Tennis

Tennis star Nicolas Jarry will carry the Chilean flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics, making him the latest in a long line of tennis players to receive this prestigious honor.Jarry, ranked 20th in the world, will lead a delegation of 48 Chilean athletes from 19 sports at the ceremony on July 26. He will be joined by rower Antonia Abraham as the two flag-bearers.The Opening Ceremony will be held on the Seine River, marking the first time it will take place outside of a stadium in Olympic history. Athletes will float down boats on the river, following a course from east to west before concluding at the Trocadéro."I am very excited, happy, and proud to have the opportunity to carry the Chilean flag at these Olympic Games," Jarry told Chile's *La Tercera* newspaper. "These are going to be my first Olympic Games, and it means a lot to me."Jarry joins a who's-who of tennis players to receive this honor, including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray. At the last Olympics in Tokyo, four tennis players were co-flag bearers: Lu Yen-hsun, Veronica Cepede Royg, Petra Kvitova, and Jelena Ostapenko.Jarry will be hoping to make a strong showing at the Olympics, which will be held at Roland Garros from July 27. He reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Rome this year, but lost in the first round at Roland Garros to Corentin Moutet.

In the captivating opening day clash at Roland Garros, French clay-court specialist Corentin Moutet faces off against Chilean giant Nicolas Jarry. Despite his lower world ranking of 79th, Moutet has proven his prowess on clay, having defeated Jarry in their previous encounter in Chile.Moutet's fiery personality and impressive clay-court record make him a formidable opponent. The home crowd at Court Simonne-Mathieu will provide him with an electrifying atmosphere, further boosting his confidence. The slower court speeds in Paris will also favor Moutet's game, allowing him to neutralize Jarry's powerful serve.While Jarry possesses an exceptional serve, Moutet's return game has improved significantly. Jarry's break percentage remains low, indicating that Moutet can hold his serve effectively. Additionally, Moutet's ability to read Jarry's serve and block it back into play will be crucial in this match.Moutet's strategy will likely involve avoiding Jarry's forehand, which is his most potent weapon. However, Jarry's tendency to overhit forehands under pressure could prove detrimental. Moutet's smart play and ability to exploit Jarry's weaknesses make him a strong contender in this match.Overall, this encounter promises to be a close battle. Moutet's home advantage, clay-court expertise, and Jarry's potential for nerves could all play a role in determining the outcome.

Alexander Zverev has once again emerged victorious at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, capturing his second title in Rome. The German star defeated Nicolas Jarry in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, to claim his sixth Masters 1000 title.Jarry, playing in his first Masters 1000 final, put up a valiant effort but was ultimately outmatched by Zverev's consistency and power. The Chilean had made history by becoming the first Chilean to reach a Masters 1000 final since Fernando Gonzalez in 2007.Zverev, however, proved too formidable, showcasing the form that has seen him rise to the top of the ATP rankings. His victory in Rome adds to his previous Masters 1000 triumphs in Rome and Canada in 2017, Madrid in 2018, and Madrid and Cincinnati in 2021.With this latest title, Zverev joins Daniil Medvedev in ninth place on the all-time list of Masters 1000 title winners since 1990. The German now has 22 ATP titles to his name, solidifying his status as one of the most successful players on the tour.Zverev's victory in Rome has significant implications for the upcoming Roland Garros tournament. He will rise from No. 5 to No. 4 in the ATP rankings, passing Medvedev. This move could prove crucial for Zverev, as the No. 4 seed will avoid facing any of the Top 3 seeds until at least the semifinals in Paris.

Nicolas Jarry, the 21st seed, has stormed into the final of the Rome Masters 1000, becoming the first Chilean player to reach this stage in 25 years. His impressive run has included three-set victories over Tommy Paul and Stefanos Tsitsipas, the reigning Monte Carlo champion.In the semifinals, Jarry faced a stern test against Paul, the 14th seed. After winning the first set comfortably, Jarry dropped the second in a tiebreaker. However, he regrouped and broke Paul's serve in the third set to take a 4-2 lead. Paul fought back to save two break points and level the set at 4-4, but Jarry remained composed and eventually sealed the victory with a forehand winner."I was not very happy at the end of the second set," Jarry admitted. "But I tried to use that energy to push myself and focus on my tennis. That gave me the break and more confidence to continue and close the match."Jarry's success in Rome is a testament to his hard work and determination. He has now won three Top 10 victories this season, including a quarterfinal triumph over Tsitsipas. The boisterous crowd at the Foro Italico has also played a role in his success, providing him with a boost of energy and motivation."Yesterday and today were amazing," said Jarry. "I was hoping it was going to be like yesterday. Yesterday was my first day in the stadium. It was quite a shock. But I enjoy this atmosphere, I like it."In the final, Jarry will face Alexander Zverev, the 2017 Rome champion. Zverev has won his past 18 matches against left-handers and is 21-11 lifetime in tour-level finals."He's a tough, tough guy to beat," Jarry said of Zverev. "Amazing backhand, good serve. He's playing very good tennis right now."Jarry will be hoping to become the first Chilean player to win a 1000-level title since Marcelo Rios in 1999. Rios won five 1000-level titles during his career, including the 1998 Rome Masters.

Defending champion Daniil Medvedev and world number one Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the Miami Open quarterfinals with dominant victories on Tuesday. Medvedev overcame a slow start to defeat Dominik Koepfer 7-6 (7/5), 6-0, while Alcaraz dispatched Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3.Alcaraz, seeking the "Sunshine Double" after his triumph in Indian Wells, showcased his all-around brilliance against Musetti. Despite a crowd-pleasing rally where Musetti lobbed Alcaraz with a between-the-legs shot, the Spaniard responded with a "tweener" before ultimately losing the point.Medvedev, despite expressing concerns over the rapid deterioration of balls, displayed his comfort with the conditions. After trailing 4-0 in the first set tie-break, he rallied to win all remaining games. He attributed Koepfer's decline to the psychological impact of losing the tie-break.In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz will face Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated Hubert Hurkacz in a third-set tie-break. Medvedev will take on Nicolas Jarry, who upset seventh seed Casper Ruud.Jannik Sinner of Italy also advanced to the last eight, overcoming Christopher O'Connell 6-4, 6-3. Sinner will face Tomas Machac, who defeated Matteo Arnaldi.Hungarian Fabian Marozsan continued his impressive run, upsetting ninth seed Alex de Minaur. Marozsan will face Alexander Zverev, who crushed Karen Khachanov 6-1, 6-4.