logo
Aira takes down big sis Aifa to reach Bermuda Open final

Aira takes down big sis Aifa to reach Bermuda Open final

The Star03-05-2025

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Aira Azman took down big sister Aifa Azman to book her spot in the Bermuda Open final on Friday (May 2).
Top seed Aira came back from a set down to defeat fourth seed Aifa as she won 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 in 31 minutes in Devonshire.
Aira continued her winning streak against her older sister, following their last meeting on the PSA Tour at the Australian Open last year, which Aira also won in four sets.
Two-time national champion Aira will now take on Egypt's Hana Moataz in the final. It will be their first match-up on Tour.
Second seed Moataz had defeated eighth seed compatriot Amina El Rihany 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9 in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile in New York City, Joachim Chuah and Yee Xin Ying made their way into the men's and women's semi-final at the Hyder Trophy.
World No. 149 Joachim delivered a good performance to take down second seed Cesar Salazar of Mexico 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, and will now meet England's Sam Todd in the semi-final.
In the women's category, fourth seed Xin Ying fought her way back and managed to secure a 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 win against Isabelle Tang of the United States.
Xin Ying is now set to meet second seed Chan Sin Yuk of Hong Kong in the semi-final.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Djokovic, Sinner into French Open quarters as No.361 Boisson springs upset
Djokovic, Sinner into French Open quarters as No.361 Boisson springs upset

The Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Sun

Djokovic, Sinner into French Open quarters as No.361 Boisson springs upset

NOVAK Djokovic sailed into a record 19th French Open quarter-final on Monday, while world number one Jannik Sinner dismantled Andrey Rublev in straight sets. World number 361 Lois Boisson knocked out women's third seed Jessica Pegula to become the first home quarter-finalist at Roland Garros since 2017. The 38-year-old Djokovic dusted aside Britain's Cameron Norrie in three sets, his 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier bringing up the Serbian's 100th match win at the French Open. His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament, surpassing Roger Federer's 18 Wimbledon quarter-finals. But Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is focused on much bigger goals as he chases a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week. 'I feel good. I know I can play better. But 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it's been solid so far,' said Djokovic, who will likely face a much more difficult test against world number three Alexander Zverev. 'It's great, but victory number 101 would be better. I'm very honoured... But I need to continue now.' Djokovic has not played anyone ranked higher than 73rd through the first four rounds. Zverev is last year's runner-up and advanced when Djokovic retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January. Zverev moved into his seventh Roland Garros quarter-final when Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor quit with an abdominal problem while trailing 6-4, 3-0. The German is still hunting a first Grand Slam title. He lost the 2024 final to Carlos Alcaraz and then finished runner-up to Sinner in Melbourne. 'Novak Djokovic will never be a (dark) horse. For me, Carlos is the favourite,' said Zverev. 'Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that.' World number one Sinner fired a warning shot to his title rivals with a ruthless 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian 17th seed Rublev in the night session. Sinner, who returned from a three-month doping ban last month at the Italian Open, will face the unseeded Alexander Bublik for a place in the last four. Italy's Sinner is targeting a third consecutive Grand Slam title after lifting the US Open trophy last year and winning his second successive Australian Open in January. 'Today was a very good performance but we try to keep going and see how it goes,' said the three-time major champion. Bublik took down his second top-10 rival in Paris as the rejuvenated Kazakh came from a set behind to defeat British fifth seed Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Bublik, ranked 62nd, is into his first Grand Slam quarter-final. Wildcard Boisson sends Pegula tumbling Boisson sent shockwaves through Roland Garros as she kept the French flag flying with an improbable 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over 2024 US Open runner-up Pegula, to join Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva in the last eight. Boisson, 22, came from a set down against last year's US Open runner-up to prolong her dream run on her Grand Slam debut. She is the first French singles quarter-finalist in Paris since Caroline Garica and Kristina Mladenovic made it to the same stage eight years ago. Mary Pierce was the tournament's last French champion in 2000. 'I really don't know what to say,' said Boisson, who was roared on by the home fans on Court Philippe Chatrier. 'To play on this court with such an atmosphere was incredible. I was confident before the match and knew I could do it even if she was really strong.' Boisson missed last year's French Open after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee a week before it started. She is the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top-20 player Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open. Kanepi had dropped to 418th at the time. Boisson goes on to face 18-year-old Russian rising star Andreeva on Wednesday for a place in the semi-finals. Sixth seed Andreeva moved through in straight sets as she cut short an attempted fightback by Daria Kasatkina to advance 6-3, 7-5. Andreeva is through to her second major quarter-final, having reached the last four at Roland Garros 12 months ago when she knocked out Aryna Sabalenka. World number two Gauff brushed Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova aside 6-0, 7-5 to step up her pursuit of a first Roland Garros crown, and second Grand Slam title. Former US Open champion Gauff will play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final.

Djokovic, Sinner, Boisson into French Open quarter-finals
Djokovic, Sinner, Boisson into French Open quarter-finals

The Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Sun

Djokovic, Sinner, Boisson into French Open quarter-finals

NOVAK Djokovic sailed into a record 19th French Open quarter-final on Monday, while world number one Jannik Sinner dismantled Andrey Rublev in straight sets. World number 361 Lois Boisson knocked out women's third seed Jessica Pegula to become the first home quarter-finalist at Roland Garros since 2017. The 38-year-old Djokovic dusted aside Britain's Cameron Norrie in three sets, his 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier bringing up the Serbian's 100th match win at the French Open. His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament, surpassing Roger Federer's 18 Wimbledon quarter-finals. But Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is focused on much bigger goals as he chases a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week. 'I feel good. I know I can play better. But 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it's been solid so far,' said Djokovic, who will likely face a much more difficult test against world number three Alexander Zverev. 'It's great, but victory number 101 would be better. I'm very honoured... But I need to continue now.' Djokovic has not played anyone ranked higher than 73rd through the first four rounds. Zverev is last year's runner-up and advanced when Djokovic retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January. Zverev moved into his seventh Roland Garros quarter-final when Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor quit with an abdominal problem while trailing 6-4, 3-0. The German is still hunting a first Grand Slam title. He lost the 2024 final to Carlos Alcaraz and then finished runner-up to Sinner in Melbourne. 'Novak Djokovic will never be a (dark) horse. For me, Carlos is the favourite,' said Zverev. 'Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that.' World number one Sinner fired a warning shot to his title rivals with a ruthless 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian 17th seed Rublev in the night session. Sinner, who returned from a three-month doping ban last month at the Italian Open, will face the unseeded Alexander Bublik for a place in the last four. Italy's Sinner is targeting a third consecutive Grand Slam title after lifting the US Open trophy last year and winning his second successive Australian Open in January. 'Today was a very good performance but we try to keep going and see how it goes,' said the three-time major champion. Bublik took down his second top-10 rival in Paris as the rejuvenated Kazakh came from a set behind to defeat British fifth seed Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Bublik, ranked 62nd, is into his first Grand Slam quarter-final. Wildcard Boisson sends Pegula tumbling Boisson sent shockwaves through Roland Garros as she kept the French flag flying with an improbable 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over 2024 US Open runner-up Pegula, to join Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva in the last eight. Boisson, 22, came from a set down against last year's US Open runner-up to prolong her dream run on her Grand Slam debut. She is the first French singles quarter-finalist in Paris since Caroline Garica and Kristina Mladenovic made it to the same stage eight years ago. Mary Pierce was the tournament's last French champion in 2000. 'I really don't know what to say,' said Boisson, who was roared on by the home fans on Court Philippe Chatrier. 'To play on this court with such an atmosphere was incredible. I was confident before the match and knew I could do it even if she was really strong.' Boisson missed last year's French Open after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee a week before it started. She is the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top-20 player Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open. Kanepi had dropped to 418th at the time. Boisson goes on to face 18-year-old Russian rising star Andreeva on Wednesday for a place in the semi-finals. Sixth seed Andreeva moved through in straight sets as she cut short an attempted fightback by Daria Kasatkina to advance 6-3, 7-5. Andreeva is through to her second major quarter-final, having reached the last four at Roland Garros 12 months ago when she knocked out Aryna Sabalenka. World number two Gauff brushed Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova aside 6-0, 7-5 to step up her pursuit of a first Roland Garros crown, and second Grand Slam title. Former US Open champion Gauff will play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final.

Djokovic cruises into record 19th French Open quarter-final
Djokovic cruises into record 19th French Open quarter-final

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

Djokovic cruises into record 19th French Open quarter-final

NOVAK Djokovic eased into a record-breaking 19th Roland Garros quarter-final with a comfortable straight-sets victory over Cameron Norrie on Monday. The three-time French Open champion will renew his rivalry with third seed Alexander Zverev in the last eight on Wednesday after seeing off Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier. His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament. 'I feel good. I know I can play better. But 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it's been solid so far,' said the 38-year-old after his 100th French Open win. 'It's great, but victory number 101 would be better. I'm very honoured... But I need to continue now.' Djokovic holds an 8-5 winning record in his head-to-head with German Zverev, but retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January. 'He's 10 years younger. He calls himself a veteran of the game. What should I call myself, then?,' Djokovic said of his next opponent. Britain's Norrie, a former top-10 player now ranked 81st, has lost all six of his career matches against Djokovic. The sixth-seeded Djokovic showed no ill-effects from a 'complicated' trip back to his hotel on Sunday night after attending Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League title celebrations at the Parc des Princes. PSG forward Ousmane Dembele presented the trophy to the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier ahead of Djokovic's match. 'They (security) were suggesting us at one point not to go back at all, to maybe find a place to sleep somewhere around here for a night, because at that point it was already past midnight and some gas bombs and cars under fire and stuff happening on the street that was really dangerous,' Djokovic said. 'In the end we talked. We waited for a bit, and then we decided to go. Then it was fine. In the end we reached the hotel all good, but it was quite noisy with a lot of things happening outside of the hotel... 'At some point it was getting out of hand, but it's understandable that people are so excited.' The Serb, hoping to set a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week, dominated against Norrie from the start. He broke serve three times in a one-sided opening set, before battling through a closer second, crucially saving a break point before holding for a 3-2 lead. Norrie, playing in the second week in Paris for the first time, mustered little resistance in the third set as Djokovic wrapped up victory on his first match point.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store