Sabalenka returns from shoulder injury at Washington

Sabalenka returns from shoulder injury at Washington

Two-time reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka returns to competition at this week's WTA Washington Open after taking a month off due to a shoulder injury. And the world number three is counting on being as ready as her rivals now playing in the Paris Olympics when the US Open begins on August 26. "It's still way to go to the US Open. I feel like they going […]

July 30, 2024 16

Sport

Nadal v Djokovic lights up Olympics as ‘goofy Tassie’ eyes more gold

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will do battle once more when they meet at the Paris Olympics on Monday while Australia's Ariarne Titmus is hotly tipped to win her second swimming gold of the Games. Also on the third day of action, Britain's Tom Daley will try to prevent an anticipated Chinese clean sweep in diving, while China and Japan will duel for gold in the men's team […]

July 29, 2024 6

Sport

Zverev plays through the pain to advance in Hamburg

Top seed Alexander Zverev shrugged off a knee issue to ease past Jesper de Jong in straight sets and into the last 16 at his home tournament in Hamburg on Wednesday. The defending champion hurt his left knee in a fall at Wimbledon but advanced 6-2, 6-2 past 114th-ranked Dutchman De Jong to set up a meeting with France's Hugo Gaston in the pre-Olympic clay-court tournament. "I was […]

July 18, 2024 15

Sport

Musetti sets up Djokovic semifinal clash as Rybakina cruises

Novak Djokovic progressed to a record-equalling 13th Wimbledon semifinal without hitting a ball on Wednesday after Alex de Minaur pulled out injured as former champion Elena Rybakina eased through. Australian ninth seed De Minaur, 25, announced shortly after midday at the All England Club that he was "devastated to pull out due to a hip injury". It means Djokovic has now equalled Roger Federer's men's record of 13 semifinal […]

July 11, 2024 8

Sport

Alcaraz fears Medvedev ‘wall’ as he targets Wimbledon final

Carlos Alcaraz described his Wimbledon semi-final opponent Daniil Medvedev as "a wall" on Tuesday as the two players talked up each others' strengths ahead of their blockbuster clash. Friday's semi-final will be a repeat show of last year, where Alcaraz beat Russia's Medvedev in straight sets on the way to his first Wimbledon crown. The Spanish world number three came through 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 against America's Tommy […]

July 10, 2024 25

Sport

Djokovic faces De Minaur test as Rybakina eyes Wimbledon repeat

Alex de Minaur is the latest man standing in the way of the Novak Djokovic juggernaut on Wednesday as the Serbian superstar eyes a 13th Wimbledon semi-final. Former champion and fourth seed Elena Rybakina, the top woman left in the draw, faces Elina Svitolina. AFP Sport looks at Wednesday's four Wimbledon quarter-finals: A historic 25th Grand Slam triumph is coming into sharp focus for Novak Djokovic, who demolished […]

July 10, 2024 8

Sport

Djokovic cruises past Rune

Novak Djokovic demolished Holger Rune on Monday to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals, staying on track for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam as Taylor Fritz stunned fourth seed Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina wore a black ribbon and broke down in tears as she progressed hours after a Russian missile barrage killed dozens and ripped open a children's hospital in Kyiv. Seven-time champion Djokovic, who dropped sets in the […]

July 9, 2024 11

Sport

World number two Gauff knocked out of Wimbledon by Navarro

World number two and US Open champion Coco Gauff suffered a surprise Wimbledon exit on Sunday, losing in the fourth round to America compatriot Emma Navarro. Navarro, ranked 19th in the world, triumphed 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time where she will face Italy's Jasmine Paolini. Gauff, who made the semi-finals at the Australian Open and French Open this year, […]

July 8, 2024 12

Sport

Tears of joy at New Zealand tennis club as Sun shines at Wimbledon

When qualifier Lulu Sun wept after reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, tears were also being shed on the other side of the world at her tennis club in a small rural town in New Zealand. Sun, ranked 123rd in the world, cried openly on centre court following her stunning 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 fourth-round win over Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, after becoming the first New Zealand […]

July 8, 2024 11