Osaka retires, Raducanu exits, Andreescu upsets in Toronto

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Osaka retires, Raducanu exits, Andreescu upsets in Toronto

A tearful Naomi Osaka retired injured and US Open champion Emma Raducanu fell on the first hurdle as the highest ladies’s gamers continued their preparations for Flushing Meadows on the Toronto Open on Tuesday.

News of the pending retirement of Serena Williams overshadowed proceedings on the tune-up for the 12 months’s remaining Grand Slam however there have been no scarcity of first-round upsets for followers to take pleasure in, together with one by native Bianca Andreescu.

Twice US Open champion Osaka, in solely her second event again from an Achilles damage, battled on gamely earlier than retiring whereas trailing Kaia Kanepi 7-6(4) 3-0. “I felt my back from the start of the match, and despite trying my best to push through it, I just wasn’t able to today,” stated Osaka.

Toronto-born Raducanu conceded a good first set to Camila Giorgi however seemed heading in the right direction to stage up the competition when she took a 2-0 lead within the second. The Italian defending champion stormed again to rattle off the final six video games with a mixture of stable returns, internet play and motion, nevertheless, easing into the second spherical 7-6(0) 6-2.
“I think it was a really good match, to be honest,” stated ninth seed Raducanu.

“I just need to get better at dealing with players who play as quick as she does.” Andreescu later delighted a packed home with a 7-6 6-4 victory over Daria Kasatkina in a night match that left the Russian world quantity 9, contemporary off a title win in San Jose, clearly disgruntled.

The Canadian, who took the Toronto title in 2019 earlier than successful the US Open, twice known as out the coach, together with throughout the first-set tiebreak, earlier than prevailing in a topsy-turvy match on middle courtroom. “I was honestly a mess,” stated the 53rd ranked Andreescu. “I’m so sorry for my attitude, I really do not feel well, I don’t know what it was … maybe I ate too much before the match.”

There had been additionally first-round wins for tenth seed Coco Gauff, China’s Zheng Qinwen, Belgian Elise Mertens, Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo and Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. Greek third seed Maria Sakkari later takes on 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in a second spherical conflict to spherical out the day.

The information that six-times US champion Williams would quickly be hanging up his racket dominated speak amongst gamers and followers. “She changed the sport and she did a lot and now she can bow down,” spectator Natalie Chapusette stated of the 40-year-old.

“It is good news for her, but not for the fans. But if you see the human behind the sportsperson, she deserves it.” Kanepi, however, was unmoved. “I took it very calmly,” she informed reporters. “Because, you already know, gamers, they retire at a sure age. I feel it is regular.”

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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS

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