Tennis

Novak Djokovic's quest to defend his French Open title has hit a roadblock after he suffered a disappointing loss in the Geneva Open semifinals. The 44th-ranked Tomas Machac stunned the world's top-ranked player 6-4, 0-6, 6-1, leaving Djokovic with doubts about his form heading into Roland Garros.Djokovic's record in 2024 has been far from impressive, with a 14-6 overall record and a 0-3 mark in semifinals, including a defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. The Serb admitted that he is not the favorite for the French Open, where he has won two of the past three titles and three overall among his record 24 Grand Slam singles titles."I don't consider myself a favorite there," Djokovic said. "I'm going to take it match by match and see how far I can go."Machac, a 22-year-old Czech, played with confidence and aggression, breaking Djokovic's serve five times and forcing him into 27 unforced errors. Djokovic took a medical timeout after the first set for a stomach issue, but it did not seem to affect his performance significantly."It was a terrible feeling with my stomach and health today," Djokovic said. "It was not a great night and today as well. I don't want to take anything away from his win, he deserved it."Machac will face two-time Geneva champion Casper Ruud or unseeded Flavio Cobolli in the final. Ruud, the French Open runner-up for the past two years, is considered a strong contender for the title this year.Djokovic's loss in Geneva raises questions about his form and fitness ahead of the French Open. The Serb has not won a tournament since Wimbledon last year and has struggled to find his best tennis in 2024. He will need to improve his consistency and reduce his unforced errors if he wants to challenge for the title in Paris.

Roland Garros: A Tennis Extravaganza and a Parisian AdventureRoland Garros, the prestigious French Open tennis tournament, is set to captivate tennis enthusiasts worldwide with over 2,500 hours of live coverage across Tennis Channel platforms. While the on-court action promises to be thrilling, Paris offers an array of experiences to complement the tennis spectacle.Top 5 Things to Do in Paris During Roland Garros:1. Le Bowling:Unwind after intense matches with a game of bowling at Le Bowling, an underground bowling alley near the Arc de Triomphe. With 15 lanes, foosball, and billiards, it's a perfect spot to relax and socialize.2. Cottage of the Islands:Escape the tournament grounds and immerse yourself in history at the Cottage of the Islands. This charming Swiss cottage, nestled in the Bois de Boulogne, has been transformed into a bistronomic restaurant offering stunning park views and a serene dining experience.3. The Latin Quarter Experience:Stroll through the historic Latin Quarter, home to Rue Mouffetard, the oldest street in Paris. Explore its quaint shops, lively cafes, and street markets, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of this picturesque neighborhood.4. To Paris, With Love:Discover the Wall of Love in Montmartre, where the word "love" is inscribed in 311 languages. This iconic landmark is a testament to the city's romantic spirit and a perfect spot for a romantic stroll or a memorable photo.5. The Museum of a Lifetime:Escape the hustle and bustle of the city at the Musée Rodin, dedicated to the works of renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Admire masterpieces like The Thinking Man and The Kiss, surrounded by tranquil sculpture gardens and the historic Hotel Biron.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world number three and reigning Wimbledon champion, has expressed concerns about the impact of his recent arm injury on his performance at the upcoming French Open. Despite being cleared to play, Alcaraz admitted to feeling "a little bit scared" about unleashing his powerful forehand at full force.The 21-year-old Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the Rome Open due to a right forearm issue. While he has not experienced any pain during practice, Alcaraz remains apprehensive about the potential consequences of hitting forehands with maximum effort."I'm still thinking about it when I'm hitting forehands," Alcaraz said. "I'm a little bit scared about hitting every forehand 100 percent."Alcaraz's injury concerns stem from a lack of clarity regarding its exact nature. "I think you're not going to believe me, but I don't know exactly what I have on the forearm," he confessed.Despite his injury woes, Alcaraz has maintained a positive outlook. He believes that defending champion Novak Djokovic and 14-time winner Rafael Nadal, despite their recent struggles, remain formidable contenders at Roland Garros."Probably we don't see them playing their best tennis, but it's a Grand Slam, it's Roland Garros, and I think they have chances to win the tournament," Alcaraz said.Alcaraz's participation in the French Open will be closely monitored as he attempts to navigate his injury concerns and challenge for his first Grand Slam title on clay.

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, two of the most promising young stars in tennis, will face off in the first round of the 2023 French Open, a match that has drawn both excitement and intrigue.Alcaraz, the world No. 2, was asked if he would have preferred to face Rafael Nadal, the 14-time French Open champion, in the first round. The Spaniard responded with a resounding "No," explaining that he would rather face Nadal later in the tournament."When I saw that it was 50 percent chances that I could play against Rafa," Alcaraz said, "it...Thanks."Zverev, the world No. 3, echoed Alcaraz's sentiments, saying that he would have preferred to face Nadal in a later round."So ideally, I would have liked to play him in the later stage of the tournament, but it is how it is now," Zverev said. "He is unseeded this year. I am seeded. You know, it's a tough draw, but it's a tough draw for both of us."The two players have a history, having played a thrilling semifinal at the 2022 French Open. Nadal won the first set in a tiebreaker, but Zverev was leading 6-6 in the second set when he suffered an ankle injury and was forced to retire.Zverev said that he is looking forward to facing Nadal again, but he is aware of the challenge that lies ahead."I mean, obviously, to be very honest, I wanted to play Rafa again in my career, in his career," said Zverev, "because I didn't want my last memory of me playing against Rafa to be me leaving the court on a wheelchair."Nadal, who is 37 years old, is not the same player he was a few years ago, but he remains a formidable opponent on clay. He has won the French Open a record 14 times, and he is always a threat to win the tournament.The match between Alcaraz and Zverev is sure to be a close one, and it could have a major impact on the outcome of the tournament.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, is poised to make history at the French Open. She is on the cusp of joining Justine Henin as the only women to win three consecutive titles at Roland Garros since the Open era began in 1968.Swiatek's dominance on clay is unparalleled. She has won the last two French Open titles, dropping only one set in the process. She has also won the Madrid and Rome Masters this year, becoming only the third woman to achieve the "dirty double" of winning all three clay-court Slams in the same season.Swiatek's success is due to her exceptional movement, power, and precision on clay. She is able to slide and smash with ease, making her a formidable opponent on the surface.Her dominance has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest women's tennis players of all time, including Serena Williams and Chris Evert. Evert, a seven-time French Open champion, believes that Swiatek has the potential to surpass her record.However, Swiatek faces a tough draw at this year's French Open. She could potentially face four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in the second round and 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova in the fourth round.Despite the challenges, Swiatek remains the favorite to win the title. She is in excellent form and has the experience and confidence to overcome any obstacle.A third straight French Open title would be a major milestone in Swiatek's career. It would also be a perfect preparation for the Olympics, which will be held on the same clay courts in Paris later this year.

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.

World number one Iga Swiatek has expressed her support for Rafael Nadal at the French Open but believes it is fair that the 14-time champion has not been seeded. Nadal, ranked 276th in the world due to injuries, will face Alexander Zverev in the first round.Despite Nadal's remarkable record at Roland Garros, Swiatek believes seeding should be based on recent results. "It would create a huge mess in the draws," she said. "You have so many past Grand Slam champions, and it would be unfair to seed some and not others based on which tournament they won."Nadal is not the only unseeded Grand Slam champion at the French Open. Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Sofia Kenin, Bianca Andreescu, and Sloane Stephens are also unseeded. However, there have been precedents, such as Serena Williams being seeded 25th at Wimbledon in 2018 despite her low ranking.Swiatek acknowledged the difficulty of Nadal's draw but expressed her support for the Spaniard. "It's a tough draw for Rafa, but I'm going to be kind of rooting for him," she said. "Sorry, Alex. We'll see."Nadal's unseeded status has sparked debate about whether former champions should be given special consideration. However, Swiatek believes the current system is fair and ensures that players are seeded based on their recent performances.

The 2023 Roland Garros tournament promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, with a wide-open field in both the men's and women's draws.Men's Draw:Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, is the top seed and the favorite to win his fourth Roland Garros title. However, he has not been in top form this season and faces a tough draw. He could potentially face Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals and Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros champion, is seeded sixth and is making his return from a rib injury. He is always a threat on clay, but his fitness is a concern.Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spanish sensation, is seeded second and is considered one of the favorites to win his first Grand Slam title. He has been in excellent form this season, winning the Madrid Open and the Barcelona Open.Other contenders in the men's draw include Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Casper Ruud. Zverev is a former world No. 1 and has won two Masters 1000 titles this season. Tsitsipas is a rising star who has reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open in the past two years. Ruud is a clay-court specialist who has won the Geneva Open and the Lyon Open this season.Women's Draw:Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1, is the overwhelming favorite to win her fourth Roland Garros title. She has been in dominant form this season, winning five WTA titles, including the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 2, is Swiatek's main rival. She has won two WTA titles this season, including the Stuttgart Open and the Rome Open.Other contenders in the women's draw include Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, and Coco Gauff. Jabeur is a rising star who has reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the French Open in the past two years. Sakkari is a former world No. 3 who has reached the semifinals of the French Open twice. Gauff is a 17-year-old American who has reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in the past two years.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world's top-ranked tennis player, is set to begin his quest for a third Grand Slam title at the 2024 Roland Garros. The Spaniard, who has already triumphed at Wimbledon and the US Open, will be seeking his first clay-court major victory.Alcaraz's Roland Garros campaign will commence on Sunday, May 26, against a qualifier or lucky loser. The 21-year-old will be aiming to improve on his semifinal finish in Paris last year, where he holds an impressive 11-3 record.Despite a season marked by injuries, Alcaraz remains the favorite to win the French Open. He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and won the Indian Wells Masters 1000 title before withdrawing from several tournaments due to a right forearm injury.Alcaraz's section of the draw includes Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, both of whom have strong clay-court records. Tsitsipas is a three-time Monte Carlo champion, while Rublev has won two clay-court Masters 1000 events.Alcaraz could face Rublev in the quarterfinals, a rematch of their Madrid Open encounter earlier this month, which Rublev won. The Spaniard could also meet Tsitsipas in the semifinals, a repeat of their Roland Garros quarterfinal last year, which Alcaraz won.Other potential threats in Alcaraz's section include Houston champion Ben Shelton and Madrid finalist Felix Auger Aliassime. The full men's singles draw can be viewed here.Alcaraz's injury concerns have raised some doubts about his ability to perform at his best in Paris. However, the Spaniard has shown remarkable resilience throughout his career and will be determined to prove that he is still the man to beat on clay.