Category: Sport

Aryna Sabalenka launched the defence of her US Open crown with a battling victory on Sunday as American males’s hopes Taylor Fritz and Blake Shelton superior safely.

World primary Sabalenka, who’s bidding to turn out to be the primary lady to win back-to-back US Open titles since Serena Williams accomplished a hat-trick of wins in 2014, was made to work onerous en path to a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova.

Masarova, ranked 108th on this planet, pushed Sabalenka out of her consolation zone with a gutsy efficiency on the Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart’s essential Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.

Sabalenka will face unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova within the second spherical.

In different early motion on Sunday, Kudermetova’s sister Veronika was on the flawed finish of one of many few early upsets, dropping in three units to Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen.

Kudermetova, the twenty fourth seed, was bundled out after a composed efficiency from the 23-year-old Tjen, the primary Indonesian to play in the principle draw of a Grand Slam singles occasion for 21 years.

Tjen received 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and can now face Britain’s former US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.

Raducanu, who made historical past at Flushing Meadows in 2021 by changing into the primary qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam title, clinched her first US Open match win since that memorable triumph with a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Japan’s Ena Shibahara.

“I needed to win a match right here actually dangerous,” stated Raducanu.

“It’s been 4 years, and it’s a really particular event for me.”

Denmark’s 14th-seeded Clara Tauson was the highest-ranked participant to fall in early motion, tumbling out in three units to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, who received a nailbiting tussle 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11).

– Fritz, Shelton ease by means of –

Whereas Sabalenka was the highest-ranked girls’s participant in motion on Sunday, the boys’s event noticed American fourth and sixth seeds Fritz and Shelton ease into the second spherical.

Fourth seed Fritz, final yr’s crushed finalist and a semi-finalist at Wimbledon final month, sailed by means of with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 defeat of unseeded compatriot Emilio Nava.

Shelton progressed with a equally snug 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse.

Shelton and Fritz are spearheading US hopes of a primary Grand Slam males’s singles win since Andy Roddick’s victory on the 2003 US Open.

Shelton although insists he isn’t wanting past the second spherical, the place he’ll face both Pablo Carreno Busta or Pablo Llamas Ruiz.

“As quickly as you begin wanting forward you stumble over your personal ft. So only one sport at a time,” he stated.

Later Sunday, Novak Djokovic launches his quest for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title in a night match towards Learner Tien.

The 38-year-old Serbian seventh seed has not performed since his defeat within the semi-finals at Wimbledon final month, and has in the reduction of his schedule as he focuses on Grand Slam occasions.

In different males’s matches on Sunday, Thirteenth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev opens his marketing campaign towards France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

Elsewhere Sunday, Czech sixteenth seed Jakub Mensik edged Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-4 whereas Spanish 18th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina breezed previous Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.

Italy’s thirty second seed Luciano Darderi eradicated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.

rcw/bb

Manchester United stay with out a Premier League win this season after being held 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday, whereas a Jack Grealish-inspired Everton opened their new stadium with a 2-0 victory over Brighton.

Ruben Amorim’s United had been left to rue Bruno Fernandes’ wayward first-half penalty as they had been pegged again at Craven Cottage.

Rodrigo Muniz’s own-goal put United in entrance on the hour mark, however Emile Smith Rowe got here off the bench to rescue a degree for Fulham.

“After the (United) aim we had been simply fascinated about the outcome. We had been OK till the aim after which we weren’t sensible in that second,” stated Amorim.

The Portuguese coach is underneath strain to point out enhancements after a disastrous Fifteenth-placed end final season, however up to now his new £200 million ($270 million) ahead line of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who once more began on the bench, is but to fireplace.

Regardless of an encouraging efficiency, United misplaced 1-0 to title-chasing Arsenal of their season opener final weekend and can really feel one other two factors slipped away in west London.

Fulham, although, felt the guests bought the higher of two controversial calls.

United’s penalty was awarded after a VAR evaluation for grappling by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount.

Fernandes is often dependable from the spot, however blasted his effort excessive over the bar.

When United did lastly get their first aim of the season it got here by way of a Fulham physique as Muniz deflected Leny Yoro’s header into his personal internet.

Nonetheless, the house aspect had been livid that this time VAR didn’t intervene for a push by Yoro on Bassey.

Fulham nonetheless managed to rescue a degree when former Arsenal midfielder Smith Rowe’s run into the field was not tracked and he turned in Alex Iwobi’s cross 17 minutes from time.

– Everton’s new period –

After an emotional goodbye to Goodison Park, the membership’s residence since 1892, Everton are hoping the transfer to a brand new 53,000 capability stadium will rekindle their bygone glory days.

Solely 4 golf equipment have gained extra English top-flight titles than Everton’s 9.

Nonetheless, they haven’t gained a serious trophy for 30 years and spent their closing seasons at Goodison battling relegation.

“We’re looking for a manner of transferring the membership on. I feel this can be a massive step ahead for Everton,” stated supervisor David Moyes.

Grealish has up to now been the marquee new addition to Moyes’ squad and confirmed glimpses of the expertise that noticed Manchester Metropolis pay Aston Villa £100 million for him 4 years in the past, offering the help for each targets.

Iliman Ndiaye scored the ultimate aim at Goodison towards Southampton in Could and made extra historical past with the primary aim at Everton’s new residence.

Grealish was the creator with a drilled left-foot cross that Ndiaye timed his run completely to satisfy on the again put up on 23 minutes.

Brighton shouldn’t have come away from Merseyside empty-handed however wasted a sequence of probabilities.

Kaoru Mitoma struck the bar and Jan Paul van Hecke’s effort got here again off the put up, whereas Danny Welbeck spooned over with the aim gaping.

James Garner doubled Everton’s lead early within the second interval with a blistering strike from Grealish’s lay-off.

Brighton nonetheless had the prospect to arrange a nervy finale, however Jordan Pickford saved Welbeck’s poor penalty to spherical off a memorable afternoon for the Toffees.

– Nuno no go –

Nottingham Forest supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo insisted he desires to stay in cost after his aspect’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Callum Hudson-Odoi rescued a degree for Forest after Ismaila Sarr’s first-half opener for Palace.

Nuno stated on Friday his relationship with proprietor Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated as odds on him being the primary Premier League supervisor of the season to be sacked had been slashed.

“That’s nonsense. That doesn’t make any sort of sense,” stated the Portuguese coach on whether or not he’s attempting to engineer an exit from the membership.

kca/nf