There were routine R1 wins for the sport’s two world no. 1s, sandwiched between a welcome return for the King of Clay. Elsewhere, the women’s defending titlist was stunned by a determined Frenchwoman on home soil, before two Major winners almost 15 years apart in age both showed steely resilience, recovering from precarious situations to seal their R2 berths. Continue reading “French Open 2022: Swiatek, Nadal, Djokovic all progress; Krejcikova, Kontaveit ousted”
Tag: Rafael Nadal
French Open 2022: Divisive draws announced, as Djokovic-Nadal-Alcaraz in same half
Ahead of Sunday’s first-round flurry of matches across both ATP and WTA circuits, an unbalanced men’s draw has predictably caused quite a stir before the year’s second Major. Read on to see which particular players will be fancying their chances of a deep run over the next fortnight on clay, while other rivals in different sections will be rueing their lack of luck… Continue reading “French Open 2022: Divisive draws announced, as Djokovic-Nadal-Alcaraz in same half”
Following his Rome exploits, is Djokovic peaking at the right time to defend his title?
It had been 190 days – six months and nine days – since Novak Djokovic last won an ATP singles title before lifting the Rome Masters trophy for a record-extending sixth time by overwhelming Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday. Given the whirlwind half-year the Serbian has experienced, does the past week prove he’s peaking at the right time to defend his Roland Garros crown next?
Continue reading “Following his Rome exploits, is Djokovic peaking at the right time to defend his title?”
French Open 2022: Berrettini, Monfils, Murray among withdrawals before year’s second Major
Last year’s Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, 2022 Australian Open quarter-finalist Gael Monfils and former world no. 1 Andy Murray are just three of those among the notable names who’ve recently announced they’ll be missing this year’s second Slam for various reasons. Continue reading “French Open 2022: Berrettini, Monfils, Murray among withdrawals before year’s second Major”
Madrid Open: Alcaraz does it again, clinching another Masters 1000 title after masterful week
After sealing his maiden title at this level against Casper Ruud in Miami last month, the 19-year-old Spaniard showed nerves of steel and made history to finish an awe-inspiring week beating three of the world’s top four – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev – to seize a second successive Masters 1000 title, just two weeks before this year’s second Major in Paris. Continue reading “Madrid Open: Alcaraz does it again, clinching another Masters 1000 title after masterful week”
Indian Wells 2022: Fritz extinguishes Nadal’s unbeaten streak after Swiatek sinks Sakkari
Taylor Fritz earned his first Masters 1000 title the hard way, gritting through the pain barrier to overwhelm a similarly injury-affected Rafael Nadal and snap the Spaniard’s 20-0 unbeaten streak in 2022. Elsewhere over the weekend, 20-year-old star Iga Swiatek beat US Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari for the second time in 24 days to secure yet another big trophy herself. Continue reading “Indian Wells 2022: Fritz extinguishes Nadal’s unbeaten streak after Swiatek sinks Sakkari”
ATP Dubai: Vesely ousts Djokovic in quarters, Medvedev confirmed as new world no. 1
After emerging unscathed through two qualifying rounds to reach the Dubai main draw, then beating both Marin Cilic and Roberto Bautista Agut (#8) in straight-sets, Jiri Vesely’s week went from commendable to masterful after an inspired showing against Novak Djokovic, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to knock the 20-time Grand Slam champion off his perch as the world’s best player. Continue reading “ATP Dubai: Vesely ousts Djokovic in quarters, Medvedev confirmed as new world no. 1”
Australian Open 2022: Nadal recovers to beat Medvedev in five-hour marathon, seals 21st Major
Six months out injured, unsure if he would even be playing this tournament. Down two sets to love, seemingly out and physically drained. Rafael Nadal refused to lose faith, fighting his way back to produce a remarkable comeback and beat US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in an epic Grand Slam Final lasting more than five hours. Not a bad way to clinch a 21st Major title. Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Nadal recovers to beat Medvedev in five-hour marathon, seals 21st Major”
Australian Open 2022: Nadal vs. Medvedev in Sunday’s final after both prevail in four sets
Regardless of who wins, this weekend will see history made when 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal looks to cement his remarkable comeback from foot surgery against the man he beat to claim #19 at Flushing Meadows three years ago: Daniil Medvedev. Both won in four sets vs. Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas, but who will be the last man standing Sunday? Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Nadal vs. Medvedev in Sunday’s final after both prevail in four sets”
Australian Open 2022: Nadal-Berrettini, Keys-Barty semifinals set as Day 9 excites
Rafael Nadal withstood a spirited Denis Shapovalov comeback to oust the Canadian in five sets, before Matteo Berrettini similarly held firm under Gael Monfils’ pressure in a night session showdown lasting almost four hours, becoming the first Italian ever to reach this tournament’s semis. Elsewhere, Ashleigh Barty made quick work of her last-eight clash with Jessica Pegula and now faces another American in Barbora Krejcikova’s conqueror Madison Keys on Thursday.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Nadal-Berrettini, Keys-Barty semifinals set as Day 9 excites”
Australian Open 2022: Zverev, Sakkari and Badosa all knocked out on busy Day 7
Adelaide champion Madison Keys booked her place in an eighth Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Sydney titlist Paula Badosa to kick off a busy day of action where multiple seeds fell, including Maria Sakkari [5] and a worryingly off-colour Alexander Zverev [3].
Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Zverev, Sakkari and Badosa all knocked out on busy Day 7”
Australian Open 2022: Badosa, Krejcikova win three-set battles to kick off action-packed Day 5
Paula Badosa and Barbora Krejcikova’s contrasting three-set wins continued their career-best Australian Open runs, on a day full of surprises. Elsewhere, defending champion Naomi Osaka had two match points on her racquet but tightened up and lost against Amanda Anisimova after Matteo Berrettini [7] was pushed to a deciding set tiebreak by rising star Carlos Alcaraz. Continue reading “Australian Open 2022: Badosa, Krejcikova win three-set battles to kick off action-packed Day 5”
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