Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Garcia grinds past Pegula, faces Sabalenka in Saturday’s semi-finals

Caroline Garcia of France celebrates after beating Jessica Pegula of the United States 6-1, 7-5 during their match on day seven of the Western &...

Caroline Garcia’s formidable form continues, after outplaying Emma Raducanu’s conqueror Jessica Pegula early and holding firm as the American’s level later improved in a 6-1, 7-5 win over the world no. 8 – her third against a top-10 player in 2022. The Frenchwoman plays Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals for a chance to contest her third WTA 1000 finale this weekend. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Garcia grinds past Pegula, faces Sabalenka in Saturday’s semi-finals”

Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Raducanu dismisses patchy Serena showing in straight-sets on Cincy debut

Serena Williams congratulates Emma Raducanu of Great Britain after their match during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on...

US Open champion Emma Raducanu started fast and drew errors aplenty (19-1) from a sluggish Serena Williams display on her Cincinnati debut tonight, as the 19-year-old kept composed, as the 19-year-old kept composed in their first and only competitive meeting. Next she’ll play another legend she grew up watching: two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Raducanu dismisses patchy Serena showing in straight-sets on Cincy debut”

Tennis

Serena’s swansong: 23-time Major champion confirms imminent retirement in Vogue magazine

Serena Williams of the United States in action against Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain in her first round match on Day 3 of the National Bank Open, part...

In an interview with Vogue magazine, 23-time Major winner Serena Williams revealed she’s winding down her career, with the US Open likely to be her final farewell this month. She cited a desire to grow her family – five-year-old daughter Olympia wanting siblings – as a big factor in her decision. Although this news has felt a long time coming, it’s still a seismic one nonetheless. Continue reading “Serena’s swansong: 23-time Major champion confirms imminent retirement in Vogue magazine”

Tennis

Citi Open: Emma Raducanu rolls past error-prone Louisa Chirico on her US return

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning a point against Louisa Chirico of the United States during Day 4 of the Citi Open at Rock Creek...

It was promising in places, predictably patchy in others but US Open champion Emma Raducanu made a successful return Stateside on her first appearance since being outfoxed by France’s Caroline Garcia during a second-round exit at Wimbledon in late June – beating American qualifier Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2 to progress into R2 at this year’s Citi Open.
Continue reading “Citi Open: Emma Raducanu rolls past error-prone Louisa Chirico on her US return”

Tennis

Citi Open: Rebecca Marino secures three-set turnaround win, snaps Venus Williams’ comeback

Venus Williams of the United States reacts against Rebecca Marino of Canada during Day 3 of the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center on August 01,...

Three weeks shy of a year since her last competitive singles match ended in defeat by Su-Wei Hsieh in Chicago, seven-time Major winner Venus Williams returned to a rapturous reception in Washington and started brilliantly but sadly her tennis faded drastically against Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino – losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 despite leading the decider 4-1 at one stage. Continue reading “Citi Open: Rebecca Marino secures three-set turnaround win, snaps Venus Williams’ comeback”

Tennis

Umag: Alcaraz-Sinner in Croatian clay final after contrasting semi-final wins over qualifiers

Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain interact following their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on day seven of The Championships...

The talented pair, 20 months apart in age, will face off for the second time in four weekends tomorrow night with the Umag title on the line after their thrilling four-set clash at Wimbledon set tongues wagging about how the sport’s in good hands over the next decade and more. Continue reading “Umag: Alcaraz-Sinner in Croatian clay final after contrasting semi-final wins over qualifiers”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 – Day 6: Cornet snaps Swiatek’s win streak, Kyrgios-Tsitsipas delivers and more

Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates the victory in the Men's Singles Third Round Match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during day six of The...

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 “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 6: Cornet snaps Swiatek’s win streak, Kyrgios-Tsitsipas delivers and more”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 – Day 1: Djokovic and Alcaraz tested, Raducanu rules on Centre Court debut

Emma Raducanu after winning her match against Alison Van Uytanck during Day One of The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and...

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 – Day 1: Djokovic and Alcaraz tested, Raducanu rules on Centre Court debut”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022: COVID-19 illness sees Marin Cilic withdraw, following injuries for Keys and Coric

Marin Cilic of Croatia reacts in the Men's Singles Semi Final match against Casper Ruud of Norway during Day Thirteen of The 2022 French Open at...

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 “Wimbledon 2022: COVID-19 illness sees Marin Cilic withdraw, following injuries for Keys and Coric”

Tennis

Mallorca: Tsitsipas clinches maiden grass-court title, ousting Bautista Agut in three sets

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after winning against Roberto Bautista of Spain in his Final match during day eighth of the...

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 “Mallorca: Tsitsipas clinches maiden grass-court title, ousting Bautista Agut in three sets”

Tennis

Welcome return: Serena wins alongside Jabeur in fun Eastbourne doubles clash

Player Serena Williams and Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrate after winning against Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo and Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova at...

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 “Welcome return: Serena wins alongside Jabeur in fun Eastbourne doubles clash”

Tennis

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 “Okay, do we need to have the Emma Raducanu conversation yet?”