The Tennis Thread

[hassan918]

Garbine Muguruza: Former Wimbledon champion confirms retirement from tennis​

Former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza has confirmed her retirement from tennis.

The Spanish former world number one won Wimbledon in 2017, as well as the French Open the previous year.

The 30-year-old announced her retirement in Madrid before the Laureus World Sports Awards.

"The time has come to say goodbye. It's been a long and successful career, but I feel the time is right to retire," said Muguruza.

Venezuela-born Muguruza has not played since January 2023, and last March said she was taking an extended break from tennis.

She turned professional in 2012 and won her first Grand Slam in 2016, defeating Serena Williams in the final of the French Open.

The following year she was victorious at Wimbledon, beating Venus Williams in the final and reaching number one in the world rankings.

"If 25 years ago when I started hitting my first tennis balls someone had told me that I would become a professional tennis player, that I would fulfil my dream of winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon, that I would become number one in the world and win the WTA Finals, I would have thought this person was crazy," said Muguruza.

"Tennis has given me a lot in this first part of my life. It has been a fantastic journey in which I have experienced unique situations. I have travelled all over the world and experienced many different cultures."

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Barcelona Open: Casper Ruud earns straight sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in final

Casper Ruud won his first title of 2024 as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to win the Barcelona Open.

Norwegian third seed Ruud defeated the Greek fifth seed 7-5 6-3 to claim the biggest title of his career.

It is the first time the 25-year-old, who is ranked sixth in the world, has won an ATP 500-ranked event.

"For me it means a lot, this is my biggest title that I ever won," said Ruud.

"It's something I've chased for a long time already. I've never won a 500 before or a 1000. I've been to a few finals but always came up a little bit short."

Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, was broken early by the 25-year-old Tsitsipas but broke back in the sixth game, before going on to convert one of two set points at 6-5.

He then opened up a 4-1 lead in the second set after Tsitsipas hit a forehand into the net to concede a break, before seeing out victory in 91 minutes to end the Greek's 10-match winning streak.

The win also avenged Ruud's defeat by Tsitsipas in last week's Monte Carlo Open final.

Elsewhere, Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff earned a straight sets win over American Taylor Fritz to win the BMW Open in Munich.

Fourth seed and home favourite Struff beat the third seed 7-5 6-3 to secure a maiden ATP Tour title at the clay-court ATP 250 event.

At the Bucharest Open, Hungary's Marton Fucsovics beat Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4 7-5 for his second ATP Tour title.


BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

What lies in store for tennis' revamped future?

Arthur Fils of France, runner up and Hamad Medjedovic of Serbia, winner, pose for a photo with their trophies after the final during day five of the Next Gen ATP Finals at King Abdullah Sports City on December 02, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

There are some things on which tennis’ seven governing bodies agree.

The season is too long, deserves a more compelling year-long narrative - and ideally just one overriding power should be calling the shots.

But the future could come in many shapes and sizes.

There is the proposal for a Premium Tour, which could issue just 64 tour cards each year and culminate with promotion and relegation play-offs.

And there is a strong likelihood of greater Saudi Arabia involvement.

The WTA Finals are heading to Saudi capital Riyadh for each of the next three years, and by the end of a flurry of meetings in Madrid this week, the kingdom could be awarded a Masters 1,000 event on the ATP Tour.

A third string to Saudi Arabia's bow?
There are nine Masters 1,000 events on the ATP Tour, but the creation of a 10th - earmarked originally for either the first week of the year, or on grass before Wimbledon - has accelerated markedly in recent months.

Along with the WTA Finals, Saudi Arabia has already been awarded the Next Gen ATP Finals, the season-ending event for the best under-21 players in the world, while making very clear its ambition to stage a Masters 1,000.

Last month, the ATP issued a bidding invitation to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Australia.

The bid deadline is this Wednesday, just hours before the ATP Board begins two days of meetings at which they could either identify a winner or opt for a second round of bidding.

Once the successful candidate is clear, for an event that would not start before 2027, it may well take at least 18 months to select a date in the calendar.

This is very likely to be in either January or February. Staging it in Saudi Arabia in the first week of the year would be considered a hostile gesture by Tennis Australia. It would no longer be able to stage the United Cup team competition and would lose its star male cast in the two weeks leading up to the Australian Open.

Staging it in February, in Saudi Arabia, would cause no issues with Tennis Australia but could imperil the existence of the traditional European indoor and South American clay events taking place at that time.

Another complication is that if the Saudis are successful, they would want to create a combined event with the women. There are currently no further licences available for WTA 1,000 events, and unless one was sold, existing owners - including those in Doha and Dubai - would have the ability to veto any expansion plans.

Troubled waters calming down
The proposal of a Premium Tour has been described by those hostile to it as an “extreme and very aggressive alternative” to greater Saudi investment.

It was the idea of Tennis Australia and its chief executive Craig Tiley, who was worried about the threat a Saudi Masters in the first week of January would pose to the Australian tennis summer.

After some discreet initial meetings between the Grand Slams, including one in London in the week before this year’s Australian Open, all vested interests were invited to a summit at Indian Wells in March.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

World number four Elena Rybakina claimed her third title of the year, beating Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-2 to win the Stuttgart Open.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Harriet Dart has joined Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter in the main draw of the Madrid Open.

Dart, 27, beat Russia's Maria Timofeeva her second qualifying match.

The British number two fought back from a set down to earn a 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory.

Raducanu's first-round opponent is currently unknown as the 21-year-old was set to play Karolina Pliskova in her opening round, but the former world number one pulled out of the tournament because of a wrist injury.

British number one Boulter, 27, will miss the first round and will meet the winner of the match between American wildcard Robin Montgomery and Russia's Elina Avanesyan in the second.

Meanwhile in the men's draw, Britain's Dan Evans, 33, has withdrawn from the tournament with a right calf injury.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Emma Raducanu said she felt "mentally and emotionally exhausted" after losing in the first round at the Madrid Open.

The 21-year-old was beaten 6-2 6-2 by Argentine qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle.

Raducanu helped Britain beat France in the Billie Jean King Cup before reaching her first WTA quarter-final in 19 months at the Stuttgart Open last week as she continues her comeback from an injury-hit 2023 season.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Carlos Alcaraz started his Madrid Open title defence with a comfortable victory over Alexander Shevchenko.

World number three Alcaraz, 20, eased to a 6-2 6-1 win against Kazakhstan's Shevchenko.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the last 16 of the Madrid Open as he cruised past Thiago Seyboth Wild.

World number three Alcaraz won 6-3 6-3 against Brazil's Seyboth Wild.

The win continues second seed Alcaraz's dominance at the event, which he won in 2022 and 2023.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Top seed Iga Swiatek is through to the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open thanks to a dominant straight-set victory against Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo.

The world number one was broken in the first game of the match but then won the next 12 in a row for a 6-1 6-0 triumph.


BBC

 

[hassan918]

Britain's Cam Norrie is out of the Madrid Masters after a third-round defeat to Casper Ruud.​

Norway's Ruud cruised to an opening 6-2 set success in just 31 minutes, breaking Norrie three times as the Brit struggled to deal with the power he was facing.

The second set proved more even, as Norrie claimed the first break of serve, only for Ruud to respond quickly and then break Norrie a second time, wrestling back the momentum for an impressive 6-2 6-4 victory in the Spanish capital.

Source: SKY

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz survived a scare against Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

In a repeat of last year's final, Spain's Alcaraz was forced to a deciding set tie-break by the German 23rd seed, after missing out on four match points at 5-3.

But the world number three prevailed in front of a home crowd to wrap up a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) win after almost three hours.

Alcaraz won the last two editions of the Madrid Open and is on a 14-match winning streak in the Spanish capital.

The 20-year-old will face Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev, who beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2 6-4 earlier on Tuesday.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

British doubles player Tara Moore has made her return to the sport after a two-year absence for a doping ban which was later overturned.

Moore teamed up with compatriot Annali Olivelle to win an ITF World Tour first-round match on the Italian island of Sardinia.

They beat the Italian pair of Melania Delai and Francesca Pace 10-6 in a deciding tie-break in Santa Margherita di Pula.


BBC

 

[hassan918]

Madison Keys produced a stunning comeback against eighth seed Ons Jabeur to reach the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

The American 18th seed looked rattled as Jabeur wrapped up a first-set 6-0 bagel in just 24 minutes.

But the Tunisian's composure crumbled as Keys clinched the second set before dominating the decider to triumph 0-6 7-5 6-1.

She will face world number one Iga Swiatek in the last four. Swiatek needed two hours 30 minutes to wrap up a 4-6 6-0 6-2 win against the Brazilian.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Alcaraz's Madrid Open title defence ended by Rublev

Carlos Alcaraz's bid for a third straight title at the Madrid Open was ended by Andrey Rublev.

Russian seventh seed Rublev rallied from a set down in the quarter-final to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 and break Alcaraz's 14-match winning streak in the Spanish capital.

The 20-year-old second seed was aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive Madrid Open singles titles.

Rublev will face American 12th seed Taylor Fritz or Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the final.

Meanwhile, world number two Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the tournament with a right-hip injury, organisers said.

He will not take to the court on Thursday to play his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

After a gruelling win against Jan-Lennard Struff that lasted just under three hours on Tuesday, Alcaraz struggled to find his best form against Rublev.



BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Faster men’s doubles format trialled at Madrid Open

A faster men’s doubles format, with greater focus on matches between singles players and established doubles teams, is being trialled at the Madrid Open.

Teams are allowed just 15 - rather than the usual 25 - seconds between points after rallies up to three shots, and only 60 seconds to sit down at the change of ends.

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas were among seven top-20 singles players to enter the event, which features five rounds in just five days.

"For me, it’s a shootout, which is kind of exciting. Once we get going - bang, this is on," said Matt Ebden, the current doubles world number one and president of the ATP Player Council.

"People like seeing the volleys, the return winners, the angles and all the reactions, but there is a bit too much dead time.

"We just looked at how we can keep the game flowing to make it a better product for the fans ultimately.”

Those supporters will be able to move freely around the stadium during points.

Jamie Murray and his partner Michael Venus beat the singles team of Denis Shapovalov and Alexander Bublik in the first round on Tuesday.

Murray likes the shortened changeovers and the tournament being spread over such a short period, but is not a fan of the reduced time between some points.

“I feel like it’s very rushed,” the seven-time Grand Slam champion said after the match.

"Fifteen seconds for doubles is very short. In singles you are playing a lot on instinct, but in doubles there’s a lot more strategy to start the points, and to lose that communication with your partner I don’t think is a good thing for the sport."

Murray would also like to see more social media promotion of doubles, to attract new fans to the game.

"The social media side of things is just an absolute zero," he said.

"I wrote to ATP Media last year after Miami and I basically counted all the posts that they had done across Indian Wells and Miami, and it was like 1% of their total posts [were about doubles]."

The trial will continue at future tournaments, although not necessarily always in the second week in the space of just five days.

Such a timetable might discourage singles players, and here in Madrid Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton withdrew before their first-round match, shortly after Fritz had qualified for the singles quarter-finals.

Doubles players generally do not mind singles players entering the draw, “as long as they are committed to playing properly, competitively and through to the end of the tournament,” in the words of Ebden.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski were among the winning pairs on Tuesday, in their first appearance together on the ATP Tour since winning the San Diego title in October 2021.

Skupski is looking for a partner after splitting with Santiago Gonzalez following the Monte Carlo Masters.

Salisbury was looking for a way into the draw as his regular partner Rajeev Ram did not initially plan to play in Madrid.

And as a potential pairing for Team GB at the Paris Olympics this summer, they will be hoping to make the most of the opportunity.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Swiatek sails into second straight Madrid Open final

World number one Iga Swiatek breezed into a second straight Madrid Open final with a comfortable victory against Madison Keys.

A dominant Swiatek needed just 70 minutes to wrap up a 6-1 6-3 win against the American 18th seed.

The Pole, who is bidding for a third title of 2024, finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in Madrid last year.

Belarusian second seed Sabalenka will set up a repeat of the 2023 final if she defeats Elena Rybakina later on Thursday.

Swiatek, 22, controlled her match against Keys from the offset as she raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, dropping just three of the first 17 points.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who is a clay-court specialist, broke and consolidated to go 3-1 up in the second set before striking again on Keys' serve at 5-3 to reach her third WTA 1,000 final this season.

Keys, a US Open finalist in 2017, could not capitalise on the few chances she had, missing out on three break points and making 28 unforced errors to Swiatek's eight.

Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev will play Jiri Lehecka in the only men's singles match on Thursday after Italian top seed Jannik Sinner withdrew from his quarter-final meeting with Felix Auger-Aliassime with a hip injury.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Alcaraz withdraws from Italian Open with arm injury

Spain's world number three Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from next week's Italian Open because of an injury to his right forearm.

The tournament in Rome takes place before the start of the second Grand Slam of the season - the French Open - in Paris on 26 May.

The 20-year-old's Madrid Open title defence came to an end on Wednesday with a loss to Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals.

Alcaraz, who said he had felt pain while playing in Madrid, also withdrew from the Barcelona Open and Monte Carlo Masters in April.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Rome. I need to rest so I can recover and play 100% pain free," the two-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement on Instagram, external.


BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev will play Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final of the Madrid Open.

The Russian beat Taylor Fritz of the United States 6-4 6-3 to reach his second final of the year.

He will face world number 35 Auger-Aliassime after 30th seed Jiri Lehecka was forced to retire midway through the first set of the second semi-final.

A lower back injury led to Lehecka going down in a heap during the seventh game, with the score at 3-3, and the Czech was unable to continue.

It is the third time in the tournament that Auger-Aliassime has advanced as a result of an injury to his opponent.

He reached the last four after top seed Jannik Sinner withdrew with a hip injury before their quarter-final tie, while the 23-year-old was a set up when Jakub Mensik had to retire hurt in the last 32.

Injuries have been an unwanted theme of the tournament with Lehecka, who beat Rafael Nadal on the way to his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, the opponent when third seed Daniil Medvedev pulled out a set into their quarter-final match on Thursday.

But while Auger-Aliassime will go into Sunday's final having only played half a set since Tuesday, Rublev has had a more conventional route to the final.

He battled past second seed Carlos Alcaraz in three sets in the quarter-final before his straight-set win over Fritz in the semis.

Twelfth seed Fritz broke in the opening game of the match but Rublev hit straight back before breaking to love to clinch the first set.

Rublev had to ward off two break points at the start of the second and, having done so, secured the decisive break midway through the set.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Italy's Jannik Sinner says he is working with doctors to be ready for the French Open after announcing his withdrawal from this week's Italian Open in Rome.

The world number two won his first Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open and is one of the favourites for the Roland Garros tournament, which starts 26 May.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Swiatek beats Sabalenka in thrilling Madrid final

World number one Iga Swiatek saved three championship points to beat world number two Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 4-6 7-6 (9-7) and win her first Madrid Open title.

The Pole had been a break down early in the third set but held her nerve down the stretch to gain revenge for defeat by Sabalenka in last year’s final.

Swiatek dug deep to save two match points in the 13th game of the third set to stay in the match and then saved another in the tie-break on her way to victory.

The first meeting of the top two players in the world this season kept the Spanish crowd enthralled for more than three hours, and featured some extraordinary power, brilliant shot-making and superb defence.

It is the 22-year-old’s 20th career title and denies Sabalenka a third crown in the Spanish capital.



BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Rublev overcomes illness to claim Madrid Open title

Andrey Rublev overcame illness and losing the first set to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 7-5 7-5 for his first Madrid Open title.

The Russian world number eight was under the weather with a fever coming into Sunday's final and looked out of sorts when he trailed 4-1 in the opening set.

But Rublev fought his way back into the match, striking at the end of both sets to get past the world number 35 and win his second Masters 1,000 tournament.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Osaka marks Italian Open return with first-round win

Naomi Osaka beat France's Clara Burel in straight sets in the Italian Open first round on her first appearance at the tournament since 2021.

Former world number one Osaka won 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 against Burel, who is ranked 45th in the world.

It was Osaka's first win against a top-50 opponent on clay since beating Victoria Azarenka at the French Open in 2019.

The 26-year-old, who gave birth to her first daughter last year, will face 19th seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the second round on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Britain's Dan Evans will have to wait to take on Italy's Fabio Fognini in the men's competition after his first-round tie on Wednesday was cancelled due to inclement weather in Rome.

Japan's Osaka, now ranked at 173 in the world, finished the 84-minute match with 27 winners, including eight aces.

"I obviously played a lot better in the second set," she said.

"I'm hoping that when I play my match tomorrow, I'm able to learn from the mistakes that I did today and apply them better."


BBC