Top Story
Wimbledon 2025 Women’s Day 5
Aryna Sabalenka recovered from deficits in both sets as she ended the upset dreams of Emma Raduanu on Friday at Wimbledon with a tight 7-6 (6), 6-4 win into the fourth round.
The top seed was forced to fight back from 4-2 down in the 74-minute opening set and trailed 4-1 in the second.
But despite massive crowd support under the roof of centre court, British No. 1 Raducanu went down to defeat in two hours.
The opening set did not lack for drama, with Sabalenka missing seven set point chances in the 13-minute 10th game.
But Raducanu broke back for 6-5 with the set heading into a tiebreaker.
The Briton missed on a set point chance of her own in the decider, with Sabalenka finally clinching the set on her eighth try, a volley winner.
The momentum shifted slightly in the second set to the top seed, with Raducanu reaching a 4-1 lead – and a chance at a double break in the sixth game before
Sabalenka levelled at 4-all.
The top seed broke to take a 5-4 lead and closed out the win a game later after making up the gap against her fellow former Grand Slam winner.
“She played incredible tennis and pushed me really hard,” the winner said. “I fought like crazy on every point.
“I’m happy to see Emma healthy again and back on track; I’m sure she will be back in the top 10.”
Sabalenka said she turned the support for the popular home player into cheers for herself in her head.
“My ears are still hurting, the atmosphere was super-loud, I had goosebumps.”
She said that getting the win took mental and physical effort.
“I kept telling myself (melting down as in the recent past). not to do the same mistake again. I tried to stay calm and push myself to the limit.
“I was trying to stay focused and put as many balls as possible on that side of the court, put all the pressure on her.”
Britain’s Sonay Kartel kept the flag flying with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of France’s Diane Parry as the local No. 51 set a personal Grand Slam best with an emotional fourth-round spot as she came from 4-1 down in the first set.
“I was pretty nervous walking out there. It’s a big court with a match that has a lot of meaning to me,” Kartal said. “Last year was also in the back of my mind, losing to Coco (Gauff) on the same court in the same round.
“I tried to take everything I learnt from that match and put it into play on the court.
“I’m going to go out in the next round with nothing to lose. I’m going to go swinging. The pressure that I’ll feel is the pressure I will be putting on myself just wanting to perform as best as I can.”
No. 6 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys joined this year’s seeded exodus with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to German Laura Siegemund.
The 37-year-old winner has a chequered Wimbledon history, losing 10 times in qualifying before finally clinching a main draw spot a decade ago.
Her best career grass performance was a quarter-final in her native Germany four years ago.
“There are always nerves – if you don’t have nerves in this moment, you’re probably dead,” she said of her improbable win.
Amanda Anisimova, seeded 13th, advanced to the last 16 over Hungarian Dalma Galfi 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
The American’s concentration was interrupted more than once by the pop of champagne corks by nearby punters enjoying an afternoon in the sun.
But the seed took it all in her stride: “At some point I was, like, ‘Can everybody just do it on the changeover?’
“It was a bit rowdy on that court, you could hear everyone outside of the court. It was definitely a bit distracting.
“It can be a little loud when people are doing their external things, but I love the atmosphere and the energy and the crowd supporting me, so it’s been good.”
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached the fourth round for the first time in nine years at the expense of four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to the 34-year-old.
Pavlyuchenkova insisted she is weak on grass despite making last month’s Eastbourne semi-finals.
Osaka lost her bid for a career-best Wimbledon showing, having never escaped the third round.
The Japanese player, now a mother of one, who stood atop the WTA rankings in 2019 missed three straight editions here, 2021 to 2023.
“It was a very tough match, I felt like I was always playing from behind,” the winner said. “I was just trying to find rhythm.
“I didn’t feel so good at the beginning, this court is playing really slow.
“All three matches that I’ve won (this week) have been mentally tough. I never really liked grass before – the bounces are weird – but I’m liking it more now.”
The 34-year-old is playing her 16th Wimbledon and 65th Grand Slam, aiming to surpass her 2016 quarter-final here where she lost to Serena Williams.
A frustrated Osaka was kicking herself for the heavy loss on her daughter’s birthday.
“I don’t feel anything, so I guess I prefer to feel nothing than everything. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I’m working on.
“I was happy about that this week. Other than that, it’s just today I’m just constantly replaying the match now.
“I’m just really upset. If I look back on it, I can be happy with how I played. I think I started getting a lot more comfortable on grass.”
Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra fast-tracked into the last 16 with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 defeat of Spaniard Cristina Bucsa. She becomes the first lucky loser to reach the Wimbledon women’s single’s fourth round in the Open era.
Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a third straight title at the US Open as she dominated Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 on Monday to reach the second round as the top seed strives to find her best level at the last major of the season,
Sabalenka has disappointed by her elite standards at the other three majors, finishing Australian Open runner-up but failing in the Roland Garros quarters and the fourth round at Wimbledon last month.
“The good thing for me is not looking back no matter if it’s good or bad,” she said. “I feel a good result can also stop you from performing well because you’re basically focusing on the past.
“If I win the tournament or lose the tournament, for me today is a new day and I have to be focused just staying in the moment.”
The 28-year-old was tested in the second set by her Colombian opponent who has reached the third round of a Grand Slam only once in 22 appearances. .
Sabalenka posted her 14th consecutive match in New York, taking 87 minutes and benefiting from nine Osorio double-faults.
“I think I played great, I’m happy with my performance. She’s a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point.
“So I’m happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets.”
Cincinnati semi-finalist Sara Bejlek, who knocked Sabalenka out of that event, lost her opener here 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to Spain’s Cristina Busca.
2025 runner-up Amanda Anisimova, who turned 25 on Monday, celebrated by hammering US compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-3.
One time Open semi-finalist Emma Navarro completed a defeat of Lois Boisson 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 6-3 after the match was stopped for rain overnight. Boisson only headed to the locker room after destroying a racquet in frustration.
Former Roland Garros junior champion Lilli Tagger needed a late escape against Tamara Korpatsch, with the Austrian who lives a few kilometres into Austria from Jannik Sinner’s family home in the Alps, leading 6-0, 4-0.
But her German opponent forced Tagger to save two set points before Tagger put away victory in a tiebreaker.
Paris Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen won a battle of qualifiers over 16-year-old Kristina Liutova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, leaving her opponent in tears before the crowd consoled her with cheers.
Zheng once stood fourth but is coming back on No. 121 after surgery.
Carlos Alcaraz ended a four-and-a-half month injury exile with a resounding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Roman Safiullin on Monday at the US Open to mark his return to the courts after a wrist injury.
The defending champion now ranked third is hoping to become the first man to successfully defend the title here Roger Federer won US Open over five consecutive editions (2004-2008).
“For me it’s been a really tough five months. Being able to step on Arthur Ashe and being able to compete again.. as I said before the tournament, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament than here in New York,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s a really special tenement for me. I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd. The energy. I missed competition. I missed everything. 🥹 I’m just really really happy I was able to compete again.”
“On this (Ashe) court, I made my dream. First major. First time becoming No. 1 in the world.
“The warm welcome I receive every time I come here is crazy. I really appreciate it. I really feel the love from the people.”
One-time top 10 regular Stefanos Tsitsipas unleashed a major surprise on Cincinnati winner Arthur Fils with a turnaround 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 win as the French youngster failed to earn a two-set-to-love lead over the Greek.
“I don’t have the answer,” the 10th-seeded Fils said after his collapse in form. “Once the energy went down at the end of the second, I never felt again a good energy.
“I have to talk with my team, but at my level, to do such a mistake is almost unprofessional.”
He added: “I was trying to fight; at one point I broke back early in the fourth, so I was trying to find a way, but not accurate enough on the serve.
“The ball was not going very well out of my racquet. Even if I was fighting, was tough.”
Fils had beaten No. 53 Tsitsipas in all five of heir previous matches
The Greek, playing unseeded for the first time here, reaching the second round for the sixth time as he came from a set and 5-2 down.
Former ATP No. 3 Tsitsipas pronounced himself “speechless” at his success. “It’s an amazing start to the tournament, I’m very proud of myself.
“I’m taking it a day at a time. I don’t wanna be looking too far away. I prefer to stay grounded in the moment. A win like this today matters a lot to me.”
:French veteran Adrian Mannarino, aged 38, fought back from two sets to love down for only the second time in his career to advance past Thiago Tirante 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The loss ended the dream of the 42nd-ranked Argentine who beat Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati second round last month as the Serb competed for the first time since Wimbledon at the pre-Open event.
The first-round match began on opening day but was interrupted by night-time rain and concluded on Monday.
Andrey Rublev wore down lucky loser Otto Virtanen as the Finn cramped in the closing stages on the way to a 6-7 (5), 6-7 (0), 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Virtanen entered the draw as former champion Marin Cilic withdrew.
Main photo:- ‘New look” Carlos Alcaraz celebrates first round win on return from injury – ATPTour.com
Venus Williams made the latest match start in US Open history, with the 46-year-old not even taking to the court until shortly after midnight and losing 6-2, 7-6 (6) to Sofia Kenin,
Williams has lost her last 15 matches as a wild card, with her last victory dating to June, 2025 and her status as a serial wild card recipient under serious discussion.
She has now lost six consecutive matches at the Open, with her last victory coming seven years ago. She is still queued up to pay doubles – another wild card – with sister Serena.
Despite a distinct lack of success, Williams seems not to be considering retirement.
“I don’t think I should have to,” she said in the wee hours of Monday.
“My mind is fully focused on that: how I recover from this completely insane evening and get ready for the next one.”
The Williams start on the Ashe showcourt was seriously delayed by Novak Djokovic’s nearly five-hour loss at the same venue.
The 12:13 a.m., start of the Williams match became the latest ever at the tournament by six minutes.
Williams called the timing and 2:01 a.m. finish “not ideal.”
“I would have preferred something else, definitely. It wasn’t great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best.”
US Open 2026 Women’s Day 2
US Open 2026 Men’s Day 2
Venus loses late in 26th USO appearance
-
ATP4 weeks agoFrustration reigns as Montreal player field collapses
-
Top Story4 weeks agoEala ignores rain inconvenience to win first title
-
ATP3 weeks agoNorrie fights through while Draper folds in Cincy
-
ATP4 weeks agoZverev says ATP bonus money no biggie for Djokovic
-
ATP2 weeks agoDjoko shock as Serb knocked out in Cincinnati
-
Top Story4 weeks agoNo. 1 Sabalenka faces ranking threat from Rybakina
-
ATP3 weeks agoShaky Sinner out of Cincinnati
-
ATP2 weeks agoRehabilitating friends Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune train together in Spain