Tennis

WTA Stuttgart: Ostapenko awesome as she swats Raducanu aside within an hour

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain looks dejected during day four of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart 2023 at Porsche Arena on April 18, 2023 in...

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”

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

Indian Wells: Raducanu-Swiatek, Draper-Alcaraz in R4 after big wins for young duo

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil in her third-round match on Day 8 of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at...

Monday was the day of youth – don’t tell Holger Rune – as Jack Draper followed up Emma Raducanu’s character-building deciding set victory with an unforgettable one of his own against an idol and mentor in former world no. 1 Andy Murray. His reward? A matchup against tournament top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, after he logged his 100th tour-level win over Tallon Griekspoor. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Raducanu-Swiatek, Draper-Alcaraz in R4 after big wins for young duo”

Tennis

Indian Wells: Draper-Murray set, while Raducanu and Norrie earn contrasting victories

Jack Draper of Great Britain celebrates against Dan Evans of great Britain in the second round of BNP Paribas Open on March 11, 2023 in Indian Wells,...

After narrowly losing an exhibition match to the Scot before Christmas, rising British prospect Jack Draper gets a maiden competitive clash against his role model Andy Murray as both won their second-round matches in straight-sets over the weekend. Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu overcame early adversity against Magda Linette and Cameron Norrie did things the hard way overnight. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Draper-Murray set, while Raducanu and Norrie earn contrasting victories”

Tennis

Indian Wells: Draper, Raducanu win in straight-sets before another masterful Murray display

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates in his match agains Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina during the BNP Paribas Open on March 09, 2023 in...

Having both not featured since Melbourne, there were successful returns to competitive action for Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, who made it 2-0 for Brits on Thursday at Indian Wells. Keeping in theme with his heroics of late, Andy Murray expertly fended off danger in another three-hour epic, outlasting Masters 1000 debutant Tomas Martin Etcheverry to cap an eventful day session. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Draper, Raducanu win in straight-sets before another masterful Murray display”

Tennis

Indian Wells: James Blake’s supportive words for injury doubt Raducanu, before her Kovinic clash

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during practice on Day 3 of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 08, 2023 in Indian...

Emma Raducanu’s participation at this year’s Indian Wells Masters 1000 event looked in serious jeopardy, having withdrawn from scheduled tournaments and exhibitions on the eve of the competition. She’s received some positive words of support before her first-round match against Danka Kovinic later today (from 8pm BST), from the Miami Open tournament director and former world no. 4. Continue reading “Indian Wells: James Blake’s supportive words for injury doubt Raducanu, before her Kovinic clash”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Kyrgios withdraws, Nadal battles past Draper, Raducanu-Gauff in R2 + more on Day 1

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after a point against Britain's Jack Draper during their men's singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis...

Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev – last year’s champion and runner-up – won in contrasting circumstances. A genuine title contender withdrew through injury and needs surgery, while Iga Swiatek was pushed by a determined Jule Neimeier, an intriguing contest between Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff is set for R2 and much more besides. Read on, for Day 1’s round-up. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Kyrgios withdraws, Nadal battles past Draper, Raducanu-Gauff in R2 + more on Day 1”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand shot during a practice session ahead of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2023 in...

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.
Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday”

Tennis

Tennis: Djokovic, Gauff edge their way to tight victories while Raducanu retires with ankle injury

Novak Djokovic of Serbia competes against Quentin Halys of France during day five of the 2023 Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on January 05,...

Novak Djokovic recovered from 5-2 down in set one and emerged without enduring a three-set battle against another determined Frenchman, setting up another intriguing clash with Denis Shapovalov. Coco Gauff avenged a defeat three years in the making, before Emma Raducanu tearfully withdrew after sustaining a freak ankle injury midway through her R2 match… Continue reading “Tennis: Djokovic, Gauff edge their way to tight victories while Raducanu retires with ankle injury”

Tennis

Djokovic, Raducanu begin their 2023 season with contrasting victories as warm-up events continue

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning her singles match against Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic during day two of the 2023 ASB...

2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu recovered from a set and early break down to prevail against a Czech teenage talent, after ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic was tested in parts but his quality proved too much to handle as both players kicked off their respective 2023 seasons with contrasting victories in their first-round tournament matches. Also, the business end of the team-centric United Cup is hotting up, and there were a few surprises elsewhere… Continue reading “Djokovic, Raducanu begin their 2023 season with contrasting victories as warm-up events continue”

Tennis

Emma Raducanu proud of her resilience during arduous year, hopes for more injury-free 2023

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during practice ahead of the Agel Open at Ostravar Arena on October 02, 2022 in Ostrava, Czech Republic

After a rollercoaster first full year on the WTA tour where she finished with a 17-19 singles record this season, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu attracts attention aplenty. The 20-year-old spoke of her pride at being resilient this year but stressed the biggest goal for the upcoming campaign is to stay injury-free and hold up physically with consistency – easier said than done. Continue reading “Emma Raducanu proud of her resilience during arduous year, hopes for more injury-free 2023”

Tennis

Tennis round-up: Swiatek seals 8th title of 2022, Bencic’s coaching change and Zverev update

Iga Swiatek of Poland clebebrates with the trophy after defeating Donna Vekic of Czech Republic in the women's singles final during the San Diego...

Iga Swiatek made more history after storming past Donna Vekic in their deciding set, clinching the San Diego title in the early hours Monday – while Olympic champion Belinda Bencic has been revealed as Dmitry Tursunov’s new coaching assignment after the Russian opted against continuing his trial stint with Emma Raducanu. Speaking of Olympic gold medallists, Alexander Zverev’s injury recovery is taking longer than expected, but reportedly for a good reason. Continue reading “Tennis round-up: Swiatek seals 8th title of 2022, Bencic’s coaching change and Zverev update”