Goffin returns from injury and triumphs in Gstaad
GSTAAD: One tennis veteran prevailed, while another succumbed as first-round play continued at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad in Switzerland on Tuesday.
No. 6 Belgian David Goffin, 34, returned to action after suffering a foot injury two months ago and outlasted 19-year-old Martin Landaluce of Spain, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, in windy conditions on the clay.
However, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss native who turned 40 in March, fell to Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko, 6-3, 6-2.
In a matchup of Argentinians, No. 7 Francisco Comesana took out qualifier Marco Trungelliti, 6-3, 6-4. But another seeded player, No. 8 Arthur Rinderknech of France, fell to Italian qualifier Francesco Passaro, 6-1, 7-5. Rinderknech defeated Alexander Zverev two weeks ago at Wimbledon.
Also advancing were Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena, Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Swiss wild card Jerome Kym, all in three sets.
NORDEA OPEN
Seventh-seeded Damir Dzumhur and eighth-seeded Vit Kopriva both cruised to straight-set victories in their first-round matches in Bastad, Sweden.
Dzumhur, a 33-year-old veteran from Bosnia and Herzegovina, defeated Sebastian Ofner of Austria, 6-4, 6-4. Trailing 4-1 in the second set, Dzumhur broke Ofner twice, rattling off the final five games of the match. Kopriva, a native of Czechia, overwhelmed Hugo Dellien, 6-1, 3-0, before the Bolivian was forced to retire.
Swede Elias Ymer, who earned a wild card into the tournament, delighted the home crowd by taking out Tristan Boyer, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Hugo Gaston of France, Andrea Pellegrino of Italy and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer of Norway also moved on.
MIFEL TENNIS OPEN
German fifth seed Daniel Altmaier fired eight aces and won a whopping 84.6 percent of his first-service points (22 of 26) to ease past American Mitchell Krueger 6-4, 6-3 in opening-round action in Los Cabos, Mexico.
No. 6 seed Yunchaokete Bu of China was also victorious, though he needed more than two hours to eliminate Mexican qualifier Alan Magadan 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Australia's Tristan Schoolkate rallied past Chinese qualifier Yibing Wu 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Others to advance to the Round of 16 included Juan Pablo Ficovich of Argentina, Mexican wild card Alex Hernandez, James Duckworth of Australia and Americans Govind Nanda, a qualifier, and Nisesh Basavareddy. - REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Chicharito regrets 'confusion or discomfort' caused after fine for sexist remarks
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Mexico - Liga MX - Cruz Azul v Guadalajara - Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico - March 2, 2024 Guadalajara's Chicharito during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo (Reuters) -Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez said he regrets "any confusion or discomfort" his words may have caused, after being fined by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) for making sexist remarks on social media. In a joint statement released on Wednesday by FMF along with Mexico's top men's and women's leagues — Liga MX and Liga MX Femenil — officials said the 37-year-old striker's remarks were in violation of their gender and diversity policies and constituted a form of media violence. The football bodies added that Hernandez made statements on social media that "promote sexist stereotypes". FMF imposed a financial fine and issued a warning, and said more severe sanctions could follow if Hernandez repeats such behaviour. "I deeply regret any confusion or discomfort my recent words may have caused; it was never my intention to limit, hurt or divide...," Hernandez posted on social media on Thursday. "I am listening, reflecting, and committed to expressing myself with greater clarity and sensitivity, especially on such sensitive issues. I believe that change begins with oneself. "I will take this opportunity to understand, grow, and continue working to be a better version of myself, based on honesty, love for my family, my values, and love for all of you..." Hernandez posted videos over the weekend in which he called on women to "let themselves be guided by a man" and accused women of "eradicating masculinity". Hernandez, Mexico's all-time leading scorer, also said society had become "hypersensitive" and questioned feminist views on domestic roles. The remarks were widely criticised as sexist and out of touch with contemporary society, prompting condemnation from fans and public figures including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Hernandez rejoined boyhood club Guadalajara last year after playing for several top European teams including Manchester United, Real Madrid and West Ham United. (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Goa; Editing by Jamie Freed)
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Raducanu beats Osaka in straight sets to reach Washington quarters
WASHINGTON: Emma Raducanu beat four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-2 in their first career meeting to reach the quarter-finals of the Washington Open on Thursday. Raducanu, U.S. Open champion in 2021, next faces former world number three Maria Sakkari after the Greek stunned American second seed Emma Navarro in straight sets. "I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters," Raducanu told Sky Sports. "She's so dangerous and on the hard courts, I think she's particularly comfortable. "I knew I was going to have to play well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. I was making some inroads in her service game after I got used to it a little bit. "I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and conditions here in DC." Raducanu, who will reclaim the British number one ranking from Katie Boulter when the WTA rankings are released on Monday, is also into the women's doubles semi-finals alongside Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina. Venus Williams' comeback tournament after 16 months away from the game ended with a 6-2 6-2 loss to Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech. The 45-year-old seven-times singles Grand Slam champion became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns in her Washington opener on Tuesday. --REUTERS
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
England's Walsh hope Spain can enjoy Euro final after Rubiales controversy
ZURICH: England and former Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh hopes that Spain are able to enjoy the Euro 2025 final on Sunday after the controversy that clouded their 2023 World Cup triumph. Defending champions England meet Spain in Basel on Sunday, two years on from a World Cup final that was overshadowed by then Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales kissing striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the game. "There's a lot of respect between both the teams and, I think the most important thing for them as a footballer, is that they can enjoy this final – that there's not the controversy surrounding it," Walsh said from England's base camp on Thursday. "The girls deserve to be there to play incredible football. The way our league jumped after we won the (2022) Euros, if you compare it to Spain it probably wasn't the same and they won the World Cup," said Walsh, who played 64 games for Barcelona before joining Chelsea. "After the final there was a lot of controversy and I don't think, for them, there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played. It was all about the other stuff. "As a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got." Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for the unsolicited kiss during the World Cup medal ceremony, and fined over 10,000 euros ($12,000). The incident sparked widespread debate about sexism in Spanish society and women's football, fuelling momentum for the "Me Too" movement in the country. --REUTERS
