Tennis: Different strokes
Here, StarSportlight look at six things we learned from the 2025 Championships.
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New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Fritz banishes brain freeze to advance into ATP Toronto semis
TORONTO: US second seed Taylor Fritz overcame a late niggle while serving for the match on Tuesday to beat Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) and reach the ATP Toronto Masters semi-finals. The American claimed his place in a fifth semi-final of the season after losing served while trying to close out what had been looking like a quick win, finally coming through into the last four at this level for the first time after 83 minutes. The Californian will wait for a Wednesday semi-final opponent as Ben Shelton takes on Alex de Minaur. Fritz admitted he was struck by brain freeze as he served for victory leading a set and 5-4. After saving three break points he put a return into the net for 5-all as Rublev held on. "That game was so shaky for me, we had both been holding serve easily, everything felt calm and chill," he said. "It came out of nowhere, the pressure of that game. It was tight and my brain just turned off. "The only thing to do is to come back and try to win the set. That's what is able to make it all feel not as bad." Fritz did just that, closing out the win 15 minutes later in the second-set tiebreaker with a serve winner. Fritz struck a personal-best 20 aces (for three-set matches) among his 29 winners. He now stands 6-4 over Rublev. The American has now won 19 of his last 22 matches including reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals. — AFP
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Rybakina vs Mboko in WTA Canadian Open semi-finals
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, and Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko secured their spots in the WTA Canadian Open semi-finals with victories on Monday. Rybakina led 6-1, 2-1 when Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk retired due to a wrist injury. Mboko, the tournament's surprise package, defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2, winning the last six games to reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final. 'I'm so excited to be in the semi-final here,' Mboko said. 'The support has been unreal.' Rybakina won their only previous meeting last month in Washington. The tournament has seen major upsets, with seven of the top 10 seeds eliminated early, paving the way for Mboko's breakthrough. The 18-year-old, who started the year ranked 333rd, is now set to break into the top 50. Mboko broke Bouzas Maneiro for a 5-3 lead in the first set, eventually sealing the match in 77 minutes. 'My first time playing in Montreal has been an unreal experience,' she added. Rybakina, seeded ninth, is chasing her third WTA title. She dominated Kostyuk before the Ukrainian retired in tears due to wrist pain. Tuesday's quarter-finals feature Naomi Osaka against Elina Svitolina and Madison Keys against Clara Tauson. - AFP
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Rybakina advances to WTA Canadian Open semis
MONTREAL: lena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA Canadian Open on Monday when Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk retired in the second set with a wrist injury. World number 12 Rybakina led 6-1, 2-1 when Kostyuk stopped the match, sending the Kazakhstan star into a semi-final against the winner of a later match between Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Canadian teen Victoria Mboko. The top five seeds and seven of the top 10 seeds were ousted before the quarter-finals at Montreal, opening the door for such upstarts as 18-year-old Mboko, who eliminated top seed Coco Gauff. Rybakina, seeded ninth, seeks her third WTA title after Rome and Indian Wells in 2023. She has not reached a final since last year at Miami. Rybakina broke 24th-seeded Kostyuk to open the match and led 2-1 when Kostyuk received medical treatment on her right wrist and forearm. Kostyuk netted a backhand to surrender another break in the fifth game and Rybakina broke again to claim the first set in 37 minutes when Kostyuk sent a forehand long. In the second set, Rybakina held twice before Kostyuk retired after 54 minutes due to her wrist issues.
