Osaka Wins Her Second Slam To Become World Number One
Locker Room
January 26, 2019
Showing immense nerve when she might have imploded, Naomi Osaka climbed another psychological mountain to win back-to-back Grand Slams. At the US Open she had to deal with the meltdown of Serena Williams. In Melbourne it was her own inner collapse that threatened her chances. Somehow Osaka showed the mental strength to recover and come […]
Novak Djokovic Expects Epic Australian Open Final Against Rafael Nadal
Locker Room
January 25, 2019
Novak Djokovic couldn’t have put it any better after his immaculate destruction of Lucas Pouille in three rather one-sided sets. The focus quickly turned to the final against Rafael Nadal, the man Novak regards as his greatest rival. This is of course a reenactment of last year’s thrilling Wimbledon semi-final, quite possibly the highlight of […]
Rafael Nadal And Petra Kvitova Look Formidable
Locker Room
January 24, 2019
Rafael Nadal will take some stopping on this kind of form. He pulverised the hopes of young Stefanos Tsitsipas with an admirable, brutal ruthlessness. It wasn’t that the Greek played badly. Some of his volleying was sensational. Triumph But Nadal wasn’t in the mood to be questioned or denied. His serve and backhand look stronger […]
Serena Squanders 5-1 Lead And Four Match Points
Locker Room
January 23, 2019
Serena Williams looked for all the world to be on the verge of another Grand Slam semi-final. By her own admission, Karolina Pliskova’s mind ‘was already in the locker room.’ Then Williams turned her ankle, and in that moment the match turned too. Stubborn It wasn’t even a major injury. Just a moment of awkwardness, […]
Stefanos Tstsipas Believes He Can Beat Rafael Nadal
Locker Room
January 22, 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas calls it ‘the complete tournament.’ If the young Greek could manage the greatest hat-trick in tennis, others might be more tempted to label it miraculous. Intriguing The chance to beat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the same event looms for Tstsipas. He defeated a drained Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 4-6, […]
Serena Digs Deep To Beat Halep, Zverev In Meltdown During Raonic Defeat
Locker Room
January 21, 2019
Serena Williams looked on the verge of defeat to a resurgent Simona Halep. Perhaps we should all have known better. Minutes later, the ultimate tennis warrior had taken the match and downed the world number one. Serena rode her luck, dug deep and found solutions to serious problems. It could have been too late. It […]
Stefanos Tsitsipas Knocks Out Roger Federer
Locker Room
January 20, 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas could hardly believe what he had done. There was pure joy and a hint of amazement in his glistening eyes. It didn’t matter whether he could quite take in the enormity of his achievement. He had believed in himself when the going got tough. That’s what counted. Laughed The 20-year-old Greek saved four […]
Halep v Serena, Federer Stopped, Zverev The Comic
Locker Room
January 19, 2019
Simona Halep will play Serena Williams on Monday after an emphatic victory over her sister, Venus. It’s a fascinating match-up that will tell us whether or not Serena is capable of winning another major at the Australian Open. Meanwhile some comical moments in Melbourne left two of the world’s greatest players somewhat taken aback. Distracted […]
Federer Faces Tsitsipas, Sharapova Downs Champ Wozniacki
Locker Room
January 18, 2019
Roger Federer will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in a mouthwatering clash at the Australian Open. Will the new prince of tennis have what it takes to defeat the old master? Meanwhile another of the world’s most followed players, Maria Sharapova, is back in the big-time after defeating Caroline Wozniacki in three sets Not only was the […]
Jo Konta Edged Out By Garbine Muguruza In Early-Morning Thriller
Locker Room
January 17, 2019
It was almost 3.15am when Jo Konta, the last Brit standing, finally lost out to former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza. But anyone thinking that Konta is a fading star had better think again. Konta played awesome tennis and might have won a match the Spaniard eventually took 6-4, 6-7, 7-5. She showed power, precision, and […]