French open

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek, who won the French Open women’s singles title on Saturday, has more than doubled her lead at the top of the WTA rankings, released on Monday. Swiatek, for whom this was the second singles title at Roland Garros after her run to the trophy in 2020, had entered the clay-court major a fortnight back enjoying a lead of 2,150-point over then-No. 2 Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic — 7,061 to 4,911. But following her success on the clay-court major, where she beat American youngster Coco Gauff in the final, the 21-year-old Swiatek now has a lead of 4,305-point over new world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia — 8,631 to 4,326. Swiatek’s 8,631 points are also 60 more than Kontaveit’s 4,326 and No. 3 Spaniard Paula Badosa’s 4,245 combined (8,571), according to tennis.com. Meanwhile, Kontaveit has set a new career-high, rising from No. 5 to No. 2, while Ons Jabeur of Tunisia has moved from No. 6 to No. 4 to make her top-5 debut. America’s Jessica … [Read more...] about Iga Swiatek Extends Massive Lead at Top of WTA Rankings Following French Open Triumph

Seeing just how far behind the baseline Rafael Nadal crouched to await serves at the French Open, Mackenzie McDonald knew there was one tactic that made the most sense to try. It would be ridiculous, but you should underhand-serve him the whole time, McDonald said after employing that strategy once, unsuccessfully, against 12-time Roland Garros champion Nadal in their second-round match this week. I had the chance. I didnt have the (guts). It would take a different person than me, I think, to really do it over and over, said McDonald, a 25-year-old American who won NCAA singles and doubles titles for UCLA in 2016. More players are starting to do it, but its not the right thing to do. Thats up for debate, much like the so-called “unwritten rules” in other sports that are fodder for discussion every so often and happens to be a subject of conversation in Paris right now, where underarm serves seem to be somewhat en vogue, like drop shots, on the red clay that can deaden a ball. … [Read more...] about French Open: Ivan Lendl’s OK With Underarm Serves, We Should Be, Too

Coco Gauff missed out on reaching a first grass-court final on Saturday when the 18-year-old American lost to Ons Jabeur 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the semifinals of the Berlin Open. Cheered on by fans waving Tunisian flags amid a heatwave in Berlin, Jabeur recovered from 3-1 down in the first set and dominated the second to set up a final against Belinda Bencic on Sunday. “You have to be this good to beat Coco, you know. She’s a great player,” Jabeur said. She added she had “no expectations” of her first grass tournament of the season and paid tribute to the Tunisian fans. “Everywhere I go they’re always here, they’re chanting all the time, it’s amazing,” she said. Jabeur will play her fourth final in a season where she has reached a career-high ranking of fourth in the world and became the first African and first Arab player to win a WTA 1000 event at last month’s Madrid Open. The tournament in Berlin is her first since a surprise first-round loss at the French Open. Next week, Jabeur … [Read more...] about Berlin Open: Ons Jabeur Ends Coco Gauff’s Run to Book Final With Belinda Bencic

Britain's Dan Evans believes Novak Djokovic's concerns about players having only one member of their support staff at the US Open does not apply to the majority of the field and compromises should be made when action resumes. The US Open organisers are assessing safety measures for the tournament scheduled to begin on Aug. 31 without spectators after the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the season in March. World number one Djokovic said hosting the tournament would be impossible due to " extreme" COVID-19 protocols , but Evans said there has to be some "give and take" from the players. "I don't think having one person of your team only allowed is such a big deal - the majority of the draw would only travel with one coach," Evans told BBC 5 Live. "Not everyone's travelling with physios and fitness trainers like Novak said, so I think his argument there is not really valid for the rest of the draw, apart from the real top guys." The U.S. Open will be the first Grand Slam … [Read more...] about Novak Djokovic’s Concerns on US Open ‘Not Really Valid’ for Rest of ‘Us’, Says Dan Evans

World number one Novak Djokovic described the strict hygiene restrictions under which the US Open is likely to be played as "extreme" and a cap on support teams as "really impossible" on Friday. As doubts grow over whether or not the Grand Slam event can go ahead as scheduled in New York, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, Djokovic admitted the demands of organisers could create severe strain. "Just yesterday I had a telephone conversation with the leaders of world tennis, there were talks about the continuation of the season, mostly about the US Open due in late August, but it is not known whether it will be held," the 33-year-old Serb told Prva TV television and quoted by Blic online daily. "The rules that they told us that we would have to respect to be there, to play at all, they are extreme." Djokovic , champion at the US Open in 2011, 2015 and 2018, described planned limits on player entourages as "really impossible". "We would not have … [Read more...] about Novak Djokovic Worried by ‘Extreme, Impossible’ US Open Health Restrictions

Basel: Roger Federer reached the Basel quarter-finals for the 15th time on Thursday when he steamrolled Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-3 as the top seed stepped up his campaign for an eighth Swiss Indoors title. Federer defeated Paire for the fifth time without a loss, mowing down the challenger in just 57 minutes in front of a sympathetic audience at the St Jakobshalle. The 36-year-old Federer, winner of his last event in Shanghai this month, is seeking an ATP-leading seventh trophy this season as he aims for the weekend final in his hometown. "I'm happy with how it went, I'm always ready for a tougher one," Federer said. "I got a good start, got rolling. "I was able to put more presure on him than him on me. I've had a good two first rounds. I thought the draw looked tough with (Francis) Tiafoe and Paire in my section. I'm a little surprised, to be honest. "It's not easy to win 1 and 3 indoors, this was a great start." Federer ripped through the opening set and piled on … [Read more...] about Basel Open: ‘Surprised’ Federer Reaches 15th Quarter-final

Several top women’s tennis players, including Serena Williams, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland and the reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu, have said they draw inspiration from Spanish stalwart Rafael Nadal, who, at 36, is coming into Wimbledon after winning this year’s first two Grand Slams. Never before has Nadal entered Wimbledon after winning the year’s first two majors. But with the 2022 Australian Open and French Open titles in the bag, a trophy in his 15th Wimbledon would put him on the brink of the Grand Slam-winning all four majors in the same year. That feat has never been achieved in men’s singles since Rod Laver in 1969 but Nadal, following an outstanding year so far, is being touted as the one to go the distance. “He’s (Nadal) done a lot in 2022. He’s been busy,” Serena, the winner of 23 majors in singles, said in her Wimbledon pre-tournament press conference on Saturday. “I’ve always been a Rafa fan… so obviously I’m always rooting for Rafa. He’s been really … [Read more...] about Rafael Nadal’s Longevity Inspires Serena Serena, Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu

Click here to read the full article. News of a forthcoming Marcus Mumford solo album began to leak out this past week, which countless radio stations and websites around the world immediately leaped to assume meant that old gang of his was breaking up. Mumford made it official on two counts — yes, his solo record is coming up, and no, Mumford and Sons are not splitting — and offered a first taste of the new project as he sat in with Brandi Carlile Friday at L.A.’s Greek Theater. During the encore portion of the first of Carlile’s two sold-out gigs at the Greek, the two sang a powerful, collaborative new ballad (the title of which was not announced) that Mumford said would be the closing track of his solo album, publicly confirming a heretofore secret project that has become widely speculated upon over the last week. More from Variety BeachLife Ranch Festival to Bring More Americana to L.A., With Lumineers, Brandi Carlile, Wilco and More Brandi Carlile, Yola, … [Read more...] about Marcus Mumford Declares Band Is Not Breaking Up, as He and Brandi Carlile Offer First Taste of His Solo Album Live

Rafa Nadal returns to Wimbledon for the first time in three years but it will feel a little odd for the Spaniard who, for the first time at the All England Club, will not have sparring partner Roger Federer for company. Their epic rivalry includes three successive Wimbledon finals from 2006 — the first two won by Federer and the last by Nadal in unforgettable fashion in 2008. Federer played in the juniors at Wimbledon in 1998 and has been back every year since, winning a record eight titles and establishing himself as the king of the lawns. But the 40-year-old will be absent this year as the 36-year-old Nadal seeks to continue his quest for the calendar year Grand Slam, having won the Australian Open and French Open to take his haul of majors to a record 22. Federer’s absence because of a knee injury that has sidelined him for a year will leave Wimbledon a little empty. Nadal acknowledges that without the Swiss raising the bar, his own achievements might not have been … [Read more...] about Rafael Nadal Missing Old Sparring Partner Roger Federer on Wimbledon Return

American 19th seed Madison Keys pulled out of Wimbledon on Saturday after suffering an abdominal injury. ALSO READ | Wimbledon Favourite Iga Swiatek Says Still Figuring Out Grass Keys, a quarter-finalist at the All England Club in 2015, has been replaced in the draw by lucky loser Coco Vandeweghe. This isn’t what I was hoping to say a few days before @Wimbledon , but unfortunately I have to withdraw due to an abdominal injury. I’m so disappointed, but my health comes first and my body needs time to get back to 100%. Lots of love London fans. See you next year ♥️ pic.twitter.com/Ttm2g680Qa — Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) June 25, 2022 “This isn’t what I was hoping to say a few days before @Wimbledon, but unfortunately I have to withdraw due to an abdominal injury,” tweeted 27-year-old Keys. “I’m so disappointed, but my health comes first and my body needs time to get back to 100%. Lots of love London fans. See you next year.” Keys’ injury flared up during … [Read more...] about ‘Isn’t What I Was Hoping’ – Madison Keys Out of Wimbledon with Abdominal Injury