Tennis

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has etched his name in tennis history by becoming the first man born in the 2000s to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments. The Italian's 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Daniil Medvedev at the US Open marked a significant milestone in his career.Sinner, who was born in 2001, has now joined an elite group of players who have reached the semifinals of all four majors. The last man to achieve this feat was Roger Federer in 2010.The Italian's victory over Medvedev was a testament to his resilience and determination. After dropping the second set, Sinner regrouped and dominated the third and fourth sets, showcasing his all-court prowess.Sinner's success is a testament to his hard work and dedication. The 21-year-old has been touted as a future star of the sport since his junior days, and he is now living up to the hype.With his victory at the US Open, Sinner has set himself up for a potential Grand Slam title. He will face Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, a match that promises to be a thrilling battle between two of the most promising young players in the world.

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic is poised to make history at the upcoming US Open, aiming to become the first man in 16 years to successfully defend his title. The 37-year-old, riding high on his Olympic triumph in Paris, is chasing a raft of records at Flushing Meadows.Djokovic, seeded second, can join Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer as the oldest Open era winners of the championship. With a 25th Grand Slam title, he would claim the outright record for most ever, a mark he currently shares with Australian great Margaret Court. He would also become the first man to repeat in New York since Federer won five straight US Opens from 2004-2008."I didn't know about that," Djokovic said. "I knew it was probably the case for five, 10 years, but I didn't know it was that long. Hopefully that changes this year. That's the goal."A victory would see Djokovic extend his streak of years with at least one Grand Slam title to seven. From 2011-23, he was shut out at the majors just once, in 2017. So far in 2024, the majors have gone to a new generation. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz is chasing a third straight Grand Slam after triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Italian Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open on his way to supplanting Djokovic atop the world rankings.With Federer retired and Rafael Nadal battling injuries, Djokovic said his budding rivalries with the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner keep him motivated. "These kind of rivalries that I have with Jannik and Carlos are the kind of matchups that still bring that joy of competition to me and inspire me to really push myself to perfect the game," Djokovic said."People ask me 'now that you have basically won everything with the golden medal, what else is there to win?' I still feel the drive. I still have the competitive spirit. I still want to make more history and enjoy myself on the tour."Djokovic called the medal ceremony after his Paris Games triumph "probably the most intense emotions I have ever had on a tennis court". "I think the moment of when I achieved it, how I achieved it, after years of trying, the journey... makes it even more unique."However, he doesn't envision any let-down as he tries to close out the season with yet another Grand Slam title. "Grand Slams are the pillars of our sport," Djokovic said. "They are the most important historical tennis events that we have. So if you don't get pumped and inspired to play your best tennis at Grand Slams, it's hard to do that anywhere else."

Carlos Alcaraz's triumph at Roland Garros 2023 marked a historic milestone in his career, solidifying his status as one of the most promising young stars in tennis. His remarkable journey to the title showcased his unwavering determination and exceptional talent.Alcaraz's victory was particularly impressive considering his recent injury struggles. Despite missing most of the clay-court lead-up season, he displayed remarkable resilience and determination to regain his top form. His ability to overcome adversity was evident in his thrilling comebacks from two-sets-to-one down in both the semifinals and final.With his victory, Alcaraz achieved several notable milestones:* He became the first man in the Open Era to win back-to-back five-setters in the semifinals and final of Roland Garros, a feat last accomplished by Rod Laver in 1962.* At 21, he became the youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam title on hard, grass, and clay.* He extended his perfect record in Grand Slam finals to 3-0, joining an elite group of players to achieve this feat.* He moved three-quarters of the way towards a Career Slam, with only the Australian Open title remaining to complete the set.* He became the fifth active men's player with three or more Grand Slam titles, joining the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Stan Wawrinka.* He became the first man born in the 2000s to win Roland Garros, and the first man born since 1990 to do so.* He surpassed all other men born since 1990 combined in terms of Grand Slam titles.* He broke a tie with Jannik Sinner for most career tour-level titles for a man born in the 2000s.* He surpassed $30 million in career prize money, becoming the 14th man in ATP history to achieve this milestone.* He rose to No. 2 in the ATP rankings, marking the first time that the Top 2 players were both born in the 2000s.Alcaraz's triumph at Roland Garros is a testament to his exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and bright future in the sport of tennis. As he continues to develop and mature, he has the potential to become one of the greatest players of all time.

Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish sensation, has etched his name in tennis history by becoming the youngest player in the Open Era to reach Grand Slam finals on all three surfaces: hard, grass, and clay. His remarkable achievement was secured with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of Roland Garros on Friday.Alcaraz's triumph marks a significant milestone in his burgeoning career. He has already captured Grand Slam titles on hard and grass, winning the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023, respectively. By reaching the final of Roland Garros, he has completed the career set, becoming the first player to achieve this feat at such a young age.The previous record holder was Andre Agassi, who was 22 years old when he reached the Wimbledon final in 1992, having previously reached the Roland Garros and US Open finals. Alcaraz's accomplishment underscores his exceptional talent and versatility, as he has proven his ability to excel on all surfaces.Alcaraz's victory over Sinner was a testament to his resilience and determination. After dropping the first set, he fought back to win the next two, only to lose the fourth. However, he refused to be denied, digging deep to secure the fifth set and book his place in the final.The Spaniard's success is a testament to his unwavering belief in himself and his relentless pursuit of excellence. He has consistently pushed himself to the limit, seeking to improve his game and overcome any challenges that come his way.As Alcaraz prepares for the Roland Garros final, he will face the daunting task of defeating Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion who is seeking to extend his dominance on the Parisian clay. However, Alcaraz has proven that he is capable of anything, and he will undoubtedly give Nadal a run for his money.

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.