No.21 seed Veronika Kudermetova defeated former champion Naomi Osaka, 6-0, 6-4 to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open. Kudermetova will face Marie Bouzkova for a spot in the Round of 16 after the Czech qualifier earned her first Top 20 win of the season by defeating No.14 seed Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.
Kudermetova and Osaka were due to face each other for the first time earlier this season at the Melbourne Summer Set, before Osaka withdrew due to abdominal injury ahead of their semifinal clash. In their first meeting on Saturday night, Kudermetova proved the more in-form and consistent player, a result of a strong start to the season that has seen her make two finals in Melbourne and Dubai and enjoy doubles success as well by narrowly completing a sweep of titles in the Middle East.
Kudermetova held serve to open the match at 1-0 when a fan was heard heckling Osaka when the players switched ends. The incident left Osaka rattled for much of the match, as she fought back tears during play. On the next change of ends she asked the umpire if she could use the microphone to address the crowd. Osaka would play on but addressed the crowd after the match on court.
“Hi,” Osaka said, greeting the crowd. “I just wanted to say thank you. I feel like I cried enough on camera. To be honest, I’ve gotten heckled before and it didn’t really bother me. But heckled here. … I’ve watched a video of Serena and Venus getting heckled here and if you’ve never watched it you should watch. I don’t know why but it went into my head and got replayed a lot. I’m trying not to cry but, I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations [Veronika]. Thank you.”
Despite the situation swirling around her, Kudermetova remained laser-focused on the task at hand. She stormed through a 6-0 opening set with clutch serving, while benefitting from a wayward Osaka. Kudermetova saved all four break points she faced in the opening set, while keeping Osaka’s dangerous return game at bay. She served at 73% first serves in, winning 81% of her first-serve points.
Kudermetova’s return numbers were equally staggering, winning 75% of her first-serve return points and 67% of her second-serve return points. As Osaka struggled to find her range from both the baseline and service line – the former No.1 served at just 40% in the first set – Kudermetova took the opener after 32 minutes.
Osaka responded by raising her level in the second set. She held her serve to get on the board and kept Kudermetova at bay in her service games. But Kudermetova remained steadfast in her own service games. She did not face a break point in the second set and Osaka’s serve finally buckled at 3-3. With a break in hand, Kudermetova coolly held her serve two more times and closed out the match after 1 hour and 17 minutes.
“It’s nice to play against great players, against Naomi, because I never play against her,” Kudermetova said. “I want to play that match because I want to see what I can improve, what I need to improve. I play really well today. I hope I will continue to play like that.”
Azarenka returns to her winning ways
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka returned to her winning ways at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, defeating Australian lucky loser Astra Sharma 6-3, 7-5 in her second-round opener. Seeded No.13, Azarenka will face No.17 seed Elena Rybakina in the third round. Rybakina advanced earlier in the day by defeating Alison Van Uytvanck, 6-1, 7-5.
Azarenka was playing just her fourth match since the Australian Open, having withdrawn ahead of her last match in Doha with a left hip injury. In her first meeting against the 26-year-old Sharma, the former No.1 had her full arsenal on display, keeping sustained baseline pressure on Sharma while also charging into the net to finish points with ease.
“I felt that I played good in important moments,” Azarenka told reporters after the match. “I think there were a little bit ups and downs in some games where I felt like I could be a bit more decisive. But again, I haven’t played in a while. I have to get that match rhythm.
“Today was a good start to play against an opponent who gives a lot of different balls. I played actually I thought really well. I’m glad that I was able to handle myself and turn it up when it was important.”
While she served at 49% first serves in, Azarenka won nearly 80% of her first serve points and 46% of her second server points. Though broken three times for the match, Azarenka struck back to break Sharma five times, sealing the win after 1 hour and 43 minutes.
Fernandez saves four match points to advance
Leylah Fernandez, the 18th seed, came back from the brink to advance to the third round, saving four match points against Amanda Anisimova before the American retired due to illness at 2-6, 7-6(0). Fernandez will face American Shelby Rogers in the next round, a rematch of their exciting Round of 16 duel last year, which Rogers won 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4).
A champion in Monterrey last week, Fernandez extended her winning streak with a gritty second-set comeback. Down 5-3, the 19-year-old saved a match point on her serve to stay in the match and hold. With Anisimova serving at 5-4, Fernandez survived triple-match point to get to deuce and break to level the set.
With the momentum firmly on her side, the Canadian stepped up to save two break points to hold to 6-5, before Anisimova stopped the rot with a hold to force a tiebreak. With Anisimova struggling to maintain her baseline control, Fernandez ran away with the tiebreak, winning 7-0 to level the match. Anisimova subsequently retired citing illness.
Bouzkova continues strong form to upset Pegula
Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova is finding her form once again. Now ranked No.97, the 23-year-old has enjoyed a strong run of form through North America, making the Guadalajara final, quarterfinals in Monterrey, and now backing up a successful qualifying campaign in Indian Wells to defeat No.19 Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the third round.
“We had a really tough match at the US Open,” Bouzkova said. “I lost in the third-set tiebreak. I thought about that match actually because there were times when I could have been more aggressive. So I told myself today, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose, just try to have it in my own hands a little bit more. Don’t have any regrets.”
After losing the opening set, Bouzkova dropped just two games for the remainder of the match. She did not face a break point in the second set, winning 92.3% of her first serve points to level the match. After breaking at love to open the third set, Bouzkova locked in on defense and saved all four break points she faced to seal the win after nearly two hours.
“A really big win and a very special one, too,” Bouzkova said. “I’ve always felt good to play here but got my first win this year, so I’m trying to build on that. After the first set I thought I felt great considering everything, I’m hitting the ball well but obviously Jessie is an amazing, clean hitter. She has so much power and she made some amazing shots. Even though I lost the first set I told myself to keep going, to keep being aggressive on my end. I found the right balance between attacking and defending some balls. It worked out really well in the end.”
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
