bluetornados
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Jun 22, 2023 21:50:45 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 22, 2023 21:50:45 GMT
Birmingham Classic: Harriet Dart beats Anhelina Kalinina to reach quarter-finals..By Jess Anderson, BBC Sport.ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/1440/cpsprodpb/08A0/production/_130180220_gettyimages-1403496365.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/13BD6/production/_129845808_gettyimages-1492649988.jpgBritain's Harriet Dart reached a second successive grass-court quarter-final as she continued her Wimbledon preparations at the Birmingham Classic. The 26-year-old secured a comprehensive 6-3 3-6 6-1 win over Ukrainian fifth seed Anhelina Kalinina. The Briton beat the same opponent last week to reach the last eight of the Nottingham Open. "I love playing on grass and in front of the home crowd so I enjoy these few weeks the most in the year," said Dart. "I was expecting a battle - I knew this week she would raise her level and the court is quicker here so I'm really pleased to be through." Dart will face either Russian fourth seed Anastasia Potapova or American Caty McNally for a place in the semi-finals. She is one of five Britons to receive a Wimbledon wildcard following success on grass-courts in recent weeks. Having come out on top in an all-British match against Nottingham runner-up Jodie Burrage on Tuesday, Dart once again needed three sets to get the job done in Birmingham. Dart led by an early break in the first set but was made to work throughout it, saving seven break points in her first two service games before serving out the set to love. Kalinina served well in the second set to force a decider but, having established a double-break lead, Dart was on the verge of a third-set 'bagel' before a powerful forehand winner put Kalinina on the board. World number 26 Kalinina rescued match point to force Dart to serve the match out, which she swiftly did to love. "I play quite a lot of long matches - not out of choice, but it happens," Dart joked afterwards. "It's great to be back here, playing in front of a home crowd is pretty awesome."
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bluetornados
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Jun 22, 2023 21:55:10 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 22, 2023 21:55:10 GMT
Queen's 2023 results: Cameron Norrie beats Jordan Thompson to reach quarter-finals..ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/1440/cpsprodpb/84A5/production/_130175933_gettyimages-1258815201.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/A4A1/production/_129954124_norrie.jpgBritish number one Cameron Norrie came from behind to reach the Queen's quarter-finals for a second time with victory over Australian Jordan Thompson. Fifth seed Norrie, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, recovered from his first-set errors to win 4-6 6-3 6-2. "It was the perfect match," said Norrie, who will face American Sebastian Korda next. Britain's Norrie is playing in his first grass-court tournament of the season as he gears up for Wimbledon, which starts on 3rd July. His hopes of getting even more match time on the surface were dashed on Wednesday when his scheduled doubles partner Andy Murray withdrew from the competition, citing fatigue. "It was just classic grass-court tennis and I was able to come out with a lot more energy in that third set and I think that was the difference," Norrie said in his on-court interview. Norrie, who is ranked 13th in the world, will now appear in his sixth quarter-final of the year. "It's really good to be that consistent but you always want more as a tennis player," he said. "I want to keep pushing for more and playing my best tennis at the bigger tournaments and especially at a huge tournament like Queen's. It's one of my favourite tournaments of the year." Norrie will face Korda next after the American beat compatriot and recent Stuttgart champion Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.
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bluetornados
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Jun 23, 2023 19:56:49 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 23, 2023 19:56:49 GMT
Queen's 2023 results: Cameron Norrie loses to Sebastian Korda in quarter-finals..ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/12D7A/production/_130187177_7064d736ebcbc80fdf47bb930389842614b35f1c.jpgBritish number one Cameron Norrie's run at Queen's ended with a disappointing 6-4 7-6 (7-1) quarter-final defeat by American Sebastian Korda. World number 13 Norrie, the 2021 Queen's finalist, made too many errors in a subdued first-set performance. Norrie, 27, improved in the second set but some poor shots and a double fault resulted in a one-sided tie-break. World number 32 Korda will face top seed Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-4. Meanwhile, Britain's Neal Skupski and Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof lost 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-finals of the men's doubles to American Taylor Fritz and Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic.
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bluetornados
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Jun 23, 2023 19:58:38 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 23, 2023 19:58:38 GMT
Birmingham Classic: Briton Harriet Dart beaten in quarter-finals by Anastasia Potapova..ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/402D/production/_130192461_gettyimages-1500909465.jpgBriton's Harriet Dart was beaten by Russian fourth seed Anastasia Potapova 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Classic. Dart, 26, the last Briton still in the draw at the Wimbledon warm-up event, was a break up early in the second set. But the British number four fell away against world number 21 Potapova. Potapova faces Latvian second seed Jelena Ostapenko in the last four on Saturday after she beat Poland's Magdalena Frech 4-6 7-5 6-2. Dart had looked comfortable on serve and moved 2-1 up in the second set, but was unable to convert three game points. She lost her serve early in the deciding set but fought back to 3-3, only to be broken immediately as Potapova won in three sets for the third time this week. Earlier on Friday, Dart and Nottingham Open champion Katie Boulter both received wildcards for next week's WTA 500 tournament in Eastbourne.
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bluetornados
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Jun 25, 2023 20:49:13 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 25, 2023 20:49:13 GMT
Queen's 2023 results: Carlos Alcaraz beats Alex de Minaur in final to win first grass title..ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/29D6/production/_130201701_gettyimages-1501756801.jpgCarlos Alcaraz won his first title on grass and regained the world number one ranking with an impressive victory over Alex de Minaur in the Queen's final. Alcaraz's 6-4 6-4 triumph means he moves above Novak Djokovic in the rankings and will be the top men's seed at Wimbledon, which starts on 3 July. The Spaniard, 20 was playing only his third grass-court tournament. "So many legends have won here. Seeing my name on the trophy surrounded by the great champions is amazing," he said. Alcaraz will now hope to emulate his compatriot Rafael Nadal, who triumphed at Queen's in 2008 before going on to win Wimbledon for the first time a few weeks later. There were questions about Alcaraz's ability on grass at the start of the week but he answered those in emphatic style, becoming a crowd favourite with his attacking play, humble attitude and boyish smile. He will now be considered the main threat to Djokovic's defence of his Wimbledon crown. "It helps a lot to be top seed at Wimbledon," said Alcaraz. "It's amazing. It wouldn't be possible without the support of the people through the whole week. "I started the tournament not really well, I had to adapt my movement a bit on grass," he said. "But it's been an amazing week and it's ending with a lot of energy and on a high. "I have played 11 matches in my career on grass, so I have to get more experience, more hours. "But obviously after beating amazing guys, great players, and the level that I played, I consider myself one of the favourites - or one of the players to be able - to win Wimbledon." ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1851A/production/_130201699_gettyimages-1501728418-1.jpgAlcaraz's record-breaking career so farThe youngest men's world number one and at 19 years, four months the only teenager to achieve the feat Won 12 ATP titles in his career from 15 finals The youngest player to enter the top 100 aged 18 The youngest player to win the US Open since Pete Sampras in 1990 The only teenager to beat Rafael Nadal on clay followed by a win over Novak Djokovic, the first time a player has beaten both Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back Won five titles in 2023 - Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid and Queen's - joint-top for title wins this season with world number three Daniil Medvedev ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/BA68/production/_130202774_gettyimages-1501765413.jpg
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bluetornados
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Jun 25, 2023 20:52:20 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 25, 2023 20:52:20 GMT
Birmingham Classic: Jelena Ostapenko beats Barbora Krejcikova to win title..
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Ostapenko has now won six career titlesJelena Ostapenko beat Czech player Barbora Krejcikova at the Birmingham Classic to take a second grass-court title of her career. In a battle between the two top seeds, second seed Ostapenko held her nerve to win 7-6 (10-8) 6-4. "It's great preparation for Wimbledon and I'm happy with the way I'm playing," the Latvian said. Elsewhere, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Donna Vekic 6-2 7-6 (8-6) to win the German Open. The 33-year-old Czech, who had also beaten Croatian Vekic en route to the title in Miami this year, took a dominant first-set win before finding herself a break down in the second. She battled back from 5-3 down to 6-5 as Vekic, who has shot up the rankings from 69th to 23rd this season following an Australian Open quarter-final spot and a title in Monterrey, forced a tie-break but a powerful Kvitova forehand sealed the match at the first time of asking. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/143DE/production/_130201928_cda64872f0f8844d3008fd3695fdcbc2c4a1b9a6.jpg
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bluetornados
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Jun 25, 2023 20:58:14 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 25, 2023 20:58:14 GMT
Wimbledon 2023: When does it start? Who is playing ?..ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896x504/p07ffk4m.jpgWimbledon is just around the corner, with the best players in the world already beginning their grass-court preparations. BBC Sport rounds up all you need to know about this year's tournament. When is Wimbledon ?Wimbledon takes place from 3rd to 16th July at the All England Club in London. This year's tournament will be the 136th edition of the Championships. The women's singles final takes place on Saturday, 15th July, with the men's final on the Sunday. Who is playing ?World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic will be seeking an eighth men's singles Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer's record. The Serb is also on course for a calendar Grand Slam - where a player wins all four of the majors in the same year - having already won the Australian Open and French Open. Challengers for the title could include last year's runner-up Nick Kyrgios, US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz and rising star Holger Rune. In the women's draw, Elena Rybakina will be aiming to defend her title from last year, but will face tough competition from Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. World number one and French Open winner Iga Swiatek will also be in contention, along with 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur and American Coco Gauff. Which British players are competing ?Cameron Norrie is the highest-ranked British player in either singles draw and made the semi-finals at the All England Club last year. He is joined by two-time champion Andy Murray, who is enjoying some good grass-court form with back-to-back titles in Challenger events on the surface, and British number two Dan Evans. There will be no Emma Raducanu in the women's draw, with the Briton continuing her recovery from hand and ankle surgery. Katie Boulter is the British women's number one but, as she was outside the top 100 when the entry list was drawn up, has had to rely on a wildcard to compete at Wimbledon. Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Jodie Burrage and Katie Swan have also received wildcards to the main draw. There were also wildcards for Britons Liam Broady,Jan Choinski, Arthur Fery, George Loffhagen and Ryan Peniston in the men's singles main draw. A wildcard gives players direct entry to either the main draw or qualifying. To qualify, lower-ranked players need to win three matches to reach the main draw. There will also be a strong British contingent in the doubles, with Neal Skupski, Joe Salisbury and Lloyd Glasspool ranked among the world's top 10 men's doubles players and Jamie Murray a seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion. In the wheelchair events, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid will be seeking to reach a 16th successive Grand Slam final. What are Andy Murray's chances ?You never know... Murray last won Wimbledon in 2016 but struggled with injury afterwards, and had career-saving hip surgery in 2019. He lost in the second round last year but has enjoyed a good grass-court season so far, having won the Surbiton and Nottingham titles this month. As a result of his good form, Murray has risen to 38 in the world rankings, but a first-round exit from Queen's this week have all but ended his chances of being being one of the 32 seeded players at Wimbledon.
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bluetornados
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Jun 27, 2023 8:34:34 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 27, 2023 8:34:34 GMT
Eastbourne International: Britain's Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage record big wins..
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Harriet Dart and Jodie BurrageHarriet Dart and Jodie Burrage both gained excellent victories as the British duo reached the last 16 of the Eastbourne International. Dart, 26, trailed 3-0 against China's Zhang Shuai but fought back to win 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 against an opponent 105 places above her in the world rankings. Burrage, 24, lost the opening set in her match with world number 44 Lauren Davis before winning 4-6 6-4 6-3. Burrage will play another American in the last 16 - either world number seven Coco Gauff or Bernarda Pera. British number one Boulter faces Croatian lucky loser Petra Martic in their first-round match on Tuesday. In the Eastbourne men's singles, there were first-round losses for Britain's Ryan Peniston and George Loffhagen, who have both been handed wildcards to play at Wimbledon next week. Loffhagen, 22, is the world number 367 and took the opening set against France's 79th-ranked Luca van Assche, but he then lost two tie-breaks to be eliminated 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4). Peniston, aged 27 and 267th in the rankings, was beaten 6-3 6-2 by Switzerland's Marc-Andrea Huesler, the world number 83.
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bluetornados
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Jun 27, 2023 8:39:32 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 27, 2023 8:39:32 GMT
Wimbledon 2023: Johannus Monday, Toby Samuel, Charles Broom and Billy Harris all win in first qualifying round..
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Johannus MondayBritish quartet Johannus Monday, Toby Samuel, Charles Broom and Billy Harris won their first matches at Wimbledon qualifying to move two rounds away from securing their places in the main draw. Monday, 21, came from a set down to defeat 2022 boys' champion, Croatia's Mili Poljicak, 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. Samuel, 20, another wild card, overcame a rankings gap of nearly 250 places to defeat Antoine Bellier 6-4 7-6 (7-5). Broom beat Alessandro Giannessi and Harris overcame Alexander Ritschard. But there were defeats for Stuart Parker, who won the first set against seventh seed James Duckworth before losing out 4-6 6-3 6-1, and Harry Wendelken, beaten 6-3 7-6 (7-6) by Italian Matteo Gigante. Daniel Cox took the opening set against Federico Gaio of Italy but lost 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-5, while Luca Pow only won four games in his 6-3 6-1 defeat by Gijs Brouwer of the Netherlands. Broom, 25, gained a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 win over Italy's Giannessi, while 28-year-old Harris fought back from behind to beat his Swiss opponent 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-2. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/17D55/production/_130212679_charlesbroom.jpgCharles BroomPlayers need to win three matches to secure a place in the main draw, with Monday, Samuel, Broom and Harris all in action again on Wednesday, with the final qualifying round on Thursday. Britain's Dan Evans, Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie qualified automatically for the main draw, while Liam Broady, Jan Choinski, Arthur Fery, George Loffhagen and Ryan Peniston have been given wildcards.
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bluetornados
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Jun 27, 2023 8:43:31 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 27, 2023 8:43:31 GMT
Andy Murray to play Wimbledon warm-up at Hurlingham..ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640x360/p01jywcc.jpgAndy Murray will warm up for Wimbledon with a match against world number six Holger Rune at the Hurlingham Tennis Classic in London on Wednesday. The two-time former Wimbledon champion recently won Challenger Tour events at the Surbiton Trophy and Nottingham Open, but lost in the opening round to Alex de Minaur at Queen's Club last week. Rune, 20, reached the semi-finals of that tournament before also losing to De Minaur and should provide strong opposition for Murray at the exhibition event. Hurlingham frequently attracts the world's best players and will also host world number one Carlos Alcaraz, top British player Cameron Norrie and defending Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/12AD4/production/_130000567_gettyimages-1496168536.jpgHolger Rune
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bluetornados
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Jun 27, 2023 18:59:06 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 27, 2023 18:59:06 GMT
Eastbourne International: Britain's Katie Boulter beaten by Petra Martic in first round..
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Katie Boulter is ranked 88 in the world following her title win in Nottingham two weeks agoBritish number one Katie Boulter suffered a first-round exit at the Eastbourne International as she lost to Croatia's Petra Martic. Lucky loser Martic, ranked 30th in the world, secured a 6-4 7-5 victory over Boulter in blustery conditions. It is Boulter's second consecutive first-round defeat after an early exit at the Birmingham Classic last week. Boulter, who has received a wildcard to play at Wimbledon next week after her Nottingham Open triumph, started well against Martic but lost her serve in the fifth game with a long forehand. Four break points came and went for the Briton in the next game and Martic, who has featured in the fourth round at Wimbledon three times, ultimately clinched the first set. The wind made for difficult serving conditions for both players and Boulter found herself having to save two break points at 5-5 - the first with a floated drop shot and the second with a stunning forehand down the line under pressure. Yet that good work went to waste as Boulter smacked a backhand into the net to give Martic a crucial break that allowed her to serve out the match. "I've played seven matches going into the grass, I'm very happy with where I'm at," Boulter said. "I don't think I've lost any confidence this last couple of weeks just because I lost to higher-ranked players. "I feel like I'm playing some really good tennis. I've practised unbelievably well every single day this week." ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/D64D/production/_130216845_gettyimages-1259124690.jpg....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Following the success of Britons Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage at Eastbourne on Monday, compatriot Heather Watson missed her chance to extend her Wimbledon preparations after losing 6-3 6-4 to Italy's Camila Giorgi. Watson, ranked 149th in the world, was handed a lucky loser opportunity after Birmingham semi-finalist Anastasia Potapova withdrew with a right shoulder injury. However Giorgi, looking to bounce back from her first-round defeat by Venus Williams in Birmingham last week, was in control throughout, saving six of the seven break points she faced on her way to victory. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/AC7C/production/_130065144_gettyimages-1496430103.jpgHeather Watson
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bluetornados
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Jun 28, 2023 22:48:27 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 28, 2023 22:48:27 GMT
Eastbourne International: Gauff thrashes Burrage, while Ostapenko beats Dart to reach last 16..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/9153/production/_130230273_gauff_getty.jpgWorld number seven Coco Gauff thrashed Britain's Jodie Burrage to reach the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne International. American Gauff proved a step up in class for Burrage as she overpowered her 6-1 6-1 in exactly an hour. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/8C3F/production/_130230953_gauff_getty.jpgBurrage lost 10 games in a row against the excellent Gauff, who will face doubles partner Jessica Pegula next. Burrage reached the final of the Nottingham Open at the start of the grass-court season, beating world number 23 Magda Linette and French veteran Alize Cornet on the way. However, she always faced an uphill task against Gauff, who is 121 places above her in the world rankings and an excellent mover on a grass court. The American won five games in a row to take the first set, breaking Burrage's serve early with a fine backhand winner and consolidating her lead with a 124mph ace. Burrage fought hard in the first game of the second set but a missed backhand handed Gauff the break, with the American reeling off another five straight games. Burrage finally got on the board for 5-1 as Gauff struggled to serve out the match, but the Briton went long with a forehand on match point to hand Gauff victory. "Jodie has had a couple of good weeks on grass and hopefully she can have a good time at Wimbledon," Gauff, 19, said on BBC Two. "Being in a town like Eastbourne where you can walk reminds me of home. It's peaceful and I need that before getting into a Grand Slam." Gauff will face world number three Pegula next after the American beat Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-2 1-6 6-3. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/9B1F/production/_130211793_bbc-sport-index-imagery-2-split-images-gradient-5c89c5d8-fd33-44d1-87a2-05880b7b1889.pngLater, Britain's Harriet Dart lost 6-3 6-4 in a closely-fought encounter against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko. Dart, another Briton who has produced some good grass-court results, fought hard against Birmingham Classic champion Ostapenko. However, the 26-year-old Ostapenko was the better of the two in the pressure moments to set up a quarter-final against Italy's Camila Giorgi.
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bluetornados
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Jun 28, 2023 22:51:18 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 28, 2023 22:51:18 GMT
Wimbledon qualifying: Billy Harris and Anna Brogan one win away from main draw..
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Billy Harris has never played in the main draw of the men's singles at a Grand Slam and is ranked 346th in the worldTwo British players moved one win away from securing places in the Wimbledon main draw, but five home hopefuls lost in the second qualifying round. Billy Harris, 28, battled past France's Hugo Gaston 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and will play Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic. Anna Brogan, 25, defeated Russian Diana Shnaider 6-3 7-6 (9-7) to set up a match with China's Bai Zhuoxuan. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/6C55/production/_130233772_annabrogan.jpgAnna BroganHowever, Britons Naiktha Bains, Charles Broom, Lily Miyazaki, Johannus Monday and Toby Samuel lost on Wednesday. The final qualifying round takes place at the Community Sports Centre in Roehampton on Thursday, before the main Wimbledon tournament begins on 3rd July - with full coverage across the BBC.
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bluetornados
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Jun 28, 2023 23:02:02 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 28, 2023 23:02:02 GMT
Andy Murray says criticised Wimbledon poster of past and present greats was 'strange'..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/6F75/production/_130233582_murray_gettytwo.jpgAndy Murray described a poster of past and present Wimbledon greats as "strange" after it was criticised for marginalising female champions and leaving out the Scot. An image posted on Wimbledon's Twitter showed 15 famous players walking down a staircase at the All England Club. Four of the six women were at the back, with Murray left out and Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the front. "Me not being on it is certainly not a problem," Murray said. The image was part of a series of artworks done by an illustrator and was intended to show some of the great rivalries at SW19 over the years. The 'Big Three' of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were shown, with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova behind them. Serena and Venus Williams, who have won a combined 12 Wimbledon singles titles, were near the back. Neither Sinner or world number one Alcaraz have gone beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Murray, speaking after his 6-4 6-4 loss to world number six Holger Rune at the Hurlingham exhibition, said the grouping of the men at the front was "slightly strange". "It was a disaster, wasn't it? I don't need to elaborate any more on it, it's pretty obvious if you see the poster," the 36-year-old joked. "I guess the players that are on the poster are ones that have had incredible careers and have been unbelievably successful at Wimbledon. "Alcaraz and Sinner are unbelievable players but it just seems strange that they were all sort of behind them. "I personally don't really care that much about it. But I can see when you look at it's like, 'that does look a bit strange'." The poster was also criticised by Murray's brother, Jamie. The All England Lawn Tennis Club did not previously comment on the criticism. i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article30346416.ece/ALTERNATES/n310p/1_Murray.jpg
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bluetornados
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Jun 29, 2023 15:33:42 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 29, 2023 15:33:42 GMT
Wimbledon 2023: Britain's Billy Harris and Anna Brogan lose in final qualifying round..
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Anna Brogan was up against an opponent 179 places higher than her in the rankingsBritain's Billy Harris and Anna Brogan missed out on places in the Wimbledon main draw by losing in the final qualifying round at Roehampton. Harris, 28, lost 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 against big-serving Hamad Medjedovic from Serbia, before Brogan, 25, was beaten 6-3 6-0 by China's Bai Zhuoxuan. It means there will be eight Britons in the men's singles event with six in the women's singles competition. The main Wimbledon tournament begins on 3rd July - with full coverage on the BBC. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/110C0/production/_130242896_billyharris.jpgBilly Harris was trying to reach his first Grand Slam main drawSixteen British players - eight men and eight women - had started qualifying, but none of them made it through the three rounds. Britain's Dan Evans, Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie qualified automatically for the main draw, while Liam Broady, Jan Choinski, Arthur Fery, George Loffhagen and Ryan Peniston have been given wildcards. No British women were ranked in the top 100 at the cut-off date for Wimbledon to qualify automatically, although Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Sonay Kartal, Katie Swan and Heather Watson were handed wildcards.
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bluetornados
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Jun 30, 2023 13:53:49 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 30, 2023 13:53:49 GMT
Alicia Barnett: Top ranked doubles player returns to Wimbledon with 'no expectations'..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/10F08/production/_130248396_gettyimages-1406237323.jpgBritain's number one ranked women's doubles player Alicia Barnett has said she is returning to Wimbledon for the second time with "no expectations". The 29-year-old made her debut at the All England Club last year as a wildcard entrant. She reached the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles event and second round of the women's doubles. Barnett is now ranked number 68 in the world and will compete again in both events, starting next week. "I'm going in just trying to enjoy being there because it's not every day you can play at Wimbledon," Barnett told BBC Points West. "You go into every tournament wanting to do the best you can and win the tournament, but I'm not going to go in with any expectations. "I want to focus on improving every day and I feel like I have improved since last year. "But at the end of the day tennis is an interesting sport; you can beat anyone, you can lose to anyone and it just depends on what happens on the day." A Very'surreal' yearBarnett, from Painswick, Gloucestershire, made headlines last summer when, along with mixed doubles partner Jonny O'Mara, they knocked Venus Williams and Jamie Murray out of Wimbledon to reach the last eight. With her regular women's doubles partner, Olivia Nicholls, the duo have since gone on to compete in all of the Grand Slams over the past 12 months, making debuts at the US Open, Australian Open and recent French Open. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/08F6/production/_130249220_gettyimages-1498432338.jpgBarnett (left) and her women's doubles partner Olivia Nicholls train together in Bath"It's been a very surreal year and I don't think it's quite sunk in yet," Barnett continued. "It was really fun and many years of hard work has started to pay off. It was an amazing experience last year - Wimbledon especially, playing in front of friends and family was really special so I'm looking forward to that again this year." Barnett and Nicholls train at the University of Bath and their coach, Ian MacDonald, has seen growth in all aspects of their game this past year. "One is the experience side of things and getting used to being on the tour, being at the top of the game, which is an adjustment, and you've got to get used to playing the best in the world and playing in big arenas and people watching," MacDonald said. "The process side of the game, I like to think every area has improved. As a pair they've grown a lot and I think now are establishing their game style and being able to put that on the court against some of the best in the world." Barnett goes into Wimbledon having won her first title of the year with Nicholls at W60 Trnava in Slovakia in March. The duo were also beaten finalists at the Surbiton Trophy earlier this month and reached the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open and more tournaments across Europe. "We've had some really good runs in the last few weeks in Portugal and Germany, making semi-finals so hopefully we can do one better," Barnett concluded.
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bluetornados
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Jun 30, 2023 13:57:37 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 30, 2023 13:57:37 GMT
Wimbledon 2023 draw: Andy Murray to face Ryan Peniston at All England Club..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport at Wimbledon.ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/D4AC/production/_130244445_murray.jpgAndy
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RyanTwo-time champion Andy Murray will face fellow Briton Ryan Peniston in an eye-catching Wimbledon first-round match. Murray, 36, missed out on a seeding for the grass-court Grand Slam event, leaving him open to facing a higher-ranked player in the first round. However, the former world number one was drawn against wildcard Peniston, who is ranked 267th in the world. The winner faces a tough test in the second round against Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Dominic Thiem. The 136th Championships start at the All England Club on Monday, with Murray set to face Peniston on Tuesday. Peniston, 27, is a late bloomer in the professional ranks, only making his ATP Tour debut last summer and reaching a career high of 123rd in the world after a superb run to the Queen's quarter-finals. Since then he has dropped outside the top 250 after struggling with a wrist injury and is playing in the Wimbledon main draw for only the second time. The left-hander from Essex found out he was playing Murray while driving in south-west London on Friday morning, joking he almost "crashed" the car when he was told by his coach Mark Taylor. "I wasn't really sure if it was a joke at first, but then I knew Mark wouldn't do that. I was pretty pumped," Peniston said. "I know Andy pretty well. We've become friends and we've practised quite a lot together. "It's pretty cool that I've drawn him."
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bluetornados
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Jun 30, 2023 18:45:08 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jun 30, 2023 18:45:08 GMT
Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Elena Rybakina, Katie Boulter among stars..
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Novak Djokovic (left) and Elena Rybakina (right) are the defending singles champions, while Katie Boulter and Andy Murray (middle) are among the BritonsNovak Djokovic is targeting more tennis history when he leads the star names at a Wimbledon where Andy Murray is aiming to roll back the years on the 10th anniversary of his first title. Serbia's Djokovic, 36, goes for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam victory and an eighth Wimbledon win to match Roger Federer's men's record. With Rafael Nadal injured, Djokovic is one of the few iconic names left in the draws, although Britain's Murray and American Venus Williams, 43, are notable former champions who will be present. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz is the men's world number one after winning the Queen's title last week, leading the next generation of ATP Tour stars trying to topple Djokovic. British men's number one Cameron Norrie is aiming to replicate last year's stunning run to the semi-finals, while Katie Boulter leads the home contingent in the women's singles after a successful summer where she has reached a career-high ranking. Boulter is the new British women's number one after replacing 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who is missing Wimbledon after surgeries on wrist and ankle injuries. The dominant trio on the WTA Tour this year - Kazakh defending champion Elena Rybakina, Polish top seed Iga Swiatek and Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka - are expected to be the women to beat. Sabalenka is one of the most high-profile players back at the All England Club this year after the ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors was lifted. Ranking points - stripped by the ATP and WTA in response to the ban - have been reinstated, while Wimbledon organisers have increased security measures after Just Stop Oil activists interrupted several sporting events. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/5109/production/_130254702_seeds.pngichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/9F29/production/_130254704_seeds.pngCan Murray still be a contender ?In 2013, Murray achieved British sporting immortality when he beat Djokovic in a pulsating final to become a rare home men's champion. The Scot, then aged 26, became the first British man to win the title in 77 years, adding a second title in 2016 by beating Milos Raonic. Since then, Murray's career has been derailed by a serious hip injury and resurrected thanks to a resurfacing surgery which left him with a metal cap in the joint. Murray feared the operation would end his playing days, yet he returned later in 2019 and has shown this summer that he still knows how to win on grass courts. Winning back-to-back Challenger titles in Surbiton and Nottingham - the level below the main ATP Tour - started the British summer swing positively. Murray suffered a chastening defeat when he stepped up in class at Queen's, losing to eventual runner-up De Minaur in the first round, but remains bullish about his chances at Wimbledon. "I think I do have a good chance, I don't think there are many players in the draw who have the experience that I have on grass courts," said Murray, who missed out on a seeding after his early Queen's exit. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/ED49/production/_130254706_murray.jpg
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bluetornados
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Jul 3, 2023 8:48:48 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jul 3, 2023 8:48:48 GMT
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bluetornados
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Jul 3, 2023 15:06:47 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jul 3, 2023 15:06:47 GMT
Wimbledon 2023 results: Britain's Harriet Dart makes first-round exit..By Jess Anderson, BBC Sport at Wimbledon.ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/3B21/production/_130273151_gettyimages-1511030545.jpgHarriet Dart's Wimbledon campaign ended on the first day as the Briton was beaten by France's Diane Parry. Parry, ranked 96th in the world, came from behind to edge the home player 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 6-4. Dart, ranked 14 places below her opponent, has now made three first-round exits at the Grand Slam. An expectant crowd filled court 12 to watch Dart, who had arrived at the All England Club on the back of a good build-up on grass with quarter-final appearances in Nottingham and Birmingham. The home player quickly fell a double break down but found some rhythm - and a forehand hammered down the line on break point - to win two games in a row and spark the partisan crowd into life. Any nerves in the opening exchanges dissipated as Dart thrived off the crowd's energy, whipping a stunning cross-court backhand to secure another break and level at 5-5. Dart showcased her resilience again after forcing a tie-break, where she came from 3-1 down to edge out an impressive first-set win. Blustery conditions in the second set made it tricky for both players to get a handle on their serving and could have been to blame for some of Dart's shots sailing out of court. The Briton again went 3-0 down, airing her frustrations towards her family and coaches in the crowd and shaking her head at the scoreboard after being penalised for a foot fault. But this time she struggled to regroup, failing to win a game in the second set and struggling with her serve. Dart looked like she might have been able to convert her frustration in the deciding set with an early break. But Parry, who reached the third round at Wimbledon last year, then took charge and even though Dart saved one match point, the Briton then sent a backhand wide to end her hopes of a run at the London tournament, showing her exasperation by smashing her racquet into the grass. This was Dart's fifth appearance in SW19 - having reached the third round in 2019, her best result at any Grand Slam - but after some good preparations on grass she will see this as an opportunity missed. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/D379/production/_130273145_eb2c8399b2d8558628eeff929b73289f61974b15.jpg
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