Serena pulls out of tourney
Serena Williams has pulled out of next week’s Rogers Cup hard- court tournament in Montreal, citing personal reasons.
The tournament announced Williams’ withdrawal on Saturday.
The 23- time Grand Slam champion is coming off the most lopsided defeat of her career, a 6- 1, 6- 0 loss to Johanna Konta in San Jose, California, on Tuesday.
The 36- year- old Williams was the runner- up at Wimbledon last month. That was just her fourth tournament since returning to the tour after having a baby in September and dealing with a health scare related to blood clots.
The year’s last major tournament, the U. S. Open, starts on Aug. 27.
Williams will be replaced in the draw at Montreal by Tatjana Maria, who faces Alize Cornet in the first round.
KLIZAN WINS
Martin Klizan of Slovakia won his sixth ATP title in six finals when he beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6- 2, 6- 2 at the Generali Open in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
The second all- qualifier final on the tour since 1990 was wrapped up in 68 minutes.
“My performance was the best of the tournament,” Klizan said. “There was pressure for both of us. I played a very solid game.”
Klizan knocked out two seeds, including top seed and home favorite Dominic Thiem in the second round, to reach his first final in two years.
“Sometimes in the finals I was lucky, sometimes it was hard work, and sometimes I was better on court. You never know what is going to happen,” Klizan said. “I am just happy to have that kind of statistic, winning six titles from six finals. In doubles, I have four titles from four finals. I am very proud.”
ZVEREV ADVANCES
Defending champion Alexander Zverev has reached the final at the Citi Open in Washington.
The No. 1- seeded Zverev defeated 10th- seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6- 2, 6- 4 in the semifinals. Sixteenth- seeded Andrey Rublev beat unseeded Denis Kudla 6- 1, 6- 4 in one quarterfinal and was scheduled to face Alex de Minaur in the other semifinal Saturday night.
De Minaur reached the semis when former No. 1 Andy Murray withdrew from the hard- court U. S. Open tuneup, citing fatigue.
Zheng Saisai beat Allie Kick 6- 3, 6- 1 in the women’s quarterfinals, advancing to face seventh- seeded Donna Vekic.