Tennis

Indian tennis duo Rithvik Bollipalli and Arjun Kadhe secured a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 victory over David Pel and Bart Stevens of the Netherlands in the doubles pre-quarterfinals of the $133,250 Challenger tournament in Shanghai, China. The win propelled them into the last eight of the competition.In the women's $25,000 ITF event in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Vaidehi Chaudhari cruised past Vaishnavi Adkar, dropping only three games in the first round. Her dominant performance sets her up for a promising run in the tournament.Meanwhile, in the $133,250 Challenger in Shanghai, Siddhant Banthia and Bruno Navarro of Spain defeated Fabien Salle of France and Adria Barrera of Colombia 6-4, 6-4 in the doubles pre-quarterfinals.The $82,000 Challenger in Istanbul, Turkey, witnessed several exciting doubles matches. Michael Geerts of Belgium and Divij Sharan of India overcame Cezar Cretu and Bogdan Pavel of Romania 6-4, 6-7(6), [10-5]. Egor Agafonov and Ilia Simakin of Russia cruised past Joshua Paris of Great Britain and Ramkumar Ramanathan of India 6-1, 6-2.In the $25,000 ITF men's event in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, S Mukund, Dheeraj Srinivasan, and Xu Weitao of China all secured first-round victories.The $15,000 ITF men's tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, saw Sidharth Rawat, Vishnu Vardhan, and Seydina Andre advance to the second round. In the doubles pre-quarterfinals, Dev Javia and Rishi Reddy of India defeated Daniil Golubev and EVgenii Tiurnev 6-2, 7-6(4).The $25,000 ITF women's event in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, featured a thrilling doubles pre-quarterfinal match where Margaux Maquet of Belgium and Maria Vaquero of Spain edged out Maria Gonzalez of Colombia and Sahaja Yamalapalli 3-6, 6-2, [10-7].In the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Vaidehi Chaudhari continued her impressive form with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Vaishnavi Adkar in the first round.The $15,000 ITF women's event in Monastir, Tunisia, saw Zeel Desai and Zou Ruirui of China secure first-round wins.

Taylor Fritz has made history by becoming the fourth active American man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal after defeating Alexander Zverev in a thrilling five-set battle at the US Open. The 26-year-old American triumphed 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to secure his spot in the last four.Fritz's previous best results at Grand Slams were four quarterfinal finishes, including Wimbledon in 2022, the US Open in 2023, and the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. His victory over Zverev marks a significant milestone in his career and places him among the elite players in the world.The American's success is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently improved his game over the past few years, and his victory at the US Open is a culmination of his efforts. Fritz's powerful serve and aggressive baseline play proved too much for Zverev to handle.Fritz's victory is also a positive sign for American tennis. He joins Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Ben Shelton as the only active American men to reach a major semifinal. Tiafoe will play Grigor Dimitrov in the night-time quarterfinal tonight, and if he wins, he'll become the only active American man to reach more than one Grand Slam semifinal in his career.Fritz's success is a reminder that American tennis is on the rise. With a new generation of talented players emerging, the future looks bright for the sport in the United States.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked tennis player, is drawing inspiration from the popular television show "Ted Lasso" as she navigates the US Open. Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is known for her positive attitude and relentless work ethic, traits that she believes align with the show's message of positivity and perseverance.During her on-court interview after her victory over Liudmila Samsonova, Swiatek expressed her admiration for the show's star, Jason Sudeikis, who was spotted in the crowd. "I tried to avoid looking at the screens, but I saw him tonight," Swiatek said. "I wanted to stay focused, and I hope he appreciates my mentality because this is what Ted Lasso is all about."Swiatek's love for "Ted Lasso" extends beyond its feel-good message. She also appreciates the show's emphasis on teamwork, even though tennis is an individual sport. "It's a little bit as well with my team, but we're alone on the court," Swiatek said. "I hope he enjoys, and that he's not working right now on a new series or something."Swiatek's positive mindset has been evident throughout her US Open campaign. She has yet to drop a set, dispatching Kamila Rakhimova, Ena Shibahara, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Samsonova with ease. Her next challenge will be against No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula, who she has defeated in their previous meeting at the 2022 US Open."Against Jessie, it's never easy," Swiatek said. "It's going to be, for sure, a tough one, because she plays really flat ball with no spin. You have to really work low on your legs."Swiatek's determination and positive attitude are a testament to her belief in the power of hard work and perseverance. As she continues her quest for a second US Open title, she will undoubtedly draw inspiration from the lessons she has learned from "Ted Lasso."

Emma Navarro, the 13th-seeded American tennis player, has shed light on her controversial exchange with Zheng Qinwen at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. During the match, Navarro reportedly told Zheng, "I don't know how you have a lot of fans."Speaking after reaching the semifinals of the US Open, Navarro explained that her remarks were not a spur-of-the-moment outburst. She felt that Zheng had disrespected her and the sport throughout the match."I felt that way the whole match," Navarro said. "Even if I had won, I probably would have said the same thing."Navarro and Zheng have a history from their days on the junior circuit, where they played three times at big events. Navarro believes that Zheng's behavior on the court has been disrespectful."I don't want to go super into the weeds with it," Navarro said. "But I think during that match and, you know, on the practice court and the last few times I've played her…I felt just a little bit disrespected by her.""I don't want to, like I said, go too into detail with it. But yeah, I think she didn't necessarily treat me or the sport with respect. That's why I said what I said after the match."Navarro and Zheng could face off in the US Open semifinals on Thursday if Zheng defeats No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in their quarterfinal. At the time of the Olympic incident, Zheng said she would not take Navarro's words personally and expressed a desire to speak privately about their apparent issues. However, Navarro confirmed that they have not spoken since the Olympics."You know, maybe it's just one person's opinion," Navarro said. "Yeah, it wasn't an emotional outburst. It was just kind of matter of factually how I felt."Zheng leads their tour-level head-to-head 2-0, though both of those meetings were on clay.

Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, is known for his authenticity and unfiltered nature. In an interview at the Terra Wortmann Open, Medvedev shared his thoughts on being true to himself, the impact of social media, and the lessons he's learned from fatherhood.Medvedev believes that being authentic means not lying about oneself and knowing what one wants in life. He acknowledges that his emotions can be intense, but he doesn't try to hide them. He understands that some people may perceive him as arrogant or angry, but he remains true to his character.Medvedev reflects on how social media has changed the way players are perceived. In the past, players could avoid negative feedback unless it was expressed directly to their face. Now, with the constant barrage of opinions on social media, players are often subjected to hurtful messages.Despite the potential for negativity, Medvedev refuses to change his ways. He believes that it's important to be true to oneself, even if it means facing criticism. He strives to achieve a state of mind where he can be authentic and not care about what others think.Medvedev's journey as a father has also influenced his perspective. The birth of his daughter, Alisa, has taught him patience and compassion. He realizes that he needs to be more open-minded and willing to repeat himself without raising his voice.Medvedev's stubbornness is a trait that he sees in his daughter as well. He believes that it's important to accept help from others, but that it's ultimately up to the individual to decide when they need it.As Medvedev continues his pursuit of success on the court, he remains focused on his personal growth. He knows that Alisa will be watching, and he wants to be the best father he can be.

The US Open quarterfinals will witness a captivating clash between Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner, the only two Grand Slam champions remaining in the field. Despite their contrasting styles, both players possess exceptional skills and a burning desire to lift the trophy.Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has been in impressive form, losing just four games in his victory over Nuno Borges. His unorthodox style, characterized by deep returns and defensive prowess, has proven effective against many opponents. However, his recent loss to Sinner in the Australian Open final serves as a reminder of the Italian's capabilities.Sinner, on the other hand, has showcased his exceptional ball-striking ability and physicality throughout the tournament. His precise shots and ability to control the baseline have earned him a reputation as one of the cleanest hitters in the ATP. Despite his relative inexperience at the US Open, Sinner's determination and ability to step up in key moments make him a formidable opponent.Statistically, the two players are closely matched. Medvedev leads in break point conversions and second-serve return points, while Sinner excels in overall return points. However, the intangibles may play a crucial role in this matchup.Medvedev's experience on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he has reached three finals, could give him an edge. The crowd's support, which has turned in his favor in recent years, could provide him with an emotional boost. In contrast, Sinner is relatively new to the US Open's grand stage and may face some pressure to perform.Additionally, Sinner has been dealing with a doping controversy that has raised questions about his exoneration. While he has denied any wrongdoing, the mental toll of the allegations could potentially affect his performance.Based on their current form and the intangibles involved, Medvedev appears to have a slight advantage. His experience, unorthodox style, and crowd support could prove decisive against Sinner's precision and baseline dominance. However, Sinner's determination and ability to surprise his opponents should not be underestimated. This quarterfinal promises to be a thrilling battle between two of the most talented players in the world.

Indian tennis players made a strong showing in recent international tournaments, securing victories and advancing in both singles and doubles competitions.In the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty overcame a tough challenge from local player Watsachol Sawatdee in the first round. Bhamidipaty, seeded No.1 in doubles with Vaidehi Chaudhari, also reached the quarterfinals in that category, defeating a Japanese team.Meanwhile, in the $100,000 women's event in Incheon, Korea, Prarthana Thombare and her Dutch partner Arianne Hartono made the doubles quarterfinals with a convincing win over a Korean pair.In other ITF tournaments, Sahaja Yamalapalli secured a straight-sets victory in the first round of the $25,000 event in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.On the men's side, Duje Ajdukovic of Croatia defeated India's Ramkumar Ramanathan in the first round of the $82,000 Challenger in Istanbul, Turkey.In the $25,000 ITF men's tournament in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Nick Chappell of the USA and Sai Karteek Reddy advanced to the doubles quarterfinals.In the $15,000 ITF men's event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Vishnu Vardhan and Dev Javia both won their first-round singles matches. Vardhan also teamed up with Adil Kalyanpur to reach the doubles quarterfinals.These results highlight the growing talent and competitiveness of Indian tennis players on the international stage. They continue to make their mark in both singles and doubles competitions, showcasing their skills and determination.

Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion, and the legendary doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan are among the nominees for the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2025.Sharapova, a former world No. 1, achieved a Career Grand Slam in singles, becoming the first Russian woman to top the WTA rankings. Her illustrious career includes 36 titles, including her first major triumph at Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 17.The Bryan brothers, also former world No. 1s, have an unparalleled record in doubles. Together, they won 16 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in 2012. Their 39 ATP Masters 1000 crowns and Career Golden Masters, where they won all nine active 1000-level tournaments, are testament to their dominance.Daniel Nestor, a 12-time major title holder, returns to the ballot for his third and final year of eligibility. He seeks to join his former rivals, the Bryans, in the Hall of Fame.Fan voting is now open, with 75% of the combined total required for election. The Class of 2025 will be announced in October.

The US Open quarterfinals on Tuesday feature tantalizing matchups as Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe vie for a spot in the semifinals.Zverev, the fourth seed, faces Fritz, the 12th seed, in a rematch of their Wimbledon clash. Zverev, a two-time US Open finalist, seeks his third semifinal appearance in New York. Fritz, who defeated Zverev at Wimbledon, aims to reach his first Slam semifinal.Dimitrov, the ninth seed, takes on Tiafoe, the 20th seed. Dimitrov, a former world number three, seeks his second US Open semifinal after reaching the last four in 2019. Tiafoe, a crowd favorite, is in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year and hopes to repeat his 2022 semifinal run.In the women's draw, world number two Aryna Sabalenka faces Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka, the 2023 Australian Open runner-up, seeks her fourth consecutive US Open quarterfinal. Zheng, who defeated defending champion Coco Gauff, aims to avenge her Australian Open final loss to Sabalenka.Paula Badosa, the 26th seed, takes on Emma Navarro, the 13th seed. Badosa, a New York native, is in her first US Open quarterfinal. Navarro, who knocked out Gauff, seeks her first Slam semifinal.