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The US Open

US Open Women’s Day 10

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Aryna Sabalenka completed a matched set of 2023 Grand Slam semi-final places as the second seed defeated Chinese challenger Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the final four at the US open on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old who will take over the WTA top ranking spot on Monday after the 75-week reign of Iga Swiatek, matched the last woman to sweep the semis, Serena Williams in the 2016 season.

Sabalenka will bid to move into her second final this season at a major when she squares off on Thursday against American Madison Keys, who stunned Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4 in 81 minutes.

Keys swept the opening set and hung tough in the second to thrill home fans; she saved all nine break points she faced – including five in the eighth game of the second set.

Aryna Sabalenka wins her quarterfinal match. Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

“I knew she would be a tricky player as she gets so many balls back,” the winner said. “It was not my cleanest match, but I tried to get to the net and be aggressive.

“I wanted to be on the front foot at all times.”

Semi-final opponent Sabalenka beat Keys in their last meeting in July at Wimbledon.

“This will be a completely different match,” Keys said. “There will be a lot of hard hitting and not a lot of long points.

“I’ll buckle up and try to get as many balls back as I can.”

Sabalenka is slowly getting used to the idea of playing as world No. 1 from next week.

“I’m super happy with this achievement in my  career, but, I mean, it’s not a big change. I’ve been No. 2 – now I’m No. 1,” she said. 

“It’s just a difference of position in the draw. I still have to bring my best tennis. I still have to play my best. 

“People will try to just try to chase me and get me. But it’s just an extra motivation for me

“Seeing them really trying their best to beat me, it’s an extra power and energy for me to keep playing, keep pushing, keep getting better.”

Sabalenka moved past her Asian opponent in 74 minutes, finishing with 17 winners and a dozen unforced errors.

“I definitely played great tennis today,” she said. “I’m happy with the win against an unbelievable opponent.

“I’ve now got another opportunity to do better in the semi-finals.”

January’s Australian Open winner has won all seven of her semi-finals at the majors and stands 13-2 over Chinese opposition.

“I’m not trying to block the stats; when you’re trying to block something, it’s going to keep getting in your head and it can get really annoying,” she said of her growing list of records.

“I know that I have to do my job. I have to go on court. I have to play my best tennis. I have to fight for it. 

“I know that if I’ll be fighting for my dream, I know that I can get it.”

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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ATP

Sinner claims full house with Indian Wells win

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World No. 2 Jannik Sinner became the youngest man to complete the full set of hard-court victories by beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (8) 7-6 (7) in the searing heat of Indian Wells.

The 24 year old Italian, didn’t face a break point during the final nor did he drop a set on his way to claiming his first title of the year and his 25th overall.

Sinner has won both hard court Grand Slams, with victories at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and at the US Open in 2024.

In addition he has lifted all six Masters 1000 series hard court titles – adding the Indian Wells title to victories in Miami, Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris plus the season-ending ATP Finals.

Only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have achieved the same feat.

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner lifts Indian Wells Trophy – by ATPTour.com

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Indian wells

Her way or the highway for Raducanu on court

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Emma Raducanu remained defiant at the start of the Indian Wells Masters that if she does hire a new coach, it might not be to try and shape her game.

The Brit who won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier and then suffered a four-year drop in form due to injury, is in the market for a mentor – but only if he or she conforms to her vision for her tennis.

“Right now, it’s more about bringing my instincts back out, getting back in touch with myself,” the 23-year-old told the BBC.  “I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit.

“So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit.

“I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised – even if it’s a trial.

“I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it’s not necessarily the right decision.

“I would love to have a coach that works well, but I don’t think it’s necessarily going to be easy to find one person and they are going to check every box.”

Raducanu reached a WTA fiak in early February after exiting in the Australian Open second round. She lost both matches she played last month in the Gulf, at Doha and Dubai.

She is entering the first Masters of the season with former coach Mark Petchey filling in ad hoc in between his TV broadcast commentating duties.

But that solution is temporary. “With Mark I knew he’d be in Indian Wells so I asked him to come out a few days earlier just to do some stuff with me on the court and try to feel back in a better way with my game,” the No. 24 said.

“At the start of the year I didn’t feel too good but the last few days I’ve been feeling better. 

“It’s not something that has really been organised going forward but I knew he would be here and it’s been great, I always love being on court with him.”

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