Emotional Nadal Takes Tenth Roland Garros Title, Ostapenko Stuns Halep
Locker Room
June 11, 2017
Rafael Nadal sank onto his back, caking his sweat-soaked shirt with the Roland Garros clay he loves so dearly. He had suppressed the dangerous brilliance of Stan Wawrinka with a Yoda-like will-power, removing all the strength and self-belief from his adversary until the 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 score-line made his task in this landmark final sound even simpler than […]
Will Rafael Nadal Make More History?
Locker Room
June 10, 2017
Rafael Nadal stands on the brink of an historic tenth Roland Garros title as he prepares to face Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s big final. Wawrinka also knows what it is to win the French Open. He did so against Novak Djokovic, who was also regarded as practically invincible at the time. So it is not […]
Can Ostapenko Shock Simona Halep In Women’s Final?
Locker Room
June 9, 2017
Make no mistake, Jelena Ostapenko is unstoppable when she hits her stride. Amazingly, her forehand is faster than that of the men’s world number one, Andy Murray. But can the samba-loving ballroom dancer strut her stuff against the best around right now, Simona Halep? We will find out in Saturday’s women’s singles final, where Halep […]
Brilliant Thiem Downs Defending Champion Djokovic
Locker Room
June 7, 2017
So, the Thiem dream is on – and nice guys do win after all. But the youthful Dominic will have to beat Rafael Nadal in the semi-final if he wants to go all the way at the French Open. New superstar Thiem defeated defending champion Novak Djokovic in some style, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-0. […]
Nishikori Through To Face Murray in Roland Garros Quarters
Locker Room
June 5, 2017
Kei Nishikori exhaled heavily with relief, looked up to the skies and wondered how on earth he was through to face Andy Murray after such a dreadful start. Fernando Verdasco had apparently shattered the spirit of the talented Japanese with a 6-0 first-set drubbing – or so he might have thought. But in reality Nishikori […]
Magnificent Murray Is Back In Style!
Locker Room
June 3, 2017
Andy Murray is back! And that’s great news for tennis fans hoping to see their hero in top form at Wimbledon. The old movement, the subtlety and flare were all there in abundance at Roland Garros, as the world number one downed Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (10-8), 7-5, 6-0. At last, after a difficult […]
Can Anyone Beat Rafael Nadal At Roland Garros?
Locker Room
June 1, 2017
After Rafa Nadal’s superb display against Robin Haase, TV expert Mats Wilander, a former world number one, was prompted to say: ‘Nadal has more chance of winning the French Open than all his rivals put together.’ Is it true? If not, who is most likely to topple Nadal? Here are the men we think have […]
Zverev and Konta Crash Out Of French Open
Locker Room
May 30, 2017
Alexander Zverev and Johanna Konta were the latest top-ten casualties to fall at the first hurdle during the perilous openers at Roland Garros. But world number one Andy Murray made it through to join the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka in the next round. Next up Murray will play the […]
Kerber Knocked Out of French Open
Locker Room
May 28, 2017
Angelique Kerber has become the first women’s top seed to be dumped out of the French Open in her very first match. She crashed to Ekaterina Makarova, who couldn’t believe her luck as she was let off the hook time and again before cruising through 6-2, 6-2. The embarrassing reversal of fortunes for the world […]
Agassi Upstages Wunderkind Zverev
Locker Room
May 22, 2017
Andre Agassi’s appointment as new coach to Novak Djokovic stole the limelight from German “Wunderkind” Alexander Zverev in his big breakthrough moment. We should of course be heralding a first massive title win for the 20-year-old Zverev, who thumped Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 with a serving master-class and a further lesson in ice-cool composure. Charismatic “Sascha” […]