Czechs look to clinch sixth Fed Cup title in eight years
The Czechs swept the opening-day singles matches on Saturday to go 2-0 up against the United States, the defending champions, in front of a sold-out O2 Arena in Prague.
By Reuters | Prague
UPDATED ON NOV 11, 2018 05:37 PM IST
Katerina Siniakova will look to clinch the Czech Republic’s sixth Fed Cup title in eight years on Sunday as the world doubles number one takes on American Sofia Kenin in the first of the reverse singles rubbers.
The Czechs swept the opening-day singles matches on Saturday to go 2-0 up against the United States, the defending champions, in front of a sold-out O2 Arena in Prague.
No team has ever come back from an 0-2 deficit in a Fed Cup final and the Czechs are unbeaten at home in their last 10 ties, dating back to 2009.
The two most successful countries in the tournament’s history are facing off in a final for the first time in more three decades but both are without their top players.
Americans Serena and Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens were all unavailable while, for the Czechs, Karolina Pliskova pulled out with injury and Petra Kvitova has been sidelined due to illness.
French veteran Gilles Simon taking a break from tennis tour
PTI
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 08:50 PM IST
The 36-year-old Frenchman wrote on Twitter on Friday that mental health is also a concern.
French Open champion Iga Swiatek into WTA Adelaide final
PTI
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 03:46 PM IST
The fifth-seeded Swiatek will next play the winner of the semifinal between second-seeded Belinda Bencic and 16-year-old American Coco Gauff.
Medvedev gets another shot at No.2 ranking after Nadal pullout
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 01:18 PM IST
Medvedev rose to a career high third in the ATP rankings on Monday after finishing runner-up to world number one Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. He would have moved above Nadal had he beaten the Serbian.
Chasing pack need to believe they can topple 'Big Three' - Nalbandian
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:31 AM IST
Russian Daniil Medvedev looked closest to ending the Grand Slam hegemony of the 'Big Three' when he cantered into the Australian Open final on a 20-match winning streak that included 12 straight wins over top-10 opponents.
Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open with back issue
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 25, 2021 08:59 PM IST
The 20-time Grand Slam winner has been struggling with a back issue since the build-up to the Australian Open and was forced to skip Spain's ATP Cup ties earlier this month.
Coco Gauff advances to semifinals at Adelaide International
PTI
PUBLISHED ON FEB 25, 2021 05:41 PM IST
Gauff has won five straight matches in Adelaide, including two in qualifying, since her second-round loss to fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open. She and Rogers had an extended rally in the ninth game of the third set, which Gauff won after setting up game point with a cross-court return.
No. 1 Barty loses at Adelaide International; Gauff into QFs
AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 24, 2021 11:14 PM IST
- Barty has stayed at No. 1 in the rankings despite not having played much at all in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Coco Gauff advances to Adelaide International quarterfinals
AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 24, 2021 04:47 PM IST
The 16-year-old American beat sixth-seeded Petra Martic 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the hard-court tournament at Memorial Drive.
Murray loses 1st ATP Tour match in 4 months in straight sets
AP, Montpellier
PUBLISHED ON FEB 24, 2021 10:48 AM IST
Murray’s lack of match fitness was apparent as he was beaten 7-6 (8), 6-1 by the big-serving Belarusian in one hour and 44 minutes in the first round of the indoor hard-court event in Montpellier.
Why Medvedev is the anti-hero tennis needs
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 09:49 PM IST
- The supremely gifted Russian is the perfect candidate to give the sport a big dose of what it has missed since the days of John McEnroe–a shot of spice amid the overload of syrup.
Simona Halep pulls out of Qatar Open
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 07:40 PM IST
Halep did not specify why she was pulling out of the March 1-6 hardcourt tournament.
Djokovic, Federer, Nadal: The Big Three are all right
By Rutvick Mehta, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 07:08 AM IST
Women's tennis has found its Next Gen but the men still live under the shadow of the Big Three.
Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic: Thin line between the loved and loathed
By Rutvick Mehta
PUBLISHED ON FEB 22, 2021 11:53 PM IST
- The young woman tennis champion is hailed for speaking out on social issues but the Serb 18-times Grand Slam champion has been criticised for his views.
Ramkumar bows out Singapore ATP 250 event
PTI, Singapore
UPDATED ON FEB 22, 2021 01:57 PM IST
Ramkumar, ranked 200, lost 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 in two hours and six minutes to the American who is ranked 80 places above him.
World number one Barty uncertain of schedule as Osaka closes in
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 22, 2021 12:25 PM IST
Barty accepted a wildcard to defend her Adelaide International title this week after making an exit at the quarter-final stage of her home Grand Slam with a defeat to Czech Karolina Muchova.
