Kvitova, Errani and Venus crash in Melbourne January 13, 2014 FORMER Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was at a loss to explain her shock exit after becoming the biggest casualty of the first day at the Australian Open yesterday. Sixth seed Kvitova fell to Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 in one of several upsets in the women’s draw, which also saw Venus Williams and Italian [...]
Djokovic hires Becker as coach December 18, 2013 TENNIS world No2 Novak Djokovic has joined forces with six-time grand slam champion Boris Becker in a bid to reclaim top spot in the rankings from Rafael Nadal. Djokovic has hired the German as his head coach, following the path taken by Britain’s Andy Murray, who has made his major-winning breakthrough after teaming up with [...]
There is no sporting comeback to rival Nadal’s, says Becker November 3, 2013 THE ASTONISHING rise from the verge of retirement to world No1 by Rafael Nadal following seven months out with a knee injury represents the greatest sporting comeback ever, according to six-time grand slam champion Boris Becker. Nadal, who begins his ATP World Tour Finals campaign this week, was sidelined by tendinitis following last year’s Wimbledon [...]
Becker raises doubts over Federer’s Olympic ambition October 21, 2013 LONDON 2012 silver medallist Roger Federer hopes to play at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but former world No1 Boris Becker believes that ambition is “far fetched”. Federer reached the Swiss Indoors second round yesterday to maintain his charge towards the World Tour finals at the O2 Arena. But after a forgettable year for the [...]
Moved Murray sobs after final loss to Federer July 8, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray failed to fight back the tears that emerged from a defiant defeat after winning the hearts of a nation against Roger Federer in yesterday’s final at Wimbledon. The Scot’s performance was as gutsy as his fate was cruel, but if he possessed a composure that had previously eluded in past grand [...]
Polo stars turn out in force for deprived kids June 28, 2012 POLO stars have raised more than £100,000 for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Argentina following a weekend event at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor. The players were enthusiastic as was the support from the celebrity-filled stands, with the likes of rugby’s Sean Fitzpatrick and Boris Becker in attendance. And the victory seemed to [...]
SEVENTH HEAVEN: HOW RAFA MATCHES GREATS June 11, 2012 Rafael Nadal’s seventh French Open victory enabled him to bypass Bjorn Borg’s (right) record of six titles at Roland Garros. The Spaniard also equalled Chris Evert’s record of winning the women’s tournament seven times The Spaniard’s feat also equalled the best performance of any man at a single grand slam: Pete Sampras’s seven titles at [...]
LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS FIRE THE GUN ON LONDON’S OLYMPIC YEAR February 6, 2012 MOST SPORTSMEN keep their trophies in cabinets or on the mantelpiece. Golfer Darren Clarke uses his Open Championship silverware to pour wine. “When I was serving the wine at Christmas from The Claret Jug; I thought ‘this is the life’,” said Clarke on the moment winning the Open on the twentieth attempt aged 42 finally [...]
Lendl link-up on trial as Murray seeks own watershed moment January 26, 2012 THE NASCENT union of Britain’s Andy Murray and new coach Ivan Lendl faces its first major test this morning, when the Scot faces world No1 Novak Djokovic for a place in the Australian Open final. Murray hired multiple grand slam champion Lendl at the turn of the year in a bid to polish his remaining [...]
Strauss and Co out to stump rivals in best team award January 26, 2012 UP there with recent Ashes glory, last year’s 4-0 series victory over India will long rank as one of English cricket’s most memorable achievements. Undefeated since May 2009 at the time, England emerged from the whitewash series win as the world’s No 1 Test team, the first time they had ever reached the top of [...]