Fed Cup fantasy tennis: 2020 Tournament preview
LIKE every sport on the planet right now, tennis is in hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means no live sport for the time being, and everyone is scrambling for whatever sport they can find be it the Belarusian Premier League, Tajikistan Basketball League or Ukrainian table tennis. Next week would have seen the […]
Qatar Open: Barty eases back on tour as Kenin falters again
WORLD number one, Ash Barty has played her first match since her semi-final exit at the Australian Open, rolling past German, Laura Siegemund in 73 minutes. The Australian star won 6-3 6-2 in a straightforward match to dust off the cobwebs and move into the Round of 16. There were still plenty of areas Barty […]
Qatar Open: Anisimova finds form against red-hot Alexandrova, as Muguruza survives tough challenge
AMANDA Anisimova has won her first match since the ASB Classic a month and a half ago by downing in-form Russian, Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Qatar Open Round of 64. The Doha event began with the first 12 matches getting underway, most of which were one-sided affairs. Anisimova’s win was in straight sets, but after […]
Fed Cup qualifiers wrap: Eight nations book spot in Finals
SIX of the eight seeded nations have booked a spot in the Fed Cup finals following the round’s qualifying action over the weekend. Plenty of top 20 WTA Tour players were running around the courts across the world in a number of tight contests. Fourth seed Germany was the only side to sweep the opponent […]
2020 Fed Cup qualifiers preview: Nations load up on star talent
MUCH like the Davis Cup last year, the Fed Cup in 2020 has undergone a revamp with a World Cup-style tournament planned for Budapest in April. In it, 12 nations will compete for the title, with last year’s grand finalists, France and Australia automatically qualifying, as well as host nation Hungary, and wildcard Czech Republic […]
Australian Open: Women’s Day 4 review – Seeds predominantly advance in more predictable day
ALL the top 10 seeds in the women’s side of the draw moved through to the third round of action, with some potential fourth round matchups between past and potential future Grand Slam winners still a chance. Swiss star, Belinda Bencic strolled into the third round with a straight sets win over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. […]
Australian Open: Women’s Day 2 review – Sabalenka, Anisimova out as experience wins tight ones
A COUPLE of massive upsets to completed Round 1 of the Australian Open women’s draw, with four seeds bundled out of contention, including a couple of future stars. Sixth seed Belinda Bencic overturned recent form against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova around in a straight sets win, 6-3 7-5. Bencic and Schmiedlova both hit 25 winners, but […]
Australian Open player focus: Karolina Pliskova
THE world number two, Karolina Pliskova did not muck around in her Round 1 match, quickly asserting herself on French competitor Kristina Mladenovic and making her mark on the Australian Open. The first set was clinical by Pliskova who controlled it from the get-go despite a few hiccups on the serve in the third game, […]
ASB Classic: Day 8 – Americans dominate semis
THREE of the four ASB Classic semi-finalists hail from the United States after favourable results in today’s quarter finals. Number one seed, Serena Williams led the charge for her nation, joined in the semi-finals by Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula. The remaining player making it through to the final four was fifth seed, Denmark’s Caroline […]
ASB Classic: Day 2 wrap – Top 5 seeds show who’s boss
FOUR of eight Americans won through to the next round after a mammoth Day 2 of proceedings in the 2020 ASB Classic. The top five seeds in the tournament took the court on the day, with all five reigning supreme to head into the next round of the competition. Top and third seed Americans Serena […]