Latest news with #Claycourt
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Defending champion Alcaraz returns to French Open final after ailing Italian retires
Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz composed himself after a slow start before charging into back-to-back French Open finals when eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with a left thigh injury while trailing 4-6 7-6(3) 6-0 2-0. "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who reached the Monte Carlo final before the Madrid and Rome semi-finals, was hampered by the leg problem during the third set and threw in the towel after two games into the fourth. Photo: THIBAUD MORITZ "I felt at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I started losing a little bit of strength on the left leg, and it was getting worse, so I decided to stop," Musetti said. "I think it was the right decision to make, even if it wasn't what I wanted. Tomorrow I'll do exams, and I'll of course see and evaluate the situation." Alcaraz, who had his chances in the opening set, said he was relieved to be able to show his best level thereafter. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third," he added. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 percent in the final." Alcaraz's victory ensures his dreams of becoming only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century after Rafael Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, remains alive. - Reuters
CNA
24-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Cobolli upsets Rublev to win Hamburg Open
HAMBURG, Germany :Italy's Flavio Cobolli won the biggest title of his career when he upset third seed Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4 to win the Hamburg Open on Saturday. Ranked number 35 in the world, Cobolli had only one ATP 250 title to his name, having won the Romanian Open last month, but the 23-year-old now has two claycourt titles after beating Rublev in the final of the ATP 500 event. He is just the third player to win multiple titles on the ATP Tour this year after Carlos Alcaraz (three) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (also two), while the victory will see him rise to a career-high 26th in the rankings. "I think it is the best moment and match of my life for sure. I have to say sorry to Andrey because today I played unbelievable. I am so happy and proud of myself," Cobolli said. "I can see my family, friends, brother and girlfriend here and it is a surprise. I am really happy. I passed many battles this year and this kind of day is good for your mind. I am so happy, I just want to (lift) the trophy." After Cobolli convincingly took the opening set, Rublev went 3-2 up in the second but the momentum shifted after a 31-shot rally where the Russian tried to make Cobolli run for most points. Cobolli turned the tables when he fired a scorching forehand winner to get the point and as the Italian put his hand to his ear to get the crowd roaring, a spent Rublev bent over in exhaustion. Rublev never recovered and although he had seven break points in the contest, Cobolli saved six of them. The Italian converted all four of his own break points to wrap up the match in an hour and 28 minutes. He will have no time to rest, however, as he looks ahead to a match against former Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic in the first round of the French Open, which begins on Sunday.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Italian Cobolli to face Rublev in Hamburg final
HAMBURG, Germany :Italy's Flavio Cobolli came from a set down to battle past Tomas Etcheverry of Argentina and reach the Hamburg Open final with a 2-6 7-5 6-4 win on Friday. With the French Open starting on Sunday, Cobolli dug deep to come from 3-1 behind in the second set before reaching his second final of the season in which he will face Andrey Rublev. The Russian third seed, a winner in Hamburg in 2020 and losing finalist in 2019, eased past Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-1 6-4 and will now bid for his second title of the season after winning the Qatar Open. Claycourt specialist Etcheverry earned his first break points in the sixth game and he converted on the third opportunity to go 4-2 up. He then broke Cobolli, ranked 35th in the world, when the erratic Italian - who had 18 unforced errors at that stage, three times as many as his opponent - double-faulted on Etcheverry's third set point. Etcheverry initially kept up the pressure, hitting the ball deep, with one shot landing flat on the baseline to break his opponent again and go 3-1 up. Cobolli, however, was not done, cutting down his error count and pinning Etcheverry to the baseline with longer rallies. He twice broke the world number 55 to go 6-5 up and held serve to grab the second set. The third went with serve until Cobolli broke to go 5-4 up, going on to reach the biggest final of his career on his first match point. Rublev enjoyed an easier semi-final, breaking his opponent twice in the first set.
Reuters
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
French Open 2025: dates, schedule, seeds, how to watch on TV
PARIS, May 6 (Reuters) - The French Open is a claycourt Grand Slam tournament organised by the French Tennis Federation. It was first held in 1891 and originally known as the French Championships or Championnat de France. The French Open is also referred to as Roland Garros after the venue it is staged at, which was named after French fighter pilot and aviator Roland Garros. WHEN IS THE FRENCH OPEN HAPPENING? * This year's French Open runs from May 25 to June 8. WHERE IS THE FRENCH OPEN TAKING PLACE? * The French Open is held in Paris every year. * The three main showcourts are Court Philippe Chatrier, Court Suzanne Lenglen and Court Simonne Mathieu. * Court Philippe Chatrier (capacity 15,225) is named after former French Tennis Federation president Philippe Chatrier. It has been the centrepiece of the Roland Garros complex since it was opened in 1928. * Court Suzanne Lenglen (capacity 10,068) is named in honour of French great Suzanne Lenglen. It was opened in 1994 and named Court A initially. Like Chatrier, it has seen its fair share of historic battles. * Court Simonne Mathieu (capacity 5,000) is the newest of the main showcourts and was inaugurated in 2019. It was named after French tennis player Simonne Mathieu. WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE FRENCH OPEN? * The top-ranked players automatically enter the main draw, with 32 seeds announced prior to the draw to ensure they do not meet in the early rounds. Seedings are based on world rankings determined by the points players collect on the tour. * Holder Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is the men's world number three and claimed the third of his four major titles at the 2024 French Open, beating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the final. * Poland's Iga Swiatek, the women's world number two, won her fourth French Open trophy and third in succession in 2024, defeating Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the final. * Organisers also hand out wildcards for local hopes and notable players who have dropped down the rankings. TOP RANKED PLAYERS MEN 1 Jannik Sinner (Italy) 2 Alexander Zverev (Germany) 3 Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) 4 Taylor Fritz (United States) 5 Jack Draper (Britain) 6 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 7 Casper Ruud (Norway) 8 Alex de Minaur (Australia) 9 Lorenzo Musetti (Italy) 10 Holger Rune (Denmark) WOMEN 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 2 Iga Swiatek (Poland) 3 Coco Gauff (United States) 4 Jessica Pegula (United States) 5 Jasmine Paolini (Italy) 6 Madison Keys (United States) 7 Mirra Andreeva (Russia) 8 Zheng Qinwen (China) 9 Emma Navaro (United States) 10 Paula Badosa (Spain) WHERE TO WATCH THE FRENCH OPEN ON TV The full list of official broadcasters of the French Open in each country can be found here. France: France TV Sport, Prime Video Europe (All regions except France): Eurosport Austria: Wide World of Sports and Stan. SPORT New Zealand: Sky South Korea: CJ ENM Belgium: RTBF Switzerland: SRG SSR Asia (All territories): beIN Sports Sub-Saharan Africa: CANAL+ and SuperSport. China: CMG, SportsIqiyi Taiwan: eltaott Vietnam: VTVcab Japan: WOWOW India: Sony Ten North Africa and Middle East: beIN Sports Brazil: ESPN Canada: RDS TSN Latin America: ESPN USA: TNT, Max, Tru TV
