News bites: Olympics men’s final now best-of-three sets

Published by Reuters / Tennismash

Andy Murray (L) and Juan Martin del Potro embrace following the men's singles gold medal match at the Rio 2016 Olympics (Getty Images)
The men’s singles gold medal match will be best-of-three sets at Tokyo Olympics, Caroline Wozniacki is working with Francesca Schiavone, and world No.10 John Isner could be sidelined for a month.

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.

Wozniacki teams with Schiavone

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.

“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.”

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.

Foot injury could rule Isner out for weeks

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.

“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.

Ageless Arn aiming for quarters in Monterrey

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.

Arn, currently ranked outside the world’s top 400, will turn 40 in less than two weeks.

Share this: 
  • Most popular articles

7 November 2016

20 Questions: Andy Murray

Double Wimbledon champion, double Olympic champion and now world No.1. But what doesn't An... More

19 February 2016

Tennis player grunts or porn star groans?

Roberta Vinci appeared on Italian TV and was put to the test - were the grunts she was hea... More

16 February 2017

Men’s and women’s tennis: as different as believ...

In the first part of our series analysing the similarities and differences between men's ... More

14 August 2017

Sharapova quotes Serena: “I will never lose to that li...

Maria Sharapova has opened up in her memoir Unstoppable, revealing her take on how Serena ... More