On a day when only three seeds were in action, Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun was defeated by Australian teenager Bernard Tomic 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the first round of the Rogers Cup on Monday.
Tomic will face France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seeded 13th, who survived a couple of wobbles before knocking out Italian Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-6 (7/0).
Juan Martin Del Potro stormed to a 6-4, 6-0 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen as the Argentine continues his impressive comeback with the US Open on the horizon.
Photo: AFP
Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, is on the comeback trail after missing eight months of last season recovering from wrist surgery.
The 22-year-old opened the season with second round losses in Sydney, but has been in red-hot form since, posting a 34-7 record that included wins at Delray Beach and Estoril.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer turned 30 on Monday, but it was fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka who gave himself a present as he outclassed David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-4 to reach the second round.
Wawrinka, who won the 2008 Olympic doubles gold medal alongside Federer, said that while he would not go so far as to give Federer a present, he has the utmost respect for his compatriot as a player and a friend.
Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, riding the momentum from his hard court win in Los Angeles, rallied past former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray, looking to win the title for a third successive time, were to return to action yesterday for the first time since Wimbledon.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
AFP, TORONTO
Qualifier Galina Voskoboeva upset France’s Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round of the -Rogers Cup on Monday.
Kazakhstan’s Voskoboeva, currently ranked 135th in the world after reaching a career high of 64th in February of 2009, arrived in Toronto after reaching the first semi-final of her career at Baku last month.
Bartoli, ranked ninth in the world and seeded ninth, had -trouble with her serve and double-faulted four times. However, she said her serve was just one of her problems.
Romanian qualifier Simona Halep pulled off another upset, rallying to defeat 12th-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Kuznetsova, ranked 15th in the world, had 50 unforced errors.
Tenth-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia, who dropped out of the top 10 on Monday for the first time since April last year, advanced with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ayumi Morita of Japan.
The top-eight seeds at this US Open tuneup have first-round byes.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely