Stuart Fraser

London, Oban

Correspondent at The Times

Sports Journalist at Freelance

Tennis correspondent, The Times (@TimesSport). Views are mine.

Articles

Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Bublik to continue faultless progress

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

Jannik Sinner continued his comfortable progression through the French Open draw to reach the semi-finals. The world No1 from Italy has not dropped a set yet in five matches this fortnight, the latest of which was a 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 victory against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik. Sinner was too strong in all departments for Bublik’s unconventional style of power and drop shots, which got the better of Great Britain’s Jack Draper in the fourth round on Monday.
Lois Boisson rides tide of home support to claim French Open semi spot

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

Carried by a passionate wave of home support on Court Philippe Chatrier, France’s Lois Boisson produced another astounding upset to continue her dream run at Roland Garros. The 22-year-old world No361 has become the first wild card in the open era to reach the women’s singles semi-finals at the French Open. This remarkable breakthrough by Boisson continues to astonish.
British tennis is in rude health for Wimbledon (and it’s not just Draper)

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

It did not take long in the aftermath of Jack Draper’s French Open fourth-round exit on Monday for the conversation to inevitably turn to the pressure and expectation surrounding Wimbledon. In less than four weeks’ time the 23-year-old will walk out on Centre Court with the status of genuine contender for the first time.
Lorenzo Musetti avoids disqualification after kicking ball at line judge

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

Lorenzo Musetti avoided disqualification after kicking a ball at a female line judge before reaching the French Open semi-finals with a four-set win over Frances Tiafoe. The Italian No8 seed continued his good run of form on the clay by defeating the American No15 seed 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Boos and frustration for Jack Draper during fourth-round French Open exit

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

All Jack Draper’s good work this fortnight at Roland Garros was undone in the fourth round by Alexander Bublik’s masterful mix of blistering forehand winners, dinky drop shots and second-serve aces. Never over the past 12 months has the 23-year-old Briton looked so lost on a tennis court. It had appeared as if Draper was heading towards a mouthwatering quarter-final against Jannik Sinner but instead he is heading towards Gare du Nord for the Eurostar back to London.
Victim of Harriet Dart’s deodorant jibe enjoying smell of success on slam debut

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

Being the subject of an unpleasant remark by Great Britain’s Harriet Dart has not put Loïs Boisson off her stride. Six weeks after being accused of smelling “really bad” during a match, the 22-year-old Frenchwoman has reached new heights at Roland Garros by reaching the last-16 on her grand-slam debut. Boisson found herself embroiled in one of the most bizarre tennis stories in recent times when she beat Dart in straight sets at the Rouen Open in April.
Cameron Norrie admits need to ‘step up’ ahead of Novak Djokovic test

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

If Cameron Norrie manages to beat Novak Djokovic in the last-16 of the French Open on Monday, he might have a reporter to thank. In the aftermath of Norrie’s fourth-round victory on Saturday came a recommendation from one member of the British press pack that Djokovic’s former coach, Andy Murray, could be worth a call. “We play pretty different tennis, but, yeah, honestly it’s not a bad suggestion,” Norrie replied.
Jack Draper cruises through to make French Open history for Britain

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

Jack Draper led British tennis into new territory at the French Open on Saturday. A straight-sets win against Brazil’s rising star João Fonseca secured an Open Era first with two British men reaching the fourth round of the men’s singles. After a thrilling four-set match against Gaël Monfils on Thursday came a far more simple encounter less than 48 hours later. Draper frankly gave his 18-year-old opponent a clay-court lesson by easing to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory in one hour and 46 minutes.
‘Women worthy of night session’ - Mauresmo hits back at French sexism claims

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

The French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo has insisted women’s matches are “worthy” of the night session despite scheduling none in this prime-time slot since 2023. Mauresmo faced a series of questions on the topic during a press conference on Friday after continuing a long-time pattern with men’s singles matches in all seven night sessions this year. Since the slot was introduced for Amazon Prime, the broadcaster, in 2021, only four of the 51 matches have featured women.
It’s not just about Jannik Sinner… how Italy became tennis superpower

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Stuart Fraser

The rise of Italian tennis has clearly emboldened the president of its national federation. Basking in the aftermath of a successful national open this month, Angelo Binaghi demanded a piece of the grand-slam pie by calling for Rome to join London, Paris, Melbourne and New York as the fifth major. “In what other part of society is there a monopoly that lasts for more than 100 years?” Binaghi said. “Why are there always four and always the same four?