Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey roared past American Ann Li 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday to capture the first WTA title of her career in Merida, Mexico, on Sunday. Sonmez, 22, became the first Turkish player to lift a WTA trophy since Cagla Buyukakcay won in Istanbul in 2016 to become the first champion from the country.

World Number 127 Sonmez needed just 70 minutes to overcome Li, a former top-50 player now ranked 111th. Sonmez gained her third break of the opening set for a 5-2 lead and pocketed the set after 42 minutes.

She broke Li three times in the second set, winning the last six games to polish off the dominant victory. "It was one of my biggest dreams. I've been working for this day for 15 years," said Sonmez, who also thanked "the people who saw me in Turkey at four in the morning."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-paris-masters-alexander-zverev-beats-ugo-humbert-in-straights-sets-to-win-title-772986">Paris Masters: Alexander Zverev beats Ugo Humbert in straights sets to win title</a>

Both players pulled double duty on Sunday after rain delays on Saturday.

Li completed a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Polina Kudermetova in their rain-delayed semi-final while Sonmez rallied from 4-2 down in the first set to beat 17-year-old Alina Korneeva 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in their semi-final.

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.

Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey roared past American Ann Li 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday to capture the first WTA title of her career in Merida, Mexico, on Sunday. Sonmez, 22, became the first Turkish player to lift a WTA trophy since Cagla Buyukakcay won in Istanbul in 2016 to become the first champion from the country.

Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey roared past American Ann Li 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday to capture the first WTA title of her career in Merida, Mexico, on Sunday. Sonmez, 22, became the first Turkish player to lift a WTA trophy since Cagla Buyukakcay won in Istanbul in 2016 to become the first champion from the country. World Number 127 Sonmez needed just 70 minutes to overcome Li, a former top-50 player now ranked 111th. Sonmez gained her third break of the opening set for a 5-2 lead and pocketed the set after 42 minutes. She broke Li three times in the second set, winning the last six games to polish off the dominant victory. "It was one of my biggest dreams. I've been working for this day for 15 years," said Sonmez, who also thanked "the people who saw me in Turkey at four in the morning." Also read: Paris Masters: Alexander Zverev beats Ugo Humbert in straights sets to win title Both players pulled double duty on Sunday after rain delays on Saturday. Li completed a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Polina Kudermetova in their rain-delayed semi-final while Sonmez rallied from 4-2 down in the first set to beat 17-year-old Alina Korneeva 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in their semi-final. 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.

Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez clinches maiden WTA title in Merida

Germany's Alexander Zverev won the Paris Masters on Sunday by defeating home hope Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display by the new world number two.

Zverev, 27, now boasts seven ATP 1000-level titles over the course of his career, following two wins in Rome and Madrid, as well as victories in Montreal and Cincinnati.

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It was a happy return to Paris for Zverev, after he lost the French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in June. Four years ago, he lost the 2020 Paris Masters championship match to Daniil Medvedev.

"I knew I had to play like this to win today," said Zverev, who opened his victory speech by apologising to the crowd at Paris' Bercy Arena.

"I want to congratulate Ugo on an incredible week, (he's an) incredible player. If you continue like this, you'll be able to lift trophies like this. This is not your last chance, Ugo."

Zverev's victory in Saturday's semi-final meant the current world number three will overtake Spain's Alcaraz in the new updated rankings.

The German will next play the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he will seek to emulate his past successes in 2018 and 2021 at the season-ending showpiece.&nbsp;

Zverev will head into the event as the player with the most wins this year as Sunday's victory in the French capital was his 66th in 2024, taking him one ahead of world number one Jannik Sinner.

For 26-year-old Humbert it was a chastening experience at the end of a week that will live long in his memory as he reached his career-first Masters final on home soil.

The world number 18 stunned four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz in the last 16 as he delighted the vocal home crowds on his way to becoming the first French finalist at the indoor event in 13 years.

"I want to congratulate Sascha (Zverev) for the quality of the tennis he has played all this week, and season," said Humbert.

"I came as a kid to watch matches here (at the Paris Masters) and it made me want to do what I do, so I'm very happy to have reached the final."

<h2>Punishing strokes</h2>

If Humbert had any nerves at the start of his first 1000-level title match, he did not show them as he held serve in the opening game with a sublime forehand passing shot at full stretch.

But the sheer power of the German soon wore him down as Zverev forced a break point in the third game, which he converted as Humbert netted.

A second consecutive break for Zverev handed him a 4-1 lead and with that the first set.

Zverev was firmly in control of the match, making just four unforced errors to his opponent's 17 in the opener.

And as if to compound this, Humbert started the second set with a double fault as Zverev immediately moved into a 1-0 lead.

Zverev continued to grind his opponent down with his big serve and punishing groundstrokes, despite the efforts of the partisan crowd to boost Humbert.

But the Frenchman could make no headway on the German's service games, winning only four points on return in the second set, and did not manage to hold one of his own until the fifth game.

Zverev then served out to claim his second Masters trophy of the season, after victory on the clay of Rome in May.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Germany's Alexander Zverev won the Paris Masters on Sunday by defeating home hope Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display by the new world number two. Zverev, 27, now boasts seven ATP 1000-level titles over the course of his career, following two wins in Rome and Madrid, as well as victories in Montreal and Cincinnati.

Germany's Alexander Zverev won the Paris Masters on Sunday by defeating home hope Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display by the new world number two. Zverev, 27, now boasts seven ATP 1000-level titles over the course of his career, following two wins in Rome and Madrid, as well as victories in Montreal and Cincinnati. Also Read: 'Not safe' - Brazilian GP qualifying postponed to Sunday due to heavy rain It was a happy return to Paris for Zverev, after he lost the French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in June. Four years ago, he lost the 2020 Paris Masters championship match to Daniil Medvedev. "I knew I had to play like this to win today," said Zverev, who opened his victory speech by apologising to the crowd at Paris' Bercy Arena. "I want to congratulate Ugo on an incredible week, (he's an) incredible player. If you continue like this, you'll be able to lift trophies like this. This is not your last chance, Ugo." Zverev's victory in Saturday's semi-final meant the current world number three will overtake Spain's Alcaraz in the new updated rankings. The German will next play the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he will seek to emulate his past successes in 2018 and 2021 at the season-ending showpiece. Zverev will head into the event as the player with the most wins this year as Sunday's victory in the French capital was his 66th in 2024, taking him one ahead of world number one Jannik Sinner. For 26-year-old Humbert it was a chastening experience at the end of a week that will live long in his memory as he reached his career-first Masters final on home soil. The world number 18 stunned four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz in the last 16 as he delighted the vocal home crowds on his way to becoming the first French finalist at the indoor event in 13 years. "I want to congratulate Sascha (Zverev) for the quality of the tennis he has played all this week, and season," said Humbert. "I came as a kid to watch matches here (at the Paris Masters) and it made me want to do what I do, so I'm very happy to have reached the final." Punishing strokes If Humbert had any nerves at the start of his first 1000-level title match, he did not show them as he held serve in the opening game with a sublime forehand passing shot at full stretch. But the sheer power of the German soon wore him down as Zverev forced a break point in the third game, which he converted as Humbert netted. A second consecutive break for Zverev handed him a 4-1 lead and with that the first set. Zverev was firmly in control of the match, making just four unforced errors to his opponent's 17 in the opener. And as if to compound this, Humbert started the second set with a double fault as Zverev immediately moved into a 1-0 lead. Zverev continued to grind his opponent down with his big serve and punishing groundstrokes, despite the efforts of the partisan crowd to boost Humbert. But the Frenchman could make no headway on the German's service games, winning only four points on return in the second set, and did not manage to hold one of his own until the fifth game. Zverev then served out to claim his second Masters trophy of the season, after victory on the clay of Rome in May. 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.

Paris Masters: Alexander Zverev beats Ugo Humbert in straights sets to win title

Aryna Sabalenka began her quest to secure the year-end number one ranking with a thumping 6-3 6-4 victory over China's Zheng Qinwen in her opening round robin match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Saturday.

Australian and U.S. Open champion Sabalenka, who is headlining the first women's professional tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, packed far too much power for Zheng at crucial points in their fourth meeting of 2024 to stay perfect.

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"She's such a great player. We always have great battles," Sabalenka said. "She plays aggressive tennis. She forced me to step in and go for it. That's why I bring my best tennis and I'm super happy with the first win."

In a rematch of their Melbourne and Wuhan title clashes, it was Belarusian Sabalenka who edged ahead in a tight opening set with a break in the sixth game and took the early lead in the contest by holding to love.

Olympic champion Zheng enjoyed plenty of vociferous support at the King Saud University Indoor Arena and led four times in a closer second set but Sabalenka drew level each time and finally broke for a 5-4 lead with a searing forehand winner.

She wrapped up the contest on serve despite a wobble with a double fault, when Zheng sent a forehand long.

The WTA Finals, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world and has a record prize pot of $15 million, will culminate with the title clashes on Nov. 9.

Winning three round robin matches or reaching the final are some of the ways Sabalenka can retain top spot this year, while closest challenger Iga Swiatek needs to successfully defend the trophy to have any chance of overtaking her.

"It would mean everything to me. It's one of my dreams," Sabalenka said about potentially winning the title after losing in the final when it was held in Fort Worth, Texas in 2022. "I've really worked hard in the last few years. I really hope I'll be able to hold this beautiful trophy one day."

Roland Garros and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini then beat 2022 All England Club champion Elena Rybakina 7-6(5) 6-4 in the second match from the Purple Group.

Swiatek takes on Barbora Krejcikova in the Orange Group on Sunday before Coco Gauff meets Jessica Pegula.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Aryna Sabalenka began her quest to secure the year-end number one ranking with a thumping 6-3 6-4 victory over China's Zheng Qinwen in her opening round robin match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Saturday.

Aryna Sabalenka began her quest to secure the year-end number one ranking with a thumping 6-3 6-4 victory over China's Zheng Qinwen in her opening round robin match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Saturday. Australian and U.S. Open champion Sabalenka, who is headlining the first women's professional tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, packed far too much power for Zheng at crucial points in their fourth meeting of 2024 to stay perfect. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi’s Inter goes down to Atlanta United in MLS Playoffs, Miami to host decider next week "She's such a great player. We always have great battles," Sabalenka said. "She plays aggressive tennis. She forced me to step in and go for it. That's why I bring my best tennis and I'm super happy with the first win." In a rematch of their Melbourne and Wuhan title clashes, it was Belarusian Sabalenka who edged ahead in a tight opening set with a break in the sixth game and took the early lead in the contest by holding to love. Olympic champion Zheng enjoyed plenty of vociferous support at the King Saud University Indoor Arena and led four times in a closer second set but Sabalenka drew level each time and finally broke for a 5-4 lead with a searing forehand winner. She wrapped up the contest on serve despite a wobble with a double fault, when Zheng sent a forehand long. The WTA Finals, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world and has a record prize pot of $15 million, will culminate with the title clashes on Nov. 9. Winning three round robin matches or reaching the final are some of the ways Sabalenka can retain top spot this year, while closest challenger Iga Swiatek needs to successfully defend the trophy to have any chance of overtaking her. "It would mean everything to me. It's one of my dreams," Sabalenka said about potentially winning the title after losing in the final when it was held in Fort Worth, Texas in 2022. "I've really worked hard in the last few years. I really hope I'll be able to hold this beautiful trophy one day." Roland Garros and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini then beat 2022 All England Club champion Elena Rybakina 7-6(5) 6-4 in the second match from the Purple Group. Swiatek takes on Barbora Krejcikova in the Orange Group on Sunday before Coco Gauff meets Jessica Pegula. 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: Aryna Sabalenka crush China’s Zheng Qinwen in opening round of WTA Finals

Alexander Zverev beat fierce rival Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters on Friday, while Holger Rune edged Alex de Minaur to keep alive his hopes of reaching the ATP Tour Finals.

Zverev's 7-5, 6-4 win over Tsitsipas kept him in the running to claim his first title in Paris after losing to Daniil Medvedev in the 2020 championship match.

World number three Zverev -- the highest-ranked player left in the draw -- will face 2022 champion Rune in Saturday's semi-final after the Dane overcame De Minaur 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

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The 16th meeting between the 27-year-old German and 26-year-old Greek was evenly matched during a hard-fought first set.

"At the beginning, he was outplaying me but then I found my rhythm from the baseline," said Zverev on court. "And when I had my chance, I used it in the first set."

Indeed, once Zverev broke late in the opener and early in the second, it became a comfortable ride to just his sixth win against his long-time Greek rival.

The loss ends the chances of the world number 11 Tsitsipas of reaching the end-of-year ATP Finals -- having won the showpiece event in 2019.

Tsitsipas and Zverev started cautiously with both offering up opportunities for early breaks in their first service games.

But they soon found their range as the first set looked destined to require a tie-break to separate the pair on the quick surface at Paris' Bercy Arena.

However, the first break points of the match eventually came with Tsitsipas serving at 5-5, the German claiming the second on a double fault.

The Greek saved two set points and secured a break-back point of his own but Zverev dug in to hold.

Tsitsipas' shoulders visibly sagged as he offered up break point after break point at 1-1 in the second set.

When he dragged a shot long to end a game which had lasted over 15 minutes, his opponent had firmly taken the ascendancy.

Zverev, who reached the French Open final in Paris this year, served out to win and move towards a second ATP 1000-level trophy of the season.

<h2>'One of the best'</h2>

Former world number four Rune, the 13th seed, needed just one break of serve as he took the opener against De Minaur.

In the second set, the 25-year-old Australian started to open up on his groundstrokes, producing several stunning winners off both wings.

Rune finally relented when serving at 4-5, offering up three set points to De Minaur who duly converted the second with aplomb.

The Australian's first serve gradually deserted him in the decider and Rune capitalised by breaking in the fifth game, but De Minaur struck immediately back to level.

A huge net cord that clipped the line on the right side of the court for Rune gave him a 15-0 lead and he took full advantage, breaking to lead 6-5 before consolidating to win the match.

"Sascha (Zverev) and I had a great match in Paris, where he took it in five. I beat him one time, he took me last time," Rune said of facing Zverev who came out on top when the pair met in a five-set clash in the last 16 of the French Open this year.

"He is one of the best players this year, so I will have to be very well prepared."

With the result, both Rune and De Minaur still have a chance of reaching the Tour Finals in Turin, which run November 10-17.

Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who downed world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16, delighted the vocal home crowd by beating unseeded Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).

The world number 18 will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the other semi-final as he attempts to reach a first Masters final of his career and emulate Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in becoming the first French winner in Paris since 2008.

Khachanov, the 2018 Paris Masters champion, defeated last year's runner-up Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3, ending the 33-year-old Bulgarian's hopes of reaching Turin in the process.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Alexander Zverev beat fierce rival Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters on Friday, while Holger Rune edged Alex de Minaur to keep alive his hopes of reaching the ATP Tour Finals.

Alexander Zverev beat fierce rival Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters on Friday, while Holger Rune edged Alex de Minaur to keep alive his hopes of reaching the ATP Tour Finals. Zverev's 7-5, 6-4 win over Tsitsipas kept him in the running to claim his first title in Paris after losing to Daniil Medvedev in the 2020 championship match. World number three Zverev -- the highest-ranked player left in the draw -- will face 2022 champion Rune in Saturday's semi-final after the Dane overcame De Minaur 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. ALSO READ: World Cup Qualifiers: Vinicius Jr and Raphinha headline Brazil squad as Neymar left out The 16th meeting between the 27-year-old German and 26-year-old Greek was evenly matched during a hard-fought first set. "At the beginning, he was outplaying me but then I found my rhythm from the baseline," said Zverev on court. "And when I had my chance, I used it in the first set." Indeed, once Zverev broke late in the opener and early in the second, it became a comfortable ride to just his sixth win against his long-time Greek rival. The loss ends the chances of the world number 11 Tsitsipas of reaching the end-of-year ATP Finals -- having won the showpiece event in 2019. Tsitsipas and Zverev started cautiously with both offering up opportunities for early breaks in their first service games. But they soon found their range as the first set looked destined to require a tie-break to separate the pair on the quick surface at Paris' Bercy Arena. However, the first break points of the match eventually came with Tsitsipas serving at 5-5, the German claiming the second on a double fault. The Greek saved two set points and secured a break-back point of his own but Zverev dug in to hold. Tsitsipas' shoulders visibly sagged as he offered up break point after break point at 1-1 in the second set. When he dragged a shot long to end a game which had lasted over 15 minutes, his opponent had firmly taken the ascendancy. Zverev, who reached the French Open final in Paris this year, served out to win and move towards a second ATP 1000-level trophy of the season. 'One of the best' Former world number four Rune, the 13th seed, needed just one break of serve as he took the opener against De Minaur. In the second set, the 25-year-old Australian started to open up on his groundstrokes, producing several stunning winners off both wings. Rune finally relented when serving at 4-5, offering up three set points to De Minaur who duly converted the second with aplomb. The Australian's first serve gradually deserted him in the decider and Rune capitalised by breaking in the fifth game, but De Minaur struck immediately back to level. A huge net cord that clipped the line on the right side of the court for Rune gave him a 15-0 lead and he took full advantage, breaking to lead 6-5 before consolidating to win the match. "Sascha (Zverev) and I had a great match in Paris, where he took it in five. I beat him one time, he took me last time," Rune said of facing Zverev who came out on top when the pair met in a five-set clash in the last 16 of the French Open this year. "He is one of the best players this year, so I will have to be very well prepared." With the result, both Rune and De Minaur still have a chance of reaching the Tour Finals in Turin, which run November 10-17. Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who downed world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16, delighted the vocal home crowd by beating unseeded Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2, 7-6 (7/4). The world number 18 will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the other semi-final as he attempts to reach a first Masters final of his career and emulate Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in becoming the first French winner in Paris since 2008. Khachanov, the 2018 Paris Masters champion, defeated last year's runner-up Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3, ending the 33-year-old Bulgarian's hopes of reaching Turin in the process. 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.

Alexander Zverev beats Stefanos Tsitsipas in Paris Masters QFs; Holger Rune alive in ATP Finals race

World number two Carlos Alcaraz admitted he "was not up to the level" of 18th-ranked Ugo Humbert of France who swept to a shock Paris Masters third round victory over the Spanish superstar on Thursday. Left-handed Humbert came through 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to register his first win over the French Open and Wimbledon champion having lost twice to Alcaraz earlier in 2024.

It was a testing evening for Alcaraz who was 0-5 down in the first set before he managed to get on the board. "It was a very intense match. I started with some doubts about my game. Against a player who attacks whenever he can, who hits very aggressively at the slightest opportunity, it wasn't easy to get into the match," admitted Alcaraz.

"I was not up to the level he displayed. Ugo's performance was really high. The way he hits the ball is incredible."

Humbert, who has two titles from Marseille and Dubai in 2024, said he was "super proud of myself". "It was a crazy match, a crazy atmosphere."

The 21-year-old Alcaraz has endured a rollercoaster second half of the season since his heartbreaking Paris Olympics final loss to Novak Djokovic.

He was knocked out in the second round of the US Open by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, defeated top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Beijing final before a quarter-final exit at the hands of Tomas Machac, the world number 33, at the Shanghai Masters.

Humbert goes on to face Australia's Jordan Thompson for a place in the Paris Masters semi-finals. The French number one just edged Alcaraz in winners on Thursday with 28 to 23 while both men committed 38 unforced errors.

Thompson, ranked at 28, made the quarter-finals of a Masters for the first time by beating Adrian Mannarino of France 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).

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Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur's bid to become the first Australian to make the ATP Tour Finals since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago, was boosted when the ninth seed defeated in-form Jack Draper of Britain 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

The win moved De Minaur into the eighth and final qualifying spot for the Turin end-of-season showpiece.

"I'm going to put my body on the line, try my hardest, show my opponent that I can do that all day. I needed to bring that intensity because Jack is a hell of a competitor, playing with so much confidence right now," said De Minaur.

He next faces 13th seeded Holger Rune of Denmark who ended the run of French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said he felt like a "bull" as he kept alive his slim hopes of qualifying for the ATP Tour Finals, battling back from a set down to beat Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2.

"Starting the second set, I felt like a bull," said 26-year-old Tsitsipas who likely needs a run to the Paris final to stay in contention for Turin.&nbsp;

The 11th-ranked Greek will next face world number three Alexander Zverev, who defeated France's Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, for a place in the semi-finals.

Zverev fired 16 aces and saved three break points when serving for the clash at 5-3 in the decider.&nbsp;

The German star will be playing in his 31st Masters quarter-final when he tackles Tsitsipas who has won 10 of the pair's 15 meetings.

Russia's Karen Khachanov, the 2018 champion in Paris, moved past Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and next faces either Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov or Arthur Rinderknech of France.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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 two Carlos Alcaraz admitted he "was not up to the level" of 18th-ranked Ugo Humbert of France who swept to a shock Paris Masters third round victory over the Spanish superstar on Thursday.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz admitted he "was not up to the level" of 18th-ranked Ugo Humbert of France who swept to a shock Paris Masters third round victory over the Spanish superstar on Thursday. Left-handed Humbert came through 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to register his first win over the French Open and Wimbledon champion having lost twice to Alcaraz earlier in 2024. It was a testing evening for Alcaraz who was 0-5 down in the first set before he managed to get on the board. "It was a very intense match. I started with some doubts about my game. Against a player who attacks whenever he can, who hits very aggressively at the slightest opportunity, it wasn't easy to get into the match," admitted Alcaraz. "I was not up to the level he displayed. Ugo's performance was really high. The way he hits the ball is incredible." Humbert, who has two titles from Marseille and Dubai in 2024, said he was "super proud of myself". "It was a crazy match, a crazy atmosphere." The 21-year-old Alcaraz has endured a rollercoaster second half of the season since his heartbreaking Paris Olympics final loss to Novak Djokovic. He was knocked out in the second round of the US Open by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, defeated top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Beijing final before a quarter-final exit at the hands of Tomas Machac, the world number 33, at the Shanghai Masters. Humbert goes on to face Australia's Jordan Thompson for a place in the Paris Masters semi-finals. The French number one just edged Alcaraz in winners on Thursday with 28 to 23 while both men committed 38 unforced errors. Thompson, ranked at 28, made the quarter-finals of a Masters for the first time by beating Adrian Mannarino of France 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). Also read: Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Max Verstappen under scrutiny in defence of reputation and title Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur's bid to become the first Australian to make the ATP Tour Finals since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago, was boosted when the ninth seed defeated in-form Jack Draper of Britain 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. The win moved De Minaur into the eighth and final qualifying spot for the Turin end-of-season showpiece. "I'm going to put my body on the line, try my hardest, show my opponent that I can do that all day. I needed to bring that intensity because Jack is a hell of a competitor, playing with so much confidence right now," said De Minaur. He next faces 13th seeded Holger Rune of Denmark who ended the run of French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Stefanos Tsitsipas said he felt like a "bull" as he kept alive his slim hopes of qualifying for the ATP Tour Finals, battling back from a set down to beat Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2. "Starting the second set, I felt like a bull," said 26-year-old Tsitsipas who likely needs a run to the Paris final to stay in contention for Turin. The 11th-ranked Greek will next face world number three Alexander Zverev, who defeated France's Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, for a place in the semi-finals. Zverev fired 16 aces and saved three break points when serving for the clash at 5-3 in the decider. The German star will be playing in his 31st Masters quarter-final when he tackles Tsitsipas who has won 10 of the pair's 15 meetings. Russia's Karen Khachanov, the 2018 champion in Paris, moved past Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and next faces either Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov or Arthur Rinderknech of France. 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 two Carlos Alcaraz suffers Paris Masters shock as race for Turin heats up

Daniil Medvedev is still searching for his first ATP tournament victory this year after the world number five lost to Australia's Alexei Popyrin for the first time in his career at the Paris Masters on Wednesday (Oct 30).

Medvedev won the Paris title in 2020 but has not found the indoor tournament to his liking in recent years&nbsp;–&nbsp;the defeat to Popyrin is the third successive time he has gone out in his opening round.

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Popyrin, who has been in a rich vein of form this year winning his first Masters tournament in Montreal in August and beating Novak Djokovic in the US Open, edged Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a gripping second round match.

For Popyrin, ranked 24 in the world, it was only his third win over a player in the top five.

"It is the first time I have beaten him (in four meetings)," said Popyrin, who will play the winner of the match between France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Karen Khachanov of Russia.

"We have had some right old battles in the past and it is a real pleasure to have performed like this this time round."

Medvedev, who has already qualified for the season-ending Masters, fought back twice in the deciding set.

He came back from 4-1 down to force a tie-break and then trailing 4-1 in that he levelled at 4-4.

However, with Popyrin leading 5-4, Medvedev double-faulted giving the 25-year-old Australian two match points and he wasted no time in sealing the victory on the first one.

<h2>'Still a contender'</h2>

Medvedev is not the first high-profile seed to fall at the first hurdle as his compatriot Andrey Rublev and Norway's Casper Ruud have already lost.

"It was a tough match," said Medvedev.

"I should have played better but at the same time, I had my opportunities, and I did not take them.

"It was a very tight match."

Carlos Alcaraz remains in the mix having won his first match on Tuesday and is favoured to take the title after Italian world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to an intestinal virus.

Alcaraz will play France's Ugo Humbert in the third round, the French number one breezed past America's Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday.

A potential dark horse for the title is Bulgarian eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov who beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 7-5.

Dimitrov still has a chance of qualifying for the Masters, if he won the Paris title he would move past Djokovic (sixth), Ruud (seventh) and Rublev (eighth).

Just the top eight qualify for the climax to the ATP season in Turin.

"I would give a lot to be in (Turin)," said Dimitrov, who reached the Paris final last year.

"I'm in a place where I am still a contender, I'm still fighting against the best players in the world, and still beating the younger guys.

"This gives me confidence and makes me happy."

Germany's world number three Alexander Zverev is already booked into Turin and begins his Paris campaign later on Wednesday against the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor.

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Daniil Medvedev is still searching for his first ATP tournament victory this year after the world number five lost to Australia's Alexei Popyrin for the first time in his career at the Paris Masters on Wednesday (Oct 30).

Daniil Medvedev is still searching for his first ATP tournament victory this year after the world number five lost to Australia's Alexei Popyrin for the first time in his career at the Paris Masters on Wednesday (Oct 30). Medvedev won the Paris title in 2020 but has not found the indoor tournament to his liking in recent years – the defeat to Popyrin is the third successive time he has gone out in his opening round. Also Read: 'Masquerade is unworthy,' Spanish media slams Real Madrid for boycotting Ballon d'Or Popyrin, who has been in a rich vein of form this year winning his first Masters tournament in Montreal in August and beating Novak Djokovic in the US Open, edged Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a gripping second round match. For Popyrin, ranked 24 in the world, it was only his third win over a player in the top five. "It is the first time I have beaten him (in four meetings)," said Popyrin, who will play the winner of the match between France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Karen Khachanov of Russia. "We have had some right old battles in the past and it is a real pleasure to have performed like this this time round." Medvedev, who has already qualified for the season-ending Masters, fought back twice in the deciding set. He came back from 4-1 down to force a tie-break and then trailing 4-1 in that he levelled at 4-4. However, with Popyrin leading 5-4, Medvedev double-faulted giving the 25-year-old Australian two match points and he wasted no time in sealing the victory on the first one. 'Still a contender' Medvedev is not the first high-profile seed to fall at the first hurdle as his compatriot Andrey Rublev and Norway's Casper Ruud have already lost. "It was a tough match," said Medvedev. "I should have played better but at the same time, I had my opportunities, and I did not take them. "It was a very tight match." Carlos Alcaraz remains in the mix having won his first match on Tuesday and is favoured to take the title after Italian world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to an intestinal virus. Alcaraz will play France's Ugo Humbert in the third round, the French number one breezed past America's Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday. A potential dark horse for the title is Bulgarian eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov who beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 7-5. Dimitrov still has a chance of qualifying for the Masters, if he won the Paris title he would move past Djokovic (sixth), Ruud (seventh) and Rublev (eighth). Just the top eight qualify for the climax to the ATP season in Turin. "I would give a lot to be in (Turin)," said Dimitrov, who reached the Paris final last year. "I'm in a place where I am still a contender, I'm still fighting against the best players in the world, and still beating the younger guys. "This gives me confidence and makes me happy." Germany's world number three Alexander Zverev is already booked into Turin and begins his Paris campaign later on Wednesday against the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor. 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.

Paris Masters: Daniil Medvedev's quest for year's first ATP title continues after loss to Alexei Popyrin

Former world number one Maria Sharapova and the US doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan were announced on Thursday as 2025 inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is among only 10 women to have achieved a career singles Grand Slam. She was atop the world rankings five times in a WTA career that spanned from 2001-2020.

The Bryan brothers teamed to win 16 major doubles titles and became the ATP's most successful duo, with a record 438 weeks atop the ATP doubles rankings.

Induction ceremonies will be conducted at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 21-23 –&nbsp;just ahead of the start of next year's US Open.

Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008 and the French Open in 2012 and 2014.

"In retirement, you very seldomly get to reflect on your past, because you move on so quickly with life's responsibilities," Sharapova said.

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"This is an incredible recognition. Thank you so much. I'm so grateful to the Hall of Fame and grateful to the voters."

Hall of Fame members, historians, journalists and fans voted in the selection process.

The Bryans, 2012 London Olympic men's doubles champions, combined for 119 tour-level titles and 1,109 match wins and helped the US team win the 2007 Davis Cup.

"It has been a great ride, the career, doing it together," Bob Bryan said.

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Former world number one Maria Sharapova and the US doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan were announced on Thursday as 2025 inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova and the US doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan were announced on Thursday as 2025 inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is among only 10 women to have achieved a career singles Grand Slam. She was atop the world rankings five times in a WTA career that spanned from 2001-2020. The Bryan brothers teamed to win 16 major doubles titles and became the ATP's most successful duo, with a record 438 weeks atop the ATP doubles rankings. Induction ceremonies will be conducted at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 21-23 – just ahead of the start of next year's US Open. Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008 and the French Open in 2012 and 2014. "In retirement, you very seldomly get to reflect on your past, because you move on so quickly with life's responsibilities," Sharapova said. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: Washington Sundar picks seven wickets on return to Indian team, repays selectors' faith "This is an incredible recognition. Thank you so much. I'm so grateful to the Hall of Fame and grateful to the voters." Hall of Fame members, historians, journalists and fans voted in the selection process. The Bryans, 2012 London Olympic men's doubles champions, combined for 119 tour-level titles and 1,109 match wins and helped the US team win the 2007 Davis Cup. "It has been a great ride, the career, doing it together," Bob Bryan said. 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.

Maria Sharapova, Bryan brothers elected to Tennis Hall of Fame

Top seeds, the United States, spearheaded by Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, were drawn on Monday with Canada for the mixed-team United Cup in Australia.

They begin their 2025 season in Perth, with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez headlining the Canadians at the third edition of the tournament from December 27 to January 5.

Defending champions Germany, led by world number three Alexander Zverev, were pitted alongside Brazil and China, who have Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Stefanos Tsitsipas's Greece will also play in Perth, grouped with Kazakhstan and a Spanish team missing world number two Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz is yet to reveal where he will warm up for the Australian Open, the opening Grand Slam of the year.

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Five-time major champion Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz once more represent Poland as they look to avenge their narrow loss to Germany in the 2024 final.

They face the Czech Republic and Casper Ruud's Norway in Sydney.

Like Alcaraz, world number one Jannik Sinner has opted against playing the United Cup for his country Italy, who will meet France and Switzerland in the group stage.

Britain take on Alex de Minaur's Australia in the other Sydney group.

"Everyone who plays this event absolutely loves the experience," tournament director Stephen Farrow said. "It's the perfect way to acclimatise to the Australian conditions."

Seven of the world's top 10 women and six of the world's top 12 men have signed up.

Each team -- with three men and three women -- go through a round-robin format, with ties comprising one men's and one women's singles and a mixed-doubles clash.

Group winners in each city advance to the quarter-finals, along with the best runner-up.

The semi-finals and final are in Sydney with US$10 million in prize money and ATP and WTA ranking points at stake.

<h2>Draw for the United Cup:</h2>

Perth -

<ul>
	<li>Group A - USA, Canada, TBC</li>
	<li>Group C - Greece, Kazakhstan, Spain</li>
	<li>Group F - China, Germany, Brazil</li>
</ul>

Sydney -

<ul>
	<li>Group B - Poland, Czech Republic, Norway</li>
	<li>Group D - Italy, France, Switzerland</li>
	<li>Group F - Britain, Australia, TBC</li>
</ul>

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Top seeds, the United States, spearheaded by Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, were drawn on Monday with Canada for the mixed-team United Cup in Australia. They begin their 2025 season in Perth, with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez headlining the Canadians at the third edition of the tournament from December 27 to January 5.

Top seeds, the United States, spearheaded by Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, were drawn on Monday with Canada for the mixed-team United Cup in Australia. They begin their 2025 season in Perth, with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez headlining the Canadians at the third edition of the tournament from December 27 to January 5. Defending champions Germany, led by world number three Alexander Zverev, were pitted alongside Brazil and China, who have Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Stefanos Tsitsipas's Greece will also play in Perth, grouped with Kazakhstan and a Spanish team missing world number two Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz is yet to reveal where he will warm up for the Australian Open, the opening Grand Slam of the year. ALSO READ: JT Poston holds off Doug Ghim for PGA Tour title in Las Vegas Five-time major champion Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz once more represent Poland as they look to avenge their narrow loss to Germany in the 2024 final. They face the Czech Republic and Casper Ruud's Norway in Sydney. Like Alcaraz, world number one Jannik Sinner has opted against playing the United Cup for his country Italy, who will meet France and Switzerland in the group stage. Britain take on Alex de Minaur's Australia in the other Sydney group. "Everyone who plays this event absolutely loves the experience," tournament director Stephen Farrow said. "It's the perfect way to acclimatise to the Australian conditions." Seven of the world's top 10 women and six of the world's top 12 men have signed up. Each team -- with three men and three women -- go through a round-robin format, with ties comprising one men's and one women's singles and a mixed-doubles clash. Group winners in each city advance to the quarter-finals, along with the best runner-up. The semi-finals and final are in Sydney with US$10 million in prize money and ATP and WTA ranking points at stake. Draw for the United Cup: Perth - Group A - USA, Canada, TBC Group C - Greece, Kazakhstan, Spain Group F - China, Germany, Brazil Sydney - Group B - Poland, Czech Republic, Norway Group D - Italy, France, Switzerland Group F - Britain, Australia, TBC 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-led USA drawn with Canada at season-opening United Cup

Novak Djokovic implored long-time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their "amazing rivalry".

"Don't leave tennis, man," Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the "Six Kings Slam" exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The last dance was an epic one. And of course emotional. I’ll cherish our rivalry forever, <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rafaelnadal</a> 👑. Tennis will miss you. 
 
As-salamu alaykum, Riyadh. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SixKingsSlam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SixKingsSlam</a> is a special tournament. See you soon 🙏🏼 <a href="https://t.co/CnBswzZnLy">pic.twitter.com/CnBswzZnLy</a>
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1847730994641559796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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He added that their battles over the years had been "very intense" and told Nadal he hoped they could one day "sit on a beach somewhere" and have a drink.

Nadal, 38, announced on October 10 that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.

Organisers of the Saudi event billed Saturday's match as perhaps Nadal's last singles contest as a professional.

Nadal said Thursday he was unsure whether he would be fit enough to play singles in Malaga.

Djokovic and Nadal –- two of the sport's famed "Big Three" along with Roger Federer –- had faced each other 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday's exhibition match, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 edge.

Their last encounter came during the Paris Olympics on the same Roland Garros courts where Nadal won 14 French Open titles, though Djokovic triumphed easily 6-1, 6-4.

Djokovic has racked up 24 Grand Slam titles in his career, two more than Nadal.

Saturday's match was mostly one-sided, with Nadal spraying errors and Djokovic wrapping up the first set in just 31 minutes.

Feeding off the support of the partisan crowd who openly cheered Djokovic's double-faults, Nadal rallied to push the second set to a tie-break, reeling off winners and even treating fans to one last iconic fist pump before succumbing to Djokovic.

"It's great to see him still fighting even though he's had injuries and struggles," Djokovic, 37, told a post-match press conference.

It was "a very emotional day, special day" because it was the "last time I play my biggest rival, Nadal," he added. "I've witnessed Andy Murray retiring this year, Roger (Federer) a few years ago as well. And now Rafa, you know. It's tough in some way to see them go, because all of my career, basically, I've played with them."

After being presented with a golden tennis racket, Nadal in turn thanked Djokovic for the "amazing rivalry" and "for all the moments that we shared on court".

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Novak Djokovic implored long-time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their "amazing rivalry".

Novak Djokovic implored long-time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their "amazing rivalry". "Don't leave tennis, man," Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the "Six Kings Slam" exhibition in Saudi Arabia. The last dance was an epic one. And of course emotional. I’ll cherish our rivalry forever, @rafaelnadal 👑. Tennis will miss you. As-salamu alaykum, Riyadh. #SixKingsSlam is a special tournament. See you soon 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/CnBswzZnLy — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) October 19, 2024 × ALSO READ: Lionel Messi hits another hat-trick as Inter Miami break MLS points record – WATCH He added that their battles over the years had been "very intense" and told Nadal he hoped they could one day "sit on a beach somewhere" and have a drink. Nadal, 38, announced on October 10 that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month. Organisers of the Saudi event billed Saturday's match as perhaps Nadal's last singles contest as a professional. Nadal said Thursday he was unsure whether he would be fit enough to play singles in Malaga. Djokovic and Nadal –- two of the sport's famed "Big Three" along with Roger Federer –- had faced each other 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday's exhibition match, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 edge. Their last encounter came during the Paris Olympics on the same Roland Garros courts where Nadal won 14 French Open titles, though Djokovic triumphed easily 6-1, 6-4. Djokovic has racked up 24 Grand Slam titles in his career, two more than Nadal. Saturday's match was mostly one-sided, with Nadal spraying errors and Djokovic wrapping up the first set in just 31 minutes. Feeding off the support of the partisan crowd who openly cheered Djokovic's double-faults, Nadal rallied to push the second set to a tie-break, reeling off winners and even treating fans to one last iconic fist pump before succumbing to Djokovic. "It's great to see him still fighting even though he's had injuries and struggles," Djokovic, 37, told a post-match press conference. It was "a very emotional day, special day" because it was the "last time I play my biggest rival, Nadal," he added. "I've witnessed Andy Murray retiring this year, Roger (Federer) a few years ago as well. And now Rafa, you know. It's tough in some way to see them go, because all of my career, basically, I've played with them." After being presented with a golden tennis racket, Nadal in turn thanked Djokovic for the "amazing rivalry" and "for all the moments that we shared on court". 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.

‘Don’t leave tennis, man’ – Novak Djokovic bids goodbye to Rafael Nadal after ‘amazing rivalry’

Former India No.1 Tennis player Gaurav Natekar has founded the World Pickleball League- India's first franchise-based league in the sport. Arjuna Awardee Natekar breaks down the rise of the sport in India and across the globe in a conversation with WION Sports Correspondent Vidur Kathuria.

Former Indian Tennis Star Gaurav Natekar On The Pickleball Revolution in India

Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness level was well off the tour's top players after falling Thursday in straight sets to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who described the exhibition match as "a little bit sad". The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the "Six Kings Slam" event in Saudi Arabia.

Afterwards he described Alcaraz, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon this year, as an "animal" and acknowledged he was not competing at the highest level. "I have not much pressure here. I'm just trying to have fun," he told a post-match press conference. "I know I'm going to play against players that... are in much better shape than me because they are on the professional tour and winning tournaments."

Alcaraz said he knew the Saudi crowd was against him but wanted to let Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slams including 14 French Open titles, bask in the support. "It's a little bit sad... It was not a really comfortable moment for me. Obviously I really wanted to win," said Alcaraz.&nbsp; "Once you step on the court it's no friends, no idols" but "I think this is his moment right now," he added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-carlos-alcaraz-admits-to-difficult-showdown-vs-idol-rafael-nadal-as-spaniards-clash-for-final-time-768221">Carlos Alcaraz admits to 'difficult' showdown vs 'idol' Rafael Nadal as Spaniards clash for final time</a>

Prior to Thursday's match Nadal had made his last singles appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris where his campaign was cut short by old rival Novak Djokovic in the second round. He had also teamed-up with Alcaraz in men's doubles at the Games and may reprise that role at the Davis Cup Finals.

Nadal will play Djokovic again on Saturday after the Serbian great lost a much tighter match to Australian Open and US Open champion Jannik Sinner, who prevailed 6-2, 6-7 (0/7), 6-4 and will take on Alcaraz in the final.

"Having Novak in front, it's like a nostalgic thing," Nadal said, looking ahead to their battle for third place in the Saudi exhibition. "We faced each other plenty of times, so it's going to be good fun to play each other again one more time in this match."

As for the Davis Cup Finals next month, Nadal said he was unclear what his form would be. "Emotionally I'm sure I will be ready. In terms of physically, in terms of tennis level, I mean (there) remains a month" to prepare, he said, adding that he would not hesitate to speak up if he thought he could not compete well in singles.&nbsp;

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness level was well off the tour's top players after falling Thursday in straight sets to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who described the exhibition match as "a little bit sad".

Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness level was well off the tour's top players after falling Thursday in straight sets to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who described the exhibition match as "a little bit sad". The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the "Six Kings Slam" event in Saudi Arabia. Afterwards he described Alcaraz, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon this year, as an "animal" and acknowledged he was not competing at the highest level. "I have not much pressure here. I'm just trying to have fun," he told a post-match press conference. "I know I'm going to play against players that... are in much better shape than me because they are on the professional tour and winning tournaments." Alcaraz said he knew the Saudi crowd was against him but wanted to let Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slams including 14 French Open titles, bask in the support. "It's a little bit sad... It was not a really comfortable moment for me. Obviously I really wanted to win," said Alcaraz. "Once you step on the court it's no friends, no idols" but "I think this is his moment right now," he added. Also read: Carlos Alcaraz admits to 'difficult' showdown vs 'idol' Rafael Nadal as Spaniards clash for final time Prior to Thursday's match Nadal had made his last singles appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris where his campaign was cut short by old rival Novak Djokovic in the second round. He had also teamed-up with Alcaraz in men's doubles at the Games and may reprise that role at the Davis Cup Finals. Nadal will play Djokovic again on Saturday after the Serbian great lost a much tighter match to Australian Open and US Open champion Jannik Sinner, who prevailed 6-2, 6-7 (0/7), 6-4 and will take on Alcaraz in the final. "Having Novak in front, it's like a nostalgic thing," Nadal said, looking ahead to their battle for third place in the Saudi exhibition. "We faced each other plenty of times, so it's going to be good fun to play each other again one more time in this match." As for the Davis Cup Finals next month, Nadal said he was unclear what his form would be. "Emotionally I'm sure I will be ready. In terms of physically, in terms of tennis level, I mean (there) remains a month" to prepare, he said, adding that he would not hesitate to speak up if he thought he could not compete well in singles. 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.

Rafael Nadal loses to Carlos Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia as career nears end

Tennis icons Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz may join forces to represent Spain in the upcoming Davis Cup Finals. This potential partnership between the seasoned champion and rising star has excited fans, as it would strengthen Spain's chances of securing the prestigious team tennis title. Their collaboration could mark a historic moment for Spanish tennis, with both players bringing their unique strengths to the court.

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz May Team Up For Spain In Davis Cup Finals

Racketlon is creating a real buzz in India. This exciting sport combines the nation’s favorite racquet games: tennis, badminton, squash, and table tennis. Leading the charge is Vikramaditya Chaufla, who is inspiring a new wave of athletes. In our special report, we decode what the future of the sport could look like in a special report.

Decoding The Rise of Racketlon

Carlos Alcaraz admitted that his showdown versus 'idol' Rafael Nadal will be a 'difficult moment' when the Spanish duo lock horns for the final time in the semifinal of the Six&nbsp;Kings Slam, an exhibition event in Riyadh, on Thursday (Oct 17). Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam winner, has been a huge admirer of Nadal, who is set to retire from the sport after the upcoming Davis Cup, to be held next month in Malaga.

<h2>'Since I started to play tennis, I'm watching his matches'</h2>

Ahead of the clash, Alcaraz opined, "Since I started to play tennis, I'm watching his matches. I look up to him and I grew up watching him. He was my idol, he is still my idol."

He mentioned, "A really important person for my life, for my career and he was one of the reasons that I wanted to become a professional tennis player. Knowing he is going to retire is pretty tough for everyone, for me."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-will-be-there-in-person-to-pay-respect-novak-djokovic-reacts-to-longtime-rival-rafael-nadals-retirement-766489">Will be there in person to pay respect: Novak Djokovic reacts to longtime rival Rafael Nadal's retirement</a>

Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, further added,&nbsp;"I will try to enjoy sharing the court with him once again, but I think it is really difficult for everyone."

In terms of head-to-head, Nadal and Alcaraz have met three times on the main ATP Tour with the soon-to-be-retired veteran having a slender 2-1 lead. The two paired up for the doubles event in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they bowed out in the quarterfinals. While this will be their last face-off, the two will be seen together in the Davis Cup for Spain, Nadal's swansong.

Nadal's career has been plagued with injury concerns for the last two-three years. His last&nbsp;singles appearance came at the Games on the&nbsp;Roland Garros,&nbsp;where he won 14 French Open titles. Overall, Nadal is set to sign off with 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals (one each in singles and doubles).

Carlos Alcaraz admitted that his showdown versus 'idol' Rafael Nadal will be a 'difficult moment' when the Spanish duo lock horns for the final time in the semifinal of the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition event in Riyadh, on Thursday (Oct 17).

Carlos Alcaraz admitted that his showdown versus 'idol' Rafael Nadal will be a 'difficult moment' when the Spanish duo lock horns for the final time in the semifinal of the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition event in Riyadh, on Thursday (Oct 17). Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam winner, has been a huge admirer of Nadal, who is set to retire from the sport after the upcoming Davis Cup, to be held next month in Malaga. 'Since I started to play tennis, I'm watching his matches' Ahead of the clash, Alcaraz opined, "Since I started to play tennis, I'm watching his matches. I look up to him and I grew up watching him. He was my idol, he is still my idol." He mentioned, "A really important person for my life, for my career and he was one of the reasons that I wanted to become a professional tennis player. Knowing he is going to retire is pretty tough for everyone, for me." Also read: Will be there in person to pay respect: Novak Djokovic reacts to longtime rival Rafael Nadal's retirement Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, further added, "I will try to enjoy sharing the court with him once again, but I think it is really difficult for everyone." In terms of head-to-head, Nadal and Alcaraz have met three times on the main ATP Tour with the soon-to-be-retired veteran having a slender 2-1 lead. The two paired up for the doubles event in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they bowed out in the quarterfinals. While this will be their last face-off, the two will be seen together in the Davis Cup for Spain, Nadal's swansong. Nadal's career has been plagued with injury concerns for the last two-three years. His last singles appearance came at the Games on the Roland Garros, where he won 14 French Open titles. Overall, Nadal is set to sign off with 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals (one each in singles and doubles).

Carlos Alcaraz admits to 'difficult' showdown vs 'idol' Rafael Nadal as Spaniards clash for final time

Fiery Australian Nick Kyrgios plans to make a comeback at Abu Dhabi in December with his goal to win a Grand Slam and "shut up" those who doubt him. The one-time world number 13 has played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years after suffering knee, foot and wrist injuries. The 29-year-old has hinted at retirement several times, but told News Corp's Code Sports on Monday he would return for the World Tennis League event in December before a tilt at the Australian Open in January.

"I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," he said. "I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money."

"But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day. That'll be my deep motivation."

Kyrgios, who has worked as a commentator during his absence from the game, reached his maiden singles Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2022, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic. He was never able to go further in an era dominated by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, coupled with his sometimes fragile temperament that saw some pundits write him off as a wasted talent.

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But with Nadal announcing his retirement last week and Djokovic now 37, Kyrgios believes the game is "the most open it has ever been".

Kyrgios has always been combustible and earned a reputation for outbursts and meltdowns on court early in his career, but he denied he was "a bad boy". "I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," he said. "I&nbsp;don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer."

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Fiery Australian Nick Kyrgios plans to make a comeback at Abu Dhabi in December with his goal to win a Grand Slam and "shut up" those who doubt him. The one-time world number 13 has played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years after suffering knee, foot and wrist injuries.

Fiery Australian Nick Kyrgios plans to make a comeback at Abu Dhabi in December with his goal to win a Grand Slam and "shut up" those who doubt him. The one-time world number 13 has played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years after suffering knee, foot and wrist injuries. The 29-year-old has hinted at retirement several times, but told News Corp's Code Sports on Monday he would return for the World Tennis League event in December before a tilt at the Australian Open in January. "I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," he said. "I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money." "But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day. That'll be my deep motivation." Kyrgios, who has worked as a commentator during his absence from the game, reached his maiden singles Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2022, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic. He was never able to go further in an era dominated by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, coupled with his sometimes fragile temperament that saw some pundits write him off as a wasted talent. Also read: LA Dodgers thrash NY Mets 9-0 in MLB playoff series opener But with Nadal announcing his retirement last week and Djokovic now 37, Kyrgios believes the game is "the most open it has ever been". Kyrgios has always been combustible and earned a reputation for outbursts and meltdowns on court early in his career, but he denied he was "a bad boy". "I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," he said. "I don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer." 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.

Australian star Nick Kyrgios vows to 'shut up' doubters with December comeback

World number one Jannik Sinner defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner took a crucial break in the fourth game of the second set to defeat the Serb in 1hr 37min and deny him a 100th career singles title.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/interim-coach-lee-carsley-confirms-not-applying-for-england-head-coach-job-766982">Interim coach Lee Carsley confirms not applying for England head coach job</a>

"He was just too good today, too strong, too fast," Djokovic said after the match.&nbsp;

Sinner said it was a "very special day", saluting his opponent as a "legend" who kept playing "incredible tennis... year after year".

In a nod to former Djokovic rival Roger Federer, who was watching from the stands, the 23-year-old joked: "There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit."

Facing off before an impassioned crowd, neither player blinked in the first set, unable to break the other's serve.

Sinner quickly took control in the tiebreak, breaking Djokovic's serve on the first point and going 5-1 up.

The Serb steadied himself but then netted a volley to bring up set point at 6-3.

Sinner failed to convert initially but didn't miss the second time behind serve.

The next key moment came in the fourth game of the second set when Sinner was up 40-15 on Djokovic's serve.

Djokovic saved one break point with a fiery ace but couldn't stop a superb forehand down the line from Sinner that saw him pull ahead.

All that remained was for the Italian to hold his nerve, hitting an ace to finish the match and claim the title.&nbsp;

<h2>'Tough year'</h2>

Sinner's victory is the latest triumph in a formidable season, in which he has won two Grand Slams and retained the top spot in the rankings since June.

But it is also a year that has seen him embroiled in controversy after he twice tested positive for a banned steroid in March.

In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted Sinner's explanation that the drug entered his system unintentionally when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency said last month it would appeal against the decision to clear him of wrongdoing and was seeking a ban of up to two years.

That news came as Sinner was contesting the China Open, where he lost in the final to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, who was also watching from the stands on Sunday.&nbsp;

"This year has been very, very tough for me... At points I lost a little bit of smile," Sinner said on Sunday.&nbsp;

"It's never easy to play in these kind of circumstances," he added.&nbsp;

"I feel like I'm strong when I go on the court trying to not think about it... When I wake up I try to focus on every single (match or practice) I do, but then of course I have moments when I think about it which is not comfortable."

<h2>'Deserved' win</h2>

Djokovic said Sinner played "the big points better" and "deserved to win".

The 37-year-old said that getting a 100th title was "not a live-or-die type of goal", but he would keep trying.

Djokovic became the last man standing from tennis' golden era after Rafael Nadal announced his retirement this week and said that, despite the loss, he was pleased with his performance in Shanghai.

"I played pretty good, which gives me, I guess, a reason to believe that I can still play with these guys that are the best in the world at this level," he said.&nbsp;

"As long as that's the case, I guess I'll still feel the need to keep on competing and the motivation to be out there."

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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 one Jannik Sinner defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters. Sinner took a crucial break in the fourth game of the second set to defeat the Serb in 1hr 37min and deny him a 100th career singles title.

World number one Jannik Sinner defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters. Sinner took a crucial break in the fourth game of the second set to defeat the Serb in 1hr 37min and deny him a 100th career singles title. Also Read: Interim coach Lee Carsley confirms not applying for England head coach job "He was just too good today, too strong, too fast," Djokovic said after the match. Sinner said it was a "very special day", saluting his opponent as a "legend" who kept playing "incredible tennis... year after year". In a nod to former Djokovic rival Roger Federer, who was watching from the stands, the 23-year-old joked: "There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit." Facing off before an impassioned crowd, neither player blinked in the first set, unable to break the other's serve. Sinner quickly took control in the tiebreak, breaking Djokovic's serve on the first point and going 5-1 up. The Serb steadied himself but then netted a volley to bring up set point at 6-3. Sinner failed to convert initially but didn't miss the second time behind serve. The next key moment came in the fourth game of the second set when Sinner was up 40-15 on Djokovic's serve. Djokovic saved one break point with a fiery ace but couldn't stop a superb forehand down the line from Sinner that saw him pull ahead. All that remained was for the Italian to hold his nerve, hitting an ace to finish the match and claim the title. 'Tough year' Sinner's victory is the latest triumph in a formidable season, in which he has won two Grand Slams and retained the top spot in the rankings since June. But it is also a year that has seen him embroiled in controversy after he twice tested positive for a banned steroid in March. In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted Sinner's explanation that the drug entered his system unintentionally when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency said last month it would appeal against the decision to clear him of wrongdoing and was seeking a ban of up to two years. That news came as Sinner was contesting the China Open, where he lost in the final to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, who was also watching from the stands on Sunday. "This year has been very, very tough for me... At points I lost a little bit of smile," Sinner said on Sunday. "It's never easy to play in these kind of circumstances," he added. "I feel like I'm strong when I go on the court trying to not think about it... When I wake up I try to focus on every single (match or practice) I do, but then of course I have moments when I think about it which is not comfortable." 'Deserved' win Djokovic said Sinner played "the big points better" and "deserved to win". The 37-year-old said that getting a 100th title was "not a live-or-die type of goal", but he would keep trying. Djokovic became the last man standing from tennis' golden era after Rafael Nadal announced his retirement this week and said that, despite the loss, he was pleased with his performance in Shanghai. "I played pretty good, which gives me, I guess, a reason to believe that I can still play with these guys that are the best in the world at this level," he said. "As long as that's the case, I guess I'll still feel the need to keep on competing and the motivation to be out there." 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.

Jannik Sinner denies Novak Djokovic 100th career title with Shanghai Masters win

On Thursday (Oct 10), Spaniard Rafael Nadal shocked the sporting fraternity by announcing his retirement. Nadal's career has been plagued by injury concerns since 2022 and, thus, he has decided to step aside after this year's Davis Cup in November. Following the big news, Nadal's longtime rival Novak Djokovic showered praise on him and said that he will be there in person 'to pay respect' to the Spanish star.

Djokovic wrote a long post on his Instagram handle honouring Nadal’s illustrious career. The 24-time Grand Slam winner, also touched upon the fierce rivalry the two shared on the court and mentioned Nadal’s impact on the game as he’s inspired future generations to take up the sport.

On his Instagram post, Djokovic wrote, "Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that’s probably greatest achievement anyone can wish for. Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-rafael-nadal-tennis-legend-to-retire-after-davis-cup-2024-766310">Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces retirement, confirms November's Davis Cup to be his last</a>

He added, "Only you know what you had to endure to become icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player. Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you best possible farewell in Malaga with Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career."

Nadal will end his illustrious career with as many as 22 Grand Slam titles, second-most after Djokovic (24). The two have had a strong rivalry on the court, with the Serbian having a slight edge with a 31-29 head-to-head record in 60 encounters.&nbsp;

Talking about Nadal's emotional retirement post, the Spaniard said in a video on X, "I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said in a video on social media. "It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end."

Nadal, thus, ends with 22 Grand Slams titles, including 14 French Open victories, 4 US Open wins and two each in Australian Open and Wimbledon. He caps off a glorious career with a whopping 92 titles. Of the 115 times he competed at Roland Garros in Paris, Nadal lost thrice - an incredible feat.&nbsp;

On Thursday (Oct 10), Spaniard Rafael Nadal shocked the sporting fraternity by announcing his retirement. Nadal's career has been plagued by injury concerns since 2022 and, thus, he has decided to step aside after this year's Davis Cup in November.

On Thursday (Oct 10), Spaniard Rafael Nadal shocked the sporting fraternity by announcing his retirement. Nadal's career has been plagued by injury concerns since 2022 and, thus, he has decided to step aside after this year's Davis Cup in November. Following the big news, Nadal's longtime rival Novak Djokovic showered praise on him and said that he will be there in person 'to pay respect' to the Spanish star. Djokovic wrote a long post on his Instagram handle honouring Nadal’s illustrious career. The 24-time Grand Slam winner, also touched upon the fierce rivalry the two shared on the court and mentioned Nadal’s impact on the game as he’s inspired future generations to take up the sport. On his Instagram post, Djokovic wrote, "Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that’s probably greatest achievement anyone can wish for. Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever." Also read: Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces retirement, confirms November's Davis Cup to be his last He added, "Only you know what you had to endure to become icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player. Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you best possible farewell in Malaga with Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career." Nadal will end his illustrious career with as many as 22 Grand Slam titles, second-most after Djokovic (24). The two have had a strong rivalry on the court, with the Serbian having a slight edge with a 31-29 head-to-head record in 60 encounters. Talking about Nadal's emotional retirement post, the Spaniard said in a video on X, "I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said in a video on social media. "It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end." Nadal, thus, ends with 22 Grand Slams titles, including 14 French Open victories, 4 US Open wins and two each in Australian Open and Wimbledon. He caps off a glorious career with a whopping 92 titles. Of the 115 times he competed at Roland Garros in Paris, Nadal lost thrice - an incredible feat.

Will be there in person to pay respect: Novak Djokovic reacts to longtime rival Rafael Nadal's retirement

Novak Djokovic dug out a 6-7(4) 6-1 6-4 win over Czech Jakub Mensik on Friday to advance to the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, where he will face Taylor Fritz. 
 
The four-times Shanghai champion managed to raise his level after losing the first set on a tiebreak and never looked back as he beat his 19-year-old opponent to enter the semi-finals for a ninth time.

The Serb, who played his first match on the ATP Tour over a year before his opponent was born in September 2005, initially struggled to counter Mensik's serve but found his rhythm and broke for a 5-4 lead in the first set.

However, the 24-times Grand Slam champion allowed his unseeded opponent to hit back instantly and with a foothold in the contest Mensik clinched the tiebreak as Djokovic hit a forehand into the net.

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The 37-year-old did well to recover, taking advantage of a string of unforced errors from Mensik to hold serve on either side of an early break as he took a 3-0 lead in the second set.

Mensik, playing in his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final, had no answer to the relentless accuracy of Djokovic's forehand and was broken once again as the fourth seed levelled the match at a set apiece.

Djokovic won the first point of the decider with a pin-point forehand at the end of an epic 33-shot rally and ran Mensik ragged with his power and precision. He broke for a 3-2 lead, which ultimately proved decisive despite an apparent knee issue for the Serb late in the match.

Djokovic is looking to win a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai, as well as his first ATP Masters 1000 title since his victory in Paris last year.

He will face world number seven Fritz in the semi-finals after the American defeated Belgian David Goffin 6-3 6-4 earlier on Friday.

In the other semi-final, world number one Jannik Sinner will take on Czech Tomas Machac.

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.

Novak Djokovic dug out a 6-7(4) 6-1 6-4 win over Czech Jakub Mensik on Friday to advance to the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, where he will face Taylor Fritz.

Novak Djokovic dug out a 6-7(4) 6-1 6-4 win over Czech Jakub Mensik on Friday to advance to the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, where he will face Taylor Fritz. The four-times Shanghai champion managed to raise his level after losing the first set on a tiebreak and never looked back as he beat his 19-year-old opponent to enter the semi-finals for a ninth time. The Serb, who played his first match on the ATP Tour over a year before his opponent was born in September 2005, initially struggled to counter Mensik's serve but found his rhythm and broke for a 5-4 lead in the first set. However, the 24-times Grand Slam champion allowed his unseeded opponent to hit back instantly and with a foothold in the contest Mensik clinched the tiebreak as Djokovic hit a forehand into the net. ALSO READ: FA fines Nottingham Forest £75,000 for social media post targeting VAR last season The 37-year-old did well to recover, taking advantage of a string of unforced errors from Mensik to hold serve on either side of an early break as he took a 3-0 lead in the second set. Mensik, playing in his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final, had no answer to the relentless accuracy of Djokovic's forehand and was broken once again as the fourth seed levelled the match at a set apiece. Djokovic won the first point of the decider with a pin-point forehand at the end of an epic 33-shot rally and ran Mensik ragged with his power and precision. He broke for a 3-2 lead, which ultimately proved decisive despite an apparent knee issue for the Serb late in the match. Djokovic is looking to win a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai, as well as his first ATP Masters 1000 title since his victory in Paris last year. He will face world number seven Fritz in the semi-finals after the American defeated Belgian David Goffin 6-3 6-4 earlier on Friday. In the other semi-final, world number one Jannik Sinner will take on Czech Tomas Machac. 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.

Novak Djokovic downs Jakub Mensik to reach Shanghai Masters semis

Rafael Nadal will end his legendary 23-year-old career in November, when he represents Spain at the Davis Cup finals. WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo discusses the king of clay's legacy with Former India Coach Nandan Bal. Watch in for more details!

Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement From Tennis; Tributes Pour In For The King Of Clay

King of Clay and tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement on Thursday (Oct 10). Taking to social media, Nadal confirmed that he will retire at the end of the end, with next month's Davis Cup 2024 in Malaga to be his last tournament.&nbsp;

"I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said in a video on social media. "It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mil gracias a todos 
Many thanks to all 
Merci beaucoup à tous 
Grazie mille à tutti 
谢谢大家 
شكرا لكم جميعا 
תודה לכולכם 
Obrigado a todos 
Vielen Dank euch allen 
Tack alla 
Хвала свима 
Gràcies a tots <a href="https://t.co/7yPRs7QrOi">pic.twitter.com/7yPRs7QrOi</a>
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1844308861492318594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Nadal has won 22 Grand Slams, including 14 French Open wins, capping off his glorious career with 92 titles. Of the 115 times he competed at Roland Garros in Paris, Nadal lost thrice - an incredible feat. Though he won his first French Open in 2005, just days before his 19th birthday, his final title run at his favourite Slam came in 2022, becoming the oldest to do so.

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Besides, he won the US Open four times and, Australian Open twice, with the first coming in 2009 and the second 13 years later in 2022. Nadal is also a two-time Wimbledon champion, winning in 2008 and 2010.&nbsp;

Nadal's win over Wimbledon own's and tennis great Roger Federer in the 2008 Final (across five sets), which ended in almost complete darkness at the All England Club, is widely dubbed as the greatest Slam Final ever played.&nbsp;

Nadal, one of the most decorated tennis players ever, completed a career Golden Slam in 2008 after winning an Olympic gold; he is also a five-time Davis Cup champion.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Nadal announced that Davis Cup 2024, to be played from November 19-24, to be his last tournament.&nbsp;

"It has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal continued. "I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country. It's closing the circle because one of my first joys was the final in Sevilla in 2004."

<h2>Injury-marred Nadal's career</h2>

Nadal's body started breaking down last year when he announced he would step aside from tennis in 2024.

The 38-year-old&nbsp;missed the first Slam of this year due to a thigh injury; however, he returned to play in the French Open, where he got knocked out in the first round.&nbsp;

Nadal played the home Summer Games in Paris, where he suffered a defeat at the hands of eventual gold medal winner Novak Djokovic.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

King of Clay and tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement on Thursday (Oct 10). Taking to social media, Nadal confirmed that he will retire at the end of the end, with next month's Davis Cup 2024 in Malaga to be his last tournament.

King of Clay and tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement on Thursday (Oct 10). Taking to social media, Nadal confirmed that he will retire at the end of the end, with next month's Davis Cup 2024 in Malaga to be his last tournament. "I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said in a video on social media. "It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end." Mil gracias a todos Many thanks to all Merci beaucoup à tous Grazie mille à tutti 谢谢大家 شكرا لكم جميعا תודה לכולכם Obrigado a todos Vielen Dank euch allen Tack alla Хвала свима Gràcies a tots pic.twitter.com/7yPRs7QrOi — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) October 10, 2024 × Nadal has won 22 Grand Slams, including 14 French Open wins, capping off his glorious career with 92 titles. Of the 115 times he competed at Roland Garros in Paris, Nadal lost thrice - an incredible feat. Though he won his first French Open in 2005, just days before his 19th birthday, his final title run at his favourite Slam came in 2022, becoming the oldest to do so. ALSO READ: Golf: Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau set for PGA-LIV 'showdown' in Vegas Besides, he won the US Open four times and, Australian Open twice, with the first coming in 2009 and the second 13 years later in 2022. Nadal is also a two-time Wimbledon champion, winning in 2008 and 2010. Nadal's win over Wimbledon own's and tennis great Roger Federer in the 2008 Final (across five sets), which ended in almost complete darkness at the All England Club, is widely dubbed as the greatest Slam Final ever played. Nadal, one of the most decorated tennis players ever, completed a career Golden Slam in 2008 after winning an Olympic gold; he is also a five-time Davis Cup champion. Meanwhile, Nadal announced that Davis Cup 2024, to be played from November 19-24, to be his last tournament. "It has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal continued. "I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country. It's closing the circle because one of my first joys was the final in Sevilla in 2004." Injury-marred Nadal's career Nadal's body started breaking down last year when he announced he would step aside from tennis in 2024. The 38-year-old missed the first Slam of this year due to a thigh injury; however, he returned to play in the French Open, where he got knocked out in the first round. Nadal played the home Summer Games in Paris, where he suffered a defeat at the hands of eventual gold medal winner Novak Djokovic. (With inputs from agencies)

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces retirement, confirms November's Davis Cup to be his last

Wimbledon announced Wednesday that it is scrapping its iconic line judges in favour of electronic line-calling, changing the face of the grass-court tournament. Smartly dressed umpires and line judges are as much part of the Grand Slam as strawberries and cream and the all-white kit that players must wear.&nbsp;But Wimbledon has now fallen into line with other tournaments around the world, saying the move was to "balance tradition and innovation".

The men's ATP Tour in 2023 announced tour-wide adoption of electronic line calling (ELC) from 2025 in a move to "optimise accuracy and consistency across tournaments". The All England Club announced it would make the switch to live ELC from 2025.

"The officiating technology will be in place for all Championships and qualifying match courts and cover the 'out' and 'fault' calls that have previously been made by line umpires," it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Tournament chiefs said the decision to use ELC, which builds on existing ball-tracking and line-calling technology, was made following extensive testing during this year's Championships.

"The decision to introduce live electronic line calling at the Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation," said All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at the Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating.&nbsp;

"For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.&nbsp;

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"We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously. Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at the Championships for many decades and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service."

The All England club also announced that the men's and women's singles finals would start at the later time of 4:00 pm local time (1500 GMT) on the final weekend of the tournament.

Next year's Wimbledon takes place from June 30 until July 13.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Wimbledon announced Wednesday that it is scrapping its iconic line judges in favour of electronic line-calling, changing the face of the grass-court tournament. Smartly dressed umpires and line judges are as much part of the Grand Slam as strawberries and cream and the all-white kit that players must wear.

Wimbledon announced Wednesday that it is scrapping its iconic line judges in favour of electronic line-calling, changing the face of the grass-court tournament. Smartly dressed umpires and line judges are as much part of the Grand Slam as strawberries and cream and the all-white kit that players must wear. But Wimbledon has now fallen into line with other tournaments around the world, saying the move was to "balance tradition and innovation". The men's ATP Tour in 2023 announced tour-wide adoption of electronic line calling (ELC) from 2025 in a move to "optimise accuracy and consistency across tournaments". The All England Club announced it would make the switch to live ELC from 2025. "The officiating technology will be in place for all Championships and qualifying match courts and cover the 'out' and 'fault' calls that have previously been made by line umpires," it said in a statement on Wednesday. Tournament chiefs said the decision to use ELC, which builds on existing ball-tracking and line-calling technology, was made following extensive testing during this year's Championships. "The decision to introduce live electronic line calling at the Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation," said All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton. "Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at the Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating. "For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour. Also read: CONMEBOL WC qualifiers: Argentina skipper Lionel Messi ready to play Venezuela, Mac Allister doubtful "We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously. Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at the Championships for many decades and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service." The All England club also announced that the men's and women's singles finals would start at the later time of 4:00 pm local time (1500 GMT) on the final weekend of the tournament. Next year's Wimbledon takes place from June 30 until July 13. 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.

Big change! Wimbledon replaces line judges with electronic system

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of her home Japan Open next week because of an injury that caused her to retire from the China Open in Beijing. "Due to injury, Naomi Osaka will not participate" in the WTA 250 tournament in the city of Osaka from October 14-20, the Japan Tennis Association said in a statement on Monday.

The 26-year-old former world number one looked in good touch as she recorded three wins at the China Open in Beijing last week. But in her last-16 match, against eventual champion Coco Gauff, Osaka retired at the end of the second set because of a back injury.

"So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn't sure if I could even play but I just wanted to try," she said on social media. "Unfortunately, things just got progressively worse during the match."

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Osaka's last WTA tournament appearance in her home country was a fleeting one, two years ago at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.&nbsp; She won a first-round match after one game when opponent Daria Saville retired.&nbsp;

Osaka then withdrew with abdominal pains before her second-round match. It was her last tournament before taking leave to give birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023.&nbsp;Osaka returned to the tour in January this year but has struggled to recapture the form that saw her win two Australian and two US Opens between 2018 and 2021.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of her home Japan Open next week because of an injury that caused her to retire from the China Open in Beijing.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of her home Japan Open next week because of an injury that caused her to retire from the China Open in Beijing. "Due to injury, Naomi Osaka will not participate" in the WTA 250 tournament in the city of Osaka from October 14-20, the Japan Tennis Association said in a statement on Monday. The 26-year-old former world number one looked in good touch as she recorded three wins at the China Open in Beijing last week. But in her last-16 match, against eventual champion Coco Gauff, Osaka retired at the end of the second set because of a back injury. "So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn't sure if I could even play but I just wanted to try," she said on social media. "Unfortunately, things just got progressively worse during the match." Also read: World number seven Taylor Fritz wins delayed match to reach Shanghai Masters third round Osaka's last WTA tournament appearance in her home country was a fleeting one, two years ago at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She won a first-round match after one game when opponent Daria Saville retired. Osaka then withdrew with abdominal pains before her second-round match. It was her last tournament before taking leave to give birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023. Osaka returned to the tour in January this year but has struggled to recapture the form that saw her win two Australian and two US Opens between 2018 and 2021. 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.

Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open due to back injury

World number seven&nbsp;Taylor&nbsp;Fritz&nbsp;finally made into the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday, two days after his match against France's Terence Atmane had been suspended because of rain. Resuming at 4-3 in the first set,&nbsp;Fritz&nbsp;defeated 161st-ranked Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5).&nbsp;

"I thought he played really well and if I wasn't on top of my game... I definitely could have lost that match," said&nbsp;Fritz.&nbsp; "I just stayed with it, and played solid in a lot of the big moments."&nbsp;

Fritz&nbsp;will next face Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki.&nbsp; Rain at the weekend led to nine second-round matches being delayed or rescheduled.

World number 10 Grigor Dimitrov also managed to finish a delayed match on Monday, beating Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and the Bulgarian will meet Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round.&nbsp;

"It's been very challenging the last couple of days," Dimitrov said.&nbsp; "But we just have to make the most out of what we have."

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American Frances Tiafoe ended Chinese hopes when he defeated Zhou Yi 6-2, 6-4.&nbsp; "(Zhou) played a good match, obviously it seemed pretty one-sided, but the second set was very tough," said Tiafoe after beating the last home player remaining in the draw. &nbsp;

In the third round, Tiafoe will meet Russian Roman Safiullin, who he called a "super dark horse".&nbsp; "He can beat a lot of guys... He's had an up-and-down season, but he's capable," said Tiafoe.

Nine second-round matches have been delayed or rescheduled because of rain at the weekend.&nbsp; The bad weather continued on Monday, causing further havoc to the schedule with play suspended on outside courts.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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 seven Taylor Fritz finally made into the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday, two days after his match against France's Terence Atmane had been suspended because of rain.

World number seven Taylor Fritz finally made into the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday, two days after his match against France's Terence Atmane had been suspended because of rain. Resuming at 4-3 in the first set, Fritz defeated 161st-ranked Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5). "I thought he played really well and if I wasn't on top of my game... I definitely could have lost that match," said Fritz. "I just stayed with it, and played solid in a lot of the big moments." Fritz will next face Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki. Rain at the weekend led to nine second-round matches being delayed or rescheduled. World number 10 Grigor Dimitrov also managed to finish a delayed match on Monday, beating Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and the Bulgarian will meet Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round. "It's been very challenging the last couple of days," Dimitrov said. "But we just have to make the most out of what we have." Also read: Tennis: USA’S Coco Gauff creates history with China Open title American Frances Tiafoe ended Chinese hopes when he defeated Zhou Yi 6-2, 6-4. "(Zhou) played a good match, obviously it seemed pretty one-sided, but the second set was very tough," said Tiafoe after beating the last home player remaining in the draw. In the third round, Tiafoe will meet Russian Roman Safiullin, who he called a "super dark horse". "He can beat a lot of guys... He's had an up-and-down season, but he's capable," said Tiafoe. Nine second-round matches have been delayed or rescheduled because of rain at the weekend. The bad weather continued on Monday, causing further havoc to the schedule with play suspended on outside courts. 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 seven Taylor Fritz wins delayed match to reach Shanghai Masters third round

World number six Coco Gauff dominated unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova to win the China Open final 6-1 6-3 on Sunday and become the first player to win each of their first seven WTA hardcourt finals in the Open Era.

Gauff fired off 24 winners in a strong performance to add the Beijing trophy to her win in the Auckland Classic this year and win the second WTA 1000 title of her career after her 2023 victory in Cincinnati, where she also beat Muchova in the final.

Gauff, who improved her head-to-head record against Muchova to 3-0, has won eight of her nine WTA finals.

"I want to say congratulations to you, Karolina, it's great to see you back on tour," Gauff said of her opponent Muchova, who spent an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a wrist injury at the 2023 U.S. Open.

"I think you're such an amazing player, and you deserve everything, and hopefully you play many more finals."

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The tournament was Gauff's first after adding Matt Daly to her coaching team, following her split with Brad Gilbert last month.

"I would like to thank my team. It's our first tournament together as a full, complete team," Gauff said. "Thank you Matt, this is our first tournament together, and obviously, it's going well, so thank you for helping me throughout this week."

Heading into the final, Gauff had lost the first set in three straight matches and the former U.S. Open champion seemed determined to buck that trend, serving to love in the opening game and breaking early for a 2-0 lead.

The American continued to build on that momentum with two more holds to love, before breaking once again to go 5-1 ahead.

After dropping no points in her first three service games, some doubt crept in as Gauff was forced to defend a break point, but she was able to clinch the set with an emphatic forehand winner.

Gauff's serve continued to falter early in the second set, leading to two double faults in her opening service game as Muchova broke for a 2-0 lead, but the American responded by turning up the aggression and approaching the net to break back immediately.

Muchova, who beat Australian Open and U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in previous rounds, appeared deflated after losing her advantage and won just two points in the next three games as Gauff eased to a 4-2 lead.

The pair traded holds before the fourth seed sealed the win by breaking serve when Muchova's backhand sailed long on match point.

Earlier on Sunday, Paris Olympics gold medallists Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini defeated Chan Hao-Ching and Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-4 in the women's doubles final to earn their third WTA Tour title of the year.

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 six Coco Gauff dominated unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova to win the China Open final 6-1 6-3 on Sunday and become the first player to win each of their first seven WTA hardcourt finals in the Open Era.

World number six Coco Gauff dominated unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova to win the China Open final 6-1 6-3 on Sunday and become the first player to win each of their first seven WTA hardcourt finals in the Open Era. Gauff fired off 24 winners in a strong performance to add the Beijing trophy to her win in the Auckland Classic this year and win the second WTA 1000 title of her career after her 2023 victory in Cincinnati, where she also beat Muchova in the final. Gauff, who improved her head-to-head record against Muchova to 3-0, has won eight of her nine WTA finals. "I want to say congratulations to you, Karolina, it's great to see you back on tour," Gauff said of her opponent Muchova, who spent an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a wrist injury at the 2023 U.S. Open. "I think you're such an amazing player, and you deserve everything, and hopefully you play many more finals." ALSO READ: Premier League: Manchester United play fifth straight winless game with stalemate against Aston Villa The tournament was Gauff's first after adding Matt Daly to her coaching team, following her split with Brad Gilbert last month. "I would like to thank my team. It's our first tournament together as a full, complete team," Gauff said. "Thank you Matt, this is our first tournament together, and obviously, it's going well, so thank you for helping me throughout this week." Heading into the final, Gauff had lost the first set in three straight matches and the former U.S. Open champion seemed determined to buck that trend, serving to love in the opening game and breaking early for a 2-0 lead. The American continued to build on that momentum with two more holds to love, before breaking once again to go 5-1 ahead. After dropping no points in her first three service games, some doubt crept in as Gauff was forced to defend a break point, but she was able to clinch the set with an emphatic forehand winner. Gauff's serve continued to falter early in the second set, leading to two double faults in her opening service game as Muchova broke for a 2-0 lead, but the American responded by turning up the aggression and approaching the net to break back immediately. Muchova, who beat Australian Open and U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in previous rounds, appeared deflated after losing her advantage and won just two points in the next three games as Gauff eased to a 4-2 lead. The pair traded holds before the fourth seed sealed the win by breaking serve when Muchova's backhand sailed long on match point. Earlier on Sunday, Paris Olympics gold medallists Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini defeated Chan Hao-Ching and Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-4 in the women's doubles final to earn their third WTA Tour title of the year. 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: USA’S Coco Gauff creates history with China Open title

World number two Carlos Alcaraz said playing as part of a team at the Davis Cup and Laver Cup had left him feeling refreshed and ready to go in the Asia swing, where he is looking to add the Shanghai Masters title to his victory at the China Open.

Alcaraz, who won this year's French Open and Wimbledon and took home a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, was not firing on all cylinders during the North American swing, losing in the second round at Cincinnati and the U.S. Open.

Since his loss in Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz has helped Spain seal their spot in the Davis Cup's quarter-finals and inspired Team Europe to victory in the Laver Cup, before beating rival Jannik Sinner to win the China Open.

"I had a really good month of practice after the American swing. The Davis Cup and the Laver Cup helped me a lot to get the energy back, to get motivated again," Alcaraz told reporters on Thursday. "I love playing teams competition, the Davis Cup with the players, with their team, with the Spanish federation as well, all the people who are around just to help me to be better, and feeling great off the court as well, that is really important.

"The Laver Cup, same thing. Those competitions helped me a lot to get the joy back on the court, and being focused on what's next. I came here to Asia with a lot of energy, enjoying every single second that I step on the court, and that for me it's really important."

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Alcaraz took three hours, 21 minutes to beat Sinner 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in Beijing on Wednesday and faced a tight turnaround to compete in his first match in Shanghai on Friday, where he takes on Shang Juncheng.

"The&nbsp;tennis&nbsp;schedule is so tight, but we have to get used to it, or I guess we have to. Yesterday we finished 8:30, 9:00, a three-hour match, and then I had no time to do anything else," Alcaraz said. "I went to the club before the final with all the bags, because I knew that we had to run after the final to take the flight to come here.

"We arrive at 4:00 a.m., just to be ready or just to have some sleep here in Shanghai, and woke up to get used to the conditions here and try to be ready for my first match."

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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 two Carlos Alcaraz said playing as part of a team at the Davis Cup and Laver Cup had left him feeling refreshed and ready to go in the Asia swing, where he is looking to add the Shanghai Masters title to his victory at the China Open.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz said playing as part of a team at the Davis Cup and Laver Cup had left him feeling refreshed and ready to go in the Asia swing, where he is looking to add the Shanghai Masters title to his victory at the China Open. Alcaraz, who won this year's French Open and Wimbledon and took home a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, was not firing on all cylinders during the North American swing, losing in the second round at Cincinnati and the U.S. Open. Since his loss in Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz has helped Spain seal their spot in the Davis Cup's quarter-finals and inspired Team Europe to victory in the Laver Cup, before beating rival Jannik Sinner to win the China Open. "I had a really good month of practice after the American swing. The Davis Cup and the Laver Cup helped me a lot to get the energy back, to get motivated again," Alcaraz told reporters on Thursday. "I love playing teams competition, the Davis Cup with the players, with their team, with the Spanish federation as well, all the people who are around just to help me to be better, and feeling great off the court as well, that is really important. "The Laver Cup, same thing. Those competitions helped me a lot to get the joy back on the court, and being focused on what's next. I came here to Asia with a lot of energy, enjoying every single second that I step on the court, and that for me it's really important." Also read: Harry Maguire spares Manchester United's blushes in Europe as Chelsea, Tottenham emerge victorious Alcaraz took three hours, 21 minutes to beat Sinner 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in Beijing on Wednesday and faced a tight turnaround to compete in his first match in Shanghai on Friday, where he takes on Shang Juncheng. "The tennis schedule is so tight, but we have to get used to it, or I guess we have to. Yesterday we finished 8:30, 9:00, a three-hour match, and then I had no time to do anything else," Alcaraz said. "I went to the club before the final with all the bags, because I knew that we had to run after the final to take the flight to come here. "We arrive at 4:00 a.m., just to be ready or just to have some sleep here in Shanghai, and woke up to get used to the conditions here and try to be ready for my first match." 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.

Refreshed Carlos Alcaraz raring to go at Shanghai Masters after China Open triumph

Carlos Alcaraz sent Daniil Medvedev packing to reach his first China Open final on Tuesday while 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai added another chapter to her fairytale renaissance. Second seed Alcaraz was in fine form to win 7-5, 6-3 and now faces world number one Jannik Sinner or Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete for the men's crown in Beijing. Medvedev, the Russian third seed, was looking to emulate his run to last year's title-decider, where he was beaten by the Italian Sinner. But he showed signs of frustration at times against 21-year-old Alcaraz and twice required treatment on his left leg in the second set.

"I think I played really well. Obviously, if I want to beat Daniil, I have to play really good&nbsp; tennis, high-quality&nbsp;tennis," said four-time major champion Alcaraz, who is yet to drop a set. "I felt great on the court once again, so I'm really happy about it. I think I couldn't ask for a better semi-final."

After some high-quality&nbsp;tennis, the two players exchanged warm words over the net at the end. Medvedev said he joked he should dress up as Botic van de Zandschulp, the unheralded Dutchman who stunned Alcaraz in the second round of the recent US Open.

"Maybe this can help," Medvedev told reporters. "Today I played pretty well. I don't see how I could beat him today."

Alcaraz is looking to seal his 16th ATP Tour crown when the final takes place on Wednesday.

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<h2>- Shades of Mbappe -</h2>

In the women's draw, home hope Zhang -- one of the storylines of the tournament -- rolled into the quarter-finals to make more history. Her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Magdalena Frech was her fourth win in Beijing and all in straight sets -- having come into the event after losing 24 singles matches in a row.

The barren run lasting more than 600 days was the second-longest on the WTA Tour in the Open Era, which began in 1968. The 35-year-old Zhang, a former two-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist who has been plagued by injury, said she had come close to quitting singles&nbsp;tennis&nbsp;before coming to Beijing.

"I had no idea how to win and I didn't want to lose another, especially with all the Chinese fans," she said. "Walking back to the locker room, I didn't know if I should continue or not before this tournament."

The former top-25 player will face Spain's 19th-ranked Paula Badosa in the last eight. Zhang is the lowest-ranked player to ever reach this stage of the China Open and struck a defiant pose -- a tribute to Kylian Mbappe -- after beating 31st-ranked&nbsp;Frech in front of a packed house on China's national day.

Former world number two Badosa dumped out US Open finalist Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-0 to make the second-seeded American the biggest casualty so far. Pegula came into the WTA 1000 event as one of the form players on tour and having reached the final in New York last month, where she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka is the top seed in the Chinese capital and plays American 18th seed Madison Keys in the last 16. Defending champion and world number one Iga Swiatek is not involved because of "personal matters".

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Carlos Alcaraz sent Daniil Medvedev packing to reach his first China Open final on Tuesday while 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai added another chapter to her fairytale renaissance.

Carlos Alcaraz sent Daniil Medvedev packing to reach his first China Open final on Tuesday while 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai added another chapter to her fairytale renaissance. Second seed Alcaraz was in fine form to win 7-5, 6-3 and now faces world number one Jannik Sinner or Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete for the men's crown in Beijing. Medvedev, the Russian third seed, was looking to emulate his run to last year's title-decider, where he was beaten by the Italian Sinner. But he showed signs of frustration at times against 21-year-old Alcaraz and twice required treatment on his left leg in the second set. "I think I played really well. Obviously, if I want to beat Daniil, I have to play really good tennis, high-quality tennis," said four-time major champion Alcaraz, who is yet to drop a set. "I felt great on the court once again, so I'm really happy about it. I think I couldn't ask for a better semi-final." After some high-quality tennis, the two players exchanged warm words over the net at the end. Medvedev said he joked he should dress up as Botic van de Zandschulp, the unheralded Dutchman who stunned Alcaraz in the second round of the recent US Open. "Maybe this can help," Medvedev told reporters. "Today I played pretty well. I don't see how I could beat him today." Alcaraz is looking to seal his 16th ATP Tour crown when the final takes place on Wednesday. Also read: Atletico Madrid ban fan permanently after Real derby disruption - Shades of Mbappe - In the women's draw, home hope Zhang -- one of the storylines of the tournament -- rolled into the quarter-finals to make more history. Her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Magdalena Frech was her fourth win in Beijing and all in straight sets -- having come into the event after losing 24 singles matches in a row. The barren run lasting more than 600 days was the second-longest on the WTA Tour in the Open Era, which began in 1968. The 35-year-old Zhang, a former two-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist who has been plagued by injury, said she had come close to quitting singles tennis before coming to Beijing. "I had no idea how to win and I didn't want to lose another, especially with all the Chinese fans," she said. "Walking back to the locker room, I didn't know if I should continue or not before this tournament." The former top-25 player will face Spain's 19th-ranked Paula Badosa in the last eight. Zhang is the lowest-ranked player to ever reach this stage of the China Open and struck a defiant pose -- a tribute to Kylian Mbappe -- after beating 31st-ranked Frech in front of a packed house on China's national day. Former world number two Badosa dumped out US Open finalist Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-0 to make the second-seeded American the biggest casualty so far. Pegula came into the WTA 1000 event as one of the form players on tour and having reached the final in New York last month, where she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka is the top seed in the Chinese capital and plays American 18th seed Madison Keys in the last 16. Defending champion and world number one Iga Swiatek is not involved because of "personal matters". 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.

Alcaraz sweeps into Beijing final with win over Medvedev, history-maker Zhang Shuai reaches last eight

World number one Jannik Sinner said on Monday that he was in "a very difficult moment" and enduring sleepless nights over his doping case.

The 23-year-old is under the microscope anew after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Saturday it was seeking a ban of up to two years after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) had cleared the Italian of wrongdoing in August, and weeks later he won the US Open for his second major title.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/la-liga-angel-correa-snatches-atletico-madrid-spiky-derby-draw-vs-real-madrid-763035">La Liga: Angel Correa snatches Atletico Madrid spiky derby draw vs Real Madrid</a>

The ITIA accepted Sinner's explanation that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.

"First of all it's not a situation where I like to be in, it's a very delicate and difficult and also different situation," Sinner said in Beijing after defeating Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).

"But what I know is that I always try to remind myself that I haven't done anything wrong."

"For sure I had sleepless nights during this time. Now again it's going to be not easy."

WADA has appealed the decision to clear him to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), reigniting the case.

"Obviously disappointed that I am again in this situation," said Sinner.

"I just try to stay somehow focused on my work and trying to do everything possible I can to be ready for each match I play."&nbsp;

"But yes, this is a very difficult moment for me and also for my team."&nbsp;

The ITIA found that Sinner "bears no fault or negligence" in the high-profile case and cleared him to carry on playing.

WADA on Saturday said: "It is WADA's view that the finding of 'no fault or negligence' was not correct under the applicable rules."

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World number one Jannik Sinner said on Monday that he was in "a very difficult moment" and enduring sleepless nights over his doping case. The 23-year-old is under the microscope anew after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Saturday it was seeking a ban of up to two years after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

World number one Jannik Sinner said on Monday that he was in "a very difficult moment" and enduring sleepless nights over his doping case. The 23-year-old is under the microscope anew after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Saturday it was seeking a ban of up to two years after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) had cleared the Italian of wrongdoing in August, and weeks later he won the US Open for his second major title. Also Read: La Liga: Angel Correa snatches Atletico Madrid spiky derby draw vs Real Madrid The ITIA accepted Sinner's explanation that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player. "First of all it's not a situation where I like to be in, it's a very delicate and difficult and also different situation," Sinner said in Beijing after defeating Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals 6-2, 7-6 (8/6). "But what I know is that I always try to remind myself that I haven't done anything wrong." "For sure I had sleepless nights during this time. Now again it's going to be not easy." WADA has appealed the decision to clear him to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), reigniting the case. "Obviously disappointed that I am again in this situation," said Sinner. "I just try to stay somehow focused on my work and trying to do everything possible I can to be ready for each match I play." "But yes, this is a very difficult moment for me and also for my team." The ITIA found that Sinner "bears no fault or negligence" in the high-profile case and cleared him to carry on playing. WADA on Saturday said: "It is WADA's view that the finding of 'no fault or negligence' was not correct under the applicable rules." 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.

'Had sleepless nights...,' reveals two-time US Open winner Jannik Sinner about doping case

Britain's US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper said he felt "really strong" after knocking out number two seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Japan Open quarter-finals on Friday. The 22-year-old Draper earlier this month became the first British man to make the US Open last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago, but found his path to the final blocked by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Draper has picked up where he left off in Tokyo, beating Poland's Hurkacz in 1hr, 24min to set up a quarter-final against either American Brandon Nakashima or France's Ugo Humbert.

"I'm very happy with my performance in general, the way I'm moving, the way I'm serving," said world number 20 Draper, who is unseeded in Tokyo. "I feel really strong here in Tokyo and I look forward to carrying on for the rest of the tournament."

Draper has come back from multiple shoulder injuries and was ranked outside the top 100 when he played at the Japan Open last year. He has yet to have his serve broken in two matches so far at this year's tournament.

"I've always had a high win percentage on my first serve but my consistency, my percentage of first serve has always been a bit down," he said. "I think I'm starting to feel my rhythm better, I'm starting to land more first serves in."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/ten-man-tottenham-hotspur-cruise-in-europa-league-opener-despite-son-heung-mins-injury-scare-762353">Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur cruise in Europa League opener despite Son Heung-min's injury scare</a>

Hurkacz's exit means only three of the eight seeded players remain at the Japan Open. Number one Taylor Fritz, number three Casper Ruud, number four Stefanos Tsitsipas and number seven Frances Tiafoe all lost in the first round.

Defending champion Ben Shelton, the number eight seed, moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Argentina's Mariano Navone.

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Britain's US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper said he felt "really strong" after knocking out number two seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Japan Open quarter-finals on Friday.

Britain's US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper said he felt "really strong" after knocking out number two seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Japan Open quarter-finals on Friday. The 22-year-old Draper earlier this month became the first British man to make the US Open last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago, but found his path to the final blocked by eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Draper has picked up where he left off in Tokyo, beating Poland's Hurkacz in 1hr, 24min to set up a quarter-final against either American Brandon Nakashima or France's Ugo Humbert. "I'm very happy with my performance in general, the way I'm moving, the way I'm serving," said world number 20 Draper, who is unseeded in Tokyo. "I feel really strong here in Tokyo and I look forward to carrying on for the rest of the tournament." Draper has come back from multiple shoulder injuries and was ranked outside the top 100 when he played at the Japan Open last year. He has yet to have his serve broken in two matches so far at this year's tournament. "I've always had a high win percentage on my first serve but my consistency, my percentage of first serve has always been a bit down," he said. "I think I'm starting to feel my rhythm better, I'm starting to land more first serves in." Also read: Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur cruise in Europa League opener despite Son Heung-min's injury scare Hurkacz's exit means only three of the eight seeded players remain at the Japan Open. Number one Taylor Fritz, number three Casper Ruud, number four Stefanos Tsitsipas and number seven Frances Tiafoe all lost in the first round. Defending champion Ben Shelton, the number eight seed, moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Argentina's Mariano Navone. 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.

Japan Open: Britain's Jack Draper ousts second seed Hubert Hurkacz

Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the demands of the tennis calendar, saying "a lot of players" agree with him and "we have to do something about it". The four-time Grand Slam champion last week said at the Laver Cup that the schedule is "going to kill us", adding his voice to the growing number of players speaking out. The 21-year-old Spaniard is in action this week at the China Open, his 15th tournament of the year.

"I've seen and I've heard a lot of players complain about the schedule, about the calendar as well," he said. Not among them is world number one Jannik Sinner, who made light of the issue when he spoke to reporters in Beijing on Tuesday. "The schedule is quite long obviously these years. But we players, we can still choose what to play and what not to play," said the Italian, who this month won the US Open for his second major crown.

Addressing those comments, Alcaraz conceded that "it's about different feelings in every person", but added: "So I'm talking about myself, that the schedule, it's been so tight since the first week of January till the last week of November.

"We have to talk about it ourselves and we have to do something about it."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/laliga-kylian-mbappe-scores-again-as-real-madrid-survive-late-push-from-alaves-761728">LaLiga: Kylian Mbappe scores again as Real Madrid survive late push from Alaves</a>

Alcaraz, the second seed, faces France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his opening match in the Chinese capital. Top seed and defending champion Sinner plays Chile's Nicolas Jarry.

Novak Djokovic is not in Beijing while world number two Alexander Zverev pulled out.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the demands of the tennis calendar, saying "a lot of players" agree with him and "we have to do something about it".

Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the demands of the tennis calendar, saying "a lot of players" agree with him and "we have to do something about it". The four-time Grand Slam champion last week said at the Laver Cup that the schedule is "going to kill us", adding his voice to the growing number of players speaking out. The 21-year-old Spaniard is in action this week at the China Open, his 15th tournament of the year. "I've seen and I've heard a lot of players complain about the schedule, about the calendar as well," he said. Not among them is world number one Jannik Sinner, who made light of the issue when he spoke to reporters in Beijing on Tuesday. "The schedule is quite long obviously these years. But we players, we can still choose what to play and what not to play," said the Italian, who this month won the US Open for his second major crown. Addressing those comments, Alcaraz conceded that "it's about different feelings in every person", but added: "So I'm talking about myself, that the schedule, it's been so tight since the first week of January till the last week of November. "We have to talk about it ourselves and we have to do something about it." Also read: LaLiga: Kylian Mbappe scores again as Real Madrid survive late push from Alaves Alcaraz, the second seed, faces France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his opening match in the Chinese capital. Top seed and defending champion Sinner plays Chile's Nicolas Jarry. Novak Djokovic is not in Beijing while world number two Alexander Zverev pulled out. 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.

Carlos Alcaraz says 'a lot of players' agree after his schedule 'kill us' remark goes viral

Naomi Osaka is hopeful that her stint with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou will develop into a long-term partnership, the four-times Grand Slam champion said on Wednesday after easing into the second round of the China Open. The 26-year-old split with coach Wim Fissette earlier this month after four years together across two stints and arrived in Beijing this week with Mouratoglou, who previously guided her idol Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 major titles.

Former world number one Osaka is looking to reignite her career following a patchy run of form having returned to the tour nine months ago after a long maternity break. "I'm calling him my coach right now. I didn't know there was a lot of interest in my players box. I'd say he's my coach right now," Osaka said after beating Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 6-2 in her first match under Mouratoglou.

"I try not to get into relationships with people for the short-term. I try to think of it as a long-term commitment. I like the way he coaches. "I think it's going to be really interesting."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-carlos-alcaraz-says-a-lot-of-players-agree-after-his-schedule-kill-us-remark-goes-viral-761783">Carlos Alcaraz says 'a lot of players' agree after his schedule 'kill us' remark goes viral</a>

Osaka said she was initially hesitant to approach Frenchman Mouratoglou, who has also worked with Grigor Dimitrov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Simona Halep and Holger Rune among others.

"The fact that he was Serena's coach made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big. This isn't rude because I found out it's not true, but I didn't know ... I didn't know if he was a good coach or he coached Serena," Osaka said. "Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach. I'm really glad that he's taking this project on, as well.

"I would say I'm still a little nervous around him. I look to the floor when he looks at me. I think I do need a lot more time to spend together with him. I'm getting a little more comfortable day by day."

Disclaimer:&nbsp;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.

Naomi Osaka is hopeful that her stint with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou will develop into a long-term partnership, the four-times Grand Slam champion said on Wednesday after easing into the second round of the China Open.

Naomi Osaka is hopeful that her stint with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou will develop into a long-term partnership, the four-times Grand Slam champion said on Wednesday after easing into the second round of the China Open. The 26-year-old split with coach Wim Fissette earlier this month after four years together across two stints and arrived in Beijing this week with Mouratoglou, who previously guided her idol Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 major titles. Former world number one Osaka is looking to reignite her career following a patchy run of form having returned to the tour nine months ago after a long maternity break. "I'm calling him my coach right now. I didn't know there was a lot of interest in my players box. I'd say he's my coach right now," Osaka said after beating Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 6-2 in her first match under Mouratoglou. "I try not to get into relationships with people for the short-term. I try to think of it as a long-term commitment. I like the way he coaches. "I think it's going to be really interesting." Also read: Carlos Alcaraz says 'a lot of players' agree after his schedule 'kill us' remark goes viral Osaka said she was initially hesitant to approach Frenchman Mouratoglou, who has also worked with Grigor Dimitrov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Simona Halep and Holger Rune among others. "The fact that he was Serena's coach made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big. This isn't rude because I found out it's not true, but I didn't know ... I didn't know if he was a good coach or he coached Serena," Osaka said. "Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach. I'm really glad that he's taking this project on, as well. "I would say I'm still a little nervous around him. I look to the floor when he looks at me. I think I do need a lot more time to spend together with him. I'm getting a little more comfortable day by day." 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.

Japan's Naomi Osaka eyes long-term partnership with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou

Spain named 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in a five-man Davis Cup team on Monday, while Italian world number one Jannik Sinner will also compete in the final eight in Malaga. Nadal, 38, pulled out of the US Open and Laver Cup in recent months and has only taken part in one of the last seven Grand Slams because of injury and fitness struggles.

French Open and Wimbledon winner Alcaraz will be Spain's key figure as they bid to win the competition dubbed the World Cup of tennis for the first time since 2019, starting with a clash against the Netherlands.

Alcaraz inspired Team Europe to Laver Cup victory over Team World last weekend in Berlin. US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner is part of Italy's squad for the finals, which start on November 19.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-us-open-2024-winner-aryna-sabalenka-chases-year-end-number-one-ranking-761488">US Open 2024 winner Aryna Sabalenka chases year-end number one ranking</a>

The 23-year-old was crucial as Italy triumphed last year, beating Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic twice in one day, first in singles and then in doubles, in the semi-finals. Italy, who face Argentina in their quarter-final clash, beat Australia in the 2023 final to win the competition for the first time since 1976.

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Spain named 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in a five-man Davis Cup team on Monday, while Italian world number one Jannik Sinner will also compete in the final eight in Malaga.

Spain named 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in a five-man Davis Cup team on Monday, while Italian world number one Jannik Sinner will also compete in the final eight in Malaga. Nadal, 38, pulled out of the US Open and Laver Cup in recent months and has only taken part in one of the last seven Grand Slams because of injury and fitness struggles. French Open and Wimbledon winner Alcaraz will be Spain's key figure as they bid to win the competition dubbed the World Cup of tennis for the first time since 2019, starting with a clash against the Netherlands. Alcaraz inspired Team Europe to Laver Cup victory over Team World last weekend in Berlin. US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner is part of Italy's squad for the finals, which start on November 19. Also read: US Open 2024 winner Aryna Sabalenka chases year-end number one ranking The 23-year-old was crucial as Italy triumphed last year, beating Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic twice in one day, first in singles and then in doubles, in the semi-finals. Italy, who face Argentina in their quarter-final clash, beat Australia in the 2023 final to win the competition for the first time since 1976. 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.

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner part of Davis Cup finals teams

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