Tennis

Jack Draper's perseverance paid off on Sunday as he claimed his maiden ATP singles title at the BOSS Open in Stuttgart. The 22-year-old Brit overcame a resilient Matteo Berrettini in a thrilling three-set battle, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.Draper's victory marked a significant milestone in his career, as he became the first British player to win an ATP singles title since Andy Murray in 2016. The triumph also propelled him to the top of the British rankings, ensuring his seeding at the upcoming Wimbledon Championships.The match was a testament to the determination and resilience of both players. Berrettini, a two-time champion in Stuttgart, looked poised to secure a third title when he took the first set. However, Draper refused to be deterred and fought back valiantly in the second set.Despite facing two match points in the second-set tiebreak, Draper displayed nerves of steel to save them both and eventually clinch the set. The momentum shifted in his favor, and he carried that confidence into the deciding set.Draper's serve proved to be a formidable weapon throughout the match, as he fired 13 aces. He also showcased his impressive court coverage and ability to retrieve Berrettini's powerful shots.In the end, it was Draper's unwavering belief in himself that carried him to victory. "It's incredible," he said post-match. "It was a really, really tough match. But I'm really happy to win my first title. It means so much to me."Berrettini, who was seeking his second title of the year, was gracious in defeat. "Congrats to Jack. Unbelievable week. Unbelievable match. I was so close," he said. "This one is going to hurt for a little bit, but that's tennis."Draper's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication. After missing the entire grass-court season last year due to injury, he has made a remarkable comeback. His rise to the top of the British rankings and his maiden ATP title are a testament to his talent and determination.

Matteo Berrettini, the two-time champion at the BOSS Open, made a hard-fought return to the grass-court season with a 7-6 (8), 5-7, 7-5 victory over Roman Safiullin in Stuttgart on Tuesday.Berrettini, who missed Roland Garros for the third consecutive year due to fitness concerns, displayed resilience and determination throughout the match. Despite losing a 5-2 lead in the first-set tie-break, he rallied to win it and take an early advantage.However, Safiullin fought back in the second set, leveling the match. Berrettini faced pressure in the decider but held his ground, saving multiple break points and converting his fourth match point to secure the victory."I'm really proud of the way I fought on court," Berrettini said after the match. "The tennis wasn't my best level, but I didn't expect anything different after not playing for months."Denis Shapovalov will be Berrettini's next opponent in the second round. The Canadian defeated Matteo Martineau of France in straight sets.Meanwhile, Andy Murray's hopes of a strong start to his grass-court campaign were dashed by Marcos Giron. The American broke Murray's serve once in each set to win 6-3, 6-4. Giron will face Jack Draper in the next round.Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti also advanced, defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a tight match that went to two tie-breaks. Brandon Nakashima won an all-American clash with Chris Eubanks, setting up a quarterfinal meeting with lucky loser Richard Gasquet.With top seed Alexander Zverev withdrawing from the tournament, Nakashima has a chance to make a deep run in Stuttgart.

Elena Rybakina, the world's fourth-ranked tennis player, has added a brand-new Porsche to her collection after winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. However, the Kazakh star has a unique dilemma: she doesn't have a driver's license.Rybakina's lack of a license stems from her nomadic lifestyle on the tennis tour. "I wanted to do it already long time, but I never have chance to be at one place for long," she explained. "I did already couple of lessons. I was driving, but yeah, for sure [getting her license] that's the goal for this year outside of the court."Rybakina isn't the first Stuttgart champion to win a Porsche without the proper paperwork. In 2018, Karolina Pliskova joked that her twin sister, Kristyna, could drive her around. Last year, Pliskova confirmed she still owns the car and lets her husband drive it.Rybakina plans to share the driving duties with her coach, Stefano Vukov, and her mother, Ekaterina, in Dubai. "Hopefully, me soon," she said with a grin.Despite her lack of a license, Rybakina is determined to get one this year. "With this car, if I win, it's going to be one double goal. Hopefully, I finish it this year," she added.Rybakina's victory in Stuttgart is her third title of the season, following wins in Adelaide and Melbourne. She is now one of the favorites for the upcoming French Open, which begins on May 22.

Marta Kostyuk, the Ukrainian tennis sensation, has emerged as a formidable force on the WTA tour, slaying three Top 10 opponents in a row to reach the final of the Stuttgart WTA 500 clay-court event.Kostyuk's remarkable run began in the second round, where she fought off five match points to overcome No. 7 Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. In the quarterfinals, she faced another nail-biter against No. 3 Coco Gauff, needing eight match points to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory.On Saturday, Kostyuk faced her toughest challenge yet against No. 8 Marketa Vondrousova in the semifinals. Despite losing an early 5-1 lead, she regrouped to win the first set in a tiebreaker and cruised through the second set for a 7-6 (2), 6-2 triumph.Kostyuk's success against Top 10 players is no coincidence. Since Wimbledon last year, she has compiled a 7-3 record against the elite, including wins over No. 8 Sakkari, No. 6 Garcia, No. 7 Jabeur, and No. 5 Pegula.Her impressive performance in Stuttgart has earned her a spot in the final against No. 4 Elena Rybakina. Kostyuk will be aiming to capture her third WTA title and continue her remarkable rise in the tennis world.

Marketa Vondrousova's stunning victory over Aryna Sabalenka at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix has propelled her into the semifinals, where she will face either Coco Gauff or Marta Kostyuk.Sabalenka, the world No. 2 and three-time runner-up in Stuttgart, started strongly, winning the first set 6-3. However, Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, fought back to take the second set 6-3.The third set was a tense affair, with both players exchanging breaks. Sabalenka, who has struggled with her serve this season, double-faulted nine times. Despite this, she managed to serve for the match at 5-4.However, Vondrousova showed her resilience, winning the next seven points to clinch the upset. The Czech player's victory was a testament to her clay-court prowess, having finished runner-up at the 2019 French Open.Sabalenka's defeat marks the end of her quest for a fourth consecutive final in Stuttgart. The Belarusian has endured an emotional spring, mourning the loss of her ex-partner.Meanwhile, Vondrousova's victory continues her impressive run of form on clay. She is yet to drop a set in Stuttgart and will be confident of reaching the final.The other semifinal will feature Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, and Kostyuk, who saved five match points to defeat Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals.

Ons Jabeur, Tunisia's Minister of Happiness, has found solace in Stuttgart, Germany, where she is competing in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The world No. 9 has been struggling with a knee injury and a five-match losing streak, but she broke the slump with a hard-fought victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in her opening match.Jabeur's love for football was evident as she visited the home stadium of VfB Stuttgart, MHPArena, which is adjacent to the Porsche Arena. She witnessed Stuttgart's 3-0 victory over Frankfurt and later received a tour of the grounds from goalkeeper Fabi Bredlow.Despite being a Real Madrid fan, Jabeur displayed her football skills with Bredlow, showcasing her keepy-uppy abilities. The pair exchanged well wishes for their upcoming matches, with Stuttgart facing Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and Jabeur continuing her campaign in the WTA 500 event.Jabeur's victory over Alexandrova was a testament to her resilience and determination. After losing the first set, she rallied back to win the next two, including a tiebreaker in the third set. She credited her Tunisian fans for their unwavering support, which has been a constant source of motivation for her."Tennis is such a tough sport and it's been such a tough period for me, so even confidence-wise I'm trying to build it up," Jabeur said. "Very grateful to be Tunisian, because wherever I go I find them!"Jabeur will face Jasmine Paolini in the second round, who advanced with a dominant victory over Sara Errani. The Tunisian star will be looking to continue her momentum and build on her positive experience in Stuttgart.

Rafael Nadal's farewell tour has been a bittersweet affair, with the tennis legend struggling to find his form. However, as the clay-court season heats up, Nadal is set to make his first appearance since January in Barcelona. The 37-year-old is a 12-time champion in Barcelona, and his presence will undoubtedly add excitement to the tournament.Nadal's first opponent will be 21-year-old Flavio Cobolli, a rising star from Italy. If Nadal wins, he will face Alex de Minaur, who recently broke into the Top 10. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 3-1.Unfortunately, Nadal's fellow countryman, Carlos Alcaraz, has withdrawn from Barcelona due to an arm injury. This leaves Andrey Rublev as the highest seed, followed by Casper Ruud, de Minaur, and Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.On the women's side, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart will feature the WTA's Top 4: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina. Swiatek has won the tournament twice in a row, and she will be looking to extend her dominance on clay.Meanwhile, the BMW Open in Munich will feature Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, and Taylor Fritz as the top seeds. Zverev will be looking to bounce back from an early exit in Monte Carlo.Finally, the Tiriac Open in Bucharest will feature Francisco Cerundolo, Tallon Griekspoor, and Sebastian Korda as the top seeds. Richard Gasquet will also be competing as a wild card.As the clay-court season progresses, fans will be eager to see if Nadal can find his form and make a memorable farewell. The top women will also be looking to make their mark on the red dirt, while the rising stars will be hoping to make a statement.