Top seeds make Australian Open progress as title bids gather pace January 22, 2015 WORLD No1 Novak Djokovic’s quest for a fifth Australian Open title remains on course after dismantling Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov in the second round at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne yesterday. Djokovic showed few signs of the virus which has hampered him in recent weeks and secured a straight-sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 victory in just [...]
Murray ready for Sousa after romp past Matosevic January 21, 2015 WHILE the Australian Open draw means Britain’s Andy Murray will have to beat some decorated players to reach the latter stages, the third round sees him pitted against a man widely regarded to be his country’s best ever. Murray will come up against Joao Sousa early tomorrow morning, a player he thrashed in Melbourne two [...]
Glandular fever fears as ill Watson suffers Australian Open exit January 20, 2015 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson has played down concerns she could be suffering a recurrence of the glandular fever that paralysed her career after wilting in the first round of the Australian Open yesterday. Watson, 22, needed medical attention on court after complaining of blurred vision, nausea and feeling faint during a 6-4, 6-0 defeat to [...]
Murray seeded sixth for Australian Open January 14, 2015 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray will be seeded sixth for the Australian Open when the draw for the year’s first Major, which starts on Monday, takes place tonight. The three-time finalist is ranked behind top seed Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori. Compatriot Heather Watson is afforded no protection in the women’s [...]
Federer warms up for Australian Open by recording 1,000th win January 11, 2015 WORLD No2 Roger Federer became the first man for more than two decades to reach 1,000 career wins on the ATP Tour as he landed the Brisbane International title yesterday. Federer beat Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4 to claim his 83rd tournament victory and extend his record of winning at least one title [...]
Tennis chiefs to cut funding December 11, 2014 UNDERACHIEVING British tennis players face having their funding withdrawn if they fail to meet strict new ranking-based targets drawn up by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). Under the policy, which is set to be implemented over the next year, aspiring stars are to have support provided in the form of access to LTA-contracted coaches rather [...]
Boris Johnson avoids talking tennis by pulling on his sparring gloves July 24, 2014 It looks like the “will he, won’t he” tennis match between Boris Johnson and the Chernukhins (the Russian couple who paid £160,000 at a fundraiser to play BoJo and David Cameron) will go ahead, after Boris said he was going to get in training for it yesterday. Now we think we know how he’s getting [...]
Tory tennis match sells for £160,000 July 3, 2014 A BRITISH banker – and wife of a former Putin government minister – splashed out £160,000 for a game of tennis with PM David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson, it emerged yesterday. Lubov Chernukhin bought the top lot in the auction at the Tory party fundraiser on Wednesday. City A.M. revealed that a bottle of champagne sold [...]
Federer in the mood for more Wimbledon joy July 2, 2014 FORMER world No1 Roger Federer has his sights set on a record eighth Wimbledon title after coming from behind yesterday to beat Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka in their quarter-final. Federer dropped a set for the first time in the championships, but victory in a second-set tie-break proved the turning point as he reached a 35th [...]
Why Andy Murray’s Wimbledon loss will cost him July 2, 2014 Andy Murray's Wimbledon title defence came to a surprise halt today at the hands of Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The Scot crashed out at SW19 after an excellent display from 23-year-old Dimitrov, who ousted Murray in three sets. Other than a chance to defend the title he won last year, Murray will now miss out on [...]