Tennis

10:22 PM ET ESPN News Services INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Rafael Nadal defeated Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (0), 5-7, 6-4 Thursday to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in a match featuring obscenities, underhand serves, a point penalty and smashed rackets. Nadal improved to 19-0 this year, the third-best start to a season since

7:44 PM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Nursing a nagging foot injury, Rafael Nadal improved to 18-0 this season, edging Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open. “I can’t say it’s a dream because I even couldn’t dream about that three months ago,

7:44 PM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Rafael Nadal became the second player in ATP Tour history to start a season 18-0, edging Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open. Only Novak Djokovic has gotten off to better starts since 1990. The Serb

7:01 AM ET All four tennis Grand Slams will use a 10-point tiebreak in the final set on a trial basis starting with the French Open in May, the governing body of the sport’s most prestigious events said Wednesday. According to the new rules, matches tied at 6-6 in the final set will move into

7:52 AM ET French Open organizers said Wednesday that Novak Djokovic is allowed to defend his title as the tournament prepares to stage what is expected to be the first Grand Slam without any coronavirus-related restrictions since the pandemic began two years ago. On Monday, France lifted restrictions in almost all public spaces, except hospitals,

8:44 PM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Taylor Fritz defeated Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (2) on Tuesday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, making him one of six American men still alive in the desert tournament. Fritz reached the semifinals at Indian Wells last year, his career-best

10:50 AM ET US Open champion Daniil Medvedev may have to provide assurances that he does not support Russian President Vladimir Putin if he is to compete at Wimbledon, British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said on Tuesday. Huddleston said he would not be comfortable with a “Russian athlete flying the Russian flag” and winning the

7:29 AM ET Australian Open champion Rafa Nadal said he felt sorry for Naomi Osaka after she was rattled by a heckler during her second-round loss on Saturday night at Indian Wells, but added that tennis players needed to be ready to deal with adversities. Osaka, who sparked a conversation about mental health in sports

9:00 PM ET ESPN News Services INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Rafael Nadal is still perfect in 2022. The Spaniard defeated 27th-seeded Daniel Evans 7-5, 6-3 Monday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, improving his record to 17-0 this year in pursuit of an ATP Tour-leading fourth title. Nadal tied Roger Federer (2018)

4:56 AM ET Australia have earned a Billie Jean King Cup promotion following the International Tennis Federation’s decision to ban last year’s winners Russia from teams competitions. As the highest-ranked team among the 2021 losing semi-finalists, Australia will take Russia’s place in the Finals scheduled to be held in November. After advancing from the group

12:27 AM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Andrey Rublev beat Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-4 on Sunday in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, improving the Russian’s record to 15-2 this year with his 10th straight victory. Rublev trails only Rafael Nadal‘s mark of 16-0 on the season, having won titles in

3:21 AM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com Four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka was brought to tears during her second-round loss to Veronika Kudermetova at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday after a fan heckled her from the stands during the first set. After the match, Osaka requested to address the crowd, something

4:09 PM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Daniil Medvedev defeated Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, the Russian player’s first tournament since ascending to No. 1 in the world. Medvedev made quick work of his Czech opponent, finishing Machac off in just over an

6:28 PM ET Associated Press About 1 1/2 months after the last match of Sergiy Stakhovsky’s professional tennis career, the 36-year-old Ukrainian left his wife and three young children in Hungary and went back to his birthplace to help however he could during Russia’s invasion. “I don’t have the words to describe it. I would

4:28 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Rafael Nadal has become the latest big draw to pull out of the Miami Open. Nadal is a five-time finalist at the event but hasn’t played in Miami since 2017. His absence means that neither of the winners of this year’s first Grand Slam will be

8:34 PM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Andy Murray outlasted qualifier Taro Daniel 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open for his 700th career victory. “It does mean a lot to me because I know how difficult it’s been, certainly the last few years,” Murray said,

9:27 AM ET Novak Djokovic will kick off preparations for his French Open title defence next month at the ATP Masters event on clay at Monte Carlo, the Serb said on his website. The 20-time Grand Slam winner was unable to defend his Australian Open title in January after being deported from the country in

9:03 PM ET Associated Press INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday, rallying to beat Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a first-round meeting of former major champions. Trailing 2-0 in the third set, Osaka fought off three break points to hold and begin a