Category: Alexander Zverev

Are Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic playing Italian Open? When does it start?

May 2, 2024

The clay swing heads to Rome in May for the Italian Open as preparations continue for the French Open.

The combined ATP and WTA 1000 event is the last big tournament before players make their way to Roland-Garros, which starts on Sunday, May 26, live on Eurosport and discovery+.

Last year saw Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina claim the singles titles, but will they repeat their respective triumphs this season?

The Italian Open will see almost all the top stars from both tours in action, and we run through all you need to know, including when it starts, what’s the schedule, when is the draw, and who’s playing…

When is the Italian Open?

Qualifying for the Italian Open starts on Monday, May 6 ahead of the main draw on Wednesday, May 8.

The finals will be held on the weekend of May 18.

As with the Madrid Open, the 32 seeds get a first-round bye so they enter the tournament in the second round.

Play will start at 10am UK time every day until Thursday, May 16 when it begins at midday. There will be evening sessions starting at 6pm each day until finals weekend, when play starts at midday on both days.

When is the Italian Open draw?

The draw is expected to be held on Monday, May 6.

Are Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal playing the Italian Open?

Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal look set to play in Rome.

It will be the first clay tournament that the two tennis greats have contested since the 2022 French Open, when Nadal beat Djokovic on his way to a 14th title.

Djokovic missed the Madrid Open and has only played one clay tournament in Monte Carlo, where he made the semis.

He is a 10-time winner of the Italian Open and looks set to play the tournament for the final time ahead of his potential retirement this year.

Will Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner play the Italian Open?

Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have injury concerns ahead of the Italian Open.

Alcaraz has been battling a forearm injury that forced him to miss Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He made the quarter-finals in Madrid but admitted to having “difficult feelings” towards the end of his loss against Andrey Rublev.

After a stunning start to the year the Italian could have a chance to get to world No. 1 in Rome if he is healthy to play.

Who else is playing the Italian Open?

Defending champion Daniil Medvedev will be back in Rome along with Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud.

Andy Murray will not be playing as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will lead the women’s draw.

picture

Elena Rybakina celebrates winning the Italian Open in 2023

Image credit: Getty Images

Neither won the title last year as Swiatek retired with injury in the quarter-finals and Sabalenka was shocked in the second round by Sofia Kenin.

Elena Rybakina was the champion in 2023 and she will be aiming to continue her strong start to the season with another title run.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff could close the gap on world No. 1 Swiatek if she can go far in Rome.

Emma Raducanu’s participation is uncertain. She has not been announced as a wildcard entry but could enter qualifying with her protected ranking.

When is the French Open?

The 2024 French Open main draw starts on Sunday, May 26, with the tournament one of two Grand Slams, along with the Australian Open, that is run over 15 days instead of 14 this year.

The singles finals will be held on the weekend of June 8.

Play starts at 10am UK time every day except for finals weekend, and there will be an evening session scheduled from 7.15pm UK time every day until the semi-finals start on Thursday, June 6.

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+

Djokovic eases past Safiullin to reach third round, Zverev overcomes Offner

April 9, 2024

Novak Djokovic eased his way into the Monte-Carlo Masters third round with an emphatic 6-1 6-2 victory over Roman Safiullin.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner concluded the match with little fuss in little more than an hour to set up a clash with either Lorenzo Musetti or Arthur Fils, who are in action later on Tuesday.

This was the second meeting between the pair since Djokovic beat the Russian in straight sets in Tel Aviv two years ago.

Djokovic claimed a double break in this match to move 3-0 in front, with Safiullin desperately struggling to utilise his service game in the opening exchanges.

The world No. 41 showed admirable resistance to claim his first hold after staving off three Djokovic break points to reduce the arrears at 4-1.

However, he was broken emphatically to love once again to allow Djokovic to move a set up in this contest.

Despite an early hold in the second set, the Russian was broken again to go 3-1 down, before Djokovic penetrated through Safiullin’s serve again to win the contest after a second match point.

When reflecting on the win, Djokovic said: “I’m very pleased; even in the games that I lost, I had break points in those. It was a really good match to start the clay season, which has always been a little bit up and down for me.

“I started off well in this tournament last year and then I lost the second match. I hope to maintain this rhythm, I have a day of training tomorrow and then I’m hoping to come back with the same aptitude and quality of tennis.”

Djokovic is now the oldest man to be ranked world No. 1 ahead of his 37th birthday next month, with Rohan Bopanna holding that honour in the men’s doubles rankings at the age of 44.

The Serbian joked about the duo’s advancing years, but the two-time Monte-Carlo winner also took a step back to reflect on his own stellar career.

“I met Bopanna yesterday who is the oldest [men’s] doubles number one in history. He said that we have a combined age of 80!

“He does contribute to the 80 more than I do. But to still compete at the highest level and be number one in the world at almost 37 is not something I dreamt or planned to become a reality.

“But all the work and dedication to the sport in the end, and to body and staying fit, is paying off. I’m able to maintain that longevity and extend my career for years and years.”

Zverev overcomes Offner

Alexander Zverev sealed a place in the third round with a resounding 6-3 6-4 win over Sebastian Ofner.

The world No. 5 was at his imperious best against the Austrian after emerging victorious in the space of one hour and 18 minutes, and faces either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Stefanos Tsitsipas in round three.

Offner moved a break down at 3-1 in the first set before Zverev took the first set with little fuss at 6-3, with the German looking very impressive on his own serve.

The writing looked on the wall for Offner when he moved a set and a double break down at 5-2, before breaking back and claiming an impressive hold to love to claw it back to 5-4.

Despite the late wobble, Zverev sealed the match with a superb forehand to book safe passage into the next round.

Speaking after the match, Zverev said: “I lost a little of focus in the end being up by two, but that can happen. It’s the first match on a new surface this year and I’m looking forward to the next few matches.

“It’s a surface I enjoy playing and one where I hope to do well on this season.”

Draper bows out against Hurkacz

Meanwhile, Hubert Hurkacz beat Jack Draper in three sets to advance to the second round, where he will meet Roberto Bautista Agut, ending British hopes in the principality.

Having already won in Estoril last week, the world No. 8 was just too strong on the clay for Draper, who was playing his first dirt match of the season.

The Pole who made the stronger start with an early break of serve, although he didn’t exactly race to his 3-0 lead with plenty of deuce games and long rallies on display.

It was attritional stuff in the early stages, Draper’s first serve going missing and Hurkacz utilising his drop shot incredibly well. The Pole was clearly the more comfortable of the two on the heavy clay, moving with ease and chasing down everything from all angles.

Draper did manage to hold serve in the fourth game despite being break point down to get on the board, and that seemed to help his confidence levels as he managed to find some huge returns in Hurkacz’s next game. He didn’t get the break – but he did the next time around to get back on serve at 3-4.

From there it seemed it was game on in the first set, in a match that was proving every bit as tight as the last time they played on clay. Hurkacz did prevail in Monaco last year against Draper, but it took him three sets to do so.

But with the score at 5-4 to Hurkacz, Draper threw in a very costly double fault to ship the first set in the worst possible circumstances in 52 minutes.

The second set was a cagey affair, with both players holding serve slightly more comfortably. That was until a couple of errors and a lob that went long from Hurkacz gave Draper 0-40 at 2-2. Hurkacz hit a forehand well wide to ship serve, his racquet going flying in frustration to give Draper a crucial break.

The Brit would go onto restore parity and draw level after a first set point to tee up a decider in the third.

Draper moved a break down early on to trail 2-1, but held his nerve brilliantly afterwards to break back against the world No.8 and level the set at 5-5.

A tie-break beckoned, but Hurkacz comprehensive prevailed to win it 7-2.

De Minaur eases past Wawrinka

Alex de Minaur had few problems in his first round clash against Stan Wawrinka, as the Australian secured a 6-3 6-0 victory in just over an hour of plat.

The pair exchanged some early breaks, before the world No. 11 took the opening set in the space of 40 minutes by successfully using the drop shot.

De Minaur completely dominated the second set and won it with a bagel, combining accurate ground shots to both corners to move 4-0 ahead.

There was a tiny glimmer of hope for Wawrinka in the fifth game to have a break point in the bank, but the 25-year-old claimed victory after a first match point.

Stream the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.

Tsitsipas avenges Madrid loss against Zverev to reach maiden Rome final

May 14, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final.

Tsitsipas’ 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” Tsitsipas said after the match as he bids to win the third Masters title of his career.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

19 HOURS AGO

“I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport.

“As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev.

The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide. Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start.

Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.

Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point. It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider.

A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev’s serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

YESTERDAY AT 21:43

Tsitsipas avenges Madrid loss against Zverev to reach maiden Rome final

May 14, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final.

Tsitsipas’ 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” Tsitsipas said after the match as he bids to win the third Masters title of his career.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

YESTERDAY AT 21:44

“I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport.

“As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev.

The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide. Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start.

Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.

Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point. It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider.

A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev’s serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

13/05/2022 AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

12/05/2022 AT 21:43

Tsitsipas avenges Madrid loss against Zverev to reach maiden Rome final

May 14, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final.

Tsitsipas’ 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” Tsitsipas said after the match as he bids to win the third Masters title of his career.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

20 HOURS AGO

“I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport.

“As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev.

The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide. Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start.

Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.

Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point. It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider.

A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev’s serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

YESTERDAY AT 21:43

Tsitsipas avenges Madrid loss against Zverev to reach maiden Rome final

May 14, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final.

Tsitsipas’ 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” Tsitsipas said after the match as he bids to win the third Masters title of his career.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

YESTERDAY AT 21:44

“I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport.

“As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev.

The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide. Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start.

Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.

Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point. It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider.

A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev’s serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

13/05/2022 AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

12/05/2022 AT 21:43

Tsitsipas avenges Madrid loss against Zverev to reach maiden Rome final

May 14, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final.

Tsitsipas’ 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” Tsitsipas said after the match as he bids to win the third Masters title of his career.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

20 HOURS AGO

“I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport.

“As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev.

The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide. Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start.

Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.

Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point. It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider.

A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev’s serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

YESTERDAY AT 21:43

Tsitsipas avenges Madrid loss against Zverev to reach maiden Rome final

May 14, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas has improved his head-to-head record to 8-4 against Alexander Zverev after coming from behind to beat the world No. 3 4-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Italian Open final.

Tsitsipas’ 31st win of the season will see him play either five-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic or Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final after a hard-fought win in two hours and 27 minutes.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” Tsitsipas said after the match as he bids to win the third Masters title of his career.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

21 HOURS AGO

“I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport.

“As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

Zverev knocked Tsitsipas out of the Madrid Open last week in three sets and it was another expectedly close encounter, in their third clay-court Masters semi-final meeting this season, in front of a boisterous crowd in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

The first break point of the match arrived in the seventh game and it went the way of Zverev.

The German, who was hitting more winners, was helped greatly by the net cord as it threw Tsitsipas off rhythm and forced the world No.3 to fire wide. Zverev held his remaining service games to get off to a good start.

Tsitsipas responded brightly in the second set and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.

Tsitsipas was gifted the break by Zverev double faulting on his serve on break point. It was the only break of the second set as Tsitsipas improved on his groundstrokes to force a decider.

A limp forehand from Zverev in the fifth game put Tsitsipas a break in front. And the 23-year-old, leading 5-3, sealed the match on Zverev’s serve when the Olympic gold medallist whipped a cross-court backhand wide at the net.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

YESTERDAY AT 21:43