Tennis

Ons Jabeur's resurgence at the Mutua Madrid Open is not just about her on-court performances. The Tunisian star has forged new connections and found support from unexpected sources, adding to her positive experience in the Spanish capital.Jabeur's friendship with Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka has blossomed into a close bond. The trio, dubbed "soulmates" by Sabalenka, share a playful and supportive relationship. Jabeur jokingly described herself as the "psychologist" between the two fashion-conscious players."They're both kids, you know. I'm here as a psychologist between them," Jabeur said. "I love both, obviously. I think Aryna and Paula have the connection of the fashion: 'I wore this, I wore that, I bought this new purse,' and I go to the real thing. 'What do you need? Let's go have dinner.'"Jabeur's connection with former world No. 7 Fernando Verdasco has also been a positive development. The Spaniard has been working with Jabeur in Madrid, providing insights and support in the absence of her full-time coach."Fernando is such an amazing person. We are close. I've known him for a long time. It's always nice to chat with him and have his vision about tennis; I've always been a fan of his as a tennis player and also a person," Jabeur said.Verdasco's guidance has helped Jabeur improve her backhand and make better shot choices. "My backhand is much better. I've been trying to be a lefty for a while, so I think it's working out," Jabeur joked."It's nice to get the insights of a professional tennis player and see how he thinks. I share sometimes my frustrations on court ... 'You think I should've done that, or this?' It's really amazing to see his insights."Jabeur's positive mindset and newfound support system have contributed to her success in Madrid. She will face former Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals, aiming to continue her impressive run and challenge for the title she won in 2022.

Andrey Rublev's recent victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Mutua Madrid Open marks a significant milestone in his career. After a string of disappointing performances, Rublev has finally broken his four-match losing streak and secured his first two consecutive wins since March.The match was a hard-fought battle, with Rublev facing a daunting 5-0 deficit in the first-set tiebreak. However, he displayed remarkable resilience, saving five set points and eventually winning the tiebreak 10-7. The second set was equally close, with Rublev narrowly escaping defeat on a crucial break point at 4-4.Rublev's victory is a testament to his determination and fighting spirit. Despite his recent struggles, he refused to give up and fought back from the brink of defeat. His performance in Madrid suggests that he is slowly regaining his form and could be a contender for the upcoming Grand Slams.In the quarterfinals, Rublev will face Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands. Griekspoor is a rising star in the tennis world and has already upset No. 11 seed Holger Rune in Madrid. Rublev will need to be at his best to overcome Griekspoor and advance to the semifinals.Rublev's victory in Madrid is a positive sign for his career. After a difficult start to the season, he is finally starting to find his rhythm and could be a force to be reckoned with in the coming months.

Sara Bejlek, the 18-year-old Czech qualifier, has emerged as a surprise contender at the Mutua Madrid Open, reaching the fourth round with a string of impressive victories.Bejlek, making her WTA 1000 main-draw debut, has defeated three higher-ranked opponents, including former Top 25 player Anna Kalinskaya. Her victory over Kalinskaya marked her first-ever win against a Top 30 player.Despite her diminutive stature at 5-foot-2, Bejlek has displayed exceptional power and agility on the clay courts of Madrid. Her left-handed forehand and two-handed backhand have proven to be formidable weapons.Born in a small town near the Czech-Austrian border, Bejlek had a successful junior career, winning the girls' doubles title at Roland Garros in 2022. She also made waves as a pro that year, becoming the youngest player to compete in the US Open main draw.Bejlek's breakthrough on the WTA Tour came last fall when she won her first WTA 125-level title on clay in Chile. She defeated three seeds en route, including former Roland Garros semifinalist Nadia Podoroska.Coming into Madrid, Bejlek had a modest 6-5 record on the year. However, she has turned that around with her impressive run in the Spanish capital. She has won her last six sets in a row, losing a combined 15 games.Bejlek's next challenge will be a fourth-round clash against No.4 seed Elena Rybakina, who has won her last six matches. It will be Bejlek's first-ever match against a Top 10-ranked opponent.Despite the daunting task ahead, Bejlek is confident in her abilities. She is an avid dog lover and a talented juggler, demonstrating her versatility both on and off the court.

Sabalenka Faces Montgomery Challenge in Madrid, Over 18.5 Games ExpectedTwo-time Mutua Madrid Open champion Aryna Sabalenka faces a potential upset in the second round against rising American star Robin Montgomery. Despite Sabalenka's pedigree, Montgomery's recent form and Sabalenka's recent struggles suggest a competitive match.Montgomery, 19, has impressed with her powerful baseline game and aggressive return. She enters the match on a winning streak, while Sabalenka has shown signs of vulnerability in her recent outings.Sabalenka's tendency to self-sabotage has been evident in her recent losses. Against Marketa Vondrousova in Stuttgart, she squandered a first-set lead with unforced errors and a shaky serve. Similar issues plagued her in her first match in Madrid against Magda Linette.Montgomery's ability to exploit Sabalenka's weaknesses is a major concern. The American's left-handed power and aggressive return game could force Sabalenka into errors. Montgomery's own serve can also be a weapon, potentially giving her an advantage in service games.While Sabalenka's power can be overwhelming, Montgomery's willingness to match her shot for shot could prolong the match. Montgomery's ability to stay in rallies and force Sabalenka to work for points could lead to a higher game count.Given Sabalenka's recent struggles and Montgomery's potential to push her, the Over 18.5 Games bet is a reasonable choice. Sabalenka's tendency to gift games to her opponents, combined with Montgomery's ability to extend rallies, suggests that the match will likely go the distance.

Rafael Nadal's resurgence continued at the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday, as he defeated Alex de Minaur 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the second round. The victory marked Nadal's first against a Top 50 opponent in 2024 and was a significant step forward for the 37-year-old.Nadal started the match strongly, breaking De Minaur's serve in the opening game. However, the Australian fought back to level the set at 3-3. Nadal then faced a setback when he was denied a challenge by chair umpire Fergus Murphy, who deemed him not decisive enough in his decision to stop the point. Nadal lost his serve two points later.Despite the setback, Nadal remained composed and broke De Minaur's serve again to level the set at 4-4. The tie-break was a tense affair, with Nadal eventually prevailing 7-6 (6).In the second set, Nadal broke De Minaur's serve early and held his own to take a 2-0 lead. De Minaur fought back to 2-2, but Nadal regained the advantage with another break of serve. Nadal then held his serve to love to take a 4-2 lead.De Minaur continued to push Nadal, but the Spaniard proved too strong. Nadal broke De Minaur's serve for the third time in the set to take a 5-2 lead. De Minaur held his serve to make it 5-3, but Nadal served out the match to secure the victory.The win was a significant boost for Nadal, who has struggled for form in recent months. It also marked his first victory over De Minaur, who had defeated him in Barcelona just two weeks earlier.

Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 4, will face Matteo Arnaldi in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday. Medvedev, known for his dominance on hard courts, has shown improvement on clay in recent times, boasting a 9-4 record on the surface over the past year.Despite Arnaldi's two previous losses to Medvedev in straight sets on hard courts, experts believe Medvedev has a significant advantage in this clay-court encounter. Arnaldi's serve, a crucial weapon on clay, has been inconsistent, with a hold percentage of just 77.6% since the start of 2024. Medvedev's exceptional return skills will likely exploit this weakness, forcing Arnaldi to hold serve consistently.Furthermore, Arnaldi's baseline play lacks the consistent power to challenge Medvedev. While Arnaldi excels in creating uncomfortable situations for opponents, Medvedev's defensive prowess and ability to retrieve balls will neutralize this tactic. Medvedev's versatility on clay, including his ability to hit with topspin and depth or flatten his shots for winners, gives him an edge over Arnaldi.Considering Medvedev's recent form on clay and Arnaldi's limitations on the surface, sportsbooks are offering favorable odds on Medvedev to win in straight sets. This bet offers value, as Medvedev is expected to handle Arnaldi with relative ease.

Jannik Sinner's maiden appearance as the top seed at an ATP Masters 1000 event proved to be a resounding success as he cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open.Despite the unfamiliarity of being the tournament's top seed, Sinner found solace in facing a familiar opponent in Sonego. The 22-year-old set the tone early, winning the first 10 points and losing just eight in the opening set. Sonego managed to get on the scoreboard in the second set, but Sinner's dominance continued as he broke serve four times, including the decisive break in the fourth game.Sinner's victory extended his unbeaten record against Sonego to 5-0, with only one set dropped in those matches. The Italian prodigy never faced a break point and lost just nine points in eight service games, showcasing his exceptional serving prowess.In the third round, Sinner will face either Jordan Thompson of Australia or Pavel Kotov. The 22-year-old will be aiming to continue his impressive run in Madrid and secure a spot in the last 16.Sinner's performance in Madrid is a testament to his growing maturity and consistency. Despite the pressure of being the top seed, he remained composed and executed his game plan with precision. His victory over Sonego also highlights his ability to perform at the highest level against familiar opponents.As Sinner continues his journey in Madrid, he will face tougher challenges. However, his impressive start to the tournament suggests that he is ready to make a deep run and potentially claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, continued her dominant run at the Mutua Madrid Open, cruising into the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Sorana Cirstea on Saturday. Despite the closed roof, which altered the playing conditions, Swiatek's performance remained unfazed.Swiatek's dominance was evident from the outset, as she broke Cirstea's serve in the opening game and never looked back. The Romanian had two chances to win the first game but failed to capitalize, setting the tone for a one-sided match. Swiatek's relentless aggression and precise shot-making proved too much for Cirstea, who struggled to find her rhythm.In the first set, Swiatek won five straight games after the initial break, showcasing her ability to control the tempo and dictate the rallies. Despite failing to serve out a bagel, she maintained her momentum in the second set, winning another five consecutive games to seal the victory in just 78 minutes.Swiatek's serve was a key factor in her success, as she created 14 break point chances against Cirstea's serve, converting five. Cirstea, on the other hand, had only two break points on Swiatek's serve, both in the first set.The victory extended Swiatek's unbeaten head-to-head record against Cirstea to 4-0. Since losing the first set she played against the Romanian at the 2022 Australian Open, she has won six straight sets, losing no more than three games in any of them.Swiatek's impressive performance in Madrid is a testament to her consistency and adaptability. Despite the different conditions, she was able to maintain her high level of play and secure a spot in the last 16. She will now face either two-time finalist Victoria Azarenka or Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo for a place in the quarterfinals.

The prospect of a tantalizing Olympic doubles partnership between tennis titans Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal has reignited at the Mutua Madrid Open. Last year, Alcaraz expressed his desire to team up with the legendary Nadal in Paris, a sentiment echoed by Nadal himself.However, injuries have plagued both players in 2024. Nadal's comeback season was hampered by an unrelated-to-the-hip injury, while Alcaraz has battled an ankle sprain and arm injury. Despite these setbacks, Nadal's recent comments on the Iguales podcast have rekindled hopes for "Team Rafitos."Nadal expressed his eagerness to play with Alcaraz in Paris, as well as in other tournaments to foster their chemistry. "I think we're both fit enough, why not? We could have the chance to form a great team and aspire to great things," Nadal said.Alcaraz echoed Nadal's sentiments, stating that they would make a decision based on their physical well-being. "If everything is going well, we are going to do it," Alcaraz said.Regardless of their Olympic partnership, Alcaraz expressed his admiration for Nadal's unwavering competitive spirit. "Every time he's going to step on the court, he's going to compete in the tournaments, I'm going to enjoy it," Alcaraz said.The potential partnership between Alcaraz and Nadal has captivated tennis fans worldwide. Their combined talent, experience, and determination could make them a formidable force on the Olympic stage. As the countdown to Paris 2024 continues, the tennis world eagerly awaits the realization of this dream duo.