ATP
Old pro Mahut slaps down mouthy Kyrgios
Retired doubles ace Nicolas Mahut has come down hard on trash talking from loudmouth Nick Kyrgios, with the 42-year-old Frenchman slamming the Australian for insults to Jannik Sinner.
Kyrgios, who has bailed on the last two seasons with various injuries and the occasional lack of interest in his sport, has been running his mouth nonstop in the podcast sphere as he trashes the world No 1 Italian.
Sinner was found by anti-doping bosses to bear “no fault or negligence” after a pair positive doping tests in the spring for microscopic mounts of a banned material which was ruled contamination at the hands of an ex-physio.
Sinner gave up prize money and ranking points at Indian Wells in March and had put the matter to one side before a legal challenge form the tennis anti-doping establishment which ill be ruled upon in February.
Meanwhile, Kyrygios has been making apparently empty threats about his plans if he even plays Sinner.
The Aussie outlaw has threatened to turn fans against the world No. 1 and expects some form of a fan riot were they to meet at the Australian Open next month.
Mahurt basically told the tennis bad boy to put a sock in it, with the crude diatribe crossing a line of Mahut, who said Kyrgios “let himself go” with the unseeming outburst and threats – including calling for Sinner to be banned for the maximum two years.
“I don’t like these kind of statements. He gave his opinion about Sinner’s positive tests and that’s his right. Only to let it escalate like this,” Mahut – five times a Grand Slam doubles champion – told Eurosport.
“Sinner has never disrespected anyone and he is the No. 1 in the world. There is no need to let yourself go like this.”
Mahut wisely pointed out that Kyrgios – one match played and lost in 2024 and with a ranking on the frontier 1,000th in the world, would surely suffer a humiliating beatdown at the hands of double Grand Slam champion Sinner.
“Kyrgios hasn’t been back that long, and of course, you can dream of the title at the Australian Open, but you have to be realistic,” Maut said.
“Even if the crowd gets excited, Sinner will win that with 6-3s (sets).”
Kyrgios is due to return to the court at the Brisbane event and has a wild card into the Open which begins in Melbourne on January 12.
Main photo:- “Mouthy” Nick Kyrgios
Arthur Fils spent just 20 minutes on court before advancing to the semi-finals in Barcelona on Friday as opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas quit their quarter-final with apparent illness.
The rising Frenchman collected a 2-0 win as the four-time runner-up walked to the net midway through the third game, unable to continue.
Fills will take on two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz for a place in the title match.
The pair played only last week in Monte Carlos, with Alcaraz posting a comeback quarter-final win.
“I think Stef has a bug, but I’m not sure,” Fils said. “I was ready to battle for a few hours, we always have tough matches.
“I hope he will be ready for the next weeks and Roland Garros.”
The No. 14 said he is pleased with the state of his own game: “I’m playing great, the match in Monte Carlo against Carlitos was positive even if I lost.”
Main photo; Arthus Fils in action -by ISF Ltd
Carlos Alcaraz fought off serving problems early on to dismiss the upset plans of Alex de Minaur, with the Spanish top seed reaching the Barcelona Open semi-finals 7-5, 6-4.
Last weekend’s Monte Carlo champion moved to within a pair of wins of a repeat in the chase for a third title at the home clay event.
Alcaraz twice trailed by a break in the opening set against his Australian opponent who learned his clay tennis in Spain.
But the local fought from 1-3 down to finally take the set on his second opportunity before whipping his game into shape for a sprint to the finish as he dominated to close out a third straight-set win of the week.
Two time Barca winner Alcaraz has now won his last right clay matches to reach the 36th semi-final of his career.
“It was really tight in the first set, I’m glad I ended up winning it.” he said. “In the second I played well the entire time.
“I started quite badly with serve in the first few games. But I calmed myself down and improved that.
“I started thinking positive and kept going to find my good tennis.”
Alcaraz leads the ATP with 23 clay victories this season – one more than seventh seed de Minaur.
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz winning in Barcelona – by Banc Sabadell Trofeo
Holger Rune upset Barcelona Open holder Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2, with the Dane set for a return to a top 10 ranking after winning Friday’s Scandinavian showdown.
Rune dominated his Norwegian rival in the 87 minute quarter-final, with Ruud now set to slide from the ranking elite from his 10th position as a result of the loss.
Victory marked a turning point for Rune, who stood 1-6 against a rival with three Grand Slam finals – two at Roland Garros – to his credit.
Rune clinched victory with his 16th winner after an exhausting duel on match point, which he won with a forehand down the line.
Ruud looked to be well off his usual clay game, committing 29 unforced errors including three double-faults.
“I’m proud of myself, I was hitting through my shots and I played explosively,” the winner said. “Casper is a great player and he made it difficult.
“Despite all the (Scandinavian) hype, I tried to look at it as just another match. I
I’m very happy I beat him today.”
Rune will challenge for the finals in the Catalan capital in a Saturday match against Karen Khachanov, who defeated Monte Carlo semi-finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 7-5.
Rune won his sixth Tour quarter-final since last August and earned his first top 10 win on clay since defeating No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov at Monte Carlo in 2024.
Tsitsipas quits Barca match with illness
Alcaraz fights through early niggles in Barcelona
Rune returns to top 10 after defeat of Ruud
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