'Tennis Just Kicks You Right In The Butt' - Bianca Andresscu Suffers Early Exit In Toronto - UBITENNIS (2024)

World No.58 Elina Avanesyan has been formally granted Armenian citizenship and will start representing the country during the North American hardcourt swing.

The 21-year-old had been representing Russia on the Tour butinrecentmonthsconfirmed her intention to represent the country whereboth ofher parents are from. Her family moved to Russia from Nagorno-Karabakh following the outbreak of the First Nagorno-Karabakh Warwhichended eight years before the tennis player was born. According to the WTA website, Avanesyanis currently listedas the only player representing Armenia with a singles ranking.

“I am extremely proud to represent the Armenian flag at the Cincinnati Open and US Open,”Avanesyan said in an officialpress release.
“It is an extraordinary opportunity and a tribute to my roots,my family, and mycommunity, who have always supported me. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Keron Development Foundation for supporting throughout this process.”
“I aim to achieve great results as an Armenian athlete and have ambitious goals to bring the country significant success inthe world oftennis over the coming years.”

Earlier this season, Avanesyan scored high-profile wins over Maria Sakkari at the Australian Open, Ons Jabeur in Charleston, and Qinwen Zhang at the French Open. Last monthshereached her first WTA final at the 2024 Iași Open inRomaniawhere she retired from the third set of her match against Mirra Andreeva due to injury.

Speaking about her change in allegiance, Avanesyan says she hopes to be a role model to others and encourage more people to take uptennis.

“I dream of being an inspiration for Armenian citizens, especially amongst younger generations,”she said.
“I want to be a role model for aspiring athletes and encourage young people to take up sport.My goal isto strengthentennisinArmeniaand ignite a passion in a new generation of athletes.”

The first tournament where she willbe representingher country will be the Cincinnati Open.She also plans to play atthe Tennisin the Land eventin Ohiobefore the US Open.

Seb Korda has followed in the footsteps of his father Petr by winning the Citi Open in Washington.

The American recovered from a set down to defeat Flavio Cobolli 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, to win his first ATP 500 title at the age of 24. Coming into this week, he has lost seven out of eight Tour-level finals contested with his sole triumph being on the clay at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open in Italy.

“He’s got areallytricky serve. He tosses it super far behind him. You don’treallyknow what he’s going to do with it,”Korda said of Cobolli.“He’s such an explosive player, incredibly fast. When he’s feeling fresh, he’s incredibly dangerous.”

“We played in Rome as well this year. A tough three-setter, and now again with a three-setter. Luckily for me, I guess he was feeling a little tired from all the hours that he spent on court here.”

The triumph is even sweeter for Korda who grew up at the tournament. He has previously been a ball boy at the event which his father won in 1992.

“Coming to these tournaments, being around the guys, having just a lot of fun around here, was the biggest key to my career, realizing how badly I wanted to be a professional tennis player,”he said.

“I mean, I cried a little bit. Yeah, it was pretty emotional. So many times I’ve practiced or played on center court here, and you see my dad in ’92 [on the stadium facade] always right across from where you sit down. It’s pretty cool to finally put my name up there, as well.”

Korda, who was seeded fourth in the draw, also defeated Frances Tiafoe and Jordan Thompson earlier in the tournament. As a result of his triumph, he will rise to 18th in the ATP standings.

Aryna Sabalenka is hopeful her recovery from injury is heading in the right direction after surviving a marathon match at the Citi Open.

The world No.3 fought her way to a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4,win over Kamilla Rakhimova in aencounter that lastednearlythree hours.Withlittle to separate both players,it wasa single break in Sabalenka’s favor during the third setthatenabled her to seal victory.Sheproduceda total of13 aces and won 75% of her first service points.

“I’m super happy to be back on court. Ihaven’t played for monthsitfeels like,” she said after the match.

“I’m happy to get through this tough match.Sheplayed incredible tennis. I’mjust super happy to get this win.”

Rakhimova,who iscurrently ranked 78th in the world, was the first player Sabalenka has faced since the Berlin Open four weeks ago. Shewas forcedto pull out of Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury.

Now onthe comeback, the two-time Australian Open champion is staying cautious about her recovery.

“I really hope it’s okay. Atleast I was able to serve without pain.”She said of her shoulder.

“It’s not going to be easy to come back after injury, especially the one I had.

“I feel okayandwe’ll see how I feel tomorrow (Thursday)butI really, really hope I’m going to be all right for the next match.”

Sabalenka will next play either China’s Wang Yafan or Victoria Azarenka.

Another player through to the quarter-finals is Emma Raducanu, who entered the draw as a wildcard.TheBrit beat world No.51 Peyton Stearns 7-6(6), 6-2, in her latest match.Raducanudropped serve once in thematchand broke her opponent three times. Earlierin the tournament, she also defeated eighth seed Elise Mertens.

“I’m very pleased with how I managed to come through that.Ithink itwas two very different conditions: super lively, then a lot heavier. Ithink these conditions really suit her. Shewas playingreally goodtennis.”Raducanu said of Sterns.

“I’m really pleased to have found a way through the first set, then raised my level in the second.”

Finally, Caroline Dolehide battled back from a set down to upset Daria Kasatkina 2-6, 7-5, 6-0.