It’s been three days since the announcement that former world no. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended by the ITIA for doping, having tested positive for a banned substance in Roxadustat at the US Open – something she was notified of on October 7. The 31-year-old Romanian has described what is to come as the hardest match of her life, fighting for the truth. So with all of that in mind, what’s next for her? Continue reading
Tag: WTA
Tennis round-up: Swiatek seals 8th title of 2022, Bencic’s coaching change and Zverev update
Iga Swiatek made more history after storming past Donna Vekic in their deciding set, clinching the San Diego title in the early hours Monday – while Olympic champion Belinda Bencic has been revealed as Dmitry Tursunov’s new coaching assignment after the Russian opted against continuing his trial stint with Emma Raducanu. Speaking of Olympic gold medallists, Alexander Zverev’s injury recovery is taking longer than expected, but reportedly for a good reason. Continue reading
Japan Open: Tiafoe’s blistering start helps him overwhelm Kecmanovic in quarter-finals
US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe is into his third ATP tour-level semi-final of 2022 after a remarkable start – firing on all cylinders – proved key in helping him overpower Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in a tussle between two players on similar trajectories. The 24-year-old American will next play either Pedro Martinez or Soonwoo Kwon in little over 24 hours time, with multiple factors meaning a winnable path has seriously opened up in this week’s ATP 500 event.
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Wimbledon ban a blessing in disguise for in-form Samsonova, who’s firing on all cylinders
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
Tennis round-up: Federer retires, Siniakova stuns Rybakina while Fruhvirtova clinches Chennai title
20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer announced Thursday this week will be his final one as a professional – poised to feature at the Laver Cup in London – thus ending an illustrious sporting career after 24 years. Meanwhile this weekend, there were WTA 250 tournament victories for doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova and Czech teenage talent Linda Fruhvirtova. Continue reading
US Open – Day 13: Swiatek secures third Major title, more history with straight-sets win over Jabeur
A blistering start, ominous middle and shaky finish. World no. 1 Iga Swiatek held firm under pressure as the crowd intensified and Ons Jabeur’s level increased late on during a hard-fought 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) US Open final victory over the Wimbledon runner-up – the 21-year-old’s third Major title and second this season, while not at her best. What does that say for the chasing pack?
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US Open – Day 11: Jabeur-Swiatek in Saturday’s final, after Garcia crushed and Sabalenka crumbles
Saturday will see the world’s top two female players going head-to-head with a maiden US Open title in store for the victor, after Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek recorded contrasting semi-final wins against an in-form Caroline Garcia and the unpredictable hard-hitting Aryna Sabalenka respectively on Thursday evening. Continue reading
Day 10 – US Open 2022: Sabalenka-Swiatek, Tiafoe-Alcaraz in semifinals after Sinner-Alcaraz epic
Aryna Sabalenka will play Iga Swiatek, keen to erase her 0-3 H2H record this season in Thursday’s US Open semi-final after the pair earned contrasting straight-set wins over Karolina Pliskova and Jessica Pegula. Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe will look to make more history after taking down Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev: he plays Jannik Sinner’s conqueror Carlos Alcaraz on Friday, having watched a 5-hour epic unfold into the early hours between the pair.
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Day 9 – US Open 2022: Ruud-Khachanov, Jabeur-Garcia semi-finals set after big QF wins for quartet
At least four maiden US Open semi-finalists will feature at Flushing Meadows later this week with new champions to be crowned in both draws, after Casper Ruud raced past an out-of-sorts Matteo Berrettini, Ons Jabeur ended Ajla Tomljanovic’s spirited run, Caroline Garcia’s aggressiveness saw her outgun Coco Gauff and Karen Khachanov withstood a spirited Nick Kyrgios fightback to edge past him in a deciding set beyond midnight New York time overnight.
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Day 7-8 – US Open 2022: Kyrgios blitzes Medvedev, Tiafoe topples Nadal in whirlwind 24 hours
Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios produced some blistering tennis en route to a four-set win over defending champion Daniil Medvedev, before Frances Tiafoe did the same to earn his career-best result – extinguishing Rafael Nadal’s 22-match Slam winning streak to seal a quarter-final berth: the youngest American in the last-eight since Andy Roddick in 2004.
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US Open 2022: Muguruza, Bencic among big losers as Rublev-Shapovalov taken to brink on Day 6
Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to ice a home hopeful in the night session, after Petra Kvitova was pushed into a deciding set ten-point tiebreak as she edged past two-time Major champion Garbine Muguruza. Elsewhere, Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe prevailed before Naomi Osaka’s conqueror Danielle Collins added another tricky opponent onto her resume.
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US Open 2022: Big results unfold on Day 4-5; Tomljanovic ends Serena’s surge in three-set battle
Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic held her nerve and a second-set fightback to silence the crowd and outlast 23-time Major champion Serena Williams in a gruelling battle lasting over three hours, ending the legend’s iconic singles career this weekend. Elsewhere, there was contrasting disappointment for Andy Murray and Jack Draper… Read on for more. Continue reading
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