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”
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”
Two-time Major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas has, at long last, announced his father Apostolos will no longer be coaching him after publicly criticising the 56-year-old after his straight-sets defeat by Kei Nishikori at the Canadian Open in Montreal this past week. Struggling for consistency and conscious younger rivals are progressing while he stagnates, what next for the 26-year-old? Continue reading “Tsitsipas cuts coaching ties with father Apostolos after Toronto exit – what now?”
In the 60th and potentially final H2H matchup between two of the sport’s greatest ever players, the tournament’s top seed Novak Djokovic withstood a wobble late to dispatch Rafael Nadal in straight-sets on Philippe Chatrier. However, the Serb’s sudden sloppy play against his longtime rival will give prospective opponents renewed faith they can prevail in a best-of-three format.
Continue reading “Olympics: Djokovic decisive after Nadal surge, wins 60th – perhaps final – meeting”
After being dismantled by longtime tormentor Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open quarters, Stefanos Tsitsipas returns to grass in Halle this week after a public split from physical trainer Christos Fiotakis where the highly-rated fitness coach went public with criticism on the 25-year-old’s ambitions and how they don’t match his work ethic. That assertion has been levelled at him before…
Novak Djokovic was trailing and in trouble against Lorenzo Musetti as a shock result looked likely in the early hours on Sunday. He clicked into gear and produced some inspired tennis under duress, just as the Italian’s level dropped, and now the Serb is into the business end of another Major – where his steely defiance is magnified. A first H2H meeting with Francisco Cerundolo beckons. Continue reading “Cerundolo the next challenge as Djokovic recovers to beat Musetti in five-set thriller”
Two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud saved match point en route to a morning semifinal win over Flavio Cobolli in Geneva, before returning a few hours later and saving a set point against Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Tomas Machac in the finale – a fitting warmup before his latest trip to Paris. Continue reading “Casper Ruud reels off two wins in six hours, building grit with third Geneva title”
Although successful with ongoing tweaks, we’ve seen how divisive the introduction of VAR has been for football recently. Tennis needs something similar, all year-round, as the teething problems clear on clay – the biggest being incorrect line calls – continue to surface but the sport’s decision-makers would be wise to implement more transparent accountability for umpires too. Continue reading “Whether that be VAR or an officiating shakeup, tennis calling for a change soon”
A niggling back injury has clearly played its role, but Stefanos Tsitsipas’ rough form across all surfaces over the past six months has seen many critics question what he’s doing, if anything, to keep pace with his younger counterparts at a juncture in the sport where the new generation – led by Carlos Alcaraz and new first-time Major champion Jannik Sinner – are quickly breaking new ground. Continue reading “Keen to steady his form, Tsitsipas knows Alcaraz and Sinner forcing him to evolve”
World no. 1 Novak Djokovic looks to make more history at the Major where he’s been most successful during his illustrious career, while Aryna Sabalenka returns to the scene of her career-best achievement twelve months ago knowing no woman has successfully defended their title since Serena Williams in 2014. Judging by the draws, completed yesterday, it’s easy to see why. Continue reading “Australian Open 2024: Draw analysis, storylines as year’s first Major beckons”
Although he tried to mask the pain initially, two-time Major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas was in such discomfort that he withdrew from the ATP Finals three games into his second match against Holger Rune last month with a back injury that worsened. Still not 100% now, he’s hoping he’ll be fit enough to lead Greece at the United Cup in little over two weeks’ time alongside Maria Sakkari again. Continue reading “Tsitsipas details just how bad his back injury was, after ATP Finals withdrawal”
Novak Djokovic reserved his best for the final weekend of the season – Davis Cup notwithstanding – beating two of the fearless young guns challenging his throne in consecutive days to successfully defend his ATP Finals trophy, making more history doing so. Jannik Sinner made fervent Turin supporters believe anything was possible during a whirlwind week, but couldn’t get over the line. Continue reading “Djokovic spoils Sinner’s superb week to clinch a record seventh ATP Finals title”
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