Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Losing to eventual two-time champion Jannik Sinner is no disgrace, though Australia’s brightest hope faded during the business end of another Grand Slam tournament. Having fallen short at the final hurdle against Sinner’s closest rival Carlos Alcaraz in their Rotterdam showpiece, the 25-year-old is now battling a select few contenders as the sport’s third-best to another duopoly. Continue reading “Alex de Minaur among many contenders looking to break the Sincaraz duopoly”
Day 4 was fun. 18-year-old Next Gen champion Joao Fonseca made a jolt with a straight-sets win over Andrey Rublev 24 hours earlier, but besides that, there wasn’t much to speak of as the first-round matches were finally concluded. The same couldn’t be said as round two began, with seven seeds falling across both draws while another teenage talent made noise in a memorable night session. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 25: Sabalenka tested, Bencic-Osaka set as Draper relishes the moment”
American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy made sure people will remember his name after a courageous four-set defeat by Novak Djokovic during a busy night session as the opening round continued. Nick Kyrgios’ aspirations for a splash at his home tournament were expertly extinguished by another young upstart in Jacob Fearnley on a day where Alex Michelsen and Belinda Bencic thrived. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 25: Basavareddy bold in defeat, Fearnley foils Kyrgios while Tsitsipas out”
Taylor Fritz had an interesting line post-match after a seemingly straightforward 6-4, 6-4 win over China’s Zhizhen Zheng in the United Cup, saying: “I started to believe my average level would be enough to beat many top guys, feeling back in the flow again from the end of last season,” an ominous sign given how well he was performing in the second-half of 2024. Continue reading “United Cup: Fritz feeling in the groove, Rybakina to watch as AO prep continues”
After an underwhelming campaign by his exceedingly high standards, 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic declared a readiness to challenge the world’s top two players in Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at Grand Slams again as the scene of his most successful event returns centre-stage in Melbourne next month. At 37 though, is now too late for another late career renaissance? Continue reading “Djokovic defiant once more, but is he biting off more than he can chew?”
After 36 matches between them at the pro level and a friendly familiarity spanning more than 20 years dating back to their days as aspiring teenagers, 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic revealed a surprise update before 2025: hiring former rival and recently retired Andy Murray as his new coach – starting at the Australian Open, a Grand Slam he’s won a record 10 times. Continue reading “Murray excited, grateful before unique coaching role with former rival Djokovic”
Then there was one. Roger Federer held on as long as he could, pulling the curtain in 2022. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have followed suit within months of each other during a whirlwind 2024 campaign seeing many of the younger generation assert themselves, while Novak Djokovic is the last man standing. His fiercest rival has said farewell and the sport far weaker for it. Continue reading “Adios, Rafa”
2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios confirmed he’ll make his long-awaited return to competitive tennis at this year’s Brisbane International tournament starting December 29 on the eve of an intriguing 2025 campaign. The electric Australian talent has suffered through career-threatening wrist and knee injuries, seeing him only play one ATP tour-level match in two years. Continue reading “Kyrgios poised for return, declares he’s feeling amazing after rough two-year spell”
24 hours. Two stunning results on Arthur Ashe. Reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, as well as defending titlist Novak Djokovic both beaten before the second week at a Major for the first time in a while, just weeks removed from their Olympic exertions on Parisian clay left the pair undercooked and lacking energy needed for a deep Flushing Meadows foray. Continue reading “US Open 2024: Olympic hangover sees Alcaraz, Djokovic both stunned in 24 hours”
The pre-US Open parties and media duties have been completed, top-ranked players spending valuable time on court practising and getting acclimatised to the conditions while the last hopefuls from across the globe battle out for a main draw qualifying berth are now set in stone. Today marks the beginning of the year’s final Major and with that, more questions than answers as usual. Continue reading “US Open 2024: Main draw analysis across both tours, as year’s final Major begins”
Four-time Major champion Carlos Alcaraz will look to make it a fabulous five in New York this coming fortnight, but allayed fears over a rolled ankle injury sustained during his practice session alongside Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. The reigning French Open and Wimbledon titlist, who lost a three-setter vs. Gael Monfils in Cincinnati last week, should be okay after some rest. Continue reading “US Open 2024: Alcaraz assures rolled ankle injury is merely minor, fine for Tuesday”
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