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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Novak Djokovic was tested en route to making more history, while Spanish rising star Carlos Alcaraz was embroiled in a five-set battle before Emma Raducanu held her nerve in a tricky R1 test against Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck during a memorable Centre Court debut for the US Open champion. Read on for reviews and more, on what was another intriguing Day 1 on SW19. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 1: Djokovic and Alcaraz tested, Raducanu rules on Centre Court debut”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is planning a return to competition in time for this year’s Roland Garros, having been absent from the ATP tour since undergoing left foot surgery after last March’s Qatar Open. Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic said she’s still struggling with the after-effects of COVID-19 after contracting the virus in December.
Continue reading “Wawrinka targeting April return date, Bencic reveals COVID-19 complications”
Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa endured a spirited Belinda Bencic display during a high-quality match packed with plenty of peaks and troughs, but ultimately emerged victorious to punch her ticket into the semi-finals. She’ll play Daria Kasatkina in the Sydney semi-finals tomorrow (8am BST), after the Russian inflicted Garbine Muguruza’s first loss of the new year.
Continue reading “Sydney Tennis Classic: Badosa withstands Bencic pressure, clinches semi-final berth”
Having sown the seeds for her progression last year with new career-high Grand Slam finishes in Melbourne and Flushing Meadows, Estonian rising star Anett Kontaveit [9] is said to be in disbelief after surpassing Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur to officially qualify for next week’s WTA Finals – another career first as her resume continues to blossom. There’s no reason she should be. Continue reading “Anett Kontaveit astonished by top 10 rankings surge, but she really shouldn’t be”
Emma Raducanu’s remarkable run continues, as she recovered from 3-1 down to stifle Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. Maria Sakkari is next, following an impressive win over Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova later on. Speaking of the Olympics, Friday sees a rematch of the Tokyo semis as gold medallist Alexander Zverev looks to snap Novak Djokovic’s hopes of the Golden Slam. Judging by the way the Serb played vs. Matteo Berrettini, expect fireworks this weekend.
Continue reading “US Open 2021: Raducanu-Sakkari, Djokovic-Zverev semifinals set on Day 10”
Emma Raducanu is a US Open quarter-finalist after overcoming a nervy start to blitz past Shelby Rogers, while Novak Djokovic faces Matteo Berrettini next. The world no. 1 came from a set down – beating the last American man standing – 20yo wildcard Jenson Brooksby. Olympic champions Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic also earned big wins, among others on Day 8. Continue reading “US Open 2021: Raducanu’s run continues, Djokovic downs spirited Brooksby on Day 8”
Mo and Sports 