Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Lorenzo Musetti ended Cameron Norrie’s hopes of a deep run, while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daria Kasatkina were also comfortable winners across the two draws on Day 6. Denis Shapovalov crumbled against Carlos Alcaraz, while Hubert Hurkacz was stunned by a plucky Peruvian but despite a three-set defeat against Novak Djokovic, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina did himself proud. Continue reading “Shapovalov crumbles, Hurkacz stumbles – Davidovich Fokina shines in Djokovic loss”
Taylor Fritz beat Arthur Rinderknech in four sets before shushing the fervently partisan Suzanne-Lenglen spectators that had been hounding him all evening long, which didn’t go down well. Elsewhere, a compelling battle between two teenagers awaits between Mirra Andreeva and last year’s runner-up Coco Gauff, while Jannik Sinner lost despite having match point… Continue reading “French Open 2023: Fritz becomes the villain, Sinner stunned and more on Day 5”
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and world no. 3 Jessica Pegula experienced contrasting victories to secure their R3 berths, while six more seeds fell across both draws on Day 4. Despite a gripping 89-minute first set, Novak Djokovic ensured there was no repeat of the previous night’s electricity on Philippe-Chatrier – winning in straight-sets against a fearless Marton Fucsovics. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Sabalenka, Pegula win before Djokovic handles Fucsovics test”
After consecutive night sessions fell flat, Gael Monfils relished his role as the party starter on home soil and recovered from a seemingly improbable position to beat Sebastian Baez in a near four-hour thriller on Philippe-Chatrier. Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev both won clean while world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev was stunned by Brazil’s 23-year-old Thiago Seyboth Wild. Read on, for more… Continue reading “French Open 2023: Monfils-Baez exceeds expectations as Day 3 full of surprises”
Monday was busy as the R1 ties in this year’s French Open continued. There were predictably a few surprising results – including early exits for Felix Auger-Aliassime, Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and two-time semifinalist Petra Kvitova. As for the Brits, Jack Draper’s injury woes sadly continued before Cameron Norrie was composed to fend off a motivated Benoit Paire in five sets. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Auger-Aliassime axed, Bencic bounced, Norrie edges it on Day 2”
40 singles’ matches were played – 20 on each tour – as the French Open main draw kicked off across a busy Sunday of sport worldwide – especially in Europe. The biggest headline featured Maria Sakkari, a tournament semi-finalist two years ago, being stunned in two tight sets 7-6, 7-5 against the same woman who knocked her out prematurely twelve months ago: Karolina Muchova. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Sakkari highest seed to fall on Day 1, while Kokkinakis KOs Evans”
Eyebrows were raised after Carlos Alcaraz’s straight-sets defeat by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in Rome last week. However, given just how much the world no. 1 has played recently worldwide to make up for lost time after injury, that early Masters 1000 exit might have served him well before bigger things await, starting this Sunday as one of the clear French Open favourites. Continue reading “Alex Corretja calls Rome upset loss the best thing to happen to Alcaraz – he’s right”
2021 Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev, who quietly enjoyed a resurgence in Madrid this past month, is among the top-ranked players currently vying for a main draw berth at this year’s French Open, kicking off on Sunday. As for the women, Camila Osorio vs. Mirra Andreeva is a compelling final round clash while Tamara Zidansek is also in the qualifying competition. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Karatsev, Osorio and Zidansek headline final round qualifiers”
As 22-time Major champion Novak Djokovic begins the defence of his Rome title this weekend, he’s wise to acknowledge Madrid titlist Carlos Alcaraz is the player to beat right now. Having struggled with an elbow injury and some inconsistent play of late, the Serb’s public declaration in a pre-tournament presser eases pressure off his shoulders as he looks to peak at Roland Garros. Continue reading “Rome: Djokovic wise to put onus on in-form Alcaraz, given their contrasting form”
Aryna Sabalenka withstood Iga Swiatek’s second set fightback to overwhelm the world no. 1 in a deciding set and clinch a fifth WTA 1000 title on Saturday in Madrid while avenging her straight-sets defeat during the previous weekend’s final in Stuttgart. Most importantly, the Australian Open champion has shown big-match growth at a critical juncture as this compelling season intensifies.
Continue reading “Madrid: Sabalenka showed growth in toppling Swiatek on Saturday, and needed to”
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka navigated past an uncomfortable start to ensure Mirra Andreeva’s record-breaking run at the Madrid Masters was ended in their last-16 clash earlier today, though the Russian – who turned 16 at the weekend – should be encouraged after an impressive week where she proved her tennis level is already much higher than most of her agemates. Continue reading “Madrid: Sabalenka sends Andreeva an apt awakening as 16-year-old’s dream ends”
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has endured some teething problems on his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with a Dubai semi-final his best result since recovering from an ankle injury that needed surgery last June. However, the 26-year-old is right to be introspective about his topsy-turvy form and cited other recent examples that give him cause for future optimism. Continue reading “Alexander Zverev introspective as he talks inconsistent form after serious injury”
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