The Top Quarter It is the quarter that is being spoken about the most coming into the weeks tennis in Toronto, led by Iga Swiatek, the world number one and including five major champions and some fascinating matches with many possibilities. 1- ÅšwiÄ…tek2- Bye3- Kudermetova4- Rogers5- Haddad Maia6- Trevisan7- Qualifier8- Fernandez9- Bencic10- Azarenka11- Qualifier12- Serena13-... Continue Reading →
Pressure or Relief? Playing at Home can bring either but Denis Shapovalov & Felix Auger Aliassime will be hoping to find some good form in Montreal
Felix Auger Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov were meant to set the tour alight, in parts they have but stand out performances and deep runs at big events have been few and far between. Playing at home always brings some pressure, Felix will only turn 22 during the Rogers Cup in August where as Denis at... Continue Reading →
Serena Williams’ US Open preparations begin in Florida before heading to Toronto and Cincinnati before ending up at Flushing Meadows
Later this autumn Serena Williams will be heading down to Flushing Meadows to try and win a 7th US Open title, her first since 2014 and her 24th Grand Slam singles title. Despite being out of action for a year and losing in round one of Wimbledon the signs were good from the 7 time... Continue Reading →
Dinner in New York may have to be put on hold, if so, when will Novak Djokovic get a shot at winning No.22?
2022 has been a bit of a disruptive year for Novak Djokovic partly his own doing and part of others but despite not featuring in a full calendar the Serb has just won his 7th Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam title with his sights set on New York. The question is, how is he going... Continue Reading →
Prize money at the majors is equal, however, the disparity at joint events and contrast at tournament levels on the ATP & WTA tours is criminal and conveys that Tennis still has a lot more work to do to deliver equality and an equality footing.
The bigger picture is always the story that should be told. Equal pay exists at the four majors and most of the joint ATP & WTA 1000 events and without the hard work of Billie Jean King and many other woman past and present in this sport this would not be the case. There is... Continue Reading →
A week on from Wimbledon…
Stefanos Tsitsipas involvement in the Centre Court chaos a product of his own making, similary to the toilet breaks saga from last year One word, disappointed. I like Stefanos Tsitsipas and what he can bring to the tennis court but I have felt since last years Roland Garros final he has become distracted and involved... Continue Reading →
#TennisUnited means nothing more than what it’s produced, a 30 second promo video but is that unity?
On Monday I was poolside in Paphos having a scroll on social media and came across this tweet… https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1546549775637614595?s=21&t=R-_Oc4Fie9KqFscFzrrWpg I thought to myself, I wonder if there is another tweet, are the ATP going to tell us what is Tennis United? Oh, nothing… tumbleweed… What was the point in this? A bit of virtue signalling... Continue Reading →
100 years of Centre Court – Martina Navratilova, 20 time Wimbledon champion!
Martina Navratilova is the ultimate Wimbledon champion. 9 singles titles 7 doubles titles 4 mixed doubles titles A first title (in doubles) came in 1976 and the last 27 years later (in mixed doubles) in 2003. The nine singles titles came in a period of thirteen years in London. Over the years when new challenges... Continue Reading →
100 years of Centre Court – After 3 semi-final losses in a row Amélie Mauresmo won her Wimbledon title in 2006
Amélie Mauresmo was one of my favourite players, her passion, power and attitude was always exceptional and it was a special pathway to her Wimbledon title in 2006. Amelie would come to majors from 2004 with a tag of being the world number one without winning a major. Between 2001 and 2005 on 9 occasions... Continue Reading →
100 years of Centre Court – A 17 year old Boris Becker conquered Wimbledon in 1985
It is a record in men's tennis at Wimbledon that has been standing since 1985, at the age of 17 years and 7 months Boris Becker became the youngest male player to win the Wimbledon title and the first unseeded champion in the mens draw. 1984 was a bit of a welcome to the tour... Continue Reading →