Talking Tennis

Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open due to a right knee injury, the Italian announced on Friday.

“Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner said in a statement. “We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue.

“I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.”

This is the first time that Sinner has missed a Grand Slam tournament since he made his major debut at the 2019 US Open.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala produced a gutsy display to advance to the round-of-16 of the Canadian Open, outlasting Caty McNally of the United States in a three-set thriller on Friday at the Sobeys Stadium in Toronto (early Saturday in Manila).

Eala emerged triumphant in a roller-coaster affair, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to book her place in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event.

It was a hard-earned win for the Filipina, who had a chance to serve for the match in the second set but faltered, before regaining her bearings in the decider and securing the win in two hours and 39 minutes.

“I think survived that one. It was so tough,” said Eala, who took a medical timeout in the second set to get her right ankle wrapped after a tumble.