Tennis

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, May 3, 2024Taylor Fritz slipped out of the Madrid semifinals.After bowing to Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3 in at the moment's Mutua Madrid Open semifinals, Fritz cited two hindrances that ended his Madrid run.More: Brave Rybakina Saves Match Points, Into Madrid SFFirst, Rublev's rocket serve displaced Fritz and arrange the Russian's fierce first-strike forehand.Secondly, Fritz could not all the time preserve his ft defending out of the corners.Afterward, Fritz advised the media in Madrid the Manolo Santana Stadium courtroom might use extra clay.In reality, he stated generally he might hear the squeal of his sneaker on the onerous floor beneath the pink mud when sliding. "I mean, I know for a fact that there is not as much clay on center than all the...

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, May 2, 2024Iga Swiatek owns sufficient weapons to fill her Tecnifibre racquet bag.World No. 1 Swiatek is among the sport's speediest gamers, possesses a hellacious topspin forehand, flat backhand and diverse serve.More: Brave Rybakina Saves Match Points, Into Madrid SFThe top-seeded Swiatek's most underrated weapon?Swiatek is a champion compressor, says Madison Keys.In the aftermath of Swiatek's 6-1, 6-3 sweep of Keys in right this moment's Mutua Madrid Open semifinals, the 2017 US Open finalist detailed the problem of going through Swiatek.The four-time Grand Slam champion's constant depth, mixed with the very fact she's so expert hitting the ball on the rise, squeezes each house and response time for opponents."I think she doesn't seem li...

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday May 1, 2024Taylor Fritz is the final American man standing at Madrid – and the primary American man to achieve the semifinals within the Spanish capital since 2005 – because of his 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Francisco Cerundolo to shut out Wednesday’s evening session on the Caja Magical.Fritz will face Andrey Rublev within the semifinals on Friday.It was a banner day for Fritz in additional methods than one – he additionally earned his 250th win on tour to develop into simply the sixth participant born in 1995 or earlier to attain the feat.250 wins or extra, born 1995 or earlier (as of May 1, 2024)Zverev, born 1997, 416Medvedev, born 1996, 355Tsitsipas, born 1998, 321Rublev, born 1997, 311Khachanov, born 1996, 261Fritz, born 1997, 250“I remembe...

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday April 30, 2024Jannik Sinner dropped a set for the primary time on Tuesday in Madrid, however the Italian responded with fortitude and marched previous Karen Khachanov, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, to succeed in his first quarterfinal on the Caja Magica.It’s one other milestone in a season of milestones for the Italian, who gained his maiden main title and has climbed to a career-high rating of No.2 on the season. No Italian had gained a serious title since 1976, and no man from his nation has ever been ranked as excessive.Sinner improves to 28-2 on the yr, and can face both Casper Ruud or Felix Auger-Aliassime for a spot within the semifinals on Thursday. The time without work will probably be appreciated, as Sinner has been coping with a proper hip concern th...

  By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, April 29, 2024 Few champions have mined the facility of predictability as successfully as Rafael Nadal.From his ritualistic run again to the baseline after the coin toss, to his exact placement of his bottle like a chess grasp inserting a pawn in place to the flurry of forehands crosscourt that may sweep even skilled opponents proper off the courtroom, the 14-time Roland Garros champion is the last word high-percentage participant.Rafa Nadal: Not Fully Fit For Madrid, Will Do Everything to Play ParisThese days, the king of clay is feeling a bit like a mercurial monarch.The 36-year-old Spanish celebrity says there's one key completely different to his recreation: he is extra unpredictable."I am more unpredictable than what I used to be," Nad...

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday April 28, 2024It’s the tip of the road for tennis’ official ironwoman. Alizé Cornet has introduced her plans to retire at Roland-Garros this yr, the place the Frenchwoman will make her 69th consecutive fundamental draw look.“I will play my last Roland-Garros in a month and I will retire immediately,” she stated. “It’s the right time because it’s the result of a long journey… I just feel like it’s time. I don’t want to be pushed out, I want to choose. And it’s the right time for me to say goodbye to tennis.”The 34-year-old Frenchwoman confirmed information of her retirement in an interview that aired on Saturday on French tv channel Canal+. She is a former World No.11 that has earned her share of massive wins on the WTA Tour, together with 25 vs To...

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday April 27, 2024Rafael Nadal took a giant step in the appropriate path on Saturday on the Madrid Masters, upending Eleventh-ranked Alex de Minaur for his first Top 20 win since 2022 and displaying among the classic type that he has change into recognized for on his beloved purple clay.The legendary King of Clay was hopeful after his 7-6(6), 6-3 win over De Minaur, but in addition reasonable concerning the difficulties he feels he's nonetheless dealing with because the clock ticks and Roland-Garros approaches.“It's not about playing better, playing worse,” Nadal informed reporters in Madrid. “It's about going on court with real hope. Then anything can happen. But before the tournament [I need to] have the hope that I can play and I can play for … a...

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 26, 2024Carlos Alcaraz’s first match because the Miami Open was successful on Friday on the Mutua Madrid Open, although there's nonetheless some fear about his injured proper forearm after the two-time defending Madrid champion dispatched Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko in his first match because the Miami Open (6-2, 6-1).The excellent news? Alcaraz, who wore a sleeve to guard his proper arm, felt no ache.The not so excellent news? The Spaniard says he doesn’t really feel able to hit his forehand at one hundred pc.“I didn't hit my forehand 100 percent,” he informed reporters after enhancing to 13-1 lifetime at Madrid. “I hit it softer than I used to hit it, but I think it helped me to stay relaxed.” Make it TWELVE in a row in Madrid 😎@carlos...

  By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, April 25, 2024Suffering has been a pathway to Slam salvation up to now for Rafael Nadal.After sweeping 16-year-old wild card Darwin Blanch in Madrid right this moment, Nadal mentioned bodily obstacles.Rafa Nadal: Not Fully Fit For Madrid, Will Do Everything to Play ParisThe king of clay launched his comeback in Barcelona final week after being sidelined 103 days attributable to a microtear within the muscle surrounding his surgically-repaired hip. Nadal has additionally reportedly been dealing with an belly damage, which has hampered his serve a bit.The 37-year-old Spanish famous person says he is making an attempt to present his greatest on courtroom, however his physique can generally limits him."I mean, I try to play at my 100%, but I ...

 By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Jannik Sinner has reached the highest of the road, however insists he is impressed by enchancment quite than rising to a historic first.Australian Open champion Sinner is high seed in Madrid for the primary time, leads the ATP with a 25-2 document and is No. 1 within the ATP Race to Turin.Rafa Nadal: Not Fully Fit For Madrid, Will Do Everything to Play ParisThen there are his friends, like world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who declare the 22-year-old Italian is already one of the best on the earth. "He's the best player in the world right now," Alcaraz instructed the media in Madrid. "I think [some] think his tennis doesn't suit well to the clay, but he's had results on clay as well."He can win each event he goes to, and clearly ...