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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..

ATP

Positive vibes after RG takes player crisis meeting

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The peace talks came after a Friday interview boycott by most top players, who limited their pre-event interactions with media to 15 minutes while snubbing TV broadcasters.

Players are asking for a larger share of Grand Slam prize money, aiming for a rise from 15 to 22 per cent, a figure well below payouts in other spots.

French federation (FFT) officials promised a response to the demands in the immediate future. Confrontations with Wimbledon and the US Open are also likely to proceed during the Paris fortnight.

The Australian Open has already sided with the players when the issue first arose earlier this season.

The FFT “has committed to responding to the players’ proposals in the coming weeks,” the ruling body said.

Players are seeking a closer involvement in the big decisions of the sport along with increased health insurance and retirement benefits.

Sinner, with USD 56 million already in career prize money at age 24, might do well to follow the example of retired icon Roger Federer, who earned 130 million on court and much more off it,

The Swiss, reportedly now a tennis billionaire, often said he would not be needing his ATP pension but was happy to work on behalf of other  players.

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Strasbourg

Raducanu plays coaching lottery with return to her OG

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Emma Raducanu has gone back to the future with her latest choice of coach, choosing to re-group with the mentor who helped her to a US Open title five long years ago.

The Briton whose career has been a patchwork of changing coaches and near-constant injuries and illness since her 2021 big day in New York, revealed she has re-employed Andrew Richardson, her OG coach.

The pair split not long after then-teenaged Raducanu won the Open title from an unprecedented qualifying start.

She has since struggled and wil head to Roland Garros from next Sunday with only one clay tournament, a late wild-card entry into Strasbourg.

“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time,” she posted on social media.

The WTA no. 30 has played just 15 matches this season – none on clay – with her last one more than two months ago.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu with her coach, Andrew Richardson at the 2021 US Open

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The Australian Open

Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews

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Wimbledon will bow to the high-tech future by introducing limited electronic reviews of line calls on major courts at the Championships, the club revealed on Saturday.

The All England Club will allow the technology on showcourts including Centre Court, No. 1 and four others. During controversial moments, competitors will be allowed to ask the chair umpire for a review of the point in question.

The wizardry is coming late to Wimbledon having been used at the US Open since 2023 and later adapted by the Australian Open. Roland Garros relies on marks in its clay surface to determine line calls.

Under the rules, players can ask for the review any number of times, with electronic line-calling now in effect at the grass-court major for a second year after the 2025 elimination of human line judges.

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