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: Swiatek stifles Raducanu, Draper’s injury woes return and Norrie’s double-header

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain consoles Jack Draper of Great Britain after he retired injured during BNP Paribas Open on March 14, 2023 in Indian Wells,...

World no. 1 Iga Swiatek endured some stressful moments but won in straight-sets over Emma Raducanu, who faded physically despite an encouraging display in places. That came after Jack Draper was forced to retire with an abdominal injury against Carlos Alcaraz, who now plays comeback king Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last-eight – who he has never beaten (0-3 H2H) before… Continue reading “Indian Wells: Swiatek stifles Raducanu, Draper’s injury woes return and Norrie’s double-header”

Tennis

Indian Wells: Draper-Murray set, while Raducanu and Norrie earn contrasting victories

Jack Draper of Great Britain celebrates against Dan Evans of great Britain in the second round of BNP Paribas Open on March 11, 2023 in Indian Wells,...

After narrowly losing an exhibition match to the Scot before Christmas, rising British prospect Jack Draper gets a maiden competitive clash against his role model Andy Murray as both won their second-round matches in straight-sets over the weekend. Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu overcame early adversity against Magda Linette and Cameron Norrie did things the hard way overnight. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Draper-Murray set, while Raducanu and Norrie earn contrasting victories”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Korda outplays Medvedev, Lehecka downs Norrie, Zhu stuns Sakkari and more on Day 5

Sebastian Korda of the United States celebrates after winning a point during the third round singles match against Daniil Medvedev during day five of...

Adelaide 1 finalist and 29th seed Sebastian Korda produced some brilliant ball-striking as he stunned two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in straight-sets to steal the show on an eventful Day 5 at this year’s Australian Open, with Jiri Lehecka a big winner after some tasty fourth-round ties on the women’s side were confirmed, including Swiatek-Rybakina and Pegula-Krejcikova. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Korda outplays Medvedev, Lehecka downs Norrie, Zhu stuns Sakkari and more on Day 5”

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

Tennis: United Cup’s final four teams confirmed, Rybakina and Andreescu lose in Adelaide and more

Greece's Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrate with teammates their win over Croatia's Petra Martic and Borna Gojo at the end of their mixed...

Maria Sakkari called this one of the best weeks in her career. Jessica Pegula spoke for team USA, stressing their excitement for what’s to come. Poland are deadly in unison and we’re only halfway through: the United Cup’s final four nations were sealed after a manic day’s action – with a few surprising results as expected across tour-level tournaments elsewhere today. Continue reading “Tennis: United Cup’s final four teams confirmed, Rybakina and Andreescu lose in Adelaide and more”

Tennis

United Cup: Dimitrov, Swiatek among winners before Norrie finally overcomes Nadal in three-set battle

Britain's Cameron Norrie reacts on a point against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their men's singles match on day three of the United Cup tennis...

Grigor Dimitrov and Iga Swiatek were among the day’s winners for their respective nations in contrasting circumstances, before Cameron Norrie ended an eventful 2022 with a long-awaited scalp: recovering from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal for the first time in five attempts, helping Great Britain take an early lead in their United Cup group clash against Spain. Continue reading “United Cup: Dimitrov, Swiatek among winners before Norrie finally overcomes Nadal in three-set battle”

Tennis

Australian Open 2023: Zverev, Norrie eager to ramp up their preparations in Saudi Arabia event

Zverev Alexander tennis player during the 2022/2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 10 match between AS Monaco and FC Bayern Munich...

Olympic champion Alexander Zverev’s long-awaited comeback from ankle surgery, after an unexpected setback, is less than a fortnight away now. He’s looking forward to returning against a competitive field for Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Tennis Cup, which includes 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and Cameron Norrie, hoping the three-day event serves him well as the British no. 1 looks to banish his historical Australian Open struggles come early 2023. Continue reading “Australian Open 2023: Zverev, Norrie eager to ramp up their preparations in Saudi Arabia event”

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

Wimbledon 2022 — Day 14: Djokovic recovers to outlast Kyrgios in four sets, clinches 21st Major

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning match point against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during their Men's Singles Final match on day fourteen of...

After all the controversy, drama, pressure and tension following him for countless months, Novak Djokovic can finally breathe again. The 35-year-old recovered from a set down for the third straight match, defending his Wimbledon title for a third consecutive year, outworking and outsmarting maiden finalist Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining four-set win on Centre Court. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 — Day 14: Djokovic recovers to outlast Kyrgios in four sets, clinches 21st Major”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 — Day 12: Djokovic downs Norrie in four, faces Kyrgios in Sunday’s final

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates match point against Cameron Norrie of Great Britain during the Mens' Singles Semi Final match on day twelve of...

Novak Djokovic recovered from another sluggish start, this time a set down, to eventually outclass British no. 1 Cameron Norrie, en route to a four-set victory. He’ll play maiden Finalist Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s final – and is yet to beat the unpredictable Australian in their three previous H2H meetings. On tap today, Ons Jabeur faces Elena Rybakina in the Ladies’ Final. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 — Day 12: Djokovic downs Norrie in four, faces Kyrgios in Sunday’s final”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 – Day 11: Jabeur-Rybakina in Saturday’s final, Nadal withdraws with torn ab injury

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina shakes hands with Romania's Simona Halep after winning at the end of their women's singles semi final tennis match on the...

There will be a pair of maiden Major finalists in Saturday’s ladies final, when Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur [3] faces Simona Halep’s conqueror Elena Rybakina [17]. Elsewhere on Thursday evening, 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from his proposed semi-final against Nick Kyrgios after revealing his torn abdominal muscle injury had worsened. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 11: Jabeur-Rybakina in Saturday’s final, Nadal withdraws with torn ab injury”