Latest news with #USOpen
Kuwait Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Swiatek cruises, Bouchard says goodbye in Montreal
MONTREAL: Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek cruised, Naomi Osaka battled through and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard called time on her WTA career with a gutsy second-round loss in Montreal on Wednesday. Switzerland's Belinda Bencic sent Bouchard into retirement with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory—but not before the Canadian thrilled her hometown fans by seizing an early break in the third set. Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday—her first WTA win since 2023. But Bencic won five of the last six games to vanquish Bouchard, who had announced earlier in July she would retire after a final appearance in her home tournament. 'I think it's so special to play my last match here in Montreal on this court in front of you guys,' a teary Bouchard said as she was honored on court after the match. 'I remember being a little kid sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day. 'I grew up playing on these courts, and courts all around Montreal and near here, so it feels like such a full circle moment to finish my career here.' Bouchard, who rose as high as fifth in the world rankings, shot to prominence in 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final and made semi-final runs at the Australian and French Opens. But her career was hindered by injuries, including a concussion suffered in a locker room slip at the 2015 US Open and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2021. Swiatek sails through There was no drama for Poland's Swiatek, who breezed past Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1 in her first match since her crushing victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final. Swiatek, seeded second, broke Guo's serve six times to book her spot in the third round. It was much harder going for Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who saved two match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova. Osaka, now working with Tomasz Wiktorowski after announcing on Monday she had split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, surrendered early breaks in each of the first two sets. Wimbledon quarter-finalist Samsonova served for the match at 5-4 in the second and led 40-15. The Russian fired a forehand long on her first match point and on her second a lackluster drop shot effort gave Osaka an opening and the Japanese star pounced. Samsonova's double fault on break point allowed Osaka to level the set, and after storming back from 5-2 down in the tiebreaker to force a third set Osaka took control early, breaking Samsonova twice on the way to a 4-1 lead. 'She definitely came out really hard and, for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn't know if I should also be hitting winners,' Osaka said. 'After a while I just tried to keep the ball in court.' Jessica Pegula, the two-time defending champion and third seed, saved five set points in the opening set on the way to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari of Greece. Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Laura Siegemund, avenging a third-round loss to the German at Wimbledon. — AFP
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Badminton: Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty Make It To Macau Open Quarterfinals
The Paris 2024 semifinalist, Lakshya Sen advanced to the quarterfinals in the men's singles competition at the ongoing Macau Open badminton tournament, while the popular men's doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also made it to the final 16 on Thursday. Lakshya was battling the world number 48, Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia, and won the match lasting an hour and seven minutes by 21-14, 14-21, 21-17, as per Also, his compatriot Tharun Mannepalli pulled off a massive stunner, defeating top seed Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong. The Indian badminton player battled in an up-and-down battle, winning by 19-21, 21-14, 22-20. Seventh-seeded Ayush Shetty, who won the US Open competition, could not make it past the pre-quarters, losing to Malaysia's Justin Hoh by 21-18, 21-16. In the men's doubles, world number nine Satwik and Chirag fought back from being a game down, overcoming the Japanese pair of Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi. After they were trailing, Satwik and Chirag saved a match point in the second, before edging it to force a decider game. They won the match by 10-21, 22-20, 21-16. The other men's doubles pair of Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K were ousted after a 21-18, 21-18 defeat against fourth seeds Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King of Malaysia. Shifting focus to the women's singles competition, the campaign ended for India after their remaining player, Rakshitha Ramraj, lost a well-fought match to Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan 14-21, 21-10, 21-11 In the women's doubles duo competition, the team of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra also bowed out after a loss to Indonesia's Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari and Rachel Allessya Rose by 21-14, 21-12. In the mixed doubles competition, the fifth seed pairing of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto lost to Jimmy Wong and two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia by 19-21, 21-13, 21-18 in their pre-quarterfinals clash.
Daily Tribune
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Gauff survives epic Montreal battle
World number two Coco Gauff battled into the third round of the WTA Canadian Open on Tuesday by outlasting US compatriot Danielle Collins 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2). Gauff won the last six points of the match to capture her opener in her first hardcourt tune-up event on the road to the US Open, which starts on August 24. Top seed Gauff, the reigning French Open champion who also won the 2023 US Open, advanced to a thirdround Montreal match against fifth-ranked Veronika Kudermetova, who eliminated Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2. 'It was a frustrating match for me just because I felt like I was practicing well and then I don't think I transferred it,' Gauff said. 'But hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way and I can come back stronger in the next round.' The 21-year-old Gauff, seeking her 11th career WTA title, fired 23 double faults against three aces, but closed out the match with an ace after two hours and 55 minutes. 'It was a tough battle out there,' Gauff said.' Making serves in the court was the toughest challenge. Maybe if I cut that in half it could be a quicker match for me. I thought I was playing well, except for that part of my game.' Gauff converted nine of 16 break chances in her first victory since capturing the title at Roland Garros. 'For me to break her as many times as I did, there are some positives to take from today,' Gauff said. Collins and Gauff exchanged breaks in the first four games before Gauff held and then broke again for a 4-2 lead then held again. But serving for the set, Gauff swatted a crosscourt forehand wide to surrender a break and Collins held to 5-5, only for Gauff to hold then break at love to take the first set in 53 minutes on the fifth of 13 Collins double faults. After trading four breaks in the first six games, Collins broke at love to 4-3 and held twice to force a third set. Collins served for the match leading 6-5 in the final set only for Gauff to break with a backhand crosscourt winner to force a tiebreaker. Gauff fell behind 2-1 but landed an mis-hit lob winner and never dropped another point, Collins hitting a forehand long, double faulting and netting a backhand to 5-2 before Gauff blasted a service winner and ace to end matters. Ito ousts Paolini The day's biggest shocker saw Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito stun Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). The 21-year-old beat American Katie Volynets in the first round for her first WTA 1000 level triumph then followed with her first victory over a top-10 opponent by rallying from a set and break down to advance after two hours and 27 minutes. World number 110 Ito saved a match point in the 10th game of the second set and outlasted sixth-ranked Paolini to book a third-round match against Spain's 51st-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who defeated American Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4. Ito reached the semi-finals last October at Osaka in her WTA debut and claimed a 125-level title at Canberra in January, but until this week had not won a tour-level match this year. In other matches, DC Open champion Leylah Fernandez dropped her opener on home soil, falling to Australian Maya Joint 6-4, 6-1. Washington runner-up Anna Kalinskaya advances, the Russian beating American Ann Li 7-6 (8/6), 0-6, 6-3.
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Montgomerie backs MacIntyre to end Scotland's major drought
The 28-year-old from Oban finished tied-seventh at last week's Open to add to his second-place finish at the US Open in June, where he ended two shots behind JJ Spaun. Scotland hasn't had a major winner since Paul Lawrie came from 12 shots back to win the Open at Carnoustie in 1999. Montgomerie, 62, went close but finished second four times, including to Tiger Woods in the 2005 Open at St Andrews. A year later, he looked set to win the US Open but double-bogeyed the 72nd hole whilst in a tie for the lead and lost by a shot. But the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner thinks MacIntyre, who has five top 10 major finishes, is his country's next great hope to reign supreme at one of the sport's big four tournaments. '[MacIntyre] almost won the US Open there at Oakmont, it was a great performance from him and let's hope he takes that forward,' said Montgomerie, speaking at the launch of Ernie Els' new golf club, Els Club Vilamoura. Colin Montgomerie playing at the Els Club in Vilamoura (Image: PGA TOUR Champions) 'Another top 10 finish at [Royal] Portrush too, and he was top 10 there six years ago as well, so he's right there. He drives the ball very well, and putts extremely well. 'And who knows, with a favouring wind, you've got to be lucky, you've got to have fortune, whether it's fortune for you or unfortune for your opponent, if he has that fortune, he has every chance of winning a major.' Montgomerie is backing MacIntyre to play a key role in a European Ryder Cup victory in New York in September. Europe have not won in the US since the 'Miracle of Medinah' in 2012 but have a team stacked with talent, led by Masters champion Rory McIlroy. The teams are decided by a combination of world rankings and captain's picks but MacIntyre, ranked 14th in the world, should be an automatic choice. 'I think we've got a very good chance, I really do,' said Montgomerie – who captained Europe to victory in 2010. 'I think the team are excited about going to Bethpage. McIlroy especially wants to win away from home. 'The last seven Ryder Cups, I believe, have been won by the home team, four by Europe and three by America. 'So, it is difficult to win away from home, but at the same time, with [Jon] Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton coming back into the fold, we've got a good set [of players]. We've got a great set that are coming through. 'I think we've got every chance.' Montgomerie played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura alongside four-time major winner Els and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. The Algarve course is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the redesigned Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. It will host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational, after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026. Els said: 'Golf is in the pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Montgomerie added: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well.'
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Eugenie Bouchard breaks down in tears as former Wimbledon runner-up officially retires after losing final match
EUGENIE BOUCHARD said an emotional farewell to tennis as she retired following her exit from the National Bank Open. The 2014 Wimbledon runner-up wiped away the tears after she was beaten in three sets in the second round by Switzerland's Belinda Bencic after two hours and 16 minutes. 4 Eugénie Bouchard emotionally retired from tennis Credit: Getty 4 Bouchard chose to say her farewells in Montreal Credit: Getty Choosing to say her farewells in Montreal, the city of her birth, made natural sense and she gave the sold-out crowd a thrilling finale before going down 6-2 3-6 6-4 to the former Olympic champion. Once the clash was over, a montage of the best bits of her career was played on the screen and American world No.4 Jessica Pegula – the 2024 US Open finalist – paid her tributes. A framed commemorative collage of photos from Bouchard's career was presented on court and the caption said: 'Congratulations Genie on an outstanding career. You will be missed, WTA.' She was also given a Tennis Canada trophy and fans spelt out MERCI GENIE with red placards. READ MORE IN tennis Bouchard, playing as a wildcard, had won her opening match in the tournament against Colombian Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2 on Tuesday but this was a test too far in the end. The 31-year-old will now Bouchard, who had strapping on her left thigh, did well to keep it together during her speech but there was one point she came close to losing control. She said: 'I think it's so special to play my last match in Montreal, on this court, in front of you guys. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'I remember being a little kid, sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day. "I grew up playing on these courts and nearby. So, it feels like a full-circle moment to finish my career here. Former Wimbledon finalist makes shock comeback to tennis after unranked star turned pro in different sport 'Tennis has given me so much. I am filled with so much gratitude for this sport and for the people who helped me along the way. 'I want to thank my family – mum, dad, my sisters and brother for their sacrifice and support. It's only because of that that I am standing here today. 'I want you to know when this crowd cheers for me, they're cheering for you guys, too. I wouldn't be here without you. 'Also to all the coaches, physios, trainers, everyone I've worked with in this whole journey. "You all know who you are. Because of your hard work and help I was able to live out my dreams. 'How lucky am I to live out my dreams? So, thank you!' Bouchard – named after the Duke of York, Prince Andrew's younger daughter Princess Eugenie – became the first player to represent Canada in a Grand Slam singles final when she made it to the 2014 Wimbledon final. Tennis has given me so much. I am filled with so much gratitude for this sport and for the people who helped me along the way. Eugenie Bouchard It was a bittersweet experience as she was crushed 6-3 6-0 by Czech player Petra Kvitova in the Wimbledon final on Centre Court. That same season she made the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open and reached the Last 16 of the US Open. Two years ago, she achieved a career high by helping Canada win the Billie Jean King Cup Final in Seville. Her career has been derailed by inconsistent play and injury, which included a serious shoulder surgery that kept her off the court for 17 months between 2021-2022. There was also a lengthy lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association (USTA) after she suffered a concussion when she slipped and fell in a US Open locker room in 2015. In February 2018, a jury decided Bouchard was partially at fault – it determined the USTA was 75 per cent to blame for the incident, with Bouchard 25 per cent to blame. More people have gotten to know Bouchard in recent years from stunning beach swimsuit photoshoots – the most famous was for Sports Illustrated – than from tennis appearances. Since her heyday, she has faded from the competitive arena and slumped to 1,062 in the world ranking due to inactivity. 4 Bouchard is also playing pickleball Credit: Instagram / @geniebouchard 4 Bouchard has also become a star on Instagram Credit: Instagram / @geniebouchard
