Google Play App Download

Tennis News

From around the world

Raonic Races Through Aussie Opener

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2016

Raonic Races Through Aussie Opener

Jan192016

No. 13 seed easily advances 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in first match with Moya aboard

Facing Lucas Pouille for the second time in as many weeks, No. 13 seed Milos Raonic scored his second straight win over the Frenchman 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes to move into the second round at the Australian Open.

Raonic, who had defeated Pouille 6-4, 6-4 en route to the title match in Brisbane, where he downed Roger Federer for only the second time in 11 FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, wasted little time establishing his 6-foot-5 presence on Tuesday in Melbourne, securing an early break and a quick 3-0 advantage. The 14th-ranked Canadian’s second break of the afternoon provided a 5-1 lead, and he would subsequently consolidate for the set.

The 25-year-old would open the second set with his third service break, before adding his fourth and final in the closing set to put the match out of reach. He finished with 12 aces and 39 winners to 20 unforced errors.

Last year, Raonic posted his career-best Australian Open result by reaching the quarter-finals, where he fell to eventual titlist Novak Djokovic. This is his first tournament with new coaching staff addition Carlos Moya, an Australian Open runner-up in 1997. He continues to work with Riccardo Piatti.

Pouille, coached by Emmanuel Planque, has now lost in the first round in seven of his eight Grand Slam appearances.

Fellow Frenchman Stephane Robert had more luck in his first-round match, defeating American Bjorn Fratangelo in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Source link

Konta shocks eighth seed Williams

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2016
Australian Open
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January
Coverage: Listen to Tennis Breakfast on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 07:00 GMT every day.

Johanna Konta outclassed eighth seed Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open.

Britain’s number one, 24, raced to victory in 79 minutes as seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, her left thigh heavily strapped, struggled.

Konta denied that 35-year-old Williams’ age had anything to do with the American’s laboured display.

“It’s irrelevant how old she is because she’s such a champion with so much experience and knowledge,” said Konta.

“Even if she’s playing with one leg out there, you’ve got to really take care of things on your own because she’s an incredible player. I have all the respect for her in the world.”

Where the match was won
Konta hit five aces to Williams’ one and won 71% of her points on first serve compared to just 52 from Williams.

Konta leads British women’s challenge

Konta, who reached the last 16 at the 2015 US Open, is the only British woman left in the singles draw following Heather Watson’s defeat on Monday.

The world number 47, making her Australian Open debut, will now face China’s Zheng Saisai.

Andy Murray also won to join Konta in the second round but Dan Evans and Aljaz Bedene both went out.

Relive the action as Konta and Murray progress

Beating a legend ‘still very much a blur’

The Briton, who has described Williams as her idol, moved her opponent around the court and hit deep into the corners to take control of the match.

Konta broke serve twice in the first set and then eased to a 5-0 lead in the second before the American rallied briefly.

But Konta held her nerve to secure a famous victory over the former world number one.

“Right now it is still very much a blur,” added Konta, who lost in the first round at her two warm-up tournaments.

“When the draw came out and I saw who I was playing, I was just hoping to stay out there more than an hour.

“I played two previous tournaments and didn’t quite get the results I wanted but I have a very strong belief in the way I want to play and the way I want to be thinking.”

Analysis

BBC correspondent Russell Fuller

“When practising with Venus Williams at Wimbledon a few years ago, Konta felt as if she was 12 years old once again, and back in the time when only a TV screen offered her a glimpse into the life of the seven-time Grand Slam champion.

“Here, in the Rod Laver Arena, Konta played with a minimum of fuss as Williams struggled with both her movement and her mindset. She was broken back when serving for the match, but looked assured throughout and like a player who now feels at home when she takes on the biggest names on the biggest courts.”

Source link

Murray starts with dominant victory

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2016
Australian Open
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January
Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on all Andy Murray matches. Listen to Tennis Breakfast on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 07:00 GMT every day.

British number one Andy Murray saw off German teenager Alexander Zverev with ease to reach the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Murray, 28, dominated throughout against the former junior world number one to secure a 6-1 6-2 6-3 victory.

The world number two will now face Australian Sam Groth, holder of the game’s fastest serve, on Thursday.

Murray joined fellow Briton Johanna Konta in the second round but Dan Evans went out and Aljaz Bedene plays later.

More soon.

Source link

Nishikori Beats Kohlschreiber In Australian Open 2016 First Round

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

Nishikori Beats Kohlschreiber In Australian Open 2016 First Round

Jan182016

Source link

Federer Reflects On Basilashvil Win At Australian Open 2016

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

Federer Reflects On Basilashvil Win At Australian Open 2016

Jan182016

Source link

Home Hope Kyrgios Analyses Australian Open R1 Win

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

Home Hope Kyrgios Analyses Australian Open R1 Win

Jan182016

Source link

Djokovic Praises Chung After Australian Open 2016 Opener

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

Djokovic Praises Chung After Australian Open 2016 Opener

Jan182016

Source link

Simon Beats Pospisil In Australian Open 2016 First Round

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

Simon Beats Pospisil In Australian Open 2016 First Round

Jan182016

Source link

VIDEO: No real proof of fixing – Djokovic

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

World number one Novak Djokovic and other tennis players give their views on the “super serious” allegations of match-fixing, which the Serb also calls “just speculation”.

READ MORE:Evidence of suspected match-fixing revealed.

Available to UK users only.

Source link

Federer Surges Through Melbourne Opener

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2016

Federer Surges Through Melbourne Opener

Jan182016

Federer dazzles under the lights on Rod Laver Arena

Roger Federer was in ruthless form on Monday evening in Melbourne as he surged through to the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili in just 72 minutes.

The 34-year-old Federer is looking to become the third man in history to win five Australian Open titles, following Roy Emerson (six) and Novak Djokovic (five). The Swiss lifted the trophy at Melbourne Park in 2004 (d. Safin), 2006 (d. Baghdatis), 2007 (d. Gonzalez) and 2010 (d. Murray); he also finished runner-up in 2009 (l. to Nadal).

Federer opened his 2016 campaign in Brisbane, where he battled through the flu to reach his 136th tour-level final, finishing runner-up to Milos Raonic.

American teenager Noah Rubin claimed his first tour-level win in style as he withstood 18 aces to stun 17th seed Benoit Paire 7-6(4), 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in two hours and 31 minutes.

At No. 328 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, the wild card is the first player ranked outside the Top 300 to beat a seed at a Grand Slam since No. 478 Fernando Gonzalez defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov in Wimbledon 2011.

The 19-year-old Rubin, who won the USTA’s Australian Open Wild Card Challenge to make his debut in Melbourne, goes on to face French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who beat Pablo Andujar 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2.

Source link