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☆ Simona Halep: Two-time grand slam champion cleared for tennis return as four-year doping ban reduced
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( John Sinnott | Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

1 Simona Halep has been cleared to return to the sport after having a backdated four-year ban reduced to nine months, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced Tuesday. The two-time grand slam winner was handed the ban in September 2023 after being found guilty of anti-doping rule violations by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Independent Tribunal. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty ImagesHalep tested positive for banned substance Roxadustat at the at the 2022 US Open. Before the CAS ruling on Tuesday, the ITIA had said that Halep’s suspension would run from October 7, 2022, until October 6, 2026. “We await the full reasoned decision and will review it thoroughly in due course.”CNN’s George Ramsay and Jill Martin contributed to this report.

Persons: Simona Halep, ” Halep, ”, Fabrice Coffrini, Halep, Karen Moorhouse, “, ” CNN’s George Ramsay, Jill Martin Organizations: CNN, Former, Sport, International Tennis Federation, ITF Independent, Getty, Doping Agency, United, United States Anti, Tennis Integrity Agency Locations: Lausanne, Switzerland, AFP, United States

☆ Jannik Sinner: Why the Carota Boys are ‘finding a lot of love’ for Italian tennis star
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Go to a major tennis tournament and it’s hard to miss the Carota Boys, a team of six men decked in full-body, bright-orange carrot costumes. It’s only over the past seven or so months that the Carota Boys’ love for Sinner has really blossomed, endearing themselves to the tennis public in the process. The conception of the Carota Boys originates with the friends’ tradition of buying tickets for tennis tournaments to celebrate each other’s birthdays. The Carota Boys attend the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, Italy, watching Sinner take on Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas. “Jannik and all the Carota Boys are born in a place near the mountains.

Persons: Sinner, – Lorenzo Ferrato, Francesco Gaboardi, Gianluca Bertorello, Enrico Ponsi, Alessandro Dedominici, Alberto Mondino –, TIZIANA FABI, Ferrato, Lavazza, Novak Djokovic, “, ” Ferrato, “ Jannik, Clive Brunskill, “ Let’s, let’s, we’ve, Jannik, ”, Valentino Rossi, Max, Michael, Schumacher, Daniil Medvedev, Valerio Pennicino, Carlos Alcaraz, Denmark’s Holger Rune, Djokovic, ” Djokovic, he’s, Sinner’s Organizations: CNN, Carota Boys, ATP, Getty, CNN Sport, Boys, Wimbledon, Davis, ITF Gaboardi, Italy, Australia, “ Locations: Italy, It’s, Turin, Revello, Rome, AFP, Vienna, Austria, Paris, London, New York, Malaga, Spain, Formula

☆ Novak Djokovic suffers two defeats in same day as Italy beats Serbia in Davis Cup semifinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

That he lost one of his matches after having three match points was incredulous, given there is no one more adept at closing out a match than the world No.1. He was beaten in both the singles and doubles in Malaga, Spain as Italy beat Serbia 2-1 to set up a Davis Cup final against Australia on Sunday. “Obviously playing doubles in the decider of a Davis Cup tie is not easy. It was the Serb’s first singles defeat in the Davis Cup since 2011, when he was forced to retire injured against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro. “For me personally it’s a huge disappointment, because I take the responsibility, obviously having three match points, being so close to winning it,” said Djokovic, per the Davis Cup website.

Persons: Novak, Jannik Sinner, Djokovic, Sinner, Miomir Kecmanovic, Lorenzo Sonego, Sinner wasn’t, Jannik, Novak Djokovic, Clive Brunskill, “, ” Djokovic, Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, ”, Davis Organizations: CNN, Serbian, Serbia, Davis, Australia, Italy, Djokovic, ATP, Reuters Locations: Malaga, Spain, Italy, Serbia

☆ Superb Sinner leads Italy to Davis Cup glory against Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Italy's number one Sinner produced a devastating display to outclass a helpless De Minaur 6-3 6-0 after Matteo Arnaldi outlasted Alexei Popyrin in the first singles clash. "It helps a lot to play for the whole team and it's been an incredible feeling for all of us," Sinner said as Italy rejoiced at a first Davis Cup title since 1976 and only second ever. Lleyton Hewitt's Australia have now been beaten in the final in successive years having lost to Canada in 2022. Italy and Australia qualify automatically for the 16-nation Finals next year across four cities with the ITF announcing on Sunday that the Final Eight will again be hosted in Malaga. Reporting by Martyn Herman; additional reporting by Gavin Jones, editing by Louise Heavens and Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: deportes Martin, Australia's Alex de Minaur, Jon Nazca, Alex De Minaur, De, Matteo Arnaldi, Alexei Popyrin, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Miomir Kecmanovic, Lorenzo Sonego, Sinner, it's, Giorgia Meloni, Arnaldi, Filippo Volandri's, Popyrin, De Minaur, Minaur, Lleyton, Martyn Herman, Gavin Jones, Louise Heavens, Ken Ferris Organizations: Palacio, deportes, deportes Martin Carpena, Davis, REUTERS, Rights, Australia, Serbia, Djokovic, ITF, Thomson Locations: Australia, Italy, Malaga, Spain, Rights MALAGA, Saturday's, Serbia, Italian, Canada

☆ Billie Jean King: Players ‘are exhausted,’ says tennis great as she urges the sport’s authorities to work together
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It meant many of the sport’s top players opted not to play the latter – an end-of-year tournament dubbed the World Cup of tennis. Aryna Sabalenka waits during a rain delay at this year's WTA Finals. Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesSimon responded with a letter of his own during the WTA Finals, outlining to players how the organisation was handling the issues raised. But there looks to be no magic solution to the array of problems facing women’s tennis at the moment. “But I think about men’s and women’s tennis, I don’t just think about women’s tennis.

Persons: Issues, Sabalenka, Storm Hunter, Jessica Pegula, Billie Jean King, –, Poland’s Iga, “, ” Sabalenka, Clive Brunskill, Marketa Vondrousova, ” Vondrousova, we’ve, Steve Simon, Martina Navratilova, ”, ” Navratilova, Simon Organizations: CNN, Tennis Association, WTA, International Tennis Federation, Tennis, BJK, Amazon Prime Locations: Cancún, Mexico, Seville, Spain

☆ Djokovic eyes second Davis Cup title for Serbia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Sunday he beat Italy's Jannik Sinner to win a record seventh ATP Finals title. I really would like to win the Davis Cup with Serbia. Traditional Davis Cup powerhouse Australia have not won the Davis Cup for 20 years but under captain Lleyton Hewitt they believe they can go one step further than last year. The Davis Cup will also be a chance for Sinner to shake off any lingering disappointment at losing to Djokovic in the ATP Finals on Sunday. World number four Sinner leads a strong-looking Italy side who will be favourites to beat the Dutch.

Persons: Pala Alpitour, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Italy's Jannik, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Novak Djokovic, Davis, Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Italy's, That's, Dan Evans, Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Neal Skupski, Felix Auger, Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic, Emil Ruusuvuori, Lleyton Hewitt, Hewitt, Alex De Minaur, De Minaur, Martyn Herman, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Canada, Australia, Sunday, France, Davis, Serbia, Wimbledon, Djokovic, ATP, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italy, Serbia, Malaga, Finland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgrade, Britain's, Canada, Spain, Alicante, Marbella

☆ Billie Jean King Cup: Leylah Fernandez guides Canada to first ever title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a first ever Billie Jean King Cup triumph on Sunday, securing the title with a 6-2 6-3 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Canada won the Billie Jean King Cup, formerly known as the Fed Cup, for the first time. It’s a dream come true.”Canada’s victory comes just a year after the men clinched the country’s first Davis Cup title. Fernandez was undefeated over the week as she guided Canada to victory. After Fernandez’s victory, the Canadian team was presented with the trophy by Billie Jean King, as well as blue jackets like those regularly worn by the legendary tennis star.

Persons: CNN — Leylah Fernandez, Billie Jean King, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, Fernandez, ” Fernandez, CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell, “ Billie Jean King, “ We’re, Marina Stakusic, Martina Trevisan, Matt McNulty, Heidi El Tabakh, Magdalena Fręch, “, ” Stakusic, hasn’t, El Tabakh, ” El Tabakh, Marcelo Del Pozo Organizations: CNN, Canada, Czech, Billie Jean King Cup, Fed, Reuters, Canadian Locations: Canada, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy

☆ BJK Cup: Billie Jean King on the career moment she’ll ‘never forget’ and the growth of the tournament named in her honor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Billing itself as the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, the Billie Jean King Cup is akin to the World Cup of tennis, pitting countries from around the world against one another. Tennis great Billie Jean King lent her name to the tournament – which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month – in 2020 and she has fond memories of playing in it herself. It fits my personality and fits how I think about the sport,” King said. Improving women’s tennis is something King has done throughout her career in the sport. More than anything, though, King wants this competition, and women’s sport in general, to get more media coverage.

Persons: CNN —, Billie Jean King, King, “, ” King, “ It’s, Davis, Serena Williams, John G, Mabanglo, ”, Bobby Riggs, Lesley Martin, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Iga Świątek Organizations: CNN, Tennis, US, Getty, Federation Cup, Fed, International Tennis Federation, ITF, Women’s Tennis Association, ”, WTA Locations: Seville, Spain, France, Italy, Canada, Germany, US, Australia, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Venus, AFP, “, ” Switzerland, Mexico

☆ ITF announces record prize money for Billie Jean King Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - November 9, 2022 General view of the trophy during the group stage match between Italy's Jasmine Paolini and Switwerland's Belinda Bencic Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - This year's Billie Jean King Cup champions will receive a record $2.4 million, with prize money for the finals of the women's team event again matching that of the men's Davis Cup. A total Player Prize Money purse of $9.6 million will be shared between the 12 competing nations in Seville, the International Tennis Federation said in a statement. "We are proud to announce this news on the eve of the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup ... Finals," ITF president David Haggerty said. "Achieving gender parity in our sport is a key part of the ITF's Advantage All programme and I am delighted we have been able to offer equivalent prize money with the Davis Cup Finals again this year." The qualifying nations are split into four groups of three teams with the group winners moving into the semi-finals.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Italy's Jasmine Paolini, Switwerland's Belinda Bencic, Ed Sykes, Davis, David Haggerty, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Emirates, Billie Jean King Cup, International Tennis Federation, ITF, Davis, Estadio la, Thomson Locations: Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Seville, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Group, Australia, Slovenia

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will offer a record total of $9.6 million in prize money, including $2.4 million to the champions, the International Tennis Federation announced Monday. The ITF said this puts the women competing at the BJK Cup Finals on an equivalent prize level as the men at the Davis Cup Finals. The 12-team BJK Cup Finals start Tuesday at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium and run through Sunday. Defending champion Switzerland is joined by last year’s runner-up, Australia, and 10 other countries: Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and the United States. The runner-up team will earn $1.44 million, each losing semifinalist will get $960,000 and teams eliminated in the group stage will receive $480,000.

Persons: Billie Jean King Organizations: International Tennis Federation, ITF, Davis, Seville’s La Locations: SEVILLE, Spain, Seville’s, Seville’s La Cartuja, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovenia, United States

☆ ITF will encourage Nadal to compete at Paris Games, says chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Uncertainty surrounds the recovering Rafa Nadal's 2024 campaign but the International Tennis Federation (ITF) will do everything it can to encourage him to compete in the Paris Olympic Games, the global tennis body's chief David Haggerty told Reuters. Nadal had previously said he expects to retire following the 2024 season and hoped to play in the Paris Games with the tennis tournament set to take place at Roland Garros, where he has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. The Spaniard won the Olympic singles gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games and the doubles gold eight years later in Rio. Whether he does or not, will be up to him," Haggerty told Reuters in a video call on Monday. Knowing that it's in Paris, at Roland Garros, where he's had such tremendous success would be a great venue for him to be able to compete at."

Persons: Rafa Nadal's, David Haggerty, Mackenzie McDonald, Nadal, Roland Garros, Haggerty, he's, Craig Tiley, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: International Tennis Federation, Paris Olympic Games, Reuters, Paris Games, Spaniard, Beijing, Melbourne, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Rio, Paris, Bengaluru

☆ ITF chief happy with Davis Cup format, expects big crowds for knockouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, India, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation will continue to work towards improving the Davis Cup amid low attendances in some ties in September but the governing body is happy with its existing format, ITF chief David Haggerty told Reuters. "This year the Davis Cup group stages (in September) were great. "We have many fans that are travelling with their teams, so we're excited about the Davis Cup and the format and where we're going." Boosting premier team competitions like the Davis Cup and the women's Billie Jean King Cup is also a big priority. Also, the Grand Slams have said how important both of these team competitions are, so to have their support as well is great," Haggerty said.

Persons: David Haggerty, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Haggerty, Spain didn't, Germany's Dietloff von Arnim, Billie Jean King, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Tennis Federation, ITF, Reuters, Kosmos, Davis, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Malaga, Canada, Finland, Australia, Czech Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Britain, Spain, Bengaluru

☆ Woodforde urges patience with Davis Cup format after Djokovic seeks tweak
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I've seen some of those comments Djokovic made and I think that's been the intention of the ITF and the Davis Cup Committee all along, to have consultation with players," Woodforde, the Davis Cup Committee Chair, told Reuters via phone. The ATP is more player oriented, the ITF or Davis Cup is about teams and countries and that's also a priority for the Davis Cup Committee." It's not just the Davis Cup, it affected the tennis world and a lot of sports. We take on board, we've had revisions even over the years since we brought about the change of format." I think the Davis Cup is probably more judged on those days where the host country isn't playing."

Persons: Pabellon Fuente, Ji Sung Nam, Jakub Mensik, Adam Pavlasek REUTERS, Pablo Morano, Mark Woodforde, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, I've, that's, Woodforde, we've, COVID, It's, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Czech, Rights, Tennis Federation, Davis, Reuters, ITF, Kosmos, Committee, Thomson Locations: Czech Republic, South Korea, San Luis, Valencia, Spain, South, Malaga, Bologna, Manchester, Split, Britain, Bengaluru

☆ North Korean athletes to participate in the Asian Games in China, KCNA reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Sept 16 (Reuters) - North Korean athletes have left Pyongyang for the Asian Games on Thursday that will take place in China, marking the first international, multisport event that North Korea has participated in since the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. The Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, a year after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. KCNA did not mention the size of the team or athletes' travel routes. North Korea closed its borders to nearly all travel in early 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and dropped out of the Tokyo Olympics due to coronavirus concerns. In August, North Korean taekwondo athletes participated in the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) World Championships in Kazakhstan, the first appearance by the country's athletes at an overseas competition since the start of the pandemic.

Persons: KCNA, Heekyong Yang, Josh Smith, Sandra Maler Organizations: Asian Games, Tokyo, North, International, International Olympic Committee, Beijing Winter Games, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Pyongyang, China, Korea, Indonesia, Hangzhou, North Korea, North Korean, Kazakhstan, Tokyo

☆ Factbox: U.S. Open women's singles champion Coco Gauff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAREER TO DATE* A former world number one junior, Gauff started her professional career on the ITF circuit in 2018. * Reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2020 and cracked the top 50 in the world for the first time. Gauff also reached the U.S. Open women's doubles final with McNally. * Lost to Iga Swiatek in the French Open final in 2022. * Gauff claimed the biggest title to date of her career at the Cincinnati Open in 2023.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Mike Segar, Laura Siegemund, Mirra, Elise Mertens, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Muchova, Serena, Venus Williams, Gauff, Simona Halep, Caty McNally, Barbora Krejcikova, McNally, Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Belarus, Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS, Belarusian Aryna, U.S, United States WTA, ITF, WTA, Wimbledon, Parma, Cincinnati, Washington D.C, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarusian, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, Czech Republic, Linz, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ North Korea is finally reopening after Covid. And it still requires a one-week quarantine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Irene Nasser | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —North Korea has announced it will allow its citizens living abroad to return home in an easing of its coronavirus-era border controls. Recent moves by North Korea, which closed its borders in early 2020 in response to the pandemic, have signaled that the country is reopening, but Pyongyang will still require even returning citizens to quarantine on arrival. “Those who return will be put under proper medical observation at quarantine wards for a week,” it said in the announcement. The news comes after a North Korean flight from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, in what was the first known international commercial flight to leave North Korea since January 2020. Flights between North Korea and Russia are also set to resume, with four flights between Pyongyang and Vladivostok this month.

Organizations: CNN, Epidemic, North Korean Taekwondo, 22nd, North Locations: Korea, China, North Korea, Pyongyang, Korean, Beijing, Russia, Vladivostok, Kazakhstan’s, Astana, North Korean

☆ Zhang Shuai: Tennis player retires in tears after opponent erases disputed mark on court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai retired from a match in tears after a tense incident with Amarissa Toth at the Hungarian Grand Prix saw Toth use her foot to erase a contested ball mark from the court. In Tuesday’s opening set, Zhang hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land on the line, with a line judge and later an umpire calling the ball out. Though the match continued for another point, the disputed call remained a sore point, and Zhang continued to question the decision. Zhang was incensed by the call during Tuesday's match in Budapest, Hungary. A number of tennis players decried Toth’s actions, with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović criticizing Toth’s actions as “absolutely disgusting behaviour.”“Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand,” Tomljanovic wrote on Twitter.

Persons: Zhang Shuai, Amarissa Toth, Toth, Zhang, “, ”, Australia’s, ” “ Shuai, ” Tomljanovic, Victoria Azarenka, Ellen Perez Organizations: CNN, WTA, Twitter, ” CNN Locations: Hungarian, Budapest, Hungary

☆ Vondrousova one step from 'mission impossible'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - For Marketa Vondrousova the very notion of winning Wimbledon was an impossibility a year ago, but on Saturday she has the chance to add her name to an esteemed list of Czech champions. Not only that, but Prague-based Vondrousova, 24, can become the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. I didn't play for almost six months, so it was very tough," Vondrousova told reporters when asked to cast her mind back 12 months. It was really sad," Vondrousova, who made a tentative return to the second-tier ITF Tour last October, said. But something clicked and she has beaten 12th seed Veronika Kudermetova, 20th seed Donna Vekic, 32nd seed Marie Bouzkova and fourth seed Jessica Pegula.

Persons: Miriam Kolodziejova, Stepan Simek, Elina Svitolina, Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Vondrousova, Marketa, Susan Mullane, Ash Barty, Karolina Muchova, Veronika Kudermetova, Donna Vekic, Marie Bouzkova, Jessica Pegula, Frankie, He's, Martyn Herman, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wimbledon, Court, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Slams, ITF, Thomson Locations: Czech, Wimbledon, Prague, London, United Kingdom, Berlin

☆ Silicon Valley Has a New Style Icon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And he has the look: a black leather jacket he wears every time he is in the public eye, most often with a black T-shirt and black jeans. Mr. Huang wore a black leather jacket when he was on the cover of Time as one of its men of the year in 2021. A black leather jacket during his keynote speeches at multiple GTC developer conferences since 2018. To deliver the 2023 World ITF keynote and the 2023 Computex 2023 keynote. He even identified himself, back in a Reddit AMA in 2016, as “the guy in the leather jacket.”

Persons: Jensen Huang, ChatGPT, Huang Organizations: Nvidia, Apple

☆ Mirra Andreeva, 16, continues meteoric rise by advancing to French Open third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has continued her meteoric rise by reaching the third round of the French Open with an emphatic 6-1 6-2 win over France’s Diane Parry. The 16-year-old, who celebrated her birthday in April, is now the youngest player to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 2005, according to the WTA. Andreeva, the youngest player in this year’s main draw, took only 77 minutes to defeat wild card Parry and secure her sixth top 100 win of the season. Andreeva had already become the seventh youngest player this century to beat a top 20 player, according to the WTA, when she beat world No. Andreeva, who was unranked 14 months ago, entered her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros this year.

Persons: Mirra Andreeva, France’s Diane Parry, Roland Garros, Parry, Andreeva, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Ian MacNicol, Leylah Fernandez, Magda Linette, Alison Riske, Coco Gauff, Julia Grabher Organizations: CNN, WTA, Madrid, ITF Locations: Madrid

☆ Novak Djokovic stands by Kosovo comments at the French Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has stood by his decision to send a political message about Kosovo at the French Open. After his first-round victory on Monday, Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the [heart symbol] of Serbia. So that’s all.”He added that he had not spoken to French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo about the incident. Djokovic is no stranger to controversy at grand slam tournaments. “A drama-free grand slam, I don’t think it can happen for me,” he said on Wednesday.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Serbia ”, ” Djokovic, Hungary’s Márton, Amélie Mauresmo, ”, Srdjan, didn’t, “, Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rafael Nadal Organizations: CNN, “, NATO, Serbian, Olympic, KOC, International Olympic Committee, Tennis Federation, ITF, IOC, Olympic Games, Covid Locations: Serbian, Kosovo, “ Kosovo, Serbia, Zvecan, Melbourne

CNN —The Kosovan Olympic Committee (KOC) has called for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) to take disciplinary action against Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. On Monday, Djokovic left a political message on a TV camera lens at the French Open in response to violent clashes in Kosovo, writing: “Kosovo is the [heart symbol] of Serbia. There were clashes with protestors on Monday after ethnically Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo, a majority Kosovo Serb area, following April elections that Kosovo Serbs had boycotted. Djokovic elaborated on his message in Serbian at a press conference this week, saying: “This is the least I could have done. Djokovic plays in the second round of the French Open against Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics on Wednesday.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Ismet Krasniqi, KOC, “, Djokovic “, ”, ” Djokovic, Garros, Jean Catuffe, Serbia ”, Krasniqi, Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics Organizations: CNN, Olympic, KOC, International Olympic Committee, Tennis Federation, Serbian, IOC, ”, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo Serbs, Kosovo, Djokovic, ITF, Olympic Charter, ” CNN, Hungary’s Locations: Kosovo, Serbia, Serbian

☆ Halep questions long delay in doping hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Aug 29, 2022; Flushing, NY, USA; Simona Halep of Romania hits to Daria Snigur of Ukraine on day one of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In an interview with Tennis Majors, her first since learning of her failed drugs test, Halep said she has so far been denied her right to be heard by an independent court. Halep says she has undertaken 10 tests since her positive result, with all of them coming back negative. She now hopes to have a hearing in May but fears that may also be cancelled. I really want to play again because I love this sport and I want to play for the big titles again."

☆ WTA to resume tournaments in China this year, end boycott over Peng allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Tennis - China Open Women's Singles First Round - Beijing, China - 03/10/16. Peng then briefly disappeared from public view and later denied making the accusation, sparking fears for her safety. "For these reasons, the WTA is lifting its suspension of the operation of tournaments in the People's Republic of China and will resume tournaments in China this September." PENG SAFE IN BEIJING"The WTA's decision is a huge disappointment to the Chinese human rights community," Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters. "We also have received assurances that WTA players and staff operating in China will be safe and protected while in the country.

☆ ITF says World Tennis Tour events will return to China this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, April 3 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will conduct its World Tennis Tour tournaments in China this year, marking a return to the Asian nation after a gap of three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport's global governing body said on Monday. "We think it's important that the World Tennis Tour and international events take place in all the nations around the world," ITF President David Haggerty told Reuters in a video interview in February. In the last full season in 2019 before the pandemic, China had hosted 25 ITF women's and 15 men's events. World Tennis Tour events are professional tournaments below the elite level. The tour will also stage the first ever World Tennis Tour event in Ethiopia and the first in Burundi and Cyprus since 2013 and 2016, respectively.

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