Halep withdraws from Eastbourne due to Achilles pain

Associated PressJun 21, 2018, 1:07 AM EDT
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LONDON — Recently crowned French Open champion Simona Halep has withdrawn from next week’s Nature Valley International grass-court tournament in Eastbourne.

The top-ranked Halep says in a statement that she felt Achilles tendon pain and inflammation during her title run in Paris “and it has yet to fully recover.”

Halep adds that doctors have advised her to rest more “while continuing treatment.”

Eastbourne is a warmup for Wimbledon, which starts July 2.

Halep has not played since beating Sloane Stephens for the Roland Garros title earlier this month.

Alcaraz, Sabalenka advance to 4th round of Miami Open

Associated PressMar 27, 2023, 12:13 PM EDT
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz of Spain beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-0, 7-6 (5) and will face American Tommy Paul.

World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus cruised past Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday.

“I lost the first and only match that I played against Tommy” Alcaraz said. “I know that he’s a really talented and really tough player, so I have to play at my best. Let’s see what’s going to happen on Tuesday.

Paul and fellow American No. 10 Taylor Fritz advanced in straight sets.

Bianca Andreescu of Canada – the 2019 U.S. Open champion – beat 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin of the United States 6-4, 6-4.

Andreescu advanced to the tournament’s fourth round for the third time. She had seven aces to Kenin’s one, and double-faulted only once as she won the third straight matchup between the Grand Slam champions. Andreescu converted all three of her break opportunities.

In other matches, Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic outlasted American Madison Keys 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Also, Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia defeated world No. 9 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, the gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, 7-6 (8), 6-3; Marketa Vondrousova ousted Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-2 in an all-Czech matchup; Sorana Cirstea of Romania beat Karolína Muchová of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-1; and Varvara Gracheva of Russia defeated Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-1, 6-2.

On the men’s side, Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands outlasted world No. 4 Casper Ruud of Norway 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Van de Zandschulp had 12 aces to Ruud’s six, but they each had three double-faults. Van de Zandschulp will face Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland in the next round.

Paul beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-3, 7-5, helped by eight aces. Fokina had six double-faults.

Fritz defeated Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6-4, 6-4. Shapovalov had seven double-faults. Fritz will face world No. 8 Holger Rune of Denmark, who defeated Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.

“It’s going to be a tough match I think for a round of 16,” Fritz said. “Myself playing Holger is a very tough draw. I’m excited to play him. We’ve never played before. I’m not entirely I guess sure what to make of his game. Obviously, he’s very good.”

Also, Andrey Rublev of Russia dispatched Miomir Kecmanović of Serbia 6-1, 6-2.

Andreescu, Paul advance to 4th round at Miami Open

Associated PressMar 26, 2023, 6:06 PM EDT
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Bianca Andreescu of Canada – the 2019 U.S. Open champion – beat 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin of the United States 6-4, 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Open.

Andreescu advanced to the tournament’s fourth round for the third time. She had seven aces to Kenin’s one, and double-faulted only once as she won the third straight matchup between the Grand Slam champions. Andreescu converted all three of her break opportunities.

In other matches, Australian Open winner and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus defeated Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2; and Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic outlasted American Madison Keys 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Also, Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia defeated world No. 9 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, the gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, 7-6 (8), 6-3; Marketa Vondrousova ousted Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-2 in an all-Czech matchup; Sorana Cirstea of Romania beat Karolína Muchová of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-1; and Varvara Gracheva of Russia defeated Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-1, 6-2.

On the men’s side, Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands outlasted world No. 4 Casper Ruud of Norway 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Van de Zandschulp had 12 aces to Ruud’s six, but they each had three double-faults. Van de Zandschulp will face Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland in the next round.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-0, 7-6 (5). Alcaraz faces American Tommy Paul on Tuesday.

“Yeah, today has been a great match, great level. I hope to play at this level on Tuesday,” Alcaraz said. “I lost the first and only match that I played against Tommy. I know that he’s a really talented and really tough player, so I have to play at my best. Let’s see what’s going to happen on Tuesday.”

Paul and fellow American No. 10 Taylor Fritz advanced in straight sets.

Paul beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-3, 7-5, helped by eight aces. Fokina had six double-faults.

Fritz defeated Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6-4, 6-4. Shapovalov had seven double-faults. Fritz will face world No. 8 Holger Rune of Denmark, who defeated Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.

“It’s going to be a tough match I think for a round of 16,” Fritz said. “Myself playing Holger is a very tough draw. I’m excited to play him. We’ve never played before. I’m not entirely I guess sure what to make of his game. Obviously he’s very good.”

Also, Andrey Rublev of Russia dispatched Miomir Kecmanović of Serbian 6-1, 6-2.