Tennis

Casper Ruud’s alarming slump continues, after painful Miami defeat overnight

Casper Ruud of Norway reacts during a match against Ilya Ivashka during the Miami Open held at Hard Rock Stadium on March 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens,...

The world no. 4, twice a Major finalist over the last twelve months, has slipped to a 5-6 win-loss record on what has quickly proven an arduous start to the season following a rough three-set defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp overnight in Miami – dropping over 500 ranking points as his struggles with form persist. Continue reading “Casper Ruud’s alarming slump continues, after painful Miami defeat overnight”

Tennis

Indian Wells: Tsitsipas stunned, Daniel downs Berrettini and Bencic bounced too

Jordan Thompson of Australia is congratulated by Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece after beating him in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on March...

Australia’s Jordan Thompson is into R3 at a Masters 1000 event for the third time in his career, after holding his nerve against a compromised Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning in a deciding set tiebreak. Elsewhere, Japan’s Taro Daniel added another impressive win to his ever-increasing resume against top players after Olympic champion Belinda Bencic was bested on her Indian Wells debut. Continue reading “Indian Wells: Tsitsipas stunned, Daniel downs Berrettini and Bencic bounced too”

Tennis

Qatar Open: After Sonego scalp, Murray produces another nailbiting three-set win against Zverev

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates after winning against Alexander Zverev of Germany in their Men's Singles match on day three of the Qatar...

If only he could get the job done in straight-sets. Andy Murray doesn’t do things the easy way, but that makes his tennis more pulsating – win or lose – as the former world no. 1 was clutch again: rallying from 5-4 down in the deciding set to beat Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, earning a Qatar Open quarterfinal where he’ll play French qualifier Alexandre Muller tomorrow. Continue reading “Qatar Open: After Sonego scalp, Murray produces another nailbiting three-set win against Zverev”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Murray saves match point against Berrettini, Zverev and Jabeur survive on Day 2

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates winning a point in their round one singles match against Matteo Berrettini of Italy during day two of the...

Andy Murray ended a near five-year long wait to down a top-20 player in a Major, saving a match point en route to outlasting last year’s semifinalist Matteo Berrettini. Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev and Ons Jabeur both survived some uncomfortable situations while volatile weather – from extreme heat to heavy rain – limited play elsewhere during a disrupted Day 2. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Murray saves match point against Berrettini, Zverev and Jabeur survive on Day 2”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand shot during a practice session ahead of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2023 in...

2023 brings a new year packed with resolutions, time-specific targets and compelling storylines too. With the year’s first Major tournament set to begin on Monday in Melbourne, here’s a news round-up before the big occasion finally gets underway – from player withdrawals, injury scares, progress reports from recent tournaments and my draw analysis for both tours.
Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday”

Tennis

USA secure United Cup, Sabalenka and Gauff win clean while Djokovic saves match point to pip Korda

Novak Djokovic of Serbia mens champion after defeating Sebastian Korda of the USA during day eight of the 2023 Adelaide International at Memorial...

What a day of finals action. USA swept Italy in the inaugural United Cup, before American teenager Coco Gauff and world no. 5 Aryna Sabalenka both prevailed in straight-sets to clinch their first WTA singles titles since May 2021 while Novak Djokovic recovered from the brink – match point down – to eventually overwhelm Sebastian Korda to win his 92nd ATP title. Continue reading “USA secure United Cup, Sabalenka and Gauff win clean while Djokovic saves match point to pip Korda”

Tennis

USA vs. Italy sealed for United Cup final, Gauff-Masarova and Djokovic-Korda finals plus more

Greeces Stefanos Tsitsipas embraces Italys Matteo Berrettini after their mens singles in the semi-final of the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney...

USA vs. Italy awaits in the United Cup final after both nations took care of business. Coco Gauff faces Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova in tomorrow’s finale, while Tallon Griekspoor became a first-time ATP tour-level titlist with a recovery win over Benjamin Bonzi. Elsewhere, Sebastian Korda’s steady tennis helped him book a final berth, but not before witnessing an emotional outburst – while Novak Djokovic bested Daniil Medvedev despite weathering an injury scare. Continue reading “USA vs. Italy sealed for United Cup final, Gauff-Masarova and Djokovic-Korda finals plus more”

Tennis

Tennis: United Cup’s final four teams confirmed, Rybakina and Andreescu lose in Adelaide and more

Greece's Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrate with teammates their win over Croatia's Petra Martic and Borna Gojo at the end of their mixed...

Maria Sakkari called this one of the best weeks in her career. Jessica Pegula spoke for team USA, stressing their excitement for what’s to come. Poland are deadly in unison and we’re only halfway through: the United Cup’s final four nations were sealed after a manic day’s action – with a few surprising results as expected across tour-level tournaments elsewhere today. Continue reading “Tennis: United Cup’s final four teams confirmed, Rybakina and Andreescu lose in Adelaide and more”

Tennis

Djokovic, Raducanu begin their 2023 season with contrasting victories as warm-up events continue

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning her singles match against Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic during day two of the 2023 ASB...

2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu recovered from a set and early break down to prevail against a Czech teenage talent, after ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic was tested in parts but his quality proved too much to handle as both players kicked off their respective 2023 seasons with contrasting victories in their first-round tournament matches. Also, the business end of the team-centric United Cup is hotting up, and there were a few surprises elsewhere… Continue reading “Djokovic, Raducanu begin their 2023 season with contrasting victories as warm-up events continue”

Tennis

Australian Open 2023: Berrettini to use United Cup as confidence boost for long Grand Slam run

Matteo Berrettini of Italy during day one of the Diriyah Tennis Cup Riyadh 2022 on December 08, 2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After surpassing his previous best, earning a semi-final finish at this year’s Australian Open, 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini has spoken about how he plans to utilise the upcoming United Cup as an opportunity to build towards an even better run in mid-January at Melbourne Park – where his deficiencies were laid bare by Rafael Nadal 11 months ago.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2023: Berrettini to use United Cup as confidence boost for long Grand Slam run”

Tennis

Day 9 – US Open 2022: Ruud-Khachanov, Jabeur-Garcia semi-finals set after big QF wins for quartet

Russia's Karen Khachanov celebrates after defeating Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the 2022 US Open Tennis tournament men's singles quarter-finals at...

At least four maiden US Open semi-finalists will feature at Flushing Meadows later this week with new champions to be crowned in both draws, after Casper Ruud raced past an out-of-sorts Matteo Berrettini, Ons Jabeur ended Ajla Tomljanovic’s spirited run, Caroline Garcia’s aggressiveness saw her outgun Coco Gauff and Karen Khachanov withstood a spirited Nick Kyrgios fightback to edge past him in a deciding set beyond midnight New York time overnight.
Continue reading “Day 9 – US Open 2022: Ruud-Khachanov, Jabeur-Garcia semi-finals set after big QF wins for quartet”

Tennis

US Open 2022: Big results unfold on Day 4-5; Tomljanovic ends Serena’s surge in three-set battle

S Serena Williams waves to the audience after losing against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles...

Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic held her nerve and a second-set fightback to silence the crowd and outlast 23-time Major champion Serena Williams in a gruelling battle lasting over three hours, ending the legend’s iconic singles career this weekend. Elsewhere, there was contrasting disappointment for Andy Murray and Jack Draper… Read on for more. Continue reading “US Open 2022: Big results unfold on Day 4-5; Tomljanovic ends Serena’s surge in three-set battle”