Taiwan’s Chuang Chia-jung advanced to the semi-finals of the doubles at the Japan Open yesterday, while the Chan sisters’ quarter-final was interrupted by rain.
Second seeds Chuang and Liang Chen of China eased past Japanese duo Shuko Aoyama and Makoto Ninomiya 6-2, 6-4 in 1 hour, 15 minutes at Ariake Colosseum.
The cross-strait duo saved two of three break points and converted four of 12, winning 58 of the 108 points contested to set up a semi-final against Japanese wild-cards Misaki Doi and Kurumi Nara, who upset fourth-seeded Chinese pairing Xu Yifan and Zheng Saisai 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.
RAIN DELAY
Top seeds Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan were leading 3-1 against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan and Nicole Melichar of the US when their quarter-final was interrupted by rain and rescheduled for today.
The winners advance to a semi-final against Ukrainian duo Kateryna Bondarenko and Olga Savchuk, who ousted third seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Alicja Rosolska of Poland 7-5, 6-4.
Also due on court today is Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei, who is taking on Japan’s Kurumi Nara in the second round of the singles.
In yesterday’s second-round singles matches, third seed Madison Brengle of the US overpowered Japanese wild-card Nao Hibino 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Brengle won six of eight break points at Ariake Colosseum to see off Hibino, one of three players from the host nation to exit the singles on the third day.
Sixth seed Christina McHale, also of the US, beat Risa Ozaki 6-1, 7-5, while seventh seed Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia defeated veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Brengle next faces Tomljanovic in the quarter-finals. Tomljanovic beat Brengle 6-1, 6-1 in Strasbourg, France, in May.
Also advancing yesterday was Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, who beat fifth seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden 7-5, 6-3.
Carlos Alcaraz on Monday powered into the French Open second round with a resounding win to start his title defense, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also progressed at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and is to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. “The first round is never
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
The horn sounded on Wednesday night to signal a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Florida Panthers celebrated merely by hopping over the boards and several heading over to congratulate goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It was a subdued celebration seemingly more befitting a regular-season win for the reigning Cup champs. “I remember a few years ago, it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said, adding: “It’s all business and we’ve got a bigger goal in mind.” The Panthers closed out the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, with a 5-3 victory in
RSS