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”
Tag: Naomi Osaka
Australian Open 2021: Osaka and Serena win, Karatsev shines, a Kyrgios-Thiem epic
Day 5 was one not to be missed, as Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and more navigated past potentially tricky matchups while there were surprises on the men’s side of the draw as Aslan Karatsev was ruthlessly efficient in toppling Diego Schwartzman (#8), Kyrgios-Thiem certainly lived up to the hype and an injured Novak Djokovic closed the show in dramatic circumstances. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Osaka and Serena win, Karatsev shines, a Kyrgios-Thiem epic”
Australian Open 2021: Halep’s heroic fightback, gritty wins for Djokovic and Kyrgios
Day 3 was eventful: defending champion Novak Djokovic was pushed in a memorable first encounter against Frances Tiafoe, while world no. 2 Simona Halep and hometown favourite Nick Kyrgios produced gutsy comebacks to cap an action-packed night session after more seeded players fell, including Slam champions Bianca Andreescu (#8) and Petra Kvitova (#9). Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Halep’s heroic fightback, gritty wins for Djokovic and Kyrgios”
Australian Open 2021: Williams sisters, Osaka and Swiatek get off to winning start
Serena and Venus Williams held their nerve after a few shaky moments, tournament favourite Naomi Osaka was ruthlessly decisive while French Open champion Iga Swiatek was solid en route to a comfortable first-round win. Elsewhere, a three-time Slam winner was knocked out in rather emphatic fashion and more besides as Day 1 of the 2021 Australian Open got underway. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Williams sisters, Osaka and Swiatek get off to winning start”
Australian Open 2021: Injuries pile up as warm-up events draw to close
Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka are just three of the high-profile players who’ve withdrawn from their respective Australian Open warm-up events with niggling injuries as a precaution, just days before the year’s first Grand Slam gets underway in Melbourne. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Injuries pile up as warm-up events draw to close”
US Open 2020: Osaka recovers from set down vs. Azarenka, wins second title
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”
US Open 2020: Naomi Osaka eases past Shelby Rogers to reach semi-finals
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”
Western & Southern Open: Novak Djokovic beats Milos Raonic to US Open tuneup title
Novak Djokovic showed precisely why he’s world number one – rallying from a set down to outlast Milos Raonic in their Western & Southern Open Final, clinching his 35th ATP Masters 1000 tournament title ahead of next week’s unprecented US Open. Continue reading “Western & Southern Open: Novak Djokovic beats Milos Raonic to US Open tuneup title”
2020 Australian Open Preview: Djokovic, Serena, Wozniacki’s last Slam and more
Read below for my 2020 Australian Open preview, with a special guest contributor providing his thoughts too as we look ahead to the first Grand Slam tournament of the new decade…. Continue reading “2020 Australian Open Preview: Djokovic, Serena, Wozniacki’s last Slam and more”
US Open 2019: Bianca Andreescu seals title with 6-3, 7-5 victory against Serena Williams
19-year-old Bianca oozed class and world-class potential to win her maiden Grand Slam with a straight-sets victory over heavy favourite Serena. The Canadian also becomes the youngest female teenager since Svetlana Kuznetsova (19y, 76d) back in 2004 to win a Grand Slam trophy.
US Open 2019: Coco Gauff withstands immense pressure, stuns Timea Babos in three sets
Cori Gauff withstood an inspired second-set comeback to prevail in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 over Timea Babos, booking her place in Round Three: where she’ll face defending champion and world number one Naomi Osaka on Saturday. Continue reading “US Open 2019: Coco Gauff withstands immense pressure, stuns Timea Babos in three sets”
French Open 2019: Konta makes history with straight-sets win over Sloane Stephens
Johanna Konta made history, becoming Britain’s first woman to reach the French Open semi-finals since 1983 with an emphatic 6-1, 6-4 win over last year’s finalist Sloane Stephens on Philippe-Chatrier. Continue reading “French Open 2019: Konta makes history with straight-sets win over Sloane Stephens”
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