The US Open
US Open 2025 Women’s Day 1
Holder Aryna Sabalenka eased into her opening match at the US Open, with the on-form top seed crushing Swiss Rebeka Masarova 7-5, 6-1 in 82 minutes to advance to the second round.
The world No. 1 who fell in the Cincinnati quarter-finals to Elena Rybakina, broke five times in the quick opening victory. But she also overcame an opening shock, dropping serve to trail 3-2 in the opening set.
The three-time Grand Slam winner quickly got the break back and held her concentration against the potential spoiler who once ranked 62nd.
It was the 52nd victory of the season for Sabalenka, who beat Jessica Pegula in the final a year ago; she now plays Polena Kudermetova..
Former champion Emma Raducanu earned her first win at the Open since her out-of-the-blue title run four years ago, with the Briton firing to a day 1 success over Japan’s Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2.

Emma Raducanu winning her first match at US Open since winning the title in 2021
“I’m very, very pleased to have won that match; it’s my first win here since 2021 so it’s extra special.
“First rounds are always difficult, and especially so in Slam, you know, there are nerves. So, I’m just so happy with the way I came through that, and playing Ena, she’s really tricky.
The winner added: “She obviously came through qualifying, and you feel like you have a bit of an advantage having been playing on the surface – I know what that feels like.
“I’m just very pleased with how I managed myself and managed my game through that match.”
The 62-minute rout got No, 35 Raducanu off to confident start at the final major of the season after her morale-boosting third-round showings this season at the Australian Open and Wimbledon,
“I see the progress that I’m making on the practice court,” Raducanu said after the fastest Grand Slam victory of her career.
“It might not come straight away, but I know over time I’m just racking up good days building. I feel like it has to go somewhere.”
The 22-year-old Briton faced just one break point in the match; she started with a 5-0 lead and never looked back against the qualifier, who trailed 4-0 in the second set .
Raducanu will next play 149th-ranked qualifier Janice Tjen, who beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The Indonesian is the first from her Asian nation to play the main draw of a Grand Slam since 2004.
Canadian Leylah Fernadez, who lost the 2021 Open final to Raducanu, reached the second round over compatriot Rebecca Marino 6-2, 6-1, another victory which took just over one hour.
Asia scored again later as Alexandra Eala of the Philippines defeated Dane Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11).
The first Filipina to score a Grand Slam win trailed 5-1 in the third set and needed five match points to score her historic win.
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
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