US Open 2019: Finals review sees new ground broken and a grind towards history

A clunky post title, but then I haven’t had much sleep after last night’s drama almost saw a double changing of the guard in New York. Bianca Andreescu def Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 First Saturday evening and for Serena, not a chance for redemption per se (her actions here 12 months ago remain unforgivable) but […]

US Open 2019: More favourites and former champs fall on Day 2, plus my Day 3 picks

A whole raft of big names exited yesterday in an entertaining day’s play. Thanks to Amazon’s multi court coverage I was spoilt for choice at times but did enjoy Naomi Osaka fighting back from the brink against Blinkova. So the defending champ is safely through, but joining Sharapova and Angie Kerber amongst the former champs […]

US Open 2019: Serena dismisses Maria and other Day 1 stories plus my picks for Day 2

There were scares for Ash Barty and Roger Federer and other household names including Wawrinka and Pliskova certainly had to work hard for their victories. Of the seeds, we have already lost 2016 champ Kerber (Mladenovic) and Fognini. Of the homegrown, we say goodbye to Sam Querrey, Coco Vandeweghe and Taylor Fritz (Lopez). Some matchups […]

US Open 2019: Predictions and best match-ups of Day 1

Have been thinking recently about actually trying a digital detox and giving up some social media presence. To say this blog is in its death throes may seem a little dramatic, but I find my motivation dwindling outside of the majors. Here we are then, my first post since Wimbledon as we suddenly find ourselves […]

US Open 2018: Finals Review as Naomi and Novak hide amongst the headlines

An apology first of all, I should’ve written and posted this yesterday and not on a date forever scarred with painful memories of seventeen years ago. So much had been written of Serena and Naomi’s match and the ongoing drama that surrounds it they I won’t continue myself anymore. My views are largely unchanged since […]

US Open 2018: Serena and Sergio spoil brilliant Naomi’s moment

Writing from a sun lounger in beautiful Estoril, I must admit I have only watched some extended highlights of this most dramatic of encounters. Alot has been said already here, most of it either ill-advised or mis-informed. Put simply, Osaka’s quality, steel and maturity last night and all throughout the tournament made her a certain […]

US Open 2018: Djoko and DelPo square up for classic

Keeping this brief as we are in Portugal celebrating the wedding of good friends. Poor Rafa finally succombed to the injury which clearly hampered his progress since the second round. Those knees have taken alot of punishment over the years and whilst I’m sure this won’t be a permanent issue, it is still worrying in […]

US Open 2018: Day 10 sees Serena shine but this is Osaka’s moment

Serena Williams is peaking just at the right time here, facing up to the stern test from Sevastova and eventually overpowering her in signature style. Just as with Novak’s win over Millman (which I failed to acknowledge yesterday) the scoreline told only half the story. Serena was a tour de force yes, but her opponent […]

US Open 2018: Day 10 sets up super SFs with Japanese focus

Less drama today but instead some very personal triumphs. Osaka rolls on after one match too far for Tsurenko In the least competitive match of the day, Naomi Osaka looked extremely solid as she dismantled an arguably already broken Lesia Tsurenko 1 and 1. All the Japanese had to do was stay solid before her […]

US Open 2018: Day 9 most dramatic yet, Sloane out, Rafa beats Thiem in five set thriller

Okay Day 8, I see your drama and raise you a helluva lot more. Sloane sapped by stylish Sevastova A huge shock this, merely because defending champion Stephens looked on fire again all fortnight. Sevastova though is no pushover and rightly ensconced amongst the world’s elite. The American was bamboozled by a gamut of perfectly […]