Tennis

Simona Halep's comeback from a shortened anti-doping suspension has encountered another setback after she suffered a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Yuan Yue at the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The former world No. 1 has struggled to regain her form since returning to action in March, winning only one match in four attempts.Halep's suspension was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in March, reducing it from four years to nine months. She made her comeback at the Miami Open, where she lost to Paula Badosa in three sets. However, injuries have hampered her progress since then, forcing her to retire from her opening match at a WTA 125K tournament on the eve of Roland Garros and sit out the rest of the summer due to a knee injury.In Hong Kong, Halep defeated Australian Arina Rodionova in three sets but lost in straight sets to No. 7 seed Anna Blinkova. Against Yuan, she played solid but unspectacular tennis, with 17 winners to 19 unforced errors. Yuan, on the other hand, managed a +10 differential of 22 winners to 12 errors and won five of the final six games to claim victory.With this being the final week of WTA tournaments this season, it is unclear where Halep goes from here. She could drop down to enter ITF Pro Circuit events or spend the remaining off-season in training for 2025.

Sofia Kenin's resurgence continued in Tokyo on Saturday as she reached her first WTA final in over a year, defeating Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of the WTA 500 event.Kenin's victory marked a significant milestone in her comeback, as it was her first semifinal appearance since September 2022. The American had struggled with injuries and a loss of form in recent months, but her performance in Tokyo suggests that she is rediscovering her best tennis.The 2020 Australian Open champion is now projected to return to the Top 100 in the WTA rankings, and a title victory in Tokyo could see her climb even higher. Kenin has a strong record in finals, having won five of her eight previous appearances.Kenin's resurgence is a testament to her resilience and determination. After a challenging period, she has shown that she still has the talent and drive to compete at the highest level.

Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, is determined to make amends for her dismal performance at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open in 2019, where she suffered a humiliating 6-0, 6-1 defeat in the first round.Despite her past struggles in Wuhan, Pegula is optimistic about her chances this year, having regained her form after a challenging mid-season period. A coaching switch and a prolonged neck injury had threatened her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals, but she has since turned her season around.Pegula's resurgence began after the Summer Olympics in Paris, where she became the first woman in two decades to win back-to-back titles at the Canadian Open. She also reached the final of the Cincinnati Open and stunned world No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route to her first Grand Slam final at the US Open."It's funny," Pegula said, reflecting on her whirlwind summer. "The US Open final seems like so long ago, and we've already moved onto the next thing."Pegula's start to the Asian Swing has been mixed, with two wins at the China Open followed by a disappointing loss to Paula Badosa in the third round. However, she remains confident in her abilities and is eager to improve upon her performance in Wuhan."I think I played some good tennis in Beijing, so I want to keep building on that, improving, and learning from what I could have done better last week so I can take it into this week," said Pegula.Pegula's experience at the Wuhan Open will be an advantage against potential opening-round opponents Anastasia Potapova and Katie Volynets, who have never played in the tournament before."It does feel like a new event in a way, especially for me," said Pegula. "It's like a new 1000 has been thrown into the calendar, but it's always nice to come somewhere that feels a little bit new."As the No. 2 seed in Wuhan, Pegula will be a major contender for the title. She could potentially face Badosa again in the third round, giving her an opportunity to avenge her recent defeat."That's what is so great about tennis," said Pegula. "Every week is a new chance to turn your year around."

Holger Rune, the sixth-seeded Dane, staged a remarkable comeback from a match point down to defeat Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the Japan Open quarterfinals on Sunday.Rune's victory was a testament to his resilience and fighting spirit. After Nishikori took the first set, Rune rallied to win the second and force a decider. In the third set, Nishikori held a match point at 5-4, but Rune refused to yield. He saved the match point and won four consecutive games to secure the victory."It was about getting that first serve, and if I could save that match point I knew that I could put on pressure," said Rune, who will face either defending champion Ben Shelton or France's Arthur Fils in the semifinals. "The momentum shifted a little bit. I lifted myself up, I was more positive."Nishikori, 34, has been plagued by injuries in recent years, but he has shown signs of a resurgence in Tokyo. He reached the US Open final a decade ago and was once ranked number four in the world."It was a great week for me -- great three matches with tough opponents," said Nishikori. "I would say this was the best week so far. I played very solid, I raised my level."Rune needed a medical time-out in the third set, but he refused to let it derail his momentum. "In one moment I thought it was not going to be," he said. "But I just kept my belief and trusted my fighting spirit, that was really all I could do and I managed to get through."France's Ugo Humbert also advanced to the semifinals after his British opponent Jack Draper retired early in the second set. Draper, who became the first British man to reach the US Open semifinals since Andy Murray in 2012, was looking to build on his success in Tokyo, but he was forced to withdraw due to an upper body injury.Humbert, who is ranked 19th in the world, will face the Czech Republic's Tomas Machac in the semifinals. Machac beat American qualifier Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 in the day's first quarterfinal.

Frances Tiafoe's electrifying performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium left the crowd on the edge of their seats as he staged a remarkable comeback against Alexei Popyrin in the fourth round of the US Open.Tiafoe, the American crowd favorite, had the first set in hand but faced an uphill battle when Popyrin surged ahead 5-2, 40-0 in the second. However, Tiafoe's resilience shone through as he clawed back five consecutive points, including a crucial double fault from Popyrin.The momentum shifted dramatically in Tiafoe's favor, and he seized control of the tiebreaker with a blistering crosscourt forehand pass. Tiafoe's relentless aggression and Popyrin's uncharacteristic errors gave the American a 3-0 lead. Tiafoe's confidence soared, and he unleashed a barrage of powerful forehands, forcing Popyrin to retreat.Despite Popyrin's double fault handing Tiafoe three set points, the Aussie remained unfazed and took the third set with ease. Tiafoe's energy waned, but he reignited the crowd's enthusiasm with a 3-2 lead in the fourth set. Another Popyrin double fault proved costly, and Tiafoe's inspired play earned him a 5-2 advantage.Tiafoe faced a tense service game to close out the match. After a stunning half-volley winner gave him two match points, he squandered the first with a missed volley and the second with a net error. Popyrin had a glimmer of hope with a break point, but his forehand pass sailed into the net.Tiafoe sealed the victory two points later with a forehand winner, sending the crowd into a frenzy. "I always dreamt about playing on this court," said Tiafoe. "It brings out the best in me."Tiafoe's triumph marked a significant moment in his career, as he joined compatriot Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals. His resilience, determination, and crowd support proved to be an unstoppable force against a formidable opponent.

Paula Badosa's journey back to the top of women's tennis has been a testament to her resilience and determination. After a series of injuries threatened to derail her career, Badosa has emerged stronger than ever, reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open and setting her sights on a return to the WTA Finals.Badosa's struggles began during the clay court season, where she suffered early exits in several tournaments. The setbacks raised questions about her future in the sport, especially as she resorted to cortisone shots to manage her persistent back pain.However, Badosa refused to give up. She found solace in her relationship with fellow pro Stefanos Tsitsipas and explored opportunities off the court. But her competitive fire burned brighter than ever, and she resolved to give herself one more year to prove that she could still compete at the highest level.The hard-court season has been a turning point for Badosa. She won her first title in over two years at the Mubadala Citi DC Open and reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open. Her impressive form has propelled her into the last eight at the US Open, where she is now projected to make a Top 20 return.Badosa's victory over Wang Yafan in the fourth round was a testament to her newfound confidence and aggression. Despite being the overwhelming favorite, Badosa remained focused and executed her game plan flawlessly."I think I managed that, and I dealt with the pressure and the nerves pretty well," Badosa said. "I was really aggressive. I think today the forehand worked really well and especially also the serve. I'm really pleased with that."Badosa's next challenge will be an even tougher one. She will face either Emma Navarro or Coco Gauff, the defending champion, in the quarterfinals. While she is not expecting a home-court advantage despite being born in New York City, Badosa is relishing the opportunity to play on one of the biggest stages in tennis."I like these kinds of challenges," Badosa said. "I was born to play on big stages, and I'm really looking forward for that."Badosa's journey back to the top has been an inspiration to many. Her unwavering belief in herself and her ability to overcome adversity serve as a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

Naomi Osaka's return to the US Open ended in the second round, but the two-time champion expressed gratitude despite the straight-sets loss to Karolina Muchova. Osaka, who won the title in 2018 and 2020, missed last year's edition due to the birth of her daughter.Osaka's comeback has been marked by inconsistent results, with her first-round win over Jelena Ostapenko being her first top-10 victory in four years. She acknowledged that she has been struggling with her form since before her maternity break."I feel like I'm coming back from pregnancy, but also it wasn't like in 2022 I was the best version of myself," Osaka said. "So in some way I had to catch up to that, and then also I'm trying to pass it at the same time."Despite the loss, Osaka expressed appreciation for the support she received from the crowd. "It was really fun," she said. "I felt very grateful that there were so many people cheering. I missed it a lot."Muchova, who is also on the comeback trail after missing nine months due to wrist surgery, was satisfied with her victory. "It's a long journey," she said. "I'm for sure in a different position than I was last year. I don't even want to compare myself to last year -- it was kind of a bumpy road."Muchova praised the atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium, saying, "The court and the atmosphere is amazing. They were mostly cheering for Naomi, but that's natural. But I just think so many people coming out and the show and everything about that -- I would say it's why I play tennis and what I like about it, the atmosphere and the energy."

Reilly Opelka's return to the US Open after a three-year absence was a bittersweet experience. The 27-year-old American, once ranked as high as No. 17 in the world, faced Lorenzo Musetti, the Italian who had defeated him in straight sets in their previous three encounters.Opelka, known for his towering serve and aggressive net play, put on a dominant performance in the second set, winning 6-1. However, Musetti, who has made significant strides in his game since their last meeting, fought back to win the first, third, and fourth sets.Opelka had five set points in the fourth set but failed to convert any of them, allowing Musetti to break back and eventually win the match 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.Despite the loss, Opelka's performance was encouraging. He served 23 aces and hit 55 winners, showing that his game is still intact. He also charged the net 51 times, although he only won 23 points from those attempts.Opelka's struggles in the fourth set may have been due to a lack of match fitness. He had not played a Grand Slam event since the 2021 US Open and had only recently returned to competition after a wrist injury.Musetti, on the other hand, has been in excellent form this year. He reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and the final at Queen's on grass, and won a bronze medal at the Olympics on clay.The Italian's victory over Opelka is a sign of his growing maturity and confidence. He has shown that he can compete with the top players in the world and is a threat to win any tournament he enters.

Paula Badosa's remarkable resurgence has been a testament to her resilience and unwavering determination. After a career-threatening injury sidelined her for nearly a year, the Spanish star has returned with a vengeance, soaring up the WTA rankings and reclaiming her place among the elite.Badosa's meteoric rise began in 2021, when she ascended from No. 80 to No. 2 in just 12 months. However, a persistent back injury halted her progress in 2023, forcing her to withdraw from three of the four Grand Slams. Despite the setbacks, Badosa refused to give up.With the support of her coach, Pol Toledo Bagué, Badosa set a goal of being seeded at the 2024 Australian Open. Just one month and a half later, she had already climbed to No. 30 in the world, surpassing their expectations.Badosa's physical recovery has been equally impressive. Once known for her endurance in long matches, she has adapted to the faster conditions and lighter tennis balls, using them to her advantage. She credits her mental strength and positive affirmations for her ability to overcome adversity.Off the court, Badosa has also found solace in her relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas. After a brief separation, the couple reunited and have been supporting each other through their respective challenges.As Badosa prepares for the US Open, she is eager to make a statement in the city where she spent her early years. Despite the challenges she has faced, she is confident in her abilities and determined to prove that she is back to her best.