Tennis

Jannik Sinner, the newly crowned world No. 1, has continued his impressive form on grass, reaching the semifinals of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. The Italian star defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in a thrilling three-set battle, 6-2, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3).Sinner, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, has now improved to 3-0 against Struff, having beaten him twice in straight sets in 2024. The 22-year-old looked sharp from the start, breaking Struff's serve twice in the opening set to take it in just 30 minutes.However, Struff fought back in the second set, saving a break point in the fourth game and forcing a tiebreaker. The German dominated the tiebreaker, winning the first four points and converting his first set point to level the match.Sinner regained control in the decider, creating two break points in the ninth game. Struff saved both, but Sinner remained relentless. In the final-set tiebreaker, Sinner raced to a 3-0 lead and eventually converted his second match point to seal the victory after two hours and 29 minutes.Sinner's victory sets up a semifinal clash with either American Christopher Eubanks or China's Zhang Zhizhen, who upset former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev earlier in the week. Sinner will be aiming to reach his fourth final of the season, having already won titles in Montpellier, Rotterdam, and Dubai.

Katie Boulter, the Leicester-born tennis star, is poised to make a significant impact at Wimbledon this year. Growing up in the verdant outskirts of Leicester, Boulter developed a deep love for the sport, honed on the grass courts of Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Club.Despite a spinal stress fracture in 2019 and the challenges of the pandemic, Boulter has emerged as the clear-cut British women's No. 1. Her resilience and determination mirror the fighting spirit of her beloved Leicester City Football Club, which famously won the Premier League in 2016.Boulter's rise to the Top 30 has been marked by impressive victories, including a Top 5 win over Jessica Pegula at the United Cup. She has also defended her title in Nottingham, showcasing her dominance on grass.With her boyfriend, Alex de Minaur, also performing at a high level, Boulter is surrounded by support and motivation. She credits their relationship with bringing out the best in both players.As Wimbledon approaches, Boulter is expected to be seeded, giving her a favorable draw. Her form and experience on grass make her a genuine contender for the title. A victory would not only be a personal triumph but also a historic moment for British tennis.

Coco Gauff, the world's No. 2 tennis player, made a triumphant return to the grass courts at the ecotrans Ladies Open, overcoming a formidable opponent in Ekaterina Alexandrova. The match, which lasted 80 minutes, saw Gauff navigate a tense first-set tiebreaker before ultimately securing a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory.Gauff, who had not played since reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros, faced a stern test against Alexandrova, a player known for her prowess on grass. The Russian had won two of her four titles on the surface and had previously defeated Gauff at the same tournament a year ago.Despite the challenge, Gauff displayed her resilience and determination. She saved three set points in the first-set tiebreaker, showcasing her mental fortitude and ability to perform under pressure. The American's powerful serve and all-court game proved too much for Alexandrova, as she broke twice in the second set to seal the victory.Gauff's victory marks a significant step in her quest to conquer the grass courts. While she has achieved remarkable success on hard courts and clay, grass has been her least successful surface. However, her performance at the ecotrans Ladies Open suggests that she is making strides in adapting to the unique demands of the surface.In the quarterfinals, Gauff will face the winner of the match between Linda Noskova and Ons Jabeur, the No. 8 seed and two-time Wimbledon finalist. The American will be eager to continue her winning streak and prove that she is a force to be reckoned with on all surfaces.

Jannik Sinner's debut as the ATP's world No. 1 was a hard-fought battle against Tallon Griekspoor at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. Despite a disappointing end to the opening set, Sinner emerged victorious with a 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2 triumph.The match was a tale of two halves, with Griekspoor valiantly overcoming a 1-5 deficit in the tie-break to take the first set. However, Sinner's resilience shone through in the second set, as he recovered from 0-40 down on his serve and hustled to make a forehand pass winner.The pivotal moment came at 2-2 in the second set, when Sinner side-somersaulted to finish a diving movement for 4-2. This crucial point shifted the momentum in Sinner's favor, and he went on to protect his serve the rest of the way.In the deciding set, Sinner broke Griekspoor two more times before closing out the encounter with his 15th ace. The 22-year-old Italian reflected on the match, acknowledging the mental challenges he faced but also his ability to regain confidence on the grass surface.Sinner's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Fabian Marozsan, as he aims to lift his first grass-court trophy. The Italian's all-around performance, including his impressive serve and aggressive groundstrokes, bodes well for his chances in the tournament.

Joao Fonseca, a rising star in the tennis world, is making his tour-level debut on grass at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. The 17-year-old Brazilian received a wild card to the tournament, which holds special significance as it is where his idol Roger Federer has won 10 titles.Fonseca's journey to Halle has been marked by impressive performances at various levels. He reached the quarterfinals of the Rio Open, defeated Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin, and secured his first ATP 1000 match win in Madrid. His recent victories in Bucharest have propelled him to a career-high ranking of No. 217.The Terra Wortmann Open provides a unique environment for Fonseca to learn and grow. The tournament's relaxed atmosphere and convenient amenities allow him to focus on his game. He has already had the opportunity to train with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Chris Eubanks, gaining valuable insights into the routines and strategies of established players.Fonseca's aggressive style of play is well-suited to grass courts, where he can use his serve and net play to his advantage. He acknowledges the importance of holding serve and being decisive in his approach.Despite his recent successes, Fonseca remains grounded and focused on gradual improvement. He believes in taking things step by step and maintaining a humble attitude. His goal is to continue competing in high-level tournaments and absorb as much knowledge as possible from his experiences.

Sebastian Korda, the 23-year-old American tennis star, has made a significant breakthrough on grass courts, reaching his first tour-level final on the surface at the 's-Hertogenbosch tournament. Korda's impressive performance has raised expectations that he could make a major impact at Wimbledon this year.In the semifinals, Korda showcased his dominance on grass, dismantling sixth-seeded home favorite Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Despite blustery conditions, Korda remained composed, winning 87% of his second-serve points and facing no break points."It was super tricky, super windy," Korda said after the match. "Obviously, Tallon is an unbelievable player, and him winning here last year, it's a nice confidence boost for me."Korda's victory extended his winning streak to eight sets this week, having previously defeated compatriot Tommy Paul, the No. 2 seed. In the final, he will face either top seed Alex de Minaur or third seed Ugo Humbert.Korda is aiming to end a four-match losing streak in ATP finals and claim his first title since his maiden triumph on clay at Parma in May 2021. His impressive 13-6 record in grass-court matches at the tour level suggests that he has the potential to make a deep run at Wimbledon.Korda's success on grass is a testament to his versatility and adaptability. Known for his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, he has shown that he can adjust his game to the unique challenges of grass courts. His ability to control his shots and generate pace on the surface has been key to his recent success.With Wimbledon just around the corner, Korda's performance in 's-Hertogenbosch has sent a clear message that he is a contender to watch. If he can maintain his current form, he could be a major threat to the established stars of the grass-court season.

Swiatek and Paolini Withdraw from Berlin Grass-Court Event After Roland Garros TriumphsWorld No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Roland Garros runner-up Jasmine Paolini have withdrawn from next week's WTA grass-court event in Berlin, citing physical and mental fatigue after an intense nine-week stretch.Swiatek, who extended her winning streak to 35 matches with her third consecutive Roland Garros title, expressed the need for rest and recovery. "I had these ideas, like, doing preseason on grass so I can learn how to play there," she said. "But yeah, for sure it's a huge challenge."Paolini, who reached her first Grand Slam singles final and the doubles final in Paris, withdrew due to an unspecified injury. Her impressive performance at Roland Garros propelled her to career-high rankings in both singles and doubles, including a Top 10 debut in singles.The Berlin tournament, which begins on Monday, will still feature the remaining eight players ranked in this week's Top 10, including newly-minted world No. 2 Coco Gauff.Swiatek's withdrawal highlights the challenges of transitioning from clay to grass courts. Despite reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, she has struggled on the surface, with a 9-4 record in four previous appearances at the All-England Club."I feel like every year it's easier for me to adapt to grass," Swiatek said. "So I think there is no need to do that. I just need to continue the work that I've been doing."The Berlin event will provide an opportunity for other top players to gain momentum ahead of Wimbledon, which begins on July 1.

When Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu first faced off in the quarterfinals of the 2019 China Open, it seemed like the beginning of a fierce rivalry between two rising stars. However, injuries and mental health struggles have hindered both players' careers since then.Now, five years later, they will meet again in the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Libema Open on grass courts in the Netherlands. Both players received wild cards into the tournament and have cruised through their first two matches.Andreescu, who turns 24 on June 16, is playing in just her second tournament since returning from a nine-month injury layoff. She reached the third round at Roland Garros, while Osaka has rebounded from a disappointing second-round loss to Iga Swiatek in Paris.In their previous encounter, Osaka snapped Andreescu's 17-match winning streak in a three-set thriller. Both players have since been open about their mental health struggles and have taken time off from tennis to address them.Despite their setbacks, both Andreescu and Osaka remain promising players with the potential to reach the top of the game. Their quarterfinal match at the Libema Open will be a reminder of what might have been and a glimpse of what's still possible for two players who have faced adversity with resilience and determination.The winner of the match will advance to the semifinals, a stage neither player has reached on grass before.

Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka made triumphant returns to the tennis court on Tuesday at the Libema Open in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.Pegula, the top seed, cruised past qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2 in her first match since suffering a rib injury that sidelined her for the entire European clay season. The American dominated the match, converting five of her seven break points and dropping serve only once."I've been healthy for a few weeks now," Pegula said. "I don't think much has really changed. Iga dominated the clay season, what else is new? Now we go into grass and I'm sure the grass-court players will do well."Pegula's victory marks her first on grass since reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon last year. She is hoping to build on that success and gain confidence ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam.Osaka, a four-time major winner, also impressed in her first grass-court match since 2019 Wimbledon. The Japanese star defeated fourth-seeded Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-4 in 69 minutes. Osaka powered past the Belgian with 21 winners and converted all three of her break point chances."I'm going to play two extra weeks on grass now," Osaka said. "Hopefully I can do well and make up some points or at least gain confidence and matches there and then be ready to go for the rest of the year."Osaka is seeking her first grass-court trophy. Prior to Tuesday, her last win on the surface came in June 2019 in Birmingham. All of her 11 previous tour-level final appearances have been on hard courts.The Libema Open is a WTA 250 tournament that serves as a warm-up event for Wimbledon. The tournament features a strong field of players, including former world No. 1 Simona Halep and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.