Rankings don’t mean much with surprises aplenty in mixed doubles
THE Mixed Doubles competition of the 2024 Olympics got underway at Roland Garros overnight, and right out of the gate the surprises came. German pair Laura Siegemund and Alexander Zverev found out the hard way that their number one ranking was merely a number after they succumbed to Czech pair Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac […]
French fancy fails as Argentine advances
ALTHOUGH things went to plan for most of the seeds overnight at the Olympics, everything did not go to plan for all as Ugo Humbert found out the hard way after the 10th seed went down to Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 7-5. 6-7, 7-5. In a match that lasted two hours and 44 minutes, the Argentine […]
Svitolina shocks Pegula but others have an easier time
NOT too many seeds have fallen yet in the women’s singles yet at these Olympics, but American Jessica Pegula added her name to that list after Elina Svitolina beat her 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. In a match that lasted an hour and 47 minutes, once Svitolina got going she progressively got through the sets at a […]
Berrettini’s back, alright
AFTER having to take the tough road, Italian Matteo Berrettini is back alright. The former world number six claimed his third title of 2024 – and second consecutive trophy – at the Generali Open over the weekend when he knocked off Frenchman Hugo Gaston 7-5 6-3 in the final. The 28-year-old proved too powerful for […]
Popyrin pushes past Jarry to set up Stan showdown
AUSSIE Alexei Popyrin spiced up the men’s singles draw at the 2024 Olympics after he upset Chilean 16th seed Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 7-6(5) . Popyrin blitzed his more fancied opponent in the first set in 36 minutes, before being made to work for the set win in the second term, taking just under an hour. […]
Barbora battles valiant Tormo but ultimately prevails
NINTH seed Barbora Krejcikova was certainly made to work for her first round win at Roland Garros, but ultimately prevailed 4-6, 6-0, 7-6(3) over Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo to progress to the second round. In a match that lasted just under three hours, the Spaniard defied her world ranking of in the 80s for much […]
Parks denies Joint title in Warsaw
TALENTED American Alycia Parks came from behind to defeat Aussie Maya Joint and deny the fifth seed a chance at a maiden WTA 125 title. No longer considered a Challenger event level but a step below official WTA Tour level, the former Top 40 player won the Polish Open final 4-6 6-3 6-3 in two […]
Ange Kerb’s Naomi’s influence to win in Paris
RETIRING German Angelique Kerber ensured her swan song had at least one more chapter after defeating Naomi Osaka in a battle of the former world number ones in the first round of the Paris Olympics. Kerber won 7-5 6-3 to book her place in the second round as she looked to go out on a […]
No Djoke – Novak cruises through to Paris second round
THERE was no mucking about for top seed and world number two Novak Djokovic as his quest for an elusive Olympic gold medal kicked off with a 53-minute rout of doubles specialist Matthew Ebden. It was always tipped to be a heavily one-sided contest given Ebden is not even ranked in singles anymore, and Djokovic […]
Linette, Andreeva lift titles set to face off in Paris
ON a day where the two WTA Tour finals featured players from the same nation in each respect, it was the higher ranked player in each case that got the chocolates. In Prague, Magda Linette crushed her Polish countrywoman Magdalena Frech 6-2 6-1, while in Iasi it was top seed Mirra Andreeva proving too strong […]
