Tommy Haas hints at immediate retirement after loss

AP Published 9:48 a.m. ET Aug. 1, 2017 | Updated 2:17 p.m. ET Aug. 1, 2017 KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) — Tommy Haas hinted at cutting short his farewell season and retiring immediately after losing to fellow German player Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the opening round of the Generali Open on Tuesday. “It’s a […]

Lucic-Baroni, Cornet move to 2nd round of Connecticut Open

AP Published 8:12 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2017 NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia and Alize Cornet of France won first-round matches Sunday at the Connecticut Open. Cornet beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-0, 6-0, and Lucic-Baroni overcame 11 double faults and held off Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 6-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. […]

Victoria Azarenka Pulls Out of U.S. Open Over Custody Dispute

Photo Victoria Azarenka has not played on tour since Wimbledon. Credit Glyn Kirk/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Victoria Azarenka, a two-time finalist at the United States Open, withdrew from this year’s tournament Monday because of a custody dispute over her infant son, Leo. “I am sadly unable to compete in this year’s U.S. Open due […]

Women’s Tennis Still Awaits Its Next Age of Rivalries

Though she has faced a bevy of challengers in the past decade or so — Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki and Garbiñe Muguruza, to name a few — Williams’s toughest rival has been the history books. Brad Gilbert, a former top-10 player and longtime ESPN analyst, said Williams “hasn’t even come close to having […]

Sports of The Times: Venus Williams Is in the Top 10. Stop Talking About Her Age.

“There are a lot of explanations,” she said. “But I all I can say is that I’m grateful.” I am grateful, too. Not just for her resurgence, but for her presence. This season has been a reminder of how much richer the sport of tennis is with her sparkling inside it. Williams is obviously much […]

Patty Schnyder Brings a New Outlook and a New Family on Tour

“It felt really strange coming here again and competing,” Schnyder said. “Some great memories. I really wanted to show my kid around and have her with me.” Schnyder, who is from Basel, Switzerland, was ranked No. 7 in the world in 2005. She played in 14 straight U.S. Open main draws, beginning in 1997, and […]

Keeping Score: The Key to the Resurgence of Nadal and Federer? Watch Their Second Serves

Nadal has won an impressive 61 percent of his second-serve points this season to lead the tour. Federer is right behind, having won 60 percent. Each player’s career average is 57 percent, and Nadal in particular has improved from last season, when he won 54 percent of his second-serve points. They double-down on making a […]

Sources: Cavs examine Thomas, mull next step

12:10 AM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN After All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas underwent a physical examination in Cleveland on Friday, uncertainty over the fitness of his injured hip has Cavaliers officials evaluating the results and considering possible ramifications to the blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics earlier this week, league sources said. When […]

100 Years of Fostering African-American Tennis Talent

At this month’s A.T.A. nationals, Jackie Shaw of Collegeville, Pa., said that she was often the only African-American at United States Tennis Association tournaments. She found the surroundings of an A.T.A. event far more relaxing. Photo Jackie Shaw of Collegeville, Pa., said that she was often the only African-American at United States Tennis Association tournaments. […]