Latest news with #KeiNishikori
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Carlos Alcaraz eases to straight-sets victory in French Open defence
Carlos Alcaraz got the defence of his French Open title up and running with a straight-sets win over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri. The 22-year-old Spaniard, looking for a second Roland Garros crown and a fifth grand slam title, won 6-3 6-4 6-2 in just under two hours. Advertisement Alcaraz was consigned to play on Court Suzanne-Longlen, presumably because he prefers not to play later in day, which he may have had to on the main court, Phillipe-Chatrier. Carlitos in control 🙌 #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2025 He also had to deal with a late change in opponent, having originally been drawn against former world number four Kei Nishikori. 'I think it was really, really solid,' he said. 'The first round for every tournament is never easy and probably coming here as defending champion, it could be even tougher. 'But I just started pretty well, I kept my good pace during the match, which is great. Advertisement Casper Ruud also got off to a flying start at Roland Garros (Thibault Camus/AP) 'I tried to be really focused on my game 'Hopefully I'll keep going in the next round but I'm just really, really proud about my start here in Roland Garros.' Former finalist Casper Ruud also got off to a flying start, the Norwegian seventh seed disposing of Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 6-4 6-2.
The Mainichi
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Tennis: Nishikori pulls out of French Open with lower back pain
PARIS (Kyodo) -- Japan's former world No. 4 tennis player Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the French Open because of lower back pain, his management company said Friday. The injury-plagued 35-year-old had been scheduled to face reigning champion and current world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the first round of the tournament beginning Sunday. The lower back trouble forced Nishikori to withdraw from his rain-interrupted second-round match against Russian Karen Khachanov at the Geneva Open on Wednesday. Nishikori returned from a succession of injuries to make his Grand Slam comeback in January at the Australian Open, where he reached the second around. Japan's former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka will take on 10th-seeded Paula Badosa of Spain in the women's first round at Roland Garros.
Kyodo News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Tennis: Nishikori to face Alcaraz in French Open 1st round
KYODO NEWS - 4 minutes ago - 13:01 | Sports, All Injury-ravaged Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori will play defending champion and second-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the French Open, the men's singles draw showed Thursday. The French Open, the second Grand Slam on the tennis calendar, begins Sunday. Top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy will be vying for his third consecutive Grand Slam title. On Wednesday, former world No. 4 Nishikori withdrew from his rain-interrupted second-round match against Russian Karen Khachanov at the clay-court Geneva Open with a sore back. Among other Japanese players, former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka will take on 10th-seeded Paula Badosa of Spain in the women's first round at Roland Garros. Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland is seeded fifth. Related coverage: Tennis: Teen sensation Victoria Mboko shines in BJK Cup debut for Canada Tennis: Japan downs Canada to reach Billie Jean King Cup finals Tennis: Japan defeats Romania in Billie Jean King Cup
Japan Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Alcaraz gets Nishikori in Roland Garros opener; Sinner faces Frenchman
tennis Carlos Alcaraz will begin his French Open title defense against Japan's Kei Nishikori and Jannik Sinner plays home hope Arthur Rinderknech in his first Grand Slam match since serving a doping ban. Novak Djokovic starts his latest quest for a record-setting 25th major against American Mackenzie McDonald. Last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev takes on U.S. teenager Learner Tien. Seeded sixth, Djokovic could been drawn to meet either Alcaraz or Sinner in the quarterfinals, but Thursday's draw ensured the earliest he can face either is the Italian world number one in the last four. Iga Swiatek faces a difficult route to a fourth successive Roland Garros title after a year-long trophy drought. The Pole, who dropped to fifth in the world this week, is in the same quarter as 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini, former champion Jelena Ostapenko and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina. Swiatek plays Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova in the first round before a possible meeting with Britain's Emma Raducanu. The four-time French Open champion is also in the same half of the draw as top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who gets under way against Kamilla Rakhimova from Russia. Second-ranked Coco Gauff plays Australian Olivia Gadecki in round one and is one of four seeded Americans in the bottom quarter of the women's draw. © 2025 AFP
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Alcaraz's confidence soaring before French Open title defense while Swiatek struggling
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz will open his defense of the French Open title against veteran Kei Nishikori and said he's 'excited' to be back in Paris on the back of an excellent clay-court season. Alcaraz has been the dominant player in the weeks leading to Roland-Garros and is the clear-cut favorite after claiming trophies in Barcelona and Rome. Nishikori is a former top-five player who has been struggling on the dirt in recent years. Alcaraz holds a 15-1 record on clay this season. Having moved back to No. 2 in the rankings, he can't play top-ranked Jannik Sinner before the final in Paris because they are on opposite sides of the draw. 'It's been a great clay season so far,' Alcaraz said after Thursday's draw in Paris. 'I'm excited. The confidence is really high right now.' Together, Alcaraz or Sinner have won the last five Grand Slam titles. Back from his three-month doping suspension, Sinner pushed Alcaraz when they met in the Rome final this month, yet lost in straight sets. Sinner opens against local hope Arthur Rinderknech. Alcaraz beat Sinner over five sets in the French Open semifinals last year. Alcaraz then successfully defended his Wimbledon title for his fourth Grand Slam trophy. Sinner has won only one of his 19 career titles on clay, in Umag, Croatia, in 2022 — when he beat Alcaraz in the final. Novak Djokovic, who finally won a match on clay this year at the Geneva Open on Wednesday, will face Mackenzie McDonald of the United States in the first round. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion won the Paris Olympics gold medal last August at Roland-Garros but has struggled on clay since then. Sinner could run into No. 5 seed Jack Draper in the quarterfinals, with other possible matchups featuring Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Djokovic (6), Taylor Fritz (4) vs. Lorenzo Musetti (8), and Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud (7). In the women's draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek is still searching for her best form. She has dropped outside the top four and has not won a title or reached a final since her victory at Roland-Garros last year. Seeded No. 5 in Paris, Swiatek will open her campaign against Rebecca Sramkova, ranked No. 41. She could meet former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in the second round. 'I'm proud of my achievements here,' Swiatek said. 'I'm working hard to be ready. For sure this season had more ups and downs than the years before. But I know my game is here.' No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Kamilla Rakhimova while No. 2 Coco Gauff will take on Olivia Gadecki. An interesting matchup will pit No. 10 Paula Badosa against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. The possible women's quarterfinals are Sabalenka against No. 8 Qinwen Zheng, last-year's runner-up Jasmine Paolini against Swiatek, Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Mirra Andreeva (6), and Gauff against Madison Keys (7) The French Open starts on Sunday and concludes on June 8. ___ AP tennis:
