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A month out before the year’s first Major begins in Melbourne, the first round of main draw wildcard entries have been announced as the 2025 Australian Open will feature a handful of home hopefuls and notable names – perhaps none bigger than 2014 champion and three-time Major titleholder Stan Wawrinka. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 25: Wildcard entries unveiled as 2014 champion Wawrinka, Tomljanovic in”
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”
Homecooking was in the air for Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, 2022 Indian Wells winner Taylor Fritz and four-time Major titlist Iga Swiatek as the trio all prevailed in their respective tournaments on Sunday, while Australia’s Alexei Popyrin was rewarded for his persistence – securing a second ATP tour-level title at Stan Wawrinka’s expense after a three-set battle in Umag. Continue reading “Zverev, Fritz and Swiatek all clinch titles on home soil, as Popyrin pips Wawrinka”
Britain’s no. 1 Cameron Norrie was bested in four sets, Casper Ruud’s conqueror Liam Broady led early but suffered the same fate while Andy Murray was left to rue what might’ve been as Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from an overnight deficit to beat him in a decider. Katie Boulter is now the country’s last remaining singles hope, Aryna Sabalenka survived a scare and more seeds fell.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Tsitsipas topples Murray, while Eubanks earns big win over Norrie”
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and world no. 3 Jessica Pegula experienced contrasting victories to secure their R3 berths, while six more seeds fell across both draws on Day 4. Despite a gripping 89-minute first set, Novak Djokovic ensured there was no repeat of the previous night’s electricity on Philippe-Chatrier – winning in straight-sets against a fearless Marton Fucsovics. Continue reading “French Open 2023: Sabalenka, Pegula win before Djokovic handles Fucsovics test”
Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev – last year’s champion and runner-up – won in contrasting circumstances. A genuine title contender withdrew through injury and needs surgery, while Iga Swiatek was pushed by a determined Jule Neimeier, an intriguing contest between Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff is set for R2 and much more besides. Read on, for Day 1’s round-up. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Kyrgios withdraws, Nadal battles past Draper, Raducanu-Gauff in R2 + more on Day 1”
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu recovered from a set and early break down to prevail against a Czech teenage talent, after ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic was tested in parts but his quality proved too much to handle as both players kicked off their respective 2023 seasons with contrasting victories in their first-round tournament matches. Also, the business end of the team-centric United Cup is hotting up, and there were a few surprises elsewhere… Continue reading “Djokovic, Raducanu begin their 2023 season with contrasting victories as warm-up events continue”
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev’s long-awaited comeback from ankle surgery, after an unexpected setback, is less than a fortnight away now. He’s looking forward to returning against a competitive field for Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Tennis Cup, which includes 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and Cameron Norrie, hoping the three-day event serves him well as the British no. 1 looks to banish his historical Australian Open struggles come early 2023. Continue reading “Australian Open 2023: Zverev, Norrie eager to ramp up their preparations in Saudi Arabia event”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is planning a return to competition in time for this year’s Roland Garros, having been absent from the ATP tour since undergoing left foot surgery after last March’s Qatar Open. Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic said she’s still struggling with the after-effects of COVID-19 after contracting the virus in December.
Continue reading “Wawrinka targeting April return date, Bencic reveals COVID-19 complications”
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 “US Open 2021: Williams sisters withdraw with injuries, Kenin out with COVID”
After suffering a shock first-round exit at Roland Garros and missing Wimbledon through a wrist injury, US Open champion Dominic Thiem has today announced he will not be defending his maiden Slam title in New York after a recurrence of his issue flared up during training last week.
Continue reading “US Open 2021: Recurring wrist pain sees Dominic Thiem withdraw, will not defend title”
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 “Australian Open 2021: Halep’s heroic fightback, gritty wins for Djokovic and Kyrgios”
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