Tennis

Alexander Zverev's impressive run continues as he notches his 60th win of the year and extends his winning streak against left-handers to 25 matches.Zverev's victory over Joel Schwaerzler in Vienna marked his second time reaching 60 wins in a season, a feat he previously achieved in 2018. He joins Jannik Sinner as the only players to have reached this milestone in 2023.Equally remarkable is Zverev's dominance against left-handed opponents. His last defeat to a lefty came over 600 days ago, against Marc-Andrea Huesler in February 2023. Since then, he has won 25 consecutive matches against left-handers, including victories over Denis Shapovalov, Yoshihito Nishioka, and Cameron Norrie.Zverev's success against left-handers stems from his aggressive baseline play and ability to neutralize their forehand. He uses his powerful serve and forehand to dictate the pace of the match and force his opponents into errors.The German's impressive form has propelled him to the top of the ATP rankings, where he currently sits at No. 4. He is a contender for the year-end No. 1 ranking, which would be his first Grand Slam title.Zverev's next match in Vienna could potentially be against another left-hander, Cameron Norrie, in the semifinals. If he continues his winning streak, he will face a tough challenge in the final against either Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, has raised concerns about the demanding tennis calendar, claiming it is "going to kill us." The 21-year-old has already played 50 singles matches in 2023, winning three titles and an Olympic silver medal.Alcaraz expressed his frustration after defeating Ben Shelton at the Laver Cup, stating that the schedule is "so tight" and has led to numerous injuries. He admitted that he sometimes struggles to find motivation due to the relentless schedule."Sometimes, you don't want to go to a tournament," Alcaraz said. "I'm not going to lie -- I have felt this way a few times already."Alexander Zverev, the world number two, echoed Alcaraz's concerns, criticizing the ATP for prioritizing money over player well-being. "The ATP doesn't care about our opinion -- it's a money business," Zverev said. "It's the longest season in sports. It's unnecessarily long. We have an unnecessary amount of tournaments."Zverev called for action, but acknowledged that players are limited in their options due to potential fines for boycotting tournaments.Alcaraz also expressed his hope that he and Jannik Sinner can develop a rivalry similar to that of the "Big Three" (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer). "I hope that our rivalry is going to be almost like what the big three had during their whole career," Alcaraz said.In 2023, Alcaraz and Sinner each won two Grand Slams, marking the first year since 2002 that neither Federer, Nadal, nor Djokovic won a major.Despite his concerns about the calendar, Alcaraz remains optimistic about the future of tennis. "Hopefully we're going to keep going like that, fighting for the great tournaments, sharing great moments," he said.

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, two tennis stars who have traded barbs in the past, have put their differences aside to compete for Team Europe at the Laver Cup 2024 in Berlin.Despite their previous rivalry, Zverev and Medvedev are now united under the leadership of captain Bjorn Borg, alongside other top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Casper Ruud."Normally, we always meet in the final rounds of a tournament and give everything to beat each other," said Zverev. "Now we're here as a team with one goal: to win the Laver Cup."Medvedev echoed Zverev's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of team unity. "We support each other more than ever before," he said. "In the past, we've had some matches and arguments, but that's forgotten a month later."Despite their newfound camaraderie, Zverev and Medvedev have different approaches to supporting their teammates. While Medvedev actively provides advice during matches, Zverev prefers to observe and analyze."Coaching is not my thing," said Medvedev. "I prefer to watch and observe."Grigor Dimitrov has emerged as a key support figure for Medvedev, offering guidance during his singles match against Frances Tiafoe."We talked about where I could serve because Tiafoe read my serve quite well," said Medvedev. "Even though I lost the match, I still want to discuss it sometimes afterwards."Despite trailing 4-8 after the second day of play, Team Europe remains optimistic about their chances of victory. The mutual respect and support among the team members suggest that they have overcome their past differences and are determined to succeed together.

Taylor Fritz has emerged as a formidable opponent for Alexander Zverev, extending his winning streak against the world No. 2 to three matches with a 6-4, 7-5 victory at the Laver Cup in Berlin.Fritz's triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, tying his biggest win by ranking against Rafael Nadal at the 2022 ATP Finals. It also extends his impressive record against Top 10 players, with four wins in his last five matches.Since Wimbledon, Fritz has defeated Zverev three times, including in the fourth round of Wimbledon and the quarterfinals of the US Open. His only loss in this stretch came against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the US Open final.Fritz's recent success against top-ranked opponents highlights his growing confidence and ability to compete at the highest level. His victory over Zverev in front of his home crowd further solidifies his status as a rising star in the tennis world.Fritz's impressive performance at the Laver Cup has helped Team World level the score against Team Europe. The competition remains fiercely contested, with the outcome still hanging in the balance.

The US Open has witnessed remarkable performances from American players, leading to significant ranking advancements for several individuals.Emma Navarro has made a meteoric rise, climbing from No. 57 a year ago to her Top 10 debut at No. 8. Her impressive run includes a first Grand Slam semifinal appearance at the US Open, where she defeated Coco Gauff in the fourth round. Navarro's consistent improvement throughout the year has propelled her into the elite ranks of women's tennis.Jessica Pegula has also made a notable move, rising from No. 6 to No. 3 after reaching her first Grand Slam final at the US Open. This achievement marks a return to her career-high ranking.On the ATP side, Taylor Fritz has jumped from No. 12 to No. 7 after reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. He is now just two spots away from his career-high ranking of No. 5.Alexander Zverev has also made a significant move, rising from No. 4 to No. 2 after reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open. This return to his career-high ranking showcases his continued dominance on the tour.Other notable breakthroughs include Jack Draper's Top 20 debut at No. 20, Nuno Borges' Top 30 debut at No. 30, and Brandon Nakashima's Top 40 debut at No. 40. These players have demonstrated their potential and are poised for further success.Nakashima's impressive victories over Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti highlight the quality of his performances. His ability to defeat top-ranked opponents suggests that he may be on the cusp of even greater achievements.The US Open has served as a platform for American players to showcase their talent and make significant strides in the rankings. Their performances have set the stage for continued success and have raised expectations for the future of American tennis.

The US Open quarterfinals on Tuesday feature tantalizing matchups as Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe vie for a spot in the semifinals.Zverev, the fourth seed, faces Fritz, the 12th seed, in a rematch of their Wimbledon clash. Zverev, a two-time US Open finalist, seeks his third semifinal appearance in New York. Fritz, who defeated Zverev at Wimbledon, aims to reach his first Slam semifinal.Dimitrov, the ninth seed, takes on Tiafoe, the 20th seed. Dimitrov, a former world number three, seeks his second US Open semifinal after reaching the last four in 2019. Tiafoe, a crowd favorite, is in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year and hopes to repeat his 2022 semifinal run.In the women's draw, world number two Aryna Sabalenka faces Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka, the 2023 Australian Open runner-up, seeks her fourth consecutive US Open quarterfinal. Zheng, who defeated defending champion Coco Gauff, aims to avenge her Australian Open final loss to Sabalenka.Paula Badosa, the 26th seed, takes on Emma Navarro, the 13th seed. Badosa, a New York native, is in her first US Open quarterfinal. Navarro, who knocked out Gauff, seeks her first Slam semifinal.

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis legend, will face his compatriot Laslo Djere in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday. Djokovic, who is aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title, will be looking to avoid a repeat of last year's encounter, where Djere was the only player to take a set off him.Djokovic, who recently triumphed at the Paris Olympics, will be eager to make a strong start against Djere, who is ranked 109th in the world. The 37-year-old Djokovic has been in impressive form this season, winning the Wimbledon and Italian Open titles.In the women's draw, defending champion Coco Gauff defeated 37-year-old Tatjana Maria in straight sets. Despite an erratic performance, Gauff managed to win the last seven games to seal the victory.Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the third round with a comfortable win over Lucia Bronzetti. The Belarusian is aiming to become the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win both hard court Grand Slam titles in the same year.In other notable matches, seventh-seeded Zheng Qinwen rallied from a set down to defeat Erika Andreeva, while eighth-seeded Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova was upset by Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse.In the men's draw, fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany advanced in straight sets over Alexandre Muller. Zverev will next face Tomas Etcheverry, who overcame Francisco Cerundolo in a five-set thriller.Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev and Jiri Lehecka also battled through five sets to set up a third-round meeting. Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk also advanced with a hard-fought victory over Harriet Dart.

In a captivating Cincinnati Open semifinal, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev engaged in a thrilling three-hour and eight-minute battle that showcased their exceptional shot-making abilities. Despite a rain delay that briefly halted the first-set tiebreaker, the match resumed with an electrifying display of tennis.Sinner, despite struggling with a persistent hip issue, fought back from a break deficit to level the opening set. The tiebreaker proved to be a tense affair, with both players trading set points. Sinner's resilience shone through as he saved two set points and eventually clinched the set 7-6 (9).Zverev responded strongly in the second set, breaking Sinner's serve to take an early lead. However, Sinner remained unfazed and broke back immediately. The set remained on serve until the 11th game, when Zverev capitalized on Sinner's errors to break and take the set 7-5.The decider was a test of both players' physical and mental fortitude. Sinner's hip problems resurfaced, but he refused to let it hinder his performance. Zverev continued to probe Sinner's movement, but the Italian held firm. The set progressed to a tiebreaker, where Sinner's determination proved decisive.At 1-2, Zverev's volley error gave Sinner the advantage. The Italian seized the opportunity, securing a mini-break with a brilliant forehand return winner. Zverev fought back to level at 3-3, but Sinner remained composed. He earned a second mini-break at 5-3 and converted his second match point to seal the victory 7-6 (4).Sinner's triumph marked his second win over Zverev in seven career meetings. He will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe in the final, where he will aim to extend his perfect record in finals this season to 5-0.

World number ones Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek showcased their resilience on Saturday, overcoming early setbacks to advance to the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open.Sinner, who received a first-round bye and a walkover on Friday, faced a stern test against Andrey Rublev. The Italian lost the first set 4-6 but rallied to win the second 7-5 and the third 6-4. Sinner's victory prevented Rublev from repeating his triumph over him in Montreal last week.In the women's draw, Swiatek faced a similar challenge against Mirra Andreeva. The Polish star dropped the first set 4-6 but fought back to win the second 6-3 and the third 7-5. Swiatek's victory marked her 30th match win at the WTA 1000 level this season.Sinner will now face Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. Zverev, the 2021 Cincinnati champion, defeated Ben Shelton 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 in a rain-interrupted match. Zverev has won four of five matches against Sinner, including three at Grand Slams.Swiatek will face Aryna Sabalenka in the other semi-final. Sabalenka, who has reached her fourth Cincinnati semi-final, defeated Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka will take over the WTA second ranking spot from Coco Gauff heading into the US Open.American Jessica Pegula also advanced to the semi-finals, defeating Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7/3). Pegula played two matches on Friday and admitted to feeling tired, but she managed to overcome the challenge of Fernandez.The Cincinnati Open is a key tune-up event for the US Open, which begins on August 26. The tournament provides players with an opportunity to fine-tune their game and gain momentum heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.