Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Having endured an inconsistent season across all surfaces, 2022 US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe will hope he’s peaking at the right time of this calendar year on home soil after recovering from a set down to reach his first Masters 1000 final – where he’ll play world number one Jannik Sinner tonight, after a similarly gutsy win over the distance against Alexander Zverev. Continue reading “Cincinnati: Tiafoe’s turn of form continues, books M1000 final vs. Sinner”
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”
Injuries didn’t help, but Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime endured a frustrating campaign packed with uncertainty, inconsistency and early tournament defeats as his ranking dropped, seeing agemates take some of the shine he’s worked hard to earn. So, what does 2024 have in store for the 23-year-old? Continue reading “Felix Auger-Aliassime faces fight to respond well after agemates usurped him”
Six-time Major champion Boris Becker announced Thursday he’ll return to the tennis circuit as Holger Rune’s new coach, having served an eight-month prison sentence last year for failing to hand over assets and trophies, repaying debt after being declared bankrupt five years earlier. While the headlines will surround the German right now, the talented Dane needs more than new voices in his ear hopeful he can stop stuttering form as the season draws to a close. Continue reading “Holger Rune needs more than a returning Boris Becker to arrest his alarming slump”
![Ons Jabeur [6] during her match against Marketa Vondrousova in their Ladies' Singles Final during day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at...](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1559846406/photo/ons-jabeur-6-during-her-match-against-marketa-vondrousova-in-their-ladies-singles-final.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=zFF5EuPNGxLccJlWJQyR45Csp1ZQD0DENsCQUmM_69M=)
Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur is the latest to miss an upcoming event through injury, while Denis Shapovalov – who made the tournament’s semifinals in 2021 – finds himself enduring similarly bad injury luck at a crucial juncture of the calendar as far as their season goals are concerned… Continue reading “Tennis news round-up: Jabeur, Shapovalov sidelined with knee injuries, FAA’s Alcaraz warning and Halep update”
Monday was busy as the R1 ties in this year’s French Open continued. There were predictably a few surprising results – including early exits for Felix Auger-Aliassime, Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and two-time semifinalist Petra Kvitova. As for the Brits, Jack Draper’s injury woes sadly continued before Cameron Norrie was composed to fend off a motivated Benoit Paire in five sets. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Auger-Aliassime axed, Bencic bounced, Norrie edges it on Day 2”
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”
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”
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.
Neither played badly, but both were second best on the biggest points as world no. 1 Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff suffered straight-sets defeats against a pair of Grand Slam champions in Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko on a busy Day 7 at this year’s Major. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka’s giantkilling run continued and he’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7”
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”
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