Ireland's issues, Alcaraz v Sinner & the magic of Wimbledon
Conor breaks down the recent French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner and also delves into the women's game, which is struggling to recapture the attention it commanded during the Williams sisters' era.
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Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Ireland's issues, Alcaraz v Sinner & the magic of Wimbledon
Conor breaks down the recent French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner and also delves into the women's game, which is struggling to recapture the attention it commanded during the Williams sisters' era. If you'd like to get in touch with the show, email us at indosportpodcast@ You can subscribe to our dedicated Indo Sport YouTube page here. Listen on... Spotify Apple Podcasts
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
‘I received some pretty bad news' – Emma Raducanu emotional after Eastbourne win
Amid blustery conditions, the British number one, who missed last week's Berlin Open as she managed a back problem, resumed her Wimbledon preparations with a 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-1 success. Raducanu has been struggling with the issue since competing in Strasbourg before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss at Queen's Club earlier this month. But, aside from a slip and fall on the grass in set one, she came through her opening examination at Devonshire Park unscathed. The 2021 US Open champion produced an emotional response after sealing progression in two hours and 18 minutes with a fine backhand winner. Asked about her reaction, Raducanu, 22, replied: 'I received some pretty bad news, so I would like to keep it personal, if that's OK? 'But it was difficult, very emotional at the end and probably just a release of different emotions.' Raducanu's coach Mark Petchey and her Billie Jean King Cup team-mate Fran Jones were courtside for the match. Victory over world number 64 Li sets up a second-round clash with 19-year-old Australian Maya Joint, who knocked out two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur on Monday. 'It was a physically demanding match,' said seventh seed Raducanu. 'It was pretty difficult and in the wind you are constantly trying to adjust. We had some long rallies, I was running a lot. ADVERTISEMENT 'I feel OK, a little bit of fatigue, a bit of stiffness, but I need to just see how I feel tomorrow.' Earlier, Harriet Dart blew two match points on serve as she slipped to an agonising defeat to reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. Following two suspensions of play in the opening set due to wet weather, the British number four moved to the brink of one of the greatest wins of her career. But Krejcikova, who defeated Jasmine Paolini in last year's Wimbledon final, survived a first-round shock by hitting back to progress 6-3 6-7 (4) 7-5 in two hours and 40 minutes. The second seed will face another Briton in round two following Jodie Burrage's 6-3 6-2 win over Japan's Moyuka Uchijima. Dart did little to hide her frustration at failing to capitalise on the pair of match-clinching opportunities against the 2021 French Open champion, letting out a piercing scream as the following game slipped away. 'Some crazy, crazy conditions today,' said the 28-year-old. 'I was pretty close. I missed a ball on match point and then she played a really good other point on my other match point and then she becomes a bit freer. It was a tough match overall. 'My level was 10 times better than I've played the last two weeks. For me that's more important, especially going to Wimbledon. "Of course, I'd like to have won today. But I was also playing a very experienced, multiple grand slam winner." British number three Sonay Kartal lost 6-3 7-6 (2) to 2021 Eastbourne champion Jelena Ostapenko, while 17-year-old compatriot Mimi Xu was defeated 6-3 6-4 by American world number 35 Peyton Stearns. In the first round of the men's draw, Billy Harris won the battle of the Britons by upsetting Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4. British number two Jacob Fearnley knocked out fifth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-2 6-2. British qualifier George Loffhagen lost 7-6 (6) 3-6 7-6 (1) to American Reilly Opelka, while Ilkley Open runner-up Jack Pinnington Jones went down 4-6 6-3 6-3 to Portuguese eighth seed Nuno Borges.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Emma Raducanu opens up on relationship with Carlos Alcaraz and when they first grew close as they enjoy cosy days out
EMMA RADUCANU has opened up on her relationship with Carlos Alcaraz. Last week it was announced that the superstar pair 7 Emma Raducanu laughed as she was asked about her relationship with Carlos Alcaraz 7 Raducanu, 22, watched Alcaraz in action at Queen's on Saturday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 The British No1 beamed as she took in the action Credit: Shutterstock Editorial And SunSport has The British No1 missed the Spaniard's victory over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday as she had headed to Eastbourne to play in her final event before Wimbledon. Speaking before her round one match against Ann Li, Raducanu lifted the lid on her partnership with Alcaraz. READ MORE IN TENNIS After the world No2 joked that Raducanu "took a while" to give him a response, she said: "I mean, of course, I had to ask my team if they wanted me to play. "But for me, when he asked me, I was going to say yes, I just had to kind of go through the formality of asking my coach, so I didn't just make the decision." When it was put to Raducanu that fans have frequently joked that she and Alcaraz are "destined for each other", the British star laughed and replied: "I'm glad the internet is having fun and we're providing entertainment for everyone." On how they became friends, Raducanu added: "I've known him for years and actually in Wimbledon 2021 it was like kind of the first time I started getting to know him, and I had a good run there and then also again in the US Open in 2021. Most read in Tennis BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 7 Raducanu and Alcaraz have long had a good relationship Credit: Getty 7 The British star is in Eastbourne for her final event before Wimbledon Credit: Getty "And I remember he was always playing the day before me and I was playing like the second day of the round. "And I would see him win and then I would have motivation to win and get myself into that position too. Emma Raducanu sets fans' tongues wagging as she turns up to see Carlos Alcaraz who after makes flattering admission "And I remember he beat Stef [Tsitsipas] in the third round and it was like a big win, his breakout kind of win on a big stage and it was really cool to kind of, I guess, go through that tournament together and then I kept going through the US Open, but we were staying in touch for the whole time and yeah, it's nice." Throughout her career, Raducanu has shown a tendency to rely on people that she knew prior to her US Open success. This has been particularly notable in her coaching choices, with the world No38 often returning to former trainers and confidantes Mark Petchey, Nick Cavaday and Jane O'Donoghue. Further lifting the lid on her connection with Alcaraz, Raducanu went on: "We have a good relationship still. He's obviously overtaken me a lot, but it's nice that we have that from a while ago. "I think for all of us, we really kind of value those connections that we had from when we were young because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age because you're like, that's a real genuine connection. "Because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends but the ones that you've known for a long time mean a lot more to you." Raducanu will take on American Li in round one at Devonshire Park this afternoon. Should she triumph, the home favourite will face Australia's Maya Joint in round two - with a potential rematch with her Wimbledon conqueror from last year Lulu Sun awaiting in the quarter-finals. 7 Raducanu is set to be in Eastbourne action this afternoon Credit: Getty 7 The world No38 has been working with Mark Petcher at Devonshire Park Credit: AFP
