Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, the world's No. 3 seed, has continued his impressive return to form at Roland Garros, defeating Sebastian Korda in straight sets to advance to the second week of the tournament.Alcaraz, who has been hampered by a persistent right forearm injury this season, has shown no signs of discomfort in Paris, playing his best tennis when it matters most. Against Korda, the Spaniard hit through any lingering doubts, showcasing his trademark power and precision.The match started slowly, with both players struggling to find their rhythm. However, Alcaraz gradually gained the upper hand, breaking Korda's serve in the sixth game to take the first set 6-4.Korda fought back in the second set, leveling the score at 3-3. But Alcaraz's forehand, which has been the most affected by his injury, came to the fore in the tiebreaker, helping him secure a 7-6 (5) victory.The third set was a more straightforward affair, with Alcaraz breaking Korda's serve early on and holding his own serve comfortably. He eventually sealed the match with a volley into the open court, winning 6-3.Alcaraz's victory sets up a potential quarterfinal clash with Italian rival Jannik Sinner, who is also in the same half of the draw. However, Alcaraz must first face the winner of the rain-delayed match between American Ben Shelton and Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime.Alcaraz has a 1-0 record against Shelton but trails Auger-Aliassime 2-3 in their head-to-head. However, the Spaniard has won their last two matches, including a victory on clay at the Madrid Open earlier this year.

Roland Garros: Badosa and Sabalenka Set for Intriguing ClashOn Saturday, June 1, the Roland Garros stage will witness a captivating encounter between two close friends and formidable tennis stars: Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka. This highly anticipated match promises to be a thrilling battle on the clay courts of Paris.Badosa, the world No. 4, has been in impressive form this season, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and winning the Sydney International. Her clay-court prowess is undeniable, with a career win percentage of nearly 70% on the surface. Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play make her a formidable opponent.Sabalenka, the world No. 2, is known for her explosive power and relentless intensity. She is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist and has won 10 WTA titles. Her dominance on hard courts is well-documented, but she has also shown her capabilities on clay, reaching the semifinals of the Madrid Open in 2021.The history between these two players adds an intriguing layer to this matchup. They have faced each other three times on clay, with each match going over 19.5 games. In their most recent encounter in Stuttgart, Badosa pushed Sabalenka to the limit before retiring due to injury.Despite Sabalenka's status as the favorite, Badosa's fighting spirit and clay-court expertise make her a dangerous opponent. Her ability to move well on the terre battue and her powerful groundstrokes could pose a significant challenge to Sabalenka.The Over 19.5 Games bet at -138 odds presents an attractive opportunity for bettors. Given the history between these players and the likelihood of a competitive match, the Over seems like a solid pick.

Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa, both 26-year-old rising stars in the tennis world, are set to face off in a highly anticipated match at the French Open. The two have a close friendship and a competitive rivalry, having played six times since 2021. Sabalenka holds a 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head record, including three victories in Stuttgart.On clay, Sabalenka has been dominant, winning all three of their encounters in Stuttgart. However, Badosa has shown resilience on the surface, pushing Sabalenka to the limit in each match. The Spaniard will be looking to break her losing streak against Sabalenka and prove her mettle on the Grand Slam stage.Sabalenka, known for her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, has been in impressive form this season. She has reached the semifinals or better in every Grand Slam since 2022, showcasing her consistency and mental fortitude. Badosa, on the other hand, is still recovering from a two-year injury slump. She has shown signs of improvement this week, winning two close three-setters.In another intriguing matchup, Madison Keys will take on Emma Navarro. Keys has been in excellent form on clay this season, reaching the semifinals in Madrid and the quarterfinals in Rome. She also won a title in Strasbourg last week. Navarro, a rising star, has also impressed, reaching the final of a Roland Garros tune-up event in Paris and winning her first two rounds at the French Open.Keys and Navarro have played twice before, with each player winning once. Keys will be favored in this match due to her experience and recent form. However, Navarro has shown that she is capable of upsetting higher-ranked opponents.Finally, Novak Djokovic will face Lorenzo Musetti in a highly anticipated night session match. The two have a history of memorable encounters, with Musetti famously defeating Djokovic in Monte Carlo last year. Djokovic, however, reversed that result in their most recent meeting.Djokovic is the clear favorite in this match, but Musetti has the potential to cause an upset if he can generate early momentum and play to his strengths. The crowd will likely be behind Musetti, which could add to the pressure on Djokovic.

World number one Iga Swiatek celebrated her 23rd birthday in style with an emphatic 6-4 6-2 victory over Marie Bouzkova to move into the last 16 at the French Open on May 31.Swiatek, who is seeking her second French Open title, survived a major scare in the previous round when she saved a match point against Naomi Osaka before sealing a hard-fought victory. However, against Bouzkova, she picked apart the Czech player's serve with some precision hitting.The defending champion showed no signs of a hangover from the three-setter with Osaka and consolidated an early break to go 3-1 up in the opening set. Bouzkova fought back from 5-2 down to give the Pole a workout, but Swiatek switched gears and carefully constructed her points, using the angles well to make Bouzkova run from one corner of Court Philippe-Chatrier to the other, firing 18 winners in total in the opening set.The top seed continued to dominate in the second set as she effortlessly turned defense into offense on Bouzkova's serve, breaking twice to race into a 4-0 lead before the Czech managed to get on the board. Bouzkova saved a match point on her serve, but she only delayed the inevitable as Swiatek sealed progress with a searing winner down the line.Swiatek's victory extends her winning streak to 32 matches, the longest on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams won 34 consecutive matches in 2013. The Pole is now just two wins away from equaling Venus Williams' record of 35 consecutive wins, set in 2000.Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula in the fourth round, a player she has defeated in their last three meetings. Pegula, the eighth seed, advanced to the last 16 with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Tamara Zidansek.

Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev's French Open campaign came to an abrupt end in the third round on Friday, as he suffered a surprising 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi.Rublev, a 10-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, was visibly frustrated throughout the match, repeatedly throwing his racquet to the ground and hitting himself in the knee with it in the third set."Completely disappointed with myself -- the way I behaved, the way I performed, and I don't remember behaving worse on a Slam ever," Rublev said. "I think it was first time I ever behaved that bad."The 26-year-old Russian had a set point in the opening tie-break but failed to convert it. He was broken in the first game of the second set but broke back immediately. However, Arnaldi's confidence grew as Rublev's frustration mounted."I was able to break back, and it looks like I started to have a bit more chances," Rublev added. "Then out of nowhere, again, I collapse with myself, I get emotional, I lost my serve, and then I lose it completely and basically I almost tank the second set, and then it was too late, because then he started to play unbelievable."Rublev never regained his composure, and Arnaldi closed out the match with a love service hold. It is the second straight year that Rublev has lost in the third round to an Italian on the same court, after blowing a two-set lead against Lorenzo Sonego 12 months ago."I was struggling, and then I had a really good result in Madrid," Rublev said. "Now I'm playing well again. I feel that I have a good game, I'm improving. The problem is the head, that today basically I kill myself, and that's it."Arnaldi, ranked 35th in the world, will face either former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas or China's Zhang Zhizhen in the last 16."It's incredible, I think I played the best tennis in my life," said Arnaldi. "I wasn't even expecting it.""He (Rublev) didn't play his best tennis for sure, but I used my best tactics to put him under pressure."

Sebastian Korda, the younger brother of LPGA star Nelly Korda, is hoping to channel his sister's recent success as he competes at Roland Garros. Nelly Korda has been on a historic winning streak this spring, becoming just the third woman to win five consecutive tournaments on the LPGA Tour. Her dominance has inspired her brother, who is eager to make a mark of his own at the French Open.Sebastian Korda has a tough task ahead of him in the third round, as he faces No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz has been one of the most impressive players on the ATP Tour this year, and he is considered a favorite to win Roland Garros. However, Korda has a reason to be optimistic. He defeated Alcaraz on clay in Monte Carlo last year, and he believes he can do it again."He's been one of the best clay-courters in the last couple of years, so it's obviously going to be very difficult," Korda said. "We've played probably two years ago to the day, a third round, exactly. A night match as well."It’s going to be a fun experience, and hopefully I can play some good tennis. We'll see what happens.”Korda's family will be cheering him on from afar, including his sister Nelly. Nelly Korda is competing in the U.S. Women's Open this week, but she will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on her brother's match."She's such an unbelievable competitor," Sebastian Korda said of his sister. "She'll do anything to win out there. She'll put her teeth into everything. She's a true warrior."Just watching her play right now, it's really inspiring to watch ... It's a lot of fun.“Luckily and unluckily, I was out of the tournament every time she was doing well, so I always had the opportunity to watch her. I would always watch the last couple of holes because I can't take watching it. It's just too nerve-wracking for me."Sebastian Korda is hoping to make his own history at Roland Garros. With his sister's success as inspiration, he believes he can make a deep run in the tournament.

Coco Gauff's ongoing transition from defensive to offensive play was evident in her 6-2, 6-4 victory over Dayana Yastremska at the French Open. While Yastremska's erratic style forced Gauff to play with safety, the American also showcased her improved aggression.Gauff's strategy of hitting through the middle of the court and forcing Yastremska to aim close to the lines proved effective. The Ukrainian made 38 unforced errors, while Gauff hit just eight winners. However, Gauff's victory was not solely based on defense.She stood up at the baseline and engaged in slugfests with Yastremska. Her first serve was a key weapon, disarming her opponent by firing it into her body. Gauff won 73% of her first-serve points and was broken only twice.Despite her improved aggression, Gauff's second serve remains a potential weakness. When she tightened up at 6-2, 5-2, Yastremska capitalized and broke back. However, Gauff regained her composure and held serve at 5-4 to secure the victory.Gauff acknowledged Yastremska's ability to play well from behind, but she was prepared for a late surge. The American's progression in her transition was evident in her ability to close out the match despite Yastremska's late rally.While Gauff's first-serve percentage of 47% may raise questions about her chances of winning Roland Garros, each match she plays is a step forward in her development. Her victory over Yastremska demonstrated her progress and suggests that she is capable of making further strides before the tournament's conclusion.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the unseeded Italian, has captivated Roland-Garros with her stunning performances and infectious personality. After defeating two Top 20 players, including No. 17 seed Liudmila Samsonova, Cocciaretto has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.Cocciaretto's journey to the fourth round has been marked by her resilience and determination. In her first-round match against No. 13 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, she rallied from a set down to secure a memorable victory. Against Samsonova, she faced a similar challenge, trailing 6-5 in the first set. However, she refused to be deterred, digging deep to win the set in a tiebreaker.Beyond her on-court prowess, Cocciaretto has also charmed the Parisian crowd with her warmth and humor. During her post-match interview with Mats Wilander, she greeted the crowd with a cheerful "Bonjour, Paris," eliciting thunderous applause. She then joked about her French language skills, admitting that she still had room for improvement.Cocciaretto's ability to connect with the crowd has been a refreshing sight at Roland-Garros, where the atmosphere has been somewhat subdued in the first week. Her infectious enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the French culture have endeared her to the fans."I'm really, really happy to have this support," Cocciaretto said. "It helped me a lot on the match point. It keeps me to be more aggressive, to go to win the point, so I'm really, really grateful about it, and I hope you'll come to support me for the next match."Cocciaretto's next challenge will be against No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, a 2022 finalist at Roland-Garros. The Italian will be aiming for her second career Top 10 win, having previously defeated Petra Kvitova in the first round of last year's tournament.With her captivating tennis and endearing personality, Elisabetta Cocciaretto has emerged as a crowd favorite at Roland-Garros. As she continues her journey through the tournament, she is sure to leave a lasting impression on the Parisian crowd and tennis fans around the world.

French tennis player Terence Atmane faced a hefty fine of $25,000 at the Roland Garros tournament after an unfortunate incident during his first-round match. Atmane, ranked 120th in the world, lost to Sebastian Ofner of Austria in a five-set thriller. However, the match was marred by an incident in the fourth set when Atmane, frustrated by a lost point, angrily hit a ball over the wall and into the stands.The ball struck a spectator, causing a delay in play for nearly 15 minutes. The chair umpire and officials consulted with the fan, who fortunately reported being unharmed. Atmane was initially given a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, but no further penalty was imposed.However, the tournament referee later reviewed the incident and decided to fine Atmane $25,000, which is nearly a third of his prize money for losing in the opening round. This fine is the largest of the 10 handed out to players during the clay-court event so far.Atmane expressed remorse for his actions in an Instagram post, stating that the gesture was not intentional and that a broken string on his racket affected the ball's flight. He also apologized for his emotional outburst and said he was too shocked to react immediately.Ofner, Atmane's opponent, believed that the Frenchman should have been defaulted from the match. "It was a bit surprising because if you do something like that on a small court, you have to be punished," Ofner said. "The ball was so fast and straight into the crowd. People have been disqualified for less."Tournament referee Remy Azemar explained that Atmane was not disqualified because the spectator did not report any injuries. However, the incident highlights the importance of player conduct and the potential consequences of unsportsmanlike behavior.