French Open

Rafael Nadal beats Casper Ruud for 14th Roland Garros title

Spain's Nadal, 36, won 6-3 6-3 6-0 against Norwegian eighth seed Ruud to also extend his record number of Grand Slam men's singles titles to 22.

He moves two ahead of his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Nadal, who lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals last year, has won 112 of his 115 matches on the Paris clay.

After also winning the Australian Open in January, Nadal has claimed back-to-back major titles for the first time since 2010 - when he won the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in a row.

Iga Swiatek keeps on winning

Iga Swiatek, who turned 21 on Tuesday, is on the longest unbeaten run in the women's tour since Serena Williams bagged 34 victories in succession in 2013.

The Polish player, gunning for a second title in three years at Roland Garros, appeared a tad shaky in the initial games before marching past the 11th seed to set up a meeting with Russian Daria Kasatkina for a place in Sunday's final.

The 2020 champion is bidding to become the fourth player since 2000 to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup multiple times after Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

Nadal outlasts Djokovic in Paris

Nadal won 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 to advance to the final four.

The 13-time Roland Garros champion will meet Germany's Alexander Zverev for a place in Sunday's final.

Djokovic beat Nadal in the semi-finals last year which was just his third ever loss at the tournament.

Meanwhile German third seed Alexander Zverev capitalised on an error-filled performance from Carlos Alcaraz to tame the high-flying teenager.

Djokovic rolls on at Roland Garros

With Djokovic unable to defend his Australian Open title due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Spaniard Rafa Nadal broke a three-way tie for the most Grand Slam titles with the Serb and Roger Federer by winning the Melbourne Park major at the start of the year.

Yet a successful rerun of his 2021 Roland Garros campaign, when he beat 13-time French Open winner Nadal in the semi-finals, will lift Djokovic alongside his great rival.

Spain's Rafael Nadal

The 13-time champion in Paris was hampered by a chronic foot injury as he failed to reach the quarter finals of the Rome Masters.

Nadal, who only recently returned from a stress fracture in his ribs, said he would take a doctor with him to Roland Garros.

 

Photo: PHOTOSPORT  Caption: Nadal with the Australian Open silverware 

     

Murray to miss clay-court season

The 34-year-old Murray, who crashed out in the second round of the Australian Open, will be in action at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam this week after accepting a wildcard to enter the main draw.

"The past couple of years, the clay has made issues worse," the three-times major winner told reporters ahead of his first-round match against Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik.

"Last year I had some issues at the beginning of the year, the clay didn't help, so I've spoken to my team about that and this year while I feel good and healthy, I don't want to take that risk."

Novak Djokovic outlasts Stefanos Tsitsipas for 19th Grand Slam title

Top seed Djokovic, 34, was in deep trouble before rediscovering his energy to win 6-7 (6-8) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4.

The Serb's greater experience shone through as fifth seed Tsitsipas wilted in his first Grand Slam final.

The victory moves Djokovic one major title behind the men's record jointly held by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Having beaten Nadal in an epic semi-final on Friday, he said: "It has been an unforgettable few moments for me in my life and my career. I will definitely remember these last 48 hours in my life."

Serena Williams knocked out in fourth round by Elena Rybakina

In an absorbing match, the 23-time Grand Slam winner was outmuscled by the Kazakh, who will now seek to take advantage of an open women's draw.

The American tried to lift her level but instead became the latest top-10 seed to depart the women's singles.

Her next chance to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles comes at Wimbledon from 28 June.

"It was definitely close," Williams said. "There is literally a point here, a point there, that could change the whole course of the match.

Serena Williams reaches fourth round as draw opens up

The American seventh seed beat compatriot Collins 6-4 6-4 and will face Kazakhstan's 21st seed Elena Rybakina next.

Williams, 39, is one of just four top 10 seeds left in the women's draw after Aryna Sabalenka lost earlier on Friday.

The Belarusian third seed was beaten 6-4 2-6 6-0 by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Williams is bidding to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam triumphs, but has not made it past the fourth round at Roland Garros since 2016.

Osaka getting plenty of support

One of the biggest names in sport, Osaka stunned the tennis world when she pulled out of the Grand Slam earlier this week after being fined and threatened with expulsion for declining to face the media after her first-round match.

The four Grand Slam tournaments released a statement commending Osaka for sharing her experience and promised to make things better for players.

"We wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court," they said in a statement.