Naomi Osaka's struggles continue with National Bank Open withdrawal
National Bank Open Toronto - Day 4 TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 09: Naomi Osaka of Japan in action against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her first round match on Day 4 of the National Bank Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at Sobeys Stadium on August 09, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)With the US Open a few weeks ago, Naomi Osaka is still trending downward. The four-time Grand Slam champion retired from her first-round match at the National Bank Open against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi on Tuesday due to a back injury. Kanepi had been leading 7-6 (4), 3-0 at the time of Osaka's withdrawal. She missed a significant amount of time after that French Open loss with an Achilles injury, causing her to miss Wimbledon. When Osaka competes again is unclear for now, as it obviously depends on the severity of her back injury.
wftv.comNaomi Osaka splits with longtime coach ahead of return, U.S. Open
2022 French Open - Day Two Naomi Osaka during her match against Amanda Anisimova on Suzanne Lenglen court in the 2022 French Open finals day two. (Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Naomi Osaka and longtime coach Wim Fissette officially split on Wednesday. "It has been a privilege to coach Naomi since 2019 and see her grow into the champion she has become," he wrote. "Thank you Naomi Osaka. Osaka, hasn’t played since she was knocked out of the French Open in the first round earlier this summer.
wftv.comSimona Halep gets back to semifinals in Wimbledon return
Britain Wimbledon Tennis Romania's Simona Halep returns to Amanda Anisimova of the US in a women's singles quarterfinal match on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (Kirsty Wigglesworth)WIMBLEDON, England — (AP) — In a roundabout way, Simona Halep is finally getting a chance to defend her Wimbledon title. “That was the perfect match of my life,” Halep said of her straight-set victory over Serena Williams three years ago. In the semifinals on Thursday, again on Centre Court, Halep will face Elena Rybakina in the second match of the day. “I think that the key, of course, is my serve, aggressive game,” Rybakina said of her next match against Halep.
wftv.comFormer champion Simona Halep back in Wimbledon semifinals
Britain Wimbledon Tennis Romania's Simona Halep returns to Amanda Anisimova of the US in a women's singles quarterfinal match on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. “I struggled a lot last year," Halep said, “and now I’m just trying to build my confidence back.”In the semifinals, Halep will face Elena Rybakina. Halep is making her 10th appearance at Wimbledon and has reached the semifinals for the third time. She is the only Grand Slam champion left in the women’s tournament. ___More AP Wimbledon coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/wimbledon and https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comWimbledon updates | Nadal defeats Fritz to reach semifinals
Rafael Nadal advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals after winning a fifth-set tiebreaker against Taylor Fritz of the United States. Nadal beat the 11th-seeded American 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-4) on Centre Court. The 36-year-old Spaniard will next play Nick Kyrgios for a place in Sunday’s final.
news.yahoo.comWimbledon updates | US player Fritz advances to 4th round
(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) (Alberto Pezzali)WIMBLEDON, England — (AP) — The Latest from Wimbledon (all times local):___4 p.m.Taylor Fritz of the United States advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time after a straight-set victory over Alex Molcan. The 20th-seeded Anisimova has now reached the fourth round in three straight Grand Slam tournaments. The German player who criticized Harmony Tan for pulling out of their doubles match at Wimbledon has contracted COVID-19. She has continued her run, and has reached the fourth round. ___2:15 p.m.Cristian Garin of Chile reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the second straight year with a 6-2, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory over 29th-seeded Jenson Brooksby of the United States.
wftv.comFrench Open updates | 4th round action under way in Paris
France Tennis French Open Stadium workers spray the court during third round matches at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Saturday, May 28, 2022. And 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens meets 23rd-seeded Jil Teichmann of Switzerland at Court Suzanne Lenglen. If 13-time French Open champion Nadal beats No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime, and defending champion Djokovic gets past No. ___More AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comFrench Open updates | Anisimova to 4th Rd; injured foe stops
Amanda Anisimova moved into the fourth round of the French Open when Karolina Muchova stopped playing after hurting her right ankle. The 27th-seeded Anisimova, an American who reached the Roland Garros semifinals at the age of 17 in 2019, was leading 6-7 (7), 6-2, 3-0 when Muchova walked to the net to concede the match. Anisimova eliminated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the first round.
news.yahoo.comOsaka loses in 1st round of French Open, may skip Wimbledon
France Tennis French Open Japan's Naomi Osaka leaves after losing against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (Christophe Ena)PARIS — (AP) — A year ago, Naomi Osaka left the French Open of her own volition, never beaten on the court but determining that she needed to pull out before the second round to stand up for herself and protect her mind. The four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. Krejcikova said she “hit the wall” early in the second set and never recovered, becoming just the third woman in French Open history to be defeated in her opening match a year after winning the title. Merely conducting news conferences, before the tournament on Friday and after this loss, were a step forward for Osaka.
wftv.comYear after Osaka decides to leave Paris, loss forces her to
France Tennis French Open Japan's Naomi Osaka leaves after losing against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, May 23, 2022. Osaka was unable to summon the serving or court coverage on which her game is based, in part because her practice time and recent match play have been limited. The four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 38 and was unseeded in Paris, double-faulted twice to end games and called the outcome "disappointing." Merely conducting news conferences, before the tournament on Friday and after this loss, were a step forward for Osaka.
wftv.comFrench Open updates | Osaka, Swiatek, Djokovic, Nadal play
French Open Draw Tennis FILE - Naomi Osaka, left, of Japan, congratulates Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. after their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Naomi Osaka’s return to the French Open will be a tough test against the player who beat her at the Australian Open, No. Naomi Osaka is getting things started at Court Suzanne Lenglen against the player who beat her at the Australian Open in January, 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova. That included one that began when she withdrew before her second-round match at the French Open. That includes Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krejcikova, Rafael Nadal and, at night, Novak Djokovic.
wftv.comThe Latest: No. 1 Ash Barty into quarterfinals in Australia – WFTV
Australian Open Tennis Ash Barty of Australia makes a backhand return to Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Simon Baker) (Simon Baker)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — The Latest at the Australian Open on Sunday (all times local):8:40 p.m.Top-ranked Ash Barty has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 20-year-old Amanda Anisimova. Keys will play the winner of two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova in Tuesday's quarterfinals. Later, top-ranked Ash Barty will continue her bid to break a long Australian Open drought when she plays No. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka plays French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and Jessica Pergula faces fifth-seed Maria Sakkari.
wftv.comThe Latest: Nadal advances to 4th round at Australian Open
Australian Open Tennis Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand return to Karen Khachanov of Russia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair) (Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — The Latest on Friday at the Australian Open (all times local):12:20 a.m. (Saturday)Rafael Nadal has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over No. ___9:05 p.m.Top-ranked Ash Barty advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over 30th-seeded Camila Giorgi. 26-seeded Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time. ___12:35 p.m.Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is into the fourth round for the first time since 2016 after overpowering 15th-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-0, 6-2.
wftv.comAnisimova upsets defending champion Osaka at Australian Open
Australian Open Tennis Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts during her third round match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Simon Baker) (Simon Baker)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — Defending champion Naomi Osaka didn’t make it to a much-anticipated fourth-round contest against top-ranked Ash Barty at the Australian Open. Amanda Anisimova, a 20-year-old American ranked 60th in the world, ensured that so-called final-before-the-final won't happen when she beat the four-time major champion 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) Friday. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka’s overpowered 15th-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-0, 6-2 to reach the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2016. Kecmanovic had been drawn to play the top-ranked Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, in the first round.
wftv.comThe Latest: Defending champ Osaka loses at Australian Open
(AP Photo/Simon Baker) (Simon Baker)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — The Latest on Friday at the Australian Open (all times local):9:35 p.m. Defending champion Naomi Osaka was knocked out of the Australian Open after losing to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the third round. ___9:05 p.m.Top-ranked Ash Barty advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over 30th-seeded Camila Giorgi. 26-seeded Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time. ___11:20 a.m.Day 5 at the Australian Open features two much-anticipated matchups that could lead to an even bigger one.
wftv.comThe Latest: Anisimova beats Olympic champion Bencic
Australian Open Tennis Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The 20-year-old American took less than 90 minutes to beat Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic 6-2, 7-5 to set up a potential third-round match against defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka. Anisimova warmed up for her 12th Grand Slam appearance by winning five matches and the title at a WTA 250 tune-up event at Melbourne Park earlier this month. Djokovic, a nine-time champion at Melbourne Park, couldn't play after having his visa canceled for failing to meet Australia's strict COVID-19 vaccination regulations. In other early second-round results on Day 3 of the year’s first tennis Grand Slam event, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka beat Jil Teichmann 6-1, 6-2, and No.
wftv.comEx-champion Sofia Kenin out in 1st round of Australian Open
Sofia Kenin was the Australian Open champion in 2020, and made it to the final of the French Open, too, that year, when she climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 4. The 11th-seeded Kenin was beaten by 2017 U.S. Open runner-up Madison Keys 7-6 (2), 7-5 in an all-American matchup. Keys, also a former Top 10 player who reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2015, used 16 aces to extend her recent run of success: She is coming off a hard-court title at Adelaide on Saturday.
news.yahoo.comWith Djokovic gone, Osaka starts her Australian Open defense
Australian Open Tennis Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand return to Camila Osorio of Colombia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair) (Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — The Australian Open started Monday without nine-time champion Novak Djokovic and, finally, the focus was on forehands and backhands instead of his fight to avoid deportation because he isn't vaccinated against COVID-19. After winning here last year, capturing her second Australian Open title in three years, the four-time major winner pulled out of the 2021 French Open before the second round, then sat out Wimbledon. “It just feels really nice to start the year with this tournament,” Osaka said in a post-match, on-court interview. It began when he was granted an exemption to strict vaccination rules by two medical panels and Tennis Australia in order to play in the Australian Open.
wftv.comNaomi Osaka withdraws from Melbourne tournament semifinal
Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her semifinal match at a WTA tournament in Melbourne with an abdominal injury, allowing her opponent Veronika Kudermetova to advance to the final on a walkover. “Sad to withdraw due to injury from my match today, my body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches after the break I took," Osaka added later on Twitter.
news.yahoo.comThe Latest: Pliskova saves match point to win at US Open
“You need that sometimes.”Pliskova is a 29-year-old from the Czech Republic who lost in the U.S. Open final in 2016 and the Wimbledon final in July. He is coming off a semifinal run at Wimbledon in July for the best Grand Slam showing of his career. Djokovic improved to 15-0 in second-round matches at the U.S. Open and remained unbeaten in Grand Slam matches this season. Pavic and Mektic both reached the U.S. Open final last season but with different partners. Zverev is trying to make the U.S. Open final for the second straight year.
wftv.comThe Latest: Wawrinka out, marathon tiebreak at French Open
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___7:00 pm. Wawrinka won the French Open in 2015. ___2:50 p.m.Simona Halep had no trouble reversing the result of her loss to Amanda Anisimova at last year’s French Open. She opened her campaign with a first-round upset of 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova. The two-time French Open quarterfinalist defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 7-5.
The Latest: Williams-Stephens on tap at sunny US Open
NEW YORK The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):11:30 a.m.Day 6 has started at the year's second Grand Slam tournament the U.S. Open normally closes the major tennis championship season but the pandemic caused changes to the calendar. The sun is shining and the temperature is in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (mid-20s Celsius) as the third round continues Saturday. The highlight of the afternoon is expected to be Serena Williams against Sloane Stephens in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Williams owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including six in New York. Stephens won the 2017 U.S. Open.
Williams takes 10 of 12 games to beat Stephens at US Open
Serena Williams, of the United States, reacts during a match against Sloane Stephens, of the United States, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK In danger of her earliest exit at the U.S. Open since her debut 22 years ago, Serena Williams turned things around and took over against Sloane Stephens. Williams collected 10 of the last 12 games by lifting her level, to be sure. You know, Serena is Serena," Sakkari said after advancing earlier Saturday by beating 19-year-old American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-1. Quickly, that set belonged to Stephens, who held at love when all four points ended with Williams miscues.
Balancing motherhood and tennis, Pironkova scores Open upset
Sofia Kenin, of the United States, serves to Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK Tsvetana Pironkova smacked an ace on match point, part of the balancing act she made look easy from start to finish Thursday. If you make a good schedule and have the right motivation, you can combine the two things, motherhood and being a professional tennis player, Pironkova said. It takes a lot of work but, you know, everything takes work.A 32-year-old Bulgarian, Pironkova gave birth to Alexander in April 2018. She is playing in her 12th Open but her first since 2016, and its her first tournament since Wimbledon in 2017.
The Latest: Pennsylvania working on sports virus guidelines
In this Aug. 2019, photo, baseball players parade during the opening ceremony of the summer high school baseball tournament at Koshien stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan. The sports involved include American Legion baseball, Little League baseball, Dixie Youth baseball, travel baseball, youth and adult softball, kickball, soccer, lacrosse and flag football. While the Womens Super League season looks as if it's being curtailed, the mens Premier League still hopes to resume next month. The federation has also come up with alternative plans if the leagues have to be halted again because of the coronavirus pandemic. ___The Kentucky-Michigan college basketball matchup scheduled for Dec. 6 in London has been postponed until 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Amanda Anisimova pulls out of US Open after father's death
(CNN) - American teenager Amanda Anisimova has withdrawn from the US Open after the sudden death of her father and coach Konstantin Anisimov. "We are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our father," read a statement from the Anisimova family. Tennis world reactsAnisimov had moved to the US from Moscow in 1998 with his wife Olga and eldest daughter Maria. Following Monday's tragic news, the tennis world quickly expressed its sympathy for the Anisimova family, with Maria Sharapova and Nick Kyrgios tweeting messages of support. In addition, her fellow American teenager Cori "Coco" Gauff tweeted "deepest condolences to the Anisimova family during this tragic time."