Tag: Australian Open 2023

Tennis

Indian Wells: James Blake’s supportive words for injury doubt Raducanu, before her Kovinic clash

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Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during practice on Day 3 of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 08, 2023 in Indian...

Emma Raducanu’s participation at this year’s Indian Wells Masters 1000 event looked in serious jeopardy, having withdrawn from scheduled tournaments and exhibitions on the eve of the competition. She’s received some positive words of support before her first-round match against Danka Kovinic later today (from 8pm BST), from the Miami Open tournament director and former world no. 4. Continue reading “Indian Wells: James Blake’s supportive words for injury doubt Raducanu, before her Kovinic clash” →

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Qatar Open: After Sonego scalp, Murray produces another nailbiting three-set win against Zverev

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Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates after winning against Alexander Zverev of Germany in their Men's Singles match on day three of the Qatar...

If only he could get the job done in straight-sets. Andy Murray doesn’t do things the easy way, but that makes his tennis more pulsating – win or lose – as the former world no. 1 was clutch again: rallying from 5-4 down in the deciding set to beat Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, earning a Qatar Open quarterfinal where he’ll play French qualifier Alexandre Muller tomorrow. Continue reading “Qatar Open: After Sonego scalp, Murray produces another nailbiting three-set win against Zverev” →

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“They don’t know me,” Rybakina insists after internet fury over her coach’s forceful guidance

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Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan plays a forehand against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic during her Women's Singles match on Day 4 of the Mubadala...

Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has reiterated her happiness with head coach Stefano Vukov’s direct coaching methods after fury over the 35-year-old’s aggressive instructions towards his charge, en route to a maiden runner-up finish at last month’s Australian Open tournament. She said social media comments – from many people who don’t know the inner workings of her nor the support team – ultimately blew things out of proportion. Continue reading ““They don’t know me,” Rybakina insists after internet fury over her coach’s forceful guidance” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Djokovic bests Tsitsipas in straight-sets, seals 22nd Major title and back at world no. 1

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy following his victory against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in the...

Novak Djokovic stressed in the build-up he was ready to go the distance, given both entered the finale in formidable form and what was at stake for the winner. Instead, he needed just shy of three hours, increasing his level in two tiebreak sets, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in this year’s Australian Open final – meaning he’ll return to world no. 1 – after clinching a record-extending tenth Major in Melbourne, moving level with long-time rival Rafael Nadal on 22 overall. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Djokovic bests Tsitsipas in straight-sets, seals 22nd Major title and back at world no. 1” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Sabalenka rallies from a set down, topples Rybakina and is a first-time Major champion

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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the champions trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the womens singles final on Day 13 of the...

The achievement must feel long overdue, but Aryna Sabalenka is now a Major singles champion. She needed four championship points to get the job done – but was courageous on serve and crunched 51 winners over two-and-a-half hours, recovering from a set down to overcome Wimbledon titlist Elena Rybakina in three sets during a nailbiting women’s finale. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Sabalenka rallies from a set down, topples Rybakina and is a first-time Major champion” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final with world no. 1 again on the line

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning in the Semifinal singles match against Tommy Paul of the United States during day twelve of the 2023...

Novak Djokovic stuttered early but produced some of his awe-inspiring groundstrokes late on as he booked his place in Sunday’s final after a straight-sets victory over unseeded American Tommy Paul. He’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas after the Greek held firm despite a spirited showing by Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov in the day’s earlier semifinal. It means the pair – who met in the 2021 Roland Garros final – will do battle for world no. 1 status too. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final with world no. 1 again on the line” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final, as both hold firm on Day 11

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Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina celebrates victory against Belarus' Victoria Azarenka after the women's singles semi-final match on day eleven of the...

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will contest her second Major final in seven months when she battles first-time finalist Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday. Regardless of who wins, there will be a first-time Australian Open titlist – after they both upped their level in first set tiebreaks before ousting two-time champ Victoria Azarenka and Magda Linette respectively on Day 11. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final, as both hold firm on Day 11” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Linette-Sabalenka, Paul-Djokovic semis sealed on straightforward Day 10

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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Donna Vekic of Croatia in her quarter-final match on Day 10 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne...

Magda Linette’s Major run continues after she downed an errant Karolina Pliskova, with Aryna Sabalenka to come in the second of Thursday’s semi-finals as the fifth seed was a convincing winner against Donna Vekic. Afterwards, experience proved key for Tommy Paul as he ousted young compatriot Ben Shelton in a battle of two first-time quarterfinalists, setting up a Friday fight against nine-time champion Novak Djokovic after making quick work of Andrey Rublev. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Linette-Sabalenka, Paul-Djokovic semis sealed on straightforward Day 10” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Azarenka-Rybakina, Khachanov-Tsitsipas set in semifinals on eventful Day 9

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Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after victory against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka in their men's singles quarter-final match on day nine of...

Victoria Azarenka started well and didn’t let up, as she ended Jessica Pegula’s eight-match winning streak – to punch her ticket into a ninth Major semi-final. She’ll face reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday, who dropped just one more game against Jelena Ostapenko. Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov will target a first competitive H2H win over Stefanos Tsitsipas after their contrasting wins over Sebastian Korda and Jiri Lehecka on Day 9. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Azarenka-Rybakina, Khachanov-Tsitsipas set in semifinals on eventful Day 9” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Rublev saves match points vs. Rune, Djokovic dismantles de Minaur and more on Day 8

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Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates after winning his match during Round 4 of the 2023 Australian Open on January 23 2023, at Melbourne Park in...

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” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7

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Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland in her fourth round match on Day 7 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park...

Neither played badly, but both were second best on the biggest points as world no. 1 Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff suffered straight-sets defeats against a pair of Grand Slam champions in Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko on a busy Day 7 at this year’s Major. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka’s giantkilling run continued and he’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7” →

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AUS OPEN 2023: Straightforward victories for most on Day 6, as Fruhvirtova and Shelton big winners

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Ben Shelton of the United States reacts during the third round singles match against Alexei Popyrin of Australia during day six of the 2023...

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” →