8:58 AM ET The clay-court season that begins in earnest this week and picks up steam as it moves through Europe in the coming weeks — culminating in the French Open in late May/early June — promises to be both intriguing and unpredictable. That’s because the landscape in both the ATP and WTA has changed.
Tennis
3:46 PM ET Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. — American Madison Keys overpowered normally steady Caroline Wozniacki with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory in the Volvo Car Open on Sunday. Keys, seeded eighth and ranked 18th in the world, continually hit big serves — she reached 121 mph — and overwhelming forehands to wear down the
6:51 PM ET Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. — Caroline Wozniacki and Madison Keys will play for the title in Charleston after posting straight-set wins on Saturday. The fifth-seeded Wozniacki advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 16 seed Petra Martic of Croatia. The eighth-seeded Keys outlasted Monica Puig of Puerto Rico 6-4, 6-0, winning
8:12 PM ET Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. — Madison Keys rallied late to down top-seeded Sloane Stephens for the first time in four career meetings to reach the Volvo Car Open semifinals on Friday. Keys pulled away from her American countrywoman to win 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-2. Keys, seeded eighth and ranked 18th in the
12:00 PM ET When top-ranked Naomi Osaka won her second Grand Slam tournament in succession at the Australian Open in January, it looked like the WTA might have found a player with sufficient gravitas to succeed Serena Williams. The main obstacles standing in her way appeared to be three Grand Slam champions: deposed No. 1
3:15 AM ET World No. 1 Naomi Osaka has agreed a deal with Nike, the sports apparel giant has announced. The Japanese star, who had previously been tied to rival Adidas, will first wear Nike gear at the Stuttgart Grand Prix later this month, the U.S. sportswear maker said on its website. “I’m proud to
7:34 PM ET Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. — Defending champion Kiki Bertens and third-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, both among the top 10 players in the world, lost Thursday at the Volvo Car Open. Bertens, the second seed of the Netherlands who’s No. 6 in the WTA rankings, fell to 15th-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-6 (8),
1:08 PM ET Associated Press HOUSTON — No. 1 seed John Isner has withdrawn ahead of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship because of an injured foot. Isner was hurt in the final of the Miami Open last week while playing Roger Federer. Isner has played in the U.S. Clay Court Championship every year since
7:50 PM ET Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. — Fourth-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia was among three of the world’s top 20 players who lost to unseeded opponents at the Volvo Car Open on Wednesday. Sevastova, ranked 12th in the WTA, fell to American Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2. Sixth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium, No. 17 in
1:34 PM ET Associated Press LONDON — The men’s tennis singles final at the Olympics has been shortened to a best-of-three-sets match as part of format changes designed to reduce the workload of players competing in multiple events. It means all matches across the men’s and women’s singles are now best of three sets with