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Cincinnati Masters

US Open 2024 Women’s Day 1

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US Open holder Coco Gauff got her defence away to a winner on Monday as the third seed dispatched France’s Varvara Gracheva with the loss of just two games.

The hammering took just 66 minutes and should erase bitter memories of opening-round loss this month as 2023 Cincinnati titleholder.

“I thought I played well today,” the winner said. “You can’t ask for a better start into this tournament. I’m hoping to continue to get better as the week, two weeks go by.

“This week I (is all about) really finding my game. I was confident going in today. 

“I knew based on how I was practicing I can find my game regardless of the scoreline. Then it’s just about executing.”

Gauff now owns eight straight wins at the Flushing Meadows venue where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final 12 months ago. 

Gauff now takes on 37-year-old German Tatjana Maria in the second round; Maria started her fortnight with a win over Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra 6-2, 6-3 in her opener. 

Against Gracheva, Gauff saved six break points while breaking twice and sending over 10 aces.

Gauff led countryman at the home major, with Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend, and Peyton Stearns all advancing 

Former finalist Keys, seeded 15th, beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-1 in barely an hour helped by five breaks of serve. The 64th-ranked Townsend advanced 6-2, 7-5 win over Italy’s Martina Trevisan. 

The home winner rallied from 5-3 down in the second set, but took home the win by sweeping the final four games to next play Paula Badosa. The Spaniard eliminated Swiss Viktorija Golubic 6-0, 6-3.

No. 47 Stearns 2018 quarter-finalist Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.

Elina Svitloina began with a defeat of Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Daria Kasatkina defeated Romanian Jacqueline Cristian 6-2, 6-4.

ATP

Sinner claims full house with Indian Wells win

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World No. 2 Jannik Sinner became the youngest man to complete the full set of hard-court victories by beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (8) 7-6 (7) in the searing heat of Indian Wells.

The 24 year old Italian, didn’t face a break point during the final nor did he drop a set on his way to claiming his first title of the year and his 25th overall.

Sinner has won both hard court Grand Slams, with victories at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and at the US Open in 2024.

In addition he has lifted all six Masters 1000 series hard court titles – adding the Indian Wells title to victories in Miami, Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris plus the season-ending ATP Finals.

Only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have achieved the same feat.

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner lifts Indian Wells Trophy – by ATPTour.com

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ATP

FAA raises his “standards” to extend QF hot streak

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Felix Auger-Aliassime bounced back after a slow start, with the Canadian raiding his game along with his expectations on Wednesday at the ATP Dubai event.

The top seed survived the loss of his opening serve to prevail 6-4, 6-4 over France’s Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard.

Victory marked the 10th quarter-final or higher at 11 tournament for FAA dating to Cincinnati last August.

The seed’s game is on the mend after a hiccup in the form of an Australian Open first-round loss, with FAA winning the Montpellier title and reaching this month’s Rotterdam final against Alex de Minaur.

Auger-Aliassime said that he tries to set an example to his team by way of keeping his tennis standards high.

“I’m responsible, I’m the one stepping onto the court – I’m the (support) team leader.

“I need to uphold the standards I want for my career.”

The winner who broke three times, said the ball reacted differently as he played for the first time in the afternoon.

“I couldn’t find my serve in the first few games, I needed to get some rhythm. he also made it difficult for me. I’m glad I was able to find a way back into the set.

The Canadian No. 1 improved his record against French opponents to 15-1 since the start of 2025.

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ATP

The heat is on as ATP bows to weather reality

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The ATP has bowed to the inevitability of weather, with a new heat rule for men’s matches due to be put into place for the start of the 2026 season.

While the WTA has long provided a pause after the second set of matches played in extreme hot weather, that’ not been the general case for the men.

Now, players will get a break when temps and humidity factors reach 30.1 C (86.18 F) or higher in the first two sets of a best-of-three-setter.

That triggers a 10-minute cooling break which can be called by either payer and which will apply to both. Competitors can use the brief pause to hydrate, change clothes, shower and receive coaching.

Should the heat exceed 32.2 C the match is called off.

.The new policy will replace the previous system where ATP tournament supervisors made the call with input from on-site medical staff.

The ATP will now fall into line with the WTA system as well as that of the four Grand Slams.

The tipping point came last season, when Jannik Sinner had to quit his third-round October match in Shanghai due to heat exhaustion in admittedly freak conditions for China in the autumn.

Novak Djokovic vomited during a match while France’s Ugo Humbert said players could “die on court” due to the torrid conditions. At the August Masters in steamy Cincinnati, Arthur Rinderknech collapsed on court, another data point which apparently led to the policy change

Main photo US Open New York 06/09/2023 Daniil Medvedev cools down
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

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