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Ajla Tomljanovic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in consecutive seasons, has announced she won’t feature at SW19 this year as the year’s third Major comes too soon to return from a persistent knee injury that has stopped her from competing in any events this term. Elsewhere, the women’s defending champion Elena Rybakina remains a doubt after an Eastbourne withdrawal. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Tomljanovic remains out with knee issue, Rybakina’s virus persists”
On an opening day marred by several injury-enforced withdrawals, 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray and world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas were engaged in a five-set epic battle, lasting four hours 50 minutes, to start the year’s final Grand Slam tournament with aplomb. Continue reading “US Open 2021: Murray-Tsitsipas lives up to the billing on eventful Day 1”
With the first round of matches at this year’s final Grand Slam starting from Flushing Meadows today, a look back at a memorable matchup from the first: Naomi Osaka saving two match points against Garbine Muguruza during their enthralling fourth-round encounter. She went on to win her fourth Major, and second in Australia, after an eventful fortnight seven months ago.
Continue reading “Match rewind: Naomi Osaka’s remarkable Aus Open recovery win vs. Garbine Muguruza”
In a field weakened by notable absences including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep and Serena Williams, America’s prodigious teenager Coco Gauff and first-time Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini have withdrawn from this year’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics. Gauff tested positive for COVID-19, while Berrettini has been struggling with a lingering thigh injury. Continue reading “Tokyo Olympics update: Gauff, Berrettini withdraw with COVID and injury issues”
Naomi Osaka (#3) clinched her fourth Grand Slam title and second Australian Open triumph with a 6-4, 6-3 win against first-time finalist Jennifer Brady (#22), while extending her win streak to 21 straight. As a result, she becomes the first female to win four singles titles since Maria Sharapova in 2012, and youngest to do so since Monica Seles won the Australian Open in 1992.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady, wins fourth Grand Slam title”
Naomi Osaka (#3) recovered from a sluggish start, down an early break and needing to save points to avoid a 3-0 deficit, to beat Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 in an hour 15 minutes as fans returned, watching in awe as the 23-year-old once again put her idol’s aspirations for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on ice – booking another Final appearance this weekend. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams, earns another Final berth”
World number one Ashleigh Barty was stunned in three sets against Karolina Muchova (#25), second seed Rafael Nadal relinquished a two-set advantage as Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) ended his tournament after a gruelling four-hour battle, while there were big wins for Daniil Medvedev (#4) and Jennifer Brady (#22) elsewhere on another unpredictable day of tennis in Melbourne.
Casper Ruud was forced to retire midway through his first fourth-round match at a Grand Slam, no. 9 seed Matteo Berrettini didn’t take to court against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) with a worsening abdominal strain while Karolina Muchova (#25) recovered from 5-2 down in the first set to stun Belgium’s Elise Mertens – but also has a pre-existing ab injury and was wincing mid-match.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Injuries, retirements overshadow Day 8 as more quarter-finals set”
Naomi Osaka came back from a set and a break down to clinch her second US Open title, and third Grand Slam of her young career – thus ending Victoria Azarenka’s triumphant return to Flushing Meadows in just under two hours during Saturday’s entertaining showpiece event. Continue reading “US Open 2020: Osaka recovers from set down vs. Azarenka, wins second title”
Naomi Osaka exacted some long-awaited revenge against Shelby Rogers with an impressive straight-sets victory during their quarter-final on Arthur Ashe. The two-time Grand Slam champion needed just 80 minutes to secure passage into her third career Slam semi-final, where she’ll play against Jennifer Brady on Thursday evening. Continue reading “US Open 2020: Naomi Osaka eases past Shelby Rogers to reach semi-finals”
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