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The US Open

US Open 2024 Women’s Day 2

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Iga Swiatek overcame a patchy performance marred by 41 unforced errors to squeeze through for a 6-4, 7-6 (6) first round win at the US open over Kamilla Rakhimova.

The world No. 1 escaped with the win in just under two hours as her opponent who entered the main draw as a lucky loser from qualifying donated three unforced errors on set points in the second.

Swiatek managed to scrape to the finishing line on her first winning chance.

The top-seeded Pole who won the title here in 2022, won her 22nd out of 23 Grand Slam first round matches played. Swiatek’s only loss at this stage came at Wimbledon five years ago.

 “I’m happy that I’m through to the second round, because first rounds are never
easy,” she said. .

“But for sure I want to improve some things and adjust a little bit so I’ll make less mistakes.”

Swiatek, four times a Roland Garros winner, maintained her perfect career record of never losing a set to a qualifier or lucky loser at a major as she played her 80th match at the Slams .

Danielle Collins, the 2022 Australian Open finalist and 11th seed, wrapped up her career with a loss and did not hang around on the Ashe court for what was to have been a ceremony in her honour staged by organisers.

Instead, officials were seen carrying bouquets of flowers back into the stadium bowels as the American left the court without pause after going out 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 to compatriot Caroline Dolehide.

The No. 49 challenger wasted three set points in the second before converting on a fourth to carry the contest into a deciding set.

Dolehide broke for a 5-3 lead, saving two  Collins match points in the ninth game before finishing the upset on her own third match-winning chance.

“I think I had 12 days off, minimal preparation going into it,” Collins said.

“.I did my best, that’s all I could do.

“There were times that I had some good shots, and there were times that it didn’t go my way

“I’ve physically really been through it since the Olympics, it’s been a struggle.”

Dolehide’s victory was her first at her home major and brought down the curtain on the Collins career. The winner now faces Olympic doubles gold medalist Sara Errani of Italy in the second round.

Japam’s Naomi Osaka, a former No. 1 who had to go through qualifying as she comes back to the WTA after childbirth, earned her first Top 10 win in four years as she defeated former Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2.

The Latvian saved two match points before two-time New York champion Osaka prevailed in just over an hour, ending with her 19th winner.

“I tried not to cry when I was walking onto court,” she said. “last year 9when she returned from maternity break) I didn’t know if I’d ever step on this court again.

“To win this match in this atmosphere means so much to me. It was tough to close it out – I was stressed.

“But I told myself to keep going and maybe I’d have an opportunity – and I did.’

Former No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, like Osaka a mother, lost just three games against Nao Hibino in reaching the second round. Teenaged Mirra Andreeva defeated Camila Osorio 6-2, 7-6  (4).

“Obviously you want to get a good start into the tournament,” Wozniacki said. “It’s a warm day, playing someone who I’ve never played before, so that’s always tricky. 

“I started off well, I served pretty well and got a lot of balls back. I was pleased with the way I played today.”

Britain’s Katie Boulter advanced with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 comeback over qualifier Aleksandra Sasnovich. 

The 28-year-old British winner dropped serve three times in the first set before steadying in the comeback effort.”It’s not easy coming out here to play your first round against someone who has been top 30 – she knows how to play tennis,” Boulter told British media.

“I knew it would be a battle, she’s played three matches on these courts.”

Main photo:- Katie Boulter celebrates as she wins first round match – by Mark Greenwood International Sports Fotos Ltd

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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