20 months after announcing her return from an eight-year second retirement, four-time Major champion Kim Clijsters has definitively pulled the curtain on a professional career lasting almost 25 years at the age of 38 as the Belgian Hall of Famer revealed this week she cannot effectively commit to the sport’s demands with her schedule as a mother with three children. Continue reading
Tag: Ashleigh Barty
“No perfect time, but this was mine” – Barty discusses shock retirement in press conference
After sending the tennis world into shockwaves late on Tuesday by announcing her immediate retirement from the sport, world number one Ashleigh Barty fielded questions and was content discussing the decision alongside head coach Craig Tyzzer with assembled media reporters in a press conference today – just 53 days after cruising to a historic Australian Open triumph.
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Australian Open 2022: Barty secures third Major, first home champion in 44 years
This wasn’t vintage tennis but didn’t need to be. World no. 1 Ashleigh Barty recovered from a 5-1 second set deficit to overcome Danielle Collins in straight-sets (6-3, 7-6), clinching a heavily-anticipated home Major for Australia and doing so without dropping a set all tournament long. Continue reading
Australian Open 2022: Barty and Collins ease to straight-sets wins, setting up Saturday’s Final
Ashleigh Barty needed just 62 minutes to become the first Australian player to reach the Australian Open Final since Wendy Turnbull in 1980, dropping just four games against an underwhelming Madison Keys display. She’ll play Keys’ compatriot Danielle Collins [27] on Saturday night, after the 28-year-old utilised a blistering start to blast past Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1.
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Australian Open 2022: Nadal-Berrettini, Keys-Barty semifinals set as Day 9 excites
Rafael Nadal withstood a spirited Denis Shapovalov comeback to oust the Canadian in five sets, before Matteo Berrettini similarly held firm under Gael Monfils’ pressure in a night session showdown lasting almost four hours, becoming the first Italian ever to reach this tournament’s semis. Elsewhere, Ashleigh Barty made quick work of her last-eight clash with Jessica Pegula and now faces another American in Barbora Krejcikova’s conqueror Madison Keys on Thursday.
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Australian Open 2022: Zverev, Sakkari and Badosa all knocked out on busy Day 7
Adelaide champion Madison Keys booked her place in an eighth Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Sydney titlist Paula Badosa to kick off a busy day of action where multiple seeds fell, including Maria Sakkari [5] and a worryingly off-colour Alexander Zverev [3].
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Australian Open 2022: Badosa, Krejcikova win three-set battles to kick off action-packed Day 5
Paula Badosa and Barbora Krejcikova’s contrasting three-set wins continued their career-best Australian Open runs, on a day full of surprises. Elsewhere, defending champion Naomi Osaka had two match points on her racquet but tightened up and lost against Amanda Anisimova after Matteo Berrettini [7] was pushed to a deciding set tiebreak by rising star Carlos Alcaraz. Continue reading
Australian Open 2022: Barty and Badosa ease into R3, Nadal tested on lowkey Day 3
After an easy R1 match, Wimbledon titlist Ashleigh Barty also breezed past Italian qualifier Lucia Bronzetti. Elsewhere in the women’s draw, some intriguing R3 matches are set after comfortable victories for Paula Badosa (#8) and Victoria Azarenka (#24). Meanwhile 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal had to work hard but still emerged as the challenges intensify.
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Australian Open 2022: Djokovic deported, Jabeur injured, Coco and Cam knocked out on Day 1
On an opening day overshadowed by news confirming defending champion Novak Djokovic had been deported after his visa was once again cancelled, there were big wins for American duo Sebastian Korda and Madison Keys among others — the former edged past 2020 winner Sofia Kenin (#11) in two tight sets, while Korda bested Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie. Continue reading
Adelaide International 2: Gauff ousts Kostyuk in three-set battle of attrition
In a duel between two promising teenagers, the tournament’s third seed Coco Gauff was pushed to the brink but battled to win in a competitive three-set clash vs. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk – winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. She’ll play Croatia’s Ana Konjuh in the Adelaide 2 quarter-finals tomorrow (2.30am BST), after the Croatian’s gutsy comeback win over Marketa Vondrousova. Continue reading
Barty confirms her 2021 season is over, instead focusing on Australian Open 2022
After her coach Craig Tyzzer’s comments last month, saying she was exhausted and needed a long rest, the world no. 1 has confirmed exactly that: quarantine restrictions mean her 2021 season is over, with an eye on next year’s Australian Open – a Grand Slam she’s itching to win. Continue reading
Ashleigh Barty is exhausted and needs extended rest, per coach Craig Tyzzer
World no. 1 Ashleigh Barty is exhausted and needs a long rest after more than six months playing away from home, according to her coach Craig Tyzzer. He also criticised the decision to move this year’s WTA Finals to Guadalajara while hinting the Wimbledon champion may skip that event, scheduled in early November, to avoid quarantine restrictions upon going home.
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