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The US Open

US Open 2025 Women’s Day 1

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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.

ATP

Positive vibes after RG takes player crisis meeting

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The peace talks came after a Friday interview boycott by most top players, who limited their pre-event interactions with media to 15 minutes while snubbing TV broadcasters.

Players are asking for a larger share of Grand Slam prize money, aiming for a rise from 15 to 22 per cent, a figure well below payouts in other spots.

French federation (FFT) officials promised a response to the demands in the immediate future. Confrontations with Wimbledon and the US Open are also likely to proceed during the Paris fortnight.

The Australian Open has already sided with the players when the issue first arose earlier this season.

The FFT “has committed to responding to the players’ proposals in the coming weeks,” the ruling body said.

Players are seeking a closer involvement in the big decisions of the sport along with increased health insurance and retirement benefits.

Sinner, with USD 56 million already in career prize money at age 24, might do well to follow the example of retired icon Roger Federer, who earned 130 million on court and much more off it,

The Swiss, reportedly now a tennis billionaire, often said he would not be needing his ATP pension but was happy to work on behalf of other  players.

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Strasbourg

Raducanu plays coaching lottery with return to her OG

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Emma Raducanu has gone back to the future with her latest choice of coach, choosing to re-group with the mentor who helped her to a US Open title five long years ago.

The Briton whose career has been a patchwork of changing coaches and near-constant injuries and illness since her 2021 big day in New York, revealed she has re-employed Andrew Richardson, her OG coach.

The pair split not long after then-teenaged Raducanu won the Open title from an unprecedented qualifying start.

She has since struggled and wil head to Roland Garros from next Sunday with only one clay tournament, a late wild-card entry into Strasbourg.

“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time,” she posted on social media.

The WTA no. 30 has played just 15 matches this season – none on clay – with her last one more than two months ago.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu with her coach, Andrew Richardson at the 2021 US Open

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The Australian Open

Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews

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Wimbledon will bow to the high-tech future by introducing limited electronic reviews of line calls on major courts at the Championships, the club revealed on Saturday.

The All England Club will allow the technology on showcourts including Centre Court, No. 1 and four others. During controversial moments, competitors will be allowed to ask the chair umpire for a review of the point in question.

The wizardry is coming late to Wimbledon having been used at the US Open since 2023 and later adapted by the Australian Open. Roland Garros relies on marks in its clay surface to determine line calls.

Under the rules, players can ask for the review any number of times, with electronic line-calling now in effect at the grass-court major for a second year after the 2025 elimination of human line judges.

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