Tennis

Dayana Yastremska, the Ukrainian tennis star, has been battling health issues since the Australian Open, but she is determined to perform at her best at Roland Garros. Despite her struggles, she has shown resilience and fighting spirit, winning tough matches in Madrid and Rome.Yastremska's health problems began after the Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals as a qualifier. She believes the quick turnaround to her next event in Linz may have contributed to her weakened immune system. She retired from her match against Emma Raducanu at the BNP Paribas Open and has been battling throat pain, a blocked nose, and a cough throughout the clay-court season.Despite her ailments, Yastremska has managed to win matches in Madrid and Rome, showing her determination and fighting spirit. She admitted to preferring quicker surfaces than clay, but she is embracing the challenge of improving her game on the terre battue.Yastremska is also dealing with the emotional fallout of the Russian and Belarusian invasion into Ukraine. She has recorded a charity single, "Hearts," to raise awareness for those affected by the ongoing conflict.Despite her health and emotional challenges, Yastremska is focused on performing well at Roland Garros. She is practicing as much as she can and is feeling better with each passing day. If she can stay healthy, she will likely have more to say in 2024.

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, made a triumphant return to Roland Garros on Sunday, securing her first Grand Slam match win in over two years. Facing Lucia Bronzetti, the 67th-ranked Italian, Osaka displayed resilience and determination to overcome a mid-match setback and emerge victorious in a thrilling three-set encounter.Osaka's dominance was evident in the opening set, where she showcased her signature power and precision. Despite a low first-serve percentage, she controlled the points with ease, winning 80% of them. Bronzetti, however, displayed her fighting spirit in the second set, capitalizing on Osaka's unforced errors to level the match.The third set proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions. Osaka surged ahead with an early break, but Bronzetti fought back with remarkable tenacity, winning five consecutive games to take a 4-0 lead. Osaka's composure remained unshaken, and she steadied herself with a crucial hold.With the match hanging in the balance, a fortunate overrule from the chair umpire gave Osaka a lifeline. She seized the opportunity, breaking Bronzetti's serve and ultimately securing the victory in a nail-biting 7-5 third set.Osaka's triumph marks a significant milestone in her comeback season. After missing the entire 2023 season due to pregnancy and maternity leave, she has returned to the court with renewed determination. Her victory at Roland Garros is a testament to her resilience and unwavering spirit.

Andy Murray, the former world number one, has a long and storied history at the French Open. He first made a mark at Roland Garros as a top-ranked junior in 2005, reaching the semifinals. Despite initially struggling on clay as a professional, Murray has since proven his mettle on the surface, boasting a 39-11 record and reaching the final in 2016.Murray's journey at Roland Garros has been marked by both challenges and triumphs. He recalls his early struggles on clay, noting that it took him time to adjust to the surface. However, he has also experienced some of his most memorable victories on the Parisian clay, including a come-from-behind win over Richard Gasquet in 2010 and a stunning victory over defending champion Stan Wawrinka in 2016.Murray's success at Roland Garros is a testament to his adaptability and resilience. Despite not growing up on clay, he has worked tirelessly to improve his game on the surface. His determination and fighting spirit have earned him the respect of fans and fellow players alike.As Murray prepares for what is likely to be his final appearance at Roland Garros, he reflects on the significance of the tournament in his career. He acknowledges that clay has always been his most challenging surface, but he also expresses his love for the tournament and the memories he has made there.Murray's legacy at Roland Garros is one of perseverance and triumph. He has overcome adversity to become one of the most successful players on clay, and his performances at the French Open will be remembered for years to come.

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim, co-hosts of the "Served with Andy Roddick" podcast, meticulously analyzed the Roland Garros draw, providing insightful predictions and engaging discussions.Roddick began by assessing the women's draw, highlighting the potential second-round clash between Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek. Both agreed that Swiatek, the reigning champion, would likely advance deep into the tournament regardless of her opponents. Roddick predicted Swiatek would face Barbora Krejcikova in the fourth round and Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals.Moving to the men's draw, Roddick initially avoided looking for Rafael Nadal's name, but his excitement erupted when he discovered Nadal's first-round matchup against Alexander Zverev. Roddick expressed his disbelief and despair, acknowledging the psychological implications of Zverev facing Nadal on the same court where he suffered a career-threatening ankle injury in 2021.Despite his initial reluctance, Roddick predicted Zverev would prevail in the first round, citing his ability to compartmentalize and the potential for a rain delay to disrupt Nadal's rhythm. However, he emphasized that Nadal would likely reach the semifinals if he overcame Zverev.Roddick and Wertheim debated several other matchups, including Gael Monfils vs. Thiago Seyboth Wild, Tommy Paul vs. Francisco Cerundolo, and Casper Ruud vs. Jakub Mensik. They also discussed the recent upset by Taylor Fritz in Geneva and the potential threat posed by Nicolas Jarry due to Jannik Sinner's hip injury.After comparing their picks, Roddick and Wertheim agreed that Novak Djokovic, Nadal (Wertheim's "tennis god" pick), Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev, and Fritz were likely to reach the quarterfinals. Roddick expressed his dissatisfaction with his own predictions, but acknowledged the excitement and unpredictability of the upcoming tournament.

Despite his recent struggles, Novak Djokovic's participation in the ATP 250 in Geneva raised eyebrows. However, veterans Andy Murray and Richard Gasquet have demonstrated the value of playing lower-level tournaments in preparation for Grand Slams.Murray, a former world No. 1, has played ten tournaments this season, six of which were at the ATP 250 level or lower. Gasquet, a former world No. 7, has played 15 tournaments, including five on the ATP Challenger Tour.Gasquet believes that playing Challengers is essential for staying competitive at the highest level. "Sometimes you need to play Challengers to be ready to play these kind of matches," he said.Both Murray and Gasquet have faced challenges in recent years, including injuries and age. However, their passion for the game remains strong. "We love the game, that's why we're still playing," said Gasquet.Murray and Gasquet will both start their Roland Garros campaigns on Sunday. Murray will face Stan Wawrinka, while Gasquet will take on Borna Coric. Wawrinka, who has also played Challengers this year, echoed Gasquet's sentiments about the importance of passion. "Passion of the sport, love of the game. As simple as that," he said.Murray and Gasquet have a long history of facing each other at Grand Slams, with Murray holding a 5-0 record. However, Gasquet remains determined to break through. "I try my best to win against him in Grand Slams, I couldn't do it," he said. "Sometimes it's a little bit tough to think about it."Despite their head-to-head disparity, Murray and Gasquet share a similar mindset. "We will see when we'll stop," said Gasquet, "but of course we are trying our best to compete high."

Rafael Nadal, the legendary 14-time French Open champion, faces a daunting first-round challenge at the 2024 Roland Garros tournament. The Spaniard will take on world No. 4 Alexander Zverev, their first meeting since their thrilling 2022 semifinal clash.The blockbuster tie was initially scheduled for Sunday, the opening day of the tournament, but has been shifted to Monday. Nadal's team requested to avoid playing in the night session, and the organizers have agreed, scheduling the match for an afternoon slot (3:30 PM IST).The afternoon conditions will favor Nadal, as the ball will be lighter and his powerful forehand will be more effective. This was evident in the Madrid Masters, where Nadal won all three of his afternoon matches, including one against world No. 10 Alex de Minaur.However, Zverev remains a formidable opponent, and the outcome of the match is far from certain. The German has a 3-7 head-to-head record against Nadal, but he has shown his ability to challenge the Spaniard on clay.Nadal enters the tournament with a 5-3 record on clay this season, including second-round exits in Barcelona and Rome. Zverev, on the other hand, has a 10-3 record on clay, including a title win in Hamburg.The match promises to be a captivating clash between two of the world's top players. Nadal will be looking to extend his record-breaking reign at Roland Garros, while Zverev will be eager to prove that he can dethrone the king of clay.

The French Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, is set to commence on Sunday, May 26, 2024. The tournament will be held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, and will conclude on June 8.Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and current world number one, will be the man to beat. The Serbian is aiming to break the record for the most Grand Slam titles won by a male player, currently held by Rafael Nadal with 22. However, Djokovic has had a mixed start to the season, with a 14-6 win-loss record and no final appearances yet.Rafael Nadal, the "King of Clay," will also be making his return to Roland Garros after missing last year's tournament due to a hip injury. Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times and will be looking to extend his dominance on the clay courts.Iga Swiatek, the reigning women's champion, will begin her title defense against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean. Swiatek has been in impressive form this season, winning the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells Masters.India's Sumit Nagal will make his French Open debut this year. Nagal, who reached the second round of the US Open in 2019, will be hoping to make a mark on the Grand Slam stage.The French Open will be broadcast live in India on the Sony Sports Network. Fans can also watch live streaming of the tournament on SonyLiv.

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.

Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, is embracing motherhood while navigating the challenges of the European clay circuit. Her 10-month-old daughter, Shai, has taken her first steps, bringing immense joy to Osaka.Despite the distance from her child, Osaka remains connected through daily calls. She acknowledges the difficulty of being away from Shai, but finds solace in her daughter's well-being.Osaka's clay-court journey began in Rouen, France, and has seen her make significant progress on the slow, red surface. She has never won a match on clay against a top-20 player until her recent victories at the Italian Open."I have made a significant amount of progress, and I feel like people can kind of see that throughout the tournaments that I have played," Osaka said. "I feel like I have dedicated a lot of time to learning about clay."Osaka's major titles came on hard courts, and she has yet to advance past the third round at the French Open or Wimbledon. However, she is more at ease on clay now."Honestly, at this point, I feel pretty comfortable on clay, to the point where I don't know if I'll be a little confused my first day back on hard," she joked.Osaka's opening match at Roland Garros is against Lucia Bronzetti, with the potential for a second-round clash against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek."Clay is fun. You get to slide around. You get to see how strong you are, in and out of corners," Osaka said. "For me, there is a lot of really valuable lessons that I'm learning from clay-court tennis."