Tennis

Wimbledon 2023: AELTC, LTA reverse ban on Russian, Belarusian players competing

Elise Mertens of Belguim and Shuai Zhang of China and Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova both of the Czech Republic in action during the...

It felt inevitable as the threat of expulsion and further fines were surfacing over recent months. Now it’s been confirmed: Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at Britain’s grass-court tennis tournaments – including Wimbledon – this summer if they sign neutrality agreements after the All England Club and Lawn Tennis Association reversed their controversial ban. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: AELTC, LTA reverse ban on Russian, Belarusian players competing”

Tennis

Indian Wells: Rybakina pips Sabalenka to title, before Alcaraz ends Medvedev’s 19-match win streak

They say revenge is a dish best served cold and it certainly was for this year’s Indian Wells champions: Elena Rybakina bested Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in straight-sets, before Carlos Alcaraz ended Daniil Medvedev’s 19-match winning streak with aplomb in the men’s final. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Rybakina pips Sabalenka to title, before Alcaraz ends Medvedev’s 19-match win streak”

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

Plenty to ponder for both after Medvedev outsmarts Murray to clinch Qatar Open title

Daniil Medvedev of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the ATP Qatar Exxonmobil Open tennis tournament 2023 against Andy Murray of Great...

2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev started assertively and produced more on the big points against a determined Andy Murray display, in an entertaining battle of former world no. 1 players. Having built up confidence and momentum with consecutive ATP titles after Rotterdam last weekend, can the Russian go on to break his hoodoo at the upcoming ATP 1000 events? Continue reading “Plenty to ponder for both after Medvedev outsmarts Murray to clinch Qatar Open title”

Tennis

Krejcikova ends Sabalenka streak, Murray wins again and Medvedev vs. Auger-Aliassime 2

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in action against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in her quarter-final match on Day 5 of the Dubai Duty Free...

Barbora Krejcikova rallied from a bagel set down to end Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka’s 13-match unbeaten run with a spirited comeback win on another busy day of tennis worldwide. Andy Murray again prevailed in three sets and now faces Andrey Rublev’s conqueror Jiri Lehecka, while Felix Auger-Aliassime hopes for a different outcome at Daniil Medvedev’s expense later today – a repeat of last week’s Rotterdam quarter-final matchup beckons.

Continue reading “Krejcikova ends Sabalenka streak, Murray wins again and Medvedev vs. Auger-Aliassime 2”

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

USA vs. Italy sealed for United Cup final, Gauff-Masarova and Djokovic-Korda finals plus more

Greeces Stefanos Tsitsipas embraces Italys Matteo Berrettini after their mens singles in the semi-final of the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney...

USA vs. Italy awaits in the United Cup final after both nations took care of business. Coco Gauff faces Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova in tomorrow’s finale, while Tallon Griekspoor became a first-time ATP tour-level titlist with a recovery win over Benjamin Bonzi. Elsewhere, Sebastian Korda’s steady tennis helped him book a final berth, but not before witnessing an emotional outburst – while Novak Djokovic bested Daniil Medvedev despite weathering an injury scare. Continue reading “USA vs. Italy sealed for United Cup final, Gauff-Masarova and Djokovic-Korda finals plus more”

Tennis

USA and Italy lead in United Cup semis, Noskova-Jabeur and Djokovic-Medvedev confirmed

Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates winning match point in the Semifinal match against Iga Swiatek of Poland during day eight of the 2023...

Jessica Pegula ended a four-match losing streak against the world no. 1, while Martina Trevisan played spoiler to sting Greece as the United Cup semi-finals got underway. Elsewhere, there were big wins for Sebastian Korda and Linda Noskova, while two first-time finalists will play each other in Pune. It’s always fun to get a Djokovic-Medvedev matchup too, right? Continue reading “USA and Italy lead in United Cup semis, Noskova-Jabeur and Djokovic-Medvedev confirmed”

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

Carlos Alcaraz aware a difficult 2023 season awaits him with newfound favourite tag

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain Carlos Alcaraz of Spain receives the trophy as best ATP player of 2022 during day four of the Nitto ATP Finals at Pala...

There’s going to be a lot of pressure and expectation on Carlos Alcaraz’s shoulders in the new year, something the Spanish teenager is aware of, but how will he handle it after his meteoric rise continued with two Masters 1000 titles and the US Open crown in an unforgettable 2022? Continue reading “Carlos Alcaraz aware a difficult 2023 season awaits him with newfound favourite tag”

Tennis

ATP Finals: Djokovic outlasts Ruud to seal record-equalling sixth title, ending a memorable 2022

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning the match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Casper Ruud of Norway during day eight of the Nitto...

2022 started with the now-former world no. 1 being embarrassed in Australia, deported as he prepared to defend his Grand Slam title – an easy target for vilification worldwide given his vaccination stance. It ends with Novak Djokovic clinching a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title despite Casper Ruud’s best efforts, another result during an eventful week in Turin setting up the new season perfectly with plenty of compelling questions now bubbling to the surface. Continue reading “ATP Finals: Djokovic outlasts Ruud to seal record-equalling sixth title, ending a memorable 2022”

Tennis

Round-up: Alcaraz, Ruud stunned in straight-sets, Kasatkina outwits Raducanu in Ostrava and more

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in action against Daria Kasatkina of Russia during her first round match on Day 2 of the Agel Open at Ostravar Arena...

On a day where two of the world’s top male players both crashed out in the first-round of their respective tournaments, Emma Raducanu acquitted herself well but costly errors late in both sets saw her ultimately lose a competitive clash to Daria Kasatkina. Daniil Medvedev dropped just four games, while Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios excelled on his return to action too. Continue reading “Round-up: Alcaraz, Ruud stunned in straight-sets, Kasatkina outwits Raducanu in Ostrava and more”