The Chan sisters failed to survive a second-set meltdown at the Swedish Open in Bastad yesterday as the top seeds crashed out in the quarter-finals.
Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan, the world No. 34 and No. 22 in the doubles rankings, were stunned 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 by world No. 84 Tatjana Maria and world No. 59 Olga Savchuk on the Scandinavian clay courts.
The Taiwanese duo saved seven of nine break points and converted three of six to take the first set, but their German-Ukrainian opponents then saved all three break points they faced in the second set and converted three of six to level the quarter-final at one set each.
The Chan sisters then produced two double faults in the super tiebreak as their opponents went on to complete the victory in 1 hour, 39 minutes, while the favorites for the title exited in their second match.
Maria and Savchuk next face a semi-final against either third seeds Mandy Minella of Luxembourg and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic or Spanish pairing Lara Arruabarrena and Beatriz Garcia Vidagany, who were due to play their quarter-final later yesterday.
In the singles on Wednesday, top seed Serena Williams sailed through her opening match with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.
Seventh seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden advanced to the second round after beating Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-3 and next plays Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany.
In the first three second-round matches, Arruabarrena rallied to upset second seed Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 after being 2-4 down in the first set.
Fourth seed Mona Barthel and Jana Cepelova joined Arruabarrena in the quarter-finals.
BUCHAREST OPEN
Top-seeded Sara Errani overcame a slow start to beat Shahar Peer 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the quarter-finals of the Bucharest Open.
Polona Hercog of Slovenia also advanced, defeating Patricia Maria Tig of Romania 6-0, 6-2. Roberta Vinci eased past Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-2, 6-1, No. 4 Julia Goerges of Germany overcame qualifier Daria Kasatkina of Russia, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 and Sorana Cirstea of Romania beat Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-2.
Backup quarterback Luke Weaver on Wednesday night threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left, as the University of Hawaii rallied for a 35-31 comeback victory over the University of California, Berkeley in a thrilling Hawaii Bowl. Weaver entered the game after Micah Alejado took a hard hit on the previous play. With the Rainbow Warriors (9-4) in range for a tying field goal, coach Timmy Chang took a shot at the end zone, and Cenacle got between two defensive backs and made the contested catch. “How amazing is that?” Chang said. “It’s a program that is built
STILL IN THE HUNT: Rasmus Hojlund took his goal tally for SSC Napoli to nine as the champions cruised to a win at US Cremonese and stayed two points behind the leaders Inter on Sunday stayed at the Serie A summit after beating Atalanta BC 1-0 to maintain their slender lead over local rivals AC Milan. Lautaro Martinez netted the only goal of the game in Bergamo for Inter, who lead Milan, 3-0 winners against Hellas Verona thanks to Christoper Nkunku’s first Serie A goals, by a single point at the top of the division. The Argentina striker has scored in four consecutive league matches to end what has been a tricky year in positive style. “I ended last season in a lot of pain... I kept going during the Club World Cup and international
Hosts Morocco on Friday were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, ending their world record run of wins and leaving them still to make sure of progress to the next stage. Midfielder Brahim Diaz tucked away a penalty in stoppage-time at the end of the first half, but Mali equalized from the spot midway through the second half through Lassine Sinayoko. Both penalties were awarded after video reviews in a tempestuous clash at the end of a busy day of action at the tournament. Morocco were atop the Group A standings with four points, while Zambia,
An astounding 20 wickets fell on a frantic first day of the fourth Ashes Test yesterday, with Australia all out for 152 before storming back to dismiss England for 110 and leave the clash on a knife-edge. England skipper Ben Stokes won a key toss on a green track and his quicks feasted after sending in the hosts under overcast skies in front of 94,199 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was the biggest cricket crowd ever at the cavernous arena, exceeding the 93,013 who watched the 2015 World Cup final, and they witnessed the home side collapse with Josh Tongue
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