Egypt’s Mayar Sherif Rallies to Reach Monterrey Quarters

Egyptian player Mayar Sherif in action against Chinese tennis player Xinyu Wang during a match on the fourth day of the Monterrey Tennis Open in Monterrey, Mexico, 02 March 2023. (EPA)
Egyptian player Mayar Sherif in action against Chinese tennis player Xinyu Wang during a match on the fourth day of the Monterrey Tennis Open in Monterrey, Mexico, 02 March 2023. (EPA)
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Egypt’s Mayar Sherif Rallies to Reach Monterrey Quarters

Egyptian player Mayar Sherif in action against Chinese tennis player Xinyu Wang during a match on the fourth day of the Monterrey Tennis Open in Monterrey, Mexico, 02 March 2023. (EPA)
Egyptian player Mayar Sherif in action against Chinese tennis player Xinyu Wang during a match on the fourth day of the Monterrey Tennis Open in Monterrey, Mexico, 02 March 2023. (EPA)

Seventh-seeded Mayar Sherif of Egypt saved two match points while rallying for a 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 win over China's Xinyu Wang on Thursday in the second round of the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey, Mexico.

Wang served for the match at 6-5 of the second set, but Sherif broke to force a tiebreaker. Wang then jumped ahead 6-4 before Sherif took the final four points of the tiebreaker to extend the match.

A service break in the fifth game of the final set was all Sherif needed, though it took her four match points to close out the win.

Sherif's quarterfinal opponent will be top-seeded Caroline Garcia of France, who cruised past Spain's Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-3, 6-2.

Fourth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium posted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse. She will oppose the winner of the late Thursday match between eighth-seeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy and Tatjana Maria of Germany in the quarterfinals.

ATX Open

Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam prevailed in a marathon third-set tiebreaker, edging Russia's Erika Andreeva 7-5, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (8) in second-round action at Austin, Texas.

Friedsam squandered three match points in the decisive tiebreaker before Andreeva had a match point at 8-7. Friedsam bounced back and finally sealed the win.

Friedsam's upcoming quarterfinal opponent, Marta Kostyuk, also needed three sets to advance. The eighth-seeded Ukrainian defeated the United States' Madison Brengle 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.

Fourth-seeded Danielle Collins won an all-US matchup against Caty McNally 6-1, 6-1, and Russia's Anna Kalinskaya ousted the United States' Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-1.



Estoril to Wear Senna-Inspired Kit to Mark Late Brazilian’s First F1 Win 

Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)
Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Estoril to Wear Senna-Inspired Kit to Mark Late Brazilian’s First F1 Win 

Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)
Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)

Portuguese top-flight side Estoril Praia will swap their traditional yellow and blue strips for the green and yellow of the Brazilian flag on Saturday to mark the 40th anniversary of the late Ayrton Senna's first Formula One Grand Prix victory.

The special kit, featuring the colors of Senna's iconic helmet, will be worn when Estoril face Braga in Portugal's Primeira Liga in honor of the Brazilian's breakthrough triumph at the Estoril circuit in 1985.

The three-times world champion, who died in a crash at Imola in 1994, mastered torrential conditions at the circuit to claim the first of his 41 grand prix victories.

"Estoril Praia pays tribute to the person and athlete who marked a generation with three world championships for McLaren, whose connection to the municipality of Cascais and Portugal is unequivocal," the club said in a statement.

In another tribute last weekend, the late driver's nephew Bruno drove the Lotus Type 97T which Senna piloted to victory at Estoril as part of a demonstration at the Goodwood Festival in England.

The car will also be on display at the Estoril circuit on Sunday and Monday.