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A16 sports
Wednesday 7 september 2022

As Serena leaves, Nadal loses, Federer absent, is era over?

By HOWARD FENDRICH time in the professional era,
AP Tennis Writer which dates to 1968, that its
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Grand Slam event featured
Williams, you might have fewer than at least two
heard, played what’s ex- past major title winners at
pected to be her last this stage.
match at the U.S. Open. Ra- Looking just at the men’s
fael Nadal lost in the fourth bracket, none of the four
round. Novak Djokovic and quarterfinalists who will play
Roger Federer (more on Wednesday — No. 22 seed
them later) weren’t even in Tiafoe vs. No. 9 Andrey
the tournament. Rublev, and No. 3 Carlos
Those four players domi- Alcaraz vs. No. 11 Jannik
nated, and were the main Sinner — has even reached
draws, in tennis for de- a major semifinal. Rublev,
cades, collecting a total who turns 25 next month, is
of 86 Grand Slam singles the oldest of the bunch.
titles, each with at least 20. “It’s cool,” Tiafoe said, “to
And so, as the quarterfinals see a new era.”
began at Flushing Mead- And consider: It’s been
ows on Tuesday without nearly 20 years since there
any member of that quar- were zero previous Slam
tet present, it made sense champs in the quarterfinals
to ask: Is this the end of an Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, right, cheer on the competition during Arthur of a major. That last hap-
era? The 36-year-old Nad- Ashe Kids’ Day, the kick off to the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Aug. 24, 2013, in New York. pened at Wimbledon in
al sounded a philosophi- Associated Press 2003. Who won the trophy?
cal note about the topic so he isn’t sure when he will new would emerge to take men’s brackets, 15 never Federer, claiming the first
after he was bounced by play next. “It’s always the on the mantle in both wom- have won so much as one of his 20, which shattered
24-year-old American Fran- same. The same one have en’s tennis and men’s ten- major championship any- the old men’s mark of 14
ces Tiafoe 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 been up there several nis. This U.S. Open, whether where (the exception is Iga established by Pete Sam-
on Monday. “Some depart, years; others are coming merely symbolic or truly Swiatek, a 21-year-old from pras, and now has been
others come and the world and we will be leaving. It’s portentous, offers a glimpse Poland who is No. 1 on the surpassed by Nadal’s 22
keeps going. It’s a natural logical.” at the current and future WTA Tour and owns two and Djokovic’s 21 (as well
cycle,” said Nadal, who Folks have been wondering states of the game. Of the French Open titles). as Williams’ 23, the most for
noted that his wife is preg- — and, perhaps, worrying 16 singles quarterfinalists According to the U.S. Tennis any tennis player in the pro
nant with their first child and — about when someone across the women’s and Association, this is the first era).q

Tyson Fury offers Joshua 40% of purse

for all-British fight

Fury — the WBC champion bley Stadium in April. head, though, and Joshua
— said he was willing to of- Fury’s hopes of landing promoter Eddie Hearn sug-
fer Joshua 40% of the purse a fight with Usyk, who re- gested the all-British fight
for a title fight before the tained the WBA, WBO and could happen if Fury’s of-
end of the year. IBF belts by beating Joshua fer stood up.
“He doesn’t have any ex- in Saudi Arabia last month, “Personally, I don’t believe
cuses now not to take it,” were dashed when the Fury is serious about this,”
Fury said. “He can’t say Ukrainian said he did not Hearn told British radio sta-
I’ve low-balled him and intend to fight again this tion talkSPORT, “but if he
offered him 20 or 30%. I’ve year. is … 100% we will sit down
Mexican Andy Ruiz knocks out British Anthony Joshua in a fight offered (his) people 40% — Joshua had intended to and make the fight.
for the heavyweight title, on June 1, 2019, in New York. take it or leave it.” work his way back up to “I would love to get re-
Associated Press The unbeaten Fury ap- being a three-time cham- ally excited about this,
pears to have gone back pion, maybe facing oppo- because it’s the fight
LONDON (AP) — World moved his sights toward on his decision to retire in nents in the second tier of that I get stopped in the
heavyweight champion fellow British heavyweight the wake of beating an- the heavyweight division street for more than any
Tyson Fury has parked a Anthony Joshua. other British fighter, Dillian after losing three of his last fight that could be made
potential unification fight In a video published on Whyte, in front of around five bouts. and it’s a fight that AJ has
with Oleksandr Usyk and social media on Tuesday, 90,000 spectators at Wem- Fury’s offer might turn his wanted for a long time.”q