Tennis

Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, is poised to make a strong bid for the Roland Garros title despite recent injury concerns. The 22-year-old Italian has been battling a hip issue that forced him to withdraw from the Rome Masters. However, recent social media posts and the presence of his coach, Darren Cahill, in Paris suggest that Sinner is determined to compete.Sinner's odds of winning Roland Garros have improved to +500 following the injury news, presenting a potentially lucrative opportunity for bettors. Most sportsbooks offer refunds if Sinner withdraws before the tournament, making it a low-risk, high-reward wager.Despite his relative lack of success on clay, Sinner has proven to be a formidable opponent on all surfaces. He boasts an impressive 28-3 record this season, ranking first in the world in hold percentage and third in break percentage. His elite baseline play, powerful forehand and backhand, and improved variety make him a threat to any opponent.TennisViz and Tennis Data Innovations rank Sinner as the world's top performer on clay in 2024, with the highest Shot Quality on both forehand and backhand. While there remains a possibility that Sinner may withdraw, the odds of him competing and performing at a high level are strong.

Jiri Lehecka Withdraws from Roland Garros Due to Back InjuryJiri Lehecka's impressive run at the Mutua Madrid Open came to an abrupt end when a back injury forced him to withdraw from the semifinals. The unfortunate setback has also led to the Czech player's withdrawal from the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.Lehecka's injury is a significant blow to his promising season. The 22-year-old had matched his career-high ranking of No. 23 in January and was poised for a deep run in Madrid. However, the back injury has derailed his momentum, leaving him unable to compete at Roland Garros.Lehecka joins Marin Cilic and Facundo Diaz Acosta as the third ATP player to withdraw from the French Open due to injury. The absence of these top players will undoubtedly impact the tournament's competitiveness.Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, who also suffered an injury in Madrid, has provided an update on his condition. The world No. 2 posted photos on social media showing him training on red clay in Monte Carlo, accompanied by the caption "Let's work." Sinner's status for Roland Garros remains uncertain, but his determination to recover is evident.In other news, Emma Raducanu has decided to skip Roland Garros qualifying to focus on preparing for the grass-court season. The 2021 US Open champion has not played since a first-round exit in Madrid, where she admitted to feeling "mentally and emotionally" exhausted. Raducanu, who used a protected ranking to enter the French Open, was three spots out of a main-draw spot."It's important for me to keep laying on the foundations," Raducanu said. "I will use the time to do a healthy block before the grass and subsequent hard-court seasons to give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year."Qualifying for Roland Garros begins on Monday, with two-time finalist Dominic Thiem facing Franco Agamenone on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Former world No. 10 Lucas Pouilles will take on Hamad Medjedovic, while Americans Lauren Davis, Alycia Parks, Claire Liu, and Denis Kudla are among those competing in the qualifying rounds.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is likely to miss the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros after withdrawing from this week's qualifying tournament. The Briton, currently ranked 212th in the world, was a third alternate for the main draw, but her name did not appear among the qualifiers listed on the Roland Garros website.Raducanu's withdrawal is a significant setback for the 21-year-old, who has struggled with injuries since her historic US Open triumph. She has not played a match since losing in the first round of the Madrid Open last month, where she admitted to feeling "mentally and emotionally exhausted."In a statement quoted by British media, Raducanu explained her decision to withdraw from the French Open: "It's important for me to keep laying on the foundations and I will use the time to do a healthy block before the grass and subsequent hard court seasons to give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year."Raducanu's only appearance at Roland Garros came in 2022, when she lost in the second round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She was not awarded a wild card for this year's edition.The Briton's absence from the French Open is a blow to the tournament, which is one of the four Grand Slams. Raducanu's star power and recent success would have undoubtedly drawn attention to the event.However, Raducanu's decision to prioritize her long-term health and fitness is understandable. The grass court season, which includes Wimbledon, is just around the corner, and Raducanu will be eager to make an impact on her home turf.

World number two Jannik Sinner is racing against time to recover from a right hip injury and participate in the upcoming French Open. The Italian star missed the Rome Open due to the ailment but has resumed training on a clay court in Monaco, eight days before the start of Roland Garros on May 26.Sinner's social media posts on Saturday evening featured images of him practicing with a racquet, accompanied by emojis representing a sword and the French flag, symbolizing his determination to compete in Paris.The Australian Open champion had previously stated that he would only participate in the French Open if he was fully fit. The hip injury forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open at the start of the month before his quarter-final match."I don't want to go into details (of the injury)," Sinner said at a press conference announcing his absence from Rome. "We thought initially that it wasn't anything serious, but the scans showed that there was something that wasn't right.""One thing is sure, if I've not 100 percent recovered, I will take more time out as I do not want to lose three years of my career."Despite the setback, Sinner remains optimistic about his chances of playing in Paris. "My preparation for Paris won't be optimal because I won't have much time, but what is sure is that I will give everything in order to be in a position to play," he said.The 22-year-old has enjoyed a successful season so far, winning the Australian Open in January and claiming his second Masters 1000 title in Miami in March. His participation in the French Open would be a major boost for the tournament and would add to the excitement surrounding the second Grand Slam of the season.

Elina Svitolina, the former world No. 3, has been battling persistent pain since her return from maternity leave last year. Despite a dominant start to her Internazionali BNL d'Italia campaign, Svitolina admits to struggling daily with pain levels ranging from 2 to 3 out of 10.The pain initially stemmed from a foot injury sustained during her impressive run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals in 2022. After a brief hiatus to give birth to her daughter, Svitolina returned with a more aggressive approach, resulting in a title in Strasbourg and a Top 10 victory over Daria Kasatkina.However, the foot pain persisted, leading to a shutdown of her season after the US Open. Despite healing over the off-season, Svitolina encountered further setbacks at the Australian Open, where her back went out ahead of a fourth-round match.Svitolina's injuries have limited her ability to play her higher-octane game, which had been a hallmark of her comeback. She has opted to continue playing despite advice from her performance team, citing the emotional weight she carries as a spokeswoman for Ukraine."For me when I step on the court, I just try to think about the fighting spirit that all of us Ukrainians have," Svitolina said.However, her results have been mixed since Melbourne, with a 4-5 record and only one instance of winning back-to-back matches. Svitolina's husband, Gaël Monfils, provides support by taking care of their daughter while she competes.Despite the challenges, Svitolina remains determined to improve her condition gradually. She is closely monitoring her body through scans and listening to its signals."For me, the worst is to play on an injury that can get worse and force me to be out for six months," Svitolina said. "It's important to evaluate every single day, and see how I can get many 1% better than the day before."

Matteo Berrettini, the Italian tennis star, has withdrawn from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia for the third consecutive year due to an undisclosed illness. The withdrawal comes as a major disappointment for Berrettini, who was eager to compete in his hometown tournament.Berrettini, who was scheduled to face Stefano Napolitano in the first round, explained that he made the difficult decision to withdraw after careful consideration. "I'm not ready to perform and to give my best on court," he said. "I tried everything because this tournament is extra special for me."The 28-year-old has been struggling with injuries in recent months. He was sidelined from September 2022 to March 2023 with an ankle injury and has not played since losing to Miomir Kecmanovic at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters in April.Despite his recent setbacks, Berrettini remains optimistic about his recovery. "I have to put away my heart, I would say, use my brain a little bit more," he said. "Think about what's most important for me, which is my health and not getting injured again, not being away from the courts for months potentially."Berrettini's next scheduled appearance is Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year. He had attempted to enter both the Geneva and Lyon tournaments as a protected ranking, but his ranking was not high enough to secure a spot. However, he could still receive a wild card or benefit from player withdrawals.The Internazionali BNL d'Italia is a prestigious clay-court tournament held in Rome. Berrettini has never won the tournament but reached the semifinals in 2019 and 2021. His withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament and to Italian tennis fans.

World number three Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Italian Open due to a persistent arm injury, the Spaniard announced on May 3. The 20-year-old had been struggling with the problem since a practice session in Monaco and was forced to miss the Madrid Open as a result.Alcaraz's withdrawal from Rome is a major blow to his hopes of winning three straight Madrid Open titles. He had successfully defended his Indian Wells title in March and reached the Miami Open quarter-finals before the injury struck.The Spaniard's absence from the Italian Open opens the door for other players to challenge for the title. Defending champion Novak Djokovic is the top seed, while Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also among the favorites.Alcaraz's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of the tennis season. The Spaniard has played a grueling schedule in recent months, and his body is now paying the price. It remains to be seen how long Alcaraz will be out of action, but he is expected to miss at least the next few weeks.The Italian Open is an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour Masters 1000 event, and it is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the clay-court calendar. The tournament is held in Rome, Italy, and it attracts the world's best players.Alcaraz's withdrawal from the Italian Open is a disappointment for fans, but it is also a reminder of the importance of player health. The Spaniard is still young, and he has a long career ahead of him. It is important for him to take the time to recover from his injury and come back stronger than ever.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world's top-ranked tennis player, has withdrawn from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome due to a muscle edema in his forearm. The injury is a consequence of the same issue that forced him to withdraw from the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters earlier this month.Alcaraz had initially expressed optimism about playing in Rome after experiencing discomfort in his arm during his quarterfinal loss to Andrey Rublev at the Mutua Madrid Open. However, recent test results have prompted him to reconsider."I felt some pain after playing in Madrid, some discomfort in my arm," Alcaraz wrote on social media. "Today I did some tests and I have a muscle edema in my pronator teres [the anterior forearm muscle], a consequence of my recent injury. Unfortunately I will not be able to play in Rome. I need to rest so I can recover and play 100% pain free. I am very sorry, I will see you next year."Alcaraz's withdrawal from Rome is a significant blow to the tournament, which is one of the most prestigious clay-court events on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard was the defending champion in Madrid and had won 14 consecutive matches at the tournament before his loss to Rublev.Alcaraz's injury also raises concerns about his participation in the upcoming French Open, which begins on May 26. The Spaniard reached the semifinals at Roland Garros last year and is considered one of the favorites to win the title this year.However, Alcaraz's recent injury history suggests that he may not be at his best for the French Open. In addition to the muscle edema in his forearm, Alcaraz has also struggled with a foot injury this season.The Spaniard's withdrawal from Rome is a reminder of the physical challenges that tennis players face on the grueling clay-court season. The surface is known to be particularly demanding on the body, and injuries are common.Alcaraz's decision to withdraw from Rome is a wise one. It gives him time to rest and recover, and it increases his chances of being healthy for the French Open.

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open due to a right-hip injury, organizers announced on Wednesday. The withdrawal comes just hours after second seed Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated by Andrey Rublev.Sinner, the Australian Open champion, was scheduled to face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals on Thursday. However, he has been struggling with the hip injury for some time and aggravated it during his third-round win over Pavel Kotov."I have been struggling a little bit with my right hip. We're trying to find a solution and I don't think it's anything serious. Sometimes I feel it more like today and some days are a little bit better," Sinner said after the Kotov match.Despite the injury, Sinner managed to defeat 16th seed Karen Khachanov in the fourth round to improve his season record to 28-2. He was aiming to win his fourth title of the year and his first on clay since defeating Alcaraz in the 2022 Umag final.Sinner's withdrawal is a major blow to the Madrid Open, which has already lost two of its top seeds. Auger-Aliassime will now face the winner of the match between third seed Daniil Medvedev and 30th seed Jiri Lehecka, who upset Rafael Nadal in the second round.Sinner is now hoping to be fully fit for the Rome Masters 1000, which begins next week. He has reached the quarterfinals in Rome once before, in 2022. Sinner is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, 1,130 points behind Novak Djokovic.