US Open finalists Keys, Stephens out in first round
US Open winner Sloane Stephens suffered a shock defeat at the hands of China’s Wang Qiang in the first round of the Wuhan Open on Monday, hours after fellow Flushing Meadows finalist Madison Keys tumbled out. Stephens, the 14th seed, lost 6-2, 6-2 in her first WTA event since her surprise victory against Keys in New York. Despite a strong fight by Stephens in the second set, Wang -- spurred on by the home crowd in the 15,000-capacity stadium -- proved too strong for the 24-year-old American. “I didn’t play a great match. But my opponent played very well,” Stephens told a post-match press conference.
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FEDERER HANDS EUROPE LAVER CUP
World number two Roger Federer handed Team Europe the maiden Laver Cup title after beating Team World’s Nick Kyrgios in a super tie-break thriller in Prague.Federer, this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, won 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 11/9 to give Team Europe an unbeatable 15-9 lead yesterday.
KYRGIOS DENIES KNEELING IN TRUMP PROTEST
Controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios denied that his kneeling down gesture before his Laver Cup clash against Roger Federer was part of similar protests against US President Donald Trump. A picture of the 22-yearold kneeling just before the start of the warm-up in Prague went viral on Twitter. “I’m doing that before most matches just to remember, you know, the two most important people that have passed away,” said world number 20 Kyrgios in reference to his late grandmother and grandfather. “I just take a knee to remember those before I go out there and play.”
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