Tennis

World No. 4 Alexander Zverev faces a stern test against No. 22 Karen Khachanov in the Round of 32 at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday, August 15. Zverev has enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, boasting a 46-15 record with two titles and a runner-up finish at Roland Garros. However, his recent form has been shaky, raising concerns ahead of his clash with Khachanov.Khachanov, on the other hand, has endured a challenging year but is coming off a dominant straight-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo. The Russian is known for his resilience on fast courts and his ability to push opponents to the limit.Despite Zverev's impressive season, his recent performances have been alarming. His loss to Arthur Fils in the Hamburg final and his struggles against Lorenzo Musetti and Sebastian Korda have exposed weaknesses in his game, particularly his forehand. If he fails to address these issues, Khachanov could exploit them.Khachanov's all-court ability and confidence-boosting win over Cerundolo make him a formidable opponent. He has also defeated Zverev twice in their head-to-head history, suggesting he is not intimidated by the German.Given Zverev's recent struggles and Khachanov's resurgence, the Russian is a tempting pick to cover +1.5 sets. His ability to extend sets and his potential to steal one or two could prove decisive in this intriguing matchup.

Sebastian Korda, fresh off his triumph in Washington D.C., is poised to make a deep run in Montreal. Despite benefiting from some fortunate withdrawals, Korda has showcased his exceptional talent in his victories over Taylor Fritz and Vasek Pospisil.Korda's potential has been evident for some time. His towering height, combined with his agility and clean ball-striking, makes him a formidable opponent. However, consistency has often eluded him, sometimes attributed to a lack of self-belief. But when Korda finds his rhythm, he transforms into a Top 10 caliber player.His recent title in D.C. and his impressive win over Fritz in Canada are testaments to his current form. Fritz, who had previously dominated Korda, was unable to match the American's brilliance. This victory highlights Korda's ability to rise to the occasion against top-tier competition.While Korda's path to the semifinals has been relatively smooth, his upcoming clash with Alexander Zverev will be a significant test. Zverev has cruised through his first two matches, but his preparation for the hard-court season has been less than ideal. Korda, on the other hand, is riding a wave of momentum and has the potential to exploit Zverev's potential dip in form.Korda's serve will be crucial in this match. Despite his size and power, he has occasionally struggled to hold serve. However, he has shown signs of improvement in this area, making at least 80% of his first serves in 10 of his last 16 matches. If he can maintain this level of consistency, he will give himself a fighting chance against Zverev.Overall, Korda's recent performances suggest that he is capable of upsetting the odds against Zverev. His confidence is soaring, and he has the game to match his ambition. While Zverev remains a formidable opponent, Korda's momentum and determination could prove to be the difference-maker.

Italy's Lorenzo Musetti stunned defending champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tennis tournament on Thursday, securing a 7-5, 7-5 victory over the German world number four. Musetti's triumph sets up a tantalizing semifinal clash against either top seed Novak Djokovic or Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a place in the gold medal match on the line.Musetti, ranked 76th in the world, displayed remarkable composure and resilience throughout the match. He broke Zverev's serve in the opening game of the first set and held on to his advantage, despite facing some stern challenges from the German. Zverev fought back in the second set, breaking Musetti's serve in the fourth game. However, Musetti remained unfazed and broke back immediately, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.In the crucial moments, Musetti's superior court coverage and ability to hit deep, penetrating groundstrokes proved decisive. He forced Zverev into numerous errors and capitalized on the German's uncharacteristic unforced mistakes. Musetti sealed the victory with a powerful forehand winner, sending shockwaves through the Ariake Tennis Park.Musetti's victory marks a significant upset in the Olympic tennis tournament. Zverev, who won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was considered one of the favorites to repeat his success. However, Musetti's impressive performance has thrown the tournament wide open and has given him a chance to create history for Italy.The 19-year-old Italian has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, having defeated world number 12 Diego Schwartzman in the second round. His victory over Zverev is a testament to his growing maturity and confidence on the big stage. Musetti will now face an even greater challenge in the semifinals, but he will be buoyed by his recent success and the support of the Italian fans.

Novak Djokovic, the world's top-ranked tennis player, continued his pursuit of an elusive Olympic gold medal on Wednesday, reaching the quarterfinals of the men's singles tournament at the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles, defeated German Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-3 to become the first man to reach four Olympic singles quarterfinals.Djokovic, who has only ever won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008, will face 11th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the quarterfinals. Tsitsipas, who lost to Djokovic in the 2021 French Open final, will be a tough test for the Serbian.In other men's singles action, defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany will face Alexei Popyrin of Australia, while fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia will face Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.In the men's doubles, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain will face fourth-seeded Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States in the quarterfinals. Nadal, a 14-time French Open singles champion, is chasing a third Olympic gold medal after winning the singles title in Beijing in 2008 and doubles in Rio eight years later.In the women's singles, world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland will face Danielle Collins of the United States in the quarterfinals. Swiatek, who has won the French Open four times, is looking to claim her first Olympic gold medal.Three-time major winner Angelique Kerber of Germany will face Zheng Qinwen of China in the quarterfinals. Kerber, who will retire after the Olympics, is looking to end her career on a high note.Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic will face Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the quarterfinals. Krejcikova, who won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon this year, is looking to add an Olympic medal to her collection.In the remaining women's quarterfinal, Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine will face Donna Vekic of Croatia. Vekic, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon this year, will be looking to upset Kostyuk and reach the semifinals.

Alexander Zverev, the world number four, continued his impressive season by securing a straight-sets victory over China's Zhang Zhizhen at the Hamburg tournament. The 6-4, 6-3 win marked Zverev's 43rd of the season, surpassing the tally of world number one Jannik Sinner.Zverev, who is aiming to defend his Hamburg title, displayed a high level of tennis throughout the match, showing no signs of the knee injury that hampered him at Wimbledon. The German star expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I'm extremely pleased with the level of tennis today."Zverev's victory sets up a semi-final clash with Spain's Pedro Martinez, who upset Argentine fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo in a thrilling three-set encounter. Zverev is eager to continue his momentum and defend his Olympic title at Roland Garros, where he triumphed at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021.Reflecting on his remarkable 2021 season, Zverev said, "2021 was strange, because I started the season OK, I was playing well, but then the second half of the season, I barely lost a match." He expressed his hope that he can replicate that success this year, particularly at the Olympics and US Open.Zverev's victory in Hamburg is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite the challenges he has faced, he remains focused on achieving his goals and cementing his status as one of the top players in the world.

Alexander Zverev, the reigning champion of the Hamburg Open, kicked off his title defense with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over qualifier Jesper de Jong. However, the match was not the only highlight for the fans in attendance.In a post-match interview with his brother Mischa, Zverev announced the launch of their new video podcast, "A to Z," which is now available on Tennis Channel. The podcast, which features tennis legend Boris Becker as its first guest, promises a variety of personal interviews with celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment.Against the stunning backdrop of the Austrian Alps, Becker shared his passion for tennis and the driving force behind his success. "Competition has always been at the forefront for me," he explained. "I love competing, playing, and going into a tennis match, even the 'fight' that comes with it."Becker emphasized that his motivation was not financial gain but rather the desire to win. "I earned some money, but I never played tennis for the money," he said. "Winning was always the priority, and that probably saved me in the years that followed."For Zverev, the podcast is a way to indulge his passion for interviewing. "I've always been interested in talk shows," he said. "I find the medium of television exciting. The video podcast is a flexible way for me to combine the tennis world with my interest in good interviews."Mischa Zverev echoed his brother's sentiments, stating that they aim to have "cosy conversations" with their guests. "Topicality is not the main focus," he said. "We will also meet actors, musicians, and politicians who are interested in us and the format. Our current goal for this year is 10 to 12 episodes."Upcoming episodes will feature reality stars and entrepreneurs Die Geisens, football stars Breel Embolo and Ismael Jakobs, and music world star DJ Ötzi. The entire series can be viewed exclusively on Tennis Channel, while the audio version is available on all major podcast platforms.

Taylor Fritz's Wimbledon journey has been marked by both thrilling victories and post-match controversies. After his hard-fought five-set comeback over Alexander Zverev, the American's handshake with his opponent sparked a social media frenzy.Zverev expressed dissatisfaction with Fritz's player box, claiming they were overly vocal in their support, particularly towards the end of the match when Zverev's injury became apparent. Fritz, however, maintained that he was unaware of any excessive cheering.The incident took an unexpected turn when Fritz's girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, posted Instagram Stories that seemed to suggest a deeper issue. Riddle's captions, such as "Cheer loud ladies" and "when ur man wins 4 the girls," were interpreted by some as a subtle jab at Zverev, who has faced allegations of domestic abuse.Zverev has consistently denied these accusations, and the players themselves have downplayed the handshake incident. However, the social media chatter has raised questions about the role of player support and the potential impact of off-court controversies on the game.Fritz's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Lorenzo Musetti, where he will aim to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal. The American's journey at Wimbledon has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but he remains focused on his goal of making history.

Taylor Fritz staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to stun fourth seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday.Fritz, the 13th seed, faced an uphill battle against Zverev's formidable serve. However, the American displayed resilience and determination, breaking the German for the first time in the tournament to claim the third set.The momentum shifted in Fritz's favor as he edged the fourth set in a tie-break. With his powerful groundstrokes, Fritz broke Zverev again in the fourth game of the decider, forcing the German into errors.Fritz maintained his dominance, serving with authority and breaking Zverev once more to lead 5-2. Despite Zverev's valiant efforts, Fritz sealed the match in style, hitting a total of 69 winners against 23 unforced errors.The American's victory sets up a quarter-final clash with Italian 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Fritz's triumph marks a significant achievement in his career, as he continues to impress on the grass courts.

Elena Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion, emerged as the tournament favorite after Iga Swiatek's surprising defeat. Rybakina's impressive performance against Caroline Wozniacki and her status as the only remaining Wimbledon winner in the draw have solidified her position. However, her opponent, Anna Kalinskaya, poses a significant challenge. Kalinskaya has had a strong season, reaching the Top 20 and nearly winning a grass-court title in Berlin. Their previous encounters have been close, with both players winning one match each.In the men's draw, Taylor Fritz faces Alexander Zverev in a highly anticipated fourth-round clash. Fritz and Zverev have similar playing styles, with powerful serves and aggressive groundstrokes. However, Zverev has a slight edge in their head-to-head record, winning five of their eight matches. Zverev's recent form, including his victory in Rome and near-triumph at Roland Garros, suggests he is the favorite.Novak Djokovic, the 21-time Grand Slam champion, faces a tough test against Holger Rune. Djokovic has been hampered by a knee injury, but he has managed to survive and advance. Rune, despite a disappointing season, has the physicality and confidence to challenge Djokovic. Their previous encounters have been close, with Rune pushing Djokovic to three sets in their last two matches.