Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
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”
Earlier this week, quotes emerged from the Australian Associated Press – former world no. 1 and three-time Major champion Ashleigh Barty singing the praises of Ajla Tomljanovic, whose steady rise has seen her on the cusp of being seeded for next month’s home Grand Slam. Given the 29-year-old’s previous form and injury struggles, that public vote of confidence when asked whether she can embark on a deep run speaks volumes for Ajla’s progression. Why not? Continue reading “Australian Open 2023: After an incredible year, Barty’s backing for Tomljanovic speaks volumes”
Currently at a career-high ranking at world no. 22, the 23-year-old Russian has won 18 of her last 19 matches on tour – seizing titles in Washington, Cleveland and most recently Tokyo just last week. She attributed the divisive Wimbledon ban of Russian and Belarusian players as a key training block helping her form drastically improve of late. Can she sustain it long-term? Continue reading “Wimbledon ban a blessing in disguise for in-form Samsonova, who’s firing on all cylinders”
Emma Raducanu showed great resiliency to prevail after two tight sets against Camila Osorio, advancing into the Washington quarter-finals where she’ll play again tonight, while there were memorable returns to action for Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and world no. 4 Paula Badosa in San Jose yesterday – the latter faces Naomi Osaka’s conqueror Coco Gauff next. Continue reading “Raducanu shows her mettle, Badosa and Jabeur win on their post-Wimbledon return”
Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic won’t play another Major match until early 2023, after the US Open confirmed they would respect the country’s government stance on allowing non-citizens to only be allowed entry if they are full vaccinated. Elsewhere, 23-time Slam winner Serena Williams will make her return on home soil for the first time in two years next month. Continue reading “US Open 2022: Djokovic sidelined by vaccination status, Serena set to return in August”
Despite a sluggish, unflattering start which saw the Kazakh spray a whopping 17 unforced errors and skew makeable shots wide, Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to earn her first Major title and banish Ons Jabeur’s chances of making more history after a whirlwind fortnight run to the finale for both was concluded last weekend. But how was this final won and lost? Continue reading “Rybakina reigns supreme vs. Jabeur: Where was Ladies’ Wimbledon final won and lost?”
After all the controversy, drama, pressure and tension following him for countless months, Novak Djokovic can finally breathe again. The 35-year-old recovered from a set down for the third straight match, defending his Wimbledon title for a third consecutive year, outworking and outsmarting maiden finalist Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining four-set win on Centre Court. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 — Day 14: Djokovic recovers to outlast Kyrgios in four sets, clinches 21st Major”
Novak Djokovic recovered from another sluggish start, this time a set down, to eventually outclass British no. 1 Cameron Norrie, en route to a four-set victory. He’ll play maiden Finalist Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s final – and is yet to beat the unpredictable Australian in their three previous H2H meetings. On tap today, Ons Jabeur faces Elena Rybakina in the Ladies’ Final. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 — Day 12: Djokovic downs Norrie in four, faces Kyrgios in Sunday’s final”
There will be a pair of maiden Major finalists in Saturday’s ladies final, when Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur [3] faces Simona Halep’s conqueror Elena Rybakina [17]. Elsewhere on Thursday evening, 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from his proposed semi-final against Nick Kyrgios after revealing his torn abdominal muscle injury had worsened. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 11: Jabeur-Rybakina in Saturday’s final, Nadal withdraws with torn ab injury”
Rafael Nadal produced a vintage comeback while physically compromised to sting Taylor Fritz in their five-set quarter-final battle, after Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down, overwhelming Ajla Tomljanovic to punch her ticket into a maiden Major semi-final – where she’ll play Amanda Anisimova’s conqueror and 2019 champion Simona Halep on Thursday. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 10: Nadal-Kyrgios, Rybakina-Halep semis confirmed after whirlwind wins”
British no. 1 Cameron Norrie twice recovered from a set down to oust Belgium’s David Goffin, setting up a semi-final showdown with defending champ Novak Djokovic. The tournament’s top seed was in deep trouble against an inspired Jannik Sinner, but rallied from two sets down to keep his title defence alive. Afterwards, an emotional semi-final between close friends Tatjana Maria and Ons Jabeur was set after both came through contrasting three-set encounters. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 9: Djokovic-Norrie, Maria-Jabeur semis set after four deciding set wins”
Nick Kyrgios recovered from a set down to beat fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas during an eagerly-anticipated clash not without controversy and multiple flashpoints. Elsewhere, there were morale-boosting victories for Rafael Nadal and his compatriot Paula Badosa, after Iga Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak was snapped by giantkiller Alize Cornet. Read on for more. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2022 – Day 6: Cornet snaps Swiatek’s win streak, Kyrgios-Tsitsipas delivers and more”
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