Li and Krueger meet in Osaka with a place in the final guaranteed for the United States
Ann Li and Ashlyn Krueger meet in the Osaka WTA 250 semi-finals, guaranteeing at least one American in the final.
Full text available in Portuguese only. Read the Portuguese version
Ann Li e Ashlyn Krueger vão se enfrentar na semifinal do WTA 250 de Osaka, o que assegura pelo menos uma tenista dos Estados Unidos na decisão do torneio japonês.
Cabeça de chave 1, Li encerrou a programação de sexta-feira na quadra central. Foram 2h11 e três sets para superar a austríaca Lilli Tagger: 6/4, 3/6 e 7/6, com 7-0 no tie-break decisivo. O resultado é a 31ª vitória da norte-americana na temporada, marca que iguala o melhor desempenho dela em um mesmo ano.
Nascida na Pensilvânia e com 26 anos, Li pode superar esse número caso chegue à final. A partida contra Krueger será a 11ª semifinal da carreira dela e a terceira em 2026, depois de Monterrey e Estrasburgo.
Do outro lado, Krueger teve bem menos trabalho nas quartas. A norte-americana de 22 anos, nascida no Texas, precisou de apenas 61 minutos para eliminar a australiana Talia Gibson, quarta favorita, com 6/1 e 6/3. Vencedora do título de 2023 em Osaka, ela reencontra Li, que levou a melhor nos dois duelos anteriores: em Bonita Springs, em 2023, e há poucas semanas, em Pequim.
A outra semifinal terá Katerina Siniakova, número 1 do mundo nas duplas e 86ª no simples, contra a britânica Katie Boulter, oitava pré-classificada. A tcheca passou por Mary Stoiana em 1h11, com 6/1 e 6/2.
Boulter, por sua vez, precisou reagir. A britânica levou a virada adiante depois de perder o primeiro set para a croata Antonia Ruzic, fechando em 3/6, 6/3 e 6/3, após 2h03 de partida.
Read also
StandardTênisStorck comes through qualifying and debuts against Monteiro in Costa do Sauípe
Leonardo Storck, a junior Roland Garros semi-finalist, qualified for the Costa do Sauípe Open main draw by beating Miguel Tobón 6/4, 6/2. He faces Thiago Monteiro on Tuesday at 3 pm and is already guaranteed at least 5 ATP points.
Redação
StandardTênisHumbert wins after midnight and seals France's second victory in Paris
Ugo Humbert beat Botic van de Zandschulp 7/6 (7-5), 6/7 (9-11) and 6/3 in 2h39, after midnight, to reach the second round of the Paris Masters. The Frenchman, ranked 38th, saved two match points in the second set.
Redação
StandardTênisM15 Salvador main draw begins on Tuesday
The M15 Salvador main draw begins on Tuesday, with US$ 15,000 in prize money and 15 ATP ranking points. There are 23 Brazilians among the 32 players, and Felipe Badaró opens at 5 pm against fifth seed João Lago.
Redação
StandardTênisGustavo Heide wins two tie-breaks and debuts with victory in Costa do Sauípe
Gustavo Heide beat Guido Iván Justo 7/6 (8-6) and 7/6 (7-4) in 3h16 to reach the round of 16 at the Costa do Sauípe Challenger 125. The Brazilian, ranked 113th, scored 91 points to the Argentine's 84 and moved ahead in the season head-to-head.
Redação
StandardTênisShelton reveals the part of his game he wants Ferrero to sharpen
Shelton said he wants to become a more well-rounded player under Juan Carlos Ferrero, with whom he works from 2027. The world No 4 wants to improve on all surfaces, especially clay, where he sees many errors to cut out.
Redação
StandardTênisCarlos Alcaraz names the event that is currently ‘top of his list’ to play in 2027
Alcaraz named the Vienna Open as the event he would pick if he plays that week in 2027. He is cautious about a schedule he has not settled and has suggested he may skip more Masters 1000 events over the extended format.
Redação
StandardTênisBrazil open with a win over Morocco at the Junior Davis Cup
Brazil opened the Junior Davis Cup with a 2-1 win over Morocco in Cairo, starting well in Group B of the under-16 World Cup. Victor Pignaton and Livas Damazio won their singles, while Morocco took the doubles point.
Redação
StandardTênisHow much Novak Djokovic has banked from the ATP Tour Pension Plan
The ATP Pension Plan has paid Novak Djokovic 1,066,862 dollars since 2011, a figure published only now, 36 years after the scheme was created. He qualified for Tier 1 contributions of about 120,000 dollars a year, paid from 50 over 20 years.
Redação