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☆ Opinion | ‘They Are Not Going to Settle for the Second-Best Trump’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Thomas B. Edsall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

DeSantis saying he’s going to start “slitting throats” reminded me of Romney’s “severely conservative.” While DeSantis’s is a dangerous escalation of violent imagery, they both sound bizarre and unnatural. At a more fundamental level, Bateman wrote:It’s not at all clear that what most Republican voters (rather than donors) want is a mainstream and party credentialed version of Trump. The problem with this approach, Ayres continued, is that “the Always Trump voters are ‘Always Trump’ for a reason — they are not going to settle for the second-best Trump if they can get the real thing.”Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster, wrote:There is no room for DeSantis or anyone else to outflank Trump on the right, where Trump has his most loyal base. Candidates can argue that Trump is insufficiently conservative on some issues, but that it not the point for Trump loyalists. Candidates can try to echo the ugliness of Trump’s rhetoric, but that too misses what really draws these voters to Trump.

Persons: Trump, Romney’s “, Bateman, It’s, Trump’s, ” David O, Sears, “, Archie Bunker, Whit Ayres, Republican pollster, DeSantis, RFK Jr, Ayres, Geoff Garin, MAGA, Frances Lee, ” Lee, ” Organizations: Yale, Harvard, Trump, Republican, Derby, Wimbledon, NPR, Ivy League, for Disease Control, Democratic, Trump loyalists, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Princeton

☆ U.S. Open 2023 prize money: How much do the winners get?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Here is what you need to know about the prize pot on offer at the U.S. Open:WHEN IS THE U.S. OPEN HAPPENING? * The total prize money is $65 million, a new all-time high for the tournament. * The increase in player compensation takes on greater significance as the tournament celebrates 50 years of equal prize money. WHAT IS THE PRIZE MONEY ON OFFER IN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S DOUBLES AT THE U.S. OPEN IN 2023? * First round: $22,000* Second round: $36,800* Third round: $58,000* Quarter-finals: $100,000* Semi-finals: $180,000* Finalist: $350,000* Winner: $700,000WHAT IS THE PRIZE MONEY ON OFFER IN MIXED DOUBLES AT THE U.S. OPEN IN 2023?

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Djokovic, Swiatek, Roland Garros, Marketa Vondrousova, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wimbledon, U.S, OPEN, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ U.S. Open 2023: dates, schedule, seeds and how to watch on TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

* The three main showcourts at the U.S. Open are Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand. * Arthur Ashe Stadium (capacity: 23,771) is named after the only Black man to claim singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. * Louis Armstrong Stadium (capacity: 14,053) was named after jazz great Armstrong who lived a few blocks from the venue until he died in 1971. * Poland's Iga Swiatek, the French Open champion, is the women's world number one and will defend her New York crown. * Latin America & Caribbean: ESPN Brazil, ESPN Caribbean, ESPN Latin America (North and South), TV Globo.

Persons: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Norway's Casper Ruud, Violeta Santos Moura, Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Holder Carlos Alcaraz, Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Caroline Garcia, Maria Sakkari, Vondrousova, Karolina Muchova, Stan Sport, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: U.S, United States Tennis Association, National, OPEN, U.S ., Louis, Wimbledon, Australian, Open, WHO, TOP, MEN, Sports, SuperSport, Eurosport, Sky Sports, Telefonica, Oceania, Digicel, MIGU, TVNZ, Sony Sports Network, Caribbean, ESPN Brazil, ESPN Caribbean, ESPN, America, TV Globo, beIN, TSN, Thomson Locations: Murcia, Spain, New York, Serbia, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Greece, United States, Poland, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Jabeur, Tunisia, France, Czech Republic, Africa, Europe, SuperTennis, India, Bengaluru

☆ Djokovic storms back to beat Alcaraz for Cincinnati title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 20 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic overcame a match point and stifling heat to beat world number one Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4) and win the Cincinnati Open in a heart-pounding thriller on Sunday. "So much to say and so little energy," Djokovic said while collecting his third Cincinnati Open title. In the decider, Djokovic broke for a 5-3 lead but would then squander two match points in the next game. The drama would continue when Djokovic missed an overhead for 5-5 and the players would ultimately arrive at another tiebreak, which Djokovic won on his fifth match point of the contest. The win delivered Djokovic his 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Katie Stratman, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Novak, Rory Carroll, Stephen Coates, Sonali Paul Organizations: Southern Open, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, Wimbledon, COVID, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Ohio, U.S, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Coco Gauff continues excellent preparation for US Open with third title victory of the season
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Coco Gauff continued her excellent preparation for this month’s US Open with victory at the Western & Southern Open on Sunday. “I’m really happy with how I was able to manage this week,” Gauff said after becoming the tournament’s youngest ever winner. I wasn’t really serving as good as I did against Iga. I’m glad I was able to push through.”Gauff is still searching for her maiden grand slam title having reached the final of the French Open last year. She won in Auckland in January and Washington two weeks ago, and victory in Cincinnati on Sunday was her fifth career title.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Karolína, “ I’m, ” Gauff, “, she’s, It’s, I’m, Gauff, Matthew Stockman, Muchová, Bianca Andreescu, Caroline Wozniacki, Gauff –, – Organizations: CNN, & Southern, Sunday, Western & Southern, Women’s Tennis Association, Wimbledon Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, Auckland, Washington, Cincinnati, Czech

☆ Alcaraz to face Djokovic for Cincinnati title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Hurkacz, who narrowly lost to Alcaraz in the quarters of the Canadian Open, raced out to a 3-0 lead as Alcaraz mixed dazzling shotmaking with some head-scratching errors in the entertaining first set. Hurkacz captured the opener when he broke Alcaraz for a second time and had match point in the second set while returning serve and leading 5-4 but misfired on a forehand. Alcaraz drew Hurkacz to the net with a drop shot and then fired a sensational cross court winner to set up the tiebreak. A perfectly executed volley on his first match point delivered Alcaraz into his eighth final of the year and despite spending more than 10 hours on the court this week, he said he feels fresh. Djokovic, who won the Masters 1000 tournament in 2018 and 2020, has played Alcaraz three times.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Hubert Hurkacz, Albert Cesare, Novak, Max Purcell, Hurkacz, Alcaraz, I'm, DJOKOVIC, ZVEREV, Alexander Zverez, Zverez, Djokovic, Rory Carroll, Deepa Babington, Kim Coghill Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, Spanish, England, Canadian, Spaniard, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Spain, Poland, Ohio, Madrid, Los Angeles

☆ Djokovic edges past Alcaraz in Cincinnati to capture first tournament title in return to US soil
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz, 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) on Sunday to avenge his Wimbledon final loss and capture the Western & Southern Open title in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Definitely one of the toughest, most exciting matches I was ever a part of on any tournament,” an exhausted Djokovic said after the match. In the third set, Djokovic failed to capitalize on multiple championship points and the duo would go into another tiebreak, in which Djokovic would come out victorious. So congratulations to you and your team.”Djokovic was playing in his first tournament on US soil since his US Open final loss against Daniil Medvedev in 2021. Djokovic will look to capture his 24th career singles grand slam title and surpass Margaret Court for the most all-time – men’s and women’s.

Persons: CNN — Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, ”, ” Alcaraz, “, ” Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Margaret Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, & Southern, Cincinnati, ATP, US, Serbian, Covid Locations: Cincinnati , Ohio, New York, Cincinnati

☆ Gauff beats Muchova to win Cincinnati Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Aug 19, 2023; Mason, OH, USA; Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates after defeating Iga Swiątek, of Poland, in their semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 20 (Reuters) - Coco Gauff beat Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4 to win the biggest title of her young career at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday and extend her outstanding run of form on North American hard courts ahead of the U.S. Open. Gauff had some trouble getting over the finish line, failing to convert three match point opportunities while serving at 5-2 thanks to some tentative groundstrokes. But on her next chance to serve for the title she did not falter, Muchova's return landing wide as Gauff jumped up and down in jubilation. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Iga Swiątek, Albert Cesare, Karolina Muchova, Muchova, Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Rory Carroll, Toby Davis Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, U.S ., Wimbledon, Flushing, Washington D.C, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, United States, Poland, Czech, Ohio, jubilation, New York, Flushing Meadows, Washington, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Gauff stuns Swiatek to reach Cincinnati final
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 19 (Reuters) - Coco Gauff beat world number one Iga Swiatek for the first time in eight meetings on Saturday to advance to the Cincinnati Open final as the American teenager's level continues to rise ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open. Gauff served big and played sensational defense en route to a 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4 win over the 22-year-old Pole and will face either world number two Aryna Sabalenka or Czech Karolina Muchova in Sunday's final. Gauff leapt into the air and pounded her chest as the crowd erupted after she secured the hard-fought victory. "I knew playing her was going to be tough, nothing was going to be given to me today," she told Tennis Channel. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Iga Swiątek, Albert Cesare, Gauff, Czech Karolina Muchova, Rory Carroll, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, Tennis, Wimbledon, Washington DC, Canadian, WTA, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, United States, Poland, Czech, U.S, Washington, Los Angeles

☆ Why it matters that this year’s Women’s World Cup teams ditched white shorts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When England take the field at Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final, the team won’t look the same as the one that won the European championship last July. No white shorts. The number of nations whose uniforms feature white shorts decreased from 2019’s tournament, despite the number of participants expanding from 24 to 32. Melton noted that the historical prevalence of white shorts in women’s sports suggests that little to no consideration was given to how women’s bodies differ from men’s. Eugenie Le Sommer of France, one of several teams to switch from white shorts to dark-colored ones at this year's World Cup.

Persons: —, Ireland’s, Lauren Hemp, ”, “, Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson, Qin Lang, Nicole Melton, ” Allison Smith, meanwhile, ” Smith, — we’re, ‘, “ It’s, Melton, haven’t, ” Melton, she’s, Aryna, Patrick Smith, Clare Hanlon, Hanlon, ” Hanlon, Smith, “ Young, Eugenie Le Sommer, France, Justin Setterfield Organizations: CNN, England, Wimbledon, League, Manchester City, Manchester, Getty, University of Massachusetts Amherst, FIFA, University of Massachusetts, Sports outfitters, “, Victoria University’s Institute of Health, Sport, Nike, “ Nike Locations: England, Zambia, Philippines, Canada, France, Nigeria, South Korea, Xinhua, United States, Europe, South America, University of Massachusetts Boston

☆ Swiatek powers by Vondrousova to reach Cincinnati semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mandatory Credit: Carter Skaggs-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek overcame a tricky opening set before racing to a 7-6(3) 6-1 victory over Czech 10th seed Marketa Vondrousova on Friday in a clash between the last two Grand Slam winners to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals. "It wasn't easy to adjust to her spin because she's a lefty," French Open champion Swiatek said during her on-court interview. But she was denied both times by Swiatek before the Pole ran away with the tiebreaker. "I tried to learn from that first set, and in the second set I knew exactly what to do and I think that's why it was such a good performance," Swiatek said. Muchova now awaits the winner of the quarter-final clash between Tunisian fifth seed Ons Jabeur and Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Danielle Collins, Carter Skaggs, Marketa Vondrousova, Swiatek, Vondrousova, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Czech Karolina Muchova, Marie Bouzkova, Muchova, Aryna, Frank Pingue, Hugh Lawson Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, USA, Czech, Cincinnati, Wimbledon, Swiatek, ., Aryna Sabalenka, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Poland, United States, Czech, Belarusian, Toronto

☆ Alcaraz ends Purcell's dream Cincinnati run, Hurkacz advances
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - World number one Carlos Alcaraz ended Australian qualifier Max Purcell's dream run with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals on Friday, while Poland's Hubert Hurkacz got past lucky loser Alexei Popyrin 6-1 7-6(8). The Spaniard failed to convert his only break point chance of the first set in the second game before helping Purcell to the crucial break in the seventh game with an unforced error. The win set up a semi-final with 20th-ranked Hurkacz, who sent over 10 aces and never faced a break point in his lopsided win over Australian Popyrin. "Alexei raised his level and was serving really good throughout that second set, I just got to the tiebreaker," Hurkacz said. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Tommy Paul, Kareem Elgazzar, Max Purcell's, Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, Alexei Popyrin, Purcell, Casper Ruud, Stan Wawrinka, Hurkacz, Alexei, Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, France's Adrian Mannarino, Alexander Zverev, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, U.S, Court, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Spain, United States, Switzerland, Toronto, Serbian, New York

☆ Venus Williams receives wildcard to play in 24th US Open at age 43
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Venus Williams will take part in a record-extending 24th US Open after receiving a wildcard from the US Tennis Association (USTA) to compete at this year’s tournament. Williams, now ranked 533rd in the world, made her US Open debut in 1997 and went on to win the title in 2000 and 2001. Denmark’s Caroline Wozniaki will make her first grand slam appearance since retiring after the 2020 Australian Open after the former world No. The 2018 Australian Open champion retired in 2020 to start a family, but returned to action at the recent Canadian Open after more than three years away from the sport. The US Open, the final grand slam of the year, gets underway on August 28.

Persons: Venus Williams, China’s Zheng Qinwen, Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniaki, Caroline Wozniacki, Robert Prange, Wozniacki, Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, Markéta Vondroušová Organizations: CNN, US Tennis Association, Cincinnati Masters, Wimbledon

☆ Swiatek survives Zheng scare to reach Cincinnati quarter-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek used an outfit change to help her reset after a poor start and beat China's Zheng Qinwen 3-6 6-1 6-1 on Thursday and set up a Cincinnati Open quarter-final clash with Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. "Honestly, it's because of my coach," Swiatek said about her outfit change. "I thought this was a bad (idea) but I tried this time and it worked, so thank you coach." Awaiting Swiatek in the next round will be Vondrousova, who converted four of five break points during a 7-5 6-3 victory over Sloane Stephens. Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari also advanced with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 win over Czech Karolina Muchova.

Persons: Swiatek, China's Zheng Qinwen, Marketa Vondrousova, Zheng, Sloane Stephens, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, Maria Sakkari, Czech Karolina Muchova, Frank Pingue, Ed Osmond Organizations: Cincinnati, Wimbledon, U.S, Czech, Thomson Locations: Toronto

☆ Djokovic missed playing big US events and excited to be back
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Playing singles in Cincinnati for the first time since 2019, the 36-year-old Serbian won the first set 6-4 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who later retired with a back issue. "Winning it in 2018 obviously is a highlight for me, because it was the only Masters I hadn't won for years. "But I played well in the past and was really glad to have a chance to come back to the States. First match coming back," said Djokovic, who will meet fellow veteran Gael Monfils next. "It'll probably take a few sets for me to really get things going in a right way."

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Katie Stratman, Djokovic, I've, hadn't, Roger, Federer, It's, Carlos Alcaraz, Gael Monfils, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Robert Birsel Organizations: Southern Open, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, U.S, Serbian, Wimbledon, hardcourts, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, United States, U.S, Cincinnati, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Swiatek cruises past Collins, Pegula survives test
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Aug 12, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Iga Swiatek (POL) returns the ball against Jessica Pegula (USA) (not pictured) during semi final play at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 16 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek made quick work of qualifier Danielle Collins as she raced to a 6-1 6-0 victory on Wednesday to reach the Cincinnati Open third round as third seed Jessica Pegula survived a tough opening match. World number one Swiatek broke the 29-year-old Collins seven times, faced only two break points and wrapped up a one-sided match in a tidy 59 minutes. "I feel like I was really solid and I didn't make a lot of unforced errors," Swiatek said in her on-court interview. Pegula comfortably lost the first-set tiebreak but showed her quality in the second set before racing out to a 3-0 lead in the decider en route to her 27th hardcourt win this year.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, David Kirouac, Swiatek, Danielle Collins, Collins, Martina Trevisan, Pegula, Marketa Vondrousova, Anastasia Potapova, Daria Kasatkina, Varvara Gracheva, Frank Pingue, Ed Osmond Organizations: IGA, Cincinnati, Italian, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Czech, Russian, Toronto

☆ Williams playing at a 'better level' after injury-hit start to season
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Aug 14, 2023; Mason, OH, USA; Venus Williams celebrates after beating Veronika Kudermetova during round one of the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason Monday, August, 14, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Cara Owsley-USA TODAY Sports/File photoAug 15 (Reuters) - Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams says she is now playing at a better level than at the start of an injury-plagued 2023 season after sealing her first top 20 win in four years by beating Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open on Monday. read more"I think I'm at a better level than I started the year, to be honest," Williams told reporters. I'm fine game-wise, but playing matches is a different ball game." Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Venus Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Williams, Cara Owsley, old's, Roland Garros, Elina Svitolina, Camila Giorgi, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, USA, Cincinnati, Auckland, Wimbledon, Birmingham, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Cincinnati, Auckland, Bengaluru

☆ Novak Djokovic ‘glad to be back’ on American soil after two-year absence
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Novak Djokovic is preparing to play on American soil for the first time since 2021 after the Covid vaccine requirement for non-US travelers was lifted earlier this year. His last match in the States was at the 2021 US Open when he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the final. “I’ve had plenty of success on American soil with Indian Wells, Miami, obviously Canada and here, [I’ve] won many times at these Masters 1,000 events, all of them. Djokovic plays a forehand against Carlos Alcaraz during this year's Wimbledon final. Regarding his defeat in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic said on Sunday that he was “over it in a day” and looking forward to the hard-court swing.

Persons: CNN — Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, I’m, “ I’ve, – I’m, ” Djokovic, wasn’t, Carlos Alcaraz, Julian Finney, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Alcaraz, Nikola Ćaćić, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Jordan Thompson, ”, “ There’s Organizations: CNN, Covid, & Southern, Indian, Miami, Wimbledon, Getty, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Cincinnati, Mason , Ohio, New York, Serbian, Indian Wells, Miami, Canada, California

☆ Women's World Cup: Australia dares to dream of win as Matildas mania sweeps the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sydney CNN —Two matches stand between Australia and a historic Women’s World Cup win, and the nation – perhaps prematurely – is debating the pros and cons of a national holiday should the squad defeat Spain on Sunday. Soccer mania has swept the country in a culture where rugby, cricket and the local “Aussie Rules” football usually dominates. Australia players celebrate after winning their quarterfinal match against France in Brisbane, August 12. Zara Borcak beams as she holds the jersey Sam Kerr gave her after Saturday's match against France, August 12, 2023. Maybe it’s because the last time the country came together to fight a common cause, they were desperately trying to stay apart.

Persons: Tertius Pickard, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Sam Kerr, “, ‘, ”, Zara Borcak, Selma Borcak, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Andrew Cornaga, Ben Crowe, Crowe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ash Barty, it’s, ” Mackenzie Arnold of Australia, Norvik, that’s, Mackenzie Arnold, I’ve Organizations: Sydney CNN, Spain, Sunday, England, Australia, France, FIFA, Reuters Sporting, – Basketball Australia, AFL, Australian Football League, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ”, NRL, ’, Sweden, Wimbledon, Richmond AFL Locations: Australia, France, Australia’s, United States, Brisbane, Sydney, Green, Brazil, Zara, Spain, Eden, Auckland, Denmark, Melbourne

☆ Wozniacki shifts focus to U.S. Open after early Cincinnati exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I still have about 10 days to prepare for the U.S. Open. There is quite a few things that I feel like I need to do better," Wozniacki told reporters. Wozniacki, citing her desire to start a family with her husband, former NBA player David Lee, retired from tennis after the 2020 Australian Open. Despite only having three competitive matches since her return, Wozniacki feels she has what it takes to eventually meet the expectations for her to make a splash. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Caroline Wozniacki's, Wozniacki, Varvara Gracheva, Marketa, Gracheva, Elina Svitolina, David Lee, Dane, Olivia, James, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: U.S ., Cincinnati, Canadian, Wimbledon, Montreal, NBA, U.S, Thomson Locations: France, Cincinnati, Toronto

☆ Azarenka upsets Krejcikova, Wozniacki loses Cincinnati opener
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 15 (Reuters) - Twice champion Victoria Azarenka upset Czech 11th seed Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 7-5 on Tuesday to reach the Cincinnati Open second round while Danish wildcard Caroline Wozniacki, in her second tournament out of retirement, lost her opening match. The 34-year-old unseeded Belarusian Azarenka broke Krejcikova four times, saved three of five break points and won the final five games of a match lasting one hour 45 minutes. Krejcikova battled to get the opener back on serve but Azarenka broke right back and then went on to serve out the first set in the following game on her second set point. Former world number one Wozniacki had her chances but failed to convert any of her nine break points while Gracheva's backhand proved too much for the Dane to handle. Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova, a Cincinnati finalist last year, also booked her spot in the second round with a 7-6(2) 6-0 win over Russian Anna Blinkova.

Persons: Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Belarusian Azarenka, Krejcikova, Azarenka, Wozniacki, Varvara Gracheva, Dane, Petra Kvitova, Anna Blinkova, Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Pliskova, Elena Rybakina, Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina, Holder Carolina Garcia of, Sloane Stephens, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Cincinnati, Belarusian, Wimbledon, Court, U.S, Thomson Locations: Czech, Montreal, France, Tunisian, Toronto

☆ Williams upsets Kudermetova, Stephens beats Cocciaretto at Cincinnati
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mandatory Credit: Cara Owsley-USA TODAY SportsAug 14 (Reuters) - Venus Williams upset 16th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 7-5 at the Cincinnati Open on Monday, as her unseeded American compatriot Sloane Stephens overcame a sluggish start to beat Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5 6-2. The Russian missed another opportunity to win the second set when Williams fended off a break point in the ninth game with an unreturnable serve. Cocciaretto took control early on and built a 5-2 lead that gave her two chances to serve out the set. But Stephens dialed up the pace and broke to love on each occasion as she used a five-game winning streak to wrap up the opening set. Stephens can expect a tougher test against sixth seed Garcia, who is 4-2 all-time versus the American including a pair of first-round wins at the Cincinnati Open.

Persons: Venus Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Cara Owsley, Sloane Stephens, Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Williams, outmatched, Kudermetova, Stephens, Cocciaretto, Caroline Garcia, Garcia, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki, Wozniacki, Varvara Gracheva, Frank Pingue, Amy Tennery, Rory Carroll, Ken Ferris, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, USA, Cincinnati, Wimbledon, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Russian, Guadalajara, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Rybakina takes aim at WTA over Canadian Open scheduling
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

I'm not really happy about it, but it is what it is," said Rybakina, who had her right shoulder strapped. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, said the Montreal quarter-final was the first time she had played so late. I can't say really the tournament because I think that the most important is the WTA here," Rybakina said. "Leadership a little bit weak for now but hopefully something is going to change, because this year it was many situations which I can't really understand." Rybakina said she was not sure if she would tweak her schedule ahead of the U.S. Open starting on Aug. 28.

Persons: Elena Rybakina, Rybakina, Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila, Jessica Pegula, I'm, it's, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Wimbledon, WTA, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Bengaluru

☆ Fire still burns as Djokovic prepares for US return
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

There's still a fire going," Djokovic said on the ATP website ahead of his Cincinnati opener against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Tomas Martin Etcheverry. "There's still that drive and motivation to really come at the biggest events in sport and try to win, try to win titles and try to bring some good sensation to the crowds." Djokovic will compete in Cincinnati for the first time since 2019 as he prepares for the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 28. "After many years of professional tennis, I feel I have a choice to play what I really want to. I really wanted to be in Cincinnati and of course the U.S. Open is around the corner."

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Toby Melville, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS, Wimbledon, All England, U.S, ATP, Cincinnati, U.S ., Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Cincinnati, Serbian, COVID, Bengaluru

☆ Sinner beats De Minaur to win Canadian Open title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Aug 13, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Jannik Sinner (ITA) hoists the National Bank Open trophy after defeating Alex de Minaur (not pictured) in the championship game at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY SportsTORONTO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Italian seventh seed Jannik Sinner secured his first Masters 1000 title with a dominant 6-4 6-1 win over Australian Alex de Minaur in the Canadian Open final on Sunday. Sinner, appearing in his third Masters 1000 final after runner-up efforts at the Miami Open in 2021 and this year, broke De Minaur five times and saved two of four break points to lift the biggest title of his career. I was a break up a couple times and he broke back but I tried to stay calm mentally. I was prepared for a long battle," Sinner, the first Italian to win the event, said during his on-court interview.

Persons: Alex de Minaur, John E, Jannik Sinner, De, De Minaur, Sinner, Frank Pingue, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: National Bank, Sobeys, Sports TORONTO, Canadian, Miami, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Toronto

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