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☆ Pegula and Keys into last 16 as American buzz builds at U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

After straight set romps in her first two matches, Pegula received her first test in the form of gritty veteran Svitolina, a U.S. Open semi-finalist in 2019. Pegula had the only break in a tight opening set but that would be all she needed for a 1-0 lead. In the second it was Svitolina finally getting her first break chance and making the most of the opportunity to pull level. The last time Flushing Meadows had a chance to celebrate a homegrown women's champion was in 2017 when Sloane Stephens beat Keys in an all-American final. Keys is back and making another run after taming 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova 5-7 6-2 6-2 to set up the clash with Pegula.

Persons: Jessic, Elina Svitolina, USTA Billie Jean King, Robert Deutsch, Jessica Pegula, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Madison Keys, Pete Sampras, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Pegula, Svitolina, Sloane Stephens, Keys, Gauff, Belgian Elise Mertens, Peyton Stearns, Katie Boulter, Steve Keating, Ken Ferris Organizations: USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, U.S, Canadian, Belgian, Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, Ukraine, Flushing, Flushing Meadows, U.S, New York

Third seed Daniil Medvedev once again worked the U.S. Open graveyard shift on Saturday, beating in-form Sebastian Baez 6-2 6-2 7-6(6) to end the Argentine's 12 match winning streak. Against the 26th seeded Evans the 20-year-old Spaniard mixed moments of brilliance with lapses in focus but was never really threatened on his way to 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3 win. Top seeded Briton, number 16 Cameron Norrie, was dumped out 6-3 6-4 6-3 by Italian Matteo Arnaldi while American Peyton Stearns pushed the last British woman Katie Boulter to the exit with a 6-4 6-3 victory. Joining Pegula were 2017 finalist Madison Keys, a 5-7 6-2 6-2 winner over 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova, Stearns and sixth seed Coco Gauff, who booked her spot on Friday with a win over Elise Mertens. Reporting by Steve Keating and Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Britain's Daniel Evans, Shannon Stapleton, Carlos Alcaraz aced, women's, Aryna Sabalenka, France's Clara Burel, Arthur Ashe, Czech Marie Bouzkova, Jabeur, Bouzkova, Daniil Medvedev, Sebastian Baez, Medvedev, Christopher O'Connell, Roger Federer, Evans, Alcaraz's, Jack Draper, Michael Mmoh, Draper, Winston, Cameron Norrie, Matteo Arnaldi, Peyton Stearns, Katie Boulter, Jessica Pegula, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Pegula, Madison Keys, Liudmila Samsonova, Stearns, Coco Gauff, Elise Mertens, Pete Sampras, Serena Williams, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Sloane Stephens, Keys, Andy Roddick's, Jannik, Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Steve Keating, Amy Tennery, Lincoln Organizations: Tennis, Britain's Daniel Evans REUTERS, U.S, Czech, American, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, New York, Salem, British, Flushing, Flushing Meadows

☆ Wozniacki makes triumphant return to reach Montreal second round
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Aug 8, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) hits a forehand against Kimberly Birrell (AUS) (not pictured) during first round play at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY SportsAug 8 (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki, in her first competitive match after more than three years away to start a family, cruised by Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2 6-2 in Montreal on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Canadian Open. Wozniacki, citing her desire to start a family with her husband, former NBA player David Lee, retired from tennis after the 2020 Australian Open. Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, has also been given wild cards to compete in next week's Cincinnati Open and the Aug. 28-Sept. 10 U.S. Open. Also advancing to the second round in Montreal were Danielle Collins, a 6-2 6-2 winner over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, 10th-seed Daria Kasatkina and 15th-seed Liudmila Samsonova.

Persons: Caroline Wozniacki, Kimberly Birrell, Eric Bolte, " Wozniacki, I'm, Wozniacki, Neil Diamond's, Caroline, Birrell, Vondrousova, Sherif, David Lee, Olivia, James, Dane, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Danielle Collins, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Daria Kasatkina, Frank Pingue, Clare Fallon Organizations: IGA, Australian, Canadian, Wimbledon, NBA, Cincinnati, Samsonova, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Danish, Australian, Egypt, Toronto

☆ Stronger than ever Svitolina relishing Vondrousova test at Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

I don't know how many years I will be playing more... You practice for these big moments. "We've played a few times, so we know each other," said Vondrousova, who has taken out four seeds in the tournament. That's why she's doing well this season and especially here at Wimbledon," Sabalenka added. Jabeur, who lost to Sabalenka in the quarter-finals in 2021, said she had to stay focused for what will be a different test. "Aryna is more emotional than Elena, so maybe it could be a good or bad thing, I'm not sure.

Persons: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Poland's Iga Swiatek, Toby Melville LONDON, Elina Svitolina, Vondrousova, Svitolina, Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Skai, Ash Barty, We've, Aryna, Roland Garros, Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka, Jabeur, Elena, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS, Wimbledon, Victoria Azarenka, Melbourne, Kazakh, Madison Keys, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Ukrainian, Czech, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarusian, Sabalenka, Jabeur, Swiatek, Wimbledon, Bengaluru

☆ Vondrousova battles through roller-coaster clash with Pegula to reach semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Christian Radnedge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, it was 24-year-old Vondrousova who secured the crucial break at 4-4 when a baseline rally ended with Pegula sending a backhand long. The twists and turns kept coming, though, as Pegula began finding her range in the second set. In the decider, momentum looked to be staying with the 29-year-old Pegula as she saved three break points in the first three games and then broke Vondrousova by forcing her long. I just wanted to stay as long as I could and fought until the end and I'm just so happy. For Pegula, it was another quarter-final heartbreak, having never gone beyond the last eight at a Grand Slam.

Persons: Marketa Vondrousova, Jessica Pegula, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Pegula, Vondrousova, Vondrousva, Zheng Jie, Barbora, Christian Radnedge, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, U.S, REUTERS, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Czech, Poland

☆ Svitolina comes out on top in battle-of-the-mums with Azarenka
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Pritha Sarkar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 9, 2023 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning her fourth round match against Belarus' Victoria Azarenka REUTERS/Toby MelvilleLONDON, July 9 (Reuters) - It turned out to be the mother of all battles and Victoria Azarenka produced some telling blows in an electrifying contest but in the end she lacked the chutzpah to prevent Elina Svitolina securing a place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Sunday's 2-6 6-4 7-6(11-9) win handed the Ukrainian wildcard a first win over Azarenka in a battle between the last two mums left standing out of the six who started in the singles draw as she snapped a five-match losing run against the Belarusian 19th seed. After soaking up all the tension for close to three hours, world number 76 Svitolina finally toppled Azarenka with an ace on her second match point and promptly collapsed onto her back in her moment of triumph. She will next face world number one Iga Swiatek for a place in the semi-finals. Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Victoria Azarenka, Toby Melville LONDON, Elina Svitolina, Svitolina, Azarenka, Pritha Sarkar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Belarus, Victoria, Victoria Azarenka REUTERS, Wimbledon, Azarenka, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian

☆ Svitolina comes out on top in blockbuster battle with Azarenka
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Pritha Sarkar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After soaking up all the tension for close to three hours, world number 76 Svitolina finally toppled 19th seed Azarenka with an ace on her second match point and promptly collapsed onto her back in her moment of triumph. Bizarrely, the crowd booed Azarenka as she left the court, obviously not realising the reason why the Belarusian did not offer Svitolina the obligatory post match handshake. "I thought it was a great tennis match. Svitolina frustrated Azarenka for over 11 minutes in the fourth game of the match which dragged on for five deuces, with the Ukrainian missing a break point chance in the process. Seconds later she had levelled the contest after Azarenka swiped a forehand long to surrender her serve.

Persons: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Victoria Azarenka, Toby Melville LONDON, Elina Svitolina, Svitolina, Martina Navratilova, Azarenka, misfiring, Azarenka swiped, Skai, trickled, Pritha Sarkar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Belarus, Victoria, Victoria Azarenka REUTERS, Wimbledon, Azarenka, Belarusian, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus

☆ Swiatek survives scare to set up Svitolina clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Pritha Sarkar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Poland's Swiatek looked in big trouble against Switzerland's Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and saved two match points in the second set before clawing out a 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 6-3 victory. As the evening gloom set in, Swiatek eventually got a handle on her opponent's game, moving clear in the final set before wrapping up victory after more than three hours. Bencic will look back at the two match points she had at 5-6 in the second set, the first saved with a powerful Swiatek forehand and the second with a backhand winner. "I don't know if I even came back from match point down in my career," Swiatek said in her on court interview. "I thought it was a great tennis match.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, Dylan Martinez, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Poland's Swiatek, Belinda Bencic, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik, Novak Djokovic, Hubert Hurkacz, Roger Federer's, Sinner, Colombia's Daniel Galan, Swiatek, Svitolina, Azarenka, Jessica Pegula, Pegula, Marie Bouzkova, Rublev, Russian Roman, Denis Shapovalov, Martyn Herman, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic REUTERS, Dylan Martinez LONDON, Wimbledon, Switzerland's Olympic, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Roger Federer's Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, tennis, Belarus, Russia, Belarusian, American, French, Russian

☆ Wimbledon 2023: 500 days after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are playing at Wimbledon. Here’s how it’s going
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During the opening week, fans at Wimbledon have generally been quite warm to the Russian and Belarusian players but they’ve been especially enthusiastic to the Ukrainians. Unfortunately, they could not fight the professional Tours and others on their own,” added Zukin, who also said the ATP and WTA could do more to support Ukrainian players. CNN reached out to the WTA, ATP and The Russian Tennis Federation for comment. Tension simmers behind the scenesAway from the crowds and the cameras, Russian and Ukrainian tennis players revealed there are also strained relationships in Wimbledon’s locker rooms. Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.

Persons: London CNN —, ”, they’ve, Sabalenka, I’m, Shi Tang, Russian Veronika Kudermetova’s, Elina Svitolina, ” Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dmytro Kuleba, “, ” Kubela, Ian Hewitt, Yevhen Zukin, Kudermetova, Ben Rothenberg, Rothenberg, It’s, ” “, Marta Kostyuk, Javier Garcia, Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka, won’t, Anastasia Potapova, Iga, Slovakia’s Anna, Karolína, Svitolina, Daniil Medvedev Organizations: London CNN, Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, CNN, Russian, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Azarenka, Ukraine’s, Russia, All England, Tennis Federation of, Tennis Association, ATP, WTA, Russian Tennis Federation, Tennis, CNN Sport, Belarus, Aryna, Spartak Moscow, Melbourne Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian, Svitolina’s, Odesa, Tennis Federation of Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kyiv, ” Russian

☆ Battling Svitolina knocks Mertens out of Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 6, 2023 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action during her second round match against Belgium's Elise Mertens REUTERS/Toby MelvilleLONDON, July 6 (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina continued her excellent run in Grand Slams following her maternity break as the Ukrainian wildcard downed 28th seed Elise Mertens 6-1 1-6 6-1 on Thursday to move into the third round. "I enjoy so much being on the court, getting this chance to play in front of an amazing crowd in such an amazing event," Svitolina said. "On grass it (momentum shifts) can happen and you have to just accept it and move on," Svitolina said. "I was playing really good in the first set and Elise came back really strong, serving good. "I'm really thankful for this opportunity in the first place with the wildcard and now I'm in the third round," Svitolina added.

Persons: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Toby Melville LONDON, Elina Svitolina, Elise Mertens, Venus Williams, Svitolina, Belgian Mertens, Mertens, Elise, Sofia Kenin, China's Wang Xinyu, I'm, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Belgian, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Bengaluru

☆ Wimbledon 2023: Order of play on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Tennis · July 3, 2023 · 8:14 PM UTC · agoFive-time champion Venus Williams returned to Wimbledon a quarter of a century after her first win on the All England Club lawns but was unable to summon the old magic in a painful first-round defeat by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Monday.

Persons: Venus Williams, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina Organizations: Wimbledon, All Locations: All England

☆ Venus's record 24th Wimbledon ends at first hurdle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 43-year-old American, contesting the Wimbledon singles for a record 24th time, still retains the easy power that once made her the queen of Centre Court but succumbed 6-4 6-3 after a nasty early fall hindered her movement. It was just bad luck for me," former world number one Williams told reporters later. Williams had more treatment before the start of set two but dropped serve immediately with a forehand into the net. Asked if she had considered pulling out after her slip, Williams said her only thought had been trying to figure out a way to win. Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Venus Williams, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS, Andrew Couldridge, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Williams, Serena, I'm, Venus, You've, Svitolina, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, All, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, All England

☆ Djokovic centre stage again as Wimbledon gets under way
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 36-year-old Djokovic, who has only lost twice at Wimbledon in a decade, tops the bill on Monday when he begins the Centre Court programme against Argentina's Pedro Cachin. Following Djokovic on to the hallowed turf, five-times women's champion Venus Williams, aged 43, will try and roll back the years as her 24th Wimbledon appearance begins against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. Rain showers are expected throughout the opening days although that will not impact those with tickets for Centre Court and Court One, both of which boast retractable roofs. Political slogans of any sort are banned around the grounds with Wimbledon organisers determined the focus should remain firmly on the tennis. All 17 players from those two countries, including men's third seed Daniil Medvedev, are competing as neutrals.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Nick Kyrgios, Djokovic, Federer, Bjorn Borg's, Argentina's Pedro Cachin, Venus Williams, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Williams, Iga, Swiatek, China's Zhu Lin, Suncream, Putin's, Daniil Medvedev, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon REUTERS, Wimbledon, Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, Serbian, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Djokovic to face Cachin in Wimbledon opener, Rybakina up against Rogers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Friday's draw at the All England Club pitched women's top seed Iga Swiatek against China's 33rd-ranked Zhu Lin, a potentially tricky first hurdle for the Pole. Murray could face fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two although first Tsitsipas must get passed former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem who has tumbled down the rankings. Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, a potential semi-final opponent for Alcaraz, returns to Wimbledon with a first round against British wildcard Arthur Fery. The projected women's quarter-finals based on seedings would see Swiatek meet seventh seed Coco Gauff while third seed Rybakina could face Tunisia's Ons Jabeur. Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, will face Cachin on Monday while Rybakina plays the traditional Tuesday Centre Court opener for women's defending champions.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe, John Sibley, Elena Rybakina, Shelby Rogers, Novak Djokovic, Pedro Cachin, Zhu Lin, Aryna Sabalenka, Hungarian Panna Udvardy, Venus Williams, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Andy Murray, Ryan Peniston, Murray, Stefanos, Dominic Thiem, Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Djokovic, Roger Federer's, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Alcaraz, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, Nick Kyrgios, David Goffin, Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Fery, Jessica Pegula, Holger Rune, Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Cachin, Rybakina, Martyn Herman, Christian Radnedge Organizations: U.S, John Sibley LONDON, Wimbledon, Argentina's, All England, China's, Queen's, Belgian, British, Denmark's, Tsitsipas, women's, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian, Ukraine, Hungarian, Russian

☆ Sabalenka sets up Muchova clash at French Open, takes stand against war
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Having skipped two press conferences at Roland Garros after being grilled by the media about her personal stance on the war, Sabalenka finally addressed reporters again. "I don't want my country to be in any conflict, I don't support the war," second seed Sabalenka said. "I don't support war, meaning I don't support (Belarus President) Alexander Lukashenko right now." "I really felt bad not coming here. I felt really disrespected and felt really bad.

Persons: Sabalenka, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Czech Karolina Muchova, Roland Garros, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Svitolina, Alexander Lukashenko, I'm, Novak Djokovic, Karen Khachanov, Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Julien Pretot, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Roland, Thomson Locations: Belarusian, Czech, Russia, Belarus, Paris

☆ Russian Kasatkina feeling bitter after being booed at French Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 4, 2023 Russia's Daria Kasatkina gestures at the net after losing her fourth round match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS/Benoit TessierPARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - Russian Daria Kasatkina said she left the French Open with a bitter taste in her mouth after being booed off by the crowd following her fourth-round defeat against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Sunday. Svitolina had said she would not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players at Roland Garros because of Russia's invasion of her country. Kasatkina has been one of very few Russian players to speak out against the war, calling it "a full nightmare". Geopolitics have been at the centre of this year's French Open, with Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus skipping her post-match press conference twice, saying she felt unsafe after being grilled about the war. Last week, two-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic started a controversy after writing on a camera lens "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" amid unrest in the region.

Persons: Roland Garros, Daria, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS, Benoit Tessier PARIS, Daria Kasatkina, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Svitolina, Kasatkina, Zemfira, I’ve, Elina, Aryna Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic, Julien Pretot, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Moscow, Russian, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Belarusian, Belarus, Russian, Ukraine, Kosovo, Serbia

☆ Ruud roars, Jabeur races into French Open quarter-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"If we had gone five sets I don't know how long we would have played," said Ruud on court Philippe Chatrier. He next faces either Dane Holger Rune in a re-match of last year's quarter-final, or Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo. Jabeur moved into the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time with a 6-3 6-1 win over American Bernarda Pera and hoped that the romantic atmosphere of Paris will help her quest for a maiden Grand Slam title. The Tunisian had reached the Australian Open quarter-final in 2020 and finished runner-up to Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open title clashes last year. "For now, I just want to take it one match at a time," added Jabeur.

Persons: Roland Garros, Bernarda Pera, Benoit Tessier PARIS, Casper Ruud, Chile's Nicolas Jarry, Ruud, lanky claycourt, Jarry, Philippe Chatrier, Dane Holger Rune, Francisco Cerundolo, Jabeur, Elena Rybakina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Sara Sorribes Tormo, Maria Bueno, Haddad Maia, Bueno, Daria Kasatkina, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, I've, Kasatkina, Elina, Sabalenka, Svitolina, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Jabeur, Bernarda, U.S, REUTERS, Tunisian, Wimbledon, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Tunisian, Iga, Belarusian, Ukraine

☆ Sabalenka survives first set implosion to overcome Stephens
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sabalenka, the hardest-hitting player on the women's tour and the 2023 Australian Open champion, raced to a 5-0 lead with Stephens winning a total of just eight points. With her own first serve wilting, Sabalenka, in complete freefall by now, missed another two set points at 5-4 on Stephens' serve before her opponent spectacularly levelled and then held to take it to a tiebreak. The Belarusian, looking win a second Grand Slam trophy, managed to pull herself together at the last moment, clinching the first set on her fourth opportunity. She cut down on the unforced errors in the second set but again Stephens battled back from 4-2 down to level before Sabalenka broke again to go 5-4 up and serve out the match. I'm super happy with this win," Sabalenka said in comments given to women's governing body WTA after she refused to do a post-game interview for the second time in a row.

Persons: Roland Garros, Sabalenka, Sloane Stephens, Kai Pfaffenbach PARIS, American Sloane Stephens, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Stephens, Karolos Grohmann, Ken Ferris, Pritha Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, American, WTA, Svitolina, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Belarus, Belarusian, Ukraine

☆ What would Ukraine soldiers think if I shook hands with Russians says Svitolina
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Svitolina, who reached the French Open fourth round on Friday with a win over Anna Blinkova of Russia, refused to shake hands with her opponent and was booed by some of the fans. "It started with the Ukrainian government that went to the meetings with the Russian government," Svitolina said. "They (Ukraine) were against shaking the hands because they're not sharing the same values, obviously, and what the Russians are doing to our country." I am standing for my country, doing anything possible to support men and women who are right now in the front line fighting for our land, our country," Svitolina said. Kasatkina, who has left Russia, has been critical of the war, calling it a "nightmare" and understanding Ukrainians' decision not to shake hands.

Persons: Roland Garros, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Anna Blinkova, Lisi Niesner PARIS, Elina Svitolina, Svitolina, they're, Daria Kasatkina, Karolos Grohmann, Ken Ferris Organizations: Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russia, Moscow, Belarus, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Sabalenka, Djokovic hoping to steer clear of controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Aadi Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Another match featuring political overtones is the clash between Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and Russia's Anna Blinkova. Asked about the message following his straight sets win over Marton Fucsovics on Wednesday, Djokovic told reporters: "It's something that I stand for. Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who reached the final in 2021, will play Diego Schwartzman. British 14th seed Cameron Norrie is in action against 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who now leads Italy's charge for a first French Open men's winner since Adriano Panatta in 1976 after Jannik Sinner's elimination on Thursday. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Iryna Shymanovich, Benoit Tessier, Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Anna Blinkova, Svitolina, Djokovic, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Marton Fucsovics, Davidovich Fokina, Monte, Monte Carlo Masters, Carlos Alcaraz, Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Diego Schwartzman, Cameron Norrie, Lorenzo Musetti, Adriano Panatta, Jannik, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Belarus, Iryna Shymanovich REUTERS, Strasbourg, NATO, Marton, Monte Carlo, U.S, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Belarus, Ukraine, Belarusian, Kosovo, Serbia, Belgrade, Zvecan, Spanish, Barcelona, British, Nashik, India

☆ Ukraine's Elina Svitolina calls for ban on Russians and Belarusians
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's sports minister said on Tuesday that his country was seeking to secure widespread international support for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from 2024 Olympics because of the war. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in Paris. They are the largest platform for inclusion and diversity in sports, capturing the attention of the world," Svitolina said in a statement on Twitter. "Their lives cannot continue as normal and the world, nor the Russian and Belarusian people, can be ignorant of the atrocities they are committing in Ukraine." Svitolina, married to fellow tennis player Gael Monfils, reached her career-high ranking of world number three in 2017 and has not played since giving birth to her first child last year.

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