tennis

Paolini Through as Swiatek, Alcaraz Eye French Open Third Round

Jasmine Paolini moved into the French Open third round on Wednesday as Iga Swiatek continued her bid for a fourth straight Roland Garros crown, with title favourites Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz also in action. Paolini, last year's runner-up, brushed aside Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-3 to stretch her winning streak to eight matches following ...

Novak Djokovic, 38 Years Old, Centurion

He didn’t raise his arms to the sky. Just clenched his fists, as if he still couldn’t believe it. At 38, Novak Djokovic won the 100th title of his career on Saturday in Geneva, defeating Hubert Hurkacz after a match as long as it was nerve-wracking (5–7, 7–6, 7–6). The Club of 100: A Very Exclusive Circle He now joins two titans of ...

Benjamin Hassan: The Broken Dream, the Unbroken Pride

There are defeats that feel like victories. Benjamin Hassan’s loss to Italy’s Matteo Gigante (4–6, 2–6, 0–6) in the first round of Roland-Garros is one of them. The score was harsh, the outcome final — but the symbolism was immense. For the first time in history, a Lebanese tennis player played a main draw match at Roland-Garros. That ...

Roland-Garros: Benjamin Hassan in the Main Draw, Lebanon Knocks on the Door of World Tennis

A Lebanese in Paris! Lebanon has claimed its spot in the clay courts of Roland-Garros. Benjamin Hassan, ranked 221st in the world, pulled off a genuine feat by qualifying for the main draw of the prestigious Parisian tournament. A historic first for a Lebanese player on the ochre courts of Porte d’Auteuil. Three Steps to Glory It took three ...

Roland-Garros: Habib and Hassan on a Mission in Paris

The dream begins with sweat. Every year, players from all over the world battle it out in the qualifying matches to earn their place in the main draw at Roland-Garros. On the Paris clay court, two Lebanese players did the country proud: Benjamin Hassan and Hady Habib, determined to make history. First Winning Ball On Monday, on a side court but ...

Alcaraz Reaches Italian Open Final and Potential Sinner Showdown

Carlos Alcaraz set up a potential blockbuster Italian Open final with Jannik Sinner after coming through Friday's semi-final with home hope Lorenzo Musetti a straight-sets winner, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz overcame Musetti and windy conditions in just over two hours to reach his fourth final of the season ahead of the ...

Tennis Champ Jannik Sinner Meets Pope Leo, Offers Quick Rally

Men's world number one tennis player Jannik Sinner offered to rally with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, after being received by the head of the Catholic Church at the Vatican. The 23-year-old Italian star only returned to the circuit last Saturday, at the Italian Open, after serving a three month doping ban. Video released by the Vatican showed ...

Sinner Moves Through Gears to Reach Italian Open Quarters

Jannik Sinner came through the first true test of his comeback from a doping ban with Tuesday's straight-sets win over Francisco Cerundolo which took the world number one into the Italian Open quarter-finals. Italian Sinner bested 17th seed Cerundolo 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 in a match which was delayed by a couple of hours due to a torrential downpour to ...

Alcaraz Battles Into Italian Open Quarter-Finals

Carlos Alcaraz reached the Italian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday after battling past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to continue his bid for a first Rome title. Third seed Alcaraz had never lost a set in his previous four meetings with Russia's Khachanov but was forced to fight on the Foro Italico center court. Alcaraz needs to get to the Rome ...

Gauff Holds Nerve to Join Sabalenka in Italian Open Third Round

Coco Gauff survived a scare at this year's Italian Open, coming back from a set down to beat qualifier Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 as Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz both cruised through their opening matches. World number three Gauff will play Magda Linette in the third round in Rome after prevailing despite being far from her best in a ...

Swiatek Makes Fast Start at Italian Open

Iga Swiatek dismissed Elisabetta Cocciaretto in just 52 minutes as she opened her account at the Italian Open on Thursday. World number two Swiatek came to Italy on the back of a demoralising straight-sets defeat to Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open. But the 23-year-old Pole dropped just a single game in winning 6-1, 6-0 against ...

Defending Rome Champion Zverev Blames Burn out on Run of Form

Defending Rome Open champion Alexander Zverev said he is now on a "good path", putting a poor run of form following his defeat in the Australian Open final down to burn-out. The 28-year-old world number two put an end to the dry run -- which included opening round defeats in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo -- by winning the ATP title in Munich in ...