Tennis

Casper Ruud’s alarming slump continues, after painful Miami defeat overnight

Casper Ruud of Norway reacts during a match against Ilya Ivashka during the Miami Open held at Hard Rock Stadium on March 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens,...

The world no. 4, twice a Major finalist over the last twelve months, has slipped to a 5-6 win-loss record on what has quickly proven an arduous start to the season following a rough three-set defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp overnight in Miami – dropping over 500 ranking points as his struggles with form persist. Continue reading “Casper Ruud’s alarming slump continues, after painful Miami defeat overnight”

Archives, Specials

Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope

Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates her victory against Simona Halep of Romania in their Ladies' Singles Quarter Final Match at Wimbledon on...

Having announced her retirement on Dec. 1, Britain’s Johanna Konta – a three-time Major semi-finalist and former world no. 4 – was plagued by troublesome injuries and some streaky form, underselling the country’s greatest hope in the women’s game across the last decade and more. Here, I look back as the 30-year-old waved goodbye quietly before the new year. Continue reading “Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope”

Archives

Closing the Slam circle? Muguruza bullish about 2022 goals, as she should be

Garbiñe Muguruza salutes during La liga football match played between Real Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on December 1...

After making history at this season’s WTA Finals in Guadalajara, two-time Slam winner Garbine Muguruza wants to build on her success next year and given the way she’s played, why not? The 28-year-old revealed a desire to round out the Career Grand Slam, having lost the 2020 Australian Open Final and achieved a joint-best R4 finish at Flushing Meadows in September.
Continue reading “Closing the Slam circle? Muguruza bullish about 2022 goals, as she should be”

Archives

Mats Wilander: Emma Raducanu needs to have fun and develop on her own

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain reacts during the WTA Upper Austria Ladies Linz Round of 16 on November 09, 2021 in Linz, Austria.

The seven-time Grand Slam champ has delivered his verdict on what Emma Raducanu should look to do in 2022 and beyond, as the British teenager’s world has been transformed this year after a record-breaking run to the US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier in September. Continue reading “Mats Wilander: Emma Raducanu needs to have fun and develop on her own”

Archives

WTA Finals 2021: Motivated Muguruza makes history against error-prone Kontaveit

Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain celebrates with the Billie Jean King Trophy after defeating Anett Kontaveit of Estonia during the Women's Singles Final on...

After hearing rumours this year-end event would be moved to Mexico, Garbine Muguruza was giddy with anticipation. Despite losing her first group match and trailing a set down to Barbora Krejcikova in match two, the Venezuelan-born Spaniard won eight consecutive sets – four against the same opponent – making history in Latin America as the first Spanish champion.
Continue reading “WTA Finals 2021: Motivated Muguruza makes history against error-prone Kontaveit”

Archives

Roger Federer update: Swiss legend’s coach Ivan Ljubicic talks recovery and retirement

Roger Federer looks on during an interview with Andy Roddick during Day 2 of the 2021 Laver Cup at TD Garden on September 25, 2021 in Boston,...

After being blasted out of Wimbledon by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on July 7, Roger Federer underwent another round of knee surgery and stressed he wouldn’t rush a return in 2022 – which was one of the topics his coach Ivan Ljubicic has expanded on, during a recent interview. Continue reading “Roger Federer update: Swiss legend’s coach Ivan Ljubicic talks recovery and retirement”

Archives

Barty confirms her 2021 season is over, instead focusing on Australian Open 2022

Australia's Ashleigh Barty celebrates her win over Denmark's Clara Tauson during their 2021 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles second round...

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 “Barty confirms her 2021 season is over, instead focusing on Australian Open 2022”

Archives

Australian Open 2021: Osaka-Williams semi-final awaits, error-laden Djokovic sinks Zverev

Novak Djokovic of Serbia shakes hands with Alexander Zverev of Germany after winning the Men's Singles Quarterfinals match against during day nine of...

A Naomi Osaka vs Serena Williams semi-final is set in stone for Thursday after both were comfortable winners during their respective matchups, Aslan Karatsev’s record-breaking run in Melbourne has continued at an injured Grigor Dimitrov’s expense while defending champion Novak Djokovic recovered from a set down to beat Alexander Zverev in a chaotic four-set clash.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Osaka-Williams semi-final awaits, error-laden Djokovic sinks Zverev”

Archives

Australian Open 2021: Injuries pile up as warm-up events draw to close

Rafael Nadal of Spain talks to his team during a practice session ahead of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 06, 2021 in...

Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka are just three of the high-profile players who’ve withdrawn from their respective Australian Open warm-up events with niggling injuries as a precaution, just days before the year’s first Grand Slam gets underway in Melbourne. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Injuries pile up as warm-up events draw to close”

Archives

Australian Open 2021: Serena Williams reveals delay helped Achilles injury recovery

Serena Williams of the United States hits a forehand against Daria Gavrilova of Australia during day two of the WTA 500 Yarra Valley Classic at...

Serena Williams, a seven-time Australian Open champion, revealed she wouldn’t have featured in this year’s first Grand Slam if not for the COVID-19 enforced delays. Her Achilles injury sustained at the US Open took longer than expected to fully heal, but she’s recovered in time. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Serena Williams reveals delay helped Achilles injury recovery”

Archives

WTA Abu Dhabi: Sabalenka beats Kudermetova for ninth WTA title, first of 2021

sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka (#4) continued where she left off to cap another memorable week with her ninth WTA title and a new career-high world ranking no. 7 after dispatching unseeded Veronika Kudermetova in straight-sets – 6-2, 6-2 – extending an impressive win streak to 15 ahead of next month’s Australian Open, where the 22-year-old hopes to begin improving her Slam record. 
Continue reading “WTA Abu Dhabi: Sabalenka beats Kudermetova for ninth WTA title, first of 2021”

Archives

Garbine Muguruza: Excited for new tennis season, reassured of safety in Australia

2020 Roland Garros: Garbine Muguruza passes first test; Angelique Kerber  upset

Today features the start of 2021’s first WTA 500 event of the year from Abu Dhabi, with world number 15 Muguruza among those battling for the title as preparation for next month’s Australian Open. A beaten finalist in Melbourne last year, the Spaniard is excited at returning for the start of a new season, one where she’s reassured by health protocols and attention to detail. Continue reading “Garbine Muguruza: Excited for new tennis season, reassured of safety in Australia”