Latest news with #FrenchTennisOpen
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
French Open players often make schedule requests. No one wanted to miss the Champions League final
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts as he plays France's Corentin Moutet during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. Synopsis Novak Djokovic's request to avoid a night match at the French Open, so he could watch Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, was denied. Despite elite players often having scheduling preferences accommodated, Djokovic was scheduled to play during the soccer match. The French Open isn't the only sports event in Europe drawing attention from tennis players: The Champions League final will decide the continent's best soccer club, and one of the two teams involved Saturday night is Paris Saint-Germain, whose stadium is a couple of blocks from Roland-Garros. ADVERTISEMENT Count Novak Djokovic among those rooting for PSG against Italy's Inter Milan, and he hoped to be able to tune in on TV to watch the big clash that'll be held in Munich, Germany. So Djokovic made that preference known to the people in charge of arranging the program at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament he's won three times - a common practice, especially among the sport's elite. They often ask to be scheduled at a certain time. Or to avoid a certain time. "I will definitely watch it if I'm not playing (in the) night session. Yeah, that will be nice," Djokovic said with a big smile. "FYI, Roland-Garros schedule." Hint, hint. Except his plea went unheeded: When Saturday's order of play was released Friday, 24-time major champion Djokovic's third-round match against Filip Misolic was the one picked for under the lights at Court Philippe-Chatrier due to begin at 8:15 p.m. local time, 45 minutes before Inter Milan vs. PSG starts. Others who begged off from competing at that hour got their wish. Although one, Arthur Fils, the 14th-seeded Frenchman who grew up near Paris and is a big PSG fan, wound up pulling out of the tournament because of a stress fracture in his back after being placed in an afternoon match against No. 17 Andrey Rublev. ADVERTISEMENT "We have many requests from players" every day, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said. "There's no fixed rule. We try to accommodate everyone as much as possible. That includes requests from players, broadcasters and spectators. ... It's a real puzzle, I won't lie." Coco Gauff said she doesn't often ask for a certain time slot, but when she does, it's usually related to competing in singles and doubles on the same day (the American won the French Open doubles title last year but isn't playing doubles this time). ADVERTISEMENT The 2023 U.S. Open champion, who is currently No. 2 in singles, has noticed that events tend to listen more to elite players than others. "If you're ranked a little bit higher, they'll hear more of your input, for sure," Gauff said. "To be honest, I think it's rightfully deserved. I feel like if you do well on tour, win so many tournaments, you should have a little bit more priority when it comes to that." ADVERTISEMENT Except even the very best of the best don't always have success with these sorts of things. Madison Keys, who was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2017 and won the Australian Open in January, knows what it's like to be ignored. ADVERTISEMENT "Sometimes the request goes (in), they write it down, and they say, 'OK,'" but then don't do anything about it, Keys said. "I really think that it's just kind of up to what the tournament wants, what TV wants, things like that," she added. "Sometimes you kind of get what you ask for. And other times, you get the complete opposite." Just ask Djokovic. "Whatever they schedule me, I have to accept," he said earlier this season. "I think I earned my right to ... (communicate) with the tournament management, where I can express what I would like, depending on a given day, depending on the opponent." (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'You'll never make it' - Aryna Sabalenka slams 'brutal' youth coaches
Aryna Sabalenka reacts winning a point to Serbia's Olga Danilovic during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium (Image via AP /Lindsey Wasson) World number one Aryna Sabalenka may be a three-time Grand Slam winner but the Belarusian revealed Friday how she had been berated and told she would not succeed by coaches as a youngster. On Friday, top-seeded Sabalenka eased into the French Open last 16 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbia's Olga Danilovic on Court Philippe Chatrier. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The 27-year-old Miami-based played spoke of the cultural difference of the coaching system in Eastern Europe. "I've always been quite motivated and they didn't have to push me," Sabalenka said. "But I have heard a lot saying I'm not smart enough, that I'm stupid, and I'll never make it, and I don't have anything to make it to the top. I guess I want to send a quick message to them to quit their job, because honestly, I think they know nothing and they better quit just to save other players," said the player. The Minsk native won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024 and the US Open last year. Sai Sudharsan: 'County stints reminded me that basics are most important part of batting' She brushed aside 34th-ranked Danilovic in 79 minutes and next plays 16th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova for a place in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo The Belarusian said she felt lucky with her coaching team. "Off court it is important to surround yourself with the right people and have fun with your crew and that's what I'm doing," she said. "I am really grateful to have all of them on my team, we are like family. When I am on court, I am a completely different person, very focused, very aggressive. On the court it is about dreams and I give my all on court." 'Healthier environment' Madrid Open winner Sabalenka has spoken this week of how "the environment and in the history of European countries, we are much tougher". "I definitely think that the environment we have in our countries, which is like very tough and coaches are very brutal, you know, there is nothing nice about the way they work with their players, they (are) quite rude. I think that's why maybe our mentality is much stronger, but also, the same time, they kind of like broke so many players because of that aggressive mindset. I think in Europe and the States, the environment is much healthier. " Poll Who do you think will win the upcoming match between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova? Aryna Sabalenka Amanda Anisimova It's too close to call In Paris, Sabalenka refuses to consider herself a favourite in a tournament where she has never advanced past the semi-finals. "Let's just leave it (the pressure) on Iga (Swiatek) since she won it, what, three times in a row, really, right? Let's just... I will just leave it for her." Amanda Anisimova leads Sabalenka 5-2 in previous meetings. The American is competing in her seventh French Open, having an impressive run to the semi-finals six years ago. She beat Sabalenka in straight sets in the second round in 2019. "When I first got here, I was getting some flashbacks and good memories," said the American who got past 22nd-seeded Dane Clara Tauson 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in the third round. "Obviously (she's) one of the best right now. She's No. 1. I really enjoy the fight and the challenge that she brings on," said the 23-year-old.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
French Open 2025: Rune wins a ‘brutal match' against French rival Halys
Denmark's Holger Rune walks on the court as he plays France's Quentin Halys during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Paris: The clock on Court Philippe Chatrier was closing in on two hours and 40 minutes. Holger Rune, the tenth seed, was serving to stay in the French Open third-round clash against home hope Quentin Halys. The near full-house waded into the 10th game of the fourth set, exercising their vocal cords when the 28-year-old Halys won the third point of the game (15-30), putting him within two points of victory. But the 22-year-old Rune squared his shoulders and looked up into the blue sky before he thundered down a 207 kmph ace to silence the fandom. The Dane won nine of the last eleven games to score a 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 win in three hours and 20 minutes to move into the fourth round. Rune's control on the court reflected in the stats — he clocked 66 winners and won 72 per cent of points at the net. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Dane, born in Gentofte in the northern suburb of Copenhagen, is playing his fourth Roland Garros and has compiled a consistent run on the red clay, having made the fourth round or better in every outing. Next up for the world No. 10 is the eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti, whom he leads 2-0 in head-to-head clashes. 'It was a brutal match. He played really well. Massive respect to him. He really put on a fight,' Rune said in his on-court interview, having survived the Frenchman, home fans, and the change in weather with the sun out in all its glory on Friday. 'I tried to change some things. First set did not go how I wanted it to. I had to put more spin on the ball because of the (weather) conditions. The player who took the opportunity to be aggressive was the player who won today. ' In keeping with the trend of the week, where crowd behaviour has been the talking point, Rune asked for a fan to be evicted from Chatrier in the later stages of the third set. 'I put my towel down in the box and the guy was yelling aggressively at me. He reached out for me,' said Rune, who seemed to be in an exchange with the fan seated in the front row. 'I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court — it's a bit embarrassing.' Rune complained to the supervisor, saying the fan made him uncomfortable and that he'd rather the man wasn't in the stands. 'They said they'd check the video and if it was true, they would get him away. I guess they checked and I didn't see him for the rest of the match,' the Dane said. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had problems adjusting to the weather in her third-round encounter against Serbian Olga Danilovic, playing in vastly different conditions than she did her second-round match two days ago. Sabalenka won 6-2, 6-3 in 81 minutes. She next plays 23-year-old Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round — the American leads their head-to-head 5-2.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shelton falls onto his stomach and still wins the point at the French Open
Ben Shelton of the U.S. returns the ball to Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates winning against Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Italy's Matteo Gigante, left, and Ben Shelton of the U.S. congratulate each other during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts as he plays Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts as he plays Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Ben Shelton of the U.S. returns the ball to Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates winning against Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Italy's Matteo Gigante, left, and Ben Shelton of the U.S. congratulate each other during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts as he plays Italy's Matteo Gigante during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) PARIS (AP) — Ben Shelton played one of the best and most unorthodox shots at the French Open so far when he won a point one-handed after falling flat on his stomach on Friday. The 13th-seeded American was serving at 3-0, 15-0 in the second set against Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante on Court Simonne-Mathieu. Advertisement Gigante looped the service return, and Shelton hit a forehand from behind the baseline, lost his footing and fell onto his stomach. Somehow, he managed to crawl for a few centimeters (inches) and stick out his left arm to get the next ball back over the net and in. Shelton then jumped up onto his feet and returned Gigante's big forehand with a two-handed backhand which landed near the Italian's feet. That prompted Gigante to try a volley but it hit the net and gave Shelton the point. Gigante gave Shelton, who had rushed to the net, a friendly hand check. Shelton won the third-round match 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 and was preparing for an on-court interview when he got into more unexpected bother, from an insect. 'Sorry, there was a bee on me,' he said. The bee came back moments later and Shelton readied his fists as if to box it away. ___ AP tennis:
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arthur Fils pulls out of French Open with injury a day after back pains
France's Arthur Fils reacts as he plays Spain's Jaume Munar during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) France's Arthur Fils returns the ball to Spain's Jaume Munar during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) France's Arthur Fils, left, greets Spain's Jaume Munar after winning their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) France's Arthur Fils, left, greets Spain's Jaume Munar after winning their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) France's Arthur Fils reacts as he plays Spain's Jaume Munar during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) France's Arthur Fils returns the ball to Spain's Jaume Munar during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) France's Arthur Fils, left, greets Spain's Jaume Munar after winning their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) PARIS (AP) — French seed Arthur Fils withdrew from the French Open on Friday due to an unspecified injury. The 14th-seeded Fils was to play No. 17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday in the third round. Fils spoke about feeling back pain in his second-round win against Jaume Munar of Spain on Thursday. Advertisement 'Got some issue with the back, but that's since I'm young so I'm used to (it),' the 20-year-old said after that match. 'And also the cramps. A bit of everything. The mix was not very good.' Asked if he would be fit to face Rublev, Fils said, 'I hope so.' With Fils out, there were no Frenchmen left in the draw at Roland-Garros. ___ AP tennis:
