Dutch dash dream Rafa retirement party
THERE was no room for sentiment from the Dutch at the Davis Cup Finals, with Netherlands sending off 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal by eliminating his Spanish side in the quarter finals. Going down to the deciding doubles tie, the experienced doubles talent of Wesley Koolhof worked well with Botic Van de Zandschulp against […]
2024 Davis Cup Finals preview
EIGHT nations will vie for glory in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals that kicks off overnight in Malaga. Headlined by reigning champions Italy with world number one Jannik Sinner named for his nation, the only element that tops it is the fact that 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will bid farewell to tennis at […]
Machac marches into Vienna quarters
DEFYING the odds against the ATP Tour’s best indoor player in 2024, Czech Tomas Machac upset world number nine Grigor Dimitrov‘s chances of reaching the ATP Finals. Machac won the pair’s maiden encounter, winning 6-7 6-4 6-3 under the roof at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The match itself lasted two hours and 31 […]
No Thiem for sentimentality as Darderi dashes “last dance”
THERE has been no shortage of tennis legends retiring in 2024, and Austrian star Dominic Thiem joined fellow Grand Slam winners Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray on the sidelines after his career came to an end in his home nation overnight. Coming into the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, the Austrian – who had more […]
Gael breezes into Shanghai second round
FRENCH enigma Gael Monfils wound back the clock with an impressive straight sets victory over fellow veteran Damir Dzumhur to reach the second round of the 2024 Shanghai ATP 1000 Masters yesterday. Monfils won 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes, and despite the relatively rudimentary nature of the win, said it was still […]
Czech mate: Aussies win Davis Cup tie 3-0
AUSTRALIA has one foot in the knockout stages of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals after whitewashing Czech Republic 3-0 in the green and gold’s second group stage match overnight. Following on from a nail-biting 2-1 result against France, the Australians had it far easier against a wounded Czech side who once again saw Tomas Machac […]
2024 Davis Cup Finals preview: Group A
NEXT week the 2024 Davis Cup Finals kicks off with the round robin portion of the tournament and in the lead-up to the event, we preview each of the four groups. In today’s preview, we analyse Group A to see which of the four nations might advance to the knockout stage in November. NATIONS: 1st. […]
Popyrin stuns Djoker to oust defending champion
RED-HOT Australian Alexei Popyrin was already in the form of his life, but that form got even better when he incredibly knocked out defending champion and world number two Novak Djokovic in the third round of the US Open. A day after Carlos Alcaraz was skittled by Botic Van de Zandschulp, the 28th seed went […]
No escape for Alcaraz as Dutchman downs third seed
ARTHUR Ashe Stadium’s crowd during the night match was left a little speechless following Botic Van de Zandschulp causing a monumental upset over third seed Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard and former number one was coming off a Wimbledon title and Olympic silver medal, but has won just one of his past three matches, with the […]
Around the Tour: Osaka breaks grass drought
FORMER world number one Naomi Osaka cruised to her first win on grass court since the 2019 Birmingham Classic, taking care of Belgian Elise Mertens at the Libema Open. Osaka won 6-2 6-4 at the ‘s-Hertogenbosch event in the Netherlands, needing 69 minutes to knock off the 32nd ranked Belgian. Holding a wildcard at the […]
