'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
American tennis star Coco Gauff opened up about her relationship with compatriot Danielle Collins. In other news, a tennis commentator called out Jannik Sinner's coach for ignoring the Italian's hip injury concerns during the 2024 Madrid Open.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic joined the Geneva Open player roster via wildcard entry. Katie Boulter playfully teased her boyfriend Alex de Minaur over fun posing skills.
Also, Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian was appalled by the video of rapper Diddy attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie.
On that note, here's a recap of today's top tennis news:
Coco Gauff talks about her relationship with Danielle Collins
Coco Gauff opened up about her bond with compatriot Danielle Collins. Gauff and Collins' Italian Open campaign ended in the semifinals where they lost to the eventual finalists Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, respectively.
Trending
During the post-match press conference following her 6-4, 6-3 loss, Gauff praised Collins and Tommy Paul, noting the competitive spirit among American players.
"Well, I think today Tommy, he just played really well," Coco Gauff said. "I think Danielle Collins has been on a string of wins lately. I think we just all root for each other and push for each other."
The 20-year-old described Collins as a wonderful person and shared that their friendship deepened after the Billie Jean King Cup.
"Specifically Tommy and Danielle are people that I always root for, even though I wouldn't necessarily say we're super close. We speak all the time. Danielle and I, I love her. Me and her got closer after the Billie Jean King Cup we did together. She's just a great person honestly. I love to see her do well. I think if you ask her, she loves to see me do well," she added.
Coco Gauff is still alive in doubles with her partner Erin Routliffe. The third-seeded doubles pair reached the final where they will face the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.
Jannik Sinner's tennis coach criticized for pushing play despite a hip injury during the Madrid Open
Tennis commentator Rob Koenig criticized Jannik Sinner's coach Simone Vagnozzi for pushing the Italian to play despite a hip injury at the 2024 Madrid Open.
Sinner, originally set to play eventual runner-up Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals, withdrew from the match due to his hip injury, subsequently also withdrawing from the ongoing Italian Open.
Koenig criticized Vagnozzi for underplaying the injury's seriousness and encouraging Sinner to continue playing in Madrid, warning that such actions could potentially lead to the Italian missing the 2024 French Open.
"Will be sad if Sinner misses RG, man I love watching him compete. One thing I’ll never understand though, is a player asking his team if he should continue…JS clearly in discomfort in Madrid, Simone urging him to carry on after Jannik said “it hurts” (groin area)," Koenig posted on X (formerly Twitter).
"….could prove to be a costly decision. Only the player knows how bad their injury feels. I had a bad feeling at the time that this could come back to bite, Jannik. To miss Rome and (perhaps) RG, would confirm it was the wrong decision to keep playing in Madrid, IMO. #GetWellSoon," he added.
Novak Djokovic secures spot in Geneva Open with wildcard entry
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic will be competing in the Geneva Open, an ATP 250 event scheduled from May 18 to 25, as a wildcard. This comes after a surprising 6-2, 6-3 loss in the Italian Open by Alejandro Tabilo in the third round.
Djokovic's acceptance of the wildcard offer was confirmed by French newspaper L'Equipe on Friday.
Katie Boulter pokes fun at her boyfriend Alex de Minaur's posing skills
Katie Boulter playfully teased her boyfriend Alex de Minaur about a photo he posted on social media where the Australian can be seen sporting a cheerful smile while posing at Rome's renowned Villa Borghese gardens.
Following their respective departures from the Italian Open, the tennis couple explored the picturesque gardens together and posed for the camera.
"We move on," de Minaur wrote on Instagram.
Boulter left a playful comment about her forcing her boyfriend to pose for the picture.
"I may have forced him into this," followed by a laughing emoji.
Alex de Minaur's Italian Open campaign ended in the Round of 16, where he lost 6-1, 6-2 to sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Boulter, on the other hand, lost 6-4, 7-6(8) to Rebecca Sramkova in the second round.
Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian expresses shock over the surveillance video of Diddy assaulting Cassie
Tennis legend Serena Williams' husband spoke out after shocking video footage emerged showing rapper Diddy allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie. The lawsuit details violence from 2016, but the recent video has reignited the controversy. Ohanian expressed his thoughts on the incident on X (formerly Twitter).
"Vile behavior. Utterly unacceptable," Ohanian wrote.
