Tennis Players Prepare for the French Open

May 13, 2026, 10:23
EuropeSports

Introduction

Alexander Zverev and Emma Raducanu are changing their plans before the French Open starts on May 24.

Main Body

Alexander Zverev lost a match in Rome. He was sick and tired. He also did not like the tennis court. Now he wants to rest and get healthy. He might not play in the Hamburg tournament. He wants to be strong for the big match in Paris. Emma Raducanu was sick since March. She missed four tournaments. Now she is feeling better. She will play in Strasbourg soon. Emma does not have a coach now. Her world ranking is lower. She will not have a special seed for the French Open.

Conclusion

Both players are resting and practicing to be ready for the French Open.

Learning

💡 The 'Now' vs 'Then' Switch

Look at how we talk about the past and the present in this story. To reach A2, you must master this jump.

1. The Past (What happened) We use simple words to show things are finished.

  • Lost (Past of lose) → Zverev lost a match.
  • Was (Past of is) → He was sick.
  • Missed (Past of miss) → She missed four tournaments.

2. The Present (What is happening now) We use the base word or a slightly different form for current states.

  • Wants (Current desire) → He wants to rest.
  • Is (Current state) → She is feeling better.
  • Does not have (Current lack) → Emma does not have a coach.

Quick Guide for You: Was/Were/Lost/Missed →\rightarrow Yesterday / Last month Is/Wants/Has →\rightarrow Today / Right now

Vocabulary Learning

tournament
a competition where people play a game or sport
Example:She won the local tennis tournament.
ranking
a list that shows the order of people or things based on some criteria
Example:His ranking in the world is 10th.
seed
a player who is expected to do well in a competition
Example:He was the top seed in the tournament.
coach
a person who trains or teaches someone how to play a sport
Example:She needs a new coach for training.
match
a game or contest between two people or teams
Example:They will play a match next week.
play
to participate in a sport or game
Example:She will play in Strasbourg soon.
rest
to stop working and relax
Example:After the match, he will rest.
practice
to train or work on a skill repeatedly
Example:They are practicing to be ready.
strong
having power or good condition
Example:He wants to be strong for the big match.
sick
not feeling well
Example:She was sick since March.