🎾 The Pope Plays Tennis?

Happy Tuesday! As Sinner made his emotional return to the court in front of a roaring Italian crowd, the tennis world continues to debate the merits of extended Masters tournaments.

In this week's newsletter:

• 📅 Two-Week Masters: Blessing or Burden?

• 🍝 Weekly Roundup: Latest from Rome

• 🎾 Weekly Roundup: Beyond the Italian Open

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📆 Two-Week Masters: Blessing or Burden? 📆 

The shift of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments to two-week events has sparked heated debate in the tennis world. Masters events, which featured week-long tournaments with five-set finals until 2007, continue to evolve with this latest format change.

Proponents argue the format gives players crucial rest days between matches, potentially reducing injuries. Tournament organizers benefit from increased revenue through more ticket sales and TV coverage, while lower-ranked players gain opportunities to enter prestigious draws. The expanded 96-player field also allows prize money to be distributed to more competitors.

However, critics like John Isner, Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz contend that the elongated format creates scheduling confusion and forces players to spend more time away from home. Isner recently said it’s "so hard to follow" tournament progress when events start mid-week. In response to the rest-day argument, Alexander Zverev emphasized that time between matches in foreign cities isn’t truly restful: "Resting is when you're spending time at home... If you're trying to make semifinals or finals of every event, you're just away a lot longer."

🍝 Weekly Roundup: Latest from Rome 🍝

Jannik Sinner picked up right where he left off, beating Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 in his return from his doping ban, then easing past lucky loser Jesper de Jong 6-4, 6-2. The Italian has now won 23 straight matches dating back to October and faces Francisco Cerúndolo next.

The new pope plays tennis. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, described himself as "quite the amateur tennis player" in a 2023 interview. His election was announced on the stadium screens in Rome, drawing cheers from the crowd. Tsitsipas has already offered to hit with him, could we see a match on the Vatican's own tennis court?

Petra Kvitová secures first post-motherhood victory after defeating Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-1 in Rome's first round. The 35-year-old two-time Wimbledon champion, who gave birth to son Petr last July, revealed she was "95% sure" she wouldn't return to tennis before rediscovering her love for tennis during postpartum practice sessions.

Arthur Fils and Stefanos Tsitsipas separated after tense exchange following the Frenchman's three-set comeback in Rome. The dispute stemmed from a misunderstanding about a body shot, which Fils used as motivation. "It's part of the game," explained the 20-year-old, who improved to 4-0 against the Greek.

🎾 Weekly Roundup: Beyond the Italian Open 🎾

Novak Djokovic accepts Geneva Open wild card seeking first clay win of 2025 and his 100th title the week before Roland-Garros. The Serb, who turns 38 during the upcoming tournament, hopes to rediscover form after early exits in Monte-Carlo and Madrid, and a withdrawal from Rome.

Iga Świątek will drop out of the WTA Top 2 following her early Rome exit to Danielle Collins. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will rise to No. 2 and No. 3, ending Świątek's 165-week streak in the Top 2.

The NCAA DI Men's Elite Eight is set for May 16 in Waco, Texas. Top-seeded Wake Forest will face No. 8 Columbia, while No. 4 Stanford meets No. 12 Mississippi State. No. 2 TCU continues its title defense against No. 7 Virginia, and No. 3 Texas takes on unseeded UCLA, who upset higher-ranked opponents to reach this stage.

On the women’s side, top-seeded Georgia will face No. 8 Duke, while No. 5 North Carolina meets No. 13 LSU, who upset Ohio State in the super regionals. No. 2 Texas A&M, defending champions, will battle No. 10 Tennessee, and No. 3 Michigan takes on unseeded Oklahoma State, who knocked out Stanford to reach this stage.

🎥 Reel of the Week 🎥

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