De Minaur's BLISTERING start in Paris
French Open: Australian Alex de Minaur overcame Laslo Djerre in three sets (6-3, 6-4, 7-6) in the opening round of Roland Garros.
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
I'm good with Coco: Sabalenka buries Gauff fall-out
Wimbledon top seed Aryna Sabalenka says she has cleared the air with Coco Gauff after she raised eyebrows with her remarks in the aftermath of her French Open final loss to the American. An emotional Sabalenka described the match as the "worst tennis" she had played for many months and that her mistakes, rather than Gauff's excellence, had been the decisive factor. Sabalenka wrote to Gauff to apologise soon after, labelling her remarks "unprofessional" and the two rivals were seen chatting happily on the Wimbledon practice courts this week. "We've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in the statement and I messaged to her, I didn't really want to offend her," said Sabalenka, 27, who is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. "I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it. "Of course, she's got my respect. She knew it. She knows it. I'm happy that she was, like, 'yeah, it's all good, don't worry.' I was talking, we are good, we are friends. I hope the US media can be easy on me right now. "I did what I did. I get what I deserved, I believe. It was a tough time for me," she added, saying she has immersed herself in reading books to take her mind off her Paris heartache. Gauff won that error-strewn French final 6-7(5-7) 6-2 6-4 and is seeded No.2 at Wimbledon and the likelihood is that their compelling rivalry could continue in the final in a fortnight. Asked whether she would relish the chance to avenge the loss by beating Gauff in the Wimbledon final, Sabalenka sounded unsure. "I don't know, in this case maybe I don't want to see Coco if I make it to the finals. But if she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge!", said Sabalenka, who starts on Monday against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine Gauff has an added reason to achieve Wimbledon success, the completion of a rare Channel Slam. The last woman to achieve the Channel Slam -- winning Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year -- was Serena Williams, who accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2015. The 21-year-old Gauff, who became the first American woman since Williams in 2015 to win on the Roland Garros clay, said: "I understand why it (a Channel Slam) hasn't been done that often. Except I guess Carlos (Alcaraz), he makes it look pretty easy. Novak (Djokovic), too. I didn't realise it was 10 years since Serena.I would love to do that." Meanwhile Jessica Pegula showed she could be a Wimbledon contender as she beat five-time major champion Iga Swiatek 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Bad Homburg Open. With agencies Wimbledon top seed Aryna Sabalenka says she has cleared the air with Coco Gauff after she raised eyebrows with her remarks in the aftermath of her French Open final loss to the American. An emotional Sabalenka described the match as the "worst tennis" she had played for many months and that her mistakes, rather than Gauff's excellence, had been the decisive factor. Sabalenka wrote to Gauff to apologise soon after, labelling her remarks "unprofessional" and the two rivals were seen chatting happily on the Wimbledon practice courts this week. "We've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in the statement and I messaged to her, I didn't really want to offend her," said Sabalenka, 27, who is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. "I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it. "Of course, she's got my respect. She knew it. She knows it. I'm happy that she was, like, 'yeah, it's all good, don't worry.' I was talking, we are good, we are friends. I hope the US media can be easy on me right now. "I did what I did. I get what I deserved, I believe. It was a tough time for me," she added, saying she has immersed herself in reading books to take her mind off her Paris heartache. Gauff won that error-strewn French final 6-7(5-7) 6-2 6-4 and is seeded No.2 at Wimbledon and the likelihood is that their compelling rivalry could continue in the final in a fortnight. Asked whether she would relish the chance to avenge the loss by beating Gauff in the Wimbledon final, Sabalenka sounded unsure. "I don't know, in this case maybe I don't want to see Coco if I make it to the finals. But if she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge!", said Sabalenka, who starts on Monday against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine Gauff has an added reason to achieve Wimbledon success, the completion of a rare Channel Slam. The last woman to achieve the Channel Slam -- winning Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year -- was Serena Williams, who accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2015. The 21-year-old Gauff, who became the first American woman since Williams in 2015 to win on the Roland Garros clay, said: "I understand why it (a Channel Slam) hasn't been done that often. Except I guess Carlos (Alcaraz), he makes it look pretty easy. Novak (Djokovic), too. I didn't realise it was 10 years since Serena.I would love to do that." Meanwhile Jessica Pegula showed she could be a Wimbledon contender as she beat five-time major champion Iga Swiatek 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Bad Homburg Open. With agencies Wimbledon top seed Aryna Sabalenka says she has cleared the air with Coco Gauff after she raised eyebrows with her remarks in the aftermath of her French Open final loss to the American. An emotional Sabalenka described the match as the "worst tennis" she had played for many months and that her mistakes, rather than Gauff's excellence, had been the decisive factor. Sabalenka wrote to Gauff to apologise soon after, labelling her remarks "unprofessional" and the two rivals were seen chatting happily on the Wimbledon practice courts this week. "We've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in the statement and I messaged to her, I didn't really want to offend her," said Sabalenka, 27, who is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. "I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it. "Of course, she's got my respect. She knew it. She knows it. I'm happy that she was, like, 'yeah, it's all good, don't worry.' I was talking, we are good, we are friends. I hope the US media can be easy on me right now. "I did what I did. I get what I deserved, I believe. It was a tough time for me," she added, saying she has immersed herself in reading books to take her mind off her Paris heartache. Gauff won that error-strewn French final 6-7(5-7) 6-2 6-4 and is seeded No.2 at Wimbledon and the likelihood is that their compelling rivalry could continue in the final in a fortnight. Asked whether she would relish the chance to avenge the loss by beating Gauff in the Wimbledon final, Sabalenka sounded unsure. "I don't know, in this case maybe I don't want to see Coco if I make it to the finals. But if she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge!", said Sabalenka, who starts on Monday against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine Gauff has an added reason to achieve Wimbledon success, the completion of a rare Channel Slam. The last woman to achieve the Channel Slam -- winning Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year -- was Serena Williams, who accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2015. The 21-year-old Gauff, who became the first American woman since Williams in 2015 to win on the Roland Garros clay, said: "I understand why it (a Channel Slam) hasn't been done that often. Except I guess Carlos (Alcaraz), he makes it look pretty easy. Novak (Djokovic), too. I didn't realise it was 10 years since Serena.I would love to do that." Meanwhile Jessica Pegula showed she could be a Wimbledon contender as she beat five-time major champion Iga Swiatek 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Bad Homburg Open. With agencies Wimbledon top seed Aryna Sabalenka says she has cleared the air with Coco Gauff after she raised eyebrows with her remarks in the aftermath of her French Open final loss to the American. An emotional Sabalenka described the match as the "worst tennis" she had played for many months and that her mistakes, rather than Gauff's excellence, had been the decisive factor. Sabalenka wrote to Gauff to apologise soon after, labelling her remarks "unprofessional" and the two rivals were seen chatting happily on the Wimbledon practice courts this week. "We've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in the statement and I messaged to her, I didn't really want to offend her," said Sabalenka, 27, who is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. "I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it. "Of course, she's got my respect. She knew it. She knows it. I'm happy that she was, like, 'yeah, it's all good, don't worry.' I was talking, we are good, we are friends. I hope the US media can be easy on me right now. "I did what I did. I get what I deserved, I believe. It was a tough time for me," she added, saying she has immersed herself in reading books to take her mind off her Paris heartache. Gauff won that error-strewn French final 6-7(5-7) 6-2 6-4 and is seeded No.2 at Wimbledon and the likelihood is that their compelling rivalry could continue in the final in a fortnight. Asked whether she would relish the chance to avenge the loss by beating Gauff in the Wimbledon final, Sabalenka sounded unsure. "I don't know, in this case maybe I don't want to see Coco if I make it to the finals. But if she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge!", said Sabalenka, who starts on Monday against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine Gauff has an added reason to achieve Wimbledon success, the completion of a rare Channel Slam. The last woman to achieve the Channel Slam -- winning Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year -- was Serena Williams, who accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2015. The 21-year-old Gauff, who became the first American woman since Williams in 2015 to win on the Roland Garros clay, said: "I understand why it (a Channel Slam) hasn't been done that often. Except I guess Carlos (Alcaraz), he makes it look pretty easy. Novak (Djokovic), too. I didn't realise it was 10 years since Serena.I would love to do that." Meanwhile Jessica Pegula showed she could be a Wimbledon contender as she beat five-time major champion Iga Swiatek 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Bad Homburg Open. With agencies
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Raising the bar: tennis super duo setting new standards
As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday. As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday. As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday. As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Raising the bar: tennis super duo setting new standards
As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday.
