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Tag Archive: Australian Open

  1. Cilic Ends Edmund Dream, Halep Wins Classic And Meets Wozniacki In Final

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    Marin Cilic ended Kyle Edmund’s Aussie Open dream, with a little help from the Brit’s aching body, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

    Edmund limped at times and struggled for the kind of consistently agile movement that helped him get this far. Maybe Marin would have beaten him anyway.

    Cilic paid tribute to Kyle like this: ‘He is playing great tennis and he has improved a lot in the last couple of years. The five-set matches this tournament definitely left a few scars on his body.’

    There was no shame in the way it unfolded for the underdog. And Edmund can reflect upon his amazing run and the way it finished with his head held high.

    Cilic, you will recall, made the Wimbledon final only last year. He was US Open champion in 2014. The man is class.

    ARGUING

    Edmund is still learning his craft as he joins the elite. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman tried everything. He even emulated Roger Federer by arguing with the umpire to get himself fired up.

    Edmund remonstrated and even demanded to see the referee when Cilic was awarded one point by Hawkeye. The scores were level in the fifth game of the second set.

    The ball was originally called out, distracting Edmund from his return, the Brit argued. Then, when Hawkeye ruled the serve in, Cilic was given the point.

    ETERNITY

    ‘Get the referee, I’m not having it,’ said Edmund, insisting the point be replayed.

    The umpire said he couldn’t do that, but the referee arrived anyway, only to back his official.

    In truth, Edmund was already in trouble. He had been broken twice in the first, losing it clearly, despite having two early break points himself.

    SLUGGED

    Then he went off with the trainer for what seemed like an eternity, and you wondered whether he would even be able to continue.

    He did, and slugged it out with Cilic all the way through that feisty second set, showing admirable passion and finding some success. But the Croat had more experience and a technical edge to go with it on the night.

    Edmund took Cilic all the way to a tie-break. But some of his returns couldn’t find their target during some of the biggest moments. And it could be argued that he unwittingly played into his opponent’s hands during others, as he went down 4-7 in the breaker.

    FASCINATING

    But these are areas “Kedders” can learn from, as he continues to develop. He has Grand Slam semi-final experience now, he can only get better, he is only just 23 and he has done superbly.

    The whole of Britain can be proud of a player who will now challenge Andy Murray for top spot back home – and set Wimbledon alight with a new and fascinating domestic rivalry.

    Meanwhile, Simona Halep showed why she is world number one by defeating a woman who used to hold that distinction, Angelique Kerber.

    DRAMATIC

    The final set was truly dramatic – and Halep had to save two match points before she won through 9-7 to reach the final.

    There she will play the in-form Caroline Wozniacki, yet another former world number one, who, like Halep, has never won a Grand Slam.

    So the women’s trophy will have a brand new owner, and no one can say that Halep and Wozniacki don’t deserve another tilt at the meaningful silverware after all their spectacular exploits over the years.

    RHYTHM

    Halep hit the ground running against Kerber, knowing she couldn’t afford another slow start. Instead, it was the German who was caught cold, finding herself 0-5 down in the blink of an eye.

    By the time she started playing in that first set it was too late, and Kerber eventually succumbed 3-6.

    She had found enough rhythm to go into the next clashes with more confidence, though, and took the second set 6-4.

    FLAPPING

    That was when the true battle of wills commenced. And no one who witnessed it will forget what followed in a hurry.

    Either woman could have closed out. Neither woman allowed it to happen, not for a very long time at least.

    Kerber saved two match points while serving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the third. Then she fought her way to the brink of victory – one you might have expected, given Halep’s penchant for flapping under severe pressure in massive matches.

    TENACITY

    But Halep, who lost the French Open final to Ostapenko having led, and was two points from beating Jo Konta at Wimbledon, dug in with extra tenacity this time – and wasn’t to be denied.

    She saved two match points as Kerber served at 6-5. Then she lasted the longest, as both women gasped for air and searched for reserves of energy that was barely there.

    Eventually, on her fourth match point in total, Halep sent a shot deep enough for Kerber to be left distraught. ‘I’m shaking right now, I’m really emotional,’ said a triumphant Halep.

    ELATED

    And Caroline Wozniack was equally elated after defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), to ensure we’ll have a new champion. ‘That finals feeling!’ she tweeted. ‘It means so much to me.’

    Should be a great showpiece!

    Edmund might be out of the Austrailian Open but let’s look forward to seeing him at Wimbledon! Get your Wimbledon tickets here

  2. Australian Open Day 1: Kyle Edmund Thrives Among Early Upsets

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    Britain’s Kyle Edmund clenched his fist in triumph at the Australian Open, still gritting his teeth, just as he had done at key moments all match long.

    You needed a certain nerve to come from behind twice and pull off this impressive result.

    Edmund showed that he is developing a psychological strength to go with his natural power. And now the only way is up.

    As he looked for approval from the stands, Edmund needn’t have worried. The world now knows that the British have another star in the making. And Melbourne expressed its generous appreciation for the younger man, who simply wouldn’t give up.

    SHOCKS

    At 23, Kyle showed there is still a strong interest for the Brits without Andy Murray centre stage at a Grand Slam, as he notched the biggest win of his career.

    He beat the eleventh seed Kevin Anderson, who was a finalist at the US Open, the other hard-court Slam, and was therefore considered a contender here at the Australian Open.

    Meanwhile, the Americans suffered most on a day of shocks. Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe, Sloane Stephens, John Isner and Jack Sock all went out in the first round.

    VIOLATION

    True to form, Rafael Nadal and home favourite Nick Kyrgios raced through their opening matches, conserving precious energy for the tougher times ahead.

    Not that Kyrgios was relaxed in any way – he picked up a typical code violation, despite his dominance.

    Nadal defeated Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 with an ominous level of self-assurance. ‘I don’t know how many years I’ll be able to play here, so I want to enjoy every moment,’ the Spaniard said, showing that he is on a charm offensive too at the Australian Open.

    The controversial Kyrgios didn’t find his opponent too tricky, as he saw off Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in 87 minutes. He had more trouble with the crowd and the umpire, arguing with both after he was distracted by spectator noise while serving.

    THRILLER

    For Edmund, by contrast, it was all about staying with the man on the other side of the net. He became involved in a draining thriller – but the crowd loved it.

    The underdog had to show a stubborn streak to come back, as the match initially appeared to be following the form book. With improving fitness and agility now added to that power-game, Edmund could be going places.

    Eventually, the British number two prevailed to win 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. That reversed the result of their last five-setter at the French Open – and showed that Edmund has worked hard on his physical conditioning.

    A delighted Kyle said: ‘This type of result makes all the training feel worth it. It feels really good.’

    PROGRESSION

    And it feels equally good for British tennis fans to know they have a big-time player beyond Murray.

    All the signs point to Murray’s return in good time for Wimbledon 2018, of course. And he will still be one of the main attractions at Wimbledon 2018.

    But the Brits might be treated to double the pleasure this year if Edmund continues at this rate of progression.

    UNDERCOOKED

    There was no such breakthrough for Jack Sock at the Australian Open. The talented American became the surprise victim of Japan’s Yuichi Sugita, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3.

    Fifth-seeded Venus, last year’s finalist, lost 3-6, 5-7 to Belinda Bencic. Meanwhile, Zhang Shuai beat Stephens 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2, meaning the US Open winner hasn’t tasted victory since Flushing Meadows.

    Timea Babos beat Vandeweghe 7-6 (4), 6-2, while Isner admitted to being “undercooked” after Matthew Ebden beat him 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

    But Day One of the Australian Open belonged to Edmund most of all. In Murray’s absence, the Brit’s timing couldn’t have been sweeter.

  3. Grand Slam Tournaments: The Run Down

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    Grand Slam History: Wonderful Wimbledon Aces Them All

    All the Grand Slams have their history – but nowhere has quite as much as Wimbledon. You can feel it when you walk in. That magic took many years to create. You can’t feel it anywhere else, for all the qualities and diversity of the world’s other venues.
    Who would have thought, when the newly-named All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club held its inaugural Wimbledon Championship in 1877, that it would be the start of such an incredible journey?

    Spencer Gore was the first winner, though Britain’s William Renshaw was the first 19th-Century tennis star, with his seven Wimbledon wins in the 1880s.

    ball and racquet

    Pete Sampras and Roger Federer repeated the feat in the Open era and their task was somewhat harder. Once he became champion, all Renshaw had to do was to turn up for the next final to see off his latest challenger. How times have changed!

    The “Other” Opens

    It might surprise some to know that the USA started its own national championships as early as 1881, at the Newport Casino, Rhode Island.
    The French weren’t far behind in setting up their own national tournament in 1891. And the dawn of the 20th century saw one of their greatest stars – Max Decugis – dominate the scene. Between 1903 and 1914 he won the French title eight times and might have continued his amazing run were it not for the outbreak of the First World War.
    By then the Australians were up and running too, their first tournament having taken place in 1905.

    The Tournaments Find Their Home Grounds

    So which was the first championships to move to its current home? Wimbledon of course, in 1922. The French followed six years later when Roland Garros was established. The US Open didn’t move to Flushing Meadows until 1978, while the Aussie Open only found its current home in 1988.
    But the French can boast the first true superstar of the game – Suzanne Lenglen. The world marveled at her grace and talent. She took six top titles in France or Belgium and six more at Wimbledon to capture the hearts of just about every sports fan around.
    Then the Brits came up with a superstar of their own. Fred Perry won Wimbledon three times in the 1930s. As we all know, it took until last year for a Brit to win it again. But Perry did something Andy Murray can still only dream about. He became the first player to win the French, Australian and US titles too, all in that same decade.
    Amazingly, an American called Maureen Connolly Baker achieved the same feat while she was still a teenager, between 1951 and 1953.
    Each country or tournament has its giants. Home-grown Roy Emerson won the Australian six times in the 1960s, while in the Open era Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic managed such glory four times Down Under.

    The Tennis Giants

    Wimbledon’s true giants of the Open era haven’t been British. Pete Sampras has won it seven times, along with Federer. Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon an extraordinary nine times. Each champion has been hailed by an adoring British public, which became very used to putting nationality aside during the many years when a Brit couldn’t quite cut it.
    US champions William Larned, Richard Sears and Bill Tilden may not be mentioned very often these days; but they took seven singles titles apiece on that side of the Atlantic. Jimmy Connors, Sampras and Federer managed five in the Open era.
    It was in 1968 that professionals were finally allowed to join amateurs and do battle at the “Majors.” That’s when the Grand Slam era really began. Few who were already alive will ever forget Arthur Ashe taking the US title and striking a fresh blow for racial equality.
    The increased intensity of competition can’t diminish the achievements of someone like Margaret Court, whose career saw out the old and welcomed in the new. She won 24 Slams including eleven Australian, five French, three Wimbledon and five US Open titles. Yet perhaps Steffi Graf’s 22 titles, all won in the Open era, are even more admirable, given the new physical demands of the game.
    And Rafael Nadal’s eight Roland Garros titles between 2005 and 2013 had everyone shaking their heads in awe, and wondering how many more he could win.
    We know how wonderful the modern era is. We know we are currently watching giants who can be compared favourably against champions of any era. Wimbledon has welcomed these giants down the years, and been enriched by their magnificence. That’s what makes Wimbledon so very special.

    You step back in time when you walk through those gates, you can almost touch the all-time greats; yet you are always invited to embrace the present and future too.     

    The new Number One Court arrived in 1997, the retractable roof on Centre Court is even more recent and spectacular. Beautiful modern architecture somehow blends perfectly with the traditional feel to the venue. How has Wimbledon moved so stylishly with the times? Either there are some very special people behind the scenes, or it’s magic!
    The other Grand Slam venues are great in their own way, of course. But history tells us Wimbledon is the home of competitive tennis. Always was, always will be. In fact we don’t need to be told, because we can feel it.
    Want to be part of history at the next Wimbledon? Want to taste that unique atmosphere? Just click on the following link to buy your tickets today.