The US Open
US Open 2024 Women’s Day 3
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
ATP
Positive vibes after RG takes player crisis meeting
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.
Strasbourg
Raducanu plays coaching lottery with return to her OG
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
The Australian Open
Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews
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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Madrid Masters4 weeks agoSabalenka all in on possible RG player boycott
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ATP4 weeks agoSinner the winner to push on with Rome entry
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ATP4 weeks agoSinner all-in as Grand Slam boycott pressure grows
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ATP3 weeks agoDarderi earns Italian upset with defeat of Zverev
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ATP3 weeks agoAnother Italian victim for Sinner
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ATP3 weeks agoSinner storms ahead as skies clear in Rome
