Tennis

Zheng Qinwen's remarkable run in the second half of 2024 continues unabated as the Paris Olympics champion has stormed into the semifinals of the WTA Finals on her debut.In a decisive match at Riyadh, Zheng displayed her dominance with a resounding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini. This triumph marked her 30th win from 34 matches since Wimbledon, solidifying her status as one of the most formidable players on the circuit.Zheng's victory secured her second place in the Purple Group behind world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The Chinese star attributed her success to her exceptional serving performance, stating, "It's one of the best performances I had during this year. Really good percentage of first serves. I enjoyed a lot tonight to play here."Zheng's dominance was evident from the outset as she broke Paolini in the third game and maintained her momentum throughout the match. Her powerful serves kept the Italian guessing, while her aggressive returns forced Paolini into numerous errors.The 22-year-old's relentless pressure paid dividends as she converted five breaks of serve during the encounter. On match point, Zheng unleashed her 12th ace to seal the victory after a mere 68 minutes.Zheng's impressive statistics reflect her dominance: she finished with 24 winners to just 14 unforced errors and won an astonishing 77 percent of her first-serve points. Her performance has drawn comparisons to Li Na, the only other Chinese woman to advance out of the round-robin stage of the year-end event, who finished as runner-up in 2013.Zheng's victory is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has emerged as a rising star in the tennis world and is poised to make a significant impact on the sport in the years to come.

Novak Djokovic's Olympic dream finally came true as he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling men's singles final at the Paris Olympics. The Serbian legend, who had previously won all four Grand Slams multiple times, called the gold medal his "biggest sporting achievement."The match was a tense affair, with neither player able to break the other's serve. Both the first and second sets went to tie-breakers, with Djokovic prevailing both times. The Serbian's experience and composure proved crucial in the end, as he held his nerve to win 7-6(7), 7-6(5).Alcaraz, who is widely regarded as the future of men's tennis, put up a valiant fight but was ultimately unable to match Djokovic's consistency. The Spaniard's serve, which has been a major weapon for him throughout his career, let him down at crucial moments.Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who congratulated Djokovic on his triumph, highlighted Alcaraz's service as the key factor in the match. "Alcaraz has what it takes, but to truly dominate for years on all surfaces, he'll need to step up his serve," Tendulkar said.Djokovic, who is now 37 years old, admitted that winning the Olympic gold medal was the pinnacle of his career. "This is probably the biggest sporting success I have ever had and the most special feeling," he said. "I thought carrying the flag at the opening ceremony for my country at the 2012 Olympics was the best feeling an athlete could have until today."Djokovic's victory marks a historic moment in tennis history. He is now the first man to win all four Grand Slams, the Olympic gold medal, and the ATP Finals. This achievement cements his status as one of the greatest players of all time.

Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, may have fallen short of her Olympic dreams in singles and doubles at the Paris Games, but her Olympic experience extended far beyond her own performances.Krejcikova embraced her role as a passionate supporter, cheering on her fellow Czech athletes from the sidelines. She witnessed Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova's valiant effort in the women's doubles semifinals, despite their eventual loss to the Italian team.Undeterred, Krejcikova returned to Roland Garros to witness another Czech Olympic battle, this time in mixed doubles. Tomas Machac and Katerina Siniakova, despite their recent breakup, displayed remarkable chemistry on the court. They faced off against China's formidable duo, Xinyu Wang and Zhizhen Zhang.In a thrilling encounter, the Czech team emerged victorious, winning 10-8 in a deciding super tiebreak. Krejcikova's joy was evident as she celebrated the first Olympic medal for her country in Paris.While Muchova and Noskova aim to add a bronze medal to the Czech tally, Krejcikova's Olympic journey has taken a different turn. She has embraced the role of a fan, supporting her teammates and reveling in the Olympic spirit.Krejcikova's Olympic experience serves as a reminder that success can be found in many forms. While individual glory may not have been her destiny in Paris, her unwavering support and enthusiasm have made a lasting impact on her fellow athletes and the Czech Olympic delegation.

Novak Djokovic, the tennis legend, is on the cusp of completing his illustrious career with an Olympic gold medal. After securing a spot in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics, Djokovic is now just one win away from achieving this elusive accolade.Djokovic's journey to the final has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite facing a determined Lorenzo Musetti, the Serbian maestro displayed his unwavering resilience, rallying from a break down twice in the second set to emerge victorious with a 6-4, 6-2 scoreline.This triumph marks Djokovic's 140th career final, a testament to his exceptional longevity and dominance in the sport. His impressive record of 98-41 in finals speaks volumes about his ability to perform under pressure and deliver when it matters most.Djokovic's pursuit of an Olympic gold medal has been a long-held ambition. Having won every Grand Slam event at least three times and every Masters 1000 event at least twice, an Olympic gold would be the crowning jewel in his unparalleled career.With his sights set firmly on the gold medal, Djokovic will face a formidable opponent in the final. However, his unwavering determination and unwavering belief in his abilities make him a formidable force.As the world eagerly anticipates the gold medal match, Djokovic stands on the threshold of history. A victory would not only complete his remarkable career but also cement his legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Andy Murray, the former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion, has bid farewell to competitive tennis at the Paris Olympics. The 37-year-old Scot, who has been battling injuries in recent years, announced that the Olympics would be his final event.Murray's retirement marks the end of an era in tennis, as he joins Roger Federer in stepping away from the sport. The "Big Four" of Murray, Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have dominated men's tennis for over a decade, winning a combined 69 Grand Slams.Murray's career highlights include two Wimbledon titles (2013, 2016), a US Open title (2012), and two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016). He also led Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015.Despite his success, Murray has been plagued by injuries in recent years. He underwent hip surgery in 2019 and has since struggled to regain his former form. He has also suffered from ankle and spinal injuries."It's hard because I would love to keep playing, but I can't," Murray said. "Physically it is too tough now, all of the injuries, they have added up and they haven't been insignificant."Murray's retirement leaves Djokovic as the only active member of the "Big Four." The Serb has won a record 24 Grand Slams and is still going strong at the age of 37.However, the future of men's tennis is already in sight. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and other young players are emerging as the next generation of stars.Murray's legacy will be as one of the greatest British tennis players of all time. He inspired a generation of young players and helped to raise the profile of the sport in his home country.

Novak Djokovic's Olympic gold medal quest faces a setback as he battles knee pain. The 24-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the semifinals of the Paris Games with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, but expressed concern about the state of his surgically repaired right knee.Djokovic, 37, felt "sharp pain" early in the second set against Tsitsipas at Court Philippe Chatrier, the same stadium where he originally tore his meniscus in June. He underwent surgery shortly after but returned to action at Wimbledon, where he reached the final before losing to Carlos Alcaraz.Despite wearing a knee sleeve, Djokovic required medical attention during the match and took anti-inflammatory pills. The medication provided temporary relief, but Djokovic acknowledged that its effects would fade by the following morning."I'm hoping I can be ready," said Djokovic, who will face Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals. "I have to go and examine the knee now with my physio and with the medical staff of the tournament. And then let's see."Djokovic's Olympic title pursuit has been a priority this season, as the only major trophy missing from his illustrious resume. He has not lost a set through his first four matches at the Games, including a victory over rival Rafael Nadal.However, the knee pain casts a shadow over his chances of winning his first Olympic gold medal. Djokovic's resilience and determination will be tested as he seeks to overcome the physical challenge and continue his quest for tennis history.

Coco Gauff's Olympic campaign in Paris took a disappointing turn on Wednesday as she suffered a second-round exit in women's doubles, a day after her tearful departure from singles.Gauff and her American teammate, Jessica Pegula, were the top-seeded women's pair but were eliminated by the Czech duo of Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova in a thrilling match tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-4, 10-5.The setback came on the heels of Gauff's heartbreaking loss to Donna Vekic of Croatia in the third round of singles, where she was seeded second. The American had a heated exchange with the chair umpire near the end of that match over an officiating decision.Despite the setbacks, Gauff still has a chance to salvage her Olympic experience in mixed doubles, where she is scheduled to partner with Taylor Fritz later Wednesday.Gauff arrived in France as one of the most highly anticipated athletes in the Games. The 20-year-old from Florida won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open last September and collected her first major doubles title at the French Open in June.Muchova, who was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek at the French Open last year, returned to action in June after missing 10 months due to surgery on her right wrist.Noskova, 18, has emerged as a rising star in the sport. She made history at the Australian Open in January when she became the first teenager to defeat a No. 1-ranked woman at Melbourne Park since 1999.The match between Gauff and Pegula and Muchova and Noskova was delayed by rain before the Czechs took the second set. They then dominated the match tiebreaker, with Noskova sealing the victory with a volley winner.

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova's Olympic singles journey came to an end in the quarterfinals, as she succumbed to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia. Schmiedlova's victory marked the elimination of both Wimbledon finalists, having previously defeated runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the third round.Krejcikova, seeded ninth in Paris, has enjoyed success on the clay courts of Roland Garros, winning the French Open singles and doubles titles in 2021. However, the oppressive heat and humidity proved to be a challenge for the Czech player.Schmiedlova, ranked 67th, capitalized on Krejcikova's unforced errors, which totaled 32 compared to Schmiedlova's 15. The Slovakian also converted five of her 11 break points, while Krejcikova struggled with her serve, committing five double-faults.In the men's draw, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Dominik Koepfer of Germany. Djokovic will face Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who defeated him in the first two sets of the 2021 French Open final before Djokovic rallied to win.Other notable results in the men's third round saw Tommy Paul of the U.S. defeat Corentin Moutet of France, while Taylor Fritz of the U.S. was eliminated by Lorenzo Musetti of Italy.

Sreeja Akula, India's rising table tennis star, has etched her name in history by becoming the second Indian woman to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics. On her 26th birthday, Akula displayed remarkable resilience and determination to overcome Singapore's Jian Zeng in a thrilling 4-2 victory.Akula's journey to the pre-quarterfinals was not without its challenges. She dropped the opening game but rallied back with unwavering spirit, winning the next three games to take a commanding lead. Zeng fought back to claim the fifth game, but Akula remained composed and sealed the deal in the sixth game, securing her place in the next round.Akula's victory is a testament to her hard work and dedication. Last month, she achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 24, displacing Manika Batra as India's top women's singles player. Akula's triumph at the WTT Contender singles title in Lagos in June further solidified her status as a rising star in the sport.In the pre-quarterfinals, Akula will face a formidable opponent in China's world number one Sun Yingsha. Despite the daunting task ahead, Akula is confident in her abilities and determined to make history once again.Akula's success is not only a personal achievement but also a significant milestone for Indian table tennis. It marks the first time that two Indian women have reached the pre-quarterfinals of the Olympics, a testament to the growing strength and depth of the sport in India.