Archive of posts tagged Sports

Cincinnati: Emma Raducanu routinely wins, now set for difficult Aryna Sabalenka test

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2023 Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu handled the business in her opening match with coach Francisco Roig after ousting Olga Danilovic 6-3 6-2, and she plays Aryna Sabalenka in the Cincinnati third round.

The 30th-seeded Briton, who had a first-round bye at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, lost her serve twice in the first set but broke the 40th-ranked Serb three times to still take the opener. The second was more straightforward for the 2021 US Open champion, who claimed two breaks to seal a straight-set victory.

Next up for Raducanu will be a third career meeting versus top seed Sabalenka, who defeated 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5 6-1. Last year, the current world No. 1 beat the Briton 6-3 7-5 in Indian Wells. A month ago, they met for the second time, and the Belarusian tennis star also registered a 7-6 (6) 6-4 win.

How Raducanu reacted to her performance versus Danilovic and what she can expect versus Sabalenka?

Following her opening Cincinnati win, the 2021 US Open champion acknowledged that it wasn't an ideal performance. However, the 22-year-old was still pretty happy with her display. 

“Bar the first game today, that was not very much fit, but other than that, I was pretty mature and disciplined in my performance. I took care of my service games really well. And I knew that playing Olga, who's really difficult and really dangerous as a lefty and with big strikes, it was going to be important," the world No. 33 said after her opening win.

Against Sabalenka, Raducanu has yet to win a set. However, the British tennis player managed to cause some problems to the Belarusian during their Wimbledon match – especially in the first set – when she didn't convert some chances. Also, it is worth mentioning that the world No. 1 is only now playing her first tournament since Wimbledon, while the Briton is already playing her third tournament on hard this summer.

It remains to be seen if Raducanu can pull off an upset and beat Sabalenka for the first time in Cincinnati.

Joao Fonseca overcomes a 7-6, 4-0 deficit in Cincinati, as Davidovich Fokina retires

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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will not remember Toronto and Cincinnati for good. The Spaniard retired at both events, and his latest setback hurts the most!

Alejandro had a 7-6, 4-0, 30-0 advantage against Joao Fonseca in the second round in Cincinnati before dropping five straight games and retiring, propelling the young gun into the third round.

The more experienced player claimed a tight opener and provided two breaks at the beginning of the second set to forge a massive advantage. However, he lost pace and retired after dropping five games in a row.

They traded early breaks in the first set and served well after that for 4-4. Alejandro secured another break in game nine and served for the opener, only to suffer a break and keep his rival in contention. 

The Spaniard delivered a mini-break in the first point of the tie break and won all points on serve for 7-4 and a boost. Fonseca lost serve two times in a row at the beginning of the second set to find himself 4-0, 30-0 down. 

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Cincinnati 2025

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

However, he started his comeback with a break in game five and delivered another two games later to reduce the gap. The young gun held at love for 4-4 and clinched his third straight break in game nine with a backhand down the line winner.

Davidovich Fokina ended the match at that moment, retiring for the second straight week and sending his rival over the top.

Jannik Sinner earns personal record in Cincinnati

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Cincinnati

Competing for the first time since lifting his first Wimbledon title, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner made a stunning debut in Cincinnati. The defending champion ousted a qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.

The Italian had the upper hand fro start to finish, dictating the pace on the fast hard court and sealing the deal in 59 minutes. Thus, Jannik secured his personal record, delivering his fastest ATP win in completed matches.

In 2019, Sinner ousted Mikael Ymer at the Next  Gen ATP Finals in 56 minutes. However, it was a different format with shorter sets.

The Italian produced brutal numbers in his service games, losing six points and saving the only break point while serving for the opener at 5-1. Elahi Galan felt the pressure and cracked under it.

The Colombian landed in 54% of the first serve and lost 56% of the points in his games. Sinner created 13 break chances and converted five, controlling the scoreboard and racing over the top.

Jannik tamed his strokes nicely and fired 20 winners and 12 unforced errors, mixing his shots well and adding drop shots to his arsenal. The Italian hit 19 service winners and forged a vast 31-9 lead from the baseline against the powerless rival.

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

World no. 1 outplayed his opponent in the shortest and mid-range rallies, taking charge and presenting his career-fastest victory. Sinner found his momentum right from the start.

He geld at love in the first game, grabbed a break in the second and drew the rival's mistake at 2-0 for another hold at love. Daniel netted a routine forehand in the fourth game and experienced a break at love.

Jannik painted a forehand winner in game five, providing his third straight hold at love and moving 5-0 up after 15 minutes. Daniel Elahi ended his downfall in the sixth game and created his only break point at 1-5.

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Italian saved it with a service winner and converted a set point with a half-volley winner for 6-1 after swift 26 minutes. The favorite served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. 

Sinner clinched a break in the first game with a deep return and cemented it with a service winner a few moments later for 2-0. Daniel denied five break points in the third game and avoided a bagel.

Jannik held at 15 in the fourth game before generating three break chances in the next one. He converted the last with a forehand winner and forged a 4-1 lead. The Italian held at love for 5-1 and made another push on the return in game seven.

He landed a perfect drop shot winner on a match point, sealing the deal in style and racing into the third round.

Holger Rune joins Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner in exclusive 'Club 50'

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6 Kings Slam

Holger Rune celebrated a milestone victory in Cincinnati. The young Dane ousted Roman Safiullin 7-5, 7-6 in an hour and 58 minutes in the second round, prevailing and making a winning start.

Holger celebrated his 50th Masters 1000 victory, becoming the fourth player born in 2000 or later to achieve that. Rune joined Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the exclusive 'Club 50.'

The Dane claimed his first Masters 1000 win in Indian Wells three and a half years ago. He claimed the Paris Masters crown later that season following five straight top-10 triumphs!

Holger was the finalist in Monte Carlo and Rome in the spring of 2023, and his most recent Masters 1000 final came in Indian Wells this March. The youngster will seek his fifth Masters 1000 final in Cincinnati.

The 7th seed had to dig deep in his first test in Ohio. He took six points more than Safiullin and prevailed in the decisive moments to avoid a decider. Rune lost serve two times and provided three return games from five chances.

They sprayed over 70 unforced errors, and the Dane reduced the number of errors. Holger forged the advantage in service winners but lost in from the baseline. He had the upper hand in the shortest exchanges, and Roman reduced the gap in the mid-range ones.

Holger Rune, Cincinnati 2025

Holger Rune, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

They traded breaks in the middle of the opening set. The Dane provided another break in game nine and served for the set at 5-4. Rune wasted two set points and lost serve. 

However, he kept his composure and closed the opener with another break at 5-5 and a hold in game 12. The second set was much more fluid, with no break chances and 12 comfortable holds. 

Rune grabbed two mini-breaks for a 5-2 advantage. Roman erased the deficit with a mini-break in the tenth point, locking the result at 5-5. Still, Holger claimed a decisive point on the return at 6-5, sealing the deal and making a winning start.

Novak Djokovic's schedule worries everyone: all details inside

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Belgrade

Novak Djokovic's schedule after the Wimbledon Championships surprised both fans and insiders. The former world number 1 decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 and this choice was not particularly surprising, considering that the Serbian legend has not played in Canada since 2018 and definitely needed a break after his loss to Jannik Sinner at the Championships.

However, most experts expected that the 38-year-old from Belgrade would at least participate in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 – scheduled in Ohio from August 7 to 18 – in order to play some official matches on the hard courts in view of the US Open. 

The final Major of the season will begin on August 24 in New York and it is now clear to everyone that Nole will only play mixed doubles with Olga Danilovic before making her singles debut.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has spent the last few weeks on vacation with his family and friends, enjoying his free time first in Croatia and then in Greece. Novak has not yet resumed practicing and it is not known if he has solved the muscle problem that had conditioned him during the semifinal of the Championships.

Nole is still resting

A few days ago, Djokovic's presence at the second edition of the 'Six Kings Slam' to be held in Saudi Arabia was announced.

In the latest episode of his podcast, American legend Jimmy Connors admitted that he was surprised by Nole's recent choices: "I have to admit that his schedule worries me a bit. He hasn't played a hard court match so far and it would have been good to see him in Cincinnati to test his level, but instead he preferred to stay home. We don't know what to expect from him, although we can't underestimate one of the best in history. We've seen him on vacation for the last month, that's all we know."

The Serbian ace had missed both American Masters 1000 last season, before being prematurely eliminated in New York.

Carlos Alcaraz faces Damir Dzumhur in Cincinnati. Another thriller coming?

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Alcaraz

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will chase his first Cincinnati Masters title. The Spaniard starts his campaign against Damir Dzumhur, returning to action for the first time since losing his first Major final to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.

Carlos and Damir embraced a thriller at Roland Garros two months ago, and maybe we can see another tight duel between them in Ohio. The Spaniard and the Bosnian faced in the third round in Paris.

The favorite prevailed 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and 14 minutes en route to the last 16. Alcaraz controlled the pace in the opening two sets before losing his vibe and struggling in the remaining two.

Dzumhur took the pivotal points of the third set and forged a 3-1 advantage in the fourth, using the defending champion's shaky period. However, Carlos woke up and grabbed five of the final six games to emerge at the top and avoid a decider. 

The Spaniard admitted he did not know what to do in the third set, losing ground and struggling to overcome an inspired opponent. However, he found improvements and wrapped up a challenging duel in style. 

Alcaraz played against 12 break points and saved nine. He generated 21 chances on the return and converted seven, including ones in the pivotal moments. The Spaniard hit 52 winners and 44 unforced errors.

Damir Dzumhur & Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025

Damir Dzumhur & Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot

 

World no. 2 saved two break points in the first game of the duel and secured back-to-back breaks en route to 6-1 in under half an hour. Damir lost serve at 1-1 in the second set and fell behind. 

The Bosnian served to stay in the set at 3-5 and played another loose service game, propelling his rival two sets to love in front. Dzumhur raised his level in the third set.

He secured a break in the seventh game and disturbed the rival's momentum. Damir denied six break points in games eight and ten, wrapping up the set 6-4 and gaining a boost.

Carlos made his position even more challenging after losing serve at the beginning of the fourth set. He trailed 3-1 before erasing the deficit with a break in game six.

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2023© Stream screenshot

 

The Spaniard secured the seventh game after a deuce and moved in front. The defending champion made another push on the return at 4-3 and delivered another break to rattle off four games and extend the gap. 

Alcaraz served for the win at 5-3 and suffered a break to keep his rival in contention. However, Dzumhur experienced another break at 4-5, propelling the favorite into the last 16.

Cincinnati: Iga Swiatek wins opener e makes admission about early Montreal loss

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Baltic sea

Iga Swiatek is off to a strong start to her Cincinnati campaign after ousting world No. 44 Anastasija Potapova 6-1 6-4.

The Pole, who is seeded at No. 3 at the American WTA 1000 tournament, dominated the start of the match after claiming two breaks and not facing a single break point on her serve.

After easily winning the first set, Swiatek also claimed the first break of the second set. Down by a set and a break, Potapova refused to quit and managed to get the break back in the fourth game. However, the six-time Grand Slam champion didn't panic as she earned herself another break in the seventh game and then held on to her serve for the rest of the match to complete a straight-set win.

For Swiatek, this was her first match since stunningly losing to Clara Tauson in the Montreal third round. In her next Cincinnati match, the world No. 3 plays against No. 25 seed Marta Kostyuk.

Swiatek's honest admission about an early Montreal defeat

After winning seven matches at Wimbledon to become a champion at The All England Club, the Pole also triumphed in her opening two Montreal matches before Tauson ended her nine-match winning streak by handing her a 7-6 (1) 6-3 defeat. In Cincinnati, the 24-year-old admitted that she relaxed more than she should have following her Wimbledon win.

“Winning Wimbledon is a thing that is going to be with you the rest of your life. I let myself be happy a little bit longer, maybe that’s why I wasn’t so sharp in [Montreal],” Swiatek admitted in her pre-tournament presser in Cincinnati.

After Wimbledon, the Polish tennis giant relaxed by going to the Baltic sea.

“I was on a boat, I slept there and everything. I could see the shore and every big city that we have there from the water point of view. My friends were there. It was all super fun and I loved it," Swiatek said.

Report: Elena Rybakinaā€™s Coach Stefano Vukov Has Been Reinstated

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By Chris Oddo | Friday August 8, 2025

Stefano Vukov, the longtime coach of former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, has appealed his year-long ban from the WTA Tour and won.

Vukov, who was suspended by the WTA Tour for breaching its code of conduct in January, was barred from receiving credentials at sanctioned events.

Reportedly, Vukov entered into private arbitration with the WTA as part of his appeal, and attended a hearing that took place before Wimbledon.

The long, drawn-out saga has taken place over the span of a year, with the tour first provisionally suspending Vukov near the end of 2024, then officially doing so on January 31st. All the while, Rybakina expressed the sentiment that she’d prefer it if Vukov could continue coaching her.

Rybakina cut ties with Vukov ahead of last year’s US Open, then hired Goran Ivanisevic in the off-season. In January she announced that Vukov was going to come back into the fold, but he was soon banned. Still, Ivanisevic ended up parting ways with Rybakina rather than stay in a situation he called “sad and strange.”

Previously, members of Rybakina’s team had appealed to the WTA that they feared for her safety. Vukov stayed close to his former charge, and inherited agent duties, while Davide Sanguinetti stepped in to coach her. 

According to the Athletic, Vukov initiated an appeal this spring, and has been reinstated.

ā€œThe WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants, as set out in our WTA Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code,” the WTA said in a statement to the Athletic. “Any sanctions issued following a breach of these safeguarding rules are carefully considered and are subject to appeal before an independent tribunal.

ā€œWhile case details remain confidential, we can confirm that Mr. Vukov is eligible to receive credentials at WTA events. We will not be commenting further.ā€

Sanguinetti has been supportive of Vukov, and could potentially keep his role in the team even after Vukov returns.

Tenth-ranked Rybakina will face Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in second-round action at the Cincinnati Open.

Ben Shelton shows clutch in Toronto en route to historic Masters 1000 crown

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Alex de Minaur

Ben Shelton lifted his career-best trophy in Toronto, earning his first Masters 1000 crown at 22. The American earned the title in remarkable fashion, surviving three deciding tie breaks en route to a trophy.

Thus, Shelton became the first player in Masters 1000 history to pull off such a feat on the way to the title. How did Ben do it? By staying fearless, keeping calm under pressure and finding his A-game in the pivotal moments. 

The young gun had to dig deep in rounds three and four. He bested top-tier players in the quarter-final and the semi-final before producing another thrilling win against Karen Khachanov in the title clash.

Shelton played against his compatriot, Brandon Nakashima, in the third round. The 4th seed prevailed 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 and avoided an early setback. The favorite fired 19 aces and lost serve once. 

However, Nakashima fought well after the second set and led 2-0 in the decider. Ben pulled the break back in the fourth game and denied a break point at 3-3 that could have been crucial. 

Brandon saved two match points on serve in the tenth game before his rival clinched a tie break 7-5 to emerge at the top and remain on the title course. Two days later, Shelton had to dig deep versus Flavio Cobolli.

Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025

Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The American prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, showing his clutch in the pivotal moments. Both players scored three breaks. Flavio had the upper hand in the third set, serving well and generating break chances.

He stole Ben's serve in game five and provided two comfortable holds for 5-3. Standing on the verge of exit door, a left-hander pulled the break back at the last moment at 4-5 and extended the duel. 

The Italian saved a match point on serve at 5-6 before the American dominated the tie break to wrap up another tight victory and reach the quarter-final. Shelton produced a high-quality tennis against Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz. 

Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025

Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Thus, he booked a place in his first Masters 1000 final and arranged the clash against Karen Khachanov. They battled for two hours and 47 minutes before Ben prevailed 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 to wrap up the title. 

The young gun kept his composure after the opener and in the decisive moments. He got broken once and provided two breaks. Karen saved three set points at 5-6 in the opener and claimed the tie break 7-5. 

Shelton grabbed a break at 4-4 in the second set and denied four break points in the next one with winners to introduce a decider. They served well and sent it into a tie break. 

The American played flawless tennis and closed it 7-3 to seal the deal and write Masters 1000 history.

Ben Shelton asked if he could pull off a Jannik Sinner after Toronto Masters win

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Alex de Minaur

Ben Shelton doesn't want to compare his path to Jannik Sinner's since he believes "everyone's story is different" but admits he is hoping that his Toronto Masters triumph is only the start of more great things.

On Thursday, the Shelton captured his maiden Masters win after completing an impressive 6-7 (5) 6-4 7-6 (3) final comeback against Karen Khachanov. For the 22-year-old American, it was his third ATP title, but by far the biggest one.

If you can recall, Sinner's first Masters triumph came two years ago at the exact same spot when he beat Alex de Minaur in the Toronto final. That pretty much marked a breakthrough in the Italian's game, as since then, he has won four Grand Slams and has been holding the world No. 1 spot for nearly a year now. 

After Shelton became a Masters champion, a reporter remembered how the Toronto win did wonders for Sinner and asked the American if something similar could happen to him.

Shelton refuses to compare himself to Sinner: I think everyone has a different path…

"Yeah, yeah, you never know. I think everyone has a different path. Everyone's story is written differently. I've kind of done it my way. There's been a lot of guys to look up to, just because how young they have been when they have broken through, and have had so much success at big tournaments. Tennis seems to be a sport that has young champions all the time, which is not common or normal, it's ultra impressive," the 22-year-old explained.

Shelton may not want to compare himself to the best player in the game and put major expectations and pressure on himself. But he surely hopes to do some big things in the near future.

"Yeah, I hope that this week kind of kick starts me and gets me more consistent with the type of tennis that I want to play day-in and day-out," the 22-year-old added.

Karen Khachanov comments on Victoria Mboko win causing viral Toronto final stoppage

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Ben Shelton

Karen Khachanov suggests he wasn't that surprised by the Toronto crowd's reaction to Victoria Mboko's Montreal triumph as the Russian says stuff like this is pretty common in Canada.

In case you missed it, the clock struck at 30 minutes of play in the Toronto Masters final when the crowd started going nuts – it happened as Khachanov was preparing to serve against Ben Shelton. The Russian stood there waiting for the spectators to calm down, while his American rival looked in disbelief and had no idea what was happening. The chair umpire provided quick explanation by telling the 22-year-old that the crowd was probably celebrating Mboko's win over Naomi Osaka in the Montreal final.

When the play continued, Khachanov managed to win a very tight opener against Shelton with a 7-6 (5) scoreline. Unfortunately for the Russian, he didn't manage to complete the job as Shelton came back from a set down to win 6-7 (5) 6-4 7-6 (3).

Khachanov comments on the viral Toronto final interruption

In his post-final presser, Khachanov was asked whether he had experienced anything like that before. And he said that something similar happened when Denis Shapovalov upset Rafael Nadal at the Canadian Open eight years ago.

"I think in Canada it's happening, but, yeah, if I remember, I think every year it happens, you know, from city to city they cheer for a local player, yeah. I remember I think in long time ago it was with Shapovalov, when he reached also like first time semifinals I think when he beat Rafa. I was playing I guess in Toronto, and then I remember something like this was happening, yeah," the 29-year-old said.

Kevin Na names golfers who bring Tiger Woods-level excitement

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Bryson DeChambeau

Tiger Woods is a person who is for many a symbol of golf as a sport. Throughout his long career, which is still ongoing, Tiger has shown qualities that we have never seen before. Brilliant performances, incredible mindset and focus are the reason why Tiger is such a beloved figure in the world of golf. 

He is the reason why some people even started playing this sport, watching this sport and enjoying its charms. 

In addition to the qualities on the golf course, the 49-year-old golfer has brought additional excitement to golf fans in various ways. 

Are there golfers in this era who remind you of Tiger? Former PGA Tour player Kevin Na shared his opinion, saying that Bryson DeChambeau is the golfer who reminds him the most of Woods; at least in terms of excitement.

“I think Bryson [DeChambeau] is the closest to it, in terms of the excitement,” Na said, as quoted by the Golfing Gazette.

“I think Rory [McIlroy] is pretty exciting. I think [Jon] Rahm is pretty exciting, and Joaquin [Niemann] is becoming that player as well.

I think there are different characters to the game that bring that kind of energy. Obviously, Tiger was dominating with his power and was blowing the field away. Even though he was four or five behind with nine to play, it was like, ‘he is going to win, he is going to go on a crazy run.’"

Kevin Na was Woods fan

Kevin Na reveals that he was a Woods fan as a kid, just like most kids at that time. Most of them wanted to become a dominant figure on the golf scene, just like Tiger. 

While some are not sure that there are golfers in the world of golf who can reach the heights that Tiger has reached, Kevin Na does not share this opinion. The popular golfer believes that there are some golfers who could leave at least a similar deep mark as the 49-year-old. 

Speaking about the progress of golf in recent years, Na feels that golf has seen great progress, but that it has also become significantly more exciting and fun

“I remember watching as a kid and being a fan of Tiger. It was incredible. But I think there are characters that can follow in his footsteps or become maybe not that Tiger Woods icon level, but up close to that level, and we can have three or four guys kind of equal Tiger.

I think golf has become more entertaining and more exciting than before. In the 90s, I grew up watching golf, and I became a pro in the early 2000s, and I played with all these guys on the Senior Tour who are playing now, and I think golf has become more entertaining."- he concluded.

Montreal Champ Mboko to Skip Cincinnati to Rest Wrist

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By Chris Oddo | Friday August 8, 2025

18-year-old Victoria Mboko is the talk of the town in Montreal and around the tennis world after she claimed her maiden WTA title on Thursday evening with an emotional win over Naomi Osaka in the Omnium Banque Nationale final.

Tennis Express player gear
Tennis Express player gear

She’ll take some time away from the spotlight, however.

The Canadian has elected to pull out of the Cincinnati Open draw in order to rest the wrist she injured while falling during her semifinal win over Elena Rybakina in Montreal.

“I’m not planning on playing Cincinnati at the moment,” she said, after explaining that her right wrist was swollen on Thursday, and adding that she went to the hospital earlier that day for an MRI/X-Ray. “I just want to take care of my wrist a little bit right now, and I think it’s just very close and sudden for me to go there and play again I think in, like, two days.

“I think I’m just going to sit out on that one and prepare for the upcoming tournaments.”

Osaka, who reached her first WTA 1000 final since 2022 in Montreal, has also withdrawn from Cincinnati.

Mboko admitted that the swelling in her wrist was concerning but said it didn’t affect her play against Osaka too much.

“It was pretty swollen, and it was really stiff and hard to move,” she said. “So we decided to go to do an MRI and an X-ray just to make sure that nothing too serious was happening, that I could have the possibility of playing.

“When I got the green light, I just had to make sure I saw the physios, and we taped it up properly before the match and a very solid tape job. Yeah, I just did as much as I could to prepare for the match.”

Mboko, who rose from No.85 to No.24 in today’s WTA rankings, defeated four former Grand Slam champions during her run to the title in Montreal. It was just her seventh WTA main draw.

She says she doesn’t want to get over the moon about her success, however.

“I surround myself with people who have known me for so long, and I just like to keep a small circle,” Mboko said. “I like to be really relaxed and calm. So I think going forward, I just want to keep the same routines that I’m usually used to.

“I don’t want to put so much pressure on myself just because of something that happened this week, because life goes on. There’s always another tournament, whether win or lose. I’m just happy to live the moment. Once it’s passed, it’s passed.”

Arthur Fils Withdraws from Cincinnati

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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 7, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis

Arthur Fils has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open.

The 21-year-old Frenchman sustained a stress fracture in his back at Roland Garros that knocked him out of grass-corut season.

Alexandre Muller

Fils returned to action in Toronto and beat Pablo Carreno Busta in his opener before losing to Jiri Lehecka 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Fils also partnered Toronto singles finalist Ben Shelton in the doubles draw where they won two matches.

French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux replaces Fils in the Cincinnati draw and will play either compatriot Alexandre Muller or American Jenson Brooksby in his opener.

Venus Williams Bows To Bouzas Maneiro in Cincinnati Return

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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 7, 2025
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook

Racing up to the floating ball at midcourt, Venus Williams whipped a forehand drive volley into the corner.Ā 

The 45-year-old Williams showed flashes of vintage form in her Cincinnati return.

Across the net, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro sustained a higher level throughout toppling Williams 6-4, 6-4 in todayā€™s Cincinnati Open opener.

AGA

The 22-year-old Spaniard delivered a four-game run at the end of the first set and won the final three games of the match in an 87-minute triumph.

It ended with fansā€”and Bouzas Maneiro herselfā€”sending former No. 1 Williams off with a standing ovation after a solid performance.

Bouzas Maneiro moved on to a second-round clash vs. Washington, DC champion Leylah Fernandez.Ā 

Meanwhile, Williams, who launched her comeback upsetting compatriot Peyton Stearns in Washington, DC, is 1-2 in her comeback and has shown enough quality to earn a US Open wild card if she wants one. 

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who has a US Open mixed doubles wild card with good friend Reilly Opelka, is living proof tennis is truly a lifetime sport. It would be a fitting way for the USTA to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Williams maiden US Open title with a singles wild cardā€”as well as an opportunity for Flushing Meadows fans to share the love with the four-time Olympic gold-medal champion.

Today, you may have expected Bouzas Maneiro to come out playing crosscourt corner to corner to challenge the veteranā€™s movement. Through the first six games she didnā€™t do thatā€”instead opting to try to tie the long-limbed Williams up with deep drives down the middle. That tact helped Bouzas Maneiro fire out to a 4-1 lead as Williams struggled to support her second serve.

Williams won only 8 of 29 second-serve points as Bouzas Maneiro broke six times, but when the five-time Wimbledon winner made her first serveā€”especially on the deuce courtā€”she was playing first-strike tennis. 

Contesting her 11th Cincinnati Open, Williams showed her strong will and a stinging slider serve staging a three-game rally to level at 4-all. 

All that good work dissipated when Williams sailed a backhand and Bouzas Maneiro earned her third break of the set for a 5-4 lead.

Still, Williams competed with deep desire. When the Spaniard tested the 45-year-old legendā€™s legs with a drop shot, Williams easily ran it down and swatted a forehand winner down the line for break point in the 10th game.

On the verge of breaking back, Williamsā€™ rust showed. She netted three three forehands in the next four points. On Bouzas Maneiroā€™s second set point, Williams netted a backhand as the Spaniard sealed the 41-minute opening set. 

Bouzas Maneiro exploited a double fault breaking to start the second set and slid a serve down the T to go up 2-0. 

At that point, it looked like the match could slip away. Williams had other ideas breaking back in the fourth game to level 2-all. 

Though she lacks the fast first step and eye-popping closing speed of her prime, when Williams gets her body weight behind the ball she can still hammer deep drives. She showed that skill smacking a forehand drive down the line then catching a break when the Spaniard tapped an easy smash into net to break for 3-all. A Williams biting body serve helped her go up 4-3.

The Bouzas Maneiro forehand down the line was a weapon when she needed it most. The world No. 51 used that shot to help her hold for 4-all. A clean Bouzas Maneiro forehand return winner down the line sealed the crucial break for 5-4. 

Dropping to her knees, Aga Radwanska style, Bouzas Maneiro warded off a crackling return to open the 10th game. On her second match point, Bouzas Maneiroā€™s slider serve down the T closed Williamsā€™ Cincinnati return a full 13 years after she reached the semifinals losing to Li Na.

Scottie Scheffler reveals his secret recipe for consistency

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elite golfer and an average golfer

While some think that in order to be successful and an important figure in the sports world, it is necessary to be of high quality, there are many other things that determine your path to the top. In addition to quality, it is necessary to have the right mindset; for some, maybe even more important than pure talent. 

However, most emphasize that consistency is what makes the difference between an elite golfer and an average golfer. 

The best example of consistency is probably Scottie Scheffler, the golfer who is currently world number 1. 

In a press conference before one of the tournaments, Scottie reflected on his incredible performances; with 13 straight top-10 finishes he impressed the public. 

Speaking about how he maintains consistency, Scheffler pointed out that preparation is the key to success. 

Each tournament requires different preparations, but still, without the right preparations, it is difficult to come out on top.

"Well, I think it all comes down to the preparation and showing up ready to play. Like I said, at this point in the year, that extra practice is maybe only going to be draining for me a little bit, and that's something that I've learned to manage as my career has gone on.

I would say my prep week last week definitely looked a bit different than it would have looked before the Scottish Open and definitely looked a little bit different than it would have looked if you go back to the beginning of the year when I was coming off injury.

So making sure I'm rested, ready to play. My game is in a good spot, and I feel like some extra practice at this point in the year can almost be detrimental in terms of just physical and mental fatigue. Showing up like you're ready to play."- he said.

Scottie Scheffler as an example to young golfer

Such advice can be useful, especially for young golfers who sometimes believe that pure talent can compensate for practice. 

It seems that no matter how talented you are, without practice, it is difficult to compete with the best and be a significant figure in the world of golf.

Scheffler realized this early in his career, and through hard practice and faith in himself, he managed to conquer the golf scene.

KK Pop: Khachanov Saves Match Points, Edges Zverev To Reach Toronto Final

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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Photo credit: National Bank Open by Rogers Facebook

A titanic tiebreak tug of war culminated with Karen Khachanov making the pivotal pull. 

Khachanov denied match point in the 12th game edging top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a near three-hour thriller to advance to his second career ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto tonight.

Alexander Zverev

The 16th-ranked Russian reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final since he stunned Novak Djokovic to capture the 2018 Paris Masters Indoors.

Khachanov will face the winner of tonightā€™s all-American semifinal between second-seeded Taylor Fritz and fourth-seeded Ben Shelton in tomorrowā€™s final.

Tonightā€™s opening semifinal was a rematch of the 2021 Olympic gold-medal match that saw Zverev prevail 6-3, 6-1. 

Though Khachanov took the court armed with an ignominious 2-21 record vs. Top 3-ranked opponents, he showed major mettle at crunch timeā€”and was aided by a fortunate bounce off the net that kept him in this tight test.

“Generally I think today also I didn’t feel my best on the court, didn’t play my best tennis,” Zverev said. “Also, the first set was terrible, so I kind of gave him a head start, and he’s too good to not use that.

“So, yeah, I still had match point, so it’s upsetting that I lost this match. But that’s the way it is, we move on, I go to Cincinnati and try to do better.”

Serving down match point at 5-6 in the decider, Khachanov challenged Zverevā€™s vaunted backhand. The German lined up his two-hander and lashed a liner that had match-ending winner written all over it. 

The return crashed into the top of the tape, hung in the air for a split second then dripped back onto Zverevā€™s side of the net as Khachanov breathed a sigh of relief.

That reprieve emboldened the Russian, who ripped a forehand down the line holding to force the decisive tiebreaker. 

When Zverev zapped a swinging forehand volley winner he was up 3-1 in the tiebreaker and seemingly in command. 

Khachanov had other ideas.

The 11th-seeded Khachanov tore through five points in a row coaxing a couple of backhand errors and knocking off a high forehand volley. Zverevā€™s two-handed backhand is one of the best in the sport, but he netted that trusty weapon to face three match points at 6-3.

On his second match point, Khachanov cranked the wide serve closing a two hour, 52-minute battle. 

It was Khachanovā€™s first Top 10 win of the season, his first win over Zverev since the 2019 Montreal and sends him into his first final of the year.

In the opening set, Zverev more than doubled Khachanovā€™s winner totalā€”11 to 5ā€”but Khachanov cashed in on the lone break point of the set and that made all the difference. Khachanov converted the lone break point of the set for 3-1 and consolidated for 4-1. The bearded Russian converted his third set point for a one-set lead.

On the fast Toronto court, neither man was severely stressed on serve in the second set until the final game when Khachanov played a horrific game and Zverev broke to snatch the set and forced a decider.

This match marked the eighth time in the tournament a match was decided in the final-set tiebreaker.

Naomi Shines ā€“ In Montreal, Osaka Reaches Biggest Final Since 2022

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By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 6, 2025

It is Naomi Osaka’s time to shine once again. Back on her beloved hard courts, the four-time major champion has found her mojo and reeled off six consecutive victories to reach her biggest final since she played the Miami Open final in the spring of 2022.

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Osaka edged past rising Dane Clara Tauson, 6-2 7-6(7) to book a date in the final with 18-year-old Victoria Mboko, who earlier saved a match point to oust Elena Rybakina in three dramatic sets.

Osaka reaches her fifth WTA 1000 final and her first at Montreal.

Osaka saved seven of nine break points, and converted four of five of her own, but her night got tricky in the second set when Tauson, bidding for her second 1000 final of the year, twice rallied from a break down to level the second set.

The Dane held her own from 4-4, forcing a tiebreak, and even had a pair of set points in the breaker. She couldn’t push through and Osaka took the reins to finish off the hard-hitting duel as she converted her second match point to close out her 22nd win of the season in one hour and 48 minutes.

More to follow…

Humble & Hungry ā€“ Shelton Is Youngest American to Reach Masters Final in 21 Years

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By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 6, 2025

Ben Shelton broke new ground on Wednesday night in Toronto, defeating Taylor Fritz to become the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick in 2004.

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Tennis Express player gear

The 22-year-old notched a 6-4, 6-3 over the top-ranked American, and has now earned back-to-back Top-10 wins for the first time in his career.

“I’m just looking for things in my game to steadily improve and I’ve seen so many big improvements in my game this week,” said Shelton. “That’s what I’m most happy about. The way that I’m playing, how I’m executing and how little I’m hesitating.”

Shelton saved both break points he faced in a flawless performance, and converted three of ten to pull away from the fourth-ranked American.

He cracked seven aces and won 25 of 29 first-serve points.

“When he is standing in one corner, he’s one of the best in the world at being behind the ball and hitting it harder and harder every time,” Shelton said of the 2024 US Open runner-up. “You have to keep him moving and I did a great job of that, moving the ball around the court today.”

In the first all-American Masters semifinal in 15 years Shelton improved to 1-1 vs Fritz and became the eighth player born in the 2000s to play a Masters final.

“It’s huge,” Shelton said. “Talked about how the Masters were the one level of tournaments that I’ve been struggling with, and my next step is being able to excel in these tournaments. So taking that first step and getting my first deep run under my belt is exciting.”

He’ll face Karen Khachanov for the title on Thursday evening.

Jon Rahm reveals what LIV Golf might do to gain world ranking points

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202223 MENA Tour

Jon Rahm is a golfer who does not shy away from publicly sharing his views and speaking honestly about LIV Golf and their unique system. It is known that LIV has a significantly different format than the PGA Tour, as they want to offer the world of golf a completely different experience. 

While some believe that this will bring benefits to LIV Golf and make them more interesting, it seems that the majority still do not view it positively. 

The leaders of the Saudi-backed Tour have once again applied for points on the world ranking list, and they may receive an answer soon. This will probably mean that the LIV leaders will have to change the system, with tournaments with 72 holes, which will also include cuts. 

Jon Rahm believes that once they get the green light from OWGR there are some things they could change. 

On the other hand, he does not want the essence of LIV to be destroyed by such changes.

“I think the way I see it, at least right now, there’s a process to hopefully enter those world ranking points and at least get our foot in the door, and then once we’re allowed, we can see what changes can be made to earn as many as possible, keeping the integrity of what LIV Golf is about.

Examples of that would be, let’s say with whatever we’re doing currently we get 20 points. If you add a fourth round, you go to 25. Is that worth it, is that not worth it. If you add a cut, things like that. Right now with as little players as we have, I don’t see a cut working very well, and with the teams I think it would be a little odd.

But if the league were to expand and let’s say you go to 15 teams, you have 60 players, now you can actually possibly make something work."- he said, as quoted by The Golfing Gazette.

What can we expect?

The 31-year-old golfer believes that there are steps they can take if they want to have more points on the OWGR list, but he also stresses that there are probably other things that people from OWGR can inform them about, to give them more strength to the field of players. 

The Spanish golfer has an interesting vision, but the question is whether his visions will be implemented in the end. 

There are many factors that will determine the path of this controversial league.

Venus Williams had hilarious explanation for playing pro tennis at 45

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Cincinnati

Venus Williams is keeping it light at the start of Cincinnati as the 45-year-old jokes she is still playing tennis because it does well for her body "figure."

As you probably know, the seven-time Grand Slam champion pleasantly surprised the tennis community when she accepted a late wildcard into the WTA 500 tournament in Washington. And the former world No. 1 made some noise in the United States capital, defeating Peyton Stearns in her first match in 16 months, for her first win since 2023. 

After a solid Washington round-of-16 outing, Williams also received a main draw wildcard into this week's WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati. In her pre-tournament presser, the American tennis icon was asked to address playing pro tennis in her mid-forties and she didn't disappoint with her answer

“It’s obviously no secret that you get great legs and great arms from playing tennis. So, I figured I’d at least keep my figure if that’s the very least we do!" the 45-year-old joked.

Williams then got serious and explained what really allowed her to play at 45

Williams may not have played much over the last couple of years. However, she always remained active, from hitting balls on the practice to doing regular gym exercises.

"I never stopped hitting the ball, even when I was away—not as intensely as you would if you were replaying playing tournaments, but still going out there. When I was on the court, I was always working on my game. I didn’t just let it all fall apart. Even if it was just a half hour, I still wanted to get something out of it," the former world No. 1 explained.

Meanwhile, in the Cincinnati first round, Williams will take on world No. 51 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro – the two have no previous meetings.

Heading into the match, Bouzas Maneiro is playing some of the tennis of her life and she is coming off a quarterfinal showing in Montreal. 

Williams probably enters the match as the underdog but there is no doubt that will put up a big fight, just as she did in Washington.

Webb Simpson backs Rory, says players shouldnā€™t be forced to play all tournaments

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East Lake

Rory McIlroy's decision to miss the first part of the FedEx Cup playoffs at St. Jude Championship did not meet with positive reactions from the public, but also colleagues, as well as important figures of the golf scene. 

A Northern Irish golfer took advantage of a loophole in the law, deciding to take a rest. 

Although some reacted strongly, Rory hinted at such a decision last year, saying that he probably won't play the same number of tournaments this year. 

An experienced golfer is focused on the recovery process after difficult and demanding tournaments, and luckily missing this tournament will not bring him negative consequences. 

Among the important figures of the golf scene is Webb Simpson, who shared his view of the situation in an interview with Golf Week. 

Simpson is someone who emphasizes free will in the world of golf, aware that it is difficult to get someone to play tournaments regularly.

"I think it's too hard of a thing to make guys have to play," Webb Simpson said, as reported by GolfWeek. 

"We're still a sport where you can play when you want to play."

Rory's season

After winning the Masters this year, Rory's form was not particularly promising. However, not long after, Rory showed some of the brilliance that we expected, and it seems that he is well on his way to lifting the trophy again. 

Rory will not lose anything by missing this tournament, considering that he has a huge advantage over others. 

Simpson recalled one part of his career, stressing that he made the same decision, wanting to rest.

"I knew I couldn't fall more than one spot and I thought losing one stroke at East Lake was worth a week of rest because I was toast," Simpson said. "I don't know Rory's reason but I totally get it. It's a hard to thing to fix."- he said.

The 35-year-old showed that the reactions of the public are not particularly important to him, probably knowing that the public will react in this way.

Coach Patrick Mouratoglou sheds light on what led to split with Naomi Osaka

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Auckland

Patrick Mouratoglou suggests he ran out of time to solve Naomi Osaka's woes but insists that he has no regrets over accepting the job. 

After 10 months of working together, Osaka decided to stop working with Mouratoglou just before the start of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal. During their tenure, the former world No. 1 showed some positive flashes, like reaching the Auckland final and winning her first clay at the WTA 125 tournament in Saint-Malo. But the main reason why the Japanese brought the French coach wasn't accomplished – that was doing well on the biggest stage, specifically Grand Slams.

To Mouratoglou's defense, it should be noted that Osaka dealt with a back injury in late 2024 and was also hampered by an abdominal issue at the start of 2025. 

Now, in her first tournament since splitting with Mouratoglou and adding Tomasz Wiktorowski to her team, the Japanese has made the semifinal of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal. Addressing that, the French coach tells CNN that he is happy for the 27-year-old and that he is rooting for her to "go all the way."

Then, he shed light on some of the reasons that led to their split.

Mouratoglou: I thought Osaka lacked her past competitiveness… We never solved it

“The thing that was missing was the competitiveness. I think she’s a great competitor, but at that time she was not as good as a competitor as I think can be and she has been in the past. And this is the thing that we didn’t solve. I wish we could have more time to solve it. But we didn’t, that’s life, and I have no regrets on that because that’s the rule when you work in high level. I mean, time is important, and you have to solve the problems fast. So I think that was the key that was missing," the French coach told CNN.

In the same interview, Mouratoglou said that he told Osaka she was ready to win but just needed to find the right guidance. Considering how the Japanese's debut tournament with Wiktorowski has been going, she might have found that right piece.

Emotional Tauson Tops Keys, Dedicates Win to Grandfather

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By Chris Oddo | Tuesday August 5, 2025

Clara Tauson was a woman on a mission on Tuesday in Montreal. Two days after notching her second Top-5 win of 2025 over Iga Swiatek, she reeled in her fourth Top-10 triumph of the season by defeating Australian Open champion Madison Keys, 6-1, 6-4.

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It was an emotional victory for the 22-year-old Dane, who told the crowd that she was dedicating the victory to her grandfather, who recently passed way.

“I’m still in shock,” she said, breaking into tears. “Two days ago my grandfather, unfortunately, passed away. I really wanted to win for him today.

“I was told the day after I beat Iga, yesterday, so I really wanted to come out and show my best tennis for him, and hopefully he’s watching.”

Broadcasting (NEC)

Tauson will face either Naomi Osaka or Elina Svitolina in the semifinals.

She was out of the gates fast against sixth-seeded Keys, converting two breaks of serve to claim the opening set in under 30 minutes. Tauson made a break in the first game of set two hold up, saving a break point while serving at 4-3 before closing the match out in one hour and 13 minutes.

Tauson saved all three break points she faced and won each of her nine service games to improve to 32-15 on the season. She reaches her seventh career WTA semifinal, all of which have come on hard courts.

With the win Tauson is up to a career-high No.15 in the live rankings.

Fritz Fires Past Rublev Into Fifth Semifinal of Season in Toronto

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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Photo credit: National Bank Open by Rogers Facebook

Demonstrative displays arenā€™t typically part of Taylor Fritzā€™s arsenal.

Tonight, Fritz fired the exclamation point to punctuate a declarative victory. 

On match point, Fritz slammed his 20th ace completing a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Andrey Rublev to power into his fifth semifinal of the season at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

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Tennis Express One Day Sale

The second-seeded Fritz posted his 20th hard-court win of the seasonā€”heā€™s the third man to do itā€”advancing to his 38th career semifinal.

“I would say tonight I felt the best about my game, just striking the ball-wise,” Fritz said. “I feel like all week it’s kind of been flying, tough to control, easy to miss the ball.

“It’s not just me, just watching any of the other matches, I can seeing people are hitting the ball a lot softer than they normally do, they’re playing a lot safer, people are making more mistakes. I think conditions here, it’s just tough in general to play.

“Tonight for sure it was the most I felt like I could control the ball, and also kind of go after it and feel like I was confident in where it was going. That’s obviously a good thing going into the semis.”

Wimbledon semifinalist Fritz will face fourth-seeded compatriot Ben Shelton for a spot in the final. Shelton slammed 11 aces defeating ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 in tonight’s second quarterfinal. Fritz, who is 1-0 against Shelton, is bidding for his first hard-court final since he beat de Minaur and Alexander Zverev in succession to reach the ATP Finals title match in Turin last November.

“I feel like when we played the first time his serve was still huge,” Fritz said of Shelton. “I mean, maybe the spots are better. His serve was really good when I played him, whenever it was, like two, three
years ago, I’m not sure.”

Bursting out of the blocks quickly, Fritz flew eight points in a row surging to a 3-0 lead against the 2024 Canadian Open finalist. 

The 27-year-old Fritz was cracking the ball with depth off both wings, punished the Rublev two-handed backhand and even carved some timely drop shots seizing a one-set lead. Fritz served 70 percent and won 17 of 23 first-serve points in the opening set. 

“He’s one of the best players. He get great results,” Rublev said of Fritz. “Wimbledon semifinal, great match against Alcaraz. Now the tournament after Wimbledon he’s in semifinal.

“I know he have a great level, but here it’s tough to serve against. Here there is no tennis at all. But, in general, he had unbelievable level. He have tough matches against top players, and he’s beating most of the players.”

On the fast Toronto court, Fritz was nearly flawless on serve at the start of the second set. The 6ā€™5ā€ American tore through 16 of his first 17 service points, stamping three love holds in a row, at the start of the second set. Fritz broke for 5-4. 

The second seedā€™s only real stumble came when he served for the semifinal at 5-4. Despite successive aces that helped him earn match point, Fritz missed his normally reliable backhand. 

Rublev saved a match point then exploited a double fault and netted backhand breaking to level the second set at 5-all.

A frustrated Fritz dropped his Head racquet to the court and screamed at his box in his only show of angst of the evening.

The Rublev forehand remains one of the biggest in the game, but the Russianā€™s biggest weapon betrayed him early in the tiebreaker. Rublev missed two forehands in the first three points as Fritz took a 3-0 lead. 

Launching a 137 mph missile down the middle, Fritz went up 5-2. Though Rublev ripped a diagonal forehand to close to 4-5 he missed a mind-numbing forehand into net to hand the American a second match point. 

This time, Fritz made no mistake cracking his 20th ace of the night to seal his 20th hard-court win of the year.