Tennis

Novak Djokovic Withdraws from ATP Finals Due to InjuryNovak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the ATP Finals in Turin due to a persistent injury. The Serbian star had qualified for the season-ending tournament but has decided to prioritize his recovery.Djokovic's withdrawal leaves eight players competing for the title: Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev.Djokovic's absence is a significant blow to the tournament, as he is a former five-time champion and one of the most decorated players in ATP history. However, the field remains stacked with talent, and the competition is expected to be fierce.Ruud, de Minaur, and Rublev will now compete for the final three spots in Turin. Potential replacements for Djokovic include Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas.The ATP Finals will begin on Sunday, November 10th, and will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel.

Matteo Berrettini, the former Wimbledon finalist, has rediscovered his passion for tennis after a challenging year marked by illness and injury. The Italian star, who began his 2023 season in March, endured a two-month setback due to an illness that threatened to derail his progress. However, Berrettini persevered through the emotional turmoil and has emerged with a renewed sense of joy and purpose."I found the energy again. I found the joy of doing what I like to do, what I'm doing right now," Berrettini told TENNIS.com. "That's the most important thing, finding the joy about what you're doing."Berrettini's resilience is particularly poignant in light of the recent retirement of Dominic Thiem, a fellow member of his generation who has struggled with injuries and a loss of motivation. Berrettini expressed his admiration for Thiem's decision to step away from the sport at the age of 31."I respect a lot about his decision because he felt like he's not in the place that he wanted to be," said Berrettini. "He steps away with my respect, and I think, the respect from the rest of the players."Despite falling outside the Top 150 earlier this year, Berrettini has climbed back into the Top 40 and has won three clay-court titles in 2023. While he acknowledges that his strengths lie in his play on grass, where he has won four titles, Berrettini is proud of his journey and the progress he has made."I think 18-year-old me would be really proud of the journey that we've been through," said Berrettini. "I got my first ATP point at 19, my first ATP win at 22. I was kind of late but my journey was really nice. A lot of good things happened along the way."Berrettini is currently competing in the Vienna Open, where he is making his third appearance. He reached the semifinals in his debut five years ago, where he was defeated by Thiem.

Naomi Osaka's 2023 season has come to an abrupt end due to a series of injuries, including a ruptured abdominal muscle and a bulging disc in her back. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion announced her withdrawal from the Billie Jean King Cup finals, which were scheduled to be her final tournament of the year.Osaka's injury woes began at the China Open in Beijing, where she retired from her last-16 match against Coco Gauff. Subsequent MRI scans revealed the extent of her injuries, forcing her to withdraw from the Japan Open and the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.The Billie Jean King Cup finals, scheduled for November 13-20 in Malaga, Spain, would have marked Osaka's return to the competition since 2020. She played a pivotal role in Japan's victory over Kazakhstan in April, securing their qualification for the finals.Osaka's withdrawal is a significant blow to the Billie Jean King Cup, as she is one of the most recognizable and successful players in the world. Her absence will undoubtedly weaken Japan's chances of success in the tournament.Osaka's struggles for consistency since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter have been well-documented. Despite reaching two quarter-finals, she has failed to recapture the form that saw her dominate the sport in recent years.The injuries sustained by Osaka are a reminder of the physical demands of professional tennis. The sport requires immense athleticism and resilience, and even the most elite players are susceptible to setbacks.Osaka's decision to prioritize her health and recovery is a wise one. By taking the necessary time to heal, she can ensure her long-term fitness and return to the court stronger than ever.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan has withdrawn from next week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo due to a lingering back injury. The former world number one has been sidelined since retiring from her last-16 match at the China Open against eventual champion Coco Gauff earlier this month.Osaka's withdrawal from the Pan Pacific Open marks the latest setback in her injury-plagued season. She has struggled for consistency since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023. Her best results since becoming a parent have been two quarter-final appearances.The 27-year-old was set to compete at the Pan Pacific Open as a wild card, but organizers confirmed her absence due to a lower back injury. Osaka's appearance at the China Open was her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman best known for being the long-time former coach of Serena Williams.China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, ranked number seven in the world, is now the top-ranked player at the Pan Pacific Open. Russia's Daria Kasatkina and Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia are also set to compete.Osaka's withdrawal is a blow to the tournament organizers, who were hoping to attract a strong field for the first edition of the Pan Pacific Open since 2019. The tournament was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite her recent struggles, Osaka remains one of the most popular and marketable players in tennis. She has won four Grand Slam titles, including the US Open twice, and has been ranked number one in the world. Her off-court ventures, including her own clothing line and skincare brand, have also made her a global icon.

Emma Raducanu's promising momentum has been halted once again due to a sprained ligament in her left foot. The British tennis star announced her withdrawal from the WTA 1000 in Beijing on Monday, citing the injury sustained during her second-round match at the Hana Bank Korea Open in Seoul.Raducanu had taken a medical timeout during her victory in Seoul but was forced to retire after losing the first set of her quarterfinal against Daria Kasatkina. The injury has also prevented her from competing in the China Open, where she was scheduled to face Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the second round.The 2021 US Open champion expressed disappointment over her withdrawal, stating, "I hope to be back as soon as I can." Raducanu had previously emphasized her excitement for the Asian swing, where she feels at home."I stacked the year on the backend heavy, because I'm excited. I thrive in Asia. It's where I truly feel like home," she said. "I'm looking forward to going out there and trying to take it."Raducanu's withdrawal marks the fourth Top 10 player to pull out of the Beijing tournament due to injury. Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina has also withdrawn due to a back problem that ended her US Open prematurely. Rybakina will miss the entire Asian swing but hopes to return for the season-ending WTA Finals."Due to an ongoing back injury, I regretfully have to withdraw from the upcoming Asian tournaments," Rybakina said. "While I’ve been working hard on my recovery, my medical team and I have decided it's best to prioritize my health at this time."Raducanu's injury is a setback in her quest to improve her ranking. She had moved up 16 spots to No. 54 in this week's rankings after her performance in Seoul. The British star will now focus on recovering and returning to competition as soon as possible.

Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian tennis star, has announced the premature end of her 2024 season due to a persistent shoulder injury. The three-time Grand Slam finalist made the difficult decision after consulting with her medical team.Jabeur's injury woes have plagued her in recent seasons. In addition to her current shoulder issue, a recurring right knee problem forced her to miss the WTA 1000 event in Dubai earlier this year. She also retired from her quarterfinal match against Coco Gauff at the grass-court event in Berlin in June.Despite her struggles, Jabeur reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and in Madrid this year. However, her ranking has dropped out of the WTA's Top 10, where she had been consistently ranked since October 2021.While sidelined, Jabeur plans to dedicate herself to charity work, aiming to make a positive impact on the world. She has expressed her determination to return to the court stronger in 2025, starting with the Australian Open.Jabeur's absence from the tour will be a significant loss for the sport. Her aggressive style of play and infectious personality have made her a fan favorite. Her return to full fitness will be eagerly anticipated by tennis enthusiasts worldwide.

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning US Open champion, has allayed concerns about his fitness ahead of the 2024 tournament after a minor ankle injury forced him to cut short a practice session on Saturday.Speaking at his Media Day press conference, Alcaraz explained that he stopped the practice as a precautionary measure. "I didn't feel comfortable enough to keep practicing just in case if everything is going to be worse," he said. "But, you know, after a few hours later, I'm still feeling good, you know, my feet, so tomorrow I will try to be practicing again 100% without thinking about it, but today I'll take care about it."Alcaraz, who was practicing with fellow ATP pro Francisco Cerundolo, expressed more disappointment for Cerundolo than concern for himself. "I wasn't worried at all for my US Open participation," he said. "Obviously, I was angry because I don't want to stop the practice, just to respect Cerundolo, as well."The 2022 champion was later seen on court for Arthur Ashe Kid's Day and was in good spirits throughout his press conference. Alcaraz has won the last two major tournaments at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and won a silver medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.Despite having played only one match since the Olympics, Alcaraz is confident in his preparation for the US Open. "Obviously, I would have loved to have more matches on my belt on hard court before the US Open," he said. "But, I mean, it doesn't affect me at all. If I look back a little bit, you know, for example, facing the Roland Garros, I hadn't too much matches on clay, and it was a pretty good result. And then in Wimbledon, same thing, you know.""So, I don't want to think that it's going to be the same, you know, than the previous two Grand Slams, but I'm not worried about not having too many matches on hard court."Alcaraz will open his US Open campaign against Australian qualifier Li Tu on Tuesday.

Rafael Nadal's Olympic hopes hang in the balance as he battles a thigh injury. The 38-year-old Spaniard, who has won 22 Grand Slams, is still scheduled to face Marton Fucsovics on Sunday, but he admitted that he is unsure if he will be able to play."I don't know what's going to happen, I don't know if I am going to play tomorrow or not," Nadal said. "I will talk to my people and make the smartest decision that I can to have the best chance of bringing a medal home."Nadal's injury is a major blow to his hopes of winning a singles gold medal in Tokyo. He is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won gold in singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016.If Nadal is unable to play, it would be a major disappointment for fans who were hoping to see him face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Djokovic, the world number one, is also a two-time Olympic medalist, having won bronze in singles in 2008 and 2012.Djokovic is the favorite to win the gold medal in Tokyo, but he will face a tough challenge from Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev.In other news from the Olympics, Iga Swiatek, the world number one, advanced to the second round of the women's singles tournament with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Irina-Camelia Begu. Swiatek is the favorite to win the gold medal in Tokyo, but she will face a tough challenge from Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty, and Aryna Sabalenka.

Madison Keys' Wimbledon exit due to a hamstring injury was a heartbreaking moment for the American tennis star. However, she is using her time off to focus on personal projects and her recovery.Keys and her fiancé, former ATP pro Bjorn Fratangelo, have been renovating their 1929 Orlando home. Recent updates include a new coffee bar and wallpaper in the laundry room. Plans for the future include painting the guest bathroom and upgrading the master bathroom.In addition to home improvement, Keys is also preparing for her wedding. She hinted that she will have multiple looks for her special day.Regarding her injury, Keys provided a positive update. "The leg is feeling a lot better and my rehab has been going really well. Luckily the injury wasn’t too severe so hopefully I’ll be back soon," she wrote.Despite being the fourth highest-ranked American, Keys opted to skip the Paris Olympics due to an earlier shoulder injury. She is expected to return to action at the WTA 500 in Washington, D.C., starting July 29.Keys' resilience and determination are evident in her approach to both her personal life and her tennis career. She is using this time off to focus on her well-being and prepare for her future on and off the court.