SINGAPORE (AP) — Jessica Pegula has withdrawn from next week's WTA 500 tennis tournament in Singapore due to a recent heavy workload of matches.
“After a long and physically demanding few weeks at the U.S. Open, I’m just not quite ready to get back on court and compete at the level I expect from myself," Pegula said on social media this week.
Pegula recently moved up to third on the WTA rankings, a career high. She reached finals in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati before making the semifinals of the U.S. Open for the second straight year.
The 32-year-old American went 15-4 during the American hard-court swing and her 50 wins lead the WTA Tour this year.
The Singapore tournament starts Monday. Pegula was set to be the top seed, but that will now be No. 5-ranked Mirra Andreeva.
The 28-player field also includes top 20 players Amanda Anisimova and Alexandra Eala.
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Jessica Pegula, of the United States, bottom, competes against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
LONDON (AP) — Brentford climbed to third in the Premier League after a crushing 3-0 win over west London rival Chelsea on Friday.
It was a puzzling display by Xabi Alonso's Chelsea side, which has now gone three league games without a win.
Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho all scored in the second half for Brentford.
“Disappointed with the second half, disappointed with the result," Chelsea manager Alonso said. "This is not how to compete in the Premier League. We were punished.
“At the moment we are not being consistent enough to compete during the whole game, 45 minutes is not enough, you need to compete for the whole game. It’s about everything, it’s about tactical things that we need to keep improving and do much better.”
This was a Chelsea lineup containing all the elements of its offseason transfer rethink, with a solid, experienced spine which saw Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck make their first league starts for the club.
Something appeared to have clicked. The visitors did not look half as chaotic defensively in the first half as they have done at times this season, standing up physically to Brentford, winning duels and not allowing Keith Andrews’ side to dominate second balls.
But old habits crept back in after the break. The marking from Mikkel Damsgaard’s 61st-minute corner was poor, Jannik Schuster headed on and Anthony finished it off.
Thiago was then left free to score after Kevin Schade’s shot was saved, and a low cross was whacked in during stoppage time by Carvalho to send Brentford fans into dreamland.
“It was a really good evening,” said Brentford manager Andrews. "It’s important that you enjoy evenings like this because you work so hard and there are so many tough days in this game.
"When you play against a west London rival, you build up to a game and you go on a bit of a journey with the team. There are always bumps along the way, but we were in a really good place and it’s nice to see it come into fruition tonight.”
Brentford has nine points from five games and is three points behind co-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, who play on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Chelsea is down to seventh with seven points from five games.
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Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez walks off the pitch after the Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Chelsea in London, England, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Brentford players celebrate after the thrid goal during the Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Chelsea in London, England, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Brentford's head coach Keith Andrews wlaks off the pitch after the Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Chelsea in London, England, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Brentford players celebrate after the Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Chelsea in London, England, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
