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☆ Can These Russians Become Tennis’s Next Great Sister Act?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First came an early rise to get Mirra, a 16-year-old Russian, ready for her 11 a.m. French Open debut against Alison Riske-Amritraj of the United States. Then came a long wait for Mirra’s older sister, 18-year-old Erika, who was last up on Court No. So it goes for tennis’s newest sister act. Sister acts are not exactly new in women’s tennis, which was headlined for more than two decades by the American duo of Serena and Venus Williams. Venus Williams, 42, still has not retired, though another major title seems unlikely.

Persons: Alison Riske, Mirra, “, ”, Erika, Emma Navarro, Navarro, Roland Garros, Serena, Venus Williams Locations: United States, Paris

"Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence," 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic wrote on a camera lens in Serbian. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that 52 Serbs were injured on Monday, three of them seriously, while Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani accused his Serbian counterpart of destabilising Kosovo. There are many reasons why I wrote that on the camera," RFI radio quoted the 36-year-old Djokovic as saying to Serbian media. The French tennis federation (FFT), which organises the event, told Reuters that there were "no official Grand Slam rules on what players can or cannot say.

☆ Djokovic canters into French Open round two as Stephens lays down marker
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The twice Roland Garros champion breezed through the first two sets before encountering resistance from the 24-year-old American whose lack of experience then showed in the tiebreak on the world's biggest clay court. Djokovic ended the contest with a sizzling service return on his first match point and will face Hungarian journeyman Marton Fucsovics for a place in the third round. "It's always a pleasure to come back here, one of the best tournaments in the world," said Djokovic, who made his Roland Garros debut in 2005. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova celebrated her return to Roland Garros with a dominant win over Czech Linda Fruhvirtova after fearing for her career a year ago due to a knee problem. Sloane Stephens, runner-up at Roland Garros in 2018, dismantled former world number one Karolina Pliskova 6-0 6-4.

☆ Novak Djokovic gets French Open campaign off to winning start; matches Roger Federer record
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Novak Djokovic got his French Open campaign off to a winning start with a dominant victory over American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round. The victory continues his undefeated record in first round French Open matches, moving to 19-0 for his career. If Djokovic is able to claim a third French Open title, he would return to the top of the men’s world rankings. He also now has 86 wins at the grand slam, second only to Nadal’s 112. The 22-time grand slam champion will now face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the second round.

☆ Stephens puts down marker on 'favourite court in the world'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Sloane Stephens of the U.S. celebrates winning her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoynePARIS, May 29 (Reuters) - Sloane Stephens relished every moment she spent on her favourite court in the world as the she cruised to a 6-0 6-4 first-round victory over former world number one Karolina Pliskova on Monday to put down an early marker at the French Open. "This is my favourite court in the world and I am super happy to be back," said Stephens, currently ranked 30th. Stephens came into the tournament in improving form on clay after winning her first WTA 125 event and reaching the semi-finals on clay in Rabat last week. "To start like that on your favourite court and favourite surface is great. I wanted to get matches under my belt this year (before the tournament) and I was feeling confident," Stephens said.

☆ Alcaraz blasts past qualifier Cobolli in French Open first round
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his first round match against Italy's Flavio Cobolli REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachPARIS, May 29 (Reuters) - World number one Carlos Alcaraz issued an early warning to his rivals as the Spaniard began his quest for a second Grand Slam title by easing past Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli 6-0 6-2 7-5 in the French Open first round on Monday. Up next for Alcaraz is Japan's Taro Daniel who eased past Australian Christopher O'Connell 6-0 6-2 6-4. "I know that Taro is having a great year," Alcaraz said of his opponent, who stunned last year's Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud en route to the quarter-finals in Mexico earlier this season. He has won great matches against great players. I know the level of Taro, so it's going to be a really tough second round, really tough match."

☆ Women’s Tennis Suddenly Has a Big(ish) Three
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And yet something has been happening with this group lately in the rivalry-starved women’s game — something that could all come together in a glorious rumble during the next two weeks at the French Open. The first of the three to play at Roland Garros, Sabalenka, started her tournament with a win over Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in a match tinged with wartime bitterness. Ever since Ashleigh Barty of Australia retired while atop the rankings in March 2022 at age 25, Swiatek, Rybakina and Sabalenka have been hogging nearly all of the most prestigious trophies. Swiatek has been among the most outspoken critics of Russia’s invasion, helping to raise millions of dollars to support relief efforts in Ukraine. Rybakina and Sabalenka hail from the two countries perpetrating the war, as Kostyuk reminded everyone Sunday.

☆ Bryan brothers: How 'twin energy' fueled tennis' greatest ever double act
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Bob (left) and Mike Bryan won their first grand slam title together at the 2003 French Open. “At the time, you think it’s a one-shot deal and you never know if you’ll get there again,” says Mike, reflecting on the 2003 French Open campaign. Bob (left) and Mike Bryan hold their Wimbledon doubles trophies in 2011. The Jensen brothers, coincidentally, won their only grand slam title at the 1993 French Open, 10 years before the Bryans captured their first. Bob plays keyboard, Mike guitar and drums; together, they have performed at bars, clubs and even tennis tournaments as part of the Bryan Brothers Band.

☆ French Open crowd boos as Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Belarusian opponent Aryna Sabalenka following their opening round match at the French Open, leading to boos from some of the crowd. There were then boos from the crowd at Roland Garros and again as Kostyuk made her way off the court. “Why do we have to go loud [public] and say things, that’s like saying ‘one plus one is two,’ you know, of course we don’t support war. Russian and Belarusian players are currently still competing on the tours as neutral athletes without their flag or country displayed. After winning the ATX Open in Texas in March, Kostyuk also refused to shake hands with beaten Russian opponent Varvara Gracheva.

☆ Ruud banking on French Open experience for deep run after 'up and down' season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) - World number four Casper Ruud admitted his preparation going into the French Open has not been ideal but is counting on his experience from his final run last year and the ability to endure five setters to go deep at Roland Garros. Ruud has played in six claycourt tournaments in the build-up to the French Open and won the title in Estoril, but he struggled in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid before a semi-final run in Rome and a quarter-final exit in Geneva. "It's been going up and down, a little bit similar to what happened last year," Ruud told reporters. I'm hoping for a good run now in these two weeks." He deserves to be here in the main draw and I'm going to treat him like any other opponent, a tough one."

Djokovic won a record-extending 10th Australian Open in January - despite coming into the tournament with a hamstring issue - to equal Nadal's tally of 22 Grand Slams. An elbow injury forced Djokovic to pull out of the Madrid Open this month and he needed a painkiller during his quarter-final loss in Rome, but the 36-year-old is now back in shape. Djokovic, who starts against Aleksandar Kovacevic, said world number one Carlos Alcaraz was the "biggest favourite". Alcaraz and Djokovic are in the same side of the draw and could potentially meet in the semi-finals. Alcaraz won three titles on clay this year before his shock third-round exit from the Italian Open, but the Spaniard will be expected to resume normal service in his French Open first-round match against Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli on Monday.

☆ A Handshake Snub Gets a Chilly Reception at the French Open on Day 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The impact of the war in Ukraine on tennis has been constant and never-ending. The moves have left players from Ukraine unsatisfied and players from Russia and Belarus feeling like pariahs. The tension on Sunday was in stark contrast to the otherwise celebratory feel of the first day of the French Open. But as Nadal has said, tennis moves fast and waits for no one. On Monday, Elina Svitolina, among the most successful players Ukraine has produced, will make her Grand Slam return from maternity leave, against Martina Trevisan of Italy.

☆ Djokovic owes growth of his career to 'biggest rival' Nadal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Both players are tied on a record 22 Grand Slam titles but Djokovic can inch ahead at Roland Garros where he had managed to beat Nadal only twice in 10 meetings. I don't like seeing him in the draw of Roland Garros," Djokovic told reporters with a laugh. "I have had not so much success against him in our head-to-head record in Roland Garros. "Definitely a great motivational factor for me to keep playing and keep competing and keep pushing each other - who's going achieve more, who's going to do better." "It made me wonder, it made me think about my career and how long I'm going to play," Djokovic said.

She added the Ukrainian did not deserve to leave the main showcourt in the manner she did, but Kostyuk urged Sabalenka to take a stronger, more personal stand against the war. "She (Sabalenka) never says that she personally doesn't support this war, and I feel like journalists should change the questions you ask these athletes because the war is already there," Kostyuk said. Fifth seed Tsitsipas was made to work hard by Vesely, who is on the comeback trail following a lengthy injury absence, before winning 7-5 6-3 4-6 7-6(7). With temperatures at 22 degrees and expected to reach 26 in the afternoon, the water vending stands were busy. Serbian Djokovic is bidding for his third French Open title.

☆ Sabalenka powers into French second round in win marred by jeers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sabalenka, who appeared to sarcastically bow to the crowd following the win, said she initially thought the boos were aimed at her. "It was a very tough match, I mean tough emotionally. I'm sorry guys, I didn't get it at first, I thought this booing was against me so I was a little surprised," she said. The Belarusian raised her level again late in the match to save two breakpoints and close out the victory in 71 minutes. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris, editing by Ed Osmond and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Belarus is being used as a key staging ground for Russia's war in Ukraine, which Moscow terms a "special operation". When asked if she was ready to be number one, she smiled and said: "Yes, I think so. Unlike the other three, Tsitsipas has yet to win a Grand Slam and he begins his campaign against Czech Republic's Jiri Vesely. "It's all about getting into the mindset of the Roland Garros final that I had here (in 2021)," he said. I just need to get a few good first matches to keep believing that I actually can do something this year."

☆ Daniil Medvedev credits new strings for his success in 2023 after winning first clay title at the Italian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Daniil Medvedev revealed one reason behind his incredible form this year after winning the Italian Open: new racket strings. Now it’s unbelievable.”Medvedev lifts the Italian Open trophy after defeating Rune. Having won most of his titles – including his US Open triumph in 2021 – on hard courts, victory on clay at the Italian Open is a breakthrough moment for the 27-year-old Medvedev. He had to defeat the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev during his Italian Open campaign and has climbed five places in the men’s rankings this year. Medvedev (left) and Rune shake hands after the Italian Open final.

☆ 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.

☆ Murray pulls out of French Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 21 (Reuters) - Former world number one Andy Murray has withdrawn from the French Open. Three-times Grand Slam champion Murray won the second-tier Aix-en-Provence Challenger Tour crown earlier this month, but suffered early exits in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Bordeaux. The Scot, who reached the final of the French Open in 2016, has opted to skip tournaments during the claycourt season in the past to focus on the grasscourt swing heading into Wimbledon. The French Open runs from May 28 to June 11. Holder Rafa Nadal, who has won the French Open a record 14 times, also pulled out of the tournament after failing to regain full fitness from a hip injury.

☆ Medvedev outclasses Rune in Rome to capture first title on clay
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Medvedev's fifth title of a stellar season and 20th overall leaves him as one of the top contenders for Roland Garros which begins on May 28. I didn't have any big tantrums and was like 'OK, let's continue' and here I felt amazing in practice. "But then you need to play the toughest opponents in the world and try to make it. I'm really happy that I managed to do it and prove to myself and everybody that I'm capable." Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rybakina wins Rome title after ailing Kalinina retires
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina got off to an edgy start in the rain-delayed contest by dropping her opening service game before the Wimbledon champion levelled at 3-3 and then wrapped up the opening set with a late break. Kalinina, playing in the second singles final of her career, called the trainer on to the court after losing the opening game of the second set before quitting the match in tears. Victory ensured Australian Open runner-up Rybakina won her second title of the year following her Indian Wells triumph and fifth overall. The 23-year-old, who won three of her matches in Rome after her opponents retired, will break into the top five on Monday. She also reached the final in Miami and heads to Roland Garros as a top contender for the year's second major.

☆ Swiatek 'plays it safe' with Rome retirement ahead of French Open defence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Top seed and two-time defending champion in Rome, Swiatek was tied 2-2 with Elena Rybakina in the deciding set on Wednesday when she decided she could not continue. "To be ready for Roland Garros I need to recover right now. Swiatek won the Stuttgart Open in April when she beat world number two Aryna Sabalenka. The French Open runs from May 28 to June 11. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Djokovic says new generation has arrived after Rome quarter-final exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, May 18 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic said the long awaited "shift of generations" has finally come to men's tennis after the world number one lost to 20-year-old Dane Holger Rune in the Italian Open quarter-finals. Djokovic, who has now lost two in a row to Rune, said the next generation of players led by world number two Carlos Alcaraz is like a breath of fresh air for the sport. "A new generation is here already," Djokovic told reporters. When asked if Roland Garros would be the most open tournament in years, Djokovic smiled and said: "It depends if Nadal plays or not. "But next to him Alcaraz, Rune - these guys are right there in contention, some of the biggest favourites to win the title."

☆ Rafael Nadal Withdraws From the French Open, Wants to Play One More Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Matthew Futterman | Christopher Clarey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rafael Nadal, the 14-time French Open men’s singles champion, will not compete in this year’s edition of the event that has defined his career because of an injury that has sidelined him for months. Nadal, who has competed in Paris every year since 2005 and has an astonishing record of 112-3 at Roland Garros, made the announcement in a news conference Thursday at his tennis academy on the Spanish island of Majorca. Nadal said he would further extend his break from the game to try to get healthy and then attempt to play next season, which he said “probably is going to be my last year in the professional tour.”“That’s my idea,” he said. “Even that, I can’t say that 100 percent it’s going to be like this because you never know what is going to happen, but my idea and motivation is to try to enjoy and to try to say goodbye to all the tournaments that have been important to me in my tennis career.”

☆ 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."

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