INSIDER
AP sports photos of the year capture unforgettable snippets in time from the games we love
Read full article: AP sports photos of the year capture unforgettable snippets in time from the games we loveThey are snippets in time, unforgettable snapshots that gloriously capture the soaring euphoria and gut-wrenching agony of the games we love, not to mention the randomness of a moment that might’ve gone unnoticed otherwise.
Iga Swiatek will finish the year at No. 1 after beating Jessica Pegula to win the WTA Finals
Read full article: Iga Swiatek will finish the year at No. 1 after beating Jessica Pegula to win the WTA FinalsIga Swiatek has earned her first WTA Finals title and the year-end No. 1 ranking by beating Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-0 in the latest in a series of dominant performances.
Caroline Wozniacki beats Petra Kvitova at the US Open shortly after coming out of retirement
Read full article: Caroline Wozniacki beats Petra Kvitova at the US Open shortly after coming out of retirementCaroline Wozniacki has reached the third round at the U.S. Open by beating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6 (5).
Andy Murray exits Wimbledon with uncertainty after a 5-set, 2-day loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas
Read full article: Andy Murray exits Wimbledon with uncertainty after a 5-set, 2-day loss to Stefanos TsitsipasTwo-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has been eliminated by Stefanos Tsitsipas after a five-setter contested over two days at Centre Court.
Sinner stuns top-ranked Alcaraz in Miami Open semifinals
Read full article: Sinner stuns top-ranked Alcaraz in Miami Open semifinalsTenth-seeded Jannick Sinner of Italy stunned top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz on Friday night in the Miami Open semifinals, rallying from a set down to beat the defending champion, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2 in a three-hour thriller.
Tiafoe ends Nadal's 22-match Slam streak in US Open 4th Rd
Read full article: Tiafoe ends Nadal's 22-match Slam streak in US Open 4th RdFrances Tiafoe has ended Rafael Nadal’s 22-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments by beating the 22-time major champion 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open’s fourth round.
Sinner needs 5 sets to reach Open quarters | US Open updates
Read full article: Sinner needs 5 sets to reach Open quarters | US Open updatesEleventh-seeded Jannik Sinner held off feisty Ilya Ivashka and won his U.S. Open match 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to clinch a spot in all four Grand Slam quarterfinals this year.
Serena's gone, Open must go on: Kvitova, Pegula set rematch
Read full article: Serena's gone, Open must go on: Kvitova, Pegula set rematchMuch like for so many other folks, Serena Williams’ last match at the U.S. Open was must-see TV for players still in the tournament, so Jessica Pegula and Petra Kvitova tuned in from their hotel rooms the night before their victories led off Saturday’s schedule and set up a fourth-round showdown.
Caroline Garcia, Borna Coric get 1st titles in Cincinnati
Read full article: Caroline Garcia, Borna Coric get 1st titles in CincinnatiCaroline Garcia has generated momentum going into the U.S. Open in a week, capturing the Western & Southern Open women’s championship with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Petra Kvitova.
No Novak yet but rest of tennis prepares for Australian Open
Read full article: No Novak yet but rest of tennis prepares for Australian OpenWhile the “will he or won’t he” question remains for No. 1 Novak Djokovic and his participation in the Australian Open the rest of the tennis world returns to work this week to prepare for the season’s first major.
Djokovic holds off Tiafoe; Venus hobbles out in Australia
Read full article: Djokovic holds off Tiafoe; Venus hobbles out in AustraliaSerbia's Novak Djokovic makes a forehand return to United States' Frances Tiafoe during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. 1, had never beaten anyone in the Top 5, and now he'd just won a tiebreaker against Novak Djokovic to level their second-round match at the Australian Open. But it wasn't quite enough to beat the eight-time Australian Open champion, who won the 3 1/2-hour afternoon match 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 6-3. AdAnother U.S. Open champion, Naomi Osaka, needed only an hour to sweep Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-3. 29 Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in a rollicking night cap full of turns and twists.
The Latest: Shapovalov edges teenage Sinner in 1st round
Read full article: The Latest: Shapovalov edges teenage Sinner in 1st roundThe 10th-seeded Frenchman is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, but he can't seem to win anywhere at the moment. ___4:55 p.m.U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem has moved into the second round at the Australian Open, where he was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic a year ago. Thiem had been 0-3 in Grand Slam finals until emerging for the championship at Flushing Meadows in September. The first tournament of this year’s Grand Slam season began after a three-week delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. Serena Williams begins her latest bid for a 24th Grand Slam singles title in the following match against Laura Siegemund.
Kenin, 21, will face unseeded Swiatek, 19, in French final
Read full article: Kenin, 21, will face unseeded Swiatek, 19, in French final4-seeded Kenin moved into the French Open final by beating No. Kenin will carry a 16-1 mark in Grand Slam action this season into Saturday’s championship match against Iga Swiatek of Poland. Swiatek vs. Podoroska was the first women’s semifinal at Roland Garros between unseeded opponents since 1983 — and only one, Swiatek, truly seemed ready for the stage. Swiatek does it with tremendous play at the baseline, picking up balls early and smacking big groundstrokes with thick topspin. I’m, like, not letting my opponents play their best tennis,” Swiatek said.
The Latest: Pavic and Soares into French Open doubles final
Read full article: The Latest: Pavic and Soares into French Open doubles final(AP Photo/Michel Euler)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___3:50 p.m. The seventh-seeded duo of Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares will meet the eighth-seeded pair of Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies in the men's doubles final. Whoever wins will be the seventh unseeded player to reach the Roland Garros final in the Open era. ___12:25 p.m.Polish teenager Iga Swiatek and Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska will open play in the main stadium at the French Open. Play is underway on Court Suzanne Lenglen with Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah playing Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares in the men’s doubles semifinals.
Djokovic deals with arm issue in Paris; gets Tsitsipas in SF
Read full article: Djokovic deals with arm issue in Paris; gets Tsitsipas in SFPARIS – Novak Djokovic overcame a bothersome left arm and an early deficit to reach the French Open semifinals for the 10th time. At the U.S. Open, Tsitsipas failed to convert a half-dozen match points in a third-round loss. Two days after that, in Paris, Tsitsipas lost the initial two sets of his first-round match against 109th-ranked Jaume Munar. In the opening set, Djokovic accumulated a whopping 16 unforced errors — accounting for nearly half of Carreño Busta’s 33 points. At the changeover before the second set, Djokovic was attended to by a trainer, who returned for another massage three games later.
The Latest: Djokovic has arm issue but wins at French Open
Read full article: The Latest: Djokovic has arm issue but wins at French Open(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___9:50 p.m.Novak Djokovic has overcome a bothersome left arm and early deficit to reach the French Open semifinals for the 10th time. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in one of Friday’s semifinals as he seeks a second French Open championship and 18th Grand Slam title. ___5:15 p.m.Polish teenager Iga Swiatek has reached the French Open semifinals in both singles and doubles. ___4:50 p.m.Laura Siegemund has taken issue with the chair umpire for giving her a time violation during her 6-3, 6-3 loss to Petra Kvitova in the French Open quarterfinals. Rublev won their final at the clay-court Hamburg Open on the same day main-draw competition began at the French Open.
Kvitova gets emotional after return to French Open quarters
Read full article: Kvitova gets emotional after return to French Open quartersPetra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates winning her fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against China's Zhang Shuai in two sets 6-2, 6-4, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)PARIS – Petra Kvitova owns two Wimbledon titles, so making it to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 13th time should not necessarily feel like a big deal to her. Which is why Kvitova’s emotions swelled and her eyes watered after she beat Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-4 on Monday at the French Open, where she hadn’t reached the round of eight since 2012. Everything came to my mind -- my whole family, people who I loved, (who helped) me through the tough, tough time,” Kvitova said. I just wanted to get some carbs, some potato or rice, whatever.”MAINSTREAM MEDIAFrench Open quarterfinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas plugged into his YouTube channel during his run to the Australian Open semifinals in 2019.
Coach? Motivator? Kenin's dad moves, Paris match changes
Read full article: Coach? Motivator? Kenin's dad moves, Paris match changes“First of all, I mean, I don’t know, like, why HER coach sat in that section,” said Kenin, who is seeded No. Djokovic is seeking a second French Open championship and 18th major trophy overall. Tsitsipas and Rublev both dropped the first two sets they played in Paris last week — and now both are making a French Open quarterfinal debut. Their meeting Wednesday comes 10 days after Rublev beat Tsitsipas in three sets in the final of the Hamburg Open on Sept. 27 — Day 1 of the French Open. “I know he’s a tough cookie.”___AP Tennis Writer Fendrich reported from Washington; AP Sports Writer Pugmire reported from Paris.
The Latest: Rublev reaches his 1st French Open quarterfinal
Read full article: The Latest: Rublev reaches his 1st French Open quarterfinal(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___3:25 p.m.Andrey Rublev reached the quarterfinals for the first time by beating Marton Fucsovics 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (3). He won on his second match point when the unseeded Fucsovics put a forehand into the net after Rublev had hit a volley at the net. The two-time U.S. Open quarterfinalist Rublev had never been beyond the first round at Roland Garros. ___12:55 p.m.Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the French Open quarterfinals for the first time in eight years by beating Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-4. There will still be crowds for the final week of French Open after Paris police decided not to reduce the limit of 1,000 spectators per day.
If at 1st, or 14th, you don't succeed: Zhang's Slam history
Read full article: If at 1st, or 14th, you don't succeed: Zhang's Slam history(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – For eight long years, Zhang Shuai and Grand Slam tennis simply weren’t friends. Now she is the first Chinese player into the fourth round in Paris since Li in 2012. Kvitova beat 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round for the fifth time. 5 seed from Greece showed up for his third-round match at the French Open on Saturday with a pandemic-appropriate facial covering that had a picture of himself drawn on it. 30 seed from Tunisia, arrived sporting one, too, for her post-match news conference after becoming the first Arab woman to get to the fourth round at Roland Garros.
The Latest: Collins beats 2016 champ Muguruza at French Open
Read full article: The Latest: Collins beats 2016 champ Muguruza at French Open(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___11:10 p.m.Danielle Collins grabbed the last four games to come back and beat 2016 champion Garbiñe Muguruza 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in the last third-round singles match at the French Open. Next up for Djokovic as he pursues a second French Open title and 18th Grand Slam trophy overall: No. ___4:20 p.m.Fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the fourth round at the French Open for the second year in a row. He came through the qualifying tournament to reach the French Open main draw. ___1:10 p.m.Andrey Rublev advanced to the French Open fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win against the unseeded South African Kevin Anderson.
Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'
Read full article: Does Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – At the mere mention of Novak Djokovic’s name, at the mere thought of sharing a court with a 17-time Grand Slam champion and the French Open’s No. He used these phrases: “really, really excited” and “really, really happy” and “really, really special.”Galan is, after all, ranked 153rd and never had won so much as one main-draw match at any major tournament until this week. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champ, plays 87th-ranked Paula Badosa, who arrived in Paris with a 1-5 Grand Slam record. “Well,” came Galan’s reply, “I was wondering that, to be honest.”And then he launched into a story about how he was “really, really nervous” before playing former top 10-member David Goffin in the Davis Cup Finals last November.
Clipped wings: Virus turns tennis pros' flights into ordeals
Read full article: Clipped wings: Virus turns tennis pros' flights into ordealsJennifer Brady of the U.S. prepares to serve against Denmark's Clara Tauson in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. But tennis players cannot home-work. And so, as now-rare world travelers, they've also become unwitting first-hand witnesses of how the pandemic is battering the airline industry. But the novelty wore off after near-constant flying became part of her tennis job, until “I really didn't like it, especially long-haul." “The best thing during the lockdown was that I didn’t have to go on the plane.”___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
'Runaway train': Serena wins French Open opener; Nadal, too
Read full article: 'Runaway train': Serena wins French Open opener; Nadal, tooSerena Williams of the U.S. screams in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Kristie Ahn of the U.S. at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. Both began this French Open with straight-set victories against overmatched foes in Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday. Nadal began his attempt to pull even with rival Roger Federer for the most by a man, 20, by beating Egor Gerasimov of Belarus 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. He'll be aiming for his 18th major championship at this French Open, which he finally gets underway Tuesday with his first Grand Slam match since being disqualified at the U.S. Open. Among the other key results on Day 2 of a chilly, pandemic-postponed French Open were losses by 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova, who was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Polish teenager Iga Swiatek; three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber; 2017 U.S. Open finalist and 2018 French Open semifinalist Madison Keys; and men’s seeds No.
The Latest: Female doubles player dropped due to virus
Read full article: The Latest: Female doubles player dropped due to virusThe 2009 French Open champion was beaten by Russian countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. But the 2016 French Open champion held firm to beat Tamara Zidansek 7-5, 4-6, 8-6. He beat Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The new roof over Court Philippe Chatrier is again proving its worth on Day 2 of the French Open. The court is hosting the only play as rain thwarted the start of all other matches at Roland Garros.
'Didn't play good': No. 1 Pliskova won't dissect Open loss
Read full article: 'Didn't play good': No. 1 Pliskova won't dissect Open lossI didnt play good, Pliksova said, so thats it.When another member of the media said this back-and-forth must be boring to Pliskova, she said, Yeah, a little bit. Three Americans turned in upsets of seeded women. Other seeded women who were eliminated: No. Pliskova had chances to take the second set against Garcia, who had been 0-8 against top-five opponents at Grand Slam tournaments. On the second, Garcia smacked a quick-strike forehand to a corner and Pliskova's running reply found the net.
Osaka-Goff rematch could happen in US Open's 3rd round
Read full article: Osaka-Goff rematch could happen in US Open's 3rd roundTwo-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and 16-year-old Coco Gauff could face each other at the U.S. Open again after Thursdays, Aug. 27, 2020, draw for the Grand Slam tournament set up a possible third-round rematch. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)American teenager Coco Gauff and two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka could face each other at the U.S. Open again after Thursdays draw for the Grand Slam tournament set up a possible third-round rematch. Osaka, who won the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Australian Open, beat Gauff, then just 15, 6-3, 6-0 in the third round at Flushing Meadows a year ago. 1-ranked Ash Barty and 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu. The defending mens champion, Rafael Nadal, and 20-time Grand Slam title winner Roger Federer are also among those absent in New York this year.
Pain in the neck: Djokovic gets by in 1st post-hiatus match
Read full article: Pain in the neck: Djokovic gets by in 1st post-hiatus matchA trainer works on the neck of Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during his match with Ricardas Berankis, of Lithuania, during the second round at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in New York. 1-ranked Djokovic was playing his first ATP match in six months because of the coronavirus pandemic; he pulled out of the doubles event Sunday because of his neck. That major championship's site in Flushing Meadows is hosting the Ohio-based Western & Southern Open, too, as part of an unusual doubleheader with no spectators. Like Djokovic, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka emerged with difficult wins, while two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova, the No. Djokovic now meets American Tennys Sandgren, a 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (5) winner over No.
Barty joins players expressing concern over US Open timing
Read full article: Barty joins players expressing concern over US Open timingBarty has joined the ranks of high-profile players expressing concern over the staging of the U.S. Open while theres still so much uncertainty in the coronavirus pandemic. 1 hasnt had the chance yet to defend her French Open title because all elite tennis competition is shuttered. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)BRISBANE Ash Barty has joined the ranks of high-profile players concerned over the staging of the U.S. Open while theres still so much uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic. 1 hasnt had the chance yet to defend her French Open title because all elite tennis competition is shuttered. Barty hasnt played competitively since a semifinal loss to Petra Kvitova at the Qatar Open in late February.