Tennis

American tennis is experiencing a resurgence, with five male players now ranked among the world's top 20. Frances Tiafoe's recent success in Cincinnati, where he reached his first Masters 1000 final, has propelled him back into the elite group. Tiafoe joins Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, and Sebastian Korda, marking the first time since 1997 that five American men have simultaneously occupied the Top 20.This achievement is particularly notable considering that none of these players were born when the previous quintet of Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, Andre Agassi, Todd Martin, and Jim Courier graced the rankings. The current crop of American men represents a new generation of talent, with Fritz, Paul, and Korda all under the age of 25.On the women's side, American tennis is also thriving. Five American women are currently ranked in the Top 20: Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Emma Navarro, and Madison Keys. Taylor Townsend has also made a significant breakthrough, rising to No. 46 in the world after impressive performances in Toronto and Cincinnati. Townsend is one of three mothers currently ranked in the Top 50, alongside Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina.The resurgence of American tennis is a testament to the depth and talent of the country's player pool. With a strong pipeline of young players emerging, the future of American tennis looks bright.

Brandon Nakashima continued his impressive run at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday night, defeating fellow American Taylor Fritz in a thrilling three-set battle. The 23-year-old Nakashima, who ousted Tommy Paul in the round of 16, prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) over the 11th-seeded Fritz.The match was a tight affair, with each player breaking serve just once. Nakashima seized the initiative in the decisive tiebreaker, moving ahead 3-2 with a pair of crafty passes that forced Fritz into errors. The former world No. 43 then backed up the mini break with an ace and an unreturnable serve.Nakashima sealed the victory when Fritz's backhand found the net, improving his record to 16-14 in tour-level encounters this season. Fritz, who is heading to the US Open with one win at the past two 1000-level tournaments, will be looking to regain his form before the final Grand Slam of the year.In other first-round action, No. 12 seed Ben Shelton edged Reilly Opelka in a pair of tiebreakers, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3). Shelton withstood 19 aces from his compatriot and saved all five break points he faced.Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen also advanced to the second round with victories in their respective matches.On the women's side, Ashlyn Krueger pulled off an upset by defeating Olympic silver medalist and No. 16 seed Donna Vekic, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Krueger, who also qualified in Toronto last week, had previously defeated four-time major winner Naomi Osaka to book her main-draw spot in Cincinnati.

Fritz and Paul Triumph in National Bank Open OpenersMONTREAL, Canada - Olympic doubles bronze medalists Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul kicked off their National Bank Open campaigns with impressive singles victories on Wednesday.Fritz, seeded ninth, dispatched Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4, 6-1 in a dominant display. The American controlled the match from the outset, breaking Navone's serve twice in the first set and cruising through the second."It was a solid match," Fritz said. "I feel like the level, probably from both of us, went up a bit in the second set. We started playing longer points."Fritz will face fellow American Sebastian Korda in the second round. Korda, fresh off his second ATP Tour title in Washington, advanced when Vasek Pospisil retired due to a back injury.Paul, seeded 10th, also secured a straight-sets victory, defeating Luciano Darderi of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (2). Paul broke Darderi's serve in the opening game and held on to his advantage throughout the match."I'm happy with the way I played," Paul said. "I served well and was able to control the points. I'm looking forward to the next round."Paul will face qualifier Brandon Nakashima in the second round. Nakashima, who upset Canadian wild-card Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, is coming off a strong performance in Washington, where he reached the semifinals.Other Americans who advanced on Wednesday included Ben Shelton and Nakashima. Shelton, seeded 11th, edged doubles partner Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, while Nakashima beat Shapovalov.Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who lost to Korda in the DC Open final on Sunday, upset 14th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-3, 6-2.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is set to witness an electrifying mixed doubles tennis tournament, with the confirmation of 16 elite teams. The competition promises to be a thrilling spectacle, featuring some of the world's top-ranked players.Leading the charge are Americans Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, who will make their Olympic debut as the No. 2 seeds. Gauff, a rising star in the sport, has already reached the singles final at Roland Garros and won the women's doubles title this year. Fritz, known for his impressive clay-court performances, will add depth to the American team.The No. 1 seeds are Germany's Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund, who won the gold medal in Tokyo 2020 and the 2024 Roland Garros mixed doubles title, respectively. Australia's Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez, this year's French Open quarterfinalists, are the No. 3 seeds.Another fan-favorite team is Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, who will once again join forces on the international stage. Mixed doubles is a unique event at the Olympics, being one of the few co-ed competitions.The full list of 16 teams includes:* Alexander Zverev / Laura Siegemund (GER)* Taylor Fritz / Coco Gauff (USA)* Matthew Ebden / Ellen Perez (AUS)* Stefanos Tsitsipas / Maria Sakkari (GRE)* Felix Auger-Aliassime / Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)* Andrea Vavassori / Sara Errani (ITA)* Marcel Granollers / Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP)* Alexander Bublik / Elena Rybakina (KAZ)* Mate Pavic / Donna Vekic (CRO)* Edouard Roger-Vasselin / Caroline Garcia (FRA)* Daniil Medvedev / Mirra Andreeva (AIN)* Zhang Zhizhen / Zheng Qinwen (CHN)* Tomas Machac / Katerina Siniakova (CZE)* Wesley Koolhof / Demi Schuurs (NED)* Joe Salisbury / Heather Watson (GBR)* Kei Nishikori / Ena Shibahara (JPN)The draw ceremony for mixed doubles, along with all Paris Olympics tennis events, will take place on Thursday at Roland Garros. The tournament will kick off on Monday, July 29, promising an unforgettable experience for tennis enthusiasts worldwide.

Morgan Riddle, the social media influencer girlfriend of American tennis star Taylor Fritz, has emerged as a breakout star at Wimbledon 2023. Dubbed the "most famous woman in men's tennis" by The New York Times, Riddle has captivated fans with her stylish presence and engaging social media content.British Vogue recently featured Riddle in a style feature, highlighting her "Chanel-clad" fashion game that has elevated Wimbledon's fashion scene. Riddle has been documenting her Wimbledon experience on her social media accounts, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses and vlogging about her life on the road as a full-time content creator.Riddle's social media presence has also made headlines. After Fritz's fourth-round victory over Alexander Zverev, Riddle's Instagram Stories went viral. She encouraged fans to "cheer loud," which Zverev later took issue with. Riddle also declared Fritz's win to be "for the girls," a comment that was interpreted as a veiled jab at Zverev's past relationships.Riddle later clarified that her comments were "blown out of proportion" and that there was "no bad blood" between the parties involved. Despite Fritz's loss to Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals, Riddle has continued to shine at Wimbledon. She has been filming behind-the-scenes content for Wimbledon's official channels and discussing her life and routine on the road.Riddle has embraced the "WAG" (wives and girlfriends) label, which was once used disparagingly. She tells British Vogue, "It's just an acronym." Riddle's presence at Wimbledon has not only elevated the tournament's fashion game but has also highlighted the growing influence of social media influencers in the world of sports.

Lorenzo Musetti's remarkable journey at Wimbledon reached new heights as he secured a thrilling 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Taylor Fritz to advance to the semifinals. The Italian's triumph was a testament to his resilience, tactical brilliance, and unwavering determination.Musetti's performance was a rollercoaster of emotions. At times, he displayed exquisite shot-making, particularly with his one-handed backhand, which drew gasps from the crowd. However, he also faced moments of questionable decision-making and lapses in focus.Despite these inconsistencies, Musetti's resolve remained unshaken. In the crucial fifth set, he served with blistering pace, hitting aces at 126 mph and 122 mph. He also executed a stunning forehand drop shot that left Fritz sprawled on the court.Fritz, the pre-match favorite, had his chances to seize control of the match. He broke Musetti's serve early in the first set and appeared poised to run away with the match after taking the second set. However, Musetti's inspired play in the third set, where he showcased a diverse array of shots, turned the tide in his favor.Fritz rallied in the fourth set, but Musetti's relentless pressure proved too much to handle. The Italian's ability to mix up his shots, including deftly employing the slice, forced Fritz into 36 unforced errors.Musetti's victory was particularly poignant as it came in front of tennis legend Ken Rosewall, renowned for his exceptional slice backhand. Musetti's own use of the slice was a key factor in his success, as he neutralized Fritz's powerful forehand.After the match, Musetti expressed his joy and gratitude. "It's a magic day for me," he said. "I've had many tough losses, but this victory shows my progress and maturity."Musetti's triumph sets up a mouthwatering semifinal clash with Novak Djokovic, the 21-time Grand Slam champion. The Italian will need to summon all his grit and tactical acumen to overcome the formidable challenge that lies ahead.

Taylor Fritz's Wimbledon journey has been marked by both thrilling victories and post-match controversies. After his hard-fought five-set comeback over Alexander Zverev, the American's handshake with his opponent sparked a social media frenzy.Zverev expressed dissatisfaction with Fritz's player box, claiming they were overly vocal in their support, particularly towards the end of the match when Zverev's injury became apparent. Fritz, however, maintained that he was unaware of any excessive cheering.The incident took an unexpected turn when Fritz's girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, posted Instagram Stories that seemed to suggest a deeper issue. Riddle's captions, such as "Cheer loud ladies" and "when ur man wins 4 the girls," were interpreted by some as a subtle jab at Zverev, who has faced allegations of domestic abuse.Zverev has consistently denied these accusations, and the players themselves have downplayed the handshake incident. However, the social media chatter has raised questions about the role of player support and the potential impact of off-court controversies on the game.Fritz's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Lorenzo Musetti, where he will aim to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal. The American's journey at Wimbledon has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but he remains focused on his goal of making history.

Taylor Fritz staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to stun fourth seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday.Fritz, the 13th seed, faced an uphill battle against Zverev's formidable serve. However, the American displayed resilience and determination, breaking the German for the first time in the tournament to claim the third set.The momentum shifted in Fritz's favor as he edged the fourth set in a tie-break. With his powerful groundstrokes, Fritz broke Zverev again in the fourth game of the decider, forcing the German into errors.Fritz maintained his dominance, serving with authority and breaking Zverev once more to lead 5-2. Despite Zverev's valiant efforts, Fritz sealed the match in style, hitting a total of 69 winners against 23 unforced errors.The American's victory sets up a quarter-final clash with Italian 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Fritz's triumph marks a significant achievement in his career, as he continues to impress on the grass courts.

Elena Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion, emerged as the tournament favorite after Iga Swiatek's surprising defeat. Rybakina's impressive performance against Caroline Wozniacki and her status as the only remaining Wimbledon winner in the draw have solidified her position. However, her opponent, Anna Kalinskaya, poses a significant challenge. Kalinskaya has had a strong season, reaching the Top 20 and nearly winning a grass-court title in Berlin. Their previous encounters have been close, with both players winning one match each.In the men's draw, Taylor Fritz faces Alexander Zverev in a highly anticipated fourth-round clash. Fritz and Zverev have similar playing styles, with powerful serves and aggressive groundstrokes. However, Zverev has a slight edge in their head-to-head record, winning five of their eight matches. Zverev's recent form, including his victory in Rome and near-triumph at Roland Garros, suggests he is the favorite.Novak Djokovic, the 21-time Grand Slam champion, faces a tough test against Holger Rune. Djokovic has been hampered by a knee injury, but he has managed to survive and advance. Rune, despite a disappointing season, has the physicality and confidence to challenge Djokovic. Their previous encounters have been close, with Rune pushing Djokovic to three sets in their last two matches.