US Open: The Underdogs

The Grand Slams are usually dominated by the big name players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have 26 Grand Slam titles between them, so it is very rare to see one of the absolute elite not win the tournament. The last time Federer, Nadal or Novak Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam was the US Open in 2009 with Juan Martin Del Potro.

Before that was Marat Safin all the way back in 2005 at the Australian Open. When this does happen, it is a great surprise to many but as a great joy for...

Philip Oliver

US Open 2011 - What's it all about?

As Wimbledon 2011 comes to a close tennis fans are given only a short breather before their excitement regains momentum with the last of the major tennis events of the year appears on the heat rippled horizon of the near future. I'm talking about the US Open Tennis Tournament. So what’s it all about?

The US Open is the fourth major tennis event of the year its annual arrival in late summer signifying the last stage of what is widely known as the Grand Slam cycle. Hosted at the USTA...

Philip Oliver

Wozniacki needs to be careful

Caroline Wozniacki is determined to break her Grand Slam duck at the forthcoming US Open, but is she jeopardising her chances of success by not taking a break?

The Danish star remains world number one but had to withdraw from the Swedish Open last week due to a shoulder problem.

She was facing Sofia Arvidsson and took the first set but was then hit by the injury, forcing her to serve underarm before being advised to quit by a trainer.

Wozniacki leads...

Philip Oliver

Djokovic the man to beat

Newly crowned Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic will certainly head to Flushing Meadows later this summer, as the man to beat. The Serb added the Wimbledon title to the Australian Open trophy he won at the start of the year, and will be hoping to now finish the year with success at the upcoming US Open and the ATP Tour World Finals.

The 24-year-old claimed the world number one spot as he stormed his way to the title at the All-England Club, replacing the man he beat in the final,...

Philip Oliver

British women bow out of French Open

It was great while it lasted but the British female challenge at the French Open came to a predictably abrupt end in the second round at the French Open.
Elena Baltacha and Heather Watson became the first British female pair to make it past the first round in Paris since Jo Durie and Sara Gomer in 1992.

British number one Baltacha's battling 7-5 6-2 over American Sloane Stephens in the first round had raised hopes of an extended run in the tournament. Back in '92 Durie made...

Philip Oliver