Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki and world No. 4 Elina Svitolina yesterday withdrew from the Hong Kong Tennis Open with injuries, leaving the WTA event devastated after a spate of pre-tournament pullouts and early big name exits.
Third seed Wozniacki appeared on center court just after her second-round match against Lizette Cabrera was due to start to announce that she had injured her elbow in practice and would withdraw.
“I want to apologize to everyone who came out today to watch this match,” said an emotional Wozniacki, who won the title on the same court 12 months ago.
Top seed Svitolina earlier withdrew from her last-16 match against Nicole Gibbs, citing a right groin strain sustained during a mammoth, 3-hour, 21-minute quarter-final defeat in Beijing last week to the eventual champion there, Caroline Garcia.
In the little action that did take place on court yesterday, China’s eighth seed Zhang Shuai was ousted 6-3, 6-4 by American Jennifer Brady, who is to face Gibbs in an all-American quarter-final.
That left Wang Qiang as the sole Chinese representative in the draw after she breezed past Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum 6-4, 6-4.
Wang is to face Australia’s Stosur today for a place in the semi-finals and Cabrera, the world No. 155, has an all-Australian last-eight match against Daria Gavrilova, the seventh seed.
The only other seed remaining, sixth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, is to play Osaka.
In women’s doubles, Taiwanese sister Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan overcame an early stumble to cruise to a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and the US’ Shelby Rogers.
Additional reporting by staff writer
TIANJIN OPEN
AFP, TIANJIN, China
Maria Sharapova yesterday surged into the Tianjin Open quarter-finals as she pursues her first tournament victory since her return from a doping ban.
The Russian former world No. 1 defeated Magda Linette of Poland 7-5, 6-3 and is next to play Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele.
Sharapova, 30, has been on the comeback trail since April after serving a 15-month suspension for taking the banned substance meldonium.
She saw off 71st-ranked Linette in just more than 98 minutes to reach only her second quarter-final since her return to action.
“We did a really good job of holding serve in the first set,” Sharapova was quoted as saying by the WTA Web site.
“I feel like I made a few too many errors on my return game, which ultimately led to a difficult first set, but once I broke her early in that second set I played a really good aggressive game and I felt like I had the momentum in the second,” she added.
Others who advanced to the quarter-finals included China’s third-seeded Peng Shuai, Italy’s Sara Errani and the US’ Christina Mchale, who defeated sixth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-0, 6-4.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei fell to a 3-6, 1-6 defeat to China’s Zhu Lin.
Additional reporting by staff writer
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and