<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tracy Austin is the youngest person, man or woman, to win the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/2023-us-open">US Open singles tournament</a>.</li><li>She thinks 19-year-old American superstar <keyword id="12003350" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coco-gauff" source="Orion">Coco Gauff</keyword> is ready to win a <keyword id="11901217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grand-slam" source="Orion">Grand Slam</keyword>.</li></ul>Coco Gauff has been competing at the highest levels of <keyword id="11897437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">tennis</keyword> for so long, it's easy to forget that she's only 19 years old.But now, the American phenom has what it takes to break through and win her very first Grand Slam tournament, according to Tracy Austin.And she knows better than virtually anyone; Austin won the US Open at just 16 years old and remains the youngest-ever player — man or woman — to win the singles tournament.<div type="image" title="Tracy Austin plays in the US Open finals at 16 years old." height="1718" width="2291" msid="91798256" hostid="261"></div>"Everybody's had their eye on Coco Gauff," <a href="https://www.insider.com/youngest-ever-us-open-winner-tracy-austin-question-answer-2022-4">Austin told Insider in 2022</a>. "And we've just been able to see her talent get better every single year, every single month. It seems like now, at that age, you improve so rapidly.""I think she's gonna win a major," she added of the young superstar.Austin credits that shift to a few factors. She says Gauff has "shored up her forehand," which had been notoriously unpredictable early in her career.And, crucially, her service game has improved. When she was younger, her serves sometimes became a bit erratic over the course of any given match.<div type="image" title="Coco Gauff serves during the 2023 US Open." height="1384" width="2075" msid="103519524" hostid="261" sizebytes="163194"></div>But now, with more experience and maturity working in her favor, Gauff's strong service game has morphed into a tool she can depend on."The serve has gotten better, more reliable," Austin said. "Not as many double faults. And the forehand used to be attackable, but now she's such an incredible athlete."Austin prides herself on her ability to sniff out young talent who boast that "it" factor that makes a tennis champion. But as someone who remembers living "almost two lives" as a Grand Slam champion adored by millions who doubled as a 10th grader attending public high school, Austin knows that "it's very difficult to navigate to the top without any problems" as a young kid in the spotlight.For her, the key to navigating it all was keeping a level head and maintaining a sense of normalcy. She thinks Gauff, who <a href="https://www.insider.com/coco-gauff-tennis-venus-williams-wimbledon-2019-7">catapulted into prominence</a> after defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, has managed to do the same."She seems to have a great head on her shoulders," Austin said. "So poised out there. She's had so many eyes on her for years now."And she's thriving like never before.Gauff entered the 2023 US Open on the hottest streak of her still-young career. She opened August with a win at the Washington Open, where she did not drop a single set en route to the title. Mere weeks later, she earned her biggest championship yet at the Cincinnati Open and <a href="https://www.insider.com/aryna-sabalenka-tennis-womens-top-ranking-us-open-2023-9">bested then-world No. 1 Iga Swiatek</a> in the process.<div type="image" title="Coco Gauff." height="1459" width="1946" msid="103519525" hostid="261" sizebytes="110724"></div>"I feel confident in my preparation, and I'm feeling confident in my execution," Gauff told Insider ahead of the tournament.That confidence proved prudent. The Floridian took down former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, 2017 <keyword id="6388398" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="french-open" source="Orion">French Open</keyword> champion Jelena Ostapenko, and world No. 10 Karolina Muchova on her way to becoming the youngest American since Serena Williams to compete in a US Open singles final.Now, she'll face <a href="https://www.insider.com/aryna-sabalenka-tennis-world-no-1-chase-tiger-2023-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soon-to-be world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka</a> in Saturday's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/how-to-watch-us-open-live-stream-tennis-free-online-2023">Fans can tune in</a> to watch the action unfold at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Coco Gauff is ready to win her first Grand Slam, according to the youngest-ever US Open winner

<ul class="summary-list"><li>British tennis sensation <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/emma-raducanu">Emma Raducanu</a> continued her dominant run at the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/us-open">US Open</a> as she reached the final.</li><li>In beating Greece's Maria Sakkari, the teenager became the first qualifier in history to reach the final.</li><li>Raducanu hasn't dropped a single set in the nine matches she has played at the tournament so far.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/emma-raducanu">Emma Raducanu</a>'s fairytale year continued on Thursday as she became the first qualifier to reach the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/us-open">US Open</a> final.The 18-year-old Brit defeated Greece's 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4 to set up a final meeting with fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez.Raducanu, who is making her first appearance at the US Open, and only her second Grand Slam appearance, is the first British woman to reach a major singles final in 44 years.After the win, Raducanu said the achievement was "mind blowing.""I never thought it would come this early to be in a Grand Slam final.<div type="image" title="Emma Raducanu during the US Open semifinal" height="2531" width="3375" msid="86093093" hostid="261"></div>"I'm really enjoying my time in New York and that's showing in my tennis. Tonight, being under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it's so iconic and I think I was just thriving in the moment."Crazy, cool. To be here in New York for three weeks is just absolutely mind blowing for me," <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/58510530">she told BBC Radio 5 Live.</a>Raducanu's run to the final began 16 days ago when she defeated Dutch player Bibiane Schoofs 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of qualifying. Since then, she has won eight more matches and only once been taken to a tiebreak. At no point in the nine matches she has played at the tournament has she lost a set.Raducanu started the year ranked 336th in the world, and was 150th before the US Open started.Her semifinal win means that after the rankings are next update she will be in the world's top 50 players.<div type="image" title="Leylah Annie Fernandez during the US Open semifinal" height="2935" width="3914" msid="86093095" hostid="261"></div>She will be joined in the final by 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez who defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in Thursday's other semi-final.Saturday's final will be the eighth time a Grand Slam final has been contested between teenagers, and the first since <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/serena-williams">Serena Williams</a> and Martina Hingis played in 1999.

An 18-year-old tennis phenom continued her 'mind-blowing,' dominant US Open run and became the first qualifier in history to reach the final

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Canadian Leylah Fernandez is now the youngest US Open semi-finalist since Maria Sharapova in 2005.</li><li>The 19-year-old put her form at Flushing Meadows down to "maple syrup."</li><li>Her new record could be beaten by British teen Emma Raducanu after only one day, however. </li></ul>Teenager Leylah Fernandez produced another stunning performance at the US Open to beat world number five Elina Svitolina and reach the tournament's semifinals.The Canadian, <a href="https://www.insider.com/us-open-teenagers-alcaraz-fernandez-raducanu-stealing-show-flushing-meadows-2021-9">who turned 19 on Monday,</a> is now the youngest semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows since 18-year-old Maria Sharapova reached the semis in 2005. Against Svitolina on Tuesday, Fernandez emerged as the victor in a tie-break to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).Svitolina had overturned a 5-2 deficit in the third set, but could not stop Fernandez booking her place in the last four, where she will face Aryna Sabalenka on Friday."I honestly have no idea what I'm feeling right now," Fernandez said after her victory. "Throughout the whole match I was so nervous."Thanks to the New York crowd, cheering me on, fighting for me and never giving up, I was able to push through today."I was honored to have a fight with Svitolina. I just told myself to go for every point. I'm glad I did."When asked what she was being fed in Canada to make her so good, Fernandez said, tongue in cheek: "I would say it's the maple syrup."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-US Open <keyword id="11897437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">Tennis</keyword> (@usopen) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1435353848139374598">September 7, 2021</a></blockquote>Fernandez's new record in New York may only last one day, however.British teen Emma Raducanu, 18, faces Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, where victory will see her surpass Fernandez as the US Open's youngest semifinalist. Going into her match against Bencic, Raducanu has <a href="https://www.insider.com/us-open-emma-raducanu-18-into-quarterfinals-without-dropping-set-2021-9">yet to drop a single set in four main-draw and three qualifying matches.</a>"Bencic has a lot of experience on the tour. She's in great form, having won Olympic gold," Raducanu said ahead of the tie."I'm also feeling good about my game, also confident with the amount of matches I've played. I feel like I'm building with each one."It will be an extremely difficult match. I know if I'm going to have a chance, I'm going to have to play some really good tennis."

The youngest US Open semifinalist since Maria Sharapova stormed to victory then put her success down to maple syrup

<ul class="summary-list"><li>18-year-old breakout star <keyword id="12052689" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="emma-raducanu" source="Orion">Emma Raducanu</keyword> is on her way to her first <keyword id="11901217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grand-slam" source="Orion">Grand Slam</keyword> title game.</li><li>She beat world No. 17 Maria Sakkari in straight sets to advance to this weekend's US Open final.</li><li>Sakkari said Raducanu is lethal because she "plays fearless" and "has nothing to lose."</li></ul>Emma Raducanu is the wunderkind of the 2021 US Open.After upsetting players ranked in the top-20 in back-to-back matches, the 18-year-old became the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam final in 17 years. Not since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova took home the 2004 title at Wimbledon has such a young star made it to <keyword id="11897437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">tennis</keyword>' biggest stage.<div type="image" title="Emma Raducanu celebrates her US Open semifinal victory." height="2690" width="3587" msid="86101519" hostid="261"></div>Raducanu's latest victim - world No. 17 Maria Sakkari - took just five total games in the straight-set loss against the British <keyword id="6393498" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="teen" source="Orion">teen</keyword>. And she explained after the match that Raducanu is such a lethal adversary because "she plays fearless.""She absolutely goes for it," Sakkari said in her post-match press conference. "She does the right thing, actually. She goes for it. She has nothing to lose.""She's enjoying herself," Sakkari added.<div type="image" title="Emma Raducanu (left) shakes hands with Maria Sakkari." height="1666" width="2500" msid="86101520" hostid="261"></div>Raducanu agreed with that assessment, more or less. In her own press conference, she admitted that "being young, there is an element of you do play completely free" but added that she'll likely start to feel pressure of her own as she gets older and accumulates more experience."Honestly, right now, I'm just thinking of the game plan, how to execute, and that's what's landed me in this situation," Raducanu said. "It hasn't been focusing on who's expected to win this match or that one. I think it's just taking care of the day, and that's what I'm doing quite well at the moment."Youth won't offer her much of an advantage when she takes the court for the final. Her opponent, <a href="https://www.insider.com/leylah-fernandez-dad-swears-like-drunken-sailor-watching-us-open-2021-9">Canadian up-and-comer Leylah Fernandez</a>, just turned 19 and is only two months older than Raducanu.<div type="image" title="Leylah Fernandez." height="1343" width="1791" msid="86101522" hostid="261"></div>Fernandez has found a way to defy expectations and knock out some of the game's brightest stars, including Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka en route to a spot opposite Raducanu in the all-teen final. Perhaps she, too, has benefitted from the lack of pressure that comes with her age.Raducanu and Fernandez will face off in Flushing Meadows for the ultimate prize Saturday at 4:20 p.m. Fans stateside can tune in to coverage of the match on ESPN.

18-year-old Emma Raducanu's latest US Open victim says the breakout star is so lethal because 'she has nothing to lose'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Canadian star <keyword id="12065175" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="leylah-fernandez" source="Orion">Leylah Fernandez</keyword> has reached her first career Grand Slam final at just 19 years old.</li><li>The lefty has been calm, collected, and dominant throughout her surprise run at the 2021 US Open.</li><li>Her dad, however, admitted that he "swears like a drunken sailor" while watching his daughter play. </li></ul>Teenage <keyword id="11897437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">tennis</keyword> sensation Leylah Fernandez has been calm, cool, and collected throughout her impressive - and unexpected - run to her first-ever Grand Slam final at the 2021 US Open.But Jorge Fernandez, the Canadian star's father who doubles as her coach, isn't nearly as composed as his 19-year-old daughter during her matches. In an interview with <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-the-father-daughter-relationship-behind-the-success-of-leylah/">The Globe and Mail</a>, Jorge admitted that he "swears like a drunken sailor" while watching Leylah compete from afar.<div type="image" title="Leylah Fernandez celebrates her US Open victory against Aryna Sabalenka." height="1666" width="2223" msid="86099051" hostid="261"></div>While his wife, Irene, sits courtside in their daughter's box at the New York tournament, Jorge is glued to his television as he follows along from home in Boynton Beach, Florida. The closed-door viewing experience offers Jorge privacy when he drops some unsavory language - but Leylah's other-worldly stretch in Flushing Meadows justifies an expletive or two from her dad.The young star - who turned 19 during the US Open - cruised to straight-set victories in her first- and second-round matches. But few expected the wunderkind to best reigning champion and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in their third-round matchup. However, Fernandez bounced back from dropping the first set 5-7 to win a tie-break in the second and down Osaka 6-4 in the third.<div type="image" title="Leylah Fernandez serves." height="1665" width="2220" msid="86099053" hostid="261"></div>Fernandez didn't waver as she took down tennis titan after tennis titan en route to the championship match. Much like she did with Osaka, Fernandez recovered from a first-set deficit to upset three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber in the round of 16.Fernandez jumped out to an early lead in the quarterfinal but had to battle through a third-set tiebreak to secure a win over world No. 5 Elina Svitolina. Then, in Thursday's semifinal, she again endured a three-set marathon against world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to advance to the title match.While his daughter deserves all of the credit for executing under tennis' brightest lights, Jorge has received recognition for successfully coaching Leylah to the top despite not having previous experience in the sport.<div type="image" title="Leylah Fernandez." height="1374" width="1832" msid="86099055" hostid="261"></div>His secret, he says, is knowing nothing. "You know, I tell her, 'The art of being a great coach is understanding that you know nothing,'" Jorge told <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-the-father-daughter-relationship-behind-the-success-of-leylah/">The Globe and Mail</a>. "And when you know nothing, all you do is get hungry to find out."

The father of teen US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez admitted that he 'swears like a drunken sailor' while watching her compete

<ul class="summary-list"><li>19-year-old <keyword id="12065175" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="leylah-fernandez" source="Orion">Leylah Fernandez</keyword> said a teacher once told her to focus on school instead of <keyword id="11897437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">tennis</keyword>.</li><li>Fernandez said she uses that teacher's word as motivation.</li><li>Fernandez has had an unlikely journey but is now in the US Open final.</li></ul>Like so many other professional athletes, Leylah Fernandez is fueled by those who doubted her.The 19-year-old Canadian has stormed the U.S. Open, knocking off three top-10 opponents in the last four rounds to make the final.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/sports/tennis/us-open-womens-final-fernandez-raducanu.html">According to The New York Times' Christopher Clarey</a>, Fernandez is motivated by a teacher who told her she would "never make it" and to focus on school."Now I'm laughing," Fernandez said. "I'm just glad that she told me that because every day I have that phrase in my head saying that I'm going to keep going. I'm going to push through, and I'm going to prove to her everything that I've dreamed of, I'm going to achieve."Fernandez has an unwavering swagger and belief in herself. She told reporters earlier in the tournament that she believes she is going to win every time she steps on the court."From a very young age, I knew I was able to beat anyone, anyone who is in front of me," Fernandez said, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fleylah-fernandez-us-open-tennis-canada-11630935342%3Fmod%3Darticle_inline">according to The Wall Street Journal's Joshua Robinson</a>.She added that that confidence extends to all matters."Even playing different <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>, I was always that competitive, saying I'm going to win against them, I'm going to win against my dad in soccer, even though that's, like, impossible," Fernandez said, according to Robinson. "I've always had that belief."That belief has been evident at the US Open, as she has dispatched Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka, four players with physical advantages or more experience that could shake other opponents. Instead, Fernandez fought through nervy moments with cunning play, from well-placed serves to well-timed drop shots.Fernandez has had an atypical background for most tennis players. She has largely worked <a href="https://www.insider.com/leylah-fernandez-dad-swears-like-drunken-sailor-watching-us-open-2021-9">with her dad</a>, a former Ecuadorian soccer player, as her coach over going to prestigious academies. Her family faced financial hardships trying to keep up with her training schedule, and her mother had to move from Canada to California to take a job to support them.Fernandez and her family eventually moved to Florida, where Fernendez could train year-round at a number of facilities, according to Robinson.Now, a confident player with an unusual background has a chance to win one of the most unlikely US Open finals ever, facing off against 18-year-old Emma Raducanu of Britain. It's the first time two teenagers have met in a US Open final since 1999, when Serena Williams played Martina Hingis. At the time, however, both Williams and Hingis were top-10 players - Fernandez ranks 73rd and Raducanu ranks 150th.With the way women's tennis has produced new champions - since 2015, there have been 13 first-time Grand Slams champions, according to Clarey - there's no guarantee that Fernandez will make it back to this stage. But she has surely made it further than her teacher believed.

Surprise US Open finalist Leylah Hernandez said she is motivated by a teacher who told her to stop playing tennis and focus on school

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="6388398" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="French-Open">French Open</keyword>'s social media appeared to mock <keyword id="2549627" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Naomi-Osaka">Naomi Osaka</keyword>'s media blackout before the tournament.</li><li>"They understood the assignment," the official French Open Twitter account posted alongside photos of athletes doing press.</li><li>Osaka had opted not to speak to media at Roland-Garros for her mental health and has since withdrawn.</li></ul>The French Open's social media appeared to mock Naomi Osaka's decision to go on a media blackout in a now-deleted tweet posted the day before the tournament started.Osaka, 23, withdrew from Roland-Garros on Monday after being <a href="https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-fined-not-attending-press-conference-french-open-2021-5">fined $15,000 for not attending a press-conference</a> following her first round win over Patricia Maria Țig on Sunday.In the week before Roland-Garros kicked off, the Japanese star posted a statement to say <a href="https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-french-open-no-press-citing-mental-health-2021-5">she would not be doing any media during the competition as a means of protecting her own mental health.</a>Three days after the announcement, Roland-Garros' official Twitter account then posted a photo of four other players participating in their media responsibilities - Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka, Rafael Nadal, and Coco Gauff - captioned: "They understood the assignment."The tweet, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKendallBaker/status/1399655909413031948?s=20">which was first reported by Axios' Kendall Baker</a>, has since been deleted.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Kendall Baker (@TheKendallBaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1399655909413031948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2021</a></blockquote>Nadal was one of a number of players to question Osaka's decision to boycott the media in Paris prior to her withdrawal."I understand her, but on the other hand, for me, I mean, without the press, without the people who normally travel, who are writing the news and achievements that we are having around the world, we probably will not be the athletes that we are today," said Nadal.'We [wouldn't] have the recognition that we have around the world, and we will not be that popular."<a href="https://www.insider.com/serena-williams-wishes-could-give-naomi-osaka-hug-french-open-2021-6">Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty said of Osaka's media blackout:</a> "In my opinion, press is kind of part of the job. We know what we sign up for as professional <keyword id="6355013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tennis">tennis</keyword> players."Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), <a href="https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/article/statement-from-roland-garros">released a statement on Monday</a> to say he was "sorry" to see Osaka withdraw and also wished her a speedy recovery. Osaka said on Monday she <a href="https://www.insider.com/serena-williams-wishes-could-give-naomi-osaka-hug-french-open-2021-6">would be taking time off from the game due to having suffered from bouts of depression in recent years.</a>"First and foremost, we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka," said Moretton. "The outcome of Naomi withdrawing from Roland-Garros is unfortunate. We wish her the best and the quickest possible recovery, and we look forward to having Naomi at our tournament next year."As all the Grand Slams, the WTA, the ATP and the ITF, we remain very committed to all athletes' well-being and to continually improving every aspect of players' experience in our tournament, including with the media, like we have always strived to do."Grand Slam record holder <a href="https://www.insider.com/serena-williams-wishes-could-give-naomi-osaka-hug-french-open-2021-6">Serena Williams was among the athletes to back Osaka's decision to withdraw</a>, saying Tuesday that she wished she could give the Japanese star a hug.

The French Open's Twitter account appeared to mock Naomi Osaka's media blackout in a now-deleted tweet before the tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Six of the top 10 women's seeds at <keyword id="6437049" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="wimbledon">Wimbledon</keyword> have already crashed out by the third round.</li><li>Elina Svitolina, Sofia Kenin, and <keyword id="45035" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Serena-Williams">Serena Williams</keyword> are all already out.</li><li>It is second <keyword id="6355013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tennis">tennis</keyword> major in a row at the women's top seeds have struggled with form and injuries.</li></ul>Six of the top 10 women's seeds at Wimbledon have now already crashed out by the third round.Third seed Elina Svitolina became the latest high profile casualty in the women's singles draw as she was dumped out by unseeded Magda Linette in the second round on Thursday.The Ukrainian was beaten in straight sets by the Pole, who qualified for the third round at Wimbledon for just the second time in her career."Mentally it was not very good for me today," Svitolina told reporters after her defeat. "I have been on the Tour for years now and there have been different kinds of situations."But right now I wouldn't say it's a very smooth time in my career."Svitolina's early exit came just a day after fourth seed Sofia Kenin, fifth seed Bianca Andreescu, and ninth seed Belinda Bencic were all knocked out.10th seed Petra Kvitova and sixth seed <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-serena-williams-ankle-injury-fall-retires-wimbledon-2021-2021-6">Serena Williams were both also eliminated in the tournament's first round earlier in the week.</a>Former Wimbledon champion Kvitova was beaten in straight sets by American Sloane Stephens on Monday, while Williams was forced to withdraw through injury on Tuesday.Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-serena-williams-ankle-injury-fall-retires-wimbledon-2021-2021-6">injured her leg during a fall during her first round clash against Aliaksandra Sasnovich and was unable to continue.</a>"I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg," Williams, who was given a standing ovation as she left Centre Court after she was forced to retire, wrote on Instagram."My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on centre court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on - and off - the court meant the world to me."As of Friday lunchtime in the UK, number one seed Ashleigh Barty, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, seventh seed Iga Swiatek, and eighth seed Karolina Pliskova remain in the draw out of the top 10 seeds.<a href="https://www.wtatennis.com/rankings/singles">Only three of the world's top 10 ranked players remain in the tournament</a>, with both <a href="https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-skipping-wimbledon-will-play-tokyo-olympics-2021-6">Naomi Osaka</a> and Simona Halep, ranked second and third in the world, missing Wimbledon entirely.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQuBRVBnRZ_" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>This is now the second tennis Grand Slam in a row at which a number of the women's top seeds have struggled. At the French Open in June, <a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-womens-top-16-seeds-knocked-out-underdog-win-2021-6">all of the top 16 seeds had been knocked out of the draw by the end of the quarterfinals. </a>The tournament was eventually won by unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova, who beat 31st seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final to claim her maiden Grand Slam singles title."I'm super happy I was able to enjoy it. I'm just really happy," said Krejcikova after her shock victory at Roland-Garros. "It is hard to put into words because I cannot believe what just happened. I cannot believe I actually won a Grand Slam."

Tennis' best female players are dropping out of Wimbledon in rapid succession, with just 3 of the world's top 10 left

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Grand Slam leaders pledged to support <keyword id="2549627" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Naomi-Osaka">Naomi Osaka</keyword> after she withdrew from the <keyword id="6388398" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="French-Open">French Open</keyword> citing <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword>.</li><li>The pledge came after they fined Osaka $15,000 for refusing to speak to the media on Sunday.</li><li>Osaka withdrew from the French Open Monday, saying she "never wanted to be a distraction" from the tournament.</li></ul>The <keyword id="6355013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tennis">tennis</keyword> organizations behind the Grand Slam tournaments pledged on Tuesday to support Naomi Osaka after she withdrew from the French Open to protect her mental health.The statement from the Grand Slam leaders came after they issued a <a href="https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-fined-not-attending-press-conference-french-open-2021-5">$15,000 fine against Osaka</a> after she refused to attend a <keyword id="6386190" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="press-conference">press conference</keyword> following her first-round win at the French Open on Sunday."Naomi Osaka today chose not to honor her contractual media obligations," the head administrators of Tennis Australia, the US Tennis Association, the French Tennis Federation, and the All England Lawn Tennis Club <a href="https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/article/statement-from-grand-slam-tournaments-regarding-naomi-osaka">said in a statement shared by Roland-Garros stadium</a>."She was also reminded of her obligations, the consequences of not meeting them, and that rules should equally apply to all players," they added. The organizations host the four Grand Slam tournaments - Wimbledon, US Open, and Australian Open, alongside the French Open.Osaka responded to the fine: "Anger is a lack of understanding. Change makes people uncomfortable."On Monday, the tennis star posted a <a href="https://twitter.com/naomiosaka/status/1399422304854188037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1399422304854188037%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2Fnaomi-osaka-withdrawing-french-open-fined-press-conferences-2021-521-5">statement</a> to Twitter announcing <a href="https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-withdrawing-french-open-fined-press-conferences-2021-5">her withdrawal</a> from the French Open, saying she "never wanted to be a distraction" from the tournament."I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris," she wrote. "I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer.""More importantly I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly," Osaka continued, adding that she gets "huge waves of anxiety" before speaking to the media.Following Osaka's withdrawal, the presidents and chairman of the four tennis organizations issued a <a href="https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/article/on-behalf-of-the-grand-slams-we-wish-to-offer-naomi">statement</a> Tuesday saying "on behalf of the Grand Slams," they "wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court.""She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate," they said. "Mental health is a very challenging issue, which deserves our utmost attention. It is both complex and personal, as what affects one individual does not necessarily affect another.""We commend Naomi for sharing in her own words the pressures and anxieties she is feeling and we empathize with the unique pressures tennis players may face."Prior to Osaka's withdrawal, the French Open's social media <a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-mocks-naomi-osakas-media-blackout-on-twitter-2021-6">appeared to mock the tennis champ</a> for deciding to go on a media blackout before the tournament started."They understood the assignment," the official French Open Twitter account wrote in a now-deleted tweet with photos of other athletes - Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka, Rafael Nadal, and Coco Gauff - speaking to the media.

Grand Slam organizers pledged to support Naomi Osaka after her withdrawal from the French Open to protect her mental health

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table lead-image-large"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b8d0139dcee305a298b4c17-2000/aryna%20sabalenka%20us%20open.jpg" border="0" alt="Aryna Sabalenka, US Open" data-mce-source="Getty Images">Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka.</img></div></div></div><ul><li>Aryna Sabalenka, a 20-year-old from Belarus, may be the next young star in women's tennis.</li><li>Sabalenka just knocked out the fifth seed, Petra Kvitová, from the US Open</li><li>Fans have flocked to her Instagram account, where she&#xa0;posts photos of her luxury travels.</li><li>She is next in US Open action on Monday, when she faces Naomi Osaka for a place in the competition's quarterfinal. </li></ul><hr>&#xa0;The 2018 US Open may have just unearthed a new star in women's tennis.Say hello to Aryna Sabalenka, the 20-year-old Belarusian who shocked fifth seed Petra Kvitová by knocking her out of the tournament for good on Sunday.The win was Sabalenka's eighth victory in a row, having only recently lifted her first ever WTA trophy last week - the Connecticut Open in New Haven.Sabalenka beat Kvitová in straight sets (7-5, 6-1) after putting her opponent under immense pressure from the very start of the match, winning 80% of her first serves, and needing just one hour and 25 minutes to win.She's now on course for her greatest ever finish at a Grand Slam competition, and has gained a new wave of supporters - thousands of whom have discovered her Instagram account, where, along with snaps of the sport, she posts photos of her luxury travels around the world.&#xa0;She, of course, posts the best photos from her matches.However, just as many pictures are dedicated to her jet-setting lifestyle. Here she is in Montenegro......New York City......Belarus.......and Monaco.She's pretty glamorous.Sabalenka has had a number of impressive wins this year, including victories over Karolína Plíšková (twice), Caroline Wozniacki, and Julia Görges.She is next in action on Monday as she takes on Naomi Osaka at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. A place in the US Open quarterfinal is at stake.<div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/BmdjW-_HElL/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div><div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/BlAUJamnOsH/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div><div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/Bm9pyhJnsl_/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div><div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/BexF-TxB01Q/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div><div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/BhB0EKJlPis/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div><div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/Be8XqOgB7Nu/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-takes-world-cup-soccer-player-football-romelu-lukaku-belgium-manchester-united-2018-8">What it takes to be a World Cup soccer player</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/aXLIrEPS-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div></hr>

A 20-year-old tennis star knocked the 5th seed out of the US Open - and fans are obsessed with her Instagram photos

<ul class="summary-list"><li>All of the top 16 seeds have now been knocked out of the women's draw of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/french-open">French Open.</a></li><li>2020 champion Iga Swiatek became the latest high profile name to be eliminated losing to Maria Sakkari.</li><li>Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka both withdrew, while Serena Williams was dumped out in the fourth round. </li></ul>All of the top 16 seeds have now been knocked out of the women's draw of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/french-open">French Open.</a>Defending champion and eighth seed Iga Swiatek became the latest and last high profile name to be dumped out of the tournament after she was beaten by Greece's Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinal on Wednesday.17th seed Sakkari beat Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to book her place in her maiden Grand Slam semifinal, where she will face unseeded Barbora Krejcikova, who earlier this week dumped out teenage phenom Coco Gauff."I am speechless, it is a dream come true," said the 25-year-old Sakkari, who is now the highest ranked player left in the women's draw, after her win over Swiatek."It is a very nice feeling."Sakkari has also beaten fourth seed Sofia Kenin and Belgian 14th seed Elise Mertens on her way to the last four, while her semifinal opponent Krejcikova has knocked out both Gauff and fifth seed Elina Svitolina.In the other women's semifinal, 31st seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will face unseeded Slovenian Tamara Zidansek, both of whom have also ousted big names en route to the semifinals. Pavlyuchenkova has eliminated third seed Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, while Zidansek beat sixth seed Biancu Andreescu in the first round.<div type="image" title="Osaka" height="1332" width="1776" msid="83401194" hostid="261"></div>Elsewhere in the women's draw at Roland-Garros, world number one Ashleigh Barty withdrew through injury, <a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-serena-williams-naomi-osaka-roger-federer-stars-out-2021-6">Serena Williams crashed out in the fourth round,</a> and Naomi Osaka pulled out for mental health reasons.Osaka, 23, withdrew from the Grand Slam after she was <a href="https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-fined-not-attending-press-conference-french-open-2021-5">fined $15,000 for failing to attend a post-match press conference.</a>Prior to the tournament, she had announced that she would not be talking to the media in order to protect her mental health. Upon withdrawing, the Japanese star revealed that she had been suffering from bouts of depression. "I get really nervous and find it stressful to always engage and give you the best answers I can," <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPi9kJHJfxO/">she wrote in a statement</a>. "So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences."I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the <keyword id="6355013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tennis">tennis</keyword> going on in Paris. I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer."While the women's draw has seen all of its top players eliminated, however, the men's draw could not look more different, with four of the top six seeds making up the semifinals.<a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-djokovic-quarterfinal-paused-to-kick-out-fans-curfew-2021-6">World number one and top seed Novak Djokovic beat Matteo Berrettini to tee up a last four clash with 13-time winner and third seed Rafael Nadal.</a> In the other semi, youngsters Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, seeded fifth and sixth, will go head-to-head.Zverev will hope to reach a second Grand Slam final <a href="https://www.insider.com/us-open-final-dominic-thiem-wins-zverev-in-tears-2020-9">after losing to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final</a>, while Tsitsipas is looking to reach a first ever final, <a href="https://www.insider.com/australian-open-daniil-medvedev-beats-stefanos-tsitsipas-to-make-final-2021-2">having lost in three times in three semifinal appearances.</a>

All of the top 16 female players in tennis are out of the French Open, meaning an underdog will definitely claim the 2021 title

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="45035" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Serena-Williams">Serena Williams</keyword> and <keyword id="93" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Roger-Federer">Roger Federer</keyword> are the latest big names to exit the <keyword id="6388398" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="French-Open">French Open</keyword> early. </li><li>Williams was beaten in the fourth round, while Federer withdrew through injury.</li><li><keyword id="2549627" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Naomi-Osaka">Naomi Osaka</keyword>'s withdrawal last week was the highest profile early exit from Roland-Garros.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/serena-williams">Serena Williams</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/roger-federer">Roger Federer</a> have joined a long list of high profile stars to make early exits from the 2021 French Open.Williams was beaten in straight sets (6-3, 7-5) in the fourth round by 21-year-old Elena Rybakina on Sunday as her wait for a record 24th Grand Slam title goes on. The same day, Federer announced he was withdrawing from the tournament in order to protect his body as he continues his rehabilitation from two knee surgeries. The Swiss, 39, had beaten German Dominik Koepfer in the third round on Saturday and was set to face Matteo Berrettini in the fourth on Monday."After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it's important that I listen to my body and make sure I don't push myself too quickly on my road to recovery," <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1401547332999692294">Federer said.</a>"I am thrilled to have gotten three matches under my belt. There is no greater feeling than being back on court."Federer has long said that his focus this season is being in the best possible condition for Wimbledon, where he is aiming to win a 21st Grand Slam in total, and a record ninth Wimbledon. The championship, held in London, begins on June 28.<div type="image" title="Federer" height="1341" width="2000" msid="83306241" hostid="261"></div>Williams and Federer are just the latest big names to crash out of Roland-Garros early. In the women's draw, American Sofia Kenin is the only top five seed player left. World number one Ashleigh Barty withdrew half way through her second round match against Magda Linette with injury, while Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina both lost in the third round.Most notably though, second seed Naomi Osaka <a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-mocks-naomi-osakas-media-blackout-on-twitter-2021-6">opted to withdraw from the tournament after she was fined $15,000 for not attending a post-match press conference following her first round win.</a>The Japanese player, 23, had said prior to the tournament that <a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-mocks-naomi-osakas-media-blackout-on-twitter-2021-6">she would not be talking to media during the tournament in order to protect her mental health.</a>In the men's draw, top three seeds Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, and Rafael Nadal all remain in the competition, however fourth seed and reigning US Open champion Dominic Thiem was beaten in the first round by veteran Pablo Andujar.Seventh seed Andrey Rublev also lost in the first round, while 11th seed Roberto Bautista Agut and <a href="https://www.insider.com/french-open-gael-monfils-ends-horrific-grand-slam-run-2021-6">14th seed Gael Monfils</a> were both beaten in the second.The withdrawals mean that the women's bracket of the tournament is now anyone's to win, while in the men's draw Nadal remains the heavy favorite to win a 14th Roland-Garros title, his 21st Grand Slam in total.If he were to do so, Nadal would overtake Federer - both men currently have 20 career Grand Slams - to become the most decorated player in men's <keyword id="6355013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tennis">tennis</keyword> history.<a href="https://www.insider.com/rafael-nadal-not-thinking-grand-slam-record-at-french-open-2021-5">Speaking to Insider before the French Open, Nadal said</a> that he is not focusing on the record, and is simply looking to win the tournament."I never have been obsessed about winning more than the rest and all this stuff. Of course, I want it, of course, I am trying hard, but I am just happy doing what I'm doing and just happy being competitive still today and giving myself a chance to compete against the young guys," he said."My approach is Roland-Garros, my approach is not the 21."

You Searched For "Aryna Sabalenka" and got 12 results

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The father of teen US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez admitted that he 'swears like a drunken sailor' while watching her compete

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Surprise US Open finalist Leylah Hernandez said she is motivated by a teacher who told her to stop playing tennis and focus on school

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The French Open's Twitter account appeared to mock Naomi Osaka's media blackout in a now-deleted tweet before the tournament

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Tennis' best female players are dropping out of Wimbledon in rapid succession, with just 3 of the world's top 10 left

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Grand Slam organizers pledged to support Naomi Osaka after her withdrawal from the French Open to protect her mental health

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A 20-year-old tennis star knocked the 5th seed out of the US Open - and fans are obsessed with her Instagram photos

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All of the top 16 female players in tennis are out of the French Open, meaning an underdog will definitely claim the 2021 title

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Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and the biggest stars in tennis are crashing out of the French Open in rapid fire fashion

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