Tennis

Rafael Nadal's farewell tour at his home tournament in Madrid took a positive turn as he avenged his recent defeat to Alex de Minaur with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 victory. Despite admitting to ongoing physical issues, Nadal displayed resilience and determination to advance to the third round, where he will face Argentina's Pedro Cachin.Nadal's performance was met with thunderous applause from a capacity crowd that included royalty and sports icons. However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion remained cautious, acknowledging that he still needs time to regain his peak form. "No, not yet. It needs time," Nadal said. "To play over two hours means a lot to me and the atmosphere here is just a joke."Nadal's participation in the upcoming French Open remains uncertain, as he will assess his recovery after the Rome tournament. "It's not a thing about losing or winning. It's about going on court there with the feeling that I can fight and I can be competitive," Nadal explained. "So if I am not able to go on court and dream, for me it doesn't make sense to go."Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a shock second-round exit at the hands of world number 118 Thiago Monteiro. The Greek star, who had only one defeat on clay this season, struggled with his rhythm and balance, losing 6-4, 6-4 in just over 90 minutes.Top seed Jannik Sinner extended his unbeaten record against fellow Italians to 13-0, defeating Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3. Third seed Daniil Medvedev also advanced to the third round after a hard-fought 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi.In the women's draw, world number one Iga Swiatek cruised past Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 to set up a fourth-round clash with Sara Sorribes Tormo. Ons Jabeur, the 2022 champion, overcame a slow start to defeat Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. US Open champion Coco Gauff also advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Dayana Yastremska.

Danielle Collins' winning streak continues unabated as she triumphs in Madrid opener.After claiming back-to-back titles in Miami and Charleston, Danielle Collins has extended her remarkable winning streak to 14 matches with a hard-fought victory over Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic in her opening match at the Madrid Open.Collins, who has now won on three different surfaces during her streak, battled back from a set and a break down to defeat Danilovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8) on Friday. The American has now won 28 of her last 30 sets, a testament to her exceptional form.Danilovic managed to snatch a rare set from Collins, but the American's resilience and determination proved too much to overcome. Collins has only dropped two sets since losing the first set of her Miami opener to Bernarda Pera.The last player to defeat Collins was world number one Iga Swiatek in the second round of Indian Wells. Since then, Collins has been unstoppable, showcasing her all-court prowess and unwavering focus.

World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, citing a desire to focus on preparing for the upcoming French Open. The 36-year-old Serbian star has struggled for form this season, winning only one match in four tournaments.Djokovic's withdrawal from Madrid marks the third time in four years that he has pulled out of the tournament. He is a three-time champion at the event, but has not won a title since 2019.The Serb's decision to skip Madrid is part of a broader strategy to lighten his schedule and prioritize the Grand Slams. Djokovic has played only four tournaments this year, and has not yet found his best form."This year has been a bit different for me, I haven't yet found my best level of tennis and I hope I will at Roland Garros," Djokovic said.Djokovic's withdrawal from Madrid opens the door for other players to challenge for the title. Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz is hoping to be fully fit after a forearm problem, while Jannik Sinner is the top seed in Djokovic's absence.Veteran Rafael Nadal will also be in action in Madrid, as he continues his comeback from injury. The 37-year-old Spaniard will face 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch in the first round.

With Novak Djokovic's withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open, Jannik Sinner has ascended to the top seed for the first time at an ATP Masters 1000 event. The Italian prodigy, who has enjoyed a stellar start to the season, will be eager to capitalize on this opportunity to close the gap on Djokovic in the race for the world No. 1 ranking.Sinner's campaign begins against compatriot Lorenzo Sonego or a qualifier. The Australian Open champion boasts an impressive 25-2 record this year and will be determined to continue his momentum in Madrid. Among his potential challengers in the quarter are Barcelona champion Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, Karen Khachanov, and 17-year-old wild card Joao Fonseca.In the second quarter, Stefanos Tsitsipas stands as the in-form player. The Greek has won his first 10 matches on European clay this season, including a third Monte Carlo crown. He will be looking to bounce back from his recent defeat to Ruud in Barcelona.Rafael Nadal, the home favorite, will face a daunting challenge against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch. The American made his tour-level debut in Miami and will be relishing the opportunity to test himself against the legendary Spaniard. Nadal, who has won the Madrid Open five times, will be aiming to extend his dominance on the Caja Magica clay.In the third quarter, Alexander Zverev, Hubert Hurkacz, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul will battle for a place in the semifinals. Zverev, a two-time winner in Madrid, could face 2023 semifinalist Borna Coric in his opening match.The fourth quarter features the return of reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz. The world No. 3 has yet to play on red dirt this spring due to injury but will be eager to defend his title. He will face Arthur Rinderknech or Alexander Shevchenko in his first match.Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, and Ugo Humbert are among the potential challengers in Alcaraz's quarter. However, last year's runner-up, Jan-Lennard Struff, who recently won his first ATP title in Munich, should not be overlooked.