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Tennis

Hailey Baptiste, of the United States, celebrates a point during her match against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

American Hailey Baptiste saves 6 match points to stun world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Madrid Open

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 5:13 PM CDT

MADRID (AP) — American Hailey Baptiste earned the biggest win of her career by saving six match points and beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open on Tuesday.

The 32nd-ranked Baptiste rallied to a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory — her first over a top 5 opponent. She will play in a WTA 1000 semifinal for the first time.

The result ended a 15-match winning streak for Sabalenka, who was the defending champion in Madrid.

The 24-year-old Baptiste is the first player to beat Sabalenka from match points down since Iga Swiatek did it in the 2024 final in Madrid.

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Sinner calls for better match scheduling at the Madrid Open after his 20th straight win

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Sinner calls for better match scheduling at the Madrid Open after his 20th straight win

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:02 PM CDT

MADRID (AP) — Jannik Sinner wants better scheduling of matches at the Madrid Open, saying the night session “messes up the whole day” for players.

Sinner had a morning start on Tuesday and defeated Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5 to earn his 20th straight win on tour and reach the quarterfinals of the ATP-WTA event in the Spanish capital.

The world No. 1 said he was OK playing at whatever time he was scheduled, but the late matches — some of which have finished past 1 a.m. local time — were “not easy” on the players' “body and mind.”

“Even if you have a day off, the fans they see only us on court, and then we finish at 1:15 (a.m.)," he said. "But then you have press conference, recovery, eating, treatment, you know, you don’t go to bed until 4 or 5. It messes up the whole day. So I think we can do better, definitely, in this point of view.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:02 PM CDT
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts after defeating Cameron Norrie of Britain in their round of 16 match at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Canada’s Fernandez falls to Andreeva in Madrid Open quarterfinals

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Fernandez falls to Andreeva in Madrid Open quarterfinals

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 8:46 AM CDT

MADRID - Canada’s Leylah Fernandez was eliminated from the Madrid Open clay-court tournament with a 7-6 (1), 6-3 loss to ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.

Andreeva saved three set points in the opening set before taking the tiebreak and seizing control of the match.

Fernandez, seeded 24th, was facing Andreeva for the third time, with the Russian improving to 2-1 in their head-to-head.

The Laval, Que., native had reached the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ann Li in the round of 16.

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Yesterday at 8:46 AM CDT
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, eyes the ball during her match against Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, during the Stuttgart Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Stuttgart. Germany. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Sabalenka avoids Madrid Open virus scare and Osaka upset. Gauff and Rybakina lose

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Sabalenka avoids Madrid Open virus scare and Osaka upset. Gauff and Rybakina lose

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

MADRID (AP) — Tennis players are facing an unknown opponent at the Madrid Open.

A stomach virus or food poisoning has affected Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Marin Cilic and a few others, causing some concern.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka avoided an upset by Naomi Osaka on the court on Monday and said she's trying to avoid illness by sticking to a simple diet of chicken breast, rice and salad.

The rumor among the players was bad shrimp tacos were to blame.

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Monday, Apr. 27, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves the ball to Naomi Osaka of Japan during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Canada’s Fernandez reaches Madrid Open quarterfinals, Auger-Aliassime loses

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Fernandez reaches Madrid Open quarterfinals, Auger-Aliassime loses

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

MADRID - Canada's Leylah Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open with a straight-sets win over Ann Li on Monday.

Fernandez, seeded 24th, defeated the 31st-seeded American 6-3, 6-2 in the women's round of 16 of the clay-court tournament.

Later, men's third seed Félix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal was upset 7-6 (3), 6-3 by Belgium's Alexander Blockx in the men's third round.

Fernandez, from Laval, Que., converted 3 of 8 break-point chances in a match that lasted one hour, 23 minutes, firing six aces and winning 75.6 per cent of her first-serve points. Li failed to convert either of her two break opportunities.

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Monday, Apr. 27, 2026
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, reaches to hit a return against Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, during the Stuttgart Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Stuttgart. Germany. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Coco Gauff overcomes vomiting on court to beat Sorana Cirstea in Madrid

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Coco Gauff overcomes vomiting on court to beat Sorana Cirstea in Madrid

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Apr. 26, 2026

MADRID (AP) — Coco Gauff has advanced to the fourth round of the Madrid Open despite falling ill and vomiting on court.

Gauff, a finalist in Madrid last year, rallied to beat Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday.

The American threw up on court in the middle of the second set.

“When I actually threw up on the court, that was like a little bit embarrassing," Gauff said. “Then after that first game and the second, I was like that took everything out of me."

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Sunday, Apr. 26, 2026
Coco Gauff of the United States receives medical attention during her match against Sorana Cirstea of Romania at the Madrid Open tennis tournament, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Madrid. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Auger-Aliassime, Fernandez victorious at Madrid Open but Shapovalov drops his match

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Auger-Aliassime, Fernandez victorious at Madrid Open but Shapovalov drops his match

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026

MADRID - Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime won his opening match Saturday at the Madrid Open tennis tournament.

Auger-Aliassime, the third seed, defeated Lithuanian Vilius Gaubas 6-3, 6-4. Auger-Aliassime will face Belgian Alexander Blockx on Monday.

Auger-Aliassime fired seven aces in his opening win while registering no double-faults. He also converted on two-of-five break opportunities.

Gaubus had three aces and a double-fault in the match.

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Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime returns to Australia's Alex de Minaur during the ABN AMRO ATP Tennis final in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

Swiatek withdraws from Madrid Open after falling ill in match

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Swiatek withdraws from Madrid Open after falling ill in match

The Associated Press 1 minute read Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Madrid Open due to an unspecified illness while playing her round-of-32 match against American Ann Li on Saturday.

Li got the walkover win when the fourth-ranked Swiatek withdrew with Li winning 7-6 (4), 2-6, 3-0.

Swiatek, the 2024 Madrid champion, required a medical timeout while down 2-0 in the deciding set. She returned to the court but called it quits after Li held serve.

The Polish star beat Daria Snigur in straight sets in her second-round opener on Thursday.

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Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026
Iga Swiatek of Poland returns the ball to Ann Li of the U.S. during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

Arkansas to drop men’s and women’s tennis for financial reasons

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Apr. 24, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is dropping its men's and women's tennis programs following the 2026 season for financial reasons.

“The landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, requiring us to make challenging choices as we balance competitive opportunities, resources and the long-term sustainability of our department,” Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement Friday. “Ultimately, we concluded that we are unable to provide the level of support necessary for our tennis programs to consistently compete in the SEC and nationally at the standard our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and supporters deserve.”

Current tennis student-athletes will have their scholarships honored through completion of their current degree programs if they choose to remain at the university and will continue to have access to support services.

Discontinuation of the tennis teams leaves Arkansas with 17 sponsored sports.

Reigning two-time champ Carlos Alcaraz out of French Open due to wrist injury

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Reigning two-time champ Carlos Alcaraz out of French Open due to wrist injury

The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Apr. 24, 2026

MADRID (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz won’t play for a third successive French Open title due to a right wrist injury.

Alcaraz posted on X on Friday that neither would he appear in the preceding Italian Open in Rome, where he also won last year.

No. 2-ranked Alcaraz was injured at the Barcelona Open this month during his first-round win and withdrew the day after.

He pulled out of this week's Madrid Open and attended the Laureus World Sports Awards in the Spanish capital on Monday with his wrist immobilized. Alcaraz was named world sportsman of the year at the gala.

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Friday, Apr. 24, 2026
Carlos Alcaraz poses with his Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award during the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid, Spain, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Diallo withdraws, Mboko suffers lopsided loss in second round match at Madrid Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Diallo withdraws, Mboko suffers lopsided loss in second round match at Madrid Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Apr. 24, 2026

MADRID - Victoria Mboko of Burlington, Ont., and Montreal's Gabriel Diallo are out of the Madrid Open after second-round losses Friday at the 1000-level clay court tournament.

Mboko was decisively upset 6-4, 6-1 by American Caty McNally, while Diallo withdrew from his match against Danish qualifier Elmer Moller with an injury while trailing 7-5, 3-3.

Mboko, seeded 10th in the women's draw, managed to earn just one break point against McNally. She struggled on serve, facing 12 break points, defending eight, and had six double-faults. 

The 19-year-old Mboko was making her Madrid debut after recovering from dental surgery that caused her to miss Canada's 3-1 loss to Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.

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Friday, Apr. 24, 2026
Canada's Gabriel Diallo serves the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during their round of sixteen tennis match at the ATP Tennis Tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

Madrid Open sets up practice court inside Bernabeu and Nadal trains with Courtois and Bellingham

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal was back on a tennis court — one inside Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium — on Thursday.

The Madrid Open set up the temporary court on the Bernabeu field and players will be allowed to practice on it until April 30.

The retired Nadal, an avid Madrid fan, is the most successful player at the Madrid Open, having won the tournament five times.

He partnered with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a friendly session against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Canada’s Fernandez cruises to straight-set win in Madrid Open opener

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Fernandez cruises to straight-set win in Madrid Open opener

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

MADRID - Canada’s Leylah Fernandez kicked off her Madrid Open campaign Thursday with a straight-sets win over Julia Grabher.

The 23-year-old from Laval, Que., seeded 24th, defeated the Austrian 6-2, 6-3 to improve to 3-0 all-time against the world No. 107. 

Fernandez, who received a first-round bye, advances to the third round and will next face American Iva Jovic, the 15th seed, who beat Poland’s Magda Linette 6-4, 6-1.

Fernandez did not record an ace and had five double faults, compared to three aces and one double fault for Grabher. The Canadian made the most of her chances, converting four of six break-point opportunities while limiting Grabher to one break on two chances.

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Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026
Canada's Leylah Fernandez reacts during a quarterfinal match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the Stuttgart Open tennis tournament, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Stuttgart, Germany. (Katharina Kausche/dpa via AP)

Canada to face Brazil with Billie Jean King Cup spot at stake

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada to face Brazil with Billie Jean King Cup spot at stake

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

LONDON - Canada will face Brazil in November with its Billie Jean King Cup standing on the line.

The eighth-ranked Canadians, seeded second, dropped into the playoffs after a 3-1 loss to Kazakhstan in the qualifiers earlier this month.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., Kayla Cross of London, Ont., Ariana Arseneault of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Sasha Vagramov of Port Moody, B.C., represented Canada in that tie in Astana.

Brazil will confirm the venue and playing surface for the Nov. 16-22 tie.

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Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026
Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, reacts during her first round match against Barbora Krejcikova, of the Czech Republic, at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, July 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

US to host Hungary in Billie Jean King Cup playoffs and France draws Australia

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

US to host Hungary in Billie Jean King Cup playoffs and France draws Australia

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

LONDON (AP) — The United States will host Hungary in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs in November when the record 18-time champion looks to get back on track in women’s team tennis.

The U.S. reached the final last year for the first time since 2018 but lost to Belgium 3-1 this month in qualifying for this year's finals.

Hungary should include Anna Bondár, a BJK Cup regular who on Thursday at the Madrid Open beat No. 7-ranked Elina Svitolina and became the first Hungarian woman to beat a top-10 player since Timea Babos beat Coco Vandeweghe in 2018.

Also in Thursday’s draw for the Cup playoffs, France will host Australia in a first meeting since the 2019 final won by France in Perth; and Brazil will host 2023 champion Canada.

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Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026
Japan's Eri Hozumi, right, and teammate Shuko Aoyama talk tactics during a doubles match between Italy's Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani against Japan's Eri Hozumi and Shuko Aoyama, during a Billy Jean King Cup match between Italy and Japan, in Velletri, Italy, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Mayhem in Melbourne: John McEnroe’s 1990 default from the Australian Open is revisited

Dennis Passa, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Mayhem in Melbourne: John McEnroe’s 1990 default from the Australian Open is revisited

Dennis Passa, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

“You cannot be serious,” John McEnroe frequently said in what became his iconic expression during a storied tennis career that included seven Grand Slam singles titles and 10 in doubles.

Now, 36 years after his default from the Australian Open in Melbourne — the first in the history of Grand Slam tournaments in the Open era — yes, seriously, Tennis Australia is indeed flashing back to that day in January 1990 to remind longtime fans of that historic occurrence and perhaps a whole new legion of millennials who never knew it happened.

It's in the form of a podcast which includes players and others who were there on the day at a stadium that was later to be named Rod Laver Arena. AO Originals released this week the first episode of a four-part podcast series called “ SNAP: The John McEnroe Default Saga.”

The podcast has contributions from recognizable tennis names including Jim Courier, Tim Henman, Todd Woodbridge, Pat Cash, former Australian Open chief Paul McNamee, Patrick McEnroe and Barbara Schett.

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Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026
FILE - American tennis player John McEnroe argues with Grand Slam Supervisor Ken Farrar, at whom, MnEnroe later swore and was then disqualified from the Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 21, 1990. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens, File)

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