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 The 2026 Rome Masters 1000 had an Italian representative who stole the show, and it wasn't Jannik Sinner. Despite the immense talent and dominance of the world number one, it was Luciano Darderi who brought genuine smiles to the faces of the Italian crowd. Neither Cobolli, Musetti, nor Berrettini made it to the semifinals of the tournament; it was Darderi who reached the semifinals. After a comfortable first round against Yannick Hanfmann, the 24-year-old's comeback began against Tommy Paul, where he achieved his first comeback victory; the following rounds against Alexander Zverev and Rafael Jódar brought more excitement and long games, pushing him to his limits, but also resulting in a 6-0 in both matches. Photo: ATP Roma The semifinal against the consistent Casper Ruud was different; the double 6-1 result for the Norwegian almost explains the match. However, beyond that, Darderi caused controversy by unintentionally ignoring the child he was supposed to enter the court with...

 At 23 years old, Ben Shelton has just achieved his 35th Grand Slam victory. The 2023 US Open semi-finalist, and Australian Open semi-finalist last year, was dominant against Valentin Vacherot and won in straight sets (6/4, 6/4 and 7/6). Undefeated in sets so far, the challenge now is against the more experienced Casper Ruud, who has also been having a very solid tournament. Photo: @benshleton/ Instagram After the victory against Vacherot, Shelton made clear the level of confidence he has in the work he has done so far; during a post-game interview with his friend Chris Eubanks, the young man said: "I always pull out some of my best tennis here in Melbourne, and having the roof closed today just amplified the noise", showing how much he likes big, noisy stages.  Opinion  On fast surfaces, Shelton is likely to excel even more. The American already has a good track record in this type of competition; moreover, his powerful serve and competitive drive only amplify this high ...

Just before his debut in the main draw of the Australian Open against Valentin Royer, Taylor Fritz began his 2026 season at the United Cup, joining the United States team in the first few days of the year. Photo: @taylor_fritz / Instagram After this tournament, Taylor's attention is entirely focused on Melbourne, where he arrived more than a week ago to adapt. However, despite such focus on competing in a Grand Slam where he has already reached the quarterfinals (2024), Fritz expressed regret in his first few days around the "Rod Laver Arena".  Through the "X", the American commented on the "One Point Slam" and admitted that the challenge "seems like a lot of fun":  Fritz talks about "One Point Slam" Expectations for Fritz After a positive season last year, consolidating his position in the Top 10, Fritz arrives in Australia wanting to maintain his level and, who knows, return to the world's top 5. The leader in aces in 2025, Ta...

Currently ranked number 4 in the world, Amanda Anisimova arrives at the Australian Open under the watchful eyes of the tennis world. The American is seen as one of the main contenders for the title, and what she has done in recent months explains why. The fact that she reached two Grand Slam finals could already explain such enthusiasm, but Amanda went further: she had a regular season that began with her first WTA 1000 title in Doha in February 2025; to close the year, she won the China Open in October, crowning her dominance in that competition. Photo: @amandaanisimova/ Instagram On these occasions and many others throughout the season (including her electrifying and convincing run at the WTA Finals), Amanda displays such power in her shots and consistency, something that will certainly work in her favor on the fast courts of Melbourne. Game by game and clashes Despite the high expectations and skill level, the competition is fierce, and it comes from talented names on the WTA circui...

 The world's highest-paid female athlete in 2025, winner of 2 Grand Slam titles and currently ranked number 3 in the world, Cori Gauff arrived in Australia with a clear objective: to finish the year as the leader of the WTA Ranking. Currently competing in the "United Cup," the American spoke at a press conference about this first week of the year and plans for the rest of the year: "Starting the year with this team competition is ideal; it's the perfect balance between fun and competitive pressure. I feel more comfortable with my shoes every day. I was able to rest and train well in Florida during the preseason," she assessed. Finally, Gauff outlined his main goal for the year and what he intends to do to achieve it: "I want to be more consistent so I can fight for the number one spot in the WTA rankings." Photo: @cocogauff/  Instagram Possibilities With innate talent and numerous achievements at just 21 years old, Cori won Roland Garros brilliantl...

 High expectations and perhaps a reality check: that's what tennis fans and admirers of Serena Williams seem to have felt last Tuesday (02). It all started with the news published by "The Athletic" that the American, owner of 23 Grand Slam titles, had requested to be reinstated in the anti-doping program of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). However, hours after the news broke and various rumors circulated on social media, the former athlete herself made a point of using social media to make it clear that she will not be returning. Serena stated on her X account: "Omg yall I'm not coming back. This wildfire is crazy". Photo: @serenawilliams/ Instagram At 44, the star is focused on projects related to fashion, business, and philanthropy; in addition, Serena also makes a point of showing her daily life with her two daughters and her husband. Tennis, therefore, will always be a part of her life, but it doesn't seem to be the number one priori...