Konta In Quarters, Stan Is The Man
Roland Garros
June 2, 2019
Jo Konta continued her thrillng run at Roland Garros with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Donna Vekic. It could hardly have gone better for the resurgent Brit. ‘I was definitely pleased with the way I was playing and the problem-solving I was doing out there,’ said Konta later. ‘I felt I was being effective.’ Indeed […]
Is Wimbledon 2019 Serena’s Last Big Chance?
Roland Garros
Serena Williams was knocked out of Roland Garros earlier than any other major tournament for five years – and left us all wondering about her future. It’s not a delicate question to ask, but one that all great champions are forced to face sooner or later. How long can she go on? When will be […]
Wawrinka v Tsitsipas: The Showdown Is On!
Roland Garros
June 1, 2019
Stan Wawrinka will play Stefanos Tsitsipas after closing out his 500th tour win against Grigor Dimitrov. No one can wait. Stan the Man v Super Stef should prove to be an absolute cracker, with the former Roland Garros champion back in such scintillating form. ‘You suffer a lot to reach 500,’ said Wawrinka. But only […]
Nadal and Federer Show They Are Human
Roland Garros
May 31, 2019
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer marched on at Roland Garros but certainly didn’t have it all their own way. Eleven-time champion Nadal dropped a set against David Goffin and Roger Federer was a point from doing the same against Casper Ruud. So we were reminded that Nadal isn’t superhuman after all, and he hasn’t won […]
Osaka and Serena Through, Injured Edmund Aims For Wimbledon
Roland Garros
May 30, 2019
Naomi Osaka doesn’t fear the clay any more. And that should send a warning to all the French Open favourites. The power and fizz Osaka generated in the final set against Victoria Azarenka sent shockwaves through Roland Garros. The low trajectory of her missiles made them unplayable. This was Osaka at her best, the player […]
How Good Does Federer Look On Clay?
Roland Garros
May 29, 2019
Roger Federer eased past Oscar Otte of Germany without too much trouble. In fact his backhand volley to close out the match was ridiculously nonchalant, even for a man of his talent. But what did the great man’s performance really tell us about his title chances? It’s difficult to say, because Otte crumbled under pressure […]
Tennis in a greenhouse: all change at the French Open
Roland Garros
Wimbledon offers tennis in an English garden and now the French Open: Roland-Garros has a tennis court set in a greenhouse. The brand new Simonne-Mathieu court is the undisputed star of a series of refurbishments at this year’s Roland-Garros. The season’s second Grand Slam tournament, held in the leafy surroundings of the 16th arrondissement in […]
Zverev And Osaka Find Ways To Win Ugly
Roland Garros
May 28, 2019
Alexander Zverev and Naomi Osaka showed what anguish top tennis players sometimes go through. Although both eventually found a way to progress at Roland Garros, the psychological torment was there for all to see. Both are young, highly successful, infinitely marketable, almost perfect. Yet they are mere mortals with flaws and they feel the pain […]
Rafa, Novak or Simona? The top five French Open storylines
Roland Garros
With the French Open having just started, who will be dominating the tennis headlines on the clay courts of Roland-Garros in Paris? Who can stop Rafael Nadal from winning title No. 12? Having failed to reach the finals of Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, Rafael Nadal’s season finally clicked into gear last week in Rome, […]
Serena Flirts With Danger, Konta Wins At Last
Roland Garros
May 27, 2019
Serena Williams is just like Roger Federer. She gets nervous at the start of a tournament. Yes, it happens to the greatest of all time too. They are human just like us. Remember Federer telling us his heart had been beating like crazy before he settled down to win his first-round match? Well, Serena’s nerves […]