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Maria Sakkari called this one of the best weeks in her career. Jessica Pegula spoke for team USA, stressing their excitement for what’s to come. Poland are deadly in unison and we’re only halfway through: the United Cup’s final four nations were sealed after a manic day’s action – with a few surprising results as expected across tour-level tournaments elsewhere today. Continue reading “Tennis: United Cup’s final four teams confirmed, Rybakina and Andreescu lose in Adelaide and more”
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu recovered from a set and early break down to prevail against a Czech teenage talent, after ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic was tested in parts but his quality proved too much to handle as both players kicked off their respective 2023 seasons with contrasting victories in their first-round tournament matches. Also, the business end of the team-centric United Cup is hotting up, and there were a few surprises elsewhere… Continue reading “Djokovic, Raducanu begin their 2023 season with contrasting victories as warm-up events continue”
Rafael Nadal’s slow start to the 2023 season continued as home favourite Alex de Minaur became the latest to mount a stirring comeback against the reigning Australian Open champion in the United Cup, while Alexei Popyrin and Linda Noskova were just a few with surprise victories elsewhere as the main draw of other tournaments continued to unfold today. Continue reading “Popyrin powers past Auger-Aliassime, De Minaur stuns Nadal and more on another busy day of tennis”
Casper Ruud earned a solitary win for Norway while Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz finished with a flourish. Paula Badosa didn’t have it all her own way, spluttering a whopping 12 double-faults before suffering with cramp, yet eventually recovered from the brink to overpower Britain’s Harriet Dart in an exhausting three-hour encounter to keep Spain’s qualification hopes alive. Continue reading “United Cup: Ruud, Otte and Hurkacz win while Badosa outlasts Dart in three-hour tussle”
Grigor Dimitrov and Iga Swiatek were among the day’s winners for their respective nations in contrasting circumstances, before Cameron Norrie ended an eventful 2022 with a long-awaited scalp: recovering from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal for the first time in five attempts, helping Great Britain take an early lead in their United Cup group clash against Spain. Continue reading “United Cup: Dimitrov, Swiatek among winners before Norrie finally overcomes Nadal in three-set battle”
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”
After a rollercoaster first full year on the WTA tour where she finished with a 17-19 singles record this season, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu attracts attention aplenty. The 20-year-old spoke of her pride at being resilient this year but stressed the biggest goal for the upcoming campaign is to stay injury-free and hold up physically with consistency – easier said than done. Continue reading “Emma Raducanu proud of her resilience during arduous year, hopes for more injury-free 2023”
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 “Simona Halep drug suspension: What is Roxadustat, and what’s next for the two-time Slam champ?”
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 “Tennis round-up: Swiatek seals 8th title of 2022, Bencic’s coaching change and Zverev update”
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.
Continue reading “Japan Open: Tiafoe’s blistering start helps him overwhelm Kecmanovic in quarter-finals”
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”
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 “Tennis round-up: Federer retires, Siniakova stuns Rybakina while Fruhvirtova clinches Chennai title”
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