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The US Open

US Open Women’s Day 2

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Under-the-weather fifth seed Ons Jabeur needed a doctor’s visit and a blood pressure check on her way to a laboured 7-5, 7-6 (4) opening win on Tuesday over Camila Osorio to reach the second round of the US Open.

The Tunisian who was feeling poorly with illness in what turned into a two-hour test, needed to claim a tiebreaker to hold off her feisty Colombian opponent, 

Jabeur was also serenaded by fans a day after her 29th birthday.

Last year’s runner-up here who also also lost the last two Wimbledon finals , admitted she suffered on her way to victory.

“It was not easy,” the winner said. “She plays unbelievable and I was not feeling my best today.

“At some points in the match I didn’t have the best attitude. She could see I was tired and tried to make me run even more.”

But the winner added: “”I’m glad I got the win and showed myself I can push and do better.”

Jabeur said she apologised to her defeated opponent at the net for the distraction of calling for the tournament doctor at one of her low points.

Jabeur was unable to wrap p the win on one of her two match points while leading a set and 5-3.

The struggle was finally decided in the tiebreaker as Jabeur came through on her third match point as Osorio netted.

American No. 1 Jessica Pegula began her home campaign 6-2, 6-2 over Italian Camila Giorgi, with the winner surviving a marathon game at 2-all in the second set.

This month’s Montreal winner improved to 28-8 this season on cement.  

“We’re all hoping to hit top form at the Grand Slams,” she said. “But tennis is so day-to-day.

“You just try to get through the first few rounds and try to get better with each match.”

Former semi-finalist Elina Svitolina pounded German Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-3, 6-1 in less than an hour. 2017 finalist Madison Keys advanced over Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4 in 96 minutes with 20 winners and 19 unforced errors.  

“I knew what I had to do. I’ve played her several times this year already, a lot of times throughout my career,” Svitolina said.

“But sometimes it depends as well on how you’re playing and how she’s playing.

“I think I was able to kind of execute what I wanted to do.”

Britain’s No. 61 Katie Boulter won her third Grand Slam match of the season, reaching the second round 6-4, 6-0 over Diane Parry of France.

2021 Canadian finalist Leylah Fernandez was put out by Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4. Compatriot Rebecca Marino also lost, ending Canadian participation in singles at this edition. 

Main photo:- An exhausted and under the weather Ons Jabeur (TUN) battles to victory over Camila Osorio – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

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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