Carlos Alcaraz got his revenge against Botic van de Zandschulp in Rotterdam, overcoming the Dutch player who had previously handed him one of the most shocking defeats of his career at the US Open the previous year.

After a whirlwind European summer where Alcaraz clinched the French Open and Wimbledon, and made it to the Olympic final, he was visibly exhausted and lost to Van de Zandschulp in New York.

Seeing Van de Zandschulp’s name in the first round draw at Rotterdam must have given Alcaraz a moment of pause. However, this time, there was no upset; Alcaraz won 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1, though the tight scoreline in the first two sets showed that Van de Zandschulp remains a formidable opponent for the world No. 3.

Post-match, Alcaraz confessed to feeling nervous before the encounter and noted that it took some time for him to adjust to playing indoors, marking his first indoor match of 2025.

“I think there were a lot of ups and downs in the match,” Alcaraz said.

“It was different, it’s totally different when you’re competing than in the practices.

“I started really nervous, I think it’s normal. The first match in every tournament is never easy. I just had to get used to my first match here in Rotterdam.

“You have to get used to playing with a full crowd, it’s totally different. I’m just happy to get used to it.”

“Being set point down in the first set, I think Botic played a really solid match. Not too many ups and downs for him, really consistent throughout the match. I’m just really happy to get through.

“I had to be really focused in the tough moments, to keep pushing and trust the good tennis will come again. I’m happy to get through a difficult match and have a chance to get better in the next round.”

Carlos Alcaraz admitting to feeling nervous before his match against Botic van de Zandschulp underscores the pressure this young star can mask once he steps onto the court.

Despite being only 21, Alcaraz displays the poise of a seasoned pro. His performance against Van de Zandschulp wasn’t his most fluid, but it was effective enough to secure the victory.

His form might have been influenced by a cold he contracted after coming back from the Australian Open, where he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by a brilliant Novak Djokovic.

“I spent a few days at home after Australia, but I got a cold,” said Alcaraz prior to his opening match in Rotterdam. “I was struggling a little bit at home. I could only train for two days and then I had to rest until the cold got better.

“But spending time at home, it doesn’t matter if you are sick, it is always great, having your family there. It allows you to be fresh mentally, to travel again.”

The black tape on Carlos Alcaraz’s nose during the match can be attributed to his nasal issues, which seem to be recurring, having also affected him at the previous year’s ATP Finals.

Chilean tennis star Cristian Garin decided not to continue playing after a shocking incident involving his opponent, Zizou Bergs, during a Davis Cup match in Belgium.

In a heated singles match, Bergs accidentally hit Garin in the face while jumping for a shot, leading to Garin needing medical attention. Despite Bergs’ immediate apology and Garin being cleared to play on, a code violation was given to Bergs for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Chile demanded Bergs’ disqualification, but instead, Garin received three consecutive time violations for refusing to play, resulting in a game penalty. This handed Bergs a close win at 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, ultimately clinching the tie for Chile with a final score of 3-1.

In a heated exchange with the umpire, Garin said: “You don’t know what it’s like to get hit in the face after playing two and a half hours in this damn match. I’m not going to play.

“You don’t have the guts to disqualify him, but you’ll disqualify me? I’ve never experienced something like this before. I was knocked out; I fainted.”

In a surprising twist of fate, this chaotic outcome saw Chile knocked out of the tournament.

At a heated press conference, Garin stood by his claim of having lost consciousness and lambasted the umpire for being ‘reckless and uncaring’ in urging him to resume play.

“I lost consciousness for three seconds,” he explained, his voice tinged with frustration. “I fainted and didn’t fully grasp the situation.

“I would have preferred to finish the match on my terms, but they forced me to play while I was confused and dizzy.

“What transpired was incredibly imprudent and insensitive. I’m at a loss for words to describe it.

“I’ve cherished this sport since birth and have never seen anything quite like it. I feel devastated, and I deeply regret that the umpire insisted I play.”

Garin took to Instagram to express his outrage post-match, writing, “So the player is injured and can’t continue to play, yet we act as if nothing is wrong. Wow, what a beautiful world and what a great mentality.”

Tennis fans were left shocked at the indicent, with one writing on X, “The most blatant default ever witnessed and not called.”

Another added, “The umpire made a terrible decision punishing Garin (and Chile) for an easily preventable error by Bergs. You simply don’t leap like that without ensuring the coast is clear.”

An International Tennis Federation statement said, “This was a rare, unfortunate, and very delicate circumstance. Everyone involved, including the independent doctor, acted with due diligence per established rules and procedures.

“We comprehend the emotions tied to this unusual incident, but the final decision was reached after careful consideration of all the unique facts and circumstances involved.”

Chile’s Olympic committee voiced their shock and disbelief, committing to back the Chilean tennis federation in seeking justice for this disgraceful international event.

If Bergs had been disqualified as Chile wished, the tie would have boiled down to a critical match between star player Nicolas Jarry and Belgian youngster Alexander Blockx.

However, it’s Belgium who will journey to Australia in September to face Lleyton Hewitt’s squad, which just clinched a win over Sweden, for their first home tie in three years in what’s known as the ‘World Cup of men’s tennis.’

With Alex de Minaur, ranked world No. 8, on their side, Australia stands as strong favorites going into the qualifiers, facing off against a Belgian team captained by Bergs, ranked No. 60, and the promising 19-year-old Blockx at No. 146.

Aryna Sabalenka, the runner-up at the Australian Open, might face a hefty fine due to her emotional outburst after losing the final to Madison Keys. Her reaction included smashing her racquet, which has split opinions among fans. Some believe it detracted from Keys’ celebration of her first grand slam title, while others see it as a testament to how much the win meant to Sabalenka.

After the match, Sabalenka was visibly distraught, having missed the chance to win her third consecutive Australian Open and join the ranks of tennis legends. She initially hid her face in a towel but managed to regain her composure for her speech, earning back some fan support with her grace.

However, her racquet-smashing incident could cost her between $15,000 to $20,000, given it happened during such a high-profile match. The maximum fine for racquet abuse is $50,000, but considering the context, her penalty might not reach that amount.

In other news, Novak Djokovic has faced criticism for posting his injury scans right when the tennis community was celebrating Keys’ victory, somewhat overshadowing her achievement.

Sabalenka admitted her racquet smash helped release frustration ahead of the classy runner-up speech. “There definitely was a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieving something crazy,” Sabalenka said. “When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything going not the way you really want to go. I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful. I was just trying to let it go and be a good person.”

Daniil Medvedev copped massive Australian Open fine

Daniil Medvedev received a $16,000 fine for his first-round antics where he smashed a Go-Pro camera on the net. Although Medvedev’s act seemed more aggressive due to his multiple attempts to hit the camera, it didn’t occur during a high-profile event like Sabalenka’s incident in the women’s final, which had a global audience. This is why Sabalenka could be looking at a fine exceeding $20,000.

However, the fine would be relatively minor for Sabalenka, who earned $1.9 million for being the runner-up. On the other hand, Medvedev faced a total of $122,000 in fines, which included a penalty for intimidating an official by pretending to hit a ball at them.

Novak Djokovic called out over timing of injury revelation

As Aryna Sabalenka awaits her fine for her outburst, Novak Djokovic has drawn criticism for his timing in responding to his detractors. While the tennis community was celebrating Madison Keys’ monumental grand slam win, many believed Djokovic’s response to his critics overshadowed her achievement. Djokovic had faced boos from the crowd when he retired hurt during his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev after only one set.

His injury, a hamstring tear from his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz, was under scrutiny. Despite finishing that intense four-set match and appearing to move well, there were doubts about the severity of his injury. Commentators like John McEnroe and Jim Courier noted that Djokovic seemed fine until his sudden withdrawal. The booing from the Rod Laver Arena audience led to a backlash, prompting Djokovic to share his injury scan on social media on Sunday morning.

Although the scan confirmed his injury, the timing was not well received by all. Some felt he should have waited to post, to not detract from Keys’ moment. Indeed, his injury became the headline over Keys’ victory in several media outlets. A Yahoo Sport Australia poll of over 2000 readers showed that 30 percent thought Djokovic’s post stole the focus from Keys, while 45 percent believed he didn’t need to share the scans at all, regardless of when he did it.

Despite the controversy, Djokovic did acknowledge Keys’ win and Sabalenka’s effort on social media. The tournament concluded with Jannik Sinner securing his second consecutive Australian Open title by defeating Zverev in the final with a stellar performance.