Murray out of Australian Open but close to recapturing top form January 22, 2014 WORLD No4 Andy Murray expects to be challenging for the rest of this year’s grand slam titles, despite bowing out of the Australian Open to Roger Federer in yesterday’s quarter-final. Federer raced into a two-set lead but failed to serve for the match at 5-4 in the third and threw away two match points in [...]
Row as tennis stars faint in 42C heatwave January 14, 2014 AUSTRALIAN Open tennis chiefs were forced to defend their refusal to implement an extreme heat policy yesterday after players and ball boys fainted on court as temperatures in Melbourne rocketed past 42C. Canadian Frank Dancevic called the decision to allow matches to continue “inhumane” after he passed out from heatstroke during his first-round defeat, adding: [...]
Wimbledon champ is top sports star of 2013 December 15, 2013 ANDY Murray, who in July became the first British man to win a Wimbledon singles’ title since 1936, was last night crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The Scot did not attend the awards in Leeds, but received the trophy in Miami where he is training. “I know sometimes I’m not the easiest person [...]
Tennis slammed as participation falls despite Wimbledon factor December 12, 2013 FOOTBALL and tennis chiefs have been warned their funding could be cut after both suffered drops in levels of participation. A Sport England survey found football had lost the most participants since April and is now only the fourth most played sport in the country, with 1.84m playing at least 30 minutes a week. Despite [...]
Murray in line for Australian Open after scheduling December return November 20, 2013 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray boosted his prospects of appearing at the Australian Open in January, by announcing his intention to return to the court in Doha in December. The world No4 has not played since Britain’s victorious Davis Cup play-off against Croatia in September, following surgery on his back. But, Murray posted a picture on [...]
Kermode appointed tennis chief November 20, 2013 TENNIS: Britain’s Chris Kermode has been named executive chairman and president of the men’s ATP Tour. The 48-year-old will begin a three-year term on 1 January.
Stepanek displays nerves of steel to seal Davis Cup glory November 17, 2013 WORLD No2 Novak Djokovic was denied Davis Cup victory yesterday, after Radek Stepanek held his nerve to win the decisive rubber for Czech Republic against Serbia in Belgrade. Trailing 2-1 going into the final day’s play, Djokovic beat 2010 Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 to set up a deciding match. But Stepanek, 34, [...]
Cautious Murray casts doubt over his Australian Open participation October 31, 2013 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray admits he is yet to hit a ball almost six weeks after his back operation and fears he may not be ready for the Australian Open. The Wimbledon champion is desperate to play in Melbourne, where he has reached the final three times in four years, but is adamant he will only [...]
Tennis chief rejects useless tag and vows to mine Murray factor September 24, 2013 INCOMING Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Michael Downey has hit back at claims the organisation is “useless” and outlined his plan to capitalise on Andy Murray’s Wimbledon success. Last year All-Party Tennis Group chair Baroness Billingham said the £640,000 salary earned by Downey’s predecessor Roger Draper was unjustified. But Canadian Downey, who will earn £300,000 [...]
Exclusive: Beat USA and British Davis Cup run is on, says Rusedski September 18, 2013 GREAT Britain can mount a genuine challenge for a first Davis Cup in 80 years if they can overcome a tricky tie against the United States, says former British No1 Greg Rusedski. The nine-time champions have not passed round one of the World Group since current standard-bearer Andy Murray was born, and will have to [...]