US OPEN: SERENA SIBAK SA 3RD ROUND

NEW YORK – Sibak na si 23-time Grand Slam singles winner Serena Williams sa US Open dito kasunod ng 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 third-round loss kay Australian Ajla Tomljanovic habang dinispatsa ni defending men’s champion Daniil Medvedev si Wu Yibing ng China.

Pinasalamatan ng American tennis legend ang kanyang mga magulang, nakatatandang kapatid na si Venus, at fans matapos ang laban.

“It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on in my life,” ani Williams.

Kinilala ng Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) si Williams bilang isa sa “greatest champions sa kasaysayan ng sports.”

“The WTA today celebrates the extraordinary Serena Williams, who retires from professional tennis having secured her place among the greatest champions in the history of sports,” pahayag ng organisasyon sa isang statement.

Magdiriwang ng kanyang ika-41 kaarawan ngayong buwan, ang record Grand Slam title holder sa Open Era ay may 73 tournament wins, kabilang ang 23 singles, 14 doubles at 2 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, gayundin ang apat na Olympic gold medals.

Nanguna siya sa world singles rankings sa loob ng 319 linggo.

Sa men’s singles sa Day 5, pinutol ni World No.1 Medvedev ng Russia ang history-making run ni Chinese Wu Yibing, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

“I was serving a little bit better than him, and that was the key today. But it was a really tough match, a lot of tight games,” sabi ni Medvedev, na kinuha ang panalo na may 12 aces, at nanalo sa 71 percent ng kanyang first-serve points.

Sa fourth round ay makakaharap ni Medvedev si Australian Nick Kyrgios, na namayani kay American J.J. Wolf, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

Samantala, ginapi ni Casper Ruud ng Norway, seeded No. 5, si American 29th seed Tommy Paul, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-0, sa loob ng apat at kalahating oras.

Sa women’s singles, pinataob ni No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur ng Tunisia si American Shelby Rogers, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, habang nalusutan ni No. 17 seed Caroline Garcia ng France si 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu, 6-3, 6-2.