Ukraine lost in Lyon Open Final to Zhang Shuai

Ukraine represented by Dayana Yastremska failed to win the title after being defeated by Zhang Shuai in the Lyon Open Final, Dayana arrived in Lyon last Saturday saying that she woke up after hearing the sound of bombs from Russia invading Ukraine, Dayana was defeated 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the decider.

And with the money Dayana makes, she will use her prize money of around £12,000 to help Ukraine. And Dayana said that this week was a tough week.

With tears in her eyes and wrapped in her country's flag, Dayana sent a message to her compatriots to stay in Ukraine. And said " If Ukrainians were looking at me, I would like to say that you guys are very strong and amazing, and this gift that I got I will give to a Ukrainian foundation to support Ukraine. Standing at the Lyon Open is not for myself but for the country Ukraine.

Zhang took his third WTA title after coming back from two break downs in the third set.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/60640701

Davis Cup: India VS Denmark 2-0

Taking full advantage of the Danes' discomfort on low-bouncing grass, Ramkumar clinched a 6-3 6-2 win over Christian, a low-ranking 824, in the opening singles match at the Delhi Gymkhana Club.

Yuki Bhambri returned to Davis Cup action with a convincing win while Ramkumar Ramanathan didn't even need his 'Game A' to emerge victorious as India took a 2-0 lead in their World Group I Play-off clash against Denmark, in New Delhi on Friday. Taking full advantage of the Danes' discomfort on the low bouncing grass, Ramkumar clinched a 6-3 6-2 win over Christian Siggsgaard, ranked as low as 824, in the opening singles match at Delhi Gymkhana Club.

There was hardly any fighting in the match, which lasted just 59 minutes, as Christian made it easy for the 170th-ranked Indian with his relentless unforced error.

Yuki, playing in the Davis Cup for the first time since 2017, doubled India's lead with a 6-4, 6-4 second singles win against Mikael Torpegaard, who despite serving and hitting with confidence to keep the Indians in front.

It is clear that India's strategy to host Denmark on grass is working well as dealing with low bounces does bother the visitors.

Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan will now be looking to seal a win for India on Saturday when they take on the doubles clash against Frederik Nielsen and Johannes Ingildsen.

If they win, India will retain their place in World Group I and the singles otherwise will be deemed unimportant.

Even though he had lost his serve in the opening game, Torpegaard did not let Yuki take advantage of the momentum.

Whether it's hitting from the baseline, serving, quick movement down the flanks or hitting the net, Torpegaard did everything to prevent it from becoming a one-sided match like the first singles.

He regained his break in the fourth game and what followed was an exciting game of tennis from both players. Yuki broke his opponent's serve once again -- in the ninth game -- and saved a break in the 10th game to finally take the lead.

The first game of the second set was the fiercest game of the day as it featured five deuce points.

Ironically, it ended in Torpegaard's double fault and all the hard work the Dane put in went to waste. Yuki made it 2-0 by holding back in the next game.

A perfectly placed forehand wedge gave Yuki another chance to break in the third game. Torpegaard only helped Yuki struggle when he scored a half-volley. From then on, it seemed like a formality despite Torpegaard's constant struggle. Yuki lost serve in the eighth game when she served for the match and went straight from 4-1 to 5-4.

Yuki made sure there was no more drama when he served in the 10th game when Torpegaard couldn't return the ball with his backhand.

In the first singles, Christian struggled with his serve, making as many as three double faults in the second game of the opening set and missing a breakpoint but Ramkumar could not capitalize on the opportunity.

Ramkumar mostly uses backhands for returns and remains solid on his serve. Christian again gave Ramkumar another break when he double-faulted at 30-all in the fourth game.

A long rally ensued with both players using their backhand slice strokes but Ramkumar ended up winning.

Few points went as the skinny Indian scored, a strategy he was expected to follow, but Christian's error-prone play made it easy for Ramkumar.

The Indian had three set points in the eighth game but could not convert a single one. He closed the opening set in the next game with a solid serve that Christian couldn't return, hitting a backhand.

In the second set, Christian first winked, trailing 0-40 in the third game. He started with a double fault and Ramkumar put his rival under more pressure with a back winner with a stunning cross. Christian then scored the feedback.

The Dane handed the home side a break when he hit a long backhand on the third breakpoint.

Christian's struggles were endless and Ramkumar ended the match with one ace in the eighth game after failing to convert four match points in the previous game.

https://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/davis-cup-ramkumar-puts-india-ahead-with-easy-win-over-sigsgaard-2802965

Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine has reached the quarter-finals of the Lyon Open

The 21-year-old beat Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa 6-2 6-3 and said the win was "for my country".

On February 25, Yastremska wrote on Instagram that she and her 15-year-old sister, Ivanna, had been forced to leave their parents in Ukraine.

Three days later, the pair competed in doubles in Lyon.

They were beaten in the opening round, but Yastremska's impressive form continued with Italian fifth seed Jasmine Paolini waiting in Friday's quarter-finals.

In Monterrey, world number 15 Elina Svitolina battled past Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.

Svitolina, who will donate all her prize money from the Monterrey Open to the Ukrainian army, said seeing her national flag in the crowd helped her during the two-hour match.

"Ukraine flag helped me a lot today to fight. I really fought until the end, and I found my game in the end," he said.

Djokovic gets French Open boost after vaccine rule change
Former world number 21 Yastremska described how she was "wake up by a bomb" in Odessa before crossing the Danube by boat to reach Romania.

He wrote on Instagram: "After spending two nights in an underground parking lot [a bomb shelter], my parents made the decision at any cost to send my little sister and I out of Ukraine!

"Mom, Dad, we love you so much, take care of yourself!"

Yastremska arrived on the pitch to face Busca with the Ukrainian flag on her shoulder and after her win said she felt the tournament was "very emotional".

"I'm still very nervous because I really want to win matches for my country," said the world number 140.

"I'm so happy that I'm here, that I'm in a safe place with my sister, and I'm happy to be doing what I love, playing tennis.

"Every point I've played here, I've enjoyed it a lot, and especially with the situation we have now, I've enjoyed it a thousand times over.

"This is another victory for me and another victory for my country."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/60612815

Heather Watson through in Monterrey after Katie Boulter win at Lyon

Rise to beat sixth seed konjuh of croatia 5-7 6-0 6-3
With Katie's win at Lyon, England advance to the round of 16.

Securing her place in the next main round, the 25-year-old will face Anna Bondar of Hungary.

Heather Watson, her English teammate, won her first-round match at the Monterrey Open, beating Jule Niemeir of Germany.

Watson, ranked 107th in the world won 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-4) and is trying to get back-to-back matches in the WTA main draw for the first time this year.
And will face Spain's sixth seed Nuria Parriraz Diaz or Japan's Misaki Doi.

Elina Svitolina from Ukraine will face Russian tennis players in the tournament.
However, due to the Russian invasion players from Ukraine refused to play Russian or Bellarussian players until they were said to be neutral.

And now the nationality of the Russian player has been removed from the website. Their ranking list - but still not comment publicly on Svitolina's demands.

Novak Djokovic did not become number one after being beaten by Jiri Vesely in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships

The Serbian is currently replaced by Daniil Medvedeb at the top of the rankings for the men's category.

Vesely said that he didn't think that he would actually stand a chance against noval, and it was a really great feeling.

Medvedev of Russia will become the first player besides Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to climb to the top of the rankings in 18 years.

Vesely beat the 20-time Grand Slam champion in 2016 on clay on Monte Carlo and repeated the feat on Dubai hardcourts.

Djokoavic's double fault on a breakpoint in the opening set gave Vesely the initiative to take charge of the match to serve

In the second set Djokovic fought back and equalized, but in the tie-break Djokovic slipped

Lorenzo Musetti defeated by Novak Djokovic in the Dubai Tennis Championships

Winning the Dubai Tennis Championships in his first match was the best experience Novak Djokovic had after his vaccinations and visa saga in preparation for the Australian Open.

When he was deported from Australia on January 16 last, it became the talk of the world news. But now he's back with a win over Lorenzo Musetti
and it becomes a pleasant experience.

Thanking the crowd at his first game of 2022 "I couldn't have chosen a better place to start the season - it was the best experience tonight.

"Overall, it was a straight-sets win so of course I have to be content, especially after not playing for two and a half, almost three months."

Novak Djokovic saved seven break points against world number 58 Musetti
and will face either Russia's Karen Khachanov or Australia's Alex de Minaur in the second round.

Novak Djokovic also said I am very grateful and very happy

World number one Novak Djokovic says he plans to compete at Paris 2024 as he bids to add Olympic gold to his 20 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic won bronze in Beijing in 2008 but has not claimed a medal since, losing in the semi-final at Tokyo 2020 to eventual winner Alexander Zverev, before missing out to Pablo Carreno Busta for bronze.

“An Olympic medal, especially gold, is always a big wish,” Djokovic, who will be 36 at the time of the Paris Games, told Radio Television of Serbia.

“I rewound my match with Zverev in Tokyo many times, trying to figure out what went wrong," he said. "I played superbly up to that point, but I did feel I was running on fumes, both mentally and physically.”

Djokovic was unable to compete at the Australian Open, where his rival Rafael Nadal won a record 21st men's major, because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19 and recently told the BBC that missing out on further Slams was "a price worth paying".

However, an Italian government minister has confirmed he can compete at the 2022 Italian Open, which starts on 2 May.

“If [Novak] Djokovic wants to come and play in Rome he can do it,” Valentina Vezzali, Italy’s cabinet undersecretary for sport, said.

“[Tennis is] an outdoor sport and the tighter green pass is not required. Perhaps Djokovic will most likely not be allowed in a hotel or a restaurant, but if he wants to play he can play.”

WTA remains concerned for Chinese tennis player and wants investigation into sexual assault allegation

Peng Shuai: WTA remains concerned for Chinese tennis player and wants investigation into sexual assault allegation

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) says Peng Shuai's latest interview about her sexual assault allegations "does not alleviate" its concerns.

Peng accused a Chinese government leader in November in a social media post but it was swiftly deleted and the player then disappeared for weeks.

But the 36-year-old said on Monday she never alleged sexual assault.

"Her recent in-person interview does not alleviate any of our concerns about her initial post," the WTA said.

The organisation's CEO and chairman Steve Simon added: "To reiterate our view, Peng took a bold step in publicly coming forth with the accusation that she was sexually assaulted by a senior Chinese government leader.

"As we would do with any of our players globally, we have called for a formal investigation into the allegations by the appropriate authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng, privately, to discuss her situation.

"We continue to hold firm on our position and our thoughts remain with Peng Shuai."

The player has been in attendance at the Beijing Winter Olympics, and on Tuesday watched her compatriot Eileen Gu win gold in the women's big air event.

The International Olympic Committee also said its president, Thomas Bach, had dinner with Peng on Saturday.

Bach had been one of the first to vouch for her safety after she disappeared in 2021 and the pair held a video call when there were concerns over her whereabouts and safety.

Analysis - 'A perfect image for China's state-run media'
By Robin Brant, China correspondent, BBC News

Three people in one place at one moment that says so much about these Games for China.

American-born and California-living Eileen Gu had just landed a phenomenal final jump to bag her first gold for China, the country she's representing.

In the front row of the stands was IOC President Thomas Bach, the man who has become an interlocutor between China's ruling communist party and the outside world.

Peng Shuai, the Chinese tennis player who disappeared for weeks after claiming she'd been sexually assaulted by a senior party official - a claim she later retracted - was in the stands too.

Within the space of a few minutes the cameras caught images of all three; two of them there by choice, one of them whose ability to choose we are unable to be sure of.

It made for a perfect image for China's state-run media.