Djokovic joins Nadal in missing Madrid Masters as French Open looms

Madrid (Spain) (AFP) – World number one Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Madrid Masters on Saturday, joining Rafael Nadal in missing the tournament with the French Open just five weeks away. Both men are vying for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, with the tournament beginning on May 28. Missing man: Novak …

Alcaraz keeps title defence on track in Barcelona

Barcelona (AFP) – Carlos Alcaraz stayed on course to defend his Barcelona Open title Friday as he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to move into the semi-finals. Alcaraz's build-up to the French Open next month has been slowed by hand and back problems which forced him to pull out of Monte Carlo, and the …

Rublev rallies past Rune for first Masters title in Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo (Principality of Monaco) (AFP) – Russia's Andrey Rublev fought back against Denmark's Holger Rune to win his first Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo on Sunday. The fifth seed rallied from 4-1 down in the deciding set to defeat sixth-seeded teenager Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 after one hour 34 minutes on the red clay …

USA sweep into BJK Cup Finals with France, Czech Republic

Paris (AFP) – Jessica Pegula sealed victory for the United States over Austria on Saturday as the record 18-time champions secured their place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. World number three Pegula made quick work of Julia Grabher, winning 6-1, 6-3, to give the heavily favoured Americans an unassailable 3-0 lead over Austria in …

Alcaraz to face Sinner in Indian Wells semi-finals

Indian Wells (United States) (AFP) – Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz edged Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday to book a semi-final meeting with Jannik Sinner at the WTA and ATP Masters 1000 at Indian Wells. Alcaraz posted his first win over the 10th-ranked Canadian in four career meetings to keep his bid to regain the world number …

Wimbledon champion Rybakina reaches Indian Wells 4th rd

Indian Wells (United States) (AFP) – Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina punched her ticket to the fourth round at Indian Wells on Monday with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over former champion Paula Badosa. Rybakina, ranked 10th in the world after a runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open in January, had lost her last …

Djokovic eyes elusive gold at Paris Olympics

Dubai (AFP) – Novak Djokovic is hoping the Paris 2024 Games will be his most successful Olympics to date, as he continues to chase the gold medal that has so far eluded him. After notching an impressive straight-sets victory over Dutch world number 39 Tallon Griekspoor on Wednesday to reach his 13th Dubai quarter-final in as …

Top seed Fritz to face Kecmanovic in ATP Delray Beach final

Miami (AFP) – World number seven Taylor Fritz took the first five games and six of the last eight to defeat Mackenzie McDonald on Saturday and reach the ATP Delray Beach Open final. US top seed Fritz beat his 56th-ranked compatriot 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in 95 minutes to book a chance at his fifth career ATP …

Alcaraz into Argentina Open semi-finals

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Top seed Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off damp, cold conditions to sweep into the semi-finals of the Argentina Open with a straight sets victory over Serbia's Dusan Lajovic on Friday. The Spanish world number two, who is making his return to tennis at this week's event in Buenos Aires after a four-month injury …

Wu shocks Fritz to become first Chinese ATP finalist of Open Era in Dallas

Los Angeles (AFP) – Wu Yibing stunned top-seeded Taylor Fritz 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-4 at the Dallas Open on Saturday to become the first Chinese man to reach an ATP final in the Open Era. The 23-year-old followed up victories over third-seeded Denis Shapovalov and eighth-seeded Adrian Mannarino, and was already just the second Chinese man …

‘It won’t be easy’: Alcaraz plays catch-up after four months out

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Carlos Alcaraz returns to action in Buenos Aires after four months on the sidelines admitting "it won't be easy" playing catch-up with rivals who already have six weeks under their belts in 2023. The 19-year-old Spanish sensation captured a maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open last year before going onto …

Struggling Zverev crushed by Fritz at United Cup

Sydney (AFP) – Struggling former world number two Alexander Zverev crashed to a second straight defeat of the season Monday at the United Cup, dismissed by American Taylor Fritz in just 64 minutes. The German two-time ATP Finals champion slumped 6-1, 6-4 to the world number nine in Sydney as he continued his return from serious …

Serena bows out with US Open defeat

New York (AFP) – Serena Williams' dreams of a fairytale finish to her glittering career were left in ruins on Friday as the tennis icon was sent crashing out of the US Open by Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic. The 40-year-old Williams -- who last month signalled she planned to retire after the Open -- was beaten 7-5, …

Osaka crashes out in Cincinnati opener

Cincinnati (AFP) – Naomi Osaka's summer form slump deepened on Tuesday as the four-time Grand Slam winner lost 6-4, 7-5 to Zhang Shuai at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Masters. The first-round defeat on pre-US Open hardcourt was the second in as many weeks for Japan's former world number one, now ranked 39th. Former world number one Naomi …

Carreno Busta halts Hurkacz finals win streak with Montreal triumph

Montreal (AFP) – Pablo Carreno Busta seized his first ATP Masters title Sunday, spoiling Hubert Hurkacz's perfect record in ATP finals with a Montreal Masters triumph. The 23rd-ranked Spaniard beat eighth-seeded Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to become the first unseeded winner in Canada in two decades. Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta leaps for joy after beating Poland's …