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The US Open

US Open Women’s Day 6

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Aryna Sabalenka moved into the second week of the US Open on Saturday 6-1, 6-1 over France’s Clara Burel as the second seed kept up the chase for a second Grand Slam title this season.

Reigning Australian Open champion Sablenka completed a match set of fourth-round appearances at the majors this season as she mowed down her outclassed opponent in 61 minutes.

The winner is working to overhaul WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings but must match the performance of the steady Pole here.

The victory over qualifier Burel – 47th of the year for Sabalenka – duplicated a similar win here a year ago – also in the third round and also with the loss of just two games.

Sabalenka advanced with 21 winners, sealing victory with a backhand on second match point.

“I think I played really great tennis today, I’m just super happy with this win.

“I felt pretty comfortable on court today.”

No. 62 Burel, the 2018 junior runner-up, has now lost all five of her meetings with Top 5 opponents and has won a singles set over the losing streak.

Sabalenka takes a 4-2 record into next week’s clash with Daria Kasatkina, who booked  her spot 6-3, 6-4 over Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen.

“It’s always tricky matches against her, she’s playing great tennis, moving really well,” Sabalenka said of her next opponent.

“I have to be focused and not rush things against her. I just have to stay calm, wait for the opportunity and take it.”

The second seed has yet to be scheduled on the Ashe showcase court, a venue she would love to now use.

“Of course I would like to play on Ashe; it’s a different atmosphere,” she said. 

“Armstrong (court) gives me so much support and I like playing there, but I hope the next match will be on Ashe.”

Third-seeded Jessica Pegula moved to one win away from her seventh quarter-final at the grand Slam with a fighting 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 defeat of popular Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

The US No. 1 moved into a fourth-round clash with compariot and 2017 finalist Madison Keys, who sparked memories of her better days here with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 fightback to put out Liudmila Samsonova.

Pegula earned a personal-best 46th win of the season and stands 1102 this summer on North American hardcourts after winning the Montreal trophy last month.

The seed defeated Svitolina for the fourth time in five matches, advancing as her opponent’s return landed long on match point.after breaking twice in the deciding set.

“I knew no matter what, she wasn’t going to go away,” Pegula said.“

“She’s been playing amazing. She really picked up her level and forced me to go after that third set.”

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka wins third round match Photo 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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