Tennis
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Jan- 2025 -19 January
Australian Open: Iga Swiatek’s flawless performance eases past Emma Raducanu
Against Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier, Swiatek played at a level she called “perfect.” Melbourne: Everything came so easily for Iga Swiatek during a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Emma Raducanu on Saturday in the only Australian Open women’s third-round match between two past Grand Slam champions — if you thought that meant it would be close, you’d have been rather wrong — that this was how she described it: “I felt like the ball,” Swiatek said, “is listening to me.” Loud and clear. Asked to explain that sensation, Swiatek put her two index fingers a few inches apart and said, “It’s just being able to aim for this kind of space.” Then she spread her palms more…
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19 January
Taller height might be an advantage on tennis court
Taller players, with their better angles and higher contact point, can afford to use more of the explosive, throw-like technique and still land the ball within the service square of their opponent. Shorter players often need to use a more controlled motion to ensure their serves stay in play Joondalup: We’re nearing the halfway point of this year’s Australian Open and players like the United States’ Reilly Opelka (ranked 170th in the world ) and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (ranked 30th) captured plenty of attention despite early-round exits. These two players caught the eye of the tennis world for not only their towering height (standing 2.11 metres and 2m respectively) but their thunderous serves. Players of this height don’t just stand out in…
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17 January
Australian Open: US teen Learner Tien knocks Daniil Medvedev out in Round two thriller
The 4-hour, 49-minute contest had a bit of everything, including — hard to believe — a six-minute rain delay that interrupted play shortly before 2:30 a.m. with Tien serving at 5-all, 15-all in the fifth set Melbourne: Learner Tien, a 19-year-old qualifier from California, became the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990, upsetting a racket-tossing Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Thursday night. The 4-hour, 49-minute contest had a bit of everything, including — hard to believe — a six-minute rain delay that interrupted play shortly before 2:30 a.m. with Tien serving at 5-all, 15-all in the fifth set. When they resumed, Medvedev broke and served for…
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16 January
Gauff, Osaka, Pegula, Sabalenka advance to third round of Australian Open
The American had to come from 5-3 down in the second set to reel in the World No.173 Melbourne: American youngster Coco Gauff extended her winning streak to nine matches with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Jodie Burrage in the Australian Open second round. The American had to come from 5-3 down in the second set to reel in the World No.173. Gauff’s speed and consistency saw her ease to a 3-1 second-set lead over Burrage. However, the Briton threatened to turn the tables with a run of four straight games before Gauff responded with four straight of her own to get over the finishing line. With a win, Gauff set up a third-round encounter with 2021 US Open finalist and No. 30…
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14 January
Australian Open: Djokovic starts new chapter with coach Murray, wins first round
Djokovic eventually asserted himself for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nishesh Basavareddy Melbourne: Novak Djokovic’s first match with former rival Andy Murray as his coach did not start all that well, even against a 19-year-old making his Grand Slam debut. Still, after dropping his opening set at the 2025 Australian Open on Monday night to Nishesh Basavareddy, an American who left Stanford University and turned pro last month, Djokovic eventually asserted himself for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory to begin his bid for an 11th championship at Melbourne Park and a record 25th major title overall. “I’m obviously thrilled to have him in my corner,” Djokovic said about Murray. “I must say, it was a little bit of…
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Oct- 2024 -18 October
World No. 1 Danielle Collins delays retirement, plans return next year
Earlier this year, Collins announced 2024 would be her final season, but she’s now set to return in 2025. “The DANIMAL story isn’t over. I’ll be back on tour in 2025,” she shared on Instagram. New Delhi: World no. 1 tennis player Danielle Collins postponed her retirement plans as the American announced that she will be back on tour next year. At the start of this year, Collins had said 2024 would be her final season on tour but has now decided to return to tour in 2025. “So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025,” Collins posted on Instagram. “While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my…
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18 October
Rafael Nadal set for emotional farewell at next month’s Davis Cup finals
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, is currently competing in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. He will face long-time rival Novak Djokovic for the final time in the third-place match on Saturday. Nadal lost to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals, while Djokovic fell to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-2, 6-7 (0-7), 6-4. Alcaraz and Sinner will meet in the final. Riyadh: Tennis maestro Rafael Nadal said he is “emotionally” ready to play next month’s Davis Cup Finals which will be his farewell tournament after announcing his retirement from tennis last week. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is currently playing in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia and will take on…
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Aug- 2024 -28 August
US Open: Swiatek aaves three set points to defeat Rakhimova in first round
Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, saved three set points in the second-set tiebreak to secure a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory in 1 hour and 52 minutes at Flushing Meadows. In their first encounter, Rakhimova showed some promise, despite the match initially looking like a one-sided affair after Swiatek quickly jumped to a 4-0 lead, losing just three points. New York: 1221694of Poland survived a scare at the US Open on Tuesday, overcoming a gritty challenge from lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round of women’s singles at the Arthur Ashe Stadium here. Swiatek, the 2022 US Open winner, saved three set points in the second-set tiebreak before advancing 6-4, 7-6(6) in 1 hour and 52 minutes at the Flushing Meadows.…
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Feb- 2024 -23 February
Carlos Alcaraz was forced to retire from his Rio Open first round match after injuring himself just two points into the match.
Replays showed how the 20-year-old suffering a nasty looking injury when planting his foot on the clay. But just one game later, Alcaraz had his serve broken, shook Monteiro’s hand, and left the court shortly after, retiring from the match. The Wimbledon champion was then seen limping out of the stadium and head straight onto a golf cart to take him away. “Tomorrow I’ll have a test for my ankle and let’s see if it’s something serious or not,” said Alcaraz. “I felt bad. That was the first impression I had. I was feeling pain once I fell down, so I thought it was going to be difficult to continue if I was still having those feelings. “After a few points…
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Jun- 2023 -5 June
French Open: Alcaraz thrashes Musetti to reach quarterfinals
Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open Paris: World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros. The Spaniard completed a revenge mission in style on Sunday with a scintillating fourth-round performance at the clay-court major. Musetti had beaten Alcaraz on clay in the pa’r’s only previous ATP Tour meeting, in the Hamburg final last July. However, he never looked likely to repeat that result in the French capital on Sunday, despite making a bright start on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Alcaraz, the top seed, responded to losing the opening two games of the…
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