Iga Swiatek, Kaia Kanepi and Stefanos Tsitsipas all had to recover from losing positions before punching their ticket into the Australian Open last-eight, after French veteran Alize Cornet stunned Simona Halep in three sets to reach her first Major quarter-final, on her 63rd attempt.
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Tag: Aryna Sabalenka
Australian Open 2022: Sabalenka surges into week two after another gritty comeback win on Day 6
Despite questions over her patchy form and serving issues, Aryna Sabalenka [2] once again recovered from a precarious situation to ultimately prove too much vs. 2019 Roland Garros runner-up Marketa Vondrousova [31] in the early hours on Saturday. Post-match, she joked about only serving ten double-faults here, an improvement from a rough 19 from her R2 victory over China’s Xinyu Wang. Up next? Kaia Kanepi, entering uncharted territory in Melbourne…
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Australian Open 2022: Muguruza, Kontaveit both lose as shocks flow across Day 4
Garbine Muguruza’s pursuit of an elusive Australian Open title continues after Alize Cornet stunned the WTA Finals champion. Elsewhere, Anett Kontaveit (#6) and Diego Schwartzman (#13) were among the latest seeds to fall, while US Open semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka had to save her blushes before disappointing three-set defeats for Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu.
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Anett Kontaveit astonished by top 10 rankings surge, but she really shouldn’t be
Having sown the seeds for her progression last year with new career-high Grand Slam finishes in Melbourne and Flushing Meadows, Estonian rising star Anett Kontaveit [9] is said to be in disbelief after surpassing Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur to officially qualify for next week’s WTA Finals – another career first as her resume continues to blossom. There’s no reason she should be. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Emma Raducanu beats Leylah Fernandez, seals title on main draw debut
It wasn’t without some dicey moments and two championship points saved, but British teenage qualifier Emma Raducanu held firm despite some ever-growing second set tension to beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 6-4 and clinch this year’s US Open title on her main draw debut. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Fernandez vs. Raducanu in battle of first-time teenage Slam finalists
Another day, more history made at this year’s US Open. Two teenagers will contest Saturday’s Grand Slam Final, on their main draw debuts no less, when Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and British qualifier Emma Raducanu duel this weekend. The latter dropped just five games vs. Maria Sakkari (#17), after Fernandez outlasted Aryna Sabalenka (#2) in a three-set battle. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Three new semi-finalists confirmed but Day 9 sadly fizzles out
Although an unspectacular semi-final and contrasting injuries saw the night session finish within a flash on Day 9, three new Grand Slam semi-finalists were sealed – two for the first time – as 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez’s dizzying tournament continued with a dramatic win over Elina Svitolina, before compatriot Felix Auger-Aliassime fended off Carlos Alcaraz overnight.
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US Open 2021: Auger-Aliassime makes history with Tiafoe win; teenagers shine on Day 7
On an day full of twists and turns where two teenagers booked their place in maiden Grand Slam quarter-finals, Felix Auger-Aliassime recovered from a set down, taking Frances Tiafoe’s best punches and silenced the raucous Arthur Ashe crowd to break a 12-year piece of history. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Murray-Tsitsipas lives up to the billing on eventful Day 1
On an opening day marred by several injury-enforced withdrawals, 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray and world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas were engaged in a five-set epic battle, lasting four hours 50 minutes, to start the year’s final Grand Slam tournament with aplomb. Continue reading
Tokyo Olympics: After seizing gold for Swiss, can Belinda Bencic build on this?
After earning a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 win over 2019 Roland Garros finalist Marketa Vondrousova, Belinda Bencic is an Olympic gold medallist. Having also clinched silver in the doubles alongside Viktorija Golubic, the 24-year-old must believe this memorable moment is the first of many in a career that has already promised much but delivered infrequently in Grand Slam competition. Continue reading
Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka eases into R3, is happy again and fulfilling a dream
After earning straight-sets victories against China’s Saisai Zheng and last month’s Wimbledon quarter-finalist Viktorija Golubic, world number two Naomi Osaka revealed she was in a better place mentally since taking a break from the tour. Having returned at home in Tokyo, the 23-year-old said she’s putting pressure on herself to perform after lacking match practice of late.
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Wimbledon 2021: Bullish Barty battles past tricky Pliskova, seals second Slam title
World number one Ashleigh Barty was made to work for it, but eventually outlasted Karolina Pliskova (#8) 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 to secure her second Grand Slam title – making history by being the first Australian since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win the Venus Rosewater Dish too.
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