Jennifer Brady's physical struggles have continued, with the American having to pull out of the 2024 Australian Open.
Brady had been one of many comeback players set to play in Melbourne. This includes two-time champion Naomi Osaka, whose first tournament was in Brisbane, where she lost in the second round to Karolina Pliskova.
The Australian Open was the scene of Brady's best career achievement to date. It was the American who played Osaka in the 2021 final at the first Grand Slam of the year. She lost, but her run was still a memorable one.
Unfortunately, things became more difficult for Brady after that. She sustained a knee injury against Jelena Ostapenko at the Cincinnati Masters. It was a serious problem, and it kept her away from the sport for two years.
The 28-year-old did not return until the 2023 Washington Open. Her level was surprisingly strong after such a long time out.
Brady had been one of many comeback players set to play in Melbourne. This includes two-time champion Naomi Osaka, whose first tournament was in Brisbane, where she lost in the second round to Karolina Pliskova.
The Australian Open was the scene of Brady's best career achievement to date. It was the American who played Osaka in the 2021 final at the first Grand Slam of the year. She lost, but her run was still a memorable one.
Unfortunately, things became more difficult for Brady after that. She sustained a knee injury against Jelena Ostapenko at the Cincinnati Masters. It was a serious problem, and it kept her away from the sport for two years.
The 28-year-old did not return until the 2023 Washington Open. Her level was surprisingly strong after such a long time out.
- 1/6/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Victoria Azarenka was irritated by a tweet from the Tennis Channel that put a spotlight on a handshake between her and Jelena Ostapenko at the 2024 Brisbane International.
Azarenka and Ostapenko had a very tight battle in their quarterfinal in Brisbane. The match had many twists and turns, before the Belarusian eventually prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after a great contest for the fans in the Pat Rafter Arena.
The two-time Grand Slam champion is known for many positive things. An example is Azarenka inspiring other mothers by showing what is possible. She would be happy for stories like that to be in the headlines.
Unfortunately, headlines were instead created by Ostapenko's handshake with Azarenka. It was a very short one, with the Latvian clearly looking to leave the court as quickly as possible after a disappointing loss.
However, it was not Azarenka that angered Ostapenko. It was the umpire. The former...
Azarenka and Ostapenko had a very tight battle in their quarterfinal in Brisbane. The match had many twists and turns, before the Belarusian eventually prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after a great contest for the fans in the Pat Rafter Arena.
The two-time Grand Slam champion is known for many positive things. An example is Azarenka inspiring other mothers by showing what is possible. She would be happy for stories like that to be in the headlines.
Unfortunately, headlines were instead created by Ostapenko's handshake with Azarenka. It was a very short one, with the Latvian clearly looking to leave the court as quickly as possible after a disappointing loss.
However, it was not Azarenka that angered Ostapenko. It was the umpire. The former...
- 1/6/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2024 Adelaide International, is the last Wta 500 tournament before the first major of the season, and it will run from January 8th to 13th, as we already know the draw.
Before the first Grand Slam of the season - the Australian Open, women are treated to two Wta 500 tournaments, which give them a chance to accumulate a total of 1000 points, which is almost as much as the runner-up finish is worth in Melbourne.
The runner-up finish is something that Elena Rybakina achieved at the Australian Open in 2023, and that's also maybe one of the reasons, why she's one of the few players that elected to take part in both of these Wta 500 tournaments, to make up for points that she may loss in the Melbourne Park.
She reached the final in Brisbane, and in Adelaide, she will play as the top seed. The first two seeds have a first-round bye,...
Before the first Grand Slam of the season - the Australian Open, women are treated to two Wta 500 tournaments, which give them a chance to accumulate a total of 1000 points, which is almost as much as the runner-up finish is worth in Melbourne.
The runner-up finish is something that Elena Rybakina achieved at the Australian Open in 2023, and that's also maybe one of the reasons, why she's one of the few players that elected to take part in both of these Wta 500 tournaments, to make up for points that she may loss in the Melbourne Park.
She reached the final in Brisbane, and in Adelaide, she will play as the top seed. The first two seeds have a first-round bye,...
- 1/6/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Jelena Ostapenko recently had one of her outbursts in a long time at the 2024 Brisbane International, but tennis fans were not impressed.
Ostapenko is known as a somewhat fiery player when things go wrong. It largely depends on how you look at it, but there is a reason she's never won the sportsmanship award.
She often has many over-the-top reactions when she misses a shot or when the technology shows that her ball was wide, among many other things.
Quite often, she also likes to complain, and the umpires tend to be the focus of that because, well, they call the score. During her most recent match at the Brisbane International, Ostpaenko was not thrilled with how the umpire handled one specific situation.
Towards the end of the match, a visibly upset Ostapenko ranted towards the umpire and blamed her for losing a point when she thought that the ball that her opponent,...
Ostapenko is known as a somewhat fiery player when things go wrong. It largely depends on how you look at it, but there is a reason she's never won the sportsmanship award.
She often has many over-the-top reactions when she misses a shot or when the technology shows that her ball was wide, among many other things.
Quite often, she also likes to complain, and the umpires tend to be the focus of that because, well, they call the score. During her most recent match at the Brisbane International, Ostpaenko was not thrilled with how the umpire handled one specific situation.
Towards the end of the match, a visibly upset Ostapenko ranted towards the umpire and blamed her for losing a point when she thought that the ball that her opponent,...
- 1/6/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Jelena Ostapenko is quite an interesting player with a dedicated playstyle and a very exuberant personality which can be intense at times.
The Latvian is quite known as a player who doesn't see herself as capable of doing many things wrong. She's often pictured with a confused expression on the court unsure of how she missed a shot or how a shot was called wide or something similar.
It makes for excellent meme content, but being an umpire is not particularly fun. Just last year, she basically said that she doesn't trust electronic line calling, believing that it gets many calls wrong.
She can't lash out against machines, but she can do that against umpires, which is what happened during her match with Victoria Azarenka at the 2024 Brisbane International.
During a loss to Azarenka at the Wta 500 tournament in Brisbane, Ostapenko lashed out against the umpire late in the third set,...
The Latvian is quite known as a player who doesn't see herself as capable of doing many things wrong. She's often pictured with a confused expression on the court unsure of how she missed a shot or how a shot was called wide or something similar.
It makes for excellent meme content, but being an umpire is not particularly fun. Just last year, she basically said that she doesn't trust electronic line calling, believing that it gets many calls wrong.
She can't lash out against machines, but she can do that against umpires, which is what happened during her match with Victoria Azarenka at the 2024 Brisbane International.
During a loss to Azarenka at the Wta 500 tournament in Brisbane, Ostapenko lashed out against the umpire late in the third set,...
- 1/5/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu has returned to tennis, and she managed to be victorious in a tight match with Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the 2024 Asb Classic in Auckland.
This was the 2021 US Open champion's first match since a defeat to Jelena Ostapenko on the clay courts of Stuttgart. There was a good crowd in Auckland, eagerly anticipating the return of the Brit.
Raducanu has been open about the issues she faced during her time on the sidelines, and that it has given her a more grateful, positive outlook. That attitude may have helped her claim victory against a determined Ruse.
Raducanu played really well in the opening set. In her first set back, she struck the ball cleanly from both sides, and kept unforced errors to a minimum. It led to her claiming the opening set 6-3, and looking dominant.
Understandably, Raducanu did not keep that high level for the entirety of the contest.
This was the 2021 US Open champion's first match since a defeat to Jelena Ostapenko on the clay courts of Stuttgart. There was a good crowd in Auckland, eagerly anticipating the return of the Brit.
Raducanu has been open about the issues she faced during her time on the sidelines, and that it has given her a more grateful, positive outlook. That attitude may have helped her claim victory against a determined Ruse.
Raducanu played really well in the opening set. In her first set back, she struck the ball cleanly from both sides, and kept unforced errors to a minimum. It led to her claiming the opening set 6-3, and looking dominant.
Understandably, Raducanu did not keep that high level for the entirety of the contest.
- 1/4/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Naomi Osaka was close to winning in her second match at the 2024 Brisbane International, but Karolina Pliskova eventually proved to be too strong to overcome.
After winning her first match since September 2022, Osaka was set to take on the former world no. 1 at the Wta 500 tournament in Brisbane, and that would prove to be the real test for the Japanese player.
Little did the four-time Grand Slam champion know that it would be one of the best matches early in the season, as both players blasted winners left and right without making too many errors.
In the first set of the match, Osaka was super solid on her serve. She lost it once from a 40-15 lead after breaking her opponent and leading 2-0, but from there, she lost only three more points on her serve.
On top of that, she managed to add another break, as Pliskova showed some...
After winning her first match since September 2022, Osaka was set to take on the former world no. 1 at the Wta 500 tournament in Brisbane, and that would prove to be the real test for the Japanese player.
Little did the four-time Grand Slam champion know that it would be one of the best matches early in the season, as both players blasted winners left and right without making too many errors.
In the first set of the match, Osaka was super solid on her serve. She lost it once from a 40-15 lead after breaking her opponent and leading 2-0, but from there, she lost only three more points on her serve.
On top of that, she managed to add another break, as Pliskova showed some...
- 1/3/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu has spoken about how difficult things got when she was out injured during the 2023 season.
The 2021 US Open champion is making her return to the sport after a long spell out with injury. Raducanu last competed on the Wta Tour in April, when she lost in straight sets to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
Raducanu's first-round opponent for her comeback at the Asb Classic in Auckland has been set, and the tennis world will excitedly welcome back a player who has the potential to give so much more to the sport.
The Brit suffered from both wrist and ankle injuries. Operations were needed for both issues, which is a big part of why so much time was needed for Raducanu to return to tennis.
Raducanu recently did an interview with Sky Sports News, and she went into detail about the extent of the injuries, and just how much it...
The 2021 US Open champion is making her return to the sport after a long spell out with injury. Raducanu last competed on the Wta Tour in April, when she lost in straight sets to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
Raducanu's first-round opponent for her comeback at the Asb Classic in Auckland has been set, and the tennis world will excitedly welcome back a player who has the potential to give so much more to the sport.
The Brit suffered from both wrist and ankle injuries. Operations were needed for both issues, which is a big part of why so much time was needed for Raducanu to return to tennis.
Raducanu recently did an interview with Sky Sports News, and she went into detail about the extent of the injuries, and just how much it...
- 1/2/2024
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu's opponent for her first Wta match in nearly nine months at the 2024 Asb Classic in Auckland has been confirmed.
Raducanu has not competed since a straight sets loss to Jelena Ostapenko on the clay courts of Stuttgart back in April. It has been a long and difficult road back for the Briton.
The 2021 US Open champion was sidelined with wrist and and ankle problems. She also required surgeries for both those injuries to enable a full recovery, which increased her time out of the game.
Raducanu, who recently made a big claim about her comeback, is finally set to make her return in Auckland at the Asb Classic. Her upcoming first-round opponent presents a tricky and interesting challenge for the 21-year-old.
Elena-Gabriela Ruse is set to play Raducanu in the opening round in Auckland. The Romanian is the current world No. 128, and came through qualifying to earn...
Raducanu has not competed since a straight sets loss to Jelena Ostapenko on the clay courts of Stuttgart back in April. It has been a long and difficult road back for the Briton.
The 2021 US Open champion was sidelined with wrist and and ankle problems. She also required surgeries for both those injuries to enable a full recovery, which increased her time out of the game.
Raducanu, who recently made a big claim about her comeback, is finally set to make her return in Auckland at the Asb Classic. Her upcoming first-round opponent presents a tricky and interesting challenge for the 21-year-old.
Elena-Gabriela Ruse is set to play Raducanu in the opening round in Auckland. The Romanian is the current world No. 128, and came through qualifying to earn...
- 12/31/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka will play her first Wta match since September 2022 at the 2024 Brisbane International.
After a 15-month hiatus in which she battled injuries and took maternity leave, Osaka is ready to rejoin the tour and re-establish herself as one of the Wta's best players. At 26, Osaka is only just entering her prime years and will continue to lust for more Grand Slam wins.
The first Wta 500 tournament of the season is taking place in Brisbane, where there is an overabundance of riches in the field. It is led by World No. 2 and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. At least six Top 20 players have joined the event to finetune their games.
Osaka's ranking deteriorated due to her inactivity from the tour in 2023. She took time away from the grind to give birth to her first child in July and will need to work up the ladder in 2024. But...
After a 15-month hiatus in which she battled injuries and took maternity leave, Osaka is ready to rejoin the tour and re-establish herself as one of the Wta's best players. At 26, Osaka is only just entering her prime years and will continue to lust for more Grand Slam wins.
The first Wta 500 tournament of the season is taking place in Brisbane, where there is an overabundance of riches in the field. It is led by World No. 2 and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. At least six Top 20 players have joined the event to finetune their games.
Osaka's ranking deteriorated due to her inactivity from the tour in 2023. She took time away from the grind to give birth to her first child in July and will need to work up the ladder in 2024. But...
- 12/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The draw of the first Wta 250 event was released with a lot of attention centered around Emma Raducanu's first-round match at the Asb Classic in Auckland.
The British tennis sensation is fit and raring to go again after accepting a wild card into the 32-woman field in New Zealand. Raducanu infamously injured her ankle during her last appearance at the tournament in 2023, when most outdoor matches were unplayable due to rain.
Instead, the tournament arranged for makeshift indoor hard courts to complete the schedule. In one of those matches, Raducanu picked up a costly injury that ruled her out for the entire second half of the campaign, and she had to undergo surgery.
But even after berating the tournament organizers, Raducanu has let bygones be bygones and is eager to make her tennis comeback in Auckland. She is set to play her first match since mid-April when Jelena Ostapenko...
The British tennis sensation is fit and raring to go again after accepting a wild card into the 32-woman field in New Zealand. Raducanu infamously injured her ankle during her last appearance at the tournament in 2023, when most outdoor matches were unplayable due to rain.
Instead, the tournament arranged for makeshift indoor hard courts to complete the schedule. In one of those matches, Raducanu picked up a costly injury that ruled her out for the entire second half of the campaign, and she had to undergo surgery.
But even after berating the tournament organizers, Raducanu has let bygones be bygones and is eager to make her tennis comeback in Auckland. She is set to play her first match since mid-April when Jelena Ostapenko...
- 12/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2024 Brisbane International will be one of the most exciting Wta 500 tournaments of the season, and the tournament's draw has been released.
With the new season starting, there's not many more exciting tournaments than the 2024 Brisbane International, running from December 31st, 2023, until January 7th, 2024.
While the start of the new season is a good enough of a story line, there's another major storyline, and that's the return of a four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, who will play her first tournament in over a year.
The Japanese player is motivated to come back and she already knows her first opponent in Brisbane, as Osaka will take on Tamara Korpatsch, with her possible second-round match being against the former world no. 1, Karolina Pliskova.
But Osaka isn't the only exciting player at the tournament, as all players will want to fight for their share of the prize money and points. Aryna Sabalenka,...
With the new season starting, there's not many more exciting tournaments than the 2024 Brisbane International, running from December 31st, 2023, until January 7th, 2024.
While the start of the new season is a good enough of a story line, there's another major storyline, and that's the return of a four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, who will play her first tournament in over a year.
The Japanese player is motivated to come back and she already knows her first opponent in Brisbane, as Osaka will take on Tamara Korpatsch, with her possible second-round match being against the former world no. 1, Karolina Pliskova.
But Osaka isn't the only exciting player at the tournament, as all players will want to fight for their share of the prize money and points. Aryna Sabalenka,...
- 12/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek has put everyone on notice and admitted that she is "more prepared" to deal with the pressure of being the Wta's World No. 1.
Swiatek was ranked World No. 1 for 75 straight weeks from April 2022 - following the retirement of Ashleigh Barty - to September 2023. A fourth-round defeat to Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open saw the Polish star relinquish her spot to Aryna Sabalenka.
In the aftermath of that tournament in New York, she revealed that her sense of purpose has always been to develop as a player and person, not necessarily chase points or rankings. That bit was certainly true because the 22-year-old played with freedom and energy in the autumn.
Swiatek went on a winning spree at the backend of last season, winning titles in Beijing and Cancun - the latter being the most dominant run to a Wta Finals title in history. Reflecting on her 2023 season,...
Swiatek was ranked World No. 1 for 75 straight weeks from April 2022 - following the retirement of Ashleigh Barty - to September 2023. A fourth-round defeat to Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open saw the Polish star relinquish her spot to Aryna Sabalenka.
In the aftermath of that tournament in New York, she revealed that her sense of purpose has always been to develop as a player and person, not necessarily chase points or rankings. That bit was certainly true because the 22-year-old played with freedom and energy in the autumn.
Swiatek went on a winning spree at the backend of last season, winning titles in Beijing and Cancun - the latter being the most dominant run to a Wta Finals title in history. Reflecting on her 2023 season,...
- 12/28/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
For the first time since 2020, tennis stars will descend on Queensland to play in the 13th edition of Brisbane International.
Running from December 31st to January 7th, the 2024 Brisbane International will welcome a plethora of world-class players to mark the official start of a brand-new tennis season.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will attempt to become the first woman to defend the Australian Open in a decade, and getting some much-needed momentum in Brisbane is vital. The Belarusian powerhouse has a slim chance of becoming No. 1 for a second time at the end of January.
She'll be joined in Brisbane by the returning former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, who has already landed Down Under to play her first tournament in 15 months. 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will also add power and class to the 64-player singles draw with 16 byes.
Former Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko are also part of the field.
Running from December 31st to January 7th, the 2024 Brisbane International will welcome a plethora of world-class players to mark the official start of a brand-new tennis season.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will attempt to become the first woman to defend the Australian Open in a decade, and getting some much-needed momentum in Brisbane is vital. The Belarusian powerhouse has a slim chance of becoming No. 1 for a second time at the end of January.
She'll be joined in Brisbane by the returning former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, who has already landed Down Under to play her first tournament in 15 months. 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will also add power and class to the 64-player singles draw with 16 byes.
Former Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko are also part of the field.
- 12/28/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Aryna Sabalenka has been described as a raw power hitter ever since she entered tennis, and she certainly backed that up in 2023.
Not so long ago, we heard how tennis was shifting to a more power-based approach. It made sense because all of the players that were at the top mostly focused on hitting the ball as strongly as possible.
There are advantages to that as well. Most serves in women's tennis are not that powerful, and it allows you to attack. If you're able to attack with force and early, you're basically guaranteed the point.
It's how Serena Williams could dominate for as long as she did in sport. She simply had more power than anybody else and bullied her opponents on the court consistently.
Jelena Ostapenko has played like that for years, as has Sabalenka, who is probably known as the player with the most power right now.
Not so long ago, we heard how tennis was shifting to a more power-based approach. It made sense because all of the players that were at the top mostly focused on hitting the ball as strongly as possible.
There are advantages to that as well. Most serves in women's tennis are not that powerful, and it allows you to attack. If you're able to attack with force and early, you're basically guaranteed the point.
It's how Serena Williams could dominate for as long as she did in sport. She simply had more power than anybody else and bullied her opponents on the court consistently.
Jelena Ostapenko has played like that for years, as has Sabalenka, who is probably known as the player with the most power right now.
- 12/26/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu has scaled up her training sessions and has been working on her baseline game just days before the start of the 2024 tennis season.
British sensation Raducanu has not played a competitive match since mid-April when Jelena Ostapenko thrashed her in the first round of the Stuttgart Open. Since then, she has been forced to undergo two surgeries on her wrists and one on her ankle.
The injuries have been bothering Raducanu for a while, and to prevent recurrence and prolong her career, she chose surgery rather than painkillers to alleviate the pain. It will be interesting to see how her body will respond to the tour's physical demands.
She has been busy handling off-court duties with the media and exploring some of her hobbies, which included playing the piano and globetrotting for adventure. Raducanu has also attended fashion events with her boyfriend, Carlo Agostinelli.
Raducanu has since returned...
British sensation Raducanu has not played a competitive match since mid-April when Jelena Ostapenko thrashed her in the first round of the Stuttgart Open. Since then, she has been forced to undergo two surgeries on her wrists and one on her ankle.
The injuries have been bothering Raducanu for a while, and to prevent recurrence and prolong her career, she chose surgery rather than painkillers to alleviate the pain. It will be interesting to see how her body will respond to the tour's physical demands.
She has been busy handling off-court duties with the media and exploring some of her hobbies, which included playing the piano and globetrotting for adventure. Raducanu has also attended fashion events with her boyfriend, Carlo Agostinelli.
Raducanu has since returned...
- 12/25/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Marketa Vondrousova has been named the Czech Tennis Player of the Year after a superb season, which included a maiden Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon.
Vondrousova demonstrated tremendous tennis skills years ago when she reached the French Open final. She lost that one to Jelena Ostapenko, but it was only a matter of time before she got another chance.
She was simply that good. It took her a very long time, though, as it only happened several years after that achievement and not in the place where you'd expect. She's generally regarded as a pretty strong clay player with a very good hard-court level as well.
Even so, her maiden Grand Slam trophy came on grass. That was a major shock to her and everybody else because she's never been known as a good grass player.
She even admitted that she anticipated a first-round exit, but she made it to the final,...
Vondrousova demonstrated tremendous tennis skills years ago when she reached the French Open final. She lost that one to Jelena Ostapenko, but it was only a matter of time before she got another chance.
She was simply that good. It took her a very long time, though, as it only happened several years after that achievement and not in the place where you'd expect. She's generally regarded as a pretty strong clay player with a very good hard-court level as well.
Even so, her maiden Grand Slam trophy came on grass. That was a major shock to her and everybody else because she's never been known as a good grass player.
She even admitted that she anticipated a first-round exit, but she made it to the final,...
- 12/22/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Women's tennis could experience a major shakeup in rankings next season, with plenty of interesting names expected to make their mark.
Teenagers have not been left out of contending for the biggest Wta titles in the past few seasons. In four of the past five years, at least one teenager has won a Grand Slam, and there is a good chance that trend will continue next season.
But Grand Slams are not the only metric to determine a player's breakthrough. A Top 10 or even Top 20 win that serves as a catalyst to a productive season is well worthy of being classified in that category.
In this article, we shall list five of the likeliest teenagers who could enjoy a breakthrough year on the women's tour, culminating with a new career-high ranking and potentially even making quite the splash at Grand Slam level.
5. Brenda Fruhvirtova (16 years old)
Brenda Fruhvirtova, younger sister of Linda Fruhvirtova,...
Teenagers have not been left out of contending for the biggest Wta titles in the past few seasons. In four of the past five years, at least one teenager has won a Grand Slam, and there is a good chance that trend will continue next season.
But Grand Slams are not the only metric to determine a player's breakthrough. A Top 10 or even Top 20 win that serves as a catalyst to a productive season is well worthy of being classified in that category.
In this article, we shall list five of the likeliest teenagers who could enjoy a breakthrough year on the women's tour, culminating with a new career-high ranking and potentially even making quite the splash at Grand Slam level.
5. Brenda Fruhvirtova (16 years old)
Brenda Fruhvirtova, younger sister of Linda Fruhvirtova,...
- 12/18/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2024 Adelaide International is the last Wta 500 tournament before the first major of the season, held from January 8th to 13th, 2024.
As the last so-called "warm-up tournament," the entry list for Adelaide International includes all the top names, with the initial cut-off being already 28th place in the Wta Rankings.
Last year, there were two tournaments held at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre in Adelaide, Australia. Aryna Sabalenka won the first one, and Belinda Bencic triumphed in the second tournament, but neither of them will come in 2024.
On the other hand, it will be Elena Rybakina, who later lost to Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, who will be the leading player at the tournament, and speaking ahead of the event on the tournament's official website, the Kazakhstani player was happy to lead the entry list.
"I’m looking forward to returning to Adelaide. As players we have everything we...
As the last so-called "warm-up tournament," the entry list for Adelaide International includes all the top names, with the initial cut-off being already 28th place in the Wta Rankings.
Last year, there were two tournaments held at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre in Adelaide, Australia. Aryna Sabalenka won the first one, and Belinda Bencic triumphed in the second tournament, but neither of them will come in 2024.
On the other hand, it will be Elena Rybakina, who later lost to Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, who will be the leading player at the tournament, and speaking ahead of the event on the tournament's official website, the Kazakhstani player was happy to lead the entry list.
"I’m looking forward to returning to Adelaide. As players we have everything we...
- 12/13/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu is set to return to tennis at next month's Asb Classic in Auckland, where she has been granted a wild card.
The British tennis star is currently ranked outside the world's Top 200 because of her inactivity in the second half of last season due to multiple surgeries on her wrists and ankle. Raducanu must now use her Special Ranking (Sr) to enter Wta events in the early stages of her comeback.
A Special Ranking (Sr), or Protected Ranking (PR), is a provision that the tour gives to injured players or those who take maternity leave, which is no shorter than six months, to use the actual ranking of the last tournament in which they played or received prize money when they return.
Instead of starting to build their ranking from scratch, these players will be in a privileged position of sorts. For Wta players, they can use the...
The British tennis star is currently ranked outside the world's Top 200 because of her inactivity in the second half of last season due to multiple surgeries on her wrists and ankle. Raducanu must now use her Special Ranking (Sr) to enter Wta events in the early stages of her comeback.
A Special Ranking (Sr), or Protected Ranking (PR), is a provision that the tour gives to injured players or those who take maternity leave, which is no shorter than six months, to use the actual ranking of the last tournament in which they played or received prize money when they return.
Instead of starting to build their ranking from scratch, these players will be in a privileged position of sorts. For Wta players, they can use the...
- 12/8/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The first Wta 500 event of the 2024 season will begin in earnest on New Year's Day, where eight of the world's Top 20 players will lead the pack at the Brisbane International.
Primarily played on outdoor hard courts and serving as one of the Australian Open warm-up tournaments, the Brisbane International will return to the calendar after a four-year absence. Tournament organizers have wasted no time brokering deals to bring the most prominent names on the women's circuit to the event.
Firstly, World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will look to continue the fine trend of her fellow compatriots at this event. Since Brisbane International was incepted in 2009, a Belarusian player has reached the finals on four occasions (Victoria Azarenka accounts for two titles).
Sabalenka is the top seed and will be joined by her good friend Elena Rybakina in gracing the courts in Brisbane. The big-serving Kazakh has previously won on Australian soil...
Primarily played on outdoor hard courts and serving as one of the Australian Open warm-up tournaments, the Brisbane International will return to the calendar after a four-year absence. Tournament organizers have wasted no time brokering deals to bring the most prominent names on the women's circuit to the event.
Firstly, World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will look to continue the fine trend of her fellow compatriots at this event. Since Brisbane International was incepted in 2009, a Belarusian player has reached the finals on four occasions (Victoria Azarenka accounts for two titles).
Sabalenka is the top seed and will be joined by her good friend Elena Rybakina in gracing the courts in Brisbane. The big-serving Kazakh has previously won on Australian soil...
- 12/6/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu had quite a strenuous practice session while in Hong Kong and shared the state of her palms, which were worn out and had calluses formed on them.
The British tennis star is preparing to rejoin the Wta tour after recovering from three surgeries in the last six months. Raducanu last played a competitive match in mid-April, where she was comprehensively beaten by Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
Raducanu began light training after coming out of rehab and, lately, has been engaging in repeated intense workouts at the gym and on tennis courts to build fitness and refine her game. And it certainly had a desired physical effect.
Raducanu posted an image of her calloused palm on her Instagram stories past 10 pm local time in Hong Kong with the caption, "Welcome back." The 21-year-old was also in the region to honor her sponsor's work. Raducanu is a global brand ambassador...
The British tennis star is preparing to rejoin the Wta tour after recovering from three surgeries in the last six months. Raducanu last played a competitive match in mid-April, where she was comprehensively beaten by Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
Raducanu began light training after coming out of rehab and, lately, has been engaging in repeated intense workouts at the gym and on tennis courts to build fitness and refine her game. And it certainly had a desired physical effect.
Raducanu posted an image of her calloused palm on her Instagram stories past 10 pm local time in Hong Kong with the caption, "Welcome back." The 21-year-old was also in the region to honor her sponsor's work. Raducanu is a global brand ambassador...
- 12/6/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Despite missing the whole calendar year due to a doping ban, Simona Halep surprisingly ranked 13th in the latest Utr rankings.
The Utr (Universal Tennis Rating) is a global rating system that provides a real and accurate measurement of the skill level of all tennis players regardless of age, gender, or location of any match they play. It has a rating scale between 1.00 to 16.50.
A player with an index of 1.00 is usually a beginner, while a high-level pro normally has a double-digit rating. The Utr gives the greatest weighting to match results and considers the quality of opposition a player will face rather than the number of matches they play.
So, in hindsight, the higher the Utr, the greater the skill level. Utr differs from official rankings, which is why Simona Halep, currently unranked in the Wta rankings due to her inactivity ( banned for up to four years for doping...
The Utr (Universal Tennis Rating) is a global rating system that provides a real and accurate measurement of the skill level of all tennis players regardless of age, gender, or location of any match they play. It has a rating scale between 1.00 to 16.50.
A player with an index of 1.00 is usually a beginner, while a high-level pro normally has a double-digit rating. The Utr gives the greatest weighting to match results and considers the quality of opposition a player will face rather than the number of matches they play.
So, in hindsight, the higher the Utr, the greater the skill level. Utr differs from official rankings, which is why Simona Halep, currently unranked in the Wta rankings due to her inactivity ( banned for up to four years for doping...
- 12/5/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Aryna Sabalenka was the most effective power player on the Wta Tour in 2023, firing the most winners with 1,922.
According to Opta, the Belarusian powerhouse nudged ahead of fellow big hitters Jelena Ostapenko and Caroline Garcia, who occupy the Top 3 spots in this category, each recording 1,832 and 1,829 winners, respectively. Of her 1,922 winners, Sabalenka registered 404 aces - the third most on tour.
The record for the most aces in 2023 belonged to Garcia, who tallied 462 clean service winners, beating Elena Rybakina to that title for the second year in a row. The Kazakh also features in the Top 5 list for the most winners by Wta players with 1,556.
Russia's Liudmila Samsonova came up in fifth spot managing an impressive 1,463. Unsurprisingly, the list has been dominated by the most aggressive ball strikers on tour, who are always bundled with a point-ending shot. These players' risk appetite is far greater than normal counterpunchers.
All five players...
According to Opta, the Belarusian powerhouse nudged ahead of fellow big hitters Jelena Ostapenko and Caroline Garcia, who occupy the Top 3 spots in this category, each recording 1,832 and 1,829 winners, respectively. Of her 1,922 winners, Sabalenka registered 404 aces - the third most on tour.
The record for the most aces in 2023 belonged to Garcia, who tallied 462 clean service winners, beating Elena Rybakina to that title for the second year in a row. The Kazakh also features in the Top 5 list for the most winners by Wta players with 1,556.
Russia's Liudmila Samsonova came up in fifth spot managing an impressive 1,463. Unsurprisingly, the list has been dominated by the most aggressive ball strikers on tour, who are always bundled with a point-ending shot. These players' risk appetite is far greater than normal counterpunchers.
All five players...
- 11/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Patrick Mouratoglou made an honest confession when assessing Iga Swiatek's 2023 season claiming that her rivals had narrowed the gap at the top.
Swiatek's 75-week reign at the top of the world rankings came to a screeching halt following the 2023 US Open in which she succumbed to an upsetting loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round. That meant for the first time since March 2022, the Wta standings would have a different name at the summit.
It was Aryna Sabalenka who knocked her off the perch after reaching her second Grand Slam singles final in New York. The Pole, however, bounced back superbly soon after. A late-season surge by Swiatek yielded title wins in Beijing and Cancun, the latter being her first Wta Finals of her career.
Swiatek collected a maximum of 2,500 points in both tournaments, having gone undefeated at the year-end championships to swing the pendulum back in her favor.
Swiatek's 75-week reign at the top of the world rankings came to a screeching halt following the 2023 US Open in which she succumbed to an upsetting loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round. That meant for the first time since March 2022, the Wta standings would have a different name at the summit.
It was Aryna Sabalenka who knocked her off the perch after reaching her second Grand Slam singles final in New York. The Pole, however, bounced back superbly soon after. A late-season surge by Swiatek yielded title wins in Beijing and Cancun, the latter being her first Wta Finals of her career.
Swiatek collected a maximum of 2,500 points in both tournaments, having gone undefeated at the year-end championships to swing the pendulum back in her favor.
- 11/12/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek has had a very dominant year on the Wta Tour in 2023, which stats back up as she once again served the most bagels to fellow rivals.
Swiatek has been serving bagels (winning a set 6-0) since she broke out as one of the best tennis players in the world. Her first major breakout year in 2020 saw her deliver a few of them.
She would follow up on that trend in 2021 with eight bagels in total, including the famed double bagel win over Karolina Pliskova in the Italian Open final. That match lasted about 45 minutes and showed how dominant she can be at her best.
2022 was the most iconic year of her career as she won eight trophies that year and absolutely crushed her competition. She finished the year with 22 bagels, by far the most out of all the players.
This year has been equally dominant as she finished the year with 23 bagels,...
Swiatek has been serving bagels (winning a set 6-0) since she broke out as one of the best tennis players in the world. Her first major breakout year in 2020 saw her deliver a few of them.
She would follow up on that trend in 2021 with eight bagels in total, including the famed double bagel win over Karolina Pliskova in the Italian Open final. That match lasted about 45 minutes and showed how dominant she can be at her best.
2022 was the most iconic year of her career as she won eight trophies that year and absolutely crushed her competition. She finished the year with 22 bagels, by far the most out of all the players.
This year has been equally dominant as she finished the year with 23 bagels,...
- 11/7/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu is gearing up for a return to tennis soon, and it's a happy time for her because that's what she likes to do the most.
Raducanu has always been a very active person, so this injury comeback was pretty tough on her . Besides the obvious, she simply struggled to find interesting things to do because most of the interesting things she does are usually very active things.
She's not used to sedentary activities, but it was needed immediately after her surgeries because she had triple surgery, so the recovery was never going to be that quick.
She tried her best and, in a recent interview, revealed what she did during that time away from the tennis court, as the 20-year-old played her last match on the Wta Tour back in April, when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko at the 2023 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
It was difficult to train after the surgeries,...
Raducanu has always been a very active person, so this injury comeback was pretty tough on her . Besides the obvious, she simply struggled to find interesting things to do because most of the interesting things she does are usually very active things.
She's not used to sedentary activities, but it was needed immediately after her surgeries because she had triple surgery, so the recovery was never going to be that quick.
She tried her best and, in a recent interview, revealed what she did during that time away from the tennis court, as the 20-year-old played her last match on the Wta Tour back in April, when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko at the 2023 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
It was difficult to train after the surgeries,...
- 11/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Beatriz Haddad Maia is the champion of one of two Wta year-end tournaments when she defeated Qinwen Zheng in the 2023 Wta Elite Trophy final.
While the Atp offers two year-end tournaments, one for the Top 8 players and another for the Top 8 youngsters, the Wta has a different approach, with the Top 8 Wta Finals on offer , but also a competition for players ranked between ninth and 20th place in the Wta Rankings .
As world no. 19, Haddad Maia was one of the players who qualified for the tournament, and she cruised through the event, starting with her first group match against Madison Keys from the United States.
After that, the Brazilian defeated last year's Wta Finals champion Caroline Garcia , before also overpowering Russia's Daria Kasatkina in the semifinals of the competition.
In the final, she met recent Asian Games champion, Qinwen Zheng, who was also in very good form, beating Donna Vekic,...
While the Atp offers two year-end tournaments, one for the Top 8 players and another for the Top 8 youngsters, the Wta has a different approach, with the Top 8 Wta Finals on offer , but also a competition for players ranked between ninth and 20th place in the Wta Rankings .
As world no. 19, Haddad Maia was one of the players who qualified for the tournament, and she cruised through the event, starting with her first group match against Madison Keys from the United States.
After that, the Brazilian defeated last year's Wta Finals champion Caroline Garcia , before also overpowering Russia's Daria Kasatkina in the semifinals of the competition.
In the final, she met recent Asian Games champion, Qinwen Zheng, who was also in very good form, beating Donna Vekic,...
- 10/29/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The draw for the 2023 Wta Elite Trophy has been relased, featuring four groups of three players who will compete in a round-robin format.
The 2023 Wta Elite Trophy is the second-tier year-end tournament on the Wta Tour, which will consist of 12 singles players in the group stage. The Top 11 players who missed out on qualification for the Wta Finals automatically qualify for this event.
One more player is usually given a wild card into the draw, completing the setup of 12 players. This is the fifth edition of this tournament and the first since 2019. It will be played on outdoor hard courts in Zhuhai, China, at the Zhuhai Hengqin International Tennis Centre.
Azalea Group:
The first group contains former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova , who bagged two titles in 2023, and was a runner-up in Zhegnzhou . Participating in this event is optional, and the Czech is also an entrant in doubles at the Wta Finals.
The 2023 Wta Elite Trophy is the second-tier year-end tournament on the Wta Tour, which will consist of 12 singles players in the group stage. The Top 11 players who missed out on qualification for the Wta Finals automatically qualify for this event.
One more player is usually given a wild card into the draw, completing the setup of 12 players. This is the fifth edition of this tournament and the first since 2019. It will be played on outdoor hard courts in Zhuhai, China, at the Zhuhai Hengqin International Tennis Centre.
Azalea Group:
The first group contains former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova , who bagged two titles in 2023, and was a runner-up in Zhegnzhou . Participating in this event is optional, and the Czech is also an entrant in doubles at the Wta Finals.
- 10/23/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu 's long-awaited return to tennis will take place at the Inaugural Macau Tennis Masters Exhibition tournament in her mother's home country in China.
The former British No. 1 will feature in a star-studded lineup featuring Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, and Atp stars Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and China's lone Atp titlist Yibing Wu. One more Atp player has not yet been confirmed. The two-day event will take place in the first week of December at the Macau East Asian Games Dome.
The event will be co-hosted by Img (who handle Raducanu's business contracts) and MGM. The schedule as confirmed by the tournament will feature two men's singles semifinals and a mixed doubles match on the opening day. There will be a women's singles match on the second day, a third-place play-off men's match, and a men's final.
Raducanu's comeback will be in Macau - an autonomous city located in China's south coast.
The former British No. 1 will feature in a star-studded lineup featuring Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, and Atp stars Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and China's lone Atp titlist Yibing Wu. One more Atp player has not yet been confirmed. The two-day event will take place in the first week of December at the Macau East Asian Games Dome.
The event will be co-hosted by Img (who handle Raducanu's business contracts) and MGM. The schedule as confirmed by the tournament will feature two men's singles semifinals and a mixed doubles match on the opening day. There will be a women's singles match on the second day, a third-place play-off men's match, and a men's final.
Raducanu's comeback will be in Macau - an autonomous city located in China's south coast.
- 10/21/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Coco Gauff has donated the match-winning outfit from this year's US Open final to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Gauff's entire apparel including her personalized New Balance CG1 “City Brights” colorway shoes are now available for display until the end of the year in the International Tennis Hall of Fame museum in Newport, Rhode Island.
Gauff had a fantastic US summer swing . Her red-colored kit made its debut in Washington, where she won the biggest title of her career at the Citi Open. A few weeks later, she would be hoisting another big title in Cincinnati, her first at Wta 1000 level.
But not many people foresaw the 19-year-old getting her breakthrough Slam at the US Open. And when the draw came out, the prospect of meeting defending champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals appeared to be Gauff's projected roadblock.
"Some noteworthy additions @CocoGauff's iconic @newbalance shoes and outfit from...
Gauff's entire apparel including her personalized New Balance CG1 “City Brights” colorway shoes are now available for display until the end of the year in the International Tennis Hall of Fame museum in Newport, Rhode Island.
Gauff had a fantastic US summer swing . Her red-colored kit made its debut in Washington, where she won the biggest title of her career at the Citi Open. A few weeks later, she would be hoisting another big title in Cincinnati, her first at Wta 1000 level.
But not many people foresaw the 19-year-old getting her breakthrough Slam at the US Open. And when the draw came out, the prospect of meeting defending champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals appeared to be Gauff's projected roadblock.
"Some noteworthy additions @CocoGauff's iconic @newbalance shoes and outfit from...
- 10/20/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2023 Wta Elite Trophy will take place from October 22nd to 29th in Zhuhai, China, at the Hengqin Tennis Center.
It is the second-tier year-end tournament on the Wta Tour contested by 12 singles players who are placed in four round-robin groups of three. The qualifying criterion is based on ranking points accrued during the season from 16 tournaments, with the Top 11 players who missed out on the Wta Finals earning direct entry.
Of the 16 tournaments, results from the four Grand Slam tournaments, the four Wta 1000 mandatory tournaments, and the best results from two Wta 1000 non-mandatory tournaments (for the Top 20 players at the end of 2022) will be factored in.
The 12th member can either be the 12th player who failed to qualify for the Wta Finals or a wild card. The Wta Elite Trophy has been a staple on the calendar since 2009, initially as the Wta Tournament of Champions which was played...
It is the second-tier year-end tournament on the Wta Tour contested by 12 singles players who are placed in four round-robin groups of three. The qualifying criterion is based on ranking points accrued during the season from 16 tournaments, with the Top 11 players who missed out on the Wta Finals earning direct entry.
Of the 16 tournaments, results from the four Grand Slam tournaments, the four Wta 1000 mandatory tournaments, and the best results from two Wta 1000 non-mandatory tournaments (for the Top 20 players at the end of 2022) will be factored in.
The 12th member can either be the 12th player who failed to qualify for the Wta Finals or a wild card. The Wta Elite Trophy has been a staple on the calendar since 2009, initially as the Wta Tournament of Champions which was played...
- 10/17/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
For Coco Gauff , four years ago feels like taking a trip down memory lane, as she revisited the day she won her maiden Wta title at the Austria Open Linz .
It is easy to forget that Gauff, 19, won her very first Tour-level title in 2019 as a 15-year-old. Most of the time, when you start a craft at a young age, people tend to be lost in the magnitude of your accomplishment. And that theory certainly holds some truth in Gauff's case.
Gauff stunned former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the final to hoist the trophy. Before the start of the week, Gauff had never reached the quarterfinal stage at a Tour-level tournament but conquered a number of firsts during the week in Austria.
Gauff also achieved the rare feat of winning a tournament as a lucky loser, having lost to Tamara Korpatsch in the qualifying round...
It is easy to forget that Gauff, 19, won her very first Tour-level title in 2019 as a 15-year-old. Most of the time, when you start a craft at a young age, people tend to be lost in the magnitude of your accomplishment. And that theory certainly holds some truth in Gauff's case.
Gauff stunned former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the final to hoist the trophy. Before the start of the week, Gauff had never reached the quarterfinal stage at a Tour-level tournament but conquered a number of firsts during the week in Austria.
Gauff also achieved the rare feat of winning a tournament as a lucky loser, having lost to Tamara Korpatsch in the qualifying round...
- 10/15/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek has reduced Aryna Sabalenka 's lead at the top of the world rankings to three digits as the season inches to its climax.
The Polish superstar won the 2023 China Open this past week - her first Wta 1000 of the season in scintillating style, dropping just one set throughout the week. She ended Coco Gauff 's 16-match winning streak at the event before romping to the title in Sunday's final.
Swiatek, who now has 8,890 points is just 590 points behind Sabalenka in the latest rankings and the world No. 1 ranking will be decided at the season finale in Cancun. Both players won't play at any Wta tournament between now and the end of October.
The rest of the Top 10 remains unchanged, but results in Beijing sealed the last three spots at the Wta Finals . Marketa Vondrousova , Ons Jabeur , and Karolina Muchova will join the current Top 5 of Sabalenka, Swiatek, Coco Gauff,...
The Polish superstar won the 2023 China Open this past week - her first Wta 1000 of the season in scintillating style, dropping just one set throughout the week. She ended Coco Gauff 's 16-match winning streak at the event before romping to the title in Sunday's final.
Swiatek, who now has 8,890 points is just 590 points behind Sabalenka in the latest rankings and the world No. 1 ranking will be decided at the season finale in Cancun. Both players won't play at any Wta tournament between now and the end of October.
The rest of the Top 10 remains unchanged, but results in Beijing sealed the last three spots at the Wta Finals . Marketa Vondrousova , Ons Jabeur , and Karolina Muchova will join the current Top 5 of Sabalenka, Swiatek, Coco Gauff,...
- 10/9/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 19th edition of the Korea Open will run from October 9th to 15th at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center, and the draw for this Wta 250 has been released.
At this stage of the season when some of the top players have one eye for the holidays or aspirations for winning more coveted tournaments like the Wta Finals , the likelihood of crowning an unexpected champion is very high. On that note, let us delve into the draw.
Top seed Jessica Pegula leads the top half. She begins her campaign in her mother's birth city against Viktoria Hruncakova. If she wins that match, a second-round match against one of rising star Ashlyn Krueger or former Roland Garros semifinalist Nadia Podoroska awaits.
The second seed is Jelena Ostapenko who is expected to be Pegula's biggest threat this week. After last year's runner-up finish, Ostapenko has unfinished business in Seoul. She opens...
At this stage of the season when some of the top players have one eye for the holidays or aspirations for winning more coveted tournaments like the Wta Finals , the likelihood of crowning an unexpected champion is very high. On that note, let us delve into the draw.
Top seed Jessica Pegula leads the top half. She begins her campaign in her mother's birth city against Viktoria Hruncakova. If she wins that match, a second-round match against one of rising star Ashlyn Krueger or former Roland Garros semifinalist Nadia Podoroska awaits.
The second seed is Jelena Ostapenko who is expected to be Pegula's biggest threat this week. After last year's runner-up finish, Ostapenko has unfinished business in Seoul. She opens...
- 10/7/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are out of the China Open in their first match after losing to Luisa Stefani and Ingrid Gamarra Martins.
It's not been a very good day for Jessica Pegula, who played earlier today in singles but was beaten comfortably by Jelena Ostapenko . It comes after a solid run in Tokyo last week, which ended with a loss in the final to Veronika Kudermetova.
Pegula took the courts again today to play doubles match with Coco Gauff, and again, she lost, though the match was far more competitive than her singles match. The Americans took a long time to break down their opponent in the opening set, even though they had a few break points early.
They allowed only one break point on their own serve but saved it comfortably. The tipping point came t 6-5 in the opening set when they finally converted a break...
It's not been a very good day for Jessica Pegula, who played earlier today in singles but was beaten comfortably by Jelena Ostapenko . It comes after a solid run in Tokyo last week, which ended with a loss in the final to Veronika Kudermetova.
Pegula took the courts again today to play doubles match with Coco Gauff, and again, she lost, though the match was far more competitive than her singles match. The Americans took a long time to break down their opponent in the opening set, even though they had a few break points early.
They allowed only one break point on their own serve but saved it comfortably. The tipping point came t 6-5 in the opening set when they finally converted a break...
- 10/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Jessica Pegula was up for another successful run at a Wta 1000 tournament, this time at the 2023 China Open , but she was stopped.
After beating Anna Blinkova in her first match in Beijing , the second highest-ranked American ran into a former Roland Garros champion, the 13th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko , who got into the third round after her second-round opponent, Linda Noskova, withdrew from the event.
The two met four times before, with their first two matches dating back to 2015, but in the two most recent meetings, the American always managed to win, with both matches being played in Doha, Qatar.
But this time around, it was a different story. Pegula started well, she saved two break points in the second game, and after that, she managed to break her opponent's serve, leading 2-1 in the opener.
However, the Latvian never gave up in the first set, breaking her opponent back, and doing...
After beating Anna Blinkova in her first match in Beijing , the second highest-ranked American ran into a former Roland Garros champion, the 13th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko , who got into the third round after her second-round opponent, Linda Noskova, withdrew from the event.
The two met four times before, with their first two matches dating back to 2015, but in the two most recent meetings, the American always managed to win, with both matches being played in Doha, Qatar.
But this time around, it was a different story. Pegula started well, she saved two break points in the second game, and after that, she managed to break her opponent's serve, leading 2-1 in the opener.
However, the Latvian never gave up in the first set, breaking her opponent back, and doing...
- 10/4/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
This was Jessica Pegula 's first match since losing in the Tokyo final a few days ago, and it was a bit shaky, but she still won.
The American played last week in Tokyo, and she played well. It was her first post-us Open appearance, and she made the final immediately , though she couldn't close it out in the desired way. A pretty shocking loss to Veronika Kudermetova in the final left Pegula visibly disappointed, but she snapped back to winning ways at the 2023 China Open in Beijing.
It was a pretty competitive match against Anna Blinkova , a tricky player who gave her a lot of problems, especially early in the match. The first set was long as it ended in a tiebreak, and it was a surprising result as Pegula didn't win it.
She was down a break two separate times in that set but, even so, found a...
The American played last week in Tokyo, and she played well. It was her first post-us Open appearance, and she made the final immediately , though she couldn't close it out in the desired way. A pretty shocking loss to Veronika Kudermetova in the final left Pegula visibly disappointed, but she snapped back to winning ways at the 2023 China Open in Beijing.
It was a pretty competitive match against Anna Blinkova , a tricky player who gave her a lot of problems, especially early in the match. The first set was long as it ended in a tiebreak, and it was a surprising result as Pegula didn't win it.
She was down a break two separate times in that set but, even so, found a...
- 10/3/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek reigned supreme as the dominant force in women's tennis for 75 weeks, but tennis generally operates in cycles, and the rest of the Wta Tour are plotting to take over.
Since Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement in the first quarter of 2022, Swiatek became the World No. 1 for the first time in early April last year and lorded that ranking over her rivals. She tallied the third-longest streak as a first-time No. 1 with 75 weeks , trailing only Steffi Graf (186) and Martina Hingis (80) in that regard.
But 12 months on from her career-best season, the Pole's title haul reduced by half, and she's been unsurped from top spot by Aryna Sabalenka. With just a few weeks of the regular tennis season remaining, Swiatek has a mountain to climb to overturn the deficit at the top.
A closer look at the Wta Race, which depicts the accurate ranking of the current year, Swiatek is...
Since Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement in the first quarter of 2022, Swiatek became the World No. 1 for the first time in early April last year and lorded that ranking over her rivals. She tallied the third-longest streak as a first-time No. 1 with 75 weeks , trailing only Steffi Graf (186) and Martina Hingis (80) in that regard.
But 12 months on from her career-best season, the Pole's title haul reduced by half, and she's been unsurped from top spot by Aryna Sabalenka. With just a few weeks of the regular tennis season remaining, Swiatek has a mountain to climb to overturn the deficit at the top.
A closer look at the Wta Race, which depicts the accurate ranking of the current year, Swiatek is...
- 9/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Mirra Andreeva keeps proving that she's one of the most talented players on the Wta Tour, qualifying for the 2023 China Open in Beijing.
There are not many more talented players on the Wta Tour right now than Mirra Andreeva. The 16-year-old tennis phenom keeps proving every day that she may be the next thing, and it was no different in qualifying for the 2023 China Open, the last Wta 1000 tournament on the calendar.
In the first round of the qualifying, the teenager took on Kimberly Birrell and cruised through the match , and in the second round of the qualifying, also the final round, Andreeva played against fellow compatriot Anna Kalinskaya .
Kalinskaya has struggled with her form recently, and that's why it presented a great opportunity for the 16-year-old to advance. In the first set of the match, Andreeva was super efficient, almost incredibly.
She lost only two points on her serve in the entire set,...
There are not many more talented players on the Wta Tour right now than Mirra Andreeva. The 16-year-old tennis phenom keeps proving every day that she may be the next thing, and it was no different in qualifying for the 2023 China Open, the last Wta 1000 tournament on the calendar.
In the first round of the qualifying, the teenager took on Kimberly Birrell and cruised through the match , and in the second round of the qualifying, also the final round, Andreeva played against fellow compatriot Anna Kalinskaya .
Kalinskaya has struggled with her form recently, and that's why it presented a great opportunity for the 16-year-old to advance. In the first set of the match, Andreeva was super efficient, almost incredibly.
She lost only two points on her serve in the entire set,...
- 9/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2023 Korea Open will run from October 9th to 15th and will staged at the famous Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center.
The entry list for the tournament was released , and it is loaded with world-class talent. USA's No. 2 player Jessica Pegula returns to her mother's city of birth . A title win would be an amazing story, but the World No. 4 faces stiff opposition in the 32-woman field.
Former and current champions in Seoul - Jelena Ostapenko and Ekaterina Alexandrova - are expected to challenge the American's bid. A rejuvenated Sofia Kenin is also a player who could be in the running to contend for the title.
A mix of youth and experience is what this event will offer. Alycia Parks, Diane Parry , Marie Bouzkova , and Katie Boulter will bring flair and energy. While Irina-Camelia Begu , Lesia Tsurenko , and Yanina Wickmayer will bring experience.
This Wta 250-level event has committed a...
The entry list for the tournament was released , and it is loaded with world-class talent. USA's No. 2 player Jessica Pegula returns to her mother's city of birth . A title win would be an amazing story, but the World No. 4 faces stiff opposition in the 32-woman field.
Former and current champions in Seoul - Jelena Ostapenko and Ekaterina Alexandrova - are expected to challenge the American's bid. A rejuvenated Sofia Kenin is also a player who could be in the running to contend for the title.
A mix of youth and experience is what this event will offer. Alycia Parks, Diane Parry , Marie Bouzkova , and Katie Boulter will bring flair and energy. While Irina-Camelia Begu , Lesia Tsurenko , and Yanina Wickmayer will bring experience.
This Wta 250-level event has committed a...
- 9/27/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 19th edition of the Korea Open will run from October 9th to 15th at the famous Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center.
It is a Wta 250-level tournament contested on outdoor hard courts. The singles field comprises 32 players, six of whom will enter the main draw via the qualifying route on the weekend preceding the start of the main draw in Seoul.
The Korea Open reigning champion is Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova who romped to the title at last year's edition beating Jelena Ostapenko in the final. Both the champion and the vanquished finalist will return to Korea's capital and will be among the top three seeds.
At least four players who have won the Korea Open in the past are in this year's entry list including Ostapenko (winner in 2017) and Irina-Camelia Begu (winner in 2015). But no player in the tournament's history has won the title twice.
The top seed at...
It is a Wta 250-level tournament contested on outdoor hard courts. The singles field comprises 32 players, six of whom will enter the main draw via the qualifying route on the weekend preceding the start of the main draw in Seoul.
The Korea Open reigning champion is Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova who romped to the title at last year's edition beating Jelena Ostapenko in the final. Both the champion and the vanquished finalist will return to Korea's capital and will be among the top three seeds.
At least four players who have won the Korea Open in the past are in this year's entry list including Ostapenko (winner in 2017) and Irina-Camelia Begu (winner in 2015). But no player in the tournament's history has won the title twice.
The top seed at...
- 9/24/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The break didn't last that long for Iga Swiatek , as she's already back to practicing in Tokyo ahead of the 2023 Japan Open .
Swiatek concluded her US Open experience with a shocking loss to Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian gives her a lot of trouble, something she spoke about in a recent interview. She opted to skip the Guadalajara event, explaining her reasons in a social media post.
Ostapenko is in Mexico this week, so maybe it was because of that. Jokes aside, Swiatek has been very vocal about trying to maintain a sensible calendar, so expect her to pick and choose her events more carefully in the future.
She took a few days off before committing back to the sport she loves, though the break didn't last long. She's already in Japan preparing for the Wta 500 event in Tokyo, and her early arrival has several reasons.
The conditions in Asia can...
Swiatek concluded her US Open experience with a shocking loss to Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian gives her a lot of trouble, something she spoke about in a recent interview. She opted to skip the Guadalajara event, explaining her reasons in a social media post.
Ostapenko is in Mexico this week, so maybe it was because of that. Jokes aside, Swiatek has been very vocal about trying to maintain a sensible calendar, so expect her to pick and choose her events more carefully in the future.
She took a few days off before committing back to the sport she loves, though the break didn't last long. She's already in Japan preparing for the Wta 500 event in Tokyo, and her early arrival has several reasons.
The conditions in Asia can...
- 9/21/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Sofia Kenin is back, and this time, she proved her qualities by beating Jelena Ostapenko to reach the 2023 Guadalajara Open quarterfinals.
Without a doubt, Sofia Kenin is one of the most talented players, and brutal competitors , on the Wta Tour, and while she proved that at the 2020 Australian Open by winning her maiden Grand Slam title, the American has struggled with injuries since then.
However, after attempting to return to the Top 10, where she certainly belongs, for a few months now, the 24-year-old finally started winning matches regularly, and it's yielding great result for the former major winner.
Kenin reached the 53rd place in the latest Wta Rankings , following a very successful week in San Diego, which was full of confidence and dominance . Although the American lost in the final to Barbora Krejcikova, she came to the Wta 1000 event in Guadalajara with even more confidence.
After beating Carol Zhao and...
Without a doubt, Sofia Kenin is one of the most talented players, and brutal competitors , on the Wta Tour, and while she proved that at the 2020 Australian Open by winning her maiden Grand Slam title, the American has struggled with injuries since then.
However, after attempting to return to the Top 10, where she certainly belongs, for a few months now, the 24-year-old finally started winning matches regularly, and it's yielding great result for the former major winner.
Kenin reached the 53rd place in the latest Wta Rankings , following a very successful week in San Diego, which was full of confidence and dominance . Although the American lost in the final to Barbora Krejcikova, she came to the Wta 1000 event in Guadalajara with even more confidence.
After beating Carol Zhao and...
- 9/20/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek was not happy with how her US Open went, and she spoke a bit about that in a recent interview.
Swiatek is back home in Poland after a somewhat disappointing run in the United States. She failed to win either of the big three events, even though some assumed that she would at least make a final. That didn't happen either, as she was beaten by Jessica Pegula in Montreal.
Coco Gauff proved better at the Wta 1000 event in Cincinnati, and we all know what Jelena Ostapenko pulled off in New York . The results didn't happen by chance but rather have an explanation, one Swiatek provided in a recent interview with Eurosport Poland .
The truth is that there was little time for training. This is the second season in which I play the most matches of all the girls, and I suffered two injuries. It seems to me...
Swiatek is back home in Poland after a somewhat disappointing run in the United States. She failed to win either of the big three events, even though some assumed that she would at least make a final. That didn't happen either, as she was beaten by Jessica Pegula in Montreal.
Coco Gauff proved better at the Wta 1000 event in Cincinnati, and we all know what Jelena Ostapenko pulled off in New York . The results didn't happen by chance but rather have an explanation, one Swiatek provided in a recent interview with Eurosport Poland .
The truth is that there was little time for training. This is the second season in which I play the most matches of all the girls, and I suffered two injuries. It seems to me...
- 9/20/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek was beaten early at the US Open , losing the chance to defend her trophy from last year, and she spoke about it in a recent interview.
Swiatek didn't have the best US Open, certainly not the type of event she would have liked. Having won the trophy last ear, many expected her to at least get to the semi-final, but she didn't because Jelena Ostapenko beat her .
Iga Swiatek reflected on her early US Open exit in a recent exclusive interview with Eurosport Poland , talking about how she doesn't necessarily see the early exit as a failure as many described it. As she said, it's not the first time and won't be the last time that she loses early in a Grand Slam event.
It's not the first time I've lost in the fourth round. (...) Don't consider it a total failure like many people say. I know that such a tournament can happen.
Swiatek didn't have the best US Open, certainly not the type of event she would have liked. Having won the trophy last ear, many expected her to at least get to the semi-final, but she didn't because Jelena Ostapenko beat her .
Iga Swiatek reflected on her early US Open exit in a recent exclusive interview with Eurosport Poland , talking about how she doesn't necessarily see the early exit as a failure as many described it. As she said, it's not the first time and won't be the last time that she loses early in a Grand Slam event.
It's not the first time I've lost in the fourth round. (...) Don't consider it a total failure like many people say. I know that such a tournament can happen.
- 9/20/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Electronic Line Calling Live (Elc) is the future of Atp tennis, as technology will replace line judges from the 2025 season.
Earlier in 2023, the Atp officially announced that Elc Live would be used from the start of the 2025 season, replacing on-court judges who usually call any wide or long 'out' decisions during a match.
While the decision may seem drastic and sudden, it is one that has a long history within the game. The Atp's introduction of Elc is the next phase of modernising tennis officiating, which has roots in Hawk-Eye and other advancements in recent decades.
How will cameras and ball tracking take the place of human judgment? And will Elc prove to be a success or a step too soon for the Atp?
What is Electronic Line Calling in Tennis
Electronic Line Calling in tennis is an extension of the previously used Hawk-Eye system, whereby ten cameras and over...
Earlier in 2023, the Atp officially announced that Elc Live would be used from the start of the 2025 season, replacing on-court judges who usually call any wide or long 'out' decisions during a match.
While the decision may seem drastic and sudden, it is one that has a long history within the game. The Atp's introduction of Elc is the next phase of modernising tennis officiating, which has roots in Hawk-Eye and other advancements in recent decades.
How will cameras and ball tracking take the place of human judgment? And will Elc prove to be a success or a step too soon for the Atp?
What is Electronic Line Calling in Tennis
Electronic Line Calling in tennis is an extension of the previously used Hawk-Eye system, whereby ten cameras and over...
- 9/20/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The 2023 Guadalajara Open will likely be the weakest Wta 1000 event in terms of the draw; however, it's not the event's fault, according to Jelena Ostapenko , who shifted blame to the Wta.
Guadalajara, as an event, has only gotten great reviews from players who praised the atmosphere and the organization of the tournament in Mexico. After all, they didn't host the Wta Finals for nothing. You'd find it hard to find a player who has anything bad to say about the event itself, but the timing of it isn't great.
Coming only a week after the US Open made it very difficult for many players to commit to it, and we saw players like Iga Swiatek , Jessica Pegula, the most recent Grand Slam champion, Coco Gauff, and many others withdraw. The list of withdrawals is too long, as fans expressed worry on social media about the weak entry list.
Players are...
Guadalajara, as an event, has only gotten great reviews from players who praised the atmosphere and the organization of the tournament in Mexico. After all, they didn't host the Wta Finals for nothing. You'd find it hard to find a player who has anything bad to say about the event itself, but the timing of it isn't great.
Coming only a week after the US Open made it very difficult for many players to commit to it, and we saw players like Iga Swiatek , Jessica Pegula, the most recent Grand Slam champion, Coco Gauff, and many others withdraw. The list of withdrawals is too long, as fans expressed worry on social media about the weak entry list.
Players are...
- 9/19/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Running from September 17th to 23rd, the Guadalajara Open is the penultimate Wta 1000 on the calendar, and the draw for the second edition has just been released.
The tournament came under fire following the high-profile withdrawals of 11 of the world's Top 20 stars , leaving them massively short in terms of star presence. But a plethora of stylish and talented names feature in the draw, and this is a priceless opportunity for any of the 56 women in the main draw to win a Wta 1000.
The top eight seeds in the tournament have a bye in the opening round. So top seed Ons Jabeur will learn her first opponent from the winner of the all-American clash between Lauren Davis and Alycia Parks. In the other half of the draw lies second seed Maria Sakkari . The Greek will face one of Storm Hunter or Iryna Shymanovich in her second-round match.
Switzerland's Belinda Bencic will...
The tournament came under fire following the high-profile withdrawals of 11 of the world's Top 20 stars , leaving them massively short in terms of star presence. But a plethora of stylish and talented names feature in the draw, and this is a priceless opportunity for any of the 56 women in the main draw to win a Wta 1000.
The top eight seeds in the tournament have a bye in the opening round. So top seed Ons Jabeur will learn her first opponent from the winner of the all-American clash between Lauren Davis and Alycia Parks. In the other half of the draw lies second seed Maria Sakkari . The Greek will face one of Storm Hunter or Iryna Shymanovich in her second-round match.
Switzerland's Belinda Bencic will...
- 9/16/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard was granted a surprise wild card at the Wta 1000 tournament in Guadalajara.
The Guadalajara Open is the biggest tennis tournament in Mexico with main draw action set to commence next week, September 17th in a singles playing field featuring 64 players. And for the second year in a row, the 29-year-old Bouchard has received a direct entry into the main draw as a wild card.
The tournament has been marred with so many high-profile withdrawals in the past couple of days, with seven of the world's Top-10 players skipping the penultimate Wta 1000 of the season. This hasn't gone down well with tennis fans on social media , and officials face an anxious wait before the draw in the hope there won't be any more withdrawals.
Last year, she defeated American Kayla Day in her opening match but was sent packing by Jelena Ostapenko in the subsequent round in three sets.
The Guadalajara Open is the biggest tennis tournament in Mexico with main draw action set to commence next week, September 17th in a singles playing field featuring 64 players. And for the second year in a row, the 29-year-old Bouchard has received a direct entry into the main draw as a wild card.
The tournament has been marred with so many high-profile withdrawals in the past couple of days, with seven of the world's Top-10 players skipping the penultimate Wta 1000 of the season. This hasn't gone down well with tennis fans on social media , and officials face an anxious wait before the draw in the hope there won't be any more withdrawals.
Last year, she defeated American Kayla Day in her opening match but was sent packing by Jelena Ostapenko in the subsequent round in three sets.
- 9/14/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
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