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  • Alex Eala’s enormous popularity compared to Taylor Swift by leading voice

    Alex Eala’s enormous popularity compared to Taylor Swift by leading voice

    Alex Eala stunning popularity means she could already be considered to be a leading star in the game, with Sky Sports Tennis presenter Gigi Salmon comparing her star status to that of Taylor Swift.

    Eala has yet to win a WTA Tour event and is currently ranked at No 31, but her star power has been building since her memorable run to the Miami Open semi-finals last March.

    Her fans back in her Philippines homeland have helped to make Eala one of the most popular players in women’s tennis, with the crowds flocking to her matches and practice sessions during last month’s tournaments in Australia highlighting her status.

    Now Sky Sports lead presented Salmon has given her verdict on what Eala could achieve, as she spoke to at a Sky Sports Tennis event in London.

    “I would say, in terms of her appeal, the crowds that follow her, she might already be the biggest star,” said Salmon.

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    “Coco Gauff said after one of her matches recently that she was really sorry for holding up a match with Alex and promise the fans that she would be out soon. Players are already saying, which they used to say with Roger Federer, I know you didn’t come to support me, but thank you very much.

    “I remember Miami last year. I spoke to her a few times on that run through to the semi-final and the clouds were phenomenal. 
And this year in the Middle East, it’s been sensational.

    “In Dubai, it was a like a pop concert. It was like a Taylor Swift was playing. People were screaming and maybe that can become a burden at some point, but I like the fact that at the moment, she just seems to be flourishing. She thanked them all and she’s a superstar. I just think she’s got everything.”

    Eala was comprehensively beaten in her match against Gauff in Dubai and the question must be whether she can lift her game to the next level and challenge the true greats to the game.

    At the age of 20, she has time on her side to develop her physicality and her presence on court, with Salmon excited to see where she can go in 2026.

    “She hits a big ball,” she added. “She’s training for Rough Nadal Academy, we know she’s done it for a few years, but I think she can go far.”

    Eala spoke to Tennis365 in an exclusive interview last year and she confirmed her fanbase are inspiring her to reach for the stars in the women’s game after her memorable run in Miami last year, which included a famous win against Iga Swiatek.

    Sky Sports Tennis host Gigi Salmon

    Sky Sports Tennis host Gigi Salmon

    Sponsors and media have been clamouring to work with one of the rising stars of the women’s game, in a story that some observers have compared to that of Emma Raducanu after her 2021 US Open win, yet Eala insists she will not allow the hype around her to distract from what she needs to do to reach the top.

    “I think I have done a good job and my team have done a good job of dealing with everything that happened after Miami,” said Eala, speaking exclusively to Tennis365.

    “So many things changed and my perspective has changed since Miami, but my day-to-day life is the same. I have the same work ethic and the same attention to detail.

    “What happened in Miami was definitely a big surprise for me. It’s difficult because I try not to look at it as a big picture thing, as that tournament progressed.

    “I didn’t even look at the draw. I just went match by match because you don’t know how far you are going to get and every round there was another big obstacle.

    “For sure, it gave me a lot of confidence to know that my level is there to play against the top players, but I know there is a lot more for me to do before i can be there consistently.”

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    Eala went on to suggest her family are the most important people in her life and they keep her grounded as the tennis spotlight falls on her once again at Wimbledon this summer.

    “I am lucky that my family played such a big role in my career and they have been so important for me so far,” she told us.

    “They built the structure for me. They built the path I walked on. That was the start I needed to start my career.

    “For me, family is such a crucial part of who I am and from where I come from, we are so family-oriented.”

    Now Eala is relishing the chance to return to grass courts in an English summer that will include her debut in the main draw at Wimbledon.

    “I’m always excited to go back on grass. It’s a very unique experience,” she added. “I haven’t played enough on it to form a solid opinion on the surface, but I definitely enjoy it.

    “We do not have many grass courts in the Philippines. I probably only played on grass when I was hitting the ball around in a back yard!”

    READ NEXT: Alexandra Eala makes honest confession as she compares herself to Iga Swiatek

    Watch the WTA 1000 tournaments Indian Wells and Miami live on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and Ireland.

    The post Alex Eala’s enormous popularity compared to Taylor Swift by leading voice appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Daniil Medvedev gives ‘unusual’ update as he is unable to leave Dubai due to conflict

    Daniil Medvedev has declared that “no one knows” when he will be able to leave Dubai due to the cancellation of flights amid conflict in the Middle East.

    The former world No 1 secured his 23rd ATP Tour title without having to play the Dubai Championships final on Saturday as his scheduled opponent Tallon Griekspoor was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.

    Prior to Griekspoor’s withdrawal, the final at the ATP 500 tournament in the United Arab Emirates had been due to go ahead on Saturday night despite the situation in the Middle East.

    On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel launched joint air strikes on various locations in Iran.

    Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

    Medvedev, Griekspoor, and the players involved in the doubles final in Dubai, have been unable to leave the city on flights as the UAE has closed its airspace.

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    Main draw action at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, California will get underway on 4 March, and it is unclear when the players stuck in Dubai will be able to travel to the United States.

    Medvedev, who was a runner-up in Indian Wells in 2023 and 2024, is due to be seeded 11th at this year’s edition of the prestigious event.

    What has Daniil Medvedev said about his situation in Dubai?

    Medvedev, who is with his family and support team in Dubai, has given an update on their situation in a video to Russian outlet More!.

    “Of course, the situation is unusual. The airspace is closed, no one knows when we’ll be able to fly,” said the 30-year-old Russian, who won the US Open in 2021.

    “It’s unclear how long this will last, so we’re just waiting to see what happens in the next few hours and days. The airport closure is being gradually postponed.

    “As strange as it may sound, I’m very emotional on the court, but in life, it would probably help me to be more emotional at certain moments. For me, everything is fine.

    “Naturally, I’ve received a lot of messages from friends and acquaintances; everyone is worried. But I can say for myself that everything is fine.”

    READ NEXT: Daniil Medvedev reacts after breaking ATP 500 title drought via walkover

    The post Daniil Medvedev gives ‘unusual’ update as he is unable to leave Dubai due to conflict appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Tim Henman reveals the tactics needed to beat Jannik Sinner – but it’s easier said than done

    Tim Henman reveals the tactics needed to beat Jannik Sinner – but it’s easier said than done

    Beating Jannik Sinner has proved to be one of the most daunting challenges in tennis over the last couple of years, but former British No 1 Tim Henman believes the blueprint to beat the Italian has been revealed.

    Sinner heads into a big month of action at the ATP tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, with the world No 2 set to be presented with a great chance to close the gap on his big rival Carlos Alacarz in the rankings.

    After winning two Grand Slam titles for the last two seasons, Sinner has started 2026 with a couple of disappointments after he lost against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals and was they beaten by Jakub Mensic in the Qatar Open.

    Those defeats have sparked some observers to suggest Sinner’s rivals are uncovering an effective game plan against him, with Henman suggests the route to success against Sinner is easy to describe and very difficult to execute.

    Speaking exclusively to Tennis365 at a Sky Sports event in London, the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist believes Alcaraz, Djokovic and Mensic highlighted what is needed to beat the reigning Wimbledon champion.

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    “The way to play Sinner is very easy when you talk about it. Your serve aces and you hit winners,” said Henman, speaking exclusively to Tennis365.

    “That is easier said than done, of course, and the reason there is a gap between Alcaraz and Sinner is their level is so consistently high.

    “What we saw at the Australian Open was the difference between Alcaraz and Sinner in their two matches against Novak Djokovic.

    “Sinner has been the best player on hard courts for the last couple of years and even when Djokovic was pushing him, he didn’t change his game. He backed himself to win and he came up short.

    “He tried to fight fire with fire and was just going for it. If anything, that played into Djokovic’s hands.

    “Then you look at the final against Alcaraz and when Djokovic wins the first set 6-2, you are thinking maybe this can happened and Grand Slam No 25 is coming for Djokovic, but Alcaraz did have the variation in his game to change his tactics and he turned the match around.

    “He started playing with more hight on the ball, used his slice backhand and found a way to win.”

    Tim Henman and Kevin Palmer

    Tim Henman with Tennis 365’s Kevin Palmer

    Former British No 1 Laura Robson also spoke to Tennis365 about Sinner, as she laughed off suggestions the Italian is struggling after his two defeats in 2026.

    “Everyone would love to have a Sinner-style crisis,” Robson told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview at a Sky Sports Tennis event in London.

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    “I think we all just read too much into every result those guys have if they lose because it happens so infrequently. It’s like the world is ending. I’m pretty sure they will be just fine.

    “He went straight to America after losing in Qatar to get ready for Indian Wells and I’m sure he will be fine when he gets on court again.”

    READ NEXT: Tim Henman sends out a warning to Emma Raducanu as he makes ‘overtaken’ claim

    The post Tim Henman reveals the tactics needed to beat Jannik Sinner – but it’s easier said than done appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Novak Djokovic warned his hopes of winning 25th Grand Slam title may be ‘nigh on impossible’

    Novak Djokovic silenced his doubters with a stunning win against Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open in January, but was that his last big chance to win the 25th Grand Slam title he has been chasing for over two years?

    The Serbian legend struggled in the early rounds of the first Grand Slam of the year and looked to be on his way out until injury halted Lorenzo Musetti’s march in what had been a one-sided quarter-final in favour of the Italian.

    Djokovic stunned the sporting world when he bounced back from that near miss to beat Sinner in a five-set thriller and he then took the opening set against Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

    In the end, the younger man roared back to win his first Australian Open title and complete a career Grand Slam, leaving Djokovic to ponder if his moment to win a final major had passed him by.

    That is also a question being pondered by Sky Sports Tennis lead commentator Jonathan Overend, who admits he doubts whether Djokovic can beat Alcaraz and Sinner and in back-to-back five set matches at this stage of his career.

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    “Djokovic is the next best to Alcaraz and Sinner and at the age of 38, that is a frightening thought and highlights what he is still doing,” said Overend, in an exclusive interview with Tennis365.

    “I suppose the question now is, was that the moment? Was that the opportunity? 
Is that what he needed? You look at the chance he had. Sinner was out and [Alexander] Zverev was so close to beating Alcaraz in his semi-final. If Djokovic played Zvere in the final, he is probably favourite to win that match.

    “To beat Sinner and Alcaraz in back-to-back matches is tough, nigh on impossible, but that tournament tells you all you need to know about why he is still going.”

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    Overend was backing Alexander Bublik to make an impact at the top of the game prior to the start of the 2026 season, but he admits the chasing pack are still along way behind the ‘Big 3’ of Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic at the top of the men’s game.

    “You look at Alexander Zverev serving for the match against Alcaraz at the Australian Open and you have to say he was so close and yet still so far away,” he added.

    “In a way, it was predictable what happened in that service game and that told me he is still so far away from breaking his duck, which is why I say Djokovic is still the main challenger to Alcaraz and Sinner.

    “
You’re looking at players who can disrupt, who can get a win, you know, a bit like [Botic] van de Zandschulp against Alcaraz a couple of years ago [at the US Open], even though admittedly Alcaraz now has stabilised in the early rounds of Slams.

    “You’re thinking, who could take Alcaraz or Sinner out early? And is that more likely than a Zverev, for example, winning at the back end of a Slam? 
I still think that is more likely,

    “I think the pressure is on those younger players coming through. The big challenger to Sinner Alcarez? We might not know about them yet.”

    READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic closing in on eye-watering prize money total as he prepares to return

    The post Novak Djokovic warned his hopes of winning 25th Grand Slam title may be ‘nigh on impossible’ appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Has Carlos Alcaraz distanced himself from Jannik Sinner? Former world No 3 issues clear verdict

    Former world No 3 David Ferrer has declared that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are “always very close” and claimed no players are capable of beating the leading duo at Grand Slams.

    Alcaraz is top of the ATP Rankings with 13,550 points after winning the Australian Open and the Qatar Open in a sensational start to the 2026 season.

    World No 2 Sinner is 3,150 points adrift of Alcaraz with 10,400 points after falling short of the remarkably high standards he has set for himself so far this year.

    The Italian fell to Novak Djokovic in a five-set semi-final at the 2026 Australian Open, and he was upset by Jakub Mensik in a three-set quarter-final at the Qatar Open last month.

    In an interview with Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Ferrer was asked if Alcaraz had distanced himself from Sinner after his rival’s defeats in Melbourne and Doha.

    “Carlos and Jannik are always very close to me,” said Ferrer (translated from Italian).

    “As we’ve seen in recent seasons, they fuel each other, and that’s how they continue to improve.

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    “In Australia, Djokovic played very well, even in the final against Alcaraz. We mustn’t forget that he had energy and has won 24 Grand Slam titles: in one-off matches, I’m not surprised he can still compete.

    “That said, I don’t see any players capable of beating Sinner and Alcaraz in Grand Slams; they’re the strongest, especially in the important moments.

    “After the Australian Open, Carlos will have more confidence, but already in Indian Wells and Miami, we know that Sinner can play very well.

    “It’s a very difficult prediction to say who will be stronger between the two, just like it was with Roger [Federer], Novak, and Rafa [Nadal].”

    Alcaraz, 22, secured his seventh Grand Slam title at the 2026 Australian Open, and Ferrer was asked if his Spanish compatriot could surpass Djokovic’s record tally of 24 majors.

    “I can’t see the future (laughs),” said Ferrer, who is a 27-time ATP Tour titlist.

    “Right now, it’s clear that if there are two players who can reach the numbers of the Big Three, they’re Alcaraz and Sinner, especially with 10 or 15 years of career ahead of them.

    “But more and more players will arrive, and we don’t know how many will be able to seriously challenge them.”

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    The post Has Carlos Alcaraz distanced himself from Jannik Sinner? Former world No 3 issues clear verdict appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Daniil Medvedev reacts after breaking ATP 500 title drought via walkover

    Daniil Medvedev said he was treating his semi-final victory as “a final” after a walkover handed him his first ATP 500 title in three years.

    Medvedev won the 23rd ATP title of his career without even playing the final match after the unseeded Tallon Griekspoor had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury in his left leg.

    While a win on court would have been the more preferable route to the title, Medvedev was not bothered having secured his first ATP 500 title since his win at the Dubai Tennis Championship in February 2023.

    “Of course it’s a shame,” he said. “Yesterday I saw that Tallon might have an injury. You never know how these injuries develop overnight. Sometimes they ease up and you can play, even if you’re in some pain. Sometimes they get worse, so I guess it got worse.

    “There’s nothing I can do about it. I played a great tournament, all four matches I played. Of course I wanted to play the final, but it is what it is.

    “Yesterday I played an incredible match [against Felix Auger Aliassime], so I’ll treat it like a final for myself and I’m happy to win the tournament.”

    Griekspoor said he picked up the injury during his semi-final match and was at the hospital on Saturday morning to have scans.

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    “I have been better, that’s for sure,” Griekspoor said during the trophy ceremony. “Unfortunately, I hurt myself during the semi-finals.

    “I went to the hospital this morning and had a couple of scans, which showed something serious. It kept me from coming on court tonight and will keep me from the court in the coming weeks.”

    The result also marked a bit of personal history for Medvedev as for the first time in his career, he won the same event twice.

    “That’s what is crazy about it,” Medvedev said.

    “I never did it in any city in the world, and the first time I do it, it’s [via] a walkover… We knew before the start of the week, the way I was practising, I couldn’t miss a ball.

    “We knew it was going to be a great week. It was a great week and I’m looking forward to the next tournaments to come.”

    READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu and Mark Petchey ‘have the same ideas’ as renewed partnership backed by former star

    The post Daniil Medvedev reacts after breaking ATP 500 title drought via walkover appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Daniil Medvedev & Tallon Griekspoor’s Dubai Championships prize money & ranking points revealed

    Daniil Medvedev has officially lifted the 23rd ATP Tour title of his career at the Dubai Tennis Championships, though not in the circumstances he would have hoped for.

    Third seed and world No 11 Medvedev has been in impressive form in Dubai this year and was set to face the unseeded Tallon Griekspoor in the final of the ATP 500 event on Saturday, twelve months after meeting at the quarter-final stage of the event.

    Griekspoor had stunned Medvedev in three sets on that occasion during a surprise run to the semi-final, and the Dutchman has again defied the odds in Dubai this week.

    The world No 25 had beaten second seed Alexander Bublik, sixth seed Jakub Mensik, and fifth seed Andrey Rublev to reach the final in Dubai, though he was notably struggling physically during his semi-final on Friday.

    And, the 29-year-old has now unfortunately had to pull out of Saturday’s final due to injury — automatically handing the title to Medvedev.

    Medvedev has now won 23 ATP Tour singles titles and has lifted the Dubai title for the second time, after his previous victory in 2023.

    It is the first time that the former world No 1 has ever repeated as a champion at any event, bringing a historic streak of 22 titles at 22 different events to an end.

    Here, we look at the prize money and ranking points that both Medvedev and Griekspoor will take home for their efforts.

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    What prize money and ranking points were on offer?

    A not-insignificant amount of ranking points was on offer at the tournament this year, with Medvedev now taking home 500 points for lifting the title.

    Having earned 100 ranking points for his quarter-final finish twelve months ago, the Russian’s ranking points tally will increase by 400 points on Monday, rising from 2,960 to a total of 3,360.

    Medvedev will remain as the world No 11, though he is now within touching distance of a return to the top 10.

    For his run to the final, Griekspoor has earned 330 ranking points, up from the 200 points earned for reaching the semi-final of the event last year.

    That sees the Dutchman rise from 1,665 points to 1,785 points, and he is currently projected to remain as the world No 25 next Monday.

    For lifting the title, Medvedev will take home an impressive $461,835 in winnings from Dubai.

    Meanwhile, after reaching the final, Griekspoor will earn $248,480 in prize money after reaching the sixth ATP final of his career. 

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    Read Next: ATP Indian Wells entry list, ranking points, prize money, key dates: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic star

    The post Daniil Medvedev & Tallon Griekspoor’s Dubai Championships prize money & ranking points revealed appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu and Mark Petchey ‘have the same ideas’ as renewed partnership backed by former star

    Former British No 1 and WTA star Laura Robson believes Emma Raducanu and returning coach Mark Petchey share the “same ideas” about how the former US Open champion should play on court.

    World No 25 Raducanu has turned to Petchey for the upcoming WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells, with action in Tennis Paradise starting next week.

    An acclaimed coach and pundit, and a former professional player himself, Petchey has been a trusted figure for Raducanu for several years.

    Petchey initially worked with the 23-year-old back when she was a teenager, and also spent time coaching Raducanu during spells of her 2025 season.

    The latest reunion between the two comes after Raducanu had split with Francisco Roig following a six-month partnership, the pair heading their separate ways after a disappointing Australian Open campaign.

    The world No 25 has been working with Alexis Canter since then and reached the final of the Transylvania Open in Cluj, though she was affected by illness during a disappointing swing in the Middle East.

    It is currently unclear how long Raducanu and Petchey will be back working together before the Brit hires a new permanent coach.

    However, speaking to Sky Sports this week, former top-30 player and tennis pundit Robson revealed just why Raducanu and Petchey were a good fit.

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    She said: “I think we make such a big deal out of the coaching situation and as long as she [Raducanu] is feeling happy on the court, as long as she’s confident out there then that’s half the job done, and that’s what coaches try and bring out in you when you do have one.

    “She obviously gets on really well with Petch. They’ve been on and off for a fair few years now and it’s someone she knows. They have the same ideas. They agree on so much that she needs to bring out there, so why not?

    “As long as you’ve got someone who’s taking care of the boring stuff like the logistics of booking practice, finding someone to practice with, racket re-strings — all of that. As long as that’s taken care of, then you can just focus on trying to play.

    “They have the same identity of how both of them feel she should be as a player.”

    Raducanu has lost her three most recent matches on the WTA Tour, falling to Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final, before retiring with illness against Camila Osorio at the Qatar Open, and then tasting defeat to Antonia Ruzic at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

    She will look to return to winning ways and find some strong form in Indian Wells next week, with the world No 25 set to be seeded at the prestigious tournament for the first time since 2022.

    Raducanu reached the fourth round of the event in 2023 and progressed to round three in 2022 and 2024, though was beaten in the opening round by Moyuka Uchijima in 2025.

    However, by being seeded, she will receive an opening-round bye this year.

    Action in Indian Wells will then be followed by the second half of the ‘Sunshine Double’ at the Miami Open, where Raducanu was a quarter-finalist under Petchey’s guidance last March.

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    Read Next: Exclusive – Tim Henman sends out a warning to Emma Raducanu as he makes ‘overtaken’ claim

    The post Emma Raducanu and Mark Petchey ‘have the same ideas’ as renewed partnership backed by former star appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Tim Henman sends out a warning to Emma Raducanu as he makes ‘overtaken’ claim

    Emma Raducanu has dispensed with the services of another coach, with the debate over what comes next for the British No 1 raging as she prepares to play in the WTA 1000 event at Indian Wells.

    Raducanu confirmed she had parted ways with Francisco Roig after the Australian Open, as the 23-year-old suggested she wants to deploy more aggressive tactics from the back of the court.

    She has called on the services of her former coach Mark Petchey for the upcoming WTA 1000 tournament at Indian Wells, but this is set to be a short term solution to her coaching problem.

    Now Tim Henman has joined the debate, with the former British No 1 not convinced the 2021 US Open champion needs to hire a full-time coach immediately, as he reflected on his own journey as a reference point.

    “Maybe she is better off not having a coach and embracing that sort of freedom. She talks about wanting to own her identity – well, own it then,” Henman told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview at a Sky Sports Tennis event in London.

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    “I had a couple of occasions in my career when I didn’t have a coach and I really enjoyed those periods.

    “There may come a time six or nine months down the line, where she needs a bit of input and she might be struggling, but it’s not necessarily a bad idea not to have a coach for a period of time.

    “From what we’ve seen over the last three or four years, coaches don’t last long. That’s her choice.”

    Henman went on to suggest the expectations around Raducanu as not misplaced, as he argued the 2021 US Open champion is good enough to compete at the top level of the sport and she needs to ensure she is not usurped by younger players coming up the rankings and threatening to move past her.

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    “She’s 23, you know, and there’s plenty of 18, 19, 20-year-olds now on the tour, who are overtaking her,” added Henman.”You can’t stand still, but she’s still very good player.

    “It’s just my belief, and I think a lot of other people’s belief that she could be a lot better. 
And that’s an exciting, that’s an exciting thing. There’s no doubt that the scrutiny is a lot more for Emma than others, but she is used to that now.

    “She’s 25 in the world, but a lot of us believe she can be a lot better. It will be exciting to see whether she can make that step now.

    “It has been too stop start. Whether it is a change of coach or a physical setback. She has to become physically more resilient to be faster and stronger to compete with the biggest hitters.”

    Raducanu has a chance to make some strides up the WTA Ranking list if she can string some wins together in Indian Wells and she will then have plenty of points to defend at the Miami Open later in March, where she was a quarter-finalist last year.

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    The post Tim Henman sends out a warning to Emma Raducanu as he makes ‘overtaken’ claim appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Jannik Sinner ‘crisis’ put into perspective by former British No 1

    Jannik Sinner ‘crisis’ put into perspective by former British No 1

    The incredibly high standards set by Jannik Sinner over the last couple of years mean any minor dip in fortunes comes as a surprise, but former British No 1 Laura Robson has dismissed suggestions that the Wimbledon champion is in the midst of a mini crisis.

    Sinner was beaten by Novak Djokovic in a shock result at the Australian Open last month and he then lost against Jakub Mensic in the Qatar Open last week.

    The level of dominance Sinner and Alcaraz have developed over their rivals means any defeat for the duo sends shockwaves through tennis, but Robson has laughed off claims that Sinner is looking vulnerable heading into the ATP 1000 events at Indian Wells and Miami in March.

    “Everyone would love to have a Sinner-style crisis,” Robson told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview at a Sky Sports Tennis event in London.

    “I think we all just read too much into every result those guys have if they lose because it happens so infrequently. It’s like the world is ending. I’m pretty sure they will be just fine.

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    “He went straight to America after losing in Qatar to get ready for Indian Wells and I’m sure he will be fine when he gets on court again.”

    Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski joined Robson in playing down concerns over Sinner’s form, as he offered up this verdict on the latest edition of his podcast.

    “I’m not worried about Sinner at the majors,” said Rusedski. “We’re seeing more variety in his game and we got to give respect to the rest of the tour,” he said on his Off Court with Greg Rusedski podcast.

    “He’s lost matches back to back, having not won a tournament. This is a rarity,” began Rusedksi. “Is he losing form? Is he losing confidence? Are players figuring him out? I’m not so sure. It’s a minor blip in my opinion.”

    “Look at Novak Djokovic. He was the only man who won three back-to-back Australian Open. Jannik Sinner was trying to do the same. If you look at every category statistically for that match [semi-final at the Australian Open], Sinner won every category apart from the final point of the match, which went to Novak Djokovic.

    “Novak came up with an incredible performance to find a way to win that match. On paper, it didn’t look like it was going to happen. And we’re talking about two players in the beginning of the year, Hubert Hurkacz and Mensic who we said, watch out for those two.

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    “Mensic when he’s on form moving well, nobody wants to play him and let’s not forget this time of year He starts to play really well last year.

    “He beat a certain guy by the name of Novak Djokovic in the Miami final. So you got to take it with a little bit of a pinch of salt here. Sinner could have easily have won that one, but Mensic played the big points so so well.”

    Sinner has a chance to eat into Carlos Alcaraz’s lead at the top of the ATP Rankings over the next couple of events, as he has no points to defend from this time last year after he missed this period of 2025 as he served a three-month suspension for a doping offence.

    Laura Robson is a Sky Sports Tennis analyst

    Laura Robson is a Sky Sports Tennis analyst

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