Blog RSS Blog RSS Feed <![CDATA[Halep Has Hard Road in Miami Comeback]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 18, 202


The Miami Open rolled out the red carpet welcoming Simona Halep back to the Tour with a wild card.

Former world No. 1 Halep faces a hard road in the Miami draw. 

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour

The 32-year-old Romanian superstar faces Spain's Paula Badosa in her Miami Open comeback match. Halep has won both prior meetings vs. Badosa, including a 6-1, 6-2 victory over the fourth-seeded Spaniard in the 2022 Wimbledon round of 16.

The winner of the Halep vs. Badosa match will advance to a second-round showdown vs. two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. Halep is 3-2 vs. Sabalenka.

"I'm thrilled that I will be making my WTA return at the Miami Open," Halep said.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Tennis (@tennischannel)



The Miami first round will be Halep's first match since she lost to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur in the 2022 US Open first round. 

Weeks before her US Open loss, Halep captured her 24th career championship in Toronto.

The two-time Grand Slam champion Halep tested positive for the banned drug Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. Roxadustat is legitimately used for the treatment of anaemia but is on the WADA Prohibited Substance list as a blood doping agent, which increases hemoglobin and the production of red blood cells. It has been used by middle distance and long-distance runners in the past.

Last month, Halep won her doping appeal as the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced her suspension from four years to nine months clearing the path for her return to the pro circuit this week in Miami.

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty


]]>
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:25:46 GMT
<![CDATA[Swiatek Shares Feeling on Top of the World]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 18, 202


Avid reader Iga Swiatek speaks several languages and is fluent in the art of world supremacy.

Applying her all-court skills, Swiatek sped through eight straight games dismissing Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in the BNP Paribas Open final to capture her 19th career championship, including her second Indian Wells crown in the last three years.

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour

Swiatek became the first top seed since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 to win Indian Wells.

It’s been two years since Swiatek succeeded the retired Ash Barty as world No. 1.

As she celebrates her 94th week at the top of tennis, Swiatek shared how it feels to be world No. 1 in her post-final presser at Indian Wells.

“I would say you just feel like your game is better than anyone out there,” Swiatek said. “Obviously it's not for granted that you're going to win because of that, but you feel like you have skills and you have everything to be able to, you know, present your best game.

“I mean, because of that, I don't expect, like, it's going to happen all the time, but I just know that it's somewhere there and I need to make the best work to put it out there.”

The reigning Roland Garros champion improved to a WTA-best 20-2 on the season and raised her impeccable finals record to 19-4.

 

Now, Swiatek sets her sights on sweeping her second Sunshine Double in the last three years.

The top-seeded Swiatek will face either compatriot Magdalena Frech or hard-hitting Italian Camila Giorgi in her Miami Open opener.

Swiatek is one of four women—Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka are the other three—to complete the Sunshine Double.

The 22-year-old Pole said she feels comfortable with world No. 1 next to her name antarget on her back, but expects her confidence will be tested at times by the inevitable ebbs and flows of a tennis career.

“I mean, there are going to be ups and downs still, so I don't expect I'm always going to feel comfortable with pressure,” Swiatek said. “Sometimes it hits harder; sometimes it doesn't hit at all.

"I wouldn't say that at some point I felt comfortable and that's it, now I'm going to be comfortable till the rest of my career.”

Photo credit: On
]]>
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:46:07 GMT
<![CDATA[Itaú Unibanco Renews Miami Open Sponsorship until 2028]]>  

By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 18, 202


The Miami Open can bank on Itaú Unibanco's sponsorship through 2028.

The Brazilian bank announced today it has renewed its title sponsorship of the Miami Masters 1000 event through 2028. 

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour

The bank remains the presenting sponsor of the next five editions, maintaining the “presented by Itaú” branding.

This initiative, orchestrated by the GALERIA.ag agency, will take place on March 20 at 11:35 am ET, just after the qualifying stage, which marks the beginning of the tournament.

To celebrate this renewal, a new tradition will be introduced in the tournament this year: the First Serve, that is, the first inaugural serve in the history of tennis to be struck by athlete Rafael Padilha, from the Rede Tênis Brasil (Tennis Brazil Network) project, supported by Itaú Unibanco.

Born in the city of Porto Alegre, Padilha took up tennis at just nine years of age and had his first contact with the sport through this initiative. The eldest of seven siblings, Padilha was the top player in the state ranking for two successive years in the under 12, 14, 16 and 18 categories, playing in Brazilian and ITF Juniors tournaments, such as the Banana Bowl and the Brazil Juniors Cup.

Still through the project, in 2023 he went into the backstage of the Miami Open tournament, practiced on its courts, and met some of his main idols - among them, Carlos Alcaraz, currently the world’s number 2, and Brazilians Beatriz Haddad Maia and Thiago Monteiro.

“We believe that sport has the power to change people's lives. That’s why it’s such a strong pillar of activity at Itaú. Our support ranges from projects that use sport as a means to develop Brazilian children and youngsters to those focused on high performance, such as the Miami Open. We support social actions such as Rede Tenis Brasil, Bola Dentro (Ball In), Instituto Guga Kuerten and Tenis para Todos Paraisópolis (Tennis for all Paraisópolis). We are also proud to support the talented Brazilian tennis player Bia Haddad since 2023, showcasing our commitment to helping the sport grow in Brazil and promoting the development of young athletes”, says Eduardo Tracanella, Itaú Unibanco’s Chief Marketing Officer.




Itaú Unibanco's relationship with tennis dates back to the 1970s, with Itaú Tennis Cup, and aims to operate in all areas of the sport: educational, youth development and high performance.

By renewing this commitment, the bank said it "reaffirms its support for the values and traditions of sport in Brazil, consolidating its presence in the international tennis arena and showcasing mutual trust and determination to promote high-performance tennis."

This year, Itaú Personnalité's presence is expanded with an exclusive lounge with a view of the main courts, equipped with a bar, tables, armchairs to relax and the presence of a DJ, as well as an interactive photo space.

First Serve: a new tradition started by Itaú at the Miami Open

From the alleys of Vila Kédi in Porto Alegre, Rafael Padilha is an outstanding athlete coming through the project.

At the age of 9, he had his first contact with tennis through the Rede Tênis Brasil project.

The path taken by this young man has led him directly to a position of high responsibility at the next Miami Open: he’ll make the tournament’s first serve, an unprecedented feat in the history of world tennis, and just led by Itaú.

Inspired by players such as Bia Haddad and Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael faces challenges in Brazilian and ITF Juniors tournaments, including renowned competitions such as the Banana Bowl and the Brazil Juniors Cup.

Padilha also invests time in studying English to try for a scholarship at a U.S. university.

“He’s not only a talented competitor on the courts, but also a young man who understands the importance of dedication and education to progress. We are proud, here at Itaú, to support projects that boost opportunities through sport”, adds Tracanella.

Photo credit: 
Itaú Unibanco/Miami Open]]>
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 11:36:04 GMT
<![CDATA[When Iga Swiatek Met Zendaya ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 17, 2024


Indian Wells – Iga Swiatek may be a generally reserved character, but she doesn’t feel out of place at all mixing it up with top flight celebrities. She proved that on Sunday when she spent some time with Zendaya, who was visiting the BNP Paribas Open to take in both the men’s and women’s singles finals.

Asked about the meeting after her 6-4, 6-0 victory over Maria Sakkari, the Pole said it was cool to have some time with the Euphoria star, who has won Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

“For sure, meeting Zendaya was crazy, but on the other hand, she's a human like all of us,” Swiatek said. “So I was just happy that she's enjoying tennis and she's having this movie with a tennis theme coming out. So that should be really exciting. She can practice with me any time if she wants to.”

Zendaya will start in the Luca Guadagnino picture “Challengers” about a player who signs up to compete in a challenger event against the former lover of his wife and coach.

“For sure it was fun and she's a really great person,” Swiatek said. “I feel pretty privileged that I'm in this place where I can meet these kind of people.”




]]>
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:44:00 GMT
<![CDATA[Alcaraz: If You Believe In Yourself, Everything Can Turn Around ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 17, 2024


Indian Wells – Carlos Alcaraz stepped out of a personal funk and soared above the competition at the BNP Paribas Open. And for him, it was a beautiful thing. Not necessarily the winning, but the feeling...

Tennis Express

The 20-year-old had not raised a trophy on tour since Wimbledon, but he was up to the task at familiar stomping grounds in the California desert, where he reminded the world of just how magical of a talent he is and riflpast three Top 10 talents in his last three matches to become the first player to complete a successful BNP Paribas Open title defense since 2016.

Alcaraz also became the youngest player to defend his title Indian Wells since Boris Becker in 1988. The swashbuckling Spaniard isn’t simply a phenom, he’s also an extremely young phenom with time on his side.

But things haven’t been easy for Alcaraz of late, and that’s what made his title run at Indian Wells so very special.

Speaking with reporters after defeating Medvedev in Sunday’s final, Alcaraz opened up about that subject.

What was the biggest lesson he learned from his Indian Wells fortnight?

“That you can overcome all the problems that you have,” he said. “It doesn't matter what problems you have. If you believe in yourself, you have a really good team around, you work hard, everything can turn around.

“I think that's the biggest lesson that I take from this tournament.”

In truth it is difficult to imagine Alcaraz – so bubbly, so open-hearted, so content to be on tour and playing the sport he is so passionate about – unhappy. But he has opened up about feeling the pressure over the last few months. He has said it has been difficult not having that winning feeling, not winning titles since Wimbledon, losing four consecutive semifinals, etc…


But that bit or malaise seems to be behind him now.

“It's difficult to put it into words, because I had really difficult months,” he said on Sunday, the Baccarat crystal trophy by his side in the BNP Paribas Open press room. “Let's say the last two months it was difficult for me to find myself. I didn't enjoy, let's say, stepping on the court. I wasn't myself on the court the last two months, three months, so it was difficult for me.”

Now that Alcaraz has come out of the fog, so to speak, can we expect him to start playing the scintillating tennis that we’ve come accustomed to? Is he about to go on a tear and reel of some titles, maybe win a third Grand Slam this summer?

He certainly is capable.

For now, what’s important is that his confidence is back, and the possibilities are opening up again.

“Yeah, it means a lot to me, lifting this trophy, winning this tournament, because I overcome a lot of problems in my head, a lot of problems physically,” he said. “It was so special for that. Not that I didn't win a tournament since Wimbledon. It's about the feelings. For me, if I win tournaments or not, I don't care. It's about enjoying playing tennis, once I step on the court.

“That's why I'm really, really happy to lift this trophy, because I found myself at this tournament, and I felt really, really good.”

Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty

]]>
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:01:30 GMT
<![CDATA[Sinner: I Was Too Predictable Against Alcaraz ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday March 16, 2024


Indian Wells – Jannik Sinner was cruising along during Saturday’s BNP Paribas Open semifinal with Carlos Alcaraz, seemingly headed for a 20th consecutive win, but he lost the plot early in the second set and never recovered as the Spaniard took over the match by producing a stunning array of variation to win in three sets, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Tennis Express

After the match Sinner came to press to talk about the match, and explained that he felt he didn’t do enough to keep Alcaraz off balance in sets two and three.

“What I have missed today was that I was too predictable at some points,” Sinner said. “I was doing the same things over and over again, which in my mind let me down."

Sinner, riding a 19-match winning streak into the match, admitted he was thrown off by changes that Alcaraz made tactically. The Spaniard changed his return position, moving back in the court, and started to play more drop shots and rush to the net. He dictated tactics and didn’t allow Sinner room to breathe, and gradually took over the match.




“I was playing really good in the first set,” Sinner said. “Then after, when you see your opponent struggling a little bit, I tried to stay solid instead of trying to move around. So I was too predictable at some points.

“I think that's the lesson for today. We will work on certain things, you know, and hopefully I will get better.”

Sinner says that he got the same input from his coach Darren Cahill when he talked to him after the match.

“What I said he agreed, no? That I was a little bit too predictable,” he said.

After dropping to 4-4 lifetime against Alcaraz, and losing from a set up against him for the first time, Sinner vowed to improve the next time he faces the Spaniard.

“Today sometimes I made the mistakes,” he said. “We have to understand why, and that's it. I think it was still a great match.”

]]>
Sun, 17 Mar 2024 02:02:21 GMT
<![CDATA[Lorenzo Musetti Becomes a Father ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday March 15, 2024


Lorenzo Musetti and girlfriend Veronica Confalonieri have welcomed the birth of their first child, baby boy Ludovico (bambino works in this case), which the couple announced on Instagram

Many top pros -- Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Bublik, Marta Kostyuk, Flavia Pennetta and Sara Errani among them -- took to Instagram to send their congratulations.




22-year-old Musetti, the World No.26, announced the pregnancy on Instagram several weeks ago.



]]>
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:13:19 GMT
<![CDATA[Feeling Stagnant, Maria Sakkari Hit the Reset Button With David Witt ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 14, 2024


Indian Wells – With new coach David Witt in her box, Maria Sakkari is trying to ring in the new, while simultaneously turning back the clock.

Tennis Express

The Greek wants to play the type of tennis she was playing when she reached No.3 in the world (and reached the BNP Paribas Open final) a few years ago, and she’s headed in the right direction this week at Indian Wells, where she reached the semifinals for the third consecutive year.

“I'm really buying into the new – not the new, because we haven't really done any changes, but just trying to play the way I played two years ago when I had a very good run, just going to the net and being aggressive and just going after my serve," Sakkari told reporters this week in the BNP Paribas Open press room.

"Just being brave, basically. Not playing to lose; playing to win. It has really helped me this week.”

Sakkari has won three three-setters at Indian Wells this week, defeating No.23 seed Emma Navarro in the latest, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, to set a semifinal with Coco Gauff on Friday in Southern California.


Whatever Witt is doing as her new coach, Sakkari feels it is working. They are at a tournament together for the first time and she told reporters she is enjoying his relaxed vibe.

He's just very relaxed and very laid back,” Sakkari says of the man who formerly coached Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula. “That's what I need, because I'm very hard on myself. So I just need someone that, you know, he doesn't stress me, and that's what David does really well. Obviously has, you know, an incredible experience on the tennis side.

“On the mental side, I just feel like he's just very, very relaxed. That's what I really like. As I said, he's so funny that I just enjoy my time with him on and off the court. He's bonding really well with the rest of the team, which is a very important thing, because we spend a lot of time with each other. You know, we created a very nice team the last few days.”




The 28-year-old Greek, currently No.9 in the world, still has a shot to recapture her former glory – and she believes she can.

“I want to improve,” Sakkari said. “I got to No. 3 and I just feel like I can get better. There are a couple of girls that have made an extra step in their careers, and I just want to try and catch them. “By working with David, I feel like I can do that. I just feel like I have the athletic abilities. Mentally I can improve, of course, and tennis-wise, it's not like I need to change my game. It's just that I need to add a couple of things.”

Asked if she felt her game has been stagnant over the last few years, Sakkari replied:

“A little bit, I would say. Not blaming anyone, of course, blaming only myself,” she said. “I just feel like just trying, you know, new things and trying to, you know, be better and improve, you know. I really believe I have a good chance on just getting back to that level and giving myself the best chance to become, you know, one of the best players again.

“Not that top 10 is a bad thing, but, you know, just better than that.”

]]>
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:07:09 GMT
<![CDATA[Totally Bee-Zare: Bees Invade Indian Wells ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 14, 2024


Indian Wells – Bee cool, it’s gonna be alright? What happens when bees invade a tennis tournament? We found out yesterday when play was stopped during the third game of Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Alexander Zverev – for NEARLY TWO HOURS!

Totally Bee-zare, right?

Eventually Alcaraz returned to the court and dominated the match en route to a 6-3, 6-1 victory, but without some trepidation.

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little bit afraid of the bees,” he said after setting a semifinal with Jannik Sinner at the BNP Paribas Open.

Before we look ahead to that, let’s have a look back at one of the weirdest moments to ever occur at a tennis tournament.

1.These pictures tell the story.

 




2. Our hero, Lance Davis, the beekeeper extraordinaire.




3. Yeah, it took a while.




4. They loved that Spidercam!.




5. Yikes.




6. Carlos, spooked.




7.He he he..



8. Lance Davis sucks them out of the Spidercam like a boss, to take them to safety..





9. They would not bee quiet. .




10. The moment it happened, at 1-1, 15-0..




11. Jannik Sinner is great, but Carlos does not have a tougher rival than these bees..

 





12. Everybody with the bee puns…


]]>
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:42:56 GMT
<![CDATA[Pegula, Keys, Navarro Lead U.S. BJK Cup Squad]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, March 15, 202


Experienced champions and rising stars will lead the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup quest.

World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, Caroline Dolehide and Taylor Townsend will lead Team USA when it hosts Belgium next month, U.S. captain Lindsay Davenport announced today. 

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour

The United States will host Belgium in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier April 12-13 at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida.

The tie launches former Olympic gold medal champion and Hall of Famer Davenport's tenure as captain.

The four-time year-end world No. 1, Davenport was one of the most successful U.S. Billie Jean King Cup players in history, helping to lead the U.S. to titles in 1996, 1999, and 2000. Davenport played under fellow Hall of Famer and former U.S. captain Billie Jean King and was a major force in singles and doubles.

The Qualifier is a best-of-five match series played on an outdoor hard court that begins Friday, April 12, with two singles matches, starting at 6 p.m. Two reverse singles matches and a doubles match will follow on Saturday, April 13, starting at 2 p.m., with an amended Saturday schedule possible if one nation clinches victory in the third or fourth singles match.

Tennis Channel will feature TV coverage in the U.S.

A limited number of tickets will be available to the public for Friday’s and Saturday’s matches through the USTA’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier Round Sweepstakes, which will provide fans the opportunity to enter for up to two complimentary tickets.

Please visit USTANationalCampus.com to submit an entry and for the Official Rules.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by USTA (@usta)



The 2021 NCAA singles champion Navarro shocked second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 scoring her biggest career win and battling to her fourth quarterfinal of the season at the BNP Paribas Open this week.

The 30-year-old Pegula has played in three Billie Jean King Cup ties for the U.S., with a 3-1 singles record, and has helped the U.S. qualify for the Finals each of the last two years.

Orlando resident Keys, 29, is a BJK Cup veteran. The 20th-ranked Keys has played in eight Billie Jean King Cup ties for the U.S. since debuting in 2014 and has been coached by Davenport on tour, including when she reached the US Open women’s singles final in 2017.

Dolehide, 25, is ranked a career-high No. 51 in singles and No. 30 in doubles. She made her Billie Jean King Cup debut for the U.S. in the 2021 Finals, reached her first WTA singles final in 2023 and is coming off her best BNP Paribas Open performance.

The left-handed Townsend, 27, is ranked No. 77 in singles and No. 11 in doubles. Townsend owns a 3-1 record in doubles matches over four Billie Jean King Cup nominations and has competed in the Finals for the last two years.

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
]]>
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:39:28 GMT
<![CDATA[Alcaraz: Sinner Showdown Toughest Match of Year]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 14, 202


Beating the bees is a prelude to Carlos Alcaraz's toughest test: Beating the best.

Reigning champion Alcaraz dodged a swarm of bees and drilled Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 scoring his 10th straight Indian Wells win to set up a blockbuster semifinal shodown vs. Jannik Sinner.

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour


A streaking Sinner swept Jiri Lehecka for his 19th consecutive victory.

Wimbledon winner Alcaraz calls Sinner "the best player in the world" and sees their semifinal rematch as his toughest test of the season.

The winner will advance to Sunday's final and secure the world No. 2 ranking.

"Honestly, I don't know how I'm gonna approach the match," Alcaraz told the media in Indian Wells. "He's the best tennis player in the world right now, without a doubt.

"I mean, I hear some declarations from Tommy Paul that was funny for me, that he's absolutely naked right now (smiling).

"He's playing unbelievable, no losses this year. I really enjoy watching him play. So it's going to be a really difficult match. It's going to be a big challenge for me and see what is my level, you know, facing him."

Italian Davis Cup hero Sinner has won four of seven meetings with Alcaraz.

The 20-year-old Spaniard stopped Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3 in the 2023 Indian Wells semifinals. Since then, Sinner has beaten Alcaraz in both the Miami Open and Beijing semifinals.



Playing in windy conditions today, Alcaraz served superbly and broke Olympic gold-medal champion Zverev four times. Will Alcaraz be able to make inroads on Sinner's service games?

Sinner did not face a single break point dethroning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the AO semifinals and has surrendered just 23 games reaching his fourth straight semifinal.

"The last, I think the last two matches that I have played against him I lost, so I have to adjust a little bit my game and let's see how it's gonna be," Alcaraz said. "But for sure it's gonna be the most difficult match that I'm gonna play this year."

Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d'Italia Facebook
]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:33:19 GMT
<![CDATA[Swiatek Shares Most Bizarre Career Moment]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 14, 202


As Iga Swiatek was rampaging to the WTA Finals title last November, she was concerned about total collapse.  

World No. 1 Swiatek advanced to the Indian Wells semifinals today after former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki retired due to a foot injury with the top seed up 6-4, 1-0.

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour


During her post-match press conference, Swiatek was watching the TV monitor as bees swarmed the stadium during the Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev quarterfinal, stung chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and forced the suspension of play.

That incident prompted media to question Swiatek on her strangest on-court experience.

The four-time Grand Slam champion said playing amid stormy Cancun last November, she felt it could all collapse.

"The strangest? I mean, the whole Cancun situation was pretty strange," Swiatek said. "I thought honestly the stadium was going to fall apart when I was in the middle of it. I'm happy that it didn't.

"There were some drunk people in Melbourne once when I played my first Australian Open, I think, pro, and in Miami, but that's not strange, I guess. I mean, it's entertainment. But yeah, they were shouting and it was visible that they were drunk.

"But that was fine. I mean, I'm fine with that."




Swirling winds that bent back umbrellas, sudden showers and soft spots on the court made Cancun quite a challenge last fall. 

The 22-year-old Swiatek faces 21-year-old Marta Kostyuk in tomorrow's semifinals.

It's been 12 years since a No. 1 seed, Victoria Azarenka in 2012, won the BNP Paribas Open. The top seed has won just two of the last 20 WTA 1000 championships.

Swiatek joins Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova as the fourth woman to reach three consecutive Indian Wells semifinals and aims to keep it rolling.

"Marta, she's a great player. It's not going to be easy," Swiatek said. "I don't feel like her game style is much different than the players you face on tour. It didn't feel like I need to practice more today to prepare for the match.

"I'm keeping my routines, and for sure I'm going to prepare tactically today in the evening."

Photo credit: Artur Widak-NurPhoto-Getty
]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:53:43 GMT
<![CDATA[Fine Align: Kostyuk to Face Swiatek in IW Semifinals]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 14, 202


In her prior desert trip, Marta Kostyuk could barely breath.  

Kostyuk was exhaling in elation and blowing kisses to the crowd bursting into the Indian Wells semifinals today.

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour

San Diego finalist Kostyuk charged through nine consecutive games at the start then withstood a nervy finish fighting off Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 7-5 advancing to her first career WTA 1000 semifinal.

"I'm very happy with how I handled everything, because yeah, I mean, she was missing a lot in the beginning, and then, you know, she kind of tried to find her way," Kostyuk told the media in Indian Wells. "But I didn't let her. So I think that's the biggest achievement anyways."




The 21-year-old Ukrainian will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek for a spot in Sunday's final.

Reigning Roland Garros Swiatek reeled off six games in a row, building a 6-4, 1-0 lead when former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki retired from their quarterfinal due to a right foot injury.




The top-seeded Swiatek practiced with Kostyuk last month and the No. 31 seed is looking forward to facing off for real in the semifinals.

"She's World No. 1. I think I need to do good, at least good," Kostyuk said. "Let's not put expectations too high. Great competitor, she's been on top of the game for two years already.

"Yeah, I practiced with her in Doha, I was really looking forward to actually play her in the match. I think it will be a great match.

"I don't know what else to say, because I'm excited, and I played her in Paris three years ago, and it was a bit different match. We were both in different positions. Even more exciting now."

It's been a wondrous west coast swing for Kostyuk, who was runner-up to Katie Boulter at the WTA 500 in San Diego earlier this month.

Today's victory propels Kostyuk to a career-high rank of No. 26 in the live rankings—all this from a woman whose Middle East swing was spoiled by a bout with sickness she believes may have been COVID-19.

"In Doha and Dubai I was very sick, so I didn't know how physically ready I'm going to be, because I think I had COVID, I don't know if I did, but, I mean, a lot of people had very similar symptoms that was COVID," Kostyuk said. "Yeah, I was just, I couldn't breathe for, like, one week at all.

"Then, yeah, playing final in San Diego, it was a great week, but then, you know, here is even more difficult than in San Diego, because the draw is bigger, the matches are bigger. I didn't know how I am going to handle all this."

Coping with life on the pro tour, while her friends live a scary and exhausting existence in her native Ukraine was once a source of some guilt for Kostyuk.

"I honestly cannot speak for people who are living in Ukraine because I'm not living there," Kostyuk said. "I was just visiting couple of times. And I feel like people are just, you know, it's very tiring and difficult to live in these conditions for years already. It's just exhausting for everyone.

"Yeah, I feel like the world doesn't understand how quickly things can turn around. You know, you think it's 6-0, 3-0, but in fact, it's much closer, you know."

Reflecting on the pain and suffering her fellow Ukrainians have endured has given Kostyuk a sense of perspective on tennis.

While she can still sometimes show stress and anxiety on court and even bounce her Wilson racquet, Kostyuk says she's driven to make the most of every opportunity.

"Honestly, for me, the person who is competing and trying to achieve something, there are a lot of things that have to align in order for you to succeed, and there are not many people in the world who are better than me in my job," Kostyuk said. "So yeah, I never take it for granted, because you might not have it tomorrow. I'm taking every chance. Obviously things are aligning now, you know. You need to find every day for them to keep on aligning.

"I hope in the future I will not be as surprised about my results. I just want to keep going and seeing how far I can go."

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:55:46 GMT
<![CDATA[Alcaraz Documentary Coming to Netflix]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, March 13, 202


At his best, Carlos Alcaraz is a show-stopping shotmaker.  

Alcaraz will be starring in a new Netflix show.

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour

The 20-year-old Alcaraz, who beat Rafael Nadal to win the Netflix Slam earlier this month, will star in a new Netflix docuseries set to air in 2025.



Netflix announced the project with this video of Alcaraz writing "Game. Set.Netflix" on the camera lens.

Wimbledon winner Alcaraz spoke out about the impact negative and hateful comments about players on social media can have on their psyche and mental health.

The Netflix series will enable Alcaraz to share some of his off-court experiences and state of mind at tournaments.

"I think [social media] has a really important impact to the players, to the athletes," Alcaraz told the media in Indian Wells this week. "There are a lot of players who, let's say, don't think about it or don't affect in a bad way the negative comments, but there are a lot of players who, well, affect very, very, let's say, bad, you know, the bad comments, you know.

"I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying not to see 100% the comments, but I think it's something that we are not going to hide from that.

"There are a lot of people who are going to comment good things, bad things, when we are not in the position to control it. But we have to deal in the best way as we can, and that's something that I'm trying to do."

Photo credit: David Becker/Getty for Netflix Slam
]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:55:37 GMT
<![CDATA[Jannik Sinner Has Been 'Playing Naked,' Says Tommy Paul ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 13, 2024


Indian Wells – How good has Jannik Sinner been playing since the 2024 season started? So good that American Tommy Paul learned a new way to describe it. He told reporters on Wednesday, after his 6-4, 6-3 win over Luca Nardi at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, that 22-year-old Sinner is “playing naked.”

Tennis Express

“He's been playing awesome tennis,” Paul said. “My fitness trainer taught me a term that they use in Argentina. When somebody is playing unbelievable, it means, like, they say they're playing naked - and he's absolutely playing naked right now.

"He's playing awesome tennis.”

Paul, who will face Norway's Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals on Thursday at Indian Wells, also talked about the performance of 37-year-old Gael Monfils at Indian Wells, and the way that players aged 36 and older are still holding their own on tour.

“It's impressive. I'm 26. My feet hurt to walk on,” Paul said, adding: “I was talking about it this morning right before I went on, with Monfils, I didn't realize he was 37 years old, turning 38 this year. It's so impressive.

“Obviously shows how much they take care of their body. I mean, that's what we're trying to do. You know, we have to take care of our body. I think it's something that we've all invested in, getting physios that are full-time with us on the road. It's a huge help for us to extend our careers to that age.”

Last but not least, Paul gave his views on Luca Nardi’s shock upset of Novak Djokovic on Monday night.

“I think all of us kind of felt like after he dropped the first set, we were, like, ‘Okay, we've seen this a million times.’ We've seen Novak come back and win a million of those matches.

“That's kind of what I was thinking also. But Nardi was playing awesome tennis. I mean, I really, I love the kid's game a lot. I think he's going to be a really good player. He was ice cold out there. He didn't show any emotion, he didn't look nervous. I thought that says a lot about him. That's such a big moment for him, and he was absolutely ice cold.”

]]>
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 01:16:04 GMT
<![CDATA[Gauff: I Feel Pretty Good About My Chances]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, March 13, 202


Coco Gauff insists she's not a party person.  

The US Open champion celebrated her 20th birthday today dishing out a bagel to ignite a birthday blast.

Report: Saudis Make Bid for Unified Tour


In her best match of the tournament, Gauff streaked through eight straight games thrashing Elise Mertens 6-0, 6-2 to charge into the Indian Wells quarterfinals for the second straight year.

A day that began with a birthday call from her beloved grandmother saw Gauff drop the hammer winning 26 of 31 first-serve points in a 66-minute sweep.

Despite the birthday brilliance, Gauff isn't planning an extensive celebration—just a quiet dinner with family and opening some presents later—because she's "not a huge party, celebration person" and because she feels there's unfinished business in the desert.




The third-ranked Gauff improves to 15-3 on the season and will face either 11th-seeded Daria Kasatkina or China's Yue Yuan for a semifinal spot.

Typically, Gauff doesn't buy herself birthday gifts, but clearly has her eye on the BNP Paribas Open title trophy to cap a birthday week.

"I think, obviously I want to win this tournament, I'm playing in it," Gauff told the media in Indian Wells. "But I will say, yeah, it's definitely one of the tournaments I want to win at least once in my career. Hopefully it can be now. I feel pretty good about my chances.

"Obviously Miami being a home tournament, that would be a dream to win, as well."



She's already won a Grand Slam championship as a teenager and Gauff has major goals for her 20s.

"I guess tennis goals, definitely to win some more slams, and I want to medal at this Olympics or 2028. That would be cool," Gauff said. "Then life goals, honestly, I haven't thought that far.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm not trying to do anything, I'm not trying to get married or anything (smiling). Definitely no kids. Yeah, just tennis right now and we'll see where life takes me off the court."

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
]]>
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:08:08 GMT
<![CDATA[Sabalenka: Navarro Can Be Top 10]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, March 13, 202


Emma Navarro's monumental Indian Wells upset of Aryna Sabalenka earned her massive praise from the world No. 2. 

A fearless Navarro toppled the second-seeded Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 scoring the biggest win of her career to reach her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


Hobart champion Navarro converted four of five break points, covered the court quickly, competed with calm confidence and used her forehand to unsettle the 2023 finalist. The victory vaults Navarro to a career-high rank of No. 20 in the live rankings.

Afterward, Sabalenka said Navarro is a Top-10 talent. 

"I think she can be—I mean, she's already in top. No doubt she's going to be in top for a while," Sabalenka told the media in Indian Wells. "Yeah, she just played different rhythm, more spin. Forehand, really great forehand. Overall I would say she's moving well and playing some different rhythms so you always have to adjust."

Showing shrewd court sense, Navarro hit her running forehand with accuracy. Though her first serve seldom exceeded 106 mph today, Navarro repeatedly used one of Sabalenka's favorite patterns against her—slicing the wide serve on the ad side to open the court for her forehand strike.

Showing guts, Navarro hit a key second-serve ace wide that helped her finish the match.



Sabalenka said Navarro beat her in the running rallies and calls her potential "really great."

"If your movement is not there, then you will always be off the rhythm and you'll be missing a lot of shots and making a lot of unforced errors," Sabalenka said. "That's what actually happened to me. I wasn't moving that great today, and that's why she forced me for all those unforced errors.

"But yeah, her potential is really great. I think she's already in the top. Yeah, I think she have this potential to be in top 10."

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
]]>
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:08:56 GMT
<![CDATA[Report: Saudis Offer $2 Billion to Merge ATP, WTA into Unified Tour]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, March 13, 202


Saudi Arabia is all in on a bid that could transform tennis—and give the Saudis a controlling stake in the sport.

The Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund has submitted a $2 billion take-it-or-leave it offer to merge the ATP and WTA into one unified tour, The Telegraph's Simon Briggs reports.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


The Saudis have given ATP and WTA leaders 90 days to accept the offer, which would transform the pro circuit into one combined tour with equal prize money across the board. The four Grand Slams are not part of the Saudi offer, according to The Telegraph report.

The clock is now ticking on a decision that could dramatically alter the tennis landscape.

Potential conflict among the game's governing bodies arises with a key component of the offer. The Saudis want a Masters 1000 tournament staged in Saudi Arabia in January as a lead-up to the Australian Open.

However Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley is reportedly opposed to a Saudi Masters 1000 in January as it would fracture the Australian summer season tournaments building up to the Melbourne major.

Under the proposed Saudi bid, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, who has been negotiating with the Saudis, would be the Commissioner of the combined tour, which would be rebranded The PIF Tour.

If the Saudi proposal is accepted, the new unified tour would start and end the season in Saudi Arabia with a combined Masters 1000 event launching the season in January and the WTA Finals ending the season in Saudi Arabia.

The fact the Grand Slams have not been involved in negotiations points to a further divide between the Tours and the four Grand Slams. That rift was highlighted when the Tours stripped Wimbledon of ranking points in 2022 in response to the grass-court Grand Slam banning Russian and Belarusian players from SW19 back in 2022 in protest of Russia's unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine.



A former ATP player, Gaudenzi has long publicly asserted a combined ATP-WTA Tour is the best path forward for tennis in that the sport could provide fans with the best, combined player fields as well as tap into revenue from digital rights to a combined tour.

Champions ranging from Billie Jean King to Roger Federer to John McEnroe have called for the two Tours to merge in the past.

A major stumbling block has been the fact the ATP generates more revenue than the WTA and that economic inequity prevented a merger in the past.

The Saudi $2 billion offer would come with equal prize money giving further incentives to both Tours.

This offers comes after leaders of the game's governing bodies had reportedly been discussing a Premium Tour, compromised primarily of the four Grand Slams and combined Masters 1000 tournaments with some other select events, included.

Asked about the state of the tours, at the Rolex Paris Masters last November, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic said tennis continues to fail to maximize its appeal to fans.  

"I have said this many times before, that I think that tennis is not using its full potential,” Djokovic said. “We are one of the most globally watched and popular sports in the world, but I think that we have been quite conservative and conventional in certain aspects, and that unfortunately hasn't really been a great appeal to the younger audience." 

The Grand Slam king said tennis must strike a balance between maintaining its tradition and embracing innovation.

“I'm big supportive of our history and tradition and everything, I think we should always nurture that, but I think we need to try to adjust to the modern times and try to understand what the younger audience wants and really make the tennis more appealing to that group," Djokovic said.

Hall of Famer John McEnroe, who opposes Saudi investment in the sport because of its human rights violations, says given the hundreds millions of dollars at stake, and the fact the Saudis already created the LIV golf league in 2021, makes the Kingdom's increased investment in tennis virtually inevitable.

"It wouldn’t shock me, let’s put it this way, because it’s the old money talks," McEnroe told the media in an ESPN Zoom call in January. "Oh no, I wouldn’t do that. Wait how much was I offered? On second thought maybe I’ll do that.

"Personally, I disagree with it completely in golf and tennis. I mean the ladies are going to play the WTA Finals there? Are you kidding me? Because they treat women so well?

"So that part, to me, is laughable."

McEnroe said he'd be surprised if the Saudi's don't buy Masters 1000 events.

"But at the same time what is also laughable is that people can criticize tennis players or golfers for doing something that virtually every business and the government do which is deal with Saudi Arabia," McEnroe said. "So this idea that tennis players have to set the moral standard or golfers for that matter when they’re all making the money. It’s a total joke as far as I’m concerned.

"But we’ll see what happens. I’d be surprised if the Saudis don’t buy those tournaments, actually. Not that they will. I’ll be surprised if they don’t have them."

Photo credit: Saudi Tennis Federation
]]>
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:42:26 GMT
<![CDATA[Lehecka Flies Into First Masters QF, Aided by Berdman]]>  

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, March 12, 202


Jiri Lehecka's first trip to Tennis Paradise was so profound, he felt himself living "a small fairy tale."

These days, Lehecka is controlling the narrative making Masters magic.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


Striking clean, commanding strikes, Lehecka dismissed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-4 charging into his first career Masters 1000 quarterfinal in Indian Wells.

World No. 32 Lehecka beat Tsitsipas for the first time in three meetings, snapping the Greek's 13-match winning streak against opponents ranked outside the Top 20.

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, Lehecka was thrilled just to be part of the draw.

This year, Lehecka has been a human wrecking ball knocking out No. 5 Andrey Rublev, 6-4, 6-4, in the third round before topping Tsitsipas today.

Lehecka is the first Czech to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal since Tomas Berdych at the 2017 Miami Open and first Czech to reach the last eight in the desert since Berdych in 2015.

"For me to come here, for example, last year it was, like, a dream, you know, it was my first time playing Indian Wells, first time seeing these amazing stages, you know, amazing fans," Lehecka told the media in Indian Wells. "So I was a bit like, it was, for me, like a small fairy tale, I would say, being here. I was very happy that I made it to my first Masters last year.

"But we felt in the end of last season that the results on these big tournaments were not what we wanted, and that I had some chances to go further in the tournaments, to play better, and to beat some players, but I did not accomplish that."

Enter Berdman.

Tomas Berdych joined Lehecka's coach, Michal Navratil, in Indian Wells this month and his experience has helped the Adelaide champion navigate a tough draw.

"There is still many, there are still many moments where I'm, like, yeah, what is this, how do I feel, what should I do, how should I react, what kind of shots should I make or what I should not do," Lehecka said. "And that's one of the reasons why having Tomas here with me is very good, because he has much more experience than I have, and with his willingness to share it, it's just great for me to have him here by my side and to have some support even from these kind of guys like him who've been through this all many times, and who knows how it works."




Though Berdych retired from the Tour by the time Lehecka debuted in 2021, he grew up with coach Navratil and reconnected with his old friend via text to praise Lehecka's potential.

"He knows my coach, Michal Navratil, very well. They have been together, you know, they know each other since they were kids, they were traveling together in early stage of his career," Lehecka said. "They were best friends on tour for some time. Of course, their paths has changed.
:
"But that was one of the reasons why we got in touch. After my good run at the Australian Open last year when I was ithe quarterfinals, Tomas texted to Michal, and said, like, just like that I played well, that he liked the way how I played, and then they just stayed in touch.

"He was in Dubai last year where we met, and just we spoke a lot. I just asked him if he would like to travel with me for a few tournaments to help me and to get back on the track from this different position, and he liked that idea. So we agreed."



The man nicknamed Berdman, known for some of the strongest legs on Tour during his playing days, has helped Lehecka take flight by emphasizing the ground game. Berdych has encouraged Lehecka to use his leg strength, both driving through his shots, and to move up into the court to recognize and attack mid-court balls.

"All the tips he gave me were, like, connected with working more with my legs, working more forward and backwards, you know, during the points," Lehecka said. "So we worked on this, and we spoke about these things mostly in the beginning of the week, in the beginning of the tournament when we had some time to prepare ourselves. We had some time to practice more, to spend more time on the court."

This career-best Masters run has propelled Lehecka to No. 27 in the live rankings ahead of his quarterfinal showdown against either Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner or US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton.

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
]]>
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 18:37:44 GMT
<![CDATA[Nadal on Monte-Carlo Entry List]]>

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, March 12, 202


Rafael Nadal is targeting a Monte-Carlo return.

The 37-year-old Nadal, who withdrew from this week's BNP Paribas Open, is on the entry list for next month's Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


The former world No. 1 joins, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and reigning Monte-Carlo champion Andrey Rublev, among other stars, on the entry list.



The owner of a record 11 Monte-Carlo crowns, Nadal pulled out of Indian Wells saying he's "not ready to play at the highest level."

The king of clay, who is not playing next week's Miami Open, has three weeks of rest, recovery and practice time ahead of Monte-Carlo, which is set for April 6-14th.

At a press conference today, Monte-Carlo tournament director David Massey said he's optimistic Nadal will launch his return at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

"He was feeling some discomfort [following his Netflix Slam exhibition against Alcaraz in Las Vegas] so he was scared and preferred not to play in Indian Wells, but the tests he took didn't show anything," Massey said in comments published by French publication L'Equipe.



The tournament director said he saw Nadal practice in Indian Wells and was impressed.

"You never know what he's going to do, but I saw him training with his coaches on a private court at [Indian Wells owner] Larry Ellison's and I felt like I was hearing a wild animal...hits like never before," Massey said. "Even if he hasn't played matches, he has the ability to come back and play his best tennis."

Photo credit: Getty
]]>
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:14:34 GMT
<![CDATA[For Tommy Paul, It's Titles or Bust ]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 12, 2024


Indian Wells – Tommy Paul is after titles in 2024.

After taking out Ugo Humbert on Stadium 2 on Monday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the 17th-ranked American opened up about his goals for 2024.

Tennis Express

“My goal coming into this year was to win titles,” he said “I made, I think, two or three finals last year. Never won the tournament. So this year my main goal is to win tournaments.”

Fritz has already doubled his career title count in 2024, winning the Dallas title in February.

“I got one title, and I want more,” he said. “I mean, I want to leave the tournament with a win. That’s the best feeling in tennis, and it doesn't happen too often – that's the goal, and that's what will eventually break me into wherever I want to be.”


More Aggression the Key

We asked Paul if there was anything specific that he believed would take him to titletown.

“Playing much more aggressive tennis,” was his response. “We've been working on that. This week, I don't know if it's because maybe it's a little slower or less bouncy or whatever, but I've been able to attack and play very attacking tennis in my first two matches. So hopefully we can keep that going, and I think that's a very important thing for me."

PHOTO SOURCE: MATTHEW CALVIS

]]>
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:48:03 GMT
<![CDATA[Djokovic: Have to Accept It]]>

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 11, 2024


Traditionally, Novak Djokovic starts seasons producing peak performances.

Returning to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in five years, the five-time Indian Wells champion fell flat in a stunning upset.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


Lucky loser Luca Nardi scored the biggest win of his career shocking world No. 1 Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Monday night.

The 123rd-ranked Italian is the lowest-ranked player to ever defeat Grand Slam king Djokovic at a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam tournament.

Ten-time Australian Open champion Djokovic credited Nardi for a well-deserved win, but called out his own "poor performance."

Asked if this upset was a function of his lack of match play or the fact he has not competed in the desert conditions in five years, Djokovic said it may well be a combination of both factors.


"I'm going to obviously analyze what was done, what could have been done better, and then move on," Djokovic said. "I do play fewer tournaments, so I'm more selective with my schedule. So of course it's not great feeling when you, you know, drop out very early in the tournament, and especially here, I haven't played five years. I really wanted to do well.

"But wasn't meant to be. We move on."

The 36-year-old Serbian superstar said he knew Nardi's forehand and movement were weapons and was disappointed with his own "really bad day."

"I could have done everything different. I mean, as I said, very poor performance from my side," Djokovic said. "Yeah, no titles this year. That's not something I'm used to. I was starting the season most of my career with a Grand Slam win or, you know, Dubai win, or any or tournament.

"It's fine. You know, it's part of the sport. You just have to accept it. Some you win; some you lose. Hopefully I'll win some more and still keep going."



The top seed's defeat came hours after fellow former No. 1 Naomi Osaka fell to Elise Mertens on Stadium Court. In Osaka's case, she often set up the pivotal points, but frequently misfired on the finishing forehand.

In the final set of Djokovic's loss to Nardi, the world No. 1 often wasn't even getting a shot at the finishing strike because Nardi was repeatedly beating him to the punch.

Now, six-time Miami Open champion Djokovic suggests he will move on to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, an event he last won in 2016.

"Yeah, for the moment, Miami is there, so let's see," Djokovic said. "Let's see, obviously 10 minutes ago I was on the court, so I'm still hot-headed a bit. I need to take a day or two and then see what I want to do next."

The US Open champion's top priority is stacking some wins together.

"I guess every trophy that eventually comes my way is going to be great," Djokovic said with a smile. "Obviously to break the kind of negative cycle a little bit I'm having in the last three, four tournaments where I haven't really been close to my best."

Photo credit: Matthew Calvis
]]>
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 10:32:53 GMT
<![CDATA[Sakkari Finding Groove with David Witt]]>

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 11, 2024


Indian Wells – Former BNP Paribas Open Maria Sakkari has landed on her feet after parting ways with longtime coach Tom Hill.

Tennis Express

Now working with David Witt, who recently parted ways with Jessica Pegula, the Greek has reeled off consecutive wins to set a round of 16 clash with France’s Diane Parry.

Sakkari says that working with Witt is relaxing, due to his easy going nature.

“I just feel very relaxed with David. He's very laid back,” Sakkari said after recording a 6-3, 6-4 win to improve to 4-0 over Garcia. “That's something that really helps me, being a very stressful person. I think I haven't really stressed for anything the last few days I have been with him.”


Sakkari, who reached the BNP Paribas Open in 2022 and lost to Iga Swiatek in the final, says that the American coach is a barrel of laughs.

“He's so funny. I think he's one of the funniest guys I've ever met in my life. I'm laughing all the time,” she said. “I just really enjoy my time with him on and off the court. He's a very nice guy. You know, which is the most important thing, but he's also an amazing coach.

“He keeps it very simple, and that's what I like, because I don't think I'm a player that you have to complicate things – I like the way it's going. You know, I hope he does too.”

]]>
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 01:14:24 GMT
<![CDATA[Osaka: Small Steps, Major Goals]]>

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 11, 2024


New mom Naomi Osaka knows baby steps are a precious process of growth.

In the aftermath of her 7-5, 6-4 BNP Paribas Open loss to Elise Mertens, Osaka assessed her progress and primary goal.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


Former world No. 1 Osaka topped 14th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova, 7-5, 6-3, in the second round for her biggest win, by ranking, since her comeback this season from maternity leave.

While Osaka was pleased by that win, she was disappointed she failed to push Mertens to a third set today.

At times, Osaka was her own worst enemy—she served just 38 percent and converted only three of nine break points—but she fought until the final ball and seemed to enjoy the battle.

Despite missing some key drives down the stretch, Osaka paused to toss her towels to fans on her walk off court.

A candid Osaka said while she's not nearly where she wants to be, she sees improvement in her game compared to the recent Abu Dhabi-Doha swing and believes she's moving in the right direction.

"I definitely feel like there's improvement," Osaka told the media in Indian Wells. "The match I played before this one, I guess I beat the highest-ranked person I've played so far, so I'm happy about that.

"But I'm just trying not to be too hard on myself right now, but I feel like in some ways I improved a lot from Doha. I think I fought a lot harder or I tried to fight a lot harder and find solutions to problems that were in front of me. But clearly it didn't work out too well, so I hope that the more matches I play, the more I can find solutions."

Indeed, some of Osaka's challenges—refining the return, raising her first-serve percentage at crunch time and firing the finishing shots with more accuracy—should all start to come with more match play.



In fact, Osaka was playing today to score three complete match wins in a row for the first time this season. Osaka, who spent time taking baby daughter Shai on a hike and to the zoo, will carry a 5-5 record into the Miami Open where she was 2022 runner-up.

The 2018 Indian Wells champion believes she's taking small steps toward major goals.

The four-time Grand Slam champion says winning more majors is why she returned to tennis.

"Honestly, I'm not really chasing the No. 1 spot right now," Osaka said. "Like, that's such a, if I could get there in, like, three years or, I don't even know what's going to happen in that time, but that was never really the reason I came back.

"I wanted to win more slams. That's why I came back. But I think I determine success right now just by the effort that I put in, and I feel like today I don't think I played well at all, but I tried every point."

On the comeback road, effort is the fuel that can take Osaka where she wants to go.

"I think, like, before I was pregnant, there were a couple of matches that I didn't try as hard as I tried today, and I feel like I can walk off the court knowing that," Osaka said. "Although I'm sad about the loss, I know that I tried every possible way to get back in the match. I guess that's how I determine success right now."

Photo credit: Matthew Calvis
]]>
Mon, 11 Mar 2024 21:34:03 GMT
<![CDATA[Ruud Revival: Lighten Up]]>

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 11, 2024


It's been said you have to lose to learn how to win.

Significant loss has helped put Casper Ruud back on the winning track.

More: Grigor Dimitrov on Pure Beauty


Arriving in Indian Wells empowered by reaching back-to-back finals in Mexico, Ruud stopped Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 to roll into the BNP Paribas Open round of 16 for the second time. Ruud will face 37-year-old Gael Monfils for a quarterfinal spot.

World No. 9 Ruud improved to 15-3 on the season after posting a 37-23 record in a subpar 2023 season.

So what's the difference?

Ruud's revival has come from a key change: he lightened up.

The 25-year-old Norwegian has shed nearly 10 pounds over the past year and says he's feeling lighter on his feet and moving quicker without sacrificing any power.

"I think physically I'm feeling a little bit better this year, and moving better out on court," Ruud told the media in Indian Wells. "I said it quite honestly or honest and openly a couple of weeks ago that I slimmed down a little bit, I took off a couple of kilos from last year.

"I think that's been working well for me. I have the power still in my shots, and I'm moving a little lighter on my feet. That's something that I have been working on. And, you know, moving a little more mobile and flexible out there is always a good thing. Trying to play more aggressive, you know, tennis-wise. So there are a couple of things that I have adjusted from last year, and obviously I had a longer probably better preseason period in December than what I had coming into 2023, so that is probably also part of the reason to why this year has gone better so far."




The 2022 US Open finalist did not adopt a strict diet or subscribe to a meal plan. Ruud says he kept is simple cutting down sweets and carbs which led to the weight loss.

"Well, not too much sweets, chocolate, sugar, all these things, just to slim down a little bit. Eating clean, maybe eating a little bit less, you know, carbohydrates and stuff," Ruud said. "I haven't been on a specific this and this, that many calories-only diet. But I had it in the back of my mind, not something that was kind of time pressure that I need to be this certain weight within this time.

"But last year in February I was around 84 kilos and this year I'm 80, so it's 4 kilos less. Maybe doesn't sound too much, but it's 5% of my weight, which is something or at least something. So it's something that I'm not going to say I have worked on it but it's come naturally after working hard and changing a little bit in my diet, yeah."

Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
]]>
Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:51:54 GMT