Andrey Rublev twice recovered from the brink to avenge his Paris Masters defeat by Holger Rune in a deciding set tiebreak, earning another Major quarter-final berth in the process. He’ll face the tournament’s nine-time champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, after the Serb was supreme as he purred to victory against Australia’s remaining hope Alex de Minaur. Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka and Magda Linette were big winners and more on an early-ending Day 8. Continue reading
Today’s results mean there could be as many as five more first-time quarterfinalists in this year’s Australian Open, including teenage duo Holger Rune and Linda Fruhvirtova. Rune will face Andrey Rublev after the Russian was on form vs. Dan Evans, while the 17-year-old ousted compatriot Marketa Vondrousova with Donna Vekic next. Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov made Novak Djokovic sweat before Roberto Bautista Agut ended Andy Murray’s memorable run. Continue reading
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.
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Although the post-match interview was predictably awkward as usual, Stefanos Tsitsipas navigated beyond potentially murky waters in his final match before Wimbledon begins on Monday. He could’ve easily crumbled after being broken when serving for the match – against a motivated Roberto Bautista Agut – but held firm to secure his first grass-court title in Mallorca. Continue reading
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
Cameron Norrie [21] continues to defy expectations, knocking out Daniil Medvedev’s conqueror Grigor Dimitrov to earn his first Masters-level Final at Indian Wells. Ahead of the showpiece event in the early hours on Monday, the 26-year-old hailed the result as the biggest of his career.
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Having come back from a set down to win for the second time this week, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili described his three-set triumph (3-6, 6-1, 7-5) over a fatigued Roger Federer as unbelievable – saving a match point against the tournament’s second seed in Doha. Up next is Taylor Fritz, who similarly recovered to beat world no. 11 Denis Shapovalov earlier on. Continue reading
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
Andy Murray and world no. 12 Roberto Bautista Agut, as seen in the picture above, are among the high-profile tennis players that have spoken recently about their plans to return – with the US Open on everyone’s minds.
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