MONTREAL: Two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula was eliminated in the third round of the National Bank Open, falling 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Anastasija Sevastova on Friday.
Sevastova, a 35-year-old from Latvia who was ranked 11th in 2018 but has fallen to 386th, broke the third-seeded Pegula six times on 10 chances.
“Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better,” Sevastova said. “Third set, I played really good. “Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.”
In the night session, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland routed Eva Lys of Germany 6-2, 6-2. The second-seeded Swiatek advanced to face 16th-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark, a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva.
Sevastova is the lowest-ranked player to beat a top-10 player since Angelique Kerber edged Jelena Ostapenko last year at Indian Wells.
Sevastova has played 24 WTA Tour-level matches in four years. She got a spot in the main draw with a protected ranking because of a knee injury.
The loss continued a poor run for the fourth-ranked Pegula, who won her opener in Montreal over Maria Sakkari of Greece, but exited Wimbledon and the D.C. Open after one match in July.
Sevastova will take on Naomi Osaka, who moved to the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.
Osaka, a former No. 1-ranked player from Japan, is playing her first tournament with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, She had five aces and converted 6 of 9 break-point opportunities to win the match in 1 hour, 12 minutes.
“She broke me a couple times, but she’s a really good returner, so I can’t take that personally,” Osaka said. “I went in there knowing she’s a great player, and if I give her a chance she’s going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could.”
Sixth-seeded Madison Keys beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“Today I did a good job of bouncing back after the first set,” Keys said. “Let go of the first set and move on. Happy I was able to do that.”
2-time defending champion Jessica Pegula eliminated in Montreal by 386th-ranked Sevastova
https://arab.news/2pqdw
2-time defending champion Jessica Pegula eliminated in Montreal by 386th-ranked Sevastova
- Anastasija Sevastova, a 35-year-old from Latvia who is ranked 386th, broke the third-seeded Pegula six times on 10 chances
- Sevastova is the lowest-ranked player to beat a top-10 player since Angelique Kerber edged Jelena Ostapenko last year at Indian Wells
Carlos Alcaraz ends 7-year partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero
- Alcaraz announced the decision to end their collaboration on Wednesday in a message on his social networks
- Ferrero, in a separate statement, thanked his protege and said he wished he “could have continued”
MADRID: Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is parting ways with his longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, the man who guided him to the pinnacle of men’s tennis during a remarkably successful seven-year partnership.
Alcaraz announced the decision to end their collaboration on Wednesday in a message on his social networks. Ferrero, in a separate statement, thanked his protege and said he wished he “could have continued.”
With Ferrero, who coached the Spaniard since he was 15 years old, Alcaraz claimed six Grand Slams: two French Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns and two US Opens. He amassed 24 tour-level titles, including eight Masters 1000 trophies.
“After more than seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to bring our chapter together as coach and player to an end,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz wrote. “Thank you for turning childhood dreams into reality. We started this journey when I was barely a kid, and throughout all this time you’ve accompanied me on an incredible journey, on and off the court. I’ve enjoyed every single step with you immensely.”
With Ferrero, Alcaraz became the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the ATP rankings after winning the US Open in 2022 at 19.
“Today is a difficult day,” Ferrero said. “One of those when it’s hard to find the right words. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when there are so many shared experiences behind it. We have worked hard, grown together, and shared unforgettable moments.”
Alcaraz did not say whether he would hire a new coach as a replacement. Last year, Alcaraz hired Samuel Lopez to work alongside Ferrero.
Earlier this month, Ferrero and Lopez were named coaches of the year in the ATP awards after helping Alcazar reclaim the No. 1 spot. In yet another prolific season, Alcazar won a career-best and season-leading 71 matches wins and finished with eight titles, including trophies at Roland-Garros and the US Open.
“We have been an incredible team despite the difficulties, and I am sure you will continue to achieve great success,” Ferrero said. “I wish I could have continued. I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
