Article Author:
Associated Press
Howard Fendrich
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russian professional tennis player — 4 tournaments, 3 titles.
One of her, Lyudmila Samsonova, said that Daria Kasatkina and Daniil Her Medvedev's recent streak of success came shortly after the two were suspended. I don't think what happened was just a coincidence. Wimbledon is for their own invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Samsonova edged Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the final of the City Open on Sunday, ending her WTA career for the second time. "We are all very upset about this situation," he said after the incident. Title. "I mean, it's been a really rough month."
Samsonova said Casaquina was in San Jose, California, a day after men's ranking leader Medvedev beat Britain's Cam Norrie to win the title in Los Cabos, Mexico. Winning the trophy in Washington hours before winning the title. She defeated American Shelby Rogers. All three events are hard-court preparations for the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, the US Open, which starts in New York on August 29. Medvedev is defending his champion. (His fourth title of the week, City in the men's event at his Open, was won by Australia's Nick Kyrgios, while Russian Andrei Rublev advanced to the semi-finals).
At Wimbledon, the last Grand Slam event held in late June/July, all Russian and Belarusian players were eliminated from the All-England due to the attack on Ukraine. You have been blocked from joining by your club. This caused WTA and ATP pros to withhold tournament ranking points on her tour. In other words, anything earned there in 2021 was out of the player's record and could not be replaced with this year's stats.
"It's been a great week for us. I wouldn't say Wimbledon [gives us] a lot of motivation because we want to win these tournaments and matches. I think it just so happened that three Russian players won the title this week. "I think it's just a coincidence. It shows that we're on a good level." had fallen from her No. 25 in May to her No. 60, a career high. And she hasn't played a match on her tour since June.
She used that time to go to her base in Italy training and work on her own game. rice field.
She began working with her mental coach ("She can't thank her enough," Samsonova said Sunday). She tried to improve her topspin forehand, serve and return, all of which came between her US Open champion Emma win over Radukhanu in the quarterfinals and Kanepi in the final. It paid off.
Asked on Sunday about Wimbledon and the results she and the other Russians have had this week, Samsonova said:
Until a few weeks ago, she wasn't quite sure if she would be able to play in Washington. This was because her visa expired in July when she was told that she may not have had enough time to complete the renewal application process.
That could have meant missing not only the City Open, but possibly other tournaments in the country, including the US Open. , announced that it will allow players from Russia and Belarus to participate in the draw).
Fortunately, Samsonova said it worked.
She "really has no idea," she admitted.
With the paperwork completed, Samsonova arrived in Washington and on Sunday night she was thinking that Medvedev and Kasatkina might as well.
"Certainly," said Samsonova, who was twenty-three years old.
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Contributed by her AP sportswriter Janie McCauley from San Jose, CA.
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Other AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP–Sports
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