Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
There’s just something about Thanasi Kokkinakis in Australia, especially his Adelaide home city, that brings out the electricity and justifies why there has always been optimism about his top-30 potential even now at age 28. He acknowledged as much after a thrilling three-hour victory over the tournament’s eight seed in Tomas Martin Etcheverry (7-5, 4-6, 7-6). Continue reading “Thanasi thrills! Kokkinakis keeps producing moments, this time in Adelaide”
After years flirting with the top table, Alex de Minaur finally established himself as a mainstay in the world’s top 10 during a busy and memorable 2024. Buoyed by that progress, the Australian knows he can still do more – hampered by injury during the year’s middle section – as preparations ramp up before his home Major, seeking to improve upon consecutive fourth-round finishes. Continue reading “Why not? Alex de Minaur backs himself to build on from breakthrough 2024 season”
Former world no. 1, three-time Major champion and double Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray waved farewell to the Philippe Chatrier court for perhaps a final time in his illustrious career, painfully hobbling off after being worn down during a straight-sets defeat by longtime foe and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka – a fitting nightcap on Day 1 at this year’s tournament. Continue reading “French Open 2024: Wawrinka downs Murray in nightcap as r-word looms large”
A week removed from his long-awaited first Miami Open title, world number two Jannik Sinner is back among home comforts on the French Riviera with another Masters 1000 event already in full swing. Having reached the tournament’s semifinal stage twelve months ago, can the Italian surpass that achievement on his return to clay as the sport’s in-form player right now? Continue reading “Having made history Stateside, Sinner looks to eclipse last year in Monte-Carlo”
Having sustained a stress fracture in his back en route to the French Open quarterfinals, the two-time Major semifinalist secured a first ATP title since 2018 after enduring a forgettable few months rehabbing from an issue that saw him miss Wimbledon and ice his aspirations for another deep US Open run. Continue reading “After nagging back injury wiped out his summer, Karen Khachanov riding high”
Victoria Azarenka started well and didn’t let up, as she ended Jessica Pegula’s eight-match winning streak – to punch her ticket into a ninth Major semi-final. She’ll face reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday, who dropped just one more game against Jelena Ostapenko. Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov will target a first competitive H2H win over Stefanos Tsitsipas after their contrasting wins over Sebastian Korda and Jiri Lehecka on Day 9. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Azarenka-Rybakina, Khachanov-Tsitsipas set in semifinals on eventful Day 9”
Neither played badly, but both were second best on the biggest points as world no. 1 Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff suffered straight-sets defeats against a pair of Grand Slam champions in Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko on a busy Day 7 at this year’s Major. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka’s giantkilling run continued and he’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7”
Adelaide 1 finalist and 29th seed Sebastian Korda produced some brilliant ball-striking as he stunned two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in straight-sets to steal the show on an eventful Day 5 at this year’s Australian Open, with Jiri Lehecka a big winner after some tasty fourth-round ties on the women’s side were confirmed, including Swiatek-Rybakina and Pegula-Krejcikova. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Korda outplays Medvedev, Lehecka downs Norrie, Zhu stuns Sakkari and more on Day 5”
What a day of finals action. USA swept Italy in the inaugural United Cup, before American teenager Coco Gauff and world no. 5 Aryna Sabalenka both prevailed in straight-sets to clinch their first WTA singles titles since May 2021 while Novak Djokovic recovered from the brink – match point down – to eventually overwhelm Sebastian Korda to win his 92nd ATP title. Continue reading “USA secure United Cup, Sabalenka and Gauff win clean while Djokovic saves match point to pip Korda”
USA vs. Italy awaits in the United Cup final after both nations took care of business. Coco Gauff faces Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova in tomorrow’s finale, while Tallon Griekspoor became a first-time ATP tour-level titlist with a recovery win over Benjamin Bonzi. Elsewhere, Sebastian Korda’s steady tennis helped him book a final berth, but not before witnessing an emotional outburst – while Novak Djokovic bested Daniil Medvedev despite weathering an injury scare. Continue reading “USA vs. Italy sealed for United Cup final, Gauff-Masarova and Djokovic-Korda finals plus more”
Jessica Pegula ended a four-match losing streak against the world no. 1, while Martina Trevisan played spoiler to sting Greece as the United Cup semi-finals got underway. Elsewhere, there were big wins for Sebastian Korda and Linda Noskova, while two first-time finalists will play each other in Pune. It’s always fun to get a Djokovic-Medvedev matchup too, right? Continue reading “USA and Italy lead in United Cup semis, Noskova-Jabeur and Djokovic-Medvedev confirmed”
Novak Djokovic recovered from 5-2 down in set one and emerged without enduring a three-set battle against another determined Frenchman, setting up another intriguing clash with Denis Shapovalov. Coco Gauff avenged a defeat three years in the making, before Emma Raducanu tearfully withdrew after sustaining a freak ankle injury midway through her R2 match… Continue reading “Tennis: Djokovic, Gauff edge their way to tight victories while Raducanu retires with ankle injury”
Mo and Sports 