Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova defeated Irina Khromacheva and Anna Danilina in the first round of doubles at the China Open. However, they withdrew before playing the round of 16 against Veronika Kudermetova and Hao-ching Chan, something that has sparked harsh criticism from one of the members of the couple they defeated last Friday. On the other hand, Nick Kyrgios chose Roger Federer as the ideal partner for doubles, while Naomi Osaka shared a compilation of photos from her first days in Beijing, in full preparation to face Coco Gauff for a place in the quarterfinals.
Khromacheva criticizes WTA rules after departure of Badosa and Muchova
World doubles number 28, Irina Khromacheva, harshly criticized the withdrawal of Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova from the doubles draw at the China Open. The 29-year-old Russian expressed her frustration on social media over the participation of singles players in the doubles draw and their subsequent withdrawal.
Badosa and Muchova teamed up in doubles and won their debut match against Irina Khromacheva and Anna Danilina (6-3 and 6-2). However, they withdrew before this second round against Kudermetova/Chan, deciding to focus on the singles draw. Both Badosa and Muchova continue to progress in singles and have already reached the round of 16.
Khromacheva’s criticism, shared through her Instagram stories, was directed at the WTA, subtly addressing her first-round rivals for snatching a spot in the doubles draw from other players specializing in doubles:
“Bravo WTA… In the Beijing tournament we lost against singles players in doubles,” she wrote. “And in the second round, they fold because they don’t care about doubles… but they’re still playing singles this week… Complete madness, taking the place of couples who could come in and fully participate. This has happened to me twice this year: they win the first round and then they withdraw. It is a lack of respect for the doubles players and also for those who register on the spot, trying to enter. “
Khromacheva confirms that Badosa and Muchova are leaving the doubles, but she also gives them a tremendous and well-deserved blow
Kyrgios calls Federer his perfect doubles partner
Nick Kyrgios published a photo on social media with Roger Federer, choosing him as his ideal doubles partner. The former Wimbledon runner-up asked his followers what their ideal doubles partner would be (past or present) and received responses from hundreds of people.
The Australian faced Federer seven times and achieved a single victory at the 2015 Madrid Open, where a then 20-year-old Kyrgios surprised everyone on the clay and eliminated the 20-time Grand Slam champion after three tight matches. -breaks, winning 6-7(2), 7-6(5) and 7-6(12). Federer subsequently won six matches between 2017 and 2019, including the decisive victory at the 2017 Laver Cup, where Federer came back to secure the title for Team Europe. “Tag someone you’d like to play doubles with – past or present 🧪,” Kyrgios captioned.
The images of Naomi Osaka in Beijing
Naomi Osaka is having a great time on her return to the Asian tour. The 4-time Grand Slam champion claimed back-to-back wins against Lucia Bronzetti, 21st seed Yulia Putintseva and Katie Volynets to reach the round of 16 at the China Open.
The former world number 1 is preparing to face Coco Gauff and has shared some photos of her stay in Beijing so far. In the images, the Japanese appears training, along with some off-court photos, and a gift she received upon her arrival in Beijing: a framed photo in which she holds the 2019 trophy after defeating Ash Barty in the final.
Osaka continues to climb the rankings and, with her wins in China, is guaranteed to climb to at least the top 60. If she beats Gauff, she could return to the top 50 for the first time since April 2023, before suffering a significant drop in the rankings. classification during your maternity leave.
Jack Draper celebrates Fearnley’s milestone and the British enters the Top 100
Jack Draper has congratulated his colleague and friend Jacob Fearnley after reaching the Top 100 for the first time in his career. Both British players have known each other since their youth, as they are contemporaries: Draper is 22 years old and Fearnley is 23. The world number 20 shared a photo on social media of him and Fearnley as children, watching Wimbledon from the stands.
Fearnley became champion of the Orleans Challenger, held over the weekend in France, by defeating Harold Mayot in the final. The eighth seed rose from number 126 to 98 thanks to the 125 points he earned with the title. Fearnley became known a few months ago when he faced Novak Djokovic in the second round of Wimbledon, where he managed to take a set from the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
So happy for Jacob Fearnely…. Top 100 !!! A great friend from young but we went on our own paths. An amazing guy and incredible player. You deserve this !!! Only the beginning 🚀
ATP and WTA stars react to epic point between Murray and Cuevas
The stars of the ATP and WTA reacted to an epic point at the 2014 Beijing Open. On that occasion, Andy Murray, three-time Grand Slam champion, faced the talented Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, recently retired and known as one of the great players on the circuit in recent years.
“Oh, he got it back,” Gauff mentioned after an incredible response from Cuevas to an unexpected hit from Murray. “That’s a point where you would break a racket depending on the score,” he added. “Somehow I’m always waiting for this, but the percentage is incredibly low,” commented local star Zhang Zhizhen.
The video featured Daniil Medvedev, Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, Zhang Zhizhen and Barbora Krejcikova, among others.
Shuai Zhang thanks fans for third consecutive victory at China Open
Shuai Zhang left a heartfelt message to his fans after achieving his third consecutive victory at the China Open. The 35-year-old overcame a 24-match losing streak on the WTA Tour dating back to January 2023 and has rediscovered her form in Beijing.
Zhang, who received a wildcard, has already defeated McCartney Kessler, eighth seed Emma Navarro and Greet Minnen. The former world number 1 in doubles has not given up a set in any of her three matches and is now preparing to face Magda Frech, 23rd seed, in the round of 16. Zhang has guaranteed himself a significant rise in the rankings, sitting at approximately No. 320, and could return to the top 250 with another victory.
Shuai Zhang is one of the only two local players still in competition, along with Zheng Qinwen, a recent Olympic gold medalist. The world number 595 expressed her gratitude to the local fans, who have filled the stadium to support one of the biggest stars of Chinese tennis in the last 20 years: “Thank you to all the setbacks and many adversities to build this moment! @ChinaOpen,” he captioned along with some images of the event.
Thanks all of setbacks and many adversity to building this moment!
@ChinaOpen
