Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws from Montreal Masters, Citing FatigueMONTREAL, Canada - Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Montreal, a US Open tuneup tournament, due to fatigue. The announcement comes after Alcaraz reached the semifinals of the Paris Olympics on Thursday.Alcaraz's withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament, which is an ATP Masters 1000 event and one of the most prestigious on the tennis calendar. The Spaniard has been in scintillating form this season, winning two Grand Slams and reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open.In a statement released by the tournament organizers, Alcaraz said, "I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to participate in the National Bank Open this year. Due to the accumulation of matches and fatigue, I have decided to withdraw from the tournament."Alcaraz's withdrawal joins that of Novak Djokovic, who also pulled out of the Montreal event earlier this week. Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam champion, is currently recovering from an abdominal injury.The National Bank Open will still feature a strong field, including Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. However, Alcaraz's absence will undoubtedly be felt, as he is one of the most exciting and talented players in the world.

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, has advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, edging out American Tommy Paul in a thrilling quarterfinal match.The No. 2 seed Alcaraz, who won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June, faced a stern challenge from Paul, seeded ninth, but ultimately prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (7) in just under two hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier.The match was a rematch of their Wimbledon quarterfinal earlier this month, which Alcaraz also won in four sets. However, Paul pushed the Spaniard to the limit in Paris, opening up a 5-2 lead in the second set before Alcaraz rallied to force a tiebreaker.In the tiebreaker, Alcaraz took an early lead and never looked back, winning 7-3 to seal his place in the semifinals."It was a tough match," said Alcaraz. "Tommy played really well, especially in the second set. But I'm happy to have come through and reach the semifinals."Alcaraz will now face either No. 6 seed Casper Ruud or No. 13 seed Félix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals. Ruud and Auger-Aliassime are scheduled to play their quarterfinal match later on Thursday.If Alcaraz wins his semifinal match, he will advance to the gold medal match, where he will have a chance to become the first Spanish man to win an Olympic gold medal in tennis since Rafael Nadal in 2008.

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz's Olympic dream came to an abrupt end on Wednesday as they were defeated by American duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the men's doubles quarterfinals. The Spanish pair, dubbed "Nadalcaraz," had captivated the crowds in Paris with their impressive performances in their first two matches. However, they were unable to overcome the doubles specialists Krajicek and Ram, who progressed to the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, was broken in the opening game of the match on Court Philippe Chatrier. Alcaraz also lost his serve, allowing the US pair to take the first set. The Spaniards suffered another costly break in the seventh game of the second set, which proved decisive. Despite battling valiantly in the 10th game, they failed to convert three break points, and Krajicek and Ram sealed the victory on their second match point.Nadal's defeat in the doubles competition follows his painful loss to Novak Djokovic in the singles competition. The 38-year-old, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, has hinted that he may make a decision on his future after the Olympics. Alcaraz, on the other hand, remains in contention for a medal in the men's singles competition, where he will face US ninth seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.The defeat of Nadal and Alcaraz marks the end of a memorable Olympic campaign for the Spanish duo. They have showcased their exceptional talent and determination throughout the tournament, but they were ultimately unable to overcome the experience and skill of Krajicek and Ram.

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.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world number three from Spain, has advanced to the last 16 of the Olympic singles tennis tournament after defeating Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-1, 7-6 (7/3). Alcaraz, who is aiming for a gold medal to add to his four Grand Slam titles, will face Roman Safiullin in the men's singles round 3 match.Alcaraz, who had been struggling with a leg injury, shrugged off the discomfort to secure his place in the third round. The Spaniard displayed his trademark aggressive style, dominating the first set with powerful groundstrokes and precise serves. In the second set, Griekspoor put up a stronger fight, but Alcaraz remained composed and ultimately prevailed in the tiebreaker.After the match, Alcaraz expressed his determination to be fully fit for his doubles match with Rafael Nadal. "I'm going to fight to be 100 percent for doubles with Rafa," he said. "It's a great opportunity for us to play together and try to win a medal for Spain."The Carlos Alcaraz vs Roman Safiullin Olympics Men's Singles Third Round match will be played on Wednesday, July 31 (IST) at Roland-Garros - Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The match is scheduled to start at around 6:00 PM IST and will be telecast live in India on Sports 18. It will also be streamed live on the Jio Cinema app.

Rafael Nadal's Olympic dream remains alive after he and teammate Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the men's doubles quarter-finals. The Spanish duo defeated Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof in a thrilling match tie-break. Nadal, who was eliminated from the singles competition by Novak Djokovic, expressed his enjoyment playing alongside Alcaraz.Andy Murray, in the final tournament of his career, once again displayed his resilience in doubles alongside Dan Evans. They saved match points for the second consecutive round, defeating Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. Murray admitted to shedding "happy tears" after the emotional victory.In the women's draw, Coco Gauff's Olympic journey ended in disappointment. She was defeated by Donna Vekic in a match marred by a heated argument with the umpire. Gauff accused the official of unfairness, claiming her shot was compromised by an incorrect call.Top seed Iga Swiatek continued her impressive form, extending her winning streak on clay to 24 matches. She defeated Wang Xiyu in straight sets and will face Danielle Collins in the next round. Other notable winners included Angelique Kerber, Barbora Krejcikova, and Zheng Qinwen.With temperatures soaring, officials implemented a heat protocol, allowing a 10-minute break between the second and third sets. Nadal, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, said he will make a decision on his future after the Paris Games.

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, the formidable Spanish duo, have stormed into the quarterfinals of the men's doubles event at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Their impressive victory over Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 10-2, has set the stage for a potential medal-winning performance.The highly anticipated pairing of Alcaraz, the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, and Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, has lived up to expectations. Their chemistry on the court has been evident, with Alcaraz's youthful exuberance complementing Nadal's experience and tactical brilliance.In their second-round encounter, the Spaniards faced a stern test against Griekspoor and Koolhof, a former Wimbledon champion. The first set was a tight affair, with both teams holding serve until Alcaraz and Nadal broke through in the tenth game.The second set was a different story, as both teams traded breaks and held serve with ease. The set eventually went to a tiebreak, where Griekspoor and Koolhof dominated, winning 7-2.Undeterred, Alcaraz and Nadal regrouped and dominated the deciding 10-point tiebreaker. They raced to an 8-1 lead, with Alcaraz's powerful forehand proving too much for their opponents.Their victory sets up a mouthwatering quarterfinal clash against No. 4 seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, who have both won men's doubles major titles in recent years. The Spaniards will need to be at their best to overcome this formidable challenge and continue their quest for an Olympic medal.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world number three from Spain, has advanced to the last 16 of the Olympic singles tennis tournament despite battling a groin injury. Alcaraz defeated Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) on Monday, keeping his hopes alive for a gold medal to add to his four Grand Slam titles.Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, required medical attention on his right leg late in the second set and had to save a set point. However, he recovered to secure the victory and will now face Roman Safiullin of Russia in the next round."It's a pain that I've been dealing with the last tournaments so I know what I have to do," Alcaraz said of his injury. "It's normal for a tennis player as this game is so demanding. I will try to recover and be ready and at 100 percent in the doubles."Alcaraz is also scheduled to team up with Rafael Nadal in the doubles competition on Tuesday, where they will face Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof. Nadal, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the singles tournament, is seeking his second Olympic doubles gold medal after winning in Rio in 2016."When Djokovic is playing at this level it's really, really difficult to play against him," Alcaraz said of Nadal's defeat. "He was really aggressive, made no mistakes, moving very, very well. I saw Rafa playing let's say not his best tennis for sure. But when Djokovic is like this, he was the better one."Griekspoor, who has lost all three of his meetings with Alcaraz, expressed skepticism about the severity of the Spaniard's injury. "I didn't see any problems with him," said the Dutchman. "He went for every shot in the tiebreak. It's not like he fell down or twisted his ankle and that he couldn't walk anymore. For me, he was still all over the place."Despite the injury concerns, Alcaraz remains determined to compete at his best in both singles and doubles. He will be hoping to emulate his success at the Grand Slams and add an Olympic gold medal to his impressive resume.

The Olympic Games in Paris commenced with a flurry of action, despite the inclement weather. Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek emerged victorious in their opening singles matches, while Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz made their highly anticipated doubles debut.However, Nadal downplayed the hype surrounding a potential second-round clash with Djokovic. The prospect of a match-up between the two clay-court legends had ignited excitement among tennis enthusiasts. Djokovic himself described it as a "spectacle" and a "last dance."Nadal, however, remained cautious. He dismissed the notion of it being his final encounter with Djokovic, emphasizing that he still had to navigate his first-round match against Marton Fucsovics. Concerns had been raised about Nadal's participation in singles due to an injury setback, but he appeared to be in good spirits during his doubles match with Alcaraz.Nadal also expressed frustration with the scheduling of his singles match, which was set for 2:00 p.m. on Court Philippe Chatrier. "It's outrageous to me," he said.Despite the scheduling hiccup, Nadal acknowledged the significance of his participation in the Opening Ceremony. He received the Olympic torch from French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane and passed it on to Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci, and Carl Lewis."Yesterday was a super emotional moment for me," Nadal said. "I'm still with the emotions very high. I'm just enjoying every single moment and let's see what's gonna happen."While the potential Djokovic-Nadal clash may not materialize, it is likely that this will be Nadal's last Olympic appearance. The 38-year-old Spaniard expressed his gratitude for the honor of carrying the Olympic torch and his excitement for the tournament ahead.