Tennis

Wimbledon 2023: AELTC, LTA reverse ban on Russian, Belarusian players competing

Elise Mertens of Belguim and Shuai Zhang of China and Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova both of the Czech Republic in action during the...

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”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Sabalenka rallies from a set down, topples Rybakina and is a first-time Major champion

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the champions trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the womens singles final on Day 13 of the...

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”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final, as both hold firm on Day 11

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina celebrates victory against Belarus' Victoria Azarenka after the women's singles semi-final match on day eleven of the...

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will contest her second Major final in seven months when she battles first-time finalist Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday. Regardless of who wins, there will be a first-time Australian Open titlist – after they both upped their level in first set tiebreaks before ousting two-time champ Victoria Azarenka and Magda Linette respectively on Day 11. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final, as both hold firm on Day 11”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Azarenka-Rybakina, Khachanov-Tsitsipas set in semifinals on eventful Day 9

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after victory against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka in their men's singles quarter-final match on day nine of...

Victoria Azarenka started well and didn’t let up, as she ended Jessica Pegula’s eight-match winning streak – to punch her ticket into a ninth Major semi-final. She’ll face reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday, who dropped just one more game against Jelena Ostapenko. Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov will target a first competitive H2H win over Stefanos Tsitsipas after their contrasting wins over Sebastian Korda and Jiri Lehecka on Day 9. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Azarenka-Rybakina, Khachanov-Tsitsipas set in semifinals on eventful Day 9”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland in her fourth round match on Day 7 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park...

Neither played badly, but both were second best on the biggest points as world no. 1 Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff suffered straight-sets defeats against a pair of Grand Slam champions in Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko on a busy Day 7 at this year’s Major. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka’s giantkilling run continued and he’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7”

Tennis

AUS OPEN 2023: Korda outplays Medvedev, Lehecka downs Norrie, Zhu stuns Sakkari and more on Day 5

Sebastian Korda of the United States celebrates after winning a point during the third round singles match against Daniil Medvedev during day five of...

Adelaide 1 finalist and 29th seed Sebastian Korda produced some brilliant ball-striking as he stunned two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in straight-sets to steal the show on an eventful Day 5 at this year’s Australian Open, with Jiri Lehecka a big winner after some tasty fourth-round ties on the women’s side were confirmed, including Swiatek-Rybakina and Pegula-Krejcikova. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Korda outplays Medvedev, Lehecka downs Norrie, Zhu stuns Sakkari and more on Day 5”

Tennis

USA and Italy lead in United Cup semis, Noskova-Jabeur and Djokovic-Medvedev confirmed

Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates winning match point in the Semifinal match against Iga Swiatek of Poland during day eight of the 2023...

Jessica Pegula ended a four-match losing streak against the world no. 1, while Martina Trevisan played spoiler to sting Greece as the United Cup semi-finals got underway. Elsewhere, there were big wins for Sebastian Korda and Linda Noskova, while two first-time finalists will play each other in Pune. It’s always fun to get a Djokovic-Medvedev matchup too, right? Continue reading “USA and Italy lead in United Cup semis, Noskova-Jabeur and Djokovic-Medvedev confirmed”

Tennis

Tennis: Djokovic, Gauff edge their way to tight victories while Raducanu retires with ankle injury

Novak Djokovic of Serbia competes against Quentin Halys of France during day five of the 2023 Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on January 05,...

Novak Djokovic recovered from 5-2 down in set one and emerged without enduring a three-set battle against another determined Frenchman, setting up another intriguing clash with Denis Shapovalov. Coco Gauff avenged a defeat three years in the making, before Emma Raducanu tearfully withdrew after sustaining a freak ankle injury midway through her R2 match… Continue reading “Tennis: Djokovic, Gauff edge their way to tight victories while Raducanu retires with ankle injury”

Tennis

Round-up: Alcaraz, Ruud stunned in straight-sets, Kasatkina outwits Raducanu in Ostrava and more

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in action against Daria Kasatkina of Russia during her first round match on Day 2 of the Agel Open at Ostravar Arena...

On a day where two of the world’s top male players both crashed out in the first-round of their respective tournaments, Emma Raducanu acquitted herself well but costly errors late in both sets saw her ultimately lose a competitive clash to Daria Kasatkina. Daniil Medvedev dropped just four games, while Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios excelled on his return to action too. Continue reading “Round-up: Alcaraz, Ruud stunned in straight-sets, Kasatkina outwits Raducanu in Ostrava and more”

Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Pegula outwits Raducanu in competitive contest, Garcia awaits in quarter-finals

Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates a point against Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during their match on day six of the Western & Southern...

Emma Raducanu’s memorable week at this year’s Cincinnati Open was ended in the early hours, as American no. 1 Jessica Pegula showcased her aggressive ball-striking, variety and defensive abilities to leave the US Open champion tactically unstuck – winning 7-5, 6-4. She’ll play an in-form Caroline Garcia on Friday, looking to make successive WTA 1000 semi-finals. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Pegula outwits Raducanu in competitive contest, Garcia awaits in quarter-finals”

Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Pegula next in R3 for Raducanu, after cruising past error-strewn Azarenka

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning a point against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during her second round match on Day 5 of the Western...

Less than 24 hours after putting a comfortable victory over departing legend Serena Williams on her ever-growing CV, US Open champion Emma Raducanu added another legend to her resume with a 6-0, 6-2 Cincinnati win over two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Pegula next in R3 for Raducanu, after cruising past error-strewn Azarenka”

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”