Tag: USA

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), […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

US swimmer rescued from World Championship pool after fainting

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — Artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez was dramatically rescued from the bottom of the pool by her coach after fainting at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest. Andrea Fuentes leapt in to rescue Team USA’s Alvarez, who had sunk to the bottom of the pool and was not breathing after completing her routine during Wednesday night’s solo free final. “It was a big scare. I had to jump in because the lifeguards weren’t […]

Yuka Saso’s golf odyssey: Philippines to Japan via US Open win

by Daniel HICKS When a little-known teenager from the Philippines burst into the global golf spotlight by winning last year’s US Women’s Open it changed her life — but left tricky decisions ahead. Yuka Saso will next week enjoy the new experience of defending a major. But at Pine Needles she will play under a different flag, the crimson red circle of Japan. Saso, who was born in the Philippines and has a Filipino mother […]

Filipino Magsayo captures WBC featherweight title

Filipino Mark Magsayo dethroned WBC featherweight champ Gary Russell on Saturday with a majority decision to end the longest championship reign in professional boxing. The 26-year-old undefeated Magsayo won on points on two of the three judges’ scorecards as he handed Russell his first defeat since 2015. Two judges had 115-113 for Magsayo while the other scored it even, 114-114. “This is my dream since I was a kid,” said Magsayo. “I am so proud […]

Warriors’ Kerr named USA coach through ’24 Olympics

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Steve Kerr, a five-time NBA champion player and three-time NBA champion coach, was named Monday as coach of the United States national team through the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kerr, a 56-year-old American, served as an assistant to coach Gregg Popovich on the US squad of NBA stars that captured Olympic gold in August at Tokyo. “I’m incredibly honored and humbled to represent our country,” Kerr said. “It’s a thrilling […]

Donaire defends WBC title with body shot KO of Gaballo

  LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Nonito Donaire showed that age is a just a number, knocking Reymart Gaballo out in the fourth round with a thunderous body shot to retain his World Boxing Council bantamweight title on Saturday. The veteran and ageless wonder Donaire continues to impress at 39 despite being counted out several times by boxing critics before the Philippine boxer moved back to the 118-pound division. Donaire landed a vicious left […]

Queen leads explosion of British joy at Raducanu’s stunning Slam win

Emma Raducanu’s extraordinary US Open triumph on Saturday led to an explosion of joy in Britain, with Queen Elizabeth II leading the celebrations as the 18-year-old qualifier made tennis history in New York. Raducanu beat 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 to become Britain’s first women’s Grand Slam singles champion since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, and the first player to win a major after coming through a qualifying tournament. “I send my congratulations […]