Jessica Pegula became the fourth American to reach this year's US Open semi-finals on Wednesday by stunning world number one Iga Swiatek as Jack Draper broke through to his first Grand Slam last-four. Pegula swept past 2022 champion and four-time French Open winner Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 to reach a maiden semi-final at the majors after falling in six quarter-finals.

The 30-year-old will next face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. If she gets through that she would set-up an all-American title match should Emma Navarro stun world number two Aryna Sabalenka in Thursday's other semi-final.

Draper, meanwhile, became the first British man to make the last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago by beating Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. The 25th seed will tackle either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev for a place in Sunday's championship showdown.

Pegula has now won 14 times in 15 matches on US hard courts this summer. "Finally I can say I'm a semi-finalist. I lost so many of these damn things," said the American after her fourth career win against Swiatek. "Thanks to the crowd. I sent over a 65mph second serve (on a third match point) because I was so tight.

- 'Rode momentum' -

"I did everything I could to not get frustrated. I took advantage of some things she was not doing so well and just rode that momentum." Swiatek was undone by 41 unforced errors.

Draper pulled off victory over 10th-ranked De Minaur despite taking a medical timeout early in the second set to have his right thigh bandaged. "It's amazing. My first time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it means the world to me," said Draper, who had lost three times in three meetings with De Minaur before Wednesday. "I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I have felt in a long time."

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Draper has made the semi-finals without dropping a set as he continued an impressive summer run which saw him capture his first ATP title in Stuttgart and then defeat Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's Club on the eve of Wimbledon.

On Wednesday, he sent down 11 aces in his 40 winners while forcing De Minaur to fend off 14 of 20 break points. The British player enjoys a 1-0 lead over Sinner in the pair's head-to-head although that win at Queen's came three years ago. He lost to Medvedev on clay in Rome earlier this year.

Sinner is the only top-four player left in the men's draw following the exits of Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. However, he is yet to reach the last four in New York and faces a test of his credentials against fifth-ranked Medvedev.

Sinner defeated Medvedev from two sets down to win his first major at the Australian Open in January before the mercurial Russian avenged that loss at Wimbledon. "I will try to think more about Wimbledon than the Australian Open," said Medvedev, also the 2019 and 2023 runner-up at the US Open.

With Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz already lined up for an all-American men's semi-final on Friday, and Navarro and Pegula safely into the women's last four, home fans are dreaming of a title sweep this weekend.

- Muchova back in semi-final -

Andy Roddick was the last US man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy in New York in 2003 while Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff have triumphed in the women's tournament in the last decade. Muchova's 6-1, 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia came despite having to sprint to the bathroom early in the second set, a dash which caught everyone on the hop. "I had a problem that I wouldn't like to comment on," said the 28-year-old. "Sorry if I disturbed anybody but I really didn't have any other choice."

After losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff in the 2023 semi-finals, Muchova suffered a serious wrist injury which sidelined her until June this year. A former world number eight, now ranked at 52, Muchova has yet to drop a set, knocking out two-time champion Naomi Osaka and this year's French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.

Jessica Pegula became the fourth American to reach this year's US Open semi-finals on Wednesday by stunning world number one Iga Swiatek as Jack Draper broke through to his first Grand Slam last-four.

Jessica Pegula became the fourth American to reach this year's US Open semi-finals on Wednesday by stunning world number one Iga Swiatek as Jack Draper broke through to his first Grand Slam last-four. Pegula swept past 2022 champion and four-time French Open winner Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 to reach a maiden semi-final at the majors after falling in six quarter-finals. The 30-year-old will next face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. If she gets through that she would set-up an all-American title match should Emma Navarro stun world number two Aryna Sabalenka in Thursday's other semi-final. Draper, meanwhile, became the first British man to make the last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago by beating Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. The 25th seed will tackle either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev for a place in Sunday's championship showdown. Pegula has now won 14 times in 15 matches on US hard courts this summer. "Finally I can say I'm a semi-finalist. I lost so many of these damn things," said the American after her fourth career win against Swiatek. "Thanks to the crowd. I sent over a 65mph second serve (on a third match point) because I was so tight. - 'Rode momentum' - "I did everything I could to not get frustrated. I took advantage of some things she was not doing so well and just rode that momentum." Swiatek was undone by 41 unforced errors. Draper pulled off victory over 10th-ranked De Minaur despite taking a medical timeout early in the second set to have his right thigh bandaged. "It's amazing. My first time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it means the world to me," said Draper, who had lost three times in three meetings with De Minaur before Wednesday. "I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I have felt in a long time." Also read: Frances Tiafoe sets up all-American US Open semifinal, sets up clash with Taylor Fritz Draper has made the semi-finals without dropping a set as he continued an impressive summer run which saw him capture his first ATP title in Stuttgart and then defeat Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's Club on the eve of Wimbledon. On Wednesday, he sent down 11 aces in his 40 winners while forcing De Minaur to fend off 14 of 20 break points. The British player enjoys a 1-0 lead over Sinner in the pair's head-to-head although that win at Queen's came three years ago. He lost to Medvedev on clay in Rome earlier this year. Sinner is the only top-four player left in the men's draw following the exits of Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. However, he is yet to reach the last four in New York and faces a test of his credentials against fifth-ranked Medvedev. Sinner defeated Medvedev from two sets down to win his first major at the Australian Open in January before the mercurial Russian avenged that loss at Wimbledon. "I will try to think more about Wimbledon than the Australian Open," said Medvedev, also the 2019 and 2023 runner-up at the US Open. With Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz already lined up for an all-American men's semi-final on Friday, and Navarro and Pegula safely into the women's last four, home fans are dreaming of a title sweep this weekend. - Muchova back in semi-final - Andy Roddick was the last US man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy in New York in 2003 while Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff have triumphed in the women's tournament in the last decade. Muchova's 6-1, 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia came despite having to sprint to the bathroom early in the second set, a dash which caught everyone on the hop. "I had a problem that I wouldn't like to comment on," said the 28-year-old. "Sorry if I disturbed anybody but I really didn't have any other choice." After losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff in the 2023 semi-finals, Muchova suffered a serious wrist injury which sidelined her until June this year. A former world number eight, now ranked at 52, Muchova has yet to drop a set, knocking out two-time champion Naomi Osaka and this year's French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.

Jessica Pegula stuns Iga Swiatek at US Open to enter semis, Jack Draper in last-four

World number one Iga Swiatek reached her second US Open quarter-final on Monday with a straight sets win over Liudmila Samonsova to stay on course for a sixth Grand Slam title.

Swiatek defeated her 16th-ranked Russian rival 6-4, 6-1, reeling off eight of the last nine games, and will take on American sixth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals.

Four-time French Open champion Swiatek won the US Open in 2022, beating Pegula on the way in a one-sided last-eight tie.

Pegula made the quarter-finals earlier Monday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia's Diana Shnaider.

<h2>Medvedev in QF</h2>

Daniil Medvedev set-up a potential US Open quarter-final showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner on Monday as both men looked to exploit the huge hole left by the shock exits of superstar duo Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Medvedev, the 2021 champion in New York, outclassed Nuno Borges, who was bidding to become the first Portuguese man to make a Grand Slam quarter-final, 6-0, 6-1, 6-3.

Top seed Sinner, who won his maiden Slam at the Australian Open this year, takes on Tommy Paul in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

French Open champion and women's world number one Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, stayed on course for a sixth Grand Slam title with a straight sets win over Russia's Liudmila Samsonova.

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Medvedev, the only former champion left after the defeats of four-time winner Djokovic and 2022 champion Alcaraz, is in the quarter-finals for the fifth time in six years.

The world number five easily downed 34th-ranked Borges whose challenge fizzled out under the weight of 51 unforced errors while Medvedev broke serve eight times.

"I played Tommy twice this season. I beat him once but I feel as if he should have beaten me both times," said Medvedev who was also runner-up in 2019 and last year.

"I've had unbelievable battles with Jannik. It will be very physical for both of us."

World number one Iga Swiatek reached her second US Open quarter-final on Monday with a straight sets win over Liudmila Samonsova to stay on course for a sixth Grand Slam title.

World number one Iga Swiatek reached her second US Open quarter-final on Monday with a straight sets win over Liudmila Samonsova to stay on course for a sixth Grand Slam title. Swiatek defeated her 16th-ranked Russian rival 6-4, 6-1, reeling off eight of the last nine games, and will take on American sixth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals. Four-time French Open champion Swiatek won the US Open in 2022, beating Pegula on the way in a one-sided last-eight tie. Pegula made the quarter-finals earlier Monday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia's Diana Shnaider. Medvedev in QF Daniil Medvedev set-up a potential US Open quarter-final showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner on Monday as both men looked to exploit the huge hole left by the shock exits of superstar duo Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Medvedev, the 2021 champion in New York, outclassed Nuno Borges, who was bidding to become the first Portuguese man to make a Grand Slam quarter-final, 6-0, 6-1, 6-3. Top seed Sinner, who won his maiden Slam at the Australian Open this year, takes on Tommy Paul in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. French Open champion and women's world number one Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, stayed on course for a sixth Grand Slam title with a straight sets win over Russia's Liudmila Samsonova. ALSO READ | PAK vs BAN: 'We've already lost...,' Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie on second Test against Bangladesh Medvedev, the only former champion left after the defeats of four-time winner Djokovic and 2022 champion Alcaraz, is in the quarter-finals for the fifth time in six years. The world number five easily downed 34th-ranked Borges whose challenge fizzled out under the weight of 51 unforced errors while Medvedev broke serve eight times. "I played Tommy twice this season. I beat him once but I feel as if he should have beaten me both times," said Medvedev who was also runner-up in 2019 and last year. "I've had unbelievable battles with Jannik. It will be very physical for both of us."

US Open: World number one Iga Swiatek beats Liudmila Samonsova to reach quarters

Jannik Sinner avoided plunging through the US Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 on Saturday as fellow world number one Iga Swiatek stayed on course for a second New York triumph.

Australian Open champion Sinner raced past 87th-ranked Christopher O'Connell 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

The 23-year-old Italian's win came a day after four-time champion Djokovic was sent spinning to his earliest loss in New York in 18 years by Alexei Popyrin.

One day earlier, 2022 winner Alcaraz was defeated in the second round by Dutch journeyman Botic van de Zandschulp.

"Today was great match. I knew I had to play very solid. My serve worked well so I am happy with my performance," said Sinner after firing 15 aces in his 46 winners past outclassed O'Connell of Australia.

Sinner did not face a single break point in his one-hour 53-minute victory which took him into the last 16 for a fourth successive year.

"There have been some upsets in the tournament so let's see what's coming. I'm happy to still be here and play as many matches as possible," added Sinner whose comfortable afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium saw tennis legend Serena Williams amongst the spectators.

Sinner will take on 14th seed Tommy Paul for a quarter-final place after the American defeated Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in four sets.

There were 14 breaks of serve in that tie with Diallo, ranked a lowly 143 in the world, undone by 77 unforced errors.

Four-time French Open champion Swiatek was equally dominant as Sinner as the top-seeded Pole eased into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The 23-year-old didn't face a single break point and will face another Russian, Liudmila Samsonova for a quarter-final place.

"I like the night sessions but it's noisy so I need to focus on my job and stay inside my bubble," said Swiatek who shot a long hard stare at her opponent when a ball was speared towards her early in the second set.

"Anastasia is really powerful, she serves fast so I needed to use my intuition of where the ball was going."

With Djokovic and Alcaraz heading home to Europe, Daniil Medvedev finds himself as the only former champion left in the men's tournament.

The eccentric Russian, seeded five, faces Flavio Cobolli, the world number 31 from Italy.

Medvedev famously shattered Djokovic's bid for a rare calendar Grand Slam when he captured the 2021 title in New York.

This year he was runner-up to Sinner at the Australian Open and made the semis-finals of Wimbledon but is without a tour title since winning the Rome Masters in May last year.

If Medvedev makes the fourth round for the sixth straight year he'll face unseeded Nuno Borges of Portugal who saved three match points in a five-set triumph over Czech teenager Jakub Mensik.

Britain's Jack Draper reached the last 16 for a second successive year by defeating Alcaraz's conqueror Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

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<h2>I'm a fan</h2>

Meanwhile, 2023 semi-finalist Karolina Muchova, who knocked out two-time champion Naomi Osaka in the second round, cruised into the last 16 by beating Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-2.

She next faces French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, the fifth-seeded Italian, who beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4.

Paolini has now made the fourth round of all four Slams this year having previously never got beyond the second round in 16 attempts.

"I'm a fan of her (Muchova). I really love how she plays. She can play every shot, slice, volleys, serve and volleys. She's a very complete player," said Paolini.

US sixth seed Jessica Pegula made the second week for a third successive season by defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 6-3.

Pegula next faces Diana Shnaider, the 18th-seeded Russian who made the fourth round of a Slam for the first time by seeing off 37-year-old Sara Errani in straight sets.

Czech Republic's Tomas Machac, ranked 39, also reached the fourth round of a major for the first time by defeating Belgian veteran David Goffin 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

He will take on Draper for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Jannik Sinner avoided plunging through the US Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 on Saturday as fellow world number one Iga Swiatek stayed on course for a second New York triumph.

Jannik Sinner avoided plunging through the US Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 on Saturday as fellow world number one Iga Swiatek stayed on course for a second New York triumph. Australian Open champion Sinner raced past 87th-ranked Christopher O'Connell 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. The 23-year-old Italian's win came a day after four-time champion Djokovic was sent spinning to his earliest loss in New York in 18 years by Alexei Popyrin. One day earlier, 2022 winner Alcaraz was defeated in the second round by Dutch journeyman Botic van de Zandschulp. "Today was great match. I knew I had to play very solid. My serve worked well so I am happy with my performance," said Sinner after firing 15 aces in his 46 winners past outclassed O'Connell of Australia. Sinner did not face a single break point in his one-hour 53-minute victory which took him into the last 16 for a fourth successive year. "There have been some upsets in the tournament so let's see what's coming. I'm happy to still be here and play as many matches as possible," added Sinner whose comfortable afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium saw tennis legend Serena Williams amongst the spectators. Sinner will take on 14th seed Tommy Paul for a quarter-final place after the American defeated Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in four sets. There were 14 breaks of serve in that tie with Diallo, ranked a lowly 143 in the world, undone by 77 unforced errors. Four-time French Open champion Swiatek was equally dominant as Sinner as the top-seeded Pole eased into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The 23-year-old didn't face a single break point and will face another Russian, Liudmila Samsonova for a quarter-final place. "I like the night sessions but it's noisy so I need to focus on my job and stay inside my bubble," said Swiatek who shot a long hard stare at her opponent when a ball was speared towards her early in the second set. "Anastasia is really powerful, she serves fast so I needed to use my intuition of where the ball was going." With Djokovic and Alcaraz heading home to Europe, Daniil Medvedev finds himself as the only former champion left in the men's tournament. The eccentric Russian, seeded five, faces Flavio Cobolli, the world number 31 from Italy. Medvedev famously shattered Djokovic's bid for a rare calendar Grand Slam when he captured the 2021 title in New York. This year he was runner-up to Sinner at the Australian Open and made the semis-finals of Wimbledon but is without a tour title since winning the Rome Masters in May last year. If Medvedev makes the fourth round for the sixth straight year he'll face unseeded Nuno Borges of Portugal who saved three match points in a five-set triumph over Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. Britain's Jack Draper reached the last 16 for a second successive year by defeating Alcaraz's conqueror Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. ALSO READ | ENG vs SL, 2nd Test: Joe Root goes past Alastair Cook for most Test hundreds for England I'm a fan Meanwhile, 2023 semi-finalist Karolina Muchova, who knocked out two-time champion Naomi Osaka in the second round, cruised into the last 16 by beating Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-2. She next faces French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, the fifth-seeded Italian, who beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4. Paolini has now made the fourth round of all four Slams this year having previously never got beyond the second round in 16 attempts. "I'm a fan of her (Muchova). I really love how she plays. She can play every shot, slice, volleys, serve and volleys. She's a very complete player," said Paolini. US sixth seed Jessica Pegula made the second week for a third successive season by defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 6-3. Pegula next faces Diana Shnaider, the 18th-seeded Russian who made the fourth round of a Slam for the first time by seeing off 37-year-old Sara Errani in straight sets. Czech Republic's Tomas Machac, ranked 39, also reached the fourth round of a major for the first time by defeating Belgian veteran David Goffin 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. He will take on Draper for a spot in the quarter-finals.

US Open 2024: Jannik Sinner avoids trapdoor as Iga Swiatek moves into last 16

American Coco Gauff begins her U.S. Open title defence on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, headlining a wide-open women's field that includes world number one Iga Swiatek and last year's runner-up Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff plays France's Varvara Gracheva in the opening round and hopes to put a series of frustrating performances behind her - including early exits from Toronto and Cincinnati - to recapture the magic of her run to a maiden major title.

"I feel like it was a blessing in disguise I lost so early (in Cincinnati), because I was able to actually train, which I hadn't been able to," said Gauff, who competed in the Paris Games. "I do my best results when I come off a training block. I was able to train for a good week and a half and obviously still have a couple more days to do that."

Gauff could meet Sabalenka in the semi-finals, with the Belarusian hungry for the trophy after coming close but never quite getting the title within her grasp.

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She reached at least the semi-final stage of the tournament over the last three years and has learned lessons from tough defeats in New York.

"Those tough losses definitely motivated me a lot to hard work and to improve things which didn't work in the previous years," said Sabalenka.

After retaining her title in Australia, Sabalenka endured a rough mid-year stretch as she suffered a back injury and skipped Wimbledon with a shoulder injury.

She arrived in New York confident and fit, however, after skipping the Olympics to focus on her health and winning the Cincinnati tune-up tournament.

"I was really happy with the level I played. It's not like it's weight out of my shoulder. It just little, like, happy moment before going to the U.S. Open," said Sabalenka, who closes out Monday night's programme at Louis Armstrong Stadium against Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon.

Poland's Swiatek hopes to add another title to a memorable year, after she picked up her fifth major at the French Open and won in Qatar, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome, as well.

She picked up bronze at the Paris Games and admitted that it has taken some adjustment going from the clay courts of Roland Garros to the hard courts of North America, as she lost to Sabalenka in the Cincinnati semi-final.

"It's been a really intense season, and after the Olympics, it hasn't been kind of, you know, easy. So I feel the best when I'm just focused on practising and grinding on the court," the 2022 winner told reporters.

"I'm just going to try to keep that mindset and that attitude."

She opens her campaign against lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova on Tuesday on Ashe.

Contenders lurk around every corner in New York, as a gruelling year has left the title vulnerable for those hoping to capture a maiden major title.

Italian Jasmine Paolini made a name for herself as a runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, while China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen is ready to make an impact after reaching her first major final in Australia.

"I don't want to let myself slip again. I really want to improve one more time in my mental side," said Zheng. "If I'm able to do that, I think I will really break through some wall that I have for myself."

The U.S. Open begins on Monday.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

American Coco Gauff begins her U.S. Open title defence on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, headlining a wide-open women's field that includes world number one Iga Swiatek and last year's runner-up Aryna Sabalenka.

American Coco Gauff begins her U.S. Open title defence on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, headlining a wide-open women's field that includes world number one Iga Swiatek and last year's runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff plays France's Varvara Gracheva in the opening round and hopes to put a series of frustrating performances behind her - including early exits from Toronto and Cincinnati - to recapture the magic of her run to a maiden major title. "I feel like it was a blessing in disguise I lost so early (in Cincinnati), because I was able to actually train, which I hadn't been able to," said Gauff, who competed in the Paris Games. "I do my best results when I come off a training block. I was able to train for a good week and a half and obviously still have a couple more days to do that." Gauff could meet Sabalenka in the semi-finals, with the Belarusian hungry for the trophy after coming close but never quite getting the title within her grasp. ALSO READ: World No.1 Jannik Sinner parts ways with Umberto Ferrara ahead of the US Open 2024 She reached at least the semi-final stage of the tournament over the last three years and has learned lessons from tough defeats in New York. "Those tough losses definitely motivated me a lot to hard work and to improve things which didn't work in the previous years," said Sabalenka. After retaining her title in Australia, Sabalenka endured a rough mid-year stretch as she suffered a back injury and skipped Wimbledon with a shoulder injury. She arrived in New York confident and fit, however, after skipping the Olympics to focus on her health and winning the Cincinnati tune-up tournament. "I was really happy with the level I played. It's not like it's weight out of my shoulder. It just little, like, happy moment before going to the U.S. Open," said Sabalenka, who closes out Monday night's programme at Louis Armstrong Stadium against Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon. Poland's Swiatek hopes to add another title to a memorable year, after she picked up her fifth major at the French Open and won in Qatar, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome, as well. She picked up bronze at the Paris Games and admitted that it has taken some adjustment going from the clay courts of Roland Garros to the hard courts of North America, as she lost to Sabalenka in the Cincinnati semi-final. "It's been a really intense season, and after the Olympics, it hasn't been kind of, you know, easy. So I feel the best when I'm just focused on practising and grinding on the court," the 2022 winner told reporters. "I'm just going to try to keep that mindset and that attitude." She opens her campaign against lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova on Tuesday on Ashe. Contenders lurk around every corner in New York, as a gruelling year has left the title vulnerable for those hoping to capture a maiden major title. Italian Jasmine Paolini made a name for herself as a runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, while China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen is ready to make an impact after reaching her first major final in Australia. "I don't want to let myself slip again. I really want to improve one more time in my mental side," said Zheng. "If I'm able to do that, I think I will really break through some wall that I have for myself." The U.S. Open begins on Monday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tennis: Coco Gauff, Swiatek and Sabalenka headline tough US Open 2024 draw

Aryna Sabalenka squandered nine match points but still defeated world number one Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday, breaking through to her first final at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Open. Four-time Cincinnati semi-finalist Sabalenka will rise to second in the WTA rankings with a week to go before the start of the US Open. "I finally broke the barrier," Sabalenka said of her place in the final. "It was such a tough battle with Iga, and we also had to be patient with the weather."

Raindrops required the court lines to be dried by towels during several short interruptions. Sabalenka will play Monday's final against US sixth seed Jessica Pegula, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Spain's Paula Badosa.

Pegula, who won last week's Toronto title, is the third American in the Open Era to reach the Canadian and Cincinnati finals in the same year after Rosie Casals (1970) and Serena Williams (2013). Sabalenka had a battle on her hands to close out her win, with Swiatek putting up a huge battle in the closing stages.

Third-ranked Sabalenka led 5-1 in the second set, but Swiatek showed why she is ranked atop the WTA table as she repeatedly saved match-winners from her opponent.

Sabalenka was broken for 5-3 but finally claimed the hard-fought victory a game later with a concluding break of Swiatek on a return winner on her 10th match point after nearly two hours. "That was a brilliant performance from me. I'm really happy with the win, especially against Iga," said Sabalenka. "We always have tough battles and get this win in straight sets... that's kind of like achievement for me."

Pegula and Badosa were hit by a rain delay of well over an hour midway through the second set with Badosa leading 4-3 and trailing a set.

They resumed with the Spaniard forcing a third set before Pegula broke for 5-3 in the third and served out victory a game later.

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"We had tough conditions, but I was able to not get frustrated with the rain delay," Pegula said. "I felt I was playing and competing well. "Paula was hitting so hard, I didn't know what to do sometimes. I had to remind myself to be aggressive and serve well. I knew it would be hard to break her. "But I played a couple of good points and was able to serve it out."

Pegula said she expects to give Sabalenka "some trouble" in the final. "It will be a good test to go up against her," Pegula said. "I'll do my best. It has been a long couple of weeks."

- Swiatek 'wasn't good' -

Sabalenka's victory served as revenge after losing to Swiatek in Masters-level clay finals at Madrid and Rome last spring. "Aryna was just playing better today and using her advantages," Swiatek said. "I didn't serve well at the beginning, which threw me off my rhythm. For sure, it wasn't a good performance for me."

Swiatek said she played overall better than she expected, adding, "I'm happy with the result anyway. I'm already kind of focusing on what I need to do to feel even better in New York. And we'll work on stuff for sure."

Aryna Sabalenka squandered nine match points but still defeated world number one Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday, breaking through to her first final at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Open.

Aryna Sabalenka squandered nine match points but still defeated world number one Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday, breaking through to her first final at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Open. Four-time Cincinnati semi-finalist Sabalenka will rise to second in the WTA rankings with a week to go before the start of the US Open. "I finally broke the barrier," Sabalenka said of her place in the final. "It was such a tough battle with Iga, and we also had to be patient with the weather." Raindrops required the court lines to be dried by towels during several short interruptions. Sabalenka will play Monday's final against US sixth seed Jessica Pegula, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Spain's Paula Badosa. Pegula, who won last week's Toronto title, is the third American in the Open Era to reach the Canadian and Cincinnati finals in the same year after Rosie Casals (1970) and Serena Williams (2013). Sabalenka had a battle on her hands to close out her win, with Swiatek putting up a huge battle in the closing stages. Third-ranked Sabalenka led 5-1 in the second set, but Swiatek showed why she is ranked atop the WTA table as she repeatedly saved match-winners from her opponent. Sabalenka was broken for 5-3 but finally claimed the hard-fought victory a game later with a concluding break of Swiatek on a return winner on her 10th match point after nearly two hours. "That was a brilliant performance from me. I'm really happy with the win, especially against Iga," said Sabalenka. "We always have tough battles and get this win in straight sets... that's kind of like achievement for me." Pegula and Badosa were hit by a rain delay of well over an hour midway through the second set with Badosa leading 4-3 and trailing a set. They resumed with the Spaniard forcing a third set before Pegula broke for 5-3 in the third and served out victory a game later. Also read: Brooks Koepka beats Jon Rahm in playoff to clinch LIV Golf Greenbrier title "We had tough conditions, but I was able to not get frustrated with the rain delay," Pegula said. "I felt I was playing and competing well. "Paula was hitting so hard, I didn't know what to do sometimes. I had to remind myself to be aggressive and serve well. I knew it would be hard to break her. "But I played a couple of good points and was able to serve it out." Pegula said she expects to give Sabalenka "some trouble" in the final. "It will be a good test to go up against her," Pegula said. "I'll do my best. It has been a long couple of weeks." - Swiatek 'wasn't good' - Sabalenka's victory served as revenge after losing to Swiatek in Masters-level clay finals at Madrid and Rome last spring. "Aryna was just playing better today and using her advantages," Swiatek said. "I didn't serve well at the beginning, which threw me off my rhythm. For sure, it wasn't a good performance for me." Swiatek said she played overall better than she expected, adding, "I'm happy with the result anyway. I'm already kind of focusing on what I need to do to feel even better in New York. And we'll work on stuff for sure."

Aryna Sabalenka ousts No. 1 ranked Iga Swiatek to enter Cincinnati final, faces Jessica Pegula

World number ones Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both turned around losing situations on Saturday to move into the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open.

Sinner prevented rival Andrey Rublev from repeating a triumph from last Saturday in Montreal as he defeated the sixth seed in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 fightback. Swiatek did the same in the women's draw as she worked to overcome teen Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Sinner will square off in the semis against third-ranked 2021 champion Alexander Zverev, who got past rain interruptions in the final set to defeat Ben Shelton 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.

The third set was start-stop but the German advanced to his third consecutive Cincinnati final-four spot.

"Conditions and the interruptions were tough, but Ben was the toughest part of the match," Zverev said. "He has played amazing tennis all week. It was tough to find my comfort zone today, but it's great to get the win."

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In the bottom of the draw, Fances Tiafoe will play Holger Rune.

The American advanced 6-3 after half an hour when fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz who underwent knee surgery a month ago, had to retire with a calf injury.

"At 2-2 I felt he was a little off," said Tiafoe, who claimed his 200th Tour match win. "I know how it feels dealing with pain, rehab... he did come back pretty quick."

Rune, who had never won a match here until this week beat Briton Jack Draper 6-4, 6-2 in 75 minutes.

Rune broke twice in the second set to take the win in 75 minutes.

"The scoreboard was not how the match felt," Rune said. "It was very difficult, Jack was going after it," he said.

Top seed Sinner took to the court for only his second match of the week after a first-round bye and a walkover on Friday.

Sinner -- whose fitness has been compromised in recent months by a hip niggle, illness and the tonsillitis which forced him to miss the Olympics -- stormed back to win the second set and break Rublev to start the third.

He clinched victory in a set where five of the 10 games were breaks of serve. His match point ball was caught by a gust of wind and put out of the reach of his opponent.

"There was a lot of mental strength required today," Sinner said. "It was tough conditions, very, very windy," he said.

Sinner ended with 31 winners, including 10 aces, while Rublev, the runner-up at Montreal, committed 47 unforced errors.

Poland's Swiatek grabbed a break in the penultimate game of a match lasting more than two and a half hours to finally advance past Andreeva at the US Open tuneup, which concludes on Monday.

Swiatek moved through on her first match point, her opponent driving a return long, and won a 30th match this season at the WTA 1000 level. She stands 53-6 for the season and has won 25 matches on hardcourt.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World number ones Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both turned around losing situations on Saturday to move into the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open.

World number ones Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both turned around losing situations on Saturday to move into the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open. Sinner prevented rival Andrey Rublev from repeating a triumph from last Saturday in Montreal as he defeated the sixth seed in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 fightback. Swiatek did the same in the women's draw as she worked to overcome teen Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Sinner will square off in the semis against third-ranked 2021 champion Alexander Zverev, who got past rain interruptions in the final set to defeat Ben Shelton 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5. The third set was start-stop but the German advanced to his third consecutive Cincinnati final-four spot. "Conditions and the interruptions were tough, but Ben was the toughest part of the match," Zverev said. "He has played amazing tennis all week. It was tough to find my comfort zone today, but it's great to get the win." ALSO READ: WATCH: Nottingham Forest star Danilo suffers horrific leg injury on Premier League opening weekend In the bottom of the draw, Fances Tiafoe will play Holger Rune. The American advanced 6-3 after half an hour when fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz who underwent knee surgery a month ago, had to retire with a calf injury. "At 2-2 I felt he was a little off," said Tiafoe, who claimed his 200th Tour match win. "I know how it feels dealing with pain, rehab... he did come back pretty quick." Rune, who had never won a match here until this week beat Briton Jack Draper 6-4, 6-2 in 75 minutes. Rune broke twice in the second set to take the win in 75 minutes. "The scoreboard was not how the match felt," Rune said. "It was very difficult, Jack was going after it," he said. Top seed Sinner took to the court for only his second match of the week after a first-round bye and a walkover on Friday. Sinner -- whose fitness has been compromised in recent months by a hip niggle, illness and the tonsillitis which forced him to miss the Olympics -- stormed back to win the second set and break Rublev to start the third. He clinched victory in a set where five of the 10 games were breaks of serve. His match point ball was caught by a gust of wind and put out of the reach of his opponent. "There was a lot of mental strength required today," Sinner said. "It was tough conditions, very, very windy," he said. Sinner ended with 31 winners, including 10 aces, while Rublev, the runner-up at Montreal, committed 47 unforced errors. Poland's Swiatek grabbed a break in the penultimate game of a match lasting more than two and a half hours to finally advance past Andreeva at the US Open tuneup, which concludes on Monday. Swiatek moved through on her first match point, her opponent driving a return long, and won a 30th match this season at the WTA 1000 level. She stands 53-6 for the season and has won 25 matches on hardcourt. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tennis: Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek stage fightbacks to enter Cincinnati Open semis

The year’s final Grand Slam is set to take centre stage from 26 August 2024 in New York City, United States as top tennis stars prepare to clinch glory. Defending men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic will eye a place in the history books in what could be a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title. The women’s division remains an open draw as in previous years with champion Coco Gauff facing a stern challenge to defend her crown. Ahead of the big tournament in New York, here is all you need to know about the US Open 2024.

<h2>When does the US Open 2024 start?</h2>

The US Open 2024 starts on Monday (August 26) in New York.

<h2>When will be the final of the US Open 2024?</h2>

The women’s singles final will be played on Saturday (September 7) and the men’s singles final will be played on Sunday (September 8) at the US Open 2024.

<h2>How many players will compete in the main draw of US Open 2024?</h2>

A total of 128 players will compete in both men’s singles and women’s singles of which 104 have qualified directly while 16 players will come from qualifiers and 8 players will be given wildcards in the US Open 2024.

<h2>Who are the top seeds in both men’s and women’s department at US Open 2024?</h2>

Novak Djokovic is likely to be the No.1 seed in the men’s singles department while Iga Swiatek is likely to be the No.1 seed in women’s singles in the US Open 2024.

<h2>Who are the defending champions of US Open?</h2>

24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic is the defending US Open men’s singles champion while Coco Gauff is the defending women’s singles champion at the US Open.

<h2>When are the draws for the US Open 2024?</h2>

The draws for the US Open 2024 will take place on Thursday (August 22) in Melbourne.

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<h2>What is the prize money for the US Open 2024 winner?</h2>

The winner of the US Open 2024 in the singles category of men’s and women’s department will receive $3.6 million each. The runners-up will receive $1.8 million each.

<h2>Which channel will broadcast the US Open 2024 in India?</h2>

Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 1 HD, and Sony Ten 2 HD will broadcast the US Open 2024.

<h2>Which platform will stream the US Open 2024?</h2>

The US Open 2024 can be streamed live on the Sony Liv app.

The year’s final Grand Slam is set to take centre stage from 26 August 2024 in New York City, United States as top tennis stars prepare to clinch glory. Defending men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic will eye a place in the history books in what could be a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title.

The year’s final Grand Slam is set to take centre stage from 26 August 2024 in New York City, United States as top tennis stars prepare to clinch glory. Defending men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic will eye a place in the history books in what could be a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title. The women’s division remains an open draw as in previous years with champion Coco Gauff facing a stern challenge to defend her crown. Ahead of the big tournament in New York, here is all you need to know about the US Open 2024. When does the US Open 2024 start? The US Open 2024 starts on Monday (August 26) in New York. When will be the final of the US Open 2024? The women’s singles final will be played on Saturday (September 7) and the men’s singles final will be played on Sunday (September 8) at the US Open 2024. How many players will compete in the main draw of US Open 2024? A total of 128 players will compete in both men’s singles and women’s singles of which 104 have qualified directly while 16 players will come from qualifiers and 8 players will be given wildcards in the US Open 2024. Who are the top seeds in both men’s and women’s department at US Open 2024? Novak Djokovic is likely to be the No.1 seed in the men’s singles department while Iga Swiatek is likely to be the No.1 seed in women’s singles in the US Open 2024. Who are the defending champions of US Open? 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic is the defending US Open men’s singles champion while Coco Gauff is the defending women’s singles champion at the US Open. When are the draws for the US Open 2024? The draws for the US Open 2024 will take place on Thursday (August 22) in Melbourne. ALSO READ | ‘I am struggling with my anxiety, I have nightmares, flashbacks’ – Flintoff recalls horrific road crash What is the prize money for the US Open 2024 winner? The winner of the US Open 2024 in the singles category of men’s and women’s department will receive $3.6 million each. The runners-up will receive $1.8 million each. Which channel will broadcast the US Open 2024 in India? Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 1 HD, and Sony Ten 2 HD will broadcast the US Open 2024. Which platform will stream the US Open 2024? The US Open 2024 can be streamed live on the Sony Liv app.

All you need to know about US Open 2024 including defending champion, live streaming, prize money

Cincinnati Masters top seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both secured opening triumphs Wednesday over qualifiers, with Swiatek forced to escape an attempted second-round ambush by France's Varvara Gracheva. WTA world number one Swiatek needed six match points and more than two hours to escape with a 6-0, 6-7 (8/10), 6-2 victory to start the last major event prior to the US Open.

ATP number one Sinner fought off eight break points as the top seed began the Cincinnati Open with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over US qualifier Alex Michelsen.

Swiatek ran away with the opening set in 22 minutes but could not close out when leading 5-2 in the second. The 62nd-ranked Gracheva saved five match points and converted on her own fifth set point to take the match into a third set.

Swiatek regained her poise to finally pull out the unexpectedly tight win to reach the third round.&nbsp;"It was not easy to finish in the second set," Swiatek said. "She started playing with freedom, with nothing to lose. "I backed down a bit and she used her chances. I'm happy I got more proactive in the third set and played more intense."

Swiatek said she kept her self-belief. "I knew I had the game to win it -- I did have five match points," she said. "It was my fault that I didn't close it out, but that happens. "I was able to play the third like I did at the start of the match. I don't want any regrets. I'm only looking forward. I'm in a peaceful place and I'm playing without expectations."

Italy's Sinner, who turns 23 on Friday, has never been past the third round at the American Midwest venue but is hoping to improve on that showing this week.

Victory in just under two hours marked the 25th on hardcourt this season for Sinner, who was the first man into the third round.

The top seed has not lost before the quarter-final stage of any event since Masters 1000 Shanghai last October. Teenaged opponent Michelsen went down with 42 unforced errors, his winner count of 14 exactly half of Sinner's total.

"It was a tough match," Sinner said. "I needed to start feeling the conditions and getting used to them. "I'm very happy to be into the next round. I've struggled here in past years. But today I stayed positive and that helped in the win."

Sinner, who missed the Paris Olympics with tonsillitis and went out last week in the Montreal quarter-finals, said he was not at his best.

"I'm not yet at 100%, but the main goal is the US Open," he said. "I have one week (after Cincinnati) to prepare in the best possible way. "The matches I can play here will help at the Open."

Sinner next plays Australian Jordan Thompson, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Sebastian Baez.

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<h2>- Tsitsipas fights on -</h2>

Ninth seed Stefano Tsitsipas played for the first time since splitting last week with his father as coach, with the Greek turning the tables in dramatic fashion to reach the second round 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Jan-Lennard Struff.

Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime after his 6-3, 6-1 win over US qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic. Monday's Montreal champion, Australian Alexei Popyrin, lost his opening match to France's Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-3.

Dane Holger Rune beat Matteo Berrettini 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, ending the Italian's 10-match win streak that included clay titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuehel.

Briton Jack Draper worked for more than two and a half hours to stop Spain's Jaume Munar 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).

Paula Badosa joined boyfriend Tsitsipas in the second round after defeating Cincinnati local Peyton Stearns 6-2, 7-5. Washington winner Badosa next plays 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya, a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback winner against Katerina Siniakova.

Cincinnati Masters top seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both secured opening triumphs Wednesday over qualifiers, with Swiatek forced to escape an attempted second-round ambush by France's Varvara Gracheva.

Cincinnati Masters top seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both secured opening triumphs Wednesday over qualifiers, with Swiatek forced to escape an attempted second-round ambush by France's Varvara Gracheva. WTA world number one Swiatek needed six match points and more than two hours to escape with a 6-0, 6-7 (8/10), 6-2 victory to start the last major event prior to the US Open. ATP number one Sinner fought off eight break points as the top seed began the Cincinnati Open with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over US qualifier Alex Michelsen. Swiatek ran away with the opening set in 22 minutes but could not close out when leading 5-2 in the second. The 62nd-ranked Gracheva saved five match points and converted on her own fifth set point to take the match into a third set. Swiatek regained her poise to finally pull out the unexpectedly tight win to reach the third round. "It was not easy to finish in the second set," Swiatek said. "She started playing with freedom, with nothing to lose. "I backed down a bit and she used her chances. I'm happy I got more proactive in the third set and played more intense." Swiatek said she kept her self-belief. "I knew I had the game to win it -- I did have five match points," she said. "It was my fault that I didn't close it out, but that happens. "I was able to play the third like I did at the start of the match. I don't want any regrets. I'm only looking forward. I'm in a peaceful place and I'm playing without expectations." Italy's Sinner, who turns 23 on Friday, has never been past the third round at the American Midwest venue but is hoping to improve on that showing this week. Victory in just under two hours marked the 25th on hardcourt this season for Sinner, who was the first man into the third round. The top seed has not lost before the quarter-final stage of any event since Masters 1000 Shanghai last October. Teenaged opponent Michelsen went down with 42 unforced errors, his winner count of 14 exactly half of Sinner's total. "It was a tough match," Sinner said. "I needed to start feeling the conditions and getting used to them. "I'm very happy to be into the next round. I've struggled here in past years. But today I stayed positive and that helped in the win." Sinner, who missed the Paris Olympics with tonsillitis and went out last week in the Montreal quarter-finals, said he was not at his best. "I'm not yet at 100%, but the main goal is the US Open," he said. "I have one week (after Cincinnati) to prepare in the best possible way. "The matches I can play here will help at the Open." Sinner next plays Australian Jordan Thompson, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Sebastian Baez. Also read: Vinesh Phogat CAS Verdict: Wrestler's appeal for joint-silver medal dismissed - Tsitsipas fights on - Ninth seed Stefano Tsitsipas played for the first time since splitting last week with his father as coach, with the Greek turning the tables in dramatic fashion to reach the second round 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Jan-Lennard Struff. Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime after his 6-3, 6-1 win over US qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic. Monday's Montreal champion, Australian Alexei Popyrin, lost his opening match to France's Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-3. Dane Holger Rune beat Matteo Berrettini 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, ending the Italian's 10-match win streak that included clay titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuehel. Briton Jack Draper worked for more than two and a half hours to stop Spain's Jaume Munar 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5). Paula Badosa joined boyfriend Tsitsipas in the second round after defeating Cincinnati local Peyton Stearns 6-2, 7-5. Washington winner Badosa next plays 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya, a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback winner against Katerina Siniakova.

Top seeds Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek survive challenges from Cincinnati qualifiers

World number one Iga Swiatek became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals to be held in Riyadh from Nov. 2-9, the governing body of women's tennis said on Wednesday. The season finale, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams, will offer record prize money of $15.25 million with increases in 2025 and 2026 after Saudi Arabia signed a three-year deal in April to host the event.

Poland's Swiatek, 23, will aim to defend her singles title. "It's a great feeling to qualify for the WTA Finals for the fourth year in a row," said Swiatek, who has won five trophies this season, including the French Open title, and took bronze at the Paris Olympics.

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"I hope the performances of the eight best players of the season will give a lot of joy to the fans all over the world."

World number one Iga Swiatek became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals to be held in Riyadh from Nov. 2-9, the governing body of women's tennis said on Wednesday.

World number one Iga Swiatek became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals to be held in Riyadh from Nov. 2-9, the governing body of women's tennis said on Wednesday. The season finale, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams, will offer record prize money of $15.25 million with increases in 2025 and 2026 after Saudi Arabia signed a three-year deal in April to host the event. Poland's Swiatek, 23, will aim to defend her singles title. "It's a great feeling to qualify for the WTA Finals for the fourth year in a row," said Swiatek, who has won five trophies this season, including the French Open title, and took bronze at the Paris Olympics. Also read: Paris Olympics: Huge blow to India! Vinesh Phogat DISQUALIFIED before gold medal tie for being overweight "I hope the performances of the eight best players of the season will give a lot of joy to the fans all over the world."

World number one Iga Swiatek qualifies for WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia

Poland's Iga Swiatek powered past France's Diane Parry 6-1 6-1 on Monday to cruise into the third round at the Paris Games and stay firmly on course for an Olympic gold medal. The world number one, who less than two months ago clinched her fourth French Open title on the same court, gave Parry no chance despite the home crowd's vocal support, racing through the first set in 38 minutes.

The 23-year-old Pole, the overwhelming favourite for the Olympic title, broke Parry again early in the second set to go 2-0 up and stay in control. With Parry's errors quickly piling up, Swiatek cruised through the second set, sealing her win on her opponent's serve, when the French player sent a forehand wide.

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Swiatek will next play China's Wang Xiyu in the third round.

Poland's Iga Swiatek powered past France's Diane Parry 6-1 6-1 on Monday to cruise into the third round at the Paris Games and stay firmly on course for an Olympic gold medal.

Poland's Iga Swiatek powered past France's Diane Parry 6-1 6-1 on Monday to cruise into the third round at the Paris Games and stay firmly on course for an Olympic gold medal. The world number one, who less than two months ago clinched her fourth French Open title on the same court, gave Parry no chance despite the home crowd's vocal support, racing through the first set in 38 minutes. The 23-year-old Pole, the overwhelming favourite for the Olympic title, broke Parry again early in the second set to go 2-0 up and stay in control. With Parry's errors quickly piling up, Swiatek cruised through the second set, sealing her win on her opponent's serve, when the French player sent a forehand wide. Also read: Paris Olympics 2024: India shooter Arjun Babuta misses medal by 1.4 point in 10m air rifle event Swiatek will next play China's Wang Xiyu in the third round.

Paris Olympics 2024: Favourite Iga Swiatek pummels France's Diane Parry to enter third round

Russian-born Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva crushed Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon dream after she beat the World No.1 in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history on Saturday (July 6). The contest played on Court No.1 saw Swiatek lose the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-2&nbsp;in complete dominance by the Kazakhstani star. The defeat also means Swiatek will have to wait at least until 2025 to get her hands on the coveted Wimbledon shield.

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An emphatic momentum change 👊 
 
Yulia Putintseva dominates the second set 6-1 to level the match against the world No.1!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PutintsevaYulia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PutintsevaYulia</a> <a href="https://t.co/QdK0itq1Oa">pic.twitter.com/QdK0itq1Oa</a>
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1809629177890361585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Swiatek outclassed</h2>

On a run of 21 consecutive wins, Switaek was the favourite against a player ranked 35th in the WTA rankings. However, she was stunned by the Kazakhstani player having won the opening set 3-6 at Court No.1. But things took an upside-down turn in the second and third sets where Swiatek managed to win only three games before winning the match. She was good with her forehand and capitalised on the breakpoints to book her place in the next round.

The upset means both the World No.1 and the defending champion are out of the Wimbledon in the first week. Earlier, Markéta Vondroušová who is the defending champion in the Wimbledon women’s singles was knocked out in the opening round by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain.

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The defeat for Swiatek also means her dream to win the Wimbledon Championships once again remains incomplete. Her best performance at the SW19 came last year when she reached the quarterfinal. Grass court also remains the only surface where she has yet to win a Grand Slam. In her brilliant singles career, she has won four French Open titles while also pocketing the 2022 US Open. Like Wimbledon, Swiatek is yet to win the Australian Open as well with her best performance coming in 2022 when she reached the semis.

Russian-born Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva crushed Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon dream after she beat the World No.1 in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history on Saturday (July 6).

Russian-born Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva crushed Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon dream after she beat the World No.1 in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history on Saturday (July 6). The contest played on Court No.1 saw Swiatek lose the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in complete dominance by the Kazakhstani star. The defeat also means Swiatek will have to wait at least until 2025 to get her hands on the coveted Wimbledon shield. An emphatic momentum change 👊 Yulia Putintseva dominates the second set 6-1 to level the match against the world No.1!#Wimbledon | @PutintsevaYulia pic.twitter.com/QdK0itq1Oa — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2024 × Swiatek outclassed On a run of 21 consecutive wins, Switaek was the favourite against a player ranked 35th in the WTA rankings. However, she was stunned by the Kazakhstani player having won the opening set 3-6 at Court No.1. But things took an upside-down turn in the second and third sets where Swiatek managed to win only three games before winning the match. She was good with her forehand and capitalised on the breakpoints to book her place in the next round. The upset means both the World No.1 and the defending champion are out of the Wimbledon in the first week. Earlier, Markéta Vondroušová who is the defending champion in the Wimbledon women’s singles was knocked out in the opening round by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain. ALSO READ | Is Ronaldo’s international career over after Portugal's Euro 2024 exit? Martinez comments The defeat for Swiatek also means her dream to win the Wimbledon Championships once again remains incomplete. Her best performance at the SW19 came last year when she reached the quarterfinal. Grass court also remains the only surface where she has yet to win a Grand Slam. In her brilliant singles career, she has won four French Open titles while also pocketing the 2022 US Open. Like Wimbledon, Swiatek is yet to win the Australian Open as well with her best performance coming in 2022 when she reached the semis.

Yulia Putintseva crushes World No.1 Iga Swiatek's Wimbledon dream to reach fourth round

Iga&nbsp;Swiatek&nbsp;underlined her status as the world's top player with an efficient 6-4 6-3 victory over Croatian Petra Martic at Wimbledon on Thursday, her 21st match win in a row. The 23-year-old Pole triumphed at the Madrid and Rome Opens as well as taking the Roland Garros title, before switching to the Wimbledon grass and reaching the third round.

Swiatek, who has won five Grand Slams but has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals here, looked comfortable on the Centre Court grass, though she was tested at times by Martic's hefty serve and groundstrokes.

"I'm happy to play in a solid way,"&nbsp;Swiatek&nbsp;said. "I felt like I had control in most of the games when Petra served, but I couldn't really break it. I'm happy that I broke twice. That was a necessary thing to do to win these sets."

Martic, 10 years&nbsp;Swiatek's senior and ranked 85th in the world, fell and needed treatment after the seventh game of the first set but resumed apparently unimpeded.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-wimbledon-2024-novak-djokovic-into-third-round-after-rookie-scare-from-jacob-fearnley-737967">Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic into third round after rookie scare from Jacob Fearnley</a>

Swiatek&nbsp;clinched the first set on her first break point with an attacking forehand that Martic could only dump into the net.

She broke Martic's serve in the eighth game of the second set, earned match point with a big forehand winner and finished the contest with a serve that Martic netted.

Swiatek&nbsp;meets 35th-ranked Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the next round. "I'm kind of doing everything step by step and every match matters for me,"&nbsp;Swiatek&nbsp;said. "It's not like I'm going in the first rounds of Grand Slams knowing that I should win or I should take it for granted. I'm ready to battle even in the first rounds."

Iga Swiatek underlined her status as the world's top player with an efficient 6-4 6-3 victory over Croatian Petra Martic at Wimbledon on Thursday, her 21st match win in a row.

Iga Swiatek underlined her status as the world's top player with an efficient 6-4 6-3 victory over Croatian Petra Martic at Wimbledon on Thursday, her 21st match win in a row. The 23-year-old Pole triumphed at the Madrid and Rome Opens as well as taking the Roland Garros title, before switching to the Wimbledon grass and reaching the third round. Swiatek, who has won five Grand Slams but has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals here, looked comfortable on the Centre Court grass, though she was tested at times by Martic's hefty serve and groundstrokes. "I'm happy to play in a solid way," Swiatek said. "I felt like I had control in most of the games when Petra served, but I couldn't really break it. I'm happy that I broke twice. That was a necessary thing to do to win these sets." Martic, 10 years Swiatek's senior and ranked 85th in the world, fell and needed treatment after the seventh game of the first set but resumed apparently unimpeded. Also read: Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic into third round after rookie scare from Jacob Fearnley Swiatek clinched the first set on her first break point with an attacking forehand that Martic could only dump into the net. She broke Martic's serve in the eighth game of the second set, earned match point with a big forehand winner and finished the contest with a serve that Martic netted. Swiatek meets 35th-ranked Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the next round. "I'm kind of doing everything step by step and every match matters for me," Swiatek said. "It's not like I'm going in the first rounds of Grand Slams knowing that I should win or I should take it for granted. I'm ready to battle even in the first rounds."

Wimbledon 2024: Top seed Iga Swiatek storms into third round with no-nonsense win over Petra Martic

Poland’s Iga Swiatek outclassed her Italian counterpart Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to win her third consecutive French Open women’s singles title on Saturday (June 8). Swiatek, seeded number one for the tournament also clinched her fourth title in five years in Paris having beaten Paolini 6-2, 6-1&nbsp;in little over an hour. Swiatek on her way to the&nbsp;French Open title dropped only one set in the tournament highlighting her dominance on clay court.

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<h2>Swiatek clinches fourth title in Paris</h2>

Entering the final as the favourite to win the title, Swiatek was at her fluent best at Court Philippe-Chatrier as she dropped only three games in the entire match to win the French Open women’s singles title. The Polish sensation broke her opponent's serve on five occasions in the match while losing her serve only once throughout the 58-minute contest. With three love games, Swiatek showcased her dominance over the match and clinched her latest title.

During the entire tournament, Swiatek dropped only one set which was against Japan’s Naomi Osaka where she also saved a match point. After that match, there was no looking back for the Polish star as she won her fifth Grand Slam title, with four title wins coming in Paris. Her only other Grand Slam success was at the 2022 US Open.

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She also becomes the first woman since Belgian’s Justine Henin in 2007 to win the French Open women’s title on a third consecutive occasion. In the Open Era, only Chris Evert (7) and Steffi Graf (6) have won more French Open women’s singles titles than Swiatek while she is now level with Henin for four titles in Paris.

Swiatek’s next target will be to win the French Open for a fourth consecutive time in 2025 with only Suzanne Lenglen in the 1920s and Jeanne Matthey in the 1910s to have achieved the rare feat.

The eyes will now turn to the French Open men’s singles final which takes place on Sunday (June 9) as both Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev try to win their first title on the Clay Court. The winner will also become the fifth player in the last two decades to win the prestigious French Open men’s singles title which had seen a major dominance by Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek outclassed her Italian counterpart Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to win her third consecutive French Open women’s singles title on Saturday (June 8).

Poland’s Iga Swiatek outclassed her Italian counterpart Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to win her third consecutive French Open women’s singles title on Saturday (June 8). Swiatek, seeded number one for the tournament also clinched her fourth title in five years in Paris having beaten Paolini 6-2, 6-1 in little over an hour. Swiatek on her way to the French Open title dropped only one set in the tournament highlighting her dominance on clay court. IGA SWI4TEK QUEEN OF P4RIS 👑#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ufBQUfpdrT — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2024 × Swiatek clinches fourth title in Paris Entering the final as the favourite to win the title, Swiatek was at her fluent best at Court Philippe-Chatrier as she dropped only three games in the entire match to win the French Open women’s singles title. The Polish sensation broke her opponent's serve on five occasions in the match while losing her serve only once throughout the 58-minute contest. With three love games, Swiatek showcased her dominance over the match and clinched her latest title. During the entire tournament, Swiatek dropped only one set which was against Japan’s Naomi Osaka where she also saved a match point. After that match, there was no looking back for the Polish star as she won her fifth Grand Slam title, with four title wins coming in Paris. Her only other Grand Slam success was at the 2022 US Open. ALSO READ | What could India’s Plan B be against Shaheen and Amir in New York showdown in T20 World Cup? She also becomes the first woman since Belgian’s Justine Henin in 2007 to win the French Open women’s title on a third consecutive occasion. In the Open Era, only Chris Evert (7) and Steffi Graf (6) have won more French Open women’s singles titles than Swiatek while she is now level with Henin for four titles in Paris. Swiatek’s next target will be to win the French Open for a fourth consecutive time in 2025 with only Suzanne Lenglen in the 1920s and Jeanne Matthey in the 1910s to have achieved the rare feat. The eyes will now turn to the French Open men’s singles final which takes place on Sunday (June 9) as both Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev try to win their first title on the Clay Court. The winner will also become the fifth player in the last two decades to win the prestigious French Open men’s singles title which had seen a major dominance by Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

French Open Final: Iga Swiatek outclasses Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to win third consecutive title

Defending champion Iga Swiatek took a big step towards a third successive French Open title by dismantling teary American third seed Coco Gauff 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final on Thursday to match her longest winning streak on clay.

Four-times Grand Slam champion Swiatek also extended her dominance over Gauff by sealing an 11th victory in 12 meetings and will head into a Saturday showdown with either 12th seed Jasmine Paolini or 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

"It was intense. In the second set it was right because we were breaking each other. I was consistent with my tactics and went for it," Swiatek said.

Defeat was a big blow for Gauff, who was beaten by Swiatek in the 2022 final as well as last year's quarter-finals, but she leaves Paris knowing that she will climb to number two in the world rankings on Monday.

"I think she's progressing a lot," Swiatek said of the 20-year-old U.S. Open champion.

"You can see by her results. Last year's U.S. Open showed she's tough. At this age, it's obvious she's going to just grow. It's nice to see her handling everything well around her, because it's not easy.

"I'm sure we'll have plenty more intense matches at the highest level. Coco is one of the most consistent players out there."

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Swiatek drew first blood by breaking in the opening game of the contest after a forehand error by the ultra aggressive Gauff and the top-seeded Pole fought off break points in her next two service games before tightening her grip.

Having dropped the first set following an error, Gauff wiped away tears while up 2-1 in the second after an argument with the umpire over a contentious line call, but the American recovered to break her opponent for the first time.

However, Swiatek struck back immediately before holding and breaking to surge to a 4-3 lead with a powerful winner as a 20th straight victory at Roland Garros appeared in sight for the 23-year-old at her favourite hunting ground.

Soaking up the applause at a sun-drenched Court Philippe-Chatrier, Madrid and Rome champion Swiatek secured victory on serve and equalled her 18-match winning streak on the sport's slowest surface between Stuttgart and Warsaw in 2022.

Swiatek, who saved a match point to beat former world number one Naomi Osaka in the second round, has lost 14 games since and will be the favourite to prevail at the weekend.

"For sure something changed. I adjusted better to the court. It's not easy to play the first matches at a Grand Slam because the atmosphere is different than other tournaments," she said.

"Against Naomi I didn't have time to get into it. She was intense from the beginning and put pressure on me. I'm happy I handled it well.

"After that the weather changed. It helps my game I feel. I just gained confidence, I would say."

Defending champion Iga Swiatek took a big step towards a third successive French Open title by dismantling teary American third seed Coco Gauff 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final on Thursday to match her longest winning streak on clay.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek took a big step towards a third successive French Open title by dismantling teary American third seed Coco Gauff 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final on Thursday to match her longest winning streak on clay. Four-times Grand Slam champion Swiatek also extended her dominance over Gauff by sealing an 11th victory in 12 meetings and will head into a Saturday showdown with either 12th seed Jasmine Paolini or 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. "It was intense. In the second set it was right because we were breaking each other. I was consistent with my tactics and went for it," Swiatek said. Defeat was a big blow for Gauff, who was beaten by Swiatek in the 2022 final as well as last year's quarter-finals, but she leaves Paris knowing that she will climb to number two in the world rankings on Monday. "I think she's progressing a lot," Swiatek said of the 20-year-old U.S. Open champion. "You can see by her results. Last year's U.S. Open showed she's tough. At this age, it's obvious she's going to just grow. It's nice to see her handling everything well around her, because it's not easy. "I'm sure we'll have plenty more intense matches at the highest level. Coco is one of the most consistent players out there." ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic injury update: Star player seen on crutches post French Open exit Swiatek drew first blood by breaking in the opening game of the contest after a forehand error by the ultra aggressive Gauff and the top-seeded Pole fought off break points in her next two service games before tightening her grip. Having dropped the first set following an error, Gauff wiped away tears while up 2-1 in the second after an argument with the umpire over a contentious line call, but the American recovered to break her opponent for the first time. However, Swiatek struck back immediately before holding and breaking to surge to a 4-3 lead with a powerful winner as a 20th straight victory at Roland Garros appeared in sight for the 23-year-old at her favourite hunting ground. Soaking up the applause at a sun-drenched Court Philippe-Chatrier, Madrid and Rome champion Swiatek secured victory on serve and equalled her 18-match winning streak on the sport's slowest surface between Stuttgart and Warsaw in 2022. Swiatek, who saved a match point to beat former world number one Naomi Osaka in the second round, has lost 14 games since and will be the favourite to prevail at the weekend. "For sure something changed. I adjusted better to the court. It's not easy to play the first matches at a Grand Slam because the atmosphere is different than other tournaments," she said. "Against Naomi I didn't have time to get into it. She was intense from the beginning and put pressure on me. I'm happy I handled it well. "After that the weather changed. It helps my game I feel. I just gained confidence, I would say."

Iga Swiatek beats American Coco Gauff to reach third straight French Open final

World number one Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run at the 2024 French Open with an easy win over Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinal match on Tuesday (June 4). Swiatek didn't break much sweat as she went past the Czech Republic player Vondrousova in straight sets, winning 6-0, 6-2. The defending champion will now lock horns with Coco Gauff in the semifinals,&nbsp;against whom she has an impeccable record. The high-voltage clash will be held on Thursday (June 6).

Talking about the contest, Vondrousova never looked threatening enough in front of Swaitek. The No. 1 ranked player didn't give her opposition any chance as she won the opening set 6-0.&nbsp;While the Czech did get on board in the second and penultimate set following a rare Swiatek mistake and earned a break point in the next game, however, it wasn't enough to prevent her ruthless rival. With the win, Swiatek extended her winning run on clay to 17 games.

Swiatek also improved her career record in Paris to 33-2. In addition, the 23-year-old is on the cusp to become the first woman to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen three years in a row (since Justine Henin who achieved the feat from 2005-07).

After the match, Swiatekn told, "Honestly I think everything worked. I feel like I've been serving better than in previous rounds and that gave me an extra boost of confidence. Today it was pretty straightforward. I'm happy I kept my focus. I felt like I was in the zone today."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-french-open-2024-coco-gauff-scripts-remarkable-comeback-to-beat-ons-jabeur-and-enter-semifinals-728654">French Open 2024: Coco Gauff scripts remarkable comeback to beat Ons Jabeur and enter semifinals</a>

The Poland player has lost only one set in this year's French Open and, thus, will start as overwhelming favourite versus Gauff in the semifinal fixture. On the other hand, Gauff has lost 10 of her previous 11 meetings with Swaitek, all in straight sets, including the 2022 French Open final. Thus, the American will have her back against the wall and needs a herculean task to go past a rampant Swiatek.

World number one Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run at the 2024 French Open with an easy win over Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinal match on Tuesday (June 4).

World number one Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run at the 2024 French Open with an easy win over Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinal match on Tuesday (June 4). Swiatek didn't break much sweat as she went past the Czech Republic player Vondrousova in straight sets, winning 6-0, 6-2. The defending champion will now lock horns with Coco Gauff in the semifinals, against whom she has an impeccable record. The high-voltage clash will be held on Thursday (June 6). Talking about the contest, Vondrousova never looked threatening enough in front of Swaitek. The No. 1 ranked player didn't give her opposition any chance as she won the opening set 6-0. While the Czech did get on board in the second and penultimate set following a rare Swiatek mistake and earned a break point in the next game, however, it wasn't enough to prevent her ruthless rival. With the win, Swiatek extended her winning run on clay to 17 games. Swiatek also improved her career record in Paris to 33-2. In addition, the 23-year-old is on the cusp to become the first woman to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen three years in a row (since Justine Henin who achieved the feat from 2005-07). After the match, Swiatekn told, "Honestly I think everything worked. I feel like I've been serving better than in previous rounds and that gave me an extra boost of confidence. Today it was pretty straightforward. I'm happy I kept my focus. I felt like I was in the zone today." Also read: French Open 2024: Coco Gauff scripts remarkable comeback to beat Ons Jabeur and enter semifinals The Poland player has lost only one set in this year's French Open and, thus, will start as overwhelming favourite versus Gauff in the semifinal fixture. On the other hand, Gauff has lost 10 of her previous 11 meetings with Swaitek, all in straight sets, including the 2022 French Open final. Thus, the American will have her back against the wall and needs a herculean task to go past a rampant Swiatek.

French Open: Defending champion Iga Swiatek crushes Marketa Vondrousova to storm into semifinals

Jannik Sinner took time to get his engine going before motoring into the French Open quarter-finals while defending champion Iga Swiatek raced through on Sunday as scheduling at the Grand Slam came under scrutiny after Novak Djokovic's overnight marathon.

Second seed Sinner kept his hopes of taking Djokovic's top ranking alive with a battling 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-1 win over local favourite Corentin Moutet in front of partisan fans on Court Philippe Chatrier.

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With Roland Garros still abuzz after an epic duel where Djokovic prevailed after the tournament's latest finish at just past three a.m local time, Swiatek provided a masterclass to beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0 6-0 in 40 minutes.

American Coco Gauff was not as ruthless as her Polish rival but equally efficient as she powered past Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1 6-2 in an hour before Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova mowed down Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-4 6-2.

Ons Jabeur continued her quest to win an elusive maiden Grand Slam by taking out Danish player Clara Tauson 6-4 6-4 before breaking into a song with her fans as matches were wrapped up in double quick time.

It was a largely a similar tune on the men's side too, as third seed Carlos Alcaraz thumped Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 6-1 to set up a rematch of his 2023 quarter-final with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Matteo Arnaldi 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 6-2.

"I love these kinds of matches," Alcaraz said. "Hopefully the crowd enjoys (it) as much as I'm going to. Let's see how it's going to be."

Alcaraz's entertaining win meant the entire day session for singles on Court Philippe Chatrier was completed in exactly four hours, 29 minutes less than Djokovic needed to defeat Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a five-setter overnight.

<h2>Scheduling Rethink</h2>

The late finish came under criticism as Swiatek and Gauff said that Grand Slams needed a scheduling rethink.

There were more complaints on social media as fans were left twiddling their thumbs for hours before the night session, where Sinner sent the last local hope Moutet packing.

"I was always one of the players that said that we should start a little bit earlier," Swiatek said of the Djokovic match. "I don't know if fans are watching these matches if they have to go to work next day when the matches are finishing at two or three a.m."

Organisers were forced to add a match on the main showcourt before Djokovic played due to rain delays.

"It's a complicated thing, but for the health and safety of the players, it would be in the sport's best interest to try to avoid those matches finishing - or starting - after a certain time," Gauff said.

Grigor Dimitrov later showed it was never too late to break new ground, as the in-form Bulgarian 10th seed outlasted Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(3) to reach his first quarter-final at the French Open and complete his set of Grand Slam last eight appearances.

Jannik Sinner took time to get his engine going before motoring into the French Open quarter-finals while defending champion Iga Swiatek raced through on Sunday as scheduling at the Grand Slam came under scrutiny after Novak Djokovic's overnight marathon.

Jannik Sinner took time to get his engine going before motoring into the French Open quarter-finals while defending champion Iga Swiatek raced through on Sunday as scheduling at the Grand Slam came under scrutiny after Novak Djokovic's overnight marathon. Second seed Sinner kept his hopes of taking Djokovic's top ranking alive with a battling 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-1 win over local favourite Corentin Moutet in front of partisan fans on Court Philippe Chatrier. ALSO READ: French Open: Carlos Alcaraz blows away Auger-Aliassime to set up quarter-final clash against Tsitsipas With Roland Garros still abuzz after an epic duel where Djokovic prevailed after the tournament's latest finish at just past three a.m local time, Swiatek provided a masterclass to beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0 6-0 in 40 minutes. American Coco Gauff was not as ruthless as her Polish rival but equally efficient as she powered past Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1 6-2 in an hour before Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova mowed down Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-4 6-2. Ons Jabeur continued her quest to win an elusive maiden Grand Slam by taking out Danish player Clara Tauson 6-4 6-4 before breaking into a song with her fans as matches were wrapped up in double quick time. It was a largely a similar tune on the men's side too, as third seed Carlos Alcaraz thumped Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 6-1 to set up a rematch of his 2023 quarter-final with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Matteo Arnaldi 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 6-2. "I love these kinds of matches," Alcaraz said. "Hopefully the crowd enjoys (it) as much as I'm going to. Let's see how it's going to be." Alcaraz's entertaining win meant the entire day session for singles on Court Philippe Chatrier was completed in exactly four hours, 29 minutes less than Djokovic needed to defeat Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a five-setter overnight. Scheduling Rethink The late finish came under criticism as Swiatek and Gauff said that Grand Slams needed a scheduling rethink. There were more complaints on social media as fans were left twiddling their thumbs for hours before the night session, where Sinner sent the last local hope Moutet packing. "I was always one of the players that said that we should start a little bit earlier," Swiatek said of the Djokovic match. "I don't know if fans are watching these matches if they have to go to work next day when the matches are finishing at two or three a.m." Organisers were forced to add a match on the main showcourt before Djokovic played due to rain delays. "It's a complicated thing, but for the health and safety of the players, it would be in the sport's best interest to try to avoid those matches finishing - or starting - after a certain time," Gauff said. Grigor Dimitrov later showed it was never too late to break new ground, as the in-form Bulgarian 10th seed outlasted Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(3) to reach his first quarter-final at the French Open and complete his set of Grand Slam last eight appearances.

Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek race to French Open quarters as scheduling comes under scrutiny

As the French Open announced stricter measures Thursday to clamp down on inappropriate fan behaviour, players had varying stances on a polarising issue with Iga Swiatek told by one rival "she cannot complain".&nbsp;

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said action would be taken to weed out troublemakers following complaints by Swiatek, the women's defending champion, and David Goffin.

"We're happy to see there's an atmosphere, emotions and that the spectators are there. However, we will be uncompromising with respect to the players and the game," said Mauresmo.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-french-open-2024-defending-champion-novak-djokovic-enters-third-round-with-straight-sets-victory-727195">French Open 2024: Defending champion Novak Djokovic enters third round with straight-sets victory</a>

"If there's the slightest behaviour that oversteps the mark, it will be the exit," asserted Mauresmo, while acknowledging that "identifying the person is not always easy".

Swiatek scolded spectators in her on-court interview for making noise during several points of her tense second-round win over Naomi Osaka.

But Paula Badosa, who will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in round three, suggested Swiatek has it better than most given her status as the world number one and a four-time Grand Slam winner.

Swiatek has not played on any court other than Philippe Chatrier or Suzanne Lenglen since her second-round match of the 2021 French Open.

"I think she cannot complain, because I played Court 8 and 9 and you can hear everything," said Spain's Badosa, the former world number two.

"Like, I can hear Suzanne Lenglen, Philippe Chatrier, Court 6, 7 during the points. I think she's very lucky she can play all the time on Philippe Chatrier and she's okay with that.&nbsp;

"But I don't mind. As I said, I played in small courts these days, and I was hearing so much noise. In that moment, I'm just so focused on myself and on my match that it doesn't really bother me."

Badosa recalled the 2020 and 2021 editions of the tournament, when fan capacity was reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions and matches at times were played in front of empty stands.&nbsp;

"Honestly, I like when the fans cheer and all this. I think I get pumped," she said.

"Look, we had a very tough situation years ago when we were playing without fans with the Covid situation, so now, for me, I'm so happy they're back and think they're very important for our sport."

<h2>- 'Quiet or super loud' -</h2>

Daniil Medvedev sympathised with Swiatek's frustration at being distracted by the crowd at key moments, pointing out the fine margins between winning and losing.

"If someone screams in your ear, your serve, you could double fault. That's as easy as that. That's not good," said Medvedev.

"Now what happens is that 95% of matches, tournaments, it's quiet. And then when suddenly you come to Roland Garros and it's not, it disturbs you, and it's a Grand Slam so you get more stress and it's not easy."

"There is no in between," he continued.

"It either should be quiet or super loud but all the time, and then we would get used to it, I would get used to it also, and we would not actually complain about it."

Goffin claimed he was spat at by a spectator as he defeated French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the opening round on Tuesday.

Mauresmo, a former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion, said there would be "no hesitation" to remove anyone caught throwing something at a player.

She said it would be at an umpire's discretion how to handle other disruptive spectators, but called for them to be sterner while announcing alcohol will now be prohibited in the stands.

"There will likely be situations when it comes down to judgement," said Mauresmo.

"Throwing something at a player, you're out. Expressing yourself during a point is a no-no, we're going to try and limit that as much as possible.&nbsp;

"The umpires have tighter, even more precise instructions on keeping the audience under control. It's part of the role of the umpire to manage that too."

As the French Open announced stricter measures Thursday to clamp down on inappropriate fan behaviour, players had varying stances on a polarising issue with Iga Swiatek told by one rival "she cannot complain".

As the French Open announced stricter measures Thursday to clamp down on inappropriate fan behaviour, players had varying stances on a polarising issue with Iga Swiatek told by one rival "she cannot complain". Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said action would be taken to weed out troublemakers following complaints by Swiatek, the women's defending champion, and David Goffin. "We're happy to see there's an atmosphere, emotions and that the spectators are there. However, we will be uncompromising with respect to the players and the game," said Mauresmo. Also Read: French Open 2024: Defending champion Novak Djokovic enters third round with straight-sets victory "If there's the slightest behaviour that oversteps the mark, it will be the exit," asserted Mauresmo, while acknowledging that "identifying the person is not always easy". Swiatek scolded spectators in her on-court interview for making noise during several points of her tense second-round win over Naomi Osaka. But Paula Badosa, who will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in round three, suggested Swiatek has it better than most given her status as the world number one and a four-time Grand Slam winner. Swiatek has not played on any court other than Philippe Chatrier or Suzanne Lenglen since her second-round match of the 2021 French Open. "I think she cannot complain, because I played Court 8 and 9 and you can hear everything," said Spain's Badosa, the former world number two. "Like, I can hear Suzanne Lenglen, Philippe Chatrier, Court 6, 7 during the points. I think she's very lucky she can play all the time on Philippe Chatrier and she's okay with that. "But I don't mind. As I said, I played in small courts these days, and I was hearing so much noise. In that moment, I'm just so focused on myself and on my match that it doesn't really bother me." Badosa recalled the 2020 and 2021 editions of the tournament, when fan capacity was reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions and matches at times were played in front of empty stands. "Honestly, I like when the fans cheer and all this. I think I get pumped," she said. "Look, we had a very tough situation years ago when we were playing without fans with the Covid situation, so now, for me, I'm so happy they're back and think they're very important for our sport." - 'Quiet or super loud' - Daniil Medvedev sympathised with Swiatek's frustration at being distracted by the crowd at key moments, pointing out the fine margins between winning and losing. "If someone screams in your ear, your serve, you could double fault. That's as easy as that. That's not good," said Medvedev. "Now what happens is that 95% of matches, tournaments, it's quiet. And then when suddenly you come to Roland Garros and it's not, it disturbs you, and it's a Grand Slam so you get more stress and it's not easy." "There is no in between," he continued. "It either should be quiet or super loud but all the time, and then we would get used to it, I would get used to it also, and we would not actually complain about it." Goffin claimed he was spat at by a spectator as he defeated French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the opening round on Tuesday. Mauresmo, a former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion, said there would be "no hesitation" to remove anyone caught throwing something at a player. She said it would be at an umpire's discretion how to handle other disruptive spectators, but called for them to be sterner while announcing alcohol will now be prohibited in the stands. "There will likely be situations when it comes down to judgement," said Mauresmo. "Throwing something at a player, you're out. Expressing yourself during a point is a no-no, we're going to try and limit that as much as possible. "The umpires have tighter, even more precise instructions on keeping the audience under control. It's part of the role of the umpire to manage that too."

French Open 2024: Organisers vow stricter measures after players complain of unruly fans

Defending champion Iga Swiatek was pushed to the brink by fellow four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka but secured a 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5 victory after saving a match point in a high-voltage second-round match at Roland Garros on Wednesday. In a clash worthy of a final between the current and former world number one, Swiatek showed the steely grit she possesses in abundance but has rarely needed at her favourite major, to extend her streak to 16 wins after triumphs in 2022 and 2023.

"It's hard to have any logical thoughts... it was really intense and on a really high level. I was in huge trouble in the third set but I managed somehow to win this match. I'm glad that I didn't give up," Swiatek told reporters.

"I honestly didn't believe I could win, because I would be pretty naive. But it didn't change the fact that I just tried to do work to play better. I actually managed to be more focused at the end of the match, which went pretty badly. "In first and second set I felt like I wasn't completely in the zone. When I was under the biggest pressure I was able to switch that and maybe that made the difference."

Swiatek's clay prowess makes her a firm favourite against anyone but the 22-year-old top seed, who entered the contest on the back of 13 wins and titles in Madrid and Rome, faced huge pressure and was a point away from dropping the first set.

In testing conditions under the roof on Philippe Chatrier, the powerful Osaka posed a litany of problems in one of her best matches since coming back this year from a maternity break but did not capitalise while up 40-30 at 5-4, hitting a shot long.

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Three-times champion Swiatek raised her level and ran away with the opening set in the tiebreak but the Pole found herself trailing 4-0 in the next set as the 26-year-old Osaka shrugged off any disappointment to comfortably level the contest.

Osaka saved two break points to hold at the start of the decider and fired a sublime backhand crosscourt winner in the next game to pounce for a 2-0 lead, which the Japanese player extended on serve after another almighty battle.

A rattled Swiatek clawed her way back from 5-2 down and saved a match point before taking full advantage of late errors from a nervy Osaka's racket to complete a famous victory and avoid her earliest exit from the Grand Slam.

Defeat was a bitter blow for Osaka, who produced one of her most memorable performances on her least favourite surface after fully dedicating herself to it in the build-up to the major and left the main showcourt to a standing ovation from the crowd.

"The journey that she had. I'm happy she's back, because her tennis deserves to be on the biggest stages. She deserves to be there," Swiatek added. "It wasn't easy on her, but if she's going to play better and better, it means that she did some work to improve... She played amazing today. I have big respect for her coming back."

Defending champion Iga Swiatek was pushed to the brink by fellow four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka but secured a 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5 victory after saving a match point in a high-voltage second-round match at Roland Garros on Wednesday.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek was pushed to the brink by fellow four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka but secured a 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5 victory after saving a match point in a high-voltage second-round match at Roland Garros on Wednesday. In a clash worthy of a final between the current and former world number one, Swiatek showed the steely grit she possesses in abundance but has rarely needed at her favourite major, to extend her streak to 16 wins after triumphs in 2022 and 2023. "It's hard to have any logical thoughts... it was really intense and on a really high level. I was in huge trouble in the third set but I managed somehow to win this match. I'm glad that I didn't give up," Swiatek told reporters. "I honestly didn't believe I could win, because I would be pretty naive. But it didn't change the fact that I just tried to do work to play better. I actually managed to be more focused at the end of the match, which went pretty badly. "In first and second set I felt like I wasn't completely in the zone. When I was under the biggest pressure I was able to switch that and maybe that made the difference." Swiatek's clay prowess makes her a firm favourite against anyone but the 22-year-old top seed, who entered the contest on the back of 13 wins and titles in Madrid and Rome, faced huge pressure and was a point away from dropping the first set. In testing conditions under the roof on Philippe Chatrier, the powerful Osaka posed a litany of problems in one of her best matches since coming back this year from a maternity break but did not capitalise while up 40-30 at 5-4, hitting a shot long. Also read: French Open: Carlos Alcaraz overcomes De Jong scare, advances to third round Three-times champion Swiatek raised her level and ran away with the opening set in the tiebreak but the Pole found herself trailing 4-0 in the next set as the 26-year-old Osaka shrugged off any disappointment to comfortably level the contest. Osaka saved two break points to hold at the start of the decider and fired a sublime backhand crosscourt winner in the next game to pounce for a 2-0 lead, which the Japanese player extended on serve after another almighty battle. A rattled Swiatek clawed her way back from 5-2 down and saved a match point before taking full advantage of late errors from a nervy Osaka's racket to complete a famous victory and avoid her earliest exit from the Grand Slam. Defeat was a bitter blow for Osaka, who produced one of her most memorable performances on her least favourite surface after fully dedicating herself to it in the build-up to the major and left the main showcourt to a standing ovation from the crowd. "The journey that she had. I'm happy she's back, because her tennis deserves to be on the biggest stages. She deserves to be there," Swiatek added. "It wasn't easy on her, but if she's going to play better and better, it means that she did some work to improve... She played amazing today. I have big respect for her coming back."

Defending champion Iga Swiatek survives almighty scare to pip Naomi Osaka in French Open thriller

Naomi Osaka lost to world number one Iga Swiatek in a thrilling third-round match at the 2024 French Open on Wednesday (May 29). Osaka was up against the Polish player and had a huge task to stop the defending champion Swiatek's run and lost the match 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 5-7. The match lasted for nearly three hours as the winner was decided in the last set. Despite her loss, Osaka stated that she is 'proud' of herself for the fight she gave to Swiatek.

During the contest, Osaka put Swiatek under pressure on several occasions but still couldn't have the last laugh. Notably, she broke her opposition's serve five out of nine times. The Japanese player lost the opening set in a tiebreaker but came back strongly to win the second before leading in the final set. At 5-4, 40-30, Osaka was on the cusp of pulling off a huge win when Swiatek earned back-to-back service breaks to get the better of Osaka. Despite the loss, Osaka is proud of her performance&nbsp;and said that she has got better after returning to court post motherhood.

“You know I have my little book, right? In it today I just wrote: ‘I'm proud of you’,” Osaka said after the contest.

She further mentioned, "I think for me, like, saying that to myself, it gives me a lot of power, because ... sometimes I curse myself out in my head, and it's quite a negative feeling. I would just say I'm proud of the journey. Hopefully it will get more and more positive."

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The 26-year-old admitted that the face-off versus Swiatek would be memorable due to the quality of the match and crowd support.

“(It was) probably the most fun match that I have played so far. It just felt really incredible, the atmosphere, and how fun I guess everyone in the crowd was having too. It was definitely very memorable for me,” Osaka added.

Swiatek will now face the winner of the match between Croatia’s Jana Fett and Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova in the fourth round at the Roland Garros.

Naomi Osaka lost to world number one Iga Swiatek in a thrilling third-round match at the 2024 French Open on Wednesday (May 29). Osaka was up against the Polish player and had a huge task to stop the defending champion Swiatek's run and lost the match 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 5-7.

Naomi Osaka lost to world number one Iga Swiatek in a thrilling third-round match at the 2024 French Open on Wednesday (May 29). Osaka was up against the Polish player and had a huge task to stop the defending champion Swiatek's run and lost the match 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 5-7. The match lasted for nearly three hours as the winner was decided in the last set. Despite her loss, Osaka stated that she is 'proud' of herself for the fight she gave to Swiatek. During the contest, Osaka put Swiatek under pressure on several occasions but still couldn't have the last laugh. Notably, she broke her opposition's serve five out of nine times. The Japanese player lost the opening set in a tiebreaker but came back strongly to win the second before leading in the final set. At 5-4, 40-30, Osaka was on the cusp of pulling off a huge win when Swiatek earned back-to-back service breaks to get the better of Osaka. Despite the loss, Osaka is proud of her performance and said that she has got better after returning to court post motherhood. “You know I have my little book, right? In it today I just wrote: ‘I'm proud of you’,” Osaka said after the contest. She further mentioned, "I think for me, like, saying that to myself, it gives me a lot of power, because ... sometimes I curse myself out in my head, and it's quite a negative feeling. I would just say I'm proud of the journey. Hopefully it will get more and more positive." Also read: French Open: Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff enter third round with straight sets wins The 26-year-old admitted that the face-off versus Swiatek would be memorable due to the quality of the match and crowd support. “(It was) probably the most fun match that I have played so far. It just felt really incredible, the atmosphere, and how fun I guess everyone in the crowd was having too. It was definitely very memorable for me,” Osaka added. Swiatek will now face the winner of the match between Croatia’s Jana Fett and Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova in the fourth round at the Roland Garros.

French Open 2024: Naomi Osaka 'proud' of herself despite narrow defeat vs Iga Swiatek

Naomi Osaka swept to her first victory at the French Open in three years on Monday, setting up a potential showdown with world number one Iga Swiatek, as Roland Garros prepared to possibly bid farewell to Rafael Nadal.

Osaka, a four-time major winner who has yet to get past the third round in Paris, needed three sets to defeat Italy's 48th-ranked Lucia Bronzetti on the showpiece Court Philippe Chatrier, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

The 26-year-old fired 31 winners, including six aces, and 45 unforced errors in a match where she gave up a 4-0 lead in the decider before finding herself 5-4 down.

However, she rallied strongly to register her first win at a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open.

"It feels really nice to be back and I'm just really grateful to be here in front of everybody," said Osaka.

"I think there were moments when I played really well."

The Japanese star, a former world number one now at 134 in the rankings, has endured a bittersweet relationship with the French capital.

In 2021, she was fined for opting out of mandatory media commitments before withdrawing from the tournament in order to protect her mental health.

A year later, she fell in the first round before leaving the sport in September 2022 for 16 months to start a family.

Top seed Swiatek, chasing a fourth French Open, will face Osaka if the Pole gets past qualifier Leolia Jeanjean on Monday.

Later Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, begins his campaign against J.J. Wolf of the United States, a lucky loser from qualifying.

Andy Murray and his fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka will close proceedings in the night session.

World number three Alcaraz made the semi-finals last year where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, revealing later that the prospect of facing the world number one had caused so much tension that his body cramped up during the match.

Wolf, ranked at 107, has won just one match on the tour in 2024. His only other main draw appearance at the French Open ended in a first-round exit last year.

Wawrinka, the 39-year-old 2015 champion, and 2016 runner-up Murray meet for the 23rd time, a rivalry which has included two semi-final clashes in Paris.

Murray is playing his final season on tour but whether or not 14-time champion Nadal joins him in retirement later this year remains to be seen.

<h2>Uncomfortable position</h2>

Meanwhile, Nadal, who will be 38 on June 3, revealed Saturday that he hasn't committed himself to retiring and wanted to "100% keep the door open".

He missed the tournament in 2023 with injury.

His 2024 appearance may be brief after he was drawn to face fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev on Monday.

"It's a big, big chance that this is 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. I cannot predict what's going on," Nadal said.

The Spanish legend has racked up 112 wins in 115 matches at the tournament since his title-winning 2005 debut when he was just 19.

He has 22 Grand Slam titles -- second only to Djokovic's 24 on the all-time men's list -- but his career has been plagued by injuries.

Nadal has played just four tournaments since January last year after suffering a hip injury and then a muscle tear.

As a result, his ranking has slumped to 275 in the world and he comes into the French Open unseeded.

"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," he added.

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"I have fewer limitations than three, four weeks ago, without a doubt."

French Open organisers were ready to stage a tribute ceremony for Nadal before he revealed that he could play on.

"We were ready to press the button on it," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.

"But it's Rafa who manages his timing, we follow what he wants. We wouldn't want to put him in an uncomfortable position."

In early action on Monday, two-time quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed, defeated Japan's Taro Daniel in four sets.

French number one Ugo Humbert, the 17th seed, crashed out 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-5 to Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.

Naomi Osaka swept to her first victory at the French Open in three years on Monday, setting up a potential showdown with world number one Iga Swiatek, as Roland Garros prepared to possibly bid farewell to Rafael Nadal.

Naomi Osaka swept to her first victory at the French Open in three years on Monday, setting up a potential showdown with world number one Iga Swiatek, as Roland Garros prepared to possibly bid farewell to Rafael Nadal. Osaka, a four-time major winner who has yet to get past the third round in Paris, needed three sets to defeat Italy's 48th-ranked Lucia Bronzetti on the showpiece Court Philippe Chatrier, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. The 26-year-old fired 31 winners, including six aces, and 45 unforced errors in a match where she gave up a 4-0 lead in the decider before finding herself 5-4 down. However, she rallied strongly to register her first win at a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open. "It feels really nice to be back and I'm just really grateful to be here in front of everybody," said Osaka. "I think there were moments when I played really well." The Japanese star, a former world number one now at 134 in the rankings, has endured a bittersweet relationship with the French capital. In 2021, she was fined for opting out of mandatory media commitments before withdrawing from the tournament in order to protect her mental health. A year later, she fell in the first round before leaving the sport in September 2022 for 16 months to start a family. Top seed Swiatek, chasing a fourth French Open, will face Osaka if the Pole gets past qualifier Leolia Jeanjean on Monday. Later Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, begins his campaign against J.J. Wolf of the United States, a lucky loser from qualifying. Andy Murray and his fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka will close proceedings in the night session. World number three Alcaraz made the semi-finals last year where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, revealing later that the prospect of facing the world number one had caused so much tension that his body cramped up during the match. Wolf, ranked at 107, has won just one match on the tour in 2024. His only other main draw appearance at the French Open ended in a first-round exit last year. Wawrinka, the 39-year-old 2015 champion, and 2016 runner-up Murray meet for the 23rd time, a rivalry which has included two semi-final clashes in Paris. Murray is playing his final season on tour but whether or not 14-time champion Nadal joins him in retirement later this year remains to be seen. Uncomfortable position Meanwhile, Nadal, who will be 38 on June 3, revealed Saturday that he hasn't committed himself to retiring and wanted to "100% keep the door open". He missed the tournament in 2023 with injury. His 2024 appearance may be brief after he was drawn to face fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev on Monday. "It's a big, big chance that this is 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. I cannot predict what's going on," Nadal said. The Spanish legend has racked up 112 wins in 115 matches at the tournament since his title-winning 2005 debut when he was just 19. He has 22 Grand Slam titles -- second only to Djokovic's 24 on the all-time men's list -- but his career has been plagued by injuries. Nadal has played just four tournaments since January last year after suffering a hip injury and then a muscle tear. As a result, his ranking has slumped to 275 in the world and he comes into the French Open unseeded. "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," he added. ALSO READ | IPL 2024 BIG FINAL, Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad – Match preview and result prediction "I have fewer limitations than three, four weeks ago, without a doubt." French Open organisers were ready to stage a tribute ceremony for Nadal before he revealed that he could play on. "We were ready to press the button on it," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. "But it's Rafa who manages his timing, we follow what he wants. We wouldn't want to put him in an uncomfortable position." In early action on Monday, two-time quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed, defeated Japan's Taro Daniel in four sets. French number one Ugo Humbert, the 17th seed, crashed out 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-5 to Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.

French Open: Naomi Osaka off to winning start with first round win; likely to face Iga Swiatek in next round

Rafael Nadal will face world number four Alexander Zverev in a blockbuster first round match at his farewell French Open while women's champion Iga Swiatek and fellow four-time major winner Naomi Osaka are on a second round collision course.

Defending men's champion and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic will face French veteran Pierre Hugues-Herbert in his opener.

Nadal, who has won Roland Garros on 14 occasions, is unseeded after injury saw his ranking plummet to 276.

He and Zverev met in the semi-finals in 2022 when the German was forced to retire after suffering a serious ankle injury.

Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, will turn 38 next week and this season will be his last on tour.

He holds a 7-3 winning head-to-head record against Germany's Zverev with five of those victories coming on clay.

Zverev, 27, arrives in Paris on the back of lifting the Rome Open title last weekend.

"I'm going to play the French Open thinking that I can give my all, 100 per cent," said Nadal after a second round exit in Rome last week.

As well as 14 titles in Paris, Nadal can boast a record of 112 wins and just three losses, two of which came against Djokovic who will be chasing a fourth French Open title.

"I imagine that looking at the draw, Nadal is not going to be delighted," said French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.&nbsp;

"Zverev is in very good shape, obviously it looks very complicated. But Nadal is a warrior, an extraordinary competitor. It's Rafa so anything is possible."

Djokovic turned 37 on Wednesday and marked the occasion by winning the 1,100th match of his career in Geneva.

The Serb has yet to win a title in 2024 with runs to the semi-finals at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters his best performances.

Following Thursday's draw, Djokovic is seeded to face Zverev in the semi-finals.

World number two Jannik Sinner, who took Djokovic's Australian Open title in January, faces&nbsp;Christopher Eubanks of the United States.

Third-seeded&nbsp;Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, a semi-finalist in Paris in 2023,&nbsp;plays a qualifier.

Sinner and Alcaraz are seeded to meet in the semi-finals but both men have been suffering from injuries which forced them to skip the Rome event.

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<h2>Murray v Wawrinka</h2>

Andy Murray, the 2016 runner-up, is also competing at the tournament for the final time.

The 37-year-old tackles 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, 39, in a battle of grizzled Grand Slam veterans.

The pair have met 22 times in a two-decade rivalry with Murray boasting a 13-9 edge.

Three of those clashes have come at Roland Garros with Murray winning in the semi-finals in 2016 while the Swiss came out on top in the last-four in 2017 and first round in 2020.

In the women's draw, top seed and world number one Swiatek will take on a qualifier with Osaka facing Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in their openers before a potential second round clash.

Swiatek is bidding to win a fifth major and fourth French Open title.

"It feels like home here," said Swiatek who arrives at the tournament with clay-court titles in Madrid and Rome under her belt.&nbsp;

Former world number one Osaka, now ranked 134, has never got past the third round in Paris. Bronzetti, the world number 48, has yet to win a main draw in two visits.

Osaka, 26, has endured a bittersweet relationship with the French Open.

In 2021, she was fined for opting out of mandatory media commitments before withdrawing from the competition after just one match insisting she was protecting her mental health.

Osaka missed the 2023 edition due to being pregnant before giving birth to a baby girl in July.

Swiatek, meanwhile, is bidding to become the first player to lift three successive women's titles in Paris since Justine Henin in 2007.

World number two Aryna Sabalenka starts against 101-ranked Erika Andreeva of Russia.

Third seed and US Open champion Coco Gauff faces a qualifier in the first round and is seeded to face Swiatek in the semi-finals.

Double Australian Open champion Sabalenka is seeded to take on former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina in the last four.

Rafael Nadal will face world number four Alexander Zverev in a blockbuster first round match at his farewell French Open while women's champion Iga Swiatek and fellow four-time major winner Naomi Osaka are on a second round collision course.

Rafael Nadal will face world number four Alexander Zverev in a blockbuster first round match at his farewell French Open while women's champion Iga Swiatek and fellow four-time major winner Naomi Osaka are on a second round collision course. Defending men's champion and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic will face French veteran Pierre Hugues-Herbert in his opener. Nadal, who has won Roland Garros on 14 occasions, is unseeded after injury saw his ranking plummet to 276. He and Zverev met in the semi-finals in 2022 when the German was forced to retire after suffering a serious ankle injury. Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, will turn 38 next week and this season will be his last on tour. He holds a 7-3 winning head-to-head record against Germany's Zverev with five of those victories coming on clay. Zverev, 27, arrives in Paris on the back of lifting the Rome Open title last weekend. "I'm going to play the French Open thinking that I can give my all, 100 per cent," said Nadal after a second round exit in Rome last week. As well as 14 titles in Paris, Nadal can boast a record of 112 wins and just three losses, two of which came against Djokovic who will be chasing a fourth French Open title. "I imagine that looking at the draw, Nadal is not going to be delighted," said French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. "Zverev is in very good shape, obviously it looks very complicated. But Nadal is a warrior, an extraordinary competitor. It's Rafa so anything is possible." Djokovic turned 37 on Wednesday and marked the occasion by winning the 1,100th match of his career in Geneva. The Serb has yet to win a title in 2024 with runs to the semi-finals at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters his best performances. Following Thursday's draw, Djokovic is seeded to face Zverev in the semi-finals. World number two Jannik Sinner, who took Djokovic's Australian Open title in January, faces Christopher Eubanks of the United States. Third-seeded Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, a semi-finalist in Paris in 2023, plays a qualifier. Sinner and Alcaraz are seeded to meet in the semi-finals but both men have been suffering from injuries which forced them to skip the Rome event. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup 2024: ECB appoints Manchester City's David Young as team psychologist Murray v Wawrinka Andy Murray, the 2016 runner-up, is also competing at the tournament for the final time. The 37-year-old tackles 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, 39, in a battle of grizzled Grand Slam veterans. The pair have met 22 times in a two-decade rivalry with Murray boasting a 13-9 edge. Three of those clashes have come at Roland Garros with Murray winning in the semi-finals in 2016 while the Swiss came out on top in the last-four in 2017 and first round in 2020. In the women's draw, top seed and world number one Swiatek will take on a qualifier with Osaka facing Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in their openers before a potential second round clash. Swiatek is bidding to win a fifth major and fourth French Open title. "It feels like home here," said Swiatek who arrives at the tournament with clay-court titles in Madrid and Rome under her belt. Former world number one Osaka, now ranked 134, has never got past the third round in Paris. Bronzetti, the world number 48, has yet to win a main draw in two visits. Osaka, 26, has endured a bittersweet relationship with the French Open. In 2021, she was fined for opting out of mandatory media commitments before withdrawing from the competition after just one match insisting she was protecting her mental health. Osaka missed the 2023 edition due to being pregnant before giving birth to a baby girl in July. Swiatek, meanwhile, is bidding to become the first player to lift three successive women's titles in Paris since Justine Henin in 2007. World number two Aryna Sabalenka starts against 101-ranked Erika Andreeva of Russia. Third seed and US Open champion Coco Gauff faces a qualifier in the first round and is seeded to face Swiatek in the semi-finals. Double Australian Open champion Sabalenka is seeded to take on former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina in the last four.

French Open 2024: Rafael Nadal faces Alexander Zverev; Iga Swiatek, Osaka eye clash

Iga Swiatek refused to take victory at the French Open for granted despite romping to a third Rome title when sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's final.

World number one Swiatek will be red-hot favourite to successfully defend her Roland Garros crown afer comfortably prevailing on the clay against second-ranked Sabalenka.

In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win on the clay surface at Madrid and Rome in the same season.

She can join Williams in a European capital city hat-trick if she wins her fourth French Open title, and third in a row, with the clay-court Grand Slam starting in Paris on May 26.

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"Obviously I am confident. I feel like I'm playing great tennis but that doesn't change the fact that I just want to stay humble," Swiatek told reporters. "Grand Slams are different. There's a different pressure on the court and off the court. Of course, I love to come to Paris and be there. It a great place for me to be and I really enjoy my time there.

"But these are a hard seven matches that you need to win so I don't take anything for granted."

Swiatek won her 12th successive match on clay by besting Belarusian Sabalenka as she did in the recent Madrid final.

The Pole took her winning record over Sabalenka to 8-3 in another hugely impressive display from what has been an almost flawless tournament from the four-time Grand Slam winner, who didn't drop a single set on her way to another championship victory.

Saturday's match was less dramatic than Madrid's three-set thriller as Sabalenka, who has won the two most recent Australian Opens, gave herself too much to do.

Swiatek took the opening set in just 36 minutes in a clinical display of tennis against Sabalenka, who has said repeatedly that Rome is her dream tournament to win.

Going into Saturday's final Swiatek had won 97 percent of her matches in which she went one set ahead since the start of 2022 and Sabalenka didn't help her cause by wasting seven break points over two games in the second set.

After Swiatek broke Sabalenka's serve in game seven it was only a matter of time before she closed out the match and championship.

"I would say the first set I didn't play well at all. I wasn't, I don't know, feeling my game well," Sabalenka told reporters. &nbsp;"In the second set I just tried to stay a little bit more aggressive... I just tried to put her a little bit under pressure.

"I had couple of opportunities to break her serve. Probably if I would take that opportunity, the match would go differently. I didn't use it, so it is how it is."

On Sunday Alexander Zverev bids to win his second Rome title when he faces Nicolas Jarry in the men's final.

Zverev is in his 11th Masters final, equalling Boris Becker's record for the most by a German since the series began in 1990.

Iga Swiatek refused to take victory at the French Open for granted despite romping to a third Rome title when sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's final.

Iga Swiatek refused to take victory at the French Open for granted despite romping to a third Rome title when sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's final. World number one Swiatek will be red-hot favourite to successfully defend her Roland Garros crown afer comfortably prevailing on the clay against second-ranked Sabalenka. In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win on the clay surface at Madrid and Rome in the same season. She can join Williams in a European capital city hat-trick if she wins her fourth French Open title, and third in a row, with the clay-court Grand Slam starting in Paris on May 26. ALSO READ: Boxing: Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to win undisputed world heavyweight championship "Obviously I am confident. I feel like I'm playing great tennis but that doesn't change the fact that I just want to stay humble," Swiatek told reporters. "Grand Slams are different. There's a different pressure on the court and off the court. Of course, I love to come to Paris and be there. It a great place for me to be and I really enjoy my time there. "But these are a hard seven matches that you need to win so I don't take anything for granted." Swiatek won her 12th successive match on clay by besting Belarusian Sabalenka as she did in the recent Madrid final. The Pole took her winning record over Sabalenka to 8-3 in another hugely impressive display from what has been an almost flawless tournament from the four-time Grand Slam winner, who didn't drop a single set on her way to another championship victory. Saturday's match was less dramatic than Madrid's three-set thriller as Sabalenka, who has won the two most recent Australian Opens, gave herself too much to do. Swiatek took the opening set in just 36 minutes in a clinical display of tennis against Sabalenka, who has said repeatedly that Rome is her dream tournament to win. Going into Saturday's final Swiatek had won 97 percent of her matches in which she went one set ahead since the start of 2022 and Sabalenka didn't help her cause by wasting seven break points over two games in the second set. After Swiatek broke Sabalenka's serve in game seven it was only a matter of time before she closed out the match and championship. "I would say the first set I didn't play well at all. I wasn't, I don't know, feeling my game well," Sabalenka told reporters. "In the second set I just tried to stay a little bit more aggressive... I just tried to put her a little bit under pressure. "I had couple of opportunities to break her serve. Probably if I would take that opportunity, the match would go differently. I didn't use it, so it is how it is." On Sunday Alexander Zverev bids to win his second Rome title when he faces Nicolas Jarry in the men's final. Zverev is in his 11th Masters final, equalling Boris Becker's record for the most by a German since the series began in 1990.

‘Unstoppable’ Iga Swiatek staying humble for 2024 French Open after Rome title win over Aryna Sabalenka

Iga Swiatek won the Rome Open on Saturday by beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the final to claim her third Foro Italico title.

World number one Swiatek comfortably prevailed on second-ranked Sabalenka in the last major tournament before she defends her French Open crown.

In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek won her 36th match of the year and became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win at Madrid and Rome in the same season.

Swiatek will be the red-hot favourite to win her fourth title, and third in a row, at Roland Garros which starts later this month after besting Belarusian Sabalenka as she did at the recent Madrid final.

The Pole took her winning record over Sabalenka to 8-3 in another hugely impressive display from what has been an almost flawless tournament from the four-time Grand Slam champion, who didn't drop a single set on her way to championship victory.

Saturday's match was less dramatic than Madrid's three-set thriller as Sabalenka, who has won the two most recent Australian Opens, gave herself too much to do.

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Swiatek took the opening set in just 36 minutes in a clinical display of tennis against Sabalenka, who has said repeatedly that Rome is her dream tournament to win.

Going into Saturday's final Swiatek had won 97 percent of her matches in which she went one set ahead since the start of 2022 and Sabalenka didn't help her cause by wasting seven break points over two games in the second set.

And after Swiatek broke Sabalenka's serve in game seven it was only a matter of time before she closed out the match and championship.

Iga Swiatek won the Rome Open on Saturday by beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the final to claim her third Foro Italico title. World number one Swiatek comfortably prevailed on second-ranked Sabalenka in the last major tournament before she defends her French Open crown.

Iga Swiatek won the Rome Open on Saturday by beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the final to claim her third Foro Italico title. World number one Swiatek comfortably prevailed on second-ranked Sabalenka in the last major tournament before she defends her French Open crown. In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek won her 36th match of the year and became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win at Madrid and Rome in the same season. Swiatek will be the red-hot favourite to win her fourth title, and third in a row, at Roland Garros which starts later this month after besting Belarusian Sabalenka as she did at the recent Madrid final. The Pole took her winning record over Sabalenka to 8-3 in another hugely impressive display from what has been an almost flawless tournament from the four-time Grand Slam champion, who didn't drop a single set on her way to championship victory. Saturday's match was less dramatic than Madrid's three-set thriller as Sabalenka, who has won the two most recent Australian Opens, gave herself too much to do. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher reveals 'what next for Rohit Sharma' Swiatek took the opening set in just 36 minutes in a clinical display of tennis against Sabalenka, who has said repeatedly that Rome is her dream tournament to win. Going into Saturday's final Swiatek had won 97 percent of her matches in which she went one set ahead since the start of 2022 and Sabalenka didn't help her cause by wasting seven break points over two games in the second set. And after Swiatek broke Sabalenka's serve in game seven it was only a matter of time before she closed out the match and championship.

Iga Swiatek demolishes Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to win third Rome title

Iga Swiatek won her 11th straight clay-court match on Thursday as the top seed moved closer to another record with a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff at the Rome Open, after Tommy Paul earlier survived a chaotic ending to emerge victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Hubert Hurkacz.

World number one Swiatek now stands one victory away from duplicating the Madrid-Rome clay trophy double achieved by Serena Williams 11 years ago.

The 22-year-old Pole defeated third-seed Gauff for the 10th time in their 11 encounters, with her only loss in the series coming last summer in a Cincinnati semi-final.

Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam winner due to defend her Roland Garros title starting a week from Sunday, will play the Saturday Rome final against either second-seed Aryna Sabalenka or American Danielle Collins.

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The top seed spent one and three-quarter hours in dispatching Gauff, the reigning US Open champion.

Swiatek ended with 26 winners and broke four times.

"I'm not thinking about statistics or history," she said after the victory. "I'm just playing day by day.

"It's easier that way, it lets you play more freely.

"I'll just try to play as good as possible in the final, no matter who it is.

"I won't be thinking of any records, there is still work to do."

<h2>- Breaks aplenty -</h2>

On the men's side, American Paul reached a clay court semi-final for the first time in his career with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 upset of Hurkacz.

The 14th seed is the first American to reach the final four at the Foro Italico since Reilly Opelka in 2021.

The momentum-shifting quarter-final came down to the wire, with a 15-minute final game capping off nearly two and three-quarter hours on court.

Paul finally came through on his fourth match point as Poland's Hurkacz sent a return long.

The match featured 13 breaks of serve, with Paul advancing with 29 winners and 41 unforced errors; and Hurkacz having 22 and 44 respectively.

"I started well but it got away from me in the second and start of the third," Paul said. "I had to stick around in the match. "I found the energy to get it going again. I was hitting my forehand bigger and with more intensity because Hubii can really crush the ball."

Paul will wait for an opponent from sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Chile's Nicolas Jarry.

Hurkacz, who knocked Rafa Nadal out in the Rome second round, was unable to get his massive serve up to speed as he faced Paul, winner over defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round.

Hurkacz won the clay title in Estoril last month and suffered only his third loss on clay this spring.

Iga Swiatek won her 11th straight clay-court match on Thursday as the top seed moved closer to another record with a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff at the Rome Open, after Tommy Paul earlier survived a chaotic ending to emerge victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Hubert Hurkacz.

Iga Swiatek won her 11th straight clay-court match on Thursday as the top seed moved closer to another record with a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff at the Rome Open, after Tommy Paul earlier survived a chaotic ending to emerge victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Hubert Hurkacz. World number one Swiatek now stands one victory away from duplicating the Madrid-Rome clay trophy double achieved by Serena Williams 11 years ago. The 22-year-old Pole defeated third-seed Gauff for the 10th time in their 11 encounters, with her only loss in the series coming last summer in a Cincinnati semi-final. Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam winner due to defend her Roland Garros title starting a week from Sunday, will play the Saturday Rome final against either second-seed Aryna Sabalenka or American Danielle Collins. ALSO READ: France Football keen on awarding Robert Lewandowski with Ballon d’Or – Reports The top seed spent one and three-quarter hours in dispatching Gauff, the reigning US Open champion. Swiatek ended with 26 winners and broke four times. "I'm not thinking about statistics or history," she said after the victory. "I'm just playing day by day. "It's easier that way, it lets you play more freely. "I'll just try to play as good as possible in the final, no matter who it is. "I won't be thinking of any records, there is still work to do." - Breaks aplenty - On the men's side, American Paul reached a clay court semi-final for the first time in his career with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 upset of Hurkacz. The 14th seed is the first American to reach the final four at the Foro Italico since Reilly Opelka in 2021. The momentum-shifting quarter-final came down to the wire, with a 15-minute final game capping off nearly two and three-quarter hours on court. Paul finally came through on his fourth match point as Poland's Hurkacz sent a return long. The match featured 13 breaks of serve, with Paul advancing with 29 winners and 41 unforced errors; and Hurkacz having 22 and 44 respectively. "I started well but it got away from me in the second and start of the third," Paul said. "I had to stick around in the match. "I found the energy to get it going again. I was hitting my forehand bigger and with more intensity because Hubii can really crush the ball." Paul will wait for an opponent from sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Chile's Nicolas Jarry. Hurkacz, who knocked Rafa Nadal out in the Rome second round, was unable to get his massive serve up to speed as he faced Paul, winner over defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round. Hurkacz won the clay title in Estoril last month and suffered only his third loss on clay this spring.

Tennis: World no. 1 Iga Swiatek downs Coco Gauff in Rome Open semis

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