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Emma Raducanu endured an unpredictable start en route to a 7-6, 6-3 win over Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazúa, as the 2021 US Open champion made a successful Centre Court return on a busy opening day packed with high-profile injury-enforced withdrawals – a trio of seeded women, including Australian Open titleholder Aryna Sabalenka. Plus, it’s likely there are more to come… Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Sabalenka, Azarenka among withdrawals as Raducanu prevails”
As the race to Wimbledon is already underway on grass, the last two ladies’ champions are doubtful to feature at the year’s third Major after retiring from action in Berlin – first defending titlist Marketa Vondrousova after a worrying fall, then Elena Rybakina the following day with an unspecified illness. Continue reading “WIMBLEDON 2024: 2022 champ Rybakina, defending titlist Vondrousova both doubtful after Berlin retirements”
Sometimes the stories write themselves. Florida-born Danielle Collins kept her nerve, stayed aggressive against a power hitter and showed steely execution in the match’s biggest pressure points to topple 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, sealing a first Masters 1000 title for the 30-year-old on home soil in Miami – ten weeks after announcing 2024 would be her final season as a pro.
Continue reading “Miami Open: Collins comes up clutch to pip Rybakina, secures career-best title in style”
It wasn’t plain sailing all the way through, but Victoria Azarenka’s experience in tight moments paid dividends as the two-time Major champion outlasted British number one Katie Boulter during two contrasting sets of tennis to punch her ticket into the Miami Open quarter-finals for the first time in six years. Continue reading “Miami Open: Azarenka content, but not satisfied after notching gritty Boulter win”
World no. 1 Novak Djokovic looks to make more history at the Major where he’s been most successful during his illustrious career, while Aryna Sabalenka returns to the scene of her career-best achievement twelve months ago knowing no woman has successfully defended their title since Serena Williams in 2014. Judging by the draws, completed yesterday, it’s easy to see why. Continue reading “Australian Open 2024: Draw analysis, storylines as year’s first Major beckons”
Four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka marked her competitive return after a 15-month break with a straight-sets win – 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, as the new mother navigated through some nerves closing out her first-round clash. Up next is a sixth H2H meeting with Karolina Pliskova [16] in the early hours on Wednesday, where a tricky section of the draw lingers. Continue reading “WTA Brisbane: Naomi Osaka returns with straight-sets victory vs. Tamara Korpatsch”
Whether 2024 proves the final season in an illustrious career for the Spaniard, only he and his body can decide that. However, 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will end a year-long layoff after a troublesome hip injury in Brisbane next month as the field across both tours intensifies at one of four 250 events in the country before the Australian Open begins on January 14. Continue reading “Brisbane International: Nadal marks his injury return to join ever-growing field”
Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker and Zhizhen Zhang produced some nerveless tennis when it mattered, en route to career-best victories against two-time Major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud – who reached last year’s final – punching their ticket into round three with aplomb. Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki won in contrasting conditions on Day 3. Continue reading “US Open 2023: Tsitsipas and 2022 finalist Ruud stunned in five sets on frantic Day 3”
The three-time Major finalist, most recently back at Wimbledon last month, held her nerve to outlast Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in three sets – including a pair of tiebreaks – on her return to the tour, exactly a month after Marketa Vondrousova doused her Grand Slam dreams at SW19. All things considered, as the US Open edges closer, the Tunisian must continue playing fearlessly. Continue reading “Ons Jabeur still hurting from Wimbledon heartbreak, as she returns in Cincinnati”
After consecutive night sessions fell flat, Gael Monfils relished his role as the party starter on home soil and recovered from a seemingly improbable position to beat Sebastian Baez in a near four-hour thriller on Philippe-Chatrier. Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev both won clean while world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev was stunned by Brazil’s 23-year-old Thiago Seyboth Wild. Read on, for more… Continue reading “French Open 2023: Monfils-Baez exceeds expectations as Day 3 full of surprises”
It felt inevitable as the threat of expulsion and further fines were surfacing over recent months. Now it’s been confirmed: Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at Britain’s grass-court tennis tournaments – including Wimbledon – this summer if they sign neutrality agreements after the All England Club and Lawn Tennis Association reversed their controversial ban. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: AELTC, LTA reverse ban on Russian, Belarusian players competing”
The achievement must feel long overdue, but Aryna Sabalenka is now a Major singles champion. She needed four championship points to get the job done – but was courageous on serve and crunched 51 winners over two-and-a-half hours, recovering from a set down to overcome Wimbledon titlist Elena Rybakina in three sets during a nailbiting women’s finale. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Sabalenka rallies from a set down, topples Rybakina and is a first-time Major champion”
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