Tag: tennis

Nadal survives self-inflicted injury as Serena loses in doubles at US Open

by Dave JAMES Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rafael Nadal overcame a freak injury scare when he accidentally hit himself with his own racquet to reach the US Open third round on Thursday as Serena Williams saw one chapter of her epic tennis journey close. Nadal defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 but only after suffering a bizarre self-inflicted injury when leading 3-0 in the fourth set. The four-time champion, […]

Battling Williams powers into US Open third round

New York, United States (AFP) by Rob Woollard Serena Williams roared into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, overpowering second seed Anett Kontaveit with a battling performance to extend her Grand Slam singles career in dramatic fashion. The 40-year-old tennis icon — who has signalled she plans to retire after the tournament — drew on all her reserves of resilience and sheer fighting spirit to take down Kontaveit with a 7-6 (7/4), […]

Defending champion Raducanu crashes out in US Open first round

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – Defending champion Emma Raducanu of Britain was sent crashing out of the US Open in the first round on Tuesday, losing in straight sets to France’s Alize Cornet. Eleventh seed Raducanu became only the third women’s defending champion in history to lose in the first round as Cornet crafted a scintillating performance to seal a deserved 6-3, 6-3 victory on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The 32-year-old Frenchwoman, ranked 40th in […]

Serena Williams battles on as US Open farewell underway

by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Serena Williams delayed her farewell to tennis on an electrifying opening night at the US Open on Monday as the sporting icon battled to victory in front of a star-studded crowd. The 23-time Grand Slam winner — who earlier this month signalled she plans to retire from tennis after the tournament — drew on all of her experience to down lowly ranked Montenegrin opponent […]

Unvaccinated Djokovic to miss US Open

PARIS, France (AFP) – Former men’s world number one Novak Djokovic said he will not play in the US Open which begins on Monday as Covid protocols mean he cannot travel to the United States. It is the second Grand Slam the 35-year-old Serb will miss due to not being vaccinated as he was deported prior to the Australian Open earlier this year. “Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time […]

Serena seen as icon with Ali by fellow US tennis legends

  New York, United States (AFP) Serena Williams ranks alongside such icons as Muhammad Ali among the greatest legends in sport, retired US tennis stars John McEnroe and Chris Evert said on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of their ESPN commentary duties for the US Open that begins on Monday, Evert hailed 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who is likely to retire after this year’s Grand Slam showdown in New York. “I would put her up there as […]

Coric upsets Tsitsipas to win Cincinnati Masters title

CINCINNATI, United States (AFP) – Borna Coric, who only returned in March after missing a year with a shoulder injury, dominated fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday to win the ATP Cincinnati Masters. The world number 152 from Croatia dispatched the Greek star 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 to become the lowest-ranked player to ever lift a Masters trophy. “I have no words, to be honest. It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” the winner said. “I’m just gonna […]

Serena Williams beaten by Raducanu at WTA Cincinnati Masters

CINCINNATI, United States (AFP) — Serena Williams bowed out of the WTA/ATP Cincinnati Masters at the first hurdle on Tuesday, losing in straight sets to US Open champion Emma Raducanu as the end of her glittering career looms ever closer. Williams, who last week indicated that she is planning to retire after this month’s US Open, was no match for British teenager Raducanu, who romped to a 6-4, 6-0 win. The 40-year-old Williams left the […]

Teen stars hail Serena as inspirational game changer

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) – Teen stars Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu hailed Serena Williams as an inspiration and a game-changing tennis legend on Tuesday, hours after the 23-time Grand Slam champion revealed impending retirement plans. World number 11 Gauff, inspired to play tennis by Williams, said she was shocked to hear her say the “countdown has begun” to departure for an icon who can motivate another generation of superstars. “The legacy that she has left through […]

Tennis star Zverev launches diabetes charity

PARIS, France | (AFP) – Tennis world No.2 Alexander Zverev has launched a charity to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes, a condition the 25-year-old recently revealed he has been suffering from. The 6ft 5in (1.98m) German said he had tried to hide his diabetes when younger and that the ‘Alexander Zverev Foundation’ would help young people to avoid fixing limits on themselves due to the condition. “As a type 1 diabetic myself, I want […]

Optimistic Serena emerging from her tennis ‘tunnel’

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Serena Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday and fought through for a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz. The 40-year-old American was competing in only her second match this season in defeating the 57th-ranked lucky loser to reach the second round. Williams earned her first victory since last season at Roland Garros, some 14 months ago. The relieved […]

Ymer ousts Murray in Washington opener as Halep, Pegula win

by Jim Slater Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray of Britain crashed out in the opening round of the ATP and WTA Washington Open on Monday, falling to Sweden’s Mikael Ymer. The 35-year-old Scotsman fell to 115th-ranked Ymer 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 6-1 after two hours and 50 minutes in the US Open hardcourt tuneup event. Ymer, who lost his only career ATP final last August in Winston-Salem, will […]