Tennis

In a thrilling Paris Masters match that spanned Halloween and Friday, Grigor Dimitrov narrowly escaped defeat against Arthur Rinderknech, keeping his 2024 season alive.Rinderknech, a wild card entrant, had impressed with five ATP Masters 1000 wins this week. He pushed Dimitrov to the brink, winning the second set and forcing a nail-biting tiebreak in the third.The decider was a tense affair, with neither player able to break serve. The tiebreak saw a remarkable sequence of seven consecutive points won by the server. However, Rinderknech's momentum was halted when he conceded a mini-break with a long backhand slice.Dimitrov seized the opportunity, using his signature inside-out forehand to create an opening and block a backhand volley into the open court. Rinderknech's mistimed swing gave Dimitrov the advantage, and an unreturnable serve sealed the victory.Dimitrov, a finalist in Paris last year, remains in contention for the ATP Finals in Turin. He needs to win the tournament or reach the final to qualify, with two ATP 250 events in Belgrade and Metz next week offering additional opportunities.Other ATP Finals contenders, Alex de Minaur, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune, have already advanced to the quarterfinals. De Minaur has overtaken Andrey Rublev for the No. 8 spot, while Tsitsipas and Rune must win the Paris Masters to have a chance of making the prestigious eight-man field.

Taylor Fritz, the fiery American tennis star, has ignited a spicy rivalry with French opponent Arthur Rinderknech, culminating in a heated post-match exchange at Wimbledon.The feud stems from their previous encounter at Roland Garros in 2023, where Fritz's victory was marred by his controversial shushing gesture towards the partisan French crowd. Rinderknech took offense, and ahead of their Wimbledon rematch, he publicly criticized Fritz's composure.Fritz, known for his calm demeanor, was unfazed by Rinderknech's comments. Instead, they fueled his determination to prove his worth. "As soon as I saw it, the match was basically over," Fritz said. "It just gives me extra fire."The tension was palpable during their Wimbledon clash, with Fritz ultimately prevailing in four sets. As they shook hands at the net, Fritz couldn't resist a parting shot: "Have a nice flight home."Fritz's spicy handshake aside, he has been in impressive form at Wimbledon, dropping only one set so far. His strong grass-court performances in the lead-up to the tournament have established him as a darkhorse contender.In the third round, Fritz will face Alejandro Tabilo, a rising star from Chile. The American will be looking to continue his fiery run and prove that he is not just a spicy margarita but a formidable force on the court.