Jannik Sinner said his first Indian Wells title was the result of meticulous preparation in the heat of the Californian desert after the Italian arrived a week before the tournament began to train and acclimatise.

The world number two has sometimes struggled in hot and humid conditions, most notably when severe cramp nearly forced him to quit his Australian Open third-round match in January and when he retired in Shanghai last year.

No discomfort for Sinner at Indian Wells 

However, he showed little sign of discomfort during his 7-6(6) 7-6(4) win over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, when the temperature approached 35 degrees Celsius shortly before the final’s scheduled start time of 2 p.m.

“It was hot but it wasn’t humid, so it makes a difference,” Sinner told reporters.

“But I’ve been here a week before the tournament started. Very similar conditions as it was today. We put in long days of practice. I felt very well prepared, so I wasn’t having issues with the weather and the heat, which is very positive for me.

“It’s all part of the process we’re trying to do and becoming the best possible athlete. We definitely do a lot of work in the gym to play at this level.”

Victory meant Sinner has now collected titles at all six ATP Masters 1000 events on hardcourts, as well as the ATP Finals, Australian Open and U.S. Open on the surface, to join an elite group also comprising Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

“I knew that this was a tournament I haven’t won, so I wanted to prepare in the best possible way, as professionally as possible,” he said.

“Having this achievement now means a lot to me. Now I have couple of days to relax … there is not so much time in between here and Miami.

“It’s again an important tournament in Miami, but we try to play the best tennis possible there too.”

Mumbai, March 10, 2026: After successfully hosting major international events such as the ATP Tour 250, WTA 125, and PMR Challenger tournaments for the past five consecutive years, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, along with the ATP Organising Committee, has decided to expand tennis development directly to the district level in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA).

Present during the press conference were MSLTA President Mr. Prashant Sutar, Mr. Sunder Iyer, Hon Secretary MSLTA, Mr. Ashish Sharma (IAS), Chairman for the ITF Tournament Initiative and Mr. Shravan Hardikar (IAS), Managing Director, MMRDA and Secretary for the ITF tournament initiative.

Under this new initiative, a total of 20 international tournaments sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) – offering prize money of USD 15,000 and USD 25,000 – will be organised across various districts in the state. This initiative is expected to significantly boost tennis at the grassroots and district levels while providing Indian players with greater opportunities to earn valuable world ranking points and shine on the global stage.

Speaking on the occasion, MSLTA President Prashant Sutar stated, “This initiative marks the first significant step in my tenure as MSLTA President to ensure tennis is no longer confined to metropolitan cities but reaches rural and district-level players across Maharashtra. By hosting ITF tournaments on home soil, we want to give our players the right exposure and infrastructure without the financial burden of overseas travel.”

Currently, Indian players often need to travel abroad to improve their world rankings and gain entry into Challenger-level tournaments, which involves substantial financial expenses which not all players can afford. With ITF tournaments now being hosted within Maharashtra, Indian players will have a golden opportunity to earn crucial ranking points on home soil.

The Government of Maharashtra, through the Urban Development Department, has issued a special Government Resolution (GR) to facilitate this initiative. Tournaments will be held in cities that already possess adequate tennis infrastructure or where new facilities are planned to be developed.

The prize money for these tournaments will be funded through the 5 percent sports allocation in the annual budgets of municipal corporations. Additional financial support will also be mobilised through partnerships with local industries and institutions.

To ensure smooth execution, district-level committees will be formed under the leadership of Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors, and Superintendents of Police. The State Government has appointed Ashish Sharma (IAS) as Chairman and Shravan Hardikar (IAS) as Secretary for the ITF tournament initiative.

Mr. Ashish Sharma (IAS), Chairman for the ITF Tournament Initiative said, “We are partnering with MSLTA to develop tennis and build a robust ecosystem from the ground up. This will empower districts to host world-class events, fostering talent and infrastructure that positions Maharashtra as a tennis powerhouse.”

Mr. Shravan Hardikar (IAS), Managing Director, MMRDA and Secretary for the ITF tournament initiative added, ” Alongside the ITF events, we are also organizing All India-level junior tournaments in the preceding week, so juniors can come, play, and also watch the seniors in action. Our aim is to ensure more players get into the sport at the grassroot level so that we can have more players from Maharashtra shine in the future.”

This ambitious five-year roadmap reflects the Government’s commitment to placing Maharashtra tennis prominently on the global map.

The first tournament is scheduled to be held in Mumbai at MSLTA from 15th to 22nd March, followed by Nagpur from 22nd to 29th March and then later in Sambhahjinagar from 29th March to 5th April.

World No 1 women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has announced her engagement to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis. Sabalenka posted a video of the proposal on Instagram, accompanied with the words “You & me, forever” along with a ring and heart emoji.

In a separate post, Sabalenka shared the pictures from the proposal with the caption: “I can finally call him something else… FIANCÉ.”

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The news quickly drew congratulations from fellow tennis players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Amanda Anisimova, a possible opponent for Sabalenka in the quarterfinals at the forthcoming Indian Wells tournament in the Southern California desert.

The tournament that opens on Wednesday will be Sabalenka’s first since she reached the final at the Australian Open, where she lost to Elena Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on 31 January.

With agency inputs

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has finally broken his silence on Novak Djokovic after the country’s biggest sporting icon moved his family to Greece. Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, and his two children, Stefan and Tara, now live in Athens after leaving Belgrade last year.

While Djokovic has never really revealed the reason for leaving his country, Serbia, it has been reported that he decided to do so due to pro-Vucic national media running a
‘smear’ campaign against the 24-time Grand Slam winner after he extended support to anti-government agitations.

Djokovic vs Vucic

The anti-Vucic protest began in 2024 after an accident at a railway station led to the death of 16 people. Djokovic has at different stages supported the youth of the country, leading the protests.

“As someone who deeply believes in the power of young people and their desire for a better future, I consider it important that their voice is heard. Serbia has enormous potential, and educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect. With you, Novak.” Djokovic wrote on X in March 2025.

Now, while recently speaking to TV Pink, as quoted by Sport Klub, Vucic spoke about Djokovic for the first time since his move to Athens.

Vucic breaks silence on Djokovic leaving Serbia

Vucic praised Djokovic’s performance in the Australian Open 2026 as the 38-year-old reached the final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.

“I wholeheartedly support Djokovic and all the people who wear the Serbian tricolour, and [I am] looking forward to his success,” Vucic said.

“[He showed] something incredible in those years [in his win against Jannik Sinner]. [He is] the greatest of this time in a difficult and demanding sport.

“It is much more than a congratulatory message, he represents his country with dignity and makes it popular. Regardless of the result of the final, I support him.”

President Vucic revealed that he had a word with Djokovic, but announced that he will “not change” his beliefs under anyone’s influence.

“I told him what I thought, now I would say it in a harsher way, not towards him, but towards the situation we were in,” Vucic added.

“I will not change my beliefs under the influence of any sports, acting or entertainment star.”

While Djokovic has not reacted to Vucic’s recent comments, the politician’s tough stance is only likely to isolate him further in Serbia. And his return to Belgrade in the near future looks even more unlikely.

A new controversy has sparked in Serbia involving one of its greatest ever icon, Novak Djokovic, and President Aleksandar Vucic, as the 24-time tennis Grand Slam winner was baselessly linked with Epstein files by a pro-government tabloid newspaper. The Kurir tabloid newspaper, which is known for its pro-Serbian Progressive Party and Vucic stands, has done a story on Djokovic’s name being present in the Epstein files.

The headline of the story reads: “NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN EPSTEIN’S FILES! Encrypted Message, Unknown Person and One detail that will remain an eternal mystery!”

Djokovic-Epstein files.story rocks Serbia

According to the news report, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reacted to Novak Djokovic’s engagement to his now-wife Jelena by sending an email to an unknown recipient that read: “yikes.”

Interestingly, there’s nothing more linking Djokovic with Epstein, a former American financier and child sex offender, who died by suicide in custody. The USA government has recently released millions of documents, emails, videos and images that detail Epstein’s activities, and his connections with celebrities, businessmen and politicians.

A Serbian tabloid published a completely baseless article claiming that Novak Djokovic’s name is in the Epstein files. This is pure misinformation.

Novak deserves better than this.

I hope he considers suing. pic.twitter.com/xSIsMvSQU7

— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) February 19, 2026

However, there’s nothing to suggest Djokovic was involved with Epstein in any way. But Kurir’s attempt to link Djokovic with a convicted child sex offender is being seen as an attempt by a pro-Serbian government media to tarnish Djokovic’s image.

Djokovic vs Vucic continues

The relationship between Djokovic and Serbian President Vucic has deteriorated ever since the tennis star supported the protests against the politician in his country. The protest began after the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station, which led to multiple deaths in 2024.

Djokovic, on multiple occasions, has supported the student protests through messages on social media, and was later also forced to leave the country due to a
smear campaign by the national media.

His family now lives in Athens, Greece, after shifting base from Belgrade. But the pro-Serbian government media is not ready to leave Djokovic alone.

Serbian fans criticise Kurir over linking Djokovic with Epstein

Djokovic’s fans in Serbia, however, are super angry about Kurir’s disparaging new piece on the tennis player, resulting in some strong reactions on social media.

“This time I have a message for the entire editorial team of Kurir: go fuck yourselves in your mothers’ cunts, what a bunch of shit you are,” a fan wrote on X while sharing the story.

Овом приликом имам да поручим целој редакцији курира да се носе у три пичке материне, каква сте ви говна pic.twitter.com/IqJx4GVYMT

— Немања (@NRad17) February 18, 2026

Another fan named Suzana Milicic wrote: “The text says that Epstein sent someone a link with news that Novak and Jelena got engaged and wrote “yikes” but Kurir has this headline.

“The sports editor at is named Miloš Bjelinić All people.”

U tekstu piše da je Epstin nekom poslao link sa vešću o tome da su se Novak i Jelena verili i da je napisao “yikes” ali Kurir ima ovaj naslov.

Urednik sporta na se zove Miloš Bjelinić
Sve ljudine pic.twitter.com/MVkOhf2Rqq

— Suzana Milicic (@SuzanaMilicic) February 19, 2026

Serbian President Vucic was also criticised by a fan on social media for trying to harm Djokovic’s reputation.

“Courier spat on Novak Djokovic. They wrote that he is in Epstein’s files. Such evil has never ruled in Serbia. This octopus led by the SNS is the greatest shame in our history,” an account by the name Špiro Seneka wrote on X.

Kurir je popljuvao Novaka Đokovića. Napisali da je u Epštajnovim fajlovima.

Ovakvo zlo u Srbiji nikada nije vladalo. Ova hobotnica predvođena SNS-om je najveća sramota u našoj istoriji.

— Špiro Seneka (@SenekaSpiro) February 18, 2026

While the ownership of Kurir media newspaper and television channel is not amply clear, it has been reported that it is now owned by the state telecom operator Telekom Srbija, firmly establishing it as a mouthpiece of the Serbian government.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

DUBAI: Stan Wawrinka returns to a place of cherished memories this week, back at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis where he lifted the trophy in 2016. Now 40 and competing in the final season of a storied career that once saw him rise to a career-high No. 3 in the world, the Swiss great is embracing one last chapter on the Tour.

Excerpts:Stanimal captured the physical power of your game, do you think the mental strength behind your success was sometimes overlooked?That’s the beauty of tennis, it has many parts to it. It’s a big puzzle. You need to put every piece of the puzzle in its place — fitness, tennis, mentally, and also you need to be in the right place. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of energy to push and find myself as a player. It was important for me to work on myself, my mindset, and how I was going to go in with confidence, ready to beat the best players in the world. It took me years to achieve that. I’m really happy with what I’ve done. Was it tougher to break through in the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era than it is today in the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly?Those five players you mentioned, and also Andy Murray are the best players we saw in the game. It has been amazing for me to face them, to be able to play against the Big Four for more than 15 years. It was a challenge. But first I’m a fan of tennis, I’m passionate about the game. I always enjoyed watching them, as a tennis fan and player. It was an opportunity for me to play the best players in the game. Right now we are seeing that the level of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has been amazingly high. What they’ve been doing already for a few years, winning all the Grand Slams between them, is amazing to watch. Which of your three Grand Slam titles gave you the most satisfaction?It’s tough to choose, but it’s also my job to answer the question. If I have to pick one title… (exhales) they have all been really special, but one is the French Open (2015). I grew up playing on clay, I practised a lot in Spain, also coming from the French part of Switzerland, Roland Garros was the one that we watched the most as kids. That’s also the one I won as a junior (2003). To beat Novak in the final there was really special. Was retirement a sudden decision, or something that had been building in the months before your announcement?The last few years, I’ve been asking myself when to stop but I never had an answer. At the end of last year, I finally had the answer. I realised that I was most at peace to play for one more year, to push one last time. I’m still passionate about the game, I wish I could play forever, but nobody can play forever. I also wanted to finish my 20-plus year career on a good note. So I’m happy that my level is still there and physically I’m feeling good. You appear leaner now than at your peak? I always try to push myself to be the best player I can to be. You have to do that to be able to stay in the game for 20 years. It was challenging, fitness wise, especially with the injuries. I have always been trying to optimise, to do what’s best for me, what’s best for my body so that I could push my own limits. You were known for those statement shorts and now, in your final year, you’re making a statement with this 40-Love tee…Last year I turned 40, so Yonex did this for me as a present. The ‘Love’ stands for my love of the game, my passion.

Dhakshineswar Suresh once again showed why he is quickly becoming India’s trusted man in tennis, as he helped the hosts bounce back against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Qualifiers first round in Bengaluru on Saturday.

After India lost the opening round in a closely fought match between Sumit Nagal and Guy den Ouden, the pressure was firmly on Suresh to level the tie. The 25-year-old Indian responded in style, defeating Dutch No. 1 Jesper de Jong 6-4, 7-5 in under 90 minutes on a bright and breezy afternoon.

With that win, India leveled the scores at 1-1, keeping the tie alive heading into Sunday’s decisive matches, where Nagal will face De Jong and Suresh will lock horns against Den Ouden.

A calm performance under pressure

Suresh’s performance was built around his biggest strength – his powerful serve. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, the right-hander used his height and reach to full advantage, firing down nine aces and conceding just one break point, which he saved comfortably.

“I think my big serves and big forehand troubled De Jong the most,” Suresh said after the match. “In conditions like Bengaluru, the high altitude makes the ball travel faster. It’s tough to control the ball when I’m hitting hard, and I felt I could keep him under pressure.”

This is not the first time Suresh has delivered for India on the big stage. He made his Davis Cup debut in 2025 during the World Group-1 tie against Switzerland. On that occasion, he beat Jerome Kym, who was ranked 155 at the time, to give India an early lead in the tie.

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Who is Dhakshineswar Suresh?

Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Suresh’s journey has not been an overnight success. He spent several years playing collegiate tennis in the United States, first representing Georgia Gwinnett College before moving to Wake Forest University. The experience helped him develop his physical game and all-court skills.

A major milestone in Suresh’s career came in 2024, when he made his ATP main draw debut at the Winston-Salem Open. He received a wildcard entry into the doubles main draw, partnering Luca Pow, which gave him his first opportunity to compete at the highest level of the men’s tour.

He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 465 on 2 February 2026. In doubles, he has enjoyed even more success, achieving a career-best ranking of No. 352 on 18 August 2025.

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