Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the second round of the Istanbul Cup on Tuesday after rallying from a set down to oust Italy’s Karin Knapp, while the WTA announced that next year’s Taiwan Open is to be moved from Kaohsiung to Taipei.
Kaohsiung-born world No. 81 Hsieh defeated world No. 72 Knapp 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-1 at the Garanti Koza Arena in 2 hours, 23 minutes.
The Taiwanese No. 1 saved 10 of 13 break points and converted seven of 10, winning 109 of the 207 points contested to set up a second-round clash against world No. 127 Maria Sakkari of Greece, who stunned top seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-3.
Third seed Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine also fell at the first hurdle in a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Romanian qualifier Sorana Cirstea, while eighth seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden survived a second-set wobble to down Ukrainian qualifier Maryna Zanevska 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5). Ukrainian seventh seed Kateryna Bondarenko had to rally from a set down to oust Olga Govortsova of Belarus 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Also advancing were Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, Hungarian qualifier Reka-Luca Jani, Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey and Slovakian qualifier Kristina Kucova.
Meanwhile, the WTA announced on Tuesday that next year’s Taiwan Open is to be staged at the Taipei Arena on Jan. 30.
Venus Williams won the singles title at the inaugural event staged at the Yang-Ming Tennis Center in Kaohsiung during the Lunar New Year holiday this year, while Taiwanese sisters Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan claimed the doubles title.
“On behalf of the Taipei City Government, I am pleased to announce that Taiwan Open will be held in Taipei next year,” Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je told the WTA Web site. “We are committed to bringing the best events to our global city and the decision to move the event to Taipei demonstrates the city’s ability to attract the best international sport events. We look forward to working with the WTA and the tournament organizers to make this an event all of Taiwan can be proud of.”
The organizers said the move to Taipei would result in increased sponsorship and government investment, hopefully making the tournament accessible to a much larger fan base.
PORSCHE GRAND PRIX
AP, STUTTGART, Germany
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova swept past qualifier Luisa Chirico 6-0, 6-0 to reach the second round of the WTA Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Kvitova needed only 55 minutes to dismiss the American, winning 17 of 19 first-serve points. The Czech also faced only one break point.
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia rallied to beat German qualifier Carina Witthoeft 7-6 (7/3), 6-0. Ivanovic was down a break and the German served for the first set, but could not hold and her game collapsed.
Two other Germans advanced to the second round of the indoor clay tournament with straight-set wins.
Annika Beck beat “lucky loser” Camila Giorgi 6-4, 6-2 and qualifier Laura Siegemund defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-0, 7-5, coming back from a break down in the second set.
Giorgi had replaced Italian countrywoman Sara Errani, who pulled out with a right-leg injury.
Seventh-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain defeated Oceane Dodin of France 6-3, 6-0.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a “crazy comeback,” saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tie-breaker, but won six straight points to reach her eighth semi-final of the season. “Elena is a great player and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.” “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down
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