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BBC PUNDIT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE WIMBLEDON RULE CHANGE AND BLASTS 'INSANITY'

The tennis ace has urged the ATP to introduce a drastic rule change.

Former British tennis star John Lloyd has called on the ATP to reduce men’s Grand Slam matches to best of three sets. It comes amid ongoing suggestions that the hectic tour schedule is negatively impacting players and forcing them to miss tournaments.

Carlos Alcaraz has been the big casualty this year, with the Australian Open champion having sat out the recent French Open. His injury woes also mean he’ll be out for the upcoming Wimbledon Championship, as the effects of elite-level tennis begin to take their toll.

Lloyd is adamant that the solution is to reduce the number of sets the men play at Grand Slams, insisting the best-of-five rule is harming them physically. Commenting on the BBC’s Queen’s coverage, the former world No.23 remarked: “In my opinion, the calendar is awful.

“It has been for years. I think Grand Slams should be best of three sets anyway. I’ve said that for years. All the way through, or certainly from the quarter-finals. I’ve been saying this for years.

“We are going to see more and more injuries, mark my words, unless something is changed. It will happen, there will be more injuries. The best of five sets for four Slams, it’s not just the playing at the tournament that does it, it’s the preparation.”

To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.

To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.

Continuing with his assessment, he added: “In our day, the best of five in my day is the equivalent of the best of three sets now. The physicality of the players is night and day to what it was in my day. We have to change this. We will get more injuries unless something is done.

“Best of five sets, when players have to come out from the starting point, every match will be dynamic. People remember great matches, but they remember them because they were at Slams. Not because it’s five hours, a three-hour match will be remembered as much if they are at the Slams.”

- Amos Murphy

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ZVEREV MAKES WINNING TORONTO RETURN AFTER A MONTH OFF COURT

Top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates a victory over Australian Adam Walton to reach the third round of the ATP Canadian Open (MATTHEW STOCKMAN)

Alexander Zverev made a storming return after a month away from tennis on Tuesday, with the top seed pounding out a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 win over Adam Walton to reach the third round of the ATP Toronto Masters.

The German top seed, who lost in the Wimbledon first round, has spent the last weeks dealing with mental burnout and also made a trip to Rafael Nadal's Mallorca academy for consultations and perhaps some career advice during his time away.

The ATP world number three came from 4-1 down in the opening set tiebreaker and did not face a break point until he found himself down 0-40 as he tried to serve out victory leading a set and 5-3.

Though he lost that game, the German immediately broke back, with his Australian opponent double-faulting on a Zverev match point.

His victory included a massive 52-shot rally, with the triumph putting Zverev on 499 wins for his career.

"Sometimes it's just about winning," Zverev said. "It was not the prettiest match, though."

The 2017 champion in Canada will now play Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who  defeated qualifier Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and number five Holger Rune both eased into action with comfortable straight set wins. The pair began after byes and wasted little time in advancing into the third round, with Musetti hammering Australian qualifier James Duckworth 7-5, 6-1.

Rune dispatched big hitter Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.

Number eight Casper Ruud put out Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-3 for another seeded win.

The event is missing the absolute cream of the player field, with both number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz out with injury and fatigue issues.

Musetti, a former semi-finalist at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros, was ruthless with Duckworth, advancing in 82 minutes.

He broke for a set and 5-1 on his opponent's double-fault and finished up a game later with an ace.

The Italian is coming back into form after losing his only grass match of the summer (Wimbledon) and then going down last week in his Washington opening match. His last victory came in early June in the Roland Garros quarters.

Musetti had 17 winners while Duckworth was undone by more than 30 unforced errors.

The Italian next faces American Alex Michelsen, a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 winner over Chilean qualifier Tomas Barrios Vera.

Rune, who was back in action a month after a first-round Wimbledon defeat, handed French Mpetshi Perricard a fourth career loss against top 10 players.

Denmark's four-time finalist at the Masters level produced his first hardcourt win since last March at Indian Wells.

"It was a very tricky first match for me, he's a big server and (there was) not a lot of rhythm in the match," Rune said after his 75-minute win.

"I had to really take care of my own serve, and then just look for the opportunities.

"It was about finding a way to win at the end of the (first set) tiebreak.

"In the second set I was pretty good when it mattered. I think I was serving very well today."

World number nine Rune limited his unforced errors to just 10 -- less than half of those struck by his opponent.

Elsewhere, 11th seed Karen Khachanov beat Juan Pablo Ficovich of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.

Last year's winner in Canada, Alexei Popyrin, defeated local wild card Nicolas Arseneault 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.

Canadian Denis Shapovalov continued his unlucky home streak taking a 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 loss to Learner Tien and extending a losing run dating to 2019 at home.

Tenth-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev got through his opening match and will next face Popyrin after a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win against Czech lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina, ended with more than 40 unforced errors.

- AFP

WIMBLEDON EMPLOYEE 'FINDS METAL BOLT IN THEIR LUNCH'

• The employee is said to not have had time to eat a replacement meal offered

• They returned it to the servers, who were reportedly left stunned themselves

• It is unclear how bolt ended up in the food with staff searching metal appliances

A Wimbledon worker is reported to have swapped strawberries and cream for a metal bolt as they were left disturbed by their lunch.

The Championships are well into their second week, with stars now eyeing spots in the latter stages of their respective competitions on their hunts to make history at the All England Club.

Things have mostly gone smoothly so far, but for one or two incidents, including a search to find why AI technology was turned off during Sonay Kartal's defeat by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Sunday.

Now, a report has suggested that one of the employees at SW19 was left stunned by an unwelcomed ingredient in their lunch at the start of the week.

The Sun report that the employee had ordered a salad poke bowl, which traditionally features salad greens or rice, marinated raw fish, and various other fresh vegetables and toppings.

The report, though, suggests that the worker found a screw in the container given to her at the event, with it suggested she took the food and bolt back to the servers, who were left 'shellshocked'.

Staff are then said to have checked the refrigerated storage areas to see if there was a nail or screw missing.

Though the outcome of the search is unclear, the worker is said to have ended up missing her lunch because she didn't have time to eat a replacement that was offered.

The meal is said to have cost £13. Mail Sport contacted Wimbledon for comment.

Wimbledon spectators, meanwhile, are revealing what the strawberries and cream boxes at SW19 really look like - and the results have left people divided.

The summer snack, which goes hand-in-hand with the tennis championship, is in high demand at the tournament as punters line up in their droves and shell out £2.70 for a box of the sweet treat.

This year is the first since 2010 that the All England Club, which runs the tournament, has raised the price of strawberries and cream; which now costs £2.70.

Around 140,000 punnets are bought by visitors per year, meaning the new price will bring in approximately £28,000 for the club.

The 20p price increase compared to last year hasn't deterred foodies but some have been left disappointed with what they were given.

Some have claimed the box is a 'rip off' and 'mostly empty' containing only a 'handful' of strawberries and 'yellow' cream.

- LEWIS BROWNING

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CASPER RUUD CAPTURES FIRST MASTERS 100O TITLE IN MADRID

The Norwegian star overcomes Jack Draper in straight sets to win the biggest title of his career. 

Casper Ruud achieved a significant milestone in his tennis career by winning the 2025 Madrid Open, marking his first ATP Masters 1000 title. In a closely contested final, Ruud overcame Britain’s Jack Draper with a scoreline of 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, showcasing resilience and a strong will to win on the clay courts of Madrid.

"This victory is particularly noteworthy as it ends Ruud’s streak of losses in major finals, including previous defeats in Miami 2022, Monte Carlo 2024, and three Grand Slam finals. The win not only adds a prestigious title to his resume but also propels him back into the ATP Top 10, now ranked World No. 7.

Jack Draper, despite the loss, has had a remarkable run in 2025. His performance in Madrid, including victories over top players, has elevated him to World No. 5, making him the fourth British man to reach the ATP Top 5. At 23 years and 121 days old, Draper also became the youngest British man in the Open Era to reach ATP finals on clay, grass, and hard courts.

To secure this win, Casper Ruud navigated a challenging draw. He commenced his campaign with a straight-sets victory over Alexander Shevchenko in the second round. In the third round, Ruud faced and defeated Sebastian Korda. The fourth round saw him overcome Taylor Fritz, followed by a quarterfinal win against Daniil Medvedev. In the semifinals, Ruud bested Francisco Cerundolo before clinching the title with a hard-fought victory over Jack Draper in the final.

 Inside the Baseline…

Ruud’s Madrid title feels like a long time coming and well-earned. Often overshadowed by flashier opponents, Casper Ruud has quietly built one of the most consistent clay-court resumes on tour. This win not only silences questions about his ability to win the big ones, but it firmly places him among the favorites for Roland Garros. His game may not scream highlight-reel, but it now screams champion.

 - Tennishead.net

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DE MINAUR SINKS RUUD TO RETAIN MEXICAN OPEN CROWN

Reuters 

 Third seed Alex de Minaur successfully defended his Mexican Open crown on Saturday, romping to a 6-4 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud in the Acapulco title clash.

The result helped the 25-year-old Australian snap a four-match losing run in finals and bag his eighth ATP Tour title - his seventh on hard courts - to secure his place in the top 10 of the world rankings that will be updated on Monday.

"It's been an amazing week," said De Minaur, who finished runner-up to Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in Rotterdam last month.

"It's probably a week I didn't really expect. I came into Mexico not feeling my best and just kept telling myself to keep giving myself chances. I think today I played my best match of the tournament by far.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGES: WHAT TO KNOW

 

Alexander Zverev will play in the semifinals at the Australian Open on Friday against Daniil Medvedev. But as the 26-year-old German looks to reach his second career major final, he remains the focus of domestic abuse allegations. On Jan. 16, as the first round of the Australian Open was underway, the Tiergarten district court in Berlin announced it had set May 31 as the start of Zverev's trial -- bringing the accusations back to the forefront.

Here's what to know about the case:

What are the allegations against Zverev?

According to a court document from October, Zverev is accused of "physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020." The woman is his former partner, Brenda Patea, who is also the mother of his daughter. (ESPN doesn't normally name alleged victims of domestic abuse, but Patea has gone public with her accusations.) In an interview, Patea said Zverev pushed her into a wall and choked her.

On Oct. 2, 2023, a criminal court issued a fine of €450,000 (about $488,000) and a penalty order against Zverev. In German law, such an order can be used when there is compelling evidence to support the accusation and a trial is not deemed necessary. Defendants have the right to contest the order, which then results in a public trial. Zverev contested the order and legally maintains the presumption of innocence until he stands trial.

On Nov. 1, Zverev called the penalty order "complete bulls---" when speaking to the media at the Paris Masters event. "Anybody that has a semi-standard IQ level knows what this is all about," Zverev said without further explanation.

Have there been any previous allegations against Zverev?

Yes. Olya Sharypova, another previous partner of Zverev's and a former tennis player, publicly came forward on Instagram in October 2020 with allegations of abuse at various places around the world, including in cities where ATP tournaments were being held.

In a series of media interviews soon after, Sharypova described multiple instances of violence, including Zverev allegedly punching her in the face, as well as smothering her with a pillow as she struggled to breathe. She said she feared for her life.

Zverev denied the accusations. Sharypova did not go the police, but the ATP hired an outside firm to look into her claims. After a 15-month investigation, which included interviews with Sharypova, Zverev and 24 others, the ATP announced on Jan. 31, 2023, that it would not be punishing Zverev as there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations. The ATP did not publish a full report of its findings.

"From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence and denied the baseless allegations made against me," Zverev said in a statement released later that day. "I welcomed and fully cooperated with the ATP's investigation and am grateful for the organization's time and attention in this matter."

Why are the allegations a topic of discussion right now?

The Tiergarten district court in Berlin announced the May 31 start date for the trial at the beginning of the Australian Open, making the allegations top of mind for reporters, fans and fellow players. The trial is expected to last eight, non-consecutive days with the last one currently slated for July 19.

Additionally, Zverev was named as a member of the ATP Player Advisory Council earlier this month. After Zverev's first-round win over Dominik Koepfer, the questions during the English-speaking portion of his news conference were entirely about his position on the Council. Because he had been voted into the leadership position -- which makes recommendations to the ATP on behalf of the players -- by his peers, he said members of the media were the only ones who believed his role to be inappropriate.

"Journalists are saying that, some, who are actually interested more in this story to write about and more about the clicks than the actual truth," Zverev said.

Zverev was also featured extensively in an episode of the current season of Netflix's "Break Point," which was released Jan. 10. The allegations were not mentioned.

Does the ATP have a domestic abuse policy?

No. While other leagues, such as the NBA and NFL, have specific policies related to domestic abuse and violence, the ATP does not.

In October 2021, while announcing it would be investigating the initial claims against Zverev, the ATP said it had commissioned and received an independent safeguarding report.

"ATP will now evaluate the recommendations to identify immediate next steps and develop a longer-term safeguarding strategy relating to all matters of abuse, including domestic violence," the organization said in a statement.

In March 2023, the ATP hired Andrew Azzopardi as its director of safeguarding. A specific policy has yet to be released. The ATP does have a more general code of conduct policy, which outlines potential punishments for "conduct contrary to the integrity of the game," including for those charged with a crime.

"A player, or related person, charged with a violation of a criminal or civil law of any jurisdiction may be deemed by virtue of such charge to have engaged in conduct contrary to the integrity of the Game of Tennis and the ATP Members Fines Committee may provisionally suspend such player, or related person, from further participation in ATP tournaments pending a final determination of the criminal or civil proceeding," the 2024 ATP rulebook states.

When asked this week for clarity regarding Zverev and the code of conduct, the ATP issued a statement to ESPN.

"We are aware of the upcoming legal trial involving Alexander Zverev, and will not be commenting until that process is complete."

Have any of his peers spoken about the charges, the upcoming trial or his role on the ATP's Player Advisory Council?

While several players were asked questions in the days following the announcement of the trial date during their news conferences at the Australian Open, most said they were unable to comment. Alex de Minaur said he was "good at playing tennis" but "not good at making political decisions" and was "going to stay out of it and focus on playing tennis." Stefanos Tsitsipas said he was "completely unfamiliar" with the situation.

"I haven't had too much time to think about it, and don't really have an opinion right now," Casper Ruud said. "But yeah, I'm not exactly sure how to react to it, so won't give you a good answer. Sorry."

Grigor Dimitrov, who is also a member of the Council, initially said he didn't want to comment because he was unaware of the situation, before acknowledging Zverev's recent election to the position.

"I think everyone needs to sit down together and discuss all of that," Dimitrov said. "That's my message on that end. Of course now these things coming through, personally, I didn't know. So I'm sure if you ask all the other guys, it's something that if it's needed, I guess we are all going to sit down and talk about it."

Sloane Stephens, who recently concluded a stint on the WTA's Players' Council, said the WTA players would not have elected someone facing such charges.

"I think that the ATP kind of beats their own drum," Stephens said last week. "Yeah, they do what they do on that side. Would that happen on the WTA Tour? Probably not."

Stephens acknowledged Zverev's presence on tour was a "difficult situation" and said she hoped the trial would "put it to rest."

"There's a lot of speculation and allegations," Stephens said. "I think at this point for the tour and for the fans it needs to be done with. I think that's what will happen. People will get what they want whenever his trial is. We'll just go from there. I guess the ATP will then decide what they will do with their player after that. ...

"For three years no one has done anything, so I don't think another five months of waiting for a criminal trial I guess to happen is going to change much on either side."

Iga Swiatek, the current top-ranked women on tour, said she wasn't "in the right position to judge" but did say she was disappointed that Zverev had been voted onto the Council.

"For sure it's not good when a player who's facing charges like that is kind of being promoted," Swiatek said.

What would happen if he were found guilty during his trial?

That might be one of the biggest unknowns at this point. Zverev will not have to be present at his trial, which begins during the 2024 French Open and also will have dates held during Wimbledon in July and could run longer if necessary.

According to the BBC, he could be asked to attend in person later in the trial if needed, and the sentence for someone found guilty of a domestic abuse charge in Germany ranges from a fine to five years in prison. Zverev would likely pay the initial fine amount he was issued in October.

The ATP has not publicly shared how Zverev would be punished if he were deemed guilty.

- D'Arcy Maine, ESPN.com