Latest news with #EkaterinaAlexandrova
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Djokovic hits French Open ton, Bublik stuns Draper for last-eight spot
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 2, 2025 Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova reacts during her fourth round match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 2, 2025 Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her fourth round match against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 2, 2025 Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates after winning her fourth round match against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes PARIS - Three-times champion Novak Djokovic reached a century of wins at the French Open on Monday by making the quarter-finals in straight sets against Cameron Norrie while fellow seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula crashed out to unfancied opponents. The sixth-seeded Serbian beat Briton Norrie 6-2 6-3 6-2 to edge closer to a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic became the second man to win 100 matches at the Paris Grand Slam after retired 14-times champion Rafael Nadal (112), to set up a last-eight clash against Alexander Zverev. "It's a number which is very good and nice, but a 101st win is even better," Djokovic told the crowd in French. "It's not finished for me here the tournament and I feel very good and good to make history here. I hope there will be another win here in two days." His German opponent in the last eight spent even less time on the court, third seed Zverev punching his ticket when Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor retired midway through the second set with an abdominal injury. Zverev has reached his seventh French Open quarter-final in the last eight years and is looking to secure a maiden Grand Slam title. "From now on I have the toughest draw in the tournament," Zverev said. "I'm looking forward to the battles ahead, and I'm looking forward to playing the best in the world." SEEDS FALL While Djokovic and Zverev were all smiles, fifth-seeded Briton Jack Draper bid farewell, beaten in four sets by underdog Alexander Bublik, who only a few months ago considered his future in the sport having dropped way down the pecking order. The 27-year-old Kazakh, among the most naturally gifted players on tour who has admitted to lacking the commitment of other top professionals, seized his moment to drop shot his way past young gun Draper for his first Grand Slam quarter-final. Bublik, who had never got past the second round in Paris, hit a staggering 37 drop shots. "Standing here is the best moment of my life, period,", Bublik, in tears, told the crowd. "I'm standing here like I won the thing. I can't cry here, let me be in peace, I'm a professional tennis player, I've got one more match, I've got to get ready." Bublik's victory was the second upset of the day after unheralded Frenchwoman Lois Boisson shook up the women's draw with a three-set shock win over third-seed Jessica Pegula. Boisson, ranked 361st in the world, outplayed the American favourite with a fierce forehand that had the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier on their feet. As if that was not enough for the spectators, they also got to see the Champions League soccer trophy minutes later, following Paris St Germain's victory over Inter Milan on Saturday. PSG forward Ousmane Dembele carried it onto the court to ear-splitting cheers as his team became the second French outfit to lift the European Cup after Olympique de Marseille in 1993. Second seed Coco Gauff was in no mood for surprises, however, when she brushed aside Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5 to stay on course for her first title in Paris. Gauff, who got to the final in 2022 and semis last year, is the youngest American to reach at least the fourth round at seven straight Grand Slams since Venus Williams from 1997-1999. The Americans are guaranteed a semi-finalist with Gauff next facing Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who eased past Hailey Baptiste. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva also booked a last-eight spot by overcoming Australian 17th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-3 7-5 to become the youngest player to reach back-to-back French Open quarter-finals in nearly three decades. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The National
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The National
French Open: Gauff and Andreeva safely through to quarter-finals as Boisson shocks Pegula
World No 2 Coco Gauff swept aside Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets to seal her spot in the French Open quarter-finals on Monday. The American 21-year-old reached Roland Garros's last eight for the fifth successive year following a 6-0, 7-5 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier. Gauff, who has yet to drop a set in four matches, raced through the opener in 29 minutes breaking the Russian's serve three times, dropping just five points across the first five games. Alexandrova, seeded 20th, finally showed some fight in the second set but Gauff – looking to secure her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open – held her nerve and saw out the match in 82 minutes. 'The whole match I played well. She stepped up her game in the second set. Overall I thought I played great,' said Gauff, who was beaten by Iga Swiatek in the 2022 final. 'I move well on clay, really comfortable with sliding and moving on the surface. The most physical surface for sure and I do well in that department.' Next up for Gauff will be an all-American clash against Australian Open champion Madison Keys who defeated unseeded countrywoman Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 7-5. Keys reached the semi-finals in Paris in 2018 and the last eight the following year, but is playing in the second week for only the second time since. Joining them in the quarter-finals will be the new teen star on the block in Mirra Andreeva who came through her last-16 clash against good friend Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5. Andreeva broke down in tears last October after losing in three sets to Kasatkina at the Ningbo Open final in China, having squandered a 3-0 lead in the final set. But the Russian 18-year-old gained revenge by defeating her hitting partner and ex-compatriot – Kastakina now represents Australia – to reach her second Grand Slam quarter-finals. It was at this stage last year that Andreeva claimed the biggest win of her fledgling career by knocking out Aryna Sabalenka to become the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Martina Hingis at the US Open in 1997. And the records have continued to stumble since with Andreeva securing both the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and Indian Wells titles this season and will now face French wildcard Luis Boisson for a last-four spot. 'It was a hell of a match,' said Andreeva, who has also not dropped a set in this year's tournament. 'Honestly I'm so, so happy I won, I hate playing against her. We practise a lot and even practice is a torture for me. 'My coach says that you have to practise with people that you don't like. That's why we practise a lot, because I hate her! I'm joking, she's a great person and a great player. 'I knew that this match of course was going to be tough and I'm just happy to be back in the quarter-finals.' For world No 361 Boisson, the dream run in her home tournament continues after knocking out third seed and US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula in a stunning upset Court Philippe Chatrier. The 22-year-old won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to become the first French player to reach the last eight of their home Grand Slam since 2017, and first as a wildcard since Mary Pierce in 2002. She is also the lowest-ranked woman to make a Grand Slam quarter-final since Kaia Kanepi reached the 2017 US Open last eight ranked No 418. Boisson, 22, is making her debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam and had never played an opponent ranked in the world's top 50 before this week. It was an emotional victory for Boisson, who was due to make her debut in Paris last year only to suffer a serious knee injury two weeks before the tournament which kept her out of action for nine months. 'I'm not sure what to say. Playing on this court, with this atmosphere, was amazing,' Boisson said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
French Open: Coco Gauff reaches quarterfinals and jokes with Frances Tiafoe about forgetting rackets
Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. celebrates beating Germany's Daniel Altmaier during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a shot against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates as she won the fourth round match of the French Tennis Open against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates as she won the fourth round match of the French Tennis Open against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. celebrates beating Germany's Daniel Altmaier during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a shot against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates as she won the fourth round match of the French Tennis Open against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff might have earned her fifth consecutive trip to the French Open quarterfinals with a straight-set victory Monday, but she still is catching flak because she forgot to bring her rackets to a match earlier in the tournament. The No. 2-seeded Gauff, who won the 2023 U.S. Open and was the runner-up in Paris in 2022, has been engaging in a bit of back-and-forth with another American and Roland-Garros quarterfinalist, Frances Tiafoe, over the equipment blunder. Advertisement Tiafoe teasingly called the 21-year-old Gauff 'Mrs. Mature.' Gauff's retort: 'I feel like maybe just playing tennis, it forces you to grow up faster for some people. Maybe not him.' It was Tiafoe who first made that very mistake back in March, showing up for a match at the tournament in Indian Wells, California, without his rackets. He got plenty of ribbing on social media and from other players — including Gauff. So when Gauff went to Court Philippe-Chatrier for her first-round match last week and opened her bag only to realize there weren't any rackets inside, the 27-year-old Tiafoe was only too happy to call her out. 'She was full out shaking her whole bag like it was an empty cookie jar on Chatrier. I was like, 'What are you doing?' ... I'm going to keep ripping her for a long time. I've never seen someone (ranked No. 2) in the world have zero things in her bag. That was incredible,' said Tiafoe, who will play in the quarterfinals Tuesday. Advertisement 'That kind of thing is so big because it just makes everyone (realize) we're all human. People make mistakes, whether it's the team or her or whatever,' he said, then added with a smile: 'That was a funny moment, especially (because) she tries to be Mrs. Mature. That was great. I'm happy it happened to her. Hopefully it happens again.' Gauff acknowledged she couldn't really offer much of a retort. 'I literally told him: 'From you, I expected it. From you, it's OK, but the fact that it happened to me ... .' Because I feel like I'm a professional person, and usually I am someone — if anybody knows me — I'm someone that can find the comeback real quick. Even if I'm wrong, I'm one of those people that will still defend myself. I don't like losing arguments," Gauff said Monday after beating No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5 in the fourth round. 'But that one, I just had to take it. I learned that I had nothing to say, especially because I gave him a lot of (hassle) for it,' she said, 'and then not even six months later, I did the same thing on an even bigger stage. But I have learned my lesson, and hopefully it won't happen again." Advertisement As for his barb about 'Mrs. Mature" — stemming from how Gauff carries herself on the court and off after breaking through at Wimbledon at age 15 and collecting her first Grand Slam title at 19 — she said she hears that type of comment a lot. 'I definitely for sure feel like I'm sometimes, when I was a junior, especially more mature than maybe some of my peers. I don't know why. I feel like I have always been that. When I was in school, I would always be the first one to class. I remember getting yellow for the behavior chart once, and that was like the worst day of my life,' Gauff said. 'I'm definitely someone that prides myself in being a good example. I think it's because I have two younger brothers, and I feel like I have to be that example.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: AP tennis:
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Gauff downs Alexandrova to book French Open last 8 spot
Coco Gauff is hunting her first French Open crown after reaching the final in 2022 and semi-finals last year. (AP pic) PARIS : Second seed Coco Gauff brushed aside Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5 today to move into the French Open quarter-finals and stay on course for her first title in Paris. The American world No 2 must have thought she would have an easy morning session after powering through the first set in sensational fashion but the Russian bounced back in the second to test her opponent. 'The whole match I played well. She stepped up her game in the second set. Overall I thought I played great,' Gauff said. 'I move well on clay, really comfortable with sliding and moving on the surface. The most physical surface for sure and I do well in that department.' Hunting her first French Open crown after reaching the final in 2022 and semi-finals last year, the 21-year-old started fast, earning three consecutive breaks for a 5-0 lead in 15 minutes. Gauff was running her opponent ragged across the baseline, with the 30-year-old Alexandrova, bidding to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final, earning a mere five points until that stage. Gauff, who has now won four of their five meetings, gave away five break points in the next game but still secured her first bagel of the tournament before the Russian got on the scoreboard at the start of the second set with her first hold. Unforced errors started creeping into Gauff's game as Alexandrova put up stronger resistance. Gauff, the youngest American player to have reached at least the fourth round at seven consecutive Grand Slams since Venus Williams between 1997-1999, broke Alexandrova at 3-3. But the Russian broke straight back and went 5-4 up, with Gauff clearly rattled and double-faulting twice before holding to level. The second seed kept her composure, broke Alexandrova and wrapped up the match on her serve. She will next face the winner of the all-American fourth round clash between Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste.
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Gauff speeds into French Open last eight, Pegula crashes out
PARIS :Second seed Coco Gauff brushed aside Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5 on Monday to move into the French Open quarter-finals and stay on course for her first title in Paris. Gauff, who got to the final in 2022 and semi-finals last year, is the youngest American player to reach at least the fourth round at seven consecutive Grand Slams since Venus Williams between 1997-1999. The Americans are guaranteed another quarter-finalist with Australian Open champion Madison Keys facing Hailey Baptiste in the round of 16 later on Monday. The winner faces Gauff. Fellow American and third seed Jessica Pegula, however, failed to join Gauff in the last eight after crashing out to France's 361st-ranked Lois Boisson after a three-set battle. Five American women and three American men reached the fourth round in Paris this year to equal a 40-year-old record. Russian teenager Mirra Andreva also punched her last eight ticket after overcoming Australian 17th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-3 7-5 to become the youngest player to reach back-to-back French Open quarter-finals in nearly three decades. Gauff, the world number two, must have thought she would have an easy morning session after powering through the first set in sensational fashion but 20th seed Alexandrova bounced back in the second to test her opponent. "The whole match I played well. She stepped up her game in the second set. Overall I thought I played great," Gauff said. "I move well on clay, really comfortable with sliding and moving on the surface. The most physical surface for sure and I do well in that department." FAST START The 21-year-old Gauff started fast, earning three consecutive breaks for a 5-0 lead in 15 minutes as she ran her opponent ragged across the baseline. The 30-year-old Alexandrova, bidding to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final, earned a mere five points until that stage. Gauff, who has now won four of their five meetings, gave away five break points in the next game but still secured her first bagel of the tournament. She was less dominant in the second set, with Alexandrova putting up stronger resistance. The Russian broke to go 5-4 up, with Gauff briefly rattled and double-faulting twice before holding to level. The second seed kept her composure, broke Alexandrova and wrapped up the match on her serve. In the men's draw three-times champion Novak Djokovic takes on Briton Cameron Norrie, with the Serbian seeking his 100th win on the red clay at Roland Garros, a feat achieved only by retired 14-times champion Rafa Nadal. The winner will face Germany's Alexander Zverev, last year's finalist, who advanced after his opponent, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor retired midway through the second set with an abdominal injury.
