Tennis

The French Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, is set to commence on Sunday, May 26, 2024. The tournament will be held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, and will conclude on June 8.Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and current world number one, will be the man to beat. The Serbian is aiming to break the record for the most Grand Slam titles won by a male player, currently held by Rafael Nadal with 22. However, Djokovic has had a mixed start to the season, with a 14-6 win-loss record and no final appearances yet.Rafael Nadal, the "King of Clay," will also be making his return to Roland Garros after missing last year's tournament due to a hip injury. Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times and will be looking to extend his dominance on the clay courts.Iga Swiatek, the reigning women's champion, will begin her title defense against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean. Swiatek has been in impressive form this season, winning the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells Masters.India's Sumit Nagal will make his French Open debut this year. Nagal, who reached the second round of the US Open in 2019, will be hoping to make a mark on the Grand Slam stage.The French Open will be broadcast live in India on the Sony Sports Network. Fans can also watch live streaming of the tournament on SonyLiv.

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.

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.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek's quest for a record-breaking fourth French Open title could face a formidable challenge from four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in the second round of the 2024 tournament. The draw, announced on Thursday, has placed Swiatek and Osaka in the same half, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster clash.Swiatek, who has dominated the women's tennis circuit this season, will begin her title defense against a qualifier or lucky loser. Should she advance, she could face Osaka, who will open her campaign against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. Osaka, a former World No. 1, has struggled for form in recent months but remains a dangerous opponent on her day.Another potential obstacle for Swiatek is reigning US Open winner Coco Gauff, who is also in the same half of the draw. Gauff, who has emerged as one of the most promising young players in the world, could face a quarterfinal showdown with Swiatek.On the other side of the draw, two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will face Erika Andreeva in the first round. Sabalenka, currently ranked World No. 2, will be aiming to make a deep run in Paris after reaching the semifinals in 2021.Fourth seed Elena Rybakina, the only player to have defeated Swiatek on clay this season, will take on Belgium's Greet Minnen in her opener. Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, could face seventh-seeded Chinese Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals.Other notable matchups in the projected quarterfinal line-up include reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova against Swiatek, and three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur against Gauff. Eighth-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari could meet Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.The 2024 French Open will take place from May 26 onwards at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. Swiatek will be aiming to become the first woman since Justine Henin in 2007 to win four consecutive French Open titles.

The 2024 French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, is set to commence on May 26 at the iconic Stade Roland Garros in Paris. The tournament will feature a star-studded field, with all eyes on Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion who is likely making his final appearance at the event.Nadal, who has been battling injuries, will be unseeded but remains a formidable force on clay. The Spaniard will face stiff competition from defending champion Novak Djokovic, who will be the top seed. Other contenders include reigning Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner and rising star Carlos Alcaraz.In the women's singles, defending champion Iga Swiatek will be the heavy favorite. The Polish sensation has been in dominant form this season, winning the Italian Open and Madrid Open titles. However, Elena Rybakina, the only player to defeat Swiatek on clay this year, will be a threat.The French Open draw will take place on May 23 at 5:30 PM IST. The tournament will be broadcast live on Sony Ten Network in India and streamed online on Sony Liv.

The 2024 clay-court season has been a rollercoaster of surprises, setting the stage for an intriguing Roland Garros tournament. Former champion Martina Navratilova shares her insights on the upcoming Grand Slam, analyzing the contenders and their chances of lifting the trophy.Men's Field: Djokovic's Experience vs. UncertaintiesRafael Nadal's dominance at Roland Garros has been unparalleled, but the 37-year-old's recent form has raised questions about his ability to extend his record-breaking 14 titles. Top seeds Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz all face uncertainties heading into Paris, with Djokovic recovering from a head injury and Sinner and Alcaraz battling physical issues."The unknowns are pretty large right now," Navratilova said. "If injuries come into play, then Novak is an even bigger favorite to win."Djokovic remains the betting favorite due to his experience and recent wild card acceptance into the Geneva Open. Navratilova believes that Djokovic's lack of tournament success in 2024 could motivate him to make the most of the chaotic field and capture his fourth Roland Garros title.Swiatek's Dominance: Evert-Like InvincibilityIga Swiatek enters Roland Garros as the defending champion and the highest-ranked player since Serena Williams in 2015. Her back-to-back victories in Madrid and Rome have solidified her position as the favorite.Navratilova compares Swiatek's dominance to that of Chris Evert, who won seven Roland Garros titles. "It's really impossible to find an opening against Iga on clay," Navratilova said. "Right now she looks pretty unbeatable."While Swiatek admires Nadal, Navratilova believes she has a long way to go to match his 14 titles. However, she acknowledges that Swiatek's early success and exceptional clay-court game could lead her to catch up to Evert's record.Evert's Legacy: Deserving of RecognitionThis year marks the 50th anniversary of Chris Evert's first Grand Slam title, which she won at Roland Garros. Navratilova believes that the French Tennis Federation should honor Evert's legacy with a statue, similar to the one erected for Nadal."If Rafa has a statue there, then Chris should have a statue, also," Navratilova said. "She's the OG queen of clay."Collins: A Sneaky ContenderDanielle Collins has emerged as a force in women's tennis, winning her first WTA 1000 title in Miami. Navratilova believes that Collins could be a surprise semifinalist or finalist at Roland Garros."She would be my pick for a sneaky semifinal or final," Navratilova said. "I know I wouldn't want her in my draw."Olympic Summer: Physical and Mental ChallengesRoland Garros marks the beginning of a grueling summer season that includes Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open. Navratilova predicts that the physical and mental challenges of this stretch will test the players' limits."You basically have four majors in two or three months," Navratilova said. "The game is more physical [than when I was on tour] and the Olympics don't make it easier that's for sure."Navratilova is concerned about the potential for injuries and hopes that the players can maintain their health throughout the summer.

Iga Swiatek and Courteney Cox Hit the Court in ParisFresh from her impressive Madrid-Rome double, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek has arrived in Paris for the French Open. And she's already made a new friend: Courteney Cox, the iconic actress who played Monica Geller on the sitcom "Friends."On Tuesday, Swiatek and Cox hit the court together at a special event organized by On, the performance apparel brand that Swiatek is now representing. The two had previously exchanged pleasantries on Instagram in October 2022, when Swiatek commented on a video of Cox practicing her serve."If we'd play doubles together, no one would have hit you," Swiatek wrote. Cox responded, "Ok come over and we'll take him on! I mean this."Tennis has a special place in the "Friends" universe. In one episode, Monica and Chandler Bing (played by the late Matthew Perry) team up for a doubles match against Bing's boss and wife. Monica, known for her competitive spirit, refuses to let them win."I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you just said," she responds when Bing asks her to let them win.Swiatek can probably relate to Monica's competitive nature. The 22-year-old has been dominating the WTA Tour this year, winning five titles in a row. She is aiming to pull off a Roland Garros three-peat and collect her fourth crown in five years at the season's second Grand Slam event.The draw for the French Open will be revealed on Thursday at 3 p.m. local time. Swiatek will be the top seed and will be looking to extend her winning streak to 35 matches.

Iga Swiatek's dominance continues to soar as she captures her fourth WTA 1000 title of the year in Rome, propelling her to a record-breaking ranking points total of 11,695. This achievement surpasses her previous high of 11,085 and marks the highest ranking points for any woman in nearly nine years, since Serena Williams in 2015.Swiatek's victory in Rome not only extends her winning streak to 28 matches but also solidifies her position as the world's top-ranked player. Her impressive performance has earned her a guaranteed Top 4 seed at the upcoming Roland Garros, where she will defend her title.Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev's triumph in Rome has elevated him to the No. 4 spot in the ATP rankings, ensuring him a Top 4 seed at Roland Garros. Nicolas Jarry's remarkable run to the final has propelled him to a career-high ranking of No. 16, making him the sixth-highest-ranked Chilean in ATP history.Other notable ranking moves include Alejandro Tabilo's Top 30 debut after reaching the semifinals in Rome, stunning Novak Djokovic in the process. French teenager Arthur Fils also makes his Top 30 debut, while Luciano Darderi and Diana Shnaider break into the ATP and WTA Top 50, respectively.The breakthroughs continue with four Top 100 debuts this week. Shang Juncheng becomes the first Chinese teenager to reach the ATP Top 100, while Moyuka Uchijima and Rebecca Sramkova make their WTA Top 100 debuts.Swiatek's continued dominance and the impressive performances of Zverev, Jarry, and others set the stage for an exciting Roland Garros tournament, where the world's best players will battle for the coveted Grand Slam title.

The French Open 2024, the second Grand Slam of the year, is set to commence on May 26 at the iconic Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. The tournament will witness the return of tennis legends and the emergence of rising stars.Men's Singles: Nadal and Djokovic Headline ContendersThe men's singles draw is headlined by the 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal, who has won a record 14 French Open titles. Despite missing the tournament last year due to injury, Nadal remains a formidable force on the Parisian clay. His arch-rival, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, will also be vying for his third French Open title. Djokovic's victory last year marked his 24th Grand Slam men's singles title, surpassing Nadal's record.Other contenders include world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who reached the semi-finals last year, and former US champion Daniil Medvedev. Former Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner and two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud are also expected to challenge for the title.Indian Presence: Sumit Nagal Makes HistoryIndian tennis player Sumit Nagal has made history by becoming the first Indian male player to qualify for the French Open main draw since 2019. Nagal's career-high world ranking of 80 earned him a spot in the tournament. He recently stunned world No. 38 Matteo Arnaldi at the Monte Carlo Masters, becoming the first Indian to qualify for the main draw of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in 42 years.Men's Doubles: Bopanna and Ebden Among FavoritesIn the men's doubles, veteran Rohan Bopanna and his partner Matthew Ebden of Australia are among the title favorites. The reigning Australian Open champions are seeded second behind Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina. Other Indian players competing in the men's doubles include Yuki Bhambri, Sumit Nagal, Sriram Balaji, Anirudh Chandrasekar, Arjun Kadhe, Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli, and Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha.Women's Singles: Swiatek Leads the ChargeThe women's singles draw is led by world No. 1 and three-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland. Swiatek is in dominant form, having won the French Open in 2022 and 2023, as well as the Madrid Open earlier this month. However, she will face stiff competition from the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina.