Latest news with #BalticOpen
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Sevastova stuns defending champ Pegula
Anastasija Sevastova stunned two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to reach the fourth round of the WTA Canadian Open, where she will face Naomi Osaka. Sevastova, the world number 386 from Latvia, snapped fourth-ranked Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Sevastova, 35 won the most recent of her four career WTA titles at the 2019 Baltic Open in her homeland. She will try to extend her Montreal run in a round of 16 meeting with Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan who ousted another Latvian, 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2, 6-4. Pegula, last year's US Open runner-up in her best Slam showing, was the first woman to win back to back Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000. Osaka, twice a winner at both the US and Australian Opens, is one match away from her first quarter-final run at either a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024. Sevastova, who returned from her own maternity leave in February 2024, collected her first victory over a top-five opponent since beating Czech Karolina Pliskova in 2017. Pegula broke to open the match and again at love to claim the first set when Sevastova sent a forehand long. A forehand winner earned Sevastova a break for a 5-4 lead in the second set and she denied Pegula on three break chances before holding in the final game to force a third set. Pegula sent a down-the-line forehand wide to surrender a break and a 2-1 lead to Sevastova, who broke again to grab a 4-1 advantage when Pegula swatted a forehand long. Sevastova held to 5-1 and broke again on a forehand winner to end the match after one hour and 41 minutes. "It was a weird match for me," Pegula said. "I felt like I had total control and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like three games. "That totally flipped the momentum of the match, and I went from being up a set and 2-0 to being down very quickly. "I don't really feel like I'm playing great tennis," Pegula admitted. "At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don't like. I've got to figure it out." World number 49 Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes. In the second set, Ostapenko netted a forehand to hand Osaka a break for a 3-1 lead. After another exchange of breaks Osaka served for the match with a 5-3 lead, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline. The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game. "Granted, she broke me a couple times, but she's a really good returner, so I can't take that personally," Osaka said. "I went in there knowing she's a great player and if I give her a chance she's going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could." Also advancing was Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Later matches include Polish second seed Iga Swiatek against Germany's Eva Lys, with the winner advancing to face Tauson. AFP
Japan Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Sevastova shocks fourth-ranked Pegula to book date with Osaka
Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia upset two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula to reach the fourth round of the WTA Canadian Open Anastasija Sevastova stunned two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to reach the fourth round of the WTA Canadian Open, where she will face Naomi Osaka. Sevastova, the world number 386 from Latvia, snapped fourth-ranked Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Sevastova, 35 won the most recent of her four career WTA titles at the 2019 Baltic Open in her homeland. But she will try to extend her Montreal run in a round of 16 meeting with Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan who ousted another Latvian, 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2, 6-4. Pegula, last year's US Open runner-up in her best Slam showing, was the first woman to win back to back Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000. Osaka, twice a winner at both the US and Australian Opens, is one match away from her first quarter-final run at either a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024. Sevastova, who returned from her own maternity leave in February 2024, collected her first victory over a top-five opponent since beating Czech Karolina Pliskova in 2017. Pegula broke to open the match and again at love to claim the first set when Sevastova sent a forehand long. A forehand winner earned Sevastova a break for a 5-4 lead in the second set and she denied Pegula on three break chances before holding in the final game to force a third set. Pegula sent a down-the-line forehand wide to surrender a break and a 2-1 lead to Sevastova, who broke again to grab a 4-1 advantage when Pegula swatted a forehand long. Sevastova held to 5-1 and broke again on a forehand winner to end the match after one hour and 41 minutes. World number 49 Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes. In the second set, Ostapenko netted a forehand to hand Osaka a break for a 3-1 lead but rallied and broke back in the next game on a forehand crosscourt winner. Osaka broke again for a 4-2 lead when Ostapenko netted a forehand and Osaka served for the match leading 5-3, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline. Keep pace, stay solid The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game, the Latvian netting a backhand to conclude matters after 72 minutes. "Granted, she broke me a couple times, but she's a really good returner, so I can't take that personally," Osaka said. "I went in there knowing she's a great player and if I give her a chance she's going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could." Osaka improved to 3-0 lifetime against Ostapenko, having also beaten her at the 2016 French Open and last year's US Open in the first round without dropping a set. Also advancing was Danish 16th seed Clara Tauson, who dispatched Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0. Later matches include Polish second seed Iga Swiatek against Germany's Eva Lys, with the winner advancing to face Tauson. Britain's Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner, takes on US fifth seed Amanda Anisimova. © 2025 AFP
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sevastova shocks fourth-ranked Pegula to book date with Osaka
Anastasija Sevastova stunned two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to reach the fourth round of the WTA Canadian Open, where she will face Naomi Osaka. HT Image Sevastova, the world number 386 from Latvia, snapped fourth-ranked Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Sevastova, 35 won the most recent of her four career WTA titles at the 2019 Baltic Open in her homeland. But she will try to extend her Montreal run in a round of 16 meeting with Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan who ousted another Latvian, 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2, 6-4. Pegula, last year's US Open runner-up in her best Slam showing, was the first woman to win back to back Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000. Osaka, twice a winner at both the US and Australian Opens, is one match away from her first quarter-final run at either a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024. Sevastova, who returned from her own maternity leave in February 2024, collected her first victory over a top-five opponent since beating Czech Karolina Pliskova in 2017. Pegula broke to open the match and again at love to claim the first set when Sevastova sent a forehand long. A forehand winner earned Sevastova a break for a 5-4 lead in the second set and she denied Pegula on three break chances before holding in the final game to force a third set. Pegula sent a down-the-line forehand wide to surrender a break and a 2-1 lead to Sevastova, who broke again to grab a 4-1 advantage when Pegula swatted a forehand long. Sevastova held to 5-1 and broke again on a forehand winner to end the match after one hour and 41 minutes. World number 49 Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes. In the second set, Ostapenko netted a forehand to hand Osaka a break for a 3-1 lead but rallied and broke back in the next game on a forehand crosscourt winner. Osaka broke again for a 4-2 lead when Ostapenko netted a forehand and Osaka served for the match leading 5-3, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline. The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game, the Latvian netting a backhand to conclude matters after 72 minutes. "Granted, she broke me a couple times, but she's a really good returner, so I can't take that personally," Osaka said. "I went in there knowing she's a great player and if I give her a chance she's going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could." Osaka improved to 3-0 lifetime against Ostapenko, having also beaten her at the 2016 French Open and last year's US Open in the first round without dropping a set. Also advancing was Danish 16th seed Clara Tauson, who dispatched Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0. Later matches include Polish second seed Iga Swiatek against Germany's Eva Lys, with the winner advancing to face Tauson. Britain's Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner, takes on US fifth seed Amanda Anisimova. js/bb
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ross Smith in furious rant after all his luggage including darts LOST on flight to Baltic Open… but is it a good omen?
He memorably threw his darts into the crowd at the World Championships DOUBLE STROP Ross Smith in furious rant after all his luggage including darts LOST on flight to Baltic Open… but is it a good omen? DARTS star Ross Smith launched into a furious rant after losing his luggage at the airport while travelling to the Baltic Open. But it could be a good omen for The Smudger after the same thing happened to Gerwyn Price last week. Advertisement 2 Ross Smith launched into a furious rant after losing his luggage at the airport Price sealed an incredible Poland Darts Masters title last Sunday, despite losing his case and brand new set of arrows on the flight over. And history has repeated itself, as Smith arrived at Hamburg Airport on Friday to his luggage missing from the baggage claim conveyer belt. But the world No.15 is due to play either Kim Huybrechts or Ian White at Saturday lunchtime WITHOUT a set of darts to throw. Smith, 36, raged on X: "No luggage, No representative for @British_Airways at Hamburg airport. No equipment or darts! Advertisement READ MORE DARTS NEWS 'That's a bit harsh' Ex-world champ slams legend Priestley over Littler and Humphries jibe "Great start to the European Tour this weekend 🤬 hopefully @British_Airways can send my bag to the hotel asap 🙏." Darts are a prohibited sharp object in hand luggage when flying, meaning they must be packed in checked baggage. The Baltic Open will be held at the Wunderino Arena in Kiel from July 11-13. So Smith has under 24 hours to find himself some new clothes, throws and sun cream. Advertisement 2 Gerwyn Price clinched Poland Darts Masters glory... but only after losing his luggage and brand new set of arrows CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Reigning champion Rob Cross will open his defence against Raymond van Barneveld or Andy Baetens, headlining the 48-player field. No 1 Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall - a two-time winner on the European Tour in 2025 - will also compete this weekend. Advertisement Darts shock as 500-1 no-hoper incredibly wins life changing prize money after Players Championship 21 Final triumph Friday's first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions, with the second round continuing into Saturday. Before Smith and Co. do their walkouts on Saturday afternoon. Smith memorably threw his darts into the Ally Pally crowd following shock defeat to Paolo Nebrida in the World Championship last year.
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ross Smith in furious rant after all his luggage including darts LOST on flight to Baltic Open… but is it a good omen?
DARTS star Ross Smith launched into a furious rant after losing his luggage at the airport while travelling to the Baltic Open. But it could be a good omen for The Smudger after the same thing happened to Gerwyn Price last week. Advertisement 2 Ross Smith launched into a furious rant after losing his luggage at the airport Price sealed an incredible Darts Masters title last Sunday, despite losing his case and brand new set of arrows on the flight over. And history has repeated itself, as Smith arrived at Hamburg Airport on Friday to his luggage missing from the baggage claim conveyer belt. But the world No.15 is due to play either Kim Huybrechts or Ian White at Saturday lunchtime WITHOUT a set of darts to throw. Smith, 36, raged on X: "No luggage, No representative for @British_Airways at Hamburg airport. No equipment or darts ! Advertisement READ MORE DARTS NEWS "Great start to the European Tour this weekend 🤬 hopefully @British_Airways can send my bag to the hotel asap 🙏." Darts are a prohibited sharp object in hand luggage when flying, meaning they must be packed in checked baggage. The Baltic Open will be held at the Wunderino Arena in Kiel from July 11-13. So Smith has under 24 hours to find himself some new clothes, throws and sun cream. Advertisement Most read in Darts Latest 2 Gerwyn Price clinched Poland Darts Masters glory... but only after losing his luggage and brand new set of arrows CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Reigning champion Rob Cross will open his defence against No 1 Luke Humphries and Advertisement Darts shock as 500-1 no-hoper incredibly wins life changing prize money after Players Championship 21 Final triumph Friday's first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions, with the second round continuing into Saturday. Before Smith and Co. do their walkouts on Saturday afternoon. Smith memorably threw his darts into the
