Tennis

Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong says the lack of top-20 players at the Billie Jean King Cup is “a tennis problem, not a player problem”. Only three of the world’s top-20 will compete in this week’s qualifying rounds, with Poland’s Iga Swiatek and American trio Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and …

Clay has not previously been Draper’s favourite surface but, after receiving a first-round bye, his performance against American Marcos Giron in round two showed promise. The British number one was not at his best in the opening set against Davidovich Fokina, berating himself throughout with cries of “wake up” and …

Competing for the first time since his opening defeat at the Miami Open last month, Alcaraz clinched the first break of serve but fell a set down after losing five of the following six games. It only added to the confidence of Cerundolo, who is tied for the most wins …

Legendary tennis player and social equality advocate Billie Jean King has received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. King, 81, is the first woman to be given the honour in the new sports entertainment category. The Hollywood Walk of Fame was previously reserved for stars of cinema, television, radio, …

Kartal is set to make her BJK Cup debut following Raducanu’s withdrawal, a year after a health issue meant she had to watch GB’s qualifier against France from afar. After three months out, the 23-year-old staged an impressive comeback, breaking into the top 100 and winning a WTA title on …

Rublev has yet to win a Grand Slam, having lost 10 times in the quarter-finals. His first tournament with Safin will be the Monte Carlo Masters, where he faces Gael Monfils on Wednesday. “Marat is someone that inspired me since I was a kid,” Rublev added. “I’m just trying to …

Former US Open champion Medvedev has dropped out of the top 10 after a difficult start to the season. He has not won a title since the Rome Masters in 2023, which was also on clay, and hasn’t reached a final since Indian Wells last year. Medvedev has frequently said …

Original versions of songs that became bigger hits for the artists who covered them. BBC News

There is no escaping the fact that age is catching up with Novak Djokovic. With his 38th birthday fast approaching, the evidence shows the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s powers are waning. But as the men’s clay-court season begins in Monte Carlo, Djokovic looks in a much better place than a …

Close friendships were formed as Ward-Hibbert travelled the world playing tennis, and in 2012 he reached the pinnacle as he teamed up with Liam Broady to win the Australian Open junior doubles title. Ward-Hibbert turned professional and won one singles title and 13 doubles titles on the ITF Futures circuit, …

World number five Djokovic reached his first final of the season at the Miami Open, losing to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. The 37-year-old has not won a singles title on the tour since the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in 2023, with his much-wanted Olympic gold not counting as an ATP …

World number one Jannik Sinner says his three-month doping ban from tennis is “unfair” and maintained he is “innocent”. BBC News

Prize money at last year’s Wimbledon was £50m, exactly double the amount offered in 2014. In that 10-year period, prize money for first-round losers increased from £27,000 to £60,000. But players have frequently pointed to the vast revenues generated by the Grand Slams, and feel they deserve a significantly larger …

Raducanu has been hampered by a series of fitness issues over recent seasons, while she recently took time off after being targeted by a stalker at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February. The 2021 US Open champion plans to do a training block over the next two to three weeks …

Britain’s Fran Jones has been helped off court in a wheelchair after collapsing during a match in Colombia. The 24-year-old was attempting to serve in the ninth game of a deciding third set in Bogota when she fell to the floor. Jones, the British number five, was unable to finish …

Kasatkina, the only openly gay woman in the top 100 of singles on the WTA Tour, revealed her sexuality in a video interview in 2022 before leaving Russia, which has strict laws on LGBTQ+ rights. After also criticising the war in Ukraine in the interview, a Russian politician unsuccessfully called …

Jannik Sinner isn’t even allowed to play competitive tennis, yet he’s still strengthened his grip as the world’s leading men’s player. Sinner, of course, is almost halfway through a three-month ban for a doping offence, which ruled him out of the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Indian Wells and Miami. But he …

World number one Aryna Sabalenka claimed her second title of the year by beating Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2 in the women’s Miami Open final. There were seven breaks of serve in a hard-fought first set, which swung the way of both players, before the Belarusian won a game to love …

Novak Djokovic eased past Grigor Dimitrov to reach his first Miami Open final since 2016 and move within one win of his 100th career ATP title. Bulgaria’s Dimitrov broke Djokovic in the opening game, but the Serb, watched on by his British coach Andy Murray, broke back. World number five …

It is a first semi-final appearance for Djokovic at this tournament since 2016 and, with Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper and Daniil Medvedev among a host of top-10 seeds already out, the draw has opened up for the Serb to add another Miami title. Djokovic efficiently took the opening set on …