The Tennis Thread

[hassan918]

Draper fights to 'mind-blowing' win over Djokovic​

Britain's Jack Draper produced a superb fightback to beat Novak Djokovic and reach the Indian Wells fourth round - a result he believes could be "a real big moment" in his season.

Defending champion Draper regrouped impressively to beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in a "real physical battle" of two hours and 35 minutes.

Djokovic, a five-time winner at Indian Wells, had beaten Draper in the only previous meeting between them at Wimbledon in 2021.

The victory is an important one for Draper as he rebuilds after a torrid eight-month spell plagued with an arm injury.

"To beat Novak is something that is mind-blowing," Draper, who is playing only his second ATP Tour event of the season, told BBC Sport.

"I've watched him since I was a kid, idolising him. Unbelievable respect for the player that he is.

"I still want to play better, and feel better on the court, but I think for how long I have had off the court to come here and play three tough matches already and play that one, it's huge for me.

"It's something I will probably look back on in a few months and think this is a real big moment for me."

World number 14 Draper is joined in the quarter-finals by fellow Briton Cameron Norrie, who will play world number one Carlos Alcaraz next.

Djokovic, runner-up to Alcaraz at January's Australian Open, won 87% of points on his serve as he clinched the opening set.

However, Draper levelled to force a decider as the quality rose, with Djokovic winning a gruelling 26-shot rally in the opening game at 30-30 on the Serb's serve.

The Briton broke his rival's next service game but, serving for the match at 5-4 up, was broken back as the match went to a tie-break.

Once again, Draper regrouped impressively to advance and set up a quarter-final against former world number one Daniil Medvedev.

"It was a real physical battle, there were definitely a lot of ups and downs in the match," Draper, 24, said.

"To come through that match is something I will never forget."

Djokovic, playing his first tournament reaching the final of the Australian Open in January, believes he paid the price for the 26-shot rally.

"It cost me a break after," he said. "It was great winning that point in that game, but I just ran completely out of the gas.

"I got the crowd backing me and I felt the energy. It was, like, 'maybe I'm going take this one'.

"It was so close, so close. I mean, just unfortunate few mistakes from my side."

"He is playing at a great level. Just, overall, a great player, great guy."

Indian Wells: Jack Draper fights back for 'huge' Indian Wells win over Novak Djokovic

Jack Draper produces a superb fightback to beat Novak Djokovic and reach the Indian Wells fourth round - a result he believes could be "a real big moment" in his season.

www.bbc.com

 

[hassan918]

Wales name unchanged starting side for Italy test​

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has named an unchanged starting side for the Six Nations finale against Italy at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright has been passed fit after struggling with a leg injury, while there is no return for Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow, who missed the Ireland loss because of an ankle problem.

In the only alteration to the match-day 23, Scarlets back Blair Murray comes in as a replacement for Bath's Louie Hennessey, who won his first cap in the 27-17 defeat by Ireland.

It is the first time in his ninth game in charge that Tandy has named an unchanged starting side.

"Having an unchanged team reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland," said Tandy.

Wales search for elusive Six Nations win

Wales have lost all four games so far in the tournament and are looking for a first home victory against Italy since 2020.

Wales are also hoping to halt a 15-game losing streak in the tournament as they bid to avoid a third successive Six Nations clean sweep of defeats.

Tandy's side can only not finish bottom of the table again if they secure a 50-point margin of victory against Italy and hope France achieve the same result against England.

"This week we need to go up another level," said Tandy.

"We've had some good performances. There were parts against France, then we built up into the Scotland game where I thought we were very good.

"Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it's putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend."

Wales are also searching for a first home Six Nations victory for four years since they beat Scotland in February 2022.

"For the team and myself, going back to Principality Stadium is amazing," said Tandy.

"The boys did well creating their own energy against Ireland, but there's nothing better than being at home.

"The boys reference in meetings what the Scotland game meant to them, as well as the matches against France and New Zealand.

"The fans have been incredible and I think they're behind the team and the team are putting in performances to represent our nation."

Is the performance or result more important for Wales?
Tandy was directly asked whether the result or performance this weekend was more important.

"I think performance," said Tandy.

"If we get the performance, the result will follow. I want both, if I'm honest.

"I genuinely believe in this group and can see where we want to go in the distance, but also understand the here and now.

"The performance will get us closer. We can't control the outcome. You see in games, the bounce of the ball might not always go your way, but what we have to be is consistent.

"The closer you get, like we did in the Scotland and Ireland games, and if you're in more games, results will follow.

"As a nation, we want both. You can get a win, but actually are you still growing?

"They should go hand in hand. We want to produce a performance that replicates what we did over the last few weeks, but also makes it better.

"We've got to keep chasing that win, but what gets us the win is that performance."

Wales team to play Italy
Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, Hawkins, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Francis, D Jenkins, Carter, Mann, Botham, Wainwright.

Replacements: Elias, Smith, Griffin, Beard, Cracknell, Hardy, J Evans, Murray.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Draper beaten after controversial hindrance call

Jack Draper was penalised with a controversial hindrance call as Daniil Medvedev ended the Briton's Indian Wells title defence in the quarter-finals.

Draper fell to a 6-1 7-5 defeat by former world number one Medvedev, but the Russian was booed after the tense moment midway through the second set.

World number 14 Draper, serving at 5-5 0-15, briefly stretched his arms out wide during a rally to signal he thought Medvedev's forehand had gone long.

The rally continued for another seven shots before Medvedev netted a backhand.

Two-time finalist Medvedev then asked umpire Aurelie Tourte for a video review to see whether Draper had been guilty of hindrance - making either an action or a noise to disturb an opponent.

After watching the replay several times on her tablet, Tourte told Draper she was ruling against him as "you did something different in the rally than you would normally do" and awarded Medvedev the point.

Indian Wells: Jack Draper penalised with controversial hindrance call as Daniil Medvedev ends Briton's title defence

Jack Draper is penalised with a controversial hindrance call as Daniil Medvedev ends the Briton's Indian Wells title defence in the quarter-finals.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Medvedev stuns Alcaraz to set up Sinner final

Daniil Medvedev brought an end to world number one Carlos Alcaraz's perfect start to 2026 to reach the final at Indian Wells.

Alcaraz began the year by winning the Australian Open and was on a 16-match winning streak until running into Medvedev.

The Russian made a quick start, taking the opening set in just 35 minutes, en route to a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) victory in California.

The 30-year-old, who has finished runner-up at the California event on two occasions, will face Jannik Sinner after the world number two caught the eye with a 6-2 6-4 win over Alexander Zverev earlier in the day.

"The first set was a super high level from me and he started to get a grip in the second," Medvedev said.

"I managed to stay in there and play good in crucial points.

"I'm happy that I was able to show the world that I'm still a good tennis player."

Medvedev took both break point opportunities in the first set, before battling to victory via a tie-break in the second.

The 2021 US Open champion, who beat defending champion Jack Draper in the quarter-finals, extended his own winning streak to nine matches after winning last month's Dubai Tennis Championship.

Sinner looking to join elite club

Sinner has won 21 of his 24 titles on hard courts and looked on top form as he raced to victory in one hour and 23 minutes.

The 24-year-old is aiming to become just the third man - after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic - to capture all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles.

"It was a great performance - very solid from the back of the court. I tried to go for shots and that felt like one of the keys," he said.

"He has a huge serve so I tried to mix it up. From my side I was very precise and it was a solid performance.

"I thought the match would be more physical but when both serve well it's difficult to get into a rhythm with short points."

Sinner has endured a frustrating start to 2026, failing to reach a single final prior to this event, but was inspired as he attempts to correct that record.

It was in the first set where the mental damage was done as the Italian, who has won seven of their 11 meetings, dropped just four points on serve and broke twice.

Zverev struggled to find his rhythm on serve in the opening set and Sinner made him pay - winning six of the eight second-serve return points.

The German, 28, stood firm to save three break points in the opening service game of the second, but was ultimately broken to trail 4-3 with the remainder of the match staying on serve.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Australian coach and former player Marinko Matosevic cops doping ban after admitting to blood transfusion

Australian former tennis player and coach Marinko Matosevic has been handed a four-year ban after breaching anti-doping rules.

Matosevic, 40, reached a career-high singles ranking of 39 in 2013. He retired from the sport in 2018 and has since become a coach, working with Australian players Chris O'Connell and Jordan Thompson.

"An independent tribunal determined that Matosevic committed five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020," the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said in a statement.

"Including use of a prohibited method through blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice to other players on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol."

There is no suggestion O'Connell or Thompson have breached any rules.

In a statement published by Australian tennis website The First Serve in February, Matosevic admitted he underwent a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico towards the end of his playing career.

Australian tennis coach cops doping ban after admitting to blood transfusion

Former world number 39 Marinko Matosevic receives a four-year doping ban from tennis's global integrity agency, which he had labelled "corrupt" during its investigation.

www.abc.net.au

 

[shah9425]

Any tennis lovers here ?

 

[hassan918]

Dubai withdrawal criticism ridiculous - Sabalenka​

World number one Aryna Sabalenka says criticism of her late withdrawal from the Dubai Championships last month is "ridiculous" and that she may not play at the tournament again.

Belarusian Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, world number two at the time, pulled out, external of the WTA 1000 event on 13 February, two days before it started.

Tournament director Salah Tahlak said last month that Sabalenka and Poland's Swiatek should be docked ranking points., external

"I don't think he showed himself in the best way possible," said four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka.

"It's actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments not protecting us as players. They just care about their [sales], about their tournament and that's it.

"I'm not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me it's too much."

Sabalenka won the Indian Wells title on Sunday, her first tournament since losing the final of the Australian Open in January.

"Going into this season, we decided... to prioritise my health and make sure we have these little gaps in the schedule where I can reset, recharge, work and be better prepared for bigger tournaments," said Sabalenka, who will attempt to defend her Miami Open title this week.

"I feel like the scheduling is going crazy and that's why you see so many players injured, always taped and not delivering the best quality matches because it's almost impossible."

American two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff said: "Iga and Aryna have played that tournament so many times and it wasn't anything personal to it.

"It's tough. We're trying our best to play the calendar. I completely understand why she would feel like that because the comments were unnecessary."

Players have regularly voiced concerns about the congested tennis calendar, which stretches across 11 months of the year for the top players.

Aryna Sabalenka: Late Dubai withdrawal criticism 'ridiculous'

World number one Aryna Sabalenka dismisses criticism of her late withdrawal from the Dubai Championships and says she may not play at the tournament again.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner surpasses Djokovic's Masters 1000 record

Jannik Sinner surpassed Novak Djokovic's 10-year record for most consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events by dismantling Frenchman Corentin Moutet at the Miami Open.

Italian world number two Sinner, 24, recorded his 25th and 26th straight sets at the sport's highest level of tournaments below the Grand Slams in a commanding 71-minute 6-1 6-4 victory.

Sinner had equalled 24-time major champion Djokovic's previous record of 24 straight sets won in beating Damir Dzumhur in his opening match.

"I am very happy. This sport is unpredictable, so we try to keep attention as much as we can and we'll see what is coming in the next round," Sinner said.

Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner, has triumphed at the past two Masters 1000 tournaments - winning at Indian Wells earlier this month and Paris in November - without losing a set.

The former world number one was dominant from the start against Moutet, winning 19 of the first 26 points of the match before taking the first set in 22 minutes.

Sinner then clinched his fourth break point to end Moutet's resistance in the fifth game of the second set before serving his way to victory untroubled.

He will meet American Alex Michelsen in the last 16 as he seeks to continue his bid to become the first man to complete the 'Sunshine Double' - winning Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back - since Roger Federer achieved the feat in 2017.

Miami Open: Jannik Sinner breaks Novak Djokovic's record for consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events

Jannik Sinner surpasses Novak Djokovic's 10-year record for consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events in his Miami Open win over Corentin Moutet.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Gauff through to first Miami Open semi-final

Coco Gauff admitted she still battles with imposter syndrome after overcoming Belinda Bencic to reach the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time.

The 22-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion is the youngest American to reach the women's singles semi-finals at the tournament since Serena Williams in 2004 - the year Gauff was born.

Gauff, ranked fourth in the world, won four straight games after conceding a break of serve in the deciding set to close out a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory in two hours and 15 minutes.

If Gauff reaches the final, she will overtake former world number one Iga Swiatek and move to third in the WTA rankings next week.

But following her win over Swiss 12th seed Bencic she said that she is still learning "to believe that I belong where I am".

"I think sometimes I can get imposter syndrome and, even when they are saying my accomplishments when I walk on or during the warm-up, it doesn't feel like me and I'm like, 'oh, actually, you do have a good career'," said Gauff.

"But it doesn't feel like that sometimes. When you're working on things, and especially with my serve, it just feels like I shouldn't be where I am. But tennis doesn't lie, the ball doesn't lie, so I just have to believe myself.

"My coach has been reminding me – remember who you are, you're a good player. They've been putting that into my head. At moments, I believe in it, and other moments, I don't. I'm just trying to believe in it more."

Gauff, a three-time winner of WTA 1,000 events, was contesting her first quarter-final in Miami after last-16 exits in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

She will meet Karolina Muchova for a place in the final, after the Czech defeated Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko 7-5 7-6 (7-5).

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, runner-up to world number one Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells earlier this month, set up a quarter-final against fifth seed Jessica Pegula.

The world number two ended Australian 21-year-old Talia Gibson's impressive run in a 6-2 6-2 victory.

In Wednesday's other quarter-final match, defending champion Sabalenka will take on American Hailey Baptiste.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner extends record run with Miami win

Jannik Sinner extended his record for the most consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1,000 events to 28 as he reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.

The Italian world number two, who broke Novak Djokovic's 10-year record of 24 on Monday, beat American Alex Michelsen 7-5 7-6 (7-4).

Four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner came from 5-2 down in the second set to secure a meeting with American 19th seed Frances Tiafoe.

Sinner has won the past two Masters 1,000 tournaments - in Paris in November and Indian Wells this month - without losing a set.

Sinner, who won the Miami Open in 2024, is the only former champion still in the tournament.

He is set to reduce the gap to world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings following the Spaniard's third-round defeat by Sebastian Korda.

Sinner could face world number three Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

German Zverev defeated Frenchman Quentin Halys 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) to set up a quarter-final meeting with Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.

Miami Open: Jannik Sinner extends record to reach quarter-finals

Jannik Sinner takes his record for the most consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1,000 events to 28 as he reaches the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Rybakina battles past Pegula to reach Miami semis

Elena Rybakina beat Jessica Pegula for a fifth straight time to move into the Miami Open semi-finals, winning 2-6 6-3 6-4.

Australian Open champion Rybakina was the losing finalist in Miami in both 2023 and 2024, while her American opponent was runner-up in last year's competition.

Pegula, 32, took a 4-0 lead on her way to the first set, but Rybakina rallied and hit 15 aces and saved eight of 10 break points to come through.

She will face either world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of the Australian Open final, or the unseeded American Hailey Baptiste in the last four.

"It's always very difficult playing Jessica," said Rybakina, 26.

"She started playing well, and I was rushing and frustrated, but I'm happy that I managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set."

American fourth seed Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic play in the other semi-final on Thursday.

If Gauff reaches the final, she will overtake former world number one Iga Swiatek to move third in the WTA rankings next week.

In the men's draw, Jiri Lehecka overcame the challenge of unseeded Spaniard Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7-1) 7-5 to reach the semi-finals.

The Czech 21st seed will face Tommy Paul or Arthur Fils for a place in the final.

BBC

 

[hassan918]

Rybakina battles past Pegula to reach Miami semis​

Elena Rybakina beat Jessica Pegula for a fifth straight time to move into the Miami Open semi-finals, winning 2-6 6-3 6-4.

Australian Open champion Rybakina was the losing finalist in Miami in both 2023 and 2024, while her American opponent was runner-up in last year's competition.

Pegula took a 4-0 lead on her way to the first set, but Rybakina rallied and hit 15 aces and saved eight of 10 break points to come through.

"It's always very difficult playing Jessica," said Rybakina.

"She started playing well, and I was rushing and frustrated, but I'm happy that I managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set."

She will face Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals after the world number one beat American Hailey Baptiste 6-4 6-4.

"It's always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge," said Sabalenka, who beat Rybakina in their most recent encounter at Indian Wells this month.

"We push each other to the limit, and we always bring the best tennis. I'm super excited playing her again."

The semi-finals take place on Thursday, with American fourth seed Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic playing in the other match.

If Gauff reaches the final, she will overtake former world number one Iga Swiatek to move third in the WTA rankings next week.

Arthur Fils beat Tommy Paul 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) to reach the men's semi-finals.

Neither player broke serve in a match that lasted two hours 47 minutes, with Fils winning five consecutive points in the third-set tie-break to secure his first ATP 1000-level semi-final in five attempts.

The 21-year-old will face Jiri Lehecka in the semis after the Czech 21st seed beat Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7-1) 7-5.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner continues remarkable run as he cruises into semis

Jannik Sinner claimed his 29th and 30th consecutive sets at ATP Masters 1,000 events as he cruised past American Frances Tiafoe into the semi-finals of the Miami Open.

The Italian world number two, who broke Novak Djokovic's 10-year record of 24 on Monday, never looked back after breaking Tiafoe in the opening game - going on to win 6-2 6-2 in 71 minutes.

The world number 20 simply had no response to a dominant dislay from Sinner, who dropped only nine points on serve across the two sets.

Sinner, who has won four Grand Slam titles, will face either Germany's world number four Alexander Zverev or Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo in the last four.

Miami Open: Jannick Sinner continues remarkable run as he cruises into semis

Jannik Sinner claims his 29th and 30th consecutive sets at ATP Masters 1,000 events as he cruises past American Frances Tiafoe into the semi-finals of the Miami Open.

www.bbc.com

 

[hassan918]

Gauff reaches first Miami Open final​

American Coco Gauff cruised past Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her first Miami Open final.

The Florida-born 22-year-old dropped only two games to triumph 6-1 6-1 in one hour and 30 minutes.

Having been broken in the first game, Gauff won 10 games in a row to take control of the match against the 13th seed.

Czech Republic's Muchova also lost in the fourth round of this year's Australian Open to Gauff in straight sets.

"It was not as straightforward as the scoreline suggests," Gauff told Sky Sports.

"I wasn't nervous, but whenever you play someone so many times, it is hard to keep doing what you've been doing and also change it up. Today, I found a good balance.

"It feels great to be at home. I am alternating between my parents' house and my own, depending on how late we finish. They live a bit closer, so it is nice to have that family support."

The victory will take the two-time Grand Slam champion above former world number one Swiatek and up to third in the WTA rankings next week.

Gauff, currently ranked fourth in the world, will face the winner of Friday's match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

"I haven't played either this year, so it will be a good match-up to see where I am," she added.

"I am going out there with the belief that I can win."

Source: BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Sinner beats Zverev again to reach Miami final

World number two Jannik Sinner won his seventh match in a row against Alexander Zverev to reach the Miami Open final for a fourth time.

Italian Sinner came through 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and will meet Czech Jiri Lehecka on Sunday.

Sinner is aiming to win a second Miami title in three years and become the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the 'Sunshine Double' after his win in Indian Wells this month.

Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner and the reigning Wimbledon champion, also beat German world number four Zverev two weeks ago in the Indian Wells semis.

"It has been an incredible swing," said Sinner, who claimed his 16th successive win in Masters 1,000 tournament and extended his record of consecutive sets won to 32.

"I've been trying to play as many matches as possible and I couldn't do any better.

"Today was a very tough encounter. He played some incredible tennis, but I was serving very well, especially in the end and in the crucial moments.

"Standing here again, in the final, means very, very much to me."

Earlier, Lehecka, the 21st seed, defeated Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2 6-2 in an hour and 15 minutes to reach his first Masters 1,000 final.

"I'm very excited that I'm in a final," said Lehecka.

"At the same time, it's just a sport. There are more important things going on in the world right now.

"I'm just trying to do what I do best."

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Sabalenka beats Gauff to complete 'Sunshine Double'

World number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 to retain her Miami Open title and extend her exceptional start to 2026.

Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, is the fifth female player - and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022 - to complete the 'Sunshine Double' by winning titles at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.

Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf are the other three women to have previously achieved that feat.

Sabalenka has won three WTA Tour titles and 23 of her 24 matches during this calendar year.

Her only loss was in January's Australian Open final to world number two Elena Rybakina, who had been the only player to win a set against Sabalenka in 2026 before American Gauff sent the Miami final into a decider.

Sabalenka said on Sky Sports: "I haven't had a moment to stop, look back and realise what's happened in the past months.

"I'm so proud of the work we've done and the fight I was able to bring on court.

"Coco will fight for every opportunity and she played incredibly, but I was mentally strong. I knew I was doing everything right and it was just a matter of a few points."

Despite losing, Gauff will move above Poland's Swiatek to third in the world when the rankings are next updated.

Both of the 22-year-old's Grand Slam victories were sealed with wins in finals against Sabalenka and the pair's head-to-head record was level at 6-6 prior to Saturday's match.

Sabalenka had looked on course for a more convincing win when she broke in the very first game and raced through the first set.

Gauff responded well, saving break points at 2-2 and 3-3 in set two before converting a set point on her opponent's serve to level the contest.

But four-time major champion Sabalenka gained an important break in the opening game of the decider and she clinched victory on her first match point when Gauff went wide with a backhand.

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Henry Patten and Finnish partner Harri Helioevaara were beaten 6-4 6-2 in the final of the men's doubles by Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

World number two Jannik Sinner plays Czech 21st seed Jiri Lehecka in the men's singles final on Sunday.

Like Sabalenka, Italian Sinner is aiming to follow up a victory at Indian Wells with another title in Miami.

BBC

 

[hassan918]

Swiatek appoints former coach of Nadal and Raducanu​

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek will work with Francisco Roig - the former coach of Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu - as she looks to turn around her inconsistent form.

Poland's Swiatek has struggled to find her rhythm in 2026, exiting the Australian Open and Indian Wells at the quarter-final stage.

The 24-year-old tends to perform better on clay, having won four of her six Grand Slam titles at the French Open, and has drafted in Roig in preparation for next month's event in Paris.

Swiatek confirmed the partnership on Instagram, writing "welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter".

Spain's Roig coached Briton Raducanu for five months between 2025 and 2026, but is best known for his 17-year stint with 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal.

World number four Swiatek had been working under Wim Fissette, who helped her win a first Wimbledon title in July, but they parted ways after Swiatek's first-round loss at the Miami Open in March.

Feliciano Lopez and Matteo Berrettini are among the other names to have spent time with Roig.

Lopez said Roig achieves the best results by using unique coaching drills, which are "practical" and "specific", with his players.

It is said the 58-year-old identifies technical issues by observation, rather than relying on forensic video analysis.

Swiatek began working with Roig at Nadal's academy in Manacor, Spain, as she shifts her attention to the clay-court season.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Norrie claims first win in Monte Carlo since 2019

Britain's Cameron Norrie began his clay-court season on a winning note with a 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-0) victory over Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

After dominating the opening set, Norrie, who had not won a match at the tournament since 2019, struggled in the second. He dropped serve three times, including in his final two service games.

The decider proved tense, with the Briton broken by the world number 58 when serving for the match at 5-4 ahead.

But in the tie-break it was world number 24 Norrie - British number one again after leapfrogging Jack Draper in March - who raised his game to come through.

The 30-year-old will next face a rematch with Australian world number six Alex de Minaur, whom he defeated on his way to the quarter-finals in Indian Wells last month.

Monte Carlo Masters: Cameron Norrie beats Miomir Kecmanovic in round one

British number one Cameron Norrie defeats Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic for his first Monte Carlo Masters match win since 2019.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Boulter suffers first-round exit to Ruse in Austria

Britain's Katie Boulter suffered a first-round defeat by Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open.

The 29-year-old went down 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) on clay to world number 87 Ruse, who will now face Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska or American Ann Li in the last 16.

Boulter lost her first two service games in the opening set but twice broke before she was edged out in a tie-break.

The British number three broke Ruse's serve for a third time to take an early advantage in the second set but her opponent immediately responded in a see-saw encounter.

Boulter staved off match point at 6-5 down to force another tie-break, but Ruse claimed two mini breaks to move 5-2 ahead before serving out to seal her win.

World number 62 Boulter won the fourth WTA Tour title of her career at the Ostrava Open in February and reached the last eight at the Merida Open in Mexico.

However, she did not make it past the second and third rounds respectively at Indian Wells and the Miami Open prior to this loss.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner & Alcaraz open clay-court seasons with wins

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz continued their tussle for the world number one spot as they opened their clay-court seasons with commanding second-round wins at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Fresh from completing the 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set, Sinner needed only 64 minutes to complete a 6-3 6-0 demolition of Frenchman Ugo Humbert - conceding just six points in the second set.

It was an 18th successive Masters 1000 win for the Italian second seed, who has now won 36 consecutive sets at that level.

If Sinner goes all the way and wins in Monaco he will replace Alcaraz as the world number one when the rankings are updated on Monday.

Alcaraz, the defending champion, opened his clay-court season with a 6-1 6-3 victory in 70 minutes against Argentina's Sebastian Baez - a six-time ATP Tour champion on clay - later on Tuesday.

It was the Spaniard's first match on clay since he triumphed over Sinner in last year's enthralling French Open final, when he came back from two sets down and saved three Championship points en route to his second Roland Garros title.

Alcaraz, who had a 22-1 record on clay and won three titles on the surface in 2025, has held the number one spot since November.

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz open clay-court seasons with Monte Carlo Masters wins

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz continued their tussle for the world number one spot as they opened their clay-court seasons with commanding second-round wins at the Monte Carlo Masters.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Medvedev destroys racquet in 6-0 6-0 loss

Daniil Medvedev obliterated a racquet as he suffered the first 6-0 6-0 loss of his career at the hands of Matteo Berrettini in Monte Carlo.

The combustible Russian has made no secret of his dislike of playing on clay, previously describing it as "a surface for losers".

However, he put in an abject 49-minute second-round performance against world number 90 Berrettini.

After losing the first set and going an immediate break down in the second, Medvedev threw his racquet against the hoardings at the back of the court.

To the amusement of the crowd, he then picked the racquet back up and smashed it against the ground six times, ultimately snapping it in half.

Medvedev - who has likened playing on clay to being "like a dog in the dirt" - did not win any more than two points in the final 11 games as he fell to a 'double bagel' defeat.

Monte Carlo Masters: Daniil Medvedev destroys racquet in 6-0 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini

Daniil Medvedev destroys a racquet as he suffers the first 6-0 6-0 loss of his career at the hands of Matteo Berrettini in Monte Carlo.

www.bbc.com

 

[hassan918]

Stojsavljevic, 17, set for Billie Jean King Cup debut​

Mika Stojsavljevic will make her Billie Jean King Cup debut for Great Britain in this week's qualifying tie against Australia at the age of 17.

The 2024 US Open junior champion will play Talia Gibson, who is ranked over 200 places above her, in the opening singles of the best-of-five match tie in Melbourne.

"It means everything to me," Stojsavljevic told the LTA.

"I'm very excited to be here and I've really enjoyed the first couple of days with the team so far.

"I still remember where I was (when she got the call). I had just finished in the gym when she (captain Anne Keothavong) called me and honestly, I couldn't believe it.

"I had been told there was a chance but when I actually got the confirmation, I was really excited."

Stojsavljevic only took her GCSEs last summer, and was sitting exams in the same week she competed at the WTA event in Nottingham in June.

A graduate of the LTA’s National Academy in Loughborough, Stojsavljevic is currently studying English Literature and Politics at A-Level while competing on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

She enjoyed early success last autumn by reaching three finals in a row.

Having finished runner-up at a $35,000 (£26,000) event in Tunisia, Stojsavljevic won a tournament of the same level in Birmingham before reaching the final of a $100,000 (£75,000) event in Wrexham the following week.

The world number 275 was named in captain Anne Keothavong’s original team, and her chances of playing increased notably last week when Sonay Kartal pulled out with a back injury.

GB currently has four players inside the world's top 100, but the absence of Emma Raducanu, Kartal, Katie Boulter and Fran Jones makes them heavy underdogs for the tie.

The winners will earn a place in September’s eight-team finals in Shenzhen, while the losers face a play-off in November.

Harriet Dart will play Kimberly Birrell in Friday's second singles, with a doubles and two reverse singles to follow on Saturday.

Saturday’s doubles - in the John Cain Arena at Melbourne Park - will feature Australia‘s top 20 doubles players Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez against Dart and Jodie Burrage, although captains can make changes up to an hour before the start.

The reverse singles are likely to feature Dart against Gibson before a potential deciding rubber between Stojsavljevic and Birrell.

Katie Swan is also in Melbourne with the British team, and Australia could call on a 17-year-old of their own, as Emerson Jones is the fifth member of their squad.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner into last eight after 37-set record snapped

Jannik Sinner dropped a set at an ATP Masters event for the first time in 186 days but he still managed to book a spot in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals with victory over Tomas Machac.

The Italian has lifted the past three Masters 1000 titles - at Paris, Indian Wells and Miami - without conceding a set.

However, his streak of 37 consecutive sets was suddenly snapped when he lost control in the second set and Czech Machac took advantage to win the tie-break.

It was the first time Sinner had dropped a set at that level since October's Shangai Masters, when he retired injured against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor.

But Sinner regained his composure in Monaco to see out the decider and complete a 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 victory- his 19th in a row at a Masters tournament.

The second seed, who has never won a clay-court Masters 1000 title, will face Canadian sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight.

If Sinner wins the Monte Carlo tournament he will replace Carlos Alcaraz as the world number one when the rankings are updated on Monday.

He has no ranking points to defend until the Italian Open at the start of May because he was serving a three-month suspension this time last year for failing two doping tests.

Alcaraz continued his title defence bid in Monte Carlo after he recovered from an error-strewn second set to beat Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1 4-6 6-3.

After surging through the opening set in 26 minutes, the Spaniard's levels dipped and he hit 23 unforced errors in the second before regrouping to strike 13 winners in the decider.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion will face eighth seed Alexander Bublik in the quarter-finals after the Kazakh defeated Miami Open runner-up Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.

Jannik Sinner in Monte Carlo Masters quarters after record broken

Jannik Sinner drops a set at an ATP Masters event for the first time in 186 days but he reaches the Monte Carlo quarter-finals.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner sets up Zverev semi-final at Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up a semi-final with Alexander Zverev in the Monte Carlo Masters.

The Italian second seed defeated his Canadian opponent 6-3 6-4 to extend his winning streak in Masters 1000 events to 20 matches - a run during which he has lifted titles at Paris, Indian Wells and Miami.

"I feel like it was a step forwards today," said Sinner, who dropped a set at a Masters event for the first time in 186 days during his last-16 win against Tomas Machac.

"It was a very tough match. I knew I had to get better in certain areas. The serve is not there yet, where I would love it, but all things considered I'm very happy.

"But in any case, very happy to be back in the semis."

Sinner can replace Carlos Alcaraz as the world number one when the rankings are updated on Monday by winning the Monte Carlo tournament.

Germany's Zverev will be the 24-year-old's next opponent after the world number three battled past Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 in the quarter-final.

Reigning champion and top seed Alcaraz, meanwhile, booked his last-four place following a 6-3 6-0 win against Alexander Bublik.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion will face the unseeded Valentin Vacherot, who upset fifth seed Alex de Minaur 6-4 3-6 6-3.

Monte Carlo Masters: Jannik Sinner sets up semi-final with Alexander Zverev

Jannik Sinner cruises past Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up a semi-final with Alexander Zverev in the Monte Carlo Masters.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner beats Alcaraz to return to world top spot

Jannik Sinner returned to top spot in the world for the first time since early November after a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 Monte Carlo Masters final victory over defending champion and world number one Carlos Alcaraz.

The Monaco decider was the first meeting of the top two in the world since Sinner won in straight sets in the final of the ATP Championship last November.

In a tense and tight match with plenty of big shots, both players struggled with the windy conditions, which added an element of unpredictability to proceedings and led to 83 unforced errors between the pair.

The win gives the 24-year-old Italian his third Masters 1000 title of the year having already triumphed at Indian Wells and Miami, and extends his winning run in Masters series events to 22 matches.

Monte Carlo Masters: Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz to return to world top spot

Jannik Sinner is back to world number one after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final in Monte Carlo.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Draper retires in first round as injury woes continue

Britain's Jack Draper retired in the third set of his first-round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open because of a knee injury.

Draper, playing his first match of the clay-court season, won the first set against Argentina's Etcheverry 6-3 but began to have difficulty with his movement and lost the second 6-3.

The 24-year-old received attention from a physio and had tape applied to an area below his right knee shortly before the deciding set.

His serve was broken twice by Etcheverry in the third set and, after struggling to get around the court, he conceded the contest at 4-1 down.

Draper, ranked 28th in the world, has been cautious during a return from an arm injury and pulled out of the recent Monte Carlo Masters before the tournament.

He was absent for six months because of a bruised bone in his left serving arm, before returning to competitive action in February.

Jack Draper: Injury forces Briton to retire from first-round match at Barcelona Open

Britain's Jack Draper is forced to retire in the third set of his first-round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open because of a knee injury.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

British doubles legend Murray retires from tennis

Jamie Murray, who became the first British doubles player to rise to world number one, has announced his retirement from tennis.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who had not played since last August's US Open, said he was "excited to enter the real world".

"My tennis journey comes to an end after 36 years," Murray, 40, posted on Instagram.

"I feel very fortunate and privileged for all the amazing experiences this great sport has given me.

"Thanks Mum, Dad, Andy, Ale, Alan, Louis and Thomas for all your incredible support, efforts and sacrifices throughout my career that allowed me to achieve everything I could in the game.

"For everybody else that's helped and supported me - I appreciate all of you!"

A left-hander, Murray won two of his 34 doubles titles with his younger brother Andy, and they teamed up to devastating effect as GB won the Davis Cup in 2015 for the first time in 79 years.

They played brilliantly together in the quarter-final with France at the Queen's Club, then a five-set, four-hour semi-final match with Australia, before seeing off the Belgian pair as Britain won the title in Ghent.

"I played for 20 years at the top level and feel privileged for what I was able to do and experience on the court - I don't have any regrets," Murray told BBC Sport.

"I had a lot of amazing opportunities and now it's on to something new."

When not on court together, the brothers often considered watching each other in big finals to be far too stressful - though Andy did appear in Jamie's coaching box at the 2016 Australian Open to take photos of his brother's first Grand Slam men's doubles title.

It was 01:00 and Andy was due to play Novak Djokovic in the singles final in Melbourne just 18 hours later.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Jamie enquired, as he accepted the trophy with the Brazilian Bruno Soares.

Murray and Soares added the US Open title in the summer and finished the year as the world's number one pair - just as Andy did in singles.

Murray also won five mixed doubles titles, including two at Wimbledon - with Jelena Jankovic in 2007 and Martina Hingis 10 years later.

Murray made his name in doubles

Murray will be remembered for his razor-sharp volleying skills and the preposterous angles he conjured at the net. His returns were often unorthodox and he was fond of a lobbed service return to unsettle opponents.

Alongside his triumphs, Murray has been a staunch defender of doubles players and frequently demanded they be shown more respect.

"Doubles has its place in the game - it's not the golden ticket that singles is, but it's undervalued by the tour," Murray told BBC Sport.

"As these events go longer and longer they need content, and doubles supports that."

Murray said he was proud to have represented his hometown of Dunblane and the country of Scotland at the highest level.

"There is no history of tennis and no environment of tennis [in Scotland]," Murray told BBC Sport.

"I'd imagine the odds were against us from the start but we were able to make some good things happen."

His mother Judy thought Jamie had the better hand-eye co-ordination of her sons when young. Jamie and Andy briefly became rivals as tennis players - and also while wrestling.

Judy once recalled: "Andy's favourite [wrestler] was The Rock and Jamie's was Stone Cold Steve Austin, and they used to create these bouts that they saw on the television. They used to wrestle each other on the duvet and thump each other with pillows, and create these belts and make up their own rules and scoring systems."

Jamie is 15 months older than Andy, and as his early dominance on the tennis court started to fade Andy says he quite literally bore the brunt.

"We were coming back from Solihull in the minibus and I'd beaten Jamie in the final, I think, of the under-12s, so basically I was winding him up about that and my hand was on the hand rest," he said in 2015.

"We were sitting next to each other and he just basically punched me on the hand - I lost my fingernail and I've still got the scars to show for it."

Despite some defeats against Andy, Jamie was still very much on track for a professional singles career until a negative experience at an LTA training school in Cambridge in his very early teens.

He struggled with living away from home and the elite training environment, and even though he has never sought to blame the LTA, his forehand suffered and he has said he was never quite the same player again.

'Living in Andy's shadow didn't bother me'

Murray leaves the sport with more Grand Slam and tour doubles titles than any other British player in the Open Era.

He achieved so much while the attention was often on someone else in the family.

The brothers have had their odd public disagreement. Jamie criticised Andy's late withdrawal from a 2008 Davis Cup tie in Argentina, while Andy shared his frustration when Jamie slept through his alarm and ended up with nasty heatstroke at the sweltering Australian Open of 2014.

But Jamie has never shown any jealousy towards his younger sibling, and their mutual affection has often been in evidence.

"To have two brothers that got to number one in the world respectively in their disciplines at the same time is wild - it was very unique," Murray said.

"I've lived in his shadow for the whole career, which didn't bother me - I had a good career and he was having a great career.

"He was competing with the other members of the 'Big Four' and he brought so much interest to the sport with what he was trying to do. I was there doing my stuff as well, just not with the same amount of eyeballs on it."

They ultimately chased success in two different disciplines of the sport, and both rose to the very top.

The tennis rivalry they shared is long since gone, but another one is no doubt developing as both spend much of their newly found time on the golf course.

'One of the UK's best doubles players'

Murray played in 1,019 ATP Tour-level matches across a highly successful career, winning 589 times.

His brother Andy, speaking in a video message posted by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) on X, said he will "go down as one of the best doubles players the UK's ever had".

"Jamie, I'm not sure what I loved more when we were kids, being on court with you or winding you up. But I know the way we pushed each other helped us both go as far as we did," Andy added.

"Our first Olympics in Beijing, to winning the Davis Cup. All those ties back in Scotland, I'll always owe you for that final match on Centre Court.

"It meant everything to share that with you and now it's your turn to call it a day. I know you're ready. I just hope you know how proud we all are of you.

"Enjoy retirement. From your number one fan, Andy."

Britain's Davis Cup captain Leon Smith said: "Jamie's been an unbelievable player representing Great Britain on the world stage over his career.

"He's positively impacted the game of doubles in this country and globally - with his achievements and commitment to the game - and it was a great privilege to be a part of his career over the years."

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Norrie knocked out of Barcelona Open by Jodar

Britain's Cameron Norrie has been knocked out of the Barcelona Open with a straight-sets quarter-final defeat by Rafael Jodar.

Jodar wrapped up a 6-3 6-2 victory over seventh seed Norrie in 69 minutes with an impressive display on clay at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.

The 19-year-old Spaniard, who was ranked outside the world's Top 600 just 12 months ago, traded breaks with Norrie in the opening five games before he seized control of the first set.

Norrie managed to hold his serve on the first two games of the second set but at 2-2 Jodar seemed to find an extra gear against the British number one.

Cameron Norrie: British number one knocked out of Barcelona Open after quarter-final defeat by Spain's Rafael Jodar

Britain's Cameron Norrie is knocked out of the Barcelona Open with a straight-sets quarter-final defeat by Rafael Jodar.

www.bbc.com

 

[Ball Blazer]

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says he will miss next month's French Open because of an ongoing wrist injury.

The world number two withdrew from last week's Barcelona Open after sustaining an injury to his right wrist in his first-round victory.

Alcaraz, 22, had tests to determine the severity of the issue and has subsequently pulled out of the Italian Open and French Open - both played on clay courts.

"After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros, while we assess the situation to determine when we can return to the court," Alcaraz posted on Instagram.

"This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of this stronger."

Alcaraz began the year by winning his first Australian Open title - becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam - and would have been looking to kick on further, as he often does when the clay season gets under way.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion won clay-court titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros last season, and reached the final in Barcelona.

He lost the world number one ranking to long-term rival Jannik Sinner this month, after losing to him in the Monte Carlo final, and could lose significant ground to the Italian in the rankings while sidelined.

It also opens up the opportunity for Sinner to secure his own career Grand Slam - winning each of the major tournaments at least once - with the French Open the only one missing from his collection.

Since qualifying for his first Slam in 2021, Spain's Alcaraz has only missed one - when he had to withdraw from the 2023 Australian Open with a hamstring injury.

French Open: Carlos Alcaraz to miss Grand Slam title defence with wrist injury

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says he will miss next month's French Open with an ongoing wrist injury.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Defending champion Alcaraz to miss French Open

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says he will miss next month's French Open because of an ongoing wrist injury.

The world number two withdrew from last week's Barcelona Open after sustaining an injury to his right wrist in his first-round victory.

Alcaraz, 22, had tests to determine the severity of the issue and has subsequently pulled out of the Italian Open and French Open - both played on clay courts.

French Open: Carlos Alcaraz to miss Grand Slam title defence with wrist injury

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says he will miss next month's French Open with an ongoing wrist injury.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Battling Norrie beats Machac to advance in Madrid

Briton Cameron Norrie said his gritty victory over Tomas Machac to reach the third round of the Madrid Open was "one of the favourite matches" of his career.

Norrie took the opening set in swift fashion before passing up match point in the second, and eventually required a third-set tie-break to win 6-2 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5).

The 30-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open last week, has never made it beyond the third round in the Spanish capital.

"I was feeling the ball really well in the first set but it was tough to hang with him in the second and I had to dig deep in the third set when I was down a break," Norrie told Sky Sports.

"It was so, so good. It was one of the favourite matches of my career - the atmosphere was so good and it tested me in so many ways.

"These are the kind of matches where you can get through them and go on to have a great week."

Norrie will play either American Tommy Paul or Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante next.

Norrie set the tone when breaking in the opening game of the match before wrapping up the set in 36 minutes.

But the rest of the clay contest unfolded in dramatically contrasting circumstances.

Machac steadied the ship in the second and drew level after saving match point in the tie-break.

The Czech had ample chances to book his spot in the next round but let Norrie off the hook far too many times - taking just one of his 12 break point opportunities.

Norrie found himself a break down and staring at an early exit as Machac served for the match, but he dug deep to break back and held his nerve in the tie-break.

Fellow Briton Katie Boulter was unable to build on her first-round straight-set win over Taylor Townsend as she lost 6-4 6-4 against world number five Jessica Pegula.

Earlier, world number one Jannik Sinner came from a set down to beat France's Benjamin Bonzi 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 6-4.

It is Sinner's 18th successive victory after lifting titles at Indian Wells, the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters.

The Italian, who has won 27 ATP Tour events, is seeking his first at the Madrid Open and will face Danish qualifier Elmer Moller in round three.

Russia's Andrey Rublev, who won the tournament in 2024, fell to a surprise 6-3 6-4 defeat against Czech world number 66 Vit Kopriva.

Croatian Dino Prizmic also pulled off an upset with a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) win over American world number world number six Ben Shelton.

Kazakh Elena Rybakina, ranked second in the world, overcame a difficult start to beat Romania's Elena Gabriela Ruse 4-6 6-3 7-5.

World number three Coco Gauff returned from her quarter-final exit at the Stuttgart Open with an emphatic 6-3 6-0 victory against Leolia Jeanjean.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Sabalenka fights back to beat Osaka at Madrid Open

World number one Aryna Sabalenka came from a set and a break down to beat Japan's Naomi Osaka in the fourth round of the Miami Open and progress to the quarter-finals.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka secured her 15th consecutive victory of the year - and ninth in a row in Madrid - by winning 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes.

The 27-year-old had not lost a match in the Spanish capital since 2023 but she was tested early on by fellow four-time major winner Osaka, who was playing some of her strongest tennis of the season.

Also in the last 16 on Monday, American third seed Coco Gauff suffered a 4-6 6-1 6-7 (5-6) defeat by Czech Linda Noskova.

Gauff, who was lost to Sabalenka in the Madrid final last year, was 4-1 up in the final set and 4-2 ahead in the deciding tie-break before Noskova, seeded 13th, battled back twice to claim her spot in the last eight.

American Gauff, who has been unwell with a stomach virus, will drop from third to fourth when the updated world rankings are released, with Poland's Iga Swiatek replacing her.

The reigning French Open champion was ruthless in the second set after losing the first and looked a safe bet to advance to the next round at the expense of Noskova, after breaking the 21-year-old for a second time in the third set.

But world number 13 Noskova produced an impressive comeback in front of the Spanish crowd as Gauff faltered and will face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Kostyuk, 23, won 6-2 6-3 against American Caty McNally to celebrate her ninth victory in a row and back-to-back Madrid quarter-finals.

"Sometimes I get lost on court, especially in the second [set], as it happened today," said Noskova. "I had to find my rhythm all over again in the third [set]."

Meanwhile, Sabalenka will take on American Hailey Baptiste, who defeated Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-7 (14-16) 6-3 in her fourth-round match, on Tuesday.

She defeated Baptiste, 24, in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on her way to winning the title last month.

Speaking after the match, Sabalenka said Osaka, who did not play for 14 months around the birth of daughter Shai in July 2023, "played incredible tennis", adding that the third set went by so fast because she felt she had "got lucky" with some of her shots.

"I'm happy [Osaka] brought that fight, I had to fight through to level up my game," said Sabalenka, who beat Osaka in the fourth round at Indian Wells in March.

Osaka, 28, dominated the first-set tie-break and then broke Sabalenka's serve at the start of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. But the Belarusian stepped up a gear immediately with a 40-0 break to level the set 2-2.

After breaking Osaka again to go 5-3 up, Sabalenka, who has also won titles at Indian Wells and in Brisbane this year, served out to secure the second set and take the contest to a decider.

She conceded just three points in total in the fnal set and then wrapped up the match with her sixth ace of the afternoon.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sinner beats Norrie to equal historic winning run

World number one Jannik Sinner's brilliant form continued as he reached the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open with a straight-set win over Britain's Cameron Norrie.

Bidding for his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title in a row, Sinner beat Norrie 6-2 7-5 in less than 90 minutes to extend his winning streak to 20 matches.

After securing the Indian Wells, Miami Open and Monte Carlo titles, Sinner's last-16 win means he matches his tournament best in Madrid, having only reached the quarter-finals once before, in 2024.

The 24-year-old will face Czech Vit Kopriva or 19-year-old Madrid-born Rafael Jodar.

Achieving a hold to love in the opening game, 30-year-old Norrie's strong start faded quickly as Sinner broke twice to dominate the first set 6-2.

Each held serve until the fifth game when Norrie, having resisted a break point, attempted to seize momentum with an underarm serve but it failed to clear the net.

The Italian claimed the game, but Norrie broke back, winning seven successive points in his efforts to turn the tide in a first competitive meeting between the players.

At 5-5, the British number one survived two break points before surrendering the game to Sinner, who served out in the final game to become only the second player in tennis history to win the first 20 Masters 1000 matches of the season, after Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2015.

Madrid Open: Jannik Sinner dominates Cameron Norrie to equal historic match-winning run

World number one Jannik Sinner's brilliant form continues as he reaches the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open with a straight-set win over Britain's Cameron Norrie.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Baptiste saves six match points to stun Sabalenka

Hailey Baptiste saved six match points as she stunned world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

Baptiste, the 30th seed, came through 2-6 6-2 7-6 (8-6) in a little over two and a half hours to end Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak.

She is just the second player, after Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, to defeat the Belarusian this season.

"I played her a few weeks ago [in Miami] and it was a close match. I had a better idea of how to play her and adjustments I needed to make," Baptiste, 24, said.

"It was an uncomfortable situation for her, me serving and volleying, hitting a drop shot in one of the match points. It's not the easiest position to put her in, which is the plan."

After dropping the first set, Baptiste converted three of her four break points in the second to force a decider.

Trailing 5-4 in the third, the American saved five match points before earning the opportunity to serve for the match after breaking Sabalenka for a third time in the set.

Sabalenka broke back and later brought up a sixth match point at 6-5 in the tie-break. However, Baptiste rattled off three consecutive points to complete her maiden win over a top-five player.

She will face world number nine Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, who beat Canada's Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, in the semi-finals.

"She played really brave tennis on those match points," Sabalenka said. "In the first game of the second set, I double faulted twice out of nowhere. That gave her belief. She started playing aggressively. What can I say? Well done."

Baptiste saves six match points to stun Sabalenka at Madrid Open

Hailey Baptiste saves six match points as she stuns world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Draper out of French Open with knee injury

Britain's Jack Draper will miss the rest of the clay court season - including next month's French Open - because of an ongoing knee injury.

The 24-year-old hopes to return for June’s grass court season but by then will almost certainly have fallen outside the world’s top 100.

Draper retired from his one and only clay court match of the season in Barcelona earlier this month because of the tendon issue in his right knee.

He then pulled out of back-to-back ATP 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome, but expressed optimism that he would be fit for the French Open.

Jack Draper to miss French Open and rest of clay court season with knee injury

Britain's Jack Draper will miss the rest of the clay court season - including next month's French Open - with a knee tendon injury.

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Draper out of French Open with knee injury

Britain's Jack Draper will miss the rest of the clay court season - including next month's French Open - because of an ongoing knee injury.

The 24-year-old hopes to return for June’s grass court season but by then will almost certainly have fallen outside the world’s top 100.

Draper retired from his one and only clay court match of the season in Barcelona earlier this month because of the tendon issue in his right knee.

He then pulled out of back-to-back ATP 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome, but expressed optimism that he would be fit for the French Open.

"My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros," Draper posted on Instagram.

"As gutting as it is to miss another Slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five set tennis on clay."

The tournament in Barcelona was just the fourth event of Draper's comeback from bone bruising in his serving arm, which - bar one match at the US Open - had kept him off the tour since Wimbledon last year.

"Off the back of the arm injury, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again," Draper added.

Draper is 28th in the world rankings, but will fall to around 50th after the completion of this week’s Madrid Open.

That is because the former British number one finished runner-up in Madrid last year and was supposed to be defending 650 ranking points.

He will also now be unable to recoup the points he earned for reaching the quarter-finals of last year’s Italian Open and the fourth round of Roland Garros.

If fully fit, Draper could begin his grass court season in Stuttgart - where he won the title two years ago - on 8 June before heading home to play at Queen’s Club in London.

The 2024 US Open semi-finalist now has virtually no chance of being seeded for Wimbledon, which means he is very likely to come up against a seed in either the first or second round.

But that will be the least of his worries right now.

Draper had a brilliant first half of 2025, winning his first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and peaking at fourth in the world rankings.

But his early career has been riddled with injuries to his shoulder, hip, arm and now knee.

Getting fit, and staying that way, will be Draper‘s primary concern for the foreseeable future.

Draper showed at Indian Wells in March - only the second ATP event of his comeback - why he could be one of the main threats to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz over the next decade.

He reached the quarter-finals in California, claiming an impressive victory over Novak Djokovic on the way.

However, he had tape on his knee at times during that run and has been cautious with his comeback.

He withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters in late March, and then received treatment on his knee during his first-round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Barcelona before retiring midway through the deciding set.

Fellow Britons Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal have also struggled with illness and injury in recent weeks.

Raducanu skipped Madrid to continue her recovery from a lingering viral illness, while Kartal will miss the entire clay season with a back injury.

Raducanu is on the entry list for the French Open, which starts on 24 May.

She has recently resumed training at the National Tennis Centre in London, and will decide over the next few days whether to play in Rome next week.

BBC