Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Lorenzo Sonego took on Joao Fonseca and a rowdy Brazilian contingent but emerged victorious during a busy day’s play, where four seeds fell but Iga Swiatek and Alex de Minaur won comfortably as Madison Keys kicked off the night session with a three-set victory before compatriot Learner Tien produced a thrilling display over five sets vs. three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 25: Sonego stifles Fonseca in five, Tien topples Medvedev in thriller”
Having split their two previous H2H meetings in Lyon and Paris, it felt fitting that Cameron Norrie would show his steely resolve on the road back from niggling injuries and outlast Corentin Moutet to reach his first ATP tour-level final for almost two years as the arduous 2024 calendar grinds to a close. Continue reading “Metz: Norrie beats Moutet to reach first ATP final for 21 months after injury woes”
Four-time Major champion Carlos Alcaraz will look to make it a fabulous five in New York this coming fortnight, but allayed fears over a rolled ankle injury sustained during his practice session alongside Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. The reigning French Open and Wimbledon titlist, who lost a three-setter vs. Gael Monfils in Cincinnati last week, should be okay after some rest. Continue reading “US Open 2024: Alcaraz assures rolled ankle injury is merely minor, fine for Tuesday”
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”
Two-time Major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas has, at long last, announced his father Apostolos will no longer be coaching him after publicly criticising the 56-year-old after his straight-sets defeat by Kei Nishikori at the Canadian Open in Montreal this past week. Struggling for consistency and conscious younger rivals are progressing while he stagnates, what next for the 26-year-old? Continue reading “Tsitsipas cuts coaching ties with father Apostolos after Toronto exit – what now?”
The world number one regretfully will miss this summer’s Olympic Games after listening to doctors’ orders advising him against travelling for the quadrennial event with tonsillitis, following reports in Italian media suggesting he’d travel later in the week before round one of singles begins on clay this weekend. Continue reading “Paris Olympics: Sinner withdraws with tonsillitis, Rune’s wrist forces him out too”
In what is widely expected to be the 14-time champion’s final farewell in Paris this coming fortnight as retirement beckons, Rafael Nadal begins his French Open campaign against Rome champion Alexander Zverev after today’s singles draws were unveiled. The pair were engrossed in a thrilling Major semifinal battle here two years ago, before the latter suffered torn ankle ligaments. Continue reading “French Open 2024: Nadal’s nightmare draw starts with Rome champ Zverev in R1”
Although successful with ongoing tweaks, we’ve seen how divisive the introduction of VAR has been for football recently. Tennis needs something similar, all year-round, as the teething problems clear on clay – the biggest being incorrect line calls – continue to surface but the sport’s decision-makers would be wise to implement more transparent accountability for umpires too. Continue reading “Whether that be VAR or an officiating shakeup, tennis calling for a change soon”
A week removed from his long-awaited first Miami Open title, world number two Jannik Sinner is back among home comforts on the French Riviera with another Masters 1000 event already in full swing. Having reached the tournament’s semifinal stage twelve months ago, can the Italian surpass that achievement on his return to clay as the sport’s in-form player right now? Continue reading “Having made history Stateside, Sinner looks to eclipse last year in Monte-Carlo”
After a disappointing start to 2024 by his exceedingly high standards, 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic’s announcement this week that he was ending his highly successful five-year coaching partnership with Goran Ivanisevic was both ruthless and said all it needed to. The world no. 1 is wading through another wave of talent hungry to knock him off his perch permanently. Continue reading “Djokovic’s Ivanisevic decision typifies the cost of being king – for better and worse”
Spurred on by boisterous French fans in the crowd, 2020 Australian Open junior runner-up Arthur Cazaux kept his cool under pressure and produced a fantastic display with ball-striking variation and persistence to outsmart eighth seed Holger Rune in four sets during their second-round contest – reiterating how another breakthrough youngster has risen into prominence over recent months. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2024: Arthur Cazaux makes big surprise splash at Holger Rune’s expense”
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”
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