Posted in: 10/08/2022 – 10:20Last updated: 10/08/2022 – 10:19
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Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who has won four major titles, withdrew from her first-round match at the Toronto IAAF due to back pain, while Britain’s Emma Radokano was farewelled in the same round, in a setback for the two players who won the US Open, which begins at the end of this month. On a day that saw a tribute to Serena Williams, who announced the start of the “countdown” to her retirement.
Osaka was 7-6 (7/4) 3-0 behind against Estonian Kaya Kanepi, the runner-up in Washington last week, when she decided to withdraw in tears because of back pain.
After the loss, she said, “I felt pain in my back from the start of the match and although I tried to continue and take prejudice, I wasn’t able today…I want to compliment Kaya because she played well.”
Osaka, the 2018 and 2020 US Open champion, has played only six matches (lose four and win two) since her fall in the Miami 1,000th final in early April against world number one Iga Swiwentek of Poland.
Radocano, who held the title of Flushing Meadows last year, also exited the first round by falling to Italian Camila Georgi 7-6 (7/0), 6-2.
Despite her setback in the city where she was born 19 years ago, the world number 10 remained optimistic ahead of her title defense campaign in New York.
“It was a really good match, to be honest. The level was very high, especially in the first set…Camila is a great competitor, she won this tournament last year. Maybe I should deal better with the players who play fast like her” .
Radocano praised Williams, who announced on Tuesday that she would retire from the game after the US Open, “She definitely changed tennis. No one has dominated like her in women’s tennis.”
She continued, “Her career is amazing. She has achieved so much, and to see her competing in the US Open is inspiring. She continues to play because she loves this sport. This continuity of career is something that many players, including myself, aspire to do.”
For her part, American Coco Gauff, after qualifying for the second round at the expense of her compatriot Madison Pringle 6-1, 6-3, confirmed that she hopes to meet her ideal before retiring.
“I grew up watching her, she’s the reason I play tennis (…) I’m a little sad because I’ve always wanted to play against her. So I hope she gets tossed with her in Cincinnati or the United States or even here if we can see. That’s one of my goals.”
“The legacy she left during her tennis career is something that I don’t think any other player can touch. It’s something that can inspire so many generations,” she said of the 23-times major, adding, “I knew that day would finally come. I didn’t know Whether he’ll be at this US Open or the next. Not really shocking news but it’s almost shocking…she’s been playing from time immemorial, my whole life.”
Among the most prominent qualifiers for the second round was the Greek Maria Sakkari, ranked fourth in the world, by defeating American Sloane Stephens 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 and host Bianca Andreescu, who holds the title of Flush Meadows 2019 against the Russian Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (7/5). , 6-4.
© 2022 AFP
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