Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, the third-seeded Spaniard, stormed into the Wimbledon third round with a dominant 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-2 victory over Aleksandar Vukic. Alcaraz's triumph sets up an intriguing clash with fellow crowd favorite Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Borna Coric in straight sets.Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back, expressed his eagerness for the challenge against Tiafoe, whom he defeated in the 2022 US Open semifinals.Meanwhile, eccentric Italian Fabio Fognini stunned eighth-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in a thrilling encounter. Fognini, known for his unpredictable style, twice served for the match before sealing victory in the fourth set.Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, overcame a slow start to defeat Alexandre Muller of France 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 7-5.In the women's draw, world number two Coco Gauff cruised into the third round with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni. Gauff, who made her Wimbledon breakthrough as a 15-year-old qualifier in 2019, will face British qualifier Sonay Kartal next.Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka returned to Centre Court for the first time in five years, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Diane Parry. Osaka, who is ranked 113th, will face America's Emma Navarro in the third round.In an all-Italian clash, world number one Jannik Sinner will take on former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini. Italian men's tennis has been on the rise, with five players in the top 50 and a Davis Cup victory last season.Chinese tennis could also have a memorable day, with teenager Shang Juncheng facing 10th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov and 32nd seed Zhang Zhizhen taking on Jan-Lennard Struff.

British tennis prodigy Jacob Fearnley has made history by defeating both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in his junior days. Now, he faces the daunting task of taking on seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in the second round.Fearnley's journey to Wimbledon has been unconventional. After graduating from high school, he opted to pursue a college tennis career in the United States at Texas Christian University. There, he helped his team win the national championships and honed his skills on the grass courts.Despite his impressive junior record, Fearnley acknowledges the vast gap between himself and the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner, who have ascended to the top of the ATP rankings. "The strides they've taken in their games have been a lot more than myself," he said.Fearnley's Wimbledon debut was a memorable one. He secured his first Grand Slam match win against Alejandro Moro Canas, showcasing his prowess on grass. Prior to that, he had won a Challenger event in Nottingham, further demonstrating his adaptability to the surface.Now, Fearnley faces the ultimate challenge: defeating Djokovic, who is seeking a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title. The Serb has won 24 Grand Slams and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time."I have no idea," Fearnley admitted when asked how he planned to upset Djokovic. "I've watched so many videos of him. It doesn't look like there's many flaws in his game. I'm going to just try and enjoy it, put my game out on the court and see what happens."Djokovic, for his part, acknowledged his lack of knowledge about Fearnley. "I haven't seen him hit. So I'll have to do my homework," he said.In a separate development, Djokovic began his Wimbledon campaign with a straight-sets victory over Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva. Despite undergoing knee surgery last month, Djokovic displayed impressive movement and did not face a break point throughout the match.

Carlos Alcaraz, the defending Wimbledon men's singles champion, faced a stern test in his opening match against Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal on Monday. Despite being the heavy favorite, Alcaraz was pushed to the limit by the 6-foot-3 Lajal, who made his Grand Slam main-draw debut.Lajal, who was born a week after Alcaraz in May 2003, displayed impressive power and precision throughout the match. His booming serve, which reached speeds of over 130 mph, kept Alcaraz on his toes. Lajal's forehand was also a potent weapon, as he repeatedly outmuscled Alcaraz in groundstroke rallies.Alcaraz, who had played just two matches on grass at Queen's Club before Wimbledon, admitted to feeling nervous before the match. However, he managed to steady himself and eventually overcame Lajal's challenge in three sets, 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-2."I practiced 45 minutes on Thursday, and it's the first time that I was nervous on a practice, just because I'm playing here," Alcaraz said after the match. "I'm glad, and I'm privileged, to play here on this court."Despite the victory, Alcaraz acknowledged Lajal's talent and predicted a bright future for the young Estonian. "He played a really good match," Alcaraz said. "He surprised me a little bit because I didn't see him too much playing, practicing, but I think he has the level to go up a lot."Alcaraz's win sets up a second-round clash with German qualifier Oscar Otte. Otte, who is ranked 152nd in the world, upset 20th seed John Isner in the first round.

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, is determined to be fit for Wimbledon despite a recent knee injury. The Serbian star was spotted practicing at the All England Club on Monday, a week before the main draw begins.Djokovic underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee after withdrawing from the Roland Garros quarterfinals. He has been sharing videos of his progress on social media, and he appeared to be moving well during his practice session.The 37-year-old Djokovic is bidding to win his eighth Wimbledon title, having finished runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in last year's final. Alcaraz, who won the French Open this year for his third major title, was also seen training at Wimbledon.Alcaraz won't have the same preparation as he did a year ago when he lifted the trophy at the Queen's Club. The 21-year-old was ousted by home favorite Jack Draper in the second round of the London-based ATP 500 event.Other notable players spotted at Wimbledon include Jannik Sinner, who recently surpassed Djokovic in the ATP rankings, and Rafael Nadal, who is seeking his third Wimbledon title.Wimbledon qualifying began on Monday at Roehampton, with the main draw set to start on June 27.

The ATP and WTA rankings have undergone significant changes following the conclusion of three grass-court events in Halle, Queen's Club, and Berlin.Carlos Alcaraz's Ranking Drop:Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of retaining his No. 2 ranking were dashed after his second-round exit at Queen's Club. As a result, he has dropped to No. 3, elevating Novak Djokovic to No. 2. This could have major implications for the Wimbledon seedings, with Jannik Sinner and Djokovic potentially becoming the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively.Hubert Hurkacz's Career-High Ranking:Hubert Hurkacz has achieved a new career-high ranking of No. 7 after reaching the final of the Halle ATP 500 event. He becomes the highest-ranked Polish player in ATP history, surpassing his previous best of No. 8.Tommy Paul's American No. 1 Status:Tommy Paul has reclaimed his career-high ranking of No. 12 after winning the Queen's Club title. He has also become the new American men's No. 1, replacing Taylor Fritz.Sebastian Korda's Top 20 Debut:Sebastian Korda has broken into the Top 20, rising to No. 20 after reaching the semifinals of Queen's Club. He is the second U.S. man born in the 2000s to achieve this feat, following Ben Shelton.Anna Kalinskaya's WTA Top 20 Debut:Anna Kalinskaya has made her Top 20 debut on the WTA rankings, jumping to No. 17 after reaching the final of the Berlin WTA 500 event. She has risen almost 100 spots in the last eight months, showcasing her impressive form.Jack Draper and Zhang Zhizhen's Top 30 and Top 40 Debuts:Jack Draper has made his Top 30 debut, rising to No. 29 after reaching the quarterfinals of Queen's Club. Zhang Zhizhen has also achieved a Top 40 debut, rising to No. 33 after reaching the semifinals in Halle and defeating Daniil Medvedev.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champions of the last two Grand Slams, are poised to dominate the tennis landscape for years to come. Their all-court prowess makes them formidable contenders at all four majors, including Wimbledon, where they are the favorites.Alcaraz, the defending Wimbledon champion, is a force to be reckoned with on grass. Sinner, despite losing to Novak Djokovic in the past two years, has also shown impressive form on the surface. However, with Djokovic's absence due to injury, the path is clear for one of these young stars to claim another major title.While Sinner and Alcaraz are the frontrunners, Wimbledon presents opportunities for other players with big serves and powerful baselines. Here are a few betting options to consider:* Matteo Berrettini (14-1): Despite an early exit in Halle, Berrettini has been in excellent form on grass, reaching the final in Stuttgart. His powerful serve and forehand make him a threat on quick surfaces.* Hubert Hurkacz (16-1): Hurkacz's exceptional serve gives him an advantage on grass, where he has a higher winning percentage than on any other surface. His ability to force tiebreakers makes him a potential threat to anyone.* Taylor Fritz (28-1): Fritz's high hold percentage on grass and his ability to win both quick and long rallies make him a contender at Wimbledon.* Sebastian Korda (50-1): Korda's impressive ball-striking and movement make him a dark horse on grass. His recent wins over Karen Khachanov and Grigor Dimitrov at Queen's Club demonstrate his potential.With the absence of Djokovic, Wimbledon 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting tournament with multiple contenders. While Sinner and Alcaraz remain the favorites, the opportunity is ripe for an upset by a player who can harness the power of their serve and baseline game on the grass courts of the All England Club.

Jack Draper, the newly-crowned British No. 1, stunned the tennis world by defeating world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the cinch Championships on Thursday. The 22-year-old Draper, who captured his first ATP title at the BOSS Open in Stuttgart just last week, extended his winning streak to seven matches with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory over the Roland Garros champion.Draper's triumph marks the biggest win of his young career and comes as a major upset, given Alcaraz's impressive form on grass. The Spaniard had won Queen's Club and Wimbledon back-to-back last summer and was looking to build on his unbeaten run on the surface in 2023.However, Draper, who is playing at a career-high ranking of No. 31, proved to be too strong for Alcaraz on this occasion. The Brit, who had defeated former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the BOSS Open final, carried his momentum into Queen's Club and played with confidence and aggression throughout the match.The first set was a tight affair, with both players holding serve comfortably. However, Draper seized the initiative in the tiebreaker, racing through the first four points and ultimately sealing the set 7-3.Draper continued to impress in the second set, earning the match's first break point when Alcaraz served down 2-3. The Brit converted the break point and saved a break point of his own to edge within a game of the upset.Alcaraz fought back bravely, saving a pair of match points down 15-40 and a third as the game sprawled across six deuces. However, Draper remained composed and served out the match to secure a famous victory.Up next for Draper is an opportunity for another upset in No. 5 seed Tommy Paul, who is yet to drop a set at Queen's Club. Draper leads Paul 3-1 in their head-to-head meetings.

Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, has achieved another milestone in his remarkable career. This week marks his 100th consecutive week in the Top 5 of the ATP rankings, a feat he has accomplished since breaking into the elite on July 25th, 2022.Alcaraz's rise to the top has been meteoric. After reaching the final of the Hamburg clay-court event in 2022, he ascended to No. 5 in the rankings. Since then, he has remained in the Top 5, including spending 36 weeks as the world No. 1.Currently ranked No. 2 behind Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz has won three Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces: the US Open in 2022, Wimbledon in 2023, and Roland Garros in 2023. This makes him the youngest man ever to achieve this feat.Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur of Australia has also made significant progress in the rankings. After winning the grass-court event in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, he has risen to a new career-high of No. 7. This makes him the seventh-highest-ranked Australian player in ATP history.Other notable movers in the rankings include Jack Draper of Britain, who won his first ATP title in Stuttgart and climbed from No. 40 to No. 31, and Matteo Berrettini of Italy, who jumped from No. 95 to No. 65 after reaching his second final in three tournaments.On the WTA side, Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic has made her Top 30 debut, rising from No. 31 to No. 30. She recently won her eighth Grand Slam doubles title at Roland Garros alongside American Coco Gauff.

The 2023 French Open witnessed a surge in attendance and viewership, setting new records for the tournament. A staggering 675,080 spectators flocked to Roland Garros, marking a 6.6% increase from the previous year. This influx of fans contributed to an electrifying atmosphere throughout the two-week event.The men's singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev captivated a massive audience. On French national television, the peak viewership reached an impressive 7.34 million, representing an audience share of 40.6%. The match also drew a peak audience of 1.5 million in Poland, where Alcaraz's victory was celebrated as a national triumph.The women's singles final between Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini, while not as widely viewed in France, still garnered significant attention. The match attracted a peak audience of 2.2 million viewers on Eurosport in Germany.Beyond television, the French Open also dominated digital platforms. The tournament's various platforms recorded over 1 billion video views, more than double the number from 2022. The official Roland Garros website received over 83 million page views, demonstrating the tournament's global reach.The French Tennis Federation (FFT) attributed the record-breaking attendance and viewership to several factors, including the return of full capacity crowds after the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of young stars like Alcaraz and Swiatek, and the tournament's continued commitment to innovation and fan engagement.The success of the 2023 French Open underscores the enduring popularity of tennis and the tournament's status as one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar. The FFT's efforts to enhance the fan experience and promote the sport have paid dividends, ensuring that Roland Garros remains a must-see event for tennis enthusiasts worldwide.