tennis
US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and her father give emotional thanks for how Canada ‘opened their doors’ to their immigrant family
After a hard-fought run in the U.S. Open, finalist Leylah Fernandez reflected on her time up until that point and how it “meant the world” to her.
The Journey: On Monday, Leylah, 19, joined the “Today” show to talk about how her tennis journey to the finals impacted her family and why she will continue to fight for her dreams.
Emma Raducanu wanted to win U.S. Open so she could buy herself new AirPods
Emma Raducanu entered the U.S. Open as an underdog and emerged a global phenomenon.
Driving force: Raducanu showed tenacity throughout her U.S. Open campaign, winning 20 consecutive sets in 10 matches, partly because she wanted to buy herself a new pair of AirPods.
Teen Asian tennis sensations set to square off in ultimate showdown at US Open final
Two young women representing Canada and the United Kingdom will advance to the U.S. Open final in a historic match fueled by Asian pride this weekend.
Head-to-head: On Saturday, Leylah Fernandez, 19, and Emma Raducanu, 18, will face each other at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at 4 p.m. This will be the first men’s or women’s major final in the Open era to feature two unseeded players, according to ESPN.
Meet the two Asian teens dominating the US Open
Two rising tennis stars of Asian descent — Emma Raducanu, 18, and Leylah Fernandez, 19 — are now both a win away from the U.S. Open final.
Teens take the stage: Raducanu defeated an Olympic champion on Wednesday, while Fernandez outperformed two former Grand Slam winners in earlier stages of the U.S. Open before advancing to the semifinals.
Naomi Osaka wins ‘Best Athlete, Women’s Sports’ at her first ESPY Awards on ESPN
Naomi Osaka made her first appearance at ESPN’s ESPY Awards on Saturday and took home the award for Best Athlete, Women’s Sports.
The award show: The 23-year-old pro tennis player thanked everyone who supported her during the brief acceptance speech she delivered at the award show, according to Deadline.
‘Athletes are humans’: Naomi Osaka ‘excited’ to play at Tokyo Olympics after weeks of recharge
Naomi Osaka said she is now excited to compete again at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics after spending weeks with loved ones to recharge and have time to reflect.
Fully charged and ready: In an essay for TIME magazine, the 23-year-old tennis player shed further light on why she stepped away from the game in May.
Tennis Player ‘Triple Z’ Becomes First Chinese Man to Qualify for Wimbledon in ‘the Open Era’
Zhang Zhizhen, nicknamed “Triple Z,” became the first male Chinese tennis player to play singles in the main draw at The Championships (Wimbledon) since the Open Era began in 1968.
Rising star: The 24-year-old athlete defeated Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in the qualifiers on Thursday and was supposed to play his first major main draw against France’s Andreas Hoang on June 28, CNN reported.
Naomi Osaka is Free to Skip Press Conferences at the Tokyo Olympics
Tennis star Naomi Osaka will not be required to attend press conferences at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese Olympic Committee confirmed to the press on Friday.
Not mandatory: The committee’s media relations team clarified while Olympic medalists usually attend press conferences after events, they will not penalize those who refuse to participate, Kyodo News reported.
Naomi Osaka Withdraws From Wimbledon Championships, Expresses Excitement for Tokyo Olympics
Naomi Osaka has officially withdrawn from the upcoming Wimbledon championships in June for personal reasons, just weeks after quitting the French Open.
Some time off: Osaka’s agent told Reuters on Thursday that the tennis star is “taking some personal time with friends and family” but noted she would be “ready for the Olympics,” set to commence next month in Japan.
Naomi Osaka Thanks Ancestors for Helping Her Win Second US Open
Naomi Osaka claimed her second U.S. Open championship and third overall Grand Slam title on Saturday.
Representing Japan, the 22-year-old tennis star scored 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to beat Victoria Azarenka, the only Belarusian player with a Grand Slam singles title.
Naomi Osaka Thanked By Parents of Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin for Support
Naomi Osaka received a thank you message from the parents of Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin following her win on Tuesday in the quarterfinal match of the U.S. Open.
The message: The 22-year-old tennis star received the note of gratitude after her match with Shelby Rogers on Tuesday, which advanced her to the U.S. Open semi-finals, according to ESPN.
Naomi Osaka is Giving Up U.S. Citizenship to Compete for Japan at 2020 Olympics
Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka has officially announced that she will give up her U.S. citizenship to play for Japan in the upcoming 2020 Olympics.
The 21-year-old athlete, who was born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, says becoming a Japanese citizen and representing her birth country in the Olympics is a “special desire.”