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First-time finalist Jasmine Paolini was aggressive in threatening an early scare, breaking Iga Swiatek to lead 2-1 as the Pole sprayed some uncharacteristic errors. Yet she responded precisely as you’d expect the world no. 1 to on her favourite surface: 10 straight games banked en route to another straight-sets French Open final victory – three straight titles in Paris and fifth Major overall.
Continue reading “Iga imperious to sweep another French Open title vs. first-time finalist Paolini”
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”
Andy Murray waved goodbye on Sunday and 24 hours later, it was the turn of 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal to begrudgingly do the same on Philippe Chatrier after an entertaining three-hour tussle against Olympic champion Alexander Zverev capturing everyone’s attention – family, fellow pros and the world’s media – as the Spanish legend’s uncertain future continues. Continue reading “French Open 2024: Zverev spoils the party for Nadal, who leaves door open to return”
2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina racked up a third WTA title of the season, less than 24 hours after outlasting world no. 1 Iga Swiatek to extend her impressive deciding set record, swatting aside a wasteful Marta Kostyuk display to seal the Stuttgart spoils as the race to Roland Garros continues. Continue reading “WTA Stuttgart: Swiatek slayer Rybakina reels off third title of 2024, beats Kostyuk”
World number one Iga Swiatek remains on course for a third consecutive Stuttgart title, after enduring more peaks and troughs than usual before finding her best level in the clutch moments late to oust 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu during their competitive quarter-final matchup. Continue reading “WTA Stuttgart: Swiatek holds her nerve vs. Raducanu, as Rybakina rematch beckons”
Sometimes the stories write themselves. Florida-born Danielle Collins kept her nerve, stayed aggressive against a power hitter and showed steely execution in the match’s biggest pressure points to topple 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, sealing a first Masters 1000 title for the 30-year-old on home soil in Miami – ten weeks after announcing 2024 would be her final season as a pro.
Continue reading “Miami Open: Collins comes up clutch to pip Rybakina, secures career-best title in style”
It wasn’t plain sailing all the way through, but Victoria Azarenka’s experience in tight moments paid dividends as the two-time Major champion outlasted British number one Katie Boulter during two contrasting sets of tennis to punch her ticket into the Miami Open quarter-finals for the first time in six years. Continue reading “Miami Open: Azarenka content, but not satisfied after notching gritty Boulter win”
Andy Murray departed the Australian Open with a painful whimper on Monday, two other former champions have decisions to make after early exits elsewhere but the former world no. 1’s dilemma feels more pressing as retirement lingers. Meanwhile, the media adulation for a returning Emma Raducanu must be tempered if she’s to blossom as many expected would happen much sooner. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2024: Murray must regroup again, Raducanu back refreshed and more”
Germany survived an inspired Alex de Minaur singles display to punch their ticket into the United Cup finals, where they’ll play last year’s semifinalists Poland overnight. Elsewhere, a rematch of last season’s Australian Open final serves as just one of three intriguing finals across Australia and New Zealand on both tours as the warm-up events before the year’s maiden Major hot up. Continue reading “Poland vs. Germany to decide United Cup as Sabalenka-Rybakina, Gauff-Svitolina and Rune-Dimitrov finals set elsewhere”
After being criticised and ridiculed on social media for going winless during last season’s WTA Finals, US Open champion Coco Gauff has attributed a change in her perspective and learning life lessons as keys aiding her progression over the past twelve months. Kicking off the elite eight event in Cancun with a straight-sets win over three-time Major finalist Ons Jabeur is a good way to start. Continue reading “WTA Finals: Gauff grateful to seal winning start with commanding Jabeur scalp”
Aryna Sabalenka stressed finishing the year as world no. 1, rather than just having the title for a fleeting few weeks, was of paramount importance to her in the wake of a painful three-set US Open final defeat last month. If she’s to do so, the Belarusian will have been disadvantaged in the build-up after posting some rather unsatisfactory training conditions in Mexico on social media this week. Continue reading “While the Elite Trophy event is in full swing, Sabalenka unhappy at training conditions before next week’s WTA Finals”
Today marks one month since Coco Gauff clinched her first Major title, and it felt fitting that career-best achievement came at her home Grand Slam tournament too – against the new world no. 1 in Aryna Sabalenka, from a set down no less. Having reeled off a series of gritty victories during last month’s event and since reaching the Beijing semifinals this past week, here’s a look at how the teenager reached the mountain top six months before her 20th birthday. Continue reading “One month on: Coco Gauff’s US Open triumph, and how she managed such a feat”
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