Sisters bow out in first round
NEW YORK: World No 1 Iga Swiatek and men's second seed Rafa Nadal booked their spots in the third round of the US Open yesterday, while the Williams sisters' quest for a 15th Grand Slam doubles crown ended in a firstround defeat.
Swiatek, who prevailed 63, 62 over former champion Sloane Stephens, is the last of the top four seeds remaining at Flushing Meadows after Croatia's Petra Martic beat fourth seed Paula Badosa 67 (57), 61, 62.
Serena and Venus Williams, joining forces for their first US Open since 2014, fell 76 (5), 64 to Czech duo Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova, leaving Serena free to focus on what could be the final singles campaign of her career.
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka triumphed 62, 63 over Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, but was denied the customary handshake after a politically charged match, with the pair instead exchanging a quick tap of the racquet.
In a late night scrap on Arthur Ashe stadium, Nadal overcame a poor start and a freak injury scare to beat Fabio Fognini 26, 64, 62, 61, after he was struck on the nose by his racquet when it hit the court and bounced back.
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, quarterfinalist last year, dug deep to hold off veteran Argentine Federico Coria and clinch a 62, 61, 75 victory.
Canadian 19th seed Denis
Shapovalov overcame a slight wobble in the second set to get the better of Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena 64, 46, 63, 62. He next faces Andrey Rublev.
Belarusian sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka, a semifinalist last year, roared back from 51 down in the second set and saved two match points along the way to overcome Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi 26, 76(8), 64.
Former finalist Karolina Pliskova also booked her place in the third round with a comfortable 63, 62 win over fellow Czech Marie Bouzkova.
British No 1 Cameron Norrie was barely troubled in a convincing 64, 64, 76(4) win over unseeded Portuguese Joao Sousa. — Reuters
GET to the All Blacks test early if you do not want to be too disappointed.
The curtainraiser for the Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Hamilton tonight will feature a bantamweight clash between the Bush Pigs and Debt Collectors.
They are fun names, but it is a serious contest.
The Southern Bush Pigs breezed into the final of the New Zealand Under85kg Club Cup with an impressive 485 win against the Karaka Razzlers at Bathgate Park on the weekend.
The defending champions will play the Auckland University Debt Collectors, who edged College Rifles Bombers 1611 in the semifinal.
The Bush Pigs will lean heavily on their talented back three.
Winger Tom Rance scored a couple of first half tries to help slam the door on the Razzlers.
Fullback Mackenzie Haugh is always on the cusp of doing something special, and Jordan McEntee is the intercept king.
Hamilton, today, 4.15pm
Southern Bush Pigs: Mackenzie Haugh, Tom Rance, Josh Buchan, Oscar Anderson, Jordan McEntee, Taine CraigRanga, Devon OlliverBell, Lucas Govaerts, Reuben Kerr, Mat McCutcheon, Jacob Bolwell, Sam Masterton, Jacob Sutherland, Morgan Jones, Waiora Morris. Reserves: Michael Hayes, Jayden Willcock, Gus Mackinnon, Jack Shaw, Charlie Marsh, Coby Osborne, Toby Kennett.
Centre Josh Buchan is another dangerous player to watch.
The Bush Pigs will be without their openside flanker and captain Wilson Driver, who will be joining teammate Mika Vaitupu at a stag do in Australia.
Driver will be a huge loss. He has led the defensive effort with a couple of million tackles each game.
The Debt Collectors have been billed as the team to beat and have produced some very tidy performances. Their defence effort against the Bombers was admirable.