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Rafael Nadal’s slow start to the 2023 season continued as home favourite Alex de Minaur became the latest to mount a stirring comeback against the reigning Australian Open champion in the United Cup, while Alexei Popyrin and Linda Noskova were just a few with surprise victories elsewhere as the main draw of other tournaments continued to unfold today. Continue reading “Popyrin powers past Auger-Aliassime, De Minaur stuns Nadal and more on another busy day of tennis”
After daughter Angelique posted a social media update last month, revealing his condtion had worsened and he was “transitioning to the next place,” it has been confirmed the legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri died at home late Sunday. He coached many of the sport’s greats, revolutionised the development of young athletes and was a tennis HOF inductee in 2014. Continue reading “Who was Nick Bollettieri? Remembering the Hall of Fame tennis coach, who died aged 91 on Sunday”
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”
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”
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”
Ons Jabeur recovered from a set down to knock out 2017 Wimbledon titlist Garbine Muguruza, tournament debutant Sebastian Korda rode the wave of momentum well enough to oust Britain’s no. 1 Dan Evans in four sets before another youngster – tenth seed Denis Shapovalov – oozed quality as he ruthlessly ended the hopes of a favourite in Andy Murray on Centre Court. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2021: Key wins for Jabeur and Korda, Shapovalov ends Murray’s run”
Andy Murray finished later than his four-set thriller with Nikoloz Basilashvili, but importantly clinched a five-set victory over German qualifier Oscar Otte after three hours 51 minutes to secure successive Grand Slam wins for the first time since he was last here, four years ago. 12 seeds fell across both the men and women’s singles matches today, as R1 is also officially over. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2021: Murray magic ends Day 3 on a dramatic high as many seeds fall”
With this year’s Championships less than a fortnight away now, the grasscourt season is already underway – former singles champions Andy Murray (#124) and Venus Williams (#112) have been granted wildcard entries into the main draw, which kicks off on June 28 at SW19. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2021: Venus Williams, Andy Murray granted tournament wildcards”
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”
Serena and Venus Williams held their nerve after a few shaky moments, tournament favourite Naomi Osaka was ruthlessly decisive while French Open champion Iga Swiatek was solid en route to a comfortable first-round win. Elsewhere, a three-time Slam winner was knocked out in rather emphatic fashion and more besides as Day 1 of the 2021 Australian Open got underway. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Williams sisters, Osaka and Swiatek get off to winning start”
She may have lost 6-3, 6-3 in the last-16 against former world no.1 Simona Halep, but 15-year-old American teenager Cori Gauff has a massive future ahead of her… so what’s next?
Continue reading “After her Wimbledon success, what’s next for 15-year-old Coco Gauff?”
Cori broke tournament records after becoming the youngest qualifier in Open Era history last week, coming through three rounds unscathed after an unexpected wildcard. However, she easily surpassed that with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams in her Wimbledon debut on Monday evening. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2019: Wonderkid Cori Gauff beats Venus Williams in straight-sets”
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