Tennis

LONDON:Rafael Nadal is facing a race against time to be ready for the ATP Finals as he battles Novak Djokovic for the year-end number one ranking, admitting he is struggling with his serve. The 33-year-old said he was happy to be in London after being forced to pull out of last week’s Paris Masters at the semi-final stage with an ...

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Wednesday decided to appeal against ITF’s decision to shift their Davis Cup tie against India to a neutral venue, saying the world governing body and the Indian tennis federation have lowered their stature with this move. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Monday agreed with the safety concerns in Islamabad, raised by the All ...

Ashleigh Barty of Australia tops the end of season women´s tennis rankings released Monday, a day after her triumph in the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, China. With 7,851 points, Barty, who has topped the rankings since early September, eclipsed second-placed Karolína Plísková (5,940 points) by almost 2,000 points. Naomi Osaka (5,497) held on to third place from Simona Halep, who ...

Rafael Nadal’s return to the world number one position for the eighth time in his career was confirmed when the ATP rankings were released on Monday. The Spaniard leapfrogs Novak Djokovic even though the Serb sealed his fifth Paris Masters title on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Nadal, whose last stint at the top ended ...

MUMBAI: India’s Davis Cup tie against Pakistan at Islamabad this month must be played at a neutral venue after the latest advice from the International Tennis Federation’s independent security advisors, the world governing body said on Monday. The Asia/Oceania Group I tie, originally scheduled for September 14-15 in Islamabad, was postponed by the ITF to November 29-30 following a security ...

Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty has made history in beating defending champion Elina Svitolina at the $14 million WTA Finals. It wasn’t an easy victory, as Barty was tested further in the second set, but ran out the eventual winner 6-4, 6-3. Barty had won two of her round robin matches before the final, so she pocketed a cool $6.4 ...

Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Paris Masters with an abdominal injury just minutes before the scheduled start of his semi-final against Denis Shapovalov on Saturday, and admitted his participation at the ATP Tour Finals was in doubt. Canadian youngster Shapovalov will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final in the French capital. Second seed Nadal could have secured the year-end ...

SHENZHEN, China: An indefatigable Elina Svitolina came from behind to outlast a hobbled Belinda Bencic in a gruelling semi-final on Saturday, continuing her dogged quest to defend her WTA Finals title. The world number eight worked over an ailing Bencic with a comeback 5-7, 6-3, 4-1 victory in one hour and 50 minutes at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre. The ...

World’s number three Roger Federer announced on Monday that he was withdrawing from this week’s Paris Masters in order to “pace” himself for the next year. “I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the Paris Masters,” he said in a statement. “I have to pace myself since I want to play as long as possible on the ...

BASEL: Roger Federer will check off another landmark today when he starts his bid for a 10th Basel title by playing the 1,500th match of his career. The 38-year-old begins his bid for his 103rd title against German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has beaten the German twice — including at Indian Wells last March. “My preparation ...