[ad_1] The 2018 US Open women's final was billed as the chance to watch Serena Williams tie Margaret Court's Grand Slam singles record title at 24. The 36-year-old was a heavy favorite against Naomi Osaka, a 20-year-old upstart from Japan whose idol growing up just happened to be Williams.One hour and 19 minutes after the match's first serve, Osaka stunned the tennis world by winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
[ad_1] MASON, Ohio -- Seven-time champion Roger Federer was ousted from one of his favorite tournaments in only 61 minutes Thursday, falling in straight sets to a 21-year-old qualifier he'd never faced.Andrey Rublev -- with only one career win over a top-five player to his credit -- took advantage of Federer's numerous mistakes for a 6-3, 6-4 victory that further depleted the top of the men's bracket in the Western
[ad_1] Nick Kyrgios was fined $113,000 by the ATP for his outburst Wednesday at the Western and Southern Open, when he swore at and berated the umpire and smashed a couple of rackets.Kyrgios was fined for ball abuse, five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, leaving the court, audible obscenity and verbal abuse during his loss to Karen Khachanov, the ATP said in a release Thursday.In addition to the fines, the ATP said
[ad_1] 9:47 AM ETD'Arcy MaineESPN MASON, Ohio -- Coco Vandeweghe woke up in her hotel room in Hawaii and tried to get out of bed, but was unable to walk. The pain in her right foot was excruciating, and she was suddenly sensitive to even the touch of the bedsheet on it.It was just days before Christmas, and she had been playing in an exhibition tournament in Honolulu. She had
[ad_1] MASON, Ohio -- Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Western & Southern Open, citing a lingering back injury.The 23-time Grand Slam champion retired because of the same injury during Sunday's Rogers Cup final in Toronto against Bianca Andreescu but had been expected to open play in Cincinnati on Tuesday.She made the announcement shortly before the start of her scheduled first-round match against Zarina Diyas on Tuesday night.Williams, a two-time
[ad_1] 7:34 PM ETD'Arcy MaineESPN MASON, Ohio -- After losing the first set 6-4 and dropping the opening game of the second on Center Court on Monday, Andy Murray puffed his cheeks, let out an audible sigh and shook his head vigorously. While his game showed signs of rust, his on-court demeanor and trademark exasperated mannerisms were in vintage form.Facing what appeared to be almost an inevitable retirement after dealing
[ad_1] This summer of surprises peaks this week at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the last major tune-up for the US Open. On the ATP side, only two of the 10 events since Wimbledon were won by men ranked in the top 10. The most obvious reason: The only Big Three representative to swing a racket since Wimbledon has been Montreal champion Rafael Nadal.The WTA results were even
[ad_1] MONTREAL -- Rafael Nadal won his fifth Rogers Cup title, beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday in just 70 minutes.The 33-year-old Nadal won the event for the third time in Montreal. The first came in 2005 at age 19 over Andre Agassi, and the second in 2013. Nadal won in Toronto in 2008 and 2018.The second-ranked Spanish star won his 83rd singles title and third of the year,
[ad_1] Kathy Rinaldi, head of women's tennis at the USTA, remembers when she first met junior sensation and recent French Open semifinalist 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova. Years ago, Rinaldi and a colleague visited Anisimova near her Florida home on a scouting mission. They were bewitched by what they saw as soon as she took a few cuts, so enthusiastic that they got a little carried away."Her skill set was so advanced
[ad_1] Former tennis prodigy Andrea Jaeger approached 15-year-old Cori "Coco" Gauff on the grounds of Wimbledon last month, shortly before the youngest-ever qualifier in the tournament's history played her first match.Jaeger, who was playing in the Legends event, introduced herself and flashed her competitor credential. She told Gauff who she once was: a phenom much like Gauff, a pro by age 14, No. 2 in the world rankings at 16,
