Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
After being criticised and ridiculed on social media for going winless during last season’s WTA Finals, US Open champion Coco Gauff has attributed a change in her perspective and learning life lessons as keys aiding her progression over the past twelve months. Kicking off the elite eight event in Cancun with a straight-sets win over three-time Major finalist Ons Jabeur is a good way to start. Continue reading “WTA Finals: Gauff grateful to seal winning start with commanding Jabeur scalp”
Aryna Sabalenka stressed finishing the year as world no. 1, rather than just having the title for a fleeting few weeks, was of paramount importance to her in the wake of a painful three-set US Open final defeat last month. If she’s to do so, the Belarusian will have been disadvantaged in the build-up after posting some rather unsatisfactory training conditions in Mexico on social media this week. Continue reading “While the Elite Trophy event is in full swing, Sabalenka unhappy at training conditions before next week’s WTA Finals”
Attack the forehand as they might, Coco Gauff bounced back from her Wimbledon disappointment and produced an excellent week’s worth of tennis – not dropping a set – en route to her first WTA 500 title in Washington, after beating Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday night. How does she build from here? Continue reading “Coco Gauff’s aggression key as she collects Washington title, her first at WTA 500 level”
She was broken twice in a first set that twisted one way and suddenly the next. Then she spluttered a quartet of double-faults in set two, against a player who has seized upon smaller errors over the preceeding fortnight’s play. Yet Marketa Vondrousova played the bigger points smarter and stayed composed vs. Ons Jabeur, who has now lost consecutive Wimbledon finals. How did this happen? Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Vondrousova topples Jabeur in straight-sets – where was Ladies’ Final won and lost?”
Ons Jabeur showed mental toughness and brilliant shot-making in tight moments, recovering from a set down to beat reigning champion Elena Rybakina – the exact opposite of their 2022 final. She must beat Madison Keys’ conqueror Aryna Sabalenka to return there, while Carlos Alcaraz vs. Daniil Medvedev is next on Friday after different wins by one-time Major champions. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Jabeur avenges defeat in Rybakina rematch, Alcaraz-Medvedev set”
It was a bittersweet day as two players enjoying career-best Wimbledon runs had them cut short via injury against a defending champion and former world no. 1 respectively, while Christopher Eubanks continued his inspiring run with a rousing five-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas and the 27-year-old’s compatriot recovered from a set and 4-1 down to end a talented teenager’s run elsewhere.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Haddad Maia + Lehecka retire injured, Eubanks stuns Tsitsipas”
Liam Broady produced some career-best tennis en route to a five-set win over world no. 4 and French Open finalist Casper Ruud, setting up a Denis Shapovalov showdown in round three, before Elena Rybakina defended well against Alize Cornet as a Brit awaits her on Saturday: Katie Boulter. Elsewhere, the 11pm curfew struck as Murray-Tsitsipas was bubbling up nicely… Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Broady downs Ruud in five, Rybakina fends off Cornet on Day 4”
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”
Ajla Tomljanovic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in consecutive seasons, has announced she won’t feature at SW19 this year as the year’s third Major comes too soon to return from a persistent knee injury that has stopped her from competing in any events this term. Elsewhere, the women’s defending champion Elena Rybakina remains a doubt after an Eastbourne withdrawal. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Tomljanovic remains out with knee issue, Rybakina’s virus persists”
After consecutive night sessions fell flat, Gael Monfils relished his role as the party starter on home soil and recovered from a seemingly improbable position to beat Sebastian Baez in a near four-hour thriller on Philippe-Chatrier. Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev both won clean while world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev was stunned by Brazil’s 23-year-old Thiago Seyboth Wild. Read on, for more… Continue reading “French Open 2023: Monfils-Baez exceeds expectations as Day 3 full of surprises”
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”
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