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James Blake Says Future of Tennis is in Good Hands

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 7, 2025 General view inside the court during the round of 128 match between Serbia's Dusan Lajovic and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 7, 2025 General view inside the court during the round of 128 match between Serbia's Dusan Lajovic and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
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James Blake Says Future of Tennis is in Good Hands

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 7, 2025 General view inside the court during the round of 128 match between Serbia's Dusan Lajovic and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 7, 2025 General view inside the court during the round of 128 match between Serbia's Dusan Lajovic and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

James Blake believes men's tennis is poised for another Golden Era thanks to blossoming rivalries between the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the ex-world number four prepares to return to action himself as part of the new Legends Team Cup.
Blake, who retired from the ATP Tour in 2013 after a career spent battling greats including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, said every changing of the guard brings anxiety that the sport will regress.
"With every generation there's this dread of a doomsday situation," he told Reuters from a golf course in San Diego.
"What's going to happen when all these legends leave? I remember when it was, 'What is the Tour going to do when (Pete) Sampras and Agassi are gone?'
"And then before you know it Roger and Rafa show up. Novak (Djokovic) is still hanging on, not wanting to pass the torch, but at this point it's kind of being ripped out of his hands by the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz."
He said the contrast in playing styles and personalities - the passionate Alcaraz's improvisational assault verse the emotionally reserved Sinner's aggressive baseline slugging - makes them ideal foes.
"The game just gets better and better," said Blake, who is the tournament director of the Miami Open and a commentator for ESPN.
"I'm never gonna be one of those commentators that says, you know, back in my day, we would do it better than this.
"No. The game keeps getting better and I love that about it. And seeing how Sinner plays makes me very happy I'm retired. The guy just has absolutely zero holes. So it's really fun to see."
LEGENDS TEAM CUP
Blake will make his return to competitive tennis this summer when the Legends Team Cup debuts.
Blake, Spanish former world number one Carlos Moya and two-time Davis Cup champion Mark Philippoussis of Australia are the captains of the team competition, which divides 18 former players into three teams.
Blake said it will not be like the "hit and giggle" exhibition events former pros sometimes take part in, in part because of the $12 million total prize purse on the line.
"When you leave from being a pro tennis player, your competitive spirit doesn't leave," said the 45-year-old Blake.
"You maybe can't play at that absolute top, top level that we were all at and we're all used to and your body starts failing you a little bit.
"So to have an opportunity to still really compete with others that have that ability and that fire is such a cool concept."
The first Legends Teams Cup event will see Team Blake take on Team Philippoussis in St. Barth June 12-14.

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George Russell Wins Formula 1's Australian GP as Mercedes Goes 1-2

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 8, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Mark Peterson
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 8, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Mark Peterson
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George Russell Wins Formula 1's Australian GP as Mercedes Goes 1-2

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 8, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Mark Peterson
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 8, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Mark Peterson

Mercedes’ George Russell has won a thrilling season-opening Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with teammate Kimi Antonelli following him home, after a double-stacked pit stop under the virtual safety car outmaneuvered a lightning quick start by Ferrari.

It was McLaren's 61st one-two result and first since 2024’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“We knew it was going to be challenging,” Russell said. “I go onto the grid; I saw my battery level. I have nothing in the tank, made a bad start and honestly some really tight battles with Charles (Leclerc).

“I was really glad to cross the finish line, but honestly, thank you so much for the whole team because it’s been a long time coming to have this car beneath us, and I’m yeah, going to start off in a better way.”

Pole sitter Russell had a sluggish start, as did Antonelli who dropped to seventh, allowing Ferrari’s Leclerc — making best use of his smaller turbo for a quicker spool-up and getaway — to take the lead into turn one.

The Monégasque then diced for the top spot with Russell, passing and repassing, before the lap 12 deployment of the virtual safety car to cover the stopped Red Bull car of Isack Hadjar saw both Mercedes cars take an opportunistic pit stop — a move that proved decisive.

Russell’s teammate was again relieved to fight back to second, having dropped down to seventh at the start before weaving his way back into the podium positions.

“Yeah, the racing was incredible,” Antonelli said. “The first few laps, the overtake is so powerful that you can give a lot of action. So, it was really good fun at the beginning and yeah, now, a bit of rest and looking forward to China.”

Ferrari outmaneuvered Leclerc was third for his first podium for Ferrari since Mexico last year, with the 28-year-old frustrated to not go one place higher after the Scuderia erred by failing to follow Mercedes’ quick thinking for a cheap pit stop under the virtual safety car, as the rest of the field drove at a slower pace.

Leclerc, though, didn’t think the win was possible, The Associated Press reported.

“I don’t think so, but maybe I’m wrong,” he said. “Yeah, it looked like Mercedes maybe had a bit more pace than us today. But, maybe not as much as what we saw yesterday, so that’s a good thing. But I don’t think we could have won.”

Leclerc's teammate Lewis Hamilton was fourth, 0.6 seconds behind at the flag, having chased him hard in the closing laps. The seven-time world champion was vocal over the radio at Ferrari’s strategic blunders.

“At least one of us should have come in,” Hamilton said as both Mercedes’ pitted.

Earlier, the local fans in the stands were heartbroken after McLaren’s Oscar Piastri crashed out on the way to the grid at the exit of turn four, likely due to an energy spike in his power unit, which ruled him out of his home race before the start.

Lando Norris, the sole McLaren in the race after Piastri’s crash, closed out the top-five. The reigning world champion not only clawed his way back from outside the top-10 after a slow start — but in the closing laps, fought off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who rocketed from 20th on the grid to finish sixth after 58 laps. The Dutchman was the last racer to finish on the lead lap, albeit 54.6 seconds behind winner Russell.

Oliver Bearman was seventh, up from 12th on the grid, and the sole Haas to finish in the points, with his teammate Esteban Ocon finishing 11th. Bearman finished ahead of 2026’s sole rookie, Arvid Lindblad, who scored four points on his F1 debut for eighth place — but was as high as fourth during the race.

Gabriel Bortoleto was ninth for German giant Audi's first points in its first race, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly closed out the top-10, earning his first point since last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix.

Sports

Alcaraz Cruises into Indian Wells 3rd Round, Djokovic Fights Through

Mar 7, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts to the crowd after defeating Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) in his second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Mar 7, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts to the crowd after defeating Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) in his second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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Alcaraz Cruises into Indian Wells 3rd Round, Djokovic Fights Through

Mar 7, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts to the crowd after defeating Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) in his second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Mar 7, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts to the crowd after defeating Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) in his second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

World number one Carlos Alcaraz swept past Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 to reach the third round of the Indian Wells Masters on Saturday as Novak Djokovic battled back for a three-set victory over Kamil Majchrzak.

Spain's Alcaraz was untroubled by the former world number three from Bulgaria, pushing his perfect 2026 match record to 13-0 in just 66 minutes.

Djokovic, a five-time Indian Wells champion who has struggled in recent years, had to grind for two hours and 12 minutes to subdue 57th ranked Majchrzak of Poland 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Alcaraz said he has been wary of Dimitrov, but even in the swirling winds on Stadium Court he was in control, firing from the baseline with power and accuracy.

He barely broke sweat and cracked plenty of smiles, saving the lone break point he faced in the second set and even getting a high-five from his opponent on a changeover.

"I think I played great," said the 22-year-old Spaniard, whose Australian Open triumph made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

"The conditions weren't easy, a lot of wind today. I'm really, really happy just that I was able to do every goal that I set up before the match."

Alcaraz, who followed up his Melbourne triumph with a title in Doha, says Indian Wells is the perfect place to keep the wins coming.

"I love being here so much, I think that's why I'm just playing relaxed, playing calm, chilling," he said.

Although he shares the record for most Indian Wells titles with Swiss great Roger Federer, Djokovic has found the early going in California anything but relaxing in recent years.

That was true again on Saturday, but the 38-year-old Serb superstar -- back on court for the first time since he fell to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final -- managed to escape with a win.

Majchrzak grabbed two quick breaks in the opening set before Djokovic began to find his rhythm from the baseline and assert his superiority.

"Five weeks with no official match, I knew that the first match in such a long time will be a little bit tricky," AFP quoted Djokovic as saying.

"I felt like I had to find my A-game when it was most needed, particularly the beginning of the third, which was the case," Djokovic added after a match marked by extended, entertaining rallies that included a 40-ball exchange in the opening game of the third.

It was an especially satisfying win for Djokovic, who lost his opener last year to Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandshculp and fell to lucky loser Luca Nardi in the third round in 2024.

He hasn't reached the quarter-finals here since his last run to the title in 2016.

Britain's Jack Draper launched his title defense with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

Draper halted Alcaraz's bid for a rare Indian Wells three-peat in the semi-finals last year before beating Holger Rune in the final.

That victory launched his rise to fourth in the world, before an arm injury brought his 2025 season to a premature close.

"To come out and play the level I'm playing after the injury I had, I am really proud of that," Draper said.

In other matches, unseeded Brazilian Joao Fonseca saved two match points to take out 16th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.

Seventh-seeded former champion Taylor Fritz squandered four match points in the second set but held on for a 6-3, 6-7 (8/10), 6-1 victory over 87th-ranked Briton Jacob Fearnley.

Sports

Bayern’s Neuer Out of Atalanta Tie with Calf Tear

06 March 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warms up prior to the start of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
06 March 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warms up prior to the start of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
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Bayern’s Neuer Out of Atalanta Tie with Calf Tear

06 March 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warms up prior to the start of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
06 March 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warms up prior to the start of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will miss his side's Champions League last-16 clash with Atalanta on Tuesday after picking up another calf injury.

Bayern said their captain suffered a "minor muscle tear" during the 4-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Runaway leaders Bayern did not give a timeframe on Saturday for his return but German tabloid Bild reported Neuer will be out for two weeks. That means he would miss both legs against Atalanta as well as the Bundesliga match at Bayer Leverkusen.

Neuer, who turns 40 later this month, has already missed several matches with calf problems this season and was sidelined for 10 games last campaign with a similar injury.

The goalkeeper's deal at the German champions runs until the end of the season.

Neuer, who retired from international duty in August 2024, is yet to indicate whether he will try and stay on for another year.