The US Open
US Open Women’s Day 4
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka maintained her chase for the No. 1 WTA ranking with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 defeat of British challenger Jodie Burrage on Thursday to reach the US Open third round.
Unlike her opening victory which was played in heavy humidity, Sabalenka said she felt well into her comfort zone in her second outing at Flushing Meadows which took just 74 minutes.
“In the first match I didn’t feel well: it was super humid, I was sweating a lot, and the towels didn’t really work well for me.
“I kept sweating and couldn’t hold my racquet. I was really struggling and couldn’t serve.”
But those problems disappeared 48 hours later as she overwhelmed her 96th-ranked British challenger after taking weather matters into her own hands.
“I brought white towels to the match, so I was ready for whatever,” Sabalenka said.
“I was hoping that it’s (humidity) not gonna happen again. And I’m happy that it didn’t. I controlled better my serve, controlled myself better. and It wasn’t that humid today.”
Katie Boulter kept the flag flying for Britain with her 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 comeback to defeat Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan in nearly two and a half hours.
“It was an absolute battle. I worked really, really hard. I had a lot of chances
in the first set,” the winner said
“I think there were a few nerves in the first. After that set I relaxed a bit and started to be a little bit more aggressive and it really paid off.
“In the end, I just dug it out. We played some really good tennis.”
Last month’s Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova advanced over Italian Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-2.It was the ninth straight win at a major for the Czech and puts her into a match against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Eiina Svitolina sent over a tenth ace on her third match point to complete a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The Ukrainian also asked the chair umpire during an early changeover if her husband Gael Monfils was on court yet for his match.
“This definitely was a very tough match, I didn’t play so well, it was up and down,” Svitolina said after reaching the third round here during her last seven appearances.
The player who gave birth to a daughter last autumn and made a return to the WTA in April said she has been working on bringing more aggression into her game.
“I’m not young now so I have to hit stronger and not run as much,” the 33-year-old said.
“I’m trusting my physical condition, I’m happy to be back playing these kind of matches.”
Main photo:- US Open Day 4 Katie Boulter celebrates as she wins second round match by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
The protagonists from the just-completed China Open will give the WTA Wuhan event a miss, with both Zheng Qinwen and finalist Mirra Andreeva skipping the key Asian date.
Beijing weekend champion Zheng who thrilled a nation with her home title victory, is claiming a right shoulder injury which Andreeva feels “fatigue.”
“I’m very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Wuhan Open,” Zheng said in a statement. “Wuhan is where my tennis dream began, and the Wuhan Open is also where I made my breakthrough at the WTA 1000 level.
“I have always looked forward to competing in front of my hometown fans.
“Since returning from injury, however, I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open.
“My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches. I look forward to returning to the Wuhan Open next year and stepping onto the court in my best possible form!”
Andreeva’s Beijing performance has lifted the teenager into the ranking top 3 for the first time and gives her a shot at the world No. 1 ranking by season’s end next month.
Main photo :-Zheng Quinwen by ISF Ltd
Zverev scratches 7-year itch with return to Shanghai SF
Tenth time lucky as Li knocks out Sabalenka
Zverev celebrates No. 1 status with Shanghai QF
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