Sramk-ova for ‘Danimal’ as Slovakia stuns USA
DESPITE bringing a half-strength side to the Billie Jean King Cup, few would have predicted that super power tennis national the United States could not get past Slovakia in the first round of the knockout stage. However that was exactly the case with the world number fives suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to the 10th […]
2024 BJK Cup Finals preview
TWELVE teams remain in the hunt for the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup title, which kicks off overnight with the first of the knockout matches. While four nations – Canada, Australia, Czech Republic and Italy – have a first round bye, another eight are battling it out to reach the quarter finals. We take a […]
Beggars belief in Beijing with upsets galore
THREE of the four Round of 16 matches in Beijing produced a trio of massive upsets overnight, with the only one not following suit being a mid-match retirement to former number one Naomi Osaka. The Japanese star was a set and a break up on young gun and fellow Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff, before […]
Osaka cruises towards Coco in Beijing
TWO Grand Slam winners will face off in the fourth round of the China Open after former world number one Naomi Osaka raced through to the Round of 16 following a 6-3 6-2 triumph over American Katie Volynets. The Japanese star will now set her sights on Coco Gauff in what promises to be a […]
Osaka begins China Open with big win
FORMER China Open winner Naomi Osaka got her 2024 campaign at the tournament off to a perfect start, defeating Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-2 on the opening day of the tournament. Although she ultimately finished with a lower first serve percentage than her Italian opponent, Osaka absolutely blitzed Bronzetti on the aces count, winning it […]
Kreuger’s Nightmare on Grandstand eliminates talented teen
AN eye-catching performance from Ashlyn Krueger turned into a nightmare for talented Russian Mirra Andreeva as the American put the 21st seed to the sword and waltzed into the third round with a 64-minute demolition job. In front of home fans, the 39th ranked 20-year-old gave an indication of what she is capable of, winning […]
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, […]
2024 US Open preview: Women’s singles
LAST year’s US Open threw up plenty of surprises for the women’s singles, with American young gun Coco Gauff riding a wave of support to claim her first Grand Slam title in a come-from-behind victory. Can she go back-to-back or will another top star stand up and lift the trophy aloft? Top eight seeds Gauff […]
Sabalenka easy as Yue goes in Toronto
WORLD number two Aryna Sabalenka showed a fierce determination in her opening round match at the National Bank Open, dismanting China’s Yue Yuan in a breezy 92-minute match on the Toronto hardcourt. Sabalenka disappointingly fell at the semi-final stage of the Citi Open last week in a shock loss to Czech Marie Bouzkova, but quickly […]
Osaka crushes Jabeur to reach Toronto second round
BUILT up as the match to watch in the first round of the National Bank Open, former world number one Naomi Osaka made light work of ninth seed Ons Jabeur en route to a dominate 6-3 6-1 victory in just 72 minutes. Osaka returned to her preferred hardcourt surface and picked up her fifth Top […]