Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
A niggling back injury has clearly played its role, but Stefanos Tsitsipas’ rough form across all surfaces over the past six months has seen many critics question what he’s doing, if anything, to keep pace with his younger counterparts at a juncture in the sport where the new generation – led by Carlos Alcaraz and new first-time Major champion Jannik Sinner – are quickly breaking new ground. Continue reading “Keen to steady his form, Tsitsipas knows Alcaraz and Sinner forcing him to evolve”
Injuries didn’t help, but Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime endured a frustrating campaign packed with uncertainty, inconsistency and early tournament defeats as his ranking dropped, seeing agemates take some of the shine he’s worked hard to earn. So, what does 2024 have in store for the 23-year-old? Continue reading “Felix Auger-Aliassime faces fight to respond well after agemates usurped him”
Highly-rated coach Darren Cahill has done wonders for Jannik Sinner since joining the Italian’s team in the summer of 2022. After a career-best year ended with Davis Cup success last weekend, it’s clear the 22-year-old will have revamped expectations placed upon him for the 2024 season – the Australian namechecking Major success and peaking for the Olympics in Paris as goals. Continue reading “Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill targets Major, Olympic success for surging Italian in 2024”
After being criticised and ridiculed on social media for going winless during last season’s WTA Finals, US Open champion Coco Gauff has attributed a change in her perspective and learning life lessons as keys aiding her progression over the past twelve months. Kicking off the elite eight event in Cancun with a straight-sets win over three-time Major finalist Ons Jabeur is a good way to start. Continue reading “WTA Finals: Gauff grateful to seal winning start with commanding Jabeur scalp”
Aryna Sabalenka stressed finishing the year as world no. 1, rather than just having the title for a fleeting few weeks, was of paramount importance to her in the wake of a painful three-set US Open final defeat last month. If she’s to do so, the Belarusian will have been disadvantaged in the build-up after posting some rather unsatisfactory training conditions in Mexico on social media this week. Continue reading “While the Elite Trophy event is in full swing, Sabalenka unhappy at training conditions before next week’s WTA Finals”
Six-time Major champion Boris Becker announced Thursday he’ll return to the tennis circuit as Holger Rune’s new coach, having served an eight-month prison sentence last year for failing to hand over assets and trophies, repaying debt after being declared bankrupt five years earlier. While the headlines will surround the German right now, the talented Dane needs more than new voices in his ear hopeful he can stop stuttering form as the season draws to a close. Continue reading “Holger Rune needs more than a returning Boris Becker to arrest his alarming slump”
Two champions, with seven Major titles between them at different stages of their respective careers, are poised to return at the United Cup (Dec. 29 – Jan. 7) after a year-long absence as both were pregnant with their first children – Kerber giving birth to daughter Liana in February, while Osaka welcomed baby girl Shai five months later. Now, they’ll ramp up training over the coming weeks before travelling down under in December to kick off an intriguing 2024 season. Continue reading “Osaka and Kerber set to return at United Cup over the new year, entry list reveals”
Today marks one month since Coco Gauff clinched her first Major title, and it felt fitting that career-best achievement came at her home Grand Slam tournament too – against the new world no. 1 in Aryna Sabalenka, from a set down no less. Having reeled off a series of gritty victories during last month’s event and since reaching the Beijing semifinals this past week, here’s a look at how the teenager reached the mountain top six months before her 20th birthday. Continue reading “One month on: Coco Gauff’s US Open triumph, and how she managed such a feat”
Novak Djokovic started well, recovered from set point down in an exhausting 105-minute second set, and responded as you’d expect after suddenly being broken for the first time midway through the third during a tense final that easily could’ve gone the distance. Exacting revenge over 2021 titlist Daniil Medvedev, who pipped him to the trophy two years ago, the 36-year-old made more history on his New York return and is now a 24-time Major champion. Continue reading “Djokovic shows resiliency to clinch 24th Major title in straight-sets Medvedev win”
Two years after their US Open final, where Daniil Medvedev won his first Major, the pair go at it once more in the tournament’s showpiece event. Follow along for live ball-by-ball commentary as the Serb looks to secure a 24th Grand Slam title while Carlos Alcaraz’s semifinal conqueror hopes he can finish an unforgettable fortnight with another historic triumph too. Continue reading “US Open 2023: Djokovic vs. Medvedev – live commentary of men’s singles final”
Jelena Ostapenko hit 36 unforced errors and recorded a lowly 38% first serve percentage, as the 2017 French Open champion couldn’t back up her Iga Swiatek scalp in the previous round with an in-form Coco Gauff holding firm during their baseline rally exchanges to sweep past her in straight-sets. Now, the teenage American faces Karolina Muchova in a rematch of their Cincinnati final from last month, as a first-time finalist berth awaits tonight’s victor. Continue reading “US Open 2023: Ostapenko’s vulnerabilities return, as Gauff-Muchova rematch up next”
If there’s anyone on tour who knows and respects Jack Draper’s game, it’s Andrey Rublev – having played him twice in three months last year – openly expecting the 21-year-old Brit to succeed before another injury-plagued 2023 season. That’s why it felt symbolic the tournament’s eighth seed withstood his best efforts to prevail in a four-set tussle yesterday, setting up another meeting with childhood friend and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the process. Continue reading “US Open 2023: Draper down in four to Rublev, but can be heartened by his run”
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