Tennis

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, is determined to maintain her rigorous tournament schedule in preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Despite concerns from her team about potential burnout, Swiatek remains adamant about playing "everything" to ensure her readiness for the Games.Swiatek's recent semi-final exit in Dubai raised questions about her ability to sustain her demanding schedule. However, she insists that she feels physically capable of handling the workload. "I think I can handle playing a lot of tournaments," Swiatek said. "I don't want to miss any opportunities."The 22-year-old Pole acknowledges that she may need to adjust her approach in the future, but for now, she is prioritizing playing as many events as possible, particularly on clay. "I would not be comfortable missing anything right now," she said.Swiatek's decision to maintain her packed schedule is driven by her desire to be fully prepared for the Olympics, which begin on July 26. She believes that playing a variety of tournaments will help her develop the necessary skills and experience to succeed on the biggest stage.Despite her unwavering commitment to her schedule, Swiatek recognizes the importance of rest and recovery. She admitted that she felt "out of power and tired" in her Dubai loss, but she is confident that she can manage her workload effectively.As the top seed at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters, Swiatek has a bye into the second round. She will face the winner of the match between Erika Andreeva and American Danielle Collins, who is playing out her career this season. Swiatek defeated Collins in the Australian Open second round but crashed out in the third to unseeded Czech Linda Noskova.

The ATP and WTA rankings have undergone significant changes following a busy week of tennis action.ATP Rankings:Casper Ruud has re-entered the Top 10 at No. 9 after reaching the finals of the ATP 250 in Los Cabos and the ATP 500 in Acapulco. This marks his 114th week in the elite group.Ugo Humbert has made a remarkable ascent to No. 14, becoming the first Frenchman in the Top 15 since Gael Monfils in 2021. He is also the first left-handed player to hold the No. 1 ranking.Sebastian Baez and Alexander Bublik have both cracked the Top 20 for the first time. Baez has won two ATP titles in as many weeks, while Bublik has become the first player from Kazakhstan to reach the Top 20.Jack Draper and Alejandro Tabilo have also made significant jumps, reaching career-high rankings of No. 37 and No. 39, respectively.WTA Rankings:The WTA Top 10 remains unchanged, but Katie Boulter has soared to No. 27 after winning her first WTA 500 title in San Diego. Yuan Yue has also made her Top 50 debut at No. 49 after capturing her first WTA title in Austin.

Katie Boulter, the British tennis star, triumphed over Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in a thrilling three-set comeback in the final of the San Diego Open on Sunday night. The victory marks Boulter's second career WTA singles title and her biggest to date.The match, delayed by two hours due to rain, saw Boulter rally from a set down to claim a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory. The 27-year-old from Leicester displayed resilience and determination throughout the encounter, overcoming a 5-2 deficit in the first set and never trailing in the final two sets.Boulter's triumph is a testament to her impressive form this week, as she defeated four seeded players in her five matches. She overcame No. 2 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, No. 6 seed Donna Vekic, and No. 3 seed Emma Navarro en route to the final.The victory also marks a significant milestone in Boulter's career, as she is set to crack the world's Top 30 for the first time on Monday. She will rise to a career-best No. 27, 21 spots higher than her previous best.Boulter's success in San Diego is a culmination of a successful week for one of tennis' power couples. Her boyfriend, Alex de Minaur, won his own 500-level title in Acapulco, Mexico, less than 12 hours before Boulter's victory.In the post-match presentation, Boulter expressed her gratitude to the San Diego crowd and her boyfriend for their support. She also acknowledged the challenging conditions, which included rain delays and a late finish."I don't even know where to begin," Boulter said. "From the moment I walked into this club, you guys have been so warm and so helpful, and it's been honestly a privilege to be here in San Diego.""I really didn't think I'd be standing here with a trophy right now, but I just want to say thank you to everyone who's been here and made it feel like home. Even the weather has made it feel a little bit like home."Boulter's victory is a testament to her talent and determination. She has overcome injuries and setbacks in her career, and her success in San Diego is a reward for her hard work and perseverance.

Elena Rybakina, the WTA Tour's reigning cool-girl, has showcased her impeccable "tenniscore" style in a recent photo shoot in Dubai. The world No. 4, known for her on-court prowess and off-court fashion sense, has embraced the trend that seamlessly blends vintage tennis aesthetics with everyday athleisure.Rybakina's photo shoot, captured by Kazakhstani photographer Timur Uteshbekov, features her in a series of preppy, tennis-inspired looks curated by Dubai-based stylist Azhar Yeleussizova. Against a sunny beach backdrop, she exudes a casual-cool vibe in a white cropped polo-neck jumper and matching pleated skirt from Sandro Paris.The "tenniscore" trend, which peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, has resurfaced as fashion consumers embrace "quiet luxury" and timeless pieces. Rybakina's outfit exemplifies this aesthetic, with minimal branding and understated accessories taking center stage. She accessorizes with classic black Celine sunglasses, high athletic socks, and white platform Walk'n'Dior sneakers adorned with Christian Dior's signature Plan de Paris motif.Beyond her on-court achievements, Rybakina's style has garnered attention. In 2022, she made a fashion statement at the Wimbledon champion's ball by pairing a delicate white tulle Monique Lhuillier gown with Gucci "Ace" sneakers.The photo shoot serves as a signal to luxury fashion brands that Rybakina is open to collaborations. With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching, where fashion will play a prominent role, it remains to be seen if she will secure a major maison's sponsorship, following in the footsteps of Carlos Alcaraz (Louis Vuitton), Jannik Sinner (Gucci), and Emma Raducanu (Christian Dior).In the meantime, Rybakina will focus on her title defense at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Despite recent setbacks due to illness, she remains a formidable force on the court, eager to add to her seven career titles.

With the Sunshine Swing approaching, the question of which tour is more likely to produce a Sunshine Double—winning both the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open—has emerged.The ATP Tour boasts a deep field of contenders, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic, a three-time Sunshine Double winner, is eager to make a statement after missing the events for five years. Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, has shown exceptional form this season. Alcaraz, the world No. 2, has won both Indian Wells and Miami in the past. Medvedev, who nearly won both events last year, remains a formidable threat.On the WTA side, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina are the leading candidates. Swiatek, the world No. 1, has proven her dominance on hard courts. Sabalenka, who started the season undefeated in Australia, is a strong contender in Miami, where she resides. Rybakina, who reached the Miami final last year, is another potential winner.Experts are divided on which tour is more likely to produce a Sunshine Double. Some favor the ATP due to its depth and the presence of Djokovic. Others lean towards the WTA, citing the dominance of Swiatek and the recent success of Sabalenka and Rybakina.Ultimately, the Sunshine Double is a challenging feat that requires both quality and motivation. With a plethora of talented players on both tours, it remains an open question which tour will emerge victorious.

WTA Stars Join Viral 'Of Course' Trend, Hilariously Mocking Tennis StereotypesThe WTA has joined the viral "of course" trend, with top players Victoria Azarenka, Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova participating in a hilarious video that pokes fun at common stereotypes and quirks of life on tour.The video, which has gone viral on social media, features the players mocking some of the most commonly-held complaints of life on tour. Doubles player Giuliana Olmos jokes, "We're tennis players, of course we don't know when we play until the night before," while Azarenka jokes about playing copious amounts of the card game Uno during rain delays.The players also poke fun at the quirks that come with playing tennis generally. "We're tennis players, of course we have crazy tanlines," Pavlyuchenkova says, while Emma Navarro adds: "We're tennis players, of course we say sorry after a net cord, but we're not really that sorry..."Australian Open finalist Zheng even pokes fun at the solo nature of an individual sport. "We're tennis players, of course we have crazy thoughts during the match and during practice that you'll never know," the 21-year-old closes the video by saying.The video has been a hit with the WTA's social media audience, who flocked to the comments to make their own jokes about what it's like to be a fan of the sport."We're tennis fans, of course we love these kind of videos," one wrote, while another added: "We're tennis fans, of course we almost always have a heart attack watching very close matches."The WTA's "of course" video is a fun and lighthearted way to celebrate the unique aspects of life on tour and the camaraderie among the players. It also shows that the WTA is not afraid to poke fun at itself, which is a refreshing change from the often-serious nature of professional sports.