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Masters National Bank Open WTA

Coco Gauff Advances at Canadian Open Despite Persistent Serving Issues

Coco Gauff advances at Canadian Open despite serving struggles marked by numerous double faults.

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Coco Gauff has progressed to the fourth round of the Canadian Open after overcoming Veronika Kudermetova with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory in Montreal. Despite her win, the American expressed disappointment in her serving performance, which has been hindered by a high number of double faults.

The 21-year-old world No. 2 battled through her service struggles, recording 14 double faults in this match alone. This followed an even more challenging opening round where she committed 23 double faults against Danielle Collins, combining for 37 double faults across her first two matches at this WTA 1000 event.

Gauff acknowledged both the positives and negatives of her recent performances, stating, “There’s positives and there’s negatives. Obviously, I am disappointed in myself when it comes to that part of the game because I didn’t play D.C. [Citi DC Open] to work on that and made changes to that. Doing well in practice and serving really well in practice. I just would like it to transfer to the match.” She added, “It does give positives that I’m winning these matches, having literally like one part of my game on a crutch. So it’s like if I can stand on both feet, then I can only imagine that it would be a lot more straightforward and a lot easier for me.”

Serving issues have been a recurring problem for Gauff over the past months. She notably double faulted 19 times in her 2024 US Open fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro and had 21 double faults during losses at the Wuhan and Indian Wells tournaments. Her 37 double faults in Montreal represent the third-highest total at a WTA 1000 event this season, following her 42 at the Italian Open and 38 at Indian Wells.

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Reflecting on the statistic, Gauff said, “I don’t want to lead that stat, and I want to do better. I know I probably won’t be ever double fault-free, but if I could get that to 2%, 3%, it would make a big difference in just making these matches a lot easier. The fact that I’m winning matches and finding ways to win with that is definitely a positive. But I’m a tough critic of myself. I know I can do better, and I know I should do better. It will get better. It’s just a matter of time.”

Gauff is set to face local favorite Victoria Mboko in the fourth round of the Canadian Open, a player she previously defeated in three sets at the Italian Open. The winner of that match will move on to face either Zhu Lin or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarter-finals.

ATP Masters Monte Carlo

How Alcaraz Is Pulling the Tour to the Net

Alcaraz’s play is forcing players to attack the net; Roland Garros numbers validate this shift. 2026

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Carlos Alcaraz has altered the tactical conversation in men’s tennis, forcing peers and younger players to reassess the value of going forward. That influence persisted even after Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, defeated Alcaraz in Monte Carlo and while Alcaraz is sidelined with a sore wrist that prompted withdrawals from Barcelona and Madrid.

Alcaraz’s game has revived interest in attacking tennis, including serve-and-volley, by showing baseline steadiness alone is no longer enough to unsettle him. The draft of many developing players now follows the 22-year-old, seven-time Grand Slam singles champion as a template. The result is a generation pushing for greater versatility and a higher tolerance for risk.

Sinner acknowledged the pressure Alcaraz creates after a high-profile loss: “I was very predictable on court today,” Sinner said. “He (Alcaraz) changed up the game. . .Now it’s going to be on me if I want to make changes or not. We’re definitely going to work on that.” He added,

“I didn’t make one serve and volley (today). I didn’t use a lot of drop shots. Then you arrive at the point where you have to play Carlos, you have to go out of the comfort zone.”

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Examples of the shift appeared across recent events. Local sensation Valentin Vacherot attacked the net on a pressure point against Alex de Minaur in Monte Carlo and pulled off a deciding volley. Paul Annacone observed, “I’m impressed by his (Vacherot’s) willingness to come forward in moments that are really stressful. He isn’t afraid to push the envelope.” Alexander Zverev has also spoken about playing with more purpose and aggression, and his net forays paid dividends in matches this season.

Historic matches underline the point. Novak Djokovic’s 2023 Cincinnati final with Alcaraz featured a midmatch adjustment to approach the net more often; Djokovic won 14 of 20 points there. Alcaraz, for his part, used serve-and-volley to save match points and posted similar net numbers.

Craig O’Shannessy compiled Roland Garros data that cuts against the notion that net rushers suffer on clay: among 22 men who approached the net 75 times or more through three rounds, net winning percentage was 69 percent versus 65 percent for the rest of the field, while baseline winning percentage across the field was just 47 percent. The message is clear: the net is a weapon again, and the tour is responding.

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ATP Madrid Open Masters

Alcaraz and Djokovic Withdraw From Madrid Open as Both Address Injuries

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will miss the Mutua Madrid Open amid ongoing injury recoveries. .

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Two of the sport’s biggest names will not compete at the Mutua Madrid Open after separate withdrawals citing injury. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic announced they will miss the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.

For Alcaraz it is the second consecutive year he will be absent from his home Masters 1000 tournament. The 22-year-old missed the 2025 edition because of a right leg injury and this week confirmed he will also sit out the Spanish event after withdrawing from the Barcelona Open on Wednesday, citing a right wrist injury.

Alcaraz made a strong start to the clay season by reaching the Monte Carlo final last week, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. That defeat cost him the ATP world No. 1 ranking. He then traveled to Barcelona and told press, “This week is one where I should take a break, but Barcelona is a very special place for me.” He withdrew from the event after winning his opening match. He is next scheduled to compete in Rome and at Roland Garros, where he is the defending champion at the French Open.

On social media Alcaraz wrote: “Some news is incredibly hard to share. Madrid is home, one of the most special places on the calendar to me, and that’s why it hurts so much not being able to play here for the second year in a row,” and added, “It especially hurts not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thanks for your love always and I hope to see you all soon.” He also posted: “Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete @MutuaMadridOpen this year. I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!”

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Earlier the same day three-time Madrid champion Novak Djokovic announced he would not play in Madrid, the third time in four years he has missed the event, also absent in 2023 and 2024. “I’m continuing my recovery in order to come back soon,” he wrote. “Hasta pronto! (See you soon!)”

© 2026 Mateo Villalba

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ATP Masters Monte Carlo

Sinner Tops Alcaraz in Monte Carlo; Matt Rife Tries Tennis in Episode 16 of The Big T

Sinner’s Monte Carlo win, a comic’s first tennis lesson with Eubanks, and Code Violations insights..

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Episode 16 of The Big T podcast centers on Jannik Sinner’s win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final and a crossover segment that pairs comedy with tennis.

Nick Monroe and Brad Gilbert open the episode with a breakdown of the Monte Carlo final (1:30), identifying the decisive moments and tactical adjustments that favored Sinner. Monroe relays insight from Sinner’s coach on the game plan, while Gilbert pinpoints missed opportunities for Alcaraz and outlines adjustments he will need moving forward. “Maybe he has started to figure things out, after two wins in a row…he could get on a streak and win five or six in a row. Brad Gilbert, on Jannik SInner”

The hosts also look ahead to the road to Roland Garros and how both players are managing schedules with a potential rematch in Paris in mind (6:10).

A lighter but thoughtful portion of the episode features stand-up comic Matt Rife alongside Chris Eubanks (14:30). Rife describes his first time on court after being invited to try tennis: “Tennis Channel asked me if I wanted to embarrass myself. They were like, ‘have you ever played before?’ I said, ‘not a day in my life.’ So then they brought in the best.” The segment compares performing solo under pressure to competing on court, traces the grind through smaller stages, and debates the greatest of all time in both fields with names like Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic entering the conversation.

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Rife observes a key technical challenge: “Much like tennis, it’s not something you can learn in a room by yourself. Matt Rife, on the similarities between comedy and tennis” The episode includes a practical lesson, as Eubanks teaches Rife basics and tests him in live points.

Episode 16 closes with the Code Violations segment (48:00), where Monroe, Gilbert and Geoff Chizever discuss the small habits that frustrate professionals, from lateness to messy locker rooms to odd ways of calling the score.

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