty however managed to capture his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells in March defeating Fonseca en route and then reached the championship match on clay in MadridHolding a 256 record in the season Draper will continue the quest for his first major against Alexander Bublik who beat Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha 75 61 62In my first two rounds I played in the night time and playing against Gael Monfils the other night I didnt feel I could hit the ball past him Draper said on the conditions at this years Roland Garros The guy is so quick and it was so cold But today the ball was getting up more and the faster conditions helped me moreFonseca defeated Hubert Hurkacz and PierreHugues Herbert to advance to the third round in Paris Earlier this season the 18yearold upset Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and captured his maiden ATP Tour title at the 250 event in Buenos AiresThe Brazilian was backed by vocal support throughout his three matches in the French capital but was unable to give them anything to cheer about against Draper overhitting all too often The 18yearold leaves Roland Garros up 10 places at No 55 in the ATP Live RankingsJoão is someone who has come onto the Tour and caught the attention of everyone the players the fans He is an incredible young player and so much to come from him Draper said oofFonseca I think today maybe a bit of experience was the difference He hasnt played as many Grand Slams as me but I think he has an incredibly bright future at the top of the game he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-draper-brushes-off-fonseca-to-reach-fourth-round-618929.html Sat, 31 May 2025 22:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-sabalenka-and-zheng-storm-into-fourth-round-618754.html Paris May 30 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her excellent form at the 2025 French Open moving into the womens singles fourth round with a straightsets win over Serbias Olga Danilovic Sabalenka won the match 62 63 showing great control from start to finish With this win she has now dropped only 10 games in four matches at Roland Garros this year Sabalenka started strongly taking a 50 lead in the first set Danilovic managed to fight back briefly holding serve and breaking Sabalenka once but the top seed quickly regained her focus and closed out the setIn the second set Danilovic gave more resistance but Sabalenkas powerful serve and consistent groundstrokes helped her break serve twice to seal the matchThis was Danilovics first time facing a World No 1 and although she played some good points her 26 unforced errors proved costly Sabalenka hit 17 winners and broke Danilovics serve five times She now moves on to face No 16 seed Amanda Anisimova in the fourth roundAnisimova a former French Open semifinalist defeated Clara Tauson 764 64 to reach the second week Sabalenka is the only player to have reached the fourth round at both the Australian Open and French Open in the last three years She will also remain the World No 1 after the tournament regardless of the resultSabalenka has already won three titles in 2025 Brisbane Miami and Madrid and has played six finals this year the most by any player since Serena Williams in 2013 She now has 50 Grand Slam match wins since the start of 2023 11 more than the next best Iga SwiatekIn another thirdround match Chinas Zheng Qinwen also advanced to the fourth round with a solid 63 64 win over Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko Zheng the No 8 seed and Olympic gold medalist faced a strong challenge from the 18yearold qualifier who had not dropped a set in five matches coming into this roundMboko played with confidence and went toetotoe with Zheng from the baseline However Zheng used her experience to take key points at the right time She converted all four of her break points while Mboko managed only two breaks from eight chancesZheng broke serve early in both sets Though Mboko fought back each time Zheng quickly responded with another break to stay ahead The Chinese player remained calm in pressure moments especially when Mboko had a 040 lead in the eighth game of the second set but failed to convertThe match was briefly overshadowed by a medical emergency in the stands during the final games but play continued without interruption After the match Zheng expressed concern for the fans during her oncourt interview and praised Mboko for pushing her to play her bestZheng who reached the fourth round in Paris for the first time since her debut in 2022 will next face either Liudmila Samsonova or Dayana Yastremska A win in the next round would give her a firstever French Open quarterfinal appearance IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-sabalenka-and-zheng-storm-into-fourth-round-618754.html Fri, 30 May 2025 20:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-sinner-ends-gasquets-career-at-roland-garros-extends-major-win-streak-on-paris-clay-618588.html Paris May 29 World No1 Jannik Sinner pulled the curtain down on Richard Gasquets illustrious career on Thursday surging past the Frenchman 63 60 64 to reach the mens singles third round at the French Open here on Thursday Making his 22nd appearance at the claycourt major in Paris the 38yearold Gasquet was unable to produce a response to Sinners heavy ballstriking and pinpoint accuracy throughout the onehour 58minute clashWith his victory the No 1 player in the ATP Rankings extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 16 matches becoming the first man born in 1990 or later to do soWe have a good relationship off the court We are different generations but its your moment Sinner said to Gasquet who recorded his sole win over a World No 1 in MonteCarlo in 2005 when he defeated Roger FedererCongrats to your family to your team Without great people around each player its impossible to make such an incredible career You played in such an incredible era of tennis and everyone will recognise you even after your retirement the Italian star was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour in a report on its websiteGasquet a 16time tourlevel champion had reached a careerhigh World No 7 during his 23year career He holds the record for the most wins 610 among Frenchmen in the Open EraWith this win Sinner the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion set a thirdround meeting with Jiri Lehcka whom he leads 20 in their ATP headtohead series Lehecka overcame Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 63 36 61 62 to advance to the third round at Roland Garros for the first time in his careerAfter recording straightset wins against Arthur Rinderknech in the first round and Gasquet in the second Sinner improved to 185 at Roland Garros where he notably reached last years semifinal before falling to rival Carlos Alcaraz in a physical fiveset tussle The 23yearold is aiming to become the first Italian mens singles champion in the Open Era after Adriano Panatta in 1976Its obviously a very special place for me to play added Sinner who also beat Gasquet in Paris last year Against Richard we already played last year here its always very tough Im generally very happy to be in the third round Thank you guys for making it fairThere were moments of magic from Gasquet who used his vintage onehanded backhand to carve out three break points when Sinner served out the first set at 53 sparking raucous cheers from the French fans on Court PhilippeChatrier Yet Sinner saved all three according to Infosys Stats and did not face another en route to a commanding victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-sinner-ends-gasquets-career-at-roland-garros-extends-major-win-streak-on-paris-clay-618588.html Fri, 30 May 2025 01:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-mirra-andreeva-turns-tables-on-ashlyn-krueger-with-gritty-second-round-win-618546.html Paris May 29 Ten months after Ashlyn Krueger had knocked her out of the US Open in straight sets the 18yearold Russian Mirra Andreeva found her moment of redemption on the clay courts of Roland Garros Andreeva overcame a slow start to outplay Krueger 63 64 in the second round on Thursday advancing to the third round in Paris for the third consecutive year Andreeva once again showcased her resilience in a match that mirrored her gritty openinground comeback Down 31 in the opening set she turned the tide against the hardhitting Krueger with smart shot selection and unshakable nerves From 31 down Andreeva reeled off six consecutive games to take the set and the momentumThis match wasnt easy Andreeva said in her postmatch interview I lost to her at the US Open so I knew it would be tough Shes powerful and aggressive so I had to stay calm and find a wayKrueger who had bested Andreeva 61 64 in New York and reached her first WTA 500 final in Abu Dhabi earlier this year started strongly Her depth and accuracy troubled Andreeva early and she seemed in control through the first five games But a lapse in concentration while serving at 32 including three unforced errors and a double fault opened the door and Andreeva marched right throughThe match turned once the teenager found her rhythm especially off her backhand wing and with crafty drop shots Her run of six straight games flipped the script and put her a set and a break aheadThe second set turned scrappy Both players struggled with their serves combining for 10 double faults and there were four consecutive breaks of serve in the middle phase But as the set wore on Andreevas variety and movement shone In the eighth game she thrilled the Court SimonneMathieu crowd with a deft defensive drop shot and followed it up in the next game with brilliant retrieving and a sprinting forehand winner that earned her the decisive breakShe closed the match confidently sealing a straightsets win that underlined just how far she has come in 2025 Now ranked inside the Top 10 after claiming her first two WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells Andreeva is maturing fast mentally and tacticallyAwaiting her in the third round is either No 32 seed Yulia Putintseva or qualifier Joanna Garland as the former Roland Garros semifinalist continues her quest to reach the second week of a major for the fifth time in just her ninth Grand Slam maindraw appearance IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-mirra-andreeva-turns-tables-on-ashlyn-krueger-with-gritty-second-round-win-618546.html Thu, 29 May 2025 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-jessica-pegula-storms-into-third-round-with-straight-sets-win-618560.html Paris May 29 Jessica Pegula led the American charge at Roland Garros on Thursday with a hardfought 63 763 win over compatriot Ann Li marking her 30th match victory of the season It was a determined performance from the world No 3 who held her nerve in a tense second set to reach the third round of the French Open for the third time in her career The 31yearold broke Li three times and saved six of seven break points in a contest that began with Li racing to a 20 lead in the first set But Pegula quickly wrestled back control showcasing her trademark baseline consistency and mental resilience After levelling the score she dictated terms from the back of the court and stormed through six of the next seven games to seal the setThe second set was a different battle altogether There were no breaks of serve through the first eight games and Li ranked 55th in the world had two golden opportunities to break at 44 But Pegula responded like a seasoned championfirst with a breathtaking running forehand down the line and then with a powerful serve that set up a clear winnerIn the tiebreak Pegulas composure was evident A wide backhand from Li gave her the early advantage and she closed the match with a smooth backhand volley at the netPegulas win is part of a broader resurgence for American women at Roland Garros With Coco Gauff seeded No 2 and Madison Keys also advancing it marks the first time since the era of Venus and Serena Williams in 2009 that the US has three women in the top 10 seedsNotably nine American women featured in the secondround matches from the bottom half of the drawa rare and significant presence on the Parisian clayUp next Pegula faces former Roland Garros finalist and 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova who edged past No 25 Magdalena Frech in three sets It will be a stern test but Pegula enters the contest high on confidence having won more matches this season than any WTA player outside of Aryna Sabalenka IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-jessica-pegula-storms-into-third-round-with-straight-sets-win-618560.html Thu, 29 May 2025 20:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-swiatek-too-strong-for-raducanu-once-again-knocks-her-out-in-round-2-618477.html Paris May 28 Emma Raducanus struggles against World No 1 Iga Swiatek continued on the red clay of Roland Garros as the British number two was handed a resounding 61 62 defeat in their secondround encounter on Wednesday It marked Raducanus fifth straight loss to the defending champion once again exposing the gulf in class between the 2021 US Open winner and the elite tier of the womens gameThe match started with a glimmer of hope for Raducanu as she earned a break point in the second game But once Swiatek held serve the floodgates openedThe Pole a fourtime Roland Garros champion and widely regarded as the Queen of Clay raced through the rest of the first set exploiting Raducanus unreliable second serve and forcing errors off both wingsSwiatek wrapped up the opening set in just 35 minutes sending a clear message that she remained the player to beat in Paris despite a lessthanconvincing claycourt swing leading into the tournamentRaducanu ranked 41st in the world and still searching for consistency after a stopstart 2024 season showed brief resistance early in the second set After being broken for 21 she threatened to level the match in a marathon fourth game earning three break pointsFrom there Raducanu began to fadeboth physically and mentally Having struggled with illness earlier in the week she showed signs of fatigue and had no answers as Swiatek closed out the final three games with ruthless efficiencySpeaking courtside after her dominant win which marked her 23rd consecutive victory at Roland Garros following titles in 2022 2023 and 2024 Iga Swiatek said I felt good on the court and I thought I could do whatever I planned and whatever I wanted to I just needed to adjust to the wind because the conditions were pretty tricky todayIm happy that I did that well and Im throughI honestly just love playing here this place really inspires me and makes me work harder Some time off before helped me a little bit and Im just ready to fight for it and compete IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-swiatek-too-strong-for-raducanu-once-again-knocks-her-out-in-round-2-618477.html Thu, 29 May 2025 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fonseca-becomes-second-youngest-roland-garros-match-winner-after-alcaraz-618391.html Paris May 28 Brazilian teen Joao Fonseca made a sparkling Roland Garros debut when he ousted the inform Hubert Hurkacz 62 64 62 becoming the secondyoungest match winner at the claycourt major in the past 10 years The 18yearold is the secondyoungest match winner at the claycourt major in the past 10 years only behind an 18yearold Carlos Alcaraz in 2021 according to ATP statsStill several months shy of his 19th birthday Fonseca displayed zero nerves against Hurkacz and played emphatic tennis from the start breaking serve twice in the first set and then again to start the second with a beautiful cross court volley that brought the faithful out of their seatsI played really well focusing a lot on the returns and serves I knew a lot of great serves were going to come and I was just focusing on putting the first return in the plus one the return plusone put it in the middle and try to be as aggressive as I can Try to focus on opportunities go to the net and try to be aggressive when I can said FonsecaFonseca now boasts an 117 tourlevel season record according to the ATP WinLoss Index At the Australian Open he earned a memorable first maindraw win at a major by stunning ninth seed Andrey Rublev Fonseca won his maiden tourlevel title the following month in Buenos Aires according to ATPThe Brazilian will next face French veteran PierreHugues Herbert 16 years his seniorEarlier Jack Drapers claycourt evolution continued when he overcame a tricky start to notch his maiden match win at Roland GarrosThe fifth seed overcame Mattia Bellucci 36 61 64 62 in heavy conditions under the Court SuzanneLenglen roof which was closed due to steady rain in the French capitalDraper is looking to add a first Grand Slam title to his maiden Masters 1000 crown which he won in March in Indian Wells IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/fonseca-becomes-second-youngest-roland-garros-match-winner-after-alcaraz-618391.html Wed, 28 May 2025 09:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-musetti-continues-to-prosper-at-roland-garros-reaches-third-round-618468.html Paris May 28 Italian star Lorenzo Musetti continued to thrive at the French Open racing into the mens singles third round with a straightsets victory over Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia on Wednesday The eighth seed on Wednesday raced past Elahi Galan 64 60 64 to reach the third round at the clay court major sending out a strong statement to his rivals at Roland GarrosMusetti converted six of 12 break points he earned according to Infosys Stats to wrap a twohour sixminute triumph and build impressively on his opening 75 62 60 win over Yannick HanfmannHonestly today was not easy to play because of the wind Musetti was later quoted as saying by the ATP on its website I think I managed to stay there and play a solid match That is what I needed I had to raise the level raise the battle and Im really happy to be in the third roundWith this win Musetti took a 30 lead in his ATP headtohead record against Galan to 30 and also improved to 235 his record on clay since last July During that period his achievements include winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and reaching at least the semifinals at all three clay ATP Masters 1000 events in 2025 including a championshipmatch run in MonteCarloIts been a tremendous clay season so far but the ambitions now are higher and of course here I never reached more than the fourth round said Musetti who is competing at a careerhigh No 7 in the ATP RankingsHopefully this year will be the year and the mentality is to try and beat everyone I have the chance to play against everyone here and hopefully I will take these chances he addedMusetti who will play the winner of the match between Mariano Navone and Reilly Opelka next was joined in the third round by 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hamad Medjedovic on Wednesday Medjedovic beat qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo 63 64 75 to advance to face Daniel Altmaier or Vit Kopriva IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-musetti-continues-to-prosper-at-roland-garros-reaches-third-round-618468.html Wed, 28 May 2025 21:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-champion-alcaraz-begins-title-defence-in-style-with-clinical-win-over-zeppieri-618164.html Paris May 26 Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Roland Garros 2025 with questions surrounding his fitness form and ability to defend his crown By the end of his firstround match on Monday he had answered all of them with a performance that was sharp focused and full of flair The 22yearold Spaniard who is chasing history by attempting to become the first man since Rafael Nadal 20192020 to successfully defend the French Open mens singles title brushed aside Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 63 64 62 in just under two hoursIt was really really solid Alcaraz said The first round of a Slam is never easy and coming here as the defending champion adds some pressure But I felt good from the start and maintained my level throughout the matchThat level has been elite for some time Alcaraz has now won 16 of his 17 matches on clay in 2025 including backtoback ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo and RomeHe returned to World No 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings just a week ago and with Mondays win improved his claycourt record to an astounding 282 since May 2024a run that includes last years Roland Garros title and a silver medal at the Paris OlympicsAgainst Zeppieri Alcarazs allcourt brilliance was on full display He played with freedom firing pinpoint passing shots and dominating the net winning 21 of 25 points when he approachedHe saved all three break points he faced and never looked physically hampered despite recent concerns over a lingering adductor injury that had forced him to miss the Madrid Masters Notably he wore no strapping on his lega sign that the injury may now be fully behind himThis is the level I want to bring in every match Alcaraz said I feel like Ive found the right rhythm again Once I start playing Im keeping that high level from start to finish Thats the goal through the whole tournamentThe second seed will now face Hungarys Fabian Marozsan in the second round Their headtohead stands at 11 with Marozsan famously defeating Alcaraz in Rome in 2023a result the Spaniard surely hasnt forgottenA win there could set up a blockbuster quarterfinal against twotime Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud who also advanced on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-champion-alcaraz-begins-title-defence-in-style-with-clinical-win-over-zeppieri-618164.html Tue, 27 May 2025 00:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-badosa-scripts-upset-to-knockout-osaka-boulter-advances-618166.html Paris May 26 Paula Badosa announced her return with a thunderous statement at Roland Garros The 27yearold Spaniard seeded 10th but battling injuries and doubt in recent months staged a thrilling 67 1 61 64 comeback win over Naomi Osaka on Court Philippe Chatrier I have to be realistic Badosa had said pretournament downplaying her chances after a twomonth injury layoff But when the dust settled in Paris the former quarterfinalist proved that her presence on the big stage remains as threatening as everBadosa who had only completed one full match since March weathered Osakas openingset blitz of 17 winners and four aces to turn the tide with sharp movement deep returns and consistencyThe third set saw both players stretch each other to the edge trading breaks before Badosa struck in the seventh game and held firm to close out the match at loveHer 12th maindraw win at the French Open is now her most at any Slam and it sends her into the second round against either McCartney Kessler or Elena Gabriela Ruse We both went to the limit Badosa reflected Its not fair to have a firstround like this but Im proud of how my body respondedFor Osaka the story on clay remains a struggleshe now holds a 06 career record against Top 10 players on the surface Despite blasting 36 winners her 54 unforced errors proved too costlyWhile Badosa grabbed headlines in Paris British tennis fans had plenty to cheer as well Katie Boulter at 28 finally notched her maiden French Open maindraw win defeating local wildcard Carole Monnet 67 4 61 61 I sometimes find it really difficult on this surface said the world No 38 But Ive persevered and this one is special for meBoulter could next face reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys making her progression even more intriguingMeanwhile 23yearold Jacob Fearnley ranked 55th and playing his maiden Roland Garros stunned 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 76 6 63 62 In front of a partisan crowd on Court 14 Fearnley showed no signs of nerves He traded early blows with the Swiss veteran before racing ahead in the second and third setsThere were a lot of guys talking to meit was mostly in French They could have been saying nice things but I doubt it Fearnley joked afterward The win continues his remarkable rise just a year ago he was ranked outside the top 500Fearnley now faces either Ugo Humbert or Christopher OConnell in the second round maintaining a perfect Grand Slam debut streak after similar runs at Wimbledon and the Australian Open IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-badosa-scripts-upset-to-knockout-osaka-boulter-advances-618166.html Tue, 27 May 2025 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-raducanu-battles-illness-to-set-up-blockbuster-with-swiatek-618122.html Paris May 26 Emma Raducanu summoned every ounce of resilience to overcome both physical adversity and mounting scrutiny defeating Chinas Wang Xinyu 75 46 63 in a twohour 44minute thriller in the French Open first round on Monday Making only her second appearance at the claycourt Grand Slam having missed the previous two editions due to injury the 22yearold Briton was visibly unwell requiring a medical timeout to check her blood pressure late in the first set Despite the discomfort and a disputed call that seemed to swing momentum towards Wang Raducanu refused to fold Her eventual triumph wasnt just a win on the scoreboard but a deeply personal statement about her evolving mental toughnessI dont feel great I was struggling from the start Raducanu admitted to TNT Sports after the match I was flat but Im happy to find a wayThe former US Open champion ranked 41st in the world endured a trying afternoon from the first ball At the first changeover she anxiously glanced at her players box where support staff Jane ODonoghue and Tom Welsh stood in for lead coach Mark Petchey who was absent due to commentary commitmentsHaving recently battled a back spasm in Strasbourg treated through dry needling and heat therapy Raducanus return to full fitness was clearly not complete She looked lethargic dazed even and reached for a banana in an early attempt to lift her energy But by the end of the first set she called for the doctor resulting in her blood pressure being taken on courtStill Raducanu managed to edge the opening set breaking serve on her second opportunity despite the distraction of her physical state The second set however slipped away after a controversial line call that fired up Wang and knocked the Briton off rhythmReturning with renewed intent Raducanu pounced early in the third set breaking Wang twice to take a commanding leadThough both players continued to struggle with their own consistency the match saw an incredible 17 breaks of serve it was Raducanu who held her nerve in the final moments The win ties her longest claycourt match ever and arguably ranks among her most hardfoughtRaducanu will now need tactical brilliance and nearperfect execution Awaiting her in the second round is world number one and defending champion Iga Swiatek who eased past Rebecca Sramkova 63 63 in her opener IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-raducanu-battles-illness-to-set-up-blockbuster-with-swiatek-618122.html Mon, 26 May 2025 20:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-inspired-by-rafas-presence-swiatek-begins-defence-with-gritty-win-618147.html Paris May 26 The defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek kicked off her 2025 campaign with a hardfought 63 63 victory over Slovakias Rebecca Sramkova extending her stunning unbeaten run at Roland Garros to 22 matches Rafael Nadal may not be swinging his racket this year at Roland Garros but his presence at Court Philippe Chatrier continues to inspire greatnessWhile the result may appear routine on paper it came on the back of a period of uncharacteristic struggle for the Polish star and in her own words the mere sight of Nadal during Sundays tribute ceremony helped her rediscover some of that lost fireEven when hes not playing just him being here yesterday inspired me a lot Swiatek said after the match Thanks RafaSwiatek who is aiming for her fifth French Open crown in just six years entered the tournament ranked fifth in the world her lowest position since 2020 Its also the first time in five years that she arrived in Paris without winning a WTA title in the seasons opening five monthsYet as she stood on the same clay where Nadal built his empire Swiatek found more than just her rhythm She found motivationI knew the cameras were on Carlos Alcaraz behind me so I needed to be brave but seeing Rafa crying makes me more emotional she reflected on the ceremony Its great the tennis world could show their appreciation He is a huge inspirationAgainst world number 42 Sramkova Swiatek was pushed early Her signature fast start didnt come as easily this time She had to dig deep to hold her opening service game and didnt fully settle until stringing together the final three games of the first setEven then Sramkova landed a blow breaking the threetime champion to begin the second set But Swiatek responded in kind levelling at 33 before breaking again and reeling off three straight games to wrap up the match in one hour and 35 minutesThe win sets up a secondround showdown against Britains Emma Raducanu who also came through a gruelling threeset battle earlier in the daySwiatek has often cited Nadal as her claycourt hero and Mondays performance bore the hallmarks of his influence resilience patience and intensity in the face of early adversityShe even shared a personal moment from Roland Garros 2021 the year Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinal and Swiatek fell in the quarters I was devastated that he lost and the next day he was just sitting there after breakfast or something and I asked him how does he feel she recalled He was chill He was like Oh its just a tennis match Ill get many more chances I was like what Why am I crying if hes not crying IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/french-open-inspired-by-rafas-presence-swiatek-begins-defence-with-gritty-win-618147.html Mon, 26 May 2025 22:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-survives-knee-scare-to-enter-sf-in-geneva-617532.html Geneva May 23 Novak Djokovic celebrated his 38th birthday with hardfought revenge at the Geneva Open The second seed held firm for a 64 64 victory over Matteo Arnaldi to reach the semifinals at the clay ATP 250 event for the second consecutive year Djokovic who fell to Arnaldi at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid last month reeled off five straight games from 14 in the second set to seal a onehour 40minute victoryIts great to be in the semifinals again Hopefully this year I can go at least a step further thats the goal I think Im playing really good tennis A straightsets win but it was much closer than the score indicates I was 41 down in the second but somehow I didnt lose a gameI found the optimal state and balance mentally and emotionally to be able to play my best tennis when it was most needed Hopefully I can carry that into tomorrow said DjokovicDjokovic is now within two victories of claiming his 100th tourlevel trophy with which he would join Jimmy Connors 109 and Roger Federer 103 as the only men to hit the tripledigit mark in the Open EraThe Serb will next play qualifier Cameron Norrie The Briton defeated fifth seed Alexei Popyrin 766 64 to reach his ninth tourlevel semifinal on clay and first since Rio de Janeiro last yearIn the other half of the draw Hubert Hurkacz continued his strong run of form by dismissing top seed Taylor Fritz 63 765 in a highquality serving battleHurkacz who reached the quarterfinals at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome last week triumphed at the last claycourt ATP 250 he played in Estoril last year He trailed 13 in the secondset tiebreak against Fritz but responded with an ace down the middle at 55 before converting his only match pointHurkacz will next face qualifier Sebastian Ofner who rallied past fourth seed Karen Khachanov 46 64 64 Ofner will aim to advance to his second final after reaching the championship match at the grasscourt ATP 250 in Mallorca last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/tennis/djokovic-survives-knee-scare-to-enter-sf-in-geneva-617532.html Fri, 23 May 2025 09:53:00 +0530