Alina Zagitova wins first World title; Yevgenia Medvedeva earns bronze

By Rachel LutzMar 22, 2019, 8:37 AM EDT

PyeongChang Olympic gold medalist Alina Zagitova built on her lead after Wednesday’s short program to win her first World title in Saitama, Japan on Friday.

The 16-year-old Russian had one of her only clean free skates since the Olympics, enough to score 155.42 points and earn an overall score of 237.50 points. She skated to “Carmen.”

“My first thought at the very end of the performance was ‘yes, I did it,'” Zagitova told media. “Through hardships to the stars. I was very nervous, but I think the experience from the Olympic Games helped me somehow. I felt like at the Olympics, even worse (more nervous) probably. I was very nervous, because this season didn’t go so smoothly.”

Her pet dog, Masaru, was gifted to her by the country of Japan after her Olympic win and the name means “Victory” in Japanese. Fitting.

Kazakhstan’s Elizabet Tursynbayeva became the first senior lady to land a quadruple jump, a Salchow, in international competition. The element earned her 10.81 points alone. She scored 148.80 points in the free skate for a total of 224.76 points. Tursynbayeva’s world silver medal is the first ever for her country at this event.

History! #Tursynbaeva #WorldFigure #Quad pic.twitter.com/00FIuUifF9

— ISU Figure Skating (@ISU_Figure) March 22, 2019

“I still cannot believe that I have won the silver,” Tursynbayeva said. “I am pleased that I landed the quadruple Salchow. I will remember this Championship for a long time.”

Two-time world champion Yevgenia Medvedeva — at one point a question mark to even make the Russian team — scored a season’s best 149.57 for a total score of 223.80 points. The Olympic silver medalist took a bronze medal in Japan behind her former training partner after sitting in fourth place in the short program. Medvedeva moved to Toronto before the start of the season to train with Brian Orser, while Zagitova stayed in their longtime Moscow training base and currently trains with Tursynbayeva.

“Now it proved that I can work and move forward, I can bring joy to people,” Medvedeva told media. “It proved that I am here, on the top of the World Championships and I only had had to work harder. You will see strong and beautiful Medvedeva next season. Wait for it.”

Grand Prix Final champion and Four Continents champion Rika Kihira of Japan landed her triple Axel, triple toe combination but then fell on her next pass, a solo triple Axel attempt. She rallied for a clean performance the rest of the way, though, and scored 152.59 points for a total score of 223.49. She was the highest-finishing Japanese woman at their home world championships, landing in fourth place. Teammates Kaori Sakamoto and Satoko Miyahara finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Rika #Kihira is the first lady to complete a triple axel/triple toeloop combination in the World Championships #saitama19 #紀平梨花

— Massimiliano Ambesi (@max_ambesi) March 22, 2019

Full results are here.

Bradie Tennell skated a season’s best 143.97 points in the free skate, giving her a total score of 213.97 points. She finished in seventh place.

“I’m so happy with the way that I skated [tonight],” Tennell said through U.S. Figure Skating. “It’s been a goal of mine all season to have [that type of] performance and I don’t think it could have come at a better time.”

Combined with Mariah Bell’s ninth place (136.81 free skate score, 208.07 total), the U.S. women were unable to win back a third quota spot for the 2020 World Championships. They would’ve had to finish a combined placement of 13 or fewer, such as sixth and seventh place.

“I’m so proud that I was able to put out two strong programs this week,” Bell said. “I just focused on doing what I know how to do and it was special to perform in front of such a great crowd.”

MORE: Papadakis, Cizeron lead rhythm dance; Americans within striking distance to podium

As a reminder, you can watch the world championships live and on-demand with the ‘Figure Skating Pass’ on NBC Sports Gold. Go to NBCsports.com/gold/figure-skating to sign up for access to every ISU Grand Prix and championship event, as well as domestic U.S. Figure Skating events throughout the season. NBC Sports Gold gives subscribers an unprecedented level of access on more platforms and devices than ever before.

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Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz set French Open semifinal showdown

By OlympicTalkJun 6, 2023, 6:59 PM EDT

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will play in the French Open semifinals on Friday in the most anticipated match of the tournament.

Each man advanced with a quarterfinal win on Tuesday.

Djokovic, eyeing a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam men’s singles title, rallied past 11th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4. The Serb reached his 45th career major semifinal, one shy of Roger Federer‘s men’s record.

Later Tuesday, top seed Alcaraz crushed fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (5) to consolidate his status as the favorite in Friday’s showdown.

“This match, everyone wants to watch,” Alcaraz said. “I really wanted to play this match as well. I always say that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

FRENCH OPEN DRAWS: Women | Men | Broadcast Schedule

Alcaraz, who at last year’s U.S. Open became the first male teen to win a major since Rafael Nadal in 2005, is at this event the youngest man to be the top seed at a major since Boris Becker at 1987 Wimbledon.

The Djokovic-Alcaraz semifinal will produce the clear favorite for Sunday’s final given left-handed 14-time French Open champion Nadal is out this year with a hip injury and No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev lost in the first round. Djokovic and Nadal share the record 22 men’s major titles.

Djokovic and Alcaraz met once, with Alcaraz winning last year on clay in Madrid 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5).

“[Alcaraz] brings a lot of intensity on the court,” Djokovic said, before breaking into a smile. “Reminds me of someone from his country that plays with a left hand.”

Alcaraz and Djokovic were set to be on opposite halves of the draw — and thus not able to meet until the final — until Medvedev won the last top-level clay event before the French Open to move ahead of Djokovic in the rankings. That meant Djokovic had a 50 percent chance to wind up in Alcaraz’s half, and that’s what the random draw spit out two weeks ago.

Earlier Tuesday in the first two women’s quarterfinals, No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and 43rd-ranked Czech Karolina Muchova advanced to face off in Thursday’s semifinals.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, swept Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 to complete her set of semifinals in all four Grand Slams. Sabalenka will take the No. 1 ranking from Iga Swiatek if Swiatek loses before the final, or if Sabalenka makes the final and Swiatek does not win the title.

Svitolina, a former world No. 3, returned to competition in April from childbirth.

Muchova took out 2021 French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 7-5, 6-2, to make her second major semifinal after the 2021 Australian Open.

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2023 French Open men’s singles draw

By OlympicTalkJun 6, 2023, 5:16 PM EDT

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The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They meet in Friday’s semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No. 2 seed, was upset in the first round by 172nd-ranked Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild. It marked the first time a men’s top-two seed lost in the first round of any major since 2003 Wimbledon (Ivo Karlovic d. Lleyton Hewitt).

All of the American men lost before the fourth round. The last U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals was Andre Agassi in 2003.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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