Medvedev squanders 4 match points, crashes out in Dubai
The 47th-ranked Dutchman came through 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 as the world number six imploded.
Medvedev, the 2023 champion in Dubai, was handed a code violation for unsportsmanlike behaviour after seeing match points slip away in the second set.
As his frustration boiled over, he accused umpire Adel Nour of applying 'double standards' with Russian players.
Nour hit back, telling Medvedev that he treats all players in the same way, regardless of nationality before brushing away the top seed's complaints.
Griekspoor kept his cool in the deciding set, taking victory on a fourth match point of his own.
Medvedev refused to shake hands with Nour at the end of the tie.
The 28-year-old Griekspoor, saved three match points to see off Roman Safiullin in the first round and then overcame defending champion Ugo Humbert.
'I'm super happy with this win,' said Griekspoor.
'Daniil is an unbelievable player, an unbelievable competitor. He's been at the top of the rankings for so many years, so I'm very pleased with this win.
'I was a little bit lucky on the match points down, and in the second-set tie-break. I even needed a few match points myself to finish this one off.'
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime notched up a Tour-leading 15th win of the year, seeing off former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to reach his fourth semi-final of 2025.
'It's been a great start,' said 21st-ranked Auger-Aliassime who has already claimed titles at Adelaide and Montpellier this year.
Auger-Aliassime will face French qualifier Quentin Halys who came back from a set and break down to defeat Italian lucky loser Luca Nardi 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Halys knocked out ninth-ranked former champion Andrey Rublev in the first round.
Sinner dropped from Laureus awards: The Laureus Academy revoked tennis number one Jannik Sinner's nomination for its annual World Sportsman of the Year Award on Thursday, citing his three-month doping ban.
Sinner, who accepted the ban earlier this month, had tested positive for anabolic agent clostebol which the 23-year-old said had entered his system from a member of his support team through massages and sports therapy. The ban will end on May 4.
'We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and - whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved - feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible,' Laureus Academy Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick said in a letter addressed to nomination panel members.
'Jannik and his team have been informed.'
The Laureus World Sports Awards have been presented since 2000, with nominees selected by the global media, recognising individual and team achievement in sport. The nominees for this year's awards will be announced on March 3 in Madrid.
Sinner, who retained his Australian Open title last month, failed two drug tests in March 2024 but was allowed to keep competing while he appealed his case.
The positive tests came to light days before the US Open, when an independent tribunal cleared him of wrongdoing, plunging the year's final major into controversy.
A number of players and fans criticised officials for allowing Sinner to play on despite the positive tests and believed that the Italian had been given preferential treatment because of his top ranking status.
In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to sports highest court (CAS) against an independent tribunal's ruling, which had cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing because it found he bore 'no fault or negligence' for the failed tests.
WADA had said that finding was incorrect under the applicable rules, and that Sinner should serve a ban 'of between one and two years'.
However, two weeks ago Sinner accepted an immediate three-month doping ban after WADA said it had reached a settlement on his period of ineligibility. WADA also withdrew its appeal to CAS following the settlement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Tadej Pogačar finishes third on final Tour de France mountain stage
PARIS (AGENCIES) On the final day in the mountains at this year's Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar did not flinch in his defence of the Yellow Jersey. Finishing third across the line at La Plagne, the Slovenian did not even come under attack on the last climb, such was the pace that he set at the front of the favourites' group. Unable to put the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man under pressure on the last summit finish of the race, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) sprinted around Pogačar for second at the line, with Ineos Grenadiers' Thymen Arensman taking a well-earned victory after his speculative attack from the GC group. The Dutch climber becomes the only rider to take a stage win in both the Pyrenees and the Alps at this year's Tour. Content to set a defensive tempo up the final climb to La Plagne, Pogačar did not chase down Arensman or follow his stage-winning attack. Instead, the 26-year-old sapped the morale of his opponents and crossed the line with his race lead remaining well more than four minutes. Only two stages stand between the world champion and a fourth Tour de France victory. As for Pogačar, the Yellow Jersey took third place on the day and will now turn his attention to the final two stages of this year's race. With an advantage of well over four minutes in the GC, Pogačar can be confident, but as he stated in his post-race interview, this is no time to become complacent. Pogačar said, 'We did a very good job until the last climb, and then some teams and riders think they can sprint the 19km of the climb. The pace was incredibly high at the start, and then I was thinking that maybe Jonas [Vingegaard] would want to win the stage also. But in the end, he was just holding on to my wheel.
Dubai Eye
12 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Raducanu reaches semi-final of Washington Open after straight-set victory
Emma Raducanu overcame the stifling heat and beat Maria Sakkari in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the Washington Open. She will next face Russian Anna Kalinskaya. Meanwhile, Canadian Leylah Fernandez will take on third seed Elena Rybakina in the semis of the ATP and WTA 500 event on Saturday. If Raducanu and Fernandez clear the semis, they will set up a potential rematch of the 2021 US Open final.R On the men's side, Ben Shelton beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(2) 6-4 in an electrifying match on Friday to advance to the semifinals. Shelton blasted an ace on match point to seal the win and avenge his five-set loss to Tiafoe at last year's US Open as the 22-year-old continues to make strides in his breakout season. Hometown hero Tiafoe had the support of the energized crowd but lost momentum when he was unable to serve out the first set while up 6-5, leading to a tiebreak that Shelton dominated. The second set hinged on a marathon game at 3-3, where Shelton pocketed a break thanks to a Taifoe double fault. Shelton rode his huge lefty serve from there to grab the win and set up a semi-final meeting with either top seed Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. "It was a tough one for sure but enjoyable nonetheless," Shelton told Tennis Channel. "I love playing against Foe. Difficult guy to play against but playing him here in the US, especially being here in D.C., it was packed, it was a great atmosphere. I couldn't be happier." Earlier, tournament lucky loser Corentin Moutet stunned Russia's Daniil Medvedev 6-1 4-6 4-6 in a wild match interrupted by an hour-long delay due to the threat of thunderstorms. Moutet, leading 5-4 in the final set when they returned to the court, was hobbled by leg cramps but completed the upset in a final game that featured three double faults by Medvedev and a frantic match point. The Frenchman fell on his back in relief after securing the victory as Medvedev threw his racket and proceeded to take out his frustration on several water bottles, drawing boos from the crowd. "That is a great way to finish the match," said world number 59 Moutet. "I was with my coach when we were up 5-4 and I said okay, I have to win the next game because my body cannot handle too much more." Moutet will face Australian seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who was a 6-4 6-4 winner over Brandon Nakashima.
Gulf Today
15 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Raducanu books DC Open semis berth with Sakkari romp
Britain's Emma Raducanu defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the ATP/WTA DC Open on Friday. It's her first WTA Tour-level semi-final in more than a year and her first on hardcourts in three years. In her third appearance in the nation's capital, Raducanu took one step further than she did in 2022 and 2024. Her quarter-final record improves to 3-9 and her career mark against Sakkari climbs to 4-0, reported WTA. On the tournament's hottest day so far -- the temperature hovered in the middle 90s but it felt close to 100 -- it was Sakkari who got out of the blocks the fastest. Thanks to two double faults by Raducanu, she forged to a 2-0 lead. Raducanu won the next three games, and they were level at 4-4 when Raducanu scored the decisive break with a deft, sharply angled backhand return. She served it out, converting her second set point. Sakkari took control of the second set and was leading when Raducanu re-asserted herself. After holding serve, she broke Sakkari to get back on serve, converting her fourth opportunity with another sweet backhand return winner. After a brief visit from the trainers, Raducanu broke Sakkari. Two errant forehands were the culprit before Raducanu served it out. Emma Raducanu shakes hands with Maria Sakkari after winning the match. AFP Venus Williams' return to tennis came to an abrupt end in the last 16, with the veteran American losing to Poland's Magdalena Frech in straight sets. The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, playing this week for the first time in 16 months, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in more than two decades with Tuesday's first round win over Peyton Stearns. But Venus found the going harder against fifth seed Frech third round clash, losing 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 13min. Venus said she was nonetheless satisfied with her return to competitive tennis. 'I had so much fun,' Venus said. 'Not the result I wanted (but) I got to play a lot of matches, definitely a plus. I couldn't be happier... 'I ran out of gas today to have fell short. But I know I can play better and I know I will play better,' added Venus, who is due to play in next month's Cincinnati Open after being handed a wild card into the event. Frech will face third seed Elena Rybakina in quarter-finals. Frech seized the early initiative with a dominant first set performance, breaking Williams in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The Pole duly held for a 4-2 lead and then broke again when Venus' serve unraveled in the seventh game. The American double-faulted twice in quick succession to hand Frech three break points, and she converted the first to go 5-2 up, before holding to close out the set. Venus was soon in trouble in the second set, blasting a routine smash well beyond the baseline to give Frech two break points in the first game. Frech pounced on that chance to grab the break for a 1-0 lead and then held for 2-0. Venus held for 2-1 but was unable to threaten on Frech's serve in the fourth game as the world number 24 took a 3-1 lead. Agencies
