Tag:

Tennis

Other Sports

Tennis News, Rafa Nadal is the 2022 Australian Open Men’s Singles champion after he pulled off one of the greatest comebacks from the opening two sets down v Daniil Medvedev

by Sports Benches

What a way to wrap up two exciting weeks of Grand Slam Tennis in Melbourne!! We just saw a thrilling five 1/2 hour marathon of tonight’s men’s singles final where Rafa Nadal pulled off one of the greatest comebacks v Daniil Medvedev, having gone from 0-2 down to 3-2 in the end & that is sensational world-class sport to watch. It’s Rafa’s 21st Grand Slam title plus his 2nd on Australian soil since 2009.

Love how the crowd got behind Rafa especially during these tough times earlier on when Rafa had a poor start before he was almost done by the third set, but he never gave up with so much to reset his mindset, as this is the main reason how Rafa made up lost time step by step that eventually helped him leapfrog Medvedev towards the finish line after the 5th & final set decider.

And Medvedev gutted to settle runner-up here again for the second year running, he had a brilliant 1st half spell off the back from an easy start followed by a close 2nd set tiebreaker. However, he just couldn’t sort things out when it comes to the executions having hit and missed some easy shots plus a few heated exchanges with that chair umpire, unfortunately, these mistakes eventually came back to to him before it was too late which confirmed his runner-up status.

Final Score: 2-6, 6-7 via 5-7 tiebreaker, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5

Medvedev may not be what some fans see as the nice guy here, but he’s a great athlete nonetheless with a US Open title already bagged late last year and Daniil will bounce back for more silverware throughout 2022. Meanwhile, Rafa is still thriving at age 35, who still has a few more years, left in the tank before retiring as he’s unbelievable once again that put grand slam tennis to another level.

The summer of Australian sport is done for now but can’t wait for more grand slam tennis with the French Open next up from Sunday May 22 to June 5.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Ash Barty just became the new Australian Open women’s singles champion on home soil after she defeated Danielle Collins in straight sets

by Sports Benches

Wow!! Can you believe it as Ash Barty just defeated 27th seed American Danielle Collins in straight sets & made history at Rod Laver Arena, as she is now the new Australian Open women’s singles champion. It’s her third grand slam title that first began at the French Open in 2019 followed by Wimbledon last year and her dream to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup on home soil has now been fulfilled in Melbourne tonight.

She and Collins were on the same page at the beginning before Barty shifted a gear or two which justified the opening set lead, now Barty may have been tested a few times by Collins, who almost tied 1-1, after a brilliant response. However, she never gave up with so much patience having fought back a couple of games, brought it towards a tiebreaker & renewed that momentum where Barty beat Collins to the punch in the end.

And Collins would be disappointed to end up behind Barty, she came in this main draw as the 27th seed where she worked very hard through each round by upsetting some opponents along the way and here she is now in the main event. Collins returned the favor well back to Barty especially in the 2nd set having respond beautifully which was almost too good to pull off & still be in the game, it’s just not her night when it comes to the 2nd half momentum as Collins couldn’t hold back Barty before she eventually ran out of options at the tiebreak that saw her opponent race towards a home run.

Final Score: 6-3, 7-6 via 7-2 tiebreaker to Barty

Love seeing an Australian win a major grand slam title at home, it’s a huge night to write another breakthrough moment in the history of Australian sport. Let’s hope Ash continues her best tennis throughout the year and the next few years to come for more Grand Slam silverware. And for Collins, she will use her runner-up campaign here for some room for improvement, so she can try to improve these other Grand Slam records towards at least more Finals appearances that will help finally win a championship.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Daniil Medvedev confirmed booking for Sunday’s Australian Open Men’s Singles Final after he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2nd semi-final last night

by Sports Benches

The 2nd semi-final tie from last night has been written at Rod Laver Arena, Daniil Medvedev got ahead with the early lead before Stefanos Tsitsipas came back after the break & tied at 1-1. However, Medvedev managed to steer in the right direction since then with the 3rd & 4th set turnaround, despite his dismay towards the umpire at one point, as he shown enough to seal victory plus booked his place for Sunday’s main event v Rafa Nadal.

Gutted for Tsitsipas, who had Melbournians rooting him last night, especially when some of that population has a strong Greek community. There’s no letting down on effort and fightback where Tsitsipas was always on the same page as Medvedev, he just couldn’t unpack the checkpoint and finish line.

And congratulations to Medvedev, who just advanced, to his 2nd straight Australian Open Final. It wasn’t the easiest of times when he battled against a fellow elite opponent like Tsitsipas, but he never gave up having kept being patient even though he lost his cool at one point, before the Russian saw light at the end of the tunnel & eventually made his way out of here first.

There’s only two days left of Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne, first up will be Australia’s own Ash Barty v American Danielle Collins tonight then we wrap this up with Nadal v Medvedev tomorrow.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Rafa Nadal became the 1st player to advance in the 2022 Australian Open Men’s Singles Final on Sunday after he defeated Matteo Berrettini

by Sports Benches

Rafa Nadal became the first player, who just punched his ticket, for the men’s singles final on Sunday night. He was brilliant as always with the strong start that gave himself time to build a decent lead at 2-0, he was challenged on a few occasions when Matteo Berrettini fought back in the 3rd set but used the early 1st half momentum to his advantage & wrapped this up in three sets accrued out of four at Rod Laver Arena. Well done to the Spaniard as he’s looking to add Grand Slam title No.21 plus his 2nd championship here on Australian soil.

And Berrettini would be gutted to lose out to Rafa with the semi-final loss, like the fight he displayed in the 3rd set where it gave some renewed momentum following a 1-2 lead. However, a poor start gave Berretini too many gaps to fill having climbed back a couple of games late before Rafa comfortably crossed the finish line. He just couldn’t be on the same page as his opponent for the entire time, in which it’s one thing how his 2nd half momentum was cut short after the 3rd set with little patience being afforded to stay in the game.

All eyes on the 2nd semi-final tie at the same venue shortly with Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece v Russian Daniil Medvedev battling it out for the 2nd and last final ticket.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Danielle Collins will face Ash Barty for the 2022 Australian Open women’s singles final after she just defeated comfortably v Iga Swiatek in the 2nd semi-final tie

by Sports Benches

There’s another easy semi-final win from American Danielle Collins, who just knocked down 7th seed from Poland Iga Swiatek, in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, as she will meet Australian Ash Barty for Saturday’s Australian Open women’s singles final.

Swiatek would be gutted with the semi-final loss, she fought so hard to keep in contention having won back some games in the opening set that almost derailed Collins’s strong start. She just couldn’t match what her opponent offered where the strong start build-up play, building a decent lead and being afforded ample time to execute saw her eventual elimination out of the Final 4.

And Collins was unbelievable on the court tonight, not only did she credit the closed roof while the rain was there but also the hard track surface where she produced the better game than Swiatek. Collins used her early lead with patience which paid off in the opening set before she went full-on after the break & that proved easy to nail down in just over an hour of play.

All eyes on the main event this Saturday, can Collins win her first grand slam or will it be Ash Barty, who can end the 43-year long drought, and be the next Australian to win on home soil since Chris O’Neil in 1978?

For now, the tables turn on the men’s semi-finals day tomorrow with Matteo Berrettini v Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas v Daniil Medvedev as four will turn to two by the Men’s singles final on Sunday.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Ash Barty is through to the Final of the 2022 Australian Open womens’ singles final after she defeated Madison Keys in straight sets

by Sports Benches

We have an Australian in an Australian Open womens’ singles final at last in a long time, Ash Barty has made it after a very easy & straight sets win (6-1, 6-3) v American Madison Keys in just 62 minutes at Rod Laver Arena. All eyes on the 2nd and last semi-final game shortly between another American Danielle Collins v Poland’s Iga Swiatek.

Keys went a long, long way after a disappointing 2021 campaign & kickstarted 2022 with a bang on Australian shores, she fought back some games after the break having tried to hold this tie for longer. However, a poor start combined with a huge lead gap behind the Aussie was just too much to catch up before it was over.

And Ash Barty was outstanding where she was on the same page as Keys at the beginning before she shifted plenty of gears that reflected an easy 1st set spell, it gave her time to finish up the job going into the 2nd set while Keys fought back a few games late as Barty pulled off comfortably towards the homestretch.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, the 2nd Semi-Final tie is set at the 2022 Australian Open after Daniil Medvedev completed a terrific comeback from 0-2 sets down to 3-2 v Felix Auger-Aliassime

by Sports Benches

The 2nd semi-final tie is all set for Friday night, we’ve saw Stefanos Tsitsipas took down Jannik Sinner before Daniil Medvedev derailed Felix Auger-Aliassime’s strong start from 0-2 to 3-2 in the end that completed a stunning rebound from the reigning US Open men’s champion.

Bugger for Auger-Aliassime where he fired off really well at the beginning even though the 1st set spell was really competitive which reflected his 2-0 lead headstart. Yes, he battled so hard against a grand slam winning opponent, but just couldn’t match the 1st half momentum where he had to make up some lost time & he’s also been hesistant at times that left limited time to execute his way.

And hats off to Daniil Medvedev with the trilling Quarter-Final win, he was almost on the brink of elimination at one point in straight sets after a 0-2 lead. However, he managed to regroup himself when Medvedev was being patient which gave him time to nail down his opponent’s weaknesses, that pragmatic 2nd half approach alongside a decent lead he kept during the 3rd-5th sets helped him shift maximum speed against Auger-Aliassime & nailed towards the finish line first.

All eyes on Tsitsipas v Medvedev now in a last year’s repeat semi-final also on this Friday night, will Medvedev advance into the Final once more & go one better or is it going to be Tsitsipas this time with his possible 2nd grand slam final meeting since last year at the Roland Garros?

For now, it’s the women’s semi-finals day today with two matches taking place tonight where one of them includes Australia’s own Ash Barty v American Madison Keys.

#DaniilMedvedev #FelixAugerAliassime #Russia #Canada #Tennis #AustralianOpen #GrandSlam #ATPTour

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Stefanos Tsitsipas through to the 2nd Australian Open semi-final tie after he defeated Jannik Sinner in straight sets

by Sports Benches

The 1st of two players confirmed for the 2nd semi-final spot goes to Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece, he just defeated 11th seed Italian Jannik Sinner in straight sets (3-6, 4-6, 2-6) at Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner left Melbourne Park with his highest result so far at the Australian Open in the Final 8, he made up some lost time and won back some games as Sinner doesn’t take Tsitsipas lightly with plenty of tough duels. However, a poor start combined with a huge gap behind Tsitsipas left Sinner no time to execute & stay in contention, when he couldn’t level 1-1 after the 2nd set before he was quickly eliminated. He’s 20 years old though so Sinner has time to improve & win a Grand Slam in the future, having defeated fellow future champion Alex De Minaur prior to the Quarter-Final two days ago in the 4th Round.

And speaking of next-generation Grand Slam stars & champions, Tsitsipas is through to the Australian Open semis once again which will be his third occasion & Melbournians do love him. He simply was unbelievable where he built that early headstart, extended his lead as this tie goes while he overcame a series of competitive battles before Tsitsipas comfortably found the homestretch in just over two hours.

All eyes on the 4th and last Quarter-Final tie with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime v Daniil Medvedev from Russia, where one of them will race towards that 2nd and final semi-final ticket v Tsitsipas on Friday night.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Iga Swiatek’s brilliant comeback from the opening set down was enough to book a semi-final spot v Danielle Collins tomorrow night at Rod Laver Arena

by Sports Benches

What a brilliant fightback from Poland’s Iga Swiatek when she came from behind after the opening set down, worked her way back in contention as this match-up goes & eliminated Estonian Kaia Kanepi in the end. Swiatek’s next opponent will be American Danielle Collins where they duel for Saturday’s final slot during the 2nd semi-final tomorrow night.

She was always on the top of her game even though Swiatek fell short of Kanepi’s strong start, nonetheless, the Pole knows she came here against a difficult opponent like Kanepi, who has plenty of experience, in previous grand slam Quarter-Finals before at 36. And knowing her strengths and weaknesses got the better hand of Swiatek where she held back the Estonian during the 2nd set tiebreak, then the 3rd set decider came in at the perfect time & pulled off without a fuss.

And Kanepi would be disappointed with the quarter-final elimination, who still has yet to crack seven times past this stage, so far in her singles career. She got that build-up base going which gave her time to get the job done through the opening set spell, although she never gave up holding off top spot but couldn’t find the home base when Kanepi began to falter during the 2nd set tiebreaker before eventually running out of solutions in the end. Kanepi still hopes to go one better & be an elite grand slam star as a late bloomer, she still drives trucks back home on a part-time basis but is sure to walk home with $538,500 USD prize money with more to come throughout this year.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Other Sports

Tennis News, Danielle Collins off to her 2nd Australian Open women’s semi-final since 2019 as she watches on either Iga Swiatek or Kaia Kanepi as her next opponent

by Sports Benches

Danielle Collins is off to her 2nd Australian Open semi-final having done once before in 2019 after she defeated Alize Cornet in straight sets (7-5, 6-1), she will be watching that 4th & last Quarter-Final right now between Poland’s Iga Swiatek & Kaia Kanepi from Estonia where one of them will face her in the 2nd semi-final tie tomorrow night.

Cornet gutted to be eliminated from the Final 8 after she finally made her first Grand Slam knockout appearance at the age of 32, this in incredible when her best previous record beforehand was a series of 4th Rounds. She showed some fightback as of late in the 1st set but a poor start & a lack of 1st half momentum saw Cornet being outplayed by Collins, Cornet still has a few years left at singles’ level so she hopes to continue that breakthrough run going into the Roland Garros in late May.

And Collins too good left, right and center thanks to an a terrific start that helped her build a big lead over Cornet, it allowed Collins to group some pieces together before she wrapped this up so quick and effective in the end.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail