Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Iga Swiatek’s title defence hung by a thread last night against Naomi Osaka, who looked back to her ball-striking best at times during a memorable second-round clash between multiple-time Major champions on Philippe Chatrier. Yet the Pole, 23 on Friday, saved a match point and played the long game to perfection as her temperament outlasted the Japanese from 5-2, 30-0 down. Continue reading “Swiatek’s great escape in round two Osaka thriller typifies the top of women’s tennis”
Having sustained a stress fracture in his back en route to the French Open quarterfinals, the two-time Major semifinalist secured a first ATP title since 2018 after enduring a forgettable few months rehabbing from an issue that saw him miss Wimbledon and ice his aspirations for another deep US Open run. Continue reading “After nagging back injury wiped out his summer, Karen Khachanov riding high”
Reports in Spain today have revealed world no. 7 Coco Gauff has added Pere Riba to her coaching staff ahead of Wimbledon, having split with Diego Moyano due to the Spaniard’s personal issues just before the clay swing began in April. Continue reading “Coco Gauff adds new coach Pere Riba to her team, ahead of Wimbledon”
French Open finalist Casper Ruud has withdrawn from next week’s ATP500 event in Halle, Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini – Wimbledon runner-ups over the previous two seasons – suffered frustrating defeats on their respective returns to grass, and more besides as the season’s cycle continues to turn… Continue reading “Casper Ruud’s Halle withdrawal, Kyrgios and Berrettini’s losing returns and more”
Novak Djokovic got off to a stressful start but, as we’ve come to expect from the 36-year-old, steadied himself late in set one and ultimately finished strongest during a far-from-straightforward three-set victory over three-time Major finalist Casper Ruud – clinching a record-breaking 23rd Major title by doing so. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Djokovic overcomes slow start to beat Ruud, seals 23rd Major”
Novak Djokovic started fast, Carlos Alcaraz grew in confidence as time wore on, they battled during a series of nailbiting rallies but the intensity took a toll on the world no. 1, cramping and subsequently forfeiting a game early in set three of a tense semi-final encounter suddenly losing its edge. The 22-time Major champion will now have a chance for #23 on Sunday, after his four-set victory.
Continue reading “French Open 2023: Djokovic into Sunday’s final after wearing down cramping Alcaraz”
Karolina Muchova started well with aggression and variety in good measure, weathered an inspired storm before saving match point down 5-2 during a tense deciding set en route to securing her first Major final with a three-set win in three hours 13 minutes against Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Muchova masterful as she makes first Major final in epic comeback win vs. Sabalenka”
She didn’t have it all her own way, but world no. 1 and defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek secured her passage into tomorrow’s semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Coco Gauff, in a rematch of last year’s final. She’ll play Brazilian record-breaker Beatriz Haddad Maia on Thursday, after the 27-year-old’s recovery result vs. two-time Major runner-up Ons Jabeur earlier in the day. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Swiatek improves to 7-0 vs. Gauff, faces Haddad Maia in semis”
He plays with a smile on his face, an electric brand of tennis that has fans worldwide clamouring to get a glimpse of him upclose, and his displays have softened the blow felt by 14-time champion Rafael Nadal’s absence. Now with a night session matchup against the 2021 runner-up, can his red-hot form continue as he seeks to secure a second Major title in less than twelve months? Continue reading “French Open 2023: Having demoralised Musetti, will Alcaraz now go all the way?”
His serve was topsy-turvy throughout – flickering from fantastic to frustrating at a moment’s notice, but Olympic champion Alexander Zverev held his nerve and played some brilliant points under pressure during a near four-hour clash featuring two tiebreak sets to best US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, a childhood friend on tour looking to beat him for the first time since 2017. Continue reading “French Open 2023: After taming Tiafoe, can Zverev build on an uplifting victory?”
Lorenzo Musetti ended Cameron Norrie’s hopes of a deep run, while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daria Kasatkina were also comfortable winners across the two draws on Day 6. Denis Shapovalov crumbled against Carlos Alcaraz, while Hubert Hurkacz was stunned by a plucky Peruvian but despite a three-set defeat against Novak Djokovic, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina did himself proud. Continue reading “Shapovalov crumbles, Hurkacz stumbles – Davidovich Fokina shines in Djokovic loss”
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