INSIDER
Thiem endures brush with venomous snake at Brisbane International
Read full article: Thiem endures brush with venomous snake at Brisbane InternationalFormer U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem has had a brush with one of Australia’s most venomous snakes during a qualifying match at the Brisbane International.
Naomi Osaka hits practice court to prepare for her tennis return at the Brisbane International
Read full article: Naomi Osaka hits practice court to prepare for her tennis return at the Brisbane InternationalFormer No. 1 and new mom Naomi Osaka has hit the practice court ahead of the Brisbane International as she prepares for her much anticipated return to tennis.
Andy Murray pulls out another 3-set victory at Indian Wells
Read full article: Andy Murray pulls out another 3-set victory at Indian WellsAndy Murray grabbed the last three games to come back and beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4 across more than three hours in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Unvaccinated Djokovic out of US Open tuneup in Cincinnati
Read full article: Unvaccinated Djokovic out of US Open tuneup in CincinnatiNovak Djokovic has pulled out of next week’s hard-court tournament in Cincinnati because he has not gotten any COVID-19 vaccine shots and so is not allowed to travel to the United States.
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 Thiem’s 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.
French Open updates | US teen Coco Gauff reaches 2nd round
Read full article: French Open updates | US teen Coco Gauff reaches 2nd roundAmerican teenager Coco Gauff did not let 10 double-faults, 12 break points or a warning from the chair umpire about receiving coaching from Dad disrupt her progress into the second round at Roland Garros.
Upsets send Fritz, Basilashvili to semis at Indian Wells
Read full article: Upsets send Fritz, Basilashvili to semis at Indian WellsTaylor Fritz beat No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in front of a hometown crowd, scoring the biggest win of his young career.
What makes Novak Djokovic great? Shots, yes, but also mind
Read full article: What makes Novak Djokovic great? Shots, yes, but also mindNovak Djokovic enters his U.S. Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev needing two wins to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam by a man in more than a half-century.
Djokovic extends Slam bid; 1st time no US players in Open QF
Read full article: Djokovic extends Slam bid; 1st time no US players in Open QFNovak Djokovic has extended his pursuit of the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men's tennis since 1969 by beating the last U.S. singles player at the U.S. Open.
Djokovic's true Slam bid at US Open starts against qualifier
Read full article: Djokovic's true Slam bid at US Open starts against qualifierNovak Djokovic will begin his bid to win the U.S. Open for a men’s-record 21st major tennis championship and to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam by facing a player who comes through qualifying.
Indian Wells tennis returns to California desert in October
Read full article: Indian Wells tennis returns to California desert in OctoberThe BNP Paribas Open is returning to the Southern California desert this fall after being knocked out of its usual March dates this year and last because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Osaka back to No. 2; Medvedev No. 3; Karatsev jumps 72 spots
Read full article: Osaka back to No. 2; Medvedev No. 3; Karatsev jumps 72 spots(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)Naomi Osaka's Australian Open championship moved her up one spot to No. 2 in the WTA rankings Monday, while men's finalist Daniil Medvedev rose to a career-best No. Aslan Karatsev's historic run from qualifying to the final four before losing to nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic allowed him to vault 72 places from 114th to 42nd. Barty took nearly a full year off, for example, but still has her points from winning the 2019 French Open and reaching the semifinals at the 2020 Australian Open. Aryna Sabalenka now leads the WTA doubles rankings after pairing with Elise Mertens to win the Australian Open women's doubles title.
Cloud 9: Djokovic wins 9th Australian Open, 18th Slam title
Read full article: Cloud 9: Djokovic wins 9th Australian Open, 18th Slam titlePlus, he's still gaining on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam standings, now up to 18 overall, two shy of the men’s record those rivals share. Ad“Definitely, emotionally, the most challenging Grand Slam that I ever had, with everything that was happening — injury, off-the-court stuff, quarantines,” Djokovic said. Put Djokovic’s nine triumphs in Australia alongside five at Wimbledon, three at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open. 4-seeded Medvedev was appearing in his second Slam final; he was the runner-up to Nadal at the 2019 U.S. Open. “There are a lot of mixed feelings about what has happened in the last month or so with tennis players coming to Australia,” Djokovic said.
Injured Djokovic advances to quarters at Australian Open
Read full article: Injured Djokovic advances to quarters at Australian OpenSerbia's Novak Djokovic hits a backhand return to Canada's Milos Raonic during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. For anyone curious about the severity of his injury, he put it into context after qualifying for the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 12th time. The eight-time Australian Open champion planned to spend most of the next two days recovering ahead of his quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev. “If you’re here, it’s for a reason - there’s no doubt about it,” Dimitrov said after his 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 win. AdAnd not since Patrick McEnroe — John’s brother — in 1991 has a man ranked as low as 114th made it to the Australian Open quarterfinals.
The Latest: Djokovic beats Raonic, reaches QFs in Australia
Read full article: The Latest: Djokovic beats Raonic, reaches QFs in AustraliaAdHe said: “If it’s any other tournament than a Grand Slam, then I’d withdraw from that event, that’s for sure. Defending champion Novak Djokovic has started his fourth-round match against Milos Raonic at the Australian Open. He'll play either U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem or Grigor Dimitrov next and he says he doesn't have a preference. Their match is to be followed by eight-time Australian Open champion Djokovic against 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic — assuming Djokovic decides he can play. Other men in action include reigning U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem and the man he beat in that final, Alexander Zverev.
Australian Open goes quiet as lockdown keeps crowds away
Read full article: Australian Open goes quiet as lockdown keeps crowds awayKarolina Muchova of the Czech Republic serves to compatriot Karolina Pliskova during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. Crowds were gone from the Australian Open on Saturday because of a five-day hard lockdown imposed by the state government to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 cases. And with the lack of fans, players were faced with an all-too-familiar feeling: a distinct lack of buzz. The Australian Open was allowed to continue during the lockdown — but without fans. He struggled without a crowd in a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open.
No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown
Read full article: No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE – The Australian Open will be allowed to continue but without crowds after the Victoria state government imposed a snap, five-day lockdown starting Saturday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak at a quarantine hotel. Andrews said the Feb. 8-21 Australian Open could continue “because these people are at their workplace.”“It will be happening, but there’ll be no one there watching it," he said. The seven-time Australian Open winner didn't hear the news until after the match. “It was a good last match before the lockdown, it's really sad to say.”The Australian Open was the first Grand Slam tournament in a year to allow sizeable crowds. Under the initial plan for the Australian Open, the government allowed up to 30,000 people daily the first week at Melbourne Park, or about 50% of capacity.
Djokovic holds off Tiafoe; Venus hobbles out in Australia
Read full article: Djokovic holds off Tiafoe; Venus hobbles out in AustraliaSerbia's Novak Djokovic makes a forehand return to United States' Frances Tiafoe during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. 1, had never beaten anyone in the Top 5, and now he'd just won a tiebreaker against Novak Djokovic to level their second-round match at the Australian Open. But it wasn't quite enough to beat the eight-time Australian Open champion, who won the 3 1/2-hour afternoon match 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 6-3. AdAnother U.S. Open champion, Naomi Osaka, needed only an hour to sweep Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-3. 29 Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in a rollicking night cap full of turns and twists.
The Latest: Shapovalov edges teenage Sinner in 1st round
Read full article: The Latest: Shapovalov edges teenage Sinner in 1st roundThe 10th-seeded Frenchman is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, but he can't seem to win anywhere at the moment. ___4:55 p.m.U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem has moved into the second round at the Australian Open, where he was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic a year ago. Thiem had been 0-3 in Grand Slam finals until emerging for the championship at Flushing Meadows in September. The first tournament of this year’s Grand Slam season began after a three-week delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. Serena Williams begins her latest bid for a 24th Grand Slam singles title in the following match against Laura Siegemund.
Serena Williams, Osaka drawn in same half at Australian Open
Read full article: Serena Williams, Osaka drawn in same half at Australian Open3 Naomi Osaka, the U.S. Open champion. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, Johanna Konta and Elina Svitolina are also in Kenin's quarter. Williams already has won seven Australian Open titles and her 23 major titles is a record in the Open era. In the top half, Djokovic’s bid for a third consecutive Australian title — and ninth overall — could get tricky. Djokovic and Zverev were playing against each other in an ATP Cup doubles match when the draw was made for the Australian Open.
Nadal sidelined; team Djokovic wins to open ATP Cup defense
Read full article: Nadal sidelined; team Djokovic wins to open ATP Cup defenseSerbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Canada's Denis Shapovalov in their ATP Cup match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE – Rafael Nadal didn't make it for Spain's ATP Cup opener because of a sore back, deciding it wasn't worth the risk a week ahead of the Australian Open. Nadal played more of a hand in that, with Djokovic limiting his time on court because of a blister. Back at Melbourne Park, where he has won a record eight Australian Open titles, he had plenty of energy to consume. Osaka, who won the U.S. Open last year and the Australian Open in 2019, will next face No.
Serena visits zoo; Djokovic finally on court in Australia
Read full article: Serena visits zoo; Djokovic finally on court in AustraliaIt was a controversial start to the government-mandated quarantine ahead of the Australian Open beginning Feb. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)ADELAIDE – Serena Williams was preparing to play Naomi Osaka at an Adelaide exhibition tournament on Friday. The Adelaide tournament is the only Australian Open tune-up tournament that isn't being played in Melbourne. The Australian Open starts Feb. 8. Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said players who had been in hard lockdown would be given priority.
With quarantines almost over, tennis set to start Down Under
Read full article: With quarantines almost over, tennis set to start Down UnderIt was a controversial start to the government-mandated quarantine ahead of the Australian Open beginning Feb. 8, 2021. The government-mandated quarantine ahead of the Feb. 8-21 Australian Open had a controversial start. There was some considerable doubt during that second wave whether the Australian Open would even be remotely possible in Melbourne. Players, coaches and officials were flown in on 17 jets chartered by Tennis Australia and met by biosecurity officials and placed immediately into hotel quarantine. They include 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, whose coach was among those who tested positive, and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
ATP: Start of 2021 calendar includes delayed Australian Open
Read full article: ATP: Start of 2021 calendar includes delayed Australian OpenThe 2021 Australian Open will begin three weeks later than planned. That is part of a pandemic-altered 2021 tennis calendar released by the mens professional tour Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. The ATP Cup, two ATP events and two WTA tournaments will take place in Melbourne the week before the Australian Open. One WTA tournament will happen during the second week of the Australian Open, local media said. The ATP is looking for new dates for the Rio Open, which was supposed to begin Feb. 17 but now conflicts with the two-week Australian Open main draw.
Thiem, Nadal win opening matches at ATP Finals in London
Read full article: Thiem, Nadal win opening matches at ATP Finals in London(John Walton/PA via AP)LONDON – Dominic Thiem made sure this year's ATP Finals didn't begin the same way last year's ended. Nadal is looking to cap a season in which he earned his record-equaling 20th Grand Slam title and 1,000th match win on tour by capturing his first trophy at the ATP Finals. Nadal broke in the opening game of the second set as well and never faced a break point of his own. He served out the win on his second match point when Rublev's return sailed long. This is the 12th and last year that the ATP Finals is played at the 02 Arena before moving to Turin, Italy, next year.
Zverev beats Auger-Aliassime in Cologne to end title wait
Read full article: Zverev beats Auger-Aliassime in Cologne to end title waitCOLOGNE – Alexander Zverev ended his 17-month wait for a title by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 to win the Cologne Indoors on Sunday. Zverev's previous title was at the clay-court Geneva Open in May 2019 and he is now 12-8 in career finals. Auger-Aliassime is still waiting for his first career title after losing six finals in two seasons, all of them in straight sets. The Cologne Indoors is the first of two new back-to-back tournaments the city is hosting after the ATP calendar was modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The second Cologne tournament was already holding qualification matches before Sunday's final in the first tournament took place.
French Open champ Swiatek rises to 17th; Djokovic, Nadal 1-2
Read full article: French Open champ Swiatek rises to 17th; Djokovic, Nadal 1-22, followed by U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem and Federer. The 19-year-old Swiatek entered the French Open at No. 54 and became the lowest-ranked female champion at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament since the WTA computer rankings began in 1975. The top three in the women’s rankings remained as they were before the French Open, with Ash Barty at No. Halep did compete at the French Open, but her 6-1, 6-2 loss to Swiatek in the fourth round didn’t affect the three-time major champion’s ranking.
No. 1 Djokovic escapes in 5, will face No. 2 Nadal in final
Read full article: No. 1 Djokovic escapes in 5, will face No. 2 Nadal in final(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – Novak Djokovic seemed well on his way to yet another ho-hum victory, yet another French Open final, yet another matchup against rival Rafael Nadal. It will be their 56th meeting, the most between two men in the professional era (Djokovic leads 29-26), 16th at a major (Nadal leads 9-6) and eighth at the French Open (Nadal leads 6-1). Tsitsipas broke again to steal that set when Djokovic netted a forehand, then got things to a fifth. After the fourth set, Djokovic changed socks and shoes, and Tsitsipas got a medical visit for a check of his left leg. Then there was this: Schwartzman upset Nadal in straight sets on clay at the Italian Open last month.
'Both gave everything': Schwartzman tops Thiem in 5 in Paris
Read full article: 'Both gave everything': Schwartzman tops Thiem in 5 in ParisArgentina's Diego Schwartzman celebrates winning his quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament against Austria's Dominic Thiem in five sets at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. The ninth break put Schwartzman up 4-2 in the fifth when Thiem netted a backhand, and the last ended it, when Thiem put two drop shots into the net. From early on against Schwartzman, Thiem would bail out of points by trying mediocre drop shots, a bit of foreshadowing of the day’s denouement. He led the fourth 5-3, and held three set points while serving for it at 5-4. “For sure, I’m going to be awake," said Schwartzman, who defeated Nadal at a clay-court tuneup in Rome last month.
The Latest: 19-year-old Swiatek into French Open semifinals
Read full article: The Latest: 19-year-old Swiatek into French Open semifinals(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___10:25 p.m.Polish teenager Iga Swiatek made it to her first Grand Slam semifinal by ending the surprising French Open run of qualifier Martina Trevisan of Italy. The reports said suspicious betting patterns concerned the fifth game of the second set when Sizikova was serving and broken to love. ___2:55 p.m.Nadia Podoroska is the first female qualifier in the Open Era to reach the French Open semifinals. Collins looked in control at 3-0 up in the second set but her Tunisian opponent won five straight games. This was her best run at the French Open while Collins had never previously been past the second round here.
The body clock of France thrown off-kilter by autumn tennis
Read full article: The body clock of France thrown off-kilter by autumn tennisThe sun sets over court 14 as Italy's Jannik Sinner, right, and Argentina's Federico Coria, left, play their third round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Students would have one eye or — don't tell teacher — both on the tennis as they crammed for baccalauréat high-school final exams. Instead, they are wondering who is beating who at the tennis while they're stuck in class with face masks in a new academic year. In short, the country's whole body clock has had to adjust to the postponement not only of the tennis but also of the Tour de France. Sitting here like ducks” when a match supervisor asked that she wait on court for a downpour to pass.
'Are you Sebastian’s father?' Korda, 20, takes on idol Nadal
Read full article: 'Are you Sebastian’s father?' Korda, 20, takes on idol Nadal(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)PARIS – Sebastian Korda was 9, heart set on a hockey career, when he went with his father, Petr, to the 2009 U.S. Open. By then, Petr — 1998 Australian Open champion, 1992 French Open finalist — had retired as a competitor and turned to coaching. Went home, came back the next year, and said, ‘This is exactly what I want to do,’” Korda said. “Everybody is always asking him: ‘Are you the son of Petr Korda?’ Which I would love to change in the future,” Dad said in a telephone interview, “so that people ask me, ‘Are you Sebastian’s father? On Sunday, Korda plays 12-time champion Rafael Nadal, while Gaston meets U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem.
The Latest: Wawrinka out, marathon tiebreak at French Open
Read full article: The Latest: Wawrinka out, marathon tiebreak at French Open(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___7:00 pm. Wawrinka won the French Open in 2015. ___2:50 p.m.Simona Halep had no trouble reversing the result of her loss to Amanda Anisimova at last year’s French Open. She opened her campaign with a first-round upset of 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova. The two-time French Open quarterfinalist defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 7-5.
'Bad timing and bad luck': Injured Serena out of French Open
Read full article: 'Bad timing and bad luck': Injured Serena out of French Open“If it was my knee, that would be more really devastating for me. I feel like my body is actually doing really, really well,” said Williams, who turned 39 on Saturday. Williams took a long pause, clutched at that leg and then took a medical timeout so a trainer could wrap it. I was able to get it somewhat better, but just looking long-term in this tournament, will I be able to get through enough matches? And so, for me, I don’t think I could,” Williams said Wednesday.
'Runaway train': Serena wins French Open opener; Nadal, too
Read full article: 'Runaway train': Serena wins French Open opener; Nadal, tooSerena Williams of the U.S. screams in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Kristie Ahn of the U.S. at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. Both began this French Open with straight-set victories against overmatched foes in Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday. Nadal began his attempt to pull even with rival Roger Federer for the most by a man, 20, by beating Egor Gerasimov of Belarus 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. He'll be aiming for his 18th major championship at this French Open, which he finally gets underway Tuesday with his first Grand Slam match since being disqualified at the U.S. Open. Among the other key results on Day 2 of a chilly, pandemic-postponed French Open were losses by 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova, who was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Polish teenager Iga Swiatek; three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber; 2017 U.S. Open finalist and 2018 French Open semifinalist Madison Keys; and men’s seeds No.
The Latest: Female doubles player dropped due to virus
Read full article: The Latest: Female doubles player dropped due to virusThe 2009 French Open champion was beaten by Russian countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. But the 2016 French Open champion held firm to beat Tamara Zidansek 7-5, 4-6, 8-6. He beat Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The new roof over Court Philippe Chatrier is again proving its worth on Day 2 of the French Open. The court is hosting the only play as rain thwarted the start of all other matches at Roland Garros.
Sunday in the parks: The playoffs, NFL, a no-hitter and more
Read full article: Sunday in the parks: The playoffs, NFL, a no-hitter and moreTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates his touchdown with offensive tackle Donovan Smith (76) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. The NFL roared back to life, even if the roar was from fans who weren’t in the stadiums. For the first time since Jan. 1, 2000 — when he was a senior at Michigan — Tom Brady played a football game in something other than a New England Patriots helmet. “I know how much comes along with that,” Cubs manager David Ross said after the second no-hitter of the season. That’s a special day for us, a special day for Alec Mills.
Thiem 1st since 1949 to win US Open after ceding 1st 2 sets
Read full article: Thiem 1st since 1949 to win US Open after ceding 1st 2 setsDominic Thiem, of Austria, returns a shot to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the men's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK – Dominic Thiem became the first man in 71 years to win the U.S. Open after dropping the first two sets of the final. Thiem earned his first Grand Slam title Sunday with a 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) comeback victory against Alexander Zverev. Pancho Gonzalez made the same sort of turnaround against Ted Schroeder in 1949 to win the event then known as the U.S. Championships. This was Zverev’s debut in a Grand Slam final.
The Latest: Thiem expects close match in US Open final
Read full article: The Latest: Thiem expects close match in US Open final(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___4:20 p.m.Dominic Thiem says he expects another close match between he and Alexander Zverev in the U.S. Open final, which has now begun. Thiem leads the series 7-2 and has won all three in Grand Slam tournaments. ___3:20 p.m.Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev are set for the U.S. Open final, with the winner giving men's tennis its first new Grand Slam champion in six years. The Austrian lost two French Open finals to Rafael Nadal and fell in this year's Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic. The fifth-seeded Zverev is in his first Grand Slam final.
Zverev erases 2-set deficit at US Open for 1st Slam final
Read full article: Zverev erases 2-set deficit at US Open for 1st Slam finalZverev constructed quite a comeback, getting his game in gear to beat a fading Carreño Busta 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 and reach the title match at Flushing Meadows. It was an inadvisable strategy against a human wall like the 20th-seeded Carreño Busta, who might not do much spectacularly but certainly does everything solidly. It’s not as if Carreño Busta was impeccable. Before the start of the fifth set, Carreño Busta took a medical timeout and got his back worked on by a strainer, something he did at the same stage of his marathon quarterfinal victory over Denis Shapovalov. This time, it was Zverev’s surge that continued, undeterred when Carreño Busta twice hit balls right at him during points in the fourth set.
The Latest: Men's singles semis, women's doubles at US Open
Read full article: The Latest: Men's singles semis, women's doubles at US OpenAlexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts during a match against Borna Coric, of Croatia, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK – The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times EDT):___12:30 p.m. The men's semifinal matches will be played after the women's doubles championship is awarded at the U.S. Open. They were to be followed by Alexander Zverev against Pablo Carreno Busta, along with 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev facing No. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Helped by net, bad call, Osaka gets past Brady in US Open SF
Read full article: Helped by net, bad call, Osaka gets past Brady in US Open SFAnd now Osaka, still just 22, is one victory away from a third Grand Slam title. Osaka served at up to 120 mph; Brady reached 117 mph. That’s when, at 2-1 in the third set, Osaka earned her first break point with a backhand that clipped the net tape and trickled over. In the second set, though, it was Osaka who blinked, and Brady who collected the first break of the evening. Heady stuff for Brady, a 25-year-old from Pennsylvania who never had been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament before this week.
The Latest: Williams drops 1st set of US Open quarterfinal
Read full article: The Latest: Williams drops 1st set of US Open quarterfinalSerena Williams, of the United States, serves to Tsvetana Pironkova, of Bulgaria, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):1:05 p.m.Serena Williams has dropped the first set of her U.S. Open quarterfinal against unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova by a 6-4 score. She broke Williams to lead 3-2, then failed to convert two set points while Williams served at 5-3. But Pironkova served it out in the next game. ___12:15 p.m.Serena Williams is about to start her U.S. Open quarterfinal against unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova.
The Latest: Azarenka set for US Open showdown with Williams
Read full article: The Latest: Azarenka set for US Open showdown with Williams(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):8:35 p.m.Victoria Azarenka is headed to another U.S. Open showdown against Serena Williams with a shot at the final on the line. A year after losing to Rafael Nadal in a nearly five-hour U.S. Open final, Medvedev will face No. ___ 1:45 p.m.Serena Williams has pushed her U.S. Open quarterfinal against Tsvetana Pironkova to a third set. ___1:05 p.m.Serena Williams has dropped the first set of her U.S. Open quarterfinal against unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova by a 6-4 score. She broke Williams to lead 3-2, then failed to convert two set points while Williams served at 5-3.
Thiem OK with how many of Big 3 are in US Open (hint: zero)
Read full article: Thiem OK with how many of Big 3 are in US Open (hint: zero)Dominic Thiem, of Austria, returns a shot to Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, in New York. 15 Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-1 in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. He is 0-3, losing twice to Nadal at the French Open and to Djokovic at the Australian Open this February. Thats all of his $250,000 prize money for reaching the fourth round, plus $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and an additional $7,500 for skipping his post-match news conference. On Monday, she extended her stay in her comeback event, beating Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in the fourth round.
Serena Williams tops schedule with play underway at US Open
Read full article: Serena Williams tops schedule with play underway at US OpenSerena Williams, of the United States, top taps rackets with Kristie Ahn, of the United States, after winning their first-round match of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament:The fourth day of play is underway at the U.S. Open, with Serena Williams, reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem among those scheduled to take the court. Williams faces Margarita Gasparyan, who is ranked No. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 76 degrees. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Osaka-Goff rematch could happen in US Open's 3rd round
Read full article: Osaka-Goff rematch could happen in US Open's 3rd roundTwo-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and 16-year-old Coco Gauff could face each other at the U.S. Open again after Thursdays, Aug. 27, 2020, draw for the Grand Slam tournament set up a possible third-round rematch. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)American teenager Coco Gauff and two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka could face each other at the U.S. Open again after Thursdays draw for the Grand Slam tournament set up a possible third-round rematch. Osaka, who won the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Australian Open, beat Gauff, then just 15, 6-3, 6-0 in the third round at Flushing Meadows a year ago. 1-ranked Ash Barty and 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu. The defending mens champion, Rafael Nadal, and 20-time Grand Slam title winner Roger Federer are also among those absent in New York this year.
Pain in the neck: Djokovic gets by in 1st post-hiatus match
Read full article: Pain in the neck: Djokovic gets by in 1st post-hiatus matchA trainer works on the neck of Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during his match with Ricardas Berankis, of Lithuania, during the second round at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in New York. 1-ranked Djokovic was playing his first ATP match in six months because of the coronavirus pandemic; he pulled out of the doubles event Sunday because of his neck. That major championship's site in Flushing Meadows is hosting the Ohio-based Western & Southern Open, too, as part of an unusual doubleheader with no spectators. Like Djokovic, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka emerged with difficult wins, while two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova, the No. Djokovic now meets American Tennys Sandgren, a 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (5) winner over No.
Ivanisevic, the coach of Djokovic, tests positive for virus
Read full article: Ivanisevic, the coach of Djokovic, tests positive for virusZAGREB Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, who now coaches Novak Djokovic and attended the top-ranked player's exhibition series in Serbia and Croatia, said Friday he has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Croatian great, who won his only Grand Slam title at the All England Club in 2001, wrote on Instagram that he tested positive after two negative tests in the last 10 days. I would like to inform everyone who has been in contact with me that I tested positive and ask them to take extra good care of themselves and their loved ones, Ivanisevic wrote. Four players from those events, including Djokovic and his wife, have said they have the virus. Djokovic has called the rules to keep everyone safe at the U.S. Open extreme.___More AP tennis: https://www.apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Thiem apologizes for playing in Djokovic's tennis event
Read full article: Thiem apologizes for playing in Djokovic's tennis eventNovak Djokovic has tested positive for the coronavirus after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia. Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)VIENNA Third-ranked tennis player Dominic Thiem apologized Thursday for taking part in an exhibition series hosted by Novak Djokovic in which four players tested positive for the coronavirus. I am extremely sorry.The top-ranked Djokovic tested positive on Tuesday. Djokovic said on Tuesday that he and his wife tested positive and admitted it was too soon to host such an event.
Virus cases at Djokovic's event put sports under scrutiny
Read full article: Virus cases at Djokovic's event put sports under scrutinyGrigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive for the virus. Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive for the virus. In a separate incident, Serbian soccer club Red Star Belgrade said five of its players had tested positive for the virus. There has also been an increase in virus cases among soccer players in other countries, notably Russia. Djokovics decision to fly home to Serbia before being tested has also attracted scrutiny.
Djokovic defends packed stands at tennis charity tour event
Read full article: Djokovic defends packed stands at tennis charity tour eventSerbian tennis player Novak Djokovic set up a series of tennis tournaments in the Balkan region while the sport is suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)BELGRADE There was no social distancing and few among the thousands of fans wore face masks and Novak Djokovic approved. The fans filled the makeshift stands on Friday at Djokovic's Belgrade tennis club on the banks of the Danube River for the opening day of his charity tennis tour organized by him and his family. At the tennis, Djokovic defended the freedoms of the crowd. Djokovics Adria Tour is scheduled to move on to neighboring Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.