Latest news with #dopingban
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Swiatek sweeps past Svitolina to set up Sabalenka showdown at French Open
The four-time champion Iga Swiatek of Poland swept aside Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 on a windy day at the French Open to earn a semi-final spot and stay in the hunt for a record-breaking victory in Paris. The 24-year-old, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, is looking to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. Although she failed to win a title going into the French Open this season, she looks to have rediscovered her remarkable claycourt form in Paris. She will next play world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a mouthwatering semi-final after the Belarusian beat China's Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. 'I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set,' Swiatek said in a post-match interview. 'When I saw my intensity go low I got it high again. I am happy I did it at the end of the set. Against Aryna it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season. I will not lie. It will be a tough match but am happy for the challenge.' The Pole is now on a 26-match winning streak at the French Open, following her title three-peat between 2022-24 to add to her 2020 crown. Swiatek, playing in an initially sparsely filled Philipp Chatrier stadium, broke the Ukrainian, in her fifth quarter-final appearance in Paris, early and kept her on the back foot with her heavy top-spin forehand and rapid changes in pace and direction. Svitolina desperately tried to hang on but she could not match her opponent's power in rallies, sending a forehand into the net to hand her another break as Swiatek bagged the set on her serve in the next game. With her husband, French tennis player Gaël Monfils, watching from the stands, Svitolina ignited hope among the crowd when she moved 5-4 up in the second set. Three unforced forehand errors in the next game, however, proved too many and Swiatek raced through the next three games to seal victory, firing three aces in the final game including one on match point.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
World Number One Sinner Obliterates Lehecka to Reach French Open Fourth Round
World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders. The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16, Reuters reported. He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month. "Today I was playing really, really well," Sinner said. "He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy. "My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don't play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday." "This morning I said to my team I feel well," he added. "I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court." Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes. The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set. Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner's shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage. The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over. Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third. Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point. The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 US Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban. He will next face 17th-seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced after his opponent Arthur Fils of France withdrew with a back injury.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Jannik Sinner makes light work of Jiri Lehecka at French Open
is clearly making up for lost time at this year's French Open. The world number one, who only returned from a three-month doping ban three weeks ago, raced into the fourth round in just 94 minutes. Sinner won the first 11 games against Czech Jiri Lehecka on his way to a commanding 6-0 6-1 6-2 victory. 'This morning I said to my team I'm feeling well and physically ready,' said the Italian. 'We had to go hard in the beginning because the beginning in grand slams is very important for confidence. I warmed up well, I felt very good so after 20-25 minutes I was feeling brave. 'My team gave me the right tactics, I tried to play them in the match so it's a combination of also being happy on court – it's very important. 'After today I don't think there's much I can improve but every opponent is different.' Sinner will meet Russian 17th seed Andrey Rublev on Monday. Meanwhile, Frenchman Arthur Fils has revealed he won a five-set match on Thursday despite having a stress fracture in his back. The 20-year-old 14th seed, who beat Jaume Munar in a marathon match lasting four and a half hours, has been forced to withdraw from the tournament. He said: 'I had some issue with the back for a long time, and during the match against Munar it got worse. 'Then I did some examinations. They were not good at all. I've got some stress fracture.' Fils was unsure whether he will be fit enough in time to compete at Wimbledon.
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Indomitable Sinner obliterates Lehecka to reach French Open fourth round
PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) - World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders. The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16. He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month. "Today I was playing really, really well," Sinner said. "He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy. "My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don't play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday." "This morning I said to my team I feel well," he added. "I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court." Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes. The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set. Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner's shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage. The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over. Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third. Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point. The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 U.S. Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban. He will next face 17th-seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced after his opponent Arthur Fils of France withdrew with a back injury.
CNA
3 days ago
- General
- CNA
Indomitable Sinner obliterates Lehecka to reach French Open fourth round
PARIS :World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders. The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16. He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month. "Today I was playing really, really well," Sinner said. "He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy. "My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don't play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday." "This morning I said to my team I feel well," he added. "I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court." Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes. The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set. Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner's shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage. The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over. Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third. Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point. The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 U.S. Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban.
