NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka is back in the third round of the US Open for the first time since 2021, the year after she won her second championship at Flushing Meadows.
She’s playing rather well at the moment, too, under the guidance of a new coach. Just don’t expect Osaka to weigh in on whether she feels as if she is ready to make another deep run at the place.
“Honestly, I don’t really know. I don’t make it my business to know anymore. I kind of just leave it up in the air,” the 23rd-seeded Osaka said after eliminating Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 in the second round in just 70 minutes Thursday. “For me, I realize that I’ve done everything that I could. I’ve trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens.”
Osaka’s four Grand Slam trophies all arrived on hard courts: two at the US Open, two at the Australian Open. Since her 2020 title in New York, her trips there have gone this way: losses in the third round in 2021, first round in 2022, second round last year.
The surface tends to favor the big serves and powerful, first-strike tennis Osaka is best known for, and something she displayed against Baptiste, of course, although she also demonstrated a willingness to vary speeds and spins.
The other talent Osaka is using to great effect so far this week is returning that gets an opponent on the defensive. Osaka already has won 11 of the 18 return games she’s played so far, including during a 6-3, 6-4 win over Greet Minnen in the first round.
After her third-round exit at Wimbledon last month, Osaka split from coach Patrick Mouratoglou and began working with Tomasz Wiktorowski, who used to be part of Iga Swiatek’s team.
One key, Osaka said: Wiktorowski has encouraged her to focus more on the placement of her shots “and not necessarily going for winners most of the time.”
They appear to be making quick progress — and Osaka said her impression of him changed quickly.
“Honestly, I didn’t know him, I thought he was very scary, because he’s very tall and he didn’t smile,” she said. “Now that we’re working together, I see that he smiles often. He has a very friendly smile, and it’s very nice. That’s my little fun fact about Tomasz.”
Venus Williams gets a US Open women’s doubles victory
Venus Williams earned her first win in a US Open women’s doubles match since 2014 — and this time, her partner wasn’t younger sister Serena but Leylah Fernandez. The 45-year-old Williams, who recently returned to the tour after a 16-month absence, and Fernandez eliminated the sixth-seeded pair of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez 7-6 , 6-3.
What else happened at the US Open on Thursday?
Wimbledon champions Swiatek and Jannik Sinner both won — his victory was much more straightforward than hers. Swiatek had some trouble before getting past Suzan Lamens, a Dutch player ranked 66th who’d never appeared at a Grand Slam tournament until this year, by a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 score. Sinner was just fine in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win against Alexei Popyrin, who beat Novak Djokovic at the US Open a year ago.
Who is on Friday’s schedule at the US Open?
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 men’s champion, and Jessica Pegula, the 2024 women’s runner-up, play their third-round matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium during the day session. Djokovic, owner of 24 Grand Slam titles, meets Cam Norrie in Ashe at night, followed by American Taylor Townsend — who got into a back-and-forth with her opponent, Jelena Ostapenko, after their second-round match — against No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva, an 18-year-old from Russia.
So far, so good for Naomi Osaka and her new coach at the US Open
https://arab.news/mz8b6
So far, so good for Naomi Osaka and her new coach at the US Open
‘Passion for bat and ball’: Baseball United and PTV Partner to bring professional baseball to Pakistan
- Partnership will see all Baseball United Season One games screened live
DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, announced a partnership with the Pakistan Television Corporation on Saturday.
The collaboration will include coverage on PTV Sports of all 21 of Baseball United’s games this November and December, including several primetime games featuring the Karachi Monarchs, Pakistan’s first professional baseball franchise.
Broadcasts will feature English commentary and graphics, catering to Pakistan’s massive youth population — nearly 60 percent of the country’s population is aged under 25.
Baseball United’s inaugural season will feature the league’s four founding franchises — the Arabia Wolves and the Mid East Falcons from the UAE, India’s Mumbai Cobras, and Pakistan’s Karachi Monarchs. The Monarchs roster includes four Pakistani players: Musharaf Khan, Faisal Hayat, Amar Mahmood, and Pierce Khan.
The season opens with a matchup between Karachi and Mumbai in the three-game Subcontinent Series on Nov. 14, 15, and 16. It will be the first meeting between professional baseball teams from Pakistan and India, “symbolizing a new chapter of sportsmanship, growth, and unity through sport,” according to a press release. In addition to the four Pakistani players, the Monarchs’ roster features players from 10 countries, including the US, the Netherlands, and South Korea.
The partnership with PTV builds on Baseball United’s history of strong viewership in Pakistan; the league drew 3 million viewers per game during February’s friendly series between its two UAE franchises. The series between Karachi and Mumbai is set to significantly top those figures, the organizers believe.
“We are very grateful to announce this partnership with the Pakistan Television Corporation,” Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United, said in a statement. “This move continues to reinforce our growth across the subcontinent. PTV Sports has been the home of sports in Pakistan for decades, connecting generations of fans through cricket, football, and now, baseball. Millions of Pakistanis will now have the chance to experience a brand-new sport that builds upon their passion for bat and ball, led by their own professional franchise, the Karachi Monarchs. We’re honored to join forces with such a trusted and iconic broadcaster to grow the game and inspire the next generation of Pakistani athletes.”
PTV Sports will support the launch with on-air promotions, cross-channel marketing, and collaborative social media campaigns with Baseball United’s marketing team.
Pakistan represents one of Baseball United’s most promising markets, the press release states, adding: “The country’s deep sports culture, love for competition, and enthusiasm for international events make it a cornerstone of the league’s long-term strategy, marking a pivotal moment in bringing professional baseball to fans in the world’s fifth-most populous nation.”
“PTV Sports is delighted to partner with Baseball United to introduce this exciting global sport to Pakistani audiences,” said Aaliya Rasheed, executive director of PTV Sports. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to diversifying sports content and giving fans access to world-class international action.”
Baseball United’s first full season will feature 21 games played over 30 days at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai. The season will culminate with the United Series Championship on Dec. 12, 13, and 14.
Supported by 20 Major League Baseball legends, including Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrián Beltré, and Albert Pujols, Baseball United is “building the first professional baseball ecosystem in the Middle East and South Asia,” the press release stated. “Each franchise represents the first professional baseball team in its respective city, and the league has constructed significant grassroots infrastructure in Pakistan and surrounding countries to help develop top talent.”
