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Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Green is now the colour for Wimbledon hopeful Świątek
Iga Swiatek of Poland returns a shot during her match against Liudmila Samsonova as she reaches the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time (Reuters via Beat Media Group subscription) By James Toney at Wimbledon Wimbledon can be a tough place to be if green is not your colour. But Iga Świątek might finally be learning to enjoy having the grass beneath her feet, having booked her place in the semi-finals for the first time in five attempts at the All England Club. Advertisement She may have five Grand Slam titles, but in her previous visits to SW19, a single quarter-final was her best return — though she did win the junior title here as a 17-year-old. Liudmila Samsonova was the latest victim of her improvement on the surface, the Polish player imperious during the first set but stuttering in the second, advancing 6-2, 7-5. A dream final against her rival Aryna Sabalenka — who taught her a lesson on the clay courts of Roland Garros that she so adores last month — looms this weekend, if results go according to plan, which has not often been the case in recent days. Świątek's final-four opponent, Belinda Bencic, who ended the teenage dreams of Mirra Andreeva, is eyeing history of her own as she bids to become the first mother to win a singles title here since Evonne Goolagong in 1981. Advertisement "I didn't lose on purpose all those times to prove that I'm bad," joked Świątek. "The year I won juniors here it was super hot and the grass was already not really grass — it played more like clay. Perhaps this year is the same. "I feel like I've developed as a player and I've had time to practise a little bit more on the surface. Match by match, my confidence has improved at these Championships. "A Grand Slam final is never easy and I have a lot of respect for Belinda. I can only imagine how difficult it is to come back from pregnancy, but I never doubted she could do it. She has the game to play really well on grass." Andreeva's time will come. Her ten wins in Slams this year make her the youngest player to achieve that feat since Caroline Wozniacki in 2008. Advertisement However, Bencic, the 2020 Olympic champion, edged two tie-breaks to progress, though she has lost three of her four meetings with Świątek — including here at Wimbledon two years ago. Both are former junior champions at the All England Club, though five years separate those triumphs. "Iga is very physical and puts a lot of spin on the ball. I'll have to take the ball really early, play a little bit more flat," said Bencic. "I'm able to adapt to my opponent and I think that's what makes my game, but we'll discuss tactics and come up with a plan." Bencic had never been beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon before this week, but admits she has a new approach after missing last year following the birth of her daughter, Bella. Advertisement "It's a different perspective, but I'm still focused," she said. "It's just really natural at this point, and sometimes I think it's even better when I'm not too focused. "I'm just doing what I have to do. It's not something that is calculated. I am able to switch on when I'm on the court and relax when I'm not."
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sabalenka pushed the distance and must improve for Anisimova semi-final
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning her match against Laura Siegemund to progress to the Wimbledon women's singles semi-finals (Reuters via Beat Media Group subscription) By James Toney at Wimbledon Aryna Sabalenka can often be found trending, but how she found the fortitude to stop her Wimbledon ending is another question. TikTok may be her channel of choice, but it seemed Laura Siegemund was calling time on the top seed's ambitions at the All England Club before suddenly wilting in a final set that appeared neither player wanted to win. Advertisement Sabalenka's appeal is that you never quite know which player will turn up — the unbeatable or the unpredictable. However, she insists she is learning the lessons of her mistakes, most notably the 70 unforced errors in her emotional French Open final defeat by Coco Gauff last month. This year's Wimbledon should be at a championship at her mercy but saying it and doing it are two very different things. 'I think there's a very big possibility that I'd have lost this match unless I learned those lessons from Roland Garros,' she said, after her comeback 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win. 'I kept telling myself not to let the emotions take over. I kept reminding myself this was my dream — winning this beautiful tournament. Advertisement 'After the first set I was looking at my box and thinking, 'Book the tickets, we are about to leave.' 'I don't know how I stayed so emotionally focused. Perhaps in the past I would not have, because that was a very tough battle.' Siegemund had not dropped a set in her four previous matches, the 37-year-old appearing in a Grand Slam quarter-final for only the second time in her career. On paper, this appeared a mismatch between players separated by 106 ranking places, Siegemund's career earnings dwarfed by what Sabalenka has earned in 2025 alone. There is a tendency to dismiss the Belarusian's game as pure power, without recognising the quality of her movement or the deftness of her touch. Advertisement Many players struggle to find the winning blueprint against her, but Siegemund appeared to have discovered the formula, disrupting Sabalenka's rhythm with a varied shot selection, the No 3 seed never knowing what was coming as she scampered from tramline to tramline. Sabalenka admitted to some frustration with her opponent's tactics to slow the game down, the German picking up a code violation in the final set after repeatedly pushing the service clock to the limit. 'I was prepared for her game, but inside I was struggling because what she was doing was really smart — and it was working in that first set,' she added. 'I had to make sure I didn't show I was annoyed by her — even if I was slightly, I didn't want to give her that energy. I reset after the first set, changed my tactics and started feeling my game better.' Sabalenka will now face the American Amanda Anisimova, who beat the unseeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 7-6 to secure her second career Slam semi-final appearance. The pair have played eight times, with the American leading their head-to-head 5-3. Advertisement 'This surface suits her game really well; she seems to be hitting the ball really cleanly,' Sabalenka said. 'She plays very aggressive tennis and it will be a totally different match to this quarter-final. We've had some tough battles and we've both won some and lost some.' It's two years since Anisimova took a complete break from tennis to focus on her mental well-being, claiming she found it impossible to cope with the relentless demands of the sport. She started playing at the age of five but admitted to burning out after a rapid transition from junior tennis to senior ranks, making the last four at the French Open as a wide-eyed 17-year old. Whatever happens against Sabalenka, results here will secure her a top ten world ranking and underline her undoubted potential. Advertisement "It's been an extraordinary year for me, so many highs and it's just been such a ride," she said. "I've been enjoying every step of the way and even times like this, where you're not sure if you'll cross the finish line, I remind myself to enjoy the moment. "It's not often you get to play on a special court with so many people and to be in the Wimbledon semi-final was something that appeared a very long way not that long ago."
Leader Live
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Norrie giving nothing away ahead of Alcaraz showdown
Cameron Norrie is bidding to return to the semi-final at Wimbledon for the first time since 2022, though he will first have to find a way past defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (Image: REUTERS (via Beat Media Group subscription)) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Cameron Norrie relaxes between Wimbledon matches by playing cards with his support team. He's certainly got a good poker face. If the sole remaining British player in the singles competition was feeling any nerves, he did an excellent job of concealing them, laughing and smiling throughout his practice session on Monday. It was a marked contrast to the Norrie who once appeared weighed down by the sudden expectations that followed his breakthrough into the world's top ten three years ago. Slipping outside the world's top 50 may not do wonders for the bank balance, but it could well be a tonic for the soul. Norrie began his campaign on the fringes of the grounds, on Court 18, but has since played his last three matches on his favoured No 1 Court. However, a quarter-final meeting with Carlos Alcaraz means a return to Centre Court. It is also a reminder that the last time he faced a defending champion there, Novak Djokovic in the 2022 semi-finals, he was beaten in four sets. 'It only gets tougher from now,' he said. 'I've played a lot of tough matches already but there are still many more to come, and plenty still to be won. 'I'll just keep playing point by point as always. I'm really happy with how I pulled up after the last match. My body feels good, and I'm in a good place. I've been striking the ball well. 'I'm enjoying having the crowd behind me, but I also know Carlos is a very popular player here. 'I'm not too concerned about being the last Brit standing, or whether others are still in. It would be nice to have a few more to share the spotlight and give the fans more players to support. 'In future years, I think that will be the case, but right now I'm just focused on my job.' All eyes on Centre Court tomorrow 👀 Previewing @cam_norrie vs Carlos Alcaraz at @Wimbledon ⬇️ — LTA (@the_LTA) July 7, 2025 Norrie's coach and friend, Facundo Lugones, often warns anyone considering challenging his player to a fitness contest to think again. The Briton's aerobic capacity is the stuff of legend. Even after a four-and-a-half-hour, five-set battle in the fourth round against Chile's Nicolás Jarry, he barely looked like he had broken sweat. The countless hours in the gym, 10km hill runs and open-water swims are clearly paying off. Even as he approaches 30, Lugones remains astounded by Norrie's endurance. The Brit is capable of maintaining a 'red zone' heart rate of 200 beats per minute for extended periods during training and matches. 'When I was in college, someone once tested my lungs one summer. They said I must be a deep-sea diver or something, because they were huge,' Norrie said. 'Since then, I've just had massive confidence in my cardio. It means I back myself in the longer rallies. I don't know if it's false confidence, but I'll take it.' 'I'm just enjoying my tennis' 😁 How Cam Norrie is getting back to his best to reach his second Wimbledon quarter-final ↓ — LTA (@the_LTA) July 7, 2025 Still, it takes more than big lungs to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon. His 18-match winning streak at SW19 is proof of a player with real grit and determination. The Spaniard has faced Norrie six times, winning four. However, they have not played since the Brit pulled off a surprise victory on clay in the ATP 500 final in Rio de Janeiro more than two years ago. 'For me, facing him is a nightmare, to be honest,' said Alcaraz, the defending champion. 'He's a very difficult opponent, and we've already had some tough battles. 'I'm not surprised to see him in the quarter-finals. I saw him practising. He lost at Queen's and then spent five days on the courts here, morning, afternoon and night. 'He's playing at home with the crowd on his side, and that means I need to be very strong mentally.' Alcaraz, who was looking for a left-handed practice partner on Wimbledon's Aorangi Park courts, admits that southpaws often pose problems. He lost to Jack Draper at Queen's last year and was pushed to four sets by Ugo Humbert on the way to last year's final at SW19. 'I've always found it tricky against lefties, especially with their slice serve to the advantage court,' he said. 'We know what to expect. Cameron is going to be really tough from the baseline. My team and I will discuss the tactics and work them into practice.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Djokovic near flawless in statement of Wimbledon intent
Novak Djokovic reacts after winning a point against Daniel Evans as he progressed to the third round of Wimbledon - a tournament he has won on seven occasions (Reuters via Beat Media Group subscription) By James Toney at Wimbledon For a decade, Novak Djokovic ran his own protection racket at Wimbledon — the unbeaten, unbeatable guv'nor of his Centre Court manor. Carlos Alcaraz ended all that in the past two years, but on the evidence of Djokovic's second-round demolition of Dan Evans, do not assume that creeping towards 40 has dulled the Serb's ruthless edge. Advertisement Evans had beaten Djokovic in their only previous meeting, on clay four years ago, but while this is home soil for the Briton, there is nowhere Djokovic feels more at home. Unfortunately for the British No 5, this was a flashback to a Novak masterclass from years past. The 38-year-old wrapped up a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory — an ominous statement of intent. Evans has always been tenacious, scampering across the baseline to stay in rallies and frustrating opponents with his trademark slice. But he was under siege from the opening ace. Djokovic allowed him only two fleeting chances to break, while Evans clung on to his own service games. The Serb spurned nine break points before finally converting one, after which the floodgates opened in a match that lasted less than two hours. Advertisement Evans could only shrug and shake his head at the message delivered. This was Djokovic's 99th singles win at Wimbledon; only Roger Federer has more. 'If I play like I did today, I feel I have a very good chance against anyone — especially on Centre Court, where I feel so comfortable,' said Djokovic, who last year played through the early rounds while recovering from knee surgery. 'I want to keep playing this way. My aspirations and objectives are very high. 'That was almost flawless tennis. It's a great joy to feel that way on court. I didn't give him a chance to play well — I was just so sharp. 'I kept pressuring him, and I served really well and accurately. Everything worked; I never allowed the momentum to shift. Advertisement 'Last year, in the early rounds, I was doubting whether the knee would hold up. This year, that's not on my mind — my body is in very good shape.' Evans is a scrappy and tenacious player, but even he looked a little punch-drunk as winner after winner flew past him, the post-match statistics underlining what a mismatch this was. 'You have to believe you can win, but it's pretty obvious why he's as good as he is on that Centre Court,' Evans said. 'He showed why he's still a contender for this championship. 'I felt I could win, but Novak is such a hard task. I felt like I was always on the back foot — he's just so good. Every serve hit the spot he wanted, and his return game just puts you under so much pressure.' Djokovic will take on fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the next round, a player he beat in straight sets here three years ago. Beyond that could lurk Alex de Minaur, the Australian 11th seed who came from a set down to beat France's Arthur Cazaux. Advertisement De Minaur reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time last summer, with only a hip injury denying him the chance to take on an ailing Djokovic for a place in the last four. Everything about his game is honed for grass, from his effortless movement to his hard, fast groundstrokes, which repeatedly left Cazaux flat-footed. He reached the boys' singles final in 2016, and in 2018 advanced to the third round at a major for the first time. Normally a consistent performer at the pre-Wimbledon events, the former Eastbourne winner crashed out in the first round at Queen's, admitting the unrelenting schedule had left him mentally spent and physically drained.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jannik Sinner is the tennis inbetweener - and this could be his year for Wimbledon
Italy's Jannik Sinner in action during his first round match against Italy's Luca Nardi at Wimbledon (Reuters via Beat Media Group subscription) By James Toney at Wimbledon Jannik Sinner is doing his best to change stubborn clichés about Italian stereotypes. 'Boringly brilliant' was how his play was once described, the No 1 seed so effortlessly efficient in his straight-sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 victory over compatriot Luca Nardi you would think he shared a nationality with the last redhead to win at Wimbledon: Boris Becker. Advertisement Indeed, he grew up in German-speaking South Tyrol and his personality could not be more different from fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the seventh seed, who was at his fiery, emotional best as he exited to Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili. On the hothead range of Italian sports stars, if Gennaro Gattuso is 100 then Sinner – calm, composed, modest in victory, humble in defeat – is somewhere in the single digits. It is not that there has been no controversy. He served a three-month doping ban immediately after winning the Australian Open in January – it is just that people do not seem to care. There have always been fan favourites and bad boys at the All England Club. Sinner just seems stuck as the sport's ultimate inbetweener. Nardi did not pose much of a first-round threat, especially on grass, and Sinner lost only four points on first serve and did not give his opponent a single sniff of a break point. Advertisement It was just the sort of opening match he needed as he returned to Grand Slam action only 22 days after that agonising defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set epic at Roland Garros. Indeed, as he scampered and slid around the baseline, you felt the need to remind him he was in SW19, not the 16th arrondissement. 'I've been working hard to improve on my serve and I feel really comfortable with it right now,' he said. 'I've still got to prove to people I can play on grass. I think I showed it last year but there is more to do, and hopefully this is the year. 'I know how important tennis is for me and my life, but outside of tennis I've a life that's more important. I make the sacrifices to be ready for these tournaments and try and be the best I can. What happened in Paris wasn't easy but in some ways it was beautiful too – playing a match that meant so much to people.' Alexander Zverev does not hide his frustration with Wimbledon. The third seed became the fourth top-ten player to exit in the first round, losing to a French player without a coach who had lost his previous three matches here. Advertisement Arthur Rinderknech has a less than stellar record against top-five opponents but beat Zverev 6-7, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in a match that did not finish on Monday night due to the All England Club's 11pm curfew. Indeed, the match, which lasted four hours and 40 minutes, actually started in June and finished in July. 'I don't even know where to start. My legs are still shaking. I can't do this anymore,' said Rinderknech. 'We started yesterday at 8pm, finish now at 7. What a moment, such emotions.' Zverev has never reached the last eight here – in stark contrast to his record in other Slams – and may well feel it is the Wimbledon referees' office, rather than the tennis gods, that has it in for him. Taylor Fritz also had to return after his Monday match failed to finish before the lights were turned off, but the fifth seed came back from two sets down to beat France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.
