Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Having only featured once – in Davis Cup play for Serbia – since clinching his 24th Major title at Flushing Meadows on September 10, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic began as he means to continue this week with a straight-sets win (6-3, 6-2) against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, after a whirlwind 24-hour period has seen two of the tournament’s top three seeds beaten elsewhere in the draw. Continue reading “Paris Masters: Djokovic wins clean after Alcaraz, Medvedev stunned in round two”
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”
Three-time Major champion and former world no. 1 Andy Murray conceded for the first time that perhaps he needs to accept, internally, that deep runs at Major tournaments are no longer possible after being soundly beaten in straight-sets (6-3, 6-4, 6-1) by a familiar face in Grigor Dimitrov on Thursday. The 36-year-old hasn’t reached the second week at a Grand Slam for six years. Continue reading “US Open 2023: Murray now has more to mull over, after Dimitrov’s slice showcase”
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?”
Today’s results mean there could be as many as five more first-time quarterfinalists in this year’s Australian Open, including teenage duo Holger Rune and Linda Fruhvirtova. Rune will face Andrey Rublev after the Russian was on form vs. Dan Evans, while the 17-year-old ousted compatriot Marketa Vondrousova with Donna Vekic next. Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov made Novak Djokovic sweat before Roberto Bautista Agut ended Andy Murray’s memorable run. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Straightforward victories for most on Day 6, as Fruhvirtova and Shelton big winners”
Grigor Dimitrov and Iga Swiatek were among the day’s winners for their respective nations in contrasting circumstances, before Cameron Norrie ended an eventful 2022 with a long-awaited scalp: recovering from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal for the first time in five attempts, helping Great Britain take an early lead in their United Cup group clash against Spain. Continue reading “United Cup: Dimitrov, Swiatek among winners before Norrie finally overcomes Nadal in three-set battle”
Having made the sixth Major semi-final of his career in Paris earlier this month, one of the tournament’s dark horses on the men’s side has quietly departed SW19 without hitting a ball: Marin Cilic [14] revealing he’s still unwell after a positive COVID test, so Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges will replace him in tomorrow’s R1 match against America’s Mackenzie McDonald. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022: COVID-19 illness sees Marin Cilic withdraw, following injuries for Keys and Coric”
Cameron Norrie [21] continues to defy expectations, knocking out Daniil Medvedev’s conqueror Grigor Dimitrov to earn his first Masters-level Final at Indian Wells. Ahead of the showpiece event in the early hours on Monday, the 26-year-old hailed the result as the biggest of his career.
Continue reading “Indian Wells: Cameron Norrie describes Dimitrov victory as the biggest of his career”
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”
A Naomi Osaka vs Serena Williams semi-final is set in stone for Thursday after both were comfortable winners during their respective matchups, Aslan Karatsev’s record-breaking run in Melbourne has continued at an injured Grigor Dimitrov’s expense while defending champion Novak Djokovic recovered from a set down to beat Alexander Zverev in a chaotic four-set clash.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Osaka-Williams semi-final awaits, error-laden Djokovic sinks Zverev”
Naomi Osaka (#3) saved two match points, world no. 2 Simona Halep set up an exciting quarter-final clash vs. Serena Williams after both earned gritty three-set wins over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka respectively. Elsewhere, Aslan Karatsev’s historic run continued against all odds while Novak Djokovic continued his unbeaten H2H streak at Milos Raonic’s expense.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Comebacks aplenty as Osaka, Halep and Karatsev all recover”
The pair, who featured in the Adria Tour, revealed they have tested positive for coronavirus. They travelled to Croatia and Serbia for Novak Djokovic’s charity-themed tournament, which was criticised after evidence of no social distancing. Continue reading “Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric reveal they’ve contracted COVID-19 after event”
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