bluetornados
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Sept 29, 2023 14:38:42 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Sept 29, 2023 14:38:42 GMT
China Open: Britain's Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans knocked out..
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Britain's number one Cameron Norrie was also knocked out of the Zhuhai Championships quarter-final last weekBritish pair Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans have been defeated in the first round of the China Open men's singles. Britain's number one Norrie, 28, was beaten 4-6 6-1 6-4 by Russia's fifth seed Andrey Rublev. That came after 33-year-old Evans lost 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 to Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner in Beijing. Their defeats end British interest in the men's draw after Andy Murray was knocked out of the first round by Australian Alex de Minaur on Thursday. Having lost the first set, Evans went on to level the match with a tiebreak but Sinner broke at 4-3 and was able to serve out the set for victory. Norrie started well and took the first set but was no match in the second set for the Russian, who went on to complete the win. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/211E/production/_131287480_gettyimages-1697169229.jpg
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bluetornados
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Oct 3, 2023 7:39:20 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 3, 2023 7:39:20 GMT
Australian Open: Grand Slam extends to 15 days in bid to avoid late finishes..
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Andy Murray described his 4am finish as a "farce".The Australian Open will become a 15-day event for the first time in 2024 in an attempt to reduce the number of late-night finishes at Melbourne Park. The tournament's scheduling was questioned in January after Andy Murray described his 4am finish as a "farce". Now the Grand Slam has added a day and will start on Sunday, January 14. A minimum of two matches will be scheduled for day sessions on the main courts, rather than three, to cut the risk of night sessions being delayed. Tournament director Craig Tiley said: "We've listened to feedback from the players and fans and are excited to deliver a solution to minimise late finishes while continuing to provide a fair and equitable schedule on the stadium courts. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/10519/production/_131314866_gettyimages-1246351412.jpg"The additional day will achieve this, benefiting scheduling for fans and players alike. The first round will now be played over three days instead of two." The French Open is also a 15-day tournament, while Wimbledon and the US Open are played over 14 days. The Australian Open has staged five singles matches on each of the two main show courts, Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena, during the opening six days of past tournaments. Three matches took place during the day session from 11am, and two were scheduled from 7pm for the night session. While the minimum number of night matches will remain as two, it is hoped that reducing the minimum day schedule to two matches will prevent the night matches - for which there is separate ticketing - finishing painfully late. This year, Murray's five-set win over Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis in round two started at 22:20 local time and lasted five hours 45 minutes, finishing at 4:05am. The British former world number one said he managed only three hours' sleep following that match before exiting in the next round.
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bluetornados
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Oct 3, 2023 13:39:52 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 3, 2023 13:39:52 GMT
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bluetornados
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Oct 4, 2023 17:00:54 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 4, 2023 17:00:54 GMT
Shanghai Masters: Andy Murray loses to Roman Safiullin in first round..
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Andy Murray is a three-time champion at the Masters 1000 event in ShanghaiBritain's Andy Murray suffered another early exit in the Chinese hard-court swing after losing to Roman Safiullin in the Shanghai Masters first round. Former world number one Murray was beaten 6-3 6-2 in a dominant display from Chengdu finalist Safiullin. The Russian secured early breaks in each set, with 36-year-old Murray became increasingly frustrated. It is Murray's second consecutive first-round defeat after losing at the China Open last week. Murray, who is ranked 40th in the world, lost to Australia's Alex de Minaur in Beijing and, in the previous week, was knocked out in the second round of the Zhuhai Championships by Russia's Aslan Karatsev.
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bluetornados
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Oct 8, 2023 17:41:21 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 8, 2023 17:41:21 GMT
Shanghai Masters: Dan Evans sets up Carlos Alcaraz match but Cameron Norrie loses..
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Evans has lost his three previous meetings with AlcarazBritain's Dan Evans set up a meeting with top seed and world number two Carlos Alcaraz as he advanced at the Shanghai Masters. Evans went through to the last 32 after qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan retired with the Briton 6-2 3-0 ahead. The match had been held over from Saturday because of heavy rain. Evans' fellow Briton Cameron Norrie was beaten in a third-set tie-break by American JJ Wolf. Norrie, the 15th seed, led 3-6 7-5 3-2 with a break when Saturday's rain forced the players off court. On the resumption on Sunday, Norrie served for the match at 5-4 but was broken by the world number 51, who went on to force a tie-break which he took 7-4 to reach the last 32.
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bluetornados
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Oct 9, 2023 21:34:56 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 9, 2023 21:34:56 GMT
Shanghai Masters: Dan Evans beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the third round..
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Evans has lost all four of the matches he has played against Alcaraz
Britain's Dan Evans suffered a defeat by world number two Carlos Alcaraz in a closely fought third-round tie at the Shanghai Masters. Evans was up a break in each set but lost 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 to the Spaniard in nearly two and a half hours. He saved six break points - from 13 in the first set - during a fifth game that lasted nearly 20 minutes before losing the opener on a tie-break. Evans was then broken when serving to stay in the match in the second set. "It was a really tough match," said Alcaraz. "It was one of the toughest matches I have played outside of the Grand Slams. "Every time I play Daniel it is a tricky match and I have to play my best to beat him. Both of us played a high quality of tennis and I am really happy to get through." ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/0BC8/production/_131361030_hi088567604.jpgAlcaraz will play Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Karen Khachanov 7-6 (8-6) 6-4, in the last 16. At the Korea Open in Seoul, Britain's Katie Boulter was beaten 6-4 6-4 in the first round by Kaja Juvan of Slovenia.
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bluetornados
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Oct 11, 2023 8:12:12 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 11, 2023 8:12:12 GMT
Rafael Nadal to make Grand Slam return at Australian Open, CEO Craig Tiley says..
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Rafael Nadal most recently won the Australian Open in 2022Rafael Nadal will make his return to Grand Slam tennis following hip surgery at the 2024 Australian Open, says tournament chief Craig Tiley. Spain's 22-time Grand Slam champion has been out of action since January and underwent surgery in June. Nadal, 37, has said he plans to retire at the end of the 2024 season. Nadal has been sidelined since injuring his hip flexor in a second-round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald at January's Australian Open. In announcing he would miss the French Open for the first time in 19 years - the tournament where he has won 14 of his majors - Nadal said next year will "probably" be the last year of his career. The two-time Australian Open champion claimed his most recent Slam at Roland Garros in 2022. Novak Djokovic has since taken his leading men's tally to 24. While Nadal is back on court, those close to him say that it is too early to confirm whether he will be in Melbourne in January. "We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back," Tiley said. "He's been off for most of the year and in talking to him over the last few days he confirmed he will be back, which we're really excited about, the champion of 2022. That's awesome." ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/4A90/production/_131388091_gettyimages-1238078451.jpg
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bluetornados
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Oct 13, 2023 16:44:45 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 13, 2023 16:44:45 GMT
Billie Jean King Cup: Katie Boulter named in Great Britain team to face Sweden..
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Harriet Dart, who lost to Caroline Garcia when GB faced France in April, has been named in the squad againBritish number one Katie Boulter has been named in the Great Britain squad to face Sweden in the Billie Jean King Cup play-offs on 11th-12th November. Great Britain need to win in order to advance to the 2024 qualifiers and avoid dropping into regional events. World number 52 Boulter is joined by Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Heather Watson for the tie in London. Anne Keothavong's side missed out on a spot in the finals with their 3-1 loss to France in April. Having reached the semi-finals last year, Britain are aiming to keep alive the possibility of reaching the finals again in 2024 with victory at the Copper Box Arena. GB captain Keothavong has picked the four highest-ranked singles players available to her. Keothavong said: "I'm delighted that all our strongest-ranked players have made themselves available. "We are very excited to have yet another opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, especially at the Copper Box Arena where the fans were so instrumental in helping get us over the line when we last played there a few years ago." Great Britain last played a Billie Jean King Cup match at the Copper Box in 2019, when they beat Kazakhstan 3-1. The Billie Jean King Cup was formerly known as the Fed Cup until being renamed in 2020. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/13FE2/production/_131409818_gettyimages-1714583000.jpgKatie Boulter
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bluetornados
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Oct 17, 2023 9:07:56 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 17, 2023 9:07:56 GMT
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bluetornados
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Oct 19, 2023 20:26:34 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 19, 2023 20:26:34 GMT
Boris Becker: Three-time Wimbledon champion to coach world number six Holger Rune..By Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent.
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Boris Becker was pictured in the crowd when Holger Rune played Daniil Medvedev in the final of the 2023 Italian Open in MayThree-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker says he is the new coach of Denmark's world number six Holger Rune. Becker was released early from a UK prison last December having been found guilty of hiding £2.5 million worth of assets and loans to avoid paying debts. The 55-year-old German coached Novak Djokovic from 2013 to 2016, in which time the Serb won six Grand Slams. His new charge Rune, 20, has been tipped as a future Slam champion, but has won only one match since Wimbledon. Rune reached the quarter-finals at SW19 this year, equalling his best run at a major, but lost in straight sets to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. Becker revealed his new role as Rune's coach on a German Eurosport podcast. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/103E9/production/_131473566_gettyimages-1253160998.jpg"It makes me a little proud that he asked me," Becker said. "The contact has existed for a long time. Now it was a very good fit. "My calendar allows it and I have always been interested in Holger because he is on the tennis court with so much commitment and temperament." Six-time Grand Slam winner Becker was jailed for two and a half years in April 2022 after being found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act. Upon his early release, he was deported to Germany and, under the terms of his licence, will not be able to return to the UK before October 2024 - which would prevent him coaching at next year's Wimbledon. Other than his three-season spell working with Djokovic, Becker has spent the majority of his post-playing career as a pundit and commentator for media organisations including the BBC.
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bluetornados
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Oct 20, 2023 8:22:55 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 20, 2023 8:22:55 GMT
Emma Raducanu: British tennis star says 'provoking' questions have contributed to turnover of coaches..
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Raducanu has played only 10 WTA matches this year and is now ranked 280 in the worldFormer British number one Emma Raducanu says her "provoking" and "challenging" questions could explain why she has had a high turnover of coaches. The 2021 US Open winner split with her fifth coach in two years in June when she parted ways with Sebastian Sachs and is yet to confirm a new coach. "I ask my coaches a lot of questions," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "On certain occasions they haven't been able to keep up with the questions I've asked and maybe that's why it ended." The 20-year-old added: "It's something I've always done. I keep provoking and asking questions to coaches and challenging their thinking as well. I'm not someone that you can just tell me what do and I'll do it, I need to understand why and then I'll do it." Raducanu started her career with Nigel Sears, who left shortly after she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in July 2021, before Andrew Richardson guided her to her famous victory at Flushing Meadows a couple of months later. Torben Beltz was appointed in November 2021 but left in April 2022. He was replaced by Dimitri Tursunov, who warned of "red flags" and potential problems if Raducanu continued to listen to too many voices. The Brit has struggled to hit the levels she found when winning the US Open as an 18-year-old and has not played since losing 6-2 6-1 against Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart in April. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/D23A/production/_131481835_gettyimages-1251954017-1.jpgAfter undergoing surgery on both wrists and an ankle in May, Raducanu is hoping to get back into competitive action by the time the new season starts. Her sights are set on climbing back up the rankings, but she also has an ambition to represent Great Britain at the Olympics, although Paris 2024 might come too soon. "Obviously, the Olympics is such a big thing in sport," said Raducanu. "I think I could play another four if I really wanted to, so this one isn't the immediate rush or pressure, it's just about getting back on court. "I love the Slams but I do want to have the Olympic experience. I'll just see how it goes, if I even qualify and how it goes from there."
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bluetornados
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Oct 22, 2023 3:16:26 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 22, 2023 3:16:26 GMT
United Cup: Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans & Katie Boulter in Team GB for January tournament.. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/144D/production/_131479150_gettyimages-1454148218.jpgDan Evans and Cameron Norrie were part of Team GB at the 2023 tournament but will be joined by a new-look team Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Katie Boulter will all be part of the Great Britain team for the 2024 United Cup. Fran Jones and doubles players Neal Skupski and Maia Lumsden complete the British team for the 18-nation mixed event held in Sydney and Perth. Men's world number one Novak Djokovic and women's world number two Iga Swiatek have also entered. The United States won the inaugural tournament, which was played in January. Nine of the world's top 20 men and five of the world's top 10 women will feature including Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova and former world number one Angelique Kerber, who could be making her first appearance since having a baby. Great Britain will enter the competition, beginning on 29th December and ending on 7th January 2024, as one of the top seeded teams. At the last tournament the British team reached the quarter-finals but were knocked out by eventual winners the USA. Countries will be drawn into six groups of three countries and will compete in a round-robin format in teams made up of up to three men and three women. Each city will host three groups of three countries with the group winners plus the best runners-up from each city advancing to the quarter-finals. Unlike the last tournament, each session will include one men's singles and one women's singles match featuring each team's top-ranked singles players, followed by one mixed doubles match with a result determined in one session. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/16254/production/_131480709_bbc-sport-index-imagery-3-split-images-gradient-529e687e-9666-4cfc-928d-1094ed4b99a8.pngDan Evans, Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie |
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bluetornados
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Oct 23, 2023 21:16:45 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 23, 2023 21:16:45 GMT
Davis Cup 2023: Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray named in unchanged British quintet for knockout stages..ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/64BE/production/_131509752_gettyimages-1687279321.jpgGreat Britain have named an unchanged team for November's Davis Cup quarter-final against Serbia in Malaga. Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Andy Murray and Jack Draper bested Australia, Switzerland and France in Manchester last month to qualify. Doubles specialist Neal Skupski also reappears alongside the quartet, who are all ranked inside the world's top 100 singles players. Novak Djokovic is set to feature for Serbia in the tie on 23rd November. "We will go to Malaga with confidence and belief that we can be successful," said captain Leon Smith, whose side are ranked two places higher than their last-eight opponents. "The quarter-final versus Serbia will of course be a big challenge with a team led by world number one Novak Djokovic but we have to believe we can win." Evans and world doubles number 4 Skupski remain captain Leon Smith's preferred doubles partnership. The winners of the tie will advance to the semi-final on Saturday, 25th November. GB last lifted the Davis Cup in 2015, when Murray was part of the team which secured victory over Belgium in the final.
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bluetornados
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Oct 24, 2023 20:53:55 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 24, 2023 20:53:55 GMT
Erste Bank Open: Britain's Dan Evans retires injured against Frances Tiafoe in Vienna..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport.
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Dan Evans was playing superbly against Frances Tiafoe when he suffered the injuryDan Evans limped off court after retiring from his Erste Bank Open match against Frances Tiafoe with a serious-looking calf injury - four weeks before the Davis Cup Finals. The British number two was leading 4-1 in the first round when he pulled up sharply at the baseline. Evans, 33, looked forlorn as he received treatment and it soon became clear he would be unable to continue. On Monday, Evans was named in Britain's team for next month's Davis Cup Finals. Evans was instrumental in helping his nation qualify for the knockout stage of the men's team event and will be hoping the injury is not serious enough to rule him out. Britain take on Serbia in the last eight on 23rd November, with the semi-finals and final taking place later that week in Malaga. Evans was in total command against American world number 14 Tiafoe in Vienna when he appeared to pop his right calf muscle attempting to sprint forward from the baseline. The world number 35 had dominated on serve and troubled the out-of-sorts Tiafoe with his clean returning, taking one of four break points before looking to further close in on the opening set. But early in the sixth game, Evans let out an anguished cry as he spun around in pain and shock. Immediately hopping towards his chair, Evans signalled for treatment and the gravity of the injury left him visibly frustrated. The Briton appeared to tell the physio he could not walk and within moments it was obvious he would not be able to continue. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/170B7/production/_131519349_evans.jpg
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bluetornados
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Oct 24, 2023 20:57:58 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 24, 2023 20:57:58 GMT
Simona Halep: Former world number one appeals to Cas over doping ban..
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Simona Halep has not played in a Grand Slam tournament since a first-round exit at the 2022 US OpenTwo-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her four-year doping ban. An independent tribunal determined the Romanian, 32, had committed "intentional" anti-doping violations. Halep said at the time she would "do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations". The former world number one has been suspended since 7th October 2022 after testing positive for Roxadustat. "In her appeal to the CAS, the athlete requests that the challenged decision be set aside and that her sanction be reduced," a statement from the Swiss court read. If her ban is upheld she will be able to play again on 7th October 2026, by which time she will be 35. Cas, sport's highest court, said the matter will be decided by a panel of arbitrators after a hearing and it was not yet possible to indicate a time frame for the decision. Former world number one Halep tested positive for the use of Roxadustat at last year's US Open, and was also found guilty of using an unspecified prohibited substance or method in 2022 after irregularities were found in her biological passport. The tribunal accepted Halep's argument she had taken a contaminated supplement, but decided that would not have resulted in the concentration of Roxadustat found in her urine sample. Roxadustat is an anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body. "I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance," Halep said in September. "I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban." Halep, who won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon the following year, is the highest-profile tennis player to fail a drugs test since Maria Sharapova in 2016. She has won 24 WTA tour singles titles and earned £32.2m in prize money and was ranked number one in the world in 2017 and 2018.
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bluetornados
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Oct 26, 2023 8:17:12 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 26, 2023 8:17:12 GMT
Andy Murray loses in Basel, Cameron Norrie beaten by Alexander Zverev in Vienna..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport.
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Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray is ranked 40th in the worldAndy Murray was unable to reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final since February after Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry fought back to win a gruelling contest in Basel. Murray, 36, recovered from a slow start to win the first set in 76 minutes. But the Briton ended up losing 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 to the world number 32, who secured victory in over three hours. Former world number one Murray has made a habit this season of being involved in some marathon matches - and the scrap against Etcheverry was another example. Having stopped Etcheverry going 3-0 ahead, the Scot showed all of his trademark tenacity and endurance to keep his opponent locked in long rallies during a tight opening set which could have swung either way. Murray trailed in the tie-break before creating a set point with a superb crosscourt forehand winner and converting his chance with a deft volley. After falling a break down early in the second set, Murray was unable to take three break points as Etcheverry held on in a 16-minute seventh game - which proved key in taking the match to a decider. Almost two and a half hours were already on the clock and both players needed time to catch their breath before Murray succumbed to a fourth break point in another long opening game. Murray continued to pressure the 24-year-old Argentine but became increasingly exasperated - often flinging his racquet to the court - as he was unable to create any more chances. Etcheverry rattled off the final three games and Murray's fourth loss in five matches capped a disappointing night for the British singles players. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/0EE5/production/_131531830_murray.jpgMeanwhile, Cameron Norrie lost 6-2 6-4 against fifth seed Alexander Zverev in his second-round match in Vienna. Norrie, who is ranked as the nation's best player, has struggled for victories in recent months and did not have enough quality to regularly trouble Germany's Zverev. The difference in the quality of serving was a key factor, with Norrie landing only 54% of first serves while 2020 US Open runner-up Zverev was powerful and accurate throughout. A knee injury was another source of concern for Norrie. The left-hander asked for a medical timeout when he trailed 4-3 in the second set and British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith will also be hoping it is not a major problem. Smith, who has named Norrie in his five-man squad for the quarter-final tie against Serbia in Malaga on 23 November, already faces an anxious wait about the extent of a calf injury suffered by Dan Evans on Tuesday.
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bluetornados
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Oct 28, 2023 18:40:50 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 28, 2023 18:40:50 GMT
Cameron Norrie pulls out of Paris Masters but expected to be fit for Davis Cup Finals..By Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport.
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Cameron Norrie made an impressive start to the 2023 season but has won only four of his 15 matches since WimbledonBritish number one Cameron Norrie has pulled out of next week's Paris Masters with a knee injury, but is expected to be fit enough for the Davis Cup Finals. Norrie, ranked 18th in the world, had treatment for the issue during the second set of his defeat by Alexander Zverev in Vienna on Wednesday. Britain already have a fitness concern after Dan Evans suffered a serious-looking calf injury at the same event. GB face Serbia - led by Novak Djokovic - in the quarter-finals on 23rd November. Norrie, 28, remains the nation's leading men's player despite a poor run of form and has been picked by British captain Leon Smith in the same five-man squad, including Andy Murray, which reached the Davis Cup Final Eight. His withdrawal from Paris - the final Masters tournament of the ATP Tour season - is believed to be a precautionary move and is he expected to be fit enough to play alongside his team-mates in Malaga. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/7193/production/_131557092_norrie.jpgThe chances of British number two Evans playing are much less certain. Evans, 33, was leading 4-1 against American opponent Frances Tiafoe in the Vienna first round on Tuesday when he pulled up sharply at the baseline. He looked forlorn as he received treatment and it soon became clear he would be unable to continue in the match. The extent of the injury is set to become clearer in the next few days. Evans was particularly instrumental in securing Britain's spot in the Malaga event, winning crucial matches in both the singles and doubles when the squad beat Australia, Switzerland and France in Manchester last month. If Evans is not fit to play in the Davis Cup, it is likely a doubles player will be called up to feature alongside Norrie, Andy Murray, Jack Draper and Neal Skupski, with Joe Salisbury or Jamie Murray the leading the candidates. Evans has teamed up with Wimbledon champion Skupski to form Smith's preferred doubles team, with the pair fighting back to save four match points before winning a nerve-wracking decider against France.
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Oct 29, 2023 22:16:35 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 29, 2023 22:16:35 GMT
Davis Cup 2023: Britain's Dan Evans to miss Finals with calf injury..
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Dan Evans is currently ranked number 35 in the worldDan Evans has withdrawn from Great Britain's team for the Davis Cup Finals with a calf injury. The 33-year-old had been named alongside Cameron Norrie, Andy Murray, Jack Draper and Neal Skupski to face Serbia in Malaga in November. However, the British number two limped off court at the Erste Bank Open on Tuesday after sustaining the injury. "I will be working hard with my support team to get back to full fitness as soon as possible," Evans said. Britain take on Serbia in the last eight on 23 November, with the semi-finals and final taking place later that week in Malaga. "Unfortunately, as a result of the injury sustained in Vienna, I will not be fit to compete at the Davis Cup finals in a couple of weeks," Evans wrote on social media. "I am extremely disappointed but wish the rest of the GB team all the very best in Malaga." Evans in helping his nation qualify for the knockout stages earlier this year. On Saturday, British number one Cameron Norrie pulled out of next week's Paris Masters with a knee injury, but is expected to be fit enough for the Davis Cup. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/1694F/production/_131559429_gettyimages-1726085418.jpg
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bluetornados
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Tennis
Oct 30, 2023 17:34:01 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Oct 30, 2023 17:34:01 GMT
Paris Masters: Andy Murray smashes racquet after opening round Alex de Minaur loss..
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De Minaur knocked Murray out in the first round of the China Open in Beijing last monthAndy Murray smashed his racquet after suffering an agonising opening-round defeat by Australian Alex de Minaur at the Paris Masters. The 36-year-old fell 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-5 to the world number 13, who he has never managed to beat in six meetings. Murray twice served for the match and missed match point in another gruelling contest lasting just over three hours. It means the Scotsman has still not won a match at the Paris Masters since winning the tournament in 2016. Murray, who has lost five of his last six matches, failed to convert three match points against De Minaur in Beijing last month and this latest loss in Paris is his fourth against the 24-year-old this year. His opponent saved set points before pinching a close opening set with a narrow tie-break victory. Murray recovered with a more assured performance in the second, breaking in the ninth game to level and force a decider. Murray's record against De Minaur this year also includes defeats at Monte Carlo and Queen's, but it looked like the former world number one might break that losing streak after finding himself a double break up in the deciding set. ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/12A77/production/_131570467_gettyimages-1765283979.jpgHe had match point at 5-4 but missed it with a long return and smashed his racquet on the floor in anger after handing De Minaur a break-point opportunity, which he took to level at 5-5. Murray became increasingly exasperated as he knocked the drinks bottles and towel off his bench before failing to hold either of his next two service games and squandering opportunities to force a final set tie-break. He again smashed his racquet on the floor as he sent a return into the net and De Minaur closed out the win. Fellow Briton, Cameron Norrie, pulled out of the tournament with a knee injury but is expected to be fit enough for the Davis Cup Finals on 23rd November.
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bluetornados
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Tennis
Nov 3, 2023 14:53:00 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Nov 3, 2023 14:53:00 GMT
Great Britain's BJK Cup and Davis Cup ties to be shown on BBC Sport..
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Great Britain, captained by Anne Keothavong (right), are aiming to avoid a return to the Europe/Africa regional zone for the first time since 2019Great Britain's bid for success in the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup team events this month will be shown live on BBC Sport. The women's team, led by Katie Boulter, face Sweden in a play-off tie in London on 11th-12th November with a place in next year's BJK Cup qualifiers at stake. Andy Murray is part of the men's squad which travels to Malaga, Spain, for the Davis Cup knockout phase. GB face Serbia - led By Novak Djokovic - in the quarter-finals on 23rd November. Both ties will be shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. What is happening in the BJK Cup?Great Britain v Sweden - Saturday, 11th November at 2pm and Sunday, 12th November at 12pm Great Britain missed out on this year's 12-team BJK Cup Finals after losing to France in a best-of-five qualifier in April, instead going into the play-offs where they were drawn against Sweden. With Emma Raducanu still recovering from wrist and ankle surgeries, British number one Boulter is joined by Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Heather Watson in the squad. The winners of the tie at London's Copper Box Arena will advance to the qualifiers in 2024, while the losers will drop down to the regional Group I stage. The tie consists of five matches - four singles contests, with a deciding doubles if needed. Two singles take place on Saturday, with play starting at 2pm, while the other two and the doubles are on Sunday when play begins at 12pm "We had a really great time at the Copper Box Arena in 2019, securing the win [over Kazakhstan] that saw us return to the World Group for the first time since 1993," Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong said. "The atmosphere was fantastic then, and we hope it can be even bigger and better this month. "We love these weeks we get to come together as a team, especially when it's in front of a home crowd, and on a personal level to have international women's tennis on the doorstep of where I grew up and learnt to play is really special." ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/7C55/production/_131592813_brits.pngWhat is happening in the Davis Cup?Great Britain v Serbia - Thursday, 23rd November at 3pm Britain, who last won the trophy in 2015, reached the Davis Cup Final Eight with a thrilling victory against France in extraordinary circumstances in September. In a round-robin event held in Manchester, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski saved four match points before winning the deciding doubles to book the home side's spot in the quarter-finals in Malaga. Later that week, Leon Smith's team were drawn in the last eight against Serbia. The GB captain initially named the same five-man squad - also including three-time major champion Murray, British number one Cameron Norrie and talented youngster Jack Draper - for the knockout phase. However, British number two Evans - who was instrumental in helping them qualify - has been forced to withdraw after injuring his calf in Vienna last week. Smith has not yet called up a replacement but is likely to bring in a specialist doubles player, with Joe Salisbury and Jamie Murray the leading candidates. If Great Britain beat Serbia, they will play in the semi-finals on Saturday, 25th November at 11am. The tie would be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. The final takes place on Sunday, 26th November at 3pm and the BBC will have live coverage whether GB are involved or not.
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