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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Abhishek Rajan |MK Tomar
“He’s not a one-trick pony. Sometimes, a lot of these big guys, (people) think they’re one-trick ponies.” Reilly Opelka’s traveling coach Denis Kudla said earlier this season, in January, while emphasizing on the 6’11” ATP pro’s potential. “He has got a lot of variety. He is a very all-around, good tennis player,” he further added. Well Opelka showed the signs as well at the start of this year in Brisbane.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Abhishek Rajan |MK Tomar
Emma Navarro won her maiden WTA title this season back in March, at the Merida Open. However, the American star has failed to yield a similar result since then. Her form in subsequent events has been concerning to say the least. Ahead of the French Open, however, she will look to make an impact this weekend in Rome. The World No. 9 has a tough challenge in front of her in R32 on Sunday, where she will face a formidable opponent in Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |MK Tomar
“I was pretty composed because I felt like I was playing the right way,” Coco Gauff said after starting her Italian Open campaign on a winning note this week. Following her heroics in Madrid, where she missed out on clinching a maiden WTA trophy this season in the summit clash against Aryna Sabalenka, the World No.3 is looking in dominant form in Rome. But the 2023 US Open winner has a long way ahead in order to make a deep run.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Deepanshi Bajaj |MK Tomar
“After the first-round match, I’m going to have a good picture of myself and where I’m at,” said Jannik Sinner in a pre-event conference, few days ago, ahead of his Italian Open campaign. After three months, due to a suspension from WADA in the doping controversy, the World No.1 is going to step back on the tennis court on Saturday. In Rome, he will kick off his campaign against Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Abhishek Rajan |MK Tomar
“She’s playing some great tennis so I’m just super proud of myself. I had to bring my best tennis to win,” a jubilant Sofia Kenin said two years ago, after upsetting Aryna Sabalenka in Rome. The Belarusian had just entered the Italian Open following a title win in Madrid. She was expected to carry the momentum forward. But Kenin broke her hopes. In the second round, the 2020 Australian Open champion pulled off a sensational victory against Sabalenka and edged her out in straight sets.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |MK Tomar
Three months. That’s how long tennis fans have missed World No.1 Jannik Sinner for. Ever since WADA handed him a 3-month suspension following the doping controversy, back in February, various ATP events have gone by without his presence. But the three-time slam king is finally set for an awaited comeback. And what could be a better occasion than to have it at an event in front of your home crowd?
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Deepanshi Bajaj |MK Tomar
Naomi Osaka had to make some “real-time adjustments” when she kicked off her Rome campaign earlier this week. Expecting to play Spain’s Paula Badosa – who withdrew at the last minute due to a persistent injury – the Japanese star instead faced a lucky loser, Swiss pro Viktorija Golubic. While the latter proved to be an out-of-syllabus question for Osaka, the four-time slam queen eventually emerged victorious to keep her Italian Open run alive. However, she’s still got a long road ahead.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Abhishek Rajan |MK Tomar
“I think this year is the least amount of tennis I have ever played.” Taylor Fritz said last month ahead of his Madrid Open campaign, citing the situation of abdominal injury that forced him to compete less frequently. In events where Fritz played, he struggled with inconsistency. However, the World No.4 will look to make the most of his opportunity this week when he steps on the Roman clay. The American ATP star and 2024 US Open finalist will take on compatriot Marcos Giron in R64 on Saturday.
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6 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Deepanjan Mitra |MK Tomar
“I had some offers, but I will say I was looking for the right player,” said former American pro Brad Gilbert when he first joined American sensation Coco Gauff’s team as she entered the 2023 US Open. In the two weeks that followed, the then 19-year-old went on to create history as, under her new mentor, she became the first American teen since the legendary Serena Williams in 1999 to grab the trophy at Flushing Meadows.
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6 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Mintu Tomar |Abhishek Rajan |MK Tomar
This week, Coco Gauff is “super happy to be back in Rome, excited to hopefully capitalize and you know, do one better than I did in Madrid.” Few days back, she missed out on clinching her maiden WTA title in Madrid, as the World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka prevented her from emerging victorious in the summit clash. But the American is confident to repeat a similar performance in Rome this week.
