Reply With QuoteSinner was incredible. Brilliant hard court player. Really eager to see how he develops his game in clay & grass,
Superb Keys stuns Sabalenka to win Australian Open
Underdog Keys beats Sabalenka to win Australian Open
Madison Keys is the first woman to beat the top two seeds at a major since Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2009 French Open
American underdog Madison Keys finally got her hands on a Grand Slam trophy after holding off defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open women's title.
Keys, playing her second major final and first for more than seven years, overcame the world number one 6-3 2-6 7-5.
Only three other women have been older than the 29-year-old Keys when winning their first Grand Slam title.
Keys, seeded 19th in Melbourne, clasped her head in amazement before sharing an emotional hug with husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo.
"I have wanted this for so long. I never knew if I'd be in this position again," said Keys.
Belarus' Sabalenka, 25, had been attempting to claim a rare third successive victory at the opening major of the season.
After Keys secured victory, Sabalenka warmly hugged her opponent at the net before her mood quickly soured.
She smashed a racquet then covered her head with a towel before walking off court.
When she returned a few minutes later she received a warm ovation from the 15,000 fans on Rod Laver Arena.
"Madison was incredible and I couldn't do anything," said Sabalenka.
"Next time I play Madison I will bring better tennis."
Keys caps incredible run
Patience can be a precious commodity in sport and even Keys thought her chance of winning one of tennis' greatest prizes had slipped by.
Her only previous Grand Slam final appearance had seen her lose the 2017 US Open title to Sloane Stephens.
The seven-and-a-bit years between Keys' first and second major finals is the longest gap in the Open era on the women's side.
After reaching the French Open and US Open semi-finals in 2018, Keys dropped outside of the world's top 50 after struggling with injuries.
She returned to the top 10 in early 2022 after making the Australian Open semi-finals and also had a run to the last four at the 2023 US Open.
Keys was denied a place in the final of her home Grand Slam by Sabalenka - a crushing defeat in which she regretted playing "too safe".
"I'm glad I've got you back," Keys joked afterwards.
After another injury-hit season last year, which forced her to miss the Australian Open, Keys was unsure if she would "be able to do it all again".
A bold move to change racquet manufacturer in the off-season has paid dividends, with Keys keeping her explosive power while playing with a level of confidence she previously lacked.
Beating Sabalenka was the pinnacle of a title run where has beaten a host of star names.
Keys also beat second seed Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, becoming the first player to beat the top two Australian Open seeds since Serena Williams in 2005.
That came on the back of previous victories over former Melbourne finalists Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina, plus 2023 Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.
Sinner was incredible. Brilliant hard court player. Really eager to see how he develops his game in clay & grass,
Simona Halep bids farewell: I make this decision with peace of mind. In the end, its all worth it
Its a bit hard for me to speak, said Simona Halep into the microphone on the purple court at the Transylvania Open, standing before packed standsfull of people, full of emotion and, in a way, full of fear that they were about to hear an announcement they werent ready for.
This is my home, here in Romania. This is where I feel my best, where I have always felt surrounded by so much love. Ive won many matches here, Ive lost some as well, but in the end, the beautiful memories remain. Your energy has always filled my heart. No matter where I played, I felt the best here. And you could see it todayI could barely breathe on the court. Its a special kind of emotion.
I have so many friends here today who came to see memy team, and people from the tennis world who have supported me and helped me reach where I am. As an athlete, I feel truly fulfilled. I never even dreamed, as a child, that I would achieve all this. But I worked incredibly hard for it. My family is here as well, the ones who have always supported me. My parents have been by my side from the very first moment, and without them, I wouldnt be who I am today. I want to thank them and tell them how much I love them because theyve always been with me, no matter what decisions I made.
I feel both sadness and joyboth emotions are running through me right now, Simona continued. But I take this decision with peace of mind. My body can no longer endure what it takes to reach the level I once was at. Its too difficult to get back there and I know what kind of effort that requires. Thats why I came here to Cluj, to play in front of you and to say goodbye. Even though todays performance wasnt my best, I am so happy you came.
I dont want to cry. I reached World No. 1, I won Grand Slam titles, I achieved everything I ever wanted. Life goes on after tennis and I hope we will see each other as often as possible. I will still play tennis, but to be competitive at the highest level takes so much more and at this moment, its no longer possible for me.
To all the kids out there, I want to wish you ambition and the desire to reach the top, because it is truly wonderful up there. I played for many yearsit was exhausting, and draining, but also beautiful. The adrenaline of those moments cannot be found anywhere else. So, dear children, fight, work hard, because in the end, its all worth it.
World No 1 Jannik Sinner Banned From Tennis For Three Months; Here's Why
The 2025 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner will return in time for the French Open.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has expressed his reasons for accepting a three-month ban from tennis following a prolonged doping case. Sinner accepted a three-month ban from tennis after a prolonged doping case, opting for a settlement with WADA rather than a drawn-out legal battle.
The 2025 Australian Open champion, who twice tested positive for clostebol due to accidental contamination, will return in time for the French Open.
This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year, Sinner was quoted by The Independent as saying.
I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise WADAs strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis, I have accepted WADAs offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.
The mens world No. 1 twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol last March but was initially cleared of wrongdoing by both the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and an independent tribunal.
Sinner successfully proved that he had been accidentally contaminated by a physiotherapist using an over-the-counter spray containing trace amounts of the substance.
Despite being permitted to continue playing and even securing his maiden Grand Slam Australian Open in January 2024, WADA appealed the ITIA's ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Rather than prolonging the legal battle, Sinner chose to settle and accept the reduced suspension.
The ban, effective from February 9 to May 4, includes four days already served under provisional suspension. He will be allowed to return to training from April 13. This timeline ensures that Sinner will be available to compete at Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year, which runs from May 19 to June 8 in Paris, France.
നാക്കെടുത്തു വളച്ചപ്പോഴേ ചെക്കൻ 3 മാസം പുറത്ത്Originally Posted by renjuus
നാക്കെടുത്തു വളച്ചപ്പോഴേ ചെക്കൻ 3 മാസം പുറത്ത്
Jakub Mensik Upsets Novak Djokovic To Win Miami Open
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title.
Jakub Mensik with the trophy
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title. The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis. The final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain and when the players emerged it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection. He used eye-drops during a changeover in the first set.
Mensik started strongly breaking Djokovic's first serve game to go 2-0 up and the tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2 Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net.
The set remained on serve from then on, but in the tie-break Mensik's powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic fought back the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley.
It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. Twice he lost his footing and ended up on his back, and he changed his footwear between sets.
Mensik had beaten Djokovic by the exact same margin in the first set of their only other meeting in Shanghai before losing in three sets.
This time, however, the momentum appeared to be with him.
The second set was a nip and tuck affair, though, with neither player able to break. Once again Mensik's power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory he fell to his back in celebration.
"To be honest I don't know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously," Mensik said in his on-court interview.
"It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I'm really glad (about), to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match.
"I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later," he said.
Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb.
"There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament," he said.
"I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many," Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results.
Djokovic, who after the match declined to discuss the problem with his eye, paid tribute to the Czech's display.
"This is Jakub's moment, a moment of his team, a moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament. It hurts me to admit it, but you were better. In a clutch moment, you delivered the goods," he said.
"Unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally as well to stay tough in a difficult moment. For a young player like yourself, this is a great feature. Something that I'm sure you will use many times in the years to follow," Djokovic added.
The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976.
Gauff beats Sabalenka to win French Open title
Coco Gauff won the first French Open singles title of her career by fighting back to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a rollercoaster final.
American second seed Gauff claimed a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 victory after a tense battle between the WTA Tour's two leading players in testing conditions.
It is the second Grand Slam singles triumph of Gauff's career, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Belarus' Sabalenka.
"I think this [Grand Slam] win was harder than the first because you don't want to get satisfied with just that one," said 21-year-old Gauff.
Gauff recovered from a difficult start where she trailed by a double break, eventually finding more rhythm and benefiting from a huge number of mistakes from 27-year-old Sabalenka.
"This hurts so much. Congratulations to Coco - she was a better player than me," said Sabalenka, who was also bidding for her first Roland Garros title.
A stiff breeze played havoc with serve in the opening two sets, leading to the pair exchanging 12 breaks in an entertaining if not high-quality affair.
Gauff, who lost in the 2022 final, settled quicker in the deciding third set to move a break up and kept her nerve to serve out victory.
She had to survive another break point before winning her second championship point, falling to the clay on her back when Sabalenka pushed a forehand wide.
With her parents Candi and Corey dancing euphorically in the stands, Gauff shared an affectionate hug with Sabalenka before running off court to celebrate with her family.
From tears of pain to tears of joy - Gauff's redemption
Gauff's previous appearance in the French Open singles showpiece, when she was still a teenager, ended in her covering her head with a towel as she sobbed on her chair.
It was the defining image of her defeat by Iga Swiatek, but she vowed to come back stronger - and she has.
"I was going through a lot of things when I lost here three years ago," Gauff said.
"I'm just glad to be back here. I was going through a lot of dark thoughts."
Three years on, Gauff returned to the final as a Grand Slam champion, having fulfilled the potential promised by winning in New York.
A productive clay-court swing, taking her to the Madrid and Rome finals, meant she arrived in Paris considered a sounder bet than defending champion Swiatek.
"Three finals... I guess I got the most important win - that's all that matters," said Gauff.
Only Sabalenka, who beat her to the Madrid title, had performed better and it was therefore unsurprising the top two seeds met again with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen at stake.
The tricky conditions met neither woman was able to play their best tennis, but Gauff showed her trademark indefatigable spirit and will to win.
Sabalenka's attack versus Gauff's defence was always bound to be fascinating duel, with the younger player's constant returning and supreme athleticism proving the difference.
Like in 2022 after her defeat by Poland's Iga Swiatek, there were more tears for Gauff - this time, ones of joy.
Gauff is the first American to win Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015
Sabalenka falls short in clay quest
The consistency of Sabalenka across all surfaces over the past three years has been unparalleled.
After excelling on hard courts, she has developed her game to become a force on clay and grass.
By reaching the Paris last eight, Sabalenka was the first player to reach the quarter-finals at 10 consecutive Grand Slams since American great Serena Williams in 2017.
But she fell agonisingly short of landing her first major on the slower clay surface.
All three of her previous major triumphs came on the quicker hard courts at the Australian Open and US Open.
After collecting her runners-up prize, Sabalenka fought back tears and apologised to her team for "playing a terrible final".
Like in her semi-final win over defending champion Swiatek, Sabalenka started aggressively and confidently to move a double break ahead.
She was a point away from a 5-1 lead but her dominance quickly disappeared as Gauff fought back.
Despite recovering from 5-3 down in the tie-break, Sabalenka continued to be animated and regularly chastised herself.
It meant she was unable to stem the flow of mistakes from her racquet, with a huge total of 70 unforced errors illustrating her difficulties.
Alcaraz stuns Sinner in extraordinary French Open final
Carlos Alcaraz is only the eighth man in the Open era to win back-to-back French Open titles
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from two sets down - saving three championship points on the way - to beat Jannik Sinner in an incredible French Open men's singles final.
Alcaraz's reign on the Roland Garros clay looked to be over when world number one Sinner closed in on victory at 5-3 in the fourth set.
But the 22-year-old Spaniard showed extraordinary fight to win 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes - the longest French Open final in history.
In an electrifying atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier, Alcaraz produced the finest performance of his career to claim a fifth major title.
In his victory speech, he told Sinner: "The level you have is amazing.
"It is a privilege to share a court with you in every tournament and in making history."
Alcaraz is the first man to win a Grand Slam title after saving match point since Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
The world number two had never previously won a match after losing the opening two sets.
Sinner, bidding for a maiden Roland Garros triumph, was denied his third successive major after a gruelling, gritty and glorious encounter.
"It's easier to play than talk now," said the 23-year-old, who was playing in only his second tournament since returning from a three-month ban for failing two doping tests.
"I'm still happy with this trophy - I won't sleep very well tonight but it is OK."
Alcaraz laps up admiration in all-time classic
The first Grand Slam showpiece between the two dominant players on the ATP Tour had been a tantalising prospect - and it surpassed the hype.
Both Alcaraz and Sinner pushed themselves - and each other - to the limit in a classic contest that showcased all of their shot-making, athleticism and resilience.
Their fascinating rivalry is quickly turning into an enduring duel that could transcend the sport.
It has all the facets - the core talent, gripping encounters on the biggest stages and the blend of personalities.
Alcaraz, with his swashbuckling style, passion and infectious smile, has long been a box-office star who engages millions of fans.
In the toughest moments of the battle against Sinner, he continued to play with freedom - perhaps too much for his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero - and demanded more noise from the Paris crowd.
They loudly responded as Alcaraz demonstrated the heart and courage - along with explosive returns and deft hand skills - for which he has become known and revered.
The majority of the 15,000 fans were jumping to their feet after every point in a thrilling finale, where both players continued to execute top-quality shots that often defied belief.
Alcaraz flew out of the blocks in the first-to-10 match tie-break of the deciding set, sapping every last bit of Sinner's energy before sealing victory with a remarkable running forehand winner that fizzed down the line.
He fell flat on his back before Sinner trudged around the net for a warm, heartfelt embrace.
Alcaraz somehow found the energy to sprint off court, climbing up the stands to celebrate with 2003 French Open winner Ferrero, the rest of his team and his family.
Both players were given rapturous rounds of applause as they collected their trophies after the second longest major final in history.
Sinner gives 'everything' on Grand Slam return
Sinner has reached the Rome and French Open finals in his two tournaments back - losing both to Alcaraz
Sinner has emerged as the standout player on the ATP Tour over the past 18 months, with a machine-like brand of tennis reminiscent of 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in his prime.
Little appears to faze the mild-mannered Italian on or off court even the controversy surrounding his doping case which rocked the sport.
Sinner agreed a three-month ban with the World Anti-Doping Agency shortly after retaining his Australian Open title in January, meaning he did not miss a Grand Slam tournament and was able to compete at Roland Garros.
It was like he had never been away.
Sinner did not drop a set on his way to a maiden French Open final, losing serve only three times in his six matches - the fewest since Spanish great Rafael Nadal in 2012.
But his serve instantly came under intense pressure against Alcaraz in an elongated start which included a 12-minute opening game.
The quality of his service game varied as the contest ebbed and flowed, but landing 54% of his first serves over the whole match was a telling statistic.
Alcaraz broke him seven times as a consequence and swarmed over Sinner's second serve to take control of the final-set tie-break.
Questions were raised about Sinner's fitness and durability if the final went long, given he is still in the early stages of his comeback, but he answered them in the longest match of his career.
Addressing his team afterwards, he said: "We tried our best today. We gave everything we had.
"Some time ago, we would have loved to be here [in the final] so it's still been an amazing tournament."
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