Tennis

2:16 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Novak Djokovic got off to a good start at the Madrid Open with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Gael Monfils in the second round on Tuesday. The top-ranked Djokovic, looking to regain his best form ahead of the French Open, saved all five break points he faced and

11:37 AM ET Associated Press Two-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson, 35, announced his retirement from professional tennis on Tuesday. The 6-foot-8 player from South Africa was the runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open in 2017 — No. 32 at the time, Anderson was the lowest-ranked finalist in tournament history — and to

1:23 PM ET ESPN News Services MADRID — Simona Halep continued to impress at the Madrid Open by overpowering American teenager Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-4 to make the quarterfinals on Monday. A two-time Madrid Open champion, Halep upset No. 2-ranked Paula Badosa in the second round. The 21st-ranked Halep converted three of her five break

1:36 PM ET ESPN News Services Jannik Sinner saved three match points in beating Tommy Paul 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-3. The American squandered two match points on serve at 5-3 in the second set, and another while trying to break at 6-5. “It was a very difficult situation,” Sinner said after the three-hour match

10:33 AM ET Andy Murray has said he is “not supportive” of Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s Championships but added that there is “no right answer.” The All England Club (AELTC) announced last month that stars such as Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Aryna Sabalenka will not be able

5:02 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Naomi Osaka and Garbiñe Muguruza were among leading players to be knocked out of the Madrid Open on a day of upsets. Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo beat Osaka 6-3, 6-1 in the second round Sunday on the Spanish capital’s outdoor clay courts. Four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka enjoyed

3:48 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic criticized Wimbledon’s decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s tournament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two tennis greats said Sunday that Wimbledon had acted unfairly, with Nadal saying that the decision was “very unfair” to his Russian colleagues. “It’s

2:37 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Novak Djokovic said he is “heartbroken” for his former coach Boris Becker after the tennis great was sentenced to 2½ years in prison in Britain for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt. The 54-year-old Becker coached Djokovic for three years

4:41 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Simona Halep played some of her best tennis at the Madrid Open again in defeating home-crowd favorite Paula Badosa in straight sets to reach the last 16 on Saturday for the seventh time in 11 appearances. The two-time Madrid Open champion had 21 winners as she defeated No.

5:56 PM ET Associated Press Frances Tiafoe reached the final of the Estoril Open with a 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 victory over Sebastian Korda on Saturday. Tiafoe struggled against his fellow American in the opening set, despite some quality play at the net. In the second he again found it difficult to carve any sort

1:58 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Danish teenager Holger Rune will play Botic van de Zandschulp in the final of the BMW Open after they came through the semifinals on Saturday. Rune defeated home favorite Oscar Otte 6-4 6-4 in both players’ first ATP Tour semifinal, and Van de Zandschulp rallied to defeat Miomir

12:28 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Being more positive is paying off for former No. 1 Naomi Osaka early in her clay-court season. Osaka kicked off her clay campaign with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over qualifier Anastasia Potapova in the first round on the Madrid Open center court on Friday. “I’m honestly trying

11:09 AM ET Associated Press LONDON — Tennis great Boris Becker was sentenced to 2½ years in prison Friday for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt. The three-time Wimbledon champion was convicted earlier this month on four charges under the Insolvency Act and had faced a maximum

12:58 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Botic van de Zandschulp upset second-seeded Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-1 to reach the BMW Open semifinals Friday. The Dutch player, who also defeated Ruud at the US Open last year, saved the only break point he faced and won 50% of his first-serve return points. Van de Zandschulp

1:53 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Casper Ruud took his time finding his rhythm as he beat Alex Molcan 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals at the BMW Open on Thursday. Molcan built a 4-0 lead in the first set as Ruud struggled with his serve, but the clay-court specialist fought his way

10:48 AM ET Associated Press MADRID — Two-time Madrid Open champion Simona Halep and second-ranked Paula Badosa will meet for the first time in the tournament’s second round after opening with victories on Thursday. Halep beat Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3; Badosa defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-0. Halep won consecutive Madrid titles in 2016 and 2017

5:36 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Former No. 1 Naomi Osaka enters the clay-court season with the goal of not being too hard on herself. Osaka, 24, made the final in Miami last month and will be playing as a wild-card entry when the Madrid Open begins on Thursday. “I’m trying to embrace my

4:40 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Danish teenager Holger Rune upset top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the BMW Open tennis tournament. The 18-year-old broke Zverev’s first service game in each set to take control of the match on his way to his first career win over a player