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Veteran Djokovic overcomes Shelton to reach US Open final

Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 8, 2023 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the U.S. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Novak Djokovic used his experience to overcome American Ben Shelton as the Serbian battled past his 20-year-old challenger 6-3 6-2 7-6(4) to reach his 10th U.S. Open final on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.

Shelton had flummoxed opponents in New York with his big serve, but the 36-year-old second seed Djokovic was able to harness his experience to neutralise a third-set surge from the young American.

He next faces the winner of a match between top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and third seed Daniil Medvedev.

“Obviously I knew that he’s got a lot of firepower. He has an amazing pop on the serve, he’s just so dynamic and very unpredictable what comes next,” said Djokovic. “I just had to stay there mentally, present, calm, and focus on the game plan.”

Already assured of returning to the top of the world rankings when they are updated after the tournament, Djokovic will continue the hunt for his 24th Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court’s all-time singles record on Sunday.

Shelton handed Djokovic a break in the sixth game of the first set with a series of unforced errors, and the unseeded American was unable to convert his own break point chance in the ninth.

In the second set, Shelton’s best weapon failed him as he helped Djokovic secure a break with a double fault in the fifth game and he dropped his racquet in frustration as he sent a forehand out to hand the Serb another break in the seventh.

Djokovic was competing in his 47th major semi-final while Shelton was appearing in his first. The difference in experience was apparent as the second seed broke Shelton with a fine forehand winner in the opening game of the third set.

But the American came to life late as he fended off a break point with a 143-mph (230-kph) ace in the fifth game to a chorus of cheers from the home crowd.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/veteran-djokovic-overcomes-shelton-reach-us-open-final-2023-09-08/

Coco Gauff scores gutty win after climate protesters’ delay to reach US Open final

Protestors interrupted the U.S. Open.

But they couldn’t stop Coco Gauff and her inexorable march toward her first Grand Slam title.

The American teen phenomenon ground out a 6-4, 7-5 semifinal victory over Karolina Muchova on Thursday, a match delayed by almost 50 minutes due to a group of climate change protestors in the loge section of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Four people were removed and given trespass notices. One even glued his bare feet to the concrete floor, with security and law enforcement taking well over half an hour to figure out how to pry him away.

But on the court, Gauff’s feet were as fleet as ever. The 19-year-old chased down ball after ball from Muchova, that athletic defense contributing to 17 unforced errors in the first set by the 10th-seeded Czech. Gauff broke Muchova’s very first service game, ran out to a 5-1 first-set lead and held on.

The second set was more of a grind, whether because of Muchova finding her game or Gauff losing hers amid the lengthy delay. The last hour was world championship tennis and Gauff came out on top.

“Thank you guys so much. Some of those points it was so loud, I don’t know if my ears are going to be OK. But thank you guys, it was crazy,” Gauff said in an on-court TV interview. “I grew up watching this tournament; it means so much to me to be in the finals. But the job is not done. Hopefully you guys can back me on Saturday.”

Coco Gauff pumps her fist after winning a point during her U.S. Open semifinal victory over Karolina Muchova.
Getty Images

It was as grueling as a straight-set win can be. Asked what her plans were after the victory, she replied, “Press. Treatment. Watch some anime,” adding that she watched hours of “My Hero Academia” before the match.

Whatever she did worked.

Following a first-round loss at Wimbledon, Gauff added renowned Brad Gilbert to her coaching team.

The results have been immediate and impressive, going 16-1 since with tourney wins at D.C. and Cincinnati, beating Muchova in the latter final.

Coco Gauff smashes a backhand during her U.S. Open semifinal win.
Getty Images

Gauff did so again Thursday, moving into the final against the winner of the other semifinal between American Madison Keys and second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.

Early in the second set with Gauff leading 6-4, 1-0, play was interrupted for 49 minutes 45 seconds by a group of fans wearing “End Climate Change” shirts..

“We had environmental protestors up in the loge area. We had three, two were removed, quietly left,” tournament director Stacey Allaster told ESPN. “When security got there, they found one of the protestors had physically glued himself by his bare feet to the cement floor.

“There’s no doubt in a 24,000-seat stadium people get ideas. We know environmental protestors use the platform [of events like this]. Certainly security will be resuming — along with law enforcement — to see what we can do to prevent it in the future.”

Source: https://nypost.com/2023/09/07/coco-gauff-scores-gutty-win-after-protesters-delay-to-reach-us-open-final/

US Open: Climate activists interrupt women’s semi-final and glue their shoes to the ground

The protest – one of many to target sporting events in recent months – delayed the showdown between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Climate activists have interrupted the women’s semi-final at the US Open.
The protesters were wearing shirts that said End Fossil Fuels – and began causing disruption from the stands at the start of the second set.

At least one demonstrator had glued their shoes to the ground, making them harder to remove.

They appeared to be from the Extinction Rebellion group – and fans began to cheer as police officers arrived to take them away.

The protest – one of many to target sporting events in recent months – delayed the showdown between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Coco Gauff reacts as play is disrupted. Pic: AP

Gauff initially sat on the sidelines and ate fruit from a plastic container while waiting for play to resume, and hit a few practice serves before heading to the locker room with her opponent.

It took more than 35 minutes for the protesters to be removed, and play was suspended for the best part of an hour.

Back in July, two matches were interrupted at Wimbledon after environmental activists jumped out of the stands at an outside court and scattered orange confetti and jigsaw pieces on the grass.
Protests have also taken place at The British Open golf championship, The Ashes, and the World Snooker Championship.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/us-open-climate-activists-interrupt-womens-semi-final-and-glue-their-shoes-to-the-ground-12957091

Sabalenka eases past Zheng into US Open semis

Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 6, 2023 Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her quarter final match against China’s Qinwen Zheng REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid

– Second seed Aryna Sabalenka crushed Zheng Qinwen 6-1 6-4 on Wednesday to reach her fifth straight Grand Slam semi-final and end the Chinese 23rd seed’s charmed run at the U.S. Open.

Sabalenka, who will move top of the world rankings next week, will next face 17th seed Madison Keys after the American powered past Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.

The Belarusian leads Keys 2-1 in their head-to-head meetings, most recently beating her in the Wimbledon quarters.

Zheng, in her first Grand Slam quarter-final, endured a miserable time against the Australian Open winner as she was unable to get much power off her serve and committed a succession of errors.

“I’m super happy with the win against her … super happy with the performance,” said Sabalenka, who lost in the semi-finals in her previous two U.S. Open appearances.

“I’m going to do everything I can to stay until the end.”

Sabalenka has not dropped a set this year at Flushing Meadows and won the first five games on Wednesday, dropping only one point on her first serve in the opening set.

Zheng improved in the second set, forcing Sabalenka to run back and forth along the baseline and showed finesse to triumph in a 21-shot rally in the fifth game.

“In the second set she start playing better, serving better. I kind of expect that, because after first set it was, like, nothing to lose for her, she start playing a little bit more aggressive,” Sabalenka said.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/sabalenka-eases-past-zheng-reach-us-open-semis-2023-09-06/

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