Tennis

US Open 2022: Muguruza, Bencic among big losers as Rublev-Shapovalov taken to brink on Day 6

Garbine Muguruza of Spain looks on against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2022 US...

Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to ice a home hopeful in the night session, after Petra Kvitova was pushed into a deciding set ten-point tiebreak as she edged past two-time Major champion Garbine Muguruza. Elsewhere, Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe prevailed before Naomi Osaka’s conqueror Danielle Collins added another tricky opponent onto her resume.
Continue reading “US Open 2022: Muguruza, Bencic among big losers as Rublev-Shapovalov taken to brink on Day 6”

Tennis

French Open 2022: Gauff grits through R1 on opening day; Jabeur, Muguruza crash out

Garbine Muguruza of Spain looks on against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in their first round match during the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 22,...

Four seeds fell on Day 1 at this year’s French Open, but none bigger than 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza – despite being a set and 3-2 up against Kaia Kanepi. Ons Jabeur similarly lost from a commanding position against Magda Linette, though the youngster who beat the Tunisian here in R4 last year showed edge to progress without playing well. Read on for more. Continue reading “French Open 2022: Gauff grits through R1 on opening day; Jabeur, Muguruza crash out”

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Australian Open 2022: Muguruza, Kontaveit both lose as shocks flow across Day 4

Garbine Muguruza of Spain in action against Alize Cornet of France during their second round match of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament at...

Garbine Muguruza’s pursuit of an elusive Australian Open title continues after Alize Cornet stunned the WTA Finals champion. Elsewhere, Anett Kontaveit (#6) and Diego Schwartzman (#13) were among the latest seeds to fall, while US Open semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka had to save her blushes before disappointing three-set defeats for Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Muguruza, Kontaveit both lose as shocks flow across Day 4”

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Australian Open 2022: Muguruza and Swiatek through, Ruud injured and more on Day 2

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates after winning her first round singles match against Harriet Dart of Great Britain during day two of the 2022...

There were comfortable straight-set wins for multiple Grand Slam champions, including two title contenders in WTA Finals winner Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek, while more seeds fell on Day 2 of this year’s Australian Open. Andy Murray made history after gritting through another five-set battle, while Nick Kyrgios and Emma Raducanu shone in the night session.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Muguruza and Swiatek through, Ruud injured and more on Day 2”

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Sydney Tennis Classic: Badosa withstands Bencic pressure, clinches semi-final berth

Paula Badosa of Spain hits a return against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during their women's singles quarter-final match at the Sydney Classic...

Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa endured a spirited Belinda Bencic display during a high-quality match packed with plenty of peaks and troughs, but ultimately emerged victorious to punch her ticket into the semi-finals. She’ll play Daria Kasatkina in the Sydney semi-finals tomorrow (8am BST), after the Russian inflicted Garbine Muguruza’s first loss of the new year.
Continue reading “Sydney Tennis Classic: Badosa withstands Bencic pressure, clinches semi-final berth”

Archives, Specials

Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope

Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates her victory against Simona Halep of Romania in their Ladies' Singles Quarter Final Match at Wimbledon on...

Having announced her retirement on Dec. 1, Britain’s Johanna Konta – a three-time Major semi-finalist and former world no. 4 – was plagued by troublesome injuries and some streaky form, underselling the country’s greatest hope in the women’s game across the last decade and more. Here, I look back as the 30-year-old waved goodbye quietly before the new year. Continue reading “Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope”

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Tennis coaches of 2021 revealed, Alcaraz and Tsitsipas target strong 2022

This year’s ATP and WTA Coaches of the Year have been announced, while Roland Garros finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero both publicly expressed their ambitious plans as they target achieving a better 2022 after contrasting experiences in 2021. Continue reading “Tennis coaches of 2021 revealed, Alcaraz and Tsitsipas target strong 2022”

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Closing the Slam circle? Muguruza bullish about 2022 goals, as she should be

Garbiñe Muguruza salutes during La liga football match played between Real Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on December 1...

After making history at this season’s WTA Finals in Guadalajara, two-time Slam winner Garbine Muguruza wants to build on her success next year and given the way she’s played, why not? The 28-year-old revealed a desire to round out the Career Grand Slam, having lost the 2020 Australian Open Final and achieved a joint-best R4 finish at Flushing Meadows in September.
Continue reading “Closing the Slam circle? Muguruza bullish about 2022 goals, as she should be”

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WTA Finals 2021: Motivated Muguruza makes history against error-prone Kontaveit

Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain celebrates with the Billie Jean King Trophy after defeating Anett Kontaveit of Estonia during the Women's Singles Final on...

After hearing rumours this year-end event would be moved to Mexico, Garbine Muguruza was giddy with anticipation. Despite losing her first group match and trailing a set down to Barbora Krejcikova in match two, the Venezuelan-born Spaniard won eight consecutive sets – four against the same opponent – making history in Latin America as the first Spanish champion.
Continue reading “WTA Finals 2021: Motivated Muguruza makes history against error-prone Kontaveit”

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Anett Kontaveit astonished by top 10 rankings surge, but she really shouldn’t be

Anett Kontaveit of Estonia competes in her women's final match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia during on Day Seven of the VTB Kremlin Cup at...

Having sown the seeds for her progression last year with new career-high Grand Slam finishes in Melbourne and Flushing Meadows, Estonian rising star Anett Kontaveit [9] is said to be in disbelief after surpassing Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur to officially qualify for next week’s WTA Finals – another career first as her resume continues to blossom. There’s no reason she should be. Continue reading “Anett Kontaveit astonished by top 10 rankings surge, but she really shouldn’t be”

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US Open 2021: Auger-Aliassime makes history with Tiafoe win; teenagers shine on Day 7

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada reacts after winning against Frances Tiafoe of the United States during his Men’s Singles round of 16 match on Day...

On an day full of twists and turns where two teenagers booked their place in maiden Grand Slam quarter-finals, Felix Auger-Aliassime recovered from a set down, taking Frances Tiafoe’s best punches and silenced the raucous Arthur Ashe crowd to break a 12-year piece of history. Continue reading “US Open 2021: Auger-Aliassime makes history with Tiafoe win; teenagers shine on Day 7”

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US Open 2021: Rublev, Medvedev win but Ruud stunned in four sets on rainy Day 3

Russians ruled supreme on day three, as there were straight-sets victories for Daniil Medvedev (#2) and Daria Kasatkina (#25), while Andrey Rublev (#5) had a fiery response after relinquishing three set points to oust Spain’s Pablo Martínez in four. There were also comfortable wins for Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep while defending champ Naomi Osaka had a walkover. Continue reading “US Open 2021: Rublev, Medvedev win but Ruud stunned in four sets on rainy Day 3”