TORONTO (AP) — Bianca Andreescu's strong start turned into an early exit to her first hard-court tournament of the year, as the Canadian was beaten 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Lesia Tsurenko on Tuesday night at the National Bank Open.
Andreescu won her home tournament in her 2019 season that was highlighted later by the U.S. Open title. But she hadn't played on hard courts since Montreal last year, ending her season because of a back injury and not returning until this year's French Open.
Andreescu was coming off a second-round loss to eventual silver medalist Donna Vekic in the Olympics. She nearly rallied in the third set Tuesday after falling behind 5-0.
“I played some of my best tennis for the first set and a little bit,” said the 24-year-old Andreescu, who fought back tears at the end of her press conference.
“And then tennis just kicks you right in the butt sometimes.”
Tsurenko was joined in the second round by fellow Ukrainians Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk. Svitolina, the 2017 tournament champion, beat American Shelby Rogers 6-0, 6-2, while No. 11-seeded Kostyuk ousted Tatjana Maria 6-0, 6-2.
But No. 16-seeded Dayana Yastremska, another player from Ukraine, was eliminated after she had to stop playing in her match against Taylor Townsend because of a shoulder injury while trailing 6-3, 3-1.
Anna Kalinskaya, the No. 10 seed, and No. 12 seed Victoria Azarenka also advanced.
The tournament endured a number of withdrawals, including top-ranked Iga Swiatek, late last week following the Olympics. Also skipping Toronto are Wimbledon champion and No. 10 Barbora Krejcikova (thigh injury), No. 4 Elena Rybakina (bronchitis), No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, No. 8 Maria Sakkari and No. 9 Danielle Collins.
The field is led by No. 2 Coco Gauff and No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka. American Jessica Pegula, ranked sixth and last year’s winner in Montreal, is also in Canada to defend her title.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina hits a return against Shelby Rogers, of the United, States, during the first round of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States' Shelby Rogers hits return to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during the first round of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates a point the first round of the National Bank Open tennis tournament against Shelby Rogers, of the United, States, in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Bianca Andreescu of Canada celebrates a point against Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone had a goal and two assists and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Seattle Kraken 6-2 on Saturday night.
After falling behind 1-0 less than three minutes into the game, the Golden Knights scored three unanswered goals in the first period and never relinquished the lead.
After Keegan Kolesar tied the game at 1-all, Brett Howden took Jack Eichel’s pass from behind the net and beat Philipp Grubauer at the doorstep to give Vegas a one-goal edge. Nic Hague's goal later in the period put Vegas up, 3-1.
William Karlsson and Noah Hanifin also added goals in the third and Ilya Samsonov stopped 21 shots to improve to 8-3-1. Eichel finished with two assists.
Vince Dunn and Jaden Schwartz scored for Seattle while Grubauer made 29 saves and fell to 3-10-0.
Kraken: Center Chandler Stephenson made his first return to Vegas since signing with Seattle as a free agent during the offseason. Stephenson is the only NHL player to hoist the Stanley Cup twice in Vegas, winning inside T-Mobile Arena with Washington in 2018, and again with the Knights in 2023.
Golden Knights: Vegas has won three straight and seven of eight in December. With the win, the Knights (47) are now four points in front of Los Angeles (43) in the Pacific Division and two points shy of Western Conference-leading Winnipeg (49).
Trailing 1-0, Kolesar took a cross-ice pass from Victor Olofsson that led him perfectly on a breakaway. Kolesar’s snipe over Grubauer’s glove gave him his career-high eighth goal of the season.
Seattle is now 1-17-1 when trailing after two periods while Vegas improved to 12-1-0 when leading after the first 40 minutes.
The Knights host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night. The Kraken visit the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Vegas Golden Knights centers Brett Howden (21) and Jack Eichel (9) celebrate after Howden's goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde (37) and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) and right wing Cole Schwindt (22) celebrate after Kolesar's goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde shoots against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Seattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson (9) shoots against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
