Jabeur bounces back; Ruud, Gauff and Russian teenager advance
Jabeur, a crowd favorite in Paris, expressed relief in not repeating last year’s result, where she lost to Magda Linette of Poland
PARIS: Ons Jabeur got a doover on Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open and won this time.
A year after her first-round exit, the No. 7 seed beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-1 Tuesday to help erase some bad memories for the Tunisian and answer questions about a recent calf injury.
On his return to Roland Garros after badly damaging an ankle in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal last year, Alexander Zverev also advanced in straight sets.
Jabeur, a crowd favorite in Paris, expressed relief in not repeating last year’s result, where she lost to Magda Linette of Poland.
“I was pretty stressed, I’ve got to say,” Jabeur said. “The most important thing for me was to feel healthy and to move well on the court.”
Now she can focus on trying to win her first major. She was runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.
Jabeur has been battling injuries. She had knee surgery after the Australian Open, and was then sidelined by a calf injury. She retired injured against top-ranked Iga Swiatek in Stuttgart in late April and pulled out of the Madrid Open.
“It was a very difficult period for me after Stuttgart,” Jabeur said on court, adding she’s beginning to find her rhythm.
Jabeur struck 27 winners to Bronzetti’s seven, though with 24 unforced errors she has room to improve.
“I feel 100% fit. I need to have more matches under my belt to gain confidence,” she said.
Zverev, the No. 22 seed in Paris, defeated Lloyd Harris 7-6 (6), 7-6 (0), 6-1 and improved his unbeaten record against the South African to 4-0. Zverev has been struggling to get back to his best since he retired in pain against Nadal and later underwent surgery, but he has shown progress recently.
Also Tuesday, 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova lost her opening match at the French Open for the second straight year. The 13th-seeded Czech exited the tournament after losing to Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine 6-2, 6-4.
At 16 years old, qualifier Mirra Andreeva of Russia had a memorable Grand Slam debut by dominating Alison RiskeAmritraj
6-2, 6-1. Andreeva’s older sister — 18-year-old Erika — faced Emma Navarro late in the day.
No. 6 seed Coco Gauff stumbled early but got past Rebeka Masarova 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round.
Later, Swiatek was to get her title defense started against Cristina Bucsa, who was ranked 70th.
Two other women’s seeds lost: No. 25 Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine lost to wild card Diane Parry of France 6-2, 6-3; and No. 31 Marie Bouzkova fell to Chinese player Xinyu Wang 6-4, 7-6 (5).
On the men’s side, No. 4 seed Casper Ruud beat qualifier Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, to remind the higher-profile tournament favorites that he was runner-up to Nadal last year at Roland Garros.
AHMEDABAD: Chennai Super Kings’ triumphant captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has not yet ruled out playing in the IPL next year but said for that to happen, his body will have to hold up.
Under the 41-year-old Dhoni’s leadership, CSK won a record-equalling fifth IPL title with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans here on Monday.
“Circumstantially, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love I have received all over, the easy thing would be to walk away from here, but the harder thing would be to work hard for nine months and try to play another IPL,” Dhoni said after the final.
Dhoni has been the cynosure of all eyes ever since the Indian Premier League began this year and in a fitting end to the finale, the captain finished with a record-levelling fifth trophy.
This IPL his fans from across the country went to the venues in large numbers to cheer for him, chanting his name wherever CSK have played. “It would be a gift from
Dhoni has been the cynosure of all eyes ever since the IPL began this year and in a fitting end to the finale
me, won’t be easy on the body. You do get emotional, the first game at CSK everyone was chanting my name. My eyes were full of water, I needed to take some time off in the dugout. “I realised I need to enjoy this. I think they love me for what I am, I don’t try to portray something I’m not. Just keep it simple,” Dhoni said.
Speaking about the match, Dhoni said, “Every trophy is special, but what is special about IPL is every crunch game you need to be ready. There were lapses today, the bowling department didn’t work, but it was the batting department that took the pressure off them today.
“I do get frustrated, it is human but I try to step into their shoes, every individual deals with pressure differently.
Ajinkya (Rahane) and a few others are experienced, so you don’t worry. If anyone is confused, then can always ask.”
Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya, who considers Dhoni his mentor, said he didn’t mind losing to the twotime World Cup-winning India captain. “I think we tick a lot of boxes and we play with our heart. We’ve always been a team that has stood together and no one gave up. We win together and we lose together. Maybe one of those games today,” he said. “I mean, I’m not one of those guys who makes excuses,” Hardik said.
When asked about Dhoni, he said, “I’m very happy for him. Destiny had this written for him. If I had to lose, I don’t mind losing to him. Good things happen to good people.”
B Sai Sudharsan slammed 96 in 47 balls as Gujarat Titans posted 214 for four after being asked to bat first.
Set a revised target of 171 in 15 overs after rain interrupted play at the start of the second innings of the final that was pushed to the reserve day owing to heavy downpour.