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Tennis

I have mountain to climb at French Open, says Djokovic

“Nadal (is) the number one favourite without a doubt, and then everyone else,” a serene Djokovic told reporters

19 hours ago

Halep shrugs off expectations; Nadal eager for Roland Garros return

Defending French Open champion Nadal says he can’t wait to hit the clay courts of Roland Garros while French Open champion Halep says she won’t be burdened by expectations of repeating last year’s triumph.

20 May 2019

Nadal fends off Djokovic to capture ninth Italian Open title

Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 to win a ninth Italian Open title and a record 34rd Masters crown on Sunday.
World number one Djokovic, winner at the Madrid Open last week, produced an error-strewn performance in his 54th meeting with second-ranked Nadal, who claimed the 81st title of his career.

19 May 2019

Nadal and Konta reach final as Djokovic survives scare

Defending champion Rafael Nadal swept past Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to advance to his first final on clay this season at the Italian Open on Saturday. The eight-time Rome winner had been stunned by Tsitsipas, seeded eighth, in the semi-finals at the Madrid Open last weekend.

18 May 2019

Nadal sweeps into Italian Open semis as Federer, Osaka pull out injured

Defending champion Rafael Nadal swept into the last four of the Italian Open on Friday as Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka both pulled out injured just a week before the start of the French Open. Eight-time champion Nadal came through 6-4, 6-0 against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco

17 May 2019

Fedex survives Coric scare, Kyrgios invites disqualification, Konta through

World number three Roger Federer saved two match points to advance past Croatian Borna Coric into the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday. Federer came through 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) against 13th seed Coric after earlier beating Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3 in the second round to make up time

16 May 2019

Rain keeps Federer waiting in Rome as Svitolina and Zverev make exits

Rome: Roger Federer was among dozens of players kept off court by rain on a chilly Wednesday at the Italian Open as organisers refused to provide refunds in case of a total washout. The policy promises to create ill-will after officials last weekend doubled the price of Wednesday tickets

15 May 2019

Federer packing in Rome practice ahead of French Open

Roger Federer insisted Monday his focus at this week’s Italian Open was on getting more match practice on clay ahead of the French Open in two weeks time. The 20-time Grand Slam winner has not played on the red clay in the Foro Italico since 2015 when he finished runner-up for the fourth time,

14 May 2019

Home hope Fognini sweeps aside Tsonga to advance in Rome

Italian Fabio Fognini said he was hoping to do “something big” at home as he beat France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the Italian Open in Rome on Monday. Tenth seed Fognini, who became the first Italian to triumph at Monte Carlo in 51 years last month,

14 May 2019

Djokovic sees Madrid win as perfect Roland Garros platform

Novak Djokovic said his impressive burst of form which won him a third Madrid Open title and 33rd Masters could prove decisive in his assault on the French Open. The world number one joined Rafael Nadal on top of the all-time Masters list when he swept to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final in the Spanish capital.

13 May 2019

Bertens triumphs in Madrid, halts Halep push for top spot

Madrid: The Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens pulled off a surprise 6-4, 6-4 victory over Simona Halep to win the Madrid Open on Saturday, denying the Romanian a return to the top of the world rankings. Halep could have knocked Naomi Osaka off the number-one spot with a triumph in the Spanish capital

12 May 2019