Tennis

Miami Open: Alcaraz, Sinner, Murray Advance; Swiatek, Osaka ImpressMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his Miami Open campaign with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Roberto Carballés Baena on Saturday night. The 20-year-old Spaniard showcased his exceptional speed and agility, saving all three break points he faced to extend his winning streak to seven matches.Jannik Sinner, the Australian Open champion and last year's Miami Open runner-up, also advanced to the third round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Andrea Vavassori. The Italian attributed his success to the court conditions, which he found more suitable for his style of play.Andy Murray, a two-time Miami Open champion, overcame a nine-match losing streak against top 50 players with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Tomás Martín Etcheverry. The 36-year-old Scot expressed gratitude for his longevity in the sport, having played nearly 1,000 career matches.In women's action, world number one Iga Swiatek continued her impressive form with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Camila Giorgi. The victory marked her 81st win in her first 100 matches at the WTA-1000 level, a feat surpassed only by Serena Williams.Naomi Osaka, who recently returned from a break, defeated Elina Svitolina 6-2, 7-6 (5). The Japanese star expressed satisfaction with her performance, considering it one of her best matches of the year.Despite rain delays, the Miami Open witnessed several upsets on the men's side. Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil stunned Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, while Christopher O'Connell defeated Francis Tiafoe 7-5, 7-6. Tommy Paul was forced to retire due to an ankle injury, while last year's champion Daniil Medvedev advanced with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Márton Fucsovics.In other notable results, Jessica Pegula advanced to the second round after Zhu Lin retired due to illness.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, has continued her impressive form at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. After defeating Danielle Collins in the opening round, Swiatek avenged her Australian Open loss to Linda Noskova in the round of 32, winning 6-4, 6-0.Noskova, a 19-year-old Czech, had stunned Swiatek in Melbourne, rallying from a set down to reach the quarterfinals. However, Swiatek was determined to avoid a repeat performance and played aggressively from the start.Despite Noskova's powerful groundstrokes, Swiatek saved three break points in the opening set and won 16 of the final 19 points to take the set. The second set was even more one-sided, as Swiatek absorbed Noskova's pace and won nine straight games to complete the bagel.Swiatek's victory sets up a potential clash with another big hitter, Madison Keys, in the round of 16. Keys, the No. 18 seed, will face Yulia Putintseva later on Sunday. Swiatek leads their head-to-head record 2-1, but Keys won their most recent match at the Cincinnati Open in 2022.Swiatek's performance in Indian Wells is a testament to her dominance on the WTA Tour. The 22-year-old Pole has won three Grand Slams in the past two years and is currently on a 10-match winning streak. She is the clear favorite to win the BNP Paribas Open and extend her reign at the top of the women's game.

Six weeks after their intense Australian Open encounter, Iga Swiatek faced a much smoother rematch against Danielle Collins, cruising to a 6-3, 6-0 victory to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.In their previous meeting in Melbourne, Swiatek trailed Collins by two breaks before ultimately prevailing. This time, she applied the lessons learned, dominating the final nine games to secure the win in just 80 minutes.Swiatek, the world No. 1, is celebrating the two-year anniversary of her first WTA ranking triumph in March, when she became the youngest woman to capture the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami. Her semifinal appearance in the 2023 BNP Paribas Open further solidifies her comfort level in the desert.Despite Collins' announcement that 2024 will be her final season, she has maintained a high level of play. The pair traded service holds early on, but Swiatek's marathon seventh game proved pivotal. She saved two break points and won 10 of 11 points to take the opening set.Collins' resistance crumbled in the second set as Swiatek's dominance grew. The Pole won six consecutive games, including a double break, to secure the match. Collins saved two break points in the final game, but Swiatek remained resolute, ending the contest with a backhand putaway.Swiatek's path to the title remains challenging. She could potentially face another Australian Open rival, Linda Noskova, in the third round. Noskova, the No. 26 seed, upset Swiatek in three sets in Melbourne.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, is determined to maintain her rigorous tournament schedule in preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Despite concerns from her team about potential burnout, Swiatek remains adamant about playing "everything" to ensure her readiness for the Games.Swiatek's recent semi-final exit in Dubai raised questions about her ability to sustain her demanding schedule. However, she insists that she feels physically capable of handling the workload. "I think I can handle playing a lot of tournaments," Swiatek said. "I don't want to miss any opportunities."The 22-year-old Pole acknowledges that she may need to adjust her approach in the future, but for now, she is prioritizing playing as many events as possible, particularly on clay. "I would not be comfortable missing anything right now," she said.Swiatek's decision to maintain her packed schedule is driven by her desire to be fully prepared for the Olympics, which begin on July 26. She believes that playing a variety of tournaments will help her develop the necessary skills and experience to succeed on the biggest stage.Despite her unwavering commitment to her schedule, Swiatek recognizes the importance of rest and recovery. She admitted that she felt "out of power and tired" in her Dubai loss, but she is confident that she can manage her workload effectively.As the top seed at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters, Swiatek has a bye into the second round. She will face the winner of the match between Erika Andreeva and American Danielle Collins, who is playing out her career this season. Swiatek defeated Collins in the Australian Open second round but crashed out in the third to unseeded Czech Linda Noskova.

On Unveils Tennis-Specific Collection, Bringing Swiatek and Shelton's Kits to FansSwiss sportswear giant On is set to release its first tennis-specific collection in April, marking a significant milestone in its growing presence in the sport. The collection, developed in collaboration with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and rising American star Ben Shelton, combines cutting-edge materials with thoughtful design to provide athletes with unparalleled comfort and freedom of movement.On's entry into the tennis world began a year ago with the signing of Swiatek and Shelton to head-to-toe deals. Since then, the players have provided valuable feedback to the brand, shaping the development of the new collection.The comprehensive collection includes 17 pieces of apparel and footwear, designed to transition seamlessly from on-court to off-court. From Shelton's pink-accented tank top to Swiatek's signature two-piece match outfits, the collection emphasizes sleek, modern designs that make a statement."The design and advanced technology not only enhance my comfort during matches but also empower me to perform at my best while feeling confident," said Swiatek.The collection will debut in Europe on April 1, 2024, and will be available online at On.com and in stores in North America on April 5.In addition to the tennis collection, On has also released THE ROGER Clubhouse Pro, its first on-court model designed for casual but competitive tennis players. The shoe combines the performance features of THE ROGER Pro with the heritage style of other "Roger" models."Tennis, padel, or even, dare I say it, pickleball," said Federer, describing the versatility of the Clubhouse Pro.THE ROGER Clubhouse Pro is now available at On.com and in stores and sports retailers worldwide.

The BNP Paribas Open's Eisenhower Cup, held on Tuesday night, showcased a unique blend of tennis stars from both the ATP and WTA tours. The innovative Tie Break Tens format, where players compete solely in tiebreaks, provided a thrilling and entertaining spectacle for fans.World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka joined forces with ATP Top 10 stars Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz. Off-court couple Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas shared the court, while Caroline Wozniacki made a highly anticipated return alongside Holger Rune.Last-minute lineup changes saw Maria Sakkari replace Elena Rybakina and Sloane Stephens step in for Jessica Pegula. However, it was former NCAA champions Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton who emerged victorious.Shelton's powerful serve and Navarro's steady baseline play proved to be a formidable combination. They saved a match point in their opening win over Sakkari and Rublev, setting the tone for their eventual triumph."I'm confident standing at the net when he's serving," said Navarro. "We had a lot of fun."The Eisenhower Cup showcased the camaraderie and competitive spirit of the tennis world. The relaxed atmosphere allowed players to enjoy the game while still showcasing their exceptional skills.