Latest news with #DariaKasatkina
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tommy Paul ends Alexei Popyrin's French Open run with swift victory
Alexei Popyrin could find no way through the American iron man Tommy Paul as the Australian men's challenge at the French Open petered out tamely. Popyrin, the Australian men's No 2, never looked like grasping the opportunity to earn his first grand slam quarter-final date. He succumbed 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on a sun-soaked Court Suzanne Lenglen in a bloodless fourth-round clash on Sunday. Outplayed by the world No 12 in all departments, this was a huge let down for 25th seed Popyrin who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open, when he had downed Novak Djokovic before falling in the last 16 to another American, Frances Tiafoe. Popyrin's exit means that only Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing. Kasatkina faces the Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday's fourth-round match. Popyrin had harboured such high hopes going into the match after not dropping a set in his first three contests, and all started swimmingly as he broke the 28-year-old Paul in the opening game. Alas, that was as good as it got for the Sydneysider. Paul saved the rest of the 10 break points he faced throughout the match, never allowing the Australian to get a foothold, while 37 unforced errors told of Popyrin's underwhelming day. The tough American had battled through two consecutive five-setters to reach this stage but was relieved to advance quickly past Popyrin. Paul becomes the first American man in the quarter-finals here since Andre Agassi in 2003, and could still be joined by compatriots Ben Shelton and Tiafoe. 'I am very glad [about] a straight-sets win. I have been playing some long matches, so that one felt really good,' said Paul, who had spent more than three-and-a-half hours more on court than Popyrin before Sunday's match. 'My team has been doing a great job getting ready for each match but definitely shorter matches like this help a lot.' Paul's toughness was evident when Popyrin had two break points at 3-3, which the American repelled in the opening set before cashing in on a Popyrin double fault for a 5-3 lead. Serving for the set, Paul found himself for once on the back foot as Popyrin earned three break-back points. But the 12th seed showed huge resolve to fight back and seal the set in 42 minutes. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion At the start of the second, a horrendous missed forehand sitter from Popyrin handed Paul an immediate break and the sad-eyed exchanges with his box demonstrated only the Australian's frustration. Popyrin has been lamenting all season his inability to find a consistency of performance and, again, this display was nowhere near the standard he had displayed in beating Portugal's Nuno Borges in the previous round. The Aussie's forehand, so reliable against Borges, began to malfunction alarmingly as he was again broken for Paul to race to a two-set lead. Any chance of a comeback was soon extinguished when Paul, for a third set running, struck with an early break. Popyrin cut a forlorn figure by the time a 26th Paul winner flashed by him on match point, the contest over inside two hours. Paul will next face either Shelton or the reigning champion, Carlos Alcaraz, in the quarter-finals.
ABC News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Alexei Popyrin bows out tamely at French Open following straight-sets loss to Tommy Paul
Alexei Popyrin could find no way through Tommy Paul as the Australian men's challenge at the French Open came to an end in the Roland-Garros sunshine. Popyrin never looked like grasping the opportunity to earn his first quarterfinal appearance at a major, succumbing 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen in a one-sided fourth-round match. Paul will face either US compatriot Ben Shelton or Spain's defending champion and second seed, Carlos Alcaraz, in the quarterfinals. Outplayed by world number 12 Paul in all departments, it was a massive disappointment for 25th seed Popyrin, who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open. Popyrin defeated Novak Djokovic before falling in the round of 16 to Frances Tiafoe in New York last September. In Paris, Popyrin's exit after one hour and 51 minutes on court meant Daria Kasatkina is the last Australian standing in the singles draws. Kasatkina — contesting her first major since gaining permanent Australian residency — faces Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in the last 16 in the women's draw. She advanced from the third round via a 6-1, 7-5 defeat of former world number two Paula Badosa. Kasatkina's victory had meant there were Australians in the fourth round of both the women's and men's singles draws in the same year for the first time in 37 years. AAP/ABC
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Kasatkina says packed tour schedule takes toll on players
The Russian-born 17th seed beat Paula Badosa in straight sets. (AP pic) PARIS : Daria Kasatkina saw signs of burnout in recent weeks amid a packed tour schedule, and her French Open run into the fourth round has helped her get back on track, she said on Saturday. The Russian-born 17th seed, who now represents Australia, beat Paula Badosa in straight sets to reach the last 16 in Paris at the French Open. It was her best result in months after losing in early rounds in each of her last seven tournaments this year. 'I would say I felt little signs of burnout or something like that,' Kasatkina told a press conference. 'The last couple of weeks were a bit rough for me. I couldn't find myself on court. I felt a little bit flat, like with emotions and stuff. 'I'm really happy that I got back on track here in Roland Garros. Playing much better, feeling much better on court. I think that's the most important, especially now.' The world number 17 said the busy tour schedule left little time for recovery throughout the year, echoing the views of fellow Australian Alex De Minaur. The top Australian player this week called for a shorter season and said he felt drained after his second round five-set loss earlier in the week. The season kicked off with the United Cup mixed team tournament in December, 33 days after the Davis Cup Finals ended in Spain, and the gruelling nature of the circuit has repeatedly come under a harsh spotlight in recent years. 'I agree with Alex, because our schedule is pretty rough. I mean, we have a completely packed schedule. There's no spot for anything,' Kasatkina said. 'I think everyone can relate that sometimes you don't want to wake up to go to your job. It's normal. We are all humans. This can happen,' she added. 'It can happen that the person who is travelling all around the world all the time giving their best, living the life of tennis player, sometimes can feel this feeling that he's tired. That sometimes you are just not super excited to go on court.'
ABC News
21 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- ABC News
Daria Kasatkina's French Open win ensures 37-year first for Australian tennis
Daria Kasatkina has overcome the same feeling of burnout that sank her fellow Australian Alex de Minaur at the French Open, and now feels rejuvenated by reaching the fourth round at her "spiritual" tennis home at Roland Garros. On the venue's famed Simonne Mathieu 'greenhouse court', Australia's newest tennis recruit was left thrilled how her stagnant game suddenly bloomed in humid conditions with a 6-1, 7-5 defeat of former world No.2 Paula Badosa. Kasatkina's victory conjured up the rare but sweet smell of Paris success for her adopted tennis home as, for the first time in 37 years, there will now be an Aussie in both the men's and women's last-16 draws in the same year. In 1988, Nicole Provis, who went on to reach the semis, and Pat Cash, both made the second week. Now the onus is on Kasatkina and Alexei Popyrin, who plays his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul on Sunday night from 7pm (AEST). On Monday, Kasatkina will face Mirra Andreeva, her 18-year-old French-based Russian friend. The vlogging pals ended up sharing an ice bath after their early showcourt progress, and Kasatkina, in her first slam under the Australian flag, sounded as if a weight had been lifted from her following a tough spell when her form and motivation slumped. Echoing the lament of de Minaur, who said he was burnt out and mentally fatigued after his shock second-round loss, Kasatkina admitted it felt like a "super important" win for her. "It means a lot especially the last couple of weeks were a bit rough for me. I couldn't find myself on court, I felt a little bit flat, like with emotions and stuff," said the 28-year-old, whose form hasn't been great since she gained permanent Australian residency two months ago. "I felt little signs of burnout or something like that. I'm really happy I got back on track here in Roland Garros, one of my favourite tournaments." Of de Minaur's complaints about the overcrowded schedule, she added: "I agree with Alex, because our schedule is pretty rough." "We have a completely packed schedule. It's not normal, but it can happen that the person who is travelling all around the world all the time giving their best, living the life of tennis player, sometimes can feel he's tired, that sometimes you are just not super excited to go on court. "I mean, this can happen. This is our job but I think everyone can relate that sometimes you don't want to wake up to go to your job. "Yeah, we are super lucky at having this opportunity to do what we love and get paid for it and travel around the world. It's a nice life, but sometimes when you give everything to something, you feel tired and you need some rest." But the 17th seed said she felt much better on court, dominating the first set against an out-of-sorts world No.10 Badosa before having to dig deep when the Spaniard, with more firepower but little of Kasatkina's all-court guile and superb defence, dragged her into a "tense" second-set scrap. This triumph, still greeted by a standing ovation from the largely pro-Badosa crowd, was comfortably Kasatkina's best since her allegiance switch as she powered out to win eight of the first nine games, then nullified Badosa's biggest weapons, frustrating her into many of her 41 "unforced" errors. Kasatkina smiled about how she transforms when returning to Roland-Garros, where she was a semifinalist in 2022, quarterfinalist in 2018 and the girls' champion in 2014. "The courts, amazing, super-good quality, the atmosphere. I won here as a junior. When this happens, it just stays forever in you and automatically the place becomes special," she said. "It's my 10th professional Roland-Garros, every time I'm coming here, I feel comfortable. I know every corner of the stadium. I don't know how it works, honestly, on a spiritual level, but somehow this place, it's been always nice to me." AAP
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Andreeva's lucky charm helps her into French Open's last 16
Mirra Andreeva said she knew she had to fight for every ball and get the drop shots. (AP pic) PARIS : Mirra Andreeva had her lucky charm on her bench for her third-round clash against Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, but left her opponent no chance in a 6-3 6-1 victory on Saturday. The sixth seed, who won the Indian Wells and Dubai top-tier tournaments this year, set up a meeting with Australia's Daria Kasatkina. 'I knew Yulia is a very tricky player, she has an interesting game and it's uncomfortable for me. She likes to cut the rhythm a lot, I knew it would be tough,' the 18-year-old said on Court Suzanne Lenglen as umbrellas popped open in the stands on a grey Parisian morning. AdChoices ADVERTISING 'I kind of knew what to expect I knew I had to play at 100% and fight for every ball and get those drop shots. I'm happy with the way I play today.' Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals here last year, also attributed her win to a present she received. 'When I was walking on court, a little girl put a drawing on my bench, I kept it. It's my lucky charm,' she said. 'Wherever that little girl is, I want to thank her because it is my lucky charm.' Despite an inconsistent serve with four double faults, Andreeva bagged the opening set with a blistering forehand winner for her third break of serve. Putintseva tried to mix it up with drop shots but Andreeva's baseline power proved too much to handle and the Russian broke for 2-1 after a brief rain interruption. It was game over effectively as she went on to win the remaining four games.
