Fed Cup final: Czechs race to 2-0 lead against US
PRAGUE: World doubles number one Katerina Siniakova and veteran Barbora Strycova powered the Czech Republic to the verge of another Fed Cup title in the final against defending champions the United States on Saturday.
Their opening day victories ensured the Czech team will take a 2-0 lead into Sunday as they seek a sixth Fed Cup triumph since 2011 against the only country to have won more titles.
The two most successful teams in the tournament’s history were facing off without their top players.
Americans Serena and Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens were all unavailable while, for the Czechs, world number eight Karolina Pliskova pulled out with injury and Petra Kvitova was sidelined on the first day with illness.
That left the responsibility to Siniakova, who defeated Alison Riske 6-3 7-6(2), and veteran Barbora Strycova, who beat Fed Cup debutant Sofia Kenin 6-7(5) 6-1 6-4 in the opening rubber.
TSITSIPAS ‘CONFUSED’ BY NEXT GEN RULES
MILAN: Stefanos Tsitsipas capped a rollercoaster season by winning the Next Gen ATP Final on Saturday but the rising Greek star conceded he was slightly bemused by the rules of the tournament.
The 20-year-old from Athens came through 2-4, 4-1, 4-3 (7/3), 4-3 (7/3) on his third match point against 19-year-old Australian Alex de Minaur after one hour and 41 minutes to win his second career title after Stockholm last month.
“To be honest with you, I’m confused myself. I don’t really know what I liked and what I didn’t like,” said the Tsitsipas.
The round-robin tournament for players aged under 21 years has a shorter format than other tournaments, playing sets of first to four games, with tie breaks at 3-3.
MOMOTA TRIUMPHS AT CHINA OPEN
SHANGHAI: World champion Kento Momota won Fuzhou China Open on Sunday to add another title to his already spectacular season.
Japan’s world number one survived a spirited challenge from Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, defeating the fourth seed 21-13, 11-21, 21-16 in 66 minutes.
The 24-year-old has been in scorching form this year, winning the World Championships, the Asia Championships and now four events on the World Tour.