Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu of China yesterday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, while Naomi Osaka retired from the women’s singles final with an abdominal injury.
Second seeds Wu and Jiang defeated Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US 6-3, 6-4 on ASB Tennis Centre’s Stadium Court in 1 hour, 5 minutes.
The WTA 250 victory was 25-year-old Wu’s second WTA Tour title, after winning the 2023 Hua Hin Championships in Thailand with Taiwanese partner Chan Hao-ching. Later that year, Wu and Taiwan’s Hsu Yu-hsiou won the mixed doubles gold at the World University Games in Chengdu, China.
Photo: AFP
World No. 52 Wu and world No. 46 Jiang played several tournaments together last year, with their best run at the Washington Open, where they missed out on the title after losing in the final to the US pairing of Taylor Townsend and Asia Muhammad.
In the women’s singles, Osaka called for a physical therapist after taking the opening set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson. The four-time Grand Slam champion pulled out shortly afterward, a blow to the Japanese star just a week before the start of the Australian Open.
Osaka’s sudden withdrawal came as a shock after playing with no apparent problem in the 35-minute opening set, unleashing some powerful groundstrokes to break her opponent in the third and fifth games.
Photo: AFP
At the changeover, the 27-year-old stood and performed a series of stretches during a medical time-out. After consulting with the trainer, she shook the hand of Tauson, who picked up a third career title and her first since 2021.
Osaka didn’t divulge details of what forced her withdrawal in a short courtside interview.
However, the WTA said in a statement that she retired “due to an abdominal injury.”
Photo: AFP
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m really sorry about how it ended,” Osaka said. “I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play and I’m just really grateful to be here.”
It was an anti-climactic finish to the week for Osaka, who was chasing her first title in four years since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
Fifth seed Tauson conceded she had been outplayed in their lone set.
Photo: AFP
“I felt like today she was picking up an even higher level, so I’m super sad about the way it ended,” world No. 50 Tauson said. “She’s right to put her health first, always, but it’s the worst final I’ve ever played emotionally because I can’t feel happy and I’m just sad about what happened.”
In Australia, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed the perfect warm-up for this week’s Australian Open when she downed Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova to win the Brisbane International.
After finishing runner-up in Brisbane last year, Sabalenka won the 18th title of her career with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over a gallant Kudermetova in 1 hour, 47 minutes.
Photo: AP
It was an ideal start to the season for Sabalenka, who would be aiming for her third straight Australian Open crown in Melbourne.
“I definitely can take a lot of things from this week heading into the Australian Open,” Sabalenka said. “I definitely feel my game is pretty well. Mentally, physically I’ll be ready to go at the Australian Open. Having this trophy going to the major, it’s really important.”
Australia has become a happy hunting ground for the 26-year-old, who has also won in Adelaide along with her two Australian Open crowns.
“I’m just excited — I love playing here,” she said. “That’s the conditions where I feel really comfortable in.”
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
RSS