Novak Djokovic scheduled to play during Champions League final
Novak Djokovic has had his request to watch the Champions League final denied after being scheduled to play on Saturday night.
Tennis Sport News
Alcaraz fights into French Open last 16 as Swiatek, Sabalenka progress
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz survived a scare to book his place in the French Open last 16 on Friday, with defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka also through to the fourth round at Roland Garros. Second seed Alcaraz won 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 against 69th-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the night session to keep his title defense on course. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz arrived as the favorite at Roland Garros after securing the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open trophies in the build-up to the clay-court major. But his fluctuating performances in the past two rounds have given his rivals reason to believe he is vulnerable. “Today I honestly didn’t enjoy it that much. I suffered quite a lot,” said a relieved Alcaraz, who came from a break down in the fourth set to seal victory. “That’s why doing a really good result in a Grand Slam is really difficult because you have to maintain a really high level for three to four hours.” The 22-year-old next meets American 13th seed Ben Shelton who eased past Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Swiatek kept her bid for a fourth consecutive French Open title on track, coming through 6-2, 7-5 against Romania’s world number 60 Jaqueline Cristian in sweltering conditions. Swiatek broke the 60th-ranked Cristian twice in a comfortable first set, but she was pushed a lot harder by her rival in the second and had to save six break points. “She really stepped up in the second set.
Alcaraz stumbles but ousts Dzumhur to reach French Open fourth round
PARIS :Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz suffered a mid-match stumble but recovered just in time to beat Bosnian veteran Damir Dzumhur in four sets on Friday and move into the French Open fourth round.
Olympic boxing champ Imane Khelif must undergo genetic sex screening to fight for new governing body
World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for all athletes FridayThe governing body specifically mentioned Khelif when announcing the policyDUBAI: Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif must undergo genetic sex screening to participate in upcoming events with the sport’s new governing body.World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for all athletes Friday. The governing body specifically mentioned Khelif when announcing the policy, saying the Algerian gold medal winner must be screened before she will be approved to fight at any upcoming events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup next month in the Netherlands.“The introduction of mandatory testing will be part of a new policy on ‘Sex, Age and Weight’ to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women,” World Boxing wrote in a statement.
Swiatek wants equal treatment for women as French Open schedule remains in focus
PARIS :Amid criticism of the French Open's scheduling decisions, Iga Swiatek pointed to the Mexican waves rippling around Court Suzanne Lenglen during her compelling match against Jaqueline Cristian as evidence of women's tennis's entertainment value.
A third five-setter in a row? Bring it on, says marathon man Tommy Paul
PARIS :American 12th-seed Tommy Paul has already played 14 sets and more than 10 hours of tennis in just three rounds at the French Open but he is ready for another five-setter, he said on Friday after beating Karen Khachanov in a marathon match.
Rybakina through to French Open fourth round as Ostapenko derails
PARIS :Kazakh Elena Rybakina's claycourt form showed no sign of dipping as she brushed aside former champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-2 in a duel of heavy hitters to reach the fourth round of the French Open on Friday.
Mauresmo defends French Open schedule and women’s primetime snub
PARIS: Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said on Friday it was impossible to “tick every box” after repeated criticism of the French Open schedule and the absence of any women’s matches in the primetime night session.