Sabalenka opens US Open title defence with straight-sets win over Masarova
NEW YORK :World number one Aryna Sabalenka began her U.S. Open title defence in style with a 7-5 6-1 win over Switzerland's Rebeka Masarova in the first round on Sunday.
Russia Sport News
US Open day one
NEW YORK : Highlights of the first day at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows on Sunday (times GMT):
Shnaider downs Alexandrova to claim Monterrey Open title
Russian Diana Shnaider continued her impressive winning streak in tour-level finals at the Monterrey Open on Saturday, beating compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 4-6 6-4 in the WTA 500 event’s final. Shnaider had little trouble in the opening set but struggled in a topsy-turvy second, as Alexandrova clinched the set’s fifth and decisive break at 5-4 to force a decider. Third seed Shnaider carved out an advantage early on in the third set when she broke Alexandrova in the first game and held serve to go 2-0 up, an advantage she would not relinquish. World number 12 Shnaider is now unbeaten in her last five finals on the WTA Tour, adding the Monterrey crown to her triumphs in Hong Kong, Budapest, Bad Homburg and Hua Hin last year. The win also saw Shnaider level her head-to-head record with Alexandrova, who was faced with a quick turnaround for the final after her semifinal against Czech Marie Bouzkova was moved from Friday to Saturday due to a rain-enforced suspension. Both players will have little time to rest after the final before they make the nearly 2,000 mile journey from Monterrey to New York to play in the first round of the US Open, which begins on Sunday. Shnaider will face Germany’s Laura Siegemund, while Alexandrova takes on Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.
Medvedev and Sabalenka face tricky tests in US Open first round
The U.S. Open's first round begins on Sunday with defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka looking to recapture top form, while former men's champion Daniil Medvedev faces a familiar foe whom he has failed to beat in previous meetings.
Alexandrova advances to Monterrey Open final after Bouzkova retires
MONTERREY, Mexico, :Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova secured her place in the Monterrey Open final on Saturday after Czech Marie Bouzkova retired mid-match due to injury.
Rain delays play havoc with Monterrey Open schedule
Heavy rain brought a stop-start evening session to a premature end at the Monterrey Open on Friday, with Russian second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova’s semifinal against Czech Marie Bouzkova being moved to Saturday. The match was tied at two games apiece in the first set when rains disrupted play, with the delay lasting several hours before the contest was rescheduled. The semifinal will begin at 11:30 am (1830 GMT) on Saturday, with the final to be played later in the evening. The delay is far from ideal for Alexandrova and Bouzkova, who are both scheduled to compete in the first round of the US Open, which begins on Sunday. The winner of the semifinal clash between the two will face Diana Shnaider in the final, after the Russian third seed claimed a 6-3 7-6(8) win over Alycia Parks of the United States. After coasting through the first set, Shnaider was put under some pressure early in the second and was forced to save two break points before going on to edge a tight tiebreaker and reach her first final of the year. World number 12 Shnaider is unbeaten in her last four finals on the WTA Tour, claiming titles in Hong Kong, Budapest, Bad Homburg and Hua Hin last year.
Alexandrova knocks out defending champ Noskova to reach Monterrey semis
MONTERREY, Mexico :Russian second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova beat defending champion Linda Noskova 7-6(5) 4-6 6-2 at the Monterrey Open on Thursday to secure her place in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open tune-up event.
Dembele can hit new heights this year, says PSG boss Luis Enrique
Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique is convinced forward Ousmane Dembele can improve on his 2024–25 season, when he spearheaded PSG's treble win and emerged as one of the leading Ballon d'Or contenders.