Tennis

Elise Mertens, the Belgian tennis star, has received a special gift from Roland Garros tournament director Amélie Mauresmo ahead of her 10th main-draw appearance at the tournament. The gift, a swan-themed token, symbolizes Mertens' grace and dedication on the court.The note accompanying the gift reads, "The swan, with its grace and timeless elegance, mirrors the spirit of tennis itself, where every movement on the court is a dance of finesse and determination." It also honors Mertens' unwavering dedication and her indelible mark on the courts of Roland Garros.Mertens, who made her debut at the clay-court major in 2016, has 17 career main-draw wins in Paris. It's her second-most successful major after the Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals in her main-draw debut in 2018. She has never lost before the third round at Roland Garros.The 28-year-old Mertens, seeded No. 25 at this year's Roland Garros, opens her tournament against Argentina's Maria Lourdes Carle on Tuesday. She could be the projected third-round opponent for No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina. She and Hsieh Su-wei are also the No. 1 seeds in doubles.Mertens' gift from Roland Garros is a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. It's a reminder that even the smallest gestures can make a big impact on the lives of athletes.

Emma Navarro, the rising American star, stunned second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open, marking the biggest victory of her young career. Navarro's aggressive returns and improved service games proved decisive in the third set, as she broke Sabalenka twice to seal the match.The 22-year-old Navarro has enjoyed a remarkable season, boasting an impressive 18-5 record and leading the WTA Tour in victories. Her triumph over Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, is a testament to her growing confidence and ability to compete against the world's best.Meanwhile, Coco Gauff celebrated her 20th birthday with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Elise Mertens, reaching the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year in Indian Wells. Gauff's aggressive play and deep court positioning overwhelmed Mertens, who had previously upset Naomi Osaka.On the men's side, fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev overcame Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4, while ninth-seeded Casper Ruud rallied to defeat Gael Monfils 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Tommy Paul continued his impressive run by eliminating Luca Nardi, who had stunned Novak Djokovic in the previous round.