MONTREAL (AFP) - Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, fourth-ranked Sofia Kenin and eighth-ranked Iga Swiatek have withdrawn from next week's Montreal WTA tournament, Tennis Canada announced on Tuesday (Aug 3). Japan's Osaka, the reigning US and Australian Open champion, and Poland's Swiatek, the 2020 French Open winner, played at the Tokyo Olympics, Osaka losing in the third round to silver medalist Marketa Vondrousova and Swiatek falling in round two to Spain's Paula Badosa. "I'm sorry to be missing out on Montreal this year," Osaka said. "I hope to see you all in Canada next year." Swiatek cited a need to rest in pulling out of the US Open hardcourt tuneup event. "The first part of the season was so intense that I need a couple of days off to rest and prepare for the next few months," she said. Kenin, a 22-year-old American who won last year's Australian Open, has been sidelined by a foot injury since Wimbledon. "While I'm making progress, my foot injury is not where I need it to be to play at the highest level," Kenin said. "I feel another week of recovery and rehab is necessary." World number three Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus becomes the first seed as a result of Osaka's departure. "Of course we are disappointed," said tournament director Eugene Lapierre. "But despite their withdrawals, we are still counting on exceptional players in the draw." The lineup also includes Canada's Bianca Andreescu and Romania's Simona Halep, a two-time Canadian champion. China's Zhang Shuai, Czech Marie Bouzkova and Russia's Liudmila Samsonova moved into main draw berths.
LONDON (AFP) - American Sofia Kenin became the highest women’s seed to fall so far at Wimbledon as she suffered a 6-2 6-2 second-round defeat at the hands of compatriot Madison Brengle on Wednesday (June 30). The 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin, seeded four, never got going on a cool Court Two and lasted only 45 minutes against the 31-year-old. Several other Grand Slam champions avoided early exits though on the slick lawns. Former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza maintained her dominant form as she reached the third round with 6-1 6-4 win over Dutchwoman Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove. Muguruza, winner in 2017, has dropped six games so far. Last year’s French Open champion Iga Swiatek, seeded seven, got the better of 36-year-old Russian Vera Zvonareva. Swiatek made light work of a tricky first round against the 2010 runner-up, winning 6-1 6-3. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Sabalenka digs deep to beat wildcard Boulter Related Story Tennis: Svitolina battles past Van Uytvanck in Wimbledon opener
MELBOURNE • A tearful Sofia Kenin yesterday admitted the pressure of defending a Grand Slam title for the first time had proved too great, after she tumbled out of the Australian Open in the second round. The American looked a shadow of the player who won her first Major at Melbourne Park and reached the French Open final last season, as she succumbed 6-3, 6-2 to Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi on Margaret Court Arena. Ashen-faced, with her eyes already blotchy before she sat down for her post-match media conference, Kenin struggled to hold back the tears as she explained her on-court collapse. "My head wasn't there," the world No. 4 said. "Obviously, I'm not going to take any credit away from her. She played really well at those good points. "I had chances. I just couldn't take it. I obviously know why because the nerves big-time got to me." The tears returned again when the 22-year-old was asked about the pressure of defending the title, adding that she knew retaining the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup would be a tall order as the "Aussie swing got to me". "I'm not there 100 per cent physically, mentally, my game. Everything just feels real off obviously. It's not good," Kenin said. "It's weird. I've been practising for two weeks. "Luckily, I've been able to practise. I felt fine in practice. Just couldn't do that in the game." Russian-born Kenin added that she had not decided where she would play next but admitted she had a lot of thinking to do about how to build up her resilience. "I know I couldn't really handle the pressure," she said. JUST NOT RIGHT I'm not there 100 per cent physically, mentally, my game. Everything just feels real off obviously. SOFIA KENIN, Australian Open defending champion, on her tame display. NO BIG DEAL I don't really like comparing any more, I have learnt that playing so many years (of) tennis. KAIA KANEPI, who is not overly excited at eliminating the world No. 4. "I'm not obviously used to this, so right now, I just got to figure out how to play at that level that I played at. Because like today and those matches, it just hasn't been there." The exit of the fourth seed, even at the hands of a player who last week was ranked 94th in the world, was not the surprise it might have been given that Kenin had been talking about struggling with her nerves since finishing her mandatory two-week quarantine. While Kenin was rattled, Kanepi was cool as a cucumber as she recorded her second win over her opponent in as many meetings. The 35-year-old is making a habit of claiming big-name scalps on the biggest stage and such was her nonchalance that she barely celebrated her upset. Kanepi, who reached the final of last week's WTA 500 Gippsland Trophy warm-up event before losing to Belgian Elise Mertens, is best known for stunning second-ranked Simona Halep of Romania in the first round of the 2018 US Open. SELECTED RESULTS - DAY 4 MEN'S 2ND RD: Andrey Rublev (Rus) bt Thiago Monteiro (Bra) 6-4 6-4 7-6 (10-8), Feliciano Lopez (Esp) bt Lorenzo Sonego (Ita) 5-7 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4, Karen Khachanov (Rus) bt Ricardas Berankis (Ltu) 6-2 6-4 6-4, Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) bt Thanasi Kokkinakis (Aus) 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-4. WOMEN'S 2ND RD: Ashleigh Barty (Aus) bt Daria Gavrilova (Aus) 6-1 7-6 (9-7), Belinda Bencic (Sui) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) 7-5 2-6 6-4, Karolina Pliskova (Cze) bt Danielle Collins (USA) 7-5 6-2. However, the world No. 65 has recorded six other wins against top-10 players in the Majors, dating back to 2008. Asked where this victory ranked among her other notable victories, Kanepi, who had 10 aces, said: "I don't really like comparing any more, I have learnt that playing so many years (of) tennis. "My game plan was to play aggressive, as I normally do. I played good today, I served really good. I think it was a good win." Meanwhile, home favourite and top-ranked Ashleigh Barty, seeking to end Australia's 43-year singles title drought here, overcame compatriot Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 7-6 (9-7) despite heavy strapping seen on her thigh, which she later said was precautionary. REUTERS AUSTRALIAN OPEN Day 5: Singtel Ch114/115 & StarHub Ch208/209, 8am & 4pm
ABU DHABI (AFP) - Top seed Sofia Kenin reached the last 16 of the WTA Abu Dhabi Open on Friday (Jan 8) after opponent Kirsten Flipkens suffered an ugly-looking ankle injury when she collided with an advertising sign. Australian Open champion Kenin dropped the first set 7-5 but was leading the second 5-4 when her Belgian rival was forced to retire. "I obviously got a little bit upset, emotional," said world number four Kenin after the second round tie. "We're good friends and that's not something you like to see. I just hope she can have a speedy recovery and get ready for Australia. "I'll write to her later tonight, asking how she is." The 86th-ranked Flipkens, a former top 20 player and 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist, was hurt as she collided with an advertising block at the back of the court as she leapt for the ball. Her left ankle turned over and she collapsed to the ground in acute pain. Kenin will now face 13th-seeded Yulia Putintseva for a place in the last-eight after the Kazakhstan player defeated Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in straight sets.