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☆ Factbox: U.S. Open women's singles champion Coco Gauff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAREER TO DATE* A former world number one junior, Gauff started her professional career on the ITF circuit in 2018. * Reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2020 and cracked the top 50 in the world for the first time. Gauff also reached the U.S. Open women's doubles final with McNally. * Lost to Iga Swiatek in the French Open final in 2022. * Gauff claimed the biggest title to date of her career at the Cincinnati Open in 2023.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Mike Segar, Laura Siegemund, Mirra, Elise Mertens, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Muchova, Serena, Venus Williams, Gauff, Simona Halep, Caty McNally, Barbora Krejcikova, McNally, Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Belarus, Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS, Belarusian Aryna, U.S, United States WTA, ITF, WTA, Wimbledon, Parma, Cincinnati, Washington D.C, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarusian, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, Czech Republic, Linz, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ American teenager Coco Gauff fights back to beat Aryna Sabalenka and win U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

With the win, sixth seed Gauff became the first American to win a U.S. Open singles title since Sloane Stephens in 2017. The crowd urged on Gauff, the first American teenager to reach the U.S. Open singles final since Serena Williams in 2001. But Sabalenka blocked out the noise and used her mighty forehand to convert on a break point chance in the fifth game. The Belarusian was helped to another break in the seventh as Gauff double faulted and made two more costly forehand mistakes. Gauff produced an overhead smash to break in the opening game of the third set and converted another in the third game.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Mike Segar, Gauff, Sloane Stephens, Arthur Ashe, Sabalenka, Roland Garros, Serena Williams, Aryna, Billie Jean King, chuckling, They've, Amy Tennery, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, Open REUTERS, Wimbledon, Indian, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, American, Gauff, Belarusian, Washington, Cincinnati, Flushing Meadows

☆ Coco Gauff to face Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final after gutsy win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“It was a tough match,” Gauff told reporters. I’m just really proud of myself today.”Gauff and Muchová shake hands after their US Open semifinal. A lengthy delay then ensued at the start of the second set after climate protestors in the crowd disrupted play. Keys hit 12 winners as she bageled the Belarusian in the first set and held a 5-3 lead in the second set. Sabalenka reaches for a drop shot against Keys during their US Open semifinal.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Muchová, Serena Williams, ” Gauff, “, I’m, ”, Sarah Stier, Arthur Ashe, Gauff, Iga Świątek, ’ Gauff’s, Keys, Sabalenka, Charles Krupa, ” Sabalenka, I’ll Organizations: CNN, Czech, American Madison Keys, US, Muchová, French Locations: Belarusian, Friday’s

CNN —Russia as a country has no place at the 2024 Paris Olympics and no Russian flag should be used at next year’s Games, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Speaking to French sports newspaper l’Equipe, Macron added that discussions should be held about the participation of some Russian athletes who “may also be victims of this regime.”“Obviously, there can’t be a Russian flag at the Paris Olympic Games. Because Russia as a country has no place [at the Games] when it has committed war crimes and deported children,” Macron said Wednesday. So far, no decision has been taken on Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation at the 2024 Olympics. “We are ready to boycott the Olympic Games in Paris if the Russian Federation and Belarus are allowed to participate in the competition,” Shmyhal said.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, ” Macron, Denys Shmyhal, ” Shmyhal, “ Organizations: CNN, Paris Olympic, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Ukrainian, Games, Olympic Games, Russian Federation Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Paris

☆ Gauff beats Muchova to reach US Open final after protesters disrupt match
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Some of those points, it was so loud and I don't know if my ears are going to be okay," Gauff said. "I grew up watching this tournament so much so it means a lot to me to be in the final. The match was delayed by roughly 50 minutes early in the second set due to a protest by four spectators. Gauff swept the first three games of the opening set and broke her opponent again in the sixth. Muchova double-faulted to help Gauff break in the eighth game but saved match point in the next game before breaking the American’s serve to keep the match going.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Karolina Muchova, Mike Segar, Arthur Ashe, Muchova, Gauff, Madison Keys, Aryna, Roland Garros, Amy Tennery, Steve Keating, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Tennis, Czech, Cincinnati, USTA, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, Czech, Belarusian, New York

☆ Sabalenka fights back to snuff out home hopes of all-American final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It would end two tie-breaks later with the Belarusian walking off court into her second Grand Slam final of the season. Soaking up the energy of the home crowd, the 17th seed unleashed a barrage of winners and broke Sabalenka three times to open the match 6-0. Keys broke the Australian Open champion for a fourth time for a 2-1 lead in the second, leaving a frustrated Sabalenka screaming and smashing her racquet. But with Keys serving for a place in the final the Sabalenka who players fear finally appeared. For Keys, who played in the last all-American women's final in 2017, losing to Sloane Stephens, is was a missed opportunity to return to her home final that left her in tears.

Persons: Sabalenka, Madison Keys, Mike Segar, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Karolina Muchova, Arthur Ashe, Keys, Sloane Stephens, Steve Keating, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Tennis, Madison, U.S, REUTERS, Madison Keys, American U.S, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarus, American, Belarusian, New York

☆ Home favourite Gauff ready to derail Sabalenka in US Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Belarusian won the Australian Open to kick off a superb 2023, beat Gauff en route to the Indian Wells final and defeated Iga Swiatek in the Madrid title match. "Going into this final, I think I just have to focus on myself and prepare myself for another fight. "," said Sabalenka, who reached the semi-finals in the previous two editions of the tournament. "I have been focusing more on myself and my expectations of myself," said Gauff, who vowed to hold her head high regardless of the outcome on Saturday. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Karolina Muchova, Mike Segar, Arthur Ashe, Sabalenka, Gauff, I'm, Will, Iga Swiatek, Roland Garros, Keys, Daria Kasatkina, Zheng Qinwen, Barack Obama, Michelle, Ashe, Laura Siegemund, Caroline Wozniacki, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: Tennis, Czech, U.S, Belarusian, Indian Wells, Wimbledon, Madison Keys, Poland's, D.C, Australian, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Madrid, New York, Washington, Cincinnati, Flushing Meadows

☆ China is eroding Russia's influence over old allies as the alliance it leads crumbles over Ukraine, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian influence is waning despite formal alliances and the old ties of the Soviet Union. It is also home to most members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): Russian President Vladimir Putin's equivalent of NATO. Russia's influence on them is also being weakened by more countries competing for their attention, Graham said. AdvertisementAdvertisementHe said that "Russia's operation in Ukraine is undermining, eroding its ability to maintain its influence across the former Soviet space." "You're seeing the slow erosion of Russian influence."

Persons: Thomas Graham, Vladimir Putin's, Graham, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Stanislav Zas, Nikol Pashinyan, Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym, Tokayev, Sadyr Japarov, Emomali Rakhmon, Anton Novoderezhkin Organizations: Service, Yale, Collective Security, Organization, NATO, Moscow REUTERS, Russia, Armenian, Kazakh, Kremlin, Sputnik, REUTERS, Central, AFPTV, Getty Locations: Central Asia, Russia, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, China, Turkey, East, Caucasus, Moscow, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Central, Europe, Iran, Russian, Belarusian, Bakhmut, AFP, Azerbaijan, Soviet

☆ British American Tobacco clinches a deal to sell its Russian business
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —British American Tobacco has struck an agreement to sell its businesses in Russia and Belarus, the company announced Thursday, more than 18 months after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine sparked a mass exodus of Western firms from Russia. BAT (BTI) said in a statement that it had entered into a formal sales agreement with a consortium led by members of the management team of its Russian operations. In February, the company said its 2022 results had been dented by a £612 million ($764 million) charge related to its Russian and Belarusian businesses. BAT's London offices seen in January 2021 Toby Melville/ReutersBAT’s Russian and Belarusian businesses account for about 2.7% of its revenue. Dutch beer maker Heineken announced its departure from the country last month, saying it had sold its Russian business for a symbolic €1 ($1).

Persons: —, Toby Melville, Dolf van den Brink Organizations: London CNN, British, Tobacco, BAT, Reuters, Russian, Heineken, . Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, London

☆ British American Tobacco finalizes Russia exit with sale to local managers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British American Tobacco has finalized its exit from Russia about 18 months after it pledged to do so in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. However, other global tobacco giants are still doing business in the country, including Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International . London-based BAT is a key player in the global tobacco market with business operations in more than 100 countries. It controlled nearly 25% of Russia's tobacco market, which is the fourth largest in the world, according to Reuters. The buyer is a consortium led by members of BAT Russia's management team, which will wholly own the Russian and Belarusian businesses, BAT said.

Persons: Philip Morris Organizations: British, Tobacco, BAT, Japan Tobacco International, Philip, Philip Morris International . London, Camel, Reuters, BAT Russia's, ITMS Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Newport, Russian

☆ Tobacco firm BAT sells Russian business to local management
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A woman poses with a cigarette in front of BAT (British American Tobacco) logo in this illustration taken July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - British American Tobacco (BATS.L) said on Thursday it entered into a deal to sell its Russian and Belarusian businesses to a consortium led by members of BAT Russia's management team. The company controlled just under 25% of the Russian tobacco market at the time. BAT, which had previously been in talks with its local distributor over a sale, said it had now formally entered into an agreement to sell the business to a consortium led by its local management team, in compliance with local and international laws. The company took a 957 million pound impairment related to the transfer of its Russian business in July 2022.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Emma Rumney, Yadarisa, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: BAT, British, Tobacco, REUTERS, American Tobacco, BAT Russia's, Lucky, European, Thomson Locations: Russia, United States, European Union, Ukraine, Belarus, London

☆ Sabalenka targets second Grand Slam final in stellar season
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"When you get to the last stages of the tournament, you're going to think about what if, what I want, what I would like and you're dreaming," Sabalenka told reporters after crushing China's Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday. "I'm not trying to block the stats, because when you're trying to block something it's going to keep getting in your head and it can get annoying. When you're not trying to block it, it actually goes away. Keys, meanwhile, is hoping to fulfil her own dream of reaching Saturday's final for another shot at a maiden Grand Slam trophy. Czech Muchova is also gunning for a first Grand Slam title after coming close in Paris in her bid to join an elite list of compatriots that includes Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Barbora Krejcikova and Vondrousova.

Persons: Madison Keys, Sabalenka, Iga, Keys, Zheng Qinwen, I'm, Marketa Vondrousova, Coco Gauff, Roland Garros, Karolina Muchova, Gauff, Sofia, ", Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, I'd, gunning, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Barbora, Karolina Pliskova, Ash Barty, Muchova, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: U.S, Madison, Belarusian, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, Sofia Kenin's, Thomson Locations: New York, Flushing Meadows, American, Melbourne, Grand, Czech, Paris, Bengaluru

☆ Sabalenka eases past Zheng into U.S. Open semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sabalenka will play the winner of a match between American Madison Keys and Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. "I'm super happy with the win against her... super happy with the performance," said Sabalenka, who lost in the semi-finals in her previous two U.S. Open appearances. Zheng improved in the second set, forcing Sabalenka to run back and forth along the baseline as she showed finesse to triumph in a 21-shot rally in the fifth game. "In the second set she start playing better, serving better. "I'm super happy that even though she tried to play more aggressive, I was able to keep my level."

Persons: China's Qinwen Zheng, Brendan Mcdermid, Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen, pummelled, Zheng, Marketa Vondrousova, Amy Tennery, Ed Osmond Organizations: Tennis, U.S ., Australian, Madison Keys, Wimbledon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarus, Belarusian, Flushing Meadows, New York

☆ Swimming sets 'strict' rules for individual Russians to return to competition before Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold medallist Russia's Evgeny Rylov poses on the podium after the final of the men's 200m backstroke swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 30, 2021. Individual Russian swimmers will be allowed to compete in international events, including the Paris Olympics, if they meet a set of "strict criteria" that include not talking to the media, the sport's governing body said Monday. The World Aquatics governing body published its criteria Monday for Russian and Belarusian athletes, coaches and officials to return to competition as neutrals after being banned because of their countries' war in Ukraine. World Aquatics said only one Russian and Belarusian athlete will be allowed to enter in each swimming and diving event. They cannot take part in any relays, artistic swimming, synchronized diving, or water polo.

Persons: Russia's Evgeny Rylov Organizations: Paris Olympics, Aquatics, Belarus — Locations: Tokyo, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Paris, Belarusian

☆ Russian and Belarusian athletes given green light to compete as neutrals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete as neutrals in World Aquatics events, the sport's governing body said on Monday. Competitors from both countries were banned from international tournaments following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow describes as a "special military operation". "The World Aquatics Bureau recognise the dedication, commitment, and talent of athletes, regardless of their nationality," World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said in a statement. Criteria for the allowance of Russian and Belarusian competitors were established by a specific task force set up by the sports body in April, in line with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee. Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico CityOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Husain Al Musallam, Angelica Medina Organizations: Integrity Unit, Aquatics, International Olympic Committee, Thomson Locations: Belarusian, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, Mexico City

☆ Sabalenka looks to march on at US Open with top ranking in the bag
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

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

CNN —The Nobel Foundation has U-turned on a controversial decision to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize award ceremony after facing widespread criticism. Ukraine had condemned the decision to invite the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors, who had been left out of Stockholm’s Nobel Prize awards ceremony last year because of the war in Ukraine. We, therefore, choose to repeat last year’s exception to regular practice – that is, to not invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm,” the foundation said. The Nobel Banquet takes place annually in Stockholm on December 10, where five out of six Nobel Prizes are awarded. Athletes from Russia and Belarus have also been banned from competing in numerous sporting events, and diplomats are regularly excluded from summits.

Persons: ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Nobel Foundation Locations: Russia, Belarus, Iran, Ukraine, Sweden, Stockholm, Oslo, Norway, Moscow, Minsk

☆ Sabalenka flattens France's Burel to reach U.S. Open fourth round
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Aug 31, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Aryna Sabalenka hits to Jodie Burrage of Great Britain on day four of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. I think I played really great tennis today," she told reporters. Burel showed some signs of life when she fended off a pair of break points in the opening game of the second set but Sabalenka quickly retook control. Sabalenka said mental toughness was the key to surviving the two-week grind at the U.S. Open. She's playing great tennis.

Persons: Jodie Burrage, USTA Billie Jean King, Danielle Parhizkaran, Clara Burel, player's, Sabalenka, Louis Armstrong, Daria Kasatkina, Minnen, Burel, Kasatkina, She's, Amy Tennery, David Holmes Organizations: USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, U.S, player's New, Louis, Belgian, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, Great Britain, player's New York, New York

☆ Murray, Isner come up short at U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I'm aware what I'm doing, it's unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now. And yeah, some days it's harder than others," Murray said. Isner, 38, won the longest professional tennis match in history against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and took place over three days. The third seed has played second fiddle to Alcaraz and 23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows but put the field on notice with a first-round demolition of Attila Balazs. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken Ferris and Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andy Murray, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, Brendan Mcdermid, John Isner, Aryna Sabalenka, Briton Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Arthur Ashe, Murray, Isner, Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, Michael Mmoh, Jack Sock, Jodie Burrage, France's Clara Burel, Carlos Alcaraz, Lloyd Harris of, Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula, Romanian Patricia Maria Tig, Ashe, Sloane Stephens, Russian Daniil Medvedev, Louis Armstrong, Australian Christopher O'Connell, Novak, Attila Balazs, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris, Ed Osmond Organizations: U.S, Wimbledon, New, Australian, Flushing, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarusian, Flushing Meadows, Lloyd Harris of South Africa, Romanian, New York, Russian

☆ Sabalenka powers past Burrage into U.S. Open third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Aug 29, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Aryna Sabalenka in action against Maryna Zanevska of Belgium on day two of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Australian Open champion converted three of her four break point opportunities and saved the two break points she faced during the 74-minute match in Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Belarusian second seed consolidated an early break for a 3-0 lead and while Burrage responded with holds to love on her next two service games Sabalenka leaned on her own serve to seal the opening set. Sabalenka was barely tested in the second set where she hit a forehand winner to go up a double break before closing it out with a hold to love. Up next for Sabalenka will be a clash against Frenchwoman Clara Burel, a 6-4 6-2 winner over Czech 25th seed Karolina Pliskova.

Persons: Aryna, Maryna Zanevska, USTA Billie Jean King, Jerry Lai, Jodie Burrage, Louis Armstrong, Burrage, Sabalenka, Frenchwoman Clara Burel, Karolina Pliskova, Frank Pingue, Ed Osmond Organizations: USTA, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, USA, U.S ., Louis, Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, Belgium, Iga, New York, Belarusian, Czech, Toronto

☆ Venus Williams suffers first-round US Open defeat, Ons Jabeur battles through illness to progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Venus Williams’ record-extending 24th appearance in the US Open singles draw came to an early end on Tuesday as she suffered a heavy first-round defeat against Belgium’s Greet Minnen. “My preparation was definitely minimal,” Williams told reporters after her landmark 100th US Open match. Williams was appearing in the US Open singles draw for the 24th time. 204 Sachia Vickery, as she bids to reach the third round of a grand slam for only the second time in her career. Jabeur battles through illnessElsewhere in the women’s singles draw, last year’s runner-up Ons Jabeur struggled physically in her 7-5 7-6(7-4) win against Camila Osorio.

Persons: Venus Williams, Belgium’s, Minnen, Williams, Arthur Ashe, ” Williams, ”, Tony Behar, ” Minnen, Sachia Vickery, Camila Osorio, Jabeur, Timothy A, Clary, ” Jabeur, “, Linda Nosková, Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, China’s Wang Yafan Organizations: CNN, Reuters, 100th, MAG, Getty, Wimbledon, Colombian Locations: AFP, Czech

☆ Swiatek tames feisty Saville to reach U.S. Open third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After a 6-0 6-1 rout of Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in her opening match, Swiatek did not look as at ease as she was made to work for a 6-3 6-4 win over the 322nd-ranked Australian spark plug. Saville, who has only once before beaten a world number one, seven years ago against Angelique Kerber, got the match off to the best possible start breaking Swiatek at the first opportunity. They traded breaks a second time before Swiatek would get her third of the set and hold serve for a 1-0 lead. For Swiatek the win was another step towards defending her U.S. Open crown and keeping the number one world ranking. In order to remain in top spot Swiatek must go one round further than the Belarusian in Flushing Meadows.

Persons: Iga, Australia's Daria Saville, Mike Segar, Iga Swiatek, Daria Saville, Sweden's Rebecca Peterson, Swiatek, Kaja Juvan, I'm, It's, Saville, Angelique Kerber, Louis Armstrong, Sabalenka, Steve Keating, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, 322nd, WTA Tour, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarusian, Flushing Meadows, New York

☆ Wagner Group may be absorbed by the Russian Defense Ministry, which Prigozhin rallied against before his death. The mercenary group's current arrangement could 'disappear rather soon,' former GRU capt
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The fate of the Wagner Group is in the hands of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin. The New York Times reported the Russian Defense Ministry was considering absorbing the group. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The Wagner Group will disappear rather soon," Boris Volodarsky, a former captain in Russia's Spetsnaz GRU special forces and a fellow with the Royal Historical Society in London, told Insider. As tensions mounted between Wagner and Putin this summer, the Kremlin mandated that Wagner recruits sign contracts with the Russian army — which Prigozhin resisted. In his tirade, Prigozhin said the ministry "must be stopped" and the people responsible for the death of Wagner fighters must be punished.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Wagner, Boris Volodarsky, Russia's, Putin, Dmitry Utkin, Valery Chekalov, Volodarsky, —, Alexander Lukashenko Organizations: Wagner, Kremlin, The New York Times, Russian Defense Ministry, Service, Wagner Group, New York Times, Institute for, Royal Historical Society, Defense Ministry, Times, Central African, Associated Press, Russia's Defense Ministry, Belarusian Locations: Wall, Silicon, East, Africa, Russian, London, Tver, Moscow, Belarus, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Mali, Russia, Rostov

☆ Paris 2024 eyes sell-out crowds to beat London record - IPC
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The ambition is to sell each and every ticket, 2.8 million, and then this will make Paris the number one in terms of ticket sales. London 2012 was 2.7 million," Parsons told Reuters in an interview exactly one year before the Games begin. "We want these Games to sell out even before the opening ceremony. So what we want is that we sell every ticket before the start of the Games," he said. "There will also be a higher quality of athletes," Parsons said.

Persons: Andrew Parsons, Parsons, Roland Garros, Karolos Grohmann, Ed Osmond Organizations: International Paralympic, London, Reuters, Games, Eiffel, IPC, International Olympic, Paris, IOC, Thomson Locations: London, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Russian, Belarusian, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Bahrain

☆ Poland, Baltics will shut Belarus border if 'critical incident' occurs -minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Poland and the Baltic states will close their borders with Belarus entirely if a "critical incident" involving Wagner mercenaries takes place, the Polish interior minister said on Monday, amid rising tensions on NATO's eastern flank. EU and NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which share a border with Belarus, have been increasingly concerned about border security since hundreds of Russian battle-hardened Wagner mercenaries arrived in Belarus at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko. "If there is a critical incident, regardless of whether it is at the Polish or Lithuanian border, we will retaliate immediately. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite told media that there were two criteria that could lead to a border closure. Poland has closed all but one border crossing point with Belarus this year following the imprisonment of a journalist of Polish origin and expulsions of Polish diplomats.

Persons: Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Mariusz Kaminski, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Agne Bilotaite, Bilotaite, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Marek Strzelecki, Andrius, Conor Humphries, Nick Macfie Organizations: WARSAW, EU, NATO, Wagner Group, Lithuanian, Thomson Locations: Poland, Baltic, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Minsk, Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Belarusian, Russia, Europe, East, Africa, Warsaw, Andrius Sytas, Vilnius

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