Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Britain’s no. 1 Cameron Norrie was bested in four sets, Casper Ruud’s conqueror Liam Broady led early but suffered the same fate while Andy Murray was left to rue what might’ve been as Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from an overnight deficit to beat him in a decider. Katie Boulter is now the country’s last remaining singles hope, Aryna Sabalenka survived a scare and more seeds fell.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Tsitsipas topples Murray, while Eubanks earns big win over Norrie”
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and Britain’s number one Cameron Norrie both won in contrasting circumstances on a rain-affected Day 2 at this year’s Championships, where only eight matches were completed as persistently poor weather conditions ensured play on the outside courts quickly became unfeasible. It means a rush today to catch up on what was lost, mind… Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Murray and Norrie through as rain renders Day 2 a false start”
Merely three weeks after the conclusion of this season’s French Open finals, we’re onto another surface on grass and Major tournament as SW19 gets underway proper this coming Monday. Before then, the draws for both tours was confirmed today so here’s a news round-up – one prominent player’s sad farewell and the return of a former world no. 1 – as well as my draw analysis. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Main draw set – Djokovic, Rybakina + more find their fate”
Novak Djokovic got off to a stressful start but, as we’ve come to expect from the 36-year-old, steadied himself late in set one and ultimately finished strongest during a far-from-straightforward three-set victory over three-time Major finalist Casper Ruud – clinching a record-breaking 23rd Major title by doing so. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Djokovic overcomes slow start to beat Ruud, seals 23rd Major”
Novak Djokovic started fast, Carlos Alcaraz grew in confidence as time wore on, they battled during a series of nailbiting rallies but the intensity took a toll on the world no. 1, cramping and subsequently forfeiting a game early in set three of a tense semi-final encounter suddenly losing its edge. The 22-time Major champion will now have a chance for #23 on Sunday, after his four-set victory.
Continue reading “French Open 2023: Djokovic into Sunday’s final after wearing down cramping Alcaraz”
He plays with a smile on his face, an electric brand of tennis that has fans worldwide clamouring to get a glimpse of him upclose, and his displays have softened the blow felt by 14-time champion Rafael Nadal’s absence. Now with a night session matchup against the 2021 runner-up, can his red-hot form continue as he seeks to secure a second Major title in less than twelve months? Continue reading “French Open 2023: Having demoralised Musetti, will Alcaraz now go all the way?”
Lorenzo Musetti ended Cameron Norrie’s hopes of a deep run, while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daria Kasatkina were also comfortable winners across the two draws on Day 6. Denis Shapovalov crumbled against Carlos Alcaraz, while Hubert Hurkacz was stunned by a plucky Peruvian but despite a three-set defeat against Novak Djokovic, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina did himself proud. Continue reading “Shapovalov crumbles, Hurkacz stumbles – Davidovich Fokina shines in Djokovic loss”
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”
Eyebrows were raised after Carlos Alcaraz’s straight-sets defeat by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in Rome last week. However, given just how much the world no. 1 has played recently worldwide to make up for lost time after injury, that early Masters 1000 exit might have served him well before bigger things await, starting this Sunday as one of the clear French Open favourites. Continue reading “Alex Corretja calls Rome upset loss the best thing to happen to Alcaraz – he’s right”
As 22-time Major champion Novak Djokovic begins the defence of his Rome title this weekend, he’s wise to acknowledge Madrid titlist Carlos Alcaraz is the player to beat right now. Having struggled with an elbow injury and some inconsistent play of late, the Serb’s public declaration in a pre-tournament presser eases pressure off his shoulders as he looks to peak at Roland Garros. Continue reading “Rome: Djokovic wise to put onus on in-form Alcaraz, given their contrasting form”
Before Sunday afternoon, Andrey Rublev had won 12 ATP tour-level singles titles, three in doubles competition as well as Olympic gold in mixed two years ago. By 6pm that day, he claimed the biggest trophy of his career and did so in a manner he’ll never forget: recovering from 4-1 down in the deciding set to topple Paris Masters champion Holger Rune. How will he build on that success? Continue reading “Andrey Rublev’s grind resumes in Bosnia, after clinching maiden Masters 1000 title”
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”
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