Elder sister Chan Yung-jan on Thursday prevailed in a showdown of sisters at the US Open, as the Taiwanese and Martina Hingis of Switzerland took just 63 minutes to see off the challenge of younger sister Chan Hao-ching and Zhang Shuai of China 6-2, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows in New York.
In an emotional quarter-final on Court 17, the second seeds saved two of three break points and won five of 11, hitting 23 winners to advance to the semi-finals of the final Grand Slam of the year.
“It was really tough for me, definitely one of the toughest matches in my career,” Chan Yung-jan told the WTA Web site. “We know each other too well and know everything we want to do on the court.”
Photo: AFP
“It was very emotional during the match, but after the match, she’s still my sister,” she said. “It’s still great to be able to play her in the quarter-finals of such a big event. I tried to bring out my best tennis today and my partner helped me quite a bit.”
“At the end of the day, we did our job,” Hingis told the WTA Web site.
“It wasn’t easy for Latisha [Chan Yung-jan] to play her sister and waiting for the match for three days wasn’t simple,” she said of the rain delays that canceled the match on more than one occasion. “You keep getting ready and then once the match happens you have to bring your ‘A’ game. Under the circumstances, we did our best and played really good. The score at the end shows the result and that’s what matters.”
Photo: AFP
Chan and Hingis, who qualified for the year-ending WTA Finals in Singapore earlier in the tournament, next face fourth seeds Sania Mirza of India and Peng Shuai of China, who defeated fifth seeds Timea Babos of Hungary and Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in 1 hour, 56 minutes in the first match on Court 17.
“I always look forward to these types of matches, because they’re the greatest you can play,” Hingis said of the clash against her former partner Mirza. “They earned their spot in the semi-final and we all deserve to be there. I’m hoping for a good match tomorrow. I’ve already played Sania ... a few times, so it’ll probably be easier than having to play your sister. I can only imagine how it is because I don’t have one.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two