Latest news with #CincinnatiMasters
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sinner lukewarm on expanded Cincinnati format
CINCINNATI: Jannik Sinner on Wednesday gave tepid approval to the 12-day jumbo version of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters while confessing that he would actually prefer to keep the event to the usual one week length. The world number one will be defending his title at the final big event prior to the August 24 start of the US Open. Extending the ongoing Canada event - and Cincinnati - to 12 days with 96-player draws also means that WTA and ATP events in Canada will stage unorthodox finals on Thursday while play is beginning in Cincinnati. Sinner said that given the choice he would opt for the classic system of one-week events for an increasingly crowded calendar. "We (top players) cannot control everything," the Italian said. "The fans now have two weekends to hopefully watch some good tennis. "That is exactly what we need in this sport." But the Wimbledon champion who skipped Canada to rest after his triumph two weeks earlier in the final at the All England Club over Carlos Alcaraz added: "I would prefer a one-week event, it's something that I like. "But it's OK, I'm here and I'm very happy." Other top 10 players, including Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur, have also complained in recent days about the wholesale calendar rewrite which has the enthusiastic endorsement of the ATP and WTA. Sinner said that he enjoyed his time away from the courts, spending time at home with family and friends. "Then it was back to practice to try and get as ready as possible for the US swing." He said Wimbledon, where he beat Alcaraz after losing to the Spaniard at Roland Garros, "felt very, very special."
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Smiling Through: Carlos Alcaraz Won't Let Wimbledon Defeat Get Him Down
Carlos Alcaraz says he has refused to let his Wimbledon finals loss to Jannik Sinner wipe the smile from his face as he prepares for his start at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. The world number two, who was defeated in a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career in London last month, spent his first full day at the Cincinnati site on Wednesday and said he is ready for a reboot during the second half of the season. "Even if I lost, I left the court proud after Wimbledon," the 2023 Cincinnati finalist said. "But the goals can change during the second half of the season. "My goal is to keep doing the right thing and improving. I want to enjoy my time on and off the court. "But I also want to try and recover the number one ranking by the end of the year," he added. The world number two, who joined the top-ranked Sinner in skipping the ATP Toronto Masters, said he spent a refreshing three weeks at home in Spain after his Wimbledon defeat. "I took a week off, not doing anything. Then I started training at home and visiting with friends and family. Just being at home in the summer - I couldn't believe it. "I tried to make the most of my time. I wanted to come strong to Cincy." Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in the French Open final before falling to the Italian at Wimbledon, said he is "happy to be building such a rivalry. "We've done a lot in tennis in a short period of time," he said. "People talk about what we have done for the history books. But we have long careers ahead of us.. let's see how far we can go."
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Smiling through: Alcaraz won't let Wimbledon defeat get him down
Carlos Alcaraz says he has refused to let his Wimbledon finals loss to Jannik Sinner wipe the smile from his face as he prepares for his start at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. The world number two, who was defeated in a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career in London last month, spent his first full day at the Cincinnati site on Wednesday and said he is ready for a reboot during the second half of the season. "Even if I lost, I left the court proud after Wimbledon," the 2023 Cincinnati finalist said. "But the goals can change during the second half of the season. "My goal is to keep doing the right thing and improving. I want to enjoy my time on and off the court. "But I also want to try and recover the number one ranking by the end of the year," he added. The world number two, who joined the top-ranked Sinner in skipping the ATP Toronto Masters, said he spent a refreshing three weeks at home in Spain after his Wimbledon defeat. "I took a week off, not doing anything. Then I started training at home and visiting with friends and family. Just being at home in the summer - I couldn't believe it. "I tried to make the most of my time. I wanted to come strong to Cincy." Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in the French Open final before falling to the Italian at Wimbledon, said he is "happy to be building such a rivalry. "We've done a lot in tennis in a short period of time," he said. "People talk about what we have done for the history books. But we have long careers ahead of us.. let's see how far we can go." str/bb
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ben Shelton reaches first career Masters 1000 semifinals at National Bank Open
Ben Shelton reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal on Tuesday with a quarterfinal win over Alex de Minaur, 6-3, 6-4. After needing three sets to get his 100th ATP Tour win over Flavio Cobolli in the previous round, Shelton cruise to win No. 101. He found control of his serve once again and got the job done in 91 minutes. Shelton had 11 aces and eight forehand winners, while de Minaur dropped 28 unforced errors as his seven-game win streak crumbled. The irony here is that de Minaur is regarded as one of the better returners on the tour. If there's a game designed to slow down Shelton, it's de Minaur's, but not on Tuesday. Shelton won the break battle, 2-1. He'll face the only American ranked higher than him, World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, after the other semifinal between Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov, which is scheduled not before 7 p.m. ET. Ben Shelton's ATP Ranking Defeating de Minaur gives Shelton a firm grasp on the No. 7 spot in the ATP rankings. The live rankings have him at 3,720 points with a chance to add 250 more with a win over Fritz on Wednesday night. Winning the whole tournament would give him 4,320 in the next update, which is enough to pass legend Novak Djokovic for the No. 6 spot. Ahead of Djokovic are the top five of Jack Draper (4,650), Fritz (5,525), Alexander Zverev (6,380), Carlos Alcacarz (8,600) and Jannik Sinner (12,030). Those top three are pretty well out of reach, but it's time for Shelton to start plotting his ascent to the top five. Fritz and Zverev are both alive in this tournament; beating both would be a good step toward that accomplishment. After Toronto The Cincinnati Masters starts on Thursday, but Shelton doesn't have to play until the weekend thanks to a first-round bye. An extra day or two of rest between back-to-back 1,000-point Majors can make a huge difference. Shelton made it to the quarterfinals in Cincinnati a year ago, losing to Zverev in three sets. Shelton won't compete in the Winston-Salem 250, giving him at least a week off until the US Open starts. He's played his best tennis in Grand Slams this season, and Shelton will be a home-court favorite as one of the top Americans in the field. The US Open begins on Aug. 24 and finishes on Sept. 7. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sinner lukewarm on expanded Cincinnati format
Jannik Sinner on Wednesday gave tepid approval to the 12-day jumbo version of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters while confessing that he would actually prefer to keep the event to the usual one week length. The world number one will be defending his title at the final big event prior to the August 24 start of the US Open. Extending the ongoing Canada event - and Cincinnati - to 12 days with 96-player draws also means that WTA and ATP events in Canada will stage unorthodox finals on Thursday while play is beginning in Cincinnati. Sinner said that given the choice he would opt for the classic system of one-week events for an increasingly crowded calendar. "We (top players) cannot control everything," the Italian said. "The fans now have two weekends to hopefully watch some good tennis. "That is exactly what we need in this sport." But the Wimbledon champion who skipped Canada to rest after his triumph two weeks earlier in the final at the All England Club over Carlos Alcaraz added: "I would prefer a one-week event, it's something that I like. "But it's OK, I'm here and I'm very happy." Other top 10 players, including Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur, have also complained in recent days about the wholesale calendar rewrite which has the enthusiastic endorsement of the ATP and WTA. Sinner said that he enjoyed his time away from the courts, spending time at home with family and friends. "Then it was back to practice to try and get as ready as possible for the US swing." He said Wimbledon, where he beat Alcaraz after losing to the Spaniard at Roland Garros, "felt very, very special." str/bb
