Ash Barty is through to the second round of the US Open surviving a scare and progressing to the second round.
It was a hard slog for our world number 2 as she grinded out a win against Kazakh Zarina Diyas 1-6 6-3 6-2 on day one in New York.
In her post-game press conference, Barty said of her losing first set
“I really wasn’t giving myself enough chances on serve. I don’t know what the percentage was in the first set … but it wasn’t good.
“(Had to) go back to the basics, start again and try to figure it out.”
More Aussies to come at the US Open include Nick Kyrgios, John Millman, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Ajla Tomljanovic and Astra Sharma who all start their campaigns today.
Ash Barty survived an “appalling” first set to win through at the #USOpen – but fellow Australians Samantha Stosur, Daria Gavrilova and Priscilla Hon are out.https://t.co/h78Das13QQ
— 7Sport (@7Sport) August 26, 2019
On Channel 9’s Footy Classified last night, Caroline Wilson reported that Essendon has already made plans to sack John Worsfold no matter the outcome of this years finals series.
The pitchforks have been outside Essendon’s Tullamarine HQ for most of the season and despite the fact Essendon is playing finals, that doesn’t mean the 2006 West Coast Premiership coach is safe.
Wilson said that the Bombers have been grooming Ben Rutten with the club to get some sort of “senior figure” to help him out.
“My understanding is that Ben Rutten is being primed to to take over the coaching job pending the result next weekend,”
“In recent weeks, the club has spoken to senior football coaching figures mooting a potential senior figure helping a first-time coach as Ben Rutten would be if he takes over.
“In these interviews, Ben Rutten has not been named, but I’m certain Rutten is the man they’re looking at. It’s not Blake Caracella who is coming over from Richmond.” Wilson said on Footy Classified.
Watch this space.
Caroline Wilson has revealed that there is a looming replacement for John Worsfold as Essendon senior coach.
WATCH: Channel 9 | #9FootyClassified pic.twitter.com/iiXmenTYGF
— Footy Classified (@FootyClassified) August 26, 2019
Things aren’t so happy at St.George-Illawarra with relations between the fans and their coach not so great.
A disgruntled supporter was not allowed to bring in a banner criticising their coach Paul McGregor into Kogarah Oval over the weekend.
Red V social media has been rampant about the issue since the weekend.
The fan involved told Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports
“They radioed someone and then banned me taking in the banner,”
“Free speech is dead … we just turned around and went home and my son was shattered. How do I explain to him why we couldn’t go to watch his heroes?
“I have cancelled my membership of the club and I know plenty of other people who have done the same. The club is in shambles.
“I have received massive support from lots of other fans who are all asking why I couldn’t take my banner in. The fans are angry.”
A Dragons fan and his eight-year-old son tried to take this banner into Kogarah Oval on Saturday.
What happened next has pushed the club's fraught relationship with its supporters to boiling point.#NRL #9WWOShttps://t.co/bIUFJt0FD1
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) August 26, 2019