TENNIS

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Emma Raducanu returned to the US Open winner's circle in emphatic fashion on Monday, defeating qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 to secure her first victory at the tournament since her fairytale title run in 2021. The win represented a significant mental hurdle overcome for Raducanu, who had endured a series of disappointing first-round exits and an eight months injury withdrawal in 2023, now displaying a newfound self-assurance in a clean and dominant performance.

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But after beating the Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round, Draper flew home and now says he must rest and sit out the remainder of the season.

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Despite losing in the revamped US Open mixed doubles, Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz captivated the New York crowd. In a festive atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the British-Spanish duo saw their hopes of winning the $1 million prize dashed by fellow Briton Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula. Despite Pegula's presence, the crowd at Flushing Meadows largely favored Raducanu and Alcaraz.

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An eagerly anticipated clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the Cincinnati Open ended in an anticlimactic victory for Alcaraz, as Sinner retired just 23 minutes into the final due to illness. Alcaraz had quickly established a 5-0 lead in the first set when the out-of-sorts Sinner announced he could not continue in what was to be their 14th career match-up.