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The US Open

US Open 2025 Women’s Day 6

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Former champion Emma Raducanu hit the wall with her recent run of form as the Briton lost 6-1, 6-2 on Friday to fellow Grand Slam winner Elena Rybakina to exit the US Open third round.

Raducanu lost serve four times in a 63-minute defeat to exit the event she won in 2021, the year before Rybakina lifted All England Club honours. She suffered a 15th loss against top 10 opponents, winning just three of 18,

Rybakina advanced to the round of 16 with 23 winners to reach her best showing at the Flushing Meadows venue.

“It’s always not easy to play against Emma. I knew that I had to play very aggressive,” the winner said. “I think I did pretty well, so happy.

“The deeper you go in the tournament, the tougher opponents get. Physically also I’ve been feeling well. So yeah, pretty happy with the way the tournament’s going so far.”

The Kazakh has yet to face a break point as she heads into the second week of the season’s final major.

“I found it very difficult to get any sort of rhythm in the match,” Raducanu said. “When I did have a ball, it was hard for me to all of a sudden hit a quality shot.

“It was just hard to really capitalise on the few moments that I had. But credit to her. She played a very good match.”

The Brit added: “I’ve just got to do my best in the next few months until Australia to just keep working to try and close the gap (with the elite players).

“Depending on the day, depending on how we match up, I think I’m getting better overall. 

“I’m improving for sure in the last few months. So I just need to keep
consistent and put this one behind.”

Last year’s finalist Jessica Pegula advanced past two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, with a 6-1, 7-5 scoreline, reaching the second week of a major for the 10th time in her career.

The American ended with 23 winners, including five aces, advancing in 96 minutes.

“I thought I moved really well. I thought I scrambled really well,” Pegula said. “I really wanted to make the match physical. 

“We train together a lot in Florida, so we know each other’s games so well. 

“We’ve played a lot. I could tell she was struggling a little bit physically, so I wanted to keep her moving, keep going after my shots and playing aggressively.”

The 31-year-old fourth seed from a billionaire sports team-owning family won the first 10 points of the match before Azarenka settled in but never really got comfortable in her 18th New York appearance.

The 36-year-old former No. 1 has played three finals here, losing to Serena Williams in 2012 and 2013, and Naomi Osaka in 2020.

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova beat two-time Grand Slam runner-up Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (4), 6-1.

It was the Czech’s first defeat of a top 10 opponent since 2023, not helped by a series of shoulder injuries since winning Wimbledon two years ago.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu lost to Elena Rybakina in straight sets – by Mark Greenwood/Grandslamtennis

Rome Masters

Alarm bells ring as Raducanu quits practice

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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

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Monterrey Open

Vekic needs five match points to win Queen’s

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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

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ATP

Agassi seeking answers to Alcaraz wrist injury mystery

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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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