There were comfortable straight-set wins for multiple Grand Slam champions, including two title contenders in WTA Finals winner Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek, while more seeds fell on Day 2 of this year’s Australian Open. Andy Murray made history after gritting through another five-set battle, while Nick Kyrgios and Emma Raducanu shone in the night session.
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Tag: Simona Halep
Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope
Having announced her retirement on Dec. 1, Britain’s Johanna Konta – a three-time Major semi-finalist and former world no. 4 – was plagued by troublesome injuries and some streaky form, underselling the country’s greatest hope in the women’s game across the last decade and more. Here, I look back as the 30-year-old waved goodbye quietly before the new year. Continue reading
Linz 2021: Raducanu’s memorable year ends in tight last-16 loss to persistent Wang
An unforgettable year for the British teenager ends with successive defeats in Cluj and Linz for the US Open champion, but the gutsy fightback shown here through injury against China’s Xinyu Wang – born 14 months apart – should stand her in good stead for 2022 and beyond. Continue reading
Anett Kontaveit astonished by top 10 rankings surge, but she really shouldn’t be
Having sown the seeds for her progression last year with new career-high Grand Slam finishes in Melbourne and Flushing Meadows, Estonian rising star Anett Kontaveit [9] is said to be in disbelief after surpassing Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur to officially qualify for next week’s WTA Finals – another career first as her resume continues to blossom. There’s no reason she should be. Continue reading
Indian Wells 2021: Savvy Sasnovich spoils Raducanu’s return on WTA 1000 debut
Emma Raducanu’s Indian Wells debut lasted just under 90 minutes, losing 6-2, 6-4 against Aliaksandra Sasnovich on her return after winning last month’s US Open. The result snaps the British teenager’s ten-match winning run, with Sasnovich to play Simona Halep in R3 next. Continue reading
Emma Raducanu should heed Tim Henman’s warning ahead of coaching decision
After her split from Andrew Richardson, critics aplenty have expressed their own opinions on who this year’s US Open champion Emma Raducanu should team up with next. Ahead of her Indian Wells debut this week, Tim Henman feels there’s no need to make any hasty decisions.
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US Open 2021: Auger-Aliassime makes history with Tiafoe win; teenagers shine on Day 7
On an day full of twists and turns where two teenagers booked their place in maiden Grand Slam quarter-finals, Felix Auger-Aliassime recovered from a set down, taking Frances Tiafoe’s best punches and silenced the raucous Arthur Ashe crowd to break a 12-year piece of history. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Rublev, Medvedev win but Ruud stunned in four sets on rainy Day 3
Russians ruled supreme on day three, as there were straight-sets victories for Daniil Medvedev (#2) and Daria Kasatkina (#25), while Andrey Rublev (#5) had a fiery response after relinquishing three set points to oust Spain’s Pablo Martínez in four. There were also comfortable wins for Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep while defending champ Naomi Osaka had a walkover. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Murray-Tsitsipas lives up to the billing on eventful Day 1
On an opening day marred by several injury-enforced withdrawals, 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray and world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas were engaged in a five-set epic battle, lasting four hours 50 minutes, to start the year’s final Grand Slam tournament with aplomb. Continue reading
Wimbledon 2021: Bullish Barty battles past tricky Pliskova, seals second Slam title
World number one Ashleigh Barty was made to work for it, but eventually outlasted Karolina Pliskova (#8) 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 to secure her second Grand Slam title – making history by being the first Australian since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win the Venus Rosewater Dish too.
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French Open 2021: Simona Halep likely out after innocuous calf tear
World number three and 2018 Roland Garros champion Simona Halep is unlikely to feature at the year’s second Slam in Paris, after being forced to retire from her second-round match in Rome against Angelique Kerber midweek.
Continue readingAustralian 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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