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☆ No slip-ups as Djokovic gets record quest under way
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Four-times defending champion and hot favourite Novak Djokovic began his record quest with a straight-sets Wimbledon victory over a willing but eventually outgunned Argentine Pedro Cachin on Centre Court on Monday. "For me, the opening match is a little bit tricky, I've not played any warm-up match and grass is a little different to clay," Djokovic said. "I've managed to adapt pretty well over the years and hopefully I manage to do it again." Djokovic accepted that the rain delay was frustrating for the crowd but said it was still slippery until after the roof had been reopened. The action resumed after 70 minutes – with the roof open again – and Djokovic hit the ground running with an immediate break.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Argentine Pedro Cachin, Serbian Djokovic, Margaret Court, Roger Federer's, Federer, Bjorn Borg's, Djokovic, Andy Murray, I've, Cachin, –, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Argentine

☆ Wimbledon 2023: The favorites to win the championships, the main challengers and how to watch
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Despite struggling for form in the lead up to the French Open, Djokovic found his A-game when it mattered most in Paris and looked largely unstoppable. Lisi Niesner/ReutersRybakina became the first player from Kazakhstan to win a grand slam title after beating Ons Jabeur in three sets in last year’s Wimbledon final, catapulting her to stardom overnight. Belarussian Sabalenka and Poland’s Iga Świątek are joint favorites to win the title alongside Rybakina, according to bookmakers. Sabalenka has three titles to her name this year, including that maiden grand slam in Australia, and has matched her career-high of No. Iga Swiatek is a four-time grand slam champion but is yet to win Wimbledon.

Persons: Novak, Roger Federer’s, –, Björn Borg –, Djokovic, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Garros, Carlos Alcaraz, Susan Mullane, Reuters Alcaraz, Alcaraz, – Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe, Julian Finney, Francis Tiafoe, Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, Elena Rybakina, Donna Vekić, hadn’t, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, Linda Noskova, Lisi Niesner, Reuters Rybakina, Belarussian, Iga, Rybakina, Sabalenka, Aryna Sabalenka, agains Karolina Muchova, Veronika Kudermetova, Świątek, Tatjana Mariana, hasn’t, Joaquim Ferreira, Coco Gauff, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Madison Keys Organizations: CNN — Tennis, All England Club, Wimbledon, Roland, Queen's, USA, Sports, Reuters, Queen’s, Getty, Stuttgart, Eastbourne International, Czech, Stade Roland, Bad, Junior Wimbledon, Bernarda Pera, BBC, ESPN, Tennis Channel Locations: London, Paris, Germany, Wimbledon, Kazakhstan, Australia, United Kingdom

☆ Alcaraz sets up Queen's final against De Minaur
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In his first ATP Tour final on grass, Alcaraz will face Australian Alex de Minaur who earlier beat Danish second seed Holger Rune 6-3 7-6(2). Should Alcaraz win Sunday's final he would reclaim the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic and would be seeded one at Wimbledon which begins on July 3. He forged an early break ahead in the second set and never looked in danger from that point on. Very happy to make my first final on grass and even more so at Queen's. He is the first Australian to reach the final at the Queen's pre-Wimbledon event since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.

Persons: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Sebastian Korda, Peter Cziborra LONDON, Carlos Alcaraz, Korda, Alex de Minaur, Holger Rune, Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz, I've, Rafa Nadal, Rune, Minaur, Andy Murray, Lleyton Hewitt, De, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris, Clare Fallon Organizations: Queen's, U.S, Wimbledon, ATP, Eastbourne, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Danish, Wimbledon

☆ Alcaraz sails into Queen's Club quarters, Fritz knocked out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 22 (Reuters) - Top seed Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the quarter-finals of the Queen's Club Championships after he beat Jiri Lehecka 6-2 6-3 on Thursday but third seed Taylor Fritz was knocked out by Adrian Mannarino. I'm feeling really comfortable here on grass, getting experience and hours on grass," world number two Alcaraz said. Alcaraz carried that momentum into the second set as Lehecka struggled to read his low groundstrokes while the Spaniard also saved three break points to go 4-1 up. It was a second victory over a top-10 player for Mannarino in as many weeks having beaten Daniil Medvedev in 's-Hertogenbosch. Mannarino will face Australia's Alex de Minaur who swept Diego Schwartzman aside with an emphatic 6-2 6-2 victory, breaking the Argentine six times and wrapping up the contest in just 65 minutes.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Jiri Lehecka, Taylor Fritz, Adrian Mannarino, Alcaraz, I'm, Lehecka, Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, Diego Schwartzman, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Queen's, Wimbledon, Frenchman, Argentine, Thomson Locations: Czech, American, Bengaluru

☆ Novak Djokovic wins record-breaking 23rd grand slam title, defeating Casper Ruud in French Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in the French Open final. Clive Mason/Getty ImagesIt is not just the grand slam records that he now holds. Victory at this year’s French Open moves him back to his familiar spot of world No.1. He also became the oldest ever French Open champion. After coming so close to landing a blow during the long opening set, Ruud seemed deflated when he walked back onto court and lost the opening three games.

Persons: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Ruud, Tom Brady, Kylian, Zlatan Ibrahimović, – Djokovic, ” Nadal, ”, Clive Mason, Steffi Graff, – Federer, Roland Garros, Victory, Emmanuel Dunand, groundstrokes Organizations: CNN, Covid, Wimbledon, Nadal, Djokovic, US, Sunday, Getty Locations: Australia, AFP

☆ Jabeur's Grand Slam dream in tatters after loss to Haddad Maia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 7 (Reuters) - Seventh seed Ons Jabeur's hopes of becoming the first African woman to win a Grand Slam singles title lay in ruins on Wednesday after her 3-6 7-6(5) 6-1 defeat by Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia in the French Open quarter-finals. Jabeur was bidding to reach her third Grand Slam semi-final in less than a year but her plans were scuppered by the 14th-seeded left-hander who battled back bravely to book her own maiden last-four appearance in a major. "In the middle of the second set my coach showed me the clock," Haddad Maia said. The Tunisian, a finalist at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year, bagged a couple of quick breaks to move into the driving seat as Haddad Maia struggled to deal with her opponent's flat groundstrokes. The Brazilian, the first woman from her country to reach the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam for 55 years, decided to try to run Jabeur around.

Persons: Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jabeur, Maria Bueno, Roland Garros, Haddad Maia, Gustavo Kuerten, Haddad Maia's, Karolos Grohmann, Christian Radnedge, Ed Osmond Organizations: Wimbledon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Tunisian

☆ Muchova pummels Pavlyuchenkova to book French Open semi-final spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I don't know what to say, it's been an incredible two weeks and I'm glad I'm still in the competition," Muchova said. "I will for sure watch the match (between Sabalenka and Svitolina), I'm not sure if I will watch it live but I'm sure it will be another great match in two days." Muchova appeared more comfortable in the second set and built a commanding 5-1 lead before Pavlyuchenkova showed some signs of resistance. But there was no comeback on the cards as Muchova closed out the match on serve, celebrating the victory when Pavlyuchenkova fired a shot wide. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Karolina Muchova, Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova REUTERS, Kai Pfaffenbach PARIS, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Elina Svitolina, it's, I'm, Muchova, Maria Sakkari, Philippe Chatrier, Pavlyuchenkova, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Czech, Belarus, Ukrainian, Sabalenka

☆ Mertens dashes third seed Pegula's hopes of maiden Slam with 6-1 6-3 win
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 29-year-old Pegula had no answer to Mertens' versatile game. Former doubles world number one Mertens used her complete arsenal of shots, including sliced forehands, drop shots, lobs and deep groundstrokes to move her opponent around and pin her back. Pegula, who had advanced into the third round after her ailing Italian opponent Camila Giorgi retired after the first set, broke Mertens early in the second but the Belgian responded in the next game. Pegula earned another rare break point at 3-2 but sunk a three consecutive backhands into the net. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Jessica Pegula, Jessica Pegula's, Belgian Elise Mertens, Pegula, Mertens, Camila Giorgi, Karolos Grohmann, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Belgian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, PARIS, Italian, Belgian

☆ Medvedev says 'unbelievable' Rome triumph among his best wins
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Heading into Rome, Medvedev had won 18 of his 19 titles - including the 2021 U.S. Open - on hardcourts, with his Mallorca Open victory on grass the same year the only exception. The 27-year-old, who previously made no secret of his dislike for clay, was a player transformed at the Italian Open and ended the tournament with a 7-5 7-5 win over rising Dane Holger Rune. Asked where his victory ranked among his many successes, Medvedev told reporters: "In a way, number one, just because it's the first one on clay and it's unbelievable. Medvedev said using new strings this year had helped his clay game as they were softer and aided his deep groundstrokes. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rybakina targets deep run at Roland Garros after Rome triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Moscow-born 23-year-old bagged her second title of 2023 after her Indian Wells triumph and fifth overall when Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina retired while trailing 6-4 1-0. "I think with my game, I can play good on all the surfaces," said Rybakina, who also reached the Australian Open and Miami finals this season. Rybakina reached the third round at Roland Garros last year and hoped playing in Paris would be easier this time. Kalinina, whose hopes of a first title were dashed due to a leg injury, said Rybakina had the qualities to succeed on clay. She's making winners like no one on tour... anyone can win in Paris, but she has good chances," Kalinina said.

☆ Rybakina, Swiatek set to renew rivalry in Rome quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Mar 17, 2023; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) and Elena Rybakina (KAZ) changes sides in the semi final match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. But the Kazakh said French Open champion Swiatek would be a completely different prospect in the Rome quarter-final. Rybakina said she was not dwelling too much on the pair's budding rivalry. Poland's Swiatek, who won her first match with Rybakina in Ostrava two years ago, said she would treat their latest meeting like any other match. "For now I don't have any mindset," defending Rome champion Swiatek said.

☆ Fábián Marozsán: World No. 135 provides 'shock of the season' by upsetting Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at Rome Masters
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

135 Fábián Marozsán provided what the ATP Tour called the “shock of the season” by upsetting Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at the Rome Masters on Monday. “I’m very happy, I couldn’t imagine this one,” Marozsán said after his remarkable victory. Marozsán and Alcaraz embrace after their match. The crowd, the weather, the court, so I’m just very happy I’m doing my job. Alcaraz is one of the favorites to win the French Open which begins later this month after an excellent season so far.

☆ Medvedev to focus on more spin, improved sliding on clay
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - World number three Daniil Medvedev said he wants to focus on playing more spin and sharpen his slide to develop his game on clay as he gears up for Italian Open this week. Asked about what he has to do in order to play good tennis on clay, Medvedev told reporters on Tuesday: "Play definitely some more spin. Especially the sliding, I think the sliding was always a problem. Despite not being the biggest fan of clay, Medvedev reached the Monte Carlo semi-finals and Barcelona final in 2019. The Italian Open runs until May 21, with the French Open Grand Slam beginning in Paris a week later.

☆ 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.

[1/5] Apr 2, 2023; Miami, Florida, US; Daniil Medvedev celebrates with the Butch Buchholz championship trophy after his match against Jannik Sinner (ITA) (not pictured) in the men's singles final on day fourteen of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsApril 2 (Reuters) - Daniil Medvedev beat Italy's Jannik Sinner 7-5 6-3 to win the Miami Open on Sunday for his fourth title of the year and 19th overall. Medvedev broke Sinner for 3-1 in the second set and cruised from there, his powerful groundstrokes and impenetrable defense carrying him to the finish. With the win Medvedev earned his fifth Masters 1000 title and improved to 6-0 lifetime against Sinner. Sinner, who also made the Miami final in 2021, is still searching for his first Masters 1000 title.

☆ Alcaraz, Rybakina stay on course for 'Sunshine Double' in Miami
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsMarch 28 (Reuters) - Indian Wells champions Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina stayed on course to complete the 'Sunshine Double' with straight sets wins at the Miami Open on Tuesday. Paul fell behind an early break again in the second set on a missed forehand for 2-1. Alcaraz is now three wins away from the 'Sunshine Double,' something he needs to retain his world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic. The 10th-seeded Kazakh deployed her clean groundstrokes and feasted on the Italian's soft second serve in the tight first set. "I would say that, of course, maybe I'm moving not as good as I was moving in Indian Wells but overall I think that I'm trying to keep that level from Indian Wells," she told reporters after reaching the semi-finals.

☆ Djokovic battles Tsitsipas in high stakes Australian Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Never beaten at Melbourne Park after reaching the semis, fourth seed Djokovic is rated an unbackable favourite to triumph again under the floodlights at Rod Laver Arena. It offers a rematch of the dramatic 2021 French Open final, in which Djokovic came back from two sets down to snatch the title and leave Greek Tsitsipas heartbroken. "I think he (Tsitsipas) has never played a (Grand Slam) finals, am I wrong?" At 35, Djokovic needs one major title to draw level with 36-year-old Nadal's 22 in the all-time Grand Slam race. He buried his semi-final hoodoo at Melbourne Park against Russian bruiser Karen Khachanov in four sets on Friday after falling three times previously at the hurdle.

☆ Tsitsipas subdues Lehecka to reach Australian Open semi-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the Australian Open semi-finals for the fourth time as the Greek saw off rising Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3 7-6(2) 6-4 on Tuesday. The third seed dominated the opening set after breaking a nervy Lehecka early on but was pushed hard after that against the 21-year-old who has enjoyed a breakout tournament. Tsitsipas was forced to save three successive break points at 3-3 in the third set as Lehecka threatened to extend the Rod Laver Arena clash. Tsitsipas will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the semi-final when he will again enjoy strong support from the many Greek-origin fans in Melbourne. Lehecka, who enjoyed impressive wins against seeded players Borna Coric, Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger-Aliassime during his run, will rue not taking any of eight break points.

☆ Ruthless Rybakina rolls into Australian Open semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina became the first player into the Australian Open semi-finals after outmuscling Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 in a one-sided contest on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday. Rybakina, who ousted top seed Iga Swiatek in the fourth round, broke straight back, however, and saved four break points with some brilliant tennis in the next game to consolidate. "I'm super happy to be in the semi-finals for the first time," said Rybakina. Ostapenko was clearly second best but might take solace at her best Grand Slam showing since she reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018, a year after she won the Roland Garros title. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Swiatek into third round indoors as rain stops play outside
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Iga Swiatek during her second round match against Camila Osorio on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. World number one Swiatek overcame Camila Osorio 6-2 6-3 under the roof on Rod Laver Arena and Italian Sinner waltzed past Tomas Etcheverry 6-3 6-2 6-2 on the similarly protected John Cain Arena. "It was really intense physically and Camila was running to every ball, she didn't give up," said Swiatek. "For sure, the level today was good, I served well, I returned good as well as I think he is a very good server so I'm very happy to be in the next round," Sinner said. "I'm very happy to play on this court with the roof, hopefully it won't rain in the next days."

Oct 16 (Reuters) - World number one Iga Swiatek collected her eighth title of the year with a 6-3 3-6 6-0 win over Croatia's Donna Vekic in the San Diego Open final on Sunday. "I wanted to go all in," Swiatek said of her approach going into the deciding set of the new WTA 500 event. Another backhand error handed Swiatek the first set, prompting Vekic to throw her racket to the court in frustration. However, Vekic refused to go down without a fight and leveled the match on the strength of her powerful serve and groundstrokes. Swiatek, who rose to world number one in April following Ash Barty's retirement, is now 64-8 on the season.

☆ Djokovic dazzles on return to action at Laver Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With Roger Federer watching on from courtside at a sold out O2 Arena, the day after his emotional farewell match alongside Rafa Nadal, Djokovic returned to action in spellbinding fashion. U.S. Open semi-finalist Tiafoe was helpless to stop the Djokovic onslaught as the Serb won 6-1 6-3 to put Bjorn Borg's Team Europe into a 6-4 lead overall. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterFormer world number one Djokovic was due back on court later to partner Italian Matteo Berrettini in a doubles against Team World pairing Jack Sock and Alex De Minaur. At one point Federer suggested world number eight should serve and volley, which Norrie promptly did but lost the point as Fritz sent a lob over his head. "If Roger Federer is telling you to do something, there is no chance I'm not going to do it, especially out there playing for Team Europe," Norrie said later.

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