3/09/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | SEP 3, 2025

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COCO GAUFF believes better times lie ahead despite a chastening loss to a resurgent Naomi Osaka in the fourth round of the US Open. This was the most anticipated match of the tournament so far but it lasted only 64 minutes, with Osaka racing to a 6-3, 6-2 victory for her biggest grand slam result in more than four years. While the Japanese star produced a strong performance, losing just six points on serve in the contest, this was a horror show from Gauff in front of her home fans, the American making 33 unforced errors and crashing out in the fourth round for the second year in a row. Gauff won her second grand slam title at the French Open in June but has struggled since with serving problems, something she has been trying to address during the tournament with the help of biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan. It has taken its toll on the 21-year-old, who was in tears during and after her second-round win over Donna Vekic, and she admitted she broke down again in front of her team after rushing off Arthur Ashe Stadium. “Naomi played well,” said Gauff. “Today was disappointing because I felt it was the best I served all tournament. Off the ground I think I just made way too many mistakes. “I feel like that’s the part of my game that I felt the most confident in coming into the tournament. So it was kind of a weird match, feeling confident in different areas swapping. “For sure it was not the level that I wanted to bring, but it is a step in the right direction I feel, and I think, emotionally, how much this week was, I think today I just stepped in and I maybe was a little bit empty. Coco tries to be positive after Osaka beating Ű BY ELEANOR CROOKS

SHORTS De Minaur embracing challenge ALEX DE MINAUR reached his third US Open quarterfinal with a dominant victory over Leandro Riedi yesterday and then turned his mind to the next step – reaching the semifinals at a major for the first time. The Australian’s 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 win over the 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier secured the eighth seed a spot in the last eight of a Grand Slam for the sixth time, but he has never managed to even win a set at that stage of a major. “I’ve always thought that the first job is to get there, right, and give myself the opportunity,” he told reporters. “If I bum out early, I’m never going to get the chance, so at least I’ve got the chance in front of me. “It’s about embracing it, right? I’ve got some experience, I know what to expect, and the mindset going forward is going to be going for it. There’s no holding back.” The 26-year-old will take on Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight after the big-serving Canadian beat Andrey Rublev 4 THE millionaire chief executive who grabbed a cap from the hands of a young tennis fan at the US Open has issued a grovelling apology after facing a torrent of criticism. Piotr Szczerek, the boss of a Polish paving firm, was filmed snatching Kamil Majchrzak’s hat after the Polish tennis ace approached the crowd to celebrate his stunning five-set victory with supporters. Video footage of the episode has spread like wildfire online, forcing the business tycoon to confess he had committed a “huge mistake”. In a statement posted on Facebook , Piotr 6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 6-4. Millionaire CEO issues apology

Italy’s Jannik Sinner in action during his fourth round match against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik (not pictured). – REUTERSPIC

Ruthless Sinner Sinner Italian routs Bublik under lights to make US Open quarterfinals D EFENDING CHAMPION Jannik Sinner said he enjoyed the vibe of playing under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights after he continued his hardcourt Grand Slam run by hammering 23rd seed Alexander Bublik yester day to make the US Open quarterfinals.

“He had a tough match last time (against Tommy Paul), finishing late. He didn’t serve as well as he does. I broke him in every set and it gave me the confidence to play well.” Bublik may have been beaten before the match even began and said Sinner is “like an AI generated player” in a pre-game interview. “I tried to move him around, trying to see how he moves, trying to put it more on the physical side,” Sinner explained. “Today I played some good tennis at times. “At times, you know, he gave me some free points. I just tried to stay as consistent as possible, and I think that today was maybe the main key.” Up next is a meeting with compatriot Lorenzo Musetti and Sinner said it would be a great occasion for Italian tennis. “It’s great to see. Italian tennis is in great form. We have so many players and different game styles,” he said. “Lorenzo is one of the

The Italian came into the match seeking his 25th straight major match win on his preferred surface and never looked in danger against a tricky rival, bolting out of the blocks to win 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 on his night session debut this year. “It’s always special to go on Ashe to play,” Sinner said. “Night matches, they’re a bit different because there’s a bit more attention, I feel. “It’s a different vibe, also around the court. It’s very loud. It’s also different to play. “It was the first time for me this year. It was nice. You have the good and the bad if you play in the evening.

“Today I’m excited because I’m, like, ‘OK, if I can serve well and also return well enough, then it’s going to be pretty good for me’.

“I think there’s a lot of positives to take from this tournament, and I’m trying to be positive in front of you guys. “I promise you that I

“It’s very special and you feel very privileged to step onto court in the night on the biggest court we have.” A mere 81 minutes after the clash began, Sinner was back in the locker room after gaining revenge for a shock defeat by Bublik in the Halle final, his only loss to a player not named Carlos Alcaraz this year. “We know each other well. We’ve had some tough battles this year so we know each other a bit better,” top seed Sinner said. biggest talents we have in our sport. I’m looking forward to this one. From an Italian point of view, it’s great to have for sure one Italian player in the semis. “I know that there are a lot of Italian players in the crowd. It makes everything special.” – AFP/The Independent Amanda ‘excited’ by Swiatek rematch

don’t feel that way right now, but I am not going to let this

crush me. I look forward to the future and making more improvements. Hopefully next year I can grow a lot as a player and as a person.” – The Independent

Szczerek, the boss of a Polish paving firm, wrote: “Due to the situation that happened during Kamil Majchrzak’s match at the US Open, I would like to clearly apologise to the injured boy, his family, as well as all the fans and the player himself. “I have made a huge mistake. I was convinced the tennis player tips his hat in my direction – to my sons who had asked for autographs earlier. “The misconception caused me to put out my hand. It looked like a deliberate collection of the child’s souvenir. This was not my intention, but it doesn’t change the fact I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans.”

Coco Gauff reacts after her defeat to Naomi Osaka. – AFPPIC

AMANDA ANISIMOVA (left) insists she is happy to have another crack at Iga Swiatek as she looks to put her Wimbledon misery firmly behind her. Seven-and-a-half weeks after the American suffered the worst Wimbledon final defeat in more than a century, failing to win a game against Swiatek, she will take on the Pole again in the quarterfinals of the US Open.

added: “I don’t think it helped me become a better player in any way. “It wasn’t a good performance by any means. I feel like maybe I learned some things from it and some things I can do differently, but above all I think it was just a learning experience. “Bouncing back from that actually was a little bit difficult because that never happened to me before. “But I’ve worked through it, and the hard-court season started off strong for me. So I feel like I have moved on from that at this point.” Swiatek has maintained her form from Wimbledon, losing just one of her last 19 matches and easing to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round. – The Independent

“I’m really excited and looking forward to it,” she said of her clash with Swiatek. “At this stage of the game, you’re going to play a really tough opponent regardless. “So, to be able to have a rematch or to be able to face her again and give myself another chance, I’m really, really happy about that. “I feel like it’s going to be a really tough challenge, but I feel like I’ve been playing well. I’m sure it’s going to be a great match, and I hope I can put on a good performance.” Anisimova had produced her best grand slam result by upsetting Aryna Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semifinals only to freeze on the big stage in the final. Such moments can sometimes turn out to be important stepping stones, but the 24-year-old

Anisimova has picked herself up impressively, with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia yesterday seeing her reach the last eight at her home grand slam for the first

time.