Tick Tock Tennis
@ticktocktennis
Tennis info, interviews, and opinion with James. Live for the upset. Champion the underdog. Telling player stories one result at a time. 🎾 If you're new and want to find great tennis resources, check STARTER PACKS.
Borges in Bastad He's one of the only players who can say, "I beat Rafael Nadal in a claycourt final." And he did it right here. Nuno Borges returns to the place he won his (so far) only ATP title, taking down one of the most hyped young players on the tour, Moise Kouame.
Clay for Pay It's been a pretty rough run for Oleksandra Oliynykova lately. After drawing eventual semifinalist Diana Shnaider in the opening round of Roland-Garros, the Ukrainian got double bageled at Wimbledon. But, back on clay, Oliynykova slips past Ipek Oz, 7-6¹, 7-6⁵.
Grigor Grinds Through For the first time in over a year, Grigor Dimitrov is a winner on the dirt. The former world #3 gets past Czechia's Dalibor Svrcina, 7-6⁵, 1-6, 6-4 to advance to the 2nd round in Bastad. Dimitrov now faces the winner between Nuno Borges and Moise Kouame.
Yannick Winner If Yannick Hanfmann wins a set against Pedro Martinez, he wins the whole match. The German improves to 4-1 against the Spaniard, winning 7-6⁶, 6-1, to improve to 8-5 lifetime in Gstaad, having reach round 2 in each of his last three appearances.
Return Winner Two years ago Elina Avanesyan was a set from the title in Iasi. Now she's back as a qualifier ranked #224 and looking to rebuild after mononucleosis completely derailed her momentum in 2025. The Armenian improves to 2-0 against Moyuka Uchijima, winning 6-2, 6-4.
Cerúndolo Success Looking a little bit like a Roman statue with his new haircut, Juan Manuel Cerúndolo guts out a grinder in Gstaad. The Argentine holds on to pick up his career best 11th ATP match win of the season, defeating Zdenek Kolar, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Better in Bastad Last year, Andrea Pellegrino failed to capitalize on 5 match points against Tallon Griekspoor in the 2nd round. The Italian has no such problems in his return to Sweden, picking up an impressively brisk 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.
Andreeva Returns No, not Mirra Andreeva. She hasn't gone anywhere. (Other than that early loss at Wimbledon. But... still.) I'm talking about Mirra's older sister Erika, who continues her return from an injury hiatus. The 22yo sweeps past #8 seed Despina Papamichail in Istanbul.
Sinner's the Winner Well, it's been a bloody dramatic trip... literally.... but Jannik Sinner is a grand slam champion once again. The Italian overcomes Alexander Zverev (who played the first two sets about as well as his talents can take him) 6-7⁷, 7-6², 6-3, 6-4, at Wimbledon.
The Egyptian Queen Make than 10 (TEN!!) WTA 125 titles for Mayar Sherif. The history-maker from Cairo outlasts Jeline Vandromme, 3-6, 7-6⁰, 7-5 to lift the trophy in Contrexeville, France. With the win, Sherif rebounds 12 spots to re-enter the top 100 at #97.
Czech One, Czech Two... For the third time in four years, we have a Czech champ at Wimbledon. Linda Noskova takes down Karolina Muchova, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, to capture her first grand slam title. With the win, Noskova becomes the youngest women's champ since Petra Kvitova... also Czech.
Meanwhile... At the final women's grasscourt tournament of the year, Tatjana Maria closes in on a second straight title in Newport. The German veteran sweeps past Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the final of the WTA 125 event.
Wheeeeeew! Currently sitting just inside the top 150, Paula Badosa reverses course with a snappy WTA 125 title in Bastad, Sweden. The former world #2 completes a pretty much perfect run to lift the trophy without dropping a set all week, topping Simona Waltert, 7-5, 7-5.
Czech This Out! Slowly... and then all at once, Linda Noskova has taken a giant career leap on grass this season. After taking the WTA 500 title in Berlin, the 21yo puts herself a win away from the Wimbledon title, defeating Marta Kostyuk, 6-4, 6-4. It's Noskova vs. Muchova!
Brengle is Back! After nearly 2-years off tour treating a recurrence of skin cancer, Madison Brengle has come back to the tour and closing on a return to the top 200. The American takes a step forward on the grass at the WTA 125 in Newport, defeating Ana Sofia Sanchez, 7-5, 6-3.
Absolute. Insanity! Last year, when Lois Boisson made the semifinals of her home slam as a wildcard, folks said it could never happen on the men's side. Wrong! Arthur Fery continues his unbelievable run at Wimbledon, toppling #9 seed Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6⁴, 6-0.
The Czech Cleared! Linda Noskova is a first-time grand slam semifinalist, y'all! The 21yo gets past Elise Mertens, 6-3, 7-5, to book her place in the final four at Wimbledon... after fighting off a match point against Sorana Cirstea earlier in the tournament.
Semi-Charmed Kinda Life After making the final four at Roland-Garros, Marta Kostyuk repeats the feat at Wimbledon. The #12 seed sweeps past former runner-up Jasmine Paolini, 6-3, 6-2, to reach her second consecutive grand slam semifinal, setting up a clash with Linda Noskova.
Badosa Rebuilds Former world #2 Paula Badosa is spending the second week of Wimbledon on the clay at the WTA 125 in Bastad. And, so far, so good! Badosa eases past Emiliana Arango, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals.
Jones'in for a Win Meanwhile, back on the clay at the WTA 125 in Contrexeville, France, the defending champion holds on to clear round 1. Francesca Jones weathers a late comeback attempt from local hope Alice Rame, holding on to win, 6-2, 7-5.
Sinner Steps It Up I have to admit, after the first two rounds, I didn't think Jannik Sinner had a great chance of defending his title. (I mean, the man was bleeding through his shoes) But, with each match, the Italian is looking more and more like a repeat champion, defeating Jan-Lennard Struff
Gauff Keeps Goin'! As Jessica Pegula's final shot hit the net, Coco Gauff turned to her box and mouthed the words... "Oh my god! How?!" The American, who hadn't won a grasscourt match in 2 years before this year's Wimbledon, pulls off a masterful comeback to win, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
I do not think there'll be any play today at the WTA 125 or ATP Challenger in Newport today...
Paolini's Progress Just when it looked like Jasmine Paolini may be reverting back to a solid-but-not-stellar player after about 3 years near the top, the Italian makes a big move at Wimbledon. The former runner-up earns the 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Filipina phenom Alexandra Eala.