Djokovic's withdrawal sparks speculation, Zhang Shuai forced to lose, Sinner's seven consecutive wins lead to final showdown with Zverev against Lehecka.

Three minutes a day, stay updated on global tennis news. Hello tennis fans, today is Saturday, March 28, 2026. Welcome to the midday news report provided by "Tennis Home."

Last night Beijing time, the season's first clay-court Masters—ATP1000 Monte Carlo Masters officially announced that Serbian tennis king Novak Djokovic has withdrawn, along with American top player Fritz. Their withdrawals had no prior indications, and the reasons remain unclear.

After Djokovic lost to British top player Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells, he withdrew from the Miami tournament due to an unhealed shoulder injury. Half a month later, he announced his withdrawal from the clay-court Masters starting on April 5, sparking widespread speculation among fans. "What's going on with Djokovic? Why is he withdrawing again?" "His shoulder injury seems serious; it hasn't healed in over 20 days, maybe recovery slows with age." "The clay season is physically demanding; perhaps Djokovic is strategically skipping early tournaments to focus on the French Open." Do you think his consecutive withdrawals are due to injury or other strategic reasons?

Now, let's look at two player updates. First, former men's singles world No. 7, 35-year-old Belgian star David Goffin announced on his social media that this year will be his final season, retiring at the end of the year. The "Belgian Andy Lau" in Chinese fans' eyes is also retiring!

Second, women's singles world No. 6, American star Amanda Anisimova announced via social media that she has ended her coaching partnership with Rick Fleschauer. "Walking this journey with you has been incredibly meaningful. Over the past year, we shared unforgettable highlights and achievements that I will always cherish. We celebrated trophies and milestones, but the laughter and moments off-court will stay with me forever. Thank you, Rick, for everything you've done. Thank you for treating me first as a person, not just an athlete. That respect was invaluable and made our collaboration truly fulfilling. Your focus, loyalty, and passion are evident! I sincerely wish you all the best in your next chapter." From Anisimova's post, it appears they parted amicably.

Back to the tournaments. This morning Beijing time, in the WTA1000 Miami doubles semifinals, fourth seeds Zhang Shuai/Mertens trailed 1-2 when Mertens withdrew due to physical discomfort, forcing Zhang Shuai to unfortunately exit, missing the final. Opponents Errani/Borini advanced to the final, facing Siniakova/Townsend for the championship.

ATP1000 Miami Masters: In the first singles semifinal, 21st seed Czech star Tomas Machac was in fiery form, taking just 75 minutes to sweep 28th seed Fils 6-2 6-2, leveling their head-to-head record to 2-2, and reaching his first Masters final without dropping a set.

In the second match, world No. 2 Jannik Sinner continued his hot streak, defeating German star Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(4), extending his winning streak against him to seven, reaching his fourth Miami final, boosting his recent winning streak to 11 matches, and needing just one more win to achieve the Sunshine Double.

Sinner and Machac have met four times before, with the Italian winning all matches without losing a set. This is their first final encounter. Facing Sinner, who is already like a "robot," does Machac have a chance for revenge?

Finally, a guessing game. The image below shows a player sitting on the court. Without hints, can you recognize who it is?

Last edition's guess, some fans gave the correct answer. Indeed, the person in the picture is Caroline Wozniacki, known as the "Danish Sweetheart."

Source: Tennis Home Author: Independent