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SPORTS 12

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Rybakina revenge

Alcaraz survives Russian challenge WORLD NO. 2 Carlos Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev to reach the semifinals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open yesterday. Spain’s Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought the winning run of fifth

Sabalenka, Gauff crash out at Cincinnati Open

not sure what happened,” said Zverev. “I came out today and probably felt the best I’ve felt in a few months. I was feeling the ball incredibly well from both sides. “In the first set, I started feeling not so great, and it got progressively worse. But I’m in the semifinals, and I’ll do everything I can to be 100% tomorrow.” Alcaraz was broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in the final set against 11th-ranked Rublev, but he found his focus and used his trademark grit to come through three games later.

WORLD NO. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Coco Gauff were sent crashing out of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open yesterday. Top seed and defending champion Sabalenka had no answer for Elena Rybakina, falling to the 2022 Wimbledon champion 6-1, 6 4. Reigning French Open

“If she had been serving well, it would have been a totally different match,” she acknowledged. Rybakina has won her last three matches against Swiatek, all played this season. But Swiatek was feeling confident after downing Kalinskaya in what she called “the best match I played here.” “I’m happy that I’m progressing during the tournament,” Swiatek said. Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion, had looked well on her way after a quick first set against Paolini.

seeded Toronto champion American Ben Shelton to its end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Germany’s Zverev complained of feeling dizzy and out of breath as he led by a set and a break, but benefitted from 27 unforced errors from a listless Shelton over 76 minutes. Zverev earned a 4-1 lead in the second set as Sheldon angrily tossed his racquet on the changeover, and the 2021 champion polished off the win on a second match point and now has 24 hours to try and get fit. “Right now, I’m not feeling too great. I’m

champion Gauff had 16 double faults in a 2-6, 6-4, 6 3 exit at the hands of seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini. Rybakina fired 11

He sealed the triumph as an emotional Rublev hit an eighth double-fault on match point. “I maintained positive thoughts all the time, even though I lost focus a few times during the second set,” said Alcaraz. “Playing someone

But her mistakes caught up with her as she was broken eight times by the Italian, who

aces en route to a fifth career victory over Sabalenka in 12 meetings. She avenged a loss to the Belarusian in Berlin two months ago and booked a semi final meeting with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek – a 6-3, 6-4

overcame plenty of errors of her own as well as a twisted ankle suffered early in the third set. “It was so tough at the start, I was running and trying to put the ball inside the court,” Paolini said. “I started to feel the ball better.”

like Andrey, when you lose focus on two or three points, it (can) cost you the set or almost the match. I just stayed strong mentally and that’s what I’m most proud of.” – AFP

“I fought for every point and stayed in the match,” added the Italian, who will face Veronika Kudermetova for a place in the final. Kudermetova crushed Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2. – AFP

winner over Anna Kalinskaya. Rybakina was aided by 11 aces as she reached her first Cincinnati semifinal. “I’m happy with the serve. It was the key today,” Rybakina said. “I served really well.”

Carlos Alcaraz. – REUTERSPIC

Elena Rybakina. – REUTERSPIC

Lee5 leads Evian champ Kim at LPGA Portland Classic

SHORTS

conditions but after a birdie at the par-five fifth she just rode the momentum and “great energy to continue making birdies until hole nine.” She needed just 25 putts in a stel lar performance on the greens. “Honestly, all my birdie chances were a short putt, so I think that was the reason I was able to make those birdies and have a low putting stroke today,” she said. Kim wasn’t thrilled with her per formance off the tee, but said her shots into the greens and putting “really backed up my game”. “Had a lot of good range, mid range to long putts today, so that was nice,” said Kim. “Just rolled it well.” She teed off on 10 and had three birdies and a bogey in her first nine holes. After a birdie at the second she eagled the fifth, then closed with back-to-back birdies at eight and nine. “This week is always a bit of a birdie fest,” Kim said. “Knowing that, I’m going to try not to get too ahead of myself and be greedy.” Kaur also finished strong, clos ing birdie-birdie for a 4-under 68 to join Kim on 11-under – one shot clear of Akie Iwai, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Ashleigh Buhai.

SOUTH KOREA’S Lee5 Jeong-eun fired six birdies in a five-under par 67 yesterday to grab a one-shot lead over Evian Championship winner Grace Kim and Gurleen Kaur in the sec ond round of the LPGA Portland Classic. Lee5, a 36 year-old chas ing her first LPGA

DE FRUTOS ON TARGET FOR RAYO Jorge de Frutos scored the first goal of the new La Liga season to set Rayo Vallecano on their way to a 3-1 win over 10-man Girona yesterday. In the night’s late game Real Oviedo’s return to the top flight after a 24-year absence began on a flat note with a 2-0 defeat at Villarreal. Rayo’s Spanish winger de Frutos struck with his right foot from close range in the 18th minute, with Alvaro Garcia adding a second a couple of minutes later. Girona’s goalkeeper Paulo Gazzinga earned the unenviable distinction of picking up the first red card of the 2025/26 campaign when the Argentinian was sent off two minutes from half time. His foul on de Frutos led to Isi Palazon converting the ensuing penalty. Girona pulled one back just before the hour when Joel Roca shot into the top left corner after an assist from Viktor Tsygankov. Rayo finished eighth last season to earn qualification to the Conference League marking their return to European competition for the first time since 2001. MARSEILLE SUFFER SHOCK DEFEAT French giants Marseille suffered a Ligue 1 first-day upset when felled 1-0 by 10-man Rennes yesterday. The opening game of the 2025/26 season was heading for a goalless stalemate until Ludovic Blas secured the injury-time winner, six minutes after entering the fray. Home side Rennes went down a man in the 31st minute with the sending off of Moroccan teenager Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal for a foul on Michael Murillo. Marseille will be kicking themselves after hitting the post twice via Adrien Rabiot and Murillo but failing to exploit their numerical advantage.

Lee5 Jeung Eun. – AFPPIC

Tour title, thrived again at Edgewater Country Club, where she finished tied for sec ond in 2021. She rolled in five

straight birdies from the fifth through the ninth, and added one more at 12 before her lone bogey of the day at 13, moving atop the leaderboard with a 12-under par total of 132. Australia’s Kim, who won her first major title last month with a playoff victory at the Evian, had an eagle and six birdies in her seven under 65 for 133 while Kaur posted a 68. Lee, whose numeral 5 designation differentiates her from five other players with the same name, said she tried to stay patient in chilly morning

Overnight leader Adela Cernousek of France carded a 3-over par 75 to fall seven shots off the pace. – AFP