Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
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”
Jannik Sinner improved to 48-5 in 2024 thus far at Frances Tiafoe’s expense on Monday, racking up his second Masters 1000 title of the calendar year – third in twelve months – before the Italian’s latest achievement was quickly overshadowed some 12 hours later as news broke about him being cleared of wrongdoing over two failed March anti-doping tests not before made public.
Continue reading “12 hours after Cincinnati title, Sinner’s silent drugs ban cleared – questions asked”
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”
Attack the forehand as they might, Coco Gauff bounced back from her Wimbledon disappointment and produced an excellent week’s worth of tennis – not dropping a set – en route to her first WTA 500 title in Washington, after beating Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday night. How does she build from here? Continue reading “Coco Gauff’s aggression key as she collects Washington title, her first at WTA 500 level”
![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”
French Open finalist Casper Ruud has withdrawn from next week’s ATP500 event in Halle, Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini – Wimbledon runner-ups over the previous two seasons – suffered frustrating defeats on their respective returns to grass, and more besides as the season’s cycle continues to turn… Continue reading “Casper Ruud’s Halle withdrawal, Kyrgios and Berrettini’s losing returns and more”
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.
Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Nadal, Swiatek and more in round-up, draw analysis as year’s first Major starts Monday”
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”
It’s been three days since the announcement that former world no. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended by the ITIA for doping, having tested positive for a banned substance in Roxadustat at the US Open – something she was notified of on October 7. The 31-year-old Romanian has described what is to come as the hardest match of her life, fighting for the truth. So with all of that in mind, what’s next for her? Continue reading “Simona Halep drug suspension: What is Roxadustat, and what’s next for the two-time Slam champ?”
Serena Williams’ last US Open campaign got underway with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-3 win over Danka Kovinic, before a celebratory ceremony for the 23-time Major champion as her illustrious career enters its final days. Casper Ruud and defending titlist Daniil Medvedev eased through in the day session, while Simona Halep and Stefanos Tsitsipas were among the Day 1 casualties… Continue reading “US Open 2022: Tsitsipas and Halep among seeds to fall, Serena wins as celebration begins on Day 1”
Despite a sluggish, unflattering start which saw the Kazakh spray a whopping 17 unforced errors and skew makeable shots wide, Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to earn her first Major title and banish Ons Jabeur’s chances of making more history after a whirlwind fortnight run to the finale for both was concluded last weekend. But how was this final won and lost? Continue reading “Rybakina reigns supreme vs. Jabeur: Where was Ladies’ Wimbledon final won and lost?”
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