12:28 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Being more positive is paying off for former No. 1 Naomi Osaka early in her clay-court season. Osaka kicked off her clay campaign with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over qualifier Anastasia Potapova in the first round on the Madrid Open center court on Friday. “I’m honestly trying

11:09 AM ET Associated Press LONDON — Tennis great Boris Becker was sentenced to 2½ years in prison Friday for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt. The three-time Wimbledon champion was convicted earlier this month on four charges under the Insolvency Act and had faced a maximum

12:58 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Botic van de Zandschulp upset second-seeded Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-1 to reach the BMW Open semifinals Friday. The Dutch player, who also defeated Ruud at the US Open last year, saved the only break point he faced and won 50% of his first-serve return points. Van de Zandschulp

8:18 AM ET Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka said the Wimbledon ban on players from Russia and her country makes no sense, and the former world No. 1 called on the tennis governing bodies to take action against the decision. The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which hosts the grass-court Grand Slam, took the decision in

1:53 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Casper Ruud took his time finding his rhythm as he beat Alex Molcan 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals at the BMW Open on Thursday. Molcan built a 4-0 lead in the first set as Ruud struggled with his serve, but the clay-court specialist fought his way

10:48 AM ET Associated Press MADRID — Two-time Madrid Open champion Simona Halep and second-ranked Paula Badosa will meet for the first time in the tournament’s second round after opening with victories Thursday. Halep beat Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3; Badosa defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-0. Halep won consecutive Madrid titles in 2016 and 2017 and

5:36 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Former No. 1 Naomi Osaka enters the clay-court season with the goal of not being too hard on herself. Osaka, 24, made the final in Miami last month and will be playing as a wild-card entry when the Madrid Open begins on Thursday. “I’m trying to embrace my

5:42 PM ET Associated Press Fifth seed Frances Tiafoe overcame a resilient wildcard Nuno Borges 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-0 in the second round of the ATP 250 Millennium Estoril Open on Wednesday. A tie-break was required to decide the opening set, which the 25-year-old clinched 7-4, before home-favourite Borges fought back in the second to

4:40 PM ET Associated Press MUNICH — Danish teenager Holger Rune upset top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the BMW Open tennis tournament. The 18-year-old broke Zverev’s first service game in each set to take control of the match on his way to his first career win over a player

7:44 AM ET Associated Press MADRID — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Madrid Open on Wednesday because of a sore arm. Swiatek, 20, who has won four titles in a row, was going to be the top-seeded player in the women’s draw for this week’s clay-court tournament. “It’s time to take care of my