The dream Alcaraz/Novak final is no more. The quirky lanky Russian, Daniil Medvedev played a rip-roaring match yesterday to oust Alcaraz in 4 exciting sets. This will be the 5th Slam final for the 27-year-old and the 36th final for Djokovic, who is aiming to equal Margaret Court’s 24 Slams. Continue reading US Open Mens Final Preview 2023
Coco Gauff has fulfilled the pre-tournament hype by reaching her second Grand Slam final. The nineteen year old has kept her summer form under the tutelage of new coach Brad Gilbert. She’ll play the new world number one and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka who is playing her second Slam final. Continue reading US Open Womens Final Preview 2023
At the 1973 US Open, John Newcombe and Margaret Court each won US$25,000 for winning the tournament. It was the first time equal prize money was awarded at a Slam, a cause championed and driven by Billie Jean King. This year is the 50th anniversary of that cause and both the Men’s and Women’s Champions will receive US$3 million, a much bigger slice of the bounty. Continue reading US Open Preview 2023
Christopher Nolan’s biopic about the father of the atomic bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who led the ‘Manhattan Project’ during World War 2 is ambitious, bold and richly dense. Continue reading Oppenheimer
In a 22-man draw in 1877 the first Wimbledon Championship was held, bearded local Spencer Gore who was also a first class cricketer, won the tournament. He won 12 ‘guineas’, the currency at the time. This years’ Men’s winner will receive A$4.4 million, a figure that would definitely rise if the Saudi’s developed a rival professional tour, competition breeds money. The 2023 Wimbledon begins Monday and the Russians are back after last years’ UK Government ban. Continue reading Wimbledon Preview 2023
The conversation is over, the debate is done, Novak Djokovic is the greatest men’s tennis player of all time after winning his 23rd major in Paris on Sunday. We can quibble about the overall greatest as Margaret Court is on 24 Slams and Serena 23 but at least on the men’s side he has no peer. Continue reading Novak is the GOAT
It’s the 36-year-old Djokovic against a 24-year-old roadrunner Norwegian. Novak emerged relatively unscathed from the Alcaraz semi final due to the Spaniard cramping, which virtually sealed the match after the second set. Casper Ruud came through the Medvedev bottom half of the draw. This is the third Slam final for Ruud, it will be Novak’s 34th. Continue reading French Open Mens Final Preview 2023
Three time Slam winner and world number one Iga Swiatek will be the heavy favourite going into this final. Her opponent is the unheralded unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova, who has only one career title to her name, has been underwhelming in the Slams, but these past two weeks in Paris has played the best tennis of her life. Continue reading French Open Womens Final Preview 2023
Alcaraz v Djokovic is de facto final
Medvedev is out, courtesy of the free hitting Brazillian Thiago Seyboth Wild. It’s left the bottom half of the draw wide open, which means the winner of a potential Ruud v Rune Quarter will be there on the final Sunday. Continue reading French Open Thoughts Week 1 – 2023
The Grand Slam previews are back!!! The big news leading into Roland Garros is that Rafa Nadal is out with the hip injury that’s plagued him since the Australian Open. Also out for various reasons are Murray, Osaka, Halep, Muguruza, Kyrgios, Venus, Raducanu and Berrenttini.