Tennis

Associated Press Apr 30, 2024, 03:08 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — Rafael Nadal had to pause for a few moments, visibly emotional, while addressing the crowd after his loss in the fourth round at the Madrid Open. As chants of “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa” echoed around, the five-time champion in Madrid made a farewell

Apr 30, 2024, 07:30 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Novak Djokovic thanked longtime fitness coach Marco Panichi for his years of service on Tuesday, signaling the end of a working relationship that began in 2017. “What amazing years of collaboration we’ve had. We reached the summit, won titles, broken records. But most of all, I

Associated Press Apr 30, 2024, 03:08 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — After two comfortable victories, Carlos Alcaraz was put to the test at the Madrid Open. The two-time defending champion who is coming off a right forearm injury needed nearly three hours to defeat 24th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) in

Associated Press Apr 29, 2024, 01:57 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — Rafael Nadal‘s body withstood its toughest test yet at the Madrid Open as he needed three sets and more than three hours to get past 91st-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday. In the women’s draw, meanwhile, top-ranked Iga Swiatek remained on track for

ESPN News Services Apr 29, 2024, 02:59 AM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz said he is playing pain-free at the Madrid Open following an arm injury that derailed the start of his clay-court season, but the defending champion still has some lingering doubts about his forehand. The 20-year-old successfully defended his Indian

Associated Press Apr 28, 2024, 02:39 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, cruised past Thiago Seyboth Wild in the third round on Sunday to earn another comfortable win at the Madrid Open. Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-3 for his second straight victory in his first tournament after skipping Monte

Associated Press Apr 27, 2024, 12:41 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID – Rafael Nadal tore his headband off, thrust his arms in the air, and soaked up the cheers. It was only a second-round win, but coming from where Nadal had been just a few weeks ago when he couldn’t even get on the

Associated Press Apr 26, 2024, 01:55 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz didn’t need to put his tender right arm to the test to ease to a victory in his opening match at the Madrid Open on Friday. The two-time defending champion was playing for the first time in nearly a month

ESPN News Services Apr 25, 2024, 01:23 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Rafael Nadal didn’t need much effort as he cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over American teenager Darwin Blanch in the first round of the Madrid Open on Thursday. Nadal looked in good form in what was only his third match since returning

Apr 25, 2024, 08:20 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The Billie Jean King Cup finals will take place over nine days with a knockout round replacing the group stage, organizers the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Thursday. The tournament will kick off in Seville, Spain, on Nov. 12 and end on Nov. 20, with

ESPN News Services Apr 25, 2024, 07:41 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The second retractable roof at Roland Garros will be inaugurated on the opening day of the French Open next month, organizers said Thursday about a project planned with the Paris Olympics in mind. A ceremony for the roof over the 10,000-seat Suzanne Lenglen

ESPN News Services Apr 24, 2024, 09:20 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Rafael Nadal says he is not sure if he will be able to play at next month’s French Open as he continues to deal with pain in his comeback from injury. The 22-time Grand Slam champion said Wednesday that he is far from

Associated Press Apr 24, 2024, 12:48 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka earned her first win on clay in two years by defeating lucky loser Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Madrid Open on Wednesday. Osaka had eight aces and faced one break point for her

Apr 24, 2024, 10:30 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Emma Raducanu fell in a first-round defeat at the Madrid Open on Wednesday, losing to Argentina’s María Lourdes Carlé in straight sets. Raducanu, 21, had been in good touch heading into the clay-court tournament, with her four wins propelling Britain to the finals of the Billie

Associated Press Apr 23, 2024, 11:42 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LONDON — Brian Tobin, the former president of the International Tennis Federation, has died, the sport’s governing body said. The ITF said Tobin died Monday at the age of 93. Former Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard also confirmed Tobin’s death in a message to

Associated Press Apr 23, 2024, 03:27 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz is being cautious with his expectations at the Madrid Open and would be happy to play “three or four matches” in his return from injury. Alcaraz said Tuesday he has trained well in recent days but didn’t want to fully

D’Arcy Maine, ESPN.com Apr 23, 2024, 07:21 AM ET Open Extended Reactions While speaking to the media during a news conference in Miami last month, Sloane Stephens admitted she didn’t know how much longer she would be playing professional tennis. The 31-year-old said she still had goals she wanted to achieve but spoke about her

Associated Press Apr 22, 2024, 09:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions BERLIN — Rafael Nadal said Monday he will play at the Laver Cup in Berlin in September in what may be one of the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s last tournaments. Nadal has signaled 2024 may be his last year on tour and said last