Garbine Muguruza went one step away from the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2021, before Naomi Osaka canceled two match points and overturned the match gaining access to the next round. The Japanese, showing an enviable mental strength, closes the game with the result of 4-6 6-4 7-5.
The Japanese tennis player was very satisfied in the press conference by the level offered today against the Spanish Garbine Muguruza. She said: “I don’t remember exactly what I was thinking, but I think that at the first match point against I thought I didn’t play well with the serve at the peak of the match.
I decided to concentrate and went back to playing as I had done in the best moments of the game. My stats with her on serve were good during the third set, but during that game I was far from my best. Then in the second match ball against, during the exchange, I told myself that I shouldn’t play offensive, and avoid making unforced errors.
She was right and I was able to get back in the game.” We rarely saw Naomi Osaka break her rackets during her matches. She added: “Today I was very nervous and I think that was the reason for me to behave like that.
Let’s say I was very stressed. I think some people on my team might have felt that I was not entirely comfortable in the game and this ended up weighing on my attitude on the pitch. I am angry with myself for throwing my racket, but at the same time I felt that she unleashed the emotions and nerves I needed.”
Feelings when playing for the first time against Garbine Muguruza: “It was fun to face her for the first time. During the match I felt like I could not hit any ball as I wanted, as she took advantage of it immediately and forced me to run for the court.
I think I made so many unforced mistakes, because I was playing in an area of the pitch where I didn’t feel comfortable. I think it’s normal to have those feelings when you play against a Grand Slam champion.
But I am happy with the victory obtained today.” Playing without the crowd in the stands: ” I’m not very sure how the game would have evolved with the people in the stands. I don’t know if they would have pushed me in critical moments or if my opponent would have taken advantage of it.
We both played at a very high level and I think if there was an audience in their seats it could have been even better.”
OTTAWA – American receiver Justin Hardy will miss the Ottawa Redblacks’ regular-season finale Friday.
Hardy, who leads the CFL in receptions (97) and is second in receiving yards (1,343), was listed off Ottawa’s depth chart Thursday. Hardy was named Wednesday as the Redblacks’ nominee for the league’s outstanding player award.
American Andrew Miller will start in Hardy’s place.
Ottawa (8-7-1) concludes its regular season hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-10). The Redblacks have already clinched third in the East and will visit the Toronto Argonauts (10-7) in the division semifinal Nov. 2.
Hamilton has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Incumbent Dru Brown is listed as Ottawa’s starting quarterback.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — AC Milan’s weekend match at Bologna in Italy’s top soccer league has been postponed, Bologna officials announced Thursday following extensive flooding in the central Italian city.
The Serie A match had been scheduled for Saturday.
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, large parts of which have been hard hit by torrential rains and bad weather for days.
The game was not immediately rescheduled.
“Following the flood that affected Bologna, intense work is underway to clean up the situation,” the city of Bologna said while announcing the game postponement on X.
BASEL, Switzerland – Canada’s Denis Shapovalov advanced to the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday.
Shapovalov used a strong service game to overcome the Spanish veteran for the win at the ATP 500 event in just under one hour 40 minutes.
The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., fired 18 aces, including one to set up match point in the second-set tiebreaker, and won 79 per cent of first-serves and 63 per cent of second-serve points.
Shapovalov, a former top-10 player on the ATP Tour, entered this year’s Swiss Indoors ranked 95th and will appear in just his second quarterfinal of the season.
He improved to 3-0 against Bautista Agut, who he beat in July en route to a quarterfinal appearance in Washington.
Shapovalov will next face the winner of a match scheduled for later Thursday between defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
