Connect with us

The US Open

US Open 2024 Women’s Day 3

Published

on

Last year’s losing finalist Aryna Sabalenka kept her exertions in steaming heat to a minimum on Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-1 second-round win at the US Open.

The double Australian Open winner who claimed a tuneup title this month at Cincinnati, rolled over Italian No. 76 Lucia Bronzetti in 61 minutes to beat the weather on a day when the heat effect rule for three-set matches was in effect.

Sabalenka, who lost the final here in 2023 to Coco Gauff, showed her best game on the cement, where she has lifted 13 of her 15 career titles. She never faced a break point while breaking her opponent four times.

“I’m super happy with the level today. She’s really tough opponent.

“Even though the score doesn’t look like that, it wasn’t easy playing her.

“I’m just super happy to win this match in two sets.”

Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen staged a comeback aided in part by 20 aces to defeat Erika Andreeva 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2, with the Chinese winner coming on strong in the final set.

“When I entered the match today I felt the conditions pretty tough,” she said. “My body is not used to (it) yet.

“I felt slow reaction since the beginning. But the longer I stay on court, I see the balls better.

“I move my legs better, and I serve better. The more times I am on court, the more I feel the tennis was at least better than the first set.”

2017 finalist Madison Keys and Belgian Elise Mertens face off in the third round after both advanced past Australian opponents.

Keys defeated qualifier Moya Joint 6-4, 6-0 while Mertens beat  Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-2.

New York-born Spaniard Paula Badosa knocked out Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-5 to reach the third round here for the first time.

 Her next opponent will be Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who upset reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, 6-4, 7-5, sweeping the last four games of their second-rounder.

Harriet Dart tries to keep cool – by Mark Greenwood, International Sports Fotos Ltd

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine handed Brit Harriet Dart a loss, 7-6 (10), 6-1. Ekaterina Alexandrova put out 16-year-old American Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Main photo Aryna Sabalenka winning first round match – by Mark Greenwood, International Sports Fotos Ltd

Rome Masters

Alarm bells ring as Raducanu quits practice

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

Monterrey Open

Vekic needs five match points to win Queen’s

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

ATP

Agassi seeking answers to Alcaraz wrist injury mystery

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

Trending