All Alexandr-ova for Sabalenka in Doha
IT WAS the result no one saw coming. Despite winning in Linz a fortnight ago, Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova was given little to no hope of beating the best hardcourt player in the world in Aryna Sabalenka in Doha, but then the world number 26 tore up the script. In a match that had to be […]
Parks piles on pain for Shnaider in Doha
AMERICAN qualifier Alycia Parks caused a huge boilover against 11th seed Diana Shnaider to reach the second round of the 2025 Qatar Open overnight. The hard-hitting but often inconsistent Parks smashed her way to victory as one of three unseeded players to knock off seeded opponents. Parks won 6-4 7-6 in 95 minutes, blowing her […]
Sun rises in Abu Dhabi
A DOMINANT display from New Zealand 2024 big improver Lulu Sun was the standout result from day one of the 2025 WTA Abu Dhabi Open. The Kiwi-born – but has represented Switzerland and even Croatia prior – completely dismantled French wildcard and former Top 5 player Caroline Garcia 6-1 6-3 in 77 minutes to snap […]
Sofia Kenins into US Open second round
AMERICAN talent Sofia Kenin survived a three-set thriller against Emma Raducanu in what was a battle of two young former Grand Slam winners who have overcome obstacles since their wins to rise back into the Top 100. Kenin won in front of home fans 6-1 3-6 6-4 to advance through to the Round of 64, […]
Schmiedlova scorches Paolini to defy ranking
THE SURPRISES keep on coming in the women’s singles draw at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with fourth seed Jasmine Paolini the latest seed to fall. The Italian proved to be no match for Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, with the Slovak winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. It was a match littered with double faults, with Paolini serving seven […]
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 […]
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 […]
2024 Paris Olympics draw talking points
LAST night the 2024 Paris Olympics took place and there was no shortage of talking points coming out of the draw. Here is some of those talking points from the men’s and women’s singles. MEN’S SINGLES: Novak vs Rafa one last time? Speculation pre-draw was whether or not the two most successful Grand Slam winners […]
Dart on point in all-Brit battle
IN A hard-fought come-from-behind battle, world number 100 Harriet Dart spoiled the party of British number one, Katie Boulter. Despite 71 ranking places separating them, both players know each other’s games intimately and put on a show on Court 1, with the lower ranked compatriot winning 4-6 6-1 7-6 in two hours and 57 minutes. […]
Spaniard shocks Wimbledon defending champion
IN ONE of the biggest upsets in some time at Wimbledon, and certainly the largest shock of day two, world number 83 Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro knocked out defending champion and sixth seed Marketa Vondrousova in the first round of the Grand Slam event. Vondrousova was one of the favourites to take out the title […]
