South Korean male professional tennis players face a unique challenge: mandatory military service, which interrupts their careers for 18 months. This article explores how players like Seong-chan Hong, Hyeon Chung, and Soonwoo Kwon adapt to this obligation, with some earning exemptions through sporting achievements while others navigate a return to the professional circuit after their service.
The Indian women's table tennis team was defeated 0-3 by North Korea in the Asian Games quarterfinals, while the men's team exited in the round of 16, marking a disappointing performance for both squads.
Third seed Nitin Kumar Sinha caused a major upset by defeating defending champion and top seed Manish Sureshkumar in a three-set thriller to reach the men's singles final of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship. Sinha will face Maan Kesharwani in the final. In women's singles, top seed Vaidehee Chaudhari and second seed Shruti Ahlawat will contest the final.
Indian tennis players Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh have received challenging draws in the Asian Games men's singles competition, with both facing tough opponents early on. While India has no representation in women's singles, strong doubles pairings offer better medal prospects, with coaches expressing optimism.
Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh discusses the significant transition from collegiate tennis to the professional tour, highlighting the challenges of travelling alone, managing his body, and maintaining consistency. He shares insights on the importance of off-court preparation, physical fitness, and setting ambitious goals like breaking into the top 250.
The Chennai Open, a WTA 250 tennis tournament, is scheduled to return in November after the Tamil Nadu government allocated Rs 10 crore for its conduct. The event, which was absent in 2023 and 2024, will be held at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.
Indian table tennis players had a strong showing at the Asian Games, with two women's doubles pairs, Sreeja Akula-Syndrela Das and Yashaswini Ghorpade-Diya Chitale, reaching the pre-quarterfinals. In men's singles, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar also advanced to the next rounds.
The Indian women's table tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Asian Games after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Thailand. However, the Indian men's team faced an early exit, losing 0-3 to South Korea in the round of 16, marking their second defeat in the group stage.
Satya Chintagunta caused an upset by defeating top seed Aarav Challani in the boys U-14 quarterfinals at the Fenesta Open National Championship. Ribhav Saroha continued his strong performance, advancing to the boys U-16 semifinals, alongside other promising players in various categories, including Siddhi Pandey and Khushi Kadian in the girls' events.
Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala, seeded 17th, commenced her US Open campaign with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana. Returning to Flushing Meadows with increased attention and expectations, Eala aims for a deeper run after a breakthrough season and her first WTA title.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru tournament saw strong performances from young Indian players on its opening day. Top seed Riya Gangamma Pudiyokkada advanced, while several unseeded players caused significant upsets in both the boys' and girls' categories, highlighting emerging talent.
Defending champion Manish Sureshkumar and top seed Vaidehee Chaudhari have advanced to the semi-finals of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship in New Delhi. Sureshkumar overcame a 0-3 deficit in the deciding set, while Chaudhari recovered from a second-set collapse. Both will also compete in doubles finals.
Carlos Alcaraz overcame a slow start to beat Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4, retain the Japan Open crown, claim his 27th title and strengthen his comeback after injury.
American tennis star Coco Gauff has revealed she received an "insane" amount of racial abuse on social media following her controversial win over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran at the China Open, where a replayed point sparked an online backlash.
Indian table tennis mixed doubles pairs, Harmeet Desai-Yashaswini Ghorpade and Diya Chitale-Manush Shah, have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Both duos secured victories against their respective opponents, with a win in the next round guaranteeing them a medal.
Tennis icon Roger Federer was presented with his International Tennis Hall of Fame ring at the US Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium, two days after his induction. The ceremony, led by Kim Clijsters, saw Federer display his ring to an erupting crowd, celebrating his illustrious career which includes 20 major titles and a record 310 weeks as world No. 1.
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has announced his return to the China Open after an 11-year absence, seeking to regain form after a surprising first-round exit at the US Open.
Sprinter Simran Sharma has been named India's new flag bearer for the Para Asian Games opening ceremony, replacing table tennis player Bhavina Patel. The change was made to ensure Patel gets adequate rest ahead of her crucial quarter-final match on October 19, as the journey to the venue is physically demanding.
Tennis legend Roger Federer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, delivering an emotional speech where he declared he is 'still writing my love letter to tennis' and reflected on his illustrious career, which included 20 Grand Slam titles.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru is set to begin with qualifying rounds, offering promising young Indian tennis players a chance to compete for main draw berths. The event, hosted by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, will feature both boys' and girls' qualifying draws, with wildcards providing local talent an opportunity to gain international experience and ITF Junior ranking points.
Tennis World No 6 Elina Svitolina has announced her separation from French tennis star Gael Monfils, revealing how the emotional toll of Russia's war on Ukraine left her struggling to find herself.
World number three Carlos Alcaraz has voiced concerns over the demanding tennis calendar, stating that the packed schedule contributes to player injuries and fatigue.
Alexander Zverev's recent US Open victory is a testament to his family's unwavering support, particularly his mother Irina, who ensured his type 1 diabetes never hindered his tennis ambitions, transforming him from a 'nearly man' to a two-time major champion.
The US Open semi-final between American tennis stars Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe attracted a host of celebrities from sports, film, and fashion, including Serena Williams and Trinity Rodman, to witness Shelton's victory.
Indian paddlers Jehan Dorab Madan and Shubham Wadhwa secured a bronze medal in the men's doubles MD4 table tennis event at the Asian Para Games. Despite a 0-3 loss to South Korea in their final group match, their overall performance placed them among the top four, earning them a podium finish. Jehan Madan, at 50, became the oldest Indian medallist at the event.
The Philippines Tennis Association has requested a WTA exemption for Alexandra Eala to participate in the Asian Games, which clashes with the mandatory China Open.
India's Yuki Bhambri and Anirudh Chandrasekar were eliminated from the US Open men's doubles after both suffered first-round defeats in New York. Bhambri, partnered with Michael Venus, lost in a close contest, while Chandrasekar and Ivan Liutarevich also went down fighting.
Jessica Pegula cruised into the US Open second round with a straight-sets win, while 27th seed Barbora Krejcikova became the first seeded casualty despite saving six match points.
Iga Swiatek expressed her preference for the more intimate Grandstand court over the boisterous Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open. Other players like Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik, and Flavio Cobolli also commented on the challenging noise levels and crowd interactions at Flushing Meadows, highlighting the unique atmosphere compared to other tour events.
Naomi Osaka and other top tennis players are raising concerns about the disruptive presence of social media influencers at the US Open. While acknowledging their potential to promote the sport, players like Osaka and Jessica Pegula highlight instances of disrespect and distraction during matches due to influencers staging photo shoots and creating content, calling for better management of their activities. Daniil Medvedev offers a more balanced view, seeing potential benefits if disruptions are avoided.
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the U.S. Open final, securing his first title at Flushing Meadows and his second Grand Slam championship of the year, following his French Open victory.
Alexander Zverev hilariously admitted to Carlos Alcaraz that he felt zero pressure and mistakenly thought the score was 4-1 while serving for his US Open championship victory.
Peruvian tennis player Ignacio Buse secured his maiden US Open victory, defeating Marcos Giron in a five-setter.
Om Patel and Deepshika Vinayagamurthy have won the boys' and girls' singles titles, respectively, at the UNIFI ITF Junior Tennis Cup in Chennai. Patel overcame Om Verma in a three-set thriller, while Deepshika defeated Savitha Bhuvaneswaran in straight sets, adding another title to her recent Junior National Championship victory.
Thea Frodin made her US Open debut on Tuesday but one dream remains unfulfilled for the 17-year-old, who is still waiting to meet Serena Williams five years after appearing as the American's tennis double in the film King Richard.
The UN Human Rights office has condemned the online racist abuse directed at American tennis player Coco Gauff following a replayed point at the China Open. Gauff revealed she received significant racist messages, prompting the WTA to offer support and monitor the abuse. The UN called for unity against racial and sexist abuse in sports.
Rajvardhan Tiwari and Debanshu Chakraborty secured quarterfinal victories in the Under-11 Boys category at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Kanpur. The tournament also saw thrilling five-game matches and a remarkable comeback by unseeded Inaaya in the girls' section, highlighting emerging talent.
Aryna Sabalenka expressed her profound disappointment after losing the US Open final to Elena Rybakina, culminating in a furious racket-smashing incident. Sabalenka, who was aiming for a third consecutive US Open title, explained her emotional outburst as a way to release aggression and disappointment following the significant defeat.
Gujarat's Vivaan Dave and Maharashtra's Divyanshi Bhowmick have secured the Youth Boys' and Youth Girls' U-17 titles, respectively, at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships. Dave won a five-game thriller against Atharva Nawarange, while Bhowmick defeated Ananya Muralidharan 3-1.
French tennis star Gael Monfils played his final Grand Slam match at the US Open, losing to Learner Tien. The charismatic 40-year-old received an emotional send-off from the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd, who celebrated his entertaining career with chants and a video tribute. Monfils, set to retire at the end of the season, expressed gratitude for the fans' love and shared a warm moment with his young opponent.
