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NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff dealt just fine with the heat, the humidity, her big-hitting opponent and the task of trying to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time, defeating 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2 on Tuesday. Her best Grand Slam showing so far was making it to the final at Roland Garros last year. Gauff lost that title match to Iga Swiatek and those two could have met again in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. When she is on the mark, as she was Sunday night against Swiatek, Ostapenko can be as challenging an opponent as there is, because she goes for broke on nearly every stroke. Political Cartoons View All 1142 ImagesIn the semifinals Thursday, Gauff will face No.
Persons: — Coco Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko, Gauff, Serena Williams, Gauff —, Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Swiatek, Karolina Muchova Organizations: U.S, Gauff, Wimbledon, Ostapenko, AP Locations: Florida, Flushing Meadows, Czech Republic of, Romania
With temperatures once again nudging towards 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), Djokovic turned in a cool, clinical effort, improving his record against American opposition at the U.S. Open to a perfect 12-0. "It's expected of course that people are backing the home player and there is nothing wrong with that," said Djokovic. On a baking hot day, 19-year-old Coco Gauff had warmed up the Arthur Ashe crowd, blasting past Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-2 to become the youngest American to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001. "As the song went that they played here five minutes ago, you've got to fight for your right to party." Djokovic wasted no time ending both those runs, breaking the American three times and then taking the first set with a booming ace.
Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Brendan Mcdermid, Novak Djokovic shrugged, Margaret Court's, Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Arthur Ashe, It's, I've, Coco Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko, Serena Williams, Fritz, Roger Federer, you've, Steve Keating, Rory Carroll, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, REUTERS, Flushing Meadows, Djokovic, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Flushing, U.S, American, New York, Los Angeles
U.S. Open quarters would be a pretty good time to get him." In their most recent meeting, Djokovic beat Fritz last month in the quarter-finals of a U.S. Open tune-up event in Cincinnati that the Serbian went on to win by beating Carlos Alcaraz. Should Fritz prevail over Djokovic it would set up an all-American semi-final against the winner of the late match at Arthur Ashe Stadium between 10th seed Frances Tiafoe and unseeded Ben Shelton. The day's other women's quarter-final sees Czech 10th seed and French Open finalist Karolina Muchova facing Romanian 30th seed Sorana Cirstea. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Taylor Fritz, Germany's Yannick Hanfmann, Andrew Couldridge, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Fritz, Arthur Ashe, Djokovic, Novak's Novak, It's, he's, I've, Carlos Alcaraz, Margaret Court's, Laslo Djere, Andy Roddick, Frances Tiafoe, Arthur, Ben Shelton, Tiafoe, Jelena Ostapenko, Gauff's, Karolina Muchova, Sorana, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Germany's Yannick Hanfmann REUTERS, U.S, Serbian, York, French, Sorana Cirstea, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, Cincinnati, New York, American, Latvian, Washington, Czech, Romanian, Toronto
Swiatek fell 3-6 6-3 6-1 to former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Sabalenka - who has a 20-2 record at the majors this year - will aim to push on after accomplishing another of her main objectives for the season. "Reaching the WTA world number one singles ranking is something I've dreamed of ever since I was a little girl when I started playing tennis," Sabalenka, 25, said. "I'm feeling really well on court, really comfortable. I always say that I can be better, but right now I'm really happy with the level that I'm playing." Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: France's Clara Burel REUTERS, Shannon Stapleton, Daria Kasatkina, Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko, I've, Arthur Ashe, Carlos Alcaraz, Matteo Arnaldi, Alcaraz, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Alexander Zverev, Louis Armstrong, Peyton Stearns, Marketa Vondrousova, Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, Briton Jack Draper, Alex de Minaur, Zheng Qinwen, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Aryna, U.S, Madison, Louis, Wimbledon, Briton, Tunisian, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarus, Belarusian, York, Flushing Meadows, Bengaluru
1 Iga Świątek on Sunday, eliminating the defending US Open champion in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows. Ostapenko, the 20th seed in New York, struck 31 winners en route to her victory, ending Świątek’s 75-week run as world No. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka is set to take over top spot for the first time after the US Open. “I think the main thing is she doesn’t really like to play big hitters,” Ostapenko told reporters after her win. I’m on the right track,” Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, said.
Persons: Ostapenko, ” Ostapenko, , , Elsa, “ I’m, ” Świątek, ” Coco Gauff, New York Ostapenko, Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki, Gauff, Dane, Wozniacki’s, Petra Kvitová, ” Wozniacki Organizations: CNN, Latvian, US Locations: Flushing Meadows, New York, Belarus, Cincinnati
1 women’s player in the world, took the first set against Jelena Ostapenko on Sunday night, it seemed like business as usual. Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion at 22, after all, was the reigning U.S. Open champion, and going into her match against Ostapenko, she had not dropped a set at this tournament. But while Swiatek is often able to cruise through matches, Ostapenko has been a bit of a thorn in her side. Ostapenko has been undefeated against Swiatek, and extended that to four wins with a victory on Sunday night, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. When Ostapenko evened things up at a set apiece, Swiatek seemed to be out of her comfort zone.
Persons: Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko, Ostapenko, Swiatek Organizations: U.S, Ostapenko, Swiatek
[1/4] Sept 3, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Coco Gauff of the USA after beating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark on day seven of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 3 (Reuters) - American teenager Coco Gauff ended Caroline Wozniacki's U.S. Open comeback with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory to reach the quarter-finals on Sunday. "She definitely gets to a lot of balls... today I knew going in I had to play aggressive," Gauff said in an on court interview. She helped Wozniacki to the break in the eighth game with a pair of double faults and appeared irritated with members of her coaching staff. Ticket holders would struggle to find two more well-liked figures playing on the same court at the Open, with Wozniacki the sentimental pick and Gauff the charismatic American fan-favourite.
Persons: Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki of, USTA Billie Jean King, Robert Deutsch, Caroline Wozniacki's, Dane, Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko, Wozniacki, Roland Garros, Caroline, she's, Amy Tennery, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Flushing Meadows, United States, Latvian, Washington, Cincinnati, American, New York
She's still a really fit player," Gauff said of the 33-year-old former world number one before their fourth-round match. I know she's watched tennis when she was retired. But I kind of accept that all these players they're going to play the best tennis against me." It is the first time since 2011 that four American men have reached the U.S. Open fourth round. "Someone achieves something big, then someone else comes and wants to match him or one-up him and it's the cycle that keeps going.
Persons: Coco Gauff, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Shannon Stapleton, Caroline Wozniacki, Novak Djokovic, Iga, Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Arthur Ashe, Wozniacki, She's, It's, Laslo Djere, Borna Gojo, Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko, Jelena, it's, she's, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Ashe, Frances Tiafoe, Hijikata, Louis Armstrong, Taylor Fritz, Swiss Dominic Stricker, we've, Fritz, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ed Osmond Organizations: Tennis, U.S, Croatian, Swiss, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, New York, Washington, Cincinnati, U.S, Bengaluru
Swiatek routs 'sister' Juvan to reach U.S. Open last 16
  + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
"For sure I didn't like the fact that I was winning with my best friend. But I knew that I had to be really focused and not let myself think about that because it was really like playing against a sister," said Swiatek. "I don't have many friends but she's my best friend. Up next for Swiatek will be Latvian 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko, a 4-6 6-3 6-3 winner over American Bernarda Pera. Despite all her success, Swiatek admitted she was still coming to terms with her lofty position atop the women's game.
Persons: Iga Swiatek, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, Brendan Mcdermid, Kaja Juvan, Swiatek, Louis Armstrong, Jelena Ostapenko, Juvan, Serena Williams, Roger, Federer, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Tennis, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan REUTERS, U.S, Slovenian, Bernarda, Juvan, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Latvian, New York, U.S, Toronto
1 Iga Świątek was utterly dominant in her straight sets victory against Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan, winning 6-0 6-1 in a mere 49 minutes to reach the fourth round of the US Open. Świątek and Juvan have been close since playing together as teenagers at the junior level, but there was no time for sentiment as the Pole got straight to business. She had tied up the first set in just 24 minutes and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second before Juvan won her only game of the match. “I don’t have many friends, but she’s my best friend. He says the best way to approach it is to really embrace it, to be proud and happy about your results.
Persons: Świątek, Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan, Juvan, Daria Saville, Louis Armstrong, ” Świątek, , Bredan Mcdermid, Jelena Ostapenko, Bernarda Pera, Roger [ Federer, “ I’m, Organizations: CNN, New York –, Louis, US, Reuters Locations: Flushing Meadows, New York, Slovenian
2023 US Open women’s draw: everything you need to know
  + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +5 min
CNN —With the final grand slam of the season nearly upon us, there are plenty of storylines for fans to get excited about. In the women’s singles draw, a player hasn’t won back-to-back titles since Serena Williams won it three times in a row between 2012 and 2014. ESPN will be broadcasting the grand slam in the US – the 15th consecutive year it has done so. Home favoritesThere will be plenty of competitors for the home fans to get behind in the women’s singles draw. Although reigning champion Świątek comes into the tournament with another French Open title under her belt and is ranked world No.
Persons: hasn’t, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Paula Badosa, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff –, Pegula, Gauff, Camila Giorgi, Jelena Ostapenko, Cameron Spencer, Caroline Wozniacki, Świątek, Emma Raducanu’s, Sabalenka, Belinda Bencic, Quinn Rooney, Aryna Sabalenka, Markéta Vondroušová, Elena Rybakina, Jabeur, Barbora Krejcikova, Daria Kasatkina, Zheng Qinwen Organizations: CNN, 143rd, ESPN, Sky Sports, Eurosport, US Tennis Association, Cincinnati Masters, Flushing, Belgian, Minnen, North, Washington D.C, & Southern, French, Wimbledon Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, Europe, Flushing Meadows, North American, Montreal, Cincinnati
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
WTA roundup: Coco Gauff cruises into quarterfinals
  + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
4 Ons Jabeur was eliminated in the second round of the Rothesay International on Wednesday in Eastbourne, England. Gauff defeated Brit Jodie Burrage 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will play fellow American Jessica Pegula. 3 seed needed three sets to dispatch Camila Osorio 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Jabeur was bounced in 72 minutes by unseeded Italian Camila Giorgi 6-3, 6-2. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Switzerland's Jil Teichmann in Germany.
Persons: Coco Gauff, Britain's Jodie Anna Burrage, Paul Childs, Gauff, Brit Jodie Burrage, Jessica Pegula, Camila Osorio, Jabeur, Camila Giorgi, Carolina Garcia, Ana Bogdan, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Petra Martic, Daria Kasatkina, Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, Swiatek, Anna Blinkova, Leylah Fernandez, Lucia Bronzetti, Mayar Sherif, Katerina Siniakova Organizations: Eastbourne International, Lawn Tennis Club, Rothesay International, Madison, Bad, Canada, Thomson Locations: Eastbourne, Britain, Rothesay, England, Brazil, Bad Homburg, Poland, Germany, Egypt, Czech Republic
CNN —Venus Williams rolled back the years as she battled to an impressive WTA win against Camila Giorgi in the Rothesay Classic on Monday. 697 from returning to form and notching her first win against a top 50 opponent since 2019. Stephen Pond/Getty ImagesThe victory was just Williams’ second win since Wimbledon in 2021 and it clearly meant a lot to the tennis superstar. Jacob King/PA Images/Getty ImagesIn the third-set tiebreak, Williams sealed victory with a brilliant shot, reminiscent of the seven-time singles grand slam winner’s glory days on the circuit. 1 hit a brilliant crosscourt backhand past Giorgi to win the third set tiebreak – and the match.
Persons: Venus Williams, Camila Giorgi, Williams, Giorgi, Stephen Pond, , ” Williams, , “ I’m, she’s, , haven’t, Jacob King, Jelena Ostapenko, Linda Noskova Organizations: CNN, WTA, Wimbledon, Locations: Rothesay
Swiatek, who lifted the Suzanne Lenglen Cup last year and in 2020, was put through the wringer by Haddad Maia but held her nerve in a tense tiebreak to see off the 14th seed's challenge. "She has a really nice game for clay courts with a lot of top spin," Swiatek said of Haddad Maia, who beat the Pole in their only other meeting in Toronto last year. There was light at the end of the tunnel for Japan's Miyu Kato after a difficult few days, as she put her women's doubles disqualification behind her to claim the mixed doubles crown with Germany's Tim Puetz. Kato and her Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi had been disqualified from the women's doubles in the third round when Kato hit a ball down the court between points, inadvertently striking a ball girl. I'm doing my best so we can one day return and claim the women's doubles title."
Persons: Haddad Maia, Sabalenka Kato, Iga Swiatek, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Roland Garros, Karolina Muchova, Suzanne Lenglen, Swiatek, Muchova, Jelena Ostapenko, Miyu Kato, Tim Puetz, Canada's Bianca Andreescu, New Zealander Michael Venus, Kato, Aldila Sutjiadi, I'm, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Karolos Grohmann, Julien Pretot, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ed Osmond, Pritha Organizations: PARIS, New Zealander, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Paris, New
Unlike after his opening match on Monday, however, there was no message on the camera lens the Serbian signed and the 22-times Grand Slam champion looked to draw a line under the issue. Djokovic missed last year's Australian Open and was deported from the country due to being unvaccinated for COVID. He won the Melbourne title this year despite a row that erupted after his father posed with some fans holding Russian flags. "A drama-free Grand Slam, I don't think it can happen for me," Djokovic added. Anna Blinkova dashed French hopes with a stunning 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory over fifth seed Caroline Garcia, wrapping up victory on her ninth match point.
Persons: Roland Garros, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, Benoit Tessier, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Garcia, Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jiri Vesely, Roberto Carballes Baena, Japan's Taro Daniel, Denis Shapovalov, Ismet Krasniqi, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Elina Svitolina, Australian Storm Hunter, Svitolina, Sabalenka, Iryna Shymanovich, Marta Kostyuk, I've, Jelena Ostapenko, Peyton Stearns, Barbora, Lesia Tsurenko, Swiatek, Suzanne Lenglen, Jessica Pegula, Camila Giorgi, Anna Blinkova, Caroline Garcia, Kokkinakis, Stan Wawrinka, Andrey Rublev, Corentin, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis, Ed Osmond Organizations: Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena REUTERS, Tennis Federation, Serbian, Marton, COVID, Melbourne, Kosovo Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Kosovo's Olympic, International Tennis Federation, Australian Storm, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Kosovo, PARIS, Serbia, Marton Fucsovics, Serbian, Ukrainian, Ukraine
CNN —It felt like the beginning of the end of an era at the French Open when Rafael Nadal announced his absence from the tournament earlier this month. How to watchIn the United States, the French Open is available to watch on NBC, streaming service Peacock, Tennis Channel, and Bally Sports. A list of international broadcasters and the full draw are available on the French Open website. “A new generation is here already,” Djokovic said after his quarterfinal defeat at the Italian Open. Questions about scheduling may persist in the coming weeks given the way night sessions were scrutinized at last year’s French Open.
ROME, May 19 (Reuters) - Seventh seed Elena Rybakina beat Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 in a rain-delayed semi-final at the Italian Open on Friday and will play Anhelina Kalinina in Saturday's final. Rybakina prevailed in a fairly straight-forward first set in a match delayed by more than an hour - and then interrupted - due to persistent rain. Ostapenko gained momentum in the second set and took a 3-0 lead but Rybakina shortened the distance to 4-2 just before rain briefly forced the players off court. "I didn't start that well the second set. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru and Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Rune repeats Djokovic upset to storm into Rome semi-finals
  + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
For the first time since 2004, neither Djokovic nor the injured Rafa Nadal will be in the Rome final. Rune outlasted Djokovic in three sets in last year's Paris Masters final and the 20-year-old made the perfect start in search of another upset by breaking the world number one in the opening game of the match. "Obviously, I did it last year in Paris, but every match is a huge challenge when I play Novak. "He's one of the greatest to ever play the game so I knew I had to be at my best. Rune said he hoped to stay humble after another statement win on the ATP Tour.
The 20-year-old explained that as a result, she will miss this summer’s tennis events, including the French Open and Wimbledon. She suffered an ankle injury before the Australian Open earlier this year, while tonsillitis forced her to withdraw from the Austin Open in February. Meanwhile, a recurring wrist injury, which hampered Raducanu last season, came back during the Miami Open, where she exited in the first round. Last month, Raducanu lost in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in less than an hour. Raducanu in action during her round of 32 match against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko at the Stuttgart Open.
Surgery rules Raducanu out of French Open, Wimbledon
  + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
[1/3] Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Britain's Emma Raducanu in action during her round of 32 match against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko REUTERS/Angelika WarmuthMay 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Emma Raducanu will miss the French Open and Wimbledon while she recovers from surgery on her wrists and ankle, the former U.S. Open champion said on Wednesday. "I'm having a minor procedure done on both hands to resolve the issues. I'm disappointed to share that I will be out for the next few months and while I am at it will have another minor procedure that is due on my ankle." Raducanu, who has struggled with form and fitness since her fairytale run to the U.S. Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021, withdrew from the Madrid Open last month citing an injury to her right hand. She also lost in the first round in Miami and Stuttgart and was beaten in straight sets by Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open.
Raducanu pulls out of Madrid before first round
  + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
[1/4] Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Britain's Emma Raducanu in action during her round of 32 match against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko REUTERS/Angelika WarmuthMADRID, April 25 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu withdrew from the Madrid Open shortly before she was due on court to play Viktoriya Tomova in the first round on Wednesday. The 20-year-old British player cited an injury to her right hand as the reason for her withdrawal. It is the latest setback for Raducanu who has struggled for form and fitness since her fairytale run to the title at Flushing Meadows in 2021 as an 18-year-old qualifier. She lost in the first round in Miami and Stuttgart and by missing Madrid she will likely fall outside the top 100 in the WTA rankings for the first time since her stunning breakthrough. Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
CNN —Britain’s Emma Raducanu suffered another agonizing defeat, after being knocked out in the first round of the Stuttgart Open on Tuesday. Jelena Ostapenko took less than an hour to thrash Raducanu 6-2, 6-1 in straight sets at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “It’s never easy playing Emma,” the Latvian, the 2017 French Open champion, told reporters. Raducanu suffered an ankle injury before the Australian Open earlier this year, while tonsillitis forced her to withdraw from the Austin Open in February. “Emma’s level is there for sure,” Robson told Eurosport.
WTA roundup: Top seeds roll in Dubai
  + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
February 22 - The top two seeds in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships lost a combined three games while cruising to second-round wins on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, the reigning French Open and U.S. Open champion, routed Canada's Leylah Fernandez 6-1, 6-1, and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, the reigning Australian Open champion, demolished the United States' Lauren Davis 6-0, 6-1. Third-seeded Jessica Pegula of the United States, who lost to Swiatek in the Doha final, got past Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in the second round at Dubai. Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, had lost her first-round matches at Auckland, New Zealand; Hobart, Australia; and the Australian Open to begin the year.
"I don't think tomorrow I'm going to feel different just because of the ranking now," she told reporters. I'm going to be seeded. Rybakina said reaching a second major final so quickly after her first had eased some of the pressure of expectations. Even I would say I'm trying to not think about expectations and everything," Rybakina said. "Hopefully this great performance at the Australian Open will mark the start of a successful year of play for Elena."
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