Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Andy Murray’s final hurrah – injury permitting – Novak Djokovic testing his limits again less than a month after knee surgery, new world no. 1 Jannik Sinner looking to unseat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz while Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter fly the Brits’ flag in an intriguing women’s draw. Will any Americans make some noise? How about youngsters with little to lose? Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Draw analysis as SW19 beckons again with storylines brewing”
Jessica Pegula’s Wimbledon preparations were given a welcome boost as she won the first grass-court title of her career, saving five match points to do so in Berlin, while compatriot Tommy Paul extinguished Jack Draper’s whirlwind fortnight before ousting Lorenzo Musetti to win big in West Kensington.
Continue reading “Pegula clinches Berlin, Paul wins Queens as Americans gear up for SW19 in style”
As the race to Wimbledon is already underway on grass, the last two ladies’ champions are doubtful to feature at the year’s third Major after retiring from action in Berlin – first defending titlist Marketa Vondrousova after a worrying fall, then Elena Rybakina the following day with an unspecified illness. Continue reading “WIMBLEDON 2024: 2022 champ Rybakina, defending titlist Vondrousova both doubtful after Berlin retirements”
Having missed the whole European clay campaign with a rib injury, former world no. 3 Jessica Pegula revealed she would’ve returned had Roland Garros begun a week later. Nonetheless, she embraced Iga Swiatek’s brilliance on clay and the American returned to court with a straight-sets victory over powerful qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich at this year’s Libema Open in the Netherlands. Continue reading “Jessica Pegula back healthy after rib injury, keen to build momentum on grass”
First-time finalist Jasmine Paolini was aggressive in threatening an early scare, breaking Iga Swiatek to lead 2-1 as the Pole sprayed some uncharacteristic errors. Yet she responded precisely as you’d expect the world no. 1 to on her favourite surface: 10 straight games banked en route to another straight-sets French Open final victory – three straight titles in Paris and fifth Major overall.
Continue reading “Iga imperious to sweep another French Open title vs. first-time finalist Paolini”
Iga Swiatek’s title defence hung by a thread last night against Naomi Osaka, who looked back to her ball-striking best at times during a memorable second-round clash between multiple-time Major champions on Philippe Chatrier. Yet the Pole, 23 on Friday, saved a match point and played the long game to perfection as her temperament outlasted the Japanese from 5-2, 30-0 down. Continue reading “Swiatek’s great escape in round two Osaka thriller typifies the top of women’s tennis”
Andy Murray waved goodbye on Sunday and 24 hours later, it was the turn of 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal to begrudgingly do the same on Philippe Chatrier after an entertaining three-hour tussle against Olympic champion Alexander Zverev capturing everyone’s attention – family, fellow pros and the world’s media – as the Spanish legend’s uncertain future continues. Continue reading “French Open 2024: Zverev spoils the party for Nadal, who leaves door open to return”
Former world no. 1, three-time Major champion and double Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray waved farewell to the Philippe Chatrier court for perhaps a final time in his illustrious career, painfully hobbling off after being worn down during a straight-sets defeat by longtime foe and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka – a fitting nightcap on Day 1 at this year’s tournament. Continue reading “French Open 2024: Wawrinka downs Murray in nightcap as r-word looms large”
Mirra Andreeva celebrated her 17th birthday on Madrid clay by earning a quarter-final berth at a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time, backing up her second career top-10 win – over Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova – with a similarly gritty victory to knock out Jasmine Paolini 24 hours later. Continue reading “Birthday girl Andreeva’s maturity in Madrid a welcome sign for years to come”
Sometimes the stories write themselves. Florida-born Danielle Collins kept her nerve, stayed aggressive against a power hitter and showed steely execution in the match’s biggest pressure points to topple 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, sealing a first Masters 1000 title for the 30-year-old on home soil in Miami – ten weeks after announcing 2024 would be her final season as a pro.
Continue reading “Miami Open: Collins comes up clutch to pip Rybakina, secures career-best title in style”
It wasn’t plain sailing all the way through, but Victoria Azarenka’s experience in tight moments paid dividends as the two-time Major champion outlasted British number one Katie Boulter during two contrasting sets of tennis to punch her ticket into the Miami Open quarter-finals for the first time in six years. Continue reading “Miami Open: Azarenka content, but not satisfied after notching gritty Boulter win”
18 months after her last competitive appearance on tour following injury and a reduced drugs suspension, former world no. 1 and two-time Major champion Simona Halep made an encouraging return to action in America’s sunshine state but predictably ran out of steam against Paula Badosa in a tricky first-round contest as one of the tournament’s marquee wildcard entries this week. Continue reading “Miami Open: Halep hustles on return, but Badosa earns three-set comeback win”
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