20 months after announcing her return from an eight-year second retirement, four-time Major champion Kim Clijsters has definitively pulled the curtain on a professional career lasting almost 25 years at the age of 38 as the Belgian Hall of Famer revealed this week she cannot effectively commit to the sport’s demands with her schedule as a mother with three children. Continue reading
Tag: Serena Williams
Australian Open 2022: Djokovic in — Williams, Andreescu out as Slam draws closer
The first Grand Slam tournament of 2022 will be without more notable champions: 23-time Major winner Serena Williams isn’t fully recovered from her hamstring injury, while Bianca Andreescu has also opted out. Novak Djokovic, a nine-time winner in Melbourne, will participate despite refusing to declare his COVID-19 vaccination status in recent months. Continue reading
Match rewind: Naomi Osaka’s remarkable Aus Open recovery win vs. Garbine Muguruza
With the first round of matches at this year’s final Grand Slam starting from Flushing Meadows today, a look back at a memorable matchup from the first: Naomi Osaka saving two match points against Garbine Muguruza during their enthralling fourth-round encounter. She went on to win her fourth Major, and second in Australia, after an eventful fortnight seven months ago.
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US Open 2021: Williams sisters withdraw with injuries, Kenin out with COVID
The list of high-profile withdrawals ahead of the year’s final Grand Slam continues, with Venus and younger sister Serena Williams revealing they won’t feature at Flushing Meadows. After news of Roger Federer (knee) and Rafael Nadal (foot) shutting down their 2021 seasons in the last fortnight, this will be the first Slam tournament without the latter trio playing since 1997. Continue reading
Tokyo Olympics update: Gauff, Berrettini withdraw with COVID and injury issues
In a field weakened by notable absences including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep and Serena Williams, America’s prodigious teenager Coco Gauff and first-time Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini have withdrawn from this year’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics. Gauff tested positive for COVID-19, while Berrettini has been struggling with a lingering thigh injury. Continue reading
Wimbledon 2021: Serena Williams withdraws mid-match, sustains ankle injury
Serena Williams’ quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam triumph, on the surface where she’s clinched six Major titles since beating older sister Venus to first win in 2002, is over on Day 2 – but not as you’d expect. The sixth seed slipped awkwardly behind the baseline, limped towards her chair and it was quickly clear she wouldn’t be able to continue through the pain. Continue reading
French Open 2021: Djokovic, Federer and defending champion Nadal in same half
Play starts Sunday, and it won’t be an easy run into the deep stages for any of the Big Three – as they all look to improve upon their respective Grand Slam singles title tallies.
Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams, earns another Final berth
Naomi Osaka (#3) recovered from a sluggish start, down an early break and needing to save points to avoid a 3-0 deficit, to beat Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 in an hour 15 minutes as fans returned, watching in awe as the 23-year-old once again put her idol’s aspirations for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on ice – booking another Final appearance this weekend. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Osaka-Williams semi-final awaits, error-laden Djokovic sinks Zverev
A Naomi Osaka vs Serena Williams semi-final is set in stone for Thursday after both were comfortable winners during their respective matchups, Aslan Karatsev’s record-breaking run in Melbourne has continued at an injured Grigor Dimitrov’s expense while defending champion Novak Djokovic recovered from a set down to beat Alexander Zverev in a chaotic four-set clash.
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Australian Open 2021: Comebacks aplenty as Osaka, Halep and Karatsev all recover
Naomi Osaka (#3) saved two match points, world no. 2 Simona Halep set up an exciting quarter-final clash vs. Serena Williams after both earned gritty three-set wins over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka respectively. Elsewhere, Aslan Karatsev’s historic run continued against all odds while Novak Djokovic continued his unbeaten H2H streak at Milos Raonic’s expense.
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Australian Open 2021: Osaka and Serena win, Karatsev shines, a Kyrgios-Thiem epic
Day 5 was one not to be missed, as Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and more navigated past potentially tricky matchups while there were surprises on the men’s side of the draw as Aslan Karatsev was ruthlessly efficient in toppling Diego Schwartzman (#8), Kyrgios-Thiem certainly lived up to the hype and an injured Novak Djokovic closed the show in dramatic circumstances. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Halep’s heroic fightback, gritty wins for Djokovic and Kyrgios
Day 3 was eventful: defending champion Novak Djokovic was pushed in a memorable first encounter against Frances Tiafoe, while world no. 2 Simona Halep and hometown favourite Nick Kyrgios produced gutsy comebacks to cap an action-packed night session after more seeded players fell, including Slam champions Bianca Andreescu (#8) and Petra Kvitova (#9). Continue reading
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