Tennis

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev overcame early challenges to advance to the third round, while eighth seed Casper Ruud suffered a disappointing exit on a rain-affected Wednesday.Alcaraz faced a stern test from Australian Aleksandar Vukic, narrowly escaping a first-set loss before finding his rhythm to secure a 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2 victory. The Spaniard expressed confidence in rediscovering the form that propelled him to the title last year.Medvedev also encountered difficulties against Alexandre Muller, ranked 102nd in the world. The Russian struggled on Centre Court but eventually prevailed 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5.Second seed Coco Gauff displayed signs of improvement despite a shaky start against Anca Todoni. The American acknowledged the need to minimize errors after winning 6-2 6-1.Wild card Emma Raducanu showcased her dominance with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Elise Mertens. However, former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon journey ended with a 6-4 6-1 defeat to American Emma Navarro.Rain disrupted play on the outer courts, leading to the early elimination of Ruud. The Italian Fabio Fognini upset the Norwegian 6-4 7-5 6-7(1) 6-3. Ruud expressed disappointment but acknowledged his limitations on grass courts.Later in the day, world number one Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini will face off in a highly anticipated Centre Court clash.

Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old American tennis sensation, has stormed into the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships with an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 victory over Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni.Gauff, seeded second in the tournament, has been in imperious form at the All England Club, losing just six games in her first two matches. Against Todoni, she showcased her dominance, breaking her opponent's serve five times and hitting 13 winners.Todoni, ranked outside the Top 800 at the start of 2023, had enjoyed a remarkable run to reach the second round, but she was no match for Gauff's power and precision. The Romanian struggled to find her rhythm, committing 23 unforced errors and failing to convert any of the two break points she earned.Gauff's victory marks a significant milestone in her career. A year ago, she suffered a heartbreaking first-round loss at Wimbledon, but that setback proved to be a catalyst for her subsequent success. She went on to win her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open and has since established herself as one of the most promising players in the world.In the third round, Gauff will face either France's Clara Burel or British qualifier Sonay Kartal. Burel, ranked 100th in the world, has been in impressive form this season, while Kartal has thrilled the home crowd with her victory over No. 29 seed Sorana Cirstea.Gauff will be the heavy favorite against either opponent, but she will be wary of complacency. She knows that the road to the Wimbledon title is long and arduous, and she will need to maintain her focus and intensity if she wants to challenge for her second Grand Slam crown.

Coco Gauff, the rising American tennis star, will face fellow American Caroline Dolehide in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday. Gauff, now seeded No. 2, is looking to make a deep run in the tournament after reaching the semifinals or better in the last three majors. Dolehide, ranked 51st, has never won a main-draw match at Wimbledon but has a strong game suited for grass.Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1, will also be in action on Monday, taking on Frenchwoman Diane Parry. Osaka, who has never made grass a priority, has been working with her coach to improve her game on the surface. Parry, ranked 53rd, has good grass instincts and could pose a challenge for Osaka.On the men's side, Italian Matteo Berrettini will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in a first-round clash. Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist, will be looking to make a strong start to his campaign. Fucsovics, ranked 69th, has a 1-0 record against Berrettini and could provide a stern test.

Jessica Pegula's return to form has been nothing short of remarkable. After missing the European clay-court season due to a rib injury, the American has stormed into the final of the WTA 500-level grass-court event in Berlin. Her victory over Coco Gauff in the semifinals marked a significant milestone in her career.Pegula's triumph in Berlin is her first final of the year, a testament to her resilience and determination. Her last final appearance came at the WTA Finals in 2022, where she finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek. Notably, this is also Pegula's first grass-court final, a surface on which she has previously struggled.Moreover, Pegula's victory over Gauff was her 20th Top 10 win of her career, a remarkable achievement. All of her Top 10 wins have come in the last three-and-a-half years, highlighting her rapid ascent in the tennis world. In fact, she has won eight of her last nine matches against Top 10 players, a testament to her newfound dominance.Pegula's semifinal clash with Gauff was a thrilling affair that spanned two days. Pegula drew first blood in the first set, but Gauff fought back to level the score. However, Pegula's resilience shone through as she broke Gauff again and served out the set.In the second set, Gauff took an early lead, but Pegula refused to be deterred. She broke back and pushed the set to a tie-break. Play was suspended due to rain, but Pegula returned on Sunday to win four of the last five points and seal the victory.Pegula's success in Berlin is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has overcome injury and adversity to reach the pinnacle of her sport. Her victory over Gauff is a statement of intent, and she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Wimbledon Championships.

The 2024 US Open is still a distant prospect, but the betting world is already buzzing with anticipation. While Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are the current favorites, there are several other players who could emerge as contenders.Coco Gauff (+500)Gauff's game is not ideally suited for the slick grass of Wimbledon, so a disappointing performance there could make her odds for the US Open more attractive. Despite her struggles against Swiatek, Gauff remains a formidable opponent, especially with the home crowd behind her.Danielle Collins (14-1)Collins has enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, winning the Miami Open and reaching the second round at Roland Garros. Her powerful game is well-suited for hard courts, and she could be a threat to the top seeds. However, she will need to avoid facing Swiatek or Sabalenka in the early rounds.Madison Keys (25-1)Keys has a proven track record at the US Open, reaching the semifinals in 2023. Her serve, return, and baseline power make her a dangerous opponent on hard courts. With a potential run at Wimbledon, her odds could improve even further.Marta Kostyuk (66-1)Kostyuk has had a solid season in 2024, reaching two finals and making deep runs at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Despite her high hard-court Elo rating, she is ranked below many other players in the odds. This could present a value opportunity for bettors willing to take a chance on her.Other ContendersIn addition to the players mentioned above, several other players could make a run at the 2024 US Open title. These include Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, and Elena Rybakina. The tournament is still months away, and injuries or other factors could impact the odds. However, these players are all worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.

Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old American tennis sensation, will lead the U.S. team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Gauff, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will be joined by a formidable team of Jessica Pegula (No. 5), Danielle Collins, and Emma Navarro in women's singles. The men's team will feature Taylor Fritz (No. 12), Tommy Paul (No. 13), Chris Eubanks, and Marcos Giron.Gauff, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a COVID-19 infection, is a rising star in the tennis world. She is the reigning U.S. Open champion and has reached the semifinals at the Australian and French Opens this year. Gauff is also a formidable doubles player, having won the French Open doubles title with Pegula this month.Pegula, a 30-year-old veteran, is returning to action after a neck injury that forced her to miss the French Open. She was a singles quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in 2022. Collins, a 29-year-old who has announced this will be her final season on the tour, has won two titles this year and reached the final of the Australian Open in 2022.The U.S. team also includes six first-time Olympians, including Navarro, who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros this year. In the men's competition, Fritz is the highest-ranked American, followed by Paul, Eubanks, and Giron. Paul and Giron competed at the Tokyo Games.The U.S. will also send 40-year-old Rajeev Ram to his third Olympics. Ram, who has four major doubles titles, will be paired with Austin Krajicek in Paris. Fritz and Paul will also join forces in doubles. The USTA will announce one mixed doubles team for Paris at a later date.The American team will be looking to improve on its performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where it won one gold medal in mixed doubles. The U.S. has a strong history in tennis at the Olympics, having won 21 gold medals in singles and doubles combined.

Coco Gauff, the world's No. 2 tennis player, made a triumphant return to the grass courts at the ecotrans Ladies Open, overcoming a formidable opponent in Ekaterina Alexandrova. The match, which lasted 80 minutes, saw Gauff navigate a tense first-set tiebreaker before ultimately securing a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory.Gauff, who had not played since reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros, faced a stern test against Alexandrova, a player known for her prowess on grass. The Russian had won two of her four titles on the surface and had previously defeated Gauff at the same tournament a year ago.Despite the challenge, Gauff displayed her resilience and determination. She saved three set points in the first-set tiebreaker, showcasing her mental fortitude and ability to perform under pressure. The American's powerful serve and all-court game proved too much for Alexandrova, as she broke twice in the second set to seal the victory.Gauff's victory marks a significant step in her quest to conquer the grass courts. While she has achieved remarkable success on hard courts and clay, grass has been her least successful surface. However, her performance at the ecotrans Ladies Open suggests that she is making strides in adapting to the unique demands of the surface.In the quarterfinals, Gauff will face the winner of the match between Linda Noskova and Ons Jabeur, the No. 8 seed and two-time Wimbledon finalist. The American will be eager to continue her winning streak and prove that she is a force to be reckoned with on all surfaces.

Jasmine Paolini's remarkable Roland Garros campaign continues as she sets her sights on both the women's singles and doubles titles. The Italian, who reached the singles semifinals, has teamed up with Sara Errani to storm into the doubles final.Errani, a veteran of Grand Slam doubles success, is seeking her first major title in nearly a decade. She and former partner Roberta Vinci triumphed at Wimbledon in 2014 and reached the Roland Garros final three times between 2012 and 2014.Coco Gauff, who saw her singles hopes dashed by Iga Swiatek, has also found success in doubles. Partnering with Katerina Siniakova, the American has overcome adversity to reach the final.Siniakova, a two-time Roland Garros doubles champion with Barbora Krejcikova, is aiming to add to her Grand Slam tally. Gauff, on the other hand, is looking to break her streak of losing in major doubles finals.The doubles final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two experienced teams and two rising stars. Paolini and Errani will rely on their momentum and home-court advantage, while Gauff and Siniakova will look to their chemistry and Siniakova's Grand Slam pedigree.

Coco Gauff's French Open semifinal loss to Iga Swiatek was marred by a controversial line call that left the American fuming and calling for the implementation of video replay technology in tennis.During the second set, Swiatek hit a serve that was initially called out. However, as Gauff swung to return the ball, the call was reversed to "In," awarding the point to Swiatek. Gauff vehemently disagreed, claiming that she was affected by the original "Out" call and should have been allowed to finish her swing.Chair umpire Aurélie Tourte dismissed Gauff's protest, stating that the call did not affect her shot. This prompted an outburst from Gauff, who accused Tourte of being wrong and "should be ashamed."The incident highlighted the ongoing debate over the use of video replay in tennis. Gauff argued that it is "almost ridiculous" that the sport does not have such technology, especially considering its prevalence in other sports. She pointed out that the U.S. Open introduced replays for certain calls last year, and that tennis needs to "evolve" and embrace technology.Swiatek agreed with the principle of using replays but expressed concerns about its logistical implementation. She questioned when players would be allowed to request replays and whether it would be up to the umpire's discretion.The controversy underscores the need for a more consistent and fair system of officiating in tennis. While human error is inevitable, the use of video replay could help minimize incorrect calls and ensure that players are not penalized for decisions that are beyond their control.As the sport continues to grow and evolve, it is imperative that tennis adopts modern technology to enhance the fairness and integrity of its competitions. The implementation of video replay would not only benefit players but also improve the overall fan experience by providing greater clarity and transparency.