Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has announced on social media that she’ll make her return later this month on the US hard courts, after a 14-month maternity leave. Continue reading “Two-time Major champion Petra Kvitova returns in Austin after maternity leave”
Three months removed from controversial expansion plans being appoved for Wimbledon, the local residents’ group fighting it – which includes adding one stadium court and 38 further courts to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) grounds – has this past week begun legal action challenging the validity of Sadiq Khan’s decision granting planning permission for their redevelopment. Continue reading “Wimbledon residents double down on resistance to proposed expansion plans”
Then there was one. Roger Federer held on as long as he could, pulling the curtain in 2022. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have followed suit within months of each other during a whirlwind 2024 campaign seeing many of the younger generation assert themselves, while Novak Djokovic is the last man standing. His fiercest rival has said farewell and the sport far weaker for it. Continue reading “Adios, Rafa”
Wimbledon’s bullish plans to build 39 new tennis courts on protected open land opposite the All England Club have been approved, some seven years after initial plans were originally floated. London’s deputy mayor Jules Pipe deemed the “significant” community and economic benefits outweighing the harm created by such a big revamp, though backlash remains as nothing is yet final. Continue reading “Wimbledon’s controversial expansion plans approved, but backlash remains”
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”
After surprising many to reach the Stuttgart final back in mid-June, more injuries proved Andy Murray’s bane as the former world no. 1 struggled for consistency before eventually finishing his season with a frustrating loss by the departing Gilles Simon at the Paris Masters on October 31. He’s fully focused for 2023 and amid fitness concerns, is targeting a more active schedule.
Continue reading “After returning to world’s top 50 and with wife’s blessing, Andy Murray plots busy 2023 schedule”
It’s easy to declare post-match that you’ll learn lessons from a loss, especially a humbling one during the notoriously short grass court season, but 20-year-old Jack Draper’s case feels slightly different than most. Considering Wimbledon’s just around the corner, here’s why… Continue reading “Jack Draper: Ruusuvouri defeat will help me learn lessons, with SW19 returning this month”
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 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”
World no. 1 Ashleigh Barty is exhausted and needs a long rest after more than six months playing away from home, according to her coach Craig Tyzzer. He also criticised the decision to move this year’s WTA Finals to Guadalajara while hinting the Wimbledon champion may skip that event, scheduled in early November, to avoid quarantine restrictions upon going home.
Continue reading “Ashleigh Barty is exhausted and needs extended rest, per coach Craig Tyzzer”
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”
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