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Who is Still In It to Win It at the Australian Open?!

by SportsWhat's Hot

The Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis Tournament 2018

WOMEN

The ladies have been battling it out in some neck to neck matches. The focus has been on World #1, Simona Halep, former World #1, Angelique Kerber (21) and current World #2, Caroline Wozniacki.

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Simona Halep from Romania a.k.a Jalapeño Pepper (Photo: GotCeleb)

Simona Halep has been struggling with a chronic ankle injury, but showed she was not backing out easily in the Quarterfinals after being down 3-0 in the 1st set to Karolína Plísková (6) and fighting back to win 6-3, 6-2.

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Angelique Kerber (Photo: The Sun)

She then faced Angelique Kerber (21) in the Semifinals last night. Kerber has had a good run this Australian Open so far despite her inconsistencies in winning majors. She defeated huge contenders such as Maria Sharapova and Madison Keys (17).

On the other side of the draw, young Belgian, Elise Mertens had an impressive straight set win (6-4, 6-0) over Elina Svitolina (4). She has been a part of former Belgian Tennis Player and World #1, Kim Clijsters’ Tennis Camp. Kim has been texting her with encouragement for every match.

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Elise Mertens (Photo: indianexpress.com)

Elise played one of the favourites, Caroline Wozniacki (2) last night in the Semifinals.

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Caroline Wozniacki (Photo: www.usatoday.com)

So who’s meeting in the Women’s Final?!

It will be Caroline Wozniacki (2) versus Simona Halep (1)! Whoever wins will win their 1st Grand Slam title and will be World #1.

Wozniacki’s Semifinal vs Mertens

Wozniacki tightened up towards the end of the match versus Mertens, up 6-3, 5-4 (30-0), then was brought to a tiebreak. She managed to dominate and win the tiebreak, thus the match, 6-3, 7-6 and is heading to her 3rd Grand Slam Final. Will the 3rd time be a charm?

Halep’s Semifinal vs Kerber

The Halep-Kerber Semifinal was epic!

Halep was quite solid versus Kerber until she was up 5-0 to serve out the first set and probably couldn’t believe she got there so fast. It looked like she started to think about it and handed Kerber 2 free points from double faults. Kerber picked up her game after that until Halep broke her to win the first set 6-3.

The 2nd set was a ding-dong battle even though Kerber was still plagued with unforced errors. With Halep looking slightly fresher and up 8-7, both had lost 2 match points until Halep lost a 3rd match point on Kerber’s serve and she kept pressing until she took full advantage of the 4th match point in the same game and won.

Date and Time of the Women’s Final

Saturday (Friday night) at 3:30am

Suga’s Prediction

Simona Halep has the reputation of choking in major matches, always coming close and losing it mentally and physically. However, she has stated there is a new Simona now and I believe her after the courage she showed versus the stubborn, Angelique Kerber.

I do not think Halep is giving up on this opportunity. I also doubt it will be a close or epic final. Suga calls Halep for the win.

MEN

Marin Čilić (6) reached to the Semifinals after World #1, Rafael Nadal retired in the 5th set agonized by a hip injury.

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Marin Čilić (Photo: The Sun)

I like to refer to Čilić as Sparta. Whether he reached to the Semifinals by default or not, he is quite a fighter.

He played Kyle Edmund in the Semis.

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Kyle Edmund (Photo: www.express.co.uk)

On the other side of the draw lies the young, South Korean, Hyeon Chung. He is the first Korean to reach the Quarterfinals and the Semifinals.

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Hyeon Chung (Photo: hindustantimes.com)

Chung sent former World #1, Novak Djokovic packing in the 4th round in straight sets. Djokovic expressed frustration with his chronic elbow injury.

Chung then went on to defeat Tennys Sandgren in the Quarterfinals who previously took out Dominic Thiem (5) in 5 sets.

Who does he meet next?

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Roger Federer (Photo: The Indian Express)

He will meet the G.O.A.T and current World #2, Roger Federer tonight at 3:30am. Roger previously defeated Tomáš Berdych (19) in straight sets.

Were there any Upsets and Who’s Already in the Men’s Final?!

Marin Čilić has booked his spot in the Final and will wait on the winner of the Chung-Federer Semifinal! No surprises there. Čilić beat beat Edmund 6-2, 7-6, 6-2.

Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

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Who’s Still in it to Win it at the US OPEN?!

by SportsWhat's Hot

Women’s Singles

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Photo: timesofindia.com

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.

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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.

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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. 

Today’s Schedule (Women):

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Men’s Singles

Today’s Schedule (Men):

Screenshot_2017-09-04-00-40-39-1.pngSam Querrey, who upset Andy Murray at Wimbledon has been playing extremely well with more confidence, powerful shots and angles. He is one to watch.

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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.

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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.

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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

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

 

 

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All Eyes on the Ladies at the French Open! Who’s Still in it to Win it?!

by SportsWhat's Hot

Women’s Singles

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Karolína Plíšková

How could we forget about Karolína Plíšková?! The rankings of players differ on the various websites, but according to the WTA Rankings, Plíšková is ranked closely behind Serena Williams at No. 3.

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Photo: ESPN

The experts have favored Simona Halep (4) to win her first ever Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Elina Svitolina (6) is also a popular pick. It turns out that Halep and Svitolina will meet in the Quarterfinals and the winner could play Plíšková in the Semis.

Caroline Wozniacki (12) is still in it. She has come close to winning a Grand Slam a few times. Her Quarterfinal was suspended due to rain at a set a piece between her and Ostapenko. 

Timea Bacsinszky (30) who eliminated Venus Williams is also playing in the Quarterfinals today but her match was suspended as well versus Miladenovic. Bacsinszky was up a set.

Wozniacki and Bacsinszky could meet in the Semifinals.

Men’s Singles

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Photo: SB Nation

Although Rafael Nadal (4) is not in his prime, the ‘King of Clay’ is still in it and has been playing well. Of course we know that he could meet Novak Djokovic (2) in the Semis. But Djokovic has the challenge of defeating Dominic Thiem (6) in the Quarterfinals first.

Marin Cilic (7) defeated Gaël Monfils and will play Stan Wawrinka (3) in the Quarterfinals.

World no. 1 Andy Murray will play Kei Nishikori (8) in the Quarterfinals.

Suga thinks we may have a Murray-Wawrinka Semifinal.

Stay tuned!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.