Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
2023 brings a new year packed with resolutions, time-specific targets and compelling storylines too. With the year’s first Major tournament set to begin on Monday in Melbourne, here’s a news round-up before the big occasion finally gets underway – from player withdrawals, injury scares, progress reports from recent tournaments and my draw analysis for both tours.
Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday”
Earlier this week, quotes emerged from the Australian Associated Press – former world no. 1 and three-time Major champion Ashleigh Barty singing the praises of Ajla Tomljanovic, whose steady rise has seen her on the cusp of being seeded for next month’s home Grand Slam. Given the 29-year-old’s previous form and injury struggles, that public vote of confidence when asked whether she can embark on a deep run speaks volumes for Ajla’s progression. Why not? Continue reading “Australian Open 2023: After an incredible year, Barty’s backing for Tomljanovic speaks volumes”
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 “Decision felt inevitable: Clijsters confirms third retirement, 20 months after comeback”
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.
Continue reading ““No perfect time, but this was mine” – Barty discusses shock retirement in press conference”
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 secures third Major, first home champion in 44 years”
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.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Barty and Collins ease to straight-sets wins, setting up Saturday’s Final”
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.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Nadal-Berrettini, Keys-Barty semifinals set as Day 9 excites”
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].
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Zverev, Sakkari and Badosa all knocked out on busy Day 7”
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: Badosa, Krejcikova win three-set battles to kick off action-packed Day 5”
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.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Barty and Badosa ease into R3, Nadal tested on lowkey Day 3”
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 “Australian Open 2022: Djokovic deported, Jabeur injured, Coco and Cam knocked out on Day 1”
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 “Adelaide International 2: Gauff ousts Kostyuk in three-set battle of attrition”
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