Australia’s Ashleigh Barty progressed yesterday to the final of the WTA Elite Trophy in China after overcoming Julia Goerges 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The ninth seed grew into the semi-final match against Germany’s Goerges, seeded fifth, and dominated the third set to book her place in today’s showdown in Zhuhai.
Goerges, who celebrated her 30th birthday on Friday, dropped two service games in the deciding set as her 22-year-old opponent motored to victory.
Sixth seed Madison Keys pulled out of the tournament in Zhuhai yesterday with a knee injury.
The American was due to play Garbine Muguruza yesterday evening at the Hengqin International Tennis Center in Zhuhai for a place in today’s final.
Keys, 23, is to be replaced by 26-year-old Wang Qiang, who finished second in their round-robin group with Daria Kasatkina.
Caroline Garcia has revealed that she feels under pressure to bring a grand slam trophy back to France, and believes she “can do better” after a difficult season.
Although the 22-year-old spent almost the whole year in the top 10, she slipped down the rankings last month and struggled to kick on from last year when she won the Wuhan and China Opens.
Asked if she feels a weight of expectation from her home country, the world No. 18 told reporters: “There are always these kind of things and it’s been like this for a long time. There’s already some pressure, because they always want you to win.”
Garcia won the doubles tournament at Roland Garros in 2016, and said the singles grand slam in Paris is the one that she feels the most pressure to win.
“They always want you to win the French Open, and obviously it’s something I want to do, but it’s not as easy as saying ‘hello’ to someone,” she said.
Her best grand slam singles performance so far was reaching the last eight on the clay at Roland Garros last year, and she said it is a “great challenge” to go deeper into the tournament.
“I think I can do better, and it’s something I wanted to improve this year. I couldn’t do it, but maybe next year,” she said.
The last French woman to win a grand slam title was Marion Bartoli, the Wimbledon champion in 2013, and before that it was Amelie Mauresmo’s 2013 Australian Open and Wimbledon double.
Garcia, whose season highlight was winning the Tianjin Open in October, said that although her country expects her do well, the French players on the women’s tour do not have to deal with as much pressure as the men.
“Actually, my shoulders are probably way lighter than the men’s, because they haven’t won in 30 years, so I’m kind of glad Marion won five years ago,” she added.
Garcia finished her year with a win at the WTA Elite Trophy in China, but it was not enough to book her a place in the semi-finals.
It has been a “complicated season,” she said after the match, explaining that she struggled with the extra pressures of being in the top 10, particularly mentally.
“There were a lot of ups and downs — not a lot of ups, obviously,” she said.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and