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The US Open

Protest mars Gauff surge into US Open final

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Coco Gauff reached her second Grand Slam final with a 6-4, 7-5 defeat of Karolina Muchova on Thursday in a US Open match interrupted for nearly 50 minutes by climate change protests in the stands.

A group of four protesters began shouting early in the second set with play stopped as security moved into the upper reaches of the 24,000-seat venue to control the situation.

Local media reported one of the group wearing an “End Fossil Fuels” T-shirt had glued his feet to the cement floor of the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands and was soon surrounded by up to 15 New York police.

After nearly 40 minutes he was seen being escorted out in handcuffs by the cops, who had managed to free his feet from the floor after leading away the other three.

Both Gauff and Muchova left the court puzzled at the 10-minute mark and returned to the locker room during the unusual distraction.

The interruption proved to be so long that a full warmup was required before play resumed with Gauff up a set and 1-0.

“We had three environmental protestors, two were removed quickly. Security found one of them had glued his bare feet to the cement floor,” Tournament Director Stacey Allaster said.

EXCLUSIVE: Anti-fossil fuel protesters are surrounded by police after delaying the Coco Gauff v Karolina Muchova semifinal by 45 minutes.
Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

An official tournament notice said: “Three of the four protesters were escorted out of the stadium without further incident. 

“The fourth protester affixed their bare feet to the floor of the seating bowl. Due to the nature of this action, NYPD and medical personnel were needed in order to safely remove this individual from the stadium.

“The four protesters were taken into NYPD custody.”  

After the resumption, Gauff went about her business of becoming the youngest finalist here since 1999, finally moving through on her sixth match point.

That opportunity was set up by a massive 40-shot rally, with the American teenager finally prevailing.

She repeated a win she took three week ago in the final at Cincinnati over her Czech opponent.

“I grew up watching this event,” the winner said. “it means a lot to be in the final.

“There’s a lot to celebrate but the job is not done yet. I hope you fans back me on Saturday (final).’

Gauff will bid for the trophy against either second seed Aryna Sabalenka or fellow American Madison Keys.

In the opening set, Gauff got away to a 5-1 lead but was pulled up short as Muchova won the next three games to pull to 4-5.

The US teenager escaped after 48 minutes to capture the set with a break-back before the protest incident unfolded.

Gauf is now 17-1 since going out in the first round at Wimbledon two months ago.

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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