Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
The world no. 4, twice a Major finalist over the last twelve months, has slipped to a 5-6 win-loss record on what has quickly proven an arduous start to the season following a rough three-set defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp overnight in Miami – dropping over 500 ranking points as his struggles with form persist. Continue reading “Casper Ruud’s alarming slump continues, after painful Miami defeat overnight”
Emma Raducanu’s participation at this year’s Indian Wells Masters 1000 event looked in serious jeopardy, having withdrawn from scheduled tournaments and exhibitions on the eve of the competition. She’s received some positive words of support before her first-round match against Danka Kovinic later today (from 8pm BST), from the Miami Open tournament director and former world no. 4. Continue reading “Indian Wells: James Blake’s supportive words for injury doubt Raducanu, before her Kovinic clash”
The 25-year-old, who reached a new career-high world ranking #2 this week, will be sidelined for several months after undergoing surgery on the multiple torn ligaments in his right foot – sustained during his French Open semi-final vs. eventual champion Rafael Nadal last Friday. Continue reading “Alexander Zverev undergoes surgery on torn ligaments after French Open semi-final fall”
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 “Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope”
After making history at this season’s WTA Finals in Guadalajara, two-time Slam winner Garbine Muguruza wants to build on her success next year and given the way she’s played, why not? The 28-year-old revealed a desire to round out the Career Grand Slam, having lost the 2020 Australian Open Final and achieved a joint-best R4 finish at Flushing Meadows in September.
Continue reading “Closing the Slam circle? Muguruza bullish about 2022 goals, as she should be”
The seven-time Grand Slam champ has delivered his verdict on what Emma Raducanu should look to do in 2022 and beyond, as the British teenager’s world has been transformed this year after a record-breaking run to the US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier in September. Continue reading “Mats Wilander: Emma Raducanu needs to have fun and develop on her own”
After being blasted out of Wimbledon by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on July 7, Roger Federer underwent another round of knee surgery and stressed he wouldn’t rush a return in 2022 – which was one of the topics his coach Ivan Ljubicic has expanded on, during a recent interview. Continue reading “Roger Federer update: Swiss legend’s coach Ivan Ljubicic talks recovery and retirement”
After her coach Craig Tyzzer’s comments last month, saying she was exhausted and needed a long rest, the world no. 1 has confirmed exactly that: quarantine restrictions mean her 2021 season is over, with an eye on next year’s Australian Open – a Grand Slam she’s itching to win. Continue reading “Barty confirms her 2021 season is over, instead focusing on Australian Open 2022”
Having only played 13 matches in 2021 – nine of them in Grand Slams – 20-time Major winner Roger Federer will again be sidelined indefinitely as he follows medical advice by undergoing further knee surgery to ensure long-term comfort on-court and improved health in future. Continue reading “Roger Federer is again out indefinitely, after needing more knee surgery”
2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro is undergoing another operation on his right knee today – the fourth of an injury-disrupted career – but the talented Argentine remains hopeful that he’ll be fit to return at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, with a gold medal in sight. Continue reading “Juan Martin del Potro to undergo fourth knee surgery, targeting Tokyo Olympics”
Thiem’s coach Nicolas Massu has heaped praise on the Austrian, after an unforgettable year where the 27-year-old won his first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in September – having fallen short eight months earlier in his maiden hard-court final at the Australian Open. Critics believe this is just the start as he establishes his pedigree, a sentiment Massu agrees with. Continue reading “Thiem’s coach Nicolas Massu: I see a bright future, he can win more Slams”
Daniil Medvedev recovered from a set down to beat US Open champion Dominic Thiem and win this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, making history in London on Sunday. Eleven years after his Russian compatriot Nikolay Davydenko won the first edition at The 02, the 24-year-old defiantly rose to the occasion in a way that sets him – and others – up brilliantly for a promising 2021 campaign. Continue reading “Daniil Medvedev’s historic ATP Finals win sets up a very promising 2021”
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