Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Pegula outwits Raducanu in competitive contest, Garcia awaits in quarter-finals

Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates a point against Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during their match on day six of the Western & Southern...

Emma Raducanu’s memorable week at this year’s Cincinnati Open was ended in the early hours, as American no. 1 Jessica Pegula showcased her aggressive ball-striking, variety and defensive abilities to leave the US Open champion tactically unstuck – winning 7-5, 6-4. She’ll play an in-form Caroline Garcia on Friday, looking to make successive WTA 1000 semi-finals. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Pegula outwits Raducanu in competitive contest, Garcia awaits in quarter-finals”

Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Pegula next in R3 for Raducanu, after cruising past error-strewn Azarenka

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning a point against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during her second round match on Day 5 of the Western...

Less than 24 hours after putting a comfortable victory over departing legend Serena Williams on her ever-growing CV, US Open champion Emma Raducanu added another legend to her resume with a 6-0, 6-2 Cincinnati win over two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Pegula next in R3 for Raducanu, after cruising past error-strewn Azarenka”

Tennis

Cincinnati Open: Raducanu dismisses patchy Serena showing in straight-sets on Cincy debut

Serena Williams congratulates Emma Raducanu of Great Britain after their match during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on...

US Open champion Emma Raducanu started fast and drew errors aplenty (19-1) from a sluggish Serena Williams display on her Cincinnati debut tonight, as the 19-year-old kept composed, as the 19-year-old kept composed in their first and only competitive meeting. Next she’ll play another legend she grew up watching: two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka. Continue reading “Cincinnati Open: Raducanu dismisses patchy Serena showing in straight-sets on Cincy debut”

Tennis

Serena’s swansong: 23-time Major champion confirms imminent retirement in Vogue magazine

Serena Williams of the United States in action against Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain in her first round match on Day 3 of the National Bank Open, part...

In an interview with Vogue magazine, 23-time Major winner Serena Williams revealed she’s winding down her career, with the US Open likely to be her final farewell this month. She cited a desire to grow her family – five-year-old daughter Olympia wanting siblings – as a big factor in her decision. Although this news has felt a long time coming, it’s still a seismic one nonetheless. Continue reading “Serena’s swansong: 23-time Major champion confirms imminent retirement in Vogue magazine”

Tennis

Citi Open: Emma Raducanu rolls past error-prone Louisa Chirico on her US return

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning a point against Louisa Chirico of the United States during Day 4 of the Citi Open at Rock Creek...

It was promising in places, predictably patchy in others but US Open champion Emma Raducanu made a successful return Stateside on her first appearance since being outfoxed by France’s Caroline Garcia during a second-round exit at Wimbledon in late June – beating American qualifier Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2 to progress into R2 at this year’s Citi Open.
Continue reading “Citi Open: Emma Raducanu rolls past error-prone Louisa Chirico on her US return”

Tennis

Citi Open: Rebecca Marino secures three-set turnaround win, snaps Venus Williams’ comeback

Venus Williams of the United States reacts against Rebecca Marino of Canada during Day 3 of the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center on August 01,...

Three weeks shy of a year since her last competitive singles match ended in defeat by Su-Wei Hsieh in Chicago, seven-time Major winner Venus Williams returned to a rapturous reception in Washington and started brilliantly but sadly her tennis faded drastically against Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino – losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 despite leading the decider 4-1 at one stage. Continue reading “Citi Open: Rebecca Marino secures three-set turnaround win, snaps Venus Williams’ comeback”

Tennis

Tennis round-up: Alcaraz inspires, Thiem’s timely progress, Zverev injury update & more

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is seen during day seven of the Hamburg European Open 2022 at Rothenbaum on July 22, 2022 in Hamburg, Germany.

Carlos Alcaraz continues to cruise past ATP records in Hamburg with his inspired play, Dominic Thiem finally has some encouraging form under his belt after lengthy injury woes and Olympic champion Alexander Zverev – who the Austrian beat to the US Open title in 2020 – remains cautious as he recovers from ankle surgery. Read that and more, in this tennis news round-up. Continue reading “Tennis round-up: Alcaraz inspires, Thiem’s timely progress, Zverev injury update & more”

Tennis

US Open 2022: Djokovic sidelined by vaccination status, Serena set to return in August

Novak Djokovic celebrates with the Wimbledon trophy during the welcoming ceremony in front of Belgrade City Hall on July 11, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia.

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”

Tennis

Rybakina reigns supreme vs. Jabeur: Where was Ladies’ Wimbledon final won and lost?

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates with the trophy after victory against Ons Jabeur of Tunisia during the Ladies' Singles Final match on day...

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?”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 – Day 11: Jabeur-Rybakina in Saturday’s final, Nadal withdraws with torn ab injury

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina shakes hands with Romania's Simona Halep after winning at the end of their women's singles semi final tennis match on the...

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”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 – Day 10: Nadal-Kyrgios, Rybakina-Halep semis confirmed after whirlwind wins

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays against Taylor Fritz of The United States during their Men's Singles Quarter Final match on day ten of The Championships...

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”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2022 – Day 9: Djokovic-Norrie, Maria-Jabeur semis set after four deciding set wins

Cameron Norrie of Great Britain celebrates after winning match point against David Goffin of Belgium during their Men's Singles Quarter Final match...

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”