Category: Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz roared home for a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over 186th-ranked Australian Li Tu on Tuesday to launch his bid to add the US Open to the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles he claimed this year.

The 21-year-old Spaniard pushed his Grand Slam winning streak to 15 matches as he tries to join Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal as the only men in the modern era to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year.

He got off to a hot start, seizing a 4-0 lead on the way to pocketing the first set.

But Tu, who came through qualifying, got to grips with the imposing Arthur Ashe Stadium and Alcaraz’s serve to take the second set.

He tried to keep the pressure on in the third, but Alcaraz’s break for a 4-3 lead opened the floodgates, the Spaniard winning the eight straight games to take the third set and build a 5-0 lead in the fourth.

But Li Tu wouldn’t go quietly, saving a pair of match points before Carlos Alcaraz closed it out with a love service game.

“I’m really happy to get through and get a chance to be better the next round,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously, I felt well on court. I think I hit the ball well. I moved well.

“A few things that I have to improve if I want to, you know, keep going in the draw, but obviously I have to give credit to him as well that he played really good tennis and today surprised me a little bit in the second set.”

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Carlos Alcaraz had 50 winners and 30 unforced errors. Eighteen of those errors came in the second set, when he lost three straight games.

That included dropping his serve to surrender the set, Tu finally converting his fifth set point.

“After the first set that I made just two unforced errors, the second set I made 18,” Alcaraz said, saying that was as much a factor as Tu’s growing confidence on the imposing Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“He started to play better. That’s obviously serving better, playing more aggressive, and not making a lot of mistakes that he did in the first set.

“But talking about myself, it was from two to 18 unforced errors has been a huge difference for me.”

Carlos Alcaraz, who won the first of his four Grand Slam titles in New York in 2022, will face 2021 quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round, headed toward a possible semi-final showdown with top-ranked Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.

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World number one Iga Swiatek launched her bid for a second Grand Slam title of 2024 with a 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory over determined lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open on Tuesday.

Broken as she served for the match, Swiatek trailed 6-3 in the second-set tiebreaker, saving three set points as she won the last five to close out the match against her 104th-ranked opponent.

Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, candidly revealed she carried “too much baggage” in her New York title defence last year.

She looked anything but weighed down, however, as she raced to a 4-0 lead.

Kamilla Rakhimova, one day shy of her 23rd birthday, then won three straight games, but her spirited fightback was hindered by some untimely double faults and Iga Swiatek responded.

Unable to convert a set point against the hard-hitting Russian’s serve in the ninth game Swiatek served out the first set with authority, delivering two aces for triple-set point and sealing it with a backhand winner.

After saving a break point in the second game of the second set, Swiatek broke Rakhimova in the third game. But her troubles weren’t over. Serving for the match she was broken as Rakhimova levelled the second set at 5-5, then piled on the pressure in the tiebreaker.

“At the beginning (I felt) good, but then I got a little bit tight and my opponent used that,” Swiatek said. “I tried to get back to my game.

“I’ve just been trying to adjust to the courts,” Swiatek added. “I just wanted to feel how it is on Arthur Ashe and I’m sure that day by day I’m going to get more rhythm.”

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Four of Iga Swiatek’s five Grand Slam titles have come on the red clay of Roland Garros, including her third straight French Open title this year.

Swiatek has also won titles this year at Doha, Indian Wells, Rome and Madrid — where she saved three championship points to beat Aryna Sabalenka and retain her title.

But the 23-year-old from Warsaw may have been feeling the effects of so many matches when she fell to eventually gold medallist Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics, eventually settling for bronze.

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Novak Djokovic began his campaign to win a record 25th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win over Radu Albot at the US Open on Monday.

The four-time champion, playing for the first time since claiming Olympic gold two weeks ago, defeated the Moldovan qualifier 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

Djokovic, seeking his 25th Grand Slam title and his first since his victory at Flushing Meadows last year, wasn’t his sharpest self.

But he was more than a match for 138th-ranked Albot, breaking the Moldovan six times on the way to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

He notched a men’s record 78th match win on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he said the “electric” energy of the night session was unlike any other.

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“The night sessions here are best in the world,” said Novak Djokovic, who capped the action on a day that drew a record 74,641 spectators according to the US Tennis Association.

That included a day-session crowd of 42,886 and a record-setting night-session crowd of 31,775.

“There’s an incredible energy, and with the new rule this year that the crowd can move around, there are a lot of things happening,” the four-time champion said.

Seeded second behind Jannik Sinner, Djokovic is vying to become the first man to repeat in New York since Roger Federer won five straight US Opens from 2004-2008.

He’s coming off an emotional triumph at the Paris Olympics, but Djokovic has yet to capture a Grand Slam title this year.

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Novak Djokovic, fired up by his emotional Olympic Games triumph, targets new Grand Slam records at the US Open from Monday as title rival Jannik Sinner arrives in New York dogged by questions over two positive drug tests.

Defending champion Djokovic can become the oldest Open era champion at the tournament if he secures a fifth title, a record he would share with Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

The 37-year-old would also move to 25 Grand Slam triumphs, taking him clear of the 24 he currently shares with Margaret Court.

The final major of the year comes at a critical time for Djokovic.

This year he was succeeded as Australian Open champion by Sinner who also relieved him of his world number one ranking.

Carlos Alcaraz took his French Open title with the Spanish crowd-pleaser then swept Djokovic off the court in a one-sided Wimbledon final.

However, Djokovic, returned to the clay courts of Roland Garros to stun Alcaraz in the Olympic final.

His tearful victory in Paris allowed him to become only the fifth player to complete a career Golden Slam of all four majors and Olympic gold.

The victory also silenced the increasing number of doubters who had written off the Serb as a spent force in a new era where Sinner, 23, and 21-year-old Alcaraz are steadily moving centre stage.

Novak Djokovic, who underwent surgery on his right knee in June, described his Olympic victory as his “biggest sporting success”.

It was also the 99th title of his professional career.

“At the age of 37 and facing a 21-year-old who is probably the best player in the world right now, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, I can say that this is probably the biggest sporting success I have ever had,” insisted Djokovic.

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Sinner arrives at the final Slam of the season having captured the Cincinnati Masters title.

However, that triumph was quickly overshadowed when it emerged he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance earlier in the season.

Sinner tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic agent prohibited at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

But he escaped a lengthy ban after officials accepted his explanation that the substance had entered his system as a result of contamination from a support team member.

“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” said Sinner.

The green light for him to continue playing was blasted as “ridiculous” by Australian player Nick Kyrgios.

Alcaraz, who won his first major at the US Open in 2022, was badly bruised by his defeat to Djokovic in the Olympic final.

He broke down in tears on court before admitting he felt he had “let Spain down”.

His build-up to New York wasn’t helped by a second-round exit in Cincinnati to Gael Monfils in a match which saw the usually composed Alcaraz smash his racquet on the court.

He described the defeat as the “worst match” of his career.

In the women’s singles at the US Open, Coco Gauff is the defending champion but the 20-year-old has endured a worrying dip in form in recent weeks.

A stormy exit from the Olympics in the third round was followed by early losses in Toronto and Cincinnati.

No woman has successfully defended her US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.

Five-time major winner and world number one Iga Swiatek, the 2022 champion in New York, made the Cincinnati semi-finals where she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, was runner-up to Gauff at the US Open last year, losing from a set up in the final.

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Serbia is set to build a museum dedicated to Novak Djokovic after the tennis great clinched a gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024.

“We had the first discussions about the construction of the Novak Djokovic museum, which is expected to become another attraction for the city,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Tuesday.

Djokovic has long enjoyed the status of a living legend in Serbia, where the Belgrade native and winner of 24 Grand Slam titles ran a tennis academy for years and frequently attends sporting events and meets with officials.

“Palma de Mallorca has a museum dedicated to Rafael Nadal. We will strive to showcase what Djokovic has done for our country in accordance with his merits and at the same time attract tourists,” Vucic added.

Vucic said he hoped the museum would be finished before Belgrade hosts the World Expo in 2027.

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The announcement comes just days after Djokovic won a gold medal at the Paris Games on Sunday after defeating Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) in what was likely to be his final shot at Olympic glory.

The victory allowed him to join Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and the watching Serena Williams as the only players to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic singles gold.

Djokovic also became the oldest singles champion since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988 and shattered Alcaraz’s bid to add gold to the French Open and Wimbledon titles he has already pocketed this summer.

Back in Serbia, people gathered in main squares across the country where they waved flags and sang patriotic songs to celebrate Djokovic’s victory.

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Jannik Sinner will test his form after a month of illness which culminated in the bronchitis that forced him to skip the Paris Olympics.

The Italian world number one takes to the court to defend the Masters title he won a year ago in Montreal.

Sinner was forced to bypass Paris after focusing his season on the Olympics date, but he will be back in action in the second round here after a bye.

“It has been a little while since my last match, since Wimbledon,” Sinner said on a rainy Monday that wiped out qualifying rounds for the tournament, which starts on Tuesday due to the Olympics.

“I’m very excited to be here. Hopefully I can show some good tennis.”

Sinner last competed on July 9, managing to go five sets in the Wimbledon quarter-finals before losing to Daniil Medvedev.

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The top seed was treated on the court for fatigue and had his vital signs measured before soldiering on to defeat.

Jannik Sinner said he feels ready to get started again: “The body feels good. I got here early to cure the jetlag.

“The first practices were easy but now we’re working harder.”

Sinner should get a confident start on what he calls his favourite surface.

“Hardcourt is my favourite but every situation is different. The ball is flying here quite a lot, you have to feel the ball a bit more. You have to play with a good mindset.”

Sinner heads the Montreal field ahead of 2021 Olympic champion Alexander Zverev and third-seeded Daniil Medvedev.

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Star Tennis player Novak Djokovic, who made history on Sunday at the Paris Olympics 2024 by defeating Carlos Alcaraz to claim a maiden Olympic gold, opened up on his retirement plans.

The 37-year-old Serb added a much-awaited Olympic gold to his 24 Grand Slam titles after an enthralling 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) victory in the blockbuster final at Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic became only the fifth player in the history of the sport to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic singles gold, joining Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.

He also became the oldest singles champion since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988.

Speaking at the post-match ceremony, Djokovic was asked about his retirement since the Serb has completed Tennis by completing the “Golden Slam”.

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The 37-year-old, in response, shared that he has no plans to retire any time soon and will participate in the 2028 Olympics, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles.

“Look, I still, I want to play in Los Angeles. I enjoy playing for my country in Olympic Games particularly and Davis Cup. It’s something that, being part of a team…”

“He’s [coach Viktor Troicki] making fun of my calendar goals, playing in Los Angeles. I don’t know if he’s laughing because he thinks it’s unrealistic or he’s like, okay, another four years with this guy.”

Djokovic burst into tears after finally getting his hands on an Olympic Gold and celebrated by holding aloft the Serbian flag on the court before clambering into the players’ box to embrace his wife and children.

“We almost played three hours, the final shot was the only moment when I was sure I could win the match,” said Djokovic, who had lost heavily to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final last month.

For the unversed, Novak Djokovic now has 99 singles titles alongside 24 Grand Slams to his name amid his decorated career, which puts him past the likes of Roger Federer with 20 Grand Slams and struggling Rafael Nadal with 22.

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Novak Djokovic created history at the Paris Olympics 2024 as he defeated Carlos Alcaraz to claim a maiden Olympic title and become just the fifth player to complete a career Golden Slam.

The 37-year-old Serb, competing in his fifth Games, came through 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) in an enthralling final at Roland Garros to add Olympic gold to his 24 Grand Slam triumphs.

The victory allowed him to join Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and the watching Serena Williams as the only players to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic singles gold.

He also became the oldest singles champion since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988 and shattered Alcaraz’s bid to add gold to the French Open and Wimbledon titles he has already pocketed this summer.

An emotional Djokovic celebrated by holding aloft the Serbian flag on the court before clambering into the players’ box to embrace his wife and children.

“We almost played three hours, the final shot was the only moment when I was sure I could win the match,” said Djokovic, who had lost heavily to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final last month.

Alcaraz was distraught and wept as he attempted to conduct a TV interview.

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“Three hours, a big battle with tough moments,” said the 21-year-old after a final in which neither player dropped serve. “It’s very painful to lose.”

Novak Djokovic carved out a breakpoint in the second game of the opener and three more in the fourth, all saved by the Spaniard.

Then it was the Serb’s turn to demonstrate his famed powers of resilience, fighting off three break points in the fifth game and another five in a marathon ninth game.

In a rollercoaster duel, Alcaraz saved a set point in the 12th game but his veteran opponent dominated the tiebreak to claim the opener after a breathless 93 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

There was no let-up in the second set, scintillating shot-making alongside rousing defence with Alcaraz fighting off the final’s 14th break point in the third game.

Again the set was decided by a tie-break and it was Djokovic with history on the line again sweeping through to take victory after two hours and 50 minutes.

Lorenzo Musetti defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets on Saturday to claim the bronze medal, giving Italy its first men’s tennis medal in 100 years.

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Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach the Olympic Games men’s tennis final on Friday when he thrashed Felix Auger-Aliassime in a one-sided Paris Olympics clash. 

Alcaraz, 21, swept to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over the Canadian in just 75 minutes and will meet Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final if the top-seeded Serb overcomes a knee injury and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the second semi-final.

“It has been an objective since the start of the year to try and win the gold medal and now we have one match left to try and get it done,” said Alcaraz.

“I want to have fun in the final and do the business.”

Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, playing on the same Roland Garros court where he won the French Open in June, broke the 19th-ranked Auger-Aliassime three times in the first set, racing away with six consecutive games.

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Alcaraz broke again in the fourth and sixth games of the second set on his way to claiming a fourth successive win over the Canadian having lost the first three of the pair’s series.

“It was a very complete performance and I played at a very high level from start to finish,” said Alcaraz.

“I had very good feelings and sensations, I’m so happy.”

He added: “The final is very important for me and the Spanish people but I try not to think about how important it is and will focus on the match.”

Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is the third Spanish man to reach the Olympic men’s final after Jordi Arrese at Barcelona in 1992, Sergi Bruguera in Atlanta four years later and Rafael Nadal who won gold at Beijing in 2008.

He now has the chance to become the youngest men’s champion since tennis returned to the Olympics at Seoul in 1988.

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Andy Murray said he was retiring “on my terms” as his trophy-filled career came to an emotional end at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday, closing another chapter on tennis’s golden generation.

The former world number one and three-time Grand Slam title winner slipped into retirement aged 37 when he and Dan Evans lost in the men’s doubles quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

American pair Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul delivered the knockout blow with a 6-2, 6-4 victory on a packed Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Britain’s Murray had already announced that the Paris Olympics 2024 would be his last event. “I’m proud of my career, my achievements and what I put into the sport,” said Murray.

“Obviously it was emotional because it’s the last time I will play a competitive match. But I am genuinely happy just now. I’m happy with how it finished.”

He added: “I’m glad I got to go out here at the Olympics and finish on my terms because at times in the last few years that wasn’t a certainty.”

Just a few hours after Murray had made his exit, he cheekily wrote on X: “Never even liked tennis anyway”.

Career-long rival Novak Djokovic described Murray as “an incredible competitor”.

“One of the greatest warriors tennis has seen. His fighting spirit is definitely something that I’m sure is going to inspire many generations to come,” said Djokovic.

One of the ‘Big Four’ in the sport, Murray joins 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in retirement after the Swiss great quit in 2022.

Rafael Nadal, the winner of 22 majors but battling more injuries at the age of 38, exited the Paris Olympics on Wednesday and suggested that he had played his last match at Roland Garros, where he won 14 of his Slams.

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Nadal also effectively ruled himself out of the US Open, sparking more speculation that the great Spaniard is also finished in the sport.

That would leave just 37-year-old Djokovic — winner of a record 24 Grand Slams — still active amongst the sport’s eminent talents who have carved up 69 majors between them.

Murray famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion at Wimbledon when he triumphed in 2013, defeating Djokovic in the final.

He added a second title in 2016, taking his career majors total to three after breaking his duck at the 2012 US Open.

Murray won gold at the 2012 Olympics on an emotional day at the All England Club when he defeated Federer just weeks after he had lost the Wimbledon final to the Swiss on the same Centre Court.

Four years later he defeated Juan Martin del Potro to become the first player, man or woman, to win two Olympic singles golds.

Murray also led Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015, the country’s first in 79 years. He has won 46 titles in all and banked around $65 million in prize money. However, he has been ravaged by injuries in recent years, slumping to 117th in the world.

The Scot has played with a metal hip since 2019 and suffered ankle damage earlier this year before undergoing surgery to remove a spinal cyst, which ruled him out of singles at Wimbledon.

Instead, he played doubles with brother Jamie and was defeated in the first round before an emotional tribute arranged by tournament chiefs.

“It’s hard because I would love to keep playing, but I can’t,” admitted Murray at the All England Club.

“Physically it is too tough now, all of the injuries, they have added up and they haven’t been insignificant.”

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