logo
Sabalenka withdraws from Montreal tournament, opts for extra rest before US Open preparation

Sabalenka withdraws from Montreal tournament, opts for extra rest before US Open preparation

Gulf Today7 days ago
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the National Bank Open, opting for additional rest before beginning preparations for her US Open title defence.
"I'm looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal,' Sabalenka said Wednesday in a statement provided by the tournament.
Sabalenka is coming off a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova.
The National Bank Open begins July 27. Sabalenka could instead return for the Cincinnati Open in early August, with the first round of the U.S. Open set to begin on Aug. 24. Sabalenka won that title for the first time in 2024.
The tournament also announced that 10th-ranked Paula Badosa had withdrawn because of an injury. Caty McNally and Moyuka Uchijima replaced Sabalenka and Badosa in the main draw.
Associated Press
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Older, wiser DeChambeau proud of his Open turnaround
Older, wiser DeChambeau proud of his Open turnaround

Khaleej Times

time3 days ago

  • Khaleej Times

Older, wiser DeChambeau proud of his Open turnaround

Bryson DeChambeau credited a change of mindset for his stunning recovery from a dreadful start to finish the British Open at nine under par on Sunday. The flamboyant 31-year-old American carded a wild 78 at Royal Portrush on Thursday, hacking his way round the course in wet and windy conditions. DeChambeau even considered flying straight home before deciding to battle on, and he followed up with rounds of 65, 68 and 64 to give himself a good chance of improving on his best Open finish of tied eighth in 2022. "Normally, I'd be super pissed and frustrated, which I was rightfully so, because I thought I played pretty well and shot seven over," DeChambeau said. "I said to myself, I'm going to do something different this time. I'm going to transition my brain to say, look, I'm going to give it everything I have tomorrow, no matter what happens." DeChambeau, twice US Open champion, admitted he still has not worked out how to play links golf in adverse weather. "It was fair conditions the past few days," he said. "I always told you guys I like it when it's fair conditions. I can play well. I still have to crack the code when it's raining and windy." Nicknamed "the scientist" due to his analytical and statistical approach to mastering the game of golf, DeChambeau became the longest driver on the PGA Tour in 2020. "I think I look at the game a little bit different than others. I want to win. I think we all know that. But there's more than winning," he said. "There's how you influence a younger population, how you showcase yourself. The only reason we're getting paid the numbers we're getting paid is because of those individuals out there in the stands." And he is not going to change his style any time soon. "I like showcasing myself to others and doing fun challenges because that's just who I am, has shown people the true side of myself," he said. "I'm not just a professional, but I'm an entertainer as well." DeChambeau has thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Portrush. "It was a fun three days," he said. "It's a great Open venue. There's a lot of tricky hole locations. It would be a lot of fun to come back. It's a great town."

Tunisia's Jabeur announces break from tennis to ‘rediscover the joy of living'
Tunisia's Jabeur announces break from tennis to ‘rediscover the joy of living'

Gulf Today

time6 days ago

  • Gulf Today

Tunisia's Jabeur announces break from tennis to ‘rediscover the joy of living'

Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur is taking a break from competitive tennis, the 30-year-old said in a social media post on Thursday. Tunisia's Jabeur, the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, has struggled with her form in recent months, failing to get past the third round of a major this year. The two-time Wimbledon finalist's campaign came to a disappointing end at the All England Club last month as she retired from her first-round clash against Viktoriya Tomova, unable to continue after a long medical timeout. The former world number two suffers from asthma and experienced breathing difficulties at this year's Australian Open. Jabeur, often called the 'minister of happiness' for her cheerful personality, said she was not feeling truly happy on the court. 'For the past two years, I've been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries and facing many other challenges. But deep down, I haven't truly felt happy on the court for some time now,' she said in a statement. 'Tennis is such a beautiful sport. But right now, I feel it's time to take a step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living.' Jabeur, married to former fencer Karim Kamoun, has also been open about her wish to start a family. 'Thank you to all my fans for understanding. Your support and love mean the world to me. I carry it with me always,' she added. Sabalenka, Badosa pull out of Montreal event: World number one Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the WTA Canadian Open tournament in Montreal due to fatigue, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday. The 27-year-old from Belarus, runner-up at the Australian and French Opens, comes off semi-final runs at Wimbledon and Berlin and titles at Madrid and Miami. 'I'm looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal,' Sabalenka said. Missing the July 27-Aug. 7 event leaves the reigning US Open champion only one major tuneup, at Cincinnati in August, before she tries to defend her crown on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts. 'I'll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I'm already looking forward to seeing you all next year,' Sabalenka said. 'Thanks for your understanding and support — it means the world to me.' Sabalenka was upset in the Wimbledon semi-finals by American Amanda Anisimova. 'We're obviously disappointed that Aryna won't be with us this year,' tournament director Valerie Tetreault said. World number 10 Paula Badosa of Spain withdrew from the event due to injury. The two departures opened spots in the main draw for American Caty McNally and Japan's Moyuka Uchijima. Canada's Eugenie Bouchard announced on Wednesday that she will retire from professional tennis after the WTA event in Montreal, her hometown. Agencies

Oman hires Carlos Queiroz as coach in push for World Cup qualification
Oman hires Carlos Queiroz as coach in push for World Cup qualification

Gulf Today

time6 days ago

  • Gulf Today

Oman hires Carlos Queiroz as coach in push for World Cup qualification

Oman hired Carlos Queiroz as its national-team coach on Tuesday ahead of autumn games that will determine if the country advances to the World Cup for the first time. The veteran Portuguese tactician led Iran into the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and will take over with immediate effect. Oman and five other countries – Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar – have reached the fourth round of qualifying. From groups of three, the two winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The fourth-round draw will be on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The matches are in October. After those, there's one additional round – the second-place finishers square off in November for a spot in a playoff tournament. "This comes as part of efforts to improve the team's performances for upcoming games," the Oman Football Association said in a statement. Queiroz replaces Rashid Jaber, who led Oman to a fourth-place finish in the third round to keep qualification hopes alive. The 72-year-old Queiroz has also coached Real Madrid, Portugal, Egypt, Colombia and Qatar. Associated Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store