All posts tagged: australian open

Carlos Alcaraz pulls out of Roland Garros 2026

Carlos Alcaraz pulls out of Roland Garros 2026

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Apr 24, 2026 10:38 PM IST Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of this year’s French Open, dealing a significant blow to the men’s draw and leaving the clay-court major without one of its brightest stars. In a message posted on social media platform X on Friday, the Spaniard confirmed that he would skip both the Rome Masters and Roland Garros as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury. “After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court. It’s a complicated moment for me, but I’m sure we’ll come out stronger from here,” Alcaraz wrote. Después de los resultados de las pruebas realizadas hoy, hemos decidido que lo más prudente es ser cautos y no participar en Roma y Roland Garros, a la espera de valorar la evolución para decidir cuándo volveremos a …

From DMs to discipline: How Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic found common ground | Cricket News

From DMs to discipline: How Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic found common ground | Cricket News

Published by Webster

For two men and athletes who have never met in person, Novak Djokovic and Virat Kohli share an unusually personal connection. The bond began with a message over Instagram, and what followed was not just a polite exchange between two global sporting icons, but the start of something more meaningful, rooted in mutual respect. They come from different sporting worlds, separated by geography, culture and the nature of their sports. Yet, their journeys feel strikingly similar. Kohli, 37, and Djokovic, 38, both arrived at a point in their careers where they realised something had to change, not just in their games, but how they lived. For Kohli, that moment came in 2012. “I was 11 or 12 kgs heavier than what I am now,” he said in an interview with The Telegraph in 2016. “I had a horrible mindset about training, eating the wrong things, drinking, staying up late. Everything was wrong. I changed everything from the next morning,” he said. That decision didn’t just reshape Kohli the cricketer – it transformed the entire culture. …

‘We no longer have anywhere to relax’

‘We no longer have anywhere to relax’

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Apr 6, 2026 06:48 PM IST World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that players felt a ‘little strange’ to have footage being recorded on cameras, adding that it did not allow them to relax, and they always needed to be self-aware that the cameras were always focusing on them. The Spaniard was the latest to join a chorus of players who have objected to having cameras record footage. During the Australian Open, Iga Swiatek questioned the need to have cameras record footage of players, asking whether players were animals in a zoo. “It’s great for the fans. They love seeing what goes on behind the scenes, what we do, and what the facilities are like at tournaments. But for the players, it’s a little strange, because we no longer have anywhere to relax—we’re constantly thinking that there are cameras and that everyone is watching us,” the Spaniard said in the Monte Carlo Masters pre-tournament press conference. “Having cameras so close, able to see what we’re looking at on our phones, seems excessive …

Rybakina holds off Baptiste in testing Indian Wells opener

Rybakina holds off Baptiste in testing Indian Wells opener

Published by Parlour News

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina fended off a determined challenge from 43rd-ranked American Hailey Baptiste to reach the third round of the Indian Wells ATP and WTA Masters 1000 on Saturday. The third-seeded Kazakh, who won the Indian Wells title in 2023, needed all of her patience and resolve in the face of an aggressive attack from Baptiste, but steadied herself in the final set to win 7-6 , 2-6, 6-2. “It was a really tough match today, but I’m super-happy with the win,” said Rybakina, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka to claim her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne in January. After squandering an early break in the opening set, Rybakina fought off three set points to force the tiebreaker in which three forehand winners put her in command before she pocketed the set with another. But Rybakina was broken twice in the second set, Baptiste taking advantage to serve it out after Rybakina double-faulted on break point to hand the American a 5-2 lead. A shaky service game from Baptiste gave …

Novak Djokovic engages in playful banter with Rafael Nadal midway through Australian Open final: ‘Wanna play?’

Novak Djokovic engages in playful banter with Rafael Nadal midway through Australian Open final: ‘Wanna play?’

Published by Parlour News

Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam winner, was in attendance for the Australian Open men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, who has shared a memorable rivalry with the Spaniard through the course of his career, took a moment during the final to address Nadal, who was spotted seated in the stands. The 38-year-old turned back to say a thing or two to Nadal, and the remark led to the latter breaking out into a huge smile. The cameras captured Djokovic speaking to Nadal, and the Australian Open’s official handle shared the clip, which is now going viral. “Wanna play, Rafa?” the handle wrote. Alcaraz won his maiden Australian Open title after beating Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the men’s singles final at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. With this, he won his seventh Grand Slam and became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, breaking Nadal’s record. Alcaraz, who comes from Spain, took just 22 days and 258 days to complete the Career Slam. Djokovic started the …

‘Not a drama’: Rafael Nadal backs Carlos Alcaraz in Australian Open final but lauds ‘very competitive’ Novak Djokovic | Tennis News

‘Not a drama’: Rafael Nadal backs Carlos Alcaraz in Australian Open final but lauds ‘very competitive’ Novak Djokovic | Tennis News

Published by Webster

With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz finding themselves back on a collision course in a Grand Slam final, 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal has made his assessment of Sunday’s blockbuster Australian Open 2026 final. Nadal, who has flown into Melbourne ahead of the finale at the Rod Laver Arena, backed his compatriot Alcaraz, even as he lavished praise on Djokovic’s longevity to take on Alcaraz and world no. 2 Jannik Sinner at the top of men’s tennis at the age of 38. Djokovic edged past Sinner in a gruelling semi-final that went the distance, breaking a losing streak of five games to reach a record 11th final at the Australian Open. Djokovic is bidding to become the oldest man to win the men’s title while also aiming for the elusive 25th Grand Slam, enabling him to go past Margaret Court’s 24 titles. “I really believe that he [Djokovic] is here for one simple reason – because if I don’t get injured, probably I will be here playing, too,” said Nadal, who won his penultimate Slam …

Carlos Alcaraz reaches his first Australian Open final after winning record semi-final against Alexander Zverev | Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz reaches his first Australian Open final after winning record semi-final against Alexander Zverev | Tennis News

Published by Webster

1 min readJan 30, 2026 02:58 PM IST Top seed Carlos Alcaraz reached the Australian Open final for the first time in his career after beating German third seed Alexander Zverev in an epic semi-final that lasted 5 hours 27 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena. In a match in which momentum swung one way and another, Alcaraz prevailed 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5. Alcaraz, 22, is looking to become the youngest male player to win a Career Grand Slam and will face either his rival Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam winner Novaj Djokovic in the final. To be updated… Expand   © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

‘Hope it’s less gross than I think’: Jessica Pegula knocks out reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys as friendly bet steals the show | Tennis News

‘Hope it’s less gross than I think’: Jessica Pegula knocks out reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys as friendly bet steals the show | Tennis News

Published by Webster

A friendly wager over apple pie topped with melted cheddar cheese proved to be motivation enough for Jessica Pegula than defending champion status for Madison Keys at the Australian Open on Monday. Pegula defeated her close friend and podcast co-host 6-3 6-4 in an all-American fourth-round clash on Rod Laver Arena, ending Keys’ title defence in just 78 minutes and settling a light-hearted bet that had been brewing off court. The match began with the high-velocity hitting both are known for. Keys, the defending champion, played with the aggressive freedom that had won her the title the year prior. While Keys struck 26 winners – 12 more than Pegula – her challenge unravelled under the weight of 28 unforced errors. Pegula’s cleaner shot selection and consistency helped her secure a quarter-final against compatriot Amanda Anisimova. Pegula’s win also meant Keys must now sample a Pegula family Thanksgiving tradition – apple pie topped with melted cheddar cheese – a delicacy Keys had previously vowed never to try. “In the US, we have Thanksgiving, and I don’t …

‘I am surprising myself’: Carlos Alcaraz opens up about renewed serve at the Australian Open after entering record-breaking 14th Grand Slam quarter-final | Tennis News

‘I am surprising myself’: Carlos Alcaraz opens up about renewed serve at the Australian Open after entering record-breaking 14th Grand Slam quarter-final | Tennis News

Published by Webster

Six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that he has been personally surprised by how well he has been serving with a renewed technique at the ongoing Australian Open. The 22-year-old said that the serve was an “important weapon” to his game, admitting that he was glad to see the high percentage of first serves that have landed right in the slam so far. The Spaniard booked a place in the quarter-final after beating 19th seed Tommy Paul 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 7-5 on Sunday. The upcoming match would be his 14th appearance in a last-eight fixture of a Grand Slam, thereby breaking the record for the most quarter-final appearances for any player before turning 23 in the Open Era, going past Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker, who had reached 13 Grand Slam quarter-finals before they had turned 23. “I’m surprising myself to be honest. The serve is something I’ve been working on for a long time. I’m really happy to see the improvement of the serve and to have a high percentage” ALSO READ …

Lorenzo Musetti’s journey to Australian Open quarterfinals amid personal challenges; sets up Novak Djokovic clash

Lorenzo Musetti’s journey to Australian Open quarterfinals amid personal challenges; sets up Novak Djokovic clash

Published by Parlour News

Lorenzo Musetti has had to mature quickly to get into an Australian Open quarterfinal for the first time, and to be facing Novak Djokovic. The 23-year-old Italian is without two members of his support team in Melbourne after both had to return home to deal with personal issues. Musetti also had to leave his partner, Veronica, and two little boys at home within weeks of the birth of his second son in November. Having to deal with so much going on off the court has Musetti finely tuned to focus when he goes to work. On Monday, that was a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win over No. 9 Taylor Fritz, the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up. “I feel more mature on the court. I’m playing better for that, and for them,” he said of the absences of his team. “I didn’t get much sleep in the offseason. But we found a way to work and to practice really well on and off the court,” Musetti added, speaking of his newborn son. “Now it’s more than 20 days …