Olympic champion Alexander Zverev’s long-awaited comeback from ankle surgery, after an unexpected setback, is less than a fortnight away now. He’s looking forward to returning against a competitive field for Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Tennis Cup, which includes 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and Cameron Norrie, hoping the three-day event serves him well as the British no. 1 looks to banish his historical Australian Open struggles come early 2023. Continue reading
2022 started with the now-former world no. 1 being embarrassed in Australia, deported as he prepared to defend his Grand Slam title – an easy target for vilification worldwide given his vaccination stance. It ends with Novak Djokovic clinching a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title despite Casper Ruud’s best efforts, another result during an eventful week in Turin setting up the new season perfectly with plenty of compelling questions now bubbling to the surface. Continue reading
He finished just shy of his goal – a return to the world’s top 100 – but 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem is exhausted after a busy few months on tour and spoke to Austrian news this week about the progress he’s made after a troublesome time with injuries in recent seasons. All things considered, 2023 has all the ingredients of a renaissance year for the 29-year-old – with fans and critics alike purring about performances against high-ranked competition of late.
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Aryna Sabalenka will play Iga Swiatek, keen to erase her 0-3 H2H record this season in Thursday’s US Open semi-final after the pair earned contrasting straight-set wins over Karolina Pliskova and Jessica Pegula. Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe will look to make more history after taking down Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev: he plays Jannik Sinner’s conqueror Carlos Alcaraz on Friday, having watched a 5-hour epic unfold into the early hours between the pair.
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Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to ice a home hopeful in the night session, after Petra Kvitova was pushed into a deciding set ten-point tiebreak as she edged past two-time Major champion Garbine Muguruza. Elsewhere, Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe prevailed before Naomi Osaka’s conqueror Danielle Collins added another tricky opponent onto her resume.
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It’s easy to declare post-match that you’ll learn lessons from a loss, especially a humbling one during the notoriously short grass court season, but 20-year-old Jack Draper’s case feels slightly different than most. Considering Wimbledon’s just around the corner, here’s why… Continue reading
Andy Murray picked his moments against an erratic Denis Shapovalov display to set up a first meeting in almost five-and-a-half years with familiar foe Novak Djokovic, securing successive ATP victories for the first time since January. Beforehand, British young duo Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu suffered contrasting three-set defeats as this year’s Madrid Open continues. Continue reading
Playing only his fourth match of 2022 after enduring a troublesome year packed with persistent injuries, the US Open champion showed enough in his 6-3, 6-4 defeat to be happy about, against a legendary Major winner who turns 35 later this month but has persisted when things looked increasingly ominous, having himself struggled with injuries for over a half decade now. Continue reading
After announcing their controversial decision earlier today, Wimbledon chiefs have been accused of discrimination after banning Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s Championships – direct sanctions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This would mean players such as Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka and Andrey Rublev wouldn’t be allowed to compete.
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After emerging unscathed through two qualifying rounds to reach the Dubai main draw, then beating both Marin Cilic and Roberto Bautista Agut (#8) in straight-sets, Jiri Vesely’s week went from commendable to masterful after an inspired showing against Novak Djokovic, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to knock the 20-time Grand Slam champion off his perch as the world’s best player. Continue reading
Having held an unwanted 0-8 record in ATP finals, the ninth time proved the charm for Australian Open quarter-finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime. Having recovered from losing a first set tiebreak to knock out the defending champion Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals, he then dropped just six games against French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final.
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Despite losing 6-3, 7-5 against familiar foe Andy Murray during his return from a troublesome foot injury, the 20-time Grand Slam titlist revealed he was happy with his own performance on memorable soil before what promises to be an intriguing 2022 campaign for both champions. Continue reading
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