NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag 2019 U.S.Open

Sport

Andreescu beats off Williams’ comeback to win U.S. Open

Upset
New York, Sept. 8, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu claimed her first Grand Slam title in a hard-hitting and nerve-jangling 6-3 7-5 win over Serena Williams on Saturday.

The win was an upset which also put the brakes on the American’s bid to equal the all-time record.

Andreescu matched Williams’ power throughout the slugfest and kept her composure under intense pressure to fend off a late comeback from the six-times U.S. Open champion.

The 19-year-old dropped her racket after hitting a blistering forehand return winner on match-point to seal victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium and collapsed on her back after embracing her defeated opponent.

“It’s so hard to explain (what the win means) in words,” Andreescu said on-court.

“I’m just beyond grateful and truly blessed. I’ve worked really, really hard for this moment and I can’t complain. This year has been a dream come true,” she added before collecting her $3.85 million winner’s cheque.

“And now to be able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend of the sport, is amazing.”

Andreescu, the first Canadian to win a major in the professional era, prevented Williams from equaling Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Williams, who has been denied the milestone in four slam finals since claiming her last major title at the Australian Open in 2017, was gracious in defeat.

“Bianca played an unbelievable match,” she said.

“Congratulations, I’m so proud and happy for you. I wish I could have played better.”

The fearless Andreescu pressured Williams from the outset, electing to receive after winning the coin toss and immediately breaking her childhood idol.

Shouting “come on” after winning key points, Andersen’s vicious forehand kept Williams on the back foot.

Costly errors, including a double fault on set-point in the first, put the American in an early hole.

With her back against the wall trailing 5-1 and facing championship point, Williams mounted a spirited comeback to draw level at 5-5.

It led to deafening roars from the packed crowd in the biggest tennis stadium in the world.

Yet Andreescu, who covered her ears at times, regained her steely composure to cross the finish line.(Reuters/NAN)
VO/OLAL
=========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Schwartzman upsets misfiring Zverev to reach U. S. Open quarters

Upset
New York, Sept. 3, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman dispatched a misfiring Alexander Zverev 3-6 6-2 6-4 6-3 to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Monday after heaping more Grand Slam misery on the sixth-seeded German.

Schwartzman had not been on court for more than two hours in any of his previous matches.

The number 20 seed was by far the fresher of the pair on a rainy day at Flushing Meadows, seeing off a weary Zverev in just over three hours.

It was Labour Day in the U.S. and Zverev, who had seen every one of his matches go to four sets or more, made hard work of his fourth round contest.

He committed 17 double-faults.

The fatal mistake, however, came in the fourth set with Schwartzman up 4-2 and Zverev fighting to stay in the match.

The German was slapped with a point penalty after directing an obscenity at his box that gave the Argentina a 5-2 lead.

The 22-year-old had earlier been given a warning for slamming the ball into the crowd.

“I mean, code violation is fine,” said Zverev. “He said he gave me a warning before. I didn’t hear it. Diego didn’t hear it. Most of the crowd didn’t hear it.

“I think the umpires next time should let me know about it.

Zverev was a bit sheepish about the incident, explaining that he believed the up and coming young players needed to shut their mouths and let their play do the talking.

“There’s a lot of young guys that do things on the tennis court that maybe is not the best thing to do,” said Zverev. “I don’t want the next generation to be known for that.

“Let your tennis racket talk for you kind of.

“I hope some of the NextGen will kind of learn from the older guys like Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal) who have been unbelievable over their career, really let their racket talk for them, not try to distract opponents, something like that.”

Regarded as an emerging talent and potential threat to the domination of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Zverev has so far failed to meet expectations, especially at Grand Slams.

This is where he has never been beyond the quarter-finals.

For Schwartzman the win was just his sixth in 28 attempts against a top-10 opponent, sending him through to the last eight at a major tournament for only the third time.

Schwartzman, who cruised into the fourth round without dropping a set, saw that run end quickly when Zverev grabbed the opener in spite of six double faults.

The Argentine had begun smartly with the early break to go up 2-0, only to have Zverev sweep the next five games on the way to taking the first set.

The second began the same way with Schwartzman snatching the early, break but this time he did not squander the advantage, breaking the misfiring German twice more to level the contest.

Zverev had the first break in the third set, but Schwartzman had the last by breaking the German at 5-4 to lead the match.

Schwartzman took a stranglehold on the contest by racing to a 4-0 lead then, after a brief fight back from Zverev.

He finished off his opponent on his second match point with a stinging forehand winner.(Reuters/NAN)
VO/OLAL
========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

U.S. Open: Federer crushes Goffin to reach last eight

Federer
New York, Sept. 1, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Roger Federer destroyed David Goffin 6-2 6-2 6-0 on Sunday in New York to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals and keep his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title alive.

The Swiss third seed fired 35 winners and 10 aces to see off the outclassed Belgian in a speedy 80 minutes on a sunny day at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

The 38-year-old Federer was at his best when it mattered most, converting nine of his 10 breakpoint opportunities to set up a meeting with Grigor Dimitrov or Alex de Minaur.

The only drama came early when Goffin, seeded 15th, broke Federer to take a 2-1 lead in the first set.

But the Swiss broke back in the next game and cruised to the finish line.

“I’m very happy with the level of play and the atmosphere,” Federer said in an on-court interview.(Reuters/NAN)
VO/JPE/OLAL
==============

(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Nadal breezes into U.S. Open fourth round

Nadal
New York, Sept. 1, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Rafael Nadal cruised into the U.S. Open fourth round with a business-like 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Chung Hyeon.

The three-times champion took control of the match when he broke the South Korean’s serve in the first set to grab a 4-2 lead.

Thereafter, he never looked back on the sunsoaked Arthur Ashe Stadium court on Saturday in New York.

Next up for Nadal is a last 16 clash with 2014 champion Marin Cilic, who came out on top in his slugfest with John Isner on the Grandstand court.

Nadal had been on court for just over two hours prior to his third round match.

He had defeated John Millman in straight sets on Tuesday, before getting a walk-over into the third round when Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew.

The second seeded Spaniard, who has been hampered by troublesome knees throughout his career, did not wear his usual tape on his legs during the match.

“Tape is not working anymore,” he said with a smile during his on-court interview.

“I am happy to be playing on hard courts and I am trying to play a little more aggressively.”

Nadal will have his work cut out when he meets big-serving Cilic on Monday, who defeated Isner 7-5 3-6 7-6(6) 6-4.

He said the key to toppling an opponent like Cilic was holding serve and making the most of his opportunities when receiving.

“Chances are not a lot, so you need to be ready to expect a very tough one,” he told reporters.

“I need to be focused with my serve, as always. I need to be ready to accept the challenge that brings the competition in days like these ones.

“And I hope to be ready to play my highest level, because that’s what I am going to need.”(Reuters/NAN)
VO/OLAL
=========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)