Women's Tennis

Venus Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion, two-time U.S. Open champion, all-time great tennis player and, now, a Barbie doll.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Williams is among nine athletes who will be honored with their own Barbie doll.

She is joined by gymnasts Rebeca Andrade and Alexa Moreno, soccer players Mary Fowler and Christine Sinclair, boxer Estelle Mossely, swimmer Federica Pellegrini, paratriathlete Susana Rodriguez, and track and field sprinter Ewa Swoboda.

"Throughout my career, I've always been driven by the idea of shattering glass ceilings and staying true to myself, and Barbie's mission couldn't resonate more deeply with that ethos," Williams said.

Barbie dolls have been under the spotlight of late, especially after the release of the movie Barbie last year.

It was the highest-grossing film of 2023 and was even nominated for best picture at the Oscars.

The choice of Williams is notable considering she is one of the most recognizable figures in tennis history. Her resume includes 49 singles titles, seven Grand Slam championships and more than $42 million in tournament prize money alone.

Her sister, Serena, is widely considered the greatest women's tennis player and one of the best athletes of all time.

While Serena is retired, Venus is still playing and most recently participated in the Miami Open in March.

Tennis legend Serena Williams is set to host the 2024 ESPYs on July 11, according to a release from ESPN.

It was noted that Williams will take on the role as host of ESPN's annual awards show one day after the premiere of the first episode of the eight-part documentary series In the Arena: Serena Williams.

"I couldn't be more excited to host The ESPYS," Williams said in the release. "This is a dream come true for me, and something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember. It has been a sensational year for sports and an unprecedented one for female athletes. I can't wait to celebrate everyone on-stage in July."

This will be the eighth time in the 30-year history of the ESPYs that it is hosted by an athlete. Williams is following Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who hosted the show in 2022. Lance Armstrong was the first to do so in 2006, and LeBron James co-hosted with Jimmy Kimmel the following year. John Cena, Peyton Manning and Danica Patrick took on the role in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2020, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Russell Wilson teamed up to host the show.

The eight-part documentary for Williams was originally announced a year ago. The release said the series "provides the most complete, intimate, and compelling account of her legendary career, featuring firsthand perspective from Williams and key figures throughout her life."

A 23-time Grand Slam champion, Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players and greatest athletes of all time regardless of gender. She has also been an avid advocate for gender equality and other social causes like Black maternal health advocacy and racial equality.

Williams has enjoyed her retirement following the 2022 US Open, embarking on multiple entrepreneurial efforts. Fans will certainly be excited to see her take center stage when she hosts the ESPYs this summer.

Just about everybody has picked a side in the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake beef at this point, and Coco Gauff is no exception.

Like most people, Gauff is Team Kendrick, though she has at least one specific reason for her pick.

"To be honest, I liked Kendrick's songs more," she told reporters Thursday. "And I think pretty much everybody I know is leaning towards him. But I do like Drake as an artist as well. But yeah, as far as the rap battle is going on, the rap beef, I think definitely Kendrick's winning. Also, Drake dissed Serena [Williams], so I have to go with Kendrick. Kendrick defended her, so yeah, I have to go with him."

In 2022's Middle of the Ocean, Drake called Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian a "groupie." There were also rumors that Drake and Williams dated in the past, though they were never confirmed.

Kendrick Lamar, meanwhile, defended Williams on Not Like Us, rapping "From Alondra down to Central / n--gas better not speak on Serena."

Naomi Osaka also seemed to be leaning Team Kendrick, telling reporters on Wednesday that the L.A. rapper "dropped some heat."

The stars were out at the Met Gala on Monday night in New York.

Many athletes made an appearance at one of the world's biggest fashion events. Tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese and NBA legend Dwyane Wade were just a few of the sports names in the building.

According to Vogue, the theme for this year's gala was "Garden of Time," celebrating the Metropolitan Museum of Art's newest exhibit, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," explaining some of the athletes outfits. The dress code inspired attendees to wear outfits inspired by nature with floral themes.

Simmons went the literal rout with his outfit, rocking a clock on his brief case. According to the New York Post's Andrew Battifarano, his outfit was a part of designer Thom Browne's fall 2024 "nevermore" collection.

It was a big night for Reese, as the former LSU star made her Met Gala debut on her 22nd birthday. The appearance at the event comes as she prepares to begin her rookie season with the Sky. Reese made her preseason debut last week, notching 13 points and nine rebounds in a loss to the Minnesota Lynx.

The Sky begin their season on May 15 against the Dallas Wings.

The athletes and former athletes at the Met Gala are known for what they do in their respective sports, but on Monday, it was all about their fashion, and they didn't disappoint.

The 2024 Miami Open will continue Friday with the men's semifinals, while the women's tournament will conclude on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

On the men's side, three out of the four semifinalists are expected: Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev.

The fourth semifinalist, Grigor Dimitrov, is into the Miami Open semifinals for the first time in his career, with hopes of eventually raising his second career ATP Masters 1000 trophy.

On the women's side, the draw looks completely different from a few weeks ago at the BNP Paribas at Indian Wells.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek was stunned in the fourth round of this year's Miami Open, while world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka lost in the third round, and world No. 3 Coco Gauff lost in the fourth, respectively.

World No. 4 Elena Rybakina is back in the Miami Open Final for the second straight year and will hope to redeem last year's defeat, facing off against in-form home-crowd favorite Danielle Collins, who has dropped just one set the entire tournament.

Here's a preview of all three matchups.

Jannik Sinner vs. Daniil Medvedev

Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev will face off for the first time since Sinner's come-from-behind victory over Medvedev back at the 2024 Australian Open Final.

To date in 2024, both players have the highest win percentage, with Sinner at 20-1 and Medvedev at 18-3.

Sinner has won the last four matches in their head-to-head and brings in added motivation, looking to avenge his 2023 Miami Open championship defeat.

The 22-year-old Italian has been operating at a tier above every other player on tour for the last few months and should be expected to move on to the 2024 Miami Open Final.

The two will face off at 3 p.m. ET today.

Alexander Zverev vs. Grigor Dimitrov

Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov will face off for the ninth time ever, with Zverev looking to grab his eighth straight win in the head-to-head.

Zverev, who advanced to the Miami Open semifinal round just once previously in 2018, has played lights-out tennis this week, defeating all four opponents in straight sets, including an impressive win over up-and-coming talent Fabian Marozsan.

While Zverev has capitalized on every opportunity against Dimitrov since their 2014 battle, when Zverev was just 17, it's hard to ignore Dimitrov's current form.

The Bulgarian world No. 32 is coming off two straight wins against arguably two top-five hard-court opponents in Hubert Hurkacz and, most recently, Carlos Alcaraz, whom Dimitrov defeated in straight sets.

This looks to be Dimitrov's best chance yet against Zverev, and it would not be surprising to see him advance to his third ever ATP Masters 1000 finals.

The two will face off at 7 p.m. ET today.

Elena Rybakina vs. Danielle Collins

Elena Rybakina is back in the Miami Open championship round.

The world No. 4 has looked impressive all week with quality wins against seasoned veterans such as Madison Keys, Maria Sakarri, and most recently, three-time Miami Open champion and world No. 32 Victoria Azarenka.

The Kazakh, who saw four of her five matchups go to the distance this week, nearly fell to Azarenka after losing the second set 0-6, though played flawlessly towards the end, winning the third set in a tiebreaker.

Rybakina's opponent, American and world No. 53 Danielle Collins, is familiar with the fast hardcourts of the Miami Open.

After all, it was these courts in 2018 where she made her breakthrough, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in a Grand Slam or WTA Masters 1000 venue.

The 30-year-old American has been nearly flawless this week, dropping one set along the way to her WTA 1000 Finals debut.

Collins has won two career titles, and this is no doubt the biggest match of her career since losing the 2022 Australian Open Final to Ashleigh Barty.

While Collins possesses the talent to defeat Rybakina, the latter's familiarity with these matchups and impressive resume in Miami should help guide her to a hard-fought three-set win.

The two will face off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

From on-court bee invasions to extensive rain delays, the 2024 BNP Paribas Open has provided all sorts of surprises.

Heck, even 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic lost to a 'lucky loser' for the first time in his illustrious 21-year career.

Yet, for as many surprises as the first Masters 1000 tournament of the year has provided, familiar faces remain in both the men's and women's draws.

On the men's side, three of the four semifinalists from the 2023 edition are back: No. 2 Jannik Sinner, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, and No. 4 Daniil Medvedev.

On the women's side, 22-year-old and No. 1 Iga Swiatek will face Maria Sakkari.

Women's Final

Iga Swiatek vs. Maria Sakkari

While many of us predicted Iga Swiatek would face Coco Gauff in the 2024 BNP Paribas Open Final, world No. 9 Maria Sakkari prevented that from happening in a gutsy victory against Gauff.

Swiatek and Sakkari have faced off a total of five times, with the latter holding the advantage in the head-to-head (3-2).

Though, the last two matches have gone Swiatek's way in dominant fashion.

The world No. 1 has won each of her matches in straight sets throughout the BNP Paribas Open and has limited two different opponents to zero games won in a single set.

On the other end, Sakkari enters the final off the heels of impressive wins against Caroline Garcia and, most recently, Coco Gauff.

While Sakkari has the skill set equipped to beat Swiatek, the Pole is competing at a higher level right now and looks poised to raise her second trophy at this venue.

Men's Semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner

For the second straight year, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will face off in the semifinal round of the BNP Paribas Open in a match sure to excite, as it seemingly always does.

Sinner is currently operating in a world of his own on the tennis court and is hoping to retain his world No. 2 ranking with a win.

The 22-year-old has won 19 straight matches and has dropped just one set in total since winning the 2024 men's singles Australian Open title back on January 28.

Yet, this matchup will be anything but routine for the Italian.

Added to the already tough task that comes with facing a rival is the fact that Alcaraz has reverted to his incredible form that saw him rise to the youngest-ever world No. 1 back in 2022.

The 20-year-old and No. 3 in the world has bulldozed his way through to the semifinal, most impressively with a straight-set quarterfinal win over Alexander Zverev, an opponent who had held a 4-1 record against the Spaniard on hard-court surfaces prior to their quarterfinal duel.

While Alcaraz is capable of beating Sinner and has had plenty of success against the Italian in the past, Sinner should be able to come out on the winning side in a hard-fought, physical, and intense three-set match.

Daniil Medvedev vs. Tommy Paul

Meeting for just the third time in their respective careers, much is on the line as Daniil Medvedev is looking to make it to the BNP Paribas Final for the second straight year.

Tommy Paul, on the other hand, is looking to make his first ever ATP Masters 1000 final after playing nearly a flawless tournament thus far.

Paul has dropped just one set this tournament and is coming off an impressive win over Norwegian and No. 9 Casper Ruud, an opponent he had greatly struggled against in the past.

Medvedev has also been nearly flawless, defeating the likes of Grigor Dimitrov and, most recently, Holger Rune in straight sets.

While the lanky hard-court specialist is expected to come out of this match with a win, judging by Paul's recent form, this has the potential for an upset in the making.

The draw for the best players in the world will not be easy this year at Indian Wells.

The California-based tournament, which is one of the top non-Grand Slams on the ATP and WTA tours, released the respective draws this week in what should be a pair of loaded fields.

Top men's seed Novak Djokovic should have a relatively breezy go of things until at least the quarterfinals. He would not face a seeded opponent until at least Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who was unseated by Djokovic in a well-played match at the 2024 Australian Open. Etcheverry is rising up the rankings at 24 years old but still has a ways to go to compete with the likes of Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal joins Djokovic on the top half of the draw but will have a much tougher terrain if he hopes to meet with his longtime rival. Nadal, who entered the field in a protected rankings slot, will open against former world No. 3 Milos Raonic in his opening match. Should Nadal make it past Raonic, he'll instantly face the test of 20-year-old Holger Rune, who is the No. 7 seed.

Playing in his first tournament since the Brisbane International, Nadal would need a borderline miracle to make it through the gauntlet and deep into the event.

Elsewhere on the men's side, No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz seems like a strong bet to at least make the quarterfinals. His first major test may wind up coming in the form of sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev.

The women's side is a little less straightforward, with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek set up for challenges early in her draw. She could face Danielle Collins, who defeated her in the 2022 Australian Open and narrowly lost to her this year in Melbourne, in the second round.

No. 26 seed Linda Noskova, who upset Swiatek in the third round at this year's Aussie Open, could await in the third round.

The most interesting potential match in the women's bracket could see Coco Gauff face off against Naomi Osaka in the Round of 16. Gauff has overtaken Osaka as the budding face of American tennis amid the latter's absence to give birth to her daughter.

Osaka has been slowly working her way back into form and reached the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Energies Open last month. Gauff has not been able to find her form since losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open, so American fans will be hopeful both are able to make a run to meet in the Round of 16.