Serena storms into third round

Nadal shakes off slow start to qualify

TORONTO, Aug 8, (RTRS): Serena Williams made a solid start to her first US Open tune-up with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Elise Mertens on Wednesday while Naomi Osaka took a step closer to regaining her world No. 1 ranking by reaching the last 16 of the Rogers Cup.

Three-times champion Williams, playing her first match since falling to Simona Halep in the Wimbledon final, married her trademark power with quick movement and a steady stream of booming serves to overwhelm Belgian Mertens.

Williams is keen to get more hardcourt matches in before going for a record-equalling 24th career Grand Slam title at the Aug 26-Sept 8 US Open and she took some time to hit her stride on Wednesday.

After a pedestrian start, Williams raised the intensity during a lengthy four-deuce service game in the first set that she closed out with a thundering ace to go ahead 4-3 and set the tone for the rest of the 75-minute match.

She went on to win six of the final seven games to seal the win.

Williams will face Russian qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16 and a win would set up a potential quarter-final with US Open champion Naomi Osaka, which would be their first encounter since last year’s controversial New York final.

Earlier on Tuesday, Japanese second seed Osaka won the first set against Tatjana Maria 6-2 and advanced when the German qualifier retired.

By reaching the last 16, Osaka is set to unseat Australian Ash Barty,

Serena Williams, of the United States, waves to the crowd after defeating Elise Mertens, of Belgium, during the Rogers Cup women’s tennis tournament on Aug 7 in

Toronto. (AP) Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, returns to Canada’s Milos Raonic during the Rogers Cup men’s tennis tournament on Aug

7 in Montreal. (AP)

who lost her second-round match on Tuesday, as world number one next week, though Karolina Pliskova also has a chance to reclaim top spot if she reaches the semifinals.

The Czech third seed beat American qualifier Alison Riske 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2 and will next face Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who was beating Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5, 3-1 when the Spaniard retired with a hip injury.

Fourth seed Halep survived a stern test from American qualifier Jennifer Brady with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) victory to reach the last 16 and keep alive her hopes of winning a second consecutive Rogers Cup title.

Halep, playing her first match since Wimbledon, needed a medical timeout to get treatment on her left leg and even after building a 4-0 cushion in the deciding set had to dig deep after Brady mounted a comeback.

Next up for Halep will be Russian wildcard Svetlana Kuznetsova, who got by Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6(4), 6-3.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki fell 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Polish qualifier Iga Swiatek, who smacked 34 winners en route to the win over the 2010 champion under the lights.

Swiatek will need all the rest she can get before she faces Osaka in the third round on Thursday.

Among the other players advancing were Ukrainian sixth seed and 2017 champion Elina Svitolina, Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, Canadian Bianca Andreescu and Swiss Belinda Bencic.

Meanwhile, top seed and defending champion Rafa Nadal overcame a slow start to beat British qualifier Dan Evans 7-6(6), 6-4 while Stefanos Tsitsipas and John Isner both fell in second-round upsets at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Nadal, playing his first match since losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semifinals, fell behind 5-2 in the tiebreak before roaring back to prevail in his first career meeting with world number 53 Evans.

The Spaniard jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second set before the players were forced off court for a rain delay and when play resumed Evans got back on serve at 3-3 before Nadal regained his confidence and proved too strong.

The French Open champion said he did not make an ideal start as he struggled to adjust to a new playing surface given the amount of time he logged on clay and grass in recent months.

Up next for Nadal, a four-times champion in Canada who has never successfully defended a hard-court title in his career, will be Argentine Guido Pella, who was a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2) winner over Moldova’s Radu Albot.

Hubert Hurkacz defeated world number five Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 for the Pole’s fourth win over a top 10 opponent this year.

The crucial moment came with Tsitsipas facing a break point and trailing 4-3 in the third set.

Hurkacz hit a passing shot that got past the charging Tsitsipas but the Greek believed the shot was wide.

Tsitsipas was angry that he could not challenge the call since there was no Hawkeye review system available to the players on the outside court.

Isner failed to convert any of his break point opportunities and his usually deadly serve didn’t quite fire as he fell 6-3, 6-4 to Cristian Garin of Chile. Simona Halep, of Romania, returns a shot to Jennifer Brady of the US during Round 2 of the Rogers Cup women’s

tennis tournament in Toronto on Aug 7. (AP) LONDON, Aug 8, (RTRS): Latest news and highlights from the Premier League’s transfer deadline day on Thursday.

Carroll rejoins Newcastle England striker Andy Carroll, who was released by West Ham United at the end of last season, has rejoined boyhood side Newcastle United on an initial one-year deal.

Carroll, 30, spent five seasons at Newcastle before switching to Liverpool in 2011 for 35 million pounds ($42 million). Celtic’s Tierney joins Arsenal Arsenal have signed Celtic defender Kieran Tierney on a longterm deal, the north London club said.

Celtic added that Arsenal had paid 25 million pounds for the Scotland international left back.

Arsenal’s 20-year-old striker Eddie Nketiah joined Championship side Leeds United on a season-long loan.

‘Zaha not leaving Palace’ Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, who had been linked by the British media with moves to Arsenal and Everton, will not leave the club in the current transfer window, manager Roy Hodgson has said.

“He wasn’t really in the right frame of mind today, so I sent him home (from training), which is understandable.

“His beef is with the chairman and owners... because he’s wanted to leave and they haven’t received the offer that they think is sufficient to allow him to leave.” Brighton complete Mooy deal Brighton & Hove Albion have sealed a season-long loan deal for Australia international midfielder Aaron Mooy from Championship

side Huddersfield Town. “He’s been a talisman for Huddersfield in recent seasons with his performances... and he’s proved to be an excellent professional both on and off the pitch,” Brighton boss Graham Potter said of the 28-year-old.

Watford seal Sarr deal Watford have signed Senegal forward Ismaila Sarr from French Ligue 1 club Stade Rennes on a five-year deal for a club-record fee, they announced.

French media reported that Watford had paid Rennes around 32 million pounds for the 21-year-old, eclipsing the 18.5 million pounds they paid for forward Andre Gray. Sarr played 77 games over two years at Rennes scoring 18 goals.

West Brom signs Austin Southampton striker Charlie Austin has joined Championship side West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee that British media reported was 4 million pounds.

Austin replaces Salomon Rondon who left West Brom to join Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang.

The 30-year-old Austin, whose time at St Mary’s was plagued by injuries in the past few seasons, made 81 appearances and scored 20 goals for Southampton. Burnley eye Drinkwater Burnley manager Sean Dyche has told reporters that a season-long loan for Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater is a “maybe”, with an agreement yet to be reached.

Meanwhile, midfielder Grady Diangana has sealed a season-long loan switch to Championship (second-tier) side West Bromwich Albion from West Ham United. Pellegrini happy with squad West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini said he was pleased to have finalised his squad for the new season after signing Swiss international Albian Ajeti from FC Basel on Thursday.

“I’m happy because we have completed the squad in the way we wanted. We have two players in each position and the best way is to have competition. We have done

Carroll

what we needed,” Pellegrini told a news conference.

Ajeti is the second striker recruited by West Ham in the close season following record signing Sebastien Haller and will also compete with the likes of Javier Hernandez and Michail Antonio to lead the attack.

Newcastle sign Krafth Newcastle United have signed Sweden international defender Emil Krafth from French Ligue 1 side Amiens on an initial four-year contract for a reported fee of 5 million pounds.

Krafth is Newcastle’s fourth signing of the close season following Joelinton, Jetro Willems and Allan Saint-Maximin.

Redmond signs new deal Southampton midfielder Nathan Redmond has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract up to 2023. The 25-year-old scored nine times in the last six months of the 2018-19 campaign to be named Southampton’s player of the season.

Sampdoria’s Praet in Leicester for medical

Sampdoria’s Belgian midfielder Dennis Praet has arrived at Leicester City’s training complex ahead of a potential switch for 18 million pounds, Sky Sports reported.

West Ham sign Ajeti West Ham United have signed Swiss international striker Albian Ajeti from FC Basel for what British media said was a fee of around 8 million pounds.

West Ham said the 22-year-old had signed an initial four-year deal with the option to extend for two more years. He becomes the club’s sixth new arrival. Arsenal agree to buy David Luiz Arsenal have agreed to buy centre back David Luiz from London rivals Chelsea for 8 million pounds, the BBC reported. Luiz, 32, is set to sign a two-year contract and will have a medical later in the day.

Arsenal sold centre back Laurent Koscielny to French Ligue 1 side Girondins Bordeaux on Tuesday.