Aryna Sabalenka seemingly threw shade at a WTA colleague or a couple of them while openly admitting that she was just "faking" that she was not too disappointed over a shock Dubai exit. 

Three weeks after defending her Australian Open title, Sabalenka returned to action at this week's WTA 1000 event in Dubai. On Tuesday, Sabalenka went up by a set and a break against Donna Vekic - the Belarusian wasn't really dominating the Croatian but it seemed like the Belarusian would manage to close out the match in two sets. But then, Vekic came back from a set down to upset the second-seeded Belarusian 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-0.

Not only that Sabalenka losing to world No. 31 Vekic was an unexpected result in her Dubai opener, the fact that the world No. 2 lost 12 of the last 13 games made her loss even more baffling. But after the match, Sabalenka was smiling and appeared to be in good spirits while answering the questions. Then, a reporter told Sabalenka about how well she appeared to be taking what happened on the court - which prompted a funny but also interesting response from the 25-year-old.

"I'm faking it. I've been on tour for a while. Acting like some of the players - if you know who I'm talking about - being really... against the opponent, being sad here. I passed this stage," Sabalenka said, via Reem Abulleil.

Early in the first set, Vekic broke Sabalenka in the third game but the Belarusian overturned the deficit and took a 5-3 lead after breaking the Croatian in the fourth and eighth games. On the verge of losing the first set, Vekic didn't quit as she broke back Sabalenka in the 10th game and saved three consecutive set points in the 12th game to force a tie-break. 

In the first-set tie-break, Vekic took a 2-0 lead before Sabalenka won the next five points before ultimately opening a 6-3 lead. Vekic managed to save Sabalenka's fourth and fifth set points but the Belarusian finally converted her sixth set point to win the first set.

Up by a set, Sabalenka also broke Vekic in the first game of the second set and served out the following game for a 2-0 lead. Then, Vekic went on to win 12 of the next 13 games and send No. 2 seed Sabalenka packing out of Dubai.

After the match, Sabalenka admitted she never felt comfortable against Vekic and highlighted the Croatian is always a very tricky opponent for her.

"I feel like the conditions here doesn't fit me well at all. It's really tricky for me to compete here in Dubai. Really tricky court for me," Sabalenka said.

"I would say that the whole match I was leading, I was winning. I won the first set. I was up with break. I didn't feel like I was up. The level was so bad today from me. I would say that she also didn't play her best. Like at the end she kind of step in and start playing way aggressively, way more aggressive 'cause she saw that I'm not playing my best at all. I think that's why she came back from that score that easy because, like, it was just like who's more lucky, you know? The level wasn't there at all. 

"She won a lot of matches against me. But all of the matches were close. I wouldn't say that she's really super tricky opponent for me. She's tough to play. She's a great fighter. She's a great player. Serving well. Playing well. It's not like because she's really tricky to play against."

With Sabalenka 7-6 (5) 2-0 up, Vekic faced a break point in the third game and she was inches away from falling down by a set and a double break. But Vekic managed to save that break point and then go on to make a very impressive comeback.

After the match, former world No. 19 Vekic said she didn't arrive with big expectations in Dubai but also underlined that she always believed she could come back to beat Sabalenka.

"At all times I didn't give up. I didn't stop believing that I can win. I just kept fighting," Vekic said after beating Sabalenka.

"To be honest, I didn't have big expectations coming to Dubai. Told my coach that I'm taking this week as half holidays. I can tell you I spent more time on the beach than on the court. Maybe that's a good way going forward."

Vekic, 27, now has a 6-2 head-to-head against Sabalenka. After their first six meetings, Vekic had a 5-1 head-to-head against Sabalenka. Then, Sabalenka beat Vekic en route to winning her first Australian Open title in 2023 January. 

13 months later, Vekic managed to beat Sabalenka again and get her revenge for a loss she suffered in the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinal.

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will not seek the ATP 500 title in Rio. Carlos retired after only two games against Brazil's Thiago Monteiro due to an ankle injury. Luckily, it's not serious, and we should expect a two-time Major champion in Indian Wells. Alcaraz broke Monteiro in the opening game of the encounter but lost serve in game two, bringing the opponent back to 1-1. Feeling the pain, the Spaniard retired and ended his Rio campaign after ten minutes. Thus, Carlos dropped 300 ATP points and drifted over 1000 points away from world no. 1 Novak Djokovic. A year ago, Alcaraz fought for the title in Rio, leading 7-5, 3-0 versus Cameron Norrie before losing 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and 41 minutes.

The Spaniard injured his left leg but battled until the end, losing the title in the closing stages of the decider. Carlos tried to preserve energy and reduce his movement, going for all-or-nothing shots and almost reaching the deciding tie break. However, Cameron broke him in the 11th game and sealed the deal with a hold in the next one. The Briton landed 26 service winners and controlled his strokes nicely, hitting the same number of winners and unforced errors. Carlos delivered five breaks from nine opportunities and got broken six times from 16 chances offered to his opponent. A left-hander saved three break points in the eighth game of the opening set and denied a set point in game ten.

Alcaraz pushed strong on the return for the third straight game at 6-5 and landed two winners to steal the rival's serve and wrap up the opener. The Spaniard grabbed his second straight break in the second game of the second set, forging a massive 7-5, 3-0 advantage and sailing toward the title. Instead, Cameron held from 0-30 in the fourth game and pulled the break back in game five to improve his chances. Carlos felt the pain in his leg, struggling with his movement and losing serve again in game seven. He pulled the break back in game eight before dropping serve for the third straight time, finding himself 5-4 down.

Norrie closed the set with an ace in game ten, leveling the overall score and becoming the favorite ahead of the decider. The young gun kept fighting, breaking early in the final set and moving 2-0 in front. Cameron broke back in game three and delivered another return game at 2-2 to move in front. Carlos erased the deficit in game six, giving everything to stay in touch. The Spaniard defended two break points in the ninth game despite barely moving, holding for a 5-4 lead and hoping for a late break. Instead, Norrie seized the fourth break point in the 11th game, moving 6-5 in front and landing an ace on his second match point in game 12, celebrating his first ATP 500 title.

Coco Gauff acknowledges she would like to one day be mentioned as one of the best players in tennis history but admits she does not think that she can reach Serena Williams' heights.

Just like her idol Williams, Gauff - who will be turning 20 next month - achieved major success early on as the American is already a Grand Slam champion and the top-ranked American female tennis player with her ranking of No. 3 in the world. When Gauff beat Venus Williams and made the Wimbledon round-of-16 as a 15-year-old qualifier in 2019, people instantly started talking about her as someone who could potentially be the next Serena Williams. 

20 days before her 20th birthday, Gauff has seven titles in her collection, including the 2023 US Open title and her first WTA 1000 title 2023 Cincinnati. Also, Gauff made the French Open final in 2022 and participated in each of the last two WTA Finals editions.

After making a big Grand Slam breakthrough at the US Open and relieving herself of major pressure, many believe Gauff is now primed for more big success and that she will end up with at least several Grand Slam titles. While Gauff is hoping to do major things in the future, she highlights she does not to put a ceiling on what she wants to achieve or how much she can achieve.

“I think for me greatness is… I think multiple people can be great,” Gauff told The National.

“Obviously, there's only going to be one greatest of all time and I just feel like no matter what I do, I don't think anything I’ll do will compare to what Serena [Williams] did for the sport and the game and with the amount of times she won.

“But I definitely would like to be, when I retire, people, when they think of the best players, I'd like to be in that conversation. So hopefully I can do better and continue to do better.

“It's a big goal. It's a lot to try to do. But again, I feel like if I put a ceiling on something, then I'll stop at that ceiling or even worse, stop under it.

“So I just want to make things as limitless as possible. And at the end, when I put my racquets up, I can say I did everything I could to do all the things I wanted to.”

After winning the 2023 US Open and starting the 2024 season with a title at a WTA 250 tournament in Auckland, Gauff entered the 2024 Australian Open as one of the top favorites for the title. In the end, Gauff did manage to make a deep run before Aryna Sabalenka ended it by giving a 7-6 (2) 6-4 loss to the 19-year-old American.

For Gauff, it was another positive and strong run but the American didn't hide that she was left very disappointed after falling just short of winning back-to-back titles. Despite the disappointment, Gauff tried to stay positive and "celebrate herself," telling herself that it was a good Grand Slam run and a good sign for the future.

"Honestly, I do look at it, Okay, that was good. I kind of hate myself that I do that because it is a great accomplishment to make it to a semifinal of a Grand Slam, and people sometimes only do that once in their lives. So I am trying to celebrate myself more, but it is hard to do that," Gauff said in Doha last week.

"I'm trying to, you know, make it as big a deal which is cool to think about how, like, a couple years ago that would be, like, a huge deal for me and now it's not. I don't know if it's a good thing or not. But I am trying to make sure that I keep celebrating myself and not get too caught up on just the trophy, that there are little wins along the way."

When this year's French Open kicks off, Gauff will be making her fifth main draw appearance, barring an injury or an unexpected setback. So far in her career, Gauff has had success at the French Open and has had a couple of deep runs at Roland Garros.

After losing in the French Open second round in her main draw debut in 2020, Gauff made the quarterfinal the following year before making her first Grand Slam final at the age of 18 at the 2022 French Open. In her first French Open final, Gauff faced the best clay-courter in the game - Iga Swiatek - and didn't really stand much of a chance as the Pole ousted her with a 6-1 6-3 score.

Last year, Gauff reached the French Open quarterfinal before Swiatek handed her a straight-set defeat.

If Gauff stays healthy and remains consistent in the next couple of months, there is no doubt that she will be among the top favorites for the title at this year's French Open.

Carlos Alcaraz highlights there are "many things" in his game that need to be improved following a shock Buenos Aires semifinal loss. 

After losing to Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open quarterfinal - in what was his first tournament of the season - Alcaraz returned to action last week at an ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires. Alcaraz, who was the top seed and the absolute favorite for the title in Buenos Aires, failed to win the title after Nicolas Jarry upset him 7-6 (2) 6-3 in the semifinal.

For Alcaraz - who hasn't won a title since Wimbledon - it was just yet another disappointing loss in the last half a year. This week, Alcaraz is competing at an ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro, where he won the title in 2022 before finishing as runner-up at the tournament last year.

"There are many things to improve compared to Buenos Aires," Alcaraz said in his pre-tournament press conference in Rio de Janeiro.

"I hit the ball very well, I think I'm in good shape, but I have to learn to play better in certain situations, better than I did in Buenos Aires.

"For example, on break points, in certain moments when I'm on edge, I have to do better than I did. That's the most important thing I have to improve if I want to get a good result in Rio."

In the Rio de Janeiro first round, top-seeded Alcaraz will be taking on world No. 117 Monteiro. In 2021, Monteiro defeated Alcaraz at the Great Ocean Road Open in Melbourne but the Spaniard got his revenge a couple of months later, when he beat the Brazilian in the Cincinnati Masters qualifying event. 

However, a lot has changed since their two meetings in 2021 as Alcaraz is now a two-time Grand Slam champion and has established himself as one of the top players in the world. With that being said, Alcaraz is the absolute favorite to end on the winning side against Monteiro. 

For Alcaraz, making a strong start in Rio de Janeiro would certainly mean a lot considering how his Buenos Aires campaign went.

World No. 10 Karolina Muchova has announced that she has had surgery on her wrist after the doctors came to the conclusion that surgically addressing the issue was "necessary."

During the US Open - where Muchova made the semifinal - the Czech suffered a wrist injury. After losing in the US Open semifinal to Coco Gauff, Muchova took a break to address her injury. Unfortunately for Muchova, she ended up sidelined for the remainder of the 2023 season and even had to skip the WTA Finals and miss what would have been her debut at the season-ending tournament. 

After being forced to skip the WTA Finals, Muchova announced in late December she would also not be ready to compete at the Australian Open. Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, continued working on recovering from the wrist injury after withdrawing from the Australian Open but her wrist just wasn't progressing as needed. 

In the end, 27-year-old Muchova decided to have surgery, which was a success. 

"Wrist upgrade: completed! Rehab challenge? Accepted," Muchova announced on Instagram. 

"Following my injury at the US Open and an extensive rehabilitation phase, it turned out that a medical intervention was necessary. So here I am, tired and sad, but I know I’ll be okay now. The surgery was successful and I’m gonna do all I can to see you on the court again soon."

        View this post on Instagram                      

A post shared by Karolína Muchová (@karolinamuchova)

For Muchova, it is certainly disappointing that she sustained a serious wrist injury just when she was playing her best tennis and enjoying the best days of her career. 

Last year, Muchova made her first Grand Slam final at the French Open and came close to upsetting Iga Swiatek as the Pole was made to work very hard before edging out the Czech 6-2 5-7 6-4 for her third title at Roland Garros. A few months later, Muchova proved her French Open run wasn't a fluke as she also reached the US Open semifinal. 

Following her run to the US Open semifinal, Muchova also achieved a career-high ranking of No. 8 in the world. 

It remains to be seen when will Muchova be ready to play again.

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will seek his second consecutive title at Queen's in June, with the organizers signing the reigning champion for this year's edition. Carlos played only his third ATP tournament on grass last year, making a slow start but passing the first obstacle and gaining confidence. Alcaraz made his Queen's debut against Arthur Rinderknech, scoring a tight 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 victory in two hours and 34 minutes. The Spaniard lost the opener and bounced back with a late break in the second set. Rinderknech built an early advantage in the final set but lost it instantly. They stayed neck and neck, and Carlos sealed the deal with a fine performance in the tie break.

Nothing separated the two rivals, with three breaks in each side and two points more on the Spaniard's tally. Arthur denied three break points at 3-3 in the opener, saving them with powerful serves and gaining a boost. Carlos lost serve at love in the eighth game after netting a smash, pushing his rival 5-3 in front. Rinderknech squandered a set point in the ninth game after a loose volley and got broken after Alcaraz's return winners. However, the young gun experienced the second straight break in game ten after a forced error, allowing his rival to clinch the set 6-4. They served well in the opening ten games of the second set before the Spaniard stepped in on the return.

Carlos broke Arthur at 15 in the 11th game with a forehand down the line winner, moving in front and wrapping up the set with a backhand winner in the next one for 7-5. The Frenchman survived break points in the first game of the decider and grabbed a break in the next one for a 2-0 advantage. However, world no. 2 stayed competitive and pulled the break back in the third game, returning to the positive side and gaining confidence. Rinderknech survived on serve in games seven and nine, and they served well in the closing stages to arrange a decisive tie break. Alcaraz grabbed three mini-breaks and fired a service winner for 5-1. The Spaniard painted a forehand crosscourt winner at 6-3, seizing the third match point and moving over the top.

World no. 2 met Jiri Lehecka in the second round and scored a routine 6-2, 6-3 win in an hour and 25 minutes for a place in the quarter-final. Carlos saved all three break points and maintained the pressure on the other side. He broke the young Czech three times from nine chances, controlling the scoreboard and enjoying a relaxed day at the office. Alcaraz landed 22 winners and 24 from his serve, building the advantage in the shortest and mid-range exchanges. Carlos made a strong start, breaking in the second game of the match and creating another break chance in the fourth game. Jiri denied it and closed the game with a service winner. The Spaniard grabbed another break at 5-2 with a backhand crosscourt winner, wrapping it up in 39 minutes.

Not stopping there, Alcaraz delivered a break at love in the second game of the second set with a forehand down the line return winner, moving closer to the finish line. Carlos served at 3-1 and experienced the only loose service game of the match. The Spaniard denied three break points and held with an ace for 4-1. Lehecka denied a match point on serve in the eighth game with a service winner, prolonging the battle before Alcaraz seized the third match point on his serve at 5-3. Carlos faced the former champion Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-final and earned a 6-4, 6-4 win in an hour and 32 minutes. The young gun saved six out of eight break points and grabbed four return games from six chances, playing better in the decisive moments and remaining on the title course.

Dimitrov experienced a setback in the first game of the match, wasting a 40-15 lead and losing serve. Carlos denied three break points in the sixth game with winners, holding for a 4-2 advantage. Alcaraz served for the first set at 5-4 and painted a slice winner for a hold at love, securing the opener in 42 minutes. Grigor grabbed a break in the second game of the second set with a forehand crosscourt winner, confirming it with a service winner in game three. Carlos erased the deficit with a volley winner at the net in the fifth game and saved a break point in the next one to level the score at 3-3. Alcaraz clinched another break in game seven, landing a backhand crosscourt winner and stealing the rival's serve at 15.

The more experienced player pulled it back in the eighth game, locking the result at 4-4. However, the Bulgarian netted a forehand in the ninth game, getting broken for the third straight time and allowing the Spaniard to serve for the win in game ten. Carlos sealed the deal with a service winner, moving over the top and entering the semi-final. Alcaraz battled for a place in the final against Sebastian Korda and delivered a 6-3, 6-4 win in an hour and 21 minutes, notching his first ATP title match on grass. Carlos saved four out of five break points and delivered three breaks to control the pace and move through. Korda grabbed a break in the first game of the encounter and hit three double faults in the next one, bringing Alcaraz back to the positive side.

The Spaniard overcame three break points in the fifth game, firing a service winner and bringing the game home. Sebastian saved two break points in the sixth game before facing more issues at 3-4. Carlos grabbed a break with a forehand down the line winner, opening a 5-3 advantage and serving for the set. The Spaniard landed a service winner for 6-3 after 43 minutes, gaining a boost ahead of the second set. Alcaraz secured a break at love at 1-1 in the second set with a forehand return winner, building a massive advantage. Korda followed the rival's pace in the rest of the set but could not create break chances. Alcaraz served for the victory at 5-4 and painted a forehand crosscourt winner to seal the deal and set the title clash against Alex de Minaur. Seeking his first grass-court ATP title, Carlos earned a 6-4, 6-4 win in an hour and 39 minutes, adding 500 ATP points to his tally and passing Novak Djokovic on the ATP throne. Alcaraz saved two break points and broke his rival once in each set to celebrate his 11th ATP title. 

Even at the Buenos Aires Open, Carlos Alcaraz did not show the solid and spectacular tennis admired until Wimbledon 2023.

Considering the two hard-fought victories against Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Andrea Vavassori to the defeat against Nicolas Jarry, the Spaniard never gave the impression of being at 100%. That 100% that he will try to find again to challenge his direct rival Jannik Sinner.

"I'm very happy with the way he wins tournaments. He deserves it, he works hard for it. I try to see things in a positive way. I have to dedicate myself 100% every day if I want to compete with him, because he is at his best level," said Alcaraz in a press conference on the eve of the ATP tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

"There is a lot to improve compared to Buenos Aires. I hit the ball very well, I think I'm in good shape, but I have to learn to play better in some situations," he explained.

Alcaraz will make his debut at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro this evening and will face home tennis player Thiago Monteiro.

After winning the Wimbledon tournament for the first time, Alcaraz was no longer able to consistently express his best level and is probably experiencing the most delicate phase of his young career.

The Spaniard got everything straight away. He became the youngest number 1 in the history of tennis, won two Grand Slam tournaments, US Open and Wimbledon and four ATP Masters 1000s. These successes have perhaps postponed that phase that all tennis players of the new generation find themselves facing when they land on the ATP Tour.

As if Alcaraz had skipped a necessary step that he had to irreparably deal with.

Gracias por venir a verme jugar! ❤️🤝🏻 @DukiSSJ pic.twitter.com/EAVGIA1wTs

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) February 18, 2024

During the Genesis Invitational, Rory McIlroy was asked about the future of global golf, and he shared his ideas for the future of the sport once the circuit wars come to an end: a sort of Champions League modeled after football, bringing together the top 80 players in the world from various circuits.

Since the emergence of LIV Golf and the upheaval it has caused in the established order, Rory McIlroy has been vocal on this topic, expressing strong opinions against LIV and its players, before slightly altering his stance recently, especially after Jon Rahm's departure to the circuit led by Greg Norman. The Northern Irishman recently stated his intention to focus more on his game and be less outspoken on the issue. However, he is frequently questioned, and he often has insightful remarks. And his natural inclination quickly resurfaces...

Rory responded to an American journalist's question about the future of golf at the Genesis Invitational, and what he had to say could inspire decision-makers, although his voice will likely not be decisive when the much-discussed merger takes place and when the heads of the PGA Tour, LIV, and possibly the DP World Tour sit down (hopefully soon) around a table.

"We could draw inspiration from the Champions League and create a circuit that brings together the top 80 players in the world... The four-time major winner is no longer the head of the player council at the PGA Tour. But his opinion matters.

"We should try to create a circuit reserved for the top 80 players in the world. I believe everything is leading to a decision around this format. In my opinion, it could resemble something like the Champions League in football. The best players from all other circuits would feed into this league, with a qualification system. Ideally, like in football, there would be a flagship circuit that would bring together the strongest players from each 'secondary' circuit every year."

The United States, but not only McIlroy also mentioned that this elite "league" could potentially have tournaments primarily based in the United States, but not exclusively.

"The USA represents the largest golf market in the world, and that needs to be taken into account. Additionally, there are historic courses here that host Signature Events (Pebble Beach, Bay Hill, Riviera, Muirfield Village...), and some of them seem essential to me. But there's no reason why, in other parts of the world, we couldn't gather the very best players for a tournament. I think it would benefit the entire golf market, sponsors, media..."

In his response, Rory mentions various locations: the Emirates, South Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and a majority of events in the United States, including the majors, totaling just over 20 tournaments.

Is Rory's proposal utopian? Realistic? Even he has doubts.

"I've said it before, everyone has their own interests in this sport, and that's even more true when you have a fairly fractured landscape overall. Aligning everyone's interests and trying to convince all stakeholders that this is the right thing to do for golf as a whole won't be easy. But for now, it's simply about getting everyone on the same page." And that's already a challenge...

Matteo Berrettini and his girlfriend Melissa Satta have officially broken up. The announcement came during the online press conference called for today by the Italian, who is ready to return to the court after months of stopping due to physical problems.

"I imagined that the question would come. Melissa and I are no longer together. We have a beautiful relationship, we have great respect for each other. I won't go beyond this because I don't like talking about my private life. I thank you for this beautiful year," revealed the player, who put a definitive point on the story and on all the rumors that have circulated in recent weeks.

According to the Italian weekly Oggi, the showgirl pushed for certainties and dreamed of starting a family with the blue tennis player, Matteo however was not of the same opinion and she did not feel like taking this step.

Hence the decision to end the relationship, a decision which was also influenced by the difficult emotional period of the Italian athlete, in evident difficulty and with considerable mental stress.

«Io e Melissa Satta non stiamo più insieme. Quello che posso dire è che abbiamo avuto un rapporto bellissimo, intenso, abbiamo una grandissima stima l'uno per l'altro». Lo ha detto Matteo Berrettini in una conferenza stampa pic.twitter.com/2JBl7QKK28

— Corriere della Sera (@Corriere) February 20, 2024

The Italian then revealed all the difficulties linked to his physique, making a series of very important revelations.

"He definitely always started from the body, not feeling well physically. I felt tired from overcoming these physical issues, it's like I depleted that energy reservoir. I then found myself at a standstill where I didn't know what to hold on to. They turned me around like a toy pedal, I did a lot of tests to understand.

There are a thousand reasons: perhaps the stress that tennis causes certainly leads to high stress, which however does not justify so many things. There were no incredible deficits but aspects to work on. For example, I have had scoliosis since I was little. We are working a lot on posture, also on rotations, for my abdominal problems. We are working hard, even adding members to the team," declared Berrettini.

The 27-year-old is ready to return to the court in Phoenix before focusing on the ATP Master 1000 in Miami. Berrettini will therefore not compete in the Indian Wells qualifiers, as had been rumored in recent days because he was still registered on the entry list.

The Italian will wait just one more week and will then be as mentioned above at the Challenger 175 in Phoenix, from 12 to 17 March. He will then take part in Florida for the second ATP Masters 1000 of the season, before focusing on clay court tournaments.

"Right now I'm less interested in the ranking. I'm interested in going back to playing matches with top-level players. The most difficult moment? The injury at the US Open and the following months. I felt exhausted on an energy level, it was an effort bigger than me I started from the basics, trying to understand why I like playing tennis, putting order day after day.

Then with Vincenzo Santopadre we decided together that we both needed new stimuli, thanks also to him I will chase my dream of playing the Internationals in the meantime of Rome where I have been missing for two years. My heart hurts just thinking about it. And then I want to lift an important trophy. But this must be built point by point, step by step," he explained.

Callum Tarren spoke to the media about the $3 billion SSG investment. Among PGA Tour fans and golfers, there is immense optimism that this will help the PGA Tour develop and retain key players. The threat from LIV Golf could become a thing of the past after such a deal. However, some skeptics don't understand how such an investment will improve the PGA Tour. One of the questions raised is how this investment will impact the increase in PGA Tour viewership on TV. PGA Tour player Callum Tarren is not satisfied with TV coverage and believes that changes in this aspect are necessary. Tarren emphasizes that the biggest focus is on popular golfers and recalls his own performance.

"I think from a player standpoint, I think how they improve fan engagement for me, the TV coverage for one doesn’t show enough golf," Tarren told Golf Monthly.

"The majority of the time they show a handful of players, which are obviously your top guys, the Schefflers, your Homas, your Tigers. They don’t show the field, and I think that’s a huge part of fan engagement and a fan experience.

There was actually an example, not that I’m directly saying that I should have been on the TV but the US Open at Brookline, I think I had the lead after maybe 22 holes through 35 holes and I was hardly shown on TV."

One of the golfers warned Monahan about this issue.

According to Tarren's statements, this is one of the significant problems facing the PGA Tour. It is necessary to change specific aspects so that other golfers also receive the attention they need.

"We were actually in a player meeting and another player said to commissioner Monahan, ‘There’s a prime example, there’s a guy in this room that was leading the US Open the other week and there was maybe five golf shots shown from him’."

Tarren is an individual with immense love and passion for golf, testifying that many times a golfer playing an outstanding tournament doesn't receive as much attention from TV cameras. He considers this a great problem. However, he is optimistic that SSG will work on this aspect because the goal should be to increase the number of fans and viewership. Regarding the investment, this PGA Tour golfer doesn't know how much impact it will have on the progress of the PGA Tour. It involves a substantial amount of money, and Tarren still doesn't know how SSG will recoup any of that back. Still, he believes that those are individuals who understand business and prefers not to go deeper into that topic.

Callum expresses hope regarding the potential positive outcomes of recent investments in the PGA Tour, emphasizing potential benefits for both the tour and the wider golfing community.  Leaders of the PGA Tour have encountered vital challenges in the past year and several months. This investment was desperately needed for them. The threat posed by the LIV was one of the reasons why PGA Tour leaders had to find the best solution.

Tarren reflects on the intriguing developments, particularly the framework agreement with the PIF announced during the middle of the last season. Tarren notes the limited knowledge available, with only a select few players being privy to ongoing details.

Callum thinks the deal with SSG is good for the PGA Tour, highlighting the big investment. He pointed out that right now, there's not much info about where the tour is headed in the future.

This great golfer underscores the importance of strategic decision-making, emphasizing the necessity to utilize the financial support to improve the overall golfing experience for both players and fans. He knows that making this happen will need a lot of hard work and many talks.

Tarren believes good things will happen for golf in the future, not just in the PGA Tour but everywhere. Even though we're not sure when these improvements will happen, whether in 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, or even 10 years, Tarren is hopeful that the investments will make the sport better. Observing the money invested and the willingness of SSG executives to improve the PGA Tour, optimism must exist.

In modern times, it's hard to achieve your goal without specific investments. PGA Tour needed a partner like SSG. Investing such a large sum of money means only one thing: SSG has big plans for the PGA Tour and their collaboration. Of course, their goal is to make a profit, but at the same time, they aim to help the PGA Tour make a profit and improve the game. Collaborating is crucial.

In the last few weeks there has been an earthquake in the Holger Rune's team. Aneke, the boy's mother, a constant presence in the travels of the 20-year-old Dane, did not follow her son either to Oslo or Rotterdam. However, in the press conference Rune cleared away every cloud on the issue, explaining the reasons for this absence.

The young Danish tennis player declared that from now on his mother will not follow him to every tournament.

"It's a bit of a coincidence. She will be in some tournaments and not in others. We often talk on the phone and talk before and after the matches. She's an important part of my team and I love having her by my side," commented Rune.

For the Scandinavian tennis player, Aneke represents a fundamental figure.

"I feel her absence 100%. Of course, it's a different thing. But once again, it's obviously different, but I think that for some tournaments it's healthy that they take place together and for others it's not, like with Lapo, the physical trainer, which wasn't even there this week. So that's it," said the world No. 7.

Rune finally concluded: "It was a mutual decision: I only attended the UTS in Oslo and Rotterdam, then I will fly to Nice or Denmark and we will update."

👩‍👦🇩🇰 Holger Rune’s mother Aneke is to attend fewer of his tournament: “It’s a bit random. She’s going to be there at some tournaments and not be there (at others). She is still on the phone a lot, and we talk both before games and after games. So she is a huge part of my team… pic.twitter.com/HHcWgxAwfI

— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) February 16, 2024

This start of the season is a rather complicated period for Holger Rune, probably the most difficult of his short career. After ending 2023 in an unconvincing manner, the new year for the former world number four began with a series of rather disappointing results.

First the final lost against Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane, then the premature elimination in the second round of the Australians Open against Arthur Cazaux, followed by equally surprising setbacks in Montpellier and Rotterdam against Borna Coric and Alexander Schevchenko.

The Danish tennis player has been relegated to seventh position in the ranking, and in all his outings he has shown a form that is anything but comforting, conditioned by some physical problems. All combined with the quick separation with his new coach Severin Luthi, who had replaced Patrick Mouratoglou, with whom the relationship ended after just 41 days.

The clay court season will, as always, be at the center of Rafael Nadal's schedule. Certainly in the Spaniard's planning the clay season has always had absolute priority. His aim will certainly be to get to the Roland Garros at his best, a tournament which he has already won 14 times.

There are still no certainties about the planning he will do regarding the preparation tournaments in Paris such as the ATP Master 1000 in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome.

David Massey, CEO of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, highlighted at the press conference to present the tournament, which will be held this year from 6 to 14 April, that the Spaniard intends to start his clay season in the Principality.

"I spoke to his team and they confirmed that he wants to play in Monte Carlo after taking part in Indian Wells. We keep our fingers crossed for his health but we hope and trust that he will be able to come. He has already won the tournament 11 times and could be looking for a twelfth triumph," he explained.

Finally out in Doha, Rafael Nadal is all in for his next deadline ➡️ Indian Wells @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/rqSE3aqZOM

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 20, 2024

This season could be the last for a player who has made tennis history over the last 20 years. We are talking about Rafael Nadal who just yesterday said that by the next Roland Garros he will make the decision whether this year he will end his competitive career or not.

Meanwhile, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles has had a difficult start to the season. He had in mind a return to the Australian Open but was injured during the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane and had to throw in the towel before the first Major tournament of the season.

His February calendar included a return to the ATP 250 in Doha but in recent days he has announced that he is not yet ready to return to competitions and has once again withdrawn. The Spaniard has currently confirmed the Las Vegas exhibition in which he should face Carlos Alcaraz and then take part in the ATP Master 1000 tournament in Indian Wells which will be held from 6 to 17 March.

The 62 is on trend. With the same scorecard that David Puig used to win the Malaysia Open, Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama staged a historic comeback to clinch victory at The Genesis Invitational, the PGA Tour event in Los Angeles with the lowest final round score in tournament history. He finished three strokes ahead of Will Zalatoris and Luke List.

The winner of the 2021 Masters in Augusta erased the six-shot deficit he had with Patrick Cantlay going into the final 18 holes, aided by the fact that the American (72 strokes) played the final round, as revealed by his coach, with a slight fever.

It was a Sunday of three sequences for Matsuyama, during which he sank three consecutive birdies in each. The first, in the opening three holes, helped him realize that the chase was possible; the second, between the 10th and 12th holes, propelled him to the top with a 15-meter putt. With the third, initiated with a brilliant 6-iron shot from 170 meters against the wind that landed a foot from the hole, he sealed the victory, his ninth on the PGA Tour. This victory also made him the Asian golfer with the most victories in the history of the circuit, surpassing South Korean KJ Choi.

The champion thus closes a difficult period where a neck injury affected his performance in the last two seasons. "I even thought I would never win again," said Matsuyama. On a day of almost complete happiness, the Japanese only missed the photo with the host, Tiger Woods, who withdrew with the flu on Friday and couldn't fulfill the traditional meeting that featured Jon Rahm in 2023. Ironically, his comeback was the largest on the PGA Tour since Rahm's in The Sentry, seven strokes, last year. Hideki had to settle for congratulations through the X platform.

Hideki Matsuyama is a Japanese golfer born on February 29, 1992, in Matsuyama, Japan. Turning professional in 2013, he has won the Asian Amateur Championship in 2010 and 2011, five PGA Tour tournaments, eight Japan Golf Tour events, and two World Golf Championships. He is the highest-ranked Japanese golfer of all time in the World Golf Ranking, reaching second place thanks to his runner-up finish at the 2017 US Open. He made history as the first Japanese player to win a major tournament, clinching the Masters Tournament in Augusta in 2021.

Amateur Career Starting in 2010, he studied at Tohoku University in Sendai. He won the Asian Amateur Championship in 2010 with a score of 68-69-65-67=269. This victory qualified him for the 2011 Masters Tournament, where he became the first Japanese amateur to compete. He finished 27th overall, earning the Silver Cup awarded to the best amateur. He was also the only amateur to make the cut. The following week, he placed third at the Japan Open Golf Championship on the Japan Golf Tour.

At the 2011 Summer Universiade, he won gold in both individual and team events. In October 2011, he successfully defended his title at the Asian Amateur Championship and qualified again for the Masters. In November, he secured his first professional victory at the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour.

In August 2012, Matsuyama became the world's number one amateur in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock loss in her first post-Australian Open win match as the Belarusian was up by a set and a break before losing in three sets to Donna Vekic.

Sabalenka, the second-seeded player in Dubai, had a 7-6 (5) 2-0 lead over Vekic before suffering a shocking collapse and the 31st-ranked Croatian coming back to win 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-0.   Before coming to Dubai, Sabalenka went 11-1 in Australia as she finished as runner-up at the Brisbane International before winning the Australian Open. Although this was Sabalenka's first tournament since the Australian Open, the Belarusian was widely considered among the top favorites for the Dubai title along with Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina.

After finding herself down by an early break, Sabalenka responded by breaking Vekic in the fourth and eighth games to take a 5-3 lead. But then, Sabalenka started struggling to close out the set as the second seed failed to serve out for the first set in the ninth game before also missing out on three consecutive set points on Vekic's serve in the 12th game. 

But after missing out on a few chances to win the first set, Sabalenka won five consecutive points in the first-set tie-break to open a 5-2 lead before converting her sixth set point to win the opener.

After winning a tight first set, Sabalenka also started the second set with an early break and a 2-0 lead. Then, Sabalenka's collapse starts as the Belarusian loses 12 of the next 13 games and Vekic completes a major comeback.

Vekic, who now owns a 6-2 head-to-head against Sabalenka, admitted she didn't expect much before facing the 2024 Australian Open champion.

"I didn't have big expectations coming to Dubai. Told my coach that I'm taking this week as half holidays. I can tell you I spent more time on the beach than on the court. Maybe that's a good way going forward," Vekic said after beating Sabalenka.

The victory at the ABN AMRO followed the victory at the Australian Open 2024, confirming the enormous progress already shown by Jannik Sinner in the second part of 2023.

The young champion received a lot of love from his country (even from some inconsistent media who previously had unfairly criticized) and many fans and media have also raised questions about his private life.

Jannik (I would rightly underline) never talks too willingly about his private life and, on the rare occasions when he makes statements on the matter, he prefers to immediately change the subject. The reason for this tendency is a confidentiality that the Italian wants to preserve for himself and his loved ones.

This is precisely one of Sinner's secrets, capable of concentrating on tennis and linking his image above all to the court, without leaving the media the possibility of introducing clues regarding the personal sphere.

Jannik wants people to talk about him for the feats he accomplished on the most important stages of the ATP Tour and for no other reason.

"I like talking about tennis, and sport in general. But if it refers to private life, it's true, I want to keep it that way. I want to protect the people closest to me, keeping them out of all this. I see it as a small task to carry out, almost a duty: they helped me, as a young man, to gain self-confidence, and today in some way I want to protect them. I might even talk about it.

But the people close to me think like me on this issue. Because they are very similar to me: we understand each other with a look, in a second. I only want to control the things that prevent me from doing my job. I avoid those that don't put me in a position to train peacefully the next day. But if I feel like going to the zoo, for example, I go. I'm a boy normal, off the court," Sinner explained in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair.

🇮🇹 Jannik Sinner, the new idol of an entire country (📷 @VanityFairIt) pic.twitter.com/XW2ZuiyccM

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 20, 2024

Jannik Sinner's first night as a Grand Slam champion may not have been the craziest in history, but it provides several clear clues to his mentality. The personality of a tennis player with an eye always projected towards new horizons.

The evening he won the first Major of his career, Jannik thought about the future and looked for reasons to continue improving and enriching his personal story, writing other winning chapters.

"I didn't celebrate excessively, I didn't drink, because it's not good for the body. We went to eat something and then I went back to the hotel. And when did you think about the victory? I had 20 hours in the flight.

I immediately thought about how I could improve further. I wondered why I ended up down two sets to zero, why I didn't react sooner. I'm a pretty focused guy. Which doesn't mean I'm not enjoying the moment," he explained in the same interview with Vanity Fair.

The future proved him right once again, because in Rotterdam Sinner triumphed and achieved his best ranking, reaching 3rd position in the ATP world rankings. No Italian in the Open Era had ever gone so high.

"The feeling was very nice, of course. But I didn't think much: at that moment I wouldn't have been able to really realize what had happened anyway. I watched a few films and fell asleep!" he told.

"I have always felt 100% Italian, and I am very proud of being so. At 7 I took part in ski championships with Italian kids, at 14 in Liguria my classmates were Italian. But then, we speak our German dialect, but Even in Sicily they speak a dialect that they don't understand in other parts of Italy, right?" Sinner said before focusing on his residence.

"The Principality is a very safe place, there are many tennis players with whom I can train, perfect courts, beautiful facilities. I always thought it would be a good place to live."

This response from Sinner came in regards to a question asked regarding the provocation of the well-known journalist Aldo Cazzullo, who pointed the finger at Sinner's possible candidacy as flag bearer for Italy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"Here it is not a question of sporting judgment but of moral judgment. No one disputes that Sinner is an extraordinary champion and that he is a good boy, kind and polite. But if we treat him as Italian pride, an example for society, then the the fact that this boy will be the standard-bearer of Italian sport in the coming years without contributing fiscally to the life of the community to which he is part is a problem," wrote Cazzullo.

Just a stone's throw from Hollywood, nestled in the hills of Los Angeles, lies one of the most exclusive courses in the world: the Riviera Country Club.

Hosting the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational last week, this course has long been a favorite haunt of Hollywood stars. Among its illustrious past members are Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, and Greta Garbo; today, you might bump into Adam Sandler, Hugh Grant, or Mark Wahlberg at a social dinner.

In this valley dominated by a massive clubhouse, the true star is the golf course designed in 1925 by the legendary architect George C. Thomas.

The 18 holes wind through significant elevation changes and a barranca that comes into play on many occasions. Thomas's design fills the holes with strategic options, as always, and features unique elements like the bunker in the center of the 6th green.

However, the most famous hole on the course is undoubtedly the 10th, a drivable par 4 that showcases the genius of the California architect.

The 285 meters of this hole offer players numerous possibilities: from laying up with an iron to leave a full shot to the green, to attacking the flag directly with the first shot. In any case, the strategy is dictated by the flag position.

The green is small and angled, with a strong right-to-left slope. It's protected by a short and a long bunker, and the ideal landing spot to attack the green with the second shot is also guarded by a bunker.

The brilliance of this hole lies in the fact that the green is easily reachable from the tee, but the path to get there is littered with obstacles. Thus, if one tries to aggressively go for the eagle and misses on the wrong side, a double bogey is lurking around the corner even for the best players in the world. Conversely, with a good layup from the tee on the left side, making birdie is still possible, and for any amateur with a bit of humility, making par is almost easy.

The rules of golf are relatively complicated compared to other sports because they are applied outdoors, close to nature and animals. Respect for the rules is a basic element in the game of golf, which, almost always based on the self-control and free conscience of the players, often sees distorted results, consciously at times, but often unconsciously or through carelessness, due to non-compliance on the part of many players of the game rules. In addition to rules, golf adheres to a code of conduct, known as etiquette, which generally means playing the round with due respect for the golf course and other players. Etiquette is an essential component of this sport.

Jannik Sinner claimed his first Major title at the Australian Open, conquering the tennis world at 22. The Italian backed the title with another success in Rotterdam last week, winning his 15th straight match and becoming world no. 3. Gael Monfils played against Sinner in Rotterdam, praising the young gun and applauding his success. Gael predicted Jannik's bright future, imagining him with many more Major trophies. Sinner gained a boost in the second part of 2023, reaching the Wimbledon semi-final and lifting a Masters 1000 trophy in Toronto. The Italian lost only two matches after the US Open, winning in Beijing and Vienna and securing Italy's first Davis Cup trophy since 1976!

Also, Jannik ousted Novak Djokovic two times in the closing stages of the year, using that momentum at the beginning of 2024. Sinner sailed into the Australian Open quarter-final without losing a set, with three top-10 rivals standing between him and the title. Jannik took down Karen Khachanov before ousting another Russian, Andrey Rublev, arranging the semi-final duel with a ten-time winner Novak Djokovic.

It was their third duel within two months, and Sinner produced a rock-solid 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 triumph in three hours and 22 minutes, dethroning Djokovic and reaching his first Major final. Jannik played at a high level from start to finish, missing a match point in the third set but making a fresh start in the fourth, becoming the first player with a win over Novak in Melbourne after the quarter-final stage. Djokovic could not match the young gun's pace, failing to create a break point for the first time in completed matches at Majors! Novak felt the pressure in his games and could not endure it, facing 11 break points and getting broken five times. 

The Italian tamed his strokes nicely, attacking and reducing the number of errors. The Serb sprayed over 50 of them, struggling to impose his strokes and standing miles below his rival in the shortest range up to four strokes. The young gun made a reliable start, producing four breaks in the opening two sets and leaving world no. 1 miles behind. With his back pushed against the wall, Djokovic raised his level behind the initial shot in the third set, surviving an early scare and reaching a tie break. Novak denied a match point and stole the breaker 8-6, extending the battle and his chances. Like a man on a mission, Jannik left that setback behind quickly, serving well in the fourth set and pressuring Novak.

Sinner clinched a decisive break in the fifth game, moving in front and firing a forehand down the line winner on serve at 5-3 to emerge at the top and mark his career-best victory. The celebration was short, though, as the Italian met world no. 3 Daniil Medvedev in the title clash two days later. The 22-year-old competed in his first Major final and felt the pressure against a more experienced rival in the early stage of the duel. However, Jannik turned the tables and notched a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 triumph in three hours and 44 minutes, becoming Italy's first champion in Melbourne. Sinner grabbed one point more than Medvedev, staying focused and erasing a massive deficit en route to a trophy.

Each player scored four breaks, and the Italian produced his return games when it mattered the most. Daniil served well in the opener and produced two breaks for an early lead. The Russian took almost half of the return points in the second set, turning them into a couple of breaks and forging a massive advantage, moving closer to his second Major title. Jannik faced deuce on serve at 4-4 in the third set, surviving and stealing the rival's serve in game ten to launch his comeback. Daniil had a chance to seal the deal in four sets, missing a routine backhand at 30-0 on the return at 3-3.

Sinner survived in that game and delivered another late break at 5-4 to force a decider after three hours and six minutes and gain a massive boost. They served well in the opening five games before Jannik stepped in on the return at 3-2. The Italian fired a forehand winner, clinching a decisive break and moving in front. The young gun cemented the lead with a service winner in game seven, forging a 5-2 lead and putting one hand on the trophy. Medvedev reduced the deficit to 5-3 with a volley winner, leaving his rival to serve for the title in game nine. Sinner made no mistakes in one of the most important games of his career, landing a forehand winner and celebrating his first Major title. 

"Seeing Jannik as a Major winner is great; I was delighted. I have known him for a long time, and he is a big champion. I'm sure Jannik will collect many more Major titles," Gael Monfils said. 

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal together again thanks to Amazon Prime, which is working to make a documentary on the last days of the Swiss Maestro's career, at the Laver Cup 2022, in the last match he played together with his Spanish friend/rival.

The work aims to tell Federer from a private point of view, with an interview also with his wife Mirka Vavrinec. It should be released in July, in the weeks in which the 2024 edition of the Wimbledon tournament will be played.

"It's a snapshot of my life during those 12 days, which were tough and interesting. I have never allowed anyone to enter my private life, but here they had access to the hotel and therefore it is a very personal documentary and also reflects the relationship that exists and exists between the tennis players on the Tour. It is a film very personal It also involves analyzing in depth another aspect of the tennis tour. There are rivalries, but off the court there are also friendships and respect," Roger Federer explained in an interview with Bloomberg

Mirka Federer traditionally shied away from interviews alongside Federer will surprise viewers by sharing her perspective on camera for the 1st time filmmaker Asif Kapadia in collaboration w Amazon to chronicle final 12 days of the tennis legend’s career #RogerFederer #tennis pic.twitter.com/1Ly30gqAOh

— LoveSetMatch 💯🎾🔥 🏃🏻🇨🇭🐐 (@LoveSetMatch_) February 19, 2024

The production company aims to release the film in July around Wimbledon, a tournament won by Federer 8 times, but the exact release date has not yet been officially set.

The documentary will be the first to tell the story of Federer, who won 20 Grand Slam titles between 2003 and 2018. At the time it was a record later surpassed by Nadal, with 22 Slams and Novak Djokovic, with 24 Majors.

🎙️ “Abbiamo catturato tanti momenti potenti e li abbiamo trasformati in un viaggio profondamente personale.” 🎬 A Wimbledon 2024 sarà presentato il film di Roger Federer che racconta gli ultimi 12 giorni della sua carriera ❤️#Tennis #ATP #Federer #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/veAFPTH1TR

— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) February 19, 2024

It should be underlined that the documentary does not tell the complete story of his life or career but only the moments of those days at the Laver Cup, which have remained engraved in the memory of all tennis fans also for the photo which portrays the emotion shown by Federer and Nadal, long-time rivals who over time also became friends.

The documentary also contains interviews with Federer's main opponents in his career: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

From May 9th to 12th, the Myrtle Beach Classic will take place at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, marking the first-ever PGA Tour event held in what is known as the Golf Capital of the World. The Myrtle Beach area in South Carolina boasts over 90 golf courses suitable for all skill levels.

But the PGA Tour is pushing the boundaries of innovation further.

On March 4th, at TPC Myrtle Beach, a unique qualifying event called The Q at Myrtle Beach will be held.

The tournament format will be somewhat unconventional, featuring a shootout over 18 holes.

However, what truly sets it apart is the field of 16 players vying for the single available spot in the main tournament.

Tour executives have invited eight renowned digital content creators related to golf, along with eight Korn Ferry Tour veterans.

Let's take a look at some of the digital world's protagonists (all scratch-or-better players) competing for the sponsor exemption:

Peter Finch: An influencer and coach with over 1.25 million followers, currently ranked 3477th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Grant Horvat: A former Palm Beach Atlantic University team player turned content creator with over 1.35 million followers combined on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Dan Rapaport: Regularly featured on ForePlay and Barstool Sports blogs, he's one of the top players in the media world. Mason Nut or Cole Lantz: The two friends and BustaJack Golf colleagues will battle it out in a do-or-die match-play for the single spot available in the March 4th shootout (a story within the story!).

While the qualifying event won't be open to the public, it will be documented in a 90-minute video to be published on the Play Golf Myrtle Beach YouTube page on April 23rd.

On the same date, all digital creators will be able to share the content they've created on their channels.

Will this be the first time YouTubers are on the Tour?

The initiative has sparked mixed reactions on social media.

Stefanos Tsitsipas ended his top-10 run after nearly five years in the elite company! The Greek dropped out from the group of leading players for the first time since March 2019, collecting 237 consecutive top-10 weeks and standing 22nd on the list, seven weeks short of Stan Wawrinka. Stefanos is 5-2 this season, failing to defend the points from last year's Australian Open and losing his top-10 spot ahead of the ATP 250 event in Los Cabos. The 20-year-old kicked off the 2019 season ranked 15th. Stefanos reached the Australian Open semi-final before lifting the trophy in Marseille and losing the final in Dubai, collecting enough points and debuting in the top-10 at Indian Wells.

Tsitsipas played well on clay in the upcoming months, establishing himself as one of the world's best players. The Greek closed the season ranked 6th and repeated that in 2020. Stefanos cracked the top-3 in 2021 but could not stay there by the end of the season, not playing well in the closing stages and withdrawing from the ATP Finals after the first match. Tsitsipas notched 61 wins in 2022, lifting two trophies and securing another year-end top-4 position. The Greek could not follow that pace in 2023, winning one small title in Los Cabos and losing the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic.

Despite the pain in his back, Stefanos reached the semi-final in Antwerp, Vienna and Paris on an indoor court in the closing stages, withdrawing from the ATP Finals again and finishing the season in the top-6. Stefanos fell to Taylor Fritz in the fourth round of this year's Australian Open, losing massive points and putting his top-10 streak in danger. Stefanos did not play in the previous weeks, and his top-10 journey ended this Monday when the Rotterdam finalist Alex de Minaur climbed two spots and sent the Greek out of the elite company after nearly five years. Tsitsipas kicked off the season at the United Cup, still feeling the pain in his back.

He scored three wins in Melbourne and had a chance to set the quarter-final clash versus Novak Djokovic. However, after a rock-solid display, Taylor Fritz overpowered him 7-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in three hours, celebrating his first top-10 win at Majors. The American landed 50 winners and 19 unforced errors, defending nicely and leaving the Greek behind. Stefanos fought well, landing 41 winners and 33 unforced errors and still ending on the losing side after getting broken four times from 11 chances offered to his opponent. Taylor suffered a late break in the second set before bouncing back in sets three and four, controlling the pace and sailing over the finish line. Stefanos is the 2nd seed in Los Cabos this week, seeking the title defense and his first trophy since August.