Tennis

World number two Jannik Sinner is racing against time to recover from a right hip injury and participate in the upcoming French Open. The Italian star missed the Rome Open due to the ailment but has resumed training on a clay court in Monaco, eight days before the start of Roland Garros on May 26.Sinner's social media posts on Saturday evening featured images of him practicing with a racquet, accompanied by emojis representing a sword and the French flag, symbolizing his determination to compete in Paris.The Australian Open champion had previously stated that he would only participate in the French Open if he was fully fit. The hip injury forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open at the start of the month before his quarter-final match."I don't want to go into details (of the injury)," Sinner said at a press conference announcing his absence from Rome. "We thought initially that it wasn't anything serious, but the scans showed that there was something that wasn't right.""One thing is sure, if I've not 100 percent recovered, I will take more time out as I do not want to lose three years of my career."Despite the setback, Sinner remains optimistic about his chances of playing in Paris. "My preparation for Paris won't be optimal because I won't have much time, but what is sure is that I will give everything in order to be in a position to play," he said.The 22-year-old has enjoyed a successful season so far, winning the Australian Open in January and claiming his second Masters 1000 title in Miami in March. His participation in the French Open would be a major boost for the tournament and would add to the excitement surrounding the second Grand Slam of the season.

Iga Świątek, the world's top-ranked tennis player, has extended her winning streak on clay to 12 matches after securing her third Rome title with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final.Świątek, who has now won 28 consecutive sets on clay, will enter the French Open as the overwhelming favorite to defend her title. She is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win both the Madrid and Rome titles on clay in the same season.Despite her impressive form, Świątek remains cautious about her chances at Roland Garros. "Obviously I am confident. I feel like I'm playing great tennis, but that doesn't change the fact that I just want to stay humble," she said. "Grand Slams are different. There's a different pressure on the court and off the court."Świątek's victory over Sabalenka was a clinical display of tennis. She broke Sabalenka's serve twice in the first set and once in the second set to secure the win in just 79 minutes.Sabalenka, who has won the last two Australian Open titles, admitted that she did not play well in the first set. "I wasn't feeling my game well," she said. "In the second set, I tried to stay a little bit more aggressive, but I didn't use my opportunities."Świątek's victory in Rome is a testament to her dominance on clay. She has now won four of the last five clay-court tournaments she has played in, including the French Open in 2020 and 2022.With her victory in Rome, Świątek has extended her lead at the top of the WTA rankings. She is now 2,000 points ahead of second-ranked Sabalenka.

The ATP tour has been a rollercoaster of injuries and upsets in the lead-up to the French Open, with the men's top 5 all facing setbacks. Alexander Zverev, the only top player to avoid injury, reached the Rome semifinals after a scare in his quarterfinal.Meanwhile, the WTA tour has seen a resurgence of star power, with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka leading the charge. Swiatek and Sabalenka will face off in the Rome semifinals, while Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins will battle in the other semifinal.The shift in momentum between the tours is puzzling, as the ATP has traditionally been more predictable. However, the expansion of the Madrid and Rome tournaments to nearly two weeks may have contributed to the increased injuries and upsets.Despite the setbacks, the men's top players are expected to be healthy for the French Open. Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner, and Medvedev will all be aiming to challenge Nadal for the title.On the women's side, Swiatek and Sabalenka are the clear favorites in Rome and will likely be the ones to watch in Paris. Swiatek has a 9-1 record against Gauff, while Sabalenka has a 5-0 record against Collins.The Rome semifinals will provide a glimpse of the potential matchups in the French Open final. Swiatek and Sabalenka have both been in impressive form, and their clash will be a battle between the world's top two players. Collins, in her final season, will be determined to make a statement against Sabalenka, while Gauff will be looking to prove herself against Swiatek on clay.

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.

Rafael Nadal's participation in the upcoming French Open remains uncertain despite his second-round elimination at the Rome Masters. The 22-time Grand Slam champion had previously stated that he would only compete in Paris if he felt competitive, and his recent performance has raised doubts about his readiness.Nadal's defeat to Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets was a disappointing setback, especially considering his impressive run to the last 16 in Madrid. The Spaniard admitted that his physical issues are still a concern, but he is leaning towards playing at Roland Garros."The decision is not clear in my mind today," Nadal said. "But if I have to say what's my feeling, I am going to say to be in Roland Garros and try my best. Physically I have some issues, but not probably yet enough to say I'm not playing in the most important event of my tennis career."Nadal's dominance on clay has been unparalleled, but his recent struggles have raised questions about his ability to compete at the highest level. Hurkacz's victory over him was a testament to the changing landscape of the sport, with younger players emerging as serious challengers.Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has dismissed concerns about his fitness after being hit by a water bottle during a fan signing session. The world number one wore a cycling helmet to practice, joking that he was "prepared" for any further incidents.In the women's tournament, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, and Coco Gauff have all advanced to the last 16. Swiatek, the world number one, is aiming for her third Rome title, while Osaka is making a strong comeback after taking a break to have her first child.

Rafael Nadal's farewell appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open was a poignant moment, marking the twilight of his illustrious career. Coco Gauff, a rising star in the tennis world, witnessed the tribute and was struck by the realization that Nadal's time on tour is drawing to a close.Gauff has long admired Nadal's unwavering determination and intensity on the court. "He's probably the only player that when I practice on the court next to him, I would literally zone out of my practice to watch him," she said. "His mentality and intensity is something I admire."Beyond his on-court prowess, Gauff appreciates Nadal's graciousness and humility. "He's a very nice person," she recalled. "I remember last year at Roland Garros, he touched me on the back and said, 'Hi, good job.' I didn't respond like till 20 tiles already down the stairs because I couldn't believe he spoke to me."As Gauff prepares for the upcoming French Open, she is focused on improving her consistency and reducing her double-fault count. "Last week, even though I lost 6-4 in the third, (I had) like 14 double-faults," she said. "I feel if I'm still close in these matches against Madi, who is like a top player, I think I just fix that detail, it will save me and maybe those matches would turn into winning in straight sets instead of losing in three sets."Gauff's journey at the Internazionali BNL D'italia begins against the winner of Magdalena Frech and Ashlyn Krueger. As she navigates the tournament, she will carry with her the inspiration and lessons learned from Rafael Nadal, a true legend of the sport.

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has parted ways with his long-time fitness coach, Marco Panichi. This latest shakeup in Djokovic's team comes ahead of the French Open, the second major of the season.In a heartfelt message on social media, Djokovic expressed his gratitude for Panichi's contributions to his success. "We reached the summit, won titles, broken records," he wrote. "But most of all, I have enjoyed our most 'ordinary' days of training in and out of the gym."Panichi's departure follows the recent split between Djokovic and his coach, Goran Ivanisevic. The Serbian star also made a change in management at the end of last season, replacing Edoardo Artaldi and Elena Cappellaro with Mark Madden.Djokovic, who turns 37 in three weeks, is currently without a trophy in 2023. He skipped the Mutua Madrid Open and is expected to return to action next week in Rome. The Italian Open will provide Djokovic with an opportunity to fine-tune his game ahead of his Roland Garros title defense.Despite his recent setbacks, Djokovic remains a formidable force on the ATP Tour. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the world and has won 93 career titles. However, he faces a significant challenge from Jannik Sinner, who is a viable threat to challenge for the top ranking.Sinner, who withdrew from the Madrid quarterfinals with a right-hip injury, is expected to be a major contender in Rome and at the French Open. His results in these tournaments will have a significant impact on the race for the No. 1 ranking.

Rafael Nadal's Madrid Open campaign ended in a straight-sets defeat to Jiri Lehecka, but the Spaniard left the tournament feeling optimistic about his fitness and plans to compete in Rome before the French Open.Despite the loss, Nadal expressed satisfaction with his progress since returning from injury. "It was a positive week in every way," he said. "I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches. So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis."Nadal's initial pessimism about his physical condition has dissipated, and he is now confident in his ability to compete. "I leave here with very positive energy," he said.The 37-year-old Nadal is in his final year on tour and is determined to make the most of his remaining tournaments. He had already bid farewell to Barcelona, where he lost in the second round, and is eager to experience the emotional atmosphere of Rome, where he has won 10 titles."Rome is another very special tournament in my career," he said. "I dreamed to play all these tournaments that I had success one more time. I missed Monte Carlo unfortunately, that is one of the most special for me, but Rome is one of these ones that I enjoyed a lot playing there."In Madrid, Nadal defeated Darwin Blanch, Alex de Minaur, and Pedro Cachin before falling to Lehecka. He is now focused on preparing for Rome, which begins on May 8, and ultimately the French Open, which starts on May 26."I want to play well there (in Rome)," he said. "I want to be competitive. I want to give myself a chance to play good tennis, and I'm gonna keep working hard to try to make that happen."Nadal's goal is to perform well at Roland Garros, where he has won a record 14 titles. He is determined to make the most of his final season and leave a lasting legacy on the sport.

Roland Garros Unveils Second Retractable Roof for French Open and Paris OlympicsThe French Open, one of the four Grand Slams in tennis, is set to unveil its second retractable roof on the opening day of the tournament next month. The roof over the 10,000-seat Suzanne Lenglen court will be inaugurated on May 26, providing greater flexibility in scheduling matches and ensuring play for fans and viewers worldwide.The new roof complements the retractable roof over the main 15,000-seat Philippe Chatrier court, which was installed in 2020. Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo hailed the new roof as a "most visible new feature" of the 2024 Olympic tournament, which will be held at Roland Garros from July 27 to August 4.The two roofed courts will ensure that the Olympic tournament remains on schedule, avoiding disruptions caused by weather conditions. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, matches in open-air courts were affected by extreme heat and humidity.Mauresmo also addressed the status of Rafael Nadal, the record 14-time men's singles champion at Roland Garros. Nadal has expressed doubts about his participation due to injuries, but Mauresmo expressed hope that he would be ready. However, she ruled out any special seeding for Nadal, who has dropped to No. 512 in the rankings.The French Open is expected to be a sell-out event, with daily crowds of 75,000 anticipated in the first week. The tournament will also host boxing finals during the second week of the Olympics, adding to the excitement and demand for tickets.