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”
After years flirting with the top table, Alex de Minaur finally established himself as a mainstay in the world’s top 10 during a busy and memorable 2024. Buoyed by that progress, the Australian knows he can still do more – hampered by injury during the year’s middle section – as preparations ramp up before his home Major, seeking to improve upon consecutive fourth-round finishes. Continue reading “Why not? Alex de Minaur backs himself to build on from breakthrough 2024 season”
Back on Sunday afternoon, Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his title at SW19 and joined rarefied air as the sixth player to complete the Channel Slam – clinching both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same season – as the Spaniard started fast, served well and finished assertively against a less-than-100% Novak Djokovic during their final rematch. How did he do it this time? Continue reading “Alcaraz asserts himself in straight-sets Djokovic win during Wimbledon final rematch – but why was this so different?”
She started slowly, leaked 13 total double-faults and could’ve easily faltered after losing set one to 21-year-old Ukrainian talent Marta Kostyuk but Britain’s Katie Boulter recovered from a set down for the second time this week to clinch a maiden WTA 500 title, cracking into the world’s top 30 for the first time too.
Continue reading “WTA San Diego: Boulter recovers against Kostyuk to win her maiden WTA 500 title”
Germany survived an inspired Alex de Minaur singles display to punch their ticket into the United Cup finals, where they’ll play last year’s semifinalists Poland overnight. Elsewhere, a rematch of last season’s Australian Open final serves as just one of three intriguing finals across Australia and New Zealand on both tours as the warm-up events before the year’s maiden Major hot up. Continue reading “Poland vs. Germany to decide United Cup as Sabalenka-Rybakina, Gauff-Svitolina and Rune-Dimitrov finals set elsewhere”
Yesterday, Jannik Sinner and team Italy were one point from being knocked out in the Davis Cup semifinals. Today, they can celebrate after the world no. 4’s gritty comeback win over Novak Djokovic helped them pip Serbia to Sunday’s showpiece event – where they emerged victorious vs. Australia without needing the decisive doubles rubber, capping a career-best year for the 22-year-old. Continue reading “Sinner stars in singles, doubles to finish career-best year as Italy clinch Davis Cup”
Having lost six of his last nine matches on tour, including from 5-2 and match point up against Alex de Minaur at the Paris Masters on October 30, three-time Major champion and former world no. 1 Andy Murray has today announced splitting from longtime coach Ivan Lendl for a third time after their partnership didn’t prove fruitful as it has done in the past and the 2024 campaign nears.
Continue reading “Andy Murray splits from Ivan Lendl for a third time after poor end to 2023 season”
If there’s anyone on tour who knows and respects Jack Draper’s game, it’s Andrey Rublev – having played him twice in three months last year – openly expecting the 21-year-old Brit to succeed before another injury-plagued 2023 season. That’s why it felt symbolic the tournament’s eighth seed withstood his best efforts to prevail in a four-set tussle yesterday, setting up another meeting with childhood friend and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the process. Continue reading “US Open 2023: Draper down in four to Rublev, but can be heartened by his run”
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”
Andrey Rublev twice recovered from the brink to avenge his Paris Masters defeat by Holger Rune in a deciding set tiebreak, earning another Major quarter-final berth in the process. He’ll face the tournament’s nine-time champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, after the Serb was supreme as he purred to victory against Australia’s remaining hope Alex de Minaur. Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka and Magda Linette were big winners and more on an early-ending Day 8. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Rublev saves match points vs. Rune, Djokovic dismantles de Minaur and more on Day 8”
Today’s results mean there could be as many as five more first-time quarterfinalists in this year’s Australian Open, including teenage duo Holger Rune and Linda Fruhvirtova. Rune will face Andrey Rublev after the Russian was on form vs. Dan Evans, while the 17-year-old ousted compatriot Marketa Vondrousova with Donna Vekic next. Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov made Novak Djokovic sweat before Roberto Bautista Agut ended Andy Murray’s memorable run. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Straightforward victories for most on Day 6, as Fruhvirtova and Shelton big winners”
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