Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner’s girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya supported her boyfriend from the sidelines during his China Open quarterfinal victory over Jiri Lehecka. In other news, Novak Djokovic’s wife playfully joked with her husband about his ’90s-inspired neon green tracksuit ahead of the Serb’s Shanghai Masters campaign.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff’s mother Candi rallied behind her son Codey as he aimed for baseball success. Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova’s former doubles opponent Irina Khromacheva spoke out against the Spanish-Czech duo following their China Open doubles withdrawal.
Also, Daniil Medvedev joined Carlos Alcaraz in showing solidarity with Jannik Sinner as WADA seeks a ban on the Italian in a doping scandal.
On that note, here’s a recap of today’s top tennis news:
Jannik Sinner’s girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya offers courtside support during Italian’s China Open QF victory
Jannik Sinner benefited from the support of his girlfriend, Anna Kalinskaya, who cheered him on from the courtside during his 6-2, 7-6(6) win against Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Open.
The top-seeded Italian tennis star also had backing from his coach Simone Vagnozzi, newly appointed fitness coach Marco Panichi, and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, all of whom were located in the player’s box. Meanwhile, Kalinskaya had a special courtside seat alongside her coach, Patricia Tarabini.
Checkout the pictures here:
Defending champion Jannik Sinner advanced to the semifinals, where he will take on Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete on 1 October. The winner of the match will face either third seed Daniil Medvedev or second seed Carlos Alcaraz.
10th seed Anna Kalinskaya, on the other hand, reached the Round of 16, where the Russian tennis star will take on Yulia Starodubtsewa on 1 October. The winner of this match will take on either Naomi Osaka or fourth seed Coco Gauff.
Read More: Jannik Sinner’s girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya sits courtside; supports him from up close as he reaches China Open SF after thrilling win
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic’s neon green tracksuit gets a fun tease from wife Jelena
Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena adorably teased her husband for wearing a neon green tracksuit as he explored Chinese landmarks ahead of his Shanghai Masters campaign (2-13 October).
Leading up to the ATP Masters 1000 event, Djokovic has been busy with activities for his clothing sponsor, Lacoste, including a friendly tennis match at the Great Wall of China for the event called ‘The Shadow of a Champion on the Great Wall’.
Recently, the Serbian tennis icon shared several photos from his trip to China, showcasing his neon green Lacoste tracksuit while visiting various landmarks. In response to his post, Jelena made a playful comment about his ’90s-inspired outfit.
“90s on hahaha,” Jelena Djokovic wrote.
Novak Djokovic is preparing for his return to the Shanghai Masters after a five-year absence, marking his 10th appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event, where he has previously claimed four titles (2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018).
Read More: Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena lovingly teases him about his ’90s’ era outfit after Serb dons neon green tracksuit ahead of Shanghai Masters
Coco Gauff’s mother Candi backs son Codey as he pursues a career in baseball
Coco Gauff’s mother Candi showed her support for her son Codey’s baseball career. The 17-year-old recently participated in the Minority Baseball Prospects Futures All-American Game on 29 September, which featured about 80 scouts evaluating the top players from the 2026 class.
The Minority Baseball Futures All-American Game shared a post on their official Instagram account, highlighting players wearing their merchandise during the event, including Codey Gauff.
Candi Gauff then re-shared this post featuring her son’s picture on her Instagram story with a string of fire emojis.
Coco Gauff is currently in Beijing, where she is participating at the China Open as a fourth seed. The American tennis star reached the Round of 16, where she will take on Naomi Osaka on 1 October. The winner of the match will face either 10th seed Anna Kalinskaya or Yulia Starodubtsewa in the quarterfinals.
Read More: Coco Gauff’s mother Candi supports son Codey as he prepares for future in baseball
Irina Khromacheva criticizes Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova after their China Open doubles withdrawal
Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova’s abrupt withdrawal from the China Open doubles event drew ire from their former women’s doubles opponent, Irina Khromacheva.
The Spanish-Czech duo recently gave a walkover victory to their second-round opponents, Veronika Kudermetova and Chan Hao-ching, leading Khromacheva to express her frustration with the WTA for permitting singles players to compete in doubles events.
Badosa and Muchova started their Beijing campaign by entering both singles and doubles. They began their women’s doubles campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Khromacheva and Anna Danilina.
However, after reaching the fourth round in singles, they withdrew from their second-round doubles match. This decision upset Khromacheva, who took to social media to criticize the WTA’s “completely crazy” rules.
“Bravo WTA… We lost to singles players in doubles in Beijing tournament. And second round they are pull out cause they don’t care about doubles but they continue to play singles this week. Completely crazy by taking place of teams who could enter and participate fully,” she wrote on Instagram.
In singles, 15th seed Paula Badosa reached the quarterfinals following a 6-4, 6-0 victory over second seed Jessica Pegula. The Spanish tennis star will take on home favorite Zhang Shuai on 2 October for a semifinal spot.
Karolina Muchova, on the other hand, reached the Round of 16, where the Czech tennis star will take on Cristina Bucsa. The winner of the match will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or 18th seed Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
Read More: Paula Badosa, Karolina Muchova under fire as duo’s past opponent Irina Khromacheva hits out at them and WTA after sudden China Open doubles withdrawal
Daniil Medvedev joins Carlos Alcaraz in defending Jannik Sinner as WADA pushes for Italian’s suspension over doping case
Daniil Medvedev has joined Carlos Alcaraz in expressing his support for Jannik Sinner amid his ongoing doping case, following WADA’s (World Anti-Doping Agency) decision to appeal the previous ruling by the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) and push for a two-year ban on the World No. 1.
In August, it was revealed that the Italian tennis star tested positive twice for the banned steroid Clostebol earlier this year. Although initially suspended, Sinner successfully appealed both cases, allowing him to continue competing during the investigation.
The ITIA accepted his explanation that the steroid had been accidentally introduced through a spray used by his former physiotherapist for an injury. As a result, Sinner only forfeited his prize money and ranking points from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
In recent developments, WADA filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 26 September, seeking a one to two-year suspension. During a China Open press conference, Alcaraz voiced his concern over WADA’s decision to challenge the ruling, calling it a negative development for the sport.
Medvedev, the latest to weigh in, remarked that although the situation is complex, he feels for Sinner.
“It’s a tricky situation,” Medvedev said during a press conference at the ongoing China Open. “I want to say he does what he needs to do. WADA does probably what they need to do. Let’s see how it finishes. We thought maybe it was finished, but no.”
“I’m the same a little bit like Carlos [Alcaraz]. I’m sympathetic to Jannik [Sinner]. I don’t think it has a bad, really bad look in tennis,” he added.
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz and third seed Daniil Medvedev will clash in the China Open semifinal on 1 October. The winner of the match will take on either top seed Jannik Sinner or Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete in the championship game.