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Casper Ruud was pushed into a five-set battle on day one, while #29 seed Linda Noskova became the first seed to fall as heavy rain proved an ever-present theme on Day 1 of this year’s Australian Open tournament, headlined by straightforward straight-set victories for defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and men’s dark horse Alexander Zverev in the night session on Rod Laver Arena. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 25: Sabalenka, Zverev smiling into second-round as Major underway”
The two-time Major champion and former world no. 1 is right to feel aggrieved about the differences in treatment after her anti-doping violations compared to others like Iga Swiatek recently. However while she’s still attempting to build back to levels we’ve become accustomed to seeing from her, now 33 and with more than two years’ inactivity, it’s a more draining task than it once was. Continue reading “Halep’s right about Swiatek’s small ban but that won’t change her own past”
Having endured an inconsistent season across all surfaces, 2022 US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe will hope he’s peaking at the right time of this calendar year on home soil after recovering from a set down to reach his first Masters 1000 final – where he’ll play world number one Jannik Sinner tonight, after a similarly gutsy win over the distance against Alexander Zverev. Continue reading “Cincinnati: Tiafoe’s turn of form continues, books M1000 final vs. Sinner”
On a day where defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fended off another tricky challenge in France’s Ugo Humbert to secure his seventh consecutive Major quarter-final berth, five maiden Wimbledon quarterfinalists were confirmed – headlined by New Zealand-Swiss qualifier Lulu Sun after an aggressive approach paid dividends to stun Emma Raducanu in their round four matchup.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Sun slices and sinks Raducanu in three, Sinner-Medvedev set”
18 months after her last competitive appearance on tour following injury and a reduced drugs suspension, former world no. 1 and two-time Major champion Simona Halep made an encouraging return to action in America’s sunshine state but predictably ran out of steam against Paula Badosa in a tricky first-round contest as one of the tournament’s marquee wildcard entries this week. Continue reading “Miami Open: Halep hustles on return, but Badosa earns three-set comeback win”
![Ons Jabeur [6] during her match against Marketa Vondrousova in their Ladies' Singles Final during day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at...](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1559846406/photo/ons-jabeur-6-during-her-match-against-marketa-vondrousova-in-their-ladies-singles-final.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=zFF5EuPNGxLccJlWJQyR45Csp1ZQD0DENsCQUmM_69M=)
Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur is the latest to miss an upcoming event through injury, while Denis Shapovalov – who made the tournament’s semifinals in 2021 – finds himself enduring similarly bad injury luck at a crucial juncture of the calendar as far as their season goals are concerned… Continue reading “Tennis news round-up: Jabeur, Shapovalov sidelined with knee injuries, FAA’s Alcaraz warning and Halep update”
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”
Casper Ruud earned a solitary win for Norway while Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz finished with a flourish. Paula Badosa didn’t have it all her own way, spluttering a whopping 12 double-faults before suffering with cramp, yet eventually recovered from the brink to overpower Britain’s Harriet Dart in an exhausting three-hour encounter to keep Spain’s qualification hopes alive. Continue reading “United Cup: Ruud, Otte and Hurkacz win while Badosa outlasts Dart in three-hour tussle”
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”
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”
While defending champion Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal remain on course for a much-anticipated rematch of their French Open quarter-final, there are ten players into the last-eight at SW19 for the first time across both draws, including Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner, who extinguished Carlos Alcaraz’s aspirations in an entertaining four-set battle. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Days 7-8: Nine maiden quarterfinalists in men, women’s singles draws”
After sending the tennis world into shockwaves late on Tuesday by announcing her immediate retirement from the sport, world number one Ashleigh Barty fielded questions and was content discussing the decision alongside head coach Craig Tyzzer with assembled media reporters in a press conference today – just 53 days after cruising to a historic Australian Open triumph.
Continue reading ““No perfect time, but this was mine” – Barty discusses shock retirement in press conference”
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