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Is Novak Djokovic playing Laver Cup?
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Canadian Open Director Blames ATP Schedule After Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic Withdraw from Montreal

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Canadian Open Director Blames ATP Schedule After Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic Withdraw from Montreal The withdrawal of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic from the 2026 Canadian Open has sparked fresh debate over the demanding ATP calendar, with tournament organizers expressing frustration over losing some of the sport’s biggest stars ahead of one of the key Masters 1000 events. The absence of the two Grand Slam champions has become one of the biggest talking points in tennis as the North American hard-court swing gets underway. The news comes as a significant blow for Sinner and Djokovic fans. The Canadian Open, held in Montreal this year, was expected to feature the world’s leading players as part of their preparation for the US Open. However, player workload and health concerns have once again overshadowed the tournament. Sinner arrives after another remarkable stretch of form, having successfully defended his Wimbledon title and further cemented his position as World No. 1. Djokovic, meanwhile, reached the Wimbledon semi-finals before losing to Sinner, continuing to carefully manage his schedule at this stage of his illustrious career. Tournament Director Calls for Change After High-Profile Withdrawals Canadian Open tournament director Valerie Tetreault did not hide her disappointment following the withdrawals. She stated that organizers were “very disappointed” to lose both Sinner and Djokovic, especially after the pair also missed last year’s event in Toronto. She emphasized that the recurring absence of top stars from ATP Masters 1000 tournaments has become a broader issue for the sport. “We are obviously very disappointed that Jannik and Novak won’t be joining us in Montreal this year, especially after they also withdrew from last year’s tournament in Toronto. We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority. That said, we believe the frequency of these last-minute withdrawals in the last few years raises a broader issue for our sport.“ While Tetreault acknowledged that player health must remain the priority, she suggested that tennis authorities need to review the crowded schedule. Discussions with the ATP are reportedly ongoing as organizers seek solutions that protect both player welfare and the prestige of major events. Sinner cited health considerations as the main reason behind his withdrawal, while Djokovic opted to manage his workload after a demanding season. Their exits, combined with Carlos Alcaraz’s continued recovery from a wrist injury, leave the Canadian Open without three of the sport’s biggest attractions. Despite the setback for Montreal, all eyes will now turn toward Cincinnati and the US Open, where the leading stars are expected to resume their campaigns

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

Toni Nadal Warns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz About Alexander Zverev’s Roland Garros Threat

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Toni Nadal Warns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz About Alexander Zverev’s Roland Garros Threat The dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has defined men’s tennis over the past two seasons, but Toni Nadal believes the conversation surrounding the sport’s biggest rivals should not overlook Alexander Zverev. As Roland Garros approaches, the renowned coach has warned that the German remains a serious contender despite the widespread focus on the sport’s new leading duo. Sinner and Alcaraz have shared the biggest titles in recent years, establishing themselves as the benchmark on the ATP Tour. Their thrilling battles and Grand Slam success have created the perception that they are a step ahead of the rest of the field, particularly on the biggest stages. However, Toni Nadal believes dismissing Zverev would be a mistake. The former coach of Rafael Nadal pointed out that while Sinner and Alcaraz may currently lead the sport, Zverev possesses the game and experience to challenge both players deep into major tournaments. Toni Nadal Highlights Alexander Zverev’s Ability to Challenge Tennis’ Top Two Zverev heads into the clay-court season after another strong run on tour, consistently reaching the latter stages of major events. Although he is still chasing his maiden Grand Slam title, the German has repeatedly shown that he can compete with the sport’s elite and remains one of the most dangerous players outside the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry. According to Toni Nadal, Zverev himself has admitted that he would rather face Alcaraz than Sinner. The veteran coach revealed that the German sees the world No. 1 as a particularly difficult matchup, while also emphasizing that Alcaraz is not far behind the Italian in overall level. Toni’s assessment suggests that the gap between the top contenders may not be as large as many believe. One of the key quotes attributed to Toni Nadal was that Zverev considers Sinner a tougher opponent, while Nadal maintained that Alcaraz remains on a comparable level. His comments serve as a reminder that, despite the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, the Roland Garros title race could still feature a significant challenge from Zverev. With his powerful baseline game and proven clay-court pedigree, the German could emerge as the biggest obstacle to the sport’s reigning superstars in Paris.

Tennis

Andre Agassi Questions Jakub Mensik’s Decision to Add Mental Coach Ahead of French Open Semi-Final

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Andre Agassi Questions Jakub Mensik’s Decision to Add Mental Coach Ahead of French Open Semi-Final Jakub Mensik’s remarkable run at the 2026 French Open has made him one of the biggest talking points in tennis. The 20-year-old Czech star reached his maiden Grand Slam semi-final after a series of impressive performances at Roland Garros, establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents on the ATP Tour. His breakthrough campaign has drawn praise from players, coaches, and pundits across the tennis world. Ahead of his highly anticipated semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev, Mensik made headlines for another reason. The young Czech revealed that he had brought in a mental coach during the latter stages of the tournament, a move that sparked debate among tennis analysts covering the event. The decision became a major discussion point as Mensik prepared for the biggest match of his career. Among those weighing in was tennis legend and former world No. 1 Andre Agassi. Speaking as part of TNT Sports’ Roland Garros coverage, Agassi questioned the timing of the move, suggesting that a player who has already reached a Grand Slam semi-final should trust the mindset and processes that helped him get there. Andre Agassi Believes Jakub Mensik Should Trust His Existing Formula Jakub Mensik entered the semi-finals riding a wave of confidence after defeating several high-quality opponents, including a straight-sets quarter-final victory over Joao Fonseca. The Czech youngster also received encouragement from Novak Djokovic during his impressive Paris campaign, underlining the growing respect he commands within the sport. “I’m not a big fan of bringing in a mental coach in the semi-finals of a Slam. You’re supposed to bring in your mum at that stage. Like, ‘come on, mum, you’ve got to come watch me play the semis’. But bringing in a mental coach? I don’t know. It seems like there’s only a downside for that mental coach,” Agassi said. Agassi admitted he was “not a big fan” of bringing a mental coach into the team at such a crucial stage of a Grand Slam. The eight-time major champion indicated that reaching the final four of Roland Garros is evidence that a player’s mental approach is already working effectively. In his view, making significant adjustments during the tournament could risk disrupting the rhythm and confidence that produced the breakthrough run. Ultimately, Mensik’s dream run ended in the semi-finals as Zverev secured a four-set victory to reach the French Open final.

Tennis

Joao Fonseca Admits Jakub Mensik Was ‘Different’ After Roland Garros Exit Despite Stunning Wins Over Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud

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Joao Fonseca Admits Jakub Mensik Was ‘Different’ After Roland Garros Exit Despite Stunning Wins Over Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud Rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca saw his memorable Roland Garros campaign come to an end in the quarterfinals, but the teenager left Paris with plenty of positives. After producing headline-grabbing victories over Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud, Fonseca established himself as one of the biggest breakout stars of the French Open. The 19-year-old entered the tournament with limited expectations due to physical concerns, but quickly exceeded them with a remarkable run to his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal. His comeback victory over Djokovic and subsequent win against Ruud highlighted both his talent and maturity on the biggest stage. However, Fonseca found a different challenge in Czech youngster Jakub Mensik. The Brazilian acknowledged that Mensik’s level, composure, and serving quality made him a difficult opponent as the Czech star secured a straight-sets victory to advance to his first Grand Slam semifinal. Joao Fonseca Praises Mensik After Quarterfinal Defeat at Roland Garros Fonseca’s French Open journey was one of the tournament’s biggest stories. The teenager stunned the tennis world by recovering from two sets down to defeat Djokovic before eliminating former French Open finalist Ruud in the fourth round. Those victories reinforced his reputation as one of the sport’s brightest young talents. “This year, I had already played two big matches in Roland Garros against Djokovic and Ruud. Today, the level also seemed very high to me in terms of experience and game feeling. It was a different type of match, with different conditions: today the roof was closed, the court was slower, and the ball bigger.” “The most different thing today was Mensik’s playing style. He stayed a lot at the back of the court, always opening angles. He applied a lot of pressure, liked to take risks, and moved quite well at the net. The level was very high, and although I can’t exactly compare it to other matches, I would say it was at the level of the previous ones.“ Following his quarterfinal loss, Fonseca admitted that Mensik felt “different” compared to the opponents he had faced earlier in the tournament. The Brazilian praised the Czech’s ability to remain calm under pressure and highlighted the effectiveness of his serve throughout the match. He also expressed satisfaction with his own tournament, noting that the deep run helped him better understand his physical and mental capabilities at Grand Slam level.

Jannik Sinner
Tennis

Toni Nadal Backs Novak Djokovic to Challenge Jannik Sinner’s French Open Dream

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Toni Nadal Backs Novak Djokovic to Challenge Jannik Sinner’s French Open Dream As the French Open approaches, former coach Toni Nadal believes Novak Djokovic could still emerge as a serious threat to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Paris. Despite Sinner entering Roland Garros as the favorite, Toni Nadal feels Djokovic’s experience and tactical adaptability could disrupt the Italian’s bid for a maiden French Open title and career Grand Slam. Sinner has been in sensational form heading into the French Open, extending a dominant winning run and recently creating history by completing the full set of ATP Masters 1000 titles with victory at the Italian Open. The Italian star has looked nearly untouchable on clay, strengthening his position as the man to beat in Paris. However, Toni Nadal believes Novak Djokovic still possesses the tactical intelligence to trouble Sinner if the two meet at Roland Garros. With Djokovic chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, the Serbian veteran remains a dangerous contender despite limited match action in recent months Toni Nadal Explains Djokovic’s Tactical Edge Against Sinner Toni Nadal pointed to Djokovic’s previous meetings with Sinner and suggested the Serbian must alter the pace of rallies to unsettle the Italian. He noted that a “slightly slower game with slightly higher balls” could break Sinner’s rhythm and force him out of his preferred baseline tempo, a tactic Djokovic showed signs of using effectively in their past French Open clash Sinner’s recent performances make that challenge far from easy. The Italian arrives in Paris with supreme confidence after dominating the clay swing, while his all-round improvements in movement, point construction, and consistency have elevated him as the leading French Open contender. His pursuit of a career Grand Slam adds even more weight to his campaign. Djokovic, meanwhile, may not have enjoyed the same momentum, but his Grand Slam pedigree keeps him firmly in the conversation. Toni Nadal’s comments underline one key point: if anyone can disrupt Jannik Sinner’s French Open hopes through experience, strategy, and resilience, Novak Djokovic still has the tools to make Roland Garros far more unpredictable.

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

“Bad result for Alcaraz because Monte Carlo is the closest thing to Roland Garros” : Toni Nadal says Sinner is better at controlling his emotions

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“Bad result for Alcaraz because Monte Carlo is the closest thing to Roland Garros” : Toni Nadal says Sinner is better at controlling his emotions Toni Nadal believes that Carlos Alcaraz’s loss to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo finals could be an ominous sign going forward into the clay court season. The veteran believes that Monte Carlos is the closest thing to the French Open, as the Spaniard went down in straight sets in the final. Jannik Sinner is the man to defeat right now, as he has won three successive Masters title to reclaim his world number one ranking. Toni Nadal believes that the gap between Alcaraz and Sinner is very small at the moment, however, the Italian is doing better at controlling his emotions. Toni Nadal pointed out Carlos Alcaraz remains frustrated while speaking to his team during the matches. “It was a bad result for Alcaraz because Monte Carlo is the closest thing to Roland Garros. I think Alcaraz played at a pace that favoured Sinner… the gap between them is very small. I think Sinner is controlling his emotions better. This result may raise some doubts for Alcaraz. Those conversations Alcaraz has with his bench are more due to nerves and frustration,” said Toni Nadal. The Spaniard withdrew from the Barcelona Open after winning his first round clash owing to a wrist injury. He has also withdrawn from the Madrid Masters, alongside Novak Djokovic. Jannik Sinner will return to action at the Madrid Masters next week, as he looks to extend his lead at the top of the ATP Rankings. Jannik Sinner has stated at the start of the year that his top goal is to win the French Open this year, which will also help him in completing his Career Grand Slam. The Italian claimed the Sunshine Double, and followed up with a huge title win in Monte Carlo last week.

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

“I think he’s reaching a level on clay that is going to be really dangerous for everybody” : Carlos Alcaraz on his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo finals

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“I think he’s reaching a level on clay that is going to be really dangerous for everybody” : Carlos Alcaraz on his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo finals Carlos Alcaraz will enter as the top seed at the Barcelona Open this week, just days after losing his world number one ranking to Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard was defeated in the finals of the Monte Carlo Masters in straight sets, as Jannik Sinner claimed his third successive Masters title on Sunday. Speaking ahead of the Barcelona Open, the Spaniard admitted that Jannik Sinner’s level of clay has gotten better over the years, and this is a huge warning sign for his competitors. Last year, the Spaniard claimed the French Open title by defeating Jannik Sinner in the finals after being a set and a break down in the fourth set. “One point you play a point with the wind helping and the next point it was totally opposite. So it was tricky to understand where the wind goes. We have seen Jannik’s level on clay and I think he’s been improving a lot year by year. I think he’s reaching a level on clay that is going to be really dangerous for everybody. I’m not surprised at all, because we could see last year in Roland Garros the level he played,” said Alcaraz. Carlos Alcaraz reflects on his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo finals Speaking on his defeat in the finals to his arch-rival, Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he made a lot of unforced errors. He also stated that he had many opportunities to break Sinner’s serve in the second set, but could not take his chances. Additionally, Alcaraz also stated that conditions were on the trickier side in the finals on Sunday. “I would say that the important moments, the important points, I didn’t play well. I think I had so many opportunities in the match that I didn’t take it. So many games, points, so many 15/30, Love/30. I think the first tie-break, I didn’t play well and I think he just played unbelievable tennis when it mattered. I think that was the key today. I think today was really difficult conditions, because I just consider myself that I play great tennis when there is a lot of wind,” Alcaraz added. After Carlos Alcaraz’s strong start to the season, the Spaniard has not been able to assert his dominance at the Master’s event, where Jannik Sinner has reigned supreme. He will look to add another title this week, as he enters tthe Barcelona Open as the strong favorite.

Is Novak Djokovic playing Laver Cup?
Tennis

“For Djokovic, the important thing is keeping that top four ranking to give himself a shot at Wimbledon” : Greg Rusedski

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“For Djokovic, the important thing is keeping that top four ranking to give himself a shot at Wimbledon” : Greg Rusedski Former British world number one ranked player Greg Rusedski believes that Novak Djokovic’s ranking could play a major factor in whether he is able to win his 25th Grand Slam title. This comes on the back of his withdrawal from another Master’s tournament, as the clay court tournament gets underway. After withdrawing from Miami, Novak Djokovic also announced his withdrawal from the Monte Carlo Masters which started earlier this year. Greg Rusedski believes for Novak Djokovic to have deep runs, or have a chance of winning another Major title, he will need to compete regularly on the tour. The Briton stated that the challenge is already very tough for players, as they have to go through both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to win major titles. However, if the Serb decides to continue skipping tournaments, his ranking will dip further, which means he will have to face the likes of Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev in the earlier rounds. “I think either Madrid or Rome will be his first week and then he will get ready for Roland Garros. It’s not about ranking points. It’s about where he’s seeded. He does need points to be in the top four.To win a major these days, you gotta usually go through Alcaraz and Sinner. Then imagine if he drops out of the top four, he might have to play [Alexander] Zverev. So for him, the important thing is keeping that top four ranking to give himself a shot at Wimbledon,” said Rusedski. Novak Djokovic withdraws from Monte Carlo Masters Novak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the Monte Carlo Masters, as he keeps fans guessing about his next tournament. The Serb is expected to make a return later in the cay court season, potentially returning for the Madrid Masters, or Italian Open. Novak Djokovic will not stretch himself too much for the French Open giving Alcaraz and Sinner are the clear favorites. However, he will have his sights clear on the Wimbledon Championships, where he has managed to reach the finals in 2023, and 2024, losing to Carlos Alcaraz on both occasions.

Tennis

‘When I beat Rafael Nadal, maybe I thought I could also be world No. 1’ : Taylor Fritz says he ignores rankings when facing world number one

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‘When I beat Rafael Nadal, maybe I thought I could also be world No. 1’ : Taylor Fritz says he ignores rankings when facing world number one Taylor Fritz has revealed his mindset when he faces the world’s best, as he gears up for a deep run at the 2026 Miami Open. The American stated that he ignores the world ranking when he faces the likes of Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, or even the likes of Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in the past. The American stated that when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the past, he did not think about his world ranking, and also thought he could be at the helm of the ATP Rankings. Fritz defeated Nadal in the finals of the Indian Wells Masters in 2022, ending the Spaniard’s unbeaten run. He also followed up his win with another victory against Nadal at the Nitto ATP Finals in the same year. “I don’t usually think that I’m playing against the world No. 1; my mind just sees the player as one of the best guys and nothing more. I don’t think about the ranking. When I played against [Rafael] Nadal and beat him, maybe I thought I could also be world No. 1 at some point, although I guess it’s not that easy,” Fritz said. “I didn’t even realize he was number one at that time: Fritz on defeating Alcaraz Taylor Fritz also defeated Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Laver Cup last year. The American stated that he didn’t even realize that the Spaniard was the world’s top-ranked player, and all that mattered to him was to secure a vital point for his team. “Those matches are always exciting, the same when I’ve had to play against [Novak] Djokovic, I wasn’t thinking then that he was the number one. In the Laver Cup, I defeated Carlos, and for me, it meant securing a great point for the team, but I didn’t even realize he was number one at that time,” he added. Taylor Fritz defeated Reilly Opelka in the second round of the Miami Open, as he now faces Jiri Lehecka in the last 16 clash. The American number one has struggled for form and consistency in the first quarter of the season, as he is yet to win a title so far, having played several tournaments since the turn of the year. Also Read: “He reminds me a lot [of me] when I was his age” : Carlos Alcaraz on Joao Fonseca

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

“I know that both Alcaraz and Sinner find it uncomfortable to play me” : Holger Rune remains confident of beating the world’s best ahead of return

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“I know that both Alcaraz and Sinner find it uncomfortable to play me” : Holger Rune remains confident of beating the world’s best ahead of return Holger Rune is currently on the sidelines, as he recovers from a long-term Achilles tendon injury which he suffered at the Stockholm Open in October last year. The Danish tennis star believes that he has the ability and confidence to disrupt the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In a big statement, Rune stated that both Alcaraz and Sinner find it uncomfortable to face him, and that gives him extra motivation to defeat the top two ranked players. He stated that he has played some interesting matches witth Jannik Sinner, even before he became a Grand Slam champion. There is no doubting Holger Rune’s ability to win big tournaments, and disrupt the dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner. However, consistency on all three surfaces has been the issue for the Dane. “It gives me the belief that I know I can do it, and every time I step [on court] against them, I know I have a chance to beat them. And I know that both of them find it uncomfortable to play me, so that’s extra motivation for me,” Rune said while speaking on the Tales from Tennis Podcast. “And yeah, I always had great matches with Jannik, even before he turned out as a Grand Slam champion; he was always an incredible player. I think it’s always been an exciting matchup with me and both of them,” Rune added. Holger Rune says tennis would get boring with Sinner-Alcaraz domination Holger Rune stated that tennis would get boring if Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz continue to play the big finals, and win almost everything. Hence, the Dane stated that he needs to be more consistent to give himself more chances of facing the duo, that would also help him increase his level of tennis. “So, for my case, it’s about being as consistent as to do it every week to give myself the chance to play them much more often. And I think that would also make my level increase a lot, because they get to challenge themselves almost every week against each other,” Holger Rune said. “With just two guys making finals and winning everything, it gets boring to be honest. I think there needs to be more guys to challenge them, not just one tournament, but consistently,” he added. Holger Rune was also criticized for speeding up his recovery process, and making a hasty return to tennis. The Dane’s recovery period was expected to much longer, however, he started practicing just months after the injury. Holger Rune’s return date is yet to be confirmed, as he works on regaining his full fitness. He could return to action during the late clay-court season, or perhaps delay it even further for the

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