Nick Kyrgios recovered from a set down to beat fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas during an eagerly-anticipated clash not without controversy and multiple flashpoints. Elsewhere, there were morale-boosting victories for Rafael Nadal and his compatriot Paula Badosa, after Iga Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak was snapped by giantkiller Alize Cornet. Read on for more. Continue reading
Tag: Tennis
Wimbledon 2022 – Day 1: Djokovic and Alcaraz tested, Raducanu rules on Centre Court debut
Novak Djokovic was tested en route to making more history, while Spanish rising star Carlos Alcaraz was embroiled in a five-set battle before Emma Raducanu held her nerve in a tricky R1 test against Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck during a memorable Centre Court debut for the US Open champion. Read on for reviews and more, on what was another intriguing Day 1 on SW19. Continue reading
Wimbledon 2022: COVID-19 illness sees Marin Cilic withdraw, following injuries for Keys and Coric
Having made the sixth Major semi-final of his career in Paris earlier this month, one of the tournament’s dark horses on the men’s side has quietly departed SW19 without hitting a ball: Marin Cilic [14] revealing he’s still unwell after a positive COVID test, so Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges will replace him in tomorrow’s R1 match against America’s Mackenzie McDonald. Continue reading
Mallorca: Tsitsipas clinches maiden grass-court title, ousting Bautista Agut in three sets
Although the post-match interview was predictably awkward as usual, Stefanos Tsitsipas navigated beyond potentially murky waters in his final match before Wimbledon begins on Monday. He could’ve easily crumbled after being broken when serving for the match – against a motivated Roberto Bautista Agut – but held firm to secure his first grass-court title in Mallorca. Continue reading
Welcome return: Serena wins alongside Jabeur in fun Eastbourne doubles clash
357 days after limping off injured in the first-round at last year’s Wimbledon, 23-time Major champion Serena Williams marked her return to tour with a fun three-set doubles victory alongside world no. 2 Ons Jabeur, as they recovered from 2-6, 1-2 down to overwhelm Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo in a deciding set tiebreaker at Eastbourne earlier today. Continue reading
Okay, do we need to have the Emma Raducanu conversation yet?
Withdrawn from the Nottingham tournament with another niggling injury earlier this month, doubtful for Wimbledon… the knives are well and truly out in force for the US Open champion. Are these high expectations and criticism justified, or should we err on the side of patience? Continue reading
Jack Draper: Ruusuvouri defeat will help me learn lessons, with SW19 returning this month
It’s easy to declare post-match that you’ll learn lessons from a loss, especially a humbling one during the notoriously short grass court season, but 20-year-old Jack Draper’s case feels slightly different than most. Considering Wimbledon’s just around the corner, here’s why… Continue reading
French Open: Nadal eases past first-time finalist Ruud, wins record-extending 14th RG trophy
Rafael Nadal recovered from a potentially precarious 3-1 second set deficit, winning eleven consecutive games and losing just eight points across the course of a 30-minute set three as the 36-year-old closed out an impressive straight-sets victory (6-3, 6-3, 6-0) over first-time Major finalist Casper Ruud, making more history with a record-extending 14th Roland Garros title.
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French Open: Swiatek sweeps Gauff aside in straight-sets, secures second Major title
Two years after blasting beyond Sofia Kenin in the 2020 final as a teenager, world no. 1 Iga Swiatek wasted no time in doubling her Grand Slam tally while extending her remarkable winning streak to 35 matches with a 68-minute 6-1, 6-3 win over American teen star Coco Gauff. Continue reading
French Open 2022: Gauff grits through R1 on opening day; Jabeur, Muguruza crash out
Four seeds fell on Day 1 at this year’s French Open, but none bigger than 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza – despite being a set and 3-2 up against Kaia Kanepi. Ons Jabeur similarly lost from a commanding position against Magda Linette, though the youngster who beat the Tunisian here in R4 last year showed edge to progress without playing well. Read on for more. Continue reading
Following his Rome exploits, is Djokovic peaking at the right time to defend his title?
It had been 190 days – six months and nine days – since Novak Djokovic last won an ATP singles title before lifting the Rome Masters trophy for a record-extending sixth time by overwhelming Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday. Given the whirlwind half-year the Serbian has experienced, does the past week prove he’s peaking at the right time to defend his Roland Garros crown next?
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Madrid Open: Alcaraz does it again, clinching another Masters 1000 title after masterful week
After sealing his maiden title at this level against Casper Ruud in Miami last month, the 19-year-old Spaniard showed nerves of steel and made history to finish an awe-inspiring week beating three of the world’s top four – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev – to seize a second successive Masters 1000 title, just two weeks before this year’s second Major in Paris. Continue reading
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