Tennis News
Australian tennis is mourning the loss of legendary player and Davis Cup captain Neale Fraser AO, MBE. Fraser, who won 19 grand slam titles, has died aged 91.
For all his grand slam glory, Fraser’s name will forever be associated with the Davis Cup both as a player and in a record-setting run as Australian captain.
Continue reading...British men’s No 1 reflects on his best year on tour, including a first slam semi-final but also some controversy
Deep inside the Vienna Ice Skating Club, an enormous ice rink temporarily adapted into indoor tennis courts in October, Jack Draper was hard at work before one of his final tournaments of the season. His sparring partner for the day was Frances Tiafoe, a fellow top-20 player well known for his humour even in the searing heat of battle. As they toiled through practice sets, the American kept on reacting to their spectacular winners by glancing down the court, each time trying to catch his opponent’s eye so that he could crack another joke.
Draper, however, had other priorities. The British No 1 was completely locked in, focused only on extracting the best out of himself in their limited time on court. He played some brutal, attacking tennis in the process and after an hour of great intensity, their practice ended with Draper leading by a set.
Continue reading...Novak Djokovic has revealed Andy Murray was caught off guard when asked to be his new coach, but feels the link-up can only be good for tennis.
Murray retired after this summer’s Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against injury. It had been suggested the Scot would one day return to tennis and become a coach, due to his love of the sport, hard work and tactical acumen.
Continue reading...Simona Halep questioned the “big difference” in how doping cases are treated after world No 2 Iga Swiatek was handed a one-month drugs ban while the Romanian was out of action for more than 18 months following two separate anti-doping violations.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Thursday that Swiatek had accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
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Continue reading...World No 2 received a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine
Continue reading...Iga Swiatek, the world No 2 women’s tennis player, has spoken out following the International Tennis Integrity Agency's announcement that she would receive a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. In a video statement posted on Instagram Swiatek said: 'It was a blow for me, I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious,' as she explained that a batch of her melatonin, which she takes for jet lag and sleep issues, had been contaminated. The ITIA has accepted that Swiatek’s positive doping test had been caused by her contaminated medication.
Continue reading...Iga Swiatek, the world No 2 women’s tennis player, has received a one month ban after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024.
In a statement on Thursday, the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which governs the tennis anti-doping programme, ruled that Swiatek’s anti-doping rule violation was not intentional and that she bore no significant fault or negligence for the positive test on “the lowest end of the range” and they imposed a one month ban.
Continue reading...Former US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro has detailed the toll injuries took on his career and the pain he still experiences.
The 36-year-old’s last professional tournament came in February 2022 at the Argentina Open, when he hinted his career was over after a first-round loss. He had not played in the three years before that after fracturing his knee at Queen’s in 2019.
Continue reading...Italian has enjoyed a sublime 2024 on tour but Wada’s appeal after he was cleared over two positive doping tests looms ahead
At the end of the 2023 tennis season, as Jannik Sinner had elevated his game to new heights and his Italy team to their first Davis Cup title in 46 years, there was one comparison to note. Thirteen years earlier, Novak Djokovic had found his way after a difficult period by winning the Davis Cup, a victory that provided a platform for one of the greatest tennis seasons in 2011 and the start of his decade-plus reign.
Sinner’s first triumph for Italy at the Davis Cup has similarly preceded a staggering breakout season and, one year on, he ends 2024 as by far the best and most consistent tennis player in the world.
Continue reading...Jannik Sinner clinched Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season at the top of tennis by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-2 to complete a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final of the team competition. Sinner said he was 'proud of the whole team' and spoke of the competition's importance to Italy.
Continue reading...The rise of Italian men’s tennis has been forecast by many for years as a special generation of young, talented players gradually climbed towards the top of the game. It is fair to say that they have arrived. One year on from their second ever triumph in the competition, Italy won the Davis Cup for a second straight year by defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in Malaga.
In a rematch of Italy’s group-stage victory in September, Matteo Berrettini opened the tie with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Botic van de Zandschulp, providing the perfect platform for Jannik Sinner, the world No 1. After edging a tough opening set against an impressive Tallon Griekspoor, Sinner opened up his shoulders and marched to a 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory.
Continue reading...Italy moved into the Davis Cup final after a 2-0 win over Australia on Saturday as Jannik Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur in straight sets to follow up Matteo Berrettini’s victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis for the defending champions.
A repeat of last year’s final ended with the same result and with Sinner, the world No 1, again seeing off De Minaur. That sent Italy into Sunday’s final where they will meet the Netherlands, who have reached the decider for the first time after a 2-0 win over Germany.
Continue reading...During Andy Murray’s emotional retirement ceremony this summer at Wimbledon, his interviewer, Sue Barker, wondered whether Murray would be keen to return purely as a spectator. She noted he had many options; a spot among the club members, an invitation into the royal box or even the commentary booth.
Murray, however, had other thoughts: “I’d probably be more comfortable sitting up there in a coaching box than somewhere else,” he said, pointing to the seats his own coaching team occupied.
Continue reading...Inspired captaincy, a nail-biting underdog’s win for Thanasi Kokkinakis and good old-fashioned Australian doubles pedigree has powered Australia into the semi-finals of the Davis Cup in Spain.
Lleyton Hewitt outduelled his USA counterpart Bob Bryan in the key captaincy decisions of their quarter-final tie in Malaga on Thursday as Australia defeated the Americans 2-1 in the battle between the two nations who have won the men’s “World Cup of tennis” more than any other.
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