Tennis

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray has announced that he will not compete in the singles competition at the upcoming Paris Games, prioritizing the doubles event instead. This decision marks the final tournament of his illustrious career before retirement.Murray, 37, underwent surgery to remove a spinal cyst in late June, which forced him to skip the singles at Wimbledon this month. Despite initially entering both singles and doubles in Paris alongside Dan Evans, he has opted to focus solely on the doubles event."I've taken the decision to withdraw from the singles to concentrate on the doubles with Dan," Murray said in a statement. "Our practice has been great and we're playing well together. Really looking forward to getting started and representing Britain one more time."Murray's decision stems from his desire to maximize his chances of success in the doubles event. He has a proven track record in doubles, having won the mixed doubles silver medal at the London Olympics in 2012 alongside Laura Robson.The Scot's retirement announcement in June sent shockwaves through the tennis world. He has been a dominant force in the sport for over a decade, winning three Grand Slam titles and reaching the world number one ranking. However, persistent injuries have taken their toll, leading to his decision to step away from the game.Murray's legacy as one of the greatest British tennis players of all time is secure. His Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, as well as his Wimbledon title in 2013, will forever be etched in the annals of sporting history.

Henry Patten, a former data logger for Wimbledon, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the men's doubles title at the prestigious tournament alongside Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara. The unseeded duo overcame three championship points in the second set to triumph 6-7(7), 7-6(8), 7-6(9) over Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.Patten's journey to Wimbledon glory has been unconventional. As a college tennis player at UNC Asheville, he excelled in doubles, becoming the No. 1 player in the NCAA. However, he never made it to Centre Court as a data logger for IBM.Heliovaara's story is equally inspiring. After retiring from tennis in 2013, he worked full-time at the Helsinki airport and in management. He made a comeback in 2017 and has since found success with Patten.The pair's triumph marks the third time a British man has won the Wimbledon doubles title in the Open Era. Patten joins Neal Skupski and Jonathan Marray as champions.Patten's victory is a testament to his determination and the power of perseverance. Despite not being considered a favorite, he and Heliovaara played with heart and resilience to achieve their dream.The duo's success has also highlighted the importance of teamwork and chemistry. Patten and Heliovaara have quickly developed a strong partnership, winning 29 of the 33 matches they've played together.Their victory is a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and belief. Patten, who once logged points from the outside courts, has now etched his name into Wimbledon history as a champion.

In a remarkable Wimbledon triumph, Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, a British-Finnish duo who had only teamed up in April, defied the odds to claim the men's doubles crown. Their victory marked a stunning achievement for two players who had previously struggled to find success in the sport.Patten, 28, had never won a main draw match at Wimbledon before this tournament. His previous experience at the All England Club was limited to collecting statistics as an IBM employee in 2016 and 2017. "My first job at Wimbledon was doing the stats for IBM, which I guess got me familiar with the grounds," Patten said. "It might have given me some advantage."Heliovaara, 35, had won the 2023 US Open mixed doubles title, but he had given up playing singles over a decade ago after failing to make a breakthrough. He then held various jobs, including at the Finnish tennis federation and the Helsinki airport, before a trip to Wimbledon as a tourist rekindled his passion for the game. "I stopped playing when I was 23," he said. "I won one match in singles qualification at Wimbledon and I am very proud of that."The Patten-Heliovaara partnership proved to be a formidable force at Wimbledon. They dumped out three top-10 seeds en route to the final, including the top-seeded pair of Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski. In the championship match, they faced the accomplished Australian duo of Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, the 15th seeds.The final was a nail-biting affair, with both teams trading blows. Patten and Heliovaara eventually prevailed in a thrilling three-set battle, winning 6-7(7), 7-6(8), 7-6(9). They saved three championship points against Purcell and Thompson, showcasing their resilience and determination.Their victory is a testament to the power of perseverance and the unexpected paths that can lead to sporting glory. Patten and Heliovaara's triumph serves as an inspiration to all those who dare to dream big, regardless of their past experiences or perceived limitations.

Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden suffered a disappointing exit from the Wimbledon men's doubles tournament in the second round. The second-seeded duo fell to unseeded German pair Hendrick Jebens and Constantin Frantzen in straight sets, 3-6, 6-7 (4), on Saturday in London.The match began with Bopanna and Ebden conceding a break in the first set, which proved costly as Jebens and Frantzen held on to their advantage to take the set 6-3. The second set was a more closely contested affair, with both teams holding serve until the tie-breaker.However, the German duo seized control in the tie-breaker, racing out to a 4-1 lead. Bopanna and Ebden were unable to recover, and Jebens and Frantzen sealed the victory with a 7-4 win in the tie-breaker.The match was briefly suspended due to rain when the second set was level at five games. Upon resumption, the momentum shifted in favor of the German pair, who capitalized on their strong serve and aggressive play.Bopanna and Ebden, who won the Australian Open doubles title earlier this year, were hoping to make a deep run at Wimbledon. However, their hopes were dashed by the unseeded German duo, who played with impressive consistency and determination.

India's Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have advanced to the second round of the Wimbledon men's doubles event with a comfortable victory over Robin Haas and Sander Arends. The Indo-Australian duo cruised past their Dutch opponents 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 11 minutes in a rain-interrupted match on July 3.Bopanna and Ebden, the second seeds and reigning Australian Open champions, will face Germany's Hendrik Jebens and Constantin Frantzen in the second round. The pair reached the semifinals of the season's third Grand Slam last year.Meanwhile, India's Sumit Nagal and his Serbian partner Dusan Lajovic were eliminated in the first round by Spaniards Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar. Martinez and Munar won 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and seven minutes.India will have further representation in the men's doubles first round through N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri on July 4. Balaji will partner Britain's Luke Johnson and face fourth seeds Mate Pavic of Serbia and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador. Bhambri and France's Albano Olivetti will take on the Kazakh duo of Alexander Bublik and Alexander Shevchenko.

Halle Open: Sinner and Hurkacz Triumph from Match Point Down in DoublesIn the picturesque city of Halle, Germany, the dynamic duo of Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz have once again joined forces on the doubles court, this time at the Terra Wortmann Open. The pair, who have enjoyed previous success together on various surfaces, achieved a remarkable feat on Wednesday: winning a match from match point down.Facing the formidable third seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow, Hurkacz and Sinner displayed unwavering determination and resilience. The match commenced with a competitive first set, which the European duo secured 6-4. However, the Americans fought back in the second set, claiming it 7-5.As the match entered a tense super tiebreak, the tension was palpable. Lammons and Withrow held a match point at 9-8, but Sinner and Hurkacz refused to yield. With nerves of steel, they rallied back to win the tiebreak 11-9, securing a hard-fought victory.This triumph marks a significant milestone for Sinner and Hurkacz, as it is the first time they have won a match from match point down as a doubles pair. Their victory is a testament to their exceptional skills, teamwork, and unwavering belief in each other.

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden displayed resilience and determination to overcome a spirited challenge from N Sriram Balaji and MA Reyes-Varela Martinez in the French Open men's doubles third round. The second-seeded Indo-Australian duo rallied from a one-set deficit to secure a hard-fought 6-7(2) 6-3 7-6 (10-8) victory on Monday.The opening set was a closely contested affair, with both pairs holding serve comfortably. However, Balaji and Reyes-Varela seized the initiative in the tie-break, racing to a 4-1 lead. Despite Bopanna and Ebden's efforts, the unseeded pair converted their first set point with a wide serve.Undeterred, Bopanna and Ebden regrouped in the second set. They broke Balaji's serve early on and maintained their advantage throughout, forcing a third set. The deciding set was a tense battle, with neither pair able to gain a decisive edge.As the set progressed, the games were held at love, highlighting the intensity of the competition. Ebden faced pressure serving at 5-6 but delivered under duress. The Super Tie-breaker was equally gripping, with the pairs locked at 6-6.However, Balaji's double fault at 7-8 handed Bopanna and Ebden two match points. They saved the first when Ebden's overhead smash went into the net, but the Australian found a winner on the next to seal the victory.Bopanna, who is yet to finalize his partner for the Paris Games, will have been impressed by Balaji's performance. The seasoned Coorgi is only the third Indian to win Grand Slam titles and has the choice to select his partner for the Games.

Second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden faced a stern test in their French Open opener, overcoming a spirited challenge from Brazilian duo Orlnado Luz and Marcelo Zormann in a thrilling three-set encounter.The Brazilians, who entered the tournament as eighth alternates, proved to be formidable opponents, pushing the Australian Open champions to the limit. The first set was a see-saw battle, with both teams trading breaks. Bopanna and Ebden eventually prevailed 7-5, but not without a fight from Luz and Zormann.The second set saw the Brazilians seize the initiative, breaking Ebden's serve in the opening game. However, the second seeds responded with a break of their own, and the set remained on serve until the eighth game. Luz and Zormann had four set points to level the match, but Bopanna and Ebden held firm to break back and take the set 6-4.The third set was equally competitive, with both teams holding serve until the fifth game. Bopanna and Ebden finally broke through, and they held on to their advantage to close out the match 6-4.Despite the Brazilians' valiant effort, the experience of Bopanna and Ebden proved decisive. The second seeds showed their class in the crucial moments, shifting momentum in their favor when it mattered most.

Rohan Bopanna, the world's fourth-ranked doubles player, is eagerly anticipating the upcoming French Open. The tournament holds special significance for him as it will be played at Roland-Garros, the venue for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Bopanna, who will be competing in the men's doubles category, is determined to make a strong showing.Despite a subpar clay-court season so far, Bopanna remains optimistic. He believes that the last three Grand Slams, where he reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, the final at the US Open, and won the Australian Open, have instilled confidence in him and his partner, Matthew Ebden.Bopanna acknowledges that clay is not their strongest surface, but he and Ebden are adapting and enjoying the challenge. They are confident in their abilities, having won a Grand Slam on clay (French Open 2017, mixed doubles) and Masters 1000s at Madrid (2015) and Monte Carlo (2017).The upcoming French Open will also mark a milestone for Indian tennis. For the second consecutive Slam, India will have representation in both doubles and singles, with Sumit Nagal qualifying directly into the main draw. Bopanna believes this is a significant boost for the sport in India.