Athletic performance Archives

Djokovic turns up heat to beat Fritz and breeze into U.S. Open semi-finals

Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 5, 2023 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid Acquire Licensing Rights

Novak Djokovic shrugged off stifling heat and Taylor Fritz to breeze into the U.S. Open semi-finals 6-1 6-4 6-4 on Tuesday and stay on course for a fourth Flushing Meadows crown that would see him match Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 Grand Slams.

With temperatures once again nudging towards 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), Djokovic turned in a cool, clinical effort, improving his record against American opposition at the U.S. Open to a perfect 12-0.

While Fritz’s Grand Slam came to an end, the U.S. is guaranteed at least one player in the men’s semi-finals with Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton meeting in an all-American clash on Arthur Ashe later on Tuesday with Djokovic waiting to take on the winner for a spot in Sunday’s final.

“It’s expected of course that people are backing the home player and there is nothing wrong with that,” said Djokovic. “I actually like the energy, like the atmosphere on centre court here.

“Day sessions, night sessions, people are getting into it.

“I’m fine with that. I thrive on that energy and try to use it as a fuel.

“I’ve been playing on this court for so many years, so many epic matches, I can’t wait for another one in a few days time.”

On a baking hot day, 19-year-old Coco Gauff had warmed up the Arthur Ashe crowd, blasting past Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-2 to become the youngest American to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2001.

Source:https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/djokovic-turns-up-heat-beat-fritz-breeze-into-us-open-semi-finals-2023-09-05/

Coco Gauff Thrashes Jelena Ostapenko To Reach US Open Semi-Final

Coco Gauff will face either Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova or Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the US Open last four on Thursday.

Coco Gauff in action during US Open 2023

Coco Gauff thrashed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the US Open for the first time on Tuesday. American sixth seed Gauff dominated Latvia’s 20th seed Ostapenko from start to finish, winning 6-0, 6-2 in just 1hr 8min. Gauff, 19, will face either Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova or Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the last four on Thursday. Gauff, beaten in the quarter-finals last year, is the first American teenager to reach the US Open semi-finals since 2001. “It feels great, I’m so happy,” said Gauff. “Last year I lost in the quarter-finals stage and wanted to do better this year. I have a long way to go but I’m happy and will be ready for the next one.” “I didn’t feel comfortable at all the whole match, even at match point. She has the ability to come back no matter the scoreline so I was just trying to play every ball and hit it deep.”

On Tuesday’s evidence, the American teenager will head into the last four brimming with confidence after producing a superb display to overwhelm Ostapenko.

Ostapenko had produced the shock of the tournament in the last 16 on Sunday, ousting world number one and reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek in three sets.

But amid furnace-like heat on the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the inconsistent Latvian wilted in the face of a scorching performance from her American opponent.

Gauff broke her opponent’s serve three times in a lopsided first set which was over in 20 minutes, with the Latvian coughing 15 unforced errors to Gauff’s two.

Ostapenko was soon in trouble in the second set, suffering a service break in the opening game when Gauff’s sublime drop shot left the Latvian scrambling to the net.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/coco-gauff-thrashes-jelena-ostapenko-to-reach-us-open-semi-final-4363192

Tiger Woods withdraws from Masters due to foot injury before play resumes

Tiger Woods, who looked to be in serious pain during a rain-filled Saturday at the Masters, withdrew from the tournament because of a foot injury before play resumed Sunday morning at Augusta National Golf Club.

In a statement posted to his Twitter account Sunday, Woods said he aggravated a previous plantar fasciitis injury in his right foot — the same injury that caused the five-time Masters champion to withdraw from the Hero World Challenge, an unofficial event he hosts in the Bahamas, in February.

Woods, 47, was limping badly as he played many of the first eight holes of the third round in a downpour Saturday. Woods was 6-over through his first seven completed holes of the third round. He was 9-over through 43 holes, which was worst among the 54 players who made the 36-hole cut, and 22 strokes behind leader Brooks Koepka.

Woods faced the prospect of finishing the 17th hole and playing 28 more holes Sunday.

It is the second time in the past year that Woods has withdrawn from a major championship because of injury. In May, he pulled out of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after posting his worst score in the event, a 9-over 79 in the third round.

After starting the third round on the second nine Saturday, Woods made consecutive double bogeys on holes 15 and 16 after putting two balls in the water. It was the first time in the 15-time major champion’s storied career that he recorded back-to-back double bogeys in the Masters and only the fourth such instance in a major championship.

Play was suspended at 3:15 p.m. ET on Saturday after heavy rainfall left water pooling on greens. Woods had just hit his second shot on the 17th hole, his eighth hole of the round. He was limping badly even while taking only a few steps from his bag to his ball in the fairway.

For the second straight year at the Masters, Woods struggled in cold weather on the weekend. He barely made the cut on the number Saturday — it moved to 3-over after his good friend Justin Thomas had bogeys on each of the last two holes and missed the cut. It was Woods’ 23rd consecutive made cut at Augusta National, which tied Gary Player and Fred Couples for the longest streak in the tournament’s history.

Source: https://www.espn.in/golf/story/_/id/36130791/tiger-woods-withdraws-masters-play-resumes-sunday