Tennis

Naomi Osaka and Carlos Alcaraz will kick off the French Open on Sunday, marking the potential farewell of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. Osaka, a four-time major winner, faces Lucia Bronzetti in the opening match on Court Philippe Chatrier. Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, will take on J.J. Wolf in his first-round encounter.Osaka has had a tumultuous relationship with the French Open. In 2021, she withdrew due to mental health concerns, and in 2022, she lost in the first round. However, she is determined to make a strong showing this year. "I'm learning a lot of lessons through motherhood, and I hope that I can remember to apply them on the tennis court," she said.Alcaraz, ranked third in the world, reached the semi-finals last year. He will be wary of Wolf, who has won just one match on the tour this year but is a dangerous opponent on clay.Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will face off in the night session. Murray is playing his final season on tour, while Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, is still a formidable force.The biggest question mark hangs over Nadal. The 14-time French Open champion has not committed to retiring but admitted that this could be his last appearance at Roland Garros. He will face Alexander Zverev in the first round, a daunting task given his recent injury struggles.Nadal has won 112 matches in 115 appearances at the French Open. His 22 Grand Slam titles are second only to Djokovic's 24. However, injuries have plagued his career, and he has played just four tournaments since January last year."I have been going through a long process of recovery with a very difficult injury, almost two years of suffering, but I feel better now," Nadal said. "I have fewer limitations than three, four weeks ago, without a doubt."The French Open promises to be an emotional and unpredictable tournament. Osaka, Alcaraz, Murray, Wawrinka, and Nadal will all be vying for glory, while the future of one of the greatest players of all time hangs in the balance.

Daniil Medvedev, the former world No. 1 tennis player, has been honored with tennis courts named after him in Maisons-Laffitte, France, where he trained from 2014-16. The project was initiated by Claude Kopélianskis, deputy mayor of the town, and Jean-Pascal Dupuis, president of the Tennis-Squash de Maisons-Laffitte.Medvedev, who was born in Russia but settled in France as a teenager, expressed his gratitude for the honor. "To give my name, I said yes straight away, because I have good feelings with this club and this city," he said.The club holds a special place in Medvedev's heart. "For the first team match that I came to play at Maisons-Laffitte, you welcomed me into your home, without knowing me. You welcomed me as if I were a loved one," he recalled.Medvedev's connection to French culture extends beyond tennis. "I speak French, I have all the team that is French. I think it's been already long time that I have a lot of French in me," he said.The naming of the courts is a testament to Medvedev's impact on the club and the community. "We kept a warm relationship with him, and one year and a half ago he came to me and said he had this idea where I play for the club, he wants to build a really great indoor courts and name them after me," said Dupuis.Medvedev's presence at the dedication ceremony was a special moment for the club and its members. He took selfies with youngsters, signed autographs, and shared his experiences with those who have supported him throughout his career.The courts named after Medvedev will serve as a reminder of his achievements and his connection to the club and the town of Maisons-Laffitte. They will also inspire future generations of tennis players to strive for excellence.

The Wilson Blade 104 v9 tennis racquet is a versatile and forgiving frame designed for a wide range of players. With its larger head size and extended length, it offers a generous sweet spot and increased stability, making it an ideal choice for intermediate recreational players.The racquet's StableFeel technology enhances both bending and torsional stability, providing a solid and dependable response at contact. Its narrower spec tolerance ensures consistency in weight, balance, and swingweight, while the Click & Go grommet system simplifies bumper replacement.Despite its larger dimensions, the Blade 104 swings surprisingly fast, thanks to its balanced swingweight. This quickness, combined with the open 16x19 string pattern, facilitates effortless spin production. The racquet's speed and length also translate to effective serves, allowing players to mix up slices and kickers.While the Blade 104 offers excellent maneuverability, it may lack some stability against heavy hitters. Players who prefer more stability and plow-through may consider adding weight to the hoop. Additionally, the racquet's slightly stiffer and more dampened feel may not provide the same plush comfort as the Blade 98.Overall, the Wilson Blade 104 v9 is a well-rounded racquet that offers a forgiving nature and versatility. Its larger head size, extended length, and StableFeel technology make it an excellent choice for intermediate players seeking a balance of power, control, and ease of play.

In the captivating opening day clash at Roland Garros, French clay-court specialist Corentin Moutet faces off against Chilean giant Nicolas Jarry. Despite his lower world ranking of 79th, Moutet has proven his prowess on clay, having defeated Jarry in their previous encounter in Chile.Moutet's fiery personality and impressive clay-court record make him a formidable opponent. The home crowd at Court Simonne-Mathieu will provide him with an electrifying atmosphere, further boosting his confidence. The slower court speeds in Paris will also favor Moutet's game, allowing him to neutralize Jarry's powerful serve.While Jarry possesses an exceptional serve, Moutet's return game has improved significantly. Jarry's break percentage remains low, indicating that Moutet can hold his serve effectively. Additionally, Moutet's ability to read Jarry's serve and block it back into play will be crucial in this match.Moutet's strategy will likely involve avoiding Jarry's forehand, which is his most potent weapon. However, Jarry's tendency to overhit forehands under pressure could prove detrimental. Moutet's smart play and ability to exploit Jarry's weaknesses make him a strong contender in this match.Overall, this encounter promises to be a close battle. Moutet's home advantage, clay-court expertise, and Jarry's potential for nerves could all play a role in determining the outcome.

The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, is set to witness a potential shift in the men's tennis landscape. For the first time in two decades, there is no clear favorite for the title, as the dominance of the Big Three (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) wanes.Nadal, the 14-time French Open champion, has been struggling with injuries and has not won a title since the Australian Open in January. Djokovic, the defending champion, has also endured a dip in form, losing in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the Italian Open.This has opened the door for a new generation of players to challenge for the title. Carlos Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spanish sensation, is the world No. 3 and has been touted as the next big thing on clay. However, he has been hampered by a right forearm injury and has not played competitively in over a month.Another contender is Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian who won the Rotterdam and Miami titles this year. However, he has also been struggling with a right hip injury and has not played since the Madrid Open.Other hopefuls include Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev. Ruud has reached the French Open final the last two years, while Tsitsipas won the Monte Carlo title this year. Zverev, who reached the semifinals in Paris the last three years, is coming off a victory at the Italian Open.With so many contenders and no clear favorite, this year's French Open promises to be a fascinating and unpredictable tournament.

Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, is embracing motherhood while navigating the challenges of the European clay circuit. Her 10-month-old daughter, Shai, has taken her first steps, bringing immense joy to Osaka.Despite the distance from her child, Osaka remains connected through daily calls. She acknowledges the difficulty of being away from Shai, but finds solace in her daughter's well-being.Osaka's clay-court journey began in Rouen, France, and has seen her make significant progress on the slow, red surface. She has never won a match on clay against a top-20 player until her recent victories at the Italian Open."I have made a significant amount of progress, and I feel like people can kind of see that throughout the tournaments that I have played," Osaka said. "I feel like I have dedicated a lot of time to learning about clay."Osaka's major titles came on hard courts, and she has yet to advance past the third round at the French Open or Wimbledon. However, she is more at ease on clay now."Honestly, at this point, I feel pretty comfortable on clay, to the point where I don't know if I'll be a little confused my first day back on hard," she joked.Osaka's opening match at Roland Garros is against Lucia Bronzetti, with the potential for a second-round clash against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek."Clay is fun. You get to slide around. You get to see how strong you are, in and out of corners," Osaka said. "For me, there is a lot of really valuable lessons that I'm learning from clay-court tennis."

The Indian under-12 tennis teams have emerged victorious in the South Asia championships held in Kathmandu, Nepal. The boys' team, comprising Puneeth Manohar, Aarav Chhallani, and Yuvaan Garg, secured the gold medal after defeating Pakistan 2-0 in the final. In the semifinals, they had overcome Sri Lanka 3-0.Throughout the league phase, the Indian boys displayed their dominance, defeating Bangladesh and Maldives 3-0 in each match, dropping only one game in six encounters. The girls' team, consisting of Srishti Kiran, Khushi Kadian, and Sarena Gahlot, also claimed the title by topping the round-robin league. They defeated Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal, losing just one set in the entire tournament.The top two teams from the competition will advance to the Asian under-12 championship, which will be hosted in Kazakhstan. Anil Dhupar, the AITA secretary general, expressed pride in the young athletes' achievements and their dedication, teamwork, and spirit.

Paris, the City of Lights, has witnessed the fulfillment of a young tennis star's dream. Mirra Andreeva, the 17-year-old WTA sensation, has finally captured a moment with her idol, Andy Murray, the former world No. 1.On the eve of Roland Garros, Andreeva's courage surged as she approached Murray, requesting a photograph. The resulting image, shared on her Instagram story, has ignited joy among tennis enthusiasts on social media."Finally," exclaimed one user, while another declared it "Cuteness overload." A third user humorously referenced Andreeva's previous promise to frame a complimentary tweet from Murray, writing, "She going to frame this too, isn't she?"Andreeva's admiration for Murray has been a defining aspect of her remarkable professional debut in 2023. She has openly expressed her idolization of the Scot, famously describing him as "so beautiful" upon their first encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open.Murray's playful response on X, formerly Twitter, read, "Imagine how good she’s going to be when she gets her eyes fixed."Later that year, at Wimbledon, Andreeva finally met Murray but admitted to being "too shy" to initiate a conversation. "When I see him, I try to leave the facility super quick, just to not have to talk to him!" she confessed.However, a year has brought a significant transformation. Andreeva's confidence has grown, and she has seized the opportunity to capture a cherished moment with her idol.In the caption accompanying the photo, Andreeva expressed her delight at returning to Paris, stating, "so far, so good." Her performance in last year's Roland Garros, where she reached the third round, serves as a testament to her potential.Andreeva's unwavering admiration for Murray has become an endearing aspect of her journey as a professional tennis player. Her courage in approaching her idol and the resulting photograph have brought joy to fans worldwide.

Rafael Nadal, the legendary 14-time French Open champion, has hinted that he may not be ready to bid farewell to Roland Garros just yet. Despite enduring a challenging period marred by injuries and a subpar start to the 2024 season, Nadal has arrived in Paris and is preparing for his first-round clash against Alexander Zverev.Nadal's participation in the tournament had been uncertain following a disappointing loss at the Italian Open. However, the Spaniard has shown resilience and determination in his practice sessions this week. When asked if this would be his final French Open, Nadal responded with a smile and a hint of ambiguity: "Don't assume that."While acknowledging the possibility that this could be his last appearance at Roland Garros, Nadal emphasized that he cannot predict the future. He stated, "It's a big, big chance that it's going to be my last Roland Garros. But if I have to tell you it's 100% my last Roland Garros, sorry, but I will not."Nadal's comments have sparked speculation and excitement among tennis fans. The 38-year-old has dominated the clay courts of Paris like no other player in history, winning an unprecedented 14 titles. His presence at Roland Garros this year is a testament to his unwavering spirit and love for the sport.Whether or not this is Nadal's final French Open, his legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time is secure. His exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and enduring passion for the game have inspired countless fans around the world.