Auckland
Long-lost Raducanu makes winning return
“I’m just really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy,” the winner said..
“I’m grateful to be able to move my body, not bed-ridden and in a wheelchair.”
Raducanu has plenty of grond to make up as she repairs a protected ranking of No. 103 and now faces Ukrainian second seed Elina Svitolina, who stalled the motherhood comeback of former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3.
Gael Monfils carved out a slice of tennis history on Saturday as the 38-year-old Frenchman claimed the ATP Auckland title over Belgian Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4.
Monfils lifted the 13th Tour title of his career and first since winning Stockholm in October, 2005.
The champion became the oldest to win a title since 43-year-old Ken Rosewall did it in Hong Kong in 1977. Roger Federer was 38 when he won his home Basel title in 2019.
No. 52 Monfils surged to victory in 93 minutes as he heads to the Australian Open in Melbourne, where he starts with young compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Monfils lifted the first of his 13 trophies two decades ago in Poland.
“Age is a number, but we keep working,” the winner said . “I’m still striking a good ball. Hopefully many more to come.”
Main photo:- Gael Monfils celebrates victory in Auckland – by ATTour.com
Clara Tauson claimed her first WTA title in four years on Sunday as former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka was forced to quit their final in Auckland to hand.the Dane a 4-6 victory.
Osksa could not go on due to an abdominal injury. After winning the opening set, Japan’s four-time Grand Slam winner took a medical timeout with the trainer called to the court.
After discussions, Osaka threw in the towel.
“It’s not the way you want to win any match, and especially not the final,” Tauson said. “I felt like I had some more tennis to show today.”
It was the first final for Osaka, who took a break for motherhood, since 2022: Tauson won her second career trophy in 2021 and followed in the footsteps of compatriot Caroline Wozniacki, New Zealand titleholder in 2015 and 2018.
The winner is hoping her success carriers her into Sunday’s start at the Australian Open.
“Hopefully I can back up with some great results there. It’s definitely a nice start to the season with the title, it’s my first one since 2021, so it’s been a while for me.”
Luckless Brit Emma Raducanu withdrew on Tuesday from the WTA Auckland event as her near-endless run of injuries continued with a “back niggle”
The former US Open champion whose career since the big day in New York three years ago has been one mishap after another, made the call.
Raducanu had only recently hired a former physical trainer of Maria Sharapova in hopes of banishing the complaints that have left her once promising career in tatters.
She won three matches at November’s BJK Cup but her last appearance on the Tour came in September when she retired hurt in Seoul.
The Raducanu team are now scheduled to fly to Melbourne in hopes of preparing for the January 12 start of the Australian Open.
“I tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here but unfortunately picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time,” she said in a statement.
She would have played as a seed for the first time since 2022 had she competed in Auckland.
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