Tennis

Iga Swiatek's triumph at Roland Garros 2024 marks a historic milestone in her illustrious tennis career. At just 23, she has etched her name among the legends of the sport, becoming the youngest woman in the Open Era to win four Roland Garros titles. Her victory also extends her remarkable winning streak to 19 matches, solidifying her dominance on the WTA Tour.Swiatek's latest triumph in Paris adds to her impressive resume, which now includes five Grand Slam titles. She is the youngest woman since Serena Williams to achieve this feat, and the first to win three consecutive Roland Garros titles as the No. 1 seed. Her unwavering consistency and mental fortitude have propelled her to the pinnacle of women's tennis.Beyond her Grand Slam success, Swiatek has also demonstrated her versatility by winning the Madrid and Rome Masters this year, becoming the first player since 2013 to sweep all three clay-court tournaments. Her ability to adapt to different surfaces and playing styles is a testament to her exceptional talent.Swiatek's resilience was evident in her second-round match against Naomi Osaka, where she faced a match point before rallying to victory. This remarkable feat makes her the 13th woman in the Open Era to save a match point en route to winning a major.With her latest triumph, Swiatek has surpassed $30 million in career prize money, becoming the ninth woman in WTA history to reach this milestone. Her dominance on the court has not only earned her accolades but also financial rewards.As Swiatek continues to rewrite tennis history, her impact on the sport is undeniable. Her unwavering determination, exceptional skills, and ability to inspire young athletes make her a true icon of the game.

Tennis legend Roger Federer graced the Dartmouth College campus with his presence, receiving an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters and sharing invaluable life lessons with the Class of 2024. In his captivating speech, Federer emphasized the importance of hard work, resilience, and perspective.Federer dispelled the myth of "effortless" success, revealing the relentless effort behind his achievements. "I had to work very hard... to make it look easy," he said. "I spent years whining... swearing... throwing my racket... before I learned to keep my cool." He stressed that talent alone is insufficient, and that outworking opponents is crucial for success.Recalling his heartbreaking loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final, Federer shared the lesson of resilience. "You can work harder than you thought possible... and still lose," he said. "But I knew what I had to do... keep working. And keep competing." He emphasized that setbacks are inevitable, but it's how we respond to them that matters.Federer also reminded the students that life extends beyond the court. "Life is bigger than the court," he said. "It's about the people you love, the experiences you have, and the impact you make on the world." He encouraged them to pursue their passions, embrace challenges, and strive for a life filled with purpose and meaning.Federer's speech resonated deeply with the Dartmouth community, leaving a lasting impression on the graduating class. His words of wisdom and encouragement will undoubtedly guide them as they embark on their own journeys.

Wimbledon 2024: Adidas Unveils FW24 London Collection for Enhanced Performance and ComfortAs the tennis world prepares for the prestigious Wimbledon Championships, Adidas has unveiled its latest FW24 London Collection, designed to elevate player performance and comfort on the iconic grass courts.The 10-piece collection prioritizes comfort with its seamless design, which minimizes friction in areas prone to movement, such as the underarms. Open hole areas in these areas, as well as the back and sides of the body, enhance ventilation and moisture management.Adidas's Freelift construction, featuring adaptive stretch in strategic locations, provides players with exceptional range of motion. To combat the summer heat, the garments incorporate Aeroready and Airchill technologies, which effectively wick away moisture and enhance cooling properties.The collection's textured patterns and mesh layers further optimize airflow. Raised structures on select pieces create the illusion of flowing shadows, paying homage to the unique light conditions on grass courts.Adidas athletes will don the FW24 London Collection at the upcoming summer tournaments in London. The pieces are available for purchase at adidas.com and select tennis specialty retailers.

Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz have emerged as the dominant forces in tennis, each surpassing $30 million in career prize earnings at the tender ages of 23 and 21, respectively. Their recent triumphs at the 2024 Roland Garros have further cemented their status as the future of the sport.Swiatek, now a four-time Roland Garros champion, has impressed with her unwavering determination and relentless pursuit of improvement. "She has such an open mind to learn," said Kim Clijsters, a former world number one. "She's improving all the time, and so her mindset is that she wants to be one of the great ones."Swiatek's dominance on clay is reminiscent of Rafael Nadal, who has won the French Open a record 14 times. "I think she has some of the best footwork from the middle of the court I've ever seen in my life," said Andy Roddick, a former US Open champion.On the men's side, Alcaraz has emerged as the heir apparent to the "Big Three" of Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. His five-set victory over Alexander Zverev in the Roland Garros final showcased his resilience and determination."I think everyone...remembered what happened to Carlos last year with the cramps," said Jon Wertheim, a tennis commentator. "Just as the players had a hard time finding rhythm, so did the fans. In the end, we get our storyline. 'Nadal may have played for the last time but the new Spaniard comes.'"Roddick echoed Wertheim's sentiments, expressing optimism about the future of tennis. "I was pessimistic about where tennis was going to lay post Big Three, Serena, Venus at the top of her game, and I couldn't be happier to be wrong about it," he said. "I think the game is in great hands."

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.

Alexander Zverev Withdraws from Stuttgart Open, Citing Physical FatigueWorld No. 4 Alexander Zverev has withdrawn from this week's BOSS Open in Stuttgart, Germany, due to physical fatigue following his grueling run to the French Open final.Zverev, the top seed and lone Top 10 player in the field, announced his withdrawal on Tuesday. "I've played a lot of tennis in the last few weeks and reached the final in Paris, where I played five tough sets," he said in a statement. "I feel that my body is not ready to go from clay to grass now."During his runner-up finish at Roland Garros, Zverev spent an astonishing 23 hours and 46 minutes on the court. His five-set loss to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz lasted four hours and 19 minutes, marking his second Grand Slam final defeat in a deciding set.Zverev's withdrawal from Stuttgart is a significant blow to the tournament, which is part of the ATP 250 series. Lucky loser Richard Gasquet has replaced him in the draw and will face American Brandon Nakashima in the second round.Zverev is now set to compete at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany, next week. The ATP 500 event is expected to feature a star-studded field, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and defending champion Alexander Bublik.Zverev's decision to prioritize his physical recovery over immediate competition highlights the demanding nature of the tennis calendar. With the Wimbledon Championships just around the corner, players must carefully manage their schedules to avoid burnout and injury.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and the French Tennis Federation (FFT) have inked a groundbreaking 10-year deal worth an average of $65 million annually, securing the exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the prestigious French Open tennis tournament. This marks a significant increase from the previous $25-30 million per year received by the FFT from NBC and Tennis Channel.The agreement, which commences in 2024, will see TNT Sports emerge as the primary network for French Open coverage, with additional matches airing on TBS and truTV. Notably, every single match from the tournament will be available for streaming on Max, WBD's streaming platform.TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing their vision to engage not only tennis enthusiasts but also general sports fans. "We want to talk to the sports fan overall," Silberwasser stated.The new contract elevates the French Open to the same level of coverage as the other three Grand Slam tournaments, which are all carried by ESPN. This means that every match from every court for the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open will now be accessible to U.S. viewers.FFT president Gilles Moretton hailed the agreement as a major step forward for the tournament's global reach. "This new agreement will enable the federation to ensure maximum exposure for Roland Garros in the USA and help further promote the tournament," Moretton said.WBD has a long-standing history with the French Open, having aired the tournament on Eurosport since 1989 and distributing coverage to 55 countries outside the United States. TNT is expected to begin promoting the French Open during its coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in March and continue throughout its coverage of the NHL and NBA playoffs.While TNT will air two College Football Playoff games on December 21 and has four NASCAR races beginning next year, its future as an NBA broadcaster remains uncertain as negotiations with the league continue.

Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka made triumphant returns to the tennis court on Tuesday at the Libema Open in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.Pegula, the top seed, cruised past qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2 in her first match since suffering a rib injury that sidelined her for the entire European clay season. The American dominated the match, converting five of her seven break points and dropping serve only once."I've been healthy for a few weeks now," Pegula said. "I don't think much has really changed. Iga dominated the clay season, what else is new? Now we go into grass and I'm sure the grass-court players will do well."Pegula's victory marks her first on grass since reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon last year. She is hoping to build on that success and gain confidence ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam.Osaka, a four-time major winner, also impressed in her first grass-court match since 2019 Wimbledon. The Japanese star defeated fourth-seeded Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-4 in 69 minutes. Osaka powered past the Belgian with 21 winners and converted all three of her break point chances."I'm going to play two extra weeks on grass now," Osaka said. "Hopefully I can do well and make up some points or at least gain confidence and matches there and then be ready to go for the rest of the year."Osaka is seeking her first grass-court trophy. Prior to Tuesday, her last win on the surface came in June 2019 in Birmingham. All of her 11 previous tour-level final appearances have been on hard courts.The Libema Open is a WTA 250 tournament that serves as a warm-up event for Wimbledon. The tournament features a strong field of players, including former world No. 1 Simona Halep and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

The 2024 men's tennis season marks a significant generational shift, with neither Novak Djokovic nor Rafael Nadal claiming a Grand Slam title in the first half of the year. Jannik Sinner's rise to world No. 1 and Carlos Alcaraz's dominance at Wimbledon and Roland Garros have ushered in a new era.Tennis' New Signature Rivalry:Sinner and Alcaraz have emerged as the sport's most captivating rivalry. Sinner's powerful and composed style contrasts with Alcaraz's exuberant and versatile play. Their head-to-head record stands at 5-4 in Alcaraz's favor, adding intrigue to their future encounters.Djokovic & Nadal: Return to Paris for an Olympic Farewell:Djokovic and Nadal, both recovering from injuries, are targeting the Summer Olympics in Paris as their next major goal. For Nadal, it represents a fitting farewell to the tournament where he has achieved immense success. Djokovic, on the other hand, seeks to add an Olympic gold medal to his illustrious career.American Men: Summer Surge on the Horizon:American men have struggled on clay, but they excel on faster surfaces. Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Sebastian Korda, and Christopher Eubanks are poised to make an impact in the upcoming grass and hard court tournaments.Scheduling Concerns:The issue of late-night matches has resurfaced, with Djokovic's marathon victory over Lorenzo Musetti ending at 3:07 a.m. Players and organizations are calling for a review of scheduling policies to prioritize player well-being.