Tennis

The Volkl Vostra V10 (320g) is a high-performance tennis racquet designed for advanced players seeking precision and control. Its innovative Red Cell technology, a composite of carbon fiber and REVA dampening resin, enhances performance and feel at contact. The V-shaped throat (V-Engine) stabilizes the frame, providing added stability.With a weight of 11.9 oz. and a head-light balance, the V10 offers effortless handling and smooth acceleration through the hitting zone. Its 98 sq. in. head size provides a generous sweet spot for accurate targeting. The thin beam and variable beam design, thicker at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, bolster the frame's backbone and promote spin generation.The V10 excels in ground strokes, delivering reliable targeting and predictable response. Its heft provides ample power for punishing short balls and defending against opponents' shots. While not inherently powerful, the racquet allows skilled players to generate pace through their own technique.Spin generation is respectable, with the SuperGrommets promoting string deflection for a deeper pocket. The frame's flexibility and comfortable feel, enhanced by the V-Tex butt cap and V-Sensor pin, reduce harsh vibration.At the net, the V10's weight and sturdy composition make it a standout volleyer. Its fine control encourages precise aiming, while its touch allows for delicate shots and in-between midcourt play.However, the V10 requires a high level of skill to perform optimally. Its smallish sweet spot and lack of inherent power demand consistent on-time contact and technically proficient strokes. The narrow shoulders may also limit the sweet spot for players with vertical, topspin-heavy strokes.Overall, the Volkl Vostra V10 is a demanding racquet that rewards advanced players with precision, control, and a comfortable feel. Its innovative technologies and balanced performance make it an excellent choice for all-court players seeking to showcase their skills.

At the Rolex Shanghai Masters, tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas and LPGA golfer Hannah Green engaged in a friendly mini-golf competition, showcasing their athleticism and camaraderie.Green, a 2019 Women's PGA Championship winner, displayed her exceptional putting skills, leaving Tsitsipas in awe with her hole-in-one. The pair played on a nine-hole course designed by local artist Nancy K. Pon and designer G. T. Percha, which replicates Shanghai's iconic landmarks.Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, admitted to struggling on the greens, highlighting the challenges of putting in a different sport. Despite his self-deprecating humor, Tsitsipas praised Green's abilities, acknowledging her superior skills on the mini-golf course."It's cool to actually meet the players in person and see how tall they are, and how athletic they are," Green said, expressing her excitement at meeting Tsitsipas and other tennis players.The mini-golf competition provided a lighthearted moment amidst the intense competition of the Shanghai Masters. It showcased the versatility and athleticism of both Tsitsipas and Green, highlighting the camaraderie and sportsmanship that transcends different disciplines.

Amelia Honer Triumphs in Bakersfield ITF QuarterfinalsAmerican tennis star Amelia Honer has advanced to the semifinals of the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Bakersfield, USA, after a hard-fought victory over Sahaja Yamalapalli.Honer, the tournament's top seed, faced a stern challenge from Yamalapalli in the quarterfinals. The Indian player took the first set in a tiebreaker, but Honer rallied back to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.The victory marks Honer's second consecutive win in the tournament. In the pre-quarterfinals, she defeated Makenna Jones of the United States in three sets.In the semifinals, Honer will face Eryn Cayetano of the United States, who defeated Rutuja Bhosale of India in straight sets.Other Notable Results:* In the men's $25,000 ITF tournament in Kampala, Uganda, Corentin Denolly of France defeated Dev Javia of India in the quarterfinals.* In the doubles final of the same tournament, Guy Iradukunda of Burundi and Aziz Ouakaa of Tunisia defeated Noah Schachter of the United States and Niitn Kumar Sinha of India.* In the $15,000 ITF men's tournament in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Egor Agafonov and Ilia Simakin of Russia defeated Yurii Dzhavakian of Ukraine and Sidharth Rawat of India in the doubles semifinals.

Coco Gauff has unofficially secured her spot at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, becoming the third player to qualify for the prestigious year-end tournament. The 18-year-old American revealed the news after her semifinal defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open.Gauff's qualification is based on the Live-Tennis.eu ranking race, which projects her to finish inside the top eight players who qualify for the WTA Finals. The official announcement is expected soon, but Gauff expressed her excitement about returning to the season-ending championships for a third consecutive year."I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great," Gauff said.Gauff's qualification is a testament to her consistent performances throughout the season. She began the Asian Swing on the bubble of qualifying but solidified her bid by winning the China Open and reaching the semifinals in Wuhan.The 2023 US Open champion first qualified for the WTA Finals in 2022 and reached the semifinals in 2023. This year, she will be looking to make a deeper run in the tournament."It's my first time not playing doubles," Gauff added. "So, that's going to be a different experience. But I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great, so I'm excited."Unofficially, Live-Tennis.eu also projects Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova to join Gauff at the WTA Finals. That leaves one remaining spot, for which Zheng Qinwen is in pole position after reaching the semifinals in Wuhan.

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner is poised to claim his seventh ATP title of the year and secure the ATP year-end No. 1 ranking after defeating Tomas Machac in the Shanghai Masters semifinals. Sinner's victory marks a historic achievement for Italy, making him the first Italian to hold the year-end No. 1 spot.The Italian maestro weathered a fierce challenge from Machac, who had upset No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Sinner's relentless baseline play and efficient performance, characterized by 10 aces and 28 winners, proved too much for his opponent.In the final, Sinner will face either four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic or seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz. Djokovic holds a commanding 9-0 head-to-head record against Fritz, but the American has shown impressive form in recent weeks.Meanwhile, in the women's semifinals, second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a slow start to defeat Coco Gauff in three sets. Sabalenka's victory extends her perfect record at the Wuhan Open and sets up a final clash against either seventh-ranked Zheng Qinwen or No. 51-ranked Wang Xinyu.Sabalenka's triumph ended Gauff's nine-match winning streak, which included the China Open title last week. The Belarussian's resilience and determination proved crucial in overcoming Gauff's early dominance.The Shanghai Masters and Wuhan Open finals promise to deliver thrilling tennis action, with top players vying for prestigious titles and valuable ranking points.

Aahan, a 14-year-old tennis prodigy from Bhubaneswar, showcased her exceptional skills by clinching both the under-16 and under-14 girls' titles at the Fenesta National Sub-Junior Tennis Championship.Trained by coach Santosh Kumar Mallik at the Gurukul Academy, Aahan displayed remarkable grit and determination throughout the tournament. In the under-16 final, she faced Aishwarya Jadhav in a marathon match that lasted over three and a half hours. Despite dropping the second set, Aahan rallied back to win 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.Her triumph in the under-14 category was equally impressive. She defeated Parthsarthi Mundhe 6-4, 6-3, dropping only 14 games in six matches. Aahan's exceptional performance is a testament to her hard work and dedication.In the boys' under-16 category, Samarth Sahita from Ahmedabad emerged victorious, defeating Karan Thapa in straight sets. Raghav Sarode claimed the under-14 crown, overcoming top seed Aaradhya Mhasde in a thrilling three-set match.Aahan's coach, Santosh Mallik, praised her unwavering spirit and technical prowess. "Aahan is a gem. She has tremendous potential. We are working on her serve and trying to add more power to her forehand," he said.The Fenesta National Sub-Junior Tennis Championship is a prestigious event that attracts young tennis players from across the country. Aahan's success at this tournament is a testament to her bright future in the sport.

Aryna Sabalenka's remarkable comeback from the brink of defeat against Coco Gauff in the Wuhan Open semifinals on Saturday has propelled her into her 10th WTA 1000 final. The Belarusian star, who has a formidable 6-3 record in her previous WTA 1000 finals, will now face either Zheng Qinwen or Wang Xinyu in the championship match.Sabalenka's victory over Gauff was a testament to her resilience and determination. After dropping the first set 6-1 and trailing 4-2 in the second, she rallied back with astonishing force, winning seven consecutive games to take the second set and establish a 3-0 lead in the third.Gauff, who had won nine consecutive matches in China, fought back to level the third set, but Sabalenka's unwavering focus and powerful serve proved too much to overcome. The match ended with both players recording identical winners and unforced errors, but Sabalenka's superior ace-to-double fault ratio (2-2 to Gauff's 4-21) ultimately made the difference.Sabalenka's success in Wuhan is a continuation of her impressive form in recent months. She has won 19 of her last 20 matches, including back-to-back titles in Cincinnati and the US Open. Her only loss during this stretch came against Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Open last week.The Wuhan Open has been a particularly fruitful tournament for Sabalenka. She has won the title twice before, in 2018 and 2019, and has never lost a match in the tournament. Her 16-0 record in Wuhan is a testament to her dominance on the hard courts of the Chinese city.If Sabalenka can overcome either Zheng or Wang in the final, she will capture her seventh WTA 1000 crown and further cement her status as one of the top players in the world.

Zheng Qinwen, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and rising star of Chinese tennis, has made history by becoming the first athlete to grace the cover of Vogue China. This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone in her career and underscores the growing popularity of tennis in China.Zheng's Vogue China cover shoot, titled "Being Queen Wen," showcases her versatility and fashion prowess. Photographed by Wang Ziqian and styled by Vivienne Sun, Zheng exudes confidence and elegance in daring hair and makeup looks, adorned in international brands such as Balenciaga, Nike, and Rahul Mishra.In an interview with Vogue's Yan Xia, Zheng expressed her excitement about presenting a different side of herself to her fans. "I also tried a style that I had never tried before," she said. "I hope that when fans see these pictures, they will feel that Zheng Qinwen has taken a different route this time."Zheng's Olympic victory in 2024 sparked a surge of national interest in tennis, earning her the title of "queen" among fans. The Vogue China cover shoot further solidifies her status as a fashion icon and role model for aspiring athletes."This shoot is the one I am most satisfied with among all the shoots I have taken, because it shows my own understanding of fashion," Zheng said. "Not only the cover, but also the photos on the inside pages are my favorites. It combines the strength and beauty of athletes, and also has a sense of fashion."Zheng's success on the court has been equally impressive. She is currently competing in her home tournament, the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, where she has reached the semifinals for the first time. She is set to face countrywoman Wang Xinyu in a historic matchup that will mark the first meeting between two Chinese players in the semifinal of a WTA 1000 event.Zheng's journey to the top of the tennis world has been marked by determination and hard work. She credits her success to her unwavering focus and the support of her family and coaches. As she continues to rise through the ranks, Zheng is poised to become one of the most influential figures in Chinese sports history.

American tennis star Sebastian Korda has undergone successful elbow surgery to address lingering issues that have hampered his recent performances. The 23-year-old announced the procedure on social media, expressing optimism about his recovery and return to the court.Korda's decision to undergo surgery came after consulting with his medical team. He had been experiencing discomfort in his right arm, which became evident during his second-round US Open loss to Tomas Machac. The American received a medical timeout during the match, indicating the severity of the pain.Despite the setback, Korda has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024. He cracked the ATP Top 20 for the first time, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 15 in September. Korda captured his maiden ATP 500 title in Washington, D.C., following in the footsteps of his father, Petr Korda, who won the same tournament 32 years prior.The father-son duo became the first to win the same ATP tour title and both reach the world's Top 20. Korda also reached the semifinals of the Canadian Masters 1000, defeating Alexander Zverev before falling to Alexei Popyrin. He partnered with Jordan Thompson to claim his first ATP doubles title at the Madrid Masters 1000.Korda's surgery is expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period. However, he remains positive about his recovery and is eager to return to competition. The American has received an outpouring of support from fellow players and fans, who have expressed their well wishes and anticipation for his comeback.