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Lorenzo Musetti Focuses on Forehand and Adaptation Ahead of US Open

Lorenzo Musetti works on his forehand and adapts his game for hard courts ahead of the US Open.

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Lorenzo Musetti is dedicating significant effort to improving his forehand as he prepares for the US Open, emphasizing adjustments required for hard court play. The Italian commenced his Canadian Masters campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 win over James Duckworth, despite a challenging recent run, having lost three of his last four matches.

Musetti, who reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the 2024 French Open and climbed to a career-high world No. 6 before slipping back to No. 10 after a first-round Wimbledon exit, recognizes the demands hard courts place on his game. “The biggest adjustments for me on hard court is try to adapt the speed of the court,” he explained to the Tennis Channel, adding that hard courts require more impulsive play, contrasting with the slower pace on clay where he has more time to strategize.

He highlighted the necessity of changing his game style and personality to meet these conditions, with a focus on the serve and return as key components for success. Musetti is currently the only player with a one-handed backhand among the world’s top 15, a style that presents distinct challenges on faster surfaces. “Especially on the return side, there’s many disadvantages, I would say, if you play one‑handed backhand,” he noted in an ATP Tour interview.

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The past year has been transformative for Musetti, featuring two Grand Slam semi-finals, an Olympic bronze medal, a Masters 1000 final appearance in Monte Carlo, and breaking into the top 10 rankings. Looking ahead, he cites the Turin event as his foremost goal but prefers to avoid excessive pressure. “There’s many points to catch,” he said, referring to the North American hard court swing, which includes two Masters 1000 events and the US Open, where he aims to maintain consistency and accumulate points.

Currently ranked sixth in the live ATP standings, Musetti is poised to potentially qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals if he sustains his form.

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Emma Raducanu Nears Top 10 Return with Strong Recent Form

Emma Raducanu progresses in the rankings, closing in on a top 10 return with solid form.

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Emma Raducanu is advancing steadily in the WTA Rankings following a promising spell of performances in recent months. Her competitive display against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, which ended in a third-round defeat, underscored her narrowing gap with the sport’s elite. Raducanu is now targeting a top 32 position in the WTA Rankings, a milestone that would grant her seeded status at the upcoming US Open, where a strong showing could further boost her standing.

Currently ranked 25th in the WTA Race—a ranking based on results during 2025—Raducanu also holds the No. 13 spot in the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) rankings. The UTR rankings emphasize current form and weight victories against higher-ranked opponents more heavily than official WTA rankings. This system, based on recent performances and designed to rate players across all competition levels on a unified scale, offers a precise snapshot of Raducanu’s true competitive level.

Sabalenka praised Raducanu’s performance at Wimbledon as “incredible,” predicting a return to the top ten in the near future. Reflecting on that match, Raducanu said, “It gives me confidence that I’m not as far away as I perhaps thought before the tournament.” She added, “When I was playing those top-five players before, it was pretty convincing, the loss. So I think to really push Aryna it does give me confidence.”

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She also acknowledged the challenge of such high-level competition: “It’s very difficult to take right now. I’m just very self-critical. It’s hard to see. Of course, I’m very proud of being competitive on the court. I think I would rather that than it being completely one way.” On Sabalenka’s praise, Raducanu said, “It’s nice of her to say that, but I think it was pretty clear the difference. In the big moments, she was able to convert. She was able to hit some incredible shots.”

Looking forward, Raducanu emphasized the work ahead: “I just need to keep working and get back to the drawing board and improve a lot more.” With few ranking points to defend from 2024, she is well positioned to climb closer to the top 20 by the end of this season.

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Alexander Zverev Joins Elite Group with 500 ATP Tour Wins

Alexander Zverev reached 500 ATP wins, joining four active players with this milestone.

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Alexander Zverev achieved a significant milestone at the Canadian Open by securing his 500th career win. The world No. 3 staged a comeback from a set down to defeat Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in the third round, marking a landmark in his career. With a career record now standing at 500-212, Zverev joins a select group of five active ATP players to reach 500 wins.

At 28 years old, Zverev’s resume includes 24 ATP Tour titles, with seven Masters 1000 victories and two ATP Finals titles. He also boasts an Olympic gold medal from the Tokyo 2020 Games. Despite not having captured a Grand Slam title yet, Zverev has been a three-time runner-up and reached 39 ATP tour-level finals throughout his career. He peaked at world No. 2 in the rankings.

Alongside Zverev, the other active players with more than 500 wins include Stan Wawrinka, Gaël Monfils, Marin Čilić, and Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka, who turned 40 this year, has a career tally of 580 wins, highlighted by three Grand Slam titles (2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, and 2016 US Open) and 16 ATP titles overall since turning professional in 2002.

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Gaël Monfils, nearing 39, has accumulated 583 wins, 13 ATP titles, and reached two Grand Slam semifinals, though he has hinted that his career might end within the next couple of seasons. Marin Čilić, with 593 wins to his name, broke the Big 3 dominance by winning the 2014 US Open and holds 21 ATP titles.

The leader in this elite group remains Novak Djokovic, world No. 6 at age 38, with 1,150 wins—the second most in ATP history. His remarkable career includes 100 ATP titles, a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, 40 Masters 1000 trophies, and 428 weeks as the ATP world No. 1.

Zverev’s entry into this exclusive club highlights his sustained excellence and solidifies his status among the top players of his generation.

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Alexander Zverev Achieves 500 Career Wins Milestone at Toronto Masters 1000

Alexander Zverev records 500th career win at Toronto Masters 1000, joining elite company.

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Alexander Zverev reached a significant career milestone at the Toronto Masters 1000 event on Thursday night, securing his 500th win by defeating Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in the third round. This victory places Zverev among an elite group of players, becoming only the fifth active male player to achieve 500 or more career wins, alongside Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, and Stan Wawrinka.

Notably, Zverev is the third German male player in the Open Era to reach this feat, following Boris Becker and Tommy Haas. Born in 1997, he is the first man born in 1990 or later — indeed, the youngest to reach 500 wins, as the previous youngest was Marin Cilic, born in 1988.

Zverev has demonstrated consistent high-level performance, finishing seven of the last eight years in the ATP Top 10, including four finishes inside the Top 4. Among 57 men in the Open Era to reach 500 career wins, only 25 have maintained a winning percentage of 70% or higher, a group that includes Zverev.

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This milestone underscores Zverev’s sustained excellence and places him firmly in the conversation among tennis’s foremost competitors over the last decade.

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