Tennis

Andrey Rublev, the 26-year-old Russian tennis star, finds solace and tranquility in the serene ambiance of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. After the hustle and bustle of major cities like Madrid, Rome, and Paris, Rublev seeks refuge in the picturesque surroundings of Halle, where grazing cows and a majestic mountain backdrop replace the cacophony of urban life."It's a nice moment to rest mentally before I go to London," Rublev confides. "Here, it's a nice place to stay calm for a week, focus only on tennis, to recover. It's really quiet, really peaceful here."Beyond the tranquility, Halle offers another allure for Rublev: the sauna at his hotel.Rublev's journey in Halle began eight years ago when he was an 18-year-old aspiring player. Today, he is a 16-time ATP champion with two Masters 1000 titles and a consistent presence in the Top 10. Despite his accomplishments, Rublev remains grounded and finds it hard to believe how time has flown by."It doesn't feel like it at all. Looks like it's been just last year," he says. "But it's tough to realize that it's been eight years because in my head, eight years is a big number that means you have a lot of changes in life, or in general. For the moment, body wise, I feel like eight years ago."After a disappointing exit from the French Open, Rublev quickly shifted his focus to Halle. He took two days off before resuming intense training to prepare for the switch to grass."We start to practice full because we decided that it'll be the only short 10 days that we can work before it will be grass season," he explains. "Because on grass, I will not have much time to do good practices. These days I can really focus to build a little bit of game, so I was playing every day and then I came here."Rublev boasts a career 19-8 record on grass. On Tuesday, he will open his Halle campaign against Marcos Giron.

Christopher Eubanks, despite a recent losing streak, remains optimistic as he transitions from clay to grass courts. The American, who enjoyed a breakthrough season on grass in 2023, believes his serve-oriented game suits the slick surface better.Eubanks' clay-court season was less successful, but he gained valuable experience and ranking points that allowed him to compete in Masters events. However, he acknowledges that the clay-court grind can be taxing.Upon returning to grass, Eubanks feels rejuvenated and confident. He believes his serve, which has produced double-digit aces in 11 consecutive matches, will be a key factor in his success. However, he recognizes that opponents have studied his game and are better prepared to counter his serve.Eubanks is focused on improving his return game, which has been a weakness this season. He also emphasizes the importance of self-evaluation and adapting his game without losing his identity.Despite his recent struggles, Eubanks remains confident in his abilities. He believes he has improved as a player and is capable of returning to the Top 30. He draws inspiration from his successful grass-court campaign in 2023, where he won his maiden ATP title in Mallorca and reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.Eubanks has the opportunity to end his losing streak in Halle before defending his ranking points in Mallorca and Wimbledon. He remains optimistic about his prospects and believes that by focusing on the process, the results will come.

Grass Court Season Heats Up with Wimbledon Tune-Up TournamentsAs the tennis world shifts from the clay of Roland Garros to the lush lawns of Wimbledon, the grass court season is reaching its peak with four key tournaments taking center stage.Halle and Queen's Club: Men's Contenders EmergeOn the men's side, the Terra Wortman Open in Halle and the Cinch Championships at Queen's Club are attracting top talent. Halle boasts a star-studded field led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who will face a tough opener against Tallon Griekspoor. Other contenders include Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev.At Queen's Club, reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed and will aim to repeat his 2022 triumph. He faces a potential challenge from Francisco Cerundolo, Jack Draper, and Tommy Paul. Alex de Minaur, Holger Rune, and Andy Murray are also in the draw.Berlin and Birmingham: Women's Stars ShineThe women's circuit features the Ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin and the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham. Berlin boasts a strong lineup including Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Naomi Osaka, who will face Zheng Qinwen in a rematch of their Rome encounter. Other contenders include Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Ons Jabeur.Birmingham, a WTA 250 event, features Jelena Ostapenko as the top seed. Barbora Krejcikova, Sorana Cirstea, and Katie Boulter are also in the draw. Former Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova will be looking to make a strong showing after reaching the final in Nottingham.Wimbledon Preparations IntensifyThese tournaments provide crucial preparation for Wimbledon, which begins on June 26th. Players will be fine-tuning their grass court skills and building momentum ahead of the prestigious Grand Slam. The results from Halle, Queen's Club, Berlin, and Birmingham will offer valuable insights into the form and potential contenders for Wimbledon glory.

Casper Ruud, the former world No. 2, has historically struggled on grass courts, with a career record of 4-7 on the surface. However, the Norwegian is determined to make a breakthrough at Wimbledon this year, the only major where he has yet to reach the second week.Ruud's technique, anchored by a heavy topspin forehand, is not typically conducive to grass, but he believes his more aggressive mindset could make the difference this time. He has amassed an impressive 39-10 record through the first six months of 2024, playing with a newfound attacking style."I think I have played maybe 50 matches already the first five months of the year," Ruud said. "It's going to be nice with a few weeks off and then I'm looking forward to getting on the grass."Ruud's preparation for Wimbledon will include a break from tennis to focus on golf, a sport he enjoys more than tennis on grass. He also plans to attend a Megan Thee Stallion concert in London during the tournament.Despite his struggles on grass, Ruud is confident in his ability to succeed on the surface. "I think it's a very fun surface, and I have been joking a little bit about certain things before, but I think it's a very fun surface to play on because it brings something completely different," he said. "It challenges me in a way that I think is good for my game in a way to be challenged."Ruud's determination to conquer grass is evident in his willingness to embrace the challenges it presents. He is eager to prove that he can succeed on any surface, and Wimbledon provides the perfect opportunity to do so.

Queen's Club to Host Women's Tennis Tournament in 2025The prestigious Queen's Club in London will make history in 2025 by hosting a women's tennis tournament for the first time in over 50 years. The WTA event will be held the week after the French Open, marking the start of the grass-court season and serving as a warm-up for Wimbledon.However, the decision has raised concerns among male players, who fear that the quality of the grass at Queen's Club could be compromised by a women's tournament being played first. Chris Pollard, director of major events and digital at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), acknowledged these concerns and stated that the arrangement may only be for one year."We have absolute confidence that we can stage a two-week event at the Queen's Club," Pollard said. "We've got independent data that provides evidence that the men's week will not suffer in any way."Pollard emphasized that the LTA has had extensive discussions with both the ATP and WTA Tours regarding the matter. The ATP has given the green light for the tournament to take place in 2025, but the LTA remains in ongoing dialogue with the tour about the long-term future of the event."The ATP would like to consider what happens after 2025," Pollard said. "But we remain very confident that it will be a permanent change."The addition of a women's tournament at Queen's Club will have a significant impact on the WTA grass-court calendar. The tournaments in Birmingham and Eastbourne, both in England, will be reduced in status to accommodate the new event.