News / Author / Rutvick Mehta

Rutvick Mehta

A romantic of the ferocious Rafael Nadal forehand, Rutvick Mehta loves his tennis but has been covering various other sport since 2012. He writes for HT.

Articles by Rutvick Mehta

Now, Jennifer Brady scripts an underdog story

Four of the last six women’s singles Grand Slam champions have been first-time finalists

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 18, 2021 Jennifer Brady of the U.S. celebrates winning her semi final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova REUTERS/Loren Elliott(REUTERS)

sports

Published on Feb 20, 2021 09:54 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

Ready Player One: Slam debut done, Ankita Raina has her eye on the Singles

The 28-year-old tennis pro excels at staying in the game. She’s only the fifth Indian woman to make it to a Grand Slam. She lost, but that never fazes her. The Singles will come, she says.

sports

Updated on Feb 20, 2021 07:32 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Naomi Osaka extends Serena Williams’s wait for 24th Grand Slam

Until Thursday, when Naomi Osaka blunted that very power game with equal and greater force, thrashing Williams 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals. It extended the 39-year-old’s Grand Slam draught to four years.

Japan's Naomi Osaka with Serena Williams of the U.S. after winning their semi-final match.(REUTERS)

sports

Published on Feb 19, 2021 07:55 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Australian Open: Aslan Karatsev's astonishing breakthrough in debut Grand Slam

The 27-year-old defeated 18th seed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals, a third straight victory against a seeded player at Melbourne Park.

Aslan Karatsev of Russia celebrates after winning a point. (Getty Images)

sports

Published on Feb 17, 2021 11:53 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

Is hard quarantine at the Australian Open responsible for string of upsets?

Over the course of the first two rounds, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, 2019 US open winner Bianca Andreescu, thrice Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, have all been sent packing.

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 9, 2021 Belarus' Victoria Azarenka reacts during her first round match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S. (REUTERS)

sports

Published on Feb 12, 2021 11:43 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Hawk-eyed humans make way for Hawk-Eye tech

Melbourne is showing the way, replacing an entire aerie of hawk-eyed humans with Hawk-Eye technology.

France's Ugo Humbert waits as a video replay is shown behind him during his second round match against Australia's Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, (AP)

sports

Published on Feb 12, 2021 07:40 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

‘That can’t be taken away’: Raina on her debut Grand Slam experience after loss

28-year-old Ankita Raina’s objective from the rather unexpected doubles outing was to cherish her first taste of a Grand Slam main draw match after nine attempts at qualifying in singles.

sports

Published on Feb 11, 2021 08:37 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Australian Open: Lack of game time forces early exit for Sumit Nagal

he Lithuanian held, then broke Nagal at 3-2 and went on an eight-game winning run. From sensing an opening to the door fast shutting, things unravelled for Nagal who was a set and 4-0 down in under an hour.

India's Sumit Nagal makes a backhand return.(AP)

sports

Published on Feb 09, 2021 07:11 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

Age, what’s that? Tom Brady ignites debate after seventh Super Bowl triumph

At 43, if Tom Brady isn’t the symbol for the oft-repeated acronym GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), then who is?

Tom Brady played in his 10th Super Bowl and already has the league record for rings. (AP Photo)

sports

Published on Feb 09, 2021 07:28 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

How Ankita Raina's dream of a Grand Slam qualification turned into reality

Battling with rising Serbian teen Olga Danilovic in the final qualifying round for the Australian Open in Dubai last month, India’s top-ranked woman player fought back grittily to win the second set before running out of steam in the third.

sports

Updated on Feb 19, 2021 04:19 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Australian Open: Hope floats after wait, anxiety amid the pandemic

One positive case, more than 500 players and support staff sent into isolation for 24 hours before being tested, a hectic day’s action paused: Welcome to the 2021 Australian Open, which begins on Monday after months of uncertainty and weeks of delay owing to the pandemic.

FILE PHOTO: Workers clean a seating area at Melbourne Park in the wake of the day's tennis matches leading up to the Australian Open being cancelled after a hotel quarantine worker at a player hotel tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Melbourne, Australia, (REUTERS)

sports

Published on Feb 07, 2021 10:13 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Mandar Rao Dessai overcomes personal tragedy to shine in ISL

The 28-year-old from Mapusa was aware of the consequences: going through another 14 days of quarantine upon returning to the bubble and missing quite a few matches in the period for his new club after switching from FC Goa.

sports

Updated on Feb 06, 2021 12:44 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Short on prep time, Sumit Nagal wants to enjoy Australian Open

With the 23-year-old Indian receiving a wild card for the Australian Open main draw and all participants having to arrive early in Melbourne for the mandatory 14-day quarantine, Nagal has not spent much time on the court.

India's Sumit Nagal makes a backhand return to Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis during a tuneup tournament ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (AP)

sports

Published on Feb 03, 2021 08:15 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

For Sebastian, bettering dad Petr Korda is a good first step

Petr is more at the forefront now, adding a coaching role to his daddy duties. “My dad has always been involved in my career and will continue to be. His experience is incredibly helpful and having him guide me is great,” Sebastian said.

sports

Published on Feb 02, 2021 12:08 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

Errors won't be swept under the carpet: India fielding coach Sridhar

It’s where India’s fielding coach R Sridhar swung into action, getting under the helmet himself in training sessions to prepare the designated fielders for the final stage of the out-of-the box tactic.

File image of India's fielding coach R Sridhar.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Jan 30, 2021 01:09 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Sanjjeev K Samyal, New Delhi

In quarantine, Rohan Bopanna forced to hunt for new doubles partner

The doubles world No. 38 faces uncertainty after his original partner, Portugal’s Joao Sousa, pulled out on Saturday night due to the strict quarantine protocols in Australia.

Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov lose in the quarterfinals.(Getty Images)

sports

Published on Jan 25, 2021 08:21 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Why the tennis world's best players are hitting balls against hotel walls

For a group of 72 players, a knock on the door usually means either a RT-PCR test or a delivery of food or some other essential.

Tennis players during lockdown.(Agencies)

sports

Updated on Jan 23, 2021 12:22 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

Bopanna stuck in Australian Open quarantine, Gabba Test a solace

First, India’s top-ranked doubles player learnt that his coach Scott Davidoff had to be quarantined as he was in the Los Angeles flight from which two positive cases came to light on Saturday.

sports

Published on Jan 19, 2021 04:25 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

'Missed opportunity' as Raina falters in final Australian Open qualifying hurdle

Despite the defeat, the second set turnaround may well turn out to be decisive for India’s top-ranked women’s singles player.

Ankita Raina in action.(Instagram/Ankita Raina)

sports

Published on Jan 13, 2021 09:05 PM IST

ByRutvick Mehta

To find success, we must do things the right way: Somdev Devvarman

Four years since he retired as a professional tennis player, Somdev Devvarman is ready return to the game - this time as a coach.

Somdev Devvarman is set to embark upon a new role(Instagram)

sports

Published on Jan 09, 2021 06:40 AM IST

ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

TT ace Sharath Kamal organises camp for elite players

With the national camp for the core table tennis players in Sonepat having ended on December 8 and nothing to look forward to after that, India’s top paddler Sharath Kamal took it upon himself to assemble a group of players in one city and train.

Sharath Kamal Achanta of India competes against Maharu Yoshimura of Japan during day two of the ITTF-Asian Table Tennis Championships at Among Raga Stadium.(Getty Images)

sports

Updated on Jan 04, 2021 10:03 AM IST

Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine takes diabetes in her stride

Sophie Devine mastered the challenge of not letting diabetes get the better of her with strict diet and fitness routines while accepting the condition as part of her daily life.

Sophie Devine of New Zealand bowls.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Jan 01, 2021 08:27 AM IST

Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

An unusual world trip: How India’s tennis pros made their way around this year

2020 was a pastiche of self-drives, changing travel rules, nervous train rides and far too much room service food. Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Ankita Raina and Divij Sharan tell us how they did it.

Doubles pro Divij Sharan at Roland Garros. “I would sanitise everything in every hotel room, even my bags,” he says .

sports

Updated on Dec 25, 2020 02:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByRutvick Mehta

After IFA Shield win, new-look Real Kashmir hope for I-League glory

The start has been alright, with Real Kashmir winning the IFA Shield last Saturday ahead of the I-League season beginning from January 9 next year in a bio bubble in Kolkata.

A triumphant Real Kashmir FC Unit.(Real Kashmir/Twitter)

sports

Updated on Dec 22, 2020 09:24 PM IST

Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

Yuki Bhambri eyes comeback after injury, lockdown woes

The pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown in late March though coincided with a crucial juncture in the former top-ranked Indian singles player’s comeback plans.

sports

Updated on Dec 22, 2020 07:14 AM IST

Yuki Bhambri | ByRutvick Mehta

‘I’ve got total belief Mumbai City can go all the way this season’

In this chat with Hindustan Times, Adam le Fondre talks about what drove him to join Mumbai City and his early impressions of the ISL.

Adam Le Fondre of Mumbai City FC celebrate a goal during match 13 of the 7th season of the Hero Indian Super League between Mumbai City FC and SC East Bengal held at the GMC Stadium Bambolim, Goa, India(ISL)

sports

Updated on Dec 16, 2020 09:17 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

Sharath Kamal’s Germany stint put off due to visa issue

With an aim to prepare and get into top shape ahead of the Olympic qualifiers early next year in the build-up to the postponed Tokyo Olympics in July-August, India’s top-ranked table tennis player was looking to fly to Germany this month after being part of the national camp since October end.

sports

Updated on Dec 14, 2020 07:04 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

Paris Olympics stamp gets India’s breaking fraternity to shake a leg

With an aim make the Paris Games more urbane and youthful, breaking was drafted as a provisional sport and also featured at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games.

File image of Arif Chaudhary(Getty Images)

sports

Updated on Dec 09, 2020 09:39 AM IST

Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

Klopp loses his cool in Liverpool’s winter of discontent

“Armpits and club badges”: Bristling heated interview from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gets highlighted amid Liverpool’s troubles.

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp waits for the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the Amex stadium in Brighton, England, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Neil Hall/Pool Via AP)(AP)

sports

Updated on Nov 30, 2020 07:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

Bengaluru FC yet to notch up win in ISL7

It was the first goalless draw of ISL-7, one that saw Hyderabad FC keep their second straight clean sheet after finishing the entire previous season without any.

sports

Updated on Nov 28, 2020 11:33 PM IST

Mumbai | ByRutvick Mehta

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Rutvick Mehta

A romantic of the ferocious Rafael Nadal forehand, Rutvick Mehta loves his tennis but has been covering various other sport since 2012. He writes for HT.

Four of the last six women’s singles Grand Slam champions have been first-time finalists

The 28-year-old tennis pro excels at staying in the game. She’s only the fifth Indian woman to make it to a Grand Slam. She lost, but that never fazes her. The Singles will come, she says.

Until Thursday, when Naomi Osaka blunted that very power game with equal and greater force, thrashing Williams 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals. It extended the 39-year-old’s Grand Slam draught to four years.

The 27-year-old defeated 18th seed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals, a third straight victory against a seeded player at Melbourne Park.

Over the course of the first two rounds, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, 2019 US open winner Bianca Andreescu, thrice Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, have all been sent packing.

Melbourne is showing the way, replacing an entire aerie of hawk-eyed humans with Hawk-Eye technology.

28-year-old Ankita Raina’s objective from the rather unexpected doubles outing was to cherish her first taste of a Grand Slam main draw match after nine attempts at qualifying in singles.

he Lithuanian held, then broke Nagal at 3-2 and went on an eight-game winning run. From sensing an opening to the door fast shutting, things unravelled for Nagal who was a set and 4-0 down in under an hour.

At 43, if Tom Brady isn’t the symbol for the oft-repeated acronym GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), then who is?

Battling with rising Serbian teen Olga Danilovic in the final qualifying round for the Australian Open in Dubai last month, India’s top-ranked woman player fought back grittily to win the second set before running out of steam in the third.

One positive case, more than 500 players and support staff sent into isolation for 24 hours before being tested, a hectic day’s action paused: Welcome to the 2021 Australian Open, which begins on Monday after months of uncertainty and weeks of delay owing to the pandemic.

The 28-year-old from Mapusa was aware of the consequences: going through another 14 days of quarantine upon returning to the bubble and missing quite a few matches in the period for his new club after switching from FC Goa.

With the 23-year-old Indian receiving a wild card for the Australian Open main draw and all participants having to arrive early in Melbourne for the mandatory 14-day quarantine, Nagal has not spent much time on the court.

Petr is more at the forefront now, adding a coaching role to his daddy duties. “My dad has always been involved in my career and will continue to be. His experience is incredibly helpful and having him guide me is great,” Sebastian said.

It’s where India’s fielding coach R Sridhar swung into action, getting under the helmet himself in training sessions to prepare the designated fielders for the final stage of the out-of-the box tactic.

The doubles world No. 38 faces uncertainty after his original partner, Portugal’s Joao Sousa, pulled out on Saturday night due to the strict quarantine protocols in Australia.

For a group of 72 players, a knock on the door usually means either a RT-PCR test or a delivery of food or some other essential.

First, India’s top-ranked doubles player learnt that his coach Scott Davidoff had to be quarantined as he was in the Los Angeles flight from which two positive cases came to light on Saturday.

Despite the defeat, the second set turnaround may well turn out to be decisive for India’s top-ranked women’s singles player.

Four years since he retired as a professional tennis player, Somdev Devvarman is ready return to the game - this time as a coach.

With the national camp for the core table tennis players in Sonepat having ended on December 8 and nothing to look forward to after that, India’s top paddler Sharath Kamal took it upon himself to assemble a group of players in one city and train.

Sophie Devine mastered the challenge of not letting diabetes get the better of her with strict diet and fitness routines while accepting the condition as part of her daily life.

2020 was a pastiche of self-drives, changing travel rules, nervous train rides and far too much room service food. Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Ankita Raina and Divij Sharan tell us how they did it.

The start has been alright, with Real Kashmir winning the IFA Shield last Saturday ahead of the I-League season beginning from January 9 next year in a bio bubble in Kolkata.

The pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown in late March though coincided with a crucial juncture in the former top-ranked Indian singles player’s comeback plans.

In this chat with Hindustan Times, Adam le Fondre talks about what drove him to join Mumbai City and his early impressions of the ISL.

With an aim to prepare and get into top shape ahead of the Olympic qualifiers early next year in the build-up to the postponed Tokyo Olympics in July-August, India’s top-ranked table tennis player was looking to fly to Germany this month after being part of the national camp since October end.

With an aim make the Paris Games more urbane and youthful, breaking was drafted as a provisional sport and also featured at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games.

“Armpits and club badges”: Bristling heated interview from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gets highlighted amid Liverpool’s troubles.

It was the first goalless draw of ISL-7, one that saw Hyderabad FC keep their second straight clean sheet after finishing the entire previous season without any.

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