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☆ Rublev gets long-awaited reward with Monte Carlo title
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 16, 2023 Russia's Andrey Rublev celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Denmark's Holger Rune REUTERS/Eric GaillardApril 16 (Reuters) - Andrey Rublev made the most of Holger Rune's nerves to win a see-saw Monte Carlo final 5-7 6-2 7-5 on Sunday, as the Russian's talent was finally rewarded with a Masters title. Rublev, 25, was 4-1 down in the decider but ground his way back into the contest to prevail on his second match point with an ace at a sun-drenched Monte Carlo Country Club. It was Rublev's third attempt in a Masters final after failing at the final hurdle here in Monte Carlo and in Cincinnati in 2021. "I don't know what to say, I'm just happy, I struggled so much to get this title," said Rublev. The Russian then broke to love and levelled the contest on serve as Rune seemed to lose his composure.

☆ Rublev downs Fritz to reach Monte Carlo Masters final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 15, 2023 Russia's Andrey Rublev celebrates after winning his semi-final match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. REUTERS/Eric GaillardApril 15 (Reuters) - Andrey Rublev moved into his third Masters final after fighting back from a set down in Monte Carlo to beat American Taylor Fritz 5-7 6-1 6-3 at the picturesque Court Rainier III on Saturday. The pair have met regularly in Masters tournaments and Fritz had the upper hand with a three-match win streak against Rublev, but it was the Russian who prevailed in an encounter that was suspended for nearly two hours in the final set due to rain. Very tough for me mentally to play against him," fifth seed Rublev told reporters. Rublev had the opportunity to serve for the set but Fritz converted his fourth consecutive break point to take the opener as his rattled Russian opponent requested a bathroom break before the second set. Although Fritz saved three match points on serve, Rublev served for the match in the next game to move into the final where he will meet either Jannik Sinner or Holger Rune.

☆ Tsitsipas dumped out of Monte Carlo Masters by Fritz
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 14, 2023 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas shake hands after their quarter final match REUTERS/Eric GaillardApril 14 (Reuters) - Champion Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters when he slumped to a 6-2 6-4 defeat against American Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals on Friday. Greek second seed Tsitsipas, who triumphed at the Monte Carlo Country Club in the last two editions, was never in the mix against Fritz, who reached the last four of a Masters event for the first time. My serve was not working very well today, and against opponents like Taylor, you have to serve well,” Tsitsipas said. "I tried to fight in the second set. Tsitsipas improved slightly in the second set, only for Fritz to break decisively for 4-3 with a winner.

☆ Wawrinka seals comeback victory in Monte Carlo, Murray crashes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONTE CARLO, April 10 (Reuters) - Former champion Stan Wawrinka rolled back the years to outlast Tallon Griekspoor 5-7 6-3 6-4 and reach the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Monday while Andy Murray's first appearance in the tournament since 2017 ended in a loss to Alex de Minaur. "It was really important to stay calm with myself," said 2014 champion Wawrinka, the oldest man in this year's field. Up next for the three-times Grand Slam champion is world number 10 Taylor Fritz. Murray gained direct entry into the prestigious tournament after several players including world number two Carlos Alcaraz and 11-times champion Rafa Nadal withdrew due to injuries. Francisco Cerundolo earlier stunned 11th seed Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-4 and will play Matteo Berrettini who downed Maxime Cressy 6-4 6-2 for his first win in the tournament.

☆ Alcaraz dumps Fritz to reach Miami semis, Medvedev advances
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Mar 30, 2023; Miami, Florida, US; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts after winning the first set against Taylor Fritz (USA) (not pictured) in a men's singles quarterfinal on day eleven of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. It was a key for me to break the serve at the beginning." "It helped me and I only played better and better, apart from one bad game on my serve, but it happens." Medvedev will next face fellow Russian Karen Khachanov, who advanced with a 6-3 6-2 win over Argentine Francisco Cerundolo. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ed Osmond and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 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.

☆ Alcaraz dominates Lajovic, Andreescu breezes past Kenin in Miami
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Mar 26, 2023; Miami, Florida, US; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) hits a forehand against Dusan Lajovic (SRB) (not pictured) on day seven of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsMarch 26 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0 7-6(5)to keep his title defense on track at the Miami Open on Sunday, as Canadian Bianca Andreescu cruised past American Sofia Kenin in straight sets. "Everything was under control," said Alcaraz, who greeted the Miami Heat's six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler courtside after the match. Former U.S. Open champion Andreescu harnessed her mighty serve to topple Kenin 6-4 6-4, sending over seven aces as the 2020 Australian Open winner failed to mount much of a defense after an early exit from Indian Wells. Later on Sunday, second-seeded Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka plays 31st seed Marie Bouzkova and last year's twice Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud, seeded third, plays the Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp.

"I was quite angry honestly because the court crew wouldn't let us warm up before the match," Ruud said. "I don't know if it was good or not but Netflix was there catching it all. Canada's Auger Aliassime feels the impact of the show most acutely in the U.S., where Netflix has its biggest market. "I thought the episode was really great but there were a couple things that were missed," the American said. "But it's been fun to be part of something Netflix has made together with (the Formula One) "Drive to Survive" and the golf series ("Full Swing").

☆ Defending champions Fritz, Swiatek headline Indian Wells main draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Facing a depleted men's field, Fritz could run into Denmark's Holger Rune in the quarter-final. Seventh-seed Rune also won his first masters title last year when he outlasted 22-times major winner Novak Djokovic in Paris. On the women's side, Swiatek looks as though she could have little trouble collecting a second straight title in the southern California desert after cruising to victory a year ago amid a blockbuster unbeaten streak. She has the chance to exact a little bit of revenge against potential fourth-round foe Barbora Krejcikova, after the 2021 French Open winner ended her 13-match winning streak in Dubai last month. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Netflix exec reveals sports ambitions and what's next for live sports as golf series 'Full Swing' debuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Formula 1 racing saw a boost in TV viewership and fandom since Netflix began streaming docuseries "Drive to Survive." Amid a boom in sports docs, the streamer has tennis series "Break Point" and golf-centered "Full Swing." Netflix unscripted TV head Brandon Riegg spoke to Insider about the streamer's ambitions in live sports. "I wouldn't be surprised," Netflix VP of unscripted and docuseries Brandon Riegg told Insider ahead of the "Break Point" premiere. Also in the works are series on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Six Nations rugby tournament.

☆ Wu becomes first Chinese man to win ATP title with Dallas triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Wu Yibing became the first man from China to win an ATP title on Sunday as he held off home hero John Isner 6-7(4) 7-6(3) 7-6(12) in a thrilling final to claim the Dallas Open. Before this week, no Chinese man had ever reached a tour-level final in the professional era or defeated a top 10 opponent. Wu, from the eastern city of Hangzhou, has done both, having upset American world number eight Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals in Dallas. Isner hammered 44 aces and held match point as Wu served to stay in the second set at 6-5. On Monday Wu became the second Chinese man to crack the world top 100 and is now projected to rise to 58.

The United States has in place a vaccine requirement for foreign air travellers that is not expected to be lifted before main draw action kicks off on March 9. Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas recently said that it would be a "disgrace" if Djokovic was not allowed to compete at Indian Wells and other tournaments in the United States this year. read moreHaas said Indian Wells organisers would do everything to help Djokovic's chances of playing. Even if Djokovic is unable to compete at Indian Wells there will still be plenty of talent on show. Spanish great Rafael Nadal, teenage world number two Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Taylor Fritz were among those named on Wednesday's entry list.

☆ Nick who? De Minaur steps out of Kyrgios shadow
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But De Minaur has filled the breach superbly at a tournament where Australians are now in short supply. "I'm very happy, I can't lie," De Minaur told the centre court crowd. Inflatable kangaroos bobbed in the Rod Laver Arena terraces and Mexican waves surged around the stadium in the third set as De Minaur put the foot down against Bonzi. "I wasn't sure what to expect, but to see a packed Rod Laver Arena was pretty special," he said. "I hope everyone that's on this court is going to go and support Alexei Popyrin," De Minaur said in a rallying cry to the Laver crowd.

☆ Netflix reality TV head on how doc series 'Break Point' can become a 'Drive to Survive' for pro tennis — and whether the streamer's sports doc success will lead it into live sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Formula 1 racing saw a boost in TV viewership and fandom since Netflix began streaming docuseries "Drive to Survive." Amid a boom in sports docs, the streamer is looking for another hit in tennis series "Break Point." Netflix unscripted TV head Brandon Riegg spoke to Insider about the streamer's ambitions in live sports. Netflix execs and tennis fans are hoping that "Break Point," the streamer's new docuseries centered on the 2022 Grand Slam season, can be the racket sport's "Drive to Survive." "I wouldn't be surprised," Netflix VP of unscripted and docuseries Brandon Riegg told Insider the day before "Break Point" premiered.

☆ 'Locked in' Tiafoe leading American charge at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

When asked about the mantra, Tiafoe told reporters: "It's the whole thing with the United Cup guys, just staying locked in. I made a joke about it with the guys (at) the United Cup asking them before the match, 'Are you locked?' "The locked thing, honestly, I've been kind of living by that for a little bit. I think you've seen the shift in myself in being just locked in everything you're doing, staying super present, staying in the moment, staying locked in. So then it became a thing where if Frances can lock, everyone has got to lock."

☆ Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek open Australian Open as big favorites
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

January 15 - Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek are massive favorites to win their respective draws ahead of the start of the Australian Open on Sunday night. Djokovic makes his return to Melbourne after being deported ahead of last year's tournament because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. He is seeking a 10th Australian Open title, which would also pull him into a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most major titles of all time with 22. Fritz, 25, is seeking his first major title and faces a potential semifinal match against Djokovic if he can get that far. Ons Jabeur was turned back in the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.

☆ Djokovic seeks normal service at Australian Open to match Nadal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Jan 12, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a backhand during a practice session on Rod Laver Arena with his coach Goran Ivanisevic at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY SportsMELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic resumes his Grand Slam title race with Rafa Nadal next week at the Australian Open, returning to what was his happiest hunting ground before the ugly controversy which led to his absence last year. While Roland Garros has been Nadal's domain for nearly two decades, Melbourne Park is almost as much for Djokovic, with the world number five capturing nine titles and holding an 82-6 record since 2007. Djokovic has also proven to be unbeatable in Australian Open semi-finals and finals with 9-0 records in both, making him the automatic favourite anytime he enjoys a deep run. The injury withdrawal of world number one and U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz robbed the year's first Grand Slam of a genuine title contender.

☆ Fritz delivers as U.S. win inaugural United Cup crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Tennis - United Cup - Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia - January 8, 2023 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. reacts during his match in the final against Italy's Matteo Berrettini REUTERS/Asanka Brendon RatnayakeSYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Taylor Fritz edged Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4) 7-6(6) as the United States justified their status as favourites to outclass Italy in a one-sided final at the inaugural United Cup mixed team tournament on Sunday. It's amazing for the team to win this event. We came in with really high hopes, or at least I did," Fritz said. SHOULDER INJURYA shoulder injury forced the 20-year-old Musetti to concede to Tiafoe after his first serve of the second set. The Americans top the table with most titles in the Davis Cup (32), Billie Jean King Cup (18) and Hopman Cup (6).

☆ United States blank Poland to reach United Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

I had no doubt that if I were to lose that the rest of the team would have come through," Fritz said. I think it's a huge advantage this time having the girls on our team because it just makes the whole team so much stronger. "I'm super excited going into the final and I think we've been the favourites all week." Italy lead their semi-final against Greece 2-0 after Martina Trevisan and Lorenzo Musetti won their matches on Friday. Matteo Berrettini can book their place in the final with a victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the evening session.

Dec 25 (Reuters) - Taylor Fritz said that if a men's player on the ATP Tour came out as gay, he would be welcomed by his peers, the top-ranked American told tennis publication Clay. While leading players past and present on the WTA Tour have come out as gay, no male player competing at the sport's top level has done the same so far. "I'm not sure if there are homosexual tennis players in the top 100," Fritz said in an interview published on Sunday. I think it is odd, because I feel like a player would be accepted. An ATP Tour survey of players earlier this year found that 75% had reported having heard other players use homophobic slurs, leading the tour to partner with You Can Play, an organization committed to furthering LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

☆ Djokovic sets up meeting with Ruud in ATP final championship
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I had to fight to survive," the 35-year-old said in remarks provided by the ATP. If Djokovic wins the final, he will claim the biggest prize in tennis history, cashing in $4,740,300 for lifting the tournament trophy undefeated. But he will have to tame Ruud first, who confidently swatted aside an error-prone Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4 in their semi-final affair. Ruud quickly extinguished that momentum, however, holding his arms out wide after clinching the match with a backhand winner down the line. Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; editing by Clare Fallon and Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nadal excited about Australian Open title defence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Victory means Nadal is likely to end the year ranked number two but after injury worries and hardly playing since the U.S. Open he was just happy to be firing on all cylinders again. He would then arrive early in Australia to prepare for his challenge for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title. "Not only because of the preparation for Australia, but because of preparation for myself for the rest of the season." "That's the best news possible, especially knowing that now the virus is more under control, around the world," Nadal said. Djokovic was deported before this year's Australian Open after failing to have a COVID-19 vaccination.

☆ Nadal signs off with win, avoids matching worst run
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

With world number four Ruud already assured of a semi-final berth the match was in reality a dead rubber. Even so the first set was full of intensity inside the Pala Alpitour where the afternoon crowd were firmly behind Nadal. The 23-year-old Ruud went down 0-40 on serve at 5-6 and world number two Nadal needed just one chance to seal the set, punching away a volley into an empty court. It was a similar story in the second set with nothing between the players until Nadal pounced again in the 12th game. Ruud saved one match point but Nadal then clubbed away a backhand winner to finish his season on a high.

☆ Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest year-end No. 1 in men’s tennis as Rafael Nadal’s slump continues at ATP Finals
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Carlos Alcaraz is set to become the youngest year-end No. 1 in the history of men’s tennis after Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the ATP Finals. 1 in men’s tennis when he won his first grand slam title in New York. “I don’t think I forgot how to play tennis, how to be strong enough mentally,” Nadal told reporters on Tuesday. In the second set, Auger-Aliassime broke Nadal at 1-1, then consolidated his advantage the following game with three aces in a row.

☆ Canada's Auger-Aliassime crushes Nadal at ATP Finals
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Nadal slumps to second loss in TurinAlcaraz on brink of being year-end No. 1TURIN, Italy, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Felix Auger-Aliassime left Rafa Nadal's title hopes at the ATP Finals in tatters as he beat the struggling Spaniard 6-3 6-4 in round-robin action at the Pala Alpitour Stadium on Tuesday. Nadal, the record 22-times Grand Slam champion, has now lost four successive ATP Tour matches for the first time since 2009. Serving at 3-4 Nadal led 40-0 but a couple of double faults and some baseline errors allowed Auger-Aliassime to break. If that happens Alcaraz will be confirmed as the youngest year-end number one since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973.

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