Tennis

Emma Raducanu's resurgence continues as she storms into the third round of Wimbledon with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over former Top 15 player Elise Mertens. This marks a significant milestone for the 21-year-old Brit, as it is the first time she has reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since her historic US Open triumph in 2021.Raducanu's recent form has been impressive, with the young star showing signs of returning to her best. After a string of disappointing results in the early part of the season, she has now won four consecutive matches at Wimbledon, including a hard-fought victory over Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round.Against Mertens, Raducanu displayed her trademark aggressive style of play, hitting powerful groundstrokes and serving with precision. She broke Mertens' serve four times in the match, while only dropping her own serve once. The Brit's movement was also impressive, as she covered the court with ease and chased down every ball.Raducanu's victory is a testament to her hard work and determination. After a challenging period, she has shown that she still has the potential to be a force in women's tennis. Her performance at Wimbledon so far has been a welcome sight for her fans and has raised hopes that she can make a deep run in the tournament.Up next for Raducanu in the third round will be the winner of the match between No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari and Arantxa Rus. Sakkari is a former world No. 3 and a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, while Rus is a former world No. 61 and a two-time WTA Tour champion. Raducanu will need to be at her best to overcome either opponent and continue her Wimbledon journey.

Despite withdrawing from the men's singles event at Wimbledon, Andy Murray will still grace the All England Club for two events. The former world No. 1 will team up with Emma Raducanu in mixed doubles, while also partnering with his brother Jamie in men's doubles.Murray's withdrawal from singles due to a recent back surgery cast a shadow over what was expected to be his final Wimbledon appearance as a competitor. However, his participation in doubles offers a glimmer of hope for fans eager to witness his brilliance on the court.Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has never played in either women's or mixed doubles at a Grand Slam. However, she expressed admiration for Murray's professionalism and work ethic, which she believes will benefit her in their partnership.The mixed doubles event at Wimbledon begins on Friday, and the pairing of Murray and Raducanu has already sparked excitement among tennis enthusiasts. The duo's combined experience and star power could make them a formidable force in the tournament.Murray's previous mixed doubles partnership with Serena Williams in 2019 captivated crowds at Wimbledon. The pair reached the third round, showcasing Murray's versatility and ability to adapt to different formats.Raducanu's inclusion in the mixed doubles draw is a testament to her growing stature in the sport. The 21-year-old Brit has quickly established herself as one of the most promising young players on the WTA Tour.The Murray-Raducanu partnership has the potential to be a memorable moment in Wimbledon history. The combination of Murray's experience and Raducanu's youthful exuberance could create a formidable team capable of challenging for the title.

Emma Raducanu, the reigning US Open champion, made a triumphant return to Wimbledon with a hard-fought 7-6(0), 6-3 victory over Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazua. Despite some early nerves, Raducanu drew inspiration from England's dramatic victory over Slovakia in the European Championships and the teachings of renowned tennis coach Brad Gilbert.Raducanu's victory was not without its challenges. She was originally scheduled to face No. 22 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, but the Russian withdrew due to illness just hours before the match. This forced Raducanu to adjust her game plan against Zarazua, a defensive-minded player with a penchant for changing the pace and speed of the ball.Raducanu struggled to find her rhythm early on, losing a 4-1 lead in the first set and trailing 5-4 at one point. However, she remained composed and eventually took the set in a tiebreaker. In the second set, Raducanu broke Zarazua's serve twice to secure the victory.After the match, Raducanu acknowledged her nerves but praised her ability to "do what it takes to get over the line." She also credited the support of the crowd and the inspiration she drew from England's football team."Watching the football last night ... it was like winning ugly. It all counts!" Raducanu said.Raducanu also cited Brad Gilbert's book "Winning Ugly" as a source of motivation. She explained that the book's emphasis on managing the opponent and the circumstances resonated with her, especially in the opening round of a Grand Slam."I think it was a real show of character for me," Raducanu said.Raducanu will next face Elise Mertens in the second round, aiming to advance to the third round of a major for the first time since her US Open triumph.

Emma Raducanu's journey to her maiden Top 10 victory at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne was a testament to her resilience and determination. Facing the formidable Jessica Pegula, the 2021 US Open champion displayed unwavering resolve, battling through a rollercoaster match to emerge victorious.Raducanu's path to the quarterfinals was paved with challenges. She faced a match point in the second set tie-break, but summoned her inner strength to win three consecutive points and force a decider. The final set was a grueling affair, with Raducanu serving for the contest three times. Despite facing four break points in the final game, she held her nerve to seal the victory after a marathon two hours and 44 minutes."It's incredibly difficult when you're playing someone who's so in form like Jessica," Raducanu acknowledged. "I'm really pleased with how I managed to navigate against really tough situations. I didn't think, to be honest, that I'd be able to get myself out of it."Raducanu's victory over Pegula marked her second consecutive win against an American opponent, following her triumph over Sloane Stephens. She now faces Daria Kasatkina in the semifinals, who also rallied from a set down to defeat Yuan Yue.Meanwhile, Katie Boulter continued her impressive grass-court form by upsetting Jelena Ostapenko. The Nottingham champion converted five of 18 break points to eliminate the 2021 champion. Boulter will face Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals, who retired Elise Mertens due to a hip injury.Karolina Muchova, returning from right wrist surgery, eased past Magda Linette to set up a clash with reigning title holder Madison Keys. The fourth seed defeated Anhelina Kalinina in straight sets.Wild card Harriet Dart overcame Sofia Kenin to reach the quarterfinals, where she will face Leylah Fernandez. The left-hander rolled past Ashlyn Krueger in straight sets.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, continued her impressive start to the grass-court season with a dominant 6-4, 6-0 victory over Sloane Stephens at the Rothesay International Eastbourne.Raducanu, who received a wild card into the tournament, displayed her exceptional form, winning the final nine games of the match to secure a second-round clash against No. 2 seed Jessica Pegula.The 21-year-old Brit started the match cautiously, with Stephens, a former world No. 3, proving to be a formidable opponent. Stephens broke Raducanu's serve to take a 4-3 lead in the first set.However, Raducanu's resilience shone through as she fought back to win the first set 6-4. From that point on, she dominated the match, not dropping a single game.Raducanu's performance was characterized by her aggressive play and impressive shot-making. She hit 24 winners to Stephens' 11, while keeping her unforced errors to a minimum (13 compared to Stephens' 15).The victory marks Raducanu's second win over Stephens, having previously defeated the American in three sets at the 2022 Australian Open.Raducanu's success at Eastbourne comes after a semifinal finish in Nottingham, where she narrowly lost to Katie Boulter. She opted to skip Roland Garros to focus on preparing for the grass- and hard-court seasons, a decision that appears to have paid off.In the next round, Raducanu will face Pegula, who is also enjoying a strong comeback after winning the title in Berlin. The match promises to be an exciting clash between two of the most promising players on the WTA Tour.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has declined the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The decision comes as Raducanu continues to recover from wrist and ankle surgeries.Raducanu's current world ranking is too low to qualify outright for the Olympics, and she was offered one of two International Tennis Federation (ITF) places reserved for former Grand Slam champions. However, she has opted to prioritize her fitness and prepare for the British grass-court season.Iain Bates, head of Great Britain's Olympic tennis team, expressed understanding of Raducanu's decision. "I think she feels this isn't going to be the right timing for her for this summer," Bates said. "She's hopefully got many Olympics ahead of her."Meanwhile, two-time Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray is set to compete in what could be his final tournament. The 37-year-old has been granted an ITF place for Paris 2024 and is expected to participate in both singles and doubles events.Great Britain's tennis nominations for the Olympics include a mix of experienced players and rising stars. Joining Murray in the men's singles are Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, and Dan Evans. Katie Boulter is the only British woman to have qualified by ranking.In doubles action, Murray and Evans will pair up in the men's doubles. Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will also compete in the men's doubles, while Boulter and Heather Watson will team up in the women's doubles.The Olympic tennis tournament will take place from July 27 to August 4 at Roland Garros and will feature five medal events: women's singles, men's singles, women's doubles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles.

Jiri Lehecka Withdraws from Roland Garros Due to Back InjuryJiri Lehecka's impressive run at the Mutua Madrid Open came to an abrupt end when a back injury forced him to withdraw from the semifinals. The unfortunate setback has also led to the Czech player's withdrawal from the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.Lehecka's injury is a significant blow to his promising season. The 22-year-old had matched his career-high ranking of No. 23 in January and was poised for a deep run in Madrid. However, the back injury has derailed his momentum, leaving him unable to compete at Roland Garros.Lehecka joins Marin Cilic and Facundo Diaz Acosta as the third ATP player to withdraw from the French Open due to injury. The absence of these top players will undoubtedly impact the tournament's competitiveness.Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, who also suffered an injury in Madrid, has provided an update on his condition. The world No. 2 posted photos on social media showing him training on red clay in Monte Carlo, accompanied by the caption "Let's work." Sinner's status for Roland Garros remains uncertain, but his determination to recover is evident.In other news, Emma Raducanu has decided to skip Roland Garros qualifying to focus on preparing for the grass-court season. The 2021 US Open champion has not played since a first-round exit in Madrid, where she admitted to feeling "mentally and emotionally" exhausted. Raducanu, who used a protected ranking to enter the French Open, was three spots out of a main-draw spot."It's important for me to keep laying on the foundations," Raducanu said. "I will use the time to do a healthy block before the grass and subsequent hard-court seasons to give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year."Qualifying for Roland Garros begins on Monday, with two-time finalist Dominic Thiem facing Franco Agamenone on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Former world No. 10 Lucas Pouilles will take on Hamad Medjedovic, while Americans Lauren Davis, Alycia Parks, Claire Liu, and Denis Kudla are among those competing in the qualifying rounds.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is likely to miss the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros after withdrawing from this week's qualifying tournament. The Briton, currently ranked 212th in the world, was a third alternate for the main draw, but her name did not appear among the qualifiers listed on the Roland Garros website.Raducanu's withdrawal is a significant setback for the 21-year-old, who has struggled with injuries since her historic US Open triumph. She has not played a match since losing in the first round of the Madrid Open last month, where she admitted to feeling "mentally and emotionally exhausted."In a statement quoted by British media, Raducanu explained her decision to withdraw from the French Open: "It's important for me to keep laying on the foundations and I will use the time to do a healthy block before the grass and subsequent hard court seasons to give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year."Raducanu's only appearance at Roland Garros came in 2022, when she lost in the second round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She was not awarded a wild card for this year's edition.The Briton's absence from the French Open is a blow to the tournament, which is one of the four Grand Slams. Raducanu's star power and recent success would have undoubtedly drawn attention to the event.However, Raducanu's decision to prioritize her long-term health and fitness is understandable. The grass court season, which includes Wimbledon, is just around the corner, and Raducanu will be eager to make an impact on her home turf.

Two-time French Open finalist Dominic Thiem's hopes of a wildcard entry into this year's tournament were dashed on Tuesday, forcing the former US Open champion to navigate the qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the main draw. The 30-year-old Austrian, who announced his retirement at the end of the season due to a persistent wrist injury, will now face an uphill battle to reach the Roland Garros main event.Thiem's absence from the wildcard list was not the only surprise, as 2018 French Open women's champion Simona Halep and 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu were also overlooked by the French Tennis Federation. Instead, the wildcards were awarded to Alexandre Muller, who was defeated in the fourth round of the Rome Open as a qualifier, and Alize Cornet, who will be making her final appearance at the tournament. American Nicolas Moreno de Alboran and Australian Adam Walton also received wildcards.The decision to deny Thiem a wildcard has raised eyebrows, given his impressive record at Roland Garros. The Austrian reached the final in 2018 and 2019, losing to Rafael Nadal on both occasions. However, his form has suffered in recent years due to his wrist injury, and he has struggled to regain his previous level of play.Halep's omission from the wildcard list is also surprising, considering her status as a former champion and her recent resurgence in form. The Romanian has won two Grand Slam titles and reached the semifinals of the French Open on three occasions. Raducanu's absence is less surprising, as she has struggled to maintain her form since her US Open triumph last year.The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, will get underway on May 26. The qualifying rounds will begin on May 22, and Thiem will be among the favorites to secure one of the remaining spots in the main draw.