The Trinbago Knight Riders knocked out the Guyana Amazon Warriors last night and are through to the Finals to meet Chris Gayle and the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots this Saturday!
US OPEN Ladies Final
Who would have thought? It will be Sloane Stephens versus Madison Keys in the US Open Ladies Final tomorrow at 3pmET.
With Serena out, it has been anybody’s game.
Sloane Stephens showed she wanted to be in the Final more than ever last night, beating veteran, Venus Williams in an epic 3rd set. She beat Venus, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5. Her reach and movement was phenomenal.
On the other side of the draw, Madison Keys has been relentless and rolled over Coco Vandeweghe, 6-1, 6-2.
Stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Roger Federer crashed out of the US Open last night. Juan del Potro came out with all guns blazing to spoil the anticipated Nadal-Federer Semifinal party.
What happened to Roger?!
Photo: ftw.usatoday.com
Well I can agree with what he said in his post-match interview. He had too many misses. Del Potro was not making many errors apart from a few double faults. Del Potro was just the better player last night. His forehands were powerful and aggressive and Federer had no answers for them. He was in the wrong position too many times. Del Potro’s serve was also on point. Federer failed to seize opportunities when the times were right compared to del Potro who did the exact opposite. It mattered most when Federer had FOUR set points to win the 3rd set and he lost them all. That gave del Potro the confidence to win the 4th and the match. The closeness of the match even when Roger played horribly, showed how great he is in this game. Del Potro beat Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.
Del Potro will face World no. 1 Rafael Nadal in the Semis. Nadal knows that if he doesn’t play his best his chances are low versus del Potro who is currently at the top of his game.
Who’s in the other Men’s Semifinal?
Kyle Anderson (28) spoiled the USA party and upset Sam Querrey (17) in 4 sets. Spectacular match. He will face Pablo Carreño Busta (12) tomorrow.
Who’s left in it for the Ladies?!
For the 1st time in 36 years there will be All American Semifinals for the Ladies!
The Semifinal action will be on today. I think they’re all going for it and it’s anyone’s game. Everyone will have to play their best tennis to have a chance to win.
Here’s the Schedule:
Photo: express.co.uk
Venus Williams will play Sloane Stephens. Of course I give Venus the edge but Venus will need to improve her serve based on how she has been playing this tournament and will have to keep moving well.
Coco on a roll. Photo: marketwatch.com
Then you have Coco versus Keys. That should be a cracker. Both ladies have been playing extremely well. Even though Keys has a higher ranking, I give the edge to Coco if she keeps her emotions in check.
Note that Coco also took out World no. 1 Karolina Pliskova in straight sets in the QF, 7-6, 6-3.
Stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Anastasija Sevastova sent Maria Sharapova packing early in 4th round. Beating World no. 2, Simona Halep in the early rounds was probably just too much for Sharapova. Sevastova moves well but I don’t expect her to reach far with her poor service game.
Photo: metro.co.uk
Two-time Wimbledon Champ, Petra Kvitova upset Wimbledon 2017 Champ and US Open favourite, Garbine Muguruza in hard-fought straight sets including a first set tie break last night. Muguruza rolled through her opponents in the opening rounds but Kvitova was just the better player last night. Her powerful shots were too much for Muguruza. Maybe the hard courts just aren’t Muguruza’s specialty either.
Kvitova recently made her comeback after a traumatic injury from a robbery, having to do surgery on her hand with lingering damage to the nerves and more. Kudos to her for making it to the Quarterfinals. She will meet Venus Williams, where she has the advantage of a 4-1 head to head. It is believed the winner of that Quarterfinal in the toughest half of the draw, may ultimately win the US Open.
Photo: dailymail.co.uk
Venus Williams at 37 years old, beat Carla Suárez Navarro to reach the Quarterfinals. It took 3 sets but she showed the true Champion she was, totally dominating in the 3rd set. She has some work to do on her serve that eventually came together. But her movement was phenomenal, as if she was set back in a time machine.
Sloane Stephens is back from an injury as well. She is not back to her full potential yet, but is still playing well. She is through to the Quarterfinals.
What’s happening on the other side of the draw?
Current World no. 1, Karolina Pliskova will play in the round of 16 today. USA’s Coco Vandeweghe will also be in action along with no. 4, Elina Svitolina who will play the other American still standing, Madison Keys.Â
Today’s Schedule (Women):
Men’s Singles
Today’s Schedule (Men):
Sam Querrey, who upset Andy Murray at Wimbledon has been playing extremely well with more confidence, powerful shots and angles. He is one to watch.
Photo: eurosport.com
Marin Cilic, past US Open Champ and who reached the Finals of Wimbledon this year, had an early exit.
Juan del Potro (24) is healthy and has been playing well. He will meet World no. 6, Dominic Thiem today.
Photo: dailymail.co.uk
Roger Federer, who has been suffering from a back injury recently, was struggling in the earlier rounds with 5-set matches. However, he looked like himself again on Saturday, moving much better and destroyed Feliciano Lopez in straight sets.
World no. 1, Rafael Nadal had a shaky round on Saturday but is still through to play in the Round of 16 today. He has never met Roger Federer in the US Open in all their years of rivalry, but if both of them stay on course, they are 2 wins away from a Semifinal match up!
Stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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A Williams will win the Australian Open this year!
Serena’s serve was much better last night and she dominated Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 6-1.
It was all about Venus Williams making the Final last night though! She surely took centrestage. Her match was before Serena’s and must have helped to further inspire and fire up Serena to win her match.
Vintage Venus was on the move! It was such a beauty to watch. Quite inspirational.
The match started off with Venus being broken in her 1st game and that never occurred again. The 1st set went back and forth with Venus up 6-5. At this point Coco raised the level of her game to force the tiebreak. Venus tightened up during the tiebreak and lost the 1st set. She was visually upset with herself and if looks could kill! She expressed her wrath in the 2nd set with controlled aggression and took it easily, 6-2.
Of course at that point, the edge was still given to the younger player, Coco to have enough gas left for 3 sets. But the momentum stayed on Venus’s side with her entering the 3rd set with the same attitude, breaking Coco early. Coco went a bit loco throwing her racquet but she did not go down without a fight. I remember her asking out loud early in the 1st set what was going on. Well by the 3rd set it must have hit her that she was playing the experienced Venus Williams who was one of her 4 idols growing up. The other 3 included Venus’s sister, Serena, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport.
It has been years since Venus has played like this. I was pleasantly surprised that she pulled this off. She saved 12 of 13 break points faced and scored 11 aces. Her movement was phenominal, she made necessary adjustments such as hugging the baseline to accommodate hard hitting by Coco and beat her mentally. Her serve was clutch and she won 6-7, 6-2, 6-3. It was spectacular tennis by both players.
Her winning moment is a must see. The 36 year old could not contain her excitement and emotions. She looked like a 6 year old and deservedly so. She had more twirls going than Serena.
Watch “Venus Williams Victory Dance + Interview after reaching Australian Open Final” on YouTube here:
Venus hasn’t reached a Grand Slam Final since 2009 and her last Australian Final was in 2003 vs Serena.
Here are the stats between the Williams sisters heading into the Final this Saturday at 3am!
By: Gabrielle Burgess If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Serena Williams is through to her 10th straight SemiFinal! She beat Konta 6-2, 6-3. It was all mental and she read her opponent well. Despite her poor 1st service games tonight she surely turned up her 2nd and returns!
She will meet 34 year old, Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at 12am later. Serena is chasing 23 Grand Slam Titles to write history but Lucic-Baroni has her own fairytale story, trying to have the biggest comeback in history. They last met at Wimbledon when they were teenagers in 1998 and Serena came out on top. Â Lucic-Baroni was to be the next big thing back then upsetting Monica Seles to reach the Semi Finals at Wimbledon in 1999. But she drifted from the scene with personal issues, coming out to the public a few years later that she was abused by her father. She has a number of injuries but was in tears of happiness just to make it to the SemiFinals and will surely give everything she’s got.
Photo: www.tennisnow.com
Venus will meet the young power hitter, Coco right now! Will Venus make it an over 30-year old final? Suga favours Coco to win but will be happy if Venus pulls off the win.
The Men’s side is also hot. Rafael Nadal beat Milos Raonic in straight sets and is heading to the SemiFinals vs. Dimitrov.
We could possibly witness a Nadal-Federer Final! Federer would have to overcome Stan Wawrinka first though at 3:30am, which may not be an easy task.
Enjoy and stay tuned! Suga’s got you if you are sleeping.
By: Gabrielle Burgess If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Venus at 36yrs old is through to the Semis as the oldest woman in History to do so at the Australian Open. She will meet the unseeded Coco Vandeweghe and fellow American who has been creating upset after upset, beating #7 Muguruza in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 after knocking out World #1, Angelique Kerber. Coco is a power hitter and she definitely has her eyes on the title.
Serena plays #9 Konta tonight at 9pm in the QF who is not a walk over.
Photo: ESPN Scorecenter
For the Men, Nadal will face Raonic in the QF tommorrow at 3:30am.
Federer (#17) beat Zverev in straight sets and will meet #4 Stan Wawrinka who beat Tsonga in straight sets and stared him down.
Stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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No. 1 seed for the women and Defending Champion, Angelique Kerber was upset and overpowered by no. 35 American Coco Vandeweghe who hit 6 aces and 30 winners. Kerber lost 2-6, 3-6.
Photo: www.theguardian.com; Coco Vandeweghe
Does Serena have a better chance of winning her 23rd Grand Slam title now? Too early to say. Muguruza, Venus, Pliskova and more are still in it.
The no. 1 seed on the men’s side, Andy Murray was also sent packing. He lost to Mischa Zverev in 4 sets, 5-7, 7-5, 2-6, 4-6.
Old veterans and faves Nadal and Federer are still in it though and Federer looks like he is in great shape to win 1 more with Murray and Djokovic out of the way.
Football – NFC and AFC Championship
Photo: www.nj.com
The favoured Falcons face the Packers today in the NFC Championship at 3:05pm on FOX today. The Falcons injury list is now empty compared to a lengthy one for the Packers. Luckily, ESPN Scorecenter has reported that Wide Receivers, Jordy Nelson, Devante Adams and Geronimo Allison are now active for the game in less than an hour.
The favoured Patriots face the Steelers at 6:40pm on CBS for the AFC Championship.
Photo: www.nj.com
Enjoy and stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Sam Querrey, who upset Andy Murray at Wimbledon has been playing extremely well with more confidence, powerful shots and angles. He is one to watch.
