America's magnificent eight match 40-year-old record at French Open
PARIS :Eight American players - five women and three men - have reached the French Open round of 16 this year, matching the country's record from 1985.
Tennis Sport News
Oscar Piastri outpaces teammate Lando Norris to grab Spanish Grand Prix pole
BARCELONA: Oscar Piastri outpaced title rival and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in the final minute of a gripping qualifying session on Saturday to clinch pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.The championship leader clocked a near flawless final lap of one minute and 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by 0.209 seconds as McLaren claimed a dominant one-two having also topped all three practice sessions.Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes.Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.It was Piastri’s fourth pole of the season and career as he seeks to extend his three-point lead ahead of Norris in the drivers’ championship.“Nice work, very nicely done, everyone,” said the cool 24-year-old Australian on team radio. “That’s quite some turnaround from last year.
Zverev sees off Cobolli to reach French Open fourth round as usual
PARIS :Alexander Zverev continued his consistent form at the French Open when he overcame Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2 7-6(4) 6-1 on Saturday to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros for an eighth consecutive year.
Kasatkina dodges burnout, says packed tour schedule takes toll on players
PARIS :Daria Kasatkina saw signs of burnout in recent weeks amid a packed tour schedule, and her French Open run into the fourth round has helped her get back on track, she said on Saturday.
Indomitable Sinner obliterates Lehecka to reach French Open fourth round
PARIS :World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders.
Iga Swiatek’s bid for fifth French Open boosted by win and Jelena Ostapenko exit
Iga Swiatek remains on course for a fifth French Open title after a major obstacle was removed from her path.
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.
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.