Tennis

Associated Press May 14, 2023, 12:10 PM ET ROME — Novak Djokovic’s clay-court game is still a work in progress. The 22-time Grand Slam champion had to overcome a mid-match lapse before beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 on Sunday to reach the fourth round of the Italian Open. Struggling with his footwork, complaining about

ESPN News Services May 14, 2023, 07:17 AM ET PARIS — Rafael Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for next week’s Challenger tournament in Bordeaux, the clay-court event director said Sunday, as the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s participation in the French Open hangs in the balance. Nadal has been struggling with a hip injury

Associated Press May 13, 2023, 05:30 PM ET Australian tennis player Owen Davidson, who won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles, has died. He was 79. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Saturday that Davidson died Friday. Longtime friend Isabel Suliga said he died in Conroe, Texas. He won 11 major titles in mixed doubles

May 13, 2023, 12:25 PM ET World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz marked his Italian Open debut by shaking off a sluggish start to emerge with an efficient 6-4, 6-1 second-round win over unseeded Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas on a rain-affected Saturday in Rome. Alcaraz, who is chasing his fifth title of 2023 and fourth on clay

Associated Press May 12, 2023, 04:05 PM ET ROME — Novak Djokovic was tested by 61st-ranked Tomas Martin Etcheverry in a 7-6 (5), 6-2 opening win at the Italian Open on Friday. Aiming for a seventh title on the red clay of the Foro Italico as he prepares for the French Open, Djokovic twice had

May 12, 2023, 06:59 AM ET The prize money for this year’s French Open will total $54.6 million, up 12.3% on 2022, organizers of the claycourt Grand Slam announced on Friday. The amount offered for the Roland Garros singles draws will be raised by 9.1% on 2022, with organizers saying in a statement they had

May 11, 2023, 06:21 AM ET The organizers of the Madrid Open have apologized to the women’s doubles finalists of this year’s tournament following criticism for denying players the opportunity to make speeches at the trophy ceremony. Singles world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who played with Coco Gauff in a 6-1, 6-4 loss to Victoria

Associated Press May 11, 2023, 09:03 AM ET ROME — Fresh off a doubles title in Madrid, Victoria Azarenka stepped up her singles game on the red clay courts at the Italian Open by defeating Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3 in her opening match Thursday. Stephens was coming off a singles title at a smaller clay-court

ESPN News Services May 11, 2023, 06:38 AM ET World No. 7 Ons Jabeur says female players should not have to wait to receive the same prize money as their male counterparts at the Italian Open after tournament organizers announced plans to achieve pay parity by 2025. Tennis has sought to be a leader in

Associated Press May 10, 2023, 05:47 PM ET ROME — Fabio Fognini edged fellow 35-year-old Andy Murray in a nearly three-hour battle in the opening round of the Italian Open on Wednesday. Given a wild card entry after a month out with an injured foot, Fognini hit more than twice as many winners as Murray

May 10, 2023, 09:07 AM ET LONDON — Seville will host the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, the International Tennis Federation announced on Wednesday. The showpiece women’s team event, featuring 12 nations, will take place from Nov. 7-12. It is the first time since 2008 that Spain has hosted the finals of the competition,

Associated Press May 9, 2023, 03:38 PM ET ROME — Barbora Strycova earned her first singles victory since returning from maternity leave, beating Maryna Zanevska 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the opening round of the Italian Open on Tuesday. The 37-year-old Strycova returned to the tour two weeks ago at the Madrid Open after more than

D’Arcy Maine, ESPN.com May 9, 2023, 09:52 AM ET The Madrid Open concluded over the weekend and, wow, it’s tough to know where to begin with this one. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Iga Swiatek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, for the trophy in the latest chapter of their burgeoning rivalry, and Carlos Alcaraz won his second straight title

May 8, 2023, 02:51 AM ET Andy Murray bounced back to beat world No. 17 Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Aix-en-Provence Challenger Tour final, earning his first title at any level since 2019. The three-time major winner converted four of nine breakpoints to claim his first clay title since 2016, a

Associated Press May 7, 2023, 04:01 PM ET MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Madrid Open title with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday, moving closer to recovering his world No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz, 20, of Spain, will be back at the top of the rankings going into

Associated Press May 6, 2023, 03:32 PM ET MADRID — Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reclaim the Madrid Open title on Saturday. Sabalenka lost to Swiatek in the Stuttgart final two weeks ago and had never previously taken a set against her Polish rival in three clay-court meetings. But

May 6, 2023, 01:45 PM ET Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open with an injury to her right foot, she said on social media on Saturday. The Czech world No. 10, who won the Miami Open last month, added that she hopes to recover in time for the second Grand Slam of

ESPN News Services May 5, 2023, 12:23 PM ET Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his 20th birthday Friday by returning to the Madrid Open final after beating Borna Coric in straight sets. The defending champion defeated the 17th-seeded Coric 6-4, 6-3 on the outdoor clay in yet another dominant performance by the home favorite. Following the win