Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Lorenzo Sonego took on Joao Fonseca and a rowdy Brazilian contingent but emerged victorious during a busy day’s play, where four seeds fell but Iga Swiatek and Alex de Minaur won comfortably as Madison Keys kicked off the night session with a three-set victory before compatriot Learner Tien produced a thrilling display over five sets vs. three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 25: Sonego stifles Fonseca in five, Tien topples Medvedev in thriller”
Emma Raducanu’s injury and fitness woes have been a recurring theme throughout the 2021 US Open champion’s young pro career to date, though the Brit, who turned 22 last month, spoke encouragingly about hiring a full-time strength-and-conditioning coach in highly-rated Yutaka Nakamura as she looks to become one of the tour’s fittest players and fulfil her potential long-term. Continue reading “Raducanu has renewed goals after hiring renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura”
On a day where defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fended off another tricky challenge in France’s Ugo Humbert to secure his seventh consecutive Major quarter-final berth, five maiden Wimbledon quarterfinalists were confirmed – headlined by New Zealand-Swiss qualifier Lulu Sun after an aggressive approach paid dividends to stun Emma Raducanu in their round four matchup.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Sun slices and sinks Raducanu in three, Sinner-Medvedev set”
Carlos Alcaraz had a serious scare in a five-set duel but emerged with his confidence renewed after some inspired play to overwhelm Frances Tiafoe in their thrilling third-round contest, before home hopeful Emma Raducanu notched another top-10 win as she outplayed Maria Sakkari on Centre Court. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Alcaraz survives Tiafoe scare as Raducanu sweeps Sakkari aside”
Emma Raducanu endured an unpredictable start en route to a 7-6, 6-3 win over Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazúa, as the 2021 US Open champion made a successful Centre Court return on a busy opening day packed with high-profile injury-enforced withdrawals – a trio of seeded women, including Australian Open titleholder Aryna Sabalenka. Plus, it’s likely there are more to come… Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Sabalenka, Azarenka among withdrawals as Raducanu prevails”
Andy Murray’s final hurrah – injury permitting – Novak Djokovic testing his limits again less than a month after knee surgery, new world no. 1 Jannik Sinner looking to unseat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz while Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter fly the Brits’ flag in an intriguing women’s draw. Will any Americans make some noise? How about youngsters with little to lose? Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Draw analysis as SW19 beckons again with storylines brewing”
World number one Iga Swiatek remains on course for a third consecutive Stuttgart title, after enduring more peaks and troughs than usual before finding her best level in the clutch moments late to oust 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu during their competitive quarter-final matchup. Continue reading “WTA Stuttgart: Swiatek holds her nerve vs. Raducanu, as Rybakina rematch beckons”
Andy Murray departed the Australian Open with a painful whimper on Monday, two other former champions have decisions to make after early exits elsewhere but the former world no. 1’s dilemma feels more pressing as retirement lingers. Meanwhile, the media adulation for a returning Emma Raducanu must be tempered if she’s to blossom as many expected would happen much sooner. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2024: Murray must regroup again, Raducanu back refreshed and more”
World no. 1 Novak Djokovic looks to make more history at the Major where he’s been most successful during his illustrious career, while Aryna Sabalenka returns to the scene of her career-best achievement twelve months ago knowing no woman has successfully defended their title since Serena Williams in 2014. Judging by the draws, completed yesterday, it’s easy to see why. Continue reading “Australian Open 2024: Draw analysis, storylines as year’s first Major beckons”
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”
Having come close in Surbiton the week before, Britain’s new number one Katie Boulter beat a quartet of compatriots – including Jodie Burrage in Sunday’s final – clinching a maiden WTA Tour-level title at her home tournament in Nottingham. As she conceded afterwards, a career-high attainment this week cannot be understated but consistency is key, starting today in Birmingham. Continue reading “After Sunday’s Nottingham triumph, Katie Boulter must maintain her momentum”
After both had their Miami tournaments end prematurely last month, they returned to clay this week. It was the 2017 French Open champion who wasted no time and produced 26 winners as her aggressive style of tennis proved too hot for the 20-year-old Brit to handle during a one-sided battle of Major titlists. Continue reading “WTA Stuttgart: Ostapenko awesome as she swats Raducanu aside within an hour”
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