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Defending champs Alcaraz and Sabalenka win opening matches at Madrid Open
The Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 4:56 p.m. | Save Story
Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has won his opening match at the Madrid Open in his first match in nearly a month. The third-ranked Alcaraz brushed aside Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1 on the outdoor clay inside the Caja Magica on Friday. Alcaraz was coming off a right arm injury that kept him from playing in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He doubted this week he would play in Spain's capital. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka had a tougher opening match as she needed three seats to beat Magda Linette.
Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist on the steamy love triangle of 'Challengers'
Jake Coyle, Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 10:21 p.m. | Save Story
How sexy can a qualifying tennis tournament in New Rochelle, New York, be? When the on-court drama involves Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist, the answer turns out to be quite a bit more than your average USTA singles match in Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers." The film, directed by Guadagnino from a script by playwright Justin Kuritzkes, may have the appearance of a sports movie. Much of the action happens in between baselines. There are break points and short shorts. But in Guadagnino's film, what's being volleyed isn't just a fuzzy little yellow ball. The result, by a score of about six-love, is the love triangle of the year.
Nadal cruises to straight-set win over American teenager in first round of Madrid Open
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 2:33 p.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory against American teenager Darwin Blanch in the first round of the Madrid open. Nadal looked in good form in what was only his third competitive match since returning from his latest injury layoff. He had made his return in Barcelona last week, losing to Alex De Minaur in the second round. Nadal had arrived in Madrid saying he was not 100% fit and that he was only going to play because the tournament was at home. In the women's draw top-ranked Iga Swiatek and American Coco Gauff both advanced.
French Open to reveal second retractable roof court at Roland Garros ahead of Olympics
The Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 7:33 a.m. | Save Story
Organizers of the tennis French Open say the second retractable roof at Roland Garros will be inaugurated on the opening day of main draw play next month. The project was planned with the Paris Olympics in mind. Roland Garros will stage the week-long Olympic tennis tournaments. French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo says a ceremony for the roof over the 10,000-seat Suzanne Lenglen court will be held on May 26. It can also be used for qualifying rounds played on previous days. The main 15,000-seat Philippe Chatrier court has had a retractable roof since 2020. Olympics tennis is scheduled from July 27 to Aug. 4.
Nadal says he is not 100% fit ahead of Madrid debut. Spaniard still unsure about playing French Open
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated April 24 - 3:05 p.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal says he will play in the Madrid Open despite not being fully fit. The Spaniard didn't seem too optimistic about his chances of being ready for the French Open next month. Nadal says he would not play in Paris if he arrives there feeling the same way that he is feeling ahead of his opening match in Madrid this week. He says "the sensations haven't been perfect this week." He adds "hopefully I can play without many limitations." In the women's draw Wednesday former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka earned her first win on clay in two years by defeating Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1 in the first round.
Olympic tennis champion Belinda Bencic announces the birth of her daughter
The Associated Press | Posted April 24 - 1:39 p.m. | Save Story
Olympic tennis champion Belinda Bencic has become a mom for the first time. The 27-year-old Bencic and her partner Martin Hromkovič, who is also her fitness coach, posted a photograph on their Instagram accounts. The message read "Bella, our love" and Tuesday's date that she was born. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 Bencic won the women's singles title beating Markéta Vondroušová in the final. She also took silver in doubles playing with Viktorija Golubic for Switzerland. Bencic previously said she wants to return to the tour. She's now ranked No. 92.
Brian Tobin, former president of the International Tennis Federation, dies at age 93
The Associated Press | Posted April 23 - 9:10 p.m. | Save Story
The International Tennis Federation says its former president Brian Tobin has died. The ITF says Tobin died on Monday at age of 93. Past Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard also confirmed Tobin's death in a message to a regional tennis federation. Tobin became the first fulltime president of the ITF when elected to the first of his two terms from 1991 to 1999, overseeing the international federation following the creation of the ATP and WTA tours and after it was reintroduced into the Olympics in 1988.
Alcaraz is cautious ahead of Madrid Open. The Spaniard is not 100% sure he will play
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated April 23 - 1:32 p.m. | Save Story
Carlos Alcaraz is being cautious with his expectations at the Madrid Open and would be happy to play "three or four matches" in his return from injury. Alcaraz says he has trained well in recent days but doesn't want to fully confirm his participation at the ATP 1000 tournament in the Spanish capital where he is a two-time defending champion. The third-ranked Alcaraz is coming off a right arm injury that kept him from playing in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The Spaniard will try to win his first French Open title next month.
Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist on the steamy love triangle of 'Challengers'
Jake Coyle, Associated Press | Posted April 23 - 1:19 p.m. | Save Story
How sexy can a qualifying tennis tournament in New Rochelle, New York, be? When the on-court drama involves Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist, the answer turns out to be quite a bit more than your average USTA singles match in Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers." The film, directed by Guadagnino from a script by playwright Justin Kuritzkes, may have the appearance of a sports movie. Much of the action happens in between baselines. There are break points and short shorts. But in Guadagnino's film, what's being volleyed isn't just a fuzzy little yellow ball. The result, by a score of about six-love, is the love triangle of the year.
Alcaraz and Nadal continue recovery from injuries at Madrid Open while Djokovic skips tournament
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Posted April 22 - 9:13 a.m. | Save Story
Carlos Alcaraz is back from injury to try to win a third consecutive Madrid Open this week. Rafael Nadal will also play but top-ranked Novak Djokovic is missing from the draw. Alcaraz is competing in his first European clay-court event of the season after skipping Monte Carlo and Barcelona because of a right arm injury. The 20-year-old Spaniard begins his title defense against Alexander Shevchenko or Arthur Rinderknech. Nadal will continue his comeback from injury by facing American wild-card Darwin Blanch in the first round. Djokovic will not play in Madrid for a second consecutive year.
Fencing mom Arianna Errigo and high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi named Italy's Olympic flagbearers
Andrew Dampf, Associated Press | Posted April 22 - 6:11 a.m. | Save Story
Fencer Arianna Errigo and high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi have been named as Italy's flagbearers for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Errigo will be competing in her fourth Olympics and has won medals in each color. Tamberi is the reigning Olympic, world and European champion in the high jump. Italy's 40 medals at the Tokyo Games three years ago were its most ever at an Olympics. The opening ceremony in Paris is scheduled for July 26.
Rafael Nadal poised for Laver Cup swansong in Berlin in September
The Associated Press | Updated April 22 - 5:35 a.m. | Save Story
Rafael Nadal says he will play at the Laver Cup in Berlin in September in what may be one of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's last tournaments. Nadal has signaled 2024 may be his last year on tour and said last week that his second-round loss to Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open was "probably my last match here." The 37-year-old Spanish superstar has long struggled with injuries and has played just five competitive matches this year. Three of those were in Brisbane in January and two in Barcelona last week.
Ruud beats Tsitsipas to win Barcelona Open for biggest career title a week after loss in Monte Carlo
The Associated Press | Posted April 21 - 12:38 p.m. | Save Story
Casper Ruud has taken his revenge against Stefanos Tsitsipas by winning the Barcelona Open final in straight sets for his biggest career title. It comes a week after losing to the Greek in the Monte Carlo Masters final. Ruud won 7-5, 6-3 Sunday for his first title of the season after losing the three other finals he played this year. Tsitsipas had comfortably won in straight sets in Monte Carlo.
Never too late: Struff beats Fritz in Munich final for his first title at age 33
The Associated Press | Posted April 21 - 10:44 a.m. | Save Story
Jan-Lennard Struff has won his first title at the age of 33 with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Taylor Fritz in the BMW Open final. The German player says "To do it on home soil is just incredible." The 28th-ranked German player had lost on his previous three appearances in finals but he converted five of 11 break points he earned against Fritz to win in 1 hour, 19 minutes. The ATP website said Struff became the third-oldest first-time champion at 33 years and 11 months since the tour was established in 1990.
Elena Rybakina beats Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 to win Porsche Grand Prix
The Associated Press | Updated April 21 - 7:47 a.m. | Save Story
Elena Rybakina eased to her third title of the season with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix. Rybakina saved the three break points she faced and took four from six opportunities to win in 1 hour, 9 minutes. The world No. 4-ranked player had defeated top-ranked Iga Świątek in the semifinals. It's Rybakina's tour-leading 26th win of the year. The Stuttgart title comes after wins in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi this season. The Kazakh player's previous clay-court wins were in Rome in 2023 and Bucharest in 2019.
Rybakina ends Swiatek's Stuttgart reign and will face Kostyuk in final
The Associated Press | Updated April 20 - 3:46 p.m. | Save Story
Elena Rybakina has defeated top-ranked Iga Świątek 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the Porsche Grand Prix final and end her opponent's hopes of a third consecutive title. World No.4 Rybakina hit 10 aces and saved 11 of the 13 break points she faced to win the first semifinal at the clay-court tournament in 2 hours, 49 minutes. It's Rybakina fourth win from six previous meetings with Świątek. The Polish player had been bidding to become the first three-time champion in Stuttgart since Maria Sharapova won between 2012-14. Rybakina will play Marta Kostyuk in Sunday's final after the 27th-ranked Ukrainian defeated Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Two-time major champion Garbiñe Muguruza retires from tennis
The Associated Press | Updated April 20 - 1:42 p.m. | Save Story
Two-time major champion Garbiñe Muguruza has announced her retirement from professional tennis at age 30. The former world No. 1 gave her decision at a news conference in Madrid on Saturday. Muguruza beat Serena Williams in the 2016 French Open final and Venus Williams in the 2017 Wimbledon final. That makes her the only player to defeat each Williams sister in a Grand Slam title match. The Spanish player earned 10 career titles and reached another pair of Grand Slam finals. She has not played since January 2023.
One week later, Ruud and Tsitsipas meet in back-to-back clay-court finals
The Associated Press | Updated April 20 - 12:30 p.m. | Save Story
Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet in consecutive clay-court finals after winning their Barcelona Open semifinals. Ruud beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6, 6-4 after saving a set point in the first set. Tsitsipas then ensured the rematch with Ruud after he rallied past Dusan Lajovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. The seventh-ranked Tsitsipas got the better of the sixth-ranked Ruud in straight sets at the Monte Carlo final last weekend.
Swiatek beats Raducanu in Stuttgart quarters while Sabalenka and Gauff lose
The Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 2:54 p.m. | Save Story
Emma Raducanu's winning run has come to an end in a straight-sets loss to top-ranked Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Grand Prix. Raducanu had produced some of her best form since winning the 2021 U.S. Open. That form wasn't quite enough to beat the top-ranked Swiatek on Friday. Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk needed eight match points to stun third-ranked Coco Gauff of the United States 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova upset second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-3, 7-5 to reach a semifinals for the first time since winning the grass-court Grand Slam last year. Elena Rybakina beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3 in the third from a break down.
