After an easy R1 match, Wimbledon titlist Ashleigh Barty also breezed past Italian qualifier Lucia Bronzetti. Elsewhere in the women’s draw, some intriguing R3 matches are set after comfortable victories for Paula Badosa (#8) and Victoria Azarenka (#24). Meanwhile 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal had to work hard but still emerged as the challenges intensify.
Continue reading
Tag: WTA
Australian Open 2022: Muguruza and Swiatek through, Ruud injured and more on Day 2
There were comfortable straight-set wins for multiple Grand Slam champions, including two title contenders in WTA Finals winner Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek, while more seeds fell on Day 2 of this year’s Australian Open. Andy Murray made history after gritting through another five-set battle, while Nick Kyrgios and Emma Raducanu shone in the night session.
Continue reading
Australian Open 2022: Djokovic deported, Jabeur injured, Coco and Cam knocked out on Day 1
On an opening day overshadowed by news confirming defending champion Novak Djokovic had been deported after his visa was once again cancelled, there were big wins for American duo Sebastian Korda and Madison Keys among others — the former edged past 2020 winner Sofia Kenin (#11) in two tight sets, while Korda bested Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie. Continue reading
Keys, Badosa, Kokkinakis and Karatsev all clinch titles as warm-up events end
Madison Keys thrived in what resembled a mismatch vs. close friend Alison Riske, winning her first WTA title since Aug. 2019. Elsewhere, Paula Badosa won her second piece of silverware in three months while Thanasi Kokkinakis won his first ATP title, on home soil no less. Shortly afterwards, Aslan Karatsev’s power proved key in overwhelming a spirited Andy Murray. Continue reading
Adelaide International 2: Keys recovers to sting Gauff, plays friend Riske in Saturday’s final
A first meeting between American duo Coco Gauff and Madison Keys didn’t disappoint despite a sluggish start by the latter, as the US Open 2017 runner-up rallied back from a set down to outlast Gauff and earn her first WTA Final in two years. She’ll play training partner Alison Riske in tomorrow’s finale, after the 31-year-old benefited from a walkover vs. Tamara Zidansek.
Continue reading
Sydney Tennis Classic: Badosa withstands Bencic pressure, clinches semi-final berth
Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa endured a spirited Belinda Bencic display during a high-quality match packed with plenty of peaks and troughs, but ultimately emerged victorious to punch her ticket into the semi-finals. She’ll play Daria Kasatkina in the Sydney semi-finals tomorrow (8am BST), after the Russian inflicted Garbine Muguruza’s first loss of the new year.
Continue reading
Adelaide International 2: Gauff ousts Kostyuk in three-set battle of attrition
In a duel between two promising teenagers, the tournament’s third seed Coco Gauff was pushed to the brink but battled to win in a competitive three-set clash vs. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk – winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. She’ll play Croatia’s Ana Konjuh in the Adelaide 2 quarter-finals tomorrow (2.30am BST), after the Croatian’s gutsy comeback win over Marketa Vondrousova. Continue reading
Sydney Tennis Classic: Ruthless Rybakina makes quick work of returning Raducanu
After losing last week’s Adelaide final, Elena Rybakina returned to winning ways with aplomb – dismantling US Open champion Emma Raducanu in less than an hour, cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 win to kick off this week’s Sydney Tennis Classic. The 22-year-old will play France’s Caroline Garcia for a spot in the tournament’s quarter-finals, after she overcame Jessica Pegula this morning. Continue reading
Naomi Osaka focusing on having fun, admits overly caring about results and rankings
After beating France’s Alize Cornet in her first match of the new year earlier today, Australian Open defending champion Naomi Osaka spoke about her desire to focus on her mental health this upcoming season – while revealing she cared too much about results and rankings. Continue reading
Johanna Konta’s retirement: Injuries don’t cloud her legacy as Britain’s tireless hope
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
Tennis coaches of 2021 revealed, Alcaraz and Tsitsipas target strong 2022
This year’s ATP and WTA Coaches of the Year have been announced, while Roland Garros finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero both publicly expressed their ambitious plans as they target achieving a better 2022 after contrasting experiences in 2021. Continue reading
Australian Open 2022: Djokovic in — Williams, Andreescu out as Slam draws closer
The first Grand Slam tournament of 2022 will be without more notable champions: 23-time Major winner Serena Williams isn’t fully recovered from her hamstring injury, while Bianca Andreescu has also opted out. Novak Djokovic, a nine-time winner in Melbourne, will participate despite refusing to declare his COVID-19 vaccination status in recent months. Continue reading
Mo and Sports 