Archive of posts tagged Paris

Holger Rune joins Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner in exclusive 'Club 50'

Posted by on

6 Kings Slam

Holger Rune celebrated a milestone victory in Cincinnati. The young Dane ousted Roman Safiullin 7-5, 7-6 in an hour and 58 minutes in the second round, prevailing and making a winning start.

Holger celebrated his 50th Masters 1000 victory, becoming the fourth player born in 2000 or later to achieve that. Rune joined Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the exclusive 'Club 50.'

The Dane claimed his first Masters 1000 win in Indian Wells three and a half years ago. He claimed the Paris Masters crown later that season following five straight top-10 triumphs!

Holger was the finalist in Monte Carlo and Rome in the spring of 2023, and his most recent Masters 1000 final came in Indian Wells this March. The youngster will seek his fifth Masters 1000 final in Cincinnati.

The 7th seed had to dig deep in his first test in Ohio. He took six points more than Safiullin and prevailed in the decisive moments to avoid a decider. Rune lost serve two times and provided three return games from five chances.

They sprayed over 70 unforced errors, and the Dane reduced the number of errors. Holger forged the advantage in service winners but lost in from the baseline. He had the upper hand in the shortest exchanges, and Roman reduced the gap in the mid-range ones.

Holger Rune, Cincinnati 2025

Holger Rune, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

They traded breaks in the middle of the opening set. The Dane provided another break in game nine and served for the set at 5-4. Rune wasted two set points and lost serve. 

However, he kept his composure and closed the opener with another break at 5-5 and a hold in game 12. The second set was much more fluid, with no break chances and 12 comfortable holds. 

Rune grabbed two mini-breaks for a 5-2 advantage. Roman erased the deficit with a mini-break in the tenth point, locking the result at 5-5. Still, Holger claimed a decisive point on the return at 6-5, sealing the deal and making a winning start.

Carlos Alcaraz faces Damir Dzumhur in Cincinnati. Another thriller coming?

Posted by on

Alcaraz

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will chase his first Cincinnati Masters title. The Spaniard starts his campaign against Damir Dzumhur, returning to action for the first time since losing his first Major final to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.

Carlos and Damir embraced a thriller at Roland Garros two months ago, and maybe we can see another tight duel between them in Ohio. The Spaniard and the Bosnian faced in the third round in Paris.

The favorite prevailed 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and 14 minutes en route to the last 16. Alcaraz controlled the pace in the opening two sets before losing his vibe and struggling in the remaining two.

Dzumhur took the pivotal points of the third set and forged a 3-1 advantage in the fourth, using the defending champion's shaky period. However, Carlos woke up and grabbed five of the final six games to emerge at the top and avoid a decider. 

The Spaniard admitted he did not know what to do in the third set, losing ground and struggling to overcome an inspired opponent. However, he found improvements and wrapped up a challenging duel in style. 

Alcaraz played against 12 break points and saved nine. He generated 21 chances on the return and converted seven, including ones in the pivotal moments. The Spaniard hit 52 winners and 44 unforced errors.

Damir Dzumhur & Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025

Damir Dzumhur & Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot

 

World no. 2 saved two break points in the first game of the duel and secured back-to-back breaks en route to 6-1 in under half an hour. Damir lost serve at 1-1 in the second set and fell behind. 

The Bosnian served to stay in the set at 3-5 and played another loose service game, propelling his rival two sets to love in front. Dzumhur raised his level in the third set.

He secured a break in the seventh game and disturbed the rival's momentum. Damir denied six break points in games eight and ten, wrapping up the set 6-4 and gaining a boost.

Carlos made his position even more challenging after losing serve at the beginning of the fourth set. He trailed 3-1 before erasing the deficit with a break in game six.

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2023© Stream screenshot

 

The Spaniard secured the seventh game after a deuce and moved in front. The defending champion made another push on the return at 4-3 and delivered another break to rattle off four games and extend the gap. 

Alcaraz served for the win at 5-3 and suffered a break to keep his rival in contention. However, Dzumhur experienced another break at 4-5, propelling the favorite into the last 16.

Ben Goes Big: Shelton Becomes Youngest American Masters Champion in 21 Years

Posted by on

By Chris Oddo | Thursday August 7, 2025

Blood, sweat, tears and – finally – triumph. Ben Shelton gave it all in Toronto and took home the hardware as the youngest American to win a Masters title since Andy Roddick in 2004, defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in two hours and 47 minutes.

Tennis Express player gear
Tennis Express player gear

Shelton is the first American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he will rise to a career-high ranking of No.6.

“I feel so blessed,” Shelton said. “Just to have opportunities like this. The joy that I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people that I get to spend every day with.”

It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second career meeting which saw Khachanov jump out in front on the strength of a solid first-set tiebreak.

But Shelton would not be denied. The 22-year-old American answered back, going unbroken in sets two and three and winning four of the final five points in the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and biggest ATP title.

Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the tournament.

When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his way to the crowd to share the moment with his coach and father Bryan. His coach encouraged him to step into the court and take balls earlier against Khachanov, and the strategy paid dividends.

“I love the way that he coaches me,” Shelton said. “He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”

Khachanov went more than six years between Masters finals, a record, but could not summon the magic that he displayed when winning the Paris title in 2018.

Still, he will rise to No.12 in the rankings after a strong effort that saw him save a match point while knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semis.

“Definitely still it’s a positive, great tournament, great run,” he said. “I had some great battles, great wins against top guys. So that’s why I give credit to myself for doing that, and that’s it.

“I mean, you can win, you can lose, so you just try to regroup and be ready for the next tournament, it’s another Masters 1000, and then it’s a Grand Slam. So this is tennis, so sometimes you have to regroup quickly and be fit, be ready for the next match.”

Ben Goes Big: Shelton Becomes Youngest American Masters Champion in 22 Years

Posted by on

By Chris Oddo | Thursday August 7, 2025

Blood, sweat, tears and – finally – triumph. Ben Shelton gave it all in Toronto and took home the hardware as the youngest American to win a Masters title since Andy Roddick in 2004, defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in two hours and 47 minutes.

Tennis Express player gear
Tennis Express player gear

Shelton is the first American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he will rise to a career-high ranking of No.6.

“I feel so blessed,” Shelton said. “Just to have opportunities like this. The joy that I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people that I get to spend every day with.”

It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second career meeting which saw Khachanov jump out in front on the strength of a solid first-set tiebreak.

But Shelton would not be denied. The 22-year-old American answered back, going unbroken in sets two and three and winning four of the final five points in the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and biggest ATP title.

Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the tournament.

When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his way to the crowd to share the moment with his coach and father Bryan. His coach encouraged him to step into the court and take balls earlier against Khachanov, and the strategy paid dividends.

“I love the way that he coaches me,” Shelton said. “He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”

Khachanov went more than six years between Masters finals, a record, but could not summon the magic that he displayed when winning the Paris title in 2018.

Still, he will rise to No.12 in the rankings after a strong effort that saw him save a match point while knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semis.

“Definitely still it’s a positive, great tournament, great run,” he said. “I had some great battles, great wins against top guys. So that’s why I give credit to myself for doing that, and that’s it.

“I mean, you can win, you can lose, so you just try to regroup and be ready for the next tournament, it’s another Masters 1000, and then it’s a Grand Slam. So this is tennis, so sometimes you have to regroup quickly and be fit, be ready for the next match.”

Karen Khachanov comments on dealing with angry bettors amid sad Elina Svitolina case

Posted by on

Alexander Zverev

Karen Khachanov says every tennis player is pretty familiar with online abuse and admits it is not a pleasant feeling, but believes that staying smart and not engaging with such people is the best thing to do.

In case you missed it, Elina Svitolina was subjected to some pretty disgusting messages following her Montreal quarterfinal loss on Monday – her DM was full of various insults and some even mentioned her family and sent death threats.

On Tuesday, Khachanov was in action at the Canadian Masters as he defeated top seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 4-6 7-6 (4) to reach the final. In his presser, the 29-year-old Russian was asked whether he noticed Svitolina's post and if he has dealt with something similar.

"My whole career, I would say, I heard it (laughing), like any other tennis player, I guess any other sportsman, athlete, you know," the seven-time ATP champion said.

Khachanov: They want to provoke you and you sometimes want to respond… But don't do that

"Now anyone can write anything they want, from fake accounts or whatever, just to kind of, yeah, piss you off or whatever, just get inside your head. But this is what they are trying to do… But sometimes you want to respond. But at the same time this is what they are trying, they are provoking you. You know, to answer means, means that it matters to you, so you just have to try to get over it," the Russian explained.

In the same interview, Khachanov noted that his agents run his social media accounts and that he only uses social media when he wants to personally check something, and that he tries to avoid reading anything else as much as possible.

Meanwhile, Khachanov is due to play Ben Shelton in the Toronto Masters final. If the 2018 Paris champion wins, it will be his second Masters title.

KK Pop: Khachanov Saves Match Points, Edges Zverev To Reach Toronto Final

Posted by on

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Photo credit: National Bank Open by Rogers Facebook

A titanic tiebreak tug of war culminated with Karen Khachanov making the pivotal pull. 

Khachanov denied match point in the 12th game edging top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a near three-hour thriller to advance to his second career ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto tonight.

Alexander Zverev

The 16th-ranked Russian reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final since he stunned Novak Djokovic to capture the 2018 Paris Masters Indoors.

Khachanov will face the winner of tonight’s all-American semifinal between second-seeded Taylor Fritz and fourth-seeded Ben Shelton in tomorrow’s final.

Tonight’s opening semifinal was a rematch of the 2021 Olympic gold-medal match that saw Zverev prevail 6-3, 6-1. 

Though Khachanov took the court armed with an ignominious 2-21 record vs. Top 3-ranked opponents, he showed major mettle at crunch time—and was aided by a fortunate bounce off the net that kept him in this tight test.

“Generally I think today also I didn’t feel my best on the court, didn’t play my best tennis,” Zverev said. “Also, the first set was terrible, so I kind of gave him a head start, and he’s too good to not use that.

“So, yeah, I still had match point, so it’s upsetting that I lost this match. But that’s the way it is, we move on, I go to Cincinnati and try to do better.”

Serving down match point at 5-6 in the decider, Khachanov challenged Zverev’s vaunted backhand. The German lined up his two-hander and lashed a liner that had match-ending winner written all over it. 

The return crashed into the top of the tape, hung in the air for a split second then dripped back onto Zverev’s side of the net as Khachanov breathed a sigh of relief.

That reprieve emboldened the Russian, who ripped a forehand down the line holding to force the decisive tiebreaker. 

When Zverev zapped a swinging forehand volley winner he was up 3-1 in the tiebreaker and seemingly in command. 

Khachanov had other ideas.

The 11th-seeded Khachanov tore through five points in a row coaxing a couple of backhand errors and knocking off a high forehand volley. Zverev’s two-handed backhand is one of the best in the sport, but he netted that trusty weapon to face three match points at 6-3.

On his second match point, Khachanov cranked the wide serve closing a two hour, 52-minute battle. 

It was Khachanov’s first Top 10 win of the season, his first win over Zverev since the 2019 Montreal and sends him into his first final of the year.

In the opening set, Zverev more than doubled Khachanov’s winner total—11 to 5—but Khachanov cashed in on the lone break point of the set and that made all the difference. Khachanov converted the lone break point of the set for 3-1 and consolidated for 4-1. The bearded Russian converted his third set point for a one-set lead.

On the fast Toronto court, neither man was severely stressed on serve in the second set until the final game when Khachanov played a horrific game and Zverev broke to snatch the set and forced a decider.

This match marked the eighth time in the tournament a match was decided in the final-set tiebreaker.

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on Wimbledon loss to Jannik Sinner: 'I left the court happy'

Posted by on

All England Club

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will chase his first Cincinnati crown. The 22-year-old hit the practice court in Ohio with his trademark energy and perspective, leaving the recent setback behind and chasing new titles.

The five-time Major champion reflected on a key moment from earlier this summer – his first loss in a Major final at Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner. After winning the first five Major finals, Carlos ended on the losing side for the first time. 

Jannik lost the opener but earned a well-deserved 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory, avenging the Roland Garros heartbreak. Despite the defeat, the Spaniard found reasons to leave the court with pride and joy.

Alcaraz entered the final with a 5-0 score in the title match, a remarkable feat for any player. However, he acknowledged the fact he had to lose a Major final at some point, like every other player.

As he walked off Centre Court without his third consecutive Wimbledon trophy, the 22-year-old felt pride instead of frustration. The Spaniard recognized the need for improvement but described his defeat as part of a natural progression.

The setback has not dampened Alcaraz's drive. Instead, with a grounded mind and a growing hunger to evolve and become one of the ultimate tennis champions, he is focused on what lies ahead.

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© Facebook – Wimbledon

 

His next goal? Cincinnati and US Open titles and the ATP throne taken away from Jannik Sinner! The hard-court season unfolds, and Carlos brings with him the lessons from the All England Club. 

They are not a burden but fuel for the journey forward. After performing a miraculous escape in Paris, the Spaniard could not provide similar performance in London. 

He claimed the opener before Sinner bounced back and claimed the next three sets with a single break in each, outplaying his greatest rival and providing his first loss in Major finals.

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, 2025© Stream screenshot

 

"I want to win every final I play, especially at Majors. I lost to Jannik at Wimbledon, but left the court happy and proud. I smiled and thought that I had to lose a Major final at some point, like everyone else.

I have to make many improvements from the title match in London, but I felt good right after the match. I had to be grateful for everything I have achieved, and reaching the Wimbledon final is always great.

I lost it, but I still felt proud and happy with everything I did," Carlos Alcaraz said. 

Novak Djokovic recalls his amazing triumph at the Paris Olympics one year on

Posted by on

Alexander Zverev

Exactly one year ago, Novak Djokovic achieved the last huge feat of his career by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics against all odds. Everyone knows how much the Serbian legend has always loved representing his country, but he had never expressed his best tennis at the Games in previous editions, suffering some of the most painful defeats of his entire career.

The former world No. 1 had left the court in tears after being beaten by Juan Martin del Potro at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, in what Nole has always defined as one of the most atrocious disappointments he has experienced as a professional tennis player.

Almost all fans and insiders believed that Novak would have his last chance to reach this milestone in Tokyo in 2021, after the Olympics had been postponed by a year due to the pandemic.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was the top favorite in Japan, considering that he was virtually unbeatable that season having won the first three Majors of the year. Djokovic reached the semifinals in Tokyo without any effort, but his perfect mechanism jammed in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev when he was ahead by a set and a break. He suffered a shocking comeback and everyone thought that his dream had now been shattered.

Djokovic on his amazing run in Paris

The 38-year-old from Belgrade was not the top favorite in Paris last year, on a surface much more suited to the game than Carlos Alcaraz (who had won Roland Garros on those same courts a short time earlier). The former world No.1 had an exceptional run, enhanced by an impeccable performance against Carlitos in the final.

Exactly one year after that magical triumph, Djokovic expressed his feelings: “Oh my gosh, I’ve watched this video probably one million times. Not recently, now I’ve made a little break, but now you’re inspiring me to watch it again and again. It just stands out as probably the highlight of my career, considering the amount of time and years that I waited for that — or haven’t waited — I worked for it.

But the heartbreaking losses in the previous four Olympic Games that I played, unable to make that final step and reach the finals and fight for gold. It was the only big accolade that I missed, that I haven’t achieved in my career, and then coming at the age of 37, it is something very unique, unforgettable.

How Alex de Minaur Shook Off Mid-Season Fatigue, Burnout

Posted by on

By Chris Oddo | Monday August 4, 2025

After crashing out of this year’s French Open Alex de Minaur – the seemingly indefatigable Aussie who plays tennis like the energizer bunny – cited burnout as one of the biggest contributing factors to his on court struggles.

“For the last three, four years I’ve had two days off after the Davis Cup and I’ve gone straight into preseason, straight into the new season again,” he said after falling to Alexander Bublik in five sets in the second round in Paris.

Tennis Express player gear
Tennis Express player gear

“Once you start, you don’t finish until Nov. 24. So it’s never ending. The way [the season] is structured … I had to deal with that. I’m still dealing with that right now.”

Two months later, the 26-year-old Aussie is looking recharged, even if he is at a lower ranking. That’s became De Minaur skipped out on his ‘s-Hertogenbosch title defense in order to prioritize his mental and physical health over chasing ranking points.

This week in Toronto he rides an eight-match winning streak into the quarterfinals.

“I took some time off, I didn’t play some tournaments. I knew I had to kind of shift my mindset a little bit, because what I was feeling, what I was dealing with every single day, was not sustainable, and was the reason for my burnout,” De Minaur said earlier this week.

“So, I decided not to try and defend the title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, even though I knew it would affect my seeding at Wimbledon. And that for me was the first step, forgetting about my ranking and just worrying about myself a little bit more.”

De Minaur and many other players – from Casper Ruud to Alexander Zverev to Iga Swiatek – have expressed worry about the demands of the current tour schedule, and the smart ones are learning to take matters into their own hands.

“I managed to have a great balance,” De Minaur said. “I’ve had a lot of talks off the court to make sure I am in this right mindset. Now I’m prioritizing myself, and I know that I’m a good enough player, I know I’m a top-10 player, even if I’m not, I wasn’t in that ranking a couple weeks ago.

“If I show up, and I’m mentally ready and physically ready, I know I can provide that tennis. The last couple weeks have been an example of that, so very proud.”

Holger Rune shares his frustration after his loss in Toronto

Posted by on

Alexei Popyrin

There were huge expectations on Holger Rune in this edition of the Toronto Masters 1000, where the young Danish ace could benefit from the absence of several top players such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper. The former world number 4 had started his run well in Canada and seemed to be able to go far in this tournament, but was eliminated by Alexei Popyrin in the round of 16.

The winner of the 2022 Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 lost to a very dangerous player on this surface, who is capable of shining at the 'Canadian Open' considering that he lifted the trophy in Montreal a year ago, but Rune showed all his weaknesses once again.

The former Top 5 player had the chance to practice alongside a legend like Andre Agassi before the start of the North American tournaments, but ruled out that the American will follow him around the world as he already has a very busy schedule.

Rune lost again

The feeling is that Holger needs new stimuli at this stage of his career, which has entered a stagnant phase and there do not seem to be effective solutions for the moment. With the exception of excellent performances in Indian Wells (where he reached the final) and Barcelona (where he lifted the trophy), Rune's 2025 has not been satisfactory so far and his results in Grand Slam tournaments have been far below expectations.

During his latest press conference in Toronto, the Danish star confided that he was quite disappointed: "I didn't play my best tennis and it was a disappointing performance, there's not much more to add. I didn't express the level I wanted, I struggled with my serve and I didn't feel comfortable on court. I have to adopt better strategies during matches and select my shots in a better way. When I can make this improvement, then my results will improve."

Rune's next tournament will be the Cincinnati Masters 1000, scheduled for August 7-18.

Alexander Zverev sounds off on two-week Masters format, calls out ATP bosses

Posted by on

Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev reveals he is not a fan of two-week Masters tournaments and suggests the ATP made the schedule harder for players instead of making it easier after repeated calls to make changes to what many think is a pretty crowded calendar.

In the past, Indian Wells and Miami were the only Masters tournaments longer than a week. In recent years, several other tournaments from the 1000-category became a 10-day or 12-day events, with Monte Carlo and Paris remaining as the only tournaments from the category that take a week to finish. 

Zverev, who turned 28 in April and has been around for long enough to know the difference between the past and the new format, doesn't think the idea is great at all. 

Zverev: I think all the players loved the old Masters format…

During his appearance on the Nothing Major Show, the German tennis star noted that Masters tournaments are mandatory and that seven of the nine tournaments from the category last for more than a week. Then, the three-time Grand Slam finalist declared Monte Carlo and Paris as "the best two weeks on the ATP Tour."

“I mean, I won it, which was even more awesome for me, but you get there, you play your five matches, and you get out of there. You do not have to stick around or practice in between matches. That is how Masters events used to be and I think all the players loved it. Now the ATP has made four mandatory 500 events for you to play, which used to be three, now it’s four. So you don’t get under 20 events except if you are pulling out of the big events," Zverev added.

To Zverev's defense, some of his colleagues have also spoken out against the new format, arguing that there is no need for a Masters tournament to take longer than a week and that it only makes the calendar harder. But on the other side, some also defended the new format, arguing that a usual day off between matches helps a lot to regenerate for the next match. 

Meanwhile, Zverev is playing at the ongoing 1000-level event in Toronto, where he is due to meet Francisco Cerundolo in the round-of-16.

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

Posted by on

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

Posted by on

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.”

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

Posted by on

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."

How Ted Scott’s advice helped Scheffler conquer the greens at Olympics

Posted by on

France

Scottie Scheffler excelled at the Olympics in Paris, winning the gold medal last year. The American golfer was a dominant figure before, and it was expected that he could make a big step in France. 

His caddy, Ted Scott, was an important figure along the way. 

During a guest appearance on one of the podcasts, Scottie Scheffler referred to the golden medal in Paris, placing a special emphasis on the caddy. 

The American golfer is delighted with Scott's behavior, manners, and attitudes.

Although some often downplay the role of caddies in the success of golfers like Scottie Scheffler, the famous golfer stresses that Scott has always been a person whose advice was key for him.

“Teddy is an amazing caddie. He is a great person. He is one of those guys that when he meets somebody they feel like they are his best friend because he treats people so well. He is an amazing guy to be around. Everybody is his best friend. He is extremely likeable,” Scheffler said.

“So having him on the bag, he works as hard as I do, if not harder. So when he gives me information out on the golf course I can really trust knowing that he is not just making stuff up. He knows exactly what slope is up there and how the ball is going to react. He just knows his stuff so I can just go out there and try and hit the shot. I feel like with both of us out there his preparation is so important to what we do. He is just a great asset to me on the golf course and he’s one of my best friends in the whole world too, he’s just an all round great guy.”

Ted Scott's importance

Scheffler had a lot of trouble on the greens, but his caddy played a key role by offering to help him read putts on the remaining nine holes. 

Scheffler then played great, as he hit almost all the putts and in the end won the gold medal. 

The 29-year-old admitted that he probably wouldn't have been able to win the gold if Scott hadn't been by his side at the time.

Dominic Thiem is surprised by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Posted by on

Carlos Alcaraz

As of the start of the 2024 season, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have become the two new leaders of the men's tour and it is no coincidence that they have shared the last seven Grand Slam titles. The Italian ace triumphed in Melbourne in 2024 and 2025, at the 2024 US Open and at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, while the Spaniard prevailed at Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025 and at Wimbledon in 2024.

Jannik and Carlos are able to express a level that is clearly superior to that of all the other players and – at the moment – it is not clear who can stop their rise. The top two players of the ATP rankings have faced each other in the final in both Paris and London this year, and fans are already dreaming of a new chapter in their rivalry taking place in New York at the end of the summer.

Their matches are simply epic and the recent Roland Garros final is destined to be remembered as one of the best of the modern era, as well as being the longest in the history of the French Slam. The star from Murcia prevailed in the fifth set after canceling three match points in a row, completing one of the most impressive comebacks in recent tennis history.

Thiem is speechless

During a long interview, former Austrian ace Dominic Thiem – who had to leave tennis due to a serious wrist injury – discussed this electrifying rivalry: "Their matches are always very balanced and spectacular, they have raised the level of the sport and are taking it to another dimension. Jannik and Carlos play at an impressive speed and move very well. No one expected that two such champions would emerge immediately after the Big 3."

The 2020 US Open winner also added: "Both are much superior to their opponents today, but it can happen that they lose too. I don't know if they're going to win every Grand Slam tournament in the next few years, but there's no doubt that they're one step ahead of everyone today."

Jannik Sinner joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal in rare Novak Djokovic Major feat

Posted by on

accomplished player

Jannik Sinner has dominated men's tennis since the second part of 2023. The Italian ended the season ranked 4th and with his first victory over Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals.

Jannik shifted his game to an even higher level since 2024, embracing a 99-9 run and adding four Major titles to his tally. Three trophies came over the 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic, and the latest secured Sinner's place in the record books.

The Italian defeated the Serb at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, becoming the third player with victories over Djokovic on all three surfaces at Majors, joining Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the exclusive list.

Rafael Nadal started with early wins over Novak in Paris and London. The Spaniard completed the feat in the 2010 US Open final, securing a hard-court victory over the Serb and accomplishing a Career Grand Slam at 24.

Roger Federer bested Djokovic in the opening stages of their rivalry on hard courts. The Swiss delivered a memorable win over an in-form rival in the 2011 Roland Garros semi-final and completed the circle a year later in the Wimbledon semi-final. 

Thirteen years later, Jannik Sinner joined the ultimate legends following his dominant streak against the Serb. Last year, the Italian bested the Serb 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in the Australian Open semi-final. 

Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2024

Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot

 

Jannik faced no break points and left Novak behind in three sets to emerge at the top. This June, they met in the Roland Garros semi-final. It was a tight battle, and the younger player prevailed 6-4, 7-5, 7-6. 

The young gun saved five of six break points and provided three breaks over the veteran to emerge at the top. The veteran missed a chance to extend the battle, giving his best but ending his run in the last four. 

A month later, they battled in the Wimbledon semi-final. This time, the Italian overpowered the Serb 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 for a place in his first Wimbledon final. Thus, Sinner completed his wins over the most accomplished player of all time on all three surfaces at Majors within a year and a half!

Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros 2025

Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Jannik has been nearly untouchable at Majors since the start of 2024, winning four titles from seven tournaments. The Italian has been the finalist at the previous four Majors, embracing a 27-1 score and writing history books. 

Sinner's consistent dominance over Djokovic on the most notable scene signals a shift in power at the top of men's tennis. Alongside Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian has conquered the previous seven Majors, establishing the new dynasty and entering the record books.

With the US Open approaching, Jannik will try to extend his brilliance at hard-court Majors.

The level of tennis has risen too high for Novak Djokovic: all the details inside

Posted by on

Belgrade

Novak Djokovic's goal of winning his 25th Major title by the end of the 2025 season will not be easy to achieve, as only the US Open scheduled in New York at the end of the summer is missing. The Serbian legend has indeed raised his level in Grand Slam tournaments, where he has defeated excellent players and reached the semifinals on all occasions (in Melbourne, Paris and London), but he has not given the feeling that he can make tennis history once again.

The collective feeling is that the two current leaders of the men's tour – Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – are superior to Nole at this stage of his career and it will be very tough for the former world No. 1 to beat them in a best-of-five-set match at 38 years old.

The veteran from Belgrade wants to become the oldest ever to win a Grand Slam title by uncorking the record from Ken Rosewall, but time is running out and Novak will also have to hope for some luck in New York in about a month.

Djokovic expected to return to action in Cincinnati

Djokovic is enjoying some vacation in Croatia right now and has been spotted alongside former Real Madrid footballer Luka Modric, while a few days ago he announced that he will not participate in the Toronto Masters 1000 which starts later this month.

In a recent interview with 'Gol', his former coach Goran Ivanisevic – who has just finished working with Stefanos Tsitsipas – gave his honest verdict on Nole's chances of shocking the world for the umpteenth time: “When you’re not 100 percent with Sinner… and even when you are, your chances aren’t great,” said the 2001 Wimbledon winner.

I thought Novak could do it, but unfortunately he wasn’t completely ready. Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time, but what these two are doing is another level of tennis.”

Novak's next tournament is expected to be the Cincinnati Masters 1000, where he triumphed in 2023 for the last time.

How Sinner Became Unstoppable on Grass

Posted by on

The unflappable Italian went from unsure to commanding on the sports slickest surface. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 13, 2025

What made the difference for Jannik Sinner on Sunday at Wimbledon? How was he able to overcome his devastating loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland-Garros last month and snap a personal five-match losing streak to the Spaniard?

Tennis Express

So many reasons. But anybody who watched Sinner control the run of play against the two-time champion knows that his movement had a lot to do with it. Now comfortable with sliding on both sides, and able to use his speed to complement his breathtaking power game, Sinner has gone from a player who may never win Wimbledon, because Alcaraz is in his way, to a player that has what it takes to win multiple titles at the All England Club.

“I think that once he learned to feel more comfortable moving on grass, we believed that he had a game that was really good for grass,” his coach Darren Cahill said in a press conference after Sunday’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 takedown of Alcaraz on Centre Court. “His game has been improving all the time, and his results have shown that.”

Sinner agrees. And he adds that his naturally flat groundstrokes make him particularly difficult to contend with on grass.

“This year for sure I felt great on court,” he said. “I think we saw this also today how I started to move better every match I played,” he said. The beginning of my career I knew that I could potentially play well here because of my groundstrokes. They're quite flat, and the ball goes through.”

Another reason for Sinner’s rapid rise as a grass-court guru? His ability to watch and learn.

Cahill says that Sinner has been watching and learning from his rival as their rivalry has evolved. He may not surpass him in some areas, but he’s wise enough to recognize that he could implement some of the things that Alcaraz does well in his own game.

“I would say that Jannik watches more Carlos matches than he does anybody else because he's fascinated with the improvements that are coming in his game, and he's pushing us as coaches to make sure that he's improving also as a tennis player as well,” Cahill said. “So the rivalry is real. It's there. And hopefully it's going to be there and real for the next 10 or 12 years.”

Finally, we must factor in Sinner’s unflappability. How was he able to stay so on-mission after losing in the most heartbreaking fashion to Alcaraz in Paris. Triple match point in the fourth set? It would be understandable if he lost belief in himself temporarily after that harrowing experience.

“This I think is the part where I'm the proudest of because it really has not been easy,” Sinner admitted. “I always tried to be honest with myself, and I had the self-talk too – you know, what if, what if? I always tried to accept it, in a way.”

Sinner did more than accept it. He embraced it, and realized that he was so close rather than so far, from where he wanted to be. Then he did the work and pulled off a magical run on the grass.

Rivalry on…

Djokovic: Reality Hit Me—But Not My Last Wimbledon

Posted by on

"I'm not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today," Novak Djokovic said after his semifinal loss. Australian Open

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, July 11, 2025
Photo credits: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty

A Jannik Sinner stinging strike dislodged a bit of baseline and snapped Novak Djokovic's head to attention.

The Grand Slam king's quest for a record-setting 25th major championship came to a brutal and painful end on Centre Court today.

Tennis Express

World No. 1 shredded Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in today's Wimbledon semifinal striking with the same powerful precision the former No. 1 Djokovic showed for so many years capturing seven Wimbledon championships.

Hobbled from a nasty fall he took in the final game against Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals, Djokovic struggled to move laterally and tried to serve-and-volley to shorten points.

Though Djokovic drilled 12 aces against no double faults, he won just 5 of 30 second-serve points and dropped serve five times as Sinner scalded returns.

Afterward, a disconsolate Djokovic conceded "reality hits me" as his body broke down against the top seed.

However, a defiant Djokovic said this was not his last dance at Wimbledon. 

"I would be sad [if it was my last match], but hopefully it's not my last match on the Centre Court," Djokovic told the media afterward. "I'm not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. So I'm planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure."

It's the second straight Slam where Sinner shattered Djokovic's major dream.

At Roland Garros last month, the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion conquered Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) handing the owner of 100 career titles his first Slam semifinal straight sets loss in 15 years.

Today, Sinner repeated the feet as Djokovic was clearly compromised physically though he declined to discuss his injury issues.

The 38-year-old Serbian superstar said a major challenge is the wear and tear his body absorbs reaching the latter stages of Slams.

So by the time Djokovic gets to Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, he feels like a race car running on a half-empty gas tank.

"It's just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest," a candid Djokovic said. "It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis. I've proved that this year."

The best-of-five set Slam format has proved problematic for Djokovic, one of the greatest best-of-five-set players in Open Era history, when facing two explosive champions 15 years younger.

"I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically," Djokovic said. "The longer the tournament goes, yeah, the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz.

"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with tank half empty."

Asked to assess Sunday's final (11 a.m. Eastern time, 4 p.m. London time), Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the last two Wimbledon finals, gives the second-seeded Spaniard a slight edge over Sinner.

"I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favorite because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now," Djokovic said. "But it's just a slight advantage 'cause Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it's going to be, again, a very close matchup like we had in Paris, yeah."

Alcaraz vs Sinner, Wimbledon Final, By the Numbers

Posted by on

Get primed for a blockbuster Wimbledon men's final, by the numbers. Carlos Alcaraz

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday July 11, 2025

The 138th Open era staging of Wimbledon has produced a blockbuster final on the men’s side. It’s all down to top-seeded Jannik Sinner and second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament’s top two seeds, on Sunday.

Tennis Express

As the pair prepare to contest their second Grand Slam final, and first at Wimbledon, we take a deep dive for a number crunch.

8-4 – Alcaraz holds the 8-4 lifetime edge against Sinner, and he has now won five in a row against Sinner, including a victory over the Italian at last month’s Roland-Garros final, where he saved three championship points and rallied from two sets down to hand Sinner his first defeat in a major final.

5-0 – Alcaraz is undefeated in major finals thus far in his career. Only Monica Seles (6) and Roger Federer (7) have won more major finals without suffering a first loss in the Open Era.

7 – Either Alcaraz or Sinner have won each of the last seven major singles titles, dating back to the 2024 Australian Open.

5 – Number of players that have won Wimbledon men’s singles titles since 2003. Sinner bids to join, Federer (8), Djokovic (7), Nadal (2), Murray (2), Alcaraz (2) on the list as No.6.

20 – Alcaraz rides a 20-match Wimbledon winning streak into the final, and he's on a 24-match winning streak overall. 

3-1 – Sinner, who is bidding to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title, has won three of his previous four Grand Slam finals.

2008 – Alcaraz and Sinner are the first pair of men to contest finals in Paris and Wimbledon in the same year since Federer and Nadal in 2008. They are the second duo to achieve the feat in the Open Era.

93-9 – Sinner has won all but nine of his matches since the start of 2024, but Alcaraz has defeated him five times in that span.

1 – Sinner has taken the pair’s only grass court meeting at Wimbledon. He defeated Alcaraz in four sets in the round or 16 at the Championships.

3 – Alcaraz is bidding to become the fifth player in Open Era history to successfully complete a three-peat at Wimbledon, joining Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

11 – Sinner has reached at least the final at all four majors, and he is the 11th man to achieve the feat in the Open Era. Alcaraz has yet to join the least.

6 – Alcaraz is bidding to win his sixth major title. If he is successful he will go down as the second youngest player to win six majors, older only than Bjorn Borg.

Sabalenka on RG Reaction: Completely Unprofessional

Posted by on

"I absolutely regret what I said back then," Aryna Sabalenka said of her controversial comments after losing the Roland Garros final.Aryna Sabalenka

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Photo credit: Julien DeRosa-AFP-Getty

Reality has induced regret in Aryna Sabalenka.

World No. 1 Sabalenka calls her behavior after her Roland Garros final loss to Coco Gauff "completely unprofessional" and shared she wrote a letter to the two-time Grand Slam champion apologizing for her behavior.

Tennis Express

The US Open champion said while we all have bad days at work "the difference with me is…I get a lot more hate for what I did."

"I absolutely regret what I said back then," Sabalenka told Eurosport Germany. "You know, we all make mistakes. I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life. "I think we all have those days when we lose control.

"The difference with me is, the world is watching. I get a lot more hate for what I did than other people."

In the first French Open final between the world’s top two women in 12 years, No. 2 Gauff was simply too tough for No. 1 Sabalenka at crunch time.

A resilient Coco Gauff combated Sabalenka’s fierce power with pure poise pulling off a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 comeback to capture her maiden Roland Garros championship in a thriller.

Afterward, the world’s best player called it her worst final.

“It was really honestly the worst tennis I've played in the last, I don't know, in the last I don't know how many month,” Sabalenka told the media in Paris afterward. “Conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me.

"I think it was the worst final I ever played.”

Sabalenka, who struggled to cope with whipping winds and an unrelenting Gauff's comprehensive court coverage, took criticism afterward for what some felt were ungracious and classless comments.

The top-seeded Sabalenka committed 70 unforced errors. Sabalenka said at times she felt the tennis universe was playing a cosmic joke on her with Gauff’s running retrievals turning her damaging drives into punch lines.

“I mean, honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame,” Sabalenka said. “Somehow magically the ball lands in the court, and you kind of, like, on the back foot.

“It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, let's see if you can handle this. And I couldn't today.”

Reflecting on her comments, Sabalenka said she was upset after a physically and emotionally draining defeat and spoke out of frustration.

Since then, Sabalenka said she has apologized to Gauff.

"I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference," Sabalenka added. "It took me a while to revisit it, to approach it with open eyes, and to understand. I realized a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals? I kept getting so emotional.

"So I learned a lot. Above all, one thing: I’m the one who always treats my opponents with great respect - whether I win or lose.

"Without that respect, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So it was a tough but very instructive lesson for me."

WTA Post-RG Rankings: Boisson's Surge, Swiatek out of Top 5

Posted by on

The biggest climbers in this week's post Roland-Garros rankings. Amanda Anisimova

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday June 10, 2025

The post-Roland-Garros WTA rankings are full of big moves, as the Race to Riyadh takes shape and we get a more accurate picture of who is in the best shape with the second major of the year now in the rearview.

Tennis Express

Scroll down to find out who made the biggest jump, and how the Race shapes up as of Monday’s new rankings.

Swiatek Drops to No.7

By not defending her title in Paris, Iga Swiatek drops a few spots and ends up out of the Top 5 for the first time since for the first time since February 2022. She’s still No.4 in the race so it isn’t all bad news for the five-time major champion.

Boisson’s Giant Leap

After thrilling her home country by reaching the semifinals in Paris in just her second WTA level event, Laurent Boisson enters the Top 100. She rises to No. 65, shattering her previous high of No. 152, after starting Roland-Garros at 361.


Zheng Top 5

Zheng Qinwen leapfrogs two spots to replace Swiatek in the Top 5. The Chinese star is back in the Top 5 for the first time since January, at her career-high.

Mboko Top 100, Anisimova Top 15

18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, who came through qualifying to reach the third round on her Grand Slam main draw debut, cracks the Top 100, jumping from No. 120 to No. 91.

American Amanda Anisimova—who made her Top 20 debut in February after winning the Doha title—powers into the Top 15 this week, rising one spot for a new career high after reaching the second week in Paris.

Other Notable Risers

No. 33 Ashley Kreuger, +2 (Career High)
No. 49 Jaqueline Cristian, +11 (Career High)
No. 50 Sonay Kartal, +6 (Career High)
No. 67 Yulia Starodubtseva +14 (Career High)
No. 78 Emiliana Arango +7 (Career High)
No.92 Leolia JeanJean +8 (Career High)
No.95 Robin Montgomery +20 (Career High)
No.98 Antonia Ruzic + 3 (Career High) No.100 Mananchay Sawangkaew +9 (Career High)

Alcaraz on Facing Sinner in RG Final: Beautiful Brutality

Posted by on

"They push you to the limit," Carlos Alcaraz said of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.Adam

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, June 6, 2025
Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty

King of Clay Rafa Nadal famously said suffering is a prerequisite to Grand Slam success.

Reigning Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz says facing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner brings beautiful brutality. 

World No. 2 Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti in four sets to power into his second straight Roland Garros final with his 13th consecutive win in Paris.

Tennis Express

Alcaraz rides a 4-0 record in Grand Slam finals into Sunday's French Open final against either Sinner in a rematch of the 2024 Roland Garros semifinals.

A red-hot Sinner scorched 44 winners and saved three set points in the third set fending off Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in three hours, 16 minutes to advance to his maiden Roland Garros final.

It's the first time since the 1984 French Open that both men's and women's singles finals feature No. 1 vs. No. 2 with Aryna Sabalenka meeting Coco Gauff in the women's title match tomorrow.

Asked afterward what he loves about facing those two champions, Alcaraz said both bring out his best—and reinforce his belief pain is progress because both rivals "push you to the limit."

"I mean, I enjoy every time that I'm playing against them, because I love that battle," Alcaraz told the media in Paris. "But, you know, most of the time is just about suffering, because they push you to the limit."

Alcaraz said those brutal showdowns are beautiful experiences that make him a better player.

"But my favorite thing is, as I said, it gives you the feedback of how can I be better, a better player," Alcaraz said. "I think that's important, and that's beautiful, even though if I win or not, gives you a lot of stats and gives you the feedback."

Swiatek on RG Loss: "I Think I Lost My Intensity"

Posted by on

The Pole says she let her tennis dip in the final set, and it cost her. Paris

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday June 6, 2025

Paris – Iga Swiatek’s remarkable 26-match winning streak came to an end on Thursday in Paris, as she fell to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.

Tennis Express

It was anybody’s match until Sabalenka ran away with the decider and handed Swiatek a taste of her own medicine – a bagel.

Swiatek says her intensity dropped every so slightly and that gave Sabalenka the window to crash through.

“I think I lost my intensity a bit, and she just played pretty strong, as in the first set, but I didn't react to that well and just couldn't push back,” she told reporters. “It's just me playing maybe, like, really five percent faster or with more spin.”

The Pole was bidding to become the first woman in Open Era history to win four consecutive titles at Roland-Garros, but she couldn’t handle the intensity and power of Sabalenka down the stretch. She drops to 40-3 lifetime on the terre battue of Paris in non-Olympic competitions.

Swiatek says that she didn’t drop her level a great deal, but it was enough to allow Sabalenka to thrive.

“It's not like a huge difference, but at this level when you play against the top players, you're going to feel the difference. She came on pretty strongly in the third set and just went for it, and then the set went pretty quickly.

“I think I didn't have much time to reset that again like I did at the beginning of the second set. I came back from, what, 4-1 or 3-1 or 3-0 in first. Doing that second time for sure would be hard, but she played, like she didn't doubt. She just went for it, and that's what I mean about intensity.

Swiatek flipped the script temporarily after falling behind early in the opening set. She was able to stretch rallies and play more on her terms late in the first and in the second. But credit Sabalenka for imposing herself ruthlessly in the decider. She didn’t make a single unforced error in the set.

She also flattened out her groundstrokes significantly, as she aimed to rush Swiatek at her baseline. TNT reported that her spin rate was down over 25 percent from her average in her first five matches. We’re thinking her analytics team played a role in Sabalenka’s tactics, but credit the Belarusian for having the capacity to make that significant change to her tactic.

“Especially at the beginning of the match, she played as hard as possible, and pretty risky,” Swiatek said. “So it was just hard to get into any rally. And then, I was able to do that, so the game wasn't just like serve and one shot or return and one shot, and I could build a rally a little bit. “But in the third set I feel like we kind of came back to what happened in the first, and she for sure used her chances, and I didn't really keep up what I was doing in the second set.”