Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
After consecutive night sessions fell flat, Gael Monfils relished his role as the party starter on home soil and recovered from a seemingly improbable position to beat Sebastian Baez in a near four-hour thriller on Philippe-Chatrier. Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev both won clean while world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev was stunned by Brazil’s 23-year-old Thiago Seyboth Wild. Read on, for more… Continue reading “French Open 2023: Monfils-Baez exceeds expectations as Day 3 full of surprises”
2021 Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev, who quietly enjoyed a resurgence in Madrid this past month, is among the top-ranked players currently vying for a main draw berth at this year’s French Open, kicking off on Sunday. As for the women, Camila Osorio vs. Mirra Andreeva is a compelling final round clash while Tamara Zidansek is also in the qualifying competition. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Karatsev, Osorio and Zidansek headline final round qualifiers”
After both had their Miami tournaments end prematurely last month, they returned to clay this week. It was the 2017 French Open champion who wasted no time and produced 26 winners as her aggressive style of tennis proved too hot for the 20-year-old Brit to handle during a one-sided battle of Major titlists. Continue reading “WTA Stuttgart: Ostapenko awesome as she swats Raducanu aside within an hour”
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”
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”
Earlier this week, quotes emerged from the Australian Associated Press – former world no. 1 and three-time Major champion Ashleigh Barty singing the praises of Ajla Tomljanovic, whose steady rise has seen her on the cusp of being seeded for next month’s home Grand Slam. Given the 29-year-old’s previous form and injury struggles, that public vote of confidence when asked whether she can embark on a deep run speaks volumes for Ajla’s progression. Why not? Continue reading “Australian Open 2023: After an incredible year, Barty’s backing for Tomljanovic speaks volumes”
After battling from a perilous position against Andy Murray on Monday, the retiring Gilles Simon extended his retirement party with a rousing three-set win over Tokyo champion Taylor Fritz, hours before Maria Sakkari became the first woman to secure a WTA Finals’ knockout stage berth after a 6-2, 6-4 win over Aryna Sabalenka – though the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
Continue reading “Simon stuns Fritz to extend his retirement party; Sakkari into semi-finals with Sabalenka win”
Novak Djokovic began the defence of his Paris Masters title with a hard-fought round two victory against a stubborn Paris-born American in big-serving Maxime Cressy, 11 hours after Aryna Sabalenka recovered from the brink and battled stomach pains to beat two-time Major finalist Ons Jabeur in a three set rollercoaster on Day 1 at this year’s WTA Finals. Continue reading “Djokovic downs Cressy at Paris Masters; Sabalenka recovers to stifle Jabeur in WTA Finals”
A blistering start, ominous middle and shaky finish. World no. 1 Iga Swiatek held firm under pressure as the crowd intensified and Ons Jabeur’s level increased late on during a hard-fought 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) US Open final victory over the Wimbledon runner-up – the 21-year-old’s third Major title and second this season, while not at her best. What does that say for the chasing pack?
Continue reading “US Open – Day 13: Swiatek secures third Major title, more history with straight-sets win over Jabeur”
Saturday will see the world’s top two female players going head-to-head with a maiden US Open title in store for the victor, after Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek recorded contrasting semi-final wins against an in-form Caroline Garcia and the unpredictable hard-hitting Aryna Sabalenka respectively on Thursday evening. Continue reading “US Open – Day 11: Jabeur-Swiatek in Saturday’s final, after Garcia crushed and Sabalenka crumbles”
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”
Emma Raducanu showed great resiliency to prevail after two tight sets against Camila Osorio, advancing into the Washington quarter-finals where she’ll play again tonight, while there were memorable returns to action for Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and world no. 4 Paula Badosa in San Jose yesterday – the latter faces Naomi Osaka’s conqueror Coco Gauff next. Continue reading “Raducanu shows her mettle, Badosa and Jabeur win on their post-Wimbledon return”
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