For Roger Federer, there was a familiar sense of achievement, an extension of what had happened already in his memorable 2017. For Maria Sharapova, this winning feeling hadn’t befriended her for years – and she was going to enjoy every moment. Both superstars took titles in China. Federer emerged the winner among the top men, […]
Rafael Nadal and Caroline Garcia were triumphant at the China Open, to take the singles titles in style. But in some ways those finals were as much about their opponents as the winners themselves. Nick Kyrgios went into meltdown over a line call during Nadal’s emphatic 6-2, 6-1 victory in Beijing. PSYCHOLOGICAL That finally cost […]
So she finally did it. At the eighth time of asking, Simona Halep beat Maria Sharapova this week. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. That’s what Simona did. In China, she found a way. That 6-2, 6-2 victory in Beijing was emphatic – and avenged her defeat to Sharapova in the […]
Of all the matches I have played in the last few weeks in North America, there are two stand-out moments for me. I was lucky enough to be one of the players whose match was scheduled on Arthur Ashe at the US Open Grand Slam, which was a huge privilege. But results-wise, the most satisfying […]
‘When he lost that game, I told my friends: “He is going to lose the match. And then he is going to quit tennis.” They didn’t believe me. But I just knew.’ A middle-aged man called Per had played in the same Swedish academy as Bjorn Borg – and he knew how the superstar’s mind […]
They did it emphatically. Two fine champions who have been on difficult journeys – and returned looking even better than they had ever been before. Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens, we salute you. Nadal secured his second Grand Slam of the year and he did it in style, beating Kevin Anderson by a comfortable margin […]
Rafael Nadal was in no mood to take another beating from Juan Martin del Potro after losing their last two encounters. Instead the King of Clay got mad, changed his tactics, stepped into hard-court overdrive, and won nine games in a row. That punishing run ripped the heart out of Del Potro, who couldn’t respond […]
Madison Keys will play Sloane Stephens in the US Open final, after Venus Williams fell agonisingly short in pursuit of her dream. It took three sets and a rollercoaster of a tennis ride before Stephens emerged triumphant over Venus. ‘I have no words to describe my feelings and what it took to get there, no […]
Juan Martin del Potro produced one of his greatest displays to beat Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 and set up a dream semi-final against Rafael Nadal. No wonder he stared high into the New York night sky, taking in the thousands of ecstatic Argentinians in the upper tiers, and stretched out his arms […]
The evergreen Venus Williams has reached the US Open semi-finals after beating Petra Kvitova 6-3. 3-6, 7-6 (7-2). But can she go all the way this time and win her eighth Grand Slam title, before her sister Serena returns to the tour to steal the show once more? Venus has been brilliant this year, with […]
