Latest news with #SimonBriggs
Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Live Jack Draper vs Brandon Nakashima: Score and latest updates from Queen's quarter-final
Latest updates Simon Briggs Tennis Correspondent, at Queen's Club. live updates 20 June 2025 2:36pm 2:36PM Nakashima* 4 Draper 5 Draper wastes a brilliant return by blasting a forehand wide. Put too much on it. A good serve and it;s 30-love. Draper returns well again and stays patient at the baseline this time. The tactic pays off a Nakashima goes too deep with his backhand. 15-30. Great defence by Draper, who returned a vicious kicking serve. Nakashima has an open-court volley but nets it! 30-all. Fantastic cross-court backhand from Draper finds the corner and brings up set point. Nakashima unleashes a massive second serve into Draper's body. Ballsy on set-point. 'Good serve' says Draper sportingly. Draper batters the second serve this time, which was slower than the last. Advantage Draper. A good serve restores deuce. What a passing shot that is from Draper. Nakashima plays a lovely deep volley from the net and Draper looks beaten all ends up. Somehow, though, he fashions a top-spin pass that curves out of court an then back in again at the last second. Another set point. Nakashima plays two commanding service points to earn Advantage. He is coming more the net now, putting Draper under pressure to come up with miracle shots. Draper nets a regulation forehand and the American holds on to stay alive. Nakashima holds serve. 2:27PM Nakashima 3 Draper* 5 New balls. A food serve is returned by Nakashima but he can't get back Draper's follow-up drive. Draper goes long for 15-all. Two powerful serves the latter an arcing effort that sends Nakashima wide, gives the Briton 40-15. Draper serves out with ease. Draper holds serve. 2:24PM Nakashima* 3 Draper 4 Four good serves including a ferocious ace at the end earn Nakashima a quick and easy love game – in stark contrast to the last. Nakashima holds serve. 2:22PM Nakashima 2 Draper* 4 A good return from Nakashima is reached by Draper but he can't quite lift his attempted pass over the net. A poor forehand by Draper hands the world No 32 cheap point. 0-30. A big serve elicits a 'Come on' from Draper, but now he's two reak points down after a double-fault. Lovely tennis by Draper saves the first of them, he sends the American left and right and then brings him to the net with another drop shot before firing into the en court. Two good serves and more 'Come ons' and it's advantage to the British No 1 Draper performs another drop shot which Nakashima does really well t reach. Draper just misses with his attempted cross-court forehand pass. Deuce. A bad choice of drop shot that time and Nakashima ties Draper up with a big forehand into his body. Advantage Draper. This time Draper races to the net after two nice approach shot and savages deuce. The fastest serve of the match at 135kph gives Draper game point. But Draper hits Nakashima's return into the tramlines for deuce. A big serve by Draper brings up Advantage. And another one gives him a hard-earned game. Draper digs himself out of a hole despite some suspect shot selections. Draper holds serve. 2:12PM Nakashima* 2 Draper 3 Draper tries to punish Nakashima's slower second serve but hits well wide. 15-0. Draper foils his opponents with whipped forehand that drops on the line at the last second. 15-15. Fantastic return by Draper even gets the applause of Nakashima. 15-30. Draper is in the zone now and hits a vicious passing shot down the line for two break points. Nakashima saves them both with a big serve and an unforced error from Draper. The American catches Draper on his heels with a deep cross-court forehand, and Nakashima serves out well to survive the scare. Nakashima holds serve. 2:08PM Nakashima 1 Draper* 3 Draper loses the first point but redeems himself with a nasty body serve. Nakashima sends three backhands long from the baseline in successive points to give Draper the game to 15. Draper holds serve. 2:03PM Nakashima* 1 Draper 2 Nakashima begins with a double-fault and then is unable to return a ferocious Draper forehand. 0-30. Two monster serves bring the game back to parity, but the American commits another double-fault for break point. Nakashima saves it after a long rally i which Draer returned brilliantly and then stayed in the rally, only to get over eager and hit a forenah into the tramlines. Another fine serve gives Advantage to the American, but Draper puts the pressure on with some pulverising forehands forcing his opponent to net. Nakashima takes the initiative with a big serve but it's deuce again after Draper executes a sneaky drop-shot that Nakashima reaches but can only net. Outstanding rally as Draper earns himself another break-point. Both players teased with the baseline and the sidelines but Draper takes the point with an emphatic smash. Nakashima saves himself with another serve – measured at 131kph. Another entertaining rally concluded by Draper with a lovely drop shot from the baseline, which he follows up with a neat volley. Break point number three. And Nakashima gets it all wrong, mishitting a regulation forehand to hand Draper the first break of serve. Draper is looking smooth and confident here in the early stages. I saw him on the balcony yesterday and he said he was feeling better, after dealing with a heavy cold early in the week. Getting through the Popyrin second-round match on Wednesday was a decent effort in the circumstances. Nakashima, on paper, is the sort of match you want, because he gives you rhythm and he doesn't have Popyrin's point-ending power. But he is a very crafty player nevertheless, and his serve is deceptively strong. Draper breaks serve. 1:53PM Nakashima 1 Draper* 1 A nice start by Draper who fires down an unreturnable serve and then coaxes Nakashima into hitting long n the next point. A big serve brings up 40 love and he fires a delightful forehand winner down the line for a solid hold. Draper holds serve. 1:51PM Nakashima* 1 Draper 0 Nakishima gets the match under way and begins convincingly, serving a couple of rocket serves that Draper cannot return. When he does get the ball back in play a ling rally ensues with both players hitting hard and deep and Nakashima hitting the tramlines. He serves another missile for 40-15 and then delivers an impressive second serve to take the game with ease. Nakashima holds serve. 1:43PM Nakashima to land another home blow? Draper came though a really tight match against Alexei Popyrin in the last round, coming from a set down to win 3-6, 6-2, 7-6, changing his racket in the middle of the final-set tie-break. Today's opponent Brandon Nakashima is a big-serving American who looks at home on grass. The world No 32 already has one British scalp to his name, having beaten Dan Evans in two closely contested sets in the previous round. Nakashima is the latest in a growing list of impressive American tennis players. coming in the wake of Tommy Paul, who won this event last year, and Taylor Fritz, the world No 4. The 23-yeaar-old is not to be underestimated.
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Lorenzo Musetti vs Carlos Alcaraz: Score and updates from French Open semi-final
Latest updates Simon Briggs Tennis Correspondent, at Roland Garros. Tom Ward 06 June 2025 1:50pm 1:50PM Musetti* 1-1 Alcaraz It really is nice to see a one-handed backhand – a delightful throwback to an era more based on precision than power. Though you can see how it causes problems for Musetti on this surface, especially when Alcaraz is able to generate plenty of top spin to the Italians backhand. Alcaraz slaps a wonderful forehand winner – the sort of short he was looking for on break point in the previous game – en route to a relatively easy hold. *denotes next server 1:45PM Musetti 1-0 Alcaraz* Serving is going to key for Musetti this afternoon as getting into extended baseline exchanges with Alcaraz in unlikely to end all that well. A case in point there as Alcaraz gets on top early in a rally, forcing Musetti to go long with a backhand and getting to 30-30. Alcaraz then finds a wicket, kicking forehand to Musetti's one-handed backhand, drawing another error and the a first break point. He nets though with the point at his mercy and the Italian has another chance to get out of this first service game unharmed. He does by taking the next two points. *denotes next server 1:37PM A curious hush As I mentioned, there are still plenty of empty seats on Philippe-Chatrier at present and thus a rather strange hush has descended over the court. Not what you'd expect ahead of a Grand Slam semi-final but things will bubble up once we get underway. 1:34PM 'It is all about belief' Musetti has lost his last three meetings on clay against Alcaraz, including twice this season, but is has played some of the best tennis of his career at Roland Garros over the last week and a half. 'It is all about belief for Musetti,' says Tim Henman in TNT Sports. 1:32PM Here come the players The roof is closed on Court Phillipe-Chatrier this afternoon. There are still plenty of people yet to take their seats but there's plenty of noise for Musetti as he's introduced. The Italians are here and making themselves known. 1:26PM Nice little stat A little pre-match nugget for you all, this afternoon marks the first time that two Italian men have appeared in the semi-finals of a grand slam in the Open era. 1:15PM Olympics parallel Alcaraz and Musetti at last summer's Olympics with Novak Djokovic – who plays Jannik Sinner in the second semi-final later this evening. 2024 Olympic medalists 🤝 2025 Roland-Garros semi-finalists #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2025 1:11PM The best yet to come for Alcaraz If there were lingering questions about Alcaraz's ability to match the efficiency of top seed Jannik Sinner after a couple of unconvincing matches at Roland Garros, they were emphatically dismissed by the second seed when he crushed American Tommy Paul last time out. The four-times Grand Slam winner will head to Court Philippe Chatrier as the firm favourite on the back of five straight victories over Italian Musetti since losing a three-set thriller in the 2022 Hamburg final. 'Carlos has always had the level, the problem is it's hard to produce it in every match,' the Spaniard's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero said. 'We know when he plays positively, bravely, when he plays without fear, he's a player with a potential that is still yet to be realised. 'But you also have to see the other side of it: pressure, tension, fear, difficulties, opponents, a tournament you want to win more than others, the importance we all put on it ... all these things also come into play.' 1:09PM 'It's going to be a great watch' This will be their seventh meeting in what could blossom into a big rivalry. The 23-year-old Musetti beat Alcaraz on clay in the 2022 Hamburg final, but has lost five straight matches to him since then, including three on clay. The 22-year-old Alcaraz is chasing a second French Open title and fifth major overall. Alcaraz beat Musetti twice on clay this season — in the Italian Open semifinals and the Monte Carlo Masters final. 'He just joined a really short (list) that made at the least the semifinals of the big events in the clay season,' Alcaraz said. 'It's going to be great for the people to watch.'
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Live Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek: Score and updates from French Open semi-final
Latest updates Simon Briggs Tennis Correspondent, at Roland Garros. Live updates. Rob Bagchi 05 June 2025 4:12pm 4:12PM Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 4-6, 1-0 Swiatek (denotes server) A good return from Swiatek has Sabalenka on her heels and she nets for 15-all. Swiatek again returns well but changes her mind at the last second with the open court at her mercy to net. 30-15. A long rally ensues and as Sabalenka comes to the net Swiatek creams a passing shot for 30-all. A glorious forehand pass down the line from Sabalenka brings up 40-30, and she blasts an unreturnable serve down the middle to win the game. 4:08PM Sabalenka 7-6(1), 4-6 Swiatek* (denotes server) Sabalenka gets the first serve back but nets a regulation forehand and swears at herself for such carelessness. Sabalenka hastens to the net after playing a drop shot but you have to execute better against the fastest player in the womens' game. A short exchange at the net follows which Swiatek wins. A lovely pass brings up three set points for Swiatek, the first of which she converts after sending Sabalenka scampering every which way, with a selection of perfectly places groundstrokes. It's one set all. 4:03PM Sabalenka 7-6(1), 4-5 Swiatek* (denotes server) Sabalenka moves 15-0 up but fails to do with a moonball from Swiatek, driving a volley a mile out of court. A very late out call on a searching long groundstroke from, Swiatek puts Sabalenka 30-15 up and then a lovely drop shot gives her 40-15. She takes the game by melting another serve down the T. It'll be Swiatek to serve to level the match. 4:00PM Sabalenka 7-6(1), 3-5 Swiatek* (denotes server) At 15-0 Sabalenka hangs in the point and forces Swiatek to the net with a brutal drop shot the Pole can't reach. That was a refreshingly long rally. Swiatek sends a winner perilously close to the baseline toi move 30-15 up and then, after a superbly placed serve, approaches the net to smash home another winner. If she keeps serving this well she will win the set. She takes the game thanks to another thunderous serve. That's three holds in a row to 15 from the four-time champion. 3:56PM Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 3-4 Swiatek (denotes server) At 0-30 Swiatek throws her racquet at a thunderous Sabalanka crosscourt backhand reminiscent of Carlo Alcaraz. Swiatek is then given a talking to by the referee for requesting he come down to check the mark of Sabalenka's winner. A heated exchange follows with Swiatex claiming 'it's not fair' but the referee holds his ground, refuses to come down, as Swiatek had taken too long to make the appeal. It turns out she was right and Sabalnka;s shot was out, but after much ado about nothing Sabalenka serves out the game. 3:52PM Sabalenka 7-6(1), 2-4 Swiatek* (denotes server) Swiatek is looking to preserve her two game lead and is serving well enough to do so. She pulls out a delightful passing backhand down the line too to move 40-15 up. And she then puts away a smash to take the game. 3:48PM Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 2-3 Swiatek (denotes server) Sabalenka gets back in her serving groove and takes the game with ease. That must have been the shortest game of the match so far. 3:42PM Sabalenka 7-6(1), 1-3 Swiatek* (denotes server) It's not easy for anyone to buy a hold of serve in this match. Infosys do a stat where they rate particular shots out of ten and they gave Sabalenka a 9.8 for her returning across the whole of the first set. Swiatek got 9.4. Sabalenka pulverises a return but Swiatek responds with an ace to level at 15-all. Sabalenka sends a crosscourt forehand wide and in the next rally Swiatek elects to comes to the net where she executes a delightful drop shot for 40-15. She then repeats the feat – another drop shot – this time from the baseline and that's game. Wonderful tennis from the reigning champion at last. 3:41PM Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 1-2 Swiatek (denotes server) Sabalenka is struggling with her serve and throws in two unforced errors to fall 0-40 behind. All of a sudden it's amateur hour and after forcing Swiatek behind the baseline again she inexplicably sends a backhand into the tramlines. It's another break of serve! 3:38PM Sabalenka 7-6(1), 1-1 Swiatek* (denotes server) After an exchange of points Swiatek crashes down a serve that Sabalenka can only just get a racquet head to, but Sabalenka hits some brutal long groundstrokes that keep Swatek pegged back, forcing the Pole to net twice and bring up break point. Sabalenka drills another ferocious forehand and Swiatek has no answer,an db breaks back. That's two breaks of serve in the first two games.
