INSIDER
Danielle Collins announces her retirement looms after a 2nd-round loss to Swiatek at Australian Open
Read full article: Danielle Collins announces her retirement looms after a 2nd-round loss to Swiatek at Australian OpenDanielle Collins has announced this season will be her last on the elite women's tour.
Alcaraz's win makes it record 30 seeds in Australian Open men's 2nd round. He likes the new format
Read full article: Alcaraz's win makes it record 30 seeds in Australian Open men's 2nd round. He likes the new formatThe extra-day experiment for the first round finished on time on the Australian Openโs two main courts with Jessica Pegula converting her second match point just before midnight.
French Open tournament director Mauresmo quizzed on lack of night sessions for women
Read full article: French Open tournament director Mauresmo quizzed on lack of night sessions for womenScheduling more night sessions for women is proving a tough issue to resolve for French Open tournament director Amรฉlie Mauresmo.
French Open hopes AI can help tennis players block death threats, other social media hate
Read full article: French Open hopes AI can help tennis players block death threats, other social media hateThe group that runs the French Open tennis tournament has hired an artificial intelligence company to monitor players' social media accounts in a bid to try to protect athletes from cyberbullying.
Alcaraz, Djokovic 'not otherworldly' in French Open wins over foes making Slam debuts
Read full article: Alcaraz, Djokovic 'not otherworldly' in French Open wins over foes making Slam debutsCarlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both picked up straight-set victories in the first round of the French Open against opponents ranked outside the Top 100 and making their Grand Slam debuts.
Nadal hits nose with racket, tops Fognini | US Open updates
Read full article: Nadal hits nose with racket, tops Fognini | US Open updatesRafael Nadal has come back to win at the U.S. Open after cutting himself on the bridge of his nose when his racket bounced off the court and smacked him in the face during the fourth set against Fabio Fognini.
Nadal tops Djokovic in quarterfinal thriller at French Open
Read full article: Nadal tops Djokovic in quarterfinal thriller at French OpenRafael Nadal has beaten Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in a monumental match in the French Open quarterfinals to move a step closer to his 14th championship at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament and 22nd major trophy overall.
French Open updates | Nadal tops Djokovic in 4-set thriller
Read full article: French Open updates | Nadal tops Djokovic in 4-set thrillerRafael Nadal has beaten Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in a monumental match in the French Open quarterfinals to move a step closer to his 14th championship at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament and 22nd major trophy overall.
Thiem out of sync, out of French Open with 10th loss in row
Read full article: Thiem out of sync, out of French Open with 10th loss in rowTwo-time French Open finalist Dominic Thiemโs losing streak reached 10 matches with a first-round exit at Roland Garros as he works his way back from a torn tendon in his right wrist.
The Latest: Osaka smashes racket, unravels in U.S. Open loss
Read full article: The Latest: Osaka smashes racket, unravels in U.S. Open lossDefending champion Naomi Osaka repeatedly smashed her racket to the court, smacked a ball into the crowd, hid under a towel and imploded over the final two sets in a third-round loss at the U.
Prodigy no longer? Gauff makes breakthrough in Paris at 17
Read full article: Prodigy no longer? Gauff makes breakthrough in Paris at 17American 17-year-old Coco Gauff completely overwhelmed Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1 at the French Open to become the youngest woman to reach the quarterfinals at any Grand Slam tournament in 15 years.
Mental health: Stephens says it's vital to keep talking
Read full article: Mental health: Stephens says it's vital to keep talkingFormer U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens wants more discussions about mental health to help people both inside and outside of tennis talk freely about what is troubling them.
'17 French Open champ Ostapenko wants more; Shapovalov upset
Read full article: '17 French Open champ Ostapenko wants more; Shapovalov upset2 seed Karolina Pliskova at the French Open on Thursday, the conversation quickly turned to 2017. And just, like, the world doesnโt stop with winning only one Grand Slam. Thatโs not very different from where she was three years ago in Paris, ranked 47th and just two days past her 20th birthday when she became an impossible-to-predict Grand Slam champion. Pliskova, who came into the French Open dealing with a leg injury, was not the most gracious foe after Thursdayโs loss. The first time Iโm in the third round in a Grand Slam.
Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'
Read full article: Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS โ At the mere mention of Novak Djokovicโs name, at the mere thought of sharing a court with a 17-time Grand Slam champion and the French Openโs No. He used these phrases: โreally, really excitedโ and โreally, really happyโ and โreally, really special.โGalan is, after all, ranked 153rd and never had won so much as one main-draw match at any major tournament until this week. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champ, plays 87th-ranked Paula Badosa, who arrived in Paris with a 1-5 Grand Slam record. โWell,โ came Galanโs reply, โI was wondering that, to be honest.โAnd then he launched into a story about how he was โreally, really nervousโ before playing former top 10-member David Goffin in the Davis Cup Finals last November.
The Latest: Earliest French Open exit for Stephens since '11
Read full article: The Latest: Earliest French Open exit for Stephens since '11(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS โ The Latest from the French Open (all times local):____6:10 p.m.Former runner-up Sloane Stephens lost in the second round for her earliest exit at Roland Garros since a first-round defeat on her debut in 2011. ___4:15 p.m.Novak Djokovic's biggest concern seemed to be dealing with a rare bit of sunshine during his second-round victory at Roland Garros. ___2:30 p.m.Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin reached the third round at Roland Garros by beating Ana Bogdan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. ____1:10 p.m.Danish teen Clara Tauson's surprise run is over after losing to American player Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. Pliskova's twin sister, Kristyna, was also playing a former French Open champion when she faced 2016 winner Garbiรฑe Muguruza.
Perfect prep: Halep takes 14-match win streak to French Open
Read full article: Perfect prep: Halep takes 14-match win streak to French OpenAmid all the tumult of the coronavirus pandemic, Simona Halep might very well have found the perfect formula to prepare for the French Open. When the clay-court Grand Slam tournament begins Sunday, 2018 champion Halep will be on court against 70th-ranked Sara Sorribes Tormo. Separated from her Australian coach Darren Cahill for seven months during the pandemic, Halep spent the extended break from competition with her Romanian coach, Artemon Apostu-Efremov. At the Italian Open, Halepโs final three matches came against Yulia Putintseva, Garbiรฑe Muguruza and Karolรญna Pliskova โ all three of whom played at the U.S. Open. Halep added a second major trophy by dropping only four games against Serena Williams in last yearโs Wimbledon final.
The Latest: Williams-Stephens on tap at sunny US Open
Read full article: The Latest: Williams-Stephens on tap at sunny US OpenNEW YORK The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):11:30 a.m.Day 6 has started at the year's second Grand Slam tournament the U.S. Open normally closes the major tennis championship season but the pandemic caused changes to the calendar. The sun is shining and the temperature is in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (mid-20s Celsius) as the third round continues Saturday. The highlight of the afternoon is expected to be Serena Williams against Sloane Stephens in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Williams owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including six in New York. Stephens won the 2017 U.S. Open.
Williams takes 10 of 12 games to beat Stephens at US Open
Read full article: Williams takes 10 of 12 games to beat Stephens at US OpenSerena Williams, of the United States, reacts during a match against Sloane Stephens, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK In danger of her earliest exit at the U.S. Open since her debut 22 years ago, Serena Williams turned things around and took over against Sloane Stephens. Williams collected 10 of the last 12 games by lifting her level, to be sure. You know, Serena is Serena," Sakkari said after advancing earlier Saturday by beating 19-year-old American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-1. Quickly, that set belonged to Stephens, who held at love when all four points ended with Williams miscues.
Osaka withdraws in protest; W&S put on hold Thursday
Read full article: Osaka withdraws in protest; W&S put on hold ThursdayNaomi Osaka, of Japan, leaves the court after winning her match with Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, during the quarterfinals at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in New York. Soon after, the whole tournament was put on hold for a day. Osaka tweeted that as a Black woman, she feels compelled to pull out of the tournament to put a focus on police shooting Black people. "Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach. I have to be patient, to try to enjoy every single match I play here after six months without competing.
Serena and Venus win, now Williams sisters play each other
Read full article: Serena and Venus win, now Williams sisters play each otherLEXINGTON, Ky. Serena Williams was calm in a return more dramatic than some might have expected even after a long layoff. Williams needed to rally to win in her comeback following a six-month layoff, beating unseeded American Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in Tuesday's first round of the Top Seed Open. Williams advanced to a second-round showdown against older sister Venus, who dispatched Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-2. The Croatian-born Pera eventually evened the set and had Williams down 0-40 at 4-4 before Williams, 38, rallied to stay on serve. She played really well.Williams needed another rally to win the next game before getting a hard-earned break to force a third set.
Serena Williams is fit and ready to play after 6-month break
Read full article: Serena Williams is fit and ready to play after 6-month breakFILE - In this May 27, 2019, file photo, Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. If the French Open were being held as scheduled right now -- instead of postponed to September because of the coronavirus pandemic, Williams again would have had a shot at her 24th major to pull even with Margaret Court for the most in history. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
Serena Williams is fit and ready to play after 6-month break
Read full article: Serena Williams is fit and ready to play after 6-month break(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)LEXINGTON, Ky. โ Serena Williams flexed and then kissed a sinewy right bicep to show down time well spent in training even without bench pressing. Williams now looks to flex her muscles on a tennis court for the first time in six months. Serena Williams, ranked No. If the results from Williamsโ previous comeback from a long break are any indication, she has something to look forward to. Her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, built a tennis court for her.
US Open singles champs to get $850K less prize money in 2020
Read full article: US Open singles champs to get $850K less prize money in 2020FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2017, file photo, Sloane Stephens, of the United States, reacts after receiving the winner's award check after beating Madison Keys, of the United States, in the women's singles final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Defending U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal said Tuesday he didnt want to travel during the pandemic and would not be entering the tournament. Professional tennis was suspended in March because of the pandemic, leaving many players, coaches and others without a regular income. First-round singles prize money at the U.S. Open is going up 5%, from $58,000 to $61,000, the only level where there is a jump. Paychecks for players who reach the second round ($100,000) or third round ($163,000) will remain the same.
Serena Williams to return to action in Kentucky next month
Read full article: Serena Williams to return to action in Kentucky next monthLEXINGTON, Ky. Serena Williams is planning to make her return to competition at a new hard-court tournament in Kentucky next month. Itll be the 23-time Grand Slam singles champions first action since playing for the U.S. in the Fed Cup in February, before all sanctioned tennis was shut down the next month because of the coronavirus pandemic. The womens and mens professional tennis tours are scheduled to resume in August. The Kentucky event, called the Top Seed Open, announced Thursday that Williams and 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens will be in the field when play begins there Aug. 10. Williams already has said she will enter the next scheduled Grand Slam tournament, the U.S. Open, which is supposed to begin in New York on Aug. 31.
Fans welcomed to World TeamTennis matches in West Virginia
Read full article: Fans welcomed to World TeamTennis matches in West VirginiaWTTs nine teams have come together The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia for their three-week season. It was awesome to have some people out there to get behind the tennis, Sandgren said. The WTT season started just as confirmed coronavirus cases were soaring nationally. Anyone who wasnt a competing athlete wore a mask inside the tennis stadium and fans had their temperatures checked prior to entering. Sandgren later won matches in men's doubles with James Ward and mixed doubles with Jessica Pegula.
Venus Williams joins World TeamTennis; season starts in July
Read full article: Venus Williams joins World TeamTennis; season starts in JulyVenus Williams has signed up to play World TeamTennis for the 15th time, the league announced Thursday. Williams has since spoken about how she turned to a plant-based diet and learned other ways to get by. The American is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, with five titles at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open. She also has paired up with her younger sister Serena to win 14 Grand Slam trophies in doubles. Other players who have committed to participating include 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens and twins Mike and Bob Bryan, who have won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
World TeamTennis changes policies for COVID-positive players
Read full article: World TeamTennis changes policies for COVID-positive playersWorld TeamTennis is changing two key policies related to players who test positive for COVID-19, including giving full salaries instead of its original plan to only offer a prorated portion to those who get sick during the three-week season. Now, players will need to be tested and declared virus-free before heading to The Greenbrier. They still would not be paid if they test positive, but at least would avoid going to the site before being told theyre not allowed to participate. If youre in California, and get a negative test, then youre going to come to The Greenbrier. Silva told the AP.
World TeamTennis plans to have fans at West Virginia matches
Read full article: World TeamTennis plans to have fans at West Virginia matchesIf World TeamTennis gets its way, Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens could be among the first tennis players to compete in front of fans after the coronavirus pandemic prompted lockdowns around the globe. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)If World TeamTennis gets its way, Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens could be among the first tennis players to compete in front of fans after the coronavirus pandemic prompted lockdowns around the globe. WTT said Tuesday it is planning to allow up to 500 spectators at each of its outdoor matches during a three-week season from July 12 to Aug. 2 at a resort in West Virginia. Because of the pandemic, World TeamTennis is bringing all nine of its teams to one site The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia instead of having matches played around the United States. And unlike smaller exhibition tennis events around the world that have been staged without any fans present, WTT intends to sell tickets for one-fifth of a 2,500-seat outdoor stadium.