Tennis

Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, a contender for the Wimbledon title, was forced to withdraw from his second-round match against Arthur Fils on Thursday due to a knee injury. The seventh-seeded Hurkacz, who reached the semi-finals in 2021 after defeating eight-time champion Roger Federer, sustained the injury while diving for a ball during the fourth set tie-break.Despite limping back to his chair on Court Two, Hurkacz continued for two more points before retiring, handing 20-year-old Fils his first Grand Slam third-round appearance. Fils had taken the first two sets 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, while Hurkacz claimed the third 6-2 and had a set point in the fourth before his premature exit."It's not nice to win like that against a friend. We had a very good match, he was diving everywhere," said Fils, ranked 34th in the world. "I hope he gets better quickly. Now I'm focusing on the next round."Fils will face either Roman Safiullin of Russia or Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic for a place in the last 16. "I didn't like grass very much in the past, but it turns out that I can play it quite well," said the Frenchman.Hurkacz's injury is a significant blow to his Wimbledon hopes. The 25-year-old has been in impressive form this season, winning the Halle Open on grass in June. He was considered an outside favorite for the Wimbledon title, but his withdrawal leaves the tournament wide open.Fils, on the other hand, has seized the opportunity with both hands. The young Frenchman has shown great resilience and determination in his first two matches at Wimbledon. He will be hoping to continue his impressive run and make a deep run into the tournament.

India's Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have advanced to the second round of the Wimbledon men's doubles event with a comfortable victory over Robin Haas and Sander Arends. The Indo-Australian duo cruised past their Dutch opponents 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 11 minutes in a rain-interrupted match on July 3.Bopanna and Ebden, the second seeds and reigning Australian Open champions, will face Germany's Hendrik Jebens and Constantin Frantzen in the second round. The pair reached the semifinals of the season's third Grand Slam last year.Meanwhile, India's Sumit Nagal and his Serbian partner Dusan Lajovic were eliminated in the first round by Spaniards Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar. Martinez and Munar won 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and seven minutes.India will have further representation in the men's doubles first round through N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri on July 4. Balaji will partner Britain's Luke Johnson and face fourth seeds Mate Pavic of Serbia and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador. Bhambri and France's Albano Olivetti will take on the Kazakh duo of Alexander Bublik and Alexander Shevchenko.

Jannik Sinner's victory over Matteo Berrettini in the second round of Wimbledon highlighted the importance of resilience and composure in tennis. Despite facing challenges, Sinner maintained his focus and executed crucial shots when it mattered most.The match began with two close sets, with Sinner winning both tiebreakers. Berrettini fought back in the third set, but Sinner regained control in the fourth. However, Berrettini threatened to level the match, only for Sinner to regroup and win the tiebreaker.Sinner's return of serve proved decisive, particularly in the first-set tiebreaker. He consistently returned Berrettini's powerful serves deep, forcing errors. Berrettini's groundstrokes also faltered at crucial moments, contributing to his defeat.One key moment occurred in the fourth set when Sinner faced a break point at 5-5. Despite overhitting a forehand earlier, he remained composed and executed a safe winner on the next forehand. This demonstrated his ability to learn from mistakes and maintain focus under pressure.Sinner's victory showcased his mental fortitude and technical prowess. He acknowledged that setbacks are inevitable in tennis, but emphasized the importance of regrouping and reasserting oneself. His performance serves as a reminder that perfection is unattainable, but consistency and resilience are essential for success.

Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis legend, made a triumphant return to Wimbledon's Centre Court on the 20th anniversary of her maiden Grand Slam victory. As a spectator in the Royal Box, Sharapova witnessed the action from "the best seat in the house.""It's my first time as a spectator here," Sharapova remarked to Tennis Channel's Steve Weissman and Martina Navratilova. "I've never felt so relaxed or so glammed up to attend Wimbledon before."Since retiring in 2020, Sharapova has rarely attended tennis events due to the pandemic and her pregnancy. However, with her son Theo turning two on the eve of Wimbledon, she has been making more appearances at Grand Slams.Reflecting on her historic SW19 win, Sharapova has been featured in video tributes and has connected with rising stars like Mirra Andreeva, who has been compared to her."It's been nice to reconnect with tennis venues again," Sharapova said. "I still feel like I'm a competitor at heart, but being a spectator is a lot of fun."Sharapova's fashion-forward style was on full display at Wimbledon, as she donned a head-to-toe Burberry ensemble. The honey beige wool safari shirt and trousers, paired with an ivy green bag and tortoiseshell accessories, paid homage to the tournament's English roots.After her Wimbledon triumph, Sharapova went on to win four more Grand Slams and reach the world No. 1 ranking. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.Sharapova's career was marked by 36 titles, but it was also marred by a 15-month ban in 2016 for testing positive for a banned substance. She announced her retirement in 2020 after playing her final match at the Australian Open.

Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean tennis star, has made a remarkable comeback at Wimbledon, overcoming a significant hurdle by defeating British player Dan Evans in the first round. Tabilo's victory marks his first Grand Slam match win of the season and his first overall since the 2022 US Open.Despite Evans' reputation as a grass-court specialist, Tabilo showcased his versatility and resilience, saving all 10 break points faced. The match was postponed on Tuesday due to poor light, but Tabilo remained focused and determined upon its resumption.Tabilo's performance at Wimbledon is a continuation of his breakout season. In 2022, he made impressive runs at the South American Golden Swing, reaching the final in Cordoba and the semifinals in Santiago. However, injuries and the rigors of the tour schedule hindered his progress.This year, Tabilo has ascended to a career-high ranking of No. 19, highlighted by a semifinal appearance in Rome and a final in Mallorca. He is the first South American since Guillermo Coria in 2004 to reach finals on hard, clay, and grass in a single season.Despite his success, Tabilo has faced setbacks. At Roland Garros, he suffered a first-round loss to qualifier Zizou Bergs due to a severe headache. The issue resurfaced at Queen's Club, but Tabilo has since managed it effectively.Tabilo has also made a coaching change, hiring Horacio Matta, who has worked with Chilean tennis legends Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu. Matta's guidance has helped Tabilo improve his organization and focus.Tabilo's victory over Evans sets up a challenging second-round match against rising Italian star Flavio Cobolli. Cobolli defeated Tabilo in Madrid earlier this year and has shown strong form on grass at Wimbledon.Tabilo remains confident and determined to continue his impressive run. His versatility, resilience, and newfound support from Matta make him a formidable opponent on any surface.

Emma Raducanu, Britain's No. 3 tennis player, has drawn inspiration from England's national football team during her impressive run at Wimbledon. After a topsy-turvy first-round victory, Raducanu cruised into the third round with a dominant performance against Elise Mertens.Off the court, Raducanu has been showing her support for the Three Lions by wearing the national team shirt and carrying a limited-edition Dior canvas book tote. The Christian Dior ambassador has also been rocking pieces from the Nike Court Slam collection during matches, adding a touch of luxury with a delicate pearl bracelet.Raducanu's success at Wimbledon has been a welcome sight for British tennis fans, who have been eager to see her replicate her stunning US Open victory in 2021. However, the 21-year-old has faced scrutiny and criticism since her Grand Slam triumph, something she can relate to the England football team's experience."They're all under the microscope," Raducanu said. "I do feel for the scrutiny, because I feel like tennis is just a much smaller scale. The whole nation is watching the football. The fans are very, very passionate... I think it just comes with success. It just comes with being at the top."Raducanu's next challenge will be against No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari in the third round. She is also set to team up with Andy Murray in mixed doubles during the latter's Wimbledon farewell.

Coco Gauff, the American tennis sensation, has been making waves both on and off the court at Wimbledon 2023. Her impressive performances, coupled with her striking fashion choices, have drawn comparisons to tennis legend Serena Williams.Gauff's New Balance kit at this year's Championships features bold cutouts at the mid-back and hips, reminiscent of Williams' iconic Nike dress from 2019. The American teenager, however, is quick to dispel any notions of imitation."I think that Serena has just done every iconic dress 'fit in the game that unintentionally you can have something inspired by her," Gauff explained. "It was similar to my Australian Open outfit this year. Some people thought it was inspired by her, which it wasn't."Gauff acknowledges Williams' influence on tennis fashion, but emphasizes that her own style is unique. "I feel like Serena is such an icon that everybody can have inspiration from her, like she's the original," she said. "I take it as an acknowledgment."The 18-year-old's Grand Slam kits are meticulously planned years in advance, with input from Gauff herself. However, she credits the creative team at New Balance for bringing her vision to life."I don't really ever design anything," Gauff admitted. "I tell them what I want and then they put it into a nice way."Gauff's fashion choices extend beyond her on-court attire. Her honey-blonde braids, inspired by singer Willow Smith, have also garnered attention.The American's impressive form and stylish appearance have made her a fan favorite at Wimbledon. She will face British qualifier Sonay Kartal on Friday, looking to continue her strong run in the tournament.

Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday as she was comprehensively defeated by American qualifier Emma Navarro in the second round. The Japanese superstar, who was playing her first Wimbledon since 2019, was outplayed by the 17th-ranked Navarro, losing 6-4, 6-1 in just under an hour.The match started evenly, with both players holding serve until 3-3 in the first set. However, Navarro then broke Osaka's serve to love and went on to take the first set. The second set was even more one-sided, as Navarro broke Osaka twice to race into a 4-0 lead. Osaka managed to hold serve in the fifth game, but Navarro broke again in the sixth game to seal the match.Osaka's defeat was a major upset, as she is a four-time Grand Slam champion and was seeded 11th at Wimbledon. However, she has struggled for form since returning to the tour in January after giving birth to her daughter Shai last year. Her win over Diane Parry in the first round was her first at Wimbledon since 2018.Navarro, on the other hand, is enjoying a breakout season. The 20-year-old American reached the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year and has now reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time. She will face Heather Watson of Great Britain in the next round.Osaka's defeat is a reminder that she is still finding her feet after her return from maternity leave. However, she has shown glimpses of her old form in recent weeks and will be hoping to build on her performance at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournaments.

David Goffin's Grand Slam struggles continued at Wimbledon, where he suffered a stunning five-set defeat to Tomas Machac after squandering a 5-0 lead in the deciding set.The 33-year-old Belgian, a former world No. 7, had endured a disappointing year at the majors, losing in the first round of the Australian Open and facing hostile crowds at Roland Garros.At Wimbledon, Goffin's hopes of a deep run were dashed in dramatic fashion. Leading Machac 6-3, 4-2 when play was suspended due to rain, he appeared to be in control. However, the Czech qualifier rallied back to win the second set and eventually take the match in a thrilling fifth-set tiebreaker.Goffin's collapse was particularly shocking given his previous success on grass. He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2019 and 2022, and Machac had never won a main-draw match at the All England Club before.The Belgian's inability to close out the match has raised questions about his mental fortitude. Some have compared his collapse to Rory McIlroy's failure to hold his lead at the US Open, while others have drawn parallels to the Florida Panthers' dramatic loss in the Stanley Cup final.However, Goffin's defeat may also be a reminder of the unpredictable nature of tennis, especially at the Grand Slams. Even the most experienced players can succumb to nerves and pressure, and large leads can evaporate in an instant.