Latest news with #MMOpen
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aryna Sabalenka outplays Coco Gauff to win third Madrid Open title
Aryna Sabalenka clinched her third Madrid Open on Saturday after a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over Coco Gauff. The world No. 1 clinched her third WTA title this year with the win. Sabalenka played the past three finals of the WTA 1000 tournament and equaled Petra Kvitova's record of three Madrid Open titles. Her previous victories came in 2023 and 2021. She also tied Gauff at five wins in their 10 meetings. "I always enjoy fighting against you, you're such a fighter," Sabalenka told Gauff. "I'm super happy I was able to win this year." Aryna continues to rewrite the record books ✍️Her third #MMOpen title 🏆 ties Petra Kvitova for the most women's singles wins in tournament history. — Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 3, 2025 Sabalenka won her sixth straight match against a top-10 opponent this year without dropping a set. She showed dominance with a four-game win streak without conceding a point to build a 4-1 lead in the first set. Although Gauff battled to close the gap 4-2, the Belarusian secured the set with another break. Gauff went up 2-1 in the second set and built a 5-3 lead before double faults while serving allowed Sabalenka to break back. She tied the score 5-5 before winning the title in a tiebreak. Gauff was gracious in defeat and praised her rival after the match. "Incredible tournament, you're always tough to face," Gauff told Sabalenka. "Congratulations on all the success that you're having. Hopefully, I can be back in this position next year." Sabalenka landed 69% of her serves, winning points on 68% and 75% of her first and second. Gauff landed 55% of her serves, gaining points on 57% and 53% of her first and second. Sabalenka had two aces and two double faults to Gauff's two aces and eight double faults. Both athletes will have a quick turnaround as they prepare to compete in the Italian Open in Rome this week. From there, the clay court season will wrap up in the second Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aryna Sabalenka outplays Coco Gauff to win third Madrid Open title
Aryna Sabalenka clinched her third Madrid Open on Saturday after a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over Coco Gauff. The world No. 1 clinched her third WTA title this year with the win. Sabalenka played the past three finals of the WTA 1000 tournament and equaled Petra Kvitova's record of three Madrid Open titles. Her previous victories came in 2023 and 2021. She also tied Gauff at five wins in their 10 meetings. "I always enjoy fighting against you, you're such a fighter," Sabalenka told Gauff. "I'm super happy I was able to win this year." Aryna continues to rewrite the record books ✍️Her third #MMOpen title 🏆 ties Petra Kvitova for the most women's singles wins in tournament history. — Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 3, 2025 Sabalenka won her sixth straight match against a top-10 opponent this year without dropping a set. She showed dominance with a four-game win streak without conceding a point to build a 4-1 lead in the first set. Although Gauff battled to close the gap 4-2, the Belarusian secured the set with another break. Gauff went up 2-1 in the second set and built a 5-3 lead before double faults while serving allowed Sabalenka to break back. She tied the score 5-5 before winning the title in a tiebreak. Gauff was gracious in defeat and praised her rival after the match. "Incredible tournament, you're always tough to face," Gauff told Sabalenka. "Congratulations on all the success that you're having. Hopefully, I can be back in this position next year." Sabalenka landed 69% of her serves, winning points on 68% and 75% of her first and second. Gauff landed 55% of her serves, gaining points on 57% and 53% of her first and second. Sabalenka had two aces and two double faults to Gauff's two aces and eight double faults. Both athletes will have a quick turnaround as they prepare to compete in the Italian Open in Rome this week. From there, the clay court season will wrap up in the second Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
The Herald Scotland
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Jack Draper defeated by Casper Ruud in Madrid Open final
Draper, up to fifth in the world rankings after his brilliant run in the Spanish capital and bidding for a second ATP 1000 title in two months following his Indian Wells triumph in mid-March, fell short against the Norwegian, who triumphed 7-5 3-6 6-4 in just under two and a half hours. All the work, all the dedication. This moment is what it's all for ❤️ Congratulations Champion Casper 👏#ItAllAddsUp | @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOpen — ATP Tour (@atptour) May 4, 2025 Draper looked to be in control early in the first set as he set off in pursuit of a first ATP clay-court crown, forcing the first break of serve to lead 3-1, but from 5-3 down Ruud launched a superb counter-offensive. The 14th seed reeled off four successive games, breaking back to level it up at 5-5 and taking the first set in 52 minutes. The turnaround left Draper furious as he remonstrated with himself and his coach, but he quickly regrouped to play solidly before ripping a forehand winner to break Ruud for a second time and move 4-3 ahead. Draper then showed resilience to fend off two break points in the next game to move 5-3 up before winning against the Ruud serve for the third time in the match to level it up at one set each. The Briton produced a pivotal hold at 1-1 in the decider, surviving three break points in a game that lasted over 10 minutes to edge 2-1 ahead. Both players came under heavy pressure on serve, with Draper letting slip two break points as Ruud drew level at 2-2 before winning the next two games to move 4-2 in front. Draper was a point away from going 5-2 down, but dug deep to hold and trail 4-3, and after both players won their next service games, Ruud served for the title at 5-4. The 26-year-old produced two excellent forehands to seal his first Masters 1000 title and climb back into the world top 10.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Novak Djokovic, MS Dhoni and the painful April of watching the unbreakable legends break
Novak Djokovic can be advised to follow MS Dhoni's IPL season. If the Serb finds cricket boring, he can just watch his four-ball inning – calling it a painful-to-watch outing would be more apt – against Punjab Kings in CSK's last game. Dhoni, 43, has looked in shape, sufficiently beefed up. But he couldn't middle many balls. When he did, he failed to clear the ropes, like he did once upon a time. CSK 's fortunes would get impacted. The IPL final is still about a month away but the multiple champions are out of contention. Dhoni failed when his team wanted him to succeed the most. And in his and CSK's failure, is a lesson for Djokovic – Form wasn't on tap, it doesn't flow by just turning the knob. Few days back, towards the end of last month, Djokovic, 37, had lost to World No.44 Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets. It was a meek surrender. Acknowledging his fall but not sure if it was time to call it quits, Djokovic spoke about a 'new reality'. He confessed how his goal these days was to win a few rounds and not the tournament. But like all sporting greats, in the business of performing miracles all their lives, he wasn't writing himself off at Grand Slams. 'Obviously Grand Slams are the most important tournaments for me. Which doesn't mean that I don't want to win here, of course I wanted to, but Grand Slams are where I really want to play the best tennis,' he said. That was the catch. Djokovic believed that 'best tennis' was on tap and he was capable of turning the knob four times a year. An honest assessment from Djokovic after his loss to Arnaldi earlier 🎙️ #MMOpen — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 26, 2025 Watching Dhoni might make the tennis legend wiser about his future. Dhoni's April was far worse than Djokovic. Very early this season, the IPL trophy was nowhere near his sight and winning a few games was his team's realistic goal. Personally, playing a winning hand seemed beyond him. These days, he had modest targets – it was about getting a clean connection between bat and ball. Dhoni had been living the 'new reality' that Djokovic spoke about for the entire 2024 season. 2025 was about him waking up to an 'age-old reality'. A shadow of his old self, he was a walking warning to the pros dragging their feet even after father time had blown the final whistle. Back in the day, Dhoni always rose to the occasion. Now that was not the case. For CSK and Dhoni, that game against Punjab Kings was crucial. It was now-or-never – win or forget playoffs moment. Chepauk was packed. It was an arena that has witnessed many magical Dhoni knocks. The venue, the fans, the cause – this was the famous Thala hour. It took four-balls to realise, this used to be the Thala hour. A shadow of his old self, Dhoni was a walking warning to the pros dragging their feet even after father time had blown the final whistle. (BCCI) CSK were about 170 in the 18th over when Dhoni walked in. They needed to cross 200 to make it a game. The first ball from the tall South African pacer Marco Jansen was short, aimed at his head. Back in the day, Dhoni would have swatted it over square leg. He swung the bat, it caught the top edge and flew for four. Chepauk erupted. The next ball too was short but he couldn't clear the boundary. At least it went where he intended. Next up was Yuzvendra Chahal. Dhoni knows him inside out. The leggie used to be his pupil, rather a puppet, when he was the India captain. From behind the stumps, he would tutor Chahal all the time. Chahal pitched his first ball on his stumps. Dhoni lofted it for a straight six. How times change. Now, it was Chahal who was reading his master's mind. Aware that Dhoni had got slower and lost touch, Chahal tossed the next ball outside off. Dhoni failed to reach or make a solid connect. He was caught on the fence. The touch had vanished, and so had the halo. In a season where he has scored 151 in 10 outings, this has happened often. Dhoni is losing his aura, an important weapon that helped during those tight last-over situations. There was a time when Dhoni would leave it for late and pull off impossible wins – that was his way of leaving his signature on a winning game. This IPL too he tried the Houdini but his team sunk. He no longer could unshackle the chains in time. Djokovic too is a master of tight matches. He has perfected the art of winning tie-breakers – where the situation isn't too different from cricket's final overs. There have been times when Djokovic would be down 0-2 but he would still wear that nonplussed Dhoni expression. Such was his winning percentage in 3rd, 4th and 5th sets, that he, his rivals and the world knew who was the favourite when the game went to the wire. Il punto con cui Botic van de Zandschulp ha sconfitto Novak Djokovic a Indian Wells! 🇳🇱 — Quindici Zero 🎾 (@quindicizero) March 9, 2025 This April, the month when the mighty fell, Djokovic too wasn't his old self. He lost three matches in a row, something he hadn't done for ages on the tour. His last loss was to Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp at Indian Wells. The game went to the deciding third set but he couldn't beat the World No. 85. That day he committed 37 unforced errors – if cricket kept that statistical count Dhoni's numbers would be similar. After the game, Djokovic confessed 'it was a struggle'. It is these struggles that make fans, accustomed to dispensing superlatives from their couches, wince. They feel betrayed by the slowing reflexes of the aging of Supermen. Sport has always been about those obsessed with the singular Peter Pan story. Nobody stops ageing – neither stars, nor fans. But spectators would always want their heroes to be super-fit and super-successful. Watching Dhoni, Djokovic will get to know that the 'new reality' of downsizing ambitions comes with risks of shrinking your stature, denting your reputation and adding an anti-climatic postscript to your legacy. Form or best tennis aren't on tap, they need to perennially flow. Only when 'giving your best' becomes a habit, it will organically flow into your veins at the opportune time. Dhoni couldn't do that, wait for Paris to find if Djokovic can.
The Herald Scotland
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Jack Draper storms through to first ATP clay-court final in Madrid
Reaching a first career ATP final on clay – considered Draper's weakest surface – also provides the 23-year-old with a massive fillip with the French Open just over three weeks away. Welcome to the Jack Draper show 🍿 Into the final without dropping a set, pure 🔥@mutuamadridopen | #MMOpen — ATP Tour (@atptour) May 2, 2025 Should he add the Madrid title to the Indian Wells crown he won in March, Draper – who has already leapfrogged Novak Djokovic into the world's top five – would be only 25 ranking points behind American world number four Taylor Fritz. Musetti considers clay his best surface and reached the Monte Carlo final just last month, pushing Carlos Alcaraz to three sets. But two breaks of serve to Musetti's one swayed a high-quality first set in Draper's favour, with the man from Surrey squandering two set points before converting a third. Musetti, another rising star who is three months Draper's junior, stepped up his level in the second with some stunning shot-making while his opponent began to look heavy-legged. But a couple of big holds kept Draper in the set, and in the tie-break a solitary mini-break and a backhand winner wrapped up another impressive victory. Draper, who has yet to drop a set in Madrid, told Sky Sports: 'Every moment felt like a key point. I've played Lorenzo since juniors but he's a different animal on clay. 'I was trying to stay present. I had chances. I thought I did a great job, especially at the end changing tactics, serve-volleying a bit more. 'Sometimes in these moments I'm thinking about all the pain I go through on a daily basis, all the sacrifices, and try to remember why I do it, to go for it. 'The final will be a really big challenge. But I'm ready.' Ruud, whose recent form has seen him drop out of the top 10, beat Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-4 7-5.
