Latest news with #LibemaOpen
New York Post
24-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
ATP Washington picks: Ben Shelton vs. Gabriel Diallo odds, prediction
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Thursday's showdown between Ben Shelton and Gabriel Diallo at the ATP Washington Open may not break into the mainstream, but tennis fanatics and bettors will consider it a can't-miss tilt. Shelton and Diallo are two rising powers in the sport, and they both should be well-suited for the North American hard-court swing, which favors players who can overpower their opponents with their serve and groundstrokes. Shelton, the World No. 8, is a -200 favorite over Diallo on Thursday. ATP Washington: Shelton vs. Diallo odds, prediction Diallo defeated Shelton in their only professional meeting, but that came back in 2022 on the Challenger circuit, so there's nothing you can really learn from that result. Not only are the two big-serving stars much better players now, but they're also in terrific form. Shelton is just a couple of weeks removed from a trip to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. Shelton had dropped just one set prior to his loss to the eventual champion. Diallo was stopped in the second round of Wimbledon by No. 4 Taylor Fritz, but he took him to five sets, ending a terrific spell on the grass in 2025. The Montreal native won a title at the Libema Open as part of a 9-3 run on the lawn. This is the first tournament for each player since Wimbledon, but both Shelton and Diallo looked terrific in straight-set wins in the Round of 32. Ben Shelton in action at ATP Washington Open. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Both of these players are unabashed about how they want matches to unfold. Shelton and Diallo boast two of the best serves on tour, and they'll want to win quick, cheap points when they're starting with the ball. Given the stylistic matchup, it's no surprise that the Over/Under is set at 24.5 games, with juice on the over. In all likelihood, this match will be decided by which player holds their nerve in tiebreaks, and that really narrows the margin for error for both players. In this kind of matchup, I'd lean towards the underdog, especially a punchy one like Diallo. The Play: Gabriel Diallo +160 (bet365) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Who is Elise Mertens' boyfriend Christopher Heyman?
ELISE MERTENS and Veronika Kudermetova have powered through to semi-finals of the ladies' doubles, where they face Olivia Gadecki and Desiree Krawczyk. Here we get to know Elise's tennis coach and off-court partner Christopher Heyman — who isn't the only tennis coach she has dated. 5 Elise Mertens is in a relationship with Chris Heyman Credit: Instagram @christopherheyman 5 Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova are through to the ladies' doubles semis Credit: Getty Seeded eight for They carried their strong form into round two, defeating Marie Bouzková and Anna Danilina 6-2, 6-4. Their dominant form continued in round three, beating Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi 6-3, 6-4, once again without dropping a set. In round three, they had a walkover against Beatriz Haddad Maia and In a tight quarter-final contest, they defeated Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), showcasing their resilience in the crucial moments of the second-set tiebreak. New up they're taking on Olivia Gadecki and 5 WIMBLEDON 2025 LIVE - FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST SCORES AND UPDATES FROM A THRILLING FORTNIGHT AT SW19 Who is Elise Mertens' boyfriend Christopher Heyman? Christopher Heyman was born in Eupen, Belgium, on October 8, 1993. Most read in Sport He is the boyfriend of fellow Belgian tennis ace Per Essentially Sports, their relationship became public in 2023, when Elise officially confirmed it. Chris is a former ATP tennis pro with 19 ITF titles to his name and a career-high singles ranking of 258. Queen thanks Novak Djokovic for letting her stay in his 'lovely' property in 'private' chat at Wimbledon He remains active in the tennis world, having taken on a coaching role for his girlfriend Elise. Chris has been a constant and supportive presence at Elise's matches. After her 2024 Australian Open doubles victory with Hsieh Su-wei, Chris shared a celebratory photo of himself and Elise with the trophy on Instagram. He wrote: 'To live through these moments together is magical. Moments I will cherish for a very long time #australianopen.' Elsie responded to the post with heart and infinity emojis. More recently, after Elise triumphed in the ladies' singles at Libema Open in June 2025, Chris again posted a pic of the happy couple with the trophy. 5 Chris regularly posts pics of himself and Elise with her trophies Credit: Instagram @christopherheyman He wrote: "This title is a culmination of the relentless fighting spirit Elise has every time she steps out onto the court. "Saving 11 match points in the semi final, then going on to play the next day and push through is something one cannot teach. "It is inspiring to witness. I am so happy for you and us as a team. We've earned it! To which Elise replied: "Thank you for always being there for us, on & off court", again followed by a red heart and infinity emoji. Before dating Chris, Elise was in a long-term relationship with her former coach Robbe Ceyssens. 5 Elise was previosuly in a relationship with her coach Robbe Ceyssens Credit: Alamy Who is her ex Robbe Ceyssens? Robbe Ceyssens, Elise's ex, was born in Belgium on April 6, 1993. They first met in 2015 at the He is a former tennis player himself, having competed mainly on the ITF circuit, achieving some junior-level wins before transitioning into coaching. Robbe coached Elise for several years, including during the early part of her professional career, but they ended their formal coach-player relationship in 2021. In December of that year, Elise posted on social media: "Robbe and I have decided to end our coach-player partnership. 'It's been an incredible adventure together. No words can describe how much we learned from each other. I wish Robbe the best for the future.' Read more on the Irish Sun And while this may also sound like they ended their romantic relationship as well, that was thankfully not the case — at least not then. However, nothing has been reported on exactly when or why they decided to call time on their romantic relationship.
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon star who made fortune at SW19 in only one year retires aged just 28
Tim van Rijthoven has announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 28, just three years on from his impressive run at Wimbledon where he faced Novak Djokovic Former Wimbledon star Tim van Rijthoven has stunned the tennis world by announcing his retirement at the age of 28. The Dutch player is stepping away from the sport just three years after testing Novak Djokovic at the All England Club. Van Rijthoven's career peaked in 2022 when he claimed a series of high-profile victories as an underdog. Entering the Libema Open ranked 205th in the world, he received a wildcard and defeated top 20 players Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev en route to winning his sole ATP title. His impressive performances continued at Wimbledon, where he faced the eventual champion Djokovic in the fourth round, earning £190k for his efforts. Reaching a career-high ranking of No. 101, persistent injuries have hampered Van Rijthoven's journey, leading to his decision to retire from professional tennis. In an emotional social media post, Van Rijthoven wrote: "Dear all, with a heavy heart, today I have to share something that I have been trying to process for a long time. My professional tennis career is forced to end. "Due to a stubborn elbow injury that, despite all rehabilitation and medical trips, fails to recover, I am forced to say goodbye to the sport I have lived my whole life. I wish I had seen it differently. "I would like to say goodbye on my own terms, with a racket in hand and an audience in the stands. But sometimes the body decides differently than the head. "Still, I look back with an incredible amount of pride and gratitude. From being a little boy in my mother's arms with big dreams to winning the Libema Open in 2022, my first ATP title, in front of my home crowd in Rosmalen - it will forever be one of the best moments of my life. "And of course, the fourth round of Wimbledon, where I got the chance to compete against a living legend: Novak Djokovic on Centre Court. The fact that I was allowed on that stage is something that no one will ever take away from me." Van Rijthoven's journey to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2022 marked his most impressive performance at a Grand Slam. Entering as a wildcard in his debut at the prestigious tournament, he sailed through his opening match against Argentina's Federico Delbonis in straight sets, but more significant victories were on the horizon. In the second round, Van Rijthoven caused a stir by defeating American sensation and 15th seed Riley Opelka in four sets. He continued his remarkable run by knocking out Georgia's 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, setting the stage for a showdown with Djokovic. Despite claiming the second set, Van Rijthoven ultimately bowed out to the Serbian ace, who later clinched his seventh Wimbledon crown. Injuries ultimately hindered Van Rijthoven's ascent, preventing him from cracking the top 100 in his career. He endured several injury setbacks, including a nine-month hiatus due to a back injury, and cited a persistent elbow problem as the reason for hanging up his racket. Most recently, Van Rijthoven had been active in Challenger tournaments and ATP qualifying rounds. His last ATP appearances came at the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year, where he bowed out in the first qualifying rounds. On social media, Van Rijthoven expressed gratitude to those who had helped him during his career: "I want to thank everyone who supported me on this journey: my family, team, coaches, physiotherapists, sponsors and fans. "I don't know exactly what will happen next, but I know that my heart will always be with tennis. See you soon - maybe on the court, maybe not. Who knows."
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Wimbledon picks: Taylor Fritz vs. Gabriel Diallo odds, predictions
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Gabriel Diallo's game seems tailor-made for the grass. The 23-year-old Canadian stands 6-foot-8, boasts a massive serve, and is not afraid to be aggressive in the big moments. Players with that kind of toolkit are always intriguing on the grass, but we've seen this surface prove tricky for big-serving players who believe that they can simply overpower their opponents. Diallo, in his main draw debut at Wimbledon, seems to have avoided falling into that trap. Not only did the Montreal native look imperious against Daniel Altmaier in Round 1, but he also collected the first ATP title of his career last month on the lawn at the Libema Open. Diallo takes on American Taylor Fritz in one of the most intriguing matchups of Round 2. Wimbledon: Fritz vs. Diallo pick Diallo isn't the only big server in this matchup. According to the ATP, Taylor Fritz has the second-highest rated serve on Tour behind Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, whom the American defeated in Round 1. While there are plenty of similarities between Mpetshi Perricard and Diallo, the difference is in the return game. The Frenchman wasn't able to touch Fritz's serve, but that isn't likely to be the case against Diallo. Taylor Fritz in action at Wimbledon. AFP via Getty Images Diallo's serve isn't as powerful as Mpetshi Perricard's, but he will be able to put more pressure on Fritz when he's on defense, which is something the World No. 5 didn't have to deal with in Round 1. Fritz's tank could be close to empty after his marathon match in Round 1, so don't be surprised if he can't deal with Diallo on Wednesday. The play: Diallo +250 (FanDuel) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
News18
28-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
Injured Hubert Hurkacz Withdraws From Wimbledon; Cites Setback During Recovery
Last Updated: Hurkacz, 28, underwent surgery after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in a second-round match at Wimbledon last year. Poland's Hubert Hurkacz announced his withdrawal from Wimbledon on Friday, citing a setback during his recovery from surgery. World no. 6 Hurkacz has not played since he withdrew from the Libema Open earlier this month due to a lower back injury, with the tournament's fifth seed forced to take two medical timeouts in a first-round victory before he withdrew. Hurkacz also underwent meniscus surgery on his right knee after retiring from his second-round match at Wimbledon last year, where he was the seventh seed, forcing him to skip the Olympics as well. — Hubert Hurkacz (@HubertHurkacz) June 27, 2025 'Over the past few weeks, you've seen me on court through both the highs and the more challenging moments. Unfortunately, today I have to share some difficult news," Hurkacz said in a statement. 'After careful consideration and consultation with my team, we have made the decision to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon. 'During preparations, my body reacted – synovial membrane irritation – which is part of the recovery process from my surgery. It needs rest and treatment, and I need to listen to my body." Hurkacz, 28, underwent surgery after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in a second-round match at Wimbledon last year. He is 15-11 this season but has not played since withdrawing from the Libema Open earlier this month due to a lower back injury. Hurkacz has won eight singles titles on the ATP Tour and is still looking for his first Grand Slam win. He reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2021. 'It is not easy to step away from such a prestigious tournament," Hurkacz said. 'But I know this is the right decision for my long-term health and performance." The Wimbledon draw was made earlier on Friday, and Hurkacz was set to play Briton Billy Harris in the first round of the grasscourt Grand Slam, which begins on Monday.
