Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka's remarkable hard-court dominance continues unabated as she extended her winning streak to 14 matches with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ashlyn Krueger at the China Open. The Belarusian powerhouse, who has already claimed the Australian Open, Cincinnati Open, and U.S. Open titles this year, displayed her unwavering form in Beijing.Sabalenka's relentless aggression and pinpoint accuracy proved too much for Krueger, as she converted five of her seven breakpoint opportunities. The second-ranked player will now face Madison Keys, aiming to match her career-best 15 consecutive victories achieved in 2020-21."I'm not playing my best tennis right now," Sabalenka admitted. "But I'm controlling my emotions and holding myself together, which helps me stay in matches and keep fighting."Keys, meanwhile, secured a 6-3, 6-3 win over Beatrice Haddad Maia of Brazil. Haddad Maia, fresh from her Korea Open triumph, struggled to match Keys' baseline power.Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka continued her resurgence under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Katie Volynets. Osaka will now face sixth-ranked Coco Gauff in the round of 16, their first meeting in over two years."It's going to be a great test for me," Osaka said. "She's played well this year. I'm excited to play the match."Osaka, who returned from maternity leave earlier this season, has shown signs of improvement under Mouratoglou's guidance. Her run in Beijing marks the first time she has recorded three consecutive wins since May.Fifth-ranked Jasmine Paolini suffered a disappointing 6-4, 6-0 defeat to No. 45-ranked Magda Linette of Poland.

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.

The 2024 US Open is still a distant prospect, but the betting world is already buzzing with anticipation. While Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are the current favorites, there are several other players who could emerge as contenders.Coco Gauff (+500)Gauff's game is not ideally suited for the slick grass of Wimbledon, so a disappointing performance there could make her odds for the US Open more attractive. Despite her struggles against Swiatek, Gauff remains a formidable opponent, especially with the home crowd behind her.Danielle Collins (14-1)Collins has enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, winning the Miami Open and reaching the second round at Roland Garros. Her powerful game is well-suited for hard courts, and she could be a threat to the top seeds. However, she will need to avoid facing Swiatek or Sabalenka in the early rounds.Madison Keys (25-1)Keys has a proven track record at the US Open, reaching the semifinals in 2023. Her serve, return, and baseline power make her a dangerous opponent on hard courts. With a potential run at Wimbledon, her odds could improve even further.Marta Kostyuk (66-1)Kostyuk has had a solid season in 2024, reaching two finals and making deep runs at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Despite her high hard-court Elo rating, she is ranked below many other players in the odds. This could present a value opportunity for bettors willing to take a chance on her.Other ContendersIn addition to the players mentioned above, several other players could make a run at the 2024 US Open title. These include Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, and Elena Rybakina. The tournament is still months away, and injuries or other factors could impact the odds. However, these players are all worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.

Madison Keys' resurgence at Roland Garros is a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery and the unwavering support of her fiancé and coach, Bjorn Fratangelo.Keys, a former world No. 7, has struggled with injuries and self-doubt in recent years. However, a shift in perspective and a renewed focus on her well-being have ignited her on the red clay of Paris."I've realized that tennis is an amazing part of who I am, but it's not who I am," Keys said. "It makes everything so much better. The wins are better. The losses are easier."Fratangelo, a former junior Roland Garros champion, has played a pivotal role in Keys' transformation. His ability to communicate effectively and read her emotions has helped her navigate the challenges of the tournament."He knows how to communicate with me—it's the 'seven years together' factor," Keys said. "He's really good at reading me and knowing when to deliver certain messages a certain way."Keys' newfound clarity has translated into impressive results. She has won 13 of her last 15 matches on clay, including a title in Strasbourg. Her only losses have come to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek."I'm just seeing my game super clearly on this surface," Keys said. "I can use my strength to my advantage and stay on my front foot and be aggressive."Keys' journey at Roland Garros is a reminder that success in sports and life is not solely defined by victories. It is about embracing one's identity, finding support, and striving for continuous improvement.

Danielle Collins and Madison Keys, two American tennis stars, will face off in the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg on Saturday. Their friendship, which began nearly two decades ago, has stood the test of time.Collins and Keys first met as 10-year-olds at the Evert Tennis Academy in Florida. Despite living on opposite ends of the state, they became pen pals, exchanging letters that fostered a bond that continues to this day."Our moms are both from Iowa, so they bonded over that at the junior tournaments," Collins revealed. "I've known Maddie a long time, and [she's] a good friend. I'm excited to play her here and have some fun tomorrow."The two have played twice before as professionals, each winning once. However, their last encounter was four years ago. This match holds significance for both players: Keys will be playing in her first red clay final since 2016, while Collins is seeking her third title in the last two months.Neither player has lost a set in the tournament so far. A victory for either would make them the first American champion at Strasbourg since Jennifer Capriati in 1999.

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek continues her dominant run on clay, reaching the quarterfinals of the Italian Open after defeating Angelique Kerber. Swiatek, who won the Madrid Open last week, is aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win the "dirt double."Swiatek's victory over Kerber was hard-fought, with the Polish player needing eight set points to secure the opener. However, she faced no such difficulties in the second set, sealing a 7-5, 6-3 victory. Swiatek will next face Madison Keys, who defeated Sorana Cirstea in a match interrupted by an environmental protest.Keys' match was temporarily suspended after two protesters jumped onto the court and threw confetti, while others glued themselves to the stands. The players returned to the locker room, and the protesters were removed by security.Other American players also advanced to the quarterfinals, with third-seeded Coco Gauff rallying to beat Paula Badosa and Danielle Collins easing past Irina-Camelia Begu. Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to defeat Elina Svitolina in a match that finished well after midnight.In the men's tournament, defending champion Daniil Medvedev survived a scare against Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic. Medvedev will face Tommy Paul in the round of 16, while Madrid finalists Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime were eliminated.Other notable winners in the men's draw include Hubert Hurkacz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sebastian Baez, and Nicolas Jarry.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, continued her impressive form by reaching the Madrid Open final for the second consecutive year. The Polish star cruised to a straight-set victory over American Madison Keys, 6-1, 6-3, in the semifinals on Thursday.Swiatek, who has won two titles this year in Indian Wells and Doha, dominated the match from the start. She broke Keys' serve twice in the first set and never looked back. In the second set, Swiatek broke Keys' serve early and held on to her advantage to secure the victory."It was a pretty clean performance and really solid game from myself," Swiatek said. "I'm happy with everything."The Madrid Open is the only high-profile European clay-court competition that Swiatek has yet to win. She will face either world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka or No. 4 Elena Rybakina in the final."I'm happy that we can play a final against the top players," Swiatek said. "It shows consistency. For sure it's going to be a challenge, whoever it's going to be, and a tough match. I will be ready. I will focus on myself."Sabalenka defeated Swiatek in the Madrid final last year.Meanwhile, in the men's draw, Daniil Medvedev retired from his quarterfinal match against Jiri Lehecka due to an injury. Medvedev, the world No. 4, lost the first set 6-4 before retiring. Lehecka will now face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals."It's never easy in a match like this," Lehecka said of Medvedev's retirement. "If I were to choose the way how to win this match, it wouldn't be like that. So of course, it's never easy to see your opponent struggling, but at that moment, you just need to focus on yourself, trying to get the maximum level out of yourself."

The Mutua Madrid Open's Round of 16 features an intriguing all-American clash between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff. While Keys excels on grass, she's also formidable on clay, boasting a 67-44 record. Gauff, known for her clay-court prowess, has a 38-15 record on the surface.Keys has impressed in Madrid, defeating Irina-Camelia Begu and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets. The altitude and slower bounce of the clay enhance her power and give her more time to execute her shots.Gauff's clay-court game is equally impressive, but Keys' ability to attack her forehand and exploit her shaky serve could prove problematic. Keys' return game is strong, breaking 40.0% of the time on clay over the past year.While Gauff is favored to win, Keys has the potential to force a tiebreaker or win four games in both sets. Her strong serve and ability to capitalize on Gauff's lows make her a threat.

Madison Keys, the former US Open finalist, is set to face Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, in a highly anticipated round of 16 clash at the Miami Open. Keys has endured a challenging year, sidelined by an injury since October, but has shown signs of recovery in recent matches.Despite a rusty start in Indian Wells, Keys has regained her form in Miami, securing straight-set victories over Diana Shnaider and Wang Xinyu. Her serve and powerful baseline play have been key to her resurgence.Rybakina, on the other hand, has struggled to find her best form in Miami. The Kazakhstani was pushed to three sets by both Clara Tauson and Taylor Townsend, indicating some vulnerability in her game.Keys' ability to punish second serves could prove crucial against Rybakina, who relies heavily on her serve and baseline power. If Keys can maintain her serve and force Rybakina into extended rallies, she has a good chance of covering the 3.5-game spread.The match is likely to be close, with both players possessing similar strengths. Keys' experience and familiarity with the Miami Open could give her an edge. Additionally, the American has a 2-1 record against Rybakina in their previous encounters.While Keys is the underdog, her recent form and matchup against Rybakina make her a compelling pick to cover the spread. The American's determination and home-court advantage could propel her to a memorable victory.