The US Open
US Open Women’s Day 10
Aryna Sabalenka completed a matched set of 2023 Grand Slam semi-final places as the second seed defeated Chinese challenger Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the final four at the US open on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old who will take over the WTA top ranking spot on Monday after the 75-week reign of Iga Swiatek, matched the last woman to sweep the semis, Serena Williams in the 2016 season.
Sabalenka will bid to move into her second final this season at a major when she squares off on Thursday against American Madison Keys, who stunned Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4 in 81 minutes.
Keys swept the opening set and hung tough in the second to thrill home fans; she saved all nine break points she faced – including five in the eighth game of the second set.

“I knew she would be a tricky player as she gets so many balls back,” the winner said. “It was not my cleanest match, but I tried to get to the net and be aggressive.
“I wanted to be on the front foot at all times.”
Semi-final opponent Sabalenka beat Keys in their last meeting in July at Wimbledon.
“This will be a completely different match,” Keys said. “There will be a lot of hard hitting and not a lot of long points.
“I’ll buckle up and try to get as many balls back as I can.”
Sabalenka is slowly getting used to the idea of playing as world No. 1 from next week.
“I’m super happy with this achievement in my career, but, I mean, it’s not a big change. I’ve been No. 2 – now I’m No. 1,” she said.
“It’s just a difference of position in the draw. I still have to bring my best tennis. I still have to play my best.
“People will try to just try to chase me and get me. But it’s just an extra motivation for me
“Seeing them really trying their best to beat me, it’s an extra power and energy for me to keep playing, keep pushing, keep getting better.”
Sabalenka moved past her Asian opponent in 74 minutes, finishing with 17 winners and a dozen unforced errors.
“I definitely played great tennis today,” she said. “I’m happy with the win against an unbelievable opponent.
“I’ve now got another opportunity to do better in the semi-finals.”
January’s Australian Open winner has won all seven of her semi-finals at the majors and stands 13-2 over Chinese opposition.
“I’m not trying to block the stats; when you’re trying to block something, it’s going to keep getting in your head and it can get really annoying,” she said of her growing list of records.
“I know that I have to do my job. I have to go on court. I have to play my best tennis. I have to fight for it.
“I know that if I’ll be fighting for my dream, I know that I can get it.”
Rome Masters
Alarm bells ring as Raducanu quits practice
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
Monterrey Open
Vekic needs five match points to win Queen’s
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
ATP
Agassi seeking answers to Alcaraz wrist injury mystery
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
-
Berlin4 weeks agoSabalenka finds her “little tiger” to fend off Czech challenge
-
Top Story3 weeks agoRaducanu takes a kicking as injury-boot drama flares
-
Adelaide International4 weeks agoEx-Wimbledon champion slammed with anti-doping ban
-
ATP4 weeks agoDe Minaur ambushed by Queen’s outsider Nakashima
-
Berlin4 weeks agoEala stuns Rybakina in Berlin blitz
-
ATP4 weeks agoBadosa unloads on ex-tennis boyfriend Tsitsipas
-
ATP4 weeks agoFritz squeezes Sascha to book first-time Halle final
-
ATP4 weeks agoZverev to face his Fritz nightmare in Halle semis
