Latest news with #AlexanderZverev
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Djokovic meets Zverev in French Open quarters with unfinished business
The French Open quarterfinals continue on Wednesday with top seed Jannik Sinner in action, Novak Djokovic facing his first true test when he takes on Alexander Zverev and an all-American clash between Coco Gauff and Madison Keys. As Djokovic chases a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, 28-year-old third seed Zverev is still seeking his first major crown. Zverev has had more success at the claycourt major than any of the others, with three semifinal appearances between 2021-2023, and he reached the final last year where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz after being one set away from the title. The two have not met on clay since 2019 and Djokovic has unfinished business having retired injured last time they met in the Australian Open semifinal in January. "He's 10 years younger, he calls himself a veteran of the game. What should I call myself, then?," Djokovic joked after booking his quarterfinal place with his 100th victory at Roland Garros. Djokovic holds an 8-5 win-loss record against Zverev, who said the Serbian -- the sixth seed this year -- would never be a dark horse. "The guy won 24 Grand Slams. He's never going to be a black horse. He definitely knows how to play tennis," Zverev said. "He definitely knows what it means to be on the big stage and to play big matches. There is no doubt about that." In women's singles, Keys looks to stay unbeaten in Grand Slam matches this year. The Australian Open champion plays an American for the third consecutive round when she takes on Coco Gauff, a fellow major winner. Both players have won one hardcourt Grand Slam each but Gauff has started adapting to clay and shown she can be a worthy contender for the title having reached the finals in Madrid and Rome last month. "Coco is obviously pretty dominant on clay. I would say it's probably her best surface to play on. It's obviously a big challenge," Keys said. "For me, it's going to be a lot about trying to balance going after things. But knowing with her ability to cover the court, you're going to have to win the point multiple times before it's actually over." Gauff is looking to replicate her 2022 run to the final and the 21-year-old said she is now more mature. "I'm less nervous going into matches, for sure, and knowing just the ups and downs of tennis and of a tennis match," she said. "I still feel the years here, I feel like I get better with each match. I felt like that was something that I did in '22 and last year as well, and something I'm doing here right now." Meanwhile, two unseeded players remain at Roland Garros where both have delighted crowds and punched above their weight -- Alexander Bublik and local hope Lois Boisson, who is ranked world number 361. Bublik has won more claycourt matches than in his previous three years combined and the 27-year-old has earned a quarter-final match-up with top seed Jannik Sinner. In the women's draw, Boisson will hope for more than just the sparse post-lunch crowd that watched her stun world number three Jessica Pegula on Monday, when the wildcard plays sixth seed Mirra Andreeva.
CNA
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Djokovic meets Zverev in French Open quarters with unfinished business
PARIS : The French Open quarter-finals continue on Wednesday with top seed Jannik Sinner in action, Novak Djokovic facing his first true test when he takes on Alexander Zverev and an all-American clash between Coco Gauff and Madison Keys. TOP MEN'S MATCH: ALEXANDER ZVEREV V NOVAK DJOKOVIC As Djokovic chases a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, 28-year-old third seed Zverev is still seeking his first major crown. Zverev has had more success at the claycourt major than any of the others, with three semi-final appearances between 2021-2023, and he reached the final last year where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz after being one set away from the title. The two have not met on clay since 2019 and Djokovic has unfinished business having retired injured last time they met in the Australian Open semi-final in January. "He's 10 years younger, he calls himself a veteran of the game. What should I call myself, then?," Djokovic joked after booking his quarter-final place with his 100th victory at Roland Garros. Djokovic holds an 8-5 win-loss record against Zverev, who said the Serbian - the sixth seed this year - would never be a dark horse. "The guy won 24 Grand Slams. He's never going to be a black horse. He definitely knows how to play tennis," Zverev said. "He definitely knows what it means to be on the big stage and to play big matches. There is no doubt about that." TOP WOMEN'S MATCH: MADISON KEYS V COCO GAUFF As Keys looks to stay unbeaten in Grand Slam matches this year, the Australian Open champion plays an American for the third consecutive round when she takes on Coco Gauff, a fellow major winner. Both players have won one hardcourt Grand Slam each but Gauff has started adapting to clay and shown she can be a worthy contender for the title having reached the finals in Madrid and Rome last month. "Coco is obviously pretty dominant on clay. I would say it's probably her best surface to play on. It's obviously a big challenge," Keys said. "For me, it's going to be a lot about trying to balance going after things. But knowing with her ability to cover the court, you're going to have to win the point multiple times before it's actually over." Gauff is looking to replicate her 2022 run to the final and the 21-year-old said she is now more mature. "I'm less nervous going into matches, for sure, and knowing just the ups and downs of tennis and of a tennis match," she said. "I still feel the years here, I feel like I get better with each match. I felt like that was something that I did in '22 and last year as well, and something I'm doing here right now." PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT Two unseeded players remain at Roland Garros where both have delighted crowds and punched above their weight - Alexander Bublik and local hope Lois Boisson, who is ranked world number 361. Bublik has won more claycourt matches than in his previous three years combined and the 27-year-old has earned a quarter-final match-up with top seed Jannik Sinner. In the women's draw, Boisson will hope for more than just the sparse post-lunch crowd that watched her stun world number three Jessica Pegula on Monday, when the wildcard plays sixth seed Mirra Andreeva. COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER (play begins at 0900 GMT) 7-Madison Keys (U.S.) v 2-Coco Gauff (U.S.) 6-Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v Lois Boisson (France)
The Independent
17 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Jack Draper knows it will take time to catch Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Jack Draper believes it might take him another two years to reach the levels of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Draper, 23, missed out on the chance to face world number one Sinner at the French Open after slipping to a fourth-round defeat to Alexander Bublik. The British number one is now up to fourth in the live ATP rankings, behind only Sinner, Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. But the injuries Draper suffered early in his career means he is lagging behind in terms of experience; the Bublik defeat was his 162nd Tour-level match while 22-year-old Alcaraz has played more than 300 and Sinner, only a few months older than Draper, has played over 350. 'I still think I'm a long way behind those boys. I still have lots to learn,' he said. 'If you look at the ATP matches, how many matches they've played, they've probably played double the amount that I've played. 'They're probably a year, two years ahead of me and obviously achieved a lot more, a lot more experience. I do have a lot to do to catch up with them, in all honesty. 'My level is getting better all the time, but it's not just the tennis. It's the consistency of what they're doing. Even though I've been more consistent, it's doing it when it matters, and these are the tournaments that it matters. 'I have a lot to go still to get to them, and I think that I'm working hard, I'm doing the right things, and we'll see.' Nevertheless, Draper can look back at a successful clay season – having reached a final in Madrid and won matches for the first time at Roland Garros – before he heads for the green, green grass of home. 'I'm going to be very happy to get off the clay. You know, that's just a fact,' he added. 'I'm really, really proud of my ability to have adapted and to accept the challenge of being on the clay. 'Week-to-week I've really built, and I've learned a lot, and I've got better. I've come here, won three matches, made fourth round despite not probably playing the best tennis that I was playing in Madrid and Rome. 'I'll be happy to get on a faster surface, a surface that I'm much more comfortable moving on. Yeah, I look forward to being back home, being on the grass, for sure.'
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Djokovic, Sinner cruise into French Open quarters as world No. 361 Boisson stuns Pegula
PARIS, June 3 — Novak Djokovic sailed into a record 19th French Open quarter-final on Monday, while world number one Jannik Sinner dismantled Andrey Rublev in straight sets. World number 361 Lois Boisson knocked out women's third seed Jessica Pegula to become the first home quarter-finalist at Roland Garros since 2017. The 38-year-old Djokovic dusted aside Britain's Cameron Norrie in three sets, his 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier bringing up the Serbian's 100th match win at the French Open. His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament, surpassing Roger Federer's 18 Wimbledon quarter-finals. But Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is focused on much bigger goals as he chases a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week. 'I feel good. I know I can play better. But 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it's been solid so far,' said Djokovic, who will likely face a much more difficult test against world number three Alexander Zverev. 'It's great, but victory number 101 would be better. I'm very honoured... But I need to continue now.' Djokovic has not played anyone ranked higher than 73rd through the first four rounds. Zverev is last year's runner-up and advanced when Djokovic retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January. Zverev moved into his seventh Roland Garros quarter-final when Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor quit with an abdominal problem while trailing 6-4, 3-0. The German is still hunting a first Grand Slam title. He lost the 2024 final to Carlos Alcaraz and then finished runner-up to Sinner in Melbourne. 'Novak Djokovic will never be a (dark) horse. For me, Carlos is the favourite,' said Zverev. 'Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that.' World number one Sinner fired a warning shot to his title rivals with a ruthless 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian 17th seed Rublev in the night session. Sinner, who returned from a three-month doping ban last month at the Italian Open, will face the unseeded Alexander Bublik for a place in the last four. Italy's Sinner is targeting a third consecutive Grand Slam title after lifting the US Open trophy last year and winning his second successive Australian Open in January. 'Today was a very good performance but we try to keep going and see how it goes,' said the three-time major champion. Bublik took down his second top-10 rival in Paris as the rejuvenated Kazakh came from a set behind to defeat British fifth seed Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Bublik, ranked 62nd, is into his first Grand Slam quarter-final. Wildcard Boisson sends Pegula tumbling Boisson sent shockwaves through Roland Garros as she kept the French flag flying with an improbable 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over 2024 US Open runner-up Pegula, to join Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva in the last eight. Boisson, 22, came from a set down against last year's US Open runner-up to prolong her dream run on her Grand Slam debut. She is the first French singles quarter-finalist in Paris since Caroline Garica and Kristina Mladenovic made it to the same stage eight years ago. Mary Pierce was the tournament's last French champion in 2000. 'I really don't know what to say,' said Boisson, who was roared on by the home fans on Court Philippe Chatrier. 'To play on this court with such an atmosphere was incredible. I was confident before the match and knew I could do it even if she was really strong.' Boisson missed last year's French Open after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee a week before it started. She is the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top-20 player Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open. Kanepi had dropped to 418th at the time. Boisson goes on to face 18-year-old Russian rising star Andreeva on Wednesday for a place in the semi-finals. Sixth seed Andreeva moved through in straight sets as she cut short an attempted fightback by Daria Kasatkina to advance 6-3, 7-5. Andreeva is through to her second major quarter-final, having reached the last four at Roland Garros 12 months ago when she knocked out Aryna Sabalenka. World number two Gauff brushed Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova aside 6-0, 7-5 to step up her pursuit of a first Roland Garros crown, and second Grand Slam title. Former US Open champion Gauff will play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final. — AFP
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How to watch Roland Garros Wednesday: TV coverage, streaming live, match times and more June 4
How to watch Roland Garros Wednesday: TV coverage, streaming live, match times and more June 4 There are two matches at the Roland Garros on June 4, the best being No. 3-ranked Alexander Zverev against No. 6 Novak Djokovic. If you're looking to keep up with the action, then tune in to the Tennis Channel, which will have live coverage and the biggest highlights from the world of tennis on Center Court and Center Court Live. Roland Garros key details Tournament: The Roland Garros The Roland Garros Round: Quarterfinals Quarterfinals Date: June 4 June 4 Venue: Stade Roland Garros Stade Roland Garros Location: Paris, France Paris, France Court Surface: Clay Watch Roland Garros and more tennis on Fubo! Match of the day: Alexander Zverev vs. Novak Djokovic Start time: 5:00 AM ET 5:00 AM ET Round: Quarterfinal Quarterfinal In 11 tournaments this year, Zverev has gone 23-10 and has won one title. Djokovic has registered an 18-6 record on the year, securing one tournament title. Roland Garros schedule today Alexander Zverev vs. Novak Djokovic, 5:00 AM ET (Quarterfinal) Jannik Sinner vs. Alexander Bublik, 5:00 AM ET (Quarterfinal) Sign up for Fubo to watch tennis today!
