It wasn’t without some dicey moments and two championship points saved, but British teenage qualifier Emma Raducanu held firm despite some ever-growing second set tension to beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 6-4 and clinch this year’s US Open title on her main draw debut. Continue reading
Tag: Maria Sakkari
US Open 2021: Fernandez vs. Raducanu in battle of first-time teenage Slam finalists
Another day, more history made at this year’s US Open. Two teenagers will contest Saturday’s Grand Slam Final, on their main draw debuts no less, when Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and British qualifier Emma Raducanu duel this weekend. The latter dropped just five games vs. Maria Sakkari (#17), after Fernandez outlasted Aryna Sabalenka (#2) in a three-set battle. Continue reading
US Open 2021: Raducanu-Sakkari, Djokovic-Zverev semifinals set on Day 10
Emma Raducanu’s remarkable run continues, as she recovered from 3-1 down to stifle Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. Maria Sakkari is next, following an impressive win over Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova later on. Speaking of the Olympics, Friday sees a rematch of the Tokyo semis as gold medallist Alexander Zverev looks to snap Novak Djokovic’s hopes of the Golden Slam. Judging by the way the Serb played vs. Matteo Berrettini, expect fireworks this weekend.
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French Open 2021: Djokovic’s defiant defence helps him roar past Berrettini
World number one and last year’s beaten finalist Novak Djokovic won 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 against Matteo Berrettini overnight, booking yet another Grand Slam semi-final – second to only Roger Federer in the all-time ranks (50). However, it wasn’t without a few dicey moments late on…
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Australian Open 2021: Kenin, Gauff, Medvedev win as Azarenka and Goffin stunned
Defending champion Sofia Kenin wasn’t satisfied but crucially got the job done, while there were comfortable wins for Cori Gauff, Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal and some surprising results too – David Goffin, Victoria Azarenka and Johanna Konta all crashed out on Day 2. Continue reading
WTA Abu Dhabi: Sabalenka beats Kudermetova for ninth WTA title, first of 2021
Aryna Sabalenka (#4) continued where she left off to cap another memorable week with her ninth WTA title and a new career-high world ranking no. 7 after dispatching unseeded Veronika Kudermetova in straight-sets – 6-2, 6-2 – extending an impressive win streak to 15 ahead of next month’s Australian Open, where the 22-year-old hopes to begin improving her Slam record.
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WTA Abu Dhabi: Sabalenka swiftly dismantles Sakkari for 14th straight win
Aryna Sabalenka (#4) wasted no time in overpowering Maria Sakkari (#9) – 6-3, 6-2 in just under an hour’s play – booking her place in tomorrow’s final with a ruthless showing of striking accuracy and purposeful serving too. She’ll play new world number 36 Veronika Kudermetova in the Abu Dhabi finale, hoping to futher extend an impressive 14-match winning streak. Continue reading
WTA Abu Dhabi: Sakkari rallies to earn for big win vs. Kenin, Sabalenka in semis
Maria Sakkari (#9) dropped her first set of the week, but duly responded emphatically: winning ten games in a row en route to her fifth career win over a top-five player, with a third set bagel against the tournament’s top seed Sofia Kenin. Aryna Sabalenka (#4) awaits in tomorrow’s semi-finals, after she outlasted Elena Rybakina (#6) in three sets earlier on as Day 7 continued. Continue reading
WTA Abu Dhabi: Kenin saves match point to beat Putintseva, Sakkari next in quarter-finals
Sofia Kenin (#1) survived match point to fight back, edging the second set tiebreak before winning in three tightly-contested sets: 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 – vs. Yulia Putintseva (#13), to book an intriguing quarter-final matchup with Maria Sakkari on Monday, who blasted past Garbine Muguruza 7-5, 6-4 three hours earlier as the action from WTA’s Abu Dhabi 500 event continues. Continue reading
WTA Abu Dhabi: Sakkari recovers to beat Gauff in straight sets, Muguruza next
Despite troublesome serving and a sluggish start, Maria Sakkari (#9) recovered from 3-0 down early in the first set to emphatically overcome American teenager Cori Gauff in straight sets: 7-5, 6-2 – setting up a third-round WTA Abu Dhabi encounter vs. Garbine Muguruza (#5) tomorrow. Continue reading
