Rublev falls to Arnaldi in the French Open third round while Gauff, Sinner move on

Rublev falls to Arnaldi in the French Open third round while Gauff, Sinner move on
Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi celebrates winning his third round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia’s Andrey Rublev at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 31, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 31 May 2024
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Rublev falls to Arnaldi in the French Open third round while Gauff, Sinner move on

Rublev falls to Arnaldi in the French Open third round while Gauff, Sinner move on
  • Rublev showed frustration throughout over his lack of precision, committing 37 unforced errors and four double faults
  • After netting a forehand in the third set, he smashed his racket on his knee four times

PARIS: Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev was knocked out of the French Open by Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-4 in the third round on Friday.
Rublev showed frustration throughout over his lack of precision, committing 37 unforced errors and four double faults. After netting a forehand in the third set, he smashed his racket on his knee four times.
“I am completely disappointed with myself, with the way I behaved, the way I performed, and I can’t remember ever behaving worse in a Grand Slam tournament,” he said. “It was the first time I ever behaved that badly.”
Rublev entered the French Open as a contender after winning the Madrid Open this month.
Arnaldi, ranked 35th, will face Stefanos Tsitsipas or Zhizhen Zhang, who were scheduled to play later Friday.
No. 2 Jannik Sinner progressed by downing Pavel Kotov 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
On the women’s side, No. 3-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round after beating Australian Open semifinalist Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-4.
Gauff pressured her opponent into committing 38 unforced errors on Court Philippe Chatrier, and converted five of her 11 break points.
After several seeded players were knocked out on Thursday, Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto pulled off another upset by defeating No. 17 Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (4), 6-2 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Cocciaretto, ranked 51st, reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.
She will play Gauff next. Gauff won both of their previous meetings but said, “She is definitely a fighter.”
Gauff is the reigning US Open champion and was a finalist at the French Open in 2022.
Qualifier Olga Danilovic, ranked 125th, beat Donna Vekic 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8) to make her first fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam tournament.
For the fourth consecutive day, rain interrupted play. There was a delay of about 1 1/2 hours on Friday.


Teenager Mirra Andreeva stuns world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to become youngest semifinalist in Dubai history

Teenager Mirra Andreeva stuns world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to become youngest semifinalist in Dubai history
Updated 21 February 2025
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Teenager Mirra Andreeva stuns world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to become youngest semifinalist in Dubai history

Teenager Mirra Andreeva stuns world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to become youngest semifinalist in Dubai history
  • The 17-year-old beat the 5-time Grand Slam winner in straight sets for a place in the last 4 against world No. 7 Elena Rybakina
  • Friday’s other semifinal has unseeded Danish star Clara Tauson, who beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, face No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic

DUBAI: World No. 2 Iga Swiatek was sensationally knocked out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in straight sets on Thursday as the talented teen Mirra Andreeva made history to book a place in the WTA 1000 semifinal for the first time in her career.

With the win, Andreeva becomes the youngest player to reach the final four since the emirate’s tournament began in 2001.

When world No. 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the tournament on Wednesday night, Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner, looked favorite for a maiden Dubai crown.

Yet less than 24 hours later, the Polish star was also packing her bags after a stunning performance by Andreeva, who claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory to become, at 17 years and 297 days, the youngest semifinalist in the 25-year history of the Dubai women’s event.

Andreeva, who admitted she was nervous beforehand, struggled in her first service game of the opening set, but managed to save three break points before breaking her opponent’s serve to take the lead.

Covering the court well while also reading Swiatek’s shots, she broke once more with a powerful forehand down the line.

Swiatek rallied to establish a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Andreeva refused to surrender. Following a brief on-court conversation with her coach, the teen went on to win five games in a row to secure the win.

The victory proved sweet revenge for the three-set defeat she suffered in her only other meeting with Swiatek in Cincinnati last year.

“Last time we played, (it) was a close match — tough, intense,” Andreeva said. “This time, I just tried to tell myself to go for my shots, to be aggressive, to not hesitate.”

She added: “That helped me to win in a way. I just tell myself, if I’m here, I play my best, I try to play my best, I go for my shots, fight for every ball. It doesn’t matter what’s happening on the court.

“If I lose 6-0, 5-0 or I win 7-5, 6-4, it doesn’t matter. I just go for my shots and try to bring out my best level.”

Next up for No. 12 seed Andreeva is a semifinal clash with world No. 7 Elena Rybakina, who defeated American wildcard Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6(2) under lights.

The Kazakh reached the final in Dubai in 2020 and is aware that while expectation dictates that her experience should help, there is an inherent danger in playing an opponent who has already exceeded her own expectations.

“For sure, she has nothing to lose now,” Rybakina said of Andreeva. “She is playing very well in this tournament and is very dangerous. She’s physically very good, very quick.

“Also I saw today a couple of games and she was serving really well. If she plays like that, for sure it won’t be easy, but I will try to recover and be prepared to show my best.”

Asked how her own mindset has changed from being a young player to now being a Grand Slam winner with a target on her back, the Wimbledon 2022 champion responded: “Definitely before I was just going out there and enjoying; just hitting free.

“The atmosphere is always nice to play on these big courts and nothing to lose when I was young. Every match was a great experience, but it is different when you’re a top player because everybody wants to beat you.

“(Andreeva) has so much in front of her and she’s for sure dangerous for me.” 

In the other semifinal, unseeded Dane Clara Tauson will meet No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova, who beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the late match of the day.

Tauson, ranked No. 38 in the world, made headlines on Wednesday night after slaying Sabalenka in straights sets and she admitted fears she would be unable to match that performance in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

She need not have worried, defeating the Czech Linda Noskova 7-6(4), 6-4 on Centre Court. “The level I had (against Sabalenka) is a level you hit maybe five or six times a year, so I was sure it wasn’t going to be the same and I was really prepared for that.

“I was texting one of my best friends (last night): ‘I had a great match today; I’m for sure going to play (bad) tomorrow.’ But I didn’t and I’m really happy about that … otherwise, I would have lost for sure.

“That’s what helped me, I think, I was aware it was going to be a tougher match.”

The 25th edition of the annual WTA 1000 event runs until Feb. 22, followed by the 33rd staging of the men’s ATP Tour 500 tournament from Feb. 24 to March 1.


Rublev needs 8 match points to beat De Minaur in Qatar Open quarterfinals

Rublev needs 8 match points to beat De Minaur in Qatar Open quarterfinals
Updated 20 February 2025
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Rublev needs 8 match points to beat De Minaur in Qatar Open quarterfinals

Rublev needs 8 match points to beat De Minaur in Qatar Open quarterfinals
  • The Russian fifth seed wasted a 5-2 lead in the last set against the Australian second seed
  • He’ll face Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime

DOHA: Andrey Rublev saved one match point and needed eight of his own to subdue Alex de Minaur 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8) in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
The tortuous journey to the win prompted Rublev to joke about de Minaur, “I wanna punch him.”
The Russian fifth seed wasted a 5-2 lead in the last set against the Australian second seed, who forced the tiebreak with remarkable scrambling.
But after 2 1/2 hours, Rublev was through to his fourth semifinals in Doha, where he won the title in 2020.
He’ll face Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Daniil Medvedev when the Russian retired after losing the first set 6-3.
“I felt he was playing normal,” Auger-Aliassime said on court. “And then I broke, I held my serve. And he just told (the umpire) that he didn’t want to shake our hands because he was sick. I hope it’s nothing too bad. I was surprised.”


Alcaraz needs three sets to oust Luca Nardi at Qatar Open

Alcaraz needs three sets to oust Luca Nardi at Qatar Open
Updated 20 February 2025
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Alcaraz needs three sets to oust Luca Nardi at Qatar Open

Alcaraz needs three sets to oust Luca Nardi at Qatar Open
  • Second-seeded Alex de Minaur beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal match against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev
  • Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-1 and will meet Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final eight

DOHA: Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open by beating Luca Nardi 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Spaniard let his guard down in the second set, when his Italian opponent fought back from trailing 1-4 to force a decider.

“My energy levels probably went down a little bit, but credit to him,” said the third-ranked Alcaraz, who will next face Jiri Lehecka.

Also Wednesday, second-seeded Alex de Minaur beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal match against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev.

Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-1 and will meet Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final eight.

Jack Draper eliminated Christopher O’Connell 6-2, 6-1. He will next play either Matteo Berrettini, who knocked out Novak Djokovic, or Tallon Griekspoor.


Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament

Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament
Updated 19 February 2025
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Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament

Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament
  • “Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed,” Raducanu wrote
  • WTA issued a statement explaining that Raducanu was approached in a public space Monday “by a man who exhibited fixated behavior”

DUBAI: Emma Raducanu said she will be OK after what she called a “difficult experience” related to the presence of a man who had exhibited “fixated behavior” toward her at the Dubai Championships.
The 2021 US Open champion had approached the chair umpire early in her second-round match against 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova on Tuesday night. She was in tears, and the WTA later linked her reaction to the presence of the unidentified man.
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old British player responded with a statement on her Instagram account.
“Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match,” Raducanu wrote. “Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
Raducanu, who was still a teenager in 2022 when a man in Britain was convicted of stalking her, returned to play after a brief delay at 2-0 down and eventually lost 7-6 (6), 6-4 to Muchova.
Early Wednesday, the WTA issued a statement explaining that Raducanu was approached in a public space Monday “by a man who exhibited fixated behavior” and “this same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday ... and subsequently ejected.”
“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
The chair umpire called tournament organizers immediately when Raducanu reported her concerns in the first set of the night match, and Muchova walked over to console her opponent.
Raducanu then picked up a towel, wiped her face, nodded and continued the match. She didn’t immediately comment on the incident.
The WTA said it was working with Raducanu and her team “to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.”
Raducanu rose to fame in 2021 by winning the US Open as a qualifier, one of the most unlikely achievements in tennis. She hasn’t advanced past the third round at a major since then and has spent long stints recovering from injuries.


Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini’s title defense ends

Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini’s title defense ends
Updated 19 February 2025
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Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini’s title defense ends

Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini’s title defense ends
  • Sabalenka suffered a second straight premature exit after losing in her opening match in Qatar a week ago
  • Tauson broke Sabalenka’s serve six times and the Dane will go on to play Czech youngster Linda Noskova

DUBAI: World number one Aryna Sabalenka slumped to a 6-3, 6-2 loss against Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the last 16 of the Dubai Championships on Wednesday, as Jasmine Paolini’s title defense came to a painful end.
Sabalenka, who beat the 38th-ranked Tauson on her way to last month’s Australian Open final, suffered a second straight premature exit after losing in her opening match in Qatar a week ago.
Tauson broke Sabalenka’s serve six times and the Dane will go on to play Czech youngster Linda Noskova, who knocked out fifth seed Jessica Pegula in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old Tauson beat Noskova in the first round of the Australian Open. She also won the title in Auckland at the start of January and made the semifinals in Linz earlier this month.
Noskova will have her shot at revenge on Thursday after beating Pegula 6-3, 7-6 (10/8).
Defending champion Paolini suffered an ankle injury and was dumped out by Sofia Kenin as the fourth seed from Italy lost 6-4, 6-0 in just over an hour.
Kenin, the world number 27, raced to a 5-2 lead in the opening set before closing the door on a Paolini fightback.
Any hopes Paolini had of forcing the match to a deciding set were undone when she took a bad fall early in the second set.
Rolling over her right ankle mid-rally she played on, but was obviously suffering, and in tears.
This was Kenin’s first win over a top-five player since her victorious title run at the 2020 Australian Open.
Kenin’s reward for defeating last year’s Wimbledon and French Open finalist was a quarter-final date with Elena Rybakina after the Kazakh sixth seed overcame a tight battle with Paula Badosa 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (7/2).
Paolini’s loss came after a tricky start to her title defense on Tuesday.
She had reached match point before rain forced the players off the court. Over four hours later, the world No.4 returned to win the final point, beating German qualifier Eva Lys 6-2, 7-5.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen suffered a similar fate to Paolini, the Chinese seventh seed beaten in three sets by Kenin’s fellow American, Peyton Stearns.
The 23-year-old Stearns, ranked 46 in the world, fought back from a set down against last year’s Australian Open finalist to win the second round tie held over after Tuesday’s rain 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
After a brief break Stearns returned to face 12th seed Mirra Andreeva in the last 16 where her Dubai run ended, losing 6-1, 6-1 to the young Russian.
Waiting for Andreeva in the quarter-finals is second seed Iga Swiatek.
The Pole, beaten in the Australian Open semifinals last month, won the last eight games to beat Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 6-0.
American eighth seed Emma Navarro, made it into the last 16 after defeating this month’s Abu Dhabi Open winner Belinda Bencic 7-6 (8/6), 2-6, 6-3.
Earlier Wednesday tennis officials said Emma Raducanu was targeted by “a man who exhibited fixated behavior” after the former US Open champion was reduced to tears on court.
The 22-year-old Briton was down 2-0 in the first set against Karolina Muchova on Tuesday when she approached the umpire, then briefly took refuge behind the umpire’s chair.
Muchova went over to see what was wrong before Raducanu reappeared, wiping away tears with her towel.
The WTA said it would ban the man, who had been sitting in the first few rows of the crowd in Raducanu’s match, after what it called “the security incident in Dubai.”