Tag: open

‘That outfit’: Tiafoe dazzles Australian Open with colourful kit

Melbourne, Australia (AFP) Frances Tiafoe won his first-round match at the Australian Open on Monday but it was the American’s outrageously colourful kit which set tongues wagging. The world number 17 wore a matching vest and shorts that had squiggly haphazard lines of blue, purple, red, yellow and white. Tiafoe’s brazen outfit in his four-set win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier was the talk of social media. “This outfit deserves to get to the second week minimum,” […]

Djokovic to get visa for 2023 Australian Open: reports

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Former world number one Novak Djokovic will be granted a visa to play in the 2023 Australian Open tennis Grand Slam tournament, local media reports said Tuesday, despite his deportation from the country in January. The Australian government had decided to grant the unvaccinated Serb a visa, overturning a three-year ban after his ejection from the country, said national broadcaster ABC and other media. Australia’s immigration ministry and Tennis Australia […]

Tiafoe relishing role model status at US Open

by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Frances Tiafoe says he hopes to inspire a new generation of Black tennis players after moving to within two wins of becoming the first African-American in 54 years to win the US Open. The 24-year-old has lit up this year’s championships after a giant-killing run that saw him eliminate Rafael Nadal before Wednesday’s quarter-final demolition of Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev. Tiafoe’s assured 7-6 […]

‘I don’t know when I’ll be back,’ says Nadal

by Dave JAMES Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rafael Nadal admitted Monday that he wasn’t sure when he will return to action after Frances Tiafoe condemned him to his earliest US Open exit since 2016. Four-time US champion Nadal, bidding for a 23rd Grand Slam title, lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the last-16 to 26th-ranked Tiafoe. The American’s free-swinging performance conjured up 18 aces and 49 winners which flew past a […]

Ruthless Rafa pounds Gasquet to extend winning streak

  New York, United States (AFP) Rafael Nadal demolished Richard Gasquet in ruthless fashion to march into the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday with his 18th straight victory over the French veteran. Second seed Nadal improved his record against Gasquet to a perfect 18-0 with a clinical beatdown of his close friend on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Nadal’s 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 victory in 2hr 17min sees him advance to a meeting […]

Nadal survives self-inflicted injury as Serena loses in doubles at US Open

by Dave JAMES Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rafael Nadal overcame a freak injury scare when he accidentally hit himself with his own racquet to reach the US Open third round on Thursday as Serena Williams saw one chapter of her epic tennis journey close. Nadal defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 but only after suffering a bizarre self-inflicted injury when leading 3-0 in the fourth set. The four-time champion, […]

Battling Williams powers into US Open third round

New York, United States (AFP) by Rob Woollard Serena Williams roared into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, overpowering second seed Anett Kontaveit with a battling performance to extend her Grand Slam singles career in dramatic fashion. The 40-year-old tennis icon — who has signalled she plans to retire after the tournament — drew on all her reserves of resilience and sheer fighting spirit to take down Kontaveit with a 7-6 (7/4), […]

Serena Williams battles on as US Open farewell underway

by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Serena Williams delayed her farewell to tennis on an electrifying opening night at the US Open on Monday as the sporting icon battled to victory in front of a star-studded crowd. The 23-time Grand Slam winner — who earlier this month signalled she plans to retire from tennis after the tournament — drew on all of her experience to down lowly ranked Montenegrin opponent […]

Serena seen as icon with Ali by fellow US tennis legends

  New York, United States (AFP) Serena Williams ranks alongside such icons as Muhammad Ali among the greatest legends in sport, retired US tennis stars John McEnroe and Chris Evert said on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of their ESPN commentary duties for the US Open that begins on Monday, Evert hailed 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who is likely to retire after this year’s Grand Slam showdown in New York. “I would put her up there as […]

Hong Kong shares kick off day with big losses

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong stocks opened sharply lower Friday morning, extending a global sell-off after the European Central Bank painted a dim outlook for the region’s economy, while traders are awaiting a key reading on US consumer prices. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.58 percent, or 346.55 points, to 21,522.50. The Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.76 percent, or 24.77 points, to 3,214.18, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China’s second exchange slipped […]

Yuka Saso’s golf odyssey: Philippines to Japan via US Open win

by Daniel HICKS When a little-known teenager from the Philippines burst into the global golf spotlight by winning last year’s US Women’s Open it changed her life — but left tricky decisions ahead. Yuka Saso will next week enjoy the new experience of defending a major. But at Pine Needles she will play under a different flag, the crimson red circle of Japan. Saso, who was born in the Philippines and has a Filipino mother […]

Djokovic plans 2023 Australian Open return: tournament chief

Novak Djokovic intends to play the Australian Open in 2023, tournament chief Craig Tiley said Sunday while blaming “miscommunication” for his deportation ahead of this year’s event. The world number one’s visa was cancelled ahead of the season-opening Grand Slam over his Covid-19 vaccination status, an incident that tarred the lead-up. He flew out of Melbourne a week ago after failing in a last-gasp bid to stay and target a record 21st major title following […]