Tennis

French Open 2023: Auger-Aliassime axed, Bencic bounced, Norrie edges it on Day 2

Monday was busy as the R1 ties in this year’s French Open continued. There were predictably a few surprising results – including early exits for Felix Auger-Aliassime, Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and two-time semifinalist Petra Kvitova. As for the Brits, Jack Draper’s injury woes sadly continued before Cameron Norrie was composed to fend off a motivated Benoit Paire in five sets. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Auger-Aliassime axed, Bencic bounced, Norrie edges it on Day 2”

Tennis

Indian Wells: Tsitsipas stunned, Daniel downs Berrettini and Bencic bounced too

Jordan Thompson of Australia is congratulated by Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece after beating him in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on March...

Australia’s Jordan Thompson is into R3 at a Masters 1000 event for the third time in his career, after holding his nerve against a compromised Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning in a deciding set tiebreak. Elsewhere, Japan’s Taro Daniel added another impressive win to his ever-increasing resume against top players after Olympic champion Belinda Bencic was bested on her Indian Wells debut. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Tsitsipas stunned, Daniel downs Berrettini and Bencic bounced too”

Tennis

Bencic gutsy, saves three match points in Samsonova scalp to clinch Abu Dhabi title

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland poses with the trophy after defeating Liudmila Samsonova during her Women's Singles final match on Day 7 of the...

Belinda Bencic made her return to tennis action a triumphant one this past week – having lost to eventual winner Aryna Sabalenka at last month’s Australian Open. The Olympic champion won a trio of matches in straight-sets, but needed to save three match points and recover from a set down to overwhelm Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova in yesterday’s Abu Dhabi Open. Continue reading “Bencic gutsy, saves three match points in Samsonova scalp to clinch Abu Dhabi title”

Tennis

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

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”

Tennis

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

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”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Ruud, Zverev and Fritz all stunned, Murray weaves his magic again in epic on Day 4

Casper Ruud of Norway reacts in the round two singles match against Jenson Brooksby of the United States during day four of the 2023 Australian Open...

Casper Ruud’s four-set loss to Jenson Brooksby – on a brilliant Day 4 for American players not named Taylor Fritz – marks the first time a Grand Slam’s top two seeds have been knocked out before round three since this very tournament 21 years ago. Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka faces her Major-winning doubles teammate in the next round, Daniel Evans will meet a familiar foe while Andy Murray surpassed his Matteo Berrettini scalp after the longest match of his career.
Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Ruud, Zverev and Fritz all stunned, Murray weaves his magic again in epic on Day 4”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand shot during a practice session ahead of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2023 in...

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”

Tennis

Popyrin powers past Auger-Aliassime, De Minaur stuns Nadal and more on another busy day of tennis

Alex de Minaur of Australia celebrates a point in his group D match against Rafael Nadal of Spain during day five of the 2023 United Cup at Ken...

Rafael Nadal’s slow start to the 2023 season continued as home favourite Alex de Minaur became the latest to mount a stirring comeback against the reigning Australian Open champion in the United Cup, while Alexei Popyrin and Linda Noskova were just a few with surprise victories elsewhere as the main draw of other tournaments continued to unfold today. Continue reading “Popyrin powers past Auger-Aliassime, De Minaur stuns Nadal and more on another busy day of tennis”

Tennis

Tennis round-up: Swiatek seals 8th title of 2022, Bencic’s coaching change and Zverev update

Iga Swiatek of Poland clebebrates with the trophy after defeating Donna Vekic of Czech Republic in the women's singles final during the San Diego...

Iga Swiatek made more history after storming past Donna Vekic in their deciding set, clinching the San Diego title in the early hours Monday – while Olympic champion Belinda Bencic has been revealed as Dmitry Tursunov’s new coaching assignment after the Russian opted against continuing his trial stint with Emma Raducanu. Speaking of Olympic gold medallists, Alexander Zverev’s injury recovery is taking longer than expected, but reportedly for a good reason. Continue reading “Tennis round-up: Swiatek seals 8th title of 2022, Bencic’s coaching change and Zverev update”

Tennis

US Open 2022: Muguruza, Bencic among big losers as Rublev-Shapovalov taken to brink on Day 6

Garbine Muguruza of Spain looks on against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2022 US...

Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to ice a home hopeful in the night session, after Petra Kvitova was pushed into a deciding set ten-point tiebreak as she edged past two-time Major champion Garbine Muguruza. Elsewhere, Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe prevailed before Naomi Osaka’s conqueror Danielle Collins added another tricky opponent onto her resume.
Continue reading “US Open 2022: Muguruza, Bencic among big losers as Rublev-Shapovalov taken to brink on Day 6”

Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Raducanu dismisses patchy Serena showing in straight-sets on Cincy debut

Serena Williams congratulates Emma Raducanu of Great Britain after their match during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on...

US Open champion Emma Raducanu started fast and drew errors aplenty (19-1) from a sluggish Serena Williams display on her Cincinnati debut tonight, as the 19-year-old kept composed, as the 19-year-old kept composed in their first and only competitive meeting. Next she’ll play another legend she grew up watching: two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Raducanu dismisses patchy Serena showing in straight-sets on Cincy debut”

Tennis

Serena’s swansong: 23-time Major champion confirms imminent retirement in Vogue magazine

Serena Williams of the United States in action against Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain in her first round match on Day 3 of the National Bank Open, part...

In an interview with Vogue magazine, 23-time Major winner Serena Williams revealed she’s winding down her career, with the US Open likely to be her final farewell this month. She cited a desire to grow her family – five-year-old daughter Olympia wanting siblings – as a big factor in her decision. Although this news has felt a long time coming, it’s still a seismic one nonetheless. Continue reading “Serena’s swansong: 23-time Major champion confirms imminent retirement in Vogue magazine”