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The US Open

US Open Women’s Day 3

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Coco Gauff won a battle of teenagers on Wednesday to reach the third round of the US Open as she beat Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 and extended her current win streak to seven matches.

The 19-year-old American – a former prodigy – eliminated Andreeva, 16 – a current tip – and youngest player in the draw, after 76 minutes on the showcase Ashe court.

,Andreeva made a Wimbledon breakthrough last month, emerging from qualifying and going as far as the fourth round where she lost to Madison Keys.

Sixth seed Gauff reached the quarter-finals at her home major in 2022 and has won a pair of hardcourt titles in recent August weeks at Washington and Cincinnati.

The Floridian struck 24 winners to just seven for her opponent and broke Andreeva four times from five chances.

“I’m really happy with how I played,” the winner said. “Last time I played her, we had a longer match. 

“So today I was really trying to take advantage when I was in the lead and continuing to be aggressive.

“I’m happy I was able to get it in straight sets – not a long (three-hour) match like the last match. I saved myself some time today.”

Top seeded defending champion Iga Swiatek overcame a first set riddled with five breaks of serve to consolidate and defeat Australian Daria Saville 6-3, 6-4 in 94 minutes.

US Open Flushing Meadows 30//08/2023 Day 3 Iga Swiatek (POL) wins second round match Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

The Pole needs to go one round further than rival Aryna Sabalenka to keep the top ranking when the event ends next weekend.

“I just felt like I kind of prevailed, because that match wasn’t easy,” Swiatek said. “I’m just happy to be in the third round. 

“For sure I want to improve some stuff, because I did some unforced errors. 

“I made some mistakes because you risk a little bit more (against her). She was using most of my power to get these balls back.

“I’m just happy at the end that I was the one that won.”

2019 semi-finalist Belinda Bencic ended the dream for British qualifier Yuriko Lily Miyazaki 6-3, 6-3, sending the No. 198 out in her second match here.

The Japan born youngster never had a chance to attempt to become the second Emma Raducanu, who won the event in 2021 from a qualifying start.

Tenth-seeded Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova prevailed 6-3, 6-3 over Pole Magdalena Frech. Experienced Swiss Bencic broke four times in her 90-minute victory, taking advantage of 26 unforced errors from her opponent.

Taylor Townsend made a return to the third round at a major for the first time in four years as the American mother eliminated Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, 7-6 (1), 7-5.

Last season’s Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins committed nearly 50 unforced errors as she went down 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1 to Belgian Elise Mertens,

Collins has not been past the third round of a major since her 2022 showing in Melbourne. 

Mertens needed two and three-quarter hours to advance, saving two match points as she reached a Grand Slam third round for the 22nd time in her career..

Rome Masters

Alarm bells ring as Raducanu quits practice

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Emma Raducanu’s Wimbledon participation was flashing red on Saturday as the Briton quit a practice session while delaying her media availability by a day.

The Queen’s club finalist a fortnight ago stopped a training session with Anna Kalinskaya 10 minutes early while trailing 0-4 in a practice set.

The ove sparked frenzied British speculation about her fitness after the 2021 US Open winner was seen wearing a support cast on a foot earlier in the week.

Reports indicated that Raducanu might have been trying to avoid a mistake she made last month in Rome, where she did pre-event media and then withdrew injured from the Masters 1000 tournament.

Raducanu is due to begin her tournament in the first round against Croat Antonia Ruzic.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu practices with her ankle strapped – by Roger Parker/ISF Ltd

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Monterrey Open

Vekic needs five match points to win Queen’s

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Donna Vekic dominated the opening set but had to come from a double break down in the second to win the Queen’s club title on Sunday 6-0, 7-6 (6)  over Emma Raducanu.

The victory denied the British runner-up her first trophy since winning the US Open as a teenaged qualifier half a decade ago.

The one and three-quarter hour victory for the Croat lucky loser from qualifying round was  match of two halves, with Vekic unchallenged in the first but made to battle before finally lifting victory with a second-set tiebreaker.

Raducanu was playing in her third career final and won her only title at the 2021 US Open. Vekic won her first trophy since Monterrey three years ago.

The 29-year-old Vekic, ranked 76th, was thwarted on her first four match point chances late in the second set.

Raducanu, cheered by a home crowd in west London, took the second set into a tiebreaker as Vekic drove long as the fight went into a decider.

The Brit rallied from 4-1 down  before Vekic set up her fifth match point with a down-the-line winner and Raducanu’s shot landed wide a point later

The winner revealed that she had called upon her longtime coach from childhood to come join her team for the summer.

“Growing up and playing on the Tour, I was always jealous that the boys got to play on this grass,” she said of an event which only brought back the women’s event a year ago after a pause of half a century.  .

“But since last year, we have the opportunity also.”

Vekic explained her coaching situation: “The coach that I worked with from age 12 agreed to come back and help this grass season.

“Without him, I would have not know about grass – my favourite surface. And without you I would not be here with this trophy.”

Raducanu made vast improvements this week which should aid her Wimbledon buildup.

“What a week it’s been,” the finalist said. “It was incredible for me to make the fina, playing in my home city where I feel the buzz.

“The crowd support was incredible and helped me to fight back in the second set.

“Today was a really tough match, Donna played well from start to finish.”

Raducanu will travel north for next week’s WTA event in Nottingham.

Main photo:- Lucky loser qualifier Donna Vekic wins Queens Title – by Mark Greenwood/ISF Ltd

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ATP

Agassi seeking answers to Alcaraz wrist injury mystery

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Andre Agassi is keen to unravel the mystery of the alleged wrist injury which has kept Carlos Alcaraz off court for nearly two months.

The 56-year-old Agassi asked the hard question during a tennis podcast, suggesting that the Spaniard owed the world an explanation on what is actually bothering him.

Alcaraz has not competed since April 14 in Barcelona, a day before handing in a second-round injury walkover, reportedly with a wrist problem

“It would be really helpful if he or someone close to him could clearly explain the exact nature of his injury, because at this point we can only speculate,” Agassi said.

Since his spring home pullout on home clay, Alcaraz has missed the Madrid and Rome Masters plus Roland Garros.

He is also out for Queen’s and Wimbledon with his availability for the North American summer hardcourt run a complete mystery.

“If it’s a form of tendonitis, is it a specific inflammation like dorsal capsulitis or a carpal tunnel syndrome-type issue? What exactly are we talking about, and what are the treatment options? I don’t know precisely what he has,” Agassi said.

The former world No. 1 American added: “If he only needs to manage pain or inflammation and opts for conservative treatment before considering surgery, then it’s a smart decision, even if it means missing some Grand Slam tournaments.

“If the situation is more serious and requires more complex interventions, the right decisions must be made very carefully, and the best specialists must be consulted. It is essential to allow the injury time to heal properly, because he still has many years of his career ahead of him.”

Despite his growing doubts, Agassi is able to look on the bright side of the situation.

“We could see an even more determined and aggressive Carlos Alcaraz upon his return, provided he manages to solve his only real problem right now.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz will miss Wimbledon this year – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd

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