Tennis

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2021 Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from the upcoming Paris Olympics due to a hand injury. The Czech left-hander announced her decision on social media, expressing her disappointment but prioritizing her recovery for the US Open.Vondrousova's withdrawal is a significant blow to the Czech team, as she was expected to play both singles and doubles. She was set to partner with Karolina Muchova in doubles, but her place will now be taken by Katerina Siniakova. Linda Noskova will join Muchova in the doubles competition.In her Olympic debut in Tokyo, Vondrousova made a remarkable run to the silver medal. She defeated then-world No. 2 Naomi Osaka and other top players en route to the gold-medal match, where she lost to Belinda Bencic.Vondrousova's withdrawal means that two of the three medalists from the Tokyo Olympics will not be competing in Paris. Bencic is on maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter in April, while bronze medalist Elina Svitolina remains in the field.Vondrousova's injury woes have been a recurring issue throughout her career. She suffered a hip injury in a slip and fall at the pre-Wimbledon event in Berlin, which hampered her title defense at the All England Club. She lost in the first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, becoming only the second woman in the Open Era to lose in the first round of Wimbledon after winning the title the previous year.As a result of her early exit at Wimbledon, Vondrousova dropped from No. 6 to No. 18 in the WTA rankings. She will now focus on recovering from her hand injury and preparing for the US Open, which begins in five weeks.

The highly anticipated Paris Olympics are set to commence on July 26, with tennis taking center stage as a captivating spectacle for global fans. The hallowed courts of Roland Garros will witness the return of tennis titans Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and rising star Carlos Alcaraz.Novak Djokovic, a seasoned Olympian with a bronze medal from 2008, has taken to social media to showcase his rigorous preparations. His Instagram post features a video of him executing impressive shots and drills, hinting at his determination to make a mark in Paris.Rafael Nadal, the reigning Olympic singles gold medalist from Beijing 2008 and doubles gold medalist from Rio 2016, has also arrived at Roland Garros alongside his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. The duo will compete in both singles and doubles, forming a formidable partnership in the latter.Alcaraz, making his Olympic debut, has garnered high praise from Nadal. In an interview with Punto de Break, Nadal expressed his belief that Alcaraz has the potential to become one of the greatest players in history. He highlighted Alcaraz's exceptional tennis skills and his ability to remain competitive on any surface.According to reports, Nadal and Alcaraz will commence training at Roland Garros on July 22. While it remains uncertain if they will train together, Alcaraz has reserved a court from 11 am to 1 pm, while Nadal has booked a session from 3 pm.The Paris Olympics promise to deliver thrilling tennis matches, with the world's top players vying for glory. Djokovic, Nadal, and Alcaraz are poised to captivate fans with their exceptional skills and unwavering determination.

Rafael Nadal, the legendary Spanish tennis player, has set his sights on winning a third Olympic gold medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics. However, after a disappointing loss in the Bastad clay-court final, Nadal acknowledged that his performance was far from satisfactory.Nadal, now 38 years old, succumbed to a straight-sets defeat against Portuguese journeyman Nuno Borges. It was his first final appearance since claiming his 14th French Open title in 2022."The level was so far from what it should be. Probably the energy too," Nadal admitted. "It has been a long week with long matches. Even if my body, I don't have damage, that's important - but mentally and physically, I am not used to playing four days in a row and playing long matches."This tournament marked Nadal's return to competitive play after an early exit at the French Open in May. He opted to skip Wimbledon to concentrate on his clay-court skills in preparation for the Olympics, which will be held at Roland Garros, the site of 14 of his 22 Grand Slam victories.At the Games, Nadal aims to add to his singles gold from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and his doubles triumph in Rio in 2016. In Paris, he will team up with French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz for the doubles event."I played the final, that's positive. I was able to play long matches without having an injury, that's good," Nadal said of his performance in Sweden.Despite reaching the final, Nadal expressed dissatisfaction with his overall level of play. "In some way I felt that I arrived here practicing much better than what I played on the tournament during the whole week. That's something that I am not satisfied with," he explained."I arrived here with the feeling that I was playing a good level and I was not able to show that during the whole week. That is something that I am not happy with."Nadal has only participated in six tournaments in 2023 due to injuries, and his ranking has dropped to 261. "Anyway it's a final, so I can't say it's a bad result because it's the first final since a long time ago. But I was not able to feel myself comfortable enough during the whole week to be satisfied with the week of tennis that I played."

Coco Gauff's Olympic dream is finally coming true, and she's already feeling like a winner. In a heartfelt letter to her younger self, Gauff reflects on the journey that led her to the Paris Games and the challenges she overcame along the way.Three years ago, Gauff was devastated to miss the Tokyo Olympics due to COVID-19. But instead of dwelling on her disappointment, she set a new goal: to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games.Gauff's determination and hard work paid off. She earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team by virtue of her consistent performances over the past year, including her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.As she prepares for her Olympic debut, Gauff is focused on more than just winning medals. She wants to learn, grow, and enjoy the experience of representing her country."The excitement is overwhelming," Gauff wrote. "You can't wait to travel with your teammates, to take on the Olympic tennis tournament and hopefully increase the United States' medal count that you continually check each Olympics."Gauff is one of the biggest multiple-medal threats in Paris. She will join Danielle Collins, Emma Navarro, and Jessica Pegula as the Americans' singles players, and will also team with Pegula for doubles.The U.S. did not medal in any of the five events at the Tokyo Games, but Gauff is confident that she and her teammates can change that in Paris."Besides the battle on the court, be sure to enjoy the whole experience outside the confines of Roland Garros," Gauff wrote. "There will be athletes from across the world that you admire that you will have the opportunity to connect with. You can learn about new sports that have nothing to do with a baseline, backhand or the world of tennis."Gauff's Olympic journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but she's emerged from it stronger than ever. She's ready to make her childhood dream a reality and represent her country with pride.

Rajeev Ram, a four-time Grand Slam doubles champion and former world No. 1, has been honored by his hometown of Carmel, Indiana, with a street named temporarily in his honor. The 40-year-old American is set to make his third Olympic appearance in Paris, where he will team up with Austin Krajicek, his Davis Cup teammate, in the mixed doubles event.Ram's Olympic journey began in 2016 when he won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Venus Williams in Rio de Janeiro. He is eager to add to his medal count in Paris, where the 16-team mixed doubles field will be composed of players already qualified in singles or doubles.Carmel has a strong Olympic tradition, with three swimmers (Aaron Shackell, Alex Shackell, and Drew Kibler) and a swim coach (Chris Plumb) also qualifying for Paris. The town has dedicated streets to all four athletes, with "Chris Pumb Blvd." intersecting with Ram's street.Ram is excited about the prospect of meeting his fellow Olympians from Carmel. He and Krajicek are currently preparing for their Paris campaign at the ATP 500 in Hamburg, Germany, where they are the top seeds. The duo has won four of the five career Davis Cup matches they've played together and are looking to make a strong run in Paris.Ram's Olympic journey is a testament to his dedication and hard work. He is an inspiration to young athletes and a source of pride for his hometown.

Rafael Nadal, the legendary Spanish tennis player, has returned to action at the Swedish Open after skipping Wimbledon. Nadal is preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics, where he will participate in both singles and men's doubles.In the Round of 16 of men's singles, Nadal will face Cameron Norrie on Thursday. He advanced to this stage after defeating Leo Bjorg, son of Bjorn Bjorg, in straight sets in the previous round.Nadal will also be partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in Paris. In the men's doubles category, he has teamed up with Casper Ruud. Nadal and Ruud defeated Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin in the quarter-final, sealing a 6-4 3-6 12-10 win.During the on-court interview after the match, Ruud was asked if Alcaraz had contacted him for tips. Ruud quipped that Alcaraz was probably busy celebrating his Wimbledon victory.Nadal praised Ruud for their good partnership. He said, "It was an emotional match. Not easy to be on court after losing singles, but Casper played so well. Well done for him. We had some fun. A good level of tennis. We enjoyed it. The crowd was amazing. Full crowd in a doubles match. That’s fantastic."Ruud had lost to Thiago Monteiro in his Round of 16 clash before the doubles match, losing 3-6 3-6 against the Brazilian.This is likely to be Nadal's final Olympics, with 2024 expected to be his swansong year. If he clinches gold in Paris, it will be even more special as it will be held on the clay courts of Roland Garros, where he has won the French Open a record 14 times. However, age has been catching up with him, and he already has an Olympic singles gold and also a doubles one, from 2008 and 2016 respectively.

Sumit Nagal, India's top-ranked tennis player, has achieved a career-high ranking of 68 in the latest ATP singles chart, released on Monday. This marks a significant milestone for the 26-year-old, who has been steadily climbing the rankings in recent years.Nagal's rise to the top has been fueled by a string of impressive performances. He began the year with a victory over Alexander Bublik, the 31st seed from Kazakhstan, at the Australian Open. He also competed at the French Open and Wimbledon, showcasing his skills on the grandest stages of tennis.In addition to his Grand Slam appearances, Nagal has also triumphed in several ATP Challenger events. Earlier this month, he won the men's singles crown at the Heilbronn Neckarcup 2024 Challenger event in Germany, marking his fourth Challenger title on clay. He also won the Chennai Open in February, further solidifying his status as India's top singles player.Nagal's success has not only earned him a career-high ranking but has also secured his spot in the singles event at the upcoming Paris Olympics. He will be the sole Indian representative in the men's singles competition, carrying the hopes of his nation on his shoulders.Nagal's journey to the top has been marked by hard work, dedication, and unwavering determination. He has overcome challenges and setbacks along the way, but his resilience and belief in his abilities have propelled him to new heights.As Nagal prepares for the Paris Olympics, he will undoubtedly face stiff competition from the world's best tennis players. However, his recent performances have demonstrated that he has the talent and the mental fortitude to compete at the highest level. India will be rooting for him to make history and bring home a medal from the prestigious sporting event.

Rohan Bopanna, the veteran Indian tennis player, is gearing up for his final Olympic hurrah in Paris. Despite not having the strongest of partners, Bopanna is confident in his pairing with N Sriram Balaji, believing they have the potential to challenge the top teams.Bopanna, 44, had to choose between Balaji and Yuki Bhambri for the men's doubles event at the Paris Olympics. After consulting his coaches, he opted for Balaji, citing his athleticism and agility on clay courts."I really believe that when we go out there, we genuinely have a chance to win every match, whoever we play against," Bopanna said. "It's not like we're just going to be written off."Bopanna's confidence stems from Balaji's impressive performances on the ATP Tour. Balaji has defeated top-10 players Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, and has shown adaptability by playing singles in the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan."Balaji definitely has the firepower to do well," Bopanna said. "He's more agile and explosive on clay, which is the surface we'll be playing on."Bopanna acknowledged that it was a difficult choice between Balaji and Bhambri, but he believes Balaji is the better fit for the clay surface."Bala has similar capabilities as Matthew Ebden, who I'm playing with on the Tour," Bopanna said. "Bala is fast and quick, but Ebden has more experience. Bala hasn't played at that level much."In Paris, Bopanna will have to take on the leadership role, as he has done in the past with illustrious teammates like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza."There is nobody currently in the country who has played that kind of experience as Matthew Ebden," Bopanna said. "So, no matter who I played with on the country, it would be the same scenario."Bopanna and Balaji plan to compete in a couple of ATP events, starting with the Hamburg Open, to prepare for the Olympics."We want to get to know each other better and try to prepare better than what we have done before," Bopanna said.Bopanna and Balaji are not just aiming to participate in the Olympics; they believe they have a chance to medal."Every athlete who goes into Olympics wants to win a medal," Bopanna said. "There is 100 percent that belief. We want to do better than the previous time. That's how life is. You want to do better. You want to keep going higher and higher."

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.