عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Top-Ranked Iga Swiatek Beats Karolina Pliskova in Montreal 

Iga Swiatek of Poland waits to receive a serve from Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Day 3 during the National Bank Open at Stade IGA on August 9, 2023 in Montreal, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland waits to receive a serve from Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Day 3 during the National Bank Open at Stade IGA on August 9, 2023 in Montreal, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT
TT

Top-Ranked Iga Swiatek Beats Karolina Pliskova in Montreal 

Iga Swiatek of Poland waits to receive a serve from Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Day 3 during the National Bank Open at Stade IGA on August 9, 2023 in Montreal, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland waits to receive a serve from Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Day 3 during the National Bank Open at Stade IGA on August 9, 2023 in Montreal, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP)

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek overcame a first set-scare to beat Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (6), 6-2 on Wednesday in the second round of the National Bank Open.

“Well, for sure it’s nice to have some challenges and overcome them,” said Swiatek, coming off a victory last week at home in the Poland Open. “It wasn’t an easy first round, but I’m happy that I stayed solid."

Swiatek advanced to face 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova, a 7-5, 6-4 winner over Sorana Cirstea. Swiatek beat Muchova this year in the French Open final.

“We have to be ready for the next match and kind of expect that anything can happen because tennis can be pretty unpredictable,” Swiatek said. “You know, one player can have a bad day. At the same time the other one can play the best tennis of their life.”

In the night session, second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka beat Petra Martic 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the hard-court event. Sabalenka is the Australian Open champion.

“Especially on this surface, I was really struggling with all her slices,” Sabalenka said. “I think I need some time to adjust to this surface. I hope the next match I will play a little bit better, but overall, I’m just happy to get through this tough match.”

Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, seeded ninth, beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-5. Wozniacki, a former No. 1 player, was playing her first WTA Tour event in 3 1/2 years.

Vondrousova set up a match against sixth-seeded Coco Gauff, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Katie Boulter. Gauff won last week in Washington for her fourth career title.

Third-seeded Elena Rybakina outlasted Jennifer Brady 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-3 in a match that was suspended Tuesday night because of rain.

Fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula topped Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-4; and 10th-seeded Daria Kasatkina edged Anna Blinkova 6-2, 7-5.

Canadian Leylah Fernandez also advanced, beating 11th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. Fernandez will face Danielle Collins, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari.

In the late match, seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova, the 2012 winner, beat 2021 champion Camila Giorgi 6-2, 5-7, 6-0.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Frustrated Barca Fail to Capitalize on Atletico La Liga Slip

FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick looks on ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona, in Madrid, Spain, 18 January 2025. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick looks on ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona, in Madrid, Spain, 18 January 2025. (EPA)
TT
TT

Frustrated Barca Fail to Capitalize on Atletico La Liga Slip

FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick looks on ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona, in Madrid, Spain, 18 January 2025. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick looks on ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona, in Madrid, Spain, 18 January 2025. (EPA)

Barcelona could only muster a 1-1 draw at Getafe on Saturday in La Liga as they were unable to recover ground on the top two in the Spanish title race.

Jules Kounde sent the visitors ahead early on but Mauro Arambarri levelled for Getafe in the first half and Barcelona could not break down Jose Bordalas' well-drilled side.

The draw leaves the third-place Catalans five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Leganes earlier in the day, but Hansi Flick's side could not take advantage.

After a slump in the final weeks of 2024, Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup last week and then thumped Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, indicating they were back to their best.

However, they dropped two points on the road in their first league match of 2025 as Getafe, 16th, scrapped their way to a hard-fought point.

"It's not done yet, we still have some matches to play and as I said before, we will fight until the end," Flick told reporters.

"Today it's one point more, not two points less. We missed (out on) two points, but we have to look forwards and make it better next time."

Flick selected what has proven his strongest side in recent weeks to try and get a result at Getafe, against whom the Catalans failed to score on their previous four away visits.

The Blaugrana did not have to wait long to end that run, with Kounde finding the net in the ninth minute.

The French defender, who also scored in the Copa del Rey win against Real Betis in midweek, was cleverly fed by Pedri.

Although David Soria saved Kounde's first effort, he was able to turn the rebound home.

However, after that Barcelona came up against the same old struggles they have often faced at the Coliseum.

Getafe dug deep and did not allow striker Robert Lewandowski, La Liga's top scorer, room to breathe.

The hosts pulled level after 34 minutes when Coba's effort was parried by Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena, but Arambarri pounced to nudge home.

Getafe maintained their typically tight set-up after the break and made life hard for Barcelona.

Raphinha should have struck for Barca in the final minutes but hit the side netting from close range after Lamine Yamal found him with a swirling cross.

"It was a shame, the match, we had control of the game and with one chance they scored one goal against us, it's a shame," Kounde told Movistar.

After the game Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde reported racist abuse aimed at him in the first half from some home supporters.

On Sunday Spanish and European champions Real Madrid, second, host Las Palmas, aiming to move top of La Liga.

Antoine Griezmann missed a late penalty as leaders Atletico Madrid stumbled to a shock defeat at Leganes, ending a club record run of 15 consecutive victories.

Matija Nastasic nodded Leganes ahead early in the second half, with Griezmann dragging a poor penalty wide in the final stages to resign Atletico to a second defeat of the league season.

"I thought we were low on energy, it wasn't enough from us," Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak told DAZN.

"We'll keep our head up after (winning) 15 games, we lost this one and we have to keep going forwards... unfortunately the streak is over."

Madrid minnows Leganes, 15th, battled well in defense to keep Atletico at bay in the first half, with Julian Alvarez and Griezmann hitting the woodwork.

Early in the second half, Serbian defender Nastasic headed Leganes in front from a corner, and they protected their advantage without much stress until controversially conceding a penalty for a debatable handball by Sergio Gonzalez.

Griezmann took responsibility from the penalty spot, but rolled his 90th-minute effort wide of the goal.

Atletico must now bounce back in the Champions League, where they are aiming to reach the knock-out rounds, against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

"They were 15 extraordinary games, I feel enormously proud at having set the (consecutive) winning record in Atletico's history," Atletico coach Diego Simeone told DAZN.

"We have to accept that defeat is part of the game and prepare ourselves for Tuesday."