Maria Sharapova will not play in the U.S. Open due to shoulder injury

The U.S. Open will start on Monday and just days before it begin the third-seeded Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the tournament, because of continued problems with her right shoulder injury.

Sharapova has played only one match on tour since her surprising second-round exit from Wimbledon in June. Most recently, she made news earlier this week when seeking to play under the name "Maria Sugarpova," a reference to her new brand of gummy candies.

Azarenka clinches Cincinnati title, shocks Serena Williams

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Victoria Azarenka toppled world No. 1 Serena Williams 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) to claim the Cincinnati WTA title and establish herself as a contender for the US Open.

The two-and-a-half-hour epic featured multiple momentum shifts after Azarenka, the second seed from Belarus, began the afternoon with two double faults to lose the opening set in under 30 minutes.

She managed to steady herself and held on to beat the top-seeded Williams for only the third time in 15 matches.

It was her second victory over the American this year, after a triumph in the final at Doha.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” said Azarenka who earned her 17th career title and first in Cincinnati. “It was a tough match and we both fought really hard. It was an incredible week for me.

“I’m feeling very good. Obviously, it’s a big win. It was a great match. I’m really, really pleased with the way I pulled it out. It was a great battle.”

Azarenka had played sporadically over the past months due to injuries suffered at both Wimbledon and this month in California. The Belarussian was competing in only her 10th event of an injury-hit season.

“I’m really excited to be back playing,” said the former world No. 1. “The last month was really tough.”

Azarenka lost a second set in which Williams saved eight break points in the sixth game. With the sets level, the third went to a decider as the pair traded four breaks in five games.

Williams double-faulted for a match point in the tiebreaker, but Azarenka gave it back with an error. Azarenka then shipped over a winner for a second winning chance and followed through for the win a point later.

Williams had been trying for two major hard-court titles in a row after winning Montreal last weekend.

“She played really aggressive in the last two sets, which really changed momentum,” said Williams.

“She’s a great player. There’s a reason why she’s winning Grand Slams and doing so well. I have tough matches, particularly against her,” Williams said.

“We go against each other really tough. It’s a good rivalry. I’m number one, she’s number two. So we have that rivalry which consists of meeting in the final, which makes it even more so exciting.”

Between them, Williams and Azarenka have claimed five of the last seven Grand Slam singles titles dating to the 2012 Australian Open.

Williams beat her rival in the US Open final a year ago. — AFP

Williams beat Li Na will face Azarenka for Cincinnati crown

World number one Serena Williams fought a hard battle and beat defending champion Li Na 7-5 7-5 to reach the final of the Western and Southern Open on Saturday and close in on one of the few titles that elude her.

The 31-year-old Serena can fill that hole in her resume on Sunday when she takes on Belarusian world number two Victoria Azarenka, who was a 4-6 6-2 6-3 winner over 2009 champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

Williams, who has been critical of her performance in Cincinnati despite making it to the final for the first time, was not at her dominating best against Li but it was a good enough effort to put herself in line for a $1 million bonus.

Her appearance in Sunday's final combined with a win last week in Toronto has put Williams at the top of the U.S. Open Series bonus challenge and sends her to Flushing Meadows with a chance to compete for the largest payout ever awarded at the year's final grand slam.

Williams can pocket $3.6 million, with the million-dollar bonus supplementing the $2.6 million cheque for winning the women's singles at the U.S. Open.

In a career that has generated 54 singles titles including 16 grand slams, Williams has won just about everything there is to win in her sport but Cincinnati, one of the WTA Tour's most prestigious tournaments, is not among them.

Li stepped onto centre court well-rested having received a walkover into the semi-finals when Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska withdrew from the tournament to attend her grandfather's funeral.

But the 31-year-old fifth ranked Chinese got off to a sluggish start as Williams recorded the early break to move ahead 4-1.

Li hit back, sweeping through the next four games to pull in front 5-4, but Williams upped her game when needed, breaking her Chinese opponent twice more to take the set.

Williams and Li held serve to open the second but the set would soon dissolve into series of breaks.

In the end, Williams claimed the decisive one when Li double-faulted.

While Williams and Li may have struggled with their serves, their problems were minor compared to Azarenka and Jankovic, who managed to hold serve a grand total of just four times over three ugly sets.

Of the 27 games played, 23 ended in breaks, with the miserable serving display marred by 20 double-faults, 11 by Azarenka and nine from Jankovic.

Nadal beats Raonic in Montreal final

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal crushes Canada's Milos Raonic 6-2 6-2 in the final of the men's Rogers Cup on Sunday to capture his eighth ATP title this season and boost his confidence ahead of the U.S. Open, starting later this month.

This is his first tournament since losing the opening-round at Wimbledon. Nadal showed he was back to near his best form and his ailing body was ready for the grueling demands of the North American hardcourt season. Less than 24 hours after his hard-fought semi-final win over Novak Djokovic on Saturday, Nadal easily beat the dangerous Raonic in just over an hour, playing with all the conviction and freedom of a man near the peak of his powers.

Sunday's victory provided Nadal with his third win at the Rogers Cup and his 25th career Masters title and the Spaniard will rise to three in the world rankings when they are released on Monday.

Raonic will move into the top 10 for the first time after becoming the first Canadian man in more than half a century to reach the Rogers Cup final.

Genie Bouchard and Monica Seles vs Serena and Venus Williams Exhibition Match

Monica Seles has comes out of retirement to play with Bouchard for doubles clash with the Williams sisters. Monica Seles and Eugenie Bouchard both from Canada kicked off the Rogers Cup with a doubles match against Serena and Venus Williams on Monday.

The Williams sisters won 8-5.