Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, the prodigious tennis star, recently faced a unique challenge: an interview conducted by his fellow ATP peers. In a lighthearted Q&A session, Alcaraz's fellow players grilled him on various aspects of his on-court and off-court life.Jannik Sinner, the Italian rising star, inquired about the development of Alcaraz's signature drop shot. Alcaraz humorously responded that he was "super skinny" as a child, implying that his agility and finesse on the court were not always evident.Daniil Medvedev, known for his aggressive playing style, asked if Alcaraz's attacking tendencies were present even in his childhood. Alcaraz confirmed that his aggressive approach has been a constant throughout his tennis journey.Novak Djokovic, the 21-time Grand Slam champion, quizzed Alcaraz about his favorite sneakers. Alcaraz expressed his preference for Air Jordan 1s, which he has been wearing extensively lately.Grigor Dimitrov, the stylish Bulgarian player, jokingly asked Alcaraz, the Louis Vuitton ambassador, if he could secure a discount on the brand's pricey products. Alcaraz responded with a laugh, acknowledging his lack of influence in that regard.Casper Ruud, Alcaraz's 2022 US Open final opponent, asked about his dream foursome for a round of golf. Alcaraz named former Masters winner John Rahm and Rafael Nadal, his idol and fellow Spaniard.Hubert Hurkacz, the Polish player, posed a thought-provoking question: what goes through Alcaraz's mind during matches. Alcaraz replied with a wry grin, "I'm thinking just to enjoy. I'm thinking about making good shots, drop shots, go to the net, playing great tennis."Alcaraz's responses throughout the interview showcased his wit, humility, and passion for the sport. The Q&A session provided a glimpse into the camaraderie and respect among the ATP players, as well as Alcaraz's unique personality and approach to tennis.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world's second-ranked tennis player, has once again found herself in hot water after accidentally cursing during a live TV interview.During an interview with Prakash Amritraj at the Tennis Channel desk, Sabalenka was discussing her popular "day in the life" videos when she let slip a profanity."I just had the idea. I saw that people want to see it more often. Now it's a goal in each city," she began."So far people like it. As soon as people start saying like, 'Stop it. We are tired of this bullsh--.'"Sabalenka immediately realized her mistake and put the microphone down in disappointment. Amritraj broke out in laughter, exclaiming, "Again, it's beep!""Before the interview started, she promised no F-bombs, no cursing, no nothing!" he said.Sabalenka owned up to her mistake, saying, "It's just something in my blood, cursing."Despite her slip-up, Sabalenka remains focused on her tennis. She will face Danielle Collins in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, a rematch of their Mutua Madrid Open fourth-rounder."Danielle is in incredible shape and she's been crushing it," said Sabalenka.Collins, the 13th seed, defeated Sabalenka's countrywoman Victoria Azarenka to complete the semifinal lineup. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek meets third-ranked Coco Gauff in the top half of the draw."It's great for all of us, because it motivates us a lot to improve, to get better, be more consistent with the game, to get to the last stages of the tournament," said Sabalenka.