
Raducanu makes winning start in Montreal
The Briton showed resilience in the early stages by staving off five break points in her opening service game.She then wrapped up the opening set in style by winning five successive games.After exchanging a couple of breaks in the second set, Raducanu - who also beat Ruse in Auckland in 2024 - found the crucial break to lead 5-4 and served out for the match.Since losing against Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon earlier in July, Raducanu has bounced back strongly with four victories from five appearances on hard courts.If she gets past Stearns in Montreal, American fifth seed and 2025 Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova could be waiting in the third round.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
10 minutes ago
- Reuters
Islanders sign Matthew Schaefer to entry-level contract
August 5 - Matthew Schaefer, the top selection in the 2025 NHL draft, has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the New York Islanders, the team announced on Monday. Schaefer was on hand at Citi Field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the game between the New York Mets and the visiting Cleveland Guardians. The team announced the signing of the Stoney Creek, Ont., native just before the pregame ceremony. "Feels amazing," Schaefer said at Citi Field. "Obviously, it's something I've wanted to do my whole life and to do it your first year -- there's still a lot of work, but that was my dream and I want to play in the NHL this season. I wanted to really badly. I know there's going to be a lot of hard work that comes with it, but I think I'm ready." The defenseman, who will turn 18 next month, has competed with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League for the past two seasons. He earned first-team all-rookie honors in 2023-24. His 2024-25 OHL campaign came to a halt when he suffered an injured collarbone as a member of Team Canada in the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. To date, Schaefer has amassed 10 goals and 29 assists in 73 games with Erie. He has returned to the ice, competing at Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase. Schaefer will report to training camp with the Islanders, where he could break camp with the NHL club or be sent to Erie for his third season. Schaefer won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2024 U18 World Hockey Championships in Finland. He is the Islanders' first No. 1 draft pick since they tabbed John Tavares in 2009 and the fifth overall in franchise history. --Field Level Media


Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Emma Raducanu adds Rafael Nadal's former coach Francis Roig to team full-time
Emma Raducanu has added Rafael Nadal's former coach Francis Roig to her team on a full-time basis ahead of this month's US Open, the PA news agency understands. The 2021 winner at Flushing Meadows has worked with British coach Mark Petchey on an informal basis since March and enjoyed a positive run of results. However, Petchey's TV commitments meant he was always unable to become Raducanu's full-time coach and after a trial with Roig following Wimbledon, the 22-year-old will begin work with him in Cincinnati this week after he agreed a contract until the end of 2025. Raducanu has struggled to settle with a coach in recent years until her part-time work with Petchey started to pay dividends earlier this season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @emmaraducanu A WTA 1000 quarter-final showing at the Miami Open in March was followed by a round-of-16 run at the Italian Open before she made the last eight in the first women's tournament at Queen's Club. Aryna Sabalenka proved too strong for Raducanu in round three at Wimbledon, but this was backed up by a semi-final at the Citi Open as the British number one targets being seeded at the US Open later this month. TV commentator Petchey, who worked with Andy Murray at the start of his career, revealed in July that Raducanu would need to find a full-time coach soon and she has in Roig. Spanish coach Roig worked with Nadal alongside Nadal's uncle Toni for the majority of the 22-time grand slam champion's career and more recently was part of Matteo Berrettini's backroom staff. Raducanu will stay close to Petchey, PA understands, but turns her focus back to rising up the WTA rankings with a strong display at the Cincinnati Open over the next fortnight.


Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Lynx MVP candidate Napheesa Collier (ankle) out at least 2 weeks
August 5 - The Minnesota Lynx on Monday said star forward Napheesa Collier has a right ankle sprain and "will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks." The WNBA Most Valuable Player frontrunner will miss at least two weeks, ESPN reported. In a win over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, Collier was trailing a Minnesota fast break when her feet got tangled with teammate Alanna Smith, who had been bumped by Aces guard Jewell Loyd in a battle for positioning under the basket. Collier rose, only to fall back down to the court, favoring her ankle. She was helped off the floor by a member of the team's medical staff, then walked under her own power into the Lynx locker room. Collier, 28, was the 2019 Rookie of the Year, 2024 Commissioner's Cup MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and the 2025 All-Star Game MVP, when she poured in 36 points on 13-of-16 shooting in less than 19 minutes. Now she's leading the WNBA at 23.5 points per game to go with 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game through 26 starts. The Lynx (24-5) have a 5 1/2-game lead in the league standings. A minimum of two weeks away would mean Collier may miss a trio of games against the New York Liberty on Aug. 10, 16 and 19. The Liberty defeated the Lynx in the WNBA Finals last year. Collier's ankle sprain is the latest in an injury-marred season for the league's superstars, as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have missed time. All except Wilson are currently sidelined. --Field Level Media