Archive of posts filed under the Pro Tennis News category.

Niemann opens up about Major struggles despite LIV dominance: It frustrated me a lot

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golfer

Joaquin Niemann, although he excels playing at LIV Golf, his performances at the Majors do not arouse the optimism of the public, which has a lot of question marks over its head. 

While on the one hand, the Chilean excels at LIV Golf, achieving his fifth victory on the controversial Tour, his results at the Majors are not particularly optimistic. 

Niemann appeared pale in his appearances at the Majors this year, and the only notable result was a T8 at the PGA Championship. 

Aware that such results are frustrating, Niemann hopes that next year can look a little different, at least when it comes to the Majors. 

In an interview with the media after the last victory, Joaquin pointed out that it is difficult to accept a worse performance at the Majors, but it seems that he is on the right track.

"Yeah. I feel like there is nothing else to try. Yeah, it frustrated me a lot to not be playing good at the majors, you know, but I know I'm going to make it happen. I know I'm going to figure it out.

Yeah, I mean, obviously this is a game that's really frustrating, and I think we all know that. Sometimes we take it personal, like the game is doing something against us."- he said.

Joaquin Niemann: I'm patient so I know the results are going to come

Accepting setbacks and defeats is also part of the sport, and Niemann seems to be aware of that. The Chilean golfer believes that mistakes are opportunities to learn something new, but he also emphasizes how patience is key at this point. 

His results at LIV Golf are certainly cause for optimism, and now he has to figure out what is the reason for his somewhat lackluster performances at the Majors.

"But I'm always going to — in the position I am I feel like I'm always going to learn something from every mistake and every bad result. Yeah, I'm patient so I know the results are going to come. I'm just going to wait for them."

Can Novak Djokovic defy time again? Mansour Bahrami weighs in

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Alex de Minaur

Novak Djokovic has achieved everything our sport has to offer. However, the veteran remains eager to chase that elusive 25th Major crown, two decades after debuting on the most notable tennis scene. 

Legendary Mansour Bahrami shared his thoughts on Novak's ongoing pursuit in the closing stages of his career. The entertainer believed Wimbledon offered the Serb a genuine opportunity to extend his Major tally and write more history books at 38.

However, an unfortunate injury in the closing stages of the quarter-final duel against Flavio Cobolli disrupted Djokovic's momentum and blew the title chances away. 

The seven-time champion suffered a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 defeat to world no. 1 Jannik Sinner, struggling with his movement and experiencing the worst defeat in the completed semi-final encounters at Majors!

As Novak edges closer to his 39th birthday, Bahrami acknowledged the growing difficulty of adding to an already unmatched legacy. Admiration for the Serb's historic accomplishments remains strong.

However, there's a sense that time may be working against him in the Major race, especially against the dominant figures like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the proud owners of the previous seven titles. 

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Still, Bahrami leaves the door open for the possibility of a final triumph. He believes Novak could rise again at his beloved Australian Open next January and challenge the rivals from the top. 

The task is monumental, given Carlos and Jannik's mental strength and confidence. Still, if any player can bend expectations and time itself, it's Djokovic. Before that, the 38-year-old will try to make a name for himself and embrace another deep run at the US Open.

“Honestly, I thought Novak had a chance at Wimbledon. I know he wants to win that 25th Major title, and I thought he could make it at Wimbledon. However, he got injured, and we all know how that went.

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

It will only get harder for Novak, and Wimbledon could have been his last chance. We are all amazed by his incredible achievements, and it would be fantastic to see him win another Major trophy.

Novak is a great champion who has achieved everything. Is he capable of winning next year's Australian Open at nearly 39? I would give him a chance to chase it, but it will be very difficult," Mansour Bahrami said.

Montreal: Coco Gauff survives unforced errors festival vs Danielle Collins

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Beijing

Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins delivered an error-strewn display in Montreal but it was the No. 1 seed who managed to come out on top and clinch a narrow 7-5 4-6 7-6 (2) win. 

Gauff, who is seeded at No. 1 in the absence of Aryna Sabalenka, sprayed a stunning 74 unforced errors and had 23 double faults. Collins wasn't any better, firing 80 unforced errors and 13 double faults in two hours and 54 minutes of play. Overall, the two combined for a stunning 154 unforced errors. 

The third set was especially a rollercoaster – the top seed was twice up by a break but Collins managed to twice come back before also claiming a break in the 11th game to go 6-5 up. With a chance to serve out for the match, the world No. 61 failed to seal the deal and she paid the price by easily losing the tie-break.

How Gauff reacted to winning ugly against Collins?

"I was practicing well and I don't think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way. Maybe if I cut that in half, it would be a quicker match for me… I thought that I was playing well, except that part of my game," the No. 1 seed said.

In the Montreal third round, Gauff will take on Veronika Kudermetova, who defeated Olga Danilovic in the second round. So far, they have met three times and the Russian caused some problems to the American in the past, having won their 2023 Doha battle. However, the 2023 US Open champion still leads their head-to-head 2-1 since she triumphed in their 2023 Stuttgart and Beijing meetings.

Heading into the match, one thing is for sure – Gauff will look to do a much better job of making less errors on the court. 

Home star Leylah Fernandez slams Montreal organizers after 1R exit

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Leylah Fernandez

Leylah Fernandez took a shot at the Montreal organizers following her early exit at the tournament, claiming that she had made a request that wasn't granted. 

The Canadian, ranked at No. 24 in the world, won the WTA 500 tournament in Washington on Sunday and she arrived in Montreal riding a five-match winning streak. But in her opening match at the Canadian Open, the new four-time WTA champion didn't stand a chance as Maya Joint claimed a routine 6-4 6-1 win.

Speaking with reporters after the match, Fernandez revealed that she reached out to the tournament organizers asking for her first-round match to be scheduled for the Tuesday evening session. The 22-year-old also added that she had been given "a lot of promises" that would happen – but it didn't.

“I did not receive that. That hurt me because I was very looking forward to be playing at night, but I guess it's a little bit political issues at that point," the top-ranked Canadian female tennis player said afterward.

Montreal tournament director responds to Fernandez's strong words

Montreal tournament director Sophie Tetreault confirmed that the Washington champion indeed made the request and suggested that she was ready to grant it. But then, the WTA authorities stepped in and had another match that they preferred in the night slot.

“But I didn't win my fight. I received the request for her to play in the evening. It's my role to have conversations with the WTA, so I pushed as much as possible for her to have what she wanted," Tetreault said.

The main action in Montreal started on Sunday and the majority of first-round matches concluded by Monday. On Tuesday, three first-round matches were left to be played out – Fernandez was one of them. 

Fernandez losing early in Montreal is disappointing for all sides, especially knowing that she came to the Canadian Open in great form.

Watch: Alexander Zverev's bizarre Toronto moment; Umpire, crowd has good laugh

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Acapulco

Alexander Zverev had a bizarre but also hilarious moment during his opening Toronto Masters match as the world No. 3 passionately celebrated what he thought was an ace on a set point. 

Leading 7-6 in the first-set tie-break against Adam Walton, the German – who is seeded at No. 1 at the Canadian Open – went for a big serve down the line. The three-time Grand Slam finalist instantly started celebrating, believing that he sealed the first set. But he was quickly corrected by the chair umpire, who shouted, "fault!" The 28-year-old was left in disbelief while the chair umpire and the crowd had a good laugh.

However, Zverev remained calm and he did convert his set point at 7-6. Then, the top seed went on to complete a 7-6 (6) 6-4 win and progress into the Toronto Masters third round, where he plays against Matteo Arnaldi.

Zverev highlighted the importance of winning the first set

Before taking the tie-break, the Zverev trailed 3-5 and he was close to finding himself down by a set.

“It was a very important moment, very important point for me. Lucky to get through in the first set and finishing it off in two… Sometimes it’s about winning a match, [despite] not always playing your best. I know it wasn’t the prettiest match, for sure, but I haven’t played a match in four weeks. I took some time off, which I needed also for myself. I’m happy to be playing again. Tomorrow is another day and I hope I will be better tomorrow," the German said.

Against Arnaldi, Zverev has a 1-0 head-to-head record. However, their first meeting which came in Acapulco this year, was a very tight contest as the German had to come back from a set down to beat the Italian 6-7 (2) 6-3 6-4.

Bianca Andreescu laments her bad luck after 'freak' Montreal injury

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2024 Wimbledon

Bianca Andreescu says it "sucks" to be forced to withdraw from Montreal and admits she is "frustrated over a freak accident," but remains hopeful it isn't anything long-term.

With a chance to close out the match against 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, the Canadian tennis player twisted her ankle on a match point. After spending some time on the court in pain and receiving medical assistance, the 2019 US Open champion managed to continue the match and complete a 6-3 6-4 win.

Andreescu, who was in tears after beating Krejcikova, lamented her bad luck and it was clear that she may not be able to continue her Montreal campaign. Unfortunately, exactly that happened on Tuesday when she was forced to give a walkover to Mirra Andreeva. 

Andreescu: I can't really explain this injury other than call it a freak accident

The 25-year-old Canadian has a long injury history but insists she has been doing everything possible lately to have a strong body and stay healthy. Speaking to reporters after pulling out of the Andreeva match, the former world No. 4 revealed she is hoping to be able to play in Cincinnati since her injury is considered "a day-to-day thing."

“It's kind of a day-to-day thing. I'm hoping to be ready for Cincinnati, but yeah, we don't know. Can't say… It was out of nowhere. Just happened. I mean, we work proprioception every single day. We do foot exercises, ankles. Yeah, we can't really explain it. Maybe it was emotions. Maybe I was a little bit tired. I just stepped in a weird way. Yeah, we're kind of just saying it was a freak accident. It's all we can really say," Andreescu explained.

Previously, Andreescu was out for six months due to an injury and only kicked off her 2025 season in April. 

Toronto: Alexander Zverev takes a 52-shot rally, tops Adam Walton

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Adam

In the absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev is the top seed at he Canada Masters in Toronto. The German made a winning start following a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Adam Walton in the second round.

Walton pushed the 2017 champion to the limits. He led 5-3 in the tie break of the first set before Zverev turned the tables, including a 52-shot rally at 5-5! World no. 3 closed it and provided two breaks in the second set to emerge at the top.

The German dominated with his first serve and dropped only three points. He denied two of three break points and stole the rival's serve two times from six opportunities.

Alexander landed 23 winners and 32 unforced errors. He trailed in service winners but overpowered Adam from the baseline and at the net. They stayed neck and neck in the shortest exchanges, and the German bested his rival in the more advanced ones.

Zverev provided six comfortable holds in the first set and had a chance to grab an early lead. Walton denied two break points in the third game and stayed in touch until the tie break. 

The German netted a routine backhand in the eighth point and fell 5-3 behind. He painted a backhand down the line winner in the next one to reduce the deficit and landed a service winner for 5-5. 

Alexander Zverev & Adam Walton, Toronto 2025

Alexander Zverev & Adam Walton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

They embraced a 52-shot exchange in the 11th point, and the Aussie sprayed a forehand error to offer his rival a set point. Adam denied it with a forced error and locked the result at 6-6.

Alexander grabbed a mini-break with a forehand winner after a net cord and hit another forehand winner at the net at 7-6 to wrap up the first part of the duel in 57 minutes.

Walton saved break points in the second game of the second set before experiencing a break at love four games later to send world no. 3 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line.

Alexander Zverev, Toronto 2025

Alexander Zverev, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Zverev closed the seventh game with a forehand winner and moved 5-2 in front. He served for the win at 5-3 and experienced the only setback behind his initial shot. 

Alexander faced three break points and netted a forehand drive-volley on the last, allowing his opponent to extend the battle. However, the German kept his composure and extended the tenth game.

Zverev welcomed Walton's double fault, sealing the deal and moving into the third round.

One part of Wyndham Clark’s game gets high praise from Smylie Kaufman

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driver

Wyndham Clark has amazed the public with his performances in the last few weeks, and many are asking the question, can Clark be even more dominant? The famous golfer did not excel at the start of the season, having many problems in the game. However, performing at the Genesis Scottish Open, Clark showed his qualities, and he transferred his great form to the Open Championship, finishing as T4. 

However, Clark surprised the public with his decision to withdraw from the Wyndham Championship, and important figures in the golf scene reacted to this news. 

During his show, Smylie Kaufman reflected on Wyndham's decision, focusing primarily on some dominant aspects of this golfer's game.

“He’s clearly playing some good golf, has confidence in his game right now. He’s always been a really good putter in my mind, I think one of the most underrated putters on the tour really, especially if you give him enough putts from that 10 to 30 foot range, he’s going to make a couple a round. That’s how good a putter he is and how hot he can get,” he said, as reported by The Golfing Gazette.

Kaufman talks about Clark's decision

Kaufman is aware that this course is not conducive to his game, as the dominant aspects of Clark's game cannot be expressed in this tournament. 

Wyndham, on the other hand, is a golfer who analyzed the situation, having slightly different plans than some expected. 

It seems that he made a good decision, but time will tell how true that is.

“For him at Wyndham, it’s not really a good course fit at all because it takes his strengths out of his hands, which is his driving distance, how far he can hit it. But it also makes him play strategic golf where he can play that little tee down driver, just get the ball in the fairway, give himself opportunity with his wedges. He’s a bit of an inconsistent iron player I would say, and really from seven iron up, it gets a little erratic. But I think the wedges can be good at times."- he said.

He seems most focused on the Ryder Cup, wanting to win a place in the team. 

Whether he will succeed in this, time will tell, but it seems that there is not such a great chance at this moment.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz follow in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's footsteps

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All England Club

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the most notable tennis stage since 2024, having won the previous seven Major titles. Their first final came at Roland Garros this June, and they turned it into one of the most thrilling matches of all time.

We did not have to wait for too long to see the world's greatest players battle for another Major trophy, with the two favorites reaching the title clash at the All England Club. 

The first-time Wimbledon finalist Sinner ousted the two-time champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, earning his first Major crown outside hard and providing the Spaniard's first loss in the Major finals.

At 22 years and two months (Alcaraz) and 23 years and ten months (Sinner), they evoked memories of the 2006 Wimbledon final, forging the youngest title clash at the All England Club since Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. 

Eighteen years ago, the world's best players fought for the Wimbledon crown for the first time. Nadal turned 20 just a month ago, and Federer was still 24, celebrating his 25th birthday a month later.

Carlos and Jannik could not match them, but they still achieved a notable milestone, another in their growing joined CV. They could not revive the thrill and excitement from their Paris match. 

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

However, their final reflected a shift in power and reaffirmed the bright future of men's tennis. Both players are hungry for more, and no one should be surprised if we see them in another title clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium in September.

Unlike in Paris, Jannik took charge in London and celebrated his fourth Major crown. The Spaniard claimed the opener before the Italian took charge, serving well and provided a single break in each of sets two, three and four to emerge at the top.

Thus, Sinner showed incredible mental strength following the Parisian heartbreak. He bounced back at Wimbledon and secured his third trophy at the previous four Majors.

Novak Djokovic may have to wait until 2026 to make history: all details inside

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Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is realizing how difficult it will be to win another Grand Slam title and become the oldest player ever to achieve this feat. The former world No.1 still has the ability to raise his level in surprising ways in Major tournaments – having reached the semifinals in Melbourne, Paris and London this year – but the truth is that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have reached a level that is too high for him nowadays.

The Serbian legend no longer has the athletic fitness of a few years ago and the number of his injuries has definitely increased in the last year and a half, forcing him to admit that it will not be easy to make tennis history for the umpteenth time.

The 38-year-old from Belgrade could have retired in the summer of last year, after achieving the last huge goal of his career by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but he loves this sport too much and has decided to continue competing at the highest level. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has repeatedly repeated that he would be really proud to participate in the next edition of the Olympics, scheduled in Los Angeles in 2028, when he will be 41 years old.

Nole is aiming to win his 25th Grand Slam title

Meanwhile, Nole has decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 and is expected to return to action in Cincinnati next month, the last test before the start of the US Open in late August. The Serbian veteran is still enjoying his holidays in Croatia and Greece.

Speaking to Gigi Salmon on the latest episode of the 'Courtside Conversations' podcast, Mansour Bahrami reflected on Novak's current status: “I thought that he is going to do it. I know that it’s going to get more and more difficult. For me Wimbledon was maybe the last one so it would be unbelievable and he has done so many things unbelievable that we all are amazed how great he’s done.

He’s a great champion, he’s won everything and so is he capable at almost 39 to go and win Australian Open. I would say if there is one that would be Australian Open. But it’s going to be very, very hard.”

Joaquin Niemann reveals his main focus after LIV Golf UK victory

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Bryson

Joaquin Niemann is aware that he is well on his way to lifting the trophy at LIV Golf this season. Holding the leading position, the Chilean golfer is well on his way to winning the LIV Championship this season, but the next two events could be crucial for him. 

While Niemann is still enjoying his victory at LIV Golf UK, the famous golfer feels a bit of pressure regarding the next two events that will define the season. 

When asked by a reporter about his goals and thoughts on team and individual victories, Niemann emphasized that he stays focused on the present and doesn’t worry too much about the future or upcoming challenges.

" Yeah, more than looking back, whenever I get old and look at my career, I feel like it's not much I could do whenever I get older. I feel like all I'm thinking about is right now.

I'm really competitive. I don't want to obviously lose. I think most of the people on this tour are the same way.

Yeah, I mean, obviously I want to win the season. I think there is a lot of golf to play yet. Jon, we know how good of a player he is, also Bryson."- he said.

Niemann's mindset

Aware of how important a role mindset plays in a golfer's career, Joaquin stresses that his focus is on how to improve and show the best of himself.

It will be interesting to follow the next two LIV tournaments, and see if the Chilean golfer will finish the season in the right style. 

The pressure is there, but Niemann tries to distance himself from it.

"There is not much I can think about other than worry about what I'm doing, how I can improve and get better and play my best golf for the next two weeks.

I feel like that's all I'm worry about it right now.."

Adriano Panatta reveals the secret behind Jannik Sinner's greatness

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Adriano

Jannik Sinner's last two seasons have projected him into a new dimension. The Italian ace has not only become the best player in the world together with Carlos Alcaraz, but has shown consistency combined with mental strength that have few equals in the history of tennis.

The current world number 1 wants to enter the list of the best ever and works hard every day to achieve this goal, while being aware that he still has a long way to go to reach certain legends who have become icons all over the planet.

The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has already won four Grand Slam titles and a few weeks ago he took away the enormous satisfaction of winning Wimbledon for the first time in his career, taking revenge on his top rival Alcaraz who had beaten him in the Roland Garros final after canceling three match points in a row.

Panatta speaks about Sinner

Jannik is aiming to defend his title at the US Open later this summer and is practicing in Monte Carlo right now, after deciding to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 to recharge his batteries. He will return to action in Cincinnati next month and will also be called upon to defend his title in Ohio, where he had beaten Frances Tiafoe in the final of the 2024 edition.

The Italian star has just celebrated his 60th week in a row at the top of the ATP rankings and will try to maintain this position until the end of the season, although it will not be easy given the huge amount of points he will have to defend in the coming months.

During a long interview with the Italian magazine 'TV Sorrisi e Canzoni', Adriano Panatta explained what makes his young compatriot so special: "The mind is definitely the main factor that differentiates Sinner from all the other players. He is never satisfied and always studies new methods to improve together with his team.

His game is quite basic, he doesn't have a lot of variation, but the truth is that no one can keep up with his pace for an extended period of time."

Gary Williams defends Scottie Scheffler’s recent “boring” victory

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Boring

Scottie Scheffler is the main face of the golf scene at the moment, and the OWGR list speaks best of that, where Scheffler is the undisputed leader. Scottie is dominating just like last season, and there are many who consider the American golfer to be an unsolvable enigma for his opponents. 

Gary Williams, an important figure in the golf scene, spoke about Scheffler's dominance and the latest victory, which some labeled as boring. 

Golf fans stress that sometimes it is boring to watch the dominance of Scottie, but it seems that the majority do not share the same opinion. 

The dominance we haven't experienced since Tiger Woods is in the spotlight again.

“Scottie Scheffler is in a stretch of golf that you don’t see very much.

It gets to something that is interesting, whether you think the person doing it is interesting themselves. That’s what a lot of people are missing altogether when it comes to this guy."- Williams said, as quoted by the Golfing Gazette.

Scheffler's personality

There is a side that often emphasizes that Scheffler does not have the necessary charisma or energy that would make him such an important figure in the world of golf. This is also a debatable opinion, and there is another side that is happy with the dominance of such a humble man. 

Scheffler's dominance is indeed the topic of various analyzing experts, who wonder how long Scottie can stay on top and be dominant.

“So if Scottie Scheffler says or does anything that might or might not be interesting when the event is over, who cares? He is doing things in golf that only one other person [Tiger Woods] has done.

And that is, get so far ahead of the competition that he would have to take months, and maybe the next year off, for them to catch up in terms of the quantitative data to prove that they are catching up.”-he concluded.

Time will tell how much more success the 29-year-old can achieve.

Legendary coach knows what Carlos Alcaraz needs to do to go to the next level

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Alcaraz Alcaraz

One of Carlos Alcaraz's main goals this season was to finally find that consistency that he had always lacked in previous seasons. The young Spanish ace has already shown that he has a talent beyond all logic and has already won a lot if you consider that he is just 22 years old, as well as having been at the top of the ATP rankings for 36 weeks and having won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics a year ago.

However, the rise of his top rival Jannik Sinner has forced Carlitos and his team to look for new solutions to get closer to the top of the ATP rankings, which the Italian ace has monopolized for 60 weeks in a row.

Rick Macci has advice for Alcaraz

Alcaraz's 2025 had not started brilliantly, indeed the young star from Murcia had a crisis during the spring suffering a shocking elimination in the second round of the Miami Open. He took a little vacation with his family after that tournament and made his intentions clear, returning to play his best tennis on his beloved red clay.

Since that time, Carlitos has been almost unstoppable lifting the trophy in Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros and the Queen's Club. The world No.2 reached his third final in a row at the Wimbledon Championships and hoped to become the youngest ever to win six Major titles, but his run in London ended in the final against a deluxe version of Sinner who made Italian tennis history.

Through his official X profile, legendary coach Rick Macci – who also worked with the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) at the beginning of their careers – gave an important piece of advice to the 22-year-old Spaniard: “Carlos can to go to the next level if he controls the center of the court. Because he is the Spanish Cheetah he can play too far back and run track. If he is dealing the cards on the rise and plays with his eyes he has a better shot at the prize."

Serena Williams' childhood coach has sage advice for struggling Naomi Osaka

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Ariana Arseneault

Serena Williams' childhood coach Rick Macci still believes in Naomi Osaka but highlights to the former world No. 1 that she must find the right guidance and fix some technical stuff in her game.

On Sunday – just a day before her scheduled Montreal first-round match against Ariana Arseneault – the Japanese tennis player decided to end her partnership with coach Patrick Mouratoglou. While the Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the game, he didn't manage to help the current world No. 49 rediscover her form that was once making her a Grand Slam contender and champion. 

While Osaka and Mouratoglou had some positive moments and flashes – like when the Japanese reached the final at the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland and also won the WTA 125 (Challenger) tournament in Saint-Malo – overall their tenure didn't go as expected. This year, the four-time Grand Slam champion is only 21-12 and sits ranked just inside the top-50.

Macci: Osaka's split step and anticipation are not there… She can flip the script with the right choice

"Winning/losing is a fine line. Naomi can flip the script with the right choice and what she 100% needs and a proven voice. Her split step is way off and overall anticipation is on vacation. This can be corrected if it is explained in detail and no doubt her confidence will not bail," the 70-year-old coach wrote on X.

Osaka has now changed two coaches since starting her post-pregnancy comeback in 2024 January. In late 2023, she returned Wim Fissette to her team – the same coach with whom she won multiple Grand Slams in the past. Their partnership ended last September. 

It will be interesting to see what Osaka will search in a new coach and who it will be. 

LPGA/LET: Lottie Woad shows off in Scotland

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Ariya Jutanugarn

Spectacular Lottie Woad. After moving up the ranks from number one amateur, she won her first tournament as a pro, the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, which she completed with a 267 (67, 65, 67, 68, -21), capping an incredible three-week run. In early July, she won the KPMG Women's Irish Open (LET), then finished third seven days later in The Amundi Evian Championship, her fourth women's Major, both times still amateur. She now has a ticket to the LET and LPGA, which also jointly organized the tournament at Dundonald Links (par 72) in Scotland.

Lottie Woad, results

The 21-year-old from Farnham took the lead in the second round and then held off her opponents to conclude her winning run with a 68 (-4, five birdies, one bogey). She left Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, second with a 270 (-18), three strokes behind, and Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez and fellow Korean Sei Young Kim, third with a 274 (-14), seven strokes behind. She took home $300,000 from a $2,000,000 prize pool.

Two Italian players were in the field. Benedetta Moresco had a very consistent performance, finishing 21st with a 283 (70 71 71 71, -5), and Alessandra Fanali finished 50th with a 289 (74 71 72 72, +1).

Nelly Korda, number one in the Rolex Ranking, held a significant gap, even though she finished in fifth place with a 275 (-13). She was followed by Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen, sixth with a 277 (-11), South Africa's Paula Reto, seventh with a 278 (-10), Korea's Mi Hyang Lee, and Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, eighth with a 279 (-9). Among the contenders, Lauren Coughlin, defending her title, finished in tenth place with a 280 (-8).

Benedetta Moresco, in the final round, shot her third straight 71 (-1) with three birdies and two bogeys, and Alessandra Fanali finished with a 72 (par, two birdies, two bogeys).

The Rules of Golf are a set of standards and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee composed of members of the R&A and the USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision took effect on January 1, 2016. Amendments to the Rules of Golf are generally divided into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "Rules of Golf," is published regularly and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation is responsible for overseeing competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.

Alexander Zverev confesses what he is trying to 'convince' Toni Nadal

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Adam Walton

Alexander Zverev is very pleased with the help that Toni Nadal offered and admits he is working on "convincing" the legendary coach to do more work with him.

Following a latest Grand Slam heartbreak and losing in the Wimbledon first round, the German revealed that he was in a bad place mentally, which also negatively translated to his tennis. When making a candid mental health revelation, the world No. 3 also indicated that he may decide to put his tennis career on a pause.

After taking some time to figure out his next move, Zverev decided to reach out to Rafael Nadal's uncle. And Uncle Toni agreed to spend some time with the 28-year-old and invited him to the Nadal academy in Mallorca. However, not everything is great and ideal for the German as the 64-year-old coach has his own commitments, which make it impossible for the Spaniard to become the world No. 3's full-time traveling coach.

Zverev: I'm trying to convince Toni Nadal to do more weeks with me 

“I went there, I saw him and it was an amazing 10 days. I really enjoyed it and I’m very thankful to him and to Rafa also for welcoming me the way I did. It was really nice. The time in Mallorca was amazing. I'm trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, and we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man. Also he has a lot of dates that he already committed to this year, so I'm not sure how much of him you'll see this year," the three-time Grand Slam runner-up explained.

Meanhwile, Zverev is returning to action this week for the first time since his early Wimbledon exit. Since Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are not playing at the Toronto Masters, the German is the top seed. After a first-round bye, he is due to play against Adam Walton.

Toronto: Joao Fonseca experiences an early loss to Tristan Schoolkate

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Buenos Aires

Joao Fonseca entered the Canada Masters in Toronto as the member of the top-50. However, the young Brazilian did not enjoy his run at the sixth Masters 1000 event of the season following a 7-6, 6-4 defeat to Tristan Schoolkate. 

The Aussie ousted the Brazilian in an hour and 32 minutes after a rock-solid performance, notching his first top-50 victory and his second triumph at the Masters 1000 level. 

The Perth native prevailed in the opener and grabbed an early break in the second set that carried him over the top. The 24-year-old took ten points more than the young gun.

Tristan dropped 14 points behind the initial shot and faced no break points. Fonseca could not stay in touch despite a solid effort, losing serve in the early stages of the second set and hitting the exit door. 

Thus, a teenager extended his ups and downs, still waiting to claim three straight ATP wins after lifting his first ATP title in Buenos Aires in February. Both players hit more unforced errors than winners.

Schoolkate had the upper hand in service winners and from the baseline. The lower-ranked player forged his win in the shortest range up to four strokes following more free points on his tally.

Tristan Schoolkate, Toronto 2025

Tristan Schoolkate, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Joao faced a break point in the second game of the duel and denied it with a powerful forehand winner. They served well in the remaining games, and Fonseca provided a fine hold at 5-6 to introduce a tie break. 

They exchanged early mini-breaks and served well in the upcoming points. The Aussie moved 5-4 in front with a fine attack and welcomed the rival's routine forehand error for a mini-break in the tenth point and two set points. 

Schoolkate converted the second with an unreturned serve, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 52 minutes. Tristan secured five fine holds in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side.

Joao Fonseca, Toronto 2025

Joao Fonseca, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Joao missed two game points at 1-1 after the rival's return winner and experienced a break after the rival's sharp return and his mistake. Schoolkate needed no second invitation to bring the victory home from there. 

The Aussie served well and held in game eight with a forehand winner for 5-3. Tristan served for a win at 5-4 and landed a service winner on a match point, sealing the deal and sending the young gun packing.

Padraig Harrington dominates Major for over 50

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Ben Curtis

Ireland's Padraig Harrington dominated the ISPS Handa Senior Open, one of the majors for "over-50s," finishing with a 264 (67, 65, 65, 67, -16) on the par-70 Sunningdale GC course, in the town from which the course takes its name, England.

Padraig Harrington, results

In the tournament organized jointly by the Legends Tour and the PGA Tour Champions, Harrington took the lead in the second round and then controlled the situation, preventing his opponents from coming back. He finished with a 67 (-3, one eagle, three birdies, two bogeys), prevailing by three shots over American Justin Leonard and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who finished second with 267 (-13).

Australian Scott Hend finished fourth with a 268 (-12), South African Ernie Els and Australian Cameron Percy in fifth with a 269 (-11), and New Zealander Steven Alker, who had led in the opening round, finished seventh with a 270 (-10). Emanuele Canonica, who finished 110th with a 146 (72 74, +6), made the cut after two rounds.

Padraig Harrington, 53, from Dublin, won his third Major title in his category (his second this year after the U.S. Senior Open) and his 11th on the PGA Tour Champions, where he currently plays. Before joining the "over-50" ranks, he won three career Majors, and, excluding those, three PGA Tour events and 12 European Tour (now the DP World Tour). His list of victories also includes one on the Japan Golf Tour, two on the Asian Tour (plus two combined with the European circuit), one World Cup (with Paul McGinley, 1997), and ten others around the world. For his achievement, he received a check for €381,190 out of a prize pool of approximately €2,427,000 (officially $2,850,000).

Pádraig Harrington, born August 31, 1971 in Ballyroan, is an Irish golfer who turned professional in 1995. His greatest achievement was a victory at the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie in Scotland. He retained his title a year later at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England. At the 2008 PGA Championship, he edged Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis by two strokes to win the tournament for the first time in his career and his third Grand Slam title.

Frances Tiafoe rips unconventional Toronto Masters final date as 'garbage'

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Canada

Frances Tiafoe straight up ripped the new Toronto Masters final date as "weird" and "garbage."

On Sunday, which was July 27th, the main action officially started at the Canadian Masters tournament. This year, 96 players entered the main draw for the event slated to last 12 days. In the past, the the Canadian tournament was a seven-day event, featuring 56 players. 

While the first thing that stands out is the fact that the Canadian Open expanded, one of the very interesting things about this year's Toronto event is its final date – August 7th, Thursday. 

Tiafoe, who is making his seventh appearance at the Canadian Masters this year, was asked about the format change. And while he is excited about being in Toronto, he admitted to being a but stunned by some of the changes implemented by the tournament.

Tiafoe on the Canadian Masters final date: That's garbage…

"It is what it is. I like that it’s a bit shorter than Madrid, Rome. Weird because the final is on a Thursday. That’s garbage. But, I mean, I think it’s going to be great. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I love the city of Toronto. My girlfriend’s from there. Then I’ve got a lot of friends in the league from there, so I’m going to be set up, have a good time," the American tennis star said.

In the past, Tiafoe played three times in Toronto and three times in Montreal. So far, the 27-year-old has had more success in the Ontario region, reaching the round-of-16 twice when the Canadian Masters was taking place in that particular. In Montreal, the American has never made it past the second round.

This year, Tiafoe is seeded at No. 7 and has a first-round bye. Then, he will the winner of the match between Daniel Altmaier and Yosuke Watanuki. 

Since Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are all skipping Canada this year, there could be Tiafoe's chance to possibly make a run and play that final next Thursday.

Watch: Novak Djokovic tries surfing in Croatia

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Belgrade

Novak Djokovic has not yet revealed his schedule ahead of the US Open, which will start in less than a month in New York. The former world No. 1 has only announced that he will not participate in the 2025 edition of the Toronto Masters 1000, a decision that is not surprising considering that the Serbian legend has not played in Canada since 2018.

The 38-year-old from Belgrade suffered a small muscle problem during the Wimbledon Championships, in which he reached the semifinals losing decisively to current world number 1 Jannik Sinner. During the subsequent press conference, Nole admitted that his body no longer gives him the same guarantees as a few years ago and emphasized how hard it is to compete with opponents much younger than him at this stage of his career.

At the same time, Djokovic does not seem to have any intention of giving up and still dreams of becoming the oldest ever to win a Major title. He will not start among the favorites even at the US Open, where he lifted his latest trophy in 2023 by beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Novak will certainly have less pressure than usual in the Big Apple and will also have to hope for a bit of luck, otherwise it will be difficult to defeat Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have taken control of the men's tour by sharing the last seven Grand Slam titles.

Nole is having fun in Croatia

Barring any surprises, the Serbian veteran is expected to participate in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 before the US Open. He won his latest title in Ohio two years ago by beating Alcaraz at the end of an epic final, while last year he skipped this event to recharge his batteries after the Paris Olympics.

Meanwhile, Nole was spotted enjoying his holidays in Croatia and was joined by former Real Madrid star Luka Modric. In a video circulating on social media, Novak can be seen having fun on an electric surfboard.

Holger Rune reveals his feelings about his time with Andre Agassi

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Agassi Holger

Holger Rune is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated players at the Toronto Masters 1000, where he has the chance to achieve a prestigious result given the numerous absences among the top players. There are no Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who occupy the top two positions in the ATP rankings, and Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper are not present in Canada either.

The young Danish star is not going through a brilliant moment in his career, especially considering that there were huge expectations on him when he took his first steps on the professional tour. He has had several injuries in recent seasons and has made several mistakes, changing coaches several times and never finding the necessary stability to fully express his talent.

At the beginning of his career, Rune was considered at the same level as Sinner and Alcaraz, but it is difficult to have the same opinion today given that the Italian has already won four Grand Slam titles and the Spaniard has won five Majors.

Rune opens up on Agassi

Holger – who also disappointed expectations at Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships – understood that something must change to turn his career around and practiced in Washington together with a legend like Andre Agassi, who was by his side for three days before the start of the event. The Dane was unable to participate in this tournament due to back discomfort.

In a long interview with 'Ziggo Sport' before the start of the 'Canadian Open', the former world number 4 reflected on his time together with Agassi: "It was a great experience to share the court with a tennis legend for a few days. I learned several things and we tried to understand how to perfect my tennis. Andre is very good at listening and gives great advice, which is why I am really grateful to him. It spurred me on to find more balance in my game and there I worked with maximum effort."

Rune will not have an easy debut in Toronto, as his first opponent will be French ace Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Former ATP ace praises Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's new schedule

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Carlitos

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – the top two players in the ATP rankings – both decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000, which also had to suffer the forfeit of Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper. The Italian and the Spaniard have had to use a lot of energy in the last month and a half, particularly at Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships, where they faced each other in the final giving a show to fans around the world.

Their clash in Paris was one of the most electrifying of the modern era, considering that the 22-year-old from Murcia cancelled out three match points in a row to his top rival before winning in the fifth set after almost five and a half hours. The current world No. 1 got his revenge in the final act of Wimbledon just over two weeks ago, coming back from a set down and preventing Carlitos from lifting his third trophy in a row at Church Road.

Sinner and Alcaraz don't take risks

Both allowed themselves a period of relaxation after the third Major of the season and resumed practicing a few days ago, respectively in Monte Carlo and Spain. Fans will have to wait until the Cincinnati Masters 1000 to see these young champions in action, who have already set the US Open as their main goal this summer.

The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria will try to defend the top position in the ATP rankings in the second half of the season, while Carlos will be able to take advantage of the fact that he has not shone from Wimbledon onwards in 2024.

In a long interview with 'Il Corriere della Sera', former Italian ace Paolo Canè commented on Sinner and Alcaraz's choice to skip Toronto: "Although they are still very young, Jannik and Carlitos are already true champions. Not only do I agree with their decision to skip this tournament, but I am happy about it. It means that they have understood that they have to preserve their body and not just think about results, but about prolonging their careers. The secret in today's tennis is to play little and win often."

Carlos Alcaraz can become World No.1 already after 2025 US Open: all details inside

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2025 US Open

If he participated in the Toronto Masters 1000, Carlos Alcaraz would have had a chance to get closer to Jannik Sinner in the ATP rankings. The world No. 1 was the first to announce his absence in Canada, having to recharge his batteries after winning the Wimbledon title for the first time in his career.

A few days later, the 22-year-old Spaniard made the same decision having played many matches in recent months. The five-time Grand Slam champion made it to the bottom of every tournament, lifting his second trophy in a row at Roland Garros and reaching another final at Church Road (lost to his top rival in four sets).

The world number 2 will return to action in Cincinnati and will use this tournament as a test in view of the US Open, where he had a disastrous run last year being eliminated already in the second round.

The rivalry continues

Sinner will have to defend 3000 points between Cincinnati and the US Open, in addition to losing the 200 points obtained in Montreal last year.

This means that Alcaraz has a real chance to overtake his top rival already by the end of the summer, but to succeed in this feat he would have to win the title in both Ohio and New York.

The Italian ace will have many more points to defend than the Spanish star even in the latter part of the season, considering that he had triumphed at the Shanghai Masters 1000 and the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in 2024.

Carlos – on the contrary – had not particularly shone in the second half of last season, except for his victory at the Beijing ATP 500 beating Jannik at the end of a truly spectacular final.

This rivalry is set to electrify fans in the second half of 2025 as they wait to see if any other players can become dangerous to their dominance. The general feeling is that these two young champions are taking tennis into a new dimension, creating a huge gap compared to all their opponents.

Watch: Carlos Alcaraz trains at home in Murcia ahead of Cincinnati return

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Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz is back on the practice court, preparing for the North American swing following a well-earned post-Wimbledon break. World no. 2 hit the court at the La Manga Club in Cartagena, Murcia. 

The five-time Major champion trained with a familiar face – Rafa Segado. The two go way back to their days at the JC Ferrero Academy. Segado competes in college tennis for the Florida Gators.

Carlos suffered his first loss in the Major finals in London, falling to Jannik Sinner in four sets and missing his third straight Wimbledon crown. The Spaniard opted to skip the Canada Masters in Toronto to recharge. 

After embracing a couple of entertaining weeks with his family and friends, the 22-year-old is back on the court, getting ready for his return in Cincinnati, the seventh Masters 1000 event of the season.

With minimal points to defend in Cincinnati and the US Open, Carlos sees a prime opportunity to close the gap on Jannik in the ATP rankings and chase the ATP throne for the first time since 2023! 

The Spaniard is plotting a strong summer run – one that could propel him back toward the no. 1 spot. Alcaraz is leading the ATP Race ahead of Sinner following a brilliant run since April. 

The young gun has reached six consecutive finals, embracing his career-best winning streak and lifting four trophies, including a Major and two Masters 1000 shields. 

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© X – Wimbledon

 

Carlos bested his rivals in Monte Carlos and Rome. He used that boost and defended the Roland Garros title after one of the most thrilling Major finals in tennis history. 

Alcaraz defeated Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, saving three match points and moving over the top after five hours and 29 minutes. The same rivals met in the Wimbledon final. 

The Spaniard claimed the opener before the Italian responded and notched a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in just over three hours. Thus, Carlos experienced his first defeat in the Major finals. 

The young gun will work hard on improvements ahead of Cincinnati and the US Open, setting his eyes on the two notable events and hoping to steal his greatest rival's glory.