Bencic blitzes past Krueger for ninth WTA title
SWISS star Belinda Bencic needed three sets, but the wildcard got the job done against American Ashlyn Krueger to secure her ninth WTA Tour title, and first as a mother. Bencic made a remarkable fast-tracked return since her maternity leave, starting in the lower ITF ranks, and now winning a WTA 500 title within six […]
Everybody (Bencic’s Back) in Abu Dhabi final
IT HAS been an incredible turnaround for former Top 5 player Belinda Bencic who in the space of a few months went from battling it out on the Challenger Tour to reaching a WTA 500 final, defeating a current Top 5 player en route to said final. The Swiss star stunned top seed Elena Rybakina […]
Reigning Rybakina rolls Ons in Abu Dhabi
DEFENDING her 2024 Abu Dhabi WTA 500 title, top seed Elena Rybakina reached the final four of the event thanks to a hard-fought three-set victory over former world number two, Ons Jabeur. It was great signs for both players that Rybakina was able to pull through, while for the returning Jabeur after an injury-interrupted last […]
Shocks galore as Noskova steamrolls Badosa
IT WAS chaos for seeded players everywhere in Abu Dhabi, with the Round of 16 seeing four higher ranked chances bow out and another on the ropes before turning it around. The most comprehensive wins of those upsets went to young Czech Linda Noskova who stormed pst second seed and world number 10 Paula Badosa […]
Ons-wards and upwards for Jabeur in Abu Dhabi
FORMER world number two Ons Jabeur kick-started her Abu Dhabi campaign with a hard-fought win over former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 7-5, to reach the second round of the WTA 500 event. Jabeur suffered knee and shoulder injuries last season that bookended her 2024 campaign and saw her freefall down the rankings. Much […]
Sun rises in Abu Dhabi
A DOMINANT display from New Zealand 2024 big improver Lulu Sun was the standout result from day one of the 2025 WTA Abu Dhabi Open. The Kiwi-born – but has represented Switzerland and even Croatia prior – completely dismantled French wildcard and former Top 5 player Caroline Garcia 6-1 6-3 in 77 minutes to snap […]
Rybakina rises to second WTA title in 2024
TOP FIVE talent Elena Rybakina won her second WTA Tour title in four tournaments, putting aside her Australian Open disappointment to take out the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open overnight. The world number five looked far too strong against fellow Russian-born seed Daria Kasatkina, as the 2022 Wimbledon champion won 6-1 6-4 against the world number […]
Rybakina rolls past Collins in comeback win
TOP Abu Dhabi seed Elena Rybakina fought back from a set down to defeat American qualifier Danielle Collins and reach the quarter finals of the WTA 500 event. Taking on the powerful former Australian Open finalists and top 10 player, Rybakina found herself a set down before working her way back into it to salute, […]
Sorana stuns Sakkari to reach Abu Dhabi quarters
A GOBSMACKING performance from Sorana Cirstea resulted in the Romanian world number 26 completely dismantling Greek third seed Maria Sakkari to reach the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi quarter finals overnight. Though Cirstea had a 2-1 head-to-head record over the top 10 talent, few could have seen the 33-year-old winning 6-2 6-1 in an hour and […]
Collins storms away from Osaka in Abu Dhabi win
FORMER Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins proved too good for two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, with the American qualifier storming to victory in Abu Dhabi after a tight first set. In what was billed as a potential classic in the WTA 500 event, Collins used her extra match fitness to power past the Japanese […]
