Author: Trisha Ghosal

Day 2 at Roland Garros 2025 served up a captivating mix of anticipated wins and stunning upsets, setting a vibrant tone for the clay-court Grand Slam. While some top contenders cruised, the headlines were firmly seized by two remarkable victories that sent shockwaves through the draw. The biggest tremor came on Court Simonne-Mathieu, where unseeded German Daniel Altmaier delivered the tournament’s biggest surprise yet, defeating No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz in a compelling four-set battle, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Altmaier, no stranger to deep runs in Paris having reached the last 16 five years ago, capitalised on Fritz’s struggles with…

When Rafael Nadal walked onto Court Philippe-Chatrier on Day 1 of the 2025 French Open, it wasn’t to fight for another trophy. It was to be honoured, celebrated not just as the King of Clay, but as the soul of Roland-Garros. As a lifelong fan, the writer found herself crying, just like the 15,000 in the stands, just like Rafa himself. This was more than a ceremony. It was a collective outpouring of love and gratitude for a man who gave everything to the sport. Dressed in a slim navy suit, Rafa stood at the centre of the stadium he…

In a move that could signal a turning point for Indian sport, the Sports Ministry is now considering lifting the ban on Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) representing the country in tennis, days after a similar push emerged from Indian football. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey recently told the media, “I’m hopeful we’ll have OCI players in the national team soon. Talks are on with the Sports Ministry.” The comment, aimed at boosting Indian football’s talent pool, appears to have triggered wider discussions within the Ministry on reviewing the long-standing 2008 ban across multiple sports.…

India’s top-ranked junior tennis player, Maaya Rajeshwaran, is facing a race against time to secure her participation in the upcoming French Open Juniors, with a delay in visa processing threatening to derail her campaign. The talented teenager has been awaiting the issuance of her long-term visa to travel to Europe. However, the process has hit an unexpected bottleneck, raising concerns over whether she will be able to reach Paris in time for the tournament. The French Open Juniors, one of the most prestigious events in junior tennis, provides a global stage for young talents, and missing it could be a…

By Trisha Ghosal The tennis world is abuzz with the news that French tennis sensation Caroline Garcia will soon be stepping away from professional competition. In an emotional Instagram post, Garcia announced that while she has a “few more tournaments to play”, the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros will mark her “14th consecutive participation – and last”. “After 15 years of competing at the highest level – and over 25 years of dedicating almost every second of my life to this sport – I feel ready to turn the page and open a new chapter,” Garcia shared with her…

As the Parisian clay courts of Roland Garros prepare to host the second Grand Slam of 2025, the air is thick with anticipation. The French Open, a tournament steeped in history and synonymous with gruelling rallies and gritty performances, promises another captivating two weeks of tennis. While new narratives are always ready to be written, a glance at the recent champions reveals a fascinating landscape of established dominance, resurgent form, and uncertain futures. Here’s a look at the five most recent Roland Garros champions in both the WTA and ATP, assessing their current standing and form heading into the 2025…

Tennis has long been called a gentleman’s game, or more recently, a sport of grace and discipline where fierce competition is ideally matched with mutual respect. Yet, every so often, the white lines blur. Civilities are dropped. Eye-rolls replace handshakes. And post-match press conferences sound more like verbal volleys than thoughtful reflections. Danielle Collins’ recent pointed comments about the victory over Iga Swiatek are the latest reminder that not all rivalries are born out of admiration. Some are fuelled by friction. While history celebrates Federer versus Nadal for its elegance, or Barty against Halep for its quiet class, it’s often…

There are turning points in a team’s history when the air shifts, a moment when the past has to be left behind, not forgotten, and a future has to be carved with renewed fire. For the England women’s cricket team, that moment begins now. After the bruising 16-0 Ashes drubbing by Australia in the multi-format series last year, there was nowhere left to hide. It was the kind of defeat that rattled foundations. And so, as England host the West Indies and prepare to welcome India soon after, these aren’t just routine home series. They are symbolic. A statement of…

A 23-member senior women’s Target Camp is set to commence at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on May 19 and will run until June 2. The camp includes a mix of emerging and experienced players, with several cricketers already named in India’s ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of England. The focus of the camp will be on skill refinement and match readiness. It will be conducted under the guidance of former India international and two-time U-19 Women’s World Cup-winning coach Nooshin Al Khadeer. Notable names like Apurva Desai is also part of the coaching unit.…

The covers still lie heavy on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The skies haven’t made up their mind. But in the stands, something magical is unfolding. A silent tribute. A collective promise kept. Today, it isn’t about the toss or the scorecard. It’s about love. And legacy. On 12 May, Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket. No fanfare, no farewell match, not even a whisper from the board. Just a lone Instagram post: “#269, signing off.” And just like that, the curtain fell. No final roar in whites. No lap of honour. Just stunned silence and shattered hearts. Yet, true fans,…