Cincinnati Masters
Venus exits with a smile as comeback falters in Canada
Venus Williams went down fighting as the 45-year-old lost a first-round match at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-4.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion won a round in Washington in recent weeks as she began a self-styled comeback after a competitive absence of nearly 18 months.
“I had so much fun out there, and there were definitely moments where I had a lot of chances,” she said..
“I thought she played super well. I have to definitely give her a lot of credit.
“I see a lot of positives for today (even if) everything is going to be perfect.”
Williams added: “It’s hard for me to be upset,” I know that I lost this match because I just, I need more matches.
“I could have played better. But the thing I feel good about is that I did go for it.
“It’s not that I didn’t know what to do. It’s just that I need to keep working on it.”
The 51st-ranked Bouzas Maneiro was thrilled to have shared the court with the icon.
“It was not easy at all,” the winner said.”She’s a legend, it was a privilege to play against her” in the 87 minute victory.
“I never thought that I would ever play Venus,” the 22-year-old said. “I was just lucky with that.
“I tried to have a lot of intensity, but I had no rhythm. She hits so hard. I tried to focus. I had to be positive to win the points.”
Williams owns a 2012 Cincinnati semi-final and played the event for a 10th time in 2023.
Carlos Alcaraz could miss the entire grass season if a worst-case scenario on his wrist injury comes into play.
The Spaniard has already withdrawn from title defences on clay at Rome and Roland Garros after injuring the wrist this month in Barcelona.
But latest reports from Spain indicate that the world No. 2 could possibly not be back until the start of the US Open run-up next August, possibly at the Cincinnati Masters.
Rome’s La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the bad news on the fitness state of Alcaraz, winner of the last two French Open editions. The paper reported there was no chance for the player to compete either at Queen’s club, London, or Wimbledon, which begins in late June.
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz reached Wimbledon final 2025 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd
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
Felix Auger-Aliassime bounced back after a slow start, with the Canadian raiding his game along with his expectations on Wednesday at the ATP Dubai event.
The top seed survived the loss of his opening serve to prevail 6-4, 6-4 over France’s Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard.
Victory marked the 10th quarter-final or higher at 11 tournament for FAA dating to Cincinnati last August.
The seed’s game is on the mend after a hiccup in the form of an Australian Open first-round loss, with FAA winning the Montpellier title and reaching this month’s Rotterdam final against Alex de Minaur.
Auger-Aliassime said that he tries to set an example to his team by way of keeping his tennis standards high.
“I’m responsible, I’m the one stepping onto the court – I’m the (support) team leader.
“I need to uphold the standards I want for my career.”
The winner who broke three times, said the ball reacted differently as he played for the first time in the afternoon.
“I couldn’t find my serve in the first few games, I needed to get some rhythm. he also made it difficult for me. I’m glad I was able to find a way back into the set.
The Canadian No. 1 improved his record against French opponents to 15-1 since the start of 2025.
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