Ball-maker hoping Nadal wins in Paris to prove himself wrong
Spain's Rafael Nadal prepares to serve against Mackenzie McDonald of the U.S. in the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. That is the tiny weight difference between the old French Open ball that Rafael Nadal happily bashed in winning his 12th title last year and the new one riling him in his chase for No. When the tournament announced the selection last November of the Chicago-based manufacturer, replacing French firm Babolat that sponsors Nadal, the coronavirus was unheard of. The French Open got pushed to September, becoming the last of only three Grand Slams this year, after Wimbledon canceled for the first time since World War II. “Tennis is a mental sport, he may be making comments just to take pressure off himself," he said.
Clipped wings: Virus turns tennis pros' flights into ordeals
Jennifer Brady of the U.S. prepares to serve against Denmark's Clara Tauson in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. But tennis players cannot home-work. And so, as now-rare world travelers, they've also become unwitting first-hand witnesses of how the pandemic is battering the airline industry. But the novelty wore off after near-constant flying became part of her tennis job, until “I really didn't like it, especially long-haul." “The best thing during the lockdown was that I didn’t have to go on the plane.”___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
'Runaway train': Serena wins French Open opener; Nadal, too
Serena Williams of the U.S. screams in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Kristie Ahn of the U.S. at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. Both began this French Open with straight-set victories against overmatched foes in Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday. Nadal began his attempt to pull even with rival Roger Federer for the most by a man, 20, by beating Egor Gerasimov of Belarus 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. He'll be aiming for his 18th major championship at this French Open, which he finally gets underway Tuesday with his first Grand Slam match since being disqualified at the U.S. Open. Among the other key results on Day 2 of a chilly, pandemic-postponed French Open were losses by 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova, who was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Polish teenager Iga Swiatek; three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber; 2017 U.S. Open finalist and 2018 French Open semifinalist Madison Keys; and men’s seeds No.
Twins Bob, Mike Bryan end record-breaking doubles career
FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2014, file photo, Bob, left, and Mike Bryan kiss the men's doubles championship trophy after defeating Marc Lopez and Marcel Granollers, of Spain, in the doubles championship match of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. American twins Bob and Mike Bryan announced their retirement after a record-breaking doubles career ,Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, making official what seemed clear when they did not enter the U.S. Open. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)NEW YORK American twins Bob and Mike Bryan announced their retirement after a record-breaking doubles career Thursday, making official what seemed clear when they did not enter the U.S. Open. They finished 10 seasons atop the ATP doubles rankings and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007. While he was off the tour, Mike won two additional Grand Slam titles with Jack Sock as his partner.