26/07/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 26, 2025

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Venus bows out Canada’s Fernandez upset Pegula to reach DC Open quarterfinal V ENUS WILLIAMS’ return to tennis came to an abrupt end in the last 16 of the ATP/WTA DC Open yesterday, with the veteran American losing to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in straight sets. Venus Williams (left) and Magdalena Frech. – REUTERSPIC

PIN HIGH

Alker leads at Senior Open

STEVEN ALKER of New Zealand sits atop the leaderboard at the ISPS Handa Senior Open thanks to an opening round of 7-under-par 63 yesterday at Sunningdale in Berkshire, England. Alker was buoyed by a 5-under 30 on the back nine that featured an eagle at the par-5 14th hole. He leads Australian Mark Hensby by one stroke. “I was just efficient today,” Alker said. “Drove it in the fairway when I needed to and iron play was solid and just made some putts, especially on the back nine, just kind of kept things rolling.” One of the best senior players since joining the PGA Tour Champions in 2021, Alker has collected nine wins (including the Cologuard Classic in March) and two Charles Schwab Cups on the 50-and-older tour, but he’d like to add to his majors count. So far, he has won only the Senior PGA Championship in 2022. “It’s hard at our age just to keep it up and maintain our bodies, but just across the board, I probably don’t practice as much as I used to,” Alker said of his consistency. “I don’t grind as much but I might spend more time on the body. Just try and balance everything and keep it in shape.” Norris praises Scheffler’s success MCLAREN Formula One driver and keen golfer Lando Norris praised world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler yesterday for questioning the point of his success and said it resonated with his own feelings. Before winning last weekend’s British Open, the American three time major and Olympic champion pondered what it was all about. “There’s a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfil them in life, you get to No. 1 in the world, and they’re like what’s the point? I really do believe that because what is the point?,” he said. He also emphasised that his wife and one-year-old son were more important than any golf accolades and he would stop if the game began affecting his home life. Norris, unmarried and without children but famously self-critical and open about his mental health in a ruthless sport where frankness was once considered a sign of weakness, applauded the American’s words. Norris, who is chasing his third win in a row this weekend, said he was still a fan of Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy more than any other golfer but Scheffler’s words had commanded respect.

Williams said she was nonetheless satisfied with her return to competitive tennis. “I had so much fun,” Williams said. “Not the result I wanted (but) I got to play a lot of matches, definitely a plus. I couldn’t be happier… “I ran out of gas today unfortunately… Sorry to have fell short. But I know I can play better and I know I will play better,” added Williams, who is due to play in next month’s Cincinnati Open after being handed a wild card into the event. In other games, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, upset top seed Jessica Pegula 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to move into a quarterfinal meeting with Taylor Townsend. Townsend took down sixth seed Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-0. Emma Raducanu beat four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 in their first career meeting to reach the quarterfinals yesterday. “I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi’s won four slams, she’s been world number one, won Masters,” Raducanu told Sky Sports. “She’s so dangerous and on the hard courts, I think she’s particularly comfortable. “I knew I was going to have to play well and manage my own service games, which I’m really proud of how I did. I was making some inroads in her service game after I got used to it a little bit.

The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, playing this week for the first time in 16 months, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in more than two decades with Tuesday’s first round win over Peyton Stearns. But Williams found the going harder against fifth seed Frech in Thursday’s third round clash, losing 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 13min.

“I’m really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and conditions here in DC.” Raducanu, who will reclaim the British No. 1 ranking from Katie Boulter when the WTA rankings are released on July 28. In the men’s draw, fourth seed Ben Shelton moved into the quarterfinals after beating Canadian 15th seed Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 6-2. Shelton will face

compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the last eight, the sixth seed defeating ninth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-4. Australia’s Alex de Minaur is also into the quarterfinals after downing Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7 4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4. – AFP/Reuters

Svensson set course record at 3M Open ADAM SVENSSON of Canada eagled the final hole at TPC Twin Cities to shoot a course-record 60 and take the first-round lead at the 3M Open yesterday in Blaine, Minn.

Stevens is tied for second at 9-under with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen. Chris Gotterup continued his hot streak after winning the Genesis Scottish Open and placing third in his debut at the Open Championship. Gotterup fired a bogey-free, 8-under 63 and was tied for fourth with Chad Ramey and Germany’s Matti Schmid. “Someone asked me last week if you’ve ever been on a heater, and I said I guess this is kind of my first one,” Gotterup said. “Yeah, you know, I’m just going to try to ride it out as long as I can.” Rickie Fowler was among those to shoot a 65, as he turned in a card with six birdies and no bogeys. – Field Level Media

(caddie Jace Walker) gave me a good line and it just happened to go in.” It was a round few would have predicted. Svensson, who won the 2022 RSM Classic, has plummeted to 234th in the Official World Golf Ranking while missing 11 of his first 21 cuts in 2025. That includes his two most recent starts entering this week and four of his past five. But Svensson could feel a memorable round incoming after what he described as a great range session before his tee time. He broke the previous course record of 62 originally set by Scott Piercy in 2019, and matched by Sam Stevens’ round that was completed just a few groups ahead of Svensson yesterday.

Svensson was already working on a sterling round, with nine birdies and no bogeys through 17 holes. He reached the green at the par-5 18th hole in two shots and had two putts to break the course record. He only needed one. Svensson’s uphill eagle attempt from just more than 48 feet hit the flagstick and dropped for an eagle, finishing an 11-under round with matching 30s on both nines. “I just didn’t want to leave it short,” Svensson said. “It was carrying a little bit of speed and

Laffar rides ‘amazing’ first round in Scotland

WORLD No. 1,184 Charlotte Laffar is the surprise name atop the leaderboard after the first round of the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open yesterday in Gailes, Scotland. The 32-year-old Englishwoman has six career top-10 finishes and zero wins on the Ladies European Tour, and she took a four-year break from competitive golf to have her sons, Freddie and Oscar. That mattered little yesterday at Dundonald Links, as Laffar sank eight birdies in a 6-under-par 66 to set the early pace. She’s one stroke ahead of a

Maguire is familiar with life atop the amateur rankings, as she set the record for most weeks as the No. 1-ranked woman. Now she has three wins between the LPGA and LET, but she’s slipped to No. 74 in the world rankings amid a tough year. But Maguire eagled her first hole Thursday on her way to a bogey-free round. A 10-woman logjam at 4-under 68 features World No. 1 Nelly Korda and recent major champion Minjee Lee of Australia. Korda recorded seven birdies to more than make up for three bogeys and place her in contention. – Field Level Media

my children are my life. So this has become more of a working hobby I suppose you could say. I’ve just got to enjoy every moment.” Woad nearly had a 66 of her own, but she made her only bogey at the par-4 17th hole to slip back to 5-under. Woad, 21, was the No. 1 amateur in the world and turned pro earlier this month in order to accept membership on the LPGA Tour. This marks her first professional event, and it comes after a six-shot win at the Women’s Irish Open and a tie for third at the Evian Championship, the major held in France.

five- way tie for second, which features established Irishwoman Leona Maguire and rising star Lottie Woad of England. “It was an amazing day,” Laffar said. “Started (with) a bogey actually, but sometimes it goes that way. You relax into it. I holed some great putts and I hit my driver the best I’ve hit it for a long, long time.” Laffar was asked if she was surprised to have such a start to the prestigious tournament, which features stars from both the LPGA Tour and Europe. “Yes and no, really. I’ve got no pressure at all,” Laffar said.“Golf is a lot of people’s lives out here, but