REUTERS – The men’s tennis final at next year’s Tokyo Olympics will change format to best-of-three tiebreak sets instead of five, the International Tennis Federation has announced.
Wednesday’s decision brings the men’s gold medal match into line with other singles matches at the Olympics which are all played as best-of-three sets.
Britain’s Andy Murray defeated Juan Martin del Potro over four gruelling sets in the Rio 2016 Olympics men’s gold medal singles match.
NEWS: Andy Murray back on the practice court
The men’s and women’s doubles tournaments, meanwhile, will now feature a first-to-10-points tie-break instead of a deciding third set, the same format that has been used for mixed doubles.
“These amendments reduce concerns of overplay for players who reach the latter stages of all three events – singles, doubles and mixed doubles,” the ITF said in a statement.
Caroline Wozniacki has a new member in her entourage, joining forces with 2010 Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone this week in Charleston.
The former world No.1 and Australian Open 2018 champion, currently ranked 13th, has never found clay to be her strongest surface, but is through to the third round in Charleston after a dominant victory over Laura Siegemund on Wednesday.
Caroline Wozniacki practicing with Francesca Schiavone here @VolvoCarOpen. Said they hit together in Miami and Caro invited her up to Charleston to get some tactical tips on clay.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) April 1, 2019
“We’ve only been (together) a little less than a week,” Wozniacki told Tennis Channel.
“Obviously it’s all about mixing up the pace, staying aggressive, moving towards the ball … not trying to over-force it but still trying to play aggressive on the clay.”
.@CaroWozniacki added someone to her team for the week.
That someone is 2010 @RolandGarros champion @Schiavone_Fra. ????????She spoke to @Steve_Weissman about the recent pairing.#VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/iFGV1RPYZG
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) April 3, 2019
Wozniacki has not won a title on clay since 2011, when she triumphed in Brussels on red clay in 2011.
She owns three other clay-court titles, all on green clay; Ponte Vedra Beach in 2009 and 2010, and Charleston in 2011.
John Isner is reportedly suffering a stress fracture in his foot which could sideline him from four to six weeks.
The American was the defending champion at the Miami Open and went all the way to the final, but was hampered by a foot issue in a 6-1 6-4 loss to Roger Federer.
Word from John Isner camp is that it appears he did suffer a stress fracture in his left foot during Miami Open final against Federer. More definitive test results forthcoming but could miss 4 to 6 weeks. If so, quite a pity for a big man back in excellent form (6th in the race)
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) April 2, 2019
“I have never had anything like this before, ever. I have been very fortunate. I have stayed healthy throughout my career. Something happened today,” he explained after the final.
“In the first five games, I was fine. Nothing was bothering me. Then, you know, this weird pain on the top of my foot, we’ll see what is.”
Isner, 33, is currently ranked No.10.
Two days after winning her first-round match at the WTA event in Monterrey, Greta Arn has the quarterfinals in her sights.
The Hungarian was a lucky loser entry into the main draw – replacing the ill Katie Boulter – after losing to Beatriz Haddad Maia in the final round of qualifying.
And once there, she beat Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena in three thrilling sets to set up a showdown in the last 16 with former world No.10 Kristina Mladenovic.
Greta Arn, 39y 355d, could be the oldest lucky loser ever to win a match in a WTA main draw.
the other one I can recall is Kimiko Date, who won vs Monica Niculescu on 17th August 2010 in Montreal as lucky loser at 39y 324d.
— Diego Barbiani (@Diego_Barbiani) April 2, 2019
Arn, currently ranked outside the world’s top 400, will turn 40 in less than two weeks.
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