DC Open 2025: Top seed Fritz falls in quarterfinals
World number four Fritz, two points from victory in the ninth game, dropped the last five games in falling to the 26th-ranked Spaniard 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 7-5 after three hours and five minutes in a match ending just before 2:00 am.
Davidovich-Fokina advanced to a Saturday semifinal against US fourth seed Ben Shelton, who beat sixth-seeded hometown hero Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
Fritz, who had 20 aces and six double faults, served for the match in the ninth and was up 30-0 but lost, then failed to take advantage of three double faults by Davidovich-Fokina in the 10th game.
The other men's semifinal will send French lucky loser Corentin Moutet against Australian seventh seed Alex De Minaur, who eliminated American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-4.
Moutet withstood leg cramps to eliminate eighth seed Daniil Medvedev 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
'I tried to survive every point because it was hard physically,' Moutet said after fighting off leg cramps. 'I'm just proud of myself.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Toronto top seed Zverev got expert insight from retired rival Rafael Nadal
Alexander Zverev returns to tennis with his confidence under repair after losing in the Wimbledon first round a month ago. And the world number three, playing as top seed at the ATP Toronto Masters, is bolstered by the unique insight from one-time rival Rafael Nadal. Zverev confirmed on Sunday in Toronto that he had sought advice -- and possibly a new coach -- as he travelled to Mallorca this month to visit Nadal's training academy on the Spaniard's home island. While apparently failing to sign Nadal's uncle Toni as his travelling coach, Zverev did have a chance to chat with Nadal, who retired last season. '(Toni is) a great coach, no question about that, but he's a personality that I think can give you confidence as well,' the German said. 'When he speaks and when Rafa speaks, you listen. ALSO READ: De Minaur saves three match points against Davidovich Fokina to lift Washington Open title 'They definitely spent a lot of hours talking to me, and Rafa gave me some great insight into what it is actually like to play against me. 'He saw me as a player. He sees me now as a spectator. It was very helpful. We spent hours and hours talking, sometimes past midnight at some dinners. It was great to be there.' Zverev, a 2017 titleholder in Canada who has always been coached by his father, said that after his 10-day visit to Spain, he is still trying to persuade Toni to come join his coaching team. 'I'm trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, and we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man,' Zverev said. 'I'm not sure how much of him you'll see this year, because he gave his word to a lot of events. But we're talking about what a potential partnership could look like, for sure.' Zverev said the situation will be clearer 'in a few weeks.' The elder Nadal has previously worked with Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime after guiding his iconic nephew for much of his career.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Should Test cricket allow injury substitutions? Here's what players think
In the modern era of cricket, the issue of injury replacements has been a subject of much debate. While the implementation of concussion substitutes has received widespread support, the discussion around injury substitutes continues to divide opinions. This was evident when England captain Ben Stokes and India head coach Gautam Gambhir shared contrasting views on the issue, following Rishabh Pant's injury in the ongoing Test series between India and England. The Current Rule on Injury Substitutes Under the current International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, teams can only replace a player in the playing XI under specific circumstances, such as concussion or a positive COVID-19 test. The rule does not provide for injury substitutes, even if a player is physically unable to perform his role in the team. For example, Rishabh Pant's broken foot during the Manchester Test led to India having to make do without their regular wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel stepping in as a substitute behind the stumps. Despite Pant's courageous batting display in the first innings, his inability to keep wickets left India at a disadvantage. Ben Stokes' Strong Opinion: The 'Ridiculous' Debate Ben Stokes, England's captain, was quick to dismiss the debate surrounding injury replacements, labeling it as "absolutely ridiculous." He argued that such a provision would open the door for numerous loopholes, making it difficult to maintain fairness in the game. In an interview, Stokes explained, 'You pick your eleven for a game; injuries are part of it. I completely understand the concussion replacement; player welfare, and player safety. But I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements.' Stokes' criticism stems from concerns that teams could exploit the rule to gain unfair advantages. He emphasized that a player could easily be sent for an MRI scan, and even a slight injury could lead to a substitute being called in, which could disrupt the balance of the game. According to Stokes, introducing injury substitutes would "open too many loopholes," and the debate should be concluded. Gautam Gambhir's Support for Injury Substitutes On the other hand, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir supported the idea of introducing injury substitutes, particularly in cases where an injury is visible and prevents a player from fulfilling their role on the field. Gambhir referred to the introduction of concussion substitutes after the tragic death of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes in 2014 and suggested that a similar provision for serious injuries would be beneficial. 'I'm all for it, if the umpires and match referee see and feel that there's a major injury. It's important to have this rule, where you can get a substitute,' Gambhir said. He pointed out the unfairness of playing with 10 men in a crucial match, highlighting that teams should not be penalized for a player's injury. In a closely contested series like the one between India and England, Gambhir argued, such a rule could level the playing field. The debate over injury replacements remains unresolved. While Stokes' concerns about potential misuse are valid, Gambhir's argument for fairness in case of genuine injuries also carries weight. As cricket evolves, the ICC may have to re-evaluate its stance on injury substitutes to ensure that the game remains competitive and equitable, especially in longer formats like Test cricket, where injuries can have a significant impact on a team's performance.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
'Spare us the whining. Spirit of what?' Australian media takes Ben Stokes and England to the cleaners
Australian media showed no mercy to England and captain Ben Stokes after their frustration turned into farce when India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar stalled the offer to shake hands and end the match as they neared their centuries. England's 'moral hypocrisy' was called out, with Stokes branded a 'tantrum-thrower' as Aussie media slammed the Poms for whinging about the 'Spirit of Cricket'. India's Washington Sundar and England's captain Ben Stokes greet each other at the end of the fourth Test match between India and England(PTI) With a draw inevitable in Manchester and less than half an hour left on the clock, Stokes walked up to Jadeja and Sundar to offer a handshake and end the match. But the two Indian batters, whose defiance had already denied England a likely win, declined the gesture. Jadeja was in the 90s, Sundar in the 80s, and both were keen to reach their well-deserved centuries. The refusal left Stokes visibly fuming. He not only lashed out at the duo with verbal jibes but also tossed the ball to part-timer Harry Brook in mock protest. Brook then bowled comically slow deliveries—one clocked at just 37 kmph—as England's frustration boiled over. India, unfazed, took just 15 minutes to complete the formalities, with Jadeja scoring his fifth Test ton and Sundar notching up his maiden century. The visitors forced a draw and kept the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy alive, setting up a tantalising decider at The Oval. 'Play fair, old boy!' The Australian media did not spare Ben Stokes or England, lashing out at their dramatic reaction during the final hour at Old Trafford—an outburst that drew attention away from India's breathtaking batting display. Fox Cricket took aim with a headline that read 'Spirit… of what? How pompous England exposed Bazball's great double standard.' The article slammed England's moral posturing: "England bang on about the Laws of the Game, as written by the MCC at Lord's. But when opposition teams follow those laws to England's disadvantage? Time to awaken the 'Spirit' again. Give it a prod. Shake some sense into them. Play fair, old boy!" Brisbane Times ran a scathing piece titled 'Spare us the whinging, England. The only thing embarrassing about Old Trafford was your tantrum.' It highlighted how England, the self-proclaimed saviours of Test cricket, now appear more focused on results than entertainment—an irony not lost on even Steve Smith. "The contradictions are piling up," it added, pointing to how Bazball's ethos is being undermined by England's own actions. Herald Sun, in its strongly-worded editorial 'England's appalling display mars absolute Test classic,' tore into the "unsportsmanlike" conduct of the English side and their refusal to acknowledge the match-saving efforts of Jadeja and Sundar. Code Sports went a step further, declaring England to be suffering from an 'identity crisis on the eve of the Ashes tour.' The article, titled 'Moral hypocrites England decide tons are anti-cricket,' mocked England's fury over Jadeja and Sundar daring to deny them a handshake and instead chasing personal milestones.
