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☆ French Open preview: With Rafael Nadal absent and Iga Światek's dominance under threat, tournament is hard to call
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —It felt like the beginning of the end of an era at the French Open when Rafael Nadal announced his absence from the tournament earlier this month. How to watchIn the United States, the French Open is available to watch on NBC, streaming service Peacock, Tennis Channel, and Bally Sports. A list of international broadcasters and the full draw are available on the French Open website. “A new generation is here already,” Djokovic said after his quarterfinal defeat at the Italian Open. Questions about scheduling may persist in the coming weeks given the way night sessions were scrutinized at last year’s French Open.

☆ Nadal to miss French Open, 2024 likely to be last year of career
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. The French Open runs from May 28 to June 11. French Open organisers said on Twitter: "We can't imagine how hard this decision was. Nadal's 14 French Open titles are the most by any player at a single major. "Roland Garros will always be Roland Garros with or without me ... there will be a new champion and I'm sure the tournament will be a big success."

☆ Holger Rune beats Novak Djokovic in rainy Italian Open quarterfinal clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

1 was beaten by Holger Rune in the Italian Open quarterfinals. It will be the first time since 2004 that neither Djokovic or Rafael Nadal will be in the final of the Italian Open, according to the ATP. Holger Rune celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic. Huge credit to Novak, I’m a big fan of his. Holger Rune has two consecutive wins over Novak Djokovic.

☆ Nadal turns down claycourt event wildcard as French Open looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, May 14 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for next week's Challenger tournament in Bordeaux as the Spaniard's participation in the French Open hangs in the balance, the claycourt event director said on Sunday. Nadal has been struggling with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears the Spaniard may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week's Italian Open. He very kindly told me that Nadal was continuing his preparation at home in Manacor, that he was not ready and was in a race against time to be ready for the French Open," Jean-Baptiste Perlant told French sports daily L'Equipe. Nadal skipped last week's Madrid Open and missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 14 times including last year, starts on May 28.

☆ Pegula upset with Madrid organisers after finalists denied speeches
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - World number three Jessica Pegula has criticised Madrid Open organisers after the American and her fellow women's doubles finalists were not allowed to make speeches at the trophy ceremony. Pegula and Coco Gauff lost the women's doubles final 6-1 6-4 to Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia on Sunday and none of the players were given the chance to address the audience. The men's doubles finalists were allowed to do so following their match a day earlier. I had a feeling something was going to happen," Pegula told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the Italian Open. "I have a lot of finals, so it's not about that," she told reporters.

☆ Madrid Open causes controversy: 'Sexist' ball girl outfits, silencing the women's finalists and small birthday cakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —One of the most prestigious tennis tournaments outside of the four grand slams, the Madrid Open attracts the biggest names in the sport. However, this year’s edition has drawn as much attention for off-court controversy as it has for the action on the clay surface. Following the backlash, the skirts were swapped for long shorts in Sunday’s final, but the crop tops remained. “In the end, it is a form of sexist violence that is so widespread because people don’t even notice it.”The ball girl outfits were changed slightly for the final. Julian Finney/Getty ImagesThe Madrid Open and IMG – the tournament is part of the sports management company’s roster of tennis events – weren’t immediately available for comment when contacted by CNN Sport.

☆ Kenin moves into Rome second round with battling win, Fernandez out
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

I didn't feel a 100% but it doesn't matter, a win is a win and I'm going to take it," said Kenin, who converted seven of her 21 breakpoints. I felt tired and... after three hours I'd imagine that she was too, so I just had to battle it out." Former U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez was beaten 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 by Aliaksandra Sasnovich, while 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova overcame Kaia Kanepi 6-0 4-6 6-2 in other first round matches. The 37-year-old Czech will take on world number eight Maria Sakkari in the second round. The men's tournament headlined by six-times champion Novak Djokovic and Rome debutant Carlos Alcaraz begins on Wednesday.

☆ Nadal missing French Open would be 'brutal' for the sport - Federer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 8 (Reuters) - Roger Federer said he hopes Rafa Nadal will recover in time for the French Open and that it would be a "brutal" blow for tennis if the 14-time Roland Garros champion is absent this year. Nadal has been dealing with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears that the Spaniard may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week's Italian Open. Nadal skipped last week's Madrid Open and also missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. "It would be brutal, it would be tough for tennis if Rafa isn't going to be there," 20-times Grand Slam winner Federer told Sky Sports on Sunday at Formula One's Miami Grand Prix. Nadal has competed at the French Open every year since winning the first of his men's record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005.

☆ Andy Murray wins first title since 2019 with victory over Tommy Paul in Aix-en-Provence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Andy Murray is back in the winner’s circle for the first time since 2019 after the Scot beat world No. 17 Tommy Paul 2-6 6-1 6-2 in the final of the ATP Challenger event in Aix-en-Provence. “We keep going from here.”As well as winning his first title since Antwerp in 2019, it was also Murray’s first clay court title since the Rome Masters 1000 title in 2016 and lifts him to No. 1 first returned to the court in June 2018 after undergoing a first hip surgery in January of the same year, before undergoing a second hip operation in 2019. However, without any points to defend at the Rome Masters or French Open, another deep run will propel Murray up the rankings further still.

☆ Alcaraz beats Struff to clinch back-to-back Madrid titles
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, May 7 (Reuters) - World number two Carlos Alcaraz beat lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the Madrid Open final on Sunday to defend last year's title and win his fourth ATP Tour trophy of the year and his tenth overall. Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season, came back in top form last month to win the Barcelona Open for the second consecutive year. In Madrid, the 20-year-old Spaniard had to play his best tennis to beat a relentless Struff in three sets in a packed Caja Magica. The German fought back to return the favour, making things uncomfortable for the world number two with his aggressive tactics and relentlessly attacking Alcaraz’s serve. Struff nailed every return to break serve in the fourth game but the Spaniard produced another break and closed the set 6-4.

☆ Sabalenka hoping to extend 'amazing' rivalry with Swiatek after Madrid win
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sabalenka had a 2-5 win-loss record against the Pole prior to Saturday's win, with four of those losses coming in 2022. Hopefully we can play many more finals this season," Sabalenka told reporters. I improved a lot, and I really want to win against her, because she's such a great player. Asked if their rivalry could be beneficial for the sport, Sabalenka said, "I think women's tennis needs this kind of consistency, to see world number one and world number two in the finals. That's something amazing, and hopefully we can keep doing what we are doing this season."

☆ Sabalenka beats world number one Swiatek to win Madrid title
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, May 6 (Reuters) - Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Iga Swiatek 6-3 3-6 6-3 to win the Madrid Open on Saturday, avenging her defeat by the Polish world number one in last month's Stuttgart final. Sabalenka produced a great performance to beat Swiatek for the first time on clay, proving that she will be a serious title contender when the French Open begins later this month. Swiatek fought back in the second as she raced into a 3-0 lead before levelling the contest at one set all. However, Australian Open champion Sabalenka dug in to show that she was no pushover as she opened up a 3-0 lead in the decider. Sabalenka then went on to break Swiatek's serve with a brilliant crosscourt forehand before wrapping up the win on her fourth match point.

☆ Struff soaking in 'incredible journey' to Madrid final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 6 (Reuters) - Jan-Lennard Struff is relishing his bid for a first ATP title following his "incredible journey" at the Madrid Open which has seen the German become the first lucky loser to reach the final of a Masters 1000 event. Struff claimed a 4-6 6-3 6-4 semi-final victory over Russia's Aslan Karatsev on Friday, days after losing to the same opponent in the final round of qualifying. Asked if he had expected to be in the final in Madrid, Struff told reporters: "No, of course not. I couldn't have imagined this ..."It's an incredible journey and story, here in Madrid, and very, very happy. He's a great athlete ... Really, really happy to be in the finals, and really looking forward to this match."

☆ Recovering Nadal skips Italian Open to cast doubts over Roland Garros
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will miss next week's Italian Open as he has yet to regain full fitness from the hip injury he sustained at January's Australian Open, casting further doubt over his participation in the French Open. Nadal, a 14-times Roland Garros champion, skipped the ongoing Madrid Open and has also missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Nadal, who has dominated the claycourt season for years, has competed at Roland Garros every year since winning the first of his men's record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005. But a setback in his recovery ahead of the Madrid tournament and his subsequent withdrawal from Rome means that if he is fit in time, Nadal would be heading to Roland Garros without having played any competitive matches. In March, Nadal slipped out of the top 10 of the ATP ranking for the first time since 2005 and is currently ranked 14.

☆ Sabalenka seeking revenge in Madrid showdown with Swiatek
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka said she was relishing the challenge of playing Iga Swiatek in Saturday's Madrid Open final, with revenge on her mind having lost to the world number one in the Stuttgart title clash last month. Swiatek cruised past Belarusian Sabalenka 6-3 6-4 to win the Stuttgart crown in a repeat of last year's final to confirm her status as favourite for the French Open later this month. World number two Sabalenka said she was prepared for another tough battle in the pair's latest clash, as she bids to improve her 2-5 win-loss record against Swiatek. I would just go one more time, try better and fight for this title," Sabalenka said after beating Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-1 in the semi-final. "Before, like our first matches last season when I didn't feel my best, it was really tough because I didn't have so many weapons.

☆ Birthday boy Alcaraz beats Coric to reach Madrid final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 5, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his semi final match against Croatia's Borna Coric REUTERS/Juan MedinaMADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his 20th birthday by storming into the Madrid Open final with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Borna Coric on Friday to stay on track for his fourth title of the season. "It means a lot to me, playing a final again here in Madrid. I have great memories since I came here to play Under-12s," Alcaraz said. After wrapping up the first set on serve, Alcaraz grabbed an early break and raced to a 4-2 lead in the next, dictating terms against a fading Coric. Russia's Karatsev later plays German Struff 10 days after easing past him in the final round of qualifying.

☆ Dominant Sabalenka ends Sakkari's run to reach Madrid final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 4, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning her semi final match against Greece's Maria Sakkari REUTERS/Juan MedinaMay 4 (Reuters) - World number two Aryna Sabalenka brushed past Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on Thursday to set up a potential second straight final showdown with top ranked Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka and Sakkari's ninth meeting on tour and first on clay ended with the 24-year-old Belarusian extending her win-loss record over the Greek ninth seed to 6-3. Sabalenka, who was champion in Madrid in 2021, stayed on track for her second title of the season in style after winning the Australian Open in January. She won an impressive 70.7% of her first serve points and saved five of six break points while sending down four aces against Sakkari. The Belarusian will next face the winner of Swiatek or Russian Veronika Kudermetova in Saturday's final.

☆ Dream big, think big - Alcaraz wants to become one of the greats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 'Big Three' of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have dominated men's tennis for nearly 20 years, collectively winning 64 Grand Slams. While only Djokovic and Nadal of the three are still active, Alcaraz said reaching their level will be a daunting task. "Well, my dream in tennis right now is to become one of the best players in history," Alcaraz told reporters after beating Karen Khachanov 6-4 7-5 in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Wednesday. "In this world, you have to dream big and you have to think big, as well," Alcaraz said. "I want to be part of the best tennis players in history and I'll work for it."

☆ Alcaraz downs Khachanov to reach Madrid semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 3, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his quarter final match against Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Juan MedinaMADRID, May 3 (Reuters) - World number two Carlos Alcaraz stayed on course for his fourth title of 2023 by powering into the semi-finals of the Madrid Open with a 6-4 7-5 win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Thursday. Alcaraz managed to break the Russian's serve in the seventh game, closing the first set 6-4. Alcaraz has reached 18 consecutive wins in Spanish clay-court tournaments since losing to Rafael Nadal in Madrid two years ago on his 19th birthday. In the women's singles, Russian Veronika Kudermetova beat American Jessica Pegula 6-4 0-6 6-4 and reach the Madrid Open semis. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Surgery rules Raducanu out of French Open, Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Britain's Emma Raducanu in action during her round of 32 match against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko REUTERS/Angelika WarmuthMay 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Emma Raducanu will miss the French Open and Wimbledon while she recovers from surgery on her wrists and ankle, the former U.S. Open champion said on Wednesday. "I'm having a minor procedure done on both hands to resolve the issues. I'm disappointed to share that I will be out for the next few months and while I am at it will have another minor procedure that is due on my ankle." Raducanu, who has struggled with form and fitness since her fairytale run to the U.S. Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021, withdrew from the Madrid Open last month citing an injury to her right hand. She also lost in the first round in Miami and Stuttgart and was beaten in straight sets by Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open.

☆ Alcaraz says Nadal still the man to beat at Roland Garros
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nadal skipped the ongoing Madrid Open after a setback in his recovery from a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open in January. Alcaraz has emerged as favourite for Roland Garros after victories on clay at Buenos Aires and Barcelona but the world number two said Nadal cannot be written off and hopes his fellow Spaniard will return next week in Rome. "Hopefully he will be in Rome and then at Roland Garros, where he will be a rival to beat," Alcaraz told reporters after beating Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the Madrid quarter-finals. Alcaraz, who turns 20 on Friday, said reports of Nadal's return were encouraging as he hoped to continue learning from the 36-year-old. "I say this as a player and as a tennis lover," Alcaraz said.

☆ No substitute for experience as Sabalenka rallies past Sherif
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sabalenka, who won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year, said the top players were able to take their opportunities by staying focused while younger players tended to overthink things. You're not going over-crazy about things. "As a top player, you understand ... you're calmer and understand things better. World number 59 Sherif will return to the top 50 next Monday after becoming the first Egyptian to reach the quarter-final of a WTA 1000 tournament. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kudermetova to remove Russian sponsor logo to play at Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Russia's Veronika Kudermetova said she will remove the logo of sanctioned Russian sponsor Tatneft from her kit so she can compete at Wimbledon this year. Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarusian players in 2022 over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine but said in March it would accept them as neutral athletes for this year's championships. Kudermetova's sponsor Tatneft, an oil and gas company, was sanctioned by the European Union last June. "I think for Wimbledon, it's not allowed to play with the badge from Russia, I know that," Kudermetova told reporters at the Madrid Open on Monday. "If I would like to play Wimbledon, I need to take the badge off," she added.

☆ Sabalenka moves into Madrid Open semis, Medvedev upset by Karatsev
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sabalenka was not at her best and made 37 unforced errors in the match, but the Australian Open champion bounced back midway through the second set to win 10 games in a row and take control. Sabalenka saved a set point at 5-1 but Sherif, playing in her first WTA 1000 quarter-final after beating three seeded players, served out to take the opening set. The Egyptian took the lead in the second set too before Sabalenka, who was a break down, finally found her groove to break four times and force a decider. She played unbelievable tennis, she's a claycourt specialist and I'm very happy with this win," Sabalenka said. Karatsev, ranked 121 in the world, has now beaten world number three Medvedev twice in his career with both wins coming on clay.

☆ Kasatkina thankful Russian players still able to compete
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 1 (Reuters) - Daria Kasatkina said she is thankful that Russian tennis players are still able to compete in international tournaments while other sports have banned them due to the war in Ukraine. Some sports have recently begun to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes following recommendations issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last month. Wimbledon banned players from the two countries last year but said in March it would accept them as neutral athletes. "I'm happy that we will be able to come back this year and to be honest we are (in) the luckiest sport as we are able to compete still." "The saddest part is the war is still going on, so of course the players from Ukraine have got a lot of reasons to not shake our hands," Kasatkina said.

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