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.
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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
There were straight-set victories for Matteo Berrettini, Maria Sakkari and Stan Wawrinka among others but the big story came in the evening as home favourite Jason Kubler recovered from a 5-0 second set deficit to overwhelm world no. 27 Dan Evans and secure Australia’s first-ever United Cup triumph, on an eventful second day of group action at the tournament. Continue reading
Defending champion Emma Raducanu fought hard, but was undone on her Flushing Meadows return by Alize Cornet’s devastating drop shots and masterful defensive skills. Elsewhere, Rafael Nadal recovered to overwhelm 21-year-old Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata after Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Hubert Hurkacz were all comfortable winners on Day 2.
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It’s easy to declare post-match that you’ll learn lessons from a loss, especially a humbling one during the notoriously short grass court season, but 20-year-old Jack Draper’s case feels slightly different than most. Considering Wimbledon’s just around the corner, here’s why… Continue reading
Playing only his fourth match of 2022 after enduring a troublesome year packed with persistent injuries, the US Open champion showed enough in his 6-3, 6-4 defeat to be happy about, against a legendary Major winner who turns 35 later this month but has persisted when things looked increasingly ominous, having himself struggled with injuries for over a half decade now. Continue reading
There were comfortable straight-set wins for multiple Grand Slam champions, including two title contenders in WTA Finals winner Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek, while more seeds fell on Day 2 of this year’s Australian Open. Andy Murray made history after gritting through another five-set battle, while Nick Kyrgios and Emma Raducanu shone in the night session.
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A first meeting between American duo Coco Gauff and Madison Keys didn’t disappoint despite a sluggish start by the latter, as the US Open 2017 runner-up rallied back from a set down to outlast Gauff and earn her first WTA Final in two years. She’ll play training partner Alison Riske in tomorrow’s finale, after the 31-year-old benefited from a walkover vs. Tamara Zidansek.
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Russians ruled supreme on day three, as there were straight-sets victories for Daniil Medvedev (#2) and Daria Kasatkina (#25), while Andrey Rublev (#5) had a fiery response after relinquishing three set points to oust Spain’s Pablo Martínez in four. There were also comfortable wins for Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep while defending champ Naomi Osaka had a walkover. Continue reading
Carla Suarez Navarro bid farewell with a valiant three-set defeat to world no. 1 Ashleigh Barty on Centre Court, while there were routine wins for Alexander Zverev (#4) and Britain’s Daniel Evans (#22). Daniil Medvedev overcame some adversity to prevail elsewhere, while multiple-time champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams experienced contrasting injury incidents.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas (#4) will play Andrey Rublev (#6) or rising Norwegian Casper Ruud in his third Masters 1000 Final tomorrow and hopes the number three proves lucky, after needing just 68 minutes to end Dan Evans’ red-hot tournament in Monte Carlo – with an impressive 6-2, 6-1 win.
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It wasn’t easy, but 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer made his return one to saviour for the socially distanced fans watching on: involved in a high-quality clash after a 405-day absence from competitive tennis while producing multiple impressive moments en route to a 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 win over Britain’s Dan Evans (#28) in the last-16 of this year’s Qatar Open in Doha.
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