Sabalenka withdraws from Montreal tournament, opts for extra rest before US Open preparation
"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The tournament also announced that 10th-ranked Paula Badosa had withdrawn because of an injury.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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Dubai Eye
Raducanu reaches semi-final of Washington Open after straight-set victory
Emma Raducanu overcame the stifling heat and beat Maria Sakkari in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the Washington Open. She will next face Russian Anna Kalinskaya. Meanwhile, Canadian Leylah Fernandez will take on third seed Elena Rybakina in the semis of the ATP and WTA 500 event on Saturday. If Raducanu and Fernandez clear the semis, they will set up a potential rematch of the 2021 US Open final.R On the men's side, Ben Shelton beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(2) 6-4 in an electrifying match on Friday to advance to the semifinals. Shelton blasted an ace on match point to seal the win and avenge his five-set loss to Tiafoe at last year's US Open as the 22-year-old continues to make strides in his breakout season. Hometown hero Tiafoe had the support of the energized crowd but lost momentum when he was unable to serve out the first set while up 6-5, leading to a tiebreak that Shelton dominated. The second set hinged on a marathon game at 3-3, where Shelton pocketed a break thanks to a Taifoe double fault. Shelton rode his huge lefty serve from there to grab the win and set up a semi-final meeting with either top seed Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. "It was a tough one for sure but enjoyable nonetheless," Shelton told Tennis Channel. "I love playing against Foe. Difficult guy to play against but playing him here in the US, especially being here in D.C., it was packed, it was a great atmosphere. I couldn't be happier." Earlier, tournament lucky loser Corentin Moutet stunned Russia's Daniil Medvedev 6-1 4-6 4-6 in a wild match interrupted by an hour-long delay due to the threat of thunderstorms. Moutet, leading 5-4 in the final set when they returned to the court, was hobbled by leg cramps but completed the upset in a final game that featured three double faults by Medvedev and a frantic match point. The Frenchman fell on his back in relief after securing the victory as Medvedev threw his racket and proceeded to take out his frustration on several water bottles, drawing boos from the crowd. "That is a great way to finish the match," said world number 59 Moutet. "I was with my coach when we were up 5-4 and I said okay, I have to win the next game because my body cannot handle too much more." Moutet will face Australian seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who was a 6-4 6-4 winner over Brandon Nakashima.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Raducanu books DC Open semis berth with Sakkari romp
Britain's Emma Raducanu defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the ATP/WTA DC Open on Friday. It's her first WTA Tour-level semi-final in more than a year and her first on hardcourts in three years. In her third appearance in the nation's capital, Raducanu took one step further than she did in 2022 and 2024. Her quarter-final record improves to 3-9 and her career mark against Sakkari climbs to 4-0, reported WTA. On the tournament's hottest day so far -- the temperature hovered in the middle 90s but it felt close to 100 -- it was Sakkari who got out of the blocks the fastest. Thanks to two double faults by Raducanu, she forged to a 2-0 lead. Raducanu won the next three games, and they were level at 4-4 when Raducanu scored the decisive break with a deft, sharply angled backhand return. She served it out, converting her second set point. Sakkari took control of the second set and was leading when Raducanu re-asserted herself. After holding serve, she broke Sakkari to get back on serve, converting her fourth opportunity with another sweet backhand return winner. After a brief visit from the trainers, Raducanu broke Sakkari. Two errant forehands were the culprit before Raducanu served it out. Emma Raducanu shakes hands with Maria Sakkari after winning the match. AFP Venus Williams' return to tennis came to an abrupt end in the last 16, with the veteran American losing to Poland's Magdalena Frech in straight sets. The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, playing this week for the first time in 16 months, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in more than two decades with Tuesday's first round win over Peyton Stearns. But Venus found the going harder against fifth seed Frech third round clash, losing 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 13min. Venus said she was nonetheless satisfied with her return to competitive tennis. 'I had so much fun,' Venus said. 'Not the result I wanted (but) I got to play a lot of matches, definitely a plus. I couldn't be happier... 'I ran out of gas today to have fell short. But I know I can play better and I know I will play better,' added Venus, who is due to play in next month's Cincinnati Open after being handed a wild card into the event. Frech will face third seed Elena Rybakina in quarter-finals. Frech seized the early initiative with a dominant first set performance, breaking Williams in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The Pole duly held for a 4-2 lead and then broke again when Venus' serve unraveled in the seventh game. The American double-faulted twice in quick succession to hand Frech three break points, and she converted the first to go 5-2 up, before holding to close out the set. Venus was soon in trouble in the second set, blasting a routine smash well beyond the baseline to give Frech two break points in the first game. Frech pounced on that chance to grab the break for a 1-0 lead and then held for 2-0. Venus held for 2-1 but was unable to threaten on Frech's serve in the fourth game as the world number 24 took a 3-1 lead. Agencies
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Messi and Alba suspended for one match for missing MLS All-Star
25 July 2025 22:28 NEW YORK (Reuters) Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster."Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match," MLS said in a statement. The suspension will see Messi, the league's main attraction, miss Inter Miami's match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Cincinnati lead the Eastern Conference standings. Messi has scored 18 goals so far this season."I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement."Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision."All-Star competitions are a mainstay of North American sports, where the men's "Big Four" leagues use the exhibitions to boost their players' profiles, but they are a rarity in professional soccer."We're going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve," said rested this week, according to Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano."Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days," Mascherano was quoted as saying by ESPN.
